Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Author: Nahla Luck (a pseudonym)
Copyright: Nahla Luck (a pseudonym), 2002

        “8 inches, ebony, with a core of unicorn hair.”
        I took the wand from Mr. Swift and raised it. I flicked it, and a single red rose came out the wand’s tip and evaporated. I paid for the wand and left, highly satisfied. My last wand, which I had gotten from Fleuronis: Importers of Fine French Wands had broken only a year after I got it. Before that I had the wand my parents had gotten me for a gift when I started school. At least that one had lasted for four years. Now I say, never trust the French. That’s why I switched to Swift Wands. They’ve got a good reputation; I just can’t understand why I stayed with Fleuronis wands for so long.
        I dropped my new wand into my pocket and pulled out both my school lists. I would be going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as an exchange student for 2 weeks this year, and I needed some new things. I’d wanted to go since I found out about it when I was six, ten years ago, but I had to wait until I was sixteen, the minimum age. Even then I had a hard time convincing my parents to let me go – Mom didn’t like the idea of my being all the way in England, even only for two weeks. That, I thought, was nonsense. What did she think could happen in two weeks? Dad was just worried that I wouldn’t make America look good. It’s nothing personal – he works for International Relations, and he thinks about things like that. But in the end they relented, Hogwarts accepted my application, and I was off to England.
        I finished my shopping and went to meet my parents.
        “Get everything, honey?” Mom asked.
        “Yup. Including my new wand. 8 inches, ebony, with a core of unicorn hair.”
        “Oh, good. There was no problem getting everything you need for school? Then let’s get going, I’m hoping Mira comes over today.” She took some Floo powder and threw it into the store’s fireplace.

        “Now boarding, Hogwarts Express.” After traveling by Floo powder to our hotel, the time had finally come for me to leave for Hogwarts. The time had finally come.
        “Well, dear, the time has finally come. You’d better go. Have fun, and if you need anything don’t hesitate to send us an owl,” Mom said. There was a slight tremor in her voice, but I could tell she was trying to put on a good front for me.
        “Now, sweetie, I’m sure she’ll be fine, won’t you, dear.” It was a statement. “Now don’t forget, be on your best behavior and show these Brits the best of America.” Dad frowned worriedly at me.
        “Yes, Dad.” I rolled my eyes at him, but I smiled. They both smiled back at me. The train whistle blew, and I hurriedly kissed them good-bye.
        “Bye, darling!”
        “Have fun!”
        “Send Elaine with a note when you get there!” Elaine’s my owl.
        “Remember your manners!”
        “See you in two weeks!”
        “Love you!”
        “Love you, too!” I called back, then I hopped onto the train and was off.

        I had the compartment to myself – I supposed a strange sixth year student scared everybody off. That was fine with me. I wanted a bit more time to myself before the rush of school.
        I changed into my robes as the train pulled into the station. Merging into the crowd of students, I followed the current down the steps and onto the platform. A giant of a man was calling for first years to come to him, while everybody else headed the other direction. I stood still as students swarmed around me – I had absolutely no clue where to go.
        “Rose Singelsly?” A woman’s voice called my name, and I turned toward her.
        “This way, please. I am Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house,” she said as we climbed into a waiting carriage. “We have spoken with your headmaster and decided that the best place for you to stay while you are with us is in Gryffindor. As I’m sure you know from your own school, you will eat with the Gryffindors, sleep in your Gryffindor dorm, spend your free time in the Gryffindor common room getting to know the other students, and most importantly, take classes with the Gryffindor students. I trust you will have a good two weeks with us.” She smiled at me, but I cold only nod. We had just come into view of the school. It was gorgeous. If there’s one bad thing about being a democracy, it’s not having castles. The school stretched over the whole side of a cliff, the lights in the windows reflecting the merry twinkling of the stars above.
        Professor McGonagall cleared her throat slightly, and I hurriedly followed her out of the carriage and up into the castle. The inside looked exactly as I thought a castle should. The Professor showed me to the Gryffindor table, and I shyly sat down at an empty seat close to the head table, where the teachers were sitting. I scanned it, and my gaze came to rest on a teacher who was sitting on the right side of Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster. My eyes widened slightly. I had always had a thing for evil people – and for greasy hair.
        “That’s Snape,” said a boy on my right, handing me the class schedule. “He teaches Potions. Bloody mean, Snape is.”
        “Thank you,” I said absently, taking the list. I scanned it for Potions, then joined in the conversations around me, trying to keep my mind – and my eyes – off of Snape. It wasn’t easy.

        The next few days were spent meeting other students and taking classes. Transfiguration was by far the easiest – we had covered most of the lesson last year at my school – while History of Magic was the hardest – I had quite a lot of trouble paying attention to Professor Binns drone on and on, though I tried. But the class I was really looking forward to didn’t come until the end of the week.
        Potions was taught down in the dungeons. The Gryffindors filed in and took their seats on one side of the room; the Slytherins, who were doubling with the Gryffindors for Potions, sat on the other side of the room. I sat down in a seat near the front and set up my Quick-Quotes Quill, which I was using to take notes for my report for school when I got back home. I quickly organized my supplies, and then – he came into the room and took his place in front of the class. I was having trouble containing my excitement, but I managed to look calm and collected – at least I hope I did.
        Snape began taking role, and stopped when he got to my name.
        “Rose Singelsly…the American exchange student.”
        “Yes, sir.”
        “Let’s see what your American school has taught you.”
        I got the three questions he asked right, and he gave me a rather odd look before giving out the assignment. As I started to follow his instructions, Snape came over and watched me. I stayed quiet.
        “You’re parents…are you pureblood?”
        “Yes,” I answered, but in my surprise at the question I dropped part of the mixture for the potion, causing the table to catch fire and the floor to start sizzling. I looked down at the spreading acid, then up at Snape, completely shocked. I never drop things. Great way to get the evil teacher to like you, said an annoying voice in my head. I ignored it.
        “I am so sorry, Professor!” I started, but he interrupted me.
        “Detention, Miss Singelsly. Tonight, in my office…at ten."
        I gaped at him. He didn’t look mad. In fact…
        “Yes, sir.” Maybe I wouldn’t put everything about this trip into my report.

        I got through the rest of the class, and the rest of the day, in a bit of a haze.
        “Tonight…at ten.” Snape’s words kept going through my mind – there weren’t many students around at ten; in fact there wasn’t anyone around at all.
        By the time nine forty-five rolled around I decided to head down, so among wishes of good luck from the Gryffindors (which I thought was silly), I climbed out of the portrait hole and made my way down to the dungeons. I got to Snape’s office at nine fifty-five.
        “You’re early.” Snape’s low voice, coming out of the darkness, sent shivers down my spine.
        “Would you like me to leave and come back?”
        Snape said a word, and the torches along the wall burst into flame. He scowled at me. I had to work to keep from grinning.
        “I got some new ingredients – you’ll be pickling them,” he said shortly.
        I nodded demurely and started pickling.
        We worked in silence for some time – he was grading papers – when he said something. I jerked my head up.
        “What?” I blurted, thinking (though not hoping) that I had heard him wrong.
        Snape frowned at me, annoyed that he had to repeat himself. “My life is very lonely,” he repeated, “and you’re one of the few people who doesn’t flinch at the sight of me.”
        Whatever I had been secretly fantasizing, I had not expected something to actually happen.
        “Welll,” I said hesitantly. He waited. “From what I’ve heard…you could be a bit nicer.”
        “Nicer!!! The students are all already spoiled by the other Professors; they need someone with discipline! And why would the little brats deserve someone nice, hmm? Dirty, ignorant, foolish children…and that wasn’t my point.” Snape almost looked like he was pouting. “What, you want me to hand out cookies in class?” he muttered under his breath.
        Cookies are good, I thought, but I didn’t say it. I screwed the lid onto a jar of freshly pickled rat brain and stood up. Snape watched me with narrowed eyes. I grabbed my wand and performed a quick scouring charm on my robe and arms, then took the seat opposite Snape and leaned forward, resting my arms on the desk.
        “I’m a sixth year,” I said.
        “An unfortunate truth.”
        “You’re a teacher.”
        “It is late,” Snape said abruptly. “You may leave.”
        I stood up. I knew better than to say anything. But as I left his office, Snape lightly touched my arm.

        The second week of my stay I was busy with classes and my report, and I didn’t see Snape again until the Friday Potions class, two days before I had to leave.
        The entire class went by without him saying anything to me. The entire class also went by without him taking any points from Gryffindor, although he still bit everyone’s head off. As all the students left, talking about his sudden leniency, Snape called out to me.
        “Miss Singelsly! A word.” I turned back and made my way up to him.
        “You know, of course, that you are exempt from the homework.”
        “Yes sir.”
        “Singelsly…” he hesitated. “In my office.”
        I glanced around as I followed him to his office. No one was left – they had all high-tailed it out of there as soon as class was dismissed. I wasn’t sure what this was about – I had thought I was wrong about his feelings when he ignored me and treated me like any other student.
        “Singelsly…Rose. You are a sixth year student who is leaving for America in two days. I am the Potions professor in an English boarding school whom you met one week ago.” I eyed him warily, wishing – hoping – but not daring to believe what I thought I was hearing.
        “You could never possibly be interested in an old, cruel Potions professor.”
        “Why not?” I whispered. He looked at me sharply.
        “I am old enough to be your father…and evil, evil beyond what you could imagine.”
        “You’re actually older than my dad…and I’ve always had a thing for evil people. Besides, age is nothing but a number.” My heart was beating loud enough for my parents to hear, and I sincerely hoped I wasn’t making a complete fool of myself. But hey, I was leaving in two days. On the other hand, I was leaving in two days.
        “But you’re leaving in two days.”
        “There’s always vacation…and next year’s my last year of school. You never know, I might become…” I wracked my brain for an idea. “An assistant for the English branch of Gringotts.” I smiled tremulously up at him, and he stared down at me in disbelief. Then he kissed me.

Saying good-bye to all of my new friends was hard, but it was hardest saying good-bye to Snape. We promised to keep in touch, and to visit each other. I hope we do. My parents may freak out, but I’ve honestly never met anyone as wonderful as Snape before, once you get past his hard shell. Even before.
I traveled home by Floo powder from the fire in the Three Broomsticks. My parents were, of course, happy to see me, and wanted to know all about my trip. I left out some details. I also left some things out of my report, but my teacher never knew. He loved it and gave me an A+. So, all in all, I just hope the old saying is true: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.