Ch.4 Get along
Snape's sixth year, Cecelia's second, they returned to their old ritual of meeting in the library, over the christmas vacation, Cecelia even wrote to Snape to say "Happy Christmas". When Snape returned from christmas vacation, he had a gift for the younger girl, her eyes widened and a small smile appeared, it was a hair pin, similar to the one she had been eyeing at the summer festival.
That summer, they met up again, Snape exchanged some of his money into muggle money 'Just in case we get hungry...not like I'll be buying her gifts or anything...' Snape argued to himself. Some of the days they went to the festival, but Cecelia was feeling more adventurous and wanted to explore more of muggle England. Snape sighed and let himself be dragged all around, although he couldn't really complain, he was enjoying their time together.
"Look...it's so...pretty..." Cecelia gasped in awe, the sun was setting and they were at a cliff edge, the sky was all shades of pink, purple and orange. They sat down and watached until the sun was completely swallowed by the ocean and the night sky settled in, a dark blue/black, shimmering with many stars. "We should probably head back now..." Snape stood up, no reply or sound was heard from beside him, he looked down to see Cecelia had fallen asleep. Bending down, he heard her steady breathing as she layed on her back, her head to one side and one arm draped across her stomache, the other arm place carelessly to her side, slightly bent.
He couldn't help himself as his hand reached out and gentley pushed some hair away from her face, she stirred slightly, making him jump back, but she stayed asleep. Snape ended up carrying her most of they way back to the Leaky Cauldron, she woke up part way there and started walking with him. Snape was suprised, he hadn't really thought that she'd still consider being friends with him by this summer and yet they still were. After many other days of wandering around, looking at shops, trying different foods, summer was ending again and they'd have to go back to meeting in secret.
"James...doesn't know..." Cecelia blinked up at Snape, 'Of course...don't want anyone to know you're friends with Snivellus, not suprised though...' Snape thought bitterly. Cecelia tilted her head, watching the expression on the older boys face "I...don't want...him to...bother you...us..." she finished quietly, looking down at the floor. Snape blinked at her now 'Don't want him to bother me? Oh, of course...your his little sister, if he were to find out...' Snape nodded "That's alright, I understand". Cecelia looked back up, uncertainty written on her face, Snape placed his hands on her shoulders "Don't worry about it, I don't mind at all...really" he emphasized to assure her.
Snape had found himself thinking about her on almost a daily basis, he couldn't figure out what it was about her that just seemed to keep her on his mind. Her rare, shy smiles 'I've never seen her smile other than when she's with me...probably because I'm her only friend...I mean, hell, I've smiled around her before, and only around her'. The way she talks 'It's like she's never talked before, her voice is so quiet...whispery, even...her sentences are fragmented...sometimes it's annoying but, I guess I'm just getting used to it'. Her eyes 'Like a child, well, she is a child, but...innocent...they're always so wide and questioning...dark blue, like the sky when night is settling in'. "What's gotten into me?" Snape questioned himself then looked across the Great Hall to Cecelia, sitting quietly by herself at the Ravenclaw table, he shook his head 'We're just friends...just friends'.
Harry woke up to the blaring of music from the kitchen, he rolled out of bed and tugged on a pair of pants and walked out to see what was going on. He stood in the doorway of the kitchen watching Renee and Camron cook up some breakfast while dancing around and singing along with the songs, using a wooden spoon and a spatula as microphones. He started to laugh, causing both girls to turn around, Camron's face turned pink as she went back to cooking the bacon, Renee, however, danced over towards him with a metal wisk held out to him "Join us!".
Harry didn't know the songs too well but enjoyed himself, Camron joined back in but stayed a little more low profile than when Harry had first walked in. Renee was just having a blast, she had a pretty good singing voice but she seemed to like screwing up on purpose, making her voice go deep or screechy. Almost every morning was like that, Harry had asked why it was and Renee replied "I find it easier to wake up when good music is playing...that and I think it makes the day start off nicely", Harry had to agree, he did feel better waking up here than back at the Dursley's or even Hogwarts.
Harry had settled in just fine, he had free range around the house and Remus, Tonks and Snape visited often, Camron and him would go out roller-blading every now and then, Renee always had a wonderful meal cooked. "It's almost like Ron's house..." Harry smiled, "Who's Ron?" Camron looked over but had to look in front of her again as her and Harry were roller-blading uphill. "Ron's my best friend from school..." Harry explained "Do you think your Aunt would let him and my other friend Hermione come over some time this summer?" he asked, hoping the answer was 'Yes'. Camron shrugged "I don't see why not...Aunt Renee never has a problem with company" she jumped up to avoid a crack in the road and landed again "Besides, I wanna meet your friends too". She smiled and sighed "Wow, people from Clifton High, hanging out at my Aunt's place", Harry forced a smile on his face as he mentally scolded himself for lying 'But I can't let them know I'm a wizard...' he reasoned.
When Harry and Camron got back to the house, they heard Renee and someone else chatting and laughing in the kitchen, the two teens exchanged a questioning glance before entering the kitchen. "I half considered naming Dart, PIMA, when I first got him" Renee laughed and ran a hand through her hair, the person she was talking to asked "Why PIMA?", Harry raised and eyebrow "Snape?". Camron giggled and walked into the kitchen "PIMA means Pain In My Ass", Harry snickered himself and walked in behind her, Snape chuckled and said "Oh" then cleared his throat to hide his laughter and smile. Renee calmed down her own laughter and looked at the two teens "When did you two get back?", "Just now...is Severus staying for dinner?" Camron glanced over at the clock, it was five thirty in the evening.
Snape shook his head "I wouldn't want to impose...", "No, really, it's alright...I usually make enough for a whole family to eat, you can stay if you'd like" Renee smiled warmly, Snape couldn't refuse. Renee went to work in the kicthen, putting her apron on and grabbing the cutting board and some cutlery, she started chopping and dicing different vegetables and some meat. Her hands were quick but she never cut herself, each cut was even and straight, she would grab handfuls of spices and lightly sprinkle them over everything. "This is my famous dish..." Renee snickered over her shoulder, "Oh? What is it?" Snape asked, watching in an almost mezmorized state at her skills, Renee shrugged "I don't know, I haven't named this dish yet" her light laughter filled the kitchen.
Harry enjoyed watching Renee cook, every time he saw her cook it amazed him, but tonight he was watching Snape watch Renee cook. "What do you teach at Clifton?" Camron broke Snape from his staring, he quickly glanced at Harry who racked his brain and stammered "Chemistry!". Everyone turned back to watch Renee as she bustled about the kitchen, trying to do ten things at once, "Do you need help?" Harry asked, Camron snickered "Of course she needs help, mental help!". Renee tossed a piece of lettuce at her niece and laughed "I could use some, if you don't mind...", Harry went to stand up but Snape motioned for him to sit back down and walked over to Renee himself, rolling up his sleeves. Renee smiled at the black haired man "Thank you, Severus", Snape smiled back but remained quiet, Camron and Harry exchanged a glance and grinned.
The entire time they were preparing the food, Harry and Camron would notice that whenever their arms bumped into each other or they had to reach across to get something the two adults would laugh nervously or quickly look away with shy expressions. "This is quite amusing" Camron whispered to Harry, "Yeah, I mean...aren't we the teenagers? Aren't we supposed to be the one's acting like that?" he looked over and blushed seeing Camron was right next to his face, she quickly jumped back with her own blush.
Dinner was quite delicious, whatever it was, while cleaning up Renee looked over at Harry "When's your birthday again?", Harry was confused by the question. "July thirty-first, why? I'll have the money to pay for rent, trust me!", everyone looked over at Renee in curiousity, the woman simply smiled "I'm not worried about that right now, although it's good to hear...no, what I'm thinking is we should have a party or something, invite yours friends over who haven't seen your new place yet".
Harry was filled with joy then "Really? You wouldn't mind me having my friends over? And a party? An actual birthday party for me?", Renee and Camron chuckled at his enthusiasm. "What? Don't tell me you've never had a birthday party before!" Renee looked at him in concern even though she was still laughing a little. "Oh! We should go to the festival this year! Before it ends!" Camron bounced up and down, Renee nodded "Yes, the festival is always nice...does that sound good to you, Harry?". He nodded with a wide grin on his face "Yes! I just need to contact my friends to have them meet us..." he started to dash from the room but skidded to a halt "Sir, you're invited as well" he then left to owl Ron and Hermione.
Snape was walked to the train station by Renee and Camron, Dart too, after he left to 'get on the train', Renee and Camron headed back home. "So...Aunt Renee..." Camron couldn't hide her smirk, Renee eyed her niece catiously "Yes, Cam?", the younger girl tried to act non-chalant but it wasn't working "That Severus is a really nice guy, huh? Helped you cook and clean up...even came by to see you...". Renee laughed "He didn't come by to see me, he came by to check on Harry", "Oh really?" Camron place her hands on her hips "What time did he show up at the house, then?". Renee thought for a moment "About two or two thirty...wait, what're you getting at?", Camron held her hands up "Nothing! Nothing...just think it's slightly odd for someone to wait three hours for someone...why didn't he just call to see if Harry was there?".
Renee opened her mouth to respond but couldn't think of an answer, which only made Camron grin wider "Ha! And you and him were flirting! Don't deny it!". Renee looked taken aback "I was not flirting!", "Yes you were!" Cam argued in a sing-song voice, Renee mocked an insulted pose "Honey, I don't flirt...although...". Cam grinned as she watched her Aunt go into a dreamy state "Although...?" she egged her on, Renee shook her head then mockingly narrowed her eyes at her niece "You're as bad as your mother when it comes to trying to set me up with guys, you know that?". Camron giggled and put on her best angel face "Whatever are you talking about?", Renee just rolled her eyes and motioned for them to hurry on home.
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