The Next Great Adventure, Yeah Right Albus

The Long-Awaited Letter

There was tapping on one of the windows, specifically the sound of a bird tapping on one of the windows. It was mid-July, she was eleven years old, and there was a bird incessantly tapping on the window. It could only mean one thing, her Hogwarts letter arrived. She would get to go to Hogwarts, and while it was not her favourite place in the world at least Tobias, she refused to call that horrid excuse of a man father, would not be there and she could freely use her magic. Something she has not been able to do for seven months.

When she had been able to use magic her quality of life greatly increased. Having an affinity for transformation magic ended up being quite a blessing. She had been able to transfigure her bed and all of its adornments into something vastly more comfortable. Of course, those transfigurations have long since worn out by now, a shame truly. Over all transformation magic was a great help in keeping the house together. Phyllis also noticed that with less work around the house, her mother was much less stressed than she remembered from her previous life. It gave her hope that maybe, just maybe, she would be able to save her mothers life. While less housework may have improved her mother's mood, Tobias was still just as much of an arse.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

"What in the hell is that noise? It had better not be any of your fuckin' witchy-voodoo shite Eileen!" Tobias loudly exclaimed as he stumbled into the kitchen just as Eileen let the owl into the house. He was, thankfully, not completely sloshed. With his latest job, he has been putting minimal effort into sobering up.

"Why the fuck would you let that damn thing in the house, Eileen! Is it one of your familiars delivering orders from the devil!" Tobias yelled as he spied the bird and the letter clasped in its talons. "Get that damn beast out of my god damned house!" Tobias' words were punctuated by a harsh slap to Eileen's pale face.

Phyllis watched in horror as Tobias ripped the letter from the owl's grip. The bird screeched in protest but it quickly fled the house as Tobias made to grab it. His angry brown eyes skimmed the face of the letter and quickly became even more enraged, if such a feat were even possible.

"So, it's for you girl. You wanna go off to some devil-run school to learn to use your wicked powers, well I won't stand for it! It's bad enough you got'em the world don't need you knowin' how to use'em as well." as Tobias finished speaking he ripped the letter in half and threw the scraps to the ground to emphasise his words.

Phyllis knew what was coming next. She quickly scrambled off the chair she had been sitting on and made a break for the front door. But before she could reach it Tobias slapped her clean across the face. Her scrawny body falling to the floor from the force of it.

"You won't go to that school if you know what's good for ya." Tobias threatened as he delivered a kick straight to her ribs. It hurt, sweet merlin did it hurt, but at least it didn't feel like anything was broken. She could hear her mother loudly sobbing in the background.

No matter how much Eileen wished to intervene on her daughter's behalf she had learned her lesson years ago not to. It only ended up so much worse for both of them if she did. Her heart broke for her sweet, innocent child, who was so bright and smart. If it weren't for her Phyllis would never know the pain she does now.

Phyllis wheezed in pain as Tobias yanked her off the floor by her wrist, his grip harsh enough to bruise. He slapped her already red cheek again. His brutal hold on her the only thing keeping her standing. He then shoved her into the dining table. She hit the wooden ledge hard enough that she was sure her back would also be bruised tomorrow.

Phyllis slowly lifted herself into a standing position as she heard Tobias storm out of the small, decrepit house. Her mother quickly rushed over to her and tenderly pulled her into a soft hug. They both knew better than to ever truly embrace one another. It was hard to ever be sure how much damage Tobias caused and her mother was much too traumatised to ever use magic to try and heal either of them. Her mother had gotten desperate enough to try that once. Tobias had just gotten fired from yet another job someone had been stupid enough to give him and Phyllis was in the wrong place at the wrong time. By the time Tobias had finished taking his anger out on her she had a broken arm and a bloody face.