The breakfast table has never been so quiet. Scrambled eggs and bacon wafted through the halls of a large, secluded, and luxurious cabin. Once home to a large muggle family who had been 'persuaded' to abandon the obviously loved abode. Picking through her breakfast, Madeline knew that any day she was to expect an owl. She felt like it was getting close to the school year.

'Am I forgotten? Did they find out about my family's past?' She thought anxiously as spooned at her remaining eggs. Her father, Theodore, relaxed at the head of the long table, deeply invested in the Daily Prophet. Madeline's mother, Bethany, was already finished with her handful of berries and nuts. A new diet that will probably be abandoned and replaced with another soon. She seemed as anxious as Madeline.

"Madeline! Stop slouching!" Bethany snapped, smacking the table. Madeline started and eggs flew into her lap and on the floor. "Look at the mess you caused."

"But I-- you--"

"Don't talk back, clean yourself up." She eyed Madeline sharply and started snapping her plump fingers for the house elf nearest to clean up the floor. Nervously, Madeline started shakily picking egg off her lap. A stark white creature silently swooped through the open window. By the time Madeline looked up to see it's arrival, her mother already snatched the letter up, sliced it open with a beautifully ornate knife, and quickly read it. Madeline stood up, craning to see the contents.

"Is that... my acceptance lett-"

"Finish your food and get ready to leave. We need to get your supplies!" Bethany stood up while tucking the now-folded letter in her pocket, and left to get dressed. Snapping at a haggard-looking servant to come assist her. Madeline silently fumed and brushed the egg on her lap to the floor for the elf to clean up.

"Maddie darling, please take your plate into the kitchen. We're short on staff today so let's not add more fuel to your mother's flame today, eh?" Came a deep voice from over the paper. Brows furrowed in sympathy towards his daughter.

"Yes... of course. Thank you, father." Madeline smiled weakly at him as her anger started to fade and picked up her dishes. Today was not the day to step out of line.

* * *

Dragging her own luggage in a delicate muggle dress, was not what Madeline had pictured when going to school. The staff and house elves were so busy preparing for some dumb dinner, that she had to push the heavy trunk by herself. She knew better than to ask her father. Only little kids whine, right? They got to a pillar where another family instructed them to. Madeline started walking towards it when her father yanked her back and stared hard at her. His eyes briefly flicking over to a muggle family watching them. After a moment, they were able to run through and Madeline was overwhelmed with the crowded platform with witches, wizards, and their kids running around frantically. Madeline jolted forward as her father and mother came through the brick, right into her back. Bethany squatted down to her level and roughly swept Madeline off.

"Remember, this is a school that allows Pure-bloods and... others," Her eyes dart over to families she had heard about. "So make good choices, good connections, and study hard. We've been told that Slytherin will be the perfect house to represent our family so we're hoping for that one... though Ravenclaw is supposed to be fairly respectable as well and-"

"Thanks, Mother." Madeline said shortly with her nose scrunched softly- still a little upset about this morning. She suddenly had an idea, and lurched forward into a hug. Bethany froze for a moment, and awkwardly returned the hug. "Have to appear normal to the 'common folk', as you say. Right?" Madeline smirked, as she pulled away with a paper deftly tucked up her sleeve. Her mother looked confused and worried someone overheard Madeline, as she stood back up with her nose in the air.

"Dear, we are normal." She said a bit too loudly, straightening her blouse under her robes. "Don't act like your father and I don't care about you. You're the most-"

"-important person in your lives. Especially what I'll become." Madeline mimicked softly while her eyes wandered over to the train. Freedom just a few steps away.

"Don't mumble!" Bethany squeaked, "And you'll grow into the most amazing treasure." The wide smile and twinkle in her eye may have been motherly love, or something else, but all three jumped as the train whistled. A quick hug from her father with brief words of goodbye and Madeline lugged her trunk up the steps, onto the train and boarded a little less gracefully than she intended.