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Ch.3 Memory lane

Walking down the hallways, Snape would sometimes see Cecelia...tripping, falling, running into walls and people..."You're very accident prone, you know that?" he said to her in the library one day. They would meet there often, sure that James and his friends wouldn't be there, "You really think so?" Cecelia asked innocently, looking at him with her wide, blue eyes.

It was around the end of his fifth year, her first year, that Snape was asked an awkward question, "Are we...friends?" again, her wide, curious eyes stared up at him. "Umm..." Snape thought for a moment 'Are we? We do talk often...we don't seem to hate each other...' he nodded slowly "I guess so...why?". Cecelia stood there just blinking at him for a minute before smiling "Do you...like...festivals?", 'Festivals? What's this about now?' "Why?" he asked skeptically, eyeing her to see if she had some wicked plan in mind. 'Then again, she doesn't seem the type to do something bad..' Snape watched her shift from one foot to the other, "Well...there's this festival...in muggle London...it's...all summer long...I usually go...alone...but..." she seemed hesitant to continue what she was saying.

"In muggle London?" Snape asked in a bit of disgust, anywhere muggle wasn't one of his favorite places to be, but the second he said that, she looked crestfallen. "Nevermind...I've gone...by myself, before...well, then...have a nice summer" she turned to leave but Snape quickly but gentley grabbed her arm "No wait!" he didn't mean to shout, she turned back to him with those same wide eyes. "If you want me to go with you...I'll go..." he wasn't quite sure why he agreed, 'She looked so sad...plus, I can't just let this little girl wander around muggle London alone! I'm suprised her parents let her walk around there alone!'.

"Really? you will?" her face brightened for a second before falling back into a shy, lip biting stare "We can...meet...at the Leaky Cauldron...if that's ok?". Snape smiled slightly to assure her "I guess that's ok...what day?", Cecelia brought her hand to her lips and murmured "Everyday?" a slight tint of pink on her cheeks. Snape blinked back at her "You really want to spend everyday with me this summer?" he couldn't fathom why she would, Cecelia looked down now, not answering. "That's..." Snape started 'I hope she doesn't think I don't want to spend the summer with her...wait, why do I want to? Aa, yes, better to spend it with her than at my house', "That's fine with me...everyday, like you said...meet up in the Leaky Cauldron".

Cecelia looked up and nodded, pushed some of her hair behind her ears and ran off after hearing her brother call out for her so they could get to the train together. Snape shook his head and laughed to himself 'She just wants to hang out this summer, no big deal. I could use an escape from my house' he gathered his belongings and headed to leave to the train station.

The first day of summer arrived and Snape found himself sitting at the Leaky Cauldron, waiting 'She never did say when to meet up...I'd owl her, but last thing I need is for that asshole, brother of her's to read it!'. He waited for about thirty minutes, 'She's not coming...I should've known...who'd honestly want to spend time with me?' he stood up feeling a bit angry, but more-so rejected, when the doors to the pub/inn opened and in walked Cecelia. She looked around nervously before spotting him and making a bee-line towards him "You're here..." she looked suprised, Snape stared at her for a moment "I'm the one more suprised that you showed up".

She just blinked at him in confusion "But I always go to the festival...", Snape shook his head then motioned for her to lead the way since he didn't know muggle London all too well. Cecelia dragged him all over the place, they tried muggle candy, most of which Cecelia had already tried in previous summers. She still didn't talk much, but she made sure to stay close to Snape, clinging to his arm every now and then when the streets got too crowded. Every now and then she would smile, Snape found himself smiling as well, he hadn't expected to have any fun but Cecelia really knew how to find the good entertainment. Musicians at almost every corner, art displays, jewlery stands, games of all sorts in which you could win prizes, Snape caught Cecelia eyeing a hair pin and wished he'd transfered some of his money into muggle money.

At one end of a street, people were dancing to all sorts of music, Snape noticed the look of awe in Cecelia's eyes and offered to dance with her. Hesitantly she accepted, and then Snape knew why she was hesitant "You're not a very good dancer, are you?" he snickered. She was more-so trying to move her feet to keep up with him, Snape stopped her "Do you want me to teach you? It's actually quite easy". Cecelia stared at him for a second then nodded slowly and looked down at her feet, Snape had to keep moving her head back up while he taught her, but after a while she got the hang of it.

That summer was the most fun Snape had had in a long time, Cecelia showed him not only London, but other parts of muggle England as well. "We can do this again next summer!", Snape was suprised at Cecelia's abruptness, she quickly went back to biting her lip nervously. "Alright...if you think you'll want to next year..." Snape had his doubts that she'd stay friends with him for long, but she smiled and nodded before leaving to go home "See you at Hogwarts!".

"Moving day!" Harry cheered as he finished grabbing his last box of stuff, he only had two boxes and his trunk from school, Snape was sitting at Remus', waiting to leave. "Would you like us to help you as well? I'd really like to meet your house-mate" Remus walked in with Tonks clinging to his arm, nodding her head enthusiastically "Yes, what type of person are they?". Harry snickered "Well, she's quite a character, I must say...reminds me of Sirius, sort of", Remus' eyes flickered sorrow for a moment but he smiled "Sirius? Really?". Snape cleared his throat "We should be off then, you told her in the morning, didn't you?", Harry nodded "Right, oh wait! I need to get to a phone first, I said I'd call when I was on my way over...".

They'd borrowed a car and drove to the nearest payphone so Harry could call, "Oh, ok, I'll leave the front door unlocked for you then" Renee said from the other line. So they drove and found the place easily, Harry dragged his trunk, Snape and Remus took a box each and Tonks held Hedwig in her cage. Harry knocked lightly then remebered she'd be leaving the door unlocked for him, he turned the knob and stepped inside "Renee? Umm, just letting you know I'm here now...". The others followed in behind, Tonks was just about to shut the front door when the sound of galloping and barking startled them, next came the thundering of a few pairs of feet running.

"Dart! Get back here!" came an unfamiliar woman's voice, Dart turned a corner and started galloping towards the group by the front door, the dog covered in soapy bubbles. Camron and a woman, both soaking wet, then turned the corner "Don't let him escape!" they called out, Tonks quickly shut the front door then turned back to stare at the massive husky charging towards them. Renee came hobbling around the corner, also soaking wet, her and the other females chasing the dog were slip-sliding around the hallway calling for the dog. Harry crouched down to try and stop the dog but Dart leapt and landed on Remus who flew back into Tonks and Snape.

Harry turned to help them but just at that moment, Camron and the other woman lost their footing and went sliding across the floor towards him. It all ended with everyone, except Renee, tangled up on the floor, now covered in soapy bubbles from the dog, Renee burst out laughing "Hahaha! Welcome to your new home, Harry! I see you brought guests". Camron and the other woman pulled Dart off the group and helped the others up, Harry smiled slightly "Yes, this is Remus Lupin...", Remus and Renee shook hands. Renee eyed him "You look familiar too", Remus raised an eyebrow "I don't think we've met before...", Harry bit his lip "Well, he did teach at my school, maybe you saw him there when you painted the scenery for the play?".

After finishing introductions, Renee introduced the woman there to be Laina, Camron's mother, Renee's sister, the three of them excused themselves to finish bathing Dart and to change. Harry and Snape took that time to explain their little lie about the school and whatnot, Remus and Tonks nodded in understanding and agreed to play along.

"Well, you didn't bring much...but don't worry, I have a bed and dresser in your room for you...now, if I could only find a lamp..." Renee pondered, rubbing her chin "If I were a lamp...where would I be?". Laina snorted "If you were a lamp, I'd say you're missing your bulb", Renee laughed and stuck her tounge out and got up "Coffee, anyone?", Laina sighed and stood up "Sit down! I took the day off of work so I could help you out today, so sit down and give your knee a rest!". Renee rolled her eyes but obeyed "It's not like it's broken", Laina rolled her eyes now and prepared a mug for everyone.

Looking at Renee, Camron and Laina, you could see somewhat of a resemblance, the dark hair, fit bodies, they all had a sense of humor, and the all seemed to accept and like Harry and the others. They brought his trunk and boxes into his new room, it was quite large, but also quite sparse, "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get plenty of new knick-knacks to personalize your room, here" Renee smiled. She then looked down in suprise when Hedwig hooted,"An owl?", Snape raised an eyebrow "You just now noticed it?", "Don't question her...Renee's oblivious to almost everything" Laina snickered. Harry explained how Hedwig was a gift, Renee didn't have a problem with the bird "Just be careful with it around Dart, I don't know how he'll react to it".

"Wow! Wicked awesome special effects!" Camron exclaimed from the hallway, everyone rushed out to see what the comotion was about. Apparently, Harry's photo album fell opened in the hallway and Camron just happened to be walking by with Tonks, Tonks stood there with a look of terror as the muggle girl stared in awe at the moving pictures. Remus, Snape and Harry went wide eyed and quiet, Laina looked down at the album "Wow, those are pretty impressive...I should sell stuff like that at work, make a bundle, I'd think...". "So, who are these people?" Camron pointed at all the pictures, a slight wave of relief came over the witch and wizards in that hallway, seeing as how their new muggle friends didn't find anything odd about an album of moving photo's.

Remus had to help Harry point out who was who, since there were pictures of family members Harry didn't know about, "Who's she?" Camron pointed to the next woman in the picture. Snape glanced down and the name tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop himself "Cecelia...", luckily Remus had said her name at the same time "She was your father's younger sister, your Aunt". Renee limped over and looked down "She's not the Aunt you were living with before, is she?", Harry shook his head "No, I've never met this Aunt...although, my father's entire side of the family is dead, so...". Renee nodded sadly, remembering what Harry had said about his parents, Laina and Camron frowned "Sorry to hear that", Snape eyed Renee as her eyes wandered around the album.

"Y'know, her case file is still open?" Tonks blurted, "Case file?" Camron asked, Harry raised an eyebrow "What do you mean by that?". "Well, unlike the rest of the Potter's, Cecelia's body was never found...some assume that you-know-who had her, but..." Tonks looked over at Snape who shook his head "No, he didn't have her". Renee, Laina and Camron all exchanged a confused glance then held their hands up "Not our business!", they put the album away and ventured to the living room to chat some more, become better aquainted.

The day was ending and Remus and Tonks were getting 'sleepy', "We'll be off then...keep in touch, Harry", "Of course!" Harry gave them a hug good-bye, everyone else said good-bye and good-night as well. "I need to get home as well, are you staying here still, Cam?" Laina asked her daughter, "If it's alright with Aunt Renee" Camron said slyly as she slide herself closer to Renee and started nuzzling her like a kitten. Renee smirked and rolled her eyes "Oh, I guess you can stay...Oh! Severus, how are you getting home?", Snape sat there 'Apparate after leaving your pressence' he mentally told himself, "I can just walk". "Nonsense, I'll drive you home, where do you live?" Laina stood up, Snape shook his head "No, no, really...I'd prefer to walk...", it took about twenty minutes for Snape to convince Laina to let him just walk.

Laina was gone and Snape was now getting up so he could leave, himself, when he felt a hand gentley tough his shoulder. He turned his head to see Renee smiling at him "You sure you don't want to borrow my roller-blades and Dart?", Snape couldn't help but chuckle a little "No, thank you, I prefer my knees the way they are". Renee, however, was not easy to convince, it was finally agreed upon that she'd at least walk him to the train station, since she needed to take Dart on a walk anyways. Harry and Camron came along to make sure Renee wouldn't have to walk back alone and to make sure she didn't get into anymore accidents with Dart.

"You're welcome to come by anytime, you know...same goes for your other friends" Renee smiled as she bid good-night to Snape, Harry and Camron said their good-byes as well. When they were out of sight, Snape ventured off to somewhere secluded so he could just apparate home, he got himself ready for bed and layed down, but just as he was about to fall asleep he found himself laughing. He now had a mental image of himself trying to use the roller-blades while Dart dragged him across town, 'She is quite the character, that Renee is...'.

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