I rolled over in bed, sighing as I watched the shadows play along my wall. The sun was setting. I pulled the top of my blanket over my head. This is who I am now. I sleep the days away. At least in the summer. I didn't want to go back to Hogwarts, as much as I love it. It brought back so many memories. A shiver overtook me viciously, so I sat up quickly.
I began my routine. I got up, with my blanket wrapped around me, and my wand drawn. I checked my bedroom windows and doors. All locked. Nothing in my closet or bathroom that didn't belong. So I unlocked and left my bedroom, checking each door as I went, all still locked. I continued through my house like this. When a popping sound came from the kitchen, I spun around and ran to see. I thought I knew who it was, but I was prepared if it wasn't.
Sure enough, there was Wopsy, the house elf. She gave me her best crooked smile, twirling as she walked toward me to show off a newly made green sweater. I smiled at her, "How are you this morning Wopsy?" She widened her grin as I stowed my wand in my trousers and she took my hand, "Mornin' miss Mione. Wopsy has breakfast in the dining. Come see," her whimsical voice soothed my nerves. I pulled out a chair for Wopsy and she pulled one out for me, insisting I sit first as she always did. I gave her the best attempt at a smile I could manage. She had removed the blanket from my shoulders and put my plate in front of me before I had even noticed.
She sat in the chair I had pulled out for her. It was her chair. Over time, we had added pillows to the chair until she sat at the perfect height for my dining table. I felt a pang in my heart as I looked down at the plate in front of me. She had made me a heart shaped pancake and decorated it to be a smiley face, with banana slices for eyes.
Her voice shook as she spoke, "Doesn't Mione like her breakfast?" I looked to her wide eyes, "Don't be silly. Of course I do." I gave her a small, but real smile. "Thank you Wopsy. You always do too much." She smiled and clapped her hands in excitement. "Oh thank you miss. Now eat Mione."
I was hungry but I really didn't want to eat. But I took my fork and knife out and cut a piece and forced myself to put it into my mouth for her. It was heavenly, and the first bite made my mouth water, waiting for more. I don't know why I try to resist since Wopsy makes the best food. I ate faster, adding a small amount of a strawberry syrup that she had made on top. Soon, she and I had nothing but a bit of extra syrup left on our plates. She snapped her fingers and our plates floated from the dining area to the kitchen. I sat back in my chair, smiling a little bigger now.
"Oh miss Hermione! I have another plate for us!" Wopsy was bouncing on the pillows in her seat and I could feel a laugh building in my chest and as our plates arrived at our table, we were both giggling. This time, the plate was decorated with fruit, eggs and ham sliced into strips. And it smelled delicious. I ate with more enthusiasm this time. I was so lucky to have Wopsy in my life. She makes me get out of bed when the nightmares get too bad, she makes me eat, she reminds me that there is still good in the world.
I stretched and picked up our dishes this time, "Allow me Wopsy. It's my turn to do the dishes." She smiled up at me and hopped down from her chair, following me into the kitchen. "I will help miss. Mione should not do all the work. Wopsy likes to help." I gently reminded her that she had already cooked but she would not have it. Instead she pulled up the stool to stand near the sink where the drying rack was. This was one thing I liked to do just as my parents once did. I enjoy doing the dishes by hand, at least when there are only a few.
I looked out the window above my sink to the weather outside. It was snowing. The moonlight reflecting off of the white made it look so inviting, so bright. The small field behind my house was a blanket of fluffy white. I sighed in contentment. I loved the snow, even if it was cold. My favorite season would of course always be the spring, but there was just something about the fluff that made me feel warm.
Dishes done, I dismissed myself to take a bath. Amidst the bubbles and steam, I let myself relax. I knew Wopsy was here. I knew the wards around the house would not let anyone too close. I knew I could not be reached. No one could hurt me here. No one could find me here. I took a cloth gently across my body, leaving my arm for last. I took it slowly over the words carved into my skin. I had tried to remove them, had asked again and again how to rid myself from the marks. But they seemed to be a permanent fixture. Mudblood. I tried to forget about that, and resumed my wash. Letting the warmth sink into me.
After satisfying myself that I was as clean as I could get, I drained the tub and dried myself. I donned a pair of heavy pants to protect myself from the cold, a long sleeved shirt, followed by a sweater and headed down the hall of my one story house. Wopsy was in the entryway, seemingly aware of my plans. She smiled and handed me my coat before shrugging on her own, "Mione wishes to see the snow?" I nodded with a smile and I handed her a pair of mittens I had recently made for her and put on my own before taking her hand, "Let's go."
We took off in a run, making circles and patterns in the snow with our footsteps. I began working on building a snowman and was about halfway through when I felt something hit my shoulder. I whirled around to see Wopsy peeking her head out from behind a short wall of snow waving at me. "A snowball fight?" As the words left my mouth she tossed another one at me. Quickly I began building my own fort, demolishing my snowman and using his body as part of it. Soon it was an all out battle as snowballs were tossed across the field. When she started using her powers, I began using my magic.
I imagine it would be an interesting sight to a muggle, small snowballs slowly growing larger as they flew. Beams of light occasionally making contact with snowballs and making them explode. Wopsy and I were laughing so loud, I was sure the whole forest surrounding the field could hear it.
We entered the house dripping wet and shivering, but sporting huge grins. Together we shrugged off the outer layers until we were left in naught but our underclothes. In the closet by the entryway, I had two robes, one for me, and a much smaller one for Wopsy, my friend. She quickly ran to the sitting room where the fireplace was and as I walked in, it was already ablaze and warming the room. I moved to the kitchen to make some hot cocoa. Taking two mugs of the steaming liquid and a small bag of miniature marshmallows, I went back to the sitting room to find Wopsy sitting on the soft rug in front of the fireplace, holding her hands out to feel the warmth.
I handed her one before setting myself down with my own. "Now you know you don't need to check up on me every day Wopsy. You don't belong to me. You don't belong to anyone but yourself, you know," Wopsy only nodded and popped a marshmallow into her mouth, accustomed to the short lecture I was giving her. I shook my head, "I don't know why you bother with me! It isn't like I ever go anywhere. Aside from to the market or to Hogwarts to teach. I mean, I hardly do anything." She placed her hand atop my own, "Wopsy does not stay out of obligation. Wopsy is free. Mione may not know it, but she needs Wopsy and her breakfast foods at dinner time. We are friends." I could not help the tears that began to fill my eyes and threatened to fall. This beautiful creature chose to befriend me when all others had left. She was the sun in my eternal night. And I loved her for it. Moving our mugs out of the way, I hugged her. "Thank you so much Wopsy."
