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Chapter Text

In a world where the blood of a wixen is held in high regard, Velvet Nymphea Foxglove would not be considered a ‘pureblood’. No, you see, Velvet was half-fae: her mother, Lady Fione, was a undine fae in the Seelie Court, and her father was Mr Sage Foxglove, an esteemed author and magical theoretical researcher and naturalist. And now, she was nearly eleven years old, and was due to receive her very own Hogwarts acceptance letter! Velvet was very excited, indeed, but her parents, on the other hand?

“No, Sage! She will learn the ways of the fae! It is her birthright! Why should she learn any witch-magic if nobody in this Merlin-damned world will even accept her? Nobody would employ her, and it’s lucky that the Headmaster even approved of her going to Hogwarts!” argued Mrs Foxglove, her voice wobbling. Now, Velvet and her little sister Astrea, whom she had bribed to accompany her in her eavesdropping, were not supposed to be listening to this conversation. This conversation was ‘adult-talk’ and ‘not meant for sensitive, impressionable ears like yours, Vel’. However, Velvet was absolutely, one-hundred percent sure that they were talking about her.

“Now, now, Fione, nothing of that sort will happen. You are a fae of the Seelie Court, and Seelie Fae are thought of as loyal and nice, and nobody would discriminate against our little girl. No-one would–”

“‘Seelie Fae thought of as loyal and nice’ – what does that mean?! And yes, the wixen will be prejudiced against her, and won’t treat her as well as the fae would. Why do you think I rarely go out in the alleys of your world? They stare and gawk and have not one inch of decorum! They look at me like I’m a filthy thief when I go inside shops! Who do they think they are?! I am fae nobility! Fools, the lot of them! Just because you, your family, and some others with good sense don’t act like them doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, darling,” Mrs Foxglove ranted, her voice lowering into a whisper at the last sentence.

Velvet couldn’t believe it! Her mum didn’t want her to go to Hogwarts! She certainly didn’t want to go to the Evermore Academy for European Fae! There was nothing wrong with the school, of course, and Gildenvale, the land of the fae, was most definitely a sight to behold, especially her mother's home, Vilyndria County, and all the food, and oh, the fashion – but, there would be no Pandora Sweeting or Daryl Bones at Evermore. The three of them had known each other ever since they could walk, and only the Sweetings and the Boneses knew about Velvet having gills and wings (wings which appeared when her emotions were gloomy) and hadn’t said anything weird about them. In fact, ‘Dora and Dare even thought they made her look cool! Of course, everyone knew that Velvet’s mum was a fae and that’s why some people called her dad a ‘blood traitor’, and called her and her little baby sister mean, mean things. They even once had the gall to call her little baby sister – her little Astrea – a ‘filthy half-breed’! That had happened when, for once, Velvet’s mum had decided to not be a homebody and accompany the two of them to Twilfitt’s for new robes. It was supposed to have been a ‘girls’ day out’, as her mum put it, but the ugly, snobby girl and her uglier, prissier mother, who were getting measured across from them, decided to poke their sneering pug-like noses into the Foxgloves’ business. It was not her mum’s fault that she was a fae and it was certainly not Asty’s fault she had gills, or that she accidentally had her wings out. Velvet hadn’t understood then why, but her face had reddened; she did not know if it was because of anger or embarrassment.

“Look, why don’t we ask her where she wants to study? She is capable, and is both a witch and a faerie. If she doesn’t want to go to Hogwarts, then she can learn the way of the fae,” compromised Mr Foxglove, his hand on top of his wife’s.

“Velvy,” whispered Astrea, her nose scrunched in worry. “Velvy, will you really go to…Hogwarts? You heard what mummy said!”

“Shush, Asty, you’ll get us caught eavesdropping! And yes, I–”

“So you know you’re eavesdropping, yes? Velvet, do you know no manners? Listening in to other people’s conversations is a bad habit that won’t be tolerated at any school, not even your beloved Hogwarts. And to think you roped my sweet little angel into your mischief!” reprimanded Mum, her arms crossed. Velvet drooped, and apologized. She was to go to her room and think about what she did, and also think about her decision, now that she knew what her parents had been discussing.

Velvet curled up on the seat at her window. The sky was stormy, with big grey clouds tightly packing themselves into her view. The slow summer drizzle had turned into a heavy downpour sometime when she wasn’t paying attention, and streaks of white lightning stretched across the dark cottony sky. The thunder roared. Velvet’s heart came to life. It was quite a sudden scare, but so, so wonderful. Velvet loved the rain, the petrichor, the way the plants greened and preened in the attention of the precipitation. The air seemed to thrum with joy and Velvet’s soul seemed to sing in utter, pure delight! Her violet eyes flashed something gold, and her dewy wings shimmered as the lightning shone through her window. Even her favorite loud fuchsia nightgown with moving embroidered little butterflies seemed as drab as house-elf garb under the candescence of each streak of lightning.

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POP!

“Miss Velvy is to go downstairs for supper,” simpered Juney, the old family house-elf. Juney had been in their house ever since Dad moved to Foxglove Villa from the old manor. Mum and Dad had tried to let her go, telling her that she deserves to be free ("Madam Juney, you are a kind and respectable elf! You, of all people deserve freedom!" and "Juney, you've been in our family ever since Mother and Father married; I'm sure you would like the joys of retirement?") but Juney had insisted that she would stay. Mum and Dad had only agreed after convincing her to take wages and boarding. Mum had been particularly insistent, and had been appalled after finding out how house elves were usually treated. And after that, Juney had looked after Velvet and Astrea when their mum was busy in the Seelie Court. That was usually thrice a week, and on those days, Mum would return home in the evenings with stars in her eyes and cunning in her smile. Their father was also busy sometimes, with his many meetings, research and writing. However, the four of them always had supper together, and then talked and played and laughed. Evenings were the best!

“Yes, yes, tell them I’ll be there, June-bug.”

She skipped down the staircase, and plopped into her seat. The table was set, and her family was seated. They quietly ate their dinner, breaking the silence with an occasional “pass the salt, please” or “more dessert”. The last one was Astrea, of course, that sweet-toothed dessert hog.

That night, after a nice warm supper, Velvet cleared her throat, and announced, “I’ve made my decision. Hogwarts it is,”

And her letter arrived at dawn the next day.

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“Velvyyy! Oi, Velvy!” a far-away voice called. Velvet turned over to her left, groaning. A thin and sharp finger poked at her shoulder non-stop. Ugh. The voice was nearer now, as it called out, “Velvy! Velvet Nymphea Foxglove! Wake up right this instant!”

Velvet sprung up, looking around, bewildered. Her eyes finally found their target: the little girl with curly caramel hair and extremely pointy claws fingers. Astrea gleefully laughed as her older sister scowled at her, and before Velvet could get mad enough at her for things to escalate, she presented her with–

“My Hogwarts letter!” squealed Velvet. The sisters looked up, met each other’s eyes, and burst into excited squeals and giggles. It was addressed:

Ms. V. Foxglove
East Bedroom on the First Floor
Foxglove Villa
Oxfordshire

“What a good morning!” they shrieked at the same time. Then, realization dawned in their eyes. Grinning with triumph, Velvet beat her sister in exclaiming, “Got you! Jinx!”
Immediately, the sound of Astrea’s shrieking giggles were cut short, and the little eight-year-old glared at the perpetrator as she mouthed threats and ‘Velvet, please’s at her.

“Fine, fine. Since you gave me a happy surprise, Asty, I’ll let you off the hook. Astrea, Astrea, Astrea!”

“Thanks, Vel,” smiled Asty, and said, “Now come on, we need to show mum and dad! We need to read it!”

The sisters ran down the stairs (“No running down the stairs, Misses! Juney doesn’t want the Misses to fall!”) and to the dining table, where their parents sat. Dad’s thick brown hair was combed and gelled neatly and the day’s paper obscured his face. Mum was reading a muggle fairy tale called ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ (“It will help me decide if building bridges with the muggles is an endeavor unobstructed, or one simply impossible, my sweet! It is important work for the Seelie Court! And…these muggles are quite imaginative.”) as she sipped her tea. As they heard the girls approach, the couple shared a knowing glance and smilingly greeted their daughters.

“Well then, Velvet. Read it to us, will you?” requested Dad, with a cheeky grin.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress

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“Shopping on the weekend, then, family?” asked Dad, grinning knowingly.

“Yes, please!” exclaimed Velvet.

Mum and Asty smiled at each other, their eyes sparkling with mirth. What a good morning, indeed!