Don't own no nothing
Did not create the hit
J.K. Rowling does
Because she did
Andolyn
Hogwart
Snape's words sunk in after about twenty minutes of fuming. His advise, although coarsely given, had to be taken seriously by Ari and was, she hated to admit, valid.
Another world. She was entering another world and she did not know the rules. Ari would be dependent on both Harry and Snape- a boy in shock and a man with a mean streak. To coin a phrase, oh, joy.
Out in the real world, it had been her behind the wheel, in control, Harry an almost passive passenger and Snape counting on her. Well- he -owed- her. And before they entered that school of theirs, she had to go through the humiliating act of reminding him.
The dusty mud-track was slowly winding through a huge, dark forest. It was an old forest, foreboding, with tree trunks twisting as if they had turned grim wooden faces towards the road. The branches hung low over the track, it was not much used it seemed and certainly not by motor vehicles. In the old mud Ari could read vague traces of coach wheels. In spite of the warm weather some patches where still moist and Ari even had to watch out that the car would not become stuck.
They came to an ancient pair of wrought-iron gates, flanked by stone columns topped with winged boars. The gates seemed to open of their own volition and stood there, welcoming the weary.
But Ari did not cross, she stopped.
Furious Snape turned on her, his face a sharp mask of exhaustion and anger, his eyes sparkling dangerously. This was not a moment to cross him- luckily that was not on Ari's mind.
"Now -what-!" he hissed in that smooth voice of his. If velvet could speak, it would probably sound like him*.
Ari sighed heavily. "Please- don't make this any more difficult- as I'm sure you would -like- to! I owe you an apology."
Snape merely raised his brow, but the gesture spoke volumes. Harry in the back shivered and was busy wrapping his blanket around his too frail looking body. That boy needed care- and quickly.
"You have tried, several times actually, to warn me about your people. That to some I will be less than welcome, even after what I did for the both of you."
'And don't you -dare- forget!' she thought, still angry.
"I will be needing your help in there, as much or perhaps even more than you two needed me along the road. This whole business seems to have made me a refugee- and I hate the prospect of becoming dependent on either of you- but until I -do- understand what is going on, I am forced to rely on you. I am sorry for blowing my whistle back there, but-"
Harry cut her off with an assuring hand on her shoulder. "I know how you feel. Being raised by Muggles did not help me in my first year here, and there is still a -lot- I do not know. I'll help you."
The boy smiled, his eyes regaining some of their brilliance. Ari hoped she would be distraction enough for him to be of real help in overcoming the last two days.
With a sneer on his face Snape regarded the two.
"Well, with all that settled…"
He made a gesture toward the gates, while de statues of the winged bores scraped their hoofs impatiently and looked down on the car with annoyance.
Ari looked up at the statues. Moving statues. And her passengers not even blinking.
Suddenly Ari realised she was truly entering Oz and she'd better be prepared for -anything-.
A bit uncomfortable she also realised Snape had neither accepted nor dismissed her apology. Perhaps that was as close as an acceptance as she could get, for now. But the arrogant bastard had -liked- to see her squirm, of that she was sure. Whether or not he would help her remained to be seen.
Ari crossed the gate. And while she did, an impish smile crossed her face. She could -still- take the man down a peg or two!
"By the way, Sev, I've been really dying to ask you something for a while now."
"Sev?" the man said acidly. "Professor Snape will do around here, -Miss- Philpot."
Ari shrugged. "So what's with the bow-tie?"
"You mean this constricting thing your men wear around their necks?"
"On festive occasions and with shirts-"
"What is wrong with my shirt?"
"Your turtle-neck is quite spiffy, the tie makes you somewhat- well let's say eccentric?"
"These garments -don't- go together?"
Was there a hint of vanity in the man's voice? Of indignation surely.
"No." was Ari's reply, short and to the point.
With an angry gesture, Snape pulled the thing of his neck.
"Flitwick." The man -hissed- again, quite annoyed. No sense of humour, Ari noted. Not about himself. While Snape stared into the woods with a look on his face that would have petrified Medusa, Harry made a thumbs-up signal behind his back and grinned. Poor Snape- she began to understand his dislike of the student body if he was so vulnerable to their quips. With his black demeanour he'd make an ideal target, if not a dangerous one.
Harry frowned. "I thought most teachers went home for the summer."
Snape shrugged and simply stated. "We came back."
"Are things that serious, Sir?"
This time the answer was given with a blank face and grim.
"For some."
Ari noted that Harry would not find his -own- situation serious enough to merit the help of more people. On the contrary- he seemed embarrassed. Not exactly a boy thinking too highly of himself. Snape was wrong about him. Why?
They had cleared the forest and before them lay a long, sloping drive, winding upward to the most incredible, gigantic fairytale castle Ari had ever seen.
Up the slope behind a moat, crowning a huge cliff over a crystal lake at their right, stood ancient Hogwarts. Bedazzling, impressive with too many turrets and towers to be able to count, fierce looking battlements, but for a number of doves nesting in between them. Grey stone, at some places covered with rust coloured mosses and vines, grey slate rooftops, glittering almost blue in the still powerful sunlight. Arches spanning spaces between towers, the odd sight of owls flying towards the place in bright daylight.
Ari gaped. She knew it and she did not mind. This was a castle of dreams, the place every girl wished to be princes in, every boy wished to master. Although Ari had always been more inclined to play along with her childhood version of Robin Hood than pine away in a tower with flowing gowns and a crown. She'd even taken up archery at one point.
The castle loomed over them and Ari felt very small besides it. She parked the car and saw the portcullis being pulled up, the wide portal open and something of the main hall behind those large heavy oak doors strengthened with glimmering ironwork.
Out of the cavernous opening, over the drawbridge, bellowing like mad and wagging his tail furiously, ran the biggest, darkest, most un-pedigreed hound Ari had ever laid eyes upon. Even more astonishing than the beast was the gigantic man, dressed in an enormous cloak set of with a bizarre collection of multicoloured furs, trotting after the beast. He was at least twice the size of any normal man, a worried look on his rugged face- for what Ari could see at least behind a very wild black beard.
The combined reaction to their welcome from Ari's passengers, was at least to say, interesting. Both Harry and Snape uttered the words "He's back!". But while Harry screamed them joyfully, jumping out of the car and dashing towards the animal as if meeting a long lost friend, Snape muttered the words with clenched teeth, under his breath and accompanied with some words in the same guttural sounding language he had used before to swear in.
Stiffly he left the car, leaning on the door a moment before he collected himself and slammed it shut.
Ari sighed, took the car keys in an automated gesture and left as well. She watched as the dog jumped Harry with his paws on the boy's shoulders as if he were a man. Ari blinked and the next moment the dog -was- a man. Dressed in fine black and silvergrey robes with the shine of being brand new all over them, long black hair tied in a low ponytail and a short cropped beard, pale, but by far not as pale as Snape and rather thin, grinning widely and happily. The boy embraced the man. Then Harry broke down and cried.
"Thank god, finally." Ari murmured to herself. Another creature of magic, and obviously someone Harry cared about. So there was nothing to be afraid off, now was there?
The giant looked helplessly down on the two smaller figures. Harry smiled up at the giant and tried vainly to control himself.
"Is that a werewolf?" asked Ari hesitantly, walking up to Snape.
He shrugged. "Animagus. That," he said while pointing, "is a werewolf." The sour look on Snape's face did not elude Ari. She looked in the direction Snape pointed at and saw another man waiting on the drawbridge. Shabby robes this time. A gentle face encircled by light brown locks, already greying.
"Oh."
Snape walked up to Harry and the other two and Ari followed.
"Been shopping?" said Snape as way of greeting to the smaller of the two men, who was still comforting Harry.
His eyes flashed from Harry to Snape, wandered momentarily over Ari and went back to Snape again.
"What the hell have you been up to!"
Snape narrowed his eyes, but before he could answer Ari, who could -not- appreciate the tone of voice they were greeted by, started ticking off on her fingers.
"Getting the stuffing beat out of him and nearly being killed by at least five Dementors, drafting -me- along the way, saving Harry's life while a few Death Eaters where taking pot-shots at us, avoiding a second attack with some guile and a lot of luck and after that, driving almost a night and a day to get down here as quickly as possible. Did I forget anything?"
The man blinked at her, Snape chuckled, mouthed a silent no and shook his head. Harry pushed himself away a little, holding on to the comforting figure, wiping the tears from behind his glasses.
"I knew ye weren't all bad!" The giant bellowed happily, taking Snape in a bear hug before the wizard could protest. His feet were even dangling a bit.
"PUT ME DOWN YOU OAf!" Snape's muffled scream came from somewhere out of the tight embrace, smothering him.
The giant simply opened his arms and Snape had to do some pretty fancy footwork in order to keep his balance and not fall on his behind. He was fuming.
The giant ignored Snape's temper and turned to Ari, made a little bow and introduced himself.
"Rubeus Hagrid, ma'm. Professor teaching the little 'uns 'bout magical creatures and gamekeeper." His kind little black eyes shone with pride, making this introduction. Ari could not help but smile at him.
"My name is Ariadne Philpot, and quite frankly, we are all very tired and weary. And hungry." She looked pointedly at the dark man, left hand on Harry's small shoulder. With the tip of his pyjama shirt Harry tried to clean his glasses fiercely, clearly embarrassed by his emotional outburst. The dark man nodded and held out his right hand to Ari. She took it and she received a firm, somewhat lingering handshake.
"Sirius Black. I am Harry's godfather and you are right. We best got inside."
Snape made a gesture with his head that flicked the hair out of his face and stated haughtily: "The boy walked through glass. I did some patch-up work on him, but he should be in the hospital ward. Has Madam Pomfrey returned yet?"
"One o' the first." Hagrid sighed, picking up Harry as if he weighed nothing and smiling at the fifteen-year-old as if he were an innocent babe.
"He!" protested the boy. "Put me down- I can walk!"
But Hagrid did not listen and carried him of.
"This way please," beaconed the animagus at Ari. Snape strode past the both of them with long strides that made him seem to glide more than walk. Within seconds and without looking back, he had disappeared inside the castle. So much for relying on -him- for support.
They came up to the werewolf, who stared almost fondly at Snape's back.
"You should see him all dressed up, going around on his professorly business ."
The darker man spoke in nearly the same cadence as the shabby man, who was obviously a good friend.
"Long, black, swishing robes."
"Impressively billowing cape."
"He's a damn black Manta when he passes through Hogwarts."
Ari grinned at the both of them.
"You two really like him, don't you."
The darker man narrowed his eyes.
"Just let's say, we go a long way back."
The other one just smiled and introduced himself.
"I am Remus J. Lupin. Drafted you say?" The werewolf had a very charming smile.
"It is quite a story."
The three of them entered the main hall simultaneously.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Description of the gates comes straight out of 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'
*If velvet could speak, it would sound like Rickman
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sandy Bauers
So I love that actor, can you blame me?
Twelve, no, TWELVE reactions to one chapter. Well eleven actually, but still.
Wow. (looks silly with really big grin at screen)
Guess you like the story, eh?
Rosmerta, thank you very much for your compliment on my English. I love your "Hogwarts Choo-Choo' and your style on the story of Rose Potter.
Hi Sophie W. Quick enough (big grin)? Unfortunately I will have very little time in the next few days to write, since reality -is- intruding…
Ladyeclectic, well, what can I say- Severus -is- cute in his dark, brooding big nosed way. And while portrayed by Mr. Alan Rickman- swoon…. What lies beneath- only had time to read the prologue, but it is -very- interesting. (sorry don't know much about the other fandoms you write about. My loss, I wager.)
Strenga Brava, I really -do- love the goose in 'I never forget a face'. You paint a lovely picture of the magical community in Canada, wonderfully done. Thanks for your comment on my story.
Sayan, thanks for your compliment. And to everybody else who reads this, go and read Sayans first chapter on 'Time Will Tell'. It reads like the beginning of a -very- good story.
Neri the Raven, why thanks! Or better put, Danke!
Damiana, I have been reading your Màrrach up to chapter 13 now. You really got a mean nest of Malfoys there! Great story!
Thanks Irene (I'll be throwing in more spells and their effects along the way), sfz, slytherin girl and Llarian.
A VERY HAPPY 2002 FOR YOU ALL!!
Did not create the hit
J.K. Rowling does
Because she did
Andolyn
Hogwart
Snape's words sunk in after about twenty minutes of fuming. His advise, although coarsely given, had to be taken seriously by Ari and was, she hated to admit, valid.
Another world. She was entering another world and she did not know the rules. Ari would be dependent on both Harry and Snape- a boy in shock and a man with a mean streak. To coin a phrase, oh, joy.
Out in the real world, it had been her behind the wheel, in control, Harry an almost passive passenger and Snape counting on her. Well- he -owed- her. And before they entered that school of theirs, she had to go through the humiliating act of reminding him.
The dusty mud-track was slowly winding through a huge, dark forest. It was an old forest, foreboding, with tree trunks twisting as if they had turned grim wooden faces towards the road. The branches hung low over the track, it was not much used it seemed and certainly not by motor vehicles. In the old mud Ari could read vague traces of coach wheels. In spite of the warm weather some patches where still moist and Ari even had to watch out that the car would not become stuck.
They came to an ancient pair of wrought-iron gates, flanked by stone columns topped with winged boars. The gates seemed to open of their own volition and stood there, welcoming the weary.
But Ari did not cross, she stopped.
Furious Snape turned on her, his face a sharp mask of exhaustion and anger, his eyes sparkling dangerously. This was not a moment to cross him- luckily that was not on Ari's mind.
"Now -what-!" he hissed in that smooth voice of his. If velvet could speak, it would probably sound like him*.
Ari sighed heavily. "Please- don't make this any more difficult- as I'm sure you would -like- to! I owe you an apology."
Snape merely raised his brow, but the gesture spoke volumes. Harry in the back shivered and was busy wrapping his blanket around his too frail looking body. That boy needed care- and quickly.
"You have tried, several times actually, to warn me about your people. That to some I will be less than welcome, even after what I did for the both of you."
'And don't you -dare- forget!' she thought, still angry.
"I will be needing your help in there, as much or perhaps even more than you two needed me along the road. This whole business seems to have made me a refugee- and I hate the prospect of becoming dependent on either of you- but until I -do- understand what is going on, I am forced to rely on you. I am sorry for blowing my whistle back there, but-"
Harry cut her off with an assuring hand on her shoulder. "I know how you feel. Being raised by Muggles did not help me in my first year here, and there is still a -lot- I do not know. I'll help you."
The boy smiled, his eyes regaining some of their brilliance. Ari hoped she would be distraction enough for him to be of real help in overcoming the last two days.
With a sneer on his face Snape regarded the two.
"Well, with all that settled…"
He made a gesture toward the gates, while de statues of the winged bores scraped their hoofs impatiently and looked down on the car with annoyance.
Ari looked up at the statues. Moving statues. And her passengers not even blinking.
Suddenly Ari realised she was truly entering Oz and she'd better be prepared for -anything-.
A bit uncomfortable she also realised Snape had neither accepted nor dismissed her apology. Perhaps that was as close as an acceptance as she could get, for now. But the arrogant bastard had -liked- to see her squirm, of that she was sure. Whether or not he would help her remained to be seen.
Ari crossed the gate. And while she did, an impish smile crossed her face. She could -still- take the man down a peg or two!
"By the way, Sev, I've been really dying to ask you something for a while now."
"Sev?" the man said acidly. "Professor Snape will do around here, -Miss- Philpot."
Ari shrugged. "So what's with the bow-tie?"
"You mean this constricting thing your men wear around their necks?"
"On festive occasions and with shirts-"
"What is wrong with my shirt?"
"Your turtle-neck is quite spiffy, the tie makes you somewhat- well let's say eccentric?"
"These garments -don't- go together?"
Was there a hint of vanity in the man's voice? Of indignation surely.
"No." was Ari's reply, short and to the point.
With an angry gesture, Snape pulled the thing of his neck.
"Flitwick." The man -hissed- again, quite annoyed. No sense of humour, Ari noted. Not about himself. While Snape stared into the woods with a look on his face that would have petrified Medusa, Harry made a thumbs-up signal behind his back and grinned. Poor Snape- she began to understand his dislike of the student body if he was so vulnerable to their quips. With his black demeanour he'd make an ideal target, if not a dangerous one.
Harry frowned. "I thought most teachers went home for the summer."
Snape shrugged and simply stated. "We came back."
"Are things that serious, Sir?"
This time the answer was given with a blank face and grim.
"For some."
Ari noted that Harry would not find his -own- situation serious enough to merit the help of more people. On the contrary- he seemed embarrassed. Not exactly a boy thinking too highly of himself. Snape was wrong about him. Why?
They had cleared the forest and before them lay a long, sloping drive, winding upward to the most incredible, gigantic fairytale castle Ari had ever seen.
Up the slope behind a moat, crowning a huge cliff over a crystal lake at their right, stood ancient Hogwarts. Bedazzling, impressive with too many turrets and towers to be able to count, fierce looking battlements, but for a number of doves nesting in between them. Grey stone, at some places covered with rust coloured mosses and vines, grey slate rooftops, glittering almost blue in the still powerful sunlight. Arches spanning spaces between towers, the odd sight of owls flying towards the place in bright daylight.
Ari gaped. She knew it and she did not mind. This was a castle of dreams, the place every girl wished to be princes in, every boy wished to master. Although Ari had always been more inclined to play along with her childhood version of Robin Hood than pine away in a tower with flowing gowns and a crown. She'd even taken up archery at one point.
The castle loomed over them and Ari felt very small besides it. She parked the car and saw the portcullis being pulled up, the wide portal open and something of the main hall behind those large heavy oak doors strengthened with glimmering ironwork.
Out of the cavernous opening, over the drawbridge, bellowing like mad and wagging his tail furiously, ran the biggest, darkest, most un-pedigreed hound Ari had ever laid eyes upon. Even more astonishing than the beast was the gigantic man, dressed in an enormous cloak set of with a bizarre collection of multicoloured furs, trotting after the beast. He was at least twice the size of any normal man, a worried look on his rugged face- for what Ari could see at least behind a very wild black beard.
The combined reaction to their welcome from Ari's passengers, was at least to say, interesting. Both Harry and Snape uttered the words "He's back!". But while Harry screamed them joyfully, jumping out of the car and dashing towards the animal as if meeting a long lost friend, Snape muttered the words with clenched teeth, under his breath and accompanied with some words in the same guttural sounding language he had used before to swear in.
Stiffly he left the car, leaning on the door a moment before he collected himself and slammed it shut.
Ari sighed, took the car keys in an automated gesture and left as well. She watched as the dog jumped Harry with his paws on the boy's shoulders as if he were a man. Ari blinked and the next moment the dog -was- a man. Dressed in fine black and silvergrey robes with the shine of being brand new all over them, long black hair tied in a low ponytail and a short cropped beard, pale, but by far not as pale as Snape and rather thin, grinning widely and happily. The boy embraced the man. Then Harry broke down and cried.
"Thank god, finally." Ari murmured to herself. Another creature of magic, and obviously someone Harry cared about. So there was nothing to be afraid off, now was there?
The giant looked helplessly down on the two smaller figures. Harry smiled up at the giant and tried vainly to control himself.
"Is that a werewolf?" asked Ari hesitantly, walking up to Snape.
He shrugged. "Animagus. That," he said while pointing, "is a werewolf." The sour look on Snape's face did not elude Ari. She looked in the direction Snape pointed at and saw another man waiting on the drawbridge. Shabby robes this time. A gentle face encircled by light brown locks, already greying.
"Oh."
Snape walked up to Harry and the other two and Ari followed.
"Been shopping?" said Snape as way of greeting to the smaller of the two men, who was still comforting Harry.
His eyes flashed from Harry to Snape, wandered momentarily over Ari and went back to Snape again.
"What the hell have you been up to!"
Snape narrowed his eyes, but before he could answer Ari, who could -not- appreciate the tone of voice they were greeted by, started ticking off on her fingers.
"Getting the stuffing beat out of him and nearly being killed by at least five Dementors, drafting -me- along the way, saving Harry's life while a few Death Eaters where taking pot-shots at us, avoiding a second attack with some guile and a lot of luck and after that, driving almost a night and a day to get down here as quickly as possible. Did I forget anything?"
The man blinked at her, Snape chuckled, mouthed a silent no and shook his head. Harry pushed himself away a little, holding on to the comforting figure, wiping the tears from behind his glasses.
"I knew ye weren't all bad!" The giant bellowed happily, taking Snape in a bear hug before the wizard could protest. His feet were even dangling a bit.
"PUT ME DOWN YOU OAf!" Snape's muffled scream came from somewhere out of the tight embrace, smothering him.
The giant simply opened his arms and Snape had to do some pretty fancy footwork in order to keep his balance and not fall on his behind. He was fuming.
The giant ignored Snape's temper and turned to Ari, made a little bow and introduced himself.
"Rubeus Hagrid, ma'm. Professor teaching the little 'uns 'bout magical creatures and gamekeeper." His kind little black eyes shone with pride, making this introduction. Ari could not help but smile at him.
"My name is Ariadne Philpot, and quite frankly, we are all very tired and weary. And hungry." She looked pointedly at the dark man, left hand on Harry's small shoulder. With the tip of his pyjama shirt Harry tried to clean his glasses fiercely, clearly embarrassed by his emotional outburst. The dark man nodded and held out his right hand to Ari. She took it and she received a firm, somewhat lingering handshake.
"Sirius Black. I am Harry's godfather and you are right. We best got inside."
Snape made a gesture with his head that flicked the hair out of his face and stated haughtily: "The boy walked through glass. I did some patch-up work on him, but he should be in the hospital ward. Has Madam Pomfrey returned yet?"
"One o' the first." Hagrid sighed, picking up Harry as if he weighed nothing and smiling at the fifteen-year-old as if he were an innocent babe.
"He!" protested the boy. "Put me down- I can walk!"
But Hagrid did not listen and carried him of.
"This way please," beaconed the animagus at Ari. Snape strode past the both of them with long strides that made him seem to glide more than walk. Within seconds and without looking back, he had disappeared inside the castle. So much for relying on -him- for support.
They came up to the werewolf, who stared almost fondly at Snape's back.
"You should see him all dressed up, going around on his professorly business ."
The darker man spoke in nearly the same cadence as the shabby man, who was obviously a good friend.
"Long, black, swishing robes."
"Impressively billowing cape."
"He's a damn black Manta when he passes through Hogwarts."
Ari grinned at the both of them.
"You two really like him, don't you."
The darker man narrowed his eyes.
"Just let's say, we go a long way back."
The other one just smiled and introduced himself.
"I am Remus J. Lupin. Drafted you say?" The werewolf had a very charming smile.
"It is quite a story."
The three of them entered the main hall simultaneously.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Description of the gates comes straight out of 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'
*If velvet could speak, it would sound like Rickman
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sandy Bauers
So I love that actor, can you blame me?
Twelve, no, TWELVE reactions to one chapter. Well eleven actually, but still.
Wow. (looks silly with really big grin at screen)
Guess you like the story, eh?
Rosmerta, thank you very much for your compliment on my English. I love your "Hogwarts Choo-Choo' and your style on the story of Rose Potter.
Hi Sophie W. Quick enough (big grin)? Unfortunately I will have very little time in the next few days to write, since reality -is- intruding…
Ladyeclectic, well, what can I say- Severus -is- cute in his dark, brooding big nosed way. And while portrayed by Mr. Alan Rickman- swoon…. What lies beneath- only had time to read the prologue, but it is -very- interesting. (sorry don't know much about the other fandoms you write about. My loss, I wager.)
Strenga Brava, I really -do- love the goose in 'I never forget a face'. You paint a lovely picture of the magical community in Canada, wonderfully done. Thanks for your comment on my story.
Sayan, thanks for your compliment. And to everybody else who reads this, go and read Sayans first chapter on 'Time Will Tell'. It reads like the beginning of a -very- good story.
Neri the Raven, why thanks! Or better put, Danke!
Damiana, I have been reading your Màrrach up to chapter 13 now. You really got a mean nest of Malfoys there! Great story!
Thanks Irene (I'll be throwing in more spells and their effects along the way), sfz, slytherin girl and Llarian.
A VERY HAPPY 2002 FOR YOU ALL!!