Embers of Discord

Twenty-four

Ahava-

I am walking along the streets with Ruhani and Alice by my side. 

Frank came to spend time with us today. He also brought Alice and her little brother Finley. I like Alice.  She  is a generous and kind- hearted girl with round face and short hair. 

'How is everything going with my cousin?'- I ask. She and Frank have been dating for a year now.

'Brilliant.'- she blushes. 

'He treats you right?'- asks Ruhani.

'You bet he does. Your brother's the most respectful and courteous man I've ever meet.'

'That's wonderful.' - I smile brightly. 'He's lucky to have you too.' Alice looks down shyly. 

'How are you liking Godric's Hollow so far?'

'I think I'm beginning to love it here. It's far better than Birsay in every comparison.'

'That's good.' 

'When is Finley starting Hogwarts?- Ru plucks a brown leaf from a tree.

'He hasn't received his acceptance letter yet. He is nine now.'

We return home after buying some choco- chips for Finley. 
He dashes to me, looking at the bag in my hand.

'You bought choco-chips?!!'-Finley asks jumping up and down. 

'Yeah, here you go.'- I hand him the bag . 

'Thank, you!!!'- He offers me a gap-toothed grin. 

I ruffle his hair- 'You're welcome.'

Finley's a cute kid with messy blond hair and ocean eyes. He's not troublesome like many other kids. 

 I hold my hand out for him and together we walk to the dining room. 

' What's Hogwarts like?'- He asks, smashing the chips in his mouth. 

'It's cool.' 

'I have heard about the houses . Which house you are in?'

'Slytherin' 

 'But that's full of bad people!'- He looks horrified. 

My smile falls off instantly and I wince slightly. 
Merlin. I know he's just a child  but his words stung. 

Finley notices that it upset me. He quickly embraces me tightly, resting his little head on my shoulder. 'Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you.' 

For a nine year old, he's very smart. 

'It's alright, sweety. Slytherin may not have the best people but not all of us are bad.'- I tell him.

He nods his head as if he understands. 

'Which house do you want to be?'- I ask in order to dissipate my unease. 

'Gryffindor! Like Alice.'- He bounces as if he's bursting with liquid sunshine from within. 

There's something so intoxicating about an excited child. They bounce, they pounce , they squeal and they run. As their grins get wider, everyone starts to smile- even the curmudgeons who love to complain. 

That's how Finley is today- talking on and on about his toys, his friends, his parents. I keep listening to him in a spell-bound way. 

I love kids- even their tiring antics.

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