I do not own any of this!
Chapter 23
The next day, Harry woke to find himself face down in a familiar pillow once more. Rolling over, he noted with confusion the sun streaming in through the window. Judging by this, Harry was willing to bet it was close to midday, and well past his normal wake up call.
Dressing slowly, he wondered where his mentor was. Going outside, he was surprised to see Snape sitting at the table reading a copy of The Daily Prophet, and sipping what smelled like a coffee. As Snape looked over the paper, Harry bowed.
'Good morning, my lord.'
Snape motioned the seat opposite and replied, his voice slightly sarcastic.
'Good afternoon.'
Harry snorted, but eventually decided to leave well enough alone. Why should he complain if Snape had finally decided to give him a lie in? He would take it and be grateful. Digging into a plate of sausages and fried eggs, Harry kept silent and enjoyed his brunch. He looked up when Snape spoke.
'I don't suppose your Godfather mentioned the fact that he would be arriving today to stay at Hogwarts for a few days?'
Harry dropped his fork, and Snape smirked.
'I thought not. Unfortunately, no where will be open as it is Boxing Day, however, I have arranged for the House Elves to serve us dinner in my private dining room. Most of the professors are going home for New Year, so I have asked the Headmaster to join us also.'
Barely able to contain his excitement, Harry face fell for a moment. Snape noticed, and decided he was feeling merciful.
'I have already asked your friends, and they have accepted. Though I do not *like* your godfather, the Headmaster has explained the situation. As your mentor, it would be inappropriate for me to be on bad terms with you godfather. I have been in touch with him, and you need not worry on that count.'
Harry stood up, forcing himself to form a coherent thank you. After a few seconds, he managed it.
'Thank you, my lord. It was most thoughtful of you.'
Harry bowed as Snape went back to reading his paper, after having extracted permission to be out for the rest of the day. Leaving the dungeons minutes later, Harry had changed into some slightly warmer clothes, and was on his was to meet Ron and Hermione for a long-awaited snowball fight.
By the time it began to get dark, a huge range of activities had been covered. After a huge snowball fight, they had wandered inside and played around with Ron's Quidditch Model. After that came chess, followed by the toasting of marshmallows on the fire. Harry felt more like a boy than he had for many weeks, and he made the most of it. At half past five, Harry left his friends to get ready for the evening, as he himself had to do.
Once out of the shower, Harry dried off, and then pulled on his uniform black trousers. Walking past the mirror towelling his head, he paused, looking at his reflection. He felt butterflies in his stomach. He couldn't even be sure Sirius would recognise him. After all, he had changed massively. A glance of the scars on his back only served to emphasis this fact.
Harry shook his head fiercely, breaking off his chain of thought. The changes were for the good, he told himself. His vision had been corrected, and he had grown massively. He was stronger, and toned, as well as being a lot browner than before. It was good.
Looking back into his eyes, Harry realised something. He wouldn't change it for the world. It had been worth it. And that gave him the confidence to continue.
He swiftly pulled on a creased white shirt, which he chose in place of his normal tunic, laced up his black trainers, and buckled his belt. With one last look in the mirror, he flicked his hair, holstered his wand, and walked out of his room.
As always, the minutes until Sirius was due to arrive felt like hours. Finally tired of his frantic pacing, Snape set him to reciting Latin verbs, something which calmed Harry, but simply reduced Hermione to a fit of giggles.
Hearing the door open, Harry spun, only to be greeted with the twinkling eyes of his Headmaster. Harry groaned, and Snape and Dumbledore exchanges amused looks. It was halfway through 'regis' that finally a knock on the door was heard. Harry stopped, his face panicked suddenly. Thankfully, the door opened quickly, to reveal a slightly nervous looking Sirius standing beyond.
Though Harry was across the far side of the room at the time, the once convict had eyes only for his godson, and raced across the room to envelop Harry in a hug, completely ignoring everyone else. When Harry started to run short of breath, he was released. Satisfied that he was alive, Sirius turned to Dumbledore.
'Hello, Headmaster.'
They shook hands, while Dumbledore shook his head.
'You're no, longer in school, 'Albus', id just fine.' His voice was amused
'Been up on the carpet too many times for that, sir.'
Harry heard Snape snort slightly. Hearing this, Sirius turned, half expecting an insult; instead he was offered a hand, which he duly took.
'I have the same problem. I resort to using 'headmaster'. Safe journey, Black?'
Sirius looked startled for a moment, before smiling gratefully.
Yes, thank you.'
In the background, Harry also bobbed his head in silent gratitude. Snape made no comment as Sirius greeted Ron and Hermione, before leading the group over to the sofas.
As most sat down, Harry took his usual place behind Snape's chair. After a few minutes of trying to have a comfortable conversation, Snape finally got tired of a voice constantly coming from behind him. He ordered Harry to take a seat, but made a point of warning him not to get used to it. With a bow that caused Sirius's eyebrows to shoot up above his hairline, Harry obeyed.
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I know its been a while, and I thank you all for your patience. However, here is the next chapter, I hope you all liked it. I can honestly say today is the first opportunity I have had to sit down and write for a while, so I am trying my best. On this note, holidays start in a week so I should have a bit more time then, but with revision and skiing, I can't promise anything. I'm eternally grateful for reviews, though I don't have the energy right now to draft out individual replies.
One point though, the Mastery is male only, though I guess in all fairness their should be a 'Mistressy' as well. This is not a point I had really considered, so I'm afraid you'll have to be happy with that (Lokia - this is for you)
Thanks for any reviews, the more I get, the more I feel like writing, and thanks again for all your patience. - Pose
Chapter 23
The next day, Harry woke to find himself face down in a familiar pillow once more. Rolling over, he noted with confusion the sun streaming in through the window. Judging by this, Harry was willing to bet it was close to midday, and well past his normal wake up call.
Dressing slowly, he wondered where his mentor was. Going outside, he was surprised to see Snape sitting at the table reading a copy of The Daily Prophet, and sipping what smelled like a coffee. As Snape looked over the paper, Harry bowed.
'Good morning, my lord.'
Snape motioned the seat opposite and replied, his voice slightly sarcastic.
'Good afternoon.'
Harry snorted, but eventually decided to leave well enough alone. Why should he complain if Snape had finally decided to give him a lie in? He would take it and be grateful. Digging into a plate of sausages and fried eggs, Harry kept silent and enjoyed his brunch. He looked up when Snape spoke.
'I don't suppose your Godfather mentioned the fact that he would be arriving today to stay at Hogwarts for a few days?'
Harry dropped his fork, and Snape smirked.
'I thought not. Unfortunately, no where will be open as it is Boxing Day, however, I have arranged for the House Elves to serve us dinner in my private dining room. Most of the professors are going home for New Year, so I have asked the Headmaster to join us also.'
Barely able to contain his excitement, Harry face fell for a moment. Snape noticed, and decided he was feeling merciful.
'I have already asked your friends, and they have accepted. Though I do not *like* your godfather, the Headmaster has explained the situation. As your mentor, it would be inappropriate for me to be on bad terms with you godfather. I have been in touch with him, and you need not worry on that count.'
Harry stood up, forcing himself to form a coherent thank you. After a few seconds, he managed it.
'Thank you, my lord. It was most thoughtful of you.'
Harry bowed as Snape went back to reading his paper, after having extracted permission to be out for the rest of the day. Leaving the dungeons minutes later, Harry had changed into some slightly warmer clothes, and was on his was to meet Ron and Hermione for a long-awaited snowball fight.
By the time it began to get dark, a huge range of activities had been covered. After a huge snowball fight, they had wandered inside and played around with Ron's Quidditch Model. After that came chess, followed by the toasting of marshmallows on the fire. Harry felt more like a boy than he had for many weeks, and he made the most of it. At half past five, Harry left his friends to get ready for the evening, as he himself had to do.
Once out of the shower, Harry dried off, and then pulled on his uniform black trousers. Walking past the mirror towelling his head, he paused, looking at his reflection. He felt butterflies in his stomach. He couldn't even be sure Sirius would recognise him. After all, he had changed massively. A glance of the scars on his back only served to emphasis this fact.
Harry shook his head fiercely, breaking off his chain of thought. The changes were for the good, he told himself. His vision had been corrected, and he had grown massively. He was stronger, and toned, as well as being a lot browner than before. It was good.
Looking back into his eyes, Harry realised something. He wouldn't change it for the world. It had been worth it. And that gave him the confidence to continue.
He swiftly pulled on a creased white shirt, which he chose in place of his normal tunic, laced up his black trainers, and buckled his belt. With one last look in the mirror, he flicked his hair, holstered his wand, and walked out of his room.
As always, the minutes until Sirius was due to arrive felt like hours. Finally tired of his frantic pacing, Snape set him to reciting Latin verbs, something which calmed Harry, but simply reduced Hermione to a fit of giggles.
Hearing the door open, Harry spun, only to be greeted with the twinkling eyes of his Headmaster. Harry groaned, and Snape and Dumbledore exchanges amused looks. It was halfway through 'regis' that finally a knock on the door was heard. Harry stopped, his face panicked suddenly. Thankfully, the door opened quickly, to reveal a slightly nervous looking Sirius standing beyond.
Though Harry was across the far side of the room at the time, the once convict had eyes only for his godson, and raced across the room to envelop Harry in a hug, completely ignoring everyone else. When Harry started to run short of breath, he was released. Satisfied that he was alive, Sirius turned to Dumbledore.
'Hello, Headmaster.'
They shook hands, while Dumbledore shook his head.
'You're no, longer in school, 'Albus', id just fine.' His voice was amused
'Been up on the carpet too many times for that, sir.'
Harry heard Snape snort slightly. Hearing this, Sirius turned, half expecting an insult; instead he was offered a hand, which he duly took.
'I have the same problem. I resort to using 'headmaster'. Safe journey, Black?'
Sirius looked startled for a moment, before smiling gratefully.
Yes, thank you.'
In the background, Harry also bobbed his head in silent gratitude. Snape made no comment as Sirius greeted Ron and Hermione, before leading the group over to the sofas.
As most sat down, Harry took his usual place behind Snape's chair. After a few minutes of trying to have a comfortable conversation, Snape finally got tired of a voice constantly coming from behind him. He ordered Harry to take a seat, but made a point of warning him not to get used to it. With a bow that caused Sirius's eyebrows to shoot up above his hairline, Harry obeyed.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I know its been a while, and I thank you all for your patience. However, here is the next chapter, I hope you all liked it. I can honestly say today is the first opportunity I have had to sit down and write for a while, so I am trying my best. On this note, holidays start in a week so I should have a bit more time then, but with revision and skiing, I can't promise anything. I'm eternally grateful for reviews, though I don't have the energy right now to draft out individual replies.
One point though, the Mastery is male only, though I guess in all fairness their should be a 'Mistressy' as well. This is not a point I had really considered, so I'm afraid you'll have to be happy with that (Lokia - this is for you)
Thanks for any reviews, the more I get, the more I feel like writing, and thanks again for all your patience. - Pose
