Disclaimer: this is all fanfiction. Rose Zeller is actually in the order of the phoenix. The world of harry potter is owned by JK Rowling.
Chapter 11-Jarred
Jarred didn't know what had happened at the ministry, Wilford had sent Emily and him to bed as soon as Cedonia had left with Rose, and neither had felt like confiding any details. Nevertheless, Jarred had caught Rose numerous times smirking to herself, than immediately banishing the smile, as if there was something amusing to her, but she was ashamed to admit so even to herself.
But, even Rose couldn't keep a bad mood, for, finally, it was the day they had so longed for. It was September 1st, and everyone was rushing to get ready in time. Out of the 5 of them, Cedonia was the only one with any experience about Hogwarts, and was frantically trying to get organized. "No, Wilford!" she had shrieked at one point or another "The train leaves at 11:00, not 11:30. Hurry up, or you'll make us all late!"
Jarred had to say, he wasn't enjoying the process as much as he had thought he would. It was far too loud, and he felt as if he was always doing something wrong. The worst of all was Rose's anxious nagging. "No. no. no. no. no!" she would say, clinging fiercely to his forearm, "I can't go, I'm not ready!"
"Well, maybe you can wait until you are 11, and therefore, actually ready." Jarred would suggest, to no use.
"Oh, no Jarred!" She would reply, near tears "I would feel like I was missing something important. Not going...it would destroy me! No, I'll have to go. I won't interrupt you again, I'll be brave!"
This would give him 30 seconds of peace before Rose asked again. Groaning, after what felt like an hour of unpacking, and repacking the same items (which is most likely all they had achieved), Jarred flopped down on the nearest sofa, and enjoyed a few moments of solitude before his mother called him back to work. To his utter most horrid surprise it was not Cedonia, but Rose who awoke him from his drowsy state. "Wake, up! Lazy head! I said get up!"
Jarred wrinkled his nose at his nuisance of a younger sister, and chose not to reply but to ignore her and go back to his slumber. Unfortunately, this just furtherly enraged her. She went from annoyed to full on rampage. "JARRED! FOR THE LAST TIME, CAN YOU MOVE OFF OF THE COUCH AND DO SOMETHING USEFUL FOR ONCE? MUM SAID IT WAS TIME TO GO, CAN YOU JUST FREAKING LISTEN TO ME AND MAKE THIS EASIER FOR BOTH OF US?"
Jarred got up with a start, flinching under Rose's cold glare. "All right, all right." Jarred said, walking over to the door to put on his coat and trainers, "Can you quit yelling at me?"
Rose did the same, but in a furious fluster. "I AM NOT YELLING! YOU BE QUIET, EVER THINK OF THAT?"
Jarred rolled his eyes, opening the front door while resisting the urge to shout back that he didn't need to, because, after all it was her making all the noise, but deciding not to. Hurriedly, Jarred and Rose stumbled tiredly into the truck Wilford used to get to work, and buckled up. Because he didn't usually use the vehicle for more than storing his tools, the backseat was covered head to toe in junk. Somehow, Rose and Jarred were able to cram themselves and their luggage into the back, as the trunk was already stuffed. Because of the mess, Emily, to her great disgust, was unable to accompany them. "Mum, if I could just move some of the stuff-" Emily pleading to little success.
"I'm sorry, dear. But with all the excitement of last night, we couldn't clear it out in time. I'd put an enlargement spell, but I'm already on bad terms with the ministry at the moment. Oh, if some of this stuff was any less dangerous I could magically move it to somewhere else...No, you'll have to stay here, I'm sorry." Cedonia fretted, biting her nails, which caused what was left of her violet polish to chip away.
"Fine. I don't have to come if you don't want me to!" Emily whined, striding back to the house in a fit "I didn't want to come anyway, I'm too cool to be seen dropping off Jarred, what would David think? Bye, Rose. Sorry my parents are too short minded to let me give you a proper send off!" She said that last part extra loud and extra snottily, Jarred saw that even Rose flinched.
"She's just jealous" Cedonia consoled "Now, Jarred, don't believe a single word of it. I bet she'll be racing to the door to greet you once winter vacation comes along."
Her words calmed Jarred, though, he of course knew not to take Emily seriously. Jarred was used to being remarked upon as worthless, no, it was his sister's reaction that startled him. For, as soon (if not before), their mum had finished Rose exclaimed "What! I am not going home for the winter. Orla says-"
This time, it was their father who interjected "I DON'T GIVE TEN A KNUT WHAT ORLA SAID!" Wilford shouted.
He had just started to drive when Rose had spoken, and everyone present felt a jolt as the car came to a sudden halt. "Wilford!" Cedonia screeched, raising her voice not to be stern, but from sheer terror. "Pay attention to driving, not bickering."
Wilford grumbled something that was probably a curse, but Jarred would never know as it was inaudible. In the 11 years of his life he had lived so far, Jarred had learned never to intervene in a fight that wasn't his own. If Rose wanted to pick a fight, that was on her. Jarred was used to blocking out yelling, in fact, he had brought his wizarding wireless just for this occasion. Luckily, this proved unnecessary as his father and sister remained silent to each other, in some sort of nonverbal peace treaty. However, Jarred still caught Rose giving some dirty looks up to the driver's seat, and Wilford didn't apologize for his outburst until they were a block away from the station.
"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have snapped like that" he said sighing, Wilford took a moment before adding "that doesn't mean what I stated is false. I am just recognizing that I shouldn't have yelled it."
"That seems fair honey" his Cedonia replied, though the look on Rose's face contradicted her mother's words.
"I don't see why I have to-" Rose started.
Jarred, who prefered not to sit through another fight, especially when he wouldn't see his parents until the winter break (unlike Rose he was fine with that, if not overjoyed), Jarred decided to strike up new conversation. Jarred looked out the open window, the wind tussling his dark brown hair that was so much like his younger sister's. They had their father's hair, unlike Emily- who was the spitting image of their mother with loose auburn curls and sparkling blue eyes. Just thinking of his sister whom they had left behind brought homesickness and tears to his own chocolate-brown eyes. This was just the reason to change the topic, he hadn't even boarded the train yet, and he was already breaking down. He hadn't even entered the- the station!
"Rose, be quiet!" he exclaimed not wanting her mood to ruin his excitement, but speaking in a harsher tone than he had meant to.
"You be quiet!" Rose shot back, making Jarred regret his rudeness even more.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to snap, just- look!"
Jarred pointed out the window and saw Rose's eyes widen as she saw what he had. As their dad pulled up at the station's parking lot Jarred was a mixture of strong emotions. There he was, finally at Hogwarts, but...That also meant that he would have to leave his parents for the first time in his life. Wilford had wanted to send them to the same schools as Emily had gone to, but Cedonia had spoken against it. She said she would homeschool them, as her own mother had homeschooled her and her siblings. She tried this for two years, and then realized she was not the best teacher. Wilford brought up the school idea, but it did no good. Recognizing defeat, Wilford took a different approach. He offered to homeschool them instead, giving them old school books that he had used as a child.
Stepping onto the platform number 9, Jarred realized he would really have to work hard at his new school. It wasn't a matter of beating Rose (well, at least trying to), or impressing his parents (again, trying…), this was real school. His own father was strict enough when he accidentally blew up his math homework, what would teachers be like? Jarred promised himself to work his hardest to keep up his grades, he couldn't allow himself to become anymore of a failure.
"Hmm...9 and 3 quarters. Yes, there is a specific trick to it. You have to sort of go through the barrier...hang on a minute." Cedonia put a hand through the brick post between platform 9 & 10, making their father pale "Honestly, Wilford! I've told you a million times about the entrance, no need to act all surprised. Now, kids. You have every reason to be a tad nervous-" tad was clearly an overstatement, but Jarred was too worried to object. "-but I promise you will not get suffocated or stuck. Just go in slowly and you'll be-"
This is when Rose rolls her eyes, runs straight into the barrier, and then disappears. Feeling sick, Jarred stared at his mother waiting for a reaction. And a reaction, she definitely made. "Cat among pixies! Is Rose ever going to stop getting into trouble? Wilford, you help Jarred, I'm going to have to go after Rose, and tell her off."
Neither Jarred nor his father looked very pleased about this arrangement. After his mother disappeared into the barrier, Wilford turned to his son and asked; "So...have you had any experience going through enchanted walls?"
Jarred shook his head, and replied "No." and then "You?"
Wilford's face scrunched up, and he bit his lip, "Guess there's a first time for anything, ain't there." That's when Jarred grabs his father's hand, and they lunge into the wall.
