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Welcome to the Aldred Family's home!

On the outskirts of the town of Dunstable, in a muggle neighborhood, lies the home of the Aldreds. The house is small, but tastefully furnished. You enter directly into the living room, which has a fire place as Mr. Aldred floos to work daily. Continuing on, you reach the kitchen, where the family owl, Banshee, roosts. Directly outside the kitchen is the garden, where Mrs. Aldred can often be found working happily. Upstairs in the house is the bathroom. Further down the hall is the Aldred's only child, Marina's, bedroom, and the master bedroom. The house also has an attic, which serves an an office space for both Mr. and Mrs. Aldred. Marina has since grown up and moved out, but her bedroom remains mostly the same, minus all of her things.

- The Aldreds are a halfblood family. Mr. Aldred is a halfblood wizard, and Mrs. Aldred is a muggleborn witch. Their daughter Marina is a halfblood.

- Mr. Aldred is an orphan. His father was killed on an Auror mission when he was six and his mother killed herself several months later. He grew up in Wool's Orphanage.

-Mrs. Aldred is somewhat estranged from her family. Her magical powers distanced her from her elder sisters and parents, and Marina has only met her muggle family several times in her young life.

-The Aldreds are a mixed house family. Mr. Aldred was a Hufflepuff, and Mrs. Aldred was a Ravenclaw. Marina was a Slytherin, and recently graduated from Hogwarts.

I'm in here, can anybody see me?


Bernadette came into her daughter's bedroom so quietly the brooding girl didn't notice. She looked at her daughter worriedly. When she'd heard that Marina had gotten hurt at Hogwarts she'd been in out of her mind with worry. Dustin had wanted to go and get her, but the headmistress had assured them that Marina was not seriously hurt, only shaken and exhausted by her ordeal. Apparently the Divinations professor had gone mad with grief the year before but nobody had noticed. He'd killed his cat in a fit of rage and then proceeded to try to kill the witnesses, Marina and some pureblood boy in Slytherin with her. The boy had saved Marina's life and had almost died as a result. Bernadette had cried with joy when Marina had gotten off the train, looking fine, except that there was something different about her. She was less carefree, more serious and mature. She'd eventually realized that Marina had begun to grow up. She was no longer a little girl, and was fast becoming a young woman. Now she was concerned. Marina had been so withdrawn and quiet lately; it was unlike her. "Marina, are you alright? You seem very down lately," She sat on the edge of her daughter's bed.

I'm in here, can anybody see me?


Bernadette smiled faintly. "I seem to remember being a moody twelve year old who wouldn't tell my mother anything about my school year. Marina, what your first year was like is none of my business, but I want you to know that you can tell me anything. I will never judge you, love." She squeezed her daughter's hand comfortingly.

The world is broken, halos fail to glisten



Dustin glanced up from his copy of the Daily Prophet to see his twelve year old daughter nodding off to sleep. This had been very rare before this summer. Marina had always been a sound sleeper, even as an infant. But this past summer she'd had nightmares frequently. He and Bernadette had woken up to hear her screaming in terror, still asleep, very night for a week after she came home. The nightmares had gradually lessened, and she hadn't had one since August. But judging by her behavior this morning, she'd had one the night before. "Marina. Eat your toast, you don't want to miss the train, do you?" He got no response. "Marina! Wake up!"






I'm in here, can anybody see me?



Bernadette looked over at her daughter anxiously. "Marina, are you alright?" She shared a concerned look with her husband and sighed. Of all the days for Marina to be exhausted from a sleepless night. The poor girl would probably sleep the whole way to Hogwarts.






How did we get here? When I used to know you so well?



Marina stirred presently. "What? Oh, I'm fine Mum. Just a little drowsy." "Just a little drowsy?" Dustin echoed disbelievingly. "You almost fell asleep! You had another nightmare last night, didn't you? What was it about?" Marina looked down at her toast and said nothing. She ate quickly, ignoring her parent's worried looks. "We better get going." she said, jumping up and dashing into the living room. She grabbed a handful of Floo powder and tossed into the fireplace. The flames turned bright green. "Platform 9 and 3/4," she said clearly, ducking into the fireplace and disappearing. Dustin and Bernadette followed.

I'm taking it slow, feeding my flame, shuffling the cards of your game



Marina was looking at her hair worriedly in an antique mirror with a handle, staring at the reflection in the stained glass. "Mum, are you sure this looks okay?" she asked once again, running a hand through her new bangs. Bernadette Aldred sighed in exasperation. "I've told you a million times, Marina, it looks great. I should know, I cut it! Don't you trust your own mother? Really, dear, have a little confidence. You're a pretty girl." Marina had decided it was time for a change upon her arrival home. She'd had her hair in the same style since she was 10: long and curly, rarely clipped back or put up in a ponytail or bun. But she was a teenager now, and she didn't want to still look like a little girl. So she'd convinced her mother to cut it short and give her bangs. Now her hair, which had previously reached mid way down her back, was just past her shoulders, and the edges of her straight bangs brushed her eyebrows. It was still curly, since Bernadette refused to straighten it, claiming that her curls were lovely and framed her face. Now the young teen sat on the kitchen counter, long legs dangling. She'd had another growth spurt, and was now an inch taller than her petite mother, who was five four. It was only to be expected though, as her father was six one. The owl swooped in. The redheaded girl sprang off the counter, pouncing on the letter. "Mum! It's a letter for me!" she exclaimed happily, snatching a knife from the table and slitting the envelope. "Marina, please don't use my good knives for letter opening purposes," Bernadette scolded. "That was a wedding gift, you know..." He daughter wasn't listening, instead intently reading the letter. She looked up, eyes gleaming with excitement. "My friend Nell is asking me to come stay with her for a couple of days! She's the one who lives in Scotland, I've told you about her. Remember? Her parents own an inn on Loch Lomond?" She paused for a moment to restrain herself from jumping up and down in excitement. That wouldn't be befitting a teenager. "So can I go?" she asked in a more casual tone.

The world is broken, halos fail to glisten



Dustin sighed as he was pulled into the kitchen by his impatient daughter. "What's going on Marina?" he asked in exasperation, giving his wife a smile. Marina let go of him and stepped back a bit. "You two are going to 'talk about' me going to stay with my friend Nell in Scotland. And then give me permission. Hurry up now, I want to write back to her soon." she said with a typical Marina smile, which was half sweetness and half steel. "Just hold on a minute here, " Dustin began hotly. "Just what is going on?" His wife handed him the letter while narrowing her eyes at her daughter. He read it swiftly and frowned. "I don't know Marina.... How well do you know this girl? And what's this about her brother?" His daughter stared at him. "Dad! Nell's a close friend! And her brother won't be there! No boys! I'll be fine! Please let me go!" she pleaded, clasping her hands imploringly. Dustin shared a look with his wife. "What do you think, Bernie?" She shrugged. "It seems alright to me if we let her go. It'll only be a day or two, anyways. And we can have some time alone, without having to listen to a certain girl blasting alternative rock in her bedroom all day." Marina looked indignant. "Mum! Music is good for the brain!" "Yes, because all that screaming in those songs really multiplies brain cells," Bernadette retorted sarcastically. She shook her head and turned back to her husband. "Well, are we in agreement?" Dustin stood silent for a moment then finally nodded. "I guess she can go." "ThankyousomuchIloveyouI'mgonnawriteherbackIcan'twaittogobye!" was the reply from Marina, who raced out of the room with the letter. "Wait for it..." his wife murmured. The sound of alternative rock music could be heard from upstairs moments later. Dustin cracked up laughing with his wife in the kitchen.

Can't you hear my call? Are you coming to get me now?



Bernadette stood in the backyard with her daughter, shielding her eyes with one hand from the summer sun. Today was the day Marina left for Nell's house. Dustin had already left for work, so it was just the two of them, sitting in the garden under a tree. She was doing a cross word puzzle from the muggle newspaper and tapped her quill against her cheek thoughtfully. "Marina, know any African birds with a long tail?" she asked half jokingly.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage