Ellie learns a little about her parents' pasts and why they split up after the events of the Wizarding War. She gets a very brief introduction about what the Dark Arts are and finds out that her mother is what is called a "dark witch." Her mother, Evelyn, and her aunt, Ethelyn, get into a heated discussion about how much Ellie deserves to know about the past and their differing opinions on blood purity.

Six months had passed since the Dogwood family lost their daughter to the matron Sallow. In that time, the young girl, who officially acquired her mother's surname, learnt firsthand what it meant to live a life of luxury. The expensive clothing, fine sweets, and private tutors all contributed to her fancy new life, but it all started with the Sallow Villa.

The Villa, while not the most magnificent, had a quaint elegance to it. The home was surrounded by a brick fence that had dense ivy spilling over either side. A wrought iron gate opened to a cobblestone courtyard. In the centre of the courtyard was a two-tiered fountain large enough for one to comfortably sit on the edge without falling in. Along the perimeter of the courtyard were tall bushes decorated with cream-colored roses. The courtyard wrapped around the structure to the grassy back garden where a large patch of dirt had been tilled for growing vegetables and herbs. Large oak trees from the surrounding forest loomed over the brick barrier and much of the garden, supplying shade and a place for the Sallow owl to roost.

The house itself matched the fence with its dark brick pattern and deep green climbing ivy. It was two floors tall with a loft and cellar. The ground floor of the Villa had a narrow but tall entrance hall that featured an impressive antique chandelier hanging over the centre of the hall. Polished stone steps twisted upward to the first and second floors.

To the right of the entrance hall was the sitting room, full of cozy furniture, a grand piano enchanted to play music upon entry, and a dry bar with bottomless bottles of firewhiskey, brandy, and various imported liqueurs. There was also a large marble fireplace that acted as the centrepiece of the room. The sitting room had two entrances to the wintergarden where Evelyn would tend to rare herbs and carnivorous plants. A storage area in the middle of the wintergarden housed fertilizer, plant food, and pruning tools. Tucked away off the far corner of the sitting room was a snug furnished with only the plushest rugs and chaises, and walls made up entirely of overflowing bookcases – this room was Ellie's favourite, next to her own, of course.

To the left of the entrance hall was a quaint breakfast room connected to an elevated tearoom that had floor-to-ceiling windows instead of walls, allowing all the morning light to shine in. Next to the breakfast room was the kitchen, always spotless and fully stocked.

On the other side of the kitchen was the formal dining room which was home to a long, dark wooden table and matching chairs with emerald cushions. Two tall windows were on each wall, and between the windows were cabinets of priceless China dinnerware and colourful crystal glasses.

Off the dining room were steps descending into the wine cellar. While conventional cellars may have had unfinished floors and exposed wooden beams, the Sallow's cellar had stone floors and dark floral wallpaper behind tall wooden cabinets holding centuries-old wine, mead, and ciders; there was even a small wooden table and two chairs for taste-testing.

The first floor held all four of the bedrooms, each with their own unique décor. Ellie's bedroom was the smallest but was one of two bedrooms that had a balcony overlooking the courtyard. It was a stark contrast to the room she lived in during her stay with the Dogwoods, as she no longer had to share the room with other occupants. On the other side of the floor was her mother's bedroom, the largest, which also had a balcony over the courtyard. The remaining two bedrooms had traditionally been reserved for party guests but had recently been used to house the Sallow's new nanny, Abigail, and the elder Sallow sister, Ethelyn, during her brief visits.

Ellie fell into her new life gracefully. There was something about a larger, quieter home that she enjoyed over a close, intimate one – not having to fight over food, toys, or the toilet may have had something to do with it. Most days, it would just be Ellie alone at home with her nanny, Abigail, but she enjoyed the peace.

Each day her mother would leave for work, Abigail would cook Ellie breakfast, brush her hair, and welcome her private tutors into the Villa. Ellie had begun to see Abigail as a sort of 'big sister,' but the sentiment was quickly shot down by her mother as she told her, 'Eleanor, she is but a servant. Do not become attached. She is being paid dearly for her help, and that is all it is.'

Despite being seen as just another set of hands, Abigail was still granted holiday away from the Villa, but only if it worked out for the Sallow women. When she would take her leave, the elder Sallow sister, Ethelyn, would visit and take over her duties.

Ethelyn Sallow was a rough witch with olive skin and umber hair. Compared to her prim sister, she did not care much for her appearance. Her hair was always kept in a single long braid, her nails were often dirty, and she wore clothing spotted with mystery stains. While it was true that she rather strayed from their longstanding family values, there was no denying her lineage. Ethelyn still loved her family dearly, and cherished the times she was able to step in for the nanny. And, as it so happened, it was one of those holidays for the nanny, and Ethelyn was at the door.

"Aunty Ethel!" cheered Ellie as she ran to greet her aunt at the door. The dark-haired witch crouched down and hugged the air right out of her. The last time she saw her aunt was when she was getting settled into her new home. "What did you bring me this time?" she asked with sparkling eyes, imagining all the possibilities of new toys, jewellery, and clothing.

Ethel swung around a large knapsack and smiled sweetly at Ellie before plunging her hand into it. "Ready?" she asked.

Ellie nodded enthusiastically and held out her arms. Ethel withdrew her hand and dropped a hefty textbook into Ellie's palms, the weight nearly causing her to fall forward. The cover was faded and worn but she was still able to make out the title: One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.

Ellie's toothy grin faded into confusion as she turned the large book around and flipped through its pages.

"It's… old. And ratty."

Ethel paid no mind to the young girl's glaring disappointment and plunged her hand back into her knapsack. "There's more!"

"More old books?" asked Ellie dully.

"Root of aconite, sprigs of dittany, a jar of no-longer-jumping toadstools, and a bottle of Flobberworm Mucous," answered her aunt, piling supplies atop the book as she pulled them out.

"All of which you can learn about in this book!" Ethel tapped on the book for emphasis, nearly causing Ellie to drop everything.

"Now, I know it's early, Hogwarts is still years away, but it's never too early to start learning!"

Ellie looked down at her gifts with a pout. "You haven't got any candy?"

"Ellie, mind your manners," scolded her mother as she joined them in the entrance hall. She placed her hand on Ellie's shoulder as she smiled at her sister. "There's fresh pumpkin juice in the kitchen. Help yourself, Ethel."

"Oh, thank you, Eve. Don't mind if I do." Ethel patted Ellie on her head as she walked past them towards the kitchen.

As soon as Ethel was out of sight, Eve leaned down next to her ear and whispered, "Don't worry, I'll get you a new copy for school."

Over the next few months, Ethel made several short-term appearances in their home. During her visits, she would review a new chapter of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi with Ellie. They would plant the herb in the garden, harvest it, research it, and, with extra ingredients brought in by Ethel, craft homemade potions. What first felt like a bore to Ellie quickly became something she looked forward to each month. Crafting recipes and brewing potions with her aunt was much more involved than when her father tried to teach her. It certainly helped that she was free to experiment as she pleased without scolding from someone who knew nothing about magic.

In the garden, as usual, Ellie and Ethel were tending to the magical plants they were studying for the month. Ellie stopped pruning one of the dittany plants and turned to her aunt.

"Aunty Ethel?" she said, staring down at her shears.

"Yes, dear?" Ethel replied, tending to a healthy shrivelfig.

"What exactly happened between my parents?" Ellie asked in a small voice.

Ethel, who was sprinkling fresh plant food through the garden, paused a moment at Ellie's question.

"I believe that conversation would best be had with your mother, dear," she responded, and resumed tossing powdered floor along the rows of dittany.

Ellie groaned and threw her head back. "Mother just says the past is the past and that the future is what matters."

Ethel sighed as she wiped her brow. Exasperation was mixed in with the dirt and sweat on her face.

"No, no, no. The past is just as important as the future. How else would we learn from our mistakes? Okay, dear," Ethel set down the burlap sack of plant food and turned to Ellie. "What would you like to know?"

"Why did Mother leave in the first place? And why did she only come back for me?"

"Well, I guess I should start from the very beginning. As you may or may not remember, your father's family, the Dogwoods, are well known for being skilled duellists and curse-breakers. Our family, the Sallows, come from generations of what people call 'dark witches and wizards.'"

"Dark?"

"How do I put this…? Dark wizards tend to dabble in the more… risky… aspects of the magical world. This includes poisonous herbs, dangerous beasts, and severely powerful spells – the 'Dark Arts.'"

"Ooh! Does that mean you and Mother are dark witches?" asked Ellie with a twinkle in her eye and smile on her face. Ethel frowned at the girl's wonderment and wagged a finger at her.

"Eleanor, being a dark witch is not something you should aspire to be. It is a dangerous lifestyle, and, after all, it is why your father left your mother."

Ellie's face drooped. "Oh… But why?"

"Most dark witches and wizards have a certain set of, um, strong beliefs, that simply don't align with the rest of the wizarding world. These beliefs are what drove your parents apart."

"Like what?"

"Well…" Ethel hesitated. "Some purely magical families believe that muggles are, um, not as important as us magic folk."

Ellie's brows furrowed and lips pursed as she twirled a dittany leaf between her thumb and index finger.

"Is that why Mother only ever visited me, because Ansel and Charlie have a muggle for a mum?" She looked up at Ethel who nodded. Ellie hummed and looked up at the clouds lazily drifting above.

"So, we have no muggles in our family?"

"The Sallows, no. The Dogwoods were considered a pureblood family, but often would marry half-bloods – those who came from one magical parent and one muggle parent – to keep their lineage going."

"If Father is pureblood, would he not be a dark wizard too?"

"Dear, you can be pureblood without being a dark wizard, they do not always go hand-in-hand. In fact, most of our kind do not engage in the Dark Arts, but rather study how to protect oneself from it."

Ellie tapped her pruning shears into the dirt, trying to wrap her head around what her aunt was telling her.

"So… Mother left because of how Father felt about muggles? And… he let her because she's a dark witch and he isn't?"

"Erm. Not quite, but that certainly was the foundation of their dilemma. However, it was about much more than tha–"

A soft crack behind them, like that of a snapping twig, made Ethel stop midsentence – Evelyn had just apparated into the garden. Still in her pristine business attire, she looked rather out of place compared to the other two Sallows who were covered head to toe in dirt.

Ellie ran to greet her mother and welcome her back home from work, but Eve held up a hand to stop her.

"Eleanor, you are covered in filth. Make yourself presentable for dinner." Ellie nodded and ran inside to get cleaned up. Eve carefully stepped over towards Ethel, careful to not get soil on her boots.

"I must say, Ethel, I am most impressed. You are teaching her well," said Eve as she admired the healthy plants around the garden. Her eyes fell on her sister, who had a peculiar look on her face that Eve did not quite like. She looked at her with suspicion and crossed her arms.

"What is it, Ethel?"

"Eve, she's asking me questions. Questions about what happened between you and Desmond. You must talk to her. The girl wants to know–" Ethel was cut off by Eve pointing a finger at her in a rather threatening manner.

"How much did you tell her?" asked Eve.

"I didn't go into detail. I certainly didn't try to sway her one way or the other, if that's what you're so concerned about," Ethel responded defensively, taken aback by Eve's sudden change in demeanour.

Eve stared at her sister. Ethel stared back, unwavering.

"Fine," said Eve with disdain. She turned on her heels and sashayed towards the house. "We will all talk over dinner, then. Bring some sage with you on your way in." Without another glance at her sister, Eve entered the house and slammed the door shut behind her.

A couple hours passed, and dinner was ready and on the dining room table. The Sallow home was filled with delicious aromas of sweet and savoury. A large dish with a roasted marmalade-glazed duck was placed in the middle of the table. Around the duck was a variety of roasted vegetables, and on each set of dinnerware was a small cup of parsnip chowder.

Eve sat down at one end of the table and gingerly placed her napkin in her lap as she waited for her daughter and sister to be seated. Ethelyn was next and sat across from Eve at the other end of the table. A few moments later, Ellie, now free of outdoor litter, took a seat at the side of the table. The Sallow women passed around the duck platter, forking meat and vegetables to their respectable plates. Once everyone had their helping, they began to eat.

"So, Eleanor," said Eve, shooting a look at her sister. "Your aunt Ethelyn informed me that the two of you had a nice little chat earlier in the garden…"

Ellie stopped chewing and stared at her mother with wide eyes.

"I am not upset that you asked her for answers. I have come to realize that you are old enough now to know. I am willing to answer any questions you have." She smiled sweetly at her daughter. Ellie finished her bite of food and dabbed at her mouth with her napkin.

"Are you still a dark witch?" she asked excitedly. Eve raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Ethel, who averted her gaze.

"Well, yes," said Eve slowly, her attention back on her daughter. "I do still practice the Dark Arts. In fact, my job is not just to research magical beasts, but I also breed and sell creatures considered by the Ministry to be quite dangerous."

"Is Aunty Ethel still a dark witch?"

Eve couldn't help but laugh derisively at the question. "No, darling, Aunty Ethel is not a dark witch and never was one. Although, it was not for a lack of trying. She just… didn't have it in her." There was a sharp clank from across the table as Ethelyn dropped her fork on her plate and calmly intertwined her fingers in front of her. Tension floated around the dining table as the two sisters stared at each other with unreadable expressions.

"Why did I have to stay with Father? Why couldn't I go with you? I like it better here." Ellie kicked her feet in front of her as she stared down at her plate. "Except I do terribly miss Suzie…"

The corners of Eve's lips pulled upward at the same time Ethelyn's lips pursed. Ethelyn rapped on the table and mouthed words unseen to Ellie in Eve's direction. Eve waved her sister's words away with a hand and finally broke the link their eyes shared.

"Well, we Sallows were raised to believe that pureblood families are superior to muggles. This sentiment has been around since the medieval ages when muggles would hunt our kind."

"We were hunted?" Ellie asked, shocked. "Like animals?"

"Yes," said Eve. "It is why we must not let muggles know magic is real. You see, muggles are fragile little things. They fear what they do not understand. Some of us believe wizarding kind would be better off without muggles; others, such as your father, believe it possible to live in harmony with them – magic and all."

"But what does that have to do with me staying with Father?"

"Oh, it has everything to do with it. I am sure your father told you stories of his work before you were born?" Ellie nodded and took a bite from her plate, eyes never leaving her mother as she told the tale.

"Your father was an Auror for the Ministry during the war. I was on the other side. I was part of the Dark Rebellion with your grandfather. It was an eye-for-an-eye type situation, really. We simply wanted the muggles to experience what they had put our kind through for centuries. Your father, being an Auror, was tasked with stopping us using any means necessary."

Ellie's jaw dropped and a half-chewed carrot tumbled from her mouth back onto her plate. Just as Eve expected, Desmond clearly never told Ellie the entire story.

"After the war, your father and I tried to make our relationship work, but the strain was too great. His job was on the line because of my involvement in the Dark Rebellion, and he was not quite fond of my… friends. We worked out a deal: I was to hand you over to him in exchange for immunity from prosecution."

"Pro-se-cution…?"

"Answering for one's crimes," answered Ethel, who had a sour look on her face.

Eve shot a nasty look at her sister. "We did not commit crimes. The only crimes committed were that of the Ministry allowing the killings of pureblood wizards. If anyone committed a crime, it was Desmond for killing my– our friends."

"Is that why you came to get me?"

"Not entirely. We Sallows are historically very skilled witches. I only wanted you to reach your full potential and that would never have happened if you were raised by that Lorna woman. I would have come to you sooner, my darling, but I was oblivious until your letter. I hadn't the foggiest that your father married a muggle, let alone started a new family with one. You simply did not belong there."

A silence fell over the dining room. Ellie had returned to her plate and thoughtfully chewed as she considered what her mother had told her.

"Did you and grandfather kill people in the war?"

Eve hummed and looked over at her sister with a sly grin – Ethel was shooting daggers at her and shaking her head. Once more, the sisters locked eyes and exchanged unspoken words. Eve's grin lessened as she turned back to her daughter.

"People of our kind? No, no. Others in the Rebellion did, but we did not. The muggles, however, were not so luck–"

A harsh screech echoed through the dining room as Ethel abruptly shot up from the table before Eve could finish.

"Evelyn. Kitchen. NOW."

Eve chuckled and stood. She could feel the fire coming from her sister as she waited for her at the kitchen door. Eve casually gathered up the dinnerware, stacking everything meticulously and in order of shape and size.

"Mother, what about dessert?" Ellie, the only one left at the table, asked with pleading eyes, seemingly unfazed by the dinner conversation. Eve brushed hair from Ellie's face and caressed her cheek.

"It appears there will be no dessert tonight, darling, but don't you worry. We will get you double the sweets next time we go into town. How does that sound? Now, get ready for bed. I will be there shortly to tuck you in."

Ellie hopped out of the chair and gave her mother a quick hug before running to give Ethel one, as well. Eve followed with the dishes as the three Sallow women entered the kitchen. Eve set the dishes in the sink and waved her wand over them to have them self-wash. Ethel watched through the other door for Ellie to disappear up the stairs and, after she did, Ethel strutted over to Eve at the sink.

"Are you a complete loon?" she asked in a hushed voice.

"Why are you so bothered?" asked Eve in a similar tone. "She wanted answers, I gave her answers. I only did as you asked, my dear sister."

"Eve, she is only seven. Do you think it is wise to tell a mere child about your time murdering muggles for fun?"

Eve snorted and crossed her arms. "For fun? I was obeying orders – orders that you refused. Perhaps you recall what I had to agree to so the Dark Lord would spare you?"

Ethel shifted uncomfortably and averted her eyes to the ground. "Even then you followed him blindly, and still would, too, if he were alive," said Ethel, her voice barely above a whisper.

"He is alive!" Eve threw her arms up in front of her in exasperation; this was not the first time she had this conversation with her sister over the years. "There is absolutely no way an infant child could have ended him just like that! I refuse to believe it."

Ethel shook her head and turned her back to her sister. "Fine… let us say he is alive. If he appeared at your doorstep tomorrow, would you be so bold as to fulfil your agreement?"

A heavy silence fell over the kitchen.

"And you wonder why I am so apprehensive about Eleanor learning about all this. You tell tell her that the past is in the past, yet you yourself cannot let go, not even for your family's sake."

"Ethelyn Alice, I agreed to it to save your life! I agreed to it before I even knew I was with child! You cannot stand there and tell me I do not care for my family!"

"Evelyn Anne," said Ethel in a mocking tone, turning to scowl at her sister. "As far as I see it, you are simply priming Eleanor to walk in your footsteps. The poor child would have been better off – safer, even – with Desmond and the muggle–"

"How dare you imply–" said Evelyn through bared teeth as she marched towards her.

"Don't interrupt me, Evelyn!" Ethel barked back, pointing at Eve and making her stop in her path.

"I may indeed have once been like you," Ethel continued, "but I will not stand behind such antiquated ideals – especially not after the war. If it were not for the muggles, our kind would have disappeared centuries ago. That is a fact."

Evelyn opened her mouth to interject but was silenced again with a single finger.

"Just look at Mother's family – they were as pure as purebloods could be and see how they ended up. It is a miracle that you and I were even born. There are only so many pureblood families left – it is ridiculous to think our kind can survive without muggles!"

"Believe what you want, but don't you dare try to sway Eleanor. She is my daughter," said Eve, stepping closer to Ethel. "You saw how her eyes lit up at the mention of the Dark Arts. She has a natural curiosity that must be explored. She is destined for wonderful things, just like the rest of us. Well," she looked her sister up and down. "Most of us."

The sisters stood in the kitchen, the only sound coming from the clinking of the dishes cleaning themselves. Ethel's fists were balled at her side, a fact Eve was not oblivious to. She had struck a nerve, one that had been struck many times since before the war and continuously after. This time, however, it felt different, more tense, like they were nearing a breaking point.

"It appears I have overstayed my welcome," said Ethel softly, unclenching her fists at her sides. She appeared eerily calm, except for the eyebrow that twitched as she spoke. "I will take my leave. Tell Ellie I will send her more supplies shortly."

A loud crack split through the kitchen as Ethel's form stretched and twisted before balling up and disappearing entirely. Eve scoffed and shook her head. She expected as much to happen over dinner. Her and Ethelyn had strayed too far since their adolescence. Once inseparable, they hardly ever agreed on anything anymore. Still, as Eve told her daughter, the past was the past and it was the present that mattered – the present that involved Eleanor being home, where she belonged, reborn as a true Sallow.

Thank you for reading!

In Chapter 3, The Other Kids, Ellie learns more about her family history and her mother's involvement in the Dark Rebellion. They take an evening trip to the home of a family friend where Ellie meets the children of several of her mother's business associates. Amongst these children is the spoilt son of the family friend, two rather large boys lacking much intellect, and a sarcastic bookworm who would rather be anywhere else.