Entry: Monday, October 12, 2020

Today was a very important day.

It’s my birthday. My eleventh birthday. And this year, I finally managed to invite Helia!

Up until today, I never understood why she was so skittish.

But today, I do.

After my party, Helia took me aside and told me some things. A lot of things. I… I’m still having trouble making sense of it.

And of course I’ve told Mom, and directly asked the SIS to look into it.

Because apparently, Helia wasn’t avoiding us- she was simply doing her job. She refused to say what was taking so much of her time over the first two years, when she was only ever at school for classes or to stop bullies or accidents in their tracks, but she told me about her ongoing job.

She’s not just a member of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black.

She’s the Acting Head of House.

And she’s been managing the affairs of the House.

“So, uh, why the Acting Head?”

“Because I’m technically only Heiress Apparent- but Lord Sirius is currently incarcerated in Azkaban Wizard Prison, so the Acting Headship falls to me.”

Arienne blinked. “Doesn’t an Azkaban sentence automatically forfeit the Headship?”

Helia nodded. “It does, but he was never sentenced- he’s still pending trial.”

“What.”

“To make matters worse, I brought that to the attention of a few highly-placed officials in the magical government a few years ago, but nothing happened.”

“Maybe they’ll listen once you go to Hogwarts?”

Helia snorted. “They won’t care any more than they already do- and I won’t be going to Hogwarts. You might, though.”

“You won’t? But aren’t you a magical?”

She chuckled. “I’m technically not human. But that’s beside the point- Hogwarts will be inviting me, but I’ll be refusing them. I’d rather get a non-magical education. What about you?”

“Me?” She blinked, then snorted. “As if. I’m a muggle.”

“You’re a muggle-born,” Helia corrected. “You're magical too- you and Sienna both. I can feel it.”

“... Eh?”

Entry: Tuesday, October 13, 2020

The SIS said today that their preliminary review of the records was not able to conclusively confirm or deny Helia’s claim that I’m magical. They’re doing a more in-depth examination, but it’s likely to take weeks- or even months.

I’ve thought back over as much as I can remember, and… I also couldn’t conclusively rule it out, or confirm it.

So I decided to try and confirm it for myself.

I’m magical alright.

I can’t think of any other reason I’d be able to make my pen fly into my hand at will. No, not just into my hand- and also not just my pen. It took some effort to get it working, but I can make almost anything fly. In almost any way I want.

Even myself.

Mom walked in on me when I was lying on my bed, surrounded by pillows that were floating in the air.

I told her Helia was right. As if she couldn’t see it already.

I asked her what we’ll do about it, and she said she’s not sure yet.

Author's Note

Patreon, Discord.

With a five-year gap since the last chapter, Arienne is now celebrating her 11th birthday... and while I'm reasonably certain she won't be as articulate as the 27-year-old me that wrote this chapter, the difference isn't nearly large enough that I'll be able to emulate it either accurately or consistently.