Like Real People Do (R.A.B)

2

~ Learning and Changing

One month later...

"Try again, and make sure you are saying the spell aloud."

Monty and Cleome were back behind the gardens of the Potter Manor. It was a cold winter afternoon but a warming spell kept them comfortable in the weather. A thin layer of snow was settled around them, the grass still peaking through to the top, but the trees around them were completely devoid of leaves.

In the last month she had spent with Monty and Mia, Cleome had gained almost ten pounds and was starting to look healthy. Her eyes shined brighter than they ever have before, and her pale skin now had a natural warmth too it.

She had hopes and dreams now. Things she never thought the future would bring.

The young witch huffed annoyed, "I can do the spell, why do I have to say it aloud?" She questioned, growing frustrated at her lack of progress.

Monty had been training her for the last several weeks in the ways of the wand which has proved to be most difficult. Cleome could perform any magic, but she couldn't hardly remember any names of the spells.

"Kids your age can hardly do magic without saying spells aloud, and I bet no one can do magic wandlessly." He said firmly for the third time that day. His own frustration was beginning to creep into his voice.

Cleome rolled her eyes at the answer. What he really meant to say is that she was not normal, and if she wanted to go out into the world then she needed to be able to appear normal.

"Your eyes say different things than your mouth, Monty." She said in reply. She was now standing with her wand tucked under her arm with her arms crossed, looking at him unimpressed.

Monty pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a defeated sigh, "Cleo, we have been over this, people can't just read minds by looking into people's eyes- and we certainly don't announce it when we do!"

She just glared at him coldly and flicked her finger slightly causing the wand in his hand to be thrown in the air away from him. It flew gracefully in the air until it was just feet from her.

"Expellimattress." She said sassily as she caught his wand in her hand.

The older man couldn't help but laugh. "It's expelliarmus and you need to say it when you are actually performing the spell not afterwards."

Cleo just huffed in response shooting another annoyed look at Monty. She understood the need for what she called "normal training" but it was incredibly frustrating nonetheless.

The sound of the backdoor, leading to the garden, closing suddenly grabbed their attention. Mia strides towards them still in her apron with her arms folded around her in an effort to keep warm.

"Lunch is ready you two, and well done Cleo. Monty might benefit from a few lessons from you too, you know." She said with a teasing smile as she winked at Cleome.

Monty said something snarky under his breath but one look from Mia shut him up quickly.

They all made there way into the manor and eagerly sat down for lunch. Mia's cooking was to die for, especially when she made her soups which had become a new regular.

With the newest addition to their family Mia quickly discovered that Cleome would take many months to build up an appetite, and really begin to eat a reasonable proportion of food. The day she had been brought home, Mia had served her spaghetti which had the girl throwing up within the hour. Cleo's case of malnutrition was bad enough to the point where any rich foods could upset her, but Mia found a perfect solution, soup. The broth was light enough on Cleo's stomach and had smaller portions of vegetables and meat so she wouldn't get sick.