Summer Vacation I

{If you want to read ahead go to my https://www.(p)-(a)-(t)-(r)-(e)-(o)-(n).com/easyread}

~~~(POV: Alexander Aevum)~~~

~~~(Location: St. Mary's Orphanage)~~~

~~~(Date: July 8th, 1992)~~~

~~~(Time: 10:15 AM)~~~

There isn't a 3-day period I go without getting a letter from at least one of my friends. The fewest I get is from Harry. I've gotten a whooping zero from him. Ron is a close second with five.

Daphne and Hermione have been the ones making sure they stay in consistent contact with me. It's something I do appreciate.

"Alex! Sister Bella needs your help with something! Come out of your room and join us for the day!"

Sister Beth calls from downstairs with a voice that's balanced in tone and energy. Quickly, I get off the bed and make my way to them. As I enter the kitchen, I see that everyone is working hard to make food.

I've already grown a couple of inches since summer break started. Sister Bella is the one that's always on me about my appearance. In a good way. Telling me how cute I'm getting and how much I've already grown.

Which isn't all that much. But I guess to shortys like them it'd be a lot. Speaking of Sister Bella, she smiles as I approach her.

"Sorry, Sister Beth had to call you down. I just walked through the door. I need you to get the rest of the groceries from the back of the taxi."

Wasting no time, I leave the orphanage and head for the waiting taxi. The man driving the taxi looks at me. The eye contact allows me to look into his mind. He's having some somewhat perverse thoughts about Sister Bella.

However, nothing nefarious in the end. He's got a wife and child. I roll my eyes a little, and he frowns. I'm able to get all the groceries in one trip.

I place the bags on the counter and go to the kitchen table. Some of the other kids are here, but most are busy talking or doing their own thing somewhere else in the orphanage.

"Would you like something to eat?"

The question Sister Beth asked me almost goes by unnoticed. But after a moment of silence, I shake my head. She frowns slightly and turns away from the stove with her arms crossed.

"What?"

I can't help being confused by the look of concern and attitude from the woman. If I'm not hungry, then I'm not hungry. Instead, she throws open the refrigerator and pulls out some jelly. Followed by peanut butter from the cupboard.

It's only another second before she's got the bread and throws it all together to make a PB&J. As she's finished, she walks over to the table and puts the plate of food down.

"I guess I don't get a choice in the matter..."

That proves to be a mistake.

"What was that, Alexander!"

The sweet tone in her slightly loud voice tells me she heard that. She's got better hearing than she should for someone who's dealt with screaming kids for the last 12 years of her life.

"Nothing. Thanks for the food."

I'm quick to answer. I've never given Beth or Bella a reason to be upset with me. No reason to start now.

"That's what I thought. Now, eat your food. We've got things to do today."

Ahh, that's right. I'm helping Sister Beth with something in town today.

~~~(POV: Hermione Granger)~~~

~~~(Location: Home)~~~

~~~(Date: July 8th, 1992)~~~

~~~(Time: 12:31 PM)~~~

"Are you okay, honey... You haven't touched your lunch..."

Dad pulls me from my thoughts. I look at the food on my plate, and it is going to waste... Mom spent a lot of time on it; it shouldn't go to waste. I don't have an appetite. I miss Hogwarts, and I miss my friends.

"I just miss my friends..."

Their images go through my head, and it's on the last one that I get stuck the longest. Alex responds to my letters, but I wish I could talk to him face to face. My parents share a look. They've been worried about me since summer started.

I asked them if I could invite one of them here. The answer of no came faster than I thought it would.

"It wouldn't hurt, right?"

Mom's voice is directed at dad, and I raise an eyebrow.