Guiding Light
Wool’s Orphanage, London, 1938
The girl, now nine years of age, turned on her heels away from the store, having already acquired what she needed. Acquired was a strong word, she all but stole the leather-bound diary from the little store. It wasn’t too hard for her to steal the notebook and from that, Scarlett discovered she had a knack for sleight of hand. She made her way back to Wool’s Orphanage, which had been her home for as long as she could remember.
Tucking the notebook into her coat as the square building came into view, she checked her surroundings, making sure it was all clear. Acting swiftly but keeping in mind to stay quiet, she climbed over the gates and landed on the other side with a quiet thud.
Scarlett hurried to her residence but spotted Mrs. Cole leaving where she had been going and she skidded to a stop, hiding around the corner. She frowned, wondering why Mrs. Cole had visited. To her knowledge, she and Tom hadn’t done anything that prompted the visit, she was always careful not to get caught sneaking out. Once Mrs. Cole was out of sight, Scarlett dashed to her residence. She knew Tom would cover for her, but she was also curious about what brought Mrs. Cole over. Pushing open the door, she made a beeline toward Tom’s room.
“Thomas, I have returned!” She announced, entering Tom’s room. “What did Mrs. Cole want?” She asked, eager for information. She faltered when she noticed another person in the room but she moved quickly to recover. A tall and thin old man with silver hair and beard sat on Tom’s bed, blue eyes gleaming with vague interest at her entrance.
“I want to take her with me,” Tom demanded to the man, eyes meeting hers from where she stood at the threshold of his room.
Her eyes looked eager as they glanced back and forth between Tom and the old man. “We’re leaving? Where are we going?”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that. First years have to be eleven years old. Unfortunately, Miss Rosewood hasn’t met the age requirement yet.” The man said with a weird twinkle in his eyes.
Scarlett wondered how the mysterious man knew her surname, she hadn’t even introduced herself. Perhaps Tom had mentioned her to him.
She observed the man, trying to deduce who he was and why he was there. Her gaze landed on the old man’s academic attire, and she noted how he spoke. He said the first years had to be eleven years old. He must be a professor at a magic school and was here to recruit Tom. She met the man’s amused gaze, getting the sense that he knew she was analyzing him.
She turned back to Tom, who had a stubborn expression on his face as he continued to make demands. “You could make an exception for her,”
The twinkle did not leave the man’s eyes. “Unfortunately those decisions aren’t for me to make. The headmaster makes those decisions, I’m just the messenger,”
“I don’t care. She is not leaving me.” Tom’s right hand twitched as he raged at the professor's calm demeanour, unyielding to his demands. Scarlett noticed the signs of his aggression and made a quick move to give a light tug at his arm to calm him down. His face softened as he glanced at her, hardening once more as he turned back to the twinkle-eyed professor, who took note of Scarlett’s ability to calm the older violent boy.
The professor was silent for a moment as he surveyed Tom with a curious gaze before responding. “She will join you at Hogwarts in two years. You would be able to come back to visit for the Christmas and summer holidays,”
Tom didn’t respond, only continuing to glare at the calm professor, furious at how he was being denied. Scarlett tugged at his arm, beckoning him to respond and his anger dying down as he shifted his gaze to her. “I will think about it,” His voice was cold, hinting that the conversation was over as he glared at the professor, making no promises. He hoped the infuriating professor would leave and perhaps not come back. Despite his intrigue by the idea of attending a magical school, he would not have Scarlett leaving his side.
“Of course.” The professor said with an understanding nod. “The start of term is approaching very soon, so you’ll only have a few days to think about this opportunity. I’ll be back in a week and you can tell me your response then.” With that, the professor got to his feet.
Tom’s hard expression didn’t change, prompting Scarlett to respond for him. “He’ll have a response by then, thank you, sir,”
The professor smiled before taking his leave, his footsteps echoing down the small hall, a click was heard followed by the sound of a door slamming, and the professor was gone.
Scarlett turned to Tom to see him already watching her with an unreadable expression. She wanted to know what he was thinking, what he thought about all of this. Did he want to attend the magical school? She wouldn’t hold it against him, but a part of her didn’t want him to leave. He had been with her since the beginning. Without him, she’d be lost and all alone again like she had been years ago in the woods.
His face was unreadable as he stared at her. “I will not be attending. You are not leaving me.”
Hearing him say that, she was happy. But it would be selfish of her if he didn’t attend the magical school because he was held back by her. She looked away from him. “You should attend, Tom.”
“You will not be leaving me,” He repeated in a firm tone, a frown tugging at his lips as he noticed her use of ‘Tom’. Not ‘Thomas’. It has always been ‘Thomas’ to her.
She shook her head, turning back to him with the most serious he’d ever seen on her. “I know you want to attend the magical school, Tom. You’re only saying you won’t attend because you don’t want me to be upset. Well, I’m telling you right now, I’m not upset. I also know that you’ll stay with me if I ask, but I’m not going to. I’m not letting myself hold you back from this opportunity and you shouldn’t hold yourself back for it either.”
His expression had gone blank and she knew him well enough to know that he was torn. She was right when she said he did want to attend the school for magic, but he didn’t want to leave her. Now that she had given him the push, the decision had been made but neither one wanted to voice it.
After that conversation, they hadn’t spoken a word about him leaving, the unspoken promise to spend as much time with each other as possible lay in the air between them. Before they knew it, a week had passed and it was time for Tom to leave for the magical school Scarlett now knew as Hogwarts. When she entered his room the morning of, the professor from a week earlier was already there while Tom stood beside his desk, eyes zeroing in on her as soon as she came into his view.
The professor glanced between the two, nodding. “I’ll be outside when you’re done,” he said, walking out, closing the door behind him and leaving two alone.
Scarlett stared at Tom for a moment, memorizing his features. She could see him doing the same to her. She held out the leather-bound diary she had acquired for his birthday but hadn’t had the chance to give it to him with everything going on. “Your late birthday present,” She said, grinning despite him being moments away from leaving. “I didn’t account for you leaving for a magical school, but now that it happened, you’ll need it more than ever. Write down all your feelings, about your day, or anything.”
He took the notebook from her outstretched hands, staring down at it for a moment before closing his eyes, savouring the memory. He opened his eyes, looking at her and giving her one of his rare smiles. “I will cherish it,” he said in an appreciative tone. He watched her for a moment before taking something small out of his coat. “I have something for you too,”
She watched with a curious gaze as he held out a cream-coloured paper crane in his outstretched hand. He closed his eyes once more, concentrating on something as his other hand enchanted the paper crane. A beat later, the cream-coloured paper crane, now glowing with a hint of blue, seemed to come to life, its paper wings flapping as it flew up to her and leaving a glittering trail behind its path. She raised a finger to its beak, the paper crane left gentle pecks on her finger as she watched in awe.
He watched her with a satisfied look. “You will not be lonely in my absence. Crainer will watch over you. The magical creature will be your guiding light,” As if confirming his words, the paper crane nodded.
“Thank you,” she said, staring at him in admiration. Tom’s gift was very thoughtful, he didn’t want her to feel alone in his absence and he found a way to make sure she didn’t feel that way.
He shifted his feet, giving her a solemn look. “I will be back for the summer holidays. Wait for me,” he demanded the last part, then he turned and left without looking back.
Had Scarlett not known him as well as she knew herself, she would have been hurt by how he left without looking back. She knew if Tom had looked back, he wouldn’t have it in him to leave.
A soft peck on her cheek had her look to smile at Crainer. “We’ll be alright,” She said in a soft voice, bringing a finger to its beak.
Three months after Tom departed for Hogwarts, Scarlett was in Tom’s room inspecting the hourglass locket. With Tom around, her past was the last thing on her mind. Now with his absence, she thought it would be a great idea to start looking into her past. The mysterious necklace had seemed like a good place to start. She noticed something small engraved on the outer ring of the locket and she held it up close, taking a look at a closer angle.
A flash, and suddenly she was hit with a memory from her past.
“Happy birthday, Letty!” a cheerful voice said. “Your godfather has a gift for you!” The figure from her memory was blurred out, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make out who the figure was.
“What is it?” Her younger self asked, sounding excited for whatever surprise was in store for her.
“This.” The blurry figure held out a necklace by the gold chains, the hourglass pendant glittering in the light. “Keep this on you at all times, got it?” The mysterious figure softly said as her younger self stared at the pretty necklace, curious.
Scarlett was brought out of the memory by a burning pain in her head. She gasped, clutching her head. The blurry figure from the memory was her godfather. At least now she had two leads, her godfather and the necklace. She held the necklace close to her heart, clenching it in her fist. She knew the necklace was somehow connected to her past.
A gentle pat on her cheek had her looking up. Crainer was nuzzling her cheek, offering comfort. She spoke in a soft tone to the animated creature, “Looks like we’re leaving this place.”
She thought of Tom, how he wouldn’t be able to find her if she left. She missed him, it hurt to leave knowing he would return in a few months for the summer holidays only to find her gone.
A glow on Tom’s desk caught her eye and she saw Crainer flapping its paper wings nearby, sparkling. A piece of parchment and quill was glowing in the same blue light as the magical paper creature.
“The magical creature will be your guiding light,” Tom had told her. She smiled in understanding. Crainer would guide her every step of the way with its blue guiding light.
She headed toward the desk, picking up the glowing quill. “Yes.” She whispered. “I’ll leave him a letter.” She pressed the tip of the quill on the paper before hesitating, not knowing what to write. Later, when she finished writing the letter, she folded it into a paper crane and wrote Tom’s name on one of the wings.
Satisfied, Scarlett set the paper crane on his desk where he could find it. She gave his room one last look. “Come on Crainer,” She beckoned Crainer into her coat pocket and left.
Thomas,
Until we meet again.
- Scarlett