Chapter Nine
"What in the world!" Zerial said as she read an addition to her supply list that she had just received. "What on earth do I need this for?"
Lavina looked over her shoulder at the green letter. "What do you suppose you need five sets of royal purple robes for?"
"I haven't the slightest idea." Zerial said, noticing as she shook her head, that she needed four new books. "A book on Veelas? What on earth is that for?" she asked.
"Perhaps a special class your talking I suppose." Mother said as she waked into the kitchen where Lavina and Zerial stood looking at the letter. She seemed to know more than she was letting on. But then, what was new about that?
"What do you know about this list Hogwarts sent me? Why do I need different robes? And why do I need different books from everyone else?" Zerial pressed her mother.
"I don't know dear, perhaps you will have a few different classes." Mother suggested the same way she had before. But Zerial didn't buy it. Gone were the days when she would accept her mother's lies.
"I am a Veela aren't I?" Zerial said more than she asked.
When her mother dropped the tray she had been carrying, Zerial took it to mean 'yes'.
"What is a Veela?" She demanded.
At that moment, Erick poked his head through the swinging doors and said, "Is every one Okay?"
"Not now Erick," mother warned and picked up the tray. Erick retreated the way he had come.
"Well?" Zerial said.
"I--" Mother began but was cut across by Zerial.
"Cant tell you." Zerial finished her mother's sentence. "I've heard that before."
"You will find out at school. Go to your room and read a book!" Mother practically yelled. She set down the tray on a counter and stomped out of the room.
"She sounds like my mom when she is pregnant. Is she always this touchy?" Lavina asked.
"Only when I press her for information." Zerial replied and the girls walked out of the kitchen and headed up to Zerial's room.
When the two girls got to Zerial's room, Zerial grabbed her money bag and began to walk out the door again. "Where are you going?" Lavina asked, following her friend.
"Diagon Alley. For my new stuff." Zerial answered.
"She's What?" Myranda yelled at her husband.
"Going to the new school in America." Alastor told his wife calmly.
Myranda gaped at her husband disgustedly. "I gave her away like you asked! And now your sending her to another country!" She yelled in outrage.
"It was to keep you both safe," Alastor said, still calmly.
"Safe? Never knowing her sister and parents. Or what she is capable of? You call that safe?" Myranda spat out.
"Yes. I do." Her husband replied.
"Hogwarts is safe!" Myranda said as tears streamed down her face.
"You know very well what happens when our daughter transforms. She doesn't turn into a bird like you and Jenaveve."
"Yes, I know Alastor. She turns into an unquenchable fire and sings the bird song." Myranda said causticly.
"That is no song. She can speak to birds. Control them. And perhaps people." If the one who can control her is found, Muggles every where would be in danger." Alastor said.
"But--" Myranda began.
"No buts, that song is the most beautiful song I have ever heard. But it's fatal if you are not magical." Her husband said firmly.
Myranda sighed and let her shoulders sag in defeat.
"She will be safe in America. She won't be alone there. That school is full of kids who have such enormous abilities that they cant control them." Alastor said, enfolding his wife in his arms. "She would feel out of place at Hogwarts."
"Can't I see her before she goes?" Myranda begged.
"No," Her husband said curtly. "She doesn't even know you exist. And until she can control her powers, it isn't safe to have the two of you together."
"But what about Jenny?" Myranda said timidly.
"Jenaveve doesn't even remember that she has as sister. So we needn't complicate matters by telling her just yet."
" But Lexi, Olivia, and Micha know. It's unfair to Jenny,"Myranda protested.
"My dear, we didn't tell those girls. They figured it out. I'm actually surprised Jenny hasn't yet. But it doesn't work that way. Life is unfair."
"How do I look in purple?" Zerial asked her friend as she modeled the robes for Lavina.
They were waiting for Mr. Potter to come and get Lavina. Mean while, They ate flavor bombs and talked about the fun they would have at Hogwarts. There was a measly four hours until they would be off to the Hogwarts Express with their families.
"Quite good actually. Maybe even better than you do in blue." Lavina said.
"Maybe," Zerial agreed.
A knock came at Zerial's door. "Come in," Zerial called.
The door opened and Mr. Potter came in. "Are you ready Lavina?"
Lavina nodded and grabbed the handle of her trunk. "Bye Zerial." She said on her way out. "See you on the train."
Five minutes later, still wearing her new purple robes and Daphne snuggled in the inside pocket, Zerial headed down to the kitchen to find her mother.
Zerial pushed open the swinging doors and said, "When..." but trailed off. Her mother and Erick were joined at the lips. Zerial blushed in embarrassment and made a hasty retreat.
Moments later, her mother and Erick came out of the kitchen, both red in the face. "Well, are you ready?" Zerial asked her mother, pretending she had seen nothing.
"I'm not coming with you. Some one is being sent for you." Mother replied.
"Then why did Lavina have to go? Couldn't she come with me?" Zerial asked her mother.
"Zerial, you and Lavina aren't going to the same place." Mother said.
"We're not meeting the Potters at the train station?" Zerial asked.
"No." mother said.
"Lavina isn't going on the Hogwarts Express?" Zerial asked, now confused.
"Your not going on the Hogwarts Express." mother replied.
"Then is who ever is coming to get me, going to take me to Hogwarts?" Zerial asked.
"Your not going to Hogwarts." mother said.
"Oh," Zerial said. "Where am i going then? Someplace closer?" She asked. the longer this conversation went on, the sadder she got. She had just made a friend for nothing. Zerial wouldn't even get to see Lavina for a year.
"Some place farther." mother said.
"Where?" Zerila said acidly. "And while you're at it do you care to tell me what a Veela is?" Zerial snapped.
"Don't be rude," mother said. "The school is called Salem's Academy for Advanced Magical Education."
"Did you know about this all long?" Zerial asked.
Mother nodded.
Zerial was so furious with her mother that she didn't know how to show her anger. So she just sat on a chair and stared out a window into the busy London street.
"Go and get your trunk. Mrs. Wyndham will be here to collect you with in a matter of minutes." mother said.
Zerial said nothing. She walked slowly up the stairs and stroked Daphne's fur. Trunk following her, Zerial paced back and forth, sucking on a flavor bomb. She had made a whole bag full for the train ride, but now, there would be no train ride. No Lavina. No Angelo. No Hogwarts. All she had were her books and tiny black rabbit that was the only friend going with her.
"Hello Zerial," The woman who had announced herself as Mrs. Wyndham said.
Feeling quite indifferent to this woman and her school, Zerial looked her over from her neatly parted hair to her purple robes and black pointed boots. Reserving judgment until she was happier, Zerial just cocked a brow and said nothing.
The woman cleared her throat and looked around for a second and then back at Zerial. "Are you ready to go to Salem's?"
Zerial answered this by lifting her other eye brow as well.
"Good, good. We'd better be off," The woman said. "If you could grab this please," and she held out a small golden box.
Zerial grabbed Daphne around the middle and took the box. The next second, she was outside of what looked like a muggle high school.
She looked at the paint above the double doors. It read: Salem's Academy for Advanced Magical Education.
A few seconds later Mrs. Wyndham appeared next to her with a loud pop, and Zerial's trunk. Zerial turned her back to the school and saw a muggle street. However, on the other side of the street there were homes. Obviously inhabited muggles.
"Don't the muggles notice that none of their kids go here? And that the sign has the word 'MAGIC' in it?" she asked.
"No, they do not," The woman said with a smile. "When a muggle looks at this school they don't see the word 'MAGIC'. Thats why it's safe to have it here," she said.
"That's hardly good security. What if they see something strange?" Zerial argued.
"They won't. Because nothing strange happens outside of the school." she said. But before Zerial could get in another word, the woman said, "Come inside. You'll learn all the rules during orientation." and she walked into the building.
Zerial followed, stopping momentarily to hold the door open for her trunk. She had convinced herself that the inside of the high school would look like as magical as Hogwarts sounded. but she was disappointed. It looked like a large, expensive high school with four stories.
Mrs. Wyndham walked up two flights of stairs and down several corridors before she opened another pair of double doors and revealed a cafeteria full of students.
"Go on in and take a seat. Orientation will begin in about five minutes. I'll take your things." Mrs. Wyndham said.
Zerial walked in and chose a seat near the doors she had just entered. Next to a boy facing the opposite direction.
About five minutes later, a man walked into the cafeteria. "Quiet down please." He was tall and had brown hair. He was too far away for Zerial to make out any facial characteristics.
"Welcome to Salem's Academy for Advanced Magical Education!" he said and received a cheer from most of the students. Zerial took this to mean just about everyone knew they were coming here and were exited about it.
"This is Salem's first year! I hope it will be enjoyed by all. This school was opened for those who's magical abilities surpasses the students at Hogwarts. This school is no better than Hogwarts. And it is no worse. It simply is teaching a different selection of students. You will each receive a list of the rules when you enter your team sections. These rules MUST be followed at all costs. The teams are as follows: The Hippogriff team. The Dragon team. The Centaur team. And of course the Fwooper team." the man said.
These words were also followed by another loud cheer. This time Zerial was exited enough to cheer also. She could write to Lavina and Angelo. She would just have to make more friends here.
when the cheering quieted the man continued. "I am principle Jensen. And I hope that you are all as exited to be here as I am." More cheering met these words.
"Please feel free to talk to each other. And don't bother trying to mask your excitement about being here. For then, it would not be nearly as exciting!" another cheer. "You will be called out of the room ten groups of ten by ten teachers. please be patient as there are so many of you, this could take some time.
He pulled out a note book and the room got quiet. Principle Jensen then began spouting off names. When the first one hundred people were out of the cafeteria, the noise picked back up as the students began to talk again.
The boys next to her were talking about the four teams. "What," the one closest to Zerial said. "Do you think a 'Fwooper' is?"
Zerial decided this would be a good way to introduce herself. "A Fwooper is a bird with brightly colored feathers."
The boys turned to look at her. They stared and stared and stared. And when she couldn't stand it anymore, she walked back a few tables to sit with a group of girls. Male eyes following her the hole way. Just the way they did in Diagon Alley.
"Why are all of the boys staring at you?" one of the girls asked her.
"I have no idea. All i did was tell them what a Fwooper was and they started staring at me."
she stuck out her hand. "I'm Zerial."
The girl shook her hand and said, "I'm Liza," she said and pulled a strand of brown hair behind her ear.
"This is Amy," she pointed at a girl with curly blond hair. "This is Julia," a girl with mousy brown hair. "And this is Molly," a girl with long brown hair.
"Hi," Zerial said and shook each of their hands.
"So what team do you want to be on?" Molly asked.
"I don't really care much," Zerial admitted.
"I want to be on the Centaur team. They are such majestic creatures." Liza said.
They got to know each other for about thirty minutes. at which time Principle Jensen walked back in with his note book again and the room got quiet.
He once again began to call out names and Zerial's was called in the second group. She walked to the front of the cafeteria and stood next to the boy who had been called just before her. And she recognized him. It was Angelo!
She almost blurted his name out excitedly in the silence. but waited until their group of ten was walking out of the cafeteria behind Mrs. Wyndham.
"Angelo!" she whispered next to him.
He jumped slightly and looked at her for a moment before recognizing her. "Z-Zerial?"
"Yeah! I thought I would be here with no one i knew!" she said.
"Me too!" he replied.
"This is great. I hope we are on the same team." Said Zerial.
"Yeah, me to." he said.
It was then that Zerial realized that there were only two girls in her group, and all of the boys but Angelo was staring at her. Angelo seemed to notice this too. "Why are they staring at you?" he asked.
Zerial shrugged and waved a hand in front of one of the boys trying to get his attention. The boy blushed and looked away.
Zerial and Angelo laughed and quietly followed Mrs. Wyndham.