Innocence

Chapter Fifteen

When they reached the mirror, David quickly stepped through without looking back, but Sophia stopped in her tracks.

"What's the matter?" Percival asked his daughter.

"Dad won't be able to come in, the mirror only allows Wampus members in. In fact, would you be able to enter?" Sophia asked.

"I'll be alright because I am a Wampus alumnus. The mirror will always let me in. Your Dad will be alright seeing as he's wearing his ring."

Sophia blinked in response before following David.

When Percival reached the top of the ladder he reached out his hand almost instinctively towards Jasper's, who pulled him up so that Percival then stood towering over the creature. Jasper was warmly smiling up at him.

"Mr Graves, it is so good to see you again."

"You too, Jasper, my old friend." The man then leant down and wrapped his arms around the creature. "I trust my daughter is upholding the great Graves legacy that I left behind."

Jasper chuckled as he leant down again to help Credence up through the doorway. "She has in no way broken as many rules as you did when you resided here, although there is a lot of time for that to change." Once Credence was safely on his feet the pukwudgie closed the door and turned to face the man. "You must be the other Mr Graves. I hope Percival is making you happy."

Credence blushed in response before shooting Percival a confused look. His husband just stood grinning back at him, before remembering his manners. "Credence, this is Jasper. He basically raises the Wampus children. Jasper, this is Credence. The love of my life." Credence held out a hand for the pukwudgie to shake but the creature merely took one look at it before wrapping his arms around Credence's waist as well. Credence tentatively patted him on the back.

"It's good to meet you." Credence said kindly. When Jasper let go of him he stood up straight again and went to stand next to his husband, looking around the room in awe."It's strange to be in the place you spent so much time in when you were younger."

"It's even stranger to see that it hasn't changed in the slightest." Percival grinned. "Come on, I'll show you around."

- - - - -

Percival and Credence left the common room by themselves, leaving Sophia and David behind. By the time they had stepped back through the mirror, Thumble had achieved his goal as Adam stood there waiting for them. He blinked at his parents questioningly before Credence pulled him into a hug.

"We just wanted to let you know that we're here, Adam." Percival said, putting a hand on his son's shoulder when Credence had stepped back again. "We can't talk now I'm afraid, but we will be able to speak tomorrow afternoon. We will come and find you and Sophia."

Adam simply nodded.

"Don't you have anything to say?" Credence asked, a little bit hurt by his son's apparent lack of interest.

"Just shocked is all, I assume." Percival said calmly, bringing the peace. He thought for a second before frowning slightly. "You're not too upset about not getting Captain on your team, are you?"

Adam winced.

"Sophia told us about what happened." Credence said, answering the unspoken question. "Adam... It really doesn't matter. I know you were excited about it, but it's not because you're not good enough. You know that. Mark my words, one day, you will have that position, and they will be lucky to have you."

- - - - -

The next morning, Sophia and David walked into the Hall, ready for the assembly. David called someone over to sit with them, and Sophia blinked in surprise, before scowling when she saw that it was Daniel. She would never admit it, but she was jealous that she no longer had David's undivided attention. Or at least that's what she told herself.

After all. She thought to herself. It can't be that I'm jealous of his quidditch skills.

Although she knew deep down that this was, in fact, the case. She hated how she had grown up with the sport and played with Adam, only to find that as her brother excelled, she had never gotten the hang of it. No matter what position she tried, she couldn't find one that she was any good at. And then she had to watch this kid, who she didn't even like get on a broom for the first time in his life and be amazing beyond belief.

While she lied to herself about the jealousy coursing through her veins, the matter of why she disliked Daniel genuinely confused her. She couldn't talk about it with David, and knew that she had to hide it from him, because that would hurt him more than she thought even she knew it would. The truth of the matter was that she just didn't like him.

Of course, she had started off disliking David as well when she met him that first day, but she was able to get over that very quickly and form a strong friendship with him. Daniel, however, caused her to feel uneasy whenever he was near her, ever since she first saw him when she was shopping for school robes with her Father.

She felt bad for her opinions of him, but she was unable to control them.

The three of them sat on chairs next to one another in the rows that had been set out, facing the front of the hall. The dining tables had been pushed to the side and stacked on top of each other for the occasion. Sophia glanced around and saw confusion written on many people's faces. She knew that assemblies were rare, but for some reason many people seemed on edge about the situation that they were witnessing.

She turned her focus to the front and noted that her parents weren't present yet. Although, that changed a few minutes later once everyone had sat and settled down. Conversations were cut off abruptly as the doors at the back of the room suddenly burst open and Percival came marching in, past the rows of chairs and stopped at the front, a scary presence if ever there was one. Sophia caught a glimpse of Adam sat diagonally two rows in front of her and watched as he cringed a bit under the glare of their Father. Sophia realised he was embarrassed, and sympathised with him but realised that she could never be in such a situation. She could never feel embarrassed to be related to her Father. But it was then that something important clicked in her mind.

While this would change once the assembly was over, she knew that the man stood in front of the them wasn't her Father. He was the Director of Magical Law Enforcement and the Head Auror for MACUSA.

He had a job to do, and he meant business.

- - - - - - - - - -

Hello. Currently on the way back from Scotland. I had to live for a whole week without WiFi.

It was murder.

I got a lot of writing done though, and I believe I'm really close to end of this story. I'm currently writing a draft for Chapter 39 if you can believe that!

Anyway, I'd really appreciate it if you vote for these chapters, or commented on them. I'm genuinely curious to know what people think of this.