Chapter Three: Summer Trouble
It didn't take me long to say good-bye to all my friends the next day. It was sad, but as I explained my Father's wishes to send me off to a boarding school, they nodded and all hugged me in a group. My gang was handed over to Phoebe and Markus, who promised to do right. We were family for so long, it felt like I was dying, instead of just going away. It hurt my heart, but I stayed strong, smiled sadly and left the clubhouse.
Henry, however, was a little tougher. He didn't say much when I told him. He stared at the ground as I explained to him the cover story I had come up with. Henry had been my best friend since I was six, even though he was three years older than me. He knew all my secrets, all my tells, and every single thought that had passed through my mind since we met. I had never hidden anything from him, until now. Now I had a secret he could never know, unless we got married when I was older.
But I was too young for such thoughts, and until that moment when Henry's lips met mine, I had never thought about boys. I gasped and smiled through the shock, tears starting to sting my eyes. "Don't try to make me stay Henry... If I don't go, it'll only get worse."
The way he looked at me, with those dark eyes I've never seen get so wide, his usually pursed lips trying to form words. I tried to determine if he was sad or angry, but every time I tried to decide, his face changed. "I'm not trying to get you to stay," he mumbled quietly, digging in his pocket.
"I mean, I like you and all, but I just can't..." One kiss and I was flustered. I had seen many kisses; my parents of course, in movies and on the telly... the year I caught Jory with his first girlfriend and swore not to tell... but never had I thought it was as effective as this!
"I got you this," he said bluntly, his eyes dulling and he was back to his old somber self again. "I was going to wait a few more years before I gave it to you, but if I'll never see you again, now is the only time to give it." He was holding a blue box, square and covered in velvet. He pressed it into my hand, standing from his seat on the wall where we had first met, or secret usual place. "If you are to leave, carry this with you always. Maybe, if I wait long enough, you'll come back."
I popped open the box and my eyes widened at the small ring inside. "Oh Henry! It's beautiful!" It was a simple, slim silver band with tiny sapphires in the shape of a lotus. I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight. "I'll write you, every day. There's no post on Sunday, so you'll get a second letter every Monday."
I could feel him smile as he hugged me back, then he pushed me away. "Go," he said gruffly, looking away. "Go, before I stop you."
I turned from him, as much as it pained me to do so, and I ran. I could flee from the boy easily, but forgetting the pain was harder. I found my mother waiting at home for me, and at my incoherent blubbering that started upon reaching the door, she sat me at the table where I wailed as she made me a cup of Peppermint Tea, a favorite of mine. By time tea was ready, I had stopped crying and was now staring into nothingness, chin on the hard wood and the ring box clutched tightly in my hands under the table.
"Now what had you in tears, my little one?" she asked, brushing my hair back.
"I said good-bye to Henry," I muttered slowly. My mouth felt full and sticky, but the words came out just the same. My throat closed and I coughed to clear it. "He's my best friend, and I can't even tell him..."
My mother, sweetest of all sweet mothers, swept me out of my chair and onto her lap to hold me. She didn't speak a word, just listened as I told her of our friendship, as I had told no one of Henry. When I finally gathered my courage, I brought out the box and opened it for her. "He gave me this ring... to remember him by."
"It's a very beautiful ring," she said, taking it out of the box, "and I think you should wear it. It looks expensive... your friend might have been saving for months... or even for a year to buy this. It looks real." She took my hand in hers and slipped it on my first finger, then my second where it fit snugly.
I gazed at it, as fondly as I supposed I might have looked at Henry in a few years... if I were an ordinary muggle like him. Yet, I couldn't change who I was. I was a witch, I was magical. And magical can't exist in the world of the non-magic folk. "When I'm grown up, I'll come back and maybe Henry and I can be friends again."
My mother smiled sadly, almost painfully, but nodded. "I'm sure you will."
I grinned and hopped off her lap, finishing the rest of my tea quickly. I was about to dash out, when something popped into my head quite suddenly. "Mom?" I asked, hesitantly. "When we were in the Wand shop... you said you'd explain to me about my wand. Why Mr. Ollivander found it so interesting."
She nodded and stood. "Come. I have a few books in the library, up on a high shelf. They should answer the questions I can't."
I took her hand and followed her up the stairs. I didn't speak again until we were seated on the stunning canary colored couch in my father's library, three thick books settled on my mother's lap.
"What should be start with, little flower?"
I blushed. Mother was always coming up with new nicknames for us, but that one had been a childhood favorite that she used seldom. "Well, Mr. Ollivander said my wand was... unyielding. Does that mean?"
"Unyielding is a term for your wand's rigidity. How it will adapt to you, and how easily you, or someone else, will be able to use it. You're a very stubborn girl, Yoshomika. I've watched you grow up, and it doesn't surprise me. It only makes sense your wand would be stubborn as well. You may notice a difference between you two, if you think of your wand as a different person."
I could feel my eyebrows knitting together. "You mean... we'll fight?"
My mother chuckled at this, and opened the first book, a sort of battered thing with the covers almost falling off it. "Not fight, per se, but disagree, sure. You will most likely have to concentrate a little harder than everyone else. However... here it is. I've read about dragon heartstring cords as cores. Your father..." she halted, then smiled, though there was a panicked expression about her face. "Your father's wand core is a dragon heartstring."
I gave her a strange look, but looked down to the book in her hands. "Does that mean it's special?" I asked.
She laughed, a musical sort of lilt, and shook her head. "Good gracious, no! In fact, it's rather common. However, they are powerful, like dragons themselves. Here, it says that wands with dragon heartstrings as a core are very easy to learn with. I don't think it means that it's easy in general, I think it means more that it will take less time for you to adapt to it. It seems they also bond well with their owner, yet can switch alliances if they are won by another witch or wizard and the wand approves. However, with an unyielding wand, it may be more difficult for someone else to use your wand after they have it."
I was appalled. "You mean, someone can take my wand?" I exclaimed. "Is that allowed?"
My mother's face turned stern. "There are many ways to win a wand, Yosho. Usually, the easiest way is to kill the witch or wizard who carries it."
I could feel the blood drain from my face, and my tongue became dry.
"This isn't a game Yosho, these are very serious times. Why, when you were a baby, there were many witches and wizards killed by You-Know-Who. He may not have taken their wands, but what use would wands be to a dead person?"
"But... he's dead now," I countered weakly.
"And no one will ever rise to take his place?" my mother asked, her green eyes burning with rage. "Right now, in Azkaban, there are dark witches and wizards who claim their master is still out there. If he isn't, then someone may try to take his place. But if he is..." Her words dropped away and she didn't speak again.
"Well... what about the wood?" I asked, trying to change the topic. "Mr. Ollivander said it was made of Cherry wood?"
"From the Orient..." her mother sighed, closing the book. "Yes... It's the most special wood in Japan, though receiving a wand made of such wood is as uncommon there as it is here. They call the tree Sakura there, and have festivals just for watching the flowers open. They're truly beautiful trees, with white to pink blossoms..."
"The flowers that came out of my wand?" I asked.
"Exactly like them. They're the symbol for Japan." she said with a small smile. "I was born here, and lived here most of my life with your grandmother, my mother, before she remarried, of course. However, I went to Japan several times to visit your grandparents. I went even when I was pregnant with you... perhaps it isn't so strange."
I grinned at her. "Maybe not! I am glad that my wand is so pretty though. I couldn't imagine having just a stick."
My mother laughed, shook her head and put a hand to her temple, wincing a little. "Take these books, they're mine to give. Maybe you will learn something in them, though wands are just one topic they touch upon. Do not expect to learn too much about wands, Yosho. They are as mysterious as the people who create them."
I scooped up the books, excited as could be, and dashed up to my room. Throwing myself onto my bed, I flipped through the book, reading the curly writing, the notes on the sides of pages, and squinting to follow the lines of extensive drawings. Hours later, I closed the book and opened the cover, wondering who wrote it. My eyes widened when I saw Erina H. Minuo scrawled in bold, curly, cursive handwriting. These books had been written by my mother! I looked at the other covers, and found her name on them as well. They must have been things she learned in Hogwarts! Smiling, I tucked the books away in my trunk. I flopped back onto the bed, and stared at my ring until I fell into a blissful sleep.
I woke later that night to the sound of raised voices. In an instant, I was on guard. I jumped out of bed and wrapped my robe around myself, dashing down the stairs. My siblings stood at the bottom of the staircase in silence, looking first to the closed door, then to me. "What? What is it?"
Jory shook his head, horror written on his face.
Skyye looked revolted, but her stern mouth was shut and she shook her head as well.
Kyle looked from the floor to me, his black eyes met mine and he opened his mouth. "He said you were not his child. He accused Mom of cheating on him."
His words hit me and I stood numb, staring at them. The next second I was at the door. I flung it open, charging into the room. I saw my father standing over my mother, who sat weakly in a chair. He had been shouting, but at my intrusion, he straightened, seething at me. I saw he held a small bottle in his hand, and I couldn't stop from shouting at him. "What are you doing to her?"
He threw the bottle into the fireplace, and strode towards me. "She denies it, but there is no way you're my child... I know you're not!"
"I'm glad!" I screamed. "I wish they weren't your children either! You're a horrible person! But how dare you hurt her?" I threw up my hands when he tried to grab me, shouting and kicking at him. I saw the others standing in the doorway, unable to help. I can't remember exactly what I said to them, but I vaguely remember calling them cowards, asking if they would just and by and watch now.
There was a sharp crack and my father jolted backwards as I pushed him. Free of him, I went to my mother. "Come on mom, let's get you upstairs." I was aware that Kyle was helping me, and Jory had rushed behind me. There was another sharp crack and I turned to see Jory and my father's body disappear.
"Quickly. Jory can hold him off, but not for long," Kyle said in a low voice, his eyes sharp when they met mine.
"I'm so dead," I muttered, lifting my mother's body with him. "Will she be okay?"
Skyye flitted over and looked into Mom's blurry eyes. She leaned forward, sniffed her mouth and pulled back. "Nothing. It's Veritaserum."
Kyle's eyes widened. "Would he do that to her?"
"He said 'She denied it' but 'there's no way I'm his kid' before he attacked me," I said quietly, knowing she was right. "He drugged Mom to try and figure out who was my father. He somehow has proof that I'm not his kid!"
Skyye made a strangled sound, and whirled on us. "Mom has never cheated on Dad! Never. If she had, we'd know. She's never strayed from him, she wouldn't be able to without getting caught. She was always with us, and when she shopped, we would go with her... The only man in Mom's life is Dad, it's the only possibility."
We got Mom to bed, and as we were tucking her in, I remembered the incident at the uniform shop. "Wait. Who's this Malfoy? Lucius?"
"You'll stay away from him, if you know what's good for you, Yosho dear," Skyye snapped, her sharp eyes boring into me. "His family is associated with You-Know-Who and everyone knows it. They just won't dare say anything! And don't you dare say anything either, unless you want to kill us all."
"Would he really do that?" I asked. "He seemed to know Mom. He spoke to her in Malkin's today. They walked off together before I finished my order, so I went with Jory. I didn't see her until I got my wand."
Kyle interjected by walking out, shaking his head.
Skyye's brows knit together, but she calmly folded her arms and fell into a moment of deep thought. "Whatever happened between them is not of importance right now. We need to get you out of here. Father won't stay away for long and getting you out will keep you alive at least."
"Get me out?" I asked, panicked.
"This is serious, and until we can sort this out, I want you as safe as possible. Is there somewhere you can stay? Friends maybe?"
I thought of my mates in the gang, but shook my head. "No. I have to go to Hogwarts. I said good-bye and I'm not going back. They can't get mixed up in this."
Skyye nodded and snapped into motion. "Alright. I'll go pack your stuff, you try and speak to Mom. Say good bye, say you love her, and get to the room as soon as you're done. Kyle has gone to get the stuff you need, and Jory will be back any second no-"
Before she could get the next word out, Jory stepped into the room with a 'POP'. "I got his wand," he stated, throwing it to the floor. "He used truth serum. He's ranting like a madman."
"Thought so. Odorless, he threw the bottle away... if it had been anything else... Where did you leave him?"
"Not far. Fool, having never practiced wandless magic, it'll take him a couple hours to get back." Jory looked at me with shining eyes and held his arms open.
I rushed to hug him, hot tears already streaming down my face.
"It'll be okay, Yosho-chan," Jory whispered, holding me. "I have a plan. We've been planning for a while now."
"Kyle went to get the presents, I'm going to pack... What happened in Malkin's today, Jory?" Skyye asked, heading towards the door. Upon asking, she stopped and turned a little to assess his face.
I interrupted. "I was rude to Draco Malfoy, and his father walked in..." and it was then the gravity of the situation sank in. "So that guy you told me to stay away from..."
"Let me handle this," Jory said, waving Skyye on, and motioning me to the side of the bed. "I got this, okay?"
Skyye nodded and whirled out the door, sprinting to the bedroom.
"I'm sorry," I mumbled to Jory, sitting in the chair next to mother's side. I saw her watching us, smiling and then slipping into sleep for a moment, then jerking awake and reaching for us.
"Sorry for what?" asked Jory, taking Mother's hand.
"For calling you cowards... for using magic... for attacking Father!" I broke down, knowing the freedom of this action had always been saved for Jory. He was the most sympathetic.
"No, I attacked Father," Jory said. "I'm the only one without the trace. He'll forgive me later, but you aren't safe here."
"I'm not really safe anywhere, then, am I?" I asked. "We don't have family here. I'm going to Hogwarts in a month!" I froze. "I am... going, right?"
Jory chuckled and nodded. "If you make the train!" He sobered quickly, glancing at Mother. "Speak to her... it'll be the last time she hears your voice in a while. I'll leave if you want me to..."
"NO!" I exclaimed, jumping from my chair to wrap my arms around his waist. "No... stay."
Jory smiled softly, patted my head and nodded. "I'll stay then. But hurry, we don't have much time."
I looked to my mother, who gazed at me lovingly. "Mommy?"
She nodded and beckoned me towards her.
I let Jory go and collapsed on her, hugging her tight. "Mommy, why did Daddy do this?"
"He's not your father," she whispered.
My eyes widened, and I looked to Jory, to see if he heard. He was gone. Angry, but desperate, I turned my attention back to my mother. "If he's not my father... then who is?"
My mother's eyebrows knit together. "I don't know."
I huffed. Then a new question hit me. "Mom, that Lucius... who was he?"
Her eyes light up and she smiled like I'd never seen before. "He was my friend at Hogwarts. We hardly talk anymore, not since I got married to Lorcan. When I saw him in Daigon Alley, I couldn't help but follow him... but I ran into Lorcan..." she trailed off and became confused looking. "I don't know what happened between the door of Malkin's and Lorcan."
I frowned, and I didn't want to ask, but a question popped into my head as suddenly as Jory came and went these days. This question, however, refused to slip away so easily. "Mom... did you and Da- well... their Dad anyway, did you and he ever fight? Ever... break up? Even for a day? Did you ever go to a friend? Maybe... for consolation?"
Mom thought, though it appeared she had been sleeping, but she stirred suddenly. "I never left you children. Though... there was this one fight, I thought was worse than it was. Lorcan walked out, and I thought he'd never come back. However, he did come back, and it didn't take long. He acted strangely, but he apologized, told me he was wrong and asked me to forgive him."
"Did you... make up?" I asked, my face twisting in a weird way. I had heard my mother have the talk with my siblings... but I hadn't asked her any questions this personal, or this gross.
"Well, of course. We're still together after all."
I sighed. Under the effects of the Veritaserum, she answered truthfully, but as it seemed, the context of the question was not understood. "Did you have sex, I mean... with Dad?" I asked, cringing at the word.
"I... think so." She frowned, her lower lip sticking out a little. "I don't... really remember."
That was enough for me. I kissed her forehead. "I have to go away, Mom. I'll find you again someday. I love you."
"I love you too, Mika," she said sleepily.
Tears came to my eyes, but I jumped off her bed, gave her one last lingering look, then turned and left. I didn't look back, knowing I wasn't strong enough to see my mother so weak and knowing I was walking out on her. I was so lost, I barely saw Kyle rush past me with something in his hand. I could tell there was, because it was clenched so tightly, his fist was white. "What is it, Kyle?" I called, turning on my heel.
"It's the antidote," he called back, before turning into my mother's room.
I shrugged and continued up to my room. Skyye was there throwing my things in my trunk haphazardly, but stopped at my disgruntled moan.
"Don't worry, Yosho... I've enchanted your trunk."
"But... aren't you still underage?" I asked, confused. Her trace would certainly be on her!
"Yes, but the Ministry won't know. This is a magical family, we use magic here. Rarely, but it does happen. If the Ministry showed up every time magic was used near one of us kids, they'd live with us. Now hurry, grab anything you want to take with you. I've packed your school things, but your personal possessions are still hidden where you put them. Put them in your knapsack, they won't be going into the trunk."
I rushed to my bed, grabbing my notebooks I had under my pillow, a stuffed animal, then to my dresser to get muggle clothes. "How is it enchanted?" I asked, stuffing things into my bag at record speed.
"Not that it will open... but when it does, you'll be able to store things in it more efficiently. I want's able to enchant it completely, but your books, phials, equipment and basically everything but your clothes go into an infinite storage container in the "bottom" of the trunk. It's hard to explain right now, but I'll tell you when I can... now... Reducio!"
I looked up in time to see my sister shrink my trunk to the size of a walnut and I squeaked. "But, it's tiny!" I exclaimed.
"That's the point," she snapped. "Can't just be lugging around your trunk fill of strange things anyone can pull out. While all the clothes are on top, if anyone reaches in, they'll be able to grab whatever they can touch! Now... here." She stopped speaking, picked up the trunk and fixed it to a silver bracelet that she held out to me. "Keep this safe, and with you at all times. The trunk won't open until I enlarge it, which I'll do when you get to Hogwarts-"
"My ticket!" I exclaimed, fixing the bracelet to my wrist.
"It's right here," Skyye said hastily, shoving it into my bag. "Get the rest of your stuff on top of it, and if anyone sees it, it's a gag you picked up at the joke shop, okay?"
"Yeah, that sound's clever. Thanks!" I finished packing, flung the bag over my shoulder and hugged my sister tightly. "I love you."
"I love you too..." she whispered, hugging back.
Skyye's not usually one for physical contact, but she hugged me tight enough that my back popped, sending us both into fits of giggles.
"Hate to interrupt a touching family moment," Kyle muttered, barging in, "but Father will be here any moment and we haven't given her our presents yet."
"You don't have to!" I said, holding my trunk in my hand, marveling at how it fit so easily. "Just wait til we get to school!"
"You'll need these before you go, sis," Jory said, finally joining us. "We have enough time to see you out. If you slip around back and into the woods, you'll be able to get out of sight before Dad get's back. Now, here's Mom's present, Dad, as usual, doesn't have one."
Jory's present was a pair of long, fingerless gloves made of the prettiest black lace. "They're not much, but they are hand made. I enchanted them to hold against wear and tear, so they shouldn't get ruined as quickly.""
"They're beautiful," I assured him, with a big hug. "I'll wear them with fondness."
"I made you a coat," Skyye said, taking it out of her trunk. "It's got a lot of pockets inside, and it'll keep you warm on the streets. Didn't know it would come in handy like this though. Come, try it on."
I let her help me slip it on and I marveled at the softness. It was form fitting, but loose enough to be entirely maneuverable in. The upper part of the sleeves and waist were the the tightest, but they weren't to uncomfortable, and they both widened to comfortable widths. I liked the bell sleeves, despite the hem of the jacket ending about my knees. I looked inside and saw there were many pockets, and I wondered if they were enchanted like my trunk. I grabbed up my pouch I had gotten from the Goblin, Gakken, and stuck it in one of the pockets. As I suspected, it disappeared from sight. I stuck my hand in the pocket, felt around, and pulled it out again. "Skyye, it's brilliant!"
She smiled, pushing back her hair and looking away. "I'm glad you think so. Now... Kyle, you have the important stuff. You next."
I ignored the flush on her face, though it made my heart flutter, and looked to my brother. Usually, stone-faced, Kyle's eyes betrayed the anger and disappointment in my leaving. I took the package he held out to me and opened it. It looked like a letter opener, except for the beautiful jade and rose quartz ornaments dangling on the chain attached to it. I looked at him quizzically as he twisted my hair, took the item from me and stuck it into my updo. "A hair stick?" I asked, reaching up and touching the silver moon that hung at the end. "Oh Kyle, thank you! Thank you all!" I rushed into his arms and hugged him tightly. I felt him stuff something into my jacket, just brushing my wand that I had tucked in there. Wondering what it might be, but urged by Jory, I grabbed my bag and followed them downstairs.
"I wish I could tell you to owl us..." Skyye started.
"Oh no!" I wailed. "Pye!" I turned back and dashed to the room, where I found Pye sleeping on the bed. I opened the cage and let Kousei out, telling him to fly to the park, where I would meet him. After he was gone, I carefully picked Pye up and carried him downstairs where the others waited. "Sorry, I couldn't leave him."
"Do you know where you're going?" Kyle asked.
I thought for a moment, debating on telling them, but I knew it was dangerous. I shook my head and opened the door. "No. Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. I love you guys... I'll see you soon!" And with that, I left, slamming the door behind me and making for the park.
