"Quick!" Nicola whispered as she jumped off Pepe and ran out of the stables. They had followed the carriage until the front gates, and then they ran to the stables. Luc tied up his horse and followed Nicola out of the building.

They ran through the kitchen entrance, where Marie was busy making tea and cooking crumpets, it seemed. She didn't even look up when they two of them came running through and entered the door that led into the dining hall.

"Hello dearest sister!"

Her accent was thick, and it jogged a memory in Nicola's mind. Maybe if she would have stopped to think, then she would have realized what and who she was dealing with her.

There was a mumble of more voices that seemed to be drifting down the main hallway. Luc and Nicola stopped short, and quietly creaked the dining room door open just a bit. She brought her finger to her lips, a motion to stay quiet, and they observed.

This woman was skinny, and very fair skinned. Her hair was blonde and was tied up into bun at the nape of her neck. Her clothing was way to formal compared to Mama's and Papa's, and the string of pearls on her neck seemed to weigh her down slightly. She didn't take off her shoes at the front door either, which was a sign she wasn't staying long.

"I haven't seen you in so long…" Mama said, leading their guest to the back of the house. Mama was the younger sister in the family. There had been 5 girls all together but Nicola had never seen this one before. They shared the same brilliant blue eyes, high cheekbones and delicate features. Though something was strange about her.

"Yes yes, well you know, things do get busy in my profession." The women laughed as she grabbed Mama's hand as if it was the biggest joke of the season. Papa and Mama laughed lightly and politely along with her.

Nicola nodded to Luc, who then quietly stood up and tiptoed over to the bonus room. She followed closely behind, trying to listen in on their conversation. Mama was talking about the plants, and Papa seemed to busy himself with his newspaper on the table. The women's voice seemed plastic, like she planned all the things she was going to say.

"Now, where is dear Nicola?"

Nicola stopped moving and Luc grabbed her hand. They had almost made it to the next door without making a sound. This would let them spy on the living room without getting caught. They both didn't move for a long moment.

"I don't know at the moment. She is a free spirit Miranna." Her mother said, as the women made a tsk tsk sound.

"Honestly Adria, I wonder how you can sleep at night with such a child."

Nicola and Luc had made it to the next door and as quietly as they could, they pulled it open.

Miranna, her aunt, was holding a wooden stick in her hand as she sat at the table. The stick seemed laced with silver, for it glinted in the sunlight when she moved it. She motioned over her tea cup and the spoon started to stir itself. Luc looked over and mouthed 'oh my goodness'. Nicola felt like she couldn't breath.

"Miranna, please. We don't support that and you know it." Mama said, sitting down in the chair across from her sister. Her faced seemed more lined with wrinkles then ever.

"Well, it is precisely why I am here! Now, Nicola, would you please come out from behind that door -" she said as the two doors swung open as if they had been pushed by an angry child. Everyone turned to look over at Luc and Nicola sitting on the floor. "so that we can talk, please and thank you."

Nicola felt as though she couldn't move. Luc stood up and somehow her feet decided to follow his. They went to stand beside the table, all the adults eyes on them.

"Well, now you have gone and done it, Miranna." Mama said, shaking her head and looking at Nicola.

"Mama, what's going on?" Nicola asked as she looked back and forth between the lady and her mother.

"Did you know it's rude to listen in on conversations? Honestly, I wish you got her a tutor or something, she cannot go around like this."

Her mother sighed, and her father seemed to stay out of it. He seemed to enjoy the crossword puzzle more than the interesting conversation going on in front of him.

"Luc, it is alright, you may go." Mama sighed again as her sister carried on with talking about how her niece should have been raised like a proper lady. Luc nodded, then looked back at Nicola. He smiled one of his warm smiles, the ones he knew gave her the most confidence she could ever have, and then he walked away.

"…in my days, women were brought up to read and write and paint! Which of these things can Nicola even do…?" Miranna said, looking down at Nicola.

"I can read, and write, and paint…" Nicole whispered, seeming indimdated by this women.

"Well, that's a relief."

"Miranna, please." Mama cut in, interrupting her sisters next rant she was about to go on.

"You know why I am here, Arida. Beauxbaton wants Nicola and they have sent me to make sure she suggestfully gets on her way." Miranna stated, looking Nicola all over.

"She won't be going." Papa cut in. He put down his newspaper and looked over.

"You, unfortunately, do not have a choice. I have a letter from Madame Maxime. She has been looking forward to having Nicola attend since she was born. Plus I have a letter from the Board of Trustees of Magic Education that insist you let Nicola go." She tossed four letters on the table top. Papa and Mama grabbed them, and ripped them open.

Nicola was all so confused about this entire situation. Why did they want her so badly? What were they going to do with her?

"Mama, please, what's going on?" She asked again, watching her mom read over the white sheets of paper.

"Do you believe in Magic, Nicola?" Miranna asked, peering over the table to get a closer look at her niece. Nicola resisted the urge to shy away. She didn't answer. Her aunt was smiling a smile that seemed to hide many hidden years of memories that were not the greatest.

"Sometimes." Nicola finally answered, putting her hands into the back pockets of her jeans.

"Well, you better change your mind."

Her aunt leaned over and handed Nicola a letter. A small letter with a blue wax stamp in the back. On the wax stamp there were two sticks similar to the one her aunt was holding and a crest. The letter was addressed to her.