Lucy's point of view 

We arrived at Spinners end and then I rushed inside with dad due to the fact it was starting to snow. I entered the kitchen and on the dining table dad had set up a meal for two (as he usually did). I gasped he had cooked all my favourite things for dinner...

"For us?" I asked as he entered the kitchen

"For us" he replied taking off his cloak and pinning it on a hook and sitting down afterwards. I sat down opposite him and began to eat

"I heard you and that Granger girl got into a fight..." Dad chuckled silently

"Yeah, sorry dad" I smiled

"That's alright that would explain your black eye then, and oh - " he looked at my cheek and cringed "did I do that?" 

"Yeah but it doesn't matter it's only a bruise that will heal"

"I still feel bad about it..."

"Don't worry!" I smiled "besides I just tell everybody it's my mark of bravery from beating up Hermione!"

"Why were you fighting with her anyway?" Dad asked with a frown, oh great i'm stuffed...

"OH!" I exclaimed "I was uh fighting with Hermione because I er, she said that I was poor! And I couldn't afford I firebolt!" I lied 

"She said you were poor? Well don't listen to her, we have much better standard than that filthy mud blood!" Dad declared

"Dad!" I gasped "we're only half-blood! Only one higher than Hermione!"

"But still..." Dad muttered

We ate in silence after that, looking at each other ocasionaly waiting for the other one to speak. After a while I had eaten my meal and found myself staring out the window. Did I just see - ? No it can't of been! 

"What are you looking at Lucy" Dad asked setting down his knife and fork on top of his now empty plate

"Nothing dad, thought I saw something but I didn't" I shrugged staring at my empty plate. For some reason I longed for more food but even if I did have it I wouldn't have the energy for it  

Now that I think about it me and dad seem to be having more and more awkward conversations it's as though we want to avoid each others company but can't bring ourselves to it. I mean one minute I would love to be with Fred, but when i'm with him I deeply miss dad. What is wrong with me?! 

Suddenly dad got up, he lazily waved his wand and the plates and cultery were washed and placed neatly inside the cupboards. He then went into the living room and I absent mindedly drummed my fingers on the table. I gazed out the window again and my eyes bored into the dark sky covering the road called 'Spinners end' 

I had lived in Spinners end all my life and I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. This was the place where I grew up as a child (well I still am if you think about it) where my own father raised me without the help of my mother. 

Most people fear the potions master (well I did only a few days ago) but to me I have always known him as my father, the one who loves me. Yet there is something that tells me these days that there are some things he doesn't wish to share with me despite the fact i'm his own daughter.

Just then something distracted me from my train of thought, I saw the thing I thought I saw last time and it was trying to climb up the wall. I frowned and watched it scrabbling at the bricks despratley trying to climb up as though determined to do it.

I laughed silently to myself but stopped immediatley as dad stepped in the room again carrying presents, I frowned at him, he really shouldn't buy me presents there's nothing I really wanted or needed. He placed them on the table and I just stared at them.

"Go on then! Open them!" Dad said

"I will do! But first i've got to go get something! Be right back!" That was the truth I needed to get something from my room, I dashed upstairs leaving dad to give me quizzical looks.

When I entered my room I bent down next to my bed and reached under it. I placed my hand on a book and pulled it out carefully so I didn't rip the wrapping paper. I then dashed back downstairs and placed the wrapped up book in front of dad. He began to open it (curious as he went.)   

He finally revealed the book underneath my terribly good wrapping! (Trust me if you get frustrated with wrapping paper tell me not to buy you a Christmas present...) He studied the cover then looked up at me.

"Why have you bought me this?" He asked 

"Because, I thought you'd like it and plus I had to get you something!" 

"Very well..." And he opened the 'defence against the dark arts for teachers' book and began to read 

I opened my precence in silence and placed any wrapping paper straight in the bin. Finally I came to my last packgage and dad placed his book down eagerly. He looked really pleased with himself about this present. I looked at him before tearing off the wrapping paper. I did so then I reached a box I then opened the box and found a -

"Firebolt" I breathed 

"Who said Snape's can't afford firebolts?" Dad said with a smile playing at the corner of his lips 

"But why - ?" 

"I got it for you because I want you to try out for the Gryffindor quidditch team, since Potter can't play I thought it would be an excellent idea for you to join. And maybe even show my team what they've got to live up to. I have faith in you Lucy" He said, I smiled, he had faith in me? That's just awesome! I got up from my chair and hugged dad he was taken by surprise (as usual) 

"You have faith in me?" I whispered 

"Of course, why wouldn't I?" He whispered back

"Thanks dad" 

"Your welcome, now head to bed, you will be getting up early tomorrow so you can return to headquarters, that's if you wish..." He sounded slightly sad, I half smiled, as soon as I had completed my training on becoming an animagus I would stay at Spinners end with dad 

"I shall dad" I picked up my presents and headed upstairs

When I reached my room I sat on my bed, placed all my other presents on the floor except for the firebolt. I began to study it, I was so tempted to straighten out one of the twigs at the bottom but none needed straightening due to the fact it was a perfect broom. I looked at the top of the broom and traced my finger on the gleaming word 'firebolt.'

The rest of the evening I spent studying my firebolt, I was that fascinated by it, I had never owned a broom before and couldn't wait to fly it. I just pictured myself now zooming around the quidditch stadium, the wind rushing through my short black hair. I could see the view for miles. Now I was playing quidditch, I was zooming after the snitch, my opponent Malfoy zooming alongside me in his Nimbus 2001 which failed to catch up. I laughed to myself as I reached out to the snitch and my hands closed around it. The Gryffindor crowd cheered.

"OUCH!"

I woke up all of a sudden, whoever said ouch wasn't me. It wasn't my dad either. Cedric hooted curiously and looked at the window. I looked over to my window and saw two feet scrabbling at the window still, when they finally decided that they had gripped the surface they stopped. One hand reached down and knocked on the window. I rushed over and tugged on the window sliding it up and looking to see who it was.

"Excuse me Miss Snape I believe you have a visitor!" A male voice said, I could tell they were smiling even if I couldn't see their face

"Pardon me! What might I ask a stranger is doing outside my window at this time of night!" I scowled

"Stranger!" It coughed "you here that my faithul companion?"

"I do indeed!" Another voice said

"What am I supposed to say to you Snape? Rapunzel! Rapunzel let down your hair! No! I struggle for you Snape! Fly my own broom! Break rules!"

"Yeah sure whatever, I - Fred? Is that you?"

"Took you long enough!" Fred said, I laughed then another pair of feet stepped onto my window sill identical to the ones next to it. The person bent down and I could see now it was George

"G'day Snape!" George chuckled he was carrying his Nimbus 2000, I grabbed his hand and he climbed through my window with ease. Next Fred bent down and I reached out my hand

"No i'm fine Lu" Fred said confidently even though I could tell he was nervous. He was just trying to be brave

"Are you sure Fred?" I asked as George jumped on my bed casually and yawned

"I'm sure!" Fred replied, he grabbed the top of the window I had pulled up, he was about to put one foot in when he slipped. He let go then grabbed onto the windowsill just in time 

"FRED!" I yelled in a panick, but just then I realised I had shouted too loud, dad was coming upstairs "George! Hide in my wadrobe!"

"Say what?! Hide where there is girly things?! I might catch a disease in there!" 

"It's your choice, you catch a disease or get killed by dad!" 

George's eyes grew wide in shock, he lept in my wadrobe as quickly as he could then closed the doors.

"Ew! Lucy do you wear these things?!" George questioned his voice muffled from where he was, I growled. Fred was still dangling there but I had no choice but to lay on my bed and pretend to be asleep. Just in time too because that was when dad opened the door. 

"Lucy?" Dad asked 

"Huh?" I yawned as though I had just woken up from a long sleep 

"Did you say something a minute ago?"

"No, I was asleep, must of been your imagination dad" I shrugged then turning on my side and closing my eyes once again 

"Very well..." And with that dad left. 

As soon as he did I raced to the window and looked down, Fred was just about hanging on, I reached out my hand and tried to pull Fred up. He shifted slightly but not enough 

"George!" I hissed "come and help me!" There was a creaking sound and George emerged from the wadrobe wearing one of my dresses which was a turquise with white ruffles and had a bow tied round the middle. And to top that off he was wearing a pair of heels that I wore with that dress 

"I CAUGHT THE DISEASE!" George pretended to choke 

"Never mind! Just come and help me!" 

George hobbled over in the heels he couldn't walk in and grabbed Fred's other hand. We both pulled Fred up, this time we had enough strength to pull him up. Finally we saw his face, George let go of his hand so Fred could grab the window frame and pull himself up. He did so but went flying, landing on top of me...

"Fred you fat boy!" George laughed 

"Oh sorry Lu!" Fred apoligised getting up and brushing himself off, "George? What are you wearing?" 

"Um clothes, never mind that! Fawn! One of my nails has chipped! Can you give me a manicure? Oh! And while your at it could you give me some mascara and lipstick?" George asked sitting back down on my bed. I sighed and Fred helped me up. 

On the floor I noticed Fred had his Nimbus 2001, but then his eyes happened to skim the firebolt which was laying next to George...

"Cor blimey! A firebolt!" Fred gasped picking it up and studying it 

"Yeah I know, dad got it for me, he wants me to try out for the school team" 

"Wicked! What position are you going for?" 

"I want to go for seeker!" I spoke proudly 

"Nice!" George exclaimed 

Time flew by like that, questions and answers and maybe just a little bit of gossip, George told me that Fred had nicked the Quibbler and stuck it up on his wall because it had a picture of my mug on. Which I found pretty amusing yet sweet. 

"-But guys, how come you flew across London just to see me?" I asked placing my firebolt against the wall before sitting on my bed with Fred (George was now vacating on the wooden chair) 

"Fred wanted to see you, I told him we'd get in deep trouble but we both laughed at that one!" George said 

"You wanted to see me Fred?" I asked looking at him 

"Yeah..." He whispered looking down 

"Awww!" I squeaked giving him a hug. Because Fred was facing my wall he seemed intregued by some of the pictures just like Louise was (is everyone obsessed with my pictures?) 

"You have a lot of photos Lucy" Fred muttered as he reached out for the photo of me and dad in the living room. He placed his finger next to it and stared. Why is it always that picture? Why? 

"Thanks" I spoke in a rather annoyed tone, I was just praying that Fred wouldn't ask me about my mother, if he did I would probably break down crying yet again. 

Luckily he didn't he just seemed intregued by that picture, he then moved onto some others, with me and my friends and a few more of me and dad. Or just dad. My friends and family meant a lot to me, because they are the ones who stick by me no matter what, even if we do fight. 

"How long have you been sticking pictures up here?" Fred asked me while I fiddled with a small whole in my bed sheet which I would have to sew later 

"Ever since I can remember, I like keeping photos even though dad says it clutters my wall." 

Fred nodded then turned back to the pictures, I layed down on my bed and before I knew it I had fallen asleep...