The Cycle of the Sun Wolf.

A Letter in Green

It was cold that november morning. A day Nuntis hated. Her birthday, she hadn't slept a wink through the night. Walking to horacio's house to pick him up and walk him to school as early as was socially allowed. So there she stood at quarter past seven, bundled up against the biting wind awaiting to walk with him to school. Tiree wasn't a very large place. Their morning walks were never very long, except for when there was snow. When Horacio finally exited his home, shoving a wooly hat over his chocolate curls, Nuntis' cheeks and nose were already bright red. The boy couldn't help but laugh, "You look like a cherry! No! Rudolph!" He then began to sing the chorus of Rudolph the rednosed Reindeer much to his friend's annoyance. However, it was endearing in its own way. Hoaracio's singing was incredibly out of tune but the girl couldn't help but tap along to the song. She couldn't help but wish she could sing, Horacio would have to do it for her. Even if the curly haired boy sounded like a dying cat.

Horacio's rendition of Rudolph the rednosed reindeer then went into merry christmas everyone and a few other christmas themed songs, finishing with baby it's cold outside by the time they reached the school gates. This is where she left him each morning, her mother preferred that her Nonna home schooled her in a mix of the muggle teachings she knew and preparing her for hogwarts. It was a lot easier that way. Tiree had such a small population the chances of others knowing sign and being able to support her in ways she needed were slim. Their home curriculum fitted her needs of the time much better with the flexibility for her appointments and the ability to focus her studies to benefit her most at hogwarts. The days were lonely and repetitive sometimes, being sat at the kitchen table with her Nonna for hours doing tasks. Horacio was her comfort and company. Walking with him to school each morning helped tremendously. They would talk about the most obscure things. Sometimes she would even meet him after school and they would explore the beaches. One of her favourite things for them to do together was to sit in his basement and watch horror films on the old television set. Nothing could beat jam sandwiches and Bela Lugosi on a Thursday evening surrounded by blankets. She waved goodbye to Horacio before turning on her heel and making her way back home. There, there would be a warm plate of food and her Nonna humming along to the radio while her mother rushed off to work.

Diana was sitting at the small breakfast bar with a letter in her hands when Nuntis came in. A letter written in green ink. A letter Nuntis was dreading. She didn't want to go to hogwarts. She wanted to go to Tiree Secondary School with Horacio. The she wolf was worried of where she would transform and if going to the school would make it easier for her father to find her. An elderly man was sat with her mother at the table, her nonna making a full birthday breakfast of a traditional full english.

Nuntis eyed the man wearily. "Who is he?" She signed to her mother. The man just smiled, a strange twinkle in his eye.

"Hello Nuntis. I am professor Dumbledore." He signed back to her. Nuntis couldn't stop her lips from twitching upwards, she hadn't met many wizards who could sign.

"What is your doctorate in?" Nuntis asked with a smirk, Horacio had told her over and over how he wanted to be a professor of marine biology but he needed a doctorate degree to do so.

The man named Dumbledore chuckled. "I am Albus Dumbledore, Order of Merlin first class and Headmaster at Hogwarts." He introduced himself with an aura of grandeur but also humility.

Nuntis sighed. "I don't want to go there. I like my home and Tiree. Thank you very much." Her mother deflated as she signed, Diana desperately wanted Nuntis to have a good magical education and wanted her to make some fellow wizarding friends as much as she loved the friendship between her daughter and the muggle Horacio.

"Nuntis. Please. You can always come back in the summer and if it's so abysmal after your first year, we will try and homeschool you and find you a tutor." Diana attempted to bargain as Dumbledore just watched the young witch, gauging her reaction and response. Nuntis on the other hand was at war within her head, measuring up the pros and cons of going to Hogwarts while drawing up her own conditions which must be met for her attendance.

Dumbledore chuckled. "Well?" He prompted in his ever cheerful manner.

Nuntis quickly rushed to get some parchment and used a bic pen from the local muggle shop. She began to draft a list of conditions for which must be met for her to attend Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. It was neatly written in blue biro; firstly that she must be exempt from the uniform rules to hide the scars on her neck. Nuntis didn't want people to see and stare at her. She typically wore turtlenecks, chokers or scarfs to hide the jagged skin of her neck. Secondly, she must always have a secure den for her transformations and in the absence of one, be transported home for said transformations. After that she demanded that even if her condition was discovered she would be allowed to continue to study at Hogwarts until her education was complete. Her final request was that she was able to attend all her appointments and have sufficient help in class and exams if needed. Nuntis eloquently wrote her name with swirls and loops before dating it. Pushing the contact and pen forward she stared at Dumbledore awaiting his reaction. Her dark stare was quite intimidating for her size. Nuntis' eyes were full of unspoken emotions, grief and anger that Albus had only ever seen once before. The elder wizard smiled as he read her demands, nodding in agreement. "These requests seem logical and reasonable. I expect to see you at your sorting. However, do not be afraid to write to me or Professor McGonnagal if you require anything." He struggled with the unfamiliar writing utensil as he too signed and dated the document, his signature a little wobbly and at least twice the length of Nuntis' with his many names and titles. With that, the duo shook hands. Albus then shook hands with Diana before disapearating away.

The little kitchen was silent after the man had left. The only sound from her Nonna cleaning the remains of the breakfast. Diana gave Nuntis a soft happy smile, "Thank you, il mosoro." The woman leaned over their small round table to grasp one of her daughter's hands with her own. "I want you to learn how to defend yourself. Magic is such a gift my love. Hogwarts is much better than any of the schools in Italy." The young she wolf nodded once. It was a curt nod before she stood and left the room. She hid herself away in her bedroom, curled up in thick blankets and staring out the window until the sky darkened and she fell asleep. The first few snowflakes of the year fell on this much hated day, creating a beautiful yuletime scene.