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.