It is common knowledge that Severus Snape was the Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and a mighty fine one at that. He came back to Knockturn Alley as much as he could there must have been times when he was unable or unwilling to come. Over time I admit that being parted from him stressed me out immensely. I didn’t want to be there any longer and I don’t think he wanted to leave me any more than he already had to. I was stressed, not sleeping well due to night terrors about death and he was worried that I was going to be assaulted in the same way that my mother was by my grandparents when she was a child. At the end of the summer, usually a week before term started, Gert packed up all my things and put them in a trunk. I was five years old and very confused. My uncle sat down in the kitchen and told me that he was not going to leave me and that I was coming with him to Hogwarts. He said that I would live in a very special place where nobody would find me, I was still confused. The only powers I had were transfiguration powers. He said that he had found a tree, a very special tree. I had heard stories about the Forbidden Forest, a Whomping Willow, all sorts I wondered what it could be.

We went to Hogsmeade, my uncle hid me in his cloaks when we passed through the castle or past people he knew. I was used to being a secret so this was nothing new. We went to the edge of the Forest; in hindsight it was a very long way for me to walk. But I carried on. In the end we came to Arber. A magnificent tree just on the edge of the Forest. When we got there, my uncle told me to put my hand on the tree. This was strange, I wasn’t sure what would happen, but even then, I knew better than to argue with him. My instincts told me to stroke the tree, just to say hello. The branches tickled me and I remember giggling. Somehow this tree knew me, knew how to make me feel safe and feel at ease. I didn’t need any more than that. I looked at my uncle in surprise and he told me that it was ok. We went inside the tree and it started to speak. I didn’t know at the time that understanding trees is a gift that, shall we say, runs in our family.

The space was huge, just like my room at Knockturn Alley. I felt at home. There were of course different rules when I lived in Arber. I wasn’t supposed to be there so I couldn’t come out unless nobody was around. I was not allowed into the Forest and Arber would catch me if I even attempted to go in. I was not allowed to go near the lake because it was also dangerous. It seemed there were a lot of dangers around. I was used to a house in Knockturn Alley so I knew nothing of the outdoors other than the common in Cokeworth and that wasn’t very much. but I would get to see my uncle every day so I thought it was brilliant. My uncle stayed with me until it was time for him to go into the castle and start school work. He made a point of bringing me my meals and always tucking me into bed. It was strange because he had never done that before, but I really liked it. I had lots of books and sometimes I would go on outings with him. Gert, the house-elf, even came for a lot of the time to make sure I was ok. I used to spend time with the centaurs, in fact a lot of time with them. They used to include me in their storytelling. On a few occasions I was allowed to go on visits that my uncle was going on with students. I assume he pretended he went to the house or something to collect me.