A New Beginning part 8

A Journey to Evol

With the gradual decrease in temperature, birds beginning to migrate, trees changing colors, and the presence of a sweet, crisp chill in the air, all these signs mark the onset of autumn.

Next week, we will be visiting Uncle Cadmus and Aunt Apolline—the Delacour family. My elder sister, Fleur, still hasn't calmed down and insists on visiting our house again. Though Uncle Cadmus had no problem coming over, my father thought it would be a good idea to make a trip to their place instead. On one hand, I will get to explore a new place, and on the other, our little family of three will create new memories together.

The Delacour family lives in a small town called Evol, situated at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains. Evol lies at the entrance of the mountainous terrain and is home to many half-Veela families, forest elves, and other magical beings. It is somewhat like Hogsmeade, the only all-wizarding village in Britain, except that Evol is also a tourist destination for Muggle visitors.

How do I know so much? It's simple. Ever since I woke up, my mother has taken it upon herself to teach me everything about the place. Since this is our first trip together, my parents seem even more excited than I am. Well, I'm excited too—after all, I finally get to go out! Staying within the comfort of our home is nice, but I can't help but long to see the outside world.

My mother also informed me that we will be visiting my godmother's place after our stay with the Delacours. This means our trip will last for an entire month!

My parents have gone to great lengths to ensure that our journey will be comfortable and enjoyable. Since this is our first family trip, they want everything to be perfect. Now that I can walk, run, and talk, Minnie, our house elf, has officially become my personal attendant, photographer, and luggage holder—having beaten Beannie in a fierce game of rock-paper-scissors.

...

On the day of our trip, I was dressed and ready, sitting atop the luggage trolley. Sniff was hiding in my breast pocket, Pung rested comfortably on my head, and Row perched on my shoulder, all of us witnessing the chaos unfolding around the house. Well, every family probably experiences this kind of commotion when preparing for a journey.

To explain the situation: my father, while placing food bags alongside his luggage, got distracted and accidentally pushed one off the table, spilling its contents all over the floor. The house elves immediately sprang into action, determined to clean up the mess, but their enthusiasm led to even more disorder. Minnie slipped on the scattered food, and just as my mother walked in carrying a huge box, she failed to see the towel Minnie had brought to clean the floor. Stepping on it, she lost her balance, sending the box flying and spilling all the neatly packed clothes inside.

As my parents tried to gather themselves and reorganize everything, the house elves diligently worked to put things back in order. And me? Well, I was receiving an impromptu lesson in counting and colors from my mother. With each bag that was packed and set aside, she taught me its number and color. "Education should never be delayed," she always said.

After an hour of packing—or rather, repacking—everyone was finally ready. It was then that I realized the true purpose of a car in a magical household. Ours wasn't just any ordinary car; it was enchanted to fly, had an invisibility function, and was equipped with both an extension charm and an atmospheric charm. While the house elves busied themselves carrying the luggage to the trunk, my father took the opportunity to brag about all the adventures he had using the car.

"Father, but I never saw you driving it," I asked innocently, causing him to choke on his words.

"Cough… Ahem… Um… That's… um…" My father fumbled, struggling to come up with a response.

"He never drove it because he can't drive," my mother interjected as she approached us. "Madam Maxime gifted me this car when I married your foolish father. Although his mother—your grandmother—is a Muggle, he still can't drive. So I had to learn in his place," she continued with a smirk.

"But won't it cause problems? I've never seen a flying car before," I asked curiously.

My mother chuckled, grabbed my cheeks gently, and explained, "The car is licensed, so there's no issue. As for flying, French wizardry has a strong affinity for alchemy, largely thanks to Nicolas Flamel and his contributions to potions and alchemy."

She then launched into a detailed explanation of Nicolas Flamel's accomplishments—from creating the Sorcerer's Stone to battling the first Dark Lord. Our conversation about alchemy and Flamel continued until the house elves finally finished loading the last of our luggage into the car trunk.

From the outside, the car didn't look old at all. It had a sleek design with a glossy black finish—classy, in my opinion. Just then, Minnie approached with a camera hanging around her neck, asking for a group photo. My father lifted me onto the car's bonnet, while my friends assumed their usual positions—Sniff in my pocket, Pung on my head, and Row on my shoulder. My mother stood to my left, and my father to my right.

Click!

After the photo, we got into the car. My mother took the driver's seat, my father sat beside her, and I was nestled between both house elves in the back. Once our seat belts were fastened, we set off.

Through the window, I watched as our community passed by—houses, buildings, and familiar streets disappearing as we drove further. As the distance increased, the buildings became sparse, giving way to the open outskirts of the city. Finding no one else around, my mother switched on the flight mode and then activated the invisibility switch.

And just like that, we were airborne.

Through the windshield, I saw the vast, clear blue sky stretching endlessly, dotted with soft white clouds. Through the side window, I marveled at the lush green valleys and sprawling farmlands below. The land was decorated in a variety of colors—golden wheat fields, deep green pastures, and vibrant orchards. Clear blue rivers meandered through the land, making it all look like a painting. The atmosphere inside the car was comfortable, and with the gentle motion of the flight, my eyelids grew heavy.

And soon, I dozed off.

........

Feeling someone's touch, I opened my eyes to see Row urging me to look outside. Sitting up properly, I turned my gaze to the window. Our car was still in flight mode, gliding effortlessly through the sky. What I saw outside was breathtaking.

The evening sky was a masterpiece of colors. A radiant reddish-golden glow surrounded the sun, blending seamlessly into a translucent blue, which in turn faded into a deep purple before finally dissolving into the blackness of the night. It was as if the colors formed a cosmic rainbow stretching across the universe, filling the air with a serene and solemn beauty.

Evelyn and Louis exchanged glances, amused by the sheer wonder reflected in their child's eyes. Their son was not easily impressed, and witnessing him so captivated by something as simple as the sky was a rare sight.

From the moment of his birth, the couple had known he was different. He never cried, never threw tantrums, and never caused any trouble. Other parents often spoke of sleepless nights and exhausted days, but Evelyn and Louis never faced such challenges. Instead, they found themselves irresistibly drawn to him, an attachment that only deepened with time.

At first, they had attributed it to the Veela bloodline running in their family, assuming his charm was merely an inherited trait. But soon, they realized how wrong they were.

The first sign came when they brought him home. Their house elves, who had served the family for generations, found themselves unable to look away from the baby. Even as they went about their daily chores, they would pause repeatedly, stealing glances at him as if under a spell.

Then came the incident at the park. Strangers—both people and animals—seemed inexplicably drawn to him. Birds perched closer than usual, squirrels scurried toward his tiny hands, and even the most reserved individuals found themselves smiling warmly at him. It was then that Evelyn and Louis realized the true nature of their child's charm. It was not just an ordinary attraction—it was something deeper, something that reached into the very souls of those who beheld him. His presence exuded an aura of tranquility, making those around him feel an unexplainable sense of peace and contentment.

The couple soon understood the gravity of their son's gift. Keeping him indoors became necessary, yet even that proved challenging. Small animals would still gather in their backyard, drawn by his unseen allure. The house felt more like a sanctuary than a home, a place where nature itself seemed to bend toward their child's presence.

The most significant revelation, however, came on his birthday. It was then that they discovered he carried a divine blessing. More astonishingly, he was destined to learn Elven archery—a decree made by the gods themselves.

By this point, Evelyn and Louis had grown somewhat numb to the endless surprises surrounding their son. Yet, despite the mysteries that continued to unfold, they cherished every moment spent with him. Parenthood, for them, was an experience filled with both wonder and delight.

Their son, despite his otherworldly presence, was still very much a child. They found joy in watching him indulge in numerous amusing antics—whether it was battling imaginary sea monsters during bath time or engaging in conversations with his small sized friends and the animals that visited their home.

However, there was one peculiar aspect of his personality that never failed to perplex them—his fascination with creatures others found terrifying. Unlike other children who clung to soft, adorable plush toys, their son had an undeniable attraction to grotesque, monstrous figures. Ogres, dragons, and other formidable beasts were his favorites. It was a peculiar preference that left Evelyn and Louis both amused and slightly concerned. While other parents worried about their children's attachment to stuffed bunnies and teddy bears, they were contemplating their son's fondness for nightmarish creatures.

Lost in their own thoughts, the family continued their journey. As their vehicle approached the outskirts of town, they neared a hidden platform designed specifically for wizards. Shielded from the sight of non-magical folk, it served as a gateway for those who traveled by enchanted means.

Their descent onto the raised platform was smooth and silent. As the vehicle came to a halt, the soft hum of magic dissipated, leaving behind a sense of completion.

They reached Evol.