The Thestral Incident
Snape did not see Adelina very much the following day. Instead, Dumbledore was busy talking with her, and so Snape's only encounters with the young woman occurred at mealtimes, when it was hardly appropriate to inquire about her abilities as an Occlumens. His second option was to speak directly with Dumbledore. The old man seemed to know absolutely everything, and if the meek witch was indeed gifted, then that should not have escaped his notice.
"Come in," the cheerful voice of Dumbledore beckoned. "Ah, Severus, my boy. What can I do for you? Lemon drop?"
Snape sat in the chair offered by the Headmaster. "I would like to ask about Miss Cummings. And no, thank you."
Dumbledore leaned back in his high-backed chair. "Miss Cummings . . . a delightful young woman, don't you agree?"
Snape didn't bother replying — as though his opinion actually mattered. "You say she studied in America?"
"At the Salem Witches' Institute. I dare say she was the top of her class in Potions," Dumbledore smiled. "Quite a boon for you, hm?"
"I haven't had an opportunity to observe her skills for myself," Snape answered.
"Of course not, you've been trying to rid yourself of her," Dumbledore grinned. His blue eyes sparkled behind his spectacles. "Of course, of course. But, I dare say that she has quite a resolve. She'll prove herself, don't you worry. I doubt a few horned toads will keep her from studying here." He rose from his chair. "But, I hate to keep you, Severus, and I know you're busy preparing for classes next week. I myself have some work to do."
Snape opened his mouth to speak, but Dumbledore continued on with a litany of things he needed to do. Dumbledore rarely forced anyone out of his office, and Snape hadn't even had a chance to ask any pertinent questions about his apprentice. Even after Snape had exited the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore's voice rambled from inside.
Frustrated and keeping his mental blocks securely in place, Snape walked briskly back towards the dungeons. As he passed a window, a soft voice from outside caught his attention. He turned to glance past the glass pane and spy upon a cloaked figure on the grounds. By the strict chignon, he knew it was Adelina Cummings cooing to the creature below. The scene would have been quite normal, had it not been for the fact that she was, in fact, petting a thestral.
Snape walked to the window and placed his hands on the sill. The breeze carried her voice to the window, but her words were lost in the air. It was rather peculiar, seeing the seemingly innocent young woman petting a creature visible only to those who had witnessed death. He watched her lead the funereal beast away from the castle and towards the Forbidden Forest. When he could see her no longer, Snape turned from the window. After all, she was not his responsibility, and if she chose to enter the Forest, that was one apprentice he'd never see again.
As Adelina wandered slowly back to the castle, random thoughts passed through her mind. The most irritating was the fact that Snape had continued to speak to her throughout the day, after he'd told her to shut up. But, that was yesterday, and she knew better than to keep a grudge. Particularly one against her mentor.
The second thought that crossed her mind was her conversation with Dumbledore. Almost her entire day was spent in the company of the elder wizard, sometimes with McGonagall at his side, but often not. They talked of magic and of Quidditch (the sport was not as popular in the States as in Europe), and of Adelina's history — a topic she was loathe to discuss. It wasn't that she had a speckled past in school, she'd been an exemplary student. However, her muggle breeding was certainly not highly thought of, and had it not been for that accident. . . . No! Adelina firmly chided herself. You will not think of it! She closed her eyes in an attempt to physically block the thoughts from surfacing, and rushed into the castle.
The warm glow from the torches did little to calm Adelina's rushing thoughts as she briskly walked down the hall. The light threw her shadow in odd silhouette against the wall, rushing across the
stone as Adelina's footsteps echoed in the stillness. From a shadow in front of her, a dark figure stepped into view. At first surprised, Adelina's breath caught in her throat. "Professor Snape!"
"Out late, Miss Cummings?" Snape drawled monotonously. "A young witch such as yourself should not be alone at night, with the school as empty as it is. I suppose the chivalrous thing for me to do would be to escort you to your rooms. Shall we, Miss Cummings?"
A/N: My computer has finally been fixed! I apologise for the delays!
