Unofficial Portkey Archive

Chapter Four

Someone was shaking her shoulders. She cracked her eyes open and looked up. The Snape Man was at her bed and seemed to wait for her to notice him. She yawned a little and rubbed her eyes. Sitting up on the bed she looked around. It wasn't a dream, she came to a happy realisation. She really was away from her relatives. She gave the Snape Man a wide smile while she hopped down from the bed.

Ignoring Snape's stare she quickly crossed the room to where she put her clothes on a chair. She was just about to pick them up, when the Snape Man said, "You don't have to change your clothes right away. Breakfast is served and then we'll change the clothes you have to something a lot more appropriate."

Arielle looked at him and then at her clothes. He was right. Her clothes were rags. Her Aunt and Uncle never spent any money on that that wasn't necessary. So she got her Aunts old skirts and shirts. They were all white or grey… A colour that didn't suit Arielle at all.

She often wondered what colours did suit her. She looked at colours whenever she was allowed to go out. She didn't have any books about colours and as she wasn't allowed to borrow Dudley's or go to the local library, she learned the colours in the nature. She found out that she liked green, black, gold and silver the most. She didn't mind blue or bronze either.

After shaking herself from her thoughts, she quickly crossed the room and went back to the professor. He opened the door to the living room and showed her the way to the kitchen.

While Arielle was sitting down on a chair, Snape was rummaging through the cupboards. Arielle watched him for a while swinging her legs that didn't reach the floor under her and after he put some eggs on the stove, she asked, "What is going to happen now?"

She didn't know what to expect from the man that took her from her relatives. She thought about the world she suddenly landed in and sighed. She didn't know anything…

Professor Snape turned to her and handed her the scrambled eggs with some bacon, a glass of milk and a few pieces of toast. Then, he sat himself across from her and poured himself a cup of coffee. She wondered why he didn't eat, but Snape seemed to interpret her look as he said, "I already had breakfast. I decided to let you sleep in for a few more hours."

Arielle nodded her thanks and started attacking her breakfast. After she was done with the eggs, bacon and toast she picked the glass of milk and drank it all in one go. She smiled sheepishly at the professor across from her.

Snape watched her as she ate and smirked as she lowered the glass. She had a nice white moustache under her nose. She didn't seem to notice it yet and Snape couldn't bring himself to tell her about her condition. She was just too cute. He shook his head a little… He couldn't believe he just thought that… With a wave of his wand the dishes disappeared. He turned to Arielle again and said, "You can go to the living room while I fetch your letter. It is time that you read it for yourself."

Arielle obeyed the Snape Man without a word. Trotting to the living room she looked around herself again and admired the room. It was big, but not too big. She went over to the bookshelves and studied the book titles. She was intrigued by them. There was Moste Potente Potions, Potions Compendium Volume 1 to 6, Dazzling Duelling and much more. She couldn't wait to read some of them. She turned her head as she heard the professor step in the living room.

"You've got some interesting books. Would you let me read some of them later?" she asked. The Snape Man shook his head in what seemed to be amusement and answered, "No, not at all. But I shall pick your books for the time being."

Arielle could work with that. She crossed the room and after a confirmative nod from the professor sat herself on the couch in front of the fireplace. The Snape Man sat himself across from her and pulled an envelope out of his cloak. He gave it to her and waited for her to read it.

Arielle took the envelope from his hands and half expected that someone will come to take the envelope again. After staring at the envelope for a few minutes she decided that no one will come and looked at the envelope. It had her new address on it.

Miss Arielle Potter
Living Room
Snape's Quarters
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Scotland

She turned it around and examined the crest. It had a lion, a snake, a badger and an eagle with a letter H in the middle. Breaking the wax seal she pulled some parchment out of the envelope. She took the first one and started reading it quietly.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster : Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc.,
Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International
Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

She looked up to the Snape Man that was watching her closely. If she asked him a question, she was sure that he would answer, not like Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia who forbid her to ask question.

"What does the letter mean by `We await your owl…'" she blurted out. The professor's lips quirked a little and Arielle quickly put her head down and said, "Sorry, I won't ask questions anymore."

Severus Snape, the world renowned Potions Master stared at the girl in front of him. Why did she react that way after asking a question? Only one answer was in his mind and that was the Dursley family. With a small sigh he stood up from the armchair that he inhabited and sat down next to Arielle. Clearing his throat slightly he said, "We have owls as a mean to communicate. We write letters and send them off with owls."

Arielle looked up, grateful that he answered the question. She thought for a minute, mulling professor's answer in her mind. "You mean like post?" she asked finally. The Snape Man nodded and replied, "Yes, like Muggle post, only without stamps and postmen."

Arielle smiled with intrigue. "That sounds fun," she declared. Snape quirked his lips again and said, "Well, now that you got your letter we could go to Diagon Alley to purchase your things. You also have a list of books and other equipment in the envelope." Arielle nodded and pulled the list out.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Uniform
First-year students will require:

Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:

Other Equipment

1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

Arielle was intrigued. She looked at Snape and asked, "Can we buy all this in Diagon Alley?"

Snape nodded and explained a little further, "Yes, Diagon Alley is a Wizarding place in England. Its entry is through the Leaky Cauldron, a small pub in London. It's only seen by us, Wizards and Witches."

Arielle nodded. She understood that Wizards didn't want the normal people to know about them. She imagined how it would be if they did. She also remembered a book she read a while back. It was about Jeanne d'Arc. She was a warrior in France and swore she heard God say that she should help the people. After the war was over and Jeanne d'Arc returned victoriously to the king, she was burned alive because they accused her of being a witch. She returned to present as Snape said, "Here, I transfigured some of my clothes for you to wear. After you're finished changing, come back here and we'll Floo to Diagon Alley."

Arielle nodded vigorously. She couldn't wait for them to go to Diagon Alley. Just as she was about to take the clothes from Snape, she stopped and said quietly, "But how am I to pay for all this. I don't have any money. And my Aunt and Uncle won't pay for any of my things." Snape smirked and replied, "You don't believe your parents left you nothing, do you? Your inheritance is safe in Gringotts."

Arielle nodded, deciding to wonder what Gringotts was at a later time.

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