Year One - Chapter 7.
Friday was finally here, I had survived my first week at Hogwarts, I only had a few classes, and finally, I could rest.
I couldn't believe how Professor Quirrell was disgusted by the smell of the dung bombs the other day; when we entered his classroom, the whole place reeked of garlic! I thought maybe I would be used to bad smells but I felt a lot more nauseous that day than when I was at the manor waiting to go to King Cross.
Yesterday, I entered the D.A.D.A classroom afraid that he would have seen us that day but as soon as he saw me he did not say anything to me or looked strangely, apparently he did not know who had left the dung bombs in his office, so I was able to relax for the rest of the class that day.
Hermione and I were on our way to our first potions class, I was a little nervous, but my father had told me that he would treat me like any other student, so I hoped he wouldn't pay much attention to me, or expect me to answer every question.
—Dittany is a powerful healing herb...
—Merlin's pants, Hermione! You don't have to memorize the whole book before class, just memorize it one day before the exam.
—A day before the exam? Are you mental? There are thousands of things we have to learn and...
—Exactly, my dear Hermione, learn, not memorize, so we have all year to do that. Why don't you relax a little before class? Later you can go to the library and study as much as you want.
—But, aren't you even a little nervous? There are lots of things we have to learn, know how to prepare potions, what happens if we don't put the ingredients listed...
—Mione, my father is a Potion Master, do you really think there are no books about that at home? In the summer I used to read many of those books. I don't love potion making like my father does, but there really wasn't much to do at home and I got a little taste for it, so I think I have what it takes to survive this class. I hope.
We were outside the classroom waiting for class to start when I saw Draco with his friends, they walked past us and practically ignored us. Is he mad at me for not being in Slytherin? I left Hermione, still memorizing the book, and approached Draco.
—Hey, Draco.
—Ah, hullo, Eileen.
—Why are you ignoring me? I've been trying to talk to you these days and you're just pretending I don't exist.
—And risk being seen with the mudblood? I know you're always with that one.
He looked down on Hermione, who was still going through the book, his stupid friends just started laughing; I don't get it, I knew my aunt and uncle cared about blood purity and several times they had also told us how "important" it was, I must admit there was a time when I also believed it was important, but I didn't think Draco was like that too.
—Well, yeah, maybe she is but... But that doesn't matter, she's nice once you get to know her.
All his friends laughed again, including him, so I decided to better walk away and go back to Hermione, just in time when my father opened the door to the classroom and we all entered. Hermione quickly went to sit up front, (although I don't understand why she would think that someone would want to sit at the front, everyone prefers the background) so I had no other choice and I went to sit next to her.
As soon as we were all seated, my father started taking the register and stopped as soon as he got to Harry's name.
—Ah, Harry Potter, our new... celebrity.
Draco and the gorillas (of his friends) started laughing, I just tried to cover my face with my hands, he kept taking the register and I hoped he doesn't do anything against Harry again...
—Potter! —Well, I spoke very soon. —What will I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?
Oh, that is very simple, they create the Draught of Living Dead; I even thought about raising my hand to answer, but Hermione beat me on that, so I slowly put down my hand.
—I don't know, professor.
—Clearly, fame isn't everything. Well, where would you look for a bezoar?
Hermione was still with her hand raised and he was completely ignoring her, now I begin to understand why they say all those things about him...
—I don't know, professor.
I could see how Harry looked at me quickly and angrily like I was to blame for this! On the train he had told us about how horrible his aunt and uncle were, I thought he would understand that you are not always the same as your family... Or is he also a horrible person and has only been hiding it? Hmm...
—What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?
—I don't know. Why don't you ask Hermione? I think she knows the answer.
Several people laughed and my father seemed to start getting angry, but I couldn't let him continue humiliating my friends, so, without knowing where I got my courage from, I spoke before he said anything again.
—Since you don't want Hermione to answer, professor, I will; asphodel and wormwood produce the Draught of Living Dead, the bezoar is taken from the stomach of a goat and monkshood and wolfsbane are the same plant. I recommend that you don't ask questions if you don't want students to answer them.
I had risen from my seat and even though I didn't want to, I was looking him straight in the eye, now I was angry too, he was insulting my friends! Well, I didn't know if Harry and I were friends... But that didn't matter. He turned to speak to Harry, maybe he was going to ignore the fact that I had talked to him like that in front of the whole class...
—A point will be taken from Gryffindor because of you, Potter. —He turned to see me, great, I spoke too early again.— And you, detention today, at 7.
I sat down and decided not to speak again for the rest of the class, I didn't want to get into trouble again.
We were working in pairs to make the Cure for Boils, Hermione and I were doing well and I was thankful that he was ignoring us, only occasionally he would look at our cauldron and then proceed to criticize someone else.
I was tired of him saying again how Draco was doing everything perfectly, I even doubted it was true, he had never been interested in potions; it always bothered me when he saw me reading a potion book saying "that was boring and only the boring people read it".
—How I wish something would happen to stop him from praising Draco. —I whispered to Hermione and as if by magic... Well, it was magic but... Uh... Well, luckily, something did happen; the idiot of Neville had somehow ruined his potion; now the entire room was filled with green clouds and the potion was melting the shoes of everyone who were close to them. Neville was covered in red boils all over his arms. Seamus took Neville to the infirmary, and although my father took points from Harry for no reason, the class went on without a problem.
When the class ended, I got out of the room and ran as fast as possible to catch up with Ron and Harry, I don't know how they did it but they were already very far.
—Harry! Harry, wait.
—What, Eileen?
—Look, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry, I'm sorry for what my father said in class, I don't even know why he treated you like that.
—It's okay.
—No, I'm really sorry and I hope that... Wait, what?
—It's okay, Leen, it's not like it's your fault. Also, the way you defended us showed that you are not like him. Thanks, by the way.
—Oh, Harry... —I gave him a little hug.— Anything for my friends.
—Yes, well, Harry, we have to go.
—Oh, right, Ron, well... see you later, Leen.
They walked towards the gardens, and I started walking towards the common room, I used to spend most of the day sleeping at home and now I'm always busy with homework, but today is Friday! The homework can wait, they will be a problem for the Eileen of the future.
I had barely taken a couple of steps of the wide marble staircase in the Entrance Hall when I heard someone calling my name, I turned and was surprised to see Draco walking towards me, he was closing the door that led to the Dungeons Corridor.
—Draco? Wow, I didn't know that now I am worthy of your presence.
—I'm here just because you are no longer with that-
—Hermione, her name is Hermione, don't you dare say anything else.
—Oh, yeah? What will you do if I say it?
—Remember when we went to Muggle London and saw on that photo box how one person was stretching another's underwear? Well, I still remember how to do it and you know I'm stronger than you, so you won't be able to stop me.
Draco opened his eyes as wide as he could, I could see how he turned even paler and I laughed hard, I clearly remember that day, Uncle Lucius had some business to do in Muggle London (although I can't imagine what he might need from that place) so while we waited, Aunt Cissy (surprisingly) took us for a walk and I could see in one of those boxes some photos (that could move longer and even had sound) as one man lifted the underwear of another, I thought it was funny and I tried it that day with Draco after he made fun of me because I bought a potions book.
—Anyway, what did you want, Draco?
—Ah, I just... Um... I wanted to, you know, from what I told you before class...
—Apologize?
—Yes, that... I miss you, Eileen, and the truth was that at first, I didn't want to talk to you because you are a Gryffindor, but then I saw you talking to... Granger and I don't know how you can stand her.
—I miss you too, Draco. I did not expect to be in Gryffindor either, but that does not change anything, it is not the end of the world for a Slytherin to speak to a Gryffindor. Blimey, my dad doesn't even care about that and he's the Head of Slytherin. And Hermione... Yes, sometimes it is a bit annoying that she wants to know everything, all the time, but she's nice and she's... Well, my only friend.
—Wow, that's depressing, but at least you're not a friend of Saint Potter.
—Saint Potter? —I couldn't avoid laughing again.— You sound like the people that adore him... But, no, we're not that close.
—Well... It's good that you're not his friend. See you later, Leen, it was good talking to you.
—You know you can always talk to me, we live in the same castle and nobody will tell you anything about being around Hermione.
—Hah! Yeah, sure.
He turned and went back to the Dungeons Corridor, I guess near is the Slytherin common room. I turned around and kept going up the staircase, hoping no one would interrupt me again.
—Hey, mini Snape. —Bloody hell, will my homework be done if I don't ask for it? I looked up and Fred was standing at the top of the staircase, his broom resting on his shoulder.
—Oh, hullo, Fred.
—How did you know it was me?
—Dunno, I just knew it. Are you on the Quidditch team? Training so soon?
—Oh no, it doesn't start for a couple of weeks, I just wanted to go flying for a while, you know, think of something other than homework. Do you want to go with me?
—Well, I had the same thought, only less sporty, I was going to the common room and sleep until dinner, but that sounds like fun.
We started walking towards the Quidditch pitch, which I had only seen from afar a few days ago but never had a chance to go.
—Hey, George, Lee, and I plan to go to a special place later. Do you want to come with us?
—Special? What place could be so special inside Hogwarts?
—Ah, that's what makes it special. It's outside Hogwarts.
—Outside? But I thought we couldn't go outside unless it was a Hogsmeade trip. How will you open the gate?
Fred started laughing, I don't understand, was there a way out?
—You see, mini Snape, the gate is not the only entrance to Hogwarts, so do you wanna go?
—It sounds amazing and I would love to, but I can't. I have detention later today.
—Great! Just a week and you already have detention, it took you a little longer than us, we had detention on our second day, but not bad. What did you do?
I started to tell him everything that happened in potions class and by the time I finished, we got to the Quidditch pitch, which was huge; after Fred laughed at what had happened and congratulated me for being one of the few (or perhaps only) people who had dared to talk to my father like that, he decided to do a few laps on his broom, while I sat in the stands to watch him; I realized how cute and cool he looked on the broom... Wait, Eileen! What kind of things are you thinking about? Being in the sun has already started to affect me.
Because I kept thinking about how cute and cool he definitely didn't look, I didn't realize that he had already come down and was next to me.
—So?
—Ah?
—Do you want to fly a little?
—Oh! Uh... I don't know, I always fly close to the ground, it scares me a little to be so high up.
—Come on, it will be fun, I'll make sure nothing happens to you.
After a few minutes, he finally convinced me and now I was on top of the broom, holding on to it as if my life depended on it. Although, well, my life did depend on it.
Fred gave me some advice while I was in the air so that I wouldn't fall, so I grabbed the courage from somewhere and started to go up in the air, I kept going up and up until Fred looked just like a tiny dot on the ground; I was scared, yes, but after a while, the fear turned into excitement and I started doing some laps around the pitch, slowly increasing my speed.
After doing at least three laps, I decided to go down, but when I was close to the ground and my feet could touch the grass, one of my feet caught on my robe and I fell off the broom, scraping my face, my knees, and my right hand.
—Merlin, Eileen, are you alright?
—Yes, only a few small scratches, nothing to worry about.
—Good. You know, I think you fly really well, even while using one of the school brooms, maybe you could try to be on the team next year.
—You think so? —I couldn't help but smile like a fool when I heard that.— Thanks but, Quidditch isn't my thing.
We sat in the stands for a while, talking about anything, mainly from all the pranks he and George had made during their first two years until we realized it was getting late (thanks to my stomach that decided to roar so loudly that it could be heard in the castle), so we decided to go to the Great Hall. He went to sit with George and Lee while I went with Hermione.
—Eileen! What happened to your face?
—Oh, just a little accident, nothing important.
—Nothing important? Your cheek is full of scratches, it could even get infected.
I moved my hand to play down that and started serving myself some chicken, I was starving.
—Eileen...
—Mh? —I turned to see her with my mouth full of food.
—I wanted to thank you, for what happened in class, I lost you after leaving the classroom, and then I couldn't find you anywhere but… Anyway, thanks, for everything.
—You don't have to thank me, it was very unfair and rude that my dad was completely ignoring you.
—Not only that but also... Well, also for being my first friend, everyone always tries to stay away from me for being a... Well, a know-it-all.
—You are very smart, Hermione, there is no doubt, but you are more than that, I like spending time with you.
—I thought you didn't like it when we stayed for hours in the library.
—Well, that's what friends are for, to complain about having to be in the library for too long.
Hermione laughed and hugged me, now I feel a little bad because at the beginning I also thought she was an annoying know-it-all...
—Thanks, Leen... Hey, don't you have detention today?
—Yes, but it's until 7.
—Eileen, it's 7:15.
And I ran out of the Hall in the direction of my father's office, Merlin's pants... I couldn't finish eating my chicken! Now I will have to go to sleep on an almost empty stomach.
Finally, I had reached his office and I started knocking on the door quickly, I put my hands on my knees to try to catch some of my breath, plus my stomach felt weird from running right after eating... certainly, today is not my day.
—Ah, so you decided to come. —He didn't even bother to look at me or ask if I was okay, he went to sit at his desk, so I followed him into the office and sat in the chair across from him.
—Sorry! I was having dinner and I didn't know what time it was... I couldn't even finish dinner.
—You should have thought about it before blatantly disrespecting me in class, didn't you say a couple of days ago how bad you felt because I was upset? You clearly don't care. What was the real reason, Eileen, that you were out of your common room at that time? Probably fooling around with the Weasley twins, right? I saw you enter the Great Hall with one of them, didn't I told you that I don't like that you hang around with them? They are a bad influence. What happened to your face?
—I was really feeling awful that day! I did not lie to you, I can't believe you think I would lie to you like that, but today was different, it just wasn't fair that you treated my friends like that, asking Harry a thousand questions that you knew he couldn't answer, isn't the Draught of the Living Death a N.E.W.T potion? And ignoring Hermione... I didn't want to believe everything bad they said about you but now I see that they say it with good reason... What will be my detention? I want to finish this as soon as possible.
—You still haven't told me what happened to your face.
—I fell.
He looked me in the eye for a couple of seconds, I really couldn't know what he was thinking, but if he knew that I was flying with Fred, he would probably forbid me to keep talking to them.
—Did you put on something? Even if it is a simple scratch it could get infected.
—No, I didn't...
He sighed, got up and started looking for something inside the thousands of cabinets he had full of potions, he took out a small bottle with a substance similar to pudding, only green and began to apply it to my cheek.
It made me feel like I was 5 years old again, in one of those many days where I would be playing and somehow manage to hurt myself, and when he heard me crying, he always stopped doing whatever he was doing, no matter how important it was, he would take me to the couch, put something on where I had hurt myself and hugged me until I stopped crying and fell asleep.
Sometimes I wish I could go back to those days.
—Is that the only place you scratched yourself?
—Oh no, also my hand and my knees.
After applying the green thing to the rest of the scratches, he told me that my detention would be to write 'I must not disrespect my teachers', and after an hour, he ordered some chicken sandwiches from the kitchen and told me to eat before leaving.
I went to the common room, really wishing that no one would bother me again and finally be able to sleep, something I have been waiting for so long to do.
