'Tell Me Pretty Lies,' by moongirlel

Chapter 53: Spirit Animals

[O Superman - Laurie Anderson]

༺ 𓆙 ༻
Before Hogwarts
Tue. 14th March 1989 - 7:19pm...

The wind blew against my skin in a gentle kiss, grass damp beneath me as I sat in the park.

My brother on the swing set not far from me.

Our thirteen birthday came and left, the last few months flew by. Now, we shared the same public school. Not that our aunty and uncle cared: they never asked how our days were anymore. Especially Petunia.

It's as though after I got expelled from my all girl's private school, they've began to properly neglect me and Harry.

Soft meowing came from the direction of a small clearing of trees, the tabby cat I've grow fond of patted towards me.

It seems she follows me everywhere now.

She sat by my legs, swinging her tail back and forth.

I reached out to pet her, but she didn't move, staring at me with those intense eyes.

I smile at her, leaning back to open up my book. When I flipped the page to a well known Fairytale on King Arthur, the tabby cat approached me, pawing at the page. With much intension behind her behaviour it seemed.

"Do you like this story? I do, too. It's my favourite one in this book. Witches and Wizards... Although, I'm pretty sure it's not real."

She called out, returning to sit by my legs again.

I lay my book flat on my lap, "Do you believe in magic, kitty?"

Her head tilts exquisitely, her ears perked up at the question.

I thought I seen her nod.

Laughing, I rub my tired eyes. "I must need some more sleep. I'm imagining things now." I stand, picking my book up. "For a moment, I thought you were almost nodding to answer my question."

My brother jumped off the swing set, and we soon left the park together.

༺ 𓆙 ༻

"Harry, do you think magic is real?" I asked. In our bed, I turn, my face squished in my pillow. My voice quiet, as not to disrupt our family outside of our bedroom.

I knew it was late enough. Harry returns the low volume, after a minute of prolonged thinking.

He faced me, shrugging. "I don't know... I haven't really thought about it. Why are you asking?" Curiosity riddled his words.

"People write about it a lot, and it's in every fantasy book I've read this year. For example: King Arthur, The Sword in the Stone... The Great Merlin. All the same story, but from three different perspectives. Almost as though it has been written by three different believers."

I pause, pursing my lips out. "But, they all end in various ways. Some call Merlin bad, or too powerful. While others call him great, and scary. Or, capable of many things - Things that can't be explained by the story teller. Some write it as though it's a retelling of a real life event which happened in the early fifth century. While others write it like a Folklore story, or a made-up Fairytale."