Madame de Sola

by Margret MacKenzie

Chapter 2-A 'Gift'

The emerald green curtains were pulled shut over the Victorian windows. The large room was brightly lit by three lanterns that had been strategically placed. The furniture and floor were made of finely polished cedar and the air gave off the light scent of peppermint. The beding consisted of soft white pillowcases and sheets and was topped off with blankets that matched the curtains. The bookselves consisted of books both from the muggle and wizard worlds. On the stand beside the bed lay a beautifully carved wooden stick, a wand.

The voice of a girl could be heard throughout the room as Margret lay on her bed reading out loud to herself. She paused to blow a lock of red hair from her face and continued reading. "...A lady wearing a white silk gown that was slightly worn from travel stepped into the room. Her long sunny blonde hair was pulled neatly into a knot though a few shorter hairs had excaped over the last hours and now lay losely around her face. She curtsied and gave a small smile. 'I bring thee a gift' she said in a soft voice before placing a package wrapped in brown paper..." a knock came upon the door and Margret was forced to come back to reality. "Come in" she said loudly as she sat up, focusing her brilliant green eyes on the door now.

The door opened and the elderly lady stepped in carrying a large, old book. "Nana, how are you?" Margret smiled and climbed off her bed.

The elderly lady smiled and placed the book on a table just beside the door before hugging Margret. "I'm fine...are you reading that book again?" the elderly lady said now looking at the book that lay open on Margrets bed.

Margret blushed "it's very well written...much more interesting then the people around here...So what brings you here anyways?"

"I've brought you something, and we need to talk...sit down please" the elderly lady replied before picking up the book she had placed on the table.

Margret nodded with a note of concern on her face at the tone her grandmothers voice had turned to. She walked over to her bed and sat down and was joined by her grandmother. "This book...do you know what it is Margret?" Margrets grandmother said looking at the book on her lap.

Margret looked at the book, it didn't appear to have a title. "No?" she said looking slightly preplexed.

"This book has been in our family for years now, passed on from person to person. It belonged to your great-grandfather, then it was passed down to your grandfather and me. I think you might find it to be a little interesting and I am now giving it to you. However, I don't want you opening it till you get back to Hogwarts" Margrets grandmother said, her eyes glancing towards the door every little bit. Hogwarts was a Wizarding school in Britain that Margret had attended and would soon be doing her seventh and last year at once summer ended.

"I don't understand, why are you giving it to me? Why don't you give it to mum? Why shouldn't I read it till I get back to Hogwarts?" Margret said looking even more confused.

"I'm not giving it to your mother, because she won't take proper care of it. I want you to have it, you need to have it, and if your mother got it then you would never have seen it. Now listen to me, I want you to make sure that your mother doesn't get ahold of this book. Do you understand?" Margrets grandmother said in a very serious tone.

"I don't understand, but I will do as you say, only because I trust you" Margret said though she still looked absolutly puzzled.

The sound of footsteps approaching the room could be heard. "I'm going to put this under your bed for now, you can find a more suitable hidding place for it after" Margrets grandmother said as she placed the book under the bed. Margret nodded.

The footsteps had reached just outside the door and now stopped. A loud knock was heard on the door and a short, skinny man opened it and stuck his head in. His hair was red, but a darker shade then Margrets, his eyes were the same shade of green as hers were. "Oh, I'm sorry, am I interupting something?" he asked.

Margret smiled "your home early, and no, we were just finishing dad. Right Nana?".

"Yep, that's right" Margrets grandmother agreed.

"Things went well today, we finished early so I told everyone they could go home early. Well anyways, I just came to tell you that supper is almost ready sweetie" Margrets dad said, sounding his usual tired but cheerful self.

"I'll be down in a minute, just need to get changed out of my jeans, don't want mum throwing another fit do we?" Margret said winking.

Margrets dad smiled "nope, we don't want that, well I'll see you in a bit then". With that Margrets dad closed the door and walked away.

"I'll see you down there in a bit, and the book will be moved to a safer place alright?" Margret said looking at her grandmother again.

"Alright, I have to go freshen up a bit anyways" Margrets grandmother said smiling before she too left the room.

Margret threw herself backwards on her bed and sighed, lying there for a minute before getting ready to go down for dinner.