Chapter 18- Severus Snape
Mum and Dad,
I'm so glad to hear from you, finally. I miss you terribly and wish you could write more. But I understand why you can't. You're busy with work now because of all the commotion going on with You Know Who returning and all.
My classes are going really well. I've even managed to pull up my Transfiguration mark… I'd like to say it's because I've been studying like mad but I owe it all to my new friend Aliana. She is absolutely brilliant at the subject! She did most of the work we are doing this year last year. I can't believe how much farther ahead they are at Beauxbatons. It's crazy! I don't think there has been one thing this year that she hadn't already learned. But I don't mind because it definitely helps to have someone around that knows what they are doing.
I hear Jasmine is still working with the same wizard for her apprenticeship. She sent me a letter just last week. She's quite fed up with this "professor" that she's helping out. I guess he's still ordering her about like a house elf. So much for "it will get better with time, you'll see!!" I guess she's lost her optimism.
So how is life at home? Your letter was very brief. It kind of worries me, how you both sound in the letter. In the school here there is not much change. But I suppose it's much different in the wizarding world. We're not allowed to go to Hogsmead anymore so I don't really get a chance to see what's going on outside of the grounds. The Prophet doesn't help much either. The Ministry is really set on holding back as much information as they can. It's pretty bad when even the news won't leak anything. I'd love to know some details.
A lot of parents are pulling their kids out of school. I don't know what your thoughts on this are but it has me wondering of how bad this really is. What's going on… and what's going to happen? I don't like not seeing you but I also think that Hogwarts is one of the safest places for me to be if something were to happen. I hope you understand because I really don't want to leave. Since nothing big is really happening so far I think its okay for me to stick it out a little longer. There's no point in losing more class time than necessary!! Hah, I can't believe I'm even saying that…
I also noticed that Aurors and other wizards and witches are beginning to guard the school. Please write me soon with some answers because I am really starting to worry myself. I miss you both and love you lots. Write soon…
Love, Elizabeth
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"Alright, gather in close. I don't want to yell and the wind is blowing like mad. Dawlish give me an update!"
"Everything's routine. Gates are closed, locked and secured. Towers are clear. The forest remains safe and insured. Hagrid continues to be aware of the tree line and is cooperating profusely. The pitch is on regular watch and extra security is being enforced for the upcoming match. The lake has remained unperturbed and on a whole the grounds are safer than the Ministry itself."
"Alright, lets keep it that way. Tonks I want you and Morrison circling the pitch. Andrews and Loring cover the forest. James and Kingsely can I have you take over the lake and Davis and Baker can take the castle. Dawlish you can come with me for the ground rotation. Keep your eyes peeled and I will meet you back here again for our shift switch at ten."
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Draco's steps, whispering soundlessly off the walls, carried him through the dungeons. In the past few hours within making his decision his stature had lengthened away from its recent slouch. With his decision made the blond head of his was, once again, held high; probably higher than it should have been. Inflated with confidence his chest puffed matching that of a furrowed bird.
Only hours before he had lain in deep thought alone in his dorm. The curtains were drawn and anyone clueless enough to interrupt was cursedly thrown from the room. His thoughts had him captured, until he reached a conclusion. He wasn't clever enough to make the decision alone. For once in his life he was able to admit that he needed help.
"Draco," a grim voice slid around the half open door. "Interesting to see you this time of night."
The cold face of the professor curled around the door and stared into his incredulous eyes. His greasy black hair was pushed back with the sweep of his hand as he invited Draco into his office.
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"So you're really leaving?" Aliana's voice came out in a whisper. "It's really that bad?"
"It's not bad," Hermione pulled her friend into a hug. "We're just making sure everything is prepared incase- "
She didn't need to finish the sentence. The unspoken words clung to the air. Incase it got bad; incase it got worse. Harry and most of the Weasley's had already left the school along with a select number of students. As the days dragged on more and more were pulled from classes, it was only a matter of time before something big happened.
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With Draco finally gone Severus had time to acknowledge what was happening. Potter and his gang were in the process of moving back to Headquarters, the Aurors were protecting the castle and everything was falling smoothly into place.
What very few knew, however, was that Voldemort had yet to rise. This mishap at Beauxbatons had been a clever act of mimicry but was far from being the Dark Lord's work. He had attempted for a while to find the wizard behind it before letting it go to once again work on his return.
The Order felt this was a perfect time, if any, for his arrival. The wizarding world was ready for him; the only question was when he would come. Lucky for them they had the man with the answers, the double agent: Severus Snape.
A/N: I am terribly sorry for such a long wait!!! This time of year is extremely busy… and unfortunately my writing is what had to be put off. When I got back to this half written chapter I even had a hard time remembering what was going on. In the summer, though, I promise updates will be much more quick. But the end is near, I've only got 25 chapters planned!! So that means only 7 more left. I'm also quite sorry for the patheticness of this chapter. It is here to tie up some loose ends. However the next few should be much better! I'd love to know what you thought of the chapter! Keep reading and reviewing.