I know, I know, I had a very prolonged absence. I'm focusing on two other stories, and was going to delete this story and start it again when the other two were finished, but I decided against it. That way, if I run out of inspiration for the other two, I'll update this one and not feel like I'm neglecting you readers out there! So don't expect updates on a regular basis. However, they won't be so apart that you can't even remember if Severus is nice or not. That being said, I believe I can now write the chapter!
Sincerely,
JeanieBeanie33
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter or any other character you recognize. The plot and any other character you don't recognize are mine, ALL MINE! MWAHAHAHA! muse smacks me Sorry about that. Anyway…
Chapter 3.Four Years Later
"Come on, Harry, we're going to be late!" Uncle Sev barked.
"He's coming, Severus, he's coming," said Remus, straightening Harry's tie. "Do you have your shoes tied?"
"Yes, Remus," Harry moaned, fidgeting in said shoes. He hated this uniform, which was required to go to Chestnut Green (Sirius said the name reminded him of the camping trip they'd taken Harry on when he was seven). Boys had to wear gray cotton shorts that went down to the knee, short-sleeved white shirts, and green ties during the summer, and gray wool pants that went down to the ankles, long-sleeved white shirts, dark green blazers, and gray ties during the winter. Harry didn't know what girls wore, having only paid attention to the fact he'd have to dress up to go to school of all places.
"Do I have to go?" he grumbled for probably the millionth time, all ready knowing the answer.
"Yes," said Remus tiredly, fingers folding Harry's collar. "I know that we taught you how to read and spell and to add and subtract all ready, but we think it'd be best if you experienced the muggle way of life first hand."
Harry nodded sullenly as he was lead out to the car, where Uncle Sev was waiting to drive them to school (he'd adamantly refused to let Sirius drive, saying "I'm not about to let someone who's gotten three speeding tickets drive a car with me in it with only a measly strap of nylon holding me from going through the windshield.") Harry shook his head at the memory. Uncle Sev could be so funny at times.
He climbed in, where Sirius was all ready sitting. Remus crawled into the seat next to Uncle Sev – somehow, the title 'uncle' only stuck with Severus, even though Harry had been calling Remus 'uncle' longer; 'godfather' had also been dropped – and they were off.
"Aw, speed it up, Snapey!" Sirius whined after a few moments.
"'Fraid not, Sirius," Uncle Sev drawled, looking at Sirius through the rear-view mirror. "I'd rather not go fifty miles above the speed limit in a tri-city area, thanks." Harry giggled as Sirius stuck his tongue out at Uncle Sev. In response, Uncle Sev flipped him the middle finger.
"Now really," said Remus reprovingly. "That lady thought it was directed at her, Severus."
"Blame the idiotic dingbat in the back," Uncle Sev replied absentmindedly, as insults (now said out of habit instead of with actual malice) thrown between him and Sirius happened at least five times a day.
"Four years later and he still can't come up with another insult," said Sirius to Harry, shaking his head in mock disappointment.
"Oh, I can," said Uncle Sev casually, adjusting the wheel. "I have plenty, as a matter of fact. However, if you haven't noticed, there's impressionable ears listening, and I don't want them hearing such insults just yet."
"Aw, come on, how bad could they be?" said Sirius, tilting his head slightly so that a lock of glossy hair fell into his face.
"You seem to be forgetting that I was raised in the slums," said Uncle Sev. "And the slums are definitely not a very civilized place to grow up in. Vile names are shouted so often there, it's like a second language. Now, if you are finished with your dim-witted questions, you'll notice that we have arrived." Harry, who had listened to Uncle Sev with rapt attention (it was very rare to hear him talk about his past), groaned quite loudly and obviously.
"Why do I have to go again?" he moaned again, crossing his arms and scowling at the neat brown hair that was the back of Remus's head.
"That's a very good question, Harry," said Uncle Sev. "You should learn from him, Black. Now, Remus, would you care to explain to me again why on Earth you want to transform Harry into a midget in glasses and a tie?"
"Because, Severus, it'll be good experience for him," said Remus, rolling his eyes and straightening his jacket, looking into the rearview mirror to check his appearance. Behind him, Sirius patted his hair, made kissy-lips, and batted his eyes at Remus, making Harry giggle again.
"Besides, he needs to have some other friends apart from magical ones," Remus said, now peering at Sirius suspiciously (he hadn't seen him do anything, but years of being Sirius's friend gave him a sort of radar sense of when Sirius was doing something). "Who knows, he might even stumble upon some muggleborns, or maybe even half bloods."
"Joy," Sirius deadpanned.
"I have to agree," said Uncle Sev sourly, getting out. "Beat it, Black. Even though you don't use it, and certainly don't act like it, you've all ready had a complete education. Harry, on the other hand, hasn't and is the reason we're here."
"Blah, blah, blah," said Sirius. "That's all I'm hearing. Come on, Harry, let's lead you to your new prison-I mean, school." Remus frowned, but didn't comment.
"Here are your things," he said, handing Harry a book bag. "It has all of your notebooks and pens and pencils in it. Now, remember what room you have to go to?"
"Room 115," Harry said clearly (A/N that's my homeroom!). Remus smiled.
"Good," he said.
"Remember to get into lots of trouble," said Sirius, winking and clapping him on the shoulder.
"Listen to your teachers, or you'll end up like your godfather," added Severus, allowing a brief smile.
"You make that like a bad thing," said Sirius, grinning up at him.
"For sane people it is," Severus responded. "Anyway, take care of yourself, Harry. And remember: do not let loose anything about magic. If you think that someone might have magical powers, tell us their names. They might be half bloods."
"Good bye, Harry," said Sirius, giving him a hug. "Have a good first day at school. Leave an impression that you're a prankster, eat your food unless it's disgusting, sharpen your pencils, don't get your underwear in a bunch…"
"Sirius," Remus reprimanded, but a smile was on his face.
"…and don't smoke," said Sirius, completely ignoring Remus.
"Okay," said Harry, grinning.
"My little boy," said Sirius, pretending to wipe away a tear. "He's growing up so fast" He began to fake sob into his hands.
"Oh brother," said Uncle Sev, rolling his eyes.
"We've stalled long enough," said Remus, glancing at his watch. "Go on, or you'll be late." Harry nodded, and hurried to the stairs that led to the entrance. When he look back, he saw that Uncle Sev and Sirius were arguing (probably about who was going to drive) and Remus had this sort of dejected look on his face. He was the only one that waved at Harry. Harry turned, and walked through the steel doors.
He hurried down the hall, and down another (he'd gotten a tour of the school on registration day) until he finally saw a foot with a brass plaque above it reading 'Room 115 – Miss A. Carter.' Nervously, he made a vain attempt to tame his hair, took a deep breath, and opened the door.
Inside was a room with a tile floor and pale blue walls. Signs such as 'Attitude is a little thing that makes a BIG difference' were tacked up on the walls neatly, several rectangular desks were pushed into groups of four, a row of computers were going down the wall that the door was in, a closet where the book-bags were hung was at the end of the room, and a blackboard was at the front, a teacher's desk in front of it.
There was scarcely any room left in the closet, Harry saw, which fit because almost the entire class had arrived. He dug in his bag, pulled out the book he was reading as well as his notebooks and pencil pouch, zipped it back up, and then squeezed it between a green one. Turning around, he came face to face with a boy. The boy had blond hair, freckles, and pale blue eyes that looked a lot like Remus's.
"Oh, hello," said the boy. "Sorry if I startled you."
"Not at all," said Harry, and, deciding now was as good as any to make friends, he struck up a conversation. "I was just hanging my bag up. You need to put yours somewhere? You can put it up next to mine if you want."
"Sure," said the boy. Harry stepped aside, book clutching to his chest, and the boy reached up (he was rather short) and put his navy blue bag up on a hook.
"So, what's your name?" he asked, as they shut the door behind them.
"Harry, Harry Potter," said Harry.
"Blaine Logan," said Blaine(!). "So, where do you want to sit?"
"How about right here?" asked Harry, gesturing to a pair of empty seats right next to each other.
"Looks fine," replied Blaine. They both sat down, Harry placing his book on the table, just in time as the teacher, Mrs. Carter, walked in.
Miss Carter was a young, curvy-like woman with an attractive face, dark brown eyes, and brown hair that was up in a bun with two pencils through it. She was dressed in a dark blue skirt, white blouse, and a bright green tie that somehow seemed to fit, despite the dark colors of the rest of the outfit. Harry decided that he liked her, after studying her thoroughly. He had had this unnatural gift of knowing the character of a person by just watching them for a few moments.
However, before he could make any further deductions about his teacher, his view was blocked. Standing in front of him and Blaine was a girl with bushy brown hair and two large front teeth.
"Excuse me, but can I sit here?" she asked, biting her lip slightly.
"Go ahead," said Harry, shrugging. He picked up his book – Charlotte's Web – and craftily, just like Uncle Sev taught him, studied the girl over the top of it as she began to carefully, almost lovingly, lay her notebooks and pencil pouch on the table. Despite the bossy tone she'd used before, he picked up good vibes from her. Satisfied, he started to read until he was interrupted a few moments later.
"Y-you read E.B. White?" The shaky question came from the girl, and it was then that Harry realized she was nervous.
"Yeah," said Harry, carefully marking his page with the quill he used as a bookmark and setting the book aside. "You do too, then, I presume?"
"Yes," she said. "I'm Hermione Granger, by the way. May I ask who you are?"
"Harry Potter," said Harry.
"And I'm Blaine Logan," Blaine piped in, looking up from the doodles he was drawing in his notebook.
"Nice to meet you," all three said in unison. Hermione giggled, Blaine blushed and a shy smile crept across his face, and a grin slowly spread across Harry's face. Something told him that Hermione, Blaine, and he would be good friends, very good friends indeed.
(!)Blaine Logan's name is a mixture of Blaine Larson, a new country singer whom I like, and the Logan family in Mildred D. Taylor's books, which I highly recommend.
Also, whenever you seethis (!) next to a sentence or something, that means there's a note at the bottom about it.