Eleven year old Severus Snape looked up with curiosity as an eagle owl flew into his bedroom. The owl perched on his battered old nightstand, and Severus untied the letter attached to the bird's leg. He noted the emerald green script on the envelope with a smile. This had to be from Hogwarts. It *had* to be. After all, he was from a wizard family and he'd just turned 11 a week ago.

Severus tore open the envelope and read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and; WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation Of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Snape,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of; Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,
Minerva; McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

The small, dark-haired boy was beside himself. He'd spent the last two years dreaming of being away from this dreary house and bullying, mean, schoolmates.; Now it was really going to happen. His father would send him to Hogwarts just to get him away from his current school. The fights with his classmates had gotten so out of hand that Severus had taken to learning complicated hexes to protect himself, and yes, as a measure of revenge. There was only so much one could take. However, now Severus was branded "a problem child". The elder Snape was getting tired of being called in to the Headmaster's office every other week after another fight had occurred.

Severus clutched the letter tight, then grabbed a quill and parchment to write and send his reply, pending his father's approval of it. Hogwarts would be his second chance. A second chance to do things right, to have friends, to be a normal boy, to make his father proud. That was really all he wanted.