Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
The next day Clarissa sat in the living room once again reading while Ink slivered around Flit and Fleta hopping along behind him. Snape was in the basement brewing some potion she didn't care for and was still mad at her. There was a knock on the door then and Clarissa quickly closed her book and ran to the door to beat the House Elves there. She reached the door before them and opened it to meet three smiling faces. On the doorstep stood her three best friends, Griffin Muddle, Samara King, and Dominic Mimic. "Hey guys!" Clarissa said moving to the side so her friends could pass through the door way. "Ello Mud Pie." Griffin said as he walked past her and into the living room to settle on one of the couches. Samara and Dominic shook their heads and settled onto the couches themselves. Mud Pie had been her long term nick name from Griffin for years now. He calls her Mud Pie because she's always dirty and loves sweets. The nick name use to drive her crazy but overtime she grew to love it and it also kind of caught on. A lot of people called her Mud Pie now, even Severus slipped up once and called her it.
Clarissa walked over and settled onto the same couch as Griffin. The four friends smiled at one another and all was quiet until Samara spoke. "Well?" Clarissa looked at her "Well what?" Dominic shook his head with an aggravated sigh. "Are you coming to Hogwarts or not?" Clarissa shrugged and looked at the floor with a small smile. "You are, aren't you!" Samara yelled and then launched herself at Clarissa. "Oh lord in heavens thank god, I was so scared I would be struck with these idiots again all be myself. Thank you thank you thank you! So much for getting Professor Snape to let you come this year!" Samara hugged Clarissa tightly around her waist while Clarissa tried to push her off. "Shut up Mara Severus is downstairs working for Merlins shake! Besides he didn't agree on my going, he still doesn't, and he's still mad so don't make him madder any of you!."
Everyone shut up and all went dead quiet as the three friends went pale like sheets and jumped to their feet. Samara moved so fast it threw Clarissa off balance and she fell of the couch. "Owwww…." She groaned and then looked up at her friends who all stood stiffly before bowing their heads. "Good afternoon professor." Clarissa pushed herself up and saw Severus staring down at her coolly. "Good afternoon. Clarissa?" Clarissa looked back to her friends "You guys staying for dinner?" the three nodded and Clarissa looked back to Snape. "Yup" he nodded then turned and left to go back to his basement. "Why do you guys always go so stiff around him?" Clarissa asked as her friends settled back into their seats. "Because Mud Pie we don't have the relationship you do with him." Dominic said. Griffin nodded "Yeah, I mean he's like your dad, but to us he's our teacher…and its bloody still weird to see him outside of school." Samara and Dominic nodded their heads fiercely. "He can't be that bad." Samara stared at Clarissa blankly. "He is the meanest teacher in the school Clarissa."
"Yeah and he has this thing for detentions." Dominic added. "Yeah don't remind me" Griffin groaned but then perked up "wait…this…this is great!" Clarissa, Samara and Dominic stared at one another before looking back to Griffin while Clarissa muttered. "Crud, he's thinking again." Griffin turned to them with a huge grin. "Wait, just listen, ok, Snape is a grump right?" everyone but Clarissa nodded. "But even through he's still a grump when Mud Pie is there he's less of a grump right?" once again everyone nodded but Clarissa, who caught where this was going and stood up. "Not happening Grif, not in your life time at least. I'm not gonna try and manipulate him to help you." Griffin stood as well and stared down at Clarissa who was a head shorter then him. "I'm not saying manipulate him, just try and steer him away from giving us so much detention." Clarissa frowned and stared at Griffin with a simple look that spoke volumes. It mostly said however shut up you moron of else.
"Mistress." Clarissa nodded her head to the house elf Lock who stood now to her left, not breaking eye contact with Griffin. "I hate to interrupt Mistress, but…but this letter just came f…f…for…you." Clarissa sighed to herself when she heard Lock stutter, the poor thing was always nervous he'd do something to make her or Severus mad. 'Who is it from Lock?" Lock looked down at the envelope in his hands turning it over to read the words on the back. "From a mister Brew and a...a mister Brew Mistress." Clarissa grinned and turned away from Griffin to take the letter from Lock with a happy smile. "Thank you Lock." Lock nodded a little and turned to leave before stopping and turning back. "I'm sorry to keep bothering you mistress, bu…but Gra…Granny wanted to know if you and your guest would care for something to snack on?" Clarissa smiled at Lock and nodded, "If you could sneak us some sweets I'd be eternally grateful Lock." Lock perked up and nodded happily. "As you wish mistress." Lock turned once more and left.
Clarissa looked at her friends and nodded her head towards the stairs before walking to them and up to her room. The friends smiled and followed her into the room and Griffin who was the last to enter closed the door behind him. "So…open it already!" Dominic said as the three settled onto Clarissa's bed and she smiled down at the envelope. "ok ok…" Clarissa gently opened the envelope and pulled out the letter inside. She took a deep breath and began to read.
Dearest Sweetest Mud Pie
We are happy to say that we survived another full moon and didn't kill each other or anyone else for that matter. We did however miss you running with us and according to others in Haven {mainly Goldie} we sat and cried like big babies most of the night when we couldn't find you. And as to an update on Goldie's progress he coming along nicely and can now produce a rather large flame. He appears to be under the impression that the faster he learns the sooner he can take a more human form and come visit you instead of having to wait for you to come here. We still haven't found the heart to tell him he won't be able to change for at least another two years. But enough about that, we are so happy and proud to hear that you are finally going to school like the semi normal girl you are! Make sure to send us many sketches and pictures once you get there. And also remember to tell your "siblings" we said hello and wish them a good term.
Your Uncles
Samuel Brew and Trevor Brew
P.S. Make sure to give Old man Snape a headache this term.
The four friends laughed at the last line of Clarissa's uncle's letter. "Wow, I swear those two have yet to truly grow up." Samara said as she shook her head. "I still can't get over the fact that you have two uncles in your family that are werewolves…and that we share being your best friends with a dragon." Dominic said. "Or that you would have such a great relationship with them…in both their forms and don't get burned to a crisp by a still maturing dragon." Griffin added. "Yeah I know I still can't get that one actually. I mean I have good relationships with animals, but I never thought I'd have such a great one with my Uncles wolves or Goldie for that matter." Clarissa said as she put the letter back in its envelope before placing it under her mattress. "Upside to this however, you know what you wanna do with your life." Clarissa smiled at Dominic. "Yup to work with and care for any creature in this world that could ever need my help. And to be able to help them anyway I can."
Clarissa was woken up bright and early two days later by Granny, who had laid out Clarissa's uniform with a proud smile and fussed about Clarissa happily. She did her hair, pulling the unruly mess into neat curls and pinning them away from her face. "I can't wait to sew your house emblem onto your robes Mistress." Clarissa smiled and shook her head "You fuss too much Granny." Granny laughed and patted Clarissa's lap. "Yes, but I do so very happily, it's not everyday that you go off to school for the first time." Clarissa looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. "I can't believe I'm finally going to school…it's like a dream Granny. The only problem with it is, is that I might wake up." Granny once again lightly patted Clarissa's lap "Don't worry Mistress, this is no dream."
When Granny was done fussing over Clarissa, she picked up Ink who was sleeping soundly on her bed and put him near the cuff of her shirt sleve. Ink lifted his head tiredly before pushing himself forward to slip up her sleve and wrap around her arm to go back to sleep. Fleta and Flit however quickly flew over and perched themselves on Clarissa's shouders. They happily hooted along with Clarissa's light mood and then they all left the room and moved to the first landing where Snape was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Clarissa smiled when she saw him, and even through he still wasn't happy she was going, he smiled back. Then Clarissa said her goodbyes to the house elves, Granny, Lock and Pumpkin before her and Severus left.
A/N any questions feel free to ask.
