September 4th, 1888 — Professor Ruskin's office, post Charms lesson

Once class was over and the rest of the first and second years had fled the room on their way to somewhere else, Orinda finished tying her shoe and then padded over to where her grandfather's office was located. It was just off the classroom and she had grown to know it fairly well since starting at Hogwarts. It was almost as familiar as the Ravenclaw common room. Even though Ellsworth was her grandfather, Orinda was pleased when he didn't take it easy on her. She didn't want her friends to think of her as a slacker because he'd pass her no matter what. Even though he had no way to control the magic that the wand focused, you know?

Knocking on the doorframe, Orinda beamed at the white haired, ruddy skinned man who was inside the office. "Granddaddy!" she caroled, her eyes sparkling up at the man. Shoving the mass of red hair away from her face, she rushed towards the older gentleman and wrapped her arms around his portly waist. "I'm back! I'm so glad you're still here!"

She didn't mean it in a 'I'm glad you're not dead' way, but rather, in an 'I'm glad you didn't retire over the summer and leave us with someone else to teach us' kind of way. "Tell me, aren't you proud of me? I did so good at the charms." Boastful much? Totally yes.

  

In his over four decades of teaching Ellsworth still enjoyed the first day of classes each year. The students still had that bright eyed enthusiastic look to them that had not yet been dulled by the trials and tribulations of tests and homework, especially when it came to the first year students. This year was no different, after class he had returned to his office and was taking notes in his quick sprawling handwriting when the door to his office creaked open.

Few students ventured into his office, especially not this early in the semester, and so it was little surprise to note that it was his own granddaughter. “Orinda!” He greeted cheerfully, standing up so that she could hug him.

“And where might I have gone child?” Ellsworth asked with a chuckle, merriment shining in his eyes, taking no offense to her statement.

Use to his wife and daughter, Ellsworth had experience with boastfulness. It wasn’t a trait that he preferred to be nurtured in his offspring, instead he tried to carefully discourage it without harming feelings that might easily be hurt. “Yes, dear, you did well. But you can always strive for better.” He encouraged, the words honeyed and kind.

“Here, take a seat.” He gestured to the second chair in his office. “You have a few minutes before your next class, don’t you?” Or was it lunchtime? Honestly he tended forget. “Tell me of your summer.” Given the circumstances of the fog Ellsworth had seen little of his grandchildren this summer, something that his wife proceeded to nag him about. Then again, all she did was nag.

  

"Granddaddy," Orinda said thoughtfully, "You could have gone a lot of places. Grandmama said you might leave any day when I saw her last and I didn't know what she meant. I figured you were going to be leaving Hogwarts. That'd be the worst day ever." Settling into a perch at the end of a table, Orinda swung her legs back and forth as she contemplated her grandfather.

"Although," she caroled softly, "I believe you would have told us yourself if you were going somewhere." Humming under her breath, Orinda nodded when Ellsworth said she could have done better. "You're right." Straightening her back, Orinda beamed at him as she continued humming. "I could have definitely done better. I will strive for perfection next time. Did you see that Hufflepuff get the spells right the first time? I was quite jealous, it took a few times for me when I was a first year. But, I can do them now, wanna see?"

Whipping her wand out of the pocket she had it tucked in, Orinda focused her attention on the tip of the wand. "Lumos!" she said cheerfully. The tip of the wand lit merrily and she swished it about in front of her face, mesmerized by the glowing light.

"My summer," she said, still mesmerized by the light, "It was good. Quite boring though, because of the fog. Acacia was gone almost the whole summer and Chrysanta basically ignored me. I wish that Dunstan--" Trailing off, Orinda pointed the tip of her wand at the floor and muttered "Nox." The wand extinguished itself and after a second, Orinda perked back up and smiled prettily at her grandfather. "I saw Grandmama a few times but I missed school. At least now that I'm back, I can see you whenever I want to!"

  

Ellsworth almost snorted. Of course Orinda had gotten such a notion from Rose and Rose likely wouldn’t have been inclined to correct the misception she had caused in her granddaughter. “Oh no, dear. She simply meant I would likely be leaving home to return to Hogwarts any day.” And likely not a day too soon for her either, he added mentally. “I most certainly would have told you if I were going anywhere, or leaving Hogwarts in general.” Ellsworth assured her more seriously a bit of the merriment melting from his tone. Hopefully that day would not be soon, but he was getting up there in years and soon the aches and pains would grow too troublesome to continue in his present line of work. But until that day he rather planned to keep his post as it was.

Of course Ellsworth had noted the Hufflepuff, he had even awarded her house points for her efforts, but it was nothing for a young lady to be jealous of. The girl simply had an aptitude for the spell she had learned nothing more. He humored her though, because grandfather’s always had a soft spot for their granddaughters. Without encouragement she cast the spells demonstrated in class. “Well done.” Ellsworth nodded. Still in teacher mode he almost told her to practice the charm she had learned in class, but he remembered in time to simply encourage her.

He knew a bit of her summer already and nodded sympathetically toward her. Really picking up on her disappointment when she remembered to cast nox. He frowned, nodding at her. Visits to Grandmama were something he was hesitant of. It had taken Rose many years to adjust to her son’s life choices and the children that had come from them, but slowly she had, and luckily it had been prior to Orinda being conscious of the whole situation at hand. Rose seemed to be coming around to Martin’s children now, he almost wondered if it was more out of a sense of lost time or to spite him, he could never be quite sure with his wife. “You absolutely may! And I’m sure you are glad to see your friends again.” He added a less natural cheer to his tone as he attempted to make things better for his youngest grandchild. The past few years had been rough on her, a fact he was very well aware of for a child so young.

  

"Oh thank goodness," Orinda said with a large sigh when Ellsworth said he wasn't leaving the school any time soon. She knew that she wasn't her grandmother's favorite grandchild, and the fact that Ellsworth made time to see her when they were at school and out of school made him her favorite grandparent. "I'd hate to see you leave before you were ready. I'm glad Grandmama was just confused."

Ellsworth's agreement that she could come see him whenever she wanted really put Orinda's mind at ease. She loved Acacia, and Chrysanta, but they were always busy with their own schedules. Even though he had his hands full with the classes he taught and the homework he graded, Orinda knew intrinsically that if she needed to see him in the evenings, she could find her way to his office and there he'd be, grading a paper or working on something for class the next day.

It was that very thought that comforted Orinda the most about having to repeat a year like her sister was that she could come see Ellsworth to bring a smile both to his face and also to her own. He was just like any good grandfather would be, kind and comforting without being overly partial to her. She knew he loved her sisters just as much as he loved her and that was good. She didn't want to be anyone's favorite, she wanted to be loved equally. Favorites were no fun, no fun at all.

"My friends are all really great, and it is nice to get to see them whenever I can, but I miss Dunstan. He made things fun. He'd be starting school this year if he was still alive." Morosely staring at the tip of her wand, Orinda felt despair cover her heart for a second before she pushed it away and beamed at her granddad again. Pointing her wand at a charm on Ellsworth's desk, Orinda screwed her face up in thought. "Engorgio."

  

It was nice to hear the relief in Orinda’s voice at his assurances. At least she didn’t think he was getting too old for his job. Rose pressed the issue quite a bit, despite the knowledge that they both knew they were happier with him away from home. He almost chuckled at confused, oh yes, if only Rose had been confused. He was sure she had had a greater plan at work with her ‘confusion’.

“I miss him too, my dear.” Ellsworth said gently, for there was no other way to sooth that hurt.

Orinda quickly switched topics and suddenly a stack of his papers shuttered and began to grow in size. Oh dear. “Nicely done. Perhaps not on my papers though, eh?”

  

Orinda squeaked in shock as the papers on her grandfather's desk started to grow. Just like her nose had yesterday. "Sweet Merlin!" she cried, one hand shooting to her nose and the other clutching her wand like it was a life vest. "Grandpa, what do I do?!" The papers continued to grow and grow and Orinda was only slightly-- a lot-- terrified that she was going to ruin the homework for other people and other classes.

Finally it came to her and she hastily pointed her wand at the papers and cried out "Reducio!"

The papers started to shrink in size, and Orinda released a sigh of relief. But then they continued to shrink. Getting smaller and smaller. "Grandpa!!!" she wailed. "I need your help!"

  

Much to his granddaughter’s credit, even as she panicked and he took out his wand, she thought to reverse the charm. Perhaps not with the finesse that Ellsworth himself might have had. But it was the attempt that made him proud, even if the disappear in her voice nudged his heart just a bit. “It’s alright dear.” He told her, gently patting her head and waving his wand toward the papers. They ceased their shrinking and returned to their rightful size, as if nothing had happened. “Just a bit more practice and you’ll have it down.” He assured Orina.

The clock on his wall chimed and Ellsworth noticed the time. “For now, though, it’s off to supper for you, I believe.” He gave her a small pat on the shoulder and a large smile as he sent on her way. They’d have time to catch up later.