The Letter
***Two weeks later***
Séraphine has been expelled for about 2 weeks and has been forced to be alone with her mother for the second week. Because just her luck, the area of the ministry her father works in made him work all. Week. Long.
Mialys, her mother, tried making her do etiquette thinking that would “rewire” her habits, (obviously didn’t work). The whole thing was torture. Like she wanted to bore her to death, which almost happened.
“Mère, ma posture est déjà parfaite, est-ce qu'on a vraiment-”
(Mother, my posture is already perfect do we really-)
“Ce n'est pas assez parfait ! Toujours besoin d'être parfait Séraphine.” She scolded.
(It isn't perfect enough! Always need to be perfect Séraphine.)
The girl sighed and sat up puffing out her chest, held her chin up and out, positioned her shoulders and crossed her ankles the more defined way. She hated her life at that moment.
“Meilleure.” Her mother said, almost cruelly. “Maintenant il est temps pour-”
(Better)
(Now time for-)
She was interrupted by a loud hoot of an owl that ran through the house like wildfire. Then suddenly Greemes was rushing in towards Séraphine.
“Maîtresse! Ceci est venu pour vous par hibou!” He said out of breath.
(Mistress! This came for you by owl!)
Séraphine reached for it, but somehow her mother was quicker. She picked it up, ripped it open, read it, and ended with a sigh. A long pitiful one.
“Une lettre d'acceptation. De Poudlard.” Her tone sounded disgusted.
(An acceptance letter. From Hogwarts.)
“Poudlard ? L'école en Angleterre !?” Séraphine's tone sounded excited.
(Hogwarts? The school in England!?)
“Malheureusement oui.” she sighed. “Ils veulent que vous soyez présents d'ici la fin de la semaine.”
(Yes unfortunately.)
(They want you in attendance by the end of the week.)
Her eyes went wide, a smile formed an idea popping into her head. “Tu veux dire que je pourrais assister à l'école?” She asked, “Je veux dire, j'ai encore besoin d'une éducation scolaire, non?”
(You mean I could attend the school?)
(I mean, I still do need a school education, right?)
This is her way out. This new school is her way away from her mother and better yet it’s a whole country away. The possibilities are beautiful for that. Also she had a pen pal, this happened in a freak owl accident when his owl went in an entirely different direction and ended up at her window, who goes to Hogwarts and he said it’s perfect. She could tell him she’s coming, well she could’ve had her owl, Romeo, not been taken away. But the point is she could go there instead of being stuck here!
“Je suppose ainsi. Mais sérieusement une école comme ça-”
(I presume so. But seriously a school like that-)
“Eh bien, je ne peux pas aller à Durmstrang maintenant, puis-je maman?” She bit down a smirk as she tilted her head innocently.
(Well I can't go to Durmstrang now, can I mama?)
Her mother raised a brow. “J'en parlerai à ton père quand il rentrera ce soir. Pour l'instant, dirigez-vous vers votre chambre.” She waved her hand dismissively. The younger of the two stood and walked away hiding her excitement as she rushed to her bedroom now.
(I'll speak to your father about it when he gets home tonight. For now, head to your room.)
Hours later it was near dinner she rushed down the stairs knowing her father would be home soon, and she wanted him to know she wanted to go to Hogwarts.
He always listened to her. And if he heard her first then she could go.
The plan was simple: get to him first, tell him and then when her mother talks to him about it he’ll say yes. It’ll be easy-
So she thought.
Séraphine hopped to be right in front of the door and waited patiently when suddenly she heard both her mother and father’s voices.
How is she with him!?
The voices were muffled until they weren’t, and the door was opening. She jetted up the stairs waiting, planning on walking down in mere moments.
“Mon amour, peut-être que ça pourrait être bon pour elle ?”
(My love, maybe it could be good for her?)
Her father without being asked was already on her side, which made this easier.
“Mais Poudlard ? Vous ne pouvez pas être sérieux.”
(But Hogwarts? You can't be serious.)
He shrugged and looked at his wife standing in front of her. “Beaucoup de gens avec qui je travaille viennent de Poudlard mon amour.” he made a pointing motion. “Vous vous souvenez de cet homme que vous avez rencontré Theseus Scamander ? Lui et son frère sont allés à Poudlard.” he said as example.
(Many people I work with come from Hogwarts, my love.)
(Remember that man Theseus Scamnder? He and his brother went to Hogwarts)
Her mother sighed and looked at him weirdly.
“Bien! Mais je jure Antoine-”
(Fine! But I swear Antoine-)
She made that her cue to rush down and greet her father.
“Papa, tu es à la maison !” She chirped and ran to him hugging him and he made a loud laugh swallowing his daughter in a hug.
(Papa, you’re home!”
“Bonjour ma luciole.”
(Hello my Firefly)
She laughed and out of the corner of her eye she saw her mother’s cross expression and removed her arms. Stood straight and smiled a small smile.
Her mother nodded.
“Séraphine, ton père et moi avons discuté de tes options scolaires.” She was visibly hesitating. “Vous allez à Poudlard.”
(Séraphine, your father and I discussed your school options.)
(You’re going to Hogwarts.)
Séraphine got excited because she already knew but this is confirmation. But tried her best to hide it.
HE TALKED HER INTO IT! Was the only thought running wildly in her mind. She was happy, beyond it. Her friends will be happy to hear this news.
“Vraiment? Je vais?”
(Really? I’m going?)
“Oui, j'écrirai au directeur. Faites vos valises et nettoyez pour le dîner.” Her mother’s tone was bored, and the girl just nodded, walking up the stairs but once out of sight she ran to her room summoning Greemes, and after asking her to bring a letter to her owl she got packing. Hogwarts she couldn’t wait.
***Two Days Later***
The next morning her mother had contacted the headmaster, Dumbledore, and he sent back a letter the next day of his glee that Séraphine would be attending.
Happy to hear that Ms. Séraphine Achard will be joining us at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I hope she will enjoy her time with us!
Sincerely,
Albus Percival Wolfric Brian Dumbledore, the Headmaster.
Along with a list of needed supplies.
She’d be allowed to come to the school the day after everyone else had returned from Spring Break. That way it’d be less rowdy for her to acclimate to.
Her mother and father sent for her supplies and it came that morning. So she was all set. They apparated to King’s Cross and they blended with the crowd. Then walked through the barrier carefully and walked straight towards the train. Her and her father were in awe, and her mother still looked sour but no way this was being ruined for her.
“You have all your clothes?” Her mother asked.
“Yes.”
“All the books?” Asked her father.
“Yes!”
“And your dresses and dress shoes-”
“Yes… But what’ll I need those for mama?”
“Parties, just in case there’s a dance, a lady is prepared for EVERY occasion.” her mother said in a matter-of-factly tone.
She got you there. She huffed and nodded.
“It’s all here, and I have Romeo and Atlas too. All set and ready now, may I get it on the train?” she was basically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Her father nodded and helped her bring it all to the train, but she held Atlas not wanting to have him alone. Romeo is used to the being alone. Atlas has been with her since he was small, it would be chaos. Her father turned to her, and she smiled at him. He smiled back and gave her a hug.
“You be good, okay Lutin de feu ?” he whispered.
“I will, only minimal mischief okay? I won’t get in trouble,” much she wanted to add but didn’t.
He laughed. “That’s my Séraphine, Je t'aime bien?”
(I love you, okay?)
“Et je t'aime Papa.” She turned to her mother, though she was cruel sometimes she had to. She went up and gave her a hug Atlas at her feet. “Et je t'aime maman.” She whispered as she picked up Atlas again.
(And I love you Papa.)
(And I love you Mama.)
Her mother smiled a small smile, she couldn’t help it. But it went away after a short while.
“Hurry, the train will leave without you.”
She sighed, nodded, and went on to the train with one last wave. Smiling at her parents once more, she boarded fully. Moving down the aisle of the carriages carrying Atlas still, she found a carriage as the train had left the station. She was all alone—except for the kind woman bringing a treat trolly around—but she expected this.
She set Atlas to her side and smiled at him.
“Sleep mon amour, we’ll get there soon enough.” And she pulled on the robes they gave her and then pulled out a book getting settled for the journey.
What house will I be in?
The thought ran through her head quickly.
It should be fun.