big stuff coming up in this chapter... hope you enjoy, please comment. I need to feedback. Over a year on this thing I still haven't found a beta reader.
Chapter 36:
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
My lunchtime owls brought correspondence from the States, I recognized Omar's flowery scribble on the front of the envelope immediately.
"Hi Pookie," the letter started. It came in wrapped around a second envelope. "Everything here in Boston is fine. The weather has been quite warm, Danny and I actually took his nephew to the beach over the weekend for a good round of kite flying, and dog walking. Lenore and Marty got Tyler a Husky puppy for Christmas, her name is Toboggan, yeah, I know, but what do you expect from an eight year old. Danny says 'Hi Gorgeous!'. This bit of muggle mail arrived for you a couple of days ago. Usually I open your stuff to make sure that it's not junk mail, but I noticed that it was postmarked from your Dad's old base, I figured you'd want it. Give the studly one hugs, and take care of yourself, love your always honey-bunny, Omar."
I opened the other envelope, inside it, hand written on USMC stationary was a short letter from my Dad's best friend in Quantico. I felt like I'd been hit by a stunning spell as I'd read the news from the man I'd called "Uncle Richard" as a small child.
"Dearest Glinda, I feel it my personal duty to inform you, that through a cooperative effort of the Vietnamese and United States Militaries, the remains of six Marines were uncovered in the excavation of the site of the downing of the CH-53 helicopter that your father was piloting on April 30, 1975. Your dad was identified by his dog tags and his wedding ring. Your Aunt Bridget requested that he be interred at The Cape Cod National Cemetery in Bourne Mass. He'll be buried with full military honors at a memorial service scheduled for 0930 on Monday June 25, 2012. Glinda, I don't know if this letter will even find you, or if you're even still alive. Had I known Bridget and Calvin had given you up in 1979, Maggie and I would've adopted you, honey. Please, Peanut, if you're still with us, Please... we'll be there for the service. Until we see you again, remember that we love you, Richard and Margaret Ashwell."
Seeing the handwriting of my father's best friend brought back many happy memories of the times I'd spent with the couple who's taken care of me while my father was in duty after we'd lost my mother to a drunk driver. The tears were pouring down my face as I finished reading.
"Glin, what's wrong?" Neville asked me from across the table. I just handed him Uncle Richard's letter. "Blimy," he muttered, as he read the note. "School ends on June twentieth, I'm sure you can get an international portkey."
"Very true, Neville," I said, "thanks"
"So, when going back to America?" Violet asked me, as we shared our Tuesday night patrol.
"How'd you know about that?" I asked.
"Well," Violet explained, "the letter you got from America this morning was supposed to be a really big secret, therefore, the whole school knew about it by supper time."
"Of course," I muttered, "how silly of me? So, everybody knows about my little lunchtime breakdown. Great, that's all I need."
She just smiled apologetically. "No body thinks less of you for it," She assured me. "Professor Longbottom had to assure some of his Gryffindors that you weren't leaving for good. So, when's your trip?"
"Right after the term ends, the memorial service is on June twenty-fifth. I'll be leaving either on the twenty-second or the twenty-third."
"Is Charlie going with you?"
I just smiled remembering the mirror conversation we'd had earlier, and Charlie telling me that there was no way in hell that I was going back to America with out him. "Yes," I said. "I think we're going to make a bit of a vacation out of it."
"Damn," she muttered. "I'd ask you to pack me in your ruck sack, but three's a crowd."
"And the International Portkey authority frowns on stowaways."
"I guess you're right, but I really do want to see America."
"You should see it on your own."
"Don't really have the time till I finish Auror training. I still have another year."
"It'll be over before you know it." A noise caught my attention, "Violet, did you hear that?"
We both went still and silent for a second. I heard the sound again. "I hear it now," Violet whispered. We followed to sound to it's source.
"Theodore Lupin, and Victoire Weasley!" I exclaimed, "it's after midnight, what are you two doing out this late?"
"Oh bother," Victoire muttered. "Told you we were going to get caught." She hissed at her partner in crime. "I'm sorry professor." she confessed, "it's my fault. Teddy was helping me look for
Lutine. She's my kitten, we think she got trapped in the broom closet."
I cast a quick opening spell on the door and a half grown ball of gray striped fluff jumped out, knocking most of the contents out of the closet, making a horrible racket that had half the portraits in the hall grumbling. "And, Miss Weasley, how did your cat end up in a broom closet?" I asked, with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, you see. Venus Antopoles and I got into an argument about who's cat was smarter, and we made a bet, and well-"
"To make a long story short, Professor," Teddy chimed in, "Lutine ended up in the closet, and we had to rescue her, so, we're really sorry, and we'll be going now." He picked up the cat, grabbed Victoire's hand, and attempted to head up the stairs to Gryffindor tower.
"Both of you, stop right there," I commanded. They both turned around, looking sheepish and terrified at the same time. "While rescuing at cat is in itself a noble act, breaking curfew and being loose in the castle after midnight, is not something that's going to earn either of you any points for your house, now, it's late and you both need your sleep. I expect to see you both in my classroom right before breakfast. Understood?"
Both heads nodded, and two pairs of feet plus one cat practically ran up the stairs to Gyffindor tower.
"So what sort of creative detention are you going to come up with this time."
"Dunno, How about sweeping and mopping a few corridors?"
"You're an evil woman professor."
I just shrugged and continued on my patrol. Eventually, Violet and I caught Venus Antopoles and her cat stuck in the ballroom chandelier.
the beginning of the chapter was so angsty, I wanted to end it on a funny note. Best to all. thanks for reading.