The Potion of Life

Chapter 15: Home

Tears formed in my eyes as soon as I could see my father wave at me enthusiastically.
I hurried over to him and nearly jumped into his arms, squeezing him tight and inhaling that familiar scent of his perfume and my childhood.

"I missed you dad." I said just loud enough so he could hear me over the hustle and bustle of people around us.
He let go of me and gave me a kiss on the top of my head. "I missed you too, kitten. Let's get your stuff and go home yeah? Your mother and brother are waiting for you."
I smiled and blinked away the moisture in my eyes. "Yes please."

I hadn't stopped smiling ever since I got into the carriage that had taken me and my father home.
My little brother had come running toward me with a big grin on his face before hugging me. "Sis! About bloody time you made it here. You didn't even come over for Christmas." Quinn ignored our father's stern warning about 'language' and tugged on my sleeve.
"Well come on then! Let's not wait for the grass to grow." Since when did he become so sassy?
I rolled my eyes and released his grip from my sleeve, but did follow him inside.
"Quinn, I was sick okay? Nurse Blainey only managed to patch me up a few days ago. I'll be staying until after New Year's Eve though so we can watch the fireworks together."

He clapped his hands excitingly, leading me through the living room and towards the kitchen.
Inside, my mother was laying the last hand at the set table and my mouth watered as the scent of freshly baked bread, grilled chicken and boiled potatoes wafted my way.
"Hello mom, it smells delicious in here!" I said as I reached for a drumstick that seemed perfectly cooked. "Ouch!"
I snatched my hand back as I rubbed over the sting that was left from my mother's slap.

"Where are your manners Tessa? First you wash your hands, then we say thanks to our Lord and only after that you can eat." She shook her head and I bit back a not-so religious response.
I was really hungry.
Grumbling, I trudged over to the sink to wash my hands with some soap. Once they were clean, I was ready to sit at the table and get on with it, but my mother took my shoulders and pulled me into a fierce hug.

Instantly I melted against her, wrapping my arms around her to hold her just as tightly. I buried my face in her shoulder and tried hard not to cry.
The familiar warmth of her embrace, her soft skin and the flowery scent that was her perfume enveloped me in a safe blanket of home.
"I missed you." I mumbled, sniffling once before swallowing any tears back down. I didn't want to worry them by crying.
My mother pulled back and gave me a once over. "You look a bit peaky, dear." Her eyes met mine and I gave her a smile. "But other than that I'm glad to see you safe and sound. Your Headmistress told me you had the pox?"
I nodded, my stomach coiling at the lie. "Took a long time before they could brew me an antidote, but now I am all better again!"

"And you're not too far behind on schoolwork because of it, I hope?" My father asked from his spot at the table where he'd already taken a seat. Quinn was sitting next to him, clearly waiting for me and mom to stop talking and sit down.
I shook my head. "No dad, my friends kept notes for me and while I was recovering I was able to write a few essays, so it'll be fine."
He nodded in approval. "Good. I'm happy to see you healthy and happy honey."
"It was a strange Christmas without you, but at least you're here now." My mother nudged me towards a chair. "Now let us sit down and enjoy this meal. I've made all your favorites so I hope you're hungry."
I grinned. "Starving."

After dinner we had talked about Hogwarts, my friends and I got to hear how Quinn was faring in his first year of middle school.
We even played a few card games and the normalcy of being in the Muggle world that I grew up in, together with my little loving family without any danger surrounding us, made me feel the luckiest lady of the world.

But now here I was; in my room, alone. It was well into the night and my parents and brother had gone to bed hours ago.
I was too excited to go to sleep and thus had opened one of my trunks to start unwrapping all the little gifts my family had sent me while I was in that dream state.