Of Squibs and Wizards
Chapter Three
Summer 1971
Friday evening
Well, it's my first day home for the summer and tomorrow Antony and Severus will be here for their summer break.
I wonder what this summer will bring. As I am ten now, mom has decided that it is time for me to start my lessons on how to be a proper young lady. I don't know why this whole courtship thing is so important. I hate boys as it is.
Gina hinted in her last letter to me, that mom was already considering a match for me. Gina has been dating Pierre for over a year now and they are expecting a formal proposal. Gina said that she couldn't wait to marry Pierre. I don't understand her.
I am too excited to sleep, and here I thought that I would miss school more than I do. Oh, I love my school! At first I missed being home, but then I made some friends and the lessons were really great.
The nuns on the other hand are very strict! Mass everyday too. What a bore.
So I have a couple of friends, Celeste and Melissa. They are both from Atlanta and are fun to be with. They have known each other since they were babies because their parents are close friends.
I wish I could invite them here for a summer, but I don't think that I should. No one at school knows that my family are wizards and witches, and being Catholic I don't think that Celeste and Missy would understand at all.
Saturday afternoon.
Well they are here and Antony has gotten so tall! He actually picked me up when he saw me and gave me the biggest hug! I missed him so much!
Of course, Severus was with him and he's gotten taller too. He sort of smiled at me and took my hand to shake it when I offered it. I think that he is really shy because he shook my hand quickly and then pulled it away- almost like he was afraid to touch me. His cheeks got a little pink too.
That was last night, today Antony is being a pest. And Pierre is here too. He's still a pest and I don't understand why Gina wants to marry him. Yuk. I wish that Antony and Severus would leave and go and do something, but they are here in the library with me, playing chess and talking. I can't read when they are talking. Severus has this voice that is distracting and Antony pesters me when I do start to read. I'm surprised that he is not pestering me now, but I think that Severus got him to play chess on purpose so I could write here. That's kind of nice.
Mom told me this morning that I have to take music again this year, and I told her that I was taking guitar at school so could I please not have to study this summer. Of course I have to study music, she said, so the guitar lessons begin on Monday morning. At least I don't have to take piano like Gina!
I knew it was too good to be true, here comes Antony. I think Severus beat him because he looks all devilish!
Saturday evening
Severus did win! But Antony wasn't too upset! And this afternoon was really great! Antony and Severus and I went to the French Quarter and just roamed around. I asked Antony why I was invited and he said that school was making me tolerable. That I didn't seem like I was going to be too much of a corvee this year.
Severus is really nice. He bought me an ice cream and we stopped and had our palms read. She wasn't a real gypsy, just a tourist attraction and I am sure Severus knew too, but all the same.
It was fun. I am so tired.
Thursday night
It's been three weeks already since I came home and I want to go back to school! I hate it here sometimes!
Antony was so mean to me and my guitar teacher was too. The worst was this afternoon. I went visiting with mom. I hate visiting with mom, it's so boring!
We went to Mrs. McIlhenny's, and her daughters were there. They are bitches, both of them. Oh they were nice to my face after all my family is, well, powerful and rich. But I sent to play and the girls were so mean to me.
Of course I didn't cry in front of them. I didn't tell my mom either. I don't want people to like me because of my name! I don't want daddy to worry about me and I don't want him getting upset about the names I am called. I think he feels guilty about me.
But today I was so close to telling daddy what they called me. Sometimes I pretend that I tell Daddy about all of the mean things that my supposed friends tell me, and then watch as he avenges me with his magic. It makes me smile.
Sometimes I pretend that I have the same magic that the rest of my family has, it is discovered accidentally when I save Gina's life from the veil clutches of Pierre The Pest. Daddy throws a big party for me, and all of the mean girls started trying to be nice to me and I tell each of them to go jump off of the Mississippi River Bridge.
That one makes me smile more. But it's just a daydream, all of it. It will never happen.
It's not my fault I'm a squib. I wish I weren't. I wish I could do magic like my sisters and Antony and Severus.
Severus found me in the garden, at my favorite bench, crying. He asked me what was wrong. I didn't want to tell him, but I felt like I had no choice. It was like he was in my head.
I don't remember telling him much, but he was all of a sudden blasting roses with his wand. He looked mad. Then he turned to me and conjured a chocolate milk shake. Best I've ever had. Then he sat next to me and we just sat there and said nothing. It was nice.
Then Helga called us in for supper and it was over. I had to pretend to be happy.
I don't remember what we ate.
After dinner I took a bath and spent the rest of the evening in the library reading.
I wish the summer was over.
I wish I was back at school.
Friday Night
He is so mean! I hate him! I wish Antony would have never brought Severus Snape here! And after he was so nice to me yesterday! Today he was a complete meany!
He is such a cheater! I beat him fair and square in Chess but he cheated! Then he had the nerve to growl at me when I called him on it! So I hit him. Right across the face too. It felt good. Well it did when I did it, then about a half a second later I was scared. He got so mad looking.
His face got all flat looking and I swear his ears folded back against his head, but it was his eyes that really scared me. They were so narrow and so black and shiny-I could feel the anger in them. He looked like a monster.
Then he called me a Squib and said that if I ever laid a hand on him again he'd hex me.
I ran away. I am locked in my room. Daddy and mommy think that I am not feeling good so they sent Midge to sit with me. She's my favorite house elf and if Severus tries to kill me tonight, she won't let him.
Midge will protect me.
Thursday Afternoon
I am so grossed out! How could he! Antony was kissing that Celeste bitch! On the lips too-gross! Severus saw me watching and he laughed at me! Ok so maybe I looked grossed out. I was.
How could he kiss that thing?
I hate boys! Why was Severus laughing at me? I don't understand it. I don't know why I care. Severus hasn't said anymore than has to. He is still mad at me for hitting him I think, I apologized the next morning but I don't think that he has forgiven me.
If he wants to keep sulking about it after three weeks then fine. Besides, he wouldn't even admit that he cheated.
I hate boys!
Sunday night
School starts back up this Wednesday and I can't wait. This summer has been the weirdest summer ever!
Mom made me take those awful guitar lessons. My instructor is nothing like Sister Agnes, who is so cool! She knows lots of songs besides the church songs I have to learn to play there and she says that she likes Genesis and thinks that Peter Gabriel is a great songwriter. I'm not sure that Mother Anne would be happy about Sister Agnes liking a "rock band" so I haven't said anything to anyone. As much as the sisters at school scold us about gossiping, we do. We are just very very careful about where we gossip!
Well, my teacher here is so hooked on the classics and looks down his nose at pop music. I'm not stupid but he treats me like I am and I am glad to be rid of him.
I turned ten in June and got taken to dinner at Arnauds, which was very nice. Mom got me a new dress just for the occasion and Gina was nice to me. Severus had to come, naturally since we couldn't leave him home. I asked mom if he had to come and she looked at me with this odd expression and said "Why Mia, how rude!"
Well jeez! He's so gloomy all the time, and I don't think it's because I hit him. He barely even looks at me and he and Antony spent a lot of time away from home for the rest of the summer. Which was fine by me.
But tonight was the weirdest! Well sad really. After supper I went to the garden to get a book I had left there and I found him on my bench crying. I mean really crying. Like I was the afternoon he found me there crying.
I didn't go to him though. I thought about it but then decided that he wouldn't like it if I saw him like that. I snuck away instead.
I wonder why he was crying? Is he sad to leave here? I've overheard mom and daddy talking about how awful his parents are and this year we bought him new clothes again, mom used the same nice ways that she did last year and daddy said that mom was the cleverest witch! Then he kissed her- I think. It got all quiet and mom giggled. Anyway, he's got new robes and things like Antony. He looks better than he did when he got here too, he's so skinny!
I wonder if he gets teased at school, although I don't know why he would. Antony says that Severus is the cleverest wizard Hogwarts had seen in a long time. He was talking about some boys in an opposing house being a bunch of bastards (mom threatened to put Tabasco in his mouth). They were always making Severus look bad Antony says. Maybe that's why.
But he's in Slytherin, which Antony says is the best House at Hogwarts. I don't remember much else-Antony is so boring when he talks about school and I think about other things. I mean it's easier and besides I have no abilities so what do I care about some stupid house rivalry.
Except its made Severus cry. I don't know why that bothers me so much.
Chapter Three
Summer 1971
Friday evening
Well, it's my first day home for the summer and tomorrow Antony and Severus will be here for their summer break.
I wonder what this summer will bring. As I am ten now, mom has decided that it is time for me to start my lessons on how to be a proper young lady. I don't know why this whole courtship thing is so important. I hate boys as it is.
Gina hinted in her last letter to me, that mom was already considering a match for me. Gina has been dating Pierre for over a year now and they are expecting a formal proposal. Gina said that she couldn't wait to marry Pierre. I don't understand her.
I am too excited to sleep, and here I thought that I would miss school more than I do. Oh, I love my school! At first I missed being home, but then I made some friends and the lessons were really great.
The nuns on the other hand are very strict! Mass everyday too. What a bore.
So I have a couple of friends, Celeste and Melissa. They are both from Atlanta and are fun to be with. They have known each other since they were babies because their parents are close friends.
I wish I could invite them here for a summer, but I don't think that I should. No one at school knows that my family are wizards and witches, and being Catholic I don't think that Celeste and Missy would understand at all.
Saturday afternoon.
Well they are here and Antony has gotten so tall! He actually picked me up when he saw me and gave me the biggest hug! I missed him so much!
Of course, Severus was with him and he's gotten taller too. He sort of smiled at me and took my hand to shake it when I offered it. I think that he is really shy because he shook my hand quickly and then pulled it away- almost like he was afraid to touch me. His cheeks got a little pink too.
That was last night, today Antony is being a pest. And Pierre is here too. He's still a pest and I don't understand why Gina wants to marry him. Yuk. I wish that Antony and Severus would leave and go and do something, but they are here in the library with me, playing chess and talking. I can't read when they are talking. Severus has this voice that is distracting and Antony pesters me when I do start to read. I'm surprised that he is not pestering me now, but I think that Severus got him to play chess on purpose so I could write here. That's kind of nice.
Mom told me this morning that I have to take music again this year, and I told her that I was taking guitar at school so could I please not have to study this summer. Of course I have to study music, she said, so the guitar lessons begin on Monday morning. At least I don't have to take piano like Gina!
I knew it was too good to be true, here comes Antony. I think Severus beat him because he looks all devilish!
Saturday evening
Severus did win! But Antony wasn't too upset! And this afternoon was really great! Antony and Severus and I went to the French Quarter and just roamed around. I asked Antony why I was invited and he said that school was making me tolerable. That I didn't seem like I was going to be too much of a corvee this year.
Severus is really nice. He bought me an ice cream and we stopped and had our palms read. She wasn't a real gypsy, just a tourist attraction and I am sure Severus knew too, but all the same.
It was fun. I am so tired.
Thursday night
It's been three weeks already since I came home and I want to go back to school! I hate it here sometimes!
Antony was so mean to me and my guitar teacher was too. The worst was this afternoon. I went visiting with mom. I hate visiting with mom, it's so boring!
We went to Mrs. McIlhenny's, and her daughters were there. They are bitches, both of them. Oh they were nice to my face after all my family is, well, powerful and rich. But I sent to play and the girls were so mean to me.
Of course I didn't cry in front of them. I didn't tell my mom either. I don't want people to like me because of my name! I don't want daddy to worry about me and I don't want him getting upset about the names I am called. I think he feels guilty about me.
But today I was so close to telling daddy what they called me. Sometimes I pretend that I tell Daddy about all of the mean things that my supposed friends tell me, and then watch as he avenges me with his magic. It makes me smile.
Sometimes I pretend that I have the same magic that the rest of my family has, it is discovered accidentally when I save Gina's life from the veil clutches of Pierre The Pest. Daddy throws a big party for me, and all of the mean girls started trying to be nice to me and I tell each of them to go jump off of the Mississippi River Bridge.
That one makes me smile more. But it's just a daydream, all of it. It will never happen.
It's not my fault I'm a squib. I wish I weren't. I wish I could do magic like my sisters and Antony and Severus.
Severus found me in the garden, at my favorite bench, crying. He asked me what was wrong. I didn't want to tell him, but I felt like I had no choice. It was like he was in my head.
I don't remember telling him much, but he was all of a sudden blasting roses with his wand. He looked mad. Then he turned to me and conjured a chocolate milk shake. Best I've ever had. Then he sat next to me and we just sat there and said nothing. It was nice.
Then Helga called us in for supper and it was over. I had to pretend to be happy.
I don't remember what we ate.
After dinner I took a bath and spent the rest of the evening in the library reading.
I wish the summer was over.
I wish I was back at school.
Friday Night
He is so mean! I hate him! I wish Antony would have never brought Severus Snape here! And after he was so nice to me yesterday! Today he was a complete meany!
He is such a cheater! I beat him fair and square in Chess but he cheated! Then he had the nerve to growl at me when I called him on it! So I hit him. Right across the face too. It felt good. Well it did when I did it, then about a half a second later I was scared. He got so mad looking.
His face got all flat looking and I swear his ears folded back against his head, but it was his eyes that really scared me. They were so narrow and so black and shiny-I could feel the anger in them. He looked like a monster.
Then he called me a Squib and said that if I ever laid a hand on him again he'd hex me.
I ran away. I am locked in my room. Daddy and mommy think that I am not feeling good so they sent Midge to sit with me. She's my favorite house elf and if Severus tries to kill me tonight, she won't let him.
Midge will protect me.
Thursday Afternoon
I am so grossed out! How could he! Antony was kissing that Celeste bitch! On the lips too-gross! Severus saw me watching and he laughed at me! Ok so maybe I looked grossed out. I was.
How could he kiss that thing?
I hate boys! Why was Severus laughing at me? I don't understand it. I don't know why I care. Severus hasn't said anymore than has to. He is still mad at me for hitting him I think, I apologized the next morning but I don't think that he has forgiven me.
If he wants to keep sulking about it after three weeks then fine. Besides, he wouldn't even admit that he cheated.
I hate boys!
Sunday night
School starts back up this Wednesday and I can't wait. This summer has been the weirdest summer ever!
Mom made me take those awful guitar lessons. My instructor is nothing like Sister Agnes, who is so cool! She knows lots of songs besides the church songs I have to learn to play there and she says that she likes Genesis and thinks that Peter Gabriel is a great songwriter. I'm not sure that Mother Anne would be happy about Sister Agnes liking a "rock band" so I haven't said anything to anyone. As much as the sisters at school scold us about gossiping, we do. We are just very very careful about where we gossip!
Well, my teacher here is so hooked on the classics and looks down his nose at pop music. I'm not stupid but he treats me like I am and I am glad to be rid of him.
I turned ten in June and got taken to dinner at Arnauds, which was very nice. Mom got me a new dress just for the occasion and Gina was nice to me. Severus had to come, naturally since we couldn't leave him home. I asked mom if he had to come and she looked at me with this odd expression and said "Why Mia, how rude!"
Well jeez! He's so gloomy all the time, and I don't think it's because I hit him. He barely even looks at me and he and Antony spent a lot of time away from home for the rest of the summer. Which was fine by me.
But tonight was the weirdest! Well sad really. After supper I went to the garden to get a book I had left there and I found him on my bench crying. I mean really crying. Like I was the afternoon he found me there crying.
I didn't go to him though. I thought about it but then decided that he wouldn't like it if I saw him like that. I snuck away instead.
I wonder why he was crying? Is he sad to leave here? I've overheard mom and daddy talking about how awful his parents are and this year we bought him new clothes again, mom used the same nice ways that she did last year and daddy said that mom was the cleverest witch! Then he kissed her- I think. It got all quiet and mom giggled. Anyway, he's got new robes and things like Antony. He looks better than he did when he got here too, he's so skinny!
I wonder if he gets teased at school, although I don't know why he would. Antony says that Severus is the cleverest wizard Hogwarts had seen in a long time. He was talking about some boys in an opposing house being a bunch of bastards (mom threatened to put Tabasco in his mouth). They were always making Severus look bad Antony says. Maybe that's why.
But he's in Slytherin, which Antony says is the best House at Hogwarts. I don't remember much else-Antony is so boring when he talks about school and I think about other things. I mean it's easier and besides I have no abilities so what do I care about some stupid house rivalry.
Except its made Severus cry. I don't know why that bothers me so much.