A/N: Happy One-Year and one week anniversary chapter!!! Extra-long, but
my standards. Enjoy!
Hotels and Hubble Telescopes*****
Jessica stepped off the Metro train onto the station platform. Waiting for her companions, she watched as the rest unboarded. Kitty and Courtney got off just like they did this every day. Mr. Luke walked off with a nervous smile. Beside him was Ms. Manor, whose thin lips very tight and her eyes focused dead ahead, as though to keep her from noticing her surroundings. Mr. Scots stepped off soon behind them, his face paler that usual.
When all were congregated near the Metro route sign, Kitty piped, "Well, that was fun!" Groans and glares were immediately directed towards her, causing Jessica to laugh silently.
Ms. Manor immediately took charge. "We're going to be in DC for a while, it seems. So we'll need a place to stay."
"We won't be here long enough to get an apartment. So, how about a hotel?" said Mr. Luke. Ms. Manor and Mr. Scots nodded their consent.
"Um," Jessica spoke up. "Usually you need a reservation for hotel rooms."
Mr. Luke was not disheartened. "That's quite all right. I'm sure we can find one." Jessica shrugged. "All right, so we're getting hotel rooms. Severus, you go take care of that. There is no point in all of us traipsing all over town. Minerva and will stay here with the girls. But go ahead and take Miss Jessica with you. She'll be your guide." He smiled at Jessica, while Mr. Scots muttered something to himself.
"Okay, see ya later." Jessica took some money from Courtney, grabbed a map and headed for the escalator. With one last glare at Mr. Luke, Mr. Scots followed.
*
"Why, Miss Jessica, I believe you have proceeded to get us lost."
"For the last time, we're not lost," she snapped as they turned another corner. "It should be right here...there! There it is." She pointed across the street to a large building with glass front doors and old- looking-but-not-really-old architecture. "Let's go."
They crossed the quiet street and passed through the glass doors. Walking up to the front desk, Jessica rang the little silver bell. When a man came to the desk and asked, "How may I help you?" she opened her mouth to speak but then realized he wasn't even looking at her. 'Oh duh,' she thought. 'Kids don't make hotel reservations.' She turned to Mr. Scots, who remained suprisingly calm.
Mr. Scots replied calmly, "We would like three rooms please." The man behind the desk typed some things into the computer, while asking questions in a low monotone voice.
"Smoking or non-smoking?"
"Non-smoking."
"Handicapped?"
"No."
"Suite?"
"Er.no."
Finally the man looked up from the screen. "I am sorry sir, we only have two rooms at the present time."
Mr. Scots grimaced, for this meant he would not get a room alone. "We'll take them." Jessica quickly counted out some money and handed it to Mr. Scots, who then handed it to the man.
The man handed him two keys. "Have a nice day," he said before disappearing into the office.
Jessica looked at Mr. Scots. "Now what?"
"We go find Mr. Luke and Mrs. Manor and their charges."
*
After leaving the station, Courtney and Kitty discovered that they were quite near the Smithsonian. "Oh! Let's go to the Air & Space museam. Please?" begged Kitty. Mr. Luke nodded, knowing they needed something to pass the time. When they got there, Kitty and Courtney turned into little kids, wanting to look at everything at once, even though each had been here about ten times.
Ms. Manor looked around the main hall. Above them were aircrafts of all kinds. Hallways lead to various exhibits. People milled around, many with kids. While the girls explored a walk-in space capsule, she read how muggles first created flight machines. "Amazing," said Mr. Luke, coming up beside her. "We had brooms since practically forever, and it took them this long to get in the air."
She was about to respond when the girls came up, telling them they all should go up to the exhibit upstairs. Before they could go anywhere, someone called, "Courtney! Kitty!"
Courtney's eyes went wide. "Oh shoot..."
*
Jessica and Mr. Scots arrived at the Metro station, only to find that the girls and teacher weren't there. "This is just what we should have expected from that Lupin," fumed Mr. Scots. "The moment I leave, the moment we start working, he just quits. And he took them with him."
Jessica looked around, then smiled. "They didn't ditch us."
Mr. Scots glared at her. "And how do you know?"
"We're right near the Smithsonian."
"So?"
"So, they went to the Air & Space museum." She began to walk to the building, motioning for him to follow. He was surprised when they reached the entrance and saw Mr. Luke and Ms. Manor inside.
"How did you know they would be here?"
Jessica smirked then grinned innocently. "No child can resist the Air & Space museum, even if they've been her ten times." The headed through the doors and started over to where the two teachers and now the two girls stood. Suddenly, Jessica stopped dead in her tracks. Mr. Scots noticed this and also stopped. "What is it?" he said sharply.
"Oh shoot..."
*
Emily waved to Courtney and Kitty from across the main hall, then hurried over to them, her parents not far behind. She noticed her friends were with two people, a man and a woman, who looked very familiar. She had been having trouble remembering things all day. "What are you all doing here?" she asked once she had reached them.
"Um," Courtney said. "We're just looking around."
"Who are they?" Emily looked closely at the tow adults. They looked so familiar...
"Um, these? I mean, them?" She searched her mind for an excuse. "They're my- our parents." Emily looked at her, very confused. Courtney caught herself quickly. "I mean, they're from our drama troupe. They- they play our parents. Yeah."
Emily still looked skeptical. "Why weren't you at school today? Either of you."
Kitty jumped in with, "That's part of the acting troupe. We have to take off school until like winter break, 'cause we have to travel and stuff."
"Really? I didn't know they let you get off school that long for that."
"Well, you know. For child stars, they make exceptions"
"What show are you doing?"
"Er-" Kitty looked at Courtney. But then Ms. Manor spoke.
"A theatrical adaptation of Secret Garden. It's an off-Braodway production." Courtney and Kitty looked at her, eyes slightly wide.
Emily smiled. "Cool. So, are you performing in DC?"
"No," said Courtney. "We're going up north really soon, after we finish up rehearsals."
"Oh, I see. Well, I got to go. See you all soon. Call me if you can!" They waved as Emily walked away. When she was out of sight, all of them let out a deep breath no one knew they were holding. The girls turned to Ms. Manor again awestruck. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
Mr. Luke looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "Since when do you know anything about Muggle theater?"
The woman flushed ever so slightly. "Everyone has a hobby." At that she walked over to where she saw Severus and Jessica waiting. Mr. Luke watched her go, then turned to the girls, both of which were grinning. He smiled and followed her. Kitty and Courtney looked at eachother. There was no way she was going to hear the end of this.
*
"Did you get the rooms?" Ms. Manor asked.
"Yes. Two," Mr. Scot answered. "That was all they had."
Mr. Luke thought for a moment. "Well, I suppose it truly depends on how the rooms are layed out and how many they sleep. But, the ladies can have one room and Severus and I shall share the other one."
Mr. Scots sneered at him. "Why don't we just see what's there first." He led the way out of the museum and towards the hotel. With a quick wave at her friends, Jessica hurried to catch up with him, knowing that despite his confident stride, he had little clue where he was going.
*
Jessica was showing Mr. Luke how to unlock the room door, when Courtney came out of their room right next door. "I think we're going to have to rethink the sleeping arrangements."
"Why?" asked Jessica, quickly opening Mr. Luke's door for him. Inside were one queen size bed and a sofa, which after a quick check, was indeed a sofa bed. She walked back out and into the other room, which was the same. "She's right."
This took a while for Mr. Luke to think out. Finally he said, "The adults will sleep in one room, the young ladies in the other." Then he disappeared into his own room. Snape sneered at no one in particular.
Going into her own room, she went over to where Courtney was, sitting on the bed figuring out the TV remote. "Aw man, it's just cable. Hey, they have video games."
"How are we going to sleep?"
"Lying down."
"I mean where?"
"I dunno. I guess two to the big bed and one to the sofa bed. I want the big bed." Courtney claimed her spot by spreading out on it. At that moment, Kitty came out of the bathroom and immediately dove onto the bed. The two began to fight over who got which side of the bed.
Rolling her eyes, Jessica declared to anyone who was listening, "I'll take the sofa bed." Looking at her watch she saw it was already 9:30 PM. 'Wow, time flew by fast.' Suddenly she realized how tired she was. She quickly made her bed, then immediately crawled under the covers. Her last two thoughts before drifting off were what the sleeping arrangements of those next door must be, and how uncomfortable the sofa bed was.
*
On the other side of the wall, Severus was lying on the sofa bed, trying to get comfortable, which he realized was impossible on such a bed. He looked over at the large bed in which Remus and Minerva both slept, as far away from eachother as possible. He smirked. This was bound to be an interesting mission. Soon sleep overtook him as the droning sounds of a television passed through the walls.
A/N: Cake and cookies for everyone! Extra if you review!
Hotels and Hubble Telescopes*****
Jessica stepped off the Metro train onto the station platform. Waiting for her companions, she watched as the rest unboarded. Kitty and Courtney got off just like they did this every day. Mr. Luke walked off with a nervous smile. Beside him was Ms. Manor, whose thin lips very tight and her eyes focused dead ahead, as though to keep her from noticing her surroundings. Mr. Scots stepped off soon behind them, his face paler that usual.
When all were congregated near the Metro route sign, Kitty piped, "Well, that was fun!" Groans and glares were immediately directed towards her, causing Jessica to laugh silently.
Ms. Manor immediately took charge. "We're going to be in DC for a while, it seems. So we'll need a place to stay."
"We won't be here long enough to get an apartment. So, how about a hotel?" said Mr. Luke. Ms. Manor and Mr. Scots nodded their consent.
"Um," Jessica spoke up. "Usually you need a reservation for hotel rooms."
Mr. Luke was not disheartened. "That's quite all right. I'm sure we can find one." Jessica shrugged. "All right, so we're getting hotel rooms. Severus, you go take care of that. There is no point in all of us traipsing all over town. Minerva and will stay here with the girls. But go ahead and take Miss Jessica with you. She'll be your guide." He smiled at Jessica, while Mr. Scots muttered something to himself.
"Okay, see ya later." Jessica took some money from Courtney, grabbed a map and headed for the escalator. With one last glare at Mr. Luke, Mr. Scots followed.
*
"Why, Miss Jessica, I believe you have proceeded to get us lost."
"For the last time, we're not lost," she snapped as they turned another corner. "It should be right here...there! There it is." She pointed across the street to a large building with glass front doors and old- looking-but-not-really-old architecture. "Let's go."
They crossed the quiet street and passed through the glass doors. Walking up to the front desk, Jessica rang the little silver bell. When a man came to the desk and asked, "How may I help you?" she opened her mouth to speak but then realized he wasn't even looking at her. 'Oh duh,' she thought. 'Kids don't make hotel reservations.' She turned to Mr. Scots, who remained suprisingly calm.
Mr. Scots replied calmly, "We would like three rooms please." The man behind the desk typed some things into the computer, while asking questions in a low monotone voice.
"Smoking or non-smoking?"
"Non-smoking."
"Handicapped?"
"No."
"Suite?"
"Er.no."
Finally the man looked up from the screen. "I am sorry sir, we only have two rooms at the present time."
Mr. Scots grimaced, for this meant he would not get a room alone. "We'll take them." Jessica quickly counted out some money and handed it to Mr. Scots, who then handed it to the man.
The man handed him two keys. "Have a nice day," he said before disappearing into the office.
Jessica looked at Mr. Scots. "Now what?"
"We go find Mr. Luke and Mrs. Manor and their charges."
*
After leaving the station, Courtney and Kitty discovered that they were quite near the Smithsonian. "Oh! Let's go to the Air & Space museam. Please?" begged Kitty. Mr. Luke nodded, knowing they needed something to pass the time. When they got there, Kitty and Courtney turned into little kids, wanting to look at everything at once, even though each had been here about ten times.
Ms. Manor looked around the main hall. Above them were aircrafts of all kinds. Hallways lead to various exhibits. People milled around, many with kids. While the girls explored a walk-in space capsule, she read how muggles first created flight machines. "Amazing," said Mr. Luke, coming up beside her. "We had brooms since practically forever, and it took them this long to get in the air."
She was about to respond when the girls came up, telling them they all should go up to the exhibit upstairs. Before they could go anywhere, someone called, "Courtney! Kitty!"
Courtney's eyes went wide. "Oh shoot..."
*
Jessica and Mr. Scots arrived at the Metro station, only to find that the girls and teacher weren't there. "This is just what we should have expected from that Lupin," fumed Mr. Scots. "The moment I leave, the moment we start working, he just quits. And he took them with him."
Jessica looked around, then smiled. "They didn't ditch us."
Mr. Scots glared at her. "And how do you know?"
"We're right near the Smithsonian."
"So?"
"So, they went to the Air & Space museum." She began to walk to the building, motioning for him to follow. He was surprised when they reached the entrance and saw Mr. Luke and Ms. Manor inside.
"How did you know they would be here?"
Jessica smirked then grinned innocently. "No child can resist the Air & Space museum, even if they've been her ten times." The headed through the doors and started over to where the two teachers and now the two girls stood. Suddenly, Jessica stopped dead in her tracks. Mr. Scots noticed this and also stopped. "What is it?" he said sharply.
"Oh shoot..."
*
Emily waved to Courtney and Kitty from across the main hall, then hurried over to them, her parents not far behind. She noticed her friends were with two people, a man and a woman, who looked very familiar. She had been having trouble remembering things all day. "What are you all doing here?" she asked once she had reached them.
"Um," Courtney said. "We're just looking around."
"Who are they?" Emily looked closely at the tow adults. They looked so familiar...
"Um, these? I mean, them?" She searched her mind for an excuse. "They're my- our parents." Emily looked at her, very confused. Courtney caught herself quickly. "I mean, they're from our drama troupe. They- they play our parents. Yeah."
Emily still looked skeptical. "Why weren't you at school today? Either of you."
Kitty jumped in with, "That's part of the acting troupe. We have to take off school until like winter break, 'cause we have to travel and stuff."
"Really? I didn't know they let you get off school that long for that."
"Well, you know. For child stars, they make exceptions"
"What show are you doing?"
"Er-" Kitty looked at Courtney. But then Ms. Manor spoke.
"A theatrical adaptation of Secret Garden. It's an off-Braodway production." Courtney and Kitty looked at her, eyes slightly wide.
Emily smiled. "Cool. So, are you performing in DC?"
"No," said Courtney. "We're going up north really soon, after we finish up rehearsals."
"Oh, I see. Well, I got to go. See you all soon. Call me if you can!" They waved as Emily walked away. When she was out of sight, all of them let out a deep breath no one knew they were holding. The girls turned to Ms. Manor again awestruck. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
Mr. Luke looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "Since when do you know anything about Muggle theater?"
The woman flushed ever so slightly. "Everyone has a hobby." At that she walked over to where she saw Severus and Jessica waiting. Mr. Luke watched her go, then turned to the girls, both of which were grinning. He smiled and followed her. Kitty and Courtney looked at eachother. There was no way she was going to hear the end of this.
*
"Did you get the rooms?" Ms. Manor asked.
"Yes. Two," Mr. Scot answered. "That was all they had."
Mr. Luke thought for a moment. "Well, I suppose it truly depends on how the rooms are layed out and how many they sleep. But, the ladies can have one room and Severus and I shall share the other one."
Mr. Scots sneered at him. "Why don't we just see what's there first." He led the way out of the museum and towards the hotel. With a quick wave at her friends, Jessica hurried to catch up with him, knowing that despite his confident stride, he had little clue where he was going.
*
Jessica was showing Mr. Luke how to unlock the room door, when Courtney came out of their room right next door. "I think we're going to have to rethink the sleeping arrangements."
"Why?" asked Jessica, quickly opening Mr. Luke's door for him. Inside were one queen size bed and a sofa, which after a quick check, was indeed a sofa bed. She walked back out and into the other room, which was the same. "She's right."
This took a while for Mr. Luke to think out. Finally he said, "The adults will sleep in one room, the young ladies in the other." Then he disappeared into his own room. Snape sneered at no one in particular.
Going into her own room, she went over to where Courtney was, sitting on the bed figuring out the TV remote. "Aw man, it's just cable. Hey, they have video games."
"How are we going to sleep?"
"Lying down."
"I mean where?"
"I dunno. I guess two to the big bed and one to the sofa bed. I want the big bed." Courtney claimed her spot by spreading out on it. At that moment, Kitty came out of the bathroom and immediately dove onto the bed. The two began to fight over who got which side of the bed.
Rolling her eyes, Jessica declared to anyone who was listening, "I'll take the sofa bed." Looking at her watch she saw it was already 9:30 PM. 'Wow, time flew by fast.' Suddenly she realized how tired she was. She quickly made her bed, then immediately crawled under the covers. Her last two thoughts before drifting off were what the sleeping arrangements of those next door must be, and how uncomfortable the sofa bed was.
*
On the other side of the wall, Severus was lying on the sofa bed, trying to get comfortable, which he realized was impossible on such a bed. He looked over at the large bed in which Remus and Minerva both slept, as far away from eachother as possible. He smirked. This was bound to be an interesting mission. Soon sleep overtook him as the droning sounds of a television passed through the walls.
A/N: Cake and cookies for everyone! Extra if you review!