Yeah! My first chapter translated!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world isn't mine, but Ramona is!! hands off! ;)
many, many, many thanks to my bèta reader Eleanor Larathiel. Without her I would never have tried to translate my story let alone post it. Tanks!!!
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CHAPTER ONE
TOMMY THE SUPERMOUSE
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Outside the sun is shining. The birds are singing, leaves rustle in the warm breeze and a little rabbit nibbles at the green grass. Inside, I look out of the window. I wish I could be out there. But no, that's not possible. Gregor has been in a foul mood today and has locked all the doors.
But then, name a time he's not in a foul mood.
He's always blunt and mean to me. Even more blunt then to the rest of the children at the orphanage 'Children's Best Friend'.
Yes, it's called 'Children's Best Friend'. Well, it's not that child friendly in here. It's dark, uncomfortable and has not a trace of technology in the rooms we're allowed in.
For once I wish that I, like the rest of the school, could watch the cartoons that everyone else is watching.
Gregor has a television, but we are not allowed to touch it, let alone watch it.
Thankfully the school has a television so I am able to watch a bit of it.
Going at school is the best time of the day. Even if I don't have any friends. Even if they all think I'm a weirdo. I don't care. I don't need friends. I don't.
I hear laughter and patter of feet behind me. Gregor is gone for just a little while and the other kids are playing catch.
Inside the house!
I hear Anya's scream and the breaking of glass. At once everything goes silent.
Distracted from the peaceful outside world, I turn around.
The beautiful vase, the only beautiful thing in the house, had fallen off the little round table standing in the centre of the room. It was lying in pieces on the ground.
I turned around again.
I don't care.
They would blame me.
As usual.
They blamed me for everything. Always. Just because I'm the so-called eldest. Well, that's just nonsense. Stupid children. Always ruining my day. Sometimes I think they do it all on purpose.
Slowly I feel my anger rising and I send a really furious thought to the children behind me. Especially to Anya and Thomas. The children look up terrified.
They act as if they don't know where that feeling came from and the youngest, I thinks she's five, starts to cry.
"You know you're not allowed to do that!" Mariecke screams at me finally realizing it's me.
I shrug.
"I'm going to tell, I'm going to tell Gregor." Another screams and I hear hurried footsteps leave the room.
I sigh.
I'm going to tell, I'm going to tell! Stupid little telltales.
I hear a door being closed. The front door. Gregor is back.
Suddenly I get scared. What could a ten year old girl do against an angry grown-up?
Little footsteps run to the door and I 'feel' hostile thoughts coming from the mind of the person behind the door. I hear heavy footsteps and the door gets slammed open.
I keep my eyes on the little rabbit outside the window.
A snarl makes the children run upstairs, laughing and screaming.
The feelings from the man behind me are indescribable. What is that, that feeling. Every time I 'felt' it. A kind of hatred, but sometimes it almost felt as fear.
I try to read his mind.
"Don't you think about that!" He hisses and my stomach lurched. "I know all about your filthy little tricks."
Quietly he closes the door.
What's he doing?
Confused I try to understand some of the feelings of this man. I can't make anything of it. He never acts like this. Usually he grabs me, hits me and locks me in the broom closet.
Slowly he comes near my unprotected back. I hear the fragments of the broken vase crack beneath his shoes. He stands behind my back. With a 'smack' something falls on the floor. Something made out of paper.
"This has to be you, it has to be." He says. "But how do they know your address? Who did you gave our address? Who have you been talking to?" He bellows.
My curiosity conquers my fear as I see a big yellowish envelope land on the floor beside me.
'What's that?' I ask him.
Suddenly he grabs my hair and pulls my head so he can look in my eyes.
"Talk! Talk godcensoreded!" He yells in my face.
With tears in my eyes I give him a puzzled look.
What does he mean? He always says that, but I talk, don't I? But if he means that stuff with your mouth… I don't know if I can do that again. I've done it, but that was a really long time ago.
'I don't know how.' I say, scared.
Gregor curses and drags me straight ahead, gives me a smack in my face and I feel how I'm being thrown into a corner. I crash hard against the wall and frightened I make a ball of myself.
"It always goes like this. What am I to do with you if I can't talk with you normally. How many times do I have to tell you to stay out of my head!" He says more desperate than angry.
'But I'm not doing anything.'
He curses, but he ignores it. It's like he remembers something and he kicks the strange letter in my direction.
"I know you want to get out of here, but by this? Did you really think I would fall for this kind of crap?"
I look at the letter through my tears and see, without surprise, that it has been opened.
I don't dare to take it.
"Well?" He asks fiercely.
I don't speak and only look at him in horror, still a bit in shock from my encounter with the wall.
He walks up to me again and grabs my arm. I'm able to seize the letter just before he drags me down the corridor in the direction of the broom closet, opens the door and locks the door behind me.
"This time it's for the rest of the summer vacation you black haired witch." He yells. "And no food!"
I'm in the dark.
Again.
Quietly I begin to cry.
This time was worse than all those other times together.
He had never acted like this.
He had never dared to touch me like he had just done.
I had always felt a bit of fear coming from him and that always had given me the strength to hold on.
But now…
That fear hadn't been there and I start crying harder.
Gregor bangs the door hard and yells: "Shut up!"
I try to muffle my sobbing by folding myself up like a ball.
Slowly I fall asleep from exhaustion.
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I suddenly wake.
Something is calling me.
What's that?
With my mind I search the little lawn before the house and the corridor behind the door, searching the strange call I'm 'feeling'.
There I find someone.
I know this one.
It's one of the mice from the cellar.
I named him Tommy.
We often held conversations.
Simple ones, like mice do.
'I'm here.' I let him know.
I feel that there are a lot of other mice with him.
'You are good?' I hear him say.
'Yes, I am alright. What are you doing?' I ask, because I taste something quite horrible in my mouth.
Actually it is his mouth, but I when am like this, we share our senses.
'Break wall.'
'Why?' I ask surprised.
'Help you.' I hear his squeaky little voice say. 'You dark, I light. I bring light.'
'I understand, thank you.' I said and pull back.
The taste in my mouth is gone at once. Thank God.
Tommy is trying to make a hole for me.
Dear friend.
I send a feeling with love his way, but not too direct so that the other mice can feel it too so they know I'm very grateful.
Wait a minute, if he's bringing light, I can read my letter!
This letter is important.
I don't know why, but it is important. I feel it.
Maybe it's my only way out of this stupid orphanage.
In the dark I feel the heavy paper is a bit cringed.
It really is a heavy letter.
Curiously I hold the letter close to my face. Hoping to be able to read just a bit.
I can see a little bit.
My eyes are a bit adapted to the dark and thanks to a little ray of light – well, not really light, a streak less dark is better said.
So thanks to that little streak of just that one bit lighter dark, I can see my name on the letter.
My name!
Nobody knows my name.
Well, I do have a name, but it's so stupid.
Not even mine.
They called me Neelte.
Neelte!
Neelte Tromp, like Gregor Tromp.
I had given myself a much better name.
Altough it made no sense.
At school they called me Neelte, but I just don't respond to it.
Besides, they don't speak to me that much.
But how could those people who had send me this letter, know the name I've given myself?
Yet, it says very clearly:
Ramona Moonlight,
The attic,
Children's Best Friend,
Starstreet 669,
8745 London
Very accurate, 'the attic'.
I can't wait to read the letter and I wait strained until I see a little light appear.
Impatiently I make contact with Tommy.
'Almost.' He says and I almost explode out of anxiety.
Is that a light?
Yes!
I feel little crumbles falling on my bare legs and see a little hole appear, a hole that slowly gets bigger.
Bright sunlight shines through a little round hole and I feel a bit of fresh air.
'Tommy!' I call happily and feel him landing on my shoulder.
'What that?' He asks.
'A letter. For me.' I tell him cheerfully. 'Now I can read it, thanks to you.'
And I take immediate action and open the letter.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Cless, Grand Sorc., Chef. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Ms. Moonlight,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You will find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
There is indeed another letter in the envelope.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
First-year students will require
- 1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
- 2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
- 3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
- 4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
- The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
- A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
- Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
- A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
- One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
- Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jugger
- The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
- The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
What IS this?
Could this be true?
I feel my heart leap up while I read the letter.
Is this really true?
I take a look at Tommy.
I read the letter again.
O no, what day is today?
31st of July!
I'm too late.
That jerk kept my letter that long?
But that's not my only big problem.
How could I let them that I don't know where to get all this stuff, how would I be able to send them a letter while I'm locked in here and above all, I have no money.
I do some quick thinking and look at Tommy.
'Tommy, would you like to do something for me?' I ask him.
'Do what?'
'May I use your body for just a little while?'
I know how to do it, I've done it before.
I also know that Tommy doesn't like it, but it's the only way to send a letter to McGonagall.
I sent Tommy a thought of all the troubles in my head and he agrees.
I place him back at the opening of the hole and close my eyes.
Now relax and concentrate on being a mouse.
I open my eyes and see myself.
Now I'm a mouse.
Let's go.
I need a pen and paper.
I hope Misty is off somewhere, sleeping.
If she's hungry I won't be able to fend her off.
I don't smell her, that's something.
I bet she's upstairs.
Now I'm crawling through the huge corridor heading for the kitchen.
Drawer.
Drawer, drawer, drawer, I have to get inside the drawer.
Impatiently I run to the kitchen and to my relief I see that the drawer open.
Thanks to my really small, but sharp nails and the loose wallpaper I'm able to reach the kitchen sink.
I hold still and listen to the noises around me
Above me the children are continuing their wild games.
Voices come from Gregor's room.
He's watching television.
I crawl to the drawer and I succeed in pushing myself through the narrow opening.
There are the things I need.
Then suddenly, I hear from a little part of my brain a stale peep.
'I'm sorry, Tommy. Not long.'
I can't keep this up for too long. When I use some-one's body for too long, it dies. So I speed up a little.
I take the pen in my mouth and push it trough the opening. The paper follows quickly.
I see a little matchbox which I can use to get out of the drawer and with a lot of effort I'm out of the drawer again.
But what to do now? How do I get down again. It's pretty high.
I search through the little brain of the mouse for experience and I find it to my relief.
I admire the little mouse while I use the tattered wallpaper to get down again.
'Tommy the Supermouse.' I think amused.
On the ground again, I run with he pen and paper and begin dragging the pen towards the corridor. I haven't got much speed walking vice-versa and the pen is heavier that I thought it would be, but little by little I come closer to the broom closet and I try to push the pen through the crack under the door.
I doesn't fit and I sigh.
I'm beginning to realise that it's time for me to give the body back to Tommy.
He can do this mission without my help, I'm sure of it.
I close my eyes and end the contact.
When I open my eyes, it's dark again.
They have to adjust again.
Behind the door I 'feel' how Tommy regains consciousness and understands my mission.
I 'feel' how he grabs the pen and drags it outside to the hole in the wall and I feel something how it falls on my legs.
'Thanks dear friend.' I say. 'Paper.'
He understands and I 'feel' him run back to the kitchen.
A bit later I see something coming from under the door – the paper.
I smile.
'Thank you so much Tommy, you saved my life.' I say. 'Er… do you know an owl?' I ask because I remember the letter saying something about answering by owl. Don't ask me why, but it sounded really normal to me. But as I ask, I remember something.
Owls eat mice.
I can 'feel' the panic rise on the other side of the door and I try to calm him down. Eventually I succeed, but not fully, because I can still hear him say: 'Owl, owl, owl, cat the same.' And slowly he crawls back to his family in the basement.
'Owl, cat the same.'
I repeat what Tommy said to myself and I get an idea.
Now I have to find that cat.
With my mind I search the house.
I 'feel' a few children's thoughts and move quickly before they can notice it.
I was right. That stupid cat is sleeping at the attic.
With luring thoughts I try to get her to get up.
'Come.' I say.
'Why?' She asks while she stretches extensive.
Cats, always have a mind of their own.
I think irritated.
If I knew any people outside this house, I could just ask them to come and rescue me. But I can't count on those stupid people from school.
'Please Misty, I helped you dozens of times, haven't I?' I beg her. 'Can you remember that time when you had a tick? And that other time Gregor kicked you milk bowl and refused to give you fresh milk?'
I could feel the aversion, but also a kind of submission coming from the cat.
'How can I help you?' She asks finally.
'Find me an owl.' I say straightforward, because I know she hates it when I beat about the bush.
'Owl? An owl would be nice.' I hear her say while licking her lips.
'No Misty, not for dinner. He has to deliver a letter for me.'
'Deliver? O yes, Those delicious creatures do that, but I could do that for you too.'
I 'feel' a kind of triumph coming from the big cat while she descents the stairs.
I am surprised.
I don't know the cat very well.
Now as well as the mouse and I can't really picture her wanting to do something for me.
Because she is more intelligent than the mouse I never thought I was able to push her to do something for me so I never asked.
Also, I haven't been able to take over her body.
She would never let me and I respect her privacy.
'Would you really do that for me?'
'Well, it depends. What do I have to do exactly?'
'Well, I got this letter. A really strange letter.' I tell her and I 'feel' the interest coming from the cat now sitting on the other side of the door.
'Letter?'
'Yes, a letter from a school called Hogwarts. They expect me to reply, but I have so many questions and I am late to reply already. Will you do it?'
I can 'feel' her agreeing. 'I know the location of Hogwarts and I know someone I can give the letter to, but I expect something from you in return.'
'What? What do I have to do. I'll do anything.'
'You have to take me with you. To Hogwarts.' She says.
I can see no problems there. I can take her. The letter even says I'm allowed to bring a cat. Yes, why not.
'Allright, you can come with me.'
'Great. Now where's that letter?'
'Well, I still have to write it.'
'Take your time. I'll be upstairs if you need me.' She says and I 'feel' her leaving and I break contact.
Right. What shall I write?
Dear Mrs McGonagall,
I was very pleased when I received your letter.
That's a good start. I suck in the end of my pen and think hard on how to continue. It has to be right the first time. I only have one piece of paper.
Dear Mrs McGonagall,
I was very pleased when I received your letter. I only
have so many questions, but there is no-one here who
is able to clear things up for me. None of the people
I know, know of Hogwarts and I don't know where I
can find all the things I need to attend Hogwarts. Moreover,
I don't have any money. I really would love to attend your school as soon as possible, but I don't have any belongings and don't know how to pay you. Unfortunately
this is not my only problem.
I also send you this letter because I need your help. As
You might know, I live at the orphanage 'Child's Best Friend'.
But the thing you don't know is the fact that our new 'father'
isn't really child's best friend. He thinks that the things I can
do that make me qualified to attend Hogwarts areabnormal
and treats me really badly. At the moment I'm locked
in the broom closet and I can't get out to send you my letter.
Fortunately I do have some friends. My friend Tommy, a
mouse, helped me get this piece of paper and this pen
to send you this cry for help. My friend Misty, a cat, promised
me to deliver this letter and I have no other choice than
to trust her with my only hope to get out of this orphanage.
I ask you, no, I beg you to help me and get me out of this
house, so I might be able to attend Hogwarts, in spite of
all my other problems. I am really sorry I reply late,
but my 'father' with held this letter from me and I only got to
read it this morning.
Thank you for all your help,
Yours sincerely,
Ramona Moonlight
PS. I think he really meant it when he said I would be
locked up without food the whole summer.
I reread the letter and I'm pleased.
Especially the dramatic PS.
That should get there attention.
Carefully I search the house for Misty and call her.
She is quickly downstairs.
I fold the letter and push it under the door.
Strangely she doesn't move.
'What are you doing?' I ask her.
'I'm reading the letter. I think I have the right to do so.'
'You can read?' I ask amazed.
'Yes, I can.' She says full of pride. 'and I can see this is a very good letter that will get their attention. I will deliver it.'
'Good luck.' I say.
The only thing I can do now is wait.
Wait for help.
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