The Years of Blue [2]

Belcourt Estates- July 4th

“Come on ladies we have ten minutes until the fireworks and wizzes begin and none of us want to miss it!” yelled Theo from the banister of Belcourt’s entrance hall.

“Where are they?” Theo demanded, turning to his father and two brothers who waited along the wall beside him.

“What do you think?” Damion asked with enough snark to make Theo roll his eyes.

Up on the south-west wing, Ava sat on the day bed brushing her hair when her mother walked in, wearing as usual a remarkably elegant dress in scarlet red that draped over one shoulder. She wore giant pearls for earrings and had her hair dashed up in a low covered ponytail, that on some made seem like a founding father but on Emmeline, looked elegant and chic.

As for her daughter, Ava was half strapped into a white and blue striped tea length dress that reminded Ava of the 50′s with a wide skirt and popped up sleeves.

Emmeline thought Ava looked elegant and sophisticated for her age. Ava thought she looked fat.

But the show had to go on, so after a snap from Emmeline to sit up straight, Ava was strapped into her dress and pushed out of her bedroom to join her brothers and father at the front door.

“Wow, doesn’t your sister look pretty, boys?” Darious Fountaine said as he watched his wife and daughter walk down the stairs.

“She looks like the Finnish flag,” Theo said.

“Why are you forcing us to compliment Ava? She’s fine,” Ed complained.

“Looking good, Ava!” Damion said last, giving a thumb up to his scarlet faced sister and beaming mother.

“Why can’t you boys be more like Damion, hm?” Emmeline snapped as she flicked her youngest son on the ear making him flinch away chuckling. “Darious, is the car out front?”

“Of course, dear. Boys put the last boxes of pie in the car. We don’t have time to wait on the elves.”

Grumbling, the three boys went and lifted the remaining boxes in the entrance way while Darious linked arms with both his wife and daughter and escorted them out to the car.

Every year on the 4th of July, the Carmichael family would host a lavish fourth of July bash to celebrate the country’s foundation. The matriarch of the family, Theresa, or Tessa as Mrs. Fountaine knew her as, took great pride in celebrating this American holiday since both her grandmother and mother have hosted these lavish parties in the past, creating a tradition for the Carmichael family.

As the Fountaine’s car started to circle the Carmichael’s estate, Ava could not help but understand why such a tradition exists.

Rosecliff, the extraordinary estate title of the Carmichael’s house was a large structure of marble surrounded by roses of every variety. But this was not what drew Ava’s attention. Situated in the middle of the circled driveway, encompassed a large fountain, the size of an ice skating rink.

Parking in front of said splendor, Ava rushed out to watch as streaks of red and blue water shot out of the fountain, creating a magical ark of water droplets shaped like bald eagles flying before they condensed back into water and fell back into the patriotic colored waters below.

“Look at the fountain later, Ava. We need to thank our hosts,” Ed called from behind, making his sister run off to join him and her family down the pathway that was a light from the glow of various pixies kept in silver cages.

When Ava stepped foot into the main entrance hall of Rosecliff, she was met with the vastness that was the estate. A large circled staircase made of crimson marble stood at the side, lingering with guests of the upper class of Newport wizardry. A large chandelier made of wrought iron and magically induced crystal spun in circles slowly above the family as they continued to take note and judge all the guests they were supposed to mingle with.

But before they could do that, the Fountaine’s stopped in front of the Carmichael family, who stood single file in the middle of the entrance hall, welcoming the flow of guests that would come in.

Emmeline Fountaine immediately rushed to kiss the mother, Tessa, on both checks in welcome while Darious and his sons towered over Harris Carmichael, the father of the family. This left me, Ava, to awkwardly turn to their only son, Alexander Carmichael.

Tall and dark haired, Alexander Carmichael was my equivalent in Newport society. Both of us were in the same year and had grown up as neighbors for all eternity. Not to mention our mothers were best friends and every social gathering always seemed to be hosted by one mother or the other. I guess you could say he and I had grown accustomed to meeting like this enough times to know what to say to each other.

“Xander,” I said with a pained smile which he returned cockily.

“Ava. You look pale.”

“Thanks for noticing. Mamen has been forcing me to focus on my French studies indoors rather than my tan. Not much time in the water or on the boats,” I sighed dramatically making Xander laugh in understanding.

“Yeah, my mother said something about you changing schools again. Didn’t break another girl’s leg did you?” I only had time to glare at him humorously before I was pushed along with my family to the crowd of guests to mingle.

It didn’t take long for me to find the horrid group of girls I had been trying to avoid all summer long. Annie and Elizabeth, the two girls I had previously been friends with until the accident where I pushed one off, breaking her leg, and blamed the ordeal on the other, stood near a small fountain of bubbling Champaign and pumpkin juice. Circled around them were Natasha and Margret, two of the biggest social climbers of Newport, alongside my other old friend who had always acted fake from the beginning, Izzy.

While I knew Annie and Elizabeth saw me first, it was Izzy who actually took the time to fake her excitement when she saw me enter.

“Ava! You’re here! Annie said you were sick,” she mused as she ran up to me, giving me a quick side long hug as accustomed.

I gave a strained laugh, keeping in mind my mother’s warning about spreading no gossip about the family, before joining the group with an edged smile.

“No, not sick. I’ve just been a little pale recently,” I mused turning to the rest of the girls in the group. Annie and Elizabeth were giving very stone-cold expressions, lingering on trying to be polite.

“Is it because of the scenery change?” Annie asked, curiously. “Because my mother says plenty of children who travel and study overseas always get sick from the drastic change in scenery.”

That was the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.

“I didn’t think there was that much of change between London and Newport..” Natasha mused uncertainly while Margret nodded subconsciously.

“London is foggy and grey, Tasha,” Elizabeth cut in. “And Newport is neither of those things!”

“Ohh..” Natasha muttered dumbly, causing Izzy to eye roll.

“But you were sick for a while, right?” Annie went on, forcing me to look at the twit who was wearing an annoyingly curious expression.

Ever since I was moved from London to Newport with my parents watching me closely, rumors started to spread about my whereabouts. It was strange to many who had grown up with me to know that I was not out by the beach or marching around my usual hunting ground to shop or go out with friends in the area. I didn’t even attend the early summer fair that was hosted by Annie’s mother.

And because of the way I had left Hogwarts, my parents had made sure that the mystery surrounding my supposed illness stayed a secret. They didn’t want more rumors spreading about the Fountaine family’s misbehaving children.

So with this in mind, I kept my answer remarkably short.

“Yes, I had a bad fever. Had to see a healer for it.”

The girls frowned but seeing that I wasn’t going to say more, they decided to change subjects.

“Well my mother believes that Hogwarts got you sick. Something about how Europeans don’t bath or something..”

“I thought that was just the French?” Elizabeth questioned thoughtfully, making me bite down on my tongue to suppress my response. For it was getting pretty obvious that the girls were targeting me.

“Well either or, I’m just glad I got in to Ilvermorny. I don’t know what I would have done if there were no more spots,” Annie commented, turning to face me daringly. I continued to keep my composure, but only just. Everyone in the US knew Ilvermonry had a very limited number of spots and a large portion of said spots went to the rich thanks to their money and influence. Anyone who didn’t make it into the school was looked down upon, especially in Newport.

“Maybe you could go to Beauxbatons. My mother said it’s very pretty over there.” Izzy commented hopefully but she was shot down by the looks from Annie and Elizabeth.

“You would have to pay me to go there. French people stink because they don’t wear odor potion, and I hear they don’t brush their teeth either.”

“Ew! That’s so gross!”

“Hey Annie, isn’t your father French?” I asked, cutting the conversation dead. Annie stopped laughing for a moment and frowned my way.

“Only by birth, Ava. His family had the decency to move him to his relatives living here..”

“Yes, but they were French too right? I mean I ought to know, my mother and your aunt are constantly talking in French to each other.”

Annie’s expression turned sour but before she could say anymore house elves appeared behind us and started to push us toward the balcony’s and the backyard for the show.

Thinking that I spent enough time with these girls to e considered polite, I took that chance to duck out of the toxic group and headed for the outdoors where I found, standing beside her mother, Rosalie, in a ballet pink summer dress that for once seemed to be a good choice of clothing for the girl. It highlighted her fire red hair.

“Why hello there, Ava. You look lovely tonight,” Rosalie’s mother, Harper, cooed as she took me in when I appeared by their side. I gave her a warm smile while Rosalie and I hugged in greeting.

“You look lovely yourself,” I mused with a white lie, as I looked at Harper’s rather plump figure in high waited navy pants and blouse of red that did little for her. The woman smiled anyway at the comment, obviously proud of her look before nudging her daughter to talk.

“How have classes been?” I asked, turning to Rosalie. Rosalie looked down quietly before muttering, “Fine. Just very busy.” I felt a wave of guilt followed by grief for understanding what she meant.

Ever since I left, the friend groups have not been so kind to Rosalie. Since she was one of the few girls from new money with a mother that had little understanding of the social groups, many girls, have been told by their mothers terrible things about Rosalie. My mother included. But while these girl’s parents emphasized the idea of avoiding Rosalie, my mother demanded I befriend the girl. I didn’t know why at the time, but now seeing how everyone has drifted apart since last summer I think I’ve come to understand my mother’s reasons.

Being friends with Rosalie meant other girls couldn’t avoid her, which in turn made me gain a friend in Rosalie and her mother. And it is always good to make friends in as toxic an environment as Newport’s social scene.

Just standing next to the two of them made me feel less judged. Since Rosalie’s mother cared little for the social etiquette of this area, she cared little about why I was away from Newport or why I mysteriously disappeared when I arrived home.

She just cared about her daughter and her daughter’s happiness and as of right now, her daughter was happily talking to me. So, Rosalie’s mother liked me.

“Is it true you’re moving schools again?” Rosalie asked, as I moved closer to the group, giving the guests more room to enter the backyard gardens. I nodded slowly.

“I don’t have to lie to you Rosalie, when I say that my mother doesn’t want me at Hogwarts anymore,” I said quietly. I saw Rosalie smile good naturedly before taking a step closer to me and away from her mother.

“Are you coming back? Maybe to Ilvermorny? Because if you are, maybe we could sit together at dinner or if we have classes together maybe-”

I had to cut Rosalie off before her hopes rose higher, so I described Beauxbatons to her and how I didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

“Oh,” she mused. “Well I am sure you’ll do well there. It seems like your type of place.” I nodded absent mindedly as my eyes glanced to the Mr. Carmichael, who had appeared up in the front of the large crowd of guests to introduce the night’s show.

“You know, I’m sure you would love France as much as me. Maybe you could come visit. Maybe even tour the school with your mother,” I said sweetly, causing Rosalie to look up for the first time with excitement plastered clear across her face.

“Really? Wait- Mom! Did you hear that? We should-”

My eyes drifted from Rosalie begging her mother down to the crowd in front of me where I spotted a group of the boys from Newport talking together, with my brothers included. Glancing behind him, I locked eyes with Xander’s bored expression. Suddenly his expression changed to one of understanding. He motioned me over and so, after saying a quick goodbye to Rosalie and her mother, I moved from one group to the other until I stood next to Xander with an equally bored expression.

“How’s Rosalie?” He asked curiously as the first of the firecrackers started. I glanced back quickly at Rosalie to see her smiling awe struck up at the fireworks.

“Okay by the looks of it. I heard she hasn’t been too happy at Ilvermonry.” Alexander nodded glumly.

“Well, you girls are rather mean to each other. She happens to be their target right now.”

“I’m not mean to her!” I exclaimed, only to gain an exasperated look from Alexander.

“Sure. Didn’t you strut around Newport with both Izzy and Rosalie just last summer? I’m pretty sure you didn’t like her so much then.”

“Well, I’ve changed,” I replied in defense that only made Xander smile.

“I agree, you have changed. You’re quieter.”

I was expecting something better than just being quieter but I decided to ignore that sense of annoyance before focusing my attention fully to the fireworks.

When they finished, everyone was clapping and little children were then handed out wand sparklers that they held over their heads gleefully. I remember that feeling of holding one of those. At that age, you don’t own a wand so a wand sparkler is the probably the closest thing you get to a wand each year.

“It feels weird not running up to play with one of those,” Xander said, motioning toward a younger boy mirroring a charm with his sparkler. I scoffed in response, gaining Xander’s curious expression.

“If I remember correctly, it was because of you and one of those sparklers that caused my dress to catch flames one year...” I mused looking up at him with a smirk. Xander’s expression twisted to one of glee at the memory before muttering quickly, “I would never.”

“Witches and Wizards, if I might have your attention!” Harris Carmichael announced to the crowd, making everyone quiet down again as the children continued to play.

“Thank you all for joining my family for our lovely fourth of July party. As most of you are used to and always get excited for our show of fireworks, I have finally convinced my wife to allow myself to add one last part to our fantastic show...”

“Oh merlin, I forgot,” Xander muttered, making me look at him curiously.

“Dad’s got two thunderbirds for the finale.”

“Wait did you say Thunderbirds?” another boy by the name of Lucas, asked as he appeared next to us.

“Yeah. My dad thought it would be a good idea...”

“It’s a GREAT idea! Guys, they have THUNDERBIRDS!” Lucas called out to the rest of the group of boys surrounding us.

Just then two large cages apperated in front of the crowd with two large birds the size of elephants enclosed, with sharp beaks and eyes, the likes of which reminded me of bald eagles.

“Woah...” I muttered, gawking at the birds as they were let out of their cages by their trainers.

“They can supposedly change the weather. Manipulate it to make it storm...”

“Which I’m sure your mother doesn’t want?” I asked, making Xander nod.

There was a crash of metal and suddenly the birds were off, racing up into the sky, letting out loud cries that made everyone around look up open mouthed at the sight.

I was fully enraptured by those animals when Xander decided to bring me back to earth with a simple question.

“So is it true that your family is hosting another wizarding family from the UK?”

And there it was. The stark reminder.

“Yeah. The Malfoys,” I commented, feeling a sense of dread appear in my stomach.

“Oh cool. So, when exactly are they coming?”

“Next week.”

I watched as the boy nodded and returned to gaze at the birds.

“Maybe we can plan something to meet the family.” He mused, while I drifted my attention away from the birds and to the ground, upset.

And it was all because of the Malfoys.