"Vivi," the gentle voice cooed. "Vivienne, it's time to wake up."
Vivienne Beaumont groaned, face turning into her pillow. After a few passes back and forth on her pillowcase with her face, she swiped at the corner of her mouth in an attempt to wipe off the dry drool patch she found there.
In the meantime, the kind voice drew back the curtains to the one window in her small bedroom. "Papa is making breakfast," her grandmother bribed. "Mummy is also up."
That made Vivi sit up on one of her elbows. "Mum is up? Is it a good day?"
Gran made her way back to the bedroom door after her morning inspection found that Vivienne's room was as clean as it always was. "Get yourself ready for the day and come find out."
That was confirmation enough that it was a good day, and Vivi quickly pulled her blankets away and sat at the edge of the bed.
"See you in a second," Gran said, and then she shut the door.
Vivienne took another few minutes to stretch, but then went to her basin to wash her face. Then, she brushed her teeth and pulled her nightgown over her head. She took care to look extra smart, because she and Gran were going to go to Diagon Alley after breakfast to gather all her school things. She didn't want to get her hopes up too high, but she wondered if today might be a day that her mother was well enough to come with them.
She decided that she would wear her best blouse. The warm yellow color reminded her of the golden rod that grew in the meadow behind their house. She pulled her hair back in a purple ribbon, the color complementing her jet-black hair. She looked in the mirror for another couple of seconds, seeing how her blue eyes looked when she held her head this way and that. When she was satisfied that they weren't going to change too much, she yanked her bedsheets practically back into place, and left her room to be greeted with the smell of pancakes.
"Good morning," she announced, coming into the main living area of their cottage.
Their cottage was practically one large living area: The front door faced south and led into the kitchen. The kitchen and family room were separated by their family room furniture, which was situated in front of their fireplace. On either end of the family room were hallways that led back into the bedrooms, with Vivienne's room being the only one on the right, and her grandparents and mother staying to the left.
"Good morning mon petit chou," her grandfather returned, flipping a pancake. "I'll have your plate done in a second."
Vivi went to the silent woman sitting at the table with a mug nestled in between her hands, and kissed her cheek, "Good morning, Mum."
Aurora Beaumont took one of her hands and cradled her daughter's chin. Her sweater was much pinker than her strawberry blonde hair, and her brown eyes reminded Vivienne of the way the flower patches looked after it rained. Aurora returned her daughter's kiss on the cheek and patted the empty table next to her.
That made Vivienne swell with happiness, and she was more than happy to sit next to her mom. Some days Aurora couldn't leave her room, or she couldn't acknowledge her daughter's tenderness, or sometimes she was confused, and Gran had to take special care of her. It had been like that since Vivi had been very young, due to some kind of accident. On days like this, she couldn't help but wish it could always be like that.
Her grandfather dropped the pancakes off at the table, and she grabbed the butter dish.
"Gran tells me you are going to Diagon Alley today," her mother said before taking a sip of tea.
A great day indeed! "Yes, to get ready for Hogwarts. Will you come?" Vivienne was usually much more careful with her mother's sensitivities, but today felt like magic.
Her mother frowned, but it wasn't a big change in mood. She knew this face: sheepish regret. A genuine guilt. "No Vivienne, not this time. Papa and I will wait for you and Gran to come home and tell us all about it."
She felt deep disappointment, but quickly swallowed it down. She knew her mother tried her best, and on her best days, she even apologized for the things she wasn't able to do, and for how she acted on her worst days.
"Ok, and Gran and I will get ice cream, like you and Lily used to."
Aurora had told her daughter about the ice cream shop that she and her best friends had visited when they used to go to Diagon Alley, and Vivienne felt guilty for bringing them up now. Aurora only talked about Remus, James, and Lily when she was having a confused day, but Vivi just didn't understand who these characters were from her mother's past. She knew they had been close friends when they were at Hogwarts, but when Aurora had nightmares at night, she would scream their names and sob.
Her mother's face was changing, glazing over, and Vivienne felt her mother slipping away. Aurora took another sip from her mug and just simply said, "Yes, ice cream."
The family finished their breakfast with very light conversation, following Aurora's lead. She remained in a good mood, but her level of cognition waxed and waned.
Finally, they were done, dishes were rinsed and put into the sink, and Vivi's Gran asked if she was ready to go.
"Yes, of course I am," Vivi said, tugging at her blouse hem. Gran took a hair scarf and her own jacket off the coat rack, and they headed toward the fireplace. Papa held the floo powder bag out to Gran, and she grabbed Vivienne's hand as she took a handful.
"Love you, Mum!" Vivi said, keeping a firm grip on her grandmother's hand.
"I love you too baby," Aurora said from the breakfast table she hadn't gotten up from. "I'll see you when you get back."
"I'll tell you all about it! I promise!"
She didn't respond, but she did raise her hand in goodbye.
"Are you ready?" Her grandmother asked again. Vivi nodded, and Gran threw the powder.