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"I suppose the consequences of getting caught sneaking into a Death Eater meeting are a bit more severe than they are if we get caught by Mum or Filch with our usual tricks. But maybe that just means we're maturing. We're doing something worth doing, and if anything goes wrong, Snape can let them know about it." George sounded much braver than he felt, but he and Fred took turns bolstering each other, and apparently it was now his turn. |
Tonks took the spatula from Ginny's hand and gave her a small smile. "Yeah, I can only imagine what it must be like, especially for someone like Harry who likes to get into the thick of things. But, really, we can't afford to lose him so, I'm afraid your stuck here, like sitting ducks while we try and figure out what we're going to do to make the first move," she sighed, managing to get the batter in the pan and carefully flipping it over, her tongue sticking out a bit as she concentrated very hard to ensure she didn't mess it up. |
Harry rolled out of bed grumpily and ran his hand through his hair, messing it up. He walked downstairs in his pajamas to find Tonks and Ginny in the kitchen attempting to cook and seemiong to have a conversation at the same time. "That's not my breakfast you're burning, is it?" He asked, pointing to the stove. |
Ginny was about to respond to Tonks, not pleased with the idea of being a sitting duck, when Harry entered the room. His hair was sticking straight up and he looked so sleep rumpled and adorable. Ginny left Tonks to the food and crossed the room to his side. "Honestly, Potter. Do you even brush that hair?" She ran her fingers through it, bringing it even more on end. "I think you should have to make your own breakfast. If you expect a lifetime of someone making you food, you can keep on expecting it." |
"That's true," Tara responded. "You DID come to Diagon Alley with some errands in mind. Are you going to be held up by us too much? I think Dani has a bit of a crush on Draco, and she wants to try on robes for you both. I'm not sure she understands that they aren't party dresses yet." They turned the corner and entered Madame Malkin's, Tara and Snape catching up with Dani. |
"I can't make my own breakfast..." Harry said, hugging Ginny to his side. "Insane talk... making my own breakfast.... Did you sleep well?" He asked. |
Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry's waist and squeezed him quickly before she ducked from his embrace and skittered back across the kitchen. "I don't know, Harry. I think you can manage toast. And maybe a banana. That's not too hard for a gourmet like you." |
"I have no pressing engagements today. Unless I am called away unexpectedly, of course," Snape replied as they entered Madame Malkins. A few of the clerks were arguing behind the desk. One, particularly angry and disappointed clerk came towards Snape while the other, with a triumphant grin, approach Tara. Snape was quite used to this treatment. He didn't come to this store often but, when he did, he tended to unnerve the clerks. Only Madame Malkin, the owner, seemed able to cope with Snape's tastes and demenor. If she was not around, the clerks drew lots to see which one would have to deal with the Potions Master. |
Tara laughed at Snape's face and returned to his side, leaving Dani with the confused clerk as she babbled on about lace and bows. She grabbed his hand and tugged him a bit, waving off the flustered second clerk. "He's not shopping for himself today. He's with me. Why don't you help the little girl? She seems to want to try on everything in teh store." Tara squeezed his hand and didn't let it go as she watched Dani include the second clerk in her descriptions. |
Snape sneered at the clerks and was surprised when Tara took a firm grip on his hand and led him to a couple of chairs where they could sit and watch Dani being fitted for her robes. It was odd for him to see a child so excited about something as common as robes but, Snape needed to remember that this child did not grow up in a wizarding house. It wasn't until after Dani had been measured, still talking a mile a minute about what she wanted to the clerks, that Snape realized his hand was still firmly clasped with in Tara's. He looked down at it and back up at Tara, a neutral expression on his face as he wondered what it might mean. |
Tara watched Dani with great interest, feeling as if she could never get enough of her daughter's natural exuberance. Dani was so reserved with her, but with others she chattered away. How did such a reserved woman produce a daughter that made friends with everyone? She supposed it had to do in part with her age... and with her father. Tara made an internal grimace at the thought of Philipe. This... whatever it was with Snape was already more fulfilling and stimulating than the one night stand she'd had with the irresponsible and duplicitious man who'd been her mentor at the Observatory in Paris. At the thought of Snape, Tara turned her head and caught him staring at her. Only then did she realize she'd been sitting quite contentedly with her hand in his. She smiled distractedly at him, a skill she'd honed, before turning back to Dani and casually removing her hand. |
Harry shrugged and grabbed a banana out of a bowl on the counter. "So, Tonks," Harry said, leaning against the counter and peeling his banan absentmindedly, "What are you doing here?" |
Tonks handed a plate of pancakes to Ginny and turned to face Harry. "Dumbledore thought it might be a good idea to have another se... well, more senior member of the Order on hand here since Molly and Arthur have been so busy lately," she replied, turning back to flip more pancakes. |
Ginny accepted the pancakes from Tonks and watched Harry's reaction. He probably wouldn't be offended by Tonks coming to basically babysit them, especially not after the stunt they'd pulled at Diagon Alley so recently. However, Harry could be touchy when it came to people looking after him, and she hoped he would take the statement as Tonks had offered it. "These are good, Tonks. You might be on permanent breakfast duty." |
Snape found that he was slightly disappointed when she removed her hand but, he was also grateful. He had never been one to appreciate public displays of affection and holding hands was quite juvenille, really. Not to mention the fact that they were colleagues who happened to have a physical relationship but, no more than that. Friendship was out of the question though, it was becoming more and more difficult to deny that they were becoming something more than just physically intimate. Snape crossed his arms over his chest and watched the scurrying clerks, eyeing him warily every once in a while. He smirked at their fear and loathing of him; it was a typical response. So, why did the young Sinistra find him so companionable? |
Dani stared at her image in the mirror in delight. The robes were a pastel purple with gauzey layers floating down to her feet. A huge satin bow adorned it, and she turned to admire herself in the mirror. "Mum! Professor Snape!" She left where Draco was watching the proceedings in amusement and ran from the pedastal, stopping in front of them. "Its purple! Isn't it pretty?" She turned all around, letting the layers float as she twirled. "Can I get this?" Tara bit her lip and considered the meager bag of galleons in her pocket. Madame Malkin's wasn't too pricey, but a set of dress robes like that would surely eat up all the money she'd been forced to borrow from Dumbledore. "We'll see, darling," Tara finally responded vaguely. "Go and try on some regular black ones. We need several of those first." |
Snape noticed the hesitation and twinge of doubt and regret in Tara's voice as she answered the little girl's question about getting those disgustingly gawdy robes for the girl. He excused himself for a moment and walked toward the back of the store, giving a significant look to one of the clerks who followed behind him. The clerk was new and seemed petrified. Upon closer inspection, Snape found that the short wizard had been a student of his some years ago which accounted for the man's discomfort. After telling the clerk he wished to discreetly purchase a set of dress robes for the girl, the clerk seemed to relax and began to ask if he wished to purchase the ones the girl had just tried on. Snape blanched and requested the clerk find some in a silky emerald green, without bows, but, perhaps some silver beadwork. If the robes were satisfactory to the child and her mother in addition to getting the nod of approval from himself, the clerk was to package the robes up and include them with his own purchase of new dress robes. Snape returned to his chair by Tara after giving instructions for his own new set of dress robes. The clerk was left flustering about for robes to satisfy the picky Potions Master while Snape lounged back, watching the fanfare about Dani who seemed utterly delighted at the attention. |
The clerk began to bring even more robes to Dani that were beyond their price range, and Draco seemed to be occupying the girl's attention. When the clerk caught Snape's attention, Tara slipped off so she wouldn't have to watch Dani's delight any longer. It had seemed like such an important thing to send so much of her salary to Alanna, but now it left her without the resources to take care of her own daughter. And she certainly couldn't go back and ask Alanna for the money... Tara shook her head and fingered a set of dark blue robes with a lightly embroidered hemline of stars and tried not to hear Dani. |
Snape watched as Tara walked off but, before he could follow her, the clerk had come out with the robes he had asked for for himself while another came behind him with the green robes for Dani, along with the black, everyday robes, Tara had asked for. He stood and took to the pedastal beside Dani as the clerk began fixing the simple black dress robes he had magicked onto him. |
Dani's currently hideous pink robes were replaced by a silky set of forest green with intricate beadwork. Pink wasn't actually a color she liked, so Dani wasn't too upset, and she studied the robes she wore. The looked nice on her fair skin, and she turned to ask her mother about them. She was nowhere to be found. Instead, she turned to Snape, who was ignoring the man fussing about him and watching her. "Slytherin," Dani said with a nod and swished back and forth a bit to feel the fabric against her legs. |
Harry frowned, considering what Tonks had told him. He understood that Dumbledore wanted someone to maybe check up on them and make sure they were okay... but it almost seemed as if Tonks was going to be their babysitter. But... this was Tonks... she wasn't the most mature and resposible person, though she was definitely fun... so, Harry shrugged it off. "Where are my pancakes?" He asked, pretending to be hurt because he hand't recieved any. |
When Snape was sure no one was looking, he smiled at Dani. "What do you think of them?" he asked. |
"It's the most beautiful dress I've ever seen," Dani answered breathlessly. She held out her arm with the bell sleeve and showed him the fine beadwork. "Did you pick this out? I want to show mum." She cast another look over her shoulder and looked back at him. "Do you like it?" |
"They aren't a dress. Those are dress robes," Snape corrected her. "And I think they look lovely." He turned to find Tara with her back still turned. "Perhaps you should go show her and make sure you can walk properly in them. The clerk can adjust them if they need to be," he continued before looking in the mirror at his own robes, his face screwed up as he analyzed the fabric. |
Tonks turned around and smacked Harry on the side of the head with the spatula. "I don't do instant breakfast, Mr. Potter. Ginny was here first so, she gets her pancakes first. You'll just have to wiat your turn," she scolded before turning back to the stove, trying to wipe her hair out of her face, unsuccessfully. "Argh, this just isn't going to work," she muttered to herself before changing her hair to something a bit more conducive to slaving over a hot stove. |
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