Chapter 2
Another morning, another jolt, another nightmare to wake up from. Why is it that I can't remember what I must find so frightening in these dreams?
7:34AM, my clock reads on my bedside table. My first class isn't until eleven. Plenty of time to make myself look presentable and head for breakfast in the Great Hall.
I get myself ready in the bathroom, then slip on a white blouse, black knee-length skirt, black flats and my robes.
Checking my reflection in the mirror before leaving my quarters, I basically look just like I did 5 years ago. All I'm missing are the knee-high stockings, house emblem on my robe, and the stack of potions and charms books.
As I'm at my seat at the staff table, I glance over all the students and recognize the small group that Dumbledore was speaking with the previous evening. I recognize one of the boys as Ron Weasley, having been in the same class as his older brother Charles. I'm sure to find out who the other two students are sooner or later.
Glancing over at the Slytherin table, I make eye contact with Draco Malfoy for a split second. He realizes that I'm looking at him as well, gives me a discerning look, and his eyes leave mine.
Just as I'm finishing up my breakfast, I see a shadow in the corner of my eye take its place in the seat next to me.
"Good morning, Professor Snape." I say without turning my head.
"Miss Gale. Lovely to see that you still dress the same as you did so many years ago." He pauses for a moment and looks over at me. "Appears that not much has changed, after all." He picks up his pumpkin juice and begins to drink it. I look over at him with a slight look of disbelief.
"I've changed… Not sure if I can say the same for others." Pushing my plate away from me.
"And what exactly do you mean by that?" He looks at me hard and sets his drink down as I stand from my chair.
"If you'll excuse me. I have a… a few… things to finish before class." I say before making my way to the Great Hall doors, into the hallway.
After a quick trip back to my quarters, I make my way to my classroom.
As I reach the classroom door and push on it, it doesn't budge. I pull out my wand and point it at the lock.
"Alohomora." Nothing. I point my wand at the lock again.
"Alohomora!" I push on the door and still nothing. "Bloody brilliant." Giving the door a swift kick, I tuck my wand back into the pocket of my robe and look down both ends of the hallway. No one in sight to ask for help.
Walking down one end of the hallway leads me to a staircase. I can remember going down this staircase every day and had always hoped I would never have to descend these stairs again. They lead straight to the dungeons and straight to Snape's office. Professor Snape is the last person I want to associate with at the moment, but I need my classroom opened and if anyone can figure out how to open that damn door, it's him.
Reaching his classroom door, my stomach begins to feel like it's in knots. I stare at the large wooden door for a moment before giving a subtle knock.
"Enter…" I hear him say from inside. He already sounds irritated. Who am I kidding, the man always sounds irritated.
As I push the door open and quietly enter the room, he's sitting at his desk already marking papers from his first class. Typical Snape.
"Come to apologize?" He asks catching me completely off guard.
"I-I… umm… excuse me?" I ask, closing the door behind me.
"Are you hard of hearing now, Miss Gale?" He sets his quill down and gives me a stone hard look.
"No, I heard you perfectly clear. I'm confused as to what I owe you an apology for." Crossing my arms.
"Maybe the way you stormed off during our conversation at breakfast."
"That was not storming off and it was not much of a conversation."
"Miss Gale, I-"
"Will you stop with the Miss Gale nonsense, please?" I interrupt and take a deep breath. "All I came in here for was to ask if you could please unlock my classroom door. It seems to be stuck." My eyes move to the floor in front of me. I can hear him get up from his chair and walk towards me.
He stops in front of me. Still looking down, all I see are his black pants, shoes, and billowing black robe, but I can feel his presence towering over me.
"Professor Gale..." I shake my head.
"You are so infuriating. You know that?" I ask and finally look up at him. Our eyes make direct contact. I once again feel my stomach twisting itself into tight knots.
"I don't see that, no." He steps around me, opens the door, and walks out into the hallway towards my classroom.
Snape points his wand at the lock on my classroom door.
"Alohomora." The door unlocks and creeks open. He turns towards me and gives me a blank stare.
"If you say one word I swear-"
"I don't see what was so difficult that you couldn't unlock this door by yourself, Miss Gale." I push my way past him and into the classroom.
I set my wand down on my desk and turn towards the door. Snape is nowhere to be seen. I was right, some people haven't changed.
My first class of the day was a mix of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students. Not the best combination of students, but it's a lot better than the mixture of Gryffindors and Slytherins I'll have tomorrow.
Collecting the student's assignments they left on their desks, I hear a knock on the classroom door. As I turn toward the door, I see my favorite person in the whole world. I throw the papers onto the desk next to me, run toward him, and give him the biggest hug.
"Robert!" I pull back and smile at him. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
"I came here to see my favorite little sister, that's what!" He gives me a quick kiss on the forehead. "I had to make sure she's making it through her first day back at this hell hole…"
"It's really not that bad! I don't understand why you hate this place so much."
"You know exactly why, Gina." He says with a serious tone, let's go of me and walks over toward my desk.
There's a sudden knock on the door. We both look up.
"Professor McGonagall. Good afternoon." She looks pleased to see me, until she lays eyes on my guest.
"Miss Gale, lovely to see you. I came to check that your first class went accordingly." She smiles once more as her focus is back on me.
"It went more than wonderfully. Hopefully I can say the same for my classes tomorrow."
"Well, with Gryffindors and Slytherins together… that's a bit of a stretch. You know that, dear." Her gaze moves over to Robert. "Mr. Gale, how… lovely to see you again."
"Professor." He nods his head, but makes no eye contact.
"Miss Gale, I shall see you later at dinner." We look at each other and give a silent agreement as she exits my classroom. My eyes the dart back to Robert.
"I know things happened here in the past, but you have to get over it! What happened here is the least of our worries. You have more important things to focus on. And what happened, that had nothing to do with you! That was all my fault and wrong doi-"
"Gina, I'm your older brother! It's my job to look after and protect you!" He grabs me by the shoulders. "Whatever happens to you is also my business. And I'm not going to let you come back in here and have it happen all over again like it did five years ago." He looks me dead in the eyes. "If I come to feel that you shouldn't be here any longer, I will drag you back to London if I have to." I look down at my shoes.
"Robert, I'm a grown woman. I'm not your little teenage sister you need to watch over anymore. If something happens, I'm more than capable of defending myself."
"Really? You expect me to leave you to defend yourself when you couldn't even unlock your own door?" I quickly look back up at him, he has a smirk growing across his face. I push him away.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, so I didn't see you struggle to unlock your door and then come back with, not only help but, Snape to unlock it for you?" He crosses his arms.
"Please leave." I whisper.
"You have no idea what you're doing! Don't do this." He grabs me by the shoulders again. "You're smarter than this, Gina. Don't do this." Robert kisses my forehead and hugs me. "I don't want to watch you go through more hurt."