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Part One
Harry glanced at Sirius nervously. He still liked to check that his godfather
hadn't disappeared again. Also he was
extra jumpy today... It was the first
time since running away from the Death Eaters that Harry had been away from
Hogwarts.
After receiving a reassuring smile from Sirius Harry
lifted his eyes to the large building that stood forlornly on the windswept
hill they were climbing.
"Remind me… Who's idea was this again?" Asked Harry as he took in the monstrosity of
a house.
"Ah, Albus Dumbledore.
I always wonder… Where does he get them from?" Said Sirius with a slightly worried grin. "I only hope the food's alright. I can't imagine Snape is much of a gourmet."
Harry had to grin at this, but taking in his godfather's
worryingly skinny frame made him nervous again.
"I'm just glad I don't have to go back to the Dursleys
again." Said Harry pulling his cloak
around himself more tightly.
"I wouldn't have allowed that!" Said Sirius solemnly.
After a moments pause Harry said, "Quit procrastinating and
let's get inside!"
Just as Sirius reached up to knock, the large heavy doors
swung open revealing a slightly flustered and irritated looking Severus Snape.
After a few seconds where no-one moved Snape barked,
"In! Come in!"
Sirius and Harry scurried inside and winced slightly as the
doors slammed shut behind them.
"Welcome to Snape Manor."
Said Snape with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
***
As he looked around Harry's dingy bedroom Sirius wondered
what on Earth had possessed Dumbledore to convince him that this was the best
place for a severely traumatised teenage boy.
"Just dump your stuff Harry. I think we ought to let Dumbledore know we've arrived safely."
Harry looked equally keen to leave the bedroom but then
Sirius noticed his Godson's eyes were glinting just like his Dad's used to when
he formulated a plan.
"What is it Harry?
I know you're up to something."
Sirius grinned at Harry's attempt at feigned innocence.
"I just thought that maybe Dumbledore thinks that it's Snape
that needs the cheering up."
Sirius grinned even wider, "Hmm, you may have a point."
With a swish of his wand Harry transformed the dull, dark
and depressing bedroom into a warm, cheerful and inviting place. Festooned with Gryffindor colours. Sirius ran a hand along the previously dark
green wall, which was now a vibrant shade of red.
"Not bad!.. How
long do you think it will take to do the rest of the house?.."
***
Harry admired his latest decorating feat and cast a final
cleaning charm on the window of the now royal blue and gold dinning room. He still couldn't believe how many shades of
dull green it was possible to find in one house. Obviously the Snapes had never been very keen on interior design.
Shoving his wand back into his pocket Harry made his way
down some more wide stone steps and found himself for the first time in the
dungeons of the manor.
Harry entered the first room he came to and the smell hit
his nose immediately. It was the musty
smell of a place where potions ingredients are stored, mixed with the metallic
smell of cauldrons.
There was a wealth of scope for a keen potions student in
the room and Harry couldn't help feeling the urge to brew something. Noticing a whole bookshelf full of neatly
stored potions books, thoughts of décor were replaced with curiosity and Harry
took down a book and started to read.
***
Snape hurried along Knockturn Alley worrying incessantly
about everything.
I can't believe I've left them there alone! I dread to think what they're getting up to
in my absence!
Oh my! What will I
give them to eat? I'll bet Potter is fussy about his food.
What if…
Then suddenly he reached his destination and all
unimportant worries faded away into oblivion.
He entered 'Kneissel's Apothecary' and his chest constricted. As for the last three days he entered the
shop.
Bilren Kneissel himself was behind the counter as usual,
surrounded by a variety of ingredients not usually stored by a respectable
supplier.
"Ah, what would it be today Severus? Is there anything in particular or just the
special?"
Kneissel squinted at him almost as if winking.
"I need some dragon's blood, but do tell me, what is
today's special?"
Asked Snape casually leaning across the counter.
"I do have some onswen draught…"
Said the apothecary his eyes locking with Snape's
"I'll just take the blood Thankyou Bilren." Said Snape looking downcast.
After collecting the vile of blood that he didn't need
Snape swept out of the shop.
They say no news is good news. But this is insane! How
could Voldemort have just disappeared?!
I have to see Dumbledore about this.
Once he reached Diagon Alley Snape ignored everything else
and headed straight for the Leaky Cauldron.
As he stepped through the fire saying "Snape Manor" As
clearly as possible Snape remembered who would be there waiting for him when he
returned…
***
Harry had been flicking through some of the volumes but he'd
gotten the shivers, as he'd come across a couple he'd been taught about using
by the Death Eaters. Finally he decided to put the books away. As he slid the last volume back onto the
shelf Harry felt something brush against his hand. He couldn't see anything there, but he knew he'd felt
something. He reached into the 'empty'
space and was surprised to feel the outline of a book. He pulled it out and opened it. The pages suddenly became visible and on the
leaf it said 'The Invisible Book of Invisibility'
Grinning Harry turned to a page that was marked.
'Invisibility Potion'
'Brewing invisibility potion is much simpler than most
people think. The difficulty comes in
obtaining the ingredients.'
Harry stared at the page for a minute.
He remembered with a sinking heart that Lucius Malfoy had
taken his father's invisibility cloak when he'd been with the Death
Eaters. He hated the way everything he
thought about led him back to the terrible mistake he'd made.
Glancing along the row of ingredients stacked along the
shelves Harry realised that the ingredients needed for an invisibility potion
were all available to him.
Feeling a renewed sense of enthusiasm Harry decided to brew
the potion.
Sirius had stayed with Harry for the first few rooms they
decorated, but he realised that with Harry distracted it would be the perfect
time to talk to Dumbledore.
He separated from Harry and made his way to a large drawing
room where a fire was already burning fiercely in the grate.
Sprinkling some powder into the fire Sirius muttered
Dumbledore's name and soon the headmaster's head appeared in the fire.
"Hello Sirius. How
is everything at Snape manor?"
"Albus! I still
can't believe you've sent us here, I don't know that it's the right place for
Harry to recover!" Said Sirius taking a
look around the neglected room.
"Trust me Sirius. I
wouldn't have sent you and Harry there if I didn't think it was the right
place." Said Dumbledore calmly from the
flames.
"Have you seen this place recently?" Grumbled Sirius swiping at a cobweb on his
cheek.
"It will be fine Sirius, now I must go, I've got an
important meeting with Minister Fudge."
"Alright then."
Mumbled Sirius in a defeated tone.
"I suggest you try to persuade Harry to write to Ron and
Hermione. It would be better if he
could tell them what happened just in case word got out somehow before he got
the chance to explain." Said
Dumbledore.
"I agree. I'll let
you know how things go." Said Sirius
biting his lip anxiously.
And with a small pop, Dumbledore's head disappeared.
Before Sirius had time to turn to leave Severus Snape
suddenly came sprawling out of the fire, covered head to foot in soot as he was
and with an incensed glare.
"What the hell were you playing at Black?!" Snape yelled
"W-What?"
Spluttered Sirius feeling slightly alarmed at Snape's sudden arrival.
"This fire is for floo-travel only! Use one of the others for chatting!" Growled Snape shaking his robes and smudging
the soot on his face into streaks.
"Do you have any idea what it's like being stuck in the
floo-system?"
Snape shouted.
Sirius was by now struggling not to laugh, he merely shook
his head and managed to mumble, "Won't happen again," before he took off in
search of Harry, shaking with suppressed mirth.
He wasn't however able to prevent himself from laughing
openly when he heard Snape's strangled yell as he came face to face with a
Gryffindor themed bathroom with Gryffindor lions leaping across the shower
curtain.
A/N
Okies… so…
Harry's brewing a potion which is bound to lead to some
sticky situation, Sirius is cracking up with laughter and Snape is scarred for
life… and we're only at the end of the first part…
phewy!
Anywhoozle, lemme know what you think, kay?
Luv
Jona
xxx
PS
Thanks to everyone who's reviewed DoR and LYW, I really appreciate
every single review I get.
Updates will be coming as soon as I can get stuff done!