Loyalty

Disclaimer in description.

I shrug under the gazes of the three fifth-year Gryffindors across the library table from me. “I was supposed to go to Ilvermorny. But my parents are muggles. When I got my letter, they didn’t understand. They thought it was a joke or something, so we just ignored it. Apparently, Ilvermorny is not as conscientious as Hogwarts, because they never followed up or checked to make sure I’d gotten the letter. So I only got a muggle education until I was fifteen, when Dumbledore somehow got wind of me and sent Professor McGonagall to America after me.” They stare at me. After a moment, Hermione speaks in a shocked tone. “You never had any magical education until this year?” I nod. “That’s why I’m so bad in classes. I was never taught the basics.” The others look horrified. “But then, why’d they put you in fifth year?” Ron asks. Harry nods. “Shouldn’t they have put you in with the first years?” I shake my head. “Professor McGonagall told me that I had enough control over my magic to be fine in fifth year. I just have to learn to use it they way everyone else does.” Hermione’s brow furrows. “What do you mean, ‘the way everyone else does’?” I glance around the quiet library, trying to find a way to explain. “Think about it like this. Young witches and wizards, before they go to school, can use their magic. They just haven’t learned to control it yet. Most of them get a wand when they are eleven, and then go to school to learn to use it. I didn’t get a wand or go to school, but I still had magic. So I had to learn to control it another way. Now, I have to forget that method and learn to use a wand and spells.” They gape. Finally, Hermione finds her voice. “You can do wandless magic?” I nod, but before I can answer, Ron cuts in “And non-verbal, too?” I look from one of them to the next, surprised by their shocked reactions. “Sure. Think about it. When you were little, you did magic without meaning to, right?” They all nod, and I continue. “Did you use a wand? Or spells? Magic doesn’t need those things – they are just tools that we can use to control magic. While you guys were learning to control your magic with wands and incantations, I was learning to control mine without those things. It’s taking me a while to learn the things that you learned in first year.” Hermione’s eyes narrow thoughtfully. “But Professor McGonagall thinks you can control your magic well enough to be in fifth year?” I nod. “I have pretty good control over it, actually. I can do fairly powerful magic. I just haven’t learned to do it with a wand and an incantation.” Harry leans forward, looking curious. “But if you’re muggleborn, and your magic is like the unintentional magic that kids do, wouldn’t your parents have known that your letter from Ilvermorny wasn’t a joke? Wouldn’t it be obvious to them that you were a witch?” I shake my head. “I have control over my magic, and I had control over it when I was very young, too. It’s not like unintentional magic, where you can’t control how or where it shows itself. I stopped doing unintentional magic when I was very small. My parents didn’t know that magic was real until Professor McGonagall showed up and turned our kitchen table into a dog to prove that it wasn’t a prank.” Hermione leans forward, a gleam of interest in her eyes. “But from the way you explained it, you must have done magic, learning to control it?” I nod. “Yes. A lot, actually. But I didn’t do it in front of my family. I kept it hidden.” Hermione shakes her head. “But that’s still against the Statute of Secrecy, surely? You’re still underage, even if you’re performing your magic without a wand.” I nod reluctantly. “I suppose it is, yes. I didn’t know about the Statute of Secrecy then, though. And you have to understand, America is not like England. Where I grew up, you can drive for hours without seeing a single person sometimes. I did my magic in isolated fields, with no one around to see me. Even though I didn’t know it was against the law, I didn’t want anyone to find out that I could do magic.” Ron leans back in his chair, still staring at me. “Blimey, smart as you are, why aren’t you in Ravenclaw?” I glance at him, then the others, all waiting for my answer. “Because I value justice and loyalty far more than knowledge and wisdom.” Hermione smiles. “And Hufflepuff is known for being just and loyal.” I smile back, nodding. “Exactly.” Harry looks at Ron, then Hermione, and then finally at me. “Will you show us?” Ron and Hermione look interested, but my smile fades as I try to figure out what he means. After a moment of silence, Harry continues. “Your method of controlling your magic, I mean.” Hermione straightens up, seeming to remember herself. “Magic isn’t allowed in the library, Harry.” Ron shoots her an impatient look. “Can’t you forget the rules for once in your life, Hermione?” She glares back at him. “We are prefects, Ronald! We aren’t supposed to forget the rules.” Madam Pince chooses this moment to sweep around the end of a nearby shelf, and I find myself extremely grateful for Hermione’s insistence on following the rules as the librarian nears, eyes narrowed suspiciously. “If you aren’t using the library to study, you can find somewhere else to visit.” I quickly pull my backpack onto my shoulder and follow the others out of the library. Once we are in the hallway, Hermione turns to me. “I would like to see you do magic, too.” Ron grins at her. “Magic is forbidden in the corridors, Hermione.” Hermione pushes impatiently past him, still talking to me. “The Charms classroom should be empty. We can go in there.” I follow her obediently, without a word, toward the classroom.

Please let me know about any mistakes you find, so I can fix them