Chapter 11:Sloan Bishop Snape
Harry entered the kitchen still looking very flushed, but neither Severus nor Dudley noticed still caught up in their thoughts of the conversation that just ended. Harry was happy for their distraction helped Dudley to finish setting the table for lunch. Dobby popped in right when the food was ready. He was quite upset that Severus had not called him to make them something to eat. It was his job, and that was what he was there for. It started a debate between the small elf and Severus. Dudley and Harry were amused by this, and finished the table by placing the soup tureen and the plate of sandwiches.
Luna entered right about that time her face still showing a blushing pink, but turned red when her gaze met Harry's. This time it did not go unnoticed. "What's this? Do my eyes deceive me? Harry and Luna are in love." Dudley started teasing them. The last sentence being sung out and causing the two to become even redder.
Severus never one to be called unobservant caught on to what Dudley was talking about. Showing a true change in character he also started in on teasing Harry and Luna. In the most mature fashion of course. "In love you say, Dudley? May I ask Harry what are you intentions for Miss Lovegood? Do I need to act the protector of her honor?"
Dobby watched the exchanged and noticed that while both Luna and Harry were not responding their body language was. If the two teasing wizards were not careful they could ruin a soul match, but then again wizards are slow they may not know. "Stop! Stop teasing Harry Potter sir, and his Luna. They be possible soul mate. You not ruin it for them. Dobby make sure you pay if you do."
Dobby only noticed that the teasing stopped; not the shocked expressions of everyone in the kitchen. He suddenly remembered that he had forgotten the pumpkin juice that was to go with lunch and popped out to get some. Chaos reigned in the minds of Luna, Harry, and Severus. Though Dudley did not know the significance of what a soul mate in the wizarding world meant it was still something that was known as very rare in the muggle world.
Both Luna and Harry had pretty much the same thoughts going through their heads. What they had thought was a basic attraction due to their walks and discussions could actually be more. While it could have been strange if they did not know each other like they do. What Dobby said would change things that they may not be quite ready for.
Dobby reappeared again with pumpkin juice and had everyone sit at the table. Harry and Luna though functioning like normal were not quite there. Severus was planning the letter that he was going to send to Dumbledore with this newest revelation. Dudley on the other hand was still trying to grasp the attention of someone. He wanted an explanation of possible soul mates.
Dobby not knowing what type of faux pa that he announced went about his business. He did not immediately notice the strange behavior of everyone at the table. In fact Dobby would not have noticed at all if it had not been for Harry's question. "Err... Dobby? Could you repeat your earlier statement about Luna and me? -- I don't think that I heard you correctly."
"Sure Harry Potter sir. Dobby say that Miss Luna and Harry Potter sir is possible soul mates." Harry's shocked looked clued Dobby in to the situation that he had created. "Dobby say too much, and give Harry Potter sir a shock. Dobby is bad house elf ... must punish himself. And before Harry could object to Dobby punishing himself the little elf left.
That is how Minerva McGonagall walked in on all of them. A stunned Luna and Harry, a slightly angered Dudley, and a clueless potion's master are not what she expected at all. She tried clearing her throat first, and when that didn't work she decided to treat them all like rowdy students who have gotten out of hand. "Severus," her strident voice rang out in the kitchen. There was a slight echo, "What is the meaning of this? There was no one to meet me at the fire grate to make sure I am who I say I am. I expected better from you and Mr. Potter."
She saw that Severus and Dudley were now paying attention to her, but not Luna and Harry. It was then that Dudley and Severus noticed the crimson couple sneaking peeks at each other only to start blushing more when they caught each other's eyes. Their laughter started her up again, "Stop laughing like loons and Harry explain to me what in Circe's is going on."
"Severus and Dudley were now tripping over themselves to explain the situation about Dobby, and their teasing earlier. McGonagall ever the teacher was able to decipher the gibberish between the two. She blinked twice, and then championed Dobby's opinion of their behavior. "This is quite serious as you know Severus. I will leave it up to you to tell Albus, until that time I expect all of you to conduct yourselves more appropriately. Now, that everything is settled I am here to administer the reading test that the headmaster asked me to take care of. Mr. Dursley if you would lead me to the room where you have been doing your lessons. We can get on with this and help you out as soon as possible."
Dudley stood from his seat and led his future transfiguration professor from the room towards the classroom. Severus catching the small glimpses that Harry and Luna were still shooting at each other chuckled at them and left for his potions' lab. That of course made the tension and the awkwardness that filled the room thicker.
Harry being the more uncomfortable of the two started to collect the dirty dishes and taking them to the sink. He all of a sudden didn't know how to talk to his friend now that he knew that they could be something more permanent. Sure having a crush on her and thinking about he as a girl had made things different but the actual possibility of being soul mates was throwing him for a loop.
Luna was surprisingly not quite on the same page as Harry. Possible soul mates meant many things. It was rare in the wizarding world to actually find a true soul mate. There were always at least one – three possible soul mates for every witch or wizard. The rarity occurred because the way life allows you to meet the one you are supposed to be with. Circumstances usually interfered which is why Dobby had put a stop to the teasing earlier. Still she was not yet sixteen and the pressure of a relationship of this magnitude was very frightening.
Sending a quick glance to Harry she saw that he was gearing up his courage to broach the topic. Knowing that if anything the situation could possibly blow up in their faces if they talked Dobby's bombshell out. A hasty retreat was planned. "Harry, I know that we need to talk about this, but let me think on it a bit. I need to write my father, and there is so much going to be happening soon. Plus I haven't finished my lesson planning for next week. I really need to do that." Luna left the kitchen before Harry could answer. What they didn't know was that they both collapsed against the nearest surface and let out deep sighs of teenage angst.
McGonagall was impressed. Not only was Harry's cousin intelligent, but he had figured out a way to survive this far in live with a small reading problem that his muggle teachers should have help correct. Aside from some color blindness, and the fact that he was a severe dyslexic it was a miracle that Luna and Harry had brought him along this far.
She couldn't help but question him about his lessons that summer, and was not surprised to find out that Harry was right along with Luna helping him learn. The shock was that they were already working on third year information, and having just been at if for a few weeks made the accomplishment even more impressive. Giving the nervous boy in front of her some reassurance with a smile she started to discuss his results.
"Mr. Dursley, you testing in finished and I am happy to inform you that you have an above average intelligence. Not only that, but your magic seems to also be slightly above the average norm. Not quite as high as maybe your cousin or Luna, but you are not by any means suffering from not starting when you should have.
Now, what I have discovered is that your reading problem is a muggle as well as a wizarding one as well. Usually muggle primary teachers catch this before it gets out of hand. In your case I don't know what happened. Dyslexia is a condition when your eyesight and the brain get the signals crossed about what your see. The letters and numbers that everyone sees on the page are scrambled up in your eyes'. Take for example the word s-u-s-p-e-n-s-e," McGonagall wrote the word in the air with her wand not saying it out loud. "Tell me what word did I write?"
Dudley looked at the word and tried sounding it out. He was having a very hard time, because they letters were not making sense to him. Instead of seeing suspense he saw subnese. Finally he gave up thinking it was a spell that he had not learned yet. "The word is suspense Mr. Dursley, and that truly was my final test. The letters actually copied to my form right here the way you saw them.
Usually we try to correct this problem the muggle way, because of the age it is caught at is in a developmental stage of childhood that is more conducive. Yet since you are older we will do it the magical way and give you a potion. Severus will of course have to brew it for you, but it should not take him too long a day at the most. If you will escort me back to your fireplace, and give this note to Severus. I will take my leave. Much to do today and I must get to it."
Dudley walked her to the fire place. He was in a slight shock; the professor said that he was not dumb. In fact he was above average. Him the fat stupid lard that everyone picked on at Smelting was above average, and even though he had a hard time reading it was fixable. For the first time in years there was hope for his future. He turned towards the basement door with the letter for Severus.
A few days later Severus was finishing the final touches on the adoption papers for Harry and Dudley all that was needed were the names they would go by once everything was finished and approved. Slowly he penned in Cassius Damien Snape and Sloan Bishop Harry James Potter-Snape (or Sloan Bishop Snape to the public).
A/N: Happy Birthday Magic's Changes. This is a short chapter I know, but I wanted to answer some questions that I was having about Dudley. The next chapter will hopefully deal with the trial and adoption. Until then please review.
P.S. Also I have just started reading a really great AU fanfic by Bobmin356 Sunset over Britain. Check it out, and remember to review there as well.