Welcome to Gaia! ::

“Leave me alone!” Emmeline Vance swatted at the bird that wouldn’t stop flapping after her as she stalked away from it through her yard and down the street in an attempt to make it give up on her. Usually, she liked animals, but this one kept following her and pecking at her arms. She spun around and glared at the creature. “What is your problem?” she demanded furiously.

People stared at her, and she realised that she probably looked ridiculous yelling at a random owl that was outside during the day, but she didn’t care. Emmeline rarely cared about anything.

“Dere’s somefing on its foot!” exclaimed a three year-old Muggle boy. He was one of Emmeline’s neighbours that she’d never bothered to learn the name of.

Emmeline swore, making the mother of the boy gasp and pull her child away into the house. Irritated with herself for not noticing the post, Emmeline crouched down and untied the letter from the owl’s foot. A second later, it flew off. It seemed as glad to be rid of Emmeline as she was to be rid of it.

“How was I supposed to know?” Emmeline grumbled. “No one ever writes to me or Deborah.” Upon opening the letter and reading its contents Emmeline groaned and swore again. She raced home to her mother, the only other occupant of the small house in which she lived, and unceremoniously threw the letter onto the table. “Let’s pack. Someone knows where we are.”

Deborah finished washing her hands, which were dirty from gardening, and went to the table to see what had her only living child so agitated. “Emmeline, I’ve told you; we aren’t on the run anymore.”

Emmeline didn’t answer and waited for her mother to read the document.

After a moment, Deborah gasped. “Because we’d moved around so much and changed our names for a while, I was sure that no one would find you and invite you to a school. This is wonderful, Emmeline!”

Seeing her mother smile was unusual and it piqued Emmeline’s curiosity. She moved closer and reread the letter of acceptance into Hogwarts as well as a list of school supplies. “Can we afford this?”

Deborah nodded. “I’ve been a successful gardener for years now, and since there’s only you and me…” Rather than complete the terrible thought, she said instead, “Yes, we can afford it.”

Emmeline considered the possibility of leaving home for this odd Hogwarts place that her mother had mentioned only thrice. “I don’t want to go.”

“What?” Deborah choked. “You don’t want an education in magic?”

Emmeline snorted. “Why would I want to go to a place where I have to get up early, wear uncomfortable clothes, and listen to adults that don’t know me tell me what to do?”

“Don’t be so childish!” Deborah rarely got angry. Events in her life had drained her, and feeling strong emotions was uncommon. Now, however, she seemed vexed. “You should be thankful for this chance you’ve been given.”

Her daughter, on the other hand, hand plenty of emotion, which tended to manifest itself in fury. “I don’t want to leave you and Sam!” Emmeline shouted. Then, she lowered her voice: “Unless, you want me to leave.” The stubborn eleven year-old made sure that she still sounded enraged rather than insecure, though that didn’t prevent her mother from becoming aware of how she truly felt.

She hugged Emmeline around the shoulders and tried not to feel hurt when she twisted out of grasp. “Of course I don’t want to be without you, but - even though I’d miss you – I’d be happy knowing that you were learning and making friends.”

“I have Sam. I don’t need other friends.” Emmeline sounded annoyed rather than angry at that point, so Deborah knew she had succeeded in assuring her that she wasn’t eager for her to depart.

Knowing there wasn’t much else she could say about the subject that day, Deborah headed back outside to tend to her own flowers now that she was finished with her clients’. “I think that Sapphire will be going, too.”

“Really?” For the first time, Emmeline seemed as if she might be intrigued by school. “Can I go ask her?”

“Sure.”

Many parents wouldn’t allow their children to wander through the city of Dublin alone, but Deborah didn’t worry about Emmeline’s physical safety often since she was aware that the girl could take care of herself better than most. What sometimes worried her was Emmeline’s emotional well-being, and that her daughter didn’t have any friends aside from one that she seemed inordinately interested in.



“Exfoliating soaps, suitable clothes for the weekends, some classic literature, the new violin, cat food for Fiona…”

Sapphire Anastasia McGonagall, dubbed “Sam” by her best friend due to her initials, tried to listen as her mother listed items for the family house-elf Vesta to pack for Sapphire to bring to Hogwarts, but that had been over an hour ago, and Sapphire was getting restless like any eleven year-old would.

Katelyn McGonagall only stopped rattling off items when Vesta raised her hand and awaited permission to speak. “Yes?” Katelyn asked respectively, behaving with the lady’s courtesy she’d been trained to have.

“I think that I hear someone at the door, Mistress.” As if on cue, the tinkling of a bell rang throughout the mansion.

“Go see who-” Katelyn’s order was cut off by her daughter’s delighted squeal.

“It’s Emmie!” She nearly bounced with excitement as she looked out of the window.

“Sapphire,” scolded Katelyn, “were you spoken to?”

The large, dark blue eyes for which Sapphire had been named stared guilty at the delicate hands that she twisting in the lap of her silk dress. “No, Mummy.”

“So, should you have spoken?”

“No, Mummy, not if Daddy were here, but he’s in the study,” Sapphire pointed out, still keeping her gaze dutifully averted.

Katelyn pursed her painted lips. “That’s true, and be glad of it. Still, even in the company of women, you shouldn’t squeal like a pig or a street urchin. Are you a pig or a street urchin?”

“No, Mummy.” The bell tinkled again, and Sapphire successfully subdued the unladylike urge to squirm impatiently in her seat.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Sapphire McGonagall, heiress to the McGonagall Estate.” The title had been imbedded in her skull since babyhood, and reciting it was as easy as breathing.

“Exactly.” Katelyn nodded approvingly. “See that you conduct yourself as such.”

Sapphire finally looked up. “Excuse me, Mummy?”

“Yes?”

“May I go answer the door?” Her question was perfectly polite without a hint of eagerness.

“A lady never answers her own door, but you may wait in the parlour and I’ll have Vesta send her in to you.”

“Yes, Mummy.” Sapphire stood and walked with an even, poised gait out of the room. When she was certain that her mother could no longer see her, she lifted her long skirt and ran excitedly down the polished staircase. Vesta was padding softly behind her.

The girl was tempted to open the door herself so she could see her friend sooner, however, she knew that would be going too far, hence she resumed her dignified steps and headed into the parlour. She arranged her skirts in a skillful fashion that spoke of years of practise, and sat on a white chair with rose-coloured cushions, trying not to fidget.

The glass door to the open-aired sitting room opened and Vesta’s high-pitched voice announced, “Presenting Miss Emmeline Vance.”

“Thank you, Vesty.” Sapphire stood to greet her guest as befit the manners of a good hostess. It surprised her when Em did not immediately enter to greet her in return. Instead, she heard Em’s tone outside of the room adopting a mock male announcer’s one. “Presenting the one, the only, Vance with a Lance!” Em leapt into view while holding her arm extended in front of her in which she was holding a rolled up piece of parchment.

Emmeline was rarely dramatic. Theatre was something that interested Sapphire, not Emmeline. As a result, the gesture was more shocking than it would have been coming from any other child that Sapphire knew. It caused Sapphire to fall back into her seat, clutching her stomach as she giggled in what her parents would undoubtedly deem an undignified act.

Emmeline watched her. She did that often, and it never occurred to Sapphire to question why.

Once Sapphire regained the composure of ‘a lady befit of your station,’ as her parents frequently put it, she inquired, “What is that?” She waved her violinist’s hand to indicate the object in Emmeline’s dirty grasp.

“A letter.” Emmeline reached out to give it to Sapphire, who obligingly took it. When their fingers touched, Sapphire didn’t notice the dirt, proving that – even if she came close - she’d never be able to be precisely the type of sophisticate that her parents desired.

“You got one, too!” Sapphire emitted a forbidden squeal and hugged Emmeline’s cotton-clothed body against her silk-covered one without reserve.

“You hurt my ear,” Emmeline complained. Nonetheless, she hugged her friend in return before pushing her away. “And you were choking me.”

“Was I really?” she gasped in concern.

“No.” Emmeline rolled her eyes at Sapphire’s characteristic naivety. “So…’too?’ As in, you’re going?”

Sapphire nodded emphatically. “Yes! I’ve known for ages, of course, what with Auntie Minnie being Deputy Headmistress-”

“’Of course,’” repeated Emmeline under her breath, half-aggravated and half-amused.

Without hearing her, Sapphire quickly and earnestly continued, “-but the official letter came today! It’s standard to send them towards the end of July, you know? Anyway, I’m so glad that you’re going! It’ll be much more fun with you there, and we can eat together everyday...” Sapphire trailed off as she considered it. “Actually, we might not get to eat together. We might be in rival Houses. Oh, I hope not!” Now, she began to speak as swiftly as before, but in an anxious rather than excited way. “Suppose we’re forbidden from spending time together, and our dorm mates are horrible and threaten us if we don’t stay apart? What if the professors take House points away if we’re caught fraternising with the enemy?”

Some may have attempted to console Sapphire’s unnecessary frets, but her insensitive best friend wasn’t one of them. “Don’t be so ridiculous, Sam. I’ll make sure we’re in the same House, and if anyone gives you problems for fraternising or anything else, then just let me know and it won’t happen again.”

Sapphire smiled. “You’re right; I’m being ridiculous. I’m sure that all of our dorm mates and professors will be wonderful.”

“Uh, don’t you think you’re being TOO optimistic? I’m betting that that anyone who wants to go to a place named after a hog’s warts is a prat. I’ll just be glad if they leave us alone.”

“Sce-ep-ti-cal!” Sapphire shook her finger in a different direction with each syllable in pretend disapproval. “But I know you’ll see the light in the end!”

“Everyone sees the light when they reach the end,” she dryly answered.

“Emmie!” Sapphire reprimanded her companion’s morbid humour.

Emmeline shrugged.

Sapphire wondered what they ought to do when an idea struck her. “I’m going to Floo Auntie Minnie to ask her something. I’ll be right back.” She rushed out of the room and up the stairs until she reached the floor where her father’s study was located.

“Who is it?” asked a deep voice with a thick Irish accent.

“It’s Sapphire, Daddy.” The door was pulled ajar a moment later and Sapphire curtsied to the well-dressed, black-haired man before her. Sapphire’s own hair was strawberry blonde like her mother’s.

“Yes, my little princess?” Apollo McGonagall asked with a smile. Katelyn would have preferred Sapphire to be calling her parents Sir and Ma’am by this age, however, Apollo found ‘Mummy and Daddy’ too endearing, so he overruled her. As Katelyn taught Sapphire, it was a woman’s place to defer to her husband’s wishes.

‘May I Floo Auntie Minnie, please?”

“I sent her a letter earlier making sure that the boys are still unable to go into the girls’ dormitories, like when she and I went to school, so that your reputation won’t be compromised if one of your dorm mates is a bit too – ahem –friendly. Though, you may certainly speak to her yourself if there’s anything that you would like to say.” He stood aside to let her enter. “Who was at the door earlier?”

“Emmie,” Sapphire replied brightly as she came in and retrieved the magical powder.

“The one that calls you Sam instead of the beautiful name that we gave you?” Sapphire knew that ‘we’ meant ‘your mother and I.’

“I like being called Sam and Sapphire.” She knelt down in front of the fire. “And princess,” she added as an afterthought. Unwise spectators might have accused Sapphire of being manipulative by adding that, however, a wiser individual would realise that Sapphire didn’t have a conniving bone in her body. Truthfully, it would have been beneficial if she did.

Apollo beamed down at her. “It’s not damaging to the family’s reputation, so I guess it can’t hurt. Besides, that Emmeline needs a well-bred girl to be a good influence on her.”

Sapphire wasn’t listening anymore. She had proclaimed her aunt’s location aloud and stuck her head into the green flames.

24th of July 1971, 11:21, head in Hogwarts Transfiguration Office in Scotland and body in Dublin

Sapphire fought down the urge to grimace at the discomfort of being separated from her body through the Floo network and asked her aunt politely, "When is the best day to go to Diagon Alley? I don't want it to be too crowded because I want Emmie to come with me when I go, and she doesn't like being around lots of people."

Before she received the answer to her first question, more inquiries came pouring out. "Why doesn't Daddy want boys in the dorm, even if they're talking to another girl, not me? What does he mean about my reputation?

"The Hat is still how we get Sorted, right? It probably gets tired after all of that work, and I wanted to bring It a gift, but I'm not sure what kind of things to give a Hat. I'm already planning on making sure Mum doesn't put barrettes in my hair that might poke the Hat, but I just wanted to do something else nice for It.

"Do you think Emmie and I will be in the same House? I don't think we get in trouble for befriending people in other Houses. I'm not wrong about that, am I? I hope not because it would be really hard for me to have to dislike people just because their uniform's tie was a different colour from mine. I think that all of Houses seem interesting. You won't be angry with me if I'm not in your House, will you?" Sapphire twisted her fingers anxiously despite the fact that the digits were across the sea in her father's study, nowhere near where her aunt could see them.

24th of July 1971, 11:25, McGonagall Manor in Dublin

"Hey, Fi." Emmeline pet the back of Sapphire's white cat as she waited impatiently for her best friend to return to the overly-fancy parlour that smelled like Katelyn McGonagall's expensive, suffocating perfume. "You going to that place with hog's warts, too?" She took the cat's purr as an affirmative. "Good. With both of us there, Sam shouldn't need anyone else."

24th of July 1971, 13:35, Lupin Cottage in Suffolk, England

"John, what in Merlin's name are you looking for?" Faith's husband had been staring out of the window for hours and refused to tell her why. She was determined to have her answer now.

He sighed and took her hand. "The wizarding schools send out letters today. It was foolish of me, but I still hoped..."

"Oh, John, please tell me that you didn't say anything to Remus?" she asked in concern.

He looked faintly surprised. "Of course I didn't. I wouldn't set him up for disappointment like that."

Faith sighed also, though hers was one of relief. "Good, because if you had -" Abruptly, she ceased speaking as she heard footsteps outside of the kitchen.

Remus Lupin entered to find his parents oddly silent. All three of the Lupins were quiet people by nature, however, being the astute boy that he was, Remus immediately ascertained that they had been discussing an ‘adult’ subject. Remus did not feel put off by being excluded; he simply hoped that they weren’t talking about him again. His parents worried about him too much already.

“I practised that spell like you told me to hours ago, but after I finished I didn’t want to bother you so soon after lunch, so I finished rereading The Hobbit. Now, though, I can’t think of anything else to do, and I was wondering if you wanted to…” Remus scarcely ever asked for anything, and almost decided not to vocalise his request, but in he end he forced himself to complete his thought. “…play a game with me.”

John put his hand on Remus’ shoulder. He was pleased that his son had worked on the magic he and Faith had been teaching him for the past two years since they knew werewolves never went to wizarding school. However, he was less pleased about the fact that Remus still fretted about bothering them because he never did anything of the sort. “We’d be happy to play with you, Remus.”

“Yes. Would you prefer a card game, board game, or word game?” Faith inquired with a smile. Remus was always limited to these options since his parents, especially Faith, did not want to risk Remus injuring himself in a physical activity. Because the Lupins lived in self-imposed isolation, Remus did not socialise with other children and assumed all families’ households functioned in a similar calm fashion. Besides, Remus was inherently more of a thinker than a doer, and didn’t desire to be rowdy anyway. Well, not usually, but there were exceptions, such as…”By the way, Remy, I only heard you right outside of the kitchen. Why didn’t I hear you walking down the stairs?”

Lies were something that Remus despised even though his parents had repeatedly informed him that when he went out into the ‘real world’ he’d need to tell them to protect himself. He answered truthfully, “I slid down the banister.” Remus had known before he’d done it that he’d feel guilty about it later, yet he had foolishly done it in spite of that. He did not feel guilty about the sliding itself, but he loathed the anxiety that formed on his mother’s face.

“Why would you do such a thing? What if you’d gotten hurt? Promise me that you won’t do it again.”

‘I’m not made of glass,’ Remus wanted to say, not for the first time in his young life. Although, he was aware that his parents’ protectiveness only stemmed from the goodness of their hearts that loved him, and because he was grateful to have them as his guardians he would never say something remotely obnoxious. “I promise,” he vowed instead of complaining.

“Thank you,” said Faith appreciatively.

“What did you want to play?” John questioned Remus.

“Why don’t you choose?” Remus offered. “You’re working late at St. Mungo’s tomorrow, so Mum and I will get another chance to do something, but you won’t.”

“In that case, I’ll pick…” he paused dramatically, glancing at his wife with twinkling eyes. “Scrabble.”

“Oh, no,” Faith emitted a faux gasp of dismay, “but Remy always wins when we play that.”

Remus chuckled. “Only because you let me.”

John and Faith didn’t bother to deny it since Remus was not offended. Sometimes, they allowed him to defeat them in hopes that he would develop self-confidence. It hadn’t been successful so far. Remus recognised his own intelligence, but - from what they were able to surmise - he continued to perceive himself as a burden and did not like himself very much.

“I’ll set up the board,” Faith announced cheerfully.

“I’ll put on the Thinking Music.” John retrieved the family’s favourite Mozart record.

Remus wished to help too, and almost instantly something all of them would want sprang to the forefront of his mind. “I’ll make the hot chocolate.”

24th of July 1971, 11:30, head in Hogwarts Transfiguration Office in Scotland and body in Dublin

Sapphire invariably had more inquiries at her disposal, however, she did not have anything else relevant to say at the moment, hence she smiled and responded, "No, that's all. Thank you, Auntie Minnie. See you in a about a month."

After her aunt bid her farewell, Sapphire retracted her head from the fireplace.

"Everything all right?" Apollo asked.

Sapphire nodded. Her knees were a bit sore, but wizards did not have other ways of conversing over vast distances. Sapphire thought that Emmeline's telephone was much easier to use.

"Thanks for letting me use your fireplace, Daddy. I'd better not keep my guest waiting." She curtsied and left, leaving her father beaming proudly at his well-mannered daughter.

"Finally," muttered Emmeline when Sapphire returned to the parlour.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Sapphire apologised, "but I found out something useful. The best time for us to go to Diagon Alley is a weekday because it will be less crowded."

"'Kay." Emmeline was grateful for Sapphire's consideration, but expressing gratitude had never been her forte.

"How about around the 30th?" suggested Sapphire. "It's going to take until then for Mummy to pack all sorts of clothes. She means well, but I probably won't wear them since we wear uniforms most of the time."

"Tell her not to pack 'em." Emmeline rolled her eyes when Sapphire emitted an appalled gasp at the concept of questioning her elders. "Forget it. What do you want to do?"

"Charades?"

The unsocial girl was not fond of that game, but Sapphire was smiling brightly because she loved to act, and Emmeline couldn't bear to disappoint her. "Sure."

10:06 A.M
July 24th, 1971
Godric Hollows, Ariel Minesca's Home

“Gran, have you seen my box of sugar quills anywhere?” I ask as I walk out of the kitchen. I am rather perplexed by the missing sweets. I can remember them being on my desk last night before I fell asleep over my book, but now they don’t seem to be anywhere in my room. It’s not like boxes spontaneously grow legs and walk away, that’s just silly. Still, something took them out of my room, and I’m curious as to where they got taken to.

“No dear, I haven’t seen your quills, but I have seen some parchment of yours you should have a look at.” my Gran’s warm voice replied from where she sat by the window in her favorite relaxing chair. I turn towards her, now that she had gained my attention. She is working on another of her knitting projects, probably a scarf by the looks of it. She gives a side gesture towards the circular table beside her chair and smiles without looking up at me. Gran’s got her own kind of magic, that has nothing to do with her being a witch. I love that about her.

On the table is a parchment envelope, I hop over to it, recognizing what it is as soon as I saw it. I don’t even have to read the emerald ink, it is my letter to Hogwarts. I finally get to go to Hogwarts! We all do, I mean, if I got a letter, then surely James and Cayden received theirs as well.

“I think we’ll have to go to Diagon Alley soon.” my Gran says setting her knitting project down in the basket by her feet. I nod at her with a huge smile on my face as I read my letter.
“OH!” I exclaimed noticing the notes to students. “I don’t think I can bring Slink with me.”
“Oh no?” my Gran asks
I pull the letter down and show her the part I had just read.
“Well then, we shall have just get you a toad, cat, or owl to keep you company then won’t we.”
That’s Gran, always making the best out of everything, never worrying for a moment.
“Slink might eat the toad if I get one, and if I get an owl it could eat Slink.” I think aloud, my Gran never minds it though.
“Well then, we’ll get a cat. It will be a good replacement for all those soft cuddling hugs you won’t be able to give me while you’re away.”
We both break out in laughter and I wrap my arms around her large middle.
“I’m going to go out and wait for James and Cay, I bet they are on their way.” I tell her as we pull away from each other.
“I think you are right,” she smiled pointing at the window beside the front door, I followed her finger and saw my friends in the distance running towards my home. I run out the front door to meet them, leaving Gran laughing behind me.

****************
****************

9:51
July 24th, 1971
12 Grimmauld Place, London

One sentence. That's a new record for me, and one I'm all for never breaking. Ever.
I can't help it though, besides the need for pepper for my eggs, I haven't really needed to say anything. Not really.
I've been purposefully eating slower than I normally would just so the waiting doesn't become some prolonged period of me driving myself insane. I'd rather not become my mother if I can prevent it. Today's the day though, the day I get my letter to Hogwarts and my life is going to change. I'll get to leave this forsaken house and my parents, who continue to ignore me and my brother this morning by arguing over some recent ruling by the Ministry. Again.

I swear, I'll be glad to hear some other view points about how the magical world should be run over breakfast for once. Wait, no. No, if that happens at school I'll jinx the fool who started that conversation. I can't wait to get myself a proper wand too, then I can stop using the one Mum and Dad gave me a few years ago that belonged to some old and dead relative who I could care less about. I wonder what wood I'll end up with? I hope it's nothing girly like willow. I think I'd take my ancestor’s with me then. Well, maybe not.

Regulus's voice breaks my thoughts and I barely glance up at him. I know he wants to know how nervous I am. But I have never been one to talk about my feelings with anyone, and even if I was, I've never confided anything to my little brother before, and I'm certainly not going to now.
Chess. He wants to play chess with me. I really don't know if I'm up for it so I just give him a shrug.
"I'll see how I feel then."
I really can't say right now how I'll feel after breakfast, so really it's a fair response. Even if it isn't anything like what I know he wants.

10:11 A M.
July 24, 1971
Godric Hollows, Ariel's House

As I came to her house, I saw Ariel was already waiting on us. I smiled to myself.

"So you got one too? Can you believe we are finally going to Hogwarts? And we don't even get to bring our brooms!"

"Of course!" James replied before Ariel could. "We've all have shown magical ability! We've all known we would get in. "

I looked at James with utter shock at his stupidity. "James, you are not very smart. You do know this, correct? I meant are you ready to leave everything here at home to go to Hogwarts? You do know we can't bring our brooms first year." I was dreading this part about Hogwarts. I practiced flying every evening and I hate changing routines.

"What?!? You're kidding right?! Ha, ha, funny Kate! Don't scare me like that! You're joking right?" James looked at us with wide eyes filled with panic.

"No, I'm afraid I'm not kidding."

James then began to run and scream at the same time. "I am going to get Mum to write a letter to Professor Dumbledore! Bye."

"Two Knuts says that Mrs. Jenkins will chase him with her cane again if he doesn't shut up." I said.

Ariel was interrupted before she began again because a scream was heard. "James Potter!"

I began laughing. "Want to go practice on our brooms while we still can?"
We began to walk when I realized I had a question I was itching to ask.

"Oh, I forgot to ask when James was here. When are you going to Diagon Alley? I think James and I are going next week. Mum will be leaving for Italy and will stay there until the 7th. Dad and Charles don't have a day off until the 2nd. Dora doesn't have one until the 6th since she took today off."


10:17 A.M.
July 24th, 1971
Godric Hollow, Running away from Mrs. Jenkins

How do I get her upset every time I come out of my house? "I'm sorry! I promise I am going inside my house and will be quiet the rest of the day."

"You better be! I will make sure your mother knows about this!"

"Okay!" I hurried and got myself inside the house. That lady is a menace. "Mum! Where are you?"

"In the kitchen with Liby and Macee, dear."

I walked to the kitchen. "Mum, can you write a letter to Prof. Dumbledore so I can bring my broom to Hogwarts? I promise you I will die without it so if you want the only Potter male to die and end the line then go ahead."

"Honey, I promise you will not die without your broom."

"Dad and Daniel are both school governors. Couldn't they both pull some strings?"

"I'm sorry James, but they can't. Just because your father and godfather are important to Hogwarts doesn't make the rules not apply to you."

"Fine. I will be going to my room. Until you agree to talk to Prof. Dumbledore for me I will not be coming out."

I marched to my room, swiftly slamming the door and laid on my bed.

This year will torture without my broom.


10:36 A.M.

Being rebellious is not as much fun as it seems. Mum is downstairs and not even attempting to try and fulfill my wishes. I'm sure Kate has probably convinced Ariel to begin our daily flying time without me. I am still unsure why she isn't as upset about the broom rule as I am. She is just obsessed with flying. I've known the girl all my life and half the time I don't understand her.

I was deep in thought when I saw my dad's owl, Gefore, flying towards my window. I was almost sure Mum had already contacted him about my being upset. He is probably owling to tell me he will help me get permission to bring my broom. As soon as Gefore landed, I took the letter and grabbed one of the treats I had laying by my window and threw it at his beak.

I opened it and began to read,

Dear James,

I heard from your mother that you had a fit today. I am extremely disappointed in you. You are 11 years old and you are acting as if you were 2. That is unacceptable. You made your poor mother quite upset. Because of that, I will not try and help you get permission for your broom. You proved today that you are not ready for the responsibility of taking care of something on your own. You are also making me rethink getting you a pet. If I were you, I would apologize to your mother if you want even a glimmer of hope that you will be getting a pet. I will see you when I stop in during lunch at 11:30. If you are still whining in your room, you will not be going to Diagon Alley with us when we go.

Yours,
Your Father


James, I will talk to Dumbledore for you. Don't tell your father. ~Daniel

Have I ever mentioned that I adore my godparents?

10:14 A.M.
July 24th, 1971
Godric Hollows, outside Ariel's home.

I smiled as James once again ran off on one of his personal missions. He's so easily distracted at times. I like how we have that in common.
For now though, my attentions are on Cayden.
"Sure," I reply to her question about playing quidditch, it's rather fun playing with her and James, though I'm not sure if James intends to join us later. He ran away so quickly. "My broom should be up in my room if it didn't decide to go missing last night."
If it did, I do hope my sugar quills are with it. I'd hate for either of them to be alone and missplaced.
I turn slightly to go back inside and make a gesture with my hand for Cayden to follow me.

"I don't know when I'll be going. Gran said something about getting me a cat for school, she might take us if your's and James's guardians can't. Should we ask when we go in?"

10:17 A.M.
July 24th, 1971
Godric Hollows, Ariel's Home.

"Hello dears." my Gran greets us as me and Cayden walk in to the sitting room.
"Hi Gran. We're gonna go play some Quidditch but I want to ask if James and Cayden could come with us when we go to Diagon Alley." I smile and give a hopeful look towards Cayden. "Please." I add softly realizing I hadn't before.

"Oh I don't see why not, so long as their guardians don't mind and give permisson. The more the merrier, after all." my Gran smiled at us both then went back to her knitting.

"Okay, Thanks Gran." I turn to Cayden. "Come on, let's go find my broom." I do hope it's somewhere in my room. I don't think it would be much fun playing Quidditch without one.


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9:56
July 24th, 1971
12 Grimmauld Place, London

That little weasel, no, more like a rat...heh,no....he's acting more like a niffler crossed with an imp. Completely annoying and searching for that secret knowledge about how stressed out I really am about my letter coming. I am starting to wonder how much longer my wait for it is going to be. What time is it? Why don’t we have a clock in the dinning room? Actually that could get annoying when we have those awkwardly quiet meals. I think I would got insane listing to that persistent tick of the second hand. Okay then, clock in the dinning room, bad idea. Yep. What the newt am I thinking about clocks for?

“I expect the post will be here shortly.” My father speaks softly as he raises his teacup to his lips. I give him a sideways glance and he gives me a wink.
Okay, the morning officially just got weird. My father never winks, and that is enough for me, I’ve just lost all will to finish the rest of my breakfast. I scoot my plate forward slightly. If I have to wait for my letter, I think I would prefer to do it alone. I turn myself in my chair to face my father better.

“May I be excused?” I ask him. Though really no matter what he replies I’ll be heading up there. Formalities like this are just a part of my life I guess. I can’t wait for school, none of this ‘just for show’ crap. Just me and what I want to do. It’s going to be great. And yeah, I am aware I’m ignoring my little brother, but hey, that’s why I’m the older brother. He’s used to it though, or at least he should be.