Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, except the one I created myself. All others belong to J. K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. I have only borrowed them for my amusement and hopefully yours as well.

Chapter 5

Jolicia was busy packing in her room at her parents' house. She had always divided her time between her childhood home and L'Académie. Whenever school let out for the summer, she returned to the city to spend time with her family. Her father, Alaisdair Medwin, was prominent in the Ministry of Magic. He was a tall, solidly built man with salt and pepper hair and blue eyes. He was also a very powerful wizard. It was from her father that Jolicia inherited her strong magical powers, for her mother was a Muggle.

Éliane Collette had fallen in love with a handsome young man, who just happened to be a wizard. It had taken her quite by surprise when she discovered the truth, as it always does when a Muggle finds out that there are things in this world that they had never imagined. Alaisdair's parents had been opposed to the marriage. They had felt that the magical bloodlines should remain pure and not be tainted by Muggle blood. Éliane and Alaisdair loved one another so deeply, that Alaisdair renounced his family to build a life with the women he adored. Although he regretted the loss, he never once, not even for one second, did he regret his decision to marry Éliane. The young couple swore that their children would be brought up in a home filled with love, compassion and tolerance. They remained true to their word. Jolicia had been the first-born. She had shown signs of being magical at quite an early age. Her brother, Robert, had been born six years later. Robert, as it turns out, was a Squib. This had not been a disappointment to Alaisdair. He accepted his son for what he was, and that was that.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," said Jolicia, "ah, it's you, Baboule."

Baboule was the Medwin's house-elf.  He had been named for his round, roly poly shape, 'boule' being the French word for ball. He was also quite old, having been in the Medwin family since Alaisdair was a baby.

"Mademoiselle Jo, you still are packing?" inquired Baboule. "I thought your Maman had convinced you to stay."

"Whatever gave you that impression?" asked a surprised Jolicia.

"It is just that Madame Éliane has been crying almost non-stop since you made your announcement, so I thought that you would stay so that she could be happy again," replied Baboule.

 Jolicia sighed, "I'm afraid that things don't work like that, Baboule, I also am sad to leave my family, but that is the way it has to be. I am needed in England."

 "Ah, bien, (good) I see. Can Baboule help you to finish packing?"

 "No thanks, I'm almost done. I will miss you as well, Baboule, very much so," said Jolicia. Baboule burst into tears and ran from her room.

Sigh… "This is not getting any easier," thought Jolicia to herself, and then turned to finish the job at hand.

Later, as Jo sat in the garden waiting for her parents to return home so that they could spend their last evening together, she pondered what was to come for her. Would she get home-sick? What was the school like? Would the other teachers accept her? Would the students? What was Harry Potter really like? Would she be able to accomplish the task that Dumbledore had set for her?  That was the question that really nagged at her. She wasn't sure that she was up to it. She then remembered what Madame Aldine had said to her- that Dumbledore had chosen her because she was the best there was and that this path was her destiny. The more she thought about this being her destiny, the more she felt it was true. There was a little voice inside of her telling her that something wonderful and unexpected was about to happen.

 "Put away your self-doubts, girl," Jolicia told herself. She decided right then and there that she was going to be the best damned DADA teacher Hogwarts had ever seen. She was going to kick ass!

A voice woke her from her reverie – "Hey, Miss Jo-Jo, you at Hogwarts already?"

She ran to her brother and gave him a big hug. "As a matter of fact, I was, Rob," laughed Jolicia. "You can always read me, little brother."

"Are you all packed and ready to go?" he inquired.

"Packed, yes; ready to go, about as ready as I'll ever be," she answered.

"Having some doubts, Jo?" Robert asked. She nodded. "You shouldn't be-you know you are going to blow them all away."

"You always know the right thing to say. How did you get so smart?"

"Hey, Squibs are intelligent, too. Just 'cuz we can't make things disappear, we get a bad rap!"

Jolicia laughed. "Hey Mr. Squib, give us another hug. I'm going to miss you lots."

"Me too, Sis, me too. Hey, turn off the water works before I start." Rob replied. "You know Maman is going to do enough of that for the both of us, don't you."

"Is someone talking about me?" Éliane asked.

Éliane was a very distinguished looking woman. She also was tall, had neatly styled blonde hair and green eyes. She moved gracefully into the room and gave both of her children a kiss.

Rob smiled and said, "I was telling Jo that you would be doing enough crying for all of us!"

"Robert (she pronounced his name the French way- 'row-bear'), that is not funny. There is nothing amusing about me losing my little girl." said his mother indignantly.

"Honestly, Maman, you make it sound like I'm dying. I am only changing jobs. I am sure that I will be able to come for visits quite often. After all, you're only a Portkey away," responded Jolicia.

"I know, but it's not the same."

Quickly changing the subject, Jo asked, "Is Daddy with you, Maman?"

"Yes, he went to speak to Baboule about supper. He wants to make sure everything is just perfect. Bless his heart. "

"Is someone talking about me?" Alaisdair asked.

"Daddy!" Jolicia ran to hug her father.

"Hey there, Pixie," said Alaisdair, holding his little girl tightly. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes, of course, but it's just that emotions are running a little high at the moment, Dad," replied Jo.

Alaisdair proclaimed, "Tonight is a joyous occasion, not a sad one. We are celebrating a triumph for our beloved Jolicia, so there are to be no tears shed. Do I make myself clear everyone? Éliane?"

Éliane scoffed, "You had better cast a 'no-crying' spell on me, in that case. You might as well ask me not to breathe; you'll get the same results."

Alaisdair went to his wife, pecked her on the cheek and laughingly said, "Do your best, my love, do your best."

Just then, Baboule entered the garden and announced that dinner was served. Everyone suddenly realized how hungry they were and went enthusiastically to the dining room. A wondrous sight greeted them. Never before had they seen so much food! Baboule had prepared every single one of Jolicia's favorite foods. He had truly outdone himself.

Jolicia cried, "Ooh, merci (thank you), Baboule, thank you! This is amazing."

Alaisdair pulled out his wand, gave it a quick flick and another place setting appeared on the table before a raised chair. He then bade Baboule to join them in the feast, saying that it was only fitting, since he was a member of the family, too. Baboule's first instincts were to decline, after all, he was a servant, but when Mademoiselle Jo insisted, he took his place at the table with great joy.

Robert opened a bottle of sparkling pumpkin wine and saw to it that everyone had a glass. Alaisdair stood up and tapped his glass lightly with a knife.

"Your attention please. I would like to propose a toast. We are gathered here tonight to wish our darling Jolicia bon voyage. We do not need to wish her good luck because we know that she will be a roaring success. She is leaving us to undertake a most important mission; one that could very well impact the future of the world as we know it. We can think of no one else who holds the skills, knowledge and insight to accomplish this goal. She will prevail where others have failed. May Merlin watch over you, and guide you in all that you do. Come back to us safely, darling child. We love you and we are so, so proud. To Jolicia!"

The family responded in kind and they all clinked glasses. Jo stood up, and cleared her throat, determined not to cry. "I just want to say how much I love you all. Maman, Daddy, no girl has ever had better parents than you. You have taught me so much, and I don't mean just book learning. You have taught me the ways of the worlds- Muggle and Wizarding. I shall endeavor to live up to your example."

Alaisdair and Éliane looked at one another and squeezed each others' hand. They knew they were both thinking the same thing -you already have.

Jolicia continued," Rob, thanks for helping me keep my feet on the ground and for never letting me take myself too seriously. I guess you're a pretty good little brother, even if you are a Squib." Rob laughed. This had been an inside joke with them since they were kids.

"Last, but not least, Baboule… thanks for always being there for me. I know I could always count on you when I needed someone to talk to, my friend, my confidant." Baboule swelled with pride.

"Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm famished. Let's eat!" exclaimed Jolicia.

They ate; they talked; they reminisced; they ate some more; they joked; they teased; they ate even more until they thought they would explode. Finally, when the hour grew late, they all bid one another good night. Jolicia climbed the stairs to sleep in her room for what would be the last time for quite awhile to come.