Time isn't always our friend. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, like if you have an exciting date and that you can't wait to go on. However, when the date ends you would give anything to get that time back and experience it all over again. I suppose time is both our enemy and our friend, but it should also be treated with respect. I believe in my short time on this earth I have had time as my enemy and as my friend, and at this point I only see it as a blur.
I can't exactly pin point where this realization came to me, but as I woke up on my 31st birthday 5 months ago I just felt like I couldn't be bothered to continue to count the seconds, minutes, days, weeks or even years. Even as the years have passed I remember everything as clear as day, even if time wills me to forget. I am 31 a single mother with two amazing daughters and a loving boyfriend. My girls are my world and I wouldn't trade them for anything, and I am grateful for their mere existence. Nevertheless sad things happen, my mother passed away due to breast cancer and my father is most likely drunk….. Somewhere.
Anyways it isn't like I am complaining about my life. My girls are my whole world, I have a great job I am the number one forensics analyst in the country (thank you very much) and I've recently started dating this guy. I've got so much to be thankful for that I shouldn't ever stress about time slipping away from me. I should ignore those crow's feet subtly making their appearance at the corner of my eyes. I will even ignore the fact that I found a strand of gray hair last week.
There are things however that in good conscience I cannot and will not ignore. The fact that my girls will be 11 years old in two weeks and that I've been dating the most amazing man for almost a year now. However the most amazing testament to time are the two letters I am holding in my hands as we speak.
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Ms. Aria Rose Granger
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all the necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
'Dear Ms. Mia Lynn Granger' the other letter started. Now I knew that my girls would be wizards with me being their mother and their father being more or less of pureblood. Not that I give a hippogriffs backside what the bloody hell he claimed he was. I am however extremely pleased to receive the letters and I am sure the girls would be too.
"Ari! Mia! Come downstairs you've both received post" I yelled up the stairs hoping they would hear me. It is always something with the girls they are either listening to music too loud, on their computers, or just spending time together. They each have their own rooms connected by a shared bathroom. I thought this would make it easier for them to still have separate lives, but be able to be close enough to each other.
Aria and Mia are twins, and they were born March 15th. I don't remember much about their birth seeing as I was sedated. Emergency C-section, I decided to go about birth the muggle way. Not realizing that I would have to have a C-section, if I had known that I would have just gone to St. Mungo's. However time being unforgiving I can't really continue to dwell on it any longer. Just this lovely scar that goes from hip to hip, which makes wearing a bikini so much more fun.
"Mum, do you mind if Brita and Jamie come over tonight for a sleep over" Ari yells from the top of the stairs.
"I don't mind, I would like to speak with their mothers. First come get the post, both of you now" I yell back. The girls come running down the stairs Mia sliding down the bannister.
"Mia what have I told you about doing that?"
"That I should never let you see me do it?" Mia responds back cheekily.
"You know I have half a mind not to give you your letters of acceptance" I say back smugly with a grin.
All at once I heard yells of excitement as the girls snatched the letters out of my hand, looking at them and switching them with each other.
"This is so exciting mum! Brit got her letter last week, and I thought that Mia and I weren't going to get them" Aria says rushed.
"I'm not as excited to go to the school of beautiful sticks" Mia rolled her eyes "But I am excited to start formally learning magic. Maybe I can start a Quidditch club there.."
I looked at both of the girls and chewed on my bottom lip. They wouldn't be happy to see exactly where the letters came from, so I waited patiently for them to read it.
"Mum. Mum this can't be right." Ari said with panic in her voice
"Is this for real? We. We're going to Hogwarts instead of Beauxbatons?" Mia exclaimed excitedly
"I am not going to bloody Hogwarts. I do not want to go to that classless and barbaric school" Cried Ari
"It's not classless you uppity twit" Mia yelled.
"First of all I will not tolerate that language out of either of you! Is that understood? I don't know where you are learning it but I know it isn't from me." I scolded the girls.
"We're sorry mum" they say in unison
"Now, I do not know why you guys received letters from Hogwarts and not Beauxbatons. I supposed I will have to have a chat with Minerva. Until then girls it looks like you will be back in London in the fall." I tell them.
"Mum this isn't what we agreed on." Ari said with tears in her eyes.
"Its really not a matter on what was agreed upon Ari. We said that we would talk about both schools properly. We never got the chance I thought we would when you both turned 11. Which is in two weeks" I say trying to placate Ari.
"Mum, it will be fine. I'm sure you will figure it out. " Mia said calmly as she grabbed Aria's hand to lead her back up the stairs
As I watched the girls retreating figures, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was still holding onto and plopped down on the couch. With my head in my hands I racked my brain to figure out the best course of action in the events Minerva doesn't have the answers. I couldn't possible send the girls to separate schools, and I didn't want to have Ari home schooled either. It was quite the conundrum, one that would have to wait as the doorbell rang.
Walking to the front door I run my hands through my hair and open the door without pause.
"Why aren't you a sight for sore eyes, Granger" Malfoy smirked at me leaning against the doorframe.
Great, just what I needed.
"What are you doing here Draco? Shouldn't you be off terrorizing some other poor family," I sighed as I let him through the door. "Well hey there honey. The girls are in their rooms" I say to a tiny blonde girl with eyes the same color as her father.
"Thanks Hermy" Cassie said politely
"Please honey, call me Hermione or Mione. Just not that" I say softly. I stare at Draco as his daughter Cassie runs up the stairs towards Mia's room, not even listening to my request.
Laughing Draco says "You've really have to lighten up there Granger. It's just a nickname."
"Shut it Ferret. It's not just a nickname. It's like calling me germy… and it reminds me of a muggle STD." I say shuttering
"What's an STD?" Malfoy asked cocking his head to the left
"You don't want to know. So," I say briskly as I walk to the kitchen. "What do I owe for this intrusion of my life?"
"I would love to answer that with an equally hurtful statement. Honestly Granger," Draco dramatically put his hand over his chest "You wound me, and here I thought you would love to see one of your oldest friends"
I snort with laughter "Right, because that's what you are. Would you like some coffee?"
"Yes, please"
I prepare his coffee the way he likes, since Cassie and Mia became friends five years ago I've gotten to know the ferret and his daughter rather well. Malfoy was married to some uptight pureblooded twat, and when their first born wasn't a boy and doctors told her that she wouldn't be able to conceive again she lost it. Despite how dreadful the woman was, no one should ever take their own life. Poor Cassie left in this world with no mother.
"Seriously Draco, what are you doing here? It isn't like you to just drop by without warning." I say as I blow on my own tea.
"This is true. The thing is," Draco sighs deeply "Cassie received her acceptance letter. Of course I had no doubt she would, it's just."
Draco stops and stares at his coffee deep in thought.
"It's just that she received her acceptance letter to Hogwarts" I finish for him folding my arms and leaning back to look at him.
"Precisely! I figured the twins received the same?" He said sitting up straight
"Yes they did. Ari was quite put out. I was going to contact Minerva to ask her if there was some sort of mix-up. The girls have never even stepped a foot in London."
"Same with Cassiopeia, for reasons I'm sure you understand"
"Yes, I understand. I think I'll floo Minerva to see if you have a moment to come speak with us. Are you alright with speaking with her in front of me?" I ask hesitantly. Draco for as close and she and him were, she knew there were some boundaries that they both erected as to not overstep.
"It's perfectly alright. Two birds' one stone and all that" he says as he dusts an invisible spec of lint off of his shirt.
Shaking my head while laughing to myself I leave the kitchen to enter the living room to use the fireplace. Even though I live in the muggle part of France, I still keep my floo hooked up to contact other people in the Wizarding world. Albeit, it's a small number.
"Minerva McGonagall" I say clearly into the fire place. It takes a few minutes for her face to appear in the fire.
"This is a pleasant surprise Ms. Granger, though not unexpected." Minerva sighed tiredly "I can only assume you are calling regarding the girls letters?"
"Correct you are. Would you mind stepping through for a quick chat?"
"Yes my dear I will be over in a moment"
With that Minerva was gone, and the bell on the fire place alarm tinkled. Out stepped Minerva in her dark purple and green robes and her hair in a tight bun. Lips pursed she regarded me with an apologetic look.
"Why don't we talk in the kitchen Minerva, I can get you a cuppa." I say politely "There is another person who would like to speak with you regarding this topic."
Minerva looked at me quizzically. Of course she doesn't know its Draco Malfoy, no one that I used to associate with has heard from him in over 5 years. So no one knows of the friendship we share, and what is going on in his personal life.
"Professor McGonagall, it is a pleasure to see you again." Draco says smoothly as he stands to shake her hand.
"I must say this is quite a surprise. No one has heard from you in years Mr. Malfoy, but please just call me Minerva you are hardly my student."
"Of course" Malfoy says as he sits down.
"Minerva," I start as I place a cup of tea in front of her "Both Draco and I received letters for our girls regarding acceptance to Hogwarts. No offense, however we live in France and were hoping for our girls to go to Beauxbatons instead. This is after all our home." I finish calmly
My mother always told me a soft tongue turns away wrath. I would never dare raise my voice with Minerva. I respected her too much, and I would never want to have a confrontation either.
Minerva calmly regarded us with her eyes, sighed and began to speak.
"It's a very unfortunate circumstance, and I apologize that neither one of you were made aware of this beforehand. There are old laws that are in affect here. Since both you and Draco are British born with British blood and ties to the land, your offspring must attend the school of their parents' blood. There are exceptions to the rule of course, Ms. Granger say the twins' father was of French blood or Spanish blood they would be given the opportunity to attend either Hogwarts of Beauxbatons."
"That is absolutely absurd professor," Draco steamed "My parents had the chance to send me to Durmstrang, however mother said it wouldn't be in the best interest to send me there. What do you make of that?"
"Mr. Malfoy, that would have been impossible. Your father and mother knew that, hence why you were at Hogwarts instead."
"Draco sit down please," I tell him sternly "Minerva isn't there anything that we could do? This doesn't seem fair, the girls lives are here all of their friends. They have never known anything but France. Can we appeal this law, or begin the process anything? I can't imagine we are the only people whose children are required to return to Hogwarts. Many families left England after the second war." I blabbered on.
"Ms. Granger you are correct there is quite an influx of foreign students attending this year. Also, if there are enough complaints you can possibly file against this law. It wouldn't be easy, but many other parents have shared the same reaction."
"Professor who are the families? I believe it would be prudent to contact them to get the ball rolling on this case. I can hire my solicitor." Draco stated.
"Generally this is against the rules, but since it would be imperative for your case to have these names I will give them to you." Minerva shifted uncomfortable.
Minerva wove her wand and a list appeared on the table. Who knew so many of our classmates left London after the war, now only to be summoned back?
"It has been a pleasant visit Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy however I must return to Hogwarts," Minerva regarded us both with a look then pleadingly said "Hogwarts really isn't that bad. I hope you reconsider and let your children stay with us. It would be a great addition to the magical community in London."
Draco snorts and I glare at him as I answer "Thank you Minerva. It was so good to see you. I suppose my girls will be formally introduced to you come September."
"Not if I can help it" Draco muttered under his breath.
Minerva raises her eyebrow at Draco as she enters the fireplace and disappears.
"This is complete shite Granger and you know it" Draco fumes
"I'm not excited about this either, the last thing I want is for my girls to attend Hogwarts with kids who would go out of their way to make their lives miserable."
"What about Cassie? I am not without a list of enemies myself Granger."
"I know, let's just take a look at this list" I say as I unfold the paper.
Aberdeen
Bailey
Brenton
Brums
Fenway
Howards
Jaminson
Klass
Lee
Longbottom
Potter
Princeton
Rosier
Strums
Vector
Weasley
Zabini
My face turned pale and my heart sunk as I regarded two names on the list. Draco reading over my shoulder face paled as well, as if it could get any paler, and put his hand on my shoulder giving it a squeeze.
"Well Granger, I'm not sure what to make of this list. Except this is not good."
"You're right. I don't want my girls in school with anyone who would hurt them. I also don't want to face whoever is on the other side of these last names."
