"So, Danielle, he's not so bad, right?" Lauren hoped she hadn't put Danielle off completely with her earlier comments.

Danielle shook her head. "He's not so bad. I kinda... feel sorry for him."

"Me too. But don't let him know that. He'd go nuts."

Danielle giggled. "Yeah, probably." She paused. "So has he got any other family?" She asked while they waited for the two men...boys... whatever.

"Well, I've got another uncle but I don't think they talk much. They don't really like each other."

"Aww… why not?"

"I'm not sure really. Something happened a long time ago, and they've never bothered to explain it à moi." She liked to intermingle French and English sometimes.

Snape reluctantly opened the car door and slid in. He loved this thing too much to use it as an everyday town car. And if he had to use this all the time with the girls, well, he wouldn't be very happy. He was taking the car out for just this once because he couldn't help feel a little smug that he could show this off to the children. He had a feeling someone would be very jealous.

(1)

Draco soon found that there's only just so long you can spend changing clothes and emerged from his bedroom.

Snape started the car, affectionately listening to the perfect purr of the engine. He revved the engine and accelerated around to the front of the house.

When Draco came out, he looked better than he had before. But she didn't let him phase her any more.

Snape blared the horn, then got out and lifted the seats so the tagalongs would be able to get in, though why he wanted to actually help them to spoil his birthday, he didn't know. He then waited for the others to come outside.

As we walked out the front door, Lauren started asking him questions. "So, Draco, why are you here?"

"I'm staying with Prof. Snape over the summer while my parents are away on business." His tone said, 'Don't ask me questions.'

Lauren smiled behind Draco's back. We get to stay with the hot boy? All summer? Yay!

"He's a professor?" Danielle asked, satisfied to finally know what her host did for a living.

"Yeah, didn't I tell you? He teaches at Hogwarts, that British school. Potions, I think it is, Draco?"

Draco nodded. "Yes, Prof. Snape is Potions Mater and Head of Slytherin House." He sounded rather proud of her uncle.

"That's interesting. How long has he been teaching?" Danielle inquired.

"I don't know. Why don't you ask him?" Lauren just had to get him into the conversation.

Danielle forgot her question as she directed her attention to the waiting car. She whistled. "Wow. Sweet ride."

Snape smirked. He was glad that he wasn't the only one that appreciated it.

Lauren looked at the vehicle appraisingly. "Very nice, Uncle Sev. Very nice."

Draco's reaction was one of confused admiration. "What is it?"

Snape just stared blankly at Malfoy. "I don't think that warrants an explanation."

Lauren giggled. "It's a car, you idiot!" Suddenly she stopped. "You're not really an idiot, I didn't mean to call you that. It just came out. Sorry, habit."

Draco glared at the impetuous girl. He then turned back towards his professor. "It's… nice."

"Well don't just stand there like imbeciles, get in." Snape commanded, almost wanting to apologize to the waiting car.

The teenagers slid into the car, Danielle in the front and Lauren and Draco in the back, fitting a bit snugly, which was fine with Lauren. A boy with Draco's looks sitting close to her was fairly close to heaven. If only he'd lighten up a bit.

Danielle hated talking to strangers as she got so nervous. Snape, a disgusted look on his face, buckled his seat belt and zoomed out of the driveway, causing the car to throw the occupants back into their seats. Maybe later she would ask him about his life, but not now.

Lauren buckled her belt as well, not sure how well her uncle drove. He seemed a bit reckless. She looked over and saw Draco pondering the little bit of metal beside his right ear curiously. "You do it like this." She leaned over, getting it out of his hand and fastening it adeptly.

He glared at her. "I could have done it. And don't touch me."

Lauren blushed. "Sorry…"

Danielle swiveled around in her seat to see what was going on. Her own seat belt was already fastened.

Snape looked back in the rear vision mirror. "Where are we going?"

"We're going to the Moon River Cafe. It's just a few minutes away."

"And where is that?" He was fighting the urge to turn the wheel and head back home, dropping the whole crew off on the side of the road first of course.

"It's just down the highway on your left. I love Moon River! They have the best tea, and they serve it in cute little Chinese cups! You even get to sit on pillows on the floor."

Snape's expression nearly made Danielle crack up laughing. Oh god... I'm gonna burst. The look on his face deepened from loathing dread to absolute horror.

Lauren felt Draco shudder next to her. Maybe he was scared of Chinese teacups.

"You know Lauren, if it's Mr. Snape's birthday, shouldn't he get to pick?" Danielle asked, willing herself to keep a straight face. Snape looked at her with an unfathomable expression. She would've liked to think it was a 'thank you Danielle... you saved me' look.

"Hm... Danielle's right… What do you want, Mr. Snape?" Lauren asked her uncle and teased Danielle at the same time.

Danielle wondered. Why is everything I say funny?

Danielle could see Snape thinking. After a moment he turned left and said, "Vampire's Nest."

He couldn't help it. It was his favorite. He never went there much as it was so expensive, but it was his birthday after all. Plus he loved to see the reactions on his passengers' faces. He'd let them make their own assumptions about the place.

"Vampire Nest?" It sounded a bit shady to her, but it was Uncle Sev's birthday, so Lauren kept her protests in her mind.

"It's Vampire'S Nest." He corrected but said no more. He was a stickler for grammar and well, he was just picky.

" Okay..." Lauren still wasn't sure. As if an extra letter would change things.

Danielle smiled to herself. This would be fun. Somehow she trusted this strange man. She could tell there was more to him than met the eye.

Draco felt slightly relieved. If Snape's tastes ran to places like Vampire's Nest, this summer might be okay.

Lauren kept quiet for the rest of the ride, hoping they were going somewhere that wouldn't freak Danielle out.

Snape drove in silence and soon the unlikely collection of people pulled up at the back of what seemed like a run down old factory.

……………….

(1) Draco: looking at Snape's car: Is that the equivalent of a Nimbus 2007?

Snape: Yes… yes it is, Malfoy.

Draco: Oh… My… God… That is so totally awesome dude!

So sorry for the long wait, it's taken us so long to write this and we're only half way done that we're afraid if we post too often we will run out of stuff to post. Lol. We've got heaps more pages stored up for now though, so don't worry. Even if you guys have to wait, you will get an update eventually. Thanks for those who have stuck with us. Have a good day.