The little ( ) indicate italics.
*~*~*~
"Well?" asked Susan Tucker, Mary Minor's best friend.
"Well, what?" asked Mary - more commonly called Harry - back.
"How are they?"
"The boarders?"
Susan rolled her eyes. "Of course the boarders. A single dad, hm?" she asked, flashing a mischievous grin.
Harry kept her eyes on the mail she was sorting. "And his daughter."
"Yeah, well, sometimes you've got to put up with the kid to get the guy."
(Ha, fat chance), said Pewter the cat, lolling on the countertop as usual. (More like putting up with the father to get the kid.)
"Trust me, Susan," said Harry firmly, looking directly at Susan. "It's more like putting up with the father to get the kid."
(Hey, think she understood me?)
(I wish) said Tee Tucker, her head on her paws. (Every time I try to tell Mom something I have to do something ridiculous just to get her attention).
(Can you imagine what it would be like if humans did understand us?) mused Mrs. Murphy, the philosophical one. (They'd have to finally acknowledge that we're smarter than they are. It would probably drive them all insane.)
(Yeah!) said Pewter, rising up and slashing air with her keen claws. (Ha ha! Take that, you lousy humans!)
"Pewter, get down from there," Harry admonished. "Anyway," she turned back to Susan. "I think they're both still asleep. Jet lag." Harry made a face, having suffered from jet lag herself.
"The pits," Susan agreed.
*~*~*~
Actually, it wasn't jet lag at all, but simply a very long bus ride on a very strange bus. Severus was, in fact, already awake. Erin was sleeping in the barn, which was kept heated for the horses. There was room in the house, but Erin had been entranced by the thought of sleeping on hay. Severus grimaced. He'd had enough of sleeping on floors by the time he was five; he'd learned to appreciate beds.
Mary had left early for the post office, and he'd pretended to be asleep until she left. He didn't know why the deception, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Mary - he just couldn't call her Harry. It felt too weird to call such a beautiful young woman by a man's name, especially when it was the name of the son of his most hated rival.
It was funny, though. He wouldn't have minded calling her "Draco", even though that particular name belonged to Lucius' son, and Lucius had hurt him far more than James Potter ever had. He wondered if the hypocrisy should bother him, then dismissed the thought.
It had been a rush to leave Hogwarts, and now Severus was making sure they had everything they needed. Their wizard clothes were safely stashed away, and they had enough Muggle coin to last for years. A small, collapsible cauldron and a supply of necessary potion ingredients half- filled his own suitcase, whereas two long, sheathed daggers mainly occupied Erin's. He stretched out one hesitant finger, then stopped just short of the sheathe and drew back. They belonged to Erin, the Guardian of Slytherin. He wasn't at all sure what they would do if he tried to handle them.
But she was going to start handling them soon, if he had anything to say about it. He would teach her himself. Ten years in the Labyrinth had taught him how to use a knife, and with his sarcastic manner he'd called on that knowledge more than once during that time. He lips twitched upward in the faintest of smiles. Oh, he would have no problems teaching her.
*~*~*~*~
The Labyrinth was like nothing Harry had ever seen before, and it was surely better than he had thought.
He had pictured a dark series of caverns occupied only by old beggars and plundering thieves. Instead, he realized that half of the people in the room were his age, and looked mostly normal - if a little thin.
He quickly glanced at Malfoy. The boy's face was as stunned as he felt. Christopher, Nina, and Mariah acted like there was nothing unusual about seeing a knife-fight in the corner next to a quilt stand, or watching a gypsy girl dance on a crude stage while children played marbles below. Then he realized, that to them, it was this that was normal. He wondered what they thought of his world.
It was a quick journey to the place to the Snapes' home, and although it was dark Harry found it surprisingly cosy. True, he and Draco were sleeping on the floor, but it was certainly much more comfortable than a cupboard. Mariah gave them little time to relax. As soon as they had dropped their bags, she pulled them back into the little courtyard.
"Nina is off warning everyone to keep off of your backs," she said briskly, pushing them so that they stood side by side. Harry felt Malfoy direct a look of revulsion his way but ignored it. He had a feeling this was going to be important.
"There are a lot of rules in the Labyrinth, but the most important one is to never attack anyone under the age of nine. After that, they're fair game. I've spoken with the Council members - "
"Council?" asked Harry.
"Yes, Council," said Mariah, with a piercing look that reminded Harry a little of McGonagall. "They are elected once every five years, and make sure the rules are upheld. As I was saying, I've spoken with the Council members, and they've agreed to let you have some time to train. Until then, they're classifying you as Premies - "
"Premies?" interrupted Malfoy.
"Children under nine. No one should molest you for a while, not until you've learned how to use those blades. Now, unsheathe your knives."
His knife was strapped to a belt just above his sneaker. Harry bent over, reached down, and received a prompt slap to the head. He jerked back up to find Mariah staring sternly at him.
"Never bend down. Try again."
This time, Harry kept his head carefully up and squatted a little, rather than bending over. His fingers brushed the handle and he quickly pulled out the sharp knife. He was holding it with his thumb on the top curve of the hilt and his fingers curled beneath, so that the knife was held straight out in front of him. To his surprise, Mariah nodded and smiled.
"Good," she said. "You have nice instincts."
And for the first time, Harry felt a brief touch of hope that this would work.
*~*~*~
"So, who is going to be the Head of House?" asked Sarah. She, Calvin, and Blaise were all sitting in the Slytherin Common Room. The chair next to Sarah was empty. Calvin avoided looking at it.
"Nobody knows," he said, rubbing his dry quill absently over a piece of parchment on his lap.
"With Malfoy gone, you'll probably be made Head Boy," said Blaise in her characteristically cool manner.
"Huh? Me?" Calvin shook his head. "Not a chance."
"You were a friend of Erin's," insisted Blair. The point struck home and Calvin leaned back to think about it.
"You remember before?" he asked, smiling a little. Sarah grinned in response, and Blair's face relaxed into a brief smile.
"The omegas of the pack," said Sarah with a laugh. "And then Erin came along, people learned about her parents."
"And we're at the top," said Calvin. "I guess I finally understand what they mean about karma, and all the good deeds coming back to you three fold."
"As long as we don't think about what happens with bad deeds," said Blair serenely, and all three broke into laughter.
*~*~* Message from the Author *~*~
Sorry it took so long! Every time I tried to log on to FanFic, it wouldn't let me! Okay, I know the chapters have been awfully sporadic lately. Would it help if I e-mailed people whenever I wrote a new one? Also, if you have any suggestions on who the next chapter should focus on - as in, "Erin and Severus", "Erin's friends", "Quirrell and Flamewinged", etc. - let me know. I want to keep the story balanced but still moving onward. Okay, now go review!
*~*~*~
"Well?" asked Susan Tucker, Mary Minor's best friend.
"Well, what?" asked Mary - more commonly called Harry - back.
"How are they?"
"The boarders?"
Susan rolled her eyes. "Of course the boarders. A single dad, hm?" she asked, flashing a mischievous grin.
Harry kept her eyes on the mail she was sorting. "And his daughter."
"Yeah, well, sometimes you've got to put up with the kid to get the guy."
(Ha, fat chance), said Pewter the cat, lolling on the countertop as usual. (More like putting up with the father to get the kid.)
"Trust me, Susan," said Harry firmly, looking directly at Susan. "It's more like putting up with the father to get the kid."
(Hey, think she understood me?)
(I wish) said Tee Tucker, her head on her paws. (Every time I try to tell Mom something I have to do something ridiculous just to get her attention).
(Can you imagine what it would be like if humans did understand us?) mused Mrs. Murphy, the philosophical one. (They'd have to finally acknowledge that we're smarter than they are. It would probably drive them all insane.)
(Yeah!) said Pewter, rising up and slashing air with her keen claws. (Ha ha! Take that, you lousy humans!)
"Pewter, get down from there," Harry admonished. "Anyway," she turned back to Susan. "I think they're both still asleep. Jet lag." Harry made a face, having suffered from jet lag herself.
"The pits," Susan agreed.
*~*~*~
Actually, it wasn't jet lag at all, but simply a very long bus ride on a very strange bus. Severus was, in fact, already awake. Erin was sleeping in the barn, which was kept heated for the horses. There was room in the house, but Erin had been entranced by the thought of sleeping on hay. Severus grimaced. He'd had enough of sleeping on floors by the time he was five; he'd learned to appreciate beds.
Mary had left early for the post office, and he'd pretended to be asleep until she left. He didn't know why the deception, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Mary - he just couldn't call her Harry. It felt too weird to call such a beautiful young woman by a man's name, especially when it was the name of the son of his most hated rival.
It was funny, though. He wouldn't have minded calling her "Draco", even though that particular name belonged to Lucius' son, and Lucius had hurt him far more than James Potter ever had. He wondered if the hypocrisy should bother him, then dismissed the thought.
It had been a rush to leave Hogwarts, and now Severus was making sure they had everything they needed. Their wizard clothes were safely stashed away, and they had enough Muggle coin to last for years. A small, collapsible cauldron and a supply of necessary potion ingredients half- filled his own suitcase, whereas two long, sheathed daggers mainly occupied Erin's. He stretched out one hesitant finger, then stopped just short of the sheathe and drew back. They belonged to Erin, the Guardian of Slytherin. He wasn't at all sure what they would do if he tried to handle them.
But she was going to start handling them soon, if he had anything to say about it. He would teach her himself. Ten years in the Labyrinth had taught him how to use a knife, and with his sarcastic manner he'd called on that knowledge more than once during that time. He lips twitched upward in the faintest of smiles. Oh, he would have no problems teaching her.
*~*~*~*~
The Labyrinth was like nothing Harry had ever seen before, and it was surely better than he had thought.
He had pictured a dark series of caverns occupied only by old beggars and plundering thieves. Instead, he realized that half of the people in the room were his age, and looked mostly normal - if a little thin.
He quickly glanced at Malfoy. The boy's face was as stunned as he felt. Christopher, Nina, and Mariah acted like there was nothing unusual about seeing a knife-fight in the corner next to a quilt stand, or watching a gypsy girl dance on a crude stage while children played marbles below. Then he realized, that to them, it was this that was normal. He wondered what they thought of his world.
It was a quick journey to the place to the Snapes' home, and although it was dark Harry found it surprisingly cosy. True, he and Draco were sleeping on the floor, but it was certainly much more comfortable than a cupboard. Mariah gave them little time to relax. As soon as they had dropped their bags, she pulled them back into the little courtyard.
"Nina is off warning everyone to keep off of your backs," she said briskly, pushing them so that they stood side by side. Harry felt Malfoy direct a look of revulsion his way but ignored it. He had a feeling this was going to be important.
"There are a lot of rules in the Labyrinth, but the most important one is to never attack anyone under the age of nine. After that, they're fair game. I've spoken with the Council members - "
"Council?" asked Harry.
"Yes, Council," said Mariah, with a piercing look that reminded Harry a little of McGonagall. "They are elected once every five years, and make sure the rules are upheld. As I was saying, I've spoken with the Council members, and they've agreed to let you have some time to train. Until then, they're classifying you as Premies - "
"Premies?" interrupted Malfoy.
"Children under nine. No one should molest you for a while, not until you've learned how to use those blades. Now, unsheathe your knives."
His knife was strapped to a belt just above his sneaker. Harry bent over, reached down, and received a prompt slap to the head. He jerked back up to find Mariah staring sternly at him.
"Never bend down. Try again."
This time, Harry kept his head carefully up and squatted a little, rather than bending over. His fingers brushed the handle and he quickly pulled out the sharp knife. He was holding it with his thumb on the top curve of the hilt and his fingers curled beneath, so that the knife was held straight out in front of him. To his surprise, Mariah nodded and smiled.
"Good," she said. "You have nice instincts."
And for the first time, Harry felt a brief touch of hope that this would work.
*~*~*~
"So, who is going to be the Head of House?" asked Sarah. She, Calvin, and Blaise were all sitting in the Slytherin Common Room. The chair next to Sarah was empty. Calvin avoided looking at it.
"Nobody knows," he said, rubbing his dry quill absently over a piece of parchment on his lap.
"With Malfoy gone, you'll probably be made Head Boy," said Blaise in her characteristically cool manner.
"Huh? Me?" Calvin shook his head. "Not a chance."
"You were a friend of Erin's," insisted Blair. The point struck home and Calvin leaned back to think about it.
"You remember before?" he asked, smiling a little. Sarah grinned in response, and Blair's face relaxed into a brief smile.
"The omegas of the pack," said Sarah with a laugh. "And then Erin came along, people learned about her parents."
"And we're at the top," said Calvin. "I guess I finally understand what they mean about karma, and all the good deeds coming back to you three fold."
"As long as we don't think about what happens with bad deeds," said Blair serenely, and all three broke into laughter.
*~*~* Message from the Author *~*~
Sorry it took so long! Every time I tried to log on to FanFic, it wouldn't let me! Okay, I know the chapters have been awfully sporadic lately. Would it help if I e-mailed people whenever I wrote a new one? Also, if you have any suggestions on who the next chapter should focus on - as in, "Erin and Severus", "Erin's friends", "Quirrell and Flamewinged", etc. - let me know. I want to keep the story balanced but still moving onward. Okay, now go review!