A Selfless Heart
Chapter 1.
Second Chance
"Really, Devony, this is no way to act." Ambrose Laurent spoke to his daughter in a firm but calm voice. His wife, Ramona sat next to him at their kitchen table on an early Saturday morning talking to their daughter about what happened the day before. The mother looked very worn out with bags under her eyes and gripping her coffee mug for the warmth of it. Devony originally went to Madame Maxime's Beautxbatons Academy of Magic ever since she was eleven. However, since she set foot in that all girls school, she was a trouble maker, starting small from eleven and then building up to this day. Yesterday, that is.
Almost every month she was sent to detention for something. In Devony's second year, a very stuck up girl, Victoria Stucker, called one of her friends a hopeless git. The next day, Victoria had a wart on the side of her face and then couldn't stop saying what she really thought of the girls, her friends and teachers. Devony's defense was that she thought Victoria should always say what's on her mind. She was sentenced to polishing the trophies for a week.
Another case was when her astronomy teacher, who truly did hate her, gave detention to Devony for cheating on a test even though she got a perfect grade on it by herself. In the detention with her teacher, Devony got one of her friends to deliver flowers from a 'secret admirer'. The next day in a class a substitute said that she was given a case of poison ivy with a spell so strong it wouldn't let up for another week. Devony got the substitute to let her re-take the test and still got a perfect score. In between from first year to sixth year Devony did all sorts of tricks. Small things like putting a small mouse in a teachers desk to the big stuff like…well, the prank she pulled just the other night.
"Your father is right, Devony." Ramona said looking into Devony's eyes. "We convinced the school board that this year would be different and they let you come back. You were fine all year and then this happens."
Ambrose threw down an issue of The Daily Prophet with Madam's school on the front page and Devony's picture right next to it smiling devilishly and then blowing a kiss to the camera.
Madam's school always held a party just for the girls at the last day of the year. The school's Head Girl, who just happened to be Victoria Stucker, picks out the decorations, theme, and, even though everyone was invited, she was also in charge of the guest list. When Devony tried to walk in Victoria stopped her and told her she wasn't invited. Apparently, Victoria had informed the head mistress of the school of what Devony had done so many years ago to her. She said it 'emotionally destroyed' her. While the party was going on without Devony, she had done an invisibility spell on herself that would only last for fifteen minutes. Under the spell, Devony sneaked into the party with a bottle of potion she had been saving for a good occasion. She poured the mixture into the punch bowl just as the girls were lining up for their food. Five minutes later she whispered a spell that went to all of her enemies and they started burping up toads. However, as Devony's spell wore off, she was the only one laughing.
Needless to say she was caught then expelled on the last day. Half the girls in school were sent to the nurse still burping frogs that later flooded the school. An insider must have told a writer for the paper and soon enough it was a headliner. Devony was so proud of her work until she realized her mother and father would find out.
"Victoria Stucker¾ "
"Victoria Stucker has nothing to do with this!" Ambrose slammed his hand on the table. He sighed, closed his eyes, and then looked back up with his light violet eyes that Devony inherited. "Sweetheart, you were expelled."
"Will you please listen?" Devony exclaimed, standing abruptly. "Victoria Stucker and her posse of half the school intentionally made sure I would hate it there. On my second year at Madam's I defended my friend but putting a small spell on Victoria. Now I know she was the cause to tell my teachers I had cheated off people for tests and homework."
"If that is true," Ramona put a hand on Devony's, "it doesn't matter because you've been expelled from the Academy. What are we supposed to do now?"
As if on cue, a snow white owl came through from an open window with a letter in it's beak. Ambrose came slowly towards it and took the letter as the owl flew away. He turned the letter over to reveal green handwriting. His eyes bulged out as if he'd seen a ghost.
"I can't believe it," he said sitting down at the kitchen table again.
"What is it dear?" Ramona asked taking the letter from his trembling hands. She looked the parchment over and her eyes became as large as her husbands.
"Mum…dad…what's wrong?" Devony asked warily raising an eyebrow. Her mother handed her the letter backside up. In green writing, the letter read:
Ms. D. Laurent
402 Tide Water Road
The Second Bedroom
"What is this?"
"She isn't a first year, how can this happen?" Ramona turned to Ambrose who was starring at the parchment in Devony's hands.
"Should I read it?" Devony asked again.
Her parents nodded.
Devony unenthusiastically opened the envelope and took out a letter. She read aloud:
HOGWARTS SCHOOLof WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus DumbledoreOrder of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards
Dear Ms. Laurent,
Under the circumstances of what has happened in the past few days, it comes to our attention here at Hogwarts you are in need of wizarding school. Although from your past record we see many detentions and bad marks, your grades are very outstanding. The school board believe it would be in your best interest that you study your last year of witchcraft at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of necessary books and equipment. From you're past classes at Madam Maxim's Academy, we will present you with those electives and seventh year classes. Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl no later than July 31st.
Yours Sincerally
Minerva McGonagall
Head Mistress
The kitchen stood quiet except for the occasionaly drip from the faucest on the sink. Devony set the parchment on the table for her parents to read. Ambrose snatched the paper from the table and read it over quietly with fast lips. Reaching the last word, a large smile was spread across his lips.
"Quick, Ramona, get your owl. We'll write them back immediately."
"Wait¾"
"We'll have to get her some Hogwarts books but I think I have some in the shop," Ramona replied over her shoulder before going upstairs to fetch her owl, Morgana. Her mother owned a library and book shop in Diagon Alley.
"Dad¾"
"Oh, Devony, this is wonderful!" Ambrose took his daughters shoulders and gave them a small shake. He went back over to the letter. Devony thought he might be trying to memorize the thing.
"What's wonderful?" Devony said throwing her hands in the air and then let them flop down by her sides as her mother came back with her salt and pepper owl, parchment and quill.
"You'll be attending Hogwarts!" Her mother said, starting to write a reply to the letter.
"Just a second!" Devony shouted to her parents. They looked up at her. She swallowed and continued. "What if I don't want to go? I don't want to go to some all girls boarding school again!"
"Honey," Ambrose said with a small chuckle, "this is a boarding school for both girls and boys. This is were your mother and I went when we were your age."
"Oh," was all Devony could produce.
Ramona smiled at her daughter as her husband wrote the reply. Morgana ruffled her feathers impatiently. "We met when I was a fourth and your father a fifth year."
"Then why did you send me away to the Academy if this place is so great?"
Ramona sighed and sat her daughter down. "At the time, your father and I could afford it with the money the money your grandparents gave us. We thought it might be an experience for you with the outstanding teachers and staff."
"Mum," Devony said with a dull expression, "I've always hated that place. You know that."
Ramona gave a small half smile. "Yes…yes I know, dear."
Devony turned to her dad as he sealed the envolope and sent it off with Morgana. Soon the creature was just a small black dot up in the sky. That small black dot would shortly be delivering Devony's reply to her new school. As her parents spoke about the materials they had and needed for Devony, she was busy looking at the article about her. The Devony in the page smiled and blew a kiss at the real Devony. She smiled back at her reflection and took the page to her bedroom to pin to her wall.