Authors' Notes: This story is part of an ongoing epic involving a natural Legilimens named Sydney (Siggy) Whetstone, a first year student at Hogwarts, his cat Morpheus, Severus Snape (who has become Siggy's guardian following the death of his abusive uncle), and Hermione Granger, who is studying Morpheus, a maneki neko with unusual magical powers. It takes place in roughly 2007 or thereabouts.
A Trip To Remember
A collaborative effort by Sinistra_Furze and SadiraSnape
CHAPTER 2 – Leaving and Arriving
Dear Ginny
I'm off to Egypt tomorrow! Everything's packed and ready. I've made a new travelling bag, extendible of course. The lining went on the old bead bag and I spent weeks thinking I'd never see my gobstones again, but they eventually rolled out when I retrieved the unbreakable tea-set. I'm not sure I'll need the tea-set, but it's best to be prepared, just in case.
So exciting! I've spent the last few weekends at Hogwarts getting to know young Siggy Whetstone. On first impressions he's a quiet and rather odd child, but once you get him talking on one of his favourite subjects he's off, chattering nineteen to the dozen.
Severus has given me a little background on Siggy. It appears he had a rough childhood, and had been exploited by his magical family. For instance, when told we would be visiting some tombs, Siggy's smile evaporated suddenly. When I enquired what the matter was he asked quietly not to be sent into the tombs alone, which his Uncle made him do last time. He's very bright. He's a quick learner and observant too. Like many children of that age he's full of questions!
I get the impression Severus wasn't initially too keen on having to take Siggy with him, and I feared I'd end up babysitting him the whole trip. But the itinerary has been planned to include my wishes to get some Blue Lotus Flowers and I've been assured there will be many things of interest for Siggy and I along the way.
I'm sooooo looking forward to getting away after all that stuffy work at the Ministry. Looking back I can see how stifling it was and I'm glad to be gone. Severus says I was wasted there, and I'm tending to agree.
About our expedition leader…at first it was strange speaking to our old Professor on equal terms. As students we didn't really see the staff as people outside of their role as Professor, but I couldn't go back to that way of thinking now I know that "X" used to like gambling on illegal dragon races, "Y" once got into trouble for… actually I promised not to tell that, but you'd never see Prof Sprout in the same way again. Oops. You never read that. And the Miserable Old Bat can be surprisingly funny when not surrounded by students.
I'm going to miss you, Harry and Ron, but it's only for a few weeks. Oh how am I going to sleep? I'm too excited for words!
Ginny, it will be impractical to use owls to communicate, so use the little casket with this letter to write to me. It works a bit like a mini-vanishing cabinet; once you put the letter in and shut the box it will appear in the identical box I'm taking with me. Don't try to send anything living in it though. It's only charmed for inanimate objects.
Love Hermione
15 July
We have arrived at Ogdoad's lovely home, and his hospitality as ever has been flawless. Ms Granger – I mean "Hermione" (she has insisted I address her by her first name) – has apparently settled in quite well, and has somehow managed to keep her gushing about the house, the city, the country, the sky, and every other blessed thing she sees to a minimum. Her eyes will sparkle and her mouth begins to open, then her gaze slips over to me and you can almost hear the "snap!" as she closes it. Am I truly that frightening? Useful as it is for the students, I do wish she could set aside the professor/teacher dynamic at this late and festive date. It might be pleasant to hear a bit of a gush now and again – I have discovered it allows me to see these things from a new and fresh perspective, almost as if I'm seeing them for the first time myself.
I find I would like to see these wonderful things through her eyes more and more. Disturbing.
Young Siggy and his dratted cat have also settled in well. Of course, the first thing that happens is the cat goes missing. Hermione (that is difficult to write, much less say, but she is quite insistent) is rather upset, and I must confess to some trepidation myself, but Siggy is completely calm and has reassured us both that "he'll come back. He just had some visiting to do." I believe I need to keep a sharper eye on those two. They are most definitely up to something, and I do not care for surprises, especially from rising Second Years and their four-legged partners in crime…
Dear Ginny
Greetings from Cairo, or a little place just outside of. We were invited to stay with Mr Valentinas for a few days. He lives in a lovely old House, with huge gardens and some amazing permanent cooling charms I've never heard of before. I'd worried we would be staying in a tent for much of the trip, and you know, I've had more than enough of camping for a lifetime. Anyway, it's very comfortable, marble floors, carved panelling and bathrooms exceeding those of the Prefects' at School for luxury.
Yesterday Mr Valentinas took us all at the crack of dawn to a place where I was able to gather some excellent specimens of the rare Blue Lotus Flower. It's used in some of the most difficult and expensive potions and I hope to use it in a project I'm planning when we get back. You have to be really careful when harvesting because of powerful side-effects of the plant, (said to be intoxication and enhanced virility). The MOB was very nervous and insisted I wear a stupid amount of protective clothing which I sweltered horribly in. Listening to his constant stream of instructions put me off so in the end I just blocked him out with a muffling charm and got on with it.
When I stripped off the overalls my clothes were stuck to me with sweat and the MOB refused to cast a cooling charm because Muggles might notice. I swear he liked to see me suffer; I caught him smirking in my direction when he thought I wasn't looking.
Mr Valentinas has a secure storage area which we will send all our gathered ingredients to while we are in Egypt. And did I mention the library? We sit there in the cool of the evening writing up our notes or diving into the wonderful volumes. Siggy can hardly contain himself. He's interested in everything. And the MOB never looks happier than when lounging in a wicker chair with the latest journal.
Tomorrow Siggy and the MOB are going to gather leeches in the riverbank mud. Apparently these are "the best of the best". I foolishly asked what made these little suckers so special and received a lecture on anti-coagulants, maximum leech capacity and all kind of other revolting facts. Ugh!
However, I have the morning off and am being chaperoned by Mr V's nephew around what is said to be the best Magical Museum in Egypt! Siggy and Severus will join us in the afternoon. Sounds perfect.
After a few days I'm getting used to the heat. Siggy seems unaffected. He bounces with enthusiasm from dawn to dusk.
But I wish I had a camera, Ginny. In town the MOB wears lightweight black clothing but when we go out to gather stuff he wears a similar looking outfit in olive colour. It's not as flattering as the black robes we are used to. Needs to cut back on the puddings I think.
I have to make an early start tomorrow, so I'll end now.
Having a great time.
Love
Hermione
16 July
Went this morning to collect Nymphaea caerulea from a location Ogdoad has been scouting for some time. Hermione attempted to balk at the protective clothing, but I insisted (actually I had to get a bit Professorial with her), and, as I instructed her step by step, managed to collect sufficient for Hermione's needs as well as certain uses I may have of a side nature. Foolish chit, I regret getting so evil with her, but damn if she wasn't going to just reach into the water and snatch the plants out bare-handed! I actually had to grab her by the arms, make her look at me, and tell her in no uncertain terms what would happen if she touched these particular specimens without protection – I was pleased to see the blood drain from her face as the implications sank into her overstuffed brain. This particular strain of Blue Lotus has a heightened aphrodisiacal effect, and needs only the least touch of bare skin to affect the unwary, not to mention anyone who is past adolescence within a 10 foot radius.
It was the prime ingredient for the food provided at the orgiastic rituals of Hathor at her temple in Dendera. It was extremely effective.
But I must admit (to myself if to no one else, which is why I keep this journal) that part of me would have been quite interested to see the legendary effects of the Blue Lotus on such a captivating creature as Hermione Jean Granger. A question I have no answer for is: would I have responded as well? Hm. But that doesn't bear thinking of – we are entirely too far apart in age and experience.
Away with such thoughts.
Once the plants were collected, she stomped – or rather, sloshed – her way to the bank quite comically, and after struggling out (N. caerulea grows in quite boggy conditions) she immediately removed the protective clothing. In a bit of a snit, I imagine – one thing hasn't changed about our Ms Granger, she does not like to be shown she does not always know everything. It was quite… enjoyably fascinating… to observe the effects of a hot, close-woven coverall on the thin cotton tunic she was wearing underneath…! Well. I must confess forbidding her to cast a cooling charm, citing possible Muggle observation. That was pure prevarication – there were no Muggles within 40 miles. I just liked the change she brought to the scenery! Ogdoad (that old scoundrel) knew exactly what was up, so I must be very very careful around him. Whetstone was oblivious – he was having fun tossing bits of pita left over from lunch to the ducks.
I might be old, but I'm not blind. I do enjoy a bit of eye candy, if I do say so myself. And Hermione does indeed provide some excellent eye candy. I suppose I can look, as long as I remember that I must never touch. Besides, what would she want with an old bat like myself?
Tonight will be filled with updating notebooks, making sure the plants are safe and flourishing, and hopefully I will get to spend a quiet hour or several in the cool of Ogdoad library. Then to bed. I don't believe I'll be needing any Sleeping Draught tonight. Exercise of the body and the mind will make for a quick descent into sleep's arms.