The Arrival
A cool breeze drifted over the Sinclair house, not like the blistering summer days they had been enjoying all week. Within the ivy covered walls of the tall Manor House, a young girl, no more than fifteen, lay ciphering through letters, delivered to her bedside by a snowy owl in the early morning. A barren room stripped of love, or any sign that Edith Sinclair had lived here all her life.
Her fingers flicked carelessly through the waves of parchment, as if they were a water dragon, trying to catch a sea troll.
She pulled out a neatly wrapped envelope, enclosed by a crest imprinted stamp.
'Edith,
Have you been well? Ella and I intend to visit you on your birthday, we are going to take you shopping (Diagon Alley seems suitable). Don't forget, we need to continue boy hunting, particularly for you, now you're fifteen you're definitely ready. Send an owl with your reply.
Happy birthday,
Walburga Black xo'
The handwriting was neat and pretty. She scanned again through her stash of letters, pulling out another.
'Dear Edie,
A happy birthday be to you my friend! I hope summer has treated you well. Bonnie darling and I are taking you on an outing to Diagon Alley to celebrate your coming of age! Don't bother sending back a twitter, we are coming to get you anyhow.
From your bestie,
Tobias Selwyn mwah'
Edith grabbed her quill, and began to trace a disgruntled reply onto a piece of fire-whiskey stained parchment, tying it around the leg of the broody white owl that was perched upon the dilapidated window sill. She gave the sleek creature a pet before it took flight.
Her deep blue eyes followed the snowy predator as it intertwined itself through the valley of dewy coniferous trees, she clutched her elm-wood wand and pulled her legs over the window sill in which the owl had stood just moments before, her leather-soled shoes clopping onto the slate roof, a sudden sound that could be heard by anybody enjoying their breakfast in the first floor annex, tempted the silence of the cool morning. Making her way along the roof of the annex, Edith glided drown the drainpipe, her pale hands grasping the dark lead drain. A terrible screeching, which could have been mistaken for a nearby owl arose from Edith's cold bare hands sliding against the drainpipe.
Her light feet trampled the wet grass. Averting her alert gaze towards the moving pictures in the first-floor window, she scuttled out of view and proceeded in secrecy to the back gate of Sinclair House.
One step closer, her hand reached out for the lock. She was almost there. One step onto the pedestal of the gate and then...
The frightening sensation of her neck being jerked backwards instantaneously grounded her back to reality. A cold whisper emptied into her ear.
"Back inside, Edith." The stern voice tugged Edith by the scruff of her neck and she had momentarily found herself again inside the walls she intended to escape from.
"Mother I was just-" Edith was interrupted by her mothers concrete stare.
"Look at the state of you Edith. People will assume you are merely a house servant." She barked, her face assuming no sign of emotion, as her snarl did most of the work.
"Well then they wouldn't be completely mistaken..." Edith's mouth spoke faster than her thoughts, for she could not prevent the cheeky remark escaping from her lips.
Edith's mother was a tall thin woman of about forty, who couldn't possibly be more different to her only daughter.
"And Merlin's wand Edith, what would your father think?", she paused "all we ask of you is that you behave and act in a manner that upholds the historic name of Sinclair."
The pure blood which pumped through Edith's veins was something to be treasured. Every Sinclair that followed the long bloodline was brought up with these favoured beliefs in which wizards should never fraternise with muggles, those with no magic.
Edith stepped cautiously into the hall, taking a seat, carved with the Sinclair crest, among her family at the old dining table. Beams of sunlight shone through the tall windows of just one end of the dark oak panelled room, at the opposing end of the mahogany table, which had withstood the test of time and served the Sinclair family for generations, the drapes had remained drawn the entire summer. Two untouched chairs stood at either head of the antique table. One had accumulated layers upon layers of dust, waiting for the day it's holder may return. The other, stood well worn with imprints, suggesting someone had sat there none too recently.
Whispy white hairs were organised strategically upon the head of a rather distinguished looking lady, sallowed faced and snooty. The white haired lady who straight-backed beside Edith, was her grandmother, sporting deep green satin robes. Facing her was her Aunt Anaïs, long faced with straw like hair, looking as though she'd swallowed a fly. Well kept, yet plain.
A greasy sausage was greedily scarfed down by Edith as her mother landed graciously in the ornate seat furthest away from her daughter.
"Edith dearest, happy birthday! Fifteen, are you? You're growing as fast as a mandrake!" Chortled her Grandmother, before spooning a heap of Demerara sugar into her tea.
"Yes, yes happy birthday darling." Her mother brushed off quickly. "Well, l've got to rush off in a moment. Important meeting with the Parent Teacher Association." Her mother went on, looking rather smitten "Yes, they want volunteers to start planning the seventh years leaving prom" she paused momentarily to breathe, awaiting a slither of appraisal "Of course I was immediately up for the task, you can't let just anybody plan such a prestigious annual event" she took a sip from her goblet "especially when you've got babbling baboons such as Albus Dumbledore at that school."
Aunt Anaïs remarked back, "Yes I'm glad we were never taught at that crude institution. Muggle-borns and half-bloods running amok. The place is riddled with those sorts. Ever since the last headmaster took leave, they had no such nonsense like that back in the day." Beckoned her sour voice which marked itself superior.
Edith butted in "There is nothing wrong with half-bloods and muggle-borns, my friend Bonnie is muggle-born."
"Oh that odd, burly, out of place girl? Could've guessed she'd be a filthy mudblood. What's somebody of her kind doing in Slytherin anyhow, I wouldn't trust her Edith dear." Her grandmother snarled, nose turned up.
Edith's mother continued her soliloquy, "Yes it really is a shame about how the schools turning out, really I took up the task because I knew that those children and future Hogwarts alumni deserve a proper leaving ceremony, not some daft progressive dance with no etiquette or elegance. No no!" Her eyes then fixed their gaze upon Edith. "The seventh years are allowed to bring a date you know, younger years included!" She added with a satisfied twinkle.
"Mother really, I'm not at all interested" Edith replied.
"Lots of handsome young men, I could assort you with one of them" she winks playfully but Edith knew her mother was deadly serious.
The morning natter was halted by a sharp knock at the front door. "Edith, get the door" her mother commanded. Edith interrupted her breakfast to greet the visitor.
"Don't worry yourself child, the house elf will get the door." Her grandmother smiled.
Ignoring her grandmother, Edith set off to meet the visitor.
She peeped through the dusty keyhole and was able to make out four familiar faces. The figures were bickering among one another as they stood cramped on the top of the stone staircase.
Crap. Edith had been double booked.
She hesitantly pulled the old door open, it's ancient hinges creaking, and was swung into a warm embrace.
"Edie, it's good to see you again, happy birthday!" Beamed the voice of a stout, frizzy-haired brunette, Bonnie.
"Yeah, we just couldn't wait to see you, so we came a week early, I'm sure you'll forgive us for catching you off guard." Added the harsh voice of Walburga Black, a thin attractive girl, with long dark hair. A dissatisfied look assumed her face, as she stood with her arms folded against her chest. "Tobias and I have been catching up, still infatuated with Mulciber are you Toby?"
"Keep your voice down Walbie, do you want the entire wizarding world to know I'm gay as well?" Tobias cried. "It's bad enough you let all of Slytherin know last year!"
Tobias was a thin framed boy, of about five seven with light chestnut brown curls that sat delicately on his head. He sported a jovial ribbon that was tied around the neck of his flowy, white, button up shirt. A pair of below-knee-length, tailored, grey shorts on his legs, with a smart blazer to match.
He pulled Edith into a side hug, "it's good to see you again, birthday girl."
Stood besides Walburga, was a slim figured girl with long blonde hair, that fell to her sides, grinning to herself, "So rude of the mudblood and the f*g to invite themselves over." Druella Rosier snarled. "But the more the merrier I suppose.."
"How dare you speak to us like that!" Bonnie snarled, Tobias had to hold her back.
"Uh right, why don't we all just come in" Edith mediated.
She moved aside as to invite her friends into the ancient entrance. Closing the old secret keepers behind her.
~~~~~~~~chapter end~~~~~~