Two months later
Zander
"Pickled cockroach's antenna," I quietly read off the list in my hand. I glanced around and spotted it on a higher shelf. There weren't very many bottles left and they were pushed to the back of the shelf. Standing on my tiptoes, I reached for it and my fingers barely brushed it. I stretched a little more and was able to brush it towards me. When I was finally able to grab it and pull it off the shelf, I accidentally knocked another bottle of the shelf.
Right before it hit the floor someone caught it.
"That was close," he said, handing it to me.
I nodded and placed it back on the shelf. I then squinted at him.
"Recognize me?" He asked.
"You do look familiar," I replied.
"Well, I haven't seen you since you were a baby. But you probably recognize me because I look like my nephew Matt." He smiled and I instantly saw the resemblance.
"Nate?" I tried.
He nodded, still smiling.
"Oh," I said simply. "Is he doing well?"
Mr Ludiker nodded. "He's enjoying his job as an Auror."
I blinked. "An Auror?"
"And your friend Millie Marowski."
"Millie," I weakly repeated.
"You didn't know?" He raised his eyebrow quizzically.
"I... I've been very busy and haven't been able to talk much," I replied.
"Uh-huh," he tilted his head.
I turned and started to walk away.
"They said you blamed yourself for the Obscural attack."
I froze and nearly dropped the bottle of pickled cockroach antennas.
Calm down, I commanded myself.
"Obsurial? Those are rare."
"But they exist."
I turned and looked at him.
"Why would you think it's an Obsurial?"
"Zander, I study magical creatures for a living. I know the difference between a "large and invisible beast" and an Obsurial."
"Huh," I kept my poker face. "Wouldn't I have seen it?"
"That's what I wanted to ask. Did you see it?" He folded his arms and studied me.
"No," I replied flatly.
"No? Not in a mirror or anything?"
"If you're accusing me of something why not just do it straight out?" I demanded.
He laughed. "You are just like your-"
YOU ARE READING
A Different Kind of Magic
Fanfiction"I understand," I whispered soothingly. "Will you always understand?" He asked. "Maybe not," I answered truthfully. "But I'll do my best. I'll do my absolute best." "Promise?" "Promise." For all those who ship Slytherin and Hufflepuff and also for o...
