Page 104 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“Yes well, I met a boy.” I said as if that was enough explanation.

“Oh well, that is different for an all girls school.” Dad acquiesced.

“And we’re dating.” I finally admitted.

Mom and Dad’s eyebrows rose slightly as their only sign of shock.

“Is it against your will?” Dad asked with a chuckle.

“No. I just… I’m new to the whole…” I waved my hands as a summary of, well, all the things I didn’t know how to lie about.

“What’s his name?” Mom asked curiously, her phone poised for digging.

“Cillian Lynch, he’s one of Theo’s room mates.” I said, knowing she’d most likely already done the usual digging. She did indeed lock her phone and look at my Dad who was still sipping his coffee.

“You find anything out of the ordinary with him, Mel darling?” Dad asked, knowing I probably wasn’t in the mood for 20 questions.

“No actually, he’s top of his class for everything. Bit of a musical prodigy as well. First chair cello and already composed several symphonies according to what I could dig up.” I sat up straighter remembering the cello in his cabin room and wondering if there was a digital version of these symphonies. My parents’ eyes sparkled as they caught my increased interest.

“I’ve uhh… heard him play some and he’s really good.” I blushed redder, unsure whether to specify how or the fact it was a different instrument and oh yeah he was shirtless. On second thought, no I’d better move the conversation along.

“Did you meet him through Theo then?” Mom asked.

“No actually, Theo doesn’t know.” I confessed.

“Ahhhh, and are you going to tell him anytime soon?” Dad asked around a mouthful of pancakes.

“If he gets out of this piss poor mood, then sure.” I said, exposing the cowardice I usually kept to myself.

“Up to you of course, are you going to be meeting up with him anytime during the break?” Mom asked before taking a bite of bacon.

“Maybe? He’s going to get back to me.” I said rubbing my glamoured wrist uncomfortably.

“Alright, well we’ve still got your Vespa in the garage, it’s a bit chilly but the roads aren’t bad. But if you give us enough notice we can loan you the Honda so long as you don’t mind parking it.” Dad said before putting his plate in the sink.

“Thanks Dad. I’ll let you know, but I’ll probably just take the Vespa, unless it’s somewhere I can apparate.” I stood up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Sure thing kiddo, I’ve got to run now but have a good day and be sure to keep your mother from working herself to death.” He let out an ‘Oomf’ as she pulled him down to her height to plant a kiss on his other uncharacteristically smooth cheek.

“Let me know if they have any creatures of interest, will you Dave?” She called down the hall and he gave a little wave of acknowledgement before leaving with Fudge close behind.

I must have dropped into a daydream because when I came to, mom was nowhere to be found.

My schedule being strangely free for the next several hours, I walked toward the back door. Mine and my brother’s heights were engraved sporadically on the door frame, each hash corresponding to a holiday or trip my parents couldn’t bring us on, when we’d spent time here with our uncle instead. Tears came to my eyes, we always had the best time here.

Pulling on my thickest coat and muted rainbow scarf, I walked out the door. I made my way toward the snow dusted orchard we’d tended and explored wildly. Our uncle had taught Theo and I most of our meditative and centring skills under these branches. Theo once had the grand idea of meditating upside down on one (since he had a hard time staying still). It ended with Uncle Matt sealing the resulting gash on Theo’s scalp, with what I thought was magical super glue, instead it had been our first lesson in trauma medicine. I’d never gotten to ask if his gift was more healer or mind reader but he had sensed the unquiet in us. Helped us recognise and listen to our inner selves and separate them from the gifts we never acknowledged that pressed so heavily on us after puberty.

Pausing by a sleeping cherry tree I wondered if he’d be able to help me now, my own voice drowning in the voices of the visions that had only become louder since the mark on my right wrist appeared. Sinking into a full lotus pose with the tree at my back I dropped into the awaiting pool of visions. They were kinder this time, filled with drifting flurries and colourful parties.

I woke to my mother shaking me awake with her usual look of helpless worry. After reassuring her I was alright I had to rush to get ready for tutoring.

Theo had indeed made himself scarce so I sent off a text to Adeline while casting a quick charm that would allow her to apparate downstairs. She did so without a sound, landing on the spot I’d indicated without an inch of error.

She interacted briefly and politely with my parents before we made our way upstairs to my room burdened with the requisite snacks Mom had baked. Adeline waited till I’d closed the door before tearing into a pile of chocolate chip cookies that I, too, was quite fond of. Snagging one before she could inhale them all, I hid a smile as I cast a silencing and privacy ward around the room. By the time I’d finished, Adeline had finished off her mug of hot chocolate as well. Activating the refill charm on the mug, I smiled at Adeline’s unbridled joy.

“Now that’s an application of the expansion charm I’d never considered.” Adeline spoke between sips.

“My mother has been called lazy, but I think it’s genius.” I said sipping from my own .

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