OF LETTERS, AND WISHES

Edward Lupin led a pretty wonderful life on the whole. He had a beautiful house, plenty of spending money, parents that loved each other and their children, a nice extended family that he saw often, but not too often. Yes, Edward thought to himself, he led quite the life. But unfortunately, that was all about to change. You see, Edward H. Lupin II was a young wizard, and he had turned eleven. Which ment that this year, he would be going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He had already received his letter, his mum had already helped him pack his trunks (which were now stacked neatly at the foot of his bed) and his father had even gotten him his school things, ("Just swung by the Alley and got them for you son, now you'll be all ready to go- less stress on your mother."). And now, all there was left to do was to get on the Hogwarts Express tomorrow morning at exactly eleven o'clock, and he'd be off. Just the thought of it made him ill.

Sighing heavily, Edward threw himself onto his bed, bouncing slightly before stilling. It's not that he didn't want to go to Hogwarts; he liked the idea of it fine. His brothers and sister said it was the most wonderful place in the entire world, a place where witches and wizards like them could use magic all the time. He liked using his magic. It was one of his favorite things to do. But not even his excitement at that prospect could override his fear of leaving home.

He had never been away from home before. Never, not once, not ever. He didn't know if he could handle it. Sure Fabian, Ella and Arthur were there, but what if he wasn't sorted into Gryffindor? And even if he was, they were older- they wouldn't have the same schedules as he did!

Edward just wasn't a people person, not like his siblings. He chose his words carefully. He liked ideas more then conversation. He knew this about himself, he accepted it. But there was a nagging fear inside his heart that no one else would. What if not one person liked him? He'd be all alone at school. All alone. He wished he never got that stupid letter!

With a groan he rolled over; burring his face in his pillow. It would be a nightmare, he could already see it.

"Hey Ed-you'll never guess what just happened!" Arthur cam bursting into their room, a muggle spark plug in one hand, his wand in the other, a huge grin across his face, "What's wrong?" He said as soon as he saw his little brother, stopping short at Edward's bedside.

"Your not 'sposed to use magic outside of school Art." Edward mumbled into his pillow without even sparing a glance towards his brother, "You could get in really big trouble."

"Naw," Art waved his off and plunked down on the bed, "Mum and Dad are magic too. And it's impossible-"

'To detect underage magic in a magical household, yes I know." Edward said impatiently, sitting up and glaring at his brother, "but it's still the rules Art."

"Whatever Ed, you're such a spoil sport," Art grinned good naturedly back at his brother's somber face, "Any way; ya wanna see what it can do?"

Edward couldn't help the small smile that twitched across his face in response of Arthur's enthusiasm, Art's grin was infectious, and it was impossible to talk him out of anything, so one minds well enjoy the outcome, "Ok."

Flashing his brother another wicked smile Art leaped off the bed and practically sprinted to the center of the room, tripping over his too long robes in his haste.

"Ok." He said, when he had steadied himself, 'Prepare to be amazed!" Touching the tip of his wand to the end of the spark plug he yelled, "Lucinedo!" before dropping the thing like a live grenade and diving over Edward's bed, pulling Edward with him as he did so.

Turns out, the whole "live grenade" comparison wasn't to far off. No sooner had they ducked behind the bed then the plug began to glow, first yellow, the orange, before turning a bright, violent shade of red. All of that, however was the precursor to the main event, because it hadn't been a second before the thing turned red then the entire plug exploded with an earth shattering BANG! And haze of red, pink and orange sparkles.

Stunned and still a bit shell shocked, Edward chanced a glance at his brother who's expression was a comical mix between triumph and amazement, but before either of them could say a word, their bedroom door burst open to revel their mother, holding their five year old sister in her arms and flanked by their younger brother William, who wore and expression on utmost delight on his chubby face.

"What on earth!" She shirked, eyes darting around the room, taking in the sparkles, the still smoking carpet, and her sons crouched behind the bed, "What on earth was that?"

"Don't worry Mum," Art said easily, getting to his feet, "Just a little experiment, nothing to worry about."

"Nothing to worry about?' She cried, a pained expression crossing her delicate features, "Art that sounded like it was going to take the roof off!"

'Yeah, sounded like." Arthur grinned, "But it wouldn't have, I'm sure of it."

"Art," She sighed, setting Glinda on her feet, 'I put up with your experiments because you havbe a curious mind, and I want to encourage that, but it's illegal for you to be messing around with magic during the summer." She sighed again, and extended her hand, 'Hand it over."

'But…but Mum!" Arthur cried, wide eyed, clutching his wand to his chest, 'I just got it back!"

'I know." She said, her voice a bit sharper, 'And you can have it back tomorrow, but we just redid the floors and I don't want to risk it."

Recognizing defeat when he saw it, Arthur reluctantly placed his wand in his mother's outstretched hand without further complaint.

"Thank you." She said straightening back up, "Now, dinner is in a few minutes and your father will be home before that, go wash up and I'll see you both downstairs." And with that, she took Glinda's hand and left the room, her blonde hair billowing after her.

"Tough luck mate." Edward said, patting a dejected Arthur on the back.

"And this one wasn't even that bad!" Arthur exclaimed, "Not nearly as bad as the time I accidently set you on fire!"

"Yeah, I'm still mad at you for that, I'd forgotten…"

"Humph!"

Edward and Arthur both looked around, looking for the origin of the huff.

"Stuff it William." Arthur said, narrowing his eyes at the small but rotund figure still standing in the doorway.

"It's no more then you deserve!" William said, strutting importantly into the light, "Mummy's told you and told you Art-"

"And I've told you and told you to stuff it." Art said menacingly, straitening to his full height, which was nearing six feet, quite amazing for a twelve year old.

Arthur took after his mother's father's family. Tall, thin and boney with red hair and freckles, a Weasley if there ever was one. Only he and Fabian looked Weasleyish, the rest of them were decidedly un-Weasley, favoring their father's side instead, with the exception of Glinda, who was the perfect little replica of their blonde, willowy mother.

Though Arthur was glaring daggers at him, his glasses hanging precariously at the end of his long nose, William did not seem perturbed.

"I'm not afraid of you Art." He smiled smugly, "You can't hurt me or Mummy and Daddy will be mad at you."

It was hard to deny the truth in his words. Mum and Dad did favor him. There had been a baby right after Edward that had died, and their mum had never quite gotten over it. When William had come along two years later, their parents had spoiled the little git rotten. He had been the baby for three years until Glinda had been born, and even five years down the line, was having trouble adjusting to her presence.

Satisfied by the look of barley controlled rage on Arthur's face, William gave one pompous little nod before he strode out of the room.

"I hate that kid." Arthur muttered, the dark look on his face marring his features. But the mood passed quickly, for in a moment he was looking back at Edward, his face now full of curiosity, 'What was bothering you before Ed?"

'What do you mean?" Edward asked, flushing slightly. He had hoped that in wake of the chaos that had characterized the last quarter hour, his brother had forgotten about his wave of melancholy.

"You know what." Art countered quickly, raising one thin eyebrow.

Edward sighed, "It was nothing, Art."

'it was most certainly not nothing." He replied, "Just tell me Ed, it'll make you feel better."

Just as Edward was about to relent, their mum's voice sounded from the ground floor, "ART, ED-DINNER TIME!"

As Art dashed out of the room to try and head off the others in the nightly scramble to the dinner table, Ed sighed. He would miss the comredery his siblings, especially Art, provided. He'd never have as good of friends at school that he had at home. Yes, he thought as he slowly followed his brother out, he wished he had never gotten that stupid letter.

SHOULD I CONTINUE THIS? YES/NO. REVIEW