The Rediscovery of Magic

Frannie woke alone, naked and stuck in an unplottable village in Northern Canada without any idea how to get back to the Lou Scagnetti School of Shamanism, Witchcraft and Wizardry, where she was staying while visiting friends. Despite that, she felt pretty damn good. It had been a long time since she had had sex and it had never been that satisfying until last night. She yawned and stretched, remembering the sweet lingering goodbye kisses Oliver had rained on her face as he left to travel back to England with his Quiditch team.

"It is very much against my will that I go, Francesca," he had whispered into her ear just before she heard him 'pop' out of sight. Then she had rolled over to catch up on some of the sleep she hadn't gotten the night before. Sitting up now, she was surprised to find a scroll laying on the pillow beside her. She unrolled it and read;

Francesca,

I'm sorry that I could not stay and at least breakfast with you today, but perhaps it is best that we not tempt fate by trying to extend this lark. While we are most certainly on very good terms, I fear your family would not be as at ease with this as we are. Forgive my bluntness, but I'm sure I am not your mother's idea of suitable and I would never wish to come between you and your family. The Woods have hurt the Vecchios enough. Know that I will always be your friend, just as you will always have a piece of my heart. Call on me if you ever need anything.

Best,

Oliver

P.S. Are you always that ticklish or do I bring it out in you?

- O

Oh well, so much for catching herself a hot, young, athletic wizard. Not that she didn't agree with him. Last night had been a lark, not a mistake, just not more than it was, a lark. Still, she would not have said no to a morning 'lark' as well. She just kinda' wished he had seemed more reluctant to leave. Then again 'It is very much against my will that I go, Francesca' sounded pretty reluctant, she smiled to herself.

'Now, how do I get back to the school?' she thought to herself.

~~~

Eight weeks later, after spending yet another morning with her head in the toilet, Frannie had to admit it was actually just a little bit more than a lark. She was very glad that her time in Canada had inspired her to take charge of her life and get her own apartment here in Chicago. Okay, it was her fake brother Ray's apartment, but he wasn't gonna come back from Skagnetti any time soon, now that Fraser was an instructor there. At least here in her fake brother's apartment, she didn't have to explain to Ma why she was so very vomitus and who had helped her to get that way.

She though fondly back on Oliver and the Lark they had shared. Lark, with a capitol L, was now that night's official title in her mind. It was a memory she revisited more often that she cared to admit. It didn't seem healthy to be so hung up on a man she, really hardly knew. Well that had to change now; she would have to tell him soon, she was not going to do this alone, and if that meant that she did it without Ma or Maria's help, so be it. She would have Oliver and her real brother Ray and his wife Stella. She also could probably count on Ray and Fraser if it came down to it, but she was not gonna raise this kid up on the Tundra with them at Skagnetti, no way.

No time like the present. She got up off the floor of the bathroom and rinsed her mouth. Then she walked into the living room and rummaged in the roll top desk for some paper and something to write with. Finding a pen and some official stationary from the 27^th precinct that had a typo saying CPD Malor Grimes Devition (Jeeze! who did that proof-read?), she set to work.

Dear Oliver,

How have you been? I am doing well. I have moved out of my Ma's house and am subletting an apartment. Do wizards sublet? Does that sentence even make any sense to you? Anyway, I'm writing because I need to see you so that we can talk about something important. I can't tell you about it in a letter, it wouldn't be right telling you that way, so please, meet with me in person. Please reply with a time you might be available to meet or if you can, telephone. (773) 555-9853

Fondly,

Francesca Vecchio

P.S. I am not ticklish, nor have I ever been ticklish. Where could you have ever got that idea?

- Frannie

Walking to the bird cage over by the window, she reached in and waited as Josephine, the Bonaparte Gull she had bought on her trip up north, to perch on her hand. She was a good bird to have in Chicago as she was well adapted to both warm and cold climates. Frannie, sealed the letter and tied it to Josie, letting her out the window. Now all she could do was wait for Oliver's reply.

~~~

Three days later, she walked into her apartment after a very long day at the precinct. No one seemed to understand her job and so they all figured anything they needed done, no matter how disgusting, it was the civilian aide's problem. She really was only required to keep the files in order and answer phones, Tom Dewey asked for coffee, she had better get it or he'd never stop whining about how she was neglecting her duties. One of these days she was really gonna have to give him some old-fashioned Vecchio charm lessons right upside the head, the meat grinder.

Pressing the PLAY button on her- er, Ray's answering machine, she heard two familiar voices.

BEEP

". . . reat to hear from you . . . "

"Wait, wait, Oliver, you have to wait for the beep, before you talk."

"The what? Harry, I can here her voice, she's there . . . "

"No, she's not, it's a recording, you wait for the beep and then you tell her what you want to say, but she won't here it until later, when she plays th . . ."

BEEP

BEEP

". . . Now go Oliver, just like you were reciting a letter to a Quick-Quill, okay?"

"Right, uh . . . Francesca, I was goods to hear from you. Things are going great with me. Puddlemere United is on a winning streak. What kind of bird was that anyway, I've never seen an owl like that before . . "

"Oliver, don't take too long, you're going to get cut off agi . . ."

BEEP

BEEP

"Right, so, hi Francesca, I'llbeabletobeinChicagothissundayafternoonIllcallagainthatdayCan'twaittoseeyou CheersfromOliver. (breath) How was that Harry?"

"Uh, just perfect Oliver, she'll be swept off her feet for sure."

"And Ron said using the fellyfone was difficu . . ."

BEEP

Oh God, Sunday, that's tomorrow! That's what she gets for forgetting to check her messages last night. She doesn't even have time to get her hair done before she sees him again and look at the mess the apartment is. She was gonna have to stay up all night to clean it up.

In the end, she opted for the 'lived-in' look, figuring that if she cleaned up too much it would look like she had cleaned up and that would make her look too eager. What she was eager for she was not admitting to herself. It was just a good thing she was so tired from her nasty, long day at work and cleaning the apartment (not to mention farming a whole person inside of her), or she would not have slept for the 'eager' images that kept sneaking into her thoughts.

~~~

Twelve hours later, Frannie awoke to the ringing of the phone. Finding herself instantly, shockingly awake, she reached for the receiver, just as her stomach gave a great lurch. Carrying the handset along with her, she raced for the toilet, just barely reaching it before emptying her stomach's contents. With a silent prayer that the person an the other end of the line had suffered a case of temporary deafness, she wiped her mouth and spoke into the phone.

"Hello," it was a pitiful croak.

Nothing.

She cleared her throat and tried again, "Hello."

Still nothing.

"Oliver?" she tried hopefully.

"Francesca?"

"Yeah, it's me. Why weren't you answering me?"

"I was waiting for the beep. I guess your not the answer-phone are you?"

"No, I'm really here this time."

"Are you ill? I thought I heard . . ."

"Stomach flu," she clipped out, before he could finish his question.

"Perhaps I should come on another day then. You should see a healer or at least a nurse."

"Uh no, I'll be fine. So, where are you? In Chicago yet?" She walked out of the bathroom and glanced at the clock. Damn, she had slept until 1 o'clock.

"Aye, I'm at the corner of Wacker and Jefferson next to a building taller than a castle. But I'm not sure hoe to get to you."

"Sears Tower, your at Sears Tower, good. Go into the really tall building, go to the freight elevator that is marked 'out of order' and press the call button. When you get inside, say 'Apario Forum' and another door will open. Go through that door and find a place called Owings Pub. You can wait for me there. Okay? You got that?"

"Certainly. One question, though, what's a freight elevator?"