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 Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:19 pm
 ╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 35 weeks ☁══════════════╗
╠═════xxx24 October 2037xxxSaturdayxxxxxSomewhere in the North Sea
╠═════xxxStorms
Storms all week. I’ve been confined to belows-deck so I’ve been staying busy by helping everyone else where possible: repairing barrels for Jackson, brewing anti-itch cream and other potions for Healer Chakwas. Nceba showed me how she’s doing inventory for requisitions. And dinner. I don’t think Finch has left the cargo hold for days. When I went down yesterday to give her food I found her draped over a bucket of puke. She didn’t even protest when I washed her and just moaned something about how her hammock was going to get torn to shreds because she forgot to take it down. Even Liane doesn’t feel like doing anything. We worked on mermish translations for all of two hours before she decided that “Today we learn the ancient wisdom of dealing with boredom by entertaining ourselves.”
Candles are terrible. The smell sends my head spinning. Music helps, but only the cringey ballads or silly lullaby songs. Heating pads are strong evidence for there being a God. I miss chocolate.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:23 pm
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 36 weeks ☁══════════════╗
╠═════xxx30 October 2037xxxFriday
╠═════xxxHowler
After two full weeks of storms, the weather finally cleared up enough for the pelican to make it to us. A Howler was included in my mail today. Somehow, my parents found out about my pregnancy. I’m not sure how. My mother’s voice blared through the galley, expressing severe disappointment, and ordering me to come back immediately. Demands to know the name of the father and a rant about how irresponsible I was and how our family would have to broker a marriage and how this was really hurting Arietta by diminishing her marriage prospects because of this blemish on her pedigree.
Everyone looked at me with pity. I shrugged it off. My mother gets mad sometimes. She’ll calm down when Papa talks to her. So many people murmured sympathetic comments and rubbed my back or shoulder. Captain Azim asked if I needed to go home. Nceba pulled me away for an extra hour and I told her about Mother’s expectations growing up. I told her I just don’t understand how my mother can treat Arietta and me this way, as marks on a pedigree more than living feeling people. I don’t even know my daughter’s name yet and I care more about her.
The other letters were wonderful as always. I told Luana and Yvaine I feel like I’m carrying a watermelon around everywhere, so they got me a watermelon-themed dress sized for after the birth. It’s hideous and I love it. Yvaine’s started working double shifts so she’d be able to take the two weeks around my due date off. Luana doesn’t have schedule constraints, so she said to just give her an address and she’ll be at the hospital the moment I touch shore. It’s nice to know at least some people on shore are rooting for me and my baby girl.
Julius’s letter apologized for the sign mix up -- he explained Edaline had an ominous feeling in her regular divination work. “Edaline’s been worried, and thinks it has something to do with you. She keeps mentioning that you shouldn’t wear jewelry. But she’s also certain she’s talking about a Scorpio. So I guess if you know any Scorpios, pass along the message?” So I asked around, but there's no one on the ship that's even a Scorpio. My little girl should be a Sagittarius. Maybe it meant the lobster we caught for dinner. Jackson had speared it with his lucky mother-of-pearl wood carving tool as it skittered across the railing. Maybe that’s what she meant? Well, it’s in our stomachs now so I guess it doesn’t matter.
The ship was unusually quiet for a letter day.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:26 pm
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 37 weeks ☁══════════════╗
╠═════xxx04 November 2037xxxWednesday
╠═════xxxAnother Howler, and a Name
This afternoon I was in the study with Liane, trying to practice drills again. (My reaction speed drill is back to 11 seconds and I haven’t done better than 10 in weeks.) Suddenly, a loud noise screeched across the deck. Liane and I both got upstairs as soon as we could. I couldn’t see what happened, but I heard it clearly: another howler. This time we heard my mother calling me a whore and a disgrace. There were a lot of other words, promises to kill the father, and more insults to my character, telling me to stop playing around. A rant about firing Headmaster Steele for allowing frolicking on the campus, and calling everyone on the Solus conspirators--she called Captain Azim a filthy mudblood and threatened to take him to court for abduction.
Annie broke the spell, touching my shoulder and shutting the Howler up with a burst of fire. I don’t think Nceba had ever seen a Howler before last week, and this time she was attacked by one. I apologized to everyone about the disturbance and Nceba pulled me away to chat for another good hour. I joked I might need a couch to crash on for shore leave, but otherwise I was just sorry everyone had to see that.
Healer Chakwas has a potion that helps with the cramping, but occasionally my back just feels like it’s on fire and belly tenses up-- he said a few irregular contractions are not problematic. It’ll be a couple weeks still until the birth, but we’re in the final stretch. I’m still debating first names-- I’m thinking one of the Irish words—but I asked Liane if she would mind if I gave my daughter her name for a middle name.
“You want to call her Jae Sook?”
“I was thinking of Liane, but if you’d prefer Jae Sook.”
She laughed. “No, no use Liane. None of you Europeans pronounce Jae Sook correctly.” She seemed touched. “Thank you.”
I told her I’d learn to pronounce it correctly. Jae Sook laughed again and rubbed my belly. “Liane is Little Liane now.” My little girl!
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:29 pm
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 38 weeks ☁══════════════╗
╠═════xxx13 November 2037xxxFriday
╠═════xxxLabor
Another howler. No one was surprised. The moment it started, the magical folk were grabbing their wands to burn it. It got some fowl language out before Jackson snatched the thing straight out of the air and tore it apart. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Howler get torn apart like that. Before someone burnt it though, I heard Mother call my daughter all kinds of nasty things-- things like demon spawn, lust child, filth. “The product of your whoring is not an Alouette. Dispose of it and come home.” I’m writing these down because I want to remember-- if I ever get the idea that I can return--that’s not going to happen any more.
The contractions were still mild this morning, but more regular, roughly 20 minutes apart. Sometimes they would stop while I was napping or working. I thought it was fine and went about my day, helping to sort and file notes away because no one thinks I can secure the cargo hold. Nceba stayed with me, and we just talked about plans once we got to shore. I told her Yvaine and Luana were going to be there to meet me in Edinburgh--as long as I was in Floo distance, I could get to St. Mungo’s for the birth. The storm threw us off course, but we should still be in port days before I am due. Really, I was more concerned that the storm had stalled the work we were doing and the funder would be disappointed. But Nceba said Azim seemed to be confident in the work we’d done and that the funders would be eager to recommission us. So between that, looking forward to shore leave, and an actually good night of sleep, I was in a pretty good mood. There was a general sense of good cheer as everyone was looking forward to shore again, and I happily went along with that. By dinner, we were all packed and starting the journey home.
It started about an hour before midnight. We were gathered for a last jig session on the deck, and Jackson was playing something he’s written for a girl back in secondary school: “This here now’s to Little Liane--looking forward to meeting yah.” One moment I was nodding along thinking it was actually pretty okay but I’d really like another heading pad. The ship hit a big wave and I felt a jolt as the cold sea spray ghosted my skin. There was a flash of light. Then the pain hit, like my legs were trying to tear themselves off my hips and jump into the water. I cringed for a long minute before my legs decided they didn’t really want to go swimming and reattached themselves. When I was good again I realized there was screaming from the crow’s nest—it took a moment to place—Finch. She’d gone back up to the crow’s nest and had been struck by lightning. Someone apparated up and there was a flurry of activity—calling for Healer Chakwas, trying to resuscitate Finch, putting out the spark of a fire.
Then it happened again— no flash of light, but my bones trying to jump out of my skin and pain crackling up my spine. This time Annie caught me before I fell over, Annie told me I was leaking all over the deck. Next I knew, Captain Azim was barking orders. The crew sprung into action. They sent spells through the sails to get us moving and ordered people to help Healer Chakwas to stabilize Finch. I was ordered down to Chakwas’s room for when he was done with Finch. I got mostly there when the head-splitting contraction happened again on the stairs. This time, Jackson literally picked me up and carried me to the patient bed.
The next few hours were a blur. Every five minutes a spasm tore through my back. My gut would clench like a rock, and I felt like I was constantly bracing through the pain.
Of course, I got stuck with Miles Jackson watching me at this time. He kept asking what to do and I kept screaming I didn’t know. He panicked, I panicked, and I’m pretty sure we did a few rounds of insults in the middle of that.
Finally after what felt like hours, Annie came in, as scared looking as she was the day we met. But she silently lit a calming candle, got me another towel, and sat next to the bed holding my hand. Between the spasms I heard her muttering to herself—facts about different underwater biomes, normal temperatures, magical creatures who lived there, example locations, notable features. It wasn’t exactly as comforting for me as it was for her, but it was more reassuring than Jackson screaming with me. I tried focusing on what she was muttering, but every time I thought I could follow there was another wave of tearing limbs and screaming or whimpering. A few times another crew member would rush in, grab a potion or ingredient with a concerned question or glance, and then rush back out. Healer Chakwas popped in during Annie’s shift, told me my water had broken and I was in labor. He did a quick check, asked a few questions, adjusted a few pillows so I could sit up, and watched a contraction before going back to Finch.
At some point Nceba came in and told me it was just before dawn. Finch had sustained severe burns and was rattled, but she would be fine. Jae Sook had sent a patronus to Yvaine and Luana to meet us at shore, but it was likely I was going to deliver my daughter right on the ship. She had food if I wanted, just a shake if I could handle it. For the first time that night I felt a relief. Finch was okay. A few minutes later Healer Chakwas himself arrived. Checked me over, said I was doing great. More relief. My little Liane was doing great. I was okay.
Then of course the next contraction hit and I was back to crying.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:31 pm
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 38 weeks ☁══════════════╗
╠═════xxx14 November 2037xxxSaturday
╠═════xxxBirth
We pulled into the port in the eleventh hour. Literally. There was a tugboat with a drunk helmsman blocking the way. I heard that Jackson yelled “We’ve a woman in labor ‘ere and need to dock; move yer sorry arses or I’ll turn the cannons on yeh!!” at the midmorning port.
The room was cramped: Healer Chakwas was at the foot of the bed, counting minutes and monitoring me with regular diagnostic spells. Occasionally he peeked under the blanket. Nceba knelt next to me, murmuring support, keeping the heating pads warm and managing everything from the blanket being not damp to the candles still smelling (or not smelling). Annie sat in the corner, staring at me with wide, watchful eyes and muttering to herself. Jae Sook sat in the other chair, helping Healer Chakwas or Nceba. I saw a few other crew members peek in intermittently.
I didn’t know we’d docked until Captain Azim stopped by and murmured something. Jae Sook left for a few minutes. Said “Stay strong.” She came back with Luana and Yvaine. I think I was delirious by this time. The contractions were worse. More frequent. I was screaming. Crying? Mumbling gibberish at my crew and friends.
If it felt like I was carrying a watermelon before, now it was like trying to poop out a watermelon. A very slimy but whole watermelon. At some point I apparently said it was like someone trying to stuff a barrel through a porthole. The barrel got stuck sometimes, and the person had to take a break every few millimeters. I was the porthole.
But finally, there was a cry that wasn’t me. I actually stopped crying at the sound. She was so little, covered in blood and dripping. She came out shrieking, a small, high-pitched note that stopped suddenly for breath and then resumed screaming, a little softer each time until they were little piping cries. Healer Chakwas let me cut the cord between us. He wrapped her up, clean and dry, and put her in my arms.
“Duanaire Liane. Evera.” I named her after the Irish books of poetry Luana and Yvaine gave her and Annie read to her. After Jae Sook Park. And after Julius. Because Mother was right about one thing: she’s not an Alouette.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:33 pm
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 1 week old ☁═════════════╗
╠═════xxx19 November 2037xxxThursday
╠═════xxxFriends
They moved us to a muggle hospital afterward for recovery. Little Liane was put in a little dish and constantly checked on-- they said they probably didn’t need to put her in the muggle breathing boxes, but they were worried she was a little small at 2.8 kg, 45 cm (6.2 lbs, 17.7 in). But it’s been almost a week and she seems healthy. We’re in a quiet corner ward and Healer Chakwas and Nceba check in on us.
Captain Azim and the rest of the crew visited once we were stable. I asked if the commissioner had gotten back to us and everyone exchanged glances. Then people laughed and sighed and Captain Azim patted my head. “Just focus on you and little Liane now. You’re on shore leave.” Annie and the magizoology team have been hard at work getting a report written for them, and then we’ll find out what’ll happen.
When she first heard the last name, Luana thought I meant Jaren at first and literally screamed. Jae Sook hushed her. Yvaine didn’t react until later: she told me she should have figured, seeing how Edaline and I had been among the only people Julius could really call friends all these years. I think Luana may think less of Julius, knowing that he’s with Edaline now.
Duanaire Liane Evera. I keep whispering it to her. I still don’t have a plan, but I was reading my old entries in here and found that line that Jae Sook said: “You will know soon, when you hold your daughter in your arms and speak her name.” I do that, but the only thing that’s come to mind is that her father should know. Should be here.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:34 pm
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 2 weeks old ☁════════════╗
╠═════xxx28 November 2037xxxSaturday
╠═════xxxRest
The muggle doctors let me move to Jae Sook's place. Healer Chakwas still comes around every evening and Nceba checks in every few days with groceries and to chat. Yvaine and Luana are spending as much time as they can with their little goddaughter, but Yvaine has to return to work Monday.
I finally saw Finch. They couldn’t let her in the muggle hospital, but she’s been worried sick since she woke up. It was a relief to see her recovered and relieved.
I’m just so tired. All I do is lie there and stare at little Liane. I’ve already a dozen sketches of her. Sleeping. Feeding. Screaming. She’s adorable. I can’t tell her hair color yet, but her eyes are a silver-blue. Light as Julius’s, but there’s definitely my blue there.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:36 pm
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 3 weeks old ☁════════════╗
╠═════xxx2 December 2037xxxWednesday
╠═════xxxFamily
Jae Sook had me read over the report she’d made on our cursebreaking finds. I was embarrassed not to have helped, but I guess I had a pretty good excuse. And my notes helped. All my late night note making was useful! Annie submitted the magizoology report as well. We’ll hear back in a week.
I left my daughter with the crew for ten minutes while I met with Healer Chakwas and they nicknamed my daughter. Aire. Except they pronounced it AYE-ree. When I asked why, it was because they’d misread her spelling as duan-AYE-ree instead in DOO-an-air. But now the whole crew is calling her Aire. I caught myself doing it too. 10 minutes!
I was worried about telling Julius, worried about the funder recommissioning us, worried about home. Jae Sook told me again to give my worries to the ocean. I still don’t know exactly what that means, but I wrote a list. Wrote I was afraid Julius would react like my mother. Worried he’d be mad I didn’t tell him. Worried Edaline would see me as interfering. Worried that I really can’t go home. Worried I don’t have a job now. Then tonight when Luana came over, I burned it, and scattered the ashes in the garden pond. It reminded me of the last time I did it, but this time I still felt nervous.
When we turned back to the house, there was an owl waiting for us. It looked like it had been flying for days, but only had a small package attached to its leg. A short note, in Arietta’s hand: “I heard you gave birth! To a daughter! Congratulations! I know Mother has been agitated but I can’t wait to meet my niece! I think I know who the father is, but I haven’t told our parents my suspicions. I wanted to hear the story from you. Will you come home for the New Year, Allie? For me?”
There was a small pink and white bracelet included. Little crystal beads shaped like flowers and baubles. Definitely Arietta’s handiwork. Jackson’s yelling made the local news, so it wasn’t entirely impossible she had managed to find out. I inspected the bracelet, and it didn’t seem to have anything wrong with it, but Aire’s not exactly big enough for a tiny bracelet, so I just put it in my pocket.
A good thing too. At midnight the bracelet suddenly started to glow a feverish temperature. In an instant I had my wand out, and cast the simplest of curse removals. It didn’t work, but the next moment I had flung the trapped bracelet across the room, and thrown a containment barrier over it. I don’t know how long it took, but it wasn’t long enough. My thigh still has a brand on it— who knows what another second could have done.
I reviewed the note. It was definitely Arietta’s hand. I don’t know what to think now, but I sent a patronus to Luana and borrowed her owl to send a message to my sister, demanding answers.
Aire slept through the entire thing. Jae Sook has taken the bracelet for examination and proper disposal. “If you want to leave your parents, I will understand, and my house is always open to you.”
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:40 pm
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 4 weeks old ☁════════════╗
╠═════xxx11 December 2037xxxFriday
╠═════xxxArietta and the Case of the Missing Letters
Arietta visited today. She told me when she received my letter, Mother had asked what happened to the daughter. That’s when she found out her own letters—to and from her—were being monitored, and her present had been cursed. Arietta had heard about Luana asking for resources back in school and written to her, but Luana had simply written back that she’d been mistaken. Mother must have gotten suspicious.
I told her Mother was likely to disown me. She replied that Papa wouldn’t allow it, but she didn’t seem convinced. I showed her the words she had said about Aire, and told her I could never return. She begged me to reconsider. I reassured her I had a family aboard the Solus, and that Jae Sook said she’d adopt me if our parents really did disown me. I said I might break ties myself.
Arietta had another present for me: A package of letters from Julius, collected before Mother thought to monitor my messages as well. The first one was postmarked a few weeks after graduation, just brief well wishes and questions for training. Then a series of postcards, each with some short note: a poem, an interesting fact, a drawing, a complaint. Well wishes for when we set sail. His first actual letter was marked the start of August: he was living in a studio in Inverness. Address, things like that. He misses our afternoons by the viaduct. Write back. The next letters wonder if I’m not getting his letters. But still, updates, recordings. Write back.
She asked me if he was the father and I confirmed it. “He sounds like he cares very deeply about you. Read the messages at least, Alys. And write back. He deserves at least to receive a reply from your own hand.” I assured her I’d write back. So I did. I told him the Solus was docked in Inverness for the rest of the year. I could have probably Floo-ed up and just knocked on his door, but I figured the letter would buy me some time.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:43 pm
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 5 weeks old ☁════════════╗
╠═════xxx14 December 2037xxxMonday
╠═════xxxJulius
Not enough time. Julius apparently headed to the Solus the very afternoon he received my letter. He and Edaline had been about to take a walk along the docks when the owl arrived. Too convenient. Evidence for there being a meddlesome God. Nceba called Jae Sook with the muggle phone. Jae Sook told me “Neither of them are your enemy,” and sent me through the Floo.
It was barely a five minute walk from the office on the pier that serves as our magical hub from shore. As I walked the way with Aire in my arms, I wondered again what I would say. But the moment he saw Aire, there was no need to say anything. Julius still seemed happy to see me. “What’s her name?” I told them.
He wished I’d told him earlier. I asked if he would still be engaged to Edaline now if I had. He admitted he wouldn’t. I said I knew they would be good for each other, back when I told him to talk to her.
He looked me in the eye and I found him just as beautiful and hard to read as a year ago. “Alys...you’re lying about that, aren’t you?”
I denied it, and congratulated them. He didn’t ask again.
Edaline herself was another surprise. She never even flinched and said if I ever needed an evening off, she’d love to babysit. I didn’t know what to say. I knew they would be good to her, and I knew I couldn’t take her with me. Five months ago it seemed like the most responsible plan was for Julius to take care of Aire while I was at sea. But it didn’t anymore, and I don’t think I could stand not knowing how she was while I was at sea.
Julius asked to hold her. He held her so gently and said her name so sweetly, and in that moment I knew that even though our lives weren’t together, we’d always be bound by Aire.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 10:44 pm
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ☁ 6 weeks old ☁════════════╗
╠═════xxx22 December 2037xxxTuesday
╠═════xxxFuture
Captain Azim was discussing the report with the commissioner today, so the crew convened to await the verdict together. There’s still more analysis that can be done, but everyone was too nervous. They hung out at Jae Sook’s place since Healer Chakwas still won’t let me work or even walk further than a few minutes around. We played with Aire, talked, and sat quietly around until Jae Sook said that Aire had the right idea and she was going to get a drink too. I told them about Fairy Mix, and no one had heard of it. No surprises I guess.
Finally Captain Azim walked through the Floo. We’re good. The funder was looking forward to seeing more analyses, but they were already discussing another voyage. There were cheers all around. Even Aire gave a little raspy scream. The budget is still under consideration, but they’ll figure that out after the new year. For now, it was enough that the crew would stay together.
Well, almost: Jae Sook confided she would not be coming with us again. “I am eighty-five!” Finch was obviously not coming along, but she begged me not to free her. I’ve started discussing placing her at Luana’s lab, or maybe she can stay on with Jae Sook.
I’ve been talking to everyone about plans. The crew welcomed having Aire aboard-- Jackson went as far as to say I couldn’t possibly expect to take everyone’s favorite crew member away. But I’m still considering it, especially since I'm living with Jae Sook now. Luana and Yvaine have both offered to watch her when she’s a little older. And of course Julius and Edaline were welcoming. I don’t know what exactly we’re going to do, but Aire has options.
Annie had fallen asleep on the couch and was still there then everyone left, so Jae Sook let her stay. We shared a room, just like back on the ship, and she offered to read and sing just like on the ship. But I told her I’d rather just talk. So she set the book aside and told me she’d never seen a circus before—the crowds had always scared her too much—but she wondered now if it would be useful to watch a trapeze artist at work and integrate that onto a ship. I replied I might know a circus manager. And so we talked.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 11:02 pm
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════☁═════════════════════════════════════════════╗
Epilogue
A few scenes from another perspective
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 11:54 pm
 ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
╠═════xxxFirst year, December 2030
The first time they talked was 1st year. It was the end of study hall before first semester exams, and there was hardly anyone left. He summoned his courage and asked around if anyone had gone to the DADA review session and had notes he could reference. Edaline had handed hers over silently. Her handwriting were perfectly formed little letters that looked more like typeface or calligraphy than handwriting. “Thank you. For the notes. You... have nice handwriting.”
Edaline looked up at him. She had blue eyes, steel and faded, but with specks of color there that lit up when she stared at someone. “You marry me,” she said, searching his eyes. “You’re the one at the altar. You marry me. And I break your heart.”
“Uhm...Pardon? We've barely--”
“No. I don’t break your heart. Your heart was already broken. But you marry me because I ask, so in a way, I break your heart.” Edaline dropped her gaze and he realized she was crying. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Julius, Ravenclaw house. You’re Professor Evera’s son. Julius Evera. Edaline Evera. I don’t mind that. I’m sorry. For breaking your heart. For lying to you. For hurting you.”
Julius stared blankly at her. He was not good at emotions, and he was very not good with...well, whatever this brand of crazy this was. She would find out soon that he already had a reputation for being the quiet, introverted, bookish brother. If she wanted to talk she should have gone to Jaren. “Edaline, you said? Uhm. I... see you’re into divination? Are you a seer or something?”
She wasn’t. But Edaline knew. Everything she Saw came true, one way or another.
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Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2020 1:29 am
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╠═════xxxFourth year, June 2034
Alysanne Alouette. Gryffindor, like his brother. She seemed to be friends with Jaren, but she was dating her roommate, another girl. She leaned over once in DADA third year and told Julius that fishermen had encountered thirteen separate boggarts hiding on one section of the Great Barrier Reef. “Swarmed the ship! Everyone’s fears came out!”
Alysanne laughs when she complains. “Julius, do you think your mum will fail me if I write my entire finals on maritime law? I think that was the only unit I paid attention to.”
He doesn’t know what they’re talking about in law. He never took law. His mum had been disappointed, but not terribly. She understood he wasn't interested in that life.
“I’m sure you’ll be okay?” Julius says, but it comes out as a question instead of a reassurance. Alysanne laughs. That’s a good thing, right?
“It’s fine, I can still be a cursebreaker if I fail Law. Potions now….why do I need potions to be a cursebreaker?”
“Do you need help in potions?”
“You get Os, don't you? Would you tutor me? I count myself lucky if I get Ps for Potions!”
They start hanging out soon after that. Alys quips and jokes as she works, but she picks up quickly. He likes the flash of excitement and understanding in her eyes when she figures something out she never understood before, and it makes him feel a little more seen, a little more real.
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