As strong as we are united.
Chapter Two - Orange or Blackcurrant?
A very tall man and a very small boy reappeared, hand in hand, on a rutty track in the highlands of Scotland, with not a light, or any other visible sign of civilisation in sight, bar the track the were standing on. The boy stumbled slightly, and the man took his shoulders, steadying him whilst he recovered his balance. After a few moments whilst they recovered their breath, and in total silence, the man strode off along the track, going north, and the boy, who had the unusual habit in a child of not asking questions but simply watching and thereby picking up the answers himself, immediately trotted after him.
Several miles later, it had begun to rain, and a rather puffed little boy was seriously considering uttering the infamous child's cry of "Are we nearly there yet?" when they came to the top of a rise, and in the dim, fading light, the boy in question saw a huge old house, and he gasped, unable to stop the sound from escaping his lips. "Wow".
However, Snape totally ignored the manor house, not even sparing it a single, solitary glance and continued to walk along the track. After another few hundred metres another building came into sight, well hidden in a cleft in the hill. It was an odd looking house, fairly big, but with a sense that the architect had never really planned what he was going to do, and had come up with a totally unique house therefore. It had two stories, and the characteristic that totally endeared it to Harry; a thatched rook with two windows nestled in among the straw.
Snape walked straight up to the front door and knocked twice, paused and knocked again. Harry meanwhile was pinching himself, trying to work out if this was all a very realistic dream he was having. Having decided to a reasonable degree of certainty that it was not a very strange dream, Harry followed the man inside.
They entered a small entrance hall, with stairs going up on one wall, and the other having a bench pushed up against it, with various pieces of footwear underneath and a collection of coats and cloaks hung on pegs above it. As Harry was taking all of this in, he heard Snape's voice "Stay here boy, I'm just going to get us some light, I'll be back shortly".
Without even waiting for a reply, Snape headed for the only visible door and when he returned a few minutes later, he held several lit lamps. He handed one to Harry, who nearly dropped it in shock and walked straight out of the same door he had come in. Harry decided it would be safest to simple stay where he was and do nothing until he was told, he didn't have a clue what was to be expected of him by this distinctly troubled man.
When Snape came in again he had a rough towel in his hand as well as the lamp, this time, he gestured for Harry to follow him, and walked out of the room more slowly. They came into what Harry decided was the kitchen. It had a old, large wooden table with chairs at one end, that looked like they had seen a lot of use, and at the other end of the room, an old fashioned sink and wooden surface, but best of all a big aga with a kettle on top. The room was well lit and, because of the aga warm as toast. Snape pushed Harry in the direction of the aga, and Harry proceeded to warm his back against it. Harry was then shocked when Snape picked up the towel, and vigorously began to towel his hair until it no longer dripped.
When Snape eventually stepped away again, he moved over to the kettle, poured some hot water into two mugs on the side and turned to Harry "Do you want orange or blackcurrant?". Harry gaped. When, after a few seconds had passed and having not received a reply, Snape frowned.
Seeing this Harry managed to pull himself together enough to whisper "Blackcurrant please mister." Snape, who had been about to speak, simply turned, added some purple cordial to both of the steaming mugs and pushed on into Harry's hands. He then steered Harry over to the oak table and into one of the chairs that surrounded it. A few moments later, Harry felt a blanket being wrapped around his shoulders and he looked up.
Snape offered no explanation except pointing to the mug Harry was clenching his cold hands around, "You're supposed to drink that boy, not just look at it". Harry drank.
Chapter Two - Orange or Blackcurrant?
A very tall man and a very small boy reappeared, hand in hand, on a rutty track in the highlands of Scotland, with not a light, or any other visible sign of civilisation in sight, bar the track the were standing on. The boy stumbled slightly, and the man took his shoulders, steadying him whilst he recovered his balance. After a few moments whilst they recovered their breath, and in total silence, the man strode off along the track, going north, and the boy, who had the unusual habit in a child of not asking questions but simply watching and thereby picking up the answers himself, immediately trotted after him.
Several miles later, it had begun to rain, and a rather puffed little boy was seriously considering uttering the infamous child's cry of "Are we nearly there yet?" when they came to the top of a rise, and in the dim, fading light, the boy in question saw a huge old house, and he gasped, unable to stop the sound from escaping his lips. "Wow".
However, Snape totally ignored the manor house, not even sparing it a single, solitary glance and continued to walk along the track. After another few hundred metres another building came into sight, well hidden in a cleft in the hill. It was an odd looking house, fairly big, but with a sense that the architect had never really planned what he was going to do, and had come up with a totally unique house therefore. It had two stories, and the characteristic that totally endeared it to Harry; a thatched rook with two windows nestled in among the straw.
Snape walked straight up to the front door and knocked twice, paused and knocked again. Harry meanwhile was pinching himself, trying to work out if this was all a very realistic dream he was having. Having decided to a reasonable degree of certainty that it was not a very strange dream, Harry followed the man inside.
They entered a small entrance hall, with stairs going up on one wall, and the other having a bench pushed up against it, with various pieces of footwear underneath and a collection of coats and cloaks hung on pegs above it. As Harry was taking all of this in, he heard Snape's voice "Stay here boy, I'm just going to get us some light, I'll be back shortly".
Without even waiting for a reply, Snape headed for the only visible door and when he returned a few minutes later, he held several lit lamps. He handed one to Harry, who nearly dropped it in shock and walked straight out of the same door he had come in. Harry decided it would be safest to simple stay where he was and do nothing until he was told, he didn't have a clue what was to be expected of him by this distinctly troubled man.
When Snape came in again he had a rough towel in his hand as well as the lamp, this time, he gestured for Harry to follow him, and walked out of the room more slowly. They came into what Harry decided was the kitchen. It had a old, large wooden table with chairs at one end, that looked like they had seen a lot of use, and at the other end of the room, an old fashioned sink and wooden surface, but best of all a big aga with a kettle on top. The room was well lit and, because of the aga warm as toast. Snape pushed Harry in the direction of the aga, and Harry proceeded to warm his back against it. Harry was then shocked when Snape picked up the towel, and vigorously began to towel his hair until it no longer dripped.
When Snape eventually stepped away again, he moved over to the kettle, poured some hot water into two mugs on the side and turned to Harry "Do you want orange or blackcurrant?". Harry gaped. When, after a few seconds had passed and having not received a reply, Snape frowned.
Seeing this Harry managed to pull himself together enough to whisper "Blackcurrant please mister." Snape, who had been about to speak, simply turned, added some purple cordial to both of the steaming mugs and pushed on into Harry's hands. He then steered Harry over to the oak table and into one of the chairs that surrounded it. A few moments later, Harry felt a blanket being wrapped around his shoulders and he looked up.
Snape offered no explanation except pointing to the mug Harry was clenching his cold hands around, "You're supposed to drink that boy, not just look at it". Harry drank.