Chapter 11: Visiting the Snapes.
The train trundled slowly into the sleepy wizard village and, after a few moments it came to a complete stop. Harry and Severa grabbed their bags from the overhead compartment and exited the train. A rush of wind and rain caught Harry full force in the face, clouding up his glasses, and for a moment he was temporarily blinded. When his vision cleared, he saw Severa hugging an old man and woman. The man had sleek black hair with dashes of grey running through it. He wore a large, black cloak and a pair of black- rimmed glasses were perched on his nose. He was extremely tall. The woman, by comparison, was very small; she barely came up to Severa's nose. She had a mop of snow-white hair that was fixed in tiny curls. She wore a pink cardigan and a flowery, blue skirt and she also had a pair of glasses, but hers were small with circle lenses. Both the man and woman looked extremely happy and friendly. They were also Snape's parents.
Severa turned around, searching for Harry, and when she saw him, she called him over. "Harry, these are my grandparents."
The old woman walked towards Harry, a broad smile on her face and tears in her eyes. Harry was slightly alarmed. "Are you alright, Mrs Snape?"
Tears rolled down the old woman's face. "Yes, I'm fine, dear." She smiled. "I apologise that you have to see me like this but... well, I always get slightly emotional when I see Severa after a long period of time. Anyway, I mustn't be so rude! I'm Severa's grandmother, Daphne Snape. You must, of course, call me Daphne!"
Harry smiled and shook her hand. Then the old man stepped forward. Harry could see where Snape had gotten his ominous looks from, but in reality, the older Snape was actually a warm and friendly man.
"Hello Harry," he smiled. "It's so nice to see you. I'm Theodore, Severa's grandfather. Please do call me by my given name, I do so hate formalities!"
After all introductions had been made, the little group set off towards the Snape's home. It was a twenty minute drive from the train station by the Knight Bus and Harry thoroughly enjoyed the comfortable conversation he had with the Snapes. Severa was fast asleep for the duration of the journey and he, Daphne and Theodore had a pleasant chat about Muggles, school and himself. They asked him all sorts of questions in a pleasant way, never pushing him for answers. He told them everything from his favourite food to who his best friend was and they promised him he'd have a great mid-term staying with them. "Better than a year at the Burrow!" Theodore boomed proudly, waking a sleeping old witch at the back of the bus. Harry smiled and told him he didn't doubt him for a second.
Theodore opened the door to the Snapes cottage with the still sleeping Severa in his arms. He then walked inside, down a small hallway and out of sight. Harry looked around the outside of the cottage. It was very pretty. The sun was shining, the garden was well attended to, with lots of colourful flowers growing and the cottage itself was a freshly painted white, with a thatched roof and small windows with brown shutters. It was homely and elegant and Harry couldn't quite believe it was real. This was where Severus Snape, great Potions Master of Hogwarts had grown up. Unbelievable.
Daphne ushered Harry inside and she shut the door. Harry looked around the hallway and had to stop himself from gasping. The walls of the hallway were painted a cosy pink with a soft pink carpet to match. There were three doors in the hallway, one on the right, one on the left, and one at the very end of the hallway that Theodore had disappeared through earlier. On each of the three walls there were several pictures of family members and friends. But there was one on the wall near Harry that interested him the most. It was a picture of Daphne and Theodore standing side by side outside the cottage. They were both smiling and waving and they both looked years younger. But, the focal point of the picture was undoubtedly the young boy with a mop of greasy, black hair who was scowling at his parents and trying to stalk out of the of the picture. It was a very young Snape and Harry had to stop himself from laughing.
"Come through to the kitchen, Harry!" Daphne shouted from inside the door to his right. Harry walked inside the room and was greeted with a huge surprise. The cottage had looked extremely small from the outside but inside it was huge. The room he was in was not only a small kitchen; it also doubled up as a dining room.
"Make yourself comfortable, Harry, my love. Theo will be back in a second, he's just putting Severa to bed and then he'll be back for a spot of tea. Would you like some vegetable soup? It's freshly made!" Harry smiled at her and told her he would love some and would she like any help?
"Harry," she smiled, "You're a very sweet boy, but you're also my guest, and I can't let you be serving your own meals! Now, do sit down, love, and tell me all about school. What's your favourite lesson?"
Harry and Daphne chatted easily about little things and when Theodore arrived the three of them had a pleasant meal of vegetable soup and brown bread. It tasted delicious and Harry had never felt more at home in his life.
That night, Harry lay in bed staring at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep because not everything had sunken in yet. Twenty-four hours ago, he had been apologising to Severa at the Halloween Feast when she had then asked him what he was doing for Mid Term. He had told her he was staying in the school and she had then invited him to her grandparent's house. At first he had refused. He had told her it was a bad idea, Snape hated him, his parents' probably would too, but Severa eventually talked him round and now here he was, lying in Snape's old bed, in Snape's old bedroom, surrounded by Snape's old stuff. The room was mainly bare, a bed, a wardrobe, a desk and a chair, but the walls were covered with anything and everything relating to Potions. Diagrams, advertisements, pictures. Potions had obviously always fascinated Snape. Harry smiled and turned onto his side. It was all so surreal. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
The days passed quickly and three days into the visit, on a dreary Wednesday morning, Harry got some horribly unexpected news.
"Don't forget what day it is tomorrow, Severa." Daphne said.
"What day is it?" Severa had obviously forgotten.
"November 4th!" The words still meant nothing to Severa so with an exasperated sigh, Daphne gave in and told her.
"November 4th is, and has been, for the past thirty six years, your darling fathers birthday. And, this year, as we do every year, we are holding a party for family and close friends with a small family meal afterwards to celebrate. Now, do you remember that, Severa?" Daphne smiled sweetly.
"Oh, yes, THAT." Severa rolled her eyes and said nothing more.
Daphne turned to Harry. "Oh, and Harry, my love," she said. "You are, of course, part of the small family meal afterwards in case you thought otherwise." Harry smiled half-heartedly back at her. A family meal with Snape. Did life get any better?
The three Snapes and Harry were up early the next morning and at half eleven there was a loud knock on the small cottage door. Daphne and Theodore ushered Severa and Harry to the door, Daphne excitedly squealing, "He's here! He's here!" and Severa moaning loudly that she needed air, the toilet, anything to get her out of greeting Snape. Harry felt the same way but he didn't say anything. He couldn't imagine what Snape would say when he saw the person he hated most in the world standing in his childhood home beside his smiling mother and father. Daphne opened the door and Snape stepped inside, looking wildly out of place in contrast to the pink decoration of the hall way.
"Hello Severus!" Daphne smiled, "Happy Birthday, love! How was your trip down?"
Snape sneered at her. "Fine mother, as usual." Daphne kissed him on the cheek and he moved swiftly away before she could even attempt to hug him. He then shook hands with his father and he nodded curtly at Severa. His gaze then shifted to Harry. Harry couldn't be sure, but he could swear he saw a look of utter shock and... something else, something unusual, adorn Snapes face for all of two seconds, but it was gone as soon as it came and Harry was greeted by a sarcastic "Potter.", as Snape moved off down the hallway, and into the kitchen.
Theodore took Severa and Harry into the nearest town for the day while Daphne prepared for the party. At half five they arrived back at the cottage and at six o' clock the party began. Harry didn't know many faces but everyone was introduced to him and his hand was shaken warmly by one and all. At half six Dumbledore arrived, full of apologies. "So sorry, Daphne." He smiled, his blue eyes twinkling brightly. "The chores of a Headmaster are arduous and often, never ending. Now, where is the birthday boy?" Harry chuckled to himself. Only Dumbledore would dare call Snape that.
Harry watched as Dumbledore moved towards a dark figure sitting in an armchair in the corner of the room. It was Snape. He was sitting alone even though it was, in fact, his party. Harry almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
The hours passed and, at nine o' clock, everyone had gone.
"Dumbledore, you must stay for tea!" Daphne argued good naturedly.
"No, no, Daphne, any meal in any household should always be a family event and that is why I must leave. Besides, duty calls!" Dumbledore bode goodbye and he was gone.
Harry helped Daphne set the table and when everything was ready the other three Snapes were called for tea. They all sat down to a meal of steaming soup and homemade brown bread with slices of fresh, pink salmon deliciously covering them. All was silent as the four Snapes and Harry ate hungrily, worn out from the party. But then something unexpected happened. Severa started to cry. At first, silent tears dripped slowly down her face, but after a while, she was sobbing her heart out, her shoulders racking and heaving with her grief. Harry was stunned.
"Severa?" he asked tentatively. "Are you alright?"
She lifted her head up to face him and Harry was taken aback by the pure misery he saw in her face. "No, Harry." She replied. "No, I'm not. And neither should you be." And with that, she ran from the room, still sobbing miserably. Daphne and Theodore jumped up and they too ran from the room, after Severa.
Harry and Snape were left alone. The scene Harry had just witnessed heightened the uneasy atmosphere between the two of them. For what felt like the next ten years, they sat there in silence. Finally, Harry felt as if he should say something.
"Do you think she's alright..." Harry faltered, unsure as to what he should call Snape in his own home. He decided familiarity was the best option. "erm... Professor Snape?"
His words seemed to jolt Snape back to reality and he eyed Harry with a nasty expression. But Harry wasn't prepared for Snapes next words and the effect they had on him. "You shouldn't have come here." Snape stood up from the table and as he was leaving the room Harry heard him angrily spit, "Potter."
"That's it Harry! Just a few more steps! Come on! Just two more!" Lily smiled as Harry walked towards her, then stumbled and fell straight into her outstretched arms. He laughed happily as she tickled his chin.
"Oh your daddy is going to be so proud of you!" she exclaimed. "Wait until he gets home and sees you walking! He'll be so very, very proud!" Lily hugged baby Harry tightly and then she swung him around, marvelling at her beautiful baby boy. She hugged him again and he snuggled warmly against her.
"Oh, Harry," she kissed the top of his head. "Everything is so perfect. I love you."
Suddenly the image of baby Harry and his mother was shattered as the angry face of Snape appeared before him. Snape sneered angrily and spat satirically, "Potter!" over and over again. Snape repeated himself continuously, "Potter! Potter! Potter!" Images of Lily flashed before Harry, until everything went black and, with one last angry "Potter!" from Snape the moment of Lily's death replayed in Harry's head as if he was watching a familiar old video one more time.
"Potter!"
Harry woke up. It took him a moment to realise he was in the Snapes' dark kitchen, slumped over the kitchen table. He must have fallen asleep.
"Potter?"
Harry drowsily lifted his head and peered into the darkness.
"Harry," Snape hissed, "It's late. You had better go to bed."
And with that, Snape was gone.
Harry left the kitchen in a disorientated state and got into bed in Snapes' old room. The last thing he remembered before he went to sleep was something Snape had said. He'd called him 'Harry'.
Harry woke very late the next morning. The sun was streaming through the window and he smiled. It was a beautiful day.
Half an hour later, Harry was washed and dressed and he headed towards the kitchen. Theodore and Snape sat around the table drinking tea and very black coffee respectively.
"Good morning, Harry!" Theodore boomed. "Sleep well?"
"Yes, thank you." Harry replied, studiously ignoring the grimacing face of Snape. "Where are Severa and Daphne this morning?"
"Severa is still in bed. She's not feeling well this morning. A bit peaky." Theodore smiled solemnly. "And Daphne's gone to meet friends for lunch and a bit of shopping. You know, Harry! The usual womanly things!" Theodore laughed his rich baritone laugh. Snape winced slightly. "Anyway," Theodore boomed. "I'm off out. Harry, there's a fry warming in the oven and fresh tea in the pot. I'll see you later boys!" And with that parting comment, Theodore was gone. Now it was just Harry and Snape, alone in the small kitchen in the cosy house where Snape had grown up. Snape, who nosily scraped his chair back and began to leave the room, broke the awkward silence. "I'm off for a walk, Potter. See the house isn't in too much of a desecrated state for when I get back." And with the billowing of his long cloak, he too was gone.
Harry spent the next hour in the kitchen, eating the fry Daphne had prepared for him and drinking the warm, milky tea Theodore had left in the pot. When he was finished, he cleared the table and cleaned the kitchen. After that he was at a loose end. What to do? Severa still hadn't woken and he had no wish to disturb her. He didn't want Snape coming back and finding him in Severas' room. Merlin only knew what the repercussions would be. Harry left the kitchen and wandered down the hallway. The family pictures smiled and waved at him and he smiled back politely. He heard some of them whispering- "Harry Potter, imagine!" and "Harry Potter! What a lovely boy he's grown up to be! Not at all like his father at that age!" This puzzled Harry. People always told him his father had been a pleasant man.
Harry finished his wandering down the hallway when he reached the door at the very end. It was the only door he had not yet been through and with a huge amount of guilt, he pushed it open.
On the other side of the door he found himself in another hallway. It was painted a bright, sunshine yellow and it contained four doors. One of the doors was slightly ajar, and he could hear loud snores escaping from it. He stifled a giggle. It was most definitely Severas'room. The next two doors opened up to Daphne and Theodores' room (a homely mauve) and what Harry guessed must be the guest room. Everything in it seemed to be sickly shade of luminous orange apart from a few black robes thrown over a luminous orange armchair. Harry guessed this was where Snape had slept the night before. It was the last room that intrigued him the most. It was painted an off-beige colour and it was filled with boxes. Harry couldn't help himself. He had to go in.
The train trundled slowly into the sleepy wizard village and, after a few moments it came to a complete stop. Harry and Severa grabbed their bags from the overhead compartment and exited the train. A rush of wind and rain caught Harry full force in the face, clouding up his glasses, and for a moment he was temporarily blinded. When his vision cleared, he saw Severa hugging an old man and woman. The man had sleek black hair with dashes of grey running through it. He wore a large, black cloak and a pair of black- rimmed glasses were perched on his nose. He was extremely tall. The woman, by comparison, was very small; she barely came up to Severa's nose. She had a mop of snow-white hair that was fixed in tiny curls. She wore a pink cardigan and a flowery, blue skirt and she also had a pair of glasses, but hers were small with circle lenses. Both the man and woman looked extremely happy and friendly. They were also Snape's parents.
Severa turned around, searching for Harry, and when she saw him, she called him over. "Harry, these are my grandparents."
The old woman walked towards Harry, a broad smile on her face and tears in her eyes. Harry was slightly alarmed. "Are you alright, Mrs Snape?"
Tears rolled down the old woman's face. "Yes, I'm fine, dear." She smiled. "I apologise that you have to see me like this but... well, I always get slightly emotional when I see Severa after a long period of time. Anyway, I mustn't be so rude! I'm Severa's grandmother, Daphne Snape. You must, of course, call me Daphne!"
Harry smiled and shook her hand. Then the old man stepped forward. Harry could see where Snape had gotten his ominous looks from, but in reality, the older Snape was actually a warm and friendly man.
"Hello Harry," he smiled. "It's so nice to see you. I'm Theodore, Severa's grandfather. Please do call me by my given name, I do so hate formalities!"
After all introductions had been made, the little group set off towards the Snape's home. It was a twenty minute drive from the train station by the Knight Bus and Harry thoroughly enjoyed the comfortable conversation he had with the Snapes. Severa was fast asleep for the duration of the journey and he, Daphne and Theodore had a pleasant chat about Muggles, school and himself. They asked him all sorts of questions in a pleasant way, never pushing him for answers. He told them everything from his favourite food to who his best friend was and they promised him he'd have a great mid-term staying with them. "Better than a year at the Burrow!" Theodore boomed proudly, waking a sleeping old witch at the back of the bus. Harry smiled and told him he didn't doubt him for a second.
Theodore opened the door to the Snapes cottage with the still sleeping Severa in his arms. He then walked inside, down a small hallway and out of sight. Harry looked around the outside of the cottage. It was very pretty. The sun was shining, the garden was well attended to, with lots of colourful flowers growing and the cottage itself was a freshly painted white, with a thatched roof and small windows with brown shutters. It was homely and elegant and Harry couldn't quite believe it was real. This was where Severus Snape, great Potions Master of Hogwarts had grown up. Unbelievable.
Daphne ushered Harry inside and she shut the door. Harry looked around the hallway and had to stop himself from gasping. The walls of the hallway were painted a cosy pink with a soft pink carpet to match. There were three doors in the hallway, one on the right, one on the left, and one at the very end of the hallway that Theodore had disappeared through earlier. On each of the three walls there were several pictures of family members and friends. But there was one on the wall near Harry that interested him the most. It was a picture of Daphne and Theodore standing side by side outside the cottage. They were both smiling and waving and they both looked years younger. But, the focal point of the picture was undoubtedly the young boy with a mop of greasy, black hair who was scowling at his parents and trying to stalk out of the of the picture. It was a very young Snape and Harry had to stop himself from laughing.
"Come through to the kitchen, Harry!" Daphne shouted from inside the door to his right. Harry walked inside the room and was greeted with a huge surprise. The cottage had looked extremely small from the outside but inside it was huge. The room he was in was not only a small kitchen; it also doubled up as a dining room.
"Make yourself comfortable, Harry, my love. Theo will be back in a second, he's just putting Severa to bed and then he'll be back for a spot of tea. Would you like some vegetable soup? It's freshly made!" Harry smiled at her and told her he would love some and would she like any help?
"Harry," she smiled, "You're a very sweet boy, but you're also my guest, and I can't let you be serving your own meals! Now, do sit down, love, and tell me all about school. What's your favourite lesson?"
Harry and Daphne chatted easily about little things and when Theodore arrived the three of them had a pleasant meal of vegetable soup and brown bread. It tasted delicious and Harry had never felt more at home in his life.
That night, Harry lay in bed staring at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep because not everything had sunken in yet. Twenty-four hours ago, he had been apologising to Severa at the Halloween Feast when she had then asked him what he was doing for Mid Term. He had told her he was staying in the school and she had then invited him to her grandparent's house. At first he had refused. He had told her it was a bad idea, Snape hated him, his parents' probably would too, but Severa eventually talked him round and now here he was, lying in Snape's old bed, in Snape's old bedroom, surrounded by Snape's old stuff. The room was mainly bare, a bed, a wardrobe, a desk and a chair, but the walls were covered with anything and everything relating to Potions. Diagrams, advertisements, pictures. Potions had obviously always fascinated Snape. Harry smiled and turned onto his side. It was all so surreal. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
The days passed quickly and three days into the visit, on a dreary Wednesday morning, Harry got some horribly unexpected news.
"Don't forget what day it is tomorrow, Severa." Daphne said.
"What day is it?" Severa had obviously forgotten.
"November 4th!" The words still meant nothing to Severa so with an exasperated sigh, Daphne gave in and told her.
"November 4th is, and has been, for the past thirty six years, your darling fathers birthday. And, this year, as we do every year, we are holding a party for family and close friends with a small family meal afterwards to celebrate. Now, do you remember that, Severa?" Daphne smiled sweetly.
"Oh, yes, THAT." Severa rolled her eyes and said nothing more.
Daphne turned to Harry. "Oh, and Harry, my love," she said. "You are, of course, part of the small family meal afterwards in case you thought otherwise." Harry smiled half-heartedly back at her. A family meal with Snape. Did life get any better?
The three Snapes and Harry were up early the next morning and at half eleven there was a loud knock on the small cottage door. Daphne and Theodore ushered Severa and Harry to the door, Daphne excitedly squealing, "He's here! He's here!" and Severa moaning loudly that she needed air, the toilet, anything to get her out of greeting Snape. Harry felt the same way but he didn't say anything. He couldn't imagine what Snape would say when he saw the person he hated most in the world standing in his childhood home beside his smiling mother and father. Daphne opened the door and Snape stepped inside, looking wildly out of place in contrast to the pink decoration of the hall way.
"Hello Severus!" Daphne smiled, "Happy Birthday, love! How was your trip down?"
Snape sneered at her. "Fine mother, as usual." Daphne kissed him on the cheek and he moved swiftly away before she could even attempt to hug him. He then shook hands with his father and he nodded curtly at Severa. His gaze then shifted to Harry. Harry couldn't be sure, but he could swear he saw a look of utter shock and... something else, something unusual, adorn Snapes face for all of two seconds, but it was gone as soon as it came and Harry was greeted by a sarcastic "Potter.", as Snape moved off down the hallway, and into the kitchen.
Theodore took Severa and Harry into the nearest town for the day while Daphne prepared for the party. At half five they arrived back at the cottage and at six o' clock the party began. Harry didn't know many faces but everyone was introduced to him and his hand was shaken warmly by one and all. At half six Dumbledore arrived, full of apologies. "So sorry, Daphne." He smiled, his blue eyes twinkling brightly. "The chores of a Headmaster are arduous and often, never ending. Now, where is the birthday boy?" Harry chuckled to himself. Only Dumbledore would dare call Snape that.
Harry watched as Dumbledore moved towards a dark figure sitting in an armchair in the corner of the room. It was Snape. He was sitting alone even though it was, in fact, his party. Harry almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
The hours passed and, at nine o' clock, everyone had gone.
"Dumbledore, you must stay for tea!" Daphne argued good naturedly.
"No, no, Daphne, any meal in any household should always be a family event and that is why I must leave. Besides, duty calls!" Dumbledore bode goodbye and he was gone.
Harry helped Daphne set the table and when everything was ready the other three Snapes were called for tea. They all sat down to a meal of steaming soup and homemade brown bread with slices of fresh, pink salmon deliciously covering them. All was silent as the four Snapes and Harry ate hungrily, worn out from the party. But then something unexpected happened. Severa started to cry. At first, silent tears dripped slowly down her face, but after a while, she was sobbing her heart out, her shoulders racking and heaving with her grief. Harry was stunned.
"Severa?" he asked tentatively. "Are you alright?"
She lifted her head up to face him and Harry was taken aback by the pure misery he saw in her face. "No, Harry." She replied. "No, I'm not. And neither should you be." And with that, she ran from the room, still sobbing miserably. Daphne and Theodore jumped up and they too ran from the room, after Severa.
Harry and Snape were left alone. The scene Harry had just witnessed heightened the uneasy atmosphere between the two of them. For what felt like the next ten years, they sat there in silence. Finally, Harry felt as if he should say something.
"Do you think she's alright..." Harry faltered, unsure as to what he should call Snape in his own home. He decided familiarity was the best option. "erm... Professor Snape?"
His words seemed to jolt Snape back to reality and he eyed Harry with a nasty expression. But Harry wasn't prepared for Snapes next words and the effect they had on him. "You shouldn't have come here." Snape stood up from the table and as he was leaving the room Harry heard him angrily spit, "Potter."
"That's it Harry! Just a few more steps! Come on! Just two more!" Lily smiled as Harry walked towards her, then stumbled and fell straight into her outstretched arms. He laughed happily as she tickled his chin.
"Oh your daddy is going to be so proud of you!" she exclaimed. "Wait until he gets home and sees you walking! He'll be so very, very proud!" Lily hugged baby Harry tightly and then she swung him around, marvelling at her beautiful baby boy. She hugged him again and he snuggled warmly against her.
"Oh, Harry," she kissed the top of his head. "Everything is so perfect. I love you."
Suddenly the image of baby Harry and his mother was shattered as the angry face of Snape appeared before him. Snape sneered angrily and spat satirically, "Potter!" over and over again. Snape repeated himself continuously, "Potter! Potter! Potter!" Images of Lily flashed before Harry, until everything went black and, with one last angry "Potter!" from Snape the moment of Lily's death replayed in Harry's head as if he was watching a familiar old video one more time.
"Potter!"
Harry woke up. It took him a moment to realise he was in the Snapes' dark kitchen, slumped over the kitchen table. He must have fallen asleep.
"Potter?"
Harry drowsily lifted his head and peered into the darkness.
"Harry," Snape hissed, "It's late. You had better go to bed."
And with that, Snape was gone.
Harry left the kitchen in a disorientated state and got into bed in Snapes' old room. The last thing he remembered before he went to sleep was something Snape had said. He'd called him 'Harry'.
Harry woke very late the next morning. The sun was streaming through the window and he smiled. It was a beautiful day.
Half an hour later, Harry was washed and dressed and he headed towards the kitchen. Theodore and Snape sat around the table drinking tea and very black coffee respectively.
"Good morning, Harry!" Theodore boomed. "Sleep well?"
"Yes, thank you." Harry replied, studiously ignoring the grimacing face of Snape. "Where are Severa and Daphne this morning?"
"Severa is still in bed. She's not feeling well this morning. A bit peaky." Theodore smiled solemnly. "And Daphne's gone to meet friends for lunch and a bit of shopping. You know, Harry! The usual womanly things!" Theodore laughed his rich baritone laugh. Snape winced slightly. "Anyway," Theodore boomed. "I'm off out. Harry, there's a fry warming in the oven and fresh tea in the pot. I'll see you later boys!" And with that parting comment, Theodore was gone. Now it was just Harry and Snape, alone in the small kitchen in the cosy house where Snape had grown up. Snape, who nosily scraped his chair back and began to leave the room, broke the awkward silence. "I'm off for a walk, Potter. See the house isn't in too much of a desecrated state for when I get back." And with the billowing of his long cloak, he too was gone.
Harry spent the next hour in the kitchen, eating the fry Daphne had prepared for him and drinking the warm, milky tea Theodore had left in the pot. When he was finished, he cleared the table and cleaned the kitchen. After that he was at a loose end. What to do? Severa still hadn't woken and he had no wish to disturb her. He didn't want Snape coming back and finding him in Severas' room. Merlin only knew what the repercussions would be. Harry left the kitchen and wandered down the hallway. The family pictures smiled and waved at him and he smiled back politely. He heard some of them whispering- "Harry Potter, imagine!" and "Harry Potter! What a lovely boy he's grown up to be! Not at all like his father at that age!" This puzzled Harry. People always told him his father had been a pleasant man.
Harry finished his wandering down the hallway when he reached the door at the very end. It was the only door he had not yet been through and with a huge amount of guilt, he pushed it open.
On the other side of the door he found himself in another hallway. It was painted a bright, sunshine yellow and it contained four doors. One of the doors was slightly ajar, and he could hear loud snores escaping from it. He stifled a giggle. It was most definitely Severas'room. The next two doors opened up to Daphne and Theodores' room (a homely mauve) and what Harry guessed must be the guest room. Everything in it seemed to be sickly shade of luminous orange apart from a few black robes thrown over a luminous orange armchair. Harry guessed this was where Snape had slept the night before. It was the last room that intrigued him the most. It was painted an off-beige colour and it was filled with boxes. Harry couldn't help himself. He had to go in.