22.
The Hogwarts express had left, Vivian, who was going home by car, had already said goodbye to Lorna and Diana, both of whom seemed slightly shocked by what had happened to her, but had been extremely supportive during the last few days of term, although Lorna had made a point of Vivian getting her broom fetched from the forest on the earliest opportunity.
Hogwarts was quieter than normal, as Dumbledore sat in his office with Lucy Slane. She had taken the news quietly but seemed determined to do everything in her power to fight Vivian's illness.
"It isn't set in stone, is it, that she'll only live five more years?" she said. Dumbledore could hear her holding back tears in her voice, and said gently
"Not at all. Vivian is stronger than she realizes, and she has you. It will be a battle, but …death is a worth adversary."
Lucy was wearing a determined look; similar to one Dumbledore had seen Vivian wear.
"I won't let her die." She said.
"She's lucky to have you." Dumbledore said. He gazed out of the window for a few moments to allow Lucy to regain her composure. Outside, two figures were pacing the gravel in front of Hogwarts. Snape, his black robes blowing in the breeze, was walking with a slight limp, the only real sign of his broken leg: Madam Pomfrey had swiftly healed it.
Dumbledore noted with faint surprise that with him was Vivian, her long hair blowing out behind her in the summer breeze. They seemed to be deep in conversation. Vivian's expression was half way between happiness and pain. Lucy followed Dumbledore's gaze with a puzzled expression.
"Isn't that the Professor Snape you were telling me about? I thought they loathed each other." She said.
"I think they've settled their differences." Dumbledore replied with a smile.
"Whatever can they find to talk about?"
"I should imagine that Severus is telling her about her mother."
Lucy looked at Dumbledore in curiosity.
"He knew Claudia?" Dumbledore nodded.
"It's a long story." He replied.
Below on the terrace, Vivian said something to Snape, who smiled, an expression not many of his students had ever seen him wear. Dumbledore turned away with a thoughtful expression.
Perhaps the story was just beginning.
1 The End
Thanks to all the lovely (&discerning) people who reviewed this, I hope you like the ending. There is a sequel, as you can probably guess from the ending, which I'm in the middle of writing at the moment
All comments appreciated, nice ones especially
The Hogwarts express had left, Vivian, who was going home by car, had already said goodbye to Lorna and Diana, both of whom seemed slightly shocked by what had happened to her, but had been extremely supportive during the last few days of term, although Lorna had made a point of Vivian getting her broom fetched from the forest on the earliest opportunity.
Hogwarts was quieter than normal, as Dumbledore sat in his office with Lucy Slane. She had taken the news quietly but seemed determined to do everything in her power to fight Vivian's illness.
"It isn't set in stone, is it, that she'll only live five more years?" she said. Dumbledore could hear her holding back tears in her voice, and said gently
"Not at all. Vivian is stronger than she realizes, and she has you. It will be a battle, but …death is a worth adversary."
Lucy was wearing a determined look; similar to one Dumbledore had seen Vivian wear.
"I won't let her die." She said.
"She's lucky to have you." Dumbledore said. He gazed out of the window for a few moments to allow Lucy to regain her composure. Outside, two figures were pacing the gravel in front of Hogwarts. Snape, his black robes blowing in the breeze, was walking with a slight limp, the only real sign of his broken leg: Madam Pomfrey had swiftly healed it.
Dumbledore noted with faint surprise that with him was Vivian, her long hair blowing out behind her in the summer breeze. They seemed to be deep in conversation. Vivian's expression was half way between happiness and pain. Lucy followed Dumbledore's gaze with a puzzled expression.
"Isn't that the Professor Snape you were telling me about? I thought they loathed each other." She said.
"I think they've settled their differences." Dumbledore replied with a smile.
"Whatever can they find to talk about?"
"I should imagine that Severus is telling her about her mother."
Lucy looked at Dumbledore in curiosity.
"He knew Claudia?" Dumbledore nodded.
"It's a long story." He replied.
Below on the terrace, Vivian said something to Snape, who smiled, an expression not many of his students had ever seen him wear. Dumbledore turned away with a thoughtful expression.
Perhaps the story was just beginning.
1 The End
Thanks to all the lovely (&discerning) people who reviewed this, I hope you like the ending. There is a sequel, as you can probably guess from the ending, which I'm in the middle of writing at the moment
All comments appreciated, nice ones especially