An active, character-driven Hogwarts experience set in the early 2000s. Unique items, plots, and features. Non-canon; this isn't Harry Potter's story, it's ours.
The sound of a crackling spell, almost like a firework, was not the nicest way to be woken just after sunrise -- but that's how each Ashworth kid was forced to greet the day. As they were jolted from sleep, it took a moment to get their bearings as to what happened.
Yet the house was still and quiet. Not sense of danger, once the shock wore off.
Downstairs, a homemade breakfast of pancakes and scrambled eggs awaited them. Kept warm by magic, no doubt. There was a goblet each of pumpkin juice as well, and their little owl acting as a centerpiece -- dozing calmly on a nest of tinsel.
With any degree of investigating, the source of the sound apparently came from the backyard. Sleeves rolled to his elbows, Marcus was seen even through the windows looking rather cross about the Laboratory entrance refusing to comply with him. A shattered clay flower pot rested a little to his left, surrounded by scorched grass and dimming gold flames.
Three runes, barely noticeable at first, hovered overhead. Reena easily recognised the one for water, though the other two were more complicated. Did runes normally appear when casting magic? Clearly, Marcus was not using ordinary magic. It was easy to forget sometimes, having had nothing around to regularly remind them, that he was capable of truly advanced magic.
And yet, he'd so far met his match in the secured trapdoor which Aubrey sealed in her absence.
Post by Kody Ashworth on Jun 6, 2024 0:39:43 GMT 10
Despite the drama from the day before, Kody had slept very well. He was that annoying kind of person that would conk out two seconds after their head hit the pillow.
He was a restless sleeper too -- moving a lot during the night and often kicking off his blankets or knocking his pillow to the floor.
It was no surprise when he woke up with his duvet half off the bed and his pillow at the bottom. His hair was just as tousled as his bed clothes as he rubbed his eyes and yawned loudly.
The loud bang that had awoken him from his deep sleep didn't seem to be anywhere in his immediate vicinity... Had it come from downstairs? Outside?
Not taking a second to check for Reena, Kody slipped his trainers on (while still wearing his PJs) and headed downstairs to find out.
He was halfway down the stairs when he glanced through one of the windows and noticed his dad outside in the garden. Huh...
Kody raced to the backdoor and paused there, watching his dad from there. Well, what of him that could be seen.
His stomach protested this side quest as the smell of pancakes and eggs hit his nose. Kody watched a second longer to see some runes floating over his dad, and then noticed the scorched grass and golden flames that were quickly disappearing.
He'd have to ask about that after he got something to eat. Since he guessed the bang probably came from whatever their dad was doing, Kody didn't consider himself in any danger and went to sit down for breakfast instead.
"Morning Sweetie." He smiled at the owl, dubbed with the name he had decided for her. Hopefully no one would mind or scold him for it.
Kody added three thick pancakes to his plate, a big helpful of eggs but started with a big gulp of pumpkin juice first.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jun 6, 2024 4:37:42 GMT 10
The loud noise jerked her awake and had her glare over her shoulder into the dark room. However, her mind soon caught up with her and she quickly realised that there was no way Kody had been the source of it (though that had been the most logical explanation at first).
She groaned sleepily at the effort it took to turn herself around in bed and she watched through a haze as her younger brother slipped out of their shared room.
With a mental sigh, Reena kicked off her duvet, picked up the first sweater she found, which happened to be one of Kody's but, though she only realised her error as she'd slipped it on already.
She supposed she could sport red and gold while at home, she was far more suprised it seemed to fit at all.
She used her fingers to brush through her hair while on the stairs and trapsed after Kody to investigate the source of their rude awaken.
Her brother had just turned away from the back door as she reached him and she glimpsed Marcus standing outside, near the secret laboratory. What on earth was he doing?
Despite the lovely smell of pancakes and eggs, it was far too early for her to eat anything, so instead of joining Kody, she just gave him a tired wave and moved back towards the stairs. She changed her mind as she took the first step however, instead reached for her coat, boots and Slytherin scarf and headed outside.
The cold winter air hit her with instant regret, as she hugged her arms around her body, shivering.
Reena took in the scene for a moment, not sure whether it would be best to run, when she saw the scorched grass and the smashed flower pot.
While this man was in fact, her father, he was still practically a stranger, so why should she trust he wouldn't resort to powerful, possibly uncontrolled magic in her presence. The scene described that of a frustrating battle with a trapdoor.
The hovering runes however, made her stay.
Clearing her throat, to make her presence known, she tried to decipher the runes, though could only recognise the one for 'water', that she had first seen on the parchment Antoni- Marcus had given her last Christmas.
"What are you doing?", she asked as she tilted her head to see if a different angle might make the runes appear different to her eyes that were still small from sleep.
"I mean, how are you doing that?"
It was obvious he was on the losing side of an argument with the trapdoor to the secret laboratory, what she didn't know was what kind of magic was summoning hovering letters.
"What do these say?", Reena reluctantly let go of her own frame to point at the two runes she was unfamiliar with. Though she couldn't say for certain that they hadn't been on that same piece of parchment.
"You think mum's notes you gave me last year might help?," she suggested with half smile.
Part of her found a strange sense of satisfaction in knowing Marcus too was locked out of the laboratory, however, she still rather had it open for business than sealed off again.
Post by Ezra Ashworth on Jun 6, 2024 9:36:17 GMT 10
As seemed to have become a custom for when they were home, the previous day had been a lot for poor Ezra. It seemed like, recently, there was a new family secret waiting to spring at them from every corner. And the last one had been especially awful.
To find out what Conrad had done- his spell-.. what he had tried. And then Jaxen, and the curse, and the pain…
It was an awful day.
An awful day that had ended with Ezra not wanting to go to bed, even if it meant that it would end. Because bed meant the same room as Jax. Jax who had always been his hero, who he looked up to, who had said- that, and caused the pain.
Ezra had not known how to deal with any of that.
So he hadn’t, and had opted to tuck himself away by the bottom of the stairs for as long as he could instead. There he had slowly eaten his dinner with his latest comfort blanket wrapped around him. And there he remained long after he had finished his plate, trying to remember all of the words to various stories to pass the time.
Eventually he had grown sleepy of course, his eyes getting heavier with each story that he tried to recall the words for. That was when he had decided that bed may be the better idea after all.
He had tiptoed his plate into the kitchen, where he abandoned it by the sink, then headed for the stairs. Only to pause at the couch where Uncle Marcus was curled up shivering. He had not noticed him on his first pass through, but the older Ashworth looked cold.
He looked cold and bad things had happened to him.
Ezra had hesitated for a long second before he relinquished his claim on his comfort blanket and carefully dropped it over his uncle instead. Maybe Marcus needed it more than him just then. Even if that meant that Ezra had to face Jax and their room without anything to hide behind.
He was a big boy though, he could manage. And Jax was his brother. (He was still his brother, right?)
With his fingers fiddling with the hem of his shirt, Ezra had tiptoed his way upstairs, thinking himself very sneaky as he crept about the house in the dark of night.
He hoped that Jaxen was asleep, but when he reached their room he did not dare check, and instead dived straight under his covers (giving up all pretence at being sneaky).
He had quickly fallen asleep under the safety of his blanket, but that did not mean that it had been very restful. Instead it had been haunted with ghostly figures and harsh words that left his cheeks damp.
Then all too soon he was awake once again as a bang sounded from somewhere nearby.
The Ezra-shaped lump of blankets on his bed had jerked up at that with a slurred “Wasn’t me-” before the poor boy even realised that he was awake once more and in his bed.
What was- Oh, it was morning. A new day and something was going bang already?
Ezra rubbed at his eyes with one hand as the other helped him to wiggle out of his blankets. He should find out what was happening. That was probably the best idea.
Unable to help himself, though still unsure about what kind of reception he would receive, Ezra darted a look at Jax’s bed before he left. Wanting to check if he was there or simply used to searching for comfort from there, Ezra did not know. Whatever the reason, he quickly ducked his head without really seeing anything and then darted out of their room.
He had a noise to find, that was the only reason he rushed out. Honest. What if someone was hurt?
And yet he still paused outside Verity’s room too, instead of rushing straight downstairs to find out. He wanted his sister, but what if the noise hadn’t woken her? He did not want to be the one to wake Vee up.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Ezra carried on without disturbing Vee’s space and soon found Kody and a whole load of food.
Was that what had made the noise? Had Kody made breakfast? That.. didn’t sound safe.
“Morning,” Ezra said, as he tried to figure out if the food was safe or not.
Before he could decide or not however, he noticed the back door open and Reena talking to Uncle Marcus.
Uncle Marcus who had glowy shapes hovering overhead. Runes?
Was that normal? Was he doing magic again?
Ezra shuffled closer to the door and peeked his head out for a better look, food forgotten.
What were they doing?
He squinted his eyes to get a better look. Were they near the secret trapdoor? Was Uncle Marcus trying to make it open?
Ezra was not sure how he felt about that, if he wanted the lab to open for them or not anymore.
Sure, it probably had important things in there, but it also held the chest that Conrad had left. The chest that had given Ezra that warm feeling.
Had Conrad really left that chest and then gone on to hurt their family? Did that mean that the warm feeling had been a lie? A trick? Something from his imagination?
Ezra did not really want to know.
He also did not want to know what Uncle Marcus would do if he found the trunk and the journal.
Would he take it away? Destroy it?
As curious as he had always been about various things, Ezra was finding out that there was a lot that he would rather not know. Maybe that was what bad secrets did.
Post by Jaxen Ashworth on Jun 6, 2024 19:00:20 GMT 10
By the time he'd heard a knock on his door, Jaxen had been curled up on his bed. His body ached from the effects of his anger and his eyes were red from the angry tears he'd shed while taking out his frustrations. He rolled over slightly when he heard the click of the door as it opened, curious to see who had come to check on him.
Jax wanted to glare when he saw his dad standing in the doorway, a plate of food in hand. But he didn't even have the energy for more anger, now he just felt heavy inside, with a sadness that didn't seem like it'd ever go away. When Marcus told him that he loved him, his eyes burned, and he blinked back the tears that threatened to fall.
He didn't even want the food brought to him. His appetite was gone, but he thought that Marcus might not leave him alone if he returned to find the plate untouched. So, once he'd left his room Jax retrieved his dinner. He sat on his bed and ate, but got no real satisfaction from the act, all it accomplished was ridding himself of the hunger pangs that had begun to set in.
He placed the empty plate outside his door when he was finished, not willing to give anyone an excuse to check on him again. Then he got back into bed and pulled his duvet right up to his ears so that no one would see him should they choose to enter the room again.
--
Jax woke up a start, burying his face into his pillow for a moment as his brain attempted to make sense of the morning. There had been a noise, hadn't there? That's what had woken him. What time was it? It was light outside, which meant that it was time to get up anyway, they were going back to school today.
Slowly then all at once the events of the previous day trickled back to the forefront of his mind and he let out a groan, muffled by his pillow. He still didn't know how to feel about everything that had happened over the course of the last few days, but one thing he was certain of. For once, he couldn't wait to go back to school.
He heard the sound of footsteps and then the door opening and he figured Ezra had just made his escape. Jax took the opportunity to get out of bed and finish packing his trunk - luckily, this year he hadn't really unpacked much. He just had a few things and his Christmas gifts to pack away and then that was it. Pulling the heavy trunk by its handle, he dragged it from his room and down the stairs, letting it thunk down every last one until he reached the bottom and could abandon it by the front door.
There was breakfast on the table, and it reminded him that for once he (assumingly) was not responsible for getting everyone to the train on time. Kody was already at the table, the others? Well, Jax heard voices coming from outside but that wasn't any of his concern, if they wanted to waste their morning instead of getting ready then why should he care?
"Morning" he muttered as he sat across from Kody and helped himself to a couple of pancakes. He poked at them with a fork for a few moments before beginning to eat.
"Did you finish packing?" he asked Kody without looking up from his pancakes. It felt almost awkward to ask, despite having asked the same question to each of his siblings countless times throughout the years. Why did it feel different now?
Post by Verity Ashworth on Jun 7, 2024 0:57:07 GMT 10
Verity had had a lot to consider as she slept that night, which wasn't an accurate phrase for what she did, tossing and turning and thinking of the curse, her mother, and all the bad things that might happen to her family.
It felt like she had barely fallen asleep when she was rudely awoken by a loud sound. She grumbled before getting dressed and heading downstairs to eat breakfast. The quill-ink tattoos that she had given herself had mostly rubbed off, partially on her sheets and partially on her clothes, but Verity left them. She felt that they were fitting.
It seemed everyone else had been quicker to head downstairs than she was. When she looked outside, she saw Reena talking to Marcus, hopefully yelling at him about waking them all up in such an annoying way.
She sat as close to Ezra as she could and grabbed some food, taking a deep drink of the pumpkin juice. Mmmm. She did enjoy the stuff quite a bit. Then, she took a few bites of the food, pointedly refusing to look at Jaxen. Kody did receive a few glances every now and then, but most of Verity's focus was on Ezra.
Marcus sighed, hearing one of the kids approach. When Reena spoke, he wasn't even surprised that it was her. Though he inhaled a composing breath, as it also reminded him of the old days. All those hours they'd spent together in that garden, fussing over the trapdoor and its secrets.
'Trying to get this open,' he answered, waving his wandless hand to shoo the runes. They disappeared, like smoke chased by a strong breeze. He was a bit confused by Reena's question, though. 'How am I doing what?'
He glanced curiously at Reena. Despite shifting into his fatherly mode, the frustration was evident in his gaze and tone. He stood taller, too. The fatigued, worn-down man from the night before was replaced with a powerful wizard who refused to be bested by an enchanted door in the ground.
'Water. Mind.. and whatever.' Marcus looked to where the runes used to be. 'That third one is practically a tongue twister in English.'
He shrugged about the notes. Not particularly helpful, then.
'If I could just get to the library, at least.' Marcus sighed, shooting the trapdoor a glare as it vanished. 'If she doesn't want me in the Laboratory, I'll have to trust her on that... but all of them, sealed off? I hate not understanding.'
Another sigh (more of a huff, honestly), and Marcus glanced towards the house. Spotting some other kids moving around, he decided to leave the trapdoor alone for now. His time with them was on short supply, now they'd be returning to Hogwarts today.
Still thinking of fond memories of the past, Marcus looped an arm around Reena's shoulders to guide her back to the house -- and old habit, being in the place of where they were once close and inseparable. It was light enough that she could shrug it off it unwelcome, but Marcus had acted only as a dad who adored his daughter.
--
Entering the house, Marcus glanced round the dining table to check everyone was eating something. He ruffled Kody's hair while passing by, then took a seat in his spot. Somehow, it was still his spot -- not knowing that Aubrey would often be hysterical if anyone else tried to sit there.
He just... sat there? Like it was the normal normal thing for that chair to now have someone seated in it, casually filling his goblet with pumpkin juice before giving their owl an affectionate pat.
'Have you finished packing?' Marcus asked Kody without glancing away from the owl, knowing his son's disorganisation skills. 'If anyone needs anything, or needs some help, let me know. I know a few good packing spells, and I did the laundry so everything's clean.'
Fishing some notes from his pocket, Marcus studied a few lines of Latin -- then grumbled, and stored them away again. He spotted Jaxen's trunk by the door, and was unable to look away from it. For some reason it hurt, seeing it there so soon, as though his son couldn't wait even a second longer to get away from him.
The determined, energised man from the garden a moment ago once again slouched in his seat a bit. Marcus had recovered well from the night before, though. He fought to compose himself, and knew he would have all the time to be emotional later. For now, he had to spend what little time he could with his kids.
'I can't take you to the station, unfortunately. Just London,' he said, giving Jaxen a glance as though expecting him to be glad at this news. 'While your mother isn't here, you must be especially careful to go about things as if she is. No one can know that she isn't home. The Ministry are waiting for any excuse to swoop in.'
Marcus held his wand, needing something to keep him grounded. He swirled the tip a little, lazily watching it conjure tiny, hovering white flowers.
'However, I also can't stay here all the time. I need to visit, to maintain the wards without your mother here, but we have to be careful,' he added. 'But, since I'm always on the move, I can easily stop by Hogsmeade if you have a trip that day and... well, if you want to see me, of course.'
He tone implied he didn't expect they would. Marcus had truly just accepted he couldn't get his hopes up. That perhaps his children didn't care he was back. He did give Kody a smile, though. Maybe not all of them?
'Also, please do write to me,' he added. 'I'll update you as well, if I hear anything. But I think, just to be extra safe and now that you know who I am, do not write a name. Just address me only as A. Our letters are secure, but just in case. We must remain vigilant.'
Marcus glanced round the table, eyebrows raised and encouraging -- if they had any questions... or anything, really. He got them back, and they were already saying goodbye again. He doubted he'd even get a hug when they left.
Post by Jaxen Ashworth on Jun 8, 2024 0:41:05 GMT 10
Jaxen barely looked up from his plate when Verity arrived at the table, she wasn't interested in acknowledging him and if he was honest, the feeling was entirely mutual for once. He still felt the crackle of anger beneath his skin when he thought about the blind loyalty she was showing to a man who she didn't even really know. His fork scraped against his plate deliberately and then he stuffed more food into his mouth, as if to keep himself from saying something to his sister.
Their dad joined them for breakfast and Jax's head snapped in his direction when he sat in that chair. Nobody sat there. He almost told him to move, but then remembered that if he belonged anywhere, it was in that spot. Jax swallowed his mouthful and then pushed his plate away, instead tapping his hand on the table as if wanting to keep his hands busy whilst they remained empty. "I already asked him that" he mumbled when Marcus repeated his question to Kody.
He doubted he'd even started packing, he was always the last one to be ready on days like today, it was a pattern of behaviour that he'd long ago given up on attempting to correct. He always left Reena to help sort him out, they shared a room, that meant that it was her responsibility to make sure he had what he needed before returning to school.
Jax scoffed when Marcus reminded them that they had to pretend as though nothing had changed, that no one could know that their mum was gone. As if they might've forgotten how screwed up their entire situation was, as if any of it was forgettable in the space of a single night.
"We get it"
Pretend like nothing had happened. Like everything was normal. It should be easy enough for some of them - Jax couldn't keep from glaring at Verity as the thought entered his mind and he pushed his chair roughly away from the table, the legs scraping along the floor. "We need to finish getting ready" he hadn't even checked the time, but he didn't want to spend anymore time sitting at the table playing happy families than he had to. There was still an empty chair at the table, it just so happened to be a different one than they were used to.
The atmosphere wasn't warm or happy, it didn't feel like home. Even on their mums bad days, the house still felt familiar and held some degree of comfort. Now he just wanted to leave as soon as he could.
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jun 8, 2024 1:40:03 GMT 10
"Make those runes hover, all at once?", she clarified her question.
Reena blinked, then rubbed her eyes. The runes disappearing like smoke in the wind could almost make it seem as though they had only been a trick of the light in the first place. But she knew for a fact they had been there. And much to Marcus' credit, he didn't seem to try and deny their existence.
"Mh. I especially like that Whatever-rune," she said dryly. So poetic. It was intruiging though, a rune that was hard to translate? Did the concept of that word not properly exist in English?
She was about to ask about it when he went on, rejecting her offer with the notes. Apparently of so little help it didn't warrant any words.
"The laboratory was empty though. Well, the other Dad was in there. He... You... said Mum didn't want to set foot into these rooms. That her knowlede was dangerous?"
She doubted Marcus would elaborate. Though the unspoken question remained, why he had such faith in someone who deliberately kept him in the dark.
Reena couldn't quite suppress a snort when he huffed and said he ’hated not understanding’. She pressed her palm onto her mouth to hide an amused grin.
"Sorry!" Her voice was muffled through her hand. Her breath felt hot on her cold skin.
It wasn't that his frustration amused her, but rather that she sympathised with him. It was something they apparently had in common. How often had she huffed and puffed (on a mild day) about not being told anything at all?
Knowing her father was dealt the same hand, at least in this scenario... Well, who knew? Perhaps she did feel the tiniest hint of a bond right there that second.
And perhaps it was that same tiny stirring from somewhere deep within, that allowed him to loop his arm around her shoulder and guide her back towards the house. She was of course, rather oblivious to the memories of the two of them he may be reminiscing in.
"What kind of room does the Whatever-rune seal anyway?", she asked almost non-chalantly, as though she wasn't dying to ask about all the secret rooms (she had only seen the laboratory so far and up until now hadn't been entirely convinced the library was even real).
--
Though she was glad to be back inside, the atmosphere at the table felt almost as cold as the air outside. Reena rather obviously stared at Marcus on that seat, though accepted its reality without another word as she joined the table a little while after him, as she had been hanging her coat away.
Things seemed especially frosty between Jaxen and Verity, though there was no surprise there. She gave Ezzie a light pat on the back before sitting down, trying not to rile anyone up.
She cast Kody an almost apologetic look, feeling a little weird about wearing his Hogwarts jumper, eventhough she had just thrown it over by mistake in her haste earlier. But if anyone of her siblings wouldn't mind, it was him. She'd definitely give it back to him once she got ready properly, as she wouldn't be caught dead wearing Gryffindor clothes anywhere near school (or where schoolmates could see her).
Despite still not feeling able to stomach much of a breakfast, one look at her father's face was enough to motivate her for a pancake and a tiny serving of eggs. Gone seemed the man from outside. No need to reject his food on top of it.
Looking at Jax, she wondered when she had become the one to take their 'caretaker's' feelings into account. She also wondered if he had given up on trying to find Mum. He had seemed so set on it before, she would have done anything to help him.
Would she still?
Instead of agonising over that question, she pushed the egg around on her plate, nodding almost absentmindedly at what Marcus was telling them about how today was going to go.
Fine with her. Being back at school would probably be good for all of them. What she wasn't looking forward to at all was lying about their Christmas however. Not just to friends, that was easily brushed off entirely, but having to keep up the lie to their grandparents?
What if they came to another one of Kody's games? What about summer?
They simply couldn't avoid them forever.
Reena startled when Jaxen got up abruptly. Was he right about the time or did he just want to leave. Her blood suddenly seemed to drain from her face as she remembered just how much stuff Kody had brought home with him for the holidays and she shot him a look.
"Have you started packing?" She hadn't been paying attention. That one was on her.
Last Edit: Jun 8, 2024 1:51:26 GMT 10 by Reena Ashworth: eh, I just like editing so much
Post by Kody Ashworth on Jun 8, 2024 7:39:31 GMT 10
Members of his family appeared one by one and Kody had a big smile for each of them.
Well, as big a smile as he could manage with his mouth stuffed with pancakes.
Reena had appeared first but Kody noticed how she ventured outside before coming to eat. He followed with his eyes as he gulped down some juice but he was easily distracted by Sweetie again.
"Are you hungry?" He asked the small owl, trying to tempt her with a bit of something from their breakfast spread.
Next, it was Ezra who appeared. Kody was happy to see that he didn't seem too upset about what had happened the previous day.
"Help yourself. Pancakes, eggs and some juice." He encouraged the younger boy to fill his plate up and poured out some juice for him as well. Kody wanted Ezra to know he was very much still wanted and loved, despite what had been said between their family.
"Are you excited to go back to school and see your friends?" Kody added, as Ezra moved over to the door. He was thinking about being reunited with his broom -- he couldn't wait!
Kody shovelled more pancake into his mouth when Jaxen joined them. He grinned at his older brother but when asked about packing he gasped and half-choked on his food.
Of course, in all his excitement about going back to Hogwarts, he forgot he had to pack all his things up again!
He down some juice to stop himself from choking and coughing, which was the perfect time for Vee to show up and hopefully distract Jaxen. Not in a bad way but he didn't want to admit he hadn't thought about packing.
Not when he knew (without looking) that Jaxen probably had his trunk waiting at the door already.
He shared a look with Verity but it seemed most of her focus was on Ezra, which made sense. He wondered if Vee didn't like him any more because he had accepted their dad or... Well, it wasn't like they had been very close before that but Kody liked Verity a lot.
She was a good sister, in her own way.
Kody had managed to cram most of another pancake in his face when their dad appeared and asked him about packing as well. He gestured to his face, making a big deal about chewing to show he was too stuffed to talk right now.
Shoot. It was like everyone knew...
Surely he could get away with just shoving everything back into his trunk... It wasn't like Reena was going to check on it, right? She'd be too busy with... Something... Kody crossed his toes and hoped that was the case.
"I can't take you to the station, unfortunately. Just London," Their dad explained and Kody managed a drawn out, "Whaaaaa?"
But as their dad continued, he got it. Kody had seen a glimpse of how secretive their dad had to be with their trip to Diagon Alley and Gringott's. It made sense that he couldn't take them to the train.
Still, it didn't stop Kody being a bit upset about the situation.
The logical part of his brain (yes, it did exist. It was just very small and not used often) agreed with their dad but the emotional part launched Kody from his seat to cling to his dad, "You'll be here during the summer, yeah? You're not gone forever again, are you?"
There were tears in his eyes and bits of pancake on his cheeks but Kody didn't care.
The thought that he could lose his dad again so soon scared Kody. He had been spoiled by their Christmas with Marcus and seeing what it was like to have a functional parent around (who didn't get too overemotional looking at him!).
"I'll write you every day... Maybe not every day but most days! I promise!" Kody would try hard to keep to that promise. Of course, school was full of adventure and fun things that distracted him most of the time.
He hadn't even written to their mum as much as he should have and Kody felt a bit bad about it.
And of course, Reena had asked him if he had packed.
Kody squeaked, hopped away from their dad, gave Sweetie a pat and then headed for the stairs, "Noooo, but I'll start now! I'll be done in a flash!"
He paused, poised to bound up the stairs when he did a double take, "Nice jumper, sis."
There was a cackle of a laugh as he headed upstairs and into their shared bedroom. Kody dragged his trunk from under the bed and flipped open the lid.
"Alright..." He grabbed his clean laundry and dumped it in. And then added his Christmas presents in a neat little jumper nest to protect them.
"Oh, wait." Kody grabbed the tiny, owl feather that rested on the windowsill that he had collected from Sweetie when no-one was looking and a rock from the garden.
Treasures from home!
Pleased with his progress, Kody sat down on his bed to relax for a few seconds and then he'd get changed.
Post by Ezra Ashworth on Jun 8, 2024 11:35:16 GMT 10
Ezra glanced back at Kody when he heard him speak, shuffling about on his feet as he was torn between paying attention and trying to figure out what was happening outside.
He wanted to see if they managed to open the trapdoor, but it was Kody talking to him! Kody who hadn’t said bad things and hurt them. Kody who still wanted him around.
Ezra decided that he would eat maybe-poisonous food for Kody if it kept him happy. He could risk missing whatever was happening outside for him too.
“‘Kay,” he said as he shuffled back to the table.
Once there he made sure to take a big drink of the juice that had been poured for him. It seemed like the safest option after all, so a good place to start.
“Thanks, Kody!” he smiled up at his older brother, only for the smile to dim and his hand to freeze half way towards the eggs as Jaxen appeared and spoke to Kody.
Thankfully Verity was soon there to rescue him from having to figure out how to react to that, having joined the table not long after the oldest. And wasn’t that a change? Being unsure how to greet Jax, who he normally wouldn’t have hesitated with.
“Vee!” he grinned up at his sister, wanting to put on a brave face for her and pretend that he didn’t feel like crying because Jax was mean and maybe no longer wanted them around.
Then she asked about his sleep, and he couldn’t help but shift about on his seat, his eyes focused on the eggs that he had to add very carefully to his plate all of a sudden.
“Okay,” he nodded. As if his dedicated focus on his eggs, and that he couldn’t help but bite at his lip as soon as the word was out, didn’t give away that that may not have been the whole truth.
He didn’t want to think about his dreams though. Nor was he sure of how he would have even mentioned them without maybe making her mad. And that would have been bad, or something? He wasn’t actually sure, but he still didn’t want it to happen.
Quick! What could he say to change the topic back to something safer? Hadn’t Kody asked him something before he got distracted earlier?
Ezra shifted his fork through his scrambled eggs as he tried to remember, a few small pieces tumbling off his plate as the food was flipped upside down.
Oh! About returning to school and seeing his friends!
“I’m excited for school, yeah!” He focused on Kody. “And to see everyone! Do you think Christmas there was as pretty as last year? And if they had the crackers again? I can’t wait to find out! Do you think they’ll have any left over to test? Do you think they’ll have any more activities this year?”
Apparently he was quite determined for a distraction.
“Are you looking forward to seeing people too?” he finally asked, turning to look back at Vee to make sure she knew that he was talking to her too.
It wasn’t long before Uncle Marcus and Reena returned from outside, their secret meeting over the trapdoor apparently over.
Ree greeted him with a pat on his back, so he tilted his head back to smile upside down at her as she passed. Only to straighten back up in time to see Uncle Marcus sitting in That Chair.
No one sat in that spot!
Ezra was not sure if he could remember the last time someone had tried, but it was just a fact. Reena was a Slytherin, Kody would try to sneak animals in the house, no one sat in that spot. Fact.
But Uncle Marcus had.
When neither Reena or Jaxen commented on it, Ezra jabbed at his eggs a few times, unsure how to take it. Maybe they hadn’t noticed?
“No one sits there,” he finally said to be helpful, glancing up at Uncle Marcus from under his fringe as he did so. It only seemed fair to let the man know.
With that done, Ezra turned his attention to finally eating his mangled eggs. Though he had to quickly swallow his mouthful when packing spells were mentioned.
“What kind of packing spells?” he asked, his head tilted to the side as he wondered about more possibly new magic. “Ones that make things fly like the presents? Or that make things neater so it all fits?” Making everything fit in his trunk was hard!
The talk about packing did remind him of the things that had found their way out of his trunk. Like the book (or five), and his pyjamas, and his laundry. And his earmuffs, for some reason.
He should probably pack that all back away.
“Can you show me your packing spells?” he asked, since the offer had been put out there and he liked getting to see new magic. “Please?”
Ezra shoved another forkful of eggs in his mouth after he asked, determined to finish so that he could witness the magic if Marcus agreed.
Thanks to his new hurried eating, he could only nod along as they were told how the morning would go. His cheeks also became somewhat hamster-like in appearance as food was added and he forgot to chew, too busy staring at the little flowers that the man so casually made appear.
So cool..
Too busy staring at the casual magic, Ezra didn’t pay proper attention when Jax got up or Kody ran off upstairs. They were simply background noise to trying to see how the flowers were made.
Marcus sighed at Jaxen's attitude, but let it slide for now. With emphasis on for now, as he would not have his teenage son being short with him over trivial matters. Not that Aubrey's absence and the secret of that was anywhere near trivial, nor the truth of what Conrad did, but Jaxen had his moment last night.
He was not allowed to keep taking that out on others or acting as though they had a hand in it. And Jaxen's curse would see to it that the consequences of holding onto his anger would do him harm.
Turning his attention to Reena, Marcus wasn't sure how to explain the runes. He smiled at her dry tone for the whatever-rune, having missed that. He knew that tone from as early as the days she'd learned to talk. He listened to every word she said, as though they were having a casual father-daughter talk -- not about secret labs or mysterious runes.
'I didn't do it intentionally. The runes,' he finally said, taking another sip of water. 'A side-effect. It's difficult to explain. But yes, I don't know if your mother has done recent work in there or simply sealed it off to... I suppose, it's possible she'd need an untouched area upon her return. Unless she left a potion simmering down there. I don't know.'
He quickly ruffled his own hair in frustration, completely forgetting Reena's question about the other room.
Marcus glanced over at Ezra's words, confused for a moment about the chair thing. He stared at it, then understood. Of course, he should have realised.
'I do,' he said, giving the chair a pat. 'This was and is my seat. Thank you for keeping it safe for me.'
--
Having tidied up after breakfast, Marcus approached where Kody sat. He crouched in front of him, offering his son a reassuring and honest smile.
'Kody, my son, I will never...' Marcus paused, re-thinking such an absolute promise -- given their history. 'To the best of my ability, I won't leave you again. Things are different now. I know it may not be the way we envisioned, or the life we wish for, but I am home. Dad's home, buddy. I love you.'
He stood, pulling Kody with him and into a light hug. Marcus was at least confident enough Kody might not push him away, though was always careful not to hold on too tightly -- to allow them the choice to distance themselves, if they wished.
Arm looped round Kody's shoulders, he faced the rest of the family. His expression offered the same promise. He wondered if Aubrey had ever made such a promise, to always be there -- not knowing that she had done no such thing. He suspected it, as she'd always known the time would come for her to be away. Unless there were strange days when she forgot this.
He hoped not. It would be far harder to convince them to trust his promise, if Aubrey had once made her own and had now broken it. But he would try; he'd do whatever it took.
'I'm not going to pretend to know what you've all been through. I do hope you'll tell me, someday,' Marcus said. 'But what's most important to me right now is being here for you now. I can't fix everything, but I hope one day you'll see me as your dad again. You will always be my kids, and I love each of you so much. I hope that means something, at least.'
With a sigh, he nodded to Kody -- following his son upstairs to help him pack. Not that Kody asked or needed it, but he wanted to do something other than be stared down by angry teenagers. So Marcus simply lingered, leaning to the door's frame while Kody rushed about.
He looked over his shoulder to see if Ezra had joined them, having given the youngest boy a gesture to imply he was more than welcome.
'Have you packed?' Marcus asked, assuming he'd followed up though could probably hear him from the Living Room anyway. 'If you have, shall we tip it out and pack again? The spells are quick, if you'd like to see them?'
It delighted him, the chance to show off his magic to the wonder of a child. So far, he was having the most success with Kody and Ezra. Reena seemed to be giving him a chance -- or at least, some of her ice was melting a bit. Verity was a bit of a wildcard still, which was so very Verity. Jaxen... Marcus tried not to think about it, that his own son may hate him right now.
'We do need to get moving though,' Marcus added, loudly enough for all to hear. 'Jaxen's pretty keen to leave, but can everyone please confirm they've fully packed? We don't want anything getting left behind. I wouldn't be able to send them to you, if you did. Oh, does anyone need money for the Trolley?'
Post by Reena Ashworth on Jun 9, 2024 0:35:53 GMT 10
Musing over the explanation about the runes of the trapdoor, Reena wondered what Marcus could mean with Mum needing an 'untouched area'.
"Untouched by whom? Us cursed ones?"
Could the mere presence of the blood curse ruin a space one might need for recovery after a strenuous journey?
Perhaps the third room was a place to rest, like a dorm or common room. That would be kind of boring compared to a secret laboratory and a secret library. Reena didn't ask about it a second time however, assuming that, like her mum and grandparents, a question unanswered was a question unwanted.
She almost involuntarily nodded to Ezra's statement about nobody sitting in that seat.
It felt wrong, yet right at the same time.
Feeling a little uncomfortable with the atmosphere, Reena filled some juice into her goblet, as though drinking might make it go away.
She stared as Marcus went to hug Kody, then quickly averted her eyes, feeling something in her gut she couldn't quite place. The promise he made Kody... A promise from a father to his son.
Reena couldn't meet his gaze.
Reena found she couldn't do a lot of things these days.
Her head snapped upwards as Kody dashed up the stairs ro pack though, feeling her face turn hot at her brother's comment about the jumper.
No, she really had to change out of it.
Climbing over Jaxen's trunk by the stairs, Reena squeezed herself past Marcus through the door to her room.
"Excuse me," she said.
Somewhat satisfied that Kody would be helped with packing, she gathered her clothes, squeezed past her father again to head into the bathroom to get ready properly.
Meaning, she washed up, made herself presentable and changed into her Slytherin uniform (minus the cloak for convenience). The half-butterfly necklace was now hidden under her shirt, but if someone was to pay close attention they'd be able to see an imprint of its chain on her collar. With a last touch to her hair (half up, half down), she fastened her green and silver tie, then exited the bathroom for someone else to use.
"Excuse me," she said again, as she squeezed past her father a third time (there was something comical about it to her).
"Here you go, Kody."
She had neatly folded the Gryffindor jumper for him and went to open his trunk to pack it for him.
Her gaze fell on her own backpack by her bed, that she had somehow managed to fit her Christmas presents in as well (only the umbrella from Tae-Sang was leaning against it, she'd have to carry it in hand). Her fox ear beanie had also found its way onto her night stand somehow. It was laying next to a Slytherin beanie and Reena hadn't quite made up her mind yet, about which one to take with her.
"Umm, yeah," Reena looked up at Marcus as he brought up the topic of money. It almost felt forbidden to ask for it, but it was the truth.
"We actually had to spend all our money on the bus tickets," she explained.
Post by Kody Ashworth on Jun 9, 2024 1:06:45 GMT 10
The hug from his dad meant a lot to Kody and maybe he tried to fit in an extra squeeze or two. It wasn't like he wasn't used to hugs but to have them from his dad made them extra special!
But he wouldn't hog all the hugs if someone else wanted one too (though he did plan to get another one later when they had to properly say goodbye).
The offer to use magic to finish packing his trunk was definitely appealing to Kody and he nodded eagerly at his dad, "Please! I want to see how it works!"
Reena appeared to get ready and Kody was glad to get his jumper back from her and didn't mind when she added it to his trunk herself, "Thanks~"
Phew. Now what was left to do?
"I gotta brush my teeth!" Kody announced as he bounced into the bathroom and then let out the familiar yell of an energetic teen boy who had misplaced his toothbrush -- again.
"Has anyone seen my toothbrush? It's reeeeed!" He yelled loud enough to be heard all the way downstairs if anyone was still down there. Hopefully Reena or Jaxen would help him solve the mystery.
Or maybe his dad knew!
Kody, abandoning his search for his toothbrush with the hope someone else would find it, headed back into his room and decided to change out of his PJs instead.
He threw them off, tugged on his uniform in a very haphazard fashion (his jumper was definitely inside out and his shirt collar was sticking up on one side) while he debated over his school robes and his super, mega awesome cape.
"I guess I should be sensible..." He mumbled to himself, giving his cape a hug before neatly folding it to put into his trunk. It was one of his prized possessions, so he was being extra careful.
Soon, he was just left with tugging his shoes on and fixing his tie, and then he was mostly ready.
Just his hair to smooth down and-- "My teeth!"
Remembering that was a thing he was supposed to do, Kody barrelled out of the bedroom once more.
Post by Verity Ashworth on Jun 9, 2024 1:51:05 GMT 10
Verity was pretty quiet during breakfast, only looking curiously at Ezra when he changed the subject to start talking about Hogwarts again. And of course, it was odd that Marcus sat in the one chair Aubrey wouldn't let them sit in, but it made a sort of sense: she was obsessed with everything Marcus, so even the chair he sat on must be sacred. Well, maybe that was a bad word choice, given what she knew.
She doubted she would write. She already barely wrote to Aubrey (but that was mostly because she was scared of getting a response back), so why would she write to Marcus? It wasn't like he was her dad, who she would've written to in a heartbeat. But it did get her thinking that maybe she could write to her mom. Even if she wouldn't get a response back, it couldn't hurt to try.
She went upstairs, also quietly. If Ezra wanted to hang out with Marcus, that was fine with her. (No it wasn't, but she didn't want Ezzie to be mad at her, too).
Verity had hardly unpacked, mostly because she felt that it suited her mood to be wearing similar things, but also because she had overpacked to begin with, bringing home sketchpads that she ultimately didn't use. Not her fault that they switched things up on her. She brought the trunk outside of her room, hiding the fact that she had stuffed the last few things and sat on the trunk to get it to shut properly.
Then, she found her quill and ink and decided to touch up the tattoos again. If she was going on the train, someone cool might see her and she didn't want to look like a total mess, even if that was what she felt like at this point. In between designs, she hid little letters that were variations of "Sunniva," as if she could mail herself away and get away from all the stress.
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