The strange happenings began in July of 1925. River City was fairly normal until this point. Harold Hill led the River City Marching Band, which couldn't be called a boy's band anymore considering his own adopted daughter, Helena, and several other girls had joined. Marian still ran the library and taught piano lessons, as well as caring for their daughter. It was just after Helena's tenth birthday when it began to rain. Rain happened sometimes in River City, but the bad weather continued. When it wasn't raining, it was gray and windy. Occasionally, and most concerning of all, was the occasional snow. It never snowed in the summer. It hardly snowed in the winter! It had been nearly two weeks since the odd weather. Marian was on her way home from the library when she saw someone running toward her. It was Linus Dunlop. He was out of breath and seemed stunned.
"Mayor...Shinn....called a....town meeting.....right now!" he panted. "Bring your family!" Marian could tell that this was clearly an urgent matter.
"I'll find them and head to the town hall." she said before picking up her pace. When she reached the house, she saw Helena looking confused on the porch.
"What's going on?" Helena asked. "Everyone is running to main street talking about a town meeting!"
"I'm not sure. Just come with me." Helena joined her mother on the sidewalk and they hurried to the town hall. Everyone was crowding in. Marian saw that Harold, Mrs. Paroo and Winthrop were already inside. She and Helena took a seat next to Harold. There were ten strange people on the raised platform with Mayor Shinn. They were dressed in heavy clothing as though they lived up north.
"Everyone listen!" Mayor Shinn shouted over the chaos. Everyone went silent. "These people say River City is in danger!" A dark haired woman stepped forward.
"It's true. We wouldn't normally enlighten your kind in these matters, but this situation is too dire. I am Virginia Lehman, and this is Earl Felten, Jane Allen, Lewis Shaw, Arnold Collins, Ronald Goodwin, Genevieve Thomas, Chester Perkins, and our new recruits, Tina Goldstein and Violet Hancock. We are aurors from the Magical Congress of the United States of America." This statement caused absolute uproar. Virginia pulled a long, carved stick out of her pocket and pointed it in the air. A flash of light and a bang filled the hall. The townspeople gasped in horror. Marian froze. Those people truly meant it. They were magical. Virginia raised her voice. "We are here because there is an incredibly dangerous situation surrounding your town. There is an evil wizard called Gellert Grindelwald, and some of his supporters have set up a base near your town. They're affecting the weather to confuse you. Grindelwald believes that the non magical people should be eliminated, leaving the world to wizards. This group of wizards is planning to wipe out your town, and we were sent here to provide magical protection. You may not be willing to accept magical help, but it's what has to happen. You aren't safe here without us." Everyone began to talk at once. Marian knew this had to be taken seriously. She stood up.
"This isn't a joke!" Marian shouted. The townspeople turned to look at her. "These people have no reason to lie to us! This is clearly a serious situation. We can't let our town be in danger!" Virginia nodded. Ethel Washburn stood as well.
"I agree with Marian. We need their help!" Harold was, of course, the next to express his opinion. Mrs. Shinn was the next, and she was quickly followed by many others. While some were still reluctant, most of the town agreed.
"Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to put up protection spells around the town." Virginia said as she led the aurors out of the town hall. The meeting dispersed in chatter as people exited the hall.
"So it's all true!" Helena exclaimed. "Magic, wizards, it's all real!" Marian nodded, but she couldn't shake what just happened. River City was endangered by magic, and she had spoken out on their behalf. She knew she had just made herself a new set of enemies. Sure enough, she was approached by a glaring Mrs. Britt.
"You foolish girl! How dare you speak out for a bunch of sinners! Witchcraft is unforgivable! Why, they're probably working for the devil himself!" she shouted. Harold stepped forward defensively.
"Why you...." Marian cut him off by pulling him away.
"Come on, let's just get home." As they fought through the crowds, all conversations had one thing in common. What was going to happen next?
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Always Believe
Fanfiction"The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater." - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring. It h...
