The remainder of the school year was fairly uneventful, even between Severus and Maleficent. The two of them, although stayed as close as mere friendship would allow, never pressed past any previously set boundaries. Both Narcissa and Lucius were really ticked off about that but they just had to deal with it. Zandra tried her best to keep her nose out of their personal business. "If Maleficent needs to talk to me about it, then she'll come to me," she kept telling Narcissa, who pestered Maleficent daily about her feelings for Severus. Secretly, Maleficent looked forward to the summer break when she would be away from Narcissa's relentless questions. Because of Zandra's excellence the Gryffindors easily claimed the House Cup, winning over Slytherin by an astonishing 132 points. The End of the Year Feast was great fun for all. The Gryffindors were in the best spirits of all and spent the whole time congratulating Zandra for her hard work. They all knew that if she hadn't been there then they would have surely lost. Severus, Maleficent, and Zandra all had good enough marks to return the next year. Actually, Zandra's were the best in the group of first years. As usual, Lily and James had the highest marks of their year. And, much to Maleficent's dismay, even Peter Pettigrew had good enough marks to return for a third year.
The next day the whole castle was packing up and heading back to the Hogwarts Express. Severus carried Maleficent's trunk for her and made sure to save both her and Zandra seats on the train. The three rode together in one compartment, laughing and talking. But inside, both Severus and Maleficent were rather unhappy. The trip back to Kings Cross was too short for them. As usual, Severus's mother met him at the train. Eileen DuGall had come to the platform to meet Maleficent as well. The train stopped and students all hurried off to get their trunks and see their families. Severus pulled his trunk out and retrieved Maleficent's as well. He managed to get it over to Maleficent's mother. Maleficent stood there, waiting with a heavy heart. This was always the hard part for her. Severus faced her and mentally said, "I'll owl you as soon as I get home." He sensed her sorrow and added, "Don't be sad, okay? I promise to write you all the time." Maleficent smiled and mentally replied, "I'll try, Severus. I'll miss you." She flung her arms around his neck. Without hesitating, he hugged her back tightly. When they finally let go, both had tears in their eyes. Severus turned and headed off toward his mother. Eileen said nothing but watched her daughter's eyes follow Severus until he was out of sight. They headed to the car.
Summer was not much fun for either of them. However, Eileen had bought Maleficent a welcome home present, a large brown barn owl. She called the owl Athena, after the Greek goddess. She immediately sent Athena to Severus, telling him about the gift of the owl. They immediately commenced writing back and forth. At least this made the summer seem shorter. However, Pierre wasn't too happy about all of this.
"Eileen, what's the deal with this owl thing? What's wrong with the normal post?" Pierre asked one day in late summer. Eileen replied, "Pierre, you know that's how my kind send letters." "Well I don't like it, Eileen. Not at all," Pierre mumbled and flopped down in his chair. He looked at his wife with anger in his eyes and said furiously, "I want my daughter to grow up normal, not like a witch! I want her to go to a normal school, learn normal subjects, and send letters by normal post!" Eileen glared at him and said, "Well you're out of luck. She's a witch whether you like it or not and nothing you can do will ever change that." Pierre shook his head and said, "I know, but she's going to turn into a freak. I don't want that for her." Eileen said gently, "She doesn't want to be you, Pierre. Yes, she's a good musician but her heart lies elsewhere. Don't try to take something she loves away from her. She'll only be miserable." Pierre leaned back and picked up a book, clearly stating that the discussion was closed.
September first dawned early for Maleficent. She and Severus had been sending owl after owl all the time and really looked forward to getting back to school. Besides, Maleficent was growing tired of her parents' constant bickering over her future. She and her mother left for the station a bit earlier this year. Maleficent gave her mother a hug and quickly headed for the platform. She crossed the barrier and mentally said, "Severus? Are you back yet?" She heard a voice speak out loud, "Look to your right." She did and Severus was standing there waiting for her. He approached her and hugged her tightly. "I missed you," he said softly. Maleficent leaned against him and said, "And I've missed you." Together, they carried her trunk to the train and loaded it. Then they boarded the train and got good seats up front for the first time. They waited, looking out the window until they saw Zandra come through the barrier. Severus left to help her put away her trunk and lead her back to the seats Maleficent was saving. Zandra had a wonderful summer. She and her parents had traveled to different cities and had a great time. All the same, the three couldn't wait to get back to school.
The next day the whole castle was packing up and heading back to the Hogwarts Express. Severus carried Maleficent's trunk for her and made sure to save both her and Zandra seats on the train. The three rode together in one compartment, laughing and talking. But inside, both Severus and Maleficent were rather unhappy. The trip back to Kings Cross was too short for them. As usual, Severus's mother met him at the train. Eileen DuGall had come to the platform to meet Maleficent as well. The train stopped and students all hurried off to get their trunks and see their families. Severus pulled his trunk out and retrieved Maleficent's as well. He managed to get it over to Maleficent's mother. Maleficent stood there, waiting with a heavy heart. This was always the hard part for her. Severus faced her and mentally said, "I'll owl you as soon as I get home." He sensed her sorrow and added, "Don't be sad, okay? I promise to write you all the time." Maleficent smiled and mentally replied, "I'll try, Severus. I'll miss you." She flung her arms around his neck. Without hesitating, he hugged her back tightly. When they finally let go, both had tears in their eyes. Severus turned and headed off toward his mother. Eileen said nothing but watched her daughter's eyes follow Severus until he was out of sight. They headed to the car.
Summer was not much fun for either of them. However, Eileen had bought Maleficent a welcome home present, a large brown barn owl. She called the owl Athena, after the Greek goddess. She immediately sent Athena to Severus, telling him about the gift of the owl. They immediately commenced writing back and forth. At least this made the summer seem shorter. However, Pierre wasn't too happy about all of this.
"Eileen, what's the deal with this owl thing? What's wrong with the normal post?" Pierre asked one day in late summer. Eileen replied, "Pierre, you know that's how my kind send letters." "Well I don't like it, Eileen. Not at all," Pierre mumbled and flopped down in his chair. He looked at his wife with anger in his eyes and said furiously, "I want my daughter to grow up normal, not like a witch! I want her to go to a normal school, learn normal subjects, and send letters by normal post!" Eileen glared at him and said, "Well you're out of luck. She's a witch whether you like it or not and nothing you can do will ever change that." Pierre shook his head and said, "I know, but she's going to turn into a freak. I don't want that for her." Eileen said gently, "She doesn't want to be you, Pierre. Yes, she's a good musician but her heart lies elsewhere. Don't try to take something she loves away from her. She'll only be miserable." Pierre leaned back and picked up a book, clearly stating that the discussion was closed.
September first dawned early for Maleficent. She and Severus had been sending owl after owl all the time and really looked forward to getting back to school. Besides, Maleficent was growing tired of her parents' constant bickering over her future. She and her mother left for the station a bit earlier this year. Maleficent gave her mother a hug and quickly headed for the platform. She crossed the barrier and mentally said, "Severus? Are you back yet?" She heard a voice speak out loud, "Look to your right." She did and Severus was standing there waiting for her. He approached her and hugged her tightly. "I missed you," he said softly. Maleficent leaned against him and said, "And I've missed you." Together, they carried her trunk to the train and loaded it. Then they boarded the train and got good seats up front for the first time. They waited, looking out the window until they saw Zandra come through the barrier. Severus left to help her put away her trunk and lead her back to the seats Maleficent was saving. Zandra had a wonderful summer. She and her parents had traveled to different cities and had a great time. All the same, the three couldn't wait to get back to school.