Plans for the Future:
Severus sat in Albus' office, waiting for the old man to finish with his damned bird. Fawkes took the treat eagerly as Albus offered it. Satisfied, the bird settled into a more comfortable perch. The man in teal robes settled into his open perch behind the impressive desk, resting his hands together on the surface.
Severus uncrossed his arms and straightened, doing everything he could to keep the impatience from his face. "You sent for me?"
"Indeed," Albus smiled, finding some humor in the younger man's poor attempt to appear unbothered by the delay in their appointment. "Lucille has been in your care for nearly 8 months now. She seems to have made a few friends in the Hufflepuff House. Her progress in reading and maths appears satisfactory. Her penmanship will improve with time. You attest she will be ready to start her education in a year?"
Severus watched as the portraits of former headmasters pretended not to listen to their conversation. More like an interrogation. "Yes."
"And you feel she will be ready emotionally to keep up with her peers?"
Not in the slightest. "She'll manage."
Dumbledore sat back in his chair, thinking over his decision to allow her to start her studies early. He stood, pacing around the office.
For fuck's sake. Severus watched as his superior attempted to wear a trench in the stone. Cracking his neck to each side, he exhaled.
"Trauma is a complicated issue, as I trust you are well aware." Albus reclaimed his seat as he watched for Severus' reaction. "Lucille needs to begin her studies in the right state. It's unfortunate enough that her cousin will arrive to see her unready."
Severus' breath caught as he remembered that next year was the year Lily's son would arrive at Hogwarts. Lucy reminded him of the Evans sisters enough, he didn't need Lily's direct descendant to further remind him. He rubbed his face in frustration, looking anywhere but at Albus.
"You'll be ready?" The question came with undertones of doubt.
"Yes." Severus didn't believe his word, either.
Disappointed, Dumbledore leaned on his elbows, over the desk. "You must."
"I know,"
xXx
Lucy sat in the Great Hall, feeling like the only sad person in the entire castle. Tomorrow, the students would be leaving. Most would return in September to continue their studies. Tonks was going to leave for good. As much as Tonks said it wasn't true, Lucy felt like she was losing her friend. She was going to move on to start auror training - as long as she really did pass the N.E.W.T.s - and go fight for the good of the wizarding world. She wasn't going to have time to hang out with a child.
"D'you reckon we'll find out before August? My healer apprenticeship is set to start the third week."
Lucy looked at the girl who had asked the group, noticing how worried she looked. All of the seventh years had been on edge the last few months, but Lucy thought it might have gotten better once exams were done. Instead, the not knowing seemed to be getting to them more.
Tonks shrugged. "Not like it'll change anything either way."
"I'd have to wait until January if I have to retake anything!"
A boy spoke up, trying to help calm his classmates. "Nothin' we can do about it now. Let's just enjoy the feast and forget about it for now."
Tonks turned to her littlest friend, not interested in her classmate's anxious discourse. "Are you going to stay in the castle, Lucy?"
Lucy sighed, shrinking into her shoulders. "I don't know. Severus hasn't said if he stays here in the summertime."
"I'm never going to get used to hearing you say his first name." After a moment, she shook her head and returned to her usual unbothered self. "Well, it won't really matter anyway. The owls will be able to find you wherever you are."
"The owls?"
"Yeah, when we write to each other." She looked to her friend, placing a hand to her chest. "You didn't think I would let you get away with ditching me, did ya?" She smirked, sneaking a bite of the meatloaf on her plate.
Lucy placed her check on her hand, not interested in her own dinner. She looked up to the green banners decorating the hall. "What will I even write to you about?"
Tonks shrugged. "I dunno, whatever's happening around here. Whatever you want."
The redhead considered this for a moment. "Well, what are you going to write about?"
"Well, hopefully I'll be in my auror training. I'll let you know if they really are hardarses about the schedules." Tonks wasn't looking forward to the supposed early itinerary. Apparently, the training days started before sun up and went as late as after sun down.
"I hope not, but I believe in you. You'll do great." The girls smiled at each other before they turned to finish their dinners.
xXx
It was still tense between Severus and Lucy. She stood in the door frame of her bedroom, debating whether she really needed to know the answer to her question tonight. He was reading in his chair, occasionally sipping an amber liquid from a short glass.
When she heard him get up, she decided to make her move. As she entered the hallway, she peered around the corner to see where he was. Black robes blocked her view. The professor stood before her, arms crossed, waiting for her to explain.
One of his eyebrows raised as he studied her. "You've been spying on me for the better part of an hour. Ask your question before you stress yourself into an early demise."
She wrung her hands, unable to find the words to say.
"Or perhaps you'd rather me leave you to your worrying?" He was getting impatient.
"No, I-" She blew out a frustrated breath. "Do we have to stay here for the summer?"
He balked. "That is the source of your worry - whether we holiday at the castle?"
It sounded stupid when he said it, but Lucy would rather spend her time almost anywhere else. She didn't like how alone she felt in the large castle when students and professors were in their classes. She couldn't imagine how lonely she would feel with that being the entirety of her summer. To only have a few professors to keep her company? Most of whom she didn't even know the names of. The ones she did - no, she didn't think she'd find this a comforting summer home.
"I have a residence in Cokeworth. I tend to spend my time there during shorter breaks. When I need to conduct bulk brewing to prepare for the upcoming school year, I typically remain here. I thought you would prefer to stay at Hogwarts, but I see no reason we couldn't stay there instead." Lucy nodded fervently. "Very well. We can leave in the coming days. I'll need to submit final grades first, but that should only take another day or two. In that time, you should find yourself with sufficient time to pack."
Lucy nodded, hoping her face said the thanks she could not muster aloud.
xXx
The next morning, Lucy found herself feeling much lighter. Though the students were leaving today, she would not be left here alone. Soon, she would have a new place to explore. If Tonks was right and she had time to keep in touch with Lucy, maybe her leaving wouldn't hurt so bad. Lucy had to hold on to the hope that was true.
As Lucy walked with Tonks to the front gate, she watched her friend interact with the girls she had roomed with for the past seven years. They all had so much ambition for their future, but also so much melancholy about leaving behind the home they had since eleven. Lucy was sure she would have just as many mixed feelings as they seemed to when she eventually made her way down this path for the last time.
She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but Tonks' hair seemed a little dimmer today than it had most days since Lucy had met her. That was the only sign Lucy could detect that the pink haired girl was feeling anything but the excitement she otherwise portrayed. Knowing they would have the train ride to London to say their goodbyes, Tonks stayed back with Lucy to the side of the path, out of the way of the other students making the trek to the station.
"Well, little one, looks like this is the end of our current adventure." Her smile didn't quite reach her glistening eyes. She took a deep breath, letting a tear escape as she briefly closed her eyes. Upon opening the, she appeared to try harder to put on a brave face. "You really do need to keep me up to date on the gossip around here, though, ya hear me? And if Snape does anything to hurt your feelings, just say the word, and I'll come give him a proper talking to. Honest!"
Lucy shook her head, though the thought did amuse her. "I'll miss you."
"Oh, I'll miss you, too, Lucy!" Tonks couldn't resist any longer and pulled the girl into a hug. Resting her hand on the back of Lucy's head, she held her for a few moments before letting her go. "I enjoyed having a sister to watch over."
Lucy couldn't say anything, for fear that she would break into a full sob. Tonks could see how much her words meant to the younger girl, though, and felt similarly. The train's horn blared as a warning for any last minute travellers. As Tonks began to make her way to the gate, she looked back to her friend.
"I'll write to you as soon as I have something worth telling!"
Lucy stayed at the front gate even as she watched the pink hair disappear into the station. Only once she could no longer see the smoke from the train did she turn back to the castle, feeling like she had just watched a piece of herself leave on the train.