40 End of Summer

I explained more to Janet, and she seemed happy for me, especially when I told her about my friends. The rest of Janet's visit was fun and uneventful. Helen was a cool person. She worked with Janet at the BBC but in different departments, and they had a proper meet cute, crashing into each other while heading to a copier, files flying everywhere.

"If you have any problems, let me know," I told Janet as she packed the car.

"Oh, and what will my little brother do?" Janet teased.

"I may not be able to use magic outside of school, but I could use a potion." I smiled.

Janet ruffled my hair and got in her car.

We waved goodbye, and off she went.

I notice Snape and Mike both watching the scene from their gardens. I shook my head and went inside.

I got a warning from the ministry about my underage wizardry; I apologised, saying it was accidental magic and would not happen again.

I had one week before school, so I read my homework and went and picked up my guitar. It was love at first sight. A black GS with a slim body, both side cutaways, and an emerald green pickguard. I also bought an amp so I could jam out. Mr and Mrs Malhook were unhappy when I did that at 9 o'clock at night, whoops. 

A few days before heading to school, Professor Snape stopped by to see me. "how did you know?" he asked.

I smiled. "You didn't take any points away."

he shook his head, and out of his robe, he pulled out a potion. "for Mr. Malhook," he said, simply placing it on the coffee table between us.

"I thought this kind of potion didn't work on muggles", I said, "because it required one to possess magic."

"Normally, most magic healing doesn't work, but this potion will," he said. "And if you took Mr Malhook to Saint Mungo's, they could also help." he sighed. "So why didn't you?"

"I'm not sure if I would be allowed; while they are my guardians, I have a living relative, so who knows if their status would change", I explained, "and they probably wouldn't agree."

"why?" Snape asked, confused.

"Saint Mungos is a Private hospital. The Malhooks probably would accept my money if I offered to pay, and I doubt they could afford it", I sighed. "thanks, professor."

Snape just nodded at left. That night, Mr Malhook had a bad night of vomiting, but the next morning, he was fit as a fiddle. Mrs Malhook still wouldn't let him eat bacon till he got a check-up.

The night before I left for Hogwarts, I was packing my trunk and satchel. Cassettes, walkman, speakers, two guitars and a bunch of books. My load was not light, plus I had to plan for Tom and the Basilisk, I had a few ideas but none where viable, the problem came down to destroying the dairy, and only a few things could do that. Basilisk venom: this seems to be an intentional weakness Herpo the foul left in his ritual so it couldn't be used against him because he also created the Basilisk, Fiendfyre spell, but one must be powerful enough to not only achieve the spell but control it, Lastly the killing curse but that also requires power beyond I'm am currently capable of. I could get it and turn it over to Dumbledore, which could cause more problems. I sat thinking, was there a way I could kill the Basilisk? If I could do that, I could get its fangs and deal with not only the book but the diadem.' the roosters, ' I thought; Tom kills all the roosters because their crowing can kill it, but how and why? What makes the sound of a rooster deadly to the Basilisk is that it's part chicken for being hatched from a chicken egg. Okay, plan A save the chickens.

The next day I boarded the hogwarts express and looked for a compartment, most where full already, I stopped at one who only had one person in it I smiled as I saw who it was. I slid the door open and asked the girl, "You don't mind if we share, do you?"

"No, your quite welcome" the airy dream like voice said.

"Thanks, I'm eddie by the way second year" I said.

"I'm Luna Lovegood", the sliver-haired girl said.

"It's great to meet you," I said. Luna picked up a copy of the Quibbler and started to read.

I put my headphones on.

About 2 songs later, I heard. "Grant, I found him!" Coming from the door. Tim was standing there, Shouting down the corridor.

Luna looked at Tim and then at me.

"Shut up Tim and sit down" I said to him.

Grant came into view behind Tim as they both entered the compartment.

"Grant, Tim meet Luna lovegood, Luna this is Grant and Tim" I introduced my friends.

She looked at the over her quibbler and nodded.

"quibbler, what's that?" asked Tim.

"A wizarding magazine," I said.

"not a very good one. I've heard from my mother," Grant added

"Yeah, but it's better than the prophet's propaganda. All summer, I read about how great the ministry is or what Gilderoy Lockhart is doing. I mean, have you read anything that Rita Skeeter writes? It's basic gossip and slander," I complained.

"Okay?" said Tim, looking at me worriedly; Grant just shook his head.

"Sorry, I just read a lot during summer", I explained. "Speaking of which, how were your summers?"

"Paris was beautiful", Grant sighed.

"he met someone", I said with my eyes wide.

"Really," Tim asked.

"No!" Grant denied. "it's just a lovely city with lovely people; that's all."

"Sure, lovely people," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. "Don't think you're off the hook. We have a whole school year to learn about this lovely person." I warned Grant before turning to Tim, "What about you, Tim? How was camping and riding horses." 

"you know, good fun, beautiful scenery and the horses were cool, too," Tim said evasively.

"You met someone, too?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Don't be ridiculous", Tim said defensively.

"Wow, my holiday was boring. I didn't meet anyone," I said, "My sister did tho."

"you have a sister?" Tim asked.

"Yeah, well, a foster sister. Janet, I mentioned her before, right?" I asked. Grant and Tim both shook their heads in the negative.

"ah, she's like 12 years older than me, so probably not worth mentioning", I explained. "I'm going to the dining compartment. Does anybody want a sandwich?" I asked.

"Yeah", Tim said. Grant just nodded.

"Luna, what about you?" I asked the girl when she didn't answer.

"oh yes, please", she answered. "maybe some pudding if they have it?" 

"Sure, no problem." I got up and left the compartment.