Lose One to Gain Another

[Ariah Zhefarovich]

Ariah knew she was supposed to be finishing her homework right now, she was honestly trying to work on it earlier until she had gotten sleepy and ended up falling asleep. That nap had turned into a four hour period where she completely neglected her homework and by the time she had woken up it was just about time for most of the students to head down to the Great Hall for their dinner. However the perky yet lazy blonde had decided against getting any food. She was expecting a letter from her father any day now and she was eager for it to arrive, she was almost ninety percent sure it would come today. So Ariah bid goodbye to her friends before she headed out of the castle and towards the Owlery. Thankfully she had worn a warmer outfit because now that it was March in New Zealand it meant that Autumn was here and that also meant cooler weather. "Brrr...." She shivered for a moment before she started up the many stairs that led to the Owls. Even though it smelled kind of bad in there she liked to be around the birds, owls were so cute and if they didn't try to bite she would often try to pet them. The always had really soft feathers, especially the Snowy Owls. Once she had reached the top she noticed that it was still really cool and shivered again. Her mint green eyes glanced at the owls and suddenly a lop-sided grin fell onto her face, the owls looked warm at least.

'Come to think of it...don't Veela's have feathers too? Alyssa must be really warm in the winter too.' The blonde shrugged her shoulders as she lounged by her Owl Arrow who appeared to be sleeping though it could be pretending on her so she wouldn't send him out to deliver a letter. Ariah smirked and stroked the top of his head before she leaned against part of the wall and waited for her letter from dad to arrive, boy did she miss him and his funny letters. When Ariah heard the screeching of an owl she had never seen before she turned her gaze onto it, it had a letter in it's beak too!

 

[Colton Kovac]

The owl that brought the letter to Hogwarts New Zealand was a black banded owl. She flew toward the girl with the mint colored eyes and dropped the letter with her name written neatly upon the envelope into her hand. The owl flew to the edge of the window and perched upon it. She flapped her wings and screeched once more at another owl staring. In the letter was:

Dear Ariah,

My name is Colton Kovac, and I work at Saint Mungo's as a Healer and assists with pregnancies and such. Ariah, I am writing to you today because as I was reading through the newspapers, I was devastated to discover that your father, Aric Rowan, has died. You might be asking why I know this, and I hate to bear the news to you, but he was also my father, however our mothers are separate. I felt it was appropriate to tell you, if you don't already know. I was around the family until I went to school and became a Healer. You may not remember me, but I remember Yvo and Isaak. If you wish to ask Yvo if what I am saying is true, then feel free to write to him. I will not be offended.

I have something else on my mind, but after I give it some thought, be looking for Lilia, she is the owl that delivered this letter. It could be from tomorrow to a week from now. I hope you are enjoying school, and making good grades.

Sincerely,
Colton Kovac

 

[Ariah Zhefarovich]

Ariah furrowed her eyebrows at the letter, this guy was absolutely nuts if he seriously wanted to believe that her father was dead. On top of that he also tried to claim that he was actually her brother as well. He did seem to know a lot of information about her life though so she figured it wouldn't hurt to send a letter to her brother Yvo about all of this. The whole time she write her hands were shaking as she began to think about the thought of her father being dead, this guy had to be joking around right?

Yvo,

I got a letter today from some guy named Colton Kovac. He claimed to be our big brother and that he knew you and Isaak and everything. Is this all true? I really need to know and I need to know now. He claimed that Dad is dead after he read it in the newspapers or something. Sorry for the short and probably unwanted letter but I really need you to write me back this time.

Please,
Ariah Rowan

Wit shaky heads she awoke a cranky looked Arrow and handed him the a treat before she allowed him to take a letter in his small beak. With a small sigh and a shudder she sent the owl out before she sighed, hoping that this was all some sort of joke or stupid lie.

 

[Yvo Rowan]

Hey there Ariah,

I could have easily lied to you and pretended that everything was okay and that I had no idea what you were talking about, but you know how bad I am at lying anyways so I might as well tell you now. Yeah I know her Colton Kovac is. He's our older brother, well half-brother but he's still our brother. He was around some when I was a kid but not much because mom hated that dad once had a child with another woman and hated him. You probably don't remember him because he was mostly around when you were really little, I know Adrian won't remember him at all. I have no idea what he's like now or if he's the type of person that you want to get to know but I think you need to at least write him back or something.
As for dad all I can say to you is, why do you think he has yet to write you back?

- Yvo

 

[Ariah Zhefarovich]

Days later when Ariah received the letter from Yvo she read it wearily, so it was true that they had another brother that she had no idea about until just a few days ago. She felt bad that she didn't remember him and that their mother wouldn't let him be around more often because of her anger towards him for something that wasn't his fault. Ariah knew how that went all too well since she had been shoved and beaten around by that woman for being someone different than her mother wanted her to be. But Yvo's response to her about their father made her sure that something was up. So thats why none of his letters came in to her, he wasn't even alive to write them. Why hadn't their mother told her sooner, did she even know what had happened to Aric? Sent along with Yvo's letter was the newspaper clip where his name was printed. Sure enough the Death Date read March 2nd, 2026. Apparently he had been poisoned by something, whether it was beast or plant it did not reveal but Ariah it was due to some sort of plant just because the man so often dealt with many types of dangerous plants. Ariah had yet to cry about it for some reason as well. Maybe it was just because she refused to let it hit her yet. Carefully retrieving a quill and some parchment she started on writing a letter to Colton...her brother.

Dear Colton,

Sorry it took a few days to write back, I wanted to check with Yvo first and he likes to procrastinate on everything. Turns out you really are my brother, odd. Turns out your the oldest out of all of us, I have no idea why Isaak and Yvo didn't bother to mention you earlier but I figure it might have something to do with Mom not liking you so much. I don't really remember you at all, so I'm not really sure what your like or anything. You should have come by to visit me more, I sort of feel like you don't like me that much. I might just be over thinking it too much too, you couldn't have at least written me before today though. I have been doing good in school though, I get good grades and I have a few friends here too.
Were you close with dad?

Write me back,
Ariah

 

[Colton Kovac]

Lilia flew in the school once more, and she dropped a letter from her owner to the Slytherin girl, Ariah. She shook the wind from her ruffled wings and she screeched softly, her eyes staring down the girl.

Dear Ariah,

I am not surprised that they have not mentioned me, let alone your mother. I would have been around more often if it were not for her and I would have wrote if I knew what school you were attending and if I were not so busy in my studies to advance my skills in being a good Healer for Saint Mungo's. It is not that I do not like you, it is the fact that I am too busy to even attempt to visit family anymore. Deaths and injuries and births are ridiculous here. I would love to get to know you. What I have been thinking about for a while now, is that i was wondering if you would move in with me because I assume you don't want to stay with your mother. Even I did not like her when I met her. But if you want to stay with your mother, that is fine, but if you want to move in with me, I have plenty of room in my house in London, but I also have a small two bedroom house in New Zealand, so you won't have to switch schools.

Do tell me what you think on this matter. I want to make up the lost time of being a big brother to all my siblings, even the one's on my mother's side. I think I have been alone enough, and need to get more of a social life. I was not real close with dad, but I knew him a little more than an average adopted kid knew his parents. He was a good man, and I hope he does well in the afterlife.

Sincerely,
Colton Kovac

 

[Ariah Zhefarovich]

Ariah gently stroked the Owl who had come to bring her the letter from 'big brother' Colton. After a moment she picked up the letter from the animal and gently opened it. She loved getting letters from her father back when he was alive. It still didn't seem to hit her but she was getting by as best as she could by just keeping quiet about it. No one else but her knew and she intended to keep it that way. Having people know would only make them pity her and bring it up over an dover again so she would never forget it.

</FONT>

Dear Colton,

You want me to Move in with you? OH MY GOD THAT SOUNDS AWESOME! There's no way I want go back to living with my mother after all of this had happened and gone down. My mother hates me and likes to beat me around and yell at me whenever she gets angry. Living with you means I now have a way to avoid all of that so I can't thank you enough. You are so getting a bunch of hugs the first time we meet for all of this! I think it's going to be so cool living with an older brother who works at St. Mungos, you can tell me a whole bunch of gross stories about having to cut off people's arms or something weird. I don't think it would mind either way if we lived in London or New Zealand, as long as I get to go to school here next year we could live anywhere you wanted.
So you live alone? You don't have any pets or a wife or anything? Why does that sound so lonely to me?

See ya,
Ariah Rowan

<FONT font="Lucida">

 

[Colton Kovac]

Dear Ariah,

That sounds great then. I will have to get a bedroom and such set up, and I am not sure if I can get everything you would like, but it will do. I never liked your mother, and I would prefer to not hear those things that happened to you. You can always find a way to avoid her, and I will not let her come and take you away once you get here. As for the hugs, um, I am not much of a physical person so do not feel bad if I am a little surprised by the display of affection. I can tell you stories over what I have seen, but I have yet to cut off someone's arm. I have dealt with other things. I am a midwife, and I specialize in giving birth to babies and pregnancies. I do live alone. I don't have any pets because there would hardly be anyone here to tend to them. And I do not have a wife either. It is a lonely life, it it was something I have chosen for a while now, and looking for some change in my life. I look forward to meeting with you when you get out of school this year.

Sincerely,
Colton Kovac

 

[Ariah Zhefarovich]

Dear Colton,

You letting me live with you is more than enough so don't be too worried about having everything I would like. Besides we can always go shopping if needed, I know some money would be left to us in the event of dads death. Thanks again for all of this. You have no idea how much this means to me, especially if your willing to keep me from mom who is most definite going to be shocked and upset to hear that I'm going to move in with you. I do have one teeny question as well, what about Adrian? Our youngest brother, he's only like four and lived with dad as well but was usually taken care of by our Nanny. Are you going to take him in too? You'll get used to the hugging. I do it a lot.
Dude one day you'll need to get a pet. And you need to get a girlfriend too, I think it'd be so cool to have a little niece or nephew someday and we all know how Yvo and Isaak will probably fail in this area.

Do you like bunnies?,
- Ariah

 

[Colton Kovac]

Dear Ariah,

Yes, but you would not want to live in a bedroom with Hello Kitty or something of the sort. Don't ask, it was something I saw on a little girl's shirt when I was walking in the Muggle world. I have some money as well, so it would not be a problem either. You are very welcome indeed. Well, let her be upset because I could careless. You are old enough to choose who you want to live with. Adrian? Um, I guess he can move in as well, I don't mind. How old is Adrian? Well, I guess that is one way of getting used to hugging. I have Lilia as a pet, technically. As for a girlfriend, I don't think I need one, I just have yet to find the right one for me. I prefer to not base my life around girls and all. Maybe one day in the future, but not anytime soon, will I have a child.

Sincerely,
Colton Kovac

 

[Ariah Zhefarovich]

Dear Colton,

What in the world is Hello Kitty? Oh wait nevermind, sorry I asked. Muggles have some of the weirdest things out there, or so I've learned from my Muggle Studies class. I know i'm old enough but my mom doesn't seem to think that way at all these days. Mother thinks that I'm nothing but an idiotic little girl who does nothing but follow other people around because I'm too silly to make my own decisions. Adrian is four and likes to get into trouble, but chances are mom will probably treat him kindly so it wouldn't be much of an issue either way. He could stay or live with mom. The only ones that mom doesn't seem to like is you and me, I think it's because dad liked us most though.
I have an Owl as well, his name is Arrow and he's a Northern Saw-Whet Owl. He's really teeny but awful cuddly for such a cranky looking owl. I also have a bunny rabbit named Sparks but he's nice too and usually hides. I still think you should find a girl someday, how long have you been living alone? There's someone out there for you..you just need to look really hard for her.

Sincerely,
Ariah

 

[Colton Kovac]

Dear Ariah,

Muggle stuff, I do not know much about. It is something for littler girls or something I believe. Your mother seems controlling. Things would not be like that here though. Though you will not have absolute freedom. Guidelines are the only thing necessary. As for Adrian, I want you to see how she treats him, or have him wait a bit. I don't know if I know how to care for someone that young when I work so much as is. I would not blame father for liking us though. Owls are fine, but never heard of that breed before. But a tiny owl would do fine. As for the rabbit, um, I don't know if I have allergies or not, but we will see. Finding a girl is the last thing on my list, and I have been living alone since I was sixteen. So, about five years.

Sincerely,
Colton Kovac

 

[Ariah Zhefarovich]

Dear Colton,

I took a Muggle Studies class but other than that I'm not really sure about muggles themselves, dad thought they were okay but recently people have been telling me they aren't supposed to be accepted by me. It's confusing. Well she was controlling and abusive, she's a lot better then some people's parents were. Absolute freedom would have been to good to be true, but what type of guidelines are there going to be for me? I think it'll be okay to see how she treats Adrian first since I think he would be fine, she only hates me for some really odd reason. It guess it's because I'm a fail of a daughter or something along those lines. Good because Arrow is too cut to give up, I hope your not allergic to rabbits but if so there's this friend of my who would probably takes Sparks for me.
Maybe you already found one but you just don't know it yet? Sixteen is awful young, don't you think? I'm not even going to be fifteen until August and I still feel really young!

Sincerely,
Ariah Rowan <i></i>

 

[Colton Kovac]

Dear Ariah,

I don't have an opinion about them. They are just people that don't do magic to me. If you accept them or not, that is completely and totally up to you. I knew that I never liked that mother of yours for a reason. Well, you don't have to worry about her anymore. Guidelines like no boys are to be brought into the house, no staying up and partying, common sense really. Just not what she wanted you to be. Never had anything like that happen to me so I cannot empathize. I doubt I am allergic to anything fluffy or furry, but you will never know. I have not been around animals at all. Just owls.

I don't know if I have found the one, but I am sure that you will be pleased to know that I have a date with Gabrielle Snow soon. I grew up faster than a lot of other teenagers. So, it was not young for me. Things will change after you reach a certain age, Ariah. Trust me, things really change.

Sincerely,
Colton Kovac

 

[Ariah Zhefarovich]

Dear Big Brother,

I'm not sure about muggles at this point. So many people are telling me different things so I think I should just wait for the future and see what I'm told then. Okay I can honestly say we are going to have an easy time but those guidelines are major fun sucking ones. When we meet up during the Holidays we'll just have to go over this list and see exactly what other rules you have because I don't want you and I to get off to a wrong start. I need to get off to studying and finishing up my homework so I need to end this letter up.

A date sounds exciting, I have a friend with the last name Snow. You have to tell me how it goes and if you guys decide to get married invite me to the wedding. Until then..don't overwork yourself.

Love,
Ariah

---

---

Fin​

---

---

​