Clap your hands and praise out loud
Mrs. J.K. Rowling who wrote about
Harry Potter and his crowd
And owns the lot, please don't sue or shout
Andolyn
Teachers
"Tell you about myself- Only if you promise not to fall asleep."
"That boring a life?"
Ari raised her brow at the once again reclining man beside her. She sighed and decided that his rudeness was habit to him. A bad habit, but nothing personal towards her. Merely a way of talking- doing things. Well, she hoped she was right and decided he would -not- get to her with his attitude.
"Well, I'm thirty-three years old. I teach English to people who come from abroad and do not or hardly speak the language."
The comment perked some interest.
"You are a teacher?"
Ari nodded and Snape frowned. It was almost as if she saw his mind at work, filing the information she gave for future use.
"And I like to teach, I really do. It's quite satisfying."
Snape harrumphed at that comment.
"You don't agree?"
"Depends on the level of intelligence of the students. Or better put, their usual lack thereof."
"O hogwash. I like it when I can make a struggling student succeed. By the way, you say that as if you have some experience with students."
"I'm the Potions Master at Hogwarts."
"Ah."
"What 'ah'?"
"Hence the interest in my iodine, as Harry noticed. Which you nicked, by the way."
Another careful smile that quickly evaporated.
"So what does a 'Potions Master' do?"
Snape turned his head towards her and sounded somewhat exasperated.
"Teach 'potions'?"
"Alright, alright, I deserved that one. But what does that mean? Are you like a chemistry teacher or something?"
"Hardly. Chemistry is a crude so called 'science', dealing with mere matter. While I, on the other hand, instruct my students in a precise and methodical form of art."
"And proud of it."
"Naturally. It's- quite an amazing thing, what some potions can do. For instance, I know a few that could have healed Potter's feet quite painlessly and completely."
"How practical." Came Ari's dry comment. "But you don't carry them around, do you."
"Many are most volatile- besides, the bottles would not fit in your kind of yellow boxes."
Blackness, orange streetlight finding is way into the small vehicle. Snape's features stood out sharply one moment. Darkness again. In the distance the yellow light of another road winding it's way westwards. The hypnotic pattern broken by yet another dark form they passed. A large red Mercedes, grey in the orange light, it's occupant holding a phone to his ear, hunched over his wheel and peering ahead. He paid the little blue car no notice.
"I like to paint. It's a rather serious hobby- I hope to become a professional artist one day. You've got any siblings?"
"I beg your pardon?"
The two quick changes in subject took the wizard a bit by surprise.
"Brothers, sisters?"
"Not that I know of."
"Now that -is- an interesting answer."
"You find your relatives interesting?"
"I like my sister's children. I find it's a lot more fun to be somebody's aunt than somebody's mother. Spoiling those kids a bit is fun. Changing diapers is not. And you?"
Another grunt.
"Do you have any children?"
"Spare me, no."
In the light of the next orange beam, Ari studied Snape's hands. Magical long fingered hands.. No jewellery.
A muffled sound, almost like someone's stifled laughter, was heard from the back.
Ari bowed a little conspiratorially towards Snape, who bent his head toward her.
"You know, I think some-one just woke up." And damn the kid for it!
"I think that this some-one better refer himself from further unarticulated comment!"
With that said, Snape twisted in his seat and peered through the dark at the still form on the backseat.
"You should have slept a little longer with that spell over you."
It sounded almost like a reprimand.
Black. Streetlamp and an orange glow. Darkness again. And again the flash of the electric light.
Harry peered out of the covers and sat up, looking at the wizard rather sheepishly and a bit embarrassed. Ari too had turned towards him.
"You know, boys, I think it's time for a pit stop. I think we could do with stretching our legs for a bit. I know I could. And I am hungry."
Ari felt more than saw Snape flinch at the 'boys' comment. He shook his head. "We would do better to press on. We can eat later."
Harry looked helpless at Ari, while Snape turned again.
"And I need to go to the bathroom." She said to Harry, who smiled somewhat relieved at her.
Snape gave her a disapproving look as she settled in her seat again.
"I told you I do not have much of your money on me!"
Smiling sweetly like a Barbie-doll, Ari faced him off.
"Oh my dear man, you are so wonderfully old-fashioned." Hardening both her posture and voice she continued: "I'll pay!"
Snape glanced at her, somewhat taken aback, Harry chuckled behind his hand and Ari scanned the road signs for a gas station or someplace to eat.
"Sir, could we not simply have taken The Knight Bus?"
"Out of commission."
"But how?"
Throwing his head back, Snape answered.
"I took the bus to get to London. I made it stop not too near your house. And you were right about being watched- The moment I got off was the moment the Dementors jumped me. Fortunately I was the only passenger."
"And the driver- the conductor?"
With a hint of sadness in his voice, Snape replied softly.
"Believe me, you do not wish to know."
The three went silent for a while, until suddenly Ari perked up.
"Snape- in a few minutes we'll come up to a gas station that is open. We will have to leave the road"
"How can you tell?"
"I'm clairvoyant."
"No really!"
"See those signs, beside the road."
"Ah, yes. Well. They had to be there for some reason."
"We're pretty clever with things like that, us Muggles."
"And proud of it."
"Naturally. It's really amazing, you know. You read our papers and seemingly know something about the wrongs of my so-called-kind, but you know nothing about real life and simple things like iodine or road signs."
Snape shrugged. "In you papers, especially the more sensational ones, one often finds remarks referring to the magical community. When your so called dreamers or lunatics spot yet another Yeti, -we- know who has been careless again. We need to keep out an eye on the Muggles and what they learn about us and that kind of pulp states it plainly. But they are not exactly a detailed how-to guide on Muggle living"
"You never took Muggle studies, Sir?"
Icily, as if the mere thought brought a nasty taste in his mouth, Snape answered with a soft and clear 'no'.
'Potions and Muggle studies?' Ari thought, shrugged and decided to let Harry's curriculum rest for the moment.
"Well, you are really into our high-brow literature then."
"I do like Shakespeare."
"Which play do you like best, Macbeth?" asked Ari.
"Anthony and Cleopatra" deadpanned Harry. "There is a snake in that one."
"My, Mr. Potter, you surprise me with your literary tastes. I thought you more of a cartoon type personality."
Ari did not have to turn round to understand the boys embarrassment after that remark.
"And how, -Severus-, did you get so acquainted with that particular type of 'literature' to be so knowledgeable about it?"
Snape gave Ari a -very- dirty look after that remark. But she had no idea if she'd deserved his resentment for the quip or the distinct use of his first name. He took out his wand and waved it over the dashboard again.
"I do believe we have to leave the road here. Besides," he said looking rather pointedly at Ari, "it's 'Taming of the Shrew'."
Snape parked the car calmly and perfectly in a vacant space near the station. The three of them made their way to the rather filthy bathrooms- the men's room probably worse than the lady's for the expression of utter disgust on Snape's face. Harry however seemed quite relieved, walking awkwardly and carefully on his bare feet. Back to the car. Ari stopped Snape.
"I'm going to the store in the front for something to eat. Anything you like, besides chocolate?"
"No- some tea perhaps, if they have it."
"Coffee?"
"I'd like to keep my insides intact, thank you."
"Are they?"
"Woman- stop -mothering-!"
"My name is Ariadne. My friends call me Ari."
Another blank stare.
"Call me miss Philpot for all I care, but stop the -woman- thing, alright! You make me feel like a different species!"
Snape shrugged and went back to his seat.
"Men!" Ari fumed under her breath and knocked on Harry's window. He turned it down.
"Would you like something, Harry."
The boy frowned and squinted his eyes.
"You'd better hurry." His voice sounded painful, strained. It made Snape turn towards him.
"Why, what's wrong.?"
"My scar hurts."
*******
You are right, Llarian. Harry owling Snape does not make sense. So he did not, he owled Hogwarts. I'll make sure to edit this one to make it more clear and logical. Thank you for your support, and I'll try to get rid of the spelling errors. I'm Dutch, so I am bound to make more. Sorry about that.
Thanks Kitty, Emma (are you authors too?), Sophie W. (you made Snape impersonate a TeleTubbie?!?! The horror!!! Funny as heck, though), Favila ( I saw some of those films in the cinema with my gran- wonderful memories) Lataradk (thumbs up for a sexy Snape Yay!), Clio (Fortuna's Bitter smile, good and sad, so very, very sad), Em, Edesina and Zenobia.
Helen, thanks for the 'editorial', I've already used your remarks. (Dat muggeziften heb ik nou net nodig!)
Mrs. J.K. Rowling who wrote about
Harry Potter and his crowd
And owns the lot, please don't sue or shout
Andolyn
Teachers
"Tell you about myself- Only if you promise not to fall asleep."
"That boring a life?"
Ari raised her brow at the once again reclining man beside her. She sighed and decided that his rudeness was habit to him. A bad habit, but nothing personal towards her. Merely a way of talking- doing things. Well, she hoped she was right and decided he would -not- get to her with his attitude.
"Well, I'm thirty-three years old. I teach English to people who come from abroad and do not or hardly speak the language."
The comment perked some interest.
"You are a teacher?"
Ari nodded and Snape frowned. It was almost as if she saw his mind at work, filing the information she gave for future use.
"And I like to teach, I really do. It's quite satisfying."
Snape harrumphed at that comment.
"You don't agree?"
"Depends on the level of intelligence of the students. Or better put, their usual lack thereof."
"O hogwash. I like it when I can make a struggling student succeed. By the way, you say that as if you have some experience with students."
"I'm the Potions Master at Hogwarts."
"Ah."
"What 'ah'?"
"Hence the interest in my iodine, as Harry noticed. Which you nicked, by the way."
Another careful smile that quickly evaporated.
"So what does a 'Potions Master' do?"
Snape turned his head towards her and sounded somewhat exasperated.
"Teach 'potions'?"
"Alright, alright, I deserved that one. But what does that mean? Are you like a chemistry teacher or something?"
"Hardly. Chemistry is a crude so called 'science', dealing with mere matter. While I, on the other hand, instruct my students in a precise and methodical form of art."
"And proud of it."
"Naturally. It's- quite an amazing thing, what some potions can do. For instance, I know a few that could have healed Potter's feet quite painlessly and completely."
"How practical." Came Ari's dry comment. "But you don't carry them around, do you."
"Many are most volatile- besides, the bottles would not fit in your kind of yellow boxes."
Blackness, orange streetlight finding is way into the small vehicle. Snape's features stood out sharply one moment. Darkness again. In the distance the yellow light of another road winding it's way westwards. The hypnotic pattern broken by yet another dark form they passed. A large red Mercedes, grey in the orange light, it's occupant holding a phone to his ear, hunched over his wheel and peering ahead. He paid the little blue car no notice.
"I like to paint. It's a rather serious hobby- I hope to become a professional artist one day. You've got any siblings?"
"I beg your pardon?"
The two quick changes in subject took the wizard a bit by surprise.
"Brothers, sisters?"
"Not that I know of."
"Now that -is- an interesting answer."
"You find your relatives interesting?"
"I like my sister's children. I find it's a lot more fun to be somebody's aunt than somebody's mother. Spoiling those kids a bit is fun. Changing diapers is not. And you?"
Another grunt.
"Do you have any children?"
"Spare me, no."
In the light of the next orange beam, Ari studied Snape's hands. Magical long fingered hands.. No jewellery.
A muffled sound, almost like someone's stifled laughter, was heard from the back.
Ari bowed a little conspiratorially towards Snape, who bent his head toward her.
"You know, I think some-one just woke up." And damn the kid for it!
"I think that this some-one better refer himself from further unarticulated comment!"
With that said, Snape twisted in his seat and peered through the dark at the still form on the backseat.
"You should have slept a little longer with that spell over you."
It sounded almost like a reprimand.
Black. Streetlamp and an orange glow. Darkness again. And again the flash of the electric light.
Harry peered out of the covers and sat up, looking at the wizard rather sheepishly and a bit embarrassed. Ari too had turned towards him.
"You know, boys, I think it's time for a pit stop. I think we could do with stretching our legs for a bit. I know I could. And I am hungry."
Ari felt more than saw Snape flinch at the 'boys' comment. He shook his head. "We would do better to press on. We can eat later."
Harry looked helpless at Ari, while Snape turned again.
"And I need to go to the bathroom." She said to Harry, who smiled somewhat relieved at her.
Snape gave her a disapproving look as she settled in her seat again.
"I told you I do not have much of your money on me!"
Smiling sweetly like a Barbie-doll, Ari faced him off.
"Oh my dear man, you are so wonderfully old-fashioned." Hardening both her posture and voice she continued: "I'll pay!"
Snape glanced at her, somewhat taken aback, Harry chuckled behind his hand and Ari scanned the road signs for a gas station or someplace to eat.
"Sir, could we not simply have taken The Knight Bus?"
"Out of commission."
"But how?"
Throwing his head back, Snape answered.
"I took the bus to get to London. I made it stop not too near your house. And you were right about being watched- The moment I got off was the moment the Dementors jumped me. Fortunately I was the only passenger."
"And the driver- the conductor?"
With a hint of sadness in his voice, Snape replied softly.
"Believe me, you do not wish to know."
The three went silent for a while, until suddenly Ari perked up.
"Snape- in a few minutes we'll come up to a gas station that is open. We will have to leave the road"
"How can you tell?"
"I'm clairvoyant."
"No really!"
"See those signs, beside the road."
"Ah, yes. Well. They had to be there for some reason."
"We're pretty clever with things like that, us Muggles."
"And proud of it."
"Naturally. It's really amazing, you know. You read our papers and seemingly know something about the wrongs of my so-called-kind, but you know nothing about real life and simple things like iodine or road signs."
Snape shrugged. "In you papers, especially the more sensational ones, one often finds remarks referring to the magical community. When your so called dreamers or lunatics spot yet another Yeti, -we- know who has been careless again. We need to keep out an eye on the Muggles and what they learn about us and that kind of pulp states it plainly. But they are not exactly a detailed how-to guide on Muggle living"
"You never took Muggle studies, Sir?"
Icily, as if the mere thought brought a nasty taste in his mouth, Snape answered with a soft and clear 'no'.
'Potions and Muggle studies?' Ari thought, shrugged and decided to let Harry's curriculum rest for the moment.
"Well, you are really into our high-brow literature then."
"I do like Shakespeare."
"Which play do you like best, Macbeth?" asked Ari.
"Anthony and Cleopatra" deadpanned Harry. "There is a snake in that one."
"My, Mr. Potter, you surprise me with your literary tastes. I thought you more of a cartoon type personality."
Ari did not have to turn round to understand the boys embarrassment after that remark.
"And how, -Severus-, did you get so acquainted with that particular type of 'literature' to be so knowledgeable about it?"
Snape gave Ari a -very- dirty look after that remark. But she had no idea if she'd deserved his resentment for the quip or the distinct use of his first name. He took out his wand and waved it over the dashboard again.
"I do believe we have to leave the road here. Besides," he said looking rather pointedly at Ari, "it's 'Taming of the Shrew'."
Snape parked the car calmly and perfectly in a vacant space near the station. The three of them made their way to the rather filthy bathrooms- the men's room probably worse than the lady's for the expression of utter disgust on Snape's face. Harry however seemed quite relieved, walking awkwardly and carefully on his bare feet. Back to the car. Ari stopped Snape.
"I'm going to the store in the front for something to eat. Anything you like, besides chocolate?"
"No- some tea perhaps, if they have it."
"Coffee?"
"I'd like to keep my insides intact, thank you."
"Are they?"
"Woman- stop -mothering-!"
"My name is Ariadne. My friends call me Ari."
Another blank stare.
"Call me miss Philpot for all I care, but stop the -woman- thing, alright! You make me feel like a different species!"
Snape shrugged and went back to his seat.
"Men!" Ari fumed under her breath and knocked on Harry's window. He turned it down.
"Would you like something, Harry."
The boy frowned and squinted his eyes.
"You'd better hurry." His voice sounded painful, strained. It made Snape turn towards him.
"Why, what's wrong.?"
"My scar hurts."
*******
You are right, Llarian. Harry owling Snape does not make sense. So he did not, he owled Hogwarts. I'll make sure to edit this one to make it more clear and logical. Thank you for your support, and I'll try to get rid of the spelling errors. I'm Dutch, so I am bound to make more. Sorry about that.
Thanks Kitty, Emma (are you authors too?), Sophie W. (you made Snape impersonate a TeleTubbie?!?! The horror!!! Funny as heck, though), Favila ( I saw some of those films in the cinema with my gran- wonderful memories) Lataradk (thumbs up for a sexy Snape Yay!), Clio (Fortuna's Bitter smile, good and sad, so very, very sad), Em, Edesina and Zenobia.
Helen, thanks for the 'editorial', I've already used your remarks. (Dat muggeziften heb ik nou net nodig!)