Chapter 3
Hate and More Hate
The delicious cod and chips prepared by Mrs. Weasley served as in Harry's opinion, the best meal ever made. At first, due to the sudden arrival of the potions master, the atmosphere between the Order members had been nothing short of awkward, but as everyone, with Snape and Sirius as exceptions, settled down to indulge themselves in such a rich feast, old feelings of loathing died down for the moment. To his right, Harry could hear Hermione explaining the brutal goblin wars to a clearly exhausted Nymphadora, and to his left he could see Ron, with not much surprise, helping himself gluttonously to a forkful of Atlantic cod.
Across the table, Harry was again, not much surprised to see Snape and Sirius sitting at completely opposite sides of the clothed table, each facing different directions and refusing quite successfully to make eye contact. Snape sat up abruptly to place his barely touched plate in the sink, his every move observed by a suspicious Sirius. Harry already knew as to why Sirius was so suspicious towards Professor Snape. Snape, after all, had a vague history of being one of Voldemort's Death Eaters, and he had the Dark Mark branded on his forearm to prove it.
Harry, politely obeying Mrs. Weasley's demands to clean his plate, stalked calmly into the kitchen, only to find a displeased Snape fluttering his wand absurdly in an effort to clean the dishes. 'Ah… Look who it is, Potter…''
Snape grimaced at the sight of fear that was cast on Harry's face.
'To arrogant to say hello, how you are exceedingly like your father, Potter,'' the potions master sharply remarked as he pointed a punishing finger at the drawer alongside the sink. 'In there, Potter, is something you, nor your precious godfather will ever think to use, a mop.'' 'But,'' Harry protested in frustration. 'Potter, hold your tongue!'' Snape snarled impatiently. Harry stood where he was, obviously taken aback by Snape's behavior, which was nastier than ever.
'Clearly, you are too high and mighty to carry out one simple task,'' the professor snorted before he knelt down to find the mop. 'Pity.'' Harry's eyes darted to Snape, and then to the very drawer he was about to open. Oh no.. it can't be, not the third drawer to the… right.. of.. the sink, Harry thought in utter terror. He opened his mouth and the words of warning just slipped out, only to be drowned out by a massive rumbling that shook the entire kitchen with a force of an earthquake.
Cups, plates, and precious china rolled violently out of their cupboards and shattered into millions of worthless pieces on the tiled floor. Doors and drawers were slammed almost magically off their hinges. Harry, struggling to keep his balance, groped the granite countertops as tightly as he could while the potions master tumbled to the floor like a weak ragdoll, his black hair whipping every which way. However, far worse than the thunderous force that left the kitchen a dilapidated mess came a gruesome odor, an odor that filled Harry's nostrils and left him choking for clean air. 'Harry!'' rang various voices. 'Are you alright?'' One voice sounded particularly like Sirius.
The Order, Harry thought. They, all being in the next room, were bound to have heard the rumbling in the kitchen, as well as smell the foul aroma of what smelled similar to rotting flesh. 'In here!'' Harry choked. It even was painful to speak with such an odor filling his throat. 'Oh, Harry!'' cried Hermione, who had been bold enough to enter the messy kitchen. She was followed by Sirius, Fred, and George, (all three laughing hysterically at the scene before them.)
Snape had been sprawled out on the filthy floor as if making his own snow angel. There was the biggest look of surprise as well as anger painted on his face, his furious glare less intimidating due to the fact his eyes were watering. 'What.. the?'' he choked angrily. By now, Sirius, Fred, and George were laughing to the point of tears. 'I'll tell you what,'' Fred chuckled, 'Dragon fart.'' 'Charlie imported it from Romania.'' 'It was originally for mum to discover, but Charlie was right, it can be put to better uses!'' With no guilt whatsoever, Fred continued to laugh hysterically, gasping for breath as he did.
Professor Snape noticed Sirius joining in the fun, a look of insanity twinkled in his watery eyes. 'Now it's my turn to explain,'' he growled. 'I have a temper like you didn't know, and it's time it shall be put to better uses!''