Friday 20 June 2008, Luna Nova
"The days in Luna Nova were going pretty smoothly, I was even doing well in the final exams, doingeverything more calmly, as well as the activities, since every Friday I was studying the content with mygirlfriend who helped me whenever possible, and I was getting within a foot of graduation, doing everythingright, it was finally the moment I had been waiting for so long, I was finally graduating from the place I'dalways dreamed of studying to become a witch, it was a real shame that Mum couldn't attend the graduationlive at the moment I received my diploma, because of the assault, and I tried really hard to get her to attendat all costs, but nothing worked, finally I was here at the end of my studies and that made me so happy."
Wow, it's today, it's finally today, I've been waiting a long time for this moment, I've finally graduated, I'm so happy to be able to put on these clothes, it's a huge honour, I keep looking at my friends, they're all smiling and very excited, oh I've finally fulfilled a dream of mine, who would have thought I'd get to the end, I'm so excited.
"We've finally graduated, haven't we, I thought this day would never come, but we're finally here, graduates" said Becca.
"Look, it's been the best three years of my life getting to know you, at first I was a real pain in the arse, but today I see that I've improved a lot, I've matured a lot since all that happened to me, I've been able to grow as a person and realise that I value what's good for me, you've given me new eyes on this world and I'll never forget that" said my girlfriend.
"I've realised my dream, to study at Luna Nova and graduate here, I've always wanted to do this, ever since I was a child, when I heard the stories my mothers told me, I always wanted to be a witch studying here, to meet my friends, to live my adventures, and apparently I've had them all, it's been a long time, I won't forget how I've spent all this with you, these three years studying with my friends and having fun on adventures, it's been really wonderful, I love you" I say, hugging them.
We finished dressing for the graduation, our bags were already packed, this time the room was really empty, we only ended up leaving the other things like the cooker, fridge and everything else in the room, maybe someone will be lucky enough to take our room so they can enjoy it all, I just hope Professor Finnelan doesn't take it away from future visitors.
It's my turn, we're opening the doors, with our suitcases in hand we're walking down the corridors, goodbye room, you've made us live all these years, now it's time to say goodbye to this place where we've stayed for most of our time here in Luna Nova, I'm going to miss this place a lot and now I'm leaving.
"Our room, now we're definitely leaving it aside, who would have thought that our graduation was coming up, today, it still hasn't hit me" I say, glancing at our door.
"Who'd have thought it, but seriously Chariot, you thought you'd be on Luna Nova for a few more years, now our journey has come to an end, don't worry love, the people who come in our place will know the history that the beige team of 2005-2008 once made, I'm sure of it" said my girlfriend.
"It's bizarre that now we're leaving our room for good, I can't get used to the idea, we've lived through a lot in it, goodbye room, we'll miss you" I say waving to the door of our room.
"You're crazy Chariot, it's just a room, we stayed in it to sleep and play video games, nothing much" said Becca.
It's not just a room, it's more than that, it's the story we lived in it, the three years we spent having a lot of fun in this place, it was more than just a place to sleep and play video games, it was the things we lived.
We finally arrived outside, that summer sun beating down on our faces, the day was even sunny, the girls from our class were staying with us, while the girls from the other years were just admiring us, there were very few of them, since many ended up travelling back, since classes ended a week ago, but the whole place had to prepare that week for our graduation, I was soon next to the girls in the waiting chair and they even had our names written on it.
"We're here, look at this, even our name is written on it" I say excitedly.
"You really look like an excited child with your first love gift" said my girlfriend.
You have no idea, this is one of the things I've waited the longest to live for and to get here, I'm a graduate, I did all three years at the best wizarding school in the world, I made my dream come true, the whole journey I've made so far has paid off, I don't feel like it's just a graduation, for me it carries all the feeling of what I've
struggled to get to this place too, add the effort I've made here, my journey over these three years, it's a much greater weight.
The headmistress soon arrived too, I could see that some parents were already attending our graduation and it kind of put me off not seeing my mum there, but surprisingly I saw Aunt April there, she came to watch me, how cute, I think she came with mum I'm sure. All the teachers are lined up, Principal Holbrook is going to start her speech, we're even paying attention, it's going to be a day to remember.
"Good afternoon witches, wizards, ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived here at the end of a journey, these students here who have been with us since 2005 are graduating and now they have become adult witches, this class that also had its highlights, great names that emerged in this batch, lived stories and moments here, now they are here to say goodbye to the years that we taught these girls to be adult witches, this new generation that has graduated will still be great! We're going to start naming each of these girls who made history here in alphabetical order" said the headmistress.
I'm very anxious, I'm one of the first, she's describing how each one's year has gone, the first is Anna, she really turns out to be the witch with the letter A, I really have no idea even about my own class because I'm so close to the others, then there's a girl called Brianna, another one I didn't really know, but that's it, I think, she's being described by the headmistress, I'm really anxious, I know I'm number 3 on the roll call.
"She, the prodigy girl of our class, has become a great star as a witch, has already made her impact on the world even before graduating, a girl of simple origins from France who has overcome all challenges, but has come this far to show her greatness... Chariot Du Nord!" It's me! It's finally me, I'm so excited.
There was clapping and whistling everywhere, even more than when Croix passed by, people screamed at the sight of me, I got out of my chair and waved to everyone, I never thought I'd end up hearing so much, I even feel special for all this, for the nine witches, it's a marvellous feeling, I hold myself back from crying, I take my diploma and even the director looks at me and signals me to go to the microphone, which I take a deep breath, looking at that whole audience, as if it were my grandstand.
"Thank you so much, thank you so much for the warm welcome, I'm grateful that you received me so well, I can only thank you for getting me this far, only those who really know me know how hard it was for me to get into this academy of witchcraft, but today I not only got to study here, I did my best, I chased my dreams, I fought against everything that didn't want me to achieve this dream, but I didn't give up, I fought hard for it, which makes my graduation all the more special and weighty, I'm finally here... All I have to say is that it was my heart too, my magic is believing in myself, just as your magic is believing in yourselves!" I make an emotional speech and then walk out, dropping the microphone, to which I hear even more clapping and shouting, joining the other two girls who have already picked up their diplomas.
Now we just have to wait for everyone to come, I'm going to watch them, and also Aunt April who's there in the stands watching me, I'm so happy that she's come too, I thought I'd be alone, but it's not like anyone's come to watch me, since they've forbidden Mum to see me, that's really unfair, I look so beautiful and confident with this gown in my hands, who would have thought that I'd finally graduate, after all this, Chariot Du Nord is here.
[...]
They talked about everyone, Daniella was also very close to me at the roll call and seeing her was very wonderful, she looked so beautiful in that gown, it made me so happy, Becca too, now that everyone has passed, we get up from the chairs on the other side and join in, which they take photos of us, I'm on this cake, I'm a graduate now, I'm sure my mum will love it when she sees this photo, I even smile a lot next to my two friends that I've spent these three years with.
After the photos we sit down again to listen to another speech, which I'm already shaking with emotion and happiness, I don't think I've felt anything like this for a long time, this must be what real happiness means, after so much running after her who kept running away from me I was able to find her again, how marvellous.
"This class here has reached the end of just one journey, now they will be starting the journey of adulthood which will be an endless journey until they reach their dreams and goals, as witches they will also have new challenges, they will have new rules for society and they are no longer mere students, now they are freer to practise magic, but with due care, passing on this torch to future generations, they are what magic will see from now on, our future teachers, our future heads of schools of magic, our future witches, here is just the beginning of a journey where they will never stop learning" She always says this to everyone who graduates, now it's my turn, everyone was clapping for us, I was getting very emotional, all this attention always makes me very happy.
Then, after this speech, we're finally released, and we can go home, which I rush to see Aunt April, who greets me with a hug, it's really nice that she's here, at least the hug is easier to get than Mum Laura's, she's almost my size, I'm so happy that I've made it this far.
"Congratulations Chariot, I'm proud of you and I imagine your mother is too, she's the one who told me to come and watch you graduate, congratulations" said Mrs Jordan.
"Thank you for coming Mrs Jordan, I'm relieved you came in her place" I say, crying with emotion.
"You're already crying, Chariot, you're really emotional, child" She whispers in my ear and I'm shocked, all happy.
"Wait a minute" is that Mum Laura? Did she really do that? The same technique as when she visited me for my birthday.
"Did you think I was going to sit on the sidelines and miss your graduation? Come with me, we're going home" said Mum, who was disguised as Aunt April the whole time and that's what fills my heart.
The girls come too and we hug each other, finally graduating, and I see Rebecca's parents coming towards me and they're very happy to see me, so I smile back at them and well, Daniella hasn't even been visited by her parents, she's even a bit more isolated from us, I think she's going to end up crying a bit because of this, her family has really abandoned her.
"So you're the Chariot they've been talking about, Becca's friend, she's told me a lot about the stories she's been through here, we're honoured that we're finally meeting you" said her father, smiling.
"I couldn't help saying how mad you are, Chariot, you and Daniella, we've always talked about you at home and now they're getting to know you" said Leyland.
"Ah hello Mr and Mrs Leyland, Rebecca has really been quite a friend to me" I say with a smile.
"We can see that, we're happy that our girl has enjoyed these three years with friends as wonderful as you" said Becca's mum.
"It seems that Daniella is much more isolated than usual, has something happened, Chariot?" Rebecca asks.
"Her parents didn't even come, she was completely abandoned by them, in the end all that abandonment and everything else came true, it wasn't just speculation, she just wants to take a moment to reflect, she must be almost at the point of crying" I answer my friend.
Then the first year girls that I helped to recover the magic came in droves, jumping for joy, at the same time crying as they hugged me completely in a group and shouted my name, I was quite confused, but I got there, they even lifted me up and I started to be thrown, which I was quite embarrassed about.
"Hey, you don't have to do all that!" They don't care much, I get on top of them all and my name is shouted.
"Chariot, you're going on your way now, we'll miss you a lot, you leaving like this is heartbreaking" said Tsugumi.
"We'll miss someone who did everything for us to turn things around, without you we wouldn't know how to get by, you're the one who made it possible for us to pass the year, thanks to you being the spectacular witch you've become, it's even greater when you realise that you've also made us better witches" said Patricia.
"You've proved that you're better than I imagined, I'm fulfilled as a fan, the real Chariot Du Nord is much better than anything" said Eun.
"Thank you for not giving up on us and for making us your friends, we won't forget all the kindness you've done, you can be sure that when we graduate and if there are any students with the same difficulties as us, we'll do the same as you did and create this chain of help" said Brooke.
"Thank you for everything Chariot, I wouldn't know how to move forward if it wasn't for your help, truly, the best witch in the world" said Ryouko.
They let me down and then they all hugged me, I felt my heart full again, today is finally a day that I can feel more than genuine happiness, I helped people, I did my best, I didn't give up on anything, I didn't lower my
head and the most important thing is that I didn't give up on anything, I can now say that not only did I graduate but I brought smiles to people? That's what makes my heart grow fonder, I wanted to do that, to give people a smile and a reason to be happy.
Then my mum, disguised as April, signalled for us to leave via the Ley line, so we picked up our bags, Daniella and I, and headed for the square, where we landed and another place full of people, some already going home, others still arriving to go back, there was even a small party going on.
"We've finally arrived, love" I say to her.
"The ending... I'm really upset that my parents aren't coming, I thought they'd have a modicum of decency, but apparently I can't expect that from them... At least I have you and your family as a family" said my girlfriend, who even wiped away her tears.
We walk a little further to the cake of people and the graduation party in the square, which has witch-themed things around it, even Chum is there with a stall set up which I wave at him from afar who smiles at me when he sees me in my graduation outfit, and we get to the car where Aunt April is, and she reaches for my hand, the two of them slap hands and with that they switch places with a whole polygonal effect around their bodies, totally reversing themselves.
"That's a great trick, April" said my mum.
"Was it Laura all along?" Daniella said, shocked.
"I wouldn't miss seeing my daughter graduate for the world, that's why it's good to have friends like this here" said Mum Laura, hugging her friend.
"I wouldn't let Laura be left out at all, I used the same technique she used for Chariot's eighteenth birthday and we were happy, it's good that no one noticed and that it stays that way" said Mrs Jordan.
"Shall we go now?" My mum asks.
I nodded and we put all the suitcases in the boot of the car, I never thought it would come to this, I saw everyone leaving, me with Daniella, my girlfriend still a bit upset after all this, poor thing, she doesn't deserve to go through these things.
We got into the car after dropping off our bags, so we sat in the back seat where I held my girlfriend's hand and she burst into tears, I could really see that the whole parents thing had really got to her, my mum was leaving the square, driving through the city, which was perhaps a little congested.
"Oh love, what's wrong?" I ask her.
"I hate it, I've been completely abandoned, without a shred of empathy, they didn't even want to show up, they just forgot that their daughter existed, the worst thing of all is to see that Barbara can't show up, everything I wanted to see the most, but I was a fool, I was too foolish to believe that they would show up and I could, I don't know, give them the biggest break of all, to have the chance to see my sister, but I couldn't even do that" Daniella said, crying.
"Oh love, don't dwell on it so much, let them go, you don't deserve to suffer for these people, they're the same people who have only caused you suffering and everything else, why should you care so much" I say to her.
"I know that, but there's still an ounce of goodness in this sea of evil and it's my sister Barbara, you have no idea how much it hurts to have to spend the rest of my life without seeing my little sister, she's just a child and she's without a sister she saw as her best friend, it could have been my chance to, I don't know, spend a few days with her, but I can't even do that" she said, crying.
"I understand what this pain is like Daniella, I can't see my own daughter, this pain is very understandable, my first daughter with Bernadette I'll have to wait until she's 16 or 17 before we can finally see each other" said my mum.
"I'm going to miss her whole childhood... I wish I could be there, play with her, teach her things, show her the world, see her talking about her boyfriends or girlfriends, but I won't even be able to do that" I can see Mum's expression changing a lot.
"Fancy an ice-cream at McDonald's? Ice-cream always helps me swallow some of the pain... I feel terrible about what's happened to me too, even worse, I'm Diana's mother, she won't have a childhood with one of
her mothers because of a curse, adolescence isn't even mentioned, I only saw my daughter when she was still a baby, she's barely out of nappies and I've been kicked out of the Cavendish mansion... That's a pain I can feel with you Daniella, we're suffering through this together" That even comforts my girlfriend a little more.
"Ahhhh, the world is really unfair, isn't it, Laura? They don't want you to see these dear people, I hope that one day they can at least forgive us for all this" said Daniella a bit frustrated.
"I don't know about that, but I hope so much, I just want to be able to see my Diana and tell her that everything will get better, that things won't be like the suffering she's going through... Especially now in the hands of that shrew" Mum said and I can't stop thinking about my sister being in the hands of that monster.
We continued along the streets, where we stopped by a McDonald's with a car, we ordered quite a lot, I kept holding my girlfriend's hand, it's strange that it's always the person on the passenger side who orders, since Mum's car has the steering wheel on the other side, so it's Aunt April who orders, and also picks up the snacks.
What she passes on to us and also leaves everything ready for us to eat, this can even help to calm my nerves, now at least a huge weight has just come off my body, the weight of the fear of not being approved, not only have I passed, but I'm also free, I can finally go back to being Shiny Chariot.
"I think that the few times I've eaten this kind of meal, it's strange that it all ends up being magical, very magical" said my girlfriend.
"I think it's magical too, it's got a whole weight to it that in my adoption I ate it for the first time when I was going home" I say to Daniella.
"I feel as if I've broken free of the chains sometimes, where before I only ate a strict diet to keep myself in line, and I rarely put on weight, but after I started eating better and more I even feel better, I've gone from being so skinny to having a great body" That's true.
"Now that you've said it, it's been a huge leap, since you arrived in Luna Nova, I remember you were quite thin and today wow?" I say to her and she laughs.
"What? You're going to compliment my arse like you did last time, I know it's big and it's all yours Chariot, this arse here is the one you helped make" I laugh a lot.
"Eat the Mcdonald's in the back, don't eat each other, we're in a car going on the road, not April, when I want to eat I'll tell you and you can give it to me" my mum says and I laugh at the scene.
My mum is being fed by mouth with the help of Auntie April who is holding the snack for her while she drives the car down the road, while I'm eating with my girlfriend, I even do something similar, only this time with chips, I even give her an idea and take one and we stick our faces together to have a lady and a tramp with chips, which always results in a kiss, I love it so much.
Ahhhh I'm really looking forward to what's coming up, summer has started and the Shiny Chariot will be back, that's going to be really good, apart from all the plans that are going through my head, there's so much that I don't even know where I'm going to start, with the nine witches, I'm really looking forward to it.
[...]
It was a long journey, we arrived late at night, Mum was quick enough to get across to Ireland, we took the last available ferry slot and got to the other side, which we continued. Look at our house, the city behind us, we're getting there and the car stops, entering the backyard, I'm so happy, Mum accelerates by stepping on the clutch to announce that she's arrived and then turns off the car.
We go downstairs and get our suitcases, this time it's quite a lot, since the room has been emptied, but it's still enough to take, we go into the house and I can see everyone in the back, I'm very excited to see the people and tell them that I've finally arrived, I go to my room which is now shared with my girlfriend sleeping with me, we look at each other and we kiss.
"We're finally home" I say happily.
"This is our home, I think I'll get used to living here a lot more" said Daniella, who even huffed.
"We've arrived, now we just have to rest for today and if I could I'd stay like this all summer, but now I've remembered that I'm an adult and there are no more lessons, now we just have the freedom to do whatever we want" I say to her.
"The important thing is to be here next to the one I love so much, seeing you happy and well here makes me feel better, now I just want to be able to be next to my love to live these days of happiness" said my girlfriend.
"Shall we go downstairs and see the people?" She nods in agreement.
I go along with her hugging me from behind, she's so cute even when she's like this, I let her cling to me, until we get downstairs where we go to where everyone is, Megan has been waiting for us and surprisingly Phoebe is here, so she's in this place, Mrs Morris and her husband have also come, the two of them are even playing together, Grandma and Grandpa, little Hellene is watching, she's so cute and little Holly too, they've grown up so much.
"Chariot!" Everyone says when they see me, I'm finally back at my family.
Some people even came running over to hug me, I felt all wrapped up in it, it was such a moment full of love, I finally felt more welcome than ever, and Daniella also got involved in the whole hug, I didn't expect all this affection from everyone here, well at least I think I can say I'm welcome.
"We were waiting for you and Daniella to play, tomorrow there's going to be a party to celebrate your graduation" said Phoebe.
"Oh that's marvellous" I say smiling.
"Little sister's here! Little sister's here! Will you play with me?" Said little Hellene and I nodded in agreement, she's already 5 years old, how time flies, it doesn't seem like I was holding her until a while ago and now she's the age I was adopted.
"I want to play too!" Said little Holly, the two of them are so cute and I keep hugging them, just missing Diana and Mum Bernadette to make it complete.
I'm going to sit down on the sofa and even pick up a controller, since they've invited me I'm going to play, it seems that this time they've got an M-Box 360 and are playing a shooting game, very interesting, I think I'll see how it goes, they finish one game and start another, I admit that I'm not that good at FPS.
"I played a lot of 008 Eye Of Golden on Mahoutendo 64, but I wasn't the best shot, I was very used to inverted sights too" I say, scratching the back of my head.
"You don't have to give away your age too much, Chariot, we know you're old" said Phoebe.
"I'm only three years older than you Phoebe, we're almost the same age, when you were Hellene's age you used to play those same games with me, there's no point in denying it, your mum used to bring you straight home and we'd play, don't you remember that, you act like I'm 25, but I'm almost your age girl" I say laughing.
"Bleh, this is different, you'll get the idea, much better than those old games we used to play" It was literally from the time it came out, this girl is really stubborn.
"It looks like someone's become a grown woman out of the blue here" even Daniella got in on the act, she's like a year older than me.
"Does the old lady from 1989 want to say something?" I'll tease you a bit.
"1989? old woman, hahahaha, you're really something" said Mrs Jordan, laughing.
We play together, taking advantage of the final holidays, since now there's no more school, no more classes, just enjoy, I never thought I wouldn't have to go to class in autumn, winter and spring and now this dream has come true, to think that I'm already 18 makes me a little shocked, how time has passed like a comet and I didn't even notice.
"Graduating was wonderful really, I felt free, I even felt a bit of happiness that I was missing when it didn'tshow up, but it showed in a genuine way, being able to finally enjoy everything I wanted, it was the point Ineeded to restart my career and also to be able to give my all to pursue my dreams, but unfortunately thingsnever seemed to work out as I had hoped, on the contrary, they were just a succession of bombshells afterbombshells."
See you, graduated witches...