Renato had been quiet for the rest of the day, which was unusual for the boy. He normally was way more active.

He only crawled out of his hole the next day to join his sister on the couch as she was reading her textbooks in advance. he peeked over her shoulder, getting enraptured in the content as well, mesmerized by what his sister would be learning and excitedly chatting with her about the possibilities.. well… at least until they sat the books down and he once again realized that… that it wasn't Sen and Ren but… just Sen.

He would never learn any of it. He would never be able to have his own wand and learn magic and explore the possibilities. It was Sen, Sen alone who would head to Beauxbatons and he would stay here… alone… in italy.

He abruptly stood up to walk out of the room, Sen looking quite startled at the sudden swing in mood but Giorgia instantly went to distract her daughter.

Francesco followed his son though, finding him outside where Ren angrily kicked against the stones lying around in their garden.

The young child clenched his fists "This is unfair!"

"It is… I get that."

"Why only Sen? We always did everything together! Why only her?"

"Ren… come here."

Renato looked angrily, his shoulders hunched as he truculently walked towards his father.

"Life isn't always fair… and I wish it was different. I am delighted to know Sen is special in that way but… I'm not a fan of her leaving home either and… I would have liked you two to be together. You always protected your older sister."

"She's older by two minutes. it doesn't count."

"Ren… I get that you're angry. I really do. But is that really how you want to deal with it?"

"But I'm mad!"

"Yes…. but.. the term starts in a week… your sister will leave in a week and it will be a month until you see her again. Don't you think it will be better if you say goodbye to her on good terms?

It's not just you that will be alone. You still have us but Sen will be alone in france. No family, no friends."

the boy glanced at his father "Then she needs me even more. I should be with her."

"But you can't."

"She shouldn't go then."

"Which is not an option."

"Then make it an option. Nothing is impossible."

"I can't teach her myself… and… we don't have that kind of money a private tutor would require. we have to send her."

"I don't like it."

"You don't have to but… Ren.. this isn't the time to be mad. You should try to be happy for her. Cheer her on. You two always did. It's just a few weeks until you see her again but… Sen is nervous too. She got a special gift and we should celebrate it and support her."

Renato looked away, arms crossed "I'm special too."

"Naturally. You both are, just special in different ways. You are both unique and it just happens that Sen is a witch. It doesn't make you less special but… we should celebrate it. We should cheer her on. She is still not really happy with going as she has to leave you, same as that you are mad about it.

Being a sibling isn't always easy but… in this instance you should be the bigger man and be happy for her."

"But… Sen will leave."

"Yes, she will but not forever.. just until the holidays and you can write letters. The whole time. You won't be seeing her as much but you will enter a new school as well. Higher schooling."

"School is easy."

"Yes, because you're brilliant. You are our little genius. Just remember that. You are more than just smart, bambino. Remember how they offered you to skip grades? You could do that now."

"But I didn't because Sen wouldn't be able to."

"Yes… I am aware but… well.. " the father sighed "You are eleven, almost 12. I know you two always were inseparable but maybe it's time for you two to become a bit more independent and focus on yourself.

Sen will learn to be a witch and you can focus on your academics. How about it? We will get you a new hobby. Something you want to try out that you never did before as Sen had no interest in it. Something just for you."

"It's not the same… Sen has magic."

Francesco crouched down. ruffling through his son's curls "I know… I know but that's life. Everyone has their own talents and abilities. we can focus on you. we can find you even more things you like.. how about Mamma makes your favorite food today?"

"Vongole Fettuccine?"

"Yes."

The boy slowly nodded, slightly cheered up.

"But… when you go back inside I want you to try to cheer up. You can't let your emotions destroy the time you have with your sister. Do you really want her to start her school all guilt ridden and even more sad?"

Renato slowly shook his head "But… she… Sen… Sen will be gone."

Francesco slowly wrapped his arm around his son, pulling him in a hug "And you need to be mature for that. You always say you're already grown up, right? You should show that."

"But…" a slight sniffle escaped Renatos mouth as he hurriedly lifted his hands to hide his face.

"Bambino… you can cry. It's alright. Your Papá is sad too."

and slowly Renato pressed his face against his fathers chest, his tears silent and carefully trying to hide them from the outside world, only his papá was allowed to know he was crying, no one else.

Renato did give his best, he was still quieter than normal but he at least didn't avoid his sister anymore.

He did hide himself in his room the day before her departure, not willing to watch her pack.

In the late hours when they were already supposed to go to bed he sneaked outside of his room, not even knocking on Sens' door but instead heading inside "Sen? You still awake?"

"Yeah… can't sleep."

He nodded before he slowly came closer, taking in the sight of her, how she was buried in her blanket, Bitto as so often on her head.

He waited a moment, before he gathered his courage to just climb in bed with her, same as he had always done, slipping under the covers "Sen?"

"Yes?"

"I don't want you to leave."

She fiddled with her thumbs "But… I have to."

"I still don't want you to."

"I… I know… I don't want to leave you either."

"Will you forget about me?"

"No! Why would I?"

"Because you got all this fancy stuff… magic… and.. stuff."

"But you're Ren,. you're my twin.. I don't want to leave you."

"But you're still going."

"I don't have a choice."

"You like going. You want to go."

"I… ren." she pulled her legs closer, eyes misted over "I don't want to leave you."

"But you want to go."

"I… it's magic."

He nodded before he leaned back, slowly leaning back "You will forget about me. You will find all those fancy magic friends and do all those magic things and then you won't even want to come back for break."

"I will come back! How could I ever leave you. Ren.. I... you're way more important than magic. You heard Rossi, right? I'm loyal, totally loyal and you're the one I'm loyal to. You're my twin."

"Then stay." he simply stated as if it was the easiest thing in the world to do.

"I can't."

"Make it happen. nothing is impossible, we just have to do it."

"I can't, Ren… things are impossible.. I… what should I do?"

"Run away."

"Run away? But then I leave Mamma and Papá."

"But you would have me and you leave them as well if you go to your stupid magic school."

"It's not stupid."

"Yes, it is. It's totally stupid and it sucks and if you're still going then you suck too! You and your stupid wand! You both suck!" he jumped up, falling on the floor when he got entangled in the blanket. His eyes burning but he threw the door close behind him as he ran to his own room.