Year Two - Chapter 3

Monday was finally here, so I got up early to have a bath and put some things inside my bag; a couple of dresses, pyjamas and the occasional shirt that I had lying around along with my toothbrush and a towel as well. When I got out of the shower, I put on a pair of muggle jeans (dad bought them for me, Aunt Cissy would never do that) and the jumper that Aunt Cissy had bought for me, it had a spell on it to keep me from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter, so it didn't matter that it was a little warm today.

I put all my homework in a drawer on my desk because I didn't want something to happen to it while I wasn't here. I sat on the bed, on top of my hands, I didn't know what to do; it was barely 10 in the morning, and we're going to Hermione's house until 1 in the afternoon (how we will get there; I don't know, my dad talked to her parents when I was in France with Aunt Cissy)

In front of the window, there's a small ottoman, so I sat down and stared outside for a while; there were a couple of guys smoking and drawing things on the wall of one of the abandoned buildings with a couple of cans, but my attention quickly focused on two people; a mother with her daughter, they were walking towards the old park while they were holding hands.

I couldn't help but feel a little jealous. Why don't I have a mum? I know that my mother is far away from here, somewhere (or so my father has told me) but don't I have at least the right to know where? Or know her name. I only have a picture of her, the one that Aunt Cissy gave me a year ago and nothing else when she was my age, so I don't know what she looks like now.

Knock, knock.

—Eileen, breakfast is ready.

—Ah, yes, I'm coming.

I blew my nose and realised I was crying, so I quickly wiped the tears away with my hands and looked at myself in the mirror. Luckily, my eyes didn't look so red. I went downstairs to the kitchen and sat down to eat my pancakes in silence.

—Do they taste good?

—Mm-hm. —I had my mouth full, so I only made an affirmative noise.

After making his coffee, my dad sat next to me, so I did my best to hide my eyes, which I know still look a little red.

—You're never that quiet, much less when you're excited. —I just lifted my shoulders as I drank some milk.— Do you not want to go with Miss Granger anymore?

—No, I want to go.

We kept eating in silence and luckily he didn't use Legillimency; when I finished eating, I got up and put my plate and glass in the sink, both of which cleaned themselves. I turned to leave the kitchen when my dad talked to me again.

—Eileen. Sit down.

I turned to see him, and he just looked at the chair, showing for me to sit down. What did I do wrong now? Now it turns out that I'm also in trouble just for being silent?

I sat down and looked at the table, the wall, the ceiling; I looked everywhere but at him.

—No, you're not in trouble.

—Then…? I remember the rules I have to follow; you don't have to worry about that.

—It's not about that. I want to know what is bothering you.

—What are you talking about? Everything is perfect.

—No, I know you and I know that there's something in your mind bothering you.

I sighed and looked at the table.

—If I tell you, you're going to get angry… —I whispered.

—How can you be so sure about that?

—Because you always get angry.

He said nothing for a couple of seconds; he had his arms crossed in front of his chest and didn't stop looking at me.

—It's about your mother, isn't it?

—Yeah…

—Eileen. —He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.— You need to understand that—

—That I can't know anything until I'm older, I know.

I got up from the chair and ran to my room, sat down again on the small ottoman, and looked through the window again. The mother and the little girl were still at the park, playing; I kept looking at them when I heard steps getting closer and then a knock on the door; I didn't answer, so after a while, my dad entered.

I ignored him and focused on looking at the woman; they were preparing to leave when I felt my dad's hand on my back, and then he put a piece of paper in front of me; when I grabbed it I noticed it was a picture, there were three people on it; my dad (doesn't matter how young he was, I could still recognise him), a young woman, and a baby.

—What an ugly baby.

—That's you.

—Oh… So…?

—That's your mother.

I paid more attention to the photo; it looked like we were at Malfoy Manor, in the living room (the one we use every day, there was one much bigger they used only at parties), behind us there was a giant tree, so I guess they took the picture in December, they were sitting on the ground, looking at me and then at the camera; my mum was holding me in her arms. I guess I was sleeping because I wasn't moving in the picture.

—Wow…

—You were almost two months old when we took that picture.

—How old were you? —I turned to look at him and realised for the first time that the war must have been something extremely stressful for him because I don't think someone can age that much in 12 years, and if I'm being honest, my dad looks really old now.

—I was 19, your mother was 18.

I stroked my mother's face in the picture with my thumb; now I understand why Aunt Cissy says I look a lot like her, except for my eyes and hair; I want to know why… If they look so happy in the picture, why did she leave?

—She's beautiful.

—Yes, she is…

My dad took the picture from my hands and walked towards the wall that's in front of my desk, and stuck the photo to the wall with a Permanent Sticky Charm. I had several pictures there already that Aunt Cissy had given me throughout the years; Draco and I playing Quidditch when we were 9, Draco and I when we were 5, playing under the rain, my dad and I when I was 6, and we were making a potion; and other moments that even though I don't remember them clearly, they are important to me.

—You should make sure that you are not leaving anything behind, we'll leave in less than an hour.

I wiped my tears with the sleeves of my sweater and nodded; I didn't want to arrive at Hermione's house with my eyes all red.

—Are we going to apparate there?

—No.

And with that, he left my room, closing the door behind him. I looked around my room, trying to remember if I'm forgetting something. I walked towards my desk to make sure that all my homework was there, but I noticed a little piece of paper at the bottom of the drawer, I grabbed it and remember that it was Roger's address and he asked me to send him letters during the summer.

If I'm being completely honest, I hadn't done it because I didn't know what to say to him or I would just simply forget it. What can you say to the guy that gave you your first kiss?

I started biting my lip, trying to think of what to do. It would be rude to just not send him even one letter, but what can I say to him? Is it strange if I sent him just a few lines or several paragraphs?

I sat in front of the desk, grabbed my quill, and just wrote on a piece of parchment that I had around. I think the best thing would just, to be honest, and ask about his summer.

Roger.

Hello! How has your summer been? I hope you're having fun. A couple of days ago I went with my Aunt to Paris to buy clothes and in just one hour I'll go to Hermione Granger's house. Do you remember her? Well, I'm staying at her house for a week and I'm so excited, I've never been to a muggle home.

I hope to hear from you and tell me about your summer so far.

Greetings,
Eileen Snape.

I think that's more than enough, it's not too short for him to think I did it out of obligation or something, but it's not extremely long either. I did a spell to make the ink dry faster and put it inside an envelope, writing Roger's address on the envelope.

I went down the stairs and out to the small garden where my dad always had his owl; I tied the envelope to his leg, and he flew away (not without giving him a treat first, because otherwise, the damn bird won't go anywhere).

—Who are you sending a letter to?

—Merlin, Dad! Stop scaring me like that. I just… I just sent Roger a letter.

He nodded, showing no emotion on his face.

—Come on, we have to go now.

—I'll go get my things.

I ran up the stairs and grabbed the backpack with all my things, along with my wand. I went back down to the living room. My dad was already waiting there for me, and I handed him my wand.

—Even though I've only had it for a year, I'll feel strange if I don't have it with me. Why can't I take it with me?

—Because you are used to being able to do magic here since it is a magical home, but you will go to a muggle home, where only Miss Granger can do magic, in case you did magic during your stay there, what do you think would happen to her?

—They would expel her from Hogwarts for underage magic…

—Exactly. Now, let's go.

I hung the backpack on my shoulders and followed him out of the house. When we were outside, he closed the door with several spells that I had never heard before in my life. We started walking, and I thought we would go to the same alley that we used to apparate, but we took a different path.

—Where are we going?

—To the bus stop.

—Bus stop? Aren't buses those big cars that sometimes drive through muggle streets?

A man who was passing by us looked at me strangely, but he almost ran away when he noticed my dad's look and he took my hand.

—Yes; also, remember not to mention things like muggle or anything about our world while away from home.

—So I won't talk at all, understood.

My dad laughed at my silly joke, but really, what else could I talk about? I know nothing about the muggle world, and I feel like muggles would look at me strangely if I'm asking about everything.

—And why are we using the bus?

—I really hope it doesn't happen, but in case you're lost, I want you to know how to get back here or to the Granger's house.

—Don't worry, I'll stay with Hermione at all times.

—I hope so.

He squeezed my hand tightly, but it was only for a couple of seconds (luckily, because it hurt a bit, although he never let go of my hand) and we kept walking, luckily the stop was not that far, so we got there quickly.

At the stop, there was only a boy who looked like he was 17 years old, watching a strange block that made noises from time to time, so there was space for us to sit down.

At first, I was sitting quietly, but I felt bored quickly, so I started waving my feet under the seat. The box the boy had kept making strange sounds, so I tried stretching my head a bit to see what he was doing.

Inside the box there were smaller boxes of different sizes, which fell until they were on top of the others. Some moved to the left, others to the right and others simply fell without moving; the boy was pushing some buttons. I wonder if he can control them with that?

I think I spent a couple of minutes watching it until the boxes piled up and then it said 'Game over' Game? What kind of game is that?

—You want to try?

—Ah? —I looked up, and the boy was watching me, Merlin; does he know I was spying on him for a long time?— I don't know what that is.

—This is a Game Boy, you can play games on it. You want to try? —He handed me the box, and I hit the first button I saw, making the 'game' start over (or so I suppose because the boxes fell again).— To move the cubes, use these buttons, and you use this to make them fall faster. The point is to fill a line with them to make it disappear, you lose if the blocks reach the top of the screen.

I tried to do what he told me and yes when I hit the button on the left; the cube moved to the left. How entertaining is this! I tried to play as much as I could but lost quickly, so I handed him the box (What did he say the name was? Game Toy? It was Game something, I'm sure of it) just before a bus pulled up in front of us and my dad grabbed my hand again to get up from the bench, I said goodbye to the boy waving my hand and a smile which he did the same.

As I got on the bus, my dad gave a couple of papers to the man who was driving and we sat in the seats closest to the door, me next to the window and my dad next to me.

I was used to muggle cars, as the Malfoy's sometimes used them for Ministry things and we used to get in them, but it was still always exciting to see things go by quickly in front of me; it's like being on a broom, but more comfortable.

—Dad, what was that thing the boy had at the bus stop?

—A kind of game.

—Can you buy me one? It was very entertaining to move those little boxes.

He didn't answer, but… That doesn't mean it's a no! So I will take it as a yes; it took several minutes until we saw several of the same houses, unlike Cokeworth, the houses here were beautiful, and they had gardens in front of them.

We got off the bus and approached a two-story brick house with several trees and bushes in the garden. My dad rang the doorbell and Hermione quickly opened the door, almost looking like she was waiting in front of it until we arrived.

—You came!

She hugged me so tightly that almost knocked me to the ground, so I laughed. Behind her, I saw her parents were coming out of a room and approaching us.

—Of course I came. Why did you think I wouldn't?

She looked down at the ground for a moment and I think I understood why. Maybe she had already invited someone before and they hadn't come?

—Come, I'll show you my room.

She grabbed my hand, and we ran up some stairs, listening to my dad talking to her parents. We entered a room that was painted a pastel blue colour, on the bed were several stuffed animals, on the wall next to the door was a shelf full of books (some I could recognise, since they were magical books, but the rest were muggles), in front of a window was a desk also full of books, I think that if I sit in the chair, I could not see what's outside.

The bed was in the middle of the room, which also had a blue bedsheet; if I didn't know whose bedroom it is, I'd think it's from someone in Ravenclaw.

I approached a wooden board on which she had several photos in it and in all of them Hermione (although smaller) was holding some kind of trophy.

—Why don't the photos move?

—Muggle photos don't move.

—Oh. —Hermione sat on the bed. She seemed to be a little nervous, but I don't know why.— It's amazing, I've never been to a muggle home before; I thought there would be strange things, but it is very similar to mine.

—Really? I must admit I was nervous... Knowing you grew up with the Malfoys and you are used to living surrounded by luxury, I thought you would think this is... Well... Pathetic.

—Of course not, Mione! I won't deny that my room at the manor is much bigger, but at my house, my room is almost this size, maybe a little smaller.

Hermione smiled after I said that, and I hugged her.

—Hermione, Mr Snape is leaving!

We both went downstairs, and I said goodbye to my dad with a hug.

—I'll come for you Sunday at noon.

—Alright.

—Thank you very much for letting her stay, Professor Snape.

My dad nodded to Hermione and left the house. As trees surrounded the garden, he could hide easily among them with no muggle seeing him using apparition.

Hermione closed the door of the house and we returned to her room. She sat on the chair in front of her desk and me on the bed, crossing my feet under me.

—What would you like to do first, Eileen?

—I don't know, what do you do at a sleepover?

—Oh... I don't know, it's my first time, too. Maybe we could wait to eat lunch and then ride our bicycles. I have two.

—Bicy-what?

—Bicycle, they don't exist in the wizarding society?

—I have no idea what that is.

—Come, let me show you.

We went down the stairs again and crossed the room until we reached another room where there was a car, as well as several boxes and some broken things.

We approached a corner where there was some kind of strange car. There were only two wheels glued with some metal tubes.

—You're joking, right? —Hermione giggled as she took one of them and climbed onto it.— Do you really use these things to move?

—Yes! It's fun, come on.

She went out on the bicycle and did a couple of laps in the street. I just looked at the other one with a little fear. Hermione came back and got off the bike.

—Your turn.

I sighed and tried to get on the bike, but backed off when I noticed it wouldn't stay in place and it was all wobbling.

—No, no, no, did you see how it all moved? —Hermione giggled as I got as far away from that lethal thing as possible.

—You just have to keep your balance so it doesn't fall off. Come on, Eileen, if you can use a broom to fly several feet above the ground, you can definitely get on a bike.

—But a broom doesn't wobble! I just have to hold on tight and that's it.

—Come on, I'll be holding you from behind so it won't move.

I sighed again and tried to get on the bike again; Hermione was grabbing it by a tube behind the seat and that kept it from moving, but it didn't make me less scared.

—And now what?

— Put your feet on the pedals. —Hermione said as she touched a piece of black plastic with her foot.— These are the pedals.

I put both feet on the pedals, but nothing happened.

—With your left foot, put a little pressure to move the bike, you'll have to use both to keep it moving.

All right, Eileen, you can do it. I did what Hermione told me and noticed that the bike moved a bit.

—Keep it up, I won't let you go.

I kept moving my feet while using the long tube in front of me to better control the bike. I can't believe I'm really doing it!

—Very well, keep your balance.

Why does her voice sound far away? I looked back and saw that she was standing a couple of meters behind me, laughing.

I can't believe she let me go! I glanced to the front so as not to collide with something, but I got so nervous that I lost control and ended up falling in the garden with the bike on top of me.

—Eileen! —I saw Hermione running towards me and she picked up the bike.— Are you okay? I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have let you go. I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

—Hermione, calm down, nothing happened. —I got up and shook the dirt off my clothes; I smiled and finally; the concern disappeared from Hermione's face.— You see? All in order.

—I still shouldn't have let you go.

—Hermione! Lunch is ready!

Mrs Granger spoke to us from the front door and after putting the bikes away, we went back into the house to go to the dining room.

The dining room was very similar to the one in my house. The walls were light yellow; it had a refrigerator, a stove, several cabinets and a small square table made of wood.

I sat next to Hermione and immediately Mrs Granger put our plates in front of us. Muggle food doesn't look that different, because we were eating vegetables, mashed potatoes, and pasta.

—Have you received any letters from Harry? —I asked her.

—No and neither has Ron. I'm getting worried. What if something happened to him?

—I think we'd know by now if something bad had happened.

—Still, I can't help but worry.

After we finished eating, Hermione and I went out again to ride the bikes; it took me the rest of the day, but I could finally use it for quite a while without falling off.

When it got dark, we both went inside the house again and to the living room.

—Wow! You have one of those boxes!

—What? A telly?

—That's what it's called? I only saw it once in a muggle store a long time ago. The photos in there move much longer and have sound!

We sat on the couch in front of the 'telly', and Hermione made the photos appear.

—It had never crossed my mind that the wizarding world does not have televisions, but it makes sense. Do you want to see a cartoon?

—What's that?

—They are like books, they tell a story, but instead of reading the words, you can see it.

—Oh! Yes! I want to see one!

Hermione laughed and put on a cartoon about a penguin named "Pingu", who has several adventures with his best friend.

This is amazing! I wonder if I can convince my dad to buy one of those boxes.

Hermione's parents were very kind to let us have dinner in the living room so that we could continue watching the cartoon. After dinner, we went back upstairs to Hermione's room and on the desk was my dad's owl.

—An owl?

—Oh, it's my dad's owl. He asked me to send him a letter every day, but I didn't think he'd want me to send him one today, too.

—So cute! Definitely, Professor Snape acts completely different when it's about you. Well, I'll take a shower first so you can write him back; in the middle drawer there is paper and in the yellow bag there are several pens, they are like quills, don't worry about the ink, it's inside them.

—A-alright.

Quills that have ink inside of them? It sounds like something made up to me, but anyway, I sat in front of the desk and opened the drawer Hermione told me; I took out a sheet of paper (although it looked very different from what I normally use) and took the single yellow bag that was on the desk.

When I opened it, I saw a lot of plastic tubes of different colours. Are these the pens Hermione was talking about? I took the first one I saw and tried to write, but nothing happened.

I was trying to write for like five minutes until I realised I needed to remove the cover. With the pen, I made a small line on the corner of the sheet and it made a blue line... I wonder…?

I took the pen that had pink plastic in it and yes; it made a pink line, it's like having several bottles of coloured inks! I wanted to use all the colours to write the letter, but I think it would take me a long time to switch between each one, so I used red for decorating and orange for the letters.

Dear Dad,

I suppose you must be happy that you finally have the house to yourself, without me bothering you while you experiment with some new potion.

Hermione lent me some strange pens to write this letter. They are of various colours and have ink inside of them!

Today I learned a few things. First, after you left, Hermione helped me ride a bisikle, I think it's written like that; I fell twice, but nothing happened to me and before sunset, I could use it for a long time without falling; I hope we will use them again tomorrow; it was too much fun (except for the times I fell, sure).

Then we saw a cartoon on the box that shows photos that have sound, apparently, it's called 'tebilesion', and we saw a cartoon of a penguin; Hermione tried to explain to me how they did it, but I didn't really understand her (something about taking a photo for every second; if it is exactly what I think it means, how tiring! muggles sometimes make their lives very difficult)

And that's it, it wasn't much, but I had a lot of fun. I hope tomorrow and the rest of the week will be just as fun. Mrs Granger gave me a couple of photos that she took of us (although I don't know when), the first is when Hermione was teaching me to use the 'bicycle' (Hermione just told me that this is how it's actually spelt) and the second is when we were watching the 'telly'; sadly muggle photos don't move so you won't be able to see me fall to the grass after Hermione let go of the bike.

Loves you,
Eileen Snape.

PS: The other day I saw you eating my chocolates. Don't eat them all! I know how many were left before coming here.