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Chapter 6: Epilogue
Snape was still sleeping on the floor beside his desk when he heard a rooster crowed. He frowned. "Stupid rooster." He muttered, silently cursing Hagrid's rooster. He tried to go back to sleep again when he heard the rooster crowing again somewhere near Hagrid's pumpkin patch. Snape growled and covered his ears with his pillow.
"Uncle Severus? Are you awake yet?" Athena asked as she approached Snape's sleeping bag.
"No, go away." Snape said grumpily.
Athena giggled. Snape removed his pillow and glared at Athena but that only made her to laugh even more.
"All right, all right, I am getting up!" Snape said in frustration and sat up, throwing off his blanket.
***
"Uncle Severus, I want to play soccer." Athena said after Snape had washed up.
"Breakfast comes first." Snape said in a sort of bossy tone.
"No, it is not good to play right after breakfast. Mummy and Daddy said so." Athena said and before Snape could protest, she went to take the soccer ball.
"Fine, you win." Snape mumbled.
***
"But two person don't seem to be enough for a game...." Snape said flatly outside the castle where the flying lessons usually held when he heard: "Hi there, Severus! Hi Athena!"
Snape turned around and saw Madam Hooch and Hagrid standing behind him and Athena. Madam Hooch was wearing a T-shirt with a picture of the golden Snitch at the front and blue jeans. She was also wearing a baseball cap with the word "Quidditch" in Italian. Hagrid was wearing his usual attire.
Snape glared and marched to them. Both Madam Hooch and Hagrid had their hands up. "What did we do?"
"Both of you insult my house and ruin my house's name." Snape said shortly.
"All right, all right, we apologize for saying whatever we said to Athena." Madam Hooch said casually. "Right, Hagrid?" Madam Hooch asked. "Even through I can't remember what I said." She mumbled.
"Um, yeah. Sorry." Hagrid said.
Snape narrowed his eyes and didn't say anything.
"MANDY! HAGRID!" Athena squealed and ran to them.
" 'Lo, Athena!" Hagrid greeted. "Where's yer Mummy and Daddy?"
"Gone to London." Athena said.
"So they left you alone with this greasehead?" Madam Hooch asked in disbelief and when Snape glared at her, she grinned. "Just kidding. I don't mean to insult you."
Snape didn't respond.
"No choice. But Uncle Severus is great." Athena said happily.
Madam Hooch and Hagrid raised their eyebrows at Snape.
"Uncle Severus?" Madam Hooch asked slowly while Hagrid stifled a grin.
"Yeah, so shut up." Snape snapped.
"Want to play soccer?" Athena asked.
"You bet." Madam Hooch grinned and Hagrid nodded.
"Great, Uncle Severus, we got two more players!" Athena said excitedly.
"Hey Severus, Athena, you better change your attire or you will be falling flat on your face when you run." Madam Hooch said.
Snape rolled his eyes and walked back to the castle with Athena.
***
"All right, this is the goal post." Madam Hooch said, putting two chairs that she took from her office on the ground, with the chairs standing a few metres apart. "We will play for ½ hour."
She put her whistle on her lips and blew. "GO!" She yelled and rushed to kick the ball. The ball flew through the air and Snape headed it towards the goal. Before the ball could reach the goal post, Athena flipped in 360 degrees and hit the ball with her foot. Snape gaped as he watched the ball sailed through the air.
"Where did you learn that?" He demanded and Athena just pointed at Madam Hooch, who had her tongue struck out at him.
The ball landed near Hagrid and Hagrid dribbled it towards the goal.
"Oh no, you don't!" Madam Hooch exclaimed and chased after Hagrid. She tackled the ball away from Hagrid and shot it towards the goal. Snape's eyes widened and he jumped, trying to save the ball but the ball just flew past his fingers and through the goal.
"GOAL! 1-0!" Madam Hooch yelled.
Athena jumped around with joy while Snape growled, grabbed the ball and threw it to Hagrid. Hagrid got the ball and when he saw Athena running towards him, he shot the ball to Snape. Snape, like Athena, flipped and hit the ball with his foot. The ball sailed easily through the goal.
"GOAL! 1-1!" Snape bellowed and struck out his tongue at Madam Hooch.
"Don't be so happy, we still have 25 minutes left!" Madam Hooch yelled.
***
"Right, any question?" Fudge asked.
Silence.
"All right, the meeting is over." Fudge announced.
"Bien, I need to get some sleep." Madam Maxime said as she yawned gracefully.
Minerva started to roll up her parchment.
Dumbledore was shaking hands with Fudge, who was saying: "Thank you so much for your patience."
"You're welcome." Dumbledore smiled.
"How about breakfast? Just you, your wife and myself at the Leaky Cauldron?" Fudge suggested.
"No thanks. Minerva and I need to get back to Hogwarts." Dumbledore said.
"Oh well then, see you next time."
Minerva grabbed the rest of the parchments and then Dumbledore's hand and practically dragged him out of the meeting room.
***
"Yeah! 3-2!" Athena said happily when she scored a goal. Snape and Hagrid groaned loudly as they watched Madam Hooch looked at her wristwatch and blew her whistle, yelling: "Girls win!"
Snape frowned as he watched Madam Hooch and Athena hugging each other. "All right, all right, you two win, we lose." He said grumpily. "Now can we go for breakfast?"
"As soon as we clean up." Madam Hooch said. Snape looked down and saw his shirt and trousers covered with mud. He then looked around and saw Hagrid, Madam Hooch and Athena's attires were as dirty as his. "Fine." He snapped.
Before they went back to the castle, Madam Hooch got the ball and tried to shoot it towards the goal for the last time but instead of through the goal, the ball flew OVER the goal and....
CRACK
Broke Snape's window.
Snape looked up and gasped in horror. Madam Hooch's lips formed in a shape of o and she began to back away from Snape, who looked as if he was going to explode.
"MADELINE HOOCH!!!!!!"
"Sorry!" Madam Hooch exclaimed, grabbed Athena's hand and ran back to the castle before Snape could get his hands on her.
***
"It is rather odd to eat at the High table during the holidays." Madam Hooch said as she sat down beside Athena at the Great Hall. "Pass the butter." She said and Hagrid, who is sitting beside Snape, passed it to her.
"It is." Hagrid said in agreement. "An' rather quiet too. All ter students are gone."
"Uncle Severus, ("Thanks." Said Madam Hooch.) can you pass me another toast?" Athena asked sweetly.
Snape looked at her. "Say the magic word."
"Please." Athena said.
Snape reached out for another piece of toast and passed it to Athena.
"Thank you." Athena said and just about to bite it when she shrieked, "MUMMY! DADDY!" She jumped off her seat and rushed to her parents, who were standing at the pair of double doors.
Dumbledore grinned as Athena flung herself into his arms and he swung Athena into the air and down again. The other teachers went to them and Madam Hooch put her hands on Minerva's shoulders, pretend to sob. "Oh you are back, you are finally back, I miss you...." She said dramatically.
"Now Mandy, that's enough." Minerva said, smiling.
"All right, all right.." Madam Hooch grinned and let go of Minerva.
"Daddy, Mummy, I miss you." Athena said when Dumbledore let her go.
"We miss you too, honey." Minerva said and Athena hugged her.
"Severus, thank you so much for taking care of Athena. Is she very troublesome?" Dumbledore asked gently.
Before Snape could say anything, Athena said apologetically: "I accidentally burnt his potion ingredients."
"Athena, how could you do that?!" Minerva demanded.
"I didn't mean it." Athena said, looking as if she was going to cry again.
Snape looked down at her, kneeled down and smiled. "It's all right, I can buy them again."
"Is it just me been crazy or Severus has gone soft on Athena?" Madam Hooch whispered to Hagrid.
"How much did all those ingredients cost?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well, she burnt my Shrivelfig, snake fangs, dried nettles...." Snape stood up and made a quick calculation. "It will cost about 12 Galleons." He said flatly.
Dumbledore dug his pockets and gave Snape 13 Galleons. "Use them." He said shortly.
"But Headmaster, you don't have to...." Snape started.
Dumbledore held up his hand. "I have to. Athena burnt your precious potions ingredients. And besides, I need to find a way to thank you for taking care of her."
"Fine, if you insist." Snape said slowly and accepted the 13 Galleons.
"So what else has she done?" Minerva asked.
Snape looked at Athena and smiled at Minerva. "Nothing. She is pretty obedient."
"Care to join us for breakfast?" Madam Hooch asked.
"Why shouldn't we?" Dumbledore said. "Boy, I am starving."
Athena looked up at Snape in surprise and Snape gave her a wink.
***
When they were eating breakfast, Athena tugged her mother's robes. "Mummy?"
"Hm?"
"If the other teachers are not available again next time, can I go straight to Uncle Severus? He is nice to me."
Minerva raised her eyebrows at Snape, who blushed and busied himself with his bacon.
"Sure." Minerva said finally.
"I knew that Severus would do a good job." Dumbledore said happily.
Snape managed to give a small smile. Maybe this holiday wasn't so bad after all.
***
"Ron, do you think Snape will return your game board if you ask him?" Neville asked Ron during Potions after the school holidays.
"Do you just know Professor Snape yesterday?" Ron asked back glumly. "Of course he won't give it back."
"Mr. Weasley! I want a word with you!" Snape called from his desk.
"What have you done?" Harry asked as Ron stood up. Ron shrugged helplessly and walked to Snape's desk. "Yes, Professor?" Ron asked nervously.
Snape bent down and rummaged around his drawers. Then he took out the box and handed it to Ron. "Here, take it back."
Ron's mouth dropped open.
"What? You don't want to take it back?" Snape asked coldly.
"NO! I mean, yes!" Ron said quickly and Snape tossed the box to Ron. "This game is quite fun, do you have any more board games?"
"Err....well, there's....I don't know, I can't think of anything right now.." Ron said and gulped because Snape was now raising his eyebrows at him.
Ron thought frantically. "Err....there's wizard chess."
Snape shook his head. "Too complicated." He took a parchment and gave it to Ron. "Here. When you come up of a few simple board games, write them down." He leaned forward and gave a piercing stare at Ron. "Give it to me tomorrow or I will take five points away from Gryffindor."
Ron nodded.
"Now go away."
Ron rushed back to his seat.
"So? What did he do?" Harry asked and stared in amazement at the box. "He gave the game back to you?"
Ron, who was shocked and speechless with surprise, nodded again.
"What's wrong with Snape?" Hermione asked in bewilderment. "It's like he has turned good over the holidays."
"Don't know." Harry said.
"Potter! Granger! No talking in my class! Ten points from Gryffindor!" Snape said and gave Harry and Hermione a nasty smile.
"Looks like he hasn't changed a bit after all." Harry muttered.
The End
Thank you for all your reviews!
Chapter 6: Epilogue
Snape was still sleeping on the floor beside his desk when he heard a rooster crowed. He frowned. "Stupid rooster." He muttered, silently cursing Hagrid's rooster. He tried to go back to sleep again when he heard the rooster crowing again somewhere near Hagrid's pumpkin patch. Snape growled and covered his ears with his pillow.
"Uncle Severus? Are you awake yet?" Athena asked as she approached Snape's sleeping bag.
"No, go away." Snape said grumpily.
Athena giggled. Snape removed his pillow and glared at Athena but that only made her to laugh even more.
"All right, all right, I am getting up!" Snape said in frustration and sat up, throwing off his blanket.
***
"Uncle Severus, I want to play soccer." Athena said after Snape had washed up.
"Breakfast comes first." Snape said in a sort of bossy tone.
"No, it is not good to play right after breakfast. Mummy and Daddy said so." Athena said and before Snape could protest, she went to take the soccer ball.
"Fine, you win." Snape mumbled.
***
"But two person don't seem to be enough for a game...." Snape said flatly outside the castle where the flying lessons usually held when he heard: "Hi there, Severus! Hi Athena!"
Snape turned around and saw Madam Hooch and Hagrid standing behind him and Athena. Madam Hooch was wearing a T-shirt with a picture of the golden Snitch at the front and blue jeans. She was also wearing a baseball cap with the word "Quidditch" in Italian. Hagrid was wearing his usual attire.
Snape glared and marched to them. Both Madam Hooch and Hagrid had their hands up. "What did we do?"
"Both of you insult my house and ruin my house's name." Snape said shortly.
"All right, all right, we apologize for saying whatever we said to Athena." Madam Hooch said casually. "Right, Hagrid?" Madam Hooch asked. "Even through I can't remember what I said." She mumbled.
"Um, yeah. Sorry." Hagrid said.
Snape narrowed his eyes and didn't say anything.
"MANDY! HAGRID!" Athena squealed and ran to them.
" 'Lo, Athena!" Hagrid greeted. "Where's yer Mummy and Daddy?"
"Gone to London." Athena said.
"So they left you alone with this greasehead?" Madam Hooch asked in disbelief and when Snape glared at her, she grinned. "Just kidding. I don't mean to insult you."
Snape didn't respond.
"No choice. But Uncle Severus is great." Athena said happily.
Madam Hooch and Hagrid raised their eyebrows at Snape.
"Uncle Severus?" Madam Hooch asked slowly while Hagrid stifled a grin.
"Yeah, so shut up." Snape snapped.
"Want to play soccer?" Athena asked.
"You bet." Madam Hooch grinned and Hagrid nodded.
"Great, Uncle Severus, we got two more players!" Athena said excitedly.
"Hey Severus, Athena, you better change your attire or you will be falling flat on your face when you run." Madam Hooch said.
Snape rolled his eyes and walked back to the castle with Athena.
***
"All right, this is the goal post." Madam Hooch said, putting two chairs that she took from her office on the ground, with the chairs standing a few metres apart. "We will play for ½ hour."
She put her whistle on her lips and blew. "GO!" She yelled and rushed to kick the ball. The ball flew through the air and Snape headed it towards the goal. Before the ball could reach the goal post, Athena flipped in 360 degrees and hit the ball with her foot. Snape gaped as he watched the ball sailed through the air.
"Where did you learn that?" He demanded and Athena just pointed at Madam Hooch, who had her tongue struck out at him.
The ball landed near Hagrid and Hagrid dribbled it towards the goal.
"Oh no, you don't!" Madam Hooch exclaimed and chased after Hagrid. She tackled the ball away from Hagrid and shot it towards the goal. Snape's eyes widened and he jumped, trying to save the ball but the ball just flew past his fingers and through the goal.
"GOAL! 1-0!" Madam Hooch yelled.
Athena jumped around with joy while Snape growled, grabbed the ball and threw it to Hagrid. Hagrid got the ball and when he saw Athena running towards him, he shot the ball to Snape. Snape, like Athena, flipped and hit the ball with his foot. The ball sailed easily through the goal.
"GOAL! 1-1!" Snape bellowed and struck out his tongue at Madam Hooch.
"Don't be so happy, we still have 25 minutes left!" Madam Hooch yelled.
***
"Right, any question?" Fudge asked.
Silence.
"All right, the meeting is over." Fudge announced.
"Bien, I need to get some sleep." Madam Maxime said as she yawned gracefully.
Minerva started to roll up her parchment.
Dumbledore was shaking hands with Fudge, who was saying: "Thank you so much for your patience."
"You're welcome." Dumbledore smiled.
"How about breakfast? Just you, your wife and myself at the Leaky Cauldron?" Fudge suggested.
"No thanks. Minerva and I need to get back to Hogwarts." Dumbledore said.
"Oh well then, see you next time."
Minerva grabbed the rest of the parchments and then Dumbledore's hand and practically dragged him out of the meeting room.
***
"Yeah! 3-2!" Athena said happily when she scored a goal. Snape and Hagrid groaned loudly as they watched Madam Hooch looked at her wristwatch and blew her whistle, yelling: "Girls win!"
Snape frowned as he watched Madam Hooch and Athena hugging each other. "All right, all right, you two win, we lose." He said grumpily. "Now can we go for breakfast?"
"As soon as we clean up." Madam Hooch said. Snape looked down and saw his shirt and trousers covered with mud. He then looked around and saw Hagrid, Madam Hooch and Athena's attires were as dirty as his. "Fine." He snapped.
Before they went back to the castle, Madam Hooch got the ball and tried to shoot it towards the goal for the last time but instead of through the goal, the ball flew OVER the goal and....
CRACK
Broke Snape's window.
Snape looked up and gasped in horror. Madam Hooch's lips formed in a shape of o and she began to back away from Snape, who looked as if he was going to explode.
"MADELINE HOOCH!!!!!!"
"Sorry!" Madam Hooch exclaimed, grabbed Athena's hand and ran back to the castle before Snape could get his hands on her.
***
"It is rather odd to eat at the High table during the holidays." Madam Hooch said as she sat down beside Athena at the Great Hall. "Pass the butter." She said and Hagrid, who is sitting beside Snape, passed it to her.
"It is." Hagrid said in agreement. "An' rather quiet too. All ter students are gone."
"Uncle Severus, ("Thanks." Said Madam Hooch.) can you pass me another toast?" Athena asked sweetly.
Snape looked at her. "Say the magic word."
"Please." Athena said.
Snape reached out for another piece of toast and passed it to Athena.
"Thank you." Athena said and just about to bite it when she shrieked, "MUMMY! DADDY!" She jumped off her seat and rushed to her parents, who were standing at the pair of double doors.
Dumbledore grinned as Athena flung herself into his arms and he swung Athena into the air and down again. The other teachers went to them and Madam Hooch put her hands on Minerva's shoulders, pretend to sob. "Oh you are back, you are finally back, I miss you...." She said dramatically.
"Now Mandy, that's enough." Minerva said, smiling.
"All right, all right.." Madam Hooch grinned and let go of Minerva.
"Daddy, Mummy, I miss you." Athena said when Dumbledore let her go.
"We miss you too, honey." Minerva said and Athena hugged her.
"Severus, thank you so much for taking care of Athena. Is she very troublesome?" Dumbledore asked gently.
Before Snape could say anything, Athena said apologetically: "I accidentally burnt his potion ingredients."
"Athena, how could you do that?!" Minerva demanded.
"I didn't mean it." Athena said, looking as if she was going to cry again.
Snape looked down at her, kneeled down and smiled. "It's all right, I can buy them again."
"Is it just me been crazy or Severus has gone soft on Athena?" Madam Hooch whispered to Hagrid.
"How much did all those ingredients cost?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well, she burnt my Shrivelfig, snake fangs, dried nettles...." Snape stood up and made a quick calculation. "It will cost about 12 Galleons." He said flatly.
Dumbledore dug his pockets and gave Snape 13 Galleons. "Use them." He said shortly.
"But Headmaster, you don't have to...." Snape started.
Dumbledore held up his hand. "I have to. Athena burnt your precious potions ingredients. And besides, I need to find a way to thank you for taking care of her."
"Fine, if you insist." Snape said slowly and accepted the 13 Galleons.
"So what else has she done?" Minerva asked.
Snape looked at Athena and smiled at Minerva. "Nothing. She is pretty obedient."
"Care to join us for breakfast?" Madam Hooch asked.
"Why shouldn't we?" Dumbledore said. "Boy, I am starving."
Athena looked up at Snape in surprise and Snape gave her a wink.
***
When they were eating breakfast, Athena tugged her mother's robes. "Mummy?"
"Hm?"
"If the other teachers are not available again next time, can I go straight to Uncle Severus? He is nice to me."
Minerva raised her eyebrows at Snape, who blushed and busied himself with his bacon.
"Sure." Minerva said finally.
"I knew that Severus would do a good job." Dumbledore said happily.
Snape managed to give a small smile. Maybe this holiday wasn't so bad after all.
***
"Ron, do you think Snape will return your game board if you ask him?" Neville asked Ron during Potions after the school holidays.
"Do you just know Professor Snape yesterday?" Ron asked back glumly. "Of course he won't give it back."
"Mr. Weasley! I want a word with you!" Snape called from his desk.
"What have you done?" Harry asked as Ron stood up. Ron shrugged helplessly and walked to Snape's desk. "Yes, Professor?" Ron asked nervously.
Snape bent down and rummaged around his drawers. Then he took out the box and handed it to Ron. "Here, take it back."
Ron's mouth dropped open.
"What? You don't want to take it back?" Snape asked coldly.
"NO! I mean, yes!" Ron said quickly and Snape tossed the box to Ron. "This game is quite fun, do you have any more board games?"
"Err....well, there's....I don't know, I can't think of anything right now.." Ron said and gulped because Snape was now raising his eyebrows at him.
Ron thought frantically. "Err....there's wizard chess."
Snape shook his head. "Too complicated." He took a parchment and gave it to Ron. "Here. When you come up of a few simple board games, write them down." He leaned forward and gave a piercing stare at Ron. "Give it to me tomorrow or I will take five points away from Gryffindor."
Ron nodded.
"Now go away."
Ron rushed back to his seat.
"So? What did he do?" Harry asked and stared in amazement at the box. "He gave the game back to you?"
Ron, who was shocked and speechless with surprise, nodded again.
"What's wrong with Snape?" Hermione asked in bewilderment. "It's like he has turned good over the holidays."
"Don't know." Harry said.
"Potter! Granger! No talking in my class! Ten points from Gryffindor!" Snape said and gave Harry and Hermione a nasty smile.
"Looks like he hasn't changed a bit after all." Harry muttered.
The End