Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling.
Chapter Nineteen: Taken Ill
The summer holidays seemed to pass by very slowly for Ellie. Mrs. Manning's health didn't improve, and Ellie found herself doing more around the house than ever. Ellie learned from old Mrs. Dunne across the street that Mrs. Manning had had a mild stroke last February. This news shocked Ellie. It suddenly hit home to her how old Mrs. Manning was getting. They did not always get along that well, but Mrs. Manning was the only family Ellie had. She did not want to think about what would happen if Mrs. Manning died.
On her birthday, for the first time in her life, Ellie had a lot of post. Her Hogwarts friends had not forgotten her. Ellie was most surprised when Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Manning's sister arrived with a big chocolate cake under her arm. It wasn't that Mrs. Collins had come to visit that surprised her so much, she had met Mrs. Collins a few times – it was that Mrs. Collins arrived with a flash of green light in the fireplace! Ellie had been startled when Mrs. Collins swung a stocking covered leg over the grate and beckoned Ellie over to help her get out. When Mrs. Collins had managed to get the rest of herself out of the fireplace and dust the soot off her travelling coat, she gave Ellie a kiss and wished her a happy birthday. Ellie just gawped back at her.
"What's wrong dear, is it Olivia?" she asked, alarmed.
"No, it's just… did you just come out of the fireplace?" Ellie asked, awestruck.
"Oh yes, floo powder is a much more convenient way to travel than the train," Mrs. Collins replied.
"Floo powder?" Ellie asked, mystified.
"What, you've never heard of floo powder? What do they teach you at that school?" Mrs. Collins said, shaking her head.
Mrs. Manning hobbled into the room at that moment and Mrs. Collins set down the parcel that had been under her arm and greeted her sister.
"Olivia dear, hope you don't mind me paying a visit. I decided to use the floo network since I knew it wouldn't shock Eleanora. Or at least, I didn't think it would…"
When Mrs. Collins unwrapped her parcel and produced the chocolate birthday cake Ellie had at first been afraid that Mrs. Manning would not let her have any. Mrs. Manning surprised her however by not protesting. Altogether, it was a good birthday for Ellie. Mrs. Collins stayed with them for a few days, and took Ellie to Diagon Alley to get her new school supplies, as Mrs. Manning was not feeling up to the travel.
The rest of the summer went by and soon 1 September rolled around. Mrs. Collins arrived again to take Ellie to Kings Cross Station. Ellie was starting to feel alarmed at how weak Mrs. Manning had become. Before she left, Ellie gave Mrs. Manning a hug, which Mrs. Manning didn't fight.
"I'll see you at Christmas, and I'll write to you," Ellie told her.
Mrs. Collins deposited Ellie at the train station safely, and watched her go through the entrance to platform nine and three-quarters. Ellie looked around for Jamie, but he was nowhere in sight. She had arrived before him. Ellie looked about for an empty compartment, and stowed her trunk away safely. She hung her head out the window, looking for Jamie. She spotted him a few minutes later. He saw her already in the train and hurried up with his trunk. Soon Jamie was settled on the train too, after saying goodbye to his parents. Helen and Thomas soon joined them, and the train began to pull out of the station.
"Had a good summer?" Helen asked everyone. Thomas began to talk enthusiastically about a safari he and his parents had gone on.
While Thomas was talking, Jamie noticed Ellie's subdued expression.
"You okay?" he whispered to Ellie.
"Yeah, it's just Mrs. Manning. She's still ill. I'm worried about her," Ellie whispered back.
When they got to the school, Ellie felt a wave of happiness wash over her. It felt good to be back at Hogwarts. Watching the new first years being sorted into their houses was fun, and Ellie enjoyed hearing stories of what everyone had gotten up to during the summer.
Once, in the middle of the feast, Ellie looked up at the staff table and allowed her eyes to wander to Snape. He seemed to sense her and looked up at her. They shared a brief stare, and then both looked away.
There were no classes for the next two days as it was the weekend. Jamie and Ellie spent their time exploring the castle and the grounds a bit more. On Sunday afternoon, while lying out near the lake, Devin Farley and his friends came over to "welcome" them back to Hogwarts.
"Going to give us any more flying demonstrations this year Winterbourne?" Devin asked Ellie, and his friends snickered. Jamie and Ellie exchanged a glance. They had already decided that Devin wasn't worth getting into trouble over.
"I dunno. You gonna be a big pest again this year? I hear there's a cream for that now," Ellie said nonchalantly. This time Jamie snickered. Devin glared at them both.
"You'll keep," he said to them both, and stormed off, followed by his friends.
Monday came and classes began. The last class of the day was double Potions with the Slytherins again. As usual, after everyone was seated Snape made a dramatic entrance and burst threw the door, his robes billowing around him. Ellie wanted to laugh as he strode up to the front of the room and quickly turned around to face the class. Snape was starting to become a tad predicable. In fact, Ellie could already guess how the lesson would go. No matter how well any Gryffindor made their potions Snape would merely sneer at them. The Slytherins would receive praise for managing to get their cauldrons onto the tables in front of them. True that was a mighty feat for one or two of them, but Snape's obvious favouritism towards the Slytherins was not something that Ellie would allow to annoy her this year. There was nothing she could do about it.
True enough, Ellie's potion was the only one to give off the aluminous purple colour that Snape had informed them their potions should be by the end of class. However, when Snape glanced at it, for a moment, Ellie could swear there was a hint of pride in his expression, but he had moved on so suddenly that she could not be sure.
Most of the winter term passed by without incident. Ellie managed to keep out of trouble, even Snape could not complain about her much. She and Jamie avoided Devin as much as possible. She still worried about Mrs. Manning, particularly at the beginning of December when she had not received a reply to a letter she had sent three weeks ago. That was not like Mrs. Manning. Jamie tried to assure her that everything was all right, but even he was worried.
Ellie's worst fears were confirmed when Professor McGonagall came into the Gryffindor common room one evening, looking for her. Ellie knew from the grave expression on her face that it was not good news.
Professor McGonagall took her to Dumbledore's office without saying a word. Ellie had never seen Dumbledore's office, and marvelled briefly at the moving staircase that was concealed behind a statue.
When the got to the top, a door stood in front of them. Professor McGonagall knocked and a voice inside called out for them to come in. Seeing Ellie inside, Professor McGonagall gave her a comforting smile and then left Ellie alone with Dumbledore.
Dumbledore gestured to Ellie to take a seat.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news for you," he told her gently. Ellie bit her lower lip.
"It's Mrs. Manning, isn't it?" Ellie asked. Dumbledore nodded.
"She's had a very bad stroke. Her sister sent me an owl to inform me. She is in a muggle hospital."
Ellie felt like she was going to cry, but fought it.
"Is she going to be okay?" she asked.
Dumbledore sighed before answering.
"I'm afraid I don't know," he said. There was a brief silence between them as Ellie took the news in.
"Would you like to go and visit her?" Dumbledore asked.
"Can I?" Ellie said, surprised.
"Yes, of course you can," he told her.
Ellie felt slightly better. She nodded her head to Dumbledore.
"Yes, I want to see her," she said.
"Ah. Well then. Go back to your dormitory and change into some muggle clothing. I shall meet you in the Entrance Hall in half an hour."
"Are you going with me?" Ellie asked in amazement.
Dumbledore chuckled.
"If you don't mind," he said with a twinkle in his eye. Ellie blushed.
"No, of course I don't mind," she told him.
"Good. Now run along, and remember – Entrance Hall, half an hour."
Less than half an hour later Ellie was standing in the Entrance Hall, without her robes on. She had some of her muggle clothes on instead. She got some queer looks from other students. Snape appeared from a corridor and stopped in front of her, giving her a searching stare.
"I'm meeting Dumbledore," Ellie answered, before Snape could even ask.
"Severus!" Dumbledore's voice could be heard as he approached Ellie and Snape.
Snape scowled. He did not like anyone calling him by his first name in front of his students.
"Headmaster," Snape mumbled. As Dumbledore came closer Snape and Ellie both gave startled stares. Dumbledore was dressed in a muggle suit. He looked very peculiar.
"Young Eleanora and I are going to take a short trip," Dumbledore told Snape.
Snape frowned, and glanced down at Ellie and then back at Dumbledore.
"Oh?" he replied, curious.
"I'm afraid Eleanora's guardian has been taken ill. Well, we must be off," Dumbledore said.
Snape watched Ellie and Dumbledore leave the castle together. A brief flash of jealousy flared within him to see Dumbledore acting in the role of Ellie's parent while he stood on the sidelines, but it was gone in an instant, and instead replaced by further self-loathing for such a foolish thought.