Chapter Text
Sitting outside a coffee shop, Gwen happily tapped her feet in rhythm with the music playing on her MP3 player. The song was called "Spring", which she mused was a perfect contrast with the current weather. It was a typical New Hampshire day - the sky was a bright shade of gray and all around her was a light pitter-patter of rain on the concrete. At odd intervals, the sun would furtively poke out from behind some clouds, before quickly hiding once more. Perfect weather in her book.
A wrinkled piece of paper sat on the table in front of her; a letter from her husband. It was soft and worn from many readings.
Sipping her latte, she held it up once more to examine it.
Gwen,
I received your missive by courier earlier this week. The regular post is not in service whilst school is on holiday. I was gratified to hear you are continuing with your studies over the vacation.
Iris Academy is essentially dormant. My lesson plans are complete, so I have wiled away many afternoons catching up on literature.
You inquired which music I enjoy most. I appreciate many composers, but if I had to choose, I most prefer Vivaldi. You might take pleasure in his set of four concertos, "The Four Seasons". It is among his most popular works.
I must conclude my letter for now; a teachers’ meeting is approaching and I have a series of errands to run. I shall write more next weekend.
Regards,
Hieronymous
Gwen gently refolded the letter, giving it a gentle squeeze and returning it to her pocket. School had been out for several weeks, and the time had moved slowly for her. She wished she had a picture of her former professor and present husband. Details about him were already difficult to recall; the way he smiled when he would chuckle quietly, the rich tone of his voice, and how his eyes could blaze with internal fire when he was deeply fascinated.
"Hey, Gwen!" a cheerful voice called out.
Gwen jumped up to see her friend Jun quickly jogging over from a red car in the parking lot, jacket held overhead to shield her from the rain. Jun wasted no time swooping her up in a tight hug as soon as she was under the awning.
"It's so good to see you again! It's been forever, sister."
Jun always enjoyed referring to Gwen, and all her close female friends, as 'sister'. Gwen, was an only child and felt flattered by the nickname, she returned it in kind. Jun was tall and slim, and although she possessed predominantly Japanese characteristics, she had a unique look that was all her own. Some Korean, a little Cherokee, and a splash of Anglo-Saxon.
"It's good to see you, too!" Gwen exclaimed, fiercely hugging her back.
As they sat down at the table, Jun slipped a brightly colored purple bag with silver tissue paper peeking over the edges in front of her with a proud grin.
"Happy Birthday," Jun said, glancing from her to the package with gleeful anticipation, looking eager for her to see its contents.
"My birthday's not until next week,” Gwen said, her cheeks flushing red from the attention.
"I couldn’t wait that long,” Jun said, clapping her hands together. “I haven't seen you in forever, stranger. And besides, these days I'm a responsible, financially independent, member of society. Meaning I make decent money at my job. And, get a good discount to boot. Now, open it, open it!"
Gwen obliged. Digging within the tissue paper, she removed a bottle of perfume followed by a makeup kit.
"Trying to make me into a girly-girl?" Gwen asked with a laugh.
Jun gave her a mockingly, stern look. "I've known you for four years, Gwenievere Ford. And not once have I seen you doll yourself up in makeup or perfume. So, I thought to myself, ‘maybe she just doesn't have any’. Well, now that's been rectified, I expect to see a letter from school telling me how you've been beating them away with a stick."
"Thanks Sis,” Gwen said sincerely, setting the gifts back in the bag. “I’m sure these will come in handy."
"Yeah, no problem,” Jun said, sitting back in her chair. “So, catch me up. Anything new happening? What’s going on in your life?"
Gwen had been carefully considering how to answer that for a few days. Parts of her new life had to remain secret from old friends and family. Specifically, that she had just completed her first year at Iris Academy, a school for those gifted in magic. Keeping wizardry a secret from the rest of the world was something the magic community took very seriously. Breaking that law carried with it a heavy consequence: your magic and memory instantly and irrevocably stripped away. Which made the subject of her marriage, and especially its circumstances, off-limits.
"Well..." Gwen began in a conspiratorial whisper, motioning Jun closer. "The truth is, I'm not actually attending boarding school."
"Really?” Jun asked curiously. “Where are you going?"
"I'm secretly attending…” Gwen began, pausing for dramatic emphasis. “Hogwart's School for Witchcraft and Wizardry! And you wouldn't believe it, but through a series of strange events, I accidentally married the potion's master, Severus Snape!"
"Joker," Jun said with a laugh, leaning back in her chair. “You totally had me going there.”
Gwen chuckled.
"Boarding school is nice. It gets a bad wrap in the movies, but I like it. I’ve made some close friends."
"That's good, I was concerned,” Jun said. “I was worried it might be like a boot camp or jail. So, is it like normal schools in most ways? Does it have a library, student clubs, dances?"
"Well, we have a library but it's pretty small,” Gwen said with a twinge of disappointment. “As for clubs, my roommate Virginia started a sports club. Ellen- my other roommate- and I both joined. It's a lot of fun. There's also a drama club and a choir, but I've never been a fan of performing in front of a crowd."
"You still haven't answered my question about dances," Jun said, fishing for gossip.
Gwen rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out.
"Yes, there are dances. No, I didn't go to any. Satisfied?"
"Oh come on,” Jun said, prodding for information. “You're in the prime of your life. You mean to tell me you don't have your eye on anyone?"
Gwen could feel her cheeks betraying her as they began to burn once more.
"Ah-hah," Jun said, placing her chin in her hand and looking at her with interest. “There is someone.”
"Well, sort of...” Gwen mumbled into her latte, taking a drink. “But we're honestly not dating."
It's technically true, she thought. We're definitely not dating .
"So, you like him... obviously,” Jun said, perking up at the mysterious admission. “Does he like you?"
Gwen gave a little sigh.
"That is the million dollar question," she said, setting her cup back down.
"Ah." Jun said, pausing thoughtfully before continuing. "Well, if he doesn't sweep you off your feet soon then he's a dummy who doesn't deserve you," she said firmly, flashing her a supportive smile.
"Thanks, Jun," Gwen said sincerely.
It was nice to talk to an old friend, even if the big topics of her life were off-limits. Jun had a knack for saying the right thing, and Gwen already felt a weight lifting from her shoulders she hadn’t known was there.
They talked outside the coffee shop until the sun began to set, and then Jun drove her home.
"I'm glad we had a chance to catch up,” Jun said. “It's a shame I'll be out of town next week. I wanted to celebrate your seventeenth birthday."
Gwen shook her head. "It's no big. I'll eat a piece of cake for you. Have fun on vacation!"
"Alright,” Jun said, giving her a parting hug. “I promise I'll sip a tropical drink on the beach for you!"
Waving goodbye from the front porch until Jun was out of sight, Gwen sighed, watching her go. A sudden tingle across her spine caused her to freeze in place. She could feel a pair of eyes following her. A shiver ran through her body as she sensed the source of her discomfort; blue magic.
Someone was scrying her.
Now that she was aware of it, thinking back, she felt certain it had been going on for some time- that she had merely dismissed it before as a fleeting sensation or possibly a rush from caffeine. Standing completely still, a cold sweat forming on her back, she raised a hand with the intent of casting a shield spell but found the eyes had gone. She was alone on the porch.
With no idea who would want to spy on her, there was nothing she could do about the encounter for the time being, so she tried to put it out of her mind before entering the house.
Her parents looked up from the TV as they heard the door close. Hitting pause on the remote control, Gwen’s father greeted her.
"Welcome home, honey. Did you have fun with Jun?"
Gwen plopped down on the couch, sitting beside her mother.
"Yep. We had so much to catch up on. She's doing well, managing a store in the mall. What are you guys watching?"
"Some old episodes of Columbo," her father replied.
Her mother pointed to Gwen's bag.
"An early birthday present?"
"Yeah,” Gwen said with a chuckle. “Jun gave me some make-up and perfume."
"Oh dear," her mother said, looking suddenly concerned. "Is it time we had the talk?"
Gwen's face fell, uncertain if her mother was being serious or not.
"Uhhhh... the talk? Not the talk I’m thinking of, I hope."
"Oh you know," her mother replied. “About the birds and the bees?”
Gwen felt her stomach do a flip as she wished she could use a Teleportation spell to escape the room.
Her mother finally laughed.
"Oh sweetie, I was just kidding. You should see the look on your face. I know you learned the facts at school a long time ago."
Gwen heaved a sigh of relief, pouring herself a glass of water from the pitcher on the coffee table.
"However, you’re a young woman now. I wouldn’t be doing my job as a mother, if I didn't tell you to be careful,” she said, as Gwen sipped her drink. “I may come from a different generation, but I really think you young people should wait until marriage."
Gwen choked on her water at the sudden and unexpected mention of marriage, but managed to avoid spitting it out.
"Are you alright?" her mother asked, patting her on the back.
"Fine, fine," she coughed. Feeling her traitorous cheeks starting up again, she nervously blurted out, "I think I'm going to head to bed. Love you guys!" before either of her parents could draw the wrong conclusion about what was making her embarrassed.
After a quick hug with each of her parents, she scurried upstairs to her room.
"Love you, too," her father said, laughing at her hasty retreat.
"Sweet dreams!" her mother called after her.
Shutting the door of her bedroom behind her, she leaned back against it and let out a sigh.
"'Wait for marriage' she says..." Gwen repeated, pressing her palms against her forehead. “If only she knew. It sounds like she’s encouraging me.”
Taking a pair of pajamas from her dresser, she had an internal chuckle at the ridiculousness of it all, and entertained the thought of telling Hieronymous about in her next letter. At that, she laughed out loud, as she thought the idea through, and realized he probably wouldn’t appreciate it.
Pulling on her favorite pajamas- a short sleeved shirt and pants combination of soft white fabric, with faded blue floral print- she reflected on her vacation so far.
At school she had felt like she was growing away from her parents and her old life. Perhaps it was a result of the enchantment magic used to convince them she was attending a boarding school and not a school for magic, but her parents had seemed to forget she existed while she was gone. Out of sight, out of mind; like she had been nothing more than a dream. Spending the last several weeks at home, she hadn't exactly reconnected with them as much as she would have liked. There had been too many secrets between them.
However, despite everything, it had been nice.
It felt like they had begun to establish a new, if not tenuous, connection. A sort of understanding that they loved each other, even though they had been drifting apart since her life had taken a new turn. Part of her apprehensively wondered if it this too would disappear when she went back to school.
Gwen stretched out on her bed, staring out the window and up at the stars.
Only 150 miles away, her husband might be staring at the same sky, she mused.
I wonder what he's thinking about right now?
She rolled up on her elbows as she pictured the messy brown haired object of her affection.
He's an enigma. Intelligent, passionate... and extraordinarily hard to get close to. His temper is fiery and quick, but he's also a gentleman at heart. And then there’s that stubborn pride of his… she thought, trailing off with a chuckle.
Rolling onto her back, she turned a thoughtful gaze toward the ceiling.
January 26th. Exactly a year and a day from when we were married. The date seemed all too close for her taste. The last day we're required to stay married to complete our contract that protects me from the manus that would love nothing more than to devour my soul.
Her memory drifted back to the day it had all begun, every detail ingrained in her memory.
Glowing, blue runes had littered the floor of the room where she found Hieronymous lying unconscious with a terrible, blue creature poised above him. ‘Run away little girl,’ it had said, ‘this meat is mine and I intend to feast’. It had deceived her into thinking it meant to kill him and she had taken the bait without a second thought. Blindly jumping into the summoning circle and past the protective warding around it. She had tried to pull Hieronymous to safety, but it had taken only a moment for the devil to grab her by the throat and begin gloating over her naivety.
Luckily, Professor Potsdam had appeared at that moment by some stroke of luck, convincing it to spare her because she was "sworn" to become part of the family it protected- the house of Grabiner.
Hieronymous had come to then, quickly taking in the situation, and playing along. Swearing an oath to wed her that afternoon.
And once an oath was sworn by a witch or a wizard, nothing could undo it.
The penalty was the same for exposing magic to outsiders; all magic stripped, and memories permanently removed.
Gwen’s thoughts drifted back to the present. Being married to Hieronymus was something she had become fond of. He had finally begun opening up to her; something he didn’t do with anyone, as far as she could tell. It was beyond hope that he would want to stay married, but she dreaded the thought that he would disappear the moment their contract was complete.
She was close to certain her feelings were not one-sided.
On the last day of school, she had revealed how deeply she cared for him.
He had actually kissed her ever so gently, in a friendly manner. He had suggested they write to each other.
But did he see her in a romantic light? Or, did he look at her and merely see a student with a crush? At the very least, when all was said and done, she wanted to be his friend. Someone whom he could rely upon.
She wasn't sure when she had fallen asleep, but she found herself dreaming of Iris Academy. Her footsteps echoed through the dark halls, dimly lit by patches of moonlight, as she walked the familiar path to the room she did the accounting in. All was peaceful and still.
As she breathed in the cold air, she let it fill her lungs with its chill.
Then, suddenly, something was wrong.
She knew it in her bones before she heard it.
It started with a faint noise coming from nearby. Swallowing nervously, she continued down the dark hall, the noise becoming louder with every step she took.
Someone was screaming, the sound muffled behind the door she found herself standing before. Blue light was spilling across the floor at her feet from the crack beneath the door. Bracing herself, she reached out with a trembling hand, but before could touch the door handle, the door flung open on its own.
The screaming was suddenly amplified, the sound coursing throughout her body, making her heart beat in fear.
Hieronymous was collapsed to his knees, screaming in pain, as blue runes spun rapidly beneath him. An all too familiar sinister laugh made her blood run cold. The manus floated over him, larger than life, his booming, bass laughter deafening in her ears.
She sat straight up in bed screaming, her clothes drenched in sweat. Hieronymous' voice was still ringing in her mind, shouting her name. Recognizing the Far Speak spell, she realized she hadn’t dreamt his voice at all.
Flinging off the covers, she was on her feet in a heartbeat, summoning all of her strength. She had never tried a spell this difficult before. She had no idea if it would even work. Running on pure, fear-driven-adrenaline, the words left her mouth so fast she could barely comprehend them. It still felt too slow. As her hands moved through the signs to finish the spell in a blur, she couldn’t help feeling like she was going to be too late.
She finished the incantation, accenting the last word as hard as she could, throwing all the force she could into her teleportation.
Her eyes glowed softly blue in contrast to the black room, and then she was gone.