Eleanor Snape- Book 4

The Cat Comes Out of the Bag

Sarah Beth~

I wrote lines every day, all day, up util time to go to Hgowarts. By that time, the indentions on my hands were so thick that the Madam Cosmo's cover it All Cosmetic wasn't going to do it. I would have to wear my hands bare, with my sores shining like battle scares.

Auntie and I met up with Mr. Cornelius, Mrs. Shea, Rufus, and his mummy and daddy at King's Cross station. All of my school things were packed up, along with most of my clothing, all stuffed into two chests. Mr. Hootikins sat on top of all of it, perched in his cage proudly We stood on Platform 9 3/4 as people boarded around us, talking.

"Are you ready for your N.E.W.T. classes, Sarah Beth?" Mr. Cornelius asked me.

"Oh, yes. I just love Wizarding Law!" I tried not to let any sarcasm show in my voice.

"And you're very good at it!"

"Make sure to study hard, Rufus! Fifth year is always the hardest!'  Mr. Benard put in. Rufus shook his head.

"I will, and I'll make sure Sarah Beth does, too. But I don't think she'll be as distracted, since she doesn't have that Goyle to think about anymore." A slight smile spread across his face. I looked away, and at the train.

"Now, now, Rufus." Mr. Cornelius warned. After all, he enjoyed having Gregory over. But now it didn't matter if he did or not.

Suddenly, the Hogwart's Express's whistle blew. We all turned our heads to look the time.

"Well, you two had better get going!" Auntie patted the top of our heads. For the first time since the incident, I felt excitement pulse through my veins. Finally, I would be away form her. I'd turn seventeen in February and I would never have to deal with her again; I would be of legal age, so I could do what ever I'd want.

"Yeah, we'd better." A huge smile formed onto my lips. "Goodbye, Auntie!" I forced myself to hug her as Rufus said farewell to his parents. I went to threw my arms around Mr. Cornelius. "Goodbye, Mr. Cornelius!"  I tried to hug him, but before I could wrap my arms around, he grabbed my wrist and held it up at eye level, open mouthed.

"Dolores, I can't believe you!"

"What is it, Cornelius?" Auntie tried to play innocent. Mr. Cornelius put my hand in her face.

"This, Dolores! This! Sarah Beth, let me see the other one!" Hiding an amused smile, I let my other hand fall into his. He looked closer. "How long has this been going on?"

"Oh, well, I.." For the first time in my life I saw Auntie start to crack under pressure, and I was enjoying every minute of it.

"Since my first year!" I confessed matter-of-factly. Her eyes widened, almost in shame.

"How could you, Dolores! I know you did on students, but your own child?" Mr. Cornelius continued.

"I'm not her child!" The happiness I was gathering form her squirming was overwhelming. "I'm my mummy and daddy's child, not hers!" The train's whistle blew again. Shocked, Auntie watched as I took my things onto the train. Rufus followed, taken aback by all the commotion. He knew not to get in my way after getting worked up. He had been around me long enough to figure it out. As we searched for an empty compartment, I heard a voice that made me stop cold.

"I don't know. "Gregory's deep voice said from behind the door. "It just stopped." He must have been talking about us. I reached for the handle, but before I could grab it, Rufus took my hand.

"Over there's an open compartment." He pointed  a couple doors down. Before I could reply, he pulled me down the aisle and into the room. I plopped down into the bench seat, annoyed at his pushiness.

"I hope my uncle isn't to hard on Miss Dolores." Rufus said after putting our things over and under us.

"I hope he is." I crossed my arms and peered out the window. Among the crowd, I picked out a furious looking Mr. Cornelius and a hurt looking Auntie. He was obviously yelling at her, and for a good reason. Ever since I had turned eleven she has made my life terrible. Now I was as close to freedom as I had ever been.

When the whistle blew its last warning toot, Mr. Cornelius seemed to still be yelling. Auntie looked close to tears. I turned around, making my back face the window as the train started to lurch forward.

"Hey, Sarah Beth. Hey, Rufus. Do you mind if I join you?" Our compartment door opened to reveal Nathaniel, my Defense Against the Dark Arts buddy and accidental first kiss. After the incident with the 'note' and Draco, he hadn't really talked to me much outside of class, so it kind of surprise me that he asked.

"Sure!" I smiled and patted the place beside me. Before he could sit, Rufus quickly slid form his own across form me, taking the place. Nathaniel looked at him for a moment before sitting in Rufus's old spot. I shot Rufus a dirty look out of the corner of my eye, but he ignored it. "So, how have you been?" I asked Nathaniel. He shook his head.

"Not very well. Ever since it was announced that You-Know-Who really is back and Fudge getting impeached- sorry about that, by the way-" He sincerely said to Rufus, who nodded in thanks, "and with all this other craziness, my father has been worried sick about sending me off. I told him we had nothing to worry about, since we're pure-blood and all, but he still debated about sending me back to school."

"Auntie said that the Ministry is handling everything." I mockingly put in, then remembered that I was mad at her and the Ministry. Anger suddenly hitting me, I slid down in my seat and crossed my arms.

"Yeah, I doubt it." Nathaniel sneered. "They're good at 'fixing' things. Look at last year-" He stopped a moment, realizing what he had said. "No offense."

"Oh, none taken."

"I think they do a fine job." Rufus used a know-it-all tone. I rolled my eyes; of course.

"Yeah, if they want to save their own butts." Nathaniel looked out the window.

"Agreed." And I did the same.

"Whatever." Rufus looked the other way.

We all fell into silence. The tension was high in the compartment, and none of us wanted to risk making it worse. So instead, we all watched the scenery go by in silence, until I finally gave in and leaned against Rufus, and eventually fell asleep.