Broken

Tickets

A week had passed since the eventful Remembrance Ball. Hermione was asleep on the sofa while Rose and Hugo slept soundly in their beds. The attack had unsettled her, leaving her waking from horrific nightmares each night. The culprits claimed it was a misguided prank, but no-one was laughing.

A tapping noise brought Hermione to sudden alertness. She slid out from under the blanket, wand gripped tightly in her hand. Seeing an owl fluttering at the window, Hermione let out the breath she had been holding.

Hermione opened the window, breathing in the fresh smells of May. The owl swooped into the room and perched haughtily on the back of a chair.

It was a handsome striped owl, with large cinnamon eyes. The owl gripped an envelope with Hermione's name written in elegant cursive.

Hermione edged towards the unfamiliar owl and it dropped the envelope into her hand. Fixing a large eye on Hermione, the owl watched her open it.

Good morning,

I wanted to thank you for your assistance last week. I apologise for taking so long to say so, but I wanted to think of a way to sufficiently repay your kindness. Please find enclosed tickets for you, Rose and Hugo to attend the 'Maravilloso Circo Mágico' when they come to England next week. Scorpius and I will be attending on the Sunday, but your tickets will allow access on any day that's most convenient for you all.

Kind regards,
DM

As Hermione unfolded the letter, three tickets had floated to the floor. She picked them up, marvelling at the silver scrollwork that decorated each one.

The 'Maravilloso Circo Mágico' was an internationally renowned circus, with a vast array of magical creatures performing alongside highly talented witches and wizards. Hermione had dreamed of seeing it for years, but tickets were as rare as gold dust. The show only toured the world once every fifteen years, being primarily based in its home country of Peru.

Bouncing in delight, Hermione grabbed a piece of notepaper and a pen.

Good morning yourself!

It was a pleasure to help, you didn't need to thank me with such an exceptional gift. Ensuring you were treated fairly and justly would have been thanks enough - but I won't say no to fulfilling an absolute dream of mine, thank you so much!

We will also be going on the Sunday, I hope to see you and Scorpius there.

Thank you again!

All the best,
H

Hermione stuffed her note into an envelope and gave it back to the patiently waiting owl. With a final haughty stare, the owl brushed past a grinning Hermione and soared out of her house.