13 Chapter 13 - Candice

By the time October came, everyone seemed to have settled in well for the new academic year. Candice loved Hogwarts, despite rude comments that people gave her and occasional pushes. However, she was struggling with the workload. She didn't want to admit it, but she could hardly keep up. It was of course the fact that she has missed the first four years. Sirius taught her as much as he could over the two months of July and August... Although not enough. The girl was left to catch up while learning new things.

She - once again - jogged to the library, instead of the Great Hall for breakfast, at 7am. Half an hour later, her hand was in her hands, as she was unable to focus on the essay in front of her.

"Candy?" she smiled at the nickname Lyra gave her.

"Y-yeah?" she lifted her head to see a pair of worried eyes, "What's w-wrong?" Candice added with caution.

"You! I mean no, I don't mean it like that. I mean you need help."

"H-help? What like a t-tutor?"

"Well yes, but as you know I'm pretty dumb for these things, and I wouldn't recommend turning to any other student.." Lyra trailed off.

"W-what are you s-suggesting?"

"Maybe you should go and see a professor."

Silence. Pin-drop silence followed as the girls stared at each other. The ticking clock was the only thing to be heard, as everyone else was having breakfast.

"Y-you mean him, d-don't you?!" Candice whisper-shouted, pointing a finger at the other accusingly.

"Well he is your Head of House after all!" Lyra whisper-shouted back.

She meant Snape. Candice knew she meant Snape. She sighed at her suggestion. Lyra knew nearly all of her secrets; a particular having been about her certain developing crush towards the Potions Master. The girl knew not how that came about, as he has been nothing but harsh or ignorant towards her.

"Y-you know I can't d-do that!" she argued, "He h-hates my guts, and I d-doubt I would have enough c-courage to go and talk to him, a-anyway."

"What about Dumbledore? Or McGonagall?" Lyra questioned after a short pause.

"Dumbledore is out of s-school for the next m-month. Although he did s-say if I have any troubles n-not to hesitate to contact him... B-but if he's away on business, I d-don't want to bother h-him."

Our girl was very thankful to her new friend that she did not once make fun of her or judge her for her stuttering. Naturally, she always patiently waited for Candice to finish what she wanted to say (even encouraging her to talk more than a few words and simple sentences). Lyra never once asked how it came about, likely assuming she was born with the speech disorder. Candice was not, but she was not ready to tell anyone about her life with Sirius. Not even Lyra.

"Right. Okay. What about McGonagall? You two seem pretty friendly with each other."

"I g-guess I could give it a t-try."

"Finally! Go on then girl, get moving. I'll pack your things away and I'll take it back to our dorms." Lyra ushered her towards the exit of the library.

"T-thanks."

"Of course. Now I'll be waiting on an update of what she said. Love you lots!" Lyra physically pushed her out while giggling like an excited child.

Candice laughed quietly, then made her way to McGonagall's office. She knew the professor finished her breakfast quickly on weekdays and spent the rest of her time in her office until the first period. Minerva McGonagall was one, amongst thr girl's other teachers, who she got on well with. Candice wasn't a Gryffindor, yet unusually McGonagall treated her as one of her own pups. Her caring reminded the girl of her late mother: a gentle soul, with a fiery outside.

"Come in!" she heard her voice, stern yet cheerful, after the knock.

Candice opened the door and went in, silently closing it behind her.

"Ah Candice! How nice to see you! Can I help you with anything?"

The student took a deep breath before sitting down. Her mind was running with thoughts: maybe she should have tried a bit longer, perhaps harder, before asking for help? Maybe it was a mistake going to the professor? But she was pretty behind...

"E-erm.. You see I find m-myself slightly behind w-with my lessons, and... W-well, I was wondering if y-you could help m-me in anyway." she started, then went into rambling "I w-would have gone to see the H-headmaster, but as y-you know he's away... A-and then my H-head of House... Well he's j-just..."

"Professor Snape." McGonagall smiled with a hint of amusement.

"I k-know.." she looked down embarrassed.

"It's no shame to ask for help. But as much as I would like to help, your learning is out of my hands as you aren't in my house."

Candice was afraid the professor was going to say this, despite the fact she also expected it.

"Don't worry, Candice. Just go and talk to him! He does have a good side to him too, you know."

"Y-yeah I know."

She realised what she said, and felt her face go tomato red. McGonagall just seemed to give her a curious look, then turned back to marking. She knew she was dismissed. The girl was about to stand when the professor looked at her again.

"If that's so, perhaps you'll be able to mend the broken heart."

Candice fell back into her seat.

"W-what do y-you mean?"

"Albus agrees, you know." now the girl looked even more stunned, "But on another note; get going! I think he's on his way to his classroom now. Perhaps you can catch him."

"R-right."

She stood and left. Perhaps the professor was right, she thought. She gathered all the possible courage she owned, and made her way towards the dungeons. She slowed her steps as she approached his classroom. Candice took a deep breath - and another - before raising her fist to knock. She waited, counting the seconds. When no answer came after two minutes, she decided to knock again. After another painfully slow two minutes, the girl concluded he wasn't present, and leaned against the wall with adrenaline pumping through her veins.