Chapter 1
Song this chapter: Somewhere only we know - Keanne https://open.spotify.com/track/1SKPmfSYaPsETbRHaiA18G?si=yxpm7p4SSha6bbw0E4Cwvg&utm_source=copy-link
While I am changing into my formal outfit, someone knocks on my door. "Come in!" I say. It's my mother. "Your father needs you to be silent and polite today, Sal." I nod. I understand that I can't mess up. "You only speak when spoken to and don't act like a child." I have never understood what they mean with that. I am nine years old, how can I act like anything else than a child. But I'm not supposed to think. I just need to do as I'm told. When we were getting ready to take the floo I was getting excited. I am always excited. These formal settings are always so boring, but there is this blonde boy I always hang out with on this ghatering specifically. He is never at other ghaterings than this one. It's because we live in France and the ghatering is in London in a big building where a lot of people work, just like my dad. It's a kind of government, but it's not a lot. Just keeping magic a secret for Muggles mostly. And my father has been complaining a lot about new creatures they named "Dementors" because they keep showing up. And they haven't found anything they can do about them. There are quite a lot of people attacked by them and until they have found a way to fight them everyone is told to run if you see one. Luckily, Muggles can't see them. My dad will find something eventually. He is really smart. This ghatering is with all the wealthiest families of Europe. My father says these are the people worth hanging out with. I should not associate with anyone lower than me.
When we arrive at the ghatering there are already a lot of people chattering with each other. Of course, all in the same formal monotone tone. It's boring really. I'm searching for the blonde boy, but I don't see him. He has already sneaked to the garden then. I turn around to find the door, but my father suddenly lays his hand on my shoulder. He has a firm grip. "Don't go anywhere, we need to introduce you to some people, be silent and don't say anything unless I say so." I nodded. Blonde boy will have to wait. I will have to talk to some people first. I talked to a lady with a puffy pink dress. Really, she looked ridiculous. She was calling me "young man" and I felt really weird by it. My father told her about my education and that he was discovering that I was smart. It felt like I was an item he needed to sell. But my dad just does what best. He always knows what best, I'm just nine years old. I know nothing about the world. But if I listen to my dad, I will understand life one day and be happy.
When I had talked to three people, I managed to sneak away. Blonde boy was sitting under a big three.
"Finally, I thought you would never show up." He grinned. I shot him a big grin back.
We talk a lot, he is very funny. I love hearing about his life. He has such a different life than mine.
My father says magic is the most important thing I need to know, his parents learned him as little magic as possible. They want him to train being a great soldier. He knew some defensive magic, but that was it. I know a lot cool magic tricks and show him some.
As trade, he shows me some cool things you can do with a sword.
But sadly it doesn't last long, I don't know what's going on, but suddenly I see my parents walking behind another couple. They're coming our way!
"Our parents have found us." I say, and I point at them.
"Shit." He says. I don't understand why he says "shit". But it sounds cool. I decide that I want to say it too.
"Yeah shit." I say. He puts his sword down and looks at his parents.
"Goderic here you are! You know we need you there, what would we do without our son to talk to the people? Come, we need to go back in."
My parents say nothing but just look with cold eyes at me and I know what this means. I follow them back inside.
I try extra hard to be a good son, so they will be pleased with me, but the damage has already been done. When we get home, my father is in all states. He throws me on the floor.
"This isn't some play party, Salazar! When are you finally going to understand who you are and what you can't do!" He stomps with his foot on me and I start crying. I see my mother leaving the room before my father drags me up the stairs. He has me by my collar and shakes me.
"Do you have any idea what will happen if you don't get your act together soon!?" I just nod. I want it to be over. I don't want to make my father mad, I want to make him proud.
He just gets more mad when I nod. He throws me off the stairs and I start crying and screaming even more.
"No, you don't understand! You keep messing up! I'm ashamed that you are my son!"
That was what hurts the most. Not the throwing or the slapping. But his words. I just want to be enough for him. Once. I just want to do something to make him proud. But I don't do anything good ever. I'm good for nothing.
I start crying even more when he leaves. A thousand times I tried to do something original or special, so he would be proud. But every time he just got more angry.
I decide I will from now on have only one goal to live, making my father proud.