All rights to J.K.Rowling
I only own my OCS.
1
– Man, how troublesome. – Falco muttered.
In front of him, his parents and Hogwarts headmaster, sitting in the living room. His parents seemed uneasy, as if they were in a hostage situation. The older wizard, however, was smiling.
He was drinking a glass of tea, not caring for the burning glares of Mrs. Winchester.
– Well, Mr. Winchester, Mrs. Winchester. We have much to discuss.
Artemis narrowed her eyes.
– No, we do not! Go to He...!
– Arty. Calm down. – Nigel begged, sighing. – Let's deal with this, calmly.
Growling like an angry bear mother, she reluctantly nodded, cursing in her breath.
– What a drag.
2
A few minutes earlier
After dealing with the mess in the alley, Professor Dumbledore told him the reason for his visit. Apparently, he wanted to talk with Falco's parents, so he went straight to their house. But seeing they aren't home, he chose to walk around the town.
He told the boy to go home, and he explain everything there. Then, he disappeared followed by a crack sound. And so, the wizard left the boy, and the two muggles, in the alley.
– Sincerely, I hope they're okay. – Falco muttered, glancing one last time to the two fallen boys. – He could take along, but no! I have to go home on my own. I hope mum and dad don't kill him.
After cursing the old man, Falco picked his things, put his headphones on and ran off the alley. He ran straight to the a bus stop, choosing to go home in a less complicated way.
With The Clash singing in his ears, Falco got on the first bus to Eldren's Gate limits. His family loved nature, so instead of living in concrete jungle, they chose to live next to the woods.
Finally, Falco arrived home. He saw his father car arriving shortly, parking next to the house tree. His father, not noticing his son, opened the house and carried some groceries inside.
Falco tried sneak inside, but Artemis, who was about to pick some groceries, noticed his trick. And she didn't even had turn her head to notice him, as if she had Superman enhanced hearing.
– Ah! Ah! Stop right there, young man.
She was about to make him help.
– Going some... Ah! What happened to you?! Is this blood stains on your clothes?!
But she finally saw her son deplorable situation. Startle, she threw her purse to the ground, and knelled to her son's eye-level. She examined him, looking for any injuries. Her eyes filled with horror and worry.
Falco, however, was a great contrast to his mother. Smiling like a oblivious fool, he said:
– Mum, mum, mum! You won't believe what happened! It was amazing, scary and thrilling! I just... oh, is that crisps?! Can I have it now? Do you... OW! MUM, STOP IT!
Glaring at her son, Artemis grabbed his ear.
– Falco Winchester! How many times do I have to tell to not ignore my questions?! – Artemis asked, angry at her son.
She let go of his ear, and questioned him again, in a more calm tone.
– Now tell me, Falco. What happened to you? Who did this to you?
As if having ear pulled worked like a light switch, his happy mood went down quickly. Seeing there's no way, he chose to tell her the truth.
Caressing his poor ear, he was about his mouth.
– WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE?!
Suddenly, Nigel thunder-like scream startled both his wife and kid.
– Nigel, honey?! Are you okay?!
Fearing for her family safety, Artemis ordered Falco to enter the car, before fleeing inside the house.
– Oh, no!
Falco, ignoring his mother order, followed her.
Then, they saw the reason of Nigel angry shout. Said old man, was reading a knitting magazine, not caring to glares from the furious adults.
– I demand you to leave our property at once! – Artemis thundered, her eyes burning in rage. – Leave now, or I will have you as arrow practice!
– Oh, hello, Mr. Winchester and Mrs. Winchester. I was waiting for you all.
Professor Dumbledore, the old wizard that helped Falco, smiled to the two angry adults. He acted as if break into a house was normal as drinking a cup of water!
Putting the magazine aside, he said:
–It's pleasure to met you.
3
Fortunately, no one died that afternoon. Seeing his son stand next to him, Nigel quickly calmed down and went next to him.
Nervously, Falco glanced at his mother, who was trembling in her seat. She was not trembling in fear, but rage. Her eyes narrowed at Dumbledore, like a furious cheetah.
Nigel, who opted to not run for his rifle, seated in the couch. He knew the older wizard won't leave his family alone, if he did not talk.
He gave Artemis's a look, who took the message. She made a grunted sound, thinning her lips. She seated next to him, but she had a firm grip on her child hand, making Falco sit together with his parents.
Noticing her discomfort, Nigel squeezed his wife hand, trying to comfort her, and gave Dumbledore a serious look.
– He's not going. – Nigel said. – We already decided, Dumbledore. He's not going to your school.
Artemis nodded to her husband's words, still glaring at the wizard.
But Falco didn't liked to hear it. It was like a punch on the stomach, putting his hopes down. Before he could say anything, Dumbledore beat him to it. Raising his hands, he said, calmly:
– I do understand your concerns, Mr. Winchester. I am sorry for what happened to your family. I really do. As a teacher myself, nothing shames me the most, than fail to protect one in my domains.
"I do know that you want what's best for him, as any parent would. I do know that you want him safe, away from any harm. But the truth is, Mr. Winchester, even if don't believe me, he needs to go to Hogwarts. Only there, he will learn the control his magic."
He paused for a moment, taking one last sip from his tea. Finishing the tea, he put the mud aside. He smiled, and said:
– And if want my opinion, Falco is a gifted young man, I must say. A truly gifted, and powerful, young lad. – he nodded at Falco, who blushed and tried to hide the grin in his face. – However, this also means he could put himself in grave danger, if he do not learn to control his abilities. That's the importance of him going to Hogwarts.
Hearing the Headmaster words, Falco frowned. He putting himself in grave danger?
Dumbledore tried to reason with them, giving his points. His words to the Winchester were genuinely, showing he's truly sorry for what happened to Jacob.
– No!
But that wasn't enough. Artemis, at last, had enough. She will not have someone like him, next to her only baby boy.
– He's not going! – she screamed to the older wizard.
Her cries echoed through the room. Her overprotective maternal instincts took a hold of her. It was like a scary aura surrounded her.
Jumping from her seat, she continued:
– I will not you lot take him from me... no, steal him from me! First, you robbed me of my Jacob, now you want my only child left! Do you really think I will you?! I... I...
And finally, the poor woman succumbed in tears. Sobbing, she covered her face in her husband chest, who wrapped her in his arms. Falco, frowning in guilt, caressed her back, and rested his head on her back. The memories of the lost son, Jacob, sliced their hearths like a heated knife. Falco glanced at his father, and saw him frowning.
A mix of emotions danced in his chest. He knew his mother was doing what was best for him, because she loved him. He could how fearful she was, just from thinking in losing another son. For that, he couldn't be more grateful to her, knowing how much she loved him.
And seeing her like that, because of his stubbornness, made him feel guilty.
Yet, thanks to his selfish side, he couldn't help but feel disappointed. He always wanted to go to Hogwarts, ever since Jacob returned from his first year.
Falco still remembered of the amazing times. The stranger sweets he brought, the wicked pranks objects, or even the Quidditch sport. Jacob always loved to scare him, telling him about the Cursed Vaults.
However, the true reason Falco wants to go to Hogwarts, was to find him. Find whatever clue he could to find Jacob. If he couldn't go to Hogwarts, there's no way he would find Jacob.
– ...
Dumbledore remained silent, giving Artemis time to calm down. He saw the damage in her hearth, the result of his failure as a Headmaster. So, he waited.
– Falco.
However, the one who break the tension, was Nigel. He called for his son, making the boy turn his head to him. Artemis continued sobbing, making Falco hate himself for making feel so broken.
Naturally, a scold was on the way. Maybe that's the reason Nigel called for him. So, Falco raised from his seat, and waited for his well-deserved scold.
– Go to your bedroom. – ordered him, calmly. – Leave us for a moment. When we finish, we'll call you here.
Falco nodded, not having courage to say anything to him, or to his mother. Hell, he couldn't even face his mother. A coward, that's what he was right now.
He walked the stairs up, facing the red carpet. While walking, he didn't even looked over his shoulders, not wanting to face his still sobbing mother, or his father's face.
4
For many times, music helped Falco. For the boy, music isn't just some kind of entertainment. It was almost like a therapy, in one way. So, when he arrived his bedroom, the first thing he did was play his Walkman.
Unfortunately, this isn't one of those times. No music could put down that bitter feeling in his chest.
One could blame his choice of literature, though. After all, who would even think to read one Stephen King's horror novels, after dealing with that fiasco? Cheerful music don't mix well with horror books.
– Bloody hell!
After rereading the same page three times, Falco admitted defeat. Cursing, he put the book aside, rubbing his face in frustration. There's no way he could read, if he couldn't even think straight.
"Why? Why did it have end like that?"
– I should have expect something like this. – he muttered, saying some sense, for once. – I was way too fucking stupid, to think it would end rainbows and sunshine.
He turned the Walkman off, resting the headphone in his neck. Hell, not even music can save him, now. He could only sit lazily in his rotate chair, glancing to the walls. Then, in the silent solitude of his bedroom, Falco said:
– Strange. They're taking their time. What could they still be talking?
By now, his father would already get him, make him apologize to his mother. And finally, ground him for a month. His father said he'd call him, yet he didn't. Did the argument got worse? That's the only possibility he could think.
Spinning in his chair, Falco noticed something.
– If things got worse, then why is it so... quiet?
It's true. They are so quiet, to the point it is scary.
In their few arguments, Artemis and Nigel ordered their children to go to their rooms. Especially when things would end bad. Considering they live in a wooden house, in the middle of nowhere, was expected to hear some yelling.
– But not this time.
His anxiety slowly get him, not liking the situation. His eyes widened, finally taking the hint that something's wrong.
It felt like Dumbledore prevented him from eavesdrop, after jinxing his bedroom. There's a spell for this thing, Jacob told him one time.
Now, with the knowledge he's denied from eavesdrop anything, a dark thought popped in his head. His pessimist side took a hold of him, making him imagine something scary. His throat dried, sweat dripping from his face.
His parents, that he loved, and he still hurt them, were knocked by the wizard. And said would take him by force, and erase his parents memories.
His parents are defenceless against a wizard. They are muggles. That's why...
– C'mon, son. We are ready to talk now.
– AHHHHH!
The paranoia vanished, fast as a lightning bolt. Only to be replaced by surprise. His father heavy hand, touched his shoulder, startling the already scared boy.
This made his benevolent father, laugh at him. Falco blushed, his face red as a tomato. Not only he screamed, but fell pathetically from the chair. One of his toes hit the wall.
– Whoa, calm down, boy. It's me, your father.
Falco glared at him, caressing his toe.
– I know its you, duh! I just don't get why would you just scare me like that? – Falco cried indignantly, still caressing his toe.
Nigel snorted, crossing his arms. His father loved teasing him, just like Jake loved back then. But Nigel stopped doing so, since that day.
– Just like his mother. – Nigel muttered to himself.
Falco raised an eyebrow, not getting his father attitude. Wasn't he supposed to be extremely disappointed at Falco?
– Come. – Nigel told him, extending his hand to Falco. He sounded more serious, now. – You can go down, now. Your mother is waiting for you.
"Mother"
The image of the sobbing woman haunted his mind, making him bit his lip in regret.
– I see.
That's it, the moment of truth. His hearth beating fast, his hands trembling a little. He accepted his father hand, and together, they left Falco's bedroom.
5
When Falco went down to the living room, he certainly did not expected to see the wizard there. Nor he expected to see his mother, the overprotective woman she is, allowing him to breath in the same room with her.
When Nigel was about to sit next to his wife, Professor Dumbledore raised from his seat, and said:
– I will give you some privacy. Excuse me.
Nigel nodded, glad for the wizard to respect his family sensibility. He seated next to Artemis, who in return, wrapped one arm in his.
She looked so tired and broken.
"All thanks to me."
– Falco, your mother and I... well, we decided make a deal with Dumbledore, and...
– EH?! What do you mean?! – Falco rudely interrupted his father.
His yelling made Artemis wince, who in a tired, yet demanding voice, shut him:
– Falco, quiet! No drama!
Falco instantly shut his mouth, feeling guilty once again.
She looked as if she's holding weights on her neck, for a long time. His guilty hit him hard this time, because this just happened thanks to his stubbornness.
– Sorry, mum.
Nodding, Artemis continued her husband words.
– Your father and I... We made a decision and...
Artemis sighed, not having forces to finish her own words. It was like she was in an internal fight, or as if she's forced to make a hard choice.
– I will do the talk, dear. Just try to relax, alright?
Saying this kind words, Nigel gently caressed her hair. This simple gest made her smile at him, as if she needed it.
– Thank you, honey. – she nodded at him, resting her head in his shoulder.
Seeing her like this, Falco swore to himself: he will make it to her in every opportunity he has. He will make them smile, once again and forever.
However, while he was swearing to himself, he's still confused by their reasons to allow Dumbledore here. Or why they 'made a deal with him'.
And got even more confused, and shocked, by what Nigel said:
– We decided to allow you to go to Hogwarts.