CHAPTER TWO:
Dear Snips,
You worry me, you do. Grant me the means, and I'll get you faster than anything you've ever seen before.
Kyros is going nutter on us. He misses his girlfriend from school - you know, Dagmar Campbell. He's talking about moving to Scotland of all places! He says he LIKES it up there! See? He's completely mad. Not sane like the rest of us who like warm weather.
Dion's been helping me with Quidditch practice. He's pretty good on his flying carpet, so he's been throwing old cannon balls at me from every side possible. My backhand's getting pretty good. Still need to practice my forehand hits, so I can surprise them. Might even work my other hand so I can switch the bat over - that will throw them for a loop.
Gwendolen Morgan, the retired Beater from the Holyhead Harpies, is becoming my idol. Madame Hooch gave me her copy of Morgan's autobiography to read over the summer (and suffer the pain of death if I don't return it in good condition - how can she tell? It's quite battered) and it's a fascinating read. Morgan started at Hogwart's, too, on Ravenclaw's team ...
Sorry. I'm becoming a Quidditch fanatic. Never thought I would.
I WANT A COPY OF 'THE BEATERS BIBLE'!
Sorry. Won't happen again.
Priestess-training is going well. Lady Elusia won't allow wands in her temple. Seems strange to go back to learning magic without wands and potions, but it's actually easier to learn everything by note. I wonder if I'll be able to do modern magic this way - you know, the way you adapt potions to make other things, but me being able to adapt modern spells without use of wand or incantations. HA! That reminds me of History of Magic class when Binns was telling us of how Uric the Oddball could work spells with having just dead animals on his head! Maybe I should wear the skin of one of the bulls over my head?
No, can't. I'm only a Junior-Priestess. That's in another five years.
I've been drawing at night. I can't help it. I remember things that I see when I've flying around and think 'I'v got to draw that for Snips, he'd like it'. I'll put together a package for you and send it.
I miss you. I want to hug you again. A few more weeks, my friend.
'Snips and Spirals Forever.'
Eternally,
Spirals
Dear Spirals,
Mother and I have gotten along since Father left. She took me out to the apple orchards and we had lunch together and talked about my classes at school. Talked about a lot of things. Everything except Father. It infuriates me that she tries to be my mother when she can't do anything about Father. I blame you for this - you've proven that Motherhood can also include violent protection of children. If my Mother had even HALF the strength you do, my Father would have been sent to St. Mungo's himself before she and I left.
No chance. Tenebria Lestrange Snape is a cowering mouse. I'm fully believing your 'inbred' theory concerning Purebloods - mental capacity breaking down and other such things - may be the only explanation. It's somewhat annoying how 'normal' the Muggle-borns are are. I don't know whether to feel disgusted or peeved.
I've been keeping busy by getting some extra tutoring by Professor Sartoris. I like his labs, and his potion stores are more extensive than at Hogwarts. It's more exciting than being in a sweets shop, really, since so much can be done - confound the mind, disorient the senses, entrap fame, grab glory, and bring death to its knees. So much can be done with potions, and it could never go awry like incantations can. Gods, this is a glorious science and art borne from magic!
Sorry. I feel the same way about potions as you do about Quidditch. What about Quidditch potions? Perhaps a special solution to allow the brooms to leave colored trails to make following the action easier? Or maybe a broom-repellent for Black and Potter's trousers (that'll work)?
I'd appreciate anything you send me, Spirals. I'm wearing my eyes out by staring at the paintings you gave me.
Are we still going to meet at Diagon Alley? Nothing seems to indicate the schedule will change here. Father considers it a 'bother, annoyance, and bloody nuisance' to take Mother and me with him. He won't be around much, so it'll just be Mother and me shopping for my books and such.
The sun came out for a little while. It was while Mother and I were outside. I just lay back on the grass like we did at school and gazed at the patches of blue that opened up in the clouds. I expected you to be next to me, pointing out how the shapes of the cloud blankets looked like animals or the heads of teachers or something, but you weren't. All I could do was just stare at the blue patches and think of your voice offering theories of why Professor Binns was actually a chunk of cloud who got kicked out of the Cloud Union for being such a drip.
Mother wondered why I was laughing for some reason. She thought I was having a seizure.
It's cloudy again. Wonder if I can whip up a cloud-dispersing potion ...
Write back soon, Spirals.
Always,
Snips
My dearest Snips,
Summer festival has started! That means another month until we see each other again!
I'm so busy right now - I'm sending several of my sketches off to you soon. Busy, busy - taking care of my duties for the festival, then there's helping Isaura with her wedding. Oh, remember I told you about Dorian, Tassos' son? He's a darling little dark-haired boy. He's going to grow into such a heartbreaker. Definitely got it from his mother - Tassos is one of the more beautiful women in the family.
I want you here now! The Summer Festival has everything - bull leaping, rituals, games. We'd have so much fun!
Another month. Just another month. A MONTH TOO LONG.
Phaedra's going to be taking us to Diagon Alley - by Floo. I can't believe it. She said she brought some Floo Powder during a trip to Hogsmeade, and she's practiced at the school. She's going to have the twins and me practice with it around the island first. So there's no excuse for us to miss each other!
Have to get going to evening ritual. Kiss and hug!
Yours,
Spirals
Dear Martis,
Father came home last night. Foul-tempered, too. I stayed up in my room, until I heard him slapping Mother. I had to go down and stop him. There it was, Mother crumpled on the floor with blood coming out of her mouth and Father standing over her with that damned cane.
I pulled out my wand - half-knowing what the hells I was doing - and got hit in the head with the cane. Before I lost consciousness, he ranted about how uselessly ungrateful I am. I didn't hear the rest because I entered Dreamland.
Woke up late this morning with a pounding headache and Mother trying to take care of me. She has another bruise on her cheek, just when the other one was healing up. Bastard. She apologized yet again for his behavior and I said it at last: 'So why the hell won't you leave him, Mother? Or do you like having the shit beat out of you?'
She didn't take it too well. Just got quiet and hung her head down. Familiar, indeed.
At least my hair can hide this bruise.
Gods, I hate this place. I hate my Father. I hate my Mother. I hate England. I hate my life. I hate my existence. I hate everything.
So make a liar of me. Your drawings just arrived. Sunset on Crete, the view of the ocean from inside your room, the entrance to a cave, people leaping over bulls; brilliant colors all over the place, making the world look more wonderful than it really is.
We have to be in different realities. We don't share the same reality. Yours is bright and happy, mine's dark and miserable. If I enter your reality, I'll taint it with my darkness.
Still wonder why you're friends with me. We're from completely different worlds. You'd do better than being around me.
You don't have to meet me. Save the Floo Powder. Go whenever you want.
Severus Snape
Snips,
We are meeting in Diagon Alley. I don't care two knuts about your Father, we're meeting back up again. I expect to see you again, Severus. If you back out, I will hunt you down by Floo. You're not getting rid of me, you got that? It's you and me, hon, no matter what happens where.
Great Mother, I haven't seen my parents the whole freaking time I've been here. I refuse to drown in it. I'm not going to let you drown, either.
We're meeting on the first Saturday of August. We're seeing each other again soon.
With all my love, strength, and nurturing,
Spirals
Dear Martis,
Another ugly day in Paradise. Father had me practice disease-inducing spells on myself today. It was so incredibly creepy watching myself break out with smallpox, or feel my lungs fill up with dyptheria. The man is insane. Although he was there with the counterspell, it was obvious that he was enjoying himself.
Neither one of my parents gives a damn about me. You are the only person in the entire world that cares whether I live or die. Most of the time, I don't care myself. It's only for you that I put one foot in front of the other.
I hope you don't think I'm talking mushy. You're the only one I can cling to, the only one who won't laugh at me. Like I said, you could do a lot better friend-wise than me, but I am grateful you are my friend, Spirals.
I am stealing a little bit of money here and there so we can have a butterbeer or two and get some sugar quills when we get together at Diagon Alley. My parents don't give me any, of course. My father has also started rationing my food -- says it costs too much to feed a big ugly slug (his words, isn't he a charmer?) like me. I think I'm getting taller, Spirals. Well, my pants are getting shorter, at any length. That was a pun -- ha, ha!
I try to escape up here to my room so I can just sit quietly on my bed and look at your pictures. The colors soothe my soul. This place is gray and gloomy -- except for the south wall of my bedroom! And there you are -- sunny and free and full of life, through your paintings.
I like the way you've painted me into some of the pictures. It looks like I'm having fun right along with you in Crete. Such a long way away. Too far away. I can't wait to hug you; I might not ever let you go! Just kidding.
I hear my father calling me. Blast. I'll owl you again tomorrow. Enjoy the sunshine and please don't forget me, Spirals.
Your friend,
Snips
Dear Snips,
You worry me, you do. Grant me the means, and I'll get you faster than anything you've ever seen before.
Kyros is going nutter on us. He misses his girlfriend from school - you know, Dagmar Campbell. He's talking about moving to Scotland of all places! He says he LIKES it up there! See? He's completely mad. Not sane like the rest of us who like warm weather.
Dion's been helping me with Quidditch practice. He's pretty good on his flying carpet, so he's been throwing old cannon balls at me from every side possible. My backhand's getting pretty good. Still need to practice my forehand hits, so I can surprise them. Might even work my other hand so I can switch the bat over - that will throw them for a loop.
Gwendolen Morgan, the retired Beater from the Holyhead Harpies, is becoming my idol. Madame Hooch gave me her copy of Morgan's autobiography to read over the summer (and suffer the pain of death if I don't return it in good condition - how can she tell? It's quite battered) and it's a fascinating read. Morgan started at Hogwart's, too, on Ravenclaw's team ...
Sorry. I'm becoming a Quidditch fanatic. Never thought I would.
I WANT A COPY OF 'THE BEATERS BIBLE'!
Sorry. Won't happen again.
Priestess-training is going well. Lady Elusia won't allow wands in her temple. Seems strange to go back to learning magic without wands and potions, but it's actually easier to learn everything by note. I wonder if I'll be able to do modern magic this way - you know, the way you adapt potions to make other things, but me being able to adapt modern spells without use of wand or incantations. HA! That reminds me of History of Magic class when Binns was telling us of how Uric the Oddball could work spells with having just dead animals on his head! Maybe I should wear the skin of one of the bulls over my head?
No, can't. I'm only a Junior-Priestess. That's in another five years.
I've been drawing at night. I can't help it. I remember things that I see when I've flying around and think 'I'v got to draw that for Snips, he'd like it'. I'll put together a package for you and send it.
I miss you. I want to hug you again. A few more weeks, my friend.
'Snips and Spirals Forever.'
Eternally,
Spirals
Dear Spirals,
Mother and I have gotten along since Father left. She took me out to the apple orchards and we had lunch together and talked about my classes at school. Talked about a lot of things. Everything except Father. It infuriates me that she tries to be my mother when she can't do anything about Father. I blame you for this - you've proven that Motherhood can also include violent protection of children. If my Mother had even HALF the strength you do, my Father would have been sent to St. Mungo's himself before she and I left.
No chance. Tenebria Lestrange Snape is a cowering mouse. I'm fully believing your 'inbred' theory concerning Purebloods - mental capacity breaking down and other such things - may be the only explanation. It's somewhat annoying how 'normal' the Muggle-borns are are. I don't know whether to feel disgusted or peeved.
I've been keeping busy by getting some extra tutoring by Professor Sartoris. I like his labs, and his potion stores are more extensive than at Hogwarts. It's more exciting than being in a sweets shop, really, since so much can be done - confound the mind, disorient the senses, entrap fame, grab glory, and bring death to its knees. So much can be done with potions, and it could never go awry like incantations can. Gods, this is a glorious science and art borne from magic!
Sorry. I feel the same way about potions as you do about Quidditch. What about Quidditch potions? Perhaps a special solution to allow the brooms to leave colored trails to make following the action easier? Or maybe a broom-repellent for Black and Potter's trousers (that'll work)?
I'd appreciate anything you send me, Spirals. I'm wearing my eyes out by staring at the paintings you gave me.
Are we still going to meet at Diagon Alley? Nothing seems to indicate the schedule will change here. Father considers it a 'bother, annoyance, and bloody nuisance' to take Mother and me with him. He won't be around much, so it'll just be Mother and me shopping for my books and such.
The sun came out for a little while. It was while Mother and I were outside. I just lay back on the grass like we did at school and gazed at the patches of blue that opened up in the clouds. I expected you to be next to me, pointing out how the shapes of the cloud blankets looked like animals or the heads of teachers or something, but you weren't. All I could do was just stare at the blue patches and think of your voice offering theories of why Professor Binns was actually a chunk of cloud who got kicked out of the Cloud Union for being such a drip.
Mother wondered why I was laughing for some reason. She thought I was having a seizure.
It's cloudy again. Wonder if I can whip up a cloud-dispersing potion ...
Write back soon, Spirals.
Always,
Snips
My dearest Snips,
Summer festival has started! That means another month until we see each other again!
I'm so busy right now - I'm sending several of my sketches off to you soon. Busy, busy - taking care of my duties for the festival, then there's helping Isaura with her wedding. Oh, remember I told you about Dorian, Tassos' son? He's a darling little dark-haired boy. He's going to grow into such a heartbreaker. Definitely got it from his mother - Tassos is one of the more beautiful women in the family.
I want you here now! The Summer Festival has everything - bull leaping, rituals, games. We'd have so much fun!
Another month. Just another month. A MONTH TOO LONG.
Phaedra's going to be taking us to Diagon Alley - by Floo. I can't believe it. She said she brought some Floo Powder during a trip to Hogsmeade, and she's practiced at the school. She's going to have the twins and me practice with it around the island first. So there's no excuse for us to miss each other!
Have to get going to evening ritual. Kiss and hug!
Yours,
Spirals
Dear Martis,
Father came home last night. Foul-tempered, too. I stayed up in my room, until I heard him slapping Mother. I had to go down and stop him. There it was, Mother crumpled on the floor with blood coming out of her mouth and Father standing over her with that damned cane.
I pulled out my wand - half-knowing what the hells I was doing - and got hit in the head with the cane. Before I lost consciousness, he ranted about how uselessly ungrateful I am. I didn't hear the rest because I entered Dreamland.
Woke up late this morning with a pounding headache and Mother trying to take care of me. She has another bruise on her cheek, just when the other one was healing up. Bastard. She apologized yet again for his behavior and I said it at last: 'So why the hell won't you leave him, Mother? Or do you like having the shit beat out of you?'
She didn't take it too well. Just got quiet and hung her head down. Familiar, indeed.
At least my hair can hide this bruise.
Gods, I hate this place. I hate my Father. I hate my Mother. I hate England. I hate my life. I hate my existence. I hate everything.
So make a liar of me. Your drawings just arrived. Sunset on Crete, the view of the ocean from inside your room, the entrance to a cave, people leaping over bulls; brilliant colors all over the place, making the world look more wonderful than it really is.
We have to be in different realities. We don't share the same reality. Yours is bright and happy, mine's dark and miserable. If I enter your reality, I'll taint it with my darkness.
Still wonder why you're friends with me. We're from completely different worlds. You'd do better than being around me.
You don't have to meet me. Save the Floo Powder. Go whenever you want.
Severus Snape
Snips,
We are meeting in Diagon Alley. I don't care two knuts about your Father, we're meeting back up again. I expect to see you again, Severus. If you back out, I will hunt you down by Floo. You're not getting rid of me, you got that? It's you and me, hon, no matter what happens where.
Great Mother, I haven't seen my parents the whole freaking time I've been here. I refuse to drown in it. I'm not going to let you drown, either.
We're meeting on the first Saturday of August. We're seeing each other again soon.
With all my love, strength, and nurturing,
Spirals
Dear Martis,
Another ugly day in Paradise. Father had me practice disease-inducing spells on myself today. It was so incredibly creepy watching myself break out with smallpox, or feel my lungs fill up with dyptheria. The man is insane. Although he was there with the counterspell, it was obvious that he was enjoying himself.
Neither one of my parents gives a damn about me. You are the only person in the entire world that cares whether I live or die. Most of the time, I don't care myself. It's only for you that I put one foot in front of the other.
I hope you don't think I'm talking mushy. You're the only one I can cling to, the only one who won't laugh at me. Like I said, you could do a lot better friend-wise than me, but I am grateful you are my friend, Spirals.
I am stealing a little bit of money here and there so we can have a butterbeer or two and get some sugar quills when we get together at Diagon Alley. My parents don't give me any, of course. My father has also started rationing my food -- says it costs too much to feed a big ugly slug (his words, isn't he a charmer?) like me. I think I'm getting taller, Spirals. Well, my pants are getting shorter, at any length. That was a pun -- ha, ha!
I try to escape up here to my room so I can just sit quietly on my bed and look at your pictures. The colors soothe my soul. This place is gray and gloomy -- except for the south wall of my bedroom! And there you are -- sunny and free and full of life, through your paintings.
I like the way you've painted me into some of the pictures. It looks like I'm having fun right along with you in Crete. Such a long way away. Too far away. I can't wait to hug you; I might not ever let you go! Just kidding.
I hear my father calling me. Blast. I'll owl you again tomorrow. Enjoy the sunshine and please don't forget me, Spirals.
Your friend,
Snips