Regina and her father made quite the image standing just outside the castle door bathed in the August morning light. Regina Mills, at sixteen years of age, searched the sky gleefully for her ride to the school she had not seen in years. Minutes remained till nine o'clock, but she couldn't contain her enthusiasm any longer.
When Minerva's invitation, to attend Hogwarts, first arrived her mother refused to give her leave. After a full month of pleading and arguing, Cora had conceded. Her mother rarely made her happy, but that moment nearly made up for every "no" Cora had ever given her.
In the weeks that passed, Regina barely managed to contain her excitement. The mere thought of being another world away from her controlling mother had her packing her bags two weeks in advance. It was her father that kept her grounded as she waited for the day she left her mothers control for the beautiful grounds of Hogwarts.
Regina looked away from the sky to glance at her father waiting patiently by her side as always. She'd miss her father dearly, and from the present sadness in his eyes, she knew he would miss her as well. The only thing that gave her peace was the glint of pride she saw in his eyes as well.
Regina returned her gaze skyward, a smile on her lips, as she searched for any sign of her Aunt Minerva. It has been years since she last saw Minerva, but the distance between them and the frequent letters only served to strengthen their bond. A bond she wished she could share with her mother.
At precisely 9:00 o'clock Minerva appeared before them with a slight popping noise that was drowned out by the ringing of the castle clock.
Regina felt her father jerk backward at Minerva's sudden appearance. With a slight gasp and cat-like reflexes, Minerva's hand shot out to grasp one of her fathers flailing hands. A slight tug on her part saved him from what would have been a humorous fall.
"I'm dreadfully sorry for startling you, " Minerva said as her father stared at her, mouth slightly agape. Regina giggled at his dazed expression. While his expression was humorous, she understood the cause of it.
Not only had Minvera appeared out of thin air, but the sight she made was far from average. Minerva wore an emerald and black dress, traveling cloak and a black pointed hat. Wisps of her dark ebony hair framed her face, softening her stern features and her square glasses rested primly on the tip of her nose.
A slight nudge from Regina snapped Henry into action. With a small blush, he adjusted his coat and gave a stuttered reply in response.
"It's quite alright. I... uh tripped."
Regina swallowed a giggle before jumping in to save her father. She threw her arms around Minerva's slender waist, taking in her scent of ginger and what she assumed the Scottish highlands Minvera had written her about smelled like.
The witch, many considered severe, wrapped her arms around Regina and drew her in closer. "It's been too long, my dear."
Regina embraced her tighter in response.
"Are you ready to attend Hogwarts?" Minerva asked as Regina pulled away.
The bright smile on Regina's face rivaled that of the morning light. "Yes. I can't wait to see everything!" Regina said, her enthusiasm renewed.
Henry embraced his daughter, wishing nothing but the best for her. "Have a safe trip love and write to me always." He said before he released his daughter from his embrace and turned his attention to the waiting witch.
Regina observed her blushing father with an amused smile as he shook Minerva's hand before entering the castle with a final goodbye.
Regina smirked at her aunt.
"He likes you," Regina remarked casually when she was sure he was gone.
Minerva turned to face her young niece with a roll of her eyes. "Preposterous! He was simply being polite." Minerva pulled a black feather from a hidden pocket in her cloak.
"Now if you're done making foolish observations...are you ready to depart?" Minerva questioned with a twinkle in her emerald eyes.
"More than ready!" Regina said with glee.
Minerva motioned for her to take hold of the black feather in her hand. With a tug in her navel, she felt the ground shift beneath her feet as they transported to a world where she would learn how to control her magic.
Severus ignored the harsh laughter and mean whispers directed at him as he walked down the stone corridors. It was barely the second week of school, and already the vicious Marauders were spreading horrid rumors about him. Even the drooling first years would snicker and call him Snivellus.
Raucous laughter from ahead stopped him dead in his tracks. He knew that laughter all too well. UNwilling to face them so early in the day he ducked behind a knight and waited silently for them to pass.
Sirius's voice reached him first. "She is bloody hot! She's like a younger McGonagall!" A slight pause. "Er... I mean if you know Minerva was hot when she was younger."
"She is very pretty. They both are." Severus smirked. He knew Lupin had a crush on McGonagall. The simpering pup gave moony eyes everytime they had class. For a middle-aged witch, she wasn't too bad looking. Not that he would ever admit it to anyone even under extreme amounts of torture, but other than potions he particularly enjoyed her class. If only because she didn't favor any house, in her classroom they were all the same. To someone who had always been labeled and targeted it was a welcome change.
"Ooh, Moony has a crush on a teacher!"
"I do not Padfoot so shut your mouth!"
"She is pretty, but nothing compared to my Lily." Severus wished he could cast a spell on Potter so dark that he would lose Lilly forever.
"Whatever, just wait and see. The new girl is gonna be with me by the end of the week," Sirius said with conviction.
"Sure Sirius. What girl could resist you ravishing charms!"
"Exactly."
The insipid voice of Peter, the rat, broke through the voices of the other boys. "But Sirius she's in Slytherin."
"That just makes the chase more fun mate!"
Severus waited long after they had gone to come out from behind the knight. So the new girl was in his house. Well, he hoped she didn't bother him! Funny. The proud lioness's niece was not placed in Gryffindor but Slytherin.
He had not taken two steps down the hall when he heard the dreaded voice of Sirius Black.
"Hey, Snivellus! Where do you think you're going?!"
Sirius pulled him harshly by his school robes and threw him to the floor before the thought of fleeing entered his mind. James picked up Severus's book and papers off the floor.
"Look what we have here. Seems like the greasy git has done his homework in advance. It looks like we got the answers, boys."
Remus stood back and watched, he never really participated, but he didn't stop them either.
"Leave him alone," said a low but strong voice from behind them.
Severus tried to rise, but Sirius kept him down. "We are only having a bit of fun, love."
A haughty noise caught Severus's attention; a girl was defending him. It didn't sound like Lilly.
"I'm not your love you filthy fleabag. Leave him be before-''
Peter broke through, his rare burst of bravery had appeared. "Or what are you going to call your Aunty!"
A bright orange light lit up the hall, and Peter's loud squeal of terror echoed in the hall as a brilliant ball of fire flew over his head.
"Pity," said the unseen girl, "looks like I missed skewing the rat."
James dropped Severus's things to the ground. "Come on let's get out of here before she burns us alive!"
Peter scurried ahead of them while Remus and James dragged Sirius away. "I think I'm in love."
James huffed as he pulled him. "You've gone mad, mate."
Severus watched them turn the corner before looking at the girl gathering his things. The tall girl with porcelain skin and long ebony hair smiled at him. He stood rapidly to his feet and snatched his things from her grasp.
She rolled her eyes at him before speaking. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine." He snapped as he adjusted his robe. The last thing he needed was some girl coming to defend him, and Merlin forbids, try to be his friend.
"Good to know." Severus watched with surprise as she began to walk away. He expected her to whine and make him drop to his knees in gratitude.
The voice inside his head warned him not to engage her, but he was beyond curious.
"That's it?"
The girl didn't stop walking. "Yup."
Regina smirked knowing full well he couldn't see her. She didn't know why she had helped him. She just felt the need to do so. Ya, she could have stayed and talked to him, but she had the feeling she would've just scared him off. The tall, dark-haired boy reminded her of a horse her father had given her when she first learned how to ride. She had to be patient with the stallion before he allowed her to approach him. She felt the same would have to be done with the strange young boy.