August 2, 1998- Draco
"Drakie!" A shrilly voice pierces through the serenity of the library. Ah, so the Parkinsons are here.
Sure enough, when I look up from my book, Pansy Parkinson is half-running over to me, her brother behind her.
"Hey, Pans," I say, getting up and hugging her. "'Sup, Harry."
"I know school hasn't even been out for a full month yet, but it feels like it's been forever since I saw you! The only one I've had to talk to the whole summer is that git over there." Pansy says, nodding her head in Harry's direction.
"Hey, you're not exactly my first choice either!" Harry laughs.
"I really feel for you, Pansy. Wish I could help you out, I really do, but I've been so busy at work." I smirk.
"Oh yeah! I still can't believe you got a job in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Inferior Beasts. And we just barely finished school! How has that been?" Pansy rants, all brother-taunting forgotten.
"It's actually pretty cool. A Centaur was beheaded last week- I got to watch. We've managed track down twenty-six Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest, who I'm sure you heard, nearly killed a stupid third year a few months ago. We even managed to remove that horrid giant squid from the lake at Hogwarts."
"Wow. Sounds like you've been busy." Harry comments.
"Yep. And I haven't even told you the best part yet. The Dark Lord said that there is a mudblood who has become a bit of a concern, and I'm going to get the honor of retrieving and killing said mudblood."
"The Dark Lord said that? Oh, Draco, I'm so proud of you!" Pansy hugs me again.
"Yeah, well done, Draco," Harry praises.
"Thanks. You know, it does feel good, like I'm finally doing something worthwhile. So what have you two been up to, besides tormenting each other?"
"Nothing, it's been horrible! Can we please go somewhere else? I hate libraries- too stuffy." Pansy whines.
"Of course. Wanna go fly?" They both nod in agreement. Leaving my book on a table for a house elf to put away, we head down to the Manor's Quidditch pitch.
"Yeah, the summer hasn't been exciting at all." Harry says, continuing the conversation. "I think we need to get jobs, Pansy." She looks at her brother in disgust.
"Ugh, no! You can if you want, but there is no way in hell I am ever getting a job! I'd rather be bored."
Harry and I burst out laughing. She looks truly appalled at the notion of working.
"You know what? You guys go ahead. I'm going to go find Narcissa; she had promised I could help her plan Saturday's ball. I'll see you two later." With that, she turns on her heel, nose in the air, and saunters off in the opposite direction.
"Your sister is way too sensitive. Can never take a fucking joke." Harry nods in agreement.
.
For a while, we fly around the pitch, tossing around the quaffle and chasing after the snitch. But the whole time, Harry seems to be lost in his own little world. After I catch the snitch for the eighth time, I get too frustrated with his lack of effort.
"Ok, mate, what's up?"
"What do you mean?"
"I caught the snitch. Again. I'm good, but even I don't beat you every single time. Something's bothering you. Spill."
"Fine. But you have to swear you won't tell anyone." I roll my eyes.
"Whatever. Just tell me already!"
"It's just that… do you ever feel, I don't know, bad about killing all those creatures? Or think that maybe the Muggles aren't as disgusting as we think? I mean, they do look a lot like us." I stare at him in confusion and shock. Did I just hear him right?
"What? Where is all this coming from?" I question when I finally regain my senses.
"It's something I've been thinking about for a while now. I mean, my birth mother was a mudblood, right? And I've turned out ok." I snort. "Shut it, Draco. I'm serious! Maybe the Dark Lord is wrong."
"You shouldn't be talking like this, Harry. It's traitorous. If anyone finds out that you've been thinking this shit, you'd be killed for sure."
"I know. You won't tell anyone, right?" His piercing green eyes widen at the thought.
"You're my best mate. Of course I won't tell! But I am worried about you. You're not exactly the most accomplished Occlumens. If anyone ever tries to penetrate your mind, you're a dead man."
.
August 3, 1998- Hermione
"Hermione!" My mom calls. Dang it! I was just getting to the climax of my book. Nevertheless, I place the bookmark in the correct spot and set my book down on my bed.
"Coming, Mum!" I call back as I hurry down the stairs. "Yes?"
"There's been an emergency and you're father and I are needed at the office. Some poor chap has managed to crack both of his front teeth! We won't be home until late, so you're on your own for dinner."
"Ok, no problem. Be careful though. Both of you." My mum smiles.
"Of course Dear. Lock the door behind us. And no you-know-what!" I roll my eyes. Honestly, I don't know why we bother. If a witch or wizard wanted to break into the house, a locked door wouldn't deter them, not even for a moment. But I do as I'm told.
As for the 'you-know-what,' I understand my parents' concern- I would be killed if the Dark Lord knew about me, a mudblood who can actually somewhat control her magical abilities- but still, I can't hide it forever.
You see, for sixteen years, a Dark Rebellion raged in the magical community, unbeknownst to Muggles. On April 1, 1986, the Dark Lord and his loyal band of Death Eaters won the war, and exposed the existence of magic to the world. It only took them seven months to take over all of the Muggle governments in Europe. The Dark Lord took control of Europe, and introduced a new caste system, with him at the top.
Immediately below him are the pureblooded witches and wizards, followed by the halfbloods. These two classes live the high life, but everyone else is treated terribly. Those classified as 'blood-traitors' are murdered, although pure-blooded children of blood-traitors are taken and raised "correctly" by other purebloods. Children of magical families who have not shown to have magical ability by the time they reach age eleven are often killed- squibs are an embarrassment to those who believe magical blood is superior. Muggles are considered scum in this era. We live in constant fear, because witches and wizards often like to terrorize us when they get bored.
I think the Muggle-born witches and wizards have it the worst, though. We have the same concerns as Muggles, seeing as we have to pretend that we lack magical powers. Immediately after their victory, the Death Eaters had hunted down and killed every Muggle-born who had been educated in the art of magic, although I did hear a rumor that a high-ranking Death Eaters kept a Muggle-born as a slave. Nowadays, for the most part, they leave us 'mudbloods' alone, though I'm sure they keep track of who we are. The Dark Lord is too preoccupied in conquering the rest of the world to bother with us. We are not permitted to learn magic or carry wands, but as long as we pretend not to have magical powers, we are left alone. Unless, of course, a Death Eater gets bored and wants someone to "play" with. But that goes for every member of the Muggle community.
About an hour after my parents leave, I decide that I want soup, so I put a pot of water on the stove. It starts boiling within thirty seconds. Mum would be furious if she caught me using magic to heat up the water, but it's not like anyone is around to see. And I'm hungry.