The Unbreakable Vow

Chapter 17- Our new life

The next few days were nightmarish. Our aunt was seemingly worse than our mother. She'd make us do chores, which should've been left to the maids. She insisted we helped Maman: bringing her cups of tea or grabbing something she needed from a different room. I think Maman took full advantage of this. She'd even make us take it in turns to take a carriage to go and buy groceries. I tried to avoid this job as much as possible. It was far too cold to move into the house. I couldn't bear to think about how it would be outside.

Three days had gone by and we hadn't heard anything about attending Hogwarts.

"Are you sure we don't have to take entrance exams like for Beauxbatons?" I asked, repeatedly.

"No, I asked a friend, who attends there and she said you are simply allowed in" Emmeline replied.

Another day went by. Then another. Still nothing.

As the weeks drew closer to Christmas, a knock sounded at the door, in the early morning.

"Hello, Sir."

"Good morning, is this the house of Mr. and Mrs. Legrand and their daughters?" A man spoke in a soft voice.

"Just Madam and her daughters, yes. They are in if you would like to speak to them?"

"Lead the way."

The man appeared at the doorway of the parlor, my mother stood and bowed.

He had a grey beard that matched his greyish-black, neat hair. Wrinkles covered his eyes and forehead as he smiled lightly. His green eyes glistened magnificently against the firelight.

"I am Benedict William," He said "Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" he followed this with a low bow and took off his hat.

"Welcome. I am Madam Legrand and this is Maria, my youngest. Go and fetch your sisters, Maria" My mother ordered then offered him a chair.

"Margot, Emmeline, Juliette" I called quietly as I ran up the stairs "the headmaster of Hogwarts is here!"

We all sat in the parlor and he handed us each a letter of thick yellow parchment. I ripped it open.

"Dear Miss Legrand,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

I peered at my sisters' letters, all were identical. It wasn't the same. The blue ink on my Beauxbatons letters filled me with a rush of excitement. This dull, green ink was nothing more than a reminder of pain.

"You will also need these tickets to get the train. You can get all your school supplies at Diagon Alley. Just take this floo powder, put it in the fire, say where you want to go and you'll arrive. I best be off. Merry Christmas, I hope to see you in the new year."

He handed us an urn with dust in it then suddenly stood up, took his hat off again, bid us goodbye, and disapparated. 

Our new life was about to begin.