Aymee Parker B2 - The Cursed Mark

Chapter 25 : Family dinner

The previous year, Aymee had not wanted to leave the colony because of the missing lightning bolt. This time it was because of Amos. Her instincts were telling her that leaving him alone was anything but a good idea. Of course, he wasn't really alone since Alabaster, Tannaha and the other permanent boarders were still there, but Aymee remained uneasy.

Aymee tried to convince Chiron even with the portkey in hand. The centaur put a reassuring hand on her shoulder before making eye contact. His gaze was confident and optimistic. It was not enough to calm the young half-blood.

"Don't worry," Chiron tried to reassure her. "Alabaster and Tannaha are there. They won't leave him alone."

Aymee didn't even have time to open her mouth to reply as the now familiar dizziness of the portkey seized her. She closed her eyes, praying to get to the right place this time. Her prayer was answered, for it was Kingsley's deep and kind voice who greeted her. Aymee opened one eye at a time to check it wasn't her imagination before smiling for good.

"Kingsley!" she exclaimed jumping into his arms.

Her godfather laughed heartily as he hugged her. Aymee buried her face into his midnight blue robe and the tension she had built up evaporated. As always, he had that something that could sooth Aymee in the blink of an eye. Aymee thought about his aura, but it could also have been his composure.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"Great!"

Digby and Macy came into the girl's field of vision. The two house-elves bowed until their ears brushed the carpet. Somehow, Aymee was reassured to be ill at ease by this servile attitude. That meant she wasn't horrible, right?

Kingsley invited Aymee into the living room. Now that she was in the UK, it was tea time. Aymee recounted her week at camp enthusiastically, until it came to her new half-brother. Kingsley squeezed her hand in support.

"Yes, I understand," he said. "You see yourself a lot in him, don't you?"

Aymee nodded, her eyes downcast. It may have been presumptuous, but he was following her trajectory too much for her liking. She didn't want him to spend his childhood feeling guilty for his father's death and beating himself up. She knew too much what it was to wish it on anyone. Kingsley caught her attention by gently patting her hand.

"Chiron will not let your fears come true. I'm sure he's already talking to him. Don't you think so?"

"Maybe..."

They were silent for a few seconds before Aymee bounced back to another subject. She didn't want to spend her time brooding. There were other things in life.

"And you? Did you have a vacation?" she asked.

Kingsley chuckled bitterly as he leaned back into the couch. Aymee raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"It's been... busy at the office," he summed up. "A few wizards have taken it into their heads to breed hippogriffs in town. You can imagine the result. We had to work with the Department of Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures, and it was no simple matter. A good hundred Muggles had to be obliviated. It made headlines in the Daily Prophet. Your friends at school might talk about it."

"Oh."

Aymee grimaced. Kingsley hadn't really had a vacation. Aymee felt sorry for him. They continued to chat and the conversation flowed from topic to topic seamlessly. They sat down to eat without Aymee even realizing it, and after the meal, Digby presented a small cup containing a thick purplish liquid to Aymee.

"What is this?" she asked.

"I noticed your sleeping difficulties last time," Kingsley explained. "This potion should help you recalibrate to our schedule. I'm sorry I didn't think of it sooner, it should have been natural."