13th June, 1895 — Streets of Pennyworth, Hogsmeade
He had been sulking for most days of the summer holidays so far, angry at Angie and hating the smallness of the Pennyworth house they had moved into and resenting his parents for having upended his life this way. Also, it was sunny.
Which meant he had been in no mood to go outside for long during the day for the last fortnight (and he didn’t dare go out at night – he had read enough penny dreadfuls to be suitably afraid of beggars and thieves and murderers who might spring out from the Slums and commit heinous deeds under the Pennyworth streetlamps). Today, though – today was overcast and cloudy and Connor had decided today was the day to explore Hogsmeade.
He had bought his schoolthings and spent the winter holidays in London, and only third years got to go on Hogsmeade trips in the school year, so he had never been before. Lots of people lived in Hogsmeade, he knew – but today was not about seeing anyone. Today was about learning his way around, and seeing what was worthwhile about this place, in his own time, on his own terms.
Except – he had just stepped out the new Pennyworth house and made it about three terraced houses along the street when he heard someone say Sinnet! Connor started and glanced up, feeling an uncomfortable twist in his stomach. If it had been the High Street, fine – but no one was supposed to see him here, in this part of town. They might think he was actually poor.
Which meant he had been in no mood to go outside for long during the day for the last fortnight (and he didn’t dare go out at night – he had read enough penny dreadfuls to be suitably afraid of beggars and thieves and murderers who might spring out from the Slums and commit heinous deeds under the Pennyworth streetlamps). Today, though – today was overcast and cloudy and Connor had decided today was the day to explore Hogsmeade.
He had bought his schoolthings and spent the winter holidays in London, and only third years got to go on Hogsmeade trips in the school year, so he had never been before. Lots of people lived in Hogsmeade, he knew – but today was not about seeing anyone. Today was about learning his way around, and seeing what was worthwhile about this place, in his own time, on his own terms.
Except – he had just stepped out the new Pennyworth house and made it about three terraced houses along the street when he heard someone say Sinnet! Connor started and glanced up, feeling an uncomfortable twist in his stomach. If it had been the High Street, fine – but no one was supposed to see him here, in this part of town. They might think he was actually poor.
