Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: End of Term

The exams week finally arrived, and stressed out students littered the corridors of Hogwarts. It was almost impossible to squeeze into the library. The common room was almost as bad. Older students filled up the tables as they crammed frantically for their OWLs and NEWTs.

Ellie was as caught up in the stress and tension as everyone else. All thoughts of Snape were banished as she tried to memorise an entire year's worth of Charms notes in one evening. She had a minor disaster in her History of Magic exam when she couldn't for the life of her remember who exactly the Great Algernon DeMarlo was and what he had contributed to Wizarding society in the 1800's, but every other exam went well in comparison. She felt she answered every question on the Potions exam perfectly. The last exam was the practical Potions exam, and it went off without a hitch. Snape even deigned to smile satisfactorily when she triumphantly handed in her mixture. He gave her an approving nod.

"Very good Miss Winterbourne," he muttered, taking the bottle from her. She was surprised by his reaction, but she didn't dwell on it too much. Exams were over! In just over a week, the holidays would be starting and she was going to stay with Amelia. They were going to visit her mother's home where there were sure to be many of her things. Jamie would be spending the summer in America as usual but Amelia had mentioned in a letter that they might be able to go to California themselves as Amelia had some contacts there and then Ellie could visit Jamie. It all sounded wonderful!

During a quiet moment alone, Ellie's thoughts drifted to Snape and she wondered how he spent his holidays. She had heard a third year student asking Professor McGonagall if teachers stayed at the castle during the summer and she said no. Snape must have a home somewhere. Ellie wondered what it was like. For a wild moment, she wondered did Snape actually have a family of his own somewhere – a wife and children, and that's why he didn't seem keen on having their true relationship to each other becoming public knowledge. Ellie realised she knew nothing about Snape's life outside of Hogwarts. His family, who by extension were her family, were a complete mystery to her. Did she have any brothers or sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents? Snape was a very cold and reserved person but that didn't necessarily mean he didn't have any family. She was proof of that. Ellie wondered if she asked Snape would he tell her anything.

Probably not, she thought upon reflection. If he did have a family, the last thing he would want was for her to find out enough information to pop up at their house unexpectedly. Not that she would, but Snape might think she would. She could not help feeling a flicker of jealousy of this imaginary family that she had conjured up for Snape, but she quickly dismissed it.

The exam results were announced and Ellie went red with pleasure to discover that, for the second year running, she had come top of her year in Potions. Classes were now over as students and staff alike prepared to go home for the holidays. Ellie had not seen Snape since the last exam, apart from in the Great Hall at meal times, and even then, he hadn't been looking at her at the same time that she looked at him. It felt strange to be leaving soon after all that had happened in the last month. Apart from her first outburst and Snape's allusions to her living arrangements, they had never attempted to discuss the situation that now existed between them. Ellie wondered if this was normal. This man was her father – surely, they should have a million things to say to each other. As it was, during the last few weeks of lessons he had barely glanced in her direction and his words of praise after her Potions exam was the only time when Ellie felt that Snape could even stand her, let alone like her. Even then, his praise was that of a teacher, not necessarily of a parent. All in all Ellie felt confused about her relationship with Snape, and how she should be approaching it.

The last day of term arrived, and the Entrance Hall was packed with excited students, waiting to be taken to the Hogwarts Express. Ellie stood with a group of Gryffindors, all talking over each other about their holiday plans. Ellie wasn't paying much attention to the conversation. Her thoughts were still on Snape. She was about to leave for almost two months. Should she go and say goodbye? She had half-hoped he would appear in the Entrance Hall, like so many of the other teachers, to at least say goodbye to his Slytherin students, but there was no sign of him. She decided to slip away and see if he was in his office. She at least wanted to thank him for her Potions mark. She whispered to Jamie that she would be back in a minute, and made her way towards the dungeons.

A few minutes later, she was knocking on Snape's office door.

"Yes?" a voice from within answered.

Ellie gingerly opened the door and popped her head inside the room.

"Professor?"

Snape was sitting at his desk. He looked up, and his expression changed from mild irritation to surprise when he saw Ellie.

"Come in," he said, and she moved the rest of her body around the door.

"I just came to say thanks," she told him. He gave her a puzzled look.

"For my Potions marks," she explained.

"There's no need to thank me. Your marks reflected your work. It seems you have quite a gift for potion-making," he said. Ellie blushed, and was that a hint of pride in Snape's voice?

"Um, I also wanted to say goodbye. I'm going home for the holidays in a minute so…" She trailed off, beginning to feel embarrassed. It didn't help that Snape was giving her a piercing stare.

"I see," he mumbled, more to himself than to her.

"Well, goodbye then," he added, in a louder, colder tone. His face was hard and expressionless, betraying no emotion. Ellie began to wish that she hadn't come. She was making a fool of herself.

"Right, bye," she said quickly, and hurried out of the office and back to the Entrance Hall, her cheeks burning.

"What were you thinking?" she said to herself. "Never again!"