Wessa what if

Grandfather

Will POV

"Ah Miss Starkweather, it's so nice to finally meet you" Charlotte holds out a hand to Tessa who shakes it and smiles

"I can't thank you all enough for everything you've done for my grandfather and I" she looks over at the old bugger and smiles. I've never seen Aloysius smile before and I wish I hadn't, it's a gastly sight but to Tessa it is everything. "And please, call me Tessa"

I hold her seat out and she sits in it "thank you"

"My pleasure" I take the seat next to her and feel eyes on me. I look up to Charlotte, Henry, Sophie, Cecy and even bloody Aloysius staring at me open mouthed. "What?"

Henry is the first one to react which is most odd. "Charlotte, darling why don't you tell Me Starkweather your suggestion"

Charlotte recovers quickly from her shock and takes a seat at the head of the table, "ah yes. Aloysius we, the institute that is, would like to offer Tessa a place here"

Tessa almost chokes and I stifle a laugh. The old man looks as though he's already choked and passed on, his cheeks are pale and his hands are shaking.

"Place to do what?" He asks sternly

"Well a place to learn. To train. Tessa has great potential I'm sure, she would be trained as a shadow hunter"

"The girl is not a shadowhunter" he groans

"Grandfather-" Tessa interjects

"No! You will NOT be a part of this world" he slams his fork on the table. Everyone but Tessa jumps, she must be used to this. The thought unsettles my stomach.

"We are leaving Theresa" he stands up and walks faster than I ever thought possible out of the dining room.

Tessa folds her napkin and places it on to the table, "I apologise for my grandfather, I suppose I ought to go" she prepares to stand but I place my hand on her arm to stop her.

"Wait here, I will speak with him"

"Will-"

"Don't move" I run down the hall and catch up to the old man rather quickly if I do say so myself.

"Mr Starkweather!" I stop in front of him, blocking his path.

"Get our of my way boy" he tries to swat me with his cane.

"Sir, please just hear me out"

He huffs but doesn't say anything. I take this as permission to continue.

"Sir, if Tessa had been prepared and trained, there's no way that demon would have been able to take her-"

"How dare you!"

"I'm not blaming you, i am simply stating a fact. Mortmain is a dangerous man, one with rather unsavoury intentions. Tessa must learn to protect herself" I speak slowly, projecting every word as to make my point.

"Fine"

I'm sure I've heard him wrong, "Fine?"

He swats me away with his hand, "yes fine. Now move before I change my mind"

I nod and walk back to the dining hall with the widest grin I'm sure I've ever had.

——

Tessa POV

How Will got grandfather on board I have no idea. The smile he had on his face when he walked into the dining hall was all I needed to know he had succeeded.

"You will train every morning, and lessons will be in the afternoons" Charlotte leads me down a hall filled with bedrooms. She stops in front of a door and holds it open. I step into the large room and expect Charlotte to do the same but she stands at the door "You must attend all lessons and training sessions unless you are ill"

I nod, I have never been to school or anything of this nature before. "Thank you so much Mrs Branwell. For everything"

"Please call me Charlotte" she smiles and turns to leave "welcome to our family Tessa"