Afraid to Fly

1 - Amelia Blackwood

The wind whipped through Amelia's long hair as she sped through the sky. She sat atop her Comet 260, ignoring the estate below and only focusing on the feeling of being alone. Of being... peaceful.

Much like running, flying was a release for Amelia. She could escape the world below her; the noise, the people, the pressure, and just simply... exist. So when she heard her house elf calling to her from below, dread filled her stomach, and an exasperated sigh escaped her lips.

Slowly, Amelia began to descend, heading towards the garden where Lele, her house elf, stood alone, waiting to speak. Her stomach dropped in unison with her declining altitude.

"Hi Lele. Is it mother?" Amelia questioned knowingly.

"Miss Blackwood wishes to speak to Miss Amelia in the parlor. Miss Blackwood is unhappy with Miss Amelia's reaction to the news of Hogwarts. Miss Blackwood is waiting in the study."

Amelia bit her lip, frustrated, but also nervous. "I assumed she would be upset.. thanks, Lele. I'll go to the study..."

The dread continued to dance in Amelia's stomach as she slowly wandered through the large home to the study.

"How could she do this to me?" Amelia wondered to herself, reflecting on the day with a heavy pit in her stomach.

Her mother had required her transfer from Beaxbatons to Hogwarts. "16 is too late to change schools. Doesn't know anything about being young?" Amelia's thoughts spiraled further into frustration.

As she sat on the couch in the study, her mother kept her eyes on her book. Amelia was used to this. As the child, she was always taught to behave, speaking only when spoken to, etc. She consistently felt stifled and suffocated in this home, regardless of its expansive size.

"Amelia.." her mother started, finally glancing up from her book after a few minutes of silence. "I expected better of you."

"I'm sorry, mother. I was overwhelmed and I needed to-"

"Quiet." Her mother harshly demanded. Cold, as usual. "You did this." Her words came through gritted teeth.

"This is your fault, Amelia. You almost EXPOSED your gifts at Beauxbatons and I had no choice but to seek a new school. You have no right to be angry at anyone other than yourself. And you have no right to storm out. Do I make myself clear?." Her expression was hard as stone.

It was almost an oxymoron to see her mother so cold and on edge these days. It contrasted so drastically to her soft, but striking, beauty. It was no surprise, then, for people to find out her mother's name was Freya. Beautiful, but also strong and combative. Fitting.

"I understand, Mother" Amelia's head fell in defeat.

"Good. I will have no more arguments or sass from you. You will attend Hogwarts from now until graduation, and you will not risk exposing yourself like that ever again."

Amelia nodded, but a question lingered on her mind - a question she had never gotten the answer to.

"Mother?" Amelia hesitantly asked.. "what will happen to my friends? Will you allow me to write to them now?"

"They've been obliviated. Their memories will still involve you, but the impact will be much less significant. They think you left because of my job. Do not contact them." Her mother stated this as if it was worth a shrug of her shoulders, and nothing more. But Amelia felt her blood boil, and tears spring to her eyes.

"You had no right" Amelia spat through gritted teeth.

Freya stood above Amelia before she could comprehend the reaction.