Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 3: The Tidings
After the sun had risen well over the hills to the right of the house, Snape decided he'd better leave his daughter to get changed. Giving her one last look, he left for the door, deciding that he needed to distract himself. He had enough to worry about as it were. Adding to that load would more than likely drive Snape crazy.
As he strode down the hallway, he heard a knock at the door. With a sigh, he knew who it was before he even looked through the peephole. It was Emmaline and Victoria Tiding. They were the ones who owned the in, and Victoria had been married to a wizard before the last Wizarding War. However, due to some dark magic, she didn't remember anything about her husband's magical traits.
Now Emmaline, who was Victoria's daughter, knew all about the magical world. She remembered her father and all the things he'd done. However, whether she possessed magical powers remained to be seen.
"Is Emma here already?" Ollie asked, dashing out of the hallway. She'd dressed quickly, putting on a pair of well worn jeans, a fitting gray T-shirt, and a black cardigan. And her cardigan was buttoned only halfway, which always bothered Snape. Frowning at her cardigan, Snape nodded.
"It would appear so," He said with distaste. Ollie smiled to herself, knowing that the main reason he didn't like the Tidings was because of Victoria. The lady was infatuated with Snape, and she wouldn't stop hitting on him.
Walking past her scowling father, she approached the door. But before she opened it, she peeked through the peephole. It was something her dad was adamant on, seeing as he didn't want her letting in a stranger by mistake.
"What kept you?" Emma asked as soon as the door opened. "I've been waiting here for ages!"
"You're such a drama queen," Ollie said, embracing her best friend. She and Emma were a strange pair of friends, with Ollie being outgoing, tomboyish, and very opinionated, and Emma being just the opposite. All the same, they got along great.
"Severus!" Victoria exclaimed, squeezing past the two girls. "It's so good to see you again!"
"The pleasure is mine," Snape responded through gritted teeth. As much as he disliked Victoria, he put up with her for the sake of Ollie. That, and the fact that Dumbledoor had asked him to keep an eye on her this year until Ollie went to Hogwarts. Then Ms. Tidings would be someone else's problem. "Won't you come in?"
"Silly goose," Victoria gushed, putting a hand on his arm. "I'm already inside!"
"Mum," Emma said, pulling back from Ollie. "Don't forget we're here for Ollie - not for you love interests."
"Indeed." Severus stated, stepping away from Ms. Tidings and heading towards the fridge. Ollie and Emma watched with anticipation as he pulled out a tray of eleven Treacle Tarts. With a little shriek, Emma dragged Ollie to the dark oak table.
"Oh my gosh - it's Treacle Tart!" Emma exclaimed, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feat. "I haven't had those in -"
"I thought this was supposed to be about me," Ollie said jokingly as she sat down. Emma stuck out her tongue and sat down next to her. "Or were you just saying that?"
"Oh, shut up." Emma said. Snape couldn't help but smirk as he placed the tray down on the table. Then, in a very muggle way, he dug out some candles and put on each of the tarts. Then he lit them with a match.
"You may start singing," Snape said, waving out the last match and tossing onto the counter. He could get rid of it with magic after Victoria left.
Smiling, Victoria and Emma sang out an out-of-tune Happy Birthday. With a half-smile on her face, Ollie glanced at Emma.
"I think you've gone tone deaf." Ollie said, and Emma gave her a playful shove.
"Just make a wish already!" Emma said with a laugh. Rolling her eyes, Ollie looked back at the Treacle Tarts. There were eleven candles, and wondered what she should wish for...Maybe for her dad to get her a broom? No, that was too simple. Besides, she could buy a broom on her own time. "Ollie…"
"I'm thinking," Ollie said, closing her eyes a minute and letting her mind relax. As she did, the occurrence from earlier that day came into her mind. That boy - she wanted to know more about him. And if she wished for it, one never knew what might happen.
Concentrating her thoughts about the mysterious black haired boy, Ollie blew out all eleven candles with one breath. As the last candle blew out, Ollie felt as if something magical had happened. Not like a magically happy moment, but a more serious magic moment, like her wish was being processed and would actually come true.
But the feeling disappeared when Victoria's voice broke the silence.
"What did you wish for?" She asked, and both Emma and Ollie looked at her with shocked faces. "What?"
"You never tell anyone what you wish for," Emma said. "It's common knowledge that if you do - your wish will never come true."
"And I really want my wish to come true," Ollie added, and then instantly wished she could take it back. Snape's eyebrows both went up, and she could tell he wanted to ask. But he held his tongue, thankfully. Ollie really didn't want her dad asking her what she wished for. His reaction would be over the roof.
"Oooo," Victoria commented, going to stand beside Snape. She wrapped another arm around him and put her head on his shoulder. "Doesn't that make you curious, my black knight?"
"Madam, I have no wish to comment," Snape said, slipping out of Victoria's arms again. To avoid her, he picked up Olivia's parcel and came around to hand it to her. "Here."
"Thank you," Ollie said, taking the package from him with care. She had to stand to accept it, as it was huge. And even then, she had to place it on the table before she unwrapped it.
Emma moved the Treacle Tart tray as Ollie lay the package down on the table. Then she took a little time to take the parcel in. Whatever he'd gotten her was in a cream colored box, and tied with brown twine. And it was so huge - Ollie would have thought it was a broomstick!
But she knew her dad too well. He'd never get her a broomstick. I mean, he hated Quidditch, and hated even more the thought of her participating in such a sport. He'd made that clear to her throughout the years.
But as she undid the twine and opened the box, her doubts were squashed. There, sitting amongst sparkling brown tissue paper, was a broomstick. Only it wasn't just any broomstick - it was the fastest broom to date!
"What is it?"Emma asked, peering into the box. When she got sight of the broom, Emma's eyes grew wide as saucers. "That can't be…"
"It is!" Ollie exclaimed as she took the broom out. It was sleek, and shiny, and smelled of fresh wood. Tenderly running a hand along the handlebar, she imagined herself flying on it, and wondered how fast she could go.
"A broomstick?" Victoria asked, very much stunned. "Who on Earth gives their daughter a broomstick for her birthday?"
"A very loving one," Ollie said, putting her treasure aside and giving her father a bear hug. Snape wasn't one for very outward displays of affection, but he allowed Ollie to give him hugs and what not when they were alone. And sometimes when there were guests over - this being one of those occasions. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you!"
"I'm glad you're happy," Snape said, giving Olive a quick squeeze. "Of course you must realize that you're not to get hurt while riding that. Nor will you ride it in any way that may inflict harm on you. Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes." Ollie said, letting go of him and turning back to the broomstick. "I won't get hurt while riding it. Probably."
"What was that?" Snape asked, reaching for Ollie's shoulder. Victoria managed to get her hand in the way, however, and Snape found himself grabbing onto the lady.
"Why, Severus - you sly dog…" She said seductively. Ollie glanced back at the two and broke into a grin. Grabbing Emma's hand, she dragged her friend outside, eager to try out her broom.
"See you later, dad," Ollie called over her shoulder as the two girls dashed outside. "Emma and I are going to go exploring."
"Be careful!" Snape's voice shouted as Ollie closed the door. When it was safely closed, the two girls burst out giggling as they climbed down the little stairwell that led up to their house. It was built on top of a row of apartment buildings, and many people came and went from the apartments. Which was why Emma was her best friend - no other kids ever stay around long enough for Ollie to get to know them.
And since they were best friends, they often did things in secret. Such as watching movies over at Emma's house without Severus knowing. He didn't much like muggle movies, nor did he want Ollie watching many of them. But Ollie did so anyway, because she lived in the muggle world as well as the wizarding one.
Now, however, she and Emma were going to do something else. Or at least Ollie was.
Thanks for reading! Sorry for the late update - with all that's been going on the world, I've been a little side tracked. Thank you all for the reviews - I appreciate them! (Also, I'm working on chapter four, but it may be a week or two before I finish it).