Mid Summer, 2020

"Mom, I don't want to go!" Lea scowled at her parents, kicking her feet up and bouncing up and down in her chair in the living room. Her parents were on the couch, both wearing the same sympathetic and soft smiles. The young girl didn't like that her parents weren't agreeing to see her side. Instead they kept weaving between her questions, explaining that this weird school was going to be a "good experience." A place where she could learn and grow into a young lady. But that didn't make sense if she was learning magic.

"It's a school for witches and wizards- don't you two know that magic doesn't exist?" The girl was now trying to take the position of her knowing more than her parents. Both parties knew that was untrue, but currently it was the best tactic that Lea had. She didn't like how long it took them to reply, exchanging glances as they seemed to figure out a secret battle strategy. It wasn't fair- how come she didn't get an argue buddy?

"Alright, Lea. Here's our thinking," her dad paused to make sure the girl's attention was on him before continuing, "from what we can tell, it's a really good school. Someone already came over and proved to us that magic was real- and that you should go to this school. We know you have a lot of friends here, but you can always make new ones there. It'll be a good experience for you." There was a pause, before her mother spoke this time, words soft and caring. "And if the school doesn't work out for you, we can always leave and transfer to a different one, okay?"

Another pause, one where the eleven year old glanced down at her feet, trying to kick at the carpet with her shoes. Her parents always made the final decision- although they always tried to make sure she understood why they had made this decision. Lea knew there was no way she could change their minds now.

"Fine," she huffed. Brown eyes glanced up to see herself being pulled into a hug.