Accidental Magic

"Has it arrived yet?"

Marius turned away from the window, his cheeks burning. The owl had arrived, yes, but earlier that morning and without what he wanted. His father already knew that, though.

"I'm sure more post will come tomorrow," his mother said.

He snuck a peek at her and saw that she was helping his little sister, Dorea, with a puzzle. Her eyes were narrowed at his father, however, and it had seemed to catch the attention of his older siblings.

"What hasn't come?" Pollux asked, his black eyes glimmering.

Normally, he'd have been reprimanded for speaking out of turn, but his father just smirked. "Ask your brother."

All five pairs of eyes swung towards him. "N-nothing. It's nothing."

His father threw down his paper, his eyes stormy.

"You're damn well right it's nothing," he said. "In fact, why don't you show us some magic?"

Staring down at his shoes, he said, "I can't."

He could hear both Pollux and Cassiopeia gasp. When he looked back up, his brother's eyes were gleaming, and his sister was smirking. Only Dorea looked upset.

His father picked up his newspaper. "Thought not."

Pollux clapped his hands, looking at the man. "Is Marius a Squi—"

Thankfully, his mother leant over and clipped the boy across the ear.

Looking back to the window, Marius willed the tears to stay inside. He had known he wasn't a wizard for years now, and when his mother had taken him to the Healers the month before, they had confirmed as much.

After a moment, his father cleared his throat. "Can someone shut those dastardly curtains?"

Marius looked over at him, but immediately wished he hadn't.

"Someone with magic," he said, eyes boring into him.

Marius narrowed his own eyes. That wasn't fair; he wasn't that hopeless. Magic or not, he could certainly do something as simple as shutting the curtains.

Just as he reached out his hand to grip the velvet material, however, the curtains whooshed shut.

He scowled and turned around, but no one had a wand in their hand.

His mother clapped. "Marius! You did that, didn't you? Oh, I knew they were wrong!"

Marius went to shake his head, but his father stood up. "Do it again."

He turned back to the curtain, unable to tell his father he hadn't done it. Tears sprung to his eyes again as he stared at them, but before they could fall, the curtains flew open once again.

He turned around, his mouth hanging open. However, the look on his siblings' faces soon brought a smirk to his lips, and it only increased when his father fell back down on his seat.

"Well, then," was all the man could manage to say.

Marius knew he hadn't performed magic, but when he searched his mother's hands, he couldn't see a wand. It was only when he saw Dorea press a chubby finger to her lips that he knew it was okay to keep quiet.

A/N: This story was written for The Houses Competition as a possible alternative to my second drabble entry (honestly, I can't decide which to submit!)

House: Gryffindor

Year/Position: Prefect 1 (Written by a third year stand in)

Category: Drabble

Prompt(s): [Prompt] Accidental Magic - actual occurrence must be described

Word count: 495 words (according to Google docs)

I'd like to thank my wonderful betas and helpers Cara (Lenore483), Alana (Divergent4Everdeen), CK (Theoreticaloptimist) and Shay (ipsa dixit), Emma (public static void) and Victoria (extramundane epeolatry)!