Childhood Sweethearts
“Aw, Sev, stop being such a killjoy!
It’ll be fun. Come on, already. Don’t make me say it.”
“You wouldn’t. And I am not being a
killjoy. I merely said that I’m not looking forward to it.”
“Oh, yes you are, you liar. You’re
as excited about it as I am. Now come on. We’ve got to get to Diagon Alley. Mum
said we could go with her, but only if we hurry. So come on!”
“Oh, all right. I give up.”
“Good.” She grabbed his arm and ran
for the large, stately manor that was her home.
She was a girl of eleven, with green
eyes, long and wild hair, and a smile that never seemed to stop. She carried
herself with a confidence and an attitude of regality that only the wealthy
can. And she was very wealthy. Her father was one of the most influential
wizards in all of Europe, though no one ever discussed such things. It isn’t
considered polite conversation, after all.
She had a grace and an elegance that many would say was wholly
natural, but he could remember a time when she was clumsy and gangly and always
running into things. It had taken much training and frustration on the part of
her tutors to get her to behave like a lady. And even now, she didn’t always.
Least of all, when he was with her.
He was a slender, pale boy, with
black hair that hung lank about his face, no matter what he tried, and cold,
dark eyes that had a penetrating glare few could meet. He too, was eleven and
from a wealthy wizarding family, but he had not benefited from the training
quite so much as she. His shoulders were often hunched over, in a vain attempt
to hide his height and he was awkward in most of his movements. Everyone always
seemed to know when he was coming. But he knew more about the Dark Arts than
was probably appropriate for a boy twice his age. His father had been very keen
on that part of his education, and he had done his best for his father.
They had been friends since they
were very small. Neither remembered a time when they were not as close as they
were. Since their families lived so close by, in a remote part of England, where
there were few muggles and even fewer wizards or witches, it had seemed natural
for them to spend all their time together. They had no one else their age to
play with, and their parents soon discovered that they could entertain
themselves far better together than apart. That led to them being together
nearly all the time. They shared everything because they had no one else. They
could not escape one another, so they had learned how to get along despite
their differences.
He was never sure how he knew it; he
felt as though he’d always known. He loved her. She meant everything to him. He
knew in his heart he would do anything to marry her. He had announced it to her
one day, with such conviction, and she had laughed. She had said, “Of course
we’re going to get married, Sev. I couldn’t picture the future any other way.
There’s no one else I’d want to.”
He had grinned and been so pleased.
He loved her. And with each passing year, he found himself loving her evermore.
Only recently, though, his feelings had begun to take on a new dimension. He
had never understood the concept of beautiful the way he saw her. She was
beautiful and he wanted to touch her. To kiss her. He’d been so surprised when
he started to think those things. He’d been scared by those thoughts. He didn’t
understand. His parents never kissed. They never hugged. Neither did hers.
Those were the only examples they’d had, and here he was feeling all these
strange new desires and unable to understand them. He felt guilty every time he
looked at her because of the thoughts that would run through his mind. He was
sure there must be something very wrong with him, but he couldn’t confide in
anyone. She was his only confidant, and he was terrified to tell her.
He followed her into the manor and
they ran together through its halls until they reached the fireplace, where her
mother was standing with a very impatient look on her face.
Her mother was a very intimidating
witch. She had a powerful gaze and confidence. She had the air of someone who
was never defied and she hated it when her daughter did exactly that day in and
day out.
“Hurry up, you two. I haven’t got
all day.” She stood waiting impatiently and expectantly.
“Sorry, Mum,” she said as she
grabbed some floo powder and headed into the fireplace. “Diagon Alley!” And in
a great puff of green fire, she was gone.
He grabbed some floo powder from the
dish and hurried quickly after her, “Diagon Alley!”
“All right, Mum. We’ll be back in
time. I promise!” She shouted to her mother as she disappeared into the crowd.
“Well, let’s get to it!” She turned and grinned at him.
He felt his heart do a somersault,
“Right. Lead on.”
She took his hand and they wandered
down the street together, dodging in and out of shops, accumulating all the
supplies on their lists from Hogwarts. Their arms were increasingly waded down
by all of it, but she never tired and so he followed loyally behind.
“Ooh, look! The latest broomsticks!
Wow! Look at those robes! I wish we could play quidditch as first years!”
“I’d rather not.”
“What? You don’t want to play
quidditch? Oh, come on, Sev! Of course you do! Who wouldn’t?”
“Me, that’s who. I don’t see what
the big deal is, it’s just a game. Why does everyone go on and on about bloody
quidditch?”
“Because its fun and exciting.
You’re such a stodgy old stick-in-the-mud.”
“What about lessons? Don’t those
mean anything?”
“Well, of course they do. But I’ve
been studying my whole life, but I’ve never gotten to play quidditch or have
roommates. I wonder what the dormitories will be like? And how will the food
be? Or what the place looks like? And how many other students there’ll be…”
“Oh, bloody hell! Give it up! We’ll
find out all that soon enough. Isn’t it about time we got back to your mother
anyway?”
“Oh, no! We’re late! She’s going to
be so angry! Do we have everything?”
He nodded.
“Good. Then come on!” She grabbed
hold of his arm and dragged him through Diagon Alley all the way back to
Flourish and Blotts. She tore through the crowded bookshop and to the fireplace
where she could see her mother watching her with an extremely angry look.
“Sorry, Mum. We didn’t mean to be late. We just lost track of time. We had so
much to buy, you know. And it’s so crowded today.”
“Oh, enough! Just go!” Her mother
waved the two children forward to the fireplace.
When they arrived back at the manor,
she dragged him up the stairs and to her bedroom without a second thought. He
felt a dangerous thrill at being allowed in her bedroom with her.
“What are you doing? I need to get
home and pack all this in my trunk.”
“Of course you do, but first you
have to help me. I’ll never be ready in time on my own. You know how I
procrastinate.”
“Yes, I do. All right, I’ll help.”
They packed her trunk and the only
glitch was when he realized he was holding some of her underthings and blushed
a bright red. She had just laughed and taken them from his hand and stuffed
them in the trunk. He couldn’t speak, he felt so humiliated. She hugged him,
“Oh, it’s all right, Sev. They’re just clothes, for Merlin’s sake!”
“It’s not Merlin who had to hold
your knickers, now is it?”
“Are they really that bad? Do you
really dislike me that much?” She batted her eyelashes at him and smiled, then
pretended to be hurt.
No, and you bloody well know it.
I love you, even if I can’t say it. “Aw, come on, it’s not that and you
know it. They’re, you know, for girls. And they’re private.”
“Oh, Sev. I don’t have any secrets
from you. Hell, don’t you remember? We used to have our baths together!”
“Don’t remind me,” he cringed.
She grinned, “Oh, but I must. It’s
what I do, darling.”
He felt his insides exploding at
that last word. She was so oblivious to her effect on him, but, oh, how she
affected him! He wanted to hold her tight to him, but all he did was roll his
eyes and, “Bloody hell. You’re hopeless. Are we finished? I have my own trunk
to pack you know.”
“Aw, do you really have to rush off
so quick, Sev? I was hoping you’d stay for dinner, at least.”
“Don’t start that. If I don’t get
home now, I’ll never be packed. The train leaves tomorrow! And you know what
that means.”
“Sev, why do you let him push you
around so much? You bend over backwards for the man, and all he ever does is
cut you down. I hate him.” She folded her arms across her chest and pouted.
“I know, but he’s my father. I wish
I could hate him too, but I can’t. And you have responsibilities of your own
tonight.”
“But I want to be with you, Sev. I
hate them. You’re the only family I need or want.”
“And you will be. We’ll be together
at school. And none of them will be there. It’ll just be us.”
“And the other students.”
“Yes, them too. But no parents. But
tonight, we’ve got to go our own way. Just for tonight. And then never again.”
She hugged him and he hugged her
right back.