Claws
After breakfast, Moe studied in the library.
She couldn’t help but start to think about what Claire said earlier. What does that mean? Did mom do something harsh on her? Or are there other reasons?
She looked at the textbook of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and she thought about her first time entering Hogwarts. Even before they both received the letter from Hogwarts.
“Dad! Mom! I got the letter from Hogwarts!” Little Moe ran down to the first floor. She was wearing pajamas, holding a letter and jumping around the dining room.
“Don’t jump around like a monkey, dear!” Adora said strictly. But Moe didn’t listen.
“Wonderful, pumpkin.” Graves put down his coffee, kissing his daughter's cheek. “We’re going to Diagon Alley today.”
“What about Claire? Is she going with us too?”
“Well–” Graves took a peek upstairs.
“Well, I’m afraid she can’t.” Adora said. “If she goes with us to Diagon Alley, she must receive the letter.”
“I already got one.” Little Claire’s voices appeared from the stairs. Her hair was longer at that time compared with nowadays. She walked toward and throwed the letter on the table.
“That’s great, do you want to come with us?” Graves asked.
Adora frowned. “Darling–”
“No. I can go there by myself.” Claire rejected.
Graves looked at her. “It’s too dangerous for little witches like you to go there alone.”
“I can handle that.”
"Claire, come with us. I’m sure you won’t regret it.” Moe holding her hands, begging.
“Alright.” A pause, Claire nodded.
Ten minutes later, Graves took two girls into Diagon Alley. After many years, the Diagon Alley was still the same. After purchasing the necessary supplies, they entered the Ollivanders.
“The shop looks so shabby…achoo!” Claire sneezes, looking around this narrow shop. Thousands of boxes containing wands were piled right up to the ceiling of the shop, the whole place had a thin layer of dust on it.
“I’m sorry to make you feel uncomfortable.” Mr. Ollivanders stood up from a spindly chair in the corner.
“Ah!” Claire was shocked. “Oh, sorry sir. I didn’t see you were there.”
“Hello, Lechat. Hello, Rivière. Welcome to the Ollivanders.” Mr. Ollivanders said with a soft voice. He moved closer to Moe. “You have your father’s personality, with your mother’s appearance. Your mother’s wand has a shell design, simple but elegant. 13 inches long, elm, the core is unicorn hair. Oh! I remember the first day your father bought his wand. Your father’s wand is 14 inches long, ebony, dividing the main tip and the handle is a silver band, core is White River Monster spine. “
“It was a long time ago. “ Graves blushed.
“Indeed. But I still remember.” Mr. Ollivanders smiled, found a box and opened it. “Now Ms. Lechat, try this.”
Moe took the wand, waved around a bit. But Mr. Ollivanders snatched it back. “No, try this. 12 and a quarter inches long, springy, made with Larch.”
Moe holded the wand and took a look at it. It had a blue jeweled handle, quite simple, classic, tipped with a silver clasp around it. When she touched the wand and held it in her right hand, she felt warm, cozy in her fingers. She raised the wand above her head and turned around, brought out blue, white sparks and threw the light to the ceiling.
“Amazing, absolutely amazing!” Mr. Ollivanders clapped his hands. “The wand chooses the wizard, now it’s yours.” He turned his head and looked at Claire. “Now it’s your turn. Ms. Rivière.”
Mr. Ollivanders handed over a wand. “Try this. 11 and a quarter inches long, dark rosewood, heartstrings of dragons.”
She was flicking the wand, but Mr. Ollivanders snatched it back and gave her another. And then snacthed the wand back again. “No--no, not this one. Try this.” Mr. Ollivanders handed to her another wand. After seeing her almost burn a hole on the wall, Mr. Ollivanders took the wand back again.
“Ah, try this. 12 inches long, vine, Phoenix feathers, solid.” He opened a box, there’s a wand lying inside. The handle has a pattern like claws extending out of the end.
When she held the wand, she felt different. A strong power like water fluid inside her. She reached out and pointed at the ceiling, every object began to rot, turn black, and corrode.
“Make it stop. She’s going to destroy the shop!” Moe said, but Mr. Ollivanders reached out a hand. “No, no need. This is interesting, very interesting.”
“But Mr. Ollivanders–”
“Oh! Right, that’s enough.” Mr. Ollivanders nodded, took back the wand. And the magic started to reverse. “Congratulations! This wand chooses you.”
Graves paid fourteen gold Gallons for two girls' wands. When they left, Mr. Ollivanders bowed from his shop.
“What happened back there?” Moe asked worriedly. “You almost destroyed the shop!”
“I--I don’t know…” Claire shook her head. “I don't know what is going on…”
“Claire, Moe.” Graves rests his hands on girls' shoulders. “There's nothing to worry about.”
★
This is the last month Moe and Claire stayed in the Lechat villa. Adora hosts a party before they’re going to Hogwarts and celebrates Moe’s birthday.
Guests were in the living room. Crowed, loudly chatting with others. House-elf were busy sending the cakes to guests.
“Moe! You’re going to study at the best magic school in the world, right?” Aunt Avery said, patting her head. When she’s getting closer, a strong smell of perfume around her. Moe almost vomited the cake she ate ten minutes ago.
“Yes, aunt Avery. Good to see you.”
“Lovely! You know, your mother is just like a star when she studied at Hogwarts! ”
“Yes, you told me about it.”
“It’s a shame she quit her musician job to raise children like you. Also, she married a Lechat…” Aunt Avery took a glance at Graves, who was talking to the Minister for Magic. “Your father, he’s really handsome. Isn't it?”
Moe was happy to see Aunt Avery. But she’s looking for someone.
“Anna.” Moe turned her head, saw her mother was standing behind her. “The past is in the past. Today is her birthday.”
Aunt Avery gazed at her little sister. “Right.” She walked toward her, whispered. “ Don’t mess up the reputation of Avery. You're pure blood.”
“I know.” Adora said, turning her head to seek her children. But Moe was already gone.
In the bedroom which is located on the second floor. Claire sat down in bed, holding her legs. Looked at the owl in the cage. “Albert, if you want to get out of the cage. What would you do?”
“Claire!” Moe hugged her by surprise. “Moe?” She looked at her, her hazel eyes shining like gems. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you having fun at your birthday party?”
“Umm…”Moe sat down beside her, head bowed. “No. That’s just my parents’ social party. Not the birthday party I was thinking about.”
“Thinking about what?”
“There’s only me, you, and my parents.”Moe looked back, smiled. “But it looks like it’s hard to achieve.”
Claire hugged her. “It’s OK. We can celebrate together. Study together at Hogwarts! Oh! Even take over the world together! Nothing can stop us! Our rivals shall be CRUSHED beneath our feet! ”
Moe giggled, hugged her back. “Yeah, sure thing.”
Gem
After they entered Hogwarts, the Sorting Ceremony was about to begin. Moe was surprised to see her father sitting together with professors. “Dad?” She whispered, but Graves didn’t see her.
“Wait, the new professor is your father?” A girl who heard her voice asked. Moe put one finger on her lips, telling the girl to keep the secret.
“Oh, wait…is that…Graves?” Claire noticed too. But she didn’t have too much time to think, the ceremony had already begun.
“Gwen Rosewood!”
“Ravenclaw!”
“Ethan McGonagall!”
“Gryffindor!”
“Claire Rivière!”
Claire stood up, walking toward the Sorting Hat and put it on. At the same time, she heard some rumors.
“Wait, Rivière? That Rivière?”
“That must be their children. Joyce Rivière and Vincent Rivière, they were the most wanted. They commit a lot of crimes in the two worlds. Include Muggles and the Wizarding world.”
“Oh my.”
“Hmm…bold, smart. But the darkness covers it too much…there’s a power inside of you.” The Sorting Hat murmured. After one minute, it made a decision. “Slytherin!”
The students from Slytherin clapped their hands with no smiled. It was hard for her to find a place to sit down. When she found it, Moe’s part had already finished.
After the Sorting Ceremony, Claire found Moe with a group of students that belong to the Ravenclaw. She was welcomed by those students.
“So! “ said Leona Lovegood, the principal of Hogwarts, smiling around them all. “Now we’re all finished with the meal, I must ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices.
“Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the students using magic in the corridors is not permitted.
“It is also my duty to inform you that Mrs. Harven retired. So we’re having a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.” Lovegood turned her sight on Graves, who was sitting beside the professor Longbottom. “Introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Professor Lechat.”
Students greet the new staff member with applause. Graves smiled and stood up, waving his hand to students.
But the atmosphere was already different after Lovegood said Graves last name. Some Ravenclaw students looked at the place where Moe sat, with a confused, surprised look.
“Oh man, that’s really him.” Claire murmured. “But why didn't he tell us?”
After finishing the school song, students were going to their dorm. At the same time, Graves came to find Claire. “Rivière, may I have a word with you?”
“Yes, Professor Lechat.” Claire nodded and followed him to his office.
“So, Graves, “ Claire spoke when Graves closed the door. “Why didn’t you tell us about this whole…professor thing?”
“I don’t want to give you and Moe pressure. And I want it to be low-profile.” Graves said, “But this isn’t the reason I speak to you.” He took out something from his pocket, a gem lying on his palm.
Claire was confused. “What is this?”
“Do you remember when we’re at the Ollivanders?” Graves said, “It’s time to tell you the truth.”
“What truth? I know I’m not a part of Lechat but–”
“Remember what I told you about your parents?”
“My mom told you to take care of me before they were dead. And they were criminals in two worlds.”
“Right. But there’s something I didn’t tell you.” A pause, “When I was an Auror, our heads of the office, Harry Potter, appointed me to solve the cases. Was about the group that your parents belong to. “
“My parents? Belong to a group?” Claire was surprised.
“Yes. And your mother was my informant.”
“So she’s not terrible as those people said.” Claire smiled with no emotions.
“If this will comfort you at some point.” Graves continues, “One day, she told me that she couldn’t help me anymore.
“The head of the group already discovered who she was, and he punished her. Using an ancient beast curse that it would never recover. And that curse had an impact on you.”
“What?” Claire was shocked. Through the reflection of his glasses, she saw her eyes turned black. “Ah! What happened to my eyes?”
“Don’t panic, it’s Ok.” Graves grabbed her arms, handed over the gem. “Take a deep breath.“ Claire did what he said, held the gem. Her eyes turned normal. “Take this gem as an amulet. This would help you keep track of the beast's energy. Do not lose it. Ok?” Saw Claire nodded, Graves smiled. “Now let me take you back to the common room.”