PART I
WHAT I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THEN...

There are some people in your life that you think are going to live forever. You know that life must end but for those select few they live in your memory as immortal. For some it is their parents or siblings or aunts or uncles. For me, it was my grandfather, Alberto Almeida. He was a constant fixture who I believed would outlast time itself. With a larger than life personality and enough ego to fill whatever space it was given, there was no way that even eternity would do him in. Well, since I’m writing this, that inevitably did not happen and the hole in my life was immeasurable. He was, when I was growing up, my one true admirer. For a short time when I started school at Mahoutokoro, he was my one true adversary. But through it all - schooling, family drama, graduation, first-second-third-fourth loves, first jobs, kids - my grandfather was the one who was always there in the background: nurturing me, challenging me, confounding me, guiding me, loving me.

His passing is something I never wished to have happened and yet here I am sitting in front of large collection of his personal journals. It is not the only thing he left me, and the rest of it I’m sure will earn me the infinite jealousy of a clan, but it is by far the most important to me. A whole lifetime, several in fact it seems by volume, was left open and bear for me and I’m still struggling to comprehend it’s meaning. Things I never knew happened, thoughts and feelings and choices I cannot possibly understand entirely.

A turning point in my life came on my first trip to Portugal to my grandfather’s ancestral home. It is a moment in my life that overshadows even my return to Macau. I remember thinking, leaving China for my third year at Mahoutokoro that things would never be worse for me. That young naive Maria could not have been more wrong. You never realize how far down the bottom is until you crash into it hurdling at break neck speed. If only I had had the self-respect and self-awareness I had then, maybe I could have saved myself all of the trouble that trip caused me. I would not be Maria, though, if I didn’t rush headlong into my own undoing.

Now, some may assume, based on past writings, that I must hate my grandfather with the passion of a thousand suns. Indeed, some might read this and think my tone is startling different than where I currently am in other narratives. Well, I don’t blame the reader for thinking this way, and certainly if you stop reading my life this can be quite puzzling. However, to understand the events of the spring of 2026 and how it changed my life and future forever, I think I have found the perfect way to start. And it starts, as everything in my life, with a story from my grandfather. I will let the following series of journal entries set the stage for the story that is unfolding.

FROM THE JOURNAL OF ALBERTO DE ALMEIDA

DATE: 20 March 1975

Alberto and Castelo de Mavão

Reducio

I look down the parapet of my family’s ancestral castle and the rolling hills of Portugal. Even so far west, you can feel the electricity in the air. Muggles and their affairs never quite reached the vaulted heights of Castelo de Marvão but their militaries, armed coups, and meddling politics never failed to be on the lips of even wizard folk in these troubled times. A revolution was starting in their cities and it could be mean more oppression or freedom for the people. The Almeida clan never really cared much for the happenings of the Muggle world other than to condescend and their incivility. Now, however, the cold air bites my ears like the warning signs of the same grim future as our present.

The castle is large and imposing. It is a well preserved medieval castle in the middle of seeming nowhere. High on a cliff overlooking the sprawling scenery, visible for miles. Why would such a castle be thus maintained when there aren’t many people to keep it up? Well, that’s because it is a facade, a portal to the wizard community hiding in its grounds. It is my family’s pride and joy and for generations upon generations we have hosted a sizable community here of likeminded wizards that want to distance themselves from Muggle politics and interference.
For my part, upon graduating school, I returned home to help manage the influence and legacy of my heritage. We are proud old Portuguese wizarding family and we have carefully arranged everything to keep it that way - especially my grandfather the patriarch of the Almeida clan. Everything within these walls functions with both grandeur and a fixed purpose. We are safe because he has always worked hard to make it so. No harm will ever befall our family!

I should introduce myself. Perhaps someday my children or children’s children might read this and it is a new journal. My name is Alberto de Almeida third son and fourth child of Diogo de Almeida, fourth son of António de Almeida the patriarch of our community. My family is quite larger and hierarchy can be very strict. António may be old but he is powerful, sharp, and ruthless when it comes to using both his written will and playing favorites with his children grandchildren and great grandchildren. However, he is the stabilizing force, nothing can happen without his say so, keeping the intrigue and duplicity in check. I often wonder if my family will go the way of the brewing revolution. Overthrowing the ruling class seems like a dream to the Muggles, and impossible to me.

I am 18 and graduated from schooling. I’m talented with finance, having accrued the the most savings in my generation even at this age. My brothers and sister live lavishly, as do I, but they are not as smart when it comes to buying quality at the best price. My grandfather, and this is to my pride, often includes me in his business meetings along with others who are of course older and also likemindedly savvy. Sometimes it is said that too many of my people take after my father, who, like my siblings, enjoys all the finest things in life, perhaps a little too much. I like fashion and I am a natural potioneer. My understanding of both magical ingredients and chemistry, as Muggles would call it, is second to none here at Castelo de Marvão. I have helped to introduce many different concoctions to both entertain my family and increase the security of our home.

The entrance to our village will never be found by Muggles and cannot be crossed without magic. I will not reveal it’s location here, however, only those who know where it is and how to cross will do so. Once inside the castle grounds come alive. No, it is not an actual castle but a village on the mountain. Large colorful dwellings form layers of rings that encircle a tiled and mosaic square with a large fountain that honors the founder of the community from thousands of years ago. Lanes spiral outwards causing some of the buildings to take on a most peculiar look but fret not everything is bigger on the inside! It is a village filled to be brim with magic and lights and all of it is just so special to me. There is no place like Castelo de Marvão! In the center of the village, facing the fountain there is the largest building, the residence of António de Almeida, and in the heart of the ring on either side are the residences of his sons and so on through the spiral of their sons to end with all the other Almeida’s. I, for instance, have taken residence on the outskirts of the spiraling city as I am the youngest and now the man of my own abode. It is beautiful and owned by my father before me when he was a young man. The house ownership of course moves with the passing of the generations and the inevitable upward trajectory.

As I was saying, my house is on the outside ring of the village and next to the bluff overlooking what feels like all of Portugal. When I close my eyes and breath in the wind, for a moment I feel like a king. Though the Muggle world is collapsing, we are safe here in Castelo de Marvão.

FROM THE JOURNAL OF ALBERTO DE ALMEIDA

DATE: 15 July 1977

If I was brave enough to curse my family I would. I must tell you that what I wrote years ago is true. My grandfather António was the guardian of the Almeida clan and protected us from ourselves. I do not understand all of the details, and I do not think I would even if I knew what happened. But my grandfather has made the decision that my father Diogo, and by extension me, are out of his will and that the vast majority of his wealth will be divided between all of the other descendants according to the discernment of his eldest son, António Jr. Now, I love my family, but Junior is a right bastard of a man and those who he hates he despises openly. You guessed it the one who gets most of his seething anger is my father his youngest brother.

All of my family has moved into my house and it cannot possibly fit them all, even with the enchantments. So much for being the king of my own castle within Castelo de Marvão! When I challenged as to why they couldn’t find some other places it was revealed that my siblings had also squandered their land and traded their family assets to others within the clan for favors and trinkets. With the loss of the new rules that our grandfather is forcing, they have nowhere to go but take up my space. I am forming my black book as we speak. When I am in charge, I will restore order to my family as my grandfather used to! Here are my family members and their vices by family.

ANTÓNIO - BEATRIZ

António - Old, senile, easily manipulated by his children - used to be strong and respected.
Beatriz - Silent, goes along with whatever her husband wants - likes to wear too many pearl necklaces.

Children: 4 boys
António Jr - Satan
Martim - Creep
Rodrigo - Playboy
Diogo - Spineless

ANTÓNIO JR - ANA

António Jr - the current shot caller, vindictive, easy to hate - his mustache is too curly and he smells
Ana - Lisbon socialite, pretends to know history - I swear her hair is tall enough to be hiding a rats nest…

Children (my cousins): 2 boys 2 girls
António III - Posh, arrogant, narcissist - his personality is how many rings he has on his fingers
Gabriel - feminine, bad with money, good singing voice - has too many girlfriends
Bela - Smart but ugly
Camilla - Pretty but so stupid

MARTIM - ISABEL

Martim - creep, makes everyone uncomfortable, surrounded by women
Isabel - long suffering - stays for the money and influence - my favorite aunt

Children (my cousins): 4 boys, 3 girls with 2 women

Isabel:
Martim Jr - athletic - broom racer - girl chaser like his father
Clara - athletic, powerful magic - wicked, backstabbing, stay far away

???: Rumors fly with who the actual mothers are and if it is just one other woman but here are his bastards:
António - just really to confuse everyone, but he’s practically mute
Alvaro - dark skinned, moody, kind of cool actually. I think I actually like Alvaro
Gabriel - there was some argument between Junior and Martim, both Gabriels are about the same age. It gets confusing. Talented duelist.
Rodrigo - Seriously Martim has no original thoughts and neither does he really care about anyone but Martim Jr and Clara on pain of death from Isabel.

RODRIGO - EDITE - GLORIA - EVA - OTHERS

Rodrigo - handsome, well groomed, kind of stupid
Edite - First wife - still lives in the village for some reason - I might forever be too young to understand this.
Gloria - Second wife - Significantly younger - beautiful
Eva - Mistress #1 - the affair that ended the first marriage but never married and still continues currently.
Others - I don’t bother learning the names of the others

Children (Cousins) - ??? Hard to say how many but that I count 1 boy and 5 daughters - there is a rumor that some of the children from the others are not legitimate and actually his.
Edite -
Maria - My favorite cousin by far. Funny, talented, helped with my school work.
Sophia - Possibly my second favorite - a little crazy and daring but also wicked smart.

Gloria -
Marta - Pretty and that’s her only personality
Rodrigo Jr - His only son - older than me by a few years - incredibly bad at money and exceedingly vain.

Eva -
Lucille - rarely seen, bookish, hates being in public
Natália - also rarely seen, hates people and most of all her father

DIOGO - ROSA

Diogo - spineless, I used to look up to him, but he’d be dead to me but he snores too loud
Rosa - She is one of the few who were smart enough to leave. I see my mother on occasion but never in Castelo de Marvão - currently lives in Lisbon.

Children (siblings) - 3 boys and 1 girl

Diogo Jr - kiss ass - does whatever anyone tells him to do.
João - secretly a squib but my father works hard to make it look like he isn’t for the sake of the family.
Constança - My beloved sister - beautiful, talented, smart, funny, ambitious - my favorite human being - died last year
Alberto - Me - youngest of the cousins and the only one destined to make something of himself.

FROM THE JOURNAL OF ALBERTO DE ALMEIDA

DATE: 3 April 1980

I am reserving this section of my journal for my grandest adventure yet, and my biggest gamble. My grandfather passed away, and with him, any hope that my family would be restored to their rightful place in the hierarchy. They were left with nothing and I can see no future at Castelo de Marvão any longer. Instead I will seek my fortunes in the colonies - specifically as far away as I can get - Macau. I have heard of its wealth and opportunity for those savvy enough to grasp it and grasp it I shall! I only regret that I do not know when I can return and I leave my Maria and Sophia in a precarious situation within the family. I hope they will marry good men who will take them way from that place. As for me, I am to take a boat to see the world along my way to Macau. I hope to arrive there a changed man and put these thoughts of family behind me for good. Perhaps someday I might come back and prove them all wrong. But if not, good riddance!

Lisbon

I arrived in Lisbon through the use of the Flo network. My family frowns on its use, and really frowns on anyone leaving the community without permission but I can’t live in that place any longer, even if it is still wondrously enchanted. I will make my own way at last. Here’s to a fruitful future for the rest of my life!

Mozambique

Journal, what was I thinking. My stomach has been turning for weeks, sometimes higher than the ocean waves! If it isn’t my stomach it’s all these damned muggles on the boat. I seemed to have been tricked out of my ticket. A man had approached me saying he needed to be on my boat, couldn’t get a ticket, and paid me to take his. I thought I was in luck. But I have been swindled. I never cared for Muggles but now I hate them. They smell worse than Uncle António Jr! At least there is some reprieve here in Mozambique. I was able to find a healer and buy several potions that would help with the seasickness. I realize I can swap boats and get passage on a proper ship, but I’m far to proud to turn back now. I wanted change, and now I’m getting it!

Calcutta

Calcutta is pure magic! Straight streets, these muggle contraptions called trolleys, and even people on bicycles that will carry you around! Will wonders never cease! I particularly like the bicycle men. If I wasn’t bound for Macau and if I could understand even one word these people are speaking to me I would surely love to live here! The food is amazing as well! Muggles…really aren’t that bad after all!

Malacca

Jungle, sweaty, hot. Now I smell like a Muggle…I want to be done with this stupid voyage. Why did I not just travel by portkey and then the Asiatic flo network? Shame on me. Shame on these Muggles. Shame on all of you reading this!

Macau

It has been months. I now not only smell like a Muggle. I look like a Muggle. I even talk like a bloody Muggle. I’m even saying “bloody” now because some idiot Brit wouldn’t shut up and quit talking to me like I had a clue what he was on about! I picked up English just so I could tell him off. I guess my uncles aren’t the only vindictive ones. Anyway, Macau is beautiful! A proper Portuguese colony and civil too. The locals speak Portuguese even though it does sound funny, but now so do I. My contact for buying some cheap land on the back of the island should be meeting me shortly. A witch by the name of Leung Xiaoyu. I am now determined more than ever to make my own Castelo de Marvão right here in Macau!

PART II
THE MONSTER
A THREE ACT PLAY

Cast:

FERNANDO (FATHER)

Reducio

BEIHE (MOTHER)

Reducio

HIMIKO (Caretaker)

Reducio

ACT 1 - SCENE 1 - AT THE ALTER

[ENTER MARIA and MYSTERIOUS FIGURE. The room is dark save for one beam of light illuminating a pedestal with a large bowl resting on top. A concoction swirls as the pair approach. The mood is dampened by the echo-y footsteps. Tap-tap-tap-tap. They are alone. MARIA approaches the pensieve with a vial in hand. She motions for MYSTERIOUS FIGURE to take the spot opposite her on the platform. MARIA speaks.]

MARIA: [pensive, eyes cast down toward the bowl, voice heavy with anticipation] We are finally here.
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE: [voice is muffled and indiscernible]
MARIA: [makes eye contact with MYSTERIOUS FIGURE] I don’t know why I hesitate to show you. It’s the one memory I locked away and I never thought I would share it. Not in my life.
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE: [muted sounds likes a question]
MARIA: [Turns toward audience, lights dim] There are many things I am not proud of, mostly when I was a girl. And most of all, I regret how I’ve handled my parents. Even after we moved to Japan, for the first few years at Mahoutokoro, I refused to go home. I spent breaks with friends, or, as is the case in the summer of 2025, I made the decision to go back to Macau.

[MARIA fades and the scene is restored with MARIA talking to MYSTERIOUS FIGURE]

MARIA: After that, I tried to find who I was for myself. I remember hating my father and despising my mother. There was nowhere for the young Maria to go.
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE: [muffled protest]
MARIA: Yes, I could have gone to you. But at that point was that really an option.
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE: [the cloaked figure seems to shrug and shake it’s head]
MARIA: [a sardonic smile and mirthless laugh] Right right. Well, as you know, my grandfather Alberto de Almeida reached out spring of 2026 wanting to take me to his family. His health was failing and he wanted to bring someone back to prove he made it. And I am…how did you put it?
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE: [Animated hand gestures and motions like choking someone]
MARIA: Yes, that was it. [pause] Well, what you don’t know is [holds up the vial] I went home first to talk to my parents.
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE: [cloaked head shakes and seems to look at the bowl thoughtfully, both hands now resting on it]
MARIA: [Shakes her head] No. It didn’t go well. [holds up her hand for the MYSTERIOUS FIGURE to stop] Yes yes, we have a great relationship now. But if you can please stop interrupting me, you might learn something valuable about who I used to be. I [a longer pause] don’t want this to be how you see me moving forward but if we are to work, you need to see me like that [shakes the vial gently as the memory knocks lazily against the glass]

[Smoke fills the room as MARIA pours the memory into the bowl. MARIA places her hand gently and lovingly on top of the MYSTERIOUS FIGURE’S hands. With one last look at each other, as if counting in unison, the couple submerge their heads]

[END SCENE - FADE TO BLACK]

ACT II - SCENE I - THE FRETFUL FATHER

[Scene opens in a lavish villa in the mountains somewhere in JAPAN. FERNANDO, MARIA’S FATHER, and BEIHE, MARIA’S MOTHER, sit in a well furnished LIVING ROOM. FERNANDO is pacing around anxiously and BEIHE is watching him carefully.]

FERNANDO: [Throws up his hands in disgust] She never owls.
BEIHE: [the always calm Chinese woman nods sagely but says nothing.]
FERNANDO: [Continues various frustrated hand gestures, each more agitated than the last] It’s like she thinks we are dead!
BEIHE: [the sage MUGGLE nods but continues to say nothing, her husband exuding the tension she feels as well]
FERNANDO: Is it my fault we are here? Is it my fault that she is at Mahoutokoro? Is it my fault that I can’t make my father proud?
BEIHE: [BEIHE is currently dressed in a beautiful kimono and adjusts it preparing to stand up] Of course not.
FERNANDO: Then, why- [FERNANDO is cut off as BEIHE wraps him in her warm embrace, silencing him mid-protest]
BEIHE: Qing’ai de (Darling), MARIA is allowed to make her own decisions. We must be supportive of her. If she comes to us, we will welcome her back. That is all.
FERNANDO: [FERNANDO sinks into her confident arms and BEIHE gently guides him to his seat on the couch] Is there anything I could have done right? Anything at all?
BEIHE: [BEIHE thinks about this for a long moment, holding his hands in hers. She sighs as if there is no easy answers to FERNANDO’S QUESTIONS] Promise me something.
FERNANDO: [He looks up, tears welling in his eyes, ready to give his wife whatever she desires if only MARIA would return to them] Ask and it shall be yours.
BEIHE: [pauses before taking a deep breath, her words appear carefully thought out and measured] MARIA decided to cut contact with us. We did not. MARIA decided it was best for her to go to MACAU without telling us. She knew, and she is right, we would have stopped her without hesitation. MARIA will come back to us. We just have to give her time. When she comes back, you must promise me that you will listen and not act. Yes, she has much explaining to do. Yes, she is too young to make any of these decisions by herself. But we were young and impulsive once too. We should listen to MARIA as we would have wanted our parents to listen to us.

[FERNANDO nods silently as he rests his head on BEIHE’S shoulder. The audience feels the tension of the moment that what is left unspoken is they may never see their daughter again. Too many what-ifs hang in the balance.]

[END SCENE - THE ROOM fills with SMOKE as if a memory is falling away. FADE to BLACK]

ACT II - SCENE II - THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTER

[A KNOCK on the door. It is some days after SCENE I. BEIHE is in comfortable clothes and FERNANDO is in a business suit. Their maid HIMIKO, comes running in breathless.]

HIMIKO: Master FERNANDO! [HIMIKO is pale as if she saw a ghost] You won’t believe who has come.

[ENTER MARIA]

MARIA: Father.

[MARIA stands in the entrance way, feet planted firmly on the ground already defiant as if she already regretted being there. She looks around, her dark mascara eyes judging every nook and cranny of the mansion]

MARIA: I’m home.

[FERNANDO turns around and sees, not his sweet innocent child MARIA, but a young lady dressed head to toe in BLACK LACE and LEATHER, her face heavily caked with white make up and her LIPS painted a striking BLACK. Her once glorious hair is now starter than a knife’s edge and matching in OBELISK.]

FERNANDO: No. [FERNANDO is standing as defiant as MARIA, his arms crossed, his LIPS in a snarl]
BEIHE: [comes running to her husband’s side and, with one look at MARIA, her hands cover her mouth in shock]
MARIA: [her smirk is filled to the brim with vitriol as if her contempt could choke the life out of her parents] Yes.
FERNANDO: [anger is visibly boiling as he clinches his fist] This is not my MARIA. Why have you done this?
MARIA: [each word dripping with as much hatred as she can summon forth] Deal. With. It.
BEIHE: [ever the placater, BEIHE pats the air to try to calm both of them down] Now now. Let’s welcome our daughter home. MARIA, perhaps you would like a bath and a change of clothes? I can have HIMIKO prepare both for you.
MARIA: [turns slowly to face her mother, the fury in her eyes nearly setting them on fire if a match was struck] You would like that, witch. [Pauses thoughtfully and then spits] sorry not witch, I meant MUGGLE.

[In the span of a lightning flash, FERNANDO reaches out to slap MARIA hard enough her makeup would end up painted on the wall instead. MARIA is prepared and deftly steps back away from FERNANDO’S REACH. HER WAND is in her hand in an instant. She is about to cast a spell in defense but freezes.]

HIMIKO: [HIMIKO is fastest to the draw, a powerfully skilled duelist well worth the money the ALMEIDA’S pay to keep her] Petrificus Totalus! [HIMIKO’S voice is even and balanced even as everyone else is ready for war] Child, come with me. You are obviously weary from your travels and you forget your manners. [HIMIKO bows to FERNANDO and BEIHE and releases the spell, not bothering to wait for MARIA to follow her]

[EXIT HIMIKO]

MARIA: [waits for a moment and stares at both FERNANDO and BEIHE says nothing and shoulders past them both]

[EXIT MARIA]

BEIHE: [waits until MARIA’S door closes] That could have gone better.
FERNANDO: [rubs his temple with his hand and sighs] You don’t say.
BEIHE: At least she is finally home.
FERNANDO: At least…

[END SCENE - FADE TO BLACK]

ACT II SCENE III - I FORBID IT!

[ENTER MARIA. All of her make up is removed. She is wearing a jeans and a sweater, the only thing she left her years ago, they are tight and do not correctly fit her anymore. She is visibly uncomfortable with the change as she sits at the DINING ROOM TABLE. FERNANDO is already sitting there with his hands clasped on the table, his face blank. BEIHE comes in from the kitchen with HIMIKO carrying some tea and desserts. EVERYONE sits down. MARIA is the first to speak.]

MARIA: Are you happy? I finally wiped that “disgusting make up off my face.” [MARIA sneers and though her face looks conventionally pretty the sharpness of her contempt is still bitingly apparent]
BEIHE: You look very beautiful [BEIHE smiles in that way she is being both precocious and genuine] as you always do.

[MARIA gives her a sarcastic smile but holds her tongue.]

FERNANDO: [he takes a long time to join the conversation, finishing his first cup of tea and letting HIMIKO refill the cup before he speaks] We are of course happy to have you home, MARIA. We have been worried sick about you. It’s been almost 3 years.
MARIA: Has it? I hardly noticed [MARIA is unrelenting and she folds her arms and sits straight in her seat.]
BEIHE: [BEIHE tries again. Turning the conversation to something more pleasant.] How has school been? I’ve never been to a magical school before, it must be breathtaking.
MARIA: [MARIA’S tough girl attitude falters for a moment. In that instant, she deeply regrets the words she spoke earlier. However, the moment of introspection passes quickly.] It’s ok. Not worth leaving CHINA for. But then again, MACAU isn’t exactly all I remember it being either.
FERNANDO: If you had just come to us-
MARIA: Pfft, and what good would that have done? Would you have told me how evil our family is? That they were all planning on basically killing me or doing their best to do so? Some parents you are.
FERNANDO: [FERNANDO and BEIHE are shocked into silence, clearly they did not appreciate the extent of the damage.] I see…
HIMIKO: Perhaps we can turn our attention to more interesting things. How long do you plan on staying, MARIA? I can help you with some of your coursework if you’d like.
MARIA: [MARIA pauses to contemplate this. HIMIKO is so quick and powerful she would definitely be able to learn a lot from her! However, that was not why she was here.] I leave tomorrow morning.

[BEIHE is shocked with concern, FERNANDO with rage, and HIMIKO has a troubled look on her face, her effort to navigate this situation failing.]

BEIHE: Oh. Where will you go?
MARIA: [She now looks visibly more uncomfortable as she prepares to tell them the truth.] Even though it’s spring break, I prepare to travel to Europe.
FERNANDO: [Though he is still frustrated, he appears to relax.] Well…thank you for coming to tell us, I suppose -
MARIA: [MARIA does not let him finished, the bandaid has been ripped off and she needs to say her piece before she backs down.] I will be going to PORTUGAL to accompany my grandfather to his home. His health is failing and he wants to go home for the first time in 50 years. I will go with him.
FERNANDO: [The moment of reprieve is met once again with the full force of his anger.] I forbid it!
BEIHE: You can’t be serious!
HIMIKO: [stands up so violently the chair knocks back and everyone stares at her including MARIA] If that is the desire of the young Mistress, I shall prepare my things. If it pleases you Master FERNANDO, I will make sure she is safe. Now if you excuse me. Child. Come with me. [She takes MARIA by the arm with shocking strength and drags her away from the table hastily before MARIA can rebuttal her parents.]

[MARIA exits with HIMIKO]

[HIMIKO returns to find BEIHE weeping and still sitting at the table. FERNANDO is quietly seething as he continues to drink his cup of tea.]

HIMIKO: [Looks at the pair in disbelief] Master FERNANDO, may I speak plainly?
FERNANDO: [nods, barely cognizant that HIMIKO has returned. There is a long silence as only BEIHE’S sobs are heard]
HIMIKO: MARIA comes home on her own, and quite by surprise and… [HIMIKO pauses to choose her words carefully]…the first thing we do is forbid her from going someplace she could have gone without telling us? That does not seem to be the best.
FERNANDO: [He looks at HIMIKO with tired eyes, his voice thick with emotion] I just want my happy daughter back.
BEIHE: [through choked tears] we both do…
HIMIKO: [The caretaker searches for the right words for long moments before she speaks] MARIA will eventually find happiness. The question is, will you be a part of it?
FERNANDO: [tears stream down his face, unable to meet either women’s gaze] I failed to protect her twice. Once when we left MACAU. Twice when she returned to MACAU. Must I fail her again? I’m not ready to lose her. She shouldn’t go to PORTUGAL.
[The memory is fading, smoke feels the room around FERNANDO, BEIHE, and HIMIKO. As we FADE TO BLACK we hear HIMIKO say]

HIMIKO: Ready or not, MARIA is going.

[END SCENE]

ACT III - SCENE I - A FATHER KNOWS BEST

[The SCENE opens with MARIA and the MYSTERIOUS FIGURE pulling their heads out of the pensieve. The MYSTERIOUS FIGURE heaves on the floor and gasps for breath. MARIA looks contemplative and sorrowful.]

MARIA: First time right? Never a great feeling. [MARIA pats the black cloaked figure on the back comfortingly.]
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE: [moans muffled and unintelligibly, the sound is regretful and forlorn]
MARIA: I wish I was a more understanding daughter. I didn’t understand the stress and pain I was causing them. I only wanted to find out who I was and to prove I had a right to exist. I never imagined the anguish it caused my father and mother.
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE: [the hooded figure seems to regain his composure. He makes a gesture with his hand and slaps the back of his hand against his other.]
MARIA: [a wry smile and a chuckle] You are right. I should have let my father slap me. I would never talk to my mother that way now. I went looking for a fight. You want to know what the sad truth is?
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE: [he remains quiet for some time before nodding]
MARIA: The way I ended up treating my parents? It was the exact same way my grandfather and his family treated me…but…my parents never treated me like that did they?
MYSTERIOUS FIGURE: [the cloaked man makes a large gesture with his arms like he is a creature.]
MARIA: [nods and the tears stream down her face as she and MYSTERIOUS FIGURE turn to leave] In many ways, I became the monster I was trying to fight.

[END SCENE - FADE TO BLACK]

Content Warning: This is written in the genre of horror. If you are sensitive to these things. Do not read.

PART 3
WELCOME TO CASTELO DE MARVÃO
YOU WON'T EVER LEAVE

Stepping into the streets of Wizard Lisbon, Maria felt out of place immediately. Himiko had insisted that she wear the finest kimono available to her. A beautifully layered number with intricate flower patterns sown into the silk outer layer with folds of warmer materials forming a cascading effect around the hems. It was definitely warm and cozy for the winter weather but it felt weird being so…traditional when she spent the better part of a year being how she truly felt. She could argue with her parents, she could argue with her friends, she could argue with her relatives but there was no arguing with that stubborn old bat. And by stubborn old bat, Himiko was all of like 30 at the time. She even had to do her make up in a traditional Japanese style.

Maria had showed up unannounced at her family’s winter residence, having half-hoped they weren’t there. She had worn what had become standard fair for her - black from head to toe, lace, leather, etc - knowing it would cause a stir. She wasn’t really sure what she had hoped to accomplish going home and only staying for a night before heading to Lisbon. Perhaps just to shock her parents into remembering she existed? She was not, expecting Himiko to decide to take over and insist on coming with her. This morning before they left, Maria had tried to dress in the clothes she arrived in but Himiko insisted that she dressed like a proper lady. When Maria begrudgingly started to grab a dress, she was stopped and several kimonos were thrust into her arms to choose. The young student tried to remind her caretaker they were going to Europe so she should dress in normal clothes, the stubborn woman shot back that she would be a proper lady this time, or else.

A stiff elbow to her side reminded her that Himiko was still with her as the matching pair strolled along the street trying to ignore all the gawks and stares as the two ladies looked all the world like Japanese dolls. “So this is Europe? It seems…” Himiko whispered in Japanese, her eyes narrowing as she looked around trying to find the word for it, “…dirty.”

Maria rolled her eyes as they linked arms. “Not everyone place is spotless like Japan. You realize that most of the world doesn’t walk around with their trash in their bag right?” Maria’s Japanese was getting much better and Himiko’s raised eyebrows meant she also noticed. The younger looked away at the look now suddenly embarrassed both that her Japanese was better and that she had spoken so boldly in front of her caretaker. So much for being a badass goth baddie, she thought bitterly to herself. She caught her reflection in one of the shop windows as they passed by and felt lost however she did make this kimono look good - Himiko really knew how to dress well.

“At least they could be more polite. No matter in Japan or in Europe white people have to stare at civilized company,” Himiko said shooting several onlookers a stare that would put anything Maria could do to shame. Maria admired how brutal Himiko’s observations could be when she knew no one else could understand her. She thought back to all her attempts at coming to Europe and how humiliated she felt. If only she had the words that her caretaker had.

“That may be true but let’s try to behave ourselves. I wouldn’t want my caretaker to hear you talk like that,” Maria said pointedly. Himiko went to rebuttal that she was only surprised that Europeans were so uncivilized compared to Japanese people but thought better of it as they arrived at their destination. They were to meet the elder Almeida at the main wizarding bank of Lisbon. It reminded Maria of London’s Gringotts but all Europeans looked the same to her. She was going to make that joke to Himiko but before she could she was interrupted by and old man flanked on each side by both men and women in expensive looking suits. Whatever joy and mirth she felt was sapped as if sucked right out of her lungs.

“Yeye,” Maria said, her posture stiffened as he closed the distance and stared at them as if assessing their value. He was more frail than last year. Now suddenly balding and his facial hair light wisps instead of clean shaven. He still looked powerful in his suit that both appeared a deep black but also some how glistening however it hung looser on his frame. His eyes though, they were as sharp and calculating as they always were. Behind the frosty reception she detected a slight warm that hadn’t been there in her last confrontation.

She recognized the men and women with her as her uncles and their wives and noticed her cousins were not in attendance. Two uncles, two aunts. All dressed in black. Were they going to a funeral? The joy that got sucked out was suddenly replaced with a sense of foreboding. She nodded a greeting to the silent entourage that stood behind her grandfather but if they recognized her they showed no signs of it at all. Guess they no longer had a need to pretend to be excited to see her.

Himiko was the first to move, and it was a deep bow reserved for reverence. A slight shift in weight against the young girl meant that Maria was supposed to join her. She, however, could not bring herself to bow to any of them, she could only hold her grandfathers steely eyed gaze with her own challenge. “You summoned me,” Maria followed up her greeting with a demand for why she was here.



Alberto had spent the week preparing to visit his family home. He had not set foot in Portugal for nearly 50 years since he took that ship voyage from Lisbon to Macau. Since he left, he got married, had 3 sons, his sons got married and they had children. He had started his own enterprises, made savvy investments in property and innovated the gambling scene in the Wizarding world in Asia through mergers in Macau. His sons married successful women, even his squib son found an heir to a pharmaceutical and cosmetic empire. He had finally built his own Castelo de Marvão. There was only one problem - he was dying. It was time to go home to show the abundance of his accomplishments and rub it in the faces of all those low lives in Portugal.

To be honest, as he looked in the mirror of his bathroom, there wasn’t only one problem but another: Maria. Her trip to see him the past summer hadn’t gone according to plan. His welcoming her back into the fold was met with far more resistance than he had anticipated. He had to acquiesce to his sons’ demand to have her tested since they were unwilling to bring a no-mag back into their household. He was no coward and though he could not fight the whims of his family, he was man enough to take the responsibility for that decision. So, Maria had to be tested.

He dressed himself and his butler helped him down the stairs and to the dining room where his sons and their wives were already waiting. Their impatient looks told him they no longer respected the time it took him to get ready in the morning. Alberto was a proud man but in that moment he could see that perhaps his Castelo de Marvão was not so different from the one he left. The same back biting the same manipulating the patriarch. This was also the reason he sent Maria away at the end of her visit. He wanted her to be free, to break this cycle, to get away. It was to his great shame that he once again chose to call her back but also to his great relief that she responded that she would go.

After breakfast they all made their way way into the city on the mainland. There was small talk with the wives trying to settle his nerves but all of them visibly excited to be going to Portugal. Some of them never left China let along travelled to Europe. His wife, Xiaoyu, refused to be in attendance. She had no interest in this Castelo de Marvão decided to stay in Macau. He didn’t want her to think less of him for how poor his family surely was now so he did not fight her on that. Once they made it to the portkey connecting Lisbon with the former colony of Macau, everyone took turns using it until they were all on the other side, reappearing at the steps of the Wizarding Bank of Lisbon.

They made quick work of finding his granddaughter who was walking up the lane with another woman he did not recognize in the slightest. Well, by recognize, it was more - the two traditional japanese looking women and less specifically identifying one of them as Maria. His first emotion was pride. His heart melted into a puddle as he saw how beautiful she looked and those same sharp eyes filled with joy at being with whoever the other woman was.

“Keep it together, father. Remember, she is not one of us,” came the sound of his oldest son who grabbed him firmly by the arm to “help” him down the stairs of the bank. “Remember we just needed something shiny to show your relatives,” his voice was both harsh and at the same time worried that they wouldn’t be enough. For all of Alberto’s pride, he also left each of them with a larger-than-life impression of his homeland that left them all on edge. A serious bunch that felt uneasy. This sentiment dried up whatever compassion he had for his granddaughter. How dare any of his children view him as weak. He wasn’t weak. They were weak. But Maria was his Maria…



“Yes I did summon you,” came the equally icy reply. Maria blinked. She was at a loss for how to read this situation. She looked briefly to the 6 relatives that joined them and none of them would make eye contact with her.

Himiko stopped bowing and leaned in to whisper something to the younger girl. “Be brave. Don’t let these foreigners see you nervous. I am with you.” She gave Maria’s arm a squeeze, having realized she never let go over her, Maria straightened.

“This is Himiko-jie. She is my caretaker. My father hired only the best. I’d watch out. She could take out a small army with just her stare,” Maria said only vaguely threatening by way of the introduction. “She will be accompanying me on this trip.”

Her eldest uncle spat back, “You do not need a bodyguard. You can send her away.”

His wife spoke up next the venom almost spilling on the ground, “Are you so afraid of us your father sent protection? I guess my son really did a number on you.” Maria felt Himiko tense under her arm. She knew her caretaker didn’t have a clue what was being said but the looks and the tone spoke volumes. She looked one more time at her grandfather and when she saw there was no possible way for her to convince anyone otherwise she nodded.

“Go home, Himiko-sama. I will be ok,” she whispered to her companion. Reluctantly Himiko bowed. “She can accompany use to the flo network at least? My family charged her with seeing me that far.” She hated admitting that at least they were right in part. Himiko was her protection. No one seemed to have any objections to this and so they made their way to a shop that still bared the name of Almeida. And, at the door, Himiko was not allowed to enter. Instead she was made to watch as Maria slipped into the shop being made to hold on to her grandfather.

Maria looked back one last time to see Himiko mouth the words, “Be brave.”



Maria had never seen anything quite like Castelo de Marvão. The flo network connected them to a guardhouse on the perimeter of the castle. It was still morning and the mist was just now evaporating from the surrounding landscape giving it an eery and foreboding look. The mountain they were now standing on was frost covered and a thin layer of snow crested the tops of the guardhouse and the castle.

She had never seen a medieval castle before. She certainly knew Hogwarts, and she was familiar with the Japanese castle of Mahoutokoro but castle ruins were a whole new thing and on a low lying mountain top as well! Her awe was cut short when they were met with yet another entourage. This felt more like a business meeting than a family reunion!

“So you brought the worm,” came a derisive voice, “but I guess they all are huh?”

Alberto coughed, with one arm looped around hers he never seemed weaker. “You are just jealous that I diversified you inbred dolt,” her grandfather’s voice wasn’t caustic but rather…teasing? The man that accosted them embraced Alberto as a long lost brother. Her relatives shifted uneasy as the pair embraced. Now it was their turns to feel as uncomfortable as she was and she was the only one dressed in a kimono.

“Family, this is Rodrigo Junior. He’s a rascal and full of himself but he means well,” Alberto said, one arm around the older man who all at once looked both older than her grandfather but healthier. “This must be your family?” Alberto said gesturing to the others. They was an awkward silence before the man named Rodrigo Junior introduced them all. After some awkward handshakes and milling about it was agreed that they should go inside before everyone froze to death - their guests being from warmer climates.

As they walked the most handsome boy Maria had ever laid eyes on appeared next to her in lock step. “I’m Manuel,” he greeted in Portuguese. He was around her age, tall, well built and fashionable. Not in a suit but his pants fit in all the right places that mattered to her and his sweater looked amazing and smelled nice too. “You must be Maria. You are more beautiful than I could ever imagined,” he said his voice warm and charismatic.

These are relatives, Maria kept reminding herself. Relatives. “I see. You are ok for a European, I guess,” she said trying to find any semblance of who she was. His laughter was very distracting though. There was something about this that caught her off balance.

“Don’t mind Manuel. He’s all smiles. I’m Lara. It’s nice to meet you,” the one called Lara said coming up on her other side as the rest of the group started to pull away up the hill. Seeing them so far ahead made her feel extremely isolated and vulnerable. “Do your people always wear that kind of clothing? You look like a doll, no?”

This Lara was also so beautiful to Maria and she hated that westerners always looked so much better to her Asian sensibilities. Whiter skin and tall were a killer combination for any Chinese girl. However, her sharp tongue failed her and without Himiko there she felt oddly naked even though she had 3 layers of kimono on. What was she thinking of course she looked like a piece of jewelry to be worn. She had to try though, “I guess some people wouldn’t know culture if it slapped them in the face,” she spat back mustering as much of herself as she could. It came out weak and shaky though as they made it inside the castle walls and walking toward what Maria could only assume was the portal.

Suddenly her face felt searing hot. “Do you ever talk to her like that again or we will tie you up like the dogs you eat,” there was a murderous intent in Manuel’s voice as he pinned her against the wall out of sight from the main group. Lara cackled and Maria had deja vu, cursing herself for letting her guard down. She reached into the folds of her clothes for her wand but by the time she felt the handle the pointy end of another was at her throat. This time it was Lara.

“You should be careful less we have to tame that tongue of yours, sweet Maria. Now we should go. We don’t want our families to get worried.” Lara sneered so viciously that Maria would be seeing that face in her nightmares for months to come. Sufficiently silenced, they rejoined the group at an unremarkable portion of wall.

As they approached they caught the tail end of the discussion. “Yes, you will need to drink this before entering. Without it you won’t be able to cross the portal,” Rodrigo Junior was saying. Maria didn’t think that was how potions worked but she kept silent after her fresh ordeal. It seemed that the others had the same hesitancy but after watching the other Almeida’s drink it her whole family, her included, followed.

As Maria swallowed whatever it was she was given, it taste putrid and she had the sharp urge to vomit but fought like hell to keep it together. Without another word though, once she had drained the cup everyone headed through the portal.






I feel so loved. I don’t know what I was so upset about coming to Portugal before. The houses remind me so much of Macau but somehow cleaner! They are every shape and color imaginable and line the cobbled walkway perfectly. Everyone is so friendly to me too. I was so worried this would be another repeat of Macau but they really accept me! Manuel and Lara are the best! They guided me around as the others went on ahead. They showed me all the jewelry shops and clothing shops as well! There really is an abundance here!

As we made our way into one of the shops they had me try on new clothes too! The kimono I was wearing sure was stuffy! I am glad they took that away from me! Now I’m so comfortable in these like weight pants with plenty of room to move and this oversized shirt! They promised me its the height of fashion! I told them I look better in black but they were so excited about seeing me in these clothes that I couldn’t imagine wearing anything else! I feel so happy that they are taking such good care of us even my grandfather! They did try to take my wand away but I was very insistent that I keep it with me just because I’m so used to carrying it. I almost gave it up though because they are right, there is no place safer than Castelo de Marvão!

As we pass all the other relatives and people who came to celebrate with us, people are introducing themselves faster than I can remember their names! I don’t think I can even keep up with any of it! When we reach the village square my grandfather is waiting for me with open arms and I run to embrace him. He is crying…why does he look like he is begging? I feel…I feel…







I am getting to my feet after accidentally tripping or that’s what my partner told me. But instead of continued dancing they want me to drink another one of those potions. I try to decline, decay filling my nostrils but I drink because I don’t want the music to end…were is the music going.

As I drink the potion, the music comes back and all the colors return. Everything right at Castelo de Marvão!







Everything is so perfect! I take the stage to resounding applause! I only notice for a moment that my grandfather is not here. It’s such ashame he will miss this but the show must go on or at least that is what they are telling me! I walk up to the stage and everyone is clapping for me! Even my aunts and uncles appear to be here and I can’t believe they actually look happy!

Tears roll down my face as I pick up the broom handle and swing the bass strap around me. The bass is light, lighter than I ever felt it before and the neck is so short. It's lift the broom stick







I lift the bass and prepare to pluck the first note. The drummer counts me in. …3…4…silence. I look at my broom stick







I look at my broom stick.







Why am I holding a broom stick? I look around at the wonderfully beautiful ballroom but…the curtains now look weird.







Why is there mold on the walls?







Where did the audience go? Why is there no one here?







What happened to the curtains. There were curtains right here and the band they are…







What?







What is that smell…why am I wearing rags?







Yes. I am.







Where is my kimono? I take a step back and trashcans behind me clatter to the ground filled with garbage and more rats than I ever saw in my life scramble for cover. I want to scream. I want to vomit. What is happening?







You are wrong. I know who I am. “My name is Maria Leung de Almeida. I am done playing your game.” I reach for my wand that I know now that I still have.



…







…..







Darkness has fallen in more ways than one. As the last of the light disappears behind the horizon there is one truth that our guests will understand: no one is safe in Castelo de Marvão. The once prosperous village and the pride and joy of the Almeidas has been transformed into a place unrecognizable from its former glory.

Barely clothed children can be seen fighting for the last scraps of a once very beautiful and pricey kimono to add to their collection of shiny things. The streets used to be cobbled and tiled with beautiful mosaics of all colors, are now littered with trash and various torn cushions and bedding as the street is more comfortable that the rubble that the beautiful Portuguese architecture has been reduced to. Adults busy themselves with fighting over scraps of food, the freshest and the healthiest options saved for the social elite in the clan.

The eery twilight adds a hauntedness as we continue our stroll to the heart of the village. Decaying homes and broken shops, large gaps in the stone street. Various piles of what appear to be garments stink so bad no one will dare touch it. Who could mismanage this wonderful estate so badly that it has become a squalor? The answer becomes obvious as we finally reach the city center. There stood at one time a fountain with the statue of the founding Almeida who settled here thousands of years ago. That is gone, destroyed years ago. Now in it’s place is a cage with 5 people inside.

We come closer and we find Alberto Almeida weeping, whether tears of happiness or tears of sorrow, we can’t tell. Is he still in the throes of the concoction they keep feeding them or is he finally awake. His sons and their wives look dismayed. None of them are wearing the beautiful suits that they came to the village wearing. They are surrounded by a crowd of people laughing at them and deriding them.

Somewhere behind them in a building that still has some semblance of shape, we hear a scream that pierces the coming night. The resellers stop their mockery for a moment to listen - wide, unsettling, almost knowing, smiles stretch across the soot marked faces.Maria might think she is free but perhaps it was better for her to keep drinking the potion. Stay in the lullaby forever and never wake up.

A blast echoes in the empty trash filled streets. And then an explosion. The piercing scream becomes more chaotic as more voices join. The crowd look at each other confused. Some have long already sold their wands for extra cash or traded them for something extra shiny. Those who did not have magic to come to their aid begin to drop back. Those who no longer have the memory of what spells to cast follow suit. Something is coming and it’s coming for them and they sense it. The only question is: can Maria survive the hell that is Castelo de Marvão?

The dazed film that covered Maria’s eyes dissipated as she stood alone on what was once a beautifully adorn stage but not had trash and abandoned miscellaneous items piled around her. The room was lit by enough candles in the dim light of dusk that she could make out the crumbled walls and the once radiant stain glass windows that wrapped around the room letting in dull light. She didn’t have time to continue gawking at the filthiest ballroom turned disgusting tavern turned dilapidated rat nest. As her eyes adjusted, she saw a host of the foulest smelling humans she ever laid eyes on cackling at her as if she was the pathetic one.

What did they find so funny? She asked herself as she looked herself over and saw that her warm kimono was replaced by tattered sack clothe and worse yet, there was scratch marks on her forearms and even worse still, dirt under her finger nails. “Oh, hell no,” she cursed in Japanese. A wheezing laugh came from somewhere in front of her and she saw a tall boy coming closer to her. Twirling the wand in fingers she snapped the wand forward with a firm grip and commanded, “Stupefy!”

The tall boy collapsed as he reached the platform and with a flourish, she growled, “Multicorfors!” With a wave the rags that draped on shoulders started to illuminate and shift around her body. When the glow that filled the dark room disappeared she was standing defiantly on the stage in a black Chinese styled dress embroidered with golden dragon designs after her zodiac sign. “Crinus Muto!” She continued as the others in the building were temporary blinded by the transfiguration. Her matted hair tamed and pulled tight into a single long ponytail that seemed to mold in with the darkness of her dress, gold flecked decoratively pieces keeping her hair just right.

“Let’s do this,” she snarled, surrounded 3 to 1.

“Expulso!” Came the first challenge. The air pressure changed, the hairs on the back of Maria’s neck stood on end, the magic pulsed hungrily in her veins. Stepping forward into the spell cast in her direction, she countered, “Argen sputum!” A silvery wispy shield caught the blunt of the blast but knocked her back a step. She would not be taken down so easily!

“Accio table!” She snapped, her wand in sync with her casting. This drew some confusion from her assailants but they caught on quickly as the one who cast at her first took a table straight to the back of the head. When the table was at arms reach she growled, “Expulso!” Sending it flying into the attacker on the left. “Incendio!” She bellowed at the last one who had raised his wand as if he had never used it before. His clothing, or what was left of whatever clothes he was wearing, caught fire causing him to drop and roll.

“BOMBARDA!” Maria screamed forcing her wand to give it all it had for her to escape this nasty spelling hellpit of a room. The blast was strong enough to knock the flimsy looking door off its hinges and into the street. Sometimes it was about the principle of the thing. “Get out of my way” she said stepping a heeled foot onto the stomach of the boy that got hit with the table. She flicked her wand as she exited the ballroom and started down the street, “Reparo,” she stated and the door went flying back to where it came from.

It was a short walk to the main square were those that heard the commotion in the building were already scampering away leaving on those that looked as if they could still cast magic. Some were shakily raising their wands at Maria as she approached while others were pointing them at the openly weeping Alberto. Rage filled her heart at the sight of her grandfather on his knees and her family trapped in a cage. Her heart was pounding in her ears and she couldn’t hear what anyone shouted but it didn’t matter. She would end this and do it now.

“Glacius!” She hissed with as much vitriol as she could muster, pointing her wand at the ground. A large sheet of ice enveloped the area causing most of around to lose their balance. “Multicorfors!” She casted as she pointed her wand at her heels as she stepped onto the eyes, transfiguring them into ice skates. Three of the men surrounding the cage got to their feet and looked ready to cast again. Pointing her wand away from her down toward the street she cast, “Expulso!” Flinging her across the ice fast than she anticipated, rocketing her into the side of one of the ones that managed to stand up, sending him toppling again resulting in a domino effect of the others falling again.

“Fulgurunda!” She cried as she caught her self on the the cage. The shockwave pushed the other would-be wizards away from her and weakened the bars. The shock also pushed her family into the wall of the cell snapping them out of their trance as well.

“Maria?” The shaky voice of the elder Almeida asked feebly as his sons helped him to his feet. The Glacius spell dissipated, Maria undid her transfiguration with “reparifarge” to go back a step in her transfigured combo and helped them out of the cage. The remaining people in the square were Alberto’s brothers: Diogo and João; and his cousins: Rodrigo, Martim, and António. “What is the meaning of this?” Alberto demanded of the men.

Maria, her wand still leveled at the crowd felt one of her uncles force her to lower it as they stepped out. Her family, she saw, stepped in front of her, their wands in their hands at their sides. She blinked. Were they…shielding her? Did they not just see her fancy spell work! She was awesome! But no one even turned around too give her any kind of affirmation. She gave them a rather ugly gesture, but all attention was turned on the present company.

“We were just having a little bit of fun,” Diogo, his eldest brother chuckled. “Look around, it’s not exactly a formal place, yeah?” He said, gesturing around to the decaying village. “Rodrigo came up with the concoction, its a wild ride right?” He chuckled, almost turning into a giggle, his eyes appearing unfocused.

“What has happened to all of you? I spent my life working to make you all proud of me and I return to this? I have to die knowing that you fools ruined our legacy?” Alberto wheezed, before falling into a fit of coughs. “You disgust me.”

“What good is a legacy if it doesn’t feed families?” João piped up with, gesturing broadly to the growing crowd slowly coming back all looking underfed. “Where were you when we had nothing left?”

“Who’s fault is it that you burned through our grandfather’s wealth? If you weren’t so foolish,” Alberto retorted, looking directly at António Almeida III, the inheritor of this pathetic excuse for a lot of land. “Your father is the one that ruined it for us all. I got out while I still could. All of you could have left.”

Maria listened with more interest than she ever listened to anything in her life. This was the same man who treated her so coldly during the summer. He left his home…she left her home. There were too many parallels for her to ignore. Her thoughts were interrupted when the argument started getting heated. “You just couldn’t stand that your family wasn’t the favorite anymore. You were always treated special. Attending our grandfathers business and accounts like you owned the village. We had had enough.”

“You forced my family out to the outskirts of our home. What are you talking about? You basically threw everyone away!” Alberto spat back as he looked at his very own brothers who looked down in shame that they were choosing to play along with this charade. A grandfather who is forced to exile a part of his family to outside of the community. A lone Alberto having to leave home and make it on his own. Maria was shocked with how similar her and her grandfather really were.
She shook her head. No, she was her own person and the fact she was even in this situation was Alberto’s fault. With the adults backs turned toward her and the arguing continuing to escalate to shouting at each other, she realized there were conspicuously two people who were not in attendance. “I have some unfinished business. I’m going to…go clean it up…” Maria said quietly to no one in particular knowing that no one could here her. When she was sure no one noticed her slowly backing away, she headed down one of the streets looking for two people in particular: Lara and Manuel. They would pay dearly for threatening her.

She found both Lara and Manuel an the bluff overlooking the rolling hills of the landscape. They seemed to be casually talking to each other, not registering that a very irate Chinese girl was stalking closer. “I’m here to slap you in the face with some culture,” Maria snarled coming up behind them. Their laughter stopped and they turned around whiter than they had been when they first met her.

Lara was no wearing a single loose thread, her outfit was modern and surprisingly intact, the same with Manuel. While the rest of the family was rotting apparently their parents had secured enough capital to cloth their children. “God, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be sipping on some potions or something?” Lara said disgusted.’

Maria wasted no time, “Silencio!” She snapped her wand toward Lara’s mouth and her voice cut off. “I am so tired of hearing her speak. Where do you think you are going?” Maria asked as if she were now the cat playing with mice. Manuel had managed to make his way around the girls in a suspiciously wide arc. “I didn’t say you could leave. I haven’t even started my cultural intelligence lesson.” She was about to raise her wand for another spell when a boot caught her in the side. As she was knocked sideways her eyes widened as she caught sight of the 4 boys she had bested in the ballroom. Unfortunately for her, heels weren’t the best for balance, one breaking and twisting her ankle, forcing her to the ground…

…Or what should have been ground. As if being swallowed, Maria fell through the grass and…into a hole? Was this an allusion or just a covered hole? It was too dark to tell and Maria landed hard on something slithering and hissing. The laughter from above her echoed as she got to her feet, something sliding across her ankle. “Lumos!” She said in a hurry and immediately wished she hadn’t as she came face to face with a bundle of ashwinders. Who kept these in a pit!

“Saevi Igninum!” She cried trying to create some distance from here in the snakes. It appeared to work, at least long enough for to let out a sting of spells in succession. “Why did it have to be snakes?” Maria moaned as the fire did little more than agitate the ashwinders. There were 3 by her count. “Choclea Bibe!” Was the first spell that came to her mind, and before the snake could lash out it was transfigured into a teacup. What Maria wouldn’t do for a nice cup of tea right now!

Too distracted by her success, she did raise her wand in time but stumbled back in time to dodge, quite by accident, one of the ashwinders lunging forward! “Shit,” she breathed before wheeling around and casting “Vermiculafors” on the other snake turning it into a worm. Who knew these spells were so handy. One last snake left! She turned to square off with the beast. “Rictusempra!” She said suddenly. She had no clue if ashwinders were ticklish but it was definitely worth a try!

Apparently they weren’t, but the appears of hands managed to disturb the creature enough to confuse it. “Stupefy!” She said with a little bit of disappointment, knocking the last snake out. Now to get out of this pit! She definitely wasn’t climbing out in this dress! “Multicorfors!” She said with a flourish of her wand, her beautiful Chinese dress transfiguring into warm leggings, a red blouse and a leather jacket with hiking shoes.

When she managed to get out of the hole, she was covered in dirt and exhausted. With both arms over the lip of the pit and grabbing a handful of grass she hoisted herself out the rest of the way. As good as she had been with her shock and awe tactics, laying prone on the ground panting there as no way for her to defend against the 6 wands pointed directly at her ready to cast.

“Tell me again how you were going to slap some culture into us, you disgusting worm?”

Easter break, 2026.

They say youth makes you stupid, makes you idiotic, that to be adolescent and growing is like being a fresh sprig of greening grass: you go wherever the wind takes you, like seeds of a dandelion thrust about by a gale. You'll smile at the sun or anything that glows like it, regardless of its good or bad intentions.

You're standing somewhere you've never been before. No. Yes. No – you know this place, you've seen it in all its grandeur and now, when it's like a symphonic orchestra for a drowned rat.

But where?

The places come and go. Somewhere warm. Green. Full of trees and humidity and life. Then cold, icy, full of people, yes, but that does not mean full of life. You want to pull back, but your body doesn't feel so real now, does it?

Then darkness.

It's like a cinema, when you cosy yourself into a seat that creaks and smell the overbearing grease of buttered popcorn in the air. Stifling. Too much. But dark, until it's not, until the pictures on the big screen burn into your retinas so that you blink and make a picture.

The stage isn't right – this isn't what music should be like. Music is life, music is joy – music is not – a bass guitar is not –

Holy shit, that's not a bass guitar at all.

What the fuck.

Then it's a blur again, the way everything is when you wipe sleep out of your eyes.

(Rina rolls over and slips her arm underneath her pillow. She groans in her sleep, a response to the bad dream. Her knees tuck inwards, like she's curling herself into a ball. She can't stop moving. Something is making her restless.)

You understand the language like it's danced on your tongue your entire life. Fire burns in your lungs – this is your life they're messing with, your family's legacy –

(What the hell is a legacy?)

– and you will not be trifled with.

They're tall and pretty and effortlessly better than anyone you've ever seen before, but that doesn't matter, because magic goes flying. It's certainty, it's absolution.

(She doesn't think she's ever seen that spell before, actually, what's going on? She's been tossing and turning for hours and she still can't sleep.)

'Why did it have to be snakes!?'


Rina sits up as fast as a bullet, her shoulder smacking into her wall. She blanches, glancing about her, as she re-orients herself. If her father were here...

...but he's not. They'd arrived in Zamora, and he'd really not been at the hotel since. Rina doesn't care where he went – it's more fun without him, after all – but she doesn't like having limited money when in a city more or less by herself. But she shrugs, rotating her shoulders, settling back into the used-to-be-normal feeling of being awake and alone that became odd only after being at school for so long. Funny how things change.

She stretches, but the feeling of malaise lingers. Something is telling her to move. She can't explain it. It's like the time she woke up in the middle of the night and moved her boots inside right before it started to rain. Just a sense of intuition that she can't quite shake.

So she pulls out her backpack and counts out fifty euros, just in case. But the more she thinks about it, the more she thinks Muggle money's not going to help her. Not if spells are being flung about. She still slips the cash into the pocket of her favourite bomber jacket and pulls on a striped jumper and acid-washed jeans. She's tugging on her combat boots when the feeling of panic comes back even stronger, and she leaves the cheap hotel in a run.

She's grateful for magic at times like this, when she can barge into a nice looking spot in the magical side of the city centre and use their fireplace in lieu of her own. She hands the concierge €10 for a little bit of floo powder – hopefully enough for a round trip. He takes the money and wrinkles his nose at her. She shrugs and tries to remember what the place was called. She's not Portuguese, she thinks, how the hell is she supposed to –

The words come out in a rush. A castle she hadn't known existed, but had perhaps visited in a dream. The flames go fwoosh, turn green. She closes her eyes and wrinkles her nose in the acrid smoke of the fireplace, but then she's gone, and she's in a foreign country.

Suddenly she feels very small. Maybe that's what happens when you're eleven and you think it's a good idea to try to run around the world all on your own. But if those fiery snakes and all the spell sling she saw in the dream is anything to go by, and if the feeling that won't let her stomach untwist is, too, then it's time for her to straighten her spine and grow up. Better that than remain at the hotel, bored, scared, alone.

She stumbles out of the fireplace, earning an odd glance from the reception here, and she just shrugs. It's not every day a Spanish kid stumbles into your fireplace, even if you're the owner of a wizarding floo network fireplace. But there's no time for a rushed apology, so Rina just darts outside into the cold. She wishes she brought gloves, but she did remember her wand, she realises, feeling it in her pocket.

The cold air stings her lungs as she runs. She closes her eyes sometimes, dodging between people still out, elbowing them out of the way if she has to. It's dilapidated here. Not anywhere she was expecting – and certainly no good music to be heard – but not that she really cares.

She doesn't know where she's going, didn't even bother to bring her phone because something about magic always makes it go kaput, and it's not like it would even help her, she doesn't think. If she doesn't know the name of the place, if she can't even remember what she wants it to look like, she's not going to find it on Google Maps unless she's feeling lucky.

Lucky.

She fishes a coin out of her pocket as she comes to a crossroads. This way, that way... heads, tails. She places it on her cold thumb. Flicks it. It leaps up, up up and topples down, and lands on cobbled stone ground. Heads.

Okay, so that way.

Rina's always jumped headfirst into things, after all; danger has only fuelled her desire for fun. But this is more than that. She propels herself into danger because she thinks maybe she, in all her averageness and punk rock awesomeness, can do something.

Also, because the unease in her stomach will not cease, and it's getting on her nerves.

She finally huffs and puffs her way up a hill and pauses, hands in her jacket's pockets, catching her breath. Her brown eyes widen as she sees people – wizards – with their wands out. Oh, oh no. She's just a kid. How is she supposed to fix this!?

Well, Rina can do what Rina does best: make a scene.

– ¡Oigan, malnacidos! ¡Mírame! Hey, assholes! Look at me! – she shouted, waving her arms about like a lunatic. – Puedo hacer la mágica mejor que vosotros. Tch. I can do the magic better than you guys, tch.

She reaches into her pocket, pulls out her wand, and lets out a super loud cackle as she rushes towards them. This is so stupid, she thinks, but maybe there's someone in that hole who really needs her help. And she's not good at magic, but God help her if she can't be a great distraction.

– Anathema Daphnis. – She puts all her focus into the cast, aiming for the one she thinks is scariest (Manuel). She hates spellcasting, she really does. All of her magic potential should clearly go into sports and stuff. Making weird little potions that go boom. But hey, she has a wand, so she might as well use it. And with the realisation that she really can do the impossible with just a stupid stick of wood comes responsibility:

– ¡Incendio! – she shouts, aiming at the guy she'd pointed her wand at before.

– Chica, dondequiera estás, ¡estoy aquí para ayudarte! ¡Vamos! Girl, wherever you are, I'm here to help you! Come on!