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Family
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 07-04-13 09:23
"You came."
Lysander moved with a start, only to see his brother approaching from the side of the house. He carried a small, fluffed-up tabby cat under his arm. It squirmed, wishing to be set free, but Liam refused to let it go.
"Yes," Lysander said. It had been a great debate, attending the Easter luncheon to which his brother had unexpectedly invited him. Lysander had nearly begged off, citing other engagements, but it had been Grace of all people who had convinced him to spend some time with his brother's family.
It was no lie that Lysander had other plans today, with Grace and the rest of the Valentine family. He would not being seeing Charlotte until Easter Monday, which would be their first in person meeting since mid-February. Through the magic mirrors, Charlotte had told her father that Aralyn had found the notes she had hidden underneath her mattress. Lysander was extremely proud of his daughter for inventing a logical excuse for the existence of the notes but had decided that perhaps they should limit their conversations from daily to weekly. He didn't want to risk Aralyn growing suspicious of the notes again, nor did he want her accidentally stumbling on the truth of the mirror Charlotte had in her possession.
"Nice house," Lysander said to his brother. It was a three-story building containing two residences. Liam lived on the ground level, while another wizarding family occupied the first and second floors.
"It suits us for the moment, but when the kids get older, I think we will need to find a bigger place," Liam said. He moved past Lysander to the steep staircase that led to a tiny concrete patio. A few potted plants and a single deck chair filled the small space.
Lysander followed his brother down the stairs and had the distinct feeling he was in the deep end of a small swimming pool without any water in it.
Liam opened the front door and let the cat go. It tore off out of sight.
"My daughter's cat," Liam explained, beckoning for Lysander to come inside. "The little devil is a masterful escape artist."
"You should charm the doors and windows so it can't get out, if you want it to be strictly indoors," Lysander said, looking around the room. It was more or less a long rectangle that went back a fair distance. The living space was open and consisted of the living room, dining room and kitchen. Doors led to two bedrooms and a single bathroom.
"Kids, your uncle Lysander is here!" Liam called out.
Noah and Sophia Stratford emerged from one of the bedrooms. They had gotten to know their uncle since moving to England, but they still didn't know him well enough to feel fully comfortable around him.
"Hi, Noah. Hi, Sophia," Lysander greeted. "Happy Easter."
"Happy Easter," they replied in unison.
"Show him your Easter baskets," Liam said.
They turned to fetch them from their room. In the meantime, Lysander greeted his sister-in-law, Midori, who was finishing the last touches of what was to be lunch.
Neither brother had been at the other's wedding. When Lysander married Chyler, Liam had still been school-aged. Rather than attend the summer wedding, he'd been more interested in working an internship at the Ministry of Magic.
When Liam married Midori, he had done so in Japan. Lysander had only known about the wedding after the fact. Even if he had gotten an invitation, he probably wouldn't have attended. The brothers had never been close.
"We are glad you could come," Midori said. She had a strong accent, but spoke English fluently.
"Thanks for inviting me," Lysander said.
Liam invited him to sit down. "How is work?" he asked.
"Going well," Lysander said. He thought about his special project for Adriana, which was certainly 'work' in and of itself. During his research at Hogwarts, he had found few references to the Resurrection Stone. He had even turned to other libraries and booksellers with the hope of finding information that might lead him to the legendary stone's whereabouts. Lysander had begun to think that he needed to broaden his search to magical stones in general, or even stones by another name. A stone as old as the Resurrection Stone was purported to be no doubt changed description throughout time, since stories tended to vary from storyteller to storyteller and over generations.
"How do you like being back at the Ministry of Magic?" Lysander asked.
"It's changed some since I last worked there," Liam said, "but in some respects it is exactly the same. Overall, I'm pleased."
The children returned with their Easter baskets and showed their uncle what they had gotten already. They both wondered if he had brought them anything, but he hadn't, not having given it any thought. He regretted it now, but he supposed it was too late to treat them to an Easter gift. Maybe he would try to be a better uncle in the future.
The House of Horrors
Author: Tiberius Nott
Date: 07-04-13 13:02
One moment he was right behind Phyllida, hearing the scratch of her robes in the stairs, the next she and Snape were gone. He had deviated his eyes from them for a second, admiring the portrait of a young red haired Grimshaw-Spore who had winked at him, a seductive smile on her lips. When he looked away there was no sign of Phyllida and Snape.
The portrait giggled with malice but Tiberius decided to ignore her, realizing that it was more than natural that all the portraits would be working against the intruders.
He was on is own now. Tiberius kept climbing the staircase and he started to realize that the steps behind him vanished the moment the sole of his shoes reached the next step. He turned back and the light from his wand revealed nothing but a pit of darkness.
The only way was up.
When he was about to think he was trapped in some sort of magical staircase that would endless grow and making him spend the eternity climbing it, his feet reached to a plan carpeted floor. Tiberius advanced carefully towards a narrow corridor. He called for his companions:
"Phyllida! Severus!"
There was no answer.
He noticed that all the wooden doors were locked and he did not bother to use magic to force them to open. He was not going to explore the eccentric divisions of 1 Blackfriar's Lane and admire the expensive furniture and the one of a kind ornaments Phryne Grimshaw-Spore used to brag to his parents in happier times. He recalled how his mother used to have jealous of the fine residence of the Spores, and in an unsuccessful attempt, she tried to turn some rooms of Endhope Abbey into a version of the Blackfriar's home with the same greener wallpaper and floral curtains.
Tiberius reached to the end of the corridor and he turned around in search for another set of stairs or perhaps a secret passage. The door closest to his right opened with a squeak inviting him to come in. Tiberius had no other option but to do so.
Unlike the entrance hall, this division was immaculate with no trace of dust. The shelves on the wall had a countless number of porcelain dolls, the majority of them with long red hair and green dresses. At the center of the room there was a minuscule round table, and above it a delicate tea set with lilies marked on the white porcelain. He had been in such room before, Tiberius concluded. Many years ago Phyllida would drag him to her playing room and made him sit at that very same table. She would host her own tea party: a perfect imitation of her mother who was doing the same with the adults downstairs. Tiberius had never enjoyed this type of play, but he never wanted to upset the younger girl and so he just played along, drinking fake tea and eating imaginary scones.
He felt something pulling his dark robes and he looked down astonished to what was demanding his attention: a six year old Phyllida was smiling at him, some of her teeth missing. She was wearing a green dress and she used on her head the familiar large black bow, Tiberius had seen her wearing so many times during his childhood.
"Do you want to come to my tea party Tiberius?" the little girl asked in a sweet voice.
He pointed the wand to her tiny chest, alert.
"Maybe some other time," he replied.
"There won't be some other time, Tiberius. This is your last chance."
The young Phyllida walked around the playing room in search for something. Finally she seemed to find what she was looking for inside a wooden chest. Tiberius recognized it right away as being one of his robes. Phyllida sat by the tea table and she started to brush his robes as if there was a stain there that didn't want to come out. Her little fingers became red. He noticed this was not an ordinary stain: it was blood.
Moments later Phyllida started to wail as she continued her task. The white carpet was started to become red ad well. He pointed his wand to her once again, but she didn't seem to bother.
"Your death is near," she said, between tears. Her voice has changed. It didn't sound innocent like before.
The bell of a clock clanged as if giving emphasis to Phyllida's words. Tiberius could not stand the sound of her wailing anymore and he used his wand to stun her. The banshee fell on her back, unconscious, revealing her real form of an adult women. Tiberius left the playing room, but the clock kept clanging.
There was another open door and he entered it, hoping to find some refugee inside. Banshees were known as death omens ,he could not help to think. Was this a mere trick to scare him, or was the creature real and she decided to visit him in such unusual time? His left hand started to pulse with pain. He had forgot to drain the bad blood this morning, he recalled. But there was nothing that could be done now but to keep moving an trying to find Phyllida and Snape.
Finally the clock stopped and a uncomfortable silence invaded the division he had just entered. Tiberius found himself in a living room. Just like the playing room there was a round table at the center with two green armchairs in frond of each other. A laced towel covered the table and on top of it there was a crystal ball. Tiberius approached it carefully, his dark eyes drawn to it.
It was snowing and the Hogwarts Express had just arrived to London. A mass of students left the train, happily greeting their family members. They gradually left the train station leaving a lonely figure behind. Tiberius recognized Titus. He was taller and skinnier than usual and he cold tell he was an older. He still used his glasses. But there was something wrong: Titus' robes old and worn out. The trousers were too short for him and it was possible to see his socks. The same happened to the sleeves of his shirt and his shoes had seen better days. Titus looked around and he finally started to walk, carrying his trunk behind him. He met with a fat wizard with a suspicious look who just grunted: "Let's go boy!". Titus followed him with reluctance.
There was something wrong in that scene, Tiberius thought. For a start he would be the one fetching his brother from the King's Cross Station in his Bentley. Secondly he would never allow his brother to dress in such a way. He might be harsh with Titus but he always made sure he was properly dressed and fed. This only could mean something: in the future the crystal ball was showing Tiberius was dead.
The image inside the crystal ball got foggy and the scene changed.
It was snowing on a street and there was a group of people with scarves, mittens and bonnet, singing Christmas carols. They passed by a house with a decrepit look. There were loosen tiles on the roof and the painting of the house was peeling. A wooden tablet indicated the place was no less than the Hardwick House Orphanage for Boys.
There was light in one of the windows and Tiberius saw Titus being pushed against a wall and being hit and punched by a group of boys. When the fight ended, his brother's glasses were broken and blood fell from his nose. There was also a deep cut on his lip. It was still possible to hear the boys' laughing at him from the hall, calling him a freak. There was pain in his brother's face the tears mixed with the blood.
He stood like that for a long time, immobile. But finally Titus moved: he removed the wand from his pocket and he looked at it with intensity.
Tiberius guessed right away his brother's intentions.
"Don't do it Titus," he found himself saying. "You're better than that!"
But it was too late. In silence the young wizard walked into the living room where his enemies were. Titus raised his hand and said loud and clear:
"Avada Kedavra!"
There was a flash of green light and a moment later those boys where nothing but heavy corpses on the floor.
The scene changed one last time.
Titus was a men now, more or less of Tiberius' age. He was inside an Azkaban cell, wearing the prisoner's robes. His eyes showed a defeated expression and he didn't seem to have any will to live. He might as well be dead. What once used to be a kind boy full of potential was not a broken bitter man.
Tiberius was finally able to look away from the crystal ball. Was this the future of his brother in case he died? Forced to spend his holidays at some Muggle orphanage because no one else in the family wanted to foster him? Would he be so filled with anger and resentment ending up murdering children of his own age, and later condemn to spend the rest of his life in prison?
In a fury he pointed his wand to the crystal ball. The object broke into million pieces of glass that fell on the floor.
"Hello? Is someone there?"
The voice came out of nowhere. It was weak but Tiberius knew who had called: Ferne. He called her name back but there was no reply. Tiberius left the room, still calling her, the door closing behind him with a racket.
He was not in a corridor anymore. Instead he was in what it seemed to be the Grimshaw-Spore family library. Multiple books, (probably all about Herbology and other plants), covered the shelves from the top to the button of the walls. Located in a discrete corner there was a small pedestal with a glass case. Inside there was a little vase with a plant with a rickety aspect. A golden plaque indicated its name.
Tiberius approached the plaque to make sure this wasn't another illusion. While he examined the plant, he removed the glove from his left hand. The pain had raised. It was almost insupportable. He had heard about this plant, he recalled. In a book of tales, his mother used to read him every night when he was a child. It was a bedtime story about a plant whose seed was planted by Merlin himself. A plant so powerful as its creator whose magical properties would cure any illness or curses.
Tiberius inspected his dark hand as he started to reflect...If the Warlock tale was real then why not the one about the magical plant? And who else would be the guardians of such relic if not Phyllida Spore's descendants? This could be the cure for his condition. This would keep him alive and Titus's future would be very different from the one he had seen on the crystal ball.
Tiberius was about to break the glass of the case and steal the plant, when the voice sounded again:
"Please! Somebody help me!"
This time he had heard her clearly was sure she was locked in the room next door. Tiberius thought about fetching the plant first and then save her but Ferne screamed. He realized it smelled like burnt. Something has been set on fire. He looked one last time to the plant and with a sigh he finally let it go and went to her rescue.
Idle Thoughts
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 07-04-13 19:44
Legs curled beneath me, I simply relaxed. Things were kind of crazy here today, and I was coming down from everything. I was still having doubts about my safety at Hogwarts, but so far things were staying on an even keel and I wasn't panicking nearly as much as I had been since the Carrows had been released from Azkaban.
"Isma?"
I blinked and looked up, offering Blake a smile.
"Hey sweetie."
"What's up?"
He dropped down on the swing, and I instantly curled up against him, resting my head on his shoulder.
"Not much, just thinking about next year, about how it would have been our last year if it hadn't been for that place."
Blake let his arm wrap around me and kissed the top of my head.
"I know, but we've had extra time to prepare for the exams and to actually enjoy our last few years at Hogwarts and not over stress about things."
"You're right and I'd be better about it if it weren't for the Carrows being released from Azkaban and being out in the world again."
Blake said nothing, he knew of the nightmares that I'd had, and I'd spent more than one night curled up on a couch in the Common Room when the nightmare woke me and I couldn't sleep.
"Once we are done at Hogwarts we can figure out where we are going after that okay? We are almost done, two more years that's all."
"I know, but what if things go wrong again like they did before?"
"I can't promise you that they won't, but I can promise you that we will make it through it. We won't lose anyone else, we won't get separated. That I can promise you."
I nodded, cuddling into him a bit more and sighing contently letting the stress drain out of me for the moment.
"I love you so much Blake, thank you for being such an awesome boyfriend."
"I am kinda awesome aren't I?"
Difficult To Stay Positive
Author: Jared
Date: 07-04-13 20:25
Observing the family members and friends sitting around the long table set up in the Wynbournes' yard or strolling around or lounging about, Jared feels both a part of the Easter gathering and very much alone. Someone comes from inside the house, pausing at the sight of Jared sitting on top step to the wide, wrap around porch. The person starts down the steps only to stop and sit down next to Jared.
Jared leans a little into his father. "I don't know what to do, Dad."
Gawain slips an arm around his son's shoulders, reminding him of days gone by when Jared was a boy. "You have your mother's and my thoughts. You've discussed the options with Alanna. Anthony has sat down with you. You've gone over everything with your solicitor a number of times now. None of us, however, can tell you what to do. The ultimate decision is yours."
Jared tries and fails to suppress a heavy sigh. "I know. I want to go to trial but I can't help but think something will go wrong and I'll be convicted; but, if I agree to the deal being offered, I may only have to serve 30 days in Azkaban but I can never work for the Ministry again and taking the deal is the equivalent of admitting guilt even if I do not have to state on record that I am guilty."
"Why do you think things would go that badly for you in a trial?"
"Nothing I can put my finger on. It's just a feeling. Everything about this has been off. I've been assured that my questioning under Veritaserum will verify my innocence but if that's the case, why are we even going to trial? I was finally shown that woman's picture and while I remember seeing her around St. Emrys and I think we may have had a class together, I don't know who she is. I can't think of a time I ever slighted her, even if by accident, to the point that she'd seek this sort of revenge. My solicitor told me and from what little Anthony has been able to find out, the woman swears this isn't a case of mistaken identity. Anthony's tried to find out what was said in the sessions where she was questioned, including one under Veritaserum, but he's been blocked because of his connection to me. My solicitor doesn't know either because we are only privy to information that might help exonerate me."
Gawain knows all this but remains silent, sensing that Jared needs to say it all aloud again. He waits a beat to be sure the younger man has finished before speaking once more. "As you know, if you wish to go to trial, I support you. I know you didn't do this thing. Having you cleared of the charges would be wonderful. That said, if you think it's best to accept the deal, then I will support that decision as well."
"I don't think it's in my best interests but as I said, I also feel like something is going to go terribly wrong with the trial and I will end up with a longer sentence and many of those who believe in me right now will start to doubt."
"You're worried that Alanna will be one of them," Gawain states rather than asks.
"Yes, because how can I not wonder if she'll start doubting me. Then I'll be in prison with an ex-fiancee who thinks I raped someone."
"You need to have faith in Alanna."
"I do, Dad, but I can't help thinking about how things might turn out if things go badly with the trial. It's impossible not to."
"I know how I feel as your father seeing you going through this. I cannot imagine how much worse this is for you even though I have tried. All I can do is repeat that you have my support. I believe you, Jared."
Jared leans in even closer as Gawain gives his shoulders a squeeze. "Thanks, Dad. That means more than you know." He takes a deep breath. "Okay. I've been sitting there doing nothing long enough. I should mingle."
"Only if you really want. No one will blame you if you aren't up for it."
"I should. I want to even if it doesn't seem it. With the trial date looming this may be the last family and friends gathering I have for awhile."
Gawain gives him another one armed hug then both men rise to join those who've come for a early afternoon Easter luncheon.
(Ferne) Tea-time
Author: Phyllida
Date: 07-05-13 02:57
It was easy to locate the screams; soon, Tiberius opened the door behind which Ferne had been held captive. His wand was ready for the eventual fire. However, when he crossed the door, he noticed there was nothing wrong within the division, which seemed, in fact, to be an attic.
Ferne was by a cracked, dark window, reading a book, while at a small table there was an empty teacup and a plate. She wore a white dress, and her hair had seen better days, but she didn't seem to mind her aspect.
There was a sound of doors being locked behind him, and Tiberius realised he had been lured into an ambush. Now, just like Ferne, he was trapped inside.
Ferne turned her head slowly towards him. Her skin was very pale, and her hand quivered as she moved a teacup aside. It seemed she was only shocked to see him for a moment; then, as though she was expecting him, she gave a pained smile. "Another apparition. Won't you sit down for some tea? It's the one thing that's never in short supply here."
Tiberius recalled that Ferne's manners had always been flawless. Perhaps because it was her way to secure her place in the Grimshaw-Spore family. He didn't want tea, but some firewhiskey would have been welcome, although he could guess that was a luxury he wouldn't have access to here. Instead of sitting, he started to walk around the spacious attic. There was a window to the street and a bed at a corner. There were several picture-frames upon the walls, but they were all empty.
"What place is this?"
"You don't know?" she replied, sipping a refilled cup. "I thought you would. It's the Attic, of course. The place where Grimshaw squibs have been locked up for centuries. I've found numerous oddities in my time here, but none so strange as the apparitions by whom I'm constantly plagued, such as you, for example. I hadn't expected to see an apparition of you at all."
"This is no mere apparation, Ferne. We came here to safe you. Me, Severus Snape and your cousin Phyllida. It was her idea, as a matter of fact."
"Well that's interesting," she replied crisply. It was clear that she wasn't convinced. "Why don't you sit down, Tiberius? We haven't had a chat for so long."
There was a lunatic glint in her eyes. He wondered if all these months locked in the small division had driven her mad. He looked around one more time feeling defeated: there was no way out of here. Finally he seated down with reluctance. He had the feeling it was going to be a long chat...
"How's my sister?" Ferne asked, once a few moments passed.
"You mean your cousin?"
She grimaced. "Right. My cousin. I guess you don't know the truth about that, even though you're an apparition."
"Are apparitions cursed?" Tiberius asks, losing his patience. He removed his gloves and showed his hands to Ferne, so she could see the difference between the two.
This time, there was real surprise in her eyes. "I don't understand..."
"It's me. Tiberius. The real one." And to prove it he picked up her arm and pushed the sleeve of her dress up, revealing a small scar. "I was there when you got this, many years ago. You told your uncle it was just a scratch. Only the two of us know what really happened."
"Then how did you...how did you find this place?"
"I didn't find it," he revealed, dropping her arm. He didn't bother to put his gloves back on, either. "I was lured into this place. And now we are both locked in here. Our hope is that Phyllida and Snape are out there and eventually they will come to our rescue."
"That could be a very long time indeed," she said, not appearing much perturbed. "I've spent an eternity here already. You get used to it, after a while. At first, I was really bothered. I searched from room to room for an escape; and then I searched again and again for anything to occupy myself with. But it never really works that way."
"Do you still have your wand?"
"Yes, but it's no good at all." She sighed. "Nothing really works properly here. Trust me, Tiberius."
He tried one last spell with his wand but she was right. The wand didn't work. He put it inside his pocket with frustration as she looked amused at him.
"I told you so. Tea?"
"Yes, please," he replied.
Found
Author: Phyllida
Date: 07-05-13 02:59
Phyllida and Snape moved back down the short hallway, and up the remaining stairs, calling Nott's name. There was no response from anyone living; only a few portraits muttered objections at being woken from their sleep by inconsiderate, young people. The young witch was the first up the last flight of creaking steps, reaching the top-most landing of the house. She had never been here before.
A red door was positioned directly opposite the top of the stairwell. Snape stopped beside her, his mouth grim and obstinate. "There is only one way he could have gone," he said, walking towards the door. His wand was drawn as he approached the brass knob cautiously.
"I've never seen this door before," Phyllida said, wide-eyed. "I've lived here all my life; I've walked up those stairs hundreds or thousands of times, and I have never once stepped upon this landing or walked along this corridor."
Snape tapped the knob with the point of his wand. "It isn't locked, from this side, at any rate." He placed his ear against the door, and raised his hand to knock; once, twice. The professor stood back; the door began to rattle on its hinges from the other side. Someone - or something - was pounding against it.
Phyllida heard muffled voices behind the shut door. "Tiberius?"
"Help!" responded a distant voice.
The professor stepped up to the door and turned the knob. As the door swung open cleanly, Tiberius stumbled through it - followed by a dishevelled, young, red-haired woman in a nightgown.
"Ferne!"
As the two witches hugged each other, Tiberius explained, without many details, the experience he'd had beyond the door. He thought he had been locked up inside the attic with Ferne for hours, but not even half an hour had passed since their feet had stepped into the Grimshaw-Spore residence. Snape looked at Ferne and Phyllida with impatience.
"We need to get out of here," he urged. "Keep your wands ready."
"Ferne has no wand," Tiberius explained.
"I will take the front, Miss Grimshaw-Spore the back. Make sure you do not let Miss Scrivener out of sight, Mr Nott. We do not wish to have to look for you around the house again."
Phyllida waited for the others to descend the stair cautiously again. Her wand's pale gleam was the last light to grace the attic landing, as their footsteps slowly died.
(Kate) Easter Surprises
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 07-05-13 17:16
"I just wish things could be normal between us," Kate said.
She and her dad were eating ice cream straight out of the package. They sat together at the bar counter in the kitchen with two spoons and discussed Kate's relationship with Mark. Easter had been a quiet affair, with just the two of them celebrating together.
"I must confess that I'm not fond of your need to shroud your relationship in secrecy. It's not fair to you," Will said, "but I understand Mark's position. It's not easy disobeying your parents, even if they are fundamentally wrong in this instance."
"I don't think they will ever change their minds about Muggle-borns and half-bloods," Kate said. "They'll never accept me or our relationship."
"I think when Mark is an adult––not just legally, but also no longer dependent upon his parents––he will need to make a decision. Will he follow their wishes, or will he follow his heart? Life is all about making difficult choices, isn't it?"
"Right now I'm having a hard time figuring out on which subjects I need to concentrate more. O.W.L.s are nearly here!" Kate exclaimed. "I hear somebody cracks up every year. No one has yet, though, that I know of, anyway."
"Just stay on top of things so that you make sure you're not the one who goes mad!" Will replied, grinning.
A knock at the door startled them both as they weren't expecting any guests.
Will started to get up, but Kate jumped up faster and said, "I'll get it, Dad."
She went to the front door and opened it to find a woman and a child on the front stoop. "Good evening," she said. "Can I help you?"
The woman stared at her for a long moment. "Katherine?"
Kate looked puzzled. "Yes. Do I know you?"
She felt her father's presence behind her and looked up and over her shoulder at him. The expression on his face suggested he had just seen a ghost, if he were a Muggle and unused to seeing ghosts on a regular basis.
"Bianca, what are you doing here?" Will asked.
Kate swiveled her head back around at the name and studied the woman's face. Was it really her? Was this woman the mother who had left her as a young child?
"Will, I'm sorry to drop in so unexpected. I wasn't sure I could even find the house…" Bianca looked around uneasily, as if she didn't even trust the step on which she stood.
"Would it be all right if I came in so that we could talk?" she asked, finding her ex-husband's face again. "There's much I want to tell you, and I would be glad to hear all about Katherine's life."
Will hesitated, but then his eyes fell on the young girl by Bianca's side. She looked cold and a little out of sorts.
"Yes, come in. Have you had supper yet? I'm afraid we've been terrible and have only eaten chocolate and ice cream all day, but perhaps we can fix something if you're hungry." He asked for the benefit of the girl.
"No, thank you," Bianca said, stepping inside the house with the girl.
"Then, let's sit," Will suggested. He led everyone into the living room. They sat, Will in an easy chair and Kate on its arm, and Bianca and the girl on the sofa.
Kate hadn't seen her mother in years and hardly remembered her at all. She didn't know what to think of the woman who had left her when she'd been so awfully young.
Will's eyes fell on the young girl again, and then he looked at Bianca. "Won't you introduce us to this nice young lady?" he asked.
Bianca looked at the girl by her side and said, "This is Tessa… my daughter."
Kate let out an inaudible gasp. She had never given her mother much thought, so it had never occurred to her that she might not be an only child. She guessed Tessa was around 9 or 10, but she really couldn't be sure. The girl seemed somewhat small.
"It's nice to meet you, Tessa," Will said. "This is Kate, your sister, and I'm Will."
Tessa didn't speak. She reached for her mother's hand, but Bianca pulled her own hand away from Tessa's.
Kate got up and went into the kitchen. Her eyes fell on the open ice cream container. Having already been out for some time while she and her dad had been eating from it, the ice cream was now very melted. She quickly put it away and put the two spoons in the sink. Then she grabbed a handful of foil-covered Easter eggs and brought that back into the living room, where her dad was inquiring if Bianca had remarried.
Kate went over to Tessa and held out the chocolate eggs. Tessa hesitated and then took one. The rest Kate put on the nearby side table. She sat on the arm of her father's chair again and split her attention between her new half-sister and the mother she hardly knew.
After a while, Bianca turned her attentions to Kate. "You've grown up into a beautiful woman. Do you have a boyfriend, Katherine?"
"It's Kate, and yes, I do."
"Of course. I'm sorry. I know you must be angry with me for keeping out of your life. It's just that I don't feel comfortable around…" She paused and looked around as if Big Brother were listening in on the conversation. "Magic," she concluded, in a tone barely louder than a whisper.
She straightened up in her seat then and asked Will, "Would it be terribly inconvenient of me if I stepped out for a moment to use my mobile? You girls could get to know each other better," she added to Kate.
"Fine," Will said. He didn't exactly know what a mobile was, but he assumed it was some sort of Muggle technological device. When Kate was small, he'd lived in the Muggle world, but a mobile was not something he had owned or remembered hearing about in those days.
"You'll need to go out into the street to avoid interference," he added. He meant from magic, but Bianca assumed he meant that she couldn't get a good signal near the house.
She smiled at him and said, "Thanks." To Tessa she said, "I'll be just a minute. Be good for Kate and Will."
No one knew that Bianca didn't intend on ever returning. She stepped out of the house, produced her mobile phone from her handbag, and rang for a taxi, which she met a few streets over from the Dewhurst residence.