[EDIT: sorry for the people who get notified for this chapter twice but chapters never seen to pop up for me which is ridiculous and I never know whether it's something that's just for me or if they're not visible for others either. Apologies!]
The last chapter of her summer holidays! Wooh! I like the summer but at the end of it you're always ready for it to be over, right?
Who's going to review?
CHAPTER 23
I had a restless dream. In it I was playing an incomprehensible version of Exploding Snap, sitting in an arm chair around a big round salon table. To my right was Felix and to my left Matilda and across from me were Aurora, Adrian and Warrington. Behind them, in a large, hard to distinguish crowd, I could recognize my parents as well as Aidan and also Hazel the intern. My playing cards were ripped out of my hands by a large freckly hand and when I looked up, shouting out in protest, it was Fred, holding them above his head, laughing at me. 'Why can't you get them, Cecil?' He asked me, grinning his cheeky grin. I would try but I was firmly stuck to my chair.
I was confused and disoriented that morning and I could barely look Mr Weasley in the eye when I saw him at work. Almost as if I was worried that he could see in my eyes that I had dreamed of his son, even though the dream was innocent and absurdist. I shouldn't have worried though because Mr Weasley hadn't been the same since Monday, when he came to work mumbling about the fight he had had with one of his children. He finally addressed it that afternoon though.
'Cecilia, would you join me in my office for a moment?' He called out through the open door and I dutifully got up and squeezed myself into the tiny little room, sucking in my stomach so I could fit between the desk and the wall. 'Yes sir?' I asked expectantly. Mr Weasley had taken off his glasses and sat back in his chair a bit (for as far as the space would allow him anyway). 'I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for my behaviour these past few days.' He said. I shook my head, holding up my hands. 'No, please, don't worry about it.' I said. Mr Weasley insisted though.
'I haven't been particularly professional. As I mentioned already, my son Percy and I have had a disagreement, but it was no reason to let it influence my work here or your internship.' He told me. 'It's fine, I understand.' I replied. He smiled tiredly.
I wondered what kind of disagreement former Head Boy Percy Weasley could possibly have with his father to a point that it would distress Mr Weasley to such a degree and would cause Percy to move out. He didn't seem like the type to leave in a huff like that.
'I would also like to tell you how pleased Perkins and I are with your work here. You've been of huge help and you pick things up quickly.' Mr Weasley continued. I reddened but I couldn't help myself but grin. 'Thank you sir, I've enjoyed it.' I said and I felt a bit surprised by how true it was. It wasn't exactly what I had been hoping for and if I could choose now, I'd probably still pick one of the more relevant departments, but I liked Mr Weasley and Mr Perkins very much and I liked even more that we were left to our own devices so much. There was less pressure here, despite the heavy workload.
It was August before I knew it, blowing past Mathilda's actual birthday at the end of July. Mr Goodfellow invited us all for cake and a low key garden party and it was fun. I had gotten her a homework planner, partially as a joke but also because she had gotten so serious about studying before O.W.L.'s and I was hoping she might keep that up in sixth year. She had laughed though and moved on immediately, gushing over the quill set that Aidan had gotten her. As if that was any more interesting.
A couple of days after Mathilda's birthday, in the night between the second and third of August, mum was suddenly owled in the middle of the night to come into work. I was already in bed but I was roused from sleep when she stumbled around in the bathroom across the hallway from my room. 'Mum?' I asked, standing in the doorway, rubbing my eyes sleepily. 'No time, darling.' She replied, looking frazzled and quite tired herself as well. 'Don't worry, go back to sleep.' She told me around her toothbrush.
The next morning mum didn't come back till I was halfway through breakfast. 'I'm sorry Cillyhead, your father will take you to the Ministry today. I'm knackered. I only have time to take a nap before I have to get back to the editors' room.' She told me, her eyelids hanging halfway down her cheeks. 'What happened anyway? Why did you have to go to work so suddenly?' I asked her. 'In the middle of the night at that.' I added. She shook her head. 'Harry Potter did magic in front of muggles. The Ministry is trying to keep it secret but I camped outside Mafalda Hopkirk's office all night and she got me an amazing exclusive. They expelled him although it was retracted later. Now he's suspended until his disciplinary hearing.' Mum let out an ugly smirk. 'What a scoop.' She murmured, sipping her coffee.
I finished my oatmeal pensively. 'Why would he do underage magic like that?' I asked mum. Mum set her coffee down and tightened her messy ponytail. 'People say he's gone off the deep end.' She said. 'And what do you say?' I asked her and she produced an affectionate smile. 'I'm not saying anything at all.' She replied dismissively. 'Now, I have to quickly catch up on some sleep and you need to get your father to hurry up so he can drop you off at the Ministry.'
Although no one talked about it to me, I could tell that the Ministry was in a frenzy as well. People were more on edge, were whispering gossip to each other in the hallways and conversations would suddenly die down abruptly every time you walked into a room unexpectedly. Mr Weasley looked annoyed with it all. 'A bunch of vultures, the lot of them.' He grumbled to himself.
That evening mum was home in time for dinner but she wasn't happy. She was seething at the dinner table, her nettle wine sloshing around in her glass dangerously as she gestured about wildly. 'Absolutely outrageous!' she called out, followed by a string of profanities. 'The Ministry is banning the story until further notice.' She growled. 'We don't even know half of the story yet but Minister Fudge personally came to visit our editor-in-chief to make him drop the Prophet's investigations in the matter. I had to hand in all my notations.' Mum complained angrily. Dad was playing the part of the understanding listener as he gently cut his food but I was frowning at my own plate. Hadn't Felix and I had this exact conversation? Where he accused the wizarding government to be "totalitarian"? Mum, as a journalist, wasn't allowed to even write a story and the Prophet was being blocked from publishing it. And why? As far as I could tell from my mother's stories, the Ministry had been encouraging every other story that painted Harry Potter in the light of someone who had completely lost it. And now he had performed magic illegally. Why did this need to be such a secret?
Mum stayed angry for days and even after the anger subdued, she was still grumpy. At work there was enough distraction for me at least since two more regurgitating toilets were reported both in Wimbledon and in Elephant and Castle. Luckily Perkins had come up with a counter jinx which helped us solve it as quickly and quietly as possible. Mr Perkins and Mr Weasley had gone down together with a couple of officials from the Magical Law Enforcement Patrols, while I got a head start on the paperwork that it would surely involve.
In the weekend I slept over at my Aunt Tamora's together with Aidan. Aidan had been very reluctant. Whiny arguments consisting largely of proclamations of his age, the ownership of his own flat (even though he only rents it and it's only one room) and least of all his independence, but in the end Tamora had once again gotten her way ("it's a tradition!" she shouted) and on Saturday both me and my brother stayed on a cot on her living room floor.
It turned out to be a nostalgic kind of night. Aunt Tamora told us stories about her London socialite lifestyle (her husband not even once appearing in any of her tales – I couldn't find a trace of him in her glamorous flat either), I told them about my struggle to pick my subjects for my N.E.W.T.'s and Aidan gushed about his girlfriend Nina. We ate junk food, listened to music and when we finally all succumbed to exhaustion, Aidan and I both on a cod and Aunt Tamora on the sofa (a bowl of ice cream still balancing on her stomach), I felt happy. I felt small and like life was simple.
It couldn't last though because the week after I came to work (at nine as always) to find out that I had only just missed Harry Potter's disciplinary hearing. Mr Weasley wasn't in the office but Mr Perkins was and he looked a bit giddy, to be honest. 'Weasley will be in soon.' He reassured me when I asked about his absence. 'He's just accompanying Harry Potter down to Courtroom Ten for his hearing.' He explained. I nearly dropped the stack of files I was holding. 'Courtroom Ten? He's appearing in front of the Wizengamot? For underage magic?' I asked in disbelief and Mr Perkins shrugged. 'Apparently so. The Minister has something to prove I suppose.' He said mysteriously. I thought of Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic. He was also head of the Wizengamot, the court of law in this country. It made it rather easy for him to force his political agenda, didn't it? I once again thought back to Felix' words from back in the spring. It felt disconcerting to have a reality I had taken for granted for all my life being disproven like that. Or challenged at the very least.
'In the meantime we'll deal with another toilet case, I'm afraid.' Mr Perkins pierced my thoughts. 'There came an owl this morning. It's in Bethnal Green so Weasley will head over there when he is done. Do you mind starting on the filing? I'll help you out after I got this thing to stop hiccupping.' He asked and I shook my head. 'Don't bother, Mr Perkins, I'll finish them before lunch.' I promised him. He gave me an approving nod as he turned back to a metal object, one of those muggle plugs sticking out of it. The metal box hiccupped under his wand. From across from him, on Mr Weasley's desk, a pair of empty gloves were snapping their fingers.
It was half past one when Mr Weasley finally appeared at the end of our little hallway. I stood up immediately, stepping out from behind my desk. 'Hello!' I greeted him. 'How are you doing?' I asked and he smiled and nodded. 'Well enough.' He replied. 'I had an early appointment this morning. At eight already!' He told me as he stood in front of me. I looked at him expectantly and he chuckled. 'I'm guessing you've already heard about what my appointment entailed..?' He wondered out loud and I shrugged sheepishly. 'How did it work out?' I asked very curiously. 'He got acquitted. Anyone with half a brain could tell that he acted in self-defence.' Mr Weasley said before walking into his office where I could hear him greet Mr Perkins.
Self-defence? Was that why Harry Potter had performed underage magic? I had just assumed that it had been some kind of stunt, but now suddenly dots were connecting. First Cedric died (or was killed?) during the Third Task and according to Potter it had been You-Know-Who who was responsible, despite the dark wizard being presumed dead for over fourteen years already. Then, Potter gets ridiculed in the papers, the story fully endorsed by the Ministry but suddenly Harry Potter is attacked and in self-defence he hexes his assailants. The Ministry rather believes that Potter would lie about being attacked than face the reality of what Harry Potter being attacked actually meant. But what did it mean though?
You-Know-Who couldn't have returned, could he? Same case Potter had indeed gone mad. Anyone would after all the stuff that fourteen year old had been through and seeing your fellow student die in whatever kind of accident Cedric had supposedly been in could very well have been a triggering kind of event. But then why was the Ministry so eager to cover up Potter getting arrested? Because it would confirm his claims perhaps?
I could hear Mr Weasley tell Mr Perkins about his trip to Bethnal Green. '..– and it worries me, Perkins, because it's only a symptom of anti-muggle sentiment that has been around for a long while already.' He said. I could hear in his voice that he was tired. 'Muggles are people like everybody else but somehow wizarding folk see them as nothing but a laugh.' He sighed. Mr Perkins agreed. 'I know, I know, but what can we do? The legislation you made regarding the bewitching of muggle objects was already almost impossible to pass.' He said with a sigh. 'And that was years ago, in a much more muggle friendly government, not to mention before your little mishap with your own bewitched automobiley.' He added and I could tell that he was smiling widely. I heard Mr Weasley laugh humourlessly himself. 'Haha, you're a hoot.' He commented drily.
That night Aidan took me and Mathilda to l'Opera Magica. He had gotten me tickets for Christmas and this night it was finally time. I had dressed up in a nice pair of lilac robes and Aidan had picked me up right on time. Mum and dad had been embarrassingly happy to see us both dressed up and together. Mum wouldn't let us go either before dad had taken out the camera and taken a photograph of the two us (annoyed and impatient), the device letting out a puff of purple smoke, making dad cough.
We flooed to Mathilda's who was waiting for us eagerly. 'Yes!' She cried out when we fell through the hearth and she hugged us both. 'You're looking stunning.' Aidan complimented her and she blushed happily. 'Don't I always?' She countered cheekily, making him laugh as well as roll his eyes. He was right in his assessment. Her shimmery grey robes made her look like an ice fairy.
L'Opera Magica, a yearly music show on its twenty-fourth year now, was as amazing as promised. Aidan had gone before with one of his previous girlfriends but it was the first time for both Mathilda and myself. 'Aidan, it was so good!' Mathilda squealed afterwards. Aidan walked in between us, an arm around my shoulders as Mathilda skipped alongside. 'What were your favourite parts?' He asked us and Mathilda said it was the enchanted cellos. 'For me it was the soprano. Shivers down my back, seriously, what a voice.' I said happily.
'Talking about shivers down your back.' Aidan said. 'How's that Weasley twin doing?' He asked and I stopped in my tracks, although I was dragged along due to the arm on my shoulder. 'He found out!?' Mathilda yelled happily and Aidan grinned a boastful smile. 'She can't keep secrets from me.' He said and I huffed in disagreement. 'I know you wrote to him about it but you didn't actually tell him though, did you?' Mathilda asked. I was ready for this conversation to be over immediately. 'No, she always underestimates my intelligence.' Aidan told Mathilda and she laughed. I sped up my pace and Aidan was forced to drop his arm as I was out of his reach. 'Oh don't be mad, Cillyhead!' He called after me in a mocking tone, all the while cackling with Mathilda.
They had unknowingly touched a soft spot though because I had no idea what to do about Fred. The last time I had seen him was in his house, right after he snogged me and had me half undressed on his bed. The memory still left me blushing. It wouldn't be long before my birthday and it was only a couple of days after my birthday that we were expected back at Platform 9¾. When I saw him, what would happen? And what did I want to happen? I was so fed up with him stringing me along. I was so infatuated with him and the moment he was anywhere in my vicinity I became too breathless to do anything of consequence, let alone when he started kissing me with those expectant lips of his. How could I talk to him about this? That I wanted more than the snogging out of sight from everyone else.
Nevertheless, at the end of August it was time for my own birthday. My parents were acting secretive and I wasn't allowed in their bedroom anymore because that's where they kept my presents. At the morning of the 29th mum and dad came to wake me up quite early, a candle in their hands, casting a gentle light through the room. They softly sang a birthday song for me as I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, a grin cracking my lips.
It was not exactly dark still but the sun hadn't fully come up yet and when I came down into the living room I saw that the oil lamps were set low to illuminate the room. The table was decked for breakfast. Dad had made pancakes and mum had gone out to get my favourite carrot, coconut and ginger juice. 'Thanks beloved parents.' I said jokingly as I sat down, still in pyjamas.
While eating breakfast I opened up my presents. 'Loads of gifts came in for you the last couple of days.' Mum said, sipping her tea. Aidan had gotten me a cream coloured cloche hat (which I was sure Nina had picked out – no way that Aidan would've come up with that) that I thought was very pretty. Mr Goodfellow had once again gotten me a gift card although this time for Tomes and Scrolls so I could spend it in Hogsmeade next trip and Mathilda had copied off her dad and gotten me a book. I was surprised by her choice which was a thick book called Muggle 'Law & Order' - Complete Guide. A note was attached that said I know your internship is nearly over already but keep on learning.
From Aurora I had gotten a pretty jumper in the Ravenclaw blue and bronze of a luxurious cashmere to put on in the upcoming chilly Scottish autumn. Felix had gotten me a book too, a book called Pride and Prejudice by an author named Jane Austen. It seemed to be a muggle book for as far as I could tell. Inside the cover Felix had written Mum thought you would like this so tell me what you think when you've finished. Happy birthday! In the middle there was a stitched book marker as well, charmed to call out at you if you neglected continuing the book. I recognized it from Tomes and Scrolls. I suddenly remembered that Felix had mentioned not long after the Second Task that he had gotten me something for my birthday already. I smiled fondly.
I had gotten many lovely presents from all my extended family as well but my parents managed to beat all of them with the last one. I had finished my breakfast already and the last package was wrapped in brown paper with golden stars printed on. I squeezed it before ripping the paper off and it gave way. It felt soft, like a pillow almost. Inside was a satin pouch, a dark purple. I frowned, pulling the strings to look inside.
'My own pouch of floo powder?' I asked, looking up from the purple pouch. My parents nodded. A large smile cracked onto my face. 'We decided that you're old enough to be independent from us in your travelling. We trust you to be responsible.' Dad told me and I stood up to crush the two of them together in a big hug. 'Thanks mum, dad, I appreciate this greatly.' I said to them. 'So how about you go to the Ministry by yourself this morning?' Mum suggested and I beamed at my parents. What freedom!
Mr Perkins and Mr Weasley both congratulated me but after that it was back to work because I only had two days left and there was still so much to do. All the booby-trapped toilets were doing the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office in; it created a lot of extra work and dozens of muggles were hit by the insides of their toilet bowls due to the supposed pranks. It was incredibly obnoxious, that's what it was. At lunch though, I was taken off my work by my two fellow toilet protectors as they surprised me with a slice of persimmon pie, a single birthday candle stuck into it. I mumbled some thank-yous and flushed red but dug in with a flattered smile.
That evening the whole family came over for dinner, as well as Mathilda and her dad. My dad's parents, Alford and Ruby Wiggleswade, were already there when I came home, independently by floo and Nan pinched my cheek. 'Sixteen years old already!' She exclaimed. 'Taking the floo all by your lonesome.' Granddad added, pinching my other cheek.
Uncle Irving and Aunt Odetta arrived together with their children soon after. Roderick was as hyper as he always was, bouncing about and jumping on the sofa. Stacy looked a bit shy, but happy to see me. Aunt Odetta was dad's younger sister but I often felt like she was the older one. Not because dad acted immature or anything, although he was quite youthful, but because Aunt Odetta was so incredibly motherly. When Aidan came in after them, she reached up and fixed his hair for Merlin's sake, although Aidan laughingly swapped her hands away.
Aunt Tamora stopped by too although she only stayed "for cocktails and a kiss" because she had some important party to get to after. Mum was visibly annoyed but didn't say anything when she finished her drink, gave me a kiss on the cheek and with a wave to the room left.
The biggest surprise that evening was when my grandfather decided to come as well. Mum's parents were very different to dad's, who were loving and soft-mannered. My grandmother had died the year before I started Hogwarts. At the time I felt sad at her funeral but honestly only because I felt obliged to. You're supposed to be mourning when someone dies, especially your grandmother, but Grandmother Jane Reekes had been a stern, aristocratic woman who was incredibly daunting to the shy bookworm that I was (and am). I knew mum was sad although mum wasn't the kind of person to let you know.
Mum's family had been of quite the noble-born ancestry and although they didn't quite have the wealth to back that up like they did a century or two ago, they enjoyed keeping the appearance. Now Grandmother had gone, it had not dulled Grandfather's edges. He was a stately man with a well-defined sense of proper behaviour. Mum had a difficult relationship with both her parents and since Grandmother had died, the relationship with Grandfather had only become more strained. As a result I didn't see Grandfather much at all, apart from Christmas and sometimes New Year's and once in a while even my birthday, like apparently this one.
'Cecilia, I hear congratulations are well deserved. Those O.W.L.'s are very impressive.' He told me gruffly, patting my shoulder. 'Thank you Grandfather.' I answered dutifully. I was always a bit intimidated with his presence. 'And your mother wrote that you landed an internship at the Ministry of Magic as well. A very commendable feat.' He complimented, although the way he said it sounded more like it was expected and that I was merely meeting his standard. He turned away from me, greeting Granddad.
'Malcolm Reekes, what a pleasure to see you again!' Granddad greeted him. Grandfather nodded, shaking his hand, all the while unclasping his cloak. What was he wearing a cloak for anyway? It was still very warm out. 'Alford, how are you?' Grandfather asked. They exchanged some pleasantries while the rest of the room silently watched. Even Roderick was hiding behind his mother's robes. Mum came to stand next to me, leaning down so she could whisper in my ear. 'Tamora got out just in time. Can you imagine if your grandfather caught sight of her?' She muttered and I stifled a giggle.
Mum marrying a Hufflepuff with no reputable wealth or family name, only a bookshop to call his own, while writing for a newspaper herself, was in no way something that made her parents happy. But Aunt Tamora gallivanting through life, in and out of marriages, from party to party, still living on her trust fund was downright disappointing.
After a while the room settled down a bit, although it stayed a bit awkward to have the smartly dressed wizard of very nearly seventy watch everyone with slightly distasteful look on his face as he sat at the head of the table. Mathilda sat next to me and Stacy on my other side while we ate cake. 'Are you feeling ready for Hogwarts? Only a couple more days until we board the train.' I asked my cousin. Mathilda seemed interested. 'You're starting first year?' She asked. Stacy nodded. 'Yeah, I am.' She answered.
'What house are you hoping for? Hugglepuff like your parents?' Mathilda asked jokingly and I elbowed her but Stacy chuckled. 'I don't know, I don't think I care.' She said. We both nodded. I remember feeling the same way in my first year. I just wanted to get through it. At the time, part of me wanted to be in Gryffindor, solely so I could be with Aidan, but I already knew long before that I was not at all Gryffindor material. In hindsight, Ravenclaw was really the only house for me.
The next day was my last day at the Ministry. Mr Perkins and Mr Weasley were both sentimental. 'What are we ever going to do without you, Cecilia?' Mr Weasley asked me as he put another stack of files on my desk. I smiled but didn't look up and kept on writing. In the office the wireless set was turned onto the WWN. Usually we didn't have music on but it was my last day and we weren't working quite as hard as normal, I must admit. My ears sharpened when I heard my best friend's voice on the set.
'We just heard Magical Madness with their summer hit Breezy Wheezy and although you listeners may have expected WWN host Scott Vulgo back, he is just in the bathroom for now so he decided I could sit in for him for a bit.' Mathilda's voice floated through the office door. I stood up excitedly to stand in the door opening, so I could hear better. 'This is my best friend!' I explained Mr Perkin's and Mr Weasley's questioning glances.
'I won't bore you with too many introductions but my name is Mathilda Goodfellow and the next song is Charlie Charm's Love's the Charm, pushing the Weird Sisters off their number one spot this week.' She continued and a sweet acoustic melody came on. 'Charlie Charm is quite fanciable isn't he?' She asked out loud just before Charm's raspy vocals came on and I laughed loudly. 'Your friend works at the WWN?' Mr Weasley asked and I nodded. 'She managed to get an internship as well.' I told them.
That evening Mr Weasley and Mr Perkins gathered around my desk as I cleared it out. All the files were finished and stacked up on the corner and all the stationary was put together so it was easy to clean up. Mr Perkins and Mr Weasley looked eager as I stood up from my desk chair anticipatorily. Mr Perkins had his hands on his back in a way that made me suspect that he was hiding something from my sight.
'Cecilia, we once again want to thank you for your efforts in our office.' Mr Weasley said, motioning towards Mr Perkins. Mr Perkins revealed what he had been concealing behind his back. 'We got your visitor's badge from your first day here back from reception.' Mr Perkin's explained the simple black postcard-sized frame he was holding. In the middle of the frame was the square silver badge that read Cecilia Wiggleswade, Youngest Intern in loopy letters. I looked up at my bosses with teary eyes. 'Thank you for a wonderful time.' I told them genuinely. They had been nothing but lovely to me.
I spent the whole next day at home packing. I put all my new textbooks at the bottom of my trunk, piling all my clothes on top. No surprise that I couldn't get the top to close. Mum came to help me out. 'You know how I am with household charms but if I just try really hard..' she murmured, waving her wand. My school robes, which were on top, flopped around a little in an effort to fold themselves. I laughed. 'Mum, I can't wait till I'm of age and can show you.' I said and mum huffed, an amused expression on her face. 'You're getting awfully cheeky lately.' She said, yanking my braid teasingly. She once again waved her wand, this time just pushing everything down as another wave closed the top of my trunk. 'Done!' she said.
That night Aidan came over and we all had dinner together, having my favourite food. 'Shepherd's pie? How original.' Aidan commented. 'Don't listen to him, Cillyhead, he's just sad that he won't see his little sister again till Christmas.' Dad said and I smiled, taking a big bite. 'And you will be coming home this Christmas. Even if they have twenty Yule Balls, we'll not go a year without you again.' Mum said grumpily. 'I will definitely come home.' I promised. I looked around the dinner table, around my family. My parents, my brother, these people I loved so dearly. Like every year I would miss them unmeasurably.
The morning of the 1st of September was an exciting one. Despite feeling glum for leaving my family behind once again, it was a cheerful prospect to be back at Hogwarts. To see the Ravenclaw common room, sleep in my four-poster bed, sit together with my friends at the Ravenclaw table; it filled me with anticipation.
We arrived at Platform 9¾ by floo with fifteen minutes to spare. Dad helped me put my trunk in an empty compartment and we met back up with mum on the platform and saw that Mathilda and Mr Goodfellow had arrived as well. Mathilda bounced forward to hug me. 'I can't wait to be in school again! We'll rule it this year!' She promised and I laughed, waiting for her to let me go. 'Sure, Tilda, whatever.' I replied, shaking Mr Goodfellow's hand. 'Hello sir!' I greeted him.
'Cecilia!' I heard someone call out and I spun around to see Felix together with his parents, who were talking to the parents of Felix' Hufflepuff friend Karl Limpley, said friend standing in between his parents looking bored. 'Felix!' I called back. He abandoned his friend and their parents' conversation to come over for a moment. We briefly embraced before I introduced him to mum and dad as well as Mr Goodfellow. 'This is my friend Felix Smythwick.'
'How is it that I'm only meeting you now?' Asked mum, shaking Felix' hand after he shook dad's and Mr Goodfellow's. 'I don't know Mrs Wiggleswade, blame Cecilia!' Felix said jokingly and dad let out a snort, putting his arm around mum. 'Well, it's nice to meet you.' Mum said. 'Yes, vice versa.' Felix answered with a grin. 'Cecilia, I'll see you on the train.' Felix directed to me before running back to his parents. Mathilda also pranced off. 'I'm going to find Adrian.' She gushed. 'And I'm going to size him up.' Mr Goodfellow said before following behind.
Mum turned to me. 'Now, the train is departing in a couple of minutes so you better get on and..-' She began but her eyes caught something over my shoulder. I looked around to see that a large group of people had just gotten through the barrier coming from the muggle station. 'Well that sheds a new light..' Mum muttered.
The group largely consisted of the Weasley family, my eyes immediately going to the twins (although I couldn't tell which one was Fred from this distance), but surrounding them were an assortment of wizards and witches with alert expressions on their eyes, as well as a big black dog that rubbed its side against Harry Potter, who was laughing. I didn't often see that boy happy, I realized.
With a shock I noticed that two of the menacing people (that I really could only call guardians) were Professor Moody and Professor Lupin, our previous Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers. Lupin left when everyone found out he was a werewolf and no one really knew what happened to Moody although it was generally believed that he left on ominous terms.
'When the kids have gone off, I'm going to try and pry a bit.' Mum whispered to dad as he rolled his eyes. 'I bet they know more about Potter's run in with the law this summer.' She added, leaning on her husband's shoulder so she could hoist herself up a little higher to look over the heads of the people, spying on the group.
I got the breath knocked out of me when my little cousin Roderick ran into me, putting his tiny arms around my stomach and squeezed it tightly. 'Hello there mate.' I said with a chuckle, turning around and bending down so he could kiss my cheek sweetly. 'And Stacy, ready to start first year?' I asked Stacy as she and my aunt and uncle came walking up behind Roderick. 'Ricky, give your cousin some breathing space, yeah?' Uncle Irving said, pulling Roderick up into his arms.
Uncle Irving and Aunt Odetta kept up talk with dad while mum had her eyes trained on Harry Potter's arrival party. In the meantime Stacy and I were looking at the shining red locomotive. 'Did you pack everything?' I asked Stacy as we stood beside each other. Dad laughed at something his sister said and Roderick was hanging onto his dad's leg. Stacy nodded at my question and I could tell from the way her eyes flitted around the platform that she was nervous. I leaned down just a tad to grab her hand. She looked a bit surprised but I didn't say anything and neither did she but after a moment of hesitation she grabbed my hand a little tighter.
The conductor blew his whistle and with great rustle students started to hurriedly kiss their families goodbye. 'Goodbye sweetheart.' Dad said, kissing my forehead. I hugged him and breathed in the smell of his robes before pulling back. 'Christmas will be here before you know it.' Mum fell in, tearing her eyes away from my old professors to clasp me close too. 'I'll miss you.' I told them, hoisting my backpack higher up my shoulders.
Stacy and I stepped onto the train, letting other students pass us so we could look out the window once the doors closed. We waved at our relatives as the train started rolling down the tracks and Roderick tore himself away from Uncle Irving's grasp and started running alongside. 'Stacy! Stacy!' He shouted and Stacy reached out, trying to touch his hand. But the train was too fast and Roderick fell behind, Uncle Irving catching up and grabbing him by the shoulders. We waved and waved and soon enough they were too far away for us to see.
We stepped away from the little windows and I looked at her. Stacy was rubbing away tears, not looking at me. I smiled, putting my arm around her shoulder. 'You have an amazing seven years ahead of you.' I said to her. She took a shaky breath, also smiling. 'Now, let's find my friends.' I proposed and together we walked down the train.
The summer was over.
Now, review, yeah? REVIEWWW
I'll try and hurry up with the next chapter. We're going to be back at Hogwarts baby!
PS: I also was very critical when it came to this chapter. Originally I had planned on Mathilda getting grounded for staying out too late again with Adrian after which she couldn't join Cecilia to l'Opera Magica (which I imagined to be some kind of wizarding Cirque du Soleil but I'm leaving it all up to all of your lovely readers' imagination). Cecilia would ask Aurora first but she can't come and in the end she invites Felix. It would be an opportunity to show off the subtle ways in which muggleborns are discriminated against in the wizarding world and another bonding moment for Felix and Cecilia who I intend to be the thickest of mates, however I decided that we've had enough of Felix and Cecilia bonding this summer and there was enough opportunity left in the future to show the prejudice of the wizarding world so I completely took it out. There was also another gig with Felix' muggle band in which Mathilda would come along and we'd hear one of Felix' own songs however I decided to postpone that to the winter holidays for similar reasons. They needed to get back to school, it was time. Don't you think?