Eleanor Snape- Book 4

Rufus and I Talk About the Future

Sarah Beth~

Around the middle of June Professor Flitwick called the whole chorus instead of just the sixth years into the chorus room. He didn't make us sit in our sections, so Gregory, Vincent, Ellie and all sat clustered together; an exclusive clique that all of the youngest students drooled to be part of. Among the crowd were the students we had selected to be allowed the join.

"As you all know, it has been a long, stressful year," Professor Flitwick began, standing in front of us. "and it is June. I'm disappointed to say that only would give us two week to prepare a whole concert, which simply cannot be done. And time has be taken out for finales and O.W.L.s. I'm afraid we cannot have a concert this year. We just haven't enough time. I'm sorry. But those who have made it in through auditions, congratulations. You will be automatically put in next school year." The room was drearily quiet. I stood up.

"Noooo!" Every eye turned to me. Eleanor looked annoyed. "No! No! No! We have to have one! I only have one more year! We have to have one!"

"I understand this makes a lot of you upset-"

"Very, very upset!" I exclaimed as Vincent pulled me down by my hand. I sat back down and crossed my arms.

"But it just isn't possible to pull together by the end of the month."

"I could do it." I mumbled to Gregory.

"You totally could!" He whispered back with enthusiasm and kissed me.

"And with that bad news, I'll let us depart." He shook his head and waddled to his desk. Everyone sat quietly, unsure of what to say. Finally, I stood up and angrily made my way to the door. Minutes later, everyone followed.

I went to the library where Rufus said he would be waiting for me. I promised him I would help him study for his O.W.L.s next week. I wasn't really sure why he was working so hard. As far as I understood, he took the new Minister up on his offer and was interning instead of going to school next year. I personally felt that he was betraying Mr. Cornelius, but it was his choice, not mine. I turned my chance down.

"Hey." I slid into the chair beside him. He looked up.

"Hey." He turned the book over so the text lay open against the table. "Why are you so upset?" He could tell by the expression on my face that something had made me angry.

"Professor Flitwick said that we aren't having a concert this year!"

"Well, yeah, we go home in a couple weeks!"

"But it's not fair! I only have next year left, and then I have to... grow up..." I trailed off, realizing that I didn't even notice that was bothering me until then.

"I thought you are already grew up?" Rufus raised an eyebrow.

"I am, it's just different. Do you realize that I will have to get a job and work this summer? I'm going to move out of Auntie's." I proclaimed. Rufus's eyes went wide.

"Moving out? You can't move out!"

"Yes, I can! I'm seventeen!"

"You'll break her heart. Besides, where will you go?"

"I don't know. I guess I'll have to save money to buy a house or a flat. But until then, I'll have to stay wherever people will let me sleep on their couch. I could probably stay with Gregory."

"No!" He stopped me there. "I-I mean. You could stay with me or my Uncle. I'm sure he wouldn't care to have you. Or Luna. She'd love for you to visit."

"Luna and I aren't really that close anymore." I confessed.

"Then why don't you try to patch things up?"

"I'd love to, but I'm sure she doesn't want me to move in with her. I would feel like I was intruding... And I don't even know where I'm going to work."

"You can work at the Shop." Rufus assured. "I'm sure my Dud will let you work."

"To get a house, I will have to work and save up more than one job's worth of money. Surely Auntie will freeze the bank account so I can't get into it."

"Why would she do that? Wouldn't she want you to be safe?"

"You should know by now that Auntie is manipulative. She'll freeze it so I have to go to her and beg for forgiveness. Then, when everything is better, she'll let me get into it. But I'm not going to do that. If I open up my own account, then I will be able to put whatever I make and I won't need her. "

"Then where will you work after you graduate." He squeezed my arm.

"I'm not sure. My original plan was to work in the Muggle Department, but I'm not so sure I want to work for the Ministry at all. They are dumb and stupid and power hungry and-"

"Whoa!" Rufus interrupted. "That isn't true, but you know that they are dying to let you in. You've had the highest marks in Wizarding Law since you've started it. Actually, the Ministry wants you to take your Aunt's place as Undersecretary. "

"Yeah, I know." The bitterness in my voice was shining through at full force. "The spots been saved for me since my custody went to Auntie."

"It's crazy to pass that up, Frecky! Do you know how many people want that spot?"

"They can have it! The way the Ministry runs things is corrupt!"

"Every government is corrupt!"

"Exactly. It's just one big game were the big dogs are on top and have all the power! And I don't want to be a big puppy because I'm afraid of puppies!"  I grabbed his book, flipped it over, and looked at the page he had been on. I wanted to get this over with before he could try to say anything else. "Now, let's get on with your studying."