Ginny found herself on the floor of one of the rooms in the Hogwarts Express. Draco was sitting next to Colin and Harry to his utmost dismay. Ginny got up and sat next to Harry. Then Snape walked in.
"We are almost at the stop. Once we are there we will take a car to LA," he said.
"How did we go from England to LA?" asked Draco.
"The Hogwarts Express can go underwater in the tunnels built for it at quick rates. It might have felt like a slow ride but we were going at about oh as fast as the speed of light," replied Snape. "And we have magic on our side so we had a couple shortcuts," he added.
"Cool!" Ginny said. Then the train came to a halt. Everyone got up and walked outside. Ginny, Colin, and Harry gasped.
"It's so crowded! And the buildings are so tall!" cried Ginny.
"There are so many cars!" Harry said. Draco just stood there awaiting orders.
"Follow me," Snape said. They followed him through masses of crowds until they found themselves in front of a limo, a white, shiny, limo. "Get in," he ordered.
Draco got in first followed by Ginny, Harry, and Colin. Snape got in the front next to the driver.
"Good morning, Monsieur Snape," said the driver. "Where to today?"
"Home, Jake," Snape said casually as if he had done this millions of times before. Ginny was surprised at how much Snape mingled with muggles.
"I'm guessing the kids are Albus's idea?" asked Jake, the driver.
"Yes. They will be staying over for a year or so," Snape replied.
"How is the wizarding world?" Jake asked. Ginny was wrong. The driver obviously knew about Hogwarts.
"In a shock. He hasn't made a move for two years. No one knows what to do," Snape said.
Draco, Colin, Harry, and Ginny listened attentively. They knew that the he was Voldemort. And as kids, they had heard no news about his plans. This was their chance to hear some. But to their misfortune, the driver rolled up the window between them and they heard nothing more.
"Great!" groaned Harry.
"We were so close!" cried Ginny.
"If you two want to know so much then why don't you ask him?" stated Draco.
"As if he would tell us!" reasoned Harry. "Especially me."
"You have to quit blaming him! He didn't do anything to deserve this from you!" argued Draco.
"Why don't you keep out of this, Malfoy? Anyway, you have no idea what he's put me through. He tortures me and despises me just because my father bullied him," Harry said.
"For your information, Potter, I happen to know all about you and him. How you saw his pensieve. I know all about that," Draco said.
"How!" cried Harry.
"I have my sources. And have you ever thought once as to why he hates you so much? Maybe it has to do with the fact that you look like a duplicate of James. And you must admit, your father was a huge bully and pain in the neck!" added Draco. Harry glared at him. It was true. His father hadn't been quite the angel Harry had thought he was. But why was it really that Snape hated him so much? He had never thought about that.
"Oh, Harry. Don't blame yourself for your father's doings. It's not your fault," Ginny said reassuringly.
"I never knew," Harry said. He was on the verge of tears. Ginny looked at him sadly.
"Oi! I think we're here!" cried Colin. Everyone looked outside.
There in the distance loomed a huge mansion. It had a dark blue coat of paint and two balconies on the 4th floor. A huge garden stood in front of the house. It had two palm trees in the back, near the house that covered part of the mansion, adding to it a tropical look. A stone pathway swerved its way to the door and flowers were plotted at its sides. Bushes and flowers were scattered around the garden. It wasn't at all like how Ginny and Harry expected it to be. They had visualized a huge house that loomed on its side as the lightening crackled and thunder struck. They expected broken windows and dark gloomy passageways. But Snape's house looked so…inviting. The oddest sight was what hung on a tree off in the corner. It was white and the paint was still fresh. It clasped itself around the tree's branch and hung loosely in the air. It swung back and forth slowly when the breeze blew. The swing was beautiful. But it looked so deserted, as if it hadn't been used in centuries, even thought the paint looked so fresh. Ginny got an empty feeling in her stomach and shook herself out of the trance that had ensued from her staring at the vacant swing.
Snape got out and Draco, Colin, Harry, and Ginny followed. They walked up the pathway and into the mansion. Snape turned on the lights. Ginny gasped. It was beautiful.
Inside it looked like a normal home. But everything was decorated so well and it looked amazing.
"Follow me," Snape said. They walked up to the second floor and he pointed to a room. "This is your room, Potter." Harry walked in suspiciously and turned on the lights.
The room was red and gold and the bed was a beautiful, deep, livid, red. There was a closet and two dressers. There was a lamp on the nightstand that was next to the bed. A huge window allowed light to flow in continuously.
"Woah! Thanks!" he said. Snape turned around and led Colin, Ginny, and Draco to their rooms as Harry got in his and started unpacking.
"This is yours, Creevey," he said as he pointed to an orange room. Colin walked in and flopped down on the bed. The room was the same as Harry's except that it was yellow and orange and each room seemed to fit the person's personality perfectly.
"Draco," he said as he walked into another room. Draco walked in. It was the same as the past two, but it was green and black with hints of silver.
"Now, Miss Weasley, follow me," Snape said. Ginny followed him to the door right next to Draco's. It opened up to a baby blue room. Ginny walked in, thanked Snape, and started to unpack. Snape walked to his room on the third floor.
Draco walked out of his room and looked around. His room was next to Ginny's and further down the corridor was Harry and Colin's room. Then Snape and Ginny came.
"It's so beautiful!" Ginny said.
"You two get the others so that I can go over some rules," Snape said. Ginny rushed into Harry and Colin's rooms and got them. They walked downstairs to the living room.
It was huge. Two bookshelves lined the walls opposing each other and a chandelier and two windows illuminated the room. Four couches and two sofas scattered in a pattern. The kids took a seat and Snape stayed standing.
"You are not allowed in my room," Snape began.
"Where is it? So we won't go into it," Harry said.
"When you see it you'll know its mine and if you try to gain access an alarm will sound, so don' try. You are not allowed in the rooms on the 4th floor in the back. You can use the balconies as long as it isn't for suicidal purposes," Snape added with a touch of humor. "Got it?" They all nodded.
The next day Ginny decided to go to the 4th floor after breakfast.
"Good morning, professor," Ginny said.
"Good morning, Ginny," he replied. Ginny jumped. Had he just used her first name? She looked at him and froze. He looked so humane sitting there drinking coffee and reading the Daily Prophet. "Is something the matter?"
"You called me Ginny," she said.
"I believe I did. Since I am spending the year with you, I have decided to use first names, even with Harry," he added.
"So can I call you Severus?" she asked.
"No," he said strictly.
"Sevvie?"
"No!"
"Sevvie-wozums?"
"NO!"
"Sevvie-cuddles?"
"NO! It's Professor Snape or Professor, got that?" he said. She smiled and sat down.
"What's for breakfast?" she asked. He looked at her for a moment, but looked away. She reminded him so much of her. Why couldn't he just forget her? He shook the thought out of his mind and got up.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"You're going to cook!" she said as he dragged out a pan. "Oh this is priceless! Colin!" she yelled. Colin ran in with his camera. "Take a picture! Snape's going to cook!" Colin quickly snapped a picture and they broke out in fits of laughter as Harry and Draco walked in.
"What is it?" Draco asked.
"Nothing!" Ginny said threw fits of laughter. Draco shot her a look and sat down.
"For your information, you two giggle bunnies (I love that phrase! Giggle bunnies!), I was not going to cook. I have magic, remember?" he said.
"Oh yeah!" Ginny said as though realization had just hit her. "I want cereal and I'll make it myself." She got up, got the box of cereal that she was surprised to find, took out the milk, and sat down. Harry and Colin got cereal, too. Draco got up, got two eggs, fried them, and made scrambled eggs. Ginny was amazed.
"You cook?" she said.
"With a family like mine, you think my parents make breakfast?" he asked.
"What about house elves?" she asked.
"They do it sometimes, but I like to try. Is that so hard to believe?" he asked.
"Oh yeah," she said. They sat down and ate breakfast peacefully. Ginny and Draco finished quickly and they both headed upstairs to the 3rd floor first.
Ginny walked around and came to a door. She was about to open it, when Draco caught her arm.
"Don't, that's Snape's room," he said.
"How do you know?" she asked.
"I visited this place once," he said. "I just never knew it was in America."
"Oh," she said. Then she headed for the 4th floor with Draco behind her. She didn't mind, though.
She walked in the hall and went out on a balcony. The wind blew softly and she relaxed as its gentle rocking seized her. Draco came up behind her and stood at the doorway, leaning on the wall. She was so carefree, like nothing was wrong with her. But something must have been or else Dumbledore wouldn't have put her with me here.
"Hey, Weasley, why are you here" he asked. She paused for a bit and slowly turned around. She peered into his face.
"What is it to you, mr. rich and snobby," she said as she pushed past him and walked on through the halls. Then she came to a room in the far end, Draco still walking behind her.
The room was small yet comfortable. There was a bed that sat near the window, its sheets flaring out in the wind. Ginny felt the same feeling take over that had happened when she looked at the swing. She shook her head and gazed up at an image. She gasped and took a few steps back.
There was a picture of a woman that resembled Ginny. She had radiant red hair and a kind, happy, face. She smiled and her freckles laughed along with her eyes. Merry was written all over the portrait.
"Who is she?" Ginny asked. "She's so beautiful," she gasped. Draco walked over to the portrait and took a closer look.
"Anabelle Marina," Draco said.
"Why would Snape have a picture of her in here?" she asked.
"I don't know, why don't you ask him?" Draco replied. Then Ginny heard something downstairs and ran down the steps, Draco behind her. She walked in to find a medium-sized man and a boy older than Ginny stood beside him. They didn't seem too happy.
"Get out, Draco!" cried Ginny. She shoved him out of the room, not noticing the other figure that crept nearer.
"Here, all by your lonesome self, what a pity," the boy said.
But the man took no time. He raced over to Ginny, grabbed her by the arms and began shaking her violently, yelling threats at her. Then the boy began to punch her in the face and Ginny tried to hold back the tears. But the man lost control and grabbed the table, hitting her head with it. Ginny fell onto the floor, unconscious. The two people left the room, leaving her on the floor, her mind dreaming of the days that felt like centuries ago.
Hope u likey! Next chappie is gonna be all mcgongalla's group and then the one after is Trelawney, then snape, then mcgonagall, well u get the point. Tell me if u like! Review!
cathy- hey! I didn't mess up, ull see. This is set 2 yrs after the fight in the department of mysteries and u still don't know wat happened after it so uve gotta wait and see how draco's life has been since that time. Thanks for ur compliment! Im so glad u like my stories! Im gonna go read ur new stori! I updated plummet by the way! Well thanks for ur reviews!
rokamerica123- ur happi! Lol! Thanks for the review!
daisie- Haary is acting all whiney because he's still mad at snape for doing ntn when he told him in umbridge's office and u still don't know wat happened in the past two years after the fight in the dept. of mysteries! so ull have to wait and see. But thx for pointing that out to me and for being a good observer! Thanks again for the review and im glad u like the stori! ckat44- omg thanks soo much for putting me under fave authors! I feel so special! Thanks! Im glad ur enjoying it! Ull figure out soon! Keep reading! Thanks for the review!
K thanks for ur reviews! But I have one thing to tell loyal reviewers
Plz don't judge the characters personalities this stori too much until u know wat has happened to each one of them since then!
Cuz remember, it's been 2 years since the 5th hp book and u don't know wats happened to the characters in 2 yrs and wat has happened to snape and harry's friendship, draco's life, and the weasley's life. So hang in there and let the stori explain itself!
Thanks! REVIEW!
O and btw congrats sunrise on ur new future! I just had to mention it! Ur soo lucki! Ugh now both u and cakes have a future! And fries doesn't count! U know I want polka dots! Its not fair!
*Sobs*
well anway don't mind my insane mumbling, enjoy the stori!
REVIEW!