Year One - Chapter 2


—Do you have everything you need?

—Yes, dad.

—Did you put your books in your trunk?

—Yes, since the day I bought them.

—Remember that if you forget something I won't be able to give it to you.

—I know, dad.

—Your wand?

—For Merlin's pants, I've told you a thousand times I have everything read, why are you so nervous?

—I'm not nervous, I only know my daughter and I know that you will end up forgetting something.

—Come on, you really think…? Oh, I don't have my wand.

My father looked at me with his usual 'I told you so' face and before he could say something, I ran upstairs to my room, it didn't take long to find my wand because I left it on the desk next to my bed, I left it there last night so I wouldn't forget it, funny isn't it?

—Well, I suppose now you have everything. I don't understand why you want to go on the train, you can simply apparate with me.

—Because that's when you make friends! Besides, it must be funny.

—Fine, I'll see you in a week, don't cause any trouble at the Malfoy Manor.

—I promise you I won't do anything bad.

I grabbed the flu powder, got into the chimney, and said 'Malfoy Manor' while dropping the powder, I was quickly wrapped in green flames and just a couple of seconds later I appeared in the living room.

Before I could react and get out of the chimney, Draco was already hugging me. I hadn't seen him since the day we went to Diagon Alley to buy our stuff and for some reason, he feels like that was ages ago.

—Draco… I can't… Breath…

—Oh, sorry, just, you know. I'm happy to see you again.

—Draco, I saw you a month ago, not a year ago!

—All right, you both can go and play a little, but I want you to come to dinner later. Eileen, you know that you don't have to worry about your trunk. Dobby will leave it in your room.

Dobby is the house-elf, sometimes I would feel bad for him because everyone here treats him bad and sometimes they yell at him even when he didn't do anything wrong, but there is not a lot I can do, he's a house-elf and they are here to serve us… Right? They are happy living in this way and it's the only thing they can do.

I followed Draco to the back garden and we passed next to a piece of console furniture that held a lot of pictures, some pictures where from the day Aunt Cissy and Uncle Lucius got married, others were from when Draco and I were little kids, but my favourite was the one where Aunt Cissy and my mother were hugging, waving their hands at the camera, and then laughing at something.

—You look so much like her.

—You think so, Aunt Cissy?

—Yes, you are clever, intelligent, mischievous, and not so fond of rules, just like her. Physically, you look a lot like your father, but thankfully you have your mother's nose.

We both chuckled, it was true, my nose is small and delicate in comparison to my father's large, hooked nose, but my eyes and my hair are as black as his, while my mother had light brown hair and hazel eyes, for what I've seen in pictures.

—Where is she now, Aunt Cissy?

—She's somewhere far away from here, darling.

—Why?

—You will know when you are older.

—That's what adults always say, 'when you are older' but we're never old enough, are we?

—Eileen! Are you coming to play or not?

I heard Draco's voice from the door that led to the garden, my aunt put her hand on my shoulder and then left. I walked to where Draco was and we went out into the huge garden, we started flying in our Comet 260. I love flying, it's awesome to feel the wind in my face although I never flew too high because I was afraid of falling.

—I can't believe my father didn't buy us the new Nimbus 2000, it's the best broom of all.

—At least we don't have a Cleansweeper 6, even I would get bored with how slow they are.

We started to play Quidditch... Or, well, the closest thing to Quidditch as we could, we both played like the Chaser and Keeper; instead of the three goals for each team, we only had one and it was created by four trees specifically planted for that, two on each side. Since we didn't have a Snitch either, we had decided that whoever scores 100 points with the Quaffle first, wins.

I've never been a huge Quidditch fan, but Draco loved it and kept talking about the game and his favourite teams all the time, so I was used to playing it and knew how to play it.

When we finished playing (as always, Draco beat me, finishing the game at 100-70) we returned to the mansion for dinner and it was almost completely silent as they have always been; sometimes, Aunt Cissy would ask us if we already had everything we would need in our trunks and she kept saying how proud she was of us for finally going to Hogwarts and how much we had grown since we were babies; a conversation that led to shameful stories about us as little kids.

While Draco and I were turning red with shame, they both were chuckling, although they appear to be very serious people, we knew how they really were and that they loved us very much, but they had an image to maintain, something I still couldn't fully understand, but it didn't bother me.

When dinner finally ended, I said goodbye to everyone and went up to my room to take a bath, then I put on my pajamas and lay down on the bed, reading one of the several books that I had taken from the library they had in here.


—Leen, Leen, Eileen! Wake up!

—Hm? What do you want, Draco?

—You have to wake up now, we must have breakfast before going to the station.

—5 more minutes…

—You don't leave me any choice.

I regretted hearing those words, I already knew what was going to happen if I didn't get up, I opened my eyes only to see how Draco was next to the wall and started running in my direction, I didn't have time to move and I felt all his weight on top of me.

—Draco! Stop!

I said while laughing, he had not only thrown himself on the bed but was now tickling me too. After a few minutes, Draco finally left so I could get dressed.

The week went surprisingly faster than I thought, it was already September 1st, which meant that I was finally going to Hogwarts!

I put on a short-sleeved dress, it was silk, dark green and had small black flower designs on the folds of the skirt, I combed my hair in my favourite way, which was loose reaching down to my back.

I went down to the dining room and everyone was already there having breakfast, I sat next to Aunt Cissy and started eating my pancakes.

—What about you, Eileen? Excited to get to Hogwarts?

—Yes! I can't wait to spend more time with my father, although I'm going to miss being here, Aunt Cissy.

—Well, you can come to visit us over the Christmas holidays, you know you are always welcome.

—Thanks, I'm sure I'll come.

Breakfast continued a little calmer, I did not eat much as I always used to do, I was a little nervous and with each bite, I felt like I was going to vomit, so I only ate a pancake. When we were ready, the elves lowered our trunks and put them in the car that the Ministry lent to my uncle Lucius, in it we would arrive at King Cross station.

—Father, why can't we just apparate? I don't want to be around dirty muggles.

—I agree with you, Draco, but the station is a small place and full of many people, it would be difficult to appear.

I was about to get into the car when I felt a hand rest on my shoulder.

—Eileen, I need to speak to you for a moment.

—What is it, Aunt Cissy?

She gave me a small heart-shaped necklace, which when it opened revealed a photo of my parents in their school days, it seemed that my mother was talking about something with my father, and then she started laughing.

—I took it the picture when I was in my last year at Hogwarts, your father was in third and your mother in her second year. I know that she would love to be here with you and I know that if she were here, she would be very proud of you and would tell you that she loves you very much, and I too, dear, never forget it.

I couldn't take it anymore and a tear ran down my cheek, which I quickly wiped with my hand and went over to my Aunt Cissy, gave her a big hug, and then after whispering 'thank you' we got in the car.

I thank Merlin that we had a driver to take us, otherwise Draco would have gone all the way expressing his great hatred for muggles, but as uncle Lucius had told him, they had an image to uphold. I've never been a great muggle lover like Mr. Weasley, (Uncle Lucius complained so much about him), but I don't hate them either, I just think they're boring.

We arrived at the station and the driver lowered our things to put them on two carts; we passed through so many muggles but they only paid attention to the newspaper or the square thing that they put in their ears and talked to them and they did not realize what was happening around them, although some looked at my aunt and uncle strangely, perhaps because they weren't going to dress as muggles did, so they were using robes.

I already knew that we would have to go through a wall that was in the middle of platforms 9 and 10, but I was still afraid that we would crash into the brick wall but to my surprise, we went through it as if there was no wall and on the other side were lots of families saying goodbye to their children.

My aunt and uncle were talking to Draco while I was trying to get my trunk on the train, which I was not succeeding because it was too heavy for me.

—Do you need help?

I turned to where the voice was coming from and was surprised to see two completely identical boys, tall and redheaded.

—Please? —Both boys took my trunk and helped me get it on the train. —Thank you! I am...

—Eileen!

—Oh. —They were both walking toward me and they seemed a little annoying. What did I do now? —What happened, Uncle Lucius?

They both stared at the twins, he looked at them with contempt while my aunt looked like she was smelling something dead, the boys, who were already on the train, left quickly.

—We just wanted to say goodbye to you, my dear. —Aunt Cissy said as she put her left hand on my cheek.— We will miss you very much.

—We also want to remind you, Eileen, that you shouldn't feel compelled to be with... Inferior people.

—Oh, okay...?

I got on the train, I looked out a window and waved goodbye when it started to move, I quickly forgot what I had been told before getting on the train since, to begin with, I did not consider anyone inferior to me... Well maybe the elves, but I very much doubt that I won't get to have friends to had to be with them.

I spent a few minutes looking for Draco in the compartments and when I found him I saw that he was with Pansy Parkinson and some other children of Uncle Lucius's friends, who I didn't like very much so I decided to keep looking for some other compartment that was alone or it did not have so many people inside, luckily for me, I found one where there were only two boys who looked my age, so I confidently opened the door and entered.

—Hi, I'm Eileen Snape, but can you call me Leen, can I stay with you for the rest of the trip?

They both looked at each other and I could see how the redhead was not so happy with that, but all he did was look at me and smile a little.

—Yes, that's fine. I'm Ron Weasley and this is Harry Potter.

—Oh! You are the boy who was with us at Madam Malkins!

—Yes.

—Hey, I'm really sorry for all the questions my cousin asked you, he's a complete idiot, I hope you're not upset with me. You can be upset with him, no problem.

—Yeah, no problem... Um... Are you really cousins? Don't want to offend, but...

—We are nothing alike? No, we are not cousins, we are not even of the 'same class' as he would say, he is pureblood and I am a half-blood, but I have lived with them my whole life, so I consider them my family.

—Hey Eileen. —Ron said.— Did you say your surname is Snape?

—Yes. Why do you ask?

—Sounds familiar, I think I have heard it somewhere else.

—Hey, Ron... Oh, you're the girl from before.

—Yes! Hi! Wow, I have a lot of people to apologize for because of my family... I'm so sorry, they are a little bit... Special.

—They're the Malfoys, right? Dad has told us about them.

—Yes, I'm sorry. If it makes you feel better, I'm not related to them... My name is Eileen, by the way, Eileen Snape. —I smiled and they both looked at me like I said I just killed someone.— Are you guys alright?

—Snape? —The taller twin said.— Like Severus Snape?

—Um, yes... He is my father.

—Wow. —They both said.— Come with us.

They both took my hands and pulled me out of the compartment, dragging me all over the train, until finally, they put me in another one where there was only one boy.

—Hey Lee, you will never guess who she is.

—A poor first-year girl that you are scaring?

—Well, yes also that, but you'll never guess whose daughter she is.

—I'm still here, remember? And I'm not some dragon on display to talk about me like that.

I crossed my arms over my chest, I felt a little annoyed that they treated me that way, but at the same time I was curious to know why it was something so shocking, so I decided to stay.

—Sorry, Eileen.

—Okay, we're even for what happened at the station.

I sat next to the boy named Lee, Fred and George sat across from us.

—Hullo, I'm Lee Jordan by the way. —He reached out his right hand and I gave him a little handshake.— You are?

—You promise not to cause such a fuss like these two?

—I promise.

—I'm Eileen Snape.

—Oh... Wow... Really?

—May I know why everyone is so surprised? Teachers also have children, it is not a big deal. By the way, I still don't know the name of the two of you, although I still don't think I can tell you apart.

—I am George.

—I am Fred. —Okay, so he's taller of the two, at least I'll be able to tell them apart when they're together.

—It's just that, Eileen. —Lee began to speak.— Your father doesn't seem like the type of person who would have children...

—Or any relationship with anyone else. It seems like he hates the world. —Said Fred.

—Well, you are wrong.

I got up from the seat and left the compartment, heading to the one I was sharing earlier with Harry and Ron. When I got there, I saw Draco along with two others, who I slightly remembered seeing them at the Malfoy Manor, leaving the compartment, I went in and saw all the sweets on the floor.

—Do I have to apologize again for my family?

—What happened? —A girl asked behind me, she had brown hair so fluffy that I felt it would eat me if I put my hand in it.

They both ignored us, so I went in and sat next to Harry, taking a chocolate frog from the ground and starting to open the package, the girl just stood at the door.

—He and Eileen are the ones I saw in Madam Malkins.

—And, again, I'm so sorry, Harry.

—Do you need anything? —Ron said to the girl.

—I came to tell you to put on your robes, we are close to Hogwarts. You weren't fighting, were you?

—Scabbers was fighting, not we, now, could you both get out so we can change?

The girl and I left the compartment, I leaned against the door, looking at the mountains through the window. I turned to see the girl, who was still next to me.

—Hey, I'm Eileen Snape. Are you a second year?

—I'm Hermione Granger and no, I'm also a first-year.

—Oh, it's just that since you knew that we are already close to the castle, I thought you had been there before.

And the conversation died there, after a few seconds she left and I was alone outside the compartment for a few moments, then the boys opened the door and left for a while to let me put my robe on, after about 5 minutes the three of us were already back in the compartment.

—And Ron, what house do you think you're going to get sorted?

—Well, my whole family has always been Gryffindor, so I hope I am too, although I would prefer anything but Slytherin.

—Hey! My parents were Slytherin and my aunt and uncle too, there is nothing wrong with being there. I think I will be there, although Ravenclaw would not be bad, anything but Hufflepuff.

—But you know what they say about the Slytherins, they don't end up being such good people. My father says that the Malfoys would not think twice before going to the dark side again, he does not believe that they were bewitched.

—Yeah? Well-

—What is Hufflepuff? —Harry interrupted, I guess he sensed a fight was about to happen.

—It's just the worst house. —I said and to my surprise Ron nodded.— The 'fair and loyal' are supposed to go there but I think it only exists so as not to make those with no good virtue feel bad.

—Maybe I will be in Hufflepuff, then...

—Rubbish! —Ron said.— You are Harry Potter, I bet you will be in Gryffindor.

We continue to discuss various things, mainly explaining things to the wizarding world to Harry; when we finally got off the train, we were greeted by a huge man named Hagrid who took us to the lake where we had to get on boats to get to the castle.

—Hey Ron, do you think the giant squid will try to eat us?

—W-w-what? Giant? —Ron said as he looked out to the lake and since he was distracted, I tried to push him into the water without any success because he was holding on to the boat, but it was still a lot of fun.

—Eileen! It was not funny!

But I couldn't say anything since I was laughing so hard that I thought I would pee myself, and Ron, taking advantage of the fact that I was now distracted, also tried to push me into the lake, since I had my hands on my stomach for laughing so much, I could have fallen into the Lake had it not been because Hagrid was next to us and he put his hand on my back and threw me back in the front, so I just wet the ends of my hair a little.

Finally, we reached the shore and after getting off the boats, we went up some stone stairs until we were in front of two huge wooden doors, with a woman who was waiting for us, she introduced herself as Professor McGonagall.

—Welcome to Hogwarts. —Said McGonagall.— The start of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts.

—The four houses, —continued McGonagall.— are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, and any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I shall return when we are ready.

After she left, I started to feel even more nervous than when I was at Malfoy Manor. My father never mentioned that the sorting was in front of the whole school! Merlin, save me.