"Here we are, goodbye."
An old man with wiry grey hair and a beard spoke rather gruffly.
"Thank you, Aberforth, thank you very much."
Snape composed himself and repeatedly expressed his gratitude. He genuinely hadn't expected Aberforth to be the one to bring him back to Spinner's End.
Watching Aberforth vanish with a soft pop, Snape, carrying a large birdcage and a box of owl treats, walked towards his house.
"Bang—"
As Snape knocked the first rap, the wooden door flew open.
Eileen stood in the doorway, her face filled with worry.
Snape quickly held up the birdcage in his hand and said, "Look, this is the prettiest Scops Owl from Eeylops Owl Emporium."
The owl heard the commotion, poked its head out from under its wing, rustled its feathers, and hooted softly at Eileen.
Eileen took the birdcage, still with a hint of concern in her expression:
"Are you alright? Last night I received a letter from Dumbledore, saying you had something to discuss."
"Oh, you mean that." Snape placed the box of treats on the table. "I ran into him in Diagon Alley, and we talked about future career choices. I haven't decided what I want to do yet, so he wants me to think carefully about which N.E.W.T. subjects to choose for the new term.
"It got a bit late afterwards, so I stayed at the Leaky Cauldron for the night." He yawned continuously. "But I didn't sleep well; the bed was too hard.
"I need to go up and catch up on some sleep. See you later."
...
"Tap, tap, tap."
Hearing a commotion at the window, Snape looked up to see an owl tapping on his living room window with its sharp beak.
He quickly put down the box he was packing and went to open the window.
The owl swooped in through the window, folded its wings, landed on the wooden table, and elegantly lifted its right leg.
Snape leaned closer and took a large square envelope from its claw; his name was written on it.
"Who sent the letter?" Eileen asked.
She held a small handful of owl treats, offering them to the little messenger.
Snape tore open the envelope and unfolded the parchment inside.
"Ah... my O.W.L. results!"
## Ordinary Wizarding Level Examination Results
**Passing Grades:** Outstanding (O); Exceeds Expectations (E); Acceptable (A)
**Failing Grades:** Poor (P); Dreadful (D); Troll (T)
**Severus Snape's Results:**
* **Astronomy:** A
* **Care of Magical Creatures:** E
* **Charms:** O
* **Defence Against the Dark Arts:** O
* **Divination:** E
* **Ancient Runes:** O
* **Transfiguration:** O
* ****History of Magic: P**
* **Herbology:** O
* **Potions:** O
He handed the parchment to Eileen and said, "Only History of Magic failed, I got six Outstandings!"
"I failed History of Magic too..." Eileen looked down at Snape's results, a smile spreading across her face. "Well done, that's brilliant, nine O.W.L.s passed. Let's go out for a meal today, this is definitely worth celebrating."
Over the next few days, apart from re-reading the few old books he had brought back, Snape slowly packed his luggage.
Eileen sometimes helped him pack, but more often during the day, she would go out to the newly purchased house. However, she refused to tell Snape where the new house was exactly, saying she wanted to surprise him.
Shortly before the start of term, Eileen finally finished furnishing the new house.
"All packed? We can go tomorrow!" Eileen closed the door and said to Snape with a smile.
Snape responded listlessly, "Already packed, and you still won't tell me the location?"
"You'll know when we get there, you'll love it. We'll leave first thing in the morning," Eileen said.
"Alright, I'll go for a walk then."
Snape decided to go out and see the place one last time.
Stepping over the rusty railings, he entered a playground bathed in the setting sun, with a large chimney silhouetted against the distant sky.
The playground was empty. Weeds, taller than ankle-height, grew in the cracks of the asphalt. Scattered among them were weathered plastic bags and scraps of paper.
Two dilapidated swings hung silently in the center of the playground.
The swing seats had faded from their original colours, and their wooden surfaces were covered in cracks.
Only when the wind gently blew would they make a creaking sound.
Snape walked through the playground, then through a winding woodland with a small river, letting his feet carry him where they pleased.
"Good evening, Severus."
A greeting suddenly startled him; he had unknowingly walked to the front of the Evans' house.
"Uh—Good evening, Mr. Evans!"
Mr. Evans gently pushed and closed the car door, looking as though he had just returned home from work.
"Long time no see, you've changed so much, Severus."
"Um... Mr. Evans, is Lily home?" Snape asked.
"Are you looking for her? She and her mother are away, but Petunia is home," Mr. Evans said warmly.
"Petunia?" Snape suddenly felt like seeing Petunia, so he asked, "Can I see her?"
"Of course, come in. I'll go buy you two some food!"
After Mr. Evans opened the door, he sped off in his car before Snape could refuse.
From the doorway, looking into the living room, Petunia could be seen watching television on the sofa.
Snape called out her name: "Petunia."
Petunia turned to look at the doorway.
Upon seeing it was Snape, she snapped off the television and jumped off the sofa.
"What are you doing here?!"
She shrieked in surprise, then her face contorted into a look of disgust.
"I'm sorry, I wanted to apologize for the past."
Snape stopped in his tracks.
"I don't need your apology!"
Petunia snatched up a book and angrily threw it at Snape.
Snape stood his ground, not dodging, only swaying slightly as the corner of the book hit his forehead.
Pages fluttered, and a small gash appeared on his temple, blood welling from his forehead.
A flicker of panic crossed Petunia's eyes. She recoiled slightly, her clenched hands unconsciously loosening.
"I'm sorry, if this makes you feel any better."
Snape said calmly, a smile forming in his mind: if Petunia hadn't thrown it, this visit might not have had any effect today.
"Why didn't you dodge!"
Petunia rushed into the kitchen, pulled a roll of gauze from a cupboard, and angrily threw it at Snape.
"Thank you." Snape pressed the gauze to his wound, saying lightly, "Don't worry, it's just a small cut."
"I must apologize to you. Tomorrow, I'm moving away from Cokeworth, to somewhere far away."
"That has nothing to do with me!" Petunia still said stiffly.
"Yes, I agree. After all, I used to be an arse. I thought I was special, but I was just a foolish boy."
"I hit your shoulder with a branch and even peeked at Dumbledore's reply to you." Seeing Petunia's face darken, he quickly added, "It was all my fault. I ignored the harm that caused you, and I'm sorry."
The hum of a car came from the yard.
Snape, holding his forehead, hastily walked out the door, saying, "I have to go, I can't let Mr. Evans see this. If he asks, tell him I went home.
"Also, Lily isn't a monster, she's your sister."
Upon hearing this, Petunia looked as if she had just swallowed an entire lemon.
---