PROLOGUE
~ one year earlier ~
"Okay, Althea. I promise you that we're only going to be gone for a year." Helena Eastwood tucked a coiled strand of Althea's hair behind her ear as her husband, Michael Eastwood, grabbed the rest of their things.
"A year is such a long time, though! I'll be in this faraway cottage alone, with no one to welcome me home for the holidays. I won't even have a reason to come home for Christmas! Who doesn't go home for Christmas?! " Althea whined. She really did love her parents and despised seeing them go overseas for their work.
Weeks were already hard enough, but now she was expected to be okay while they left for an entire year this time. She believed this was utterly ridiculous.
"Try not to worry too much, my dear," her father started. "There's a possibility that we may get Christmas off for good behavior." He teased even though he knew there wasn't much he could say to make his daughter feel better. Though it didn't seem like it, Michael would miss his daughter more than he would describe and, in his opinion, more than his wife would; she was his partner in crime, so how could he not miss her? He softly kissed her forehead and moved around to take their remaining luggage to the car.
"Mom, is there any way at all that you can get a reduced schedule? Don't they know you have a child? It should hurt way more because I'm the only child you have." She tried to make her best puppy dog impression, but she knew her parents had gotten their time reduced as much as they possibly could.
"My love, we really did try." Her father spoke softly as he walked back in, his hands now freed. At least it's better than two. Your grandfather was once stationed at the ministry in the States for almost four years at a time." He reasoned with her, knowing she would overreact hearing their other options.
"Four years?! How is that even possible?! And to think I'm complaining about being the only child; I mean, there are like five of you!" she audibly gasped, her face twisted in disbelief at the amount of time.
"it's six- but hey, who's counting?" he smiled briefly.
"But that only proves my point. Of course, you missed your father, but at the end of the day, you had siblings to cry with and play with; I have no one. I mean, I still don't understand why I can't just pack up and come with you," she complained, her voice full of desperation.
"We've already discussed this, Althea," her mom started. You have to finish school."
"Finish school? I'm pretty sure my university credits will transfer wherever we go!" she debated.
"you'll be fine, we promise. And besides, you won't exactly be alone. You'll be graduating with your friends! I'm pretty sure since the Weasleys live right across the lake, they won't mind you coming over; I mean, you're always over there with Ginny and your friends anyways." Helena smiled as she moved to whisper in her daughter's ear. "And besides, are you sure you won't miss Fred Weasley's puberty results? I mean, I think the quidditch has really been paying off, eh?" she teased.
Althea swatted her mom away, knowing that if her skin was far more fair, she would have been publicly humiliated as she went through the entire rainbow. "Okay, fine." she huffed. I will do my best to be as responsible as an eighteen-year-old who lives by herself can be. I will try to have fun, but if I hate it here, you have to let me come see you! Also, you definitely can't miss my graduation, okay?"
Michael broke his silence. "Miss your graduation?! How lowly do you think of us?" he grabbed his chest in a dramatic manner. "We've already requested that entire week off...and we're approved! There is no way in hell we could miss that!" he chuckled, pulling his daughter in for a hug as her face melted from a frown into a lopsided grin.
As always, the clock struck twelve, resulting in a loud clang that echoed in the substantially sized cottage.
"Alright, Althea, that's our cue!" letting go of her, Michael kissed his daughter's forehead once more, his wife doing the same. "We love you so much! Please be safe, study hard, and I promise we'll owl you the minute we reach our destination; it should only take a day and a half to get there by boat, okay?"
"Okay, please be safe! I love you both!" She hugged them tightly before they could move away. She fought tears, not wanting to seem immature or childish.
Pulling away and reaching the door, Michael turned back before the door could fully close. "We'll be back in no time, bumblebee." He winked, and just like that, they were gone.