I Walk Alone, Chapter 13, Reality Is Always Such A Drag
The rest of Severus's first year at Hogwarts passed quickly enough. He spent his time with Heather and Raislen studying spell and charm combinations to create new ones. He avoided the Gryffindor Gang of Gits when he could and hexed them when he could not, chocking each of those experiences up to dueling practice three to one. He still rarely found his classes a challenge. Dutifully he wrote his mum once a month or so. He would've written her more because he missed her very much, but there wasn't a great deal of news to report other than his magical explorations with Heather and Raislen. Though he did make casual mention of them, he opted to leave most of the details to in person conversations because he and his friends frequently worked on some rather nasty hexes and curses. He wasn't certain how safe or wise writing details of that in a letter might be if it fell into the wrong hands. Those wrong hands belonged, of course, to Grandfather Prince. Though the old man could appreciate a hex or curse as much or more than most, he simply could not find it within himself to appreciate anything coming from Severus in particular. This had hurt at first, but Severus quickly learned to replace hurt with hatred and anger when it came to the dreadful old man. When he wasn't working on defensive hexes and such with Heather and Raislen, they were coming up with better ways to conceal treasured items, which though less dark, could be just as useful. All this made the time fly and before they knew it, end of term was upon them. While most students were eager for summer, Severus wasn't at all. Of course he looked forward to spending time with his Mum, but he would miss the company of his friends badly. Their warm acceptance and appreciation of him provided a sharp contrast to Grandfather Prince, to whom he must return. When he expressed this sentiment to Heather and Raislen on the train, both promptly promised to write him at least once a week. The prospect of that did actually help some. Both had vacation plans with their families, so their summers were sure to be far more interesting than Severus's. Heather insisted that her plans weren't vacation plans. Severus would have considered himself on a vacation if he had Heather's summer plans, though.
"It's just a bunch of traveling all over Europe while my parents perform," Heather groaned. "Part of the time, we will even travel in a caravan with some gypsy wizards they know. It shall be hot and dreadful! I already have a headache just thinking about that desert heat!""
"I think it sounds exciting," Severus said. "Gypsies are interesting. Do you think they'll tell your fortune? Will you ask them to?"
"I don't know how much of the future I can stand knowing," Heather admitted, twisting a strand of her long dark red hair around one finger.
"I don't think they call themselves gypsies, though," Raislen interjected.
Severus blinked in confusion. Heather shot Raislen an annoyed scowl. "Well THEY aren't calling themselves, Raislen."
Raislen sighed. "I meant that they may not like that word or something."
Heather rolled her eyes. "It isn't an insult or swear and I doubt I'd need to use it to them anyway. It's the word I have always heard."
Raislen shrugged. "Okay. I was just talking matters of general interest is all. I'm sorry you have to go and get all dirty in the desert."
Heather made a face. "Thanks. I will try to use cleaning charms every five minutes and hope for the best." She sighed. "I always feel so...I don't know inferior on these trips. Both of my parents are talented bards with magically gifted voices and I'm just me, literally along for the ride. It's awkward, I suppose."
Raislen nodded. "I can get that. Sorry. It'll be over in a few months, though, and perhaps you can spend the time brainstorming some ideas we can all work on when term begins."
Heather nodded despondently. "I will try. Hopefully I shan't be too distracted by riding on that camel my parents mentioned." She made a face and Raislen laughed.
"That's hard to picture. Just tell them you want to ride inside the caravan."
"I plan to," Heather said. "They seem to feel the camel riding is some sort of fun adventure."
"At least they don't hate you like my Grandfather Prince hates me," Severus couldn't help saying. "The camel does sound unappealing, but the rest may not be so bad. If you strongly object to the camel, you should be able to get out of it. Just tell them the idea makes you ill. And look on the bright side. Not even the camel is as bad as my grandfather. The camel won't hate you personally for your half blood."
Heather and Raislen both turned sympathetic gazes to Severus. "Sorry, Kid," Raislen said, reaching to pat him on the shoulder. "You have a point." Heather nodded.
"I'll try to find you a neat gift from the oddest place I end up in," she promised.
"Thanks," Severus said, feeling his mood brightening some at the prospect.
"So what are you doing this summer, Raislen," Heather asked.
"Just staying around home for the first half of it," Raislen answered with a shrug. "My family is book hunting for the second half in Egypt."
"Ooh!" Heather leaned forward eagerly in her seat. "I bet you'll find some good stuff there. I almost can't wait for the new school year to begin now!"
Severus grinned, nodding in eager agreement. "Do you think you'll actually be able to find some scrolls from those ancient Egyptians who made all of the magical and technological advances that were eventually lost," he asked hopefully.
"It's the goal for sure," Raislen said. "My family travels every year to find new and of course rare additions to the family library. My great Grand father started it two centuries ago and it's been our honor and duty to keep it growing."
"I'd die to see it," Severus enthused and Raislen grinned.
"How about I invite you for a weekend on the winter holidays, then?"
"Really?" Severus practically shouted in his excitement.
Raislen chuckled. "Sure! It'll be fun."
The summer would likely take forever, Severus thought. It only stood to reason that the months at Grandfather Prince's manor would drag, when Severus was already ready for Christmas.
Heather kept her promise and sent him a gift from Russia. It was a set of wooden Russian nesting soldiers that when separated fought one another. They gave Severus hours of entertainment, making it easier to hide away in his room at Grandfather Prince's. His summer consisted of studying, practicing various forms of wandless magic with his Mum and playing with his set of Russian nesting soldiers. All in all it wasn't quite as bad as he'd expected it would be. He was still thrilled when it was time to return to Hogwarts, though. The only downfall was the knowledge that he would once more have to deal with the Gryffindor Gang of Gits. When he expressed as much to his Mum just before boarding the train, Eileen's expression grew cunning and thoughtful. This usually meant trouble for whoever she was thinking about. Fortunately this time was no exception. "What you need to do is to find something to hold over their heads," she said. "Something you can use against them. Everyone has secrets, especially nasty people, as they're the sort to make enemies and find trouble."
Severus nodded. "There is that one odd thing I've never been able to figure out. It's only about Lupin, though, and he's truly the less of the four evils. He never starts with me. He just ignores the fact that his friends do for the most part."
"Yes but if they care about him at all, you can still use any secret of his against them. Granted they may not truly care about one another, being the Gits that they are, but it won't hurt to find out."
Severus nodded. "Lupin is gone for a few nights every month. I've heard that it's because his mum is ill, but when he returns, he's sort of the one who looks ill...or at least very tired." He frowned. "Something just feels off about it."
Eileen nodded. "Well try to find out what and use it against him shamelessly. Promise to make whatever it is publicly known if they don't let you alone. Even if he isn't one of the ones who always starts in on you, he seems to me a coward who can't stand up to his friends. That weak sort is always easy to handle once you learn their secrets."
Severus nodded. "Thanks Mum," he said, kissing her on the cheek before rushing to board the train. He couldn't wait to hear about Heather's travels. He was also eager to see if Raislen had found any fantastic scrolls in Egypt that could answer some questions about the magic the ancients once wielded.