Chapter Four--Day Tripping
She landed with an extra hop, her arms out for balance, and was just glad she didn't bite the dirt. She felt his hands untying the knot behind her head. Suddenly color exploded into her vision again, and she had to shield her eyes from the gleaming sunshine. Her mouth dropped open as she took in all that was around her.
They were on an island and they were a few strides away from a cliff that plummeted dangerously down. She walked slowly and carefully over to the edge just as a huge wave broke against the sheer cliff and sent water shooting up far above her head. She jumped back with surprise and glee. But, she hadn't gotten wet at all.
She craned her neck to see further down the shore craggy bluffs that morphed seamlessly into tall bent green grasses. Beyond that, fell the browns and grays of the wet sand along the shoreline. Spinning around her, she saw that directly behind her were scattered solid oaks standing sentinel over a soft brown, forest bed of needles and dead leaves. She could have wrapped her arms around several and not been able to link arms. This place was plenty strange, but magical too.
"Where are we?" She breathed.
"An island." He replied. She threw her eyes sky-ward, shaking her head and muttering. You think? She thought to herself. Duh.
She walked a little bit beyond the first trees as if in a trance and spied what looked to be the top of some castle ruins. Her eyes lit up and she dropped her broomstick, leaving it where it lay. Where the hell was this place? Her open mouth tilted up at the corners into a smile of delight.
Snape come up behind her, looking very amused at her expressions and surprise. "Pretty, isn't it?"
"Ohmygosh, pretty doesn't come near to describing it. It's beyond magical, it's enchanted, bewitched, perfect…. Is this place naturally like this?" He nodded at her.
"Can we see the ruins?" She asked as if a child at an amusement park. She thought that too, but was too possessed to care.
"Of course--that's the best part." He took off down the hill.
She followed afterwards, but their progress was slow because Georgie was kicking toadstools and inspecting the prospect down to the water and dragging a large stick behind her leaving a trail. Also she stopped at every few trees to wrap herself around the trunk to see if they were really as big as she thought they were. The trees didn't disappoint her.
Looking up from a tree that she was embracing comically, she called out, "Severus. This place is perfect. Thank you so much for bringing me here." Then she turned back to her tree and gave it a quick peck on the bark then disengaged herself. She followed him humming to herself off-key, mouth agape looking as if she might drool all over the place.
Snape was pleased that she was pleased. He was still a little wary of her queer behavior, but he guessed people expressed things in different ways. He just hoped she wouldn't try and hug him. But her praise struck a chord with his vanity so he allowed her whatever she might do. He was also pleased she used his name, though he'd be damned if he ever let on.
They came around the back of the castle and hopped over underbrush to reach the old entrance. The most of the roof had caved in many, many years ago, as did some of the walls. They walked in to what used to be an entrance hall. The walls rose up for several stories, so the ceiling must have been quite lofty and impressive. Snape leaned into the bay of a partially wrecked oriel window, crossed his arms, cocked his head and gestured with his head further into the castle. "Take off and go have a look about the place."
She clasped her hands together, jumped up and spun around squealing, before bouncing out of the room.
Georgie was so excited she was running. And now she was out of breath. The castle was more of an enormous manor house, then a true castle, but it was immense. She's run through what had probably been the kitchens off to the side of one of the great dinning rooms. There was a low fireplace that ran the entire length of the room and a formerly solid, but now rotted out worktable in the center of the room. The dinning hall had a raised dais sort of platform along the back.
She tore back through the entryway and saw Snape still standing as she left him. "This is incredible!" She gushed as she mounted the mammoth staircase. "Have you seen all of this?" He nodded the affirmative as she bounded up the stairs.
A few of the bedchambers still had roofs over them and she was amazed at how spacious the rooms were. Perhaps they belonged to royalty or something. This was so cool! There was a sort of balcony at the end of a corridor that led to the mostly fallen battlements. She popped her head out side, but decided to check the rest of the downstairs first.
He looked up as he saw her descending the staircase. "This is so cool. How come not so many people know about this place? It's amazing. There are some battlements still standing outside--I'm going to go over them as soon as I finish with the main floor." Her voice echoed as she walked out of sight but continued conversing with him. "Really, some great people must've lived here. There are heaps of bedrooms up stairs, and by the size of the kitchens and the dinning hall there must've been--" She broke off suddenly.
Snape pushed off his perch and followed her to see what had scared her into shutting up, he thought with a smile. He discovered her in what used to be another great room. This one wasn't as large as the dinning hall, but it was considerable larger than the salon. He knew what it was, but he smirked wondering if she could figure it out.
"It's a ballroom of sorts." She muttered to herself, biting her lip. Or it might've been at one time, the ceiling still stood, but the floor was covered by debris that must've blown in from the obvious lack of windows. The high slits of where the windows used to be allowed a sort of soft, yellow light to waft in. But it was wonderful as it was. Several varieties of flowers had made the floor their new home and ivy, mosses and vines carpeted the walls until the place looked like a bower or a sanctuary. It was breathtaking really. Georgie wasn't really big on flowers, but appreciated the color they added to this strange place of light.
She shook her head, and murmured, "Perfect…"
Severus Snape smiled his first real smile in a long time, but she didn't get to see it.
She turned on Snape. "This place is crazy." Eyes flashing with amusement. "In Poland we didn't have castles like these. We did have heaps of ruins, but none so…like this. This one kinda belongs here, on this crazy island, by those crazy trees, having the crazy ivy crawl all over it. I like it. I likey." She repeated in a silly voice. He scowled at this, but it was more out of habit than disapproval.
She shook off the feeling of sappiness, and volunteered, "I'm going out to see the courtyard and the battlements." That was her version of an invitation, and wasn't at all surprised when he didn't follow.
The high walls of the battlements looked like they could have withstood an army of invaders, but she guessed that what really might have brought them down was lack of maintenance. The courtyard was surrounded on all sides ands she stalked on over to what she guessed might've been a stable or kennel. Not anything spectacularly interesting in here, so she high-tailed it back to find Snape.
She met him standing in the front entryway again. "Now what?" He quipped. She merely smiled and shrugged, "You've been here before. Show me what you think is cool."
"Cool," he repeated, as if testing the word. Then gathering himself up straight, he strode over and out the front door. Uh, she thought blinking, maybe I should follow him. What a heel and she rolled her eyes.
They were following a steep path down towards the water. They were picking their way carefully as there were exposed tree roots and loose dry clay, that kept tripping them up. It was kinda fun. "This is…an adventure!" Georgie suddenly sang out to no one in particular. "Woo-hoo!"
They finally cleared the woods and found themselves on a smallish beach littered with man-sized rocks. The water came in less-violently here and the sun shone off the dark water, looking like diamonds floated there on the surface just out of reach.
Snape seemed to have forgotten that she was there, which was fine by her. He walked towards the water and stood there, gazing intently out. Georgie squinted her eyes trying to see what he was so taken with, but couldn't see anything other than water, rocks, sky and sun.
She lifted herself up onto one of the rocks and holding her arms out from her sides for balanced heaved herself onto the next one a few feet away. She grinned as she imagined the sight she made, bounding from rock to rock, but she wasn't so worried about what he thought anymore.
After a few minutes, Snape collected himself and strode over to one of the rocks she had been using. When she turned around to come back she found Snape looking up at her on the sixth one. She crouched down and grinned wickedly. "What's up?"
His mouth twitched at this and he said off-handedly, but still accusingly, "I used to do that when I was six years old." She couldn't mistake his tone, but chose to ignore it for the time being. "You were here when you were six?" She prompted.
"I grew up here." He stated simply.
"No freakin' way! You grew up here? Wow." She looked around her and asked, "Where?"
"I'm impressed that you didn't assume one of the caves."
"Well, you do remind me of an overgrown bat. But even overgrown bats need to munch something--need kitchens for that." She suddenly thought of something, "You're not a vampire bat are you?" She asked jokingly. "If you are, I mean, hey, no problem--we can't help what we are and stuff…."
"I'm not a vampire." He growled. She winked at him.
"My family's house is on the other side of the island."
He turned away and looked out and gestured at the water once more, "I learned to swim on this beach."
Her voice brought him out of his contemplation, "Is your family there now?"
"No. They're all gone now." He said totally devoid of emotion. She scrunched up her face in thought at this, but let it go.
Her stomach chose that exact moment to make it's presence known to the two people nearest it. She chortled in laughter. "Sorry, it's got a mind of it's own!"
"It has great timing though…" Puzzled at his statement she jumped down off of her rock and stood a few feet from Snape as he whipped out his wand and a few seconds later a large box could be seen zooming over the landscape straight towards them. He directed the box to touch down right in front of them both.
"No one's up there, but we still have house-elves who are going half-mad from the lack of things to do. I sent an owl this morning to instruct them to make lunch for us." She nodded in understanding.
He brandished his wand once more and the box opened itself and several blankets flew out only to spread themselves over the cool sand. This was followed by container after container of food. Georgie couldn't see what it all was yet, but she was already impressed once more today.
"You know," she began off-handedly, "Many people think having house-elves is a bad idea…" She goaded.
"But you don't." On seeing the vacant expression on her face, he continued, "I've heard it said that you are very friendly with the Hogwarts house-elves. You pay them social calls sometimes three times a week." He acted shocked at his own words.
Georgie giggled, and assented. "It's all horribly true! Now you know the secret behind my junk food addiction. They're my Diet Coke suppliers!" She mock wailed, then snorted.
Georgie plopped herself unceremoniously on the other side of the box from Snape. She was nosily picking at the lid to one of the food boxes. Snape glanced over her shoulder. "Speaking of which…"
A smaller box smacked into the back of her head. "Ow!" She yelped. It hadn't really hurt much, and she was more surprised than anything else. She glared at him, then picked up the offending box and opened it. It was full of Diet Cokes.
She set it aside and grinned broadly. "You big dork. You could have warned me or something." She laughed full out now.
He was tearing the lids off the boxes and setting them out. He looked up at her, "That would've ruined the surprise." He said in a deadpan voice.
She just shook her head at this, shrugged her shoulders and smiled. He would've made a fun serial killer…
"I like to take a drink of soda in my mouth, then take a bite of potatoes and eat it all in one go." She explained her odd picnic-ing palate.
"Hey Snape?" He looked up as she set down her roasted chicken. "How come you don't live at your house?" She asked delicately.
"Ghosts." He said simply. She wonder if he meant real ghosts, or symbolic ones. But she guessed the latter, and she left it alone.
She thought that for the first time he looked sad and not his usual angry. She felt bad for him, whatever he was thinking about…
"Snape, what's your favorite animal?"
"Why?" He asked quickly.
"Dumbledore asked me the other day…. Just curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat," He spoke bitterly.
"Which animal though?" She persisted.
"I don't know. I detest furry things. Never thought about it, really…" And he stopped.
Georgie popped open a diet coke, mm-kay that didn't work.
"I think I prefer whales, the large ones in the Arctic." He said with meaning. Georgie didn't move and just stared at him. He looked challenging "I should have said Snake's right? Because I'm a Slytherin."
"No, you weren't supposed to say anything in particular. Just a surprising choice. Dumbledore says it has to do with your character--which animal you related to, I guess…" she mumbled.
"I think that's a load of hogswash." He said determinedly.
"I think it's interesting, but yes I agree, it's a bunch of bunk. But kinda a fun question." She grinned a bit anxiously. Then looked out at the waves coming in.
"I wish I had my camera," she mused.
"I could get one from the house."
"Nah, I was just talking. Just trying to say, 'Wow, this places is gorgeous'--picture-worthy even!" She smiled at him.
"Really, I could get it easily. It's been sitting there unused since I was in school." He persisted.
"No, It's cool. I don't really, really want one. I can remember everything fine enough using just my head." She laughed. "You doubt my memory! Typical male too. Offering a solution. Females just talk to talk--to share thoughts and ideas, to share burdens of problems, junk like that…. Guys offer solutions to problems. They jump to the conclusion that if you talking about a predicament, you're automatically fishing for a solution. 'Oh, someone fix this for me!' I reckon most people don't even really want their difficulty to ever be solved. What ever would they find to talk about then?!" Georgie laughed at her own speech.
She diverged on a different path before he could even think to begin criticizing women. "I can't imagine you as being school aged. What were you like?" She settled down into lying on her stomach on the blankets. Her legs were falling asleep-ouch, pins and needles!
"I was shorter…I had short hair. I took classes." He answered, knowing full well that that wasn't what she had meant.
"No, like your pursuits and all. We're you locked up in your basement all the time, being forced to make potions until they were right? Did you stare into a mirror for hours, trying to perfect the best cold-stare?"
"Well, you've pretty much summed me up." He quipped snidely, but still mildly enough for her to know that he wasn't being vindictive. He ran his fingers absent-mindedly through his hair and he looked out across the landscape, as if remembering.
"I spent my happiest times outdoors. Swimming and hiking and scabbing up my knees--normal childish antics. Inside I followed around our cook and idolized her from a very young age. I think I got my love of creating potions partly from her," He allowed. Georgie didn't say anything, but noted that his family had a cook. His family must be very well off indeed. Well, duh, yeah. That and they owned an island.
"It was very quiet and I read and studied much and observed nature on hours at end. I took up photography seriously for awhile, mostly to displease my mother, because she thought the contraptions were strange. She bought me a guitar and a violin to tempt me--neither of which I played."
"We traveled as a family every summer. My parents were intent on filling us with as much culture as they could. It was a pleasing childhood," He reflected. "Nothing was seriously lacking, I suppose. Just normal.."
He turned to her with a helpless shrug. "I'm sorry I don't know what you want to know…"
"No that was cool. You make a little bit more sense now, methinks." She grinned. She thought hard for am moment on his inadvertent slip. He had said 'us' when he said his parents tried to give him culture. So Snape had a sibling. Since he didn't talk about them, she figured he didn't want to-maybe they were at odds or something. And she really didn't think it a good idea to pursue it. If it were bad, she honestly didn't want to deal with it today.
"What were you like growing up?" He asked her right back.
"I'm still growing up," she beamed. He groaned at this. "Never growing up!" She added.
"Really." He spat.
Still gleeful, "Just as normal as yours was." She highly doubted the complete honesty of both of their stories. If she was guarded, then he was probably being so as well.
"But it was only like, 5 years ago!?" She threw in incredulously. He widened his eyes motioning her to continue anyway. "I ate heaps, lived in Canada and Central Europe. Attended a Muggle Gymnasium--know what those are?" He nodded. "Attended my Gymnasium--I was a bit of a nerd--then I went to The Institute."
"Well, I was goofy. Practical jokes abounded. A very social creature. Always going to see shows and movies. I took dance lessons: I can Salsa and Merengue and Cha-cha, I'll have you know!" She winked, he shook his head. Oh yeah and Hula--It's a 'roots' thing. When you're Polynesian people expect it of you. I used to go out hiking heaps too: by myself and with friends. I still love it…" she faltered as she remembered the fun times.
Shaking herself out of zoning-out, "I listened to heaps of music. I play guitar a little--can't sing to save my life. Watched a lot of cartoons. It's probably a good thing our lounge doesn't have a TV, or else I'd be even more annoying. Went to church, wasn't a Girl Scout--or even a Boy Scout. I had fun. Very few regrets and I can still laugh. I think it was a successful childhood then." She grinned and thought back absently.
She sat up again and took off a shoe. Snape was looking at her with sheer disapproval. "What are you doing?"
"Geesh, Snape." She rolled her eyes. "Taking my shoes and socks off. I wanna roll-up my pants and walk in the water to cool off. Wanna come?" Attacking the other foot.
He was still staring at her. "They're not going to reek! Gawd, you're such a spazz!"
She got to her feet and flexed her toes, then looked in his direction. "I've got noxious fumes! Ahhh!" And she threatened to stick her feet in Snape's direction, but didn't really get too close.
"Coming?" She tried again.
"No." He said lowly.
"Fine, you're missing out." On life, on fun, on laughter, on friendship…Georgie sighed. She turned her back and struggled her way to the water's edge.
She gingerly stuck her toes in. Nah, not too bad. I've swam in waaay colder waters than this.
She backed up a bit and yelled over her shoulder, "The water's fine Snape! Really!" In a last ditch effort to get him to join in. A short ways down the shore the edge of the water was dotted by large boulders, some under water, some half-in, half-out.
She clamored over and jumped up on the first one, slightly painfully now that her feet were bare. She ignored and had forgotten about it as she stretched over to reach the next one. Slowly she made her way to the furthest one out which was overlooking a deep and clear pool. She crouched down and washed her hands off hastily in the water, wiping the water off on her pants legs. She stood up and looked out, squinting in the sunshine.
Abruptly, she felt something push her forward, and for a few agonizing seconds she fought to try and regain her balance--contorted into a strange and spastic dance--but in the end, she sort of yelped and arms flailing, fell into the water.
It wasn't very deep and she rocketed up to stand up out of the water. She opened her eyes and rounded around to come face to face-literally-with Snape. Her mouth was open and she coughed hard, and sputtered, slobbering water and starring in wide-eyed horror at him. He, long skinny legs and all, was crouching down on the rock where she was just standing, knees to his chest grinning funnily, like a normal person would. But she didn't notice.
She was clutching her hands and shaking-from the shock, not the water-her shoulders tensed up and her face frozen. Finally able to find her voice, she mumbled. "You prick, " she screeched shivering slightly.
His grin grew. "You creepy asshole….You…you…." She was beyond surprised, and she was too shaken up to form more words. She just stared at him, mouth-hanging down to her chin.
He looked to be biting his lip and was highly amused at her reaction. He offered her his hand, "I couldn't resist." He said almost jovially.
She slowly, as if she didn't trust him, untwisted her hands and grabbed a firm hold of his hand, which was being held, right above her head. As soon as she grabbed hold of his hand there was a pause, and neither of them did or said anything. Then Georgie looked up, deep into his eyes and like a fire, a huge grin appeared to spread across her face, stretching from ear-to-ear. Snape suddenly seemed to have something dawn on him, but by then it was too late. Georgie yanked with all her strength and Snape fell in ungracefully.
He landed right next to her and when he surfaced, she didn't even turn around to look at him. "I'd rate that one a six-point entry."
He plodded over to her and placed himself right in front of her. He looked pissed, and for a second, she though, uh-oh, did I go too far? But She thrust her chin out defiantly and waited for it.
He just stood there, being dragged down by his wet clothes shaking in fury; his face was totally stark and white. Then it changed. The corners of his mouth twitched to betray him and the corners of his eyes crinkled up as he let a little smile escape. "That was interesting. Let's do that again, alright?" And he turned and hefted himself out of the water and plopped his soggy self down on the rock.
"Huh?" She stood where she was staring after him. "I thought you were going to kill me…" She called out after him, a bit uncertainly.
Snape was removing his shoes-something Georgie hadn't thought of, and wanted to smack her head for it. She hoped they weren't ruined. But with his amused look, he glanced up and good-naturedly reasoned, "You had a right to do it. I would've been disappointed in you if you'd passed that opportunity."
"Who are you and what have you done with Severus Snape?" Georgie demanded harshly.
He stood up having finished, and growled, "Georgie, I'm myself."
"No you're not. You're cool and fun, your company's enjoyable, you're hospitable…you're an imposter!" She nearly screamed and pointed a finger at him.
He smiled ever so slightly at this and nodded at her compliment, then replied impatiently, "So are we swimming or are we not?"
"I....can't…handle…THIS!" She screamed dramatically whipping the back of her hand up to her forehead and pretended to faint as she fell backwards and sank under the water.
"Always an affinity for the melodramatic..." He muttered under his breath as he mounted a neighboring rock that rose above the rest, and stood atop.
She surfaced and blinking she tested, "So, I should enjoy the new you while I can, 'cuz who ever took over your body is going to return the real you to it once we get back to Hogwarts, is that it?"
"That seems about right," He replied blankly.
"Good enough for me. Snapey, Snapey, Snapey's swimming in the waaaa-ter……." she sang as she swam further out. With an exasperated look, he shrugged and was about to dive in--
"--Make sure you dive out into deep enough water." She warned. He looked at her rudely.
She felt dumb and hurriedly explained, "I don't know…thought maybe you hadn't swam here since you were little, and I wouldn't want to have to drag your limp body with a broken neck back to Hogwarts and try and explain. NO ONE would believe me anyway--they'd just think I fought with you and had to kill you, er, something…" he was still giving her that, shut-up-stupid look. "Nevermind," she ended dejectedly.
He dove in and caused a huge tidal wave to course at Georgie. Well, Georgie thought it was a tidal wave, but it obviously wasn't. "Wee, like surfing…"
They swam about and took turns jumping off the higher rocks. Soon they were pruney and starting to shiver for real. Snape swam over to where Georgie was floating on her back in her own world, being rocked by the tide. She opened her eyes and Snape was right above her. "AH! Don't freaking do that!"
He was taken aback at that. She really was a jumpy person!
"I'm hopping out to dry off."
"Okily, I'll follow you then in a minute." She smiled at him, wondering if they'd dry out in time to go for a hike.
He jumped out and was shaking out his long black hair like a dog and wringing out his black shirt.
Georgie wolf whistled, and he looked up in surprise. Mischievously she said, "Wow, hottie!"
"I don't know what you mean."
When she whistled again, "Oh grow up!" He said scowling and walked back towards the blankets.
"Hey, what'd I say?" She belly-laughed. This day was just too weird and she almost didn't want to slow down long enough to analyze it. She was having a blast and Snape really wasn't all that bad if you caught him unawares, she just worried that he'd be ten-times worse tomorrow to make up for it.
She dragged her water-heavy clothes back across the sands. Snape turned around with an evil smile on his face and his wand in his hand pointing straight at her. She froze with a confused, slightly hurt look on her face.
"You do have a very expressive face." He pointed out without moving.
"It's the Polynesian part of me…" She indicated with her eyes towards the wand.
"Starting a fire," he said off-handedly, but still grinning. He did that on purpose, she thought. Mind-games again--trying to trip me up. She rolled her eyes right in his face, and pushed past him, noticing the pile of split-wood.
"You know, we both do have wands and can dry by magic faster…" She pointed out before dumping herself unceremoniously on the blankets and rolling onto her back, relaxing.
"You don't always use your wand for everything magic…" He raised his eye brows and challenged.
"No, I don't always, but I do when I'm drying myself out," she frowned and sat up on one elbow. "So why the fire?"
"I like fires better." He was bending over arranging the wood. Okay…she thought, just great.
"Freakin' pyro, aren't ya? Burn, baby, burn!" She smiled.
"Hit the nail on the head," He said drolly. "Incendio…" The flames instantly leapt up.
"Ah, much better, "Georgie buzzed and moved closer to the warmth. It was still sunny out and light, but it was a bit chilly.
He sat down across the fire from her and they sat in silence just enjoying the fire. "The natural way does it so much better…" He said convincingly.
"Mwah-ha-ha…." Georgie giggled.
"What?" Snape looked at her through the flames.
"Nothing. Just being weird."
"You said it, not I."
"No, you've said it before, " she pushed.
He was silent; she hummed under her breath to herself, quiet enough so that he couldn't hear her and make comments. He prodded and poked the fire.
She was playing with her nails, and smoothing out her pants legs so that they dried evenly. "Georgie?" She looked up questioningly, "Yeah?"
He hesitated, "You used to play the guitar?" He looked like he was turning something over in his mind, and he was frowning again. Great, what can he have to say about it now? She braced herself.
"Can you still play it? Perhaps even today?" She smiled and let out a breath of relief she hadn't realized that she had been holding in.
"Yeah, I'm pretty bad at it. But," she frowned, "Well I obviously didn't bring mine here to this island." She laughed a little at this.
He remained serious. "Accio Guitar!" He barked.
She groaned and slumped over, "You mean you were serious? Dude, I'm not that great! I couldn't possibly play anything you'd find interesting. And I mess up half the time, I have to start over like a hundred times before it comes out right." Seeing him smiling obstinately, she whined, "This is not fair! I'm going to make a complete ass of myself, opening myself up to comments and barbs from you, you'll have heaps to laugh at for days…REALLY, I'm not that good. People always say that out of modesty, but I suck!" When she paused for breath she realized that he was holding the guitar already. Damnit, she thought. He held it out to her.
She sat down and began tuning it. "Man, this is waay off! When's the last time you played it?" She grumbled. He settled back onto the blankets and lay his head back onto his folded arms. "You can start at any time," he poked.
She just looked up and grumbled, before tuning some more. She thought he had fallen asleep in the sun, by the time she was ready to go. She tapped him with her foot. "You still awake?"
"Of course. Now start." He said authoritatively.
"Yes sir, Professor, " she said saucily and saluted.
"You're going to regret this." She warned.
"Just play the instrument." At this, she shrugged and began to play.
She loved the Muggle band The Smiths and played a few of their songs figuring out of all the songs she knew, he'd least object to those. She even accidentally sang a couple.
I know I'm unlovable,
You don't have to tell me.
I don't have much in my life
But take it-it's yours.
I know I'm unlovable,
You don't have to tell me.
Message received,
Loud and clear:
I don't have much in my life
But take it-it's yours.
I wear black on the outside,
Because black is how I feel on the inside.
And if I seem a little strange, Well, that's because I am.
But I know that you would like me,
If only you could see me;
If only you would meet me.
When she got tired, she set the guitar down and stated, "All done."
He sat up, and noted, "You're right--you can't sing to save your life."
She gave a dirty look, then pouted. She thought she wasn't that bad.
"I was joking." He seemed to read her thoughts.
"Okay, send it back now." She told him.
"You." He challenged.
Looking nonplussed, she lifted her empty hand and without a word performed a banishing charm that sent the guitar flying into a surprised Snape's lap.
"Good," He said approvingly. She ignored this. "Got anymore Diet Cokes?" She bit her lip and smiled demurely.
She knocked back the soda quickly and helped re-pack the food box, chewing on several sticks of celery in the process.
Snape prodded, "Don't you ever stop eating?" If looks could kill….
He sent the box and the guitar flying back over the island to the unseen house.
"Well that was that." She yielded. "Goodbye Diet Cokes! I'll miss you!" Snape sneered at her.
"What?" She asked innocently.
"What now?" He implored, "We have two more hours until we should be back at Hogwarts for dinner. If you would like, we can leave now, or we can do something else. What do you want to do?"
"I dunno. What do you want to do?"
"I'm asking you."
"And I was asking you."
"Georgie-"
"-Severus." She frowned. He stopped.
She twisted her face. "I really don't mind if you want to choose. I'm trying to be nice." She pointed out.
"Fine, I choose. Well, then I suppose I choose to hike." He said simply.
She beamed. "I would've chose that!" She claimed delightedly.
"I know." He said, and smiled deviously.
She groaned and turned on him, "Wait…"
"This is not up for discussion. We hike." He held up his hand with finality.
She gulped. Surrendering, she looked down at her feet and muttered, "such a pompous…" and he smiled slightly at this and took off. Thank you, she thought, but couldn't voice it as she tore off after him.
The hike was a good ending to the day, They talked very little, but took in many sights. The island was something like 15 miles to go around the entire coastline, but they didn't go that way. They zigzagged back and forth and saw some spectacular views of the ocean and even crossed a large clearing where rabbits hopped across their path. Everyone once in a while at a turn in the path, he'd ask her to choose right or left, and she'd choose one or the other and off they'd go in that direction.
Later on they were treated to flaming sunset sky to light their way. They didn't stop for it specifically but kept glancing out at it over the water.
She thought at first that they were wandering aimlessly, but when a while later they ended up at the top of the sheer cliff that they landed on, Georgie realized he must've know where we were going the whole time.
But on seeing her broomstick, she was reminded once again of the blindfold. "Come on," She turned to Snape pleading. "I don't really need to--"
He held it up right in front of her face. She frowned and tried her hardest to look despondent.
"I still must insist: For your own safety. No arguments if you want to go back at all."
"I could apparate."
"You could," he assented. But they both knew that she wouldn't. She sighed and walked forward towards Snape and that stupid blindfold.
"You know," she informed him." I could figure out where this island is anyway. If one put together the clues--"
"I know you could, but I'd rather you didn't. Trust me. I wasn't joking when I said not knowing would be healthier for you. " He said gruffly. He grabbed her shoulders and spun her around so he could fit the blindfold over her eyes. Blah, blah, blah, she mouthed snottily to the forest. Darkness once again.
Something was thrust into her hands, and her hands scrambled to get a hold on her broomstick. "Snape?" She waited until she was sure he was listening, "Thanks for today."
He didn't say anything to that and was silent until he told her once again to hold on because he was just about to kick off. She followed him and they were soaring up and up in no time.
Now that she had time to sort through her thoughts, she realized she really didn't want to. It was too strange and bizarre. What the hell had happened today? It wasn't her doing. It was more like the island's doing, he slowly melted into a….a person. Maybe it was just going home for him had that effect, she pondered. It was a bummer he wasn't like that all the time, but at the same time, it kinda made her day more special, because she alone got to witness it. "Mwah-ha-ha!" She giggled evilly out loud.
"You are so strange!" She heard, expecting it. "Yup..." and she agreed to it.
They were silent the rest of the way back. Shifting uncomfortably, Georgie asked, feeling really self-conscious, "How much longer do you think it is?"
"Perhaps 15 more minutes. Why?" She could feel the scrutiny in his voice.
She grinned sheepishly, "Drank too many Diet Cokes."
A/N-Holy Guacamole, I've got some lovely readers who are dears at reviewing-bless your hearts.
Here's to them: Natasha, Kat, Blackletter, Helena Darjeeling, Andi, Magi, and Diablo Shinigami. I'll buy you all a drink! Once again The Smiths-I'm creative, eh? I'm maika'i and all, so be nice and keep reading the fluff I'm throwing out.
She landed with an extra hop, her arms out for balance, and was just glad she didn't bite the dirt. She felt his hands untying the knot behind her head. Suddenly color exploded into her vision again, and she had to shield her eyes from the gleaming sunshine. Her mouth dropped open as she took in all that was around her.
They were on an island and they were a few strides away from a cliff that plummeted dangerously down. She walked slowly and carefully over to the edge just as a huge wave broke against the sheer cliff and sent water shooting up far above her head. She jumped back with surprise and glee. But, she hadn't gotten wet at all.
She craned her neck to see further down the shore craggy bluffs that morphed seamlessly into tall bent green grasses. Beyond that, fell the browns and grays of the wet sand along the shoreline. Spinning around her, she saw that directly behind her were scattered solid oaks standing sentinel over a soft brown, forest bed of needles and dead leaves. She could have wrapped her arms around several and not been able to link arms. This place was plenty strange, but magical too.
"Where are we?" She breathed.
"An island." He replied. She threw her eyes sky-ward, shaking her head and muttering. You think? She thought to herself. Duh.
She walked a little bit beyond the first trees as if in a trance and spied what looked to be the top of some castle ruins. Her eyes lit up and she dropped her broomstick, leaving it where it lay. Where the hell was this place? Her open mouth tilted up at the corners into a smile of delight.
Snape come up behind her, looking very amused at her expressions and surprise. "Pretty, isn't it?"
"Ohmygosh, pretty doesn't come near to describing it. It's beyond magical, it's enchanted, bewitched, perfect…. Is this place naturally like this?" He nodded at her.
"Can we see the ruins?" She asked as if a child at an amusement park. She thought that too, but was too possessed to care.
"Of course--that's the best part." He took off down the hill.
She followed afterwards, but their progress was slow because Georgie was kicking toadstools and inspecting the prospect down to the water and dragging a large stick behind her leaving a trail. Also she stopped at every few trees to wrap herself around the trunk to see if they were really as big as she thought they were. The trees didn't disappoint her.
Looking up from a tree that she was embracing comically, she called out, "Severus. This place is perfect. Thank you so much for bringing me here." Then she turned back to her tree and gave it a quick peck on the bark then disengaged herself. She followed him humming to herself off-key, mouth agape looking as if she might drool all over the place.
Snape was pleased that she was pleased. He was still a little wary of her queer behavior, but he guessed people expressed things in different ways. He just hoped she wouldn't try and hug him. But her praise struck a chord with his vanity so he allowed her whatever she might do. He was also pleased she used his name, though he'd be damned if he ever let on.
They came around the back of the castle and hopped over underbrush to reach the old entrance. The most of the roof had caved in many, many years ago, as did some of the walls. They walked in to what used to be an entrance hall. The walls rose up for several stories, so the ceiling must have been quite lofty and impressive. Snape leaned into the bay of a partially wrecked oriel window, crossed his arms, cocked his head and gestured with his head further into the castle. "Take off and go have a look about the place."
She clasped her hands together, jumped up and spun around squealing, before bouncing out of the room.
Georgie was so excited she was running. And now she was out of breath. The castle was more of an enormous manor house, then a true castle, but it was immense. She's run through what had probably been the kitchens off to the side of one of the great dinning rooms. There was a low fireplace that ran the entire length of the room and a formerly solid, but now rotted out worktable in the center of the room. The dinning hall had a raised dais sort of platform along the back.
She tore back through the entryway and saw Snape still standing as she left him. "This is incredible!" She gushed as she mounted the mammoth staircase. "Have you seen all of this?" He nodded the affirmative as she bounded up the stairs.
A few of the bedchambers still had roofs over them and she was amazed at how spacious the rooms were. Perhaps they belonged to royalty or something. This was so cool! There was a sort of balcony at the end of a corridor that led to the mostly fallen battlements. She popped her head out side, but decided to check the rest of the downstairs first.
He looked up as he saw her descending the staircase. "This is so cool. How come not so many people know about this place? It's amazing. There are some battlements still standing outside--I'm going to go over them as soon as I finish with the main floor." Her voice echoed as she walked out of sight but continued conversing with him. "Really, some great people must've lived here. There are heaps of bedrooms up stairs, and by the size of the kitchens and the dinning hall there must've been--" She broke off suddenly.
Snape pushed off his perch and followed her to see what had scared her into shutting up, he thought with a smile. He discovered her in what used to be another great room. This one wasn't as large as the dinning hall, but it was considerable larger than the salon. He knew what it was, but he smirked wondering if she could figure it out.
"It's a ballroom of sorts." She muttered to herself, biting her lip. Or it might've been at one time, the ceiling still stood, but the floor was covered by debris that must've blown in from the obvious lack of windows. The high slits of where the windows used to be allowed a sort of soft, yellow light to waft in. But it was wonderful as it was. Several varieties of flowers had made the floor their new home and ivy, mosses and vines carpeted the walls until the place looked like a bower or a sanctuary. It was breathtaking really. Georgie wasn't really big on flowers, but appreciated the color they added to this strange place of light.
She shook her head, and murmured, "Perfect…"
Severus Snape smiled his first real smile in a long time, but she didn't get to see it.
She turned on Snape. "This place is crazy." Eyes flashing with amusement. "In Poland we didn't have castles like these. We did have heaps of ruins, but none so…like this. This one kinda belongs here, on this crazy island, by those crazy trees, having the crazy ivy crawl all over it. I like it. I likey." She repeated in a silly voice. He scowled at this, but it was more out of habit than disapproval.
She shook off the feeling of sappiness, and volunteered, "I'm going out to see the courtyard and the battlements." That was her version of an invitation, and wasn't at all surprised when he didn't follow.
The high walls of the battlements looked like they could have withstood an army of invaders, but she guessed that what really might have brought them down was lack of maintenance. The courtyard was surrounded on all sides ands she stalked on over to what she guessed might've been a stable or kennel. Not anything spectacularly interesting in here, so she high-tailed it back to find Snape.
She met him standing in the front entryway again. "Now what?" He quipped. She merely smiled and shrugged, "You've been here before. Show me what you think is cool."
"Cool," he repeated, as if testing the word. Then gathering himself up straight, he strode over and out the front door. Uh, she thought blinking, maybe I should follow him. What a heel and she rolled her eyes.
They were following a steep path down towards the water. They were picking their way carefully as there were exposed tree roots and loose dry clay, that kept tripping them up. It was kinda fun. "This is…an adventure!" Georgie suddenly sang out to no one in particular. "Woo-hoo!"
They finally cleared the woods and found themselves on a smallish beach littered with man-sized rocks. The water came in less-violently here and the sun shone off the dark water, looking like diamonds floated there on the surface just out of reach.
Snape seemed to have forgotten that she was there, which was fine by her. He walked towards the water and stood there, gazing intently out. Georgie squinted her eyes trying to see what he was so taken with, but couldn't see anything other than water, rocks, sky and sun.
She lifted herself up onto one of the rocks and holding her arms out from her sides for balanced heaved herself onto the next one a few feet away. She grinned as she imagined the sight she made, bounding from rock to rock, but she wasn't so worried about what he thought anymore.
After a few minutes, Snape collected himself and strode over to one of the rocks she had been using. When she turned around to come back she found Snape looking up at her on the sixth one. She crouched down and grinned wickedly. "What's up?"
His mouth twitched at this and he said off-handedly, but still accusingly, "I used to do that when I was six years old." She couldn't mistake his tone, but chose to ignore it for the time being. "You were here when you were six?" She prompted.
"I grew up here." He stated simply.
"No freakin' way! You grew up here? Wow." She looked around her and asked, "Where?"
"I'm impressed that you didn't assume one of the caves."
"Well, you do remind me of an overgrown bat. But even overgrown bats need to munch something--need kitchens for that." She suddenly thought of something, "You're not a vampire bat are you?" She asked jokingly. "If you are, I mean, hey, no problem--we can't help what we are and stuff…."
"I'm not a vampire." He growled. She winked at him.
"My family's house is on the other side of the island."
He turned away and looked out and gestured at the water once more, "I learned to swim on this beach."
Her voice brought him out of his contemplation, "Is your family there now?"
"No. They're all gone now." He said totally devoid of emotion. She scrunched up her face in thought at this, but let it go.
Her stomach chose that exact moment to make it's presence known to the two people nearest it. She chortled in laughter. "Sorry, it's got a mind of it's own!"
"It has great timing though…" Puzzled at his statement she jumped down off of her rock and stood a few feet from Snape as he whipped out his wand and a few seconds later a large box could be seen zooming over the landscape straight towards them. He directed the box to touch down right in front of them both.
"No one's up there, but we still have house-elves who are going half-mad from the lack of things to do. I sent an owl this morning to instruct them to make lunch for us." She nodded in understanding.
He brandished his wand once more and the box opened itself and several blankets flew out only to spread themselves over the cool sand. This was followed by container after container of food. Georgie couldn't see what it all was yet, but she was already impressed once more today.
"You know," she began off-handedly, "Many people think having house-elves is a bad idea…" She goaded.
"But you don't." On seeing the vacant expression on her face, he continued, "I've heard it said that you are very friendly with the Hogwarts house-elves. You pay them social calls sometimes three times a week." He acted shocked at his own words.
Georgie giggled, and assented. "It's all horribly true! Now you know the secret behind my junk food addiction. They're my Diet Coke suppliers!" She mock wailed, then snorted.
Georgie plopped herself unceremoniously on the other side of the box from Snape. She was nosily picking at the lid to one of the food boxes. Snape glanced over her shoulder. "Speaking of which…"
A smaller box smacked into the back of her head. "Ow!" She yelped. It hadn't really hurt much, and she was more surprised than anything else. She glared at him, then picked up the offending box and opened it. It was full of Diet Cokes.
She set it aside and grinned broadly. "You big dork. You could have warned me or something." She laughed full out now.
He was tearing the lids off the boxes and setting them out. He looked up at her, "That would've ruined the surprise." He said in a deadpan voice.
She just shook her head at this, shrugged her shoulders and smiled. He would've made a fun serial killer…
"I like to take a drink of soda in my mouth, then take a bite of potatoes and eat it all in one go." She explained her odd picnic-ing palate.
"Hey Snape?" He looked up as she set down her roasted chicken. "How come you don't live at your house?" She asked delicately.
"Ghosts." He said simply. She wonder if he meant real ghosts, or symbolic ones. But she guessed the latter, and she left it alone.
She thought that for the first time he looked sad and not his usual angry. She felt bad for him, whatever he was thinking about…
"Snape, what's your favorite animal?"
"Why?" He asked quickly.
"Dumbledore asked me the other day…. Just curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat," He spoke bitterly.
"Which animal though?" She persisted.
"I don't know. I detest furry things. Never thought about it, really…" And he stopped.
Georgie popped open a diet coke, mm-kay that didn't work.
"I think I prefer whales, the large ones in the Arctic." He said with meaning. Georgie didn't move and just stared at him. He looked challenging "I should have said Snake's right? Because I'm a Slytherin."
"No, you weren't supposed to say anything in particular. Just a surprising choice. Dumbledore says it has to do with your character--which animal you related to, I guess…" she mumbled.
"I think that's a load of hogswash." He said determinedly.
"I think it's interesting, but yes I agree, it's a bunch of bunk. But kinda a fun question." She grinned a bit anxiously. Then looked out at the waves coming in.
"I wish I had my camera," she mused.
"I could get one from the house."
"Nah, I was just talking. Just trying to say, 'Wow, this places is gorgeous'--picture-worthy even!" She smiled at him.
"Really, I could get it easily. It's been sitting there unused since I was in school." He persisted.
"No, It's cool. I don't really, really want one. I can remember everything fine enough using just my head." She laughed. "You doubt my memory! Typical male too. Offering a solution. Females just talk to talk--to share thoughts and ideas, to share burdens of problems, junk like that…. Guys offer solutions to problems. They jump to the conclusion that if you talking about a predicament, you're automatically fishing for a solution. 'Oh, someone fix this for me!' I reckon most people don't even really want their difficulty to ever be solved. What ever would they find to talk about then?!" Georgie laughed at her own speech.
She diverged on a different path before he could even think to begin criticizing women. "I can't imagine you as being school aged. What were you like?" She settled down into lying on her stomach on the blankets. Her legs were falling asleep-ouch, pins and needles!
"I was shorter…I had short hair. I took classes." He answered, knowing full well that that wasn't what she had meant.
"No, like your pursuits and all. We're you locked up in your basement all the time, being forced to make potions until they were right? Did you stare into a mirror for hours, trying to perfect the best cold-stare?"
"Well, you've pretty much summed me up." He quipped snidely, but still mildly enough for her to know that he wasn't being vindictive. He ran his fingers absent-mindedly through his hair and he looked out across the landscape, as if remembering.
"I spent my happiest times outdoors. Swimming and hiking and scabbing up my knees--normal childish antics. Inside I followed around our cook and idolized her from a very young age. I think I got my love of creating potions partly from her," He allowed. Georgie didn't say anything, but noted that his family had a cook. His family must be very well off indeed. Well, duh, yeah. That and they owned an island.
"It was very quiet and I read and studied much and observed nature on hours at end. I took up photography seriously for awhile, mostly to displease my mother, because she thought the contraptions were strange. She bought me a guitar and a violin to tempt me--neither of which I played."
"We traveled as a family every summer. My parents were intent on filling us with as much culture as they could. It was a pleasing childhood," He reflected. "Nothing was seriously lacking, I suppose. Just normal.."
He turned to her with a helpless shrug. "I'm sorry I don't know what you want to know…"
"No that was cool. You make a little bit more sense now, methinks." She grinned. She thought hard for am moment on his inadvertent slip. He had said 'us' when he said his parents tried to give him culture. So Snape had a sibling. Since he didn't talk about them, she figured he didn't want to-maybe they were at odds or something. And she really didn't think it a good idea to pursue it. If it were bad, she honestly didn't want to deal with it today.
"What were you like growing up?" He asked her right back.
"I'm still growing up," she beamed. He groaned at this. "Never growing up!" She added.
"Really." He spat.
Still gleeful, "Just as normal as yours was." She highly doubted the complete honesty of both of their stories. If she was guarded, then he was probably being so as well.
"But it was only like, 5 years ago!?" She threw in incredulously. He widened his eyes motioning her to continue anyway. "I ate heaps, lived in Canada and Central Europe. Attended a Muggle Gymnasium--know what those are?" He nodded. "Attended my Gymnasium--I was a bit of a nerd--then I went to The Institute."
"Well, I was goofy. Practical jokes abounded. A very social creature. Always going to see shows and movies. I took dance lessons: I can Salsa and Merengue and Cha-cha, I'll have you know!" She winked, he shook his head. Oh yeah and Hula--It's a 'roots' thing. When you're Polynesian people expect it of you. I used to go out hiking heaps too: by myself and with friends. I still love it…" she faltered as she remembered the fun times.
Shaking herself out of zoning-out, "I listened to heaps of music. I play guitar a little--can't sing to save my life. Watched a lot of cartoons. It's probably a good thing our lounge doesn't have a TV, or else I'd be even more annoying. Went to church, wasn't a Girl Scout--or even a Boy Scout. I had fun. Very few regrets and I can still laugh. I think it was a successful childhood then." She grinned and thought back absently.
She sat up again and took off a shoe. Snape was looking at her with sheer disapproval. "What are you doing?"
"Geesh, Snape." She rolled her eyes. "Taking my shoes and socks off. I wanna roll-up my pants and walk in the water to cool off. Wanna come?" Attacking the other foot.
He was still staring at her. "They're not going to reek! Gawd, you're such a spazz!"
She got to her feet and flexed her toes, then looked in his direction. "I've got noxious fumes! Ahhh!" And she threatened to stick her feet in Snape's direction, but didn't really get too close.
"Coming?" She tried again.
"No." He said lowly.
"Fine, you're missing out." On life, on fun, on laughter, on friendship…Georgie sighed. She turned her back and struggled her way to the water's edge.
She gingerly stuck her toes in. Nah, not too bad. I've swam in waaay colder waters than this.
She backed up a bit and yelled over her shoulder, "The water's fine Snape! Really!" In a last ditch effort to get him to join in. A short ways down the shore the edge of the water was dotted by large boulders, some under water, some half-in, half-out.
She clamored over and jumped up on the first one, slightly painfully now that her feet were bare. She ignored and had forgotten about it as she stretched over to reach the next one. Slowly she made her way to the furthest one out which was overlooking a deep and clear pool. She crouched down and washed her hands off hastily in the water, wiping the water off on her pants legs. She stood up and looked out, squinting in the sunshine.
Abruptly, she felt something push her forward, and for a few agonizing seconds she fought to try and regain her balance--contorted into a strange and spastic dance--but in the end, she sort of yelped and arms flailing, fell into the water.
It wasn't very deep and she rocketed up to stand up out of the water. She opened her eyes and rounded around to come face to face-literally-with Snape. Her mouth was open and she coughed hard, and sputtered, slobbering water and starring in wide-eyed horror at him. He, long skinny legs and all, was crouching down on the rock where she was just standing, knees to his chest grinning funnily, like a normal person would. But she didn't notice.
She was clutching her hands and shaking-from the shock, not the water-her shoulders tensed up and her face frozen. Finally able to find her voice, she mumbled. "You prick, " she screeched shivering slightly.
His grin grew. "You creepy asshole….You…you…." She was beyond surprised, and she was too shaken up to form more words. She just stared at him, mouth-hanging down to her chin.
He looked to be biting his lip and was highly amused at her reaction. He offered her his hand, "I couldn't resist." He said almost jovially.
She slowly, as if she didn't trust him, untwisted her hands and grabbed a firm hold of his hand, which was being held, right above her head. As soon as she grabbed hold of his hand there was a pause, and neither of them did or said anything. Then Georgie looked up, deep into his eyes and like a fire, a huge grin appeared to spread across her face, stretching from ear-to-ear. Snape suddenly seemed to have something dawn on him, but by then it was too late. Georgie yanked with all her strength and Snape fell in ungracefully.
He landed right next to her and when he surfaced, she didn't even turn around to look at him. "I'd rate that one a six-point entry."
He plodded over to her and placed himself right in front of her. He looked pissed, and for a second, she though, uh-oh, did I go too far? But She thrust her chin out defiantly and waited for it.
He just stood there, being dragged down by his wet clothes shaking in fury; his face was totally stark and white. Then it changed. The corners of his mouth twitched to betray him and the corners of his eyes crinkled up as he let a little smile escape. "That was interesting. Let's do that again, alright?" And he turned and hefted himself out of the water and plopped his soggy self down on the rock.
"Huh?" She stood where she was staring after him. "I thought you were going to kill me…" She called out after him, a bit uncertainly.
Snape was removing his shoes-something Georgie hadn't thought of, and wanted to smack her head for it. She hoped they weren't ruined. But with his amused look, he glanced up and good-naturedly reasoned, "You had a right to do it. I would've been disappointed in you if you'd passed that opportunity."
"Who are you and what have you done with Severus Snape?" Georgie demanded harshly.
He stood up having finished, and growled, "Georgie, I'm myself."
"No you're not. You're cool and fun, your company's enjoyable, you're hospitable…you're an imposter!" She nearly screamed and pointed a finger at him.
He smiled ever so slightly at this and nodded at her compliment, then replied impatiently, "So are we swimming or are we not?"
"I....can't…handle…THIS!" She screamed dramatically whipping the back of her hand up to her forehead and pretended to faint as she fell backwards and sank under the water.
"Always an affinity for the melodramatic..." He muttered under his breath as he mounted a neighboring rock that rose above the rest, and stood atop.
She surfaced and blinking she tested, "So, I should enjoy the new you while I can, 'cuz who ever took over your body is going to return the real you to it once we get back to Hogwarts, is that it?"
"That seems about right," He replied blankly.
"Good enough for me. Snapey, Snapey, Snapey's swimming in the waaaa-ter……." she sang as she swam further out. With an exasperated look, he shrugged and was about to dive in--
"--Make sure you dive out into deep enough water." She warned. He looked at her rudely.
She felt dumb and hurriedly explained, "I don't know…thought maybe you hadn't swam here since you were little, and I wouldn't want to have to drag your limp body with a broken neck back to Hogwarts and try and explain. NO ONE would believe me anyway--they'd just think I fought with you and had to kill you, er, something…" he was still giving her that, shut-up-stupid look. "Nevermind," she ended dejectedly.
He dove in and caused a huge tidal wave to course at Georgie. Well, Georgie thought it was a tidal wave, but it obviously wasn't. "Wee, like surfing…"
They swam about and took turns jumping off the higher rocks. Soon they were pruney and starting to shiver for real. Snape swam over to where Georgie was floating on her back in her own world, being rocked by the tide. She opened her eyes and Snape was right above her. "AH! Don't freaking do that!"
He was taken aback at that. She really was a jumpy person!
"I'm hopping out to dry off."
"Okily, I'll follow you then in a minute." She smiled at him, wondering if they'd dry out in time to go for a hike.
He jumped out and was shaking out his long black hair like a dog and wringing out his black shirt.
Georgie wolf whistled, and he looked up in surprise. Mischievously she said, "Wow, hottie!"
"I don't know what you mean."
When she whistled again, "Oh grow up!" He said scowling and walked back towards the blankets.
"Hey, what'd I say?" She belly-laughed. This day was just too weird and she almost didn't want to slow down long enough to analyze it. She was having a blast and Snape really wasn't all that bad if you caught him unawares, she just worried that he'd be ten-times worse tomorrow to make up for it.
She dragged her water-heavy clothes back across the sands. Snape turned around with an evil smile on his face and his wand in his hand pointing straight at her. She froze with a confused, slightly hurt look on her face.
"You do have a very expressive face." He pointed out without moving.
"It's the Polynesian part of me…" She indicated with her eyes towards the wand.
"Starting a fire," he said off-handedly, but still grinning. He did that on purpose, she thought. Mind-games again--trying to trip me up. She rolled her eyes right in his face, and pushed past him, noticing the pile of split-wood.
"You know, we both do have wands and can dry by magic faster…" She pointed out before dumping herself unceremoniously on the blankets and rolling onto her back, relaxing.
"You don't always use your wand for everything magic…" He raised his eye brows and challenged.
"No, I don't always, but I do when I'm drying myself out," she frowned and sat up on one elbow. "So why the fire?"
"I like fires better." He was bending over arranging the wood. Okay…she thought, just great.
"Freakin' pyro, aren't ya? Burn, baby, burn!" She smiled.
"Hit the nail on the head," He said drolly. "Incendio…" The flames instantly leapt up.
"Ah, much better, "Georgie buzzed and moved closer to the warmth. It was still sunny out and light, but it was a bit chilly.
He sat down across the fire from her and they sat in silence just enjoying the fire. "The natural way does it so much better…" He said convincingly.
"Mwah-ha-ha…." Georgie giggled.
"What?" Snape looked at her through the flames.
"Nothing. Just being weird."
"You said it, not I."
"No, you've said it before, " she pushed.
He was silent; she hummed under her breath to herself, quiet enough so that he couldn't hear her and make comments. He prodded and poked the fire.
She was playing with her nails, and smoothing out her pants legs so that they dried evenly. "Georgie?" She looked up questioningly, "Yeah?"
He hesitated, "You used to play the guitar?" He looked like he was turning something over in his mind, and he was frowning again. Great, what can he have to say about it now? She braced herself.
"Can you still play it? Perhaps even today?" She smiled and let out a breath of relief she hadn't realized that she had been holding in.
"Yeah, I'm pretty bad at it. But," she frowned, "Well I obviously didn't bring mine here to this island." She laughed a little at this.
He remained serious. "Accio Guitar!" He barked.
She groaned and slumped over, "You mean you were serious? Dude, I'm not that great! I couldn't possibly play anything you'd find interesting. And I mess up half the time, I have to start over like a hundred times before it comes out right." Seeing him smiling obstinately, she whined, "This is not fair! I'm going to make a complete ass of myself, opening myself up to comments and barbs from you, you'll have heaps to laugh at for days…REALLY, I'm not that good. People always say that out of modesty, but I suck!" When she paused for breath she realized that he was holding the guitar already. Damnit, she thought. He held it out to her.
She sat down and began tuning it. "Man, this is waay off! When's the last time you played it?" She grumbled. He settled back onto the blankets and lay his head back onto his folded arms. "You can start at any time," he poked.
She just looked up and grumbled, before tuning some more. She thought he had fallen asleep in the sun, by the time she was ready to go. She tapped him with her foot. "You still awake?"
"Of course. Now start." He said authoritatively.
"Yes sir, Professor, " she said saucily and saluted.
"You're going to regret this." She warned.
"Just play the instrument." At this, she shrugged and began to play.
She loved the Muggle band The Smiths and played a few of their songs figuring out of all the songs she knew, he'd least object to those. She even accidentally sang a couple.
I know I'm unlovable,
You don't have to tell me.
I don't have much in my life
But take it-it's yours.
I know I'm unlovable,
You don't have to tell me.
Message received,
Loud and clear:
I don't have much in my life
But take it-it's yours.
I wear black on the outside,
Because black is how I feel on the inside.
And if I seem a little strange, Well, that's because I am.
But I know that you would like me,
If only you could see me;
If only you would meet me.
When she got tired, she set the guitar down and stated, "All done."
He sat up, and noted, "You're right--you can't sing to save your life."
She gave a dirty look, then pouted. She thought she wasn't that bad.
"I was joking." He seemed to read her thoughts.
"Okay, send it back now." She told him.
"You." He challenged.
Looking nonplussed, she lifted her empty hand and without a word performed a banishing charm that sent the guitar flying into a surprised Snape's lap.
"Good," He said approvingly. She ignored this. "Got anymore Diet Cokes?" She bit her lip and smiled demurely.
She knocked back the soda quickly and helped re-pack the food box, chewing on several sticks of celery in the process.
Snape prodded, "Don't you ever stop eating?" If looks could kill….
He sent the box and the guitar flying back over the island to the unseen house.
"Well that was that." She yielded. "Goodbye Diet Cokes! I'll miss you!" Snape sneered at her.
"What?" She asked innocently.
"What now?" He implored, "We have two more hours until we should be back at Hogwarts for dinner. If you would like, we can leave now, or we can do something else. What do you want to do?"
"I dunno. What do you want to do?"
"I'm asking you."
"And I was asking you."
"Georgie-"
"-Severus." She frowned. He stopped.
She twisted her face. "I really don't mind if you want to choose. I'm trying to be nice." She pointed out.
"Fine, I choose. Well, then I suppose I choose to hike." He said simply.
She beamed. "I would've chose that!" She claimed delightedly.
"I know." He said, and smiled deviously.
She groaned and turned on him, "Wait…"
"This is not up for discussion. We hike." He held up his hand with finality.
She gulped. Surrendering, she looked down at her feet and muttered, "such a pompous…" and he smiled slightly at this and took off. Thank you, she thought, but couldn't voice it as she tore off after him.
The hike was a good ending to the day, They talked very little, but took in many sights. The island was something like 15 miles to go around the entire coastline, but they didn't go that way. They zigzagged back and forth and saw some spectacular views of the ocean and even crossed a large clearing where rabbits hopped across their path. Everyone once in a while at a turn in the path, he'd ask her to choose right or left, and she'd choose one or the other and off they'd go in that direction.
Later on they were treated to flaming sunset sky to light their way. They didn't stop for it specifically but kept glancing out at it over the water.
She thought at first that they were wandering aimlessly, but when a while later they ended up at the top of the sheer cliff that they landed on, Georgie realized he must've know where we were going the whole time.
But on seeing her broomstick, she was reminded once again of the blindfold. "Come on," She turned to Snape pleading. "I don't really need to--"
He held it up right in front of her face. She frowned and tried her hardest to look despondent.
"I still must insist: For your own safety. No arguments if you want to go back at all."
"I could apparate."
"You could," he assented. But they both knew that she wouldn't. She sighed and walked forward towards Snape and that stupid blindfold.
"You know," she informed him." I could figure out where this island is anyway. If one put together the clues--"
"I know you could, but I'd rather you didn't. Trust me. I wasn't joking when I said not knowing would be healthier for you. " He said gruffly. He grabbed her shoulders and spun her around so he could fit the blindfold over her eyes. Blah, blah, blah, she mouthed snottily to the forest. Darkness once again.
Something was thrust into her hands, and her hands scrambled to get a hold on her broomstick. "Snape?" She waited until she was sure he was listening, "Thanks for today."
He didn't say anything to that and was silent until he told her once again to hold on because he was just about to kick off. She followed him and they were soaring up and up in no time.
Now that she had time to sort through her thoughts, she realized she really didn't want to. It was too strange and bizarre. What the hell had happened today? It wasn't her doing. It was more like the island's doing, he slowly melted into a….a person. Maybe it was just going home for him had that effect, she pondered. It was a bummer he wasn't like that all the time, but at the same time, it kinda made her day more special, because she alone got to witness it. "Mwah-ha-ha!" She giggled evilly out loud.
"You are so strange!" She heard, expecting it. "Yup..." and she agreed to it.
They were silent the rest of the way back. Shifting uncomfortably, Georgie asked, feeling really self-conscious, "How much longer do you think it is?"
"Perhaps 15 more minutes. Why?" She could feel the scrutiny in his voice.
She grinned sheepishly, "Drank too many Diet Cokes."
A/N-Holy Guacamole, I've got some lovely readers who are dears at reviewing-bless your hearts.
Here's to them: Natasha, Kat, Blackletter, Helena Darjeeling, Andi, Magi, and Diablo Shinigami. I'll buy you all a drink! Once again The Smiths-I'm creative, eh? I'm maika'i and all, so be nice and keep reading the fluff I'm throwing out.