The Brownes Abroad
The door of the car fell shut. Cecil planted both his hands on his hips and smiled as he took a deep breath of warm air. Caradoc felt impressed at the sight of his father looking at peace already. He knew this moment had been a long time coming, but still, it was another thing to actually reach this point.
His parents owned their house in the south of France for decades now. Now they were bringing in the last of their household equipment to take up permanent residence here. Not a hard decision to make. Both Cecil and Moira were looking forward to France. And the location was quite close to Cassanora's old school and any possible internships attached to that.
Not that those were lining up. Caradoc gave his daughter a miffed look as he still had to come to terms with her decision to take a leap-year. She had graduated before anyone of her own age, and he knew she deserved some rest. But he was afraid of standing still at this moment. It was not smart. Not now.
"The boxes are supposed to go in the house, son."
Caradoc lifted his face to look at his father. Clearly not registering what had just been said.
"Oh, lord..." The old man muttered. "Will you stop with the fretting? Please?"
Cecil's mouth pulled open in a bright grin, though his eyes seemed sad to see his son like this.
"You know we'll be fin-"
"I am not worrying, dad" Caradoc interjected, leaving the old man's final world fizzling in the air.
But they both knew different. Cecil shot his son a look of understanding. He sighed and picked up another box from the boot of the car. Leaving for the house in silence.
It had not been such a hard decision. It actually fit well into everyone's plans for the future. But Caradoc hated the implications. The unsaid reason for these changes.
As soon as he left the castle grounds a few weeks prior, he had made his way to Dublin without hesitation. His poor innocent parents were finally made victim of this unyielding world of magic. Caradoc had always loved being a child that stood in both worlds. But in time like these, he regretted ever pursuing it. He could have stayed far away from it after Hogwarts. Just as easily he could have opened his own muggle practice and lived a quiet life without any involvement in some insidious ministry plot.
"Dad?"
Caradoc slipped out of his thoughts again. This time facing the youngest Browne present.
"Grandpa has a point y'know." Cassanora smiled. "The boxes are supposed to find their way inside."
He smiled back at her. Knowing now it was plain for all to see. He was, like so often, a fool. A silly old fool, as someone would say. Everyone but him was already ways ahead of him in accepting their new lives. They barely seemed to bother. So perhaps, neither should he. They were all, after all, so very far removed from his life in Hogwarts. Especially now that not even Cassanora would be visiting that place again.
That place. Which had become a synonym to trouble. Danger. Misery. He hated how Hogwarts, his second home, felt so tainted these days. They managed to dig their filthy claws into the old castle. The hags first, the Ministry soon after. But he had reached the end of the line there. They finally managed to corner him and force him out. He sighed as he realized he actually made it to the doorstep.
"I'll take that, kiddo." His mother called out with both arms stretched out.
"Why don't you go park the car and I'll start setting up some drinks for everyone, hmm? No, no, you go do that."
He knew there would be no point in arguing with his mother's wiggling finger. Nor did he have the energy to bother.
Stepping back into the car, Caradoc immediately turned the key and drove down the street. His eyes focused on the road this time. In no time at all, he found a nice parking spot. As the car fell silent again, he sighed and rested his hands on his lap. He was far away from her right now. And in this silent moment, he would have loved nothing more than to have her sitting next to him, brushing his hair or calling him silly.
So many feelings wrestled inside him in this very moment. So many worries for countless faces. Sweet innocent faces. He had been feeling selfish for leaving them behind. Thinking of those closest to him first before making sure the place he left behind was safe. And deep down… he knew it was not. With a final sigh and sag of the shoulders, he managed to get out of the car. "And this is just the beginning…" He grumbled to himself.
His parents owned their house in the south of France for decades now. Now they were bringing in the last of their household equipment to take up permanent residence here. Not a hard decision to make. Both Cecil and Moira were looking forward to France. And the location was quite close to Cassanora's old school and any possible internships attached to that.
Not that those were lining up. Caradoc gave his daughter a miffed look as he still had to come to terms with her decision to take a leap-year. She had graduated before anyone of her own age, and he knew she deserved some rest. But he was afraid of standing still at this moment. It was not smart. Not now.
"The boxes are supposed to go in the house, son."
Caradoc lifted his face to look at his father. Clearly not registering what had just been said.
"Oh, lord..." The old man muttered. "Will you stop with the fretting? Please?"
Cecil's mouth pulled open in a bright grin, though his eyes seemed sad to see his son like this.
"You know we'll be fin-"
"I am not worrying, dad" Caradoc interjected, leaving the old man's final world fizzling in the air.
But they both knew different. Cecil shot his son a look of understanding. He sighed and picked up another box from the boot of the car. Leaving for the house in silence.
It had not been such a hard decision. It actually fit well into everyone's plans for the future. But Caradoc hated the implications. The unsaid reason for these changes.
As soon as he left the castle grounds a few weeks prior, he had made his way to Dublin without hesitation. His poor innocent parents were finally made victim of this unyielding world of magic. Caradoc had always loved being a child that stood in both worlds. But in time like these, he regretted ever pursuing it. He could have stayed far away from it after Hogwarts. Just as easily he could have opened his own muggle practice and lived a quiet life without any involvement in some insidious ministry plot.
"Dad?"
Caradoc slipped out of his thoughts again. This time facing the youngest Browne present.
"Grandpa has a point y'know." Cassanora smiled. "The boxes are supposed to find their way inside."
He smiled back at her. Knowing now it was plain for all to see. He was, like so often, a fool. A silly old fool, as someone would say. Everyone but him was already ways ahead of him in accepting their new lives. They barely seemed to bother. So perhaps, neither should he. They were all, after all, so very far removed from his life in Hogwarts. Especially now that not even Cassanora would be visiting that place again.
That place. Which had become a synonym to trouble. Danger. Misery. He hated how Hogwarts, his second home, felt so tainted these days. They managed to dig their filthy claws into the old castle. The hags first, the Ministry soon after. But he had reached the end of the line there. They finally managed to corner him and force him out. He sighed as he realized he actually made it to the doorstep.
"I'll take that, kiddo." His mother called out with both arms stretched out.
"Why don't you go park the car and I'll start setting up some drinks for everyone, hmm? No, no, you go do that."
He knew there would be no point in arguing with his mother's wiggling finger. Nor did he have the energy to bother.
Stepping back into the car, Caradoc immediately turned the key and drove down the street. His eyes focused on the road this time. In no time at all, he found a nice parking spot. As the car fell silent again, he sighed and rested his hands on his lap. He was far away from her right now. And in this silent moment, he would have loved nothing more than to have her sitting next to him, brushing his hair or calling him silly.
So many feelings wrestled inside him in this very moment. So many worries for countless faces. Sweet innocent faces. He had been feeling selfish for leaving them behind. Thinking of those closest to him first before making sure the place he left behind was safe. And deep down… he knew it was not. With a final sigh and sag of the shoulders, he managed to get out of the car. "And this is just the beginning…" He grumbled to himself.
If you're reading this... You're awesome.
Calming Presence/Healing Sage/Wandless/Non-Verbal
STA - 16 | EVA - 6 | STR - 15 | WIS - 16 | ARC - 8 | ACC - 4