The Professor

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Given her grounding in her room, it was extremely difficult to post her response to Hogwarts, however, she was saved by having another owl appear while everyone was busy away from the house just a few days into room arrest.

"Wow, they are determined to get a response, aren't they little one?" she asked cooing to the tawny-looking fuzzball that had appeared earlier this afternoon.

"Can you send a letter back for me? I don't have an owl to respond to on my own." She was given a hoot that sounded strangely positive and she quickly wrote down on a piece of notebook paper " Yes, I accept my position to study at Hogwarts. Could you please send someone to take me to get my supplies? I have no idea where to get them. Sincerely, Hellebore Potter." She folded the letter up and looked at the owl, ' any way you'd be able to tell me how to do this?' instead of a sound of encouragement the owl nipped the paper out of her hand and flew out the window.

"Well, I guess that's one way to do it." She returned quickly to her canvas knowing that if she didn't have at least a few canvases finished by the time her house arrest was lifted she'd be in even more trouble and she didn't want to have to deal with explaining to Hogwarts that she couldn't be there by the 1st because she didn't provide the basic income the Dursleys was expecting.

She set to work diligently making sure that each painting was as perfect as she could get them. She never knew if they liked them or hated them until she publicized them. Usually, the ones she liked the public hated and the ones she wanted to burn or restart they thought was amazing. She never could understand it. It wasn't the colors, she tried that switching out certain colors and using like toned colors on a single canvas, and while the work did turn out better than expected, (all the paintings were put together in a collection), she could never be sure which one was more popular.

A harsh knock on her bedroom door roused her from her contemplations. Swiftly opening the door before whoever got upset, She was unsure what to make of the look on her Aunt's face. "Yes, Aunt Petunia?" she inquired softly.

" You have a ...visitor…,' she replies in a fit of disgust.

Curiosity piqued, she could only wonder at the identity of her mysterious visitor. Making sure she didn't have any paint on her clothes and that her hair has at least somewhat behaved, she quickly made her way downstairs to the entryway.

There stands a man with shoulder-length black hair and glittering obsidian eyes, dressed all in black in what she could only think to be some kind of robe, she suddenly understands why her Aunt was so angry.

"Oh. Oh, no. No. No. No. NO. You can not be dressed like that when HE gets home. It's bad enough Aunt Petunia had to see it ...Oh this is bad, bad, bad." She silently begins to panic. If this is how Hogwarts sent their welcoming committee it's a wonder anyone survives.

"Excuse me?' the man inquired softly "I am dressed perfectly fine, Ms. Potter."

Letting out an indelicate snort she checks him over, " Maybe for Hogwarts but in this house, one must look the best they can and that means trousers and skirts." She gives her dress a little fluff. It was an immaculate second-hand dress that was faded to the point the design looked like watercolors swirled together. One of her favorite things about this dress given her background while the other was the handy pockets someone had sewn into the skirt. She had stored a great many stolen perishables in those pockets.

"Yes, well, be that as it may, I am not required to pander to anyone let alone one household." He replies with a sneer.

She shakes her head, " At this rate, I'd never get permission to leave, Sir, if Uncle Vernon caught me here talking to you, I'd never be let out of my room again.' She gives a slight pout. " Isn't there anything you could do?," she asks pleadingly, " I would love to be able to go wherever Hogwarts is as long as I wasn't here."

He takes a minute to scrutinize her and checks every nook and cranny of the entryway they were standing in before sighing and sneering waves a stick around his person. What was black victorian style robes was now a very distinguished three-piece suit. She sighed relief.

" Thank you, Sir. I know my Uncle well. I don't want any blood spilled tonight given his temper." Most likely mine if I'm not careful, she thinks to herself. If there was one thing the Dursleys never allowed, it was being different. Everything had to look normal, perfect. Important. And when it came to her, she already had a few strikes against her given she wasn't their child and that her hair was slightly more purple than red or brown and that weird stuff happened often to her.

He looks at her and gives another sneer. " Well, are we going to stand in your foyer, or are you going to allow me to sit somewhere?'

Startled and a little embarrassed, she quickly escorts him to the living room and makes her way to the kitchen, where she finds Aunt Petunia, hyperventilating. "Aunt Petunia are you alright?" she asks hesitantly. You never knew which way you were going with Aunt Petunia. She was worse than a rabbit, easy to scare in any direction and you better be mindful because once she lets go you might be missing some parts.

"No. No, I am NOT OKAY!. That horrid FREAK IS IN MY HOUSE! Oh, VERNON IS GOING TO HAVE AN ATTACK IF HE SEES HIM HERE!," Once finished speaking she sits back down and begins to breathe deeply in and out.

"What could they possibly want?! I thought we got rid of your freakishness! There hasn't been an attack in months!" At this moment that's when the dark-haired man walks in and hears Aunt Petunia and for a moment, Helli felt true terror looking at his face. There was an instant chill in the air.

"Now I know why, despite the Headmaster's assurances, Ms. Potter needed an escort. You haven't changed a bit have you,...Tuney?" Another sneer on his face but one that contained a lot more malice than the others.

At the mention of the word, "Tuney" Aunt Petunia lost all color she had previously regained and turned to face their visitor. Helli didn't know what was going on and felt like she was at a tennis match where her head volleyed back and forth between both challengers.

" YOU...You ...YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE STEPPED FOOT HERE! You need to leave! NOW!" Petunia now shouting looking to have gained her color and all the ones her husband uses as well. She was breathing heavily.

With a menacing scowl and slight swish of his wand, the man, who she still had no idea was, turned to her and spoke, "Ms. Potter if you would accompany me back to the living room I do not have all morning and I most assuredly do not want anything from this kitchen.'

She shuffled forward and brushed by him to get into the living room. Feeling his body heat and smelling him in that one instance sent an unfamiliar lightning spasm down her spine. Once seated she turned to him and waited. She watched him survey everything in the living room noting that none of the pictures showed her progression of growth and none of the achievement trophies Dudley always got were hers.

"Ms. Potter, I am Professor Snape, Your future potions teacher. I am here to collect you given you have accepted the position of student a few days ago. Now I am here to take you to a place we call Diagon Alley. Once in Diagon Alley, we are to head to Gringotts to access any vaults available to you. After that we are going to get your school supplies AND only your school supplies, Do you understand? You will not go galavanting off, you will not meander behind and you rather not be going to any shop not associated with your supply list, do I make myself clear?" At least point the man, Professor Snape was standing in front of her arms crossed looking down his nose at her as she furiously nods her head as she stares up at him in slight awe and a little terror.

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