Skeeter Chronicles Chapter Four
Title: Skeeter Chronicles
Rating: This chapter PG
Author: SoLeo
Word Count: +1500
Warnings: *EWE*
Disclaimer: You know I don't own them.
Summary: In which Rita Skeeter attempts to get the exclusive of a lifetime.
AN: Yup, un-beta’d, but I haven’t gotten any feedback on horrible grammar and/or spelling, so I think I’m good for now. I’m blaming my husband on why this wasn’t out faster.
Chapter Four
I don’t hear from Harry again until the next week. He has a full schedule with his training and I have a school to get up and running by September. I think it unlikely that he has been gallivanting across England, Scotland and Wales as the Prophet would have me believe.
The small barn owl drops next to me at the table and extends its leg. Not willing to part with anything off my plate as a reward for doing its job I send it on its way with a wave of my hand. It hoots in annoyance, but leaves without my bacon.
“Severus,
I had a wonderful time last week, and hope we can meet again this weekend. It’s gotten a bit crazy over here the last couple of days. Ron said he would send this for me, so I hope you get it okay.
I’m thinking of putting the house back under fidelis and wanted your help with the process. This way I’ll be able to come and go as I need without harassment. Damn Skeeter. Unless you have any better ideas, because I am at the end of my rope.
I wanted to do something fun, besides dinner, as I have Saturday completely free. We’re between sections in the training and get an extra day off. I don’t want to just decide on something that you won’t enjoy so give me a few ideas please.
Let me know if you aren’t available because I can’t wait anymore to see you again and I’ll come ‘round before then.
Yours,
Harry”
Sentimental Gryffindor. I tuck the letter into my pocket as I pen a reply.
“Harry,
Your letter arrived just fine, my thanks to Mr. Weasley for his assistance. I enjoyed our time together as well and am looking forward to Saturday. I have several meetings during the morning, but should be free by the early afternoon.
I would be happy to assist you with placing a fidelis charm on your abode. If you’d like to take care of this on Saturday I recommend one more person of your choosing to help set the charm and plenty of food as it is quite a draining spell to perform.
As for the evening, I do enjoy the normal sorts of activities. Anything from the cinema, theater, dancing, concerts and simple strolls are enjoyable. Do not worry about planning a perfect date, as it surely won’t follow exactly if you do.
On your increasing difficulties with the press I do have a few ideas that I’d rather discuss with you in person.
Saturday is only two days away, but if you can’t contain yourself I wouldn’t send you away if you dropped by.
Severus”
Satisfied that my missive didn’t sound sappy or overtly emotional I summon a school owl to deliver it.
-/-/-/-/-/-
Harry meets me at the Three Broomsticks on Saturday at one, right after the lunch rush. I wave a goodbye to Rosemerta as we floo directly to Grimmauld Place. Young Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger are waiting in the kitchen as we arrive, I can hear them talking behind the closed door. The house elf is there too as we step out. It doesn’t even bat an eyelash at seeing me again, although the last time I had seen it it had a few choice words to share with me.
It’s a lot cleaner than I remember it ever being. Not having been in the place for over a year I am reminded strongly of the order meetings and Sirius Black. I take a moment to compose myself before greeting Harry’s friends.
“Thank you again Severus. This is going to help a lot.” Harry stops me before I open the door, with a chaste kiss on the cheek.
“It is in my best interests that you retain your privacy and this is the first step.”
“Of course. Let’s get started.”
Weasley and Granger stop talking very quickly as we enter. “Hello Professor. Thank you for agreeing to help.” Granger was always the most polite of the golden trio.
“Yeah, thanks Snape,” an elbow to his side from Granger changes Weasley’s tone. “Professor Snape. We really appreciate it. I don’t know why we took the charm off in the first place.”
“It was degrading already Ron. It needed to come down.” Harry reminded him. It seemed to be an old argument between them.
“Well, let’s get started Professor. What do we need to do?” Granger tied her hair back and pulled out her wand.
“I have a potion that you need to run along the outside edge of each floor. This will help focus the fidelis charm to the correct perimeter. One for each level of the structure. Granger you take the attic; Weasley the first floor; Potter ground floor; and I’ll get the basement.” Harry’s eyebrows furrowed slightly in concern. “Anything wrong with that?”
“No, nothing.” He responded rapidly.
I let them move out, but grab Harry’s wrist as he attempts to leave as well. “What is it really?”
He turns to look at me. “I just thought that we’d gotten past you calling me Potter. It was just unexpected. It doesn’t matter really.”
I thread my fingers threw his and pull his hand up to place a kiss upon his fingers. “It is hard to break such a habit, and I was unaware you were comfortable enough to let your friends know of our association. I will remember from now on. Harry.” I lower my voice just a little as I say his name and I see his eyes become filled with desire.
“Thank you, and of course they know about us. They helped me gather my courage to approach you even back when you wouldn’t let me see you.”
“Then I must think of a way to thank them for their heroism.”
“Come on you two, we haven’t got all day. Quit snogging and start helping.” Weasley calls from the staircase.
My lip quirks in irritation while Harry presses his lips together to not laugh out loud. “Maybe for now you can just not kill him and we’ll see how it goes from there.”
Half an hour later we all meet back in the sitting room, bottles empty.
“What next?” Weasley flops down on the loveseat and puts his feet onto the coffee table.
“Have you decided on who the secret keeper will be?” I ask Harry while glaring at the uncouth display.
“I was hoping you could be the secret keeper, unless you can’t because you have to cast the spell. Then I’d like Hermione.” Harry sits down on a settee, he pats the spot next to him in invitation and it takes me but a moment to join him on the comfortable furniture.
“If Ms. Granger has studied the spell I’m sure she will be able to cast it. I would be honored to be your secret keeper Harry.” He smiles that special smile, and it softens all of his features.
Granger knocks the red head’s dirty feet back to the floor and shoves him over so that she can sit next to him on the smaller couch. “I have read up on it, once Harry decided to put it back into place. I’m confident that I can cast it.”
“If you read up on it then I too am confident in your skills Ms. Granger. Your wand work was always superior.” She flushes at the first compliment I having freely given to her. It doesn’t clear the years of belittling and backhanded comments but it is a start to reconciling with them, for Harry’s sake.
We push the tables and chairs to the edge of the room and I draw an elaborate seal on the floor in chalk. The circle’s edge has complex runes running along the entire length. There are three inner circles, one for each participant, each of which gets their own runes; Gebo for sacrifice, Eihwaz for protection, and Algiz for shield.
I place Harry on the Gebo, and stand myself on the Algiz. Granger takes the last circle and once we nod that we are ready she begins the spell. I feel my pull of the circle and allow my magic to join in with both of them. The runes begin to glow as the magic fills the seal and moves outwards to fill the house. I feel drained by the time the spellcasting is over and the light finally dims, I notice the chalk has disappeared from the floor as well. My companions are as pale as myself and are shaking slightly from the strain.
Weasley begins to right the room while Kreacher brings in a large tea service. I feel ravenous, I don’t usually allow myself to channel that much magic at once. Harry sits next to me again on the settee and leans his head against my shoulder. A wave of fulfillment washes over me at the simple contact. It has been a gratifying afternoon, all things considered.
Rating: This chapter PG
Author: SoLeo
Word Count: +1500
Warnings: *EWE*
Disclaimer: You know I don't own them.
Summary: In which Rita Skeeter attempts to get the exclusive of a lifetime.
AN: Yup, un-beta’d, but I haven’t gotten any feedback on horrible grammar and/or spelling, so I think I’m good for now. I’m blaming my husband on why this wasn’t out faster.
Chapter Four
I don’t hear from Harry again until the next week. He has a full schedule with his training and I have a school to get up and running by September. I think it unlikely that he has been gallivanting across England, Scotland and Wales as the Prophet would have me believe.
The small barn owl drops next to me at the table and extends its leg. Not willing to part with anything off my plate as a reward for doing its job I send it on its way with a wave of my hand. It hoots in annoyance, but leaves without my bacon.
“Severus,
I had a wonderful time last week, and hope we can meet again this weekend. It’s gotten a bit crazy over here the last couple of days. Ron said he would send this for me, so I hope you get it okay.
I’m thinking of putting the house back under fidelis and wanted your help with the process. This way I’ll be able to come and go as I need without harassment. Damn Skeeter. Unless you have any better ideas, because I am at the end of my rope.
I wanted to do something fun, besides dinner, as I have Saturday completely free. We’re between sections in the training and get an extra day off. I don’t want to just decide on something that you won’t enjoy so give me a few ideas please.
Let me know if you aren’t available because I can’t wait anymore to see you again and I’ll come ‘round before then.
Yours,
Harry”
Sentimental Gryffindor. I tuck the letter into my pocket as I pen a reply.
“Harry,
Your letter arrived just fine, my thanks to Mr. Weasley for his assistance. I enjoyed our time together as well and am looking forward to Saturday. I have several meetings during the morning, but should be free by the early afternoon.
I would be happy to assist you with placing a fidelis charm on your abode. If you’d like to take care of this on Saturday I recommend one more person of your choosing to help set the charm and plenty of food as it is quite a draining spell to perform.
As for the evening, I do enjoy the normal sorts of activities. Anything from the cinema, theater, dancing, concerts and simple strolls are enjoyable. Do not worry about planning a perfect date, as it surely won’t follow exactly if you do.
On your increasing difficulties with the press I do have a few ideas that I’d rather discuss with you in person.
Saturday is only two days away, but if you can’t contain yourself I wouldn’t send you away if you dropped by.
Severus”
Satisfied that my missive didn’t sound sappy or overtly emotional I summon a school owl to deliver it.
-/-/-/-/-/-
Harry meets me at the Three Broomsticks on Saturday at one, right after the lunch rush. I wave a goodbye to Rosemerta as we floo directly to Grimmauld Place. Young Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger are waiting in the kitchen as we arrive, I can hear them talking behind the closed door. The house elf is there too as we step out. It doesn’t even bat an eyelash at seeing me again, although the last time I had seen it it had a few choice words to share with me.
It’s a lot cleaner than I remember it ever being. Not having been in the place for over a year I am reminded strongly of the order meetings and Sirius Black. I take a moment to compose myself before greeting Harry’s friends.
“Thank you again Severus. This is going to help a lot.” Harry stops me before I open the door, with a chaste kiss on the cheek.
“It is in my best interests that you retain your privacy and this is the first step.”
“Of course. Let’s get started.”
Weasley and Granger stop talking very quickly as we enter. “Hello Professor. Thank you for agreeing to help.” Granger was always the most polite of the golden trio.
“Yeah, thanks Snape,” an elbow to his side from Granger changes Weasley’s tone. “Professor Snape. We really appreciate it. I don’t know why we took the charm off in the first place.”
“It was degrading already Ron. It needed to come down.” Harry reminded him. It seemed to be an old argument between them.
“Well, let’s get started Professor. What do we need to do?” Granger tied her hair back and pulled out her wand.
“I have a potion that you need to run along the outside edge of each floor. This will help focus the fidelis charm to the correct perimeter. One for each level of the structure. Granger you take the attic; Weasley the first floor; Potter ground floor; and I’ll get the basement.” Harry’s eyebrows furrowed slightly in concern. “Anything wrong with that?”
“No, nothing.” He responded rapidly.
I let them move out, but grab Harry’s wrist as he attempts to leave as well. “What is it really?”
He turns to look at me. “I just thought that we’d gotten past you calling me Potter. It was just unexpected. It doesn’t matter really.”
I thread my fingers threw his and pull his hand up to place a kiss upon his fingers. “It is hard to break such a habit, and I was unaware you were comfortable enough to let your friends know of our association. I will remember from now on. Harry.” I lower my voice just a little as I say his name and I see his eyes become filled with desire.
“Thank you, and of course they know about us. They helped me gather my courage to approach you even back when you wouldn’t let me see you.”
“Then I must think of a way to thank them for their heroism.”
“Come on you two, we haven’t got all day. Quit snogging and start helping.” Weasley calls from the staircase.
My lip quirks in irritation while Harry presses his lips together to not laugh out loud. “Maybe for now you can just not kill him and we’ll see how it goes from there.”
Half an hour later we all meet back in the sitting room, bottles empty.
“What next?” Weasley flops down on the loveseat and puts his feet onto the coffee table.
“Have you decided on who the secret keeper will be?” I ask Harry while glaring at the uncouth display.
“I was hoping you could be the secret keeper, unless you can’t because you have to cast the spell. Then I’d like Hermione.” Harry sits down on a settee, he pats the spot next to him in invitation and it takes me but a moment to join him on the comfortable furniture.
“If Ms. Granger has studied the spell I’m sure she will be able to cast it. I would be honored to be your secret keeper Harry.” He smiles that special smile, and it softens all of his features.
Granger knocks the red head’s dirty feet back to the floor and shoves him over so that she can sit next to him on the smaller couch. “I have read up on it, once Harry decided to put it back into place. I’m confident that I can cast it.”
“If you read up on it then I too am confident in your skills Ms. Granger. Your wand work was always superior.” She flushes at the first compliment I having freely given to her. It doesn’t clear the years of belittling and backhanded comments but it is a start to reconciling with them, for Harry’s sake.
We push the tables and chairs to the edge of the room and I draw an elaborate seal on the floor in chalk. The circle’s edge has complex runes running along the entire length. There are three inner circles, one for each participant, each of which gets their own runes; Gebo for sacrifice, Eihwaz for protection, and Algiz for shield.
I place Harry on the Gebo, and stand myself on the Algiz. Granger takes the last circle and once we nod that we are ready she begins the spell. I feel my pull of the circle and allow my magic to join in with both of them. The runes begin to glow as the magic fills the seal and moves outwards to fill the house. I feel drained by the time the spellcasting is over and the light finally dims, I notice the chalk has disappeared from the floor as well. My companions are as pale as myself and are shaking slightly from the strain.
Weasley begins to right the room while Kreacher brings in a large tea service. I feel ravenous, I don’t usually allow myself to channel that much magic at once. Harry sits next to me again on the settee and leans his head against my shoulder. A wave of fulfillment washes over me at the simple contact. It has been a gratifying afternoon, all things considered.