Maglins and the Infinite Quest

35

Pipher Green

The rest of my night was spent in my bedroom after mailing the letters off to my friends. I thought about all of them as well as how Anna's death is affecting them. I can only imagine what's going down at Maglins because of it.

I slept on and off, waking up for various reasons including being too warm, too cold, and just not being able to sleep.

"Oh bloody hell," I whispered in frustration, "Why can't I sleep?"

Not being able to rest gave my mind full availability to think about Anna which made my mood much worse.

After hours of tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep, I got out of bed to make myself breakfast. It was before the sun came up so neither of my parents were awake yet, leaving me in the kitchen by myself.

Peace and quiet.

Just what I needed to relax.

But it was also the opposite of what I needed, being alone with my thoughts.

I toasted myself some bread which I buttered, warmed some sausage, and poured fresh apple juice.

I sat at the dining room table as I ate and drank my juice, my brain once again going to another planet.

A planet where all my problems were solved and I was happy and successful.

Somehow I managed to fall asleep with my head leaning against the dining room table and was woken up with a tap on my shoulder.

"Wake up," My dad spoke, "Finish eating and get upstairs before your mother comes down,"

I nodded and stood up to give him a warm embrace, "Thanks," was all my mouth let out.

After he passed out of the dining room, I began to shovel my food into my mouth. It was cold after it sat out, and tasted horrible.

I rushed upstairs to my room before minutes later, my parents door opened and my mom walked down the stairs.

Dodged a bullet.

After both of my parents were working, my mom in the nearby city, and my dad in the office, I was able to relax.

I tried my best to not think of Anna but I couldn't help it. This time, the memory of us both goofing off in the corridors during our first year flooded my mind.

This led to me being angry toward Charles, wanting to push him down the stairs if I had the chance. Thankfully I didn't.

"Mom's gonna want to talk to you after work," My dad said, scaring me half to death as I wasn't expecting him to leave his office and sneak up on me.

"What about?" I asked.

"Finding a new school to attend," He coughed, "I don't think Maglins will let you back for at least a while so you'll have to find somewhere until then,"

"You don't believe that I did it," I choked, "Do you?"

"I know you well enough to know you wouldn't do such thing," He said, "I'm surprised if a girl would let you within two feet of her,"

I laughed at his funny statement.

"I think she wants you to see about going to Halford or Wixtons schools of magic," He began, "Hopefully it'll just be for a few months and then we'll have all summer to try and get you back in Maglins,"

I hated this. I hated being the only current suspect for a crime I didn't commit and apparently now I have to find a new magic school to attend.

"Mom mentioned taking you to both schools this weekend to get you a tour so you can start next week," He said.

"Everything's happening way too fast," I coughed, "And I feel like Mom hates me,"

"She doesn't hate you," He added, "She's just very confused and afraid of what this may change about your future,"

I sighed.

"If you don't want to pick a new school, Mom's probably gonna send you to some random school of her choosing. So if I were you, I'd pick one of the schools before she does,"

The rest of my day was spent reading and working on an extra credit assignment I had. I didn't have to do it now that I'm expelled, I just wanted to pass the time.

I even got so bored that I read through a cookbook from the kitchen to the point where I can recite the recipes for apple and pumpkin pie with my eyes closed. It's not impressive, just weird.

Once my mom got home from work, her mood filled the house. It wasn't a bad mood, just oddly negative to see me. She came up to me after setting her things down and began talking to me.

"I don't want to talk about why I'm not at Maglins," I stated.

"This weekend I have a trip planned for us to go to Halford and Wixtons school's of magic so you can finish your second year of school," She began, "I know how much you enjoyed Maglins, but you need to find an education before we can get you back,"

I coughed and spoke softly, "I know mom,"

"Your dad suggested we go to Wixtons, I suggested some other smaller schools but he said they would'nt fit you at all. Probably because of the brightly colored uniforms you have to wear," She laughed, "And Halford would get you away from home in a big city where you could do endless things,"

I don't think my mother fully trusts me right now, but this is a start, she didn't pierce through me with her deadly gaze, and instead just made casual eye contact.

"Also these were on the front step," She said, handing me a few envelopes with my name written largely on them.

There was one from Frankie, another from Lucy, and a third from Francis.

I immediately shredded the one from Francis into a handful of tiny pieces before tossing it away in the garbage and I took the other two letters to my bedroom.

That night was much better than the previous day. I was allowed to eat dinner with both of my parents and we talked about what school I should attend. Though my parents were having a disagreement and arguing a bit, I was happy.

I wasn't thinking of Anna.

I wasn't thinking about my future.

I'm just enjoying the moment I'm spending with my parents.