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Chapter Text

The twenty-first century had changed a lot of things, even among wizards.

For one thing owls were no longer used to send letters. Which, if Doris Spittlefire was honest, was something she really missed. Emails were the bane of her existence but, what could you do? One had to communicate with ones employees somehow and now that basically every single person in the world had a smart phone this was clearly the easiest way to do it.

To: Melanie Thompson, Theodore Hawkshead
From: Dorris Spittlefire, Head of the No-Maj Born Support Division, MACUSA
Subject: No-Maj Born Parental Information Briefings

Dear Agents,

I am writing to discuss the recent No-Maj Born Parent Briefing you conducted. I understand there was some trouble that resulted the use of several Memory Modification Charms. Could you please report to my office at noon, today September 10, 2024 so we may discuss the incident and make a thorough record of the event.

Respectfully,

Doris Spittlefire
Head of the No-Maj Born Support Division
Magical Congress of the United States of America

Doris hit send and sighed. She scratched at the back of her neck with one manicured hand. Normally there was very little trouble in her department. But this, this had made the websites. The President herself wanted a copy of this briefing. Doris could feel the headache blooming in between her eyes.

The clock in the corner cleared it’s throat, “It’s noon,” it announced. “Twelve of the clock.”

A loud pop sounded, causing Doris to look up. Two people had Apparated just outside her doorway. Theodore Hawkshead was a tall sandy haired wizard with a bushy mustache. Standing next to him was his partner, Melanie Thompson, her dark, curly hair waving in the breeze from the overhead air conditioner.

“Ah, Melanie, Theo come in,” Doris said. Her two top agents shuffled inside and Doris felt her jaw drop.

“Merlin’s Beard,” Dorris breathed. “What in Isolt’s name happened to you two?”

Theodore and Melanie exchanged glances. There was a burn across the bridge of Theo’s nose and Melanie sported a fresh black eye. Their robes were disgusting, splashed with mud and who knew what else. A faint whiff of burning hair permeated the office, Doris resisted the urge to gag.

“Sit down, sit down,” She said instead waving at the chairs in front of her desk. “Tell me what happened.”

Melanie pulled out her chair and sat primly, a blush rising on her tan cheeks, but Theo thumped himself down, crossing his arms and legs tightly. He let out an irritated huff that fluttered his mustache.

“It wasn’t our fault Doris,” Melanie ventured. “Really, we followed all the regular procedures.”

“Of course it wasn’t our fault Mel,” Theodore growled at his partner. “Who said it was our fault?!”

“No one Theo, calm down.” Doris said. “We just want to understand what happened. Wasn’t this supposed to be a standard parental information briefing?”

“That’s what the damn file said,” Theo growled. Doris flipped open the file in question and read the contents aloud.

“No-Maj-Born girl, Liv Peterson. Displays strong magical ability, tentatively accepted into Ilvermorny after parent confrontation.”

“See,” Theo groused. “Nothing about this being a high risk case, or about the crazy brother. Or the mother-.” Melanie visibly flinched, Theo looked like he wanted to strangle something. “Don’t even get me started on the mother.”

“We tried to stop the tunnel from collapsing!” Melanie burst out. “And the thing in Boston.”

Doris looked back and forth from the witch to the wizard before her. “Maybe you’d better start at the beginning.” She said.

Four Months Ago, Monday, May 13, 2024

It was her eleventh birthday and Liv Peterson was getting ready to go to Hell.

She stared into her bedroom mirror and tried to decide if she looked any older. A pale, chubby-cheeked face stared back at her, with blue eyes and brown hair pulled into a no-nonsense ponytail. Liv stood on her tip toes to get a better look, baring her teeth into a grim smile. Crooked bottom teeth, overly-large top teeth. She sighed, she looked exactly the same as yesterday, which was to say completely unimpressive.

“Liv!” Her twin brother Koll hissed through the crack in the door.

With one last sigh for the girl in the mirror Liv turned to wrench open the door. She looked up at Koll, way up. Unfortunately, he’d grown six inches in the last three months. Liv still wasn’t used to his face being so high off the ground.

“What?” She asked him. He grinned shoving something into her hands.

“Here,” he whispered. “For our birthday. Don’t let Mom see.” Liv looked down at the object, it was a box of fancy chocolate bars. She looked back at her brother with tears in her eyes.

The Peterson house was, on top of a lot of other things, sugar-free. Koll, Liv and their little sister Addi got chocolate approximately never, which really sucked because it was Liv’s favorite. Even though today was their birthday Liv and Koll knew better than to expect a cake. Last year their mom had gotten them a fruit platter and stuck a Happy Birthday sign in it.

“Oh Koll,” Liv breathed. “Thank you.”

“Well, I figured at least one thing about today should be good,” he said. That was Koll, always sweet, always kind, always thinking of others. Liv didn’t like many people, she was angry most of the time, but she couldn’t help but adore her brother. He was one those humans that the rest of the world didn’t deserve.

“I wish you were coming,” she sighed. Koll’s eyes, every bit as blue as Liv’s, softened.

“I know,” he said laying a hand on her shoulder. “I wish I was too.” Liv sniffed and wiped at her nose. Downstairs they could hear their father talking to their mother, it was almost time. Liv squared her shoulders resolutely.

“I hid your present in my closet.” She told her twin.

“Really?” Koll’s face lit up. “What is it?” Liv motioned him into her room and quietly slid the closet door open. A quick rummage under her ski clothes revealed a lump wrapped in a pair of Koll’s socks.

Her brother laughed, “You got me some of my dirty laundry?”

“Open it,” Liv said. Koll pulled at the first sock revealing a soft black gaming case, he smiled so wide his molars showed.

“No way!” He pulled off the other sock and unzipped the case. Inside was a Gameboy Advance SP, straight from 2006. Which most eleven-year-old boys would not be excited about, but Liv’s family wasn’t most families.

They didn’t have cell phones, well Mom and Dad did, but Koll, Addi and Liv didn’t. They also weren’t allowed screen time unless it was for school and then they had to use the family computer.

Yes, they had a family computer, the early thousands were alive and well in the Peterson household. On Friday nights the family had movie nights were the only viewing options were on DVD’s.

DVD’s.

Liv’s parents didn’t believe in streaming services. They thought having that much automatic gratification helped attribute to a lazy disposition.
So, this ancient gaming system was a rare and precious treasure. Liv had spent all of her Christmas money from the last two years to buy it used off Amazon. She’d shipped it to Koll’s friend Stacey’s house and then smuggled into her room. It would have meant a week-long grounding if her parents had found it, hence the extra security of the dirty socks.

“You’re the best big sister in the world,” Koll said, wrapping her in a choking hug. Liv giggled into his shoulder, she was the older twin but only by about thirty seconds.

“I got you a bunch of games,” she said pulling away. “Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda, Krash Bandikoot-.”

“Liv time to go!” the twins mother called up the stairs. They looked at each other, Liv with anger, Koll with sympathy.

“Maybe it won’t be that bad this time,” Koll said. Trying, as always to look at the glass as half full.

“It will,” she insisted. “And she had to schedule it on our birthday? We couldn’t have gone yesterday, or even next week?”

“She loves you,” Koll reminded her. “Don’t forget that.”

“She sure has a funny way of showing it.”

“Liv!” Their father called, “Now!” Liv rolled her eyes and handed her chocolate bars back to Koll.

“Hide these for me until I get home?” she asked. Koll nodded, and with one last sigh, Liv trotted down the stairs.

The Peterson’s lived in a very nice house on a quiet suburban street. The father, Jakob, worked in finance and the mother, Allison, was a stay-at-home-mom. They were active in their church, and sent out an adorable Christmas card every year. Nothing about their life looked bad, from the outside. On the inside however… Liv knew she was being dramatic. In her heart she knew her parents loved her, they wanted the best for her, it was just…just.

Everything about her life was so controlled, it wasn’t only the lack of screentime or the no sugar it was everything. Her life was a myriad of rules and regulations.

Well, that’s being a child, most people would think, but it was more than that. Liv felt like she didn’t have space to breathe, like she wasn’t allowed to be her own person because she had to constantly pretend to be the good Christian daughter her parents wanted.

And after the incident, everything had gotten a million times worse. Not that Liv had meant for it to happen, it had just happened.

These things always just happened.

A fact no one but Koll believed. Hence the Hell that awaited her today.

“Now I don’t want you being lippy in there like you were last week Liv.” Her mother said, as they walked from the car to the therapist’s office. Liv didn’t respond, there was no nice way to tell her mom that she firmly believed her therapist was an idiot.

“Did you hear me young lady?” Allison asked, stopping just short of the doorway. Liv scowled at her.

“Yes,” she muttered sullenly. “Don’t be sarcastic.”

Allison sighed, the twins had gotten their coloring from her, but unlike Liv, she was beautiful. Short, petite, and sweet as honey as their dad said. Liv could only pray that one day she would look even a little bit like her mom.

“Honey, I know this is not a good day for this, but let’s just get through it and then we can go home and have birthday dinner as a family. Okay?” Allison pleaded. When her mom looked at her like that Liv could almost forget how angry she was at her, at everything. She nodded and led the way through the automatic doors.

“Liv dear, so good to see you.” Her therapist was waiting for them in the lobby like always. Dr. Linda was tall and uber professional looking with dark skin and a perfectly made up face.

The sign outside her office read,

Linda Hornbern, PhD.
Christian Family and Behavioral Therapist
“Matthew 11:28 – 29”

The really sucky part of this whole thing was if Liv had only remembered to keep her big mouth shut she wouldn’t be here. She could be home right now, secretly eating her chocolate in her closet while she read book eleven of the House of Night series with a flashlight.

But noooooo, she’d had to start babbling.

Once Liv and Allison were seated in their designated uncomfortable chairs Dr. Linda took her seat across from them and steepled her fingers.

“So, Liv, how was your week?” she asked.

“It’s my birthday and I’m being forced to talk to you,” she thought. “And when I get home there is going to be watermelon cut into the shape of cupcakes instead of actual cupcakes. No one is coming to my birthday party on Saturday for me, they’re all my brothers friends, because everyone at school thinks I’m a freak. And to top it all off my parents think I’m insane. It’s going terrible Linda!”

But she’d promised her mother no sass, so she just said. “It was fine.”

“Any incidents?” Dr. Linda wanted to know.

Liv glowered, “No.”

“So that makes none since the one on Halloween?”

In fact, there had been thirty-four “incidents” as Dr. Linda called them, since Halloween, but the only other person who knew about them was Koll. He’d even been there last Wednesday when she’d turned the zucchini noodles in her lunchbox into actual noodles.

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s wonderful!” Dr. Linda’s smile made Liv want to punch her in the teeth. “It shows how seriously you’re taking all of this.”

“No, it shows what an ignoramus you are,” Liv thought. She liked that word, she’d come across it in a Princess Diaries book.

Dr. Linda started talking again but it was to Allison so Liv stopped paying attention. Instead she flashed back to last Halloween for the millionth time, as if thinking about it again could turn back time and make it so it never happened.

Pastor Mark was a really nice man. Middle aged with a soft voice and a kind demeanor. He was normally the assistant pastor, but he would occasionally come talk to the kids when the church really wanted to drive a point home, and Liv felt bad about what she’d done to him she really did.
He had only been trying to do his job.

Using brownies and dog poop.

The church the Peterson’s attended was anti-Halloween, as were the Peterson’s themselves. All the other kids on their street got to dress up and get free candy all night long. Koll, Addi and Liv got no such joy. The Peterson clan spent Halloween with all their exterior lights off pretending not to be home. The kids were not allowed to take part in, “the Devil’s holiday.” It nearly killed Liv thinking of all that free chocolate sitting in bowls waiting to be passed out.

Seriously, it was like torture.

So, when Pastor Mark walked into the 5th grade girls room with a plate of brownies Liv was stoked. Were they getting treats? Was this day finally not going to suck?

And then Pastor Mark started talking.

He told the girls that he’d made the brownies that morning and into the batter he’d mixed a tiny bit of dog poop. “It was just a little bit,” he said. “But I mixed the batter really well so I bet each one of these has a tiny piece inside.” He’d waved the plate back and forth temptingly, “Who still wants one?”

Um. Liv. Liv did.

Yeah, yeah, gross she knew, but whatever. Going without any kind of sweets everyday of her life had made her a little crazy. Plus, all the germs had probably baked out of them.

Not like she was about to say that in front of the other girls in her group. Who were, to put it mildly, the worst. By which Liv meant, super judgey and likely to tease someone until she ran away to cry in the bathroom. All of them looked revolted. Brittany H. actually gagged.

Drama Queen.

Pastor Mark was, of course, clueless to Liv’s inner monologue of greed and annoyance. He just kept babbling on about sin.

“I didn’t think so. See girls, sin is like these brownies. It looks good on the outside, but inside it’s tainted with something far worse than dog poop.”

Liv could feel her eyes getting hot. Her heart was pounding in her throat. She just wanted one, was that so much to ask.

“Halloween is rife with sin girls. It is a pagan holiday and as Christians we should not be taking part in it.”

“Pass out the brownies!” Liv thought at the balding pastor. “Pass them out.”

“So tonight when you’re upset because others are dressing up and having fun remember it is they who will be paying the price when they are burning in the lake of fire.”

“And here are your brownies for being such good little Christians,” Liv thought. But Pastor Mark obviously was not swayed by her attempt at telepathy because he kept going.

“Your immortal souls are worth far more than some miniature Snickers bars.” He smiled at them.

Had he brought them Snickers bars? That would be almost as good as brownies.

Apparently not. Their regular leader, a plump woman named Clara was standing up to shake Pastor Marks hand. Liv felt her stomach drop.

“Girls lets thank Pastor Mark for such a wonderful lesson.” She said, beaming toothily.

“Thank you Pastor Mark.” All the other girls chirped.

“Thank you Pastor Mark.” Liv grumbled a beat behind everyone else. Brittany H. heard her and turned to Ashley M. who giggled. Liv’s ears started tingling.

Pastor Mark was smiling, he was sailing out the door taking the brownies with him.

“Noooooooo!!!!” Liv screamed inside her head. “Stop!!!”

Pastor Mark shuddered like he’d hit a brick wall.

He fell to the floor with a thump, limp as a sack of jelly, blood trickling from the gash on his forehead and… the brownies were sitting in Liv’s lap.

Brittany H. screamed. Leader Clara rushed to Pastor Mark’s side. Everyone else crowded around them all talking at once and Liv-.

Liv promptly burst into tears.

She hadn’t meant to hurt anyone, she’d forgotten what she was capable of.

Liv could make things happen. Not always, it was usually when she was very angry or scared, but they would happen just like that, as if…as if by magic.

When she was five a few of the big kids on the block had pushed Koll down and taken his bike, they were found twenty hours later up in the highest tree on the street, tied to the trunk with the word BULLIES written on their foreheads. Last summer she’d been outside with Addi playing Barbies and some of the girls from her class had walked by and started calling her a baby, there had been a crack like a bolt of thunder and those girls had all simultaneously pooped their pants.

That “incident” would have been funny if it hadn’t scared Addi. Liv hated to make her little sister cry.

Anyways, those were just the big ones she could remember, there had been countless smaller “incidents.” Little things like the zucchini noodles or that time she’d wanted to wear the red dress not the pink to the New Years church service and every dress she’d owned had turned red. She’s gotten grounded for that one, her mother thought she must had dyed everything.

It had been getting worse and worse over the last year, every little thing seemed to set her off. Liv tried to calm herself down when she could feel it coming on, deep breaths, calming thoughts, but nothing really seemed to work. She’d figured so long as it was just small stuff it wasn’t that big of a deal.

And then she’d hurt Pastor Mark…

Which was why when her parents had picked her up from Sunday School she’d waited until they got into the car and then told them everything. About what she could do, about what she had done, about how sorry she was.

Allison and Jakob had listened to her whole confession with open mouths and then promptly signed her up for therapy. Dr. Linda had heard the Peterson parents frantic recitation of events, spoken to Liv for over an hour and finally diagnosed her with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Apparently, Liv suffered from something called, “magical thinking,” where she believed that certain words, thoughts or emotions of hers could influence the external world. Liv’s parents were relieved, OCD could be treated, there was nothing permanently wrong with their eldest daughter.

Liv however, was furious. She didn’t have OCD. She done a ton of research on it after her diagnosis and none of the symptoms matched her actions. She didn’t “believe” that her emotions influenced the external world, they DID influence the external world. Koll had seen it and believed, even Addi believed and she was only six.

But not her own parents. Why should they believe her? Why should Dr. Linda? Magic wasn’t real, that would go against the Bible.

So now, every week without fail, Allison or Jakob dragged Liv to therapy with Dr. Linda, the nitwit.

Which she was going to be stuck going to for the rest of her life unless she could convincingly fool the woman that she was cured. Koll had helped her come up with the idea, he was really good at the long game, Liv was too impatient for it normally, but if it got her out of therapy it was worth a try.

“So, I’ll see you two next week?” Dr. Linda asked Allison, pulling Liv back to the present.

“You’ll see her with Jakob next week,” her mother said. “I’m helping run Addi’s Vacation Bible School.”

“Wonderful,” Dr. Linda smiled one of those smiles again. Liv took a deep breath, in through her nose, out through her mouth. They were standing up, the grown-ups were shaking hands, they were leaving the building. Liv felt her shoulders unclench. “Well done Peterson,” she thought to herself. “Well done.”

She was so proud of herself for not doing anything horrible to Dr. Linda that she made perfectly pleasant conversation with her mother all the way home. And she probably would have gone on to have a lovely birthday dinner if there hadn’t been two strangely dressed people waiting in her living room.

“Allison,” Liv’s father was standing nervously in front of the sofa where the strangers were sitting. Koll and Addi were crouching on the stairs, clearly eavesdropping to whatever the three adults had been talking about.

Liv shot Koll a look that asked, “What’s going on?”

He shot one back that said, “I’m not sure.”

“These people want to talk to us about Liv,” Jakob continued.

“About Liv?” Allison strode forward to face the two strangers. “What about her? Who are you?”

“Mrs. Peterson,” the man of the duo stood up and extended a hand which Allison ignored. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Who are you?” Allison asked again. The man lowered his hand and cleared his throat.

“We are agents from the Magical Congress of the United States, No-Maj-Born Support Division Office,” he said. “We’re here to discuss your daughter Liv’s acceptance to Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”

Liv’s heart leapt in her chest. Allison and Jakob blinked in confusion. On the stairs Koll made a noise like, “Wa-hoo-waaaa?”

“What?!” Allison asked. Her voice rising shrilly.

“Your daughter is a witch ma’am,” the woman of the duo said, also standing. “We’ve come to talk to you about her future.”

Chapter Text

                “A what?!!!” squeaked Allison.

                “A witch,” the woman repeated.

                “A witch?” questioned Koll.

                “A witch?” asked Addi. “But I thought witches were bad? Liv isn’t bad.”

                Liv herself, felt incapable of saying anything. If she had heard this at school, or church or anywhere else, and if it wasn’t happening to her, she would have laughed it off. A witch? Witches were part of paganism and weren’t as far as Liv knew actually magical. Though they did spells and believed in the healing powers of nature. Or, at least, that’s what she’d read in her admittedly limited research.

                But… Something about these two, they were looking back at her outraged mother as cool as two cucumbers.

                A witch?

                “We understand this might be shocking for you,” the male stranger said. Liv glanced at her mom, her face had gone completely white and her lips were pressed together so tightly they were almost invisible. Never a good sign. Beside her Jakob just looked confused.

                “I think you need to leave now,” Allison said through gritted teeth.

                “Ma’am we-.” Allison flung a finger up into the mans face.

                “Don’t you ma’am me.” She hissed. “I don’t know who you think you are, or what kind of sick joke this is. Why my husband let you in here is beyond me. But I do not appreciate you coming into my home and making wild accusations. Now, I think it would be best for everyone if you would leave!”

                The female stranger sighed deeply and pulled something from inside her sleeve, a long intricately carved stick.

                “Laxo.” She said, pointing the wand at Liv’s mother. Immediately Allison’s face went blank. Liv bit back a scream, Addi squeaked with fright.

                “You would be delighted to discuss Liv’s future with us,” the stranger intoned in a bored voice. “In fact why don’t you bring out some snacks and we’ll all talk this out in a calm and reasonable manner.”

                Allison sighed happily.” That sounds like a wonderful idea,” she said dreamily. “I’ll go get something. Please make yourself comfortable.” She turned and walked towards the kitchen slowly, humming as she went.

                “What the hell did you do to her!” Koll came charging into the living room fists clenched at his sides.

                “Calm down boy,” the male stranger said. “We didn’t hurt her. Or your father, we’ve just made them a little more receptive.”

                “What do you mean or your father?!” Liv’s voice had returned with gusto, she was almost shouting.

                “Oh, we had to give him a Stress-Relief-Charm in order for him to let us through the door.” The female stranger said. Koll and Liv looked at their dad who was swaying slightly from side to side with a large stupid smile on his face.

                “Liv,” the lady said, pulling her attention back from Jakob. “I’m Melanie Thompson. I work in the No-Maj-Born Support Division in the Magical Congress of the United States.” She held out a hand which Liv shook tentatively. “This is my partner Theodore Hawkshead.”

                “Theo,” the man said, pumping her hand aggressively.

                “We’re here because you display strong magical abilities Liv.” Melanie said. “And since you are No-Maj-Born, we’re required by law to brief you and your parents on the hidden magical community as well as Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”

                “No-Maj-Born?” Koll asked.

                “Short for Non-Magical,” Melanie told him. “Your parents are not a witch or a wizard and neither are you, but your sister most certainly is.”

                Allison walked back into the room, carrying a tray bearing a whole cantaloupe and a several ice cubes. “Snacks!” she sang. Melanie made a face.

                “Oh, thank you Mrs. Peterson,” Theo’s mustache twerked. “These-, these look, just so lovely.” He waved his wand in the direction of the kitchen and out of it flew a full charcuterie board of what looked like all the meat, fruit and cheese they had in the fridge. Several glasses of lemonade followed and deposited themselves into Koll, Addi and Liv’s hands. Liv’s mouth fell open.

                “We can drink this?!” Addi asked excitedly.

                “We have lemonade?” Koll said at the same time.

                “I made it,” Theo told him, “and yes, little girl, you can drink it.” Addi needed no second bidding, upending her glass and chugging away. Liv took a cautious sip, it wasn’t often she got lemonade so she wasn’t the most discerning judge, but this was probably the best she’d ever drunk. Did magic make things taste better? Was this magic? Or was she having a hallucination?

                “We don’t let the children have sugar,” Jakob told Melanie in a completely flat voice.

                Liv, for some strange reason, wanted to laugh, that sounded just like her dad. Which meant she probably wasn’t hallucinating. Which meant these people were who they said they were. Which meant she was-.

                “It’s a special occasion,” Melanie said. Jakob nodded happily.

                “Oh, I see, well that’s alright then.”

                “You say that Liv is a witch?” Allison asked, serenely. “How is that possible? Witches aren’t real?” Again, Melanie took out her wand, waving it in the air to create a gorgeous floral centerpiece, that revolved slowly before coming to rest in the center of the coffee table. Liv’s breath came quick and fast.

                “I’m a witch,” she told the other woman. “And I’m real enough.”

                “Oh, what lovely peonies,” Allison replied. Melanie rolled her eyes at her partner.

                “I think I hit her a little too hard.”

                “Will she be alright?” Liv asked, concern for her mother overshadowing her awe for a moment. Melanie smiled at her.

                “Of course she will, Laxo only lasts for a few hours. Then she’ll be right back to her normal everyday self.”

                “Which means no more interruptions,” Theo interjected. “We’ll never get this done if she’s in the corner shrieking.”

                “Liv,” he said, turning to her. “You are a witch and your rightful place is at Ilvermorny. There you will learn how to focus and control your magic.” He pulled from inside his robes a folder with a picture of a mist enshrouded castle on the front.

                “Ilvermorny,” it said, “since 1627.” As Liv looked at it she realized the mist was moving, as were the miniature people inside the castle. They were walking around.

                “Inside that folder you will find your acceptance letter for Ilvermorny as well as your plane ticket.”

                “Plane ticket?” Liv asked.

                “We fly the No-Maj-Borns to the pickup site their first year,” Melanie explained kindly. Theo nodded.

                “We’ll meet you at the airport and deliver you there.” He said. “There is also a list of the books and supplies you’ll need to purchase. Most of the ordering can be done online, don’t worry about your wand, Ilvermorny first years are chosen by their wand the first day of school.”

                “Are chosen by their wands-?” Liv started to ask.

                “The wand chooses the wizard,” Melanie and Theo said together.

                “Oh,” Liv looked at Koll, who tore his gaze away from the people moving on the folder on her lap to shrug at her. Addi, meanwhile, had snuck the glasses of lemonade out of both the twins hands and drained them. She was now plowing through the charcuterie board, a piece of melon dribbling juice down her chin.

               “If Liv is a witch does that mean I’m one too?” She asked. Theo’s mustache twitched into a smile.

                “That remains to be seen,” he told her.

                “What if we don’t let her go?” Jakob asked. All heads swiveled towards him. Honestly, Liv had forgotten her father was there.

                “What?” Theo asked.

                “Liv, her mother and I are not going to let her go to this school.” Jakob said as if he was talking about the weather. “Witchcraft is of the devil.”

                “And clearly you didn’t hit him hard enough.” Melanie said out of the side of her mouth to Theo.

                “Mr. Peterson,” she said to Jakob. “If left untrained your daughter’s powers will continue to spring out of her as they have. She will never be able to be a normal part of society-.”

                “My daughter has OCD,” Jakob insisted still in that aggressively passive voice. “She acts out and then thinks she’s influenced the world with her thoughts.”

                “I’m not acting out Dad-.” Liv began. Melanie held up a hand to stop her.

                “Mr. Peterson, I am No-Maj-Born and when I was Liv’s age I received a similar diagnosis from a well-meaning psychiatrist. I was always making things happen, things no one could explain. When the agents from MACUSA showed up at my door it was such a relief to my poor parents. Your daughter does not have OCD Mr. Peterson, she is a witch.”

                “No, she isn’t.” Allison said, happily. “Not our Livvy Wivvy.”

                Theo closed his eyes and muttered something under his breath before exhaling violently. “Okay,” he said. “Let’s start again.”

                The conversation went on and on, and on. Despite the magic upon them, and all they had seen transpire both the Peterson parents remained steadfast on three points.

1: That Liv was NOT a witch

2: Even if she was, she was NOT going to any kind of devil-worshipping school to learn magic.

And 3: Witchcraft was of the devil, and also, not real.

                The grown ups talked for so long that Addi fell asleep on the couch leaning against Liv. Koll kept trying to jump into the conversation to help, but Jakob kept telling him to be quiet. Liv balled her hands in her lap and said nothing.

                She was a witch. She was magic.

                It wasn’t in her head or her imagination, she wasn’t dreaming. There were two adults sitting in her living room arguing in circles with her parents to prove to them that she was…special.

                This was simultaneously the worst and best day of her life. Best, because, it proved what she had been saying all along, and worst, because, it didn’t look like this amazing circumstance was going to change anything.

                Her parents were making it very clear that they were not going to let her go. She was going to be stuck here being “Good Liv,” for forever. Koll must have sensed what she was feeling because he put his arm around her shoulders. She leaned against him willing herself not to cry, begging herself not to start screaming.

                Eventually, the spell must have worn off because Jakob’s voice rose and he turned the color of a boiled lobster as he shouted.

               “I think my wife was right at the beginning. You and your pagan ideals are not welcome in this house. I’m not sure why we’ve entertained you for as long as we have, but, it is most certainly time for you to leave now.”

               The MACUSA agents looked at each other. Theo jerked his head towards the door and he and Melanie both stood.

               “I can see we are not going to get anywhere on this tonight.” Melanie said. “But, know that we will be back. Your daughter belongs in the magical community, it’s our duty as part of the government to protect the Statute of Secrecy at all costs. If you will not allow her to get the training she needs then she poses a risk to us all. We will have to have a different discussion about placing her in a secure home.”

              “Like hell I’m letting you take my daughter from us!” Allison yelled. “Not to Devil School and not to any secure facility.”

              “The choice is yours,” Theo told her. “Either let her go to Ilvermorny in September or we will have to do what needs to be done to protect the rest of magical citizens of the United States.”

              Liv felt a shiver go down her spine. She was ninety-eight percent sure that Theo was not bluffing. Secure home? What the heck did that mean? Was she going to wind up in magical prison because her parents refused to let her go to school? Koll’s arm around her shoulders tightened.

              “GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!” Allison screamed. Addi woke up at this latest screech and immediately started crying.  The MACUSA agents simultaneously turned on the spot, and with two loud pops disappeared. Koll gasped, Addi’s wails increased.

              “Give me that!” Allison wrenched the Ilvermorny folder out of Liv’s hands and started ripping it violently into pieces.

              “Hey!” Liv protested.

              “Liv, Koll, take your sister upstairs,” Jakob ordered. “I need to speak with your mother.”

              “P-please don’t be mad at us Daddy,” Addi sobbed. Jakob softened slightly.

              “I’m not sweetheart. No one is mad,” he said, scooping Addi into his arms and rocking her back and forth.” Behind them Allison had finished her ripping and was now stomping on the pieces of the folder, muttering obscenities under her breath.

              “Mommy is,” Addi hiccupped. Allison threw her hands in the air and stormed into the kitchen. The sound of the sink turning on echoed back at them.

              “She is, but not at you.” Jakob assured his youngest. “Liv and Koll are going to get you ready for bed and Mommy and I will be up in a little while to tuck you in, okay?”

             “Okay,” Addi sniffed. Jakob set her down and she latched onto Koll’s arm.

             “Dad-,” Liv tried to say, but Jakob shook his head.

             “Not now Liv, let me talk to Mom, we’ll be up in a little bit.” He turned and strode into the kitchen. The sink went off, the siblings could hear their mother crying. Liv couldn’t remember the last time her mother had cried. Koll looked strained, Liv knew he hated it when everyone was upset, he didn’t know who to comfort first.

             “Come on Addi,” Liv said. “I’ll give you a piggyback ride.”

             The twins would up tucking in their little sister and reading to her until she fell asleep. It was after one in the morning by that point and their parents were still “discussing things” in the kitchen. Liv and Koll retreated into Liv’s room, sitting side by side on her bed and trying to figure out what to say to each other.

            Liv scuffed her shoe against the carpet, something sticking out from under the bed caught against the sole. She leaned down to see what it was.

            “Ilvermorny,” the folder read. “Since 1627.” The twins stared at it boggled.

            “I thought Mom tore it up.” Koll said.

            “Me too,” Liv met his blue eyes with her own.

            “Magic,” they breathed together.

            Liv opened the file to see inside as promised, a plane ticket for September 6, 2024, a list of needed supplies and where to get them, and a brief history of Ilvermorny and the magical community in America.

           “Liv,” Koll said.

           “Yeah.”

          “You have to go to that school.”

          Liv stared at her twin. “You heard Mom and Dad,” she said. “There is no way they are going to let me go.”

         “And there is no way I’m letting you get put into a secure facility, whatever that means,” Koll told her. “You’re going if I have to steal a car and drive you there myself.” Liv smothered a laugh into her sleeve.

         “Kolie,” she said. “Be serious. We’re eleven, how are we going to get me anywhere I have to take a plane to without an adult? That sounds really dangerous and like we’re going to wind up kidnapped.”

         Koll could look a lot like Allison when he was angry. His lips pressed together so hard they disappeared. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I do know that Mom and Dad are not being fair, and way worse than their normal not being fair. We have to get you to that school somehow Liv. I mean, you’re magic.” His eyes lit up.

         “I always knew you were special, but, you are magic! That’s too amazing of a thing to pretend like it isn’t true for the rest of your life.”

         Liv sniffed, there were tears in her eyes, but she wasn’t going to let them fall. She was magic, she was!

         Koll patted her on the back. “I’ll give you props for one thing,” he said. “This has been a super memorable birthday.”

Chapter Text

Liv woke the next morning three minutes before her alarm was due to go off. Her mother was shaking her shoulder.

“Get dressed,” Allison said. “We’re going to church.” Liv sat up, confusion wrinkling her brow.

 “But it’s Tuesday,” she protested.

“Every day of the week is God’s Day,” Allison said. She looked haggard, with black circles under her eyes and knots in her shoulder-length hair.

“What about school?” Allison had obviously woken Koll first because he was standing in Liv’s doorway in his pajamas.

“Addi is going, you two aren’t.” Allison stood up and headed into her youngest’s room to help her get ready. “Hurry up, we’ve got a meeting scheduled with Pastor John.” Liv’s feet met the carpet and together she and Koll walked towards the bathroom.

“A meeting with Pastor John?” Koll asked quietly. He squirted some toothpaste onto his brush and then handed the tube to Liv. “What’s that supposed to do?” Liv shrugged.

“Heck if I know, but I hope this isn’t one of those meetings like they had with Sam Reele.”

Sam Reele was a kid in their youth group who’d come out as trans at the beginning of the school year. Her parents had dragged her into several different prayer meetings with the leaders of the church and eventually forced her to repent of her sinful choices and choose God’s path. Which apparently was code for; move to Florida and enroll in an all-boys outdoors school for troubled youth.

Koll shuddered, sticking his toothbrush in his mouth. “A leas your naw tans. Tey cat ty ooo paaay awaaa maic.”

“You know I don’t speak toothbrush.” Liv reminded him. Koll spat out the foam in his mouth.

“At least you’re not trans, they can’t try to pray away the magic.” He repeated.

Liv rolled her eyes, “Not that they could pray away the trans either,” she said. “But true. Pastor John is never going to believe them if they come in there saying a witch and wizard showed up at their doorstep last night and told them to send me to magic school.” Addi chose that moment to run into the bathroom.

“Guess what?!” she practically screamed. “Mom says she doesn’t have time to make breakfast, so guess what we get?” She didn’t wait for them to guess. “McDonalds!” She shouted. “We get McDonalds!!!” The twins looked at each other.

“McDonalds?” they mouthed simultaneously. Liv could count on one hand the number of times they’d been fed McDonald’s. The last time was after their grandpa had died when both parents had been too sad/busy planning the funeral, to cook dinner. 

“Hurry scurry you two,” Allison said on her way past them, down the stairs. “Come on Addi.” Addi gave a whoop of joy and followed.

“Is she okay?” Koll asked, staring after their mother with concern. Liv shrugged, after how Allison had acted last night, after how both of her parents had acted, she didn’t really care if they were okay or not.

Well, that wasn’t true, she cared, but she was just so…so…

Koll was right, she had to go to that school. She had to get out of here, if only so she didn’t accidentally blow up her mother. That sounded like something that could happen to a suppressed, magical pre-teen. Liv could feel the blood racing through her fingertips as she sat on the stairs lacing up her converse, that’s how fast her heart was beating. She could do this, one step at a time, she would get through today and then Koll would help her figure out what to do next.

It felt good to have a plan. She watched Koll pull a hoodie over his head, smiling. It felt better to have someone on her side.

Addi was the only one talking on the way to McDonalds and then to drop her off at school. Jakob gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white, Allison stared out the window nervously fiddling with her hair. After Addi leapt from the family minivan to join her class line the awkwardness was deafening, Liv was almost grateful when they pulled up in front of church. Pastor John was waiting for them in the big sanctuary.

“Good Morning Peterson’s,” he said, smiling broadly and shaking hands with the twins father. Liv flopped onto one of the benches. She would not let this meeting set her off, she would remain calm. Koll sat next to her, a pillar of all things good. Allison and Jakob slid into the seats next to him. Liv took a deep breath in through her nose.

It was all going to be okay.

“I was under the impression it was just little Liv who was having some sort of trouble,” Pastor John said to Jakob. “Why is her brother here? Does he need prayer as well?” Allison answered for her husband.

“You know how twins are Pastor. If something happens to one of them it happens to the other. They always take up the others offense. We wanted Koll to know what happened here first-hand so Liv couldn’t spread any rumors against us towards him.” Pastor John nodded like this asinine comment made perfect sense. Liv took another steadying breath.

“Well, what seems to be the problem?” the pastor asked sitting on the bench in front of them. Liv laced her fingers together tightly.

Allison opened her mouth again, but nothing came out. Maybe she just didn’t know how to put it into words. Jakob took over.

“Well, as you know Pastor, Liv has OCD and lately it’s been getting worse, last night she-.” The end of his sentence cut off as if sliced with a knife. The twins looked over at their father in confusion. Allison gave it another go.

“Last night she-.” her mouth kept moving but no sound came out. Koll put a hand on her arm, disquiet wrinkling his brow. Pastor John was nodding again.

“I understand this must be difficult for you to speak about as parents. Rest assured there is no judgment here. We all just want to help keep Liv on The Lord’s path.”

“Great,” Liv thought. “They’re going to make me move to Florida. I hate swamps.”

“We’ve been trying to support Liv as she learns to navigate the world with her anxiety disorder,” Jakob tried again. “However, last night she-.” Again, his sentence just, cut off.

Allison’s cheeks were growing pink with frustration. She stood up and tried to say something, but all that came out was a strangled groan. Pastor John stared from one Peterson parent to the other, puzzlement etched on his face.

“Do you two need prayer as well?” he asked. Allison shook her head vehemently. Her lips were mushed together in a way reminiscent of a fish, strangled noises kept coming from deep inside her. Jakob was faring no better, he’d stood up as well, his mouth wide open, his tongue flopping out. He was flapping his arms in frustration, pounding on the back of the pew, it looked like he was having a stroke.  

“Dad?” Koll ventured. “Are you okay? Do you want to sit down?” Jakob stamped his foot, tongue still lolling. Pastor John turned pale, he rushed to press the other man into the bench, but Jakob resisted, he slid from the pew, pacing back and forth sputtering in wordless indignation. Allison turned to glare at Liv who stared back, eyes wide with shock, she wasn’t doing this…she didn’t think. What was happening?

Pastor John’s calm was cracking at the edges. Clearly, this had not been how he planned for this little meeting to go. He followed Jakob across the room.

“Jakob please,” he said. “You’re getting way too worked up. Sit down.” Jakob grabbed the other man’s shoulder and tried again to say something, but all that omitted from his mouth was a thin stream of drool. Pastor John dodged the saliva with a look of disgust on his face.

“Koll go into my office and use the phone,” he said, pushing Jakob into the nearest bench. “I think we need to call an ambulance for your par-.” Suddenly there was an oh-so-familiar pop and Melanie Thompson was standing in the sanctuary with her wand pointed at Pastor John.

“Obliviate,” she said. A look of dreamy compliance came over the leader of the church.

“I’m so glad to be able to dance with you darling people,” the pastor said. He patted a wide-mouthed Koll on the head and then stumbled away down the aisle towards his office. All the Petersons turned to look at Melanie.

“Theo should be here in a moment,” she told them, stowing her wand. “Would you like to sit down Mrs. Peterson? Evidently, there are some things we need to discuss.”

“No, I would not like to sit down!” Allison spat. “What are you doing here?! I made it very clear that you and your godlessness were not welcome in our lives!”

“Let’s wait for Theo,” Melanie replied calmly. “He’s much better at explaining things.” She smiled at the twins, who gaped back at her gobsmacked. There was another pop and Theo was in their midst, brushing down his long robes, his mustache in disarray.

“Sorry,” he told Melanie. “I was dealing with Jasper. Kid’s only two and he’s already going to blow the roof off the house when he doesn’t get his way. I had to call the nanny to come deal with him. I swear that woman is Mary Poppins reincarnate. I’ll spend an hour trying to get him to put his shoes on and she’ll get him to do it himself in three minutes by singing a song.”

Melanie laughed. Allison cleared her throat meaningfully.

“Not that your family problems aren’t fascinating,” she said, “but would you mind explaining what just happened here?!” Theo eyed her coolly.

“As we told you last night Mrs. Peterson, it is our duty to protect the magical community at all costs.” He said. “We can’t have you out here blowing the Statute of Secrecy wide open.”

Allison blinked at him. “What?” she asked.

“Before we left last night we put apsconditum on your family.” Theo explained. “It’s an off-shoot of the Fidelus Charm developed about fifteen years ago by our department. Whereas the Fidelus Charm is used to keep buildings hidden, apsconditum keeps you from sharing certain information.”

They must have still looked confused because Melanie added. “it’s a spell, you won’t be able to talk to anyone else, except each other, about Liv’s magical abilities while you are under it.”

“You put devilry on us?” Jakob growled. Theo nodded.

“If that’s what you want to call it, yes.” He said. Jakob surged forwards, fists clenched, teeth bared.

“You dare!” His arm swung towards Theo’s face but never made contact. The wizard simply held out his wand and said.

“Protego.”

Something shimmered into existence between the two men, and though Jakob tried several times, his fist merely bounced off whatever invisible barrier Theo had constructed. The Peterson patriarch snarled in frustration.

“Mr. and Mrs. Peterson you seem to be having a more difficult time than most grasping your circumstances.” Theo said, with another wave of his wand that disappeared the invisible, sparkling thing in front of him. “Let us explain it again in small terms.”

“Your daughter is a witch,” Melanie said. “She has strong magical abilities that are not going to go away no matter how much you wish or pray they would. They will continue to pop out whenever she is scared or upset and without training these magical outbursts will grow worse and worse.”

“Therefore, you have two options,” Theo cut in. “Either you send her to Ilvermorny to get said training in September, as we said before. Or we will come back to get her and there will be nothing you can do to stop us. We will take her away and put her in a secure facility. You will likely never see her again.” Koll grabbed Liv’s hand and squeezed hard. Theo smoothed his ruffled mustache with finality.

“That’s all there is to it really.” He went on. “I’m sorry this is causing you so much stress, but this is the reality of the situation.”

“You have until September 5^th to decide what to do,” Melanie said. “We’ll be keeping an eye on you so please, don’t try to break apsconditum again, it just results in more people we have to obliviate.” She turned to Theo.

“Are you heading back to the office?” she asked him. The wizard shook his head.

“I’ve got to get home to relieve the nanny. James is at that Descendants of Salem thing until tomorrow.” Melanie smiled.

“Alright. Tell James to text me pictures.”

“Will do.”

And with that both witch and wizard turned on the spot and were gone.

Chapter Text

The next few months morphed together into one terrible blur.

The twins birthday party was cancelled. Allison and Jakob told everyone it was because Jakob had come down with strep throat and didn’t want to risk infecting anyone, but obviously that wasn’t true. Liv didn’t know whether to be grateful that she wouldn’t have to deal with all of her brothers friends coming with presents for him and none for her, or angry because her parents had taken away Koll’s party.

Liv didn’t get to go out anymore, not to school, not to church, not to the grocery store. Her parents seemed to fear that any little thing would set her off so they kept her home. They told her school she’d requested to be homeschooled for the rest of the year due to the difficult time she’d been having with her peers. Which the school bought for some reason? Or maybe they were just legally required to allow parents to homeschool their children if they wished to? Liv wasn’t sure. Koll had tried to look it up on the family computer but Jakob had caught him and grounded him for three days.

Speaking of things that almost set Liv off. She’d had to go into her closet and listen to opera music to stop herself exploding when that punishment had been handed down.

The days were long and incredibly tedious. It wasn’t like she was actually being homeschooled. Allison seemed terrified to upset her, so she left her alone, mostly. Every so often Liv would hear her mother’s feet on the stairs, her bedroom door would creak open and Allison’s eye would appear in the crack. Liv would stare back, eyebrows raised.

What was her mom expecting? That she was going to be brewing potions and creating curses? It was like Melanie and Theo had told her, Liv couldn’t control her magic. Though she wished she could, now more than ever.

Church was one thing Liv hadn’t expected to be barred from. She was shocked when the Sunday after their meeting with Pastor John her dad had told her not to bother putting on her church clothes, because she was staying home. No amount of argument worked on him either. He didn’t even flinch when Liv mentioned how this could affect her immortal soul.

Not that Liv was desperate to go to church, she was just so bored by that point she would have happily gone anywhere. The post office, the DMV waiting room, a graveyard. Sunday School with a bunch of other girls she hated sounded like a delightful holiday.

But, no.

The first two Sundays after the meeting Allison and Jakob took it in turns to stay with Liv and conduct a private Bible study. The rest of the family went to church like normal. Then on the third Sunday, both Koll and Addi came home saying a lot of people had asked them where their sister was, so the next week everyone stayed home. Koll, who also had had all non-school activities revoked, almost cried when he realized this meant they weren’t leaving the house at all during the weekends. At least Addi was happy, she now got to spend a lot more time watching Veggie Tales.

Liv spent the majority of every day in silence. Her parents were barely speaking to her. To be fair they were barely speaking in general. Family dinners were filled with Addi’s oblivious chatter and the occasional reply to one of her questions, or a request for something to be passed. The Peterson parents seemed to not know what to do with themselves, they were just going through the motions of living because they had to. Koll said they were lost. Liv said they were pouting.

Either way they were going at great lengths to hide Liv from the rest of the world. She was only allowed out of the house if it was to go into the backyard. She couldn’t answer the door or pick up the phone.

“Are they trying to make people forget I ever existed?” she whispered to Koll one day when their mother had made her go upstairs and stay in her room until the Amazon guy had driven down the street. Koll didn’t have an answer.

 June came, along with the end of school. Addi and Koll were home all the time, which was nice, at least Liv had someone to talk to during her house arrest. They passed the first month of summer in the backyard entertaining themselves with Addi’s made-up games and a plastic inflatable pool they’d found in the corner of the garage.

July arrived with no change in sight. Other than Jakob, no one had left the house in over a month, and he only went to work or the grocery store then came straight home. By the time the middle of summer was rolling into the end Liv was starting to go a little stir crazy.

One thing kept her sane. In the back of her mind she had a date counter going. September 5^th. That’s when Melanie and Theo said they would be back. Less than a month away, they’d be back and she would beg them to take her to school. There had to be some sort of magical scholarship program or something, right? She would pay them back as soon as she was a grown witch who could make her own money. Koll thought it was a great idea, he’d already said she could use what he had left of his Christmas money their grandma had given him for schoolbooks.

She really didn’t deserve Koll.

Then one night, as she was in her closet reading Goosebumps # 47 Liv overheard her parents talking.

“We shouldn’t tell them anything,” Allison’s voice echoed up from the bottom of the stairs. Liv let her book fall into her lap and sat as still as possible. Jakob replied, but she couldn’t make out what he’d said. Very slowly she slid the heavy wooden door open and crawled out. On tiptoes she made her way into the hall. The floor creaked, but Liv knew where to step so it didn’t make a sound. With all the grace of a cat she traversed the hall and crept down the staircase.

Jakob and Allison where in the living room, Liv sat on the third to last step so her feet stayed out of sight and tried to breathe as quietly as humanly possible.

“What if I tell my boss I got a better work opportunity?” Jakob was suggesting, Liv could see her parents shadows, stretching long across the foyer rug. Allison’s moved as she paced back and forth.

“No,” she was insisting. “We just need to disappear. The less anyone knows, the harder it will be for those people-.” She paused to shudder, “to find us. I’m not letting them drag Liv off to God knows where or teach her a bunch of devilry. She’s our child Jakob, she’s our eldest daughter. We have to protect her from the evils of the world.”

Jakob sighed wearily. “I know that Allie.” He said.

Allison resumed her pacing. “We’ll just stay one step ahead of them,” she muttered. “That’s what we’ll do. We’ll just keep running until they give up.”

“What if they never give up?” Jakob asked.

Allison’s shadow whirled to face her husband’s. “Don’t say that Jakob. That’s us giving up Liv without a fight. I’m not letting them take her!”

“Honey,” Jakob said in his peacemaker voice. “You know I’m not thrilled about this either, but I think we might be taking this too far. I mean, pulling her out of school, keeping her at home all summer? We were afraid of her going off, and I get that, but she hasn’t. Not once, since those people told her what she was. And now, what? We’re going to drive from middle of nowhere town to middle of nowhere town, never settling? What about Koll and Addi? Are they supposed to stop their education’s at kindergarten and fifth grade? That’s as much school as my great uncles got, how far did they get in life?”

Liv felt a breath on the back of her neck, she knew without turning around who it was. Koll sat on the step next to her, gripping her arm.

“What she is?!” Allison shrieked. “Liv is NOT a witch! She’s a child of God, she’s been baptized and anointed for a purpose!”

“Of course she has,” Jakob soothed. “I’m just saying, I don’t think us attempting to disappear is the best plan.”

“Well, what would you suggest then?” Allison asked, sounding defeated.

“What if we tried to talk to these Ill-veer-money people,” Jakob suggested. “Explain to them that Liv going to their school goes against our religious beliefs.”

“They said if we wouldn’t let her go, they’d lock her up!”

“They’ll lock her up over my dead body,” Jakob growled. “I’m not letting them take my daughter, but we should at least try diplomacy before we resort to more desperate means.”

The twins shared a look.

“I suppose it couldn’t hurt to try to talk to them,” Allison admitted grudgingly. “This is America after all, we still have some rights as parents, don’t we?” Jakob gave a soft laugh.

“It’s late,” he said. His shadow growing as he stood up. “We should go to bed. We’ll figure out the details in the morning.”

Koll squeezed Liv’s arm and started his slow creep up the stairs. Liv paused for a second before following. They slunk into Koll’s room and crawled into his open closet, Koll grabbed a flashlight off the floor and quietly slid the closet door shut. The darkness wrapped around them like a comforting blanket, Koll flicked his flashlight on, setting the torch so its beam pointed down.

“Okay.” He whispered, “I missed the first part of that, do you know what more desperate means, means?”

“They want us to run away and live as nomads so the witches and wizards can’t find me and turn me to the devil.” Liv whispered back. She felt rather than saw Koll roll his eyes.

“That’s stupid,” he said. “If they could find you in a city full of people they can find you in the middle of nowhere.” Liv nodded.

“I know, I think they’re just desperate. You heard Dad, they’re going to try to talk to Ilvermorny.”

The flashlight beam lit up Koll’s grin like a Fourth of July firework. “That’s great,” he said. “I’m sure the school is used to dealing with all kinds of objections. They’ll be able to convince Mom and Dad.”

Liv wasn’t much of a pray-er but before she went to sleep that night she got down on her knees and begged God to let Koll be right.

…………………………

Three days later The Peterson family were on a plane in the process of unloading at Boston-Logan International Airport.

Addi was ecstatic. After having done nothing and gone nowhere for most of the summer they were on, what Koll had assured her, would be the adventure of a lifetime. Liv on the other hand felt a little overwhelmed, she hadn’t seen this many people in months. Their voices echoed around the interior of the aircraft, the wheels of their carry-ons squeaked, babies were crying, dogs in their kennels were whining. She wished she had a pair of noise reducing headphones.

Allison and Jakob sat tensely across the aisle from their children. Liv didn’t know how they’d done it, but the Peterson parents never did have to call Melanie and Theo to request an interview at Ilvermorny. Five first class plane tickets to Boston, Massachusetts had been shoved under their front door while they slept. The envelope they came in included a note from the two MACUSA agents, explaining they would meet them at the baggage claim of BOS twenty minutes after their flight landed to escort them the rest of the way to Ilvermorny.

Liv nervously fiddled with the strap of her backpack as they waited for their row to be told to deplane. Next to her Koll was reading to Addi to keep her from bouncing out of her seat. He stole a glance at Liv as if to make sure she wasn’t about to explode. She wasn’t, she was mostly about to throw up.

What if this didn’t work? What then? Back to Plan A? Create a Plan C? She looked over at her parents and sent a silent prayer up to heaven. She’d been doing that a lot lately, praying. Youth Leader Clara was always banging on about how God looked after his children. Liv didn’t have much experience to back up that claim, but if God came through for her on this one, she’d totally be willing to forgive him for never helping her out before.

The tired flight attendant looked at Jakob and motioned that it was their turn. Koll shoved Addi’s book back in her backpack and helped her slide out into the aisle. The rest of the Peterson’s followed in single file with Liv sandwiched between both parents.

Melanie and Theo were where they said they would be. Liv wanted to run to them and beg them to Bippidi Boppidi Boo her away, but both her parents put a restraining hand on her shoulder.

“Welcome to Boston,” Melanie said pleasantly. Allison and Jakob only nodded.

“We were glad to hear from you,” Theo said, ignoring the awkward silence, and the fact that he and Melanie hadn’t heard from them at all. “If you’ll follow us, our car is out front.”  He turned and led them out into the humid August air where a red Honda Accord stood waiting in line with all the taxis and Ubers, Jakob looked at the car skeptically.

“Is this it?” he asked. “It won’t fit everyone.”

“Yes, it will,” Theo assured him, he popped open the trunk and started shoving the Peterson’s luggage inside. Liv found herself being shepherded by Melanie into the car’s interior which was…not possible.

The car could have easily fit fifteen more people and all of their luggage, it was massive. Each seat was like its own personal bed, there was a fully stocked bar in one corner along with an epic gaming system in the other. Melanie climbed inside after them followed by Theo. Shockingly, neither of them got into the drivers seat, but the car began driving itself like it knew what it was doing. All five Peterson’s stared at the MACUSA agents with open mouths.

“It’s just a quick little spell,” Melanie explained to Liv. “Neither Theo or I ever learned how to drive you see, and we could hardly organize a Portkey so quickly.”

The car picked up speed as it turned onto the highway, a lot of speed. Liv made the mistake of looking out the window and saw only a multicolored blur that must have been the other cars. She quickly looked away so she wouldn’t be sick. No one else had seemed to notice that they were going practically as fast as the airplane had. Addi had discovered a basket of cookies that looked and smelled fresh baked and was busily shoving them into her mouth. Koll had immersed himself in some sort of racing game and Allison and Jakob were staring at Melanie and Theo with…? Liv wasn’t even sure what emotion that was? Blind hatred? Fear?

“So?” she asked to break the silence. Lord knows she’d had plenty of those that summer. “Where is Ilvermorny.”

“Mount Greylock,” Melanie replied.

Chapter Text

The car drove them along Interstate 90 and then took exit 10 towards Lee/Pittsfield, they merged onto US 20 West and zipped into the Mount Greylock Recreation Center completely ignoring the booth where you were supposed to pay for your campsite. A haze of gravel dust raised as they skidded to a halt next to a large chain link fence.

                “Come along,” Theo said, leading the way to a locked gate that had a sign reading, Employees Only. The gate opened at a poke from his wand. Melanie held out a piece of paper to them.

                “Quick read this,” she said. Liv craned her neck to see the tiny writing.

                “The location of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is at the highest peak of Mount Greylock.” The paper read.

                Liv took a shuddering breath, A cloud had floated down without them noticing. Mist grasped at her ankles and wormed its way down her shirt. Addi grabbed her hand and Liv gave her fingers what she hoped was a reassuring squeeze. Melanie gestured them forwards. The back of Theo’s robes was the only thing Liv could see, and she blindly stepped into the fog praying the wizard wasn’t about to lead them off a cliff.

                A castle soared into view.

                Liv gasped. White towers pierced the blue of the sky, flags flapping from their turrets. A glass dome over the main doorway winked in the sudden sunlight. They were standing at the edge of a path and in front of them were rolling green lawns, broken up by some sort of athletic field in one corner and several outbuildings in the other. There was a forest in the distance and a little pond with a cabin at its edge, ducks and geese floated idyllically on the water.

                “Wow,” Koll said. Theo grinned at him.

                “Best kept secret castle in the world son,” he said. “No-Maj’s hike up here all the time and never see a thing. On top of that it’s invisible to satellites and airplanes.” Koll grinned back, Allison and Jakob only deepened their frowns.

                “Can we please get on with this?” Jakob asked. Theo stopped smiling.

                “Of course,” he said, gesturing to the gigantic front doors. “Right this way.”

                As they approached the doors swung open of their own volition. Liv gazed around in wonder at the four statues that stood guard over the cobblestone foyer. What looked like an extra fury mountain lion, a huge shrieking eagle with a flaming tail, a snake with horns and a…what-? What exactly was that?

                “Thunderbird, Wampus, Horned Serpent and Pukwudgie,” Melanie told her, pointing to each of the statues. “They represent the four houses of Ilvermorny.”

                “What’s a Pukwudgie?” Addi asked before Liv could.

There was a noise behind them, Liv turned to see, she wasn’t sure what it was, but before she could form a rational thought Allison had screamed and leapt in front of her children. Jakob was herding them backwards, yelling over his shoulder, “Shoo! Shoo! Go Away!!!!”  Melanie and Theo looked horrified.

“Hey!” Melanie said sharply. “Calm down!” The Peterson parents stopped screaming though Allison kept herself planted firmly in front of Addi and Koll.

“What is that thing?!” she asked eyes practically bulging out of her head.

“I,” the creature said indignantly, in a rough voice, “Am a Pukwudgie madam, and I’m here to escort you to the Dean’s office.”

Liv stepped closer, ignoring her father’s vice-like grip on her arm. The Pukwudgie stood only a little shorter than Addi with smooth gray skin and molted black-gray fur covering its back, the back of its arms and legs, and its scalp. Muscles rippled under all that hair, it crouched forwards rather like a gorilla, but unlike any simian Liv had ever met it had impressive tusks that jutted down its chin like the tusks of a walrus. A large nose took up most of its face and its eyes brimmed with intelligence.

“Hi,” Liv said, holding out a hand. “I’m Liv.” The creature looked at her in annoyance.

“Well, you would be wouldn’t you,” he- at least Liv thought it was a he- said, ignoring her hand. Liv lowered it feeling rather stung.

“Please forgive them Gerald, they’ve never met a Pukwudgie before.” Theo interjected.

Gerlad snorted.

“If you will lead Jakob and Allison up to Dean Anderson.” Theo continued, “We will be showing Liv, and her siblings here, the grounds.”

Allison latched onto Addi like a barnacle. “You are not taking my children away from me while there are dangerous creatures like that,” she motioned to Gerlad, “on the prowl.” Melanie’s eyebrows narrowed.

“There is no need to be rude,” she told the other woman. “Gerald is not a monster. He’s as intelligent as we are and-.”

Gerald held up a hand to cut the witch off. “Don’t go getting onto a spiel Ms. Thompson, you can see by looking at these two that it won’t do a lick of good. He stepped closer to the Peterson parents who backed away, clearly terrified. “Look, I’ve got a million better things to do, so are you two coming or not?”

Allison looked like she wanted to refuse, but Jakob resolutely picked up Addi, “We’re coming.” He said, like someone agreeing to begin their walk to the gallows.

“I want to stay with Livvy and Kolie!” Addi protested.

“Not a chance young lady,” Allison told her. She turned to look at the twins. “You come with us too. You can wait outside the office.”

Awwww, Mom,” Koll protested.

“Koll Kenneth, you will listen to your mother.” Jakob told him. Koll sighed, but dutifully followed after his parents. Liv brought up the rear of this weird little train, trying to take in every sight she could as they walked. The foyer she now saw was ringed on all sides by a balcony, after the foyer ended the floors faded into highly polished wood, covered with brightly woven rugs. The halls they moved through were painted a lovely cream; pictures, paintings and plaques covered every available square inch. The people in the pictures and the paintings smiled and waved at her as she walked by. Not wanting to be rude, Liv waved back.

Finally, they stopped outside a door labeled, DEAN, it swung open and an older wizard stepped out. He was short and balding, with a kind face and crinkly blue eyes. His long robes were covered in tiny handprints of various colors and smudginess, the reason for which became apparent a second later as brown-skinned child zoomed past his legs and latched itself onto Gerald.

“Garaal!” The toddler screamed. Gerald frowned and hoisted the girl in his arms.

“What are you doing you little terror?” he grumbled. “You are a menace you know that?” The little girl just grinned and him and grabbed a handful of his fur, burbling happily in a secret toddler language.

“Zuri,” Dean Anderson scolded, sounding tired. “Don’t pull Gerald’s fur.” Zuri ignored him, hoisting her way up onto Gerald’s shoulders and screaming with joy at the top of her tiny lungs. Gerald grimaced.

“I’ve got to go do something else now,” he informed them all. Dean Anderson stepped forwards to take Zuri, but she screamed again, this time in anger and wrapped her itty-bitty arms around Gerald’s face.

“Nooooooo Papaaaaa, Garalllllll!”

“Zuri,” the dean tried to protest, but she only started to cry, Gerald tightened his grip around her with a sigh.

“It’ll make everything I’m trying to do a million times harder, but I suppose she can come with me,” he said. Then without waiting for an answer he turned and walked away, Zuri’s pigtails swaying above his head with each step.

“Buh Bye Papa!” Zuri shouted. Dean Anderson smiled after the odd pair fondly.

“That’s my granddaughter, I’m watching her this week. Don’t be fooled by Gerald’s grumpiness, he loves her. She got him wrapped around her little finger.”

Allison shuddered, holding tight to Addi. “Well, I would never leave my children in the care of an animal.” Liv felt her cheeks start to burn with embarrassment, Dean Anderson raised an eyebrow.

“And you must be Mrs. Peterson,” he said smoothly. “I understand you and your husband have some concerns about your daughter attending school here.”

“Yes,” Jakob stepped forwards. “We have many concerns.” Dean Anderson only smiled, seemingly unaffected, even though how her parents were acting was certainly pissing Liv off.

“And I’m sure we will address all of them,” he said, opening the door wider and gesturing inside. “Please, won’t you come in.”

Theo, Melanie, Addi and Jakob filed past him, Allison turned to look at the twins.

“I want you two to stay right here,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “We don’t know what else could be skulking around.” Koll nodded, but Liv said nothing, Allison glared at her.

“Do you hear me Liv?” she asked.

Liv resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Yes, Mother, I hear you.” She said.

“Stay!” Allison ordered, before sweeping into the office and slamming the door. Liv felt some of the tension leave her body.

“Okay seriously?” she asked Koll. “What is that woman’s problem?”

“I think she has a hard time relinquishing control,” he replied. Liv let herself smile at him. She jerked her head towards the empty hallway in front of them.

“Forbidden exploring time?” she asked. Koll grinned back.

“Forbidden exploring time!”

...

                The twins meandered through the castle reading the wall plaques and making conversation with the people in the pictures. Every time they turned a corner Koll left something at the junction so they wouldn’t get lost. A shoelace, a Pokémon Card, a penny he’d found in his pocket. Eventually they found themselves at a dead end and were forced to turn around. They passed a bathroom and Koll disappeared inside claiming natures second call, Liv stood looking out a gigantic window that viewed the grounds. What was happening in the Dean’s office right now, she wondered?

                “I need to wash that,” said a grumbly voice behind her. Liv turned to see another Pukwudgie, this one much older than Gerald had appeared to be. His fur was pure white and his skin hung in wrinkly folds around his thin frame.

                “Oh,” Liv said, moving aside. “Sorry.” The Pukwudgie grumbled something unintelligible and set to work cleaning the window. Liv decided to try to make polite conversation, maybe this Pukwudgie would take to it better than Gerald had.

                “I’m Liv,” she said. The Pukwudgie snorted but made no other response.

                “What’s your name?” Liv tried again.

                “William,” the creature grunted. “Don’t you have anything better to do than ask me questions?”

                Liv shook her head, “I’m waiting for my brother, so not really.” William snorted again.

                “Brothers,” he said. “I’ve had my fair share of those. Right bit of trouble they were too.” Liv had been tense all day and for some reason this little comment sent a spark of anger into her soul.

                “Well, I adore mine,” she said hotly.

                “Which is your problem not mine,” William told her, moving to a different pane in his washing.

                “It’s not a problem,” Liv insisted.

                “Isn’t it?” William asked, turning to look at her with a pair of rheumy eyes. “Because here you are waiting for him and bothering me.” Liv’s ears went hot and before she knew it was going to happen a series of sparks cascaded from her fingertips to bounce along the floor with several ear-splitting whistles. William followed their progress with a frown.

                “And now I’m going to have to clean that up,” he grouched.

                “Well sorry to be such a bother!” Liv practically screamed. It felt good to yell, she hoped this little jerk started crying. All the frustration and anger from this summer seemed to be coming to the surface. She’d tried to keep it stuffed down, she’d tried to ignore it, but that clearly hadn’t worked. It was bubbling up in the pit of her stomach, racing up her throat and out her mouth.

                “You’re a mean little thing!” Liv raged at William. “I bet you don’t have any friends and everyone can’t stand you!” William stared at her, no closer to crying, but that wasn’t stopping Liv. “I bet you’re really sad inside and wish someone would get you and want to hang out but-.” She stopped to gasp deeply, voice suddenly trembling. “No one does. No one does, do they? Because you’re different and you’re not very n-nice.” A tear trickled down Liv’s cheek to drip onto the floor and suddenly she was the one crying. Great, fat tears that didn’t seem to have an end, they were hot and miserable against her cheeks. She tried to take a deep breath and calm down, but this was a storm that couldn’t be calmed. She sunk to the floor sobbing hysterically.

                After what might have been several minutes later or a few hours, it was hard to tell, a white object appeared in the corner of Liv’s vision. William was holding out a handkerchief to her with a look of utter disgust on his wrinkled face.

                “You’re making a horrible racket,” he told her. “It’s giving me indigestion.” Liv took the square of cloth with trembling fingers and hid her eyes in it. Something dense flomped down next to her so hard Liv felt the wooden boards bounce.

                It was William, he sighed aggressively and said. “Why don’t you just tell me what’s wrong so I can go back to work and you can go back to doing…whatever it is little girls like you do.”

                Liv sniffled, “I’m not a little girl,” she protested.

                “You are to me,” William told her. “Now, what’s wrong? Or should I move on to polishing the chandeliers.”

                Liv opened her mouth to tell this mean weirdo to go away but instead what came spilling out was everything, absolutely everything. How she had found out she was a witch, her parents refusal to let her go to school, her summer of imprisonment. William listened to it all with a bored expression on his face and when Liv finally wound down he replied with a, “Huh.” Liv felt her anger rise anew.

                “Huh?” she said hotly. “You get me to tell you my life story and all you’ve got is huh?”

                William inserted a finger in his ear and twisted it, “Well, what do you want me to say?” he asked. “Seems to me like you’re very comfortable just complaining about how hard you have it. You certainly haven’t tried to change anything.” He pulled the finger from his ear canal and inspected the ball of wax that had gathered on its tip. “I think you just like to whine. Maybe it’s the only way you can get attention.” He heaved himself to his feet, collected his bucket and began to shuffle away. “See you around, maybe.” He called over his shoulder.”

                Liv stared after him open mouthed, she was still staring when Koll finally emerged from the bathroom.

                “What are you looking at?” he asked. Liv closed her mouth with an audible click.

                “Nothing,” she told him. “Come on, we better get back.”

“Were you crying?” Koll asked as they hurried off through the halls. Liv swiped at her cheeks and shook her head. Koll patted her shoulder in sympathy and focused on leading them the right way. They followed Koll’s pocket treasures back to the Dean’s office, where it was clear that despite their best hopes things were not going well.

                Allison’s voice could be heard through the solid wood of the door, screaming shrilly about something that had displeased her. Addi was sitting with Melanie in the hall.

                “Mommy is really mad,” she said by way of explanation. Koll gave her a hug.

                “Where were you two?” Melanie asked, smiling.

                “I wanted to look around,” Liv told her. “Since it seems like this will be my only chance.” She frowned at the door, where now Jakob’s angry tones could be heard, though not the actual words he was saying.

                Melanie smiled at Liv reassuringly, “I wouldn’t be so sure about tha-.” The Dean’s door crashed open cutting her off. Allison and Jakob stormed out.

                “Liv, Koll, we’re leaving.” Jakob said, grabbing Addi by the hand and marching off towards the main foyer.

                “Mr. and Mrs. Peterson please,” Dean Anderson called after them. “Think of your daughters future!”

                “We are!” Allison shouted back. Liv looked back at Theo and Melanie, both of whom looked visibly distraught. She wanted to say something, but nothing would come out. She actually wanted to fall to the ground kicking and screaming; but what good was that going to do? Her parents clearly had their minds and hearts as closed as Pharoh’s when he wouldn’t let the Israelites go free. Liv felt a red wall of rage descending upon her.  William’s words echoed around in her skull.

Just wanted to whine, did she? Wasn’t going to do anything to change anything, was she. Liv gritted her teeth. Her parents weren’t the only ones who could be stubborn.

                She kept her mouth shut as they traversed their way back to the self-driving car. Theo came after them and led them to it. He also worked the spells that let the car drive them to the airport. No one said anything as it zipped along, but Theo gave one last plea as it pulled up to the curve outside BOS.

                “Please Mr. and Mrs. Peterson,” he begged. “Believe me when I tell you, you are only hurting yourselves by refusing to allow Liv to attend-.”

                “Thank you for the ride.” Jakob interrupted, flinging open the door. The car obligingly spat their luggage out of the trunk and lined it up neatly on the curb. Allison grabbed Liv’s arm and hustled her into the busy terminal.

                Their tickets had magically changed themselves to a flight leaving in a few hours, there was no first class this time however and they’d have to make a stop in Denver. Liv continued to say nothing as her parents hustled her along. She was perfectly well behaved in the security line and a complete angel as she half listened to her parents discussing where they should get dinner from the airport food court. She looked at Koll who was staring at her with a frown etched in between his brows. His eyes grew wide as he seemed to sense her feelings.

                “I have to go to the bathroom,” he announced.

                “Me too.” Liv said. Their parents barely glanced at them.

                “Fine,” Allison told them. “Go, but make sure you wait for each other.”  The twins set off for the nearest restroom, their carry-on backpacks slung over their shoulders. Koll pulled Liv into the family bathroom and locked the door behind them.

                “Livvy,” he hedged, “What are you going to do?” Liv took a deep breath.

                “I’m running for it.” She told him. Koll’s eyes grew wider than she’d previously thought possible.

                “Here?” he asked. “Now?” Liv nodded.

                “But-.” Koll sputtered. “Where will you go? How are you going to get back to Ilvermorny? What if something bad happens to you?” Liv put a hand on his shoulder.

                “Koll,” she told him. “I’ve got to. Mom and Dad are going to lock me in a basement or something when we get home.” Koll nodded in agreement, then squared his gangly shoulders eyes blazing.

                “Then I’m coming with you.” He told her. Liv grinned at him.

                “I was hoping you’d say that,” she admitted.

                The twins opened their backpacks and laid their resources out on the family bathroom floor.

                “Okay,” Koll said. “Looks like with our combined birthday money from Grandma-.”

                “Thank you, Grandma,” Liv interrupted.

                “Thank you, Grandma.” Koll agreed. “Plus my leftover Christmas money we’ve got a little over two hundred dollars.” He shoved the money into a pile and pushed it to the side. “Plus three of your chocolate bars, two hair scrunchies, a tube of chapstick, a sweatshirt each, two library books and a magnetic travel chess set.”

                “Not a lot to go on,” Liv frowned. Koll shook his head.

                “No, but it might be enough to get bus tickets back to Mt. Greylock.” He suggested. “I bet we can find some sort of transportation center somewhere in this place.”

                “Or I could borrow Mom’s cell phone and buy tickets-.” Koll was shaking his head again.

                “No, I thought of that,” he said. “Mom and Dad would have the police on us faster than we could blink. If we want this to work, I think we’re going to have to do this old school.”

                “Well, we’ve got plenty of practice with that,” Liv sighed. She scooped up her belongings and shoved them back into her backpack. Koll did the same, zipping the money into his backpacks top pocket.

                “Ready?” he asked, unlocking the family bathroom door.

                Liv huffed out a nervous breath. “As I’ll ever be,” she said.