Find a Way
I don't own Girl Meets World, Harry Potter, or the MCU!
Harry Potter knew he was an unusual boy, much to his relative's displeasure, so unusual in fact that he was hiding under his sheets doing his homework in the middle of the night by wandlight. His aunt and uncle had locked all his school supplies in the cupboard under the stairs the moment Harry stepped foot back in Number 4 Privet Drive but thanks to the education one Thea Matthews, he'd picked the lock and gotten everything he needed.
Currently he was working on a pointless essay about witch burning, pausing every few sentences to listen for any noise outside his door. He was trying to avoid any more trouble after his friend Ron had tried, and failed, to telephone him a few days earlier. Ron was from a whole family of wizards and hadn't used a phone before, but Harry had hoped Thea, his adoptive older sister would coach him through it.
Clearly that hadn't happened.
Uncle Vernon had been the one to answer the call "Vernon Dursley speaking."
"HELLO? HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? I WANT TO TALK TO HARRY POTTER!" Ron's voice blasted from the phone, so loud Harry could hear it across the room.
Uncle Vernon jumped, holding the phone at arms length he bellowed "WHO IS THIS? WHO ARE YOU?"
"RON WEASLEY! I'M A FRIEND OF HARRY'S FROM SCHOOL!"
Harry winced as Uncle Vernon wheeled to face him "THERE IS NO HARRY POTTER HERE! I DON'T KNOW WHAT SCHOOL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT! NEVER CONTACT ME AGAIN! DON'T COME NEAR MY FAMILY!"
The phone rattled as he slammed it back down on the receiver and advanced on his nephew. Ron hadn't called since, probably realizing he'd gotten Harry in trouble, and would have warned Thea and Hermione not to call either. Which was silly, since they both came from muggle households and knew exactly how to use a telephone.
It was nearly one in the morning by the time Harry carefully put his quill and parchment away in the loose floorboard under the bed. It was Harry's birthday, he'd been thirteen for an hour and hadn't even realized. Harry stared out the window at the starry sky, a great orange moon glowing dimly.
Something moved in front of the moon and for a moment Harry thought it was a cloud, until it started coming closer, a dark lopsided shape getting bigger and bigger. Harry dove out of the way as three owls soared through his window, one being supported by the other two and crashed on his bed.
Harry recognized two of the owls at once, one was his own snowy Hedwig and the other was Errol, the Weasley's old, now unconscious owl. Errol had a large package tied to his legs and Hedwig had several envelopes clutched in her talons. The third owl had a letter emblazoned with the Hogwarts crest, clearly his list of school supplies for the coming year.
Harry quickly untied the cord holding Errol's package and ripped the paper off. A newspaper clipping from The Daily Prophet fluttered out.
Ministry of Magic Employee Scoops Grand Prize!
Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw.
A delighted Mr. Weasley told the Daily Prophet, "We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill, works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank."The Weasley family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the start of the new school year at Hogwarts, which five of the Weasley children currently attend.
Harry grinned, the Weasley's deserved some good luck. There was a picture of them all, waving wildly at the camera. Fred and George each had an arm around Thea and they were laughing. Ron had included a letter.
Dear Harry,
Happy birthday! Look, I'm really sorry about that telephone call. I hope the Muggles didn't give you a hard time. I asked Dad and Thea, and they reckon I shouldn't have shouted.
We leave for Egypt in the morning, Bill's gonna show us the tombs! He said they found one that has a bunch of mutated skeletons of muggles who broke in and grew extra heads and stuff. Mum probably won't let Ginny go in that one, Thea wouldn't either but she's not coming. She's going back to the states for a few weeks to see her family.
I couldn't believe it when Dad won the Daily Prophet Draw. A thousand galleons! Most of it's gone on this trip, but they're going to buy me a new wand for next year. We'll be back about a week before term starts and we'll be going up to London to get my wand and our new books. Any chance of meeting you there? Don't let the Muggles get you down!
Try and come to London,
Ron
P.S. Percy's Head Boy. He got the letter last week.
Percy would be thrilled about that, Harry huffed a laugh. In the package was a little glass top with another note explaining that it was a pocket sneakoscope that would warn him if someone untrustworthy was nearby. Next Harry reached for the package and letter from Hermione, a broomstick servicing kit.
Dear Harry,
Ron wrote to me and told me about his phone call to your Uncle Vernon. I do hope you're all right. I'm on holiday in France at the moment and I didn't know how I was going to send this to you - what if they'd opened it at customs? But then Hedwig turned up! I think she wanted to make sure you got something for your birthday for a change. I bought your present by owl-order; there was an advertisement in the Daily Prophet (I've been getting it delivered; it's so good to keep up with what's going on in the wizarding world).
Did you see the article about Ron's Dad winning the Daily Prophet draw? I bet he'll learn loads in Egypt, I'm really jealous, the ancient Egyptian wizards were fascinating.
There's some interesting local history of witchcraft here, too. I've rewritten my whole History of Magic essay to include some of the things I've found out, I hope it's not too long - it's two rolls of parchment more than Professor Binns asked for.
Ron says he's going to be in London in the last week of the you make it? Will your aunt and uncle let you come? I really hope you can. If not, I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express on September first!
Love from Hermione
P.S. Ron says Percy's Head Boy. I'll bet Percy's really pleased Ron doesn't seem too happy about it.
There was another package and letter, the untidy scribble clearly from Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper. Harry was a little leery about it, Hagrid probably wouldn't send him anything dangerous, but Hagrid didn't have a normal person's definition of danger.
Carefully Harry poked at the package with his bedside lamp and it snapped at him. Harry raised the lamp, ready to strike just in case and ripped the paper off. A scaly green book titled The Monster Book of Monsters fell out and started scuttling across his floor. Harry grumbled and reached for it only for it to chomp down on his fingers. In the end, Harry managed to wrap a belt tightly around the biting book, breathing heavily with several bite marks on his hands and wrists.
The last letter was from Thea and Harry was particularly excited to see what she'd written. After she'd spent most of the last year in a petrified state, he really missed her.
Dear Harry,
Happy birthday! You are officially a teenager, how's it feel? Your present is on it's way, I hope you like it.
Did you see Mr. Weasley won the Daily Prophet draw? A thousand galleons! They're going to visit Bill in Egypt for a few weeks. Ginny's doing much better, the mind healer is really helping.
I'm going back to New York for a few weeks tomorrow, Dumbledore's got me a portkey to get there and one to get back in case of an emergency. So write me if anything happens. I'll be back a week before Ron and the rest get back so I'll be staying at the Leaky Cauldron until the first. You'd better meet me for an ice cream this summer. Tell your relatives I said "Or else."
Stay safe and have a happy birthday!
Love you,
Thea
Harry laughed. Thea had caused quite an uproar in the house last year, stink pellets, dung bombs, bulbadox powder, and filibuster fireworks had caused all sorts of chaos. He suspected she'd left several more surprises around the house for the Dursley's to discover over the last year. She'd evidently left a particularly threatening letter that Harry spotted Uncle Vernon trying to burn several times, but it always popped up taped to the fridge again within the hour. There was also a tell-tale scorch mark on the bathroom ceiling.
His school letter contained his book list and a permission form for Hogsmeade, the wizarding village near the school. Ron raved about Honeydukes, the sweetshop. Harry would have a difficult time convincing Uncle Vernon to sign his form though.
That would be a problem for the morning, he decided. It was long past time for him to go to bed.
It wasn't like Harry expected anything more for his birthday, Aunt Petunia would probably give him extra chores and Uncle Vernon would growl at him more viciously. By a stroke of luck, Uncle Vernon's sister, Aunt Marge, would be coming to visit for a week arriving that afternoon. Happy birthday to Harry.
He took his seat at the breakfast table and glanced around, Dudley's piggy little eyes fixed on the new television his parents had gotten him, Uncle Vernon's nose was buried in his newspaper and Aunt Petunia was busy piling bacon on her Diddy-Dumpling's plate.
Instead of Dudley's usual mindless cartoons a news alert was playing on the screen, something about an escaped convict.
"...The public is warned that Black is armed and extremely dangerous. A special hotline has been set up, and any sighting of Black should be reported immediately."
"No need to tell us he's no good." Uncle Vernon scowled over his paper as a mugshot flashed on the telly "Look at the state of him, the filthy layabout! Look at his hair!"
Harry's own hair was often a subject of disdain in the Dursley's household. But compared to the matted mane the convict was sporting Harry felt like he was in one of those hair commercials Aunt Petunia liked.
"Hang on!" Uncle Vernon shouted, as if the reported who had moved on to another topic could hear him "You didn't tell us where that maniac's escaped from! What use is that? Lunatic could be coming up the street right now!"
Aunt Petunia quickly craned her neck to peer out the kitchen window, she'd love to be the one to call the hotline. The doorbell chimed, making them all jump.
"Who could that be?" Uncle Vernon grouched "Who do they think they are? Bothering us this early in the morning."
But he heaved himself up and lumbered towards the door. Harry heard the lock click and was suddenly struck by an odd feeling, as if something was about to happen.
"BOY!"
"Girl, actually."
Harry would recognize that voice anywhere. Althea Matthews was on his doorstep.
He bolted up, Aunt Petunia hot on his heels "Thea?!"
"Happy birthday!" Thea stood proudly in the doorway, looking perfectly at ease as Uncle Vernon's face was turning purple.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DO-"
"Vernon, the neighbors!" Aunt Petunia hissed.
"Yes, the neighbors." Thea mused "It would be quite an embarrassment to have this little chat out here in public where anyone walking down the street could see, I suppose I better come in then."
She strode inside, pausing only to wrap her arm around Harry. She might not be very tall, but she cut an imposing figure.
"What're you doing here?" Harry breathed, hugging her back "I thought you were going back to America?"
"My portkey leaves tonight. Ron and the others would be here but they had to leave early for Egypt. We all came down to London together and since I have the day, I thought I'd come pay you a visit before I go." Thea grinned "And this way I can give you your present in person."
Uncle Vernon was quickly regaining his power of speech "Now listen here, girl, you can't just come in here and-"
"Oh, I'm sorry, did you want Harry and I to have this little reunion on the front lawn?" Thea asked innocently "Talking about HOGWARTS and MAGIC and SPELLS and-"
Aunt Petunia shrieked "You've made your point!"
"Have I?" Thea laughed "I'm happy to move this outside, if you'd prefer."
Uncle Vernon's face was comedy gold "...No. No, we'll stay in here."
"Excellent. Is that bacon I smell?" Thea led the way to the kitchen, stopping when she spotted Dudley pigging out, her lip curling in disgust "Nevermind, I lost my appetite. Let's have this conversation so Harry and I can start our day."
Dudley whipped around so fast he nearly toppled off his chair "Who're you?" He mumbled, his mouth still full.
"Thea Matthews, I'm a friend of Harry's from Hogwarts." Thea wrinkled her nose "And don't talk with your mouth full, it's disgusting."
"Now see here-!" Uncle Vernon bristled.
"No, I don't think I will." Thea was quickly beginning to resemble a shark that had scented blood "Take a seat."
Almost unconsciously Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia sat.
"Thank you. Now, let's get down to business, shall we? I think I've made it pretty clear that I don't approve of how you treat Harry."
"Thea, you don't have to..."
"I want to." Thea set a comforting hand on his shoulder "It's been unsaid for far too long. Frankly you shouldn't have custody of Harry, and by the state of that one," She jerked her chin in Dudley's direction "I'm not sure you're fit to be parents at all."
"Not fit to be- what do you mean by that?" Aunt Petunia squealed
"Unfortunately our headmaster has placed Harry with you and I can't change that." Thea said, distaste coloring her words "However I can, and will, make your lives a lot worse if you don't do as I say. To start, give Harry back all his school supplies and for Morgana's sake feed him a decent meal."
"You can't tell us what to do in our own house!" Uncle Vernon thundered "You-you have no authority here!"
"Authority, no. Reasonable cause, yes. The ability to make you regret every foul choice you've made in your lives, you bet. Blackmail, well, if it comes to it. I'm sure the Department of Revenue and Customs would be very interested to hear about all those discrepancies in your tax history..." Thea trailed off, looking meaningfully at Uncle Vernon who'd gone ashy white.
"You can't just-! How dare you imply-? You have no-!" Uncle Vernon spluttered.
"I can, I dare, and I have mountains of proof. You're not as smart as you think you are." Thea smirked "So, you'll be treating Harry much better for as long as he remains in your care, or you will be answering to me personally, understood? Great. Harry, let's go, I'm taking you out for the day."
Harry had never met Thea's mother, but based on how ruthlessly Thea had torn apart the Dursleys, he pictured an older version of his almost sister. Topanga Matthews was a lawyer and her daughter clearly took after her.
Aunt Petunia had rounded on her husband "Discrepancies? What discrepancies is she talking about, Vernon? Vernon? Vernon!"
But Uncle Vernon seemed to have lost all power of speech, opening and closing his mouth furiously as his face grew red, purple, sickly greenish, before settling on a chalky white pallor. He looked rather like a fish.
Harry didn't bother to hide his smile "See you later then." He waved to his shell shocked relatives.
Thea and Harry found a cafe and she bought him breakfast, Harry drenched his pancakes in syrup and they had a good laugh about the verbal lashing she'd given the Dursleys. Before they left, Thea presented the newly 13 year old with his present, wrapped in shiny red paper.
"You didn't have to get me anything." Harry mumbled, face as scarlet as the paper "This is more than enough."
Thea sipped her tea "If you think this is all you're getting you are very wrong. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sent some gifts along too. And I'm taking you shopping later, it's past time you got some clothes that actually fit you."
Harry knew it would be pointless to argue, resolving instead to get Thea a fantastic gift for her birthday instead, and tore the package open. Inside was a large box of chocolate frogs, a subscription to Seeker Weekly, and strangely a small silver mirror. Harry lifted it out and peered at it, it didn't look particularly interesting.
"It's a two way mirror." Thea explained "I found instructions to make it scribbled in a library book at the end of last year. This way if you need to talk to someone you can almost immediately. I have one and I gave Ron another, there's one more you can give to Hermione when you see her next, and I can always make more. I put an anti-shatter charm on it, so even if your family get a hold of it, it'll stay intact."
"This is brilliant." Harry breathed, fogging up the glass as he studied it closely "How's it work?"
"It's kind of like a telephone, I suppose. Only there's less chance of Ron screaming at your Uncle." Thea snickered "You hold it up, say the name of the person you want to talk to, their face will appear in this mirror, and your face will appear in theirs."
"Thanks, Thea." Harry surprised himself by throwing his arms around the older girl "Really, thank you."
He always felt so cut off from the wizarding world and his friends in the summer. Thea had given him a lifeline. Writing letters back and forth wasn't quite the same as talking and now Harry could do just that.
Thea accepted the hug easily, giving his shoulders a tight squeeze. She let Harry be the one to pull back and kindly ignored the wetness in his eyes.
"Now, any special requests for your birthday?" Thea smiled "We could go to a museum or the zoo-"
"I don't think I'm allowed back in the zoo." Harry chuckled "I accidentally set a python on my cousin Dudley last time."
"The piggy looking one?"
"Hagrid actually gave him a pigs tail when I first met him." Harry smiled wistfully at the fond memory "He had to have it surgically removed."
Thea wheezed, collapsing on the table in a fit of giggles "I would LOVE to hear how your Aunt and Uncle explained that to the doctors."
People at the neighboring tables were starting to glare at them, their laughter just a tad too loud.
"So no zoo then." Thea fought to get herself back under control "We can go see Big Ben, or the London Eye, whatever you feel like."
Harry grinned, this birthday was shaping up to be pretty good after all.
They ended up taking a trolley tour of the city. Thea brought a camera and snapped pictures of Harry and herself in front of every place they stopped. Harry's birthday had never been such fun, he was sad when the sun started to dip lower in the sky and Thea escorted him back to Privet Drive.
Aunt Marge was already there, he could hear her bulldog Ripper yapping away in the backyard. Thea noticed, of course she noticed, she was Thea. The offer to have another "conversation" with the residents of Number 4 Privet Drive was unspoken but loud and clear all the same.
But Harry didn't want to give Uncle Vernon any reason to not sign his Hogsmeade form, it would be better to see Thea off before Marge caught sight of her.
"This has been the best birthday I've ever had." Harry set his shopping bags and gifts down so he could hug Thea "I mean it. Thank you, Thea."
"It's my pleasure." Thea ruffled his already messy hair "You only turn thirteen once. How's it feel? Officially a teenager yet?"
They said their goodbyes as Ripper howled in the backyard. Thea had a portkey to catch.
Riley Matthews was staring at her drink, the little drops of condensation sliding down the side to puddle on the table, tuning out the chatter of her best friends. Farkle and Smackle were talking about their summer extra credit project for science, and Lucas and Zay were discussing baseball. Only Maya seemed to notice how distracted Riley was. It wouldn't be long before the blonde would voice her concerns.
"What's up with you?"
That took less time than she thought.
"I'm fine." Riley forced a smile and turned to the Texans "When's your guys' next game?"
"Two days, I think we stand a good chance though." Zay shrugged "We'll be fine. You, however, are definitely not fine."
"You're mood has been noticeably subdued the last few days." Smackle squinted "It's unnerving."
"Bay window?" Maya suggested.
"No!" Thea would be home soon, if there was one thing Riley didn't want it was for her friends to see her sister "No, let's just stay here. Forever. Not go anywhere."
"You're hiding something."
"I am not." She was met with looks of disbelief "Shut up!"
"Riley, that's not like you." Lucas reached out to put his hand on her shoulder but she shrugged him off "What's going on with you?"
It was that unfortunate moment that Topanga and Auggie hurried in. The little boy was vibrating with excitement as he bounced on his toes.
"Can we get her a cookie? A big, big cookie!" He asked "What about cake? We should get her cake! A welcome home cake!"
"Daddy's picking up a cake, we'll have it after dinner." Topanga looked just as excited as her son "Riley, Thea's-uh flight gets in at five so dinner will be around six thirty."
"Thea's coming back?" Farkle jolted "Seriously?"
Topanga frowned "You didn't tell them?"
"...I was going to."
"Liar."
"Auggie!"
The little boy stomped his foot "You don't want Thea to come back. It's your fault she's been gone so long. You want her to stay away forever."
Riley crossed her arms "Maybe I do."
"Listen to me, young lady, you haven't seen your sister in years." Topanga's voice crackled with frustration "You will behave yourself while she's here and we will not have a repeat of that Christmas. Thea is your sister, you should be excited but instead you're behaving like a child."
"She should just stay at that stupid school!" Riley complained "She obviously loves it there. She got herself a new family with those Weasel people, why does she have to come back and ruin my life again?"
"Riley Matthews, that is enough!"
"Why wouldn't you tell us Thea's coming back?" Farkle asked hotly "She's my friend too, and I haven't seen her in years."
"She's not your friend, I'm your friend!"
"Okay, everybody slow down!" Zay put his hands up.
"Don't talk about things you don't understand!" Riley screamed "Thea ruins everything! Everything! She gets to go to that stupid school, she gets to be special, she gets everything! I hate her!"
"Well I hate you!" Auggie was shouting now too as tears streamed down his little face "You took away my big sister, and now she's coming home, she's coming home, and you're ruining that! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!"
Riley was struck dumb as she stared in shock at her baby brother. She hadn't taken Thea away, she chose to stay away. She'd lost her big sister too, to that magic school, but no one seemed to care about that. Riley opened her mouth to say all that, but the words wouldn't come.
"That's enough." Topanga sounded so so tired.
Riley felt a seed of guilt sprout in her chest, she'd lost a sister but her mother lost her daughter, her oldest child. Topanga was always trying to get Riley to respond to Thea's letters, to write back but Riley rarely even read them. She'd tear them to shreds or burn them or, on one memorable occasion, flushed them down the toilet. Now Thea was coming back and all Riley could think was how it would affect her.
"Sorry, Mom." Riley ducked her head "I...I'll be nice. I'll come to dinner and I'll be nice."
"You two are sisters. Act like it." Topanga led Auggie out, casting one last warning look at her daughter.
Riley looked around at her friends, Farkle looked angry while everyone else looked confused and hurt.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you." Riley bit her lip, the guilt in her chest was growing like a weed "I just...I'm sorry."
"What happened with you and Thea?" Maya asked "You get so mad every time she's mentioned. You yell at us and you never explain. We're your friends, Riley, isn't it time you started talking to us?"
"I've talked to you about it."
Maya scowled "No, you haven't. All I ever get from you is that she started going to a boarding school in Scotland. She came back one Christmas, I remember seeing her, but then she was just gone and she didn't come back."
"What school is she going to?" Farkle asked "You never give us any details, you just call it 'that special school.' Why is it so special?"
"Because...because..." Riley floundered "Only...certain people, special people get to go to it."
"Special people?" Smackle's voice was quiet "Special how exactly?"
"Not like- I don't mean it like that!" Riley insisted "Just, people who are different. No wait, that's not what I meant! I mean-"
"I think this conversation is no longer productive." Smackle stood up, brushing invisible crumbs from her skirt "I am going home. Farkle?"
"Yeah, I'm coming." Farkle didn't hesitate as he grabbed his jacket "Tell Thea I'd like to see her while she's here. Or don't. I'll come by and see her myself."
"I'll tell her." Riley whispered, her eyes fixed on the table.
"I want to see her too." Maya said "Maybe she can give us some answers on why you act like she's the worst person on Earth."
"She's not the worst person on Earth."
Maya scoffed "That's not how it sounds. Your Mom is right, she's your sister but you don't act like it."
"I hate her."
"I don't think you hate her." Zay finally spoke up "It sounds to me like you miss her."
"One psychology class and you think you know everything." Riley snapped "I don't miss her."
"Well you miss somebody."
"...I miss the sister I had before she went to that stupid school. I miss the sister who read me bedtime stories and snuck me tastes of cookie dough." Riley felt her feelings starting to spill over "I miss the sister who gave me her popcorn on movie nights, who had dance parties with me every Sunday morning, who let me sleep with her when I had a nightmare. Thea left me, she went to that school and never even considered staying here, with me."
"Did you ask her to stay?" Lucas questioned "Did you talk to her about any of this?"
"I can't do that." Riley shook her head "She got that letter for the school and she was so excited, she didn't want to stay. I could tell."
"She's coming back now. Maybe now's the time to tell her how you feel." Zay suggested cautiously.
"She doesn't want to hear it." Riley started to cry "She writes to me but I don't write back, last time I saw her I told her to get out of my life. Auggie's right, it's my fault she hasn't come back. Mom and Dad write to her all the time, Auggie sends her drawings and the little rocks he finds in the park, I flooded the bathroom flushing her letters down the toilet. I'm a terrible sister! I'm not even supposed to talk to my best friends about this!"
"Why aren't you supposed to talk to us?" Lucas frowned "Riley, that doesn't make sense."
"It's..." Riley faltered "Complicated."
"Then uncomplicate it." Maya reached out, pulling her best friend into a hug "And...if you really can't talk to us, maybe you have to talk to Thea."
Riley sighed through her tears "That's even more complicated."
"What a tough day in Rileytown, huh?"
That made Riley laugh for the first time in days. She felt raw and exposed, all her bottled up feelings had finally exploded. Zay offered her a tissue and she took it gratefully, blowing her nose with a loud honk.
"I really am sorry for yelling at you guys." Riley apologized again "You didn't deserve that."
"Don't do it again, okay?" Lucas shivered "You remind me of your Mom when you yell like that."
"Are you scared of my Mom?"
"The killer shark, amazon warrior lawyer? You bet I am."
Riley giggled "I just...where do I start with Thea? It's been so long. What if she doesn't want to talk to me?"
"Find a way." Maya squeezed her shoulder "You're Riley Matthews, once you put your mind to something, nothing will stop you."
Maybe Maya was right, she had a few hours before Thea would be home. Riley would find a way.
"Will you help me figure out what to say?"
"We're your friends, Riles. Of course we will."
Waiting was Thea's least favorite thing in the world. She was in a cramped room in the Department of Magical Transportation waiting for the ministry worker to call her name.
"Esther Maples." The secretary called.
A tiny old lady with a suitcase larger than she was stood up and tottered forward. She was directed to another office, her case floating behind her. Thea rolled out her shoulders, since her petrification her joints had been stiff and sore whenever she sat still for too long. Madam Pomfrey said it was normal and it would go away with time. Still, she'd given her some pain potions.
"Althea Matthews." Finally the secretary called her name.
Thea stood up, her back popping loudly as she did, the sound making the man sitting a few chairs down wince. Quickly she gathered her things and was pointed to a door, inside was a witch in blue robes, studying a piece of parchment.
"Althea Matthews?"
"That's me."
"Portkey from the Department of Magical Transportation, Ministry of Magic, London to the Department of Magical Transportation, Magical Congress of the United States of America, New York City?" Her voice was so nasally, Thea wondered if she was faking it.
"Yes ma'am."
Why couldn't Dumbledore have connected the Matthews fire to the floo again? If Thea didn't know any better, she'd think he was getting back at her for the scolding she'd given him at the end of last term. Now that she thought about it, he probably was.
"Your return portkey is in two weeks time at the Department of Magical Transportation, Magical Congress of the United States of America, New York City?"
"That's right." Bureaucracy was boring.
"Sign here." The parchment was thrust under Thea's nose.
She signed on the dotted line. Anything to get her out of here faster.
"Your portkey." Thea took the silver coin, embossed with the Ministry's emblom "It will leave in precisely 47 seconds. Transport is facilitated by Jasmine Sweetleaf, Ministry of Magic, Department of Magical Transportation."
Could she be any more annoying? Repeating herself over and over? Were all Ministry workers this obsessed with their place of employ?
Finally, thankfully, Thea felt a sharp jerk around her waist and the portkey pulled her away from the droning voice of Jasmine Sweetleaf. She was going home.
Home.
Word count: 5398 words
Hope you enjoy this chapter! Thea is giving the Dursley's grey hairs and they've only just met her! 😂 Please don't forget to comment, vote, and add to your reading lists! #AllEyesOnRafa #FreePalestine🍉🍉🍉
Love,
The Author