Something Unexpected

Streaks of pink and orange could be seen gracing the sky on a cool Monday morning. At number 17 Gooding Road, a girl of about 17 stirred in her bed. Her icy blue eyes fluttered open as she looked around her room, not immediately registering where she was. Panic could be seen on her face for a moment but then it was gone.

“That’s right, we moved yesterday,” She whispered. She groaned as she looked at her alarm clock. “Six o’clock, ugh.”

She pulled on her dressing gown and made her way downstairs where her mother sat, nursing a cup of coffee, with her twin baby sister and brother both slept in their respective bouncy chairs. Sitting down, she looked over at the twins and smiled.

“Still not sleeping well mom?” Her mother opened her tired hazel eyes and smiled.

“They’re only two months old Jenna. I’m not going to sleep well for awhile.”

“True,” Jenna said, pulling her messy brown hair into a ponytail. “I still can’t believe Dad is gone.”

David Matthews had died three months ago under mysterious circumstances, leaving his pregnant wife and teenage daughter with no one else in the world. They had worked on moving into this smaller home for a week, and had just finished yesterday. Jenna and her mother, Janie, had taken turns with the twins, David Jr. and Joanna, while the other packed and just yesterday they had loaded the stuff into their neighbor’s moving van, who had kindly offered to let them use it for free.

“I know Jen, I know. I wish he could have at least met his twins.” Janie sighed as one of them stirred and started to cry. Jenna looked over, it was Joanna. Taking a look at how tired her mom was, she picked the infant girl up.

“Shhh, it’s okay Jojo,” Jenna whispered, using the baby’s nickname. “Aww, you’re cold.”

“I must have forgotten to put her blanket back on her. At least DJ still has his on.” They both looked at the little boy still curled up with his blanket tucked in around him. Joanna had snuggled into her big sister’s warmth and her soft breathing could be heard.

All of a sudden a light tapping could be heard at the tiny kitchen’s window. Janie walked over and opened the window, watching as a brown owl flew in and landed on the back of her chair, with a letter tied to it’s leg. They both knew what it was about as Janie opened the letter.

“It’s from Hogwarts. They’ve received all the parchments pertaining to your instruction at Beauxbatons; you’ll be going to King’s Cross Station on the first to catch the train for Hogwarts.” Janie put the letter down. “I don’t know how I’m going to manage without you. We do get the insurance money from the muggle world since your father also worked there, but I can’t go back to work, I don’t know anyone to have someone watch the twins.”

“Then I won’t go to school Mom, you need me here.” Janie felt awful.

“No Jenna, you need to go to school. It’s important. You won’t survive by yourself in the wizarding world without one. You have your muggle education already at least.” At that time, another owl swooped in through the open window. Just a simple piece of parchment was tied to the leg of this one. Jenna grabbed and unrolled it with her free hand.

“It’s from a Mrs. Molly Weasley. She says that Headmaster Dumbledore told her we might need some help with the twins in order for me to go to school. She says you’re welcome to go to her house during the day.” Janie shook her head, a small smile on her face.

“Dumbledore always was one step ahead of everyone.” She sat back down. “I remember when I was at Hogwarts, Dumbledore knew everything, and he knew I was going to end up with your father even before I did. He’s a very smart man, maybe a little senile, but very smart.”

Jenna nodded and carefully put Joanna down before excusing herself to her room. Sitting at her desk, she grabbed a nicely decorated raspberry colored box. Opening it, she looked at the picture that was attached to the bottom of the lid, her dad and her about a month before he died. It was a charmed picture, and both persons in it were waving.

“Dad, I miss you.” She whispered. “Things are hard around here without you. I’m starting Hogwarts soon though, your old school. Professor Dumbledore arranged for mom to have some help with the twins during the day too. I wonder what house I’ll be sorted into. Will I be a Ravenclaw like you, a Hufflepuff like mom?” Sighing, she grabbed a drawing pencil from the pile the box held. It was her last birthday gift from her dad.

“Things will get better, right Dad? You always said things got worse before they became better. I hope that’s true.”

Jenna spent most of the early morning drawing in her room, pictures seemingly coming to life as if they were real, and not just drawn on paper. When 9 o’clock drew near, she jumped in the shower, and then dressed in her robes.

“Jenna, come eat something!” Janie yelled up the stairs. The twins were sitting in their seats again, just watching as their mom bustled around the kitchen, cooking a small breakfast for her and their sister. “Jenna, you have to eat, or I’m not letting you go to Diagon Alley!”
Jenna ran down the stairs, her chocolate brown hair flying out behind her. Steaming hot waffles with butter spread across them were on her plate at her place at the table. She poured some raspberry syrup on them before wolfing them down.

“Slow down, you eat like I never feed you.” Jamie laughed and her daughter smiled. Mom never laughed anymore.

“Thanks for breakfast,” Jenna cleaned her place and then ran over to the fireplace, while reaching to her side for a little pouch with a bunch of green powder in it. “Diagon Alley.”
Jenna disappeared into the fireplace with a flash of green, and then she was gone. Jaime shook her head; Jenna was always in a rush for everything.

~*~

The Leaky Cauldron was bustling with odd looking witches and wizards, among other creatures. Jenna was careful and kept out of everyone’s way, without attracting any attention, something she learned from her father. After withdrawing some money from her mother’s account at Gringotts, she rushed around getting all of her school supplies. She came to a stop in front of Flourish and Botts bookstore, with just her texts left on her list.

“My favorite kind of store,” she whispered as she entered. She lingered among the aisles and piles of books, picking out a few that were just for reading pleasure.

“I don’t care if they’re just right over there, I demand you to get them for me!” Jenna looked up to see a blonde haired man yelling at shopkeeper. She shook her head and was about to go back to looking around when she spied a young man about her age standing just out of sight. He was obviously related to the older man, after all, how many other people have that shade of blonde? A closer but quick look revealed that what had looked like a smug face at first was actually an expression of annoyance, he didn’t care for the display of immatureness his father showed.

She dared to glance at him yet again and ice blue met steel gray. Jenna felt her face grow warm but she didn’t dare look away. A gentle smile graced this boy’s angelic features before he glanced over at his father. She used this chance to hide behind a bookshelf. He was beautiful, from the white blonde hair that gently fell across his brow, to his steel gray eyes, to the pale skin that seemed to lightly glow.

Jenna stood there a moment to gain her composure, her heart had been racing. She turned around and there he was, his arms were folded and he was looking right at her.

“Don’t do that!” Was the first thing to escape from her mouth.

“Don’t think I hadn’t noticed one bit that you were watching me before that.” His voice gave the impression that he was being haughty, but it seemed silky smooth to her.

“Oh don’t flatter yourself, I was just curious as to who was making such a big scene. It seemed to be a rather large three-year-old.” She smiled smugly.

“And just who might you be to insult my family like that?” His gray eyes flashed angrily.

“Is it any of your business? I don’t remember you ever saying your own name.” With that, Jenna grabbed her books and strode up to the counter, ready to pay. However, she had to wait for the shopkeeper to finish getting books for the blonde man. During that time she could feel the boy’s gaze on her back but she refused to turn and meet it. Finally an assistant came out from the back and Jenna was able to pay for her books before walking out of the shop.

“Oof,” She found herself on the ground, her bags scattered around her.

“Oh I’m so sorry.” Jenna looked up into the warm blue eyes of the person that had knocked her down. He offered his hand to her. “I didn’t mean to knock into you. Let me help you up.” As he helped her up, another boy picked up her bags for her.

“It’s alright, I should have looked where I was going-“ He held up a hand to quiet her.

“Don’t worry about it.” Her bags were handed back to her and both boys, identical looking, walked away, not before the one who had helped her up winked at her. She watched them walk away, their red hair shining in the afternoon sun.

“Mom, I’m home!” Jenna put her bags to the side of the fireplace as she cleaned the soot off of her face and hands with the towel hanging from the mantel. She shed her outer robes and shoes and headed into the kitchen where Janie was just starting dinner.

“Did you get everything?” Janie turned around to look at her daughter quickly before she put some vegetables into a pot.

“Just school things, none of the personal stuff. I’ll go another day for it.” Jenna washed her hands and put on an apron, prepared to help her mother cook their dinner.

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Alright everyone, this is my first fic, so please bear with me.

Reviews are appreciated.

Along with any ideas.