A Potion For Everything (Severus Snape x Oc)

Arival

They were all broken into grades. The little ones went with Mcgonagall. Viola was... Shocked to see her in such fine condition still. And yet. She frightened her. In this form. With this new last name. The old teacher wouldn't know her. But still. If anyone could sniff out a liar. Student or Teacher... It was the Cat of Hogwarts. She stayed on the train caboose. Watching everyone get farther and farther away.

Then silence. And the night sounds were her welcome symphony.

The sky was clear. A moon unlike any other shown brightly. The air was tempting. So.. very.. tempting.

She looked around. There was no one left. The conductor had begun his preparations for the return trip. And the woods were clear. There was no one to see her. No one to catcher her. If she flew to the border in time. She wouldn't be late. And no one to question her otherwise.

She stepped of the train. And plunged herself into the ink black woods. Where only rays of moon were her friend. It was an entirely different world in here. Where dark and light convirged. Mating in the most perfect of ways. A dance of true love between earth and sky.

And just as the wind bent the trees the right way. And with a blink of dark eyes. It was not footstep that tread in the forest. But hooves black as the shadows that the moon kissed lightly. And the Thestral extended her wings. And looked to the moon. A silent prayer on her lips as she kissed the moon beams back. Passion unspoken.

"Mrs. Snape I presume."

And the song of the woods went silent. Replaced by the pounding of a Thestral heart. Her head whipped around and eyes black fell on the form of an old Wizard.

Albus Dumbledore stood in the woods with her. But not her. A Thestral. Her Animagus form was the perfect cover. But even then it couldn't fool the old wizard. She stepped forward.

"No no. I'm just here to pick you up. Your Husband sent me. But. If this is how you wish to spend your.. last free moments before the chaos of the school year. Don't let me stop you." The old man smiled. Walking next to her. He had her bag in his hand.

The wonderful thing about not being an actual Thestral. Is the ability to change back. And the small witch stood infront of the elder wizard. "I appologise sir this is most irregular I'm sure."

Albus laughed. "Please don't. My dearest friend spends most of her life as a cat. Stalking around the castle. Scaring me half to death sometimes." He smiled down at her as they walked. Through the trees, one could see the castle. Candle and fire light seeping out of the windows. Were it a stormy night. Perhaps it would be perfect reference to a mythical or supernatural place. Then again. To others perhaps it was. But to their kind it was simply, a magestic part of the scenery.

"You suprised me. Not many can see me." She looked up at the man. Who did not look down. "Yes. Well.." he started. "When one is as old as I am... Death has graced my vision at least once." He said somberly.

She stopped. Only for a moment to process what Albus had said. Before walking again. "My name is Viola." She raised her head proudly.

"Viola.." the elder wizard pondered the name. Looking over the witch. But saying nothing more about it. Simply enjoying her company.

She knew using her first name would be, in no uncertain terms, a risk. And she knew the elder wizard wanted more. "I don't have.. an interesting life. I appologise. But being that you are now, the host. And I am to live under your schools roof. You should know who I am." The elder wizard smiled. Taking Viola's hand around his arm. "But, as said, I am not very interesting." She paused.

"I grew up in Hungry." She started. Walking side by side with him. "I went to Dermstrang." Minimal detail. That was the best way. No lies. But minimal detail. "I became an Apothecary. I learned under the BaBa YaGa association of eastern european witches." She sighed. What was her husband's name again? And why couldn't she remember it.

"And then you met Severus?" The elder wizard asked. Severus. Right. That was it. "Yes. It was. Planned." She spoke. And the elder wizard looked confused at her statement.

"By that I mean. Well, my kind have many superstitions. A seer said that I would be paired with. The most unlikely." Again not a lie. That seer was herself.

"And you, love him?" Albus asked without decorum. And they walked. Silently for a moment. Before they reached a cliff. Below it was the lake that led to the castle. And beyond that, forest on a sides. Viola turned to him. "Our matching may not have been. Ideal. It was messy. It was swift but. There is love." She squeezed his arm. Smiling up at him.

There was no lie. She did believe that perhaps. There was some form of love. Not romantic. No but. A love to duty. And perhaps that was enough. And it must be enough. For this was their life now. And they had to accept it.

Her head and eyes were drawn to the cliff. And she walked to it's edge alone. Leaving the elder wizard to ponder her existence. The edge was. Stirring. The wind up drafted from the lake below. It was calling to her. Begging her to take it into her arms and hold her close. She closed her eyes. Letting the feeling rush about her.

"Well go on." The elder wizard laughed. "I've robbed you of a night in the woods. I cannot do the same in for the sky." She turned around quickly. Grinning. There was no words that need to be left said as she let herself step back. And she fell off the ledge. But she didn't fall. The Thestral did. And it opened it's wings to the night sky. Gliding along the water like the Dermstrang's schooner. One hoof dipping into the water. Before riding the updraft to land in the outer courtyard. Where the elder wizard was waiting for her.

"Do me a favour will you?" Dumbledore asked her as she trotted forward. She nodded her head. "Enter with me as you are now. It may... Help me understand some students. And... Evaluate some of my suspicion's about a new teacher." He turned to enter the large castle. It wasn't a request. So she had no choice but to follow.

They walked through the castle. And finally, things started to make sense. Feelings of when she first arrived here so long ago started flooding back. And it was.. painful. She praised her Thestral form. For they had no tear ducts and could not cry. This place stung more than she thought it would. And it scared her. It was supposed to be a hopeful place. A second, well third.. chance. But all it did was speak volumes of what she went through. Of what... Happened to her.

The elder wizard was talking but. She wasn't paying attention. Something about the ministry stepping in. Of changed going to be made. That the teachers would need to be on high alert. She blinked. Finally listening but. At what cost. Whatever happened here. She was a guest. Not a teacher.

"So I ask. If you would become a second potions teacher." She stopped. Did she hear that right? A second potions, teacher? She. She haddnt the skill. Nor the training. Nor the.. patience. She was sure. She was light headed and often a bit absent minded. She was no roll model or.. well she wasn't anything. Not a single thing.

"It's decided then. Walk with me." Another demand she really had no choice to. As they entered the great hall side by side. She could see the mixed reactions well. While many followed the figure of Dumbledore. They seemed happy to see him. Some older students looked at her. Actually looked at her. And in fear. Some are seeing her for the first time. Others. Held themselves very well. Others bowed there heads. As if seeing her wasn't distressing. But the memories of why they saw her were.

Then. There was this. Girl. Clad in blue. With hair of dirty ash blonde. Who, smiled at her. And whatever warmth this girl felt, comfort this girl felt, in Viola's presence. It seeped onto her. And made Viola hold her head high.

She then, saw him. He was always so gloomy. So depressed. But, at this moment, he looked confused. Oh that's right... He didn't know. This would be fun. When they reached the podium. Dumbledore nodded to Viola. "You may, join your husband." Viola bowed. And trotted over. In a few steps she went from Thestral to Human. Sitting calmly by Severus. Who just. Stared at her.