The First Muggleborn
Chapter 3
Sunlight streamed through Arabella's window and she blinked awake. Memory of the previous night flooded back to her and she shot up in her bed. Mary was just putting a small bundle of clothes away. The older woman nodded in acknowledgement, before moving towards the wardrobe for Arabella's gown for the day. Dropping herself back to the pillows, the young girl reminisced on the previous night.
"A wizard?" Arabella couldn't hide her surprise from the man. Her mother appeared to be in a similar state of shock.
"Yes. Although, back in my day, we didn't have a school to educate our young in the ways of magic," he looked back at the paper then. "From the looks of your letter, someone should come to call quite soon. When did you first begin receiving your owls?"
"U-uh...a few days?" She responded as if it were a question, she was so dumbstruck. "I don't want anyone to visit! I just want these people to stay away!" At this though, Father Aldrich's expression turned to one of disappointment.
"I strongly recommend listening to what they have to say. If you'd like, I can tutor you in some of our ways before your schooling. I'm sure the Founders wouldn't mind, given your strange situation."
Before Bella could return with a heated response, her mother placed her hand on her shoulder, holding her back against the chair and effectively silencing her.
"Father, if Bella attended this…institution, she would be taught how to control these…occurrences?" He nodded. "And you could help her?" Another nod.
"Mother! Think reasonably! I'm not going anywhere, especially not with these devil worshipers!"
"But what would we tell Richard? He mustn't know the truth," Catherine continued, ignoring her daughter's outburst. Arabella's faced paled at the thought of her father learning the truth and she promptly shut her mouth.
"I suppose you could be truthful, at least in part. Tell him that she is to be sent away to school. I can speak to him of its merits, if need be." Catherine pondered this possibility for a moment before deciding it was the scenario most likely to convince her husband. He was a kind man, but pious and stubborn. He would surely cast Arabella out if he learned the truth. After all, although he loved her, he had two other children to carry on the Atterberry name. Bella knew this and feared for her own safety. Perhaps staying far away from home, where any transgressions would be less likely to reach his ears, would be the safest option.
"Have you an owl?" At Catherine's blank look, he surmised the answer. "No matter, you can borrow mine, until you do." Father Aldrich stood from his chair, concluding their impromptu meeting. As Catherine and Arabella walked him to the front door, he turned back around.
"I will write to the Founders and tell them of our plans. Surely they would like to discuss them with you themselves." And with that, he was out the door and wandering back to the monastery, in the dark.
After taking a moment to collect herself and prepare for the day, Bella threw the covers off and hopped out of bed, her feet meeting the summer-warmed floor. A tapping was heard from her window and she glanced over at Mary, to see if the matronly woman had heard it. She was still laying out Bella's gown and underthings.
Discretely, the girl scooted to the window and opened it. A short-eared owl sat on the sill and stared up at her with bright yellow eyes. It held its leg out to her, where there was a rolled up parchment tied to it. After removing it, the owl continued to sit on the sill, staring at Arabella expectantly. Remembering that Father Aldrich had given the owl last night a reward for its delivery, Bella hurried to her night table to fetch some leftover bread from the previous night. It was stale and the bird didn't appear to appreciate that, but it hooted and flew off anyway. Arabella watched it fly off and made sure Mary was still indisposed, before she unrolled the little scroll.
Miss Arabella,
I have written to the Founders of Hogwarts with great haste last night and received word this morning that they plan on meeting with you this afternoon. If you would like for me to join you and your mother, please send a note back with Dreda and I will be sure to be there.
I hope all goes well!
Yours,
Father Aldrich
Arabella looked into the sky where the little owl had flown off without waiting for a response. With a sigh, she stowed the letter away under her pillow to be recovered after she had finished dressing for the d ay. Perhaps her mother would send a messenger to the older man before whoever this representative was arrived.
1 Hour Later
"This afternoon?" Catherine read over the message Arabella received that morning in a panic. "What will I tell your father?"
"Tell me what?" The two women jumped in alarm and stowed the letter under a bowl on the table where they sat. Dumbfounded and at a loss for words, Catherine's mouth opened and shut like a fish, and in perhaps an act of her growing maturity, Bella responded.
"I've been contacted by a prestigious school, Father. They would like to discuss its merits later today."
"Oh. That's quite…sudden." Richard's forehead creased in thought as he contemplated this. "I've heard no prior news of this."
"Right…that's because…you were away!" Her voice raised an octave, surprised with her on-the-spot lies. "Yes, while you were in France I was contacted and since you weren't home, I saw fit to respond. Please don't be cross; I only agreed to hear what they had to say. Besides, Father Aldrich spoke very highly of the institution when I went to him for conference." Her last statement seemed to ease his mind, for his forehead smoothed out and a small smile grace his features.
"I see. Well, if Father Aldrich approves, I suppose there can be no harm. I will, of course, be sitting in with you and these representatives." Bella's face fell and she glanced at her mother for support, but was offered none. Catherine, too, hadn't a clue how to respond to their advantage.
"…of course, Father." Richard smiled, grabbed an apple from the bowl on the table (where the letter was hastily hidden) and walked out of the kitchen, leaving his women to their own devices.
"Mother!" Though Bella cried out accusingly, they both knew neither of them was at fault.
"Æthelweard!" Catherine called out towards the back of the kitchen, where a young boy, about sixteen years old came running out.
"Yes Mistress?"
"I need you to make haste to the monastery and bring Father Aldrich back immediately. Make sure to tell him it's very important."
"Yes Mistress," he said as he dusted flour from his hair and turned around to start his journey. With any luck, he would bring the older man back before their visitors arrived.
-Three Hours Later-
The kitchen boy did indeed make haste with his task and was rewarded with extra pay for the week, which he humbly, but gratefully accepted. Father Aldrich sat in the dining hall, with a cup of tea on the table in front of him and two very uncomfortable looking women across. Richard had been called for, before any food would be set out for lunch. It had been decided that Catherine and Arabella should have something in their stomachs to fend off any nausea they may experience during their meeting.
Before the man of the house joined them, however, Mary appeared in the entranceway, announcing that their visitor had arrived. Arabella and her mothing shared panicked looks before allowing Mary to let their guest in, despite Richard's absence. A moment later, a regal looking woman, draped in shimmering blue silks glided through the archway. She spotted her two hostesses and smiled, before gracefully making her way towards them.
"Greetings guest. We are pleased to make your acquaintance," Catherine stood and held her hand out for the regal woman, who lightly grasped it and lowered her forehead to it in respect.
"It is my pleasure, I assure you. These recent events are unprecedented. Most interesting." Her gaze met Arabella's who was still hunched over in her seat, unsure what to do, despite her years of training in propriety. "My name is Rowena Ravenclaw."
AN: Hi all. Do forgive me for the short chapter. I've been busy juggling grad school, work and attempting to write. Even still, I thought you (all 1 of you. Hi mom!) deserved an update.
As always, please please pleeeeeease review! They really brighten up my day.
I'm also not against receiving messages with any questions you might have. I'd love to chat!