A Single Rose

Chapter Seven

"Rose? Is that you?" I spin and turn around, coming face to face with my best friend of the past six years. Lili.

"I- Hi Lili." She smiles, coming over to hug me.

"That cold really was nasty, but thank god I'm better now. I've been so sick of laying in bed all day." It's only then that she notices the unfamiliar man beside me, Charlie. "Oh wow, who are you? Who's this Rose?"

"Um, this is Charlie," I say awkwardly.

"Hm, you know, you two actually look quite similar. At least hair color wise."

"Um..." I glance to Charlie who looks as lost as I do about what to do. "Yeah... Anyways, me and Charlie here have a meeting with Ms Lewis."

"Oh? What for?" She's not usually this chatty, so I don't know why she is being like this now. Now, out of all times. I almost forgot about her on mu journey. Not only would I be leaving the orphanage, but I'd be leaving her too. My best friend since we were 8. Her parents died in a car crash and her selfish relatives refused to take her in. It was awful. Now that we're older, people aren't so looking to adopt teeangers, so we've kinda just been stuck here... "Rose, hey? Are you okay? You just completely spaced out."

"Right um-" I look to Charlie to get us out of this awkward interaction. I don't want to lie to her, she's been my only friend for years. The one person who stuck by me... But I can't exactly tell her the truth, can I? "Charlie came to adopt me," I finally respond, gulping. I hate lying to her.

"Really?!" She looks so happy... until she doesn't. Her smile fades, but she tries to hide the sadness from her expression. It doesn't work. I can see right through her facade. It makes me feel worse. "That's great. I'm really happy for you. You really deserve a real family after how long you've been here... You don't happen to be looking to adopt another teenager, do you?" She asks cautiously, turning to Charlie. It's his turn to stumble over his words.

"Um... no. I'm really sorry, you two seem to be... close." He glances between us.

"She's my best friend," I tell him. He looks uneasy. Earlier he seemed so confident, but now he just looks awkward.

"I really wish we were looking to adopt another, but it's just too much at the moment," he says after a few seconds. He sounds more self assured now.

"Oh..." She says. "Well, that's alright! You'll write to me, won't you?" I nod.

"Of course I will," I respond smiling.

"Great! Well, have fun with your appoi-" The door behind us opening silences her. Charlie and I turn around and see Ms Lewis standing in the doorway to her office.

"Come in, come in," she says gently. "Rose will come say goodbye afterwards Lili." My best friend quickly whispers a "bye" to me before scurrying off. Charlie and I follow her into her office. She settles down in the chair behind her desks, and ushers us into the two chairs on our side of the desk. We sit down awkwardly. Before Charlie has a chance to speak up, Ms Lewis continues. "Well Rose, I was expecting this day to come sooner, but it's happening now and that's wonderful." I side eye Charlie.

"My adoption day?" I ask cautiously. "Yes... I'm glad I'm finally going to have a family." She smiles, chuckling softly.

"That isn't quite what I meant." She inhales, thinking, before continuing. "It's about time to explain something to you, that you too young to know before. I- your father brought you here." Silence. Shock floods through me. Charlie is a statue beside me.

"M- my father? You- you actually met my father?" She exhales.

"Yes..."

"But- why am I here if I have a father out there somewhere?" She looks uneasy. "Did he die? Was he dying? Is that why he left me here? And what about my mum?"

"I'm not exactly the person to tell you this," she says slowly. She's saying pretty much the same words as wand store guy did. "But there was a reason you were left here... in my care. I knew your fathers family when I was younger." Does that mean- "I was... I was expecting your letter to arrive when you were eleven, like they do for most others..." Charlie finally moves, looking at the woman I've known almost my whole life.

"You're a witch?" He asks in shock. Ms Lewis's face falls.

"No. I was born a squib." She turns back to me. "I was neighbors with the- with your fathers family. He was a quiet kid, and born into magic just like I was, but the summer after he turned eleven, he got his letter. I used to babysit him when he was younger, I was five years older than him. I grew up with magic, but I never got any of my own. I still saw him in the summers after he left for Hogwarts, and sometimes during Christmas time, but it wasn't the same as it was before. I've always loved kids though, that's why I started this place. A few years after you were born, your father came to me in panic. He... couldn't keep you and he knew I ran this place, knew I was good with kids, and asked me to take you in. I couldn't deny him. I thought he would've came back for you... but he never did. Although, that may have been my own fault." I gape at her as she slightly turns towards Charlie. "After I took Rose in, I asked my parents to put up enchantments around this place, not allowing wizards to see or come in. Sort of like the opposite of Hogwarts and Diagon Alley, which ward away muggles," she informs me. "I took them down three years ago, in hope that your letter would arrive. It never did." I'm staring at her, jaw dropped, in shock from all this new information circling in my brain.

"What's a squib?" I ask.

"Oh, it's the opposite of a muggleborn. Squibs are born into magical families, but they don't have any magic of their own. Muggleborns are born into non-magical families, but do have magic of their own."

"What do you mean about Hogwarts and muggles?" I'm purposefully avoiding the important questions.

"Well, places like Hogwarts and Diagon Alley and even the Knight Bus have charms on them so muggles are unable to see them. Instead they see ruins, or abandoned buildings, or simply nothing at all. There's also enchantments that ward muggles off from such places so that they'll never be able to stumble in upon the wizarding world." I should add that to my knowledge list. "You did get your letter, didn't you?" I nod and hand it to her.

"Oh McGonagall... I remember my sister talking about how much she loved her..."

"You have a sister?" I ask in shock. Never in my twelve years here did Ms Lewis mention having a sister. A sister??

A/N: I love that everyone knows more about her family than she does tehe. I have the next two chapters written out, but I wanna finish the one I'm currently working on before publishing Chapter Eight. It should be out either tomorrow or Saturday, depending on how tired I am after work tomorrow!!

Words: 1198

August 1, 2024