Headmistress's Office

Diana has no idea why she is here in Headmistress Holbrooke's office.

It was close to curfew time, and Diana was just watching over the Beige Team, making sure they served their detention (with Chloe of course glaring at her the whole time) in the Fairy Worker's Bath when Professor Babcock suddenly came to her and informed her that the headmistress requested her presence.

And so, here she is, standing before the headmistress in front of her desk, wondering why she was summoned. She can't possibly have committed a detention-worthy offence, so she definitely isn't in trouble. But then why was she summoned to begin with?

"Miss Cavendish, perhaps you are wondering why I called you here..." Headmistress Holbrooke began. "Oh, don't worry, you're not in trouble at all. Your record stain-free, in fact."

"Yeah, except for the fact that she was the one who instigated the fight with Miss Dubois." Flight Instructor Nelson, standing right by the headmistress's side, cut in. "And Miss Cavendish pulled a Harry Houdini with it simply because Anne refused to believe she could-"

"Now, now, Adrien, let's keep the past to the past, shall we?" The headmistress turned toward the Flight Instructor and interrupted her. She then turned back to Diana. "So, where were we, Miss Cavendish? Oh, right. I called you here because I have something meant for you that will be here soon..."

As soon as the headmistress finished her sentence, a barn own flew in through the open window behind her, and dropped what appeared to be a letter on her desk before perching itself on one of the wooden carving hats.

"Oh, speaks of the Great Witch..." The headmistress expressed.

Nelson, on the other hand, looked at the owl with scrutiny. "Who on Earth still send hand-written letters by owls these days? Wouldn't it be more convenient to send emails?"

Diana, ignoring the Flight Instructor, had instantly recognized that barn owl. "Danielle? What are you doing here?"

The owl, Danielle, answered with a hoot.

"A letter for me? From who?" Diana then asked.

Headmistress Holbrooke picked up the letter, and held it out to Diana. "Maybe it's up to you to find out, Miss Cavendish..."

Diana nodded. She slowly approached the headmistress's desk, and took the letter into her hand. She then opened the letter and started reading through it.

To my niece, Diana.

I do hope you have had a fine first two weeks at Luna Nova.

I have heard of the Alumni Homecoming Banquet, and had this letter sent in order to inform you in advance that I will be attending as well, as an alumni of Luna Nova.

Perhaps I should reiterate that your father would be happy that you managed to enroll into one of the world's most prestigious school for witches. He also would've been proud of the achievements you could've made, like the ones your mother made when she studied alongside me in Luna Nova.

Anyway, you should be happy to also know that my daughters, Merill and Marill, won't be coming with me, as I am aware that you don't like them very much. They weren't invited to the banquet, and also aren't old enough to be legible for enrollment into Luna Nova.

From the caring hands of your aunt. -Daryll Cavendish.

P.S.: I'm also well aware that Headmistress Holbrooke has decided to merge the Homecoming Banquet with the Luna Nova-Appleton Friendship Ball in the interest of cutting down on expenses. In that case, I do feel sorry for you that you will be having an inevitable encounter with that damned Defense Minister Blackwell's son.

"Aunt Daryll... sent this?" Diana wondered out loud after reading the letter. "What else could she be planning?"

"Seems like Miss Cavendish has trust issues with her aunt..." Nelson pointed out.

Diana began to scrutinize the letter for anything else. When she found none, she turned her gaze toward Danielle. "Are there anything else I should be informed about?"

Danielle answered with a hoot.

Diana reeled back upon hearing that, as a shade of red emerged on her cheeks. "No, I will not be wearing a kilt to the Banquet!"

Danielle "talked" back with a humored-sounding hoot.

"Wh-what does my being-" Diana argued, but paused mid-sentence as she realized that in her embarrassed state, she has slipped back to her natural Scottish accent. "What does my being Scottish has to do with this?!" She restarted and finished with her usual posh English accent.

At the same time, Headmistress Holbrooke can't help but giggle at the sight. While Nelson struggled to keep down the urge to smirk.

Then, Danielle answered another one of Diana's arguments with yet another humored-sounding hoot.

This time, however, Diana's embarrassed look disappeared from her face, and is replaced with a look of anger, as she heard the owl's response.

"Don't. You. Dare. Bring. Up. That person." Diana emphasized each word with anger before turning around and, uncharacteristic of the ace student, stormed out of the headmistress's office without so much as a polite thanking.

Headmistress Holbrooke just sat there behind her desk, unsure of what to make of Diana's reaction to whatever it is that Danielle just told her.

"Huh. Looks like Miss Cavendish might have some daddy issues, after all." Nelson took note of it.

Meanwhile, Danielle turned toward the headmistress, and gave her a quizzical tilt of her head.

"I'm sorry, Danielle, but only Miss Cavendish can understand you, since you're her familiar..." The headmistress told the owl. "Also, would you mind perching someplace else? You are kind of being disrespectful to Woodward the Knowledgeable by perching on her hat..."

So, uh, I accidentally left this story untouched for a whole month. Again.

I honestly don't have an explanation for this blunder. So my apologies for it...

In any case, here's a short chapter to set up another element of the subplot involving the Banquet.

"Just remember: a believing heart is your magic..."

Afterword ends here.