Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

The Prize	By : Kvarta Category: HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters > Het - Male/Female Views: 3468 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling. This story is purely for entertainment purposes, no money is being made from it.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
A/N: Reviews are most appreciated.
ONE STEP AT THE TIME
Katya growled as rhythmic banging noise became louder. Annoying sound of bells chiming filled the room. She pushed her head under the pillow but sounds were still there. Finally, she opened her eyes and groaned. Room was filled with light streaming through the window. Someone was banging at the door.
Crawling out of the bed, barely keeping her eyes open she swung the door open with growl
- I’m up, what’s burning? –
- You call this appearance ready Miss Katya? In that case, structure and jail requirements are much preferable to you? -
She was staring in black clad shoulders, mocking voice scratched her ears. Why this man must wake her up so early in the morning.
- They let me sleep past 6 a.m., there I was motivated to be presentable. – she snapped at him
- 6 a.m.? Miss Katya, didn’t I told you to be ready 8. A.m. sharp? –
- Yes. –
- It is 8:05 and you are… - he trailed off, she raised her wide eyes looking at his scowling face – You have 5 minutes, after that I’m leaving alone. – his dry tone unnerved her.
Slamming the door, she redressed quickly, grumbling in her chin. Fast run to the bathroom left her enough time to quick wash of face and teeth. In a record time, she was in the room. He gave her a frowning glare
- How charming, a look which would make dear crazy Bella proud. No time to fix it now, we are going. –
- Where are we … -
- Do not talk, do not address me unless I address you. Don’t get lost, stay at my heel. –
With a sigh, she followed him down the narrow staircase on to the street. First street was quiet, shaded with tree line on the both sides and quiet, but only few steps straight and they were on the main street.
Diagon Alley was buzzing with life. Katya was stunned with the sight, from paving stone ground to the wooden and brick buildings with sop windows. Many passers, both male and female, were dressed in odd dress-like garments. Clothing in general was much different than hers. As they walked, people stopped to stare at them, whispering. The street was branching here and there, and she was trying to follow his long strides and not to lose him while spinning her head in all directions, soaking in all that she seen. Unconsciously comparing one or two store houses with skyscrapers from her plane. Store windows contained so many unfamiliar items. She did read about this place, but no amount of reading could prepare her for what she was facing. To all fairness, she knew everything that was possible about him too, and now she was wondering if she bit more then she could chew. No amount of facts could prepare her for his attitude. Comparing the one she wanted to save with the one she saved, Katya had to acknowledge the differences and devise another plan, the one she had would not work. She slammed at the Snape’s back as he stopped.
- Watch where you are going. Do not stare at Goblins, follow me and keep quiet. – he hissed, and lead her up the few stairs through huge door and near the two rows of tables with odd looking creatures behind them.
While he was conversing with one of the creatures, she was digging through her mind trying to remember all that she knew about Goblins. Name was not unfamiliar, but lack of description, not to mention fact that they are not extinct shocked her.
- Walk. – growled Snape at her following one of the Goblins. They all sat in a strange looking cart and rickety thing moved fast, leading them down. She closed her eyes, feeling unsafe as motion sickness threatened her stomach.
- If you throw up I will throw you out from this thing while we are still moving. – low growl buzzed in her ear and she just waved her head still clenching her eyes and teeth. Suddenly, with a tug they stopped moving, and she felt like her stomach climbing up her throat. Fighting to suppress urge to throw up, she stayed motionless.
- Stay here, we will be back soon. – he barked at her and he meekly nodded. Chart swayed slightly and she pressed hand over her mouth. Minutes passed and her stomach stopped making loops and unexpected trips upwards so she cracked her eyes open just in time to see them return. Goblin was waddling on hi short legs while Snape glided behind him, they entered the chart and Goblin set them in to motion again. Her stomach lurched again, this ride was much shorter and they were moving up now. They stopped again and two of them stepped out.
- What are you waiting Miss Katya? Out, I cannot enter your vault without your presence. – he drawled
She stepped out of the cart, feeling shaky on her feet. Only few short steps they were in front of large iron door. Snape gave a small key to Goblin and he unlocked them. In the small, cavern like, room was decent looking pile of gold coins and one large military bag. She picked up the bag eagerly, while Snape took around two handfuls of cons, placed them in a small sac and handed to her without the word.
- Keep your money in this, I have no desire to spend unnecessary time waiting in store for you to rummage through your pockets. –
- What if…. – she stopped abruptly seeing an angry glare he gave her.
- What did I say? Go in to the chart. – he hissed walking away, she followed him fuming inside.
One stomach turning ride later she was trying once again to follow his strides, on shaky legs. This time she didn’t pay attention to surroundings, trying to find a spot that didn’t sway and rotate in front of her eyes, causing her to feel sick again. They meandered through the narrow street, Snape swearing under the breath, until they finally reached a store named Mr. Mulpepper's Apothecary. They entered inside and Snape growled
- Stay here and do not touch anything. – she leaned on the patch of empty wall and slide to the floor.
Katya tossed warry look around the cramped store full of odd herbs and stuff she didn’t even want to know what are where or where they came. She watched Snape ordering, engaged in light conversation with shopkeeper. What caught he interest was man’s demeanor, he didn’t look so cross or repulsive, best she could describe him as civil and polite.
All of a sudden, Katya had a vivid picture of her instructor, pacing in front of them in the Training center, his voice ringing clear “If you want to catch a wild animal, set a trap. That one is easy, but…if you want to catch and tame wild animal, observe it in its natural habitat. Learn about it before you set a trap. If you are smart enough, maybe trap won’t be necessary at all, you will learn how to make animal come to you.” Before that day, she never understood this lecture, it was hard to understand why he was talking about animals when they had none, at least none that lived and roamed free. Watching at Snape’s back, for the first time she understood the lecture. She smiled wickedly, it was time to change the tactics again.
He turned and she jumped at her feet, tugging the heavy bag along. Outside the shop, she pushed her hands through handle loops and seat it as a backpack on her shoulders, staggering slightly backwards as all heavy things inside shifted to the bottom. Advancing now was more difficult, but she gritted her teeth and followed him wordlessly. He suddenly stopped in front of one store and she halted, swaying lightly.
- What is the matter Miss Katya? –
- There is no problem, I’m fine. –
- That is why you walk like a drunk sailor? –
- The bag is heavy, I can deal with it. –
- Mhm. – he mussed and Katya suppressed a growl looking at his expression, he had uncanny ability to set her at the edge of the nerves by not even saying anything. – Follow me. –
They walked in a dim store, shelves filled to the brim with long thin boxes. Shopkeeper emerged somewhere from behind and cried happily
- Severus! I’m glad to see you! You are in the need of a new wand? –
- No, she is. –
- Ah, your mysterious savior. What was your first wand and who made it? – the shopkeeper turned to her
- She didn’t had wand before, her magic is wandless. Ministry demands that she start using one. – informed him Snape dryly – Give me the bag, I will take care of that. –
Confused, Katya slipped the bag of her shoulders and placed it on the floor next to him, narrowing her eyes. He just bended to grab the bad, lifting it easily and grumbled
- I will be back shortly, do not cause trouble and follow instructions. – with a swirl, he marched out of the shop leaving her alone. Shopkeeper smiled at her
- Come along dear, stretch your arms. – she did as he asked and the man started to measure her with a piece of ribbon, mumbling – Mhm, all right. Wait here I might just have right thing for you. –
Old man pulled one box and handed her a short wand, she could feel the magic vibrating from the wand, emanating strong waves that felt unnaturally incompatible to her own magic
- Give it a swish. -
- This doesn’t feel right. – Katya frowned
- Just try. – cooed her old man and she did as she was told. Strong swirl of wind burst violently, knocking most of the content from the shelf it hit all over the store – No, that one is not for you. Try this one. –
- It feels wrong, same way as the previous one. – but man, ignored her motioning her to wave the wand. Reluctantly she obeyed. Raging flame surged out of the tip, man siphoned it with his wand before it had chance to make any damage.
- Not that one either. You are the tough one. Don’t worry, we’ll find you a wand. Try this. – he handed her a wand, she felt as she was given something deadly and violent, almost scared she dropped the wand
- That one would kill someone in my hands. – grumbled
- You can never know… -
- I can. Can feel it. – she firmly set her jaw, refusing to bend and pick up dropped wand
- You can feel wand’s magic? –
- I can, and I’m telling you, that one is too dangerous in my hand. –
- Well then, this is a bit unorthodox, but take a stroll through the shop then, see what draws you, what feels natural to you. – the man looked amused, carefully observing her.
She walked along the shelves, hovering her hand over the boxes. Magic in this place was overwhelming, emanating from every inch of the place. It took her a long time, with a corner of an eye she saw Snape standing next to shop owner in quiet conversation with him. She approached them, frowning
- I’m sorry Sir, but all those boxes have two different sources of magic, and either one or the other is not good for me. – she turned to Snape – Maybe I’m just not able to have my own stick. –
- It’s not a stick dear, it is a wand. I never meet witch or wizard that I could not match with a wand. If I have nothing already made, we will make you one. Can you detect what magic comes from where in the wand? –
- One is from the wood other from something in the wood. I can make a difference. –
- She is natural Severus! Would you be interested in Wand craft my dear? – beamed the old man
- She would not. – firmly replied Snape in her behalf and Katya hissed at him, clenching her fist
- Too bad. Come now, show me what wood feels good to you, just pick up the box and place it on my table. – old man looked amused and somehow lively
She made another round along the shelves, choosing boxes with different magical signatures. She placed them on the table. Old man looked at each of them and nodded.
- Wait here one second. – he disappeared in the back and returned with handful of branches, different in color. He cleared the boxes, returning them to their place and motioned her to come closer – These are the one you picked, Acacia, Adler, Ebony and Redwood. Now, take in your hand every of these branches, take your time and hand me the one that feels most natural to you. –
Katya picked up every stick holding it. Each was appealing but somehow weak. Finally, she stood confused holding two sticks in her hand
- This can’t be right. –
- What? –
- One is wrong, but these two…, and yet, not single box in here has two different wood signatures. – she frowned, she noticed that Snape stopped reading small pocket book and observed her warily.
- Extremely rare, yes, but not unheard of. Amazing! There are some old scrolls speaking about the wands of combined wood. Set them aside, dear. – old man picked all other sticks and carried them. She put the branches he held at the end of the table, waiting patiently. Old man returned with large box full of glass tubes, each tube contained a feather of some sort of strand, branch or scale – Pick one of those. Hold both branches in one hand and pick the core most compatible with them and you. –
She nodded and did as she was told. Lingering slightly at two different tubes she carefully picked one and placed it in hand with sticks, then the other. She repeded the process couple of times before settling with one combination.
- Interesting, truly interesting. Are you absolutely sure of this my dear? –
- Yes. –
- Severus, - called old man and Snape walked to them – her wand would take time to be made. I’ll send it to you. But you have a truly amazing friend here. She picked not one but two woods, Adler and Ebony with Thestral hair. – Snape sharply jerked his head at these words – Not to worry, we issued more than a few wands after the war with Thestral hairs, it is not so uncommon nowadays. –
- And two types of wood? I never… - Snape’s voice had a glimmer of genuine interest
- Not been made for a long, long time, but not out of the realm of possibility. That will be 25 galleons. –
Katya looked at Snape uncertain of what to do
- You have your gold, I am not paying for your necessities Miss Katya. – ironic smile lingered on his lips
She took the pouch from her pocket and counted the gold coins, wondering if she will have enough for everything or will she have to go to the bank again and survive another of those rides. She didn’t like the gleam in Snape’s eyes. They left the shop. Only few stores down, they entered again in to cramped shop full of brooms.
- I’m not your maid. – she protested – And I’m a slob. –
- You will not use this broom for cleaning. – he hissed
- Why do I need a broom then? – Katya felt unbalanced, so many things in her knowledge of this place lacked details.
- I thought that you know about this world Miss Katya. – his voice was even and almost with a hint of taunting
- I’m noticing some holes in our data base. – she mumbled “Holes at the size of a planet.”
- Yes. – he drawled – Since you pointed out that you are lacking wings, you will just have to use a broom for flying, like majority of the wizarding world. – with that he walked to the counter and after only brief conversation he turned to her – Miss Katya if you will be so kind to pay. –
- How much? – she asked pulling out the satchel, Snape smirked
- 500 galleons –
- But… - she frowned
- But what, Miss Katya? You do have that money, don’t you? – he raised one eyebrow, her face flushed in anger
- I have, just not with me. You could have told me how much I’ll need when we were in vault. Is this amusing to you? –
- Immensely. – a sly smile slithered across his face
- Well, then we do not buy a broom, and you’ll have to wait for me to grow a pair of wings. – she grumbled
- Or, you could just sign here and money will be transferred from your bank. – he offered dryly
Huffing, Katya grabbed the quill and scribbled her name at line he pointed at, turning and marching out of the store, not even bothering to pick up her new broom. She hopped that he will forget it too. Flying didn’t sound appealing to her, she hated heights and she was prone to motion sickness, neither of that was a good recipe for – flying. Katya nearly jumped when he appeared behind her, whispering to her ear
- You forgot your broom. Do not worry, they will send it home. –
She suppressed the growl in her throat and walked behind him as he continued to lead them, not even glancing if she is following.
“Now I can understand why some animal species are extinct.”
They entered the third store, a book shop and her eyes widened, huge grin shone her face. Snape was ordering to her unfamiliar titles, and she just browsed the store. Picking up few titles she found interesting. He just raised an eyebrow at her choice of books, but stayed silent and allowed her to pay or the books. In a shop, next to it she purchased parchments, quills and ink.
They turned their way back home, passing by a shop that had various pieces of furniture in the window, she grabbed his sleeve, forcing him to stop and turn, eyeing her with raise eyebrow.
- I need a bookshelf in my room. –
- We have a library in a house. –
- And I have no accesses to it. –
- That is still not my problem. –
- You may go inside with me, or stay here, or even go home. I’ll find my way back. – growled Katya, annoyed by his attitude. She marched in to the store, genially surprised when she found him standing in front of the store, some half hour later.
- Shopping is done Miss Katya. – hissed Snape at her, grabbing her hand – We are going home. –
She felt like someone squeezed her through a very long and narrow keyhole. Everything around her turned black. Suddenly as squeezing sensation appeared it also vanished, leaving her to fall on her knees puking her guts out, with sensation of utter disorientation. She Weakley rise to her feet, finding a support on the wall and gave an angry stare to man next to her. He had unreadable expression on his face
- You are going to clean that. – his low voice was firm – And do remember that you are not allowed to use your magic outside the house. – finished with sneer, leaving her alone in a blind alley in front of their entrance door.
- 14
- 15
- 16
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The Prize