Dandelions | Chapter One

"I'll miss everyone. My friends,
teachers, and even my dormitory.
I'll miss playing and joking with everyone.
Goodbye, Ilvermorny. Until we meet again."

- Ally Lupin

Ally's POV

"THUNDERBIRD EARNS ANOTHER POINT! BUT, OH, LOOK! LANNISTER'S GOT THE QUAFFLE!"

The voice of the commentator rang out from inside and outside the Quidditch Field, bringing everyone on their toes and on the edge of their seats as the two Houses, Pukwudgie and Thunderbird, are now only ten points away from each other. I squinted my eyes to try to find the Golden Snitch in the big stadium but no matter how I look for it, it was nowhere to be found. 

"LUPIN! WATCH OUT! YOUR 3 O'CLOCK!" One of the Chasers on my team called out from my far left.

I turned my head just in time to see a Bludger coming my way. I tightly grabbed onto my broomstick and immediately leaned forward for a dive. My broomstick followed my action and in half a second, I was able to avoid getting hit by the ball. I stopped my broomstick a few feet above the ground and was about to fly back up to the game when I heard it. I smirked when I hear the familiar sound of the Golden Snitch's wings fluttering nearby. My eyesight isn't good which is a total disadvantage for a Seeker but my hearing was totally different.

I glanced to my right side and saw the Golden Snitch a few inches away from me. I made sure that Thunderbird's Seeker won't notice but the second I reached my hand out to the small, flying ball, I hear the other Seeker, Ryan Deakins, calling out my last name.

"THAT'S MINE, LUPIN!" Deakins shouted five feet away from behind me.

"Just great..." I muttered under my breath when the Golden Snitch started to fly away.

I mentally groaned and started to chase it with Thunderbird's Seeker on my tail. My Nimbus 3000 was faster than my rival's broom but the Golden Snitch won't let me get near it. That's when I found a way when it sneakily tried to hide by following a Bludger. I chuckled and took a sharp turn up, making Deakins confused but he took this fake chance to continue chasing the Golden Snitch. I stopped immediately once I was back in the area where the Beaters are busy dodging the Bludgers. Then I looked back at Deakins and saw that he had lost the Snitch. I quickly took a look at all the Bludgers around me and that's when I saw something shiny behind the Bludger that my teammate and best friend, Daniel Kingsley, is about to hit. Then I flew right over to the Bludger before he could get to it. Once the Bludger sensed me, it changed its destination and is now after me. 

I looked over at Daniel and mouthed, "Catch me." 

Daniel at first didn't understand why but then he saw the Golden Snitch two feet away from the Bludger that is after me. He nodded his head and got into position.

I waited for the right moment to avoid it and on the count of three, I stood on top of my broom and jumped, my hands stretched out in front of me. The Bludger flew passed me as I jumped over it. Then I see the Golden Snitch and just when I'm about to fall, I was able to grab it into my right hand. Then I heard the commentator exclaiming out loud that my house, Pukwudgie, has won the Quidditch Finals with 360 points. I was about to cheer with everyone else but then I realized that I'm about to fall to my death.

"KINGSLEYYYY!" I screamed as I noticed how near I was to the ground of the Quidditch Field.

But just before I could land, Daniel showed up and in a second I'm in his arms. I looked at him and glared. "YOU ALMOST KILLED ME!" I yelled over the cheers of my housemates.

My best friend laughed and held onto me tightly with one arm while the other is holding onto his broomsticks. "As If I'd let you die at the age of 12, Al," he joked before landing on the ground.

I punched his left shoulder and stood up. Then our teammates and housemates all ran over to us with proud and happy smiles on their faces.

Then we all started to chant our House's name. "PUKWUDGIE! PUKWUDGIE! PUKWUDGIE!"

I laughed and smiled at our victory then I remembered I'm still holding onto the Golden Snitch. I looked down at my right hand to see it shining in its glory as its wings gently pulled themselves back to its side. 

"ALLY!" My head perked up the second I heard my dad's voice.

I left the group and hurriedly ran to where he is. Once my eyes landed on him I ran again and jumped into his arms.

I was so happy to see him and excited to share what had happened that I ended up shouting in his ear, "DADDY! YOU MADE IT! DID YOU SEE IT? I CAUGHT THE SNITCH! WE WON!"

I pulled away from the hug and saw my dad rubbing the ear that I might have ruined. He gave a playful look of being in pain and I giggled at him. Then he spoke up, "I did see it, hon. You were amazing out there. I'm very proud of you."

I jumped up and down happy to hear him say that but then when he continued talking, I stopped. All of my happiness and excitement went away when my dad told me.

"Ally, I got the position at Hogwarts. We... We have to move back, hon."

"I don't get why your dad won't let you stay here," Daniel spoke up with a pout.

I looked at the 13-year-old who is sitting on my bed and sighed. "You know how my dad's protective of me. Plus, I have no say in this. I have to follow what my dad says," I explained with a forced smile.

My best friend nodded his head, but I know deep down that he hates the idea. I may not hate how I have to attend another magic school when I'm already studying here at Ilvermorny, but I definitely don't like it. Sure, that's where my dad grew up and studied, but I've just started at Ilvermorny. It's going to be the end of my second school year here and in a few months, I'll be in the third year. I just don't like how it's happening so soon. But then again, if this is important to my dad then I have to go with him.

"Make sure to write letters, okay?" Daniel told me as he helped me close my luggage.

This time I didn't need to force a smile on my face. "Okay, I will. Don't worry, Dan."

The older boy then hugged me and whispered, "Don't forget me."

My arms wrapped around his waist as I hugged him back and replied softly, "As if... How can I ever forget the boy who threw snowballs at me for stealing his dessert last year?"

Daniel pushed me and looked at me in horror. "Didn't I tell you not to remind me of that?" He protested as the memory flashed in his eyes.

I gave him an innocent look before saying with a teasing tone, "Aw! Come on! It was hilarious how you tried to throw snowballs at me but... failed."

"I'll miss you,"  Daniel said softly with teary eyes.

I bit my bottom lip from crying and patted his cheek. "And I'll miss you too, silly."

My best friend then grabbed my luggage and carried it. He gave me a gentle smile and said that he'll walk me out of the dormitory. I nodded my head and we both started to leave my room. But the second we made it to Pukwudige's Common Room, confetti was thrown up in the air making it fall down like the snow we'd see out on Christmas Day. Everyone in my House was here in preparations for my departure. Even the head of Pukwudgie, Professor Erina Crowley, is present.

"Awww, you guys..." I called out as I felt a lump in my throat from holding my tears back. "You didn't have to..."

Then one of the Prefects shows up with a medium-sized box in her hand. "We all wrote letters for you at the last minute," Wilma Roberts said as she hands the box to me.

I took it in surprise and smiled at her then at everyone else. Then I spoke up, "This is too much, but thank you. I'll read them on my way to London."

"Ah, Ms. Lupin... You've always been up to trouble ever since you started at Ilvermorny, but I can never ask for someone else to replace a clever, kind-hearted, and brave girl like you," Professor Crowley exclaimed as she walked over to me and gave me a quick, but a meaningful hug.

"Thank you for the guidance and teachings, Professor Crowley. I won't forget them."

"You better not, or else I'll come and visit you for another guidance counseling."

My eyes widened at that but then the middle-aged woman laughed gently and added, "I'm just joking little one. But please do behave when you start studying at Hogwarts."

"I doubt that she'll behave," Daniel muttered under his breath, making everyone nearby who heard him laugh.

I turned to him and mouthed, "Be quiet, Kinglsey!"

Daniel then stuck his tongue out at me and then I heard Professor Crowley telling me, "Ally, your father just finished talking to the Headmistress. He's now waiting for you outside at the gates."

I gulped the lump down my throat and looked at her then at my housemates who are forcing themselves to smile at me.

"I'll come by to visit," I told them to which they all nodded their head and gave me many replies of 'yes's' and 'we'll wait'.

Then they all gave way to the only entrance and exit of the Common Room. I started walking to it with Daniel and Professor Crowley right behind me. The door opened for me and we all walked out. Daniel then walked beside me with my luggage and said, "I haven't seen Syrsi in a while."

"He's probably with my dad," I answered, making Daniel look at me in confusion about my familiar.

I smiled at that and said, "Syrsi has a soft spot for my dad. So whenever my dad's around, Syrsi is usually seen around him."

Daniel softly chuckled. "Why do I have a feeling that if Syrsi's a human, he'd be gay?" He asked with a joking tone.

"Now, wouldn't you like that?" I replied back while wiggling my eyebrows at him.

My best friend blushed and tried hitting my arm but the doors to the Ilvermorny's main entrance opened in front of us. I immediately saw my dad and familiar waiting for me outside. It felt weird to leave the school with my dad. I've always been used to getting in a car that is handled by Ilvermorny and going home after the school year. But now, I'm going back to London with my dad two weeks before the end of my second year. This wasn't what I had imagined when I started studying at Ilvermorny. But seeing how Hogwarts made my dad happy, I didn't dare to act selfishly. I haven't seen my dad this happy in my entire life.

"Dad!" I called out with a genuine smile on my face.

My dad turned around and sent a smile back before walking over to Daniel who gave my luggage to him. "Are you ready, Ally?" He asked me as Syrsi left his side and went to mine.

I nodded my head. "Yes, dad."

Then a car showed up on the driveway and I shivered out in the cold as I started to miss everyone. My dad and Professor Crowley talked to each other while walking over to the car. I bit my bottom lip before looking back at my best friend who was avoiding my eye contact.

"Dan..." I said, making him sigh and face me. "Smile for me. I'd hate to see you cry once I leave."

Daniel then forced a smile on his lips, his eyes wavering as tears started to show. 

Then he spoke up trying to sound strong, "If you don't visit, then I'm heading over there."

I shortly laughed while nodding my head. Then I hear my dad calling for me from outside on the street. I took a deep breath in before Daniel gave me another hug. We pulled away and said one more goodbye before I walked over to the car where my dad has already opened the backseat door for us. I climbed in with Syrsi on my right shoulder and my dad followed in after while closing the door behind him. The cab driver then started the engine and we were off. I turned and looked at the back window. I see Daniel and Professor Crowley waving, I smiled at them until the taxi turned left onto the next street. Once I no longer saw them the tears that I held back at the dormitory started to flow down my cheeks.

"Ally?" My dad called out softly, making me sit back down and hugged him as I cried. "Shh, hon, it's alright. You'll get to see them again."

I'll miss everyone. My friends, teachers, and even my dormitory. I'll miss playing and joking with everyone. Goodbye, Ilvermorny. Goodbye, Dan. Until we meet again.

[ end of chapter one | not yet edited ]

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