Photographs are snap shots in time. They are a representation of emotion, a snip-bit of a moment that is captured and preserved forever. How can something so small carry so much meaning and emotion?
I only know of the subjects of this photograph from stories that I have heard from my mother and the Daily Prophet. Other than these 2 dimensional glances, I have never seen him, the one in the moving photo I constantly ask questions about. However, I feel like I know him. The way he has his arm around his best friend and the way he is smiling at the camera and laughing with those around him, I know that he is someone I know.
I hear the front door open and close. As quickly as I can I replace the picture at the bottom of my mother's old school trunk, making sure that everything looks just as it did before and scamper out of the room. Just as I shut the door I can hear her coming up the stairs.
"Andria I'm home. How was your day?"
When I see her round the corner I am at the other end of the hall, far away from the room I previously occupied.
"It was okay, not much happened." Not like anything happens in the summer anyways. It's not like I have any friends to hang out with when I am not at school.
For most summer vacation is where everyone gets to go on holiday with their family and friends. I have never been on a proper holiday. Mom is always working at the Ministry and says that she doesn't have time to go anywhere. Lucky for me I get to stay at home and do nothing.
"Why didn't you see if any of your friends were around?" she says, like we haven't had this conversation before.
"because, mom, everyone else is on holiday and, and I am stuck here." I gesture with my arms wide open.
"I am sure that you can find something to do here honey. If you want you can come to work with my at the ministry and intern there for the remainder of the summer. I know summer is almost over, but I am sure someone would be happy to have you help out." She smiles at me like it's the most ingenious plan that she has ever had.
When I don't answer her she looks disappointed. I am not sure if I want to be cooped up at the ministry either. All I can think about is how gloomy the place looks and how serious everyone who works there is.
"It's okay mom, I should probably finish my summer studies and prepare for Quidditch tryouts anyways. Besides I know this term is going to be brutal. The upper years say that potions is callous, especially with Professor Snape."
"Oh Severus is still the potions professor? I thought that he wanted to teach defense against the dark arts."
"He still does, but every year he applies and every year they choose a new professor."
"I wonder whom will teach it this year."
"The schedule says professor Umbridge. Never heard of her before."
Briefly moms face pales and saddens, "Mom is everything okay?" I can maybe count on once hand the number of times I have seen her look sad.
Plastering a smile on her face "Oh yes everything is fine. I am going to get out of my work robes and then we shall sit down for supper. How does that sound?"
Still worried I recommend, "How about I start dinner and you come down when you are ready?" As I turn to go mom grabs my hand and pulls me into a big hug. I feel her nose next to my hair and I know she is taking in my sent. She says that my sent calms her. After a few moments she lets me go with a pat on the rear as I make my way to the kitchen to help the elves set the table.
