Dinner was beautiful, scream bean soup was delicious on a regular time, but tonight this was different. Tonight, was peaceful. We all just sat there and looked at each other, we had moments where the silence was golden and then moments where my adopted mothers humming gave me the slightest flutter in my heart. I just drank it all as if I was dehydrated. I looked at them as if I was blind and they were the first thing that I saw. I was just living in the moment feeling the warming breeze from the fireplace. I loved this. I loved them.

"Harry?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Are you sure you're alright? You seem like you're in a whole other world."

"I am… I'm sorry I was just… Reminding myself how grateful I am to have you all." I said with a small smile winded across my lips.

"Harry, we have double the gratitude thinking of how lucky we are to have come across a son that… Fulfills all of our wildest dreams. You're brave, smart, funny, admirable… You fit all of our lives like the missing piece."

"And I'd miss every moment without you…. I'd miss every second that I don't get to have with you all."

"And we'd miss those moments too Harry." Jack said taking my hand and Sally my left one. "We are a family. There won't be a moment where we aren't together though, you know this don't you."

I nodded. I wanted to believe them, and I knew that I could. I knew for every moment that I had with them I could take with me. I could take hard pictures of the memories here. Nothing was fabricated. Nothing was an imaginary memory they all were real! It was something I wished for and it was the most exciting thing in the world.

"So, have you been thinking about it all?"

"Ever since last night."

"Do you want to talk about it Harry? You know that I will do anything to make this easier on you."

"I know mother."

"Okay. How is Blythe?"

"Blythe is… She wants to meet me."

"Well after you finish dinner clean the dishes and you're free to go. Your mother and I have a council meeting,"

"Thanks dad."

"You're very welcome Harry." He said and we went back to silence. We went back to normal. We forgot the elephant in the room and that was why I loved them. No matter the trouble big or small they wanted us to be okay. Us three, and I was happy with that. I loved them right back. And I always would.

Dinner was over and they kissed me good bye. I finished the dishes and cleaned the kitchen spotless out of forced habit. Then I went upstairs and showered then I changed into something fitting for the weather. Usually at night it was chilly. And I always had sweats for the occasion. I threw on my hoodie and I walked outside. I knew the tree Blythe told me by heart. Not Because of her, but because of the beautiful bioluminescent glow it gave that made it blue. I asked dad once how it became that way. He said fairies live in the moss and when you see the light, it's because they are living in the night. I believed him. It wasn't the craziest lie when you think about it, and most of the time my adopted father tended to be very logical. I chuckled with my hands in my pockets thinking about all the ways that being Jack Skellingtons son would influence me if I did decide to go to this Hogwarts. The eye rolls at some things I could easily explain when they have to go on the roundabout way, but then I had to remind myself that even the smartest have to be taught in several different ways. I want to learn other ways. Other ways to be here, and up there. It was my choice, even though Blythe had made it clear that there was only one to make.

I arrived a few minuets before she did and she came looking like the images of every beautiful thing that I had ever seen. I wanted to make sure that she wasn't coming to force me to go, but instead she came with her bag and a smile. "Hello Lady Blythe." I said as a joke, but I hoped she would be apart of my Halloween court if ever mother and father decided to take the chance and go on a real adventure that did not pertain to ruining thousands of children's Christmas. I wanted to believe that after I hunt down and do what I am supposed to that she would be the one I hold hands with and breathe for the moment of my accomplishments.

"Prince Potter." She smiled and wrapped her arms around me in a hug. "I suppose you haven't very much told them your answer yet."

"No." I replied sullenly "I couldn't do it tonight. Tonight was… Tonight was a good night."

"And I suppose you'll want to do the right thing then?"

"Why are you so suspicious?"

"When you're doing the right thing, you tend to savor all the good things so that when you have to suffer you know why."

"Your mother?"

"My father." She corrected. "Papa isn't all bad."

"I've never met him."

"With Jacks suspicions you never will."

I smiled. My father the worrier her father the extroverted semi-bad guy. We were jut two lives there. Based on our fathers and mother's choices. Only I had two sets who chose to be brave. Chose to do what was right and I wanted to join them. I wanted to make them believe not only could I handle this, but I could handle this like them with their advice as a shield that would keep me protected.

"I'm sorry I know your father is trying to keep every one safe."

"Is your father a danger?"

"To the living oh yes! To the dead more of a pest."

I laughed. It was good to just laugh, sometimes I forget to just laugh. I forget to be a kid because sometimes I never got the chance. Now it kinda seemed like I never would. What made me happier was that Blythe took in this laughter and joined me. She joined me in the smiling and the laughing and the fun! She let me forget for a moment about all that hang in the balance and it was comforting.

"So, you're going?"

I got quiet. I didn't want to tell her not yet. I just wanted to hang on to home a bit longer.

Her face changed, apparently my quiet gave her reason to realize that I was falling instead of leaning toward yes. "You're really going to do it?!"

"I'm really going to think on it."

"Harry!"

"Blythe!" I said exasperated.

She took my hand. "I'm sorry I don't mean to force all of this on you. It's wrong and I shouldn't have."

"No, you're right and I shouldn't be so… I don't know fragile about going. I know that's where I belong."

"No, you belong here, you just have to do something great first."

"How long though? How long will I be away from Lock, Stock, Barrel, Sam… And… And you?"

"Not long Harry. Time moves slower here. We'll wait on you."

"I will miss you all so much."

She locked her arms around me hugging me as tight as she could. She gripped me hard, and I inhaled her scent her fresh booberry scent. Her hair soft like clouds. Her face was snuggled in my sweatshirt and there was a moment where… Where her shoulders shook from crying. I could feel the tears seep into my hoodie. She pulled away. Then she looked at me. "You're the bravest boy I've ever met Harry Potter."

"No, I'm just someone who got saddled to save something. I don't even know what it is but when I do. I'm going to fight it! I'm going to save the lives that could be lost, I'm going to fix everything I can and then I'm coming home. To my real home."

She smiled. "Well a wizard isn't a wizard without his wand."

"You're right." I smacked my hand on my head "But I'm sure they'll have them, right?"

"You think I'd let you pick something up from a shop? You live in a world of magic Harry your godmother is one of the best witches and wandmakers this way of anywhere." She said rummaging around in her bag. "So, I made you a gift with her help of course."

"You didn't have to."

"Nonsense! Can't send you somewhere without a little taste of us."

"You know the zombies on hollow lane would suggest you rephrase."

Blythe rolled her eyes and snorted. "Shut up."

"You said it." I laughed "No one else here to."

She pulled out a thick black long case that fit in both of her hands. "Open it."

I pulled the top up and the black wand lay there. Smooth and glowing softly until the golden ring separating it from it's handle. The handle was winded like every tree here was carved into it. At the end of it was a small clear crystal ball for what I assumed was ornamented. I felt this wand. I felt the power it held call to me. Almost yelling at me to hold it. Bond with it. I looked up at her "This is beautiful." I said

"It's made of this tree. From one of the branches where lightening struck. It is also charged with a black unicorn hair and the tears of a phoenix. Those are rare and there are two drops on that hair so the wand is invincible. There is a surprise for when you get home sick. But only you can see it, and you can't see it until you really miss us okay?"

I nodded "Okay." I said and closed the case. I looked at her. "Thank you, Blythe."

She smiled. "You're my best friend Harry I'm going to miss you."

I hugged her and of course she hugged me back. We just kinda stayed like that for a while. Still hoping that time would just pass over us and everything that is supposed to happen would if it just passed us by at first. I wanted to say things. Actual things. Romantic things. Something that didn't sound childish. Only I couldn't.

"I'd better get home." She said finally. She looked up at me. "You'll tell me goodbye, won't you?"

"Always." I said and then something unexpected happened. She kissed me. My first kiss. It was soft and sweet and then it was over.

"Goodnight Harry." She said handing me the case.

"Goodnight Blythe." I said still shocked. I watched her walk home. I'm sure she would have thought something if I walked her. Though I wanted to, but she didn't live far. I just watched her go.

When I got home Jack and Sally, Mum and Dad, were waiting. I tucked the case under my arm and I looked at them. "Hi guys."

"Welcome home son!"

"How are you honey?"

"I'm okay." I replied.

"How is miss Blythe?"

"Wonderful she and Gertrude made me something."

"Oh, what is it?"

I opened the case and showed my mother and father what it was.

"Oh Harry that is very lovely!" Sally gushed clasping her hands together.

"Thanks mum." I said with a smile.

"Does this mean you've decided then?" A sullen dad asked me.

"I have." I said assuredly "I am going to Hogwarts and I am going to defeat Tom Riddle."