CHAPTER TWO:
Living in America wasn't difficult as Petunia thought. Although her accent was an obvious statement that she's from Britain, her colleagues and her new American friends were decent to her.
Portland is a large city and she particularly loved how the city is surrounded by forests. Dudley and Harry loved the bridges. Dudley even attempt to design buildings and bridges but to no avail. He lacked the drawing skills. Iris on the other hand, loved the forests and would often play at their yard. Petunia was adamant that Iris would not enter the forests alone and should not go too far.
All three seven-year-olds are very bright and are performing well in their school. They easily assimilate with the American culture.
Dudley is a whiz on math and history, just like his father. This made Petunia remember her late husband and how proud she is of her son. Dudley is also very active in sports but is more interested in martial arts and soccer. He even taught Iris and Harry the basic of defense. He didn't want his little cousins defenseless (for Dudley is still a tall and large boy for his age).
Dudley learned from a young age that magic isn't everything. Petunia instilled that lesson to her son. She didn't want Dudley to grow up resenting his cousins because they could do magic while he can't. It was one of the mistakes Petunia did in her life. She also made sure to give all three children equal attention. She didn't want to repeat the mistakes of her parents who were so proud of Lily that they rarely have time for Petunia.
Iris on the other hand is a very inquisitive and creative child. She loves to read and enjoys art, science and literature. Iris is a very hands-on when it comes to learn something. She may love reading but she doesn't like relying on theories, she wanted application. She also has a knack of experimenting and has crashed their computer five times because of it. She was no longer allowed to use it for any reason except for school work.
Even though she maintains good grades in school, Iris is very selective on what she wants to learn. If she's not interested on it, she doesn't make a lot of effort for it. She is also very proud of her eye coloring (one green and one brown) despite it being the source of teasing in school as "weirdo eyes". She wasn't afraid to express herself and was famous in school to wear mismatch shoes and socks.
Harry is the top student among them. The teachers liked him very much. He wasn't just smart but is polite and athletic as well. Harry's favorite sport is badminton. His quick reflexes and natural ability to spot things made him a prodigy of the sport. Even though he wears glasses, it didn't hinder him from playing. He is also the most serious of the three and is always formal and cordial when he's speaking to other people who aren't family.
Petunia often worries about Harry. He was takes life too seriously and doesn't like it when people, particularly children, who take life for granted. Petunia never understood what Harry meant by that but Iris explains to her that Harry didn't like how some of the some of their classmates who are not taking their education seriously. It was an odd thought for Harry to have since he is seven years old not a brooding teenager. She worries that Harry maybe growing up too fast.
Because Petunia lacks the insights and capabilities about magic she taught Harry and Iris to control their emotions. A lot of accidentally performed magic has been happening since the two children turned six, more if they are upset. Petunia never recalled having this problem with Lily when they were children. She did wonder why nobody in the magic world noticed the children's sudden bursts of magic. Shouldn't their government keep track of these things if they even managed to find Lily? Why only contact them when they turned eleven?
Petunia was distracted from her train of thought when she heard someone at the door. Since it was summer and she has no classes in the university, except for the research assistance she provides, she stays at home. Dudley and Iris were upstairs. Harry was out in the yard.
"Yes?" Petunia said as she opened the door. She was surprised to find Harry there accompanied by an adult male whom Petunia recognizes as their neighbor. Harry looked a little worried.
"Ms. Dursley, may I have a word?" the man said.
"Who are you?" Petunia asked as Harry walked towards her and Petunia laid her hands on his shoulders protectively.
She saw the man many times before but she never knew the man's name. How the man knew who she is? Petunia never remembered talking to him.
"Well, you see. I was passing by your house on the way to the grocery store when I saw your nephew on the yard talking to a snake." The man said it with a straight face.
Petunia wasn't sure she heard the man right. "Excuse me?"
"Oh and before I forget Miss Dursley. My name is Augustus Blake from the U.S. Accidental Magic Division."
Petunia couldn't believe it. Accidental Magic Division? Mr. Blake informed her that he worked with the American magic government and that their division has sensed a lot of anomalies in the house that are probably caused by her nephew and niece.
While Petunia sent Harry upstairs, she invited the man for tea in the living room.
"You are not what I expected from a wizard." Petunia commented. She met many witches and wizards because of Lily. She might even recognize one if they cross a muggle street. They were too obvious with their robes and excited faces like they have seen London for the first time.
Augustus Blake, who insisted to be called Oggy, just smiled at her as he drank his tea. "Yes, you are from Britain. Unlike the magical community in Europe, the American wizards took hiding our magical heritage seriously and the best way to hide something is to hide in plain sight. That means every magic child has to grow up how to dress and act as a mundane. Most of them were even sent to mundane schools before the age of eleven."
"Mundane?" Petunia asked.
"Ah, I think the British calls you muggle." When Petunia nodded, Oggy continued, "Most of the international magic community calls you mundane."
"I see. You mentioned that your division sent you because of anomalies? Since you moved here two months ago, I would guess that you are spying on us?" Petunia glared at the man. She understood why the man was there but she didn't like it when people spy on her, especially the children.
Oggy gulped. Miss Dursley maybe mundane but the way the woman is glaring at him was like a lioness protecting her cubs. "Ah, you mistake my intentions Miss Dursley." Oggy raised his hands to look less threatening. "You see our government has an accidental magic division for a reason. We have to keep our magic a secret from your world so we have to monitor magic children who came from mundane families."
"Like my sister?" Petunia said. "I think you people call her muggle-born."
Oggy nodded. "But here, we refer to them as First Gen. Short for first generations. Because they are the first in their family to have magic."And Oggy continued. "And we wanted to educate the children and their families as early as possible to control their magical abilities and avoid detection from mundane authorities."
Petunia understood this part. Her world maybe be progressing but it's still very dangerous. With the advent of technology and science, who knows what would happen if they discovered that magic really exists.
"We also wanted to see if the magic child is in any danger. You see, sometimes family aren't very understanding when they find out if their children are what they would call as freaks. If we spot signs of abuse, we would take the child and have him or her raised in a magic environment."
Petunia was saddened of this. She knew she used to see her sister as one and even go as far as call her freak. I guess this is what it feels like to live back in the Salem witch hunts time.
"Why eleven?"
"Pardon?" Oggy blinked at her.
"I asked why eleven? I noticed also back in Britain that wizards and witches are usually contacted for school at eleven. You also mentioned that most American magic children are educated with mundane schools before they turned eleven."
"Eleven is the year the magic starts to settle in a child. Before that, children's magic is unpredictable, that's why we call them accidental magic. But studies shows that the moment the child is trained before eleven, their magic is much stronger and more controlled. This is why once a child did accidental magic their parents teach them the basics or if their parents are unable to, the division would assign a tutor for them, especially for First Gen or in your case, mundane raised children."
"I see…" Petunia placed her cup on the coffee table. "Does this mean that Harry and Iris will also be instructed?"
"With your permission of course." Oggy said. "But that isn't just what I was going to say."
Petunia raised her eyebrows at him.
"I did mention in the beginning that I saw Harry talking to a snake?"
"Is that a problem?" Petunia asked. She knew that Harry talks to snakes before. It was the time they went to the zoo and Harry was so excited about it when he met this really long boa constrictor who told him he didn't saw Brazil. All Petunia could hear was hissing but the snake was responding to Harry. That was also the time Harry accidentally made the glass disappear and the snake crawl its way to freedom.
"Uh, no." But Oggy hesitated a little. "It's just parcel tongue – snake language – is very rare ability and usually hereditary. In Americas, Africa and most of Asia, parcel mouths – those who speak parcel tongue – are revered but from my understanding in most of Europe, particularly in Britain, the ability to talk to snakes is considered dark magic."
Petunia froze. What does that mean? "Is Harry in danger? Are you here to hurt him? Becau—" Petunia almost threw her cup to the man.
"Calm down Miss Dursley! I am not here to harm one hair on Harry or anybody in this house, including you!"
CLANG! The noise distracted both the adults as they stared at the doorway where three children were standing. Dudley has a baseball bat, Iris dropped the pan she was holding and Harry was staring at them.
When this man called Augustus Blake saw Harry talking to Silas – the garden snake who passed by Harry's house once in a while. Harry didn't know what to do. He was scared. He was even more anxious when the man asked to talk to his aunt.
When the man introduced himself as an officer from an accidental magic division he was excited. Years of trying to figure out how to control his magic, especially in school was taking a toll. He finally found someone who is magic. Maybe they could help? Harry always wanted to learn more about magic. The books he usually read were more focused on academics not on magic and Aunt Petunia's knowledge of it isn't enough.
When Aunt Petunia told him to go upstairs, Harry was too excited and told Iris and Dudley about it. Dudley was skeptical. He doesn't trust strangers very much and insisted on bringing his baseball bat just in case the man tries something funny. Harry has to roll his eyes at his cousin.
The three has to sit near the doorway, eaves dropping on the conversation. Harry is pretty sure Aunt Petunia knew they were there. She always does. Harry and Iris were intrigued about the discussion on accidental magic and how the American laws insist that when a child starts showing they will be tutored.
But when the discussion about Harry's ability to talk to snakes arrived and how Aunt Petunia stood up angrily, Iris ran to the kitchen and grabbed a pan but dropped it when she reached the doorway.
Aunt Petunia and Mister Blake stared at them. "What are you doing?" Aunt Petunia asked.
"We were trying to help you fight him!" Iris squeaked shyly as she picked up the pan and hugged it.
"Yeah! He's not going to hurt Harry!" Dudley cried.
"I'm not here to hurt anybody!" Mister Blake said exasperatedly.
"You said that Harry's ability is considered dark magic! I may not be a witch but I know how your world works. Lily told us about it!"
"That's how the British magical community works but not us." Mister Blake, who still insists the children, calls him Oggy, said. "Dark magic doesn't mean evil. Hell, even light magic can be dangerous also."
That immediately calmed everybody down. "See Harry's parcelmouth's ability would require special training for it. When I saw him talking to a snake, I was excited about it because we haven't had a parcel mouth here for a long while."
"Oh." Petunia bit her lip. "I apologize." And she turned towards her children. "I know you were sitting there all this time." All three kids were grinning guiltily.
"Does this mean we get to learn magic?" Harry asked expectantly, followed by Iris.
"If your aunt is willing. We cannot do anything without your guardian's permission."
Harry and Iris stared at their aunt, begging her with their puppy dog eyes that they knew their aunt can't fight against.
Aunt Petunia sighed. "And who will be teaching them?"
"Since Harry and Iris is not yet eight ("We will be this July and August!" Harry and Iris said), I will be teaching them about magical theory, history and customs. However, they will be tutored by someone else for magical application and you don't have to worry who they are. I am assigned for your case so I will also be the one who will make sure that your children are in good hands." Oggy explained. He could still feel sweat coming behind his head. This is the first time he has met a mundane who is overly protective of her children. Magic or not, the woman would eat him alive.
Aunt Petunia still glared at the man skeptically. "And what happens after that? I have to warn you, we will be returning back to Britain in a few years."
"It doesn't matter though. Because you are in American soil, it is still our responsibility to educate magical children. Also, are you aware that your family is under a secrecy ward? I believe a wizard cast it on you."
"What?" Aunt Petunia gaped. "A-a wizard put a spell on us?" She doesn't like that. This is one of the reasons why she doesn't like magic. Sure they are something of awe but she doesn't like it when they are being used on her.
"This is why my division sent me. We knew there was accidental magic but we couldn't trace who it is or where it's from. We can always tell who the children are, when they did it and where but in your case we couldn't. This is the first time we have to do some investigating because of it."
"Hence, why you're the creepy spy guy who keeps staring at all the kids in the neighborhood." Harry stated.
Oggy blinked at him. "You weren't very discrete." Iris replied.
"You suck at spying. You should watch James Bond movies, he was good. Everyone in the neighborhood calls you creepy spy guy." Dudley finished.
"Do they always do that?" Oggy asked but Aunt Petunia smiled. Harry always like it when Aunt Petunia smiled. She did a lot for them and that's why Harry sees her as a mother, not like his own biological one who abandoned him.
"They've been together for so long; they can practically read each other's minds." Petunia replied. "And the spell?"
"Oh yes." Oggy shook his head. "Wards are usually used on objects not people and they lose their energy overtime but from the looks of it, it's designed to recharge every time you come in contact with Harry and Iris."
"Me?" Petunia blinked. The ward thing he mentioned is on her?
"This is why magical people such as I couldn't find you. If it wasn't for me seeing Harry speaking to snakes, I wouldn't have known. It was like the wizard who casts this on you doesn't want others to find you."
Well that explains it. Harry thought. He found it odd that even once in his young life he never met another wizard or witch. Why is there a secrecy ward? Does this mean some wizard or witch meant them harm? Harry wants to find out but he wants to know how this wards work first.
Okay, that's about it. This is one long conversation for a chapter! Ugh! Sorry. I wanted to portray difference in the magical culture…at least in my fanfic. Reminders to all that I do not. I repeat, do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. I'm writing this for fun! Augustus Blake is an OC and you'll be hearing about him for a while until I reached towards their other tutors. Hehe.
For now, I'll be a little busy. I still have journals to read, research papers to write and powerpoints to create. Life of a teacher!
Thanks to all the comments, PMs and follows.