Hello. This is a disclaimer. Thanks.
Also, I apologize a thousand times for taking this long to update. Between schoolwork (damn AP) and my job, I don't have much time. Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving!
"Gabriella, who was that man!" Her grandmother hissed as she came storming into Gabriella's bedroom. Gabriella sat up immediately and Severus rose to his feet.
"Professor Dumbledore is the head professor at Hogwarts."
"Well he's practically ruined my party! For one thing, what am I to tell my guests? He came all the way from England to check on you, and now he's just going to fly back!" Mrs. Phillips began to turn red in the face.
"Grandma,-"
"Not to mention his clothing! He looked absolutely insane! Just what was it that he was wearing? Now all of the neighbors will think that I associate with his sort! What am I to do!"
"Grandma-"
"Not to mention that scene the two of you made out there! Speaking to Michael Edmont like that while allowing this trash to hold you!"
"Grandma!"
"I'm not finished yet! Do you realize just how rich the Edmonts are? If you were dating him, imagine the benefits that could come my way! Especially should your relationship become serious, just imagine!"
"Grandma!"
"Instead you choose this trash! Now how am I to show my face? That was extremely crude of the two of you! To cling to one another in such a sexual manner! Why it was positively-"
"SHUT UP Grandma! I don't care about what your guests think of you! I don't care about this party, and I don't care about that bigoted git Michael Edmont! The only person's opinion in this entire household that I care about right now is that of the man standing right next to me! So shut up about status and what neighbors think of you, or even less importantly what they think of me and Severus!" Gabriella glared fiercely at her grandmother, who stood with her mouth agape and a stunned look on her face.
"You shouldn't care either. You base your entire life off of what others think of you! All you ever do is try to appear to run an above perfect household! In truth this household is horrible! It's full of lies that look like pleasantries! This is not a perfect household! If it were you would love me! But you don't. You'd rather use your time being wonderful to your neighbors than showing any compassion to your own family." Gabriella wiped away tears angrily.
"I love Severus. I am happy when I am with him. Grant me that at least. You gave me little enough else."
"Why should I give you anything at all? I owe you nothing." Mrs. Phillips approached menacingly. "If I had my way, not only would you have been aborted as soon as your mother realized she was pregnant, but my poor son would never have married her at all. You are the offspring of that vile wench that took my son. As far as I'm concerned, you're lucky that I took you in."
"But I'm also the child of your son. Don't you see anything of him in me? We still have a blood relation." Gabriella stood.
"I see more of your mother."
Gabriella looked away from her grandmother painfully. "Then allow me to bargain with you. I will lie to your guests to help you save face, granted that you never interfere with Severus and me again."
Mrs. Phillips glared at her. "What do you plan on telling them?"
"Just that Dumbledore is an eccentric but brilliant person. That he is well known in his field of study for his genius. I'll tell them that he came here to provide us with what we need to get back to Hogwarts. I won't have to lie at all, just leave certain details out."
Mrs. Phillips considered it. "Alright. But if you or Severus make another scene like that, the entire bargain is off. Now get back out there and give your explanation."
"Yes, Grandmother. But don't expect me to ignore Severus for the rest of tonight. He is my boyfriend and I fully intend to treat him as such." Severus grasped Gabriella's hand, causing a wan smile to come to her face. Without another word she led him out of her room, with her grandmother trailing.
The guests pressed many questions upon the peculiar couple, most of which they were able to handle with no awkward moments at all. Gabriella and Severus ignored the angry glares of the Edmonts and Mrs. Phillips. As the night grew and the guests left, they knew that as long as they could be together, both would be content.
Present-time
"Hermione, where were you all morning?" Ron asked as he stuffed his mouth with the recently produced food.
"In Dumbledore's office." Hermione glanced to the two boys. "You'll find out soon enough so don't even bother asking me why."
"What's got you so angry?" Harry asked.
"I just think Dumbledore's making a mistake."
"Whoa. He must have done something really bad to make you disagree with him." Ron said. Ron looked towards the teacher's table. "Hey, look! Snape's missing. I wonder what that greasy git is up to."
Dumbledore's voice rang out across the crowds of curious students. "Good evening students. I have a special announcement to make. You have a new student joining you!" Dumbledore motioned for the students to hush, as his last statement had created a great deal of surprise. "I know that this is very uncommon. But I believe this girl has very special circumstances. Now, as you all know by now, a student here made a grave mistake and looked into what he should not have. Due to him, everyone already knows about our new student. She used to be a student here, 15 years ago, but now she has returned to us to finish her schooling. Please welcome back Gabriella Gisaf."
The large double doors opened wide and a small blonde figure, accompanied by Professor Snape, stepped forward into the Great Hall. The entire student body started whispering excitedly to one another as rumors flew about.
"Gabriella was in the Gryffindor house when she attended Hogwarts, so she shall be joining them as a 6th year student." Dumbledore motioned Gabriella and Snape forwards. "Now, as many of you unfortunately know, Gabriella is indeed a wandless, among other talents. However, know that she shall be treated the same as any other student. So I ask that you treat her the same as any other student. Thank you, that is all. Gabriella, you may sit with the Gryffindors now."
Gabriella walked hesitantly towards the Gryffindor table. Technically these people were a great deal younger than her, but at the same time they were not. She glanced hesitantly at all of their faces.
"Gabriella, sit here!" Hermione said, motioning her over. Harry and Ron stared in disbelief. Gabriella sat down gratefully next to Hermione, across from Harry and Ron.
"Thank you." Gabriella smiled. The students returned to their conversations, though much of it strayed to the topic of the new student.
"You're Gabriella Gisaf? You're alive?" Ron squeaked.
"Apparently so. I only disappeared, I didn't die." Gabriella thought quietly for a moment. "But I guess there was no way for anyone to know."
"So you fought with Professor Snape? Was he the one that made you disappear? He forced you to leave." Ron said.
Gabriella laughed. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Gabriella. These two have a number of theories as to the evil nature of Professor Snape."
"No, he was trying to stop me. I forced myself to leave." Gabriella smiled. "I can attest to the good, albeit dark character of Sever-, I mean Professor Snape."
"Maybe they'll believe you. They haven't believed me, even though I've been right repeatedly." Hermione glared, though not angrily, at the two boys.
As the Great Hall began to empty out, Professor McGonagall stopped behind Gabriella and smiled warmly to her.
"Welcome back Ms. Gisaf. I'm glad to see that you're well, though I'm astounded as to what you could have done to remain as you are. I'd like to speak to you later in my office." Gabriella nodded. "By the way, here is your class schedule. Have a good day."
Gabriella accepted the parchment happily. She ran down the list of classes, scanning for the one she was seeking. At last she found it.
NEWT Potions- Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12pm, within the dungeons. She grinned.
"You're another mental case like Hermione, aren't you?" Ron said.
"I was just glad to see my favorite class." Gabriella smiled.
"Which one was that?"
"Potions."
Ron rolled his eyes. "She's another mental case."