"Chloe…" My roommate, Ellen whispered my name as we got out of mom's car. We both wore normal clothing. "Your house is…"

"Big? Yeah, I know. Don't make a big deal out of it, please." I begged her as mom went to the trunk to hand us our bags. I was remembering how my old childhood friends used to fuss over my house and start treating me differently because of my mom's status.

"I was going to say gorgeous… Oh! Mrs. Coran, you don't need to do that!" Ellen told my mother sheepishly as she also got out her bags. My blonde mom grinned.

"Sweetheart, there's no need to worry! I may be thirty five but I am far from being old and useless." Her appearance truly reinforced her statement! She looked incredibly young and beautiful, her long abundant blond hair waving with the wind, and blue eyes sparkling with life.

And I, Chloe Grabiner-Coran, was the exact copy of my mother, Marie Luise Coran; an elegant renowned author, but also a humble and loving woman and mother who I… used to confide in, to tell her absolutely everything until I came to Iris Academy; no, until I made The Choice.

It was summer vacation after my first year at Iris Academy and, Ellen knew it, saying it had been quite eventful was an understatement. While days at my old school were boring and monotonous, you just didn't know what to expect at a magical school. Kind of obvious, really. Magic was involved, that alone was enough to spice things up a bit.

My mother could definitely get a spark of inspiration if I actually could tell her all that happened; me successfully teleporting out and ending upside down on a tree on my first exam, the love letter that somehow ended up in Professor Grabiner's desk…

And my marriage. I was technically forced to marry that very same professor. Something that I used to find terrifying is that I actually enjoyed it. I tried to save him, failing miserably, but he ended up (unwillingly) saving me as well in return.

I was now at the kitchen with mom; Ellen had stayed upstairs to unpack. I helped her prepare some snacks for the both of us while we waited for dinner since she had told me in advance that, since both I and father were coming back home and we even had a "lovely" guest, she was going to make something simply exquisite and worth the wait for dinner.

Nodding vigorously, I thanked her and hugged her. God, I just loved this woman.

As I cut the sandwiches in smaller squares and mom began readying her tools and rather cute apron, she asked me something I had never expected to hear.

"So, which is your strongest magic type?"

"OW!" I had cut my right index finger accidentally. Yes, the surprise had been that great. I took a glance at the offending knife and knew that it was too sharp for cutting something like a sandwich. That didn't matter then, however.

I was so going to lose my magic and memories.

I was going to forget my roommates, my friends…

And Professor Grabiner… No, Hieronymus, my husband!

"Oh, dear! Are you okay?!" Mom always had a safety kit at the kitchen; she took my hand, opened the faucet and put my finger under the current. It stung a bit and I cringed. "I'm sorry, I should have expected this kind of reaction. Hieronymus and Potsdam must really have you a little… traumatized about this kind of thing." She took a bandage from the kit and wrapped it around my pale finger delicately, and softly kissed it.

I just stared at her every movement, not knowing how to react.

"Don't worry, Chloe. Nothing will happen! I am a witch as well!" It didn't help, not at all.

My mother was a witch, and she decided to tell me now. I couldn't seek for her help when I needed her most because I thought I couldn't tell her anything!

I loved this woman, but she also knew how to get on my nerves sometimes…

"…Moooom!" I pouted, stomping furiously. Mom still held my hand and she pulled me into a hug I welcomed… I felt a mix of relief, happiness and utter anger towards her. "Why didn't you tell me?!" I raised my head from her shoulder to look at her in the eye. "I needed you!"

"Well I couldn't with your father around! Forgive me!" She feigned an offended tone and kissed my forehead. "You didn't answer my question though…" We broke the embrace, but she kept caressing my blond hair.

"Blue." I simply answered.

"I guessed right!" She clasped her hands in delight. "Then, trusting that Hieronymus taught you well-"

"How do you know him?" They seemed to be close because of how mom had been calling him. I made a mental note to ask him in the letters… "And the headmaster. How do you know them?"

"Oh, he and I are childhood friends. Potsdam used to be my teacher as well after I moved here. It's been some time since I've seen them both, especially Hieronymus…" I returned to my cutting and mother to her gathering of supplies, but I could notice her expression becoming somber. "When I first saw him again, at the beginning of the year, even if it was from afar, I could sense that he had lost that glint in his eye…"

Then it hit me…

Mom could already know about our marriage… Now that I knew she was a witch a lot, a lot of things made sense, things related to her.

My heart began pounding.

"However… when I saw him again today when I went to pick you and your lovely roommate… That sparkle was there, not as strongly, but it was there. It was growing." She leaned in closed to me. "Any… juicy… gossip?"

"H-how am I supposed to know? He doesn't like to interact with students…" True enough… Mom giggled and tied her hair into a ponytail; of course she knew I was lying.

"When you're ready to tell me you know I'll be here, honey." Then, she went to the fridge. Her back was at me, but I just stared at her, feeling very guilty. I washed the knife and put it back in its place.

"What about… tonight? After dinner." I had enough time to talk things with Ellen and probably write that letter.

"Of course! Somewhere away from your father though, otherwise there might be some memory washing… or neck wringing." She winked at me, holding a bowl full of something I couldn't identify…

Yep, she definitely knew.

"So, my dad is normal?" I tried avoiding the subject, averting my blue eyes from hers.

"Yes." She put the bowl in the counter.

"That's why you couldn't tell me…"

"Exactly, dear. I'm glad you understand."

I took the tray with the sandwiches and glasses of orange juice and began making my way towards the stairs. Before I could leave, she interrupted. "Oh, I was going to say that, trusting Hieronymus taught you exceptionally well, you might be able to decorate the house with an illusion or two..."

"Huh? Yeah, I can do that…" I blushed slightly at my own thoughts… of course he taught me well! "But what about dad? Won't he notice?"

"I'll take care of that." She grinned. I just answered with an "alright" and left upstairs. "Have fun!"

I entered my, temporally our, bedroom while carefully handling the tray. Ellen was sitting on her own bed…

"Mom really bought another bed?" Her urges to pamper everybody were unbelievable. I sat at the edge of the bed besides Ellen, putting the tray on my lap. My room was ample, like the rest of the house, so there weren't really any space problems.

"Well, she's a really sweet woman. You're lucky."

"Let's not remember that, alright?" I gave her one of the sandwich squares and one of the glasses of orange juice as comfort when I understood she was remembering her… old family. "At least, not now. I think you should enjoy your stay! I mean, you decided to come here with me instead of staying at school because you wanted to have fun."

"You're right, I'm sorry. I just… you know, it will take some time to get used to it, but it doesn't bother me as much as before…" She took the small sandwich into her mouth… and her eyes widened. "This is… delicious! And it's just sandwich! Does your mother buy some special cheese or jam?" The sandwich was just that, but it was because I've always liked simple meals, or home cooked at most.

"Probably. I just know that is some white cheese. I don't go to do the groceries with her so… You'll have to ask her." I knew she bought some high class cheese or something like that.

"What happened to your finger?" She asked, glancing at my bandaged middle finger.

"That's… because, I mean, you know what she just told me?" Ellen looked at me questioningly, eating more sandwich squares at a rather fast pace… I took sips of my juice. "She's a witch."

"What?!" Ellen widened her eyes. "What? Why? Why did she tell you now? You're not a wildseed then?!"

"C-calm down! I don't know some things myself. I mean, the whole reason she didn't tell me was my dad. He's actually non-magical, so… I guess that makes me a… uhh…"

"Half-wildseed?" She grinned sheepishly.

"I suppose?" Then, I had an idea. It was my first day of vacation and I already had enough to send a lengthy letter to my husband, tons of questions making up half of it. "Here. I can wait until dinner." I gave Ellen the tray, taking the glass with me and went to my desk. I got some paper and pen out of my drawers. The afternoon sun coming through the window was enough source of light for me.

"You already have a letter for your… um… husband?" I could sense Ellen was blushing at the word, even if my back was turned at her.

"Yes, I am writing to my husband." I felt rather proud saying that. "Actually, Hieronymus and mom are childhood friends."

"Really?"

"Yeah… She was calling him by his first name earlier." I focused back at the paper, thinking of how to begin. Then I realized something. I just stared at the blank paper, pen in hand, and ready to write… "Uhm…"

"You don't know how to address him, right?" I sighed, leaning back onto the chair, and nodded. "You really don't want more sandwich?"

"No, no." I waved my hand and she responded with a slightly cheerful "okay." Then, I just felt like teasing her. "Don't worry, Ellen. You can join mom every afternoon to do yoga!"

"Huh?" I turned sideways in my chair to look at her confused expression.

"With the liking you just took to our food you'll surely gain a few pounds, so I thought…" A pillow flew straight at my face. I giggled as it fell into the ground. "Okay, okay." I stood up, picked it up and threw it back to her bed without hitting her back. I didn't want a pillow fight distracting me from writing to my dear husband. "I deserved that!" I put up my arms in defeat.

"You're just like Virginia!" Oh, I was going to miss her during these months, but at least I had Ellen with me.

"I don't eat pastries with more icing than the actual pastry on them!" I remembered the gigantic bowl of diabetes she had bought the other day at the mall. I only dared to take one single bite.

I took back the pen and began staring at the paper again…

"Dear Husband?" Ellen teased. I just wished to have a pillow with me right now.

"No, Ellen. Just… no."

"Oh, Chloe. You kissed! Even though it's weird and kind of gross because he's our teacher and possibly is 20 years older…"

"I heard the Headmistress say he was around his thirties." I retorted, interrupting Ellen.

"That's still a considerable age gap. The point is you kissed!"

"Because I basically told him to and I still don't know what it meant!"

"Then ask him!"

"No!"

Okay, Chloe. Breathe in, then out. In… and out… Yes…

"Oh, honey! Are you here for what you wanted to talk to me about?" Mom asked as I entered the back yard. I forgot to breathe again.

Most would think it would be the scenario; the back yard was, as mother liked to call it, an equivalent to one of my painting masterpieces, just that it was one she created herself. Now that I knew she was a witch, I began thinking all of this beauty was partly thanks to the wonders of Green magic, though I pictured mother more into White magic. She could probably be into both.

Also, now I knew why she liked to work on it at night, when my father was working furiously at his computer at the bedroom. Dinner had been about fifteen minutes ago, so it was around 8:30.

I had grown at this house and seen this back yard flourish, so it wasn't as stunning to me. I couldn't breathe because of the mere thought of having to tell my mother (even if she probably already knew) that I was married to a teacher that was almost twice my age. Oh, he also happened to be her childhood friend.

"…Yes." I finally managed to get out. I saw her moving her hands in peculiar ways and focusing for brief moments. She was definitely castings spells. This was unique… I just stood there, fidgeting and shifting my weight from foot to foot. She was waiting patiently until I collapsed and spitted everything out. The silence was painful… She didn't wait much. "Mom, I'm married."

"Hm? My baby's already married?" She kept working with her plants. "Who might the lucky man who I have to threaten be?"

"Mom, you already know this. I'm sure. It's… ugh…" It was just too awkward to just say it like that. Color rose to my cheeks in embarrassment. "It's Professor Grabiner." There. I said it. Now, I wanted to be one of those plants and burry myself in the ground.

"…Yeah. You're right." She calmly said, finally looking up at me and clearly unimpressed. As always, I could only stare at her. "You know I love seeing you all flushed like that. Your face is as red as those beautiful roses over there." She pointed at said flowers and then turned back to look at me. "I trust Hieronymus. I know him. However that doesn't mean I don't have close watch on him and on you as well, my lady."

"I know, mom…" I felt crestfallen all of a sudden. Even if I had gotten this weight off my shoulders, I still felt something… wrong. I could feel her hands on my shoulders, making me lift my gaze to meet her deep blue eyes.

"However… I know that for you to have managed to get that stubborn man's attention you must have worked hard. You've already proven your strength, intelligence and perseverance, and I am proud of you." It was in moments like these that mom spoke seriously, and it comforted me somehow. I could see the wisdom she really possessed, wisdom I needed from her right now, because the person that vowed to give me that was currently the one I needed advice on to deal with.

Suddenly, I realized something else. I never told her I had feelings for Hieronymus, or that I had been trying to befriend him (more like seduce him.) Oh well, it just made things easier.

"Marriage is something serious, Chloe." She said with a stern look in her eyes. "There are a few months until the necessary time is up. It's up to you two to decide whether or not to break things up. Who knows? If you play your cards right, he might even come and beg you not to leave him…"

"Okay, that's… that's ridiculous. I can't even imagine him doing such a thing." I frowned at mom's malicious smile.

"Maybe I did exaggerate just a little bit… He's a proud man." I stood in thought for some seconds. There was a question that had been nagging me for a while now, ever since my childhood, and I couldn't just keep it there any longer…

"Did you use some sort of White magic spell to read our minds?" Mom stared at me for a bit and then started giggling.

"Oh, honey. While I won't deny I use a bit of sparkles here and there, you and Hieronymus are my two favorite books and I have read you enough times to know every sentence by heart." She looked at me fondly; a hint of nostalgia in her eyes, but it quickly disappeared. "Besides, Potsdam and I are big fans of gossip as well…"

"Oh , lord…" Now that I thought about it, the Headmistress and mom had quite a bit in common… I sighed, slumping my shoulders, and felt mom's hand patting my head.

"You have many things in that head of yours. Go to your room and digest them. Speak a bit with your friend. She may not be able to provide much opinion in the matter, but sometimes listening is just what you need."

"…You and Professor Potsdam have been mailing each other all this time?" Ignoring her gentleness, I simply asked. My eyes and tone were somber. It almost felt like I had been solving a puzzle all by myself and had taken me ages only to discover that there had always been a hint section that could have reduced that time to a few minutes.

"Probably."

I closed the door behind me with an irritated look on my face, and sank against the door. It was simply unbelievable; my mother had been magical all this time and she never told me! It could have saved me so much trouble, pain, confusion…

"Can you believe it?!" My sudden statement, directed at Ellen who was studying something on her bed, made her snap back into reality.

"Chloe! Wh-what happened?" She came to sit on the floor next to me, leaving the book open on her bed.

"Like I told you, mother always knew. What just made me want to… ugh was knowing that she had been mailing Professor Potsdam and she had been telling her probably everything that happened to me at school!" It was very ironic that telling (even if she knew) her about my marriage lifted a weight off my shoulders, but now a new one was added with all this anger directed at her.

"And now you feel like you could have saved yourself a lot of trouble if you had known you could speak with her about these things sooner, right?" Ellen finished for me.

"Exactly!" It was relieving that somebody understood me. Mom had been right at least; having someone listening to you could be enough sometimes. I groaned in frustration, my fingers rubbing my temples. "I have been worrying almost for nothing…"

"Well… later is better than never." She did have a point, but I could feel how insecure she was. I just felt helpless for some reason.

"Yeah… you're right." I sighed deeply. I looked at the drawers where the letter I wrote to Hieronymus was… Just remembering some of the words made me sick. I needed to rewrite that thing.

"What will you do now then?" Ellen suddenly asked. I was about to answer "I don't know" until I felt an idea pop into my head. I looked at Ellen with sparkly eyes.

"Paint."

Wordlessly, I took my equipment and went outside with a small smile. It had been a while since I painted something so I just hoped I hadn't gotten rusty in one of the only things that could relax me. I settled everything right in front yard of my house, the front lights and the bright moon were enough light sources.

I stared at the canvas that was almost as blank as the white sheet of paper that I had used to write that miserable excuse of a letter. There was a difference though; I could actually visualize what to fill its blankness with. It wasn't big or special; I just wanted to express how I felt.

So I closed my eyes and let a deep breath out. I decided not to use many colors. I only needed tones of brown and black.

I didn't really use any kind of sketch; I just went on directly. It just delayed what really made me feel better and made me feel even worse.

These were vacations; I was supposed to have fun. Maybe Hieronymus was really rubbing off on me.

I took a brush, being left handed I naturally did it with the left one, and submerged it in the dense brown liquid, and proceeded to draw the silhouette of a girl in the lower left section of the canvas. From the head, to the torso, to the legs, and then the arms. Her posture clearly indicated she had no idea of where she was going. She couldn't see; the darkness was too dense and engulfing.

Brown and a bit of black were mixed on my palette, and I used this darker tone to bring out her silhouette a little bit by shading some parts of her body that required it.

It was blissful to be lost in my brush strokes and felt my head getting clearer. As I kept forming a second female body my mind began fully digesting everything.

Tomorrow was going to be a new day. I would wake up, take my… hideous tangle of thoughts and ask mom to help me to write a proper letter. Dad would be at work so it was perfect. She could probably clear out some clouds in me head too. Afterwards I could show Ellen around town and introduce her to some of the friends that had decided to maintain contact with me.

I could actually get back to the internet, to the technology I had not touched for almost a year since I entered to the Academy.

Yes, that sounded nice. The storm had passed and this was time to recover from it, not to sulk and get mad at mom just because she had to maintain her powers a secret. I could feel a new and stronger storm coming for the next year, and now I could rest at ease knowing I had another strong pillar to rely on.

I could get back to painting, dust off that old piano at my father's room and learn to write proper letters with mom. I could learn more and more through correspondence with my husband, and even get closer to him. I didn't know if we were actually something, or at least had a chance, though I knew he would try to avoid the subject of that kiss or any of the crazy things I had told him that night for now. What I truly feared was that… well… I ended up in… "friendzone."

He could decide to brush it all off because of this unstable student-teacher relationship, or maybe because of our (huge) age difference…

I came back into the real world and focused in the painting. The girl had adopted a more fearful pose through slight modifications, and there was another, taller woman standing next to her, holding her hand tight. She had a straight posture, head high and proud, steps firm and secure, and gaze straight to the path ahead.

Further ahead from them, at the lower right section, another silhouette was beginning to form. A tall man with wavy hair. He was walking straight ahead, also proud, but not confident. He held a candle in his hand that illuminated the path ahead of him.

Everything above them was pure black.

My gaze went up to the night sky. It was dark, no stars to be seen. However, the moon shined vigorously.

Why did the moon shine? Because there was a sun shining for it. Which of the two was I, then? The moon, with somebody shining for me, or the sun, with somebody to shine for?

I looked back at the painting.

The silhouettes were where they weren't supposed to be. I felt empty.

Author's Note:

I've had some time writing fanfiction, but this is my first Magical Diary fic. I'd be happy if you could tell me any grammar mistakes; my first language is not English. I hope you enjoyed. Criticism is appreciated.