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
- 24
- 25
- 26
CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR AND OTHER CONFUSING THINGS
Four of them were sitting in a small tea shop, drinking tea and enjoying sweet scones. Conversation was lively and cheerful. Minerva was smiling watching Katya explain her troubles with learning.
- …it is just insane! –
- Did he introduce a new subject to you? – Minerva asked
- He did arithmancy or something like that. – she frowned
- I love arithmancy! – Hermione sounded excited, Ginny just frowned
- I am awful with numbers. The other day was disaster. He gave me an equation to do for my homework. It is already familiar spell for transforming an animal in to a cup. –
- Vera verto! – squealed Hermione – One of the first transfiguration spells we learned. – Minerva just smiled and Ginny nodded vigorously
- Yes, that one. But he told me to deconstruct it and put it together again. And I made mistake. He forced me to use my equation while I perform it. it was horrible! The cup was high, nearly up to my waist. It had four tiny little legs and mouse head that screeched and snapped at me. I was so terrified! He told me that next time if I make mistake like that he would leave me to fix it on my own. How can I fix something when I don’t know where I made mistake in the first place? –
- Vera verto is complex spell Katy, and you just started to learn. Point of arithmancy is to understand how spell works. If you are proficient in arithmancy you can create your own spells. – explained Minerva softly
- I can work with you. – offered Hermione – I love the subject and I am good at it. –
- I’d appreciate your help. – sighed Katya
- Maybe you can learn it good and surprise Professor as a part of New Year gift. –
- New Year gift? – she wrinkled her nose. She was vaguely familiar with custom of marking the passage to a new year, but gift giving custom was news to her. The three of them tried to explain Christmas and New Year to very confused Katya.
- So, you give gifts for those occasions. On both or just one? –
- One would suffice. – giggled Hermione – Do you have any idea what you gonna give to the Professor? –
- I had no idea that I should give gifts, and I have no idea how to buy them if he has to be with me. –
-What better time than now?! – exclaimed Ginny
- I’m afraid that my old bones are not up for another stroll through Diagon Alley. – sighed Minerva
- I can take her! – jumped Hermione – Gin, you stay with Headmistress, I’ll take a chance to buy your present as well. Shall we Katy? –
- Katya, - Minerva turned to her – allow me to give you bit of advice. I would not expect gift in return from Severus. He…does not like holidays, he does not indulge in them. Consider it carefully. –
- I gathered as much. I want to buy him a gift. To him and to all my friends, I…didn’t have many opportunities to give gifts…. before. – Katya nodded to older woman with confidence. Gifts in her world held special meaning and they were given only few times in one life, and received even less. Katya liked the idea of holidays, of liberty to give a gift to anyone freely and without consequences.
- Hermione, are you sure? – Minerva gave a look over the rim of her glasses
- Quite sure. I am of age; she is in a legal company, which is Ministry demand after all. –
Katya grinned and jumped from the chair. The two of them were on the street in no time. Hermione didn’t rush; they lingered at nearly every window chatting about upcoming holidays. Katya soaked every said word about the Christmas tree and decorations. Buzz of excitement, so palatable on the streets, transferred to her, slowly and steadily.
- Do you think it would be ok if I buy presents for Poppy and Minerva as well? –
- That is such thoughtful gesture, of course it would be ok! –
- I have no idea what to take them. –
- We can visit Madam Malkin and some other stores, glows or shawl is acceptable gift. –
- Thank you. Oh, book store! Can we go inside? –
- Sure. I need some books too. –
They entered Flourish and Blots. Katya purchased few of the books for herself and one as a gift for Ginny. Hermione was still looking at tiles and skimming through the pages.
- Hermione, is it ok if I go in a shop just across the street? I think I’ve seen a suitable gift for Severus in the window. After I finish purchase, I promise I’ll return here. –
- Yes, just don’t tell Minerva or Severus. –
- Thank you. I feel stupid asking people to accompany me wherever I go. –
- I think that Ministry rule is stupid. Well, if they don’t know it won’t hurt them. –
Katya hugged he girl, forcing her to drop the book from her hands and run outside. She crossed the street and peaked in to a dust covered setting through dirty window. Entering the store, sound of chimes lured old, almost ancient looking man.
- How can I help you Miss? –
- Good day. May I see the earrings and necklace set from the window? –
- Certainly, just a second. – old man waddled to the window, she waited patiently looking around the store. The cover of dust ruled almost over every item there. Suddenly, a seemingly transparent glass sphere caught her attention, it was placed on the flat surface near the till. Katya picked her up looking at it, she nearly shouted, recognizing object for what it was.
- Ah, charmed paper weight, truly interesting piece. Only half a galleon. Here you are Miss is this the set? –
- Yes. – she observed lovely, fragile flowery pattern of gems lacing a thin chain and earrings. – How much is this? –
- 2 galleons for the set. Two and a half if you want a box too. –
- And that tea doily set? – she pointed at glass stand with lacy set for tea. –
- 1 galleon. –
- All right, I’ll take all. Can you wrap the box with jewelry set and tea set separately as gifts? –
- I can. – she watched the old man fussing around her purchase when something in the far end of the store draw her attention. In one of class boxes was displayed a book, it looked old. Fragile pages placed between, what appeared heavy leather bounds. She curiously walked to the book.
- Would this be all, Miss? – called old man
- This book…? –
- Ah it is expensive, Miss. But I sell it at ample price; it is only second tome, much worthless without first part. –
- What is it? –
- Arcana snguinem magicae –
- How much is it? –
- 15 galleons, but like I said… -
- Can you gift wrap that too? –
- Don’t say I didn’t warn you. No return policy and all. – grumbled the old man taking a book from the glass box.
She followed him watching him wrap it in a plain white paper. She frowned, old man took his wand
- What colors do you want on wrappers miss? –
- Ummmm jewelry in Gryffindor colors. Book in Slytherin colors. – she watched as man tapped items. Small box was wrapped in bright red paper with golden bow and book in green with silver bow
- The tea set, Miss? –
- It is just a gift, something neutral perhaps. – she wrinkled her nose, he taped the paper dying it in to a pink pearl.
- And a paper weight, Miss? –
- That one is for me. – he nodded and packet all purchased in one bag.
- That would be… 19 galleons, Miss. – he frowned, but his eyes glisten as Katya took her pouch and counted the golden coins. – Thank you, Miss and be sure to come again. – he grinned with wide toothless smile, she suspected she was a good customer. Hermione walked in and man broadened his grin.
- Good evening, Miss. –
- Good evening, I am not purchasing anything just looking for my friend. – Hermione politely replied and man lose his grin. Two of them left the store.
- I think I was good customer to him. – giggled Katya
- How much did you buy? – frowned Hermione
- A few gifts and something for … well something I liked. – she smiled taking glass ball from the bag – This is something that reminds me of … home. –
- How much did you pay for all that? –
- 19 galleons. –
- You were robbed! – exclaimed girl and Katya smiled
- If anything, I robbed him. All items I purchased have some good magic attached to them. I found perfect gift for Severus, an old book. Very old and full of magic. -
- Katy all books are full of magic here. – laughed Hermione
- Not like this, this book has strong old magic. Too shame it is not a full set. –
- Full set? –
- Yes, it is only one book out of two. But I guess that Severus can find its match. I think this book is something he would be interested in. –
- If you say so. Katya how well do you know Professor? –
- I know everything that is written about him, every public document. I just started to get to know him. Why do you ask? –
- I was just curious. –
- Why did I save him? – she asked and Hermione nodded – If you don’t mind, it is private. – Hermione just nodded again.
They entered Madam Malkin’s and Katya took one shawl for Minerva in the color of old gold and moss green and one blue-gray for Poppy. Hemione also purchased few items and they walked back to the tea shop.
- It was about time! – sharply greeted them Minerva – We must go, before Severus decide I kidnapped you and send entire Auror office to look for you. –
- I don’t think he would do that. More like he would try to lock all entrances so I could not return. – smiled Katya at woman
- I wouldn’t be so sure of it. – Minerva gave her one sideways glance. Soon, four of them stepped from the fireplace in to their apartment. Tree women said far good bye and disappeared trough the fireplace again.
Katya barely managed to place her bag on the table in her room when door swung open with a thud on the wall. Dark figure loomed at her doorway
- Good evening, I got you a gift. –
- If you think that silly trinkets can excuse you from disappearing without word for hours, you are sadly mistaken! Even for female, dress shopping shouldn’t last six hours. – he growled at her and Katya turned to glance at him
- You never told us how much time we have before you expect my return, so don’t complain. I got you something, something that … leaked. –
- Miss Katya! –
- I am serious! Look. – she paced to the door placing a glass sphere in hands of fuming Snape. She watched him as he looked at object in his hands then in her like she lost her mind
- Miss Katya, do you honestly think that enchanted paper weight can redeem your misconduct? –
- What misconduct? –
- You were outside for hours without my supervision. –
- I was with Minerva and the girls! –
- I am responsible for you, not them. –
- Then you should not let me go with them. –
- In that you are correct! I will see not to repeat mistake. – he hissed at her and turned to leave
- But that is not an enchanted paper weight. – she called stopping him in his tracks, he turned slowly towards her
- Beg your pardon? –
- That is a training ball. It is object from MY world. – she explained and he raised an eyebrow – We use those balls to train with four basic elements. I thought that this can help us with your training. -
- Are you sure? –
- Absolutely! It bares very distinctive signature with all four elements trapped in the sphere. – she watched him as he studied the ball with blank expression.
- Very well, we will deal with this later. For this evening, I suggest that you introduce yourself to bathroom and at least attempt to bring yourself to minimal modicum of decent appearance. –
- What’s wrong with my appearance? –
- I hope that is rhetorical question. - he grumbled and left her to blink at his back. For a second Katya wondered if he had personal objections to her appearance, with her limited exposure to the wizarding world she did not noticed that they objected the way she dressed or looked for that matter. Then again, almost all she encountered believed her to be just arrived from foreign country or knew she was not from this place. With frown, she entered to the bathroom, wondering if she should do some changes in her wardrobe. Deciding that as long as it was cold outside her present clothes will have to suffice, but she will advise with Poppy and Hermione on that subject for the future.
“What future? I do not plan to stay here long.”
Nagging voice in her head reminded her that her wishes don’t have merit in the matter of her staying in this world. At the moment, almost everything in her life depended on the dour men she was sharing housing with.
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- 26
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The Prize