The last week of school went by with much ease without the stress of wondering where Grace would return to after getting off at King's Cross Station. She had finished her last exam when she was summoned to Dumbledore's office. He and Severus were already there waiting for her.
"Good evening, Miss McClivert," Dumbledore said rising from his chair.
"Good evening, professors," Grace had gotten the bounce back into her step and her eyes shone brighter. It was visually obvious the child had been relieved of any stress not involving exams.
"Are you finished all of your exams for the year?" Dumbledore waved his wand and a cup of tea appeared in front of her. Grace took the cup and sat down in the chair on the other side of his gigantic desk.
"Yes, in fact, I just finished my Potions exam before coming here," she looked over at Severus with an amused look.
"Then I hope you did well, Miss McClivert," Severus added. Grace had always done excellent on the exams he gave, it wasn't any surprise that she would get less than High Marks. But why was she looking at him like she knew something he didn't?
"Oh, I did, Professor. But there were a few spelling errors in the questions. I only hope everyone else knew what you meant by them," oh so that's how it was going to be? Grace only smiled wider when Severus gave her an utter look of annoyance. This wasn't the first time she had corrected a minor error on an assignment he gave them. She would often take matters into her own hands and fix his errors in the questions or instructions. Now I remember why I despise Ravenclaws, he thought. They are insufferable know-it-alls.
Grace and Severus were caught in an intense stare-down, so Dumbledore decided to break the uneasy atmosphere, "Miss McClivert, once students return home from Hogwarts, you will be returning with Professor Snape."
Grace turned away to look at the Headmaster, "Where is that exactly?" She held her tongue to make any snide remarks about it being some secret lair in a cave somewhere.
"Snape Manor. Secluded from the rest of society frankly in the middle of nowhere," it would be befitting for Snape to live in a haunted house on top of a hill somewhere. She envisioned the Haunted Mansion, dark and gloomy and full of cobwebs.
Grace had never been to a manor before. She'd always dreamed of living in one, just in case living in a castle didn't quite work out. Her mind couldn't comprehend a home with so many excess rooms just for the sake of having extra space. She had only lived in flats before, except for the home. She had stayed in one couple's fancy home for about two weeks, but she was told she wasn't allowed to touch anything, and so she stayed in her room for the duration of her stay. She was taken back to the home with the complaint that she was "too antisocial." That had been her life for the two years leading up to the Nobles' taking her in. She felt like a jumper that no one could seem to love and spent most days on the return rack.
"I have to get my things from the Nobles' flat. It's not very far from the station, only a few minute's walk. And I'll be quick about it, I don't have many things to pack anyway," Grace gave Severus a lop-sided smile. Severus nodded, it would give him some time to prepare the manor for Grace's arrival. It was only himself and his house elves that lived in the massive estate, he never had to accommodate for anyone else, let alone a fourteen-year-old girl. That was probably what scared Severus the most. The most familiar he had been with girls was the female Slytherins, who were rude and brutish, unlike Grace who was the essence of happiness and wore her heart out on her sleeve. He would just have to learn and adapt as things went on.
Grace walked next to Severus on their way to the Great Hall for supper. She wanted to ask him so many questions, what was the manor like? were there children her age close by? was there anyone else residing at the manor with them? would Luna be allowed to visit? So many important questions to ask and all she could muster was, "Do you have any pets?"
Severus halted for a second and looked down at the girl like she had eight heads, "What?"
Grace's cheeks turned a deep red, matching her hair, "Pets. Do you have them? And owls don't really count. I'm talking about dogs, cats, horses?" She had always wanted a pony growing up, but alas, there was nowhere to fit one in their small flat in the middle of London.
Severus shook his head, "No, none of the sorts. I never quite understood the Muggles' way of keeping animals as pets."
Okay, Grace was slightly disappointed at that statement. The Nobles' were allowed a small dog at their flat, but Grace adopted a kitten before attending Hogwarts her first year. She didn't want an owl and certainly didn't want a toad. He was a small black kitten named Cas. He was more of a therapy cat than a witch's assistant, as he enjoyed shredding up her notes and knocking potions off of the table. But Grace was almost afraid to mention the cat to Severus. She'd deal with that when they arrived at the manor. Surprise, Severus!
Severus held the door to the Great Hall open for her but stopped her before she could walk inside, "Miss-… Grace… What's your favorite color?"
Grace raised an eyebrow. What a more random question than mine, she thought. "I really like blue. But, if it's going to disturb the aesthetic of the manor, maroon will do just fine, Severus," she walked into the Great Hall in a fit of giggles that grew into full laughter by the time she had reached the Ravenclaw table. Luna honestly believed Grace's last episode had managed to break something in her friend's mind, and that was rich coming from the "Loony Lovegood."
Luna and Grace stepped off of the Hogwarts Express onto Platform 9 3/4. Luna set her luggage down next to her and looked at her best friend. She knew how much she was dreading going back to her former foster parents' flat, but Grace insisted on going alone. She wished Grace knew by now that she didn't have to take on every single burden by herself, Luna was more than happy to stand by her side through her toughest times. "Promise you'll tell me if he turns out to be a psychopath?" Luna grabbed her friend's hands and held them tight, reassuring Grace that she would always be there for her.
"I promise, Luna. But I really don't believe things are going to be as bad as you think. Maybe you could even come visit? It's just going to be him and me at the manor," Grace gave Luna's hands a tight squeeze before catching Severus walking towards them to of the corner of her eye. Luna followed Grace's line of sight and peeked over her shoulder at Professor Snape.
"I guess that's your call to go," Luna said looking back at her.
"Yeah, I guess so. Have fun this summer, okay? I'll message you as soon as I get settled in."
"You better!" Luna pulled her friend into a tight embrace. "I love you, Grace. Please take care of yourself."
Grace tucked her head into Luna's neck, squeezing her back, "I love you, too. And I will, it's a new window opening for me. This will all be good, I just know it." Grace felt the tears forming in her eyes. Luna had been there for her for the past three years and they had grown so close together, they were practically sisters. Furthermore, Luna was the only person she ever said I love you to. The three words held more weight to Grace than anyone could ever believe, having not spoken them to anyone else since before being taken to the home.
The girls stood in each other's arms for a moment before grudgingly pulling away. They never said Goodbye, goodbye meant that they wouldn't see each other again. They tried to act as if they'll see each other the next day like they were still in school. Grace watched Luna tug her luggage down the platform before calling out, "I miss you already!"
Luna laughed, looking over her shoulder at Grace, who was now frantically waving. She blew her a kiss, "I miss you more!" Grace dramatically caught the kiss in the air and held it to her heart, Luna just rolled her eyes before disappearing among the crowds.
Grace was uncontrollably giggling. When she looked up at Severus, he was sporting a rather amused smirk, having just witnessed the girls' fiasco. Her face flushed a deep red shade and cleared her throat. "Um, I should get going to get my things. I shouldn't be too long. Here's the address," she pulled a crumpled piece of paper and handed it to Severus.
"You may take your time, Grace. I have to return to the manor early to prepare for your arrival. I'll take your luggage from Hogwarts so you're not carrying too much," Severus didn't even know where to begin with the preparations. He should have really asked for a woman's assistance but figured he had better get used to dealing with these ordeals on his own.
"Well, you have fun playing interior designer," Severus looked annoyed by her sarcastic comment. But he figured he should just let it slide. She already was looking pale as she got closer to returning to the flat.
"I'll be back soon," was all he said before he apparated away, leaving Grace standing alone in the middle of King's Cross Station.
There wasn't much Grace had to pack. The Nobles' weren't rich, and by no means had spoiled the child. She kept most of her casual attire in London, she wore a uniform every day anyway. She also kept her violin at home, along with her record player and stacks of vinyl. Some of the vinyl belonged to Mr. Noble, but she had no intentions of giving them back.
Mrs. Noble left a note to Grace saying they were out baby shopping and should expect her things to be gone so that they could start on the nursery. So Grace packed anything she could get her hands on that would fit into her bags. She even went into the kitchen and stuffed some junk food in with her clothes. No way was she going to live without junk food!
She set all of her luggage down by the door, ready for Severus to come get her. Along the mantle was photographs of her and the Nobles', in all of them, Grace was smiling, but her eyes were sad. They had never been considered a family. She felt she had simply been a tenant to the Nobles' for the past four years, dependent on them for everything since she had squat. She noticed something she hadn't before, picking it up, it was the document releasing the Nobles' guardianship and responsibility of the girl. They had already signed it and even gotten a judge to sign it as well. Now all was needed was Grace and Severus' signatures and she'd be in the professor's care.
It was so painful, how easy it was to give up on a child and write them off. Once again, Grace felt like she was just a piece of furniture being handed off to another home. There was no sentiment or compassion in the matter and the foster child had no say in anything whatsoever. Her eyes stung with tears as she signed the document, clutching it in her fist. Four years, completely wasted and meaningless. She slid down the wall and brought her knees to her chest, finally letting herself to let it all out once again. Between her sobs, she didn't even hear the door opening or see the dark figure in front of her.
The apartment door was left slightly ajar and as Severus walked down the hall, he heard cries becoming increasingly louder. He picked up his pace and threw open the door to find Grace huddled in the corner with her knees to her chest. Her long red hair covered her face, but by the shaking of her shoulders, he knew the girl was crying.
Severus pulled out his wand, "What happened?" His voice was laced with annoyance and anger, but not pointed towards the girl. He looked around the small flat for the Nobles', hoping to find them so he could give them a piece of his mind. They had put the child through enough pain. "Miss McClivert, are you hurt?Where are they?"
Grace wiped her tears away and slowly stood up and looked up at Severus with puffy bloodshot eyes, "They're not here." Her voice sounded strained and full of pain. "I'm sorry… You must think me a huge hormonal mess." She fixed her hair and tried to shake out the wrinkles in her uniform and handed the guardianship document to Severus.
The document was missing his signature, and that would finalize the "handover." He wondered how many times Grace had to sign her name on one of these; how many times a foster parent grew tired of her and wanted her gone. Four years was a long time to belong to a foster parent and gave the false hope of a possible adoption. To be thrown away like yesterday's garbage because they found a replacement was no excuse, and Grace deserved better. Severus just wasn't sure if she was going to find that "better" with him.
"You have every reason to be emotional, Miss McClivert. What was done to you is unacceptable and the Nobles' don't deserve children if they justify themselves like they have. Hand me a pen," Severus held his hand out.
"Y-you mean you still want me?" Grace was in disbelief that Severus had still wanted an emotional wreck of a foster child. No one wanted a kid no one else wanted, especially one with so many issues. It was something that was drilled into Grace's head for years that she came to know as truth.
"Merlin, child! Pen! Before I change my mind," Severus would never really change his mind, but it was the only way to keep the girl from going on and on with doubt. She quickly handed him the pen and he signed off the document and handed it back to Grace. She stood there staring at the document, like she was afraid it would disappear if she took her eyes off of it. "So what does that make me to you?" he asked her, breaking her attention from the paper to him.
"Oh, um, my legal guardian. My foster parent, really. You're like a parent but without the title. That would consist of adopting me, and filling out a bunch of paperwork to get me for good. Miss Lane's or my old parents can't take me away without a court case that they certainly can't afford." Not that you'd want to adopt me anyway, she thought. She suddenly found great interest in her black trainers.
Severus felt a pang in his chest and pulled the document from Grace's hand. There was a tiny box to check off for "Request of Adoption Papers." The document made it look as if the life and fate of a child weren't contained in it. The children were seen as objects to be tossed around from home to home. A sad and miserable life to lead and the girl was only fourteen years old. He stared at the tiny box for a long time, his mind teetering on the subject. Grace is a good kid, he thought. She's done nothing to deserve this and yet, I don't believe I can grant her what she does deserve.
The Ravenclaw stood there staring off into the distance as if saying goodbye to her life for the past four years. Severus folded up the document, deciding he'd make his final decision in a few days time. "Come, Grace. We should be going on our way," he said, leaving the flat.
Grace silently nodded, grabbing her bags. She looked back into the apartment, her grief being replaced by resentment towards the Nobles'. She closed the door for the last time on the life she used to know. It's time for a change for a better, she reassured herself.