London in the twentieth century was still characterized by year-round rain.
On a perfectly sunny day, Vespera Quinlan was dropped off at the orphanage gates by a kind stranger passing by.
That night, the sky was filled with stars—a rare sight in London.
"Vespera, there won't be any moon tonight." The headmistress, carrying a stack of donated sheets, walked past the child climbing onto the roof.
Vespera, just like her name.
Stars, surrounding and longing for the moon.
"The moon is always there. If I wait for the wind, she’ll be right in my eyes," Vespera Quinlan stated calmly.
The headmistress was used to this strange, good child; aside from her obsession with the moon, Vespera was truly wonderful.
She sighed helplessly. "All right, you will keep our agreement today as well, won't you?"
"Yes, Headmistress. I will return to my room quietly before the tower clock strikes for the twenty-fifth time."
"I believe you’ll have a good sleep tonight once you're back in your room," the headmistress said, winking mysteriously, her tone much more buoyant than usual.
Vespera shifted her gaze to the woman's face, warmed by the lamplight. "Thank you."
The headmistress hummed a nursery rhyme and walked away with the sheets.
A week ago, the sun had been glorious; the donated sheets had bathed in the sunlight and remained in the wooden wardrobe ever since.
Sunshine, aged wood.
Vespera tilted her head slightly, looking at the place where the moon usually resided. It was a comforting scent.
The tower clock chimed the twenty-fourth time right on schedule. The factory smoke did not rest, even at night.
Vespera counted silently, keeping time.
As was her custom, she could wait a little longer, then crawl under her quilt just as the twenty-fifth chime struck.
If only a butterfly on the other side of the world would flap its wings, the tornado in London would sweep away the clouds, and she would be able to see the moon.
Perhaps the stars' prayers were answered; a butterfly flapped its wings, and the moonlight favored the persistent traveler.
"That wasn't a butterfly; it was an owl."
She muttered to herself, "It's even clutching an envelope."
Before Vespera could rejoice at that sliver of moonlight, the long-distance messenger braked sharply and crashed into her arms.
The envelope fell into her palm; it was heavy parchment, and the recipient's address was written in emerald green ink: "Wool's Orphanage."
The seal bore a shield-shaped crest with a capital "H" surrounding four animals.
A snake, an eagle, a lion... and a canine? A weasel? Vespera really couldn't tell.
"Is this for me?"
The owl nodded with human-like intelligence. Vespera opened the envelope.
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
Dear Ms. Quinlan: We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find an enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment.
The term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31st.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress."
The twenty-fifth chime was about to ring. Vespera, a child who kept her promises, tucked the envelope neatly into her oversized clothes.
She descended the rope ladder smoothly and landed on the ground, traversing the straight hallways and winding stairs.
She took off her coat with light steps, lay down on the small bed marked "Vespera Quinlan" by the window, and tucked the letter under her pillow.
The soft quilt wrapped around her, and the expected scent made her feel even more at ease.
"Dong—"
The new day had been passing for an hour.
Eight hours later, Quinlan and the other twelve children would be sitting on the benches in the cafeteria, waiting for their meal.
Today’s breakfast was, as always, two boiled potatoes, an egg, a piece of bacon, and two slices of bread.
Every morning, Vespera thanked the anonymous donors and the kind stranger who had brought her to Wool's Orphanage.
After breakfast, the children cleaned together.
Lina came over quietly and whispered to Vespera, "Pera, I’ve decided to leave."
She was a year younger than Vespera and as cute as a doll in a shop window. "A Duke is looking for a companion for his daughter; room and board are provided."
"I was chosen."
A companion?
Vespera remembered. It was that man who wore a top hat and had a face as dark as the bottom of a kitchen pot.
She had delivered letters to the Duke's maids and heard he was a man who loved his daughter very much, even if he spent little time at home.
"I'm a little scared. The Duke looks very frightening."
"It's all right. You won't spend much time with him; his daughter is a very good child."
"Being afraid is normal. The unknown brings us confusion, but choices point us toward a certain unknown."
Lina kept wiping the same spot on the window. Vespera took her hand and led her to a fresh spot to keep cleaning.
"I don't understand, Pera."
"How did you know all that?" Vespera bent down to wash the rag, washing Lina's as well.
"I passed by his house yesterday and happened to see." She stuffed the clean rag into Lina's hand. "You know, the Duke’s car is very easy to recognize."
"I think I’m not as scared anymore."
With over a dozen people working, the cleaning went quickly, and today, Wool's Orphanage was as clean and tidy as ever.
Vespera was called to the headmistress's office. The friend who brought the message said the headmistress was very angry.
She was confused. She had returned to her room on time yesterday... she had eaten her breakfast obediently this morning, done her chores properly, and even done Lina’s share.
"Vespera Quinlan! You explain this to me—what is going on?" A letter written in pencil lay on the headmistress's desk.
"I'm sorry, about that letter..."
"You actually wrote that you were out of money? Where is your money? You clearly have so much money!"
"And what is this about not being able to afford school?"
Headmistress Aisha was practically dying of anger.
Did she want to sit on the roof of the orphanage looking at the moon for the rest of her life?
"Headmistress, I really have no money left."
!!!
"You’ve been sweeping streets, cleaning, and delivering mail for five or six years! Where is the money?!"
Mrs. Aisha was horrified: this child ate and lived at the orphanage, her clothes were all donated, and she never bought anything fancy.
Where did the money go?
Had she been robbed?
"If you met someone bad... you have to tell me."
"I donated all my money to St. Jude’s Church for their repairs."
"WHAT!!!!"
Mrs. Aisha’s shriek echoed through the entire orphanage. Everyone thought Pera was done for today.
"Why would a child donate so much money to a church! Does Jesus live on the moon?"
As she spoke, she grabbed the wooden rod from the desk and marched over to grab Pera by the shoulders. Vespera didn't resist.
"I’m going to tear that damn church down today. They actually dared to scam our orphanage!"
"Come on, you’re coming with me."
Hearing this, Vespera slipped out of Aisha’s grip like an eel. "Headmistress, I did it voluntarily. Please, listen to me..."
"He manipulated you into being so willing, while I have to beg you just to get you to sleep early!" Aisha was furious. Ignoring Pera, she grabbed the rod and stormed toward the church.
"Father Calloway, today I am going to peel off your hypocritical skin!"
The other children chattered and swarmed around.
"Wow, smoke is coming out of the headmistress's head, did you see?"
"Pera, Pera, is this that 'Lion’s Roar' from China you told us about? It’s so powerful!"
"The headmistress is amazing! Is human skin as easy to peel as a potato skin?"
...
As the oldest in the orphanage, Vespera Quinlan began to explain to the little ones one by one.
After a while, Lina came to her senses and grew worried.
"Pera, aren't you going to go after her and see?"
"It’s fine, they won't fight."
Vespera dismissed the last child, called the owl from the roof, and handed it the letter.
Seeing that Lina was still worried, she continued, "The church is in prayer time right now. Mrs. Aisha won't storm in when she sees that."
"Everyone knows Father Calloway’s character. Once Mrs. Aisha calms down, she’ll naturally remember, and she won’t be in such a rush to 'peel his skin'."
"We have thin arms and short legs; we can't catch up to her, and saying anything more will only add fuel to the fire." Vespera stroked the owl’s head a few times, signaling it to fly away.
"Why did the headmistress get angry knowing we paid money? We paid the tuition voluntarily."
Ever since Pera arrived at the orphanage, they had been learning at the church. There was no such thing as "free" in this world; everything had a price, hidden or overt.
Knowledge included.
The priest was kind and didn't want to collect their tuition. So, they sent the money under a different name.
This was their way, as lonely children, of not owing the world anything.
Pera turned to Lina and flashed a bright smile. "The headmistress just thought we were being scammed. Don't worry, the priest will explain it to her. We have guests coming to the orphanage today, don't we?"
By the time Vespera had changed nine tablecloths, polished thirty-six wine glasses, set thirty-six place settings, and peeled her one-hundred-and-fifty-seventh potato, Headmistress Aisha returned with a slightly flushed face. Seeing Pera peeling potatoes, she coughed twice and said seriously, "Come to my office tonight."
The orphanage had many guests that day—government officials, philanthropists, people looking to adopt. She was busy until the sky turned dim.
After dinner, she knocked on the office door.
"Come in."
Aisha sat at her desk, pen in hand, slightly hunched over, replying to letters from the day's visitors. The soft yellow light painted a glaze over her deep blue fountain pen.
Vespera sat quietly in the chair beside her.
Her mind drifted.
The headmistress had her own ideals; Vespera had known that since the day she arrived.
Even now, as the oldest child in the orphanage, Pera still believed in them firmly.
One hour, fifteen minutes, and thirty-two seconds later, the cap was clicked back onto the pen, and the fountain pen tapped against the desk.
Headmistress Aisha loved that pen; she had been using it since before Quinlan arrived at the orphanage.
"Ms. Vespera Quinlan, Father Calloway and I both believe you should go to school."
"I never give up on any child, and that includes you."
"Calloway believes that repairing the church is something the government and the rich should do, and that teaching knowledge to ignorant children is what he, as a priest, is capable of doing."
"The money you and the other children paid for lessons—he kept it all for you."
For six years, the "tuition" Vespera had paid was kept safe in kraft paper, a thick stack.
Passing through time and hands, it reached her again, once more bearing the meaning of her pursuit of education.
"But I already sent the rejection letter..."
The kerosene lamp had a loose connection, suddenly flickering. The headmistress reached for her ruler as if to swat her. "I think you’re just asking for a thrashing today—"
"Thump!"
Something hit the window.
——————
I do not demonize any character. The author is impartial and cares for every character; any behavior exhibited by characters in their respective positions and backgrounds is consistent with their logic. I hope everyone understands.
I have only watched the movies and read fan fiction; I have not read the original books. The material for this writing relies entirely on the movies and internet searches. Please enjoy the story harmoniously.
Finally, I sincerely thank every reader who clicked on this book.