Chapter Twelve – Muggles or Wizards?
On Sunday Harry woke early as usual, and as he had done every morning that week he made his way over to the window and flung it open, breathing it the fresh air and smelling the wet pasture. Last night's storm had blown a few cobwebs away. Then, hearing a throat being cleared behind him Harry whirled around (as he had every morning also) to find Snape behind him. It had become something of a gamer, despite how hard Harry concentrated on trying to hear Snape come up the stairs, he never did hear him until he cleared his throat, and despite being ready for it, he was always taken by surprise.
"Good Morning Harry" Snape said seriously, "Did you sleep well?"
"Good Morning Uncle Severus" replied Harry "Yes."
"Your breakfast is ready, so you may have it in your P-J's for today." Harry was surprised, Snape had always old him to get dressed before breakfast before, but he decided that he'd rather do this anyway and smelling the faint aroma of cinnamon coming up the stairs, Harry ran for the door and took the stairs two at a time out of sheer high spirits, with Snape following more slowly behind.
The two had breakfast as usual, the only difference worth noting was that, for the first time Harry actually dared to ask Snape to pass the honey, rather than waiting as he usually did for Snape to offer it.
When they had both finished Snape rose "Upstairs, wash and change quickly. Put on a tie and a v-neck jumper; church starts in an hour."
Harry, who was half way out of the door at this point, paused "We're going to church?"
Snape growled, he had been up late the night before preparing lesson plans, that and the knowledge that this was to be his last free day for six months made him more impatient than usual. "I believe that is what I said" he snapped.
With a gulp and whispered "Sorry sir" Harry fled up the stairs.
Twenty minutes later, after a brief lesson on how to tie ties, the pair set off along the rough track, the way that they had arrived together almost a week ago. Presently, a small village came into view, and as they got closer to it, the bells in the church spire began to ring, calling the locals to the Sunday service.
Snape and Harry sat in the front pew for all of the long service; over an hour. But Harry did not get bored simply because, never having been in a church before; there was plenty to look at. But his favourite part was when they sang the hymns, all together, even Snape.
One point that did awaken Harry curiosity was that he had no idea if the people were wizards or muggles. But when he attempted to ask Snape this as they were waiting for communion, Snape quieted him before the first syllable was out of his mouth with a fierce glare.
When the service was over, everyone streamed out of the Church, shaking hands with the vicar at the doors as they did so. When Snape and Harry got this far, they paused.
"Good Morning Vicar" Snape spoke.
The vicar replied "Good morning Mr Snape and..." he trailed off.
Snape placed his hand on Harry's head. "This is my nephew, Harry Potter, who will be staying with me from now on."
"Good morning young man."
At this Snape pushed Harry forwards and he mumbled "Morning mister."
The Vicar smiled and intoned a quick blessing on Harry's head. Then, with a nod from Snape, the two continued their way on out of the Church, and unlike the other villagers who had stopped to exchange village news and gossip, they continued out of the Churchyard and back towards the manor with nothing but the occasional nod of acknowledgement to a few people they passed form Snape.
Hen they reached about the half-way point, Harry spoke. "Why do you go to Church Uncle Severus?"
Snape collected his thoughts before answering. "I represent the Snape family at Church; it is my duty as almost all of these people live on my land or used to live on my land. I accompanied my mother and father to Church every Sunday when I was a small child, so I go in their memory."
Harry nodded, and asked the question that had been bugging him all along "Are they wizards too?"
Snape gave his nephew a calculating look and then said "What do you think? Did they act any different than what you would have expected muggles too?"
Harry thought about this for a moment and replied slowly "No, but if they were wizards then wouldn't they try to act normal so not to be found out?"
Snape gave a satisfied sneer, pleased at his nephew's logic. "So you do have a brain. Good. All the people in the Church were muggles except for one."
"Which one?" Harry pondered.
Snape smirked "I'll leave that for you to work out."
Harry groaned and then smiled, knowing that his uncle took immense pleasure out of frustrating him so.
Right, no excuses, this had been an inordinate long time in coming, so I'll just say sorry, and I have been very busy (that's and explanation not an excuse). Any reviews I would really appreciate, constructive criticism also. Emma
On Sunday Harry woke early as usual, and as he had done every morning that week he made his way over to the window and flung it open, breathing it the fresh air and smelling the wet pasture. Last night's storm had blown a few cobwebs away. Then, hearing a throat being cleared behind him Harry whirled around (as he had every morning also) to find Snape behind him. It had become something of a gamer, despite how hard Harry concentrated on trying to hear Snape come up the stairs, he never did hear him until he cleared his throat, and despite being ready for it, he was always taken by surprise.
"Good Morning Harry" Snape said seriously, "Did you sleep well?"
"Good Morning Uncle Severus" replied Harry "Yes."
"Your breakfast is ready, so you may have it in your P-J's for today." Harry was surprised, Snape had always old him to get dressed before breakfast before, but he decided that he'd rather do this anyway and smelling the faint aroma of cinnamon coming up the stairs, Harry ran for the door and took the stairs two at a time out of sheer high spirits, with Snape following more slowly behind.
The two had breakfast as usual, the only difference worth noting was that, for the first time Harry actually dared to ask Snape to pass the honey, rather than waiting as he usually did for Snape to offer it.
When they had both finished Snape rose "Upstairs, wash and change quickly. Put on a tie and a v-neck jumper; church starts in an hour."
Harry, who was half way out of the door at this point, paused "We're going to church?"
Snape growled, he had been up late the night before preparing lesson plans, that and the knowledge that this was to be his last free day for six months made him more impatient than usual. "I believe that is what I said" he snapped.
With a gulp and whispered "Sorry sir" Harry fled up the stairs.
Twenty minutes later, after a brief lesson on how to tie ties, the pair set off along the rough track, the way that they had arrived together almost a week ago. Presently, a small village came into view, and as they got closer to it, the bells in the church spire began to ring, calling the locals to the Sunday service.
Snape and Harry sat in the front pew for all of the long service; over an hour. But Harry did not get bored simply because, never having been in a church before; there was plenty to look at. But his favourite part was when they sang the hymns, all together, even Snape.
One point that did awaken Harry curiosity was that he had no idea if the people were wizards or muggles. But when he attempted to ask Snape this as they were waiting for communion, Snape quieted him before the first syllable was out of his mouth with a fierce glare.
When the service was over, everyone streamed out of the Church, shaking hands with the vicar at the doors as they did so. When Snape and Harry got this far, they paused.
"Good Morning Vicar" Snape spoke.
The vicar replied "Good morning Mr Snape and..." he trailed off.
Snape placed his hand on Harry's head. "This is my nephew, Harry Potter, who will be staying with me from now on."
"Good morning young man."
At this Snape pushed Harry forwards and he mumbled "Morning mister."
The Vicar smiled and intoned a quick blessing on Harry's head. Then, with a nod from Snape, the two continued their way on out of the Church, and unlike the other villagers who had stopped to exchange village news and gossip, they continued out of the Churchyard and back towards the manor with nothing but the occasional nod of acknowledgement to a few people they passed form Snape.
Hen they reached about the half-way point, Harry spoke. "Why do you go to Church Uncle Severus?"
Snape collected his thoughts before answering. "I represent the Snape family at Church; it is my duty as almost all of these people live on my land or used to live on my land. I accompanied my mother and father to Church every Sunday when I was a small child, so I go in their memory."
Harry nodded, and asked the question that had been bugging him all along "Are they wizards too?"
Snape gave his nephew a calculating look and then said "What do you think? Did they act any different than what you would have expected muggles too?"
Harry thought about this for a moment and replied slowly "No, but if they were wizards then wouldn't they try to act normal so not to be found out?"
Snape gave a satisfied sneer, pleased at his nephew's logic. "So you do have a brain. Good. All the people in the Church were muggles except for one."
"Which one?" Harry pondered.
Snape smirked "I'll leave that for you to work out."
Harry groaned and then smiled, knowing that his uncle took immense pleasure out of frustrating him so.
Right, no excuses, this had been an inordinate long time in coming, so I'll just say sorry, and I have been very busy (that's and explanation not an excuse). Any reviews I would really appreciate, constructive criticism also. Emma