Chapter 2

~ Revelations ~

After an awkward birthday supper, full of strained periods of silence, Rose-Lynn fled to her bedroom. She buried her face in her pillow and started to cry white hot tears. Just as she thought her day couldn't possibly get any worse; her parents had totally forgotten to make her a birthday cake. Since money was tight she hadn't expected an expensive gift, and she admittedly needed new socks, but still. Getting socks for one's birthday wasn't a joking matter. She figured their financial situation must be even more grave than she had imagined. That night, not for the first time, she cried herself to sleep.

Rose-Lynn had expected to wake up to more screaming and yelling the next morning, but as she entered the tiny, dilapidated country kitchen, she found her parents whispering to each other in a feverish manner. As soon as they realised she was present, they broke apart and gave her a weak smile. "Please, Rosey, will you sit down with us for breakfast? We have some important things to discuss", her mother quietly stated. Rose-Lynn was too astonished to do anything but comply. Well, there was something you didn't see every day, she thought as she sat down on one of the wobbly once-glossy-white chairs. Her father threw a look of concern at her mum, but she silently nodded, before taking the lead in the conversation.

"Look dear, we know this will turn your world upside down, but since this is so important, I'm not going to beat around the bush. I'm a witch and your father's a wizard. We can do all sorts of magic. The reason why we don't live within the magical community is because of you. Sometimes baby's within the non-magical community are born magic. You on the other hand, as a child from two magical people, seem to have been born without magic." Rose-Lynn looked from one parent to the other in horror. "There's no such thing as magic", she exclaimed. "Why would you make such a dreadful joke. Besides, if you were actually magical, why do we practically have to live in poverty?" She had jumped to her feet while practically screaming out the last words. She tried to storm out of the room, but was retained by her father's left arm and scooped right back unto the chair she had been so eager to abandon. "Listen to your mum, dear", he demanded as he pulled out some sort of wooden stick from out of nowhere. "Oleander, let me just show her. It's the quickest way. There is so much we have to do before September first."

Her father waved around his stick and all around her objects started to move. Rose-Lynn couldn't help but cry out involuntarily whilst jumping to her feet again. Her mother had procured a different stick than her father and with one quick wave she ended the turmoil around them. "What the heck was that, dad?" Rose-Lynn croaked. "That was magic, Rosey-dear." Rose-Lynn blinked. This was too much to take in. Her parents could do magic? Why hadn't they ever cared to tell her? But wait, she couldn't do magic? Why not? "Well", she started, "amazing as that may be, apparently I failed you from the day I was born. So why tell me all this now. I'd rather I didn't know."

After a pause that seemed to last hours instead of minutes, her mother started to talk again. Rose-Lynn studied her mum's face while she was talking. She looked strained, and her voice sounded it. "Honey, I had a very important job until you were about two years old. Just as there is a Ministry in the UK, there is a Ministry of Magic. I used to be a deputy head Auror. I will explain to you what that is in a while. The man who visited here yesterday is a Minister of Magical Education. He had a letter for you. He wants you to attend to the school your father and I went to; Hogwarts. It's where practically all witches and wizard in Great-Britain go to. We had previously decided against it, but I am needed in the Auror office. Your father and I spoke about it, and we both felt we had to enlighten you. I'm not going to lie, hun. It will not be easy for you as a Squib – a witch or wizard without the capacity of doing magic – in a magical place, but Rodolphus promised that arrangements have been made for you. We will have to go to London over the next couple of days, there are so many things we have to get you." Rose-Lynn still sat there, glued to the spot. This had to be the worst nightmare she could have ever imagined. Good lord, her entire life had been a lie!

Her mood over the next few days didn't lift and she found herself pouting as she sat in the back of their old copper coloured sedan on her way to London city. Apparently her parents thought there was an entire wizarding community in the middle of London – and the rest of the world hadn't noticed. Yeah right! Her father parked their car in a busy lot and they headed towards a busy shopping area. Tucked in between two larger buildings stood a small, grimy café. Her mother took her by the hand and steered Rose-Lynn straight towards the café. Right before she entered she could distinguish the name written in golden italics. The leaky Cauldron.

When they entered the place, it took a few moments for Rose-Lynn's eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness. "Afternoon, Ollie, long time no see!" the man behind the counter greeted her. "Afternoon Tom, we're here for our daughter – Rose-Lynn. She'll be attending Hogwarts this year." The old, bald man behind the bar remained speechless for a moment, before composing himself again. "Ah, right. Well, you most certainly know the way", he pointed at the backdoor. Oleander smiled. "We sure do, Tom. And as there is a lot of business to attend to, would it be possible if we stayed in here for a night or two?" Tom reciprocated Oleander's smile. "Why, of course. Double and a single?" he informed, acknowledging Marlow for the first time since the three of them had entered the establishment. Oleander gave a quick nod and pursued her way towards the backdoor of the café.

Rose-Lynn struggled to keep up with her mum's hasty pace, her father following in their wake. Before Rose-Lynn could perceive what her mother was doing to the bricks – some action that apparently required a wand – the wall all of a sudden started moving. Bricks moved themselves to the left and right side of the wall, creating an opening large enough for any human being to step through. Rose-Lynn's mouth opened in astonishment with the picture in front of her. There was an entire street – heck an entire village – behind the café. Slap bang in the middle of London. Rose-Lynn shook her head. As she followed her parents through the wall. As soon as she had stepped through, the wall behind her started to close up again.

"Okay dear, your father and I first need to pay a visit to Gringotts. If you go to the ice cream parlour over there, you can sit and wait for us there. Here's some money, don't spend it all at once." Her mother gave her a small brown leather pouch. "You remember what we told you?" Over the last few days her parents had tried to bestow as much information about the magical community on her as possible, and Rose-Lynn nodded. "You're sure you won't be long?" she inquired nervously. Her father gave her an encouraging smile. "We'll be back before you know it. We just need to get enough money from the bank so we can buy all your school supplies. We'll be back in a jiffy," he promised her.

With a sigh she walked towards the cute ice cream parlour and decided to order a large caramel sundae with extra nuts. She had barely taken two bites of the rather magnificent tasting sweet seduction, when a boy crashed into the seat next to her. "Hey, fancy seeing you here", Toby started. "Can I have a bite? It's sweltering hot today." Before she had nodded in agreement, Toby had already rushed inside for an extra spoon. "So, have your parents made up their minds yet about sending you to Hogwarts?" Rose-Lynn, grateful for finding someone familiar and friendly in all these novelties answered him with a yes. She immediately started firing all kinds of questions about Diagon Alley (as she found out the name of this street was called) as well as the subjects Hogwarts and squibs.

"Well, it's not that usual for squibs to enter Hogwarts, actually. And I think special arrangements will have to be made for you. How did your parents found out you're a squib though?" Toby asked curiously. Rose-Lynn shrugged. "Dunno. Perhaps it's the fact that I have never shown any accidental magic, I s'pose." Just sitting there with a new found friend made her feel all warm and wonderful inside. "Will they be long?" Toby inquired. Rose-Lynn shook her head. "They said they'll be right here. Just had to go and get some money for my school supplies", she replied. "Shall I keep you company?" he suggested. She nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, please. And tell me some more on Diagon Alley. I've got my letter here. Where do we go to get all this stuff?" She kept herself from asking where the heck her parents were getting the money to pay for all this, but quickly bit her tongue. She didn't want to feel embarrassed around her new friend.

Toby opened the letter – although it was exactly the same as the one currently in his right trouser pocket. "Let's see", he started.

The uniform stuff – 3 pairs of black robes, black hat, winter cloak and protective gloves – we can get at Madame Malkin's Robe Shop. Of course Madame Malkin is no longer alive anymore, but Belladonna Malfoy took it over, and she's a charm. She knows so much about clothes. My dad used to take me over to the Malfoys just after my mum died and he had to work. Actually, my sister – Yasmin – and I are staying over at hers right now." Rose-Lynn stared at Toby after this revelation. "Your mum died?" she asked horrified. Her parents had fought a lot, and she was fairly certain it mostly had to do with her being a squib, but never did she hope to feel how Toby must have felt growing up without a mother. "I'm so sorry." Toby shrugged indifferently. "I never knew her. She died about six months after I was born. I do wish I had a mum though..." he admitted quietly. Without realising it, she had grabbed his hand in hers and gave him a solacing squeeze, which – much to her surprise – he returned.

"Ha, there you kids are," Marlow said as he witnessed his daughter and Toby sitting in a sunny spot on the parlour terrace. "Hi dad, all done?" she asked eagerly, and straight after: "Can Toby come with us? It'll be more fun for me that way." Oleander and Marlow nodded at the same time. "Why of course. Nice to see you again, Toby", Oleander greeted. "Pleased to see you again, Ma'am", he replied courteously. "You know what, Rosey, why don't we go to Malkin's first, and you and Toby can manage the apothecary while dad and I get your books. That way we'll have some time left for a drink and maybe some regular Magical shopping, since you've never been here before", she suggested. Toby and Rose-Lynn both seemed happy with those arrangements. Rose-Lynn couldn't come to terms with how easy it seemed for her to cope with all the major changes in her life, but she was grateful she had found a friend in her time of need. Maybe she would tell him about the lack of money, and her concerns with it. He had divulged so much himself. And besides, he didn't seem to mind her being a squib either, so…