Bloodlines

Chapter Three- Carriage Ride

I gave my Mother one last squeeze before climbing into the carriage. Taking in one last look at the hills I grew to know and love then took one last look at her. Nadia Denitsa, the Bulgarian Beauty. Her long wavy raven hair framed her face. Her emerald eyes, looking at me full of sorrow and love, her Sunkissed skin wrapped in a maroon scarf she knitted before I was ever a thought. She walked with grace, her strides quickened as the driver settled in his seat. She reached her hands into the window, grasping for mine. She squeezed them tightly before cupping my face, wiping a tear from my cheek. 

"Sbogom moya lyubov." She spoke between her tears.

"Goodbye, Mother" I kissed her hands before she pulled them away. 

"I'll make sure she's safe and well taken care of, Nadia. You have my word." Professor Sharp placed his right hand over his chest. 

"I'll hold you to it, I am trusting you with my most precious gift. I will write every day." She wiped her tears away and pull off her scarf. "For you, to hug you when I can't." I took the scarf from her and clutched it tightly to my chest. 

The carriage began to pull away and take flight. I watched her fade into the earth as we got farther and farther away. I silently cried into her scarf. 

---

     I watched emotionlessly at the clouds we passed by, only seeing some pieces on land in the distance below. We went over the sea and then back over some farmland, traveling from Bulgaria to Scotland was quite the travel. Sure, it would have been easier to send me to Durmstrang, after all, we'd speak the same language. Distance was the key, the farther away I was, the safer I was. 

"Your Mother is a very good friend of mine, you know." His voice broke up my thoughts. "She moved to Irondale, and we met in our fifth year. Charms class, the kindest Hufflepuff I never met that wasn't afraid to give you a piece of her mind."

"Sounds like she would have made a great Gryffindor." I snorted. 

"Or a Slytherin." He gave me a wink.

"You two have a soft spot for each other." My tone was almost accusatory. 

"Not in any romantic way, as I said, she's a very good friend of mine. Like the sister I never had." He informed. 

 I squinted my eyes at him before returning to our silence. Back to my clouds. 

---

My mother and her sister Andrea both attended Hogwarts, settling in Irondale until they graduated. Andrea met her husband during their time there and had two sons, Taylor being the eldest and in his seventh year, and David being my age. They were basically my brothers. Taylor is in Gryffindor and was the Quidditch Captain in his fifth year. David was in Slytherin and wanted to play last year but Headmaster Black canceled the whole thing.

"We will be arriving soon, you should put on your robes." Professor Sharp informed me without even looking up from his book. 

I reached for my little bag sitting at my feet and pulled out my school robe. The familiar warmth I felt putting it on, feeling the embroidered Hufflepuff patch, and remembering the friends I have made since my first year. Knowing I'd see them again made my stomach jump with excitement. 

"It didn't surprise me that you were sorted in Hufflepuff, you are every part of your mother." He smiled. Professor Sharp was usually distant and stern, but I got to know him a bit more personally. He could be warm and gentle when the time needed it, still have not seen a humorous bone in his body as of yet. Not holding my breath. 

Once we landed, he escorted me inside. He gave me one last reassuring smile before joining the rest of the Professors. I paused at the main doors to the Great Hall, last time I was here, I had just defeated Ranrok and Rookwood and we won the house cup. All my friends cheered with me, except Sebastian. He was nowhere in sight. His owls were plain and empty, eventually, he just stopped writing. Everyone else sent me letters full of life. I took a deep breath and walked through the doors.