Chapter 3
"I think I should tell Harry" said Figg, as she and another servant
conversed in hushed tones.
"What? And have us all shipped off to America?" asked the woman, looking
scandalized as they got everything ready for their Master and Mistress
wakening up.
"Fine, you don't need too help, that was why I was sold in the first
place. They think I won't tell Harry now because they think I'm afraid
of being sold again. I will tell Harry what he has every right to know!" said Figg,
whispering in an angry tone.
"Fine" said the woman, giving a great sigh when Figg left.
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"Harry!" said Figg, her voice just as hushed as before, as she found the
boy she was looking for.
"What?" asked Harry looking annoyed, probably from being sleep deprived.
"I need to talk to you, can you stop for a minute?" asked Figg.
"If I don't get this done before they wake up I'm done for," said Harry,
continuing on with his work.
"Fine, let me give you a hand" said Figg softly, helping him haul the
water from the well getting it done in record time.
"What did you want?" asked Harry facing her for the first time.
"I have something I urgently need to tell you" she said.
"What?" asked Harry looking lost.
"Harry, your parents didn't die in a raid gone wrong, you see it was set
up." said Figg.
"I…you mean to say that someone killed my parents because they were told
to?" asked Harry wide eyed.
"Yes, and worse it was the…the…the Dursley's" said Figg looking close to
tears.
"What?" asked Harry hoarsely.
"I'm so sorry Harry, I should have told you along time ago, but I
couldn't." said Figg now in tears.
"Leave me alone," said Harry looking ready to hurt someone.
"Harry you can't do anything with the information you have, don't try and
get back at them, you will just end up bound for America" said Figg,
concerned for only Harry. She was old now anyway, she would not be
of much use for much longer.
"Do you have proof?" he asked just as she was walking away.
"I heard with my own ears, before I could do anything about it, it had
already happened. Plus who would believe a servant? I'm sorry" said Figg
walking away again.
Harry sat down, closing his eyes unable to believe what he had heard.
His parents had been murdered by his Aunt and Uncle, for the money and
home he presumed.
So it was his Aunt and Uncles fault he had no parents, and lived his
life as a servant.
"Hurry up and get in" snapped Figg from the tower, half an hour later.
Harry came out of his trance, immediately he ran back to the house. He
didn't want to be in their bad books; otherwise he would not be able to
hold his tongue. He himself didn't want to be bound for the America's.
He had heard tales of it, and truly didn't like the thought of going there.
If he thought his Aunt and Uncle were bad, they were apparently saints
when compared to the America's.
"I asked for four four-minute eggs, not four one minute eggs…now where
in gods name is our bread?" shouted Dudley to the servants.
"It's just coming out of the oven sir" said the servant taking the eggs
and bowing before leaving the room.
"Dudley precious, now what do I always say about tones?" asked Petunia
kindly over at her son.
"A man of breeding ought to never raise his voice above the gentle hum of
a whisper of a whispering wind" said Poppy, Petunia had kept the Evan
tradition going, and naming her child a flower. Poppy was the one she decided on.
Dudley grunted, and glared daggers at his sister across the table.
"Why is there no salt on the table?" asked Vernon looking around the
huge table they had.
"Harry!" shouted Vernon in an almost sing song voice. However, there was
anger underneath as always when he was dealing with his nephew.
"Sir, Poppy, Dudley, Ma'am" said Harry again with his usual routine as usual.
"What took you?" asked Vernon nastily.
"I fell of the ladder but I am better now" said Harry thinking up an
excuse for when he was sitting at the well.
"Why don't you sleep with the pigs since you seem to insist on smelling
like one" said Dudley.
Harry didn't answer, that was getting very old, and Dudley had been
re-telling it for months. It no longer bothered Harry at all, sighing
softly he started getting on with his other chores.
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"You sir, are restricted to the grounds!" said Tobias Snape to his son as
he came back. As usual he was out and about; his guards could never
find him when he left.
"What am I under house arrest?" asked Severus mockingly, he didn't like
his father still trying to control his life.
"Do not mock me for I am in a foul disposition" snapped Tobias.
"I will have my way" said Tobias snapping again.
"Or what?" asked Severus "You will send me to the America's like some
criminal? All for the sake of your stupid contract".
"You are the crown Prince of France!" said Tobias passionately.
"And it is my life" replied Severus to his fathers words.
"Tobias sit down before you have a stroke" said Eileen the Queen of
France. "Really the two of you" she said coming around the huge chairs.
"Sweetheart, you were born to privilege, and with that comes specific
obligations" she said.
"Forgive me Mother but marriage to a complete stranger never made anyone
in this room very happy" said Severus sitting on the steps as he looked
at his mother.
"Marry Draco by the next full moon or I will strike at you in anyway I
can" said Tobias.
"What is it to be Father hot oil or the rack?" asked Severus.
"I will simply deny you the crown…and…live forever!" said Tobias
stuttering the last few words.
"Good. Agreed. I don't want it!" said Severus getting up and walking out
of the room.
"He's your son!" snapped Tobias to Eileen as Severus walked out.
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"Who?" asked Eileen,
"Harry Evans" said Severus softly. "He's a cousin of…actually I don't
know his cousin's name, but surely you must remember such a name?".
"Oh darling there are simply too many to remember them all by name" she
laughed.
"Why do you ask?" asked Eileen.
"Hmm…oh never mind" said Severus probably distracted.
"In honour of Senora Da Vinci I have decided to throw a ball" said Tobias
coming up and interrupting their conversation.
"A masked ball, at which you and I will strike a compromise" he finished.
"Compromise, you?" asked Severus looking like he wanted to laugh.
"If love is what you seek, I suggest you find it before then. Five days
hence, at the stroke of midnight you will announce your engagement to
the person of your own choosing…or I will announce it for you" said Tobias.
"Are we agreed?" asked Tobias.
"What of your treaty?" asked Severus.
"Let me worry about Spain, you have more important things to worry
about" said Tobias.
"Choose wisely Severus, divorce is only something they do in England" Eileen.
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Petunia read a letter that had just been delivered by hand.
"To the Lord & Lady Dursley & the lad and ladies of the house.
Their Majesties cordially invite you to a masque in honour of
Signor Leonardo Da Vinci on the eve of the feast of St. Jude."
"What news of the engagement?" asked Petunia, to the man standing in
front of her.
"Cancelled. Rumour has it he must find himself a bride before that very
night" said the man.
"Well that doesn't give us very much time, I shall need to know" said
Petunia dipping into her purse, "…Who the
competition is, every move he makes, his agenda and any other tidbits
you might pick up!" she said, giving some coins to the man.
"He is playing tennis with the Marquis de Limoges tomorrow at noon" said
the man after looking around.
