Look Like the Innocent Flower
The air grows thicker and thicker. It is becoming difficult to breathe. She falls forward onto her knees, and from the sudden impact spreads a puddle of that blue light.
But wait, something is swirling within it. She stretches out a trembling hand and -
"Odelia."
What? She looks upwards.
"Wake up. Now."
She is pulled upwards, flailing like a limp doll, as though a giant hand has reached out of the sky and grabbed her. Up, and up, and up, and -
And up. Odelia half-opened her eyes, and raised herself to recline on her elbows. The stately figure of Misapinoa Black stood in the doorway, fair hair pulled tightly out of her face and wine-red lips pursed in an expression of annoyance. The inky folds of her high-necked dress contrasted sharply with the ghost-like pallor of her skin, with her large dark eyes too. Odelia’s eyes. And her father’s eyes. She looked away.
“Odelia, I am speaking to you.”
“Yes, grandmother?”
“Get dressed, and come downstairs. We are to breakfast together in the dining room.”
And with that said, she abruptly turned on her heels and left, leaving Odelia sitting in bed feeling a little more than confused. Her grandmother had never before requested the pleasure of her company. Why now? Had something changed?
Perhaps she won’t keep you anymore. Perhaps she has come to her senses, realised what a danger -
Stop it. It can’t be that.
There were some clothes hanging up in the wardrobe, so she made her way across the room and picked out a long maroon skirt and a plain white shirt, then pulled a belt around her waist. Sitting down at the vanity she knotted a tie around her neck. Her grandmother liked things to be presentable. Speaking of presentable… she ran a comb through thick brown waves of hair. Her fringe fell in her face, but there were no pins on the dresser. It would have to do. This had taken too long already.
Making her way down the creaking staircase for only the second time since arriving here, memories from the other night came flooding back. The cloaked figures, dimly lit by the gas lamps in the darkness, milling about with an air of hushed anticipation, never looking upwards to catch sight of the girl watching them from above. The voice of her uncle ringing through the silence, demanding the attention of the only one who had noticed her.
Look, here’s the dining room. Pay attention now, and stand up straight. Now that she wants us, let’s not disappoint grandmother.
Odelia pushed the door open slightly and delicately stepped into the room. On a high-backed chair at the end of a long dining room was Misapinoa Black, sitting as though on a throne. She waved her hand in a gesture to indicate the seat to her immediate right and Odelia, curtsying slightly before she went, walked over and sat down.
The air between them felt stiff, unused.
Crawly entered with the breakfast service, and brought it around to them. Scrambled eggs and toast, a breakfast Odelia remembered well from her childhood. They ate in silence. She wanted desperately to ask about the gathering last night, but held her tongue.
And that man. Surely you haven’t forgotten about him so quickly.
It took some considerable effort to draw her attention back to the table, and by then her grandmother was watching her expectantly, as though awaiting an answer to a question.
Odelia cleared her through. “I, um…”
“If you have missed a question, simply ask. It will not do to have you sound ignorant, answering without knowing what it is you are replying to.”
“Yes of course, sorry grandmother.” She bowed her head, and tried not to fidget obviously, instead restricting herself to rubbing her fingers on the heavy, ornate silverware.
“I asked whether you enjoyed breakfast.”
“Oh. I did, rather, thank you. It was very nice.”
“Hmph.” A satisfied glance was thrown her way. “Good, it will not do to have you waste away in your bedroom. Crawly informed me that you hadn’t been eating - we can’t have that. From now on you will eat properly.”
Odelia looked up, her grandmother was starting directly at her. “Yes grandmother.”
“Good, now follow me.” She rose imperiously from the table and led them into the hallway, and then into an antechamber off to one side. The room was almost bare, aside from a heavy tapestry, covering the entirety of the walls. The words ‘STIRPS NOBILIS ET GENS ANTIQUISSIMA’ marked the long edges. It was the Black Family Tree.
Wow, it’s beautiful.
Her grandmother motioned for her to step forward, and pointed towards a set of names. “Your parents,” she said.
Odelia started. It couldn’t be. But of course, they must be here. She reached out her hand, kneeling down on the floor to touch the fine embroidery. Yes, there they were joined together, one part of a great web of witches and wizards.
Part of a lineage, a family.
“Ahem,” a small noise from behind her. “There is a Legacy in this family, that when our children reach the age of eleven we send them to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to receive a proper magical education. This is especially important for a woman. Had your parents not taken you away, we would have sent you there sooner. Fortunately for us, your uncle is the Headmaster there and has agreed to allow you to join as a Fifth-Year.”
A pause.
“There you will be able to uncover the true extent of this power that you possess. Your parents made the decision to hide you from the world. I do not believe they were correct in this. It - you - cannot and should not be concealed, as if it were something to be ashamed of.”
Looking up, Odelia saw that her grandmother was looking at her with an expression of what might have been pride, sitting faintly over her haughty features. Then she nodded back to the tapestry and Odelia, ever obedient to her commands, turned her head. It had changed - a name had appeared beneath those of her parents. Her name. Odelia Black.
You are part of that lineage too.
“Your parents may be, well, temporarily indisposed, but were they here with us now, I believe they would agree. Given recent events that is. I am confident that this is the best way forward.”
She paused.
Odelia didn’t know what to think, how to feel. There was a curious stillness inside her mind, rather than the usual torrent of rushing thoughts. The edges of the room were beginning to blur slightly out of focus.
A breath caught in her throat.
Her grandmother began to frown. “Odelia - “
The doorbell rang.
She gave her a cautious look and walked off, leaving Odelia standing alone in the middle of the room.
Another breath caught. A wave of panic washed over her, a ringing noise echoed faintly in her ears.
Stop it. Calm down. This is all fine, stop being so silly.
You know what will happen if you don’t…
The seconds ticked by, and as they did the room came back into focus, and the ringing noise subsided too.
See? It wasn’t that hard. Well done.
And just in time too, for her grandmother had returned. Any emotion she had displayed was gone - the usual mask of proud disdain was firmly back in place. “Come with me.”
They walked back through the hallways in silence until they reached the room that the visitors had gone into last night. Her grandmother moved in front of her, pushed open the door and entered the drawing room. Then she stepped aside, revealing someone standing waiting by the fireplace. His faded blue robes and untidy grey hair could not have looked more out of place amongst the regal furniture. Smiling kindly and springing forward, surprisingly sprightly despite his obviously advanced age, he proclaimed enthusiastically:
“Miss Odelia, I have been looking forward to meeting you! My name is Professor Fig, and I am going to be one of your teachers at Hogwarts. I’m here to collect you for the start of term.”
Odelia glanced over her shoulder at her grandmother - her face was impassive.
The Professor chuckled slightly. “Do not worry, we are well aware of your unique situation. I understand you might have picked up some magic though, along the way, would that be correct?”
"Yes, sir. My " - parents - the word died before it reached her lips. “I was taught some.”
“Well, well, how illegal!” He chuckled again. “The use of magic by underage wizards is forbidden outside of Hogwarts. Never fear - it shall be our secret. Perhaps we shall just have to say that you learned it from me, hmm?”
Was that an attempt to make her laugh? Wasn’t going to happen.
“Yes, sir.”
How flat her voice sounded, even to her ears.
“Oh I am no Sir, merely a humble Professor.” His bright eyes twinkled with amusement. Odelia had to force her features to remain neutral, there was something infectious about his good-natured disposition.
“Yes Professor.”
“Good! Well then, shall we away?” His vivacity lit up the room.
And almost in spite of herself, Odelia smiled.