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Looking far beyond the windowpane, the stars seemed to shimmer with more intensity. Nicolás, as the star-lover he has always been, decided to interpret that as if the very heavens were encouraging him, giving him their blessing.
And it's not like Nicolás' life hadn't already been filled with blessings. Not so many people were lucky enough to not only be born to loving parents but a loving family overall. Not everyone had the privilege to grow up in a Magical Creature Reserve, growing up surrounded by the most wondrous creatures. Learning all their habits and quirks and taking in the wisdom they offered.
Not everyone finds a friend and companion as loyal and unconditional as Ember. The adult Wampus Cat had come to Nicolás in the most unexpected way, in his visit to Ilvermorny when he was but six years old. And Nicolás knew he had come to stay since he laid his eyes on the barely days-old cub.
But even now, hearing Ember's softly snoring in his slumber, on his bed, the young wizard's heart still hammered in his chest, refusing to settle down like the chilling night.
He's always been an anxious person, for worse or for better. It had never stopped him from living, but it had certainly made his inner experience less satisfying.
His mother, Carolina, had to spend hours teaching him different breathing exercises and correcting his unhealthy behaviors. It's been years ever since Nicolás last bit his nails bloody or picked his skin. Generally, taking deep breaths, while mimicking them with his fists, was enough to calm him.
Changes had always been hard for him, but weren't they hard for everyone? It's not like it was his fault to feel this way, the only two big changes in his life had been pretty dramatic and soul-wrenching.
The first change came before his fourth birthday. It was the day The First Wizarding War had come to an end. Everyone, everywhere in the UK, was celebrating the downfall of the Dark Lord. Everyone but Nicolás' family.
On the night of the 31st of October in the year 1981, Nicolás' family suffered its biggest rupture. His uncle and his aunt, James and Lily Potter, were killed. That was also the last day Nicolás ever saw Peter Pettigrew and his uncle Sirius. Since that day, everyone refused to say a word about them, making it plenty clear that they weren't coming back, ever.
Nicolás spent days comforting Caelum, when the fact that his father wasn't coming home, ever, finally got in his head.
But what broke Nicolás worst, was probably Harry. The little cousin Nicolás and Caelum had so fervently sworn to protect, had been taken from them.
With their promises for the future shattered in a million pieces like glass, the Cardona family left the UK. Choosing to go back, semi-permanently, to the reserve in Colombia. Taking the following years to lick their wounds and slowly heal.
Now, the second big change that made Nico's life quiver, happened a year prior. Having been an Auror back in the war, his Aunt María was offered the opportunity to go back to the British Ministry of Magic as a Hit Witch, and she took it. Taking Caelum, her son, with her.
Nicolás and Caelum had been born four days apart. For months, they sleep together in the same crib, holding each other. They learned everything together: how to walk, how to talk, and how to offer comfort.
For eight years, all they had to worry about was exploring every nook and cranny of the reserve, tending to the creatures' needs, and spending time together.
But now, Nicolás was on his own. And he would have to embark on this new impending change alone. Caelum would have to bravely do the exact same thing. Tomorrow, they would start school.
Mind you, Caelum would be going to Hogwarts, while Nicolás would have to travel all the way down the American continent to Brazil.
As the cold wind made the leaves and tree branches dance, down on the reserve's grounds, the sound of the nocturnal birds and creatures worked as a humming backtrack. Nico's gaze moved down to the envelope his sweaty hands were holding. On one side, it read:
MR. N. CARDONA-LUPIN
The Cardona Magical Reserve
Valle del Cauca, COLOMBIA
On the other side of the envelope, there was a meticulously crafted shield that said "Castelobruxo" in bold letters on the top. Below that, the shield had five different compartments.
In the middle of the shield, there was a crescent moon shaped like a big "C". Around this moon, the four other compartments had creatures that showed off the diverse life in the Amazon Rainforest. One had a spider. Right next to it, there was a sleek and watchful jaguar. In another compartment, a dolphin leaped with grace, and in the last one, there was a bright frog.
Underneath the shield, there were fancy Portuguese words that said, "Honra, Nobreza e Lealdade," translating to "Honor, Nobility, and Loyalty."
With a double-meant sigh, of both, anxiety and delight, Nicolás took out the two pristine sheets inside the envelope, sheets he had read about a thousand times since the letter arrived. The first one was written in resplendent golden ink and said:
CASTELOBRUXO ESCOLA de MAGIA
Headmaster: Prof. Dr. João da Silva
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Sr. Under Sec. to Min. Magic, Chief Diplomat, International Confed. of Wizards, Protector of the Rainforests)
Dear Mr. Cardona,
We are delighted to inform you that you have been accepted to Castelobruxo School of Magic. Please find enclosed a list of all the required books and equipment.
The term begins on September 1st, and we kindly request that you send your owl no later than July 31st.
Yours sincerely,
Prof. Maria da Silva
Deputy Headmistress
The second paper, read, in golden ink too, as follows:
CASTELOBRUXO ESCOLA de MAGIA
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (green)
2. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
3. One winter cloak (green, with golden fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
1. A Standard Book of Spells (Level 1) by Miranda Drawer
2. An Introduction to Transfiguration by Eméricio Switch
3. The History of Ancient Pre-Columbian Magic by Isabella Machado
4. Magical Theory and Practices by Antonio Perez
5. One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi of the Amazon Rainforest by Angela Cardona
6. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander, translated by Pedro Cardona.
7. Magical Beasts of South America by Angela Cardona
8. The Dark Arts: A Guide to Defensive Magic by Sofia Santos
9. Magical Drafts and Potions by Pedro Cardona
10. Celestial Harmony: Exploring Astrology by Estella Marques
11. An Introduction to Alchemy by Pedro Cardona
12. Seeing Beyond by Antonio Pérez
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand.
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials.
1 telescope.
1 set brass scales.
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucas Pereira
Assistant to the Deputy Headmistress
As Nicolás closed the letter back in its envelope, he couldn't help but think, rather nostalgically, that this was his last night at the reserve for at least a few months, until the Christmas holidays.
Looking around the room, as the reality of the changes started to settle in his mind, a sense of detachment slowly crept up on him. This had been a shared room once; Caelum's empty bed was placed on a corner, Nicolás had spent weeks after Caelum left, crying on that bed, but it's been months since the last time.
The walls looked as pretty as always. The beige-painted walls were covered in an array of magical creatures—posters, paintings, and photographs, all were neatly glued. Unicorns, Graphorns, Kappas, Erumpents, Fairies, Ashwinders, Bowtruckles, and other countless creatures had been his companions for many years, and now they would stay here while he went to explore the world on his own.
The wooden floor felt cold against his bare feet as he stood up from the window seat, to make his way back to the bed. Ember, feeling his absence, had woken up, already sitting on the bed; his big yellow eyes searching the darkened room for Nicolás.
Now, laying on his back, Nicolás watched the ceiling, it was filled with multiple glowing stickers of stars. Nicolás had worked for hours with his father until they had successfully recreated his three favorite constellations: Sagittarius, Leo, and Canis Major.
Looking at the stars at night had always brought him solace, they always felt like the greeting hug of an old friend, warm and hearty. Sometimes, he even felt as though the stars wanted to tell him something. This made him extremely excited to take Astronomy classes once in Castelobruxo.
As he was drifting away, seeing golden castles in his mind-eye, Nicolás felt Ember's head, big and warm, resting on his abdomen. Resting the palm of his hand over it, he softly scratched behind the Wampus Cat's ears, before the world went completely black.
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FEATURING...
Xolo Maridueña
as
Nicolás Cardona-Lupin
Louis Partridge
as
Caelum Cardona-Black
Diane Guerrero
as
Carolina Cardona-Lupin
Carolina Gaitan
as
María I. Cardona-Black
David Thewlis
as
Remus J. Lupin-Cardona
Gary Oldman
as
Sirius O. Black-Cardona
Pedro Pascal
as
Pedro A. Cardona
Salma Hayek
as
Angela M. Cardona
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Author's note
Okay so, we're back! I believe it won't take me more than a week to publish this first part. I added a few chapters, so it was all more cohesive and interesting, ending with 8 chapters! Hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Here's a photo of Ember: