A collaborative effort with jdwest91 and Niros The Mad Warlock.
Prologue Part 3: Tyler Gets a Visitor
Tyler awoke in his full-sized bed in the flat his parents owned in Stafford. Across the way was Rowley Park, and he could see it from the window in his tiny room. It would be more accurate to say you could see the tree tops from the window since their home was a couple blocks away. When he looked out the window today, one of the final Fridays before school started up again in the fall, it was like any other day: hot and muggy. Slowly, he shuffled downstairs to greet his mom and dad with breakfast.
When Tyler finally made his way downstairs, sleep still in his eye, his nostrils filled with the normal scent of bacon and eggs cooking. The porridge was already in the middle of the table, piping hot in its pan. Setting down two hot pads, Tyler's mom laid down a plate each of scrambled eggs and bacon before turning back around and bringing the tea. Pouring a cup first for Tyler's dad, who graciously accepted, then for Tyler and finally for herself, she sat as everyone filled their plates.
The small family ate their breakfast and drank their tea in amicable silence. Tyler's father read the paper, while his mother wrote down the day's list of chores to be completed. Knowing that he would need to complete some of them before taking off to the park, Tyler quickly finished and looked to his mom.
"What do I have for today?" Tyler asked her, eager to get the chores done.
"Today, it's time to weed the garden, and we need to pick the vegetables that are ready," She told him with ease. It was a normal thing for them to work in the garden together, something both of them looked forward to. "But first, I need you to wash these dishes. I cooked breakfast, and your father has to head to work. You do that while I get the tools out of the shed."
And thats how the day went. They worked in the garden for quite some time. The sun was overhead, and sweat beaded on both their brows when his mother spoke up, "It's time to head in for lunch. You go get yourself cleaned up while I put these things away. Be sure to grab the harvest."
Tyler did as he was told, and grabbed the handful of peppers, tomatoes, cucumber and even a zucchini and carried them inside and sat them on the counter. He washed up quickly and hurried back down to the kitchen, eager to eat and be on his way to the park.
The mother and son ate in peace, no conversation passing as they ravenously devoured their salads with some of the fresh veggies from the garden. Tyler finished the meal, and heard a knock at the door. He looked up and gave his mom a questioning look. She shrugged.
"Coming, just one moment," his mother called to the visitor as she stood up from the table, leaving her plate where it lay. Tyler quickly followed suit, curious as to who could be calling at this hour and with such a piercing knock.
His mother reached the doorway and opened it, greeting the stranger at the door. "Hello, how can I help you?" Lydia asked.
Tyler looked at the woman from where he stood behind his mom. He could easily make out the stranger's features as she was at least a head taller than his mom. Her hair was once black, or so it seemed, but now there were equal parts of silver and grey sprinkled in along with the black. Tyler couldn't help but think of a cat when he looked at her. Perhaps it was the way she stood? Or perhaps it was her eyes, big and yellow, that made him think of a feline.
"Hello, my name is Madam Rolanda Hooch, flying instructor for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." She held her hand out to Tyler, which he took slowly. "I have been sent here by Headmistress McGonagall to inform you that you are a wizard, and have been invited to attend Hogwarts this year."
Madam Hooch held out an envelope addressed to him bearing a crest of arms depicting a badger, an eagle, a snake, and a lion. The letter H stood strong and proud in the center of the animals. Tyler began to examine the letter, reading over each detail, and then looked at the school list that was supplied. One word drew his attention and like a moth to a flame, and he could scarcely take his eyes away from it: "wand." He was to get a magic wand!
Tyler was in his own world. He had read the letter once already and immediately reread it, looking for any detail he might had missed. Madam Hooch on the other hand, had turned her attention to Tyler's mother.
"You must be Lydia. It is very nice to meet you. I have been informed by the Headmistress that both she and Mr. Ogden have already been in contact with you. Correct?" Madam Hooch said to Tyler's mom in hushed tones.
"Please come in," Lydia said to the visitor as she motioned to their sitting room.
"So, let me get this all straight... I have magical powers? Like, can I turn people into toads?" Tyler asked, looking rather excited. He followed the pair to the sitting room and attempted to make himself comfortable in an armchair adjacent to the one Madam Hooch chose. "Can I pull rabbits out of a hat? How about give someone a tail?" With each question the glint of mischief in his eyes grew.
"All that and more," Madam Hooch said.
Tyler looked at his mom, the question in his eyes, Is this woman nutters? Or could I really be a wizard? She nodded in response to his silent question. He turned his gaze back to Madam Hooch, "What do you mean, 'more'?"
Madam Hooch drew what looked like a twig out from her robe and pointed it at the lamp sitting on the table next to where Tyler sat. Moments later, the lamp shifted into a large, brightly colored parrot. Tyler leaned towards it and poked at the wing closest to him. The 'lamp-parrot' shook its head, agitated. He leaned in staring into its eye and poked the bird once more. When he did, it lashed out and gave him a sharp bite on the nose.
"Oi! Ruddy bird!" Tyler screamed as he backed up. He felt where the bird had bit him. Everything seemed to be there, and now, he had to get some questions answered. He thought for a moment, quiet, keeping an eye on the lamp-bird. Finally, Tyler opened his mouth, "How did you do that? Well, I know magic, but how?"
"You'll learn that in your fifth year. Turning inanimate objects into any number of things is quite useful when the need arises." Madam Hooch told him.
"You said you were the flying instructor, right? Go on then. Let's see some flying." Tyler said a bit too forcefully.
Madam Hooch tightened her smile, but in no other way made any indication that she was aggravated by Tyler's tone. Instead, she answered, "One does not simply fly. You need a broom, my dear boy."
"We fly on brooms? For real? Do we make them too?" Tyler said, thinking of the witches he pictured around Halloween with their twiggy old brooms made with knobbly wood.
Madam Hooch let out a hearty laugh, "Silly boy! Making a broom fit to fly takes years of knowledge. Now, thats enough for one day. I know you have more questions, but remember this: with magic, it is often better to experience rather than be told." Madam Hooch then stood and smoothed her robes.
"You have a very lovely home, Lydia. Thank you for allowing me to visit," she said warmly. After she turned to Tyler she said, "And you, sir. I look forward to seeing you this new term. Do remember, though, you cannot bring a broom your first year." With that, she saw herself to the door before either Lydia or Tyler could get up. Both Tyler and Lydia sat there. The abrupt exit took them off guard.
Lydia was the first to speak, "Well then, a wizard! My boy, a wizard!" The look of pride was evident on her face. She smiled and had what was almost a look of sadness at the opportunities that this new world would present.
Tyler's head was in complete disarray. His mother bought into this, so it had to be true. Magic was real-not that he hadn't always wished it was-but now he knew that it was real! He saw a woman turn a lamp into a bird. He looked up at his mother.
"Do you think it's okay for me to go to the park now?" Tyler asked. He wasn't as enthusiastic as he was this morning but knew that he did some of his best thinking while playing there. That's what he needed right now: to think.
Lydia thought about it for only a moment, "Of course you can. Be sure not to tell anyone about what we learned today, though; not everyone would understand, and we don't want you to be hurt because of it."
Tyler nodded and was out the door before any more words could be said. He sprinted down the road to the park and went to his favorite swing. It was high enough up to where his long legs didn't hit the ground, and he had to jump up a bit to get his bottom in the seat. And there he sat, swinging, letting the back and forth motions lead his thoughts through the complicated ideas that were introduced to him today
It was around six in the evening when Tyler ran through the door and into the kitchen of their flat. His mom and dad were sitting at the table drinking tea. It looked like his mother had been crying. The tears were gone now, and there was only the faint sign of wetness in her eyes. His dad looked stoic, but smiled at his son when he came in.
"I hear we have a wizard in the family now! Wait until grams and gramps hear about this. They'll be so proud!" His father beamed, but somehow he looked a bit reserved, like there was something that he wasn't telling Tyler. "In fact, why don't you and your mom go out for some pie and tea to celebrate? Tomorrow, we can all go out for a proper celebration dinner after we get your school things."
Tyler's eyes lit up. He loved going to get pie with his mom. The tradition started as soon as his little legs could take the walk there and back. They headed out the door, walking with their arms linked, Tyler escorting his mom the entire way.
Soon, they were in the little bakery that held small cafe tables for their dine-in customers. Pictures of different local children's football teams donned the walls, all of their jerseys featuring the bakery's logo. The windows were covered with sheer blue curtains allowing for some light to still fall through. They walked up to the counter and placed their order, both choosing their favorites: Tyler a slice of blueberry with crumb topping and Lydia one of butterscotch. After the pies were paid for, the pair walked over to a small table in the corner.
Before long, the waitress came over with their desserts. She set them down in front of the pair and was off after bidding them good day. Lydia waited for her son to take his first bite before speaking, "Tyler, I have something to tell you." She waited until he nodded to continue, "Madam Hooch coming today was no surprise. Not long ago, I was contacted via owl by Headmistress McGonagall. She said that your name had appeared on a list of magical children whom are to be invited to attend Hogwarts."
"You mean you knew?" Tyler said through a mouthful of blueberry pie.
"Let me finish," Lydia admonished. "Yes, I knew, but I could hardly believe her! Magic! And a school called Hogwarts?! It was prosperous! Nonetheless, the letter stated that there was an odd circumstance to do with your name, and so she wanted to contact someone else in the wizarding community who may have more insight-with my consent of course." She stopped to take a bite of her pie. She chewed it longer than she intended, but needed more time to think of how to word the next part, so she swallowed and took another bite. By the time the second bite had finished, she knew how she would continue. "The Headmistress continued in her letter to say that a member of the staff would stop by within a few days to explain everything to you and that I should be expecting them."
"Okay, so you knew," Tyler continued on, "that doesn't seem too bad."
"There's more," Lydia told her son. "After I sent a reply that it was okay for her to inform the other wizard-because in all honesty, I still didn't believe a word that she said! Nor did I think that the owl would actually make itself back to her. So why not just go along? But, not even an hour after sending the reply, I received a second owl. This one was from the brother of a man I used to know. It started out rather pleasant; he asked about my health and told me he was doing well. After that, though, he started to tell me about how his brother had kept a journal, and some time after his brother's death, he began to read it. Towards the end, there was a passage about how he had met a wonderful muggle woman and how they spent a glorious week together. But then he was called away to work on a case in Romania on a Dragon Preserve, so he had to leave the woman. The man also explained that while his brother was in Romania, though, he stumbled into the brood of a nesting mother and was quickly incinerated. But, nine months later, his branch on the family tree grew an offshoot with a picture of a baby boy and the name 'Baby Ogden' where the given name would normally appear."
Shakily, she took a deep breath. Barely understanding the words she had said prior, she forged on, because she knew that this conversation was going to get harder before it was easier. She took one more deep breath before she spoke, "The muggle woman who had an amazing week with his brother was me, and that would make you his nephew and that man your father. Which makes you half wizard." She concluded.
Tyler's world started spinning. Everything that was ceased to be. He had thought his mother was taking all of this too casually. First, when it was just the Headmistress contacting her that was okay. Now that he found out that his father wasn't his actual father, and his mom had known but not said anything, he felt betrayed.
He was numb; the walk ingrained so deeply into his memory that his legs took him there automatically. It was quiet this time, though. In one day, he had gained an entire world, lost a father he never knew he had, and gained a new uncle. Completely in his own world, he headed to the washroom upstairs in their flat to get ready for bed even though it was only seven in the evening. A knock came to the door, followed by a voice.
"Tyler, you left before I could tell you. There was more to the letter," his mother's voice was soft, but not so soft that he couldn't hear. "We're going to Diagon Alley tomorrow at ten. We'll be leaving here and meeting up with your Uncle beforehand, so be ready to meet him tomorrow."
Tyler finished his shower soon after his mom left. Still half in a daze, he walked to his room after drying off. He opened the dresser with robotic motions, proceeded to get dressed, and then laid down in his bed. Tyler looked up at his ceiling, his mind still blank and unable to process the words that had been spoken. After some amount of time had passed, he drifted to sleep with the hope that maybe tomorrow this would all make sense.
This Chapter written by jdwest91.
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