Regina Snape sat at her window. She stared straight ahead but saw nothing. The house felt cold and empty without the sounds of her parents voices and footsteps. Prissy, her houself, scurried around the room cleaning and being completely silent so she wouldn't disturb her mistress. She looked with concern at Regina. She hadn't uttered a word since her parents' deaths. Instead, she simply stared off into space and ate very little.
I hope Uncle Severus will allow me to come live with him she thought in panic. He's all the family I have now. What if he refuses to let me stay with him? I'll have no where to go. She finally climbed into bed. The black silk sheets felt cool against her skin. She tossed and turned for a few minutes before she finally fell into a troubled sleep.
The following morning, Severus woke up early in a state of agitation. He was undecided as to what he should do about his classes. No one within the walls of Hogwarts was qualified enough, in his opinion, to teach his classes. Finally, he decided he would simply cancel his classes for the day. The lazy gits should be thrilled about that he thought sourly. It's not as if they actually want to learn anyway.
After he was dressed, he headed toward the headmaster's office. "Butterbeer," he said in a slightly disgusted voice. Albus chooses more idiotic passwords every day he thought as the gargoyle moved and a staircase appeared. He stepped onto the revolving staircase and rode it to the top. He knocked on the large ornate wooden door. "Enter," Dumbledore called from the other side of the door.
Dumbledore looked up as Severus entered. "Good morning Severus," he greeted in a voice that was entirely too cheerful for so early in the morning. "Take a seat," Dumbledore instructed as he gestured to a large stuffed chair in front of his desk. Severus gave the chair a slightly repulsed look before he finally sat down. "Headmaster," he began. "Due to the circumstances, I feel that it is my duty to go to Raven's Keep, my late brother's estate, to see my neice. I intend to bring her here to live at Hogwarts. I would like to cancel my classes for the day, if you will consent for me to do so."
Dumbledore looked up from the letter he was writing. His sharp blue eyes were fixed intently on the face of the young man before him. "That will be acceptable Severus. May you have a safe journey. Would you like me to make you a portkey, or do you wish to travel by other means?" Severus replied immediately. "I was planning to travel by floo powder."
"Well, feel free to use my fireplace. The powder is in the small jar on the mantle." Severus looked at him for a moment before replying. "Thank you Headmaster. That's very kind of you." He walked over to the fireplace. Reaching into the small blue jar on top of the mantle, he took a pinch of the floo powder. Tossing it into the fireplace, he called out "Raven's Keep". He stepped in, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone.