Everything Is Not What It Seems by RavenMooney

After apparating to an alleyway, a few blocks from Cokeworth shopping center, one that he remembered walking through many times before with Lily, whenever visiting her.

Severus, after cursing himself for not remembering to bring a stomach soother potion, for his ward, who he kept on forgetting hadn't been raised in the wizarding world, but in the muggle world, decided, after helping his ward back to his feet, to call Lucy. If I'm quick, maybe she'll be able to pop in, and out, without being seen by any passing muggles.

"How are you feeling Potter?" He asked, when the boy was leaning against a wooden fence in the alley way.

The boy shrugged his shoulders.

Severus glared.

"I'm uh...fine sir..."

"Are you sure?" Severus raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

Potter nodded, slowly. "Yes sir, I'm sure." There was a pause. "Sir?"

"Yes, Potter?"

"Does dis–disapparition ever get easy?"

"Disapparation, Pot--Harry," Severus corrected, going right into a formal classroom tone. "And no, it can be highly dangerous,." Severus paused, thinking.

Uncle Des, not knowing why Severus had paused, added, "as Severus said, it is highly dangerous. There's been many incidents where a wizard or witch has injured themselves in the worst way possible, lost a limb or died, due to not being too focused something, a reason why we were to hold onto Severus as tightly as possibly while he apparated us here, because either of us three could have had that happen to us."

"Really?" Potter asked, no longer leaning against the fence.

Severus nodded his head. "Really Potter." Severus said, then looking at his ward, he asked the boy if he was fine, offering to call Lucy and to have her bring back a stomach soothing potion. Potter shook his head in response.

"You don't have to sir...I'm fine."

Seeing his ward was looking much better than earlier, Severus let it go for now. He then decided they should get something to eat. With his uncle agreeing, Severus asked his ward if he was hungry and wanted to get some lunch at a café, he knew of.

They all agreed.

It was about a good ten minutes walk to the town center, from the alley way they had apparated in. Once arriving at Cokeworth shopping center, they had walked for another few minutes, or more, locating the coffee shop that Severus remembered going to a few times with Lily.

Pret A Manger.

Walking inside, the three wizards, joined the back of the queue. Severus asked everyone what they wanted for lunch. Uncle Des told him that he wanted to try the tuna melt toastie for lunch, and to drink, he will get a mug of cappuccino. Severus planned on getting a chicken and cucumber sandwich and a mug of green tea. He asked his ward, who was standing there silently looking at the menu, what he wanted.

Potter, shrugged his shoulders, shortly shaking his head in the negative. "Uh, I'm okay s--" Potter's stomach grumbled, interrupting him.

Severus raised an eyebrow at this. "Not hungry, were you going to say Pott...Harry?"

Pott...Harry nervously glanced up at him. Nodding, slowly.

"How about we share the sandwich. You can have one slice, and I shall have the other." Severus suggested, knowing the boy still couldn't eat much.

Pott...Harry thought about it for a moment, then asked, "what are you getting sir?"

"A chicken and cucumber sandwich and a mug of green tea."

The boy thought about his response. "Are you...sure it's alright?"

Severus gave a curt nod. "I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't sure."

In response, Potter, slowly nodded. "O-okay sir, if you uh, say so."

As they approached the till, Severus placed his order. While, uncle Des went to find a place for them to sit. When the young friendly woman asked if they wanted anything else, Severus thought about what he had ordered so far. He counted four items. Two drinks and two plates of food. 'Two drinks? Green tea, and a cappuccino. The cappuccino for uncle Des and the green tea for myself. The tuna melt for uncle Des and the chicken and cucumber sandwich for myself...and Potter.'

'Potter!' Severus silently cursed himself as he glanced down at his ward, who was standing there, silently next to him. Not saying anything.

"Pott...Harry, did you want anything to...drink?"

Potter looked at him in confusion.

"Drink, sir?"

Severus refrained from rolling his eyes. Now was not the time.

"Water, coke...hot chocolate...tea, orange juice, lemona--"

“Uh, water's fine sir.” Potter said,

Severus raised an eyebrow. That was the last thing he expected the boy to ask for.

"Are you sure you want water, Pott...Harry?"

Potter nodded.

Just like his ward wanted, Severus ordered some water, shortly paying for the food. He and Potter then went to find uncle Des who had found a table with three chairs.

Once they were finished with their lunch, Severus, along with his uncle and his ward, after a toilet break, left the coffee shop. Since the park where Severus knew the fun fair was being held, was a good ten minute walk, maybe a little longer, from the town center, the three wizards decided to walk to the local park.

Nearing the main park (King Edward park) in the town of Cokeworth, the three wizards could hear the different sounds that they knew was coming from the funfair, they could also smell food type smells, they guessed were the type of foods being sold at the park.

Reaching the park entrance, the different types of sounds were much clearer. The sounds ranged from teens screaming on the rides, the different types of music blasting from their designated rides and through the park, Severus was sure could be heard on the other side of England, or maybe just up in Hogsmeade area.

"What rides do you think they'll have here, son?" Uncle Des asked from beside him as they walked down the footpath, which would take them to the main part of the park, the part where all the rides and stalls were.

Severus shook his head in the negative. "No idea uncle. But the last time I was here, which was back when I was fifteen, here with Lily, Potter and Potter's three friends, the rides we had gone on, were; Bumper cars, the Ferris wheel, tea cups and the carousel. Why?" The potions master paused in his footsteps, turned and raised a questioning eyebrow at his uncle.

Uncle Des, who had also stopped walking, shook his head. "Nothing Sev. Just wanted to know."

There was a long pause. Uncle Des continued, "I'm just curious Sev. Having heard about the fun fair myself from the many stories you used to tell me each time you went with your friends."

Severus nodded, the two continued walking down the footpath, nearing the rides. Once they stopped at the bottom of the footpath, which over looked the lake, you couldn't see it right, now since the park was currently crowded with many different types of people, all there for the fun fair. Severus, turned round to look at his ward.

"Alright Pott...Harry, what ride first?” Severus asked his ward,

The boy who had been dawdling behind them, looked up at him, confused.

“Me sir?” Pott…Harry pointed to himself. “You-you want me t-to decide what ride we go on first? Wait I can go on the rides too? But Dudley said that I won't….”

Harry paused, frowning in confusion as he remembered what his cousin had told him many years ago when his relatives had come back from Little Whinging fair. He had been let out of his cupboard to have his first meal in days and had asked Dudley with curiosity how the fair was. Dudley, being himself, smiled cockily as he bragged about how fun it was and what rides they had gone on, then when he was finished, Harry had said that it sounded fun and he wouldn't mind going next time. Dudley had then sneered at him saying they wouldn't allow him anywhere near the fairgrounds since he'd contaminate everything with his freakishness.

A small smile formed on the Gryffindor's lips as he realized his cousin had been wrong. He had entered the fairgrounds and didn't see any police standing there at the entrance with guns, waiting for him to try and enter. Nor did he see a sign with a picture of him with a big red X on his face, saying he wasn't allowed to enter.

“Uh…never mind sir.” He finished, looking at both older wizards. Harry then glanced around, wondering what ride to go on first. “So I'm allowed to choose, sir?” Harry asked again just to make sure.

Both older wizards nodded his head.

“Yes, but we'll take it in turns.” Snape said in a firm tone. Harry and Snape's uncle both nodded in agreement at that. “Since this is your first time to the fun fair, you may choose first. Afterwards, uncle Des and I will….”

“We will arm wrestle over who gets to choose next.” Snape’s uncle jumped in.

Harry looked up at the older wizard, in surprise and hoping that would happen as he and his housemates have always made bets on how strong Snape probably was. Seamus, Dean and Ron usually betted that Snape was probably so weak that he wouldn't be able to pick up a fly. Harry and Hermione had rolled their eyes and though neither of them liked Snape, they had pointed out that was stupid since Snape is a potions master and they were sure cauldrons were heavier than a common fly.

“Are you serious, sir?” Harry couldn't help but ask Snape's uncle, who was quick to remind him to call him Des. Harry nodded, but didn't say anything. He just waited for either the professor or the professor's uncle to say something in response.

Snape replied, making Harry wish it was Snape's uncle that had been the one to reply.

“No, Potter, we'll probably flip a coin or something.” The professor said instead.

Harry nodded,

“Now last time I checked, we're at a fun fair to go on some rides,” Snape reminded them,

*****

Walking around the fairgrounds, Harry, who was constantly fascinated by everything he saw, kept on trailing behind the two older wizards, in fact it happened so often that Snape lost his patience and demanded he walk in front of them.

They walked for quite some time, at least twice, around the fairgrounds as the Gryffindor boy found it difficult to just choose any ride to go on first.

There were so many different rides to choose from and Harry, having never been on any didn't know what to go on. He didn't know how many rides Snape would allow them all to go on, and if they were taking turns choosing, then he knew that he didn't know what the two older wizards would choose.

“It cannot be that hard to choose a ride, Potter!” Snape snapped, half way round the fairgrounds for the third time. “Just pick one!”

Harry felt pressured now in choosing a ride, but he still didn't know which one to choose. He glanced at the two he could clearly see. One was a Ferris Wheel ride, standing at least, L12.5m x W 9.1m x D15.5m tall. The other was a Carousel ride with wooden horses, all painted different colours, with a gold painted pole attached to the wooden saddles.

In the end Harry decided to choose the Carousel ride and after several long minutes, or more of queuing, Snape paid £6 for all three of them to go on the ride. Harry hopped on a wooden horse, painted a dark beige colour, the tail and mane were both painted black, as well as the eyes and hooves. The saddle and reins, were painted red. Snape, climbed up on the wooden horse next to him, which was painted the same colour as Harry's. Snape's uncle, Des, climbed up on a wooden horse in front, which was painted a different colour. Instead, of being painted beige, the wooden horse, Des was sitting on, was painted black, with the same red saddle and reins.

Once most of the horses were occupied, the Carousel started to move in a clockwise position and the horses went up and down in a galloping like motion, startling Harry and Des so much that they had fallen forward, grabbing hold of their pole for dear life. Snape on the other hand, hadn't startled at all, in fact, he smirked at the two of them, after they said they were both alright.

From where he was sitting, Harry noticed Des, taking something out of his hoodie pocket, he watched with curiosity as he wondered what the older wizard could be taking out.

"Smile," Des told them, holding up a camera, and from the looks of it, it was a wizarding camera.

Harry startled, hearing Snape's unexpected tone, he had, for a moment, forgotten the professor was on the horse next to him.

"Uncle, please tell me you didn't bring a wi--"

There was a flash of a bright white light, coming from the wizarding camera, Harry had luckily been ready, at the last minute when he had noticed the older wizard was going to take a picture. He glanced at Snape, who was scowling at his uncle.

"I was not ready yet, uncle. You should have waited." Snape told the older wizard,

Des just smirked at the frowning potions master. "I did tell you to smile, Sev."

There was a moment or two of silence, before Harry added, "he's got you there, sir." This caused, Snape to scowl at him, telling him to mind his own business, or to just concentrate on the ride, while Des couldn't help but chuckle at Snape.

"Calm down Sev, honestly, Collie was right about you." Snape's uncle said, getting the camera ready again to take another picture. "You do need to learn to relax a little."

Harry perked up at hearing Snape's uncle mentioning Snape's cousin, well, at least he thought it was Snape's cousin, the tailor from France that had measured him and sent the clothes just last week. Before he could ask how she was, Snape's uncle, told them to smile again. Harry did, and this time, after rolling his eyes, Snape did too.

Overall, Harry's first experience on a fairground ride, went extremely well.

Next, was Des's turn to choose a ride, and like Harry, it was his first time at a Fun Fair, so, again, they spent quite some time, walking around the fairgrounds, until Des spotted a ride he thought looked interesting to ride.

"How about we go on that ride over there?" Des suggested, after walking pass several different rides, and spotting one that caught his eye.

Beside him, he heard his nephew, Severus ask, "which one?"

*****
Des indicated to the ride, that had a large rectangular shaped platform. The three wizards stood there silently watching the ride that was at the moment, in motion. There were several people driving round on the platform, in separate muggle contraptions to each other, all bumping into one another. The contraptions were all shiny and all different colours, ranging from, a shiny, sparkly blue, to a shiny, sparkly purple.

"The Dodgems." Des replied, reading the ride name.

Harry nodded. "That ride's fun...according to my cousin, Dudley....he's been to the fair many times before and he said that ride was one of the best rides."

There was a moment of silence, maybe longer, before Severus agreed that they were fun. "My first time at the fair with your mother, Lily...we went on the Dodgems together."

Shortly, after waiting for the ride to finish, Severus paid for all three of them to go on the ride. Des and Harry decided to share a bumper car, while Severus decided to ride on his own.

Choosing their bumper car, a shiny blue car, the older wizard looked at the controls, and let his jaw drop, when he realized he didn't know what to do. He asked his nephew's ward, beside him, whether he knew what to do or not. Harry shook his head, also confused.

"I should have known" they startled, in their chosen bumper car, hearing Severus say as he approached their car. After some explaining from his nephew on how to work the ride, Des thanked him and as soon as the ride started, they, luckily got their car to move.

Des decided to test drive the car at first, get a little feel, however, other riders on the ride had other plans and bumped into them from everywhere they could.

Even Severus, smirked, after bumping into them, said, "you shouldn't have suggested this ride, if you didn't know what to do." Then he drove off, bumping into several other riders, while Des, who was, slightly more confident with the ride, glanced beside him at Harry.

"Did you want to have a go at steering?" Des asked, the boy.

Harry looked up at him, confused for a moment, then nodded.

"Yeah, okay I'll uh...I'll have a go."

Some several minutes later, of Harry getting the hang of steering, Des, glanced around, smirked, then whispered something in Harry's ear. The boy looked up at him, for confirmation that he had heard correctly, Des nodded, letting the boy know that he did indeed hear correctly.

The younger wizard steered the bumper car in the direction Des had told him to steer, they bumped into a few riders, and were approaching their target, who had not noticed them yet, since he was lazily driving around...that was right up until the very last moment, when it was too late and they bumped into the side of a shiny green car, shocking Severus, who was their chosen victim.

Severus looked at them in shock. "How did you--"

Des smirked, but shook his head. "Next time, son, you should remember to concentrate on your surroundings."

They drove off from the potions master, before he could curse them with his wand, only to be jerked shortly, from behind. The two wizards turned, to see who their next victim will be. Turns out, they'd be going after Severus again, this time with Des steering while Harry sat back and enjoyed the ride.

When the ride ended, all three wizards decided wandered around the fairgrounds some more, this time, it was Severus's turn to choose the next ride to go on.

Des saw some interesting rides, but none caught his nephew's eye.

Eventually, they found themselves, in the line for the Ferris wheel, the ride that Severus suggested they go on. To pass the time as they stood in the queue for what felt like forever, Des got all three of them into playing a game of Eye spy. He joked to Severus, saying this should be an easy game for him. Severus in return, scowled at him, said that he wasn't interested, but that didn't last long, since Harry, who unexpectedly had the potions master wrapped around his finger each time he looked at the wizard with his emerald green eyes...Severus joined in.

Once on the ride, Des, who was sitting in one carriage, on his own, while his nephew and Harry sat in the carriage in front, together, got out the camera once more. As the ride slowly moved in a clockwise direction, slowly rising, Des called his nephew and Harry, getting their attention. Thus causing the two younger wizards to turn round and look at him.

"Say cheese."

Severus rolled his eyes, but nevertheless, said cheese, at about the same time as his ward. The camera flashed. A couple more pictures later, Severus and his ward turned back round to look ahead of them.

The potions master kept on point out the different rides to his ward...the rides, they could see from the Ferris Wheel. He pointed out the ones that he and Lily had gone on several times when they were younger. He then started telling the boy about his first time on the Ferris Wheel-minus the part when Lily had to convince him to open his eyes-When their carriage got to the top, he heard his ward asking him if they could see Lily's old childhood home from where they were.

Severus shook his head in the negative. "I'm afraid not Mr Potter....your mother's childhood home, though it was at least a ten minute walk from the park, is blocked by all these treetops and all the roofs you can see in the distance." Seeing his ward's disappointed face, Severus added, "although, I do know whereabouts it is.”

The potions master glanced around, pointing in the direction he remembered Lily's house used to be from the park. He pointed out the top of the school building Lily and her older sister had attended. Their house wasn't that far from there. Lily had told him the very first time he went on the ride with her.

Severus noticed, from the corner of his eye, his ward staring in the direction he had pointed in (off to the right of where they were currently.) He felt tempted to use a quick, mild legilimency on the boy, to see what he was thinking, but in the end, he knew that wasn't right, so he had to talk himself out of temptation.

“Thanks sir,” finally Pott…Harry said, “now I kind of know where my mum lived. I wonder what their house looks like now? Do you think my grandparents are still living there or do you think another family are living in the house now? I—”

Severus interrupted the boy. “I have no idea who'll be living in the house now. In fact, I am certain if we go there, I will have a hard time of finding the house or even recognizing the house. It would have changed over the years. Your grandparents, I don't exactly know what happened to them.” He told the boy as true as he could. He knew exactly what had happened to the Evans family. They were killed by Death Eaters, followers of the Dark Lord, when the Potters had gone into hiding. Severus knew that was not a story to tell the boy right now. In fact he hoped he would not have to be the one to tell him that.

When the ride ended, they walked round the fairgrounds some more. It was Potter's turn now to choose a ride to go on.

As they walked round, they were nearing some of the food stalls, the professor turned his head to look at his ward and uncle.

“Are either of you hungry? If so, speak now.” He asked, indicating to the first food stall they were approaching. A a hot dog, burger and pizza stand.

Next was a fish and chips stand.

Another was a sweet treats stand that sold; Candy floss in a clear plastic bag with some sealed with a pink string tied in a bow while the rest was sealed with a blue string also tied in a bow, a bag of sweets, popcorn and some fizzy drinks.

“Nah, I'm alright son.” Uncle Des replied, “we ate a few hours ago.”

Walking in between them, Pott…Harry shook his head in the negative. “No thanks sir, not hungry. I'm still full from lunch.”

Hearing that, Severus couldn't help but frown, remembering exactly what Potter had for lunch. Half a chicken and cucumber sandwich. The potions master couldn't help but wish he had done more to the muggle. No young boy, Potter's age, shouldn't still be full from half a sandwich.

As they passed the sweet treats stall, Severus, out of the corner of his eye, noticed his ward, looking at something from there. He wondered if Potter was going to ask for something.

He didn't, instead, he continued to stare longingly at one treat in particular.

*****

Without thought, the potions master found himself going back to the sweet treats stall, getting the money out, he stood at the back of the fairly short line. Once it was his turn to order, all he said was, “one bag of candy floss, please,” there was a short pause, “….one with the blue bow.”

Severus, with the bag of candy floss in hand, made his way back over towards his uncle and ward, who had stopped the minute they realized he wasn't there. As he neared the two wizards, he clearly saw their looks. While Potter had a look of curiosity, uncle Des had a frown upon his face.

“Could have told us you were going back for some candy floss, Sev.” Uncle Des said, “we would have understood that you wanted some.”

Beside his uncle, the Potter boy nodded his head in agreement.

Severus couldn't help but roll his eyes.

“I didn't get this for myself, uncle, you know I don't have a sweet tooth like you and Albus do…”

At that information, Potter looked up at uncle Des in surprise.

“You have a…a sweet tooth like Dumble-I mean, the headmaster sir?”

Uncle Des nodded, smiling. “Des. And I do lad. In fact it was Albus that got me into anything filled with sugar.”

Severus waited until they had finished talking, then he got their attention again. He couldn't help but smirk when he saw the boy frown, in confusion, knowing what he was going to do and say next will surely shock the boy.

“I believe, this is for you, Pott…Harry.” He told the boy in a serious tone, tossing the bag of candy floss to his shocked ward.

“Sir?” Potter asked, still shocked and confused.

Severus looked at the boy. “Yes Pott—Harry?”

“Is this…” Potter paused, “did you really get this for me?”

Severus nodded, as he continued walking, his ward and uncle joining him. “Yes, I believe I said that.”

Silence lingered on between the three wizards for a few moments.

“Thanks sir.” Pott…Harry said, breaking the silence, while he carefully untied the blue bow and placed it in his jean pocket.

Severus couldn't help but frown when the boy had offered the both of them some candy floss. After a shake of their heads, he noticed the boy, hesitantly dip his hand into the opened bag of the blue and pink candy floss.

He watched as the boy, after examining the piece he had teared off, popped it in his mouth, flinching as he did so. Severus exchanged looks with his uncle. Both older wizards were thinking the same thing.

“Mmm, wow…I guess Dudley and his friends were right….this is good.” Harry said, surprised by how tasty the fluffy, cloud-like, sugary candy floss tasted. “Thanks sir,” he thanked the professor, shooting the man a small smile.

Snape shook his head in the negative.

“No need for thanks. Think of it as a birthday treat, Pott…Harry, and it is Severus.”

Harry nodded, a little unsure of how to respond, he was just about to dip his hand in the bag again when he took his hand back out.

The Gryffindor looked back and forth between Snape and Snape's uncle, and though they had both shook their heads in the negative last time he asked, and replied saying they were fine, Harry couldn't help but, ask them again if either of them wanted some.

Snape shook his head, reminding him that he doesn't have a sweet tooth. Snape's uncle, on the other hand…accepted, thanking him as he took a small piece, also hesitant in tasting the treat. Harry couldn't help but watch the older wizard plopping a piece of candy floss in his mouth very hesitantly. He noticed the older man nodding.

“You're right lad, this is good.” Snape's uncle said in agreement.

Surprisingly, the Gryffindor had managed to eat the whole bag of candy floss as they walked round the fairgrounds. Putting the bag in the bin, and with the blue string still in his pocket, he went and asked the potions master if he could go to the loo so he could wash his hands.

Snape was about to suggest something else, probably use a spell, but his uncle added that he needed to relieve himself. Instead of going to the portaloos, they found a toilet building in the park, with less of a queue.

Harry went to wash his hands while Snape's uncle went to the loo, leaving Snape waiting outside for them. The three wizards soon found themselves walking back around the fairgrounds. Harry had yet to choose another ride to go on next.

As they walked, the Gryffindor found himself looking at the hook a duck stall, he wasn't looking at the game itself, just one of the prizes that had caught his eye. Lost in thought, he startled when he felt someone grab his arm in a gentle manner.

“Come on,” he heard Snape say, “we'll play one game only though.”

Confused, Harry glanced up at Snape, wondering what the man meant by they'll play one game only.

What game? Harry wanted to ask.

His eyes widened when he realized where Snape was pulling him over to. The Hook a duck, game stall. “Sir?”

"Hook a duck, 2 a go." The guy, that looked slightly older than Ron's brother, Percy, called to anyone that looked like they were interested in having ago at the game. Harry watched as the professor, reached into his pocket, taking out some money.

"Here," Snape said, letting go of his arm and turning around. The professor handed two pounds to a confused Harry.

"Sir, uh...I, I can't take this" Harry shook his head in the negative.

Snape' responded, "You can Potter. Now, go and play the hook a duck game, Pott...Harry. You looked as if you wanted to have a go earlier on."

Continuing to stand there, surprised that the professor had given him some money, Harry didn't move until Snape and Snape's uncle encouraged him to have a go at the game.

Having paid the guy with spiky blonde hair and dark blue streaks running through, Harry stood there, with a long stick, the hook was at the other end. He couldn't help but smile a small, hopeful smile as he glanced quickly up at the prize that had caught his eye earlier on. He silently hoped that he'd win the prize before someone else came along.