June, Pre-Freshman Period
Saturday June 13th, my dorm, Pacifica School for Witches, Seattle, Wash. 1 P.M.
Today's the last of day classes and I have this empty notebook. It was either go unused for three months, or start keeping a diary. I don't know what to write, and I've got to go to the closing luncheon.
Sunday June 14th, my bedroom, Wenatchee, Wash. 10 P.M.
Okay, so I've got something to complain about now. Father finally got home after being off on a mission for two weeks.
Imagine my surprise when I came home to a fatherless home with a crying mother. My automatic reaction was to ask if he had been killed. "No, your damn father keeps refusing to get a desk job!"
"He's in the field?" I asked in surprise.
"He's in the UK. He's been asked to be seen by their Minister of Magic. He's been gone for two weeks."
Let's just say I was so mad, I haven't been able to pick up a pen. Then, when Father finally decides to show up, he doesn't even explain himself. He walked past the dinning room table without so much as a glance.
"Hey you!" I called to him. "It's about time you got home!"
He walked into the dinning room. "Mind your tongue, Felicity."
"I haven't seen you since Christmas and that was only two days!"
I understand that work is work and my father can't quit this job, but if he were to die out there, we'd be out of a home. Mother hasn't been to college or whatever extra training Muggles do once they finish twelfth grade. I'm not old enough to work yet. Sterling, my older brother, is a Muggle-Liaison, and is supposed to be getting married in a few months. He doesn't have the time to help Mother.
"That is not an appropriate statement to make."
"It's the truth!"
"I'm your father, Felicity! You do not speak to me this!"
"Do you know what this is doing to Mother?" I replied.
"Sterling can help take care of your mother."
"Sterling is getting married in August!"
Judging by the look on his face, my father did not know this. "What are you talking about, young lady?"
"Oh, so he doesn't become an Auror and you decide to stop answering his owls!"
He smacked me.
Mother came down right then. "Carlisle!"
I stumbled back a little.
"GO UPSTAIRS!" Both of my parents screamed.
I've been up here for an hour and they're calling me down now.
Monday June 15th, Lobby of Sterling and Lena's apartment building, Wizardry District, Seattle, Wash. Noon
Great, I get to hang out my brother and his fiancée while my parents fight it out. They didn't even contact him before hand. They told me to back my bag and then go to sleep. I went by Floo and stumbled into the lobby of the building.
"Who are you?" the door man asked.
He was probably eighteen, maybe nineteen. I turned red, looking at my reflection in the mirrored wall behind him. I'm not plain, but I'm not pretty either. My brown hair is kind of fuzzy, but I keep it pulled back in a braid. My eyes are brown too. I have two little curls on sides of my forehead. I'm kind of pimply and I have a strong almost masculine jaw. I have a mole on my left ear. I'm abnormally tall, almost 5 feet 9.
"Sterling's sister."
"Sterling Peachflint? Lena's fiancée?"
"Yeah."
"Parents fighting?"
"You guessed it," I mumbled.
"They're not in. You wanna hang out here?" He pulled out a chair behind the counter.
"Sure," I replied, sitting down. "Felicity."
"Liam Robins. Wait, don't you play JV Quidditch for Pacifica?"
"I just made Varsity," I corrected. "Chaser. You?"
"I'm being recruited to play Seeker for Portland."
"You might get to play for the Wing?"
"You sound impressed."
"They just lost two of their players to the National Team and they won the American Cup! You could be a legend! Of course I'm impressed! I have such crappy grades I'd never be able to play professionally!"
"Are you sure you're related to Sterling Peachflint?"
"True, he knows a lot and he's a decent Obliviator, but he's a little naïve. I think it's because he went to Snodgrass."
"Ah, the sweet halls of Snot Grass, I wonder how long it took them to remove that Portable Swamp from the Quidditch field?"
"That was you?" I started laughing. "Oh my gosh! You were like the hero of every single girl at Pacifica last year! You guys had to use our field!"
He stood and bowed a little. "Glad to be of service, milady. Say, can you watch the front desk? I need a smoke."
"A smoke, as in tobacco?"
"Nasty Muggle habit, I know."
Anyway, now I'm acting like I work here. What a joy.
Monday June 15th, Sterling and Lena's Apartment, Wizardry District, Seattle, Wash. 6 P.M.
You should have seen the look on Sterling's face when he saw me sitting with Liam Robins. "Felicity, when did you receive a WWP?"
Wizardry Work Permit and no, I don't have one, because Father seems to think shouldn't get a job until I'm out of school. "I'm not getting paid, Sterling. I was just talking to a fellow Quidditch player."
"Then what are you doing in Seattle?"
"Mother and Father are fighting again."
"What is it this time?"
"He was over seas for two weeks and not responding to our owls."
"The left side of your face is all red and you look like you haven't slept. What happened?"
Lena, as I was aware, is a Healer. She gently grabbed my chin. "Your father hit you."
"That's nothing," Sterling and I said in unison.
Sterling continued, "He usually uses the Snapping Hex."
"Isn't that illegal?" Lena asked.
"As long as the Muggle neighbors don't notice, no," I whispered.
"Let's get some Bruise-Reducing Balm on your face, sweetie."
Now, I can't move my face because Bruise-Reducing Balm is more like Bruise-Reducing Mask. I'm also about to fall asleep on Sterling's sofa.
Tuesday June 16th, my bedroom, Wenatchee, Wash. Noon
Lena didn't want me to come home. She's Muggle-born and seems to think that we need to go to Child Services. I told her it was useless. Anyway, now I'm bored.
Wednesday June 17th, my bedroom, Wenatchee, Wash. 7 A.M.
God, I hate summer. No, I just plain old hate my life. When you live in a Muggle town with your Muggle mother and wizard father (who is never home) you can't get away with anything. You can't sneak out, or curse the neighbor boy who keeps flirting with you. Not to mention hat I've known said neighbor boy since Muggle kindergarten! I mean, I'm the only non-Muggle-born I know that had to go to Muggle elementary school!
Okay, there's nothing wrong with Muggle-borns. My best friend, Bean, can be a total blonde sometimes but she's actually pretty sweet. Life at Pacifica School for Witches would be boring without her. I can't imagine what would have happened if I got into Salem Witches' Institute. I'd be trapped with a bunch of East-Coast pure bloods.
Part of the reason I probably didn't get into SWI was because I wasn't a pure-blood. I would have much rather gone co-ed boarding or free public day than all-girl but Dad insisted that I be like his sisters, his aunts, his grandmother etc.
Anyway, back to the Muggle neighbor. Yesterday, I was sitting in the front yard minding my own business when Trystan Jacobson decided to block my sun. "Hey, Felicity, do you want to come to a party two nights from now?" Jacobson is half-Philippine, about an inch shorter than me, and skinny.
"I'm fourteen, dumbass," I replied, not looking up from one of those stupid Muggle teen magazines. "I can't go to parties."
Jacobson sat down on the grass beside my lawn chair. "Ah, come on, Peachfuzz, it'll be fun!"
"It's Peachflint and no. I'm not going to your party."
"That is such a weird last name."
"If you don't like my name, take it up with my father."
He shrugged. "Your dad never seems to be home, but then again, neither do you."
"It's called boarding school, dufus head." I am surprising skilled at Muggle insults. It helps to have Bean only a phone call away. "Not that you would know what it's like to have a decent education."
Okay, now would be a good time to clarify that I like most Muggles. They are not lesser than us wizards, although in some ways we are lesser than them. I just really really hate Jacobson. He is the most annoying male in both worlds.
Jacobson flipped onto his stomach and looked up at me, batting his eye lashes. "We've known each other for years. Don't be like this."
Before I could say, 'go the hell away,' my father decided he could pop in while on his lunch break. "Felicity, who is this charming young man lying on our lawn?"
Both Jacobson and I jumped up. At six eight, my father can be very frightening. It also helps to know that is a successful Auror and that can throw a pretty mean Butt-Stinging Curse. Alright, I know that's not the actual name. It's the Snapping Hex, but no matter what you call it; it still hurts. "Hello, Father," I said quickly. "This is…"
"I'm Trystan Jacobson," he held out his hand for my father to shake. "I live three houses over."
"Carlisle Peachflint," my father replied formally, albeit without his wizarding titles. "It brings me great pleasure to know that my daughter has friends outside of school."
I turned red and mumbled, "He's not my friend, and it's not my fault you wanted to send me to all-girl's school."
"Be polite, Felicity," my father warned.
"Whatever," I mumbled.
"Actually, Mr. Peachflint," Jacobson replied, "I came here to invite Felicity to a party. She pulled the 'I'm fourteen' card."
"Why does your age have to with going to a party?"
I couldn't explain what happened at Muggle parties to my father. It would have been too embarrassing. I didn't speak, got up, and went inside. I heard my father say, "I apologize, Mr. Jacobson, but I must return to work."
I thought he was going to wake me up this morning and give me a stern talking to, but he was gone when I got up.
Wednesday June 17th, the kitchen table, Wenatchee, Wash. 10 PM
Well, I'm going to that party whether I want to or not. Father got home about an hour ago, came into room, and said firmly, "You're going to that party, Felicity."
I didn't look up from my Potion's text or speak.
"I'm serious, Felicity. You should have not been rude to that poor Muggle."
I didn't move.
"Are you listening to me, Felicity Anne Peachflint?"
I could hear him, but it was obvious I wasn't listening.
"Jane!" my father called down the stairs. "Talk some sense into our daughter!"
My mother came upstairs and saw the look on our faces. "What is it this time?"
"That Muggle boy that lives three houses down—"
"Trystan Jacobson?" my mother asked.
"Yes," my father replied.
"What about him?"
"He asked me out," I mumbled.
"Oh, sweetie!" My mother clapped her together. "That's great!"
"He's a Muggle, Mother! I can't date a Muggle while I'm still in school! It's basically against the law!"
"It's summer, Felicity. You don't have to see him more than once."
Yeah, so guess what I have to do tomorrow? I have to go over to Jacobson's house, apologize, and ask if I can still go to that party. I hate being polite.
Thursday June 18th, Wenatchee Valley Wizarding Library, 3 P.M.
Jacobson kissed me.
I can't believe it. It started so simply. I knocked on his door, asked his mother if I could come in, and sat on their sofa.
"Would you like some lemonade, Felicity?" Mrs. Jacobson asked.
"No, thank you, Mrs. Jacobson," I replied politely. "I just need to speak to Trystan."
"Hi, Felicity," Jacobson said, coming in with a pitcher and a few glasses with ice in them. "Lemonade?" he asked.
"Again with the lemonade?" Having been raised by an Auror, I never take drinks from strangers. There's no change of being poisoned. I lifted up my Ever-Fill aluminum water bottle. "I brought water, Trystan, but thank you."
"So, what's up?"
"My father told me I needed to apologize."
"Do you do everything he tells you to?"
"We're a little old fashioned," I said, over-simplifying the mind of the pure-blood patriarch. "Usually I ignore him, but it just happens to be summer. I can't to get back to Pacifica and out of this suburban hell hole."
"Pacifica?" Jacobson asked.
"Pacifica School for Wit—Girls, it's the school I go to." I almost slipped up there, but I managed to salvage it. "It's just outside of Seattle."
"That's 100 miles away."
"My roommate's from Montana," I said simply. "School's like Pacifica are hard to find."
"You an athlete or something? You should pretty proud."
It actually had nothing to do with athletics, but I have to keep the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy in mind. Of course, I couldn't flat out lie either. "Of sorts."
"What sport?"
"I can't explain, but it's a bit like soccer."
He looked at me, but I couldn't tell if he was suspicious or just stupid. "That's all you're going to give me?"
"Look, is that invite still good or not, Jacobson?"
He smiled, almost creepily. "Only for you, Peachflint."
I stood, held out my hand, and said, "Thank you, Jacobson. I appreciate it."
He pulled me into one of those handshake hugs and kissed my cheek. "I'll pick you up at eight." I was so shocked and embarrassed; all I could do was walk out of there. I didn't even have the guts to smack him. I am such a—what's the Muggle term?—a chicken. I am a chicken.
I didn't even have the guts to tell my mother. I poked my head inside the door and said, "Mother is it all right if I go to the WVWL? I have some summer reading for Remedial Defense."
"You mean the Wenatchee Valley Wizards' Library?" I nodded. Sometimes she gets nervous and wonders if she is messing up. "Just be home before your father. He wants to talk to you about something."
I am fully aware of what this discussion will be about. It's probably similar to his explanation of why I couldn't go co-ed. Boys are dangerous and you should be extra careful. He might even give me back my wand if he thinks Muggle teenagers pose a threat.
Um, the librarian seems to be aware that I am not actually studying the differences between jinxes and counter-curses. I better get going.
Thursday June 18th, my bathroom, Wenatchee, Wash. 7 P.M.
I hate when I'm right. About two hours after I got home, my father popped in. I was sitting in the living room doodling in this notebook, when he sat down beside me. On the floor. "Good afternoon, Felicity."
"Hello, Father," I replied curtly.
"Did you speak with that Trystan boy?"
"Yes, Father. I'm going to the party tomorrow. He's picking me up at eight."
"He has one of those cars your mother has been asking me to purchase?"
"I'm not sure," I admitted. "He just said 'I'll pick you up at eight'. It's not like he can Floo or Apparate. We might be walking."
"You'll need your wand," he said, returning the slender piece of sycamore. "You don't have a Muggle jacket."
"I have a short cloak, Father, and I'll wear pants. I'll be fine."
We sat in awkward silence for several uncomfortable minutes. He saw the open page of this journal and mumbled, "When did you start sketching?"
"When school got out," I mumbled.
"May I?"
I knew perfectly well how to keep him from reading this little thing. "It's also my diary."
"In that case, I will honor your privacy. Perhaps you could give me a picture next time I must go over seas?"
"I'll consider it," I replied. "May I de excused? I need to use the restroom."
Oddly enough, I've being having to do that a lot lately. Pee, not reply. Seriously, for the past couple months I can't stop peeing. I've also lost some weight. Of course, Father seemed to have noticed that.
"Felicity, have you been eating?" he asked softly, ignoring my request.
"What the hell brought that up?" I asked sharply, standing.
"Sweetheart—" He reached for my arm.
He hardly calls me anything but Felicity. It's not that he doesn't love me; he just can't show it most days. "I'm freakin' fine, Dad!" I said, feeling the exact opposite. "I just need to pee."
My 'Muggle' speak, as he'd put it, sent Father reeling. "Felicity, please, I'm concerned. I've never heard or seen you act like this."
"I REALLY REALLY NEED TO PEE, DAMN IT!" I screamed. "IS THAT ENOUGH FOR YOU?"
He stumbled back in shock. "Felicity, you can tell me these sorts of things. If you like this Muggle boy, you can tell me. Hell, I fell for your mother."
"I'M SERIOUS! I JUST NEED TO PEE!" I ran up to my bathroom, locked myself in with a scream of Colloportus, and haven't moved since. I think I'm just going to sleep in here tonight.
Thursday June 25th, my bedroom, Wenatchee, Wash.
Well, that was the worst week in my fourteen year history. Allow me start with what little of that stupid party I remember.
Jacobson showed up at 7:45 P.M. in his car. Something called a Volkswagen Bus? Anyway, it's a big van-type vehicle. "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Peachflint how are you?"
"We're fine thank you," Mother said. "Felicity, your date's here!"
I groaned at the use of the word date, but slipped my wand into my pocket, fastened my cloak, and walked to the door. "Hi, Trystan," I said, politely.
"I heard you wore weird clothing, but I thought it was a joke."
Just to clarify, the clothes under the cloak were Muggle. I was in blue jeans and a peach-colored tank top. And the cloak was basically a black jacket without sleeves. Seriously, what was wrong with that boy?
We got to this party and someone handed me one of those plastic red cups. I don't what was in it; I just know it wasn't butterbeer. It took about half an hour to drink the stuff, whatever it was. It made me a little dizzy and tired. I sat on the tail gate of someone's truck.
"Felicity Peachflint?" I heard someone yell. "Is that you? Oh my god!" A petite blonde hugged me and then held me at arm's length. "You're so skinny! I don't even think you were this skinny in kindergarten!"
My head was spinning. "Huh?"
"Oh my god! You're totally buzzed! Who brought you here?"
I tried to stand up, but I felt my legs wobble. Then, it went black.
I woke up in a Muggle ambulance. "Felicity, can you hear me?" an unfamiliar voice asked.
The light was too bright, but I couldn't move my arms. I couldn't speak really.
"Have you had alcohol tonight, Felicity?"
I wasn't totally sure if what I had been drinking, but I was sure it wasn't Muggle. It was kind of hard to breathe and I had an oxygen tube in my nose. I tried to sit up, but I didn't have the strength.
"Felicity, can you tell me how old you are?"
"Unresponsive. Her friends said they couldn't remember the home phone number, but one of the boys is her neighbor. He drove home to tell them."
I slipped back into unconsciousness.
I woke up in a Muggle hospital, covered with wires and tubes. I wasn't sure how long I'd been out.
"Well, we believe we know how to keep your daughter's blood sugar under control," I heard the doctor say. "But Type 1 Diabetes does not explain the paralysis. We've done every test we can here. Once we're sure she's stable, we'll fly her to Harbor View."
If I had been able to, I would have screamed. Type 1 Diabetes was a Muggle disease. I sort of remember a girl named Tina in elementary having it, but that's all I knew about it. The doctor left, not explaining it to me.
Then, Sterling, Lena, and Liam came in. Lena was holding a vial, and Sterling said, "We have the antidote."
Father hugged him, and then Lena. "Who's this?"
"Liam Robins," Liam said. "I'm Lena's sister."
"Mrs. Peachflint," Lena said. "Can you help me give her this?"
The bed moved under me, sitting me up. Mother held my head up, and I felt the vial come to my lips. "Come on, Felicity," she urged. "Drink."
I managed to open my mouth and swallowed. I felt my body relax and I gasped for air. "I'm a diabetic?"
Mother hugged me. "You're okay!"
I still felt weak and tired. "What happened to me?"
Father seemed to flip into Auror mode. "You were slipped an experimental potion."
"I figured that one out," I mumbled. "I mean, how long have I been a diabetic? Is there anything we can do?"
"Someone tried to kill you, Felicity!" he replied. "And all you're worried about is a Muggle illness?"
"Can magic get rid of diabetes?" I asked Lena.
She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Felicity. I've already asked my supervisors. We've never encountered it. You'll have to do whatever the Muggle doctors tell you to."
My mother pressed the call nurse button. "Act like you just woke up."
A nurse came in and her eyes widened in shock. "Yes?"
"When can I go home?"
The nurse looked at my family and said, "The parents can stay, but I'm afraid the rest of you will have to go."
My brother, his fiancée, and Liam left. The nurse smiled sympathetically. "How much do you know about diabetes, Felicity?"
"I might have to take shots of insulin and poke my fingers and stuff," I said softly.
I was, according to my diabetes specialist, a quick learner. It's a bit more complicated than I thought, and it's a lot of math. I had to learn my personal limits and how to calculate exactly what I needed. It's a little hard, but I'm out of the hospital now. Father wants to take me to Seattle tomorrow, so we can talk to Principal Shorebird, Healer Francis, and Coach Daley. Wish me luck.
Friday June 26th, the bathroom at Gully's Sweet Shop, Wizardry District, Seattle, Wash. 1 P.M.
I do so not like watching my sugar intake. Father, having forgotten my age and my new illness, set up the meeting here. My blood sugar's too high, so I can't eat anything. Let's see how long it takes him to notice.
Friday June 26th, Sterling and Lena's apartment, Wizardry District, Seattle, Wash. 3 P.M.
Here's what happened at the meeting.
I came out of the bathroom and was practically assaulted by Athena Shorebird. She's Principal Shorebird's niece and shares a bathroom with Bean, me, and Cyprus Johns, her roommate. I really didn't like her, but apparently, she wanted to make sure I was okay. "You're okay, Filly!" She hugged me.
I've never been called Filly before that moment. I froze in shock. "Athena?"
"Auntie Mia told me as soon as she got your father's owl! I'm happy you're okay!"
"Yeah, I'm fine, Athena."
"Auntie Mia, the school Healer, and the Quidditch coach are talking to your father." She patted her purse. "You want to get some ice cream?"
"I'm not supposed have sugar when my blood sugar's high, Shorebird."
"So, you really have some Muggle illness?"
"Yes, Shorebird, I'm sick. I'm okay?"
I suddenly heard a male voice yell from behind me, "Yo Peachflint! Catch!"
I turned to see a Quaffle flying toward me. I caught it on the tips of my fingers and then quickly threw it back to the young man. He barely managed to grab it out of the air. He ran up to us. It was Liam and he was smirking. "You might be playing the wrong position, Felicity."
"Hi, Liam."
"Liam? Liam Robins? Aren't you being recruited by the Portland Dragon Wing?" Shorebird was bouncing. "Oh my! I had no idea you'd be here!"
I rolled my eyes. Athena will do anything to meet a celebrity. "Sure, whatever."
"Of course I'd be here," he explained. "I need to give Felicity something. Do you mind, miss—um?"
"Athena Shorebird."
"Miss Shorebird. I really need to speak to my girlfriend in private."
"Girlfriend?"
"Girlfriend!" I squeaked. "What the hell do you mean by that?"
Liam grabbed my arm, and pulled me away from my suite mate. "Sorry, Felicity, I had to get away from her. Her sister's just as bad."
"Isobel? I know. What is this about?"
He pulled me into Octavia Mills' Familiars. "Your brother told me your parents wouldn't let you have an owl."
"Pacifica has its own owls, Liam. I don't need one."
"How am I supposed to keep in touch with you when your professors check your mail?" he asked. "Pick one."
"Liam, this isn't normal. We barely know each other."
"Stop thinking, Felicity," he replied.
I still don't understand why he said that. Most people tell me to think. I tend to do things without thinking. That's how I discovered my Quidditch abilities. I had been on a broom before, but Quidditch was something Father had deemed 'unladylike'.
I stared at Liam, a little shocked. "Pardon?"
"There you are, Felicity!"
I groaned. "Hello, Father."
He walked up to us, wrinkling his nose slightly. "What are you doing in here, Felicity?"
"Um." I wasn't sure what to say. Father doesn't like animals. I'm not sure how he feels about Liam yet.
Liam, luckily, had my ass. "She saw me in here. I was about to tell her I'm moving to Portland tomorrow."
"You made the Wing!" Standing on my toes, I hugged his neck. "Congratulations!"
"FELICITY ANNE! WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION?!" Father roared. "GO TO YOUR BROTHER'S APARTMENT!" I didn't move. "NOW!"
I didn't even flinch, but I did let my arms fall to my sides. "I like him," I said simply. "What did Principal Shorebird say?"
"DON'T CHANGE THE SUBJECT!"
The woman at the counter came out and touched Father's shoulder. "Sir, you're frightening the animals. You need to leave."
Father tried to pull me out of the store, but I stayed put. "Come, Felicity."
"No."
He raised a hand, as if to smack me, and then walked out.
Once he was gone, Liam said, "Merlin's pants, he has a temper."
I nodded. "I think it's because we went from one of the most influential wizardry families in America to living in Muggle land."
"Your mother's a Muggle, isn't she?" Liam asked softly.
"He was disowned when she got pregnant."
"With Sterling?"
"Miscarriage. Sterling wasn't born until they were married. I'm not sure why they got married in the first place."
"You want your parents to get a divorce?" he asked in surprise.
"If I was married to someone like my father, I'd get a divorce ASAP."
"ASAP?"
"As soon as possible," I explained.
"So, why hasn't she?"
"He has a job, she doesn't."
"Why can't she just get one?"
"It's a bit more complicated in the Muggle world." I rolled my eyes. "I'd explain it, but it would be a waste of my time. I better get going." I left.
So, here I am, sitting on Sterling's sofa. Someone's knocking on the door. I better stop writing.
Saturday June 27th, my bedroom, Wenatchee, Wash. Midnight
Great, I'm grounded for the rest of forever. Might as well write by wand light while I'm at it and get caught by the Trace office. Night.
Saturday June 27th, Orange Julius, Apple Valley Mall, East Wenatchee, Wash.
No trouble from the Trace Officer, someone is trying to kill my father.
When I came downstairs this morning, both Mother and Father were sitting in the living room. Father stood as I walked past them. "Felicity, we need to talk."
I was still in my PJs but I did as he said. "Okay."
I expected him to set next to Mother, but instead he continued stand. "Felicity, sweetheart," Mother said. "Please, sit."
I did. Father put his hand on Mother's shoulder. "You've been acting out, Felicity," he said. "We need to know what's wrong."
"I'm tired of dealing with your shit," I said simply.
"Felicity!" Mother gasped.
"Did your friend Juliette teach you to talk like this?" Father asked sharply.
Juliette Gonzalez is another Chaser. She's a still on Junior Varsity. "It's pronounced with an H sound. She's Hispanic and she's of purer blood than me."
"I'm aware your classmate's bloodline, Felicity."
"She's more than a classmate, Father. She's a teammate. We play Quidditch together."
"You play Quidditch?" he asked. "I've told you a thousand times; Quidditch is not for girls."
"I'm been playing since sixth grade! I'm the first freshman to make Varsity Chaser since Pacifica opened!"
"You betrayed my trust, Felicity!" He looked down at my mother. "Did you know about this Jane?"
Mother shook her head. "No, Carlisle."
"I've been saving my allowance for my own broom! The Muggle doctor said I need to stay active! I need Quidditch! I promise I won't make you buy me anything!"
"I gave you an order Felicity! Absolutely no Quidditch! I thought that Muggle School would push any thought of sports out of mind!"
"I'm really good, Father! As long as I keep my diabetes under control and get my grades up, I could play professionally!"
Before he could yell again, Mother spoke, "Varsity, in the Muggle world, is good. If Felicity wants to play this sport, I don't see why she can't."
"Thank you!"
"Fine, you can play Felicity, but on one condition. Get out of that Remedial Defense class or you're done. Am I understood?"
I hugged him and Mother grabbed her keys and a small pile of Muggle money. "We're going shopping Felicity," she said sharply.
So, we went to the mall in East Wenatchee, just Mother and I. Our first stop was the Ross. "Mother, I don't need clothes. We have to wear our uniforms on the weekends too."
"You're a freshman now. Surely Pacifica has school dances? Oh and stop calling me Mother."
"We're an all-girl school, Mother," I explained. "There're no boys to dance with."
"What about the boys from Snodgrass? Don't they visit?"
"I don't know what does on during the high school only meetings. If there are dances, I don't care to. Bean, Juliette and I don't like those sorts of things."
She pulled me over to the dress section. "You need to be ready for anything, Felicity. You're a 2, right?"
"Mother, I don't wear dresses. Remember how hard it was to get me to wear the uniform?"
"Felicity!" I heard a familiar voice call.
I turned around to see my red-head best friend. "Bean! Mother, this is Elizabeth Davies-Fox, my roommate. What are you doing here, Bean?"
"I have family around here," my freckled-faced, bespectacled friend explained. "When did you start carrying a purse?"
"It has my diabetes kit in it," I mumbled, expecting Bean to scream.
She did. "When did you get diabetes?!"
"I was told a little over a week ago."
"What? Why haven't you spent an owl or called," she hissed. "I'm Muggle-born, you know! I have a cell phone!"
"I'm sorry. I just got out of the hospital," I lied flawlessly.
Mother looked at me, something foreign in her expression. "Felicity, why don't you and Bean—Bean? Whatever—Go to Pac Sun and look at some clothes? I need to talk to someone—thing—something." She handed me all of her money. "Have fun."
Once we were out in the hall, Bean said, "You're mom's hiding something."
"What?"
"Oh, come on, Felicity. You act like some dumb athlete, but it's kind of obvious. You're mom has something else on her mind."
"I really don't care what's on their minds. I barely convinced them to let me still play Quidditch. Have you heard from Juliette?"
"No. Have you done your Remedial Defense reading yet?"
"Why do you care, Honors Student?"
"Because you barely passed your Basic American Wizards' Examination. How do you expect to pass your Intermediate next year or the Advanced in another three?"
"Same as B-AWE. Wing it."
"You need to stop winging things. It's risky."
"I take it you applied for the accelerated program?"
"If I make it, I'm transferring to a school in Chicago come second quarter. I'm going to try to sneak away from Aunt Chrissie's to take I-AWE in Seattle."
"Oh, yeah, you're not even allowed to tell your parents the truth, are you?"
A woman in her early twenties walked up to them. "Okay, I'm going to guess that the ginger-headed one is my niece."
Bean turned at hugged the woman. "Aunt Chrissie! I can't believe I'm here!"
"I can't honestly believe your dads agreed to send you out here alone!" Chrissie replied.
Oh, have I mentioned that Bean's adopted and her parents are both guys? Chrissie is the younger of the couple's little sister. I think. It's kind of complicated. "Hey, aren't you Carlisle Peachflint's little girl?" Chrissie asked.
"How do know about the Peachflints?"
"Your father's my supervisor."
"That would mean…" Bean hugged her aunt again. "I can take my Accelerated I-AWE!"
"I took the Accelerated B-AWE. Are you transferring to Ridgeway in Illinois, Gulf in Texas, or SWI?"
"Whichever accepts me. You're seriously going to let me take it?"
"Sure, are you taking it too, Peachflint?"
Both Bean and I laughed. "I'm trapped in Remedial Defense. I might be able to pass the others, but…"
"She wouldn't leave Pacifica if you paid her. She's on the Quidditch team."
"Your father's an Auror and you're in Remedial Defense? I'm sorry, kid, but that's ironic. And the I-AWE is multiple-choice. They're easy if you read the books."
"I don't understand why I need Defense anyway. We're not in Great Britain and we don't have their tendency for civil war."
"Every society has its problems. If we didn't, I wouldn't have a job," Chrissie said seriously. "Neither would your father. I'm supposed to talk to you about the experimental potion you were slipped. Your father told me you were here."
"I already told the Muggle police, the local Aurors and my father what happened. Someone already used Legilimency on Trystan to figure out who else was there. What else do need to know?"
"Have you noticed that Carlisle hasn't been to work since your accident?"
"He hasn't?"
"Why do you not notice anything, Felicity?" Bean said sharply. "Isn't the Auror's code 'constant vigilance' or something?"
"Mad-Eye Moody. Wish I had met him," Chrissie sighed.
"PROBATIONARY OFFICER FOX!" someone barked.
Chrissie jumped slightly. "Sir, Officer Roberts, sir!"
Officer Roberts was tall and somehow menacing. Then, he smiled and clapped Chrissie on the shoulder. "Hey, Probie, these kids connected to the Peachflint case?"
"Kind of. Felicity, the Peachflint in question, and my niece, Elizabeth."
"Bean," Bean corrected. "It's Bean."
I rolled my eyes and my watch went off. "Oops, I have to go check my blood sugar. See when term starts, Bean. Have a nice day, Officer Fox, Officer Roberts."
"Oh no, you don't, Peachflint," Roberts said, grabbing my arm. "I have some questions for you."
"Fine, can we at least sit at a table? I need to check my blood sugar." It was rude; I know. Don't need to tell me. "Or was my illness not in one of your files?"
Roberts forcibly took my arm. "You know very little about Aurors, Peachflint. I said I had some questions. You will answer them. Do I have to arrest you?"
Chrissie looked at Bean and whispered, "Blood sugar? She's diabetic?" Bean nodded. "Officer Roberts, Felicity's sick. We need her healthy, not stressed."
"She looks healthy to me." Despite his statement, he dropped my arm. "And all I need is one answer. She answers my question; we can go."
It didn't hurt, but I rubbed my arm anyway. "That depends on what the question is."
"Do you know anyone who might want your father dead?"
I couldn't speak, but I managed to shake my head. It was like I had been Silenced and Confounded in one blow.
"Look, Roberts, you scared her. She doesn't know."
And here I am, sitting at the Orange Julius, trying not to go into shock, and, in general, freaking out. Mother's no where to be seen.
Sunday June 28th, my bedroom, Wenatchee, Wash.
I confronted Father, and well—oh shit.
"Why the hell are you asking me if someone wants me dead, Felicity?"
"Someone tried to kill me to get to you! I need to know who!"
"You aren't old enough to understand!"
"But apparently, I'm old enough to be murdered!"
Anyway, he basically told me to shut and I can't leave my room.
