The Brennan girls are out for a stroll today, it seems. Lanie, Lucie and Maylie Brennan walk three in a row through the town square, pretty heads held high as they greet those in the square on this hot afternoon, chatting to themselves animatedly. Paige Brennan, though, lags behind the three, her nose more or less stuck in a book as she tries to ignore the looks of the town’s people and saying as little as she can manage without being outright rude. Paige‘s sisters come to a stop near the statue and sit down on a bench near to it, somehow managing to sit in the most advantageous spot to be seen. Paige sits on the bench next to Lucie as there is no other place for her to sit. “Won’t you put the book away, Paige? It’s a disgrace to have you out with us reading a book. It gives such a poor image.”

Out and about with his aunt Zelda, Seth Daringer is dragging a cart behind him stacked high with books and what appear to be school supplies. The two appear to be out shopping for Seht’s first year at school. Aunt Zelda seems to be checking down a list in her mauve gloved hands, peering through a pair of specticles. “Aunt Zelda can I please try some of the candy we saw before?” Says the small boy tugging at the corner of the witch’s mauve colored robes. Seth himself is dressed in a tanned cotton shirt and a pair of blue jeans, slightly faded with ware. “After we finish your shopping we will have ourselves a nice big dinner dear. But for now we simply haven’t the time.” The elderly witch says softly never taking her eyes from the shopping list. “Yes, next is the part that usually takes the longest my boy. We must go and get you a wand.” As Zelda looks up from her list she spots the four girls. “Oh! If it’s isn’t the Brennan girls! Lanie, Lucie and Maylie!” Aunt Zelda turns to Seth who is busily watching a goblin walk a dog. “Come along dear. I’ve someone for you to meet.”

The older girls sit and chat amiably to passersby as several of them stop to chat. A swarm of boys hovers nearby, shoving one another and none of them getting too close to the confident, attractive Brennan sisters. Nobody would claim that Paige would be among the beautiful sisters, as she continues to read her novel, despite being chastised by her older sister. She seems to almost blend into the scenery in comparison to her exuberant sisters. Each of them seems perfectly well suited to the life of a public figure as they continue to greet those who stop to chat with them.

Nearly being dragged by the arm, Seth is taken by Aunt Zelda over to the girls. Zelda smiles with her hand on Seth‘s shoulder and begins speaking to the three eldest, apparently knowing them. “Why hello girls.” She says with a sweet smile. “How are Harris and Maylie doing?” “It’s been too long since I’ve seen them you know.” Seth looks up at his aunt and then between the three girls. He blushes a bit and hides behind Zelda. He hadn’t known many girls where he lived and meeting older ones now was a bit intimidating. Zelda however brings him back around. “This is my great nephew, Seth.” She says positively beaming. “He’ll be joining you at Scattergood this year.”

“Hello, Seth!” Maylie leans forward, greeting the boy. “What hall are you going to be in?” Paige looks up from her book, a bit redfaced as yet another person stops to chat with them. Did they really have to do this? Or if they did, did they have to bring her along? “Hi, Seth,” she greets the boy, only a little younger than herself. “Oh, Granddad and Grandmum are doing just fine. They took a tour of Canada this summer. They are thinking of moving there now. Apparently there’s a lot of space. Dad would rather they stayed here but you must know how they are,” Lanie answers with a ringing laugh. “I’m terribly sorry – I didn’t catch your name. I’m Lanie, by the way. This is Lucie. She’s my twin, hence the very obvious similarity.” This elicits a laugh from both Lucie and Lanie and at this, Maylie also turns her attention to the older woman. “I’m Maylie, named for Grandmum as you must already know.” She laughs a bit as she divulges this rather obvious fact. Paige does not introduce herself, instead choosing to pay attention to Seth.

Trying to remember what hall he’s to be put in Seth scratches his head for a moment before reaching into his pocket and pulling out the crumpled letter from Scattergood. “Oh um… it says I am going to Yates hall.” He smiles and holds up the letter as if the subject required some proof. “What hall are you all in?” Apparently the name his aunt said earlier had not rung a bell. Aunt Zelda smiles seemingly happy to hear that her schoolmates are well. “Canada! How wonderful for them!” She nods as each girl introduces herself. “I am Zelda Silverman.” She says with a delighted grin. “But you may call me Auntie Zelda.” Seth looks up at his aunt, more than a tad embarrassed. He looks again to Paige giving her a quick shrug as if to dismiss the chattiness that is going on between the (what Seth considers) adults. He decides it’s better to try and talk up the youngest. “So what’s Scattergood like?” He asks Paige, fidgeting his hands at his sides.

“We’re all in Brennan hall,” Paige answers quietly, and this doesn’t seem to draw the attention of her sisters. Apparently they’re disinterested in the conversation of ‘mere’ children. “It’s a family thing, of course. Almost all of our ancestors have been in that hall since the school started. Some of us went to Maguire hall, though. Our great-great… something, grandmother was Pleasance Maguire, and she married Campbell Brennan.” Paige shrugs at this. “Scattergood is pretty fun, I guess. There’s a lot to learn, but I like my classes and the people in my hall are pretty nice people. I think you’ll like Yates hall. I haven’t seen inside it, though, I’ve just seen some of the students. Are you excited to go?” Paige leans forward a bit on the bench, away from her sisters.

“Yeah I’m pretty excited a I guess.” Replies Seth happy to ignore the conversations of the “grownups”. “I’m a little worried though. Besides my Aunt Zelda my family are all um…” And he stops to try and think of the words for a moment before remembering it. “Oh yeah, Muggles. Me and her are the only magical ones in the family.” Seth grins and continues talking now that he’s broken the gender shyness barrier. “I guess we’re going to get my wand next. I wonder if I’ll be allowed to use it right away?” “I’ve always wanted to do magic stuff.” And then he stops for a moment to ask. “What sorts of magic will I learn anyway?”

“You’re supposed to wait until you’re at school,” Paige informs the younger boy. “You can get into trouble for doing magic when you aren’t at school so they tell you not to do it at all except at school. I guess it’s for safety or something.” She shrugs idly and pushes her makeshift bookmark into her book, finally closing it and setting it gingerly onto her lap. “It is fun to get a wand, though. I love mine. It’s made of walnut and has a bronze thread core. Mr. Wyndham said it was well suited to me.” She pauses once again to ponder his question about magic. “You learn to move things with magic, and change their appearances. You also learn about protecting yourself and things like that. I’m going to start learning about muggles this year, and how to make music. I’m excited about that. Only third years and up can do those classes, though. Not that I imagine you would want to learn about Muggles. There are so many charms and things to learn. You’ll be very busy.”

“Oh that’s too bad.” Seth seems a little disappointed that he wont be able to use his new wand right away but he smiles as Paige informs him of the different things he will be learning. “Changing things huh? Mice into toads and stuff like that?” He grins at the prospects imagining all the fun he could have at school. “Yeah I don’t really need to learn about muggles. I live with them.” He looks to see if his Aunt is listening and leans in to whisper. “Between you ane me, muggles aren’t very interesting anyway. Kind of boring anyway.” “Here you have things…. like goblins. We saw goblins at the bank! And you’ve got elves. And trolls… and things.” As Seth is about to go on naming all the things he’s seen that he’s never seen before he’s nudged gently in the arm by Aunt Zelda. “It’s time to go Seth. We have to get your wand and then we will go out and have our diner.” “Good by girls! Give my best to your grandparents!” With that Zelda turns to walk away. Seth smiles and waves a goodbye to the three older girls. “Goodbye Paige, see you at school!” He says to the youngest before turning to follow Zelda.

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