"So what you're saying is, magic… Is… real?" Mrs. Brown asked incredulously. Madam McNutly shrugged, "That's a big summation, but yes, that is the point of me coming here. Your daughter is what we would call a witch, and she has been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," The Brown parents were dumbfounded, they didn't know how to take the news. Meanwhile, Esme sat in amazement, "I'm a… witch? But I don't look green or have frizzy hair…" She looked at her hands to double-check that she hadn't suddenly changed colors. Madam McNutly smiled amused, "Muggles have all sorts of interesting stories about our kind, and a lot of them aren't true," Esme nodded slowly, "Muggles… You said those are people who aren't magical?" Madam McNutly smiled, "Exactly! You catch on quick, young Esme…"
Mr. Brown stood up and began to argue with Madam McNutly while Mrs. Brown tried to diffuse the situation. Esme ignored the argument and tried to recall something that would be considered magical about her. It took a moment but she remembered that when she was younger she believed she could control plants with her mind and quickly got up to look for one, 'If I can prove that I can do magic, then they'll believe Madam McNutly!' She found a small, pink azalea bush in a clay pot and picked it up carefully, "You'll do nicely," then walked back to the living room where the adults were still arguing. She was about to say something when her dad yelled something that made her stop cold in her tracks, "She isn't going to have anything to do with you or your insane colleagues! We adopted a normal daughter, and we will raise her like a normal girl!"
The azalea plant dropped to the floor with a loud crash, which got everyone's attention as Esme stood there in shock, "What… Did you say?" She felt that her whole life was crashing down like the poor plant, "Am I… adopted?" Mrs. Brown looked from Esme to her husband, extremely worried. Mr. Brown sighed and took off his rectangular glasses, "... Yes, you are. You were left on the Orphanage's front steps, we don't know who your true parents are, Esme. I'm sorry," Esme felt her head spin as she looked down at the floor trying to process what what her father- her adopted father, had said, "Y-you're joking! Th-this is just a big joke, right? You're my mom and dad, I know you are!" Madam McNutly watched the situation quietly, she didn't know what to do to help the family, so she just kept silent. What she did notice, however, was that the flower was starting to twitch as much as Esme was, which made her very worried.
Esme finally looked up with tears brimming her eyes, "When… When were you going to tell me! That I was adopted?" Mr. Brown looked down silently, which gave Esme the message loud and clear, "You weren't going to, were you..." Mr. Brown sighed and walked over to Esme, but as he was about to put his hand on her shoulder, she yelled and moved her arm away, "DON'T TOUCH ME!" At the same moment, the azalea bush exploded and pink flowers went everywhere, and the sound of Esme running to her room was in the distance. The adults stood there in shock as the flower petals slowly drifted down around them, then Madam McNutly decided to break the tension, "Well, at least I know I came to the right place… Let me clean this up," She flicked her wrist and a long wooden stick fell out of her sleeve and into her hand.
The Browns watched as she waved the stick and the pink flower petals disappeared and the pot seemed to mend itself. Within seconds, the living room was back to normal with the azalea bush back in its spot on the floor. Mr. Brown took a deep breath and silently left the house. He didn't want to admit that he had witnessed magic, so leaving felt like the best option at the moment. Mrs. Brown picked up the pot and gave an apologetic smile to Madam McNutly, "I'm sorry you had to witness that, I promise we're usually much more behaved…" Madam McNutly smiled back understandingly, "Don't worry, sometimes it takes some time for Muggles to wrap their heads around the concept of magic…"
They both looked up at the ceiling as they heard footsteps that they assumed to be Esme, then they watched as she came down the stairs with a giant suitcase packed to the brim, "Mom…" Esme looked down at the floor, hurt, "If I can still call you that, would you have told me about me being adopted?" Mrs. Brown had tears in her eyes as she walked over to her, "Yes you can still call me that, Esme. And yes, I would if I could. Your father was very against telling you and since I couldn't argue with him, I kept silent. I am sorry you had to find out this way, my little one," she hugged Esme after finishing, and to her relief, Esme hugged back, "Thanks mom…" was all she could get out before silently crying into her mom's shoulder.
Esme let go of the hug first, then Mrs. Brown reluctantly as well. Esme wiped her tears then said quietly, "Mom, I want to find out who I am… who my biological family is… So I want to go and find out myself," Mrs. Brown nodded understandingly then looked at Madam McNutly, "I know this is a huge favor of me to ask you, but could you help Esme? She is very responsible and I know she will be able to take care of herself once she's got herself on her feet," Madam McNutly looked mildly surprised, "Well I didn't expect to have a young companion… But I'm happy to help as long as Esme agrees with this arrangement," Esme gave a big smile and nodded vigorously, "Yes please!" Mrs. Brown smiled relieved, "I'll go get some money for you, I know you have some savings but consider this an extra birthday present…" Then she quickly went upstairs to get her things.
Madam McNutly turned to Esme, "Today is your birthday?" Esme smiled embarrassedly and looked at the floor, "Yeah… We usually relax and spend time together… at least, that's what we did…" Esme looked down bitterly and Madam McNutly patted her shoulder reassuringly, "Just give him some time to calm down, he will get over it eventually…" Esme gave a small smile, then Mrs. Brown came down with a wrapped present and a small envelope, "You were supposed to get this before you went to bed, but since you're leaving I thought it'd be best to give it to you now…" She smiled as she handed her the present, which Esme accepted gratefully. She carefully took off the wrapping paper and discovered that it was a beautiful leather journal with flowers imprinted on it. Esme smiled and held it to her chest, "Thanks mom, I love it…"
After Madam McNutly explained to Mrs. Brown: where they were staying, how to contact her and Esme, and that yes, Esme would be able to transfer Muggle money into wizarding currency, they started heading out. Mrs. Brown walked them to the front porch, where Esme gave her one last tearful hug goodbye, then she followed Madam McNutly towards the street.
While walking, she noticed her dad's car wasn't in front of the house where he usually parked it, Esme assumed that after the fight, he drove off to cool himself down but him not being there to say goodbye hurt. She was still mad at him, but she wanted to talk to him about why he wasn't wanting to tell her the truth. 'Maybe another day we can talk about it,' she thought to herself as she stood by Madam McNutly, who had pulled out the same stick she had earlier and held it straight out, pointing to the sky.
Esme stared at it peculiarly, "What's that, Madam McNutly?" Madam McNutly smiled, "It's my wand Esme, I got it from a shop called Ollivander's. We're going to get you one tomorrow when we get to Diagon Alley…" Before Esme could respond, the Knight bus came to a screeching halt in front of them where the doors opened and they were greeted by Mr. Ernest Prang, "You sure took your time… And who is this young 'un?" He blinked several times as if trying to adjust his eyes to see Esme, who was shyly looking down at the floor. Madam McNutly motioned for Esme to find a bed to sit at, "Her name is Esme and she is coming back with me," Ernest shrugged and pointed to the jar that was on the dashboard, "It'll be eleven sickles fer 'er," Madam smiled and deposited the money in the jar, "Thank you Ernest…"
She made her way over to Esme who was on a bed waiting patiently, "How long will it take to get to the… Where was it we were going again?" Esme asked curiously. Madam McNutly smiled as she took a seat next to Esme on the bed, "We're going to the Leaky Cauldron, Esme. It shouldn't take too long, especially with Ernest's driving… You might want to hold on though," Esme looked up at her confused, "Hold on? Why?" With a sudden jerk, the bus zoomed away from the house at an incredible speed. Esme was barely able to grasp the headboard of the bed as they slid across the floor. Madam McNutly chuckled at her surprise and gave her a teasing smile, "I tried to warn you…" Esme, getting over her initial shock, laughed and simply enjoyed the crazy ride, 'If this is what the rest of the Wizarding community- world, was like, then I'm ready to accept it with open arms!'
