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
- 15
- 16
- 17
N/A: I am pondering is it 14th on page time already, but as it is in my place, and that I have too much work - new chapter goes now :)
A/N: Reviews are most appreciated.
FACING UNKNOWN
Walking in to the apartment, Snape paused at entrance just to hang a traveling cloak on one of the hooks on the small hallway wall. He walked straight to the library, picked up the book and sat in an armchair in front of the unused, cold fireplace. He mulled about the entire thing he should arrange in next few days, like Daily Prophet subscription and few other magazines, setting an account with local groceries and connecting them with Tippy. Elf should be in the house already. As if reading his mind, elf popped up
- Tippy arrived, Master Snape. – squeaked elf in an odd looking flowery dress
- Glad to see you again Tippy. – he nodded – I trust you know my preferences. –
- Tippy knows. Would Master Snape want some tea and scones? –
- Yes, thank you. –
- In a library? –
- Yes. –
Elf just nodded and disappeared. He opened the book, but soon his thoughts drifted from his reading to the today's visit at Diagon Alley. The woman worried him, her knowledge lacked profoundly. More than that, her demeanor changed somewhere between visit to the bank and to the Olivnder’s shop.
“What is she up to now? At least she does not act like insolent brat anymore, not all the time.”
Her behavior changed from cheeky to tame, from confidant to bashful and insecure, from spiteful and cold to semi-pleasant. Only thing that stayed the same was that underlying mask divided of emotions that lingered in her eyes.
“What eats you away Miss just Katya?”
He was sure he could find a way to get rid of her presence if he figures out answer to that question. He was surprised at her choice of books; all titles were about history of magic. Staring at the cold heart, he tapped one finger against forgotten page. Suddenly, tossing a glance at the page, he closed the book and set it on the small side table next to untouched tray with tea and scones, and stood up. He walked around library pulling the books out and piling them on the work table. Soon, he was surrounded with high towers of books, skimming trough them, scribbling a note on the parchment here and there. Hissing at lack of desired titles that he would normally take from Hogwarts library.
He was so engrossed in his work when shrill came from the direction of living room that he almost dropped his quill. Rushing from the library, wand in hand he run in to the kitchen, following the sound. Situation in the kitchen nearly made him laugh. Katya was screaming, plastered to the wall, Tippy was crying, eyeing the pot she held obviously debating should she punish herself or not. Gaining his composure, he sharply asked
- Miss Katya, why are you making that awful noise? And why are you scaring my house elf? –
- What is that? –
- Tippy is sorry Sir. Tippy didn’t want to scare Miss Tippy is sorry! – cried elf
- It is all right Tippy. – he turned to elf with soft voice – It is not your fault, you may continue to work. –
- What is that?! – Katya turned to him raising her voice
- Try that one more time and I am going to lock you in the basement Miss Katya. – he growled menacingly – Tippy is a house elf. She will be taking care of the household and our meals. I expect from you to treat her with respect and not to scare her anymore. –
- She is a…maid? It’s a she? –
- Tippy is not a maid, she is a house elf. – he corrected dryly
- Is she a slave? – Katya frowned
- Tippy is not slave, Tippy has a dress and a pay. Tippy is a free elf now! – sniffled elf
- Now? – whispered Katya darting her eyes from elf to him and back
- You will learn about house elves, Miss Katya, during our study sessions. Until your wand arrives, we will base our classes to theory. You may start reading the books from the list I left in your room. In fact, it is preferable that you do that instead roaming aimlessly around the house. –
- I wasn’t roam aimlessly, I wanted some tea or coffee, if there is a coffee in this place at all. –
- Tippy will bring coffee and cookies to Miss. Miss can go. – elf motioned her hand to shoo Katya from the kitchen, and he nearly laughed again. Turning to get back to his research, he tossed a dry warning over his shoulder
- Miss Katya, I expect a 3 scrolls of parchment essay on a law in magical community, 2 scrolls of parchment on beginning of magic and oral report on usage of wand in spell-casting no later than tomorrow evening. -
Returning to his room, he emerged himself back to his work. Engrossed in is reading he didn’t noticed when Tippy lit the heart, he barely noticed trays of food he would absentmindedly nibble on. Nearly jumped of his seat when Tippy placed two rolls of parchments in front of him, looking at them he just nodded, mumbling “Thank you” and continued. Room was an absolute mess, high towers of books surrounded the table, table was littered with scattered books and parchments filled to the brim with his crumpled handwriting. On all corners of the room, books were stacked on small piles.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
It was a fifth day since their trip to Diagon Alley. Katya managed to finish her given assignments, enjoying them. She read through majority of newly bought books with great interest. Learning about magic this way was new to her, and she decided that she likes it. Second day at Tippy’s arrival, small elf placed a cylindrical furnace in her room, late October was cold and rainy, and Katya was utterly confused wishing that she has someone to ask about this change in temperature.
It almost felt like she lived alone. Katya discovered that she liked sitting in a large living room, in a comfortable armchair in front of the pleasant heat of a roaring fire and read. After initial shock, she and Tippy formed some sort of friendship, chatting occasionally.
That day, late afternoon, Katya roamed in kitchen looking for some tea and cookies. She found Tippy in a corner, crying. Elf was looking upset, she kneel in front of it, worried
- What’s wrong Tippy? –
- Tippy is a bad elf. – sniffled – Tippy don’t take good care of her Master. –
- He is your employer Tippy, not your Master. – idea of slavery irked her
- Tippy promised to take care of Master Snape. Tippy failed, Master is not good. Master don’t eat and does not leave the room. -
- Maybe it is my fault, maybe he is trying to avoid me? –
- Noooooooooooo. – wailed elf – Master getting sic. Tippy is a bad elf. – with that Tippy banged her head hard at floor. Scared Katya stopped her for repeating the action, not sure how to react – Master doesn’t take his medicine. –
- I can cure him Tippy. – she tried but elf just shook her head vigorously
- To many crushiatus, master will get seizures if he doesn’t take his medicine. Poppy going to be angry at Tippy. –
- Tippy, did you want to be here or someone asked you to be here. – suddenly downed on her that little elf might not be here of her own will, this forced elf to stop wailing and crying, looking her now with wide eyes
- No Miss! Tippy wanted. Master Snape was good to Tippy. When Tippy’s master died, Master Snape gave Tippy clothes and fee Tippy. Gave her a work at school, gave Tippy pay. Tippy want to care about Master. Tippy failed!!!! – new wave of tears rolled and Katya blinked, she honestly didn’t know how to console small creature. She rose to her feet
- Wait here, Tippy. - with that she left kitchen, marching down the corridor. She was at the library door when elf popped in front of her
- Where are going Miss? –
- To talk to the jack-ass. – she grumbled
- Miss can’t. Master said no Miss in Masters rooms. –
- If he doesn’t want me in his room, then he must throw me out himself. – her hand was on the door handle when Tippy stepped in front of her
- NO! – small face was determined
- Move away, Tippy. – growled Katya
- Miss not allowed. NO! – repeat elf
- We’ll see about that. – she frowned but elf stopped her again.
Frustrated Katya waved her hand toward the door, and they flung open violently. Stepping behind the elf she walked in the dimly lighted room. Books cluttered almost entire space, shattered around the floor, abandoned where they were read, near the rows of half-empty shelves. At first, she didn’t even noticed Snape, until mass of black moved from floor in one of the corners to raise at its feet. Katya gasped, Snape’s hair hung in disheveled greasy strands, his eyes were bloodshed with deep wrinkles etched around them, ashen in his face shaded with five-day old beard. He blinked at them and furrow his brows.
- Ah Miss Katya, how old are you? –
- Where? – she blinked confused at his reaction, he was glancing at her but his eyes still flew over the page he was reading
- Beg your pardon? –
- Where? – she asked louder – There is a time difference. –
- There and here then. – he mumbled absentmindedly
- There I’m 16 years younger than you. Here only two or three years younger than you. Why? –
- Ah I was just…. What are you doing here? – suddenly his posture changed from lost to anger, he straightened his shoulders and narrowed his eyes
- Tippy was worried about you. She was hurting herself. –
- Tippy tried to stop her Sir, Tippy is sorry. – meekly wailed elf behind her feet
- And I can see why she is so worried. – continued Katya coldly – You look like you didn’t sleep for days. You smell like you are the one that is not acquainted with basic of personal hygiene. I didn’t save you, so you could destroy yourself. –
- How did you break my wards? – he growled at her
- Break what? –
- My wards. Answer me NOW! – he made one threatening step toward her
- You asking me how I entered this room? I just walked in. –
- Impossible. – hissed Snape at her – What magic did you use? –
- And what magic did you use to secure this room? – she raised her eyebrows, angry at him – If you tried to talk to me, find out more about MY magic, you might know that magic of this world doesn’t always work on me. –
- No matter what kind of magic you use, my wards can’t be broken easily. – hissed Snape nearing her, she sighed
- So, what did you use? Incantation? Runes? They are all part of essence, weaker ones I don’t even notice. –
- Blood, Miss Katya. I used my own blood. –
- Ah, that explains. – she mumbled under the breath and gave him one cold smile, walking out of the library. Feeling her blood boil, she marched down the hallway when suddenly, he grabbed her by the hand showing her at the wall, tip of his wand on her throat
- Explain. – he growled
- No! – she replied coldly, raising her barrier. Snape flew, hitting the other wall – Not until you start acting like a human being, normal one. I told you that I will be your worst nightmare. Your magic won’t work on me. You can’t hurt me. You won’t find answers to your questions about me in those books if that is what you are looking for. –
She turned on a heel and walked away, leaving enraged man behind her. She was sick and tired, sick of these little games they played, tired of pretending. She was also tired of loneliness, used to live in a community, surrounded with people she could talk to, this isolation took the tool on her. Angry at herself for taking his behavior as his normal pattern, trying to learn his routines without questioning whether they are destructive by nature or not. Mulling on how to contact Poppy, only person she met and talked to since getting here, she reached kitchen door.
- Not another step witch. – Snape’s low, dangerous, growl forced her to turn. He was looking at her with obvious hatred, pointing yet again his wand at her, swaying on his feet slightly.
- Or what? Go and take a bath, eat something, sleep and then we can talk. I’ve told you, all you should do is ask. –
He made another step toward her and collapsed on the floor, unconscious. Tippy was next to him in an instant, sniffling. She rushed to him, now worried, hovering her hand above him.
- Tippy, do you know how to contact Poppy? –
- Tippy knows. –
- Can you, please? – before she managed to finish the sentence Tippy was gone.
Sighing, she tried to lift him to settee but he was too heavy for her. Hooking her elbows beneath his armpits, Katya dragged him to the settee and tried to place his upper body on it. After few attempts she managed. Setting couple of cushions on one side, she dragged his head on them, pushing the rest of him up, swearing under the breath.
- Damn you, for someone so skinny, you sure are heavy. – grumbled
Katya was still struggling to place all of him in to the settee when Tippy popped again, holding arguing Poppy at the hem of a skirt. Poppy had phials in her hands, protesting
- … tell me what is going on. –
- Poppy! – she cried – I… I don’t… can you… - woman turned to her with grim face, she instantly placed the phials on nearest cabinet and pulled out her wand
- Move away, dearie. – ordered her. Katya watched as older woman levitate Snape’s body to more comfortable position on the settee and waved her wand over him, worry etched on her face – He is just exhausted. How long he is in this state? –
- I didn’t seen him for five days. I thought that he’s avoiding me and wanted to give him some space. Only today Tippy told me that he is not eating or sleeping, he didn’t leave that room for full five days. –
- Oooooooooooooo dear, I was afraid of that. –
- What is wrong with him Poppy? – she asked
- We need to talk. Tippy help me, place him in his bed, and let him sleep. Give me his medicine, I take it he didn’t drink them either. – elf was already standing next to Poppy with small phial of pale purple liquid, that woman forced down Snape’s throat. Tippy clenched one of his hands and they both disappeared, Katya blinked.
- 15
- 16
- 17
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The Prize