Still not mine...
Chapter 13...
POV CHANGE
October 31st 1991 (Bora Bora).
Ok. I managed to get hold of Alex's laptop and I have read what he has written so far. It's pretty amazing how much stuff I miss out on just because I am not with him all the time.
But this story is supposed to be about me, so I think that I had better fill you in on what I have up too since my favourite body guard seems to have forgotten about my importance to this story.
Are you kidding me Alex? He hasn't even written anything about me getting my wand. He is such a BOY!
OK, My wand.
He he he. I am now a Wand Carrying Witch.
Fear me world.
Be quiet Hedwig. If I want to evil laugh I will. I don't need you doing an owl snigger at me.
Yes I know Alex will kick my ass if - Yes I can say ass alright.
Fine uppity harpy.
OWWW, Hedwig!
I know Alex will kick my backside – happy now? - If he catches me playing on his laptop. We just won't tell him will we?
Can I get on with my side of the story now Hed?
Thanks…
###
A couple of days after we got here - Oh my god. You should see this place. It's beautiful. Mummy and Daddy took me to the island of Tupai where the magical capital of Tahiti is located. I haven't seen Diagon Alley yet, so I can't compare it, but it is so awesome.
There are about thirty or so shops selling all sorts of magical things. They sell books, clothes – wizard clothes look really dumb. I prefer my shorts or jeans. The potion shop - I can never remember the name Mum uses. Apothakawary or something. I'll just call it a potion shop. Stank so bad, Alex even asked me if I had farted.
I couldn't believe it! Daddy was laughing so much he was crying. I turned to mum at least expecting her to back me up, but she had a small smile on her face while she looked anywhere but at me.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.
I ignored my now not so favourite body guard for the next hour.
We spent ages in the book shop. Mummy and Daddy did bring quite a few books from Potter Manor when we left England last month, but they said that they wanted me to take the opportunity to learn from a different culture as well.
Tahiti is called French Polynesia and the locals speak a mixture of French and Polynesian. I am already taking lessons in both.
One thing I have learnt in the last few weeks, is that I absolutely suck at magical theory. Theory bores me. Give me the wand movement and the incantation and let me have a go.
Oh yeah, I am also really terrible at potions. I almost blew up our villa.
Ooops.
Thank god that the elves – and Mummy – had warded and secured the basement under our villa that doubled as the potions lab.
It was my first time down there, and I started to have a flashback to Their House as I walked down the stairs. Mummy and Daddy didn't recognise it for what it was – I had gotten pretty good at hiding being hurt because if I cried, They hurt me more.
I was supposed to be adding something to whatever the hell I was making but I couldn't concentrate and I added something that I shouldn't.
My sludge – I can't call it a potion because it looked like day old porridge. It was supposed to be a light green colour with the same consistency as water apparently.
Anyway, my sludge started to hiss. Then it started smoking and shooting black sparks and bubbling over the rim of the cauldron and onto the desk.
Daddy screamed at Mummy and I to run. He grabbed me as he bolted past and the three of us made it out into the foyer area where Daddy slammed the door behind us. Just as the door shut, there was a loud bang and the entire villa shook.
Cody and Gordy popped down and took us to the sickbay to be checked out. While I was getting looked over, Daddy came over and started yelling at me for not paying attention and that I could have killed everyone because I was so carless.
I lost it.
I didn't see Daddy.
All I could see was Him leaning over me. I curled into a ball and put my arms over my head begging Him not to hurt my anymore and that I was sorry.
I couldn't breathe.
I was getting hot and everything was all spinny.
Then Alex turned up.
It was his day off. He was supposed to be relaxing on the beach. I think Zoe must have got him.
Holy shit he was angry.
He stormed straight over to Daddy, grabbed him. Spun him around and then launched him straight through the closed window that was opposite my bed.
The window exploded as Daddy went through it. Alex dived out the window right behind him. I jumped out of bed and Mummy and I raced over to the hole where the window used to be to see Daddy and Alex nose to nose with each other.
Daddy was screaming at Alex to "Pack you shit and get your fucking people away from my family."
Alex in turn said to Daddy that he worked for The Fates, not arrogant, ignorant fuck wit Lords whose head was so far up his own asshole that he didn't even recognise how his own daughter was responding to him yelling and screaming at her.
Daddy went white with anger, took several steps backwards and then he reached for his wand. Before I could scream out a warning to Alex, he saw what Daddy was about to do and he acted.
Fast.
Alex stepped forward and punched Daddy in the face.
Several times.
Daddy hit the ground.
As he was falling, he managed to pull his wand out of its holster but before he could aim it anywhere near Alex, there was a click and Daddy now had a Glock pointing straight between his eyes.
I hadn't even seen Alex move.
Holy shit he was quick!
Alex then told my Daddy in no uncertain terms that he would make a lot better father if he actually learnt to pay attention to my body language and to recognise a panic attack. He also said that he would kill him if he ever took me into a basement again if I wasn't ready for it.
That last statement caused Daddy to finally realise what he and Mummy had done. They had forced me to enter a place that had nothing but horrible and scary memories for me…
###
Ok. I think we have covered this little incident enough. I really don't like to think about what happened that week.
It was a bad time for everyone. I didn't speak to anyone except Alex for the next week. I would not even go to my councillor. I also slept every night in his bed and I had horrible flashbacks.
Daddy and Mummy apologised several times to me and Dad even said sorry to Alex.
Alex said sorry for hurting Daddy and they shook hands and everything was ok between him and my parents. I think they finally realised that Alex would do whatever it took to keep me alive and safe.
It took a bit longer for things to be OK between my parents and I. But after a few weeks, we worked through it.
My councillor helped a lot. She still does. I see her every day after lunch as she came with us to the island.
OK back to my shopping trip…
###
Eventually, Daddy dragged Mummy out of the book shop and then I had to go and be fitted for crappy wizard robes.
Seriously people, haven't you heard of jeans?
Ok. I will admit that the clothes shopping wasn't all that bad. Because we were staying on the island for the next year, I didn't really need robes. The parents just wanted me to get used to wearing the silly things as next year when I go to Hogwarts, I will have to wear them every day.
That is sooooo going to suck.
We had a look in the broom shop, but I will be honest, quidditch and flying a broom doesn't really appeal to me. It's not as bad as potions, but it's a close second.
And I would much rather fly in the Black Hawk and watch a game of rugby union.
Dad has still not forgiven Alex for getting me hooked on that sport.
So anyway, we finally made it to the wand shop. The four of us – Mummy, Daddy, Keila and me. Alex stayed outside with the other four members of Team One.
The whole day that we had been shopping, only one or two of our guards were inside a shop with us. The others were either stationed at the doors to each shop we were in or they were walking around the shopping centre just watching and blending in.
It didn't take long to get my wand.
When Mummy explained to the shopkeeper that we were there to get my first wand, the young man led me over to a table that had rows of wooden blocks laid out on it. Along the opposite wall was a table that contained hundreds of jars.
The wand maker explained that I just had to run my hand over each block of wood until I got to one that would respond to my magical core.
That sounded easy. So I started with my left hand out over the blocks and started to walk the length of the table. About half way along, a block of an almost black wood jumped into my hand.
I stopped in shock and turned towards the wand maker. His wide grin told me that all was well.
"Excellent Miss." He told me. "That is the wood from a Toa tree, which a native of the South Pacific." He took the blank off me and wrote down the wood on a piece of paper with a pen.
He must have noticed my look because he smiled. "Don't worry Miss. The rest of the Wizarding world is not nearly as backwards as our British cousins."
Daddy laughed at that.
"Now." He said turning back to me. "Finish walking down the table to look for a second wand blank."
He turned to my parents while I happily returned to my search. "England is the only country that frowns upon people having more than one wand. As your daughter is just about to start her magical education, it would be prudent to teach her to cast with both hands."
He paused and I looked over my shoulder to see him glance at me. He smiled and I turned back to my search.
"If she can cast ambidextrously as well as with dual wands, it will give her a massive advantage when you return to England next year Lord Potter."
I spun around to find that my Dad was staring hard at the wand maker and that both he and Mummy had their wands drawn. I also noticed that Keila had her right hand on the butt of her Glock that was in a thigh holster.
"Peace Lord Potter." The wand maker said to my Dad, holding both his hands out to his side to show they were empty. "I believe that I am the only person who has made the connection to who you really are. You were not taking any steps to hide your identity and you were pointed out to me once when I was at Olivanders several years ago."
The atmosphere in the shop returned to normal and I continued my search. By the time I made it to the end of the table, no other wood had literally jumped out at me. The wand maker was not discouraged however.
"Do not be concerned Miss Potter." He told me on seeing my downcast expression. "All this means is that you will have two wands made out of the same material. This happens more often than not."
He gestured towards the other table on the opposite side of the shop. "Now go over there and repeat the procedure." He turned to the adults in the shop. "Would any of you be interested in refreshments?" Daddy and Keila said no. Mummy asked for a glass of water. The man disappeared into the back of the shop and returned only a minute later carrying a glass of iced water which he handed to Mum.
Suddenly, a glass jar jumped into my hand. I looked down wondering what I would see. A black feather that was almost glowing rested in the jar. I turned towards the wand maker and he smiled in delight.
"The tail feather of a Thunderbird Miss Potter." He told me. "Were there any other materials that chose you?"
I shook my head. The Thunderbird was the last one on the table.
"Then I will begin at once." He took both the Toa wood and the Thunderbird feather from me and turned towards the back of the shop. "I will be finished in approximately and hour and a half." He told my parents. "You are more than welcome to wait here or you may wish to continue browsing the alley."
Mum and Dad shared a look. "We will go and find somewhere to have lunch and then we shall return."
Saying that, we left the shop and I ran over to Alex and told him what my wand was going to be.
"Excellent Immie." He smiled down at me "It will be great to see you learning magic. I am really looking forward to it."
I beamed up at him. Alex is the best.
"Time for lunch Alex." Mum told my body guard. He nodded at her and keyed his throat mike. "Team One this is Six, moving north. Lunch time." He pointed at Keila, then up the street and she nodded and led us towards the next block where several restaurants were.
Almost two hours later we were back in the shop and the wand maker presented me with a wooden box. With a flourish, he lifted the hinged lid and when I looked inside, I saw my two new wands resting on a blue velvet cushion.
The wands were about eleven inches long. The dark almost black wood was now covered with runes and was polished to a mirror. I could see a distorted image of myself starting back at me.
"The runes are for strength and power, as well as a run set to ensure the wand will stand up to quite a fair bit of punishment before it breaks. Be warned though. Wands are not unbreakable. They are made out of wood after all." The wand maker told me.
I nodded in acknowledgment and slowly reached my hands in and held my wands for the first time. When I held them up, there was a bright light and a shower of sparks.
I felt a rush of power run through my body, and I could feel the wands pulsing gently in my hands. I couldn't help the grin that must have been about to split my face. The wand maker crowed with delight.
"An excellent match Miss Potter." He told me excitedly. "Not everyone's wands have such a bonding display. The usual rule is, the more powerful the bonding display, the more powerful the witch or wizard will be."
He went and reached under the counter and pulled out some wand polish, a cleaning cloth and two holsters explaining that the holsters are designed to fit on either the forearm, belt, thigh or ankle depending on the choice of the wearer.
I nodded to myself thinking about where I wold wear them. Mummy and Daddy carried their wands on their wrists and they could draw them fairly quickly, but Alex and his team had their Glocks in thigh holsters and they were so fast at drawing their weapons that you almost didn't see their hands move.
I decided that I will have to practice until I found a position that suited me. I turned back to watch as Daddy paid the wand maker for my wands and I thanked the man as we left his shop and out into the bright sunlight of the magical shopping district.
My parents looked at each other and with a nod they announced that we were done shopping for the day. I was happy to leave and head back to the resort. I hated shopping and I have to admit I was more than a little excited to finally be able to try out my new wands.
Alex called his team in and with a slight pop, two of them vanished back to the apparition point. We waited ten seconds and then the rest of us all touched the rope that Daddy held in his hands.
Daddy made sure we were all touching the portkey and whispered "Safe Haven" and with the hook behind the belly button, we were transported between the islands.
The next few days were both awesome and crap.
Really, really crap.
Like a 9.0 on the Crap-O-Meter.
Magical theory sucked.
I may have mentioned this before, but I HATE theory. Half of what Mummy and Daddy are trying to teach me makes no sense. I swear I do not need to know that the levitation spell was created by some lazy ass wizard six hundred years ago because he couldn't be bothered to walk to the other side of his lounge room to pick up the book that he forgot.
All I need to know is how to use it to achieve my goals.
But nooooo. My parents seem determined to cram as much useless crap into my head as they possible can. Honestly, I can feel my poor brain turning to mush and leaking out of my ears.
Alex is absolutely no help.
When I went and complained to him about it, he told me that my magical education had absolutely nothing to do with him.
But if I wanted to learn Krav Maga, both he and Keila would be more than happy to show me. I nodded enthusiastically. Krav maga was a type of fighting that was developed in Israel.
Alex and his team were incredible to watch spar with each other. I could - and did – spend hours watching them train. They were so fast, not to mention skilled.
That shouldn't really surprise me.
One day, I was walking around the island with Keila and I asked her about the training they did to become part of UNICRATT, and she spent the next hour explaining to me just how hard it was. I couldn't believe that for every one hundred applicants, only four to six people actually completed the course. And sometimes, no one passed.
That's insane!
But. I am sooooo glad that I have them to look after my family and me.
One thing that Alex did over rule my parents on was teaching me how to shoot. For some reason, wizards hate guns. Daddy explained that it was mainly the anti-muggle prejudice, and the hate had no basis in fact. He also said that even though he did not believe in the anti-muggle sentiments of the pure blood establishment, he still had a similar view with regards to non-magical weapons.
That's just dumb.
They really didn't want me to learn, but Alex put his foot down and explained that I would not be carrying a fire arm, but leaning to handle one in case something happened to both himself and Keila and I had no other way to defend myself.
It took a few days for them to come around. I think the fact that Alex basically told them that my safety was his responsibility and he would teach me with or without their approval that finally got them to agree.
Oh yeah the Awesome stuff (yes with a capital Awesome).
I kick ass at arithmancy and non-magical maths. Corporal Byers was a maths teacher before he joined the Army and he quickly took me under his wing and started tutoring me in everything numerical.
I would rather spend my time learning about this rather than history.
Alex and Keila always left my alone when I was with Luke. Alex said that the stuff we talked about was so far over his head, he couldn't even see the bottom of it. Keila just grumbled that she only understood about a quarter of it.
Mummy and Daddy, could understand a little of it as they had both taken their NEWTS in the subject at Hogwarts and received Outstanding's. They gave Luke copies of the aritmancy text books and he devoured them. Within two weeks, he would have been able to teach the subject at any magical school.
He was just that smart.
And he said that I was better at maths and arithmancy that even he was.
Go Team Imogen…
But my arguments fell on deaf ears and I was resigned to spend at least three hours EVERY DAY learning about boring magic.
See. Totally Craptacular (Thanks for that sware word Alex).
The rest of the day was broken up into Not Boring -notice the capitals- magic, hand to hand fighting, and fire arms – I'm only learning to shoot a Glock. The rifles are too big for me. Maths, seeing my councillor and just doing cool stuff like scuba diving and learning to water-ski.
I did have a bit of a breakthrough with my fear of the basement. Alex asked the elves to light the place up like a rugby field. It looked like the middle of the day in there. It was also enlarged in every dimension so that the room was now roughly the size of four tennis courts and broken into various areas.
One was a small weapons range, there was another area for spell casting. One area was made into a potions laboratory – although I still don't go in there – its too cramped. And a final area that was devoted to sparing.
Because the room was not dingy and cramped anymore, I found that I could spend several hours every day down there. I wouldn't go down there at night though.
Go figure.
As the weeks passed, I found myself skills progressing. Maths, shooting and hand to hand were defiantly my favourites though.
####
Oooooook. Now you have been caught up in what Team Imogen has been up too for the last month or so, I can get on with telling you about what's been happening today.
###
I woke up and stretched. I heard a soft hoot from a few feet away and I smiled and looked towards the perch that my owl Hedwig sat on. "Hi Hed." I said softly to my first ever pet. I jumped out of bed and scrambled over to her perch where I spent the next few minutes scratching between her eyes and behind her ears.
Once I had paid enough attention to her, I went and refilled her water bowl and added some owl treats that the elves always kept on hand for her. There were plenty of rats and other rodents on the island for her to hunt, but I liked to spoil her.
I went and had a shower and then got ready for the days adventure. I was going to ask Alex if we could go scuba diving today. Over the last few months Alex had become a combination of second dad, big brother, best friend and uncle.
Don't get me wrong, I loved my mum and dad, but Alex was the one who rescued me from Them.
I shuddered.
I hate thinking about Them.
I shook off the cold feeling that I associated with those people and raced out the door. I headed towards the ready room to try and track down my Body Guard but when I stuck my head in the door, all I could see was the rest of Team One gathered around the satellite radio on one of the desks.
Keila turned and saw me standing at the door. She waved me over and I noticed that Mummy and Daddy were also listening in.
I went over and squirmed my way onto my mums lap. She put her arms around me and I fought down the momentary urge to bolt from the room.
I am getting better.
I know I am.
But sometimes it's hard to not freak out whenever someone hugs me. I feel closed in. But the councillor that I am seeing is helping me. She says that it takes as long as it takes to get better.
Asshole Dursleys.
Oopps. I had better not Alex see this as he will reverse swear jar me. It's so not fair. He swears so much and gets away with it – Except when I catch him – or the rest of the Team - and then they have to put a Pound into my swear jar. I have over a thousand pounds in it now. Yay.
But if I get caught, it costs me five quid! How shit umm unfair is that.
I sucks being eleven.
I turn my attention to the radio as Alex's voice comes over the circuit. In the background I can hear automatic gunfire and a roaring noise that almost drowns out the sound of Alex's voice.
"We don't have twenty fucking seconds Doc, my rounds are doing nothing. I'm going to have to try plan B, we need to move now."
I gasp and turn to face Mum.
"What's going on? Where's Alex?" I almost scream at her.
"Shhhh Immie." She says holding me tighter. "Alex and Andrea had to go to Hogwarts to rescue one of the students. They found her being attacked by a Troll and they are trying to get her out of there now."
I jump down off mums lap and push my way through the rest of the Team to stand directly in front of the radio. I can feel tears streaming down my face as I worry about my friend.
I hear an explosion over the radio and Andrea's voice screaming at Alex to duck. I can feel my breath getting shorter and more rapid. I am tingling all over. I know I am about to have a full blown panic attack when Keila gently puts her hands on my shoulders.
"It's OK Imogen." She says softly into my ear. "Do you really think something as trivial as a Troll will stop the Boss?"
I shook my head as she continued to whisper soothing words to me. I am embarrassed to admit that I don't remember exactly what she said to me. But whatever she did worked because I could feel myself relaxing slightly and the panic attack subsided.
I hear Andrea telling Mercury that they were on the way out and were ok and I started to cry in relief. I returned to my mum and she pulled me into a hug. This time, I didn't freak out. I enjoyed it.
After a few minutes I heard Alex's voice on the radio again.
"One One, One Six."
"Go Ahead Six." Sargent Mitchell answered keying his throat microphone.
"Is Gremlin there?"
I push away from Mum and race over to the radio. Gremlin is what Alex has started to call me because he says I cause him so much trouble.
As if.
It wasn't my fault he didn't check how deep the water was before he jumped off the dock.
And somehow the name has stuck and the whole Squadron use it now. Even Mummy and Daddy call me that.
I like my nick name. I have never had one before.
Mitch smiles at me and hands me the handset for the radio. I take a breath before I push the transmit button trying to remember what I had been taught about using the radio.
"Umm One Six this is Gremlin." I release the button and look back over my shoulder at Tim to see him giving me a thumbs up.
Yay I got it right.
"Morning Gremlin." Alex says. "Sorry about today Little One, but I had to head back to Holy Head and then to Scotland at extremely short notice." He un-keyed his microphone to take a breath before talking again.
"I am going to be stuck here for a few days but I will be back as soon as I can ok?"
"Ok Alex. I was going to ask you take my scuba diving today, but that's ok. We can do it when you get back." I reply to him.
"Thanks Gremlin. I have to go back to work. I'll talk to you later ok?"
"Ok Alex. Bye" I said to him signing off.
"One Six clear." I heard as I put down the microphone and head back to my parents.
#####
After having breakfast with my parents I asked Dad if he could take me diving. He said he still wasn't confident enough to go with just the two of us, but he suggested that we go for a trip in one of the boats to go to the Magical village that was on the Island of Tupai to have another look around and find somewhere for lunch. I loved spending time with them. Every day we did something together as a family and it was the best.
Great idea. I have only been to Tupai the once when we went to get my wand. There were a few places there that I still wanted to have a look at.
Daddy went and rounded up our Body Guards and told them what the plan was for the day.
Mitch and Luke wanted us to portkey to Tupai, but Daddy said that it was too nice a day to not go by boat.
Secretly I was glad with that decision. I hate portkeys. I feel like I am going to puke every time I have used one. Apparition is ok, but I still prefer non magical ways of getting around.
The eight of us piled into the Hurricane and with Mitch driving, we shot across the lagoon and out of the channel turning north into Open Ocean for the forty two kilometre ride. Once we were out of the channel, Mitch called to me and I went to the back of the boat where he was standing driving.
He asked me if I wanted to have a drive and I think my smile answered him as he moved over so that I could stand beside him. I was just tall enough to see over the steering wheel and through the windscreen.
Mitch showed me what direction on the compass to steer and I managed to keep the boat on course as we rocketed along pushed by the twin outboard motors.
I love going fast. Alex has told me that the Team will take me for a tandem skydive when I am twelve.
Mum freaked out.
Dad asked when if they could teach him as well.
Dad and I smiled at each other.
Mum gave up and went and poured a drink of scotch…
I will be learning to skydive next summer.
I slowed the boat down as we approached the dock at Tupai. When we about two hundred meters off the beach, I suddenly shivered. I looked at my Dad and he smiled at me and then called out that we had just passed through the Non-Magical repelling wards that were on this part of the Island.
I nodded and stepped aside to allow Mitch to drive the boat up to the dock he took over and within a few minutes we were tied up and our body guards were escorting us to the magical shopping district of Polynesia.
Thanks for reading.