"The usual, Audrey?"
The voice next to her snapped Audrey back into reality. Constantly looking around her for this "Minerva McGonnagall" she had come to meet. She didn't even know what she looked like, or if she was even a she. Minerva was a girl's name… right? Yes, right. She bit her lip nervously, wrecking her brain to think of a simple response to give the waitress, who stood bemused infront of her, notepad in one hand and pen in the other?
"Oh, um no thanks Lousie, I'm good," she stumbled, as the waitress, Lousie, chuckled slightly.
"You doin' okay Audrey? You've been looking around you for the past five minutes…" Louise trailled off, alarm bells rining in her head. She flumped herself down on the chair opposite Audrey, making her jump slightly, "Have you got a date?" she whispered, her face beaming.
Audrey looked shocked, not knowing quite what to think or say.
Louise giggled with delight, "Oh, you do! Oh Audrey, this is such a good thing!" Audrey sighed internally. She was beyond over this, her friends and family encouraging her, or more like forcing her, to start seeing other people. Although they never seemed to say it out right, it was fairly obvious their intentions.
"No, no Louise, it's just a meeting is all" Audrey sighed, secretly wishing for the waitress in front of her to leave her alone. She could see Louise's face fall.
"Oh, well I'll get you a tea then. No offense Audrey, but you look like you could use one," she chuckled, getting up from the table, Audrey smiling thankfully at her.
It was then, following the distraction of conversation, Audrey realised she hadn't checked the time in a few minutes. Her hand snapped quickly to press the home screen button on her mobile in front of her, the digits reading 11:59. She knew it was silly to be so nervous, she didn't really have anything to fear, well aside from the fact of unknowing.
She was almost relieved when Louise returned promptly with a small, diner tray, onto which sat a metal tea pot, two tea cups with saucers and a small jug of milk.
"There we are," she said, setting the tray in front of her, "you sure I can't get you anything else?"
"No, I'm grand. Thank you," she said, smiling at the waitress who walked away to take a customer's order.
Looking down at her phone again, she saw that the digits now read 12:00. The sight of this made her bite her lip, and she turned around to look at the door.
Audrey laughed at herself. Of course they won't be here yet, in fact it would probably be a bit weird if they came at exactly 12 on the dot…
Her head snapped around again at the sound of the chimes placed above the door, noting that it had been opened. In the door way stood an elderly woman, dressed in very odd attire. She wore a black and emerald dress, no… a cloak? Her grey hair was pinned tightly back, and she wore a stern expression. The other customers in the café looked around bewildered at her, and no wonder. She stuck out like a sore thumb, and looked as though this wasn't a place she necessarily belonged. She took no notice of this at all, almost as if she was used to it. Her gaze went directly towards Audrey, and walked over towards her.
"Audrey Weasley?" she questioned, and Audrey nodded in response, not saying anything.
"Minerva McGonnagall," she introduced, stretching a thin, bony hand in front of her for Audrey to shake.
An awkward silence was present for a moment or so, as the woman just stood there, almost as if she was waiting for something.
"Oh! Um… please, sit," She stumbled, feeling her face go a little red. She never was very good in social situations.
"Thank you," the woman replied, taking the seat opposite Audrey.
"Would you like some tea?" she said, a little too entuastically, reaching over to grab hold of the tea pot.
"That would be lovely," Minerva replied with a smile.
"So…," Audrey began, pouring the hot liquid into both of the tea cups, "who are you, exactly. Because I admit, I was a bit sceptical of coming here."
"It's about your husband, Percy." She said, as once, clearly not beating around the bush.
This made Audrey spill the hot water down the sides of the cups, snapping her head up quickly to meet the eyes of the woman opposite her.
"Oh, did you know him?" she said, trying to compose herself.
"Indeed I did, I was one of his teachers at school," she replied, receiving a confused look from Audrey. Minerva noted this all too quickly, and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Audrey… were you aware that your husband was a wizard?"
Audrey was completely dumb founded, this woman was obviously insane.
"I'm sorry, what did you just say?" she asked, a little too snarky than intended.
"I'm sure it's a lot to take in."
Audrey was lost for words, she wasn't sure weather to run for dear life, or find out more about what this woman was talking about.
Minerva took out an envelope from her cloak, and presented it to Audrey. It was addressed to Lucy.
Audrey didn't know what to do at this point, all she could think of was to open the envelope. It was very old fashioned, sealed with red wax which was engraved with some sort of crest.
She pealed it back cautiously, and took out the letter. It was written in the same form as the other letter she had received from this woman. Audrey could feel her heart racing as she began to read,
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmistress: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Ms Weasley,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Neville Longbottom
Deputy Headmaster
Audrey began to laugh, this was a wind up, surely. But the uncertainty made her just even more confused. If this was a joke, it was surely a very well-crafted one.
"Percy's family, they're apart of the wizarding world too."
Audrey felt as though she could pass out. Her thoughts went back to whenever Audrey used to ask about his family when they first started going out. He would always change the subject, or get really nervous. It wasn't until they got married her opened up to her a little more, telling her that he fell out with them. That they didn't want anything to do with them, and that they'd be happier if they never saw them again. Audrey thought it wise to never bring it up again, not wanting to upset it. But ever since she always felt anger towards them, and the only image she had of them were a cruel and unloving family.
"Has Lucy ever showed any unusual abilities?" Minerva asked, and Audrey felt her eyes widen.
The first think that came into her mind was the "sippy-cup incident" as she liked to refer it too. Audrey hand set it up on the top counter in the kitchen when she was cleaning the counters, it was a place Adrey herself had to step up onto her tip-toes to reach. Lucy was in a mood that day, and wanted the sippy-cup, attempting to reach it herself, with obvious failing attempts. Wanting to wash her hands before handling the cup, Audrey washed them. But when she turned around to reach for the cup, it was gone. She looked down to see her daughter, drinking happily with a smile on her face, giggling. It was something she never told anyone, and Audrey nearly convinced herself that their house was haunted. Watching one too many horror movies would do that to you. But did Lucy… magic it down? No, that was impossible… right?
The look on Audrey's face was all Minerva needed as an answer, but she felt as though Audrey needed a little more convincing. With a simple gaze, the milk jug on the table levitated a few inches in the air, tipped to the side slightly and emptied at contents into both cups. Audrey sat amazed.
She wanted to scream, or laugh, do something. But she was in total shock. Audrey half expected to wake up, that it was all a dream. She even pinched her arm hard under the table, as to wake herself up. But there she remained, mouth agape in an almost comical style.
"They would love to meet you two, Percy's family," Minerva said gently, sipping her tea, after giving Audrey a few minutes to let everything sink in. She always found it humours, it would happen where muggle-born's parents would not believe that their child was a witch or wizard. That is when they would have to send a professor or a member of the ministry to convince them otherwise. Although she would never admit it, Minerva always loved having the job. Watching the minds of innocent muggles explode in front of her was always enough to make her laugh.
All that was running through Audrey's head was why Percy didn't tell her about any of this, and how on earth she was going to explain any of this to Lucy.
