Chapter 2
Life at Lowood was both better and worse than life on Privet Drive. It was better because Harrie didn't have to cook any of the meals, and she didn't have to sneak around to get anything to eat. Everyone here ate three, if somewhat simple still nutritious, meals a day. It was worse because there were more people here to dislike Harrie.
And all of the orphans disliked her at first. When Harrie first came to Lowood, she had very little control over the odd things she could do. But between the better food and the enemies on all sides, Harrie learned quickly to harness those things to protect herself. When Johnny tried to steal the book she was reading, Harrie pushed him so hard he flew across the room. When Sarah tried to cut her braid off, Harrie made her hair as strong as steel, breaking Sarah's scissors. When Johnny and Sarah went to Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Gardner claiming that she did these impossible things, her shy, innocent behavior won them quickly to her side. It was impossible Harrie could have done any of those things, and Johnny and Sarah were punished for telling lies.
As Harrie learned how to manipulate those around her, she also learned that she could change more than just her hair, she could change her actual face. The first thing she mastered was hiding the unusual scar on her forehead. Harrie didn't really mind it, but she did mind when other people stared. With her new skills, Harrie learned that life at Lowood was better if Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Gardner liked her. She didn't really care if Mrs. Smith or Mrs. Gardner liked her, but if they did, they gave the easiest chores and first choice of donations to their favorites. And Harrie was very good at altering her self and her expressions to match what they expected, making sure that she got new books, new clothes, and the easiest chores.
Though Harrie was now one of the favored orphans, she still largely kept to herself. She had gotten her own room very early on, because none of the other orphans were willing to room with her. And though her room was small, barely fitting her bed, it was all hers. She had all of the books she had gotten lined up along the windowsill. Her clothes were neatly folding in the tiny wardrobe. The bed neat and tidy. It wasn't much, but it was hers. She learned how to lock her door against any key, and whether she was awake or asleep, no one could enter her room if she didn't let them.
Snakes still found her in the gardens, but Harrie was careful not to let anyone hear her speaking to them again. The snakes were the only ones that Harrie felt safe enough to be her self around. Partly because they couldn't talk about her behind her back, and partly because they were all so excited to meet and speak with a Speaker.
Usually Mrs. Gardner would run all of the household errands on Thursdays. Normally, she went to the store for groceries, with an orphan or two in tow to carry the bags, before she would drop off any bills at the post office. This Thursday, however, Mrs. Smith was not here yet, and while the groceries could wait the bills could not. Mrs. Smith pulled Harrie aside and asked if she would take the bills to the post.
Harrie nodded solemnly and put the letters in her coat with great care. On the inside, Harrie was very excited. Practically a whole day to explore the world outside of Lowood would send a normal girl into squeals of excitement. But not Harrie, in fact, she didn't even let a little excitement creep into her expression until she was out of sight of Lowood completely.
She was standing in front of the barbershop that she could see from her bedroom window. The barber was animatedly speaking with the man in his chair and didn't notice little Harrie at his shop front. Which was all the better, because Harrie focused on her reflection and changed her curly, black hair and green eyes to straight, blonde hair with blue eyes. The rest of her features remained largely the same, except she kept her scar hidden. Glad that the barber and his customer never noticed her or her appearance magically changing, she turned on her heel and made her way into London.