Begin Again (Severus Snape/Student Love Story)

Chapter Thirteen: The Darkest Day

        Though several days had passed and the New Year had come and gone, the twisting feeling that had taken up permanent residence in my gut since mom had uttered the word "death" was as strong and persistent as ever. Despite the comfort of being with my parents, I was exceptionally anxious to return to Hogwarts and speak with Harry, the only other person with whom I shared the knowledge of Snape's chilling encounter with Malfoy.

It was early afternoon on the day we were meant to return to school. I flitted around my room, gathering my belongings together in preparation for the trip back when a shrill scraping noise sounded from outside. Turning my attention to the disturbance, I found a rather ancient-looking gray Horned Owl clawing determinedly at the sill of my window, as though he believed he could lift it open himself.

Running over to let him in, I saw that he was shredding the white paint from the wood, and strips of it were clinging to his fissured talons.

"Hey! Knock that off!" I said sharply, throwing the pane up. He instantly exploded into the room, wings whooshing as he flapped past me. Depositing the letter that had been clutched between his beak onto the floor, he flew a circle round my room and flailed his way back out into the icy winter afternoon, exiting as quickly as he entered.

I blinked several times after him, feeling mildly alarmed, then slammed the window back down. I wondered absently why an owl would be in such a foul mood as I reached to pick up the letter, which was addressed:

Miss Rowan Pierce
Second Story Bedroom on the Right
2 Ingleboro Drive
Purley, England

Carefully ripping open the seal, I pulled out the letter.

Dear Miss Pierce,

I sincerely hope you have enjoyed your holiday and are ready to begin the New Year with renewed vigor and enthusiasm for learning. Due to growing concerns regarding the safety of travel for students returning to Hogwarts, a one-time convenience has been arranged with the cooperation of the Ministry of Magic, allowing all students to travel by medium of the Floo Network.

Please note your designated travel time below. You are expected to depart precisely at your prescribed time, as a multitude of students traveling simultaneously may result in accidental relocation to an incorrect Floo Network fireplace or, in extreme cases, bodily merging.

Wishing you a safe journey,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

Floo Network Reservation for Rowan Pierce: 4:53 PM on Sunday, the fifth of January, 1997

'Bodily merging'? I cringed at the image this phrase conjured unwittingly into my mind, and hurried to finish stowing my possessions haphazardly into the purse from Hermione, which was already proving to be very useful.

It took me thirty-one minutes to finish packing, forty-seven minutes to eat dinner, and another hour to struggle through the lengthy, emotional good-byes with my parents, who were inexplicably disappointed to learn that we would not be traveling by car again.

By this time, the towering grandfather clock in the family room read 4:50 PM, and pools of moisture were beginning to well up in mom's eyes. She fluttered her eyes rapidly, trying to blink them away.

"It's all right, mom," I said, this time wrapping my arms around her and patting her consolingly on the back. "Only a few more months. We've gotten through it for five full years, we'll survive another."