Year Two - Chapter 4


The next day I woke up earlier because the sunlight coming through the window was hitting my face; Hermione's bed was big enough for the both of us, but I was the one sleeping next to the window, hence why the sunlight was hitting me in the face. I got up to close the curtain, but I was no longer sleepy, so I went to the bathroom to have a quick shower and brush my teeth; when I finished I put on a dress that Aunt Cissy bought me, so it obviously was a dark green colour.

When I got out of the bathroom, Hermione was already awake. She looked a bit disoriented so I have no doubt that she just got up.

—Good morning, Mione.

—Mmmmornig… —I chuckled because she could barely say 'Good morning' (or at least that's what I think she said)

—I thought you always got up early. I think it's almost eight thirty already.

—Yeah, but in the summer I like to sleep for an hour longer. —Hermione said as she stretched.— You don't enjoy getting up late in the summer?

I took my brush and brushed my hair in front of the mirror behind the door; I think maybe I should cut it, it already reaches below my back.

—Hmm, not really, at the Manor I always had to be up by eight, so I'm used to it.

—Why?

—Aunt Cissy always told me that 'a lady has to be up early always.'

—I still don't believe that you grew up under the same roof as Malfoy and you aren't a complete idiot. No offense.

I sat on the bed next to her while I laughed.

—Draco was always more spoiled than me, obviously, so that never went into my head and... I don't know; I think maybe I'm a bit like my dad.

—What about your mum? I don't remember you mentioning her before.

—Well... —I sighed.— I don't know, I never met her. But people tell me I look a lot like her.

—Oh, I'm so sorry Eileen, I shouldn't have mentioned-

—It's okay, you don't have to apologise. What are we doing today?

I'm pretty sure Hermione noticed how quickly I wanted to change the subject, and I'm thankful that she just played along with me and not keep asking.

—I was thinking we could go to the movies and walk around the mall.

—Movies? Mall? What's that?

—Well, the movie theatre is a place where you go to see movies, those are like what we were watching last night, but they usually last an hour or an hour and a half.

—And... why do you have to go to that place? Can't you see them by te-le-vision?

—Mmm yes. —Hermione said as she pulled clothes out of a drawer.— But it's a little different, you'll see. Besides, the films that are shown there take years to be broadcasted on television.

—Aha... Well, what is a mall?

—It's basically an enormous place with several small shops inside it, kind of like Diagon Alley. Let me take a quick bath to go down for breakfast.

—Okay.

I lay back on the bed, wondering what to do while waiting for Hermione to come back, when I heard someone knock on the door and then open it. It surprised me to see that it was Mrs Granger.

—Eileen dear, what would you like for breakfast?

—Oh, whatever you like, Mrs Granger, I'm not a picky eater.

—It's not something I like to do often, but how about pancakes? Your kind know about pancakes, right?

—Of course! I love to eat them.

Mrs Granger laughed a little.

—Well, you're welcome in the kitchen if you want to help.

I got out of bed and followed her into the kitchen; she took various things out of the refrigerator while I stood in the hall. I really wanted to help, but I was afraid of ruining something.

—I forgot to get the milk, could you take it out of the refrigerator, please?

I opened the refrigerator, which was in the kitchen's corner, and took the cardboard that clearly said "milk" but… why is it in a box?

—Here you go.

—Thanks. —Mrs Granger said as she took it.— I have to admit, I'm thrilled that Hermione is finally making real friends. She doesn't like to talk about this very much, but before going to Hogwarts, she wasn't very popular at school.

—Really? But Hermione's very nice and funny.

—Yes, I was afraid that she wouldn't be able to make friends either; I thought that all the kids would already know each other before, being a small world, and she would be left out. I'm glad to know that it wasn't like that.

—Well, it's a little uncommon that we know each other before Hogwarts, unless our parents have a good relationship. There is the option of going to a muggle school, but many of us have our private tutors, my cousin and I had one. Others are only taught by their parents.

—How interesting. What did they teach you?

—Well, the basic things, I suppose, when we're around five or six is to read and write, but then it's the most basic of history, basic math…

—Just… Just that? —Mrs Granger said as she put the ingredients into a tall strange machine. — Don't they teach you biology, geography? Nothing of that?

—Uh... No. —I didn't even know what it was those things she had mentioned, but I think she would make me feel even more awkward if she found out.— Although my dad taught me a lot about Herbology and Potions.

—That's... I can't believe they don't teach you so many things. —Mrs Granger put a lid on the strange machine and pressed a button; The machine started making a strange noise, and it scared me so much that I was startled and almost fell over.— Oh, I'm sorry, I think I should have warned you; you don't know about blenders do you?

—N-no. I didn't expect it to make that noise.

I thought Mrs Granger would look strange to me or something, but she laughed a little.

—This is a blender, dear, it helps to blend things faster and easier. They are a bit noisy, but the good thing is that I don't have to use it for long. —She turned that thing on again and it scared me again, but now I managed to stay on my feet, without falling.— See? It only took a minute to blend everything.

—Wicked.

Mrs Granger poured the pancake mixture into a pan when suddenly an owl flew into the kitchen and stood on the table. It had a letter tied to its leg, so I went over to it to take it off.

—This is the one thing I'll never get used to...

I picked up the letter and saw that it was from... Roger! Wow, I didn't expect him to reply so quickly.

—Sorry, it's for me. —I sat down in one chair while out of the corner of my eye I saw Mrs Granger shaking her head; damn, I hope she's not mad at me.

I opened the letter and was surprised to notice the nice handwriting he had; I was so used to seeing Ron and Fred's horrible handwriting that I thought it was so common for boys to have ugly handwriting.

Dear Eileen,

I'm glad to hear you've had a good summer so far, I've been having a great time studying, next year I'll be in fifth year and I'll be starting my O.W.L.S, I want to study a year earlier so I don't get bad grades.

Have you thought about the elective classes you want to take? I know you have until the end of the year to decide, but I think you should start thinking about that, believe me, it won't be a good idea to take random classes, because you'll have to take them for 3 years (I regret taking Care of Magical Creatures and I still have a year left).

I think I remember your friend a bit; she was the one who helped Potter stop He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, right? How great that you're spending a week learning about Muggle culture, usually those who grew up in a magical home don't take the time to learn, I only know a bit because my aunt married a muggle, but we have little contact with them as they moved to America.

I hope you continue to have a pleasant summer and I look forward to your letter.

Roger Davies.

Wow, I didn't expect such a long letter, now I feel a bit bad that I only sent him a couple of lines. I hadn't realised when the owl had left, but well, at least I won't have to rush to send a reply so the owl won't be bothering Hermione's parents, I can write it later and send it with my dad's owl if he sends me a letter today.

I put the letter in the envelope it came in and at that moment Hermione came into the kitchen. Her usual untamed hair was now very straight as it was still wet, soaking her blue t-shirt.

—There you are! I was afraid you'd left...

—Where would I go? —Hermione ignored me and walked over to where Mrs Granger was standing.

—Wow, mum! You haven't made pancakes in a long time.

—I thought it would be a good idea to make something you both like. Sit down, they're almost done.

Hermione sat down next to me and picked up Roger's letter, which I had left on the table.

—Roger Davies? He's the boy you like, isn't he?

I took the letter from her hands and put it in a secret pocket of my dress. I could feel my cheeks getting warmer.

—I don't like him...

—But you kissed him, so even if you're not sure if you like him, it's pretty obvious that he likes you.

—Maybe he was just playing around, you know how boys are... Have you had any news from Harry?

Mrs Granger gave us a plate with two pancakes each. I immediately took the honey and poured it over my pancakes and started eating.

—No, I just wanted to ask you that. I'm really worried.

—Relax, they probably just went on a holiday or something.

—We both know his aunt and uncle would never take him.

—It's not like they can leave him alone in the house either, is it?

Hermione sighed and started eating her pancakes. Mrs Granger came out of the kitchen, asking us to wash the remaining dishes because she had to leave for work.

After we finished breakfast and cleaned the dishes, we sat around for a while watching the television (I can finally say the name right!) until we got bored; it was about three in the afternoon, so we decided to go to the mall.

I wanted to go on the bikes, I think I already feel more confident using it, because I wasn't falling off so much, but Hermione decided it would be better to go on foot as "I still don't know how to use it properly and was afraid I'd crash into something".

When she said it was similar to Diagon Alley, I really thought it would be the same as Diagon Alley, but this place was huge. There were a lot of shops and there was another floor too.

—The stairs are moving, Mione! I thought Muggles couldn't do magic?

I noticed how a lady gave me a strange look and Hermione just gave her a small smile; I felt like a fool because I forgot not to mention anything about our world. But then again, what does that lady care? No one told her to pry into our conversation.

—It's not magic, Leen, they're escalators, they're powered by electricity.

—Oh, we should have these things at Hog... at school, so I wouldn't get tired walking up the seven flights to our dorm.

—I don't think they'd work at school. —Hermione laughed a little, and we stopped in front of a wall that had several pictures stuck on it, with a black frame that had light bulbs around it, and we looked at the pictures.— These are the movies that we can see, you can choose whichever you want.

I started looking at the pictures and pointed to one in the middle, one of a man in a black suit, with a cape and a mask that made him look like a bat.

—If my dad wore a mask, he would look like that man.

To my surprise, Hermione started laughing like crazy. She had her arms across her stomach and before long I was laughing, too.

—Sorry Leen, —Hermione said after catching her breath— but it's just so funny to imagine Professor Snape as Batman, saving a city.

—Can we watch this?

—I don't know, it's supposed to be PG-13 and we're both still 12.

I looked at the boy standing at the entrance to the cinema; he had a face that clearly said he'd rather be anywhere else but here.

—I don't think he'll mind too much, come on. —I took Hermione by the hand and dragged her over to where the boy was standing, "Daniel" said the pin on his shirt.

—We want to see the Batman movie.

The boy looked at us and then arched an eyebrow.

—Do you have any money?

—Oh. —I turned to Hermione.— I didn't know we had to pay.

Hermione walked up to the counter and asked the boy for two tickets (who looked at me weird when I said I didn't know we had to pay, what is it with muggles looking at me weird?), after paying for them, she took me to the food area, where they sold something called "popcorn".

—What are they? Exploding corns?

—Yes, well no, it's uhm... They're corn kernels, but with the heat they make them... Explode, and they turn into popcorn. You'll see.

We went up to the counter, and they had a machine full of corn kernels, which after a while exploded and turned into what I guess is popcorn.

—What would you like to drink?

—I don't know, do they have pumpkin juice?

—Oh, no, they only have water and soda.

—What's a soda?

—Oh, it's a kind of drink, but it's... I don't know how to explain it, it's fizzy drinks.

—Amazing! I want one.

Hermione ordered a small box of popcorn, my "soda" and water for herself, she was carrying the popcorn and her water, while I took the lid off the container they gave me to see what the soda looked like and was surprised to see a completely black liquid.

—Ew, Mione, this looks like they took it out of the Black Lake. Why is it all black?

—Oh, no, that's just the way soda is, don't worry. Don't tell my parents, but I tried one once, and it doesn't taste that bad.

—I didn't know I was in the company of a bad girl, Mione. Why won't they let you drink it?

—They're not good for you or your teeth.

—Oh, and you're telling me this until now?

—Don't worry. —Hermione handed me her glass of water so she could give the tickets to the girl who was collecting them and told us to go to room three.— They are only bad if you drink them daily.

—I trust you.

We both went into the room and sat in the seats that were all the way up. The room was almost empty; there were only about 10 other people here.

—Wow... So this is a movie theatre? —I said as we sat down— The seats are really comfortable, but why is the floor so sticky?

—Many people spill soda and the floor gets sticky for that reason. Do you see the white screen in front of you?

—It's too big to miss it. —We both laugh.

—Right, well, that's where the film will be shown, it's like when we were watching TV at home, only bigger.

—Ohh.

I ate a popcorn and I couldn't help eating more; they were really delicious, but the movie hadn't started yet and I was almost halfway through the container, so I took a sip of the soda (with some fear, I admit it) but Hermione was right; it didn't taste bad; it had a sweet taste and the fact that it was cold made it cool me down a bit (outside the weather is really hot and although I was wearing a dress; I was still hot).

It scared me when they turned off the lights; I thought something had happened, but then the movie started and I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. It was amazing what muggles could achieve without magic.

The film was very entertaining, although I didn't really expect it to be so... Violent.

We left the cinema and started walking around inside the mall, looking at the things the shops had. The soda they gave me at the cinema was huge, so I still had it with me, a bit more than half full.

—Hey, Granger!

We both turned to our right to see who it was that was talking to Hermione. It was a girl with red hair, about our age, with her were four other girls and they were looking at us.

—What do you want, Allen?

—We just want to say hello. You didn't go back to school, and no one knows where you are going now, only that you are in a school for special children. —said the girl, Allen.

She and the others started laughing. I don't understand what's going on, but it's more than obvious that they weren't good friends with Hermione.

—Finally got a friend just as weird as you, Granger? —Said one girl. She had curly hair and was wearing a skirt that was too short.— Or did you have to pay her to pretend to be your friend?

—Hermione isn't a 'weirdo'.

—That's what someone weird enough to want to be friends with her would say.

—Let's go now, Eileen...

Hermione took my hand and pulled me, trying to get us away from them.

—Run like you always do, Granger, like the coward you are.

I let go of Hermione's hand and walked over to Allen, as I still had the soda in my hand. I put it on top of her head and poured the rest of the soda on her hair; I didn't care if the other people around us were watching us; I smiled as I heard her screams.

—No one calls my best friend a coward. And Hermione is a hell of a lot braver than all of you put together.

Allen was still crying and saying something about her clothes being new, but I didn't care, I took Hermione's hand again and we got out of there fast, because a police officer (Hermione explained to me he was the muggle version of the Aurors) followed us.

When we were out of the mall and far away from there, we stopped in a park to catch our breath; we sat under a tree to get out of the sun.

—That girl was lucky my dad kept my wand, otherwise I would have hexed her right there.

I turned to look at Hermione, and she had her face in her hands, covering it. I put my hand on her shoulder and heard a small sob.

—Oh no, Hermione, I'm so sorry, I really didn't think you'd be upset if I threw the soda at her, it's just that I got upset and-and well I couldn't just leave it like that, I'm sorry, I probably ruined everything and-

Hermione suddenly hugged me, which surprised me, and I couldn't finish what I was saying. I hugged her back and started making little circles on her back with my hand.

—You have nothing to apologise for, Leen. —She said after a while, still hugging me.— No one has ever stood up for me like that before.

She finally broke away and I could see that her eyes were very red from crying.

—Allen and her group always picked on me in primary school, just because I preferred reading than talking about boys, but I never had the courage to stand up for myself... What a Gryffindor I am.

—Hermione, listen. —She turned to look at me and blew her nose.— You think you're not brave? You kept your composure at Hallowe'en, keeping the troll from killing me. If you weren't brave, I wouldn't be here now. And then you also followed Harry to the get the Philosopher's Stone without hesitation, not knowing what you would find down there, and you even knew about the dog with three heads and still went with him... You defeated an even bigger troll than Hallowe'en that same day. Tell me, do you really think you're not brave?

Hermione smiled and blew her nose again.

—The only thing I don't understand is… why are you crying? You shouldn't believe what Allen said, you're not a freak and you're not a coward.

—It's not what Allen said, it's... Because... Because you're a great friend, Eileen. Despite everything we put you through last year, you still stood up for me.

—Well... I admit it hurt a lot at the time, but my dad taught me that a lot of times we say things that aren't true, just because we don't know how we feel, and... I have to admit that my dad was acting suspiciously, and that's why I'm not surprised that you thought he wanted to steal the Philosopher's Stone.

—I love you, Eileen.

—I love you too, Mione. Come on, let's go get some ice cream... You do have ice cream in the Muggle world, don't they?

Hermione laughed as she nodded. We got up from the grass and after shaking our clothes; we went to an ice cream shop that was near the park; we went back to her house while we ate the ice cream and spent the rest of the afternoon watching TV and her teaching me how to ride a bike better.

After dark, we went up to her room and there was my dad's owl, so I sat down to write the letter to him and Roger.

Dear Roger,

I'm surprised you're studying during the holidays, especially for an exam you'll have to take in a year, but I guess that's how Ravenclaws are, good luck with your studies, I know you'll do well (you were top of your year weren't you? My dad told me), just remember to take breaks from time to time.

No, in fact I didn't even remember that we have to take electives until you mentioned it, what's wrong with Care of Magical Creatures? I was planning on taking it, but now you're making me wonder.

Yeah, that is Hermione. I've learned so much in just two days and I'll be here for a week! It's going to be amazing. Have you ever been to the cinema? Well, we went to one today, and it was amazing, it's like watching a photo but the picture lasts much longer (I think we were there for over an hour) and it has sound. It's amazing what muggles can do.

I look forward to hearing more from you.

Eileen Snape.

I put the letter in an envelope (thanks to Hermione's quills; I didn't have to wait for the ink to dry) and started writing the letter to my dad.

Dear Dad,

First, the second letter is for Roger, don't open it, I'm telling you this because I know your owl will go to you first even if I tell her otherwise, so I ask you please don't read it and tell Umbra (yes, I gave your owl a name; I don't know why you never wanted to name her, so I did) to go to the address written on the envelope.

Today was a very... Exciting day.

First, I learned about blenders; I was scared at first but then Mrs Granger explained to me how they work; they seem to be very useful, but I don't think I'll ever use them again because they make such an ugly noise.

Then Hermione and I went to a shopping mall (it's like Diagon Alley but a thousand times bigger, it even had two floors!) and watched a movie called 'Batman', if I'm honest, you would look a lot like the main character if you wore a mask, Hermione couldn't stop laughing when I told her that (please don't go making her life miserable because of that).

Then... We ran into some of Hermione's old muggle classmates; she did nothing to them and they still started telling us we were weird; it annoyed me so much that I threw the soda (a muggle drink) in one of the girls' hair. You were right to keep my wand, because I would have cast the Furnunculus Curse on her right there.

I wanted to believe that they were just bad people, but all the muggles gave me weird looks every time I asked Hermione about something. Now I think only her parents are the exception and they are nice because their daughter is a witch. And yet I know they're not entirely happy about knowing about our world.

Maybe Aunt Cissy is right, and Muggles are bad?

I love you,

Eileen.

PS: It would be nice if you would reply even with a hello. It makes me feel like I'm sending the letters to no one.