-1Chapter 10: The Lost Owl

Early Tuesday morning Severus was awake - as usual - and anxious as ever. He had realized last night just after dinner that it had been several days since he had talked to Lana. Actually - it had been several days since he'd seen Lana. He hurried with his morning tasks, eager to catch the young girl before breakfast in hopes he could convince her to meet him not only after classes this afternoon, but during lunch as well. After his reconciliation with Tristessa he found that his mind was much more active on topics he would rather be thinking about and he was sure he had a bit of a break through on his molecular transfiguration theory. Normally he would have started the research on his own but he knew that helping him would make Lana happy - and the girl needed some happiness in her life.

It amazed him at how caring he was for the girl. He rationalized that he saw a little of himself in her - a bright mind, a bit obscure at times, and had suffered so much loss at such a young age. He had watched his mother die slowly as the illness crept its way through her body but he could not imagine watching his best friend be ripped to shreds by a wolf on a full moon.

"Oy, watch it!" Evan said as Severus bumped into him on his way through the common room, "What's with you lately Snape?"

Severus mumbled an apology and made his way down to the great hall. As he opened the wide doors he glanced around the room quickly. Only one occupant was at the Gryffindor table - Remus Lupin. Severus started towards his own table but thought twice - Lupin seemed like a reasonable fellow. Maybe he could have him give Lana a message for him - he sure as hell wasn't going to be able to talk to the girl once the other Gryffindors arrived.

"Lupin," Severus said when he was just behind the young man.

Remus looked up from his book and smiled softly at his guest.

"Severus," he said warmly, "and what to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Severus searched that comment for any source of sarcasm but only found a sense of friendly banter. He allowed himself a small grin.

"I was wondering if you could get a message to Miss Lovegood for me," Severus said.

"Oh," Remus said frowning a bit, "She didn't leave you her home address?"

"Her home address?" Severus asked, "No, of course not. Why would she…" he stopped halfway through his sentence. Had Lana gone home and not said anything? Is that why he hadn't seen her all weekend?

Remus took out a small piece of parchment and started to scribble out Lana's address.

"Her Grandmother passed away Saturday afternoon," Remus said as he wrote, "she had to get home to her father. I feel terrible that I wasn't here when she got the news," Remus frowned as he handed Severus the parchment, "I really don't know how much more loss that little girl can take. She and her grandmother were very close."

Severus swallowed hard and nodded, accepting the paper.

"I'm sure she'll be happy to hear from you," Remus said with a small smile, "I have it on good authority that she's rather fond of you."

Severus grinned again.

"The girl does have impeccable taste," Severus said.

Remus chuckled at that.

"You had better make your way back to your table - before James and Sirius get here. I'd like to have a quiet morning," Remus said with a smile.

"As would I," Severus said, and with a small nod headed back to his own table.

Several moments later found the hall packed with students, and Severus' table was no exception. It seemed that Tristessa wasn't the only one who forgave him over the weekend because Bella was back to her normal, boisterous self and was still giving him advice on how to take down Sirius and James.

"Did anyone find themselves a costume yet for the Malfoy ball?" Tristessa asked.

"I have this lovely dress my mum wore to a cotillion a few years back," Narcissa said, "Beautiful lace and ravishing red velvet. I was thinking of going as Anne Boleyn,"

"Does that mean we get to chop your head off like Sir Nicholas?" Evan asked making a slicing motion across his throat. A few students giggled and Narcissa squinted her eyes at him in mock anger.

"Oh very funny, Evan," Bella said.

"And let me guess," Evan continued, "You, Miss Black - are going as some sort of lady of the night?"

The men giggled at Evan's prostitute reference and surprisingly, so did Bella. Though she was proud of her promiscuous reputation, she did not like being referred to as a hooker.

"As a matter of fact, you're right!" Bella said, "Or as close to right as you, being a Rosier, can be,"

Several students "ooohed" at the sudden family tree insult. The Rosiers, though pure blood, were only barely so. Too often there were rumors of outside "finagling" between Rosier women and their servants throughout history. So many, in fact, that it was believed that the entire Rosier bloodline was sullied with the blood of commoners and muggleborns. Of course it had never been proven - but it was assumed.

"I am going as a Vampiress," Bella said and she took a bite of her breakfast.

"And you, Tess," Severus said joining the conversation, "What costume do you have picked out?"

"Juliet, from Romeo and Juliet," she said with a smile.

"That Muggle poetry book?" Narcissa said with a sniff, "Really, Tess, how common."

"I'll have you know that William Shakespeare was a great writer!" Tristessa defended, "And just because he is muggle born doesn't mean we should discount his works as 'common',"

"Here she goes again," Evan said rolling his eyes.

"What?" Tristessa asked, offended.

"Nothing love," Bella said, "It's just that whenever someone insults anything even remotely muggle you go all defensive on us. Just give it a rest all ready. Just because there are a few intelligent muggles out there doesn't mean squat. I mean, come on - there are parrots who can talk but we don't give them a seat in the ministry, do we?"

"I don't know," Evan said, "Our latest Minister of Magic has a vocabulary as limited as a birds…"

There was more giggling and Tristessa began spearing her eggs with her fork with a sour expression on her face.

"I'm sorry if I feel it necessary to remind some of you that just because we are of a pure bloodline doesn't make us any better than anyone else."

"Now THAT is blasphemy!" Evan said.

"Yeah, you better be careful Tess," Bella said cheekily, "Wouldn't want Lucius hearing that kind of talk."

Tristessa lowered her head an mumbled into her plate.

"Might do him some good, ruddy old…" and her sentence trailed off.

A load screeching sound announced the arrival of the morning post. Severus was not surprised that an owl did not have a delivery for him - but he was a bit disappointed. He had almost hoped that Lana would write to him - at least to tell him that she would not meet him after classes. It seemed only right. But then he rationalized that the girl had enough on her mind without having to worry about him.

"Ahem," a throat cleared softly behind Severus.

"And what the hell do YOU want?" Bella asked rudely.

Severus turned around to see Remus Lupin standing behind him. The brown haired man looked a bit nervous at having to be at the Slytherin table but still managed to keep a small smile.

"I believe this is for you," Remus said handing a small envelope to Severus, "seems the owl was a bit confused,"

Severus took the envelope and saw the small and precise, yet slightly loopy handwriting on its front.

Severus Snape

Severus looked up at Remus and smiled softly. The warmth in Remus' eyes grew slightly as if he were silently trying to reassure Severus that he was not forgotten about.

"Okay Lupin - thanks for playing postman," Bella said, "Buh-bye now."

The table giggled and Remus walked away, but not after giving the table one more modest, yet full hearted smile.

"Who's it from?" Tristessa asked leaning over Severus as he sat back down.

"Er," Severus said pocketing the envelope, "probably my father."

"Strange that an owl would mess up like that," Narcissa said, "stupid creatures."

Severus nodded and finished his breakfast, barely noticing the scrutiny of Tristessa's stare.