Harry Potter Morgendorffer: Darias Support Group
DISCLAIMER: Daria is the creation of Glen Eichler and is the property of MTV Viacom. Harry Potter is the creation of JK Rowling and is the property of JK Rowling, Wizarding World, and Warner Brothers. King of the Hill is the creation of Mike Judge and at last report belongs to Fox. It may soon belong to Disney. In any event, I don't own them and I don't intend to profit from this work of fiction.
Harry Potter Morgendorffer* Harry Potter Morgendorffer* Harry Potter Morgendorffer
Daria's discovery of her magical powers had another consequence, one that she was aware of, but had previously left HJ to deal with alone: Support Group. Once a week, young wizards and witches from Mundie backgrounds were placed together in circles and led through guided discussions led by MACUSA social workers. HJ had been going for over a year and a half. Daria had tried to get HJ to talk about them, but HJ had said very little, telling her that they were private, that the other kids were witches and wizards like he was, and that he was going to help them maintain their confidentiality. Besides, she wasn't a witch.
That had changed after Healer Hillier had tested Daria. Daria was now known to be a witch whether she liked it or not, and both of her parents and Harry's social worker Mrs. Kettler, now her social worker too, insisted that she was going to go to group whether she wanted to or not. So here she was with HJ sitting in a half-empty circle of chairs with a bunch of other kids that she didn't know.
Group was held at Hamlin House, a large, rambling three-story Victorian mansion south and east of Austin that ostensibly belonged to a historical preservation group but actually was the property of MACUSA's social services. The exterior and grounds looked very period, as did the grounds, but the interior had been renovated and magically enhanced to accommodate its new role. Most wizarding employees and clients apparated in or used the floos, Mundies and some wizards drove and parked their automobiles in the parking garage, a converted carriage house which had been magically extended to accommodate more cars.
Helen and Jake accompanied HJ and Daria to the door of the room where support group met. They were going to leave the two older children while they went to their own support group several doors down. Quinn hadn't come with them; she was over at a friend's house.
"Don't worry, Daria, you'll do fine," said Helen. Daria gave her parents a dubious look, then sat down in a chair next to HJ.
There were already some other kids in the room. HJ smiled and greeted some of them, waved at others. He obviously knew them. Daria had gotten glimpses of a couple of them earlier when she'd accompanied HJ to a couple of open mixers, although she only remembered a couple of names. Wild Squibs and Muggles were allowed to attend those if they were relatives and if they were discreet.
A woman came in, shorter and plainer than her Mom, and dressed in the sort of clothes that screamed "social worker" whether the person who wore them worked in the magical or non-magical worlds. Daria spotted the give-away: the woman was wearing a wand holster. Daria hadn't seen all that many people in Ruskin or around Austin dressed in Wizarding clothing, at least not during the latter part of summer. Most European-style wizarding clothing was tailored to colder climates, and Texas summers were just too darn hot.
"That's Mrs. Winstead," Harry said to Daria. "She's the group moderator."
Mrs. Winstead looked around the circle and spotted Daria sitting next to HJ. "You must be new here," she said.
"Yes, ma'am," said Daria. "I'm Daria Morgendorffer. I'm HJ's cousin."
"Ah," said Mrs. Winstead. "I'm Charlotte Winstead. I'm the moderator for the discussion group. So you're HJ's older cousin?"
"Not unless you count Cousin Erin in Virginia," said Daria. At least that's where she thought Cousin Erin was living. She wondered if HJ had any more cousins back in Britain.
"Well, before we get started, we have a new member with us tonight and I think we ought to make some introductions," said Mrs. Winstead. "This is Daria Morgendorffer. She's HJ's cousin."
"Elayne Poe," said a tall brunette sitting across from Daria and HJ.
"Iphigenia Witomsky," said a girl wearing a black tee shirt that proclaimed "LIFE IS OPERA!".
"Carlotta Pugh," a well-dressed and well-coiffed blonde girl said with a disdainful toss of her head. Daria gave her a glare, she did not like being looked down on.
"The Hills telephoned ahead. They're running a little late," said Ms. Winstead.
"So that Bobby is going to be here?" said Carlotta. "He's such a dweeb." Daria didn't like the blonde girl's sneering tone of voice.
"Yes, he's going to be here," said Mrs. Winstead.
"Mrs. Winstead," said a tall brunette, "like that was really rude. The Hills should make it a point to be here on time. Maybe they should be excluded instead of excused."
"Miss Corker, Mister and Mrs. Hill both work for other people. Unlike other people, they do not have the freedom to set their own schedules. The Hill boy should be here tonight."
So there, thought Daria.
The Corker girl scowled at Mrs. Winstead's rebuke.
There was a knock on the door a few minutes later and a heavyset blond-haired boy with short blond hair and large waist stood at the doorway. "Sorry I'm late," he said.
"It's all right, Bobby, go on in, they won't bite you," said a voice standing behind the boy. A tall woman with short, dark hair and the biggest feet Daria had ever seen stood behind him.
"I'll take good care of him, Mrs. Hill," said Mrs. Winstead. Mrs. Hill smiled at her and closed the door.
"So let's go around and introduce ourselves," said Mrs. Winstead.
HJ watched Bobby's face as everyone introduced themselves. Bobby looked fascinated by Daria.
Oh, boy, he thought. He's got it and he's got it bad. He didn't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for him.
He suspected that he'd have to do some brotherly stuff later on: either telling Bobby that Daria wasn't interested or telling him that she wasn't available. He didn't know which way things would go.
-(((O-O)))-
Author's note: I mean to go back to work on Harry Potter Morgendorffer at some future time, but here's something I wrote a couple of weeks ago for my long-suffering fans.