The Story Never Really Ends
AN: This is my version of what happens after the end of Magical Diary – Grabiner's path.
It's narrative based, but I'm putting in the dates as there will often be diary entries from Arianna (which is the name I used for my very first play-through). Although, obviously, she would have written much more than what I am putting in here, I'm only putting a few in, as insights into her mind when appropriate.
Also, 2014 matches the in-game dates, so that's when we are!
Saturday May 3rd 2014
Dear Diary,
It feels great to be home.
Well, it's still awkward. I don't know how to describe it really. It's hard to find the words to describe the feeling of your parents occassionally blanking you and your studies…
They asked me, while we were driving home, how my first year had been as a whole. I said it was good, though weird was the answer in my head. I could hardly tell them it was weird…
They asked how my grades were. We don't have grades, so I didn't know what to say. I just ended up saying I was doing well, which I was. I ended my first year with 25 merits, and a high level of understanding for Blue Magic… Ironic I suppose, considering circumstances, and Professor Gra Hieronymous had said it would pass over most of our heads. I remember how surprised he'd been when I managed to teleport successfully from the first exam room.
It's still odd to write his name like that in here, but it helps me get used to it, I guess. I thought it would be a good idea. He is my husband after all, his first name shouldn't be odd to me…
That was an awkward conversation, as well.
Oh, I didn't mention that I was married, God no… But they asked me how I got on with my teachers… They'd already forgotten what I'd said they taught… I said that Hieronymous (his name is hard to spell…) taught History (which I suspect is half true, since we start magical history nextthis sophomore year, and since Professor Potsdam already teaches three subjects, it's logical to assume he would also teach three. Besides, he seemed interested in it…) I told my parents that he was mean, but it was only a front to try and enforce the rules, and he really wasn't so bad.
I told them Potsdam teaches English… They believe I'm studying English Literature/Language and History… A good, believable combination I suppose, but still… I wish I could tell them what I was really learning.
My Mom asked if I'd met anyone nice yet. At first, I said that of course I had friends, and she said she didn't mean that… I remember feeling the heat rise in my cheeks when she asked if I'd kissed anyone yet. I'd certainly been glad of being on the back seat, where they couldn't see me…
I lied.
I couldn't tell her I'd been kissed… because she'd ask who by. I couldn't tell her who by, because it was my husband (cue blush). I couldn't tell her I was married, because I was married to my teacher… And I couldn't explain why. It was infuriating.
I thought things would be okay, great even, based on that car journey… But when we got home, I went to put my stuff in my room, and everything sort of… shifted. Suddenly, they didn't really seem to care too much. Mom almost forgot me at breakfast today. I came down the stairs and she suddenly grabbed an extra plate from the cupboard… Am I so easy to forget? Or is the white magic Potsdam uses to alter the memories of wildseed parents too strong?
I'm worried…
Arianna sighed. There wasn't much else she could think to write about, so she put the lid on her fountain pen and threw it into the drawer in her bedside table. She listened carefully to check her parents weren't about to enter, before placing her hand on the page in front of her and muttering a quiet incantation.
Good, the enchantment was holding. She'd used a combination of Blue and Black magic to make the pages of the diary blank to anyone except her. In a magic school, it probably wasn't a great defense, a simple spell that could be simply dispelled, but at home it was fundamental to keeping the secret of magic. She'd written a lot about her lessons in there… If her parents found out, her magic would be taken… After a long stint in the school dungeons… A fate she'd prefer to avoid.
Pleased that her secrets were safe, Arianna closed the book, and slipped it under her pillow (an extra precaution, perhaps not necessary, but comforting nonetheless). Also under there, with a similar enchantment on it, was her yearbook, which she hadn't properly looked at yet.
Having not yet touched it, the yearbook appeared to be a History magazine, an illusion that took a bit more energy and precision. But, thanks to her skill in blue magic, it was successful. As her fingers made contact with the smooth surface, however, the illusion melted away, and revealed the front cover of the yearbook, a beautiful picture of Iris Academy, with her entire year stood before it, and "Iris Academy, Freshman year 2014" written in flowing white script along the bottom; clearly Potsdam's work. Professor Potsdam and Professor Grabiner were on either side of the class, and Arianna had not failed to notice that Potdam had placed her at the edge of the front row on purpose…
She was stood, smiling brightly, beside her husband, whose grimace wasn't exactly a grimace, though to those uneducated in the Professor's subtler expressions it appeared as nothing else. Arianna cringed as she noticed that her cheeks were a single shade less pale than the rest of her skin. The reason? Professor Potsdam had basically shoved Hieronymous to the point that his arm and hers were touching. She had pretended not to notice, but the evidence was clear to see; and this picture was on every Freshman's yearbook. How humiliating… Like they needed any other reasons to tease me… Thanks Potsdam.
Turning the page showed a smiling picture of Professor Potsdam next to her "Message from the Headmistress" and on the other page, a very serious photo of Hieronymous, with his own message. Despite the seemingly serious photo, Arianna could see a slight glint in his eyes. He seemed content enough, if not irritated that a photo was required. She couldn't help the light chuckle that escaped her lips as she read through their messages.
Professor Potsdam's message was bright and cheerful, looking forward to seeing us all next year and wishing us a happy summer. Hieronymous' was far more serious, warning of the dangers of exposing the magical world to those not a part of it, particularly for wildseeds, and the punishment which would ensue. The stab of terror most of the school would receive at the message did not hit Arianna. She simply smiled, knowing he was only trying to protect his students.
Turning the page again brought her to the first of the dorm pages; Wolf Hall. A picture of all the members rested above a short message. Arianna noticed, with a giggle, that Donald (Virginia's brother) had accidentally closed his eyes for the photo, and was half-way through opening them again when the picture had been captured. On the opposite page were the Falcons. She skimmed their messages, before turning over for the Toads and Horses. For their hall's photo, Virginia had grabbed both her and Ellen and wrapped her arms around their necks, grinning madly. Arianna had found it impossible not to smile, and Ellen was clearly laughing. Around them, the other horses were all smiling, some wider than others. Arianna's gaze fell on the message.
Dear members of Horse Hall,
I have been proud to teach you all this past year. You have all proven your adventurous natures and your bravery, some more than others.
(Arianna grimaced, knowing she probably meant her.)
To the wildseeds among you, I urge you to harness this courage to help you find your place in the magical community, and to the magic-born, don't experiment too much at home, no matter how much of an adventure it might seem!
Have a wonderful summer,
Professor P. Potsdam
Despite the cringe, Arianna's smile held. Courage. Yes. She needed courage now. Everything would be fine with her parents, they just weren't used to her being home… that was all.
She skipped the messages for the Butterflies and Snakes, and next was the student profiles. She glanced through most of them, only deciding to look at her own and her roomates' profiles.
When she found hers, an angry blush coloured her cheeks.
Ms. Arianna Farrell-Grabiner
Horse Hall
Favourite subject: Blue Magic
"Discovering magic was the most wonderful thing that could have happened to me."
The implications of the entire profile were horrendously embarrassing. The quote was an honest one; she was very glad she had discovered her magic… But the fact that it was paired with her official name (was it really necessary?) and her favourite subject (ironically, one of Hieronymous' classes) made it look very much like something was happening between her and Hieronymous… Okay, we kissed, but people already think we're doing a lot more than that! They don't need your help, Potsdam! Her thoughts resonated. She would most certainly be mentioning her fury at this in her letter to Hieronymous.
Her letter… The letter which she was loath to begin. Not because she didn't want to write to him, but because she didn't know what to write to him…
She sighed, and flicked forward through the yearbook, forgetting to look at Ellen's and Virginia's profiles, and finding a collage of photos of most of the year, and the teachers…
"WHAT THE HELL!?" she exclaimed, slamming the book onto her bed in rage. She noted that nobody called to see if she was okay…
She glared at the offending photo with venom… As nice a photo as it was, what the hell was it doing in the damn yearbook!?
She was sideways on to the camera, a pile of mail in her hands. One of her Saturday morning rounds. She was smiling, half-way through a sentence, making her look doubly happy, and looking up at the person she was talking to; Hieronymous. As usual, he held his record book at his side, and he was listening intently… And smiling. Genuinely smiling. Looking at the expression on his face, she almost forgot her rage, until she read the flowing note at the bottom of it… "The Happy Couple." In Professor Potsdam's signature handwriting…
It took all Arianna's control not to burn the book right there and then with a spell. What did Potsdam think that could possibly achieve!? Besides, Arianna remembered that morning. It was late April, the week after she'd gone to see Hieronymous in his rooms for a chat. They'd been talking about Blue magic, and Hieronymous had just made a joke. They hadn't noticed the camera.
Oh, but when they did…
Arianna could remember the heat rising furiously in her cheeks as she'd turned to see the lens, and she had stumbled back a little in shock. Hieronymous had frowned in confusion, before seeing the blasted thing himself, at which point she could only assume he had turned a death-glare on the student behind the camera, for she had seen them go pale.
"If you ever do that again, I assure you the consequences will be severe." He had threatened in a low growl. "20 demerits and detention next week for taking photos without getting permission. You may be assured that our permission is not given for the use of that photo, are we clear?"
The student (Arianna couldn't really remember who it was) had peeked out from behind the camera to nod, before backing slowly from the classroom, breaking into a run once they were out of the door.
Hieronymous had assured her it would never be seen… So how was it in the yearbook!?
Filled with rage, she threw the offending book on the floor beside her bed, watching as the image melted away to form the image of a fake history article. She took a moment to compose herself, before shoving the yearbook under her pillow. With a huff, she rose from her bed and glanced at the clock, before heading downstairs to grab herself some lunch, her head buzzing with fury.
So that's the first (long) chapter. They won't all be this long XD It just depends what happens. I have several scenes already in my head (as we all tend to when writing) so I have a good idea where this is going to head :) Reviews etc are always welcome, and keep me going x This is a Work In Progress, but I'm hoping that won't mean it gets abandoned x