Natalie Reynolds sat in the back of her Grandparents' car. Her mother sat in the passenger seat up front so Natalie was seated in the back with her forehead against the cool glass. Her mother, Abbie Reynolds, turned in her seat so she could look at her. Oh how Nat reminded her of him. The dark eyes that glared, smirked, and sneered, her love for books and potions. The only things that Nat didn't resemble of her father were that large nose, and her hair was much thicker and richer. It was more brown than black.
"Cheer up, darling. It won't be so bad." Ms. Reynolds tried to give some comfort.
Nat lifted her head from the window to turn and glower at her mother. "I've never met the man, yet you insist that I spend the entire summer with him while you go off to Egypt to research plants. I'd much rather sit and be angry and stubborn than 'cheer up'," Nat said irritably.
Ms. Reynolds sighed. Nat's grandmother focused on driving but said, " If you keep that attitude then you will have a terrible summer."
"Good. Then maybe you'll take me home," Nat muttered.
"No, I won't. You'll just have to try and make it as good as possible. Stop complaining and having yourself a pity-party."
"I do not pity myself," Nat spat hotly. "I simply do not wish to meet the guy who abandoned my mother and I!"
"Natalie Eileen! We've talked about this!" Ms. Reynolds gasped.
"It's true! He did! He left us! We could've died and he never would have know, or care!" Nat argued. She turned back to the window and glared at the passing neighborhoods like she wanted them all to burn and crumble.
Ms. Reynolds answered, "You know it was the Marriage Law they instated after the war. Neither of us wanted to marry. You know the situation!" She knew that Nat felt angry about their family's circumstances, but Nat hadn't had an outburst like that since she was eight years old. She was now sixteen; Ms. Reynolds had thought Nat had come to terms that her father and mother just didn't fit. Guess not. Grandmother just kept driving, a grim, somber expression on her face.
After awhile, they turned onto a street named Spinners End. Well, that's lovely, Nat thought. The street was dark and depressing. Houses looked abandoned, yards unkempt, windows smashed in. Nat wondered what sort of place she'd be in for the summer.
"What was the number dear?" Grandmother asked Ms. Reynolds. She muttered the house number, and the car stopped in front of the best looking house on the street. Not by much though. It looked like the yard was barely managed; wood planks that had fallen from the house were piled up on the dangerous looking patio, a window cracked, and what looked like a broken microwave shoved unceremoniously to the side of the unfriendly door.
Nat stepped out of the car and stared at the house falling apart. "Lovely place." She mumbled. "Sure you don't want to take me with you?" Ms. Reynolds gave her a stern look that obviously said 'No, now stop saying that.'
Nat raised her eyebrows innocently. Her gaze returned to the dwelling along with an expression of disdain. "Go up and ring the doorbell, Nat." Her mother suggested.
"I don't know. Do you think the porch is sturdy enough? One step, and I might just fall right into some deep chasm." Another strict look, and Nat trudged up to the door. The porch did creak and groan, but Nat didn't fall into some dark abyss. She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell, or rather, tried to. The button was stuck and Nat gave up. Instead she knocked on the door. A few minutes passed and the door was not opened. Nat knocked again, a little half-heartedly. Another few minutes passed and Nat looked over her shoulder and shrugged to her mother. She began to turn around and walk back to the car.
Ms. Reynolds put on a look of determination and grabbed Nat's hand. She walked up to the door and started to bang on it. "Severus!" She called. "Severus Snape! I know you're in there! Open the door!"
Silence.
"I won't leave until you open this door!"
Suddenly the door opened a crack. Then it closed with a slam. "Now go away!" a deep baritone voice called from the other side of the door.
Ms. Reynolds huffed and resumed knocking. "Mum," Nat tried to sound reasonable. "He obviously doesn't want us to be here, so let's go. I wouldn't mind going to Egypt. You could show me that new plant you're trying to cross breed."
"The Egyptian Mercus tree cannot cross breed. I'm trying to expand its growing capacity." Ms. Reynolds replied still knocking on the door.
Nat sighed and started to walk back towards the car. "Oh no you don't!" Her mother cried, ceasing the knocking that was surely giving Severus Snape a headache and grabbing her daughter by the arm. She yanked her back to the porch and calmly said to the door, "We had an agreement, Severus. Don't make me go to Minerva."
At the last comment Nat groaned almost as loud as the door that flew open. There stood a very tall man. His raven hair hung in his face and he glowered at Ms. Reynolds. Nat's eyebrows rose at the man that she supposed was her father. She looked almost exactly like him. Same eyes, same body structure, everything. Only, Nat noticed that his eyes looked haunted. As if his past held many shadowy and terrible secrets.
"Don't go to Minerva. She has been trying to get me to reclaim my post as a teacher there and I'm running out of excuses. Besides, I never agreed to anything. You said that you would drop her," he glanced at Nat, "off for the summer."
"See, Mum? He doesn't even want me here! Just take me to Egypt with you!" Nat pleaded, trying to sound convincing.
The man looked at Nat. "Egypt? Why Egypt?" He questioned.
"Oh, Mum is doing research there on a Amazonian Marcus shrub or something." Nat said dismissively.
Ms. Reynolds huffed. "It's the Egyptian Mercus Tree!"
"Yeah, yeah. Come on, let's go." Nat grabbed her mother's hand and tried to pull her back to the car. She could see Grandmother waiting patiently in the driver's seat.
Ms. Reynolds pulled out of her daughter's grasp and pointed her wand at Snape. She glared at him and said, "She is going to stay with you for the summer. Please Severus," she added quietly.
Snape didn't even flinch when Ms. Reynolds brought out her wand. He leaned against the doorjamb, and had an amused expression on his face. "Alright." He submitted. "Only for the summer. But," he added, "If she becomes annoying, I will send her back." Nat could have sworn they were talking about an animal or a package. Not there sixteen your old daughter.
Ms. Reynolds nodded and set Nat's shrunken luggage next to her. "Goodbye darling," She pulled Nat into a hug, which Nat did not return. Instead she scowled and struggled against it. "I know you're upset, but you'll have a good time. Then you can go back to Hogwarts." Ms. Reynolds said into Nat's hair.
Nat succeeded in pulling away and looked at the cracked window. "Whatever."
Ms. Reynolds sighed yet again and finally walked back to the car. Though, without Nat. They drove off and left Nat with her luggage and Severus Snape, her father.