Rachel had spent the morning in the Hogwarts library looking through the section on magical creatures. The book that Neville had given her for her birthday had been informative and had lots of wonderful pictures, but since it covered a wide range of creatures it didn't have a lot of focus on any single animal. While in the library she had spent some time reading about kneazles, griffins, and fwoopers.
Professor Snape had brought her with him to Hogwarts while he had a staff meeting he needed to attend. Rachel was just glad that she didn't need to take her make-up exams right away, she still wanted to practice some more first.
She'd been in the library for about three hours when he showed up, his expression grim.
"All done?" she asked as she put the book she'd been reading back on the shelf.
"Yes. Let's go back home and have lunch," he said.
Rachel walked with him down the staircases and out of the castle, deciding that it was best to not ask about the meeting. His jaw was set and he had the same tightness around his eyes that he did when someone boiled over their cauldron in class.
They went through the gates and Professor Snape offered her his arm. A short, stomach twisting apparation later and they were back at the house.
"Are sandwiches alright with you?" he asked as they walked into the kitchen.
"Yes, I can make them," Rachel offered.
Professor Snape sighed heavily. "How about we each make our own sandwich, that way they're made the way we like them?"
A short time later they were at the kitchen table, Rachel with a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich, and Professor Snape with a turkey and tomato sandwich. "This is for you," he said, passing her a letter he'd taken from a pocket in his robes.
It had the Hogwarts seal on it. Rachel opened it and found a letter, directing her to catch the Hogwarts Express at eleven o'clock from King's Cross station on September first, and the list of new books she'd need. At least Hermione would be happy they finally had their book lists.
"Who is…" Rachel trailed off as she tried to figure out how to pronounce the name of the author who had written almost all of the books on the list.
"Gilderoy Lockhart," Professor Snape finished, his mouth twisted in irritation. "Your new Defense professor. And yes, he has listed all of his books as required for every student. I don't know why Albus tolerates it."
Rachel put down her letter and went back to her sandwich. She didn't need to be told twice that this was the subject that he was upset about from the staff meeting. She finished lunch, washed her plate and the knife and spoon she'd used, and then slipped upstairs.
She got her two-way book and a quill, deciding that if the others hadn't received their book lists yet, she could tell them what was on them. She sat down on her bed, opened her book, and found that a conversation had been going on without her.
'Book lists have been sent out! My parents are taking me to Diagon Alley on the twelfth. Would anyone like to try to meet up?' Hermione had written.
'I can't, it's better if we don't have the chance of accidentally bumping into each other. I wish I could though. Who is this Lockhart bloke who wrote most of the list?' Theo had added.
'My Gran says I can go,' Neville had written in response.
'I can't. I finally convinced my parents to take me and Isobelle on a trip. We'll be in France the eleventh through the fourteenth,' Millie had replied.
'I will ask Professor Snape and let you know. I asked him about the author, and he says that Gilderoy Lockhart is our new Defense professor. He's having all the Defense students buy all his books,' Rachel wrote, glad that she could at least tell them something new.
'That sounds like a scam. Become a professor to sell more books,' Theo wrote back almost immediately.
'It does seem a little suspicious when you put it that way. Though it is kind of exciting to be taught by the professor who wrote the books,' Hermione replied.
Rachel thought it probably would depend on the professor. If he was a good teacher, then having all of his works to refer to could be helpful. However, seven books was a lot, and like Theo and Hermione had written, it was a little suspicious.
When no one else immediately replied, Rachel put her quill and book away and got out her practice Snitch and her broom. It was a bright and sunny day outside and she hadn't gotten to go out flying yet.
On Wednesday they went to Diagon Alley. They arrived an hour before they'd planned to meet Hermione and her parents and Neville and his Gran at Flourish and Blotts.
Their first stop was Gringotts. Rachel had closed her eyes while they rode the carts through the caverns, which helped her pretend it was riding on a broom rather than hurtling along a track. She was a little embarrassed when they stopped at her vault, as it had quite a lot of money inside. She still wasn't used to having money, but it was nice to be able to purchase things when she wanted to.
All Professor Snape said as she refilled her money pouch was "Remind me to get you a Moke-skin money pouch, they're resistant to theft."
They stopped at Professor Snape's vault afterward, and while there weren't nearly as many coins in his vault, it was clear that he wasn't poor.
Rachel was grateful when they stepped back out into Diagon Alley. The carts were not her favorite method of transportation, ranking slightly above apparating and flooing.
They went to Slug and Jiggers Apothecary next and Rachel got a student potions refill kit, which Professor Snape paid for without giving Rachel the chance to take out her money pouch.
They were able to skip Madam Malkins. A few days ago Professor Snape had Rachel try on her clothes and then used tailoring charms to adjust them so they still fit. Rachel was happy that her skirts, trousers, and robes all needed to be lengthened since she'd grown over the past year. She knew she would still be one of the shortest students in her year, but hopefully she'd at least be taller than the incoming first years.
They went to Scribbulus Writing Instruments and Rachel got two sheaves of parchment along with another set of black self-inking quills since the one she'd been keeping in her pocket was rather worse for wear.
Professor Snape led the way into a small shop next door that had a blue sign that read Atherton's Accessories and picked out a Moke-skin pouch for Rachel. "Transfer your money into this when you get back home," he said.
Once they were back out in the alley he looked around. "Is there anywhere else you want to go before we meet your friends at Flourish and Blotts?"
"The sweets shop?" Rachel asked.
Professor Snape nodded agreeably and they went a few shops down to Sugarplum's Sweets Shop. Rachel picked up more chocolate frogs for herself, though she still had quite a few left from her birthday present, and picked up two packets of sugar quills - the deluxe ones which lasted longer - guessing that Millie would have run out by now.
"I didn't realize that you liked sugar quills," Professor Snape commented.
"They're okay, they're mostly for Millie," Rachel said quietly as she went up to the counter to pay. Fortunately Professor Snape let her pay here.
Rachel let Professor Snape shrink the bag holding her purchases and he put it in his pocket with the rest of the things they'd bought that day, except for the potions ingredients, which didn't always react well to being shrank.
"Flourish and Blotts?" he asked.
Rachel nodded and they made their way back to the north side of Diagon Alley. There was a small crowd outside and there was a large banner stretched between the upper windows saying that Gilderoy Lockhart would be signing copies of his autobiography today. She was sure she didn't imagine the grimace on Professor Snape's face when he read the sign.
They made their way inside and Rachel was unsurprised to find Hermione already there holding a stack of books while she examined the shelves.
"Oh hello," Hermione said, smiling brightly when she realized that Rachel was standing next to her. "I was just looking at some of the new releases. Most of what the Hogwarts library has is quite dated. Hello Professor Snape."
"Miss Granger," Professor Snape said, inclining his head. "I assume your parents are nearby?"
"Yes, right over there," Hermione said, looking in the direction of the end of the aisle. "I have to say, I didn't realize how busy it would be today."
"Indeed," Professor Snape said. "Rachel, why don't we find your school books?"
"I can show her where they are, I just picked up mine. And look, here's Neville," Hermione said.
Neville and his Gran approached, looking a little ruffled after going through the crowd.
"Severus, how nice to see you," Augusta said.
"You as well, Augusta," Severus said.
"Gran, this is Hermione Granger, she's the best student in our year," Neville said.
"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Longbottom," Hermione said, managed to move all of her books to one hand so she could offer her hand.
Neville's Gran took Hermione's hand briefly. "And you, dear."
"Why don't you all go pick out your school books and then we can get out of the crowd and go to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch," Professor Snape suggested, in his way that meant it was more of a command than a suggestion.
"I'll take Neville and Rachel," Hermione said.
Rachel glanced at Professor Snape, who nodded, and then she followed Hermione and Neville deeper into the shop.
"We should try to get a look at Gilderoy Lockhart," Hermione said as she led them to the Charms section so they could get The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2. "They have all of his books up there anyway."
"We'll be looking at him all year," Neville pointed out.
"But still, it will be good to see what he's like," Hermione said. After they'd picked up their books from the Charms section she led them around the Defense section and toward the front of the store. There was a line of people winding through the aisles, all waiting to see Gilderoy Lockheart.
Rachel and Neville each picked up the set that contained the Lockhart books that were on their reading list, and then followed Hermione a little further up so they were to the side of the line leading up to where Gilderoy Lockhart stood.
"He's handsome," Hermione said, watching as Gilderoy Lockhart stood behind the table that held stacks of his autobiography.
Rachel turned to look at Hermione and noticed Neville looking at Hermione with what was probably a similar expression to the one that was on Rachel's face - confusion and mild disgust. Lockhart had to be at least in his thirties.
"Oh my! Rachel Snow!" Gilderoy Lockhart said loudly.
Rachel barely had time to look in his direction before he was on her, one arm wrapped around her shoulders and his free hand tight around her wrist as he pulled her forward with him. She felt frozen, her legs moving automatically to keep her on her feet as she was maneuvered. There was a bright flash as a photographer took a picture.
"Ladies. Gentlemen. I have an announcement to make of the utmost importance!" Lockhart called. "Young Rachel here merely wished to purchase my autobiography, which I am presenting to her, free of charge. She has no idea-"
"Get your hands off of her," Professor Snape said, suddenly up with them in front of the table. He grabbed Rachel, pulled her out of Lockhart's grasp, which had gone abruptly limp, and moved so that he was between them. His wand was pointed directly at Lockhart's throat. "You do not get to touch her."
Rachel stumbled back as Lockhart sputtered.
"I merely felt this was a good opportunity to make my announcement," Lockhart said, glancing out at the crowd, which had fallen silent.
"Stay away from her," Professor Snape said. He brought his wand back to his side and stalked away.
"As I was saying," Lockhart continued, though he now looked rather pale. "This year I will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
The crowd applauded, though they sounded more subdued than they had earlier.
"Rachel, are you alright?" Professor Snape asked.
Rachel nodded, though she felt more than a bit shaken and she couldn't quite say why.
The Grangers and Neville's Gran had followed Professor Snape over. "What was that all about?" Hermione's mother asked.
"Rachel is quite famous in the wizarding world. Some see that as an opportunity to take advantage of her," Professor Snape said shortly, with a glare back in Lockhart's direction.
There was a loud crash from a few aisles over and they turned to look. Two men were fighting, and it appeared as if one of them was Lucius Malfoy. Rachel recognized some of the Weasleys nearby as well.
"Stay with Augusta and the Grangers," Professor Snape ordered and then hurried toward the fight.
"Why I never. Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy brawling like muggles in Flourish and Blotts," Neville's Gran said, shaking her head.
"Not all muggles brawl," Mr. Granger said.
Neville's Gran looked at him. "Of course not. But no muggles fight using magic either. A witch or wizard should always use their wand, not their fists."
Rachel watched as Professor Snape helped Lucius Malfoy get back to his feet. Mr. Weasley, a man with hair as red as his children's hair, glared but retreated with his children. Draco joined his father and after a moment Professor Snape bowed slightly and then walked away.
"I suggest we pay for our books and then adjourn to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch," Professor Snape said as he returned to them. "Do you have everything you need?"
Rachel nodded again.
They made their way around the crowd that was waiting to have their books signed by Lockhart, paid for their books and then left Flourish and Blotts.
Once they were out on the street, Professor Snape shrank the bag that held Rachel's books and put it in his pocket.
"I must say, that must make the shopping easier," Mrs. Granger said.
"If you'd like I can shrink yours as well, with a timed spell that would allow them to unshrink automatically in five hours time," Professor Snape offered.
"If you wouldn't mind," she said.
Professor Snape pointed his wand at the bags Hermione's mother was holding and made a sharp angled motion with his wands. The bags shrank and she put them into her purse. "Just make sure they are in a space where they have room to expand in five hours," he said.
"Thank you," Mrs. Granger said politely. "Now, you were saying that Rachel is quite famous. What for?"
Rachel looked at Hermione, who gave a small shrug. Apparently Hermione didn't tell her parents everything that went on at Hogwarts.
"I'll explain further at lunch," Professor Snape said.
They made it to the Leaky Cauldron and were seated. When the server asked what she wanted, Rachel was able to say "Fish and chips" loud enough to be heard. After the server left, Professor Snape set up a privacy ward and began to give an abbreviated explanation to the Grangers about why Rachel was famous.
"Are you okay?" Neville asked quietly.
Rachel nodded again. She felt a little better now that they were away from Flourish and Blotts.
"I can't believe he grabbed you like that," Hermione said, pitching her voice low so they didn't distract the adults from their conversation. "It was awful, you looked terrified. Not that I blame you, of course, I probably would have looked the same."
"I just hope the pictures don't wind up in the Daily Prophet," Rachel whispered, feeling herself blush at the thought of everyone seeing her like that.
"If anything, it will be the picture of Professor Snape with his wand at Lockhart's throat," Neville said. "It would have to be a very busy news day for that scene not to wind up in the Daily Prophet."
"At the very least, everyone will have forgotten about it by September," Hermione pointed out.
That's true. It could have been worse, especially if they'd been at school when the article came out.
"I'm not quite sure what I think of him being our professor," Hermione continued. "He seems to have done a lot, but I don't like what just happened."
"I don't think he'll do that again though," Neville said. "Professor Snape looked like he was about to kill him."
Rachel hoped it didn't happen again, though she didn't see why it would. Everyone at school already knew who she was, and everyone would know that Lockhart was a professor.
There was a silvery shimmer as Professor Snape dismissed the privacy ward as the waiter came over with their food, and Rachel noticed that Hermione's parents were now covertly looking in Rachel's direction with worried expressions. Rachel sighed and began to eat. Some days she simply had no control over her life.
Severus stood outside the gate to the Snow's house in Godric's Hollow and braced himself. He knew it had been kept intact as a memorial to Lily and James, but he hadn't been back since the night they had died. He had left Rachel alone at Fallow Farm, not intending to be gone long, but now he wasn't sure he could go further.
He eased open the gate and took another few steps past the overgrown hedges. The house looked as it had nearly eleven years ago. The only sign that something was wrong was the hole in the wall and roof on the upper level of the right side of the home. The nursery. Wards had been put in place to prevent people from entering the house. Severus could feel the wards prickling against his skin, he identified a stasis spell along with a strong keep out spell, among others. A few spells deconstructed the wards keeping him out - he would put them back up when he left.
The doorknob turned easily in his hand and he stepped inside. The house was silent. The stasis spell had kept everything inside the house just as it had been that night. He walked into the sitting room. It was homey and lived in. He could easily imagine Lily sitting in the chair by the window, reading a book as the afternoon light fell on the pages.
Now that he was here, he hardly knew what to take for Rachel. He could have brought her with him, so she could decide for herself, but he had felt that it would have been cruel to bring her to the site where her parents had been murdered. For now, he would have to pick. Maybe Rachel would want to come when she was older.
He conjured a cardboard box and set it down on the couch. There was a baby blanket resting, half folded on the couch, along with a stylized stuffed lion, and a children's book. Severus picked it up and found that it was a worn copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. 'J Snow' was written in a childish hand on the bottom corner. He put all three items in the box, figuring that Rachel might like to have some things from when she was an infant.
There was a section of books on the bookshelf near the window, a mixed variety of muggle and magical authors. Severus selected some of the books, making sure to pick the ones he knew Lily had read. He placed them in the box and then looked around the room. None of the items in it, apart from the books, seemed specifically to be Lily's. He imagined that she had placed the items decorating the coffee table and the walls, but they weren't really personal.
Leaving the cardboard box on the couch, Severus stepped back out into the hallway. A bathroom and the kitchen and dining area made up the rest of the first floor. He went upstairs and found the door to Lily and James' bedroom.
Severus stepped inside and froze. He could still smell her perfume, preserved by the stasis spell. He exhaled, feeling slightly unsteady and walked to a dresser that had a few things on top. A picture frame, showing Lily, James, and Rachel. A small glass bottle of perfume. A jewelry box.
The jewelry box was small and simple, made from beechwood with an engraved piece of glass set in the lid. The engraving was of a hummingbird approaching a flower. He opened the box and found a few items. Lily hadn't been one to wear much jewelry.
He recognized the necklace immediately. It was a gold heart, with five emeralds along one side, and had a fine gold chain. Shortly after Severus had defected, he had overheard Lily showing it to Alice Longbottom, saying that James had bought it for her after Rachel's birth.
He also recognized a silver charm bracelet, one that Lily had worn in her youth. He picked it up, feeling the weight in his hands, and accidentally looked into the small mirror that was hanging above the dresser.
"Lily," he said softly. He didn't know if Lily would be furious at him for taking so long to look for her daughter. He had known Lily wouldn't have wanted Petunia to raise Rachel, and yet, in his grief over Lily's death it hadn't crossed his mind. When he had finally emerged, he hadn't given much thought to Lily's child. It had felt too much like thinking about Lily.
"Can you forgive me?" he whispered, closing his eyes briefly.
When he opened his eyes, he still had no answers. He placed the charm bracelet back into the jewelry box and decided to take the whole thing for Rachel, along with the framed photograph.
He went back downstairs, placed the items in the cardboard box, and then left the house, feeling as though he was being chased by metaphorical ghosts. With the wards back in place, he apparated back home. He needed to go sit for a bit, by himself, before he was ready to give the contents of the box to Rachel.
"Rachel?" Professor Snape asked.
She looked up from the book she'd been reading and looked at where he had just entered the room.
He was holding a cardboard box and he came over to sit down on the far end of the couch before he spoke again. "I visited Lily and James' house, and I've brought you some of their things."
Rachel set her book on the coffee table. "They have a house?"
"Yes, it was preserved as a memorial. Albus placed a stasis ward and some other wards on it to keep people out," he explained. "You mentioned wanting to have something of your mother's."
Rachel nodded and looked at the box that he'd placed between them. She didn't quite know where to start, now that she knew what it was. She peered inside and then hesitantly took the object on top. It was a stuffed animal in pastel colors that was roughly stylized as a lion.
"That and the baby blanket were yours, when you were an infant," Professor Snape said.
She pulled out the baby blanket. It had a blue checkerboard pattern around the edges and a big green dragon in the middle. The dragon moved around, occasionally breathing fire. "I don't remember," she said, trying to find some recognition in the blanket or the toy lion.
"That's unsurprising. Most people do not have memories from when they were a one year old," he said.
That was too bad because Rachel wanted to remember. She folded the blanket and set it aside with the lion. There was a big book inside the box that had 'J Snow' written on the bottom of the cover. She opened the book and found that it was illustrated.
"I found that with the blanket and the toy. I believe it likely belonged to James when he was a child," Professor Snape explained. "The tales are fables and children's stories."
Rachel nodded absently, wondering if her parents used to read to her from it.
She set the book with the blanket and reached back into the box. There was a small wooden box which she pulled out and then recognized it as a jewelry box. "My mother's?"
"Yes, that was Lily's," he said.
She opened the lid and found a few pieces of jewelry inside. A silver bracelet was on the top, which she picked up and examined. There were several charms on the bracelet, including a heart with a red stone inside, a pendant with the letter L, a tiny lion, a lily, and a unicorn.
"Lily used to wear that when she was about your age," Professor Snape offered. "The gold necklace with the heart, was a gift from James to Lily, shortly after you were born."
Rachel put the bracelet back in the box and examined the heart with the emeralds on it. "You knew her well," she said, coming to the realization. She had known that he had known her mother, but knowing these things about her was more than just knowing her in passing.
"Yes, we were friends. She grew up in Cokeworth in a neighborhood not too far from where I lived. I was the one who told her that what she could do was magic," he explained, his expression reserved.
"Am I like her?" she asked.
"In some ways, yes," he said. "You're intelligent, much like Lily was. Lily's favorite subjects were Charms and Potions. You are kind, like her. Lily was a prefect, and then Head Girl. She was always willing to help other students."
"And my father, am I like him too?" Rachel pressed.
Professor Snape's pause was longer this time. "You have some of his attributes as well. He was an excellent flyer, a Chaser on the Gryffindor team. He also had a group of close friends who he was loyal to, much like you do."
That was good. She wanted to be like her parents. And now she had this connection to someone who had known them. "Thank you. For getting these things. And telling me about them."
"Of course," he said. "There are some books in the box as well that were Lily's. I thought you might want to read from the same copies as she did."
Rachel nodded, peering in briefly at the titles.
"Why did they have me? During a war?" Rachel asked. It had been something she'd been wondering ever since she'd found out that they had fought against the Dark Lord.
"I don't know exactly, though I do know Lily wanted to have children," he said.
"Was I an accident?" Rachel asked, feeling a knot of dread in her stomach.
"I don't know, but I do know you were very much wanted and loved," he said firmly.
Aunt Petunia had always said that Rachel had been unplanned, and Rachel wasn't quite sure she was wrong.
"Do you have any more questions for the time being?" he asked.
Rachel shook her head. "I'm going to go upstairs, if that's okay."
"Of course," Professor Snape said again as he went back to his armchair.
Rachel repacked the box and took it upstairs with her. She sat on her bed and took the baby blanket back out, watching as the dragon breathed its animated flames. She didn't know what to think. It was all so different from what she'd been told by her relatives. How did she know that Professor Snape wasn't just telling her what she wanted to hear?
In the history books she'd read about the war, they'd described her parents as being heroes who had fought the Dark Lord. Professor Snape had said her mother had been intelligent and kind and her father had been loyal. He'd said that Rachel had been wanted and loved as a baby.
All of it was far from Aunt Petunia's descriptions of them as being drunk, unemployed, and that Rachel had been an accident that no one had wanted.
She badly wanted to believe what Professor Snape had told her. And she had evidence in the things he'd brought that showed they had given her things, that they had read stories to her. That they had wanted her, despite the war.
In a way, she'd had what she'd always wanted. Her own bedroom instead of a cupboard, things to do for fun instead of chores, meals to eat, clothes that were tidy. Someone to look out for her, the way Professor Snape had when Lockhart had grabbed her.
Was it so bad that she wanted her parents too?
"Pretend you're Professor McGonagall," Rachel said quietly, but with just a hint of mischief in her eyes.
Severus raised his right eyebrow. When Rachel asked if she could practice performing magic in front of him before her make-up exam, this wasn't exactly what he'd expected.
"Perfect," Rachel said. "Now ask me to do the spells. Not in order."
He glanced over the list that Rachel had given him and picked one at random. "The Unlocking charm and the Locking charm."
Rachel went over to the front door, Severus turning in his armchair to watch her, and brought her wand up to the deadlock. "Alohomora." She paused and then said "colloportus" and then came back over to stand next to the coffee table.
Severus nodded. "Severing and mending?" he asked.
She picked up a piece of parchment with one hand and moved her wand in a short waving motion at it. "Diffindo." The parchment obligingly fell into two pieces. Rachel placed both pieces on the coffee table. "Reparo."
"The Levitation charm," he said.
Rachel bit her lower lip and then squared her shoulders. "Wingardium leviosa." The paper rose in the air as she moved her wand upward and she let out a sigh of relief.
"Your Charms work seems adequate. What about Transfiguration? Why don't you start with a mouse to a snuff box?" he asked.
"What is a snuff box for?" Rachel asked as she knelt down next to the coffee table.
"For keeping powdered tobacco, though some use it for other recreational substances," Severus explained.
She nodded and pointed her wand at the snuff box she'd made the last time she was practicing Transfiguration. "Reparifarge," she said, and the snuff box turned back into a small white mouse. She caught it before it could skitter off the table and began working on transfiguring it.
Severus watched her work. They still had a few days before they were to return to Hogwarts, but it was remarkable how much more comfortable she seemed speaking to him now. She very rarely reached for a piece of parchment these days, though she was still speaking at a volume that was hardly louder than a whisper.
He could only hope that she would continue speaking once they arrived at Hogwarts and once the other students came back. Torey had cautioned him that Rachel would likely suffer a setback with speaking once she was around more people and that he could expect her to return to speaking only a few words around others, at least for a time.
"There," Rachel said, holding out the snuff box for his inspection.
"No tail or whiskers, and a nice floral pattern. Well done. The Avifors spell?" he asked, glancing at the list Rachel had given him.
Rachel sat down flat on the floor and took off her socks. A few moments later there were two yellow songbirds on the floor.
"You may wish to return your socks before they fly off," Severus suggested, not wanting to chase the birds through the house.
She quickly untransfigured them and put her socks back on.
"I think you're likely ready for your exams. Shall I write to Minerva and Filius and ask them if you can take the exams next week before the rest of the students come back?" Severus asked.
Rachel hesitated and then nodded.
"You'll do fine," he said, knowing that Rachel worried unduly about exams.
Rachel nodded again but did not look any more at ease.
Severus thought the merciful thing to do would be to get the exams over with as soon as possible. He would write to Minerva and Filius and ask if Rachel could take her practical exams on Monday, as they'd arrive on Sunday afternoon. "Your summer homework is already complete?"
Rachel nodded again.
He refrained from sighing. "Why don't you go flying before dinner?" he suggested.
"Okay," Rachel said before hurrying up to her room to get her broomstick.
Severus did roll his eyes, but was all the more glad that he'd gotten Rachel a broomstick. If she could go flying and forget her worries for a time, that was a relief for both of them.