Can You Ride a Horse?

Chapter Two: Brooms

::: I would almost cringe at my past writing if it wasn't for the simple fact it has gotten me to where I am today. 2012 was a lifetime and a half ago. Enjoy my childish attempts at writing :::

Chapter 2

It had been a month since the Browning's had a curious visitor. Since that night the air of the household was different; almost excited. Dante was once again ignoring her breakfast as she sat at the kitchen table. The past month had been uneventful and slow for the young girl. Slowly and mechanically her hand dipped a spoon into a bowl of cereal and raised it to her mouth to insert the crunchiness and then chewed. It was a slow process this morning because Dante was thinking of the night the first wizard she had ever seen entered her house.

Dante read the clock and noticed it was a quarter to six. The family was sitting down for dinner when a loud pop was heard, followed by Mufasa barking loudly, which then led to yells of help. Dante quickly ran to the rescue at the front door.

"Heel!" she exclaimed. Mufasa immediately sat and stopped barking, but did not take his eyes off the visitor. "I am so sorry!" she said as the turned to the presumed Mr. Townsend.

"Quite alright, my dear. My name is Lloyd Townsend. I owled you this morning," he said, nervously looking at the dog.

"Yes, of course, please come in," she said quickly. She patted Mufasa before leading the guest to the dining room. "You've arrived just in time to eat. I hope you like wild turkey."

"I do not want to impose. Should I come back another day?"

"Don't be silly, you should eat with us. You're our guest."

Lloyd Townsend absolutely loved the dinner. Dante watched his every move, looking for any sign of magic. Of course she didn't stare, that was rude. She did, however, decide the whole situation odd. Yes, she was raised to keep an open mind, but this was beyond her imagination. A man was sitting in her dining room, discussing the mechanics of his job. He worked at a Bureau of Magic, he explained it was a government branch, but had nothing to do with the line of rules "muggles" followed. Muggles were people who didn't have magic. He was assigned to reach out to Dantelesca Browning of Guarden Spring Ranch outside a small town in Tennessee.

The British Ministry of Magic contacted the American magical government and informed them of an underage witch performing accidental magic. Since then they had been monitoring the progress of her magic. The Browning's thought it was odd they had been watched for nearly two years without any notice or explanation. Townsend explained it was against the law for witches and wizards to see them unless it was dire. He said if the young child they were to monitor endangered any lives they would step into action. He was pleased to inform there were no reports of assistance for Dante's particular case.

Dan led Lloyd to the sitting room followed by Lesta and Dante, leaving the dirty dishes to be dealt with after their talk.

"Now, I must get to the point," Lloyd started. "As you know, Dante will be eleven soon, and that marks the start for her education. I know she has been home schooled, but soon she will need to attend a magical school. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which resides in Britain, has taken a fond interest in Miss Browning and will soon be sending an acceptance letter. There are of course other schools, some in other countries, a few in the states, and I expect you will receive letters from them as well. You may choose whichever school you wish to attend."

Dante remained quiet as her parents asked Townsend questions and clarified certain aspects of the laws and how it affected them as a family. Dan asked all the necessary questions while his wife took notes and wrote reminders down. Mufasa stood by Dante and watched the man as he changed the family's way of thinking.

"If that will be all it is time for me to take my leave," he said as he stood and shook hands with the Dan and Lesta.

"Wait! Can I see magic? Will you do something?" Dante asked, eyes wide in wonder.

"Yes," he replied as he waved his wand. He bid farewell with a smile and a loud pop.

"I didn't see anything, but now we know what made Mufasa bark his head off," Dante commented.

"Oh well, come on, we need to clean up the kitchen."

Upon entering the kitchen, the three Brownings stopped and stared in awe. The dishes had been washed and put away, the table and chairs cleaned off and neat, and the whole room smelled faintly of lemons.

"I hope you learn to do this," Lesta said with a smile at her daughter.

"And so much more," Dante whispered.

A lemon smell could still be detected from time to time, or maybe it was just the girl's imagination. Either way, it always reminded her of the night that had started the beginning of her new life. A life with a school filled with kids not only her age, but of kids who were like her. Dante had been making lists of what she would need, dreaming of what she would do and see, and dreading leaving her parents; family time was limited and she hated to miss the opportunities.

Lesta worked at her office during the day, and in her home study at night. She often left for weeks at a time, traveling and giving presentations, charming businesses and making deals. Lesta was fantastic at her job; working with museums and artifacts was her passion. Plus the pay wasn't something to sneeze at. Dan didn't have a job, his wife worked and gladly paid for everything. Dan taught Dantelesca at home. Along with basic schooling he taught her how to sew, hunt, ride, work on machines, fish, tend to gardens, and take care of their 120 acres the house sat on.

Dante heard the familiar click of heels in the hall and turned to look confusedly at her mother when she entered the kitchen. A smile graced Lesta's face as she looked at her little witch. She almost felt selfish for being so jubilant about Dante and her future with magic; she was ready to hear about the other world once again. She knew her surprise would be welcome, it wasn't every day she left the office early, especially before lunch.

"If I'm not mistaken, you need to buy some things, Dantelesca. I have plane tickets. Go pack, we're staying in London until you leave for Hogwarts," she said with a smile.

"What? Really? That's so cool, Mom, thanks!" Dante exclaimed, hugging her mom before running up the stairs to her room.

Three hours later the Brownings were loading their suitcases into the back of their full-sized truck. Dante hugged and kissed Mufasa before leaving with tear tracks down her cheeks. Tears continued to fall as she watched the Tennessee landscape pass the window. Once they passed under the Guarden Spring Ranch entrance she shook herself and wiped away the sadness. She needed to get over the fact she wasn't a little country girl anymore. She was about to move to a different country, meet all new people, go to a school, hopefully learn a few things, and return over the summer as an educated country witch.

The trip was long and boring, as were all the stops they had to make. Lesta kept busy with museum aspects while her husband usually slept when he could. Dante read her letters over and over, letting her imagination take over to daydream of the new life she would start. As soon as the hotel room door was unlocked, Dante took to the attached room and collapsed on the bed in exhaustion. The next day they were visiting Diagon Alley to get her stuff, but at that moment she was too tired to be excited. That night her worn down brain only allowed dreams of bubbling cauldrons and witches on brooms.

Chapter Cover Photo Cred: wildlywitch.com

::: I will publish what has been written already and begin the ending journey. It should be interesting to see the difference in writing :::