Chapter 4
1975
‘danny i swear to actual jesus if you don’t turn that bloody alarm off i’m taking my beater bat to it!’
hazel groaned, burrowing deeper into her sleep warmed duvet as she cracked heavy eyelids open, squinting against the soft morning light that spilled through her open curtains (she really had to stop going for nights smokes on the roof and forgetting to close the curtains when she was finished), and debated the merits of getting out of her bed and turning off danny’s alarm clock off for him.
distantly, from his own room she could hear his muffled response, followed by marlene issuing even more aggressive threats back. how she could hear them so clearly while in her own bedroom with her door firmly shut, while both danny and marlene where in their own retrospective rooms was beyond her, but she suspected it probably had something to do with the sheer volume of both marlene’s shouting and danny’s screeching alarm. there was a barely audible shuffle, followed by muffled cursing and a slightly alarming crash from the direction of danny’s room, and then the alarm went mercifully silent. she sighed deeply, rolling over as she snuggled deeper into her plush duvet, letting her eyes close again.
both danny and marlene had only been back for their november break for three days now, marlene back from hogwarts and danny back for a few days from the canons, and already she was counting down the days that they would return. not because she didn’t love both of them deeply or enjoy their company immensely, and she was certain she would miss them once they returned, but for the fact that the house had been anything but quiet since they both returned, which apparently included danny setting his abnormally loud alarm for six in the bloody morning when she still had school. This had happened for the second day in a row now, and in the three days since they both returned, she was certain she simply forgot what silence actually sounded like.
well, that being said, the house had now settled back into a calm silence as danny’s alarm was silenced. without its insistent screeching, and with only the light sizzle of the fry up margret was beginning in the kitchen paired with the faint hum of the kettle that drifted up from the kitchen and into her room, hazel found herself slowly drifting back off into a blissful sleep. she could get a few more minutes in before she had to get up and ready for the school day, she was certain. just a quick nap...
she jolted as danny’s alarm suddenly sounded back up again, somehow even louder this time then before, even as it shut off just as abruptly as it started, followed by danny’s sheepishly shouted apology. giving herself a moment to appreciate the calm that could be her life if only she was blessed enough to be an only child, she peeled herself out of her warm bed, slowly plodding over to where she had discarded her uniform on top of the dresser the day before and snatching it up, grabbing a clean shirt and undergarments as well and pushing open her bedroom door. she stumbled her way to the bathroom as she attempted to make it there without tripping over anything or crashing into any walls while simultaneously cracking her eyes open only the smallest amount possible in an attempt to delay actually having to be alert and properly awake for as long as possible.
she passed by both marlene and danny’s bedroom doors as she made her way to the bathroom, which from the silence behind them almost guaranteed that both had fallen asleep again already. she settled for glaring as she passed by danny’s bedroom, silently promising herself that if his alarm clock went off tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn yet again it would be her using marlene’s beater bat to smash the bloody thing in. the thought made her feel marginally more cheerful, and once she made it to the bathroom and had showered and dressed, her murderous mood had been replaced with one of hunger. slipping back into her own room to quickly comb her hair and adorn herself with her regular jewellery, minus her favourite large gold bangle that mr. dean had confiscated off her last friday that she would have to steal back today during registration, she made her way down to the kitchen where margret was already bustling around.
she had the small buttercup yellow radio that sat on the wooden corner kitchen counter beside the basil pot already turned on, and from it the beatles where quietly serenading the kitchen with ‘here comes the sun’, the music mostly swallowed by the screech of the tin kettle perched on top of the stove and the loud sizzling of black pudding from the skillet margret was currently watching, wooden spatula in one hand, and mug of tea in the other.
she turned around as hazel entered, eyes crinkling in the corner as she smiled warmly at her.
‘good morning dear.’
‘morning mum.’ hazel responded, smiling back as she crossed over to the kitchen table and plopping down in her seat and reaching for one of the four plates already on top of the tablecloth. she had just grabbed one and placed it in front of her when two slices of toast were deposited onto it, followed moments later by a mug of tea placed down with the perfect amount of milk in it. she smiled her thanks at margret and immediately began buttering the first slice, stomach already growling. she had just managed to finally pry the lid of the jam jar when the sound of the front door banging open rang through the kitchen, followed by light footsteps as they made their way to the kitchen.
margret didn’t turn around- they both already knew who was making their way through the house- she simply leaned over and grabbed another mug from the wooden overhead shelf, popping in a fresh tea bag and pouring in hot water from the kettle that had just finished boiling moments ago as a uniformed girl strode through the kitchen door, a bright ‘morning, margie!’ falling from her smiling lips as she strode over to the kitchen table, plopping down opposite hazel and snatching a piece of toast off her plate before she could protest. margret smiled, full of warmth as she greeted the welcome intruder with a friendly ‘good morning, cassandra’ as she came over to deposit the cup of tea before the smiling girl who thanked her by raising her stolen slice of toast in a salute.
cass (margret was the only one she ever permitted to call her full name) took another bite of the slice of toast as margret yet again appeared at the table, depositing two new slices of toast on the plate that had already been placed on the table should cass join them for breakfast this morning, one of which hazel stole as she finally managed to swallow her mouthful of bread, gulping loudly as she plopped the slice of toast onto her plate, hand already open as cass automatically slid the butter dish over, picking up her own mug and taking a large gulp.
‘got the post in from the front drive.’ cass announced, grabbing a stack of folded newspapers from her lap and placing them on the kitchen table with a light thump, rattling one of the egg cups that wobbled, yolk half peeking out before it settled. margret peered at the stack, attention split as she managed to both prepare a large jug of coffee whilst glancing at the papers headings. cass, already knowing what she was looking for piped up ’the sunday’s at the bottom’ while reaching crumb coated fingers over, flipping the pile so the sunday times was on top of the paper stack with on hand, while she used the other to hold her mug of tea and take a sip. margret nodded appreciatively, picking up the newspaper and skimming the front page as both girls turned back to their breakfasts. hazel swallowed another sip of tea before nudging her friend with her foot, drawing light brown eyes framed by thickly coated lashes to her own. ‘you finished up on your part of romeo and juliette yet?’ she asked and was promptly met by a grimace. hazel raised a brow, smile tugging at her lips as she mused ‘ill take that as a no then.’
cass huffed dramatically, slumping down in her chair before noticing the soft glare margret was levelling at her and promptly straightening up again, adopting such straight and un- cass like perfect posture hazel couldn’t hold back a snigger, even as margret looked pleased and turned back to frying a pack of rashers in a large sizzling skillet upon the stove. cass shot hazel the bird that hazel quickly returned, careful to keep her hand close to the table surface where margret would not catch the motion and prompt a stern telling off about offensive language. at least not another one.
‘i did most of it.’ cass complained, biting into her slice of toast aggressively and not waiting until she had finished chewing completely before continuing, words slightly muffled by the food. ‘its’ jus’ so much analysing, and brians done fuck all for ‘is part so far. i mean’ she finally swallowed her mouthful, continuing ‘there’s only so much i can chat about bloody paris and the pope bloke before i actually have to look at someone’s notes. or worse- read the play.’
hazel raised a brow at cass, smirking. ‘well, i would say reading the play is probably a good place to starts when writing an english review on it.’
‘please’ cass scoffed, rolling her eyes before fixing an accusing look at hazel. ‘as if you’ve actually read macbeth.’
‘dont have to.’ hazel stated confidently, shrugging in indifference as she stole another slice of toast from cass’s plate. ‘macbeth lived in scotland, three old witches boiled something in a cauldron and told him he’d be king, him and his wife shanked a few lords and then they both die at the end. simple.’
she brought her attention back to the plate in front of her, unable to decide between spreading the toast with raspberry jam or hazelnut spread. deciding she would just do both she began cutting it into half. immediately, both the jam jar and the chocolate jar where nudged over to her by cass, who took to starting contemplatively into her mug of half-drunk tea, perfectly manicured brown knitted together in the centre of her brow the way they always did when she was deep in thought.
‘suppose i could do the same with mine.’ she mused, ‘i mean, the plot isnt that complicated, especially if im analysing it from the perspective of a tragic hero. i mean what, both romeo and juliette fall in love, their families scrap a lot, a bloke gets run through with a sword and they both also die at the end.’ she furrowed her browns then, tilting her head. ‘im sensing a theme here.’
‘exactly.’ hazel reassured. ‘just make sure to use proper sentence structure and topic sentences and good few of instances of personification and dramatic foils in your essay, and you’ll be getting a c for sure. maybe even as b.’
cass raised her brows, looking pleased at the thoughts. ‘your right.’ she declared, ‘can’t be that hard. romeo falls in love. dramatic irony and foreshadowing ensue. both die. tragic hero.’
‘the tale of romeo and julietts pretty unsuccessful relationship.’
‘shanking and shagging. a play.’
hazel grinned. ‘bottle of smirnoff you write that in your essay.’
cass laughed, setting her thick silver hoops clinking with the movement as she teased ‘you dont have a bottle of smirnoff your good for.’
hazel considered before amending ‘a bottle of smirnoff that ill nick off tony for you.’
cass tilted her head, bleached curls tumbling over one shoulder as her eyes got that look in them, the look that meant nothing good was about to follow as she considered, small smile on her lips. ‘thoughts that ill still get a B in the essay if i word it well enough?’
‘whatever you plan on writing in your essay, im expecting that its relevant to the course.’ margrets appeared at the end of the table, plate of fried rashers and sausages in both hands as she set it at felix’s spot along side a cup of milky tea, straightening to give cass as assessing look. cass shifted, adopting an innocent expression that was anything but, flashing margret her most reassuring smile. ‘of course, margie. i wouldn’t dream of handing in any form of academic work that didn’t reflect my full literature capabilities.’
hazel snorted into her mug of tea and margret slid her eyes over to her, attempting to pull of a stern expression even as her mouth twitched up in the corners. ‘im glad to hear that cassandra, dear.’ she answered, looking back at cass with obvious fondness shining through her blue eyes. ‘you are such a talented students, im positive your capable of creating beautifully written academic work, once you set your mind to it.’
cass floundered while hazel made an indignant little noise, protesting ‘what about me?’
‘you too hazel dear.’ margret reassured kindly as cass sniggered under her breath, earning a sharp kick from hazel under the table that just made her snigger more as hazel pretended to pout. ‘your both wonderfully gifted students.’ margret continued, reaching over to ruffle hazels hair while she made a half attempt at swatting her hands away even as she couldn’t hold back her smile. ‘that is, when you both want to be.’ margret added levelling a pointed look at both girls who suddenly both became very interested with the table cloth. ‘which is why’ she added, smiling at both girls as she used the tone that signalled whatever she was about to say was not to be argued with ‘you’ll both come back here after school to study for this upcoming assignment hazel mentioned. a few hours should do you both some good.’
hazel opened her mouth to protest but one look at margrets calm yet determined expression made the protests wilt on her tongue. cass similarly looked just as displeased, slumping slightly in her chair as she feebly attempted ‘well, we dont want to take to take up any space.’
‘nonsense,’ margret dismissed, moving back to the kitchen to begin soaking the skillet while the shower cut over head, signalling felix’s soon arrival downstairs for his own breakfast. ‘you two will study this afternoon for a few hours, then you can both help me prepare dinner.’
cass perked up slightly at this, peering at margret. ‘its going to be chicken pie tonight?’ she asked hopefully to which margret smiled warmly, replying ‘with treacle pudding for desert. your favourite.’
cass positively beamed and managed to scarf down her last remaining slice of toast before margret ushered them both into their coats and out the door, warning them about not being late for registration as they both shrugged on thick winter coats, the woman finding time to wrap both of them in soft knitted scarfs despite hazels protests that it wasn’t that cold outside. she shouted a quick goodbye to felix who was just coming down the stairs dressed in his muggle ministry clothes, echoed by cass’s ‘later pops!’ as both girls left the house, felix greetings echoing behind them as they wandered out of the front lawn and turned down the road towards school, feet automatically trailing the path they had walked hundreds of times before as they chatted aimlessly.
their freckled they both shared was as far as the similarities started and ended. cass was taller then her (although that could be said about most people), and had originally also had brunette hair although it had been lighted then hazels was, which she had begun bleaching since she was fifteen, and had kept it that was ever since. now, her mid length blond curls tumbled around her pale face, peeking through from underneath her knitted scarf that she refused to remove, although it really wasn’t cold enough to justify wearing one. hazel had already removed hers two roads ago and stuffed it into one of her coat pockets, and now reached down to her other coat pocket, removing a half empty crumpled back of smokes and plain black zippo. she popped open the pack and quickly removed two cigarettes, raising the first to her lips and lighting it, inhaling briefly until it caught and passing it along to cass as she exhaled, raising the second to her lips as cass puffed on her own. lighting her own, she inhaled and slipped the pack and zippo back to her pocket, but not before cass’s eyes caught on the small black lighter and she raised a singular brow, lips curling into a smile.
‘how long until tony realises you nicked that one off him?’ she asked and hazel returned her smile, shrugging slightly. ‘ill give it two hours.’
cass laughed, taking another inhale as hazel asked ‘we meeting him by the bins, or is he already in school?’
‘nah, he’s already there.’ cass replied, taking another inhale. ‘year twelve’s got some sort of biology practically today and tuesday, so he’s preparing for those.’
hazel made a face, scrunching her nose in distaste as cass laughed at her, linking her arm through hazels and pressing close as a practically chilly gust of wind rushed past, picking up stray wilted leaves and empty wrappers with it. they both shivered, goose bumps pricking on hazels exposed skin as she pushed back into cass, both content to steal a bit of warmth from the other as cass continued ‘dont give me that look. that’ll be us next year.’
‘dont remind me,’ she huffed, ‘although knowing tony there’s a fifty percent chance he’s already skiving off and lighting up behind the canteen.’
‘eh, ill give him a seventy- thirty percent chance.’
hazel glanced over. ‘is that seventy percent chance he’s skiving off, or seventy percent chance he’s studying for his practical?’
cass flashed her a fierce grin, eyes bright. ‘haven’t decided yet.’
hazel huffed a laugh and cass’s grin broadened, before being replaced with a wistfully look. ‘wouldn’t mind joining him though, if he is actually bunking off.’
‘oh cassandra, you shouldn’t take that attitude to your schooling.’ hazel admonished, grinning cheekily at her friend as she adopted the perfect imitation of margrets lilting english accent. ‘you are such a talented student after all.’
hazel didn’t managed to duck in time as cass grabbed her in loose headlock. she thought she heard the other girl use a few insults such as ‘bloody wanker’ and ‘you’re such a tosser’ to tell her off, but they were both laughing too hard to for her hear her properly.