Chapter 24

It was May, and Tara was jazzed. It was Race Month! Instead of wearing her robes she had gotten used to wearing, she donned jeans and racing shirts on a daily basis. On the weekends, she was off to watch practices and Qualifications. Floo powder was coming in very handy! She had hooked up with a wizard household in the Indianapolis area and they were already in the Floo Network, which worked out great.

Severus missed her though; he couldn't get away since the end of the term was coming and he needed to prepare for that. He did promise to go to the race with her, that last Sunday in May. He was curious about the whole thing. One Monday morning, he had to wake her up to go to breakfast.

"This time zone thing is messing me up," she told him. "Well, the race is Sunday, so then I'll be back here for a while. But I'm going over there for Carburation Day in the wee hours Friday Morning, since it'll be daytime there."

"What, praytell, is Carburation Day?"

Tara's eyes lit up with excitement as she swung her long legs out of bed, and went to grab a Diet Pepsi out of her refrigerator. "It's the last practice, and then there is a pit crew contest. They get the pit crews and they compete against each other. Those are the guys who change the tires and--"

"I know what a pit crew does," Severus stopped her.

"You do?" she asked.

He nodded. "I've been doing some research...on the web," he said proudly.

"Cool. So anyway, that's what happens on Thursday. It's a blast. Then there's a concert afterwards and I like to stand out on the media platform and watch undercover cops bust drunk people."

"Sounds like loads of fun," Severus said, making a face. "Shall I meet you downstairs and let them know you're running a little late?" he asked her. She nodded. "Probably be best. See you down there."

She arrived 20 minutes later, with wet hair. Today she wore a shirt she had picked up for that year's race and her IRL hat which was encrusted with pins and had drivers' signatures all over it. Severus was amused. She took off for her trip in the middle of the night Friday (morning), and came back the next day, sunburned and tired.

"I brought you something, Sev," she said. They were in his room and he was making her some dinner. She pulled out a bag that said Indianapolis Motor Speedway Gift Shop, and handed it to him. He opened it and found that year's race logo on a black t shirt.

"Thought you might want to go as a muggle. People in the midwest are kind of conservative, even the wizard family whos fireplace I'm using said so. They thought it a good idea if you dress differently just this one time."

Severus made a face at her, but nodded okay. "Here, this goes with it," she said, handing him another bag with handles on it. He took out a pair of black denim jeans. "I had to guess at your size but you can adjust that with magic, right?" He nodded, looking peculiarly at the black denim he held in his hands. He held it in front of himself and they seemed like they'd fit; he hadn't worn such things before.

"What's in this box?" he asked, noticing a box in the same bag.

"Shoes."

"Shoes?"

"Yes. You'll have to size those too; I had no idea what size; I just guessed."

He opened the box and there was a pair of atheletic shoes which were white with gray and red striping, and a pair of white atheletic socks.

"You going to try it on?" she asked him, and he saw the amusement in her eyes.

"Later," he said, looking at her sternly.

"Suit yourself...no pun intended."

The dinner was just about ready and they ate, then she got up to do the dishes.

"You don't have to do the dishes you know," he told her. "You can use the incantation--"

"It'll give me something to do while you put on your muggle clothes to show me," she said, her eyes twinkling at him again. He frowned and gathered up his things and went to change. She hummed to herself, hoping things were going well in the other room. Finally, he came out, walking like he was a little bit uncomfortable.

"Ooo baby! Turn around!" she said motioning for him to turn around. He turned, his back to her. His jeans were a little baggy in his seat. She frowned, and pulled out her wand, "Hold still," she said, waving her wand, "Alterous seatus!" Severus gave a startled yelp, as the seat of his jeans tightened up and adjusted nicely. "Ooo yeah. Those jeans show off your fine butt. Not bad for a guy in his 50's I must say," she remarked. He turned around again, scowling at her. "When did you learn to do that?" he asked, referring to her alteration. "Oh, a bit ago. Did it hurt?"

"No. I just thought I was getting...goosed."

"How are your shoes?" she asked, walking over to him. She felt the toe of his right shoe and could feel his foot snug inside. "They aren't supposed to be that tight, Sev. Sheesh!" she took out the wand again. "Alterous footwear!" She adjusted them a half size and that seemed good. "Is that better?" she asked, and he nodded. "Alterous footwear. That's a new one," he commented. "Well I'm learning that just like in programming, there is more than one way to do it. That's the easiest one for me to remember," she told him.

The shirt fit him perfectly; she figured it would. "You know, you ought to work out. Then you'd really be a stud," she said. "A what?" "Never mind. You look great as a muggle. Kind of like a grunge guy or something with your hair. Hey--I never noticed that," she said grabbing his left hand. He had a tattoo - it was a skull with a snake slithering through it. She made a face. "What the hell? How come I never noticed that? That is posively evil!" she remarked. "I never noticed this before--" "I usually wear long sleeves," he replied. "But not in bed..." she started. "It's usually dark," he said. "True," she agreed. They usually just had candelight during their intimate moments. She examined it again and an unmistakeable shiver went through her. "Why the hell did you get such a disturbing image?" she asked him. He noticed the fine hair on her arm was standing up and saw her visibly shiver again. She obviously hadn't done any reading on the history of her father's--and now her--world. It was so hard to explain, but he was kind of relieved that she hadn't. He knew he would have to explain it to her one day. She was going to be his wife, and she deserved to know.

"It was a long time ago. I was very young," he told her quietly. "Didn't it hurt like hell?" she asked. "It...hurt...but not all that bad." "I had thought about getting one...but never wanted to have to be forced to live with something forever. If I ever got one, I'd have it where no one would normally see it," she said, dropping his hand, "like on my hip or something," she said, dismissing the subject. "Oh yeah, one more thing --" she said, and drew a bottle of sunblock out of another one of her bags. "You are going to need this. It's SPF 9000 - the strongest I could find."

He looked at it, then looked at her, and realized she had altered the label from SPF 9 to 9000 to play with him. He looked at her, and she burst out laughing. "Well you've got to admit, you are a bit on the....pale side."

He sat down uncomfortably. "These trousers are so tight," he said.

"Yeah, they'll be like that at first. Once you wear them for a bit, they'll loosen up - until you wash them.

"I feel like I'm being pinched in half."

"You'll get used to it."

He sighed. "Can I put on my usual attire now?"

"I suppose..." she said, enjoying how he looked a moment longer. "Here, I'll help you undress..." she said reaching for him...

Race day came and Tara was so excited, she could hardly sleep. She and Severus arrived at the wizard family's fireplace and left for the race directly from there. She was loaded up with a backpack with her camera and gear. It was 5 AM in Indianapolis and the gates would just be opening.

Severus had never seen such an event or so many people. "Now, why are we getting here so early?" he asked her. "To take it all in," she replied, simply. They went to the Infield for some breakfast. They drew some strange looks; even though Severus was dressed 'normally,' his paleness and his hairstyle were not something that was typical to see in Indiana. "I should have put your hair in a pony tail. Then with that awful thing on your arm--you'd look like more like a biker," Tara commented. "A pony tail? I think not..." Severus said, arching an eyebrow at her. They were waiting for their breakfast, standing at a window. The lady brought the two styrofoam plates to the window. "Do you want gravy, hon?" she asked Tara. "No." "What about you, Darlin'?" she asked, looking up at Severus, who wondered why this stranger was calling him "darlin'." "No!" he exclaimed, seeing the thick glop in the ladle which she had positioned over his plate.

"Thanks!" Tara said, as they went to sit down at a table. "They put gravy on everything here. It is so gross! Hey Mud Turtle!" she said, flagging down a photographer. He came over to them, and set his plate down. "See what I mean?" she commented to Severus, pointing to her friend's gravy smothered biscuits. "You going off about gravy again?" her friend asked. He was wearing a hat that had Tara's company logo on it, and had wire rimmed glasses and a mustache. "Yep. Bill, this is my fiance, Severus," she said, introducing them. They shook hands. "I've heard an awful lot about you," Bill said.

"Mud turtle?" Severus asked Tara. Bill laughed. "It's from an old W.C. Fields movie. Last year when I was here, we watched it about 3 times at Bill's house. It was so funny, I had to order myself a copy," Tara explained. "Where are you going to shoot?" Bill asked Tara. "The usual spot; front straightaway. Gonna use my seats this time. Will you be out in Turn 1?" Bill nodded. He was a photographer for Associated Press. They chatted and had their breakfast, then parted.

"Hey Sev, we have to go to the credential office. I almost forgot."

"How come?"

"Just come with me. It's good for you to walk a lot. Did you put on the sunscreen?"

"Yes."

"Good, come on," she said grabbing his hand. They had to stand in quite a line, and while they were in line, Tara was greeted and hugged by at least 6 different men from various teams. "Is there anyone who doesn't know you?" Severus asked quietly. "Well, I've been doing that website for a while. It's kind of funny..." she said. "Yes, you are like some kind of...celebrity." They finally got to the counter. "Hey Tim, how's it going?" "Great, Tara. What's up?" We're here for his credential; he's my assistant I told you about," she said to the round, dark haired man behind the counter. She gave him her company name again, which he already had and pulled out a card, a plastic holder, and a pin, then some papers for Severus to sign. "ID please?" he asked. Severus nudged Tara. What ID? "Don't worry, I saw you almost leave it at home, so I grabbed it," she said, taking out what looked like a regular California Driver's license with Severus' details on it, and her mother's address. Severus was impressed. He signed the paperwork and was given a credential, which he hung around his neck. "Come on, we gotta go fast now!" she said, and grabbed his hand again, breaking into a run.

"These shoes are good for running in," he commented, feeling a bounce in his steps.

"They are running shoes, that's why," she said. They hurried back to the infield, and went into the pits. Severus was fascinated by what he saw there. Brightly painted cars with sponsorship decals were lined up, and they were all so tiny. "How do they get in those tiny things?" he asked her. "Well see that guy over there?" she said, pointing to a small man. Severus nodded. "That's one of the drivers. They have to stay real small and thin. That one has no butt, I don't know how he stands..." she whispered. Severus laughed. The man with no butt spotted Tara, and came to greet her, and his pit crew surrounded her, hugging her. Severus felt like an outsider, but then again, this was her world.

Soon, the ceremonies started and balloons were released into the air. It was almost race time. Tara and Severus broke away and went up to their seats in Tower Terrace, right on the front straightaway. "Here," she said, handing him some earplugs. "How do I do this?" he asked. She showed him how, then put her scanner headphones on her head. She always rented one of these so she could listen to the teams and broadcast during the race.

Mary Hulman George made the official "Gentlemen, start your engines!" and the race was on. The whole field roared by on two warmup laps, and then as the pace car exited and the field accelerated, Severus saw tears running down Tara's face. He touched her cheek and she yelled "It's okay, I always do that!"

Severus had to admit, it was exciting. He didn't think watching muggle vehicles go around in circles for 500 miles would be; but the passing action on the track was exhillerating. There were a few crashes, but no serious injuries. Afterwards, it started to rain.

"It always does that. Right when the race ends, the rain comes down!" Tara said, as they hurried for shelter. Indiana rain was like a firehose, and they were both soaking wet by the time they got to the Media Center. Severus took Tara's hand and they ducked around a corner, and he took out his wand, and made them both instantly dry. "What the--" both of them looked up to see Bill, looking at them, shocked. He had a beer in his hand and looked at it, then back at them. "Did I just see what I think I did?"

"Um--uh, what?" Tara stammered.

"You guys looked like drowned rats a second ago--and what is that in your hand--"

Severus raised his wand and pointed it at Bill. "Obliviate." He pocked his wand and Bill dropped his beer, then shook his head in bewilderment.

"Alcohol abuse!" Tara remarked.

"Whoa what happened? I'm all dizzy," he said rubbing his face with his hands. He picked up his beer which had landed upright, just a bit had splashed out onto the floor. "Hey--what did you think of the race?" Tara looked up at Severus, startled, and he muttered, "Memory charm." Tara nodded in acknowledgement. "It was great," she told Bill. "I think Sev enjoyed it too..."

"Surprisingly, yes. I didn't think I would appreciate muggle cars going around--"

"Muggle?" Bill asked.

"It's one of those British terms. It means - fast," Tara said quickly. The three stayed in the media center until the rain stopped, then went out to the parking area where Bill's car was. "No sense taking off until the traffic has cleared away," Bill told them, handing Tara a beer. He handed one to Sev as well. He looked at the can and at Tara and she nodded to him. "It's a tradition," she told him.

"You're not from around here are you?" Bill teased.

"No, you have no idea..."

They stayed a few hours, until the yellow-shirted parking lot patrol told them they needed to get going. "Another tradition. Stay until the yellow shirts toss us out," Tara commented. "You guys want to come by my house and barbecue?" Bill asked. Tara looked at Sev who smiled. "Sure. We'll stop off and get some stuff to cook..." she started. "No, I've got plenty of chicken and stuff at the house."

They followed him to his home in Mooresville, which was about 10 miles from the Speedway. "That was a close one in the media center," Tara remarked. "Good thing -- that memory charm." Severus nodded in agreement. "Sometimes a necessary thing." They went to Bill's spacious home and enjoyed a nice barbecue and then had to return to the wizard family's home in Indianapolis to make their return to Hogwart's. Severus had managed to get 2 days off from his classes, but that's as much as he could afford that late in the term.

They arrived back at Hogwarts, exhausted. Relieved to be back home, they went to Severus's room and he stripped off his t-shirt. Tara stifled a laugh. "What?" he asked. He was very badly sunburned. Tara could see a perfect outline of his shirt against his red throat and red arms. "Shit, you are fried!" she exclaimed. He went to look in a mirror and frowned. "Well this has never happened before," he told her. She went over to him and could feel the heat coming off of his skin.

"Okay, you must have a potion for this sort of thing." He nodded and said he would have to make some. "There is a book in the library with it. I don't have the recipe up here," he said.

"I can go get it. You need to get a cold shower to cool all of that off. You are going to have a rough night, I'm afraid," she said. She ran downstairs to the library to search. She found her young assistant, Hermione.

"Hi Miss Hall, back from your event?"

"Yep. I bet you can help me with what I'm trying to find...Professor Snape needs a book with a saav potion in it for sunburn."

"Sunburn?" Hermione asked, with a quizzical look.

"Yes. It seems the sunscreen I gave him didn't work too well. Your potions master resembles a lobster. Partially my fault; he wore muggle clothing. I don't think he's ever worn a t shirt before--I doubt his arms had ever seen the light of day--" she started, then stopped because Hermione was stifling a laugh. "Snape - sunburned? In a t-shirt?"

"Yes...so he is rather uncomfortable at the moment."

"I'll bet. Let's see...that should be over in this section..." she said, leading Tara over to a section which dealt strictly with potions. She helped her find what she needed in 3 different books.

"What are you reading there?" Tara asked.

"Oh, just reading about the rise and fall of He Who Shall Not Be Named."

"About who?"

"You don't know?" she asked in amazement. Tara shook her head. "You really should read up on this. It's important stuff and there were problems last year. Let's see..." she said, going to the history shelf. She found a thick book called "The Deatheaters" and handed it to Tara. "This is a really good one. I read it in my first year here. Helped clear up a lot of questions I had."

"Thanks. I'll have to read it then," she said, taking it.

She thanked Hermione for her help and dropped off The Deatheaters in her room, then went back up to see Severus. He was on his bed, wearing his robes, looking miserable.

"Feels like I'm being scratched alive," he said painfully.

"You ought to wear something else then. It's going to hurt for a while--you'd probably be better off wearing...nothing..." she started, and he raised an eyebrow at her. "Never mind," she said quickly. "I found 3 books; not sure which one is right," she said, handing him the three books on potions. He flipped through and found what he needed. "Guess I'd better get down to the dungeon," he said, moving stiffly.

"Yes, I think I'm going to go to bed. I'm exhausted," she said.

They said goodnight and she went back to her room, and picked up the book she had gotten from the library. She was exhausted, but what she read woke her up. She read about Voldemort, and his followers, and all of the murders he and his followers, the Deatheaters, committed. He was the Charles Manson of the wizard world. Then she read about how their own student, Harry Potter, had survived and weakened, almost killing Voldemort, but he had recently returned to some kind of power. It a fascinating read.

She then got to the section talking about the Deatheaters and how they were summoned, through something called The Dark Mark. When Tara flipped over the next page, she gasped. There was a drawing of the exact same tattoo which Severus had on his left forearm. It was explained that all of the Deatheaters had this, and when Voldemort summoned them, it would burn and grow even darker.

Tara slammed the book shut, terrified. I was young, he had said. What did it mean? Tara buried her face in her hands....and stayed awake for a very long time.