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Of Earth and Stars
Chapter 17: A Spirit All Her Own
August 1991
Suri Rosier-Black spent her last evening in Vienna at Mia Marker's house with Sophia Saxby, and Mia's older brother Geoff occasionally joining them for snacks.
Mia chewed thoughtfully on a biscotti. "And you have no idea where your grandmother is taking you?"
"None at all," Suri swirled her lavender lemonade, watching the ice clink against the sweating glass.
"She just said it was important that we go to "this place" for the last two weeks before school starts again." Suri caught herself before she mentioned poking around her grandmother's mind. Other than her immediate family, Dumbledore, Snape, and her best friend Nathaniel Avery knew about her natural legillimens talent.
"Maybe she wants to celebrate your birthday early," tried Sophia Saxby, her brown eyes thoughtful. "Especially since you're always at Hogwarts for your birthday."
"We usually celebrate the weekend before I leave for school." Suri sighed, running a hand through her loose waves. "Maybe you're right, Sophia. Granna does like celebrating."
"Whatever it is, you have to write to us about it!"
"I will, I promise."
The evening wore on and the girls giggled about ridiculous classes and boys from their schools. They talked about quidditch and wizard rock, and finally Suri glanced at the large clock, visible through the kitchen window.
"It's way past curfew! Granna is going to have a fit!" She abruptly stood and started clearing her plate.
"Don't worry, Sophia and I will get that. She's staying over tonight, so neither of us are worried about curfew."
"Alright, thank you." Suri hugged both Mia and Sophia tightly-saying goodbye was always hard.
"Sorry Eloise couldn't come," Sophia apologized.
"It doesn't matter," Suri attempted a smile, knowing her friends could see right through it. "When Jessica Yates transferred from Hogwarts, I had a feeling something like this was bound to happen."
Eloise Greening, her friend since they were five years old, had decided she no longer wanted to be friends with Suri because Jessica's story seemed more believable than Suri's. From that moment on, Eloise refused to see or speak to Mia or Sophia as long as they hung out with Suri.
"It's still stupid," Mia interjected. "We've known you since we started learning the alphabet, and never have you said anything against someone who didn't come from...from families like ours." Both Mia's and Sophia's families were just as pureblooded as Suri's.
"That's because I don't think I knew anyone else. Or if I did, I didn't know about it."
"Exactly. Eloise is being absolutely ridiculous." Sophia nodded in agreement.
Her friends' defense made her feel better. Giving them each one last hug at the front door, Suri promised to write more often and stepped into the warm night.
"Suri! Wait up!"
She had made it past three houses when she turned at the sound of her name. It was Geoff Marker.
Suri checked her jacket pockets quickly (outside of school, Suri enjoyed muggle fashion much more than wizarding robes). "Geoff? Did I leave something behind?"
"No," Geoff smiled when he caught up with her. "I just thought you shouldn't walk home alone. It's late."
"I don't live very far, Geoff. Just two blocks away."
"It's dangerous out here."
Suri looked around. They lived in an affluent wizarding community in the heart of Vienna, tucked well away from muggles. "Right…dangerous. What's going to attack me out here, a grim?"
"Maybe," Geoff smiled again. He seemed to breathe out a sigh of relief when Suri let him walk with her.
"So, quidditch is good?"
"Yes. Did I tell you we won the House Cup this last year? I'm really hoping we'll win again this school year."
"That's great, Suri. I'd like to think it was all thanks to me."
"Pfft," Suri laughed, and Geoff immediately faked a sad look. "Oh fine, if you hadn't trained with me every summer, I might not be as good as I am now."
"You're welcome."
Suri and Geoff rounded the corner to Suri's street. Her grandmother had left the light on outside for her. "Well, thank you for your chivalry, Geoff, but my home isn't too far away, and I'm sure no grim will come out to attack between now and the next five houses."
"Grims have a mind of their own."
"Good night, Geoff. Have a good year at Beauxbatons. Oh! Good luck with quidditch this year, too!"
"Suri, wait."
Suri paused and regarded Geoff with a curious smile. He had put his hands in his pockets and looked unsure of himself. Suri peeled back a layer from his thoughts and felt the butterflies in his stomach. "Geoff, you're acting odd."
"I…" Geoff puffed out a sigh and raked a hand through his sandy blond hair. "Suri, I've known you for a number of years."
"I think about eight years, now."
"Eight years," Geoff agreed. "And for a long time, you were always my little sister's friend. But for the past couple summers I feel like something's changed."
"Changed? Changed how?" Suri's heart fluttered when Geoff took a couple steps forward, closing some of the distance between them. If Suri reached out, her fingers would graze his arm or chest.
"You're like no one I've ever met. You're fun, you're athletic, and I've never seen eyes quite like yours before. And all I've wanted to do since you came home for summer holiday was kiss you."
"I…I don't know, Geoff…" Suri studied his face. Being completely honest with herself, Suri had never noticed Geoff's looks before. He was always Mia's older brother-a year older than them at school, but he was slightly older having been born late in the year like Suri-both funny and annoying all at once. He became her friend when he helped her practice quidditch techniques. Now, she looked into his hazel eyes framed by long, dark lashes. Like Mia, he was also tall and lithe. From his eyes, Suri looked down his straight nose and to his lips. She had never been kissed before, and she wondered what it would be like to be kissed by Geoff.
"I'm sure you have someone at Hogwarts—"
"I don't!" Suri blushed at how eager she sounded. She took a breath and continued calmly. "I mean, I don't have anyone at Hogwarts or...anywhere really, because I haven't paid too much attention to anyone in that way. But…" Suri shook her head. "I leave tomorrow morning, Geoff."
"I know. I wanted to talk to you sooner, but I just couldn't." He smiled at her, almost looking defeated as he took a few steps back. "See you around, Suri. Have a good year at Hogwarts."
"Geoff," Suri smiled a shy smile. The hopeful look in his eyes was enough to make her laugh softly. "A kiss for the road wouldn't hurt, right? Especially if stray grims are out there waiting to pounce."
Geoff's lips broadened into a smile and his long legs closed the space between them. Suri's heart hammered in her chest when one arm went around her waist and he pulled her in. His other hand touched her hair before it traced along her jaw, tilting her chin upward. Suri went on her toes to meet him halfway. Gently, his lips touched hers one, two, three times.
He kissed her one more time then pulled back. They looked at each other and chuckled uncomfortably. Suri pressed a hand to her warm cheek. Kissing Geoff was as she imagined, a little awkward, but most definitely nice.
"Do you think if you weren't at Hogwarts, and we saw each other more often," Geoff started, almost softly, "we'd have a chance?"
"You and me?" Suri's mind quickly imagined a life at Beauxbatons where she walked the halls hand-in-hand with Geoff. While it was a pretty picture, it seemed a little off to her, and not because of him. She knew that he would make any girl he decided to go with very happy. But it wouldn't be her.
"I don't know. I think we've known each other for far too long for it to work. Besides, I would always worry, because growing up, you were the brother we all fancied. I couldn't imagine my friends being upset with me because we were together."
Geoff's eyes widened. "You all fancied me? Wow."
"Don't get a big head about it now. Eloise has sisters, and both Sophia and I don't have siblings. So childhood crushes landed on you."
Geoff puffed out his chest proudly, and only stopped when Suri laughed.
"Goodnight, Geoff, I have an early morning." Suri turned and left Geoff standing, watching to make sure she got to her doorstep.
"Even if you don't think so, I'd like to think we would have ages together!" Geoff called after her.
She smiled as she closed her front door and turned out the light.
X
"Capacious—Suri, are you even watching?"
"Yes, Granna," Suri yawned, and watched as her grandmother pointed a wand at both of their suitcases early the next morning. "You're using the Extension charm."
"It's a very delicate spell that can go wrong if not done properly, young lady." Granna frowned at Suri. "You know, if you were home before curfew, you wouldn't be this tired. Capacious Extremis."
"Granna, these are the ungodly hours of the day. I would have been tired no matter what." She took the charmed suitcase that her grandmother handed her and stood.
"Pack your trunk and all of your belongings for school and whatever else you might need in this suitcase. We're leaving at half past."
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They spent the entire day travelling by train. Suri rested her head on her grandmother's shoulder and napped as they went wherever they were going. At first, she woke at every stop, and her grandmother assured her it wasn't it, until eventually…
Amalia Rosier gently pushed Suri's hair out of her face. "Suri darling, this is our stop."
The train dropped them off at a small, remote station. It was so small, that there were no other travelers. There was only a ticket booth with a bored attendant reading a book and a sad looking snack station.
"Where are we?"
"Northern Ireland, of course," her grandmother smiled. Somehow, just being in Ireland made Amalia Rosier's accent seem thicker. She reached into her handbag and extracted two brooms and two cloaks. "We're flying the rest of the way."
"You don't have to tell me twice!" Suri grinned and grabbed a broom. She stuffed the cloak her grandmother offered back into her bag, and instead buttoned up the heavy, red flannel shirt she wore. Her grandmother put Suri's suitcase into her handbag as well before she secured it inside her cloak.
"It's probably going to rain, Suri. You'll get sick."
"Then we'll have to fly faster." Suri kicked off into the air and gave her grandmother a teasing smile from above. "Unless you'll need me to fly slower. I know you aren't as young as you used to be, Granna."
"I am not above jinxing your mouth shut, Suri Rosier-Black," her grandmother warned, floating beside her granddaughter. In spite of her stern words, she was smiling. "Besides, you're only a keeper, aren't you? You might need to learn how to keep up with a chaser!" Amalia Rosier sped off, leaving Suri staring after her.
Immediately, Suri flew after her, laughing all the while. "Arrogance clearly runs in this family!"
While in the air, Suri dove and spiraled, laughing every time Amalia Rosier gasped with fright.
"One of these days you're going to get yourself killed doing crazy stunts like that!"
"It hasn't happened yet, so I don't think it ever will," Suri responded, flying next to her grandmother.
"Now that sounds familiar," Amalia Rosier murmured, and Suri wondered if it was her mother or father the older woman thought about.
After five more minutes of flying, Amalia Rosier finally announced, "we're here."
"Where is…" Suri started to ask and stopped mid-sentence as they drew nearer to "here". First, Suri saw the cliffs that overlooked the sea. She smelled the salt air and the wind that carried a scent of lavender. She felt her legs turn to jelly when she saw the overgrown lavender fields that led up to a grand white house.
"Granna, this is…"
"This is Rosier Manor, though once again named Maeve Manor, after I left your grandfather. Suri, by your birthright, this is yours."
Suri and her grandmother brought their brooms down to earth, and Suri stared up at the magnificent house.
"This is where you lived with my mother."
"It is."
"And these cliffs and lavender fields. You've helped her learn to fly and be a better player above it." She recalled the memory she had seen in her grandmother's mind. Suri reached for the crystal vial that hung on a thin chain, charmed to be unbreakable. Somehow, just being at this house made her feel closer to Tessa Rosier than she ever had.
"I wanted to wait until you were older, but I just felt like now was the right time. Do you want to go inside?"
Not trusting herself to speak, Suri simply nodded. She felt her grandmother press something cold into her hand. When she looked down, it was a silver key.
"Go on."
Suri climbed the steps to the house, and unlocked the door. She reached for her necklace again and took a calming breath before she pushed the double-doors open. She had no expectations for the interior, but she did not expect it to look as though someone had been living in it.
The interior of Maeve Manor was mostly white, light blue, and lilac with coordinating furniture and decor. The marble floors were immaculate, and Suri was sure that if she were to run a finger along the end tables for dust, it would come up clean.
"We had two house-elves when we lived here; Apple and Ivy. When your mother moved out into her own home, Ivy went with her to help with housework while your mother cared for you. Then, after...everything...Apple and Ivy chose to work at Hogwarts even after I offered to end their services. They came back to help clean this place up after it had been untouched for the past ten years."
As if on cue, two house-elves appeared from the kitchen, and both looked incredibly happy. "Missus Rosier has returned, and she has brought young Miss Rosier-Black with her! We have missed the Missus!" A younger house-elf with big brown eyes clapped her hands together excitedly.
The older house-elf with wise, green eyes dabbed at them with the edge of her shirt.
"Ivy, whatever is the matter," Amalia asked, concerned by the tears.
"N-nothing, Missus," said Ivy. She came closer. "We have just waited so long to see you again, and to see the young Suri Rosier-Black. May I see you more closely, Miss Suri Rosier-Black?"
"Oh, sure…" Suri walked forward and sat on the ground. Ivy and Apple made her feel like a giant compared to their stature. Ivy stepped forward first. She reached out and touched Suri's face, and immediately her massive eyes filled with tears again.
"When you were just a wee little thing and your Mum and Dad had to fight, sometimes I would watch you. You were always so easy to care for. Ahh, your eyes, these are unforgettable eyes, they are." Ivy touched Suri's hair. "You have young Sirius Black's coloring, but your smile is like your mother's." She tilted Suri's chin up to the light. "But your spirit, Miss Suri Rosier-Black feels both naughty like your father, but gentle like your mothers. Still it is something all your own, too. Very different."
"She looks more like a Rosier ancestor," Apple said softly. "Beautiful women, all of them. She's like her mother now. Starting to look more like a woman than a child at this age."
"I won't be fourteen for another few days."
"Fourteen is when Miss Tessa stole young Sirius Black's heart and never gave it back." Apple smiled knowingly. She tapped the side of her head. "Apple knows things, Miss Suri Rosier-Black. She remembers seeing lots of things."
"Oh well, I won't be stealing hearts anytime soon," Suri smiled and got to her feet. "Granna, can I explore?"
"Of course, darling. Take your suitcase upstairs too, and choose a room. Then when you're ready, we'll have lunch."
Suri brought her suitcase to the top of the stairs and left it there so she could explore the rooms. She counted six in total. One was a master suite with floor to ceiling windows and a large bathtub that looked expensive.
The other rooms were impressive in different ways. All were much larger than her room in Vienna (which was already spacious). She wandered through rooms and bathrooms, all minimally decorated until she made it to the room furthest from the master suite.
This room had more character than the others. There was an armchair by the window, and Suri sat there. Beneath the window was a short bookshelf that was mostly empty aside from half a dozen books with uninteresting titles. A white duvet that looked soft to the touch covered the bed, and while the closet on adjoining wall was mostly empty, there was a single robe hanging from a wooden hanger. Suri got up to look at the robe that smelled like a mixture of mothballs, lavender and something sweet like honey.
The green and silver robe looked like an outdated version of her quidditch robes. Turning it over, Suri read the silver stitching on the back: ROSIER 8. This was her mother's room.
Suri took one last look around the room before she left as quietly as she came in. She moved her suitcase from the front of the stairs and put them into the room next to Tessa's old room. She pushed open the window that overlooked toe lavender fields and thought about Tessa's room. She was sure it didn't look quite as it did now when her mother was growing up, especially since Tessa had moved out soon after Suri was born. Still, traces of Tessa's personality could be felt in that room, telling the story of a girl who was at once elegant and fashionable. It was almost too soft for Suri's taste.
"Miss?"
Apple knocked on Suri's door, startling her from her thoughts. Immediately Apple looked bashful. "Sorry for scaring you miss, but Missus Rosier is wondering if you'll be coming down soon."
"Oh yes, thank you," she replied. "I'll be down in a minute."
Apple nodded her head and snapped her fingers, disappearing with a poof. Alone again, Suri unpacked her suitcase and pulled out a soft black pullover in exchange of her red flannel that had gotten wet on the ride to Maeve Manor.
Looking at her reflection, she smiled and left the room, feeling more at home than she had in a while.
Author's Note:
Sorry for the time it took to update. I recently moved and moving takes so much energy!
Your reviews are love!
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