Chapter Text
A loud bang echoed through the empty desolate room, the dull walls shaded a light timber and sun streaming through two windows. I leant hunched over a cardboard box, the offending object which had caused the noise. After dropping it I allowed myself a moment to catch my breath, glancing ruefully at the stairs which had robbed me of my oxygen.
Coughing and standing up I surveyed the room, it was square and empty, the walls painted a white colour, two windows on one wall illuminated the room, sunlight seeping through the blinds.
I opened one blind and peered out over the neighbourhood, the garden one floor below, the cobbled brick was oddly reminiscent of the stereotypical fairytale house, being so old fashioned, and I felt confined by how close the surrounding houses were.
Granted, the fence was further from the house than most of the other houses we had passed on the way but being used to 60 acres of property and isolation from town made it seem like a minuscule distance.
My eyes trained up the brick wall of a house nearby, studying it, committing every detail to memory as I knew I would be living here now. As I reached the window I saw a figure passing by the window, pausing and turning to look at the house - our house - quickly I threw the blind down with force, ducking under the window.
My back was pressed against the wall and my heartbeat quickened, squeezing my eyes shut as a swarm of thoughts ran through my mind.
What if they saw me? What if they saw me duck and hide? What will they think? Did they think I was some sort of weirdo, spying on them?
I inwardly cursed myself, maybe I should have kept looking. No, that would be weird.
My thought process clouded my mind, flooding my brain until the chain of doubts was severed by the shout of my younger brother.
"THERE'S TWO TOILETS!"
His voice was elated and filled with triumph and I heard him shout a, "finally!" Before his footsteps sounded down the hallway outside my door, I faintly heard him scrambling and a door open and close, the sound followed by an over dramatic sigh of relief.
There was sounds of clutter bellow as I heard boxes shifting and a passing murmur of commentary, a brief few gratitudes were expressed by the familiar voice of my mum as she thanked the moving men.
When I heard the passing of words end and the moving men file out and the door shut I waited a moment.
When I was satisfied they had left I went to the door, pausing for a moment to grip the doorway with my clammy hands, pressure built up as I paused, worried that if I went out now it would seem like I'd waited for them to leave.
After a brief moment I made my way downstairs, my legs felt like jelly as I saw some figures still lingering hunched in the lounge room, seeming to organise boxes.
I briefly considered going back upstairs but was quickly shot down by my head clouding with doubts, what if they saw and thought I was weird for running?
Swallowing, I made my way to the tiled floor that marked the kitchen, walking to the box that was marked with the scribbled word, 'River'.
Forcing one foot after the other, I attempted to steady the shaking of my feet and lessen the tension in my shoulders as I felt the eyes of everyone watching bore into me. My stiff walk was quick and I seized the box, trying not to sprint back to my room, the box rattled slightly in my trembling hands and sweat gathered on the back of my neck as the silence seemed to drown me as I stopped breathing.
A hand stretched towards me and an offer of help was cut short as I jolted in surprise at the touch, I fumbled with the box as a sharp cry of surprise exited the moving mans' mouth, he retracted his hand cradling it to show angry red blisters forming.
He looked at me in horror and I stared back, quickly scrambling back to the stairs.
A surge of relief swept over me as I retreated into the shadows of the stairwell away from prying eyes, the feeling instantly swamped by guilt and remorse, as if I had caused his pain.
I guess I really am a freak.
Setting down the box in my room carefully I tentatively walked to the window, skirting around the side out of sight I managed to pull down the blinds completely, shielding myself and finally letting me relax.
I heard an engine signalling the moving men had finally departed, this was confirmed when after a brief pause my youngest brother - Jay - shouted from downstairs in his childish voice.
"The moving men are... Gone! Goodbye pants!"
He drawled out the 'goodbye' charismatically with the air of a gameshow host.
A slightly deeper voice rang out annoyed, "ugh! Don't throw them at me!" The irritated voice of my other younger brother, Cole, causing Jay to cackle.
Their dispute faded as I made my way to the two boxes by the door, wincing at the ripping sound the tape made as I cut it and opened the box, unpacking several items of mine.
After a while I noticed the the dimming sky creating shadows on the blinds with the setting sun, marking the night, I went downstairs as I heard mum call for dinner.
Jay was already sitting on a crate, his missing two front teeth prominent with his wide grin. He spoke with a slight lisp, still learning to speak, "I bet I can throw my peas in your mouth," he spoke with some difficulty, aiming his words at Cole across the table.
Cole looked up, pulling a disgruntled face.
"Go away."
Jay pouted and childishly taunted him, "you're just scared I'll beat you!" Rising to the taunt Cole haughtily opened his mouth and Jay promptly threw all his peas at him causing him to cry out in anger.
Mum exited the kitchen just in time to intervene Coles' attempt on Jays' life, rebuking them both before she turned to me as I stood still in the doorway.
She smiled widely with evident relief and tried to coax me to dinner, "it's dinner River, we haven't gotten the kitchen ready yet-" This was evident by the lack of furniture, that would come tomorrow, instead Cole and Jay sat on crates "-but I microwaved some mashed potatoes and peas." She spoke carefully, with deliberation.
I just nodded my head, she seemed disheartened at my lack of response so I mustered a smile and took the outstretched meal she gave me.
The rest of the dinner was filled with mum attempting to make light conversation, Jay and Cole responding enthusiastically. A few times she looked hopefully at me but I neglected to contribute.
"Isn't it different than Australia?" She tried again, imploring me, I nodded dutifully, swallowing the potatoes which now seemed dry like powder in my throat.
Quickly putting my plastic container with which my dinner had come in in the bin before going upstairs back to my room. The room was bare as it lacked decoration and a camping bed sat in the centre of the room.
My whiteboard and pen sat beside the camping bed and I quickly bent and withdrew from the cardboard box my teddy bear.
Tucking myself under the blankets I checked my phone, the blaring light dilating my pupils, I checked my messages and smiled slightly as I saw texts from 'fan girl waifu'.
Iris was concerned about my trip and if I was okay and I swiftly assured her I was fine, smiling as she promptly replied.
'I'm so happy ur finally here, cheerio good chap'
Making fun of the way of talk brought a smile to my face and I quickly replied.
'Yea I'm glad the moving men r gone.'
'MUST AVOID HUMAN CONTACT AT ALL COSTS'
Chuckling at her response I quickly told her goodnight before turning off the flashlight.
~~~~~~
I woke to the sound of blinds being drawn and harsh sunlight attacking my eyes. A small weight constricted my chest and I felt small hands patting my face.
"Mum says wake up!" Jay giggled gleefully before dashing out of the room.
By the time I had made my way downstairs, dressed in a grey hoodie and jeans, donning a doctor who shirt underneath, I was met with a disgruntled looking Cole, his sandy blond hair swept into a birds nest that he hadn't even attempted to fix.
Mum walked up to us, smiling, her light brown hair was in a messy plait and she wore a nice shirt and pants. Clearly she wanted us to go out.
"The furniture is caught up in customs so while we wait we can go out for breakfast and see the sights!" She was cheerful in her babbling as she packed her purse which was already bulging with its contents.
She swiftly swiped up a book lying on the counter and gave it to me before she chaperoned us to the door.
In the front of the rental car mum babbled away at the driving wheel, she nodded to me and the book I was holding, briefly diverting from her rant about what restaurants we could go to.
"That's your ASL book honey, I was thinking you could brush up on the way and try teach your brothers some, and help me be more fluent, okay sweetie?"
I nodded quietly, trying not to dampen her mood, it was clear she was making an effort.
As we stopped at a traffic light I sunk down in my seat to avoid the gazes of passing passengers.
Eating my waffles slowly I shifted my eyes around the restaurant restlessly, mum seemed to sense my discomfort as she tried to distract me.
"So what is the sign for 'eat' again dear?"
I showed her and she nodded slowly, she turned to Jay who was clumsily trying to replicate my movements and helped him.
I heard a hushed voice behind me scold someone, "don't stare!" In a carrying whisper, my ears turned red and I heard a crumpling sound harmonised with the banging of metal.
We turned around collectively, the movement seeming like a stage direction as everyone else turned too, a confused and scared looking waiter was holding a plate with a meal on it, in his hand he was holding aloft a round metal cover used to cover the meal, it had a few dents in it and it was crumpled inwards.
It's surface seemed to cave inwards as it began to concave with several more bangs.
As a waiter rushed out and babbled apologies, explaining about pressure with a nervous air I felt a guilty feeling wash over me, like this was somehow my fault.
I felt my neck sink further into my hoodie and my breathing quickened, shovelling the rest of the food into my mouth I tried to avoid the attention I was getting and mum got the message.
Once both Cole and Jay were finished we loaded back into the car, mum distractedly trying to restart a conversation.
"Oh, River, I have a surprise for you!" She smiled excitedly and I couldn't tell she was being genuine.
"I know you've been missing Iris and haven't seen her since she left a couple months ago, so now we're in England too I thought we could meet up!"
My eyes widened and I turned to her, a genuine smile curling my lips slightly.
"Hello Rosa! Yes we moved here, I figured a new start would be best and considering you had moved here too, I recently won the lottery and River has been missing Iris,-" mums good natured chatter faded as she and Mrs Nobbington sat down at a table to talk.
Iris beamed at me gleefully and I catapulted into her, circling my arms around her neck.
"I'm so glad your finally here! I haven't seen you since we moved here!" She hugged me tightly, not letting go even as I slipped my arms away from around her neck, she made a sound of happiness.
"Not letting go," she stated happily subtracting a smile from me, she dragged me along with her, awkwardly shuffling to her room, still hugging me.
As we walked into her room she finally released me, flinging her arms out with grandeur.
"Welcome! Please leave your soul at the door, mines been rotting there for days, at least what I have left."
She jested managing to make me smile and exhale slightly in humour.
Grinning at her accomplishment she opened her bedside table, allowing me to notice the extra room in comparison to her old room. She flung open the draw and held out a DVD case.
"Guess who has the new season of Steven Universe?"
She sung happily, a giant smile on her face and I grinned in response, following her lead as she patted the bed beside her I sat down.
Our house stood on top of a hill, a dirt road marking the small distance from town, the house was two stories, cobblestone painted with green vines clinging to the walls taking up a third of the wall space. It looked like something out of old England and had a charming air about it.
The roof was a red brick and it wasn't a simple pattern as there were parts that were raised with larger rooms and the roof resembled slates slanting against each other, my room was elevated slightly higher than the rest too with a bay window.
When we pulled up the paved path to the driveway we were greeted by an owl perched sternly on the mailbox, sitting upright regally, it's handsome tawny coat gleaming in the sun.
"Look at that! An owl in the day! Isn't it beautiful guys?" Mum asked, turning in her seat to face my brothers.
Jay nodded enthusiastically and Cole stared, suddenly pointing towards the door.
"Look, a cat!"
There indeed was a cat by the door, a tabby, sitting patiently and almost expectantly, gazing us with stern eyes.
"Must be a stray."
My mum reasoned, getting out of the car.
As we approached however the cat sat up attentively, watching us carefully.
It stepped back reproachfully when Jay barrelled enthusiastically towards it yelling, "KITTY!" And attempted to swamp the small creature in a hug.
It dodged out of his grip and sat directly in front of the door, gazing at us for a moment before it suddenly changed.
Mum dropped her purse with a small shriek and Jay gasped, Cole gaped, taking a few steps back.
The cat elongated, gaining hight and widening slightly, limbs changed and shifted until a fully grown woman was standing before them, her hair pulled back into a tight bun and her lips pressed in a thin line, a pointy hat on top of her head and she was completely decked out in emerald green robes.
At the sight of the stranger I immediately stepped behind my mum, hoping to seem as small as possible, my heart rate sped up and I tried not to look scared.
She turned to my mum and curtly asked, "Mrs Pheonix? Currently Miss Hudson?" She stared expectantly and mum gaped, slowly nodding.
"I would like to discuss your daughter." She spoke formally, turning her gaze to me, as she gazed at me I shifted uncomfortably, her eyes bored into my skull, keeping me a statue, trying to force back tears as doubts chained me to the ground.
I felt my chest constrict in fear of being judged, doubting my actions I tried to seem relaxed, mentally scolding myself if I erred slightly, I felt as if a whole court was scrutinising me under her gaze.
She made a sound in the back of her throat which made me anxious, before giving my mum a letter on parchment.
Mum took the parchment with shaking hands, she glanced down at it before meekly suggesting, "come in?" With a small voice.
The woman nodded her approval and the door to our house opened as if bidden by a silent breeze.
Cautiously we stepped inside, mum hurriedly ushering Jay and Cole upstairs earning disappointed groans.
I stood unsurely in the lounge room, several open boxes scattered around, I felt like a sore thumb sticking out, a drop of paint on a blank canvas, drawing the eyes of the judge, my insecurities unravelling as a tornado of thoughts roared in my mind.
My eyes darted around, never resting for too long as I was overwhelmed by the pressure of what to do.
Mum skittishly flitted about the room trying to tidy up a little.
"I'm sorry about the mess, we didn't expect- just moved in-" her confused babbling was interrupted by the woman swiftly brandishing a slim stick a waving it, the boxes promptly arranged themselves, moving to one corner of the room, sliding across the floor and stacking themselves orderly.
Mum made a small sound in the back of her throat like a whimper and sunk to the floor slowly.
With another flick of the stick a crate slid under her giving her a surface to sit on.
"I am Professor McGonagall, teacher at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry."
Mums' eyes grew with every word.
"And I am here to inform you, your daughter is a witch."
At the last word mum seemed to regain her senses, bristling with indignation she finally closed her open mouth and spoke with fuming words.
"You dare come into my house and call her such a word? She has anxiety! And that gives you no right to call her a- a- witch!" She spat, "or to play such a cruel joke, what twisted sense of humour must you have-" she had risen to her full hight, which was not much in comparison to the professor, but her rant was cut short by Professor McGonagall.
"I am playing no joke madam, your daughter is a witch, and so am I." She didn't seem too perturbed or angered by mums' outburst and merely pointed the stick towards a crate, at which the crates shifted into a hedgehog, snuffling around on the ground.
Mum gaped and so did I, the hedgehog shuffled around our feet before turning back into a box. We looked up at the professor to see her withdrawing her wand, tucking it away into the folds of her cloak.
Mum slowly sat down again, gripping my hand tightly.
She finally looked down at the letter in her hand, with shaky hands she tore the parchment, opening the envelope I saw some scribbled green ink in cursive handwriting, my mums eyes skimmed over the paper before she let out a shaky breath, taking the letter from her I read it curiously. At the top of the page was a coat of arms, a lion, a snake, a badger and an eagle surrounding an ornate letter 'H'.
'HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Here there was a list of accomplishments I didn't pay any mind to)
Dear Miss Pheonix,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term beings on September 1. - ( at this date i furrowed my eyebrows, this was different than Australian school term) - We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
(A cursive signature was here bearing the name of the woman in front of her)
Minerva Mcgonagall
Deputy Headmistress'
I looked up at her, blinking slowly, I could tell as much she wasn't lying, she had proven she was a witch, but the question burning my tongue was, 'why me?'.
I set down the envelope and signed the words to her, when she looked at my confused and raised an eyebrow I felt myself flush in embarrassment, of course she didn't understand, how stupid was that?
Mum came to my rescue luckily, translating the question.
The professor gazed steadily at me, confusion still lingering in her eyes.
"Occasionally, magic will present itself in a muggle born with no magical, witch or wizard, lineage. When professor Dumbledore knew about you - and your relation to the Nobbingtons - he decided you should come here to receive a proper education for your powers and ensured you would win the lottery to afford to come here."
She explained professionally.
"It is entirely up to you if you would like to enrol in the school and there will be help given for anything you don't understand."
She informed me in a brisk, business like manner.
Looking back at the letter I hesitated before turning to her and nodding.