Isobel ━ SEVERUS SNAPE

3. Disappointment & Grace

1994 April 14, Hogwarts
As yet another week waltzed in, Isobel let out a weary sigh, hovering over the endless pile of essays yearning to be graded. Each paper seemed to blend into the next, a mundane march of identical information, repetitive errors, and monotonous feedback scribbled across every page. Though she revelled in the thrill of the classroom, the way her students' faces lit up with wonder as she turned a raven into a whimsical object before their very eyes, this tedious task felt far from enchanting.

In an instant, a soft knock on the door of her office shattered Isobel's reverie. The delicate sound was familiar to her, a gentle tapping that could only belong to her mother.

Once, Minerva was her closest confidant, her rock in a world that sometimes felt tumultuous and uncertain. She could feel her presence even before she entered the room, the air around her seemed to shift and shimmer. Then again, that was long ago.

Isobel also knew that her mother's visit was not by chance. She had a way of sensing when her daughter was in need of support, and she never hesitated to offer it, even if it meant interrupting her schedule. Isobel's heart swelled with gratitude as she rose from her desk, opening the door with a flick of her wand.

As the door swung open, Minerva made her entrance, her delicate smile lighting up the room. In one hand, she carried a tray, with two steaming cups of tea and a mountain of buttery biscuits balanced precariously on top. Isobel couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude at the sight of her mother's thoughtfulness.

Minerva glided over to the desk, her wand flicking gracefully to deposit the tray onto a nearby table. The aroma of freshly brewed tea wafted through the air, filling the room with a comforting warmth. Isobel felt her spirits lift as she reached for one of the cups, the smooth porcelain surface warming her fingers. As they sipped their tea and nibbled on the delicious biscuits, Isobel felt her worries begin to slip away. She savoured the familiar taste of her mother's tea, with just the right amount of milk and sugar, and the comforting crunch of the biscuits.

"You know, she would be proud of you," Minerva said softly, her voice tender with love and pride. Isobel's heart clenched at the mention of her beloved sister, the memory of her loss still fresh and raw, even after all those years. She couldn't bear to imagine a world in which her sister was still alive, still full of life and laughter, yet she couldn't help but feel a pang of longing at the thought.

"Mother..." Isobel began, her voice heavy with a warning, but Minerva wasn't deterred.

"No, Bela. Please let me speak," her mother's voice was soft, yet it carried the weight of a lifetime's worth of pain. Isobel watched as her mother's eyes filled with tears, reflecting the love and sorrow etched upon her face."I know that losing her shattered you," her mother continued, her voice quivering with emotion. "But do not forget that I have lost my daughter as well. I have mourned for her for six long years. And still, there is not a day that passes by when I do not think about her. I see her face in my dreams, I hear her screams, and I feel her slipping away from us, right before my very eyes."

Her mother's words were like a dagger through Isobel's heart, causing tears to prick at the corners of her eyes. She had always known that her mother carried a heavy burden too, but hearing her speak about her pain so openly was almost too much to bear.

"She died in our arms, not yours, Bela. Ours," her mother's voice broke with raw emotion. "I was there, I saw everything. Her body slowly fading away, right before my eyes. So please, do not tell me to stop." Isobel felt a deep ache in her chest, as she listened to her mother's words. "And then, I almost lost you too," her mother's voice shook with emotion. "As you went on another path, as you chose to close your heart, as you parted from us, from me. And not even now, can you accept the fact, that she is gone..."