Chapter 52 – Learn to Fly

30 April, 2010

The Seven Swans Pub

Godric's Hollow, Somerset, United Kingdom

Hermione Granger

Draco and I arrived at the pub after the others. I had to take a cold shower since he kissed me after the quidditch game. I couldn't even be mad a him for kissing me, it was like coming home. I'm never going to make it through this if he keeps kissing me like that. No one has ever kissed me like Draco. Though the pub is packed, we find Harry, George, Josh, and Mikey fairly quickly.

I walk over to Harry and give him a hug. He yells at me, "How the hell did you learn to fly like that?"

I look at Josh and smirk, then I look at Harry who is wearing short sleeves and catch a sight I didn't expect. I raise his sleeve and see a tattoo of a Hungarian Horntail. "Harry, when did you get a tattoo?"

He runs his hands through his hair and Draco laughs next to me, "Yeah, Potter why don't you tell her why there is a dragon on your left arm."

Harry raises his eye brow, and says, "You mean she hasn't seen all of yours?"

I look between them, "What's going on?"

George places his are around Harry's shoulder and cuts into the conversation, "While you have been away these wankers have taken to betting. You see, Malfoy stayed away from public eye for two years and in order to accept him to our Wednesday Blokes' Nights he had to partake in certain challenges to prove his worthiness of sitting with us. All in good fun, mind you. He had to eat a meal with his feet on the table, he had to sit through a whole night in a Gryffindor jumper, and serenade all of The Leaky with 'This is the Night', by The Weird Sisters."

Draco laughed, "Well Potter bet against me every time, so I had to win Theo galleons from the Boy-that-Never-Dies."

Potter laughs, "I thought I taught you a lesson about that name in '08 when you bet I couldn't win us the championship in twenty minutes."

Draco moans, "Erm, quiet, Potter!"

Harry laughs and lifts his shirt and turns around in the middle of his back is a tattoo of a caricature Draco's face with slicked back hair he had in school that says "I Draco Malfoy". I laugh and when he turns around he says, "I had to get this when Malfoy bet me he would score three hundred points in a championship in '07. Now Malfoy, show her yours."

Draco mumbles, "ifuckinghateyou." He turns around, lifts his shirt, and on his lower back is a lightening bolt and in flowery font below it says, ' The Boy I Loved .'

I lift his shirt higher and there are a couple more tattoos. One is ferret, the other is a hippogryff. Josh comes around behind me and places his chin on my shoulder.

Josh laughs and says, "Holy fuck, Mi! Your man has a tramp stamp! Classic!"

I laugh and hug Draco to me, "Yeah, but he's my tramp!"

Draco turns and kisses my temple, and Harry says, "That's what he gets for continuously calling me the Boy-That-Doesn't-Die. Mia quit avoiding questions. Tell me how did you learn to fly like that?"

26 December, 1999

Ranch aux Trios Riviéres (Three Rivers Ranch)

Fergus County, Montana, U.S.A

Hermione Granger

Ranch aux Trios Riviéres is the Ranch now owned by Sasha's father. It's been passed down through the generations on Sasha's mothers side. Sasha has an Indigenous American many greats grandmother who is 223 years old. Her tribe was pushed northwest into Canada and when Aponi was fourteen years old she met and married a French Soldier. The French soldier, a wizard of English descent, was a younger son. When he turned eighteen, he joined the French Army and moved to Canada where he met and fell in love with young Aponi. Aponi's brothers consented to the marriage for Aponi's protection. Aponi was a very powerful witch whom was endangered by witch hunters. They traveled west and were able to claim a very large piece of land in Montana. Their farm became the epicenter of trade in the area. Aponi was quite charismatic in her younger days and convinced the local tribes who had settled near them to trade goods. This is how the farm grew and started to flourish using a barter system with local Native American tribes trading potions, cattle, and horses. Because Aponi's husband was a wizard, he was able to apparate east to trade goods for grain, corn, and various fruits and vegetables he could magically grow.

Until the Louisiana purchase in 1803 the ranch was a small piece of land. Since Aponi's husband had dual citizenship of both English and French, he was able to claim 100,000 acres as his. This protected three of the indigenous tribes they traded with. Throughout the eighteenth century until around 1840, they massed a huge amount of money trading in various parts of Montana. One of Aponi's son-in-laws discovered a gold mine and pilfered it completely empty. He was the husband of the heir to Three Rivers Ranch (Whom was Aponi's granddaughter.) Over the course of ten years he slowly traded his gold and massed a fortune of one million dollars, which in today's money is equivalent to ten million dollars. His children whom attended Ilvermory bragged to their friends and after the Civil War Helena had massed a decent sized community of wizards.

The next three generations, Three Rivers Ranch began to produce mostly magical plants. When Constance (Connie) Iverson was born in 1950, her father sold most of their land due the rise in taxes. She met her husband while working at a magical hospital in Houston, Texas during her clinicals at McGovern Magical Medical School when he was in a quidditch accident.

Paul Trueblood being a professional quidditch player, pursued Connie. He was the oldest son of the biggest producer of magical plants in the country. The Truebloods owned several farms in Texas, Colorado, California, Kansas, and Iowa.

In 1980, Paul and Constance moved to Montana to take over the Three Rivers Ranch. Connie, being the eldest daughter inherited the land when her father died in a hippogryff stampede. When Paul started working on the ranch in 1980, Aponi agreed to sell him the land since she said she was dying the next year. Trueblood farms now includes Three Rivers Ranch. Paul, after buying out his brothers from the business during the recession in the 1990's, now is the sole owner of Trueblood farms. His brothers work for him on the existing farms and are paid decent salaries.

I wondered why Sasha gave me this history during our road trip to Montana from Massachusetts. I suppose she was trying to fill the silence. I found it strange she didn't tell me the name of the French Soldier, but Connie let it slip yesterday during Christmas dinner. The French soldier, whom was a second son of an English wizard was a man by the name of Spartacus Malfoy.

I understood why she didn't tell me. The name Malfoy sent me into a panic attack during dinner and I have been sulking since.

Before we left Cambridge for the epic journey in my new 1999 VW Beetle, I purchased a house. It's a three story stand alone townhouse on a quiet block right outside of campus. It has four bedrooms, and since rent is so costly in the area, I asked Sasha, Mac, and Kelly if they wanted to live with me. I have really become close to all of them, despite my insistence I don't need friends. I have found I their company very refreshing. Even the men they are friends with have become sort of my friends too. Colton and I talk all the time about how to make improvements to wizarding society. Josh and I debate over magical history and magical theories. Jason and Mikey are friendly. They remind me of George and Fred. They have charisma together but apart they are quite calm.

I really like Colton the best. He has taken the role of protector. He makes sure I'm eating. He is always bringing me food. After I told him about how thin I became while on the run, he became concerned about my health. We've started running together on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday mornings. We talk so much about business ideas. I have enrolled at M.I.T. so I could learn how to do the things we have talked about.

Colton and I's friendship became a problem with Kelly. She's never said anything, but I could tell she was jealous even though they are not dating. They have quite a history that goes back to when they were pre-teens.

In late November, I sat Kelly, Sasha, and Mychaelia down and told them a bit about my history. I took 6 drops of Vertiserum and I explained, all my friends at Hogwarts were boys. I don't look at men the way most girls do. I don't meet a man and analyze if they are a potential partner. It never occurs to me, they would even want me. Men never want me. Period. I then had to explain HIM. It was the first time I'd allowed myself to talk about it. After that talk, the four of us became closer.

When the talk was finished, we hugged and Kelly apologized to me for being jealous. Then I had to sit through a lecture on ways to improve my self worth. Whatever. It doesn't change the fact that I'll always be the bushy-haired, bucked-tooth, insufferable know-it-all that apparently has the sex appeal of a fucking rock.

They don't know what it's like, they are all perfectly beautiful. Sasha is tall and by far the most gorgeous woman in existence. Kelly looks like a literal fucking angel. Mac makes Ginny Weasley look like a troll. I always thought Ginny was the most beautiful, red headed girl. Mac's wavy long dark red hair, deep forest green eyes, and perfect ivory skin is only enhanced by her sweet personality and intelligence.

All of their looks pales in comparison to their confidence. They are all very secure with who they are. They are secure in their friendships. They are secure in what they want to do with their lives.

I feel like I'm drowning everyday. If I even think of home, I'm crushed physically with sadness. There are days I just want to crawl in my very nice walk in closet and never leave. It's hard to smile, harder to laugh, and impossible to feel anything but guilt, pain, and emptiness.

Sasha, Josh, and I spent Christmas with her family. Her parents really are the best of people. They have shown me kindness, and had purchased me just as many presents as they did their own kids. It was a sweet gesture. Sasha's younger brother and sister who are both thirteen are everything I wasn't when I was their age.

I was thirteen when he first called me a mudblood. His bullying was unrelenting my Second Year. He even started physically attacking. The worst was when he tripped me on the moving staircases. I broke my arm and had to spend a night in the infirmary with the agonizing pain of having Skele-Gro heal my bones. It was quite traumatizing. He usually only shoved me or pushed my books off my desk, but the push down the stairs was traumatizing.

I grab the bottle vodka I've been drinking and take a huge gulp. I'm currently hiding in a barn after I heard Josh call me mental this morning as I was entering breakfast room. I had just gotten to the doorway when he said, "She's fucking mental." Fuck him!

Josh was taken into the Trueblood household when he was fourteen. Sasha said her dad really liked him and wanted to help him get away from the foster care system. Mr. and Mrs. Trueblood adopted him. Josh kept his last name to honor his parents, but treated like a member of the family.

I thought Josh and I were on friendly terms. He was my Potions 101 lab partner. Calling me mental only brings up memories of how Ron treated me. Maybe I am mental, there has to be something fundamentally wrong with me. After all, everyone calls me mental.

I hear a noise in the barn where I am currently hiding with my beaded bag and supply of endless vodka. I look up and see Sasha's father. Shit. Shit. Fuck.

He smiles at me, he takes a seat next to me. This man is a giant in comparison to me. After a couple of minutes he sighs, "I'm a whiskey man myself."

We sit in silence for a few more minutes. He clears his throat and starts speaking, "While I was in college, my twin, Peter was killed over in Vietnam. Everyone adored Peter. He was outgoing, a little rambunctious, good with the ladies, and a hard worker. He was seven minutes older than me. When he died, that made me heir of my dad's company. It was a responsibility I never wanted. Peter went against our father, and entered the draft even though wizards are exempt from no-mag drafts. It took me a long time to adjust to a life without him. He was my best friend. I know it doesn't compare to losing both your parents and having to make choices on who lives and who dies, but I promise, ain't nothin' at the bottom of that bottle but more heartache. I can't tell ya how pissed off I am at your government for using a bunch of children to fight a war. If it were one of my kids, I'd tear the world apart to keep 'em safe. You guys had to suffer through a war. Then those bastards put your names on a bunch of propaganda in the aftermath to justify their shitty decisions. I had friends that fought in NAM. Those that came back were never the same. Joe didn't talk to anyone for three years. Ted, well Ted never found his way out of the bottle. I know what war does to a person. I hear you're the brightest witch of your age. From what Josh, Jason, and Sasha tell me, I know it's true. I'd hate for all those brains to go to waste in the bottom of that bottle your tryin' a hide."

I feel the tears coming. "I-I haven't been drinking much. It's just-just I don't know how to feel normal anymore. My heart feels so empty. Leaving was the only thing I could think of to stop all the hurt inside of me. Everything about the war and that last year haunts me constantly. I am really enjoying going to university. I have never been able to have real intellectual discussions with any of my peers before. Being in a place where…where everyone is so brilliant is my personal heaven. I sh-should be enjoying every minutes I'm there. All I can think about is…I miss H-Home l-like I'm missing a limb. I miss my mum's Sheppard's Pie. I miss the smell of antiseptic mouthwash. I miss….it doesn't matter. I'll never be able to have it. It's hard to breathe some days, and I feel there are days I have to force myself to keep doing it. I'm so lost."

He holds out his hand with a vial. "It's your choice, baby girl. You can take this vial and we can try to find you, or I can walk out and pretend I didn't see you today. If you take that vial, we'll go do something to get your mind off the heavy, and just maybe have some fun. I'll never take away your choice. I'll walk away if you want and you can find what's at the end of that bottle."

I look up in his eyes. They are hopeful like he believes in me. I've only known this man a few days. Until now I thought he was a quiet man who didn't say much. He's been observing me this whole time. He sees potential in me, and fuck if that doesn't feel good to have someone to hope for me.

I take the vial of Sober-up potion. I smile at Mr. Trueblood. "Thank you, Mr. Trueblood."

I take the cork out of the vial and swallow all the potion. Ugh…why does it always taste like rotting eggs?

I feel the potion clearing the haze from the vodka. I sit with my eyes closed for a few minutes feeling the numbness I had achieved with the vodka fade away. It hurts so much. I finally look over at Mr. Trueblood and the look in his eyes nearly crushes me. He's proud of me. I can't express how much I needed to see that look in someone's eyes.

I have felt so alone, and though Sasha has become a good friend, and her friends have been kind to me, it pales to having this stoic, giant of a man show pride in me.

He smiles, "I hate these fucking winters in Montana." He stands up and holds his hand out for me, "Let's get out of here."

I take his hand, and he helps me up, "Are you ready?" He asks.

I manage a half a smile and say, "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

He takes out his wand, "You're gonna like this."

We apparate, and it's something I never experienced before. First there was no crack of apparation. Second, the feeling of being squeezed through a tube didn't occur. The final thing I notice, is it's warm. It's nearly 20 degrees instead of well below 0. We landed in an open field. I can see for miles in every direction.

Mr. Trueblood smiles, "Ahh this is more like it. It's about 70 degrees. I miss Texas winters."

I look at him shocked, "But Texas has to be over 1500 miles away. How could we apparate that far."

He just laughs and shakes his head, "Right, you're European. I suggest you take a class at Harvard in Apparation. Some European crackjob came up with the spell most Europeans use in the seventeenth century to limit people from being able to travel too far. It was to keep people from apparating across borders. I played with a German while I was pro. He said all Europeans are told they can't apparate more than 300 miles and are taught a shit spell that prevents them from apparating properly. That is why the class and certifications occur at your government buildings. Apparation is a very controlled act. So by controlling what the common wizen population learns about apparating of controls the resources people would look up in order to apparate the way they should. It prevents wizards jumping country borders. There is nothing preventing anyone from leaving their country. The governments just want to regulate who comes and who goes in and out of their countries. They are all very territorial in Europe. Wizards are able to safely apparate 3000 miles if they are properly trained. With the correct spell and training you should be able to apparate silently and without splinching."

What?! "That's barmy! Why would they do such a thing?"

He nods, "Why indeed. It's one of the many reasons millions of wizen left Europe. They disagreed with the control the governments were placing on witches and wizards. A great many wizards made huge prophets by exploiting money from no-mag aristocrats. Most first generation witches and wizards fled to the Americas to start over. Salem School and Castlebruxo were established by groups of first generation wizards who faced prejudices in Europe. Making the true spell for Apparation illegal was the final straw for many."

"Isn't Trueblood a British name?"

He smiles, "Ahh. Yes we are British. Truebloods were once members of the Ancient and Noble House of Black."

I raise my eyebrows. "Really? One of my favorite people was a Black. He died crossing the veil."

Paul places his hand on my shoulder, "No one knows what happens when a person passes through a veil. Just 'cause no one has ever come back from one, doesn't mean it's death. I have a hard time believing we are the only intelligent life in the universe. I certainly don't believe we are part of a simulation like my son tried to argue this summer after watching The Matrix. There have been veils found all over the world. I believe there is another explanation for them, but we'll never know until we know. I'm sorry about your friend. Anyway, Truebloods are Blacks that changed their names after Perseus Black associated our name with horrible things."

"Like, maybe the Black Plague?"

He nods, "So you know the story. Well, the siblings of Perseus Black renounced the Black family name and since our blood is true, we became the Truebloods. Perseus being the terrible human he was, had many children and continued the Black family line. The Truebloods left England when Phineas Nigellas Black started teaching at Hogwarts in 1840. Truebloods never trust a Black especially with our children. The Head of House moved us all to America. He purchased this plot of land and over the decades expanded it to over 88,000 acres. That brings us to why are we are here. I'm going to teach you how to fly."

I shake my head vigorously, "Mr. Trueblood I appreciate the sentiment, I do. I really hate flying."

He smirks, "Why?"

"I don't trust brooms. I don't like relying on someone else's magic when there are several feet between me and the ground. The brooms are shaky and feel unreliable. In addition, to that I rather not fond of heights."

He smiles, "Let me guess, you have only used brooms made in Europe correct?"

"I-I…really they make the brooms shakey on purpose as well?"

He smiles, "They really aren't made for distances. Well North America is approximately nine point five million square miles. You, as a witch have free reign to explore the whole of that distance. There is nothing more freeing that the freedom to go where you want with the wind blowing through your hair. Let me call Josh."

I don't want to see Josh right now. He called me mental. He's rude like Ronald. "Mr. Trueblood, I would prefer not to see Josh right now, he called me 'mental.' I think I need some space from him."

He laughed at that, "Darling, I was there for that conversation you overheard this morning and I saw your face when he said, 'She's mental.' He was talking about Scarlett. My baby girl has taken her name sake a bit too far, and aspires to be as horrible as Scarlett O'Hara. My girl can be sweet, but she's always plottin'. The majority of women in my life fit that description, and my boy Josh, likes to point that out."

He gets his mobile out of his pocket, "Josh, I need you to come to the back field at Momma's. You have five minutes."

He puts his phone away. "I heard you and Sash talking about flying yesterday. I know you don't particularly like it. I believe you were never taught properly. Let me teach you something I love. I miss being on the field. I was a hell of a chaser. Flying is freedom. You are an American now. As an American you can do anything, be anything, and say anything you want. You wanna fight for the rights of others, you can shout it from the roof tops. You don't like someone, tell them 'Fuck off!' You do not have to hide your big feelings behind some misconstrued need for politeness. Manners are only needed at the dinner table. Be whoever your heart desires. You have the freedom to do so. There ain't nothing more freeing than flying. Every six year old, magic or otherwise, knows witches fly on brooms. Let me teach you something that will be freeing. Someone who has the balls to leave everything they know, has the balls to fly, baby doll."

"I…Uh…" I fall to the ground when Josh apparates on top of me.

"FUCK! SHIT! I'm so sorry Mi." Josh helps me up, and holds me to him.

I pull away. "It's ok. It was an accident."

Mr. Trueblood pulls out his wallet and hands Josh a credit card. "I need you to go to The District in New Orleans a buy Mia a Witching Hour Deluxe."

Josh laughs, "Paul, she's 20 not 90."

Mr. Trueblood huffs, "Are saying I don't know my brooms, son? She needs stability to overcome her fear of flying. Don't spend more than fifteen."

"I-I can buy my broom, Mr. Trueblood."

Mr. Trueblood laughs, "I'm sure you can, but you lettin' Sasha and the girls live with you is gonna save me a lot of money. The name's Paul. It's as formal as you need to be to me."

"Thank you, Paul. I'm still charging them rent to help with the utilities."

"See ya in a bit." Josh apparates away.

Paul smirks. "You are charging them only $1,500 a month. I was paying near $4500 for those three girls to live in that apartment. You're saving me $3000 a month and if you stay friends with them, and you will. That's a saving of $36,000 a year. Fifteen thousand ain't nothing in comparison."

Hmmmm. "Mr., I mean Paul, how do you know we will stay friends? Many things can happen, and I'm not really used to being friends with girls."

He laughs, "You're friends with my Sasha. She has more tenacity than she does magic. Her friend group has been friends with her since she was five. She latched on to everyone and stayed a true friend to them all this time. She's integrated everyone in our family. They get a better Christmas haul from my momma and her sisters than my twins. I pay half their college fees, because I love 'em all like they are mine. I trust Sash. It ain't easy being a man saying you trust your daughter. You wanna protect 'em, you wanna think you know what's best for 'em. Sasha has always known what best for herself and for the people she loves. Mind, I've had to teach those kids some hard lessons over the years. Kel, Mac, Josh, Remi, Jase, and Mike are simply family because Sasha insisted they were. She doesn't accept friends who don't have staying power. I was concerned about you being friends with her, at first. I know what war does to a person. I watched you the last few days and aside from Aponi calling you a red coat whenever you talk, you've shown me I was wrong. I've noticed your good qualities. Your heller smart, of course, but your genuine. You don't use your brains to try to put others down. You genuinely enjoy sharing what you know. You try to make yourself smaller, but honey, you shine brighter than the brightest star. I don't know what all happened to you, but don't ever let anyone take your power away from you. My Sasha, has a bit of a lost puppy syndrome. She likes to help those that need others. It was Josh who convinced me you're worth the trouble. He's has powerful intuition about people. He'll make a good detective. He said, everything about you is good."

I laugh at that, "Sir, I'm not good. I've done plenty of things I feel guilty for."

He puts his arm around me. "Darling, that's just life." He turns me and a very tall beautiful blond woman is walking towards us. She appears to be in her mid sixties. She has long blond wavy hair and the same green eyes as Paul.

She steps up to Paul and kisses his cheek, "Hello Paulie. Did you kidnap a British war heroine or is this Sasha's new friend you cancelled Christmas for?"

"Momma…"

She giggles, "Oh hush, Hermione Granger, I'm Gertrude Trueblood, but you may call me Trudy. I can't tell you how pleased I am to make your acquaintance. My husband tries to stay current with British news. When Sasha told us who her new friend was we were looking forward to meeting you, but I understand how overwhelming meeting 80 new people can be on a holiday. Our families are rather large. I hope you'll come over for Easter. We have an obnoxious Easter Egg Hunt throughout the property. It's relaxed and fun way to meet all of us. I brought you some presents. My sisters can't wait to meet you. They have been talking about it incessantly since Sash told me she befriended you. We are all quite the fans of the most famous witch in the world."

She enlarges a small bag she is holding, "Th-Thank you, Trudy. I'm overwhelmed with your generosity. It's lovely to meet you as well. Please call me Mia."

She smiles, "Of course, dear. Sasha has told me so much about you. She is my Paulie's favorite, though I've told him playing favorites is dangerous."

Paul crossed his arms, "Really Momma? How's Preston doing?"

She smiles, "Oh Mia, I can't wait to introduce you to my baby Preston. He's the only one of my seven boys who doesn't farm, he is an actor. He's so handsome…."

She looks sternly at Paul as he's chuckling, "Paulie, I love all you boys the same."

He nods, "Sure you do momma."

She deeply sighs, "Now let's see your presents. I'm not even sure what my sisters sent you."

Paul starts to say, "Now Momma…."

Trudy just smiles at me, "We love all of Sasha's friends. We were told not to overwhelm you, but wanted to get you some presents for Christmas."

I take a seat on the ground and reach into the bag and find about ten gifts. Half appear to be books. I open the first gift and it's a tin. I open the tin and it's full of fudge.

Trudy sits beside me, "This is my fudge made with Swiss Chocolate. It's just for you, Josh will eat it all if ya let him."

I take a piece, "Oh Trudy, this is divine! Thank you."

I open the rest of the gifts. I received a frying pan charmed never to burn food, a purple hand knit scarf, a Harvard jumper, a box of black Bic fine point ball point pens, two rare charm books, a book on American Magical History, a book on beauty potions and charms, and finally a first edition of Hogwarts: A History that made me burst into tears.

Trudy hugged me, "I'm so sorry, I thought it was your favorite book, dear. It belonged to my husband's grandfather."

"No..it is my favorite book of all time. It-It hurts so much to think of Home. I really appreciate it, I do. Thank you. These gifts, though very unnecessary, are very much appreciated. Thank you."

She smiles, "I'm sorry to have upset you, dear. Me and my sisters just wanted to welcome you to the family. We have read everything about you. No young girl should be without guidance. When you come visit for Easter, you'll meet my seven sisters. They can't wait to meet the beautiful young woman behind the stories. I just know they will all dote on you. Family isn't always blood, family is whom you have in your heart."

Family…I close my eyes and though the concept breaks my heart. I did have family, mum, dad, Mina, Viola, Harry, Remus, Tonks, Andi, and…Sirius. I have no family now, but I feel desperate for one. Though they may never be the ones who shaped me and loved me, it feels good someone wants to include me. I have felt very welcome since Sasha came into my life. It's time I open my heart to new possibilities.

She pats my knee. "I know you lost your family in the war, sweet girl. Sasha is special and she never would have befriended you, if you weren't just as special. We may not be blood, but we'll all take care of you as if you were. Your heartache will fade with time. Time cures a multitude of hurts. You're gonna be just fine. We Gershwins and Truebloods will make sure of it."

"Th-Thank you Trudy. I can't express how much this means to me. Y-You're right, time is making it hurt a little less." Very little, maybe a millionth of a degree less, but it's exhausting hating myself all the time.

She stands up and takes my hand. "Now dearie, I hear you hate flying. You just need to trust my Paulie. He's gonna help you feel right as rain on a broom. Josh called me and told me he's getting you a good broom. I brought you three Gatorades and sandwiches. It's quite a workout." She kisses my cheek. "Come see us for Spring Break, Darling."

She walks over to Paul, "See you soon, Paulie. The west field is almost ready for harvest. Now give Connie and the kids my love."

Josh appears, "Nana Trudy! It's good to see you!"

She smiles at Josh, "Hello, my sweet boy! Thank you for telling me y'all were here today. How did your classes go this semester?"

He smiles, "All A's, Nan."

She smiles, "Good! Come see me before you go back north today, I made ya some fudge."

He smiles like a kid, "I sure will. There's nothing in the world like your fudge. Thank you, Nana."

She kisses his cheek and apparates.

Josh enlarge the broom, "I had to knock out three old ladies to get this for you, but it's the Cadillac of brooms. I even had them attach the optional seat."

I smile. "I didn't even know having a seat was an option for brooms."

Josh smirks, "Only the best for Your Royal Highness. If only I had more time to get it diamond encrusted."

I lightly hit the back of his head, "Quit calling me a princess! It's absurd."

He chuckles, "Even an ocean away we knew all about the Gryffindor Princess."

Paul steps in and takes the broom, "Enough Joshua. I'll send you home to muck out the hippogryff barn if you don't stop harassing her." Josh laughs and nods his head. Paul continues, "Now Mia, you said you didn't trust someone else's magic when it comes between a stick and several feet of air. I have a way around that. It's something my papa taught me as a child. It's not necessary, but you might feel safer if you infuse some of your own magic into the broom."

He hands me the broom and I grab the handle with both hands. "Good. Now close your eyes. I want you to envision the feeling you had when you held your first wand. I want you to bring that feeling forward in your mind. The warmth you feel is your magical core. Now repeat after me.

Duo facti sunt unum

Mea magica tuum est

mea fiducia tuum est

Simul nos volare sicut avis"

I pull up the warm feeling. It's the same I use for wandless and non-verbal magic. I take a deep breath and repeat his words which translate to, "The two have become one. My magic is yours. My trust is yours. Let us fly together like birds."

Paul softly says, "Again."

I repeat the Latin words again, and a third time. When I open my eyes Paul and Josh are smiling at me. Josh shakes his head, "I told you she was powerful."

Confusingly I said, "What happened?"

Paul laughs, "The damn broom started glowing. I didn't even know if the enchantment worked, but it always makes me trust my brooms more. I think you're ready to start. You should be able to take a seat and it should start hovering."

I take a seat and it's steady. I feel secure on this broom.

Paul smiles and says, "You know what to do, let's see how ya do."

30 April, 2010

The Seven Swans Pub

Godric's Hollow, Somerset, United Kingdom

Hermione Granger

It wasn't completely flawless and smooth, but it was the most secure I had ever felt on a broom. It was the first time I genuinely felt normal again. Paul saved me that day. Over the next few months, Paul, Josh, Colton, Mac, and Sasha would take me flying. The spring of 2001, I played seeker for one game at the Trueblood Easter Bash.

Trudy's sisters are lovely women. They all tried to get to know me, and didn't pressure me. Over the last decade they have become very dear to me. All of them work for Enchantex in some capacity. Trudy works part time at one of our retail stores in Houston. Though I care about them in a friendly manner, they tend to be very protective of me.

I look at Harry who just asked me how I learned to fly and say, "Sash's dad and Josh taught me during our first Christmas break in '99."

Colton comes up and gives me a big hug, "You did great out there, Mi! If I'd just stopped two more of their Quaffles we would have had them." He shakes Harry's and Draco's hands, "Let us know what you guys want for dinner next week. We can go anywhere in Europe. We could also have Mi go anywhere in the world."

Harry smiles, "We will let you know."

I look around, "Where's Sash and Theo?"

Colton answers, "Sash is in the ladies room with Mac and Kel. Theo is in the back of the bar getting interrogated by Paul."

Draco laughs. Josh smirks and says to Draco, "I don't know why you're laughing. You're next."

Draco tightens his arm around my waist and pulls me closer, "Ah fuck!"

Colton, Josh, and Jason laugh. Colton pats Draco's shoulder, "Don't worry, bro. When Kel and I got engaged he handed me a scotch and said, 'It's about damn time.' He loves the girls like his own. He just wants them to be happy."

I smile, "It's not Paul you have to worry about." Trudy and her sisters will eat him alive.

The rest of the night is full of friends, good conversation, and a couple more of Draco's kisses.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: This chapter has absolutely zero story progression. As I was writing the next chapter I was going mention parts of this chapter. However, my inner writing demon had other plans and she wrote this monstrosity. I assure you I am not going to introduce a bunch of new characters, or at least anymore. I just really liked Mia having a bunch of fan girls turned aunties.

In the flashback, we go back to 1999. She's still quite moody and annoying. This is a big step that helps her find herself. While trying to figure out what to name this chapter, I decided on Learn to Fly. Then I was like, wasn't that a song? Yep it sure is, by theFoo Fighters. The song, coincidentally, was released in 1999. I looked up the lyrics and I just found them very fitting.

Check it out:

"Now I'm lookin' to the sky to save me Lookin' for a sign of life Lookin' for somethin' to help me burn out bright I'm lookin' for a complication Lookin' cause I'm tired of tryin' Make my way back home when I learn to fly high Make my way back home when I learn to

Fly along with me, I can't quite make it alone Try to make this life my own Fly along with me, I can't quite make it alone Try to make this life my own."

I hadn't planned for the song to fit in anyway. I am still claiming this is not a song fic, I just really like music. In real life I bust out in song if someone says something that reminds me of a song. My boyfriend thinks it's cute. My daughter thinks I'm crazy. Honestly, I'm just a nerd.

I have reread most of this story and I noticed a few discrepancies. I have noted them and once I have finished, I will go back and fix those things.

The story is coming to an end. The end date in the story will be the 15th of May. There will be a couple of epilogues. I am going to include chapters or one chapter on a few of Ophelia's memories. It would be interesting to know how you feel about her memories and how much I should include. I could probably write her whole life, but I thought maybe 5-7 memories would be sufficient. If anyone has any opinions on it, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Thank you for taking your time to read my story. Your support means everything to me.

Much love,

JusticeLee