Chapter 8:
The fields rushing past the carriage window grew even more barren; farmland gave way to woods, winding rivers and dark green hills. At Lily's insistence, Snape had been persuaded to eat a single sandwich, yet he would not touch any of the sweets every eleven-year-old adores, and then he returned to his book.
During the picnic Pomona discovered that Lily wasn't such a bookworm after all; if someone was willing to talk to her she could be quite chatty. She only looked studious because Severus Snape was always with her, and his presence obliged her to seem serious. When Lily learned Pomona had never been to the Muggle world she eagerly ran through everything she knew — motionless photographs, Muggle cars that did not fly — and told Pomona about her sister Petunia.
"At least until the Christmas holidays we can't meet; she won't even see me off," Lily said, looking depressed. She clearly cared a great deal for her sister.
Pomona did not want to judge someone she had never met, so she popped a strawberry into her mouth. She noticed Lily's books were brand new while Snape's were plainly second-hand. Indeed, his robes showed wear. Most students only put on their school uniform when they near the school, but Snape had changed early, perhaps to conceal the ragged clothes beneath.
"Hey, Sirius, look who I've got a card of!" someone shouted down the corridor.
He was noisy and irritated Snape. The sullen boy had opened the compartment door earlier to let air in; now he shut it again.
Lily hesitated, glancing toward Pomona.
"Fancy trying your luck?" Pomona offered, taking four Chocolate Frogs from the picnic basket. "Which one will you pick?"
"I'll take… this one!" Lily chose, and as Pomona opened the box the frog inside leapt out. The two girls scrambled and finally caught it.
"What is this?" Lily gaped, her hair a little tousled from the scuffle.
"A Chocolate Frog," Pomona panted. "Each one contains a card you can collect. See who you get."
Lily opened the packet and pulled out a card: a man with a half-moon pair of spectacles, a prominent crooked nose and a beard that hid much of his face. The name beneath read Albus Dumbledore.
"Who's he?" Lily asked, handing the card to Pomona.
"You can look at the back of the card," Pomona suggested, then turned to Snape. "Want to try, Mr Snape?"
As expected, Snape ignored her.
Pomona looked back at Lily. The joy in her face had faded into a sad expression.
"What's wrong, Lily?"
"It says here he defeated the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945," Lily whispered. "Someone told me Grindelwald wanted to wipe out all Muggles."
"Like you said earlier, eliminate all Dementors," Pomona said sharply. "To wizards, Muggles can seem like a threat. Do you know about the Druids?"
"I've heard of them."
"The Druids were forest priestesses who once ruled ancient Britain before the Church. They were teachers, healers and judges who taught magic — until the Romans slaughtered many of them. That history is part of the friction between wizards and Muggles," Pomona said. "If you plan to join the wizarding world, you must learn to keep your distance from Muggles. They trust science more than magic."
"So you support Grindelwald?" Snape asked in a silk-soft voice.
"No!" Pomona shook her head. "I'm simply tired of war. I have no interest in wizards becoming rulers again."
"Don't you prefer open use of magic?" he prodded.
"Can we not talk about such gloomy things?" Pomona said. The topic was too heavy; she'd rather discuss how to improve her tiramisu recipe.
"What would you like to talk about then?" Snape asked perfunctorily.
"Are you two a couple?"
"No, of course not!" Pomona snapped, and Lily immediately protested, "We're just friends."
Pomona glanced at Snape; his eyes were as deep and emotionless as an abyss, fixed on his book.
"We're only eleven — it's too early to talk about such things," Lily added hurriedly, unsure how much Snape would accept.
Perhaps Lily and Snape already pictured themselves as girls who cared only for cakes and romance, but Pomona did not mind. She felt no kinship with them. Hufflepuff represented steadiness and common decency; Lily was pretty and would attract attention, and Snape had his own kind of magnetism. Pomona resolved to be low-key for the coming years. Keeping her distance would be wise.
"Pomona," Lily asked awkwardly, "why did you bring lunch for four?"
"Hogwarts feasts are traditionally provided by Hufflepuff. We're used to sharing," Pomona replied with a smile. "Food makes people happy."
"No," Snape said, lifting his gaze from the book. "Power makes people happy."
Pomona could not understand Slytherin. Isn't learning to get along with others more important than conquest and rule?
The rest of the journey grew dull. Lily opened a book again and Pomona lost the urge to chat. She watched the landscape slide by, the light dimming toward evening, and her mind kept returning to the letter from her father.
Pomona, my dearest, forgive me for not coming to see you all these years. I cannot say much in a letter, but I want you to know I love you and your mother very much. I never intended to abandon you. You are eleven now. The situation in England is difficult; you may wish to return to France and attend Beauxbatons, but I must tell you: even if you go to Scandinavia, do not go there. Hogwarts is the best choice. Love, your father.
Pomona did not understand why Beauxbatons would be dangerous, yet she chose to believe her father — the man she had long resented.
Many assume pretty girls lack wit and are easily fooled, but she preferred to believe her mother truly loved her father and chose him, and that was why she was born.
Mrs Sprout's home was remote from Muggle society — perhaps to protect her, or perhaps to hide some secret. To keep them safe, her father had to leave. Pomona felt a small thrill about the life ahead, but before she could enjoy it she must learn to keep secrets, for this is the wizarding world.