Year/Job
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor
I had been lost to you, sunlight. And flew like a moth to you, sunlight. |
Animagus
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Post by Iola Walker on Jan 24, 2024 20:58:47 GMT -8
“Come on, Iola, you’re going to make yourself sick playing in the rain like that.”
“Yes, Diane!”
“Iola, we’ve been over this, you can call me Mam.”
“Yes… yes, Mam.”
With great care, Iola clipped the dahlias from the garden, setting them in the basket hanging from her arm. Pippin may not have been the happiest over it, he understood the need to bring something special. When enough had been collected, she rose from the ground and calmly made her way back into the estate. Annie still rested by the counter, a hint of amusement in his eyes and that miniscule smile. “Nice peonies.” Iola responded with a light laugh, setting the basket on the counter before him. Pulling her wand out of her pocket, she gave it a wave and a glass vase descended from the cabinets. Together, they pieced together the flowers, placing them one by one into the vase until a beautiful bouquet remained. Pointing her wand into the vase, she murmured, “Aguamenti.” Water filled it within moments. She looked at her brother and nodded. It was time.
“Iola? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I’m your Mam. I can tell when you’re lying.”
“It’s nothing…”
“Iola.”
“There’s… this boy.”
“Tell me more.”
Her brother offered her a reassuring smile, agreeing to stay back while she visited their mother. “You got this,” he told her. Standing in the waiting room, Iola looked at the signage pointing to her destination. Only… she couldn’t move. She must have looked lost, because a passing Healer stopped to ask her if she needed help. Iola swallowed. “I - I’m looking for Diane Walker. She - she’s on Spell Damage? I’m her daughter,” she said with uncertainty. The Healer’s face softened and she gestured for Iola to follow her. “My name is Maggie. I’ll take you to her.”
“Are you sure you want to do this, Iola? You’re always welcome to stay here with us.”
“I need my own place. It’s important to me.”
“Just know I’ll miss you terribly.”
“Me - me, too.”
Iola stood outside the room, vase in hand and tea leaves in her bag, feeling her stomach start to turn. Almost nine years. That’s how long it’s been since she last saw her mother. And, oh, so much has happened since then. So much darkness, pain, tragedy. Would she even recognize her? Annie assured her she would, but Iola sometimes didn’t recognize herself. Steeling herself, she reached a hand to the handle, stepping into the room.
Diane was sitting in an armchair, facing the window so all Iola saw was her wavy blonde hair. It didn’t have as much shine as she remembered. Iola stepped forward, placing the vase on the dresser. “M - Mam?” Diane turned then, her bright blue eyes wide and almost wild until they landed on her face. A rush of some emotion Iola couldn’t place washed over her as a wide smile spread across Diane’s face. “Iola.” And just like that, her bag fell on the floor and she fell into her mother’s arms, tears flowing steadily down her face and sobs racking her body. Diane simply held her, rubbing a hand up and down her back as she cried. “Shhhh.” And as her mam started to hum a song she hadn’t heard in ages, Iola felt home for the first time in years.
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