Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Both Sides	By : ccino49 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 10429 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
I do not own any of the characters or places from the Harry Potter books or films. They all belong to J.K. Rowling. All that is mine is Lou and the plot. I am not making any money from the writing of this story.

Both Sides.

Unbetad, all mistakes and lousy grammar are mine. ccino

Ch 6 The lady in the window

�How? I don�t know how.�
�Give it time Louhi.� Albus told her. �You will have ample opportunity, sooner then you think.�
Lou gave him a puzzled frown. �Could you do something for me please?�
Three questioning faces turned in her direction.
�Call me Lou, I hate being called Louhi, and Miss Black�s even worse.�
Severus could not keep the slight sneer from his face, especially when he saw Lupin�s disappointment at her distaste for being called Black.

�If that is your preference, I am sure we can accommodate such a small request.�
�Thanks. What do you want me to do first then?�

�As regards what?� Albus asked.
�I don�t know, anything. I can�t just sit here all day. I could make the dinner or something. I know how to cook. I can do anything around the house or garden, I�m not afraid of work and I won�t feel like such a charity case if I earn my keep.�
Albus� eyes twinkled merrily. �I have errands to attend to. I shall leave you two to decide what needs to be done.�
Two very perplexed Professors were left to think of something to occupy a teenage girl, and neither of then had a clue what they should do about it.
By lunchtime, Lou was grumbling about burnt fingers after Remus tried to teach her how to play exploding snap, although Remus found it incredibly funny when she let out a scream the first time she yelled snap and the cards exploded in her hand. From there on he purposely let her win so he could see her reaction when she had to shout snap.
By tea time, her head was spinning from learning wizarding chess with Severus.

He�d allowed her the concession of using his given name on the basis that; a) she saved his life, and b) she was not a pupil of his. Though he did insist that she address him as Professor Snape in the presence of others.
Lou was happy to agree and quite enjoyed playing chess. She�d learned to play normal chess several years ago, having being taught by one of her foster parents, but she liked wizarding chess better because the pieces moved by themselves and bashed each other. It seemed weird and a bit creepy at first, especially when the pieces started hitting each other and arguing amongst themselves, but the rules of the game were not much different to what she already knew and she gave Severus three very close games.
Severus was quite surprised that she was so proficient at the game. He knew muggles played chess, but he had no idea that it was played in almost the same way as wizarding chess. He�d never played chess at all until he started at Hogwarts as an eleven year old boy.
She refused though, to take a pain potion from Severus when her leg started hurting again.
He argued with her that it was only for the pain and that he was not trying to drug her, but she still refused. In the end he went through to the kitchen to tell Remus, who was cooking tonight, to put it in her food.
�See, it�s started feeling better on it�s own.� She told Severus halfway through her meal.
He kept his expression neutral as Remus stood and turned to get the teapot. He was not quite as domesticated as Molly when it came to the kitchen. Besides, unlike Severus, he was not able to keep a straight face at Lou�s comment.
She let out a yell when the fire in the kitchen suddenly flared green and a person stepped out of it.
�Hello everyone. Molly sent me to see how you were all coping, but I can see you�re doing just fine. You must be Louhi. Molly spoke very highly of you.� Said the man from the fire as Lou sat looking at him awestruck. Her jaw dropped and she was gaping at him like he was a demon.
Severus could not resist using a finger to press her chin and snap her jaw shut. When he removed it, her jaw fell again. Curiously fascinated, and much to his own amusement, he moved it up and down several more times before she batted his hand away and kept her mouth closed, scowling at him.
Remus made the introductions, seeing as how Severus was too engrossed with Lou�s chin.
�Erm hello Mr Weasley, Mrs Weasley said you collect batteries.�
Severus and Remus both groaned quietly. Once Arthur got started on batteries there was no shutting him up.

They had to admit though that Lou did keep him spell bound as she explained how they worked, all about positive and negative electrodes and that there was no point in hanging on to them once they were dead, because they could be dangerous. She explained about the corrosive acid that would eventually leak out of them and Arthur was most disturbed. He resolved to burn of them as soon as possible.
�NO. You can�t burn them, they have to be disposed of properly. If you put them in the fire they�ll explode.�
�Oh my goodness. I had no idea they were such dangerous things. What shall I do with them if I can�t burn them?�

�They have to be taken to the council dump. They get rid of them.� Of course that meant she had to start explaining the muggle method of refuse disposal, of which her knowledge was slightly limited. All three men listened to her explanations intently though, each fascinated in their own way.
Even Severus, although he�d grown up with a muggle father, he�d never gone to a muggle school and was not allowed to mix with other children before Hogwarts, so this was an education of sorts for him too.
�I�ve got a tranny in with my stuff and that works of batteries. We could listen to it if you want.� Lou told them.
�A tranny? What is that?� Remus enquired.
�A radio, wireless.�
�I am afraid it will not work here.� Severus told her. �Too much magical interference, that is why we do not have electricity and such. We do have our own wizarding network though, you might enjoy that.�

�But that means no television? Oh well, I managed long enough without electric before I came her so it�s not gonna be that different.� Lou was disappointed though, she�d not noticed a TV, but assumed there would be one somewhere because this was a proper house. Or so she thought.
Because of all the potions that were surreptitiously slipped into her food and drink throughout the day, Lou�s leg was healing remarkably fast. It still hurt when she tried to move too fast, or when it was nearing time for another dose of potion, but she was limping about the downstairs rooms now without aid and found it easier to get up from the table. The sofa proved more difficult because it was soft and squashy and she sunk into it, but Lou was fiercely independent and preferred to struggle rather than ask for help.
When Arthur left via the flue, Lou stared again, unsure what to make of it and not sure she really wanted to ask. Getting up from the table she began stacking the dishes in the sink and running hot water for the pots.
�Leave that.� Remus told her. �Molly usually washes them when she comes.�
Lou continued at the sink. �That�s not very fair, she doesn�t even live here, why should she clean up our mess. Besides, it gives me something to do.

Remus accio�d a bottle of fire whiskey and two glasses from the drawing room so he and Severus could sit and enjoy a drink while they both kept an eye on her.
They were both intrigued as Lou washed and dried the pots and pans, stacking up the items she didn�t know where to put. After wiping down the surfaces and cupboard fronts, then cleaning the stove, she found a scrubbing brush under the sink and scrubbed down the wooden drainer. The table too received a good scrub, much to the displeasure of the two men that were half sprawled across it after several drinks.
�Is this really necessary?� Severus asked her. �A flick of the wand and it could be done in a moment.�

��Yeah? Well I haven�t got a wand remember, this is the only way I know how. At least I know it�s clean this way, you might leave all kinds of germs and things behind your way, besides, I don�t see you two doing much flicking.�

�Certainly not.� Severus argued. He felt affronted at her slight, and sat up stiffly, glaring at her.
�I wouldn�t know, neither of you have done more than cook that I�ve seen, and you never clean up after yourselves.�
Remus and Severus both sported red stains on their cheeks after her admonishment. It was true, they left all the mess for Molly, it had always been the way. Wizards were the breadwinners, the dominant ones in any household and could not be expected to perform more than the most basic of domestic duties, that�s what witches were for.
�We have more important things to do than washing dishes and scrubbing floors.� Severus told her.
�Chauvinistic pigs, the pair of you.� Lou spat. �Are you all like this?�
Remus spluttered, spraying the table and Severus with a mouthful of fire whiskey. �What did you call us?�
�Chauvinists. It�s what you call men who ��
�We know what it means, but just because things are how they are, does not mean that we are chauvinists. It is the way of our world and it works just fine. I have never heard any complaints.� Severus told her.

�Have you Lupin?�
�Occasionally, but it�s usually from the muggleborns. I can�t say I�ve ever been called to task about it though.�
�I should think not, it�s absolutely preposterous.�
Lou just glared at them while she dried her hands and made to leave the kitchen.
�Where do you think you are going?�
She turned her head back to Severus. �To find someone normal to talk to.� She told him and sailed through the door.
The two men looked at each other confused. �Who �?� Remus started to ask.
As one they shot out of their seats and ran to the hall. Too late they saw Lou pulling back the curtain that covered Mrs Blacks portrait.
Hiya, do you feel like talking?� She asked the older woman.
�Certainly, I would find that most enjoyable.� Mrs Black told her. �Bring yourself a chair, I know you have an injury to your leg and there is no point in standing, when you could be sitting comfortably.�
Lou was about to grab the chair still left from the previous day, when a voice bellowed down the hall and she jumped, missing the chair back and almost falling over it.
�Louhi Melaina Black what do you think you are doing?� Remus shouted at her.
Even Severus started at the roar in Lupin�s voice, the werewolf was normally such a docile person.
�What did he call you?� Mrs Black asked Lou.
�Louhi, but I like being called Lou.�

She turned to Remus. �What did you shout at me like that for? I was only getting a chair.�
There ensued a squabble in which Mrs Black demanded to know more about Lou, Remus struggled to draw the drapes back across the portrait and Severus carried a struggling Lou under his arm and into the drawing room.
�Never do that again.� Severus growled at her as he fell onto the sofa and held her face down over his knee. It was the only way he could hold her without getting kicked.
When Remus entered looking decidedly flustered, he sat next to Severus and grabbed her wrists, the hands of which were trying to claw the Potion Masters ankles.

�I just wanted to talk to her, let me go you big shits. I haven�t done anything wrong.�
Remus noticed Severus� eyes darken at her insult and shifted nervously. �Lou, you have no idea what you were dealing with when you spoke to that portrait. Now you promised to trust our judgement and abide by our rules while you were here.�

�I don�t care, I want to talk to her, she�s nice and ��

A deep voice interrupted her tirade.
�Unless you wish to feel my hand across your backside, you will refrain from any further use of foul language, you will do as you are told and you will stop arguing and trying to kick, scratch and bite every time you are told you cannot do what you want.�
�Don�t you dare lay a finger on me.� She yelled. �You hit me and I�ll �I�ll ��

�You�ll what?� Severus asked, one eyebrow raised as he looked at Lupin.
Lou let out a frustrated cry and flopped. �Just, don�t you dare. Your not allowed to hit me, your not in charge of me, it�s against the rules and you can get put away for it. I�ll tell the authorities on you.�

�Lou, at this moment we are the authorities, at least as far as you are concerned.� Remus told her. �Things are much different here to what you are used to in the muggle world. I also happen to know that if you anger Severus any further, he will do just what he has threatened to do, and I cannot stop him. He is well within his rights to punish you as he sees fit, if you do not behave.�
Lou was livid, but she didn�t want the humiliation of getting a spanking either.
But Severus too was angry, and he was determined to make sure the girl knew where she stood. Too much could have been revealed had she been allowed to converse with Mrs Black. There was also the fact that she was going to be tested tomorrow, to discover whether or not she did have bound magic. If she did, they needed control over her, and not keeping a tight rein on her now would only lead to problems later, much as he did not want to spank the girl, he would if necessary. Hopefully it was nothing more then a coincidence and she was not who they thought she was, though that was unlikely given that Remus had known all about Blacks affair with the girls mother. Failing that, she may be a squib with no magical ability whatsoever. Until they knew for certain however, she could not be allowed to run riot.
�Louhi, the fir � �

�Don�t call me Louhi.� She shouted. � I wont answer if you call me Louhi.�
�Enough.� he demanded. �I may owe you a life debt Miss Black, but it does not mean that I will stand for your insults, or your disobedience. As I see it you have two choices, you can do as you are told and I shall not need to chastise you, or I can chastise you and you will do as you are told regardless. Now which of those options would you prefer?�
Lou stopped struggling. It wasn�t getting her anywhere and they both had a good grip on her so she couldn�t do anything. She was in a no win situation as far as she could see and knew when to give up. �Alright.� She grumbled ungraciously.
Both men looked down at her, as if expecting more.
�Well are you gonna let me up then?�

�We are waiting for an apology from you, and a promise that you will abide by our rules from now on. You know the consequences if you do not.�
Lou was trembling with rage and frustration now and didn�t want to say sorry, she didn�t see what she�d done wrong in the first place. Yeah, she�d swore at them , but only because they wouldn�t let her talk to the old lady and were holding her down. �Okay I�m sorry I swore at you, but you�ve got to say sorry too because I didn�t do anything wrong to start with.�

Whack!
�OW! You fucking pillock, what did you do that for? I said I was sorry, you didn�t have to do that, it hurt.�
Whack! Whack!
�OOWW!�
�I did that Miss Black, because you offered only a begrudging apology, and then had the nerve to demand one in return. You also cursed. Now, shall I follow with a fourth, or are you going to do as you were told to in the first place? I am not enjoying this situation any more then you are.�
�Okay I�m sorry, I�m really, really sorry and I wont do it again, whatever it was.�
Remus let go of her hands and Severus released his hold of her.
As soon as she realised she was free, Lou shoved away from them, landing on her already sore backside on the floor. She glowered at them resentfully as she shoved herself back against a chair and pulled herself up. There were a lot of things she wanted to say, but kept them to her self. Her leg was sore, her bum stung, and she really had nowhere to escape to if she back-chatted them now.

�Why won�t you let me talk to the lady in the hall? Why is she in the window all the time?�
Severus and Remus looked at each other and back to Lou, neither quite sure as to how much they should reveal.
Severus spoke first.

�The lady, as you refer to her, is a portrait, she does not live in a window.�
�A portrait? But I spoke to her and she talked back, pictures can�t talk.�

They can in the wizarding world Lou.� Remus told her. As to why we would prefer you not to speak with her, well as you have said yourself, some things are private. Eventually things may be revealed to you that will make all of this make sense, but until that time, it would be better if you were to leave Mrs Black behind closed curtains.�
�I�ve been talking to a picture, I don�t believe this.� Lou said in a soft voice, more to herself then the two men watching her. �This whole place is nuts, totally nuts.�
�You may think so at the moment, but given time you will come to realise that there are much stranger things to be seen and experienced than a talking portrait.�
She chanced a look at Severus, wondering just how much more bizarre things could get. �Did you get my things from the house, all of them?�
�I did, though much of it has been reduced and will need to stay that way until you have need of them. Your personal effects have already been taken to your room, the furniture has been stored in a cupboard for now.�
�What do you mean reduced? I don�t understand.�

Severus sighed and pointed his wand at the coffee table. �Reducio.� he intoned, then he followed with; �Engorgio.�

TBC

Please review

ccino
- 5
- 6
- 7
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Both Sides