The Cheshire Cat

Arrivals, Hidden Truths, and Nightmares

That night Cheshire lie awake in her bed. Her thoughts scattered like normal but most focused on the potions master whos attention she sought.

Little did she know the dark potions master lie awake thinking of her as well.

Dumbledore could tell something would happen between the two and as he paced his office he thought about the troubles the year would bring.

***

The castle was quiet. Everyone was asleep... Well everyone but the potions master who was awoken by a nightmare.

Snape paced the corridors trying to distract himself from his terrifying thoughts.

He had the same nightmare he'd had for the past 11 years. 

Lilly lay dead in his arms as the young Harry cries away in his crib.

The images of Lilly, cold and dead ran through his head and Severus shivered.

It was in that moment he heard footsteps heading towards him.

He turned the corner and came face to face with Cheshire who's normal grinning face was pulled into a frown.

"What are you doing awake?" Severus asked the "young" girl.

"Oh... sorry. I couldn't sleep so I decided to take a walk." Was Cheshire's reply.

Severus nodded and didn't yell at her. He let her continue on her way and Cheshire walked away with more thoughts about the brooding man who had caught her attention from the start. 

***

The next day the castle had become chaotic. Adults ran around making preparations for the arrival of the other students as the Underlanders stayed hidden away in the astronomy tower.

"I'm excited. We finally get to meet the new students." Alice said as she sits on James lap.

"Oh yes. Cause this will be fun." Iracebeth says from her place next to Jack.

"Yeah. Hey Jane?"  James asks the cat that floated above their heads.

"Huh," Jane says as she's pulled from her daze. "Oh yes. This should be interesting." 

She fell back into her daze and the others tried to figure out what was wrong with the grinning cat.

After a while of talking the group was summoned to lunch.

The group goofed around as they walked to the Great Hall and Cheshire pulled herself back to her normal behavior.

As the group sat and ate as the talked animatedly about who knows what Severus Snape watched the group and saw Cheshire with her wide grin present on her face. He could tell something was off about the girl but said nothing of it.

After all... what is the point of breaking the character of being the evil dungeon bat.

***

The rest of the day went on and the Underlanders goofed around all over the castle.

As it slowly became night the group stood in the astronomy tower and watched as the train pulled into the station.

They watched as the carriages rolled in and the boats row their way to the castle.

At that moment Cheshire said the one thing they had all been thinking...

"They've arrived."