Disclaimer:
The Slayer: Well I'm back!! As I promised, I hope everything in this chapter is to my fans satisfaction?
Bob: mweep
The Slayer: Yes Bob I know I don't own Harry Potter!!
Bob: I didn't say that
The Slayer: Then what did you say?
Bob: Look out of that piano!
*Piano Drops from the sky onto The Slayer*
The Slayer: . . . . .*5 minutes later* Ouch that hurt!
Bob: - -;; Maybe I should have hired the monkeys with the juggling balls?
Chapter Three – The Dinner Date
'Wake up sir,' Harry awoke from his snooze to the calling of a soft timid voice, it had drawn him out of his slumber and back into consciousness.
Harry moaned and stifled a yawn, cracking open a brilliant green eye and then the other, their gaze settling on a little house elf peering at him with curiosity.
'Lily has been sent to escort sir down to the dinning hall,' she moved back allowing Harry to have enough room to sit up, her bright brown eyes shining brightly, she wore a floral purple patterned handkerchief, sewn into a dress like garment, with little sandals to matching she wore on her flat like feet.
Harry blinked mildly surprised; did that elf just say that her name was Lily? Why on earth would Snape have a house elf named after his mother? Or was it just coincidence? Harry stroked his chin in thought eyes distant, but he was soon interrupted by the house elf pressing her face up against his.
'Would sir be by any chance Mister Harry Potter?' she inquired studying him closely taking his arm with her nimble fingers wrapping them easily around his wrist and brought it an inch from her face.
Harry pulled gently away; her grip was strong from something that looked so fragile, 'er. . . . .yeah I am.'
With that word spoken Harry was suddenly lunged at the wizard and tackled the boy to the floor squealing in sheer delight and excitement, Harry gasped for air as the surprisingly strong elf squeezing him tighter, he swore that one of his ribs his cracked or was that his spline?
'Oh-mister-Potter!' Lily shrieked in pure exhilaration, 'Lily-has-heard-many-stories-about-mister-Potter.'
The house elf chattered so fast it was impossible to understand her high pitch, rapid speech.
'um . . yeah, shouldn't we be going to the dinning hall?' Harry prompted, lightly.
The elf blinked, 'Lily is sorry for out burst Mister Potter, please allow me to escort Mister Potter to dinning hall.'
She trotted over to the door; stretching up on her tiptoes she clasped the door handle, twisted the knob and opened the door permitting Harry exit.
Harry grinned at her it was a funny little smile a small lop sided one, 'please call me Harry, Mister Potter is to formal'
Lily's bright round face lit up, beaming she grinned her voice breaking into little high pitch squeaks, 'Oh thank you Mister Potter!'
Harry followed the house elf out of the bedroom and into the now darkened halls, how long had he been an asleep? He didn't know, not long enough to fall into another nightmare but long enough to be drowsy. Strangely enough he found himself quite hungry the Dursleys had their dinner at 5 pm on request for porky pig Dudley, the obese lad had more meals in a day than Harry or any other normal person ate in a week, the chubby boy had gone through two Smeltings uniforms in one year!
Harry hadn't been able to eat dinner at the Dursleys mainly due to Snape showing up, so he was glad and so was his stomach would be eating soon.
As the boy who lived followed the little elf down the dimly lit corridor, the many paintings were watching him pass and started to whisper to one another and point too. The faint sound of tapping of Harry's worn out sneakers upon the polished floorboards, echoed softly off the high ceiling and walls.
'This way Harry' Lily beckoned Harry to follow her down the staircase.
Harry soon found himself back in the entry Hall the ground level of the house was brightly lit up and Harry had to blink a few times to allow his eyes to adjust. Lily walked briskly past stone mini pillar stand with a pot planet perched on it and opened one of the double doors enabling Harry to enter the dinning hall.
She quickly closed the door behind him; there was a long polished dark spectacular table with matching leather-cushioned seats in the room. Snape sat down the other end of the dinning table; 'I see that the great Harry Potter has decided to grace me with his presence.'
Harry frowned and took the seat at the opposite end to Snape, where his dinner was neatly set up on the table awaiting him. His plate with filled with a steaming hot roast, there was meat; tender lamb with crisp roast vegetables with a thick blanket of gravy it smelled divine! Harry took his knife and fork and dug into his meal. For most of the time the two ate in silence, until Harry came upon the point that he needed a drink he took the goblet and drained the contents in one mouthful. He blinked the liquid was nothing like he tasted before it was like pumpkin juice but also like fizzy drink, with just a hint of a zing to it.
'Wow, what's in this drink Professor Snape?' Harry inquired, staring at the goblet sniffing it, the remaining contents in the bottom smelt fresh and sweet.
'I don't think that it is really any of your business,' he said silkily.
Harry frowned once again, 'Professor Snape, I want you around you as much as you want me around, I know you hate me and all because of my father but since we are having to live under the same roof couldn't we at least try and get along, have a civil conversation?'
Severus's head smoothly lifted up and dark tunnel eyes fixed on Harry, expression twisted into a scowl, 'You shouldn't be so eager to assume things Potter.'
'Pardon me?' Harry blinked.
'I think it is time that you return to your quarters,' Snape cleverly avoided Harry standing up from his seat, his voice dark and dangerous, 'If by an unlikely chance you need to seek my assistance with something I will be down in the basement, I'm sure my house elf will be more than happy to assist you with most things though. Please do try not to disturb me.'
Harry stood up sighing how did this come to be? Harry Potter living in the same house as Severus Snape Potions Master Of Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry!
Harry watched Snape stalked up the left side of the dinning table, past Harry with out a second glance his robes swishing as they billowed out behind him, as he left the dinning room.
Harry stared after his potions master, what did he mean by 'that he assume to eagerly'?
'Harry, sir?' whispered a little voice to his right.
It was Lily, tugging at his hand-me down trousers.
'Is Harry ready to return to his quarters now, Lily can show Harry where the bathroom is if Harry wishes to take a shower?' she informed the raven-haired boy.
Harry thought a shower was a good idea he smiled and nodded politely.
'Oh I hope Harry will find the bathroom to Harry's satisfaction! Lily cleaned it herself!' Lily peeped gleefully.
On the way back up the stairs Harry's attention was absorbed by a painting with a girl in it who beckoned him over, he complied walking stiffly over.
'Hello dear boy,' the girl in the painting greeted him, Harry was taken aback to view that the girl in the portrait looked so much like Snape himself, she was tall and sender dressed in black, shallow pale complexion, with long raven ink black hair that reached her midriff her nose was more petit and she had pale blue eyes.
'er, hello?' Harry replied.
'So who are you? We don't get many visitors here,' she smiled lazily, she reminded Harry of a cat, cunning and intelligent.
'I'm Harry Potter,' he answered automatically.
The girl arched an eyebrow, 'interesting.'
'What is that suppose to mean?'
'Nothing really, just I never thought Severus . . . .' she trailed off, 'Never mind.'
Harry was becoming curious, 'you never thought Severus what?'
The girl totally avoided his question, 'Your eyes they are a lovely green aren't they?'
'That doesn't answer my question,' Harry frowned.
'Like your mother's are they not?'
'Yeah, but how do you know about my mother after all your just a painting?' it was more of a question than a statement.
The girl only smiled coyly.
Harry's mind was going into over drive.
The girl's expression changed from coy to curious, 'Yet you look so much like a clone of 'him''
Harry guessed she meant his father.
'So how have you been getting alone with Sevvy?' she grinned, mischievous glint in her eyes made Harry relax more.
'Well. .erm. .um'
'Ahh I see he has been his usual self as always, no?' she chuckled
Harry Simply nodded.
Her expression changed yet again so a sad frown, 'You don't like him do you?'
Harry was caught off guard again, 'Well . . . I . . . no not exactly.'
'Don't be too hard on Severus, he . . .' she started to state softly but was cut by Lily the house elf.
'Lily has prepared a warm bath for Harry!' she squeaked
Harry didn't want to leave just yet, but the little house elf was already tugging him away.
He sighed and followed the elf reluctantly; Harry's head was filling up with questions all unanswered, all very confusing.
'Lily, who was that a portrait of?' he asked inquisitively.
'Oh that was Master Severus's sister Selena,' Lily informed him.
Was? Did Lily mean the girl was dead? Yes, Harry would definitely have to pay another visit Selena, he had to find out what she meant.
But right now, maybe a bath was just what he needed.
The Slayer: *pants* there! a longer chapter as people have requested! I hope your happy!! And I better see some reviews now.
Bob: mee eep
The Slayer: I'm not even going to ask!
Bob: Meeep!
The Slayer: nope I'm not listening to you!
Bob: fine then I won't tell ya when your house is on fire =P
The Slayer: My house is on WHAT?! Ahhahhhhhhhhhhhh! *runs off to save house*
The Slayer Signing Off!