Previous / Return to Scene List / Next

Title: A Hasty Invitation...

Contributors: lacy_pembrooke, seviesnape, dm_fugitive

Edited by: Carla Lute

Posted: 2005-12-22 to 01-06

Game Date: August 31^st

Disclaimer: No one at Levicorpus owns Harry Potter, the world or its characters. We just like to play in J.K. Rowling’s world.

* * * * * * *

"I really shouldn't be doing this... I really shouldn't be doing this." Lacy said under her breath again and again, as she walked once more up the yard to the Riddle House towards the front door. "I look bloody well addicted to the boy!"

She felt positively hopeless venturing back to Drake's so soon after her last visit, especially since she'd pretty much been asked to leave last time. "Isn't any harm in asking though," she reasoned and knocked twice on the door, stepping back a bit just in case.

Severus was in the kitchen having a spot of tea and scanning the daily prophet when he heard light knocks coming from the hall. This place hasn't had this many visitors in 20 years as it's had this week... he sighed mentally.

He stood from his stool and hastily walked to the front hall. He cracked open the door and sighed as he spotted young Lacy at the door. "Yes?" he said exasperated. As lovel- what! No, the girl is a nuisance. He had an internal struggle with himself, and completely missed the reason for being there that she pitifully gave.

"Ah! H-Hello." She smiled pleasantly, trying hard not to grin when the man that seemed almost more interesting than Drake opened the door. "I don't suppose Drake is home, is he?" she asked, leaning ever so slightly to get a glimpse inside the house she so wished to explore.

When Severus noted her snooping, he closed the door a little so that his frame blocked everything behind him. She looked startled at the sudden interruption of her view but quickly looked up into his eyes.

That was getting rather chilling. Not often did people have courage enough to return his stare. "He's out."

"Oh!' she straightened up when she realized she wouldn't be getting an invitation inside and grinned now. Her smile turned intense however when she found herself studying the man's eyes. They were so intense. She found herself suddenly stumbling over her words. "Well, the reason I was asking, is... Well you see, I'm... It's because I'm making dinner next week." She nodded, finding her composure again. "I wanted to invite you and Drake... and even Drake's grandfather too if he can make it."

It suddenly occurred to her that Drake didn't particularly like crowds. Why would his family be any different? "And it's not that big of a deal." she added. "I only live with my uncle, and he has BINGO on that night, so it would just be us." She smiled pleasantly, still looking up at him.

Snape raised his eyebrow at her offer. This girl certainly had guts. Visits the scariest house in town regularly, with the odd... occupants, and wants them to join her at her own home? Interesting...

"I'll pass the message along to Drak..e," he said silkily. His head snapped as he heard the kettle whistling. Oh bother, now she'll invite herself in when I leave the door unguarded.

He eyed her once more before striding to the kitchen. The kettle looked as if it was having a fit what with all the steam erupting from it. He quickly maneuvered it off the stove, and poured some of the water into his cup.

Draco should be back any minute... but if I tell her that she'll think I'm inviting her inside... he noticed the water spilling over the top of his cup, and practically threw the kettle on the table while searching for his wand in his robes.

"Well...-" he started tenderly cleaning the mess, "he'll be home any minute. I'll tell him of your enticing... offer." He stood straight again and picked up the kettle. The table was clean again, finally.

Lacy was positively confused. He hadn't told her outright to leave just yet. She teetered slightly on one foot wondering if she should help him with the spilled water or not. Before she could decide however, he had it under control.

Slowly she walked into the kitchen, keeping her eye on him. "Mr... uh." Drake had called him 'Samuel' but that just seemed way too informal, especially for such a dignified man. "What should I call you?" she giggled slightly. "Uncle Samuel just sounds... funny." She put a hand over her mouth still looking at him.

Severus scowled, startled that he hadn't noticed her presence. Not the mention the fact that she was giggling... at his expense no less. He sent an icy glare her way. Do I give her a fake? It would be amusing to see her face later on when she realizes we've been lying to her, he inwardly chuckled at the vision. "Severus." Let the foolish girl think it's my last name.

Lacy stopped giggling the second his cold glare met her warm smile. She suddenly felt guilty. When she heard his last name though her smile returned. "See! That fits you." she agreed and sat down at the table without even being asked.

At this point she knew she was being rude. But truth be told, she was lonely. Her uncle was rarely around, and when he was, didn't like to be bothered. Since her parents' deaths, she'd practically raised herself. There was also something about this man that called out to her, as though there were something eating away at him. It was the same feeling she got from Drake. Even though she was severely uninvited, something about this house, something about these people, just seemed right.

"Wish my house was haunted." she mused. "It would give me someone to talk to besides my snake."

His brows crinkled when Lacy invited herself to have a seat. He hadn't intended on her staying until Draco got home.

Severus scoffed. "Tea?" he said bitterly. Hoping to change the topic from his supposedly "haunted" jail.

“Sure! Thank you very much!” she quipped happily, noticing the same scowl. "So then, you don't believe in ghosts?" she asked.

His mind instantly drew the memories of The Bloody Barron, Peeves, Nearly Headless Nick, and the other Hogwarts ghosts. The girl was so clueless it almost made him laugh. Might as well have some fun with this. He smirked, "Never really found reason."

Lacy frowned. "Oh..."

After he'd filled her cup, and she took a small sip, she looked around again. "Well I saw one once..." she grinned again, seeing his half smiling smirk.

"Do you always dress like that?" she asked, completely changing the subject. She felt stupid immediately though and caught herself. "I mean-I like it! It's very dignified. It'd be nice to see clothes like that more often." Okay... now she was just being stupid. She grimaced slightly and prepared herself for the inevitable scowl that was to come.

Severus chuckled softly at her stumbling over her words. Obviously distraught over offending him in some way. "My wizards clothes," he replied curtly, looking at the shock come over her face. He chuckled. "This is a part of my everyday wardrobe yes."

He sat at the table across from her and picked his tea up again. He noticed the Daily Prophet still sitting on the table and was relieved to see no wizarding photo's were showing. Knowing Lacy's snoopy personality, he decided to tuck it away in his robes anyways.

Lacy blinked slightly. He'd said it so matter of factly, she nearly spit out the gulp of tea she'd just taken. After thinking it over again, she shook her head and sniffed.

"Oh I see..." she retorted. "Makes sense then..." He was joking with her, she might as well play along. A writer... he had to be a writer. They were always gauche about things and liked to play the eccentric card.

He loved her dismay, and thought to toy with her some more. "Do you believe in...witches, Miss Lacy?" he said... tastily.

Lacy cocked her head and grinned after taking another sip of tea. "Never really found reason..." she echoed him, and sat her cup down looking up at him, her smile turning sly. "But I suppose if I saw one, I'd have to."

Snape grinned at her echoing his previous words, "I suppose you'll just have to see one then."

He finished off his tea and noticed the time. Bella and the others would be returning soon, and then Lacy really would know a thing or two of witches. "If you don't mind-" he drawled. "the evening really is approaching, and I must ask you to take your leave. I'll notify Draco of your most... generous... invitation."

Lacy jumped up from the table and nodded. "Okay." she chirped, a little too happily after being asked to leave. Quite frankly she was just thrilled to have been able to come inside, if even for a few moments.

"Don't forget, it's on the 4th of September. And I figure I'll have dinner ready by around 7:00." Lacy had the sudden urge to maneuver around the table and give Uncle Severus a quick hug, but the thought of it just made her giggle inside, and that was enough. She'd already caused him plenty of trouble for one day.

"Thanks for the tea." she grinned, and walked quickly out the door, shutting it gingerly behind her and making her way hastily across the yard.

* * * * * * *

Draco popped back into his room for the second time and tossed his new book on the bed. He caught sight of himself in the mirror and went about transfiguring his hair back to its proper color.

Once his hair was its right color, Draco went downstairs. He heard the door shut as he was coming down and found Snape in the kitchen. "Did someone just leave?" he asked, noticing the abandon teacup.

"You're annoying Muggle friend Lacy. She wants you to have dinner with her on Monday," he said sourly, not looking Draco in the face.

He used his wand to quickly dispose of the dirty dishes and set the kettle to boil again.

Draco laughed. "You told her I was busy right?" he said, opening the cupboard. He felt ravenous, and he was in such a good mood that's Snape dour expression struck him as funny.

"No," Snape said darkly, turning off the kettle as it began to steam. He didn't say anything for a moment but then snapped, "What did you tell the blasted girl?" Draco gave him a quizzical look and Severus continued "She wants me to go as well!"

Draco laughed. "Maybe she likes you," Draco said flippantly. "You can be very charming." He took a teacup out and placed it hopefully on the counter. It's probably not healthy to feel this happy, he thought to himself.

Severus scowled at Draco's teasing and poured himself a cup of tea. He noticed Draco put his own cup down expecting Snape to pour it for him. He slammed the kettle down upon the stove again ignoring Draco's hopefulness.

Draco tried to mellow his smile. Teasing Snape was a risky business when he was in a good mood (he had learned that lesson from Aunt Bella), and Snape did not seem to be in the best of moods. "I really didn't say anything about you, other than that you were my uncle." He poured himself a cup, took a sip, put it down and added some sugar. "And I haven't been to the grocery since the last time she tried to visit. It's getting to be a dangerous habit for her."

He began to rummage for sandwich fixings. "Guess I can go tomorrow and tell her we won't be coming," Draco paused. "You did tell her that you wouldn't be coming...right?"

"Yes. It is," he said without looking up from his tea. Tea was a good escape for him, since he was a Potions Master, he always took great pride in his brew. Herbs were added instead of the processed sugar cube, and it made for one fine cup. "I was too distracted!" he said angrily. "You can imagine my shock at her invitation." He began to pace the kitchen, his tea gripped tightly by both hands. "Who knows, maybe your girlfriend will have some valuable information," he snarled.

"My what?" Draco said, going slightly pale.

"Obviously the girl has some feelings for you," he said smoothly, enjoying Draco's facial expressions twist and turn.

Draco did his best to fight the horror off his expression. He would know if Snape had been using Legilimency. "Have you been following me?" he demanded. He wasn't sure how Snape could have followed him, but then again this was Snape.

Severus smirked and went back to his tea.

"I'm serious," Draco demand...he really hated the squeaky quality his voice tended to take on when he was upset. "Have you been...What's that?! Is that the Daily Prophet?! Since when do you get the Daily Prophet?!"

"We've always gotten the Daily Profit boy," Severus said, his tone indicating the loss of his patience.

Snape picked up the paper and casually flung it at the boy.

Draco caught the paper and sank down into a seat at the table. He was feeling unbearably stupid. The Prophet seemed to hold all the aspects of a holy relic, calming his mind. He had jumped to the conclusion that they could not get it because of owls, but there would be other methods of course, vanishing cabinets, switching spells. He had just assumed, and assumed wrong. "Wait...when you said my girlfriend who were you talking about?"

"Is there more than one?"

He waited for a response, but began to smirk when Draco's jaw opened and closed several times.

Draco opened his mouth and closed it again, giving Snape a critical eye. The man was absurdly good at this game. Okay, show your teacher what you learned. Bluff. Act. Draco realized his mouth had fallen open again and shut, it reigning in his facial features.

"Just the one," he said, perhaps a little too coolly, but it was better than letting Snape keep him off balance. "But I take it you weren't being literal, so who...you don't mean Lacy? Ew. She doesn't have feelings for me. She's just bored. It's boring town, filled with boring, bored Muggles." Snape had been sarcastic about the valuable information. He should have caught that. "What on earth had you so distracted? You don't lose focus that easily." Yes, a compliment mixed with reversal! Good job, Draco.

Severus opened his mouth to interrupt Draco, but the boy took great measure to avoid such a thing. Once Draco finished Severus was in quite a shock. The boy wasn't known for his backbone.

He didn't let it show in his features, but he spent a few moments silent deciding on what to say. Severus didn't really know what he was distracted by, he only said it to get Draco to leave. "The blasted Muggle invited herself in... how could I not be distracted," he said smoothly. "My only concern was getting the insolent brat out."

Was that before or after you poured her a cup of tea? Draco wondered, but then he was not sure the abandon cup had been for the Muggle.

At any rate, he felt the danger had passed and remembered that he was hungry. He got up once again to finish fixing his sandwich. "We need a few things anyway. I'll have a chat with her tomorrow. Try to get her to stop coming around."

Previous / Return to Scene List / Next