Of course she'd told her parents about Brandon, how could she not? Franziska was so giddy the day they made it official that she'd sent Rudi off immediately with a hastily penned letter. He'd only just returned a few days before the train was scheduled to head back to London.

Of course that means it's all she hears about when she meets her mother on the platform.

"Is he here? I'd love to meet him!" Pannidda Reinhardt scans the station platform eagerly and Franziska feels her face rapidly heating up.

"Mom! No, he's probably already off with his dad. We should go, don't we have a Portkey to catch?" She asks hopefully, but her mother is determined.

"We have some time, and I want to meet your first boyfriend!" Pannidda insists, and Franziska feels herself flushing at the word. "He's American, so I suppose listening would be better than watching."

Franziska finally sighs and gives in. "Okay okay, I'll look for him. Please don't embarrass me." She begs, and her mother laughs.

"Never intentionally." She promises, which really doesn't make Franziska feel better. But she just sighs again and scans the area for her boyfriend (and okay, even just thinking the world gives her an excited little thrill down her spine).

She spots him easily enough, and she waves him over with some lingering reluctance.

"Brandon, this is my mom. She wanted to meet you." Franziska introduces them quickly, studying her feet intently as she does so.

Brandon gives a sweeping bow and despite her continued embarrassment Franziska can't help but grin at the cheesy gesture. "A pleasure to meet you Mrs. Reinhardt." He smiles politely and Franziska can tell he's fully won her mother already.

"Well aren't you a gentleman." Pannidda says warmly. "Penny is fine dear. Franziska mentioned your father is around as well?"

Franziska catches the brief look of nervousness on Brandon's face before it's gone again, and she's glad she's not the only one anxious about meeting the parents this early in the relationship.

"Um, yes ma'- Penny." He quickly corrects himself. They walk a few feet over to where a man is leaning against the wall, and he looks up with slight surprise.

"Well hello there! I don't believe we've met before." He smiles brightly at both Pannidda and Franziska, offering each a handshake in turn. "Richard Young." He has the same heavy American accent as Brandon, and they have the same smile as well - Franziska finds she rather likes him already.

"Franziska Reinhardt." She introduces herself politely, and his eyes light up in recognition of the name.

Thankfully the adults get caught up chatting about recent politics, temporarily saving Brandon and Franziska from parental-based humiliation. They wait a few feet away, leaning against one of the walls.

"Your father seems quite nice, I don't know why you dislike him so much." She observes after a moment. Brandon makes a face.

"He's nice I guess, but he's the reason we moved out here after the divorce." He mumbles.

Franziska frowns and takes his hand. "Well he's the reason we met then, right?" She points out, and he smiles a bit.

"Yeah, that's true. You're the best part about this place."

She laughs at the cheesy line. "Don't let Charlie or Aidan hear you say that, you'll never hear the end of it!" She teases lightly and he chuckles as well.

Franziska and Pannidda have to leave shortly after in order to catch their Portkey which Franziska is grateful for. Despite her nervousness, there hadn't been nearly enough time for Pannidda and Richard to properly embarrass her and Brandon.

Of course then she remembers how much she hates Portkeys and she spends the ride to the Portkey offices debating which fate is worse. Ultimately she decides she's in the best case scenario as-is since the Portkey was inevitable anyway.

"You ready to go?" Her mother is holding Rudi's cage in one hand and a torn sock in the other.

Franziska hefts her trunk so that she can lean on it after the landing, and then reaches out with a nod.

"As I'll ever be."

The trip is as terrible and nauseating as it always is, and Franziska makes good use of her trunk as a stabilizer as she recovers from the trip. Pannidda waits patiently, chatting with Rudi as if he could actually understand anything she was saying.

Once Franziska has her bearings they make their way to the car, and Franziska happily naps on the drive back to their house.

Her father isn't home yet, so she and her mother prepare dinner in anticipation and Franziska attempts to dodge questions about Brandon to the best of her abilities, which prove rather poor. By the time her father arrives home she's pretty much told her mother everything about the year - Brandon included.

Of course, her father wants to hear it all too and Franziska finds herself resigned to recounting the whole tale over again at dinner. Her father is more wary of the new romance and insists on meeting Brandon before the school year starts again.

"We'll see about going to London a few days early, maybe spend some time with his family." He says it jovially but Franziska can tell it's not a request. Not that she can really complain - she and Brandon had hoped to do exactly that after all.

"Sounds good to me." She grins. "Oh, we should bring Rosalinde along too! She's been bugging me about seeing London for months now, every single letter has hinted at it." She'd kept in contact with Rosa through the Muggle post in Hogsmeade and her friend's attempted subtle hints had been as blatant as a freight train.

Pannidda smiles brightly. "That sounds wonderful! Be sure to tell her tomorrow so she can ask her mother, this isn't the sort of thing that should be planned at the last minute." She adds, her tone slightly warning, and Franziska nods eagerly.

"Don't worry mom, I'll tell her first thing!"

Franziska was good on her word, and shortly after Rosalinde and her had headed to the park to kick a football around she brings up the idea of the end-of-summer trip to London.

Rosalinde is sold even before she hears that Brandon will be there. After learning that she become determined that neither hell nor high water will stop her from going along.

"Honestly I can't believe you've got a boyfriend before me." Rosalinde gripes lightly as they pass the football lightly back and forth to warm up. "I asked out three whole people this year and no takers." She sighs dramatically in the way Franziska knows means she's mostly joking but is slightly upset.

"Most guys our age are dumb." Franziska declares firmly. "You can't ask them out, it bruises their fragile egos."

Rosalide bursts out laughing and misses Franziska's pass. "Oh my god Frannie. Is Brandon like that?" It's teasingly said, but Franziska nods solemnly.

"Definitely. He's absolutely awful sometimes." She responds, completely deadpan, and Rosalinde nearly drops the retrieved ball from laughing again.

"Oh my gosh I can't wait to meet this loser." She gasps as she finally recovers. "If he's not good enough for you I'm gonna dump him on your behalf, just so you know."

Now it's time for Franziska to miss the ball as she loudly protests this plan, though any bite in her words is rendered completely useless by her laughing at the same time.

"Fine, I'll get your dad's permission first." Rosalide jokes as Franziska hurries after the ball. Franziska honestly considers flipping her off but then thinks better of it. There's a chance it's a different gesture for Muggles, or perhaps just English and Rosalinde won't understand it.

It also would be incredibly inappropriate, and she quietly muses at how Brandon has clearly had more of an influence on her than she'd initially thought.

She passes the ball back and spend the morning patiently answering Rosalinde's questions about Brandon and firing off a few of her own about the three boys her friend apparently had made moves on.

They're still discussing the complications of trying to have a love life as they head to a small café near the park for lunch. Pannidda had given Franziska quite a bit of Muggle money in order to pay for the food so the girls had decided to splurge a bit.

The café feels much fancier than the fast food place a few doors down that they usually go to, and Franziska suddenly thinks she must look terribly out of place in her jean shorts and t-shirt with the name of some football player she doesn't actually know written out across the back. She'd only gotten it so she and Rosalinde could match while they played.

However the servers are just as polite to the two sweaty teenage girls covered in dirt as they are to the rest of the clientele and Franziska soon relaxes and she and Rosalinde are back to giggling about how strange teenage boys can be.

"He always insists on holding the door for me, did I tell you?" Franziska says grandly as she takes a sip of her sweet tea. "It's both adorable and completely ridiculous, like we're still in the time of kings and knights."

"Aw that's sweet!" Rosalinde sighs. "I wish more boys would be like him. Johan Fehrendorf dropped a door shut right in my face once like a right ."

Franziska nearly chokes. "Rosa don't use words like that!" She yelps, blushing even as she laughs.

Rosalinde sticks out her tongue. "It's a new generation! The gays are in Parliament! Ronald Regan wants to tear down the Berlin Wall! Young ladies are swearing! It's total anarchy now Frannie love." She grins cheekily and Franziska just rolls her eyes.

"I have no idea what half of that even meant." She says with a small smirk. "But considering it came from you I assume it's utter ridiculousness."

She gets a forty-five minute lecture on politics for her troubles, but she can't really complain. Rosalinde is so passionate about her topic that it's not hard to stay engaged.

When the two finish their lunch they head back out to the park, this time grabbing their sketchbooks from the bag they'd brought with and settling themselves on one of the benches.

"You should draw Brandon, that way I'll know him when we meet!" Rosalinde declares excitedly a few minutes later, abandoning her own starting sketch of a man sleeping on one of the other benches.

Franziska shakes her head firmly. "I'm no good at drawing people Rosa, you know that." She replies distractedly, retracing an edge of the outline she's working on.

Rosalinde pouts lightly. "Fiiiine." She finally sighs, whining faintly. "I guess I'll just picture him as a gawky, ugly nerd until you give me something better."

Franziska shrieks in protest but there's not much she can do. She really isn't great at drawing people.

The girls go home around mid afternoon and Franziska hangs out at Rosalinde's house, chatting in her best friend's room until she needs to go home for dinner.

That night she pens her first letter to Brandon and asks her mother if they can go into town the next day so she can mail it. She's surprised when her father offers to take her instead, but she doesn't argue.

After dinner she opens Rudi's cage so he can hunt and then settles into bed with her well-worn copy of Tales of Beedle the Bard. She does have some summer homework, but it's only the second day back. She can absolutely do it later.

The next day she goes into town with her dad just as he'd promised. She ends up sitting in his office in the Ministry of Magic, sketching the objects scattered around the room as her father chats with his coworkers and works on a report concerning his most recent mission.

They get lunch in the Ministry cafeteria and Franziska is a bit shy as her father proudly parades her around, introducing her to each of the people they meet and explaining their job. Franziska is happy to ask everyone questions as well, and they seem happy to have an excuse to elaborate on what they do.

One older woman asks her if she interested in working for the Ministry someday. Franziska answers honestly that she isn't sure yet, but she thinks she wants to work with Muggles, like her mom does.

"Or I could be a librarian. I think that would be a lot of fun as well." She adds after a moment of thought. Madame Pince, when not yelling at students for breaking library rules, seemed to have quite a nice time. And Franziska can't imagine a job where one is surrounded by books could really have all that many downsides.

The woman she's speaking to keeps smiling but Franziska can tell that it's a bit strained now. Her father quickly ushers her away so they can sit down to eat.

"Dad why was she so set on my being in the Ministry?" She asks after she's certain the woman has moved on.

Her father laughs, but it's an uncomfortable one. "Ilse is... a bit old-fashioned is all." He replies. "She lived through two wars, muggle and wizard, and it's made her just a bit cranky in her old age."

Franziska can't help but giggle. "That's fair I suppose."

Her father quickly changes the topic. "So you want to work with Muggles? I know your mom won't be giving up her position anytime soon so what were you thinking?"

Franziska shrugs. "I'm not completely sure. Perhaps Muggle Liason? Or something lower on the Muggle Relations ladder. I like the idea of living with Muggles - I can't imagine not seeing Rosalinde at least somewhat regularly." She admits.

Her father laughs. "I'm glad you have such a good friend. It's a rare thing Ziska, be sure to cherish it."

She smiles at him happily.

The rest of the afternoon her father lets her walk around the Ministry a bit, and she stops to sketch interesting architecture choices in the building. She politely introduces herself to anyone she comes across, and ends up engaging one of the interns for the Office of Misinformation in a lengthy discussion on the legality of wizards joining muggle wars.

They ultimately decide to agree to disagree, and Franziska adds the Office as one she might be interested in working for in the future.

She asks her dad about it when they're taking the bus home later that afternoon, and he laughs.

"It's certainly a prestigious office, and if you really want it I'd say go for it. But it's less focused on really interacting with Muggles as it is hiding our world from them."

Franziska grins up at him. "Exactly why I'd be so good at it, right?" She points out, and her father laughs again.

Franziska gazes out the window of the bus happily. The summer is looking bright.

Convincing her parents to let her stay with Sahana for even a week during the summer proves significantly more difficult than Rajani had anticipated.

"You have summer studies to focus on - don't think we didn't notice your A in Ancient Runes. Sahana received an O her first year." Her father says briskly when she asks for the third dinner in a row, his patience clearly running thin.

Rajani takes in a slow breath. "Wouldn't it be good for me to have her nearby to help then?" She points out hopefully, but sees the flaw in her argument as soon at it's left her lips.

Her mother shakes her head. "Your sister is starting her new job! And I'm sure her roommate will be busy as wellm- what is she doing again?"

"She's a starting Chaser for the Wimbourne Wasps mother." Rajani supplies automatically, despite knowing that Mayra being a Quidditch player will only make it harder to convince her parents.

Her mother makes a face. "Right. I never understood why Sahana insisted on being friends with that girl." She sniffs. "But it is saving her money on a flat and goodness knows London prices are absurd. Hopefully she'll rise quickly and be able to afford her own place soon enough."

Rajani stares at her food, trying to formulate anything that might get her parents to change their minds. "What if I finished all my summer work this month? And then only spend a week sometime in July?" She offers hopefully.

Her father frowns. "It is unbecoming to be so whiny Rajani." Is his only response, and Rajani steels herself internally before responding.

She's never tried to sweet-talk her parents before. Other adults of course, all the time really, but her own parents have never been on the other end of her attempts in the past. Of course, she's never lied to them until now either, so there's a time to start everything.

"It's just, Queenie was so looking forward to it, said we should make a day and perhaps spend time with the Slughorns as well - Eugene's uncle does love talking with promising young students. But I suppose you are right. I apologize father. Mother." She tilts her head down demurely and keeps her eyes focused on the table, the picture of submission.

They don't say any more on the topic that night, but the next morning her mother instructs her to give Sahana a time frame and let their eldest decide when the most opportune time would be for Rajani to visit.

Rajani immediately hurries to write her friends about the good news. Then she pulls out one last parchment and begins to pen her first letter of the summer to Ed, thinking how proud he'll be that she's been so rebellious.

You are really a terrible influence. Rebelliously yours, Raj

She grins as she finishes Ed's letter and immediately ties it to Laksmi's leg. "This one first girl, but there's a bit of a pile. You can take Eugene and Queenie's letters at the same time at least." She promises as her bird looks at the pile of deliveries with clear disdain. "And i'll give you your favorite treats tonight." Lakshmi tilts her head, and then nips at Rajani's hand and she laughs.

"Oh alright, I'll give you some after each successful delivery, how does that sound?"

It seems to please the owl well enough as she takes off out the open window almost immediately.

Rajani lays out the rest of her letters, already placed into envelopes and addressed, and pulls out her summer homework. She had promised to finish it after all, and it's in her best interest to do so anyway.

There's naturally more to do this summer than in the past, so deciding what order to accomplish things in takes slightly longer than usual, but ultimately Rajani opts for a pattern of starting with something difficult and then doing something easy before going back to something hard again.

Naturally this means she starts with her Ancient Runes translations. And almost immediately regrets it.

She ends up spending as much time actually working as she does staring blankly at the window waiting for Lakshmi to return, and she doesn't get very far in the worksheet.

Sighing as her owl returns from the first delivery, she gets up and puts her homework away. She'll work on something else and come back to Ancient Runes later. She gives Lakshmi a treat, as promised, and then sends her off with Eugene and Queenie's letters. Better to give her the heavier loads when she's still at least somewhat fresh. Rajani will send Sahana's letter next.

She pulls out her Muggle Studies assignment and gets to work on the essay, skimming through her textbook on occasion to ascertain she's remembering things correctly but for the most part it's a simple task. She already has the required two feet finished when Lakshmi returns again and starts pecking at Sahana's letter.

Rajani laughs. "Okay girl, chill. Here, have your treat while I tye this on."

Lakshmi is happy to oblige and shortly after is taking off towards the city center. Rajani knows this one will be a short trip so she settles by her desk, thumbing through her potions text and halfheartedly jotting down notes for the assigned essay.

Everything, including her homework, is finally settled after far longer than Rajani has the patience for, and Rajani finds herself flooing to Rajani and Mayra's new apartment on July twelfth with a small bag, and a ton of plans.

Mayra greets her, sweaty but grinning broadly. "Hey Raj! Your sister is still at work, some emergency meeting. Sorry I'm a bit of a mess, I had to rush back from practice to make sure you wouldn't arrive to an empty flat."

Rajani smiles easily. "I think I'd be more surprised if you weren't a mess Mayra. How are practices going?"

She listens to Mayra's descriptions of playing pro as she unpacks her bags and gets settled in the small guest bedroom of the apartment.

They then retire to the kitchen and Mayra starts whipping up dinner. Rajani clears uncertainly as she watches.

"So... I assume when my parents visit you pretend the room I'm using is yours?"

Mayra laughs. "Naturally. Sahana is really worried about what they would think if they knew." She looks over at Rajani. "Honestly, no offense, I'm surprised she told you. When I first asked her out in fifth year she was insistent that none of you ever find out."

It's weird to hear Mayra speak so casually about something that took Rajani almost four years to work out, and even weirder to hear what really is her first confirmation of her suspicions that her sister and Mayra might be more than friends.

"Fifth year huh? That actually explains a lot." Rajani responds, attempting to stay casual, though from Mayra's smirk she thinks she's failed.

"I'm guessing she still hasn't told you everything?" At Rajani's embarrassed nod Mayra laughs. "We're used to it being more of an open secret I guess. People know but no one says anything."

"It doesn't bother you?" Rajani can't help asking. It would bother her if she couldn't bring home someone she was dating, especially a relationship as serious as Mayra and her sister's seems to be.

Mayra shrugs. "I'm aware that I'm pretty lucky that my parents are okay with it. I can take being secret until we're both secure enough financially to risk properly coming out."

Rajani nods in understanding, and Mayra invites her to come learn how to use the stove top. Rajani is a bit embarrassed at first about her own incompetence with something so simple until Mayra shares the story of the first time she tried cooking with Sahana.

The two of them are still laughing and sharing stories about Rajani's sister when said sister returns from her meetings.

"I don't think I want to know." She announces after staring at the scene for a long moment, a faint smile the only indication that she's not upset.

Mayra puts down the wooden spoon she'd been stirring with and goes to greet her girlfriend with a chaste peck on the cheek. Rajani grins as Sahana looks over at her nervously.

"Hey Raj, sorry I wasn't here. Work emergency." She greets her sister, dropping her bag and shrugging off her Ministry robes.

Rajani nods. "I get that. Mayra has been teaching me how to cook in the meantime so it's been fun."

They settle in for dinner and though Sahana is clearly still nervous about Rajani being fully aware of her status as Mayra's girlfriend she does slowly relax as the meal goes on.

"So you're out with Queenie and Clary all day tomorrow right?" Mayra checks as she waves her wand to set the dishes to clean themselves.

Rajani nods excitedly. "We're doing the full Muggle experience." She grins.

Sahana raises an eyebrow. "We won't be telling mother and father about that I presume." She notes, and Rajani laughs.

"Definitely not." She agrees.

That night Rajani has a hard time falling asleep from excitement, but eventually she manages to drift off.

She's awoken by a racket in the kitchen, and is amused to find her sister and Mayra rocking out to a song Rajani has never heard before as they make breakfast together.

"You two are adorable." She observes cheekily when Sahana finally notices her and, bright red, turns off the music.

"We are." Mayra agrees promptly. "Also your bedhead looks like a wasp nest."

Rajani laughs and heads to the bathroom to get cleaned up while her hostesses finish cooking. Breakfast is a casual affair, with Sahana running off after speeding through it in order to get to work and Mayra heading out shortly after, asking Rajani to just leave the dishes in the sink for later.

Rajani hurries through the rest of her food, dumps the dishes where instructed, and races out the door, only pausing to lock up with the spare key she'd been given the day before.

She's the first one to arrive at the meeting point, and she sits on one of the benches and observes the Muggles wandering past, happily noting that her black lace skirt and top don't stand out at all.

"Well look at you, looking like a normal. I've never seen you in anything but perfectly pressed robes."

Rajani grins and spins to face Clary as her friend walks up and hops over the back of the bench in order to sit next to Rajani. She's dressed in jeans and a shirt that has an image of four men crossing a street on it. Rajani assumes it's a Muggle reference.

"I always dress like this out of uniform." She responds with slightly exaggerated primness. "And I'm perfectly pressed now as well."

Clary laughs. "It's cute. I figured you'd be wearing, like traditional Indian clothes or something."

Rajani snorts. "Only for family functions, which we haven't had in a while thank goodness. My sari is beautiful but far too warm and heavy for a day like today."

"A rare sunny day in London." Clary quips. "It's like the universe knew we needed it to be nice today."

"Hey girls!" Queenie waves excitedly from the other side of the square and the three meet in the middle, where Queenie drags them both into a hug.

"Alright, I've got our whole itinerary planned out." She announces once she's released them. "We're starting here, obviously, and working our way across the Thames and ending in the West End."

The other two nod, and after a moment Rajani clears . "Um, where exactly is 'here'?" She asks, embarrassed when both Clary and Queenie laugh.

"Welcome to the Tower of London Raj, home of some of the bloodiest history in the city." Queenie grins. "It's a ton of fun, you're going to love it."

Oddly enough, Rajani actually does. The three girls take one of the guided tours of the tower (Queenie was smart enough to bring a purse full of Muggle money for the day). The Tower's history is absolutely fascinating and Rajani has fun drawing parallels to events in wizarding history. They linger in the halls, looking around and revisiting their favorite spots for another twenty minutes after the tour ends before moving on.

The walk across the Tower Bridge and Clary makes an absolute fool of herself when a Muggle recognizes whatever her shirt means and they both starting singing a song - terribly - very loudly for almost a minute before their respective groups drag them away from each other.

"Beatles forever!" Clary declares happily. "Man I love Muggles. You could never do something like that with wizards, we're way to stuck up most of the time."

Queenie and Rajani both berate her for that comment which only has her laughing harder.

The wander down the South Bank of the Thames after that, taking in the sights and even popping onto an old war ship turned museum that Clary absolutely falls in love with. She insists on one of the short tours available and so the girls end up spending nearly an hour learning about Muggle war history, which Rajani has to admit is rather interesting.

The eventually reach the London Bridge where they stop to grab lunch before Queenie drags them across the street to where the Parliament buildings are located.

"It's basically the Muggle Ministry." She informs her friends. "And it's where I'm going to work as a liaison probably."

"'Probably'? You're not changing your mind on that are you? All this Muggle stuff put you off?" Clary teases and Queenie flicks her lightly on the forehead.

"Not even close. I'm just keeping an open mind - you never know if a better opportunity for cooperation and equality will come up." Queenie states firmly.

They end up spending hours in the Parliament buildings, as Queenie's control of the money means they go on every single different tour available.

"I'm pretty sure you could be a senator at this point from everything we just went through." Clary groans as they finally make their way away from the Houses of Parliament and towards Buckingham Palace.

"If only politics were that simple." Queenie laughs. "Come on, lets go look at pretty people wearing pretty things in a pretty building. That'll cheer you up."

Clary is in a distinctly better mood as they leave the Palace and its gardens a little over an hour later, and Rajani is sad to see the buildings of the West End approaching, lit from behind by the setting sun.

The three girls end their day sitting on the banks of the Thames, admiring the sunset and debating the best parts of their adventures.

"And don't forget tomorrow is dinner at Eugene's!" Queenie reminds them as they get ready to head back to their homes.

Clary and Rajani reconfirm that they'll be in attendance, and the three part ways. Rajani skips slightly as so goes, quite content with the state of her life.

She'll have to spend the summer with her sister more often from now on.

For once Ana doesn't complete all of her summer homework in the course of a few weeks. Instead, she sketches out a study plan that has her completing her final essay about a week before the start of the new semester.

"This way I'm still fresh when I return." She explains to her parents over dinner, quite proud of the neat schedule she's just shown them. "And it leaves room for extracurricular studying as well."

Her mother raises an amused brow at that comment, and her father grins. "Or for reading, or playing games. Life isn't all about studying Ana." He points out.

She shrugs. "I enjoy learning new things. And regardless, life is very dependent on how much you know. Knowledge is power as they say."

What she doesn't mention is that her extracurricular studying is focused on something very specific, though she's certain her Leglimens mother probably has figured it out. She's not exactly hiding her thoughts, and she's told them both already about her interest in becoming an animagus.

She's owled Professor McGonagall to confirm that she'll be able to start her training upon returning to school, and she's confident she'll be receiving a positive response any day now. After all, she'd done perfectly on her final exams.

She digs up any and all books she can find on the topic of becoming an animagus and spends her allotted free time studying up and practicing the incantation she comes across in one of the older tomes.

Her Baba pays them a visit during the time she's waiting for her professor's response, and the hag is quite taken with the idea.

"If the old biddy says no you just teach yourself, understand? In fact, you ought have done that from the start really." Baba grumbles as they practice spying with Ana's crystal ball. "Don't let anyone know about your being one. That's the best way to do it really."

"That's against the laws Baba." Ana replies calmly as she observes her Housemate Finnigan casually pick pocketing someone as he wanders through what looks like a Muggle market.

Baba sniffs disapprovingly. "You could learn from this one. Laws are confines to protect the weasels and cowards in charge."

"Yes Baba." Ana sighs, letting go of the crystal and letting the image of Finnigan fade. "Are we moving on yet? I believe I have demonstrated I'm quite proficient at this by now."

She used to love when her Baba visited, yet in the past year the hag has become rather irritating. She's happy to see the woman leave two hours later with a promise to be back later in the summer.

Finally an owl returns, with the expected confirmation and accompanying warning from her Professor that should McGonagall find any reason to stop the process she will do so without hesitation.

Ana wouldn't have expected anything less.

And so she alternates her time between school work and animagus studies, with the occasional break to sit with her mother's tea circles or accompany her father to work where she spends her time looking over employment pamphlets.

Then the time inevitably comes when they head to the MacMillan mansion for a dinner party.

Ana tugs at the sleeve of her new dress, shifting uncomfortably. She absolutely hates wearing new things to events away from her own home, as if they turn out to be itchy she can't discretely slip away to change into something more comfortable.

And this new dress is certainly itchy.

"Ana quit fussing." Her mother scolds after she shifts for the third time in as many minutes.

"Apologies mother, but this dress is uncomfortable." She responds, knowing she's being rather rude but unable to bring herself to particularly care when half her body is begging to be freed from the awful fabric it's encased in.

Winona frowns. "Well it's just a few hours and you look lovely." She replies curtly, and Ana grimaces. Her mother obviously isn't in the best mood either.

The one good thing about the evening is that Alec is still off curse breaking somewhere in South America so Ana doesn't have to suffer through his bragging in addition to the dress.

She ends up in Alasdair's room at one point, sitting stiffly in his desk chair and making awkward small talk. Mostly she just lets him go on about his Muggle football while her mind wanders over her study schedule for the week.

She does tell him a bit about her animagus research, and though he's not particularly insterested he's polite enough to listen until Ana gives him a break and asks about Quidditch instead, knowing that the Slytherin team is in for a major reshuffling thanks to their captain having graduated.

All in all she's quite pleased when the evening is complete and the Vulchanovas return home. Ana immediately showers and puts on her coziest nightgown before plucking Dracula from his terrarium and leaving him to lounge on her pillow as she settles down with one of the thicker tomes she's found to aid her animagus studies.

She's not sure when exactly she falls asleep, but she awakens with the book on the floor, still on top of her covers, and Dracula burning a hole into her pillow.

"Drat." She groans, quickly plucking up her fire salamander and dropping him into his cage before grabbing the pillow and patting it out against the floor. She frowns as she assess the damage - she'll likely need an entirely new pillow and her mother certainly won't be pleased.

Sighing, she cleans up what she can and then proceeds through her usual morning routine, mentally planning how to broach the subject of the pillow with her mother at breakfast.

Surprisingly, her mother just sighs. "I've been needing to go shopping for a few days now, I suppose this is my push." She smiles tiredly at her daughter. "Would you like to accompany me Ana? I'm sure we'll see a few of the ladies from our tea circle and perhaps even a few of your school friends."

Ana rather doubts she'd run into Aidan in the middle of magical London considering he's a Muggleborn Irishman, but she doesn't say that to her mother, instead nodding politely. No need to push her luck.

"That would be lovely. Perhaps I can find a new book as well."

"Nothing on animagi please." Her mother responds lightly. "I think you need some more causal reading in your library. Life isn't all about studying you know."

Ana sighs at the familiar refrain. "Yes mother, you've informed me. And I maintain that I enjoy learning new things."

"And why can't you learn them from a novel?" Winona suggests. "Information is everywhere, and knowledge isn't only in textbooks Ana."

Ana blinks. Her mother has never countered her on that before, and she wonders how long Winona has been plotting this counter. "Um, well, I suppose that's not inaccurate." She admits, thinking about the Grimm anthology sitting hidden at the back of her bookshelf. "Perhaps I could use some lighter reading for just before I go to bed." She acquiesces, and Winona beams.

"Wonderful! We'll leave after I've cleaned up. It won't affect your study schedule?" She adds, clearly not having considered it before.

Ana is surprised her mother even remembers her schedule, nonetheless is actually concerned about interrupting it. "Not at all. I can rearrange the couple of things I had intended to complete today easily." She states, and it's true. All she has planned is editing her Divination assignment and writing another few paragraphs for Potions.

Her mother beams. "Excellent, we'll make a day of it then! There's a lovely little Bistro I've been wanting to try-"

Ana lets her mother ramble on about their plans, helping clean up from breakfast as best she can without magic. She thinks she'll be rather pleased when she turns seventeen and is no longer constrained by the Statute of Limitations.

"And I believe that's everything! I'll just leave a note for your father in case he gets home early." With a quick flick of her wand Winona summons some parchment and sets a quill scribbling away. "Well then, shall we?"

Ana isn't quite sure how to feel about spending a full day with her mother out and about in wizarding London, but as she hasn't had much of a chance to explore the city since they'd moved in she figures it will at least be educational.

She thinks she rather underestimated exactly how chaotic London can get.

"Mother! Mother slow down I can't keep up." She huffs, slightly louder than she's reasonably comfortable speaking but her mother hadn't heard the first three attempts at gaining her attention so Ana has to make some sacrifices.

Winona finally turns, looking apologetic. "Oh I'm sorry dear, I forget you're not used to this. I'll watch my pace." She offers a hand for Ana to hold, but Ana is fourteen-almost-fifteen and not about to go wandering around the city holding onto her mother's hand like a e to distraction.

She instead brushes down her dress and nods briskly. "That would be preferable, thank you."

Winona smiles in defeat and drops her hand. "Well we're very nearly at the store anyhow. I think you'll quite like it, they've an entire section dedicated to rare potion ingredients." She perks up then, and her smiles brightens. "Oh, you could find anything you need for your animagus potion! I imagine there would be some odd ingredients for that, yes?"

Ana can't help that the corners of turn up at that. "Actually that sounds wonderful. A Death's-head Hawk moth chrysalis isn't exactly commonplace here in the British Isles."

"Well they are non-native." Her mother notes wryly, and Ana glances over at her.

"Have you been reading my books or my mind?" She asks, slightly irritated that her mother might be invading her privacy so much.

Winona laughs and shakes her head. "Neither dear, I promise. I did some research on my own just to make sure you wouldn't be in any serious danger. I don't much like the idea of you being stuck in half-animal form if something goes wrong, but Professor McGonagall sounds like she'll be extremely cautious."

Ana nods eagerly. "Professor McGonagall is the best teacher in Hogwarts." She assures her mother. "With her as my mentor I'll be transforming before I get home for Christmas Break."

Ana does manage to find a dried chrysalis for the potion, and her mother stocks up on several foods that Ana doesn't know the names of but she's somewhat dreading having to try them. They send their purchases back home with the magical delivery service offered by the store and then head over to the bistro her mother had been so excited about for lunch.

"Margaret says their scones are absolutely to die for here. Share a plate with me?" Winona asks as they look over the menu.

Ana shrugs. "I suppose I'll try them." She hesitates, rubbing lightly at the bracelet around her right wrist that's sat there for two years - ever since Eric had given it to her for her twelfth birthday. "So mother, I was thinking."

And it's something she's been thinking about for some time, but she'd never been sure her mother would be willing. At least, not until she'd hear Winona give her full support for Ana's animagus training.

Winona looks up, slightly worry clouding her features at Ana's abruptly serious tone. "Yes dear? Is everything alright?"

Ana nods. "Oh yes. Actually, I was thinking I might reassign some of my free study time. I think I'd like to learn Leglimency. If you would want to teach me?"

Winona looks stunned, and then bursts into a smile, a hint of tears making her eyes shine. "Oh sweetie of course! All you had to do was ask! Well, we'll have to add some more stops to our list for today!"

Ana wishes she'd known her mother would be so excited about the prospect sooner, but at least the entire summer hasn't been lost. She may yet get the basics down before the start of school.

Training with her mother is a bit stiff and uncertain at the start, to put it politely. Really Ana just doesn't know how to handle her mother in a teaching role, and Winona has never been a teacher before.

"No, you just- Okay, just forget what I said, we'll try it differently." Winona sighs. "You read the book I gave you, right?"

Ana huffs out an irritated breath. "Of course I did mother. Perhaps you should look through it again yourself."

"I am a fully fledged Leglimens young lady, and I don't appreciate what you just thought."

Ana just narrows her eyes and looks away before her mother can see her next, equally rude thought. She should brush up on her Occlumency if they're going to continue doing this - she clearly isn't blocking her thoughts as easily as she used to.

Winona sighs. "Alright, why don't we take a break for now? Perhaps some time to clear our heads would be beneficial."

Ana nods shortly in agreement and heads up to her room. Occlumency had come to her quite naturally and she'd foolishly assumed Leglimency would be the same. Clearly she had been wrong.

Pulling out the book her mother had given her to study, Ana sits primly at her desk and starts rifling through it, looking for anything she might have overlooked in her reading the night before.

"I don't understand it Dracula." She sighs to her pet. "I mean, I understand the concepts but execution just isn't coming." She shakes her head and puts the book down. "Perhaps... perhaps I should actually... relax during this break." She says slowly.

She taps idly at her bracelet and walks over to her bookshelf, retrieving the Grimm Anthology from it's hiding place and flipping it open at random.

"'Doctor Knowall'." She shakes her head with a faint smile. "Isn't that just ironic." She sits back down and reads through the familiar story of a man becoming renowned through a series of randomly lucky incidents.

She taps her bracelet again thoughtfully. "I wonder Drac, if Occlumency might have come so easily because of this?" She tugs at it until it comes off and places it lightly on her desk.

Her wrist feels oddly bare, but it's a worthy experiment to make. And regardless, it's not like her lessons could be going any worse.

"Hopefully animagus training goes better." She remarks to Dracula with some amusement as she heads back downstairs.

Than again, it would be rather difficult to be worse than this. She's looking forward to getting back to school.

Cadi officially moves into her little apartment in the city in the first week of August. Myr follows her out a week later to give her time to settle in.

"Welcome to Casa Cadi little bro." She greets him with a grin and a spin, gesturing around at the tiny space she now calls home. "You'll have to take the couch but I promise it's comfy. I've got school stuff later this week so I figured we can go to Diagon Alley tomorrow or Thursday if that works. Oh, just dump your stuff anywhere for now, we'll find a place for it later." Cadi is babbling away excitedly and Myr can't help grinning despite the fact he's been feeling uneasy about this next step all summer.

He drops his trunk and lets Owen out of his carrier. The black cat immediately begins nosing at his new surroundings in curiosity, and Myr leaves him to it.

"Tomorrow is fine. Between-"

"Noon and one don't worry I remember." Cadi grins over at him. "We'll have to exchange our money of course, since Uncle Cyril won't be with us this time - how much do you suppose we'll need? - anyhow I'll get your books and such, you focus on the wand. I hear from Holly it can be a long process finding the best fit."

Myr nods. He's heard that from Holly as well. "She says I should be a bit quicker since she knows me so it'll help her narrow it down. Ollivander takes forever since he has no idea about any of the people walking into his store."

Cadi laughs. "I've heard that complaint too."

Myr remembers a time he thought it was weird his sister is pen pals with Holly Kiddell, but now it just feels normal.

One more blurred line between Hogwarts and the rest of my life. He thinks, his amusement tamped down by the realization.

"Myr? How much will we need?" Cadi waves her hand in front of his face with a frown.

Myr blinks. "Sorry. Um, two hundred pounds maybe? Just to be safe." He adds quickly at his sister's startled look.

Cadi shakes her head in amazement. "Wizarding economics are nuts, and I feel awful for Muggleborn students who are poor in Muggle money." She states. "But alright, I can swing two hundred and get mom to pay back whatever we spend. You good heading over around ten tomorrow? We can get Owen some stuff before you head to the Kiddell shop."

Myr agrees easily and the rest of the day is actually quite enjoyable. They spend a few hours working out how to get Myr unpacked - since he'll be staying with Cadi until the end of the summer - and then go out for dinner at a pub just across the street.

"Fish and chips just aren't the same away from the sea." Cadi laments later as they're paying the bill. "But London does keep trying. I suppose that's worth something."

Myr just grins and shakes his head. "If you say so."

Honestly he agrees, but it's fun to provoke rants from his sister. She makes a point to learn things before developing strong opinions so whenever she makes broad statements she often has a lot to say on the subject.

Sure enough he spends dessert (ice cream from a small shoppe a few doors down) listening to the intricacies of the preservation process for fish and how it impacts the flavor of the food.

By the end of it he's pretty sure he knows more about that than anything he's learned in History of Magic so far, and he observes idly to his sister that if politics doesn't work out she'd be an excellent lecturer.

Cadi makes a face. "Don't even joke. Spending time dealing with kids who have no idea what they're doing in life? I'm dealing with that enough now, I don't need to make a career of it."

Myr laughs. "Fair enough."

The rest of the evening passes rather quickly and Myr is happy to find that the couch really is comfortable when he settles down onto it for the night.

The next morning is a blur of activity as Cadi flits around the apartment, making breakfast, getting ready, and gathering everything they'll need for their day in Diagon Alley.

"Alright, I think between us we should be able to carry everything back without any of the suspicious stuff sticking out." Cadi decides once they've both eaten and grabbed the backpacks they'll be using for transportation of his school supplies. "I've got the cash - you know where to go to get it converted, right?"

Myr nods. "Gringotts should be able to do it. Oh, um, but don't be weird about the goblins please? They kind of hate humans so they're probably going to be super rude."

Cadi's eyes light up when she hears the word 'goblin'. "Don't worry little brother, I'll be on my best behavior." She promises. "Though I'm super excited to see these goblins. So far all magical people have looked pretty human to me."

Myr laughs. "Well you've mostly seen students." He points out. "When you get past the school the magical world is full of weird beasts and people."

Cadi shakes her head as they step out of the apartment and she locks up. "A whole other world that we never notice." She says. "I honestly still have a hard time believing it."

Myr makes a face. "Well trust me, it's around. And very annoying at times."

Cadi laughs. "Alright. Muggle topics now. Have you been keeping up with the textbooks I gave you?"

They keep up a steady flow of conversation about World War Two, something Myr has been reading about in his attempts to mimic a Muggle education, until they reach the Leaky Cauldron and slip into the alley behind it.

Myr pulls out his old wand and prays it will be good enough to get them into Diagon Alley before tapping the brick serving at the entrance.

He breathes out softly in relief when the wall folds aside to reveal the bustle of shoppers just beyond.

Cadi in a breath, clearly only just keeping her excitement under control. "Okay, where's Gringotts?"

Myr leads her down the center street of the Alley, to the looming bank building. He can feel Cadi vibrating with excitement as they enter, but she remains quite professional as they speak with one of the goblin tellers to have their money exchanged.

She drops the act as soon as they're out of earshot of the bank. "That was so cool!"

Myr laughs. "They were incredibly rude." He points out. "I don't see how that's 'cool'."

Cadi waves him off. "Humans are plenty rude too, at least they have something of an excuse if that war I read about in your old textbooks is anything to go by."

Myr blinks. "You read my textbooks?" He asks incredulously, and Cadi laughs again.

"Hey, if I get high enough in politics I'll have to interact with wizard anway right? And since I full well intend to get high enough, I figure it doesn't hurt to get to know my allies."

Myr grins and shakes his head. "You're incredible. Anyway, it's just about noon so I guess I'll start heading to see Holly?"

Cadi nods. "And I'll hit Flourish and Blotts. Here, take ten Galleons. I know you're getting a discount on the wand but you should pass the apothecary on your way back so grab anything you're running low on."

Myr nods. "Alright, sounds good. Meet back here by one thirty at the latest?"

"Bring Holly if you can! I haven't seen her in person for a while." Cadi confirms with a grin. "Now go get a proper wand!" She shoos him cheerfully and heads back down the road towards the bookstore.

Myr makes his way down one of the many side alleys, takes the second right, and finds himself in front of the little wand shop Holly's family owns.

He pushes open the door to find a middle-aged man working the counter. Not quite noon then, if Holly's uncle is still here.

The man smiles. "Well hello there! You're a bit old to be looking at wands - you must be here for my niece."

Myr grins nervously and nods. "Yes, um, Myrddin Cadwallader." He introduces himself awkwardly, holding out his hand.

The man shakes it cheerfully. "Rowan Kiddell. You're one of Holly's Gryffindor friends, right? Well she's just in the back now and I'm about to head out for lunch, but feel free to keep her company. It's usually pretty slow around this time of day and I know Holls gets bored!"

Myr nods mutely, and watches as Rowan checks a few things in the inventory before coming around the counter and heading for the door.

"Holly! One of your friends is here to say hello!" He calls to the back just as he opens the door. "You can finish stocking when I'm back."

Holly immediately appears from the back room, grinning brightly. "Myr! Hey you're here!" She greets excitedly, skipping the door and jumping straight over the counter to give him a hug.

Myr stumbles, caught by surprise, and looks up. "You grew." He observes. Despite his own gained inch over the summer, Holly now stands at least half a head above him.

She grins proudly. "I had a spurt. But really, you shouldn't be surprised. Laurel is almost five eight and Willow is five seven and a half. We're tall in the Kiddell line."

Myr grins. "So, um, I guess I need a wand?"

Holly claps happily. "Yup! I've got a few laid out in the back already that I think might be a good match - this should go quicker than normal since I actually know you."

Myr nods mutely, trusting that Holly knows way more about any of this than he could.

She vanishes into the back for a few minutes, and then returns juggling several boxes. "Okay, I'm also expecting Charlie and his little brother to swing by so I may leave you to wave wands around while I work with them, is that alright?"

Myr nods. "I don't want to interrupt your work." He replies, and Holly snorts.

"Myr, this is my work. I'm normally supposed to focus on one customer and then go to the next one, but since I have get both of you done in an hour to get you the discount I'll need to fudge protocol a bit." She explains, putting down the boxes and selecting one to open. "Here, try this. Rowan and Unicorn Hair, same length as your other one but stiffer flexibility."

The door swings open then, and Holly perks up. "Charlie! Hey, you're right on time! Myr wave that around a bit, see how it feels." She instructs him quickly. "If you don't like it grab whatever you want out of the pile until something clicks." She hops the counter again and bounces over to grab Charlie into a hug.

Myr turns to wave to his friend and notices the smaller boy standing awkwardly behind the Seeker.

Once Holly releases Charlie, the red head turns and gestures the other boy forward. "Holly, Myr, this is my brother Percy. He's just starting at Hogwarts this year."

Percy smiles nervously. "Um, hello, it's nice to meet you."

Holly beams at him. "Same here kid. So let's get you a wand, yeah? What sort of things do you like?" She turns to shoot Myr a quick glare. "And you, wave the wand!"

Myr laughs and complies and Holly, content that he's doing as he's told, turns to barrage and increasingly overwhelmed Percy with questions.

Charlie walks over to him. "Hey Myr! What are the chances we'd pick the same day to come shopping?"

"Not very high." Myr says, flicking the wand a few more times before putting it down. He hadn't felt anything, so he randomly grabs another box out of the pile. "It's good to see you though. How's your summer been?"

Charlie shrugs. "Normal I guess. Loud. The twins are actually getting a hang of magic and it's been awful. I don't know how mum will manage this year without Percy around to look out for Ron and Ginny while she deals with the twins."

Myr hums sympathetically, putting away the second wand he'd tried as he does. "I'm glad my sister and I get along." He observes. "And that it's only the two of us."

Charlie laughs. "Tell me about it. Bill and I get on great, and I'm happy to look out for my little siblings, but they do get to be a handful sometimes."

"Alright wait here!" Holly's excited exclamation causes them both to turn back to her and Percy, the latter of whom looks vaguely terrified. Charlie waves him over as Holly vaults the counter and races into the back room again.

"Is she always so..." Percy trails off and waves his hands uncertainly.

Charlie laughs. "Intense? When it comes to wands, absolutely. But she's honestly fantastic at this, she'll get you a wand in no time."

Myr's latest pick chooses then to send a gush of wind dancing around the room, ruffling all three boys and drawing a shriek of excitement from the back room.

A moment later Holly reemerges, pushes five boxes and Percy, who ends up dropping them on the floor in his surprise, and grabs the wand out of Myr's hands.

"Lemme see. Larch, Unicorn Hair, thirteen and a half inches and solid flexibility. Good wand, we carved this baby a little over two years ago." She grins and hands it back to Myr. "Congratulations on finally having a proper wand my friend. I can't wait to see what you do with it! Now lemme ring you up. Perce, you start waving those around."

Holly charges him half the price noted on the box and takes no arguments from him when he tries to protest that fifty percent is far too much of a discount.

"You're my friend and I have to discount anyway - I'm on the intern after all, you're not getting fully qualified service." She grins. "Alright, now that that's done lemme go help Percy."

Myr decides to wait and watch as Holly brings out several different wands for the young wizard to try. Both she and Percy get more discouraged with each failure, though Charlie encourages them both.

Finally Holly shakes her head. "Okay, we've got five minutes before my uncle gets back, so I'm going to try something. This will either work or set something on fire, so Myr I'mma need you to have Auguamenti on standby please."

Charlie looks alarmed. "Holly please don't set my brother on fire." Percy looks equally disconcerted by the thought and nods rapidly in agreement.

Holly laughs. "Don't worry, it won't set you on fire. Probably. It's fine!" She calls as she once again rushes into the back room.

Percy fidgets nervously until she returns, and then keeps fidgeting even as she hands him the wand.

"Go on, give it a wave. I need to get you rung up in the next three minutes." Holly insists, and Percy gives a nervous flick.

Something does set on fire - the end of the wand. But it's nothing as dramatic as Holly had said.

Said wandmaking intern is beaming. "Oh great, it likes you! Congrats on your new wand kid." She takes it back and wraps it up. "Hazel and Dragon Heartstring can be a pretty volatile pairing if in the wrong hands." She explains cheerfully. "Three Galleons please."

Charlie has just finished handing over the money when Rowan Kiddell returns. Holly takes her lunch break then, and the whole group of them end up meeting with Cadi and going for lunch.

In the end, despite all his worrying, the day has gone quite well. And Myr can admit he's excited to see what his new wand can do.