"You can clear away the cooking mess while Harry reheats the food," said Snape.
Draco sighed, even though it only took him a few waves of his wand to see to it.
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Coming Soon in A Summer Like None Other:
Chapter 22: "Shock and Awww"
Comments very welcome,
Aspen in the Sunlight and Mercredi
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Chapter 22: Shock and Awww
http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=13093&chapter=22
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A Summer Like None Other
by Aspen in the Sunlight
and
Mercredi
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Chapter Twenty-Two:
Shock and Awww
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When Draco arrived with Rhiannon, Harry, Snape and Hermione were already seated in the lobby of the Wizarding Home for Displaced and Orphaned Juvenile Squibs. Emmeleia Volentier came out to meet them before anyone even approached the dreaded bell.
Her smile, Harry thought, wasn't exactly warm as she glanced over the register Harry and Hermione had signed, but that stood to reason. She was probably a little bit embarrassed about the ugly letter she'd sent Draco.
The least she could do is apologise, thought Harry.
But no, that didn't seem to be her style. Her voice was crisp as she addressed them all. "Welcome back. If the young people will follow me to my office, I'll give you a brief orientation before we proceed with the tour."
Harry thought it was a little impertinent of her to practically dismiss Snape, like that, but maybe it was just as well. Snape had already announced his intention to go to Hogwarts that morning. Whether that was to speak with Dumbledore, or work with Remus again, Harry didn't know. He hadn't asked.
No point, really. As long as Remus had to go about looking like Lucius, Snape would just say no to Harry's requests to see him, wouldn't he?
Oh, hell. Maybe Snape just needed to brew a couple of potions, or something. The cottage wasn't set up very well for that, though Snape had made do a couple of times during the summer. Brewing, for Snape and Draco at least, was obviously an entertaining way to spend a long summer evening. It was less than thrilling for Harry, particularly since Snape basically insisted Harry join in to keep his skills honed.
What skills, Harry had almost asked once, but he'd managed to hold the question in. He wasn't that bad at Potions, after all. He just thought he could do without having to study them during his holiday.
Well, at least the last time he'd whinged on about missing the telly, Draco had actually understood what Harry was talking about.
"Too bad we can't have one," Draco had lamented, pulling a face. Apparently he was going over to Rhiannon's house a lot during her lunch hour, and watching it there. He still found it fascinating, how the pictures could move without any magic being involved.
"I'll see you both at home," Snape said now, interrupting Harry's thoughts. "Be certain to travel back with Miss Granger."
"Yes, Dad," said Draco, rolling his eyes a bit.
Harry grinned. "We'll be licensed, soon enough."
"Until later, then." Snape nodded politely at Hermione and Rhiannon, and then headed towards the outside door. He didn't get far, though. "Mr. Snape," called Rhiannon softly, hurrying to catch up to him. "My parents would like to invite you for next Saturday at six p.m. Would that be all right, do you think?"
"Certainly, Miss Miller."
"Oh, Rhiannon, please."
"Rhiannon, then."
"Wonderful. I'll see you then, if not before."
"If not before?" Hermione quietly asked Harry. "What about the pool?"
"Oh, we'll probably see her at free swim, I guess." Harry shrugged. "But my sequence of lessons is over. Thank God, too. That last session, Roger practically swam me to death."
"No whingeing, now," said Draco lightly as Rhiannon joined them again. "You know perfectly well that you begged for those swimming lessons."
"I did not--"
Emmeleia interrupted the banter. "Would you come through now, please?"
The moment her back was turned, Draco made a bit of a face. Harry almost laughed, though privately, he felt sort of sorry for the woman. It couldn't be easy for her to have learned she'd made such a terrible mistake. Snape might not have yelled at her, but he'd probably lectured some, and Harry knew how it felt to be on the receiving end when Snape felt like delivering a scathing assessment of your behaviour.
Besides, that whole story, her history with Lucius? It was really creepy. Harry felt sorry for her, even though it had been pretty awful of her to take it out on Draco like that.
As soon as they were out of sight of the reception area, Emmeleia turned to face the group, her features rather grim. "Your wands, please."
Hermione started.
Probably a bit mean of him, Harry knew, but he couldn't help but think it would be amusing, what was coming next. Snape had thought of all this, of course. He'd remembered that visitors weren't allowed wands in the presence of the children, and that Harry and Draco--Hermione too--would be asked to surrender theirs for the duration of the visit.
And like a true Slytherin, he'd had a contingency plan in mind.
"Oh, sure," said Harry easily, drawing the twig Snape had transfigured to look like an authentic wand. It wasn't, though. With no core, it was nothing but a bit of wood. Emmeleia would have no way of knowing that, however.
Hermione's mouth dropped open a little, but she was too quick-thinking to say what she'd just realised.
Smiling widely, Draco handed over his "wand," as well.
"Miss Granger?"
Hermione looked outraged that she was the only one who had to surrender an actual wand, but she did it without complaint. What could she say, really? She wasn't going to give the game away.
Bit ironic that Harry didn't even need his wand, but got to keep it on him. Then again, he did need it if he was going to cover up any wandless magic. Though he wasn't expecting to need to cast any.
Still, better safe than sorry.
"This way, then," said Emmeleia as soon as she came back from putting their wands away. Harry wondered over that, briefly. What did she use, a Muggle safe, or something? Bit stupid; a simple Alohomora would probably open it. But then, that would require a wand.
Well, for most wizards, anyway. Not for Harry.
A little bit stunned, Harry realised then that he was starting to think like a wizard who didn't need to rely on a wand. Part of him thought it was about time . . . but another part of him almost cringed. One more way for him to be different from all his friends. He wasn't sure he wanted to get used to that. Sometimes, he wanted to be "just Harry" again. He didn't want dark powers and wandless magic and seer dreams and the scariest prophecy ever hanging over his head!
No point in wishes like that, though, so Harry tried to push them aside.
Emmeleia's businesslike demeanour helped distract him. She didn't mince words as she led them through the various parts of the orphanage. Drawn out by Hermione's questions, she began discoursing at length about "the rights and lifestyle realities of the magically challenged."
Harry noticed Rhiannon frowning at the phrase, but really, what could she expect? It was better than the word squib, wasn't it?
"Hogwarts, no doubt, completely glosses these issues over," Emmeleia continued as they made their way up a flight of stairs.