Something To Believe In

A Quick Visit From Uncle Tom

My Dad didn't really have any other family except a brother, and even still they were only half brothers, different dads. The only reason they have the same last names is because Grandma Riddle had actually been in love with and married to Uncle Tom's dad. However they did separate, and she eventually dropped Uncle Tom off at an orphanage. We have never really been told the whole story, but she was attacked by a man named Avery. And she became pregnant with father. The Avery family, had a bad reputation I guess. So Instead of giving him the fathers surname she gave him hers, which was still Riddle. Grandma died shortly after giving birth to my father. And he was sent to an orphanage.

Somehow Dumbledore found both of them, and reunited them at Hogwarts. They both started the same year, even though there was a year between them.

I have always been super close with my Uncle Tom. So when I came down stairs the next morning and found my dad sitting in the living room across from Uncle Tom drinking a morning cup of coffee, I couldn't help myself.

"Uncle Tom!" I squealed as I prance my way over to give him a hug. He just laughed and gave me a big hug back. I settled myself on the arm of the chair he was sitting on.

"Well, there she is. Look at you all grown up." He turns back to my father and continues. "Ben it's a good thing she goes to an all girl school. You'd have to beat the boys off with a stick." My father quickly replied joking.

"I can help it, I make pretty babies."

That got us all laughing. My mother popped her head around the corner and told me to got get dressed, because we would be leaving soon. I stretched as I got up. And smirked at dad, then turned to my uncle and stage whispered behind my hand.

"We just let him think he made us beautiful, we all know it's Momma that makes pretty babies." I made my way up stairs, and into my room. I laid my outfit out last night after I double checked my bags to make sure I had everything. It would be warm in England, so I pulled on a pair of light blue jean shorts, all that was left of what had been my favorite pair of jeans. I pulled on a plain red cami, and topped it with a black Rolling Stones fitted tank. I didn't want to bother with my hair, so I just pulled it up into a messy bun, grabbed my bags and slipped on a pair of plain black flip flops.

Xavier had just step out of his door as well. Carry a single bag, to my three. As close is me and Xavi are, we are nothing alike. He's got a quiet elegance to him. It's in his personality, it's in the way he does things, it's even in the way he dresses. I one the other hand am not as composed. I'm loud and rowdy, and really kind of a tomboy. I like to party, and have fun.

"Guess what? Or who really?" he just looks at me. "Well fine don't guess. Anyway UNCLE TOM'S here!"

"Oh, goody." my brother replies sarcastically. I just roll my eyes and make my way back down the the living room, dropping my bags in the kitchen on the way. Both my Uncle and dad were standing when I can back through the doorway.

"Oh good you're made it back down before I had to leave. The main reason I stopped by was to drop off some late birthday presents." he pointed to the seven boxes sitting in the corner. "Three for you, and three for your brother, and one for you two to split. I hope you like them. Now come give me a hug," he said opening his arms, then as he gave me another big hug. "I better get going I don't want to hold you guys up from traveling." He met my fathers eyes and said. "Be safe little brother." then looked at me with a small smile, as if trying to make things less tense. "It's a scary place out there right now." With that he was gone.

Dad yelled for Xavier to come into the livingroom so we could open our gifts before we left. Mom followed him in and we sat across from each other. Each with a long narrow box in front of us, and two square ones sitting next to us and another smaller one between us. I looked up at my brother.

"Big one first." his smile mirrored mine as we ripped at the paper. "Oh. My. Gosh. New brooms!" I was practically squealing. "Shooting Stars too! Oh I am so going to kick James' ass when we play quidditch."

We opened the smallest of our two individual boxes next. Each had new leather bound never-ending journals in them. They were black, and pre aged. Filled with thick unlinked parchment pages. The leather was soft. And they were embossed with a silver leaf and vine border on the front and back. And had our full names in silver on the fronts.

Our other box contained clothing. Mine was a very elegant dress. It was strapless with a black leather and lace tight fitting course top, that laces up the back with an inch wide red ribbon. The skirt part of it was very long and kind of princess style. It was red under a layer of thick sheer black lace.

My brother's was a nice suit. Black slacks, black silk button up, a vest that matched the red on my dress, and a tie of the same color, and a black blazer that finished it off. My father whistled. Then my mother spoke.

"Their beautiful. They definitely weren't cheap." I laughed.

"And here I thought Uncle Tom knew me. Where would I ever wear this?" Xavier spoke next.

"Well at least they aren't green. Him being a Southern freak and all."

"Yeah, but he probably knew we would change them anyway, since your mom and I we're in Gryffindor. Now you two open that last one. So we can get a move on."

Xavier picked it up and handed it to me, I opened bbc.co it and pulled out two heavy black pouches, and handed one to him, then looked in my own.

"Holy crap." I started counting, Xavier doing the same.

"One hundred and fifty galloens." we both say at the same time.

"Wow, that's generous." mom says turning to my father. "I didn't realize how much money your brother made."

"Hell, me either. Alright guys come on, let's get going."

We made our way to the kitchen and we all grabbed our bags. Xavier took my mothers arm, and I took my fathers offered arm. I closed my a yes as my father started to count.

"Okay, here we go. One. Two.Three."

Then there was nothing but pressure, everywhere. Pushing, squeezes. And then I felt the ground back beneath my feet. My father steadied me as I took a deep breath and slowly opened my eyes.

We were standing on rhe other side of a river. Looking at my grandparents castle. It was four stories high. The first floor housed the basic living area; livingroom, dining room, kitchen. As well as my grandparents' bedroom, and a guest room usually used by my distant cousin Albus Dumbledore. The second floor was dedicated to my parents and aunt and uncle. Remodeled so there are two separate areas. Now they remodeled the third and fourth floors for us grandkids and went a little over the top. The third floor has the boys' bedrooms and our study area. The fourth floor is for the girls, and also has a livingroom/rec room for us. Now the over the top part. Is they had extra bedrooms put in for each of our friends. There's nine bedrooms between he two floors and they only have three grandchildren.

We made our way across the bridge, and my mother pushed the door open amd called out.

"Mom, Dad, we're here."