Chapter Forty-nine
June 30th, 1991
Harry wasn't the least surprised to find it already the summer holidays. Part of him was only a bit disappointed that it was the summer, but he wasn't quite sure why. Another part of him was glad, after all, in September he'd be actually attending Hogwarts. He'd be a student.
He was eager to go to Snape's manor for the summer, since he had never been there before. He had spent last year at Hogwarts with the Potions Professor, so he hadn't a clue what Snape's home looked like. Harry was nervous about it too; the Snape manor would be the place he'd grow up at, excluding Hogwarts. So technically, he had two homes: Hogwarts and Snape's manor.
Harry was barely listening to Dumbledore as the Headmaster was giving everybody a speech in the Great Hall that day. He was startled when there was a loud blast of applauding, but he had absolutely no clue what everybody was clapping about. Then he realized that Dumbledore must've just announced what house won the House Cup, so he decided to join in as well.
Where were you? Slyther asked Harry as the boy stopped clapping to start eating his food.
Harry frowned. "I was right here. Why?"
No, you seemed to be in some other far-away land. All throughout Dumbledore's speech you had this blank look on your face. Mind telling me where you were? You probably don't even know who won the House Cup.
Harry gave Slyther a look. "I do. Um… Ravenclaw."
There was a quiet response from Slyther, until he finally spoke. Look up.
Harry didn't do so automatically, but he took his time. When he finally did look up at the ceiling, he found himself looking at the sky, but then he noticed that there were decorations hanging around the ceiling, too. They were Slytherin colors.
"Okay," he reconsidered. "Slytherin won the House Cup. I was in some far-away land. Your point?"
My point is that you were in your own little world, and I want to know where that is! I'm your friend Harry, don't I deserve to be curious about why you had a blank look on your face throughout Dumbledore's speech? Hey, if I were you, then that'd mean that you were me. And then, I'd be the one with the blank face, and you'd be the one asking what I'm asking you. So if you I were you, then I'd definitely tell me—whoops, I mean you—where I was.
Harry had to stifle a laugh after the snake had got finished. "I was just thinking about stuff. Y'know… the summer holidays, V—" he paused, glancing at Snape quickly, "—The Dark Lord. Even Aureus. Just… things."
Why on earth would anybody think about THOSE two? Out of your mind you'd have to be, to think about them. C'mon Harry, they're gone. Be happy.
"I am happy," Harry replied, nibbling on his chicken leg.
Fine, fine, Slyther said, not believing Harry. Think about it all you want. But don't come crying to me when you get nightmares about it, because if you do, I'll tell you what I told you now: They're gone. Be thankful, don't think about it.
Harry smiled faintly. "I won't have nightmares about it. Promise."
Well, my thoughts are never going to change. So… starting now, let's just enjoy the Holidays, shall we?
-
Harry had almost forgot about the Weasley twins and their prank that they wanted Harry to participate in, until they had reminded him of it. He was curious to see what they had planned.
"All right, Harry, " George whispered as he handed Harry a bottle. "See this?"
"Yes," Harry said slowly as he took the bottle and examined it. Wasn't this Snape's shampoo? Fred and George had asked Harry to bring it to them a while ago (Harry was rather surprised that Snape hadn't noticed) and wondered what they did to it.
"Put it back in the same place you found it," Fred explained. "When Snape washes his hair—"
"—If he ever does," George interrupted.
"Then you'll see what happens." Fred grinned mischeviously. "Thing is, Harry old chap, when Snape sees himself, he'll see the way he normally looks—"
"—He won't see what his hair really looks like—"
"—Until everyone else does. At least we hope it'll do that," Fred added. "It'll only last a couple days. We have our fingers crossed."
Harry looked at the shampoo bottle, then up at the Weasley twins. He couldn't seem to fight back his smile.
July 1st, 1991
"Are you almost ready yet?"
Snape couldn't help but be annoyed. How long had he been waiting for Harry to get ready to leave Hogwarts? He lost count after the first seven minutes.
"Just give me a second!" Harry called back from his room. "Okay. I'm ready."
Harry came out of his room with everything ready. "We can go now."
Harry, his mouth parted in surprise, stared at Snape. Slyther, who sat on Harry's head, was momentarily lost for words.
Is that a new look for you, Snapey? HAH! I mean… you… your hair… HAH!
"Harry," Snape said calmly, "what is your snake going on about?"
"Er…" Harry faltered, trying to hide his smile. "You—you better take a look in the mirror—"
Harry closed his eyes, bracing himself as he waited for—
"Harry Potter!"
Harry winced, slowing opening his eyes again. Snape stood in front of him now, looking angry. His hair was changing different colors: Purple, orange, blue, red, green and yellow. Then, it would stop, go back to its normal color and then begin to flash red and gold. The Gryffindor colors.
"How did this happen?" Snape questioned dangerously.
"I—I don't know," Harry lied. "It… looks good, though?"
Snape glared.
"All right, all right… it was a prank from the Weasley twins," Harry said quickly."But it'll go away in a couple days!"
Snape continued to glare, but didn't say anything as they walked out of the portrait hole.
"So, Severus," Harry started conversationally. "Are we going to the Owlery to get Ember?"
"We will," Snape replied, "after we get the Floo Powder from Albus."
"Floo Powder?" Harry replied. "Is that some sort of powder that you put in drinks?"
"No," Snape responded. "It's for transportation. Now, while I get the Floo Powder from Albus you can go to the Owlery and collect your owl, can you not?"
"Yes, I can," Harry replied, making sure that Slyther was still in his pocket. "Will I meet you back here after I get Ember?"
"Yes indeed. The password to Albus's office is Chocoballs, remember, " Snape said as they approached the office doors. "And don't go wandering off, Harry. The Owlery then right back here, understand?"
Harry nodded solemnly. "Yes, sir. And… sorry about your hair." Harry turned around and quickly walked to the Owlery.
Why can't we just leave Paddy Whacker here? Honestly Harry, it's just a bird. Not like it's a human being, Slyther said. Just leave the featherhead here.
Harry frowned. "Why don't you like Ember?"
Birds, Slyther said, disgust very much visible in his voice, how I detest them. I think when I was a human attending Hogwarts, I had a very unfortunate encounter with one. I'm not sure, but I think that's why I dislike them so.
"An 'encounter'?" Harry replied as he searched the Owlery for Ember. Then he spotted her, and she must've spotted him, since she flew down and rested on his shoulder. "That doesn't sound very good."
Believe me, Slyther said, I don't think it was. Okay, so now we have the bird, let's go.
"I think I have some treats in my pocket," Harry mused with Ember still on his shoulder as he left the Owlery. "Hey, Slyther, are they in there with you?"
Hmm, what? Oh, the 'treats'? No, I'm afraid they're not, Slyther replied curtly.
Harry frowned. "You sure? 'Cause I think they are in there."
Oh fine, yes they are. Happy? You should be. Now let's just find Snape and get out of here, or anywhere away from that bird.
"Ember's an owl," Harry corrected as he now stood in front of the Gargoyle, trying to remember what Snape had said the password was. "Do you remember what Severus said the password was?"
Clarinet Cookies, wasn't it? Slyther said. But don't take that suggestions, since I really don't know if that's it or not.
"No, I'm pretty sure it wasn't that," Harry said, biting his bottom lip. "Wasn't it… Chocoballs?"
Harry jumped as the Gargoyle moved, letting Harry in.
Good remembering.
"Thank you," Harry replied as he walked up the steps to Dumbledore's office, but was greeted by Snape, who came out of the office just as Harry approached it.
"Is that Floo Powder in the bag?" Harry asked, eyeing the bag which he was certain contained the Floo Powder.
"It is," Snape replied, leading Harry back down the stairs. "I see you got your owl and didn't wander off."
"I didn't wander off," Harry confirmed. "I got Ember and came straight back, just like you said to, Severus."
Just like you said to, Severus, Slyther mocked in a high-pitched, girlish voice, which almost made Harry laugh. Let's just do this Floo Powder thing without all of this talking nonsense, eh? Okay? Thank-you.
"Wow, somebody's grumpy today. What made you so cranky?" Harry questioned.
Oh, I started getting 'cranky' around the time you got that bird, Slyther snapped. Did I ever tell you how much I detest birds? Oh, if I could just remember why I don't like them… I just don't…
"Well you can like my owl," Harry responded. "She's good. She's a friend, and so are you. If you just warm up to her, Slyther, maybe you'll like Ember too."
Oh, yes, Slyther started sarcastically, we'll have this wonderful conversation, and by the time the conversation's over we'll be best friends forever! And oh, what a pity, if I only spoke Owl-nese…
"Come on," Harry said, frowning at his snakes sarcasm. "Why are you acting like this? Did Aureus possess you?"
No, Aureus did not possess me, Slyther replied irritably. I'm just not in that much of a good mood. How could you suggest such a thing? That's disgusting. I don't want that woman in my body—human or snake, thank you very much.
Harry ignored the rest of what Slyther was saying as Snape uttered the password—"Butterbeer" (Harry had had a sip of one, and fancied them immediately)—and the portrait of the snake swung open.
"How does Floo Powder work?" Harry asked Snape as they entered the quarters.
"Well," Snape started, walking through the kitchen to get the fireplace, "it's really quite simple. You may go first. Walk over to the fireplace and take a handful of the Powder."
Harry took a handful of the powder in the bag and walked over to the unlit fireplace.
"Now step inside."
Harry frowned, looking at Snape as if he hadn't quite heard him. "Go into the fireplace?"
"That's what I said."
Harry hesitantly stepped into the fireplace, just as Snape had instructed.
"Good, now throw the Floo Powder down and say very clearly and precisely, 'Snape Manor.' "
Harry did as he was told, throwing the powder down and saying very clearly what he was told to say. In a second green flames erupted in the fireplace, enveloping Harry. Harry squeezed his eyes shut, holding onto Ember (who was safely in her cage) tightly.
-
When Harry opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in an entirely different fireplace in an entirely different home. Was this the Snape manor?
Harry stepped out of the fireplace, still holding onto Ember. All of his luggage was right there in the fireplace, so he quickly dragged them out in case Snape was going to arrive anytime after he did.
Wow, Slyther said, his head poking up from Harry's pocket. Is this Snape's home? It's… big. And almost human-ish.
"What did you think he was, a robot?" Harry said with a laugh. The room he was standing in now, the living room (or so he thought), was very nice. There was a leather sofa seated in the middle of the rather large room, a table with a lamp sitting on top of it was placed near the sofa. There was a large window that was behind the sofa.
"Would you like to see your room?"
Harry gave a little jump at the voice behind him, and seeing as it was only Snape, nodded. Snape led Harry into the hallway, then up a flight of stairs into another hallway with the walls lined with portraits that seemed to move—just like the ones that were at Hogwarts, Harry noted.
Harry was now looking into a room that reminded him a bit like his room at Hogwarts: the large room, Slytherin colors all around, the single window and medium-sized closet.
"We can change the colors if you want," Snape offered.
"Nope," Harry replied happily, dragging his luggage into his room. "It's perfect. The colors can stay."
"I'll be downstairs," Snape said. "If you need anything, then just call Morwen."
Harry glanced up at the Potions master, frowning. "Morwen? Who's that?"
"It's the House Elf," Snape replied before turning around and going back down the flight of stairs.
The House Elf, eh? Slyther said as Harry gently took him out of his pocket and set him down on the hardwood floor. Is that an… elf? Or a fancy name for a servant?
"No," Harry said with a shake of his head. "Remember the House Elves at Hogwarts?"
Oh, them! I see. I didn't know Snape had one. Hmm…
Harry started to unpack, putting all his clothes in a pile on the floor by his side. Ember was flying freely by the ceiling, and Harry had to remember to let the owl out sometime that day.
"Come on," Harry said, picking Slyther up before he stood up. "Let's go take a look around Snape manor. It'll be fun."
Yeah, Slyther agreed. But let's just hope that he doesn't keep any men down in the basement like Aureus, huh? Did I tell you about that?
Harry laughed. "Somehow I doubt that he does, Slyther, and yes you did."
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