Because I couldn't really make you wait until June 6th, and the revision (for tomorrow aaaaghhh!!) isn't going all that well. General kind of over view chapter, but I figure it's better than silence.
Chapter two.
"Is he up yet?"
"No hun, not yet."
"Go wake him up!"
"Marcus if you want him to get up, you do it."
"Aren't you excited?"
"Of course I am. But you know as well as I do how much Jake likes his sleep."
"Yeah and he's a moody little git in the morning."
"I wonder where he gets that from?"
"You."
"Shut up! He gets it from you!"
"Shh!"
"What?"
"Did you hear that?"
"What?"
"I think he moved, listen."
"I can't hear anything."
"There. You hear that? He's up! He's going to the bathroom. Come on, we have to beat him back to his room."
"Why?"
"So he can open his letter!"
"You know you're the biggest kid in this family."
"Yup. Come on!"
Marcus grabbed Ayla's hand and pulled her towards the stairs. They had long since moved from Marcus's comfortable home in London. In the past ten years their little family had grown. They had married a year after Jacob had been born, and had moved home shortly after. Both were tired of the press following them, neither particularly understood the interest. As far as they could see they were not special, or in fact interesting. They also decided to raise their little boy away from the hustle and bustle of London life. Marcus chose a house just outside of Brighton. The Flint family home was now located on Half Moon Lane. Ayla had fallen in love with the place, shortly after reading the address, it couldn't be more perfect.
The house itself had been made their own. It was larger than their previous home, so much so that there was extra should family or friends wish to visit. Each summer Sarah and Melvin, along with little Geraldine and their other new addition of baby Saskia, would come to spend days on end at the beach, or roaming round the local muggle castles.
There was still plenty of room to spare even after Ayla had given birth to twins. Both parents were shocked and delighted at the news, though it did take some adjusting to.
"Two babies?"
"Twins, two."
"That's fantastic!"
"It's scary."
"It's amazing."
"It's your fault, twins don't run in my family."
"Good strong Flint genes. Two more little Flints."
"Two children."
"I can't believe it."
"We barely managed with one. Two's going to be twice as hard."
"Twice as fun."
"Twice the nappies."
"We'll send them to Kate again." Marcus said, waving his hand dismissively.
But the couple coped quite well, all things considered. Ayla's pregnancy went along without any complications. Jacob by that time aged four, was excited about the little brothers or sisters growing in his mummy's tummy. Ayla gave birth on July third, during a heat wave. She was exhausted, and uncomfortable from the very start of summer. Not that you could really call it summer to begin with, a week of sunshine in April shortly followed by two months of rain and damp weather, before the sun reappeared and put in a consistent appearance for the rest of the season. It was a relief when she finally gave birth, first came Edie, followed a minute later by her sister Rae.
Marcus had been beside himself, gazing adoringly at his:
"Two beautiful baby girls. The most beautiful girls in the world. My daughters."
While Marcus and Ayla waited patiently for ten year old Jake to come back from the bathroom the twins slept peacefully in the neighbouring room. Both were completely unaware of their father's soon to be explosive excitement.
"Why you in my room?" Jake asked as he walked into his bedroom, yawning and scratching his head.
"You've had a letter." Ayla explained.
"From who? Granny?"
"Open it and see!" Marcus urged.
"It's just a letter. Why you so excited?"
"Open it love, before your father bursts a blood vessel."
"Dear Mr Flint, you have been accepted to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Is this some kind of joke?"
"Course not. This is where you're father and I went to school. And now it's your turn."
"You'll love it mate, trust us."
"Come on guys, it's the middle of July you're a bit late for April fools.
"Jake love, you're a wizard. You're dad's a wizard, and I'm a witch. The whole family, we're all magic. It's in our blood."
"Even Edie and Rae?"
"Probably. Almost definitely."
"How come I didn't know?"
"Well we didn't want to freak you out. We wanted you to have a normal childhood."
"So you knew?"
"Yup, knew it from the day you were born mate." Marcus said, bouncing on the bed.
"Is that why I was home schooled?"
"Well yeah. We didn't want to risk you turning your school mates into toads."
"So this is cool?"
"Very cool mate!"
"I'm a wizard?" Jake said, looking slightly less than impressed with the title.
"Yup." Ayla said, smiling.
"So what will they do to me at this school?"
"Teach you."
"What though? How to pull a rabbit out of a hat?"
"Well all sorts. Charms, transfiguration." Ayla started.
"Flying!" Marcus interrupted.
"No way!"
"Yeah. It's the best mate. You'll learn to play Quidditch too."
"What?"
"It's our sport. It's the best. You'll love it I promise. I play professionally."
"Wow."
"I'll leave you two to it. We'll get your books later."
Ayla left her boys, and went to wake up her girls. The two were still fast asleep in their twin beds, both had the covers clutched tightly under their chins.
"Edie, Rae time to get up."
"Noooooooo."
"Five more minutes."
"You're brother's got some good news. He's going to the same school me and your dad went to."
"He's not going to be here during the day any more?" Edie said, throwing the covers off and sitting up.
"Actually he's going away to school."
"What do you mean?" Rae asked.
"He won't be here at all?" asked Edie.
"Well he'll be back for the holidays, but yes Edie you're right."
"But I don't want him to go!" Rae wailed as tears began to creep down her face.
"Mum?"
"Yes Edie?"
"Can I have his room?"
That'll tide you over 'til the 6th right? xx
