Forever and Always

Letters

I looked at myself in the full length mirror, making sure that all my new clothes fit me good. My body finally finished filling out and all my clothes don't fit very well anymore.

"Fae?" my mom, Elizabeth, knocked on the door.

"Come in, mom!" I called out, as I turned down my radio.

The door opened revealing my mother, Elizabeth. She had on a pair of shorts, a flowing tank top, and her bright red hair in a bun. I looked just like my mother, except for my eyes and my hair. My hair was auburn color, and my eyes were a piercing grey.

"Look what came in!" she waved two envelopes in her hand.

"My Hogwarts letter for fifth year came in?" I spun around.

"Yes, and another from what looks like Fred and George. I think the Hogwarts one feels a little heavy." My mom walked over and sat on my bed.

I smiled and joined her. She handed me the letter from my two best friends. I recognized their untidy scrawl anywhere. I ripped open the letter and saw a newspaper clipping. The big picture on the front held all nine Weasley family members, even Charlie and Bill, whom I've never met. They all waved up at me, but Fred and George were bouncing up and down excitedly. I read the headline:

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 Banks.'

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.

How fun! They got to go to Egypt! The only place I've ever gone outside of America is to England to go to Hogwarts. Oh, yeah, I'm American and so is my mom. She went to Hogwarts her fifth year as an exchange student. She absolutely loved it there. I was kicked out of Ilvermorny at the end of my second year. Let's just say the Headmaster didn't like his hair being pink.

"What did they send?"

I tore my eyes away from Fred and George in the picture. "They vacationed in Egypt." I handed her the news clipping. I reached into the envelope and pulled out another piece of paper. It was simple, only had nine words written on it.

We will tell you everything when we see you!

"Maybe we should go to Egypt next year. Would you like that?" My mom offered.

I shook my head. "I like being home. but if you want to go somewhere, we can."

"I'll think of something for next year." She handed me my Hogwarts letter. "Now, open it." She had a knowing glint in her eyes.

I narrowed my eyes at her. "What is it? Do you know something that I don't?"

"Hmmm. I'm not sure."

I rolled my eyes and plopped the wax seal. I pulled out the papers, but there was still something inside. I tilted the envelope and let the contents spill into my hand. A gorgeous red badge with the word Prefect was engraved on the front. My draw dropped. I'm a prefect? Oh, I am going to be teased by the twins for sure! My eyes looked to my mom.

"Did you know?" I asked.

"I had an idea when I picked up the envelope." She answered with a smile.

"Were you ever a prefect?"

Her smile faltered slightly, and her eyes glazed over in sadness. "No. When I arrived at Hogwarts, my best friend Lily was the Prefect for Gryffindor. I wouldn't have any other student to be a Prefect instead of her." Lily Potter, Harry's mom. I always forget they were friends. "I'm glad Dumbledore chose you. You'll be a perfect Prefect. As long as you don't keep breaking any rules with Fred and George." She gave me a look.

"Mom." I gave the same look to her. "I can't make any promises. You know how I am."

She gave a great sigh. "You are so much like your father." Her eyes teared up.

I looked down to the badge in my hands. I know that this is going to be a touchy subject, but I had to ask. "Will you tell me about dad?" I knew nothing about him. I didn't know what he looked like, or if he was a wizard or not. She wouldn't tell me anything. All I know about my past, was that I lived in England for two years, but I was born in America, and all of a sudden my mom packed up all of our stuff and moved back to Oklahoma.

She held my hand in hers. "He was a good man, puppy. He loved us very much."

I should have known. That was her answer every time I asked. "I know. I just wish I could learn more about him." My eyes traveled to the leather jacket, the only thing I had of his, hanging on the back of my bedroom door.

"How about we go to London in a couple weeks, before school starts, and get everything? I also think you deserve a present for being a Prefect. What would you like?"

My head perked up. There was one thing that I've been wanting since I got back from school. "Can I get my belly button pierced, please?"

My mom rolled her eyes. "I guess."

"Yay!" I tackled her into a hug.