A/N : This is more of a transition chapter, so it will be relatively short. If you think this and the previous chapter is a little boring, please bear with it. I promise that angst and action will return in the next chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 17 : Prince's Manor
After two days, Harry and Snape were finally cleared to travel. To say that both were eager to leave the hospital wing was an understatement. Harry literally bounced out singing on top of his voice while Snape at least had the courtesy to thank Madam Pomfery before striding out with massive steps. Snape managed to arrive at the dungeons merely seconds behind Harry.
"Potter, please come in." Snape held the door to his personal quarters open for Harry after murmuring a password. "It's Harry, remember?" Harry reinstated before entering the quarters. Snape nodded curtly.
"Whoa! This is…wonderful, sir!" Harry exclaimed. "Harry, your English vocabulary is extremely limited. You should request Ms. Granger to get you a dictionary next Christmas." Snape teased. Nevertheless, he couldn't keep the small smile of his face, and he turned around so that Harry wouldn't see. On the other hand, a grin crept into Harry's face too. This was the first time Snape mocked him good-naturedly, and frankly speaking it felt quite sweet. "I'm turning sassy," Harry thought to himself.
Harry was sincerely praising Snape's quarters as 'wonderful'. His previous knowledge with the 'dungeon bat' made him presume that Snape's living quarters were dark, dull and cold. Instead, three separate fires were crackling merrily at the fireplace, illuminating and warming the dungeons. The living room consisted of a large couch and two smaller ones which were not black in color but warm light brown. The dining room was small but cozy, so was the master bedroom and guest room.
Snape raised an eyebrow at Harry's awed expression. "You didn't really think my quarters would be like a cave, did you?" Harry dropped his gaze to the ground shyly. "Errr...I…sort of…" "It's fine, you don't need to answer the question." Harry sighed in relief, but he knew the idea was conveyed to Snape nonetheless. He was expecting a snap or jeer, but Snape shocked him by giving him a smirk. "Perhaps spending a holiday together would change your negative opinions towards me." Harry nodded sheepishly.
"Actually sir, I would like to thank you for counselling me, you know, the previous Occlumency lesson. And I don't hate you or hold any grudge towards you." "Not even for Black's death?" Snape regretted it the moment the words left his mouth for Harry paled visibly. Harry turned away. He still hadn't completely clarified his feelings towards Snape on that issue. "Do you have anything to pack? The headmaster had collected your luggage from Privet Drive." Snape gestured to a corner of the living room where two luggage lay. Harry unpacked and repacked his belongings, grateful for a distraction from the awkward situation. Snape sighed inwardly before proceeding to pack his own baggage.
When Snape returned from his private lab half an hour later, Harry was sitting at the couch, waiting. "Are you ready?" Harry jumped slightly. Pulling himself out of his daydreaming, he nodded. "I would prefer a verbal response, Harry." Harry barely resisted his urge to roll his eyes. "Yes, sir. I'm ready." "Let's walk out of Hogwarts then." With a flick of his wand, Snape shrunk Harry's luggage before pocketing them. He strode out of the dungeons, leaving Harry to rise hastily and jogged to follow his professor.
They were apparating to the outskirts of Ulster Province of Ireland then travel 10 km by foot to Prince Manor, where they would be spending their holiday. There were only two choices on travelling method to Ireland, either taking a portkey or apparition. Given their current health, it would be better for them to travel using a portkey. Cross-country apparition was a struggle for some wizards and witches even in full health, but currently not only that Snape had just recovered from severe injury, he needed to side-along apparate Harry as well. However, Snape and Dumbledore were worried that Voldemort might somehow manage to spy on the portkey network. Thus, they reluctantly decide on apparition.
Harry and Snape arrived outside the wards of Hogwarts in less than ten minutes. It was an awkward moment when Snape motioned for Harry to grab his hands in preparation of the side-along apparition. To ease the awkwardness, Snape turned the moment Harry's hand touched his, and Harry felt the sensation of being sucked into a vacuum chamber for the second time in a week. Needless to say, the feeling wasn't pleasant. Harry almost landed head first onto the ground before Snape caught him just in time. Snape himself was breathing sharply, and there's a hint of pain in his face. The apparition most likely used up more magical energy than they predicted.
After allowing a minute to steady themselves, Snape paced off with Harry trotting behind him. According to Snape, he had never stepped foot in Ireland, let alone Prince Manor. He stayed in Snape's cottage at Spinners' End for his whole life, but they couldn't return there seeing that Voldemort was aware and had even entered the house. As a result, they could merely rely on a map Snape inherited from his mother, with the hopes that it would lead them to the correct place.
10 km was not a short distance, especially when you were trekking in the outskirts where there's no road and was basically covered in mud. Things got worse when it started to rain, first drizzling then pouring. Despite the non-existence of human beings for perhaps a radius of 1 km around them, Snape insisted that they shouldn't use water-repellant charm just in case it attracted unwanted attention. Instead, he transfigured two rocks into umbrellas and handed Harry one. However, the gale and heavy rain ensured that Harry was thoroughly soaked when they finally arrived at Prince Manor. Snape dried himself and Harry before opening the door to allow their entrance. It appeared that the Manor would grant access to any Prince descendants without needing a password.
Unlike Snape quarters', Prince Manor obviously lacked human vibrance. True, the Manor was more than spacious, but its empty interior radiated a hollow and deserted vibe. The few pieces of furniture present were either grey or black in color. Cobwebs covered most of the walls, ceilings and furniture while one spider landed on Harry's head upon entrance. In a nutshell, the Manor was forbidding. But as Harry felt that staying with anyone, anywhere would be better than the Dursleys, so he was still contented.
"This Manor had been deserted for many years, and it might need some cleaning before its fit for stay." Snape stated softly to Harry. One might even argue that he was embarrassed with the state of his family heirloom. "Oh, it's fine, professor. It is way better than my cupboard in Privet Drive." Harry assured his professor. The spider on Harry's head leapt to the ground, as if proving Harry's words. Snape shrugged. "You don't need to call me professor as we are not in school. Sir or Severus will do." Harry couldn't keep the shock look off his face. "Yes, Se…verus."
A/N : Bad news, guys. I'm participating in a competition and I need to prepare for it. That doesn't mean I'm abandoning this story, but keep in mind that I might not be able to update periodically, as in one chapter every two days. I will try to upload at least two chapters per week. Please don't leave me and my story if I failed do so so(pleading look)!