I must apologise for the slight obsession with clouds and their type in this chapter. Sorry for how late this is and for any mistakes.
Pumping her wings in a smooth rhythmic motion, Hedwig ascended into the sky reaching her optimum flying height before settling into a long glide making occasional flaps of her wings to maintain the level. She circled once above the house before directing herself north in the clear midday sun. The crystal clear summer sky was punctuated only by high fluffy cirrus clouds and Hedwig's snowy body camouflaged in the sky as the sun increased the brilliance of her plumage. The sky lightened to white on the horizons before sinking blow the earth's curve.
Muted domestic and industrial noise reached Hedwig's ears but this became less and less frequent the further she got from Spinner's End. The houses below her created a grey mat which gradually modulate away from its dull monotones as patches of colour broke through first green splashes from parks then from sporadic fields and finally from open countryside which created a yellow and green and brown patchwork. She occasionally swooped low skimming the tops of cornfields or allotments or brushing the tops of fields of ripe rape seed. Pollen peppered her white underbelly a vivid yellow. She plucked a frog from a lake and dispatched it as she rested on a bank. She ate it before once more lifting up and heading into the sky and north once more. She increased speed eager to reach her destination and make her return back to Spinner's End. Despite how Harry had treated her she did miss him.
Hedwig again came over a town but skirted the suburbs. Glancing disinterestedly below she saw a circus with a candy stripped roof and sides The big top was like a mother-ship which had spawned a family of smaller red, white, blue, yellow and green roofed tents. The little tents of colours were surrounded by groups of people which moved fluidly between stands for candy-floss, popcorn, games and rides. The fair was lit up with bright lights letting Hedwig, from what was quite literally her bird's eye view, see individual families and lovers out on the summer evening. Sounds of love and merriment rose up to Hedwig that were far happier than those at Spinner's End.
"My balloon," a child cried, though Hedwig could not discern this from the general happy murmur below. Suddenly there was the apparition of teddy bear helium balloon which bobbed into her flight path. She avoided the ribbon tail and screeched at the threat. Flustered she pumped her wings viciously, up and down, up and down and cut through the air.
Night fell and still she sped north the constellation Canis Major above her and the crescent moon too her left. Below her the tracks of the motorway and minor roads glowed in orange. There were fewer and fewer of them the further she went before they were snuffed out all together. As the moon tracked its nightly progress through the sky, descending from its apex, she reached her destination: Hogwarts.
Like a small white ghost she came to rest on the edge of a closed stain glass window. She sat next to the coloured school crest. She tap, tap, tapped at the black eyes of the Hufflepuff house badger. Tap, tap, tap again and again. At last there was the click of a latch on the inside of the office and the Snake and Raven half of the shield swung inward. An old wizened hand extended though the gap onto which Hedwig hopped and was carried over the threshold and into Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore stood with his arm outstretched allowing Hedwig to rest on it. He had purple and yellow pyjama bottoms with a lilac top covered by an emerald robe. On his head he had a rich black night cap adorned with stars with a matching beard sock on his chin making his head resemble a floating moon in the sky. His half-moon spectacles flickered in the light from the smouldering flames in the hearth
"Hello, Hedwig," said the Headmaster gently stroking her soft breast. Hedwig extended her leg and Albus removed the letter before taking her to Fawkes's empty perch onto which she jumped, dipping her beak in to the absent fowl's water bowl. "Lumos." The lights of the candelabra flicked on.
Albus went to his desk slipping his glasses down the bridge of his nose and broke the seal on the letter and read its contents. Once finished he looked up and stared into the flames before smiling wryly to himself. His blue eyes twinkled in the light and he took out a quill and wrote a reply in green ink. He sealed it and attached it Hedwig's leg.
Hedwig, after a short rest, took flight once more allowing her nocturnal nature to over run her. A fresh letter tied to her leg she ascended once more into the sky which was no longer clear but pock marked with tiny Altocumulus clouds dappled in the air.
"… and that is how you calculate the strength of a healing potion despite that lack of correlation between depth of colour and effectiveness of potion," Snape finished his lecture. Harry had been dubious about asking Snape about the potions but despite his initial reservations, and this was not something that he would be writing in the letter he was planning to write to Ron, Snape's lecture had been interesting. Hermione would have loved it.
Snape got up from the kitchen table and brewed a pot of tea. From an upper cupboard he removed two cups pouring the brown liquid into the white porcelain and added pure white milk into both. He did not add any sugar. While he did this Harry looked at his black covered back, this was not so bad, he thought. I mean, he added, he may be a bit moody and tetchy but he wasn't tyrannical or cruel, still I don't really want to annoy him. Snape turned round and Harry turned back to his hands. The cup clinked gently as Snape placed it in front of him.
"Thank you, sir," said Harry. It was becoming habit now, but he had not noticed the change. Snape had and he was not displeased with it.
"Be careful it is hot," Harry smiled at him slightly. Snape continued, "I thought we could recap the spells you learnt yesterday and then, if you can perform them, move onto something new."
"Yes, sir," said Harry eagerly, "Sir, can I learn something to attack with?"
Snape raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… may be something more defensive first. Disarmament will be useful. Drink you tea."
Harry did look a little disappointed but he could easily see an application of disarmament. He looked into his cup. Snape had made it very milky. Peering over into Snape's cup he could see it was much darker.
"Sir, yes do you have any potion books?"
"Potter you do ask some ridiculous questions. I am a potions master, of course I have potions books."
"Can a read some?"
Snape looked as if Harry had begun speaking fluent mermish.
"What?"
"Can I read some?
"Why?"
"Well, some of that stuff you told me, about the healing potions and the ingredients and stuff, well…" if you tell anyone this I will kill you, thought Harry, "well it was really interesting."
Snape closed his mouth which had opened slightly. "I should give you a potion. You can not be feeling well." Harry could have sworn he saw the side of Snape's mouth twitch, "Yes, I will find you something."
They drank some more tea and Harry's mind returned to his mental letter. He would have to ask Snape.
"Sir?" Harry began.
"Yes, Potter."
"Sir…may I," Harry fidgeted, he did not want to have to ask and he did not want Snape to say no, yet he hadn't said no about the potions book, a small voice said. Snape couldn't say no. She was his. "Sir may I…"
"Potter you are becoming repetitious."
"Yes sir," Harry frowned and swallowed his temper. He was going to be polite and he was going to ask nicely. Although he suspected Snape couldn't have any more ingredients for him to prepare Harry did not want to be proved wrong. He doubted he could have prepared the Glumbumbles on his now full stomach. "I would like to write to my friends, sir."
"You do?" Snape smiled grimly looking directly into Harry's eyes.
No you don't you git, thought Harry anticipating Snape's rejection. Anger bubbled within him.
"Well, I think that would be fine," said Snape who swallowed more tea.
"That is not…" began Harry angrily before his brain had quite registered what had been said. "Oh."
"Oh, indeed," said Snape cocking one eyebrow. "So, do you want to write it now or after we have done some practice?"
"Well Hedwig isn't back so later. I'll write the letter later," Harry clarified, anticipating Snape's snide remark, of which Snape approved, "After disarmament."
It was late when Harry finally got to his room when the moon was up and it was dark outside. Dinner had been good. They had talked. Harry was going to learn new spells, new potions. Everything new, new, new…and useful.
Harry threw his book on the bed. As he had been promised the book was on potions and was similar to his school text book, though heavily annotated. He had been told to read the first chapter this evening but he was fidgety. He was full of energy.
He had made Snape flip. FLIP!! Not him in an angry outburst but literally backwards, once over! The sight of him, flipping. He had not been as angry as Harry had thought he would have been. In fact that was the reason that Harry had to read the first chapter of this new book: annotated. Harry sighed but forced himself to sit.
In his bedroom Harry pulled out some new parchment and a quill and wrote verbatim the first chapter of the book. The Babbling Beverage was the focus (when was he ever going to use that).
It was much later when Harry finally started his letter to Ron. He knew what he was going to say but he did feel that the letter sounded awkward, but it was done.
Hi Ron,
I am still staying at Snape's and he is treating me well, don't worry. I hope you and your brothers did not get into too much trouble with your Mum for taking the car. I thought it was really cool. Life here is so much better than at my Uncle and Aunt's house so thanks.
Snape got me Quidditch through the Ages so no more borrowing from the library! I saw all the brooms in Diagon Ally and the Quidditch rankings and I have my school books and stuff for next year.
I have learnt lots. Snape makes me study loads and I have learnt stuff for next year and not for class either.
From,
Harry
P.S. Thanks again.
Tap, tap, tap at the window and a familiar white face at the window.