SS Files: Potions and the Fire of Reversal

Before she turned eleven, Elena thought she was just an ordinary girl, until a letter flew out of the fireplace.

Living in London's bleakest neighborhood, Elena had the worst family a Muggle could ask for. Her father was cowardly and violent, maintaining his crumbling authority through emotional abuse. Her sister Emily, twelve years her senior, was mediocre and spiteful. She was always convinced her husband had designs on her, but could only take her anger out on her younger sister.

The only person in the family who brought Elena any warmth was her mother, who silently cried late into the night.

Then, on the day her letter of acceptance arrived, her father tore it up and called her a monster. At that moment, Elena saw a fierce, resolute light flare in her mother's eyes for the first time. Her mother picked up a kitchen knife and pointed it at her husband. The Muggle police took her away on charges of intentional assault. When a black-haired man in black robes appeared at the door, Elena thought he had come to take her nightmare away.

Snape was struck by the fire in the girl's eyes. Though she was battered from head to toe, she still believed the world could hold light. It was a kind of courage he had lost long ago.

After she enrolled, an older student was shocked to discover that Elena's face looked remarkably like that of his grandmother, who had died young. Further investigation brought buried history to light: Elena's mother was a Squib, driven out of the Winterston family years ago by the machinations of a pure-blood family, and never heard from again. Her maternal uncle had never stopped searching for his sister over all those years.

At last, Elena had a home, a wizarding family that truly accepted her. Meanwhile, Professor Snape's icy exterior gradually melted in her presence, and two wounded hearts slowly drew closer.

Theme: This is not a Cinderella story about a girl being rescued, but a dark coming-of-age tale in which two wounded souls reflect one another and ultimately rebuild themselves.