Chapter 10- Harry and Hermione
Privet Drive
"I hope Harry is ready, I would hate to have any muggles waking up and noticing us." said Arthur looking up and down the street in front of the Dursley home.
"There, look through the window isn't that Harry with his Aunt and Uncle?" " Asked Remus as he pointed towards the house.
"Isn't that nice of them to get up to see him off." Arthur said as he scratched the side of his head above his ear " I didn't think they were that type."
Remus studied the scene as he slipped closer to the window" I don't think they are up to see him off, in fact they look like they are giving him a hard time." He growled as his eyes narrowed.
His Aunt Petunia was yelling at inside Harry and Uncle Vernon who was loudly protesting that Harry had no right to accept an invitation without clearing it with them first and anyway he had chores that they needed him to do.
Harry stood there in front of the window with his arms folded with his trunk, broom and Hedwig sitting beside him on the carpet.
"I will not have it, you get that freaky junk back up to your room before I back hand you." said Vernon ."You are not going anywhere."
Harry's eyes narrowed "Try it Uncle Vernon, if you want major trouble."
"And what are you going to do about it, you are not allowed to use your magic here since you are underage," Snapped Vernon whose face was reddening.
Petunia was looking around anxiously as Vernon's voice started to rise. She was twisting her hands together as she said nervously "Please not too loud dear, the neighbors."
Harry glanced towards the window and though inside he was seething spoke calmly "I don't have to do anything about it Uncle Vernon, but I think my escort would have plenty to say." as he motioned to Arthur and Remus to come in.
"WHAT." roared Vernon, as he twisted around and saw the two wizards standing there near the window watching the scene inside. "They better not come in, this is my house." snarled Vernon, as the door opened.
Harry's eyes glittered as he said "I wouldn't try to rile them up Uncle for the one is actually a werewolf...and a very dear friend of my godfather"
Petunia froze and she stared at the two wizards who were waiting for Harry. Vernon went white as the shabbiest and wildest looking wizard stepped forward slowly and carefully.
"Harry have you everything ready?" Remus asked Harry as he glowered at Petunia and Vernon who shrank back fearing that he was going to turn into a werewolf right then and there.
"Yes Remus I do." Harry replied back calmly.
Arthur removed his wand from his cloak and the Dursleys were terrified they were going to come to harm when he said, "Open the cage Harry and let Hedwig fly back to the Burrow."
Harry reached down and popped the latch. Hedwig came out and spread her wings, ready to fly off.
Arthur waved his wand and the door opened so Hedwig could fly away then he waved it again and the rest of Harry's belongings vanished.
Hermiones Home
Hermione was making sure everything She needed was packed for her visit to the Burrow when She heard the crack of a person Apparating outside her home. She opened her window and looked outside towards the large oak tree in the yard where she saw Percy standing and looking around cautiously. She signaled him to come to the door and she went down the stairs to let him in. Her parents were already up and greeted Percy when he stepped in.
The Burrow
"I wonder how Harry and Hermione will react to Severus when they see him." said Ginny to the twins who were tickling Severus on the floor of the living room where they had pounced on him as he came down for breakfast.
"They will probably ask"
" What we are doing with a little leprechaun
" Hanging about. Since he is so short"
" and dressed in green and silver."
"H-H-Hey st-stop pu-pu-please." Severus was laughing and wiggling as he tried to get away from the twins. He managed to hit them with a surge of magic that gave them both a shock.
"Ouch that hurt you little twerp."
"St-stop tickling me then." Severus panted from laughing so much.
"I think you better quit tickling him for now." said Ginny "Mom might get mad if you keep it up."
"Yeah I guess you are right Ginny."
"But there is always later."
They remarked as they grinned at Severus who stuck out his tongue at them then scrambled away before they could reach him and went into the kitchen where Molly was making breakfast. He picked up a cauldron cake and sat down as Molly placed a plate of sausages and pancake in front of him. Ron had already sat down at the
table and was eating a stack of sausages and pancakes with a couple bacon sandwiches on the side.
"Honestly you two really should act your age and not your shoe size." said an exasperated Ginny.
"Aw come on Ginny we aren't hurting him"
"We're just teaching him how to laugh." the twins told her with innocent looks on their faces.
"Anyway if he didn't like being tickled "
"He should have kept out of the way of our fingers."
"You know that sounds rather stupid even as an excuse," said Ginny who lowered her voice to a whisper "Anyway, are you going to fess up to mom about you know who?"
"Not yet Ginny, you know how scared he gets when mom yells"
"So we thought we would tell her when he isn't around."
"And when is that going to be? Ginny asked softly "When he is already grown back up and out of here?"
"Wel-l-l-l Yeah somethin' like that.".
"Chickens." Ginny said flipping her long red hair back and then heading out to the kitchen where she helped herself to a cauldron cake and sat down across from Severus who was calmly eating his breakfast.
The twins shrugged their shoulders then followed her into the kitchen. They sat down beside Severus and started to fill their plates with pancakes and sausages.
"When is Harry and Hermione going to be here Mom?" asked Ron as he poured syrup over his pancakes and sausages.
"Any time now dear" she said, as She bustled about watching everything as it cooked. The teakettle was starting to sing and She turned down the heat under it with a wave of her wand.
Molly glanced over to the Weasley clock and smiled as the hands signifying Arthur and Percy swung to traveling which meant they were heading home. She went back to making breakfast just as Harrys belongings materialized in the living room and Hedwig came flying in the window of the kitchen. Severus looked up at Hedwig and his eyes widened. "Oh wow whom does She belong to?" he asked as he admired her.
Molly watched Hedwig fly over to a convenient perch near Hermes and said "She belongs to Harry who should be here any moment with Arthur and Remus.
It wasn't long after Molly spoke that Arthur and Remus came in with Harry who had held onto Remus as they apparated from Privet Drive to the Burrow. Percy wasn't too far behind with Hermione. As the pair of them walked in everybody greeted them as if they hadn't seen them for a very long time. A homey and warm feeling penetrated the small room as everyone managed to find room at the long wooden table. Severus looked up to see the boy who had such a nice looking snowy owl. This Harry person who came in with Arthur and Remus looked
interesting as did the girl with the brown bushy hair.
Harry glanced around the Burrow, as he was happy to be back where he was appreciated and felt loved. He grinned at seeing everybody setting around the table till he spotted Severus. He frowned then went over to sit beside Ron who was unable to talk with his mouth full of pancake and syrup. Molly was smiling happily as Arthur, Remus and Hermione sat down. She told them to tuck in as she set out more food.
Severus noticed the frown and thought sadly that here was another person who was not happy to see him. Sev sighed then decided to keep quiet and say nothing until the big boy said something first. Hermione on the other hand noticed Severus and smiled warmly, as she introduced herself. Harry gave her an odd look as if he thought she was out of her mind. Severus was drinking his juice and when he set the glass down he said quietly in a shy voice "Hi" back.
Remus silently watched the interaction between them, and then pursed his lips as he wondered if anything beneficial would come out of having Harry and Severus at the burrow at the same time.
"So Harry how did your Aunt and Uncle react when you told them you were going to come to the Burrow?" asked Ginny.
"They didn't care for it much, in fact they were up this morning trying to force me to stay with them."
"Obviously they didn't succeed since you are here." said Ron
"I take it that they weren't too happy to see Dad and Remus"
"at their door so early in the morning." said the twins.
"You could say that especially when I told them that Remus was a werewolf, they were terrified that he was going to change and eat them at any moment." Harry told them with a wide grin.
Remus smiled ruefully as everyone laughed at the idea that he could change willfully.
Hogwarts
Meanwhile Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall were sitting in the Great Hall with Filius Flitwick and Madame Pomfrey enjoying s much deserved breakfast as they made plans to go on their vacations when they spotted an owl flying in their direction with a letter held in his beak.
"It is the Weasleys owl Errol." said Minerva as Errol came down and slid into their midst. Albus took the letter from Errol who flipped back onto his feet then flew off as erratic as ever.
"Oh dear what is it now, I hope there is nothing wrong with Severus." Albus said, his brow wrinkled with worry. He then looked at the front of the envelope and smiled as he read his name on the front.
"It is from Severus, I forgot his handwriting would not be the same now that he is a child.."
"So what has he written?" squeaked Filius
"Yes do tell us" Chorused Minerva and Poppy.
"All right I will." replied Albus who was opening the envelope and taking out the parchment. "Hmmmff" Albus cleared his throat "Lets see now.."
Hi Albus
I got your letter okay. Thanks for telling me about the twins. They are funny and like to tease.
We all went frogging and we all fell into the pond. Ron was laffing at us so Ginny and I pulled him in too.
I got some frog spawn any way. They are swimming in a fishtank that Percy give me to use.
I guess you call it havin fun. Mrs. Weasley was not happy when she saw us come in all wet and muddy.
I learned how to play chess and gobstones with Percy.
Mrs Weasley made a lot of snaks that she told me to eat when im hungry. It is nice of her.
Say hi to evryone for me.
Severus.
Each of them burst out laughing as they read the slightly misprinted letter.It certainly made their day better.
"He sounds like he is happy." said Minerva with feeling.
"Albus chuckled "I must ask Molly sometime about the frogging incident."
Filius grinned. "You weren't kidding when you told Fudge that Sev is doing exactly what you told him
to do."
The Burrow
The twins went to their room after breakfast and started working on a new idea for Weasleys Wheezes as they liked to call their inventions The noise level from their room was about normal for them as they worked getting the new jokes just right. They had a pile of fake wands that they had finished stacked up in a box under their window and were working on making fireworks that did a lot of insane things besides making pretty designs in the sky.
Arthur and Percy had left the Burrow and apparated to their work at the Ministry after breakfast and Remus was relaxing talking to Harry and Hermione whom he hadn't seen in a while.
Molly was doing laundry, that seemed to be never ending some days, Molly wouldn't mind so much if it wasn't for the Ironing.
"Remus I haven't seen you since Snape revealed you were a werewolf and cost you your job." said Harry
"Harry I told you then and I am telling you now, it didn't matter, I could only be there for a year anyway and Severus did help me keep the job and prevented me from harming anyone by making the Wolfsbane potion every month."
Hermione was talking with Ginny and Ron while they watched Severus who was reading curled up in the stuffed chair near the fireplace.
"So I had wedged the ball against the leg of my desk for Mrs Norris to find. I didn't think Snape would look down at the floor and find it then end up here as an eight year old kid that Mom would make such a fuss over."
Hermione looked over at Severus and said, "You know it sounds very strange to talk like this, usually one talks of growing up not backwards. He looks to be only five years old and he is eight?"
"That's what he said he was and Mom is just being Mom, Ron. I swear you must be jealous of the attention she has been giving him." Ginny said, as she tasted a ginger newt.
"You think he would mind if I picked him up?" Asked Hermione "I have to admit he does look cute and cuddly as a little boy."
Ron's eyes crossed as he heard Hermione's question "Oh for crying out loud Hermione are you going to act like Mom too?"
Ginny giggled as Hermione got up and went over to where Severus was reading and picked him up book and all.
"Hey." Severus yelped in surprise as he felt Hermione pick him up and hold him close to her.
"Hi Severus" said Hermione as she couldn't resist hugging him. "I didn't realize how cute and cuddly you really are."
"CUTE! I am not CUTE!" roared Severus who tried to wiggle away.
Hermione laughed "Of course you are and from the looks of the book you are reading still very smart."
"Oh great, what a wonderful combination." groaned Ron "He is smart I grant you that but cute?"
Severus stopped wiggling and with one eyebrow raised looked up at Hermione and said "Please tell me you are not one of my former students."
Ron then chuckled "Sorry Sev but she is. You called her the insufferable know-it-all."
Hermione looked daggers at Ron "You can be such a git sometimes Ron."
Severus stared at her "Know-it-all?"
"Yeah, that is what you called her because she memorizes everything she ever reads, I told you about her the other day." said Ginny.
Severus studied Hermione who sat him carefully down on the couch and then grinned shyly as both Ginny and Hermione sat down with him.
Harry and Remus were sitting in chairs facing each other and they talked about things that they had done since they last met. Then they started to talk about Severus.
"Severus is just a little boy right now Harry and he does not remember anything that happened to him after the age of eight, why don't you approach him like you would any other little child and let him get to know you." Remus asked Harry who was glancing over at the little child that was being hugged by Hermione.
"Are you sure Remus, I would like to but I am not sure if he would want to talk to me." said Harry
"You will find a lot in common with him Harry."
"I would--like what?"
Remus sighed and thought over what he had been told then looked squarely into Harry's green eyes. "He has had a childhood similar to yours, though I suspect it was more violent."
Harry reacted with amazement " You have got to be kidding me right? This is Snape who glories in being nasty, unfair and cruel."
"Harry, I think he was that way because he was afraid of letting anybody get close so they could hurt him, Like the Marauders did." Remus said sadly as he remembered what his friends were like towards Severus. "The only one who has ever gotten close to him is Dumbledore."
"You think I should try then."
"Yes go and say hi, I think both of you would benefit from getting to know each other.
Harry went over to where Severus was sitting with Hermione and Ginny. Ron was leaning against the wall nearby trying to figure out why the girls were so entranced with Severus. He was only an eight- year- old kid for Merlin's sake.
Harry went over and sat back on his heels and looked at Severus with surprise as upon closer inspection he saw a child who was very thin, shy and sad with a hopeful expression all in one.
Harry felt a little ridiculous as he introduced himself "Hi Severus, the name is Harry, Harry Potter.."
Severus was feeling a little overwhelmed by all this attention and he asked shyly "Is that big white Owl yours?"
Harry grinned "Yes she is, her name is Hedwig, would you like to see her up close.?"
Severus nodded as Ron crossed his eyes.
Harry called for Hedwig to come to him and she flew in gracefully and set down near Harry who stroked her head gently. "Hedwig" he asked, "will you let this little boy touch you?"
Hedwig turned her head to look at the little boy whose eyes were large and expressive in his all too pale face.
She ruffled her feathers then bent her head just a little to let him know he could touch her.
"Go on and touch her." Harry said and Severus reached out with his small hand timidly and stroked her soft white feathers. His face lit up as he pet her and Harry felt an odd warm glow around his own heart as he watched.