A Thorn Between Banners

My eyes flicked wildly from side to side. My breathing came in short, sharp gasps. Every instinct in me was screaming in protest. A million thoughts tore through my head. This wasn't what I wanted at all. This wasn't how any of this was supposed to go. If I'd tried harder, I could have stopped this. What was I doing? At last my gaze landed on Malfoy, stationed in front of the door. He looked untouched by the panic written all over me. I hated him for that calmness. He wasn't really my enemy, yet in that moment I could not keep the resentment from rising. I threw him a murderous glare. "What's happening?!" I cried. "If there's fighting, I want to be part of it!" Without thinking, I yanked out my wand. My hand trembled while I aimed it at him. I needed to feel as though I was doing something. "Put that away," Malfoy said coldly, though with a trace of nonchalance. He clearly didn't consider my threat real. I was hardly in any state to use magic, and he knew it. "I gave my word I'd protect you, Miss Halloway." I could feel my resistance giving way with no hope left. I put my wand away by slow degrees. "I'm not the one who needs guarding," I muttered just loudly enough for him to catch. I knew he'd get what I meant. Only one person filled my mind right then. Malfoy seemed on the verge of hesitating. "Stay here," he warned. Then he turned and strode out of the office. I let out a sigh while I watched him leave. Once he had gone, I began pacing back and forth. My nerve was slipping away little by little. I was driving myself mad with "what ifs." I should have spoken to him. I should have held him back. I should have done anything. I felt completely helpless. Why was I even in this position? Maybe things would have been better if I had simply stayed in Minnesota. But I couldn't bring myself to regret the past three years of my life. Those years made me who I am. He had shaped who I am. It had all begun with a letter... It was just one perfectly ordinary Saturday morning at home. My mom, my two younger sisters, and I were packed around the kitchen table stuffing our faces with pancakes. My dad was ambling over with the mail an owl had just dropped off. "Anything interesting?" I asked curiously once I'd swallowed. My sister Ivy and I were expecting letters from the North Star School of Spellcraft with our school-supply lists. Yes, we were witches, and we were proud of it. This would mark Ivy's first year there and my fourth. I could hardly wait. Heading off to study magic was exciting. Dad shuffled through the envelopes. He stopped when he reached a particularly large one. He blinked, surprised. "It's from Blackthorn Academy," he said, visibly stunned. All of us turned and looked at him in silence while he opened the envelope and pulled out the letter. Blackthorn Academy was an incredible Wizarding school based in Britain. My father had studied there, since he'd been born in England. Why was he receiving a letter from them? Was there some kind of reunion or something? Dad's eyes suddenly widened. "Ivy's in!" he announced. Ivy gave a little gasp. My mouth fell open. Ivy had been accepted to Blackthorn Academy? No fair! "The Headmaster had decided to admit her, even though she isn't European, since I'm an alumnus there." He turned to me. "I tried to get you in during your first year, but Headmaster Merrow wanted to see just how well you would do at the Twin Cities School before he accepted you." I latched onto the word "before." Would I be accepted too? I didn't think Blackthorn Academy accepted students from the United States at all. Did they even allow exchange students? I held my breath. Dad looked over at Ivy. "Do you want to go?" Young Ivy opened her mouth to answer, but our mom spoke first. "Wait, is Ivy really just going to leave us?" Mom asked worriedly. Dad shook his head. "Serena is accepted too. And Nell, once she's old enough." "Really?" I said with a bright grin. This was unbelievable! "So we're moving?" Nell guessed. She was only 9-years-old. She looked unsure how she felt about the situation. "If we all agree," Dad said. "Blackthorn Academy is the finest Wizarding school in the world. You'd get a great education there." He was trying to seem nonchalant, but the excitement in his eyes was obvious. He obviously wanted to return to Britain; that place was home to him. Mom considered it for awhile. At last she gave a small sigh and smiled slightly. "Well, you moved out to America for me, so I can return to Britain for you and the children," she said, sounding thoughtful. Dad smiled at her. "I'm sick of this town," Ivy said. "Nothing exciting ever happens here. Let's go!" "It could be our chance for adventure!" Nell exclaimed, suddenly excited. Dad looked at me. "What do you think, Serena?" I shrugged. I really wanted to jump up and down with excitement, but I kept it off my face. I didn't want to look too eager. I was good at keeping my emotions in check. "I guess we can go. We don't have much to lose." Dad gave a short nod. "Then I suppose we're moving."