"Welcome back, Evelyn", the headmaster's gentle voice echoes from the castle's entrance.
He too, had not changed at all, although Evelyn considered that a few years would be nothing for this aged man. She greets him with a smile, tired but put at-ease by Dumbledore's familiar presence.
"Professor", she replies. "Thank you for having me."
A twinkle in his eye answers her and he steps aside, allowing her to make her way inside.
Deep breaths, Evelyn tells herself.
The older man lets out a chuckle as they walk inside - always able to diffuse tension in a room and bring comfort instead.
"So, I will walk you to your new office and personal quarters, and then leave you some time to get settled."
They follow a familiar route through the corridors and up the ever-changing staircases until they reach the third floor. Evelyn felt like a ghost, re-living moments of her life as she was acquainted with her old classrooms again; however, she was now the teacher - it was an exciting but daunting thought, to be on the other side of the desk.
"Here we are", Dumbledore opens the classroom door and follows behind.
"I am sure that you remember everything well enough, but do give us a shout if you need anything, Evelyn. Your office is, of course, up the staircase, and your quarters within."
"Thank you, professor", Evelyn exhales, taking it all in.
"-- Call me Albus. You are one of us now, after all", he replies with that same glint in his eyes.
As he reaches the door, he glances back at Evelyn and his voice lowers ever-so-slightly.
"Evelyn..", he says gently, "I know that a lot has happened for you. And things may be difficult for you here at first - there is no comfort in revisiting old demons. But you would do well to keep an open mind whilst you are here, and to make friends where you can - however.. unexpected.. they may be."
Before Evelyn can respond, she turns to find he has already disappeared.
"Right..", she exhales. "Mysterious as always.."
She climbs the staircase up to her new office, which she had never properly seen before as a student. Opening the door, the room is quite empty - there is a large desk and chair in front of her, and some empty shelves against the wall. A few empty tanks lie in the corner of the room, and Evelyn considers the exciting thought of what creatures she could keep up here...
Turning to the door next to her, she gently pushes it open and finds her personal quarters beyond it. A smile pulls at her mouth, as she reflects on what her old dormitory was like in comparison to here: there is a spacious room, warmly lit by a fireplace beside a comfortable sitting area, and sun-soaked too from the tall windows on the opposite wall. Peering round the corner, Evelyn spots a large bed complete with a dresser, mirror, and extra storage space. Another door leads on to a small bathroom, all of which overwhelms her with a sense of gratefulness and belonging.
YOU ARE READING
'Old Friends'
Fanfic~ a Severus Snape fic. :) Evelyn Blake used to know Severus Snape quite well; however, with her ties to the Marauders, time and events pull the two people apart... Having known Lily and James Potter well, she is devastated by the news of their d...
