A/N: Hi my amazing readers! I've finally gotten this chapter to where I wanted it to be. I apologize if there are any mistakes but I'm uploading this from my phone because my computer has decided to stop working today. If there are any mistakes I will be going back and fixing them over the next couple of days. Anyway I hope you enjoy! Please review if you get a chance!
August flies by for the Garrison's. Lucas and Everleigh both turn 11, and Lucas and Jason start back at school about a week before Everleigh leaves. On September 1st, Everleigh is set to leave for Ilvermorny for the first time. She said goodbye to both of her brothers the night before since they both had school and were unable to drop her off. The acceptance letter she received from Ms. Brown also supplied instructions on how to get to the school. She is given a time that she is required to check in at a specific building in Midtown Manhattan. At 10AM, Everleigh and her parents walk into the building that everybody else seems to simply pass by without much notice. The family waits in the short line to check in. Once they get to the front, Everleigh hands over the ticket that was included with the letter, and she is instructed to walk through the double doors to the left of the large desk, but her parents aren't allowed to follow her.
"Well this is it. I'll see you for Thanksgiving? I'll write to you and let you know what time to pick me up," Everleigh says excitedly.
"We love you so much. Have a good semester. Please let us know if you need anything." Charlotte hugs her daughter tightly.
"I love you too, Princess. We'll miss you." Michael pulls Everleigh into a hug as soon as Charlotte releases her.
After one last hug and wave, Everleigh grabs her trunk and walks through the double doors. Once inside the large room, she sees that everybody is putting their trunks in a corner and then sitting down at the benches scattered around the room in a setup that looks similar to Grand Central Station, but there is a multitude of fireplaces all around the walls. Seeing an open seat next to blonde girl that looks about her age, she walks over and introduces herself, "Hi, I'm Everleigh. Can I sit here?"
Looking up the girl has bright blue eyes and smiles. "Sure. I'm Sarah. Is this your first year too?"
"Yes. I'm so excited! I only found out about a month and a half ago that I'm a witch."
"Really? So you grew up with Non-Majs? That's so exciting! What's it like? My entire family is magical and we don't really go out into the No-Maj world very much," Sarah babbles excitedly.
Laughing, Everleigh responds, "I mean I guess it was normal? I always knew something was different about me. I don't really know the difference between growing up with magic or without."
"I guess that's true. Do you know what house you want to be sorted into?" Sarah asks.
"Not really. I don't know much about any of the houses. Does it matter?"
"No. Your house just determines who you have classes with and where you sleep basically. There are four houses. Thunderbird, Pukwudgie, Wampus, and Horned Serpent. My mom and dad were Thunderbirds, but my brother is a Horned Serpent." the blonde informs Everleigh.
"Wampus?" Everleigh laughs. "What is that?"
"They are all magical animals. You'll learn more about it when we get there." Sarah smiles.
"Speaking of get there. How do we actually get there?" Everleigh asks.
"We'll Floo. Each region of the country is given a specific time that they are allowed to Floo and once it's our time, everybody will line up and we'll go individually. All of the older students got there yesterday and are now just waiting for the first years."
"What is Floo?"
"So, you grab the powder that is in the buckets next to the fireplaces, and you throw it in the flames and call out where you want to go. It's really easy and quick."
"A fireplace?" Everleigh is clearly hesitant.
"Don't worry. You don't get burned. Anyway come on. It's almost 10:30. Let's line up so we can go," Sarah urges.
Everleigh gets in line behind Sarah hoping to see how the others do this. The line moves quickly and eventually it is Everleigh's turn. She hesitantly takes a handful of the powder and steps into the fireplace. Throwing it down, she calls out "Ilvermorny" and is immediately whisked away. She sees other fireplace entrances passing by before she is forced out into a stone entrance hall that has numerous fireplaces as well, and already has a number of other students waiting. She stumbles a little but catches her balance and looks up to see Sarah grinning at her.
"Great job! Typically first time floo travelers fall when they get out," Sarah praises her.
"Thanks. I don't think I like that very much though. So how does this whole sorting process work? What do we have to do?"
"Well, we wait here until everybody else arrives. It should only be another 30 minutes or so. My older brother, Anthony, says that the sorting starts at exactly 11. He says you have to stand in the middle of the hall on a Gordian knot that is carved into the floor. There are four statues that represent each house, and whichever one reacts to your magic is the house you belong in. After you're sorted, you go into the wand room where your wand will choose you and then you get to join your house in the balcony," Sarah explains.
"Okay that doesn't sound too bad. I can do this," Everleigh tries to convince herself, "Are you nervous at all?"
"A little. I mean all of the older years are in the balcony above watching the sorting, but it's over quickly."
"Good. Me too. I mean I didn't even know all of this existed two months ago," Everleigh babbles.
"You'll be fine. Don't worry. Hopefully we'll end up in the same house," Sarah smiles.
Glad to have already made a friend, Everleigh and Sarah spend the rest of the time talking about what they're most excited to learn in their classes and what their dorms are going to be like. All too soon it is time for the sorting, and the first years are led into the front hall. The names are called alphabetically and Everleigh Garrison is called before Sarah Quincy. Everleigh takes a deep breath before stepping up and standing in the middle of the Gordian knot. For a minute, nothing happens, but then, at the same time, the Thunderbird starts to beat its wings while the Pukwudgie raises its arrow. Collectively, there is a slight gasp throughout the room, and Everleigh looks around nervously, not knowing what to do. Professor Lawson, the one who led the first years into the hall, looks at her with surprise, but informs her it is now her choice between the two houses which one she belongs to. Not really knowing the difference between the houses, she takes a good look at both of the statues. Inexplicably, she is drawn more to the Pukwudgie and, as if in a trance, slowly walks over to the statue to touch the arm of the Pukwudgie. The section of students in the balcony to her left immediately erupts into cheers while everybody else claps politely. She is then directed to a door to the right where she is able to select her wand. This is done with a lot less fanfare and in private. A rosewood wand with the core of a thunderbird tail feather chooses her and she is directed to a staircase that is adorned with a Pukwudgie on it, to join her new housemates.
The rest of the sorting passes quickly and Sarah, thankfully, ends up in Pukwudgie as well. Both girls are so excited to be in the same house together. After the sorting ends, everybody is directed to the Great Hall for the Welcoming Lunch.
"I can't believe that happened!" Sarah exclaims to Everleigh.
"What do you mean?" Everleigh is curious.
A boy, another first year like Everleigh and Sarah, jumps into the conversation, "Don't you know? Two reactions from the statues almost never happens. The last time I think was like fifteen years ago or something like that. I'm Sean Bell, by the way."
"Everleigh Garrison," she introduces herself, "And really? So that wasn't normal?"
"Not at all. Amazing that we're all Pukwudgies now. My whole family has been in Pukwudgie for as long as I can remember," Sean replies.
"I'm Sarah Quincy, by the way," Sarah supplies, "Nice to meet you. I'm the first in my family to go Pukwudgie. My brother is a Serpent and both of my parents were Thunderbirds."
"What about you Everleigh?" Sean asks.
"My family is all No-Maj. None of them went here."
"That's wicked cool. So where are you two from?" Sean asks while taking a bite of the sandwich in front of him.
Sarah is the first to reply after swallowing her food, "I'm from upstate New York. Small wizarding town."
"I'm from New York City. We live in Manhattan," Everleigh contributes once she is done chewing as well, "What about you? Do you have any siblings here or are you the only one here?"
"Well, I'm from Boston and I'm the oldest. I have a little brother. He'll be here in two years," Sean informs her, "What about you?"
"Well, I'm the youngest of three. I have two older brothers. Well, one is actually basically my twin. He's only a day older than me. Neither of them are magical, though."
"How is your brother only a day older than you?" Sarah is curious.
"Well, I was actually adopted. I was born in England and my parents adopted me when they were living there. Both of my siblings were born in London as well."
"That's cool! Do you know if your birth parents are a witch and wizard or who they are?" Sean asks.
"No. I know my birth mom was friends with my mom growing up, but I honestly never thought to ask. I doubt if she was my mom knew about it."
"You never asked?" Sean wonders.
"No. Honestly when I was told I was a witch I was just so excited to have something to explain all of the odd things that happened around me. I don't really give my birth parents much thought ever. Maybe I'll ask when I'm home for break though. I'm not too concerned about it," Everleigh states.
Over the course of the next few months Everleigh settles in well to life at Ilvermorny. She learns that she is practically a prodigy at Potions and loves the subject. She also loves Transfiguration, but Defense against the Dark Arts is by far her absolute favorite class. Everleigh is happy to be sharing a dorm with Sarah and the two, along with Sean, quickly become inseparable, though the two girls get along well with the other girls in their dorm. Before she knows it her first year is over and she is packing up and getting ready to floo home. Sarah, Sean, and Everleigh all promise to write and visit over the summer before Sean leaves to head home to Boston while Sarah and Everleigh join the line to head back to New York.
While Sarah and Sean have become her best friends, nobody can replace her brothers. She missed the bond she shares with Lucas while she was away, and she even missed Jason's over protective big brother tendencies, and Everleigh is excited to spend the summer with her family.
Sarah, Sean, and Everleigh exchange letters throughout summer vacation but only Sarah and Everleigh are able to see each other at all. Sean's parents had already planned for Sean and his little brother to spend the majority of the summer with their grandparents in California. After both sets of parents agreeing, Sarah was allowed to go with the Garrison's on their annual beach trip. Once the Garrison's and Sarah returned from the Hamptons the rest of the summer passed relatively quickly. New school supplies were purchased and before anybody knew it, it was time for Everleigh to leave for school again, this time as a second year on August 31st.
Second year was even better than first year. She was starting to learn more advanced spells and due to her aptitude in potions her teacher, Professor MacPherson, had offered to privately tutor in addition to the usual potions class she was required to attend. He agreed to teach her to brew some third and fourth year potions on the condition she continued receiving O's in her standard second year class.
Everleigh and Sarah, along with Sean, spend most of their days either in the library or exploring the castle, something they didn't do much in their first year due to being too nervous about getting lost. Of course as second years they are twelve and now feel much more confident in their abilities of navigating the many halls and passageways the castle has to offer.
Before they realize, it is time to go home for Christmas break. Sean invited both Sarah and Everleigh home with him for the Holidays but Everleigh's parents insisted she come home, though Sarah's family agreed. So while Everleigh headed off to New York, Sarah and Sean left for Boston.
Everleigh stumbles out of the fireplace in New York to find her entire family waiting for her, including her brothers, when typically it is only one of her parents waiting for her.
"Jason, Lucas! What are you two doing here?" Everleigh shouts, running to hug her older brothers, curious as to what is going on.
"You just came out of a fireplace!" Jason says incredulously while Lucas just stares at her with wide eyes, "Did everybody just see that?"
Clearly not getting an answer from her brothers, she turns to say hi to both of her parents hoping they'll reveal why the entire family is picking her up.
"Mom, Dad? What's going on?" Everleigh asks curiously, it's not like her parents to keep secrets from her and her brothers. The only time she can remember is not telling her she was adopted, but even they had admitted over the years that they have always planned on telling her. They just wanted to make sure she was old enough to handle the information.
"Well, Everleigh, you're already packed for the holidays, and Jason, Lucas, we made sure to pack bags for you as well while you two were at school. From here we are heading to the airport and we're going to spend the Christmas holidays in England with your grandparents!" Everleigh's mom declared.
"Wait! Really?!"
"That's awesome!"
"Seriously?!"
Each child exclaims excitedly. Though the family used to live in England, and their grandparents still live in Cokeworth, the Garrison's hadn't been back since they moved. Charlotte loves New York but she misses England; she is excited to share a little bit of her childhood with her children, and as much as Michael loves New York, his home, and being near his parents, a part of him misses England as well. While he grew up in New York, he had always felt most at home those few years he lived in London with his wife and children. It's where he met Charlotte and where Lucas and Jason were born, not to mention it is where Everleigh came in to their lives.
Everleigh is simply excited to go back to the place where she was born. She loves her family with all her heart and wouldn't trade them for the world, though the longer she is in the magical world, the more curious she has become about her birth parents. Despite what she said at the Opening Lunch to Sean their first year, she never did ask her mom and dad about her birth parents. She didn't want her family to think she didn't love them or that they weren't enough for her by asking about her birth family. Was her birth mother or birth father a witch or wizard? Or is she truly a No-maj-born? Her mom did say that she grew up with Everleigh's birth mother. Maybe she'll get the courage to ask when they're in England.
By the time Everleigh arrived back in New York from Ilvermorny it was already six in the evening, so the Garrison family had time to grab a quick dinner before their 11PM flight. While the Garrison parents slept the entire way, Everleigh, Lucas, and Jason were all too excited to sleep and spent the majority of the flight talking and watching a movie together. They couldn't wait to go sight seeing and experience an English Christmas. Everleigh secretly hoped she could find the Wizarding District in London, though she didn't know where to even begin to look.
By the time the plane landed at Heathrow Airport, it was a little after 11AM in London due to the time change. The Garrison children were sincerely regretting their decision to not sleep on the flight as their parents informed them they were not going straight to their grandparents home, but rather having lunch with some old friends of theirs and then stopping by the US Embassy so Michael can see some of his old co-workers.
FInally by dinner time, the family arrives at Charlotte's childhood home to be greeted by her parents, excited to have their only child finally home for a visit. Dinner is a quiet affair with only the adults talking about plans for the trip, while the children are barely able to keep their eyes open. After the long day, everybody slowly makes their way upstairs to get some rest before the first full day of their vacation.
Three days after the Garrison's arrive in England, the whole family, Charlotte's parents included, head into London to go Christmas shopping as well as to do some sight seeing. About halfway through the day, Michael slips off to the US Embassy again, much to the confusion of his children, though his wife doesn't seem to care much.
Everleigh brushes off the absence of her father thinking that he is simply catching up with old friends. She is more focused on trying to find any signs of the magical world. She knows what to typically look for, a faint shimmer indicating a concealment, a building or storefront that everybody else seems to act as if it is not there. Finally, while walking along Charing Cross Road she sees what looks to be a really old sign with the name "The Leaky Cauldron" written on it.
"Mom! Wait, stop!" Everleigh calls to get her mother's attention.
"What is it?"
"There right there. Do you see it?" the red head asks excitedly.
"What exactly am I looking at?" Charlotte says, very confused.
"That pub. It says 'The Leaky Cauldron'. It's a wizarding place. Can we go in? Please!" Everleigh begs.
"No. Not now. We have to keep going. Your grandmother still wants to take us to a couple more stores before your dad meets back up with us. Maybe another time."
"But mom…"
"No e on. We still have Harrod's to go to. You'll love it!" Charlotte tries to get her daughter excited.
They walk away from the dingy looking pub much to Everleigh's disappointment, but that soon fades when they finally walk in to Harrod's, much like any 12-year old girl, witch or No-Maj, she is immediately entranced with the many clothes, purses, and shoes she sees. The Leaky Cauldron forgotten, Everleigh decides to pick out her friends' Christmas presents.
Later that night, during dinner Michael clears his throat and says, "I have an announcement to make."
Everybody looks at him expectantly, and Charlotte reaches over to take his hand and gives him a reassuring smile.
"Well as you all know, today I had another meeting at the Embassy. The one that I went to the day we got here was actually the final interview for a new job, and I went in today to accept their offer," Michael concludes hesitantly, guessing how his children will most likely react. He had discussed this with his wife for months. They have lived in New York for years but both missed England incredibly. Even though they all have lives in the States, both Charlotte and Michael agreed that this opportunity was the best move for his career, and it's an amazing opportunity for their children to experience living abroad. There was a moment of silence where he could see the three youngest processing the information before….
"I'm sorry. WHAT?!" Jason exclaims.
"What does this mean?" Lucas asks in an unusually quiet voice.
Most surprising though is Everleigh who didn't say anything and actually seemed most okay with the announcement.
"Well I will be moving to London in the next couple of months. I don't need to start until March 1st. I need some time to finish some projects at the UN, and then I'll start work and get settled here in England. Come summer the rest of you will make the move to London as well," Michael informs his family.
"What about school? My friends? I'm supposed to be on varsity next year for Lacrosse. You can't be serious with this!" Jason is visibly upset at the prospect of leaving everything behind.
Trying to calm her son down, Charlotte intervenes, "Jason, I know this is hard but this is an amazing chance for you to experience life beyond New York and the States. You'll love it here, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to make new friends and try other sports to play."
"Mom, it's not about that. I've been playing lacrosse for years. I wanted to play in college. I can't do that if I stop now. No! This is unfair. I only have two years of school left." And with that Jason storms out of the kitchen and up the stairs to the room he's sharing with his younger brother.
"Well the two of you have been quiet. What do you two think of this?" Michael asks as he turns to his other two children.
"I agree with Jason. This is unfair. I don't want to leave my friends or New York," Lucas replies and gets up to follow his brother out of the room.
"I think it's great honestly. It'll be fun to spend summers and holidays in London. Sean and Sarah can come home with me for some of our breaks," Everleigh says excitedly.
Charlotte and Michael briefly glance at each other before Michael tries to delicately break the news to his daughter that they want her to fully move to England as well, including switching schools. "Princess, Sean and Sarah are more than welcome to come visit any time you're home but we don't necessarily know that all of your school breaks will coincide."
"What do you mean? Why wouldn't they? I go to boarding school. There shouldn't be any reason I have to switch schools."
"Your mother and I have briefly discussed it and we think it would be easier for everybody if you at least went to school on the same continent as us. We don't know how difficult it would be to get you to and from Ilvermorny every year for every break."
"No! That's not fair. I'm doing well at Ilvermorny. I'm advancing in Potions quicker than anybody else in my class. Professor MacPhearson is even giving me private lessons for more advanced potions. You can't guarantee that I'll still be able to do that!" Everleigh exclaims. She goes to follow her brothers upstairs when she hears her mother quietly say, "Wait, Everleigh. We need to talk to you a little more about Hogwarts."
Stopping in her tracks Everleigh turns around to look at her Mom, "How do you know about Hogwarts?"
"I know because it's where your birth mother, Lily went."
"How do you know that? Did you know she was a witch? Did you know I was a witch before Ms. Brown gave me my letter? Have you been lying to me my entire life?" Everleigh accuses her parents, getting angrier by the minute.
"Everleigh, enough! Do not speak to your mother that way, "Michael reprimands, "If you sit down we will explain everything to you."
And explain everything they did; from finding Everleigh on October 31st, 1981 to the journal and how they thought Lily had gone insane, until a Gwendolyn Brown showed up at their door one July to tell them their daughter is a witch. They told her how Ms. Brown told them a bit about a war and gave them a list of books to help better tell the story of what happened, and how Charlotte discovered that her best friend had been murdered along with her husband. At this point Everleigh is crying while her grandmother simply holds her. Then comes the biggest truth that has been kept from her: Harry Potter. Her brother. A brother who is apparently only a year older than her. A brother who will be at Hogwarts with her.
She can't sit in the same room as her parents anymore. Without a word she untangles herself from her grandmother's arms and goes to the comfort of her older brothers. Well at least the older brothers she grew up with, because apparently there is another one. One she never even knew existed, and who she doubted knew about her either. Not knowing how to feel she walks into Jason and Lucas's room and throws herself into Jason's arms and cries. While Lucas has always been her best friend, Jason has always been her comfort. He's the one who chased away her nightmares when she was little, and who defended her whenever she was bullied, and sometimes took the blame for things Lucas and Everleigh did when they were trying to cause trouble. Jason has always been her biggest protector and right now she needs him to chase away the monsters again. She doesn't want to think about evil dark lords or dead parents or long lost brothers. She just wants her big brother to make everything better, at least for now. She knows eventually she'll have to stop being angry at her parents and accept the fact she will be going to Hogwarts and will be meeting Harry. Who knows…..maybe having another brother won't be so bad.
