A Family Ebbs and Flows Sophie O’Malley was once again released from her contract to Sonora - it was January now, with the new term resuming, and Isis had returned. Which meant the former Potions professor and temporary permanent substitute was free to resume living her life.
And to meddle in other people’s.
She couldn’t help it! When she had been on staff years ago, she had not missed noticing a girl in Pecari who seemed almost familiar, like a girl that Sophie had known in that Common Room many years earlier. A girl with the last name Bly, who spoke with crisp, forced language and who always seemed just a little bit off.
Sophie had almost forgotten after she’d given up her position at the school. After all, she had left with some haste; the most prevalent thought on her mind had been Serapes and his declining health, she had let this connection fall by the wayside. But this time, she was saying her goodbyes more voluntarily, less hurriedly. So this time, she remembered.
It had been a challenge, locating where Ayita Jareau had ended up after years had gone by. But Sophie found her. The small blonde strolled through the outskirts of magical and Muggle territory, a little bit unsurprised that someone like her lived in such a hodgepodge area. With confidence and eagerness, Sophie bounced up to the brick house she knew to belong to a girl one year her junior, a little orphan girl who found a new family but might have unknowingly left one old member behind.
Her pale knuckles wrapped lightly against the door, which swung open with more velocity than Sophie had anticipated. And on the other side she stood: Ayita Jareau, a full grown adult. She looked nothing like what Sophie had imagined. She still pictured the awkward young thing, but this woman was aged and worn, weathered and weighted. The dark circles under her eyes aged her in a way that for just a second, Sophie feared she had the wrong house.
But she saw the pause in the woman’s grey eyes, like slowly flickered recognition, so Sophie stayed. “Ayita?” she said. “It’s Sophie Jamison. From school?” Ayita clearly identified her now, but she did not move. “I’m glad I found you. I just discovered something I thought you would very much be interested in. Can we talk?”
“Look, whatever it is, I can’t deal with it right now, okay?” Ayita said somewhat brashly. Then she pulled herself back. Her voice became hers again. “I’m sorry. We must have a lot of catching up to do. Just don’t expect much leftover holiday spirit: our son just died.”