"Damn" I swore in frustration. Of course I was late. How could I not be with my luck?

I quickly peeked into Ronan's room to check if he was late as well. I was met with the sight of a bed already made, and a pristine room. "Of course, "Ronan the faultless" would never be late." I gave a small, angry sigh. What was doing, getting angry at him, when I haven't even apologized to him yet? "I'll apologize after our lessons'' I decided, with certainty. But try as I might, I couldn't remember where we were supposed to meet. I realized with a start that he didn't tell me where I was supposed to go. I was abruptly pulled out of my musing by a furious voice.

"So, this is Ambrose Nott." I turned my head to where the voice was and was met with the sight of a tall, pale, middle-aged woman. She had long black hair that was graying slightly at the roots, with a sharp, upturned nose, and she vaguely resembled a crow. She was dressed in a black Victorian style dress, with a white collar. She had a strict aura around her. I shifted my eyes to the two people behind her. Ronan was pointedly ignoring me and Theo was decidedly not making eye contact.

I let out a loud exhale.

"Yes, that's me. Ambrose No-wait." I sent a questioning look to Theo, but he quickly shook his head and mouthed "I'll tell you later". My last name is Cooper! Why was it that I'd always be the last one to get the important information?

"Yes, yes. I was expecting you to be early for the first lesson, unfortunately my expectations are too high for you" she gave a dissatisfied sniff, and shooed me away as if looking at my face for one more second would cause her more disturbance. "Your brother and cousin seem to have been early enough" I rolled my eyes. This is gonna be how life is going to be till September first. Both Ronan and Theo, being the two shining stars while I'm the flaming meteor crashing down. I felt like kicking something.

She made a sharp gesture with her hands which I assumed meant for all of us to follow her. She led us into a room which I've never seen before. The room was large and wide with a high ceiling to accommodate the rows and rows of bookshelves with books on it. The book sizes ranged from thick tomes to slender novels. I gaped at the sheer number of books, wondering if I had the opportunity to come here after the lesson. A sharp voice pulled me out of my musings.

"I am Rhonda Faughn, and I will be your teacher of etiquette until September 1st. You may address me as . You two-" She addressed both me and Ronan causing us to jump suddenly "-have 4 months to complete 2 years worth of education, so you must make these months count so as to not shame your name and family. I expect that when you both are off to Hogwarts, you will act the proper way your standing requires you of. And I also expect you to act with proper decorum as a pureblood witch of your age behaves" She directed the last part towards me. Proper Decorum? Me? She was right, her expectations are far too high.

"Let us get started with the first lesson," She stated briskly "Can any of you tell me what steps are needed upon entering a ball?" Beside me, Theo gently raised his hand upwards. I blanked. Who genuinely thinks this a skill that their child needs in life? Certainly not me.

Mrs. Faughn nodded her head for Theo to answer.

"When entering the ballroom the first step is to bow after entering the doors..." I got lost in the sea of words and information being unloaded onto me. The class went on like this with Mrs. Faughn asking a question and Theo being the only one able to answer. Finally after one excruciatingly long hour, she handed each of us a thick, ancient-looking book and told us that we must memorize it by this time next week.

Once she finally left, I let out a large sigh I was holding, and quickly sat down on a chair. I quickly took a look at Ronan, and it seemed he was still decidedly ignoring me. Theo sat down in the chair beside me and immediately started pouring over the text in the book. I decided it was time to apologize to Ronan, but not straight out obviously, I would casually slip in a sorry while talking, yes, my plan is foolproof. Never in my life have either of us ever apologized for anything we've done, even if it was kicking, punching, snitching, any of those things. That was just how it was.

"So…Ronan," I began awkwardly. He did not look impressed. "How's your reading coming along?"

"Fine" He answered shortly and went back to his book. Damn. He's really gonna make this as difficult for me, isn't he?

"So, I just want you to know that I didn't mean any of what I said yesterday. It just.., you know…, came out?"

"Are you asking a question, or apologizing?"

"Come on, you know I'm trying." I whined. "I know I was out of line, It's just that I was really angry about what happened to Mum. She got disowned from this "family" and it made me angry knowing how easily you accepted that we have to just forget all that and live here now" I told him truthfully. He put the book down.

"I was angry too, but that doesn't mean you have to go on a rage. I know what Mum's been through too." He said simply.

"Yeah, but doesn't it make you angry, knowing that the entire time Mum could've been living in this house, if only she had magic?-"

"Your mother was a Squib?" Theo inquired. I thought back to what I read in her journal and hesitated before I nodded. "He deserved to know," I thought. "Technically she was his aunt".

He gave a small grimace, and went back to reading his book, though I could see him giving pitying looks to both of us. He wasn't doing a good job of hiding it.

"Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is that her own brother abandoned her. And now we're living in his house because our own dad left us here and our mother couldn't be here to stop it! Isn't that messed up?" The pitying look increased in intensity.

"It is messed up but, what could we possibly do about it? The only thing we can do is to listen to what he has to say."

"So you're gonna just be quiet about this?"

"Would you rather be quiet and live here or make a fuss and be on the streets without money? I know it's annoying, but we have to make the best out of a bad situation. " I angrily flopped down on the chair. He made a good point, we had nowhere to go if he kicked us out. We don't have any money, and we don't even know much about where we live.

"Fine, I'll be quiet," I answered irritably. "But the second I get an opportunity I will leave this place" I thought.

"So…When is your guys' birthday?" Theo asked tentatively. It must feel like an outsider when he sees us fighting.

"May 4" Ronan answered.

"May 5. Ronan's older by 20 minutes" I said. "Why?"

"Because your Hogwarts letter will come by owl on the day you turn 11."

Owl? Why would the letter come by owl? Wouldn't it be coming by mail like usual? But magic itself was far from what was "usual". And I don't remember walking by a mailbox when entering the mansion for the first time.

"It lists all the supplies you'll need for the first day, and what books you would need. If you don't get your letter it means you don't have any magic in your body."

Was this how Mum got disowned? Because she didn't get her letter?. Ronan and I shared a glance and I knew he came to the same conclusion as me.

"What do we do if we don't get our letter?" Ronan asked.

Theo gave a helpless shrug.

"I'm not sure. Knowing father, he'd probably kick you out" He said grimly.

We both did accidental magic as kids, But that won't stop me from worrying. I do NOT want to get kicked to the streets, and I doubt Ronan would let that happen.

"When's your birthday, Theo?" Ronan asked.

"January 21st. I have my letter with me." He got up and turned to the self behind him. He grabbed a skinny book with a green cover and tattered pages and took out an old-looking letter with a matching envelope with a red wax seal. He showed us the list of supplies.

"Robes? A cauldron? Where would we get these things?" Ronan asked, as his eyes grew wide at the long list.

"Diagon Alley. Remember? Mum wrote it in her journal" I said.

"Yeah. Father said we'll go get all the supplies all at once after your letters come."

I gave another grimace.

"Do we have to go with your father?" I whined

"Who else would we go with you idiot?"

I stuck out my tongue at Ronan. He responded by rolling his eyes.

"Very mature" he whispered under his breath.

I went back to reading my etiquette book. So much reading in so little time.

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