The rest of her detentions flew by faster then she had imagined they would. His store room was the neatest that it would ever be, although she doubted it would stay that way too long. After that he gave the two mundane tasks to keep them busy. After she had finished his, she reported in for her detentions with McGonagall. Those were far less awkward.
Before she knew it, it was the week before Christmas Holiday. She was sitting in potions when Professor McGonagall asked to speak with her. The look on her face told Corina it wasn't a good thing. Once the door was shut behind them, and they were in the hall alone, Corina received some very bad news.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Ms Bates, but I fear I must." McGonagall began solemnly. Her hands were laced loosely in front of her, and her eyes held sadness. "Your parents have been in a terrible car accident." Her voice was low.
Corina stared at her a moment before shaking her head. "No, there must be some mistake! Mum hated cars! Said they were noisy, and unnecessary!" She shot back, holding back tears. "Sh-she wouldn't have been driving. Only Dad ever used the car!" In her whole life she'd seen her mother willingly use the car maybe a handful of times, all for family vacations.
McGonagall reached out to touch Corina's shoulder. "Do you have any other family?" Although being an adult, she doubted that Corina was ready to live alone.
Licking her lips, Corina felt a tear run down her cheek. "Yes, I do. I can see if maybe I can keep my stuff at their house..." Her voice was barely above a whisper. She was staring at the wall, but wasn't seeing it. "Would it be alright if...if I went home early? I know I'll miss work, but I can make it up. Or have my friends owl it to me. I won't be able to focus, and I'll need to go through my parents things." As she said it, she felt like she was punched in the chest.
"I'll speak to Dumbledore about it. Why don't you go get your things from Professor Snape's class room and head to the tower? You'll need to use floo powder to get home, and I'll make sure the house elves get your things home." McGonagall said kindly before turning to head to see the headmaster.
After a moment, Corina slowly, and quietly made her way into the potions classroom. She ignored the stares she was getting, knowing that she was crying. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she started to gather her things.
Snape looked up at the noise. Usually he would have said something about her packing up in his class early, but by the look that McGonagall had on her face, and how distraught Corina seemed, he decided against it. He simply watched her take her things, and walk out of his classroom.
Corina sat on her living room floor, eyes puffy and red from crying, as she sorted everything. She was a mess. Her strawberry blonde hair was tossed up into a messy bun, she'd been wearing the same jeans for two days, and she was wearing one of her father's white button up shirts. She had the sleeves rolled up to her elbow, and was thankful her father hadn't been a large man.
Reaching down, she picked up a picture of her parents on their honeymoon. It was a Muggle picture, so it didn't move. Part of her liked it better that way. Gently running her finger over her parents form, she bit her lip. Their funeral was in a couple days, and she knew it would hit her again like a ton of bricks.
Hearing a 'crack' in the kitchen, she jumped. Corina quickly got up and moved towards the kitchen. "Hello?" She called out before even reaching the door. Much to her surprise, Snape moved around the corner. Blinking, she stared at him. "Professor?" She asked, confused.
"Hello, Ms. Bates. I am here to check on you." The words felt weird coming from his mouth. He'd been chosen to be the one because he was the only one that had been to her house. It was just easier. "I see you've been busy." He said, looking around at the boxes.
Corina nodded and crossed her arms over her chest. "Uh, yeah. I need to pack up everything before the end of winter break. And then I need to get it all to my Aunt's house." She said with a small shrug, sniffling. Professor Snape being there didn't bother her, oddly enough. Wiping her face, she sighed.
Snape was unsure of what else to say. He'd said what he came for, and she'd answered. Yet, he felt the need to stay. "I gather you'll be staying with your Aunt, then? I'm guessing that would be your Aunt Gerry?" He asked.
"Yes, that's right. She'll be helping me move." Corina confirmed, moving around him to the kitchen. "Would you like some tea?" She asked, gathering everything together.
"No, thank you." He declined, turning to follow her. "May I ask why you are doing everything by hand? Magic would be much faster." The way that Muggles did everything was so slow. She could have the whole house packed by that night if she wanted to. Why drag it on?
Putting the kettle on the stove, she sighed. "Because that's impersonal. These were my parents things, and they left everything to me. I need to go through it all. Little by little. I have to decide what I want to keep, what I want to let my Aunt have, and what I want to give away, like the furniture." She told him, looking over. "I have to condense a house full of memories down to just some boxes and trunks." She added, looking around. There were boxes everwhere, things taken down from their spots, bare walls, and it made the house seem sad. She lived there her whole life.
"How did they die?" Snape asked, wondering if talking was helping her at all.
"Car crash." She said, letting out a sick chuckle. "You have no idea how ironic that is. My mum hated cars. Hated them! Since I can remember, she's only ever used them for family vacations. One of the few times she gets in the car and she dies. Hit by another car on a slick road." Corina told him, wiping her nose. "Look, I'm thankful you bothered to come check on me, but I honestly don't want to have to talk about this right now. Can you just leave me be? I just need to be alone." She looked up at him, her hazel eyes briming with more tears.
Snape gave her a quick nod before apparating back to Hogwarts. He still wasn't sure what to think. Part of him hoped that she would have screamed at him for simply apparating into her home, insulted him, something. That way he wouldn't have to feel as sorry for her, and wouldn't have been inclined to stay.
Once he was gone, Corina turned back to the kettle as it whistled. Shutting off the oven, she suddenly decided she wasn't in the mood for tea anymore.