Rewrite - V1 - Chapter 21 "Schools out!"

Reminder I posted the full Year 1 - all 20 edited chapters - below in Google doc format to be read. I'm going to begin tossing up what's been done for year 2 now, I'll put one out every few days until we're caught up on that.

I will warn you this stuff gets far more dramatic and blatant. The undertones of the original are now explicit and the undertones are very subtle foreshadowing or very a way to get you to feel a certain way so the scene hits better. I hope you all like it!
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I spend the first night back from Hogwarts downstairs with my parents and siblings playing a game together, Tala lying over my shoulders purring loudly. The next day and the one after are the very first in which I don’t touch a book in over a year. It’s a very strange change of pace, but it’s great to spend time with my siblings.

On the third day, Tuesday second of July, I’m halfway through some cereal when my birthday’s brought up.

“What do you think you want?” Mum asks, smiling over her tea.

I consider how to phrase it. I’ve had a few ideas for a while! “It’s a bit silly, but I wanted some weights. You know I like running, so I thought it would be nice to tone my arms too,” I say as casually as I can. “I was going to keep them here rather than take them to Hogwarts.”

“Weights?” Mum questions doubtfully.

“Yeah, why?”

“Well it’s… it’s just that-” she cuts herself off. “I don’t think so.”

“I don’t mean anything big,” I promise. “Just something like arm and ankle weights to naturally-”

“No,” she shakes her head. “No, they’re really unhealthy and dangerous. You’re only eleven!”

“I mean, I’ll be twelve when I get them,” I say innocently, spooning in another scoop of cereal.

“You’re not getting them and that’s final. You’ll have to think of something else.”

I tut. “Okay. Well, what about some language charms? You know how badly I want to learn them and I didn’t find anything at Hogwarts.”

She purses her lips and sips her tea. “I’ll have to think about it,” she says finally.

I blink in astonishment. Language charms are pretty advanced magic, around O.W.L.s level. They’re spells that someone has to cast multiple times a day for multiple days while studying the language. The result is that they speed up learning languages and work on nothing else. I don’t know much about the magic, due to Mum not letting me, but I’ve been interested for a long time.

The spells are a shortcut, a potent one. They’re limited though. It’s very abusable and abuse leads to extreme negative issues, and not just for someone like me with warnings from gods to not abuse my powers. For all people, someone can only handle one day per week of these study sessions. It’s further recommended to try to talk with a native speaker during the learning process if possible.

I don’t know anyone from any other countries at the moment, so I’ll have to meet others before I can even cast the spells. I suppose Muirin may be able to help me as she has told me she is fluent in several languages before. The excuse of needing her help would also give us a reason to exchange owls.

“Thanks Mama!” I say, eating another spoonful of cereal.

“Is there anything else you want?”

“Well, I like jewellery and clothes. I’d love to get some new things. And I need some new notebooks. Maybe some nail varnish and books on Caring for Magical Creatures?”

“I think I can manage that,” she smiles.

Adam leaves the room to brush his teeth, and Jasmine is still asleep, so I ask another question I have. “Mama? How would you get me language spell books? They’re really rare.”

“Don’t worry about that.” She looks away as she says it. “I’m not saying you will get it for your birthday, just that I’ll see. Understand?”

“Yes, Mama.”

I have to wonder how she, a housewife all her life, would ever have access to language spells. They’re incredibly rare and powerful and because of that, any books on them are very hard to find, not to mention expensive. I can only imagine it’s through Dad and his job.

As it is, other than the first night Dad has been busy since I got back. I know he’ll be back this evening though so I only have the day to waste before I can ask if he’ll go through some defence spells with me since I don’t have my Defence Club anymore.

I get dressed into some Muggle clothes, picking out some jean shorts almost down to my knees that the Muggle kids seem to like, socks and Muggle trainers, before selecting an old red shirt I think looks too faded to be worn as a proper outfit now. That done, I have to decide what to do with my wand. I can’t wear a robe or cloak or jacket because it’s too hot and impractical. In the end, I tie it to my thigh.

I need to get a more versatile holster this summer. My arm holster is amazing, and I’ve worn it nearly every day since I got it just fine, but it isn’t useful in times when I want to have short sleeves.

Now I’m ready, I go down to Mum, where Jasmine is sitting in her lap looking beady eyed, barely awake, and a bit snotty.

“Mama? Can I go out for a walk?” I ask.

She looks up from the paper. It must have arrived while I was upstairs. “A walk? Well, I don’t see why not…” She looks out the window to see the nice weather. “Do you have your wand?”

“Yeah, and I’ll be safe, I remember the way around.”

“And you remember you can’t use magic, and don’t talk to strangers?”

“I know, I know,” I smile, going over and kissing her on the cheek. “I’ll be back in a few hours, before lunch, okay? See you later!”

She sends me off happily enough, and I get to the entrance where Tala is on the bottom step, tail up. She meows for my attention.

“I’m going out, do you want to come?” I ask her.

She meows softly and hops down to rub against my legs.

Taking that as a yes, I let her out and we set off on a walk to begin. I would have told Mum about wanting to run, but since she didn't want me to have weights I don’t want to be banned from endurance training. When I’m out of view of the house, I begin to jog and then run through the countryside surrounding the village my house is on the edge of. I know of some of the people in the village, but I don’t actually have any type of relationship with them, so avoidance is best. Through it all, Tala keeps up with me on foot.

I stay out for hours, running at full speed through the woods and then stumbling across a tree with a branch hanging at a good height for me to jump up and lift my weight. I may not have the equipment, but that doesn’t mean I can’t train regardless! This is how I trained for nearly all of my last life. While I do that, my Kneazle pants and catches her breath. I’ve never seen her pant before, so it’s quite amusing.

I’m sweating with grass and mud on my knees by the time I come to a walking stop at my house. I knock, wait for the door to be opened by Adam, let Tala go in ahead of me and step in.

“You’re dirty,” he comments, closing it behind us.

“Yeah, I fell in the woods.”

“Did you cut yourself?”

“No, no,” I reassure him, kicking my shoes off and putting them away under the stairs. “Have you had lunch?”

“Yeah. Dad came back but he left again.”

I nod and go through to the kitchen. “Mama, can you make me lunch please? I’m so tired.”

She flicks her wand and a plate comes over to me at the table. It has a cream cheese and cucumber sandwich and an orange on it. “Gosh, Aub, you’re a mess! Did something happen?”

“No, it’s just hot in the woods. Humid.”

“That’s called muggy,” she nods. I know that, I’m just too tired to be eloquent. “Did you have a good time?”

“Yeah! Do you think we can start going to a pool for swimming this week?”

She nods. “I’m sure we can find some time.”

I go upstairs after lunch and pull my clothes off, only to get a horrible whiff of my body. The worst sides of puberty have most certainly begun!

After getting re-dressed and applying a cooling charm so I don’t start sweating immediately, I sit at my desk in my room and begin to study for the summer. My first task is to get ready for my Muggle GCSE’s. There’s what's known as a ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ test for the Muggle exams, where the higher is essentially what used to be the O Levels that Grandpa used to teach for the smarter kids, and the lower is intended for the ‘less academically gifted children,’ if phrased politely. Unlike a few years ago when the highest grade possible was only an A, the new exams offer up to an A*, so that’s my goal.

I’ve already organised with Grandpa when I’ll be taking them so I just need to study now. With the school year over and all my doable Quests done for now, I have the time.

I focus on purely Maths for the afternoon, having already finished most of the English things after exams at Hogwarts had finished. Jasmine comes in at one point to see what I’m doing, but runs off when she sees the equations I'm focusing on. Hours pass before I get called down for dinner.

I take my seat at the table as Mum summons a small fork for Jasmine, as she of course can’t eat with a normal fork. Children.

“Thank you, Mama,” I smile, waiting for her to take a seat.

“Eat up, guys,” she tells us. We’re silent for a few minutes, enjoying the bacon wrapped chicken and vegetables she prepared. “So, what do you want to do after dinner?”

“Watch tellie at Grandma’s,” Jasmine tells us.

“I wanted to go to the park,” Adam argues, frowning at Jasmine. “And we can’t go to Grandma’s, it’s too late.”

“We might still have a bit of time,” Mum soothes him. “What about you Aub?”

“I wanted to ask Papa to do some defence spells with me, since I don’t have my club anymore,” I say nonchalantly, knowing I have to get through Mum before I’ll be allowed anyway. “I did some mock duels at school-” only half a lie, if I’m generous “-and I wanted his help learning more. It’s really fun!”

She looks unsure but nods. “Well, if your father says okay I suppose it’ll be fine.”

Adam gasps. “I want to watch!”

“Me too!”

“We’ll see what Papa says, alright?” Mum says. At that same second, the Floo goes and Dad comes through. “Don’t all shout at once! Eat your dinner and I’ll ask him.”

I smile when he comes into the dining room. He gets to Mum and kisses her, pats Adam on the shoulder and goes to take his things off and get a glass of water. By the time he’s come to the table and sat down, Mum’s prepared his plate from where it was waiting for him under a status spell and put it on the table.

“How was work?” She asks him.

“Good, good. Nothing blew up,” he jokes, one he’s used at least a thousand times before. “How was your day?”

“It was fine, we got some gardening done and Aubrey went for a walk. She wanted to ask if you’d do some duelling with her after dinner.”

He’s immediately shaking his head. “I can’t tonight.”

I try not to sag under the disappointment. “Can we soon? When you’re not busy?”

“We’ll see.” That feels like a way of putting something off. “Adam, did you go over the homework I left you?”

“Yes, Papa,” he nods miserably. Evidently the joy of being Expected Heir has vanished as the expectations took over. I had suspected but didn’t say anything as it stopped making its way into his letters to me. “Can we go to the park after dinner?”

“Sure I don’t see why not.”

“But I want to go to Grandma’s,” Jasmine frowns.

“We can go over if you like,” Mum suggests. “Do you want to come with us, Aubrey? I know Grandma and Grandpa want to see you.”

I nod, happy to at least see Grandpa if Dad doesn’t have time to train with me. “Sure.”

We don’t have a dessert, as we know Grandma will give us one when we go over, so after dinner I grab Tala and my maths things before joining Mum and Jasmine in the living room. We Floo over to their house.

“Oh, Aubrey!” Grandma cries immediately. “What a surprise! Come here!”

I’m pulled into a hug from my Grandma that Tala tolorates only because she’s missed me. We get immediately fed dessert and Grandpa greets me in his reserved joy also, before he notices my maths books and we go to his office.

“Okay,” he begins, dragging in a chair from one of the spare bedrooms for me to sit on. His office is incredibly cramped, with orange curtains he hasn’t opened in forever, a big cherry desk with a bulky computer on it and its matching blocky keyboard, and directly behind the chair is his bookcase which has primarily detective stories and historical romances. There’s also a metal cabinet and a dim, yellow light that illuminates the room.

“Right, let’s have a look.” He licks a finger and starts to leaf through my work. As a former Secondary School teacher, he spent most of his career teaching O Level’s, but I have no doubt the content itself is still very familiar to him. He’s a very smart and hard working man. “You have radius’, areas and shapes… surds is fine… algebra is okay…”

“I’ve always been good at algebra.”

“You have,” he agrees. “Fractions though…”

I nod. It had taken a while for me to get to grips with them, but I’m just fine with them now. The only thing I have left to learn is advanced Trigonometry. Luckily for me, my grandfather is a former Science and Maths teacher, and a substitute in Computing. He’s certainly qualified to teach me!

.*****.

I spend just a few hours each day studying with my bedroom door open and go out in the mornings for my exercise. All evening I spend with Adam and Jasmine, and fail to get time with Dad to practice magic as he stays busy with work, sleeping, and tutoring Adam. I suppose, when it comes down to it, it’s fair. For years Dad has tutored me and my siblings have had to watch on, so it’s only right I step aside and let Adam have his turn. Thankfully, Mum takes pity on me and we go over some little charms to entertain the other two.

At the same time, while Mum isn’t sold on getting me weight or joining a Muggle Martial Arts group at the gym near Grandma and Grandpa’s, she is perfectly happy with me joining a Dance Club at Little St. Mungo’s Community Centre in London. It’s actually not that close to St. Mungo’s, according to Mum, but is a centre that does a lot of community group clubs and activities for children. London is the biggest hub of magical activity in Britain, and it’s easy to get to for all Wizards and Witches as most people either have a family member nearby to use the Floo of, can Apparate in, or else they can use a public Floo if they really need to.

I arrive at the large community hall where Mrs Timmons is waiting with five other children.

“I know them!” Jasmine whispers to me excitedly.

I give her a smile. “Go say hello then.”

“But you-”

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me,” I tell her kindly but firmly. I squeeze her hand then let go, and she rushes off to see two other nervous girls that brighten up when they see her.

The other three girls are younger than me and I don’t recognise any of them. I go directly past them to Mrs Timmons to introduce myself.

“Good morning, Mrs Timmons,” I greet politely. “Myself and my sister are here for the dance class.”

“That’s wonderful! What are your names, dear?” She grins brightly,

“Aubrey and Jasmine Hawthorne.” She marks us off on her list and thanks me. “Could I ask how many people we’re waiting on?”

“Well, thirty two people have signed up, so we’ll just have to wait and see,” she says kindly. “If you don’t mind, could you put your bags and your sisters by the wall out of the way for me, and take your shoes and socks off.”

I do as I’m told, taking a moment to look at the profiles of the two girls Jasmine’s talking to out of curiosity. They’re names are Eleanor Branstone and Natalie McDonald, who I remember Jasmine writing to me about when she met them in a class she did a few months back. I’m glad she has friends to talk to as she’d been incredibly nervous and only agreed to these dance classes because I promised to come also.

I’m happy to be here myself though, while I can do some dance I feel I can be a lot better, and dancing can be a great source of exercise! The classes are on Thursday and Saturday mornings, so it’s going to be a nice thing to break up my week.

Curiosity satisfied, I Observe Mrs Timmons and glance over her profile before doing the same to the three girls, all of whom are no one interesting, though they are from some fairly well to do families, though nothing incredible. Ten other girls come in, and right as I’m almost done Observing them, the clock hits ten and Mrs Timmons claps her hands for our attention.

“Excuse me, girls, please face me!” She calls over the light nervous chatter. “It’s so wonderful to see all your faces here today! Now, I know a few of you are a bit nervous, but that’s quite alright, lets do some warm up exercises together so we can all meet each other. Get into a circle now!”

‘Oh wow,’ is my main thought as we do as she says. She has us throw a ball to each other and do start jumps and play little games before, finally, pairing us up.

“Alright, if you know someone then get in a pair now, and I’ll pair up the rest of you!” She calls.

I see Jasmine is with one of her friends, and the other girl knows someone else to pair with, a cousin I believe. Just as that’s happening, I head outside the hall a woman scream, “FRED DO NOT TOUCH THAT OR SO HELP ME-”

Every pair of eyes shoots towards the doors, which Mrs Timmons, suddenly incredibly angry, storms to.

There’s nothing else for a moment until the door is open and we can hear the rushing of many steps towards the hall. All at once, a brown haired woman with multiple children come barrelling into Mrs Timmons in the doorway, almost sending her flying.

“Oh, sorry, dear!” The mother frets. As she’s leaning over to help steady her, I see Fred and George Weasley behind her.

So this must be their mother.

“Madam, please lower your voice,” Mrs Timmons almost whispers to her. “There are children here, this is not a place for screaming.”

The Weasley mother rolls her eyes and pushes the little girl besides her forward. “This is Ginevra. It finishes at eleven, yes?”

“Yes,” Mrs Timmons confirms snootily.

Purely out of curiosity, and because I want to compare her to her brothers, I Observe the girl.

Ginevra (Ginny) Weasley

Titles - The Seventh (i), Harry Potter’s Biggest Fan (i)

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Level 3

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Age - 9

Race - Human

Sex - Female

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HP - 42

MP - 31

SP - 39

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RL - 0

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Str - 3

Agi - 3

Dex - 6

Con - 3

Int - 4

Wis - 1

Luc - 5

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Perks -

Sneaky

Silver Tongue

Combat Prodigy (i)

Potions Prodigy

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Disadvantages -

Shy

Anger Issues

Obsession (Harry Potter) (i)

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This child is the youngest of seven and painfully aware of it. Though she knows and enjoys her mother spoils her as the youngest and only girl of the family, she’s also often upset that her mother doesn’t allow her to do things her brothers can. This includes going to Hogwarts this year, as her brother Ronald is starting while she can’t and into Harry Potter's year no less, whom she is deeply obsessed with. She’s looking forward to starting Hogwarts next year but is deeply anxious over leaving home

At present, she’s annoyed with her brothers, embarrassed by her mother and doesn’t want to do dance lessons. She has no opinion of you

Ah, yes. Just what shy Harry needs - fangirl. There are hundreds of them so it’s not just on inny, but still. It’s another person to annoy the hell out of him and make him feel bad about things he has no control over.

I feel bad for both of them. Having six older brothers is just brutal. All Ginny’s information tabs are things that are obvious, so I only glance over them.

“Alright, let’s pair you up,” Mrs Timmons calls.

I am assigned to a girl I haven’t Observed yet, named Daphne. She’s got long, blonde hair in two braids and very large blue eyes that look up at people, her head staying stable. It may give off the impression of innocence at a glimpse, but I see the way she looks at me when we’re paired up - instantly she’s taking me in, taking my worth. It’s not often I see children like that as young as her, who look to be barely older than Jasmine. Fifteen and older is the normal age to look at others in that way, and only after being made to look at that by others, for better or worse.

We’re immediately set to pick who will play the ‘man’ in our pairs, as we don’t have any boys in the club.

“I’m happy to be the boy first,” I offer, try a smile.

She nods once and holds out a hand. “Daphne Greengrass,” she introduces herself. I don’t blink, though I am mildly surprised. Greengrass is another of the Druidic houses, like mine. This is likely my only peer in this class.

“Aubrey Hawthorne.” I am happy to see her reaction is very similar to my own.

I know some ballroom dance already, and I know how to play my part from listening to Mum teach Adam. My hand goes politely on her waist and one to her hand, and her spare hand goes to my shoulder. We’re exactly the same height so that makes no difference. To my right, Jasmine is playing the girl and giggling with her friend.

Mrs Timmons creates a double of herself made of orange sparks so she can demonstrate the formal dance without a real partner, and is very good at her teaching - I do formal ballroom dancing, but I only know as much as Mum, and she isn’t an expert. Daphne, on the other hand, is clearly my superior in this way.

At the end of the hour, I’m smiling and Daphne, despite having said next to nothing, seems to find me alright as she tells me as we collect our bags, “We can be partners next week, if you like.”

On the twenty-fourth, my Hogwarts letter for Second Year comes through the mail!

“Dear Aubrey Hawthorne,” it reads.

“Please be reminded that you must board the Hogwarts Express as usual from King’s Cross Platform 9 ¾ for prompt departure on September the first at 09.31.

Second Year Students Require:”

And there was my list. We’re saving our trip for after my birthday, as I’m sure I’ll have birthday money I’ll want to spend.

I look back in the envelope and, as expected, there’s a small extra note in Professor Flitwick’s writing.

“Miss Hawthorne, you have been selected for the Second Year Girls Advanced Student Room as reward for your hard work over the course of your First Year. Please note that keeping this room requires you to continue your studiousness, and to be as responsible as you were last year. Congratulations on your achievement.”

I’d been so excited upon receiving it, purely for the point of being recognised for something good I did, that I figure I’ll think about keeping the room seriously before rejecting it. After all, even if I do have an advantage, there’s nothing wrong with keeping some rewards for my efforts, and I do undoubtedly study a lot.

My first exams of the summer are on the twenty-fifth of July, the day before my birthday. I’m of course entirely prepared as me and Grandpa have exchanged multiple owl messages through Biscuit - Girly attacks my hand any time I attempt to use her now we’re at home, and she’s as attached to Jasmine as Tala is to me - and Mum has helped me with marking my work also.

I take my seat in the local Secondary School surrounded by over two hundred fifteen and sixteen year olds at a single exam desk. Hilariously, the school had to provide me with a cushion as I couldn’t sit properly on the chairs and reach the whole table. The entire student body watches me when I come in after they’ve already sat, and there’s snickers as I sit on my cushion. It provides me with just an extra inch or two, but it’s also far more comfortable than the flat, wooden chair so I ignore them. Our first exam is the Higher Mathematics exam with the AQA board. After a few warnings and talks from the invigilators, we begin.

After all the teachings Grandpa gave me along with the workbooks, the exam flies by in a focused breeze. I don’t even notice the time until I’m finished with the final check of my work and look up to see I have twenty minutes left and nothing to do.

I raise my hand, and being that I’m only eleven compared to these teens, they allow me to have my exam handed in and I can tiptoe out of the hall.

“How did it go?” Grandpa asks, flipping closed his romance book.

“Great!” I enthuse. “I think I’ll get an A Star.”

He nods. “Very good. Let’s get you something to eat.”

After my thirty-five minute break with a snack provided by Grandma, I sit for my second exam in my same place and with the same students. This one is done with a calculator, and I’m done even faster than with the first, meaning I get out of there at a good time. Grandpa treats me to a restaurant lunch and then takes me home to enjoy the rest of my day.

.*****.

I wake on Friday morning to Tala licking my forehead lovingly. I give her a kiss in response and scratch her until she moves to stretch. I have a whole day of plans prepared, so I get up and get myself ready for the day, spending some time putting on makeup for the special occasion. Turning twelve isn’t as exciting as turning eleven, but it’s still going to be a good day!

I go downstairs only when I hear breakfast is being made, as I want some time alone before the busy day.

“Good morning!” I say brightly, taking my seat at the table.

“Happy birthday Aubrey!” Jasmine is quick to say.

Adam is quick to follow. “Happy birthday!”

“Happy birthday darling,” Mum says, putting a plate of pancakes and fruit in front of me. “How do you feel this morning?”

“Excellent,” I say, digging in. “I can’t wait to see my friends!”

“Dad’s gone,” Adam comments like it’s nothing.

I look up at him. “What do you mean?”

Mum sighs. “He got called into work. I’m sorry, he didn’t have a choice.”

I’m disappointed but push those feelings as far aside as I can. I just miss him. He’s my Dad after all, even if he does have a busy job. “Can I open presents after breakfast?”

“You should really wait for your father to get home.”

She may be right, but honestly, I’m a bit tired of waiting for Dad to be home. “But I want to open them now and he might not be home until tomorrow.”

She sighs so softly I almost don’t hear. “I suppose, if you want to, you can. But you know Papa would rather be here.”

“Well, so would I,” I mutter.

She doesn’t answer.

I finish up and my siblings’ excitement remains entirely unaware of mine and our mothers short argument, and it helps me get back into my excited mood. After eating, we settle in the living room for presents, sitting on the rug.

“Here!” Jasmine says excitedly, thrusting her present into my hands.

I open it quickly for her and find a nice collection of licorice root. “Oh wow, thank you Jasmine!”

“Mine next!” Adam jumps, passing his along as Jasmine launches herself onto the sofa to watch. I barely have time to put the licorice root on the coffee table before I have to take his. “You’re gonna love it!”

I smile and open it, revealing a new Ravenclaw scarf. “This is great!” I grin, throwing it around my neck. “I’ve wanted one of these for ages!”

Both siblings suitably satisfied by my responses - and I am genuinely grateful for their thoughtful choices - I can move onto my gifts from Mum and Dad. I rip into them as Mum takes photos and my siblings ooh and ahh excitedly.

I rip into the fourth book, as they’re shaped like books so I know what they are, and am incredibly surprised by the front cover. It’s the same book on Family Magic Adam had gotten this Yule. “Oh!” I exclaim. “A Family Magic book!”

“Me and Papa spoke,” Mum softly says from the sofa, “and we decided that if Adam gets to learn about the Family Magic, so should you. And in a few years, Jasmine can too.”

“This is amazing!” I cry, jumping up and hugging Mum. “Thank you!”

“It’s okay, just make sure to thank Papa later!”

Alongside that book on Family Magic which I very unfortunately have to wait to metaphorically devour, I get a big stack of other books that I’ll be able to advance my Skills with, some new skirts and dresses, and a small chunk of money I can spend on whatever I want.

“There’s also something else,” Mum says seriously. “Since you’re at Hogwarts now, and you’ve proven you’re a very responsible person, me and Papa set up a Gringotts account of your own. I will be keeping a hold onto the key until you’re a bit older, but you’re free to have it whenever you want and buy things using the number.”

I grin. Every allowance of freedom is something I treasure. “Thank you!”

“You’re welcome, honey. Now come on, we need to get ready to visit your Grandmother and Grandfather, they came home especially for today!”

I gather my things and take them to my room, where I spell my clothes into my wardrobe and the books onto my ‘to read’ pile, which had previously been running low. I am very tempted to put the Family Magic book into my Inventory to guarantee its safety, but in the end I deem it safer in my room, if only because if my Mum or Dad want to check on it to make sure nothing bad happened to it, seeing as it’s such a priceless heirloom and valuable item, it won’t be able to talk away where it’s gone easily.

Then I just have to let Tala jump into my arms when I step into the fire at the last moment, and I’m taken to my paternal grandparents house.

Grandmother is waiting for my arrival. “There’s the birthday Witch!” She cries, enveloping me and Tala into her hug. “Twelve years old, my, I remember when you were just born. You’ve grown so much.”

Adam comes in behind me, followed too quickly by Jasmine. “Hello, Grandmother,” he says.

“Hello Adam, come in dear. Let’s go to the family room, we’ve put all the presents in there. Go on.”

Me and Adam go through, Jasmine trailing behind us. There, Grandfather is in his usual chair reading the Daily Prophet. There’s a picture of something to do with Quidditch on the back, and the front page is about Hogwarts. Every year, after the students go home, there’s a Special Edition with a double spread on Hogwarts and its students, going over the best in O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s, and anything special that happened that year. One day, I’ll be in there with my achievements.

“Happy birthday, Aubrey,” he says absently.

“Thank you, Grandfather. Is there anything interesting in the paper?”

He shakes his head. “Is there ever?”

I laugh and take a seat, only then letting Tala go. She jumps down to do her usual exploring. We have the same routine every time it’s one of mine or my siblings birthdays, so I wait while Adam and Jasmine set up a game to play. Not long later, Grandmother and Mum come in.

“Go on, then,” Grandmother smiles, getting her camera ready. “I know you’re brimming with excitement to get stuck in!”

That’s not really true as I’m past the insane thrill that would fill me at the idea of presents when I was younger, but that doesn’t mean I’m ungrateful to see what surprises they’ve prepared for me. I rip into them, starting with the book looking ones, happily pulling out edition after edition. I have a feeling, as I’m picking out so many books I want and don’t have, that they must have spoken with Mum, though that’s more than okay with me!

Aside from the nine books they got me, I also unwrap a lovely new blue cloak with silver and gold hand sewn embroidery all over it that I love, a gift card to a clothes shop, another animated stuffed fox of a new variety for my collection, a new pair of shoes, very expensive new quills from their travels, a luxury wand cleaning kit and tickets to an opera. Lastly, as always, they got me a cute, animated stuffed fox plush. I don’t know where this one is from. It’s made from a type of cloth I’ve never seen before, and smells like spices. I put it on my lap before beaming up at them. “This is lovely, thank you both so much!”

Even Grandfather smiles. “It’s our pleasure,” he says. “Come, tell us what you got from your parents. Where is that tea?”

“Oh, that reminds me,” Grandmother says, encouraging me to sit next to her. I do. “Weemy had her baby and Porby’s sick, so things are a little slow at the moment.”

Mum smiles. “Oh that’s nice for Weemy. Aubrey, why not tell them what you got.”

I know what she’s doing, so I mess with her a little. “I got some clothes and new books, and some licorice root,” I say simply.

“Oh, how lovely,” Grandmother smiles.

“And?” Mum pushes.

“I got a Family Magic book!”

They’re obviously very pleased as I get a lot of excitement from them both, and Grandfather sits up more in his chair to question me. “Have you started reading it?”

“Not yet, we came directly after to see you.”

“You know to keep it safe, and you can’t take it to Hogwarts?”

“I do, Grandfather, I swear.”

“And you need to practice what you learn there with someone who knows, so don’t try anything alone,” he further warns, utterly serious.

I frown. “But Papa’s always busy, there isn’t anyone that can teach me.”

“Then I’ll teach you, until we leave for Hungary. I expect you’ll be as attentive as you are in school.”

I nod quickly. “I will be. Thank you!” This is a great present!

He nods and sits back. “We have one more for you. Here.”

Out of his pocket, he pulls a small box, barely the size of his palm. I go to him and take it.

“Back in the war, I did a lot I’m not so proud of,” he says heavily, referring not to You-Know-Who but to Grindelwald. “But as one of the last five from my platoon, we’ve a lot of good luck charms. I think you could use one yourself, with how the Magical World goes.”

I curiously open the plain lid to find a thin metal chain with a beautiful little sapphire set in it. I blinked at him largely.

“This was the necklace of the commander we served under. Well, his late wife’s.” He’s never spoken of the war around me, ever, so I listen closely. It’s obviously a painful subject. “His wife died late in the war, and since his death it got passed to me with some other belongings. I don’t think something so useful should sit on a shelf, so I spoke to everyone and we’re distributing what we have to the children of our family. This was our commander’s good luck charm - and a symbol of his faith. May it bring you fortune and luck in all battles you face.”

I see in his face his pain and relief to have finished speaking. It pulls deep at my memories of similar times in my past life, of watching my friends and loved ones dying painful deaths at the hands of enemies. Silent, understanding tears spill on my cheeks as I Observe the necklace.

The Promised Necklace

Age - 59

Durability - 2,500

MP - 22,855

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Formally owned by Juliana Lueders, she gave this prized family heirloom to her husband, Leonhard Lueders, when he joined the fight against Grindelwald. Imbued with generations of magic, the family now believes it destroyed to time

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

+25 Luck

+10% chance of finding a romantically compatible partner

I swallow and smile up at him. “Thank you. I’ll treasure it.”

He nods and helps me put it on, where the small emerald sits in the centre of my sternum, about the size of my thumb. I can’t imagine the strength it must have taken for him and his fellow last remaining platoon members to distribute their friends' belongings to their family, but I am grateful both for the gift and my Grandfather's show of strength. I don’t think I would have done the same in my past life.

When the necklace has been hooked, I get the ping of a Quest Alert. Thankfully, the tea appears so I have a chance to sniffle my tears away behind my mug and look at the new Quest.

Special Quest Alert -

The Curse in the Green Grass

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Objective -

Help remove the Curse on Clan Greengrass

OR

Worsen the Curse on Clan Greengrass

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bonus Objective -

Learn who put the curse on the Family Line

Fix the Cuse without bloodshed

??

OR

Strengthen the Curse

End the Greengrass Line in a painful way

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rewards -

+25,000 xp

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bonus Rewards -

??

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Failure -

+1,000 xp

-1 Political Visibility

That’s a special Quest indeed. The Greengrass line - of course I know them! Daphne, my weekly dance partner, is a Greengrass! Before I bring it up to her, I’ll do some research on the necklace to see exactly how it relates to them. That’ll be another summer project I suppose. As for my Political Visibility going down, I’m not sure yet if that’s a positive or negative - it’s yet another thing to add to the list of things I need to stay aware of.

My wish of a pleasant summer with my family is quickly being ruined.

The day goes on nicely with a special snack of crêpes with every type of filling and topping imaginable to compliment. Even Tala, who appears for only a moment, has a small plate of meat appear for her. She’s as happy with that as we are with our treat.

After eating, Grandfather pulls me aside while Mum and Grandmother are doting on Jasmine and Adam. We’ve had only one other conversation alone before, so I’m very curious about what he wants to talk about. It’s wonderfully hot outside, and we begin a stroll around the garden with Tala trotting behind us.

The gardens of Hawthorne Manor are perfectly maintained pathways through large flower beds with tall shrubs. While many manor houses prefer long fields of trimmed grass, my grandparents favour winding paths leading to the nursery and greenhouses surrounded by tall flowers and scented bushes. Bees and ladybugs are almost everywhere, and butterflies live with them also. I remember as a child coming out in incredibly expensive clothing digging around in the dirt and making my grandparents laugh at me and my siblings. One winter, when I was seven, they filled one of the forever hot greenhouses with tropical butterflies. It’d been beautiful, and we’d had afternoon tea out there.

I feel as I begin to sweat under the sun, only for a breeze to cool me when Grandfather silently and Wandlessly applies a few cooling charms.

Only now he speaks up. “I wish to know how you’re coping with not being Expected Heir. Your mother reports you and your father have a strained relationship at present.”

I should have expected it would be about that. “I’m unhappy with the choice, but not because he didn’t choose me. Of course, I was at the time, but now I’m worried about Adam. Both me and Jasmine are readier learners, know multiple languages and enjoy much of what is expected of us by Lord Oghma. It’s not that I think he’s stupid or incapable, but rather that me and Jasmine are better than average and more likely of being picked by Lord Oghma when it comes to it, and our father is holding all of our futures in jeopardy by doing this.”

“If Adam is not chosen as Heir, you may be correct,” Grandfather validates.

“At the time, I admit I was more upset, but I think now it was somewhat selfish. However I maintain that my fathers choice must be fuelled by sexism, as there’s no other explanation for why he chose Adam, or in fact any of us.”

His expression, when I flick my eyes to him, hasn’t changed at all. “It is something to consider,” is all he says to that. “Regardless of his reasons, I understand your upset. It’s not usual for a Hawthorne to act without considering the full evidence or consequences. In general, Hawthorne’s have always respected women's place in the world even before such a thing as sexism was a term. Times have changed and the place of women has changed, there’s no doubt about it, but there has never been a time we haven’t granted respect where it was due. We made girls Expected Heir when it usual to find ways to kill them instead of allow them the power.”

I nod. Human history is full of sexism, but this family, to my suprise, has always made a point of equal respect even when gender roles were more strict. “Has he told you what he did it?” I venture.

“We spoke briefly about it,” he says after a moment. “No more than that.”

We walk in silence for a small time, watching a cabbage butterfly fly ahead of us down the path. Tala disappeared into the flowerbeds some steps back, either to do her business or hunt one of the sweet little creatures that live on the grounds.

“I wonder,” he says suddenly, “why you still don’t talk to him if you say you are no longer upset.”

I shake my head. “It’s not like that, Grandfather. At first I avoided him, yes, but since Yule he’s been too busy to spend time with me.”

“That’s not what he’s told me.”

I frown. “I’ve been writing letters to him and Mama every week of school, and I’ve been trying to get him to spend time with me practising spells or reading books all summer. I promise I haven’t been avoiding him.”

He stops by a bench and sits. I remain standing so I can see him properly. “You say this, but he tells me you’ve been excluding him from letters and turning your cheek when he addresses you.”

This angers me. “I have not!”

He glares at me.

I clear the anger from my face. “I apologise, Grandfather. But I haven’t been doing that, and I can show you all of my letters from mother, and Mama, Adam and Jasmine can all tell you he’s barely been home all summer because of work. He might feel I’m not talking to him, but I’ve never turned away from him when we’ve spoken except directly after he made Adam Expected Heir, and I admit I didn’t go home at Equinox because I was upset he allowed sexism to get in the way of his choice, but again, he has never attempted to write me a letter directly, or made time for me this summer when I’ve asked him to.”

He looks at me for a long moment, critiquing my every word no doubt. “You swear to me you’re not lying?”

“I’m not a liar,” I practically growl. “I swear to you, and I have proof.”

He nods now, looking away from me across to the manor. “Calm yourself. I believe you. However, I think more is happening than just you in your fathers life.”

“I agree, but what do you mean?” I ask, pushing my emotions down as best I can.

“For instance, he has Adam to tutor, even if his choice was questionable. He spends a lot of time here doing that, and he also has his work, and he’s been spending time in the library here studying. Evidently, whatever has caused his actions recently is something far deeper than one thing.”

I frown. “You mean he’s spending lots of time here?”

“Yes,” he says, turning back to me. “Why?”

“He told us he’s at work, and travelling with work for days.”

This makes him freeze. “Does he? He’s been staying here some nights, I believe…”

It’s clear when we both come to the same conclusion.

Dad is lying to us all. He’s lying about his whereabouts, and to his parents to get sympathy.

But why?

“It’s best to leave him to his business,” Grandfather declares, standing. “Let it go, Aubrey.”

I know there’s no point arguing with him as he’s even more stubborn than Grandpa is. I bite my tongue and nod, following him silently into the manor.