I arrived at Diagon Alley to begin my shopping and it was not at all what I expected. I'd been in Spinner's End for so long that I didn't know what a toll the war taking in the more metropolitan areas. There were hardly any shops in the Alley that were still open, bar Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes which was well-lit and full of laughing vibrant wizards. The streets once crowded by young wizards at this time of year, were bare and littered by Undesirable posters of Death Eaters on the loose. I wandered down to visit Fred and George Weasley, two elder Gryffindors who were infamous at school for their fire-works show the previous year. Upon entering their shop, my mouth grew into a wide-grin; it was more amazing than I imagined. I hadn't seen this many smiling faces in a long time, and I bought myself a few novelty items while waiting to meet up with the twins when they had a free moment.
"How've you been since you left school? You seem pretty successful here." I asked.
"Well, Diagon Alley is near deserted now. All that's left other than a few street vendors are Gringotts, Nocturne Alley, Flourish and Blotts, and our shop so whenever people come to get their money out they find themselves here I suppose." Fred replied.
"Everyone needs a laugh so we're fine here, really. Our biggest worries are for Ron and Ginny."
"Knowing Mum, she won't want them to go back and that'd devastate them. What about you, how are you doing? You're starting your final year now right?"
"Yeah, I actually came to shop for things today but I didn't know that so many shops here had closed down."
"What do you mean? It's been in all the papers." The boys looked me with their brows furrowed incredulously.
"Oh um..." I had been dreading this moment when I would have to start telling people what had happened during the summer. "Well, actually, I've been hiding out in Spinner's End for a few weeks after a group of Death Eaters attacked my house. Do you know where that is? I haven't really been keeping up with the Daily Prophet since then…" Their eyes glistening with pity, they slowly nodded their heads in unison.
"That's a creepy place, Adele,"
"And really down-trodden too isn't it? You're welcome to stay with us y'know? It wouldn't be an issue."
"There's plenty of room." I nodded back in gratitude, but I didn't know what to say. Staying with the Weasley's would be far more comfortable than Severus' but I knew I couldn't do it. Severus had been so gracious with his hospitality, and I had started to treasure my time with him. Plus, who would be there to help him when he got hurt?
"Thank you so much, but it's only a few weeks 'til school so it isn't going to hurt sticking around there a little bit longer." We chatted a while more, but it started to get late and I still needed to withdraw money from Gringotts before it closed. I thanked them again for their offer and went to my parent's vault. The goblins, aware of the deaths of my parents and the destruction of my home, carried out their legal obligation to transfer my inheritance. Using my wand as identification, they took me to my vault. As the vault door opened, piles of glistening coins entered my eye-line and filled my heart with joyful surprise and pain simultaneously. My parents had worked hard and saved their whole lives, only to be torn away from the world before they could enjoy the fruits of their labour. I took a book satchel full of Galleons, hopefully to last me the year, and caught the Knight Bus back home to Spinners End where I found an exhausted Severus waiting.
He was sitting in his chair with one hand on his forehead, and made a slight noise to acknowledge my arrival. He was paler than usual, and I wondered what must have happened during his visit to shock him so badly. I found a bottle of Firewhiskey and poured us both a glass. As I passed it to him he cocked an eyebrow at me, and I sternly reminded him that as a seventeen year old witch, I was allowed to drink, and Firewhiskey looked well needed. He sipped at his glass and went back to brooding in his chair.
"Severus, what happened today? You look dreadful to tell you the truth; did things not go to plan?" He took a moment, and looked up at me sternly before he replied.
"My visit went exactly as I ought to have expected but it is not any of your concern. Now if you do not mind, I am going to finalise my work on the new curriculum. Now that I have been appointed as Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, I have much to do." He walked off into another room and I pursed my lips in concern. He had not been that morose since the first time after my rescue that he was summoned by He Who Must Not Be Named. Although writing a new curriculum must be stressful, something must have happened during the day for him to be in such a bad mood. I decided to leave things be, I didn't want to outlive my stay here and I thought I would be walking on thin ice if I bothered him further. Going to sleep with my mind full of worry however, seemed to ignite a series of nightmares once more.
It took a week and a half before his attitude finally stabilised. Having the day off, I went to the nearest village to get the rest of the stuff for school and everything was going smoothly. The nightly visions of my parent's death were slowly fading out of my dreams once again, and upon coming home, Severus asked me to sit with him and he apologized for the way he had been acting. He asked me to look over his curriculum and see whether I thought it covered enough content over the seven years equally. It was absolutely brilliant for only a few weeks work and I was honoured to be asked for an opinion from him. Things were back to our new normal and I couldn't help but admire his features, so alive with passion, transforming his face as he talks about how he had dreamed of this position for years. He was almost a completely differrent person when he spoke with such fervour. As he continued sharing his plans, the urge to press my lips against his swelled softly within my gut, but I couldn't... I wouldn't.
It was getting to the point where our closeness was making me anxious about the impending term at school. I knew that I was going to miss him unbearably, but he would be my teacher again thus our friendship would have to cease. Are these feelings real or are they a result of him saving me from the Death Eaters and caring for me since? I wasn't sure, but what I was sure of was that going back to school would take my mind off things. This was my final year at Hogwarts, so I had to be focused if I wanted to become a Healer, but at least I knew I had plenty of practical experience through my time at Spinner's end.
With only a few days left until my trip on the Hogwarts' Express, I resigned from the apothecary and said goodbye to Mr. Liefmonger. He told me that if I wished to work there next summer I was welcome to come back after graduating. A gesture which was reassuring, but I explained that I was hoping by next summer to have an apprenticeship at St. Mungo's to begin my career as a Healer, to which he told me the offer would still stand no matter what. I spent the rest of the day organising what belongings I had, checking off my inventory list with a flick of my wand so I wouldn't leave anything behind. I was in the bathroom collecting my serums and beauty potions together when I heard Severus come in through the door and call my name loudly. I thought that something might be wrong, maybe he was hurt again, so I rushed out in a hurry.
"Are you okay?! What happened?" I tore into the living room to find him just sitting on the lounge, staring incredulously at my haste.
"Nothing, Adele. Nothing of urgency. I wanted to speak with you for a moment unless you are otherwise occupied?" I sighed in relief, walked slowly to the chair, and sat down.
"Of course, I'm just packing. What's going on?"
"Well, I will be departing for Hogwarts later this evening, and there are things we need to clarify, but please, be at ease. Have you had a good day?"
"Yes actually, I finished up at the apothecary and Mr. Liefmonger offered me a job at the end of the school term if I don't get an apprenticeship, which was a lovely surprise. Other than that, nothing has really happened just getting my things together for my own journey to Hogwarts. How about you?"
"Very much the same. I had to speak to Irma Pince regarding the availability of books in the library for students who were unable to make their purchases before the term commences. Of course, my O.W.L and N.E.W.T students ought to be organised and not require the library for their books, however my faith in these students is not as high as it is for others." His eyes peered into mine as these words drag out of his mouth.
"Um, I wanted to ask you how things were going since the other week?" Immediately he knew that I was referring to his work with You-Know-Who, and his eyebrows raised in surprise to my question. He broke his gaze by looking down and away from my face. Choosing to ignore the meaning of my question, he talked with me for another half an hour or so about how the preparation notes he was sending to the new Potions Master, and I learned that he was actually Severus' teacher from when he was in school. It was after this that his tone started to change.
"Listen Adele, as a new school term begins I need to remind you that henceforth I will be your professor again, not your friend or living companion. Thus, I will no longer be able to show you any personal consideration and I would appreciate it if you acted accordingly with me." I creased my brow and nodded. I knew this time was coming but to say it didn't hurt would be a lie. Severus had become my friend, my family, and my saviour when my parents died.
"I understand, sir. Thank you for letting me stay here for the summer," I stood up. "I guess I'll go back to packing then."
"Adele," he cut me off, "there is no urgency to begin the formalities now, and I have greatly enjoyed having you here, more so than I expected. You have been exceptionally helpful, and you will make a wonderful healer."
"Thank you sir, but as you're leaving tonight, I think I should start to get used to it now. It's been a pleasure staying with you, Professor. Have a safe trip." I swiftly went back into the bathroom to finish collecting my things and continued to pack silently, trying not to well up. How am I going to be able to deal with the harshness of my Professor at school, when I have become so used to our candour at home? Severus had moved to his bedroom to complete his own packing, so I came out into the loungeroom once more, transfigured the couch, and laid down. I was considering checking in with Fred and George and staying there overnight tomorrow so I could go from there to Kings Cross Station. The thought of staying in Spinner's End without Severus felt wrong and lonely.
"Adele, it is time for me to go, I will see you in a few days at school. Please enjoy what is left of your summer." He called out as he prepared to apparate. I didn't know why but I was suddenly overwhelmed with anxiety. My heart felt heavy and my lungs were uncooperative. I didn't want to see him go, I was scared of how I might feel, but I knew if I didn't say goodbye I would regret it. As I stood up, he gestured goodbye with his head.
"Severus," I called out as he was shutting his eyes. He opened them again and looked at me questioningly. Walking up to him, I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my face into his chest and held him tightly. It was not unlike the first night at Spinner's End, after he rescued me from the dungeon, and I cried in his arms for hours. I didn't have anything to say to him, just the need to hold him once more where it was safe. We were in our last moments as companions before things would go back to how they had always been. He held me back for a moment, with arms less cumbersome than before, until I pulled away. Looking into his eyes as our bodies separated, the urgency in my gut returned and before I knew what I was doing, I was on my toes with my arms around his neck, kissing him on the lips fervently. He dropped his bag and held my waist for a few seconds, deepening the kiss and pulling me close. Then, hastily he pushed me off and I knew I had made a terrible mistake.
"Miss Reynolds!" he was out of breath but spoke with an authoritative tone like he was addressing a first-year. "I cannot comprehend what you were thinking but such behaviour will not be tolerated at Hogwarts. Please be warned now." And with a pop, he was gone.