#abigail luther-snyde | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

hphmmatthewluther · 1 year ago

Text

12 Months of Magic: July - Surprises

Just before the month is over, here's my @hp-12monthsofmagic post for July! Features an angy Cassandra and Jane having a surprisingly effective poker face.

What’s In a Name?

To say that Jane Luther had an interest in her extended family was something of an understatement. For the formative years of her life she had believed that the Luther family were an on the whole standard family without much going on, and that the name Luther was synonymous with the status quo. Then she’d met the Luther-Snydes, who to be brutally honest sort of blew the rest of her family out of the water. They had imaginations, they played together, they actually enjoyed themselves. Jane loved playing with her cousins, Rowan and Abigail Luther-Snyde, and loved listening to their parents’ stories of what they got up to at her age.

This curiosity extended to when she came to Hogwarts to learn magic. It seemed that a lot of people had heard about the exploits of Matthew Luther and his friends, and as a result a lot of them assumed that she was Matthew’s kid. They did share the same shade of brown hair, after all, and in time she had started off on her own series of adventures around the castle. It didn’t necessarily annoy her (in fact it often let her get her foot in the door when it came to starting a conversation), and she was happy to correct people who assumed incorrectly. There was, however, one downside to the Luther-Snydes being an extended family as opposed to immediate.

“I can’t believe I thought you might actually be their daughter!” guffawed Cassandra, not 24 hours after she, Jane, and her classmates had returned to Hogwarts for their second year. Surrounded by the Frey twins, she had immediately noticed Jane walking in for breakfast and proceeded to point her gloved finger at the girl before beginning to hurl insults her way.

“I mean really, it’s unbelievable that someone like you shares a surname with some of the greatest sorcerers to live.” she sneered.

Jane didn’t mind it too much; she’d had to deal with it for a few weeks at the tail end of their first year and now Cassandra was trying to get it going again. While her friends all looked aghast, Jane simply continued eating her breakfast.

“Oh, bother someone else for a change!” hissed Ivy, her hand ready to pull out her wand at a moment’s notice. Jane, however, shook her head.

“I get why she’d try comparing me to my wizarding relatives,” Jane explained. “They were really the talk of the school back in the 80s.”

Robyn, who had been eavesdropping from the Gryffindor table, came over with Kevin. “Hang on a second, this is what this is about?” she asked, her eyebrow raised at the gang of Slytherins. “A couple of wizards from the 80s?”

“Not just any old wizards!” Cassandra sighed, exasperated. “One of the greatest curse-breakers to ever live…Merula Snyde!”

Everyone else looked at her a little surprised. Except for Jane. Jane continued to eat her breakfast, chomping down on cereal with a smile.

Daniel cleared his throat. “I thought you were going for Matt-”

“Well that’s what a dimwit would go for because it’s her last name! I couldn’t care less if someone’s dad is Matthew Luther, but to have lived your life with Merula Snyde…”

Something changed as Cassandra continued speaking. She got a faraway look in her eye, a far cry from her normal arrogant glare. “She was the first one to try and crack the Cursed Vaults, Matthew had to be goaded into it by her, and she used that to her success! She never once followed the school’s dress code! Not once! She’s technically a Baroness of a province in Poland somewhere!”

Ivy chuckled. “Sounds like someone pays more attention to History of Magic lessons than they’d like to admit.”

Cassandra went slightly pink. “Don’t be silly. Those lessons make it all sound so boring. I grew up hearing stories about her, the way she’d break curses and not care what anybody thinks! She’s an inspiration to me! And thus, I would respect anyone actually related to her, and not anyone who’s her husband’s cousin’s daughter.”

Jane finally finished her breakfast. Putting down her spoon, she looked over at Cassandra. “You’ve thought a lot about how much you and her are alike, right? Both parts of Slytherin, both refusing to listen to anyone else, et cetera et cetera…”

“Of course!” Cassandra replied proudly. “While our fashion choices differ, the rest of our outlook on life is the same.”

“Sure, provided you’re talking about how she started out. As opposed to how she graduated Hogwarts as far less of a bully.” Jane said, simply, her expression indecipherable.

Cassandra simply scowled. “Oh, and since when were you such an expert on Merula Snyde, hmm?”

“Since talking to her during the summer.” Jane explained. “Their eldest son is coming to Hogwarts, so wanted to know what it was like…and if the kids were as mean as she was when she was young.”

“Th-that proves nothing! Nobody would want their own child to be picked on!” Cassandra screeched across the gap between Slytherin and Ravenclaw table, “If it weren’t for her “bullying” the Cursed Vaults wouldn’t have been broken! She was the most powerful witch at Hogwarts and knew it! She was better than everyone else! She was…she was…what?”

Jane had covered her mouth, presumably to hide her smile. Daniel, Ivy, Kevin and Robin’s eyes were all as wide as dinner plates. Fischer and Colby Frey slowly stepped away and ran. Cassandra slowly turned around to see a woman in her thirties wearing black combat boots, a matching black leather jacket over a red flannel shirt. But what was most striking were her facial features. She had dark pink eyes and short messy hair, with a flash of orange hair sticking out just above the midpoint between her eyes. Cassandra looked up at Merula. Merula looked down at Cassandra.

“To be honest…” she said, scratching her head with a smile. “A lot of that stuff was just for show.”

Cassandra had frozen like a deer in the headlights (not that she’d know what headlights were). She raised her hand up, waving it up and down as if that’d help her remember how to speak. “Y-You’re…b-but…that’s not…how did…”

Merula chuckled. “It’s all right. I was a lot like that when I was a kid. The same thing happened to me, actually, started mouthing off about how great I was right behind Professor Snape. It was unbelievably embarrassing.”

Cassandra blinked once or twice before asking a quiet, awed. “W-Why are you here?! D-Did Jane-”

“Jane suggested I come out here because I’d get to have some fun. Which I did. But now you get something that I would have killed for at your age: some decent pointers in the right direction.”

Cassandra took a breath, trying to collect herself. “I…I’ve always wanted to be like you…to take control of my own life and be on top after so long being…” she trailed off, scowling at herself. Daniel was going to say something, but Jane stopped him, shaking her head.

Merula nodded. “I heard, yes. The kids you were in a creche with…they made fun of your name?”

Cassandra stared at the floor. “Mmh…Vole…they said I looked like one, like some kind of weird rat.”

Robyn had to be stopped from supporting that claim by Kevin. Jane just stared, thinking about a time a few months ago when she’d seen Cassandra spend days agonising about a rash she’d got in on her cheek in Herbology.

Merula just nodded. “Kids will be cruel, especially if they find an excuse, even a flimsy one like that. I got flack for my name too. Snyde. People said it fit me too well, so I decided I’d try and prove them right. It never ended up making me happy. Look, I’m not gonna tell you not to pick on people, because that never works. I’ll just say that one day, you’ll find something that fills that hole far more than name-calling ever did.” she sighed, shaking her head again. “Eesh, that sounded cheesy. I’ve been spending too much time with Professor Khanna. Just…don’t take any crap but don’t be a prick about it. Easy enough?”

Cassandra nodded so fast that the Freys looked worried her head might come off. “Of course, thank you, um…but what were you doing here in the first place?”

Merula’s pink eyes wandered to the one table that hadn’t been involved in the conversation. Sitting there talking to a small group of friends was a boy with brown hair like Jane’s, but striking pink eyes like Merula’s too. “I just wanted to make sure Rowan was doing ok. As an ex-teacher I have those perks, see.”

Cassandra watched as Rowan looked at the group, saw his mother, and waved a little. He waved to Jane, too, but immediately looked away when it came to Cassandra. She scowled once more, but it soon faded. “...I’m…I should go to Potions…Mer-, um, Miss Snyde, thank you for the advice, I, um…” she looked around nervously, before:

“Could I get your autograph?!” she said, so loud that most people in the Great Hall almost jumped out of their seats. Jane looked on with a sense of pride, knowing that while Merula’s talk probably wouldn’t shake Cassandra out of her pattern of rumour-mongering about her friends forever, it would definitely leave her wide-eyed until at least lunchtime tomorrow.

#hp12mom #12 months of magic #hpma #jane luther #cassandra vole #merula snyde #rowan luther-snyde #ivy warrington #daniel page #robyn thistlethwaite #kevin farrell

33 notes · View notes

hphmmatthewluther · 2 years ago

Text

Summer Break Challenge: Day 7 - Sunset

And here we are! This has been such a fun challenge! Thanks so much to @usernoneexistent for making this, and this one involves my hpma mc Jane and my hphm fankids!!

Day 7: Sunset

It had been a pretty long day. The Luther-Snydes were staying over at Matthew’s dad’s house, and Abigail and Rowan were playing with Jane Luther, their second cousin. There was a reason for this: Yesterday, Jane had used magic for the first time. Abigail and Rowan had been the ones to break the news to her that she was a witch. “You know, Abigail, when you first said it,” Jane began, climbing up one of the trees in the garden, “I thought you were being mean.” Rowan chuckled from further up the tree. “Don’t worry. Abby doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.” “Of course I wasn’t being mean!” Abigail yelled as she started scrambling up the tree, “I’m a witch too! And I’m great!”

Jane sighed, pushing her back against the trunk of the tree. “So…what? I can make things float, I’ve got that down pat…but what else?”

“Well, for most magic you’ll need a wand..” Rowan started to explain, but Abigail interrupted, having made it up to the level of the tree the other two were at.

“You can do all sorts! You can see things that others can’t, you can make potions, you can do loads of cool charms and trans...transfigru…uh…” “Transfiguration.” Rowan finished. “That. Also riding brooms, though I don’t see the point in that.” “That’s because you get broom-sick,” Abigail giggled. “Just like Uncle Atticus does.”

Rowan scowled, but didn’t try to argue. Jane leant forward, eager to learn as much as she could.

“So, you mentioned a school.” Jane said, her eyes alive with curiosity, “Do you two go there?”

“No, it’s a secondary school.” Rowan sighed, “You should be going there this year.”

Jane laughed at that. “Not likely. My Dad wants me to go to the local comprehensive, even though I passed the 11+.” Abigail missed it, but Rowan could hear the bitterness in her voice.

“Well, our Mum and Dad will probably sort things out.” he reassured her, “The decision’s the magic-user, not the parents.”

“Did your Mum and Dad go to that school?” “Of course!” said Abigail, “That was where they met!”

“So…they’d know what it’s like?”

At once, the three scrambled back down the tree and headed towards the grown-up table. Matthew and Merula were there, as were Jane’s parents Oliver and Becky Luther. Finally, Matthew’s Dad and Oliver’s Uncle Peter Luther was sat down, all of them eating breadsticks. They looked over and saw the children running over.

“Something the matter?” Peter asked, “Not more lizards, I hope.”

The three shook their heads. “Jane was just asking what Hogwarts was like,” Rowan explained. “We thought we’d ask you.”

And so, for the next while, Matthew and Merula explained what life was like at Hogwarts. They talked of all the things they learnt, the close friends they made, the various misadventures that they had, but decided to omit anything about the Cursed Vaults and/or R. Judging by Jane’s expression, Hogwarts was far more preferable to the local schools, and while she didn’t need convincing, he and Merula realised they should probably at least make it sound safe to Oliver and Becky.

“On your eleventh birthday,” Matthew explained, “You’ll get a letter about Hogwarts. Tell you what, I might write and ask the school to send you a little extra help with regards to learning about how everything works.” “That’d be really nice.” said Becky, not knowing that this “help” Matthew was planning on getting would come in the form of a half-giant. “What do you say, Jane?”

“Oh, uh, thank you Uncle Matt!” she said, smiling. Matthew shrugged. “No worries. I’m sure you’ll be a fine witch. And don’t worry about not knowing anyone there. A lot of kids will be in the same boat. I was like that, after all, and then someone came up to me, offered to help, and we’ve been friends ever since.

Jane was still smiling. She’d been smiling for a while now, imagining what things would be like come September, and then after what Matthew said, what things would be like on her birthday. Suddenly, Abigail pointed to the west. “Look! Isn’t it pretty?!”

They had been talking so long that the sky had turned an orangey-red, and the sun, just visible over the fence, was dipping below the horizon. The few clouds that were in the sky had turned shades of pink, twirling like candy floss and making various shapes in the air. It was strange, Jane had seen the sunset so many times, but knowing that there was so much more out there in the world, more than she could have ever guessed, somehow made it seem more special.

#hpma #magic awakened #summer break challenge 2022 #jane luther #rowan luther-snyde #abigail luther-snyde

11 notes · View notes

hphmmatthewluther · 2 years ago

Text

HPMA OC X OC Connections!

So...here we go! Here’s a list of my HPMA ocs, and what they’re open for! Feel free to DM me, comment or reblog if you think our OCs could interact!

Jane Luther (FC: Kaylee Bryant):

Jane is my MC! Born in 1997, Jane is a Ravenclaw and a total cinnamon roll. She’s kind to all she comes across (even if she really shouldn’t be), but is also incredibly imaginative and resourceful, too. She also happens to have some...minor reality-warping powers. Overall though, her main goal and priority is to make friends, something she hasn’t really had before this, with her closest friends being Daniel and Ivy, with her feelings for them both becoming slightly more than platonic overtime...

Jane is open to friendships!

Rowan Luther-Snyde (Faceclaim TBD):

The eldest child of Matthew Luther and Merula Snyde, born in 1999 and a Ravenclaw, Rowan ended up inheriting his father’s skills of observation (and his introverted nature), while also picking up his mother’s pride and grumpiness. Despite this, Rowan has soft spots for his closest friends, including his little sister.

Rowan is open for friendships and romance!!

Abigail Luther-Snyde (faceclaim TBD):

The youngest child of Matt and Merula’s, Abigail was rather different from her parents. Confident with a constant smile on her face and constantly seeking an adventure, there’s always a surprise when Abigail’s around (for instance how she’s a Slytherin). She’s always happy to make friends, and holds her brother in a very high regard, even if there is a bit of classic sibling teasing here and there.

Abigail is open to friendships and romance!!

#hpma #magic awakened #hpma oc #hpma mc #jane luther #rowan luther-snyde #abigail luther-snyde

4 notes · View notes

hphmmatthewluther · 2 years ago

Text

HPMA MC PROFILE: Jane Luther

(picrew made by @lawful_awful on twitter)

Name: Jane Queenie Luther

Nicknames: Janey, Sparky

Birthdate: 12/06/97

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Personality Type (MBTI): ENFP

Blood Status: Muggle-born (1/8th magical)

Nationality: White British

Physical Appearance

FC: Kaylee Bryant

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Brown

Height: 4’9 - 5’11

Weight: 70kg

Body Type: Slightly buff

Skin Tone: White

Distinguishing Marks (scars, birthmarks, etc.): Birthmark on the back of her right hand, looks sort of like a key.

Background

Hometown: Colchester

Family

Mother: Rebecca Luther (née MacRiada)

Father: Oliver Luther

Brothers: Will Luther (3rd eldest), Harrison Luther (2nd eldest)

Sister: Isabelle Luther (eldest)

Father’s Cousin: Matthew Luther

Second Cousins: Rowan and Abigail Luther-Snyde

Hogwarts

House: Ravenclaw

Best Class: Charms

Worst Class: Potions

Boggart: Being abandoned by her newfound friends.

Riddikulus: Her and her friends all coming together to prank someone

Animagus: Axolotl

Patronus: Dolphin

Patronus Memory: Playing with her cousins during the summer.

Mirror of Erised: Her being a real part of her family.

Amortentia (what she smells like): Grass, Forests, Warm Jumpers, Crisps.

Amortentia (what she smells): Jane has not smelt amortentia yet.

Career: Teaches at a preschool for magical children.

Personality & Attitude

Priorities: Her loved ones; including their safety and her relation to them.

Strengths: Courageous, Determined, Clever

Weaknesses: Impulsive, sometimes Jealous, Insecure

Stressed: When alone or not feeling noticed.

Calm/Comforted: When around others who listen to her.

Favourites

Colours: Blue and Yellow

Weather: Clear Skies

Hobbies: Reading, Writing, Drawing

Fashion: Ranges from day to day. Jane likes trying all sorts of styles.

Relationships

Significant Others/Love Interests: Daniel Page and Ivy Warrington

Friends:

-Rowan Luther-Snyde

-Abigail Luther-Snyde

-Lottie Turner

-Robyn Thistlewaithe

-Kevin Farrell

-Mary Ann Von Deyne ( @endlessly-cursed )

-Lennox Arcano-Thorne ( @endlessly-cursed )

-Lyra Martin ( @camillejeaneshphm )

-Panit Saetang ( @camillejeaneshphm )

Rivals:

-Cassandra Vole

-Colby Frey

-Fischer Frey

Trivia

Jane has some power over reality itself. Sometimes, when she daydreams and wishes, she can affect the world around her so that it comes to pass, and thus turn her daydreams into reality.

#hpma #hpma mc #hpma oc #jane luther

11 notes · View notes

hphmmatthewluther · 3 years ago

Text

The Matthew Luther Masterlist!

Here it is, a list of all the stories about Matthew I’ve done so far!

Profiles: HPHM: Matthew Luther JJ Luther Pascal Brunel Mayson Kowalski HPHL: Atticus Doherty Edgar Doherty Josephine Doherty Frederick Graham Anastasia Osada Florence Osada HPMA: Jane Luther Rowan Luther-Snyde Abigail Luther-Snyde GOLDEN ERA: Trinity Reynolds FOUNDER’S ERA: Lachlann Doherty Rousalie Osada Gabriel Osada Sovereign Betwixt

Year One: Matthew Luther and the Riddle of Easter “The Journey” (BTS Challenge)

Year Two: None so far!

Year Three: When Your Reflection Plots Against You (Part 1/Part 2/Part 3) Matthew Luther and the Vault of Fear Waning Crescent The Results and The Relay

Year Four: It’s so loud sometimes Matthew Luther and the Puffskein Portrait Past, Present and Future Affections A Potion to Remember Merula Snyde and the Butterscotch Bandit Merula Snyde and the Letter from Someone

Year Five: One truth, Two truths, Green Truths, Blue Truths The Phantom Woes of Matthew Luther (Part 4 - has the other links)

Year Six: The Twins and the Teacups Threads of Silver: Prelude

Year Seven: None so far!

Challenges: Valentine’s Day Challenge:

HPMA: The Barbecue Incident

AUs: Evil!Matthew Syltherin!Matthew

#hphm #hogwarts mystery #matthew luther #merula snyde #luthersnyde #hphm fic #hphm fanfiction #matthew luther masterlist

21 notes · View notes

hphmmatthewluther · 4 years ago

Text

HPHM April Prompts 2021, Day 9: The Next Generation

@stupendousbookworm ‘s prompt month continues, this time with a look at what the future holds. Meet Rowan Peter Luther-Snyde, and his brother, Abigail Anastasia Luther-Snyde, but not only that, a very special second cousin of theirs...(and by that, I mean my HPMA MC!)

Prompt # 9 - FANKIDS! fankids! FaNkIdS! FANKIDS! Any hphm player must have come up with HC's about MC and (Love Interest)'s children. Do whatever you want with this prompt.

“Right, now, what can’t we do while we’re there?” Matthew asked, looking down at a 6 year old girl with long brown and ginger hair, wearing a blue t-shirt and jeans.

“We can’t talk about magic, ‘cause they’re Muggles!” she squealed, “But we can’t call them that! Because they’re Muggles!”

“Good! And we came there by car, didn’t we?” said Merula as she grabbed a bag from the coffee table.

“Yep! Lying is fun!” Abigail Luther-Snyde exclaimed, causing the two adults to look at each other.

“I mean, she’s not wrong...” Merula admitted. “Oh, come on. You’re just jealous we can tell lies and you boys can’t.”

“I can lie!” a boy’s voice said from upstairs. Merula smirked.

“Right, are you almost ready then?” she asked.

“Y-Yeah, of course...” he said unconvincingly.

“Daddy, why can’t we tell the Muggles about magic?” the girl asked. Merula looked at the two of them.

“I’ll handle Rowan. You explain your favourite part of the Wizardry to her.” she ordered, before climbing up the stairs. “Rowan, if it’s your swimming trunks you’re looking for, I’ve got them right here!”

Matthew smiled at his wife, before looking down at his daughter. “Now, you know I don’t like lying, and I don’t think you do either.”

Abigail pouted. “It’s a bit fun...”

“Yeah, I know it is.” Matthew confessed, “but if we tell them about magic, they’ll just panic. They’d uproot everything wizards and witches have. If it is going to happen, it has to happen slowly, peacefully.” he explained.

“How slowly?” she asked.

“I don’t know, really.” said Matthew, “We’ve started with some magical creatures, like Diricrawls, but I honestly can’t say how long it’ll take. Though, it’ll probably be in your lifetime.”

“Aw, that’d be great!” said Abigail, jumping up and down.

“But don’t worry about that. Just enjoy the barbecue. You’ll get to see your Grandad Peter, won’t you?” At the mention of her grandfather, she started running around in circles.

“Yeah! He’s so cool!” she exclaimed, as Merula and Rowan, a thin ten year old boy with short brown hair came down the stairs, “And he’s way nicer than Nanny Lucy.”

Matthew sighed. “Yeah. He is. Come on, let’s get going.”

Matthew took Abigail’s hand, and then Merula’s. The two adults nodded, and the Luther-Snydes disapparated.

They re-appeared in an alleyway near some train tracks, and headed towards Grandad Peter’s house.

“Dad,” said Rowan, “Is anyone we know going to be there?”

“Well,” began Matthew, “Your Grandad will be there, obviously, and Uncle JJ, and your cousins, too.”

“But they’re not really our cousins, are they?” he asked.

“They’re your Grandad’s brother’s grandchildren.” Merula explained, “I think that makes them second cousins, but I’m not totally sure.”

They came up to a semi-detached house with a green door. “Ah, memories...” Matthew mused, “I grew up here, you know.”

“Yes, Dad, you tell me every time.” Rowan reminded him.

“Daddy, can I ring the doorbell?” Abigail asked. Matthew nodded, picking her up slightly so she could reach the button.

“I still think it shouldn’t be called a doorbell.” said Merula quietly, “I mean, there’s no bell, for goodness’ sake!” It didn’t take long for Peter Luther to open the door.

“Grandad!” both children exclaimed, running in.

“Hello! Oh, you’ve got tall, haven’t you?” he said, letting them all in. “And how are you two?”

“Never better.” said Matthew, “How about you, Dad?”

“Ooh fine, fine.” he said, closing the door. “JJ’s already here, he’s in the garden.”

Matthew nodded before heading down the corridor, passing a Muggle newspaper which read: ‘Return of the Dodo: Scientists find new variant of the long-thought extinct bird in Mauritius’.

“Were we really that late if JJ’s here before us?” Merula said to him, guiding her and the children down the house.

“I don’t think so...maybe he left too early.” he thought aloud. It wasn’t in JJ’s nature to be this early to family gatherings. Matthew found himself nervous.

“Don’t worry.” Merula reassured him, noticing his unease. “Don’t let this ruin today. Chances are he’s just getting his life settled after all that time adventuring with Olivia and Pascal. We should be happy he’s here.”

Matthew nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. As always.”

Merula blushed. “‘Course I’m right. Now, let’s enjoy this barby-queue, or however you say it.”

Matthew couldn’t help but grin as they walked out into the garden.

“Wow, Sunflowers!” Abigail yelled as they came out onto a relatively well-kept lawn with several flower beds to the side, a greenhouse in the back and a smallish apple tree in the middle. Being relatively well-off is fun, Matthew thought to himself, watching Abigail roll across the grass.

“Dad, when can we eat?” Rowan asked. Matthew had to stifle a laugh.

“Rowan, we’ve only just got here!” Matthew reminded him. “Look, it’ll be soon, I promise. Ah, there’s-”

Coming up to them was a man taller than Matthew with long brown hair hair and a simple black leather jacket . Matthew tried to read his expression, but his face was still.

“Ah, hey Matthew, Merula.” he said, the tiniest of smiles appearing on his face, “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

A few feet away, Rowan and Abigail were watching the adults talk.

“Why does Uncle JJ always wear that coat?” she asked.

“Dunno. Maybe he just likes it.” Rowan suggested. “You always wear those clothes.”

“Do not! I sometimes wear my green trousers.” she said indignantly. “But they’re in the wash after Spencer did a poo on them. Come on, let’s explore!”

“Grandpa Timothy and Grandma Anna’s garden is way bigger, though.” Rowan reminded her, moving towards a large group of bushes, with a path leading to the greenhouse between them.

“I know, but this one has more stuff!” Abigail exclaimed, “Their garden is just lawns. That’s only fun when you can jump in the cut grass and chuck it at each other. Plus, I’ve never been here before!”

“Yeah, because you can’t keep a secret.” Rowan informed her. “You had to stay home because you’d go blabbing to the Muggles.”

“That’s because I’m too nice.” she said sweetly. Rowan rolled his eyes. “What? I am! Everyone likes me, even Duncan does!”

Rowan sighed, admitting defeat. “Yeah, and I don’t know how you pulled that one off, considering Duncan’s-” he was about to say invisible, but as they came to the greenhouse they saw there was someone there. It was a girl who looked about a year older than Rowan with light brown hair, gazing at the flowerpots. She looked up at them.

“Don’t stop me.” she said, “Who’s Duncan, and why’s he so hard to impress?”

“He’s-” began Abigail, but Rowan stopped her.

“He’s a horse.” he explained, “Our other grandparents...they, um, own horses. Duncan’s sort of, um, difficult.”

The girl stepped forward. “So, Great Uncle Pete is your grandfather then?”

“Yep. I’m Rowan, and this is Abigail.”

“How’d you know he was our Grandad?” Abigail asked, slightly confused.

“Well, he said ‘other’, so I could guess.”

Abigail gasped. “Wow, you’re almost as smart as our Dad! I’d bet you’re a R-” Rowan coughed suddenly, “a, um, really smart person, yeah!”

“Thanks, I guess...” said the girl with a little suspicion. “Oh, I’m Jane, by the way. Jane Luther.”

“So you’re one of our cousins!” Abigail yelled, “Yay!”

“Indeed I am.” Jane said. She looked down at the young girl. “Does- do your parents let you dye your hair?”

“No, I came like this!” she announced proudly.

“Wow, lucky…” she muttered before looking up at Rowan, “So, what are you doing here?”

“We...wanted to look around, you know...” he explained, “They said the food’s not going to be ready for a while.”

“Uh, I know, why can’t they start already?” Jane complained, “It’s stupid.”

Rowan nodded at that. “So, where are your brothers and sisters?” he asked. At this, Jane’s smile faded.

“They didn’t have to come. Mum and Dad said they were old enough to choose. And they still wanted me along, even though I’m eleven in a week.”

“Hey, so are you, Rowan! He’s ten next Saturday.”

“That’s so weird, my birthday’s on Saturday too!” she exclaimed, “What are the odds of that happening?”

“I dunno, one in a billion maybe?” Rowan suggested.

“One in a bajillion!” yelled Abigail. “So you’re birthday buddies! That’s so cool! Wish I had a birthday buddy...who isn’t an abr...um, a horse.”

“Having a horse as a birthday buddy would be cool.” Jane thought aloud. Try a horse with wings, Rowan found himself thinking.

“I wish your brothers and sisters were here. They’re really missing out!” Abigail said, choosing a nearby tree to climb. “Plus making new friends is fun.”

“You’d think so, but they’re all moody teenagers.” Jane fumed. “Honestly, when I’m a teenager I’ll never be that moody.”

“Yeah!” said Abigail, “Happiness forever!” she said, before starting to climb her chosen tree.

“Hear, hear!” said Rowan, before joining the tree climb. Jane watched them for a moment, before shrugging and climbing up too, easily outpacing the other two. They each got to a high solid branch and paused to take a breath.

“You’re really good at tree climbing.” Rowan said between breaths.

“I try my best. Sometimes it feels like the tree wants me to climb it, like it pushes me upward.”

Rowan nodded, though there was something about that statement that got him thinking. After all, his father did very much the same thing all the time, often leading to brilliant deductions from him. But he was having fun, so he kept it in the back of his mind. From there, they moved up the branches until they were near the grown-ups, who were all deep in conversations.

“Say, did you hear that stuff about the dodo?” Jane asked them. Another bell went off in Rowan’s head as Abigail shook her head. “Well, they were this flightless bird that were found in the Victorian times, and we thought they had gone extinct. But luckily we found some more recently! They say they’re having difficulty getting ahold of one for study, but they’ve decided that they’ll just leave them be and give them all sorts of animal protections.”

“Aww, that sounds great!” said Abigail, “I mean, it’s not like it's easy to catch something that vanishes!”

Rowan almost fell out of the tree. Jane brought her hand down to catch him, but he just so happened to grab a hold of another branch, which allowed him to pull himself up.

“Careful there, Rowan.” Jane said, breathing a sigh of relief, “Almost took one mighty tumble. Anyway, the dodo!” Abigail gave Rowan a look. Rowan gave one right back at her. Each of their looks meant the same thing. You idiot, what if she realised?! But they each turned back to her when they realised that she had stopped talking.

“Wh-What’s wrong?” said Rowan, nervously. Jane pointed at a tree at the far end of the garden.

“He’s still got Christmas lights up...It’s June, and he’s got...” she trailed off, before climbing back down and racing over. Abigail and Rowan glanced over to see a tree at the other end of the garden to see a tree filled with red lights, that looked somewhat pretty in the dusky sky. But their father had taught them about every Magical Creature there ever was, and they knew exactly what this meant.

“Clabberts!” They said together, before rapidly climbing down the tree.

Some way away, Matthew and Merula were still talking to JJ, as well as Matthew’s cousin Oliver, and his wife Rebecca.

“Well, Pip, I’m impressed. You’ve done awfully well for yourself.” JJ said, smiling.

Oliver nodded, “Yeah, I mean I knew you were well off, but...”

“Really, it’s not that big of a deal.” Matthew said, his hands raised. “It’s just-”

“It’s just you have a good job and my family is filthy rich.” Merula butted in, causing everyone to laugh.

“So,” said Rebecca, “You’ve got two of your own, have you?”

Merula nodded. “I only saw one of yours, though...”

Oliver sighed. “Teenagers. Not much you can do to get them to listen to you, is there?”

Matthew gave a forced laugh, “Glad we haven’t had to deal with that just yet.” he said, scratching his head nervously. “I imagine Jane will be going to secondary school soon, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Not long now. We’re sending the applications soon. The ones in our area aren’t...well, the local comp was good enough for me and you, weren’t they?” he said to Rebecca. Suddenly, Rowan and Abigail ran past them.

“Now what are they up to?” Merula wondered aloud. The sun was setting, and the sky grew darker. She looked at them. They weren’t running out of excitement. “I’ll be right back,” she said before moving towards them. Matthew started to follow her, but JJ put a hand on his shoulder.

“Wait.” he said. “This needs to happen.”

Matthew’s jaw dropped, before pulling JJ’s hand off of him before running off after Merula. JJ sighed before following, with Oliver and Rebecca moving towards the action too.

“JJ, what’s happening?” Oliver asked nervously.

“...Oh, nothing to worry about...probably.” he said nonchalantly, before running in the direction of his brother.

Rowan and Abigail found Jane near the foot of the tree, looking up at the lights.

“It’s odd...” said Jane, “Why hasn’t he taken them down?”

“Jane...” said Rowan nervously, “You should get away from there.”

“Why?” Jane asked, a thousand thoughts obviously flying through her head. She did back away, but only slightly, and she kept her eyes on the tree. “Hang on a minute...”

“Jane, wait-”

But she had seen it. There were no Christmas lights hanging in the tree after all, but several small lizards, with their pustules flashing red whenever they expanded in size. At once, they all looked down at the three children.

“Oh, gosh...I’ve never seen...but that’s...” Jane stammered, moving her hand forward towards one. Rowan immediately grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him. All the lizards’ pustules flashed bright red, before diving at the children, ready to bite.

“NO!” said Jane, as Abigail and Rowan braced for impact. But it never came. They slowly lowered their arms to see about a dozen of the lizards frozen in mid-air above them. Rowan looked at Abigail. She shook her head. Abigail pointed at Rowan. He shook his head. They both turned to Jane, who still had her hand in the air. It was glowing ever so faintly.

“What? I don’t...I don’t…” she stammered, stepping forward, her eyes looking between her hand, the lizards, and the Luther-Snydes, hoping for an explanation.

“Oh...” said Rowan. “Jane...you’re a...”

“Does that mean we can tell her?” asked Abigail, eagerly, “Does it? Does it?”

“T-Tell me what?” said Jane, nervously. “Tell me what?!” At that moment, Merula appeared. She looked at her children, then at the Clabberts, then at Jane.

“Ah...” she said, stepping forward. “Fancy that.” Soon, Matthew arrived, followed by JJ, Oliver and Rebecca. Jane looked back at her parents as she held the many lizards in mid-air.

“Hey, Uncle JJ, hey Dad! Hey, Oliver and Rebecca!” Abigail shouted, “Look! Look! Jane’s a witch!”

“I’m a what?” she asked incredulously, before Matthew moved forward, taking a long wooden stick out of his pocket and pointing it at the lizards.

“You can relax.” He said, calmly. “I’ve got them.” Jane dropped her hand and the glow faded; the lizards dropped for a moment before rising back up to the same level.

“Hey, JJ.” said Matthew, scowling at his brother. “Care to explain?”

Before he could say anything, there was a wumpf noise. Rebecca had fainted.

***

“I told you the book moved on its own!” Jane was saying an hour or so later in between mouthfuls of hot dog, “And I told you about the cow that turned green! And that owl I saw with a letter in its talons! And the alleyway that vanished! And that weird pink thing with cat ears!”

“Well, how were we meant to believe it?” Oliver retorted, “It’s not exactly believable.”

“And now you have seen it for yourself.” said JJwistfully, who was now without food as punishment, “It’s a wild ride, huh?”

“And you can button it.” said Merula, pointing her wand at her brother-in-law. “And if you ever risk my children’s health to prove a point again-”

“-Mum, they were just Clabberts-” said Rowan.

“-Then I will put you back in that portrait for another eight years, got that?”

JJ nodded rapidly, looking down at the ground. “So it’s true then,” Jane said, “What Abigail told me. I’m… a witch?”

Matthew nodded. “It definitely seems that way. I mean, so’s she. And Merula.” he said, pointing to his wife and daughter. “And me and Rowan are wizards. I mean, you can choose to be called a wizard if you want...”

Jane shook her head. “Witch is fine.” she declared. “What...what does that mean?”

“All sorts.” said Peter. “I remember when Matthew and JJ got their powers. Both seven years old, they were. Matthew spent a week on the ceiling.”

“That would explain a lot.” muttered Merula. Matthew smirked back at her.

“But how? When did this happen?” asked Rebecca, who had a blanket around her.

“She was born this way.” Matthew explained. “See, my mother was a witch, which sort of increased the probability of me and Jacob being a witch, but our great grandmother on Dad’s side was a witch too. Which meant there was always a chance.” he concluded.

There was a silence. “Dad, does that mean she’s-” Rowan began, but Merula shushed him.

“Well, why didn’t anyone tell me?” asked Jane. Matthew’s expression soured.

“They were going to. Legally, they have to tell you you’re a wizard on your eleventh birthday. Though the magic usually starts revealing itself in the run-up to the day in question.”

“I see...” said Jane, sitting down on a deck-chair.

“I...I know this is a lot to take in.” said Merula, “I just wanted to say...thank you. You protected my children.”

“They were Clabberts, Mum, they were harmless-” began Rowan, before his foot was squashed by Abigail jumping on it.

“Thanks so much, Jane!” she said, “And we’re sorry we didn’t tell you sooner, we just weren’t allowed to...Dad, can I tell her everything now?”

Matthew smiled at his daughter, pushing her hair out of the way of her face. “Absolutely.” he said, a grin on his face.

“Yippee!” she squealed, jumping on the spot, “Rowan, you too, make sure I don’t miss anything!”

“Right, yeah.” he said, sitting on the next deckchair along. Jane looked at both of them.

“You know, even without magic you guys are the best cousins I have.” she said, a genuine smile on her face. “Okay, Abigail. Fire away.”

“Right! So, first, there’s an entire world of wizards out there, with their own money and everything! And loads of magical creatures, like the Diricrawl! Which is actually what the Dodo always was, but it can vanish like I said it could, and...”

The conversation lasted until midnight, when the Clabberts began to croak and illuminate the garden. Jane smiled. “Right, magic...” she said, “I could get used to that.”

#aprilprompts2021 #hphm #hogwarts mystery #hphm fanfiction #hpma mc #hphm mc #magic awakened

12 notes · View notes