Chapter 17: Summer Goodbyes
The week had flown by and it was the last day of the term. It had been hard for Brixton to keep her mind on the lessons while teaching the first years. She couldn't help but let her mind drift to the naughty encounter with Severus and the promise of a first date. Headmistress McGonagall had called her into her office that morning to congratulate Brixton on how well she had done on her N.E.W.Ts and had her sign some contracts regarding her new teaching position. It was agreed that since Brixton did not have a home of her own she would be spending the summer at the school. McGonagall had hugged her tightly and told her how proud she was to be welcoming her as a teacher and that she would always have a home at Hogwarts.
It was early in the day and the Hogwarts Express would be leaving in a few hours. Brixton was laid out on the grass beneath a tree next to the Black Lake. On either side of her were Hermione and Luna. Her friends already had their trunks packed and ready for the train. Brixton said sadly, "I am going to miss you both so very much. Promise to write often. We must arrange visits in Hogsmead like we had talked about."
Hermione said, "I promise to write you weekly. You know how I love letters. I know I will have so much to say. I start my new job at the Ministry almost immediately. Taking off two weeks to spend with my parents was the most that Kingsley would allow me. He is very eager for me to get started."
Brixton turned to Luna and asked, "What about you? Do you promise to write?"
"Oh, yes. Of course I will write to you," Luna answered dreamily, "I have plans to travel with my father and get started searching for various elusive magical creatures. I'm very excited. We are going to Australia later this summer. As soon as we get back we can meet up at Hogsmead."
"Thank you both so much. I am so happy that I get to stay here and teach, but I'm afraid this summer will be lonely without the two of you and our other friends. At least Neville says that he will be back at least once a week during the summer to keep the greenhouses in order. That will help," Brixton told her friends.
"What about Professor Snape? Won't you two have plenty of alone time without the prying eyes of students?" Hermione teased.
"Why the sudden change in opinion? You go from scolding me to joking about it. I don't get you," answered Brixton, but heat rushed to her cheeks thinking about what had happened between her and her soon-to-be former professor.
"Well, as of tomorrow you two will be equals and I see the way he looks at you. There is undeniably something there," as though a sudden thought had hit her, Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Did something else happen between you two?"
Brixton's face couldn't possibly have been any redder as she answered, "Maybe. I wasn't really going to talk about it."
Luna perked up and rolled over onto her side to face Brixton, "Oh, now you simply must tell us."
Brixton closed her eyes and sighed in frustration. She said, "Okay, yes something did happen a few days ago. Remember when I told you about Pansy getting really nasty with me?"
Luna nodded and Hermione replied, "Yes, it was absolutely dreadful. I can't believe Professor Snape took so many points away from his own House. He never does that. He must think an awful lot of you."
"Yes, ahem," Brixton bashfully said, "Well, after that and after we had finished brewing for the evening some things happened between us." Her friends both looked at her expectantly so she continued, "Uh, I won't get into the details but there was lots of kissing and some other stuff. Not sex, but you know, in that ballpark."
Luna smiled, "Well, that's exciting."
Hermione asked, "Why didn't you want to tell us?"
"I don't know. I'm still shocked that it even happened to tell you the truth. It was so sudden. It was like all the rules we had agreed upon were just thrown out the window."
Luna blushed and asked, "Well, was it good?"
"Uh, it was brilliant," Brixton said quickly, "But what's better is he promised me a proper date soon."
Hermione gasped and squeezed Brixton's hand tightly, "Oh! That sounds like the start of a real relationship. I'm so happy for you."
"You know," said Brixton, "I think I'm in love with him."
Hermione and Luna shared a laugh and Brixton narrowed her eyes at them, "What?"
Luna was the first to speak up, "Well, that's been obvious for so long now that it just seems funny that you yourself are just now figuring it out."
"So, have you told him that?" asked Hermione.
"No, I kind of realized it in the heat of the moment so to speak. Not because of what we were doing, but it was just when I realized that there was no one else that I would want to kiss. No one else I would want to hold me. My heart was beating a million times a second and I just realized it. Anyways, he is so guarded that I think I will wait for him to be the first to say something, or at least wait until it is obviously a relationship. We haven't talked about any of that so there are no guarantees yet. I am however, looking forward to our date. I'm going to wear one of the dresses we picked out on my birthday," she replied to her friends.
"The black one," Hermione and Luna both said in unison.
Brixton laughed, "Yes, I think it would obviously be his favorite."
"Well, I'm so happy for you," Hermione said, "I know I was very critical of all of this and I still have my reservations. However, he seems to make you so happy and that's all I want for you. Professor Snape also deserves some happiness after everything he has been through."
The trio relaxed together and the conversation shifted to several different topics before it was time for Hermione and Luna to leave. Brixton decided to accompany them to the train. They walked with their arms linked together. It was just a small gesture of their friendship that Brixton knew she would miss dearly. Their graduating was going to change everything. She knew there would be letters and visits, but it wouldn't be the same as sharing every meal together and retreating to the Room of Requirement or the Black Lake when they needed time to be alone. Her best friends were leaving her and sorrow filled her heart as they got closer and closer to the train.
As they were waiting outside the station, the rest of their friends slowly began to join them. Brixton listened to each of them talk about their plans for the summer. Ginny was looking forward to starting her training as Chaser for the Hollyhead Harpies who had actually approached her earlier in the year. Neville said that he was going to be spending time with his Nan and visiting his parents at St. Mungo's. He had been offered a position as an Auror, but he had turned it down in favor of accepting the teaching position at Hogwarts. Ron had accepted a position as an Auror, 'for the greater good', but he said that George was pushing him strongly to come help him manage the booming business at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and he said he was considering it. Harry, of course, was downright giddy at his acceptance of becoming an Auror and was eager to get started. Everyone agreed that he was practically born for the job.
Brixton hugged them all one-by-one and couldn't help getting teary-eyed by the end of it. She urged them all to write her and told them that she would be awfully lonely until the start of the new term. They all agreed that they would write, except for Ron who admitted he was terrible about responding to owls. She was excited for her friends who were all headed towards their dreams, but she wanted them to be careful. The irony wasn't lost on her that they had experienced some of the most dangerous years in Hogwarts' history, but she was worried about them all as they went about their separate endeavors.
As the rest of her friends were boarding the train, Brixton pulled Luna to the side. "Please be very careful in Australia. I worry about you chasing after what may be dangerous creatures."
"Oh, I will be alright. I have a natural knack with animals, as you know," Luna smiled; her big eyes looked to be unfocused and far away in thought. "Oh! That reminds me!" She dug around in her bag until she pulled out a large wad of something wrapped in white cloth napkin. She handed the bundle over to Brixton. She opened the napkin just a little to see that it was a large pile of bacon. "For the thestrals," said Luna, "I know that today will be especially hard for you with all of us leaving so I think that it would be perfect for you to pay them a visit. I've already said goodbye to them myself."
Moved by her friend's thoughtfulness, Brixton pulled Luna into another long hug. "Thank you. That is a brilliant idea."
"I have to go now," said Luna, "Please take care, and good luck with your romance. Please write me about your first date. I'm eager to hear how it goes." Without so much as letting Brixton respond, Luna skipped off and hopped aboard the train. Brixton stood there for at least five more minutes before the train pulled out of the station with a loud whistle. She watched until it disappeared into the horizon before turning and leaving the station.
Brixton enjoyed the quiet walk to her favorite spot of the Forbidden Forest. She had the bacon that Luna had given her tucked away into her blue faux leather bag that was slung over her shoulder. While she walked, Brixton couldn't help but think of Severus and what their first date might be like. She allowed her mind to drift, considering all of the possibilities. She really hoped that he would like her dress in his favorite color.
Once she made it to the edge of the forest, Brixton was happy to see that her thestrals were already there waiting as if they had known she was coming. They gobbled up the salty treats as though they had never been fed a day in their lives. The twin babies had grown substantially. It had been several weeks since she had been by for a visit and Primrose wouldn't stop rubbing Brixton with her face. "What is it that you want, girl?" she asked the magical horse.
"She wants ya to ride 'er," a voice boomed from behind her.
"Ah!" gasped Brixton as she turned to see Hagrid standing just a few feet away. "How a man your size can sneak up on someone I will never know, Hagrid."
"Well, you have to tread lightly in the forest, there are lots of things that you can spook if you aren't careful," he smiled.
Primrose kept pushing her head into Brixton despite being thoroughly petted. Before she could even think, Hagrid picked up Brixton and put her on top of Primrose.
"Hagrid, I don't think this is a good idea," she protested.
"Nonsense! Ya rode all the way to the Ministry on Primrose. Surely you can let 'er give ya a ride around the campus. These babies are probably driving 'er batty. She needs to stretch 'er wings a little. I will stay with the little ones," and with that he gave Primrose a firm smack on the rump and she took off into a gallop and was in the air before Brixton could even react.
Clutching tight to Primrose's neck, Brixton was afraid to open her eyes. She told herself that she should try to make the most of it and took a deep breath before looking down. She reminded herself that even though she was not a fan of flight that she had done this before and survived. Primrose let out a bird-like squawk of joy and Brixton watched in awe as they flew over the Forbidden Forest. Her favorite thestral was so fast that the trees beneath them just zoomed out of sight before Brixton could focus her eyes on any single one.
Soon they left the forest and were flying over the Whomping Willow. Within seconds, Hagrid's hut came into and out of sight. Primrose swooped lower as they went over the Quidditch Pitch, and she began to slow down as they approached the edge of the Black Lake. Brixton squinted as she saw a black clad figure sitting near the water. "Hey, girl, do you mind setting us down over there?" Brixton asked and pointed for the thestral to see. Primrose did exactly as was asked of her and lowered herself and her rider down to the ground just a few feet from where Severus was sitting.
"I thought you didn't like flying," he stated in a rather teasing fashion. It was obvious that Brixton was clinging to the creature for dear life so the statement really didn't need saying.
"I don't but Hagrid and Primrose clearly had other plans in mind. Now, will you please be a gentleman and help me down?" she demanded.
Severus scoffed and said, "I don't think anyone has ever accused me of being a gentleman before." He stood and walked over to the thestral, allowed her to sniff his hand, and then offered the hand to Brixton.
She took his hand and then flipped a leg over to dismount Primrose. "Thank you very much," she said as she smoothed down her skirt, "I think that insisting on taking me for a proper date makes you quite the gentleman."
He laughed and leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Yes, but engaging in such torrid affairs with a student makes me something entirely different, Miss Winchester."
"Oh, hush," Brixton said, blushing, "This is officially my last day as your student and I would appreciate it if you called me by my proper name from here on out, Severus."
"Oh, I can start calling you Professor Winchester and obviously will be when students are around."
"But, of course, Professor Snape," she replied winking at him.
Primrose nuzzled Brixton one last time before she took a running leap and bounded off into the air. It looked as though she was headed off back towards the forest and her babies.
"You know," said Severus in his silky inflection, "If someone who had not witnessed death was watching you ride that thestral they would have seen right up your skirt."
Brixton's jaw flew open and she gently smacked Severus on the arm. "You are absolutely incorrigible! What has come over you? One steamy encounter and you are acting like a school boy."
His tone darkened and he leaned in close and said, "It's written all over your face that you like it. You can't deny it."
Brixton turned a deep shade of red and replied, "You're right".
Severus chuckled and asked, "Would you like to sit down with me?"
"I would love to," she replied.
They settled onto the ground and Brixton had to fight the urge to rest her head on Severus' shoulder. After a while he said, "I have to go to my home for a few days. When I come back would you like to go on that date? I thought I would take you to Hogsmead since you have never been able to go."
"Yes, that would be wonderful!" Brixton exclaimed.
"Good, I look forward to it," he replied.
She said sadly, "I'm going to miss you, you know."
He chuckled slightly and said, "We have all the time in the world to be together. A few days won't hurt anything," he paused before continuing, "Truthfully, I am going to miss you too."
An idea struck Brixton suddenly and she asked, "Severus, would you mind if I did some experimenting with some potions that I have wanted to try out for some time now?"
"Not at all, the classroom, brewing room, and stores are all yours now. Just please be mindful of experimenting with anything that is rare or exceedingly valuable. I'm not saying don't use anything valuable, just use your best judgement," he cautioned.
"Of course! Off the top of my head, I can only think of a couple of rare ingredients and I will make sure to make very small portions of anything I try so as not to waste too much if my experimenting doesn't work out," she assured him.
"I look forward to seeing what you come up with, Madam Pomfrey has just told me a couple of days ago that the blood clotting potion you created is going to be published in The Monthly Potioneer for other healers and potioneers to use across the globe. You should be proud," he said.
Brixton was practically glowing at this turn of the conversation. "Yes," she said, "I will even receive some monetary compensation for the publication soon, which is good considering I will have absolutely no money until the term starts and I start making wages as a professor. However, I am much more excited at the thought that my potion will be helping people. The delay in the publication was due to thorough testing that has been done at St. Mungo's."
"That is quite the accomplishment at your age, you should be very proud," Severus replied.
"I am! I have already requested a dozen of copies of the magazine so that I can have a couple and some to owl to my friends. They don't know anything about it yet. I've kept it a surprise," Brixton glowed.
"Luckily I am already a subscriber to The Monthly Potioneer. I look forward to reading about the potion that helped saved my life," Severus smiled radiantly at the witch.
The couple spent the rest of the afternoon by the lake talking and enjoying each other's company. It seemed to Brixton that they were forming a 'real relationship' as Hermione had put it and that made her heard thud rapidly in her chest. She didn't know where things were going to go with Severus, but she hoped that it would always feel this good.