Bonded - The Secrets of Beauxbatons

Chapter 1 - A French Toast

The summer after Hogwarts school went on really slowly as Verity couldn't wait to meet again her friend met the last year, Fred and George the Weasley twins. Mischiefes by nature. And her new friend Wendy Boardman daughter to Stubby Boardman, lead singer of the Hobgoblin Band. Her and Verity shared the same nucleus in their wands, Dragon Heartstring, meaning they were bonded. And Verity couldn't stop asking herself to or by what.

She had spent all the summer long writing to her friends, carefully sending out the owls only by night so that they wouldn't be seen by Muggles. Wendy always replied back, while Fred and George not so often. "They're just too proud" she thought, eventho once she recieved a letter from Fred with a weird object in it. At first it seemed like a post it folded on itself, but as soon as Verity opened it, it started screaming and singing. Verity try to burn it but it just started to scream even louder. Even the neightbours came knocking to see what's was going on, but Lucinda promperly told them her clumsy husband hit his pimkie toe.

So that Sunday morning when Verity got off bed with all this on her mind was pretty excited to find out that she had recieved a letter from her friend Wendy.

-You've got a letter! I think this owl wants something!! SHO! - Lucinda yelled from the kitchen, trying to send away the now angry owl with a swooper.

-Mom stop it! - Verity said running in. - You have to pay it! - And she took out 2 sickles from her purse laughing. -There.. see?-

The owl took off under the satisfied eyes of Lucinda. Raymond entered the room with a cup of coffee.

-Who's that?- He asked pointing the letter.

- I don't know yet.-

Verity opened the letter and started reading.

-It's Wendy!- She said brightly. -She has invited me to attend her father concert in France with her!! Ohhhh please please please can I go???-

Lucinda and Raymond exchanged worried looks.

-Well...- Lucinda started. -We should probably talk about it first...-

-Oh please mimaw please! It's just for a weekend, look!- She said handing over the letter. Lucinda took it and read it, then handed it over to Raymond.

-This friend of yours... is she reliable?- He asked.

-Yes. She kinda saved my life last year at school...-

-YOUR LIFE WAS IN DANGER?- He yelled. -YOU NEVER TOLD US THAT.-

-I didn't...?- Verity said taking a few steps back from her grandad.

-No you didn't! I don't want you in danger, you're not going back to that school, nor going to France!-

Verity left the room quite disappointed, still hearing the screams of Lucinda and Raymond arguing about the feasability of the trip, and of the school. Verity knew deep down that Raymond was only just scared and didn't really mean that, on the other hand Professor Minerva McGonagall had been pretty clear last year, she needed a school to teach how to use magic or she would have risked to explode, or worse turn. She never really explained what she meant with "turn", and Verity never really asked.

Just like promise a few hours later Raymond came knocking on the door of her room.

-Come in!-

Raymond's head came sprouting from the door ajar.

-Can we talk?- He said pointing to the bed.

-Sure.- Said Verity sitting down next to him.

-Me and your Granma talked... and you can go..-

-Really??????- Said Verity jumping off the bed, and hugging him.

-Yes, but on one condition. -

-Which is.....?-

-You have to invite Wendy over for dinner, so that we can meet her.-

-Sounds fair.-

Without adding anything more, or morenin fear that he would have changed his mind Verity grabbed pen and paper and started writing an answer back to Wendy, and sent it off with her owl, inviting her for dinner a couple of days later.

On Tuesday night punctual Wendy Boardman ranged the doorbell at Alson's house. Lucinda opened the door to see a cascade of blonde hair and a smiling girl.

-Goodevening Mrs. Alson.-

-Please, call me Lucinda.-

She invited her in, and Verity who was immediately right behind Lucinda, introduced her to Raymond and escorted her to the dining room.

-You have a lovely home Lucina.- She said mid-dinner.

-Thank you Wendy. So your father is a singer eh?-

-Mh-mh.- Said Wendy clearing her troath.

Verity who knew Wendy didn't like talking about her father much, since he wasn't a real father and not that caring intervened.

-Yeah but he's not known in the Mugg... I mean in the common world Nan.-

-I see. And how are you planning to go to France Wendy? Flight I suppose...-

-Flight? It would take forever... plus we're not allowed.-

-Why you're not allowed on a plane?-

-Why on earth would I need a plane? I've got my broom. But as I said we're not allowed to use them outside school untill our 17th birthday. We'll travel by Floo Powder.-

Raymond and Lucinda stood agape looking at her. Wendy didn't seem to understand their amusement, as if she just said the most natural thing in the world. Then all of a sudden she seemed to remember that they were muggles, she slapped her forehead and went on.

-It's a magic powder. You basically climb into a fire place and scream the place you want go, in our case I've got us a stay in France which is very cosy, then if the fireplace on the other side also have the permission you launch the magic powder and a green flame catches up.-

-Are we talking about a magic fire??- Said Lucinda worried. -What if YOU catch fire and die.-

-Weel that's impossible.- Said Wendy laughing.  Then noticing everyone else seemed serious once again remembered she wasn't in the presence of a magic family. -It's a magic fire see? It's actually cold.-

-And you magically appear on the other side?- Asked Raymond.

-Yes.-

-That would be useful to go to groceries.-He said half laughing, then stopped immediately after seeing the look his wife snapped.

-How would you know when you are arrived at the right place?-

-While you travel you'll see a lot of different chimneys and you'll know when it's the right one... but I'll go first so that Verity will see me.- Wendy explained, and Verity nodded smiling.

-This sounds... Dangerous...- Lucinda said looking for her husband approval who was deep into the delicious dinner not listening anymore to the chimney conversation.

-Don't worry! The worst that can happen is that we get stuck..-

-STUCK??!-

-Yeah... if the other fire place doesn't have permission you might come to a dead end, and you would get stuck behind a brick wall.. but don't worry! I checked!-

Verity laughed at the preoccupied look of Lucinda, but she wasn't really worried, Wendy came from a magical family and had been using this type of transportation since a very young age, she knew her job.

-We're gonna have fun!-