One of the main things Sonny liked about back to school shopping in the Wizardry community was the simplicity of it all. All years had the same classes, same books, and were divided into neat piles across the store for each student to pick to appropriate pile. Grabbing the stack for 6th years and handing it off to Grimm, she glanced at the time to see that she was pressed for time. “Where are my things?” She asked her brother as they got into line, checking her nails with apathy.
Silence.
“Grimm?” She pressed in a more demanding tone, looking to Grimm expectantly. His expression was blank, as if he were staring into nothingness, right through Sonny. Snapping her fingers before his piercing gaze, a smug smile cracked through his mask. “My things?” she asked again.
Admittedly Alison was a little high strung, she liked things to flow perfectly and according to plan. Perhaps she was a bit of a perfectionist, but that was only because she’d invested so many years in being as perfect as she could. It pleased Grimm to push her button and put her on edge, just as it pleased her to call him out in front of his friends or ‘disobey’ him as he would put it. Grimm had control issues undoubtedly, a hunger to have everyone underneath his thumb, especially his little sister.
Gently giving his shoulder a shove, she widened her eyes as if to emphasize her question, making him chuckle with amusement. “It’s already been sent to the ship, Kreger made sure of it.”
Kreger was their house elf who worshipped the ground Alison walked on since she was the only one kind to him in the house. Last night he had sobbed at her feet while he helped her finish packing, begging her to take him with. Poor Saia had to remain in her carrier until they reached Orenda, but if a house elf could be considered a pet she would have brought Kreger along in a heart beat.
They reached the front of the line and paid for the books after browsing the selection of ribbons and ropes at the counter to tie the books together, picking out a silky pink ribbon and tying it around her stack of books twice so that all sides were secure and knotting it into a pretty secure bow on top to carry it by.
When she walked back out the door the group from earlier hadn’t budged except Dan and his brother had gone else where and instead Odessa and a girl she thought she recognized from the house of Aquila but who’s name slipped her mind. Her lips pressed into a thin smile, averting her eyes to the ground as she walked passed hoping to keep Grimm quiet.
No such luck.
He gripped her forearm, pulling her back to the group with a malicious smile. Immediately she looked at him with warning, knowing his intention. Grimm hated Alison being able to stand on her own, once being able to control her within the walls of Hogwarts. He wanted to make his mark on her reputation at Orenda, to stretch into the one place that had become hers.
“Sonny, don’t be rude and just walk past your friends.” He antagonized.
Her eyes narrowed into slits, seething venom as she stared into her brothers eyes. He wanted to embarrass her. She wouldn’t let him get the best of her. Huffing she tugged her arm out of his grip, looking back to the group with a forced smile. “How rude of me indeed, I apologize.” Her dulcet sweet tone matching her smile, although her apology was genuine - although it was not her own behavior she was apologizing for.
She knew where this would go, he would belittle her in front of her schoolmates, make them feel uncomfortable until someone spoke out, then attack them with cutting comments that made absolutely no sense. Here in America
she was the Oglethorpe in charge, not him. “I’m headed to the ship now, I’ll see you all there.”
Glaring once again at her brother, Sonny turned on her heel, sashaying away as if he hadn’t phased her one bit. Her books bumped into her calf as she walked, the pink ribbon glinting in the sun. Grimm took one last lingering look at the group, trailing the female figures from head to toe, pausing before chuckling to himself. He took several steps back before saluting them all with two fingers to the sky. “Good luck.” He said ominously, then turning his back to the group and following behind his sister.
She walked to the shore where families had gathered to say their farewells to all the student’s before they flew off, mothers crying over the absence of their child until Christmas break. Alison’s mother stood still faced next to a gawky house elf gripping the most recent Nimbus release, a sleek broom with a smooth cherrywood handle with the brush slicked into a golden point, resembling an oversized animated paint brush.
“I was sure you’d be late.” Mrs. Oglethorpe said, pushing Sonny’s blonde locks behind her ear with precision rather than affection.
Taking the broom from Kreger, Sonny slipped her books onto the handle, patting Kreger affectionately on the head and rolling her eyes at her mother. “Of course you were.”
“Alison Oglethorpe, check your attitude.”
Glancing back to Grimm to her mother, Alison chuckled. “There’s no one to impress her mother, let’s drop the theatrics.” Her mother’s jaw hung as if it had been unhinged, then opening and closing several times before finally shutting with a huff.
Sighing, Alison leaned forward to kiss her mother’s cheek, then Grimm’s. They might be an endless pain in her ass but they were the closest people she had. “I’ll write once I’m settled, and don’t go in my room.” She said, directing her last comment at Grimm.
He laughed, but she knew she would have the last laugh if he did walk into her booby trapped room. Once again she petted Kreger’s head who looked up to her with sad eyes. “I’ll miss you, do as your told while I’m away.” Not that he needed to hear that, he was an obedient house elf with or without her.
“Save travels back to England.”
With that she kicked off, joining the herds of students flying to the ship. The distance was short, thankfully without collision. The landing deck was swarmed with students, catching up about their summer as they walked into the main cabin where there was a snack bar with all sorts of goodies.
Grabbing her broom with one hand and her her books with the other Alison followed the crowd into the main cabin, looking for a friendly face.
“Sonny!” A wiry red haired girl waved from several feet away. Her freckled face lit up in a smile, matching Sonny’s expression. Her roommate was a vibrant lady in the same year as Sonny. The two often would stay up with their other roommate Gina, an Italian-American from New Jersey, and play muggle board games that Bridget would bring from home.
“Bridget, hullo love!” Sonny said as she was pulled into a hug, giggling girlishly. She had never been so excited to see a school mate.
“How was your summer?” Bridget asked.
Sonny rolled her eyes with an amused smile, “Don’t get me started...”