Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Her mother stares at her over a lit candle. A rare smile gracing her sunken face.
"Here it is Septima," she stated cheerfully "I can teach you how to brew glory, bottle fame, and even put a stop to death," Eileen pauses slightly and glances dryly at Septima "As long as you don't waste my time that is,"
Septima flushes slightly at that, already used to her mother's blunt honesty. She pushed down the sense of deja vu she got from that one sentence. She glanced upward to get a better glance at her mother's face.
"F-father won't interrupt us, will he?" Septima questioned timidly, Eileen just rolled her eyes.
"I'm not an amateur Septima. Your dear old dad is currently out getting himself piss drunk. He won't be bothering us for a couple hours," Eileen replied bitterly "Merlin he makes me sick,"
Then why don't you leave him? Septima carefully doesn't say. It would do her no favors to put her mother in even more of a bad mood.
"Onto the lesson," Eileen stated, obviously still in a bad mood "The art, no- the science of Potions is no joke Septima. If you view it that way then I refuse to teach you about it,"
Septima nods jerkily and pays apt attention to her mother's words.
"Now… I think I'll teach you how to make a sleeping-draught first and foremost," Eileen started off, tapping her chin contemplatively "It could be of great use to you,"
Septima's body ached at the reminder of why she so desperately needed a potion like this, and she nodded her head.
(He was drunk again she realized with a shudder, she could smell it on him. He grinned eerily at her, and beckoned her to come closer-)
"The sleeping draught is one of the simplest potions ever created, any witch worth their salt should be able to produce one on their first try. It's simple, but it's also very powerful. Do not be ignorant with the use of it," Eileen explained sternly.
Septima nodded and started to take notes in an old notebook she had found. Eileen tutted at that.
"That's juvenile Septima. What if Tobias comes across it? You can't afford to be so sloppy,"
Septima froze at that and looked down at her knees.
"But," the girl started off, "I thought that I could put the notebook in the storage room when I'm done with it. Father never goes there,"
More importantly, Tobias couldn't go there. The drunken fool had no knowledge of the storage room even existing due to the fact that a 'wall' was covering it. The wall actually being a charm that Eileen placed on the room long ago.
A disapproving look flitted over Eileen's features.
"The storage room isn't so you can place whatever you please into it. It's for important items. Hide the book somewhere else,"
Septima felt her heart swell up in indignation.
"But… there's barely anything-"
"Hide. The. Book. Someplace. Else." Eileen hissed "You're smart, you'll figure something out. Now do you want to learn how to make a sleeping-draught or not?'
Septima nodded her head hurriedly and tried not to scowl at the tiniest glimmers of satisfaction that had gone through Eileen's eyes.
"Good," she practically purred "Pay attention because I will not repeat myself,"
Septima wrote down all the notes she could as Eileen eloquently talked her through the fundamentals of creating a sleeping draught.
She found herself in the playground again. She didn't quite know why.
Once some of the children saw her enter, they immediately went to their parents to complain. Disapproving eyes swept over her form, and Septima felt herself burn in mortification.
She wasn't the most attractive of children. That was just a fact.
With her… well structured nose and her pale skin. She knew she wouldn't be winning any beauty pageant awards anytime soon.
Clutching her ratty, brown coat close to her, Septima made her way towards the swing set.
Once they realize that she doesn't plan on leaving, the families all exit the playground. Making a very strong point to turn their noses up at her.
Septima just rolled her eyes at that and started to move back and forth on the swing.
(She always felt free when she was on the swingsets, it made her feel invincible-)
She let go of the handles.
She could feel herself soaring through the air, she froze momentarily mid-air.
A rare grin broke out across her features, as she opened her mouth to scream in pure joy-
"How are you doing that?"
Just like that the magic vanishes. Septima feels herself falling faster and faster to meet the ground.
Instead of hitting the ground harshly, however, she instead bounces like a beach ball.
Identical gasps come from behind her, as she glared at the perpetrator that had broken her concentration.
Lily Evans met her gaze head-on.
They stay like that for a few moments, before Septima forces herself to look away. The other girl's gaze was intense.
"Lily what's going- oh, it's you," Petunia stated with the utmost contempt "I was hoping I wouldn't have to see you again,"
"Tuney!" Lily stated ghastly "Don't say that-"
"What? She's weird, and she's always wearing that dirty brown coat. Do you not have any other clothes to wear?" Petunia inquired snidely. Septima glared at her.
No, I don't. My alcoholic father who beats me spends any of the money that we do earn on booze so that he can drink himself into an early death. I personally hope it comes sooner than later. My mother doesn't help me out either because she believes 'it's every girl for herself'. I was lucky that I found this coat in a dumpster or I would be freezing to death right now.
But… instead of saying all that, Septima got up and turned away. She dusted herself off and didn't give Petunia the satisfaction of letting her know that her words stung.
Lily called out to her, but Septima refused to turn back. Whatever little amount of pride she had forced her to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
It's silent for a few moments until a shrill "Lily don't!" broke Septima's concentration. She forced herself to turn back.
She turned back, only to see the tiny redhead in the same position she had been in only moments ago. Floating in the middle of the air. She could feel her eyes widen.
Lily grinned down at her.
"See? I can do it too!"
All Septima could do was nod numbly as the bubbly redhead floated closer and closer to her.
"My name's Lily! What's yours?"
Septima's mouth is dry as the redhead makes her landing. A few inches smaller than Septima surprisingly.
"Septima," She croaked in reply.
Septima stared at the girl in front of her in horror, as Petunia quickly came to join them.
"Lily! Get away from her! You might catch something," Petunia insisted as she grabbed Lily's sleeve. She lowered her voice and hissed "Mummy said not to do that in front of others,"
Lily shook Petunia off and put her hands on her hips. Green eyes narrowed in disapproval.
"Stop it Tuney! Mummy also said not to bully others,"
"I'm not bullying her-"
"You are," Lily replied hotly "What does it matter what she's wearing? There aren't that many kids around here, and you're ruining our chance at making a new friend,"
"Friend? Her?"
"Her name's Septima," Lily stated firmly, causing something to settle at the bottom of Septima's stomach. No one had ever really stuck up for her like this.
Petunia scrunched her nose at that and gave Septima a once over.
"C'mon Lils, she's a freak. I've seen her watching us before. She's the type of creep we need to stay away from," Petunia stated vehemently. Septima would be lying if she said those words didn't hurt.
As Lily and Petunia argued back and forth, Septima noticed a wilted flower lying on the ground. She picked it up gently and waited a few moments. The sisters stopped their bickering and looked at her in confusion. A look of vindication crossed Petunia's blue eyes, as she opened her mouth to mock her-
The petals on the flower started to move. The entire flower regrew from its dead state and seemed to levitate in Septima's palm. A rare smile came across Septima's face, as she floated the flower over to here the sisters were standing. Petunia shied away from it, probably worried it would start to attack her. Lily on the other hand…
Lily embraced it. With a childish giggle, Lily placed her palm below the floating flower and marveled at it. Green eyes peeked up at her.
"How did you do that?" Lily questioned curiously. Septima shook her head and turned to Petunia. Dark eyes narrowed in pure annoyance. The blonde shrunk back.
"You're right," Septima started off heatedly "I am a freak. I am weird, and there's nothing wrong with that! Normalcy is overrated anyway. You have no right to judge me when you're… when you're nothing but a big bully!"
Petunia and Lily's eyes widened at that, shock coloring their features. Septima's face heated up in embarrassment as she ran away from the playground.
She wasn't… she hadn't planned on saying that. She had just wanted to leave the playground with her dignity still intact. But there was just something about Petunia that made Septima want to put the older girl in her place.
As Septima got nearer to her house, she couldn't help but grin.
She had actually stood up for herself. She… didn't let someone push her around.
It felt good she decided, as she snuck into her bedroom by the back window.
She was done being a passive doormat for other people to step on.
Author's Note: Here's Bellātor chapter 4! We got a bit more Eileen this chapter, and a bit more insight on the relationship between Eileen and Septima. Even though it doesn't seem like it, Eileen does love her daughter. Everything she does is because she thinks she's helping Septima in some way. Also, we got the Evans sisters this chapter. Petunia was as annoying as always, but Lily continues to be a ray of sunshine. Even though Petunia isn't listed, she will be a main character down the line. As of right now, Bellātor has 67 favorites, 142 followers, and 14 reviews. I can't thank you guys enough. I hope you guys continue to leave reviews about what you think of the story.
Questions you Guys had:
Do you have any idea who you're going to pair Septima with? As of right now, no. But I'm open to suggestions. I'm also fine with breaking canon pairings, and same-sex pairings.
Will Septima and Lily's relationship somewhat deteriorate like it did in the first book? You'll just have to wait and see...
Will Septima cling on more because she's young and Lily is really her first friend her age? She won't be as clingy as her male counterpart was, but she will be a bit possessive in some aspects.
Will Septima gain more confidence due to her memories as Camilla? Yes, she will. You saw some of it this chapter, but Septima will start to become surer of herself.
Did Lily save herself, or did Septima save Lily? Septima saved Lily, that's all I'll say for right now. This will be addressed more in coming chapters so I won't go into too much detail now.
Thank you guys for asking these questions, I really appreciate you taking the time to read my story!
Questions I have for you Guys:
What do you think of Eileen? Of her relationship with Septima?
What other questions do you guys have for me?
P.S. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.
P.P.S. In case you guys didn't notice, what Eileen says, in the beginning, is based on Snape's potion speech in first year. I'd like to think he got that speech from his mother.