Part 27

Nancy Parker looked up to see an owl tapping on the kitchen window. It looked like a typical barn owl but most were not out during the daytime. She smiled and opened the window to let the bird in.

"Hi, Oliver. How are you?" she asked him stroking the feathers on top of his head.

He waited patiently while she removed the letter from his leg and then handed him a vanilla wafer from the cookie jar. As he ate the cookie she tied the letter that had been waiting for his arrival. He then turned toward the window to leave.

"Give Laura my love," Nancy called to him as he took off.

I wonder if I will ever get used to owls delivering mail? she asked herself. You'd think that in 25 years it might not startle me anymore. I wonder what Liz would say if she knew that her favorite aunt that she's going to stay with in Miami is a witch?

She smiled at the thought, then turned to the stereo. Cranking up Elvis Costello she went down the hall to sort the laundry.

Later that day Jeff walked in with the mail from downstairs. "Honey, do you have any idea why Liz would be getting a letter from Congresswoman Whitaker's office?"

"I have no idea. Should we open it? Normally, I wouldn't but since Liz isn't going to be home for another month may be we should," Nancy answered her husband.

"Or should we just forward it to her unopened?" he asked.

"I guess. Yeah, put it in the envelope before curiosity gets the better of me," she said quickly as if to keep from changing her mind.

Jeff laughed softly as he dropped it in the large brown "For Liz" envelope.

"Oh, by the way, I got a letter back from Laura today. She says she'll do a 'special cleaning' just for Liz's visit. And for us not to worry, they will have a great time."

Jeff smiled then turned, grabbing his wife playfully around the waist. "You know, as much as I've missed having Liz around this summer, this having the house to ourselves has been really nice," he said first snuggling up to her, then tickling her ribs.

Nancy giggled and protested insincerely, "Stop that."

"Make me," he replied waggling his eyebrows at her. Then he chased her around the apartment and finally into the bedroom.

***********

Kyle and Hermione made it back to the common room with about thirty seconds to spare. They had taken a quick trip through the kitchen for a sandwich for Kyle, which he sat by the fire to eat. Even in midsummer, evenings in the common room were a bit drafty and a fire was needed.

As he ate his eyes kept drifting towards the chess game that Hermione and Ron had started when she returned, but he rarely focused on the board. Instead he focused on the Prefect's face. I wonder what she would have done if I would have kissed her properly? he thought.

Just then Hermione glanced up and noticed him watching. She blushed brightly and gave a shy smile. Then she looked back down at the board.

Kyle wasn't sure what that meant.

With a sigh he finished his sandwich, got up and walked over to Liz. As he walked he reached into his pocket and removed the quill Liz had loaned him earlier.

He laid it by her on the desk and said, "Liz, thanks for letting me use your quill this afternoon."

He started to walk away but turned back saying, "Oh, and thanks for the journal, it seemed to help me. I'm going to go upstairs write to dad now."

He walked to the steps calling back as he climbed, "Good night. See you in the morning."

As soon as he got upstairs he quickly changed into his Roswell PE clothes to sleep in. Next he grabbed his quill, ink, some paper and his journal and jumped up onto his poster bed. Finally he lit his wand and put it into the holder over his pillow. Then he drew the curtains to insure that he would have privacy while he wrote.

He opened the journal after whispering his password and turned to the next empty page. He began to write.

What an emotional roller coaster today has been.

First it was a good morning. And then the trip to Hogsmeade, but I've already written enough about that.

Then I went to the greenhouses to "deal" with life and fell asleep.

Then Hermione came to get me.

She was so sweet about it and I kissed her on the cheek. I wanted to kiss her on the lips but I chickened out. I don't know why I didn't but I wonder what would have happened if I did.

A little after that I was watching her in the common room and she looked up and blushed, I think because I was watching her. Then she smiled and looked back down.

Unfortunately, I don't know if that means she likes me. Or that she enjoyed the kiss. Or that she's just embarrassed to be around me. But she didn't look like she would hit me. Maybe next time I will kiss her properly. But maybe I should talk to her first to get to know her better. Apparently girls like that.

Hell, I might like that, too.

Well, I need to write to dad and I'm not sure what to say. No matter what I say, he's going to hurt.

Kyle sighed and closed the book.

He picked up the paper and began to doodle in the margins while he etched out in his mind what he should say to his father. Finally, when he felt ready he began to write.

Dear Dad,

I have some good news and some really lousy news to share with you. I'll go with the lousy news first because I know you'll skip to the end anyway if I don't.

I ran into mom today, literally.

Everything we were carrying hit the ground. I didn't even recognize her at first. When I did and said "Mom?" she turned white as a ghost. Then I kind of lost it and screamed at her. It didn't make me feel any better. And I actually felt worse. And someone had already given her a black eye shortly before I ran into her.

Dad, I don't know if you knew anything about this or not but I know I never knew. Mom is a witch. It must have been her genes in me that were activated when I was shot by Agent Pierce.

Anyway I don't know whether I will ever see her again. And I probably made sure that any future meeting is completely rocky but I couldn't control my words at that moment. I wanted her to hurt like I had. If I could apologize now after a few hours of calming down I would. Then I would ask all the questions I've always wanted to know.

Well, I promised you some good news. We are going to be going to special classes during the afternoons during the school year and they are making arrangements so I can play Quidditch for the house team, well if I pass the tryout in September. It's a sport that is much more interesting and challenging than football. And it is played on flying broomsticks. Dad there is nothing like flying.

Liz may have forgiven me. She helped me through this afternoon and her advice helped a lot. She also kept me from turning back and making a fool of myself.

I just wanted you to know what is going on. I wish I could have given you better news.

Kyle

Finally he extinguished his wand and went to sleep.