Upon Maleficent's return home for the summer, she knew there would be trouble. She was right. Her father was furious that she had not been practicing her singing during the school year. Of course, Eileen tried to reason with Pierre but, he was a Muggle and didn't understand such things. He spent most of the summer pretending that his daughter didn't exist. It didn't help Maleficent either that she was away from her friends, especially Severus. She had tried to telepathically talk to him but it wasn't working. She assumed that they were too far apart for telepathy to work. So, there she was, sad and alone, truly alone, for the first time in a long time. She had gotten used to being able to talk to Severus when she wanted to talk to someone. But now, she couldn't reach his mind. She needed something to take her mind off of her friends and her school. So, she turned to singing. Day and night she could be heard in her bedroom, singing her heart out. Her father was delighted at this. "Her voice is improving greatly! She'll be a professional in no time!" Pierre would exclaim. But Eileen knew that Maleficent only sang to try to hide her sorrow.
Severus was no better. He returned home to his mother and spent the summer immersed in books. He read anything he could get his hands on. Severus and his mother rarely talked. She worked in a wizarding medical facility and was a nurse, much like Hogwarts' Madam Pomfrey. Severus only saw her at mealtimes. They would engage in polite, mindless chatter, but neither one would try to become deeply involved in the other's mind. Severus spent his first few days home trying to reach Maleficent's mind. He hated to admit it but he missed always having someone to talk with, to confide in, and to have as a friend. Sure, he was used to being alone. He'd been that way for his whole life. But.....something was missing. When he was anywhere near Maleficent, he didn't feel quite so lonely anymore. There was another person there who understood him, who wanted to be his friend. Back in school they talked all the time through their minds. If one needed something, the other was always there to help. But now, he was really alone again. And Severus quickly discovered that he hated being alone so much. He finally couldn't take it anymore. In mid-July he decided to send Maleficent an owl. He wrote it quickly and sent it off with his mother's owl. As the owl flew out of sight, he hoped that she would get it quickly.
Maleficent was so tired of being home with nothing to do but sing that she thought she was going crazy. Her mother had tried to talk to her but all Maleficent really said was that she missed school and her friends. Her mother tried to get her to stop drowning in school memories numerous times. This particular afternoon, Eileen asked Maleficent to help her pull weeds in the garden. Maleficent agreed and they went outside. Eileen worked one side of the garden while Maleficent worked the other. While pulling weeds, Maleficent heard the flapping of wings and looked up. Above her was an owl! The owl landed in the garden next to her. He had a letter! Maleficent hurriedly took the letter, opened it, and began to read...
Maleficent,
Hello. It's been a long time since we've had the chance to talk. I miss being able to talk directly to you anytime. Things have been pretty lonely having my thoughts all to myself again. I was getting a bit bored and remembered that I promised to send you an owl. Not much is happening, as usual. I've spent most of the summer working on next year's reading. That way I'll be ahead when I get back to school. Are you doing the same? I hope your father didn't get too angry with you for not singing a lot during the year. Well, I need to get back to my reading. I just wanted to tell you hello and that I look forward to seeing you next year.
Yours truly,
Severus
Maleficent read the letter over and over. It really didn't say much but at the same time, it was exactly what she needed. "Severus thought of me," she said to herself. She looked up and saw that her mother had been reading the letter over her shoulder. Eileen smiled and said, "Well, I didn't know that you had such a good friend. You were together often?" Maleficent nodded and explained the whole telepathy thing to her mother. Eileen listened intently. When Maleficent had finished, Eileen said, "You may not think that the whole soulmate thing is true, but it is. You two may just be friends now but you will be together in the end. It's meant to be, Maleficent. Nothing can change that." She handed Maleficent a quill and said, "You should write him back." She quickly wrote a response on the back of Severus's letter, tied it to the owl's leg, and watched him take off.
It had been five days and Severus had not heard back from Maleficent. He was worried. Had she gotten the letter yet? Had she just decided not to write back? Did she even consider his friendship important? A million different questions permeated his thoughts daily. Then, finally the owl returned. Severus took the letter and the owl flew off, presumably to go take a well-deserved rest. Severus opened the letter and read...
Dear Severus,
Thank you so much for writing to me! It made me feel better. I've been really lonely too, not having your thoughts to keep me company. I had forgotten what it was like to truly be alone. It was really nice to know that you've thought of me during this boring summer. No, I haven't started on my homework yet but I suppose I should. There's only a month and a half left before school starts back. I really miss you, Severus. Not just your thoughts, but you. You're my best friend and it's been lonely without having you around. I'm counting the days until we get back to Hogwarts. I can't wait to change Pettigrew's robes into a petticoat again! Well, I should go. Maybe I'll hear from you again soon!
Sincerely,
Maleficent
Severus held the letter in his hands and read it again and again. She missed him too! A small, warm feeling started deep inside of him. It spread through him, folding around him like a blanket. "Good grief! What am I doing? She's just a girl and a friend, nothing more," he told himself firmly. But inside, a little voice said, "But she is more to you, Severus. You are good friends. It's right to miss a good friend." Severus's cheeks went pink, accepting the fact the he did, in fact, harbor some feelings for Maleficent. But, they were just friends.
All the same, both of them couldn't wait to get back to Hogwarts.
Severus was no better. He returned home to his mother and spent the summer immersed in books. He read anything he could get his hands on. Severus and his mother rarely talked. She worked in a wizarding medical facility and was a nurse, much like Hogwarts' Madam Pomfrey. Severus only saw her at mealtimes. They would engage in polite, mindless chatter, but neither one would try to become deeply involved in the other's mind. Severus spent his first few days home trying to reach Maleficent's mind. He hated to admit it but he missed always having someone to talk with, to confide in, and to have as a friend. Sure, he was used to being alone. He'd been that way for his whole life. But.....something was missing. When he was anywhere near Maleficent, he didn't feel quite so lonely anymore. There was another person there who understood him, who wanted to be his friend. Back in school they talked all the time through their minds. If one needed something, the other was always there to help. But now, he was really alone again. And Severus quickly discovered that he hated being alone so much. He finally couldn't take it anymore. In mid-July he decided to send Maleficent an owl. He wrote it quickly and sent it off with his mother's owl. As the owl flew out of sight, he hoped that she would get it quickly.
Maleficent was so tired of being home with nothing to do but sing that she thought she was going crazy. Her mother had tried to talk to her but all Maleficent really said was that she missed school and her friends. Her mother tried to get her to stop drowning in school memories numerous times. This particular afternoon, Eileen asked Maleficent to help her pull weeds in the garden. Maleficent agreed and they went outside. Eileen worked one side of the garden while Maleficent worked the other. While pulling weeds, Maleficent heard the flapping of wings and looked up. Above her was an owl! The owl landed in the garden next to her. He had a letter! Maleficent hurriedly took the letter, opened it, and began to read...
Maleficent,
Hello. It's been a long time since we've had the chance to talk. I miss being able to talk directly to you anytime. Things have been pretty lonely having my thoughts all to myself again. I was getting a bit bored and remembered that I promised to send you an owl. Not much is happening, as usual. I've spent most of the summer working on next year's reading. That way I'll be ahead when I get back to school. Are you doing the same? I hope your father didn't get too angry with you for not singing a lot during the year. Well, I need to get back to my reading. I just wanted to tell you hello and that I look forward to seeing you next year.
Yours truly,
Severus
Maleficent read the letter over and over. It really didn't say much but at the same time, it was exactly what she needed. "Severus thought of me," she said to herself. She looked up and saw that her mother had been reading the letter over her shoulder. Eileen smiled and said, "Well, I didn't know that you had such a good friend. You were together often?" Maleficent nodded and explained the whole telepathy thing to her mother. Eileen listened intently. When Maleficent had finished, Eileen said, "You may not think that the whole soulmate thing is true, but it is. You two may just be friends now but you will be together in the end. It's meant to be, Maleficent. Nothing can change that." She handed Maleficent a quill and said, "You should write him back." She quickly wrote a response on the back of Severus's letter, tied it to the owl's leg, and watched him take off.
It had been five days and Severus had not heard back from Maleficent. He was worried. Had she gotten the letter yet? Had she just decided not to write back? Did she even consider his friendship important? A million different questions permeated his thoughts daily. Then, finally the owl returned. Severus took the letter and the owl flew off, presumably to go take a well-deserved rest. Severus opened the letter and read...
Dear Severus,
Thank you so much for writing to me! It made me feel better. I've been really lonely too, not having your thoughts to keep me company. I had forgotten what it was like to truly be alone. It was really nice to know that you've thought of me during this boring summer. No, I haven't started on my homework yet but I suppose I should. There's only a month and a half left before school starts back. I really miss you, Severus. Not just your thoughts, but you. You're my best friend and it's been lonely without having you around. I'm counting the days until we get back to Hogwarts. I can't wait to change Pettigrew's robes into a petticoat again! Well, I should go. Maybe I'll hear from you again soon!
Sincerely,
Maleficent
Severus held the letter in his hands and read it again and again. She missed him too! A small, warm feeling started deep inside of him. It spread through him, folding around him like a blanket. "Good grief! What am I doing? She's just a girl and a friend, nothing more," he told himself firmly. But inside, a little voice said, "But she is more to you, Severus. You are good friends. It's right to miss a good friend." Severus's cheeks went pink, accepting the fact the he did, in fact, harbor some feelings for Maleficent. But, they were just friends.
All the same, both of them couldn't wait to get back to Hogwarts.