Chapter 12
[Disclaimer: Certain said locations that will be mentioned aren't "canon", only for this story telling purposes]
***
Hogsmeade was around the very corner. Parents and siblings not in Hogwarts used this opportunity to visit. From what George said, his parents would see them over Easter break. Aoife on the other hand hoped her parents would come soon. Mum and Dad did send a letter they'd come by this weekend.
The weekend can't come any faster, can it? Even though it's only Wednesday. Aoife peered out at the wooden bridge of Hogwarts. Staring out to the blanket of white horizon. There was one particular spot she always stood by. Aunt Lavinia's etched on the wood following the plus symbol, then someone's name she couldn't make out due to being scratched out completely. Not a single clue to guess the person's name.
There were more, but it was the same. No hint or clues left on those either.
Lavinia + ( an undetected name)
Aunt Lavinia made sure not to miss anything, Guess she'll never know the other person. Aoife thought as she traced each of the letters of her aunt's name. In a way, it made her feel closer to her aunt. Like some sort of odd comfort.
"Boo!" a tall figure tackled Aoife. Making her almost jump. The other person held onto her, so she won't topple over.
"Not very nice," the blonde pouted.
He chortled like it's the funniest thing ever. "I caught you, didn't I?"
Aoife shook her head. "Fine, fine. You're forgiven, George."
George delivered his trademark grin. "That's more like it."
Of course no harm was meant to be caused. All in the name of fun. George unlike his identical counterpart does at least try to take it down a notch. Sometimes even jokes and pranks can go far. He's glad not to have accidentally push her off the bridge and silently thanking Merlin for Aoife being so kind and understanding.
Aoife smiled back though it wasn't exactly happy one.
George immediately saw through. "Now what's got that frown turned upside down?"
He cupped her chin to get a better look.
She instead half joking half shyly covered his face, but then lowered her arm to tell him. "It's silly, but I really miss my parents that's all."
"That's not silly, I get it," George assured her. "I miss my mum and dad too."
Safe to say everyone at this time is missing their family back home. From the delivery of letters to present front and back. Can't imagine what it must be like for the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students. Here in an unfamiliar setting that's not their own.
"Besides," George continued, arching his back the other way. "The mattresses here aren't the comfiest. If I end up having back problems, I'm suing."
Aoife giggled. He was right. The mattresses were okay. At least in the Ravenclaw dorms, but she wasn't sure how different the rest of the Houses were. At least one or two of the girls at night would occasionally toss and turn. Maybe it's just a sleep thing. Or maybe not everyone likes a firm mattress.
"It explains a lot on Fleur making fun of Hogwarts," she said. "I've seen pictures of Beauxbatons. It's beautiful."
A school that's practically a castle in the Pyrenees mountains. Where the outer layer lush green gardens adorned of colorful flowers and many fountains for the various animals inhabiting. Even when the students are at meal time, they're serenaded by wood nymphs.
The more Aoife thought about it, the more she understood their snooty behavior. Not that any of those people were snobbish with her. Fleur was especially nice to her.
George also snorted. "I'd too if I attended a school that looks more like a palace out of a fairytale."
"Guess wizarding schools are very different in other countries," Aoife suggested, tracing her aunt's name that etched on the railing.
"Guess so," agreed George and saw her tracing the letterings. "Whatcha doing there by the way?"
Aoife moved her arms out of the way to show him. The ginger haired boy leaned closer to see and understood.
"Your aunt," he asked, which sounded more like a statement.
Aoife nodded as George too traced the letters of Lavinia and his eyebrows furrowed at the crossed out name that followed. Even he couldn't decipher anything.
"Yeah," George shook his head. "I don't think I can make out the other name. Your Aunt Lavinia did an excellent job of completely scratching out the name."
"Mmhmm," Aoife merely replied. "I found more. One of which is inside one of the desks at Snape's potions class. It's the same."
A sudden rush of sadness came over her at times such as this. The fact she never got to know her aunt. There are times where Aoife does think about her and sometimes that boy even. How different would things be if they worked out in the end? Again, Mum and Dad were no help with any given clue. Vague as the questions asked to open the doors to Ravenclaw Common Room.
"Aoife, you okay?" a concerned George asked once she stopped talking.
Aoife snapped out from the trance and shook her head. "Yeah, I'm fine," she plastered on a smile as assurance that she really is. Always hiding behind a smile, so no one would worry.
"Well, good," George replied not suspecting a thing. Good indeed! She didn't want the boy to worry.
The Black Lake for this viewpoint looked frozen as sleet. Even if it were, no one was foolish enough to go ice skating.
"I'm not much good at swimming," Aoife told George as a change of subject. "I know it's pathetic, but..."
At most, all she ever did was dipping her toes into the shallow water of the beach. Or staying close to the bottom stand of the pond. Even walking along the stones with Dad, holding his hand. In return, he would make sure not let go of his daughter at all cost. The girl having a slight fear of deep open water wanted to come over that obstacle.
In addition to the fact she's traveled alone to a certain isolated island known as Bowtruckle Island located within the Black Lake by enchanting the boat.
"I'll help you," George exclaimed.
"You will?" Aoife's hazel eyes widened in surprise.
"Absobloodylutely!" he declared. "And no! It's not pathetic. I can't even drive those vehicles or those cycling things muggles get on."
Aoife giggled. If there's one thing about George, he says what he means and means what he says. According to himself that is. Not just George. Rather the entire Weasley family. Ginny being the most outspoken of them all. Guess there's no tongue biting for them. That can either be a good be a good thing or depending on the person can lead to trouble. Trouble. That might as well be Fred and George's middle name.
"All right then," Aoife finally agreed. "But not at the Black Lake. Somewhere more secluded?"
George tapped his lips while chewing on the bottom part. "I got it!" he clapped his hands. "There's a pond near my home where we can have the lessons over the summer holidays. What do you say?"
The redheaded boy took her hands. His soft brown eyes glistening with hope that matched impeccably with his toothy grin. All of which made it more genuine than mischievous.
"I'll ask my parents first," Aoife said then whispered the last part. "But I say yes."
George's grin returned back to the usual "up to no good" flair. Then slowly softened to more gentle one. He tucked a lock of her honey hair behind her ear. No telling if her cheeks and nose her pink from the cold or if it was all natural.
"I hope summer comes soon," he stated. Idly as their pinky fingers linked
***
Once the dining table was cleared out, the Goodwinds, Dianne, Andrew and Aoife headed out for grocery shopping. The rain has stopped since then, though the sky still casted a dark grey shadow above. Aoife stared out to the open air. Half expecting a droplet to land on her face. Nothing except a comforting breeze that is better than those cooling appliances muggles use for hot weather.
"Should we apparate?" asked Magaly.
"Pfft, no," Isaac snorted. "It's not too far of a walk and it's less fun if you end up landing on top of someone." He shuttered at the thought. Probably recalling a time when it actually did happen to him.
"Isaac's right," agreed Hazel. "Just because we have magic, doesn't mean we should be lazy."
Magaly scoffed at her sister. "Who said anything about being lazy? It's more about the convenience."
"Now girls," Dianne interjected as soon as Hazel opened her mouth to reply. "There's no need to argue over trivial matters."
Magaly huffed again and shook her head. "I will if she does."
"You're the one who thinks not using magic all the time is an inconvenience," Hazel retorted.
The sisters continued to spar and Dianne once more tried to meditate the two. No other party knew how it even got started. That's how fights amongst siblings are perhaps. They just happen in one way or another.
"Sisters," Isaac shook his head to himself. Lucky for him they weren't close enough in earshot to hear the disapproval. Otherwise the two would then team up and gang up and him.
Maybe a little fresh air is something needed for everyone. Aoife tugged onto her cloak as the wind grew cooler and drew the hood over her head. Only to have it pulled from the back of her head. Isaac turned out to be the culprit.
"Heyy," Aoife laughed, then put the hood back over her head.
Isaac smiled innocently in return as he paced ahead to catch up with Andrew. Of course when you have long legs, you're ahead of everybody.
"We're close to the forest," said Isaac.
Hazel and Magaly who have since then stopped bickering followed their brother's lead. Arms linked with one another. That ended quickly enough and well.
"We could've used the floo powder," Magaly mumbled to Hazel.
"It's best to save it for other locations and not waste a single grain," Hazel told her.
True, Aoife thought. Wondering how much per floo powder goes to waste. Perhaps waste isn't exact the right word. How much of it goes to use. That's more like it. Even if two people at a time in the household used it, it could still be considered a waste. Maybe.
"I sometimes think the can't spells have the right idea," Dianne said to Aoife. "Funny folks they are and more advanced in their latest inventions."
Aoife nodded in agreement. Can't spells; another word for muggles used around here. These non-magic folks. So blissfully unaware. Something of envy sometimes.
The two men came to a halt waiting for them by a fallen tree trunk split into two along the above a shallow creek. Aoife knew she shouldn't have looked down. The running water appeared nowhere near deep as the ocean, but anyone can end up having a swim. She did learn. He helped her. Any confidence she had before, vanished from thin air to nonexistent.
Even when she's rowed an enchanted boat before to Bowtruckle Island and back all by herself a decent-ish number of times. Even that seemed so far away.
Everyone still appeared to have voted against apparating from what the young witch could gather. Each crossed over the creek one by one. Andrew first helped Dianne walk the split trunk to the other side. Then Isaac helped his sisters cross. Once the two sisters were on land, he made sure they were okay, including Dianne.
Last one left was Aoife. To get it over with, she took one tiny step while holding onto a branch. When a tall auburn haired wizard came to her aid. Not that she didn't expect it, but was still taken aback due to his usual avoidance towards her. Without saying a word, Andrew held out a hand for her. The honey haired witch shook her head, terrified. However, he insisted. Still not saying a word, but his green eyes sure did.
Trust me, they spoke as he gave a mere nod of reassurance. He in all genuinely honest to Merlin wants to help.
Aoife took his hand and held onto his arm with her other hand. Doing her best not to focus on anything that's below. Just what's ahead. Together they walked across until both pairs of feet touch the green grass, then joined the others as walked farther into the forest which all a tunnel surrounded by trees leaves and branches. Little to no sunlight was able to penetrate through.
Given as it's still very overcast out. Even so if it were a sunny day. Didn't need any as the trees somehow had light of their own. Somehow placed as guide for any passersby.
The deeper they walked, the more of natural light decreased as the lights from the trees grew brighter. More iridescent in glow. Can't imagine getting lost in this place. One must really know their way here and back. Aoife prayed if any fear displayed on her face, it didn't show.
Isaac who was ahead of everyone paused to turn. He gave a half smirk for some reason at both Aoife and Andrew. The other wizard returned an annoyed "what" look.
"Uhhh, you can let go now."
No clue as to who it was directed at let lone what he meant until Aoife realized they were still holding hands. She hastily slipped her hand out of his without even seeing what his reaction was and wiping off something imaginary on her cloak.
"Don't blame you," Isaac said without laughing and took Andrews hand into his. "His hands are so damn soft."
Andrew swatted his hand away. "You're an idiot, Iz. If you wanted to hold my hand, you could've just asked."
Isaac's smile dropped as he scrunched up his nose, while Andrew gave him a victorious smile in return. Aoife by then already rushed to Dianne's side. "Anything wrong, dear?" she asked the young witch.
She shook her head no as a reply. "Just never had to walk through a forest to get to a location before."
Which was true. Mum and her usually ever apparate to isolated areas and alleyways get to Diagon Alley. Dad once in a while tags a long. The location being bigger than it actually looked filled with shops, some eateries and flats all bunched together. Aoife wondered what if everything ever got too cramped. Would they have to expand eventually?
"It's the closest to us," Dianne explained. "There's another one in Ottawa, which bigger and then there's one in Quebec."
So, basically their version of Diagon Alley. Except with different locations instead of just one.
"We're almost there," said Magaly to the others.
Everyone followed Magaly's lead once reaching farther now darker into the forest. She moved mossy leaves like curtains away to exit out. Everyone else including Aoife followed after. Once Aoife was out, it was no longer dark. Rather whatever rays from the grey sky can enter.
The place was incredible! Aoife observed. Rows of shops and buildings in many varying colors left and right that stretched out wide and the muted cobblestones and walkways. The witches and wizards too surrounded the area with their contrasting attires.
"Incredible, isn't it?" Isaac joined her side.
Aoife didn't reply, but she didn't have to. Just the look of awe drawn her face said it all. Such color and wonder. How many acres of land does it all cover? If anything, this a first taste in a world outside of what she's seen in books and on her own. Well, she's not exactly alone.