Chapter 5

Nicoletta tried to keep her balance as she made her way along the corridor. The lurching of the train did nothing to help her in her quest, and she nearly lost her footing several times. She was going to need to find a compartment and fast.

Hearing some familiar voices, she peeked into one of the compartments and saw Molly and Emily sitting there, looking at Chocolate Frog cards. “Do you have room in there for me?” she asked, opening the door to the compartment a bit wider and smiling at her friends.

“Sure, come on in!” Emily exclaimed, getting up to give her friend a hug.

“We were wondering where you were,” Molly said, getting up as well. “James, Louis and Fred will be back soon. They were looking at some kind of creature that another boy has. Here, sit down here. The boys will sit on that side,” she said, pointing to the other bench.

Taking a seat with Emily and Molly, Nicoletta smiled at her friends. “Guess what? I'm going to be a big sister in May!”

“Yay!” Emily cried, clapping.

“That's great!” Molly agreed.

“Thanks. Yeah, that's why my dad came to get me. Mum wasn't feeling too well, I guess.”

“Do you collect Chocolate Frog cards? Dad said they came out with a whole new series of them since he collected them. The ones that he had when he went to Hogwarts are rare now. Of course, he has a lot so he gave me ones he had extras of. Here, I'll share with you. I have some doubles, if you want to start collecting.” Emily handed a handful of cards to Nicoletta. “Go on, I have lots.”

Emily sorted through the cards that Emily handed her. She had heard of a couple of the witches and wizards, but when she got to two cards in particular, her interest was piqued.

Hermione Granger

Known as one of the brightest witches of her age, she fought alongside Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and many others in the Final Battle against Voldemort. During her years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Miss Granger was often seen in the company of Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, and the three of them were sometimes referred to as the Trio.

My mother had been friends with Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley? Nicoletta thought. Why aren't they friends anymore? Putting those thoughts aside, she looked at the other card that had caught her eye.

Severus Snape

Severus Snape was known as one of the followers of Voldemort. In 1997, he cast the curse that killed the late Albus Dumbledore, but was later acquitted of it based on the testimony of Harry Potter. Severus Snape is known as a highly skilled Potions master and Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and was appointed Headmaster in the fall of 1997 when Voldemort and his Death Eaters took over Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Severus Snape had been assumed dead when he was bitten by Voldemort's snake, Nagini, but he survived. How he survived remains a mystery.

My dad killed Albus Dumbledore? This surprised Nicoletta. Her mum and dad hadn't spoken about much of the past. She knew that her dad had been in Slytherin and her mum had been in Gryffindor, but beyond that...

A hand waved in front of her face.

“Oy, Nicoletta!” James' voice spoke up. “You want anything from the trolley?”

Snapping out of her daze, she quickly stowed her thoughts away in the back of her mind “Yeah, let me get my money out.”

The rest of the train ride to Hogwarts was spent snacking, chatting and having fun with her friends. The information on the Chocolate Frog cards was forgotten.

***

Hermione walked into the house, which now stood empty, trying to hold her emotions in check as she realized that she was now alone. After she had seen the Hogwarts Express off, she had gone shopping because she couldn't bear to go back to their house straightaway . She’d known that only loneliness and silence would greet her, and she’d not been ready for that. But fatigue and the events of the day had finally sent her back home.

She hoped that the loneliness wouldn't last for long; Severus had told her that he would speak with Headmistress McGonagall about her staying with him during the school year. The issue was, all the other professors had either been single or had spouses that had died. This year, however, there were Severus and Neville Longbottom – both of whom were married. A decision would need to be made.

Crookshanks, sensing her despair, wound his body around her ankles in an attempt to let her know that she wasn't really alone. Walking over to the couch below the window, she sat down, and he jumped up beside her. Petting him absentmindedly, she sighed. “I guess it's just the two of us, old boy,” she muttered, then looked up sharply. “What was that?”

Drawing her wand, she listened intently. Yes, there it was again. The two of them weren't alone in the house. Casting a shielding charm around her body, she made her way towards the door so that she could get outside and Apparate.

She had almost reached the door when a figure entered the room, and her scream cut through the air, shattering the silence of the house.

***

The Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade station. Nicoletta sat in the compartment with Emily, Molly, James, Fred and Louis. All of them were wearing their new Hogwarts robes and eagerly awaiting the Sorting and the feast that lay ahead.

“Remember – if we are all in Gryffindor, we're the three Musketeers!” Emily piped up, and Nicoletta and Molly nodded in agreement.

It seemed to take forever, but it was only a matter of moments before they were at the castle and a figure was approaching them. Nicoletta's eyes grew wide as she recognized the man standing before her.

“For those who don't know me, I am Professor Snape. In a moment, you will be taken into the Great Hall to be Sorted. The four Houses are Gyffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. While you are in Hogwarts, your House is like your family. Triumphs earn you points for your House, rule breaking loses points for your House.” A moment later, he said, “We are ready for you now. Please follow me.”

Nicoletta could hardly believe that her father was Deputy Headmaster. She kept her eyes on him as he called each student to be sorted. James Potter, who had to be the son of Harry and Ginny Potter, was Sorted into Gryffindor. After countless minutes, she finally heard...

“Nicoletta Snape!”

She made her way to the front of the Great Hall, and it seemed as if all the conversation in the Great Hall stopped when she put the Sorting Hat on her head.

“Well, I haven't seen a Snape sitting on this stool for years. Now, let's see. Where am I going to put you?” the Sorting Hat said in her ear.

***

Two Aurors appeared outside of the house, alerted to possible trouble by a neighbor who had heard the commotion. After checking that the perimeter was secure, they entered the house and found the woman lying inside. Her body was still and surrounded by a pool of blood.

“Is she alive?” one Auror asked the other as he checked her vital signs.

“Barely. But we haven't much time. We need to get her to St. Mungo's immediately and contact her family. I just pray that we aren't too late.”

A few minutes later, all that was left was a pool of blood and a large orange cat meowing sadly for his mistress.