The Monologue Series: When They Were Young

Chapter 2: Free at last!

22^nd June 1851 - Albus

What a brilliant day it was today! The sun was shining, the two-week grounding is over (and I've been really really good all week so no extensions were given...) and....

...school's out! Heeeello summer holidays!

Not that I don't like school. I do, really. I mean, a bit more discipline in my studies and I would be top of the year at Merlin's School for Boys. Good thing Mum and Dad are not too fussy about my grades. At least I'm not like that freak Grindelwald, who has to be top at everything... Shame he is bound to go to Drumstag. Once we get to do magic and not just be told about it, I will so work hard to make sure he is not top student. Just to annoy him, mind!...Wait! Did I say 'shame'?

Back to today's news. Something wicked my way came. I found this Phoenix nest in an old oak in the woodland near home. I know it's a Phoenix's because of the colour and size of the single egg in it (no adults around, unfortunately): it is twice the a chicken's in size and sunset red with black spots. One cannot mistake it for anything else, really. The nest area seemed to be magically protected too. I tried to get a closer look but something invisible grabbed my ear and dragged me at least one hundred yards from it before it let it go! Weird! I'll be checking it regularly in hopes of seeing it hatch (or the parents).

I've also got my Hogwarts letter today. "Dear Mr Dumbledore, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry blah blah blah". The usual waffle. Mum made a huge fuss over it (I wonder if she thought I may not go there?!?) so we had my favourites for dinner: lemon pie with chocolate sauce. Well, only I had it. No one else seem to enjoy the bitter sweetness of lemons... Ab has already threaten to report all my potential mischief straight to the unlucky Head of my future House. Mum only scolded him about the threatening, only to next turn on me and warning me of the consequences if I actually do misbehave at Hogwarts! Honestly, she doesn't trust me at all! (Very wise, my Mum *wink*!) I hope I'm in Gryffindor like Mum. Ab is a Ravenclaw (how I wonder what someone so dim is doing there!) like Dad. So I sure don't want to be in constant scrutiny by him. He is now in fifth year and a prefect ... Big. Deal. Again Mum squealed of delight upon hearing about it. At least this bit of news she should be surprised on hearing it!

Since I won't have to put up with my lovely friend (not!) Adolph for the rest of my life except school holidays if he ever comes home from that Dark school, I am really going for him this summer. Drumstag is going to feel heavenly for him by the time September comes! May operation "Annoying Grindelwald" begin!

I've just heard Dad downstairs. He's finally home. Must go and ask him when we can go to Diagon Alley to buy my wand!

Ta ta!

22^nd June 1851 - Adolph

That damned letter from Hogwart arrived today. I wasn't quick enough to hide it from Father so there it is. I am going there. And I am going to make Father proud. And I will be in Slytherin. And....the list is endless.

I must confess that only two reasons made me prefer to go to Drumstag rather than Hogwarts: 1) Father can't go and check on me personally that often; 2) Dumbledore would have never had gone there. Sigh. Now I will have to put up with the little twit for seven years. He's bound to be in Gryffindor: reckless and stupid. I've heard they have many joint lessons with Slytherins. What. A. Nightmare.

Can't wait to get my wand and school books. Guess who will be my guinea pig? That menace of a neighbour of mine. Obviously, the library at home is very well stocked. I'm very proud of all the jinxes I know already. Dumbledore will go running for his mummy all the time throughout this summer if I get to do what I have planned for him. Actually, I should really revise my "To do" list, and learn to charm it so Father can't find out. It is really important the last bit, since it is politically inadvisable that we Grindelwalds show direct animosity towards the Dumbledores. Politics is a load of rubbish in my opinion anyway. It did make Nigellus, a good friend of Grandfather's, Headmaster at Hogwarts though. Oh! Now I know why I'm going there: a Slythrin is Headmaster at the moment. It's been a while since there was one. I might get to be Head Boy then....yeeesss... That Dumbledore should look out for himself. Hogwarts doesn't sound half as bad anymore.

I think I'll go and study some more in the library while Mother is busy sorting the elves for dinner and Father is still at work (I'm not exactly allowed free unsupervised access to the books...). Then I must get ready for dinner. Will need to make Father proud and soften him up a bit (Good luck for me!) so I can get my wand as soon as possible. Must have it before Dumbledore.

Right. Off I go!