A/N: We're getting down to the last little bits of this crazy "week," and then things will start to pick up with more steam. Thanks always for reading and reviewing!
Minerva stepped out from the hearth, siphoning soot from her robes with a tired flick. She heard the portraits mutter as she pressed a shaking hand to the mantle, her wand clattering to the floor as the other pressed against her sternum with a gasp.
"Sylvie!"
A moment later, she was being guided to the chesterfield by tiny hands, the world falling into bright prisms even as her eyes suddenly streamed. A familiar bottle was pressed into her hand and Minerva knocked it back without sniffing, feeling a twinge of guilt for ignoring the musical whisper that reminded her never to drink something without confirming its contents.
She sighed a moment later as her fiery nerve endings were slowly dulled, her head falling into one hand as her breath returned to normal.
"Headmistress…"
The tentative voice brought her back to her surroundings and Minerva leaned back, stifling a groan as she pulled a stray pillow behind her back.
"Yes, Sylvie?"
Large eyes blinked up at her solemnly and the small House Elf wrung her hands.
"You is not going to be getting better?"
Minerva closed her eyes and let her head fall back.
For a moment there was nothing but silence... and she took a deep breath, reveling in the momentary respite from the pain that now splintered across her entire ribcage and down into the deep nerves along the front of her spine.
Her lips trembled for a moment and Minerva pressed them together, wetting them a moment later and blinking up toward the high ceilings where golden constellations had been painted long ago with a careful hand. Everything seemed so utterly pointless... and yet she felt the pressure of the future wrapping itself around her, infusing her tired body with its incessant pulse of uncertainty.
Are you going to get better?
"No, Sylvie. I am not."
There was a thundering of footsteps and raised voices as Dia opened the door, bracing herself even as two small bodies suddenly collided with her legs, narrowly avoiding impact with the bright blue door that bashed into the wall with a loud noise. A smattering of giggles and enthusiastic chatter was muffled by her robes and she gently pressed forward, willing her two monkeys to allow her past the threshold.
"Children! Is this any way to greet your aunt?"
The disapproving voice called out from the hallway and Dia's eyes lifted in amusement, watching the shapely shadow of the children's mother draw closer.
"Yes!"
"Mana, it's been forever!"
Finally managing to step into the foyer, she waved the door shut and sighed heavily.
"Forever is an exaggeration, my darling," Dia said firmly, placing her hands on two small heads, one nestled close to her waist, the other surprisingly close to her right shoulder. She tilted both of them back but couldn't prevent a smile from spreading across her features as the gleeful faces of her grand-niece and nephew gazed up at her adoringly.
"Kyveli," she murmured quietly, bending slightly to bestow the traditional kisses upon her grand-niece's dark cheeks.
"Theia, I missed you!"
Dia had to work to restrain the laugh that threatened to bubble over as the littlest witchling of the family clapped a hand over her mouth and looked up at her with big eyes. Formal greetings were still proving to be difficult for the girl to grasp, mostly due to her overwhelming tendency to blurt out the first thing on her mind.
She lifted a brow as Kyveli ducked her head, managing to fold her little body into an awkward curtsy as Dia returned it with one of her own, deliberately mirroring the little witch to help her organize her feet. Kyveli stood proudly and shot an excited glance toward her mother who gave an approving nod.
Turning with a smile, Dia was pleased to find Ioannis standing at attention, one hand tucked behind his back as glowing eyes regarded her happily.
"Ioannis," she said softly. Taking his shoulders, she pressed three kisses to his light olive cheeks, proud when her grand-nephew accepted them with a respectfully lowered gaze.
He bowed to her gallantly as she curtsied again, noting the large swath of flour across his crown of light curls with a soft smile.
While she rarely used formal greetings in her day-to-day life, Dia and the rest of the family had agreed to model appropriate behavior until the children grew used to the tedium of rituals, titles, and honorifics expected of families belonging to the Athens Five.
It was much easier to discard etiquette as one grew than to learn it at a later age as her own apprentice was currently doing; the skills would remain with the children as they aged, allowing them to negotiate whatever circles they desired... though if initial impressions continued to serve, Dia imagined that both children would likely take after the Kefalas side of the family. Still, in order to break rules, one had to know them first.
Both children began to chirp as she finished greeting Ioannis and Dia held up a finger.
"Ah! Let us not forget the lady of the house," she murmured quietly.
She was pleased when both children fell silent obediently, watching her with bright eyes as she pressed past them to greet their mother who was standing off to one side, one eyebrow raised in amusement as Dia murmured a greeting and swept forward to kiss her cheeks. They curtsied quickly, the younger witch clearly hiding an eye roll as she inclined her head demurely.
"Melina, how are you?" Dia murmured as she rose, smiling broadly as the other woman finally swept forward to envelop her in a warm hug.
"Ready for you to adopt these two any day," the witch replied, laughing lightly as her children piped in with both protest and encouragement.
"Surely, you haven't been misbehaving for your parents?" Dia asked pointedly, stepping back and fixing the children with a stern look.
Ioannis bit his lip softly, a slightly guilty expression crossing his features while Kyveli simply fell forward and grabbed onto her robes with tiny hands, laughing loudly as she threw her little head back in devilish glee. Dia resisted the urge to laugh in response, simply pursing her lips and raising an eyebrow toward Melina who just sighed.
"Well, perhaps we can adjourn to the kitchen and help your mother prepare lunch while you explain what mischief you've accomplished since we last saw each other, hmm?"
Melina rolled her eyes and walked away as Dia was treated to another onslaught of high-pitched chatter - feeling slightly guilty at noticing how much Ioannis had grown and how long his little sister's hair had become. It had been at least two months since she'd been available to visit, and she quietly made a mental note not to let time slip away from her again. Her time with children was incredibly precious.
They managed to make their way to the kitchen where it became clear that Melina had matters well under control, though Dia insisted that the children help their mother prepare the outdoor terrace and help clean the flour from the floor.
She listened patiently, pleased to hear that Ioannis had read the three books she had given him at their last meeting - apparently enthralled by the Muggle book she had been recommended, declaring a new interest in Animagi after having finished it. She made another note to read The Golden Compass. Her grand-nephew had also managed to let slip a sudden dislike for travel and a quick shared glance with Melina indicated that her niece and nephew wanted her to run a bit of interference.
Ioannis had listened respectfully when his sister finally interrupted, chattering on about her studies in chemistry with breathless six-year old enthusiasm, and Dia had laid a proud hand upon his shoulder when he allowed Kyveli the floor without complaint. The little witch had recently discovered the potential of Alkali metals and water and it seemed Konstantinos had managed to set up some sort of experiment with Rubidium that had made quite the impression. Melina was still bemoaning the destruction of yet another perfectly good dollhouse.
Eventually, Melina finally banished the three of them to the living room, declaring a pressing need for space and the children were only too happy to oblige. Dia allowed herself to be led into the open space by Kyveli's insistent tugging, quietly noting that her nephew had some sort of new project unfolding on a library table in the corner. She briefly wondered what the Hellenic Council had given him this time.
"Theiatheiatheia!"
"Kyveli… repeating my name is not the best way to get my attention," Dia said gently, settling in upon the sofa with a glass of wine. "What would you suggest instead?"
The little brown face scrunched up in annoyance before her niece climbed up next to her, dark brows furrowed in thought.
"Baba says I need to wait," she replied with a heavy sigh, both hands coming up to brush a tangle of hair out of her face. Dia smiled and moved to help, marveling at how thick the silky strands were. She has clearly inherited the Kefalas hair...
"That is good advice," she agreed quietly, giving Ioannis an indulgent smile as he shyly leaned against the sofa's armrest and watched.
"I imagine that when you are playing or working on a project, it can be very upsetting to be interrupted."
Her niece frowned as she considered the statement.
"But what if I have something to tell you?"
"If it is important, will you forget it?" Dia asked gently, pulling the little girl onto the sofa so that her head rested in Dia's lap. The light blue play-dress rode up and she tugged it back into place as Kyveli's dark legs kicked up to the ceiling impatiently.
"No, but-"
"You have answered the question, my darling," she murmured, wrapping an arm around the small waist. "Although if it is something very important… you may first say, 'excuse me.'"
The witchling heaved a sigh and Dia smiled, knowing it was definitely not the first time her niece had heard that bit of advice. She rubbed the firm belly reassuringly even as the dark brows continued to frown, the six-year old attention span momentarily distracted as little hands rose to play with the hem of one of her long sleeves.
"Now… let us listen to your brother for a moment as he's been very patient as you've told me about your recent projects."
Kyveli gave a non-committal murmur in reply, kicking her legs slightly as Dia gestured for Ioannis to sit at her other side.
"How is your English, my darling?"
The boy blushed and he shrugged lightly, moving a pillow to sit next to her cross-legged. Her nephew had become a bit more shy in the last year and while she missed the affectionate cuddling he used to bestow upon her as a little boy, Dia respected the change.
"It's okay…" he replied slowly.
"Okay enough to speak with my apprentice when she joins us later?"
Ioannis gave her a half-smile and shifted slightly, squishing the pillow in his lap as he nodded.
"Your father tells me that you've been researching schools," Dia said, sipping her wine and giving the boy a moment to think. Light brows furrowed slightly and she felt her heart clench at seeing the familiar expression of concentration on gentle features.
While she would always have a soft spot for both the children, Ioannis had captivated her from an early age for his deep thinking and gentle nature. Whereas Kyveli promised to grow into a spitfire rivaling her mother or godmother, Ioannis was a bit more emotional; sensitive and thoughtful in a way had clearly been learned from Konstantinos.
"Theia, I know Baba wrote to you about next year," Ioannis said quietly, lifting pale green eyes to her beseechingly. "You know that I don't want to go to school when I get my wand. I want to study with you."
Dia tilted her head and waved her wine over to the glass coffee table, lifting her arm to accommodate Kyveli who twisted to look up at her quietly. Dia gave her a small smile to indicate that she was proud of the little girl's respectful listening.
"Would you care to talk about your reasoning further?"
Ioannis frowned and fiddled with the pillow's corner.
"I already know that I want to focus on Transfiguration," he replied firmly. "And you are one of the best in the field."
Dia tilted her head again as she considered a reply.
"How do you know that you will enjoy Transfiguration exclusively without having obtained your wand?"
"But that's what you did, didn't you?" he exclaimed suddenly. "You studied at home before going to Uagadou!"
Dia lifted an eyebrow at the outburst and Ioannis sighed heavily, pressing the pillow into the side of the sofa with a rough hand.
"I am not saying 'no', my darling," she replied. "However, I would like to understand what has brought you to this decision. What is about Transfiguration that captivates you, exactly?"
"It's one of the most challenging branches of magic," Ioannis replied immediately, a spark lighting his eyes. "It requires a combination of strong magical ability, concentration, creativity, and a good working knowledge of material and theoretical principles. I especially am interested in self-transfigurations, conjuring, and Transfigurative dueling."
Dia nodded, pleased with her nephew's description and assessment. Very good…
"Well-reasoned. However you also know that Uagadou has an excellent Transfiguration curriculum," she replied easily, beckoning her wine glass to return and taking a small sip. "Surely that must hold some appeal?"
"Yes, but it's in Uganda," Ioannis replied quietly, ducking his head even as Dia nodded thoughtfully.
"Does that bother you?"
"No! I just… I want to learn from you," Ioannis replied firmly.
"Then it has nothing to do with the fact that I live close to home?"
"Theia…"
Ioannis rolled his eyes and gave her an exasperated look even as Dia's eyebrows rose and she smiled softly.
"It's just a question, my darling,"
Ioannis groaned and leaned backward
"Yes! Okay… it does a little bit. Uganda is… far."
"There's also Beauxbatons or Hogwarts," Dia suggested diplomatically, adjusting as Kyveli squirmed and resettled on her stomach. "Though Uagadou does share our same timezone. And there is such a thing as magic…"
"Theia…"
She held up a hand and took another sip of wine as Ioannis gave her a frustrated smile. A moment later he melted forward and flipped so that his head could rest against her lap alongside his sister's as lightly tanned legs flung over the sofa's armrest. Dia brushed away small brown fingertips that threatened to interrupt the moment.
"Your brother needs a moment to talk through some challenging things, Kyveli. You can stay if you promise to be respectful as we help him through it," Dia murmured, holding the small hands in one of her own as she gazed down into light hazel eyes seriously.
Thick lashes blinked and then the little witchling nodded, curling slightly as she burrowed into Dia's side, lips moving gently as she murmured something to herself.
"Thank you. Now, what about Beauxbatons or Hogwarts?"
Ioannis sighed and looked up at the ceiling with a sad expression.
"I don't think I would like Beauxbatons," he replied after a moment. Brown curls suddenly twisted as Ioannis looked up at her curiously.
"Did you like Hogwarts when you were there?"
Dia took a moment to sip her wine as she considered the question.
"I did. I can assure you that their Transfiguration curriculum is excellent. You know that my former Mistress is now Head of the School, don't you?"
Her nephew nodded shyly, shifting to look down at his hands which were playing with the pillow again.
"Minerva McGonagall sounds kind of amazing."
Dia chuckled softly and stroked Kyveli's hair absently as she nodded. "She certainly is."
The smell of fresh spanakopita suddenly trickled into the room and Dia absently checked the time.
"My apprentice should be arriving soon with your father. At some point I would suggest talking to her about her experience at Hogwarts since she attended as a student. I don't know that my own experience as a professor will be very helpful to you as you are considering your options," she said softly.
Ioannis ducked his head slightly and flushed which she took to mean that he was slightly uncomfortable with the idea.
"I will ask Hermione to talk about it a little over lunch… then she can tell everyone and not just you, how is that?"
Her nephew nodded slightly and Dia smiled, taking another sip of wine before sending it back to the table.
"Ioannis… whatever you wish to do, know that I will support you," she said quietly, running her hands through his wavy locks.
"However, I want you to know that all transitions in life are difficult and none more so than the choice to leave home for a new experience. But it can also be an entirely thrilling one… and an opportunity to learn a great deal about yourself alongside others who are also in the same situation."
Her nephew was silent and Dia let her hand trail over the boy's rounded cheek, drifting down to tilt his chin toward her slightly.
"Never let fear stop you from chasing your dreams, all right? And know that you will always have your parents, me, Yiayia, and the rest of the family behind you with whatever you decide. You will never be alone."
Green eyes blinked up at her searchingly and Dia's heart clenched again, her mind superimposing the boy's namesake for a brief moment before he shifted and gave her a small smile.
"Ok, theia."
"Yoohoo!"
Melina smiled as Yiayia's enthusiastic greeting resounded through the small house and she barely managed to bark a reminder not to assail the guests before her children streaked past in a blur of color and noise. Ana's deeper contralto was heard a few moments later and she could practically hear the sugar rush happening as the two witches undoubtedly slipped her little rascals their customary chocolate treats.
Glancing over the open counter she rolled her eyes at Dia who was sitting at one of the stools along the kitchen bar, smiling peacefully as she sipped her wine. She had been thankful for the witch's arrival as it had allowed her the time to finish her portion of the meal until her husband returned from the gym. From the scattered bits of conversation she had overheard, it seemed that Dia had managed to unravel a bit more about her son's sudden unwillingness to study and to act as a physical reminder for Kyveli that young witches simply weren't allowed to blow up whatever they desired.
Her husband's arrival with the new apprentice had proved to be another source of immediate interest and Melina had swallowed a smile at seeing her children suddenly whip themselves into shape in front of the mysterious new guest. From what she could tell, Ioannis seemed slightly smitten and Dia had worked her usual magic to cajole her son into listening the young woman's stories about Great Britain. Even Kyveli seemed interested, though the furrowing of dark brows still indicated that her littlest one had yet to cast judgement on the new face.
Glancing to the right, Melina looked over both witches with a careful eye. Her aunt seemed remarkably at ease considering all the turmoil of the previous week and Melina suspected it had a good deal to do with the enigmatic young woman who was currently sitting at her side.
The apprentice - Hermione, seemed to be a polite young woman from all that she could tell from the last forty minutes. Upon arriving, Melina had been surprised when the witch had immediately offered to assist in the kitchen which she been quick to turn down, pressing a glass of wine into the young woman's hand and insisting that she relax after the undoubtedly challenging morning. The offer had been unexpected and Melina had found that she had been quite pleased… unaccustomed to guests of any sort proffering their assistance so freely.
She had continued to observe the witch quietly, noting that the young woman was kind and patient - speaking with both her children in a rather adult way that Melina favored. After an introduction from Dia, the witch gave them her full attention, asking leading questions and helping them both with their English even as she made them promise to help her with her Greek.
Melina had been both impressed and curious. While Dia had been singing the witch's praises for months and while Yiayia had been quick to chime in with her approval a few days prior, it was nice to see someone so young and talented take time with her children. The simple matters were most important to her and Melina was admittedly interested to learn more about the foreign woman... and to understand what made her so captivating to the other members of the family.
Lifting her focus from the feta cheese she was sprinkling onto a large bowl of salad, Melina fixed the witch in question with a careful eye.
"So Hermione… we haven't heard. What did you think of my husband's gym today? Feel up to training with a crazy man?"
A slightly glazed look passed over pretty features and Melina didn't miss the small smile that her aunt covered with a sip of wine. Hermione sighed and shook her head.
"I'm not sure what to think," she replied honestly, giving Melina a small chuckle. "I realize it will take time for all of the different facets to come together, and while I felt overwhelmed at times, I also felt quite supported. It was one of the hardest things I've ever been asked to do, but… Konstantinos was so patient. I think it's a new challenge that I'll be excited to try again."
Melina's eyebrows rose in surprise and she smiled, opening her mouth to answer when she was interrupted.
"Haaaa!"
They turned to find Konstantinos standing at the threshold to the kitchen, the triumphant look on his face somehow undermined by the flowery pink apron he wore over his robes.
"I knew she would like it! See? What did I tell you, my love? I am irresistible!"
The last part was directed to her and Melina rolled her eyes and flicked a wrist, sending the apron upwards to prevent a dramatic kiss as her husband's long arms caught the doorframe and leaned toward her suggestively. Konstantinos batted away the fabric good-naturedly before lunging forward and capturing her in a backwards hug, planting a messy kiss on her neck even as Melina shrieked and their audience laughed.
"Achh! Irresistible, my foot!" she laughed, spinning to press the ridiculous wizard away with a firm shove. "Are you finished with the souvlaki? Or do I need to send Ana out there to help you?"
A pout crossed Konstantinos' face even as the witch in question suddenly appeared behind him with devilish expression upon her face. Melina crossed her arms and ignored her sister-in-law's advance.
"Would I ever fail you, my treasure? Give me five more minutes. I trust the vegetables will be finished at the same time?"
Her husband's eyebrow waggling abruptly froze as a pale hand suddenly crept over one of his shoulders, the middle finger adorned in a large ruby ring that only Ana could have favored.
"'Tinooooos… are you sure you wouldn't like a helpful hand? You never have time for your sister. You dishonor me!"
Melina rolled her eyes and shoved both kitchen offenders out of the space together as the siblings began a fast-paced disagreement in Greek that began to dissolve into magic on the way toward the outer terrace. The only person who could rile her sweet husband into an impromptu duel was Angeliki and she flicked the terrace doors shut with a firm hand as the telltale sound of sparks and cracks began to erupt.
Predictably, her children suddenly materialized and scampered toward the terrace.
"Remember what I've told you! Do not get in the way! Any appendages you lose will not be returned!" Melina yelled after them, snapping a dishtowel in displeasure even as she watched her aunt's eyebrow rise. The children yowled their replies before disappearing outside with the slamming of the door.
Melina sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose before waving a hand toward the terrace.
"I blame you for this."
The second eyebrow rose as Dia fixed her with a disbelieving expression. A moment later, Yiayia swept into the kitchen, a glass of wine in each hand. She pressed one into Melina's and they clinked glasses conspiratorially.
"She's right, darling… if you would have simply taken a firm hand with them from the beginning…" Yiayia trailed off, tilting her head toward Dia expectantly.
"Dueling is a wonderful skill that all cultured witches and wizards should know," Dia replied smoothly, adjusting her robes with a flourish. "Both sets of little monsters should be pleased that they have been indoctrinated from an early age."
A glance to the right proved that Hermione was hiding a bemused smile behind her own glass of wine and Melina suddenly found herself stifling an evil grin of her own. She can't meet the family without a bit of teasing...
"Do you agree, Hermione?" Melina asked carefully, schooling her features into a thoughtful expression.
To her surprise and delight, the younger woman didn't miss a beat. Hermione set her glass down on the counter and fixed her with an equally considering look.
"I can't say either way," she replied easily. "Dueling promotes creative thinking and the sharpening of magical prowess, of which both skills I would say everyone in this family seems remarkably well-possessed."
The witch tilted her chin.
"As for needing a firm hand…" a small smile suddenly appeared and Hermione sent a sideways look toward her aunt. "I would say that the problem likely goes back further than Diamantina, since the unruly behavior seems to have influenced my dear master as well."
Melina's eyebrows rose up to her hairline and Yiayia's enthusiastic laughter suddenly spilled into the room, shortly joined by Melina herself as Dia took a demure sip of wine and refused to look at the young woman who was now smiling mischievously. Melina leaned forward and clinked her glass with Hermione's. How unexpected!
"Told you she was a live-wire!" Yiayia murmured cheerfully as Melina gave an understanding nod.
"I see that."
"Want to wager how long it will take them to… meet their match, so to speak?"
Melina's eyebrows rose at the innuendo as Dia's eyes flashed slightly. From the narrowing of Hermione's eyes she gathered that the young woman understood enough Greek to follow the line of their conversation but not enough to discern the specifics.
"Give me until the end of lunch and then I'll make a bet," Melina replied smoothly, taking a satisfied sip of wine even as her aunt sent them a glare.
"You are both treading dangerous ground," Dia murmured quietly.
Hermione shifted slightly and Melina received the distinct impression that the young woman knew exactly what they had been discussing. She sent her aunt a conspiratorial look.
"Oh, I don't know about that, Master… we both know they're not wrong," Hermione replied cheerfully.
A few moments later the rest of the family poured into the kitchen, slightly singed around the edges and treated to the sight of Melina and Yiayia were howling with uncontrollable laughter.
Hermione sat back, smiling absently as she listened to the overlapping conversations unfolding around the outdoor table.
She was stuffed to the brim and distantly impressed at how everyone else in the family seemed content as they refilled their plates for third and fourth helpings. Ana was one of the most voracious and Hermione blushed slightly as the older woman caught her with a haughty look. Long fingers plucked a fifth piece of spanakopita carefully and red curls were tossed as the witch turned back toward Konstantinos while taking demure bites.
The sun was quite pleasant as it streamed onto the outdoor terrace, however if it hadn't been for the Shield charms erected around them, Hermione knew that the autumn breeze would have been rather cool.
She was happy to listen and observe as the chatter continued. Beyond the Weasley family, Hermione admittedly didn't know a lot about how other Magical families tended to operate and she was both pleased and surprised by how quickly the Kefalas-Kallas-Villas family (she still didn't quite understand what to call them), had opened their doors and welcomed her. They were all so… different… and everything about how the family operated was admittedly rather fascinating.
Her focus drifted toward the head of the table where Konstantinos sat, engrossed in some sort of disagreement with his sister. They had reverted to Greek though Hermione thought they might have been discussing some sort of referendum recently passed in the Hellenic Council.
Ana looked as beautiful and intimidating as always and Hermione briefly admired the way the witch's burnished curls spilled over one shoulder attractively, the unusual color highlighted by casual ivory robes patterned with gold calligraphy. Something about her sculpted features reminded Hermione of Minerva… whether it was the milky white skin or long neck, or perhaps the way her hazel eyes flashed when upset… and it seemed that Ana was frequently on the offensive.
Shifting her focus, Hermione found herself smiling automatically as she watched Konstantinos for a moment - looking completely different in bottle green robes with wavy curls no longer tamed by the slouchy grey beanie. Their session together had been mind-blowing to say the least and as Hermione shifted to cross her ankles, several muscles up the back of her legs twinged unpleasantly. You'll have to brew a Strengthening Potion either tonight or tomorrow…
Leaning forward, Hermione took a sip of water, letting her eyes travel along the table carefully. Master Kallas seemed as content and serene as always and she was engaged in a discussion that cut across Hermione, involving both Yiayia and Konstantino's wife, Melina.
The younger witch was harder to read though Hermione had gathered that both Melina and Konstantinos weren't too much older than Ana, which would put them in their late thirties. She was still growing used to the tradition of Magical families having children rather young, and even as she gazed at the pretty witch at the other end of the table, Hermione had difficulty imagining how Melina had already raised a ten-year old son. She looks barely older than me!
Melina seemed relatively easy-going, though she possessed an underlying force to which almost everyone seemed to answer to, regardless of her younger age. The witch looked remarkably similar to Master Kallas - dark skin and thick black hair, though she was short and voluptuous in a way that differed from the rest of the lithe lanky bodies situated around the table. Hermione had been curious to note that Melina possessed the same uniquely light eyes as the rest of the family and she briefly wondered whether the witch belonged one of the five Pureblood families of Athens.
"Hermione?"
Hermione blinked and sat back in surprise as the little girl across from her suddenly fixed her with a wide-eyed expression. Kyveli had been chattering non-stop since the meal began and had given little indication that she either approved or disapproved of Hermione's presence.
"Yes?"
The little face suddenly took on a look that seemed rather shy and she mumbled something quietly that Hermione couldn't quite hear over the rest of the conversations. The boy to her left sighed exasperatedly and rolled his eyes.
"She wants to know if you'll come upstairs after lunch to look at her room," he said clearly.
Hermione sat back slightly in surprise. While it had been clear in their short conversations earlier that both children had a fairly good grasp of English, Ioannis had seemed rather shy to speak with her. Master Kallas had helped to guide the earlier conversation and Hermione had essentially spent most of the time talking about Great Britain and how it differed from Greece.
"Of course," Hermione replied, giving the little girl a smile. Kee-VEH-lee… The pronunciation was still a bit unfamiliar.
"I've only ever seen a witch's room once," she said truthfully. Suddenly both pairs of eyes were blinking at her disbelievingly and Hermione nodded in confirmation.
"Well… aside from at Hogwarts that is. I grew up in Muggle London and I never had any Magical friends growing up," she explained. "My best friends were both wizards and it wasn't until I was a bit older that I ever had a sleepover with a witch."
Kyveli's mouth opened and closed.
"You didn't know any magic people?" she asked in disbelief. The Greek accent on such a young voice was rather charming.
"Nope," Hermione shook her head sadly. "I didn't know magic was real until I was a year older than your brother."
Bright hazel eyes blinked.
"So… no blow-ups?" Kyveli asked sadly. Hermione sniffed and shook her head.
"Well… when I was about your age, I did blow all the books off the shelves in my room once when I was upset. But my parents and I thought it was an accident," she replied, smiling softly.
Ioannis wrinkled his nose.
"That doesn't make any sense! How could you not have known it was magic?" he asked imperiously. The boy pushed his plate away and folded his elbows on the table before pinning her with a doubtful expression that surprisingly reminded Hermione of Master Kallas.
She tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Well… let's see if I can explain. Your father told me that you've started to learn a little bit more about Muggle Athens," she tried, raising an eyebrow. Ioannis nodded, clearly not seeing the connection.
"Imagine that you were a Muggle who had grown up in the countryside… and you had never seen such things as subways or trains, but you had heard about them. You knew enough about science to know that there were things in the world that worked for certain reasons, even if you couldn't necessarily explain them to yourself."
Ioannis nodded and looked across the table to translate for Kyveli who whispered something quietly in Greek. Hermione waited for them to finish before continuing.
"Now… imagine that you decided to take a trip into a nearby city one day. You had never seen any of these amazing things but you knew they existed. You manage to find your way to a subway stop and suddenly there is a great amount of noise. There's a big rush of wind and you stumble backwards as a big metal object comes moving toward you. Doors open and there are people inside. Is that magic?"
Ioannis frowned.
"No. It's a subway," he replied, the tone of voice suggesting it was obvious.
"But how would you know it's a subway and not magic?" Hermione pressed. The frown got a little deeper.
"I would know because… because of what I had learned in school," Ioannis replied after a moment, expression suggesting that he was thinking rather hard. "Because of things I had heard from others and things that were written in books."
"Right," Hermione said with a smile. "We learn from what we already know. So… imagine yourself as me at Kyveli's age… I never grew up knowing about wands or Potions or House Elves or any of the things that we know to be magic. If the books suddenly flew off my shelves one day, what do you think I would have thought?"
Kyveli bounced on the other side of the table.
"Ánemos! Ánemos!" she crowed excitedly.
Hermione gave the little witch a fond smile and nodded. "Wind. Exactly."
Ioannis was still frowning.
"My parents and I rationalized that the books flying off the shelves must have happened from a strong gust of wind. We thought it was quite odd and I was too emotional at the time to think otherwise and we ignored it. We turned to science, Ioannis, because that's all we knew."
"What's rationalized?"
"To rationalize something means to think about things logically until you come to an answer," Hermione explained, briefly noting that Ana and Konstantinos were listening in curiously.
"Because I didn't know about magic, I had to rationalize an answer from things that I already knew about the world. Books can't fly off the shelves without some sort of force acting upon them. Since I didn't touch them and my parents didn't touch them… we assumed that a great gust of wind had blown through my room and knocked them to the floor."
Ioannis sat back with a perplexed look on his face, clearly having difficulty accepting Hermione's answer.
"What happened when you found the magic?" Kyveli piped up curiously.
"I decided that I wanted to learn about everything about it so that I wouldn't make such silly mistakes again," Hermione replied, giving the girl a grin. "Why do you think I'm studying with your theia?"
Kyveli giggled and said something in Greek around a mouthful of spanakopita which Ana promptly chided, her long fingers wrapping around brown cheeks playfully.
"Was it hard?" Ioannis asked softly. "To learn about magic?"
Pale green eyes were looking at her with a concerned expression and Hermione felt her heart soften. Ioannis seemed like an incredibly perceptive boy.
"Sometimes," she replied truthfully. "Sometimes I felt very alone… and it was hard for me to learn everything that my friends had known for their entire lives. I felt like I had a lot of work to do in comparison."
Hermione gestured to the table where the rest of the family had fallen silent, listening to their conversation with interest.
"But I feel very lucky… because there are still so many wonderful things that I don't know about magic and that continues to make my life exciting. Such as what it feels like to sit at a dinner table where everyone is Magical and know that I can use my wand whenever I need it. Or bigger questions that no one thinks about, like, what really happens when we Apparate? Or little questions, like… what a young witch's room looks like compared to a Muggle one."
She smiled down at the young boy who was looking up at her with a curious expression.
"The greatest lesson I've learned since discovering magic is that there is always room for more learning," she finished, giving him a small smile.
"Hear, hear!"
They both looked up as Yiayia lifted her wine glass and the entire family followed suit, a number of pleased smiles gracing the different faces.
"Those are wise words, my son," Konstantinos said softly, giving Ioannis a small nod. The boy looked back at her and blushed.
Kyveli picked up her glass of juice enthusiastically and Ioannis smiled shyly at Hermione before picking up his own. She felt a small swell of pride as he thrust his glass forward with a firm expression.
"To learning!" he said loudly.
Hermione laughed and repeated it along with everyone else before giving the young wizard a wink as overlapping shouts of "Opa!" suddenly resounded across the terrace with gusto. Kyveli was giggling and Ioannis exchanged a smile with his father before turning back to her with another shy look.
The conversations began to start up again and Hermione noted that Master Kallas was watching her with a pleased smile. A moment later, the image was interrupted as Ioannis sat forward with hopeful green eyes.
"Will you tell me more about Hogwarts?"