86 Old friends
In the next few days, I was taught more about the Patronus charm, and because I asked, Mike started to help me with the protego charm and its variations.
From stopping to reflecting, I asked about protego diabolica, but I was told no, at least not until I was older. It was a powerful spell and required a lot of magic power.
Henely brought me the post in the mornings along with the paper.
*knock knock* "Better go see who that is at the door", Mrs Malhook said and walked to the front of the home I heard. "Oh Frankie, my dear, I haven't seen you in an age come in."
I smiled and got up, stuffing the prophet under the normal muggle paper.
"Hi, Mrs Malhook; I was just wondering if Eddie was free today?" Frankie asked.
"As a bird, Frankie, he's just having breakfast" Mrs Malhook led Frankie down the hall to the kitchen. I popped the kettle back on.
"Heya Frankie cuppa?" I said as he walked in.
"Yes, please, two sugars", he said, sitting down at the kitchen table.
"So, what's up," I asked, leaning against the counter.
"We're meeting up at the park today thought I come get you" Frankie said.
The kettle poped and I made him a cup of tea "sure let me just get my things" I said "stay here and enjoy the tea" I ran upstairs stashed my wand and pulled out my acoustic guitar placing it in its case I walked down stairs with it.
"A guitar?" Frankie asked, looking at the case.
"No a grand piano" I joked. "The Scottish highlands are very inspirational," I said.
"Yes Eddie is really a really good singer" Mrs malhook said but she looked abit worried.
"you ready?" I asked Frankie.
"yup", he said after he drained the dregs of his tea.
We started to head out of the house. "Eddie dear, a moment" I nodded to Frankie that I would meet him outside. Turning, I looked at Mrs. Malhook. "Remember the letter last summer? You can not show off today," she said sternly.
"Don't worry, I have it under control" I smiled and said, "Thanks for worrying, tho" I turned and left the house.
We started to walk down the spinners' end. "Look, Eddie, it's that weird guy," Frankie nudged. I looked at who he was pointing at. Severus Snape was returning from town with a load of groceries. I snorted a laugh. He was dressed in a black tweed suit that he must used when going into muggle society.
"Good morning, Severus!" I waved to him. Frankie looked shocked at what I was doing.
"Mister Carter", Snape stopped and looked at me and Frankie "We may not be in school now, but I am still your professor", he glared.
"right, sorry, professor!" I smiled. "This is my old friend Frankie from the other side of town."
Snape just nodded and kept walking. I laughed at Frankie's pale face "he teaches at your school?"
"more than that, we get sorted into dorms. He's the head of mine", I laughed.
"What kind of boarding school are you going to?" Frankie asked.
"pretty exclusive one, rich kids from big families, that kind of thing", I sighed. "Some are good,. Some are arseholes. I punched this one smug rich kid who was picking on a friend of mine; oh, how he cried", I chuckled.
"Really?" Frankie chuckled.
"yeah, got detention; had to work in the kitchen making that night's stew", I said. "we're almost there," I said as we entered the park; we were heading to a wooden gazebo that was our normal meet-up point.
"Oi Oi, Look what Frankie brought us" I heard a voice that sounded like bens but deeper. Jumping down from a tree was a tallish 13-year-old who had curly brown hair and a squashed nose.
"Ben, you got bigger" I smiled as he walked up to us.
"How's it been, Eddie?" he said with a clap on the shoulder.
"Really good, man, it's good to see you" I smiled.
"me too, I hope", I heard a feminine voice from behind me; I spun to see the 4th member of our old quartet, Jill. She had long blonde hair, a cute button nose and blue eyes.
"Jill!" I dropped the guitar and wrapped her up in a hug. "Yes, it's good to see you again", letting her go. "still short, tho", I smiled as she punched me.
"what's with the guitar?" Ben asked.
"It's this wooden thing with strings, and you strum it, and it makes music", I said slowly to Ben.
"I know what a guitar is, you idiot. Why do you have one?" Ben said angrily.
"Because I can play it and sing., and I wanted to show off" I smiled and wiggled my eyebrows. We finally reached the pavilion, which seemed smaller to me. We took seats on the bench that lined the interior.
"go on then," Jill said with a smile. "Play us something, mister Guitarist."
"Oh, I thought you would never ask" I opened the case and pulled out the guitar that had a clean, polished surface. I strummed and tuned the guitar.
•We're Going to Be Friends by The White Stripes•
♫Fall is here, hear the yell
Back to school, ring the bell
Brand new shoes, walking blues
Climb the fence, books and pens
I can tell that we are gonna be friends
I can tell that we are gonna be friends♫
my friends were entranced with my singing, not magically, but just in awe.
♫Walk with me, Suzy Lee
Through the park and by the tree
We will rest upon the ground
And look at all the bugs we found
Safely walk to school without a sound
Safely walk to school without a sound♫
♫Here we are, no one else
We walk to school all by ourselves
There's dirt on our uniforms
From chasing all the ants and worms
We clean up and now it's time to learn
We clean up and now it's time to learn♫
as the song progressed I smiled and swayed, thinking of the old times hanging out with friends when I didn't have the weight of the future on my shoulders.
♫Numbers, letters, learn to spell
Nouns, and books, and show and tell
Playtime, we will throw the ball
Back to class, through the hall
Teacher marks our height against the wall
Teacher marks our height against the wall♫
♫And we don't notice any time pass
We don't notice anything
We sit side by side in every class
Teacher thinks that I sound funny
But she likes the way you sing♫
There were smiles on my friend's faces as they watched me play.
♫Tonight I'll dream, while I'm in bed
When silly thoughts go through my head
About the bugs and alphabet
And when I wake tomorrow, I'll bet
That you and I will walk together again
I can tell that we are gonna be friends
Yes, I can tell that we are gonna be friends♫
