VIII
Family Strife
Ambrose was staring so intently at Corey as they walked that finally Corey let out a long sigh.
"What is it, Ambrose? Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.
"I'm waiting," Ambrose said.
"Waiting for what?"
"For something to happen to you. I've never seen anyone who's been cursed before," Ambrose said.
"Yes you have. You've cursed your nieces and nephews a lot of times, whether you realize it or not," Corey said dryly.
"But those are different. They happen right away. If this is a curse, why doesn't it do something?" Ambrose asked.
"Complex curses take some time to manifest, especially when it's against a large group of people, Ambrose. And it is just as well. Hopefully it'll give Dad enough time to find out who is responsible before anyone gets hurt."
"He's brilliant isn't he? He's the best Godfather anyone could ever have!" Ambrose declared, Corey smiling slightly in amusement.
"Well, perhaps one of them. Just remember not to brag about it when you get to do get to Hogwarts. It will cause more trouble for you than it'll get you out of," he advised.
"I'm never going to Hogwarts at this rate. That's what Rose always says, too," Ambrose sighed. "I just don't see why he won't just teach me how to use my wand on the weekends or something." Corey laughed outright. "What?"
"Only that I didn't want to have anything to do with a wand myself. I found it restrictive, and I think you would too. Besides, he didn't even teach any of his own children how to use a wand before Hogwarts, despite how they pleaded."
"Oh, well, I suppose it wouldn't be fair if I did then, would it," Ambrose reasoned. "Especially since he might be my father someday too, you know…being my godfather and all..."
Ambrose never forgot how Corey's face seemed to turn to paste as he said that and stood as still as stone; a look of horror buried in his eyes so deep that Ambrose himself became paralyzed by the dramatic change. He had never seen Corey like that before; nor would he ever forget that moment. For Corey suddenly pounced him like a savage beast, grabbing the boy and dragging him into the house. Not a word came from Ambrose, although Rose and the other children cried out in surprise as Corey pulled him into the kitchen and got a hold of the soap.
Gasping at Corey's rage, Rose turned and told Natalie to get the others upstairs to get them out of the way, for Charles was standing terrified in the kitchen door. Finally, Corey let Ambrose go so the boy could futilely attempt to get the suds out of his mouth, but ended up simply burping up bubbles from the magic soap every time he attempted to speak.
"You are on dangerous ground with me, Ambrose Bailey," Corey said, his voice still laced with anger. "And for once in your life, you are going to do exactly as I say. You will never speak about having any other parents again, to anyone. You will not think about it, you will not dream about it, and for God's sake if I ever hear you wish it, you will soon wish you had never said it!"
"Oh, Corey," Rose murmured, realizing what had happened. "He's only seven…"
"And I was only twelve!" he snapped at her then turned back to Ambrose. "He is an egotistical, spoiled, selfish child who knows nothing but his own wants without any consideration to anyone else! You will learn to be grateful for the family you have, Ambrose. Especially your mother, who has done everything in her power to be good to you, not that you deserve it! Now, get out of my house, and don't bother returning here until you have thought about the consequences of your actions! Get out!" he shouted again. With another round of bubbles coming out of his mouth, Ambrose scurried around and ran out the kitchen door.
Corey tossed the soap in the sink and leaned against it, shaking his head. As he began to cool down, he noticed the house was extremely quiet.
"I suppose you think I was too hard on him," he said, knowing that Rose was still behind him. "Well, I'm not going to let him say such things and find himself regretting it for the rest of his life," Corey said. "I may have gotten a bit overworked, but I had to make him understand it was not acceptable to think such things!"
"I'm not going to stand here and judge you, Corey," Rose said quietly. "Especially since you're already beginning to try and judge yourself." She turned then and went to check on the children, leaving Corey alone with his thoughts.
Alexandria couldn't help but to gape when she and Alicia arrived at the port station, for they had stepped into a vine-covered gazebo in the center of a large domed conservatory.
"Well! I suppose I have my work cut out for me!" Alicia exclaimed, admiring a butterfly of unusual size that lazily floated past them on its way to a bed of giant white flowers.
"Ah! Visitors!" An elderly wizard stood up from behind a row of ferns with loam encrusted pads on his knees and heavy gloves up to his elbows. His thin hair was snowy white, and he had a kind, attentive face, from what they could tell behind the set of thick glasses upon his narrow, crooked nose. "And if I'm not mistaken, expected ones. Might one of you be my new illustrator?"
"Alicia Snape, sir," Alicia said with a smile, and the man scrambled up to meet her, offering his gloved hand. "And you must be Professor Laeo."
"I am indeed! You are younger than I expected, dear witch, but well met. And who is this?"
"My sister, Alexandria, from the International Affairs Ministry," Alicia said.
"I'm just accompanying my sister to make sure she gets well settled," Alexandria explained.
"Ah, I see! How wonderful it must be to have such a close family!" Laeo said wistfully, Alicia smiling stiffly at him in return. "I haven't seen or spoken to any of my relatives for years. Just as well, I can be a bit of a bore, you know, I tend not to shut up about my plants. Ah, but I hope I'm not discouraging you from staying."
"Not at all, We've been inundated with magical plants studies since we were old enough to put out weeds, and honestly your offer was more than generous for the light work involved," Alicia admitted.
"When I pay the best I get the best," Laeo said proudly. "And I warn you now I'm quite a perfectionist."
"Yes, I'm used to that too," Alicia said dryly, ignoring the glance from her sister.
"Then I think we shall get on well enough!" Laeo said pleased. "Come, let me show you to your room…I'm afraid my elves are too disposed with gardening to do much else here, so I hope you can fend for yourself in the kitchens…ah, but even so, you must stay for dinner, Alexandria, for I am curious to how things are back in Britain."
"I really ought to get back," Alexandria protested.
"Well, tea at least," Laeo insisted. "Now it's just up these stairs and to the right, just make yourself comfortable while I finish up my planting, and attempt to remember where I put my kettle, there we are!" he said. The two girls did have some trouble navigating the spiral stairs, for a thorny vine rose had taken over the railing, making it almost impossible to actually rely on without getting pricked in the hand.
"He seems nice enough," Alex said when they stepped into the room. Wooden furniture and plant boxes seemed to be the theme of the guest bedroom, not to mention the entire house, but Alicia was grateful to see that a cooling blue crystal fire had already been lit to refresh the room to make it less hot and sticky.
"A bit absent-minded," Alicia said with a smile as she threw her suitcase on the bed. "I think this will be a nice relaxing job for a change! I could use the break from all those faces."
"I wouldn't mind spending some time here myself under other circumstances," Alex admitted, looking out the balcony door at the gardens for a moment before turning to her. "Are you sure you're going to be all right here on your own?"
"Honestly! Why wouldn't I be? It seems I'm going to have it easy enough here, and I hardly see any threat in that old botanist. I may even learn something new about plants and things I can write to Rose about…"
"I didn't exactly mean that," Alex said. "I meant about that curse going around…"
"Oh, please don't start talking about that again! How you do go on about such things, Alex!" Alicia protested. "I told you before that I'm fine."
"Well, if anything wrong did happen, you would have enough sense to come home, wouldn't you?" Alex asked.
"I don't have a home, Alexandria," Alicia said. "And to perfectly honest, that suits me just fine. I'm happy with my life as it is."
"Now that much I do know is not the truth," Alexandria said. Alicia merely sighed and continued to put away her things. "All right, Alicia, have it your way. But for your own sake I do think you really ought to get over this grudge of yours and come home…whether you want to acknowledge you have one or not."
"Don't you ever shut up?" Alicia snapped at her, taking out a toilet bag and heading to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. She leaned against the door then and began to rub her aching eyes, wishing she would just leave already.
