Chapter 3: WIZARDS, WITCHES AND MAGIC!
He seemed so sure of himself. I thought he was joking at first, but he was so utterly confident. He was nice, he wasn't patronising as he explained. Every time I had a question, he would stop to explain. He wouldn't chide me; he made me imagine this magical, beautiful world. After explaining all these amazing things, he told me about school. Hogwarts; every magical child was sent there at the age of 11.
It was then that he told me what muggles and muggle-borns were. I was amazed, confused but really hopeful. I wanted this world of things I was supposedly part of. I felt I needed it, anything I had ever done that was strange, or different, was now being explained. There were more people like me out there; I could have lots of friends, all of them like me and Severus.
"So, Severus, if you like in the, umm, muggle world, are you a muggle-born too?" I was kind of hoping he was, and then we'd be exactly the same. He looked away, staring out into the blankness. I waited, I had a little tact then, but not a lot, I began to fidget. After about five minutes that felt like an eternity to me he turned back to me. "Sorry, I don't have the most perfect family. No, I'm not a muggle-born, I'm a half-blood. My mum, she's a witch, but my dad, he's a muggle." He looked as if he was about to cry, I felt uncomfortable.
I decided to change the subject, no magic, nothing that could link back to 'half-bloods'. Where do you go to school?" I tried to put on an innocent tone into the words; I looked as nice as I could. According to Severus, I actually looked as if I had been constipated. He smiled, "same as you, we live close, remember! Spinner's End" There it was again, when he mentioned the name of his street, he looked embarrassed. I had no idea why, but after the "half-blood" conversation, I didn't ask.
He was secretive, I didn't mind, but the awkward silences built up. We talked for hours that day, all about magic, each other, and school; Hogwarts. Eventually we had to go home, but for the rest of the summer, we met each other at the park. We played and we talked, so much talking. I soon understood the reasons behind all the uncomfortable silences.
He explained one day about his family, his mum wouldn't stand up for him. His dad was always angry at Sev and his mum. "Doesn't your dad like magic?" Sev's face fell. "He doesn't like anything, much." He explained that he didn't like going home, Sev's mum and dad fought all the time.
Over the next weeks I questioned him about everything, eventually getting enough courage to ask about Spinner's End. "It's a bad place, lily, most people 'round here, they say it's only for poor people." He looked so very dejected as he spoke; I gently wrapped my arms around his small frame. When I hugged him he seemed to cheer up, this only made me hug tighter.
Sev and I grew so close, in school, when we started, we were inseparable. We stuck up for each other, we were best friends, I wouldn't stand for anything said against him, while he was my doting slave. We just talked and played, every day, I loved him like a brother. He was the perfect friend.