Boulevard Of Broken Dreams,
Chapter 37, We Were Never Being Boring, Never Being Bored.
Raislen was correct and while his parents were mildly exasperated that he'd 'borrowed' his grandfather WestCraven's magic carpet without permission, they weren't angry. They were even touched by his motivations for doing so. Severus thought they were great parents. The same sort he'd have had if Tobias still lived. Eileen was kind and understanding, but he knew she would have consequences for that from Grandfather Prince that Raislen's parents would never have from his Grandfather WestCraven. He pushed this out of his mind with an effort, though, set to enjoy the rest of his summer.
The WestCravens weren't angry and they were allowing him to stay! Raislen's mum even gave him a hug and said that she was glad he was out of there for the rest of the summer and that he should enjoy himself to the fullest. The joy that this gave him even made the hug bearable, and he really hated hugs from anyone but his own mum. That first day of escape from Prince Manor felt like a celebration. Heather even got to stay over to the WestCravens for dinner. When she went home, Severus remembered Regulus.
"Should we write Regulus that summer plans are back on," he asked and Raislen nodded.
"Sure we can. I didn't write him for fear he'd snitch to you, so we'll explain all that too. We can invite him to come over Saturday, and I'll write Heather Toy about it too if he's allowed." Severus nodded. That sounded like great fun. Having the friends together outside of the confines of school somehow felt exciting and novel. Raislen chuckled. "I'll even make sure that Regulus knows he can bring Kreacher!"
That night, Severus slept once more in his precious library. To his surprise he actually slept rather than reading all night as he'd expected to do. He woke in the morning, well rested and happy, the book about Arthur's father Uther Pendragon on his chest. Before falling asleep the previous night, Severus had learned that the meaning of Pendragon meant head dragon, or leader. This was fitting for a war lord, be it Arthur or his father Uther. Raislen's father entered as Severus was sitting up on the folding bed, readying himself to go and see if anyone else was awake yet.
"Morning," Brien WestCraven said, giving him a cheerful smile. "Let's see what you're reading?" He headed over, bending to glance at the spine of the old book that Severus lifted for him to see. "You really like the Pendragons, don't you? Do you want to be a warrior, then?" The man's warm green eyes were truly interested, which loosened the tongue of a usually shy Severus. Well shy around strange adults if they weren't being gits to him. Raislen's father wasn't strange, but he hadn't spoken with him much one on one, so Severus's shyness around him could resurface unexpectedly. He took a moment to actually consider the question before answering.
"Um... I don't think so," he decided. "Perhaps under the right circumstances I could be a battle wizard, but it isn't the art of war that draws me to the Pendragons. It's the fact they're wise Muggles... Like my dad was."
Mr. WestCraven nodded gravely. "And that is a very good reason to admire anyone."
"I expect I'd go about war in a more Slytherin sort of way," Severus explained. "I could never win in a direct fight against the likes of Voldemort, after all, so I'd need to do something sneakier than that to bring him down."
"A worthy goal," Mr. WestCraven said with a smile. "But first, breakfast! It's ready if you'd like some."
Severus nodded, rising from the small folding bed and carefully placing the book on his pillow for later. "Oh indeed, Sir. That sounds wonderful."
"Good. I was also hoping for a favor first, if you wouldn't mind?"
Severus gave Raislen's father a surprised look, but nodded readily. "Certainly." He was an unexpected guest in their home, after all, so if he could do anything to help out, he was more than willing.
"Good then," Mr. WestCraven said with a chuckle. "Raislen is still sleeping upstairs. I was hoping you'd go wake him for us."
Severus grinned. "Oh that's all! Right away, then." He dashed from the room and upstairs to bang on Raislen's door. "Your dad says time for breakfast," he called. "So wake up."
"Yummy," Raislen called back around a yawn. "Be right down. Thanks, Kid."
"Sure," Severus replied through the door before pounding back down the stairs. Most stairs were fun to run upon, even if they didn't move like Dumbledores. He never ran or played on the stairs of Prince Manor. The few times he'd tried as a young child, Grandfather Prince quickly put a stop to it with sharp reprimands and rude observations so he'd wisely stopped trying.
Raislen's parents were already at the breakfast table enjoying steaming cups of coffee when Severus joined them. "Raislen is on the way," he said, puffing himself up as if giving an important message, which to him he was. He'd completed an assigned task successfully, and wished to report as much.
"Fabulous!" Mr. WestCraven smiled. Gesturing to a fat teapot in the center of the table beside the coffee pot he added, "There is pumpkin tea for you and Raislen this morning."
"Oh! That's what the dessert smell is," Severus said, grinning in pleasure as he eagerly reached for one of the two teacups stacked together beside the teapot. The pumpkin tea was rich and full, indeed tasting like dessert in a cup. It was, in fact, the best and most delicious tea he'd ever had. He decided then and there that drinks like this were definitely the way to start off a morning! He was half way through with the cup when Raislen hurried sleepily into the room and slumped down into his chair at the table.
"Morning everyone," he managed around a yawn. "Awesome, pumpkin tea again!" He grinned over at Severus. "I usually only get this on special occasions, so they must really like you."
"Indeed, and having a favorite friend over to visit is definitely a special occasion," Raislen's Mum agreed with a smile.
"Thank you," Severus said, feeling shyly embarrassed, but not in a bad way, which sounded odd, but it was true. After a breakfast of ham, eggs and fried potatoes, Severus and Raislen went outside to climb trees. Raislen claimed it was great exercise and one of the ways he stayed in shape. "Just don't look down and you're golden," he said.
"Got it," Severus said. "No looking down. And if I happen to fall, do catch me with a spell, and we're golden." To his surprise, he rather enjoyed climbing trees! When the two came in for lunch, there was a letter from Regulus which Raislen read aloud.
"Raislen,
Oh thank you so much for the invitation. Kreacher and I are very excited to have somewhere fun to go for a change. We have been at home for most of the summer save for a few family gatherings. It will be wonderful to see you, Heather and Severus. I am happy to know why you and Heather were so absent with us over the summer, and I forgive you, as it was for a good cause. Mum says to let me know if there is anything we should bring, and Kreacher offers to make cookies.
Sincerely,
R. A. B.
"Regulus shall surely free Kreacher when he grows up," Severus commented when Raislen finished the letter.
Raislen nodded. "Yep, and hopefully if they follow Voldemort, they'll survive it to go on and do the great things of which they are both clearly capable."
"Are you writing him back about the cookies," Severus asked.
Raislen grinned. "Of course I'm writing back about the cookies! Kreacher's cookies are fabulous! If he is willing to supply cookies, we will most certainly take them!"