Friday July 30th 1993,
11:45pm,
Harry was currently sitting up in bed, the covers up to his chest, as he sat there in the dim lit room, waiting for midnight to come about.
As he sat there silently, gazing down at the pocket watch in his hand, he recalled his previous birthdays. July 31st 1980, was his birthday. Something he didn't know about until he was at least five, when his old babysitter, Mrs Figg was babysitting him while the Dursleys had gone away for awhile.
She had asked him what he wanted for his birthday, and that's when he accidentally told her that freaks like him don't have birthdays. She told him that he wasn't a freak and when it was the day of his birthday, she had treated him to a day out in London and bought him an ice-cream. That was the first and last time Harry in a sense, celebrated his birthday. The Dursleys hadn't been happy about that at all and had another neighbour, Miss Smith, a kind old lady, babysitting him, but after learning that she had treated him a whole lot ‘worse' than Mrs Figg, they ended up having Mrs Figg babysitting him again. Since then, Mrs Figg never treated him like she had done just that one time.
Two years ago Hagrid had come to hand deliver his Hogwarts acceptance letter-after his aunt and uncle had tried their best for many weeks to stop him from finding out about Hogwarts and his heritage-Hagrid had been the first to tell him about his parents (the truth) and what happened to them and how they died. Hagrid had also taken him to Diagon Alley and had bought Hedwig, his owl, for him.
At the thought of his owl, Harry bit his bottom lip nervously, as he glanced over to her usual spot in this room since Snape's uncle had bought her over. Atop of the chest of drawers, was where she usually perched, preening herself or when she's sleeping or just relaxing and enjoying the breeze without leaving the room. Her empty, opened owl cage was placed on the floor, beside his trunk and broom.
He sighed, wondering where she was. She had left sometime yesterday and has yet to come back. He glanced outside through the open bedroom window, and though it was quite cold, he refused to close the window, not until Hedwig returned. If she returns.
A loud snore startled him out of his thoughts, Harry turned to look at Snape who was fast asleep, slumped against the armchair. Harry wondered whether to wake the professor or not. He didn't want to risk getting hexed or worse, killed by the man, just because he disturbed Snape's sleep. He sighed, wondering why Snape had decided to sit and wait there until midnight.
The Gryffindor boy sighed, remembering at the time early on. Nine O'clock when Snape came in, followed by his uncle, to offer to tell him a story of Lily. Harry, for the first time since Snape offered to tell him a story about his mother, Lily, had shook his head in the negative. This had caused both older wizards to exchange confused looks with each other.
When Snape had asked why, Harry told him that he wasn't going to bed early tonight. At both wizards confused looks, Harry explained to them that it was a yearly tradition for him to stay up until midnight every year on his birthday.
Snape had looked like he wanted to tell him to go to bed again, but his uncle had interrupted, managing to convince Snape to let him stay up late, just this once. Harry had shot the older man a grateful smile. Snape, after convincing his uncle to go to bed himself, had come further into the room, sitting down in his usual armchair. The very same one that the professor had been occupying every time when Harry was on bed rest.
During the day, when Snape wasn't busy brewing, he'd be sitting there, teaching him how to play chess and some muggle card games, during the evenings, he usually offered to tell him stories of his mother, which Harry had gladly accepted, having never heard of any stories about his mother up until recently.
Earlier on in the evening, Harry had tried to convince Snape to leave him alone. Oddly enough, the man had shook his head in the negative, telling him that he shall sit there until midnight. When he took a seat, after several awkward minutes of silence, Harry had asked the professor how they were going to know when it was midnight.
Snape mentioned the Tempus charm.
At first that went well, but up until...what seemed like ages ago, Snape had fallen asleep, leaving Harry to sit there in bed, wondering what the time was, every now and then. Harry yawned, lifting a hand up to rub his sore eyes.
In the dim lit room, the young Gryffindor, drifted off to sleep, lulled by the calm, summer cool breeze coming through the open window and the sounds of snoring that told him, for the first time in years that he wasn't alone.
*Hoo, Hoo, Hoo*
The soft, yet loud hooting sound coming from outside startled both wizards awake from their slumber.
Severus, in a flash, was out of his armchair, up on his feet and his wand whipped out and pointed at the blasted thing that had dared to disturb his rest. He frowned, seeing three different owls flying towards the open window, all carrying different sized packages. Recognizing all three owls immediately as they came flying into the room. The first being, Harr….Potter's snowy owl.
“Hedwig,” Harr…Potter said, climbing out of bed and making to run to greet his bird and would have touched the unknown packaging, if Severus wasn't there and if he, Severus, didn't pull his ward behind him, with his wand held out, ready to cast a spell to make sure each package was safe.
The owl in the middle, (the familiar Great grey owl) that looked ready to pass out and was being held up by the other two owls, Severus knew the bird belonged to the Weasley family. Remembering seeing the owl a numerous of times delivering packages and letters to all seven Weasley children. No other owl, he has seen pass out after delivering stuff, and at exactly the minute all three birds flew past him and Harr….Potter, and landing atop of the bed.
“Wait here Har…Pott…Mr Potter,” Severus started, fixing his ward with a warning glare. “I am going to use a spell on each package these birds are carrying to….make sure they are safe enough to open”
“But—”
*****
Severus hardened his glare on the boy, before swirling around and going over to the bed, his wand out, he with some struggle, relieved each bird of their burden, then he took his time, casting spells on each one, making sure none were spelled with anything that could harm or kill the boy.
With Black out there, I wouldn't put it pass him to send the boy a birthday present, only for it to be cursed or spelled to take the boy.
Even when he got to the third owl, a handsome tawny one that had, not only a parcel, but a letter bearing the Hogwarts crest, he still made sure both the letter and parcel was curse free.
Finding nothing wrong with any parcels, Severus turned to his ward.
“Well Pott…Harr….Mr Potter, the parcels are all safe and are not spelled with anything dangerous. Like a curse or something similar.” He told the boy,
“Sir, that's what I was going to tell you though, earlier on” Potter said,
Severus, knowing the boy was right, ignored him for now.
“Well, Mr Potter, aren't you going to open any of your….gifts?” he asked the boy, who looked at him as if he had said that he was the ‘tooth fairy.’
“G-g-gifts for me, sir?” the boy had a confused look on his face.
Severus raised a questioning eyebrow.
“You happen to be Harry Potter, don't you…. unless you're someone else pretending to be my ward, by using the Polyjuice potion?”
Potter blushed, as he shook his head. The confused frown shortly came back.
“But I—”
The boy trailed off.
Severus, relieved all three owls of their burdens and placed the parcels on the bed. He was just about to try and convince the boy to open his parcels again, but when he looked at his ward, he found him over by his school trunk, rummaging through. Severus looked at the boy in question, when Harr....Potter came back from his trunk, making his way over to the three owls that were currently on the bed.
"What, might I ask Mr Potter, are you doing?"
Harr...Potter shrugged. "Owl treats, sir"
Severus frowned, before noticing how exhausted all three owls were. He then noticed the one that had been in the middle, passed out on the bed. Severus, with a flick of his wand aimed at the Great Grey owl, enervated the tired creature awake. He then called his house elf.
“Lucy!” he called for his house elf.
Lucy appeared within seconds. Severus, knowing that it was late, apologized to his elf for waking her up at an unreasonable time. Afterwards, he ordered her to bring up some water for three, no doubt, parched owls.
Once all three owls were fed and not thirsty anymore, the tawny, ruffled it's wings, before taking off once more, satisfied that it's job was complete. Both guardian and ward watched as the tawny owl flew back through the window, this time, going outside. Severus, after bringing the Great Grey owl over to the chest of drawers, placing him atop of them, he sat back down in the armchair, putting his wand away in the process.
The stoic potions master watched as his ward cautiously sat back down on the bed, the snowy owl perched upon the boy's shoulder.
"Well," Severus drawled, "aren't you going to open your parcels?"
Potter looked up at him in confusion. "Wha--"
Severus indicated to the parcels at the end of the bed.
"Oh, uh..."
"Unless you wish to open them later on today, say....at a reasonable time" Severus made to stand,
The Potter boy shook his head in the negative. "No...I uh...I mean, it's okay. I uh, I was just deciding on which one to open first."
Severus leaned back in his chair, folding his arms against his chest, he narrowed his eyes at the boy, who still continued sitting there, starting at the small pile of parcels. Severus, held back a sigh, cursing himself for not seeing the real Harr...Potter when the child had first arrived at Hogwarts. From what Albus had told him over the years, prior to the boy's first year, he had assumed the boy would be spoilt, like James Potter. Unfortunately, he decided to treat the boy cruelly, in hopes the boy won't turn out to be like how James had been at first.
Now, he regretted listening to the headmaster's words about the boy, instead of deciding to get to know the boy himself.
I'm sorry Lily.
Thinking about Lily, Severus glanced at his ward again. Checking on him. He let out a sigh, seeing the boy had yet to open one parcel. This is going to be a long night.
"I do not know what muggle birthday traditions are like Mr Pott...Harry, but in the wizarding world it has always been a tradition to open parcels the minute they arrive."
The boy just sat there, nodding his head, staring at the parcels on the bed, automatically stroking his owl, who hooted softly a few times at him, before affectionately nipping him on the ear, with her beak.
“Thanks Hedwig” Harr…Potter said, smiling up at his owl, who hooted at him again before taking flight and flying over to the chest of drawers where she landed gracefully atop of them, perching next to the Weasley family owl.
Severus yawned, tried to hide it from the boy, but failed.
“You uh, don't have to stay here sir, I mean if you're uh tired sir, you can uh---”
“Severus,” he corrected the child. “And I shall go to bed once you have opened your parcels.”
The boy nodded, looking at him with a confused look.
“But wh—” The boy stopped what he was going to say, when he saw Severus' look. Harr...Potter's owl hooted a few times from her spot. From the looks of it, she was also giving the boy a firm look, as if to tell him to open his parcels.
Harr...Potter nodded his head. "Ye-yes sir," he decided to say, as he hesitantly reached for the parcel wrapped in brown paper.
The potions master noticed his ward flinch, Harr...Potter's arms twitching. Severus frowned, wondering why he'd have that reaction over some parcel. Most kids, tended to be ungrateful little swines when it came to opening parcels and usually ended up ripping the paper open, in excitement, making a mess. Then he was reminded by his Slytherins that stayed behind every Christmas. The first years, tended to flinch when he handed them their first presents ever. Severus started to wonder if the boy had received gifts before. He remembered two Christmases ago, Albus had told him about one of the presents he had gift the boy. James' invisibility cloak.
Severus leaned back against the chair. Still wondering to this day why on earth the headmaster had James' cloak.
"Oh wow, Hedwig," Severus startled out of his thoughts when he heard the Potter boy's voice. "Ron and his family on holiday in Egypt for the rest of the summer. I'm really happy for them" He heard the boy tell his owl.
Severus frowned, remembering the Newspaper article he had read not too long ago. In the Daily Prophet, he had read that the Weasley patriarch, Arthur, had won a competition. The annual Daily Prophet Galleon Draw. Severus vaguely remembered reading they were spending some of the money they had won on a trip to Egypt where the eldest Weasley son, William Weasley, was currently working. That had been sometime last week, days before he had read about Black breaking out of Azkaban. Blasted wizarding prison. Couldn't even contain that beast for another year.
Thinking of Black, Severus turned his attention back to his ward who was, studying, what appeared to be a sneakascope. A pocket one at that.
"That, Pott...Mr Potter, is a pocket sneakascope." Severus told the boy. Unaware of the letter the boy was reading from the Weasley boy was explaining it to his ward. "It is designed for when there's someone untrustworthy around, it sh--"
"Light up?" Harry asked, interrupting the professor, who raised an eyebrow in question. "Ron wrote about it in his letter, sir. Says what it does. His older brother Bill said that it didn't work and is just rubbish. Ron said that it did light up at dinner, but Bill didn't notice that the twins, Fred and George were putting beetles in his soup." He explained ducking his head, not at all used to talking too much to adults and still unaware that he had interrupted the professor. When he did, his cheeks flushed red. Looking back up at the man, he apologized.
Snape waved off his apology.
Harry, not knowing what else to do, decided to pick up another parcel. This time, the one that Hedwig had bought.
*****
Carefully unwrapping the present, glancing at Snape and the bedroom door, every time, he felt like he was going to be yelled at. Unwrapping the second parcel, Harry couldn't help but smile when he saw another birthday card, along with a letter and a wrapped present.
Placing the card next to his other card, the one Ron had sent him, atop of the bedside table, ready to read later, he, nervously picked up the letter, noting it was from Hermione.
After quite some time, he had finished with reading the letter, though he couldn't help but feel slightly jealous of his two best friends going on holiday with their families, his smile grew wider, knowing he hadn't yet lost either of his friends.
Spying the time on the pocket watch, that he had placed atop of the bedside table, Harry decided to open up the present, Hermione sent him, when he remembered what both Ron and Hermione had written to him in their letters. He bit his bottom lip, glancing up at Snape.
"Sir, um...d-do you think we could go to Diagon Alley, I....I mean, if I'm still here at the end of summer, do you think we could got to Diagon Alley during the last week of next month?" He asked, ducking his head,
Snape had a thoughtful look on his face, before shortly giving a curt nod.
"I suppose we could go Mr Potter...depends on what day and so on. Also, if the headmaster or I, have yet to find you a suitable guardian by the end of Summer Mr Potter, we will need to go to Hogwarts, as I need to re-stock my potions cupboard and lab before the start of next school year." Snape explained,
Harry nodded in understanding. "Thanks sir." He said, then he went back to the third parcel, but stopped once again. "um, sir...do you think I could maybe tell...Ron and Hermione where I--"
Snape shook his head in the negative. "I am afraid not, Mr Potter....for reasons the headmaster and I have both agreed on. It is best that you let them still think you are at your relatives' house for now."
Harry frowned confused. He was about to ask why.
"Aren't you going to open your other present, Mr Pott...Harry?" Snape asked,
Harry nodded, "ye-yes sir."
He then made to do so.
Confused by the weight of it, Harry frowned, assuming it was a book. That would be just like Hermione. He mused. Turns out, he was wrong. Instead, it was a sleek black leather case, with silver words stamped across it. Broomstick Servicing Kit.
"Wow, thanks Hermione!" He gratefully smiled, though it wasn't a big smile. He would have just been happy with something small or just a simple thing. But either way, he would happily use the kit.
Hedwig hooted from her perch, causing Harry to smile at his owl. "Thanks as well Hedwig" he told the snowy, who sent him a satisfied look.
"If I may ask, Mr Potter...but, what did Miss Granger send you for your birthday?"
Harry looked up at his professor. He bit his bottom lip again. "It's a Broomstick Servicing Kit, sir"
Snape glanced at the Nimbus 2000, stood against the wall. "Your broom does need a bit of T.L.C, Mr Potter, I am sure with Miss Granger's gift, it will be as good as new."
Harry nodded in agreement, knowing that he had been quite neglectful with his broomstick since he had arrived at the manor...and he didn't really have an excuse. He wasn't at his aunt's and uncle's, meaning it wasn't locked up for an entire summer until the first of September. He decided, if Snape allowed him to, he'd fly on his broom.
Thinking of his broomstick, Harry remembered Hermione's present. Returning his focus back on the present, Harr unzipped the case to look inside, noticing, there was a large jar of Fleetwood's High-Finish Handle Polish, a pair of gleaming silver Tail-Twig Clippers, a tiny brass compass to clip onto your broom for long journeys, and a Handbook of Do-it-Yourself Broomcare.
Putting the leather case aside, Harry yawned, rubbed his eyes, wanting to go to sleep. However, he remembered the third parcel. With another yawn, he, picked up the last parcel. By the messy writing, he could tell that it was from Hagrid. Carefully tearing off the top half of the parcel, he paused halfway, frowning when he noticed something green and leathery.
Unfortunately, before he could finish unwrapping the gift properly, the parcel gave a strange quiver. Harry startled, when whatever inside, snapped loudly. Harry glanced up at Snape, who had a quizzical expression. Harry gathered the professor also didn't know anything about Hagrid's gift. It was as if the thing had jaws. That was all he knew.
Harry sighed, a little bit weary of the gift. He knew Hagrid wouldn't have purposely gotten him anything dangerous. But the amount of times he and his friends had nearly been killed by Hagrid's 'not' so dangerous creatures. Giant spiders that eat people and live in the forbidden forest, buying a three-headed-dogs and last but not least, sneak illegal dragon eggs into his cabin onto school grounds and have three first years help with taking care of baby dragon once it's hatched.
"Do you know what it is Mr Pott....Harry?"
Harry flinched, forgetting for a moment that Snape was still in the room.
"No sir, all I know is that it's from Hagrid"
Severus, from where he sat, he could tell that Potter wasn't at all confident with whatever is in the third and last parcel, just by the way the boy carefully poked it. The parcel snapped loudly again. Severus, not taking any chances with whatever, the Groundskeeper had sent, whipped out his wand, preparing to hex the blasted thing.
Potter cast a look at him, unsure of what to do. Severus raised an eyebrow. "I believe it is your present, Mr Potter."
The boy focused his look back on Hagrid's gift. Severus watched as the boy hesitated before seizing the rest of the unwrapped parcel and picked it up. In moments, before either wizard could blink, something fell out, landing on the bed.
Severus frowned. A book. Why on earth would tha--
"The Monster Book of Monsters" he heard his ward say, no doubt reading the title of the book. "Bloody hell,"
Severus glanced at Potter with a glare, planning on reprimanding him. Only to hear a loud thud, followed by,
"Professor watch out!"
Severus startled from his thoughts, he followed the direction his ward was looking in...
Shit!
Severus stood up on the chair as quick as he could just as the book came scuttling towards the foot of the armchair. He whipped out his wand, holding it in the ready position. Not wanting the monster book to ruin his armchair, he aimed his wand at the book that continued to snap it's jaw-like-fore edge, at the foot of the armchair. Having enough of the snapping book, and not wanting to disturb his uncle's rest, Severus was just about ready to spell the book with an immobilus spell, when he noticed, from the corner of his eye, the boy, his ward, planning on leaving the bed. No doubt to try and catch the blasted book. Gryffindors.
“You better not leave that bed, Pott…Harr….Mr Potter, if you know what's good for you” he said in a silky tone.
The boy flinched, but shook his head in denial.
“Uh…no sir, I uh…wasn't leaving the bed.” Potter said,
Severus rolled his eyes.
“And I am the tooth fairy.” The potions master drawled. “Immobilus!” Severus, with his wand aimed at the scuttling monster book, spelled the book still.
Severus then flicked his wand again at the book, and in seconds, the book had a belt strapped around it, which would instantly stop the damn book from opening and snapping it's jaws at anyone nearby. Severus, got down from the armchair, and picked the horrible book up, handing it to his ward.
“I trust you will not allow this to….happen again?”
“N-no sir, won't happen again.” Potter shook his head. No doubt, catching his warning look.
Severus rested his face into a stoic expression.
“Good.” Was all he said, shortly, he told his ward goodnight, when he had paused in the doorway.
Potter responded back with a goodnight of his own.
*****
Later on that morning, not too long after breakfast, Desmond Prince, still sitting at the dining table, along with his nephew, who was sitting diagonal to him, decided to break the silence.
“So, son….Sev, what are the plans for today?” he asked,
Severus raised a questioning eyebrow at him.
“Plans. What plans? I have not made any plans for today. Wh—”
“Severus Tobias Snape!” Des interrupted, startling his nephew, who looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. “Tell me you didn't forget what today is?”
At his nephew's confused look, Des sighed. With a memory like that, I still wonder how in Merlin's name did Severus ever become a potions master….let alone a spy for the light.
“July thirty-first, Severus. Does tha—”
“Shit!”
Knowing Severus has managed to work it out and when he saw his nephew, his sister's son, looking at him as if to confirm his thoughts, Des gave a curt nod in return.
Des sat there sipping his tea with milk, as he watched the different expressions changing on his nephew's face. Soon enough, one expression stilled and one look at Severus's face, told him that his nephew thought of something just now.
“Uncle? Do you think you can watch Pott….Harry for awhile, until I return? I need to check something.” Severus asked him.
It was Des' turn to have a thoughtful look upon his face. He nodded,
“Of course Severus. Is there any potions you need to brew? I can brew one today, have young Harry help me,”
His nephew thought about it, before nodding.
“If you do decide to brew, make sure to keep an eye on him. I do not want to come back here and find the manor's gone.” Severus told him in serious tone.
Des rolled his eyes. Honestly, who does he think taught him how to brew? He was about to respond with this, but backtracked, remembering that it hadn't just been him who had taught Severus. It had also been Eileen, who taught her son at a young age. The age of three. From what I recall.
“You saying I cannot brew? Honestly, Sev, who do you think taught your cousins how to brew?”
“I know that uncle…and you did a fine job with them, although, Colly, had managed to blow up several cauldrons from what I remember.” Severus smirked at him.
Des rolled his eyes. “And I remember your old potions professor….Slughorn, had given you many detentions for exploding several cauldrons back in your….fifth year was it? Or maybe it was your sixth year,”
Severus' eyes went wide at that memory. Though his face shortly went back to a stoic expression.
“That wasn't due to the fact that I didn't know what I was doing uncle…it was usually due to the fact that I was experimenting….unsupervised. Usually in the bathroom, as you know.” Des heard his nephew sigh. “Very well, yes you may bring Pott…Harry down with you to my lab and have him help you brew. Just don't mess anything up, uncle.”
Des held back from rolling his eyes. Honestly, I have never managed to explode any cauldrons or potions before. Why would I now? He thought to himself.
“Aren't you meant to be going somewhere, Severus?” he reminded his nephew.
Who knew Severus could be so bossy?
Severus nodded, finishing up his herbal tea, he stood up from his seat at the dining table. “Yes, I shall take my leave and hopefully be back before lunch.” Severus placed his empty mug down on the saucer, then made his way out of the room.
Des, shortly finishing his own mug of tea, left to go look for his nephew's ward for the summer. Finding him eventually out in the garden.
“Harry,” he called, making his way over to the deck chairs where the boy was currently sitting and drawing.
The boy startled in his seat.
“S-sir?”
Des waved it off. “It is Des, Harry” he softly told the boy. “Severus has gone somewhere.”
The teenage boy had a worried look on his face.
“Where'd he go?”
Des shook his head. “He didn't say where, but he said he should be back before lunch. In the mean time, I thought you and I could brew a potion together.”
“Brew? Wha-what potion?”
“Dreamless sleep. Severus has a client who is in need of a batch. I thought, since I'm here, I could help him out with some of the potions his clients are in need of.”
Des watched as the boy had a thoughtful look on his face.
“Okay, sir,” Harry slowly nodded his head. Collecting his things, he stood up from the shaded deck chair. “Could I—”
Des nodded, “Course lad, jus' meet me down in Sev's lab.”
The two wizards soon found themselves down in Severus's lab. Des had allowed Harry to stir the potion, while he did the preparation of the ingredients.
“Stir that three times clockwise, lad” he instructed, while he slowly added the unicorn blood (willingly) given.
Harry did as he was told.
Eventually the potion turned purple and was ready to pour into several crystal vials, but that's after it's cooled down.
“Well done lad, you managed to brew an excellent batch of dreamless sleep.” Des praised, shooting the nervous boy a warm smile. “If you keep this up lad, you'll be top of potions in no time.” He told him.
The boy ducked his head, nodding.
“yes sir”
Des told Harry to wash and dry his hands, just as Lucy popped in to say Severus was back and that he had requested for them to meet him up in his study. With that in mind, Des told Lucy to tell Severus that they'll be up shortly. The elf popped away, doing just that. Des, when Harry had finished washing and drying his hands, told the boy to go and see what Severus wants. Harry nodded, saying that he would.
Left alone in the lab, Des, washed up the potions equipment and called Lucy to deliver the batch to Severus's client. While she did that, Des made his way out of his nephew's lab, then made his way to his nephew's study. Where he heard both Severus and Harry talking about the dreamless sleep potion.
“Well done Mr Pott…Harry….later, next week, if you are up to it, we could brew a few batches of potions that my customers have ordered.” He heard his nephew say, as he unknowingly entered the room. Des couldn't help but smirk to himself.
“Ar-are you uh…sure sir,” Harry nervously looked up at Severus, with a confused look. “I-I mean, after last time I—”
Severus gave a curt nod down at his ward.
“Yes Pott…Mr Potter, I am sure. That is if you behave the rest of today and the rest of the weekend.”
Des noticed the warning tone in his nephew's voice. Satisfied with what he had heard, Des decided to make his prescence known to the two younger wizards.
“And what are we doing today nephew of mine, that Harry here needs to behave?” he asked in a silky smooth tone. Startling both younger wizards.
Feeling his cheeks blush red, Severus turned to glare at his uncle shortly after occluding.
“And what, uncle of mine, were you doing there listening?” he couldn't help but respond back. “On a serious note, I have decided that we should all go out for the day.” He said, addressing the two wizards in the room with him.
Severus caught the look on his ward's face.
“Wha-where….” The boy paused, Severus decided to allow him to finish, even though he knew what the boy was trying to ask. “Where are you two planning on going sir?” Potter, finally asked
Severus glanced at his uncle. Confused, and from the looks of his uncle's face, his uncle was also confused.
“We,” Severus emphasized, looking directly at the boy again, “are going to a muggle fun fair, down at a park in Cokeworth…”
"Cokeworth sir? Isn't that where my mum was from?” the boy asked, his eyes lighting up.
Severus smirked, nodding his head. “Yes, Mr Potter, I believe it was the same town she was from.” He stood there, his arms folded against his chest as he waited for the boy to notice.
Potter frowned, confused.
"But sir...you and, and De...I mean, you and your uncle ar-are, well you guys aren't young like my cousin and his friends are. Why would you---"
Understanding soon dawned on the boy's face.
"You mean I--"
Severus gave a curt nod of his head. "Yes Mr Potter....we decided, since it is your birthday, as I am your guardian, no ward of mine will be sitting up in the library reading a book on their thirteenth birthday....so we shall be going out for the day, to a muggle fun fair, the same fun fair I had visited a few times with your mother when we were children." He told the boy in a serious tone. "Though, we'll be going out in the muggle world Mr Potter, there will be rules. Rules that you are to follow unless you want to be scrubbing cauldrons for the rest of the summer." Severus glared down warningly at his ward, his onyx eyes no doubt glinting.
"Ru-rules sir? Wh-what kind of rules?" Potter asked, looking apprehensive.
*****
The potions master didn't need to be told twice with telling the boy some rules for when they'll be out and about in the muggle world.
"The first rule Pott...Mr Potter, is when we are out, you are to stick with either myself or uncle Des at all times...there will be no wandering off on your own, Pott...Mr Potter, and if you need to go somewhere, like to the loo, you are to tell one of us and we shall go with you...."
Potter interrupted.
"I'm twel-thirteen sir, I don't need someone to come wi--"
Severus, still glaring at his ward, cut Potter off.
"Be that as it may Pott...Mr Potter, you are my ward for the summer and while we are out, you will abide by my rules. Now, if you in fact, break this rule Pott...Mr Potter, I shall cast an anti child wandering charm on you--"
Anti-what?" Potter interrupted again. Severus glared at his ward, and just continued.
"...when we do go out in Diagon Alley. Understood?"
The boy was looking down at the ground.
"Yes sir" the boy mumbled, nodding his head, not at all looking up at him. Severus scowled.
"Potter!" He snapped, startling the boy. Potter flinched back.
"Sorr---"
Feeling guilty for causing such a reaction. Severus waved off the boy's apology. "Do not apologise Mr Potter. I am the one that should be sorry for startling you...I-I didn't mean to."
Potter, looked up at him with a confused look. "But sir--"
Severus shook his head. "No buts Mr Potter. Now, kindly look at me when I am talking to you. Is that clear?"
Potter slowly nodded. "Uh, yes sir."
"Good, now the second and final rule is, you will not be stuffing yourself with sweets. You may have one treat, after we have gotten something proper to eat at one of the food stalls." Severus told his ward, "now, I don't know about the two of you, but I think I'd prefer to be down at the fun fair right now, instead of standing here all day...wouldn't you agree?"
Both uncle Des and his ward nod their heads in agreement.
"We shall be disapparating just outside of my manor wards. From there, we shall apparate in an alleyway not too far from where Lily used to live..." Severus suggested, telling his uncle and his ward what will happen and how they are going to get to the fun fair. "Since the fun fair won't open until 2pm, I thought we could stop somewhere to eat lunch first."
"A fine idea Sev, I do love visiting the muggle world. Something Sean and I tend to do every now and then, since he's with Maggie." Des agreed, "but Severus, there's only one problem."
"And what would that be uncle?" Severus asked, confused, as he turned to look at the older wizard with a raised eyebrow.
"We're not exactly dressed for the muggle world."
Severus couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Thank you uncle, for...pointing out the obvious. I was going to suggest we all change first...or you could spell us all into appropriate muggle clothing, then we can leave."
Des nodded, getting out his wand.
"Uh, sir...what exactly is disapparating?"
Both Severus and his uncle turned to look at the young Potter boy.
"Disapparating Harry, is another form of transportation for wizards and witches-a whole lot easier than brooms, and flooing." Des explained, before Severus could do so. "When in groups, of two or more, you can side along disapparate-which we will be doing with Severus shortly...."
"When you want to disapparate and apparate to a certain location, Mr Potter," Severus said, taking over from his uncle, his classroom tone immediately catching his ward's attention."You must concentrate, you must know the area you're apparating to, and they must remember the three D's..."
"The three D's sir?"
"Destination, Determination and Deliberation. That's what my Apparation instructor, professor Twycross told me when I was learning to apparate."
"Apparation instructor?" Severus noticed his ward had a thoughtful look upon his face. "Is that...is that like a muggle driving instructor?" Potter finally asked.
Severus nodded, remembering what Lily's mother had told him, many years ago, when he had first asked Lily about muggle cars.
"Exactly."
A few minutes later, dressed in apporpriate muggle attire, thanks to Des who used his wand to spell their clothes, Severus, Des and the young Potter boy were standing outside the front of Snape manor.
Severus explained to his ward a bit more about disapparating and apparation. Telling the boy in a strict, classroom tone, that side-along apparation requires holding tightly onto the person apparating. Since it was Severus, Severus's uncle, Des had to hold on to him.
Potter had been wary at first, but after some reassurance from Severus, the boy, though tensed up the moment Severus touched him, held on tight to Severus after being told about the dangers of side-along apparation.
"I could just apparate myself if you...." Har-Potter started to say, clearly not trusting Severus, who interrupted him before he could finish.
"Do you, Mr Potter...know the exact location where we are going?"
Potter hesitated before shaking his head.
"And do you know how to apparate? Have you ever been taught?"
Potter again shook his head.
"And are you...seventeen, Mr Potter? The legal age where you can learn to apparate."
"No sir." Potter reluctantly said.
"Then the answer is, no...you will not be apparating on your own. And since I am the only one that knows where we are going, you will have to hold on to me." Severus firmly told his ward.
When Potter looked as if he was having an internal battle with himself, Severus decided to say something else.
"Trust me Mr Pott...Harry, I am not going to hurt you. I am not your uncle and would never hu-"
Severus startled at first when the boy had unexpectedly
held him. After reminding himself what was happening and where he was, he wrapped his free arm around his ward, holding the boy tight. Once he was sure he was holding both his side-along apparition companions, Severus, picturing the alleyway that he was going apparate to, disapparated with his uncle and ward on the spot, followed by a loud;
*POP!*
The three wizards disappeared from the manor.
Chapter 13 Gifts