Life After Death - An Erica Black Continuation (4)

Four

2021

"What are you going to tell Harry?" Probes Erica as she plays delicately with her friends red hair, the morning sun streaming through her bedroom window.
"I've already told him it's over. I don't want to live like this anymore Eri... I'm not sure if we'll divorce, I wouldn't want to put the kids through it... and I don't hate him.. maybe we'll just separate quietly and stay in the same house?" She sighed before leaning up to kiss her friend deeply "but I don't want to talk about any of that right now..."
"Come on, the girls will be up soon. You're welcome to stay if you'd like, but it's up to you" she smiled kindly.
"I'll think about it..." Ginny grins back "but first..."  the two share a look as Ginny took Erica's hand. "Come shower with me" she winked pulling her towards the bathroom.

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Erica had been concerned that their night together might have effected her relationship with Ginny Potter but a couple of months had passed and almost nothing had changed, every few weeks Ginny would stay at the Black's cottage for the night but every other day carry's on as if those nights never happened.
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"Hello class! I'm Miss Black- welcome to second year Transfiguration. Find your seats quickly please."
Erica Black smiles brightly, a modest green shirt and grey pinafore dress tightly hugging her figure, a loose emerald green cloak on her shoulders and her ebony ringlets pulled back into a neat ponytail.
The students look up at their substitute teacher with surprise- she was nothing like the miserable, middle aged man who usually taught them. she was young and bright, full of energy and the room felt noticeably lighter with her in it. She was ghostly pale and in contrast, wore dark colours that should've made her appear almost vampire-like. However, the aura she radiated was quite the opposite. 

"Okay Witches and Wizards" she exclaimed "today we'll be taking an in-depth look into the 'Avifors' spell you learnt last year. Now, if you could all close your textbooks, that would be wonderful" she spoke lightly but her words still held enough weight to keep both the student's attention and their respect. After allowing the children a moment to follow her instruction, she continued.
"can anyone tell me what will happen when you correctly perform the 'Avifors' spell?" a few hands shoot up and she points towards a small blonde girl, wearing a bright red Gryffindor tie, with a warm smile and encouraging nod.
"It'll turn it into a bird Miss"
"Very good, 2 points to Gryffindor- can anyone elaborate on that answer?" she points to a Slytherin girl who looked vaguely familiar.
"It must be a small object miss, although i think small animals can be used too?"
"brilliant work, 2 points to Slytherin. Thank you girls. What is the wand motion for this particular spell?"
"A figure of eight miss!" calls out a tan boy in the second row.
"Exactly Mr..." she trailed off.
"Maddox miss, George Maddox" 
"well then Mr Maddox, perhaps you'd be kind enough to give us an example of that wand movement? I appreciate your enthusiasm. However, your ability to manage that excitement may need some work." The woman chuckled softly, motioning for the boy to stand at the front beside her.
His cheeks flush slightly as he shuffles to the front. He pulls out his wand from his robes and and traced the shape in the air.
"Good! Perhaps a little slower? let everyone get a good look at it," she smiled as he repeated the motion. "Thank you Mr Maddox, five points to Gryffindor. Now go and take your seat, and do try to contain yourself" a small wave of laughter bounced about the classroom as he sat back down.
Erica walks around each of the desks handing out pebbles to every student. 
"okay so now its you guy's turn! Try and properly execute the 'Avifors' spell remember the correct pronunciation: AH-vi-fors"

"Miss! Miss! He's only gone and done it! Trevor's done it Miss!" cried out a  boy at the back of the room, drawing the whole class's attention. 
"Congratulations Trevor!" smiles Erica proudly, "ten points to Slytherin-" She is cut off my the bell "and just in time, it would seem. Please pass your pebbles to the front and then you're free to go"

Once she had finished tidying her classroom, Erica Black headed towards the great hall in search of some lunch. For the first time, she had agreed to spend the whole day at Hogwarts teaching. The second year Gryffindors and Slytherins had been her third lesson of the day and she felt it only polite to make an appearance at the staff table. 
"Minerva" she nods with a smile as she greets the Headmistress and takes her seat beside her.
"Ah, Miss Black, i trust you've had no bother today?"
Just as the younger woman went to reply, the door to the hall creaked open slightly and Molly Weasley snuck in, holding each twins hand firmly as she hurried up the aisle to the teachers  table. Every student's eyes were on the woman and children.
"oh Erica darling, I'm so sorry but Narcissa wrote: Charlie's in St.Mungos with burns- i can't take the girls with me..." she trailed off, worried and apologetic. 
"Don't worry Molly, I'll take them- you go. and please, owl me as soon as you know anything" Erica smiled, reaching out to hold her daughters hands. When she looked back up, Molly was already half way out the hall so instead she turned to face McGonagall.
"Minerva.." She began.
The older witch interrupted her, "Don't say a word Miss Black, I'm sure the girls will be no trouble at all. besides, you only have two more lessons today- you have a free period fifth. It's only years 6 and 7" the woman winks with a kind smile. 
"Oh, Oh you're a life saver Minerva!" sighs Erica, relief and gratitude evident on her face.
"Nonsense dear. Now, who are these two?" she asks, smiling at the two girls.
Charlotte stepped forward with a confident smile, holding her hand out "I'm Lottie, Hello!" Professor McGonagall supresses a chuckle and shakes the girl's tiny hand, noticing how the child's confidence resembled that of her maternal grandfather.
She looked the girl up and down briefly, taking note of her unevenly braided hair and dirty tights, her grey pinafore dress decorated with yellow paint splatters. "Nice to meet you Dear" the woman nods.

Her gaze then turns to the other girl. "Hello Flower, what's your name?" she smiles. The older twin has her hair neatly styled in a half up, half down fashion, tied with a green ribbon. Her tights and grey pinafore are spotless, the white collar of her shirt peaking out from her green Weasley sweater with a white 'W'. The girl turns look at her mother uncertainly. Erica squeezes her daughter's hand reassuringly.
"Go on" she says giving the girl a slight push forward.
"W-Willow... My name is Willow Miss" she whispers, her eyes trained firmly on her feet. 
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Willow" Minerva smiled, expecting her to be reminiscent of her namesake and grandmother- in a way, she was, but the more striking resemblance to the older witch was in-fact the girls mother. Perhaps even Remus Lupin.