At Home With The Moonberrys (Bryony)

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Silvia was happy to be home again. Hogwarts was a lovely place, but when it came down to where she wanted to be the most, it was with her mum and dad in their little cottage near the mountains.

There was of course her beloved rottweiler Buttercup too, who walked beside her as she took a crisp, cool afternoon walk around the work shed of her father, the eccentric Merville Moonberry. Buttercup was wearing a bandana around his neck with the Ravenclaw symbol. It was something she had made her dog while at school.

When there was a small explosion from the shed, Silvia reacted by simply turning her head toward it. Buttercup whimpered a little as usual. Merville came out with his clothes and face a bit blackened.

"Wrong spell again, dad?" asked Silvia calmly.

"No, right spell... wrong invention," chuckled Merville, taking it will. "I mistook the instant ice maker for the instant food heater. Oh well, round two. Tell your mum I might be a tad late to the table for lunch, sweetie."

"Alright," nodded Silvia, again calmly as she went back to her walk.

BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY

[BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY]

Going home for the holiday was not something Bryony was looking forward to, not this year. Life had become, complicated, in the last few months. The sixteen-year-old had never felt like she had ever kept so many secrets. It was hard not telling Silvia everything that was going on but the other girl didn't need to know what she had gotten mixed up in. But most of all Silvia did not need to know that she had brought a hunter into their lives.

The guilt ate at her slowly. It was her own fault though, she had been blinded by foolish wants and desires and now here she was. Of course her mother had been pleased to hear about her befriending of the Sherwood boy. It made her stomach twist up the way she went on about it. Great news. Brilliant new. He daughter was finally getting in with the right sort of people. Preston was just a stepping stone to her mother. But what was he to her? She tried not to think about it.

Silvia lived a morning's walk away. Knowing her mother would protest and deny her request to go spend time with the one person in the family she cared about the most Bryony left before the sun and her parents had risen. The cold December air made her cheeks burn red. Yet the cold was oddly comforting. It numbed her, and right now numb was about all she wanted to feel.

Walking alone she was left with her thoughts though. Thoughts that too often lingered on the boy she should had walked away from. But as she caught sight of the familiar home she pushed the beautiful boy from her mind. It didn't take long to happen upon a familiar face, seeing her cousin brought a faint smile to her lips. "Hiya." She said, shoving her hands into her jacket pockets.

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Silvia turned in smiled as Bryony appeared. She certainly wasn't expecting her cousin to be there, especially given how Bryony's parents felt about Silvia and her parents. But it was a very pleasant surprise. Buttercup seemed happy to see her too, barking merrily in greeting as he ran up to her expecting a good petting. Silvia herself gave Bryony her usual affectionate greeting, the kiss on each cheek and the one on the nose.

"Hello, Bryony," she said. "I'm so happy to see you. Have you had breakfast yet? Mum's making mushroom omelets. I know she'll be happy to see you. Dad is..."

Another explosion was heard from the shed.

"I'm alright!" he said from inside. "Wrong spell that time!" He popped his head out the window. He hair was now frizzled and three different colors. "Hello Bryony. Lovely to see you again. Staying for breakfast? The misses is making mushroom omelets." He then popped his head back in.

Silvia turned back and noticed a bit of sadness in her cousin's eyes.

"Are you feeling well, Bryony?" she asked.

BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY

[BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY]

It was a sad state to see the Moonberry's in. Not this very moment, no, it was more the fact that Bryony's father was so much under her mother's thumb he was willing to turn his back on his own brother. Was that what would become of her and Silvia if she continued down this path she had found herself on? Bryony tried to push the cloudy thoughts from her mind as she reached down to give Buttercup a good scratch behind the ears. "Whose a good pup?" She asked in an overly exaggerated voice before giving the dog a pat on the head and turning her attention to her cousin.

As Bryony embraced Silvia she held the other girl tighter than usual, maybe she was trying to find her footing in this world that she had let herself drift from, or maybe she just thought some how these embraces were numbed. She pressed her forehead to Silvia's with eyes lightly shut, maybe for today she could just forget. With hesitation Bryony let Silvia go from her grasps and listened to her words, but before Silvia could finish there came the explosion. Of course Bryony's eyes drifted to the shed a faint smile appearing on her lips as her Uncle's face came into view. Lifting a hand Bryony gave a wave and did her best to stifle a laugh. "Lovely to see you too Uncle, do be careful!" She called out.

As her uncle retreated back Bryony was about to answer Silvia's initial inquiry but her words caught in her throat as Silvia asked if she was feeling well. Maybe forgetting for the day was not going to be as easy as she had thought. "I'm fine, really, mum and me - we just got into a row is all. That's why I'm here actually, I needed to get out of the house, away from her...away from - everything." It wasn't entirely a lie, but it wasn't entirely the truth either. But Silvia couldn't know the whole truth of the matter. Bryony knew she could not live with the thought of breaking Silvia's heart. Preston was right, she was weak, she would always be weak. "Mushroom omelets though, sounds lovely."

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Buttercup panted happily as Bryony pet him. He liked her a lot. Just as Silvia and her cousin had a bond, the dog felt a connection to her as well. He had missed both girls a great deal while they were away.

"I made him a Ravenclaw bandana," said Silvia. "But if you'd like, I can make him a Slytherin one as well."

Silvia returned the embrace and smiled. She then found herself trying not to laugh at her father. She could tell her cousin was trying hard not to as well.

"I will!" said Merville from inside the shed. "I almost have it... I think."

Things got a bit serious when Bryony spoke of her argument with her mother. Silvia wished her uncle and aunt would not seem so cold. She knew her father loved his brother no matter what, and she loved her uncle and aunt too, but it was hard knowing they in turn despised her remote family so much, especially when it caused a rift between Silvia and the person she loved most.

"You can stay here as long as you wish," she said. "We still keep your room tidy for you, just in case." She then offered her hand to Bryony before they stepped into the house, where Lotus Moonberry, Muggle and Werewolf, had just finished the omelets. Lotus smiled at Bryony.

"Well this is a nice surprise," she said. "Welcome Bryony. Please, sit and eat with us. Silvia, is your father finished in his shed?"

"Almost," said Silvia. "He used the spell that changed his hair color again. I do hope we still have some potion to cure that."

BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY

[BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY]

Bryony smiled faintly when Silvia spoke of making Buttercup a slytherin bandanna. It was times like these that she wished so desperately that she didn't belong to the house of the snakes. A constant reminder that she was her mother's daughter, even if it was the Moonberry name she carried. She still was nothing more than a selfish snake that was out to save her own skin.

"I think Buttercup looks rather fetching in blue and silver though. Maybe I can make him some green booties though, keep his little paws warm and away from the damp." Silvia had always shown so much support for Slytherin, and Bryony knew it was for her. She knew her chest should have swelled with warmth but in that moment it clenched in pain. Why did she have to be a Slytherin? WhHy couldn't she have been more like her father and uncle? Why couldn't she have been more like Silvia?

There was so much she wished she could tell Silvia, but she feared what it would do to them. She had said things - terrible things. It was as if her mother had spoken from her mouth. Had she really meant them? Her involvement with Preston was starting to twist her mind and pull her in all different directions.

Bryony took up Silvia's hand and held it tightly. Her anchor, her rock. How different things were these days, and yet some things still could feel as if nothing had changed. "Careful, I might never leave." She joked giving Silvia's hand a tight squeeze. For a moment, it was like they were young children again, no pressure, no hate, just love.

As they entered the house and Bryony saw her Aunt the tightening pain returned to her chest. She remembered the words exchanged with Preston. Had she really meant it? Her Aunt had been nothing but lovely to her entire life. "Hiya Auntie," Bryony let Siliva's hand slip away as she walked further into the house and over to her Aunt. While her Aunt didn't know of the things she had said Bryony still wanted to apologize, but of course she didn't. Instead she walked to her aunt and wrapped her arms around the older woman and held her in a tight hug. "I missed you." She said pulling away and walking back towards Silvia.

She hoped her actions would not seem odd. She had always had a certain level of affection with her extended family, mostly Silvia, but maybe it could be attributed to the assumption that there was tension back at home. After all it wasn't unusual for that to be happening. In some ways Bryony felt like she should have felt guilty for intruding on her Aunt and Uncle's home like this, but between everyone's welcoming words she knew her guilt was for bigger reasons. "Thanks Auntie, it smells wonderful."

With a bit of a cheeky grin Bryony looked between her cousin and her aunt, "I dunno, Silvia, I thought it was a good look for him." of course she was talking about her uncle's multicolored hair.

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Silvia smiled a little about the green booties.

"That's a lovely idea," said Silvia. "Buttercup is always wanting to toast his paws by the fire after a winter's day walk. I think he'd appreciate it very much."

Silvia could tell something was hurting Bryony a great deal. The two had a connection after all. This wasn't the first time she had picked up on her cousin's pain. She really wanted Bryony to talk about it, but didn't want to push her too. Silvia never forced anyone to talk about what they didn't want to talk about.

"I think none of us would mind if you didn't," said Silvia regarding Bryony never leaving. And it was true. Silvia's parents loved Bryony and would no doubt adopt her in a heartbeat if they were able.

Lotus smiled warmly at Bryony as she served her and Silvia breakfast, followed by a plate for herself and Merville. Silvia smiled when Bryony said the colored hair was a good look for her father.

"I agree," she said. "But dad would never have it. He prefers darker shades of those colors."

Merville then walked in, his clothes still blackened and his hair less colorful but more frazzled.

"I think I'll need to go into town for some ingredients instant-heating and instant-freezing potion," he said. "When spells don't work, potions are the next best thing I always say."

"Your breakfast first, dearest," said Lotus.

"Ah yes, smells delightful." Merville sat down and smiled at Bryony as he cut his omelet. "So what brings you here today, Bryony? Staying over for the weekend I hope. Your room has looked awfully lonely without you." Merville chuckled at this.

BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY

[BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY]

There were a lot of things that Bryony wished she could tell Silvia, but the consequences didn't seem worth the risk. She got herself into this mess, the best thing she could do was try and keep Silvia as far out of it as possible. If anyone was going to pay the price Bryony was going to make sure it was herself. She was a worn shield trying to protect the one person she loved dearest in the world, but even shields have their weak spots.

Countless times Bryony had wished to have been her Aunt and Uncle's child instead of her parent's. She loved her mother and father, but their family had a rot in their hearts. A rot that pinned brother against brother. She longed for the days when her father still showed the compassion she found in her uncle, but these days there was just sadness and the look of a broken man. A man who had succumb to the will of his wife, something Bryony felt was on her. After all, were it not for her then her father would have been free to leave her mother and find a wife who truly loved and adored him. But fate saw otherwise.

Settling into her place next to her cousin Bryony shook her arms free from her jacket, there would be no need for it in the house after all. Looking between her Aunt and her cousin Bryony could feel the swelling emotions in her chest. The longing of feeling at home and the pang of guilt for the hate she had let into her life. Words said in fear, in anger, with no thought. She didn't deserve their love and compassion, she didn't deserve anything.

Bryony's eyes fell upon her Uncle when he entered, the faint smile resting soundly on her lips at his disheveled look. So many memories, so many happy and joy filled memories. Picking up her fork Bryony set to digging into the meal, but hearing her name she looked up from her plate. Briefly she glanced to her cousin before looking back at her uncle. How many times had she come here because she found herself disagreeing with her mother? How many times had she come looking to escape the pressures that were being put upon her to be less like the family whose name she bared and more like the family whose blood ran strong in her veins? Countless times. And how does she repay them? Her stomach flips a few times as she struggled to find her answer.

"Well, seeing as its the holiday season I felt I should get to spend some time with my family, that is what the holiday is about. Though, I might have gotten into with my mum too..." She poked at her omelette with fork, was it selfish of her to always come to her Aunt and Uncle when she wanted to escape? It couldn't always be her answer to her life problems. In fact it could make things worse one day, what if she led Preston here, what would become of her Aunt? Of Silvia? She wasn't going to let that happen though, their blood would never be just another stain on her beautiful monster's hands. "If that's alright. I've missed everyone and I'd find it far more enjoyable spending time here for a while" Not that her aunt and uncle had ever turned her away. They had always understood the bond she shared with Silvia, there was so much they had always understood.

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When Bryony spoke of getting into it with her mother, the family all gave an understanding nod. They all knew well what Bryony's mother was like. However, none of the family were ones to speak ill things about others, even those who hated them. They quickly decided to focus on what Bryony said about visiting for the holidays.

"Well it's nice of you to visit, dear," said Lotus. "And Christmas time is always a good time to so so."

"Or Sir Simon's Day," said Merville. "He's a great inventor who passed on a short time ago... three hundred years I believe. We inventors celebrate his life by having an inventors' gathering down near the old bridge.

"It's a very lovely festival," said Silvia. "Dad lets me come along and listen to all the things people say they're going to invent but usually don't. But the ideas sound nice."

Silvia then smiled when Bryony confirmed she was staying a bit. A series of plans for them already began to develop in her mind.

"Well of course it's alright, dear niece," said Merville. "You may stay as long as you wish. Our home has always been your home."

"I hope you can stay for the Christmas Party," said Silvia. "You can met some of mum and dad's friends from Liverpool. They're moving here because they blew up their home working on a potion. They'll be here tomorrow I believe."

BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY

[BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY]

Was it nice of her? Bryony wasn't sure, not anymore. It was selfish that she knew. She brought trouble into their lives, threats even but here she say with a smile upon her face doing her best to hide all that was swelling inside of her. Her thoughts fled to the room, the one they had called her's for years. She contemplated making a run for it, finding her way into the bed and under the covers to hide from the mess she was creating. But instead she staid and pushed everything down, ignoring the problems.

"Sir Simon's Day?" She asked with curiosity before her Uncle went on to explain it. She had to laugh a little as her uncle explained it honored the death of a man who died 300 years prior, and how that was a short while ago. Only a few lifetimes for a wizard. "It sounds lovely, maybe I can come along too?" Not that she had ever been one to know much about inventing, but that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy the time with her Uncle and Silvia.

As her uncle confirmed that she was welcome to stay with them for as long as she wanted she found a soft smile forming on her lips. They never asked too many questions and never questioned her reasons. Even as she smiled she could feel the ache in her heart. She really was a terrible person for everything she said and thought. And yet some how they still found ways to love her. She didn't deserve it and yet here he was, trying to blend in as if she belonged thinking of few things other than how she could pass the time in the company of sweet Silvia and maybe for a few days she could forget about her beautiful devil.

Bryony's eyes drifted to her cousin when she heard her speak up. A Moonberry Christmas party - now those were always an event, nothing like the stuffy parties her mother always tried to put on that ended in disappointment year after year. "If not, I could always come back for it." She wanted to add that she'd hardly be missed from home, but it was only a half truth and one that was already known no doubt. Bryony wasn't sure what to think about the mention of her uncle's friends. Of course her first thoughts were about how careless they must have been. But it was a harsh assumption to make. "Was everyone alright?" Bryony had worried at times about something similar happening to her uncle, to the whole family actually. Careful didn't always mean inventing was safe.

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Merville smiled widely as Bryony asked if she could come along for Sir Simon's Day.

"Why certainly!" he said. "It would be wonderful to spend some time with you again, my dear niece. And I am quite sure Silvia would agree."

"Yes, very much so," said Silvia, giving her cousin a warm smile. "We can also see the baby Clabberts who live near the bridge. The festival is in the summer and the Clabberts will have their legs and arms and be hopping about by then."

Silvia then nodded when Bryony asked about the friends who blew up their home.

"Oh yes, they're quite fine," she said. "And they even got a nice insurance settlement from it."

"But the house is a terrible mess... though I suppose you can't call it a house now," said Merville. "It's really just a mess in general."

"They've wanted to move here anyway," said Silvia. "They just need to stay with us until their new home is built here."

BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY

[BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY]

Bryony found her thoughts drifting off to summer, Preston would not be her problem anymore - or would he? Maybe he would be more of a problem, out hunting with out school to interfere. Her stomach knots tightened. Why couldn't she just think about time with her cousin instead? How had one boy poisoned her brain in such a way that she could not shake thoughts of him? She found herself pushing her food around with her fork her appetite slowly being consumed with her worries.

Bryony looked to Silvia with a soft smile, her excitement over such simple things was always refreshing and her warm smile had a way of making Bryony's worries take a back seat in her mind. "You know I've never actually seen a Clabbert in person before, just pictures." Going in search of magical creatures, it sounded much like the childhood adventures she used to have with Silvia coming back with pockets full of 'treasures' found along their beaten paths. Such simple times forged in the bliss of innocence.

It was of some relief to Bryony to hear that no one was hurt in the accident, only the house. Houses could be replaced, lives could not. "Well I do look forward to meeting them." She said with a hint of true cheer in her voice, something that came easier as she found herself relaxing back into the Moonberry family setting. Surely this was just what she needed to forget about all that static in her head.

As Bryony continued to push her food around on her plate she looked again to her cousin, "So, Silvia, what were you planning on doing today?" Why part of Bryony just wanted to take her cousin's hand and run to shut them away into a room where she could spill every last worry and word of guilt she knew that was not the plan. No, they were her worries and her guilt to bear. Never the less she was sure Silvia had some plan for the day, or at least some thoughts on what she had wanted to do and Bryony intended to carry along with her. As she waited for her cousin's response she managed another bite of food even though her stomach was still twisted in an uncomfortable way with lingering thoughts of the trouble that summer could bring.

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Silvia looked at Bryony a bit surprised when she said she hadn't seen a Clabbert yet, but then remembered that her cousin didn't hang about with Hagrid as much as Silvia did. Hagrid had shown Silvia a number of creatures that many other students hadn't seen.

"When they glow at night, they're quite beautiful," she said. "And Hagrid said they're fond of fudge flies, so we'll need to buy some before we visit them."

Silvia nodded and smiled when Bryony said she looked fo4rward to meeting them.

"They're nice people, though one of them, Frankfort I think his name is, is terribly allergic to elderflowers, which as you know we grow in the back garden," she said. "It's best to not stand too near to him when he has a sneezing fit. Sometimes he forgets to block his nose."

Silvia could tell that something was bothering Bryony. The two had a bond, and a very strong one. Silvia knew.

"I was going to go to the mountain trail today, but I doubt I'll hike all the way up due to the snow," she said. "But we can do something else if you wish. I would be happy to just sit in the tree house with Buttercup and talk to you."

BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY

[BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY]

Bryony laughed a little at Silvia's comment about the man and elderflowers, "I'll have to remember that as I cannot say I am too keen on the idea of being sneezed upon." Bryony had always loved the elderflowers, not only did she find them beautiful but they made for delicious elderflower and lemon tea cakes which was perhaps her favorite tea cake to indulge in.

Yes, it was useless for Bryony to try too hard to hide her true feelings from Silvia. Something she so often was thankful for, but sometimes she wished it was different. Not for her though. Bryony hated the idea of causing her sweet cousin any worry. And yet she did it anyways, didn't she?

"Both sound lovely really. It'd be nice to go on the trail since its been a while, it always is so beautiful in the winter with the ice and snow." Bryony of course was doing her best not to sound to eager to talk about what was on her mind. Or at least, some of what was on her mind. Silvia would know though, her intuition was always in tune.

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Silvia nodded about the discomfort of being sneezed.

"That's very true," she said. "Especially when one can potentially sneeze out tiny creatures that can crawl into you ear and cause terrible headaches."

"I've had that happen before," nodded Merville. "At least three of my invention ideas were muddled by such creatures."

Silvia smiled when Bryony liked the idea of walking the trail. Silvia had extra winter accessories for her cousin to wear in case it got too cold.

"We can go on the trial after breakfast then, and perhaps sit in the treehouse tonight," she said. Silvia was now quite anxious to hear what was troubling the girl she loved so dearly.

Later...

On the trail, Silvia was clad in her thick coat with it's large hood, along with her goggles on. They magically defogged so she always say clearly and of course didn't get snow in her eyes. Buttercup had come along. While he was a complete creampuff, Buttercup still felt he offered some protection to the girls by being there.

BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY