Chapter 2
Adrian makes introduction placing the pizza boxes on the table. “Our oldest Declan, our only girl Ariana, the twins Illarion and Savin and our baby boy Jake.”
Hermione shook every hand, but she wasn't nearly as interesting to the children as the Pizza was. Ariana looked just like Sydney but had Adrian’s hair and eyes, all the children bore a strong resemblance to their parents. The twins had Sydney's blond hair while Jake had his father's, Declan had something in between, he was also the only one with brown eyes instead of Adrian's green ones.
It seemed that no one had a specific pizza, everyone took from any box. Adrian and Ariana each ate one piece very slowly, Sydney ate two and the rest was divided between the boys and Eddie.
Hermione herself just took a small piece of salami pizza.
“So Hermione,” Adrian seemed to enjoy her given name, “I think you should arrange a plan in regards to a feeder, and come back to us, and we will give you an answer?”
“Certainly, though I doubt it would be a problem but I will give you some time to decide.” she watched Ariana with interest, who was talking animatedly with her brother Declan, but Hermione couldn't understand about what, she listened closely and figured out why. They weren’t speaking English. She looked at the twins, they were talking with the youngest, also not in English, but not in the same language as Ariana and Declan.
Confused she looked back and saw that Adrian was watching her with his handsome smile.
“Sydney raised them bilingual, well I don't know if there is a word for more than two languages but yeah they can speak four languages, English of course, Latin, Spanish and Russian.”
“Polyglot.” Sydney gave the answer to his unspoken question. He smiled affectionately at her.
“Why?”
“Because we can” he smiled ‘his’ smile, “Ariana is even learning her fifth, French.”
“Well father, I like learning.” Ariana said recognizing her name and joining the conversation. She had the same smile like her father, very wide but without showing any teeth. After what Hermione had learned about them she wondered if it was to hide their fangs. She watched the brothers who hadn't any problem with showing their teeth while smiling and talking, no fangs.
Adrian and Ariana discussed the benefits of being a nerd and of being not a nerd. This made Sydney smile sweetly, but the smile vanished as she noticed Hermione watching.
Hermione couldn’t shake the feeling that Sydney had something against her. Well I wouldn’t like the woman who wants to expose my daughter to danger either, thought Hermione.
“Mr. Ivashkov” she said, not dropping the formality, “I will contact you about options regarding feeders, but for now I have to leave. I still have to visit a few more families tonight.”
“Of course I hope we can find a solution, and please call me Adrian” he smiled.
“We have no options to discuss, because there is no need, she won’t be attending.” Sydney said determined.
“Didn't we agree to let her decide?” Adrian asked.
“No you decided that. I am still firmly against it. It is too dangerous, I won't put her in unnecessary danger, not when we could prevent it, I wont let her get hurt. I won’t have them get her.” her voice broke. Adrian hesitates, “That won’t happen to her, no one knows we are here, they can’t get near us.” he talked softly as if she was terribly fragile.
“I said no.”
“Sydney we can’t isolate her, she isn't a baby anymore she is old enough to decide, didn't you raised her to be an independent women who can make her own decisions.”
“So you want her in danger?”
“No I don't and you know it. Hermione says it is safe, and she isn't weak, she trains with the boys. She is more than capable. Why I am the reasonable one here? This doesn’t fit me, you are the one who should see I am right.”
“Are you talking about me?” Ariana chimed in. The whole table fell silent, and everyone looked in shock at their parents. It seems they don't fight very often.
Her parents looked at her. Sydney lost her resolve. “Fine.” she gave in and turned to her pizza piece, penetrating it with her fork.
“There is a school named Hegwurd,” Adrian started
“Hogwarts”
“Yes of course, Hogwarts which is for witches and wizards, and you have the opportunity to attend Hogwarts and learn to control and use your magic as well as to improve it. Mum and Eddie thinks it is a security problem, because you can’t go with a Guardian, but Hermione is sure it will be safe, or at least as safe as being with a Guardian. It is just your little bloody problem, that is, well, a problem. We would have to get you a feeder at Hogwarts, that you should keep a secret, you know why. It will be your choice whether you take the risk of attending this school and being away from home.”
“But, I - I am no witch - I am already a Moroi, shouldn't that be enough.” she was outraged.
“I was very surprised at this information. A vampire has never attended Hogwarts, I would know as an avid fan of the History of Hogwarts” She says thinking back to her beloved book Hogwarts: A History. “But there is a first time for everything isn't there?” suddenly Hermione thinks of Remus Lupin, a werewolf and student of Hogwarts, no one knew, so a vampire in disguise shouldn't be impossible.
“I don't want to be different! I am already different enough! I just want to be normal!” Ariana exclaimed and Hermione felt a slight buzz of magic. Sydney must feel it too. She stared wide eyed at her daughter.
“Sweetheart you are different, and that is not a bad thing. You should be proud of it. Yes, you are a Moroi born from a Human and a Moroi, yes you are a spirit user and yes you are a witch, and that makes you who you are. My little Ariana, my sweetheart and the only one of your kind. You should be proud of all of it! Have confidence my girl.” Adrian said lovely.
Tears welled up in Sydney’s eyes as well as in Ariana’s.
“I think I should go” Ariana said subdued and looked at her feet.
“Very well, I organize you a feeder.” Hermione said.