A New Beginning part 9

The sky softened, its colors deepening into a twilight hue. A gentle hush fell over the surroundings, the air cooling as the world prepared for rest. The light receded, leaving the world in a tranquil, shadowy embrace. The day's final curtain fell, revealing a stage set for the moon's gentle performance.

It was almost night when a family of three passed through the town of Evol. Aimè sat in the car, gazing at the dark sky filled with twinkling stars. A luminous disc of pearly white or soft gold dominated the inky expanse, its light cool and gentle as it washed over the landscape, casting long, dramatic shadows. It felt close and powerful—a beacon in the darkness. Having lived in the city, Aimè had never seen such a breathtaking night sky before.

After a while, the car stopped in front of a three-story house. House elves stepped out, busying themselves with the luggage while Louis and Aimè got out. Evelyn waved her wand, and a white, silver, pearly smoke transformed into a reindeer, which gracefully entered the house.

Within minutes, the Delacour family emerged to welcome them.

"Mom, that white animal... where is it?" Aimè couldn't help but ask.

Evelyn smiled. "Do you want to make a new friend? It's a Patronus charm, my bunny. Only those filled with love and happiness can bring out a Patronus."

Louis, standing beside his wife, nodded in agreement at her explanation.

The couple often felt a pang of sadness that Aimè couldn't play or go outside like other children. Born with a unique charm trait, he couldn't experience a normal childhood. His only companions were small animals, so his parents always took the time to explain even the tiniest details to him, ensuring he had knowledge and understanding despite his limited experiences.

I wanted to play with the Patronus for a while. Its shiny, translucent body fascinated me, and I longed to touch it. However, as Aunt Apolline, Uncle Cadmus, and Fleur approached, I simply nodded to my mother's explanation, though my eyes remained fixed on the glowing creature.

"Look how much you've grown! Welcome, make yourself at home," greeted Aunt Apolline warmly.

Fleur came forward, taking my hands in hers. She poked, rubbed, and pressed my chubby cheeks with delight. Being the good boy that I was, I allowed her to do so. After all, she had missed me. Seeing this, everyone laughed, and we entered the house.

The home had a traditional and rustic charm. Stepping inside, I found myself in a cozy living room. The furniture was a blend of old and new, comfortable and worn, with a plush sofa that seemed to invite me to sink in and relax. A fireplace stood at one end of the room, its brick surround hinting at countless cozy evenings spent by the fire.

The kitchen was the heart of the home, warm and inviting, with the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the air. Though the cabinets were a bit dated, they held generations of memories. A large wooden table sat at the center, where family meals were shared, and stories were told. I liked it a lot.

While the adults engaged in their conversations, I noticed Beannie and Minnie greeting the other house elves. They had the same clean attire and calm, composed demeanor, yet their eyes remained focused on me even as they conversed. My house elves, noticing this, wore looks of pride on their faces.

I sat by the window, rubbing my red cheeks, slightly distancing myself from Fleur. However, she held my hand firmly, her grip gentle yet unwavering. She was a few inches taller than me, her presence both familiar and comforting.

"I was very angry when Aunt Evelyn didn't let me bring you with me," Fleur complained. "I just wanted to play! The other town children just follow my words. With them, I don't get the feeling of a real friend... they don't treat me like one."

I understood. Fleur, having part of the Veela bloodline, had an irresistible charm that made people naturally drawn to her. Because of this, all her playmates and friends, being young, simply agreed with whatever she said. During chase games, nobody dared to tag her. During hide-and-seek, even if the children saw her, they would pretend not to. When they went fishing by the nearby stream, they would place all their catches in her bucket. She wasn't truly alone, but she felt different from others, and that saddened her.

As she spoke, I couldn't help but feel sympathy for her. Without thinking, I stood on my toes and patted her head with my chubby hands, hoping to cheer her up.

"Puffff..." A strange sound echoed through the room, and laughter erupted. Confused, I turned toward the fireplace, where the adults were chuckling at my antics. It took me a moment to realize what had happened—a one-year-old child patting the head of a five-year-old girl must have looked quite amusing. Perhaps it was my small size that made the gesture seem funny, but regardless, I kept patting her head, determined to make her smile.

.......

Hours of talking and sharing stories came to a pause as Fleur and I began yawning. Noticing this, the Delacour family led us to the dining room for dinner.

Dinner was prepared with fresh ingredients sourced directly from their farmlands, and with the expertise of the house elves, even the salad looked like a dish straight out of a fine restaurant. I sat beside Fleur as she excitedly attempted to feed me, but perhaps in her enthusiasm, she placed an entire spoonful into my mouth. Seeing this, my mother took over feeding me. Fleur, feeling disappointed, ate her dinner with tears in her eyes. After all, she was just a small child—how could she be expected to feed a baby like me successfully on her first try? However, the next words spoken by my mother made Fleur sit up straight, wipe her eyes, and start eating quickly. Was it my imagination, or could I actually see puppy ears and a wagging tail on her?

Sensing Fleur's distress, my mother just allowed her to sleep with me. Normally, I still slept with my parents, but today, they made an exception. My father instructed Minnie to accompany both of us, which made her dance with joy. In truth, the house elves enjoyed staying with me. At the same time, I noticed Beannie approaching with food for my little pets. Pung, Sniff, and Row, seeing their meal arrive, quickly became absorbed in eating.

Noticing Fleur's attention on them, I asked in a soft, milky voice, "Sister, do you want to play with them?"

She seemed torn between me and the pets, but I underestimated her love for me. After thinking for a few moments, she rejected my request so she could continue spending time with me. This brought another round of laughter at the dinner table.

Seeing her expression, I assured her, "I'll tag along while you play with them."

This made her nod vigorously. Well, I could definitely see some dog-like behavior in her.

At that moment, Aunt Apolline spoke up. "Fleur, it's very late. Aimè would like you better if you went to bed early."

I wanted to say that I actually didn't mind staying up a little longer with her, but seeing Fleur's reaction, I stopped myself. She straightened up, as if making a monumental decision, like leading an army to war. Determined, she climbed down from her chair and walked to the sink to brush her teeth.

By this time, everyone had finished eating. My mother wanted to stay behind and help Aunt Apolline clean up, but my aunt insisted she take me for a proper bath before bed. My father, meanwhile, accompanied Uncle Cadmus upstairs for a drink.

After being bathed and dressed in clean clothes, my mother took me to Fleur's room. Upon entering, I was surprised to see her reading. Wait, reading? Do wizarding children study at night?

Then, I heard my mother ask, "Fleur, do you want to read stories to your brother?"

Fleur's eyes sparkled with excitement as she quickly nodded. Well, I was certain I saw a puppy just now.

My mother placed me on the bed. Taking in my surroundings, I observed that Fleur's room was painted in two different shades of pink. In one corner, there were toys—kitchen utensils, teacups, small chairs and tables, stuffed animals. Two large cupboards stood against one of the walls, probably filled with clothes. A collection of teddy bears and plushies adorned a table on the opposite side. It was, in every way, a typical young girl's room.

I sat on the bed, accompanied by Pung, Sniff, and Row, waiting for the next event. Fleur, however, hesitated as she looked over the books spread out in front of her. These were no ordinary books—they contained moving pictures, and their stories narrated themselves when opened. I had similar books back home. Noticing her uncertainty, I placed my small hands on a book featuring a little girl surrounded by different animals.

Fleur was thrilled. Pushing the other books aside, she placed this one in front of us. She lay on her belly and patted the space beside her, inviting me to do the same. Following her lead, I lay beside her, facing down. Pung, Sniff, and Row noticed Minnie enter the room, greeted me, and then left with her.

Turning my attention to the storybook, I listened as the tale unfolded. It began with a girl playing with her friends. While playing hide-and-seek, she wandered deep into the forest, becoming lost, hungry, and scared. As she cried, a small unicorn approached her and guided her back to its tribe. During her adventure, she befriended many magical creatures, all of whom helped her find her way home. After countless challenges, she finally returned to her village.

The story was a simple picture book that introduced common fantastic beasts and their habits. As the story ended, I glanced sideways and found my dear sister, Fleur, fast asleep.

Closing the book, I pulled a blanket from the side of the bed and carefully tucked her in.

[Ding! Covering sister with a blanket +40 Sunshine points.]

Seeing this response, I dozed off into a deep sleep.

........