It took nearly an hour to finish telling Serenity, but in the end Snape got it all out. Once he started it was easy, spinning a complicated yet thrilling tale of Hogwarts, the houses, the ghosts, the teachers, how he himself was a wizard of Slytherin…the only thing he left out of the story was James Potter and Sirius Black. Remus Lupin hadn't been much a disturbance…and Peter Pettigrew was a nobody, plain and simple. But he left them out.
At the end, Sirius drew back and started rubbing him neck, for he had been whispering to Serenity for about 45 minutes, all in the same position.
But Serenity, instead of walking over and rubbing Snape's shoulders, she just sat there, her eyes wide and amazed, yet sparkling like stars.
"Oh…oh…oh Severus! You aren't just making this up…are you?" she gasped, staring at him in that special way that made him want to keel over.
"Nope," he said, grinning. "I'd show you some magic, but we're not allowed to over summer vacation."
"Oh!" whispered Serenity, eyes growing rounder. "Well…I don't think Joey would have asked, you know, but the OWLS that were delivering your letters, um…" Snape laughed heartily.
"Well that's how we wizards send letters. Owl post."
"Ah," said Serenity, looking at him adoringly. "Ok, I won't tell Joey. Just a boarding school, aye?"
"Aye," agreed Snape, grinning broadly at her. And, as a joke, he added, "Pinky promise?"
"Ok!" she cried, laughing as she extended her small, pale hand and held out her pinky. "To us, and to our secrets!"
"Aye to THAT!" laughed Snape, pulling his long, spindly finger into hers.
"I love you,"
"I love you, too."
After staying locked in their pinky-promise for a few minutes, Serenity withdrew her hand and whispered excitedly:
"Tell me more!"
"About what?" Snape asked teasingly, toying with her hair.
"The wizarding world!" whispered Serenity, looking like a little girl as she stared up at him.
"Mmmmmmmmm…alright," said Snape, thinking for a second. "Well, it's run by the Ministry of Magic, located right here in London, and…"
"Here?! In LONDON?!" gasped Serenity, a little to loud for comfort, jerking away. "Are you SERIOUS, Severus?!" Snape grinned, enjoying seeing her so wound up.
"I sure as hell am, Serenity." And Serenity, instead of objecting to his cussing, stared at him cunningly, an idea forming in her mind.
"Sevy…" she cooed, staring at him innocently. "If it's here in London…do you think…you could take me for a visit?"
"To the MINISTRY?!" gasped Snape, this time HIM jerking away. "Aw Serenity-I dunno. I think they might be able to tell that you're not a wizard, and then they'll put a charm on you, and I'll get in trouble, and…" but Serenity just stared back at him, looking horridly disappointed. Sighing, Severus pulled her into an embrace. "All right. We'll go. When?"
Serenity looked brightly at him.
"Today?"
"WHAT?! NO!! A week-MAYBE-but today?! Are you insane?" Serenity looked at him, this time in disgust.
"Why CAN'T we go today?!"
"Because…there's PLANNING…and…and…YEAH!!"
"Fine!" said Serenity, looking a little fed up. "Call me, Severus, when you've done the 'planning'." Snape deflated, looking at her, but he stood his ground.
"Alright, I will." Serenity stared back at him defiantly and turned to go-without helping to pick up, I might add-when she suddenly whirled around, a look of pure joy and wonder on her face. "Oh…oh Sevvy! I have a great idea!"
"Yes?" asked Snape wearily, a little tired of her "great ideas".
"We can go tomorrow! It's our anniversary…oh please, please, please!" she begged, throwing herself to her knees on the blanket. "Oh Sevvy it would mean so much to me…" Snape took a deep breath to tell her "no", when his romantic self took over his tongue.
"Of course!" god what the heck?! There isn't time! Thought Snape furiously. But his romantic self thought back smugly, hell, yeah, there is, Severus. And just look how happy you've made her! Snape glanced at Serenity, and she was looking at him with such joy written in her eyes and expression that he melted. ok, ok, you win thought Snape, thank you.
Anytime! Thought Romance, and disappeared to the back of Snape's mind.
AN: Now I would like to interject here for just a sec. In BOTH my stories the characters have voices that talk to them. But listen up: they are not insane! Truly-don't u all have different personalities in you?! Huh?! Huh?! Don't deny it. Some may not talk to you, but that's because you're not opening up to them. LISTEN TO THEM! THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING! I know on experience. Trust me. Now Snape-whenever he's talking with Serenity-let's his Romantic and Funny self take over his tongue, while his normal personality and all the others are left free to ogle at her beauty. Make sense? Good. Now continue reading.
But once at home, Snape was in a panic. I don't even know where the Ministry is!! He thought frantically. so ask your parents, duh answered a voice.
Check
Well what about getting inside, huh? Said Snape to his voices. Ask your parents! Ask them EVERYTHING! Snapped back the annoyed voices. Fine!
Check
"I guess…that's…everything," mumbled Snape to himself that evening, watching the pictures on his wall move around. "So why do I feel like something terrible's about to happen???" And this time, not even his voices had an answer.
AN: I dunno this's a long chapter but I'm not really happy w/ the ending. What do my faithful readers think, huh? Plz review!