Chapter 3: Water Under the Bridge
The tiny ball of iridescent fire filled the living room with various shades of bright red and orange light. It was obvious at a glance that the miniature crimson sun floating an inch above George's thumb wasn't any ordinary flame. No wick or kindling could produce such a uniformly round sphere, there was no doubt that something other-worldly was behind its inception. The firey glow illuminated Amanda's palm as she slowly reached out.
Then she turned to her husband, "it's real. The fire... I could feel it."
Dominic wasn't so sure, "it's a magic trick, right George? Something you've learnt from one of those books you've read?"
"You are mostly right, Mr Linwood. That is indeed magic, but there is no trickery."
George's foster parents turned back to see Remus with a massive smile on his battered and bruised face.
"Don't you see, Mr and Mrs Linwood? George is a wizard", Remus shook his head self-deprecatingly, "to be able to use conjuration magic at such a young age, and without a wand no-less... it's extraordinary."
On the edge of his seat, Remus eagerly leaned forward and asked, "how long can you sustain that conjuration for?"
George shook his head, "I don't know. I've never waited long enough to check. Although, I do start feeling tired after a while."
"That's nothing to worry about. Sustaining a spell of any kind is taxing on the mind. It's important to know your limits and stop before you hurt yourself", Remus reassured.
George smiled and acted surprised, "really, I didn't know that. Thank you Mr Lupin", and then he put the flame out with another snap of his fingers.
Amanda stepped between the two wizards and forced their magical small-talk to end. She looked at George as if he had been diagnosed with some sort of illness, her face was pale and her bottom lip was trembling.
She leaned down and embraced George in a tight hug, "you could have told us... you should have told us. Dominic and I wouldn't have minded. You're part of the family, now and forever. That would never change, no matter what you are. Isn't that right Dominic?"
Amanda and George looked up at the domineering man looming over them. Dominic's expression had formed into a frown as he contemplated his wife's words.
Ellie said in a muted voice, "Dad? You're gonna let George stay with us… aren't you?"
Dominic took a deep breath in through his nose and out through his mouth, "your a Linwood, George. That's all that matters to me."
Then he turned to Remus who was currently admiring the mantlepiece.
"And to you, Mr Lupin...", Dominic said in his normal gravelly voice.
Remus suddenly turned back and poorly pretended as if he hadn't been listening.
Dominic continued, "I owe you an apology. I had mistaken you for... unwelcomed company. For your injuries, I'll pay for my private consultant to check you over."
"No need, Mr Linwood. I was informed that muggles can sometimes become violent when they're introduced to magic for the first time. Although, I have to say that the handcuffs and brass knuckles had come as a bit of a surprise", Remus said while wiggling the arms behind his back.
Amanda furrowed her brow, "excuse me. What are muggles?"
Remus smiled and happily answered, "it's another word for non-magic people, like you and your husband. It's kind of like a code word wizards and witches use to not draw suspicion from... well muggles."
Ellie abruptly asked, "am I a wizard too? Like George?"
Remus's warm smile wained slightly, "I can't say, I'm afraid. Hogwarts only knows if a student is eligible to join once they turn eleven. How old are you young lady?"
Ellie responded despondently, "I'm nine and three months."
"I'm sorry, you'll have to wait another two years to find out", Remus answered empathetically.
Then he looked back up at Amanda and Dominic, "I really hate to bring this up again, but can I please have my wand back? My face is getting numb and the swelling is making it hard to see out of my left eye."
Dominic held his hand up, "hold on a second. What was that you were saying about students when they turn eleven? Does this have anything to do with how you found our address?"
Remus sighed, "okay, fair enough. I do owe you that much, but I can't guarantee you'll like the answer..."
He licked his dry lips before explaining, "the Ministry... oh, wait. You don't know what that is yet, my mistake. The magical equivalent to your muggle government, known as the Ministry, uses spells that can detect every single use of magic around the country.
Once someone has been detected, the Ministry can determine the name, date of birth, location and spell used. At some point in time, George would have either accidentally or purposefully used a spell, alerting the Ministry. After his details had been noted, Hogwarts issued him an acceptance letter."
"What about outside of the country?", asked Dominic.
"Excuse me?"
"You said that the 'Ministry' have 'spells' that can detect every single use of magic around the country. I'm asking if that applies outside the country as well."
Remus took a second to think before answering, "I don't think so, but other nations have their versions of the Ministry. Why do you ask?"
"What about the oceans? Or less populated areas of the world?"
Remus seemed concerned by Dominic's enquiry, "I don't know, Mr Linwood. Is there something wrong? Maybe I could send some letters and..."
"No need, Mr Lupin. Don't worry yourself, my husband is just a bit paranoid, that's all", Amanda quickly jumped into the conversation.
She looked down at the coffee table and saw everything that Dominic had presumably apprehended from Remus's pockets. Amanda bent over and picked up a brown stick roughly ten inches long.
"Is this your... wand?", she asked with a smile.
Remus nodded, "yes it is. If you could be so kind."
"Dominic, could you release Mr Lupin from his handcuffs? I think he has been restrained for long enough, don't you?", Amanda said casually.
Both of George's foster parents locked eyes and appeared to be having some sort of non-verbal discussion. Their 'conversation' concluded with Dominic nodding at Amanda and pulling a key out of his trouser pocket. Remus eagerly stood up from the sofa and turned around. Dominic grabbed the handcuffs and reluctantly inserted the key, opening the latches.
Remus looked down at his now liberated hands and chuckled, "it sounds silly but... I was starting to think that you were never going to take those handcuffs off."
"Whatever would give you that idea, Mr Lupin?", Amanda retorted while handing over his wand.
Remus received his wand back and happily replied, "nothing at all, Mrs Linwood. I guess I just have an overactive imagination. Now if you don't mind..."
Remus started to raise his wand, and George could physically see both his foster parents go on high alert. To the whole Linwood family's relief, the wand kept rising until it was pointed directly at Remus's badly broken nose. Before casting the spell, the man hesitated and closed his eyes in preparation. Then the tip of the wand glowed bright white and... snap.
"Merlin's beard! Why does it always hurt more setting it back?", Remus said while delicately touching his now-realigned nose.
Amanda pulled out a silver embroidered handkerchief from her apron, "for the blood."
Remus sheathed his wand up his sleeve and politely accepted the handkerchief. Unfortunately, the realignment appeared to start another nose bleed and the small piece of cloth wasn't helping. Remus looked like he had been in the epicentre of a bar fight, his moustache was now completely stained with both wet and clotted blood.
"Oh, that will not do at all. I can't be having our guest in such a wretched state. Mr Lupin, there is a bathroom just down the hall. It's the fourth door on your right", Amanda offered insistently.
Meanwhile, Remus had his head tilted back and was firmly pinching the swollen bridge of his nose.
"Thank you but I don't want to impose", he tried to decline.
"It's no bother at all. If we are to discuss George's future at...", Amanda looked back down at the letter briefly, "Hogwarts, then I can't be having you looking like that."
Remus smiled from under the bloody handkerchief, "well, when you put it like that. How can I refuse?"
Then he pointed down the maze of corridors, "just down there?"
"That's right. Remember, the third door on the right", Amanda said with a beaming smile.
Remus started walking out of the living room only to stop halfway and turn back, "wait. Didn't you say the fourth door on the right?"
Amanda's smile didn't waver in the slightest, "yes I did. Are you sure you're okay, Mr Lupin? You're looking a little pale. My husband could still drive you to the hospital if you'd like?"
Remus looked a bit disorientated for a second before saying, "I'll be fine, Mrs Linwood", and then rounded the corner.
Amanda's expression radically morphed once Remus's footsteps could no longer be heard. She pulled Dominic to one side of the room and started a private discussion in hushed voices. After a few seconds, the foster parents split up and initiated their 'plan'. Dominic walked off down the same corridor as Remus while Amanda headed over to George and Ellie.
The warm smile returned as she kneeled in front of them, "I have to say how proud I am of you two. You've been so brave and well-behaved. I think a reward is in order after all this is over."
George hung his head low and frowned, "but I wasn't well-behaved, Mrs Linwood. I sneaked away from the dining table and I looked into that room with all of the monitors."
Amanda's face twitched slightly, "George, don't worry about that. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes. As long as you promise to never do it again, and the same goes for you Ellie, then everything's okay."
"I promise mum."
"I promise, Mrs Linwood."
"Now you two are still in your pyjamas and we have a house guest, does it need to be said? Get yourselves upstairs and get dressed", Amanda said while pointing at the stairs.
Both of the foster children happily complied and ran up the stairs as if their lives depended on it. Just as George was about to reach the second landing, he heard his name being called from below. He stuck his head over the bannister and saw a displeased Amanda looking back up at him.
"No more of this Mrs Linwood, young man. We agreed on Amanda or mother. It's like Dominic said, you're a Linwood now. You better start acting like it."
George's only response came in the form of a timid nod of acceptance before fleeing back upstairs. Twenty minutes later and George was looking at himself in a full-body mirror in one of the guest bedrooms. He was wearing a pair of black trousers and a tan polo shirt with a grey cardigan over the top, it was all designer and very expensive. George had been ready five minutes ago, but his apprehension had prevented him from returning to his foster parents.
What was waiting for George downstairs? A detective-style interview between Remus and Amanda? A torture scene of Dominic slowly tenderising Remus? A horror show of little pieces of Remus's corpse being placed into plastic bags with rocks from the garden? Or perhaps something beyond George's scope of imagination? Regardless of what awaited him, he didn't believe it was going to be fun.
George stared into his own dull brown eyes and reassured himself of his convictions. After taking a long deep breath, he looked down at his wristwatch. Eleven months thirteen days twenty-two hours and... fifteen minutes. That was a lot of time and effort to throw away just because he was starting to feel a little nervous. He took one final deep breath, turned away from the mirror, and walked out of the room.
Once he'd walked back down the stairs, George saw the empty living room. Since neither Ellie nor his foster parents were here, he began to wander down the house's corridors. It didn't take long before he began to hear people talking, but something was off. As he drew closer to the sound's origin, George realised the clamour was coming from the dining room. He ran to the dining room's door and pushed it open.
"I have to say, Mrs Linwood, this cake is delicious. Did you bake it yourself?"
"You flatter me Mr Lupin. I'm merely an amateur at best. My carrot cake is far better."
"Don't listen to her. My wife doesn't know how to take a compliment."
"That's a lie. Ellie, back me up."
"Well…you said lying is bad."
"Ellie Linwood, I can't believe you. Not sticking up for your m… George! There you are. Took your time, didn't you?"
Everyone was just sitting around the dining room table drinking tea and eating cake like some sort of big happy family. This can't be real. It was a spell, an illusion. Maybe the Imperius Curse, that might explain this.
Amanda patted the chair next to hers, "don't just stand there gawking. Come, sit next to me. I have something to tell you."
Like a zombie, George followed Amanda's command and sat beside her. The sudden flood of unanswered questions had caused him to just give up, any energy he had left had been spent.
"Guess where we're going tomorrow?"
George shook his head with unfocused eyes.
Amanda gave George a nudge, "you could at least try to look excited. Tell you what, I'll let Mr Lupin tell you instead. He'll be coming along after all."
George lifted his weary head and saw Remus at the opposite end of the table with a selection of cake slices and a piping hot cup of tea in front of him. Remus had been caught in the middle of spooning a slice of chocolate cake into his mouth.
Remus placed his tiny dessert spoon back down, "do you not think we're getting ahead of ourselves? Young George here doesn't even know the half of it."
"He raises a good point. George might not even know why Mr Lupin is here", Dominic added with one of his rare smiles.
"Please, call me Remus", Remus insisted.
Dominic nodded, "okay then. So George, do you understand why Remus is here?"
George mumbled, "erh... I think it's something to do with a magic school?"
Amanda reached over and rubbed George's back encouragingly, "that's right, George. He's here to recruit you."
"I'm only here to provide George with the option to join Hogwarts, nothing more. That being said, it does come highly recommended. Being a former student myself, I would be remiss not to say it was the best seven years of my life", Remus added.
George thought, "that's not exactly saying much."
Amanda looked back at Remus, "you attended?"
Remus chuckled and picked up another slice of cake, "well of course I did. Practically every wizard and witch in Britain attended Hogwarts. It's not like there are a lot of choices."
"How many other schools like Hogwarts are there?", Dominic asked.
Remus returned that question with a knowing smile, "there is no school like Hogwarts, Mr Linwood."
Then he swallowed another mouthful of cake before continuing, "but I know what you're getting at. There is only one wizarding school in Great Britain. So, there's no need to worry about any more unwelcomed visitors delivering acceptance letters any time soon."
"I'll have you know that you are very much welcome", Amanda chipped in before taking a sip of her tea.
Remus held up his plate of half-eaten chocolate cake, "that goes without saying, Mrs Linwood. It's not every day that I get to indulge in so many sweet treats."
He swallowed another piece of cake before suddenly remembering, "oh, Mr Linwood had just reminded me. Has George seen his letter yet? Part of my responsibility is to make sure he receives it, not just his legal guardians."
Amanda placed her tea cup back on the table, "you know what? I'd almost forgotten about it. Here George."
She pulled the folded parchment out of her apron and slid it across the table. George picked it up and lazily skimmed through it. It read as follows:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF W... "Too long, don't care."
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc... "Blah Blah Blah."
Dear Mr George Linwood,
We are pleased to inform you that... "Got it."
Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl... "Remus can sort that stuff out."
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGon... "Yep, seems legit."
George finished 'reading' and placed it back on the table.
"There's also this letter too. It's got a list of all the equipment you'll need if you attend Hogwarts."
And yet another piece of parchment was graciously handed over by his foster Mother, this letter had even more written on it than the last. It read vaguely as follows:
HOGWARTS S... "Done this already".
UNIFORMS
First Years students will require;
Three sets of plain... "Robes n' stuff, I get it. Moving on."
COURSEBOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following;
The Standard Book of... "Just a ton of books, done. Next."
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand... "Durr."
1 cauldron (pewter... "Some other stuff, done. I'm on a roll here."
Students may also bring if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad... "OR nothing at all if you're smart."
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK... "Didn't like Quidditch anyway."
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-P... "Thanks, Lucy. Write less next time. Lots of love, George."
George dropped the letter and started to rub the bridge of his nose. The adrenaline from Dominic punching Remus had warn-off ages ago and now he felt like he could barely keep his eyes open.
"Are you alright George?", Amanda asked.
George forced his eyes open and looked at his concerned foster mother.
"Yeah, I'm just a little tired. All this...", he gestured at the letters on the table, "is just so much to take in."
Remus took the final bite out of his cake and cleaned the corners of his mouth with a napkin.
"I think it's fair to say that this morning has been a lot for all of us. To learn that magic is real after spending so many years in the dark, I couldn't imagine how you all must be feeling. That being said..."
He placed the napkin on the table and stood up, "I think it would be for the best if we continue this discussion tomorrow. It'll give your family time to process everything and talk amongst yourselves."
Amanda stood up as well, "are you sure Mr Lupin? It feels like we have barely gotten to know you. We could go out to a restaurant this evening and talk some more there. We'll pay of course."
Remus lifted his jacket off the back of the chair, "that's very kind of you, but I feel like I've already taken enough advantage of your generosity. Mr Linwood said that the car journey would take roughly..."
"Four hours", Dominic answered.
"Four hours to drive to London. I think that will provide plenty of time to answer any questions you might have", Remus finished saying while straitening his tie.
The corners of George's vision were starting to narrow and everything around him had begun sounding like white noise. He forced his weary head to face Amanda, she looked quite troubled by Remus's sudden insistence to leave.
Amanda relented, "okay Mr Lupin, but only on one condition. Let my husband drive you home. I know you'd said that you only lived a half an hour's walk away, but after how poorly we treated you, it seems only right that we make sure you get home safe and sound."
Dominic stood up and pulled a set of keys out of his jacket pocket, "we could take the F40 out for a spin. How about it Remus? Ever felt a car go from zero to a hundred in eight seconds?"
Remus seemed surprised, "cars can go that fast?"
Dominic threw the keys at Remus, "mine can. I'll let you drive."
Remus caught the keys out of the air and looked at Dominic awkwardly, "I don't know how to drive."
"Then I'll show you. Consider it your first driver's lesson. You won't regret it", Dominic rebutted whilst practically dragging Remus out of the room.
Just as the two men were about to leave the dining room, Remus suddenly reappeared.
"Before I leave, there is something I have to say. All this talk about magic and the Ministry is a pretty tightly kept secret. The law dictates that all knowledge of the wizarding world must not be exposed to muggles, so that means no talking about this stuff to anyone. Is that okay, Mrs Linwood?"
Amanda gave Remus a cryptic smile, "don't worry Mr Lupin. If there's one thing the Lindwoods are good at, it's keeping our secrets."
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