The House of Emerald Serpents | Theodore Nott

1- Going back

Elaine McCracken was tired; she had been raising her younger brother for the last several months and barely had time for herself. Her mother was no help. 

Elaine's mother cried a lot. Her husband had been sent to Azkaban right after the second wizard war and she was an absolute mess. It was August now and she was the same as the day he left.

Elaine's younger brother Ralph was only six making Elaine twelve years older than him. 

The McCracken's decided they wanted another kid after Elaine was already disappointing them in her first year of Hogwarts.

They didn't exactly say that, but Elaine was pretty sure that was the reason.

Ralph stayed in Elaine's room a lot; he had nightmares. Poor little guy, his mother couldn't handle taking care of him anymore, so Elaine had to. There was no way she would leave him alone with their own mother. 

"Elaine, can you come here?" Rose McCracken called from her room.

"Yeah, I'll be there in a second."

Elaine hands Ralph his plate of food she made him for dinner.

Rose's room was a mess, Elaine would clean it occasionally if her mother let her. 

"What do you need mom?"

"I need to tell you something" she says sniffling.

"Ok, go ahead."

"I received a letter from the Hogwarts headmaster a few weeks ago, her name is..." she looks off.

"Mcgonagall?"

After the war Professor Mcgonagall had been promoted to headmaster. Elaine couldn't think of a better person for the job. 

"Yes, that's the name. Anyway, she wrote and informed me that you are allowed to go back to retake your 7th year. I explained that you're staying here to help take care of Ralph for me."

"Right" Elaine mumbles.

She really had no other choice. 

"She told me that there's a new program at the school. For children with siblings at the school, whose parents didn't make it or are unable to take care of them because of the war."

"Younger than first year?"

"Yes, so before they start their schooling there at age 11, It's almost a day care but the children stay there like they are actually attending Hogwarts."

This is the most comprehensive thing Rose has said in months. Usually, it was slurred words that barely made full sentences. Elaine was impressed. 

"That's nice of them, families need that" Eliane says, realizing where this could be going. 

"Right so, I was thinking Ralph could go!"

"Ralph at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, that way you can go back to school for a year! I know how important education has always been to you."

"Mom I-"

"No, you need to be smart. You know you won't go anywhere in life otherwise" she says, making Elaine slightly angry.

"You want Ralph to go to Hogwarts with me?"

"Yes, I know he wouldn't want to be away from you."

She was right, Ralph practically clung to Elaine now. She is his primary caregiver. 

"Ok, I'll talk to him, see if he wants to leave here with me."

Elaine walks out of her mother's room, huffing lightly. Ralph was sitting right where she left him on the couch, eating his grilled cheese.