As strong as we are united
Chapter Eight - Lemon sherbet anyone?
Harry placed the outdoor wear Snape had given to him carefully away, the coat and cap on a lowered peg, and the boots on the stand underneath. Then Snape showed him the rest of the ground floor. There was a study, with a large window that let in the midday sunshine, a huge desk covered in pieces of parchment, and books stacked crazily all over the floor.
Harry looked at Snape, raising his eyebrows in silent question, thinking that he would have been more organised in his work.
Snape simply said, by way of explanation, "I'm am currently in the middle of some very important research." Then led the way on and into the next room. It was a small library room, filled with hundreds of books, which had a window seat that Harry knew immediately he would return to.
Next came another workroom, which Harry was actually allowed to see inside this time. "You may go in this one, but you mustn't try to make anything without my permission and supervision until you know what you're doing." Harry nodded, but Snape was not satisfied. "Will you promise, or must I lock the door?"
At this challenge, Harry looked Snape straight in the eye and spoke clearly, so there could be no mistaking his words, "I promise."
Lastly, Snape showed Harry the living room; it was decorated in warm colours, with an open fireplace and several armchairs as well as a sofa. There were three large windows on three sides of the room, with heavy, embroidered curtains. There were also several sideboards with photos, and scrapbooks, and other personal items on them. Harry looked around for a T.V. but couldn't see one, puzzled, but not upset he shrugged his shoulders, its not like he would miss it, the Dursley's had never let him watch T.V.
The entire House was decorated in warm colours, but not at all modern, and there was a distinct lack of muggle technology. Each room showed some part of Snape's personality; his love of books was reflected in the well-stocked and used library, his need of privacy in the study, and his desire for a peaceful life in the living room.
When they had finished the tour, they found themselves once again sitting round the kitchen table. Snape picked up the letter that had arrived in the earlier post, broke the seal, and read it through twice, quickly the first time, and slowly the second, looking for any hidden messages that Dumbledore's letters often contained. Then he spoke "Professor Dumbledore has invited him-self for lunch, he will be here shortly." Snape then moved over to the aga, and began to take down pans, but then he paused. "Do you like chicken, and mushrooms?"
Harry answered quickly "Yes, I think so. But please, who is Professor Dumbledore that is coming for lunch?"
Snape continued to prepare as he answered, cutting up onions and slicing mushrooms. "He is headmaster of the school where I teach, Hogwarts. He is also the greatest wizard alive, and you will treat him will respect accordingly.
Harry nodded, a little unsure of weather he wanted to meet the greatest wizard alive, what if this man didn't like him? A few minutes later, there was a knock on the front door, and Snape, who was busy, preparing lunch, said "Go and get the door boy." When Harry hesitated, he added with a touch of impatience "Don't worry, he won't bite." Harry nodded, and slowly walked into the hall. Opening the door, he saw a tall thin man in purple eyes, whose eye's twinkle matched the brightest stars on the clearest night. Harry was so completely entranced by Dumbledore's eyes that he completely forgot himself and just stood in the doorway, gaping. Dumbledore however, brought him to his senses "Ah, you must be Harry."
Harry struggled to collect himself. "Err, yes I am." He paused and then continued, panicked. "I mean, Good morning Mr Dumbledore, please come in," he stammered.
Dumbledore smiled "Thank-you."
Harry relaxed, and led the way back into the kitchen, relieved that the greatest wizard alive was so nice. When Dumbledore saw Snape he walked forwards, and they clasped hands warmly. "Hello Severus, how are you? Lemon sherbet?"
At the last comment, Snape grimaced; he hated the despicable things. "Good morning Headmaster. I am as well as can be expected, but no thank-you."
Dumbledore shrugged his shoulders, as if to so 'Oh well, all the more for me then.' And turned to Harry, who was hovering in the doorway unsure of what he was supposed to be doing. "What about you Harry, would you like one?" He asked, holding out one of the sweets.
Harry, who hadn't had a sweet since Mrs Figg had last baby-sited him (even then it was so old it had tasted funny) nodded eagerly, and reached out his hand "Thank-you sir." But before he accepted the sweet, his eyes flicked to Snape, who was frowning.
"Albus, you'll ruin his lunch and rot his teeth!" Snape said. "Harry, you can have one, and only one, after you have eaten your lunch." Harry nodded silently, and after accepting the sweet from Dumbledore, who winked at him, gave it to Snape who put it on the side.
Soon the three of them were sitting down to large, steaming plates of rice and chicken stew, with huge chunks of onion, mushroom and carrot in it, but not before Dumbledore had sent Snape a satisfied smile. Snape simply glared at Dumbledore, who in his turn took absolutely no notice what so ever, and tucked into the food in front of him with a concentrated look on his face.
They ate in silence; the only sounds the clinking of cutlery against china, until Dumbledore set aside his plate with a sigh. When they had all finished, Harry quickly cleared the plates after a look from Snape, and retook his place at the table.
Then, Dumbledore spoke. "So, Severus, When were you planning on telling Harry that you are his Uncle?"
Okay, I know this has been an incredibly long time in coming, and I should be ashamed of myself, but at least its here now right? Even though I probably don't deserve them, reviews would be appreciated just the same. I am flying to California on Friday morning early, and tomorrow I have a big 'friends of the family lunch', and I need to pack, so I won't be able to get anything out until I get back, two weeks on Sunday, the 30th I think. I am going out there to ride so I'll try not to reak anything that would impair my typing. Sorry, Emma
Chapter Eight - Lemon sherbet anyone?
Harry placed the outdoor wear Snape had given to him carefully away, the coat and cap on a lowered peg, and the boots on the stand underneath. Then Snape showed him the rest of the ground floor. There was a study, with a large window that let in the midday sunshine, a huge desk covered in pieces of parchment, and books stacked crazily all over the floor.
Harry looked at Snape, raising his eyebrows in silent question, thinking that he would have been more organised in his work.
Snape simply said, by way of explanation, "I'm am currently in the middle of some very important research." Then led the way on and into the next room. It was a small library room, filled with hundreds of books, which had a window seat that Harry knew immediately he would return to.
Next came another workroom, which Harry was actually allowed to see inside this time. "You may go in this one, but you mustn't try to make anything without my permission and supervision until you know what you're doing." Harry nodded, but Snape was not satisfied. "Will you promise, or must I lock the door?"
At this challenge, Harry looked Snape straight in the eye and spoke clearly, so there could be no mistaking his words, "I promise."
Lastly, Snape showed Harry the living room; it was decorated in warm colours, with an open fireplace and several armchairs as well as a sofa. There were three large windows on three sides of the room, with heavy, embroidered curtains. There were also several sideboards with photos, and scrapbooks, and other personal items on them. Harry looked around for a T.V. but couldn't see one, puzzled, but not upset he shrugged his shoulders, its not like he would miss it, the Dursley's had never let him watch T.V.
The entire House was decorated in warm colours, but not at all modern, and there was a distinct lack of muggle technology. Each room showed some part of Snape's personality; his love of books was reflected in the well-stocked and used library, his need of privacy in the study, and his desire for a peaceful life in the living room.
When they had finished the tour, they found themselves once again sitting round the kitchen table. Snape picked up the letter that had arrived in the earlier post, broke the seal, and read it through twice, quickly the first time, and slowly the second, looking for any hidden messages that Dumbledore's letters often contained. Then he spoke "Professor Dumbledore has invited him-self for lunch, he will be here shortly." Snape then moved over to the aga, and began to take down pans, but then he paused. "Do you like chicken, and mushrooms?"
Harry answered quickly "Yes, I think so. But please, who is Professor Dumbledore that is coming for lunch?"
Snape continued to prepare as he answered, cutting up onions and slicing mushrooms. "He is headmaster of the school where I teach, Hogwarts. He is also the greatest wizard alive, and you will treat him will respect accordingly.
Harry nodded, a little unsure of weather he wanted to meet the greatest wizard alive, what if this man didn't like him? A few minutes later, there was a knock on the front door, and Snape, who was busy, preparing lunch, said "Go and get the door boy." When Harry hesitated, he added with a touch of impatience "Don't worry, he won't bite." Harry nodded, and slowly walked into the hall. Opening the door, he saw a tall thin man in purple eyes, whose eye's twinkle matched the brightest stars on the clearest night. Harry was so completely entranced by Dumbledore's eyes that he completely forgot himself and just stood in the doorway, gaping. Dumbledore however, brought him to his senses "Ah, you must be Harry."
Harry struggled to collect himself. "Err, yes I am." He paused and then continued, panicked. "I mean, Good morning Mr Dumbledore, please come in," he stammered.
Dumbledore smiled "Thank-you."
Harry relaxed, and led the way back into the kitchen, relieved that the greatest wizard alive was so nice. When Dumbledore saw Snape he walked forwards, and they clasped hands warmly. "Hello Severus, how are you? Lemon sherbet?"
At the last comment, Snape grimaced; he hated the despicable things. "Good morning Headmaster. I am as well as can be expected, but no thank-you."
Dumbledore shrugged his shoulders, as if to so 'Oh well, all the more for me then.' And turned to Harry, who was hovering in the doorway unsure of what he was supposed to be doing. "What about you Harry, would you like one?" He asked, holding out one of the sweets.
Harry, who hadn't had a sweet since Mrs Figg had last baby-sited him (even then it was so old it had tasted funny) nodded eagerly, and reached out his hand "Thank-you sir." But before he accepted the sweet, his eyes flicked to Snape, who was frowning.
"Albus, you'll ruin his lunch and rot his teeth!" Snape said. "Harry, you can have one, and only one, after you have eaten your lunch." Harry nodded silently, and after accepting the sweet from Dumbledore, who winked at him, gave it to Snape who put it on the side.
Soon the three of them were sitting down to large, steaming plates of rice and chicken stew, with huge chunks of onion, mushroom and carrot in it, but not before Dumbledore had sent Snape a satisfied smile. Snape simply glared at Dumbledore, who in his turn took absolutely no notice what so ever, and tucked into the food in front of him with a concentrated look on his face.
They ate in silence; the only sounds the clinking of cutlery against china, until Dumbledore set aside his plate with a sigh. When they had all finished, Harry quickly cleared the plates after a look from Snape, and retook his place at the table.
Then, Dumbledore spoke. "So, Severus, When were you planning on telling Harry that you are his Uncle?"
Okay, I know this has been an incredibly long time in coming, and I should be ashamed of myself, but at least its here now right? Even though I probably don't deserve them, reviews would be appreciated just the same. I am flying to California on Friday morning early, and tomorrow I have a big 'friends of the family lunch', and I need to pack, so I won't be able to get anything out until I get back, two weeks on Sunday, the 30th I think. I am going out there to ride so I'll try not to reak anything that would impair my typing. Sorry, Emma