Well, it took a long time but it's finally here. A new chapter. You have no idea how much trouble I had with it. I wanted to get the summer holidays over with in an X amount of chapter but I couldn't limit myself to a certain amount of words. It was frustrating and I found no place to cut in or what I could live without. Everything had to be in.

This chapter in particular was an absolute bitch. The following chapter was originally included in this chapter but it was waaaay too long. And with way too long, I mean way too long. The chapter was about 12000 words long (to compare; a bloody long chapter is usually not longer than 6000 words). I couldn't find a natural place to cut it in half either so I kept stalling for a long time. Even as it is now, the chapter is over 7000 words long which means it's probably the longest chapter so far.

The good thing though is that I did a lot of writing for future chapters. Far in the future though - you won't be able to read it for a long time still. War time chapters, is all I'm saying. It's some really thrilling writing if I can say that about myself.

Now read this chapter, please review, and then move onto the next chapter.

CHAPTER 21

Dear Felix,

The Great Gatsby was amazing! I've finished it in a single night! Do you have more? Has the writer written more? He or she is called F. Scott Fitzgerald, can you look in your bookcase? I'll write more about my opinions and thoughts later but like I said; I have literally not slept so I'll leave that for later.

I'll write you soon.

Love,

Cecilia

I tied the letter to the family owl. 'Have a safe trip Aremis.' I said to the bird, petting its head gently and it cooed before taking off through the living room window that was almost permanently open in this hot summer weather.

'One of the hottest summers in years, I reckon!' The Wizarding Wireless host said. 'So at least suffer under this cool summer tune. We all know the Living Dead!' He said and music started playing. It was an old timer band with an old song but it felt like it fit the weather. 'Long, long, loooong day ahead of me!' I sang along shrilly as I sat on the dining table, spreading butter on my toast.

I was late with sending the letter. I had left Mathilda's at the end of the morning the previous day and despite being so tired all day that I couldn't bring myself to sit down and write a letter, even a short one, I did it anyway. However the family owl was out to send a letter to my dad's pen pal in Switzerland so by the time it had come back, I was already in bed. I went to bed early and now I felt a lot more rested. It was Monday once again and the weekend was over.

'Long, long, looooong day ahead of me, stretching out for all of eternity!' I heard my mum sing from the kitchen. I felt good. Despite our early departure from our night out I still had fun and I hadn't expected to enjoy myself much at all. I had slept well and I had finished a great and mind-broadening book (and you always feel so enlightened after reading one of those) and I looked forward to go back to working on my reports that I had left at work before the weekend. Mum walked in, humming along to the lyrics she didn't know. 'I'm just going to go upstairs and brush my teeth and finish my hair up and then I'm ready to leave.' She said to me. I told her I'd be ready too and she disappeared up the stairs.

'And I wish it was gone, gone, gooooooone..!' The song finished on a three way harmony. 'That was the Living Dead with their 1976 song Day That Lasts. It's a song that lasts, that's certain!' The Wireless host said. 'Now I'd like to introduce the listeners to my favourite intern here at the WWN.' The host said and the only reason I suddenly tuned into the mumbling conversation in the background and turned up the volume is because it was Mathilda's voice that came on next. 'Thanks for having me! I'd go as far as to say you're my favourite wireless host too.' She said cheekily and the host laughed.

'You are very young, are you not? Please introduce yourself.' The host urged and Mathilda's light chuckle floated through the room as I stared at the wireless dumbfounded. 'My name is Mathilda Goodfellow. I'm very nearly sixteen years old and I am in Ravenclaw.' Mathilda told us and I started laughing. 'I was in Ravenclaw too when I was in Hogwarts.' The host said happily.

'You heard it right by the way, listeners, she's only fifteen years old! We normally don't have 'm that young, but I was told that her application was extraordinary.' The host added and I almost spat out the toast I had bit into. Another laugh escaped my lips. 'Mum!' I screamed upstairs. 'MUM!' I yelled once again. 'What?' I heard. 'Mathilda's on the wireless!' I yelled back. 'Extraordinary application.' I murmured to myself. 'Don't make me laugh.'

I had missed the last few sentences but when I focussed back on the conversation I heard Mathilda answer the presenter's question (whatever the question was) '..-actually got inspired by my best friend Cecilia who's the youngest intern at the Ministry of Magic.' She said and my face split into a grin. Mum came down the stairs, toothbrush still in her mouth. 'What did you say?' She asked. 'She mentioned me!' I replied excitedly, pointing at the wireless.

'Thank you for hanging out Mathilda, I'm sure you have other things to do so I'll leave you to it and..-' the host started to say but Mathilda interrupted him and said 'I actually don't; I can hang around all day if you like.' To which the host laughed.

Mum was delighted and although we had to leave quickly we were both gushing over Mathilda's two minutes of fame on the country's top wireless station. 'August, honey, Mathilda was on the wireless a little while ago!' Mum said to dad as we walked through the shop to go outside. 'She was?' Asked dad. 'Is she coming back on?' He asked, reaching for the wireless set under the shop counter to turn it on. 'I don't know, but knowing her she just might be.' Mum answered.

I was at the Ministry a bit early. Mum had an early deadline at the Prophet so I was sitting at my desk at 8:30 instead of 9. Mr Weasley and Mr Perkins weren't there yet so I just sat at my desk and went over my administrative work from before the weekend. Twenty minutes later Mr Weasley arrived.

I was about to greet him merrily, feeling like I was in a fairly good mood, however Mr Weasley walked right past me, tapping the doorknob with his wand and walking in, not looking at me once. I leaned forward on my desk so I could look into his office.

Mr Weasley laid his outer robes over the back of his desk chair, sitting down and then proceeded to take a file off the top of the in-tray, staring at the text although his eyes weren't moving. I stood up, walking up to the door and knocking on the doorpost. 'Hello Mr Weasley.' I said carefully. He looked up and laid the file down. It was upside down.

'Oh Cecilia, did you just come in?' He asked and I blinked at him. 'Uhm, no, I was sitting at the desk. You must've been in your own world a bit.' I answered and he nodded but I could tell that he barely heard me at all. 'Yes, sorry, I'm a bit out of it. Rough weekend. My son and I had a disagreement, well, more than that, well anyway, he left but I..' His sentence came to an abrupt halt. 'Never mind, no need to burden you with all this.' He finished. He quickly stood up, taking another file out of one of the filing cabinets. 'We don't get report back on the toilets till the end of the week so until then we can catch up with older cases. You take this one and ask when you have questions.' He said and I took the thick stack of papers from him. 'Yes sir.' I said, hesitantly leaving him to himself once again.

This continued for the rest of the day. He would absentmindedly start to read something, frown, start over again a million times. He'd nod along to whatever Mr Perkins or I were saying but minutes later ask us questions as if we had never said it before. It was like working with a pensioner who had taken a double dose of a Forgetfulness Potion.

I had sent a note to Mathilda to congratulate her with a Ministry owl when just arriving at the job (I was sure I wasn't supposed to for personal stuff but I decided to take a leaf out of Mathilda's book of self-confidence and did it anyway) and I got a reply from her just after lunch.

Dear Cecilia,

So glad you got to hear it! I sent Adrian a letter asking if he had heard me and he apparently was sleeping in. What a wanker. Which reminds me though! He said that his parents will be back from their holiday already by the time that my birthday rolls around next week so I'm holding it early. I'm not sure when yet but be ready alright? I'll tell you more as soon as I know more.

Lots of love,

Mathilda

I had forgotten that Mathilda was going to hold her birthday party at her boyfriend's manor house. I knew for sure that it certainly wasn't going to be as fun as it was going out with Mathilda last Saturday. Mathilda had only me to focus on then. Now there would be other people, I would be on my own nearly. I vowed to owl Aurora that evening to ask her what she thought. Maybe we could agree to stick together a bit.

Felix sent me a reply that afternoon as well. 'Hello again, Aremis.' I said to my family owl, stroking its feathers back. 'I'm sorry, I don't have any treats here for you but back home there are some.' I offered and it made a gesture that I could only interpret as the owl version of rolling your eyes before taking off again.

Dear Cecilia,

You loved it? I shouldn't be surprised but I somehow still am! Wizarding folk generally aren't really into any muggle culture. I don't have any more of Fitzgerald's work in my bookcase but my parents might so I'll look for you later. Maybe you want to come over for dinner this evening? You can bring back the book you borrowed and you can get a new one to take back.

Love,

Felix

I was excited to have more to read. I scribbled back that I'd ask my mum but that I didn't think it'd be a problem and that they could expect me around six-thirty.

Dad came to pick me up this time. 'Your mum's still at work. Big news somewhere apparently so she has to stay late.' He told me as we flooed to Diagon Alley. 'Is it alright if I have dinner at Felix' house?' I asked as we walked down the street. 'Your muggleborn friend?' Dad replied. I nodded. 'I took the Knight Bus last time.' I explained. He took a moment to consider. 'Yeah alright, but make sure you're home by nine-thirty, yeah? I don't want you taking the Knight Bus too late.' He answered and I happily agreed. I quickly dropped off my stuff and then went to say goodbye to my dad before I ran out again.

I was at Felix' house in no time. It wasn't until I was standing on his doorstep that I realized that I hadn't changed out of my robes. I looked down on the olive coloured robes. Should I go back home to change into something muggle? After a moment of consideration I decided not to. Felix wouldn't find it weird and his parents must've been some sort of used to it by now. Their son had been in wizarding school for the past five years already after all.

I rang the bell (or what I thought to be the bell but what was actually just a little button next to the door – thank Merlin I had Muggle Studies in my curriculum) and a couple of seconds later I heard someone stumble down the stairs after which the door was pulled open. It revealed a grinning Felix. 'Cecilia!' He called out and I grinned back at him. 'Tell me you have more of Fitzgerald's books?' I answered and he laughed. 'I might have.' He conceded and I whooped.

He let me in and we walked past the open living room door. 'Felix! Let us say hi to your friend.' Came a voice from inside the door. I caught Felix rolling his eyes but he dutifully walked in the living room and I followed him. Mr and Mrs Smythwick were as I remembered them; smiley and good natured. 'Wonderful to have you join us for dinner.' Mr Smythwick said.

'Cecil and I are just going to go up to my room for a little bit.' Felix said. I looked at my friend curiously. Why was he so eager to escape his parents all the time? Last time he had pulled me out of the room at the earliest opportunity as well. 'That's alright, dinner will be done in half an hour so I'll call you kids down then.' Mrs Smythwick replied and Felix nodded, leading the way as he set out to leave the living room once again. I was about to follow when I remembered that I had stuffed an object in my bag before leaving home.

'Oh wait up Felix!' I said, stopping in my track and reaching into my bag to pull out the book I brought his mother. 'Mrs Smythwick, I remembered you talking about how little Felix talked about school and I figured that you might want to know a bit more about where he hangs around all year.' I said awkwardly, extending my hand to give her Hogwarts: A History.

Mrs Smythwick took the book from me and a grin grew on her face as she looked at the cover. 'Oh thank you sweetheart!' She said happily. She looked back up. 'That is very thoughtful of you!' She said and I smiled back at her. 'It's standard literature so I've already read it so you can borrow my copy for as long as you like. I don't take it to Hogwarts as there are a dozen copies in the library as well.' I said.

'Very considerate.' Mrs Smythwick said quietly as she gazed upon the cover, stroking the front with the palm of her hand. She smiled gently. 'You two go up and relax and I'll call you down.' She repeated from earlier. I smiled back and left the room with Felix.

'That was kind of cool of you.' Felix said as we sat in his room. He was laying on his bed, his hands behind his head as he leaned back and I was on the floor, leaning against the leg of his desk. He had offered his bed but I felt uncomfortable sitting on a boy's bed, even if it was only Felix' so I declined and perched on the floor before he could protest. The desk chair was filled with clothes but I was reluctant to touch that pile, knowing that my own heap of clothes on my desk chair was all dirty clothes.

'Yeah, I figured that it might be very scary to have a son be off into a world you don't know or understand most of the year.' I said to him and Felix hummed in agreement. 'Yeah, probably.' He murmured. I sat forward a bit and hugged my knees. 'Do you feel embarrassed to have muggle parents?' I asked but immediately as I asked I flushed red. What a question to ask someone.

Felix looked taken off guard as well. 'Am I..-what?' He asked bewildered. 'I'm sorry, that was stupid to ask.' I backtracked but Felix had sat up completely, swinging his legs back over the side of the bed. 'Why would you ask that?' He asked. He didn't seem angry with me but I felt ashamed for even thinking the question, let alone asking it. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend or anything. It's just that you seem very eager to get out of the room every time your parents talk and you didn't tell them much about life at Hogwarts either and it just got me wondering, that's all.' I explained poorly. Why couldn't I think over my own words a bit more? Mathilda wouldn't be in this situation.

Still, I felt like I was right. He did not tell his parents about his wizarding life, which was most of his life really (he was a wizard after all, not a muggle) and every time I had seen them together he didn't seem happy to be there. I remembered a conversation we had months before. He had mentioned that whatever he wanted to do after school, it was going to be magical. He didn't feel part of the muggle world.

'Well..' Felix began. 'I didn't really think of it like that but maybe you're on to something.' He admitted. 'I guess that my parents sort of represent a life that I can't wait to leave behind.' He said softly and I didn't know what to say. 'Don't get me wrong though!' Felix hurriedly added. 'I love my parents very much! They know that.'

There was a pregnant pause in the conversation. 'I didn't mean to make this weird.' I apologized and he chuckled. 'Nah, we're good.' He said. 'I'm happy, you know.' Felix assured me and I couldn't help but laugh. 'I believe you.' I answered.

However strange that conversation was, we were called down for dinner at that moment so we couldn't say anything about it anymore. We sat down at the table, both of us quiet and pensive as Mr and Mrs Smythwick chattered away at us. I caught Felix' eyes and we grinned at each other. That relieved me. It was a bit silly, especially because it was Felix I was talking about, but I was immediately frightened he wouldn't want to be friends anymore. Why did I even say something like that out loud? Are you ashamed of your parents? For Merlin's sake, Cecilia!

'So Felix mentioned that you borrowed the Great Gatsby?' Mr Smythwick asked me while cutting his meat. I nodded with a smile on my face. 'Yes! I finished it in a single night.' I replied. 'So how did you like old Gatz then?' He added and I took a moment thinking over my answer. 'Very much so.' I answered. 'What is your take on it?' Mrs Smythwick questioned me. 'What did you like best about it?'

I saw Felix position his elbows on the table, folding his fingers together and look at me interested. His mum and dad were both holding their cutlery with their wrists resting on either side of their plate, similar expressions of polite attentiveness on their faces. 'Just the sense of exploration the book represents. Nick Carraway, having come from the countryside to set up life in the midst of that exciting scene.' I said. 'You feel like you identify yourself with Nick?' Asked Mrs Smythwick. I took a bit of my potato, reflecting on the character.

'I suppose I do.' I admitted thoughtfully. 'I grew up with a literary background, my dad owns an antiquated book shop and my mum writes for the Prophet. Uhm, it's a newspaper.' I explained to them and they nodded, the interest not leaving their faces. I was uncomfortable being the centre of attention. 'So like that I'm like Nick. We dream and observe, I suppose you could say.' I said, a blush on my cheeks but Felix' parents smiled. 'I can see that.' Mrs Smythwick said.

'I remember reading the book for the first time.' Mr Smythwick reminisced. 'When I was young I really loved the book but I read it again when I was a bit older and I couldn't stand the characters anymore. They're not at all likeable.' He told us and we all chuckled. 'They aren't.' I agreed. 'But I think that adds to the realism of the book.' I said. Mrs Smythwick nodded. 'It's a commentary on the American Dream. Fitzgerald was known to have a very sceptical attitude towards the established rich of the time.' Mrs Smythwick added to that. I didn't entirely understand what the "American Dream" entailed but I had my guesses.

I didn't properly explain why I really liked the book so much though. Because it was decidedly different. It was incredibly new and exciting and not at all similar to anything I had ever read. The setting of the muggle world changed everything. I didn't want to explain that to Felix' parents though. They were muggles, how would I explain to them that everything they deemed normal was strange and unfamiliar to me by its very essence?

It was a pleasant dinner. We talked about books for a bit longer and then switched to school. The two parents were understandably very interested. Felix seemed a bit embarrassed at first but as he noticed my encouraging smiles he lightened up a bit and joined in with my explanation of the Quidditch House Cup and the rivalries that existed. 'Hufflepuff nearly won the cup this year too.' Felix told proudly. 'If only you hadn't been so utterly defeated by Ravenclaw!' I quipped mockingly which earned a round of laughs from everyone around the table. When the conversation had already moved on Mrs Smythwick leaned over to me and whispered 'because you're a Ravenclaw, right?' and I nodded with a chuckle.

Conversation also touched upon Mr and Mrs Smythwick's jobs, which I was far more interested in. Turned out Mr Smythwick was a bus driver. I was delighted to know what that involved, having a vague understanding of the vehicle used. 'So you just drive around until someone wants a ride?' I asked and Mr Smythwick seemed amused by my fascination. 'Why yes.' He answered. 'But how do you know where to go? Without magic and all, how do they signal you.' I asked. 'Well, I don't go to them, they come to me. I always drive the same route and people know the route so they come to designated stops and wave at me to stop. It works very well.' He explained and I was absolutely overjoyed at the concept.

Mrs Smythwick was what she herself called a "council woman". She explained it as a government job of some kind where she helped push legislation on behalf of the people but while still being in a party of some other sorts called the Labour Party, although she admitted herself that there was another bigger party at the moment (but that they wouldn't be bigger much longer). It sounded complicated and almost unintelligible. 'Cecilia did an essay on democracy.' Felix said and I reddened. 'After listening to this, I'm not sure I really understand though.' I said jokingly and Mr Smythwick in particular got a good laugh out of that one. 'Nor do we, love!' He said.

'What's really cool is that mum used to be a volunteer fire fighter!' Felix boasted right after. 'What's a fire fighter?' I asked curiously. 'She would go into burning buildings and safe people who were stuck in there.' Felix explained and I was sufficiently impressed despite Mrs Smythwick holding up her hands in denial. 'There was very little of that!' She exclaimed. Muggles were incredible!

I made sure to take the Knight Bus back home on time and also told Mr Smythwick to come out and watch the wizarding answer to his job. He touched the side of the bus in wonder and even stuck his head inside to have a peak at the beds, curtained windows and burning candles. 'How much horse power does this thing have?' He asked a bored looking Stan Shunpike. 'What are you talking about, you nutter?' Shunpike replied however. 'Either get on or get out of the way so we can go!' He added and Mr Smythwick quickly went to stand beside his wife and son again. I waved at the family before the outside of my window became a blur to my eyes. The last thing I saw were Felix' friendly brown eyes twinkling at me.

When I came home dad was snoring on the sofa, one of his favourite novels laying open on the coffee table ("Blowing the Gjallerhorn" by Robert Smirke). I smiled at him and after staring down at him for a few moments, I perched down on the edge of the sofa and leaned into his chest, sniffing up the familiar scent of home. He murmured and I closed my eyes, feeling content. His arms circled around my shoulders and I felt his soft breath tickle the hairs on top of my head. 'Did you have a good time at your friend's house?' He asked, the grumbling bass of his voice buzzing against my back.

'Yeah, it was great. You remember that muggle book I told you about?' I replied and he nodded, his chin almost knocking me in the back of the head. 'They lent me more so I'll be holed up in my room a lot in the coming days.' I joked and his laugh rumbled through me. I snuggled into him, feeling like a little girl as I relished in my father's embrace.

When I had shot into my pyjamas later that night and had crawled into bed I was forced to climb out once again when Mathilda's dad's owl tapped its beak against my window. 'Thank you very much.' I said as I took the letter from the unusually big barn owl. I left the window open as I read the letter by the window, using the moonlight to light the parchment.

Dear Cecilia,

Remember that I said that you'd have to be ready to come to my party any moment? Well I hope you're ready because it's happening tomorrow night! Adrian's parents are coming home this weekend and the gardener is going to work on the garden the day after tomorrow and he'd definitely go and tell to Mr and Mrs Pucey and Adrian's leaving for Quidditch camp the day after, on Thursday. It absolutely has to be tomorrow night. Write me back as soon as possible and I'll send you directions on where to meet me. Also, I think it's easiest if you and Aurora come together, don't you think?

See you tomorrow,

Mathilda

It was very difficult to sleep after that, my mind only fixed on the expectations of the following night. Maybe I could find an excuse so I didn't have to go? But no, Mathilda would be crushed. I would just have to go through it. But who was I going to know, besides Aurora and Mathilda? Adrian and his friends probably but I didn't know them. They were quidditch players and older and Slytherin and boys and because of all that very scary. I just sat quietly most of the time when Adrian's friends joined us at the Ravenclaw table.

The next day at the Ministry I was feeling very nervous. Mr Weasley definitely didn't notice, he was still stuck in whatever feeling the fight with his son (or whatever had happened over the weekend) had left him in. However my colleague interns did notice, strangely enough.

I had seen very little of them since I started, partly because I was the only one stationed at the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office but also because I was going out of my way each day not to run into them. They were all years older than I was, fully into their careers and they all beat me to positions much more interesting and prestigious than mine. However I was not prepared to run into Hazel Willoughby in the bathroom.

I was washing my hands when she came in to look at herself in the mirror. She looked at me sideways and let out a shriek. 'It's you!' She called out and I jumped in surprise. I looked at the tanned smiling lady as she smoothed over her soft brown waves of hair and remembered our first meeting.

It was our first day at the Ministry when we were assigned our jobs. Hazel Willoughby and I were both up for the least coveted internship in the room and I had taken the fall, allowing her a far better position. She had said that we would see each other over lunch but I had gone that out of the way since I started working there.

'Oh, hi.' I said in the most underwhelming fashion. She didn't let that deter her and moved forward to crush me into a hug. I was shocked by the enthusiasm, hesitantly hugging her back. 'Cecilia, right?' She asked as she pulled back. She didn't wait for an answer though. 'I'm so thankful for you! I'm positively excelling under Mr Anderssen at the Improper Use of Magic Office and if you hadn't taken the job at the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, I might've had to work there.' She boasted at me and it took all my effort not to stick out my tongue at her childishly.

'It was no bother, really.' I lied but she let out another shriek. 'I'm so happy to see you! I didn't catch you at all since we both started our internship. They must work you hard at the Muggle Office, I barely ever see you.' She commented. 'Yeah, very hard..' I muttered but she barely seemed to hear me.

'You look tired as well, are you sleeping well?' She asked and I shrugged. 'Had a hard time getting to sleep last night.' I told her. Mathilda's party had been on my mind all evening. 'Don't let work stress you out. It's up to ourselves to keep our stress in check, right?' She prodded and I shrugged, not sure what to reply. She let out a laugh. Her laugh was a bit annoying, like a unicorn choking on a carrot. 'I'll make sure not to be too stressed.' I said.

I got out of the bathroom quickly. She probably wasn't a bad person but the fact that she had gotten out of doing the work I was now doing and was now talking to me so familiarly just rubbed me the wrong way. I didn't think I'd have to talk to her ever again. This was only the first time since I had started working at the Ministry ages ago. However, that evening I was waiting for mum in the Atrium so she could take me home and Hazel walked by, together with two other people I recognized to be interns as well.

The two boys, men already I guess, I remembered to be interning at the Department of Magical Games and Sports. One of them, a guy with short spiky hair and an arrogant face, was called Kevin and his friend, a short but butch fellow, was named David. They greeted me politely as Hazel introduced me. I was uncomfortable with the whole interaction.

Hazel chattered at me. 'You should join us at lunch sometimes!' She called out after a bit. 'Most interns try to make it down to the café over there-' she pointed towards the other end of the Atrium '-for lunch each day. It's right fun every time.' She said. I was hesitant. 'I don't know, there's loads of work to be done. My boss and I both usually have lunch at our desks.' I said.

Before Hazel or Kevin and David could respond my mother arrived, late as the norm. 'Cecilia, darling, introduce me to your colleagues.' She said, patting my shoulder. Mum saw any moment as an opportunity to network. I lazily introduced everyone.

After a minute of talking, I quickly said goodbye to the three and went with mum towards the floo. I was about to mention to mum how weird Mr Weasley had been acting he last couple of days when she said something instead. 'That Kevin is going to make it far in the department.' Mum said thoughtfully as we waited in line. It was five fifteen and it was rush hour. 'How do you know?' I said sceptically. Mum smiled at me as we moved up a space in the line.

'His handshake was very firm, he spoke confidently, that sort of thing.' She answered me and I snorted. 'You can't be serious.' I said. 'That's what you base that off?' I replied. 'What about if he's actually good at his job or not?' I asked her but she kept smiling. 'You're naïve, Cecilia, young and naïve, if you think that is all what's going to matter in the end.' She told me but that answer didn't satisfy me at all.

'So I don't have a chance at all?' I asked angrily as we stepped out of the floo again at the Leaky Cauldron. She rolled her eyes. 'Don't be dramatic. You're going to do perfectly fine in life.' She said calmly. We were walking through Diagon Alley but I sped up my walk so I didn't have to walk next to her anymore. She jogged after me.

I burst into dad's shop and dad looked up from the book he was reading with a grin. 'Mathilda was on the wireless again!' He called out but I was too annoyed to have any kind of reaction to his comment. 'Are you alright?' He said right after, when he saw my face.

Mum burst in after me. 'Cecilia, you can't just run away from me like that.' She scolded me but I huffed. 'You're saying that the best I can hope for is doing "fine" in life.' I said. 'I didn't mean it that way, Cillyhead. Your dad and I are incredibly proud of you.' She said but I didn't need to hear it right then. I groaned and dashed past her, back outside, down the street.

I ended up at Flourish and Blotts and wandered around the fiction section until the manager walked by, noticing me. 'Hiya, Ms Wiggleswade, haven't seen you here in a while.' Mr Pedersen said, standing still for a moment. 'I've been very busy.' I explained. He nodded understandingly. 'Yeah, your dad did say that you got an internship at the Ministry this summer. Congratulations with that. On your O.W.L.'s too.' He said. I thanked him and he went on his way.

I remembered the 20 galleon gift certificate Mr Goodfellow had gotten me for Christmas and I started compiling a stack of books. Mathilda's dad had more money than he knew what to do with. He wasn't extraordinarily rich, not by any means, but he did well enough and liked to shower his only daughter with gifts always. Mathilda's mother wasn't in the picture, Mathilda had never known her mother, and Mr Goodfellow's parents were both already dead by the time Mathilda was born. Mr Goodfellow was an only child, like Mathilda. They were the only family they had. However, as close as I was to Mathilda, Mr Goodfellow had grown very attached to me as well which resulted in ridiculously generous gifts for Christmas and birthdays.

I paid at the till with my gift certificate that I fished out of my money purse, saying goodbye to Mr Pedersen, but as I stepped out of the shop I realized I had no desire to go home yet. Instead I went to Rosa Lee Teabag, a tea shop just two shops down from my dad's. 'Cecilia, there you are!' Rosa Lee shrieked when I came in.

'I am.' I agreed in a confused manner. Rosa Lee Teabag (apparently that was her real last name although mum says she had it changed) was a chubby lady with pink, round cheeks. She usually had quite a cheery disposition but she had a concerned look upon her face now.

'Your dad came in not ten minutes ago looking for you.' She said. 'Said you had run out after fighting with your mum.' She added and I turned red. 'It wasn't so bad.' I muttered, feeling embarrassed. 'I'm sure it wasn't, love.' She said, rubbing the top of my arm. 'You sit down, I'll bring you a cup of tea and floo your parents to say you'll be home soon again.' She said and I nodded, sitting by the window. After I got my tea, Rosa Lee disappeared into the back, presumably to use the floo. I looked into my shopping bag and pulled out the book at the top, New Theory of Numerology by Lukas Karuzos, and started reading.

I had gotten to page sixteen by the time mum sat down at the table, across from me. 'I'm sorry Cecilia, I didn't mean to make you upset.' She said. I sighed. 'No, I overreacted, I know you don't mean it badly. You're right, I'm not confident.' I admitted, my cheeks burning hot. Mum leaned forward though, grabbing onto my hand.

'I will not tolerate you thinking of yourself that way.' She said sternly. She looked at me intently, her blue eyes studying me and her loose curls pushed away from her face, the blonde catching the light of the low sun outside perfectly. My mum was very pretty. It made me feel worse.

'I know that look on your face.' Mum added. 'You're not taking what I'm saying seriously at all.' She accused. 'No I am!' I lied, but I lied poorly and my mum noticed immediately. 'You know how I've always imagined your future?' She asked me and I shook my head, a bit surprised by the way this conversation was going. 'I never told you about my expectations of you much because I didn't want to pressure you in any kind of direction, like my parents used to do to me, and still do a bit if we're being honest, or dad does anyway, but they are grand. My expectations I mean.' She told me, her words jumbling up a bit. She looked down on our intertwined hands.

'I've always thought you'd be an academic, researching your whole life. You'd write many books, published at big publishing houses like Obscurus Books and Whizz Hard Books. They'd use your books for teaching, at Hogwarts as well as other educational institutes.' Mum said softly. I felt tears pricking the corners of my eyes.

'You'd be on expert boards of all kinds of prestigious organisations. People would seek out your advice on your field, whatever it ends up being. They'll quote you in the media, take your findings as the basis of changes in the political landscape; you'll be trustworthy above all else.' She said. My bottom lip was trembling.

'That's what I've always seen you do in the future.' Mum said, squeezing my hand. 'I never was any good at Divination though.' She said jokingly and I let out a breathless laugh. 'But even if you did none of that. We're already so proud of you, not because of your achievements, academically or professionally.' She explained. 'No, we're proud because of your character. The only way you could ever disappoint me, darling, is by being disappointed in yourself; you are absolutely wonderful.' Mum finished grandly.

I let go of her hand to quickly rub a few hot tears out of my eyes. 'Thank you.' I said quietly. What could you say to something like that? She reached forward, over the table, to press a kiss to my cheek, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. 'You want to go home and have dinner?' She asked me and I nodded. She kissed my cheek once more but then we stood up and left the shop (mum leaving a couple of knuts on the table to pay for my tea). We walked home, my arm looped through mum's as we walked. I hadn't felt so young in quite a while. But I felt warmed inside by her kind words. Mum was never generous with compliments and definitely not with the sappy love proclamations.

We were almost done with dinner that evening when I broke them the news that I'd be going to Aurora's house that evening. Aurora and I had exchanged owls on the subject of Mathilda's birthday party and we had come up with a plan where I'd tell my parents I was at her place and she'd tell her parents she'd be at mine. We'd obviously be going to Mathilda's. Or rather her boyfriend's house. 'Is that a good idea? You have work tomorrow morning.' Dad said. 'We won't make it too late.' I assured him, shovelling a mouth full of pees in my mouth.

Dad seemed unsure but mum shot him a look and then smiled at me. 'Yeah, alright, we trust you to be responsible.' She said. The warmth of her earlier words surged back into my stomach. I smiled back at her. I didn't even think of the fact that I'd actually be sneaking off to a house party.

When it was time to go I went downstairs to the shop, where dad was repairing the cover of one of the antique books he sold. Mum was sitting on top of the counter, next to him and she had just leaned in to kiss him when I came in. 'Ew.' I commented and the two pulled back. 'Have fun sweetie.' Dad said with a smile. 'Be safe tomorrow morning, travelling to the Ministry all alone.' Mum said. 'I'll be owling before lunch to see if you're okay and I'll pick you up at five as normal.' She continued and I rolled my eyes. 'A good ten minutes after five you mean?' I asked and she jokingly glared at me. 'Haha, very funny young lady. Now come here and let your parents kiss you goodbye.' She replied. I let myself be kissed, suppressing my smile and hastily kissed them back, rushing back upstairs.

I took a bit of floo powder out of the jar on the mantelpiece and threw it in the fire that mum or dad had already started up for me and I spoke out the address that Mathilda had given me as I stepped in.

Next chapter is Mathilda's party!

Have you reviewed yet? Please do! I've worked hard ;)

And to "Le soleil brille pas pour toi" - Twente university's name used to be de Katholieke Universiteit Twente (Catholic University Twente) which abbreviated was KUT which is a naughty Dutch word for the female genitalia, in English rhyming on "blunt" :) People used to call it the KUT until at some point the university changed its name