Chapter 4: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

The date was Friday, July 2, 1993.

It was the summer after second year. Hermione was spending her usual weekend stay at the Potter House. She was set up in Harry's room, as per usual. Hermione was propped up with her books, while Harry was sitting at his desk searching for something particular. Both of them were beyond excited. At the end of the month, they were headed to Paris for Harry's birthday, with a little side-trip to EuroDisney. But that wasn't for another four weeks. In the meantime, they had something else to anticipate.

Disney's first ever feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, had been re-released for the last time in the United States on that day, but it would not open in the U.K. for another three weeks. Harry was flipping through the newspaper, looking for the advertisement, as it would give him the cinemas it would be playing at.

A familiar red haired girl walked into the room. She'd be familiar to you, if you knew what went on in that house. She cleared her throat. This got Harry and Hermione's attention.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Girlfriend alert!" She replied

Their heads shot up.

"Uh, Sarah…" Harry started.

"Hey, you're 13. Shouldn't you be…"

"Sarah, out!" Harry embarrassedly demanded.

He and Hermione then looked at each other funny, but shrugged it off anyway.

Harry finally found the ad and circled it in red, as he did with last summer's Peter Pan re-release. Harry and Hermione had the idea to bring everyone to see this, as well, and already told their parents about it. Harry was just searching for the opening date and had finally found it:

The date was Thursday, July 23.

The kids went racing down the stairs, where the adults were waiting for them. They were all there; Lily, James, Paul, Jane, Sirius, Remus, and Dora.

"Have you found it?" James asked.

Harry handed James he newspaper, who seemed pleased that he might be able to get opening night tickets again. He'd be even luckier if he were able to get seventeen again.

"Oh, I am so taking my parents to this," Dora exclaimed. "I don't know why my mum hasn't heard about these yet."

"Umm, yeah, okay…" James muttered, now faced with the prospect of having to get nineteen tickets.

Just then, there came a knock upon the door. Professor Dumbledore was waiting outside.

"Albus, what brings you here?" James asked.

"I merely wished to have a small visit to your humble abode," He replied.

As he was let in, he admired many of the devices in the living, such as the television and easy chair.

"I see you've adapted quite well to the Muggle way of life, James," he remarked.

He then noticed Harry and Hermione clutching the newspaper.

"Ah, Harry. Ms. Granger," he greeted.

"Good evening, Professor," Harry replied.

He noticed the newspaper in Harry's hand.

"Tell me, have there been any good goings-on in the Muggle world lately?" He queried.

Harry showed him the film section of the newspaper.

If you're confused by Dumbledore's sudden fascination with the Muggle World, remember, he loves Sherbet Lemon and Tenpin bowling.

"Ah, I believe this is what you call the 'Film Section'," he observed.

"Yes sir," Harry replied as he showed him the Snow White ad. "This is the film we're going to see in a few weeks."

Dumbledore seemed amused at the advertisement, particularly on the Dwarfs. This got him thinking of another Hogwarts professor.

"I'd like to join you for this and bring Professor Flitwick…" he smiled "…and with Professor McGonagall."

James started getting weary now that he'd have to buy twenty-two tickets.

Lily knew who she wanted to invite.

And who do you think that was?

She whispered her suggestion to James, who was trying to make the best of it. It wasn't so much because he didn't want Snape to come. No, that's what Sirius would say.

All of a sudden, the telephone rang. James picked it up.

"Hello, James," sang Molly Weasley. The Weasley house had a telephone for quite some time. It took a long time for Molly to start using it, and she was just getting the hang of it.

"Bill and Charlie are home for a month off and we'd like them to join us at the cinema, if that's alright," she requested.

"Um… sure," James replied.

He waited awhile for any more updates before finally making the call. When the cinema picked up, they couldn't believe someone would ask for a total of 25 tickets; 17 adults (James, Lily, Paul, Jane, Molly, Arthur, Sirius, Remus, Dora, Ted and Andromeda Tonks, Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Flitwick, ex-Professor Snape, and Bill and Charlie Weasley) and 8 children (Harry, Hermione, Ron, Sarah, Ginny, Fred, George, and Percy). Altogether, this was more than a whole row in the theater.

Well, it really wasn't that bad.

James was relieved he could secure that kind of a reservation. He wasn't worried about his cash drying up. The Potters were pretty much set for life and beyond.

There was a lot to do before the big day. Lily had to teach the Professors how to dress like Muggles. Dumbledore and Flitwick were genuinely excited about this, but it took awhile for McGonagall to get used to wearing high heels and tights.

Finally, the big night had arrived. The date was Friday, July 23, 1993. The Potters and their entourage were waiting outside on the doorstep as a Rolls-Royce limousine pulled up to the house. I forgot to mention that the Potters bought this car a few years back for special occasions. Tonight was no exception, but really it was because of how many people were going.

Along the way, all that went back and forth between Sirius and Snape were civil words. Eventually, they arrived at the Odeon in Leicester Square. James thought that since they were traveling in a limousine, they should make the outing like a Royal Premier again. Harry and Hermione straightened their hats and Harry held out his arm for Hermione's. They walked arm in arm, like they did when they saw Beauty and the Beast.

Sirius and Snape were the last to step out of the car. Sirius couldn't help but admire how Snape looked. And when I say "admire", it's not the way you think. His hair was shampooed, his face clean-shaven, and he was wearing a nicely tailored black suit. He and Sirius were on their best behavior, in fact… until they got to the snack bar, where Sirius became another kid in a sweet shop. Dumbledore, though, was pleased to find that they had Sherbet Lemon.

Soon enough, the theater doors opened and everyone took their seats. Some people couldn't believe that such a large gathering would be there for this, especially with nine redheads, plus an extra two, but that went away when the previews started.

There was a preview for Disney's Aladdin, which would be out in November. Harry and Hermione knew they wouldn't have to be taken out of school to see it, and they also decided that a much smaller gathering would do for this film.

Soon enough, the movie begun. Like Ron, Snape couldn't grasp the concept of the opening credits, but when the film actually started, he started watching. When the Evil Queen stalked into the chamber to consult the magic mirror, he thought of his mother. He didn't know whether to cry or not. It was in the next scene that he was engaged. The grace of that lovely heroine, Snow White, brought back memories of his first meeting with his best friend. Sure, her voice sounded rather distracting, but after awhile, he got used to it.

Soon enough came everyone's favorite part (or second, depending on what you see as the defining moment). The seven dwarfs started on their way home from work. Soon enough, the whole audience was singing along with them. Lily had anticipated this.

The sang,

Heigh-ho,

Heigh-ho,

It's home from work, we go.

(Whistle break)

Heigh-ho,

Heigh-ho,

Heigh-ho,

Heigh-ho.

Snape, at first, was bothered that he would never get that song out of his head. But he had to admit that after awhile, the song kind of rubbed off on him.

When it cut back to Snow White's stepmother, he was on the verge of a breakdown, as much as he tried to stifle it. He broke as she turned herself into a hag. He broke more when she gave Snow White the poisoned apple. But he was shattered as Snow White fell to the floor, seemingly dead, when the Queen met her demise after falling off the cliff and getting crushed by a boulder, and most of all, just having to watch the dwarfs and animals cry over the loss of their beloved friend, Snow White.

When the Prince arrived to sing his song, his tears begun to subside. He thought, maybe there was hope. When the Prince kissed her and bowed in morning, he heard the faithful choir sing and a smile begun to form on his face. When she awoke and was in the Prince's arms, his tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy.

As soon as Snow White bid farewell to the dwarfs and forest animals, the Prince took her to his castle. Hen same the last page in the book, which read,

And they lived happily ever after.

By the time the screen read,

The End,

The whole audience erupted with applause. Snape didn't applaud, though. He felt he'd let his emotions out well enough.

As they headed out of the theater Lily noticed the smile on Snape's face.

"So?" she queried.

"I must admit…" he begun.

"You loved it!" Lily finished, victoriously.

It did Snape good to see this film, and it did Harry and Hermione good to see that little stub on the bottom of the poster, which read,

Visit the new EuroDisney Resort in Paris.

The two of them couldn't wait for next week. Sad to say, I won't be writing about that in this story. But yes, life was good for the both of them.