Patricia sat in the winter garden while her mother was making tea in the kitchen. Her husband Victor was at work. After Shade, Patricia had sworn not let any man near her again but then she had met Victor. He didn't just love her but also her daughter, who had been seven then and more important was that Prue loved him too. Patricia sighed at the thought of her daughter, Prue was something special she had inherited so much from her father. The dark hairs, the smile, her explosive nature, her willpower and also his ability to change into a panther. It had been a shock for Patricia as she had witnessed it for the first time, luckily Shade had told her everything about the shapeshifters during her pregnancy and showed her his ability or else she would have been screwed. By now the girl had complete control over her ability. Patricia heard the front door being thrown into the lock. "I'm back!" she heard Prue call. "Prudence how many times have I told you not to slam the door like that!" Patricia's mother called from the kitchen. "I'm sorry Granma. Hi Mama." Prue dropped on the floor in front of Patricia. "Hello sweety and how was your last day?" Patricia wanted to know. Prue only shrugged, she hated the school of the no-majs because the other students always made fun of her. "Prue darling that's all over", Patricia said and took her daughters hand into hers. "Are you sure?" Prue wanted to know and looked up at her mother. Her green-grey eyes shone at her. They always formed an extreme contrast to Prue's darker skin. Prue wasn't as dark as Shade had been but darker than Patricia her skin reminded her of mocha ice cream. What was also the reason why Prue's classmates made fun of her. "Yeah the wizarding world is more open minded." Patricia assured her daughter. Prue smiled, hugged her mother, kissed her cheek and disappeared to her room. Patricia smiled she could barely believe that her little girl was already turning eleven and would go to Ilvermory in autumn
On the same evening Patricia sat with Victor in front the chimney, Prue and her grandmother had already gone to bed. Then they heard a knock on the window. Muttering curses into his beard, Victor stood up and opened the window. A large owl shot past him and dropped a letter on the coffee table and disappeared again through the open window. "Damn beasts!" Victor cursed and closed the window again. Patricia had sat up in the meantime and looked at the letter. It was addressed to her but she didn't recognize the writing. "Who's sending you a letter at this time?" Victor wanted to know and sat beside his wife. "That was an international post owl", Patricia said, turned the letter over and broke the seal. Carefully Patricia pulled the Pargament from the envelop. The writing was small but still legible.
Dear Miss Halliwell
My name is Albus Dumbledore, I'm the headmaster of Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry in great Britain. The name of your daughter has been enlisted at her birth. Of course, it would be understandable if you would rather send her to Ilvermory. I would like to convince you in a personal discussion to send your daughter to Hogwarts. Beside there's a situation she could help us with her abilities. Please let me know if you agree to a discussion.
Yours sincerely
Albus Dumbledore
Patricia read the letter several times, it couldn't be true that her daughter should go to school in England, she wouldn't let that happen. Of course Shade had told her about Hogwarts and that Dumbledore must have taught back then, or why would he know about Shade's ability. Still Patricia wondered from where he knew that Prue inherited that ability. "Patty everything alright?" Victor asked. Without saying a word Patricia handed the letter to her husband. "What are you going to do?" Victor asked after he had read the letter. "She won't be going to this school", Patricia said determined. "But it sounds quite important that she should do that", said Victor and tapped the second to last sentence. "Victor no, I swore to myself that I would never step a foot in this country again." "You also said, that you would never fall in love again and still we're here", Victor laughed and stroked Patricia's wedding ring. She sighed. "That's not the same." Victor took Patricia's face between his fingers and smiled at her. "You could at least listen to what this Dumbledore has to say, beside you and Prue could visit her father's grave." Patricia unfortunately had to admit that her husband was right, but she wouldn't tell him this. The next day she send a letter with her agreement for the discussion to Dumbledore.
A week later Patricia traveled with Prue with an international portkey to England. She didn't know how Dumbledore had organized this so fast normally you had to request these months in advance. They landed in a small village, in the distance they could see a huge castle. "Mama where are we?" Prue wanted to know and looked around. Patricia took a note from her coat and read it. "This has to be Hogsmeade", she said. On the note were directions to the castle. "Come we have to go there." Prue followed her mother down a path and looked around. She had never been outside from San Francisco, beside the first weeks of her live but she couldn't remember that. It took a while until they reached the gates to the school. Prue was amazed when she saw the big castle towering in front of her. "Mama did Dad go to school here?" she wanted to know while they went over the compound. "Yeah he told me about it." Prue didn't know much about her father, because her mother rarely spoke about him. But what she knew was that he had been a brave and devoted man. Together they entered the castle and Patricia wondered how they should find the way to the headmasters office after all they had never been here before. Luckily for her, an elderly witch came down the stairs at that moment. She wore glasses and had her hair pulled back to a bun. "Excuse me, could you tell me where we can find Professor Dumbledores office?" The witch looked strictly at her over her glasses, then she looked at Prue. "You must be Miss Halliwell, please follow me", she asked, turned around and went up the stairs. She guided them through the castle until they reached a big golden eagle. The witch said something to the eagle, who moved aside revealing a spiral staircase. "The office of the headmaster is at the end of the staircase", she informed Patricia and went away. Patty and Prue went up the stairs and Patricia knocked at the door. From inside came "Enter" and Patricia opened the door. The office was full a strange objects and in the middle stood a big desk. Behind it sat a man with long hair and beard, he was wearing half moon glasses and smiled friendly at them. In front the desk stood four chairs, two of them already occupied. A tall man with sandy brown hair and a boy about Prue's age sat there. "Professor Dumbledore?" Patricia asked unsure. "Miss Halliwell please enter and take a seat", Dumbledore said and pointed at the two empty seats. "We can come back later", said Patricia and laid her hands on Prue's shoulder. Dumbledore shook his head and pointed again at the chairs. Patricia and Prue took the seats. "Albus what's that?" the man wanted to know. "A moment Lyall. Miss Halliwell thank you for agreeing to this discussion." "You don't have to thank me but can you explain me this?" Patricia said and motioned to the man at her wright. "Of course this are Lyall Lupin and his son Remus. You see Miss Halliwell the young Mister Lupin suffers from lycanthropy." Patricia's eyes widened and looked at the boy who was starring nervously at his hands. "Mama what does lycanthropy mean?" Prue who pulled at her sleeve wanted to know. Patricia sighed. "He's a werewolf sweety." Prue bend forward to get a better look at Remus. He seemed sick and his hands and arms were covered in scars as well as his face. But he didn't seem dangerous on the contrary it seemed to her that he was scared of something. "Well that Remus can attend Hogwarts we have to take precautions, so that he want hurt someone and this is where Prudence comes in", Dumbledore continued. "Albus she's a little girl how is she supposed to help my son?" Dumbledore's eyes sparkled and he turned to Prue. "Miss Halliwell would you be so kind to show Mister Lupin your abilities." Prue looked at her mother, who nodded, so Prue got up and moved away from the desk. Lyall's eyes went wide as the body of the girl started to change and where she stood a full-grown panther appeared. The panther tilted his head, snorted once and changed back. "That's incredible", Lyall whispered impressed. "Well Miss Halliwell would you allow your daughter to attend our school and to help Mister Lupin." Patricia bit her lip, looked from her daughter to Remus, who was still starring at his hands. "I don't know it sound dangerous." Patricia looked down as she felt Prue's hand on her arm. "I would like to do this Mama. Beside nothing can happen, werewolves don't attack animals do they?" A smile crept on to Patricia's face her daughter was so brave and selfless. She wanted to help a boy, she didn't even know just because she knew how it was to be different. "Alright", Patricia agreed with a sigh. "Very well, then I'll see you on the first of September Miss Halliwell, Mister Lupin. Before you go, I would like to point out that no one else is allowed to know about Remus' condition, otherwise we will all be in trouble," Dumbledore said. Patricia and Prue said goodbye to the professor and left the office. On the way outside they heard someone call Prue's name. She turned around and Remus stopped slippering and slightly out of breath before them. "I wanted to thank you Prudence", he said with a lopsided smile. Prue smiled as well. "No big deal and just call me Prue." Remus nodded and said goodbye once more. He was now really looking forward to Hogwarts because he wouldn't be alone.