(1) Family Ties (D. Salvatore)

Chapter Nine

Tansy's currently perusing through the books in her room. She and Sheila are still looking for a reason as to why Bonnie's magic has waited this long to present itself. She's two years older than the oldest manifestation of magic, and even then it was Ancient magic, not traditional. But traditional magic is less archived than pure magic, slightly more than ancient, but still not enough to really get answers. They are looking though. Bonnie deserves answers. Tansy knows how it feels to desire answers. When, in her later Hogwarts years, she learnt that whilst James is her father, Lily is not her mother. She went through a whole identity crisis with that, something she imagines Bonnie is going through too, only with her magical identity. Perhaps that is why Tansy feels connected to her.

As Tansy pulls a book from the shelf, her phone rings from the bed and Tansy glances over at it. It is too early for it to be Harry, Ron, or Hermione. As if Ron would call her. Which means it is likely Bonnie. Sheila is just down the hall and they are the only two people in America that have her number. She moves across the room and picks up the phone.

"Hello, Bonnie" Tansy greets as she picks up the phone, setting it between her ear and her shoulder.

"Tansy, hey" Bonnie counters. "Are you busy?"

"No, course not," Tansy assures her and the sobers slightly, believing that the only reason Bonnie would call is because something has happened. "What's wrong?" Bonnie chuckles a little.

"Nothing is wrong" She answers softly and then takes a deep breath. "My friend Caroline is throwing a party, and I asked her if I could invite people. She said it's okay, so I am inviting you"

"That's very nice, Bonnie, but you know you don't have to interact with me outside of our magic lessons" Tansy comments, she wasn't really expecting 'friendship' from her lessons. That's all they are. Mentor and student. She wouldn't exactly invite McGonagall or Flitwick to a party so she doesn't expect it from Bonnie. This is a nice request though. A thoughtful one.

"I know," Bonnie assures her. "But I want to, I want you to meet my friends and I want them to meet you" Bonnie has a number of reasons why she wants Tansy to meet her friends. She's cool and Bonnie genuinely likes her. And she happens to look a lot like Elena and she wants the others to see it too. She wants to know if it is just her that sees it. Tansy slides the book onto the bookshelf as she thinks about the request. It has been a long time since she has been to a party. But she likes Bonnie, hanging out with her outside of teaching her magic sounds like fun. And she has pretty much been stuck inside since she arrived, with her having only gone out once. If she is going to be here for a while, she should start actually living in this town. Not just visiting it.

"Okay" Tansy tells Bonnie. "I'll come...text me the details" Bonnie lets out a pleased sound and Tansy can almost feel her excitement through the phone, which does cause her to smile. Bonnie is lucky. She is coming into her magic without the drama of Voldemort getting in the way. That's the sort of education that Tansy would have loved. Anyone at Hogwarts during those years would have. A simple magical education. Bonnie has that with Tansy and Sheila now. An experienced witch and a younger hardship-shaped witch to teach her. Tansy might not have taught before, but she has been taught by the best and she has been through a lot. Tansy takes a deep breath and tucks her phone away before going back to the books. A few seconds later, Bonnie's text comes through, but Tansy will check it in a little while after she's checked a few books. She owes Sheila that before thinking about herself.

......

Nothing. Tansy finds nothing in the books but she honestly didn't think there would be anything in these books because Sheila would have discovered it earlier. But she has text Hermione and even sent an enchanted letter to Malfoy, hoping that the Ministry might have answers. But for now, Tansy has done all she can to help. Tansy opens up the text from Bonnie, to check the details of Caroline's party. She hasn't missed it, the start time being later in the evening, at the Grill which Tansy is aware of now, and with a dress code. Semi-formal. Tansy pulls a face and glances at her suitcase. She didn't really consider needing a more formal outfit. She was only coming here to teach a teenager some magic. Plus the only formal thing that she actually owns is her Yule Ball dress and of course she didn't bring that with her. Tansy lets out a breath and closes her eyes, trying to work out what can work with what she brought with her. She can make something work, surely.