Chapter 10
I called my aunt Jean to figure out how Carlos and I got married within minutes of knowing each other. It was insane, but an otherworldly power took control, compelling us to complete the ancient ritual.
"Stephanie, your connection had been foretold for many years. I told you about the seer's predictions. Some things I couldn't tell you until you met the man destiny selected for you. Esmeralda said your marriage would happen the minute you connected body, mind and soul with your fated one. Your bond would get sealed by a brand marking the skin over your heart. Both of you are parts of the whole. The child created from your union would become a great man. When your lover asks you to join his team, you must do," Jean explained.
"I never realized there was so much decided for me before I was born," I confessed. I was a little pissed off that I had no control over my fate.
"Sweetie, no matter how much you tried to prevent certain events from occurring, they came to pass. Hermione has an important role to play. We don't know what that is at the moment, but I feel it's connected to her friend, Harry Potter. She got destined to be born from parents who grew up in non-magical households. Please, Stephanie, you need to be vigilant," Jean stated.
"Thanks, Aunt Jean. I'll be careful, and I'll join Carlos' team should he ask," I promised.
"That's all I can ask. Call or send an owl whenever you can," Jean requested. I readily agreed. There was a higher power pulling the strings on Carlos and my hearts.
Hermione and I arrived at the Manoso home using the conventional muggle method of transportation. I drove my Mazda Miata to Newark, parking in the driveway as directed by Maria. We exited the car together and met Carlos at the front door. My body tingled during the last ten minutes of the drive. It's like my soul could feel him near.
Carlos wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to his chest. His lips quickly found mine as he poured his heart into the connection. Maria chose that moment to open the door. "Oh, I see you two know each other," she said, shocked that we were kissing.
"Mama, I'd like you to meet my wife and step-daughter," Carlos stated.
"You have made your mama a happy woman, Ric," Maria cried. She pulled Hermione and me into her arms and hugged us tightly. "I was hoping you were his bride."
"What do you mean?" I asked as she pulled us into her house.
"Ric said he met his destiny and married her," Maria replied. "He showed me the bond brand on his chest. You have the matching mark?"
I pulled my top down to show her. "It looks like a puzzle piece," Hermione stated. "Does your mark connect, Carlos?"
He unbuttoned his shirt to show Hermione the mark. The red puzzle piece tattoo on my chest had a few pieces missing, a large part in the middle and the bottom tip of the heart. Carlos had the other two puzzle pieces on his chest that perfectly aligned to mine. Our initials got etched in small letters on the images.
"They appeared on Boxing Day," I stated.
"When we completed the ceremony," Carlos added. "Our hearts, minds and souls connected as the magic sealed our vows. We were powerless to prevent the old magic from working." His fingers stroked down my arms, heating my body.
The family welcomed me with open arms. I had already met them on Christmas Eve, but this time was different. We were family. "Any time you need a safe place to hide, you're welcome here," his dad said.
"Thank you," Hermione and I replied. Having a safe place meant a lot to both of us. To be accepted into a family without judgment meant the world.
Maria sat beside Hermione and talked about school. She was impressed with Hermione's ability to learn magic quickly. "Didn't your mother teach you?" Maria asked.
"She never hid it from me, but mom stressed the importance of managing in the non-magical world. I'm what they call muggle-born in Britain because I have a muggle father. You see, some wizards believe that you must be pure blood," Hermione explained. "And if you don't have a witch mother and a wizard father, then you are muggle-born."
"That's ridiculous," Maria exclaimed. "Do they not have non-magical children born to magical parents?" Maria curiously asked.
"Of course they do, and those children get called squibs. It's a derogatory name, but the witches and wizards felt they needed a label," Hermione answered. Maria could tell from Hermione's tone that she did not like the terminology.
We stayed at the Manoso home overnight after partying and drinking until 2 am. Hermione slept in the basement with the other children. I slept in bed beside my husband. "Do you want more children?" I asked.
"With you? Yes. I would love to have a child with you. Our son would have the best from each of us," he replied.
"We're having a boy?" I asked.
"Yes. In two-hundred and fifty-five days," Carlos replied.
I quickly figured out the date. "Exactly one month before my birthday," I whispered.
"And exactly one month after my birthday," he added. "I've seen him in my dreams, like flickers until you called me to your home. I see him clearly now."
"That clarity means he's growing inside me?" I asked.
"Yes, babe," Carlos answered. He used his wand to cast a spell, preventing everyone in the house from hearing us make love. "I love you."
"I love you too, Carlos," I whispered before falling asleep.
Carlos and I made love a few more times during the night. If I didn't already know he was a wizard, I would think he was one. He could curl my toes, and his touch was like magic.
The following morning, he said that he had a few days before his mission started. He had to lead a group of men into Colombia to catch an evil man. I suspected it was a top-secret joint ministry of magic and army job.
"My job at E E Martin seems to be a waste of time. There's someone sabotaging products that get sold to nomags. I caught a few of the pranksters, but I can't shake the feeling that something else is going on," I stated.
"Tell me everything from the top. Don't leave out anything," Carlos stated.
I went through the process, talking through the steps and the crimes I had uncovered. Carlos listened as I patiently explained my thoughts, facts and speculations. "I think the CEO is responsible, but I can't detect the magic," I said, sharing my thoughts.
"Go with your instincts, babe. If you think the CEO is a wizard, go with that assumption. He's probably using old magic to hide his magical trail. Babe, I opened a new business called Rangeman. I'm hiring ex-military men to work in the company. Some of my team are nomags, and others are wizards. When you finish your undercover mission at E E Martin, would you consider joining my team?" Carlos asked.
"I'd follow you anywhere, Carlos," I replied. "Does your team have old spell reference books I could borrow?"
Carlos waved his wand. A white bat flew from the tip and out the window. I giggled. "It's a Patronus charm," Carlos said as demonstrated, the motion. I grabbed my wand to practice the charm and wand movements. A few wisps of smoke exited the tip of her wand before an eagle erupted.
His smile illuminated the room. He was excited to see I caught on. "Did I do something wrong?" I asked.
"Not at all, babe. It's rare to create a corporeal Patronus. You are a gifted witch. Which school of wizardry did you attend?" Carlos asked.
"My aunt taught me, and I studied under Albus Dumbledore at Hogwarts to get my OWLS and NEWTS," I replied.
He whistled, "Albus Dumbledore, the wizard to defeat Gellert Grindelwald in 1945. I'm impressed."
"I didn't know I was a witch until I got pregnant with Hermione," I admitted. I knew Carlos and I were born in the same year. "It was a bit of a shock to me. I guess there were a few things we should have discussed before hopping into bed together."
Carlos tipped his head back and laughed. "We have a permanent bond. Whenever you require information, shut your eyes, and concentrate on our bond. Everything you wish to know would appear in your mind," Carlos stated.
I closed my eyes to test his theory. Concentrating on Carlos in my mind, I started seeing images. His ex-wife, daughter and friends. I could tell the tall, dark man was his best friend, and the other two were close friends. When I opened my eyes, I noticed that he had been concentrating too.
"Did you learn more about me?" I asked. I was almost afraid to know what he'd uncovered.
"Everything, babe. I know everything. None of it changes how I feel about you," Carlos stated.
"Not for me either," I replied. I could only see parts of his past that directly affected him.
Much too soon, I had to say goodbye to my husband. His friend and business parter, Tank arrived before he left to tell me how to access the books. They were under protection in the Rangeman Miami branch. "You have permission to apparate directly into Ranger's apartment. Do you have an image?" Tank wondered.
"I think so," I replied. I closed my eyes to think about the apartment. Cream-coloured walls. Dark hardwood floors. Black, leather furniture. Stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. I could see him in the bed.
"We can practice when Hermione returns to school," Tank suggested.
"Thanks. I want to make sure I get to the correct location." I kissed Carlos and watched him disapparate with Tank from my living room.
Hermione and I spent a few days together before she had to leave. My grandmother, Edna Mazur, arrived the day before Hermione had to return to Hogwarts. "Hello, Stephanie," Edna said when I opened my apartment door.
"Hey, grandma. Thank you for coming over. Daddy said you might have trouble getting away from my mom," I stated.
"Your mom is no match for me when I want to leave. She thinks I'm at Mabel's house," Edna said, laughing. "Hermione, has anyone told you about my family?"
"No, grandmama. I only learned what mom shared," Hermione replied.
"Sit beside me, child. I'm going to tell you a secret." I listened to my grandmother tell my daughter about her sister, Esmeralda. She was the seer that predicted my destiny. Esmeralda and her husband, Horatio, placed protection spells on Stephanie when Esmeralda saw her future. They wanted to make sure she gave birth to Hermione, and her brother, Mason Frances, was born when Hermione was twelve.
"I'm going to have a brother?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. Do not tell anyone about the boy," Edna replied.
"Why not?" she asked, always curious.
"His identity must get protected at all costs, Hermione. Stephanie, my dear. You will need to get Martin on the ministry's radar. He is a dangerous man," Edna stated.
"How, grandma?" I asked. "I have tried everything I could think to do. If Martin is a wizard, he'd be wary of food and drinks."
Hermione laughed. "I have an idea," she said. She grabbed her advanced charms textbook from her bag, flipped to a page near the back. "I ordered this from the bookstore in Diagon Alley. I've been practicing advanced spells in my spare time," she added when I squinted my eyes at her. Hermione blushed as she turned the book for me to read the spell. "Cast the charm in his office. It would make it rain or snow, depending on the internal temperature. They have a nonverbal option."
I studied the spell, repeating it in my head until it started to rain in the apartment. Hermione quickly flipped to the charm to reverse it. I repeated the words until I got the rain to stop. "Environmental spells. Nice. Finite incantatem does not work to reverse the spell. It might work, thanks, Hermione," I said.
"No problem, mom. Let me know if it worked. Most wizards automatically say finite incantatem. You would out him then," Hermione stated.
"How do you know about Martin, grandma?" I asked.
"I'm a gypsy. My sister is a powerful gypsy and seer. We sense danger. Your mother didn't inherit the gypsy genes. She took more after her father," Edna replied. "Keep that Harry Potter boy out of danger, dear. Use the brain you're blessed with." We hugged grandma and watched her exit the apartment.
"Mom, do you mind if I leave my History of Magic book here? My pack is getting too full," Hermione stated. I watched her shove Alchemy, Ancient Art and Science into her bag.
"Leave it in your room. I've ordered replacement potion supplies from Diagon Alley. They should be in your dorm when you return," I stated.
"Thanks, mom," she replied. We had to leave early the following morning to get her to the airport in time.
I hugged Hermione tightly and kissed her curls. "I love you, baby," I whispered. "Goodnight."
"Sweet dreams, mom," Hermione whispered. She carried the backpack to her room, not wanting to leave it out of sight.
"Stay safe, Carlos," I called into the air. I swore I could feel him kiss my lips when I got into bed.