After the War.

What is This?

Clicks and drops were heard as I slowly pulled my body up to sit. The curtains had been pulled and the room around me was familiar as the darkness was blocking the light. Eventually my feet wiggled to the edge of the bed and I flung my body up. Moving to turn on the light. I would change then open the thick curtains to prevent any peeps from neighbours. The windows being particularly close to one another as this would allow the boy nextdoor to see me in a very private way.

I pulled my draws open and flicked through the tops that were at the top. My eyes glancing over them to see what I had. With a sigh I pulled out a red jumper that was thin and a white shirt. The weather wasn't the nicest and so it would do. The draw was pushed closed and I grabbed a black skirt. It was short and it was mid thigh on me. It was a little like a skirt some girls would wear to school. Only, I went to a school with a tough uniform. Or was due to in a matter of a few weeks. Secondary school was going to suck as it was so much bigger and none of my friends would be there.

Once I had dressed though and placed my usual type of sock on I sat at the vanity. My hand pulling at the draw to show my makeup and then I brushed my hair until I could finally look into the mirror and so I did. My eyes dancing with colour as tears began to threaten to fall. Like a suicide mission. Knowing they would fall to a great height.

My thick brown hair was visibly lighter than that of most as blonde naturally ran through some of it and the sun had clearly hit the ends as they were the lightest shades. My lips, on the larger side were sat comfortably and my large green eyes showed me all that I hated. Pictures of my birth mother couldn't be forgotten. Only, my face wasn't as happy as her face once was. Her smile and bright white teeth still stuck in my mind but my reverie was interrupted by the sound of clanging and a shout of pain as something had been dropped. I knew her to be okay and so let my hands complete my makeup.

"Hey, I heard you drop something. Is it all okay?" Her eyes looked up at me and a smile grew. I had done my usual thing and Sunday seemed to be a better day for her as the house didn't stink of bleach nor did she as I gave her the usual hug.

"Yeah fine. Just a pot and it didn't hit me either. How are you today?" Her curiosity ate at her voice as she asked me.

"Better. You seem calmer. As well." She nodded and then her face lit up as she rushed from the room to grab something. I was clueless and so followed as her frayed mind worked overtime. But her hand hit something and she grabbed it.

"This came for you. It seems too formal for a letter from your secondary school. Shall we open it now or you want to do it alone? Up to you wee one." I gave a smirk and took the paper from her hand. It was very old but something in me buzzed as I clasped it.

"Did you feel that buzz? No. Oh okay. This looks very proper. But, no. They used my birth name not Matt's last name." I was so confused how they had known this of me and I bunched my eyebrows before finally giving in and turning it around. A red stamp keeping it closed with some sort of family crest.
"What...what if it is from my uncle? I mean, my real one. I thought he was dead but what if he is alive and he takes me? I can't open it." Adela gave me one of her pointed looks and shoved the paper closer to me for it to be opened. Giving in I did just that and made sure to keep the wax from the back. Reading it aloud.

Dear Miss Flint,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Filius Flitwick
Deputy Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The second parchment was even more confusing as the words jumbled and merged into pure confusion just in front of me.

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:
1.Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2.One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3.One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4.One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS All students should have a copy of each of the following: The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT:
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

My hands bunched together and I screwed it all up, throwing it away and wiping my hands of what had just been sent to me. A hint of misery was felt as my hopes of something exciting had been lost to some fake letter from a Filius Flitwick. Who curses their child with a name like that?

"Sorry, Bean." I smiled and pretended that it didn't bother me but she knew me, I was sure she could see my disappointment in what had been thought of or thought up.

"It's fine. I was stupid to think that the letter actually meant anything. Oh well, I mean magic doesn't even exist and yet some idiot thought it would be funny to make all of this. Don't get me wrong it is impressive but all that effort for some joke. They even made the paper smell nice. Like that perfume that mum used to wear. Do you remember? She stank of it every New Years and similar celebration." Adela shook her head and smiled down at me like I was losing the plot completely.

"No. It smelt like my perfume. I did forget to spray it today. Oh crap. I will get Matt to pick one up for me, I totally forgot but still. Mum had a rose smell. I smell more, polished, thats sounds wrong but right." I smiled and shook my head to disagree but that didn't matter as we then walked on and began to make breakfast together. I was allowed to clean and it suddenly clicked, Adelaide was letting me do it so something good was happening. It was like the old Adelaide.

My mind was buzzing with the usual thoughts that I was told to forget when a snap pulled me from the dark hole that my mind had found and I looked at Adela as she watched me disbelieving. A face of pure patience was seen as she waited for me to tell her what I had been thinking about.

"Adela, if I didn't live with you do you think that you would have struggled as bad as you have been? I mean, you never were a cleaner before mum and dad passed but now not a day goes by and bleach permeates the air. Not today though and I am glad that you are getting better." I had just spoken my mind and as she went to hug me the baby cried and so he was picked up from the living room and she began speaking while entering the room again.

"I would be a state. You are the reason why I didn't go further. I suppose I am like my birth mother. All I can remember is her freaking out over the smallest things and bleaching the house from top to bottom. Now, let us eat this." We grabbed all of the food and moved to the dining room. Eating while the baby sat in a chair. He was chewing on one of the baby spoons to soothe his aching gums as he was teething when suddenly the post came through and I stood up.

When I got to the door I wiped my hands and grabbed the post. Only for the door to ring and when I opened it the postman apologised and handed me a letter. I thanked him and closed the door again as I walked into the dining room. Handing post with her name or Matt's name to her. Only one letter had my name on it. I sighed and opened it again. The words the exact same.

"Again?" Adela asked and I nodded not believing that the joke seemed to be going so far as I placed the paper to the side before getting angry and screwing it up and throwing it away just like the last one. Not a day to mess with me.