Chapter 2- A Boy Named Black
Barely twenty-four hours had passed since the arrival of Severus Snapes acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His mother, Juniper, hurriedly pulled on her best outfit consisting of a long black silk dress with white lace trim about the sleeves and collar. She accessorized this with a black velvet half-cape clasped at the neck with a silver and emerald brooch her mother had given her upon her acceptance into Hogwarts over thirty years ago. She had her hair wrapped up tightly in a bun.
Juniper then ran into her son's room to help him hurry along, for normally he was a bit slow getting ready. She was surprised to find that Severus was not there. She ran downstairs to the living area to find him already waiting in the large armchair near the fireplace. She raised an eyebrow at him,
"I think you've broken a record today, you've not been ready this quickly since you learned to do it yourself!"
Severus gave her a weak smile, he hadn't ever gotten dressed so fast because his days normally didn't amount to much to be dressed for. Today was obviously a special occasion, as today was the day they were going into London to get his supplies. Juniper fussed about him making sure he looked his best. Severus stood there rolling his eyes at her.
"OK, that's about it, we're ready to go. You do remember how to use the floo powder don't you?" she said.
"Mum, of course I know how to use it, I'm not dense and we've just done it two weeks ago to visit Aunt Violet." Severus snipped back, 'Honestly, are you going to be like this the entire trip? I'm as excited if not more than you are, but you're acting as if it were my first time out of the house!"
"I'm sorry dear, I just want to make sure everything is perfect for you, this is a wonderful opportunity for you and I forget sometimes that it is your transition into adulthood as well. I promise I'll try to loosen the apron strings a bit!" she chuckled apologetically.
Juniper pulled down an intricately carved box from on top of the mantelpiece. She slid open the cover, and scooped two pinches worth into a pouch tied at her waist. She then doled out another two pinches worth, one to her son and one to herself.
"You go first, and don't go running off. I know you're excited, but I don't want to have to comb the alleys looking for you!" she spoke as Severus stepped into the fireplace. With a flick of his wrist he threw the powder down and shouted clearly, "Diagon Alley!" a cool breeze swept by and Juniper was left looking at the fireplace, which lay empty again.
Simultaneously, Severus Snape felt his stomach lurch as he whisked over the rooftops of first the countryside, then the city itself. He squeezed his eyes shut, and tears streamed down his face as the wind whipped at his face. He hated flying more than anything else in the world. It was the one thing about being a wizard he would rather do without. He longed for the day in which he would one day be able to apparate himself wherever he pleased, but that day was still far off, for the restriction for underage wizardry prevented him from doing so until he reached eighteen. Finally through his blurred vision he saw it, the dark looking pub that lie as a beacon of hope to the boy whose intestines were desperately trying to remain back home at Rooksnest while the remainder of his body continued to accelerate forward. It was the Leaky Cauldron, purveyor of drinks and rooms to Wizards since around 1500, and more importantly the entrance to Diagon Alley, where Severus would get everything he needed to begin his foray into spell casting, potion making, and other magical delights.
He landed with a resounding thud, just as some other boy was exiting the fireplace inside the inn. Severus quickly dusted himself off and stepped out so the next person, most likely his mother, could get through. The boy who landed there just before him gawked at him, and then just blurted out as if his opinion mattered "So I reckon you'll be in Slytherin then, huh?"
Severus looked around to see whom the boy was addressing, and realizing there were no others in the immediate vicinity assumed the boy, then, must be addressing him, replied, "Excuse me?"
The boy, almost as gangly as Severus himself, looked back at him with gray eyes. His hair was jet black as well, somewhere in between a state of long and short in length, and a bit tousled. He smiled sarcastically with slightly yellowed teeth, "Sirius Black's the name, and believe me my whole family's been in Slytherin, your face just about matches the crest colors! You're not going to vomit are you? If so just nod I'm wearing new shoes today and I'm not looking forward to dirty them just yet."
Severus couldn't believe the audacity of this other lad, but not knowing any other boys his own age, he politely let out a sort of half-laugh at Sirius' attempt to be witty and replied, " Severus Snape, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least, both my parents were in that house, in fact if I remember their stories correctly, they were in classes with your own parents, and your cousin Narcissa should be coming in to her fifth year. Oh and don't fret about the shoes, I'm feeling a bit better now I've mine back on the ground"
" I can tell, you've gone from emerald to light mint just now", replied Sirius. Severus wondered if Sirius was always so insulting, or if it was just a way of covering up a case of jitters he might possibly have in expectation of the new school year. "No matter" he thought, "At the very least we can chum around together until I meet some new acquaintances that aren't quite so grating on the nerves".
Sirius hesitated for a very brief moment before he started speaking again, "So, you waiting for more then? I'm not. Parents couldn't very well be bothered, gave me my key to Gringott's and sent me on my merry way. I don't know about you but I'm anxious to explore, a trip to Florean Fortescue's for a scoop of Rum Raisin should put me right for book shopping I would think. Care to tag along?"
Sensing an opportunity to escape the conversation, and remembering Juniper's instruction Severus hastily replied, " Not just now thank you, for as a matter of fact I am awaiting my mother, whom should be along any moment now, I promised I wouldn't go ahead without her".
"Suit yourself then, I'll catch up with you later, if mommy lets you out to play". And with that Sirius Black haughtily trotted out to the back alley behind the Leaky Cauldron, walking about as arrogantly as he spoke.
Barely twenty-four hours had passed since the arrival of Severus Snapes acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His mother, Juniper, hurriedly pulled on her best outfit consisting of a long black silk dress with white lace trim about the sleeves and collar. She accessorized this with a black velvet half-cape clasped at the neck with a silver and emerald brooch her mother had given her upon her acceptance into Hogwarts over thirty years ago. She had her hair wrapped up tightly in a bun.
Juniper then ran into her son's room to help him hurry along, for normally he was a bit slow getting ready. She was surprised to find that Severus was not there. She ran downstairs to the living area to find him already waiting in the large armchair near the fireplace. She raised an eyebrow at him,
"I think you've broken a record today, you've not been ready this quickly since you learned to do it yourself!"
Severus gave her a weak smile, he hadn't ever gotten dressed so fast because his days normally didn't amount to much to be dressed for. Today was obviously a special occasion, as today was the day they were going into London to get his supplies. Juniper fussed about him making sure he looked his best. Severus stood there rolling his eyes at her.
"OK, that's about it, we're ready to go. You do remember how to use the floo powder don't you?" she said.
"Mum, of course I know how to use it, I'm not dense and we've just done it two weeks ago to visit Aunt Violet." Severus snipped back, 'Honestly, are you going to be like this the entire trip? I'm as excited if not more than you are, but you're acting as if it were my first time out of the house!"
"I'm sorry dear, I just want to make sure everything is perfect for you, this is a wonderful opportunity for you and I forget sometimes that it is your transition into adulthood as well. I promise I'll try to loosen the apron strings a bit!" she chuckled apologetically.
Juniper pulled down an intricately carved box from on top of the mantelpiece. She slid open the cover, and scooped two pinches worth into a pouch tied at her waist. She then doled out another two pinches worth, one to her son and one to herself.
"You go first, and don't go running off. I know you're excited, but I don't want to have to comb the alleys looking for you!" she spoke as Severus stepped into the fireplace. With a flick of his wrist he threw the powder down and shouted clearly, "Diagon Alley!" a cool breeze swept by and Juniper was left looking at the fireplace, which lay empty again.
Simultaneously, Severus Snape felt his stomach lurch as he whisked over the rooftops of first the countryside, then the city itself. He squeezed his eyes shut, and tears streamed down his face as the wind whipped at his face. He hated flying more than anything else in the world. It was the one thing about being a wizard he would rather do without. He longed for the day in which he would one day be able to apparate himself wherever he pleased, but that day was still far off, for the restriction for underage wizardry prevented him from doing so until he reached eighteen. Finally through his blurred vision he saw it, the dark looking pub that lie as a beacon of hope to the boy whose intestines were desperately trying to remain back home at Rooksnest while the remainder of his body continued to accelerate forward. It was the Leaky Cauldron, purveyor of drinks and rooms to Wizards since around 1500, and more importantly the entrance to Diagon Alley, where Severus would get everything he needed to begin his foray into spell casting, potion making, and other magical delights.
He landed with a resounding thud, just as some other boy was exiting the fireplace inside the inn. Severus quickly dusted himself off and stepped out so the next person, most likely his mother, could get through. The boy who landed there just before him gawked at him, and then just blurted out as if his opinion mattered "So I reckon you'll be in Slytherin then, huh?"
Severus looked around to see whom the boy was addressing, and realizing there were no others in the immediate vicinity assumed the boy, then, must be addressing him, replied, "Excuse me?"
The boy, almost as gangly as Severus himself, looked back at him with gray eyes. His hair was jet black as well, somewhere in between a state of long and short in length, and a bit tousled. He smiled sarcastically with slightly yellowed teeth, "Sirius Black's the name, and believe me my whole family's been in Slytherin, your face just about matches the crest colors! You're not going to vomit are you? If so just nod I'm wearing new shoes today and I'm not looking forward to dirty them just yet."
Severus couldn't believe the audacity of this other lad, but not knowing any other boys his own age, he politely let out a sort of half-laugh at Sirius' attempt to be witty and replied, " Severus Snape, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least, both my parents were in that house, in fact if I remember their stories correctly, they were in classes with your own parents, and your cousin Narcissa should be coming in to her fifth year. Oh and don't fret about the shoes, I'm feeling a bit better now I've mine back on the ground"
" I can tell, you've gone from emerald to light mint just now", replied Sirius. Severus wondered if Sirius was always so insulting, or if it was just a way of covering up a case of jitters he might possibly have in expectation of the new school year. "No matter" he thought, "At the very least we can chum around together until I meet some new acquaintances that aren't quite so grating on the nerves".
Sirius hesitated for a very brief moment before he started speaking again, "So, you waiting for more then? I'm not. Parents couldn't very well be bothered, gave me my key to Gringott's and sent me on my merry way. I don't know about you but I'm anxious to explore, a trip to Florean Fortescue's for a scoop of Rum Raisin should put me right for book shopping I would think. Care to tag along?"
Sensing an opportunity to escape the conversation, and remembering Juniper's instruction Severus hastily replied, " Not just now thank you, for as a matter of fact I am awaiting my mother, whom should be along any moment now, I promised I wouldn't go ahead without her".
"Suit yourself then, I'll catch up with you later, if mommy lets you out to play". And with that Sirius Black haughtily trotted out to the back alley behind the Leaky Cauldron, walking about as arrogantly as he spoke.