“Denners! Breakfast is ready!” Came the sweet sing-song voice of his mother through the closed door to his bedroom. Dennis, enjoying his time off from school during the summer holiday, pretended not to hear her, hoping to get a few more moments of rest. This was not to be, however. Sharp claw bore into the flesh of his chest as Juliet stretched, awaken by the smell of food and the sound of what could be argued by the family as her second favorite person.- Maggie Tumberton.

“Ouch! Fine, Jules. I’m awake,” Dennis moaned as he rolled over, toppling Juliet onto the floor who pranced over and sat at the door. The redhead sat up and stretched. He loved being home and this summer had been eye opening. Up until 2 years ago he had been convinced, as had his family, that he was a squib. They did their best to help him adjust to that life, as his siblings all displayed magical abilities before him even though they were younger. Now, it was like having a brand new life. He could do magic and actually kind of alright at it too!

He put on his shorts and polo with the Ravenclaw logo, always showing house pride, and opened the door to a now yowling Juliet. This was the house that he had grown up in. Quint and Maggie bought it several years before he was born so it was the only house he ever knew. He could navigate it perfectly blindfolded and with his hands tied behind his back, hoping on one foot.

Dennis walked down the hallway, past his little brothers already open door with a mess spilling out of it. Shaking his head at Seamus the constant tornado. As his was the last door down, he next passed Lizzie’s room, ever the stereotypical girlie girl with star stickers and confetti plastered on her door, it was still shut, but it was also always shut. She made it crystal clear that no one but their mother was ever allowed inside.

He made his way down the stairs into the living room where Juliet was waiting at the bottom, diligent to deliver him wherever he was supposed to go. His family was already waiting for him in the dining room. His father and mother, Quint and Maggie sat at one end, his younger siblings, Lizzie and Seamus, sat opposite, with his place always in the middle. “You know what I always say,” Quint said, taking in a big breath and his fingers in the air as if ready to conduct an orchestra.

Everyone repeated, “The early worm catches the bird!”

Dennis gave him a half chuckle as he sat down and Juliet wrapped herself around Maggie’s ankles. It was a silly thing that her parents did. The story goes…well Quint can explain it best. The ginger laughed at his family’s unity and said, “You know, if I hadn’t messed up that muggle expression when your mom was late to class one time, you lot might not be around!” Maggie rolled her eyes, scrunched her nose and shook her head, and as usual it drew knowing chuckles from their children.

“Dad, can we go visit our cousins this weekend?” Seamus asked excitedly, always the one eager to go back to the homeland so that he could bounce around and wreak all kinds of havoc on the countryside with the other redheaded devils.

Quint gave it some thought, and said, “Actually, I have something better planned!”

The Tumberton House - Edinburgh, Scotland

Reducio

With the promise of something better firmly lodged in Seamus’ mind, breakfast was cleared from the table with the flick of their father’s well practiced wand. “Can you do that yet, Denners?” Chimed Lizzie, teasingly. Dennis gave her a sarcastic smile and then got up from the table. Of course he could, he thought to himself as he went back up stairs to prepare for the day, he just didn’t have his wand with him, that’s all.

Their parents worked alternating class schedules so that there was always one parent at home. Their dad was off to work first and it was Maggie’s turn to get teach Lizzie and Seamus. This meant that Dennis was free for the day to go off and explore the city. Normally, you wouldn’t let children go off by themselves alone even as a teenager, but Edinburgh was not filled with as many deadly traps as Hogwarts so at least for a little bit he got some time to himself.

With that, he went off to his favorite bit of Edinburgh, Victoria Street, which reminded him distinctly of Diagon Alley. It was so colorful in the summer with both locals and tourists alike. It was easy enough for a young wizard to slip into the crowd unnoticed. He really loved the hustle and bustle of the shoppers and revelers. It was an easy way to pass the hours.

Dennis returned home at lunch. Lunch was already on the table, and he was the first to sit down. It was Quint’s turn to corale the others into their chairs. “How was classes, dear?” Maggie asked her husband as he finally got to sit down as well.

“Same old same old. They just don’t have ears like they used to have or students are as sharp anymore,” he grumbled, visibly tired from a long class. He took a few spoonfuls of his stew and looked over the table.

Seamus banging his feet against the bottom of the table, much to his mother’s annoyance piped up, bored already of the conversation, “So where are you taking us this weekend?”

Quint suddenly snapped back to life. He leaned in as if he had the most important secret in the world. His family mirrored his motion and if the table had been small enough, they’d all be nose to nose at this point. “Hogsmeade.”

“Yes!” Lizzie and Seamus said together excitedly falling back in their chairs. Dennis cleared his throat, but no one noticed with Lizzie and Seamus squealing. The only other time he had been in Hogsmeade was to meet a certain girl by sneaking out of the castle. He would not be telling his family that. Even though he missed his rendezvous the thought of her brought a smile to his face that was easily mistaken as joining the others in their excitement. He was probable never going to meet her again but there would be a certain person sized hole in his life he didn’t think would be filled so easily. He would treasure the time he had with her though.

Maggie looked over and saw Dennis smiling to himself quietly as the other two were now racing around the room arguing about which shops they would visit first. The look was not lost on his mother but she decided to let him have his little private moment. She clapped her hands and said, in a loud commanding voice, “You heard your father, now let’s get cleaned up and ready to go!”