Chapter 7 (woo hoo)
It was soon time to leave the castle for the summer. Alex was packing up the last of her things in their chambers. "Are you sure you've remembered everything Harry?" Alex called out the opened door as she shrunk her trunk and put it into her pocket.
"I think so." Harry called back as he pulled his trunk out into the sitting room.
"You'll need to shrink that down." She told him, eyeing his trunk and empty owl cage. "Where's Hedwig?"
"Oh, she went to take something to Ron." Harry explained as he shrunk his own trunk and placed it snuggly in his robe pocket.
The door swung open and in walked Severus. (Who else could it be with the door swinging action?) "All ready to go?" He asked.
"All set." Alex smiled.
"We should get going then." Snape said, moving to let Harry and Alex walk ahead of him into the hallway. He charmed the door, sealing it until next year. And they were off.
The port key was in the shape of a discarded potion vile. After a few brief moments of dizzying whirling they arrived at the Snape Family Summer Manor. "Is Athena here?" Alex asked noticing that there was light coming from the large almost castle like home.
"I didn't think she was going to be here until July. Perhaps she changed her plans." Snape said, casting a suspicious glance at the gray stone structure. "Arm yourselves, just incase, you remember what Albus said." He reminded them, pulling his wand from the front of his robes.
"Right." Alex acknowledged, pulling her-own wand out.
"Who is Athena?" Harry asked Alex, arming himself.
"My mother." Snape said, just as Alex opened her mouth. They walked the rest of the way in silence until reaching the front door.
Snape seized one of the snake shaped door handle. "You two be careful." He said quickly before slowly easing the door open.
The three of them crept into a large entranceway that was decorated with old paintings, all of which were moving. Snape noticed a light coming from the front sitting room. He quickly and quietly approached it; Harry and Alex close behind him. Snape stealthily gazed into the room. Then let out a sigh as he pushed it opened for Harry and Alex to see.
"Hello Mother." Snape said putting his wand away.
"Hi Athena." Alex smiled as the woman stood and walked towards them.
"Hello my dears. And you've brought someone new." Athena smiled.
"Athena, this is my nephew Harry."
"Nice to meet another Grant." She smiled at Harry.
"Actually, I'm a Potter."
"Potter?" You're James' boy?" She looked shocked. Snape, wearing the tiniest of smirks, walked past them and into the room. "Alexandra?" Athena asked confused.
"It would seem that my saintly father fell from the pedestal." Alex said sarcastically.
"Landing on Jen Potter?" Athena asked, taking her seat back on the sofa.
"It would seem that way mother." Snape commented, handing his mother a tumbler of fire whisky and ice. Alex gave Harry a small push forward and signaled to the opposite sofa.
Harry sat down while Alex went to get her drink from Severus. He was made uncomfortable by the gaze he was receiving from Athena.
"Mistress require something?" A timid female house elf asked, approaching the couch where Athena was sitting. In appearance Athena did not look threatening. She was tall and slender, pale faced and dark eyed. Her long hair was black with streaks of silver revealing her true age.
"Yes, would you please take young Mister Potter to the guest room?" Athena was one of the rare pure bloods that were actually kind to her house elves.
"Gladly Mistress." The house elf went to Harry and waited for him to stand. As Harry followed her up the dark staircase, lit only by the candle held by the small elf, he heard the voices from the sitting room begin to argue.
Find the argument in the next chapter. Reviews are appreciated.