rakina (rakina) wrote in snape_potter, @ 2009-05-06 16:36:00 |
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Current mood: | tired |
FIC: Tapestry, by Rakina, chapter 14 of ? PG
Title: Tapestry, A Journey in Eight Stages
Author: Rakina
Rating: PG-PG13 so far, this chapter is pretty blameless.
Pairing: Severus Snape/Harry Potter
Summary: Harry only has one thing from his parents: a blanket. But his mum and dad were magical, and so it turns out to be no ordinary blanket, after all.
Beta: Thank you, to hel_bee and keyairreem for the fantastic beta jobs! The delay was me, not them.
Disclaimer: I am not making any money from the characters which belong to JK Rowling. No disrespect intended. I do, however, lay claim to the plot and original characters.
Previous chapters here
There's no Severus and very little Harry in this chapter, but maybe it'll clear up a bit of stuff . Just sayin'.
*points to icon* That's where we're going, slowly.
Hope you'll read this anyway *prods*.
Chapter 14: A Surprise in Hogsmeade
"Hogsmeade's the best place to get Halloween stuff," Sid declared earnestly.
"Yeah, especially Zonko's," Liam agreed.
"What about Diagon Alley?" Hermione always had to present a different viewpoint. "There is a wider range of shops there."
"Yeah, but who wants to mess about in Slug and Jiggers or Madam Malkin's?" Harry asked. "And we're not allowed down Knockturn Alley where all the best stuff would be."
"Yeah, I've heard you can get genuine body parts there!" Sid said rather ghoulishly. The boys looked at each other with wide eyes.
"Just what is this fascinating 'stuff' you keep on about buying?" Hermione asked exasperatedly.
"Well I don't think Flourish and Blotts sells it," Sid sniggered.
"I want one of those crawling mummy hands from Zonko's," Harry added. "I'm going to leave it outside Filch's door, knock, and run off. Can you imagine the look on his face when he sees it?"
The boys chuckled. "And with any luck it'll get Mrs Norris around the throat!" Liam added and they all burst into fits of laughter.
"Really, I think you're missing the whole point of the festival," Hermione huffed. "Halloween is one of the axis points of the year, considered by many to be the most powerful. It is very important for magical alignment. If you time it properly, at midnight there is a moment of great power in which you can cast-"
The boys just laughed harder and Hermione gave up. Sometimes being friends with boys was exasperating. Once let off the school grounds they tended to become rather manic. She would have been able to understand it if they'd been to Honeydukes and were high on sugar, but they hadn't even reached the village yet.
As they rounded a corner in the path, that situation was remedied as the shops and houses of Hogsmeade appeared before them.
The small town was already crowded with Hogwarts' students. Students from third year upwards were allowed to visit Hogsmeade on designated weekends throughout the year and this one – the first of the year in mid-October – looked like a full turnout. Harry doubted that anyone old enough was left at school except the teachers remaining behind to supervise the younger pupils. He spotted several teachers among the throng, some of whom were chaperones. Hagrid was immediately obvious, towering above the rest of the shoppers even though he was currently bending down to peer into the windows of the Pet Parlour. The somewhat rowdy boys calmed down when they caught sight of everyone and Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.
"Zonko's first?" Harry suggested.
The boys happily agreed. Hermione had no wish to go so she arranged to meet up with them later in Hogsmeade's branch of Flourish and Blotts. She planned to do all her other shopping and end up there so she could have the maximum time possible in the bookshop. Grinning, the boys agreed and hurried off along the High Street as fast as they could, given the number of shoppers they had to avoid. Hermione watched them go, shaking her head. They should be calmer later once they'd explored the joke shop and Honeydukes and spent their pocket money. It was impossible to talk to them while they were in this mood.
Hermione headed to Gladrags first. She needed a new bra and maybe some pyjamas. She hated wearing nightdresses and that was all her mum ever bought for her. She passed Zonko's but couldn't see the boys in the throng packing the small shop. Hermione paused briefly outside Gladrags to double-check her money as she was determined to stick to her budget. As she stood there she became aware of a figure on the other side of the street. What seemed odd was that the person was standing still too – she could see his feet beneath his robes and he wasn't going anywhere. That was odd only because everyone else was bustling about in such a hurry. Still, Hermione raised her head to see who it was, but the boy had already turned away, heading along the lane towards the Hog's Head. Hermione mentally shrugged and went inside.
It didn't take too long to buy a new bra. Wizarding underwear adjusted itself to a perfect fit when you tried it on for the first time and constantly readjusted itself throughout its life. It saved the effort of knowing what size you were. All you had to do was buy the style you liked best. Hermione's bra was sensible white cotton – except for the top edging that consisted of a row of sweet silvery lace. A delicate yellow bow rested in the centre and would nestle between her breasts. It was prettier than her mum would have chosen, but Hermione was sure it was not frivolous or – Merlin forbid – sexy. She also bought two pairs of pyjamas in pastel soft-feel cotton, one in blue and one in green. The assistant packed her purchases into a Gladrags carrier bag and Hermione paid and left the shop.
As Hermione turned towards the Pet Parlour for the next item on her list – some cat treats for her familiar, Crookshanks – she caught sight of the same figure standing on the other side of the street. At least she thought it was the same person – he looked like a tall, broad boy who would have made a good rugby forward. He had his cloak hood pulled up and that was a strange thing to do on such a sunny autumn day. The crowds wouldn't let her get a good look at him without being obvious about it and it wasn't as if he was following her. He was simply a student spending some time alone in Hogsmeade, as many were doing, herself included. Perhaps he didn't want his friends to bother him and so he'd pulled up his hood to avoid being recognised. Giving herself a mental kicking for being so suspicious, Hermione hurried back the way she'd first come.
Hagrid was inside the Pet Parlour now, almost filling one aisle with his huge presence. "Hello, Hermione," he said as she entered the shop. "Nice day fer autumn, isn't it?"
"Hi, Hagrid. Yes, it's lovely out there. I ought to take some time to sit in the park before I head back but I've got a lot of shopping to do today. It's the first chance I've had since I went to Diagon Alley in August. And that was to buy school supplies. This time I'm buying personal items."
"'Tis a great place to come but easier when it's not so crowded," Hagrid said, trying to press against the shelves without spilling anything as a plump little wizard tried to get past him. "I should come back next week, but I ran out of Bonzo's Teeth-cleanin' Bones fer Fang." He pointed to a sack he held under one huge arm. "Thought I'd better get the jumbo sack. He eats 'em by the dozen."
Hermione smiled. Fang was almost as giant a dog as his master was a man. Of course, Hagrid wasn't an ordinary man, he was half-giant so it was understandable that he wouldn't keep a toy poodle or a Jack Russell.
"Well, I'd best be off and leave the shops free fer you lot to get into. I take up a bit of room, I know it." He winked and headed off to the cashier with his sack-load of dog bones while Hermione headed for the cat section.
Hermione had found Crookshanks' favourite treats and was about to go to the cashier when she realised she was standing by the window. It was too good an opportunity to miss. Casually, trying to look like she wasn't looking at all, she observed the street outside the shop. Mostly she could only see potential shoppers looking into the Pet Parlour or people passing by on the pavement outside. But occasionally, when there was a gap in the passers-by, she got a glimpse of the other side of the road. And surprise, surprise, there was the large boy, standing there and watching the shop door as if he couldn't decide whether to come in or not. That didn't fool Hermione for a minute. She was beginning to think that if she stayed in the Pet Parlour, the boy would stay outside. Because now she was pretty sure he was following her.
But why? Why would anyone follow Hermione Granger? He was dressed as a Hogwarts student and so presumably he could talk to her anytime. Why follow her around Hogsmeade? Unless he wasn't really a student... Perhaps he was a reporter for the Daily Prophet, trying to interview Harry Potter's friend. Hermione had been asked about that before and had always told them no, but if wizarding reporters were anything like Muggle ones that wouldn't stop them trying. She considered walking up to him and asking him what he was up to, but if he was a reporter that would backfire and she'd end up having to talk to him, which she didn't want to do.
Hermione ended up doing something she would never normally do – she dithered, torn between continuing her shopping trip as planned or going to find the boys and ask their help with her stalker. Eventually she opted to carry on shopping. The boy (or man) hadn't done anything except hang around and maybe she was imagining his interest in her anyway. She took Crookshanks' treats and went to the front of the shop to pay.
Hermione decided to give Scrivenshaft's a miss until the next Hogsmeade weekend and head directly to Flourish and Blotts instead. The boys had agreed to meet her there eventually and it was no hardship to spend the intervening time browsing. She had a couple of books she'd like to buy anyway. If her stalker wanted to stand around outside the bookshop he'd be waiting a long time. Grinning to herself, she hurried in through the double doors and soon forgot everything but the joys of exploring shelves upon shelves of magical books.
The boys arrived a couple of hours later, though to Hermione it seemed just minutes ago that she'd found the Animagus section.
"You going to become an Animagus, Herm?" Liam asked, looking over her shoulder at the book she was flicking through.
"I'd love to," Hermione replied, smiling. "But I'm not sure I've got time at the moment. Though if I knew someone who could tutor me, I'd take it up straightaway. I think it's fascinating to speculate what kind of animal you'd turn into."
"Yeah," Sid said, impressed. "I'd love to do it too, but I don't think I'll ever be good enough."
"It just takes commitment," Hermione said encouragingly. "Anyone can do it if they put in the work."
Sid looked doubtful, and Liam rolled his eyes. "Not everyone finds it as easy as you, Hermione. But I bet Harry could do it right away."
Harry, who'd been reading the book upside-down from in front of Hermione, looked startled. "What? What makes you say that?"
"You've got that link to wolves, haven't you? Bet you'd be a wolf Animagus, Harry."
"I've got some kind of link to werewolves, Liam, which is a different thing. And I bet it'd be just as difficult for me as anyone else. It's advanced magic."
"Yes, that's true," Hermione agreed. "Professor McGonagall said she didn't master it until she was twenty-three."
"So, if you've finished then, Hermione," Liam pressed, "I hear the call of a Butterbeer with my name on."
Hermione gave him a look. "No, actually. I've still got the Arithmancy section to do. There's a book I've been looking for ever since I finished this year's text."
"Which was a week before school started," Liam said drolly. "Why don't you come along to the Three Broomsticks when you're ready then," he continued. "I'm fed up of standing about in overcrowded shops."
"You'd rather sit in an overcrowded pub instead," Hermione retorted, but seeing his expression she added, "Go on then. I won't be long, I promise. I'll just go through the Arithmancy books." She slid the Animagus book back onto its shelf with obvious regret.
"See you later!" the boys called. They were already heading for the door having had enough of the bookshop.
Hermione shook her head. "Boys."
Hermione was lining up to pay for Adventures in Arabian Arithmancy, by T E Lawrence, a wizard who had quite a reputation among Muggles as well. In front of her, a wizard in purple robes was balancing a stack of books; some of them were obviously from the Used Books section judging by the tattered state of their bindings. He reached the cashier and plonked the books down on the counter making a small cloud of book-dust rise up around them. The cashier coughed. Hermione couldn't help but sigh. Her arms were aching from carrying several bags of shopping as well as the books she was buying and she was aware the boys would be waiting impatiently back at the pub. She had a feeling she'd been a bit longer in the Arithmancy section than she'd promised.
"Move your bag, missy."
Hermione turned to see an elderly witch struggling with a pull-along trolley. It was remarkably like the Muggle contraption Hermione had seen old ladies pulling around her home town, but it was no doubt charmed to pull itself or be extra-light. It still needed floor-space, however. Hermione shifted to give the old lady room. "Sorry."
As she turned her head to the front again she felt the hair rise on the back of her neck. There he was – the stalker, standing outside the shop door. He had to be waiting for her – it was too much like coincidence. Well, she'd show him! Once she'd paid she intended to go out there and have it out with him. Whoever the hell he was. She glared and the old witch shrank back. "Oh, not you," Hermione said distractedly. "Him!"
The old witch looked around to where Hermione was pointing but the hooded figure had gone. Hermione growled in frustration.
The wizard in front finally got sorted – his purchases packed and paid for and his future orders taken. It had taken awhile and then the cashier asked Hermione to wait a little longer while he took out a magical duster and cleaned his counter before finishing up with a squirt of scented air to replace the musty smell of the last customer's old tomes. Finally, in relief, Hermione put her two books down, paid for them and accepted yet another shopping bag. Nodding politely to the cashier and the elderly witch, she headed for the door, wondering if she'd see him out there... her stalker.
There was no sign of him, so Hermione turned towards the Three Broomsticks and began to walk along. She took the opportunity to stop at every shop window. Her strategy paid off when, in the window of Honeydukes, she saw not only the multicoloured sweets set out in a many-shaped display, but the reflection of the hooded figure of her stalker. She held quite still, checking to be sure she recognised him, then turned and called out across the street.
"Why don't you join me, Vincent?"
The boy started and turned as if to leave but he must have thought better of it. Vincent Crabbe turned back and crossed the High Street, coming to stand beside her outside the sweet shop. The crowds were considerably thinner now and they didn't get shoved aside, though it wasn't the most comfortable place to confront someone, Hermione thought.
"I suppose you're following me for Malfoy?" she snapped. "But why is he interested in me?"
"He's not," Vincent denied, his deep voice sounding quite startling this close up. "That is, I'm not following you for him."
"Then why on earth are you following me? Is it because of Harry?"
"Why should it be because of him?" There was obvious confusion in the deep voice now.
"Everyone wants to ask him things," Hermione explained. "I've had people approach me quite often because I'm his friend. But they don't want to talk about me, only about Harry. Just a couple of months ago a journalist came up to me in the holidays, even though I was in a Muggle neighbourhood at the time. He wanted me to agree to feed them information, to spy on the Chosen One."
Vincent looked at her steadily, surprising her with the seriousness of his expression. "Well I'm not interested in Potter."
Hermione caught the emphasis. "Then who?"
"You. That's why I was following you. I've done it before, but you've never noticed."
Hermione looked at him in confusion and became even more confused when she saw the warmth in his eyes. She frowned, her mind working quickly. "You... You're the one who sent me that Valentine's card, aren't you?"
Vincent nodded. Hermione looked at him closely, but there was no sign of joking or malicious intent. "Don't tell anyone, Hermione," he begged. "Draco would kill me."
"I hardly think so. He's not that bad, surely. And if he is, why are you friends with him?"
"It sounds simple the way you say it," Vincent mused, "but it isn't. He... his family... they're rich, very powerful. My father is employed by Mr Malfoy. I can't afford to upset Draco."
"Hmm. In that case why did you send the card?"
"I..." Vincent came to a halt, nonplussed. Hermione felt touched when she saw his cheeks flush and realised he was blushing. His next words must have been difficult for such a strong boy to say: "Because I like you, Hermione. You're so clever and... and you help people. I've seen you helping Sidney Padley all the time in Potions and you help anyone who asks. I've watched you."
Hermione blushed in pleasure. She wondered how long Vincent had been watching her, taking note of these things. She sometimes thought no one noticed what she did, that they all took it for granted. Strange that it was a Slytherin and one of Draco's bodyguards who should do so when her own friends sometimes made her feel invisible. "It's very nice of you, Vincent, but you see... well, there's someone else," she admitted, feeling awful for saying it and now blushing in her turn. But it would have been crueller not to in the long run.
Vincent's face fell. "Oh," he said in a broken voice. "It's okay, I understand."
Vince turned and started to walk away in the opposite direction. Hermione found she was dithering again, all at sea with this kind of encounter, especially with someone she hardly knew, someone who'd been feeling something for her for quite a while by the sound of it. Pulling herself together, she called, "No, wait! It's not like that. Look, I can see what you're thinking, and it's not that I don't like you. I do. In fact I would like to be your friend, Vincent. If you like. Er... it's just that I don't like you romantically. But I'm sure we could be friends."
At first Vincent looked like he was going to snap back that he didn't want anything to do with her now and he opened his mouth to reply, but then he closed it again, hesitating. Finally he said, "I can't be your friend."
Hermione frowned in confusion. "Then how did you think you could be my boyfriend?"
"It would have been a secret," Vince said.
Hermione shook her head sadly. "I don't want someone I have to sneak about with. Surely you understand that?"
"Yeah. I knew it was hopeless, Hermione... I just had to try." His shoulders slumped and he turned away again.
Hermione reached out a hand and gripped his arm, stopping him. "Please, Vincent, don't go. Let's agree to be friends at least. Even if it is a bit of a secret. I could help you with schoolwork too if you'd like."
Vincent turned back and looked at her, his face showing surprise, then clearing to show delight. "Maybe that would work," he said contemplatively. "And in return I could stop Draco sometimes. He gets a bit carried away. He's used to getting everyone to do what he says straightaway but he does listen to us sometimes."
Hermione smiled. "That would be good. I think Harry would be his friend if he wanted." She began to walk towards the pub, aware her friends would be wondering where she'd got to.
"Draco will never be Potter's friend," Vincent said, walking beside her. "Potter is going to destroy the Dark creatures. Our families have Dark blood; it's what makes us strong. It's always been there. If he's saying it's wrong then he's against us, it's as simple as that. Most of the wizarding world is against us these days," he added ruefully.
"He doesn't say it's wrong," Hermione said quietly, not really wanting to say these things in the middle of the High Street.
"Maybe... but he's going to kill them all, so he is against us."
"I... I don't think so, Vince."
"Then why is he so obsessed with them?" Vincent asked, his voice rising. "We all see him and hear what the rest of you say. Everyone says he can understand them and we all know he's immune to them, vampires and werewolves too."
"Well, he's survived every time he's encountered one," Hermione admitted. "But that doesn't prove he's immune, not really." Vince looked doubtful, but she ploughed on. "And I don't think he wants to kill anyone, Vincent."
"Not anyone maybe, but they're not considered to be people by any but the old families. The old families recognise their value, hell, they interbreed with them, but the majority of wizards don't agree with that nowadays."
"I never could understand how that works," Hermione admitted, perplexed. "Let alone understand how it could have started in the first place."
"I suppose it was an accident at first. In most families it's usually werewolves they breed with," Vince explained. "While they're untransformed, of course. But some families have vampire blood and they're the strongest. And if you have both in your bloodline you're about as strong as a wizard can get."
Hermione shook her head, amazed that anyone would willingly set out to breed with a vampire. The thought of it made her shudder. Presumably Pureblood witches had stronger backbones. "I suppose the Malfoys have both types in their family?"
Vince nodded. "Yes, though the vampire blood comes from a long time ago. My family has some werewolf, but that's long ago too, seven generations back. It's so dilute we've become weak, virtually like ordinary wizards. When the time comes, I know my parents want me or my brother to choose a werewolf bride in order to bring power back into our bloodline. But if Potter kills them all..." He didn't finish, just grimaced.
"He won't. I know he won't," Hermione declared hotly. "He sees them as people too." She put her hand back on his arm and Vince looked up hopefully. "I can help you, Vince. And I do want to be your friend."
He nodded. "Friends it is then – although it will have to be secret."
Hermione nodded back. "For now," she said and then turned and slipped into the Three Broomsticks.