Chapter 17 : Looking like Snape
Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't sue…. Please?
A/N: Though it took longer than I would've liked, Chapter 17 up, and thanks for reading guys. It's really nice when I get your reviews. Thanks.
***
A white owl soared the night sky, wings stretched to the limit. In it's talons was clutched a letter, and as the bird floated down to a dark window, it's feathers flickered a fiery red, before appearing white once more.
The window opened at the sign. The owl fluttered in, and promptly transformed into one red-haired Nymphadora Tonks.
"Severus." She addressed with a smile.
The brooding man in a black cloak gave her a sneer. "Back so soon?"
Tonks only laughed at his sarcasm. It seemed everybody did nowadays, Snape noted with another sneer.
She picked up the letter that had fallen onto the gray carpet. "Letter from Harry. Don't burn it, Snape, give it to Sirius after you're done."
Snape raised an eyebrow and waved one hand. The door to his room swung open, and he motioned for Tonks to leave.
"Yeah, yeah. So you can read that letter in private. I was going anyway." She left, and the door closed with a soft click.
This place, of course, was 12 Grimmauld Place, a manor belonging to the Sirius Black referred to in Harry's letter. It was also Head Quarters of the Order of the Phoenix, a band of Aurors, Witches and Wizards against the followers of You-Know-Who. But in the Order was only one Death Eater. Perhaps the only Death Eater who had been willing to turn against the Dark Lord as a spy.
That man was Severus Snape, who was strangely enough, laughing as he read the letter from his son. A rare sight (or sound) actually, which was probably due to the permanent soundproofing charm placed on the room.
On proper speaking terms with Black? Civility?
You have to admit, that was funny.
~
"Snape. It's Black."
The door shook and the handle rattled as a rather familiar voice came from the other side of Snape's room. Severus groaned inwardly, silently debating whether he should let the man in, or put a strengthening spell on the hinges of the door.
Too late, he realized, when the door's handle broke, and Sirius Black burst into the room.
"Sorry Snape. I'll fix that later…"
Snape glared.
"…Now where's my letter? Tonks said she gave it to you."
Time for some revenge. "I threw it in the fire."
Sirius didn't look impressed. "Right. Now where is it?"
"I read it, and burnt it. Give Tonks the credit."
Sirius only rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay. What if. I read it, and I'll give it back to you?"
Snape only glared more. "Black. Do you not understand the word 'burnt'? Burnt. Cinders. Ash. No longer existing."
"I'll get Molly. I'm sure she'd love to hear how Harry's doing." Sirius was calm.
Molly. Snape weighed the consequences. And decided he'd rather deal with Black than Mother Weasley. Even if Black was such a git. "But you'll return it." It was a statement more than anything. Snape lifted a couple of books, and handed Sirius the letter.
"Sure thing Snape. Promise I won't burn it." Sirius laughed at the glaring man's face, and drifted from the room.
Snape groaned again. How could any sane person survive this house? None. Which is why I'm going to lose it if I don't get out of here.
*
Harry woke up sweaty and panting. Not something unusual. Though the once familiar nightmares he used to encounter almost daily had lessened in number, there still was the occasional. And what he would see in them would always be disturbing.
Many times Harry had wondered if his visions could have been premonitions, and though he had many, many doubts, there would always be that nagging feeling of foreboding in the back of his head. He could never bring himself to speak about any of it either with teachers either. Once of twice he would confer with Ron or Hermione for their opinion, but much and most of it he kept to himself.
He didn't know where he could turn to. And he just hoped that many one day it would all piece together so that he could understand himself.
"Harry?" Ron muffled voice came over his blanket. "You okay?"
"Yeah. I am. Yeah."
Harry turned to the window, and seeing the strong glow of a risen sun, he guessed it was probably just about six-ish. He decided to get up and go to breakfast, because after all, first class was double Potions with Snape.
No. That was wrong, wasn't it? It was double Potions, but Snape no longer taught it. It would be strange having a new teacher, Harry realized. Different without Snape. Even if the entire circumstance was different. What with Snape being his dad and all.
Changing quickly, Harry arrived at the Great Hall to a reasonable number of students who had woken early. Hermione was one of them, and Harry made his way to sit next to her.
"Hey Hermione." Harry pushed a few books from the area in from on him.
Hermione smiled. "Hey Harry. You're early."
"So are you. You do know that studying and eating at the same time can't be good for you, right?"
"It's not proven. And don't worry. I think you'd better be worrying more about your own studying habits."
"Hermione… can you just get off my back for studying?" Harry sounded more frustrated than he had intended.
Hermione looked up surprised, then grinned apologetically. "Sorry Harry. You're right. So how have things been with you?"
"It's been better. You heard who our new Potion's Professor is? And what about Lupin?"
"What about Lupin? He's been with Snape and Sirius and a whole lot of other witches and wizards. I hear it's something important."
Harry raised his eyebrow, "And you know this because…"
"I talked to Ginny." Hermione smiled again. "Mrs. Weasley's there too."
"Where?"
"Ginny doesn't know either. Besides, I doubt we have anything to worry about. I'm more worried about you."
"Me?"
"Yeah. How have those… well, dreams…been going?"
Harry coughed. "It's better. Except Trelawney's starting to scare me. I think she seriously believes I'm foretelling the future in my dreams."
Hermione was suddenly very serious. "Do you believe her?"
"Well, I don't know really…" Then Harry laughed, a real laugh. "I thought you thought Divination was a whole lot of rubbish."
Hermione looked wounded, but she was smiling. "I do. But I guess it doesn't hurt to be prepared for whatever's coming, right?"
"Right."
Hermione was about to tell Harry just who their new Potion's Professor was when, quite suddenly, the last half of Harry's physical changes decided to finish. A flaw in the original Potion was an understatement. In under ten seconds, Harry looked more like Snape than he did…well, Harry.
"Argh." Was all Harry could muster before he and Hermione had rushed off to the bathroom – more accurately, the 3rd floor Girl's abandoned bathroom. Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom. Hermione didn't even bother to pack her books. Both had dropped everything and ran.
"What's happening Harry?" Hermione had called, as they pounded down the corridors and up the stairs. They didn't stop until they were safe inside the bathroom.
"Argh." Harry repeated. He was staring at the mirror, and what stared back at him was more Snape-like than that day he had woken to find he looked like his Potion's Professor. His nose was hooked and barely indistinguishable from his father's. His cheekbones had lifted, and his entire face had become thinner. Even his hair had become straighter, not greasy, but no longer sprouting in all directions at once. Basically, every bit of change that had slowed in the last few weeks had suddenly come screeching back.
"Woah, Harry."
At least his eyes were the same, Harry noted. They're my mum's. Of course they're the same. And his extraordinary scar was still there on his forehead. Just now, he couldn't hide it with his unruly hair. How could it be so sudden? How in the hell am I going to explain this one?
"Harry?"
"Argh. Just… argh."
***
haha.. fun. Fun to write. I've been in these really 'high-on-air' moods lately. Thus, my chapters are fast becoming strange, slow and pointless. They're actually dragging quite a bit lately, but I'll try and speed things up soon. Don't kill me, I'll try to find my plot in the next chapter.
Thanks Corgi1, azntgr01, Prophetess of Hearts, darkdragon32, dying angel1 (a.k.a. fallen angel =p), Charma1219, firefox, Cassie, Jubilee Black, Inyisa and anyone and everyone else who reviewed.
Gigglefish18, a WIP is a Work in Progress, and if you, or anyone else's up for reading a Snape/Hermione fic, I started one, called For What It's Worth. I also started a Draco/Hermione fic, Ashes and Dust, and I'd love it if you went and read it.
Also, it anyone else would like me to email them when I do the next chapter, I'd be delighted. Just ask, and leave me your email address =)
Please review…
