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<div class="chap-title">
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27. Chapter 27
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</div>
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<div class="chap-text">
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<p>I want to thank everyone for their reviews and continued support. The previous
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chapter was a blast to write and it's so much fun to see everyone's wishes and
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speculations in regards to Maya and Snape. Thanks for that!</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p class='c1'><strong>Chapter 27</strong></p>
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<p>Harry was the first one to wake up the next morning. But he had guessed as much
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would be true. For a moment, he contemplated making one heck of a racket as he went
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downstairs but he decided against it. Snape would no doubt be grumpy enough without
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Harry ruining his morning even further.</p>
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<p>So instead, he went down to the potions lab and removed the stasis from his
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cauldron. He had Zippy bring down some sandwiches as he carefully imbued the plums he
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got from Luna with his innate magic, smiling slightly as they seemed to brim with
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life as he did. After he was certain that the magic took, he chopped the plums into
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small cubes and added them to the concoction.</p>
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<p>Then came the most complex part of this particular potion. The stirring. Harry had
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realized that in order to 'confuse' the magic that would seek to repel muggles, he
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would need to lead it astray with a set of tricky stirring motions that he had been
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able to set up with Snape's help. He took the piece of parchment on which he had
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written down the instructions and started stirring.</p>
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<p>Two clockwise. One counter. Four clockwise. One counter. One clockwise. Seven
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counter. And so on.</p>
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<p>Harry didn't even notice when the door creaked open, nor when a large shadow was
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cast as Snape came down the stairs. He did notice it when the man finally approached
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him to watch what he was doing but he was not startled or brought out of his
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concentration.</p>
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<p>Thirteen clockwise. Five counter. Two clockwise. Wait five seconds. Another two
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clockwise.</p>
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<p>Harry was nearing the end of the text that described the move-set he needed to
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respect. As he stirred, the potion changed colour numerous time. Sometimes, it seemed
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to shift into two colours at once before they mingled slowly and turned into an
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entirely different colour. It was as if he was working with a liquid rainbow.</p>
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<p>Until finally, he stopped. Not wasting any time, he hauled the cauldron off the
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fire and cast a freezing spell at the bottom, effectively draining all warmth from
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the potion.</p>
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<p>"Nicely executed," Snape said evenly when Harry started bottling the potion.</p>
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<p>"Thanks," Harry replied without taking his eyes off of what he was doing. "Good to
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see you're finally up. Did you come down here to find a headache reliever?"</p>
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<p>Snape smirked. "Initially yes," he admitted, "But then I saw what you were up to
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and decided to stay and watch. But now that you've reminded me –" He walked over to
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the potion rack and grabbed a headache reliever.</p>
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<p>Harry imagined that if the roles were reversed, he would be forced to suffer
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through the headache since it was self-inflicted but he dared not mention this to
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Snape. The happier the man was, the easier his life would no doubt be.</p>
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<p>"Have you eaten?" Snape asked after he had downed the liquid.</p>
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<p>"Breakfast," Harry replied, not sure of the current time.</p>
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<p>"Then I propose that we share lunch," Snape said.</p>
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<p>Harry chuckled. "Are you sure you can stomach food right now?" he asked.</p>
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<p>"Don't be such a brat," Snape said grumpily.</p>
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<p>A few moments later, both wizards found themselves seated around the dinner table,
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eating the lunch that Zippy had cooked for them. Harry noticed that Snape ate very
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little but drank a disproportionate amount of water. Harry enjoyed some eggs – sunny
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side up – with toast, completely undeterred by Snape's apparent lack in appetite.</p>
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<p>"I still can't believe it," Harry said, "You know, how Maya ended up being Emma's
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sister. Or did you forget?"</p>
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<p>"My memories are very much intact," Snape grumbled, "And yes, it is quite the
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coincidence."</p>
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<p>"I think muggles should have a code word or something," Harry said, "I mean, Alex
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and Emma both knew about the existence of magic but kept it a secret from each
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other."</p>
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<p>Snape groaned. "Really, Harry, how would that even work?" he asked, "On the other
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hand, don't answer that. I'm not in the mood for pointless chatter."</p>
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<p>"Fine," Harry said, "In that case, let's talk about the potion."</p>
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<p>"The muggle magicker potion, you mean?" Snape asked glumly.</p>
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<p>"That's the one," Harry replied entirely too cheerful. "I am ready for another
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test phase."</p>
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<p>"Do as you wish," Snape replied, "But could you hold off until tomorrow? I feel
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like I should be present to cast a cushioning charm should the need arise. And I
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don't feel up to it today."</p>
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<p>Harry opened his mouth to protest but Snape's glare already told him that there
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was no point.</p>
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<p>"Alright," Harry conceded. "Tomorrow."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Tomorrow had been fast approaching and the next morning, Snape had been entirely
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ready to get an early start again. His grumpy demeanour had once more deflated into
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his common snarky attitude and he found himself reading the newspaper long before
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Harry had even stirred from his slumber. The headline of the day was not in
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accordance with the Christmas cheer of the past few days.</p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Muggle Mayhem sullies Holidays</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Last night, the muggle town of Little Hangleton was viciously
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attacked. A large number of muggles seem to have disappeared overnight while even
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more muggles have been murdered without any sign of external injuries. Auror Angsley
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suspects the use of the killing curse.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>But not only muggles were the victims of these horrible attacks. A
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few resident wizards that have tried to stand up to the assailant in question, have
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also sadly fallen.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>We can only assume that the culprit is one of the death eaters that
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are still at large. The last few that were arrested were taken in because of the hero
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of the wizarding world 'Harry Potter', but it is high time that we become able to
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rely on our Aurors rather than on the skills of a seventeen-year-old
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boy.<br/></em></p>
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<p>Snape sighed deeply and set the newspaper aside. This smelled of Rookwood and
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suspiciously so. It was almost as if the man didn't worry about being found out. His
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purpose here was not to instil terror – though he did so very well – but something
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entirely different. If only he could find out what that something was…</p>
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<p>"Good morning," Harry yawned as he took the seat opposite Snape.</p>
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<p>"Good morning," Snape replied. He intentionally covered the newspaper with his
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plate and handed Harry the toast. "Are you ready for your experimentation?"</p>
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<p>"Absolutely," Harry said, grinning from ear to ear, "What I'm really hoping for
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–"</p>
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<p>But whatever Harry was hoping for would have to wait until later because, at that
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time, Hedwig swooped in, carrying a package that was neatly wrapped. Another letter
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was tied to her foot. Harry welcomed her descent with a piece of bacon and released
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her from her encumberment.</p>
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<p>"Is it from your cousin?" Snape asked flatly.</p>
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<p>"Let me see," Harry said as he turned over the envelope. Indeed it was. He snorted
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when he saw that Dudley had once again written his return address on the back of the
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envelope. Muggle habits die hard. "Yes it is," he finally replied.</p>
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<p>He decided to open the package first. He frowned a bit at first when he saw the
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blue blanket inside but when he extracted the item entirely from the box, he found
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the initials H.P. embroidered into it. It was soft and smelled clean as if someone
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had recently washed it. Harry set it aside for a moment before opening the
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accompanying letter.</p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Dear Harry,</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>My apologies that I took so long to write back. I know that I
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hogged your owl for a few days and I hope you didn't miss her too much, but I needed
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her to deliver this package. I promise you that I fed her well.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>The reason it took so long is that I was aware of my mother having
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some of your possessions. Possessions that I think you weren't even aware of having.
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It took some bargaining and empty promises on my mother's part but I managed to at
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least extract the baby blanket you were wrapped in on the day you were left on our
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porch. I wasn't sure if you wanted it but I thought it best to leave the choice up to
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you.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I washed it first. It had been in the attic for a while and was
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rather musty. The embroidery looks really well done. Years ago I heard my mum
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complaining that her sister had always been better at crafts and how that wasn't
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fair. I see now that she was right.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I want to thank you for accepting my apology at least and
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appreciate that you're okay with keeping in touch. I understand perfectly well that
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you would have no desire to see me any time soon, if ever. Should you change your
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mind, feel free to contact me. I will be looking forward to it.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>I hope you had a very happy Christmas.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Dudley Dursley<br/></em></p>
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<p>"It's my baby blanket," Harry said evenly, allowing his hand to caress the soft
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fabric. He wasn't sure what to feel at that revelation.</p>
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<p>"It was kind of him to send it to you," Snape said softly, watching as Harry's
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fingers traced the letter H gently.</p>
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<p>"I didn't know mum was any good at crafts," Harry said, laughing softly.</p>
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<p>"She was," Snape replied, "And she was able to combine her artwork with charms in
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the most lovely way. There probably was a charm on that blanket as well."</p>
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<p>"Do you think so?" Harry asked, eyes wide with wonder as if it was the first time
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he heard of the existence of charms.</p>
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<p>"It seems very likely," Snape said, "Allow me." He raised his wand and gently
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traced the embroidery with it as he incanted a spell under his breath. A very pale,
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soft light revealed itself for a very brief moment before fading.</p>
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<p>Snape smiled. "I should not be amazed that Lily's charm is still in effect – if
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slightly – but I still am."</p>
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<p>"What does it do?" Harry asked.</p>
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<p>"It's a warming charm," Snape revealed, "Quite simple but very elegantly applied.
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The fact that it survived for more than sixteen years – perhaps even seventeen
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depending on when she made it – proves just how capable a witch she truly was.</p>
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<p>Slowly, Snape's smile fell as he lost himself in the past, now tracing the
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embroidered letter H with his long, potion-stained fingers. Eventually, he couldn't
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suppress a slight sigh.</p>
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<p>"I know," Harry said as he placed a hand on top of Snape's. "I miss her too."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>It was late in the afternoon when Alex finally came over after Harry had sent
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Hedwig to fetch him. He was all eager and ready to go, never even contemplating the
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possibility that they might be feeding him poison. A fact that Snape found to be very
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unSlytherin, not that Alex cared about that particular opinion.</p>
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<p>"Okay," Harry urged as he held out the vial of potion. The liquid inside seemed to
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be swirling without prompting. "I think this might be the one. Are you ready?"</p>
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<p>"Please," Alex scoffed, "I was born ready!" With an exaggerated movement, he
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snatched the potion from Harry's hand and downed it in three consecutive gulps. He
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grimaced terribly after doing so.</p>
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<p>"That was ridiculously vile," he said, his face still contracting excessively,
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"Couldn't you have added some sugar or honey or anything?"</p>
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<p>"It doesn't work like that, Alex," Harry told him. From his peripheral vision, he
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noticed Snape rolling his eyes. He smiled and regarded Alex carefully. "How do you
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feel?"</p>
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<p>Alex looked at his hands and frowned a bit. "I don't feel any different," he
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admitted.</p>
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<p>"No queasiness?" Harry asked, "No tingling in your nose or fingers?"</p>
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<p>"My nose?" Alex asked, somewhat perplexed, "No, I feel nothing out of the
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ordinary."</p>
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<p>Harry handed Alex his trust Firebolt, letting it go somewhat reluctantly. "Be
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careful," he urged, "This broom is very important to me."</p>
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<p>"Oh sure," Alex said, "Your broom is. Never mind me, I'm sure I'll bounce if
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something goes wrong."</p>
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<p>Harry chuckled. "Severus will make sure you will," he assured him, "Now, mount it
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and try to push off a little."</p>
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<p>Alex mounted the broom and jumped, looking decidedly silly. He did so a few times
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and on the third try, he hovered in the air for a bit longer, as if he had taken the
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jump under water. Harry's eyes widened. "Yes," he said excitedly, "You've almost got
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it. Try again."</p>
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<p>Alex jumped a fourth time and this time he stayed in the air, hovering a few feet
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high. For now, the Firebolt stayed firmly in place but in the air nonetheless. Alex
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was trying his very best to stay balanced, occasionally throwing an arm to his side
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as to not roll over.</p>
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<p>"I'm doing it!" Alex shouted, "I'm flying!"</p>
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<p>"You are hovering," Snape corrected, "But it's an impressive feat nonetheless. For
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a muggle, that is."</p>
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<p>"Harry, this is great," Alex said in awe. The Firebolt lurched forward a few
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inches and Alex chuckled. "ho, boy," he told the Firebolt.</p>
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<p>"I must admit that this potion is a stroke of genius," Snape said, "Well
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done."</p>
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<p>Harry flushed at the notion of pride Snape exhibited and averted his eyes to look
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at Alex who was still fumbling somewhat. "I'll bring a second broom next time," Harry
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told him, "So we can fly together."</p>
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<p>"Or you can bring two more and Severus can join us as well," Alex offered
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excitedly.</p>
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<p>"I think not," Snape growled.</p>
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<p>Thankfully, no accidents happened. Snape hadn't even needed to cast a cushioning
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charm. In the end, Alex – though he talked big – did not have the courage to attempt
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any actual flying. Instead, he had hovered to and fro while Harry took notes. In the
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end, he timed the potion's duration at seventy-eight minutes. Enough time for most
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quidditch matches, should that ever become important.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Harry was stirring the fluid in the cauldron gently as he waited for it to shift
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in colour. Once it did, Hedwig grabbed a cluster of lavender and hopped over to
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Harry, extending her foot for him to take the plant from her.</p>
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<p>Harry chuckled. "You're such a clever girl, Hedwig," he said.</p>
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<p>"She behaves like a true familiar would," Snape said. He too was brewing but he
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was focusing on a blood replenishing potion while Harry took care of the calming
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draught. Both were relatively easy to brew and Madame Pomfrey had run out. When Harry
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had questioned why Slughorn couldn't brew the potions instead, Snape had told him
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that he'd rather not hand over all of his potion-making duties. He would miss them
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far too much.</p>
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<p>Harry was glad for it, really. Helping Snape brew like this was quite relaxing and
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fun. Knowing that it was for a good cause was merely secondary.</p>
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<p>As Harry sprinkled some bicorn horn dust into his potion, Snape turned down the
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fire underneath his cauldron to allow the brew to simmer for a few moments.</p>
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<p>"So, Harry," he said, wiping his hands on a cloth.</p>
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<p>"Hm?" Harry responded distantly.</p>
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<p>"I do wonder what your future plans are," Snape said. He placed two hands on his
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working station and leaned forward expectantly.</p>
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<p>Harry chuckled. "What do you mean?" he asked, "Isn't it kind of obvious by now?"
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he said as he gestured toward his cauldron.</p>
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<p>"That's not entirely what I meant," Snape told him.</p>
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<p>"Okay," Harry said slowly, "Do elaborate, then."</p>
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<p>"Have you given any thought to your romantic leanings?" Snape asked easily as he
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started chopping up some larvae of the Asian tiger mosquito, "You and Draco seemed to
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be rather close a few days ago."</p>
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<p>"Hold it right there!" Harry protested loud enough for Hedwig to flap her wings in
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disagreement. "I don't know where you got the idea but I'm not into Draco or any
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other boy for that matter."</p>
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<p>"Do calm yourself," Snape said, some amusement obvious in his voice, "I was merely
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enquiring."</p>
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<p>"For your information, I'm not interested in relationships right now," Harry said
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in annoyance, "I'm too busy working on my potions." He threw in his poppy seeds as if
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to emphasize that point.</p>
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<p>Snape chuckled. "I do disagree with you," he said, "As I've told you before, you
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need to spend time on things other than brewing and studying."</p>
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<p>"I'm already playing Quidditch," Harry protested, "And I hang out with my friends.
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I don't see why you're making such a big deal out of this."</p>
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<p>"I would simply hate for you to miss out, Harry," Snape replied, "You're in your
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seventh year and as far as I can tell, you haven't explored the possibilities at
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all."</p>
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<p>"Oh please tell me you're not saying what I think you're saying," Harry said
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desperately, finally looking away from his potion to look at Snape imploringly.</p>
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<p>"Need I spell it out for you?" Snape asked, raising a sardonic eyebrow.</p>
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<p>"How would you even know?' Harry objected, flushing slightly. "It's not like I
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told you much about my relationship with Ginny."</p>
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|
<p>"Ah, but you did," Snape countered with obvious ease, "You told me enough to know.
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And if that wasn't enough to go on, the current red hue on your cheeks is plenty
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obvious."</p>
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|
<p>The direction the conversation had taken was mortifying enough by itself but the
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|
way Snape seemed to enjoy this current trajectory peeved Harry immensely. "Would you
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stop?" he snarled, "What's it to you if I've had sex or not?"</p>
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|
<p>"I just don't want you to close yourself off just for the sake of brewing," Snape
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replied, not at all deterred. "It would be a pity if you –"</p>
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<p>"What?" Harry interrupted, a mischievous smile now tugging on his lips, "Become
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like you? Do tell, Severus. How much experience do you have?"</p>
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|
<p>"Do you really want to know?" Snape countered, crossing his arms. "Perhaps you
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would prefer if I showed you? How are your Occlumency shields nowadays?" The evil
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smirk on his face implied that Snape would follow through if Harry didn't let up.</p>
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<p>"Never mind!" Harry replied quickly, "I retract that statement. But honestly, as
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far as I can tell, you haven't been with anyone at least since I started school."</p>
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<p>"You would not be incorrect," Snape replied evenly. He grabbed a small jar of
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beetle eyes from the top shelf and shook it a few times, clearly starting to become
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uncomfortable himself.</p>
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<p>"So when will <em>you</em> be bringing home a pretty woman?" Harry teased, "Or
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man, I don't judge." He leaned forward on the back of his chair, his stirrer dangling
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lazily betwixt his fingers.</p>
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<p>"I am not interested," Snape said through gritted teeth. He sent Harry a deadly
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glare but the boy knew better than to flinch back by now.</p>
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<p>"Oh, but that won't do," Harry said, "You shouldn't spend all of your time brewing
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and working. You need to be able to let loose. Much like a few days ago."</p>
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<p>"Whatever do you mean?" Snape asked, momentarily stopping his chopping.</p>
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<p>"What, don't you remember?" Harry teased. He leaned his head in his hands as if he
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was recalling a precious memory. "Professor Bell was all over you!"</p>
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<p>"She was not," Snape sighed, "We were simply both somewhat inebriated." The
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darkening of Snape's cheeks did not escape Harry's attention.</p>
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<p>"Perhaps," Harry teased, "But you did seem pretty happy."</p>
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<p>"What part of inebriated don't you understand?" Snape countered harshly.</p>
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<p>"I think she fancies you," Harry said in a sing-songy voice. He ducked just in
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time when Snape threw a rag at his head.</p>
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<p>"I must admit that it is rather impressive how you've turned this conversation
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around to focus on me," Snape said, "But I concede. I will not force you into any
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romantic relationship of any sort. I simply wanted to express an interest in my son's
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life."</p>
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<p>"Then why couldn't you just say so?" Harry asked in exasperation.</p>
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<p>Snape sighed. "I would appreciate it if you kept me informed of your relationship
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status," he said, "Is that better?"</p>
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<p>"I'll see what I can do," Harry said, "But there's nothing going on right
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now."</p>
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<p>"As you say," Snape said."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>I write mainly for my personal enjoyment but I admit that getting reviews makes me
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really happy! So please take a moment to write something - it doesn't need to be much
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- And click that little review button. Thanks in advance!</p>
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