Chapter 9 – Truth or Dare
Harry leaned back against the garden gate, a smile on his face as she watched Silver attempt to ride Charisma for the first time. There was no doubt the animal was big enough, the only problem was Snape's protectiveness. Harry thought it was rather amusing to watch him and Silver bicker back and forth, and so did everyone else, who was sitting to either side of him. Even Dumbledore stood by the entrance to the yard, his eyes glittering as he watched the going-ons.
"I know how to get on a horse!" Silver exclaimed exasperatedly.
"This thing is not a horse, and I won't have you jumping up on it's back and falling!" Snape retorted, equal annoyance evident in his voice.
"She won't make me fall!" Silver protested, "I've already told her what's-"
"I don't care what you've told her," Snape argued, "Animals are unpredictable and that's that!"
He pointed an accusing finger at Charisma as he spoke, and Harry could have sworn the animal rolled its eyes.
"Fine," Silver said, stepping away from the giant hippogriff, "You get on her, then."
"I never said I wanted to do that," Snape began irritably.
"Good, then," Silver replied, taking a running step forwards before vaulting herself off of the ground and onto Charisma's back.
For a moment, Snape stood stock still, watching as Charisma looked around the yard with obvious boredom, not minding Silver's weight on her back in the least. Then, he seemed to realize that Silver had undermined him, and went nearly ballistic.
"Fool child!" he exploded, "I told you not to do that! If that animal had-"
"She didn't," Silver interrupted.
"-hurt you, there's no telling what could have happened! You could have broken your head, or gotten a concussion, or-"
"I didn't," Silver said again.
"-even gotten killed! What would I have had done then? You do realize that you could have-"
"I didn't."
"-hurt everyone around you with one foolish act, and you-"
"I love you," Silver interrupted sweetly.
This time, Snape's mouth stopped moving, and he looked at her with a mixture of amusement and annoyance.
"What does that have to do with anything?" he finally inquired, sounding very curious.
"Nothing, I just do," Silver replied.
Snape blinked a few times, as if trying to sort out how his yelling at her had turned into her telling him that she loved him.
"Well, get on with your riding then," he said finally, waving his hand exasperatedly in her direction.
Beaming at him and blowing him a kiss that made him make a face at her, she squeezed her legs into Charisma's sides. Shaking his head, Snape turned to head inside. Lupin cleared his throat loudly, making everyone, including Harry, turn and look at him. He gave Harry an unmistakable urging look, telling him to go along with Snape while he could. Gulping, Harry got up and trotted inside after Snape, ignoring the curious looks everyone was giving him.
Once in, he listened carefully for signs of where the Potions master had gone. The creaking of the top stair let him know that Snape was headed to his bedroom...or rather, his potions lab that he just happened to sleep in. Harry vaulted up after him, and, upon seeing that his door was closed, knocked on it. As he waited for a response, he mentally summed up his courage. He was going to talk to Snape – just talk. He had no reason to be worried about the fact that there were no witnesses around. After all, everyone would come running in if he screamed for help – right?
"What are you doing back so soon?" Snape's voice demanded, "Did that fool animal throw you, because if it did, I'll personally strangle it until-"
"Uh, it's me," Harry interrupted, feeling very awkward.
"Oh." There was evident disappointment in Snape's voice. "What do you want?"
"To come in?" Harry ventured, although the door might have proved a good barrier in case Snape had decided to throw any curses at him.
"Fine," Snape snapped, his voice sounding no nearer to the door than it had previously.
Tentatively, Harry pushed the door open. The room, which he had once caught sight of being filled with what looked to be a mini Potions lab, was now nearly empty due to Snape and Silver's move, which would take place the next day. The only remaining items were a large black trunk in the corner, topped by a cauldron, a bed, and an armchair positioned directly next to it. And then the very old desk and matching chair that Snape was currently taking residence in. He appeared to be writing a letter of some sort. Snape cleared his throat pointedly, and Harry snapped back to attention.
"Uh," he said, "Well, I just wanted to talk to you..."
"I figured that," Snape retorted, "It would help if you mentioned what about, don't you think?"
"Yeah..." Harry said, stretching out the word as long as he could to avoid talking to Snape.
"Out with it, Potter!" Snape snapped irritably.
"Alright," Harry said, taking a deep breath, "Well, uh, Silver."
Snape immediately made as to get out of his chair. "What's happened to her?" he demanded.
"Oh, nothing," Harry replied quickly, "It's just me. And Silver. Together."
He was certain that he must be making it very clear to Snape what he meant by this time, but Snape looked nothing short of annoyed. "For Merlin's sake, Potter, try a complete sentence!" he exclaimed exasperatedly.
Harry took a deep breath. "I want to marry Silver," he announced.
"WHAT?" Snape roared, jumping up and grabbing Harry very nearly around the neck.
"Not...now," Harry choked quickly, attempting to push Snape away, "Someday."
Snape's grip didn't loosen up. "Explain yourself," he hissed, glaring at him intensely.
"Can't...talk...choking...me," Harry gagged, still trying to push him back.
Finally getting the picture, Snape released Harry, although he looked very ready to strangle him, should there be a need. With a stiff motion of his arm, he gestured to the chair he had previously been sitting in. Harry obediently took a seat, and Snape began to pace the room.
"Well?" he demanded.
"I...I was at the Dursleys," Harry began, figuring he should start from the beginning, "And I was learning how to drive, and I stole Dudley's car."
"What does Dudley have to do with Silver?" Snape demanded.
Harry was very sure that Snape hadn't a clue who Dudley was, but he decided not to comment. "I'm starting from the beginning," he defended himself.
"Well, hurry on with it," Snape snapped in reply, continuing to pace.
"I was driving down the town roads," Harry continued, but, as he had expected, Snape interrupted yet again.
"You were breaking the law!" he cried triumphantly, pointing a finger at him and coming to a stop, "You don't have a license!"
"Can I just keep going?" Harry retorted.
Looking thoughtful for a moment, Snape finally nodded, beginning to pace once more.
"And I came across this shop...with engagement rings. So I went inside to look at them, and this creepy old guy told me that he knew I was going to marry Silver. But I had never really thought about it. I mean, a family..."
Harry trailed off, his thoughts wandering once again to what it would mean to marry Silver. Snape regarded him for a moment with traces of what might be considered pity, but they vanished before Harry could even be sure he saw it.
"Continue," Snape said quietly.
"And so I went home, and I thought about it," Harry continued obediently, "And I realized that I did want it."
Snape stopped his pacing to look at him, and Harry continued before he could be contradicted.
"And I know I'm young, but I'm not planning on asking her tomorrow or anything. I just know that I want to one day, because I could never be without her. And I keep thinking about it – all the time. So I figured I should, well, get your opinion. Because you're like...her father."
At Harry's last comment, Snape froze in place and teetered unsteadily on the spot before turning to stare at him. His expression was by no means welcoming. His eyes were cold and hard, and his jaw was set in a firm line.
"Do you realize what you're asking of me?" he demanded finally.
"For you to say it's okay?" Harry ventured uncertainly.
"No," Snape whispered, his whisper every bit as threatening as if he had been yelling at the top of his lungs.
He turned to pace once more, even faster than before, and Harry watched him curiously. Finally, Snape stopped once more and began to speak with his back to him.
"I'm not a man of many relationships," he stated, some sense of dry humor in his voice, "But I care about her, Potter. And she's mine. She'd try to do anything I told her to – and you know it. And damn you, Potter, you want to take her from me!"
He whirled around on Harry so suddenly that Harry nearly fell out of his chair.
"Why should I give her to you?" Snape hissed, his breath hot on Harry's face.
"Because I love her," Harry replied instantly, a bit surprised at himself for the quickness of his response.
Snape drew away, turning his back to Harry once more. Harry nervously righted himself in the chair, waiting for Snape's response. Finally, he got it.
"She's mine until graduation," he announced.
"I wasn't exactly planning on marrying her while we were still in school," Harry replied wryly, thinking of himself and Silver getting married one day during Potions.
"Good," Snape declared, turning to look at Harry calculatingly.
Sensing that Snape was figuring out something important, Harry stayed quiet.
"You're going to have to start getting her ready," Snape announced suddenly, beginning to pace once more, "You know her, she'll just about have a heart attack if you spring it on her suddenly. You'll need to hint about it, maybe even talk about it directly. She'll cry or run away, of course, but she'll come back after she talks to me. And, of course, there's no way you can propose to her the way you are now."
"What do you mean, the way I am now?" Harry interrupted.
Snape gave a snort of laughter. "You can't even control your temper, Potter, how do you expect to live with a temperamental woman for the rest of your life?"
Harry frowned, but said nothing. He thought he had been getting better...okay, so maybe not, but what right did Snape have to comment on that?
"I assume you've talked with Remus?" Snape inquired suddenly.
Harry nodded, and that seemed to be enough for Snape.
"Get out of my room!" Snape commanded suddenly, as if Harry had entered without permission.
Immediately Harry jumped up from the chair, not wanting to get on Snape's bad side since he had currently made it through the meeting without being hexed, injured, or threatened. He was at the door when Snape's voice called him back.
"And Harry – if you hurt her, I'll kill you. No exceptions."
"Kay," Harry agreed as he bolted out of the room.
He was in the hallway when he realized that Snape had called him by his first name. He froze on the spot, alternating between going back and informing Snape that he had done so and pretending like it never happened. He finally decided on the latter. He trudged down the staircase, hearing footsteps echo through the house from somebody in quite a hurry, it seemed. As he reached the bottom of the staircase, he found out who that was. Silver rounded the corner at a run, smacking into him with quite some force for such a petite girl. Harry felt himself falling backwards, and grabbed onto her for support. Bad idea.
"Oh," he groaned as he landed on the stairs behind him, with Silver sprawled halfway over his chest, and the other half on the stairs.
"Oh no, Harry, did I hurt you?" she exclaimed.
He groaned again in response, and she made a soft noise of concern, gently stroking his cheek.
"I'm sorry, sweetie," she murmured softly, kissing him lightly.
As she drew away, he stopped her, holding her face simply inches from his. She looked down at him both curiously and concernedly, and smiled as he mimicked her cheek-stroking motion. How little she knew of what went on concerning her behind her back. And how much he loved her for it at the moment. Giving her a slightly mischievous grin, he pulled her to him for a kiss. No sooner than it had begun, it ended.
"For heaven's sake," came Snape's drawling voice, "Get off of him."
Silver reluctantly drew away, looking up the stairs at Snape. Harry tilted his head back as well, hoping that this wouldn't change Snape's relatively good mood towards him. Suddenly, from the base of the stairs, Harry heard stifled laughter. He, Silver, and Snape all turned back to see Lupin, Ron, and Hermione giving them amused looks.
"Gee, can't you guys even wait 'til you get all the way upstairs?" Ron teased.
The comment succeeded in making Snape give a derisive snort as he swept past them all, appearing wholly unconcerned as he made his way into the living room. To Harry's disappointment, Silver appeared ready to go. Before she did, however, she leaned down and whispered into his ear.
"Love you, sweetie."
Without waiting for an answer, she unlatched herself from him and darted into the living room after Snape. Harry grinned as he picked himself up off of the stairs, looking after her a bit wistfully. Lupin cleared his throat pointedly, bringing Harry out of his reverie.
"Erm...Mr. Weasley is outside," he said hintingly.
"Oh," Harry agreed quickly, "Right. Uh, I had to talk to him about..."
He glanced at Ron and Hermione, who looked confused. "...electricity," he finished, "Yeah, electricity. Wanna come with me, Moony? Oh no, Ron, no need for you to come...you just stay with Hermione and snuggle or whatever."
Ron shot him a death look, which he pointedly pretended not to see as he and Lupin made their way outside. Sure enough, when they arrived, Mr. Weasley was waiting, perhaps a bit anxiously, a corner of the yard whilst Fred, George, and Ginny stayed at the other end, crowded together and looking at something that Harry assumed one of the twins was holding.
"So..." Lupin prompted once they had reached Mr. Weasley.
"Well," Harry said, "He told me that Silver was his, and he didn't want to give her away."
Their facial expressions both dimmed a bit.
"And he said that I'd better not hurt her, I need to change my attitude, and I can't marry her at least until after we graduate...which is what I was planning on anyway. Oh, and he also said that when I try and discuss it with her and she runs away, she'll come back after he talks to her," he added.
Now they both looked as permanently shocked as Luna Lovegood.
"He said...yes?" Lupin gathered finally.
Harry couldn't resist looking smug. "He did," he agreed.
Mr. Weasley and Lupin both looked elated.
"Wonderful, Harry," Mr. Weasley said, "Just...wonderful."
They patted him on the back all the way back to the house, where he escaped under the pretense of rescuing Ron from Hermione. He trotted up the stairs in quite a good mood, pushing the door open to his and Ron's room and coming across a scene he definitely did not want to see. Ron and Hermione were passionately snogging – on his bed. For a moment, he debated upon leaving them be, but no...they were on his bed. He cleared his throat loudly, and they jumped apart as if they had electrocuted each other.
"That's my bed," Harry complained, shooing them off of it with his hands.
"I...we...we didn't realize..." Hermione began, her face flushed.
"Yeah, yeah, just stay off of my bed," Harry retorted, grimacing at the rumpled sheets on his bed, "Now I have to change the sheets."
"Oh, it's not like we actually did anything!" Hermione protested.
"Trust me, you were doing something," Harry answered, making a face of disgust.
Ron began to look smug, but Hermione smacked him on the shoulder and he quickly got over it, pretending instead to look ashamed. Shaking his head, Harry exited the room. Honestly, his two best friends...he was going to knock before he entered any rooms, in the future. He entered the living room to find Snape reading a book on the couch and Silver asleep with her head on his shoulder. Snape glanced up briefly at Harry's entrance, but quickly returned to his book, giving no sign that he'd ever given Harry permission to so much as look at Silver. Harry took a seat across from them and stared at Silver. He had a lot to think about at the moment, and much of it had to do with her. He was interrupted, however, as Snape's eyes met his once more.
"What?" he demanded, looking at Silver as if trying to determine what was making Harry stare.
"She's beautiful," Harry answered, more to himself than to Snape.
Snape grunted his approval and returned to his book, and Harry had a feeling that things were going to turn out all right. For the time being, he was content to sit there and watch Silver as she slept – a hobby he somehow never tired of.
.....................................................................
Later that night, Harry, Silver, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny all sat in Harry and Ron's room, in a circle, on the floor. They had somehow all been suckered into consenting to play truth-or-dare by Fred and George.
"Alright," Fred proclaimed, "Me first."
Everyone groaned, and Fred and George snickered.
"Ginny," Fred said evilly, grinning at his little sister, "Truth or dare?"
Ginny squirmed, obviously not wanting to pick either. In the middle of the circle lay two vials: one was a large amount of water mixed with a small amount of Truth Serum, the other was a potion made especially for this game. If the user chose dare, they would have to drink a small sip of the potion, and if they didn't go through with the dare, they were rewarded with very painful purple and green blisters all over their body for the following three days.
"Truth," she finally sighed, cringing as she waited for Fred's question.
Fred and George exchanged a glance before Fred turned and grinned at Ginny, handing her the Truth Serum. She took a very small sip and set the vial down, and immediately a vacant look came to her eyes.
"Tell us, Ginny," Fred prompted, "Just what have you been doing while you're locked up in your room every morning."
"Daydreaming about Dean," she replied promptly.
This proceeded to throw everyone into a fit of laughter until, suddenly, Ginny looked alert again. After seeing all of their faces, she groaned and buried hers in her hands.
"Alright, my turn!" she announced, "George, since I know this was your idea, truth or dare?"
"Dare," George replied, a bit too quickly.
Ginny seemed to think a moment before an evil grin not unlike the twins spread over her face. Beaming at him, she handed over the second potion. Looking slightly suspicious, he took a small sip before setting it down, gazing at her gamely.
"I dare you to kiss Fred," she announced, "On the lips."
"Again?" Ron groaned, "You do this every time – it's disgusting!"
"Sick," George moaned.
Ginny grinned at him and gestured to the vial, and George quickly leaned in and pecked a disgusted looking Fred so quickly that Harry wasn't even sure if they came into contact. But, he decided, it was better that way.
"Alright," George said, grimacing, "Ah...Silver, how about you? Truth or dare?"
Looking more than a bit scared, Silver hesitantly replied. "D..." she paused upon seeing the look on George's face. "Truth," she decided quickly.
George didn't pretend not to look disappointed. "Fine," he sighed, trusting the potion in her direction.
Giving it a distrustful look, she only let about a drop grace her lips, but it served it's purpose well. She began to look vacant, and Harry glared at George, as if daring him to ask anything that would embarrass her. Smirking at Harry, George began.
"Tell us, Silver," he said, "Your relationship with Harry surely isn't all emotional – I mean, physical attraction's gotta come in somewhere."
Harry was delighted when Silver nodded.
"So, you think Harry's hot?" George asked.
She nodded once more.
"Sexy?" Fred volunteered cheerfully.
She was in mid-nod when the effects of the potion wore off. She immediately blushed a bright shade of read, putting her face in her hands as Ginny had.
"Not fair, you Weasleys, you!" she yelled, taking her hands away from her face, "That was more than one question – it was three!"
"Well, I-"George began, but he was cut off.
"George," she interrupted, glaring at him for all she was worth, "Truth or dare?"
"Dare," he replied immediately.
She looked much too triumphant. "Very well," she said, gesturing towards the potion.
Looking nervous, he took a sip. She stood up and motioned for him to follow her.
"This way, please," she instructed.
He looked more than scared as he followed her out of the room. After about a minute, they knew that Silver had come up with an excellent dare.
"NO WAY!" he yelled.
"Fine, get blisters," was Silver's reply.
"Aw, Silver, you're evil," George groaned.
"See you downstairs," she replied cheerfully.
She then appeared in the doorway, beaming. "Come on, guys," she said, giggling slightly, "But be quiet."
They all silently followed her downstairs, where George was lingering outside of the living room entryway.
"Do I have to?" he asked her pleadingly.
"Yep," she confirmed, "And remember, like you mean it."
She put a finger to her lips and motioned for everyone to watch as George walked sulkily into the living room, where all the adults sat, peacefully, for the most part. He walked up to a radio on the counter and turned it on, tuning it until it came to a classical music station. A few of the adults looked up in surprise, but nobody commented. Snape looked a bit annoyed, but continued to read. Harry wondered when he would run out of books to read.
George slowly made his way towards Snape, gathering what appeared to be a sense of purpose as he did so. Snape didn't look up as George approached, but he did when George reached out and snatched the book from his hands, snapping it shut and throwing it onto a nearby couch. Now all the adults were looking.
"What in the bloody hell are you doing?" Snape demanded.
George cringed momentarily, but at a soft clearing of the throat from Silver, regained his look of poise. He extended his hand towards Snape in a somewhat dignified manner, but his voice showed how strained he really was.
"My dearest...Sevvie," he choked, looking fearfully at Snape.
Snape appeared too shocked to say anything, but Harry saw him mouth the word 'Sevvie' in amazement.
"For years I have watched you from afar," George continued, now openly wincing, "And admired your...aw man...beauty. Now I can suppress my...feelings...no longer. Will you...dance with me?"
Everyone in the room looked seriously concerned for George's health, except for those watching from the entryway, all whom dissolved in laughter.
"Run, George!" Fred howled at his twin, while Snape looked as if he were preparing to hex him.
George did. He bolted from the room, giving Silver a dirty look as he did so. Silver nearly made it over to where Snape was sitting, still looking stunned, before she collapsed on the floor before him, rolling with laughter. Snape peered down at her interestedly.
"You had something to do with that," he decided.
"So...sorry," Silver gasped, "Had to...dare...oh...my...gosh...so...funny."
"I'm sure," Snape said wryly, "Now get me my book, you troublemaker."
Still giggling, Silver managed to get up and get Snape's book, having successfully stopped laughing by the time she did so. She presented it to him innocently, beaming at him as she handed it out. Raising an eyebrow at her and shaking his head, he took it back from her, flipping through it for the page he was at. Once he had apparently reached it, he glanced up at her over the edge.
"You're still here," he informed her.
"I am," she agreed.
They looked at each other for a moment before Snape suddenly drew the book to the side, just in time to avoid having it crushed as Silver enveloped him in a sudden hug. From over her shoulder, he looked slightly disgruntled, but altogether content with her display of affection.
"I'll be down for bed in a few minutes," she informed him as she drew away.
He nodded and returned to reading for a response.
Silver then skipped back to them with a gleeful exclamation of, "I bet George won't be wanting to play that game for a while yet!"
As everyone adjourned upstairs, Silver abruptly and discreetly pulled Harry to the side, putting a finger to her lips as she led him down the hallway to Sirius' bedroom. He grinned at her as she led him inside and shut the door, looking slightly mischievous. She giggled as he pulled her into his arms, neither of them bothering to say anything. As he felt her hands run through his hair, however, he suddenly pulled away, giving her a smug look.
"You think I'm sexy," he informed her.
"Hush up," she replied, pulling him back to her.
He smiled as he kissed her, and she pulled away for a moment to look at him, smiling as well.
"Love you," he offered.
"Love you," was her reply.
They didn't speak again for a while, neither of them wanting to waste breath on something as useless as speaking when it wasn't necessary. Finally, Silver drew away slightly, her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. She was short of breath, but she wasn't alone on that one. Harry was surprised to find that they had somehow made it to the bed, but didn't comment. For a moment, they simply looked at each other, before she tightened her arm around his neck, and then stopped abruptly as her face drew nearer to his.
"I should go," she whispered softly, "Or he'll come looking for me."
"I don't doubt it," Harry replied amusedly, his voice almost as quiet as hers.
She smiled at him, and he returned it.
"G'night, sexy," she said teasingly.
He chuckled. "Night, beautiful," he replied.
She gave him one last kiss, not wholly devoid of passion, but noticeably toned down, and disappeared, leaving Harry to stretch out on the bed contentedly. Finally, he returned to his own room, buttoning his shirt as he went. When he entered, everyone gave him – and his messy hair – knowing looks. He simply smirked as he sat on his bed, feeling as if he had had a very full day.
..............................................................
Note: Hmm...I changed Harry's talk with Snape quite a bit from my original plan. Still, I think it's alright. Hopefully. I'm tired and I'm going to bed! 'Night!