Chapter 1
May 1, 1978
The sun shone through the window, lighting up the room. Ok, one: pay in cash, check in under false names. Two: say hello to number five. Three: erase memories of all hospital staff involved. Check, check, check. Ok. We're doing ok… She's so beautiful. Simply beautiful. She…
"John, we have to give her a name. She needs a name. I know we agreed not to tell anyone outside the family about our little secret but she needs a name. On record. A real identity. At least on paper. We'll steal the birth certificate. No one will know!" Marlene said.
"Huh?" replied John, taken from his reverie. He looked to his wife, "What did you say, dear?"
"We need to name her, John. We never picked out a name." Marlene answered.
"Hmmm… I think something with an m. Mary?"
"No, something unique. Like her."
"Maeve?"
"Hmmm. Maybe. Are you a 'Maeve'?" Asked Marlene of her newest child.
The baby scrunched her face a bit and began to unsettle.
"Ok, so not Maeve, but close. How about Maelene? Mae as in May. It is the first of May after all and May is the fifth month. The fifth month for our fifth child" asked John.
The baby relaxed and her parents smiled.
"How about Alice for her middle name? Alice would love that" suggested Marlene, of her friend Alice Longbottom, from the Order of the Phoenix. "Fiona's middle name is Lily, after all."
"So, Maelene, you won't mind getting confused with Mommy every now and then?" questioned Marlene with a twinkle in her eye.
"Well, I think it's time to go then. I'll fill out the paperwork, darling."
"Ok, Maelene Alice McKinnon. Female, born May 1, 1978. Just sign her sir."
"Gladly. Thank you ma'am. Obliviate."
"Now Fiona, boys, remember, only you, your Mum and I know about the new baby, ok.
Fiona, Sean, Conner, and Dylan looked at the new baby who had come home with their mother and father.
"She's all wrinkly!" proclaimed Dylan.
"Yeah! And pink!" chimed in his twin Connor.
Fiona, the eldest of the five, stated, "So were you when you came home!"
Sean looked up at his father and asked, "But dad, why can't we tell anyone about Mae?"
John and Marlene looked at one another and sighed. They knew that trying to get their kids to just listen and obey without question was a pipedream. John walked over from the couch he was sitting on and kneeled in front of his four elder children as Marlene rocked their youngest in her arms.
The four children looked to him and he spoke, "Do you remember how Mum and I told you about the bad wizards who are hurting people? And how they are hurting good wizards?"
The children nodded. "Well, Maelene's only a baby and so she can't protect herself. You are all old enough you can hide and run away, but Mae's still too little. So until she's old enough, it'll be our family secret. Ok?" John stated. He didn't say anything about the charm for now. He didn't want them getting any ideas… especially Fiona, goodness was that girl bright.
The children nodded as John looked over at his wife and youngest child. Safe. For now.