Since you are all so enthusiastic.....
Chapter 3: Anthroarchaeology
Sirius had left before lunch - despite Harry's enthusiastic pleadings - to go back to Lira. Remus didn't doubt what he'd said earlier about her most likely reaction; knowing Lira, she'd come to Hogwarts herself and fly into a suitable rage.
He had to envy Sirius: it hadn't been so long since he himelf had been in a relationship, but he was definitely beginning to miss the warmth and feeling that came with one. The werewolf didn't think he was desperate for one at present, though with the war coming up, perhaps he needed some gentle support.
But perhaps it's better this way, he mused, I'd be out for most of the time and suffering from stresses the other half'd have no idea how to deal with.
Remus was now in the same room as his best friend's Godson and his own friends - all except Ron - and sharing an interesting conversation on the topic of house elf slavery. Hermione was passionate about this issue and much to his surprise, so was Ron.
Harry had revealed to Remus that Hermione had dug up some interesting information about Green slavery. Some of it she'd put in her leaflets and found herself surrounded by a good sized group, all clamouring for more information from this daring, intelligent young woman about something so disgusting as the slavery of house elves.
"The worst thing is," she was saying, absently stroking Crookshanks, "that they are being taken for granted in such an appalling way. I mean, I know now how they came to be, how their natures have evolved from proud, civilised creatures to squeaking slaves... but the fact that the law doesn't even seem to acknowledge their existence is what angers me most." Hermione had now decided to follow her parents advice and wear her glasses. She'd also learnt how to manage her time a bit better, and was putting almost as much effort into her appearance as she did her studies. Hermione Granger was actually an almost classy, modern, female student.
"If you managed to succeed in changing some of the concerned laws..." Remus put forward.
"Then I could help start encouraging the concern for the well being of the house elves," she shot back immediately, smiling at him. "You know, it's good to have you back, Mr. Lupin..."
"Thank you very much for that, Miss. Granger, and it's Remus now...."
"Very well, *Remus*," she grinned. "It's also Hermione now."
"Very well, Hermione..."
"Oh, stop that now," Harry said, smiling. "We've got the message." He looked up from his books properly and then said, "Hey! Have you told him about your boycott?"
"Oh yeah!" She exclaimed. "Goodness, how could I forget?" Hermione turned to Remus. "We're planning to cause severe disruptions in the Ministry of Magic on Friday, 13th June... who knows? We might get into the headlines!" She giggled. "But seriously, would you like to be part of one of the marches?"
"I'd have to think about it..."
"Of course, of course! I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Moony." Remus put on a shocked face and they all laughed.
The laughter finally subsided. "Where's Ron?" Remus asked.
"Probably sampling some of the imported cuisine," Hermione replied sardonically, a twinkle in her eye. She must have been referring to the French exchange students that had arrived two weeks ago. Harry was smirking in his books and Remus trying to keep a smile off his face: he knew about Harry's dark haired beau, Georgia, but not about Ron's own blonde conquests. "Not just with tomato ketchup, but with *barbecue* sauce as well!"
Remus hadn't got the underlying message at first but Harry burst out laughing.
He gave the boy a quizzical look, but Harry couldn't stop for a while. Finally, he said, "We had a certain Sebastien asking for a 'Rronaild'," complete with the accent. "We've had a Lucas, two Jean- Pierres and a Tomas. Not to mention the girls..."
It was then that the werewolf understood Hermione's reference to different condiments, and he too started to laugh.
She could be very funny when she wanted to: her rising popularity thanks to SPEW must have helped with the evolution of this newish Hermione Granger, Remus thought to himself. Well, well, well, he began to wonder what else had changed.
* * *
"Severus?"
"Yes, ma?"
He held out the lock of hair and continued to brush it, starting from near the end and gently working his way inwards. Opposite him, his older sister, Eleni, was plaiting the wavy, reddish blonde hair. She looked up at him quickly and smiled. Severus smiled back.
"How many strokes have you done back there?"
"Oh!" The eleven year old blushed. "I lost count."
Tessa Snape laughed. "Wretched boy, you were day dreaming again. What was it about this time, darling?"
"Nothing, ma."
"Oh, now that's lovely: you're brushing your own mother's hair and you can't daydream about *anything* at all?" The two eldest of her children tried to hide their smiles at their mother's mock harsh tone. "You always seem so far away, Severus."
"I'm not really."
"Hmmm... how is school going, Eleni?" Severus began to concentrate on letting the hair fall straight, not to get mussed as he brushed the other sections.
"Oh, it's alright, ma... getting on. I'm still getting top marks, so you needn't worry about that."
"What about boys?"
Eleni laughed. "Mother, you and Papa sent me to a girls boarding school for a reason!" Severus liked the way his sister laughed. She never seemed to take offence at anything and only got bossy when she was either every concerned or tired. Her laugh was like a friendly cackle and made Severus think of the time when she'd be like Ma, older, perhaps with children of her own.
What about him?
"You're not answering the question, my dear."
"There are no boys for over a 500 acre radius from our school!"
"Oh well... what about you, Severus?"
Eleni scoffed. "He's too young for girls: at that age, they think they're all icky." Tessa laughed loudly, her strange violet eyes flashing. Severus simply began to pay more attention to his mother's luxurious hair than the conversation.
"Is the rest of school going on alright?"
"Uh-huh."
"Made friends?"
"Uh-huh."
"Studying for the end of year exams?"
"Yup."
"Hard?"
"Very hard, ma." He answered. "I'm putting all I've got into it."
"Stop with the sarcasm, darling." Tessa yawned. Severus had finished brushing her hair and Eleni was almost done with plaiting it. "Dear me, I've been offered another part in...-Oh! Odds bobs! Hurry up, Eleni... Jona wants coddling." Eleni began to speed up her weaving of the hair, but trying to maintain the regular shape and pattern.
No sooner had she finished then her mother flew from her seat and hurried towards the distant sound of six year old Jona.
Sighing, Eleni sat down on the bed and cradled her head in her hands. "Oh Sev," she murmured. "It'll be five years since Papa died, next week." She looked so tired and so much older. It scared Severus slightly. "Ma will be fine, I think. It just..."
"Jona doesn't recognise Da in the photos. He doesn't remember him at all." Severus said in a soft voice. "Except for his laugh and his songs."
"Well, that's something."
"I know but..."
The two were silent, before Eleni spoke again. "Are you sure everything is alright at school?"
"Yes. It's only my first year after all. I'm doing okay."
There was a loud bang downstairs followed by the familiar sound of Jona's laughing and their mother's quiet scolding. "She's going to ruin that boy, you know, coddles 'im too much," Eleni said in a good impression of Grandmother Snape's voice. "Ruin 'im an' ruin 'im I say! Ruin 'im!"
Severus laughed.
* * *
It wasn't just school work he was marking, Remus could see that, even from across the staff table. However, it wouldn't be wise to make a statement about it as both McGonagall and Sprout were in the staff room as well.
Snape had been his usual glowering self: he had snarled at several students and whisked through Hogwarts with that black cloak of his billowing behind him.
Now, the man was seated at the table, minding his own business and apparently marking some essays.
He remembered something from their school days. In the running weeks until 'The Prank'. He remembered how tightly strung Snape had seemed, how vicious his insults had become whenever he merely laid eyes on one or more of the Marauders.
But then again, so had Sirius'.
The one that had received the most interesting reaction was when he accused Snape of being 'queer'. That had terrified the young Lupin as by that time, he had already identified his urges as indications of his sexuality. With that insult, it made Lupin's world shrink, even though it wasn't aimed at him. He thought that he couldn't talk to anyone lest they stopped being his friends. The person who it was aimed at, gave Sirius the most haunting look that both men could ever remember, although James had described what Snape had looked like when 'The Prank' had actually taken place. No, Snape's reaction was both disturbing and reassuring, or at least in one sense: Remus felt that a weight had been lifted from his shoulders then replaced with a lighter one, if someone else int he school was gay....
But Snape hadn't snapped back, or given an insult or anything. All emotions seemed to drain from his face, from those black eyes. Even Sirius had found himself stuttering an apology but Snape had already vanished.
Remus shook himself. Looking up around the staff room, he realised that Snape had left and two prefects had entered, both talking to McGonagall.
Excusing himself, he picked up his book and walked out of the room.
He wanted to get to his room, perhaps just for the quietness. He practically ran down swapping stairs and haunted corridors. In truth, he practically ran over Severus Snape.
The man seemed furious, but his eyes showed nothing. It was amazing the emotions that radiated from him, but never seemed to show on his face or in his actions. He brushed himself off after picking up the discarded papers, with frenzie dhelp from Remus who was now babbling, an embarrasing contrast with Snape's emotionless demeanor.
As he picked the papers up, he saw a few pictures. In much of his former life, he had maintained a living by sleight of hand. Using the useful skill, he swept a few up into his pockets in the pretense of putting them with other papers.
"I'm so so*so* sorry...-" Remus started.
Snape nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, yes... may I go now?"
"O-of course," the werewolf stuttered.
The head of Slytherin house nodded again and walked off in the opposite direction, leaving a slightly perturbed Remus behind.
* * *
Oh dear, I'm losing my touch....
Chapter 3: Anthroarchaeology
Sirius had left before lunch - despite Harry's enthusiastic pleadings - to go back to Lira. Remus didn't doubt what he'd said earlier about her most likely reaction; knowing Lira, she'd come to Hogwarts herself and fly into a suitable rage.
He had to envy Sirius: it hadn't been so long since he himelf had been in a relationship, but he was definitely beginning to miss the warmth and feeling that came with one. The werewolf didn't think he was desperate for one at present, though with the war coming up, perhaps he needed some gentle support.
But perhaps it's better this way, he mused, I'd be out for most of the time and suffering from stresses the other half'd have no idea how to deal with.
Remus was now in the same room as his best friend's Godson and his own friends - all except Ron - and sharing an interesting conversation on the topic of house elf slavery. Hermione was passionate about this issue and much to his surprise, so was Ron.
Harry had revealed to Remus that Hermione had dug up some interesting information about Green slavery. Some of it she'd put in her leaflets and found herself surrounded by a good sized group, all clamouring for more information from this daring, intelligent young woman about something so disgusting as the slavery of house elves.
"The worst thing is," she was saying, absently stroking Crookshanks, "that they are being taken for granted in such an appalling way. I mean, I know now how they came to be, how their natures have evolved from proud, civilised creatures to squeaking slaves... but the fact that the law doesn't even seem to acknowledge their existence is what angers me most." Hermione had now decided to follow her parents advice and wear her glasses. She'd also learnt how to manage her time a bit better, and was putting almost as much effort into her appearance as she did her studies. Hermione Granger was actually an almost classy, modern, female student.
"If you managed to succeed in changing some of the concerned laws..." Remus put forward.
"Then I could help start encouraging the concern for the well being of the house elves," she shot back immediately, smiling at him. "You know, it's good to have you back, Mr. Lupin..."
"Thank you very much for that, Miss. Granger, and it's Remus now...."
"Very well, *Remus*," she grinned. "It's also Hermione now."
"Very well, Hermione..."
"Oh, stop that now," Harry said, smiling. "We've got the message." He looked up from his books properly and then said, "Hey! Have you told him about your boycott?"
"Oh yeah!" She exclaimed. "Goodness, how could I forget?" Hermione turned to Remus. "We're planning to cause severe disruptions in the Ministry of Magic on Friday, 13th June... who knows? We might get into the headlines!" She giggled. "But seriously, would you like to be part of one of the marches?"
"I'd have to think about it..."
"Of course, of course! I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Moony." Remus put on a shocked face and they all laughed.
The laughter finally subsided. "Where's Ron?" Remus asked.
"Probably sampling some of the imported cuisine," Hermione replied sardonically, a twinkle in her eye. She must have been referring to the French exchange students that had arrived two weeks ago. Harry was smirking in his books and Remus trying to keep a smile off his face: he knew about Harry's dark haired beau, Georgia, but not about Ron's own blonde conquests. "Not just with tomato ketchup, but with *barbecue* sauce as well!"
Remus hadn't got the underlying message at first but Harry burst out laughing.
He gave the boy a quizzical look, but Harry couldn't stop for a while. Finally, he said, "We had a certain Sebastien asking for a 'Rronaild'," complete with the accent. "We've had a Lucas, two Jean- Pierres and a Tomas. Not to mention the girls..."
It was then that the werewolf understood Hermione's reference to different condiments, and he too started to laugh.
She could be very funny when she wanted to: her rising popularity thanks to SPEW must have helped with the evolution of this newish Hermione Granger, Remus thought to himself. Well, well, well, he began to wonder what else had changed.
* * *
"Severus?"
"Yes, ma?"
He held out the lock of hair and continued to brush it, starting from near the end and gently working his way inwards. Opposite him, his older sister, Eleni, was plaiting the wavy, reddish blonde hair. She looked up at him quickly and smiled. Severus smiled back.
"How many strokes have you done back there?"
"Oh!" The eleven year old blushed. "I lost count."
Tessa Snape laughed. "Wretched boy, you were day dreaming again. What was it about this time, darling?"
"Nothing, ma."
"Oh, now that's lovely: you're brushing your own mother's hair and you can't daydream about *anything* at all?" The two eldest of her children tried to hide their smiles at their mother's mock harsh tone. "You always seem so far away, Severus."
"I'm not really."
"Hmmm... how is school going, Eleni?" Severus began to concentrate on letting the hair fall straight, not to get mussed as he brushed the other sections.
"Oh, it's alright, ma... getting on. I'm still getting top marks, so you needn't worry about that."
"What about boys?"
Eleni laughed. "Mother, you and Papa sent me to a girls boarding school for a reason!" Severus liked the way his sister laughed. She never seemed to take offence at anything and only got bossy when she was either every concerned or tired. Her laugh was like a friendly cackle and made Severus think of the time when she'd be like Ma, older, perhaps with children of her own.
What about him?
"You're not answering the question, my dear."
"There are no boys for over a 500 acre radius from our school!"
"Oh well... what about you, Severus?"
Eleni scoffed. "He's too young for girls: at that age, they think they're all icky." Tessa laughed loudly, her strange violet eyes flashing. Severus simply began to pay more attention to his mother's luxurious hair than the conversation.
"Is the rest of school going on alright?"
"Uh-huh."
"Made friends?"
"Uh-huh."
"Studying for the end of year exams?"
"Yup."
"Hard?"
"Very hard, ma." He answered. "I'm putting all I've got into it."
"Stop with the sarcasm, darling." Tessa yawned. Severus had finished brushing her hair and Eleni was almost done with plaiting it. "Dear me, I've been offered another part in...-Oh! Odds bobs! Hurry up, Eleni... Jona wants coddling." Eleni began to speed up her weaving of the hair, but trying to maintain the regular shape and pattern.
No sooner had she finished then her mother flew from her seat and hurried towards the distant sound of six year old Jona.
Sighing, Eleni sat down on the bed and cradled her head in her hands. "Oh Sev," she murmured. "It'll be five years since Papa died, next week." She looked so tired and so much older. It scared Severus slightly. "Ma will be fine, I think. It just..."
"Jona doesn't recognise Da in the photos. He doesn't remember him at all." Severus said in a soft voice. "Except for his laugh and his songs."
"Well, that's something."
"I know but..."
The two were silent, before Eleni spoke again. "Are you sure everything is alright at school?"
"Yes. It's only my first year after all. I'm doing okay."
There was a loud bang downstairs followed by the familiar sound of Jona's laughing and their mother's quiet scolding. "She's going to ruin that boy, you know, coddles 'im too much," Eleni said in a good impression of Grandmother Snape's voice. "Ruin 'im an' ruin 'im I say! Ruin 'im!"
Severus laughed.
* * *
It wasn't just school work he was marking, Remus could see that, even from across the staff table. However, it wouldn't be wise to make a statement about it as both McGonagall and Sprout were in the staff room as well.
Snape had been his usual glowering self: he had snarled at several students and whisked through Hogwarts with that black cloak of his billowing behind him.
Now, the man was seated at the table, minding his own business and apparently marking some essays.
He remembered something from their school days. In the running weeks until 'The Prank'. He remembered how tightly strung Snape had seemed, how vicious his insults had become whenever he merely laid eyes on one or more of the Marauders.
But then again, so had Sirius'.
The one that had received the most interesting reaction was when he accused Snape of being 'queer'. That had terrified the young Lupin as by that time, he had already identified his urges as indications of his sexuality. With that insult, it made Lupin's world shrink, even though it wasn't aimed at him. He thought that he couldn't talk to anyone lest they stopped being his friends. The person who it was aimed at, gave Sirius the most haunting look that both men could ever remember, although James had described what Snape had looked like when 'The Prank' had actually taken place. No, Snape's reaction was both disturbing and reassuring, or at least in one sense: Remus felt that a weight had been lifted from his shoulders then replaced with a lighter one, if someone else int he school was gay....
But Snape hadn't snapped back, or given an insult or anything. All emotions seemed to drain from his face, from those black eyes. Even Sirius had found himself stuttering an apology but Snape had already vanished.
Remus shook himself. Looking up around the staff room, he realised that Snape had left and two prefects had entered, both talking to McGonagall.
Excusing himself, he picked up his book and walked out of the room.
He wanted to get to his room, perhaps just for the quietness. He practically ran down swapping stairs and haunted corridors. In truth, he practically ran over Severus Snape.
The man seemed furious, but his eyes showed nothing. It was amazing the emotions that radiated from him, but never seemed to show on his face or in his actions. He brushed himself off after picking up the discarded papers, with frenzie dhelp from Remus who was now babbling, an embarrasing contrast with Snape's emotionless demeanor.
As he picked the papers up, he saw a few pictures. In much of his former life, he had maintained a living by sleight of hand. Using the useful skill, he swept a few up into his pockets in the pretense of putting them with other papers.
"I'm so so*so* sorry...-" Remus started.
Snape nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, yes... may I go now?"
"O-of course," the werewolf stuttered.
The head of Slytherin house nodded again and walked off in the opposite direction, leaving a slightly perturbed Remus behind.
* * *
Oh dear, I'm losing my touch....
