.:So now I'm writing again. Although I don't know how many people will even read this considering I haven't updated in ages. But now the summer is here and I can pick everything up again. Thank you for reading, please review:.
The Saints of Donovan
Chapter 6: More Company
Adjusting to the life in a wizard's home wasn't as bad as Donovan had expected. Taking his first step out of his room was the hardest; not knowing what would meet him in Severus' home. Severus did not show him around; he simply walked to the kitchen and, while preparing a small meal for himself, explained the rules of the house. Donovan was not allowed to ask him questions about where he went every day, or ask questions about the guests that might come over. He was not allowed in the one other guest room, Severus' room or his lab, but was perfectly welcome to use the library, study, kitchen, living room and of course bathroom at his disposal. Cleaning was not a worry since Severus claimed he had a "house elf" that did all the chores around the flat. Donovan was allowed to be out until eight o'clock at night, but would have to find his own money for recreation if he wanted to shop or amuse himself around the city. He provided food and a place to sleep, and that in Severus' mind was fine.
After three weeks, Donovan had become quite used to the busy little house elf that did his chores for him and cleaned up all the messes around the flat. He didn't bother talking to it however; it gave him a strange feeling since he still had trouble believing that it was a real creature made by God. He was pretty self-sufficient after the first week, cooking for himself and amusing himself was no great challenge. Cooking was a bit of a hassle, due to some of the "appliances" in Severus' kitchen. They weren't so much appliances as much as they were enchanted devices that Donovan really had no idea how to operate. He stuck to foods that didn't take much to prepare for the most part.
Donovan spent most of his time in his room reading his bible or some of his old comic books. Since he had no money there was really nothing to do in London. He'd already visited a couple of the sites, but with no one to see them with, it wasn't very fun. Severus was never home in the day, and didn't come home until five in the evening, and it wasn't as if he was a sociable man. A few nights he had eaten and then left again, garbed in a long black cloak and looking as if he was in a great deal of pain. But Donovan never asked questions.
After reading all of his comics twice, and falling asleep every afternoon to his bible study, Donovan decided to venture into Severus' library one morning. All of the books looked incredibly old, and most seemed to be on subjects that, to Donovan, made no sense. Transfiguration, Occlumency & Legimency, Arithmancy, none of these Donovan recognized. He decided to settle with a topic that didn't seem too horrible or sinful; potions.
This is kinda like medicine I suppose…there's nothing wrong with that… Donovan thought, sitting in a large beaten-leather armchair and propping the large dusty book up in his lap. He turned to random page and landed on a potion.
Flying Ointment, Nontoxic
1 part Dittany of Crete
1 part Cinquefoil
1 part Mugwort
1 part Parsley
Add the herbs to shortening and prepare in the usual way. Anoint the body prior to attempting astral projection.
"Whoa…" Donovan murmured. He turned the pages back towards the beginning.
pRopER POtIOns InGrEDiEnTS PRepErAtION
1 Abyssinian Shrivelfig it is most essential that the potion master grow his own ingredients shrivelfigs at all times. No other wizard should have access to another's ingredients. Contamination and ingredient tampering should be prevented at all times. When growing your shrivelfigs, always keep the properly pruned (for suggestions on proper pruning, refer to One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore). In all occasion, with no exception, shrivelfigs must be completely peeled before added to your potion.
Donovan read on flipping through the pages of the potions book.
"Good morning Donovan." Severus interrupted. Donovan jumped and closed the book, looking up at Severus' amused face.
"I was just-" he faltered, gesturing to his book.
"Reading…that's fine," Severus nodded, "I didn't expect to find you here of all places this early. Are you having a difficult time sleeping?" Severus inquired, taking the book that was in his hand and putting it back on its shelf.
"Uh, no, I'm just completely out of my mind with boredom. My walkman doesn't seem to be working, and I've read just about everything I've brought with me." Donovan said, taking his book and trying to put it back on the shelf. Severus put a hand on the book, pushing it back into Donovan's grasp.
"Keep it for a while if you like." He said, searching Donovan's eyes for glimmer of interest.
"I really shouldn't…" Donovan said, putting the book in its spot. Severus sighed.
"Well your walkman wouldn't work here now would it. Muggle contraptions don't work in magical homes and institutions. I'm afraid unless you leave my house it will continue to give you problems." Severus said, walking over to the fire place.
"Muggle contraptions? What the 'ell does that mean?" Donovan asked, not knowing whether or not he should be offended.
"Well, it means people like you, things from your world. Not magical…" Severus said, picking up an vase from the mantel and reaching into it, pulling out a handful of ash, and dumping it into a small pouch on his belt. "I have some errands to run today, and tonight I'll be bringing home another guest. She's an old friend of mine and you'll treat her with respect." He said, pulling out another handful of ashes and stepping into the fire place. "I'll see you tonight…KNOCKTURN ALLEY!" Severus was engulfed by a pillar of fire and then disappeared into the flames. Donovan screamed and fell backwards over the chair, panting hard when he realized that he was alone again.
That night Donovan sat alone at the kitchen table, watching the house elf scrub he counters in his dingy little rags. The elf caught his stare and looked at him with his large yellow eyes as if ready to take instruction.
"BOO!" Donovan said loudly, breaking the dead silence. The house elf jumped and skittered out of the room. Donovan sighed and laid his head down on the table, staring out of the kitchen windows and watching street car after street car drive by. Severus was never this late…
His head propped up when he heard the all too familiar foot steps of Severus approaching the kitchen.
"Where have you been, it's late." Donovan asked.
"Sorry, I had a meeting I forgot about." Severus said, taking off his long black cloak. "I want you to meet our guest; follow me." He said, leaving the kitchen again. Donovan followed Severus down the hall and into the study, where a blonde woman, also in a long black cloak was facing away from them and looking at the books on Severus' shelves.
"Donovan, this is Ms. Telemnar, she's an old friend of mine and will be teaching at the school as well this year." Severus said.
"Please Severus," the woman said, turning around, "Call me Nessa for now." She said to Donovan. Donovan simply gawked at the woman in front of him. Her hair wasn't blonde, it was the color of beach sand, transparent like satin sheets stained from cigarette smoke. Her skin was the color of light gray cobblestone, and her lips were barely a shade darker. Her eyes were bright and pale pink and seemed to glow when she looked at him. Severus pinched his arm sharply and Donovan finally blinked.
"H-hello, nice to m-meet you." Donovan said, putting his hand forwards to shake hers. She shook it and smiled once more down at him before removing her cloak and placing it on a pair of suitcases next to the fire.
"I'll be off to my room then. Goodnight Severus." She said, picking up her bags and escorting herself out of the room. Severus kept his temper until she was out of the room.
"How dare you be so insolent!" he hissed, his eyes narrowing on Donovan, moving towards him.
"I-I…well I wasn't expecting…" Donovan faltered, as he shuffled backwards into the book shelf. Severus sneered at him, mere inches from his face.
"It doesn't matter what you were expecting. If a dog in a nightdress walked out of that fireplace, you should have met it with kindness and courtesy, simply due to the fact that I asked you, DEMANDED you to prior to her arrival." He hissed.
"What's wrong with her?" Donovan asked, his hands shaking as Severus loomed over him. He really was quite terrifying when he was cross.
"Nothing is wrong with her, she's lucky to be alive after what she's been through, and you will treat her with respect, understood!?" Severus snapped. Donovan nodded rapidly. Severus turned on his heels and stormed out of the room, "Good night!"
Donovan panted where he stood for what seemed like hours before retiring for the night.
.:Eh….I'll write some more…I guess…:.