The Scars We Leave Behind

Chapter 2: The Visit From Mr. Potter

Samantha gathered her papers and her Pygmy Puff, Artie from her desk. She headed to her apartment to pack the moment Gerta returned with her ticket for an evening flight. Her apartment was small and one could call it cheap. She certainly didn't stay there for the price, she was paid very handsomely and could afford better. It had more to do with the location and the fact she dreaded the idea of being alone in a big house.

She quickly filed the papers and a little letter with sloppy handwriting fell onto the floor.

Her heart beat quickly remembering what it was. It was her letter from Neville Longbottom asking her for a date on the first Wednesday in October. She'd known him practically her whole life. She really wanted to go on that date, she had been wanting to go on a real date with Neville for a very long time. She'd wanted that since before they kissed behind the greenhouses after Voldemort's defeat. She sometimes, albeit rarely, daydreamed what her life would have been like if she hadn't chosen to become Editor-In-Chief and instead chosen a calmer lifestyle. With this daydream, she'd wonder what would have happened if she'd actually gone on a date with him.

She looked at a calendar hanging on her refrigerator, she had a month until she had to have her brother home. She had a month and four days until her potential date with Neville. If she could get her brother back, maybe she could still make that date.

In her hubris, she grabbed a bit of parchment and pulled a muggle pen from behind her ear. She wrote him back quickly, saying she would love to meet him at the Hogshead INN for a drink. She then grabbed a sprig of Moly from her window herb garden and placed it inside the letter. In her days at Hogwarts, Neville had tutored her in Herbology. Her favorite had been Moly and the two had exchanged a few sprigs affectionately over the years.

She took a deep breathe before handing her poor old owl, Whisp the letter. She knew she'd have to retire the little brown owl eventually, but Samantha had a bit of an attachment. She'd started to fly a bit worse and Samantha rarely used her for important mail, but for personal letters she only used Whisp.

Samantha quickly changed into some travel clothing, she loved shedding the persona that came with her stuffy clothing. At the Prophet, she often dressed in stiff jackets and stuffy fabrics. At home she could wear more floaty clothing, with soft fabrics and patterns. She didn't own much color anymore, but black seemed most comfortable for her in both parts of her life. With a wave of her wand her clothing and travel essentials were packed. If she remembered anything from her days on Potterwatch, it was to pack light and essential. She remembered to pack a few bottles of Dittany and checked the expiration date, she knew what happened when they were expired. She considered before her flight she would have to go and see someone very important. She gathered up Artie again and put her onto her shoulder.

Her mother was a very well renowned artist and fashion designer. She had a small shop in the alley just a few blocks away from Samantha's apartment. She didn't think her mother would mind a small visit. She wasn't going to tell her mother where she was off to, but she was going to see if she could watch her apartment along with Artie and Whisp. Whisp could stay in the apartment as long as there was an open window. Artie on the other hand needed constant watching, she was known to get into a bit of trouble and eating through Samantha's whole window herb garden.

She stepped into the shop making the store bell ring. It had gone through a few redesigns over the years, but one thing was always certain, her mother always did her work in the middle of the store. In the center of the store today, upon a podium was a beautiful white wedding dress. It had a corseted bodice and big feathers flowing down the bottom.

Her mother was sitting in a chair beside the dress, with pins in her mouth. There were needles and feathers floating all around the dress. Her mother turned when the bell rang. She pulled the needles out of her mouth.