7 Chapter 7 - Candice

The day finally came when Candice stood, already in her robe on Platform 9 and 3/4. Once again, the young girl couldn't believe her eyes. Witches amd wizards surrounded her: old, young, parents, children etc. Running through the wall was another crazy moment of her life. Let's not forget the beautiful, glossy train too: Hogwarts Express. Everyone around her were saying their farewells. She turned to her uncle and burst into tears.

"Hey hey. It's okay. We'll see each other at Christmas, okay?" Sirius hugged the girl closely to him and stroked her hair.

"I k-know. But will y-you be okay?"

Sirius pulled her away to look straight into her sea-green eyes.

"Candice, you have done so much and helped me through a tough time. I can't thank you enough for it all. But you too have got to live your life. For a second, just forget about me, your old uncle, and try to think about yourself. Because my niece, if you do that, you will have unforgettable experiences and create the happiest memories."

Tears were rolling down his cheeks too, and they hugged again. Sirius has been clean of alcohol for the past two months, and his niece passionately hoped that her absence doesn't affect that in anyway.

The train honked as a last call for people to board.

"I'll see you at Christmas, Candice."

"T-take care Uncle."

She ran, but one foot on the train, Sirius shouted after her. Candice stepped back down and turned to see Sirius running towards her with a cage and in it a black owl.

"I nearly forgot to give you this." her uncle breathed.

The girl stood frozen, then the cage was pushed into her hands.

"Go! Go now! Before it leaves with out you."

Her whisper of a last 'thank you' was carried by the wind, as she bordered and the train set off. With the cage in her hand, she was determined to find a somewhere to sit. However, everywhere seemed to be full.

Next year, I'll board early, she thought. Sadly, Candice decided, sinking to the floor was her best option, as standing didn't seem welcoming. The train moved at an awful speed, and she was not used to such magically enchanted vehicles. Finding a spot, that didn't seem to be in the way if anyone walked, she began to lower.

Although, before her butt reached the ground, a cold and deadly voice snapped behind her. Candice rapidly jumped up and turned.

"What. Are you. Doing?"

"E-erm..."

The man in front of her had black, slightly shoulder reaching hair, along with a black robe and cloak that hung on his frame. His skin stood out, as in contrast to the rest of his attire, he was extremely pale. However, his eyes showed the most. Despite the person's stone hard frown, his eyes reflected his exhaustion and also confusion.

"I ask again. What are you doing?" he said, this time a bit nicer.

"T-there were... N-no spaces l-left." she stuttered more than usual and cursed herself for it, "E-everywhere is full."

The dark man looked at the girl up and down, making her feel slightly self-conscious, then he nodded.

"Who are you?"

"Candice. Candice B-black." she stretched out a hand and could feel heat rushing to her face as he gave her a glare.

"Professor Snape. Potions master at Hogwarts. Pleasure" he carefully took her hand and shook it.

"Black." he added after a longer pause and staring contest.

Candice's breath caught in her throat as she noted who the man was. In addition to his hands being dissimilarly cold and scarred like hers.

Snape pulled his hand away like he touched fire, making Candice innerself sigh.

He doesn't like me, she thought, he's already made his judgement from my name.

"I recommend you to learn occlumency."

"W-what's that?" the girl stared at him curiously.

"It's so you could close your mind, and others can't access it." he said, turning away.

Candice was surprised he even answered. As of what Sirius told her, Snape is not fond of the Blacks. Nor the Potters, nor anyone really. On one hand, she understands that the bullying scarred him amd the wars. On the other hand, she feels upset by his prejudice towards her, based on a childhood grudge.

He took a step, but soon turned back.

"But then again, I also recommend you to control your thoughts." he started, once again coldly, "You don't want people hearing your opinions about them. Might cause them to dislike you."

The girl wide-eyed looked up at him. He could read minds. He was reading her mind.

"T-then stop listening." she bravely backchatted, but soon regretted it as the professor whipped back around, his cloak flying, and stopped right in her face.

"Don't. Tell. Me. What. To. Do." he snarled.

Candice couldn't keep herself from flinching at his harshness and closeness and without her control a memory flashed in front of her eyes.

"Don't. Tell. Me. What. To. Do." Sirius said then threw a whiskey bottle at the wall next to her.

The young girl jumped away, but some glass still went into her skin, as the bottle shattered to miniscule pieces.

"P-please Uncle. You m-must stop." Candice breathed, with tears rolling down her cheeks and pain in her bloody arm.

Sirius then came up to her, and the last thing Candice saw was his fist before all light disappeared.

Her surroundings suddenly came back to her, and she found a pair of shocked black eyes staring back at her. The girl inhaled and instantly took a step back as she remembered who was standing - very closely - in front of her. She only then realised the professor's hands on her shoulder, as if he was previously shaking her. Snape too realised and removed them immediately.

Whatever that was, Candice did not want it to happen again. She wanted to push those horrible memories away. She shook her head, to make sure to be completely out pf her trance as she looked back at Snape. Seeing his facial expression a bit softer than before, she knew he saw. He was in her mind after all.

"My compartment has plenty of space. Come." the professor turned again, now actually walking away.

The fear that started building up in the student faded and confusion overtook. Her mind took a few seconds to process his words, then she quickly rushed after him with the owl cage in her hand.

They seemed to have moved onto a different carriage. The teachers', Candice thought, as it had a seemingly wider corridor and was much cleaner.

Snape came to a stop in front of a black door then said something and went inside.

Did he really mean for me to.. Follow him?

The girl hesitated, and so he looked back out.

"Well, Miss Black? Aren't you coming?" his face showing a frown, but amusement danced in his eyes, "Or would you rather stay on this corridor?"

He disappeared back inside. Candice took a breath, then followed.