“I really do appreciate your help with this,” Neville said as he easily wrangled one of the feisty plants into a larger pot and packed dirt around the roots while the flowers thrashed about, looking for a bit of flesh to latch onto.
“Not a problem Professor,” Serena beamed at her new Head of House. This year was really starting to look promising. Herbology was by far her best class, and her favorite. She practically idolized Professor Longbottom, and had been delighted to find out that he had insisted she be made a prefect. She had no intention of making him regret his choice.
“Excited for your seventh year to start?” Neville asked as he easily wrestled another of the snap dragons into a new pot. He kept a close eye on Serena, who was having a bit more trouble, but was still getting along just fine, far better than any of her other classmates would have, that he was certain of.
Serena grinned and wiped a hand across her sweaty forehead, streaking it with dirt, “yes. Of course Dad has warned me that if I even think of slacking off he will personally supervise me while I do my homework.”
Neville didn’t comment, but that certainly sounded like something Snape would do. “As soon as we finish with these you can go on up and wash up for dinner.”
“Is there anything else you need help with Professor?” Serena, thankful for the thick gloves she was wearing, put the second to last plant in a bright blue pot even as it tried to latch onto her finger.
“I think this is it for tonight. Although, if it hadn’t been for you I wouldn’t have gotten nearly this far along. If you have any free time between homework and quidditch practice on the weekends I would be more than happy to award points to Gryffindor for any help you’d like to give me out here, even if you can only spare an hour or so every week. You have a great deal of natural talent when it comes to Herbology.”
Serena blushed and smiled at the praise. “I would love to. Can we plan a time after Nick gives us the practice schedule?”
“Of course. But only if it doesn’t cut into time you need for your school work.”
“Last one!” Serena said triumphantly.
“Then I think we are finished here for the night. I’ll walk you back up to the school before it gets too dark.”
As Serena waiting in the failing light for Professor Longbottom to lock up the greenhouse she couldn’t help smiling. Able to forget the threat of Voldemort for a few minutes the school year seemed to be starting out quite to her liking.
~~~~~~~~~~
“Are you sure you have everything packed?” Kalliope asked as she looked over at the small chest Cadmus had procured for Sophia’s belongings. The small clay pot containing Sophia’s pet snake rested on top of it.
“She’s checked it four times now,” Remus said from where he sat next to the window, Nimue huddled up against him, “I’m sure everything she needs is there.”
“I’ll be fine Kalliope, really,” Sophia tucked several strands of dusky red hair behind her ear.
“Why don’t we go see if Cadmus has any more news from the satyr camp,” Remus suggested to Nimue as he pulled her to her feet. He wanted to give Kalliope and Sophia a few minutes alone to say their goodbyes.
Nimue looked ready to protest, but quickly caught on to the meaning of the look Remus was giving her and followed him silently. “She’ll be fine, you know,” she offered once they were outside.
Remus smiled slightly, “I don’t doubt that. Sophia will have more than enough to keep herself occupied, and hopefully out of trouble, to be missing us too much.”
“I meant Kalliope. I think that sometimes you forget that you’ve married a priestess. She’s carried heavier burdens before, she can let go of Sophia without it destroying her.”
Remus slowly nodded as he took Nimue’s hand to help her down the rockier part of the trail down to Cadmus’ camp. He hadn’t thought that it was so obvious the way he had been worrying about Kalliope.
Once they were free from an audience Kalliope embraced Sophia in a nearly crushing embrace, “do not do anything to bring disgrace to your name or to the memory of this temple.”
“I won’t,” Sophia could feel her eyes starting to fill with tears.
“Do as you’re told and make sure you learn something, and not just what is in your textbooks, learn the ways of your fellow students, of their culture.”
“I will.”
“And remember all that you’ve learned here.”
“I will.” Sophia wiped at her tears, hoping to hide any evidence that they had existed in the first place. “Write to me?”
“As often as I can. And most definitely if I hear of you putting one toe out of line.”
“Will you make a sacrifice for me tomorrow? I’ll pour a libation tonight. I want to make sure the goddess is watching over me from the start of this journey.”
“Of course. You have always remembered to honor her, I am certain that she will remember you. And I packed something for you, don’t open it until you are at Hogwarts,” Kalliope brought forth a small parcel wrapped in soft leather.
Sophia set the bundle on top of her chest of belongings, and stood by awkwardly, not quite ready to say her final goodbye.
“One more thing,” Kalliope said after hesitating a moment. She reached under her mattress and pulled forth a scrape of cold and purple worked linen, which she carefully unfolded to reveal a small copper knife, richly engraved and inlaid with smooth stones depicting a hunting scene. “Take this with you, I hope that it will serve as a reminder of who you are and where you come from.”
Sophia’s eyes grew large, “but that is the dagger of a priestess.”
“You have served the goddess for as many years as you have been alive. You are her daughter, just as every priestess is her daughter. Wear it with pride and look on it whenever you need to remember the blood that has been spilled so that the goddess may live on.”
Sophia carefully accepted the dagger, looking on it with reverence. “No harm shall come to it.”
And may no harm come to you as long as you keep it by your side Kalliope thought as she embraced her ward one last time before she left with Remus to make the journey to Hogwarts.
~~~~~~~~~~~
“Last night before the rest of the girls get here,” Serena said as she dropped onto her four-poster bed in the 7th year Gryffindor girls’ room.
“Last night before you really have to start acting like a prefect,” Dierna said as she dropped onto her own bed.
“I think I’m too tired to enjoy it. I spent all morning helping Mum get her classroom set up and all afternoon helping Professor Longbottom in the greenhouses. I’m so glad he’s our new Head of House. What did you get roped into doing today?”
Dierna shrugged, “helped Dad out a bit this morning, but then he made me go help Professor Aagensen a bit…” she trailed off. “What do you think of her?”
Serena shrugged, “a little bit weird, but Hogwarts has certainly had its share of odd and eccentric staff. Nick is in her class, he says she’s a really good teacher. Why?”
“I don’t know… something just feels a bit… off… about her. But I don’t know what it is. I asked Dad about it.”
“What did he say?”
“That I was to remember that she is a professor here and will be treated with respect, or else. He didn’t seem concerned about it.”
“Honestly, Dierna, if Dad sees nothing wrong with her than I doubt you have any reason to worry.”
“I know. I just wish I knew what bugs me about her. Maybe it’s that she always wears her hood up, it practically hides her face, makes me think that she’s hiding something too…”
“I wouldn’t voice that opinion too loudly. Dad will find out and he won’t be happy.”
Dierna snorted, “I just he would take me a little bit more seriously on this. Isn’t there something about children’s instincts usually being right? You’d think that he’d know that.”
“I’m sticking by my earlier statement. As long as Dad’s not worried I’m not going to worry about it.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
“When am I going to be sent to the North?!” Connor demanded as he paced across the plush green rug on the floor of the Minister of Magic’s office.
“When our lord sees fit to send you,” his father answered calmly as he studied a growing stack of documents on the corner of his desk. There were not many who openly accepted him as the Minister of Magic, but they were too scared to oppose him. The paperwork alone was almost enough to make Macnair side with those people. However, he didn’t dare defy the orders of Voldemort.
“But I will still be sent to try and recruit allies?”
“As far as I know, yes.”
“Can you at least come up with something for me to do? I’m bored.”
Walden glanced up from the work in front of him. “Perhaps if you spent a bit more time in our dark lord’s inner circle and less time gallivanting about looking for a good time there would be more for you to do.”
Connor continued on as though his father hadn’t spoken, “perhaps I could do something for the Ministry… can’t you come up with some reason to send me to Hogwarts?”
“No, and you best get Snape’s daughter off of your mind. She is no longer your concern.”
“Are there plans for her?”
“That is none of your concern.”
“But if there are no plans for her… can I have her?”
“The dark lord makes many plans, not all of which I am subject to, and many which I am informed of which I cannot pass on to you. Remember your place and do not ask for anything. Only accept what our lord sees fit to bestow upon you.”
Connor snorted and spat into the potted plant that sat beneath the enchanted window.
“And attempt to do so with good grace.”
~~~~~~~~~~
“We have plenty of time,” Remus assured Sophia, who was starting to look very anxious.
Sophia nervously twisted part of her lightweight cloak between her hands, “I wish you could go all the way to Hogwarts with me. I feel so out of place here…” she glanced around, and shrank back a bit closer to Remus.
Remus gave her a reassuring smile, “the train ride is the first important step to life as a Hogwarts’ student. You’ll be perfectly fine.”
“If you say so…” Sophia muttered, but she didn’t sound at all convinced. “But what if…?”
“I’m sure you’ll make friends in no time.”
“But I’m going to be the only new student who isn’t a first year,” she pointed out.
“You’ll find plenty of friends in whichever house you’re sorted into, I promise.”
“Even if it’s Hufflepuff?” Sophia couldn’t help asking. She had a secret fear that she would end up that house, and no matter how noble its inhabitants were, she couldn’t imagine a place in which she could fit in any less.
“Even if you’re in Hufflepuff,” although Remus sincerely doubted that would happen, he was certain she would be a Gryffindor. She had spent enough time in their Common Room last year that he knew she would be happy with its inhabitants and would accept them as a second family. “But I promise you this, no matter what House you are sorted into I will be proud of you. And I’m sure you’ll be an asset to that House. Promise to write me as soon as the sorting ceremony is over?”
“Of course,” Sophia promised, although she still didn’t look convinced.
“Only a few more minutes left, let’s get your belongings on the train,” Remus easily hefted Sophia’s chest to his shoulder and took the bag she was holding, while she continued to clutch the blue jar holding her snake.
They settled her luggage in an empty compartment and then returned to the platform.
“Do you really think I can do this?” Sophia asked, looking like a lost child, her eyes were so full of uncertainty.
“Sophia Lupin, I know that you will do just fine. You are more than ready for Hogwarts, I just hope Hogwarts is ready for you.” There was a flurry of motion around them as the time for the Hogwarts’ Express to leave drew nearer and students hurried to board the train. “You better get going,” Remus checked his pocket watch and saw that it was nearly 11.
Sophia nodded silently, and quickly threw her arms around Remus, loving how he embraced her back. Kalliope had always been a loving guardian, but her duties at the temple had always forced her to keep a barrier up. Not that she didn’t lover her any less for it, but Remus truly seemed to be the closest thing to a real parent she had ever known. “I’ll miss you,” she whispered.
“Just keep the letters coming and work hard, and you’ll barely have time to miss life at the temple, let alone a mangy old werewolf.”
Sophia couldn’t help smiling, “I think I’ll miss you more than I’ll miss the temple,” she confided as she embraced him one more time before heading for the train. She couldn’t bear to say goodbye, it seemed to final.
She found the compartment with her belongings and waved to Remus from the window as the train pulled out of the station, heading north. She was soon joined by a small group of students she had spent some time with in the Gryffindor Common Room last school year. The ride ended up being much more pleasant than she had anticipated, and her excitement grew with every mile that passed.
~~~~~~~~~~
