This chapter is just a filler for Sandra to get to Hogwarts and stuff. Hope you enjoy it though and please don't hesitate to give feedback. Shiny xxx

Chapter 3: Letters

The next morning was horrible. I was still extremely shook up from last night's experience. Mum told Violet and Logan and they were worried for me but had to leave on their business trip. Everyone was worried for me. As expected, we discovered that the front page of the daily prophet was about the death of Albus Dumbledore. The press always worked fast in the Wizardry world.

Even though the day dragged on I couldn't stop thinking about Draco. Lord Voldemort was evidently the one who commanded him to do it but why? Of all the people in his arsenal, he told a young boy to kill the one of the strongest wizards of our time. It made no sense. While I lost in my thoughts in my bedroom I heard my mum shout, "Sandra, mail." I never get mail I thought. I ran down to her in the kitchen and she handed me a letter which was stamped by wax in the middle. "The ministry?" I was about to open it and it floated out of my hands and started to talk. It was saying what was written in the letter; clearly a spell the ministry used loads.

Miss Sandra Lyons May 1997

Professor Albus Dumbledore notified the ministry of magic recently that you were hired to become a temporary transfigurations teacher and were to commence on Monday. Albus Dumbledore was to clarify this, this weekend. Sadly, due to the unexpected death of the Hogwarts headmaster, you will not be permitted to teach in Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry until a new headmaster has been appointed. This will not occur till early August and therefore the earliest you will be able to teach in this school is in September of this year. You will receive notification of your post in September. Until you obtain this, you will not be allowed to teach in Hogwarts.

Yours Sincerely

Rufus Scrimgeour

When the letters' magic faded, I read the letter again and again, my hands shaking with anger. It couldn't be true. Mum was looking at the letter over my shoulder. The earliest I'll be able to be in Hogwarts is four months away. Lord Voldemort could do a lot in four months.

Deathly Hallows era

Before we knew it, it was September. I remembered saying in May how Voldemort could do a lot in four months and that he did. His biggest feat was recently claiming the ministry for his own. We're not sure how he exactly did it but they were at his command. He made many various laws which were outrageous. A few were that every young wizard and witch must attend Hogwarts; every 'mudblood' had to go to the ministry for questioning to see if they 'stole' the magic they had. Another one was that Harry Potter was 'undesirable #1' and it was required that he's alive. Voldemort had also taken over the daily prophet which plagued the minds of nearly everyone. Giving the public doubts about their once strong beliefs. Since then though a British wizard by the name of Xenophilius Lovegood has started an honest newspaper named "The Quibbler" which completely supports Harry. There some of the many things Voldemort has done over the summer.

Not a lot has happened here at home. The only thing that has changed for me is that I now have a fringe which is obviously petty. I keep seeing Draco, mostly in my dreams. It's a constant reminder of the danger we're all in. There mostly about scenarios he's in. Luckily not to the extent of the one that had taken place in May. A random thing like death eaters in and out of what I believe is his house. Voldemort resides there too. I've not had any visions of him though since Hogwarts begun once again earlier this month. I let out a sigh and once again waited for the mail. All month I've waited for an owl to come with a letter of approval for entering Hogwarts, but due to the ministrys' corruption, I doubt it will happen at all.

Once again, I waited at the front porch with the glass doors open. Even though the sun was out, it was cold. Later on in the day, my heart skipped a beat as I saw a strange owl fly towards the house. I stood up as the owl got closer. When it landed, it dropped a letter on the floor in front of me and flew away. I picked it up and it was for me which was a good sign. The wax stamp was different though. I didn't recognise it. I opened the letter and left it at arms length, expecting it to talk again but after a minute of silence I assumed it didn't. I began to read it.

To Ms. Lyons September 1997

You applied for temporary transfiguration teaching which was postponed earlier this year due to unforeseen circumstances at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The ministry has lifted this and you have now been approved to educate students in Hogwarts for transfigurations. We will expect you in Hogwarts and ready to teach on the 30th of September. You may arrive on the premises any date between now and then. When you arrive, seek Mr Argus Flitch, caretaker of Hogwarts to bring you to your accommodation.

Yours truly,

Severus Snape

Headmaster

A small smile came to my lips; the thirtieth of September was my birthday. So Severus was now headmaster. He was the monster who murdered Dumbledore and now he was headmaster of Hogwarts. Sadly though, the ministry were probably aware of this but since it's been taken over, no one would dare accuse him. I shrugged off the grim thought and with that I close the porch door and got ready to go to Hogwarts.