"JACK FROST, YOU GET YOUR ASS IN HERE NOW!"
Ahh, so General Winter was up. Wonderful.
"Frost! You open this door this instant and make me breakfast!"
This kind hearted command was accompanied by a loud crash of a bottle. Most likely Vodka. Stanley Overland was more of a vodka man at heart. Well, technically- he didn't have a heart, so that actually didn't make much sense.
Jack rolled over on his side and blinked open his eyes.
Clearly, life was hard for a white suburban boy living in the privileged town of Burgess.
Jack momentarily considered hiding back under the covers. He wasn't ready to face the world yet, not that anyone cared.
"FROST DON'T MAKE ME DRAG YOU OUT!" the voice of his adopted father boomed from down the hall.
Groaning, Jack slithered out from under his covers and sat up. He glanced around his room, looking around for the clothes he thought he'd picked out last night.
Room. Not an accurate description of what Jack was oh- so generously situated in. It was essentially a cupboard, under the stairs. The Jack's "room" was composed of his bed and a couple shelves, not to mention the small, flickering light that hung above his head. General Winter said that he could not afford anything else, he needed to save money- for more important things. Like vodka.
Still dazed, Jack managed to pluck some clothes of the floor and dress quickly. He glanced in the mirror that hung on his door before pushing it open and entering the Overland household's hallway. Closing the door quietly behind him, he forced a small grin on his face and proceeded to the kitchen. He eased his way past the broken glass in the doorway, that must have been the crashing noise that woke him up. At least this time he didn't have a bottle broken against his head, like last week.
As Jack entered the kitchen, he ducked out of habit, just in case a bottle would come crashing at him. It did.
Baby blues met empty hazels.
Stanley Overland, or as he preferred to be called, General Winter was slumped in the kitchen chair, arm still hanging in front from throwing the bottle. Long locks of dirty blond hair fell upon his eyes. He was dressed in yesterday's clothes.
"I want pancakes, lots of sugar and make sure to add beer into the mixture." He mumbled.
Jack stood motionless as his gaze swept over the kitchen. It seemed that General Winter had gotten his payment because the table was knocked over and bottles were scattered over the floor.
The boy glanced back at General Winter and then at the clock. It was seven in the morning, no wonder Jack was half awake..
Winter, who was getting impatient, drummed his fingers on the chair handles and braked out at Jack.
"WELL GET A MOVE ON BOY!"
Snapping to attention, Jack smiled weakly and turned to the kitchen. Actually seven was good. Seven meant that Meghan was still asleep. However, seven meant that he had little time before school to clean himself- he'd better work quick. Jack opened the refrigerator and searched for milk and butter. He turned to the sink to pull out a clean bowl, but what he saw caused him to whip his hand back. It was a red lace thong carefully displayed on the faucet.
Biting his lip jack reached for his spoon. Jack hated when his "father" brought women home, not only did they leave the house smelling like cheap perfume, but they always left their clothes everywhere. Carefully picking up the garment Jack turned back to General Winter and forced a smile.
"Sir..."
Winter, upon seeing the garment, smirked and clasped his hands behind his head.
"Yes Frost, what seems to be the problem?" he asked in a sickening purr.
Fidgeting under Winter's piercing gaze, Jack mumbled "nothing" as he dropped the garment to the floor and kicked it towards Winter.
Winter snickered.
After he finished his duties, Jack rushed upstairs to wake Meghan. Once the groggy five year old was awake, Jack laid out her outfit and handed her her lunch.
"Remember, Jaime will be here to take you to daycare soon, try not to disturb Dad." Jack warned softly.
Meghan rubbed her eyes and yawned.
Jack's heart melted. In this shit hole, Meghan was the only thing that kept him from running away.
"Jack will you play with me when you get back?" the five year old asked.
Jack laughed and ruffled the girl's chestnut colored hair.
"Sure thing kiddo , make sure you wash your teeth before you leave as well." He said.
Kissing her head as a goodbye, Jack pounced out of the room and headed for the door. Grabbing his backpack that lay abandoned by the air vent, the tall boy looked for his shoes. They were nowhere to be seen. Groaning, Jack retreated back to the kitchen. Again, he was met with his adoptive father.
Winter, who miraculously somehow transformed from a drunk slob to a clean cut businessman, was sipping coffee(most likely, spiked with vodka). Sometimes Jack wondered how Winter could change so fast. At home he was the devil, but the moment he stepped out of the house he was Mr. Perfect, Mr. Dependable, Mr. Rolemodel. Jack constantly got reminded by people of all kinds that he should be grateful to be adopted by such a an wonderful man. Whenever people told him that, he wanted to punch them in the face.
Upon seeing Jack, Winter growled out a hissy "What."
"Where are my shoes?" Jack asked.
Winter sneered and put down his coffee cup.
"Your pancakes didn't have enough alcohol, and due to your stupid mistake, I now have a god damn headache. "
Jack internally groaned.
"...So as punishment go without shoes like the homeless boy you deserve to be."
Jack resisted the urge to flick him off.
Hiding his rage behind a sugary fake smile Jack turned on his heel and walked out of the house, barefoot.
As he proceeded down the sidewalk Jack pulled out his cell phone and scrolled through his contacts, hoping that if he called someone they could drive him to school.
It wasn't a shock when no one picked up.
Jack signed and stuck his phone in his pocket as he turned the corner.
Life indeed was hard.
Jack was very confused to find mail addressed to him. He never received mail, there was no one to receive it from.
The carefully wrapped letter was snugly tucked in the mail box, the words, "For Jack Overland Frost" peeking out.
It seemed like a nice letter too; it had a red wax mark and and a velvet ribbon tied around it. Jack stepped back into the house and closed the door with his foot, his eyes never leaving the letter. Winter was not back from work yet and Meghan was still at daycare, so Jack was free to explore the contents of the letter comfortably. Slowly he began peeling at the corners as he made his way into the living room. Once he managed to pull the letter free, Jack's eyes skimmed its pages with disbelief.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Overland-Frost,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand, 1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2), 1 set glass or crystal phials, 1 telescope, 1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
Jack blinked.
Wow, people really must have had a lot of time on their hands to go around mailing stupid shit like this.
Flipping the pages over, he searched for a spot that said "HA, IT'S A JOKE!" or something along those lines.
He never found it.
Snorting, Jack crumbled the mail and tossed it into the fireplace.
He wasn't going to fall for this junk.
