The Third Orphan

Chapter 4

The week leading up to the Hogwarts departure passed unbearably slowly for Alyssa and Briella. They spent nearly all their time holed up in one of their rooms trying to learn new spells. Alyssa had limited success, but Briella found that if she learned the theory well enough she could do the simple spells with ease. Alyssa was growing frustrated watching her sister's success and each of her own attempts had become much wilder. Fortunately, Briella had mastered "reparo" so there was no permanent damage done to any of their belongings.

With Briella's help, Alyssa quickly improved, however. Four days before they were to leave, she finally managed to levitate A History of Magic. It was nearly to the ceiling when their mother called, "Time for dinner, girls!" from downstairs. Startled, Alyssa glanced away and the book fell to the floor with a firm 'thunk.' Alyssa looked crestfallen for a moment, seeing the book lying on the ground, but then she perked up and ran downstairs yelling, "Mummy! Mummy! I finally did 'wingardium leviosa!' I made the book fly!"

"Good job, sweetheart," responded Elizabeth with a proud smile. With a wave of her wand she sent the dishes flying onto the table.

Just then, Daniel and Brenden entered the house, broomsticks in hand. "I think you've got a great chance at making the team this year," Daniel said to his son. "Thanks dad!" replied Brenden, but was almost immediately distracted by the food before them. "Chicken rice casserole!" he exclaimed as he sat down. "My favorite!" Elizabeth smiled fondly at him. "I only have you three for a few more days. I'm trying to make that time special." Her eyes were clouded up with tears for a moment, but she blinked them away and joined her family at the table.

"I can't believe you two are coming to Hogwarts," said Brenden scathingly, glancing at the twins. "You better not be in Hufflepuff with me."

"Brenden!" his mother and father scolded simultaneously.

"I'm sure we will," said Alyssa with a mischievous smile. "The whole family has been!"

"Yeah!" agreed Briella enthusiastically. "We're gonna be in Hufflepuff, the home of the hardworking and loyal!"

Brenden moaned and the girls laughed. Their brother might tease them sometimes, and at others be downright annoying, but they knew he loved them and was always willing to help.

"Don't get too caught up in which house you want to be in," cautioned Elizabeth with a quick glance at Briella. "We'll love you and be proud of you no matter what house you're in."

The girls didn't pay much attention to their mother though. They had begun a discussion about which of their friends would be going to Hogwarts this year and which house each friend would likely be in. 

Briella woke up early the next day to the sound of rain pounding against her window. Unable to fall back to sleep, she checked off a day on her calendar, which let out a cheer and sang, "Two more days!" as it flashed a picture of the Hogwarts Express. Grabbing one of her school books at random, she came downstairs where her mother was sitting by a blazing fire. With a sleepy "good morning" to Elizabeth, Briella settled down into the cushioned rocking chair closest to the fire. Her kitten, Amber, curled up in her lap and quickly fell asleep.

Briella looked down at her rocking chair and willed it to start rocking. With a dreary creak, it began to move back and forth of its own accord. Elizabeth, glancing up from her knitting, smiled a little to herself: this was the kind of magic that was common in children. Briella's eyes were drifting shut again when a loud rapping on the window reawakened her. Looking up, she saw a bedraggled looking owl banging its talons on the glass as it fought the driving rain and gale force winds.

Elizabeth jumped up and opened the window. The owl flew in, scattering water droplets across the room. Briella ducked and shielded her book with her body to protect its perfect white pages. Elizabeth removed one of the Daily Prophets from the owl's talons and paid it a silver sickle. Hooting happily, the owl settled down in front of the fire.

"You naughty owl!" laughed Elizabeth. "You're supposed to finish delivering your papers." Briella giggled as the owl gave her mother a look that clearly said SHE could go out in the storm to deliver papers if it meant so much to her and began preening his feathers.

With a humph, Elizabeth looked down at the paper in front of her. The story on the front page caught her eye. Feeling a stab of worry, she began scanning the first few paragraphs. Trying to push down her growing fear, she turned and handed Briella the paper saying, "This story might interest you, honey."

The headline read "Harry Potter to Teach at Hogwarts." Next to it was a picture of a man with flyaway hair. He smiled in an almost reluctant way out of his black-and-white photograph as if uncomfortable being in the spotlight. Interested, Briella began to read the story underneath.

'With the start of the fall term only three days away, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Octavian, has fallen seriously ill with dragon pox. Healer Bryant of Saint Mungos told Daily Prophet reporter Janice Dexter that, "Dragon pox is particularly dangerous to one of Octavian's age," and that, "Professor Octavian will unlikely be able to leave Saint Mungos for at least three months and we have recommended that he refrain from teaching or any other strenuous activity for six months afterward to prevent any further complications."

Unfortunately, this has left Professor McGonagall, current headmistress of Hogwarts, in a difficult position. Finding a teacher qualified to teach the difficult subject of Defense Against the Dark Arts is difficult at any time, but to find one in three days is nearly impossible. Fortunately, Harry Potter, qualified auror and the hero who vanquished Voldemort-"

"They wrote You-Know-Who's name!" exclaimed Briella.

"Yes," replied Elizabeth. "Most if the wizarding world does now, but some of us..." Elizabeth shuddered, "some of us still remember the terror all too well." She stared into the fire, lost in thought. Briella watched her for a moment, and then returned to her newspaper story.

'...the hero who vanquished Voldemort over eleven years ago, was available for the job. "Hogwarts was my home when I was younger," said Potter, "and it will be wonderful to return." When asked if it would be difficult to leave his wife and three small children Potter replied, "I nearly chose not to accept the job because I can't bear to leave them. Fortunately we have arranged for them to be able to visit regularly. I want to be able to repay the debt that I feel I owe to Hogwarts, for all those who live there did for me during the Great Battle and my time as a student."

The Daily Prophet wanted to know what special talents Potter would bring... (continued on page A5)'

As Briella turned the pages, Elizabeth continued staring into the fire. Slowly the sound of the rain faded and the warmth of the fire seemed to leave her body. She closed her eyes and suddenly she was twelve years younger and Brianna was kneeling on her back step crying...