You Can Live: Chapter 13
So I recently found out my college roommate is reading this story, and enjoys it, so Hi! Just so you know, being a roommate of a fan fiction writer, and reading their stores, will make you a sounding board for many story ideas and directions ;) Thought I should warn you ahead of time. :)
Please enjoy :)
No slash here, only guardian/ward psuedo-parent/child relationship and friendships.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, except for the plot. I would be able to afford school if that were the case.
Warnings: SEE CHAPTER 1 FOR WARNINGS AND OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES!
A New (Very Large) Friend
Snape woke with a start, disoriented for a few moments, when he heard a tapping on the window behind him. He stood upon seeing a gorgeous Eurasian Eagle Owl staring at him through the glass. Making sure Harry was still asleep, he opened the window, and the bird, very considerately, flew in, landing on the foot of the bed. Even that did not wake the boy, for which Severus was grateful. He needed rest, and once Harry saw his new owl, Snape knew he was going to be wide awake.
Snape had gotten the idea to get Harry a new owl, when he saw how Harry interacted with the Weasley's horrendous excuse for a bird. The boy was gentle and patient, and the look on his face was completely care-free. Besides, he would need an owl to keep in contact with his friends. The one thing Snape was worried about though was how large the bird was. He couldn't help but worry that it might…frighten Harry, as odd as that sounded. It was a fierce looking bird, not as soft and serene looking as Hedwig had been. Harry hasn't always had the best experience with magical creatures, but…but Snape thinks having an owl will be good for the boy.
The bird was gazing around the room and taking in its new home. It was a mature bird, so Harry would not have to worry about training it. It was also described in the newspaper as a very intelligent animal. Severus had seen an add in the Wizarding Post the other morning. The owner of a small Wizarding pets shop was retiring and was looking to find a home for the animals before he closed up. After seeing Harry with Pig, Severus knew he had to do it. So, now Harry had a pet, a companion.
The bird started to slowly walk up the bed towards Harry, and Severus was gazing at it curiously. It's head was cocked to one side as it stopped right by Harry's head. The boy had yet to even open his eyes. Ever so carefully, the bird leaned forward, stuck its face in Harry's and hooted.
Harry shot up so fast the bird fell over and nearly tumbled off of the bed, before it balanced itself. It hooted in indignation and seemed to glare at Harry. The boy just stared at it, wide-eyed, as Severus was doing his best to not burst out laughing. Harry reached behind him and felt around for his glasses, not taking his eyes off of the bird. When he finally grabbed them, he quickly shoved them on his face to make sure what he was seeing was real, and actually an owl.
Satisfied that what he was seeing was indeed real, Harry kept looking between the silent potions master and the bird, before a giant grin broke out on his face.
"Bloody hell, Sir. Thank you." Then a frown furrowed the boy's brow. "But why?" Severus stood and brushed imaginary dust from his robes.
"Because if you are to keep in contact with your friends at all, you are in need of an owl." He started to walk away, leaving Harry to meet his new pet, but paused at the doorway.
"And watch your language, Mr. Potter." He left before Harry saw the smirk on his face from seeing the boy blush.
When Severus left, Harry turned his complete attention to the animal in front of him. The bird was significantly more menacing looking than Hedwig, but Harry found he was okay with that. The owl was large and scary, yet its eyes held a wisdom in them that reminded Harry somewhat of Dumbledor. Harry felt that he could trust the owl with both his letters and his life, much as he had with Hedwig, who became a confidant and protector and comforter. He tentatively reached out to pet the owl and was pleased when the bird hopped forward and bowed his head for him.
"You are gorgeous. First things first though; you need a name. Are you a girl?" The bird pulled back and nipped at his hand.
"Ow! Alright, alright, boy then. Well, how about Merlin?" The owl hooted and stepped back. "You're right, not very original. Well, I won't name you Hedwig. Duke?" The bird stepped a bit closer, but its head was cocked to one side, as if prompting him to try again. Harry looked deep into the owl's yellow eyes, and it hit him.
"Albus." The owl hooted and fluttered its wings, obviously happy with the name. Harry laughed at the birds antics and pet its head again.
"Albus it is. I'm Harry. I used to have a snow owl. Her name was Hedwig. I wouldn't be here today, if it hadn't been for her. Well and a whole lot of other people as well. But, Hedwig was my first friend, and she saved my life. I really miss her." Harry started to stare off into the distance, but Albus nuzzled his hand to get his attention. Harry smiled down at the owl and resumed his petting.
"I can't believe Snape got you for me. He is one of the best men I know, and another person who saved me, on countless occasions too. He acts like a git, but he doesn't mean it…..most of the time. But come on. I won't blather at you all morning. Are you hungry?" Albus hooted and hopped to the edge of the bed. Harry swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood shakily. The morning after a nightmare that bad, usually left him more worse for wear. He always felt he had run a marathon in his sleep and had miners boring into his skull. However, with such a cheerful surprise to wake up to, Harry mostly just felt drained and a bit sore.
Rolling his shoulders a few times, Harry finally stopped moving long enough for Albus to fly up to land on Harry's shoulder. The young wizard didn't startle, but he was unaccustomed to the weight of the bird on his shoulder.
Once he was settled, Harry walked from the room, getting used to having such a large bird seated on him. He was headed toward the kitchen, when Snippy suddenly popped in front of him. Albus didn't even flinch, though he did hoot when Harry jumped back.
"Master Snape tells Snippy that he got Master Harry a large owl. Large owls need good food. Snippy has mice set aside in kitchen, and will keep that bowl and another in Master Harry's room always supplied." The house elf seemed so cheery, which only made the young wizard all the happier that sunny morning.
"Thank you, Snippy. Is Prof-Severus at the table for breakfast?" Snippy nodded, her large ears flopping around her little face. She popped away, and Harry went into the kitchen to feed Albus. The mice were on the counter, and Albus didn't even wait for Harry before snatching them up and eating them.
"You are an eager one, aren't you?" Harry smiled at the owl and pet its head. His dark grey feathers were sleek and nearly reflected the light with how clean they were. Albus truly was a magnificent bird; Harry couldn't wait to see him in real flight. Once Albus had had his fill, he popped back up onto Harry's shoulder. The young man smiled and walked them into the dining room where Snape was waiting with breakfast. His eyebrow raised at seeing the large bird seated on his ward's shoulder.
"I do not want to hear complaints of an aching shoulder tomorrow, Mr. Potter." Harry nearly rolled his eyes as he smiled at the potion's master.
"You won't, Sir." They ate in companionable silence, while Albus dozed on Harry's shoulder. They were finishing up when Snape proposed something to Harry.
"Harry, I know that you and your new owl have yet to have time to be acquainted, but I was wondering if you would accompany me through the floo system today. There is something I want to show you." Harry was intrigued. Severus was not the kind for surprises- well, Harry guessed he was going to have to amend that way of thinking as a giant surprise was currently asleep on his shoulder. He quickly nodded, jarring Albus a bit and getting a nip in the ear in return. Severus gave him a small, pleased smile and nodded.
"Good. Once you are properly dressed, we will depart. You can allow your owl to get used to its new home and let it free to fly about while we are gone." Harry stood, slowly, and went back upstairs. He managed to nudge Albus enough for the bird to get the idea and perch on the window sill, so he would have the freedom to get changed.
Suitably dressed for…wherever it was they were going (he hoped), he went over to the window and unlatched it.
"Go on. I'm going somewhere with Severus, so why don't you go exploring? I don't know when I'll be back." Albus hooted softly and flew out the window. Harry watched him go for a few seconds before closing the window part way and heading back downstairs. Snape was waiting for him by the fire place.
"Can I ask where we are going, Sir?" Severus didn't answer, only smirked, and grabbed a handful of floo-powder off of the mantle.
"I will go through first, so I can take down the wards and allow you entry. Give me five minutes before you follow me through." The man stepped into the large fireplace and called out,
"Apothecary, Kriton Lane." Harry raised a brow as he recognized the name of the small wizarding community. He waited the allotted five minutes before stepping in after the man and repeating his words. What he walked into on the other side was very interesting indeed.
It was not a large space, but enough of one to be substantial. The only light was that from the windows in the top of the door and on the wall across from him. This made the atmosphere seem dark, but not in an oppressive way. There was a light smell about the space that said while it was not often occupied by more than one person, it was cared for and looked after. Harry smiled. He liked it.
"I take it that smile is one of contentment with your surroundings and not one of horrendous mischief to come?" Harry nearly jumped out of his skin as Snape stepped out of the corner behind him. The young man's pulse spiked, and it bothered the skin of his neck some as his carotid artery jumped under his skin. His hand wandered up to his neck, and he rubbed at it, before Snape smacked his hand away.
"Yes, Sir. This is a neat place, but what is it?" Snape motioned for him to follow as he began to wander about.
"I bought this place in the hopes of one day running my own apothecary and potions shop. That was a good many years ago. When Dumbledor put me on his staff as a teacher, I had to let that little dream fade. But now that I am to have an apprentice….I was thinking of quitting my post at Hogwarts and putting my time into making this shop a reality." Harry smiled at the thought of Snape having dreams and goals like any other person. It made him seem normal.
"I think you deserve at least that much, Sir, for everything that you've done for the school and the Wizarding community at large." Severus smiled at the young man beside him, and inclined his head in acknowledgement of the compliment.
"I am glad you think so, because I plan on having you, as my apprentice, help me brew and sell medicinals and other such things here. Over the summer, I would like you to mainly take over up keep and help me turn this empty space into some semblance of a shop. Once there is a fully equipped brewing center and supplies, then I will begin tutoring you in the arts of potion making. Only once you have proven yourself to be an adequate apprentice and helper will I open my shop." Harry listened eagerly, hand going up to his neck every so often. The thought of helping Severus run the shop he had been dreaming of having for years got him excited and eager to begin. So, he nodded fervently at everything Snape said.
"That sounds wonderful, Sir. I look forward to getting started." Snape smiled once again at the young man's excitement; the man could not help but make a comparison to a puppy.
"Good. Today was just to make you aware of my plans, hear your thoughts on the matter and prepare you for what the following weeks will contain. I do not want to start just yet, as I want you to have some more time to connect with your bird and become more familiar with my…our home. After that, we will come here two to three times a week to sort through things, clean and start floor planning. When we start coming more regularly, I will take down some of the wards to allow your owl to come with you." Harry smiled and took it all in. He really was looking forward to this, and judging by the way Snape was fighting a smile and the slight spring in his step, the older man was as well.
"Sir, can I ask you a question?" The potion's master paused and turned to Harry.
"Of course." Harry didn't want to phrase it in a way that would pop the man's quickly growing bubble, but he felt that something either needed to be clarified or quickly fixed.
"Why are you not putting the shop somewhere more…busy? Why not Diagon Alley? I'm just afraid that in a place as remote as this, you won't be getting a lot of customers." Snape, thankfully, didn't seem to get flustered or indignant at his worry, but instead smirked and had a strange look of pride on his face.
"I thank you for being concerned, Harry, but I did think this out a bit. Diagon Alley is a place where amateur potion brewers and worrying housewives go; you hardly find a place outside of Knockturn Alley that will sell you the more advanced ingredients and more necessary potions. I am a well respected and known Potion's Master, Mr. Potter. I did not want to set up shop where hundreds of incompetent fools would trip through the door everyday. I already have a loyal handful of persons that commission me for potions every other week. By opening the shop in such a remote location, I will make certain that only those serious enough about brewing or with needs above stain remover potions will walk through that door." His logic made sense, and Harry could not help but feel a little stupid for not thinking that Snape was already well aware of what setting up shop here would mean.
They wandered about for a few more minutes, before heading back to the house. Severus informed Harry that he would be doing some research in the library should he need him, and Harry went up to his room. He was pleased to find Albus sitting on the window sill waiting for him. The large bird hooted cheerily at the young man and nuzzled into Harry's hand when he pet him. Admiring the bird, an idea struck Harry.
"Albus, how about you and I go flying?" Albus was all for it.
I wanted Snape to get Harry an owl, but I didn't know what kind. At first I thought a small cute owl, but then I decided to go the other direction and get him a giant owl. Eurasian Eagle Owls have a wingspan from just over 5 feet long to just over 6 feet long. That's taller than Harry. He's a big bird. Big enough to protect him...Hmmmm
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