"Dinner Time"

The fire roared and crackled in the rustic wood-lined fireplace. The flames licked out at the fireguard and threatened to set the pile of logs alight. As the wood cracked, cutlery scraped against ceramic plates. A feast lined the grand dining table being devoured by six hungry children and seven hungry adults.

At the head of the table sat Chadwick Rier, known to the children as Great-Grandpa. He sat with his back to the fireplace and relaxed under the warmth spreading through his half-bald scalp and into his body. On either side of him sat his son and daughter-in-law. Reglin and Marjorie- despite their age- never failed to sit still during dinner. Ankles stacked beneath the table, Reglin would steal glances over at his wife while she ate, flicking a small piece of food to get her attention; dinner always ended with Reglin being scolded by his father as though he was still the teenager he was when he fell in love with Marjorie. Dexter was forever copying his grandfather, flicking bits of food a little too aggressively across the table at his mother. At first, it had been funny. When a large dollop of mashed potato landed on Lucia's shoulder, she was quick to scold her son and yell briefly at her father about him owing her another shirt.

Beside Lucia, the table calmed down ever so slightly. While the family feuded at one end, the other end would quietly eat or snicker between themselves. Christian, sat between his two daughters, would take the time to dice up Merritt's food ever since she lost four of her top row of teeth in one week. He would also encourage Serenity to practice her magic, knowing full well that his grandfather would throw a fit to find his granddaughter turning her pumpkin juice into whiskey. Across from them, Dara was in a similar position with her twin sons. Cormac and Winston both struggled to hold their cutlery, their underdeveloped hands making it difficult for them to use anything other than shrunken forks to pick up their food. Finally, at the end of the table, Erin and her mother, Irene, idly chatted away. Erin carefully slicing her food and avoiding making any contact on the plate with her knife or fork- a habit she'd copied off of her mother.

"One day," Dara had whispered to them one night as she tucked them into bed after a tear-filled day, "you'll be able to use your magic to cut your food. You won't need me anymore." Despite that idea filling her with grief, she still plastered a smile to her face and kissed them both last night. She was regretfully cursed by the boys' father after she denied his hand in marriage. He'd left her alone with two handicapped children the doctors at St Mungo's couldn't help because of how attached the curse had become to them. He was a Ministry official now. Apparently, he'd re-married and even had a young son; this did nothing to help Dara sleep at night, knowing that the man who had made her sons' lives so much more difficult than they were already bound to be had moved on without a care in the world. Knowing she'd always be there for her boys, Dara lived with as much ease as she could and worked to cherish what she could about there childhood.

"So, Serenity," cheeks stuffed, Serenity looked up from her plate, eyes wide in surprise. It wasn't often that her Great-Grandfather acknowledged her or even initiated in conversation with her. The kid hardly saw him around the house, only at dinner, what was the cause of all of the yelling coming from your room?" Quickly chewing her food, she swallowed and glanced over at the twins and then down to Erin.

"Well, you see, we discovered some things, Great Grandpa." He leaned over his plate, propping his arms on the edge of the carved wooden table.

"Oh really?" Nodding enthusiastically as everyone looks to her, she sits a little straighter.

"Yes, well, we realised that Cormac still doesn't understand Wizard's Chess." Smiling over at the boy, she leans in his direction and lowers her voice. "Don't worry, you'll get there soon, Mac." Accepting his small smile, she looked back to her Great Grandfather before sparing a glance to her Grandfather. "Erin also did something quite extraordinary. She heeled her nose after Cormac accidentally kicked her in the face! Isn't that amazing, Grandpa Reg?" Everyone was staring wide-eyed at her when Irene launched herself from her chair and grasped Erin's face.

"You broke your nose? How did that happen?" As Erin frantically tried to bat her mother away, her cousins giggled at the interaction. That is until Dara turned sharply to her son.

"Cormac Christian Rier! Why on earth are you kicking your cousin in the face? I would have thought I'd taught you better!" The once peaceful end of the table was madness. Serenity pursed her lips and began to sink down in her seat, catching Dexter's eye across the table as he too began to shrink. It wasn't until Dara, the twins, Erin, Irene and Merritt were all yelling did Serenity meet Dexter under the table.

They sat beside each other, huddled comically as they giggled at what was happening.

"Stop!" Merritt yelled, her voice projecting around the vast room. The two huddled beneath the table scrambled back onto their chairs, Dexter bumping his head on his way up. No one noticed, however, they were all watching the chandelier rattle above their heads as the echo of Merritt's voice faded away. She began wringing her hands and looked away from everyone. "Stop fighting." She said in her original soft voice. Everyone was still shocked that she'd projected her voice at such a high volume. Heaving her shoulders, she points between Erin and Cormac. "Erin was tickling him and he accidentally kicked her. That's all." The adults looked away from their children bashfully as the three elders at the head of the table watched the scene play out in amusement. "Oh, and we saw a faerie." She'd mumbled the last sentence so quietly no one could hear her as she sat down.

"Sorry, darling, what was that?"

"We saw a freaking faerie!" Dexter announced, hopping up onto his chair and bouncing giddily. Sighing, Lucia wafted her hand up at him.

"Dexter, darling, watch your language, please and sit- wait, you saw a faerie?" As her son nods down at her, she too stood from her chair. "Where? You saw a faerie! What-"

"Oh for the love of Merlin, sit down, both of you!" Marjorie's voice had picked up, immediately commanding the two back into their seats. She then leaned over to Dexter. "Did you let it in the house?" He shook his head. "Thank you, now, what did it look like?"

"Well," he began, looking over to his cousins who were finishing their dinners now, "it was very small and... and it was blue-"

With no warning, a screech came from the fireplace. Recognising the animal it belonged to, Irene stood and silently waved her hand towards her. Within seconds, an ash grey owl scathed past the fire, flew wildly over their heads and landed in Irene's hands. Shushing the animal, she carefully ran her hand down the back of its head, back and tail; everyone watched as the soot, ash and scorch marks faded away to reveal a beautiful chocolate coloured owl. Removing the letter from its mouth and place it on the table, she held out her palm and waited as a treat materialised in her palm. The owl happily took the treat, pecked her palm thankfully before flying towards the window that flew open as if on command.

Picking up the letter as the window slammed shut, Irene read the address.

"S. Rier

The room with the best view

Rier Estate

Wiltshire, England"

Turning the envelope over in her hand, she smiles and looks up to Serenity. Passing the envelope over, wax stamp face up, the siblings all smiled at the sight of it.

"If you're not in Hufflepuff," she began, making the eleven-year-old look up expectantly, "I don't care. Although, it is kind of tradition so no pressure." Tapping the side of her nose playfully, Serenity grins and begins to open the envelope.

"Good to know." Holding up the letter to read, she clears her throat. "Dear Miss Rier. We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" With each word she felt so much excitement bubble up in her chest she felt like she was going to explode. As Merritt squealed and ran to her, grasping her hands and jumping around her, Christian propped his chin on his hand and looked up at them.

"Sounds pretty boring." He stated monotonously.

"Of course you'd know." Serenity laughed and looked down at him. The man smiled tiredly and pulled her in for a hug.

"I'm happy for you kiddo." Merritt leapt on them, squealing.

"Me too!"