Year one - Chapter 9


—A... What with three what?

—A giant dog with three heads, Leen.

—Yeah, I heard you, Ron, but... what would something like that be doing here at Hogwarts? You don't think they use it for detentions... Right?

—No, but we're sure he's looking after something, something I saw Hagrid pull out of a Gringotts vault, but we don't know what it is.

The next morning at breakfast, Harry and Ron told me all about the great adventure they had without me! And in which Hermione was apparently involved in some way, so now she was upset and didn't want to be with them, which benefited me because she couldn't ask me about what I was doing last night.

When the owls arrived with the mail, I was surprised to see that six owls brought a large package, which they left in front of Harry. When he finished reading the note he had, he passed it to us, and you could see how excited he was.

—A Nimbus 2000! I had never touched one.

We quickly left the Great Hall, I no longer cared that I had not finished eating, the excitement was so great to see the broom. I had never been a big fan of Quidditch, but I couldn't deny that it was exciting to be able to see (and possibly use!) the fastest broom of all.

—Oh no.

The three of us stopped when we saw Draco and the idiots of Crabbe and Goyle, they approached us and Draco took the broom from Harry, removing the paper that was wrapping it to see what the package contained.

—Draco, give it back to Harry.

—It's a broom. —He said, ignoring me completely and then throwing it back at Harry.— Do you really think that just because you're the great Potter, they will ignore the fact that first-year students can't have a broom?

—And it's not just any broom, Malfoy. It's a Nimbus 2000. Which one do you have, a Comet 260? They are nothing compared to a Nimbus.

—What would you know, Weasley, if you can't even afford half the handle?

—Draco, stop it.

—You and your brothers have to gather the broom twig by twig. —He ignored me again, well, if Flitwick gives him detention, it won't be because I didn't try to warn him.

—You're not fighting, are you guys?

—Professor, Potter has been sent a broom.

—Ah yes, I am aware of Potter's special permission. What model is it?

—It's a Nimbus 2000, Professor. And the truth is that I have it thanks to Malfoy.

I couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Draco's face when he found out that Flitwick wouldn't do anything to Harry for having the broom; we left and climbed the stairs before he tried to do something else to try to get Harry in trouble.

—And it's true, if it hadn't been for Malfoy taking Neville's Remembrall, I wouldn't be on the team.

—And you think it's a prize for breaking the rules? —We turned to see who the person behind us was, I wasn't surprised to see that it was Hermione.

—I thought you weren't talking to us.

—And don't stop, please, we're better this way.

—Ron! —I punched Ron on the shoulder, I wasn't talking to her that much right now, but there was no reason to tell her that.— Hey, Mione...

And she left, without even turning to see me, why is everyone ignoring me!? Did I finally die of boredom in Binns class and now I'm a ghost too?

—I don't understand why you defend her so much, Leen. She is an unbearable know-it-all.

—Shut up Ron, you're starting to sound like my father.

I kept going up the stairs, leaving them behind, but I could still hear Ron's cry of horror in the distance 'Snape? Ugh, no!

I went up to the common room and walked up to the first-years room to get my bag, I don't know why I don't just go down to breakfast with it, it would be easier instead of having to climb so many stairs, but at least it helps me to 'exercise'. As I left the room and went down the stairs, I saw Fred and George, who looked very suspicious since they had their heads together and made sure that no one saw or heard them.

—So, planning something and you don't invite me. I'm hurt.

—Hey, mini Snape, come closer to tell you the plan. —I sat down on the floor between them.

—We must warn you first that this is a dangerous plan, —George began to speak.— you could even die.

—What? Die?

—Well, maybe even worse, expelled. —They both looked at each other and started laughing, I just looked at them with a more confused face than when I try to understand what the hell Quirrell is trying to tell us in class.

—What the Nargles are you talking about? How could it be worse to be expelled than to die?

—Nargles? What is that?

—I don't know, I read it in a magazine a long time ago and I just thought it was a funny word. But, why being expelled is worse than dying?

—We'll tell you about that later, it was something we heard last night. Anyway, —Fred continued.— It's not as dangerous as expelling us, but we will probably be in detention for the rest of the year if we get caught. You see, since it's Hallowe'en, in Zonko's there are great deals, so we want to go.

—And why didn't you go before? I heard there was a trip to Hogsmeade a few days ago.

—Because the offers are only made on Hallowe'en So? Are you coming? Keep in mind that you would have to miss the first class, mini Snape.

I was thinking for a few moments, I really wanted to go, but risk a whole year of detention? Although, what was the chance that they would catch us? The castle is huge anyway and there is no way of knowing that we got out...

—I don't know... Let me see. Go to Hogsmeade or go to Quirrell's class? Hmm, difficult choice...

—Is that a yes, Leen?

—That, my dear George, is a big yes. But how are we going to get out? Filch will be guarding the fifth-floor passage.

—We know of others, Leen, but anyway, we don't have to worry, we have a small object that will help us know where he is. Now, we will go for our backpacks to hide what we buy, we advise you to leave your books in your room, it will be annoying to be carrying around so many useless things.

—Also, put other clothes under your uniform, if they see us like this in Hogsmeade, they will know that we left, and we will be in serious trouble.

I went back up to my room and began to empty my backpack, not realizing that I was not the only one in the room.

—What are you doing?

—Ah, Lavender, hi... I, uh, grabbed the wrong books, I thought today was Wednesday.

—No, today is Thursday.

—I know that, thank you.

She left the room and I waited a few seconds to see if she didn't come back, luckily she didn't so I kept taking my things out, hiding them in my trunk just in case someone came in and realized I wasn't in class, I also put some money that I had no idea I had kept in my trunk.

I put on a green shirt under my school shirt and put a pair of pants in my backpack because even though I had the cloak, people could tell that I would have pants under the skirt. I went down to the common room and the twins were already there waiting for me.

—Ready, mini Snape?

—Ready, Fred. And you should try to find another nickname for me, if my father hears you, he will kill you.

He shrugged, dismissing it, sometimes I wonder if he has a suicide wish.— I like it.

The three of us left the common room and started walking through the corridors, everyone should be in a class by now, so it felt strange that the castle was completely silent during the day.

—And what is that 'thing' that will help us to not get caught?

—It's a map, Leen.

—A map? Are you telling me that I will never learn to walk the halls of Hogwarts and will need help from a map? I've been here for two months now and I feel like I haven't seen even half of this place.

—It's a magic map.

—Oh sure, how did I not think of it? —They both laughed, and Fred started pulling something out of his pockets.— What does that map do? How can you be sure that we won't get caught?

—I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.

—We already know, Fred, but you could say it louder, I don't think Filch heard you.

I looked at the 'map', which was only an old parchment, but then I noticed that something began to be written on it, Fred passed it to me and I began to observe it, little dots with names began to appear under them, they were the names of all the people who were inside a classroom, having class right now.

—But how is it possible? Does it really show everyone at Hogwarts?

—That's right, Leen. It shows us all and what they are doing, for example, your father is teaching right now.

George pointed his finger at a point on the map where 'Severus Snape' could be read, near him, there were several more points with various names, which could not be read completely because some stood in the way of others.

—And we're here. —I said, putting my finger on the three static dots, with the names 'Fred Weasley' 'Eileen Snape' and 'George Weasley'. — Wow, this is amazing... Wait, someone's coming towards us... It's Dumbledore!

—Mischief managed. —George said, pointing at the map with his wand and began to put the map away as fast as he could when we saw Dumbledore come out of a corridor.

—Ah! Good morning, kids, you won't be doing anything that you shouldn't, right?

—What? Us? No, never, not at all, I don't even know what we could be doing. —I said quickly because of my nerves, if he hadn't realized that we were trying to do something, now he knew it because of me.

—Very good, very good... You know, today is a good day to walk and eat lemon sherbets, but unfortunately yesterday I ate the last one I had in my office... Maybe I could go to Honeydukes to buy more, although as Headmaster I am very busy these days... Anyway, enjoy the rest of the day, see you at the Hallowe'en feast.

And he kept walking as if nothing had happened. Did he just ask us to buy him more sweets? Does he somehow know we're going to Hogsmeade?

—That was weird, Gred.

—It definitely was, Forge.

After the strange moment with Dumbledore, we continued walking towards where the passageway was, after checking the map and checking that Filch was on the first floor, we approached the statue of Gregory the Smarmy and entered the passageway; before reaching the end and leaving the station, we took off our school uniform, the boys turned to give me some privacy as I took off my skirt and put on my pants, as soon as I finished, we left the clothes in a box and we headed out towards Hogsmeade.

It was nothing compared to seeing it at night to seeing it during the day, with all the stores open, I was amazed again as if it was my first time here. We saw several children running through the streets, so I was no longer nervous that they would know that we left Hogwarts.

We went to Zonko's first and the place was amazing, it was so colourful and there were so many boxes with objects to make jokes. I walked over to the shelves to see everything there, like the famous dung bombs along with the fake scrolls and invisible ink. After a while of watching the twins put mountains of items on the counter, they finally paid for them.

—Well, mini Snape, we already bought everything we needed, is there anything you want to buy? If you don't have money, we can lend you some.

—Thanks, but I found some money in my trunk, I didn't even know it was there. Let's go to Honeydukes, Aunt Cissy hasn't sent me candy in a while and I'm going crazy without it.

Both kept all their purchases in their backpacks, and they had to put some things in mine, since there were so many that they did not fit, and it almost seemed that their backpacks were about to explode.

We left Zonko's and headed to Honeydukes, I could see the piles of candy from outside the windows and it made my mouth water. When we walked inside, it was like I was in paradise, there were sweets everywhere and I felt literally like a little girl in a candy store.

I started grabbing loads of sweets, like licorice wands, sugar quills, chocolate bars, and of course lemon sherbets for Dumbledore, because if we weren't for him, we'd probably be in detention right now so I could at least return the favor.

—The total would be 7 Sickles and 14 Knuts.

After paying, I put my sweets in my backpack and we returned back to the castle, it had already been 30 minutes since the first class started, so if we took longer to return we would go out just when the corridors are completely full and we would run the risk of being seen leaving the statue.

When we entered the corridor we put on our uniform again, but now I left my pants under my cloak and skirt because it couldn't fit inside my backpack and none of us knew a spell to make it smaller, so that was the best way I could hide it and we returned to the castle, but it was not necessary to check the map to see if someone was nearby, because we began to hear voices.

—I'm pretty sure it's those three, Professor McGonagall, none of them are in their classes, and besides, I'm pretty sure they were the ones I saw leaving the statue yesterday along with Mr. Jordan.

From the way his voice sounded, I could already imagine him putting on his worst smile, thinking that he had finally caught us and was seeing us on the train heading home.

—Well, Jordan is in the infirmary because he apparently ate something he shouldn't have, probably some of the nonsense they buy at Zonko's, I spoke to him and he said he didn't know anything about the tunnel or where Messrs. Weasley and Miss Snape where

—Are you completely sure, Filch? I remind you that it is my daughter that you are accusing of leaving the castle.

—I'm sorry, Professor Snape, but no one knows where she is.

—Well, then what are you two waiting for? Professor Snape, could you please help open this passage?

That was our signal to run out of there, I ran like I had never done before, and it was even more difficult because the pants were in the way and it's really uncomfortable. It was very likely that they could hear our shoes hitting the ground, but that didn't matter to me, I just wanted to get out of the tunnel and get to the castle in another way.

—What do we do now?

I almost yelled at the boys, but I was nervous, I was scared, and I could already see my father being completely disappointed and angry with me, followed by me on the train going back to the Malfoy Manor for being expelled.

—Don't worry, Leen, there are other passages, let's go.

George started to run and Fred and I followed him, I wasn't even paying attention because of fear so I did not know well where we got, but we entered a dark tunnel again and started running. When we reached what looked like the end of the tunnel, George took out the map and after checking that the corridor was completely alone, we got out and ran to the common room as fast as we could.

When we were in the common room, I went straight to my room to put away the sweets at the bottom of my trunk and took off my pants and shirt, I didn't want to have anything that would give me away. I went downstairs with my books in hand and the backpack and I gave it to Fred so that he could go and hide the things from Zonko's that they had kept in my backpack and when he returned I put all the books inside the backpack and began to feel more relaxed.

—Well, if anyone asks, I was in the girls' bathroom all morning because I had a stomachache. Don't you dare to use my lie.

We were talking until it was time to go to the second class, I said goodbye to the boys and went on my way to the Charms classroom. When I arrived I could see how Hermione almost wanted to kill me with a look, probably for skipping classes. Oops, my only friend and I was already completely pushing her away from me.

—Where were you, Leen? We didn't see you in Quirrell's class.

—I'll tell you later, Ron.

We entered the room and Professor Flitwick put us in pairs to practice the Levitation charm, Harry was with Seamus, Ron with Hermione and I had been paired with Neville.

We hadn't been lucky so far, but at least we weren't doing as badly as Harry and Seamus, who had managed to set their feather on fire. I had only managed to get it to get up a second and then fall back to the table, while Neville couldn't even get it to move or something.

—It's Win-gar-dium levi-o-sa, you must pronounce the gar clearer. —I stopped paying attention to my feather and was now paying attention to the conversation Hermione was having with Ron.

—If you are so smart, why don't you do it?

Oh, Ron, you are about to be humiliated, I knew Hermione knew how to do the spell as I had already seen her do it a few times when we were in the room.

Just like I had thought, Hermione's feather began to fly over our heads, on Ron's face you could only see so much annoyance and envy at the same time as Flitwick continued to congratulate Hermione.

At the end of the class, I left together with Harry and Ron, I was about to tell them what had happened in the morning, but Ron started talking.

—She's a nightmare, I swear. I'm not surprised that no one can stand her, and she doesn't have friends, you don't even hang out with her anymore, Leen.

—Ron, that- —But I couldn't finish the sentence, because someone had bumped into my shoulder, it was Hermione who walked away from us and seemed to be crying. — Ron, you are an idiot.

I ran after her, calling her, almost screaming, because she was a bit far away, which made several students from other years look at me ugly. I collided with a seventh year Slytherin girl, causing me to fall to the ground.

—Watch where you're going, Gryffindork. — The girl looked like she was about to hit me, but luckily one of her friends took her arm and stopped her.

—Eleanor don't do it, she's Snape's daughter.

I smirked when I saw how the girl turned completely pale, and she could hardly speak.

—I'm sorry, be more careful.

Both girls left almost running, I laughed while I was on the ground and then I got up, shaking the dirt from my clothes, I looked towards where I had seen Hermione for the last time, but obviously, she was not there anymore, she had probably already gone to Binns class. I decided not to continue looking for her and would wait to talk to her before class, so I went directly to the classroom, but to my surprise, she never made it to that class or the others.

After class I started looking for her everywhere; In the library, in our room, I even went with Hagrid to look for her, but he hadn't seen her. I went to the Great Hall, expecting to see her there, knowing that she would not skip dinner, but before arriving, I ran into Lavender and Parvati.

—Hey! Hi, uhm... Have you seen Hermione?

—Yeah, she's in the girls' bathroom, she was crying, but she didn't want anyone to bother her.

—Thank you.

I was on my way to the girls' bathroom, but I saw Ron behind Parvati, so I went up to him and smacked him in the head with my hand, after that I was on my way to the bathroom. When I walked in, I could hear Hermione's little sobs.

—Mione?

—Leave me alone, Eileen.

—Mione, ignore what Ron said, he's just an idiot and doesn't know what he's saying.

—It's easy for you to say that; you can easily talk to anyone, and everyone likes you, Harry, Ron, the twins… But I just can't ignore what Ronald said.

—Do you really think everyone likes me? Some of the other older students are basically afraid of me because of my father, they won't even tell me the time, but I've learned not to care about that. And you should too, especially because everything Ron said was lies, you are not a nightmare.

—He wasn't lying, nobody likes me, and I don't have friends, you don't hang out with me anymore.

—It's a lie, Mione. I admit that lately, I've hung out more with them than with you, but it's because I'm an awful friend, you seemed upset that I didn't want to study for final exams and I made the easy choice to go with them instead of talking to you. I'm sorry.

I heard the lock on the door and then the door opened at the same time a horrible smell began to invade my nose; I tried not to make a face so that Hermione wouldn't feel bad but the moment she looked at me, she screamed, I turned to see what it was and I could see a huge troll at least 12 feet tall, I screamed like never before I had and I think I hurt my throat because no sound was coming out of my mouth anymore.

If it hadn't been for Hermione grabbing my arm and throwing me into the sinks, I'd be crushed under the club by now. We both went as far away as we could from the troll, trying to hide under the sinks, but it was useless, the troll kept advancing towards us, destroying several of the sinks.

Hermione seemed to be completely in shock, so instead of peeing myself I took what little courage I had (although I have no idea where it came from) and pointed my wand at the troll, but it was useless because I still couldn't say anything it anyway, luckily I saw Harry and Ron enter, who began to distract the troll.

The troll started to approach Harry, ready to hit him with his club, but Ron threw a metal pipe at him that made him get distracted and put his attention on Ron, Harry yelled for us to move, but Hermione did not respond, I tried to lift her from the arm, but I wasn't strong enough to move.

Just when I thought this was our end, I saw how Harry jumped towards the troll and hung on his neck, sticking his wand inside his nose, making him start to shake and Harry did his best not to fall, at any moment he would be crushed by the troll if we didn't do something quickly, I drew my wand again, hoping that now I could say something, but I was still mute and my throat hurt more and more.

—Wingardium Leviosa! —Ron managed to make the club fly out of the troll's hands, rising to the ceiling and landing on top of the troll's head, causing the troll to stagger and finally fall face down on the ground.

—Is it dead? —I heard a voice behind me and knew that Hermione had already recovered from the shock.

—I don't think so. —Harry said, pulling the mucus-covered wand from the troll's nose and wiping it on the troll's skin. — He's just unconscious.

We kept looking at the troll without saying anything until a strong sound took us out of our thoughts, it was Professor McGonagall, followed by Quirrell and... Great, my father.

—What were you thinking!? —Screamed Professor McGonagall looking at us completely angry. —You're lucky it didn't kill you! Why weren't you in the common room with the other students?

Quirrell was simply lying near one of the bathrooms, I didn't realize he passed out. My father was examining the troll and as soon as he got up, I couldn't look him in the eye, so I looked at the floor.

—Professor, it's not their fault... They were looking for me. I came to look for the troll because I thought I could handle it, if it had not been for them, I would be dead.

I couldn't help but drop my wand as soon as I heard such a lie, I couldn't believe that Hermione was lying for us, Ron also dropped his wand, the three of us were surprised that Hermione was lying to McGonagall, I tried to say something, but still couldn't and it only made my throat hurt even more.

—Well, Granger... You're a fool. How do you think you could beat a troll by yourself? Gryffindor will be deducted 10 points because of you. Potter, Weasley, Snape, you may have been lucky, but not many first-years could have beaten a troll anyway, each of you gets 5 points.

I tried again to say something, it wasn't fair that they only punished Hermione when I was here too and it wasn't fair to receive points when I didn't do anything to help, but my throat still hurt and I sighed in frustration.

—Miss Snape? Is there something you want to say?

—Uh, professor, Eileen screamed when we saw the troll and I think she hurt her throat, she hasn't been able to say anything since.

I nodded, putting my right hand on my throat, when I did that, I could see my father's concerned face.

—If that's the case, Snape, could you take your daughter to the infirmary?

My father grabbed my arm and led me out of the bathroom, I started walking in the direction of the infirmary, but he took me by the arm again and led me in the direction of the dungeons.

We didn't say anything on the way (it's not like I could) and as soon as we entered his office, he sat me in a chair and started looking for something in his cabinets.

—I can't believe you thought of doing such a stupid thing, you should have gone to some prefect or professor if you knew that Granger's know-it-all was going to look for the troll. Couldn't you just go to the tower with your house? 2 months! 2 months you've been here and you almost managed to get yourself killed.

I got mad because of all the things he was saying, I got mad because he called my best friend a know-it-all, I got mad because he thought I was stupid enough to try to kill a troll, I got mad about everything so I kicked his desk with my foot.

—And you also have the nerve to be angry at me? I am the one who should be angry, skipping classes today, I can assure you that it was also you who left the castle and on the same day you dare to go for a troll... By Merlin, I do not understand what is wrong with you. Do you want me to get you out of Hogwarts? Do you want to go back to the Malfoys that much?

I didn't want to, but I began to feel the tears falling down my cheeks, he just walked away from the cabinet and gave me a bottle with a blue liquid.

—You're lucky I had one already made, it takes a month to prepare. Take it, you should get your voice back in a few minutes.

I drank the bottle right away, ignoring the horrible taste, I began to feel my throat stop burning and we waited a few minutes, in which the tears kept falling on my cheeks.

—Try to say something.

—I'm sorry. —My voice came out naturally, I didn't have to make any effort and my throat didn't burn anymore.

—Now, can explain why did you come up with such idiocy?

—I'm not an idiot, Dad! It would never occur to me to fight a troll, Hermione and I were already in the bathroom when it suddenly started to smell horrible and when I turned around, the troll was there.

—Where were you this morning when you were supposed to be in class?

—I was in the bathroom; I wasn't feeling well. —Wow, every time lying felt more natural and I didn't feel so bad about doing it. Merlin, am I becoming a bad person?

—And why didn't you go to the infirmary?

—I felt better after a while, but it was too late for class, so I went to the common room to wait.

I started to look at the ground, I was just tired and wanted to go to sleep when suddenly I felt him hugging me so hard like he was afraid I would disappear if he didn't. After that, he put his hand on my cheek while looking into my eyes.

—I know you're upset because I started lecturing you, but, think... You don't know… —He sighed, I knew it was difficult and strange for him to talk about his feelings.— I would die if anything ever happens to you.

—I'm sorry, Dad... I wish I were the perfect daughter you want me to be.

—You're already perfect, Eileen, you only make mistakes sometimes, like everyone else. Starting with your friends, they are a bad influence on you.

—Really? Should I start hanging out with Lavender and talking about guys all day? Or maybe with Neville, so my grades continue to go down. I could also team up with Crabbe and Goyle for a bigger stupid effect.

I started to laugh and saw how he just smiled a little, although it was a lot coming from him.

—I'll take you to your common room, it's already midnight and you shouldn't be walking around the castle at this time. Although it's not like you care much about the rules.

We left his office and walked in the direction of the tower, perhaps the thought that I could have died today scared him so much that he even held my hand the whole way.

We walked in without saying something, enjoying the silence of the castle. When we got to the tower and I walked to the portrait of the Fat Lady, I told her the password and I was about to enter through the hole in the wall.

—Eileen.

I turned to see him, without moving from where I was.

—Yes?

—Happy Birthday.