"Magic isn't real, Dest, we've already covered this," Iz told her exasperatedly as they walked toward the local playground where the football game was to be held.
"Izzy you SAW what he did in Miss Beth's office! You can't deny it, plus the letter!"
"It's not logical, it's not real!" They reached the side stands where there was a group of 20 kids watching as the two teams came out. Since they were around others they stopped their arguing and turned to the field.
The one team consisted of mainly the boys from the orphanage, lined up to meet the other team from the secondary school nearby, who carried the brand new black-and-white football. Most of the kids on the sidelines watching cheered for those from the school football team, as they'd won all the previous games they faced. But the orphanage team had some pretty fast and strong players. It was obvious that it would be a head-on game.
As of half way thru the game, a light sprinkle from the overcast sky came down on the game, but they didn't stop. It was tied two to two. Everyone watched as the ball was kicked back and forth along the field.
"Iz, come on, over there we can see better!" Dest shouted over the other fans, pulling her along to the other side of the field where only a few other people were standing. But just as they reached their spot one of the hardest kickers from the school team kicked the ball at another player but he missed the pass and it came flying straight at the two girls.
As Dest screamed, waiting for the broken nose that was sure to come, Iz was only frozen there, watching the ball come closer. But it never hit them. By some power or something, it bounced back just as hard as it was hit, but there was nothing there to have done it. People had stopped to watch what would happen, but all were staring dumbfounded at the two girls, probably all thinking, How the bloody hell did that just happen?
"I-izzy, w-what was that?" Dest whispered to me, eyes wide, everyone still watching them.
"I-I don't know, I-I-" Taking one last look around at everyone, she turned and started away as quick as she could. But only after a few steps she heard one yell,
"Freak! What do you think you are?" Turning, one of the school boys started it up, but it quickly spread to that of the others, and soon enough even most the orphanage boys took it up. Dest stood there, mortified, not knowing what to do at first but then it dawned on her. Glaring at everyone else she walked over and stood next to Iz.
"Come on, let's go," grabbing her best friends arm, Destiny pulled Iz away and took the fastest way back to the orphanage, by which time it was pouring rain, hiding Iz's true tears. "…Iz? You alright?"
"…that's what we both are…f-freaks…" She whispered in response, looking away from her sis.
"No. We're special. We're magical. We're witches. That's what we are, and this just proved it. We aren't freaks…sissy…" Iz looked up, tears still in her eyes and Dest hugged her tight.
"T-Thanks, Dest, thanks…a lot. Sisters forever?" Destiny nodded and hugged her tighter before releasing her.
"Sisters forever, just…know how lucky you are I hugged you, you know I-"
"Don't like hugs? Yeah, think I got that," with a watery smirk.
"Come on, inside, I want to play a game of chess. Now." But they just both laughed, heading upstairs into the girls wing and entered their room that they shared together.
~ : ~
It was only a few weeks later, a few days before the strange man was to appear, that changed Izzy's life for forever. The man, his well-used brown hat laying on his sandy blond and brown hair walked from the block over into the orphanage. He was still worn out from the week ago, where the full moon had shone brilliantly in the sky and he'd let out tortured cries. He hadn't had the potion again, and still had the scars from his own doing.
Walking in, opening the door he glanced around the front foyer, taking in the decorations. He'd finally convinced himself that he really did want some sort of child of his own, the only problem was that he couldn't even find someone to give him a true job. Startling him from his thoughts he gazed at the doorway where a woman stood of the middle age.
"Hello, sir, can I help you? My name is Elizabeth Coles, and I am the mistress of this orphanage."
"Oh, yes, hello, I…I'm here, looking to adopt." A bit unsurely, but he managed to get out his offer and he wouldn't back down. He was going to adopt today, but he first had to check up on two girls his previous Headmaster had asked him to.
"Any age you're looking for, sir?" Happy, hoping one of the many children would find a nice family today.
"Well, first, I was wondering about girls, ten or eleven years old?"
"Follow me, sir, but first…your name please?" Glancing at the hazel eyed man, who smiled at her.
"Remus Lupin, pleasure to meet you," nodding at her, still smiling, he followed her through the doorway. Walking through the plain stone hallways, he glanced in the passing rooms to see children of various ages doing different activities on this depressing day. Miss Beth led him to the plain wooden doorway that was the means of privacy for Iz and Dest. Knocking, she called to the girls,
"Destiny, Isabelle, you have a different visitor, may we come in?"
Looking up from their game of chess, she let her gaze sweep the room quickly to make sure it was clean, stood and opened the door. "Hi Miss Beth, is Mr. Dumbledore-" But she stopped talking as she noticed Lupin standing there, watching her with interest. Destiny came and joined her at the door, looking curious at him, complete opposite of the shy Iz.
"No, Isabelle, this though is Mr. Lupin, he's interested in adopting. May we come in?" Destiny nodded and pulled Iz back and out of the way as the two adults walked in. Lupin observed the room as well, taking note of both beds, both made but the one with sports stuff on it, the other with an adult-level-looking book. He turned back to the girls that his previous Headmaster had visited and smiled.
"Hello there, it's nice to meet you both."
"I'll just leave the two of you to greet him with respect, alright? Destiny?" Giving the out-going girl an extra look but smiling as she adored them both, and left the room.
"So…how are the two of you? I'd like to be honest, my first purpose here isn't to adopt, I've come as a check-up on your decision. Professor Dumbledore has asked me to see if you've been thinking about it at all, and-"
"And you want to know whether or not we're going to be going to Hogwarts." Iz finished before blushing slightly and looking down, overly shy and quiet, letting her dark curly waves fall into her face.
"If…it means anything, sir, both of us have decided that…that we wanna take up the opportunity," Dest said with an air of hesitancy, just in case.
Moony smiled at both of them and nodded. "I'm sure you both will be fine additions to the school, and, if I might add as a former student, you'll love it." Destiny smiled back at him full strength, and began asking questions about every little thing from what sports were there to the amount of work. When she was basically done with the questions there was a small pause before Iz glanced up and asked in a quiet tone,
"Is…is there a library?" Moony nodded, smiling at the hazel eyed girl. "How many books do you think?"
"Quite a lot, I'd say. There are some that you aren't allowed to read but there are plenty for any interest. Do you like reading, Isabelle?"
"A lot, and…and you can call me Izzy, that's what Dest and Miss Beth call me. Thank you, Mr. Lupin," smiling at him, brushing her curls away to match his gaze before looking away again. Though neither of the girls noticed, Moony's smile seemed to soften as well as grow bigger as he glanced at Iz. But as neither had any more questions, he stood up from where they'd sat.
"Well, I'll hope to see you both very soon, and I'm sure professor Dumbledore will return in a few days time to come receive your final answer. Goodbye, Destiny, Izzy." He smiled at them both before closing the door.
"Well, Mr. Lupin?" Miss Beth inquired, having been waiting in the foyer.
"I'm…not sure yet, but thank you for your time. I'm actually a…friend of Mr. Dumbledore, who came through here only a few days ago. He asked me to check on their decision, and he will be back in a few days, I am sure. Thank you," nods to her and walks out the door before she can say anything more. After walking a few steps, no Muggles around, he stopped and prepared to Apparate, his last thought about the quiet black-haired girl he'd met only a few minutes before.
Just to note, I've never been to an orphanage but that wass what I thought would happen… :D Oh, and a little background on Dest: She was left at the orphanage when she was a toddler after her parents died in an accident.