Eleanor Snape- Book 2

A Speech is Given

Between classes and choir January flew by as every minute of my day was filled up with homework of some sort. The middle of February was here, so I only had to hold on for a few more months, then it would be summer.

I was just biting into a slice of toast when one of the Malfoy's Eagle owls landed on the table, startling me and almost making me choke. I coughed a couple times as Vincent started patting my back. Gregory was trying to hold back laughs, and failing.

Finally, I regained my breath and looked around for Draco, who hadn't yet jointed us. Strangely, when I spotted him, he was near the door talking to Sarah Beth. 'Why is he talking to her?' I thought as I watched her frown. Draco handed her a folded piece of paper and smiled. She sneered and they parted ways, each going to their own House tables.

"What was that about?" I asked as Draco sat down beside me.

"Nothing." He grabbed a strawberry from my place and took a bit. "Oh? I guess that's mine." He observed the owl. He reached for it's leg to untie the letter, only to be bitten my it's sharp beak. "Ow!" I exclaimed and put the small wound to his mouth.

I bit my bottom lip, realizing what this meant. Last time Draco's owl had bitten him, the letter was for me. That could only mean one thing... Lucius had finally written me back.

I quickly untied the string. When I was finished my un-bitten finger confirmed that the letter was for me. I unrolled the parchment and began reading:

Dear Eleanor,

I am not sure if I am allowed to give you the information you ask for, but I think that it will truly benefit you to know. What you are about to read can not be shared with anyone, and this letter is to be burned promptly after your eyes, and only your eyes, see it-

"Hem! Hem!" My concentration was broken by a loud cough that carried throughout the room. I folded up the letter so no one could read it and looked for the source of the noise.

Standing at the head of the four tables was Sarah Beth, holding the paper Draco had given her earlier. "Hem! Hem!" She coughed again. Once she had everyone's attention, she spoke.

"I, um, have something to tell everyone." She read. I looked over at Draco. What was this? "I, Sarah Beth Cumberland, would first like to state that I am nothing more than an air-headed Hufflepuff, just like every other Hufflepuff," She looked at the Hufflepuff table with a pained expression. Then she swallowed and continues,

"Secondly, I would like to say that I despise my Auntie, Dolores Jane Umbridge, for convincing me that I wanted to be in a House filled with nothing but imbeciles and spares, like-" Her voice cracked, but her face looked like stone. "Like Cedric Diggory." She glanced at him and then back at the paper. I turned to Draco.

"What did you do?" I asked, but he shushed me, clearly delighted.

"Helga Hufflepuff had to have been an unpopular, moronic woman, just like the House she created. I have just but one regret, and that is not being sorted in the House of the mighty snake: The Slytherins.

"Unlike us Hufflepuffs, Slytherins are smart, beautiful, and talented people, especially Draco Malfoy. How many days have I wished that I could just transfigure my hideous yellow tie into a shining, green one, which would be like a trophy of victory? Many." She stopped and swallowed again.

"Draco? Did she agree to do this? What is this?" Again, he shushed me as Sarah Beth continued.

"There is one last thing I would like to tell everyone; Simple-minded Gryfindors, the Ravenclaws- who can make no friends so all they do is sit around and read books- The Spares of Hufflepuff, and hte brilliant students who make up Slytherin, lend me your ear; Especially you, Greogry Goyle. I would like everyone to know that I, Sarah Beth Rose Cumberland, snogged Nathaniel Drummond"