Hello You

Letting out a gasp, Aine quickly sat up in her bed. Looking around she noticed it was 3 am yet she could hear some shuffling downstairs. She pulled herself out of bed, adjourning her slippers and headed too only lit room in her house which was the kitchen.

Entering she saw her mother sitting at the table with a journal, 2 cups of tea and some scones.

“Alright ma?” Aine asked as she shuffled in the seat next to her.

“Hmm, Aine what are you doing up?” her mother asked as Aine leaned on her.

“Just woke up for a bit... ill go back to sleep soon I promise.” She replied quietly.

“Im waiting for daddy, he called a while ago saying he’s waiting for a cab.” Her mother replied, Aine noticed the tea was still hot so he would be coming soon. Her answer made her heart swell, her parents were so in love that her mom is up waiting for him just so they can catch up.

Aine doesn’t know when the last time her parents saw each other, she felt the need to give them their privacy.

“You can wait with me if you’re still awake.” Her mother commented as she kept writing, Aine wanted to peak to know what actually goes on in her mother’s head, but people were allowed their secrets. Both of their heads turned as the kitchen door opened once again, with her father holding a huge duffel and a wearing a wool hat.

“Hello” he said in low voice. Her mother stood up, helped him with his coat and placed his luggage on the floor. When she turned back around, she offered him the tea and scones, his eyes raked the room looking at everything as Aine gave a shy wave to him.

Finally, he turned back to her mother and kissed her gently on the lips and gave her a hug.

“I’ve missed you too Edmund.” She laughed at his shyness as she usually did. Aine stood up and he gave her a hug.

“Sweet girl, why are you up?” he asked her, Aine shrugged then excused herself back to bed. When she left, she saw her father kiss her mother once more before they sat at the table.

Later when she woke up again, she shuffled into the living room where Connell was watching a boxing match.

“What are you watching?" she asked him.

“I’m catching up on 3 months of fights before I see Cian and Rory.” Connell responded his eyes not leaving the screen. She let out a puff of air, watching the screen for a while before heading towards the kitchen.

“Morning, my dear I made some runny eggs if you want to take it with a scone?” Her mother asked, she was seated in the same seat from earlier but was reading the news instead of writing.

“Ma, you’re still up?” she asked back making herself some breakfast and sitting at the table.

“Oh, well by the time daddy decided to laydown Connell woke up and went for a run. And then I got distracted by a movie on the telly and then~” she dragged out the last word and gestured to breakfast.

“I can clean up so don’t worry about it.” Aine smiled at her mom, who gave one back.

“also before school let out I nought a bunch of candy from this store, I wanted to show you and share with you.” Aine continued ripping the scone apart and putting jam on it, then carefully placing her egg on top smushing it into a sandwich.

“Oh, that’s lovely, we can have a little girl’s afternoon. I think daddy will be asleep all day, and Connells got plans~” her mother sighed as she closed the newspaper and began to head out. She kissed Aine on the cheek, after placing her tea in the sink. Aine slide the local newspaper in to her hands, trying to catch up on the current events in Derry. Flipping thru the random articles she froze mid sip of her tea, on page 8 there was a an article titled ‘The hunt for mass murder cont., last seen...’ and underneath it was a photo of Sirius Black.

-

“and then I told aunt Cathy that just because she chopped all her hair off, doesn’t mean I want too.” Mother Murphy was helping Aine undo her braids while they watched a movie and telling a story from when she was a teen.

“She really wanted you to do the big chop with her? How did grandma react?” Aine asked her eyes glued to the tv.

“Mad., she didn’t like when we did things like that with out asking, but what could she do? it was done. You know I didn’t agree with Cathy but you stick with your sister no matter what.” She sighed and then let our a dry laugh.

“So, we both got grounded, and I missed a date with the finest fella in my year! But I guess it worked out because I met daddy little while later” she finished as Papa Murphy walked down the stairs; she sent him a wink which caused him to turn away in embarrassment.

“Aisling please” He walked to the kitchen as her mother kept giggling as she finished the last braid.

“I’ll get started on a small lunch, you go wash your hair.” Aine listened to the instructions and headed off feeling the anxiety of this morning finally soothe. Everything was going to be okay.

Until dinner that is.

Connell seemed to be in a foul mood, that’s how it started, everyone could notice as he picked at his dinner. This caused her father to sigh and place his fork down.

“Connell.” That’s all it really takes for his attention to shift, his father stares at him as if to say ‘go on’

“Oscar got arrested a few days ago.” Connell replied in sad tone. Aine and her mother gasped, their father shook his head softly.

“A shame, he was a good kid.” Papa Murphy replied as Connell sucked his teeth.

“he was supposed to got university next year, I wonder how Mary is coping” Her mother replied as stroked their father arm.

“Didn’t do anything wrong! Just peaceful protest! He only got nicked because he’s Irish and black!” Connell snapped. Aines eyes widened at his outburst, Connell never got angry he could be annoying but never full blown angry.

“Connell.” Her father spoke again but in a sterner tone. Connell and Edmund held each other gaze for a bit, as if they were having a mental conversation.

“Connell’s just stressed! He didn’t mean anything by it, he’s stressed.” Aine jumped causing the eyes to shift her.

‘dam’

“Well, he’s got prefect duties, quidditch practice, and career counseling…” Aine continued rambling as Connells eyes widened.

“Career counseling? Bit early, but if helps you get into university-” Her mother began.

“Im not going to university. Once I graduate Hogwarts, I’m gonna do auror training.” Connell cut her off but threw a glare at Aine. She messed up.

“Auror? What is that?” Her mother asked.

“A wizard who hunt down dark wizards, a ministry job, the wizard government” Connell explained quietly.

“A bounty hunter?” Her mother gasped and turned towards their dad. Papa murphy gauged everyone’s reaction but didn’t speak.

“I don’t understand... I thought this school was supposed to help you control your magic. Why cant you goto university?” Her mother continued whipping back towards Connell.

“Ma, most wizards don’t go, they get accepted into programs” Connell explained pushing his plate away.

“But- you’re not-“Mother Murphy started

“I am. I’m a wizard and Aine is a witch. And we don’t belong fully in this world its better if we find out place over there” Connell cut her off again.

Aine felt nervous, she knew that she’d have to defend Connells choices because her parents don’t understand but her mother looked so distraught.

“… like Sirius Black!” the name snapped her back into the conversation, and she let out a small noise in response. Apparently, her mother had asked how dark wizards affected their world, and that was the example he chose to use, it worked because her parents both stilled in the recognition.

“My sweet girl, you’re shaking... Connell you’re scaring her!” Her mother yelled and placed a arm around Aine, she gently pushed her mother arm off her and shook her head.

“I’m not scared. “She said quietly.

“I think being an auror is a good thing...” she began as her heartbeat wildly.

“Connell. You’re only 16. Think.” Her father cut her off as he stood up.

“Yea, in a few days I’ll be 17 and ill be an adult in the wizard world.” Connell took a deep sigh. “Im doing this for our family, there is a war here and a war brewing there. Aines already been attacked-“Connell cut himself off immediately and shot a guilty look towards Aine. This isn’t how it was supposed to go.

“Attacked?!” Her mother gasped and began checking her for marks, or something. Then held her in her arms tightly.

“Are you being bullied?” Her father asked her, she shook her head no.

“I- Sirius Black-“She began to cry, hiding her face. The name again made her parents freeze and look at each other, they began to stare at each other.

“Edmund... I didn’t know” Her mother began. “The school wrote and said she had a fall... they would’ve written.”

“I didn’t fall... the headmaster wrote that because you’re muggles. I’m fine now I promise.” Aine tried to damage control.

“Aine. Why didn’t you write your mother the truth?” Her father interrogated.

“I told her not too- she was fully healed at school, and we didn’t want Ma to worry.im sorry. “Connell jumped into save her and stood closer to her.

“We were gonna tell you both. Tomorrow, I swear.” He finished, Papa murphy let out a breath and seemed to be thinking, slowly he sat back down.

“Right. Everyone sit back down. No more secrets.” He instructed to them all. He listened to everyone explain calmly, listened to Aine explain the attack which she tries to downplay as much as she could, Connell and how becoming an auror and he made their mother show the letter from Professor Dumbledore. They all sat in silence as he digested all that information and took a sip of his drink.

“Right. Nothing else to tell us?” Aine noticed he used us, meaning her ma too. She knew that soon once they left the room, their parents will have a long discussion about this, and felt bad it was only the second day of holiday.

Connell kicked her foot and eyed her she knew instantly what he wanted her to say. Aine bulged her eyes out and shook her head at him.

“Aine. Something to say?” Her father asked noticing their fidgeting. She couldn’t not tell him now; it was another thing she wanted to wait on.

“Its okay sweetheart, just tell us.” Her mother placed her hand over hers gently. Aine took a deep breathe but kept her eyes on the table.

“I have a boyfriend too..” She said low hoping they wouldn’t fully hear.

“Boyfriend?” Her parents replied at the same time one in a happier tone than the other.

“Oh! What’s he like?” her mother scooted closer in excitement.

“Uh he’s nice and funny.” Aine mumbled in an embarrassed tone causing Connell to scoff.

“More like annoying and a prat and- “Aine kicked his foot and he shut up.

“Well, we’ll have to meet him! Right Edmund?” her mother smiled towards her father. He looked tired from traveling internationally and this surprisingly exhausting family dinner.

“Is he English?” Her father asked as she shook her head slowly and he sighed.

“damn”