𝔻𝕦𝕞𝕓 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝔻𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕥 [New September 2024]

𝐹𝒶𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝒷𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒷𝓁𝑜𝑜𝒹

Olivia sits quietly at the table with her family — her parents, Natalie and Andrew, and her brother, Alex. The tension is palpable as they begin their meal. Olivia's mind is racing, still reeling from what Tori told her about being Divergent, but she tries to keep her composure. She knows she can't reveal the truth.

"That is NOT her family!" James seethed. 

"What happened to you today? Where did you go after your test?" Olivia glances up, her stomach twisting with nerves. "I got sick, so they sent me home early." Her father turns to her. "Did you finish your test?" Olivia nods. "Mmm-hmm." Natalie looks at her daughter closely, her eyes filled with concern. "What was your result?" Olivia swallows, the weight of the lie hanging heavy on her shoulders. She quickly deflects. "What was yours?"

In a corner of the Great Hall, a few Ministry members exchanged glances as they watched the scene unfold on the screen. One of them, a middle-aged witch with sharp features, leaned in closer. "Did you see the way her mother looked at her? It's like she knows something's off," she murmured to her colleague, who nodded in agreement, his brow furrowed. "Yes, and that concern in her eyes—it's not just motherly instinct. It feels like she's reading between the lines." Another Ministry official chimed in, crossing her arms. "They're hiding something, that much is clear. I just wonder how deep it goes." Their murmurs reflected a growing unease.

Andrew, clearly already stressed, sets down his fork with a sharp clink, his gaze hardening. "Why did you just leave without telling anybody?" Olivia meets her father's stern gaze. "I was sick." Her father sighs. "Olivia... I don't think you understand the level of scrutiny we're under right now." He leans forward, the lines of worry etched deeper into his face. "They're doing everything they can to discredit us." Olivia frowns. "Who is?"

"Erudite. They believe they should be the governing faction, not us. So, you have to be careful right now, okay? Even Marcus is under attack." Olivia's curiosity piques at the mention of Marcus. "For what?" Her father leans back in his chair. "It's an old accusation. That he mistreated his son, and that's why the boy defected." Olivia furrows her eyebrows, confused. "Is that true?"

"No. Of course not. Children defect for all kinds of reasons." The table falls into silence for a moment, the weight of Andrew's words lingering. Natalie reaches over to place a gentle hand on Olivia's shoulder. "Don't take too long in here. You need a good night's sleep... for tomorrow." Olivia nods, but her mind is elsewhere. Natalie offers a soft smile, her voice warm. "We love you. Good night." She leans in, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so proud of you, honey." Olivia feels a pang of guilt, but she returns the smile. Natalie stands up, and Andrew follows her, leaving Olivia and Alex alone at the table.

"Ollie?" She turns to her brother, sensing the weight of what he's about to say. "Tomorrow when we choose... You have to think of the family." Olivia nods slightly, her throat tight. "Yeah." But Alex leans in, his tone shifting to something more earnest. "But you also have to think of yourself." Olivia meets his eyes, the unspoken truth hanging between them. Tomorrow would change everything.

The atmosphere in the Great Hall shifted as Hogwarts students and faculty absorbed the tension between Olivia and her parents. Whispers rippled through the crowd, particularly among the Gryffindors, who exchanged glances of concern. "Can you believe her father?" Ron murmured, his brows furrowed. Hermione nodded, her expression serious. "It's as if they're under constant threat. What kind of pressure must that be?" Meanwhile, at the Ravenclaw table, a group of students speculated about the dynamics of the family. "It's heartbreaking," one girl remarked, shaking her head. "She seems so alone, even at the table." Across the hall, Lily and James exchanged worried looks, grappling with the realization of their own neglect. "We've been so caught up in everything else," Lily whispered, guilt washing over her. "We need to get her back" The weight of their collective reactions hung heavy in the air, reflecting a growing understanding of Olivia's struggles and the complexity of family ties.