Author's note: 50 chapters already?! And I haven't even started Sev's second year at school. :O As I mentioned in an earlier chapter, I don't believe that I will cover each year in NEARLY the same detail as I did the first. Other writers have done so with Marauder fics-and, as Severus is a member of the Marauders, I suppose that this qualifies as one-but the plot bunnies have not yet arrived to give me such inspiration or stamina. This is just one of the fics I'm working on, after all. With that in mind, I'm always open for suggestions that are NOT relationship centered (those are written in stone). Also, as I've long since believed that good writing is character centered rather than plot centered, suggestions for plot IDEAS are welcome-commands for me to hurry up with the plot are not. Anyway. Onto the chapter!
Light filled the room. Severus rolled over on his side, wondering why Pinky had opened the curtains so early. Unfamiliar noises filled his ears...except that they weren't unfamiliar, not really.
Severus opened his eyes to find himself in an unfamiliar (though comfortable) bed, under covers that decidedly were not his. The room was larger than his own...and then his gaze settled on the other beds, currently occupied by his fellow Gryffindor friends.
That's right. He was staying at the Potter Manor for the next two weeks.
No wonder he'd been confused.
The day was still a bit chilly, or perhaps the Potters used stronger Cooling charms than his mother. He pulled the covers back over his frame, rather wishing he'd brought his blanket, yet realizing it would have been terribly babyish to do so.
Still, it would have helped with the sense of unfamiliarity of being in an entirely new house. The only familiar thing was his sleeping shift against his chilled skin.
At least, the sheets and blankets were very soft. Severus's bedclothes had always been that way, soft to the point of thread bare, because until recently, his mum couldn't afford anything better. He recalled how holes would sometimes peep through the fitted sheets that covered the mattress, and his mum would mend them with a piece of an old shirt. By the time he left for school, almost half of his sheets and fitted sheets had been a hodgepodge of materials, his mum's old clothes.
His linens at school had remained whole, and soft, no matter how many nights he slept in them. Magic, of course. And at their new house, it was the same way. Severus was still adjusting to the idea that they would never go hungry, nor have to do with secondhand clothes, nor would he worry about his mum not having saved enough (before her marriage, of course, because Tobias Snape's wife did not work) for new books and robes.
They didn't just have enough, they probably had more than enough to pay for the schooling of every student in Gryffindor tower for all seven years. His mum had made a "sizable" donation to the school fund intended to help those who could not pay their own way. Her way of giving back, Severus supposed, and he could hardly blame her.
Still. Often those in need were too proud to ask for aid.
Shaking these thoughts aside, he reached for his copy of "The Standard Book of Spells, Year 2." He had finished the third chapter when the noises of his roommates told Severus he was no longer the only one awake.
"Stop studying! We're on holiday, Sev," Sirius told him, then aimed a pillow at his head.
It missed, but barely.
"You're the ones sleeping until noon," Severus retorted, closing the book.
"First off, it's not even ten in the morning. And my parents always sleep in, so it's a kindness not to wake them," James began, sitting up in bed. "Second, if you're keen to read, there's at least a hundred other books you can borrow before reverting to a textbook you've nearly memorized."
"Where are these hundreds of books?" Severus inquired.
James pointed to the bookshelves, then to the walls of additional bookshelves on the wall to the side of his bed. "I have more underneath, too," he added. "Drives Mum crazy, because she thinks they all ought to be in plain view."
Severus peered at this bounty. Fiction, nonfiction...at least twenty books on Quidditch. Of course.
"She has a point. Can't you ask your dad to get your elf to build you more shelves?" Severus wondered.
"Ah, but I fancy being able to reach under my bed and come up with a surprise. It's more fun that way," James reasoned, then grabbed his dressing gown. "Seriously, Severus. If you ever want something to read, just take one of them. Oh, and if you can't sleep, Dad showed me this charm where you can not only light up your wand, but the light is only seen by you."
Severus laughed. "Don't tell my father there's a charm that does that. He just sold his Hand of Glory to Borgin and Blokes, or whoever the other man's name is."
"What's a Hand of Glory?" Peter asked, disengaging himself from the covers.
"The way my dad told it, it's like a candleholder, but it only provides light to the user. Perfect for thievery and mischief," Sirius explained. "Of course, the Black family is filthy rich, so Merlin knows how we ended up with it. That's what my mother says, anyway." He rolled his eyes, as though to say that the Hand had at least partially contributed to their wealth.
"The spell isn't anything dark, though," James added, quickly. "It's just a way of being considerate if you're sharing a room and like to read at night."
Severus nodded. "Sure. Can't hurt to learn it, anyway."
"Speaking of sleepyheads..." Sirius walked over to Remus's bed, which still had a large human sized lump underneath. "Hey," Sirius murmured. "You hungry?"
The lump moved slightly.
Severus grinned. "If you don't get up soon, we'll eat all of your breakfast."
Remus's head appeared. "You wouldn't!"
James rubbed his stomach. "Dunno. I'm awfully hungry."
"Me too!" Sirius added, and began jumping on Remus's bed.
He groaned. "I'm up, I'm up. You don't need to starve me or destroy the bed."
"Takes more than a few jumps to destroy it," James consoled him. "Now, up, sleepyhead!"
"Do we change into our robes for breakfast?" Peter asked.
But James shook his head. "Mum and Dad eat in their night clothes, too. Oh, but grab your dressing gown, as it can be rather chilly in the morning."
A few minutes later, still clad in their nighttime attire (sleeping shirts for all except Remus and Peter, who wore pajamas) and dressing gowns, they bounded downstairs.
Severus could smell the food before he saw it. He could see why James and Sirius had playfully threatened to eat Remus's share.
Before Hogwarts, breakfast was generally just toast and water. Milk if they could afford it. On special occasions, there was bacon.
The Hogwarts Great Hall was always well stocked with good food, but there was generally just a few selections. Toast was always available, but some days the main meal was porridge. Other days, bacon and eggs. Occasionally, pancakes.
Mrs. Potter had created--or more likely, her house elves--of all of these foods and more. A long table a few feet from the one they were seated at was positively loaded with food.
"Ah, there are the sleepyheads!" she smiled, from her large plate of food. "Come in, and help yourself to whatever you like."
"And if you fancy something that you don't see, Hetty can whip it up," Mr. Potter added, from his even larger plate.
"Everything looks great, Mum!" James enthused, taking a plate and beginning to pile everything in arm's reach onto it.
"Yes, and smells great!" Sirius added, following suit.
The other three nodded and added similar words of encouragement.
Severus helped himself to pancakes, but made sure to add some bacon and eggs to his plate. He'd never had pancakes before becoming friends with Lily, and they had quickly become his favorite. His mum had smiled at the time, but explained they were too expensive. Now that they were rich--a fact that still amazed Severus--they had them at least once a week.
He had to hold back a moan of pleasure when he tasted them, something his friends had no qualms about doing. Fluffy, sweet, and with just the right amount of butter, Severus thought they were nearly the best thing he'd ever eaten.
The eggs and bacon were just as good. Crisp and tasty, he found himself dreading his full plate becoming empty.
"There's more than enough for seconds," Mrs. Potter said, giving them all endearing glances. "I had Hetty prepare plenty, for you're growing boys!"
It was a testament to the size of their plates and the amount of food they could fit that, despite the amazing taste, no one had room for thirds.
Severus, in particular, felt almost unpleasantly full, but didn't regret having eaten so much one bit. He might grow an inch or two by the time the trip was over. Well, as long as it was vertically, and not horizontally.
After praising and thanking Mr. and Mrs. Potter, they went upstairs to change into their robes. Then, they headed to the Quidditch pitch, and both worked off some of their energy, and worked up a good appetite for lunch.
Author's note:
Short chapter, but I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please remember to leave feedback.
Next up: Severus has the inkling that something is off with his mum.