Chapter Thirty-One
London, August 1996
Andrew had always loved London. It was so busy and full of people, more people than Andrew had ever been around in his entire life. On rainy days when Hazel thought they were holed up in their room, he and Sonia would sneak out and wander the back streets. He knew it was wrong, that his mother would be furious – but he couldn’t resist the city.
It was a rainy day in mid August when he fled the Hester grounds, after spending ten minutes pleading with Sonia to come with him; she didn’t do anything these days. She just stayed in her room, ripping up travel books and smoking fake cigarettes. Andrew hated to see her this way, which is why he thought he’d tempt her with a trip to the city.
But Sonia hadn’t come, so Andrew went alone. He Disapparated into an alleyway, feeling nauseous after the spinning. He turned around and let out a yell as he came face to face with a freckled girl.
“Are you a magician?” asked a pair of thin pink lips, with a set of startling green eyes to match. Those eyes were wide and slightly turned inwards, sparkling with curiosity – as if she’d just caught him doing something he wasn’t supposed to be doing. Which she had.
Andrew froze beneath that jade stare, wondering how he could out of this. He could simply obliviate her, that would be easiest; but she was pretty, and this wasn’t the face of a tattle tale. His brain seemed to have melted.
“Well, are you just going to stand there? Answer me.” She tilted her head to one side “It’s rude to stare you know.”
Shaking his head slightly, Andrew brought himself out of his daze “Er, no I’m not a magician.”
“A sorcerer then?”
“Um, sort of?”
She pulled a face “You’re not one of those loons who go around pulling change out of peoples ears, are you?”
Unable to help himself, Andrew smiled “No, I swear I’m not.”
The girl’s suspicious look vanished, replaced with a dazzling smile and a set of slightly crooked teeth “Great. I’m Amara.”
“Andrew.” Said Andrew, shaking the hand she offered. Her skin was soft, nails were all bitten down to the very end; she had chipped purple nail polish that occasionally spilled onto the sides.
“Would you like to get a tea, Andrew?” Amara was already walking out of the alley, long cinnamon braid swinging behind her.
“I – uh – sure.”
Glancing over her shoulder, she smiled and lead him into the crowds “Oh good. I know just the place – follow me.”
Feeling adventurous, Andrew did just that.
The minute they sat down Amara tossed off her chunky brown leather sandals, tucked her feet beneath her and ordered a vanilla orchid latte. Andrew ordered a simple weak black tea.
“I thought magicians were supposed to live dangerously?” she asked.
“I’m not a magician.”
“Sorcerer then.” Turning to the young waiter, she gave him a very different smile than she’d given Andrew; this was a smile used to persuade people, he could tell. “He’ll have a spicy African mint, please. A lot of sugar. You look like a lot of sugar kind of guy.” She said to him.
The realization of the situation dawning on him, Andrew merely nodded. What was he doing? Being out in the Muggle world, sitting in a Muggle tea shop with a Muggle girl – a very pretty Muggle girl. She was studying the huge stain glass window they sat by, peeking out of a normal circle into the street below them. Her tall form folded into itself in the squishy cushioned chair, a flowy daisy patterned dress hanging off of broad shoulders, an embroidered jean jacket tossed carelessly over the chair.
“I should probably go -” he started to get up out of his chair, but Amara set a determined stare on him, and he sank slowly back down. “Or I could stay for tea.”
She smiled “Good idea. So Andrew, where did you learn magic?”
Thinking it couldn’t heart, that he’d just obliviate her afterwards, Andrew spoke “My mother.”
“Is she a sorcerer too?”
“She’s a witch, so is my sister.” he said “And I am a wizard.”
She raised a delicate eyebrow, but did not question him “And your father?”
“I have heard he was also a wizard, but I have never met him.”
“That’s unfortunate. Where did your mother learn it?” Amara didn’t apologize for something she couldn’t control, just stated the obvious and moved on.
“Her adoptive father.”
“Could I learn?”
Andrew shook his head “No – you’re a Muggle. You have to be born with the ability.”
She smiled cheekily at him “How do you know I’m not a witch too?”
He hadn’t thought of that. “Because – well, I don’t.”
“Well I’m not, so you don’t have to worry.” Their tea came then, and Amara ordered a high tea plate to go with it. She bombarded him with questions, and as they ate their way through the tier of cakes and little sandwiches, Andrew found himself slowly sinking into an enjoyable and colourful stupor. He was warm and amused; Amara was a good listener, and enjoyed learning about his world. Her sea glass eyes watched him intently, flitting back and forth between his hands and his face.
Andrew had never had to explain his world to anyone, the smell of sunrise or the muggy heat of his uncles greenhouse; how Hazel hummed while she read and Remus would play the piano all day, melody drifting through the house so it could reach you wherever you sat. He’d never had to describe the way he and Sonia were so in sync, the way they walked together and knew just the right amount of space apart to be, or what the other wanted for tea that day. Never had Andrew had someone who had no other desire but to just listen to him.
They finished their tea and left the shop, wandering through the streets and into Hyde Park. They climbed up into an oak tree so they could see the crystal palace, and Andrew told her that Winston used to work there and grow secret magical plants in one of the corners, but only those with magical blood could see them.
“So it’s an illusion?” she asked, swinging her feet, sandals dropping to the ground.
“Yeah, I guess. More like it distracts you so you can’t see it.”
“Your whole world is an illusion,” turning to him, she grinned impishly “Are you one too?”
Andrew shook his head, chuckling “No, I’m very, very real.”
“Good.” The word had barely left her lips when she leaned in and pressed her lips to his, and Andrew was so surprised he nearly fell out of the tree.
“I hope it’s alright I did that.” Amara said breathlessly, and he shook his head.
“No – no, I don’t mind. It’s very alright.”
She smiled and gripped the collar of his shirt, pulling his lips back to hers “Good, because I’m going to do it again.”
It was dusk when they finally left the park, stopping beneath a set of gates. Amara’s cinnamon hair looked like burnt caramel in the late light, and she twirled ahead of him, shoes held in her hands, dress swirling out around long legs.
“I have to be home in time for supper,” she said, breathing a bit laboured as she looked up at him, face radiant “But I’d much rather stay here with you.”
“I should be getting home soon too, my mum is probably wondering where I am.” He sighed and put his hands on her waist, pulling her close so her hip bones hit his. “I would love to take you home and show you everything, it gets so lonely there.”
Beaming, Amara went on her tiptoes and kissed him quickly “Another time then. Don’t go disappearing on me, you hear?”
“I hear.” Kissing her back, Andrew wondered when he became so wild and un-composed “I wouldn’t do that.”
“I know,” her jade eyes flickered with disappointment for only a moment, but she was happy once again in seconds “This has been the best day – I don’t want it to end.”
Placing a kiss at the tip of her slightly upturned nose, Andrew took a step backwards “We’ll make the next day just as good,” he said “I promise.”
“And you’ll call me?”
“I’ll owl you, yeah.” He caught a cinnamon curl between his finger and thumb, feeling his insides knot “You know, I was going to make you forget everything that happened today…but I can’t bring myself to do it.”
Anger flashed across Amara’s face, but then she pulled him back down by his collar and kissed him fiercely “I don’t ever want to forget.”
She waved goodbye to him right up until he Disapparated; after standing and watching the place he’d disappeared, Amara walked home barefoot.
A/N: Oooh Andrew, mixing with Muggles! Bet you all forgot that little bit in the blurb, eh?
Question: Do you think Andrew should have obliviated Amara? What do you think of her?
Rose<3
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