<div style="text-align: justify;">Bernice Kerry's day had started out in a haze. Most of her days did lately, but the young witch wasn't willing to let that stop her. At least, now she had a new sense of purpose she had been lacking for the past weeks. Ever since her life had taken a turn to the worst, Bernice felt that everything was slipping through her fingers. And it was exactly in the midst of the darkest hour in her life that the letter had come. A simple letter, stating that there was an opening for an Astronomy teacher in Hogwarts.<br/><br/>In reading the letter, Bernice had smiled for the first time in weeks. She was still mourning the brutal passing of her husband, a young auror. There hadn't even been a full body to be laid to the ground, and nobody could point a finger at the culprit. Sometimes it felt like a nightmare. But it was still there when Nice woke up in the mornings. And he wasn't.<br/><br/>Jonathan Kerry had been a surprise in Bernice's life. Many times during the time they were together, she had thought she didn't deserve that man. And apparently someone agreed with her, as he was taken away. They knew it was a possibility, of course. And they had talked about it. Jonathan had given her but one instruction: <span style="font-style: italic">'Go to Dumbledore for help'</span>. She hadn't. But apparently that had made no difference. Help had found her, and Nice embraced it.<br/><br/>"Are you sure about this, Nice?", a voice brought her back to reality.<br/><br/>"Yes, Angie. I am. It will be all right. What's the worst that can happen to me now?"<br/><br/>Angie - Angela - was an old friend. They had been sorted into the same house, and shared a dorm while in Hogwarts. Bernice would trust the tall brunette with her life. "I will write every week".<br/><br/>"Every other day", Angela corrected. "And every time you feel lonely or sad".<br/><br/>Bernice chuckled softly. "Lonely? I will have classes and classes to teach. I will barely have a moment for myself. But fine, as I know you won't leave me alone unless I promise. You have my word."<br/><br/>After this promise, the two friends exchanged a tight hug and left the small apartment, parting at the train station. Bernice knew she should have gone to the school sooner. It had been her intention to be there when the students started arriving. But as it happens, there was so much to take care of that wasn't a possibility. So, she would be boarding the train with the students. Well, it wasn't that bad. She might be able to find a quiet place, or at least sit with some not so noisy students.<br/><br/>Crossing into the platform where the train already waited and received the students for another year, the young woman in a black dress took a deep breath and looked around. She felt slightly intimidated by all these people, but tried to suck it up. "Come on, Nice, it's just people. <span style="font-weight: bold">A lot of people</span>. A whole lot of students. And you will probably have to teach all of them, Lord help you".<br/><br/>Clearing her throat, the young teacher decided to stand by the train for a while, just taking in the sight of all those people, hoping they would <span style="font-style: italic">all</span> be safe in Hogwarts.</div>