Well... I realized I haven't been putting the songs in again... Listening to One Headlight by the Wallflowers (did I use that already?) as I'm final-proofing this, so consider that the song for the chapter... REM's 'Nightswimming' is an even better song I think, this is just off the random collection I've got with me, not the 8 hundred something collection in the other room. *shrug* I don't think anyone actually cares what I feel goes with this, but oh well. :P Still don't own it.
Ch 14: Journey to Snape Manor
"Fashionably late, eh?" Moody grumbled, tapping his foot. Harry grinned sheepishly and they opened the doors and headed towards the gates. Belldani was on the other side, reading a piece of parchment, when they approached and he saw it was a letter of some sort when they got nearer.
"Belldani!" Harry called. She turned, smiling and waving. Moody opened the gate and Harry stepped outside school grounds, pretending not to notice as Belldani slipped the paper out of sight.
"How are you, Potter?" she asked with a smile and greeted Moody as well.
"You don't seem upset to me," he remarked suspiciously and Belldani laughed.
"I'm sorry, Moody, I suppose I should be, shouldn't I? I was reading a letter from… a friend, that's all and, well, it is good to see you… Both of you. " Belldani looked around. "It's just… No rainbow colored goats around, right?"
Harry didn't quite get it as Moody burst out laughing, slapping his thigh.
"I was worried for a minute there, girl… You're no phony, alright. Only those who are staying with Aberworth can see those goats, otherwise they look like plain, ordinary sheep. " Moody explained and Belldani nodded, her smile fading.
"I suppose we should be getting to the Leaky Cauldron," she said wearily. The Professor led the way into Hogsmeade.
"Belldani, I have something to confess," Harry said after a bit of quiet walking, "It started on the train… Draco tried to start a fight, as usual, then he said something not quite nice referring to you. I defended you, and the people I was with - friends of mine that aren't involved in all this - sort of… Found out that I knew you. And now I think most of Gryffindor knows that Snape was married and that I know his wife so…"
"So?" Belldani asked, lowering her voice as they walked down the main street, "I don't think its worth worry about; I'm not ashamed of what I did. Don't go publicly announcing me or anything, but well… Tell you later."
They were entering the pub now, and Moody strode to the fireplace.
"Ladies first," he muttered, holding the jar of Floo powder out to Belldani. She took a handful and threw it into the flames and stepped in, speaking quietly but clear, "Snape Manor." Harry and Moody each did the same.
When the spinning stopped, Harry fell forward out of the fireplace. There was a timid looking house-elf staring at him and glancing around, he realized he was in the kitchen.
"Sorry about that," Harry said kindly and it backed away, frightened.
"Master will not be pleased! Intruder!" it screamed. Harry sighed, brushing soot from his hair. Immediately the creature stopped.
"Who is you?" it asked and Harry responded.
"Harry Potter!" it clapped its hands excitedly, "Me is Zippy, Harry Potter sir! Zippy's friend Dobby has told Zippy all about Harry Potter's greatness!"
This was one of those times that Harry desperately wished he could have strangled Dobby the first time they met and spared himself a world of headaches. Zippy was going on and on, and finally Harry interrupted.
"Can you take me to some of the other fireplaces around here?" he asked, and Zippy tilted his head and looked at him curiously.
"My friends came with me, but I think we got separated," Harry explained. Zippy nodded, leading the way out of the spotless, but obviously unused, kitchen.
"Who is Harry Potter's friend? Is it the kind Her-my-ownie? Or the great Ron?" Zippy asked. Harry made a mental note to tell the two that they were well-known among house elfs.
"Belldani Snape," he answered, and Zippy froze. "She married Professor Snape."
"Master was married? Zippy did not know! Zippy must find his new Mistress!" he yelped and ran off. Harry knew why Zippy was named so - the elf was quite a fast runner and he was out of breath by the time they reached the third floor where Belldani and Moody were standing in the hallway. Just beyond them was a fireplace.
"Mistress!" Zippy was bowing at Belldani's feet; she looked mildly surprised.
"There you are, Potter," Moody growled, "Gave this one here a real fright when you didn't show up." Harry pointed to Zippy.
"I ended up in the kitchen," he apologized, "I found the house-elf though."
"You have no need to apologize, Zippy," Belldani interrupted the small creature's endless stream of self-abusive chatter. "I am only sorry that I have to meet you in these circumstances. From what rooms I've seen so far, you are a very hard-working and loyal elf." Zippy blushed and bowed to her again.
"Mistress is far too kind to Zippy! Zippy was only making sure the house would be ready for Master's return! Zippy did not know Master would be bringing a wife!" he piped, and Belldani felt a lump rise in her throat.
"Zippy, that is why I am here," she said, kneeling in front of the elf. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Moody and Harry walking off, giving her some space. "Mas- Severus... and I were married earlier this summer, but we hadn't had a chance to come here yet. I was honored to be his wife… He died, Zippy, leaving the house to me. " she said quietly, feeling tears struggling to be released. "I loved him, Zippy. It was very hard to see him go… That is what stopped me from coming sooner." Zippy stared at her in shock.
"Mistress is the only Snape Zippy has left to serve," he said finally. Belldani nodded.
"Will you show me the house?" Belldani asked, looking around. She saw neither of the men she came with. Zippy agreed and Belldani called for Harry and Moody. They were in one of the rooms near the head of the stairs. Zippy pointed out the room as one of the guest rooms. The entire third floor was made up of guest rooms, as it turned out, or former bedrooms of the family. The second floor was the library, which Belldani savored slowly, realizing that there were many titles by Muggle authors, something she had not had much access to before. They had been added by Arnold Snape, Severus' uncle who had been a Squib, and forced to attend Muggle schooling.
"What happened to him?" Harry asked, recognizing some that he had read in primary school.
"Master Arnold was killed in an accident with a Muggle auto-mobily," Zippy squeaked. Harry corrected, "Automobile." Moody shook his head, walking back out into the hallway. Belldani followed with Zippy and Harry. They crossed to the other wing.
"This was Master's bedroom," Zippy said to Belldani sadly, "Does Mistress wish to enter? Zippy has put the things of Master's that Dumbledore has sent him in here."
Belldani nodded, steeling herself. The door opened slowly. The curtains were drawn shut, but as she entered, candles flickered into being. It was dark still - wood paneling covered the walls and the floor was thick green carpeting. The ceiling was black, as were the curtains and the coverings on the four poster bed against the far wall. A large box was in the center of the room. To the left was a wardrobe and desk, another chest was to the right as was a door.
"Should we stay here?" Harry called. Belldani shook her head no. "You can come in, it's alright," she replied. The door to the right was a bathroom, a black porcelain tub with claw feet, toilet, sink and small set of drawers were all that were there. Belldani was surprised that there was no mirror.
Moody sat on the chair from the desk and Harry stood near the box.
"Are you going to open it?" he asked. Belldani bit her lip.
"I… I don't know. I suppose I should…" she looked to Moody, who shrugged.
"You've got all your life to go through that," he said gruffly, "Up to you to decide when." Belldani thought for a moment. Zippy returned with tea, which only Moody accepted.
"Alohamora," Belldani said finally, and the box's lid lifted and floated to the floor. Inside were more boxes, bound with string.
"Can you help me with this, Harry?" Belldani asked quietly. Harry lifted a box, sliding the string off.
"These are just quills, ink and such," he said, putting the box on the floor. Belldani lifted another larger box out.
"Clothes - winter cloak and robes," she sighed, inhaling the scent that was left in them. Zippy took the things they were unpacking and rushed about, putting them in their proper place. Moody stalked off, Belldani heard him clunking down the steps to the main floor.
"This one's his Pensieve," Harry said, holding it towards her, "Do you want to…?" Belldani placed it on the chest in the corner.
"That I'll wait for," she said, "I'm not sure I even ought to see his memories…" They kept working, most of what was left were books, and finally they were down to the last box, which was the largest in the box. It was different from the others, being sealed shut.
"Might as well," Belldani sighed and waved her wand, unlocking it. Harry went to raise the lid, but it refused to budge. He looked up at her. Belldani shrugged and tried; this time it lifted as if it were light with a feather.
"Maybe its enchanted so only certain people can open it," she suggested and realized Harry was staring at what was inside. It was his Death Eater's robes. She lifted them gingerly and put them aside from the other clothes.
"Moody can destroy those," she told Harry and they both looked into the box. There were pictures and some thin books left. Harry shifted the photos into a stack and handed them to Belldani. She sat back and began looking at them, jaw dropped.
"Oh this is creepy," she murmured. Harry scooted to see, "They're me… wait, these ones are really old now, look at the clothes! The recent ones are me, but these are some other girl… I think she's got red hair…" Belldani squinted at the black and white moving pictures, not realizing Harry was looking slightly ill. "Yes, red, curly hair… Some of these have a guy in them too… He looks like you, Harry!" Belldani held one up for him to see.
"That's my mum… and dad," Harry looked away. Belldani nearly dropped them, gasping.
"No way… Sev must've had a thing for your mom when he was our age," She glanced at the others, the last of which was the woman, Harry's mum, holding a small bundle. She handed it to Harry, who would not look at it.
"I know that they're weird to accept, because of whose they were and all," she said softly, "But keep at least this one… It's you and your mum, Harry. This must have been when he realized it was hopeless to keep pining for her…" Harry finally looked at it. A small hand waved from the bundle and he could see a tuft of black hair.
"Thanks, Belldani," he said quietly and she tilted her head.
"There's a date on the back, Potter," she told him, "What is it?" Harry flipped it over.
"August 2, 1980," he read, "Two days after my birthday." Belldani had picked up one of the books.
"It's a diary," she mused, flipping through it, "The oldest is from 1972…" She stopped to read it, "He was a first year then…" There were 7 bundled together, obviously one for each year at Hogwarts. Four were not tied up, and Belldani put them in her lap.
"1980, 1981, 1994… 1995." Belldani held the last one in shaking hands.
"Why don't you take that with you?" Harry suggested, "You can read it later…" Belldani shook her head and picked up all four.
"I want to know what happened these years that made him keep a diary," she said, holding them close to her heart. "I can't stay here any more today, Harry, let's get Moody and go." Harry put a hand on her shoulder supportively.
"Say goodbye to Zippy," he reminded and she snickered.
"Thanks, Mum."
Harry slapped her arm playfully. "Eat your vegetables and wash behind your ears," he joked, talking in a falceto(1) imitation of a woman. The two teenagers were cracking up when Moody found them, going down the stairs.
"All ready?" He asked and Belldani nodded.
"For now," she added, "I'll be back when I can… I don't want to come back here by myself." Zippy held out a small bag that Harry took.
"Lunch for Mistress! To go!" he chirped and Belldani laughed.
"Thank you very much, Zippy," she smiled, "I will owl you when I plan to visit next, will that be alright?" Zippy nodded eagerly, ears flopping.
"Zippy will have the house perfect for Mistress!" he promised and Moody clunked towards the sitting room.
"Big place you got here, Snape," he told her as she looked around the room one last time.
"Yeah… there's a whole floor I haven't even seen," she admitted and looked thoughtfully back towards the foyer where Zippy had been.
(1) I can't spell. But just when a guy is pretending to talk like a woman and everyone knows hes being goofy.
