Snakebite and Cola

Chapter Two

"What?" Harry said in disbelief. "How the hell do you know that git?"

Petunia broke her gaze and looked at him with anger so pure that it made Harry feel awkward. She fumbled for something in her handbag and took out a crisp twenty-pound note.

"That is none of your business, you silly boy," she hissed. "Take this and go buy yourself some clothes." Harry stared at the money being waved in front of him. He looked up at her. Her lips had become a tight, thin line on her face and Harry was sure that she was mildly shaking.

"Take it before I change my bloody mind. You better get a lot out of this. Now go on, get out of my sight. Meet me at the car in an hour and if you're not there, I'll leave," she continued as she forced the note into his hand.

Harry quickly took the money and wheeled his trolley away. He turned back seconds later to see Snape glide over towards his Aunt.

What the hell? He thought. He continued to walk towards the nearest café. He didn't plan to go shopping with a suitcase and an owl, that would only draw attention. He would just have to suffer his punishment for spending the money on the last decent meal he would have for two months.

*****

She had definitely changed a lot. Snape remembered back to when he was twelve or so. Petunia had been quite a stunning looking girl. She had her hair dyed a pure black colour and it hung straight down to her hips. She had worn a short black tartan skirt, a black tank top and black boots covered her feet. She had been Lily the Goth. Snape had always liked Lily, but he found her a little boring. Petunia had looked positively thrilling, as well as moody.

He approached the woman he had once been so excited by. She had short, curly, brown hair and was dressed like a normal everyday muggle. She wore a long, blue summers dress and pearls hung round her neck. Her lips were smeared with a pale pink colour. She had become boring. Snape was slightly saddened that Petunia had lost the sexy Slytherin look. He gave her a small grin, one he reserved for rare occasions.

*****

Petunia grinned at the man she had once seen when she was about fourteen. He had changed rapidly and his age was visible on his face. His hair looked greasy and thin. She remembered when is had been slick and shiny. He had worn it in a lose ponytail, the first time she had met him. His skin had been a soft, healthy colour, but now it looked sickly and pale. His dress sense hadn't changed much, opting as always for the colourless scheme. He had put on a lot of weight, although Vernon was easily double his size. She remembered Snape's black shirt that had been so tight against his skinny body. He had lost the eyebrow ring that she had loved so much. Snape had become an old man.

*****

"Petunia," he said in his low, nostalgic voice. His voice sent shivers down her spine. She smiled and looked into his hollow eyes.

"Severus, you've changed," she said. He nodded and looked down at himself as if expecting to see something he had never noticed before.

"As have you. Where is the boy?" He asked, his eyes roaming around behind her.

"I sent him off. He knows all too well when he's not wanted," Petunia whispered. Why she whispered she wasn't sure.

"Do you have time for a bite or something?" Petunia continued, trying desperately not to sound too enthusiastic.

"I always have time for a beautiful lady," he replied. He hoped he sounded convincing, he certainly used to think she was beautiful. Petunia smiled, Snape had always been a gentleman. His compliments didn't have the same effect now that he was so old and unattractive, though.

They walked over to a small café in the corner of the station. They walked in complete, awkward silence.

*****

The waitress returned with a strawberry milkshake, burger and chips and a side portion of onion rings. Harry thanked the lady kindly. He looked up to see Snape and his aunt enter the café. He bent his head low in front of the menu.

"Shit. Shit. Shit," he repeated in a whisper. He dared to glance up and saw the waitress escort the two to an adjacent table. Thankfully, a low wall separated Harry from his Aunt and Professor.

He ate his meal quickly with his head bent.

*****

"That will be all, thank you," Petunia snapped at the lingering waitress who had been intrigued by Snape. Petunia rested her eyes on Snape. She could see the boy she once knew behind his aging mask. Even then he already had permanent frown lines, but the lines had now become deeper.

"So, tell me what's new, I mean, is there a Mrs Snape?" Petunia asked. Snape said nothing, but just shook his head. She tried to read his expression to see if he seemed saddened by the fact. His eyes remained hollow and his expressions dormant.

"Who would have thought of that? I remember Lily telling me you had bedded every female of the Slytherin house, five from Ravenclaw, one from Hufflepuff," Snape snorted at the latter, "And none from Gryffindor. Am I right?"

"Your close, but remember that was just the females," he replies, smiling mysteriously. Petunia looked shocked momentarily then broke into a small chuckle.

"Oh Severus!" she said been the chuckles.

He looked rather pleased at himself, he wasn't often known for making people laugh and it was a nice change. He cringed slightly at the high, abnormal pitch she laughed at, though.

"I remember James whining to Lily what a sleaze you were. Lily just said not to be jealous," she continued, chucking. Snape put on a fake smile, although behind his lips he was gritting his teeth.

*****

Had Snape or Petunia looked over the low wall next to them, they would have seen Harry, hand on mouth trying not to choke. He nearly vomited at the thought of Snape with a woman, and now he had just heard that Snape was the 'Slytherin Slut.' Harry shuddered and contemplated if it was worth giving Ron and Hermione nightmares.

Harry looked up at the elderly couple that had been watching him for a while. He smiled; they were probably just concerned about his near-death experience. If only they knew him, they would have known he thrived on near-death experiences.

*****

Snape didn't like this conversation much. Petunia had become most irritating and came across as a bit false. He found it hard to look into her bony face and remember the girl he once knew.

"And yourself? Tell me about your husband," he said, trying to give an interested look. Like he could care less.

"Oh, his name's Vernon! He owns a company that makes drills. We have a beautiful son, Dudley. He is gorgeous: has blond hair, blue eyes and the total opposite of that skinny, runt Potter. He has so many friends, last summer he was barely ever in the house. Not that Vernon and I minded, if you get what I mean," she said, winking at him.

Snape made a mental note to shudder later. He had seen Vernon before, briefly however. He had accompanied Dumbledore on a visit to them, before Dudley was even born. However, Petunia hadn't been in. Vernon had been most disagreeable and disgusted when Dumbledore had asked if he had any of the Potter's possessions. Snape had been there in order to quickly snoop about under an invisibility cloak, while Dumbledore kept Vernon busy. They had expected lack of cooperation. He remembered Vernon with much disgust: a hideous, pig-like man that spat when he talked. And he had smelled of terrible body odour.

Snape put on a fake smile, "Sounds nice."