(no subject)
"Maddie, please come downstairs. I need to speak with you," Madison's mother's voice came from the living room. Great, thought Maddie, This should be interesting.
As Madison descended from her room, she caught a glimpse of her mother pacing on the living room rug. Something was seriously wrong. As Maddie entered the room, she took a deep breath and tried to brace herself for what might be coming.
"Yes, Mum?", Maddie asked immediately upon joining her mother.
"Sit down," her mother replied. When Madison did not obey immediately, she added, "Now!" Maddie jumped slightly and did as she was told.
"What's going on, Mum? You're really scaring me," said Maddie, trying to hide the fact that her lip was quivering.
"Listen. There's something I've been meaning to tell you for weeks now, but I haven't been able to work up the courage." When Maddie opened her mouth to speak, her mother put up her hand to stop her. "Please, let me finish. When we first moved here from Ireland, my father--your granddad--assured me that our secret would be kept safe, and that moving here was all that he'd ever ask from me. He lied, Maddie."
Madison's face looked both frightened and confused. Her mother continued:
"In April, he came here. I was cleaning when I heard a knock. When I opened the door and saw him standing there, I knew that he was up to something. All he said was, 'I want you to give up magic. Maddie may continue, but you must become a normal human being or the entire magical world will be discovered.'
"The next day, I went to the Ministry. They destroyed my wand, and, at my request, stripped me of my powers. I didn't know what else to do, Maddie. I wanted you to be safe and happy. Dad hasn't returned with any new requests, but it's only a matter of time."
Maddie looked up in shock at her mother. "What are you saying?", she asked.
"What I'm saying is that if and when my father asks you to give up being a witch, you must make a choice. Either you appease him and lose your power forever," her mother gulped, "or you'll have to live somewhere other than with me, in this house."
Her mother's last sentence seemed to echo in Maddie's ears. She opened her mouth to speak, but, predictably, she had nothing to say. She stood up, gazed at her mum with disbelief, and ran to her room.
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Oh. My. God. How could I have been so stupid? I knew it! I knew something was up! I just---I don't---Why didn't she tell me sooner??