Stepping into the Light

A long, restful sleep later, it was eight in the morning and I was wide awake, ready to tackle the day. Ideas swirled in my mind, though there wasn't much chance I could work on most of them.

'First things first,' I thought as I got dressed.

"Good morning, mom," I said in greeting as I walked into the dining room.

"Edward, good morning!" Wisteria exclaimed, looking up from the table where she'd been reading the Daily Prophet. "You're up early! Do you feel alright? Is everything fine? No aches or pains?"

"No, mom, I feel much better today," I told her, giving her a reassuring smile. "Thank goodness for potions, huh?"

My attempt at humor fell flat, as my mother continued to look worried. She also looked dreadfully tired, and I wondered how many hours of sleep she'd actually gotten.

"Mom, we need to talk," I said, deciding to go ahead and get some of the items on my mental list finished.

"Should I ask Inky to bring you a cup of tea, maybe something to eat for breakfast?" Wisteria asked, and I nodded after a moment.

I slid into a chair while listening with half an ear as mother called for Inky and then made her request to the old House Elf. A couple minutes and a few popping noises later and before me there was a cup of Earl Grey and a plate of scrambled eggs, baked beans, and three slices of toast.

"What did you want to discuss?" Wisteria inquired as I began to eat.

"Mom, I love you, but I don't… I can't keep living here, in this house," I finally admitted after chewing and swallowing.

"What? Why not?" she asked, teary eyed.

"I'm a Squib, mom," I said, as if it explained everything. And sadly, it did. "Rudy will probably blame me for father's death, and that will only cause friction between us."

"He's your brother!" Wisteria snapped.

"He's also been ruined by father's opinions and views," I pointed out, which mother was unable to deny beyond a token, "He can change!"

"He can't change while I'm here, reminding him every day of father, and why he isn't here anymore," I claimed. "So, I want to move out."

"And do what, Edward?" Wisteria wondered. "My parents could take you in…"

"I want to move to London," I interrupted. "I want to… live my life the way I want to."

"As a Muggle?" she asked incredulously.

"How many opportunities are there for a Squib in the magical society?" I asked my mother. "At best I might be able to get a job as a stockboy or some other menial task in one of Diagon Alley's shops, but it'd be seen as charity at best and I would always be looked down upon. Squibs don't live a good life among wizards and witches. The best chance we have is to try and succeed among the Muggles."

Mother looked like she wanted to refute my words, but again, she couldn't. I was speaking the truth, after all.

In the end, she sighed heavily in defeat, and surrendered. "Very well. I will look into this," Wisteria declared, standing up from the table as she did so.

"I have to go in to the Ministry soon to go over your father's will and other documents. I do not know how long it will take, but while I am there, I will make… inquiries. I know one or two people who may know how to help us with your… transition."

I nodded, and waved goodbye as she went to freshen up and take the Floo to the Ministry. That left me alone in the kitchen, one step of my plans complete.

'She agreed a lot easier than I thought she would,' I thought to myself. 'She must really be out of it.'

Normally, she'd have tried to argue with me a lot harder about staying. She was always trying to keep me 'safe' after all. 'Babied' was more accurate, though thankfully mother never acted like I was an invalid.

I gave a mumbled "Thanks" to Inky as the House Elf took the dishes away, and I walked out of the house, blinking weakly in the morning sunlight. The sun was already rising on the horizon, and our house had the misfortune of being directly in its path. This was good for the garden, but not much else, in my opinion.

'First things first,' I thought, circling around the side of the house to where my room was. I found my sack of belongs I'd tossed out there last night, and thought about what to do with it as I looked through its contents. Luckily, everything was still in there, undisturbed.

'If I put it back in my room, Rudy will likely find it,' I thought with a grimace. 'I could ask Inky to hide it for me. But there's clothing in it. Will he even be able to touch it without breaking the bond he has with the family?'

'Actually, now that father is dead, who is the primary bond-keeper?' I wondered, scrunching up my face in thought. 'A House Elf can survive just fine without a bond, at least for a while. Is it mother? Or could it be me? Can a Squib even maintain a bond? I have magic, I just can't use it.'

I shook my head, having gotten distracted. 'Ugh, thoughts for later.' "INKY!" I called out aloud. There was a pop, and then, from behind me, I heard it.

"Yes, Young Master Error?"

"Gah! Sonnova!" I swore, jerking a bit in surprise. "Please don't pop up behind me like that!"

"Of course," Inky said with a nod of his head, ears flapping this way and that. "How can I be of service?"

"Hide this from mother and Rudy," I told him, gesturing to the sack tangled up in the bushes. Inky raised an eyebrow but did as I asked, and a snap of his fingers later it was gone.

"Is there anything else?" he asked, and I nodded.

"Yes. Keep Rudy in the house whenever he eventually wakes up. If he complains or tries to leave, just let him know mother will be back soon and pop him back into his room."

"Yes, Young Master Error."

"And stop calling me that," I snapped, a bit testily. "If you must call me something, call me 'Master Edward.'"

"Of course, Young Master Edward," Inky said, and I swore the elf waggled his eyebrows at me all cheeky like.

"I'm going for a walk," I informed Inky, and the House Elf merely nodded before vanishing.

I returned to the walkway and headed down away from the house. Once I left the property, I turned around and glanced back at it.