Enigma~ Part 1|| Harry Potter x The Originals

Chapter III

The park was quiet, save for the gentle rustling of leaves in the autumn breeze and the occasional chirping of birds overhead. The vibrant colors of the falling leaves painted the ground in shades of gold and crimson. Lyra sat on a swing, her little legs dangling as Ted pushed her gently. She hadn’t said much since Nymphadora left for Hogwarts, her usual bright energy dimmed by the absence of her big sister.

Ted gave the swing a light push, watching as Lyra’s curls bounced with each gentle motion. “How about we try the slide next, little one?” he asked, his voice soft and encouraging.

Lyra shook her head, her gaze fixed on the ground, her lips pressed into a small pout. “I miss Dora,” she mumbled, her baby talk still clinging to her words.

Kneeling beside her, Ted crouched to her level, concern etched across his face. “She misses you too, but she’ll be back for the holidays. And hey, you’ll make new friends too, you’ll see.”

Just as he spoke, a soft giggle floated over from the nearby sandbox. A small girl with a frizzy halo of brown hair was digging with a tiny shovel, her parents chatting quietly on a nearby bench. Ted smiled and glanced at Lyra, hoping to spark some excitement. “How about we go see if she wants to play?”

Reluctantly, Lyra slid off the swing and toddled over with Ted. The other girl looked up from her castle and grinned. “Hewwo!” she said brightly, her voice thick with baby-like excitement. “I’m ‘Mione.”

Lyra blinked, curiosity flickering in her dark eyes. “I’m Wywa. Can I pway too?”

"Let's make a sand cassel!" The two girls became fast friends, their laughter ringing through the air as they created tiny sand castles, each one more elaborate than the last.

Ted walked over to the little girls' parents, who were smiling, looking at the two girls playing. “Hey, I’m Ted Tonks, the dad of the kid playing with your daughter. I've never seen you both around; are you new here?”

"I'm Jean, this is Richard; my husband, that's our daughter Hermione. We've just moved here to that house." Jean said, pointing toward their new home. "We wanted to see if we would meet new people here. It's nice to meet you."

"Oh, what a coincidence! That house is right beside ours. The house to your left is ours. Feel free to visit anytime with your little girl. My wife, Andromeda, would love to have you over. It looks like our kids are getting along quite well." Ted said, glancing at the girls who had abandoned their sand castles and switched to playing on the seesaw.

"Where does your daughter study?" Richard, Hermione's father, asked, his brow slightly furrowed in curiosity.

Ted froze for a moment, feeling the weight of the question. His mind raced as he tried to think of a Muggle answer. “Oh, uh, well—she, uh…”

Jean raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “A local school, I assume?”

Ted swallowed, his heart thumping louder in his chest. “Y-yes, well... n-no, not exactly,” he stammered, shifting nervously on his feet. He glanced at Lyra, who was blissfully unaware, scooping up more sand with a bright smile. “She’s, uh, she’s... homeschooled!” he blurted out suddenly, a sigh of relief escaping his lips.

Both Grangers blinked in surprise. “Homeschooled?” Jean repeated, her tone shifting to one of admiration. “That’s wonderful! You must spend a lot of time working with her.”