-
"Severus!" Celeste exclaimed, jumping to her feet.
Severus' features softened momentarily as he took in her tearstained cheeks and the strong smell of lavender essence. But he quickly stifled his concern with a stony mask.
He nodded curtly and made to walk away but Celeste grabbed his arm.
"Severus, I must talk to you," she said, her voice pleading.
Severus glared at her but he stayed.
"I know you're angry at me for standing by Remus, but that's the choice I've made," she took a steadying breath and continued, "I wish there was a way to work things out, We've been friends for so long, I don't want to throw that away."
Severus looked down into her eyes for a moment. When he spoke his voice had such an edge of finality that Celeste took a step back.
"It's too late, Celeste. Our friendship is over. Nothing can ever bring it back to how it was."
At this, Celeste's face hardened and her voice became remarkably steady.
"Yes, Severus, it is over. But know that whatever happens, whatever you may say or do, I will always think of you as the person I grew up with, the considerate, loving person I know you could still be if you just tried."
With that, Celeste turned and marched toward the bench just outside the Forbidden Forest, where almost three weeks before; she and Severus Snape had sat as friends.
-
Remus Lupin sat on a couch in the Gryffindor common room waiting for Celeste to return. When she showed up, eyes red and puffy from crying he asked no questions, Minerva had told him what occurred during the Potions exam. Neither said anything as Celeste sank down on the couch beside him and buried her face in his shoulder. He ran his fingers through her hair as she continued to sob.
-
Thursday evening was spent crying on Remus' shoulder, Friday's History of Magic exam was long and boring, Saturday Celeste slept in, exhausted after the O.W.L.s. The rest of Saturday was spent lounging around the common room and on the grounds. Celeste told Remus about her confrontation with Severus, then they made a silent agreement not to bring the subject up again.
Celeste was so worn out by the exams and the emotional stress she had been under that she completely forgot Sunday was her sixteenth birthday.
At about six Monday morning, Celeste was awoken by a sharp pain in her arm. Opening her eyes and peering through the semidarkness she saw the pain was caused by the sharp talons of her owl, Odette. Sitting up in bed, Celeste stroked the owl's feathers and pulled the letter free from its beak. Pulling her wand out from under her pillow, Celeste whispered "lumos" and read the following:
Celestina-
Meet me in Minerva's chambers at 6:15
-Dad
Celeste flew out of bed and slipped out of her pajamas and into some clothes. She didn't bother to even brush her hair. After giving Odette an owl treat and seeing her out the window, Celeste left the dormitory and went down to the common room. Pulling out her wand, Celeste charmed a fire into the grate and summoned a small box of floo powder. Tossing some of the powder into the fire she stepped inside the emerald flames and whispered, "McGonagall's chambers."
Only a select number of people could access the professors' private chambers. If you were not one of the few the professors' chose, the fire would simply chuck you out.
Celeste spun around a few times and stepped out of her mother's fireplace at exactly 6:10am. Minerva was sitting on the couch waiting.
"Good morning, dear," Minerva said standing up and kissing Celeste lightly on the forehead. "Happy Birthday."
"Thanks, mom," Celeste said. "When did dad decide to come?"
"I received an owl from him late last night," Minerva answered. "He said he wanted to see you on your birthday, he didn't want to wait another week to see you I suppose."
Celeste smiled. She missed her father, she was about to ask her mother how long Erik Potak planned on staying, when the flames in the fireplace turned green, he was coming.