Raised Him Right

Chapter Three

Sophia finished her dinner in her room and sat under the window, looking through an old photo album. She looked up at the sound of the doorknob turning. Tina walked into the room.

"Sorry I didn't knock. Newt said-"

Sophia shrugged, "I don't mind."

Tina swallowed, "Why'd you leave?"

Sophia looked up and realized Tina had moved closer. She felt her heart pounding, "Huh?"

"The table? Why'd you leave?"

Sophia swallowed, "Oh. It was bound to happen. My father is unbearable. And he belittles Theseus, even when he's not there. It's been happening since we were little. Better I walk away then do something I'll regret."

Tina placed a hand on Sophia's shoulder. She jerked away.

"I'm sorry." Tina apologized, "My sister is a lot better at consol-"

Sophia shook her head, "I know your trying to help, but this has been happening for years. I can handle it."

Tina sat there for a little while in silence before leaving. Sophia swallowed and focused her attention back to the album in her lap. She turned the page and looked down the page. She smiled at pictures of Theseus when they were younger. In all the pictures, she and him were standing incredibly close together, but Sophia noticed that Theseus was often looking off somewhere that wasn't the camera or Sophia. And he had the same expression, a smile hiding a longing look.

Sophia scanned the picture to see if she could figure out who he was looking at. She couldn't find a hint to his look in that photo, so she flipped through the album for a full family photo.

Finally, she found a family picture. She was probably about thirteen, dressed in Hogwarts winter apparel. Theseus had the same look on his face as Sophia followed his gaze. She halted at her father.

That's all Theseus wanted. That's all he's ever wanted. George Lynel Scamander's attention.

Sophia must've fallen asleep, because she opened her eyes to a dark room, an aching neck, and the photo album lying between the wall and her leg; still open. She sat up against the wall and heard her back crack as she moved. She picked up the album and closed it, tossing it on her bed. She then got to her feet and made her way to her door. The hallway was dark, but she could see the clock enough to read that it was four o'clock.

She crept toward the stairs to get a glass of water from the kitchen. Very quietly stepping down each step precisely, she landed on the landing at the bottom with a soft thud. Tiptoeing through the hall, she followed the wall her hand as she walked through the dark.

It seemed pointless to use her wand when she could just do this. She walked into the kitchen and went through the cabinets for a glass. She rummaged in them for a good few minutes before she jumped at a sound.

She turned to find Theseus standing behind her. She pushed a scream back down her esophagus.

"Say something, idiot."

Theseus nodded, "Why are you here?"

Sophia's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "Visiting. I haven't seen you in years."

"But, why now?" Theseus reiterated, "After all this time?"

Sophia swallowed, "I- I missed you."

Theseus nodded, "Didn't seem to cross your mind sixteen years ago, I guess."

Sophia looked at the floor. Theseus sighed and Sophia heard the sound of disapparating. Sophia wasn't very thirsty anymore, but she couldn't get her feet to move back to the stairs. What was up with him? Sophia looked out the window and saw a falling star shoot past her.

Sophia closed her eyes.

I wish I could know Theo's experiences.

Then, she took herself back to bed.

Sophia woke the next morning to a horn outside her window. She stepped out of bed to close the window, rubbing her eyes harshly, when she realized her eyes didn't feel right and neither did her hands. They were too coarse and rough. Then, she realized she shouldn't have woken up to a horn in her parents home.

Suddenly, she heard a door slam open. A rapping sound started on the door. Sophia opened it up and met herself, anger flashing in her eyes. Sophia blinked in surprise, but there was no change.

"What did you do?" she asked. Sophia stared dumbfounded. Her face sighed in annoyance, "Ugh. Is that how I look?"

Sophia leaned forward, "Theseus?"

"Yeah."

Sophia straightened her back, "My wish."

Theseus looked at her, "What wish?" Sophia looked at the floor to attempt to hide her face, which didn't work because she was much shorter than Theseus, so all looking down did was give him more view. Theseus crossed his arms in front of him, "What wish?" he asked with more force.

Sophia looked around the room and sighed, "I made a wish on a falling star last night that I could know more about your life."

Theseus looked at Sophia with an angry, but vacant expression before saying, "Are you crazy? You have to switch us back!"

Sophia nodded, "I realize that. But how? It's not like falling stars are a common occurrence."

Theseus pushed past Sophia and started rummaging through the desk that sat underneath the window. He withdrew a piece of paper from a drawer.

"Here." he handed it to her, "There's going to be a meteor shower in Massachusetts in eight weeks."

Sophia took the paper in her hands, skimming through the text quickly, "We have to go to Ilvermorny? Are you and Lally exchanging letters?"

Sophia watched Theseus blush as he stammered out, "Sh-she's a friend." he managed, "A good friend."

Sophia nodded, "Okay." she said, suspiciously. Looking back down at the letter, "We need to book tickets to America."

"Halfway done." Theseus said, "I already had a ticket booked."

Sophia folded her arms and looked down at him with a look of knowing, "Oh, really. I guess that's my ticket now and we need to book you a new one."

Theseus' shoulders sagged as his jaw clenched tightly. Sophia moved to the closet, opened it, and sighed when her eyes laid upon the already packed suitcase sitting across the floorboards. She picked it up and looked at him.

"There's something going on." she inquired, "Otherwise, you wouldn't have these things ready to go."

Theseus swallowed, "I- I don't know what you're talking about."

Sophia nodded, "Okay." she set the suitcase by the door, "Go back to mother's and grab my suitcase. I'll book you a ticket with my name on it." Theseus sighed and rolled his eyes as he trudged back to the front door, "And Theseus?" he looked back at her as she added, "Make sure to act like me."