Chapter 23

I knocked on the Potions classroom door. Then I remembered that he wouldn't be in there, because of the meeting, so I decided to wait there. I went to the Common Room and grabbed Salazar and then went back and sat down. "Hey, Salazar. I am sorry for leaving you alone a lot. I would rather not but I can't exactly carry you around everywhere." He bobbed his head. "I understand, Ivy. You would get in trouble, and we can't have that. Remember the fights that you got into your first few days here? And besides, I don't mind it. It is fun here. The fire is always warm, and the students never see me, or if they do, they don't care. I have also grown a lot, see?" He stretched out. I laughed. "Yes, you have. I am glad that you are enjoying yourself. I think that he is coming, do you hear him?" I asked him. Salazar just nodded. 

Snape came down the stairs, seeming frustrated, and that didn't change when he saw me waiting. "Should I come back later, sir?" I asked tentatively. He just shook his head. "No, come in." So we went in. He went over to his cauldron, and started preparing for one of the next lessons. "I got the information, sir." I said. He kept working on his potion. "Well, what is it?" He asked. So I told him everything that Professor McGonagall told me. He nodded. "So, all we are missing is a strong surge of an emotion that we haven't felt strongly before. Interesting. Well done." I just stood there. We were both going to be animagi? And he had said well done! I don't know when the last time he had said that to me was. It felt amazing. And something that I had never felt before. Pride and gratitude and satisfaction and joy, all rolled into one. But it wasn't strong enough. It needed more than two words. "Sir," I said tentatively, "sir, I think I know what mine is, but I can't explain it very well. When you said 'well done', I felt something that I haven't felt before. It was like pride, and satisfaction, and gratitude, and joy, altogether. It was amazing. Do you have an idea what yours might be?" I asked. 

He looked around, then down at the ground. "I might have an idea. You should go back to the Common Room. We will finish this later." Even though I was confused, I did as he said.

When I got there, I decided to try to talk to Ella and Lizzy and Beth, if they were there. They were, all of them. I walked up the stairs, then knocked on the door. The partying that had been going on inside stopped when I knocked. "Who is it?" Said one of them. "Ivy Henderson." I replied. Someone came over and opened the door. It was Lizzy. "Hello Ivy. Why are you here?" She asked, rather rudely. "I, uh, I, never mind. I apologize for interrupting your party." And I turned and ran back. What was I thinking?! They would never allow me to be there. I went back downstairs and instead of going to one of the chairs, I went to my corner. I sat down, and curled into a ball. I didn't cry, but I sat there, upset, more at myself than anything. When I was done with that, I got up and went to supper.

The next day was fine. Nothing really happened until lunch when the train arrived. And the Pride. I stayed away from the Great Hall and a lot of people mainly. I couldn't talk to any of the professors, as they were all required to be at lunch, so I ate my lunch with Salazar in the Common Room. It was quiet in there, with everyone at lunch, talking with friends that were gone for Christmas. The door opened, revealing Snape. 

"Hello, sir. I thought you all were supposed to be at lunch." I said. 

"I got permission to leave to talk to a student. Come with me." He replied, stern-faced as ever. He turned heel and left, leaving Salazar and I sitting there. He draped himself across my neck and said he wouldn't leave. So we hurried after Snape. We got to the classroom, and he closed the door. "We need to discuss what we are doing with the animagus transformation. You said your emotion came when I complimented you. Mine is being loved and cared for. I don't know what you can do for that. You have no reason to do either for me." He admitted. 

I felt so bad for him, truly, and I did love him now, as a father figure. But then I remembered all of the pain that he had given me. I would need to find a way to get over the past pain and love him and care for him, and I don't know anyone else who would do that for him. Before I could say anything though, he spoke again. "We must make sure that the transformation does not happen in class, so I will not be able to compliment you. I may make things hard for you, and you will not give any sign that it means anything else, do you understand?" 

I nodded. "Yes, sir, I understand." 

"Good. And make sure none of the students see your snake. You may go back now." He instructed. 

I nodded again. "Yes, sir. Thank you." Then I left.