Princes in Exile

A chapter to appease the masses. This is the last one for about four days. Going to spend some time with my new honey and the kids. *This aught to be hilarious!* Plus I'm getting my daughter ready for a week of camp WOOOOHOOOOO!!!


Enjoy and don't forget to leave a review!

Marti

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After three hours of harvesting mint, chamomile, thyme and a few other needed ingredients, Jenna sat quietly in the curing building while listening to her father patiently explain about Potions and how his home remedies were based on the Potions he’d made for more than half his life before leaving Britain and the magical world behind. She loved sitting with him, listening to his soothing voice tell her things she hadn’t known before. She was like a sponge, soaking up everything he deigned to teach her.

Her mother was tutoring Emily and Serenity, having already taught the twins earlier. Soon it would be her turn to go inside with her mother. Sometimes, it was the most boring part of the day, proving to her mother that she’d learned everything in her lessons, when she was half a year ahead on her own. Maybe her mother would start training her in her magical heritage now that it was no longer a secret.

“Would you mind if I wanted to go to Hogwarts, Daddy?” she had waited for a pause in his speech. She didn’t miss the frown he tried to hide behind a cough.

“I’d miss you, as would your mother.”

“Would the Weasleys try to meet me?”

Toby put down his knife and the ginger he’d been finely slicing to concentrate on their conversation. “Yes. They will. Arthur became the Deputy Minister and has much political power. He’s already threatened legal action. And Molly is a very maternal person. I’m sure she takes it as a personal affront that we have kept you from her Weasley bosom.” He had explained who these people were earlier, out of her mother’s earshot, not wanting to upset Mina unduly.

“Even if I don’t want to see them?”

“The rights and wants of minors aren’t curtailed only in Muggle society, unfortunately. Rarely are the desires of children considered, love.”

“Hmm. Well, that sucks,” she stated after a moment of quiet thought. Her father barked a short laugh.

“Language. And I agree. I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” He reached across the table for her hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

“How come you and Mom were married but hadn’t ever… you know?” She blushed with the question, the only one to come to mind just now. She was amazed to see her father’s face darken also.

“I think that’s a question you should file away and ask your mum in a couple of years, at least when you’re a little older.”

“Okay.” Her mind returned to her original question, now. “I think I’d like to go to school, Daddy.”


“You’d be at a disadvantage with no foreknowledge like others.”

“Mom wasn’t magical and she said she had been called the brightest witch of her year.”

“And always in trouble with her two dunderheaded friends, too. But, she was at that. I’ll discuss it with your mother tonight, which I believe shouldn’t be as late, considering the raccoon circles around your eyes,” he teased, tapping her nose with his fingertip. She giggled, smiling brightly at her father.

“Just don’t let Serenity near me with her bow and arrow, then. She might get me confused with a raccoon.”

Toby laughed again and stood, wiping his hands on his jeans. Jenna stood too, making sure to push her stool back under the workbench.

“Go inside and clean up. It must be time for your tutoring. After lunch, we have some of your mum’s vegetables to harvest.”

The girl sighed and headed out of the building, heading back towards their house. She could see her twin sisters playing in their enclosed area, digging in the dirt. Their blue sundresses streaked with mud as they shoveled dirt into their buckets and packed it down hard.

Jennifer remembered their birth; the only one to be in a hospital since their mom had had some minor complications. Jenna, Emily and Serenity had been in the delivery room with their father. Luckily nothing had happened to their mother or her sisters and everyone went home the next day, back to their little house and farm.

“What’re you making, guys?”

“Mommy went to castle. Making Hogwash!” Milana grinned up at her oldest sister, her brown frizzy hair coming out of the ponytail their mother had put in only a few short hours ago.

“Hogwarts, and it’s looking really good. Don’t eat the sand,” she warned with a laugh as Marika started to spoon some of the dirt into her mouth. The toddler dropped the spoon and began filling a new bucket, as if she’d never been caught doing it. “I’ll come out later and play. If I can. Alright?”

“’kay, Jenna. Bye,” they said in unison. Jennifer shook her head and went around the enclosure, entering the house through the sliding glass doors in the family room. Her mother looked up at her entrance, sitting across from Emily at the work table. The younger girl had her fingers shoved in her hair in frustration as she listened to her mother explain once again the social studies lesson.

“This sucks!”

“Emily Jane Prince, watch your language! Now,” Mina took a deep breath, calming herself before continuing. “I think that is enough for today. Take Serenity outside with the twins and keep an eye on them while I’m with Jenna. Don’t let any of them leave the play area, and don’t leave it yourself.” She watched as her daughter quickly gathered her papers and books, threw them into her bag and got up. When leaving her lessons, she hurried. “Jennifer, are you finished your assignments?”

“Yes, Mom. All done.” The eleven year old rolled her eyes. Her mother should know by now that she always finished her work, unlike her younger sister, who avoided it at all costs. “I even finished that essay due next week.” Out of the corner of her eye she could see her sister mimicking her, mouthing the words with her. She smirked and sat down, expectantly opening her math text. Mina sat and watched Emily go outside, closing the sliding glass door behind her and leaving Jenna and Mina together alone.

“How are you doing, love?”

“I’m alright, Mom. Are you alright?” The auburn haired girl asked solicitously.

“I’m fine. You’re father’s always there for me.”

“Yeah, he is. If I train to be a witch, I’m not going to have to take all this history and geography stuff, right?”

“I believe a well-rounded education is important. Most of the children at Hogwarts never finished their regular education once they entered there. You have no idea how many times I corrected and edited papers for Harry and Ro—Ron,” her voice cracked over the name of her best friend from school. It was the first time she’d said his name in many years. She hadn’t realized just how difficult it would be for her to return to the Wizarding world, even mentioning it seemed to get her all worked up. She smiled reassuringly at Jenna and squeezed the girl’s hand. “Their spelling and grammar were atrocious! I guess Wizard families don’t believe in continuing their basic education. So to answer your question, yes you will. You have a Muggle heritage, just as proud as your witch background.

“So, math?”

“Math. Thank you, Jennifer. I know last night was a lot to put on your young shoulders, but you’re a strong girl, and we knew you would be able to handle it with dignity and maturity.”

Jenna blushed and looked down at her textbook, the words and numbers swimming a little before her eyes before she blinked quickly to clear them.

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!


They looked so good together, sitting there with their heads bent over books, just as Hermione had done during school. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that she would home-school her children, considering how she herself loved to learn.

So long had he hunted for her. So long did he search. He’d never known how easy it was to hide in the Muggle world, especially when one really wanted to be lost in anonymity. Nine years it had taken, and he was going to be revenged, finally.

The girl’s paternity had been a shock, but no matter; children die all the time and no one would think twice when her body was with her sisters’. He could already taste the metallic tang of the blood on his lips, the smell of their fear wafting upon the breeze. He took a deep breath, imagining what he would do to them once he got them where he wanted them. Soon, it would be soon, and until then he needed to remain patient and keep a clear head. The confrontation with MacGonagall had been unexpected, but he’d still be able to keep within his plans.

With another hateful look at the mother and daughter, he turned away with a swirl of his ‘disillusioned’ cloak and Disapparated away.

“So what did you and your father talk about today?”

“Magic. And Hogwarts. He said he’d talk to you later about it.”

“I suppose you want to go there?” Mina tapped the eraser end of her pencil on the open book in front of her, not meeting her daughter’s eyes.

“Yeah, I think it would be fun. But I won’t go if you don’t want me to go, Mom.”

Mina looked at her eldest daughter and reached over to brush her auburn hair from her eyes. She smiled, recognizing the thirst for knowledge in the girl. She couldn’t deny the child her heritage. If her parents had told her she couldn’t go to Hogwarts, where would she be now?

“I’ll talk to your father tonight, like he said. But, I don’t see why you couldn’t go, if it’s what you really want.”

Jenna’s smile lit up the already sunny room even more. She wiped her eyes and looked back down at her textbook. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Now, let’s finish this work and then we can get lunch ready for everyone.”

“Alright.”

Mina rubbed the back of her neck and turned around to look out the glass doors. She could see the other girls playing on the swings and slides, but no one was looking towards the two of them. Toby was just leaving his work shed and with a frown she looked up at the wall clock. It was well after one p.m. It would be peanut butter and jelly sandwiches today, then.

tbc...