Chapter 6
Present day
I found myself in the same castle as before and Merlin stood there in front of me. I noticed more about her now. Like how she had dark green eyes and her inky hair was even darker an inky blue black that no bottle could imitate.
"Welcome back apprentice." Her smile was genuine and I smiled in return.
"Tonight we will be discussing magical theory and different branches of magic. Now please tell me all that you have learned about magic, and all that you think you understand about magic. Again a table was conjured with tea and I sat down facing her. I sipped at my tea and started.
"I understand that I have a magical core like all witches and wizards. I use wand movements and words to manipulate my magic. I know that our magical core is like a battery and so once low the spells I use will become weaker until I'm magically exhausted. Then over time it will rebuild and I will eventually be back up to 100%. I know that you can use runic symbols in magic and that correspondent numbers also have a factor. There are magical beings who use magic without needing a wand, like goblins, centaurs, unicorns, and other creatures. I also know that a lot of magic depends on emotions, or emotion stability. For some darker magic you have to mean it in order to cast if properly." I stopped and looked at Merlin wondering if I had missed some things.
"Very good, what you described is only one branch of magic, it's called Core Magic, because it describes how those who use magic in this branch obtain the power to do so. Now to understand what I will teach you, you must know that there is no one true way of wielding magic, there are so many ways in fact that you would be hard pressed to learn them all in several lifetimes. Most people fall into one of the branches of magic that we will discuss but there are others who can wield multiple forms of magic like myself, and soon you. To understand each branch we must see how they obtain their power. Some from their own stores of strength. Some collect it via lay lines which are paths that magic travels in the world. You can tap theses for powerful spells, and enchantments. Another way is by taking it from people like a vampire takes blood. As you can see already there are more ways than just what you are taught at school." I rubbed my eyes feeling my head spin a little at all this information.
"And I will learn all of this? I don't think I like the idea of taking power from people." She laughed and it was like hearing wind chimes.
"That my apprentice is exactly why I chose you. You have a good heart and that is needed in our line of work." I raised my hand like I was in class then lowered in with a blush.
"Yes?"
"What is our line of work?" Merlin looked thoughtful for a moment and then sighed.
"Our work is to maintain the balance of good and evil. I am here to guide and watch over the many stories that are played out in people's every day lives. It is not an easy task but it is worth doing. Now I fear our time is up, I will talk with you more tomorrow night." She smiled as she faded away into light gray mist.
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"I'm in heaven." I moaned a little at another delicious mouthful of French toast with strawberries. Two mugs of hot cocoa with liberal sprinklings of cinnamon. Yup utter heaven, I rolled my eyes with exaggerated delight and mom sighed as she watched my antics.
"Harp your such a ham." I snickered and sighed melodramatically over my meal.
"Mom it's not fun to be boring in the morning I have to do something to entertain the masses, and myself." I laughed again and sipped delicately at my cocoa. She chuckled and finished her last forkful of French toast with strawberries.
"I can't believe they have fresh strawberries this late." I didn't know either but I was happy to have such a fluke since I adored strawberries.
"So plan for today?" I finished my last strawberry with just as much gusto as before and hmmed for a moment.
"Well there's my three classes today so I'll probably do all three this morning but then the afternoon is free to roam about. What are you going to do this morning?" She sipped at her cocoa and thought.
"I have a massive amount of email to go through and see if there are any new clients. Other than that nothing. I suppose-" She was stopped by Henry who plopped into our booth and snuck my last sip of cocoa.
"You little thief." I ruffled his hair and gave him a quick one armed hug.
"Aren't you supposed to be in class kid." He wiped his mouth and grinned.
"Yep and you two can walk me." I giggled at my mom's expression and stood up with the both of them.
"Mom will take you I have class to attend." I hugged him again and then went over to mom. I hugged her and whispered.
'Listen to him, the curse is real." I stepped away and gave her the look which communicated that I was serious. She sighed deeply and nodded still looking skeptical. I smiled and strode out the door and along the sidewalk. I looked up at the clock tower and smacked into someone. I stumbled back and was about to fall when a strong hand grabbed me and steadied me.
"Careful there green eyes." I looked up and saw Bastion I flushed and looked down.
"I'm sorry." He chuckled and I look up at him.
"No worries, I'm pretty hard to hurt." His blue gray eyes sparkled with mirth and I smiled a little.
"So where are you off to?" I wanted to change subjects and noticed he was still holding my hand.
"Granny's my friends and I meet up there before school, wanna come? I'm sure they would love to meet you and hear about the big city." His eyes asked and I felt a little flutter in my stomach.
"Sure, but first can I have my hand back?" It was his turn to blush and he let go like it was on fire and I grinned.
"How long are you guys staying in Storybrooke?" We slowly walked back towards Granny's as he asked.
"A week or two maybe. I find little towns to be refreshing and this one is really nice, I think my favorite part is the clock tower and Granny's." I peered up at the clock tower again interested in how it worked.
"Yeah its finally working, something must have happened for it to start ticking last night." His hands were wrapped around his backpack straps as he talked. He was very tall and mom was right, very handsome. With light brown hair and those eyes, stop it! I blinked to clear my head and we were at Granny's. I followed him inside and to one of the corner booths where there was more room.
"Hey Bash." Two girls and three guys sat around the booth drinking cocoa, or coffee.
"Whose that Bash?" They all scooted over to make room and I was last in.
"This is Harper, she's visiting." They all looked at me and I tried not to blush.
"So where you from? New York? Boston, please tell us your from a big city." A guy with inky black hair and blue eyes leaned forward all ears. The other two looked like twins, both with mocha skin and dark brown hair. The two girls were dark blonds and looked my age.
"Guys be nice first introductions than the third degree. Hi I'm Cassidy Weaver, this is Lyra Forge, those two are twins Alex and Anthony Croft. That idiot over there is Benson Tanner don't mind him he was left out in the barn when he was a baby." They all laughed including Benson.
"I'm Harper Potter, nice to meet you all. I'm from New York and it does qualify as a big city."
"Aren't you missing school?" Lyra asked pushing back a honey blonde curl.
"Nope," I popped my p and went on, "I'm home schooled because my mom has to travel a lot. Its fun though if you have the motivation to get your work done. Right now I'm a year ahead because I do an all year round homeschool so I'll be finished next summer if I keep it up."
"Your crazy girl I can't-"
"Imagine how you even-"
"Keep up with the crazy-"
"Work load." Ah twin speak I had heard of it but now I saw it in action.
"You two cut it out." Cassidy smacked them with the newspaper which was on the table.
"Kids about time to go." Granny shouted from behind the counter.
"Damn and we were having so much fun." Benson complained at the same time grabbing a backpack from under the table. I laughed and pushed out of the booth. We all pulled out of Granny's and started walking.
"Gunna walk us to school green eyes." Bastion came up beside me and bumped me a little playfully. I bumped him back giggling as he over dramatized that action.
"Why not I've seen some actual schools and it might be interesting to see what yours looks like." Cassidy came up and slung an arm around my shoulders. She had dark blonde hair almost brown with red highlights.
"So tell me is it true that there are buildings so tall they do almost scrape the sky." I giggled again and smirked.
"Yeah huge buildings at least thirty stories tall. When its dark they'er all lit up and it looks really cool when your flying in."
"Damn I'd love to go there some day." Benson muttered peering down at his phone. Both twins had skateboards so they were further ahead but stopped to let us catch up.
"What about the food, I mean pizza is from New York right?" Alex asked as we caught up to them.
"Technically pizza is from Italy but yeah the pizza there is the shit it's so good." They laughed at my dreamy expression.
"Well here's hell high, erm I mean Storybrooke high." We all laughed at Cassidy.
"I'll see you guys later." I stopped as most of them went forward. Bastion stopped and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. He wrote something down using a brick wall nearby then jogged back to me.
"Here, my number if you want to hang out sometime." We touched hands as I took it and I felt a warmth flow through me.
"Sure see you around." He brushed a tendril of hair back from my face and then hurried away. Part of me really wished I was going to school with them. I got some interaction with kids my own age when I attended the bi yearly meetings. To hang out with people my own age every day that would be nice. If I went to school here I would see Bash every day and maybe he would kiss me, maybe we would. Dammit why does he have to be so cute. I shook my head and broke into a jog making my way back to the inn. When I came up the hall I saw Regina talking with my mom and slowed down.
"No thank you I'm more partial to strawberries." I saw a basket of red apples on Regina's arm and tensed.
"Well then if there is anything that I can do please let me know." She turned and spotted me. For a moment her eyes flashed with fury then it was gone.
"Thanks again." Regina strode away head high. I slide past her and aimed a glare at her back she whirled and looked at me.
"Did you say something?" I smiled and did my best to look all sunshine and ponies.
"Nope." I popped my p and smiled cheerfully she huffed and walked away.
"You shouldn't beard her Harp." I sighed and went into our room.
"I know but I can't help myself sometimes." I flopped onto my bed with a groan and rolled over sprawling out like a starfish all limbs splayed.
"So where did you actually go because I came back and the room was empty young lady." Her hands were on her hips and I sniggered at the sight.
"I was coming back but then I ran into Bash, literally ran into him."
"Whose Bash?" Oops I hadn't meant to say his nickname.
"Bastion Gold, He was on his way to Granny's he asked me to join him and his friends so I did. It was a tun of fun. They wanted to know all about the food, and sky scrapers. He even game me his number so we could hang out later." I waved the paper like a victory flag.
"I'm really happy you made new friends Harp. You should definitely spend more time with kids your own age."
"I know mom, I was thinking about that when I walked with them to their school. I know I said what I said about Hogwarts and Ilvermorny but I don't know mom, would you hate me if I did want to go away to school." She wrapped me up in a hug and squeezed.
"Never kid, never, I've been thinking about it as well once we figure things out here maybe you doing a year at Hogwarts wouldn't be to bad, or a year at Ilvermorny. Either way whatever you want to do I'll be here for you." I hugged her back and wiped a stray tear from my cheek.
"So what did you and Henry talk about on the way to school?"
"Well we have an operation and its codename is Cobra. Looks like you were right its just a lot to take in, now we just need to figure out where to go from here. First though get your school work done." She playfully shoved me towards my trunk and I obliged wondering what would happen next in this small but very interesting town
Author's Note: If you enjoyed please review!