The days Avalyn had remaining with her grandfather passed quicker than she had hoped. On came Wednesday and that night Mr Ollivander was standing with Avalyn in their living room on the first floor. A trunk lay at her feet which was packed with school books, supplies and robes. Her wand was tucked away up her sleeve.
"Now, you're sure you have everything?" Mr Ollivander asked for what Avalyn counted as the forth time that evening.
"I am, I've got all my books and school stuff."
"Yes, yes, yes. Of course you would pack your books and supplies first and with more care, but are you sure you have enough robes? And money? Perhaps you would like some sweets for the train to Hogwarts? I believe I still have a few boxes of those 'Every Flavour Jelly Beans' you enjoy so much." Avalyn rolled her eyes before taking a gentle hold of her grandfather's hands, causing him to halt in his hurried search for sweets. They shared a gaze.
"Everything will be fine, I promise I'll learn everything I can from Uncle Sev and come back as soon as possible. It won't be too long till we're back here together." She said with a smile. Her words seemed to have comforted him somewhat as Avalyn felt a glow of pride burn from her grandfather.
"Ever so mature, for someone so young. You remind me so much of your mother, you share both her thirst for knowledge and her beautiful appearance." Mr Ollivander beamed down at her with his pale eyes and thin smile. It had been a long time since Avalyn had seen him feel anything but grief, but today there was barely a presence of that grief but instead feelings of pride mingled with the slow, small jabs of sorrow. She was leaving the place she called home, and the man who had cared for her to no end. Avalyn was starting a journey she didn't know if she was sure to embark upon. The coo of the Cuckoo clock broke her thoughts and Mr Ollivander sighed.
"I'd better go." Avalyn said simply. Mr Ollivander nodded as both made their way towards the old fireplace in the wall. Beside it sat a pot filled with a greenish dust, Floo Powder. She placed her trunk in the back of the fireplace then turned back to her grandfather. Both said nothing more but instead embraced tightly. Moments passed by before Avalyn finally broke away and turned to the fireplace. She stepped into the grate after taking a handful of powder, with a weak smile against her lips as she gazed to Mr Ollivander, she threw down the powder and cried, "Spinner's End!"
Her body seemed to be spinning as she rushed through the Floo Network towards her destination. With rather a rough landing Avalyn found herself rolling across a bare wooden floor out of a different fireplace, it was smaller than the one in Mr Ollivander's living room. The trunk fell out after her landing at her side. Sitting in what looked to be a rather old armchair, was Snape. A book in his lap and a tumbler glass filled with what Avalyn believed was Firewiskey on a side table close by. She quickly collected herself and stood up, flattening her hair down as she did.
"Good evening, Avalyn. I trust your journey was alright?" Snape said with his eyes still lingering in the book in front of him.
"Er - yeah, I mean I'm here, so... I guess?" Snape nodded once before putting his book aside and standing to his feet. He began to walk towards a doorway across the room, and without turning around, called to Avalyn.
"I shall show you the room you will be staying in from now on."
"Okay." Was all that Avalyn could answer. She picked up her trunk and followed her Godfather out of the front room, up a narrow set of stairs before coming to a halt outside a dark wooden door.
"Here. I'll leave you to settle. Then, in an hour we will begin your first lesson." He explained rather plainly it still held his soured expression, Avalyn nodded and turned the doorknob to reveal a relatively clean room that was void of any colour. A bed stood in the corner of the room which dark green sheets upon it, and a chest of draws on the other side which were the same shade of wood as the door had been. Other than those two pieces of furniture, the grey walled room was empty. After stepping inside, Snape closed the door behind her, leaving her alone for what seemed like the first time in years, it was something she was not used to. With a sigh she hauled her trunk on top of the bed and opened it to reveal that the majority was filled with books. Carefully she removed them one by one and stacked them on top of the chest of draws, leaving just enough space for her cauldron which she used to store her other supplies. Then after finally packing her robes into the draws she shoved the now empty trunk under the bed ready to be repacked in a month's time.
An hour passed by as Avalyn sat on top of her bed reading a copy of 'A history of Magic', she glanced at the small watch on her wrist that read '9 o'clock'. With a sigh she put down her book and made her way back downstairs. Snape was back sitting in the same armchair and looked as though he had not moved. He looked up from his own book as Avalyn entered the room.
"You are ready to begin?" He asked, placing his book on one side and standing. Avalyn nodded but she wasn't sure what she was to be ready for. "Alright. You will begin by drinking this." Snape pointed to a glass of black liquid on the coffee table in front of them. It seemed to bubble under the dim light. But despite it's shady appearance, Avalyn did as she was told. The glass was surprisingly cold to the touch, like touching bare ice but it's taste was similar to honey and lemon.
"What was that?" Avalyn asked after placing the empty glass back down.
"A draught to clear one's mind, but in your case I replaced some of the ingredients in order to begin the process of what would be the desensitisation of your emotions. Now, before you protest, the only way to fully be rid of this ability is to target it while you're still young. The longer you go using it the more powerful its final effect will be once it begins naturally, so starting the process while it's weak will give you a much better chance at beating it." Snape explained, and all Avalyn could do was stare at him as she took in every word.
"You make it sound like its alive." Said Avalyn. Snape said nothing but pick up the book he had been reading that evening and gave it to her.
"The Book of Medieval Hexes, Jinxes, and Curses', an interest read I think you'll find. But for now, we shall begin your lesson." Avalyn glanced over the book before putting down on the coffee table next to the empty glass. "Tell me, can you feel my emotions at this moment?" Snape stood before her, he was rather tall and seemed to tower over Avalyn as she opened her mind towards his.
"You're... A little grumpy, but otherwise neutral." Avalyn spoke a little more than a whisper, she didn't know what he had planned and didn't want to start her first day living with him off badly.
"Correct, and if I were to think of something utterly devastating would you be able to tell?"
"If it affected your emotions, then I guess so."
"But you would not know what that thought was?" Snape was becoming a little cautious from what Avalyn could feel, but she told the truth.
"No, but I can tell what specific emotion it is... sadness, grief, heartbreak... They're different types of emotions, and feel completely unlike each other."
"I see," Snape replied, feeling a little more at ease. "We shall begin by creating what is known as a Mental Barrier. Your grandfather tells me you're already able to perform basic spells?" Avalyn nodded and pulled her wand from out of her sleeve, ever since she received her wand she took it everywhere with her. Snape raised an eyebrow at her and muttered "Strange child."
"What kind of spell is it?" She asked, shifting her feet in a mild form of excitement at the idea of casting magic.
"A form of shielding charm-"
"Like Protego?"
"Not entirely. Protego creates a physical barrier between two beings. This charm however, is unseen. It lies within your mind and protects one against things such as The Imperius Curse, however in your case it should act as a way to stop the curse within you reaching out and grabbing at others around you." Snape said, Avalyn was now twiddling her wand in her fingers, something was nagging at her. Was this really the right thing to be doing? But she trusted Snape, he had never been cruel to her, perhaps the snide comment here and there but never cruel. He was trying to help her, Avalyn would readily admit that this ability of hers was something she would rather not have, and if Snape could help her get rid of it then she would gladly follow what he said.
"How do I create the barrier?" Avalyn asked, a little more confidence in her voice than before. Snape said nothing for a moment.
"A clear mind is needed. Rid yourself of every thought. There should be nothing but a void of space, and once you have done that, say the incantation Protego Sensus while the tip of your want is pointed to your ?"
"Clear my mind..." Muttered Avalyn, "a void of space... Okay..." Her eyes came to focus on the empty glass except there was no concentration in them, instead she tried to drain herself of any lingering thoughts, impulses or queries. A few minutes had passed and Snape stood patiently waiting until finally she raised her wand towards the middle of her forehead and whispered. "Protego Sensus." She felt like she had been struck in the head with such force that she fell back flat on the floor.
"Your mind was not yet clear." Snape informed her.
"It's harder than it looks..." Grumbled Avalyn as she struggled to sit up, the room was spinning and Snape seemed to he in four places at once. Slowly, she got to her feet and shook her head. For a moment, she wondered if it had worked as she had stopped feeling Snape's emotions. But as soon as she searched for them, they returned. She tried again, this time she went skidding across the floor on her back. Snape repeated himself over and over again as Avalyn repeatedly fell back, but then on her seventh or eighth attempt, the hit to her forehead wasn't as strong. It knocked her back only a few steps.
"Good, you're learning." Snape said. Avalyn nodded and took in a couple deep breaths. "Clear your mind, there should not be any unnecessary thoughts blocking the way of the spell otherwise it will bounce back." Avalyn nodded again and took a firmer stance before closing her eyes this time. Her eyes staring into a dark void cast be her eyelids. That void, she gazed into in. She could feel the world around her and even Snape's emotions slipping away from her, as though she were letting go of them as easily as releasing string from her fingertips.
"Protego Sensus." She didn't recall bringing her wand to her forehead but could just feel the warm end of it against her skin. She was hit with not a violent strike to the head this time, but instead an icy wave that rushed across her mind like an unforgiving tide. She dropped her wand and grasped her head in shock. "C-Cold!" Avalyn stammered. Snape took a few steps forward as if to take a closer look. Avalyn dropped to her knees and groaned through her teeth in pain. What was happening? This didn't feel right at all!
"The curse is fighting back. This will pass in a moment." Avalyn didn't know if he was trying to be reassuring or not but either way it didn't help her. She toppled forward smacking her forehead on the floor, writhing in pain all the while Snape stood and waited. Then without warning, it ceased. The icy cold wave had finished it's assault on her mind and had finally vanished. Avalyn gasped, cold sweat was beading down her cheek as she sat back up with some effort.
"W-what was that, exactly?" She asked through ragged pants and wide eyes.
"The curse fought back," he began as he watched Avalyn struggle to even lift her head to look at him. "But it could not fight for very long, it's too weak, and so today you have taken the upper hand. Congratulations." She couldn't help but think that Snape was being sarcastic. Then she realised it. She couldn't tell what Snape was feeling at all, he was right, tonight she really had won over the curse. "Good. It seems you are a fast learner but will you be able to do this a few times a day?" Avalyn suddenly looked up at him in shock as if her tiredness had vanished.
"A couple times a day?!"
"Yes, that charm only lasts for five hours, give or take depending on how strong the emotions around you are." Avalyn was still panting. No wonder she had to stay with him for so long before going to Hogwarts, this would take some time. Snape eventually lowered a hand to Avalyn who hesitated before taking hold. He pulled her to her feet with ease even though she felt like a deadweight. "There's another potion in your room waiting for you, drink it entirely then go to bed." Instructed Snape. Avalyn didn't argue, the thought of sleep came as a blessing to her. Without a word to each other, Avalyn departed back to her room to find that there was indeed another glass but this time is was a murky grey colour and seemed to hiss when she came near it. But Avalyn gulped down the substance so quickly that she could barely taste the metallic. She flopped heavily on top of the bed and felt as though she had been by a brick, multiple times. Avalyn was out cold in seconds.
Morning arrived by breaking through the thin grey curtains in Avalyn's room, she awoke to the sun's rays shining through her eyelids. As she sat up, a large cloak fell from her shoulders. It had been draped over her while she slept, and her shoes were now on the floor beside the bed. A small smile crept across her mouth. Perhaps the next month wasn't going to be as bad as she had thought.
But she was wrong.
As the month passed by more slowly that Avalyn had hoped, she found that any form of compassion exhibited by Snape was done when he was out of sight or when she was asleep. Every day was the same; her lessons in controlling whatever curse was within her every few hours, meals eaten separately, and every night she collapsed on top of her bed from exhaustion only to find in the morning that she was tucked under the sheets and a glass of the strange grey coloured potion was waiting for her on the windowsill. As September First drew closer the lessons seemed to become easier and the amount of potion she had to drink became smaller. Her spare time was spent in her room, reading books that she had borrowed from Snape has she had read all of her own multiple times. Currently reading 'Alchemy: A basic guide for Wizards', Avalyn was lying across the floor in a ray of sunlight beaming through the open window. It was her final morning at her godfather's home. In a couple of hours she would be headed to King's Cross Station to board the Hogwarts Express. Her trunk was packed and readily propped against the wall next to the doorway, Avalyn merrily swung her feet forwards and back in the air as she read only to be interrupted by Snape knocking on her door. He opened it.
"You are ready I presume?" He asked standing in the doorframe, Avalyn closed her book.
"We're going now? It's only eight o'clock." She sat up and crossed her legs, looking sceptical.
"I must arrive at Hogwarts earlier than expected. Because of this I shall leave you at the station now."
"Now? Right now?" Avalyn keenly stood up in excitement. Snape nodded before walking into the room.
"Grab of your trunk, then take hold of my arm." He held his arm out at an angle and waited. Avalyn sped over to her trunk and dragged it towards Snape before gingerly holding onto Snape's forearm. Without another word she felt herself stretch out like an elastic band, lights were whirling passed her so quickly that when they finally stopped and she felt her feet touch solid ground she could still see them wiz across her eyes. As her vision went back to normal, she gasped at the sight before her. Three hours early and there was still a number of families on Platform Nine and Three Quarters waiting for the great big steam engine in front of them to open its doors to the students. She looked around excitedly, before finally turning back to Snape and realising that she still had a hold of the book she had borrowed.
"Sorry, this is yours." Avalyn said holding out the leather bound book, but Snape shook his head.
"I have no need for it. You seem to find joy in it so you may keep it." Avalyn's face broke into a smile and before Snape had a chance to Disapperate, she quickly wrapped her arms around his waist. A few moments passed and she believed he were scowling down at her, but instead felt his hand on her back as though he were returning the embrace. But soon he gently pushed her back, with the same sourly neutral expression on his face before nodding to her and finally Disapperating out of sight, leaving Avalyn to turn back to the Hogwarts Express and lean back on her trunk while she admired it.