I'm sorry I didn't get this up before Christmas, but it's a nice long chapter to make up for it. Cooking Lessons will also be being updated tonight.
Now I did have a message saying I've made a few mistakes with my spelling especially of peoples names. Well I'm sorry about that and I will try to go back and fix it. But you all know who I mean right
Chapter Seven
"Because I know everything about you Severus. Did you know my oldest son was named Severus?"
"Really?" Harry asked, still blushing from the lovers comment.
"Yes." Nodded Sal. "It was a name to be passed down to the oldest son of every generation. Even to this day."
Severus sat down on the bed to take in that information. It seemed to hit him like a rampaging hippogriff.
"Um... Sal. Are you saying Snape is your direct descendent. What about Tom? I thought he was your heir."
"Yes Severus is young griffin. Tom is a distant relative on my sister's side"
"But I had to take a potion to be able to speak Pastletongue. It's meant to come naturally to your descendants." Severus said still in a state of shock.
"Yes well, I think you take after my husband quite a bit." Sal looked from one face with its jaw dropped to the other. "You didn't know I was married to a man? Good Greif what do they teach at this school nowadays? Godrick and I were married for one hundred and fifty years. We both bore a son. First Severus Slytherin then a few years latter RichardGryffindor. I carried Severus but it was Richard who inherited Pastletongue. Which is why I created the potion."
Harry started laughing.
"What exactly do you find amusing about this Mr Potter?" Questioned Severus in a series of angry hisses.
"I'm just imagining the look on Tom's face. Not only is he not the heir of Slytherin but the true heir is the cause of his down fall."
Sal grinned. "You can also tell him he's the decedent of a squib and a muggle too."
"Didn't you want to have a spell cast?" Queried Severus, who was fighting a smile at the images the two were presenting.
"Always working Sev. You need to relax and have a little fun with your young man."
Harry started coughing. "Come on Sal, stop teasing and tell us the spell."
Sal smirked. "Very well young griffin. Spoil all my fun. So very like Ric."
"Ric?" Severus questioned.
"Godrick I believe Harry is descended from the son he bore, my little Richard."
Now it was Severus turn to laugh, the look on Harry's face was priceless.
Harry surged. "Well that explains why the sorting hat wanted to put me in your house Sal."
"It did?" Severus asked. "This day is just full of surprises."
Sal smiled lovingly. "You have both inherited a great deal form both of us. I would even go so far to say... Yes well, I think I'll leave that for the moment."
"What are you trying to say Sal?" Severus asked impatiently.
"I can't give you all my secrets in one go Sev. I don't know the spell to fix me. When I was cursed they hid the spell book in the school, you'll have to find it."
"Where do we start?" Asked Harry exasperated. Severus just shook his head.
"I know the first clue.
'Inside this school
There are places many.
Some are hidden
On this quest you
Will reveal for all to see
What was once known
To only thee
I will send you to
Seven places
To piece together
The things you need.
But be warned
Only the worthy
Will find, the rest will flounder
The first place
Where you must go
Is surrounded by air
With nothing above
But all below
A lover's gift
Will show the way
To my second clue
But not by day.'
The first is the longest, or so I'm told."
"And you said this would be a simple prank Potter." Severus grumbled
Harry laughed softly. "Nothing in my life is ever simple professor."
"Now now you two, you talking a language only each other can understand. Surly you can use each other's given names." Sal admonished.
"Very well." Severus huffed and turned to Harry. "What are we going to do now. Ry?" Severus put an emphasis on the Ry.
Harry smiled widely and Severus tried to ignore the jump his heart made at the sight.
"Well Sev. We should work on the riddle, it's getting late and you have to get back before curfew. And we still haven't eaten."
Severus cast tempus. It showed 8.30. "We have half an hour. Let's eat we can work on the riddle overnight and discuss it tomorrow." They said goodbye to Sal and moved back into the classroom.
"What would you like to eat?" Harry asked. Switching back to speaking English.
"Anything is fine." Severus was still thinking about the riddle Sal had given them. He wasn't aware of Harry calling for Dobby and a tray of food appearing on the table.
"Sev eat something." Harry looked at his professor who jumped at the use of the shortened version of his name.
"It's going to take me time to get used to you of all people calling me that. Apart from Sal a few munities ago, no one has called me Sev for a good eighteen years. One day I'll tell you who it was." Severus reached for a sandwich from the tray. It was a chicken salad and mayonnaise sandwich. Severus blinked in surprise. That was his favourite.
"How did you know that was my favourite?" Severus asked bemused.
Harry gave a very Snape like smirk. "I asked the Kitchen to send up something. Really Potter are you so unobservant you didn't notice the house elf enter the room."
Severus looked at Harry wondering why he'd changed his manner in such a sudden manner. Until he heard a polite knock on the door. Hermione entered when Harry called out for her to do so.
"Um, sorry to interrupt Sir." Said Hermione from the doorway. "I was doing some research in the library, and I think I might have found a book that might help."
Harry held his hand out impassionedly. "What is it you think you've found Miss Granger?" Sharked Harry. Severus watched in fascination as Harry put on a very effective Snape mask. The girl was actually trembling.
"I found an article in a really old potions book. It was in a box covered in dust in the storage section. I don't think anyone has read it in years. It's really interesting..."
"You're prattling Miss Granger. Please get to the point or leave." Harry interrupted glaring at Hermione.
"Sorry Sir, well, the article implies that in some potions, if some very rare ingredients are mixed it can cause the potion to explode and can cause this side effect for anyone caught in the explosion. The way it's reversed is always the same. It can only be reversed by... Well, um..." Hermione blushed and looked from one man to the other. "You have to kiss."
"What." Yelled Severus.
Harry had to fight to keep his mask of cool in place and coldly said. "I have no doubt your incorrect Miss Granger. I will however read the 'book.'" Harry spat the last word as if it was distasteful. Then turning back to Severus. "As I'm sure Miss Granger intends to wait outside until you have finished you had better pack up."
Severus nodded. "Yes sir. I'll be out in five minutes Mionie."
Hermione closed the door behind her.
"Is she serious do you think?" Harry asked quietly.
"Probably. I have no doubt I'm going to be hearing a word for word rendition of the relevant chapters on the way back to the common rooms."
Harry smiled. "I don't miss that. I can tell her to shut up now and she can't hex me. That girl is scary sometimes."
Severus smiled. It seemed to get easier with practice. "Are you quite sure you're not a Slytherin? I best go. Who knew being you could be this exhausting. Goodnight." Severus paused. "Goodnight Ry."
"Night Sev." Severus opened the door and left. Harry could already hear Hermione starting to explain what she'd learned. When the door closed the young man sighed contentedly, picked up the potions book Hermione had left and started reading.
