Chapter Seven-Hedwig's Letters

Unfortunately, not asking Snape for the time was not a good idea. Maybe if I had gone to him, I would have remembered to get an alarm clock for waking up. Because I usually naturally woke up at nine or so, which was not on Snape's schedule.

Which meant he would have to wake me.

Lights flashed brightly, and I winced away from the light, curling up like a raisin in the sun under the covers.

A hand snatched my blankets off.

"Up," a voice snarled in my ear. "Now."

I mumbled and reached a hand up blearily. "Miss-Miss Hayley?" That didn't sound like our maid.

"I don't know who that is, nor do I care," the frustrated voice declared. "Now get up."

"Mkay," I reached up and scraped at the air, trying to find something to turn off the lights. I smacked something, and the voice made a spluttering sound of anger.

"Get. Up." The icy voice demanded.

I nodded with a yawn. "I'm up." And I'd really intended to, but I was so tired, and as soon as I moved out of the warmth of my blankets the coldness seeped into my toes and I yanked them back, huddling into the covers.

"Fine." There was a silence, and the voice sounded distinctly satisfied. There was the sound of a clutter and then a stream of water hitting a surface. Then, silence again. I frowned, and finally opened my eyes slightly, my nerves awakening-

Splash.

I jerked straight up, sitting up in my bed. Cold chills shuddered across my body, and I gasped, opening my eyes fully, drenched in water. "Are you serious-"

Snape stood, his wand levitating a now empty bucket down onto the floor. He flicked his wand and the bucket disappeared, pocketed his wand, and crossed his arms, smug.

I could feel the sheets soaked underneath me, and I climbed off the bed, shaking off freezing droplets from my hair. "G-g-good morning too you, too, then."

If anything, Snape's smirk intensified. "It is now eight o' four. You may prepare yourself for breakfast at eight ten, and classes will begin strictly at eight forty." He announced. With another flick of his wrist, he had his wand in his hand. "I will expect your schedule memorized by tomorrow." He waved his wand, and an alarm clock appeared.

Jesus, do you have a schedule for how long you get to eat your eggs and wash the dishes too? I stood, nodding, teeth chattering from the icy water. Snape left with a suspicious glare at the bed, as if I would sleep with the sheets and blankets drenched.

I showered as fast as I could, and found a cabinet with my name labeled on it, filled with fresh towels and other assortments. Probably Dumbledore's doing, I supposed.

My hair air-drying, I threw on fresh clothes and checked the time. 8:12. Feeling a little stupid talking to an empty room, I called out uncertainly, "House elf!"

Pop! "Is Miss Snape needing her breakfast now?" The house elf asked, smoothing its apron. I nodded, and it snapped its fingers. A fresh tray of steaming food appeared and landed gently on the bed.

"Thanks," I said. "Can you take my clothes to wash, too?" The house elf nodded and took my wet, folded clothes. It popped away after bowing low. I frowned, disappointed it hadn't been Minkie. But she was probably busy with other errands.

I dug into my breakfast, keeping an eye on the time. Classes would begin at 8:40. My first class at Hogwarts. My first magical class ever.

O-O

At exactly 8:40, Snape opened the door without knocking. I'd been prepared since 8:35, and I stood instantly.

Snape raised his eyebrows. "Punctual for once, I see." He turned on his heel and left the room. After a slight hesitation, I followed.

We went down the stairs I'd seen earlier and I was met with a pot and a rack of ingredients on a table. Potions lined the entire room.

"Your first class is Potions," Snape sneered. "I expect you to be more than competent at this subject, as you will be expected to be in all subjects. Today you will brew a simple Cure for Boils potion. Read the chapter about this potion, and begin to brew it."

I flipped open Book of Potions by Zygmunt Budge interestedly, and began to look for the chapter.

It was a fairly quiet class, and Snape didn't comment once. He began to brew a much more complicated-looking potion in the corner, and several times he muttered under his breath, dropping in several ingredients while using the other hand to keep the fire steady.

I grounded the snake fangs steadily, surprised by how easily they broke if I held the pestle at a certain angle like the book had recommended. The silence was broken by the occasional crunch and the fire flaring from Snape's cauldron.

Checking the temperature of the cauldron, I nearly yelped. I dumped the grounded snake fangs in the cauldron, watching it turn a nice shade. Two degrees higher and the potion would have boiled down to nothing.

Well, not nothing. "What happens if you add the snake fangs at too high a temperature?" I reached for the second ingredient.

Snape paused in his stirring and checked my cauldron, alarmed. Seeing I hadn't made the mistake I was asking about, he relaxed. "The potion boils down and creates a mucky brown color."

"Oh." I stirred. "What if it's too low a temperature?"

Snape sighed. "It becomes too chunky for further brewing."

I checked my book and slid my finger down to the proper step. "What if it's dragon fangs instead of-"

"Must you ask so many questions?" Snape snapped.

I jerked my stirrer. "It's called learning," I muttered.

"Well, learn quietly!"

"Fine!" I watched the potion simmer. "Sheesh. I wonder if people learn in your class."

"What did you say?"

"I said, I'm done." I checked the potions book for the color of the finished potion to make sure the shades of blue were the same. My potion was a little darker than the potions book potion, but it looked passable.

Sure enough, Snape took out his wand and waved it over his potion. The bubbling surface froze, and so did the fire. He strode over to inspect my potion, and sniffed. "Acceptable. Place it in the vial and give it to me. Then clean up your work bench."

I did as I was told, and he grudgingly showed me how to place everything back in the right place.

"For homework," he announced. "You will write three paragraphs on the effects of the potion."

Homework in the summer?! I frowned, dismayed. "I don't have a pencil or stuff."

"You will be provided with a quill and ink. At Hogwarts pencils and stuff will not be used."

I muttered under my breath and held up the potions book. "Can I take this?"

Snape nodded. "You may."

Charms was next.

"Charms?" I asked. "Like...with a wand?"

Instead of answering my question, Snape produced a black stick-no, a wand. I cocked my head; was he going to lend me his wand?

He handed me the wand, after a moment of hesitation. "That wand is yours to keep."

I stared, my eyes wide. "Wow. You-got one for me?"

"No," he snapped quickly. "It was someone else's before that."

"Oh." And suddenly it made sense why he would hesitate. This person must be dead if I was to take their wand. And obviously the person was very special to him if it had come to his ownership. I paused. "May I ask who's it was before?" My inquiration was soft, and hesitant.

"You may not," his eyes flashed dangerously, and I said nothing more.

Charms class begun, but it was rather tense. Still-

I cast my first spell-Wingardium Leviosa after a few tries, and I was ecstatic.

I had cast a spell. Me. And when I had done it successfully, it felt like second nature.

I'm a witch.

O-O

The next few days flew by in a frenzy. I discovered I had a knack for Potions, and I was decent at the other subjects. History of Magic made me want to sleep. Care for Magical Creatures sounded fun, but Snape "couldn't be bothered" to show me the animals like first years were usually shown, so I really just had to read out of a textbook.

And to top it off, I was bored. Boredboredbored because I had absolutely nobody to talk to.

It was driving me crazy to stay inside. I was about to get on my knees and beg Snape to let me go out when the letters came.

There was a loud squawk outside my door, and I bolted to my feet, the familiar sound exciting me.

"I assure you, I will get the let-"Snape cut off with a loud hiss, and I assumed he'd been bitten. Crossing the room, I yanked open the door and stood in the hallway.

The snowy owl flapped her wings in Snape's face with indignation, and when Snape let go of the letters she swooped over to me and gave a friendly hoot.

"I will not have Potter's owl rampaging through my own quarters!" Snape snarled. "Take the letters so the blasted bird can leave!"

I took the letters, grinning. "Hey, Hedwig! Thanks."

But Hedwig wouldn't leave. She flapped her wings impatiently and landed on my shoulder. I sent a confused look at Snape. "Uhm, d'you think she wants a treat?"

Snape brushed a white feather off his shoulder, annoyed. "Potter must have instructed his insufferable owl to stay until you write a letter back. I want the owl gone by tonight, understand?"

I petted Hedwig and went to my room to read the letters.

Rowan-

It's been about a week since you left. I think Ginny misses you, but I can't tell because she runs away every time I'm in the same room as her.

Mrs. Weasley wants you to come with us to shop for school supplies this Wednesday, do you think you could make it?

Just Floo over to the Burrow at eight in the morning.

-Harry

I was definitely going. This was driving me insane. I grabbed the next letter.

Our Dear Mini Snape,

How's life faring in the bat's dungeons? We hope you aren't dead yet. If you are, can we have that necklace you always wear to sell?

Ginny's still sulking, but Ronnikins has finished his happy celebrating. We reckon Harry's told you about the Wednesday thing. Mum's fallen in love with you.

Cheers,

Fred and George

I put the letter down and fingered my necklace. I'd completely forgot about it.

I took the locket in my hands and let out a deep breath.

Here goes nothing.

I pressed the clasp. The locket opened flawlessly.

I stared at the open locket, unable to move.

Because there was nothing inside.

O-O

Thanks, Mum. You thought it would be funny, wouldn't it? To give your daughter a clue as to how to open the locket, and abandon her in an orphanage. And what do you know, it's empty. Another dead end to finding you.

I was furious. A part of me felt hurt, but I was too furious to realize it. Or maybe I just felt furiously hurt.

I shut the locket and yanked it around so that I could take off the locket. Maybe I could find a spell that would burn it.

The clasp of the locket was being frustratingly hard to open. I stilled my shaking hands, and tried again.

It still wouldn't open.

"What the bloody hell, Mum?" I whispered, trying over and over again. The necklace just would not open.

Forget it. I released the necklace, sick of everything. Ugh.

I went back to my letters dully. Hedwig nipped my ear playfully, sensing something was off. I sighed and scratched her neck. "Alright, Hedwig, I'll ask Snape."

O-O

"No," Snape replied before I opened my mouth.

I blinked. "But I-"

"No."

This wasn't going right. "But-"

"No."

"You don't even know what I'm going to ask!" I said loudly, over his fourth "No."

Snape put down his quill in the inkpot. "Molly Weasley asked me if you could go to Diagon Alley to get supplies with her litter of children. I'm assuming Potter told you. You, however, already have plans on Wednesday."

"I do?" I asked, bewildered.

"Yes." Snape went back to writing. "I've assigned you three chapters and an essay to write on the effects of the Goblin War in the history book."

"Oh, come on-"

Snape flicked his quill at the door next to the bookshelf. "Have you finished your homework?"

"Well, no-"

He met my eyes smugly. "Finish it, then. Or you'll have homework on Wednesday in addition to chapters forty two to forty four."

"It's summer." I stalked past his desk and to the door.

"I am well aware." He replied dryly.

"Pickled leeches," I muttered to the door.

In my room, Hedwig had nested herself in my unmade bed covers, preening herself. She looked up at me, uninterested, and resumed her preening as I sat down to write my letters back to Fred, George, and Harry.

Dear Fred and George.

I'm still alive for now. I've been stuck in my room for the entire week and taking stupid classes with stupid homework.

I'd gladly give you my necklace but it's charmed and won't come off. You can chop my head off if you'd like.

Tell Ginny I miss her, and tell Ron to go stuff it.

From the Depths of the Dungeon,

Rowan

There. I let the ink dry on the parchment and took another piece for Harry.

Harry-

Sorry. I can't go to

I paused. Who cared what Snape said? It's not like he was my fathe-

Ooh.

Okay. It wasn't like he acted like my father.

I took a deep breath. This could work. I could figure something out.

I took the quill and grabbed a fresh piece of parchment.

Harry-

I miss Ginny too. I miss pretty much everyone but Ron. And maybe not Percy because he never talks to me. Except "pass the jam" during breakfast.

Oh, and about Diagon Alley-

I'll be there.

See you there,

Rowan

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Christineoftheopera-First of all, that was such a sweet review, thank you! Second of all, HELLO, WHY DIDN'T YOU INVITE ME TO YOUR FUNERAL? But really, thanks so much :)

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