Sophie gazed around the room with wonderment. Every corner, every inch, every detail amazed her. I I can't believe I live here, /I she exclaimed to herself. This was a bedroom designed for royalty: the four-poster bed with rich crimson drapes; walls of bookcases made of deep mahogany; an en-suite bathroom with a Jacuzzi the size of a swimming pool; life-sized paintings that looked positively life-like. And of course, most importantly, the magic. She was still dreaming, maybe she had finally become delusional, as none of this made any sense. Strangely enough though, it felt real at the same time as being make-belief. She could feel the satin sheets of the bed; taste the delicious pancakes and syrup breakfast and feel the cool breeze that was flowing through the large window. Sophie sat on the stone window-ledge and gazed out. She watched the morning sunshine fall delicately down onto the glass surface of the lake. I This is unreal, /I she concluded.
She decided to test fate, by moving into the adjacent room to hers. The atmosphere filled her as soon as she entered, an atmosphere of joy and fun. This slightly smaller room had been fully converted into a nursery overnight. Maggie's bed stood next to the far wall, half of it covered with beanbags and teddy bears. A dolls house, with moving characters, stood in one corner, as Sophie moved closer to it she realised it was a miniature model of Hogwarts. Their were also I Early Learning /I books scattered here, there and everywhere; Sophie realised there were enough to cover most of Maggie's primary education. The most gorgeous feature, Sophie realised though, was a large painting covering almost the whole of one wall. It hosted a beautiful snow scene, the snow flaking down softly from a velvet blue sky whilst underneath it children skated on ice, in Victorian style pinafores and bonnets. Occasionally, one child would fall over and another would help them up; little giggles emanating softly. I Why have I been blessed with such luck? /I Sophie asked, to no one in particular.
"No please, Winky say you not allowed to bounce on the bed!" squeaked a strange creature that was about Maggie's height. It had long floppy ears and a large nose, wearing many different knitted clothes: bobble hats, socks, and miniature jumpers.
"But Dobby say that Maggie only wants to have fun!" argued back another one of these strange creatures. His eyes then grew wide when he saw Sophie. "Oh Miss Immanuartes, such a pleasure to see you. Come in, come in."
Both house-elves rushed over to Sophie, grinning attentively. Winky spoke next: "I hope you like the nursery, it was the best we could do in such short notice. The dolls house was made by one of the four founders, Helga Hufflepuff. Dumbledore say that Maggie will like it. He also say that you should not worry and that you have got to go to Diagon Alley."
Sophie was reminded that, whilst tired and groggy last night, she had insisted on going on a shopping spree. Now she was reluctant to leave, just in case the castle would vanish as soon as she looked away.
"Dobby and Winky can be well trusted to look after Maggie. After breakfast we are going to teach her the alphabet." Dobby motioned over to a large chart of letters, when he pointed to a letter a voice boomed out in response, pronouncing the letter perfectly.
"You managed to find all of this in just one night? Why, that is impossible," Sophie squealed.
"Yes Miss Immanuartes," Dobby beamed enthusiastically. "We just used the Room of Requirements. Dobby know about that place from when…"
"Winky not want Dobby to tell," Winky interrupted defiantly. Sophie decided not to press the issue.
At that moment there was a loud knock on the door.
"Have you not digested anything I have said to you in the past five days?" a soft but deadly voice ushered from the other side of Sophie's door.
"I have Severus. I have thought on it more than you think. However, nothing can be done to reverse the vow you took, nor can we do anything about it at this time. Now, please Severus, remember that this young lady has only just been introduced to our way of life and…"
"Isn't this a job for someone like Minerva? Or what about one of those Auror's that have been lurking around the castle, doing bugger all. Nymphadora could do with some retail therapy no doubt, her face at breakfast today turned Pumpkin Juice sour."
"Tonks has been placed here at Hogwarts by the Ministry, it is not my right to remove her, or else I may have asked her. No doubt her and Sophie would make quite a compatible pair. I've asked you, however, because your lessons do not begin till this afternoon and the idea of you moping around the dungeons contemplating your own demise is enough to send all Pumpkin Juice sour." Dumbledore looked over his half-moon glasses at the man he had grown to respect, despite many telling him he should do the contrary.
"As you have brought the topic of lessons forward; I would like to ask why, at this most vital point, have you permitted me the job of Defence Against the Dark Arts? It does look to be rather damning, considering recent circumstances." Snape raised one eyebrow; his lips pursed tightly together and gestured for Dumbledore to answer.
"I won't lie to you Severus; in my heart of hearts I believe you will not last the year at Hogwarts. Your allegiance to Voldemort is demanding too much of you and your role as spy has become too strained. I need someone in that cursed post who I can undoubtedly trust; not some crackpot from the Ministry; nor someone disguised as a an eccentric. I need you Severus, because for the past eighteen years I have trusted you." Dumbledore's eyes darken and for thirty seconds they both look at each other with great remorse. The twinkle returns and Dumbledore merrily says: "Now please, let's not keep this young lady waiting. Live for today, Severus, and tomorrow may never come."
With these words of wisdom Dumbledore left, smiling inwardly to himself for his own ingenious plan. I Sophie needs to know that not everything in magic is wonderful, /I he reasoned, I Severus needs to regain his faith in those who are purely good. /I This way Dumbledore was killing two birds with one stone.
Sophie ran up and down, flapping her hands around and fidgeting with the loose strands of her hair. She hadn't expected to leave so early, she had barely had chance to get herself ready. She looked in the mirror with horror, her face was flourished and her clothes were skewed around at awkward angles. Her belly was drooping out from under her t-shirt and she could feel the button of her jeans preparing to give way. She was disgraced at the idea of opening the door to some handsome wizard, well groomed with a flattering smile, whilst she looked such a mess.
Another knock on the door forced her to accept the way she looked. She opened it with great reluctance.
The image in front of her destroyed her fantasy of a charming young wizard. Snape stood firm to the ground, his mass of slimy hair smothering his sallow face. The only feature that could be seen from underneath the blackness was a hooked nose, launching out at Sophie with determination.
"My name is Professor Snape. I am the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher here at Hogwarts," he uttered in a cold whisper. "I will be escorting you to Diagon Alley."
Sophie only caught some of the words he spoke. In an attempt to make friendly conversion she replied, "I am Sophie. You teach art, did you say? I am fascinated by the work of the Renaissance Period, especially the dark secrets of Da Vinci's paintings."
Sophie waited for a show of enthusiasm but didn't receive it. Instead Snape swept into her bedroom, heading for the fireplace. "We will be travelling by Floo Powder to Diagon Alley."
"The only exit from my chambers is through this way, Professor. The door next to the fireplace leads to my bathroom. Please do not go in there."
Snape stretched out a hand, containing snagged nails on slender long fingers. His skin was so pale Sophie could see the veins underneath, twisting around the skeletal hand like electric-blue wires. She felt repulsed at accepting it. He lifted her into the fireplace in one swift movement; he was surprisingly strong considering his skinny frame. "Diagon Alley," he instructed in a clear voice.
Sophie had not felt such an amazing sensation since the last time she had been at a theme park. Many images whirled around: living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms and places she couldn't define. The sensation stopped as abruptly as it began. Unable to comprehend it all, Sophie flopped to the ground.
"Wh…Wha…What ju-just happened?" Sophie asked. Her head was still swimming and she was completely unaware of her surroundings. Cruel laughter could be heard from nearby men, wicked and hoarse voices. She embarrassingly realised that she was sprawled across the floor of an old English pub.
"We have just been transported to the Leaky Cauldron in London. Could you please stop wiping the floor with your hair, we need to get going," Snape snarled. He reached out his hand; she grabbed hold of it tightly, and lifted herself up with a scowl on her face. "Please Miss Immanuartes, save your frown for someone who cares."
He marched off towards the back entrance of the pub. Sophie didn't bother to follow; she just looked around at the grubby men who were drinking from huge mugs, froth spilling onto the old wooden tables. One of them lifted his mug up, smiling with a smashed set of rotten teeth.
"Miss Immanuartes, please hurry up," shouted Snape from the door, impatiently. She followed, scraping her feet across the floor.
Outside all Sophie could see was a few old beer crates, a sleeping cat and a brick wall. Snape walked up to the wall, raising his wand and tapping individual bricks.
"Looks like a dead end, sir. I don't think tapping on it will do any good," Sophie said sarcastically, trying to get back at him for his earlier comments. As what normally happened when Sophie tried to fight back against someone; she was left feeling like a complete fool. The wall sprung to life, each brick sliding away to reveal a pathway into another street.
Sophie forgot her humiliation the minute she saw the street. It reminded her of an old Victorian street painting: the cobbled road; the architecture of the little shops; the women with long cotton dresses and bonnets holding shopping baskets; and the children chasing one another in and out the little alleyways. Infatuated Sophie began to stroll around, paying no attention to her direction. She headed up to the nearest shop window. To her astonishment the display was filled with broomsticks of many different styles. One of which, the "Firebolt", was attracting the attention of many passing by. A sign advertised "Quidditch Supplies"; Sophie began to wonder whether they were used for flying. It sounded obscure and quite cliché, but reading about this popular "sport" made it look quite probable.
Sophie felt a tug on her arm, Snape was pulling her away. He gave her a grave look and said, "Firstly you need some robes, so that you can fit in a little better around Hogwarts. Come this way." He strode off to a nearby shop named Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
The robes Sophie felt obliged to buy from Madam Malkin's didn't suit her at all. She decided to ask whether or not she could go into Muggle London and pick up something she felt more comfortable in. Before she did, however, she was attracted to another shop in Diagon Alley. This shop seemed to defy the Victorian atmosphere of the rest of the street. It used bright and bold colours to pronounce its name - Weasley's Wizarding Wheezers. Everything flashed and sparkled in weird ways, nothing was co-ordinated. An enormous poster confronted Sophie, blazing yellow on purple.
Why are You Worrying About You-Know-Who?
You SHOULD Be Worrying About
U-NO-POO –
The Constipation Sensation That's Gripping the Nation!
Sophie stopped, dumbfounded! You-Know-Who? Who is this person I am supposed to know about? She decided it was best not to ask her grumpy escort. Curiosity took over and she decided to enter this strange shop.
"Miss Immanuartes, we really do not have time to be visiting immature joke shops, run by a couple of…"
"A couple of what, Professor Snape? Dim-wits, trouble-makers or hooligans? Just to name a few of the things you used to call us," said a young cheery man. Sophie thought she recognised him, with his floppy ginger hair and show-biz outfit. He stared back at her and asked, "weren't you the one my mum dragged onto the train?"
Sophie nodded. "Yes, please tell her thank you very much for helping me put my life back on track." She then blushed, realising the young shopkeeper knew nothing about what she was saying. "Anyway, pleased to meet you; my name is Sophie." She stretched out her hand.
"I am Mr Fred Weasley, and this handsome man here," he grabbed someone from behind a curtain, "is my brother George. Now, what can we do for you? Have you not got your little girl with you?"
Sophie shook her head. "She's back at Hogwarts; she's being looked after by two elves. I haven't come in here for anything specific but," Sophie gazed around at the many displays, "I'm sure I can find something for Maggie."
She sorted through the many bizarre items, looking over occasionally for approval of the two brothers. She had forgotten about Snape entirely. Eventually she chose a jar of sweets. "Are these normal sweets? Or will they explode in my mouth like the ones over on that rack would?"
George came bouncing over to her. "Well Sophie, we decided that Bertie Bott's made a critical error with his Every Flavour Beans."
"You have to tediously eat every bean until you find the flavour you want," chimed Fred.
"So we decided, why not have every flavour in every bean? Each sweet in that jar contains no less than twenty flavours, changing every five seconds to something different." George showed Sophie the list of flavours.
"But," Fred continued. "You can pick either a jar that includes nasty flavours, to trick someone you don't like." He made a small gesture over to his old professor, who stood sulking in the corner.
"Or you could get the safe flavour jar for yourself or someone you want to impress," George finished. He held out a jar for her, Sophie took it and looked over to Snape for the currency to pay.
"I don't think Dumbledore intended you to waste our school's money on sweets," he said with a sour face.
"I think he'd approve if you let him try one. We always used to offer Dumbledore some of our sweets when we were sent to his office in the middle of lesson," Fred argued.
"For some reason, it always managed to return the twinkle to his eye. Just one lemon drop and we could get away with anything." George supported his brother. They both laughed in reminiscence of good times.
Sophie was about to thank them and leave, not wanting to try Snape's patience any further, when she noticed a group of fluffy pink creatures moving around in a cage. She headed over and tickled one of them through the bars.
"A Pygmy Puff for your young daughter, Sophie. They are ever so cuddly; two galleons or three fifty for a pair." At that opportune moment another Pygmy Puff strolled over for a tickle from Sophie.
"I'll take these two," Sophie replied.
"No you will not," replied Snape behind her. "I draw the line at moving balls of fluff."
"Maggie needs a pet," Sophie retorted. "She used to have a hamster but it died last month; I promised her a new one." Fred and George gave her an encouraging nudge.
"You don't need them both," Snape persisted.
Sophie, for the first time, felt she was winning. "Animals get lonely alone; they need company of their own kind. I see you are not the type to understand the company of an equal," at a tone only the brothers could hear she continued, "I'm yet to see someone else of your kind."
Fred patted her on the back whilst George lifted the pair of Pygmy Puff's out of the cage.
"Is that all, Madam?" Fred asked in a mocking pretentious tone. Sophie nodded, gratefully.
"No U-NO-POO?" George asked, in the same posh voice.
Sophie moved closer to the comedy couple and said in a sly voice, "I would but the only person I can think to give it to already appears to have taken a rather large dosage." The three of them had a snigger at Snape's expense.