The landscape shifted as the car drew closer to the coastline.
Nimue had spent hours pressed against the window, her small forehead resting against the cool glass as she watched the world transform. The vast, open farm fields that had stretched endlessly since they left home gradually shrunk into smaller, fenced-off plots before disappearing entirely. In their place, bustling towns emerged where houses stood shoulder to shoulder, their brick facades darkened by the damp coastal air.
Traffic lights began to pace their progress, and a steady stream of cars soon crowded the roads, a stark contrast to the quiet country lanes of the morning. Even the air flowing through the vents changed. The scent of crushed grass and damp earth faded, replaced by a sharp saltiness and a heavy, industrial smell that Nimue didn't have a name for yet.
She leaned closer to the pane, her breath creating a small circle of mist. Out here, the sky seemed to stretch wider, free from the obstruction of trees or hills, and the horizon had gone perfectly flat. "Is that the sea?" she asked, her green eyes wide with wonder.
Jane leaned forward from the passenger seat to catch a glimpse of the distant, shimmering line. "Non, ma petite. Pas encore (not yet.) She smiled, her own green eyes reflecting the grey light. "Soon."
They kept moving as the buildings grew taller and more functional. Eventually, a sign appeared with a bold arrow pointing toward Portsmouth. The driver followed the directions without hesitation, his hands steady on the steering wheel, while Jack sat beside him, watching the road ahead.
The road widened, and then Nimue finally saw it.
The English Channel was a vast expanse of slate-grey, stretching out until it met the pale sky in a hazy, indistinct line. Massive ships sat docked at the piers, their steel sides streaked with rust and dried salt. Towering cranes stood over them like giant metal birds, their long necks angled toward the sky. A ferry was already moored at the terminal. It was a colossal white vessel, a floating fortress with its bow open like a great, yawning mouth.
"Is that the boat?" Nimue asked, her voice hushed by the sheer scale of the thing.
"That's the ferry," Jack replied, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. "It will take us across the water."
Nimue couldn't look away. She had seen pictures of boats in her books, but she hadn't imagined they could be this large. The terminal hummed with activity as cars lined up in tidy, numbered queues.
The driver pulled into a lane and brought the car to a stop. A man wearing a high-visibility vest and a thick navy jumper approached the driver's side window. The driver rolled it down at Jack's nod, letting in a gust of wind that smelled of diesel and brine.
"Booking name?"
"Keith."
The man consulted a clipboard, his pen scratching against the paper. "Portsmouth to Caen. You are early. Boarding starts in about forty minutes, so you can wait in the queue." He handed Jack a ticket and moved on to the next car without another word.
Nimue looked around at the other travelers. There were cars in every direction, filled with families and barking dogs. A large lorry nearby was covered in a heavy green tarp that snapped loudly in the breeze.
"Cinder stays in the car," Jane said gently, turning her head to catch Nimue's gaze. "We can visit him during the crossing, but he isn't allowed up on the passenger decks."
Nimue looked down at the fox. He was curled into a tight, copper ball on her lap, his eyes half-closed in a doze. The white tip of his tail rested near her knee. "He will be okay."
Cinder's ear twitched as if he understood, but he didn't open his eyes.
The queue eventually began to move with a series of rhythmic clunks and the sound of many engines turning over at once. The cars inched forward, and Nimue watched the ferry loom larger with every second. It was even taller than she had realized. Rows of windows looked down like unblinking eyes, and a massive ramp led into the ship's dark interior.
The driver guided the car up the ramp, and the wheels made a hollow, metallic thrumming sound against the heavy steel, while Jack remained in the passenger seat. The car deck was dim and cavernous, illuminated by sickly yellow lights that hummed overhead. Men in vests used orange batons to guide them into a narrow lane.
The driver parked and cut the engine, the sudden silence feeling heavy in the enclosed space.
"Leave the windows down a crack," Jack said, glancing at the driver. "For the fox."
Jane rolled them down just enough to let the air circulate. Nimue unbuckled her seatbelt and reached over to stroke the fox's soft head. "We will be back soon," she whispered, her fingers lingering in the fur behind his ears.
He looked up at her, his amber eyes wide and his ears pressed flat against his head. He gave a soft, high-pitched whine as they stepped out and closed the doors.
They climbed out of the car, their footsteps echoing. The air on the deck was thick with the smell of petrol and heavy rubber. Other passengers were doing the same, stretching their legs and carrying bags toward a steep staircase at the end of the hold. Jack took Nimue's hand, his palm warm and firm, while Jane carried a small bag of snacks.
The passenger deck was bright and airy. Large windows lined the walls, offering a view of the grey water and the receding docks of Portsmouth. Tables and chairs filled the room, and a small café counter stood at one end. A woman was already busy stacking white cups behind a glass display of pastries.
Nimue hurried to the window. The dock was already falling away as men on the shore pulled in the thick mooring ropes. The massive ramp slowly lifted, sealing the ship shut with a heavy, final clang. "We are moving," she said, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and nerves.
"We are."
The ferry shuddered with a deep, vibrating thrum that Nimue felt in her chest. The dock slid sideways as the vessel began its majestic turn. She watched the land shrink. The buildings grew tiny, and the great cranes turned into thin sticks against the horizon. She pressed her hand to the glass. It felt cold against her palm.
They found a cluster of seats near a window. Jane went to the counter and returned with tea in steaming paper cups and a packet of biscuits. Jack opened them and placed two on a napkin for Nimue.
"Eat up. It helps with the motion."
"What motion?"
"The boat's movement," he explained. "Some people feel a bit sick if they don't have something in their stomach."
Nimue nibbled on a biscuit, the dry crunch loud in her ears. The ferry was in open water now, and she could feel the floor beneath her feet shifting with a slow, heavy rhythm. She ate the second biscuit in silence, watching the white crests of the waves.
"Can we go outside now?"
"After we check on Cinder," Jane replied.
They headed back down to the dim car deck first. Cinder was wide awake, sitting upright in the driver's seat with his ears pointed sharply forward. He watched them through the glass, his eyes reflecting the yellow lights. Jane opened the door, and Nimue climbed inside to give him a proper pat. "We are on the water," she told him, her voice low. "It's very big."
His tail gave a single, muffled thump against the seat.
They returned to the upper decks, and Jack found a heavy door leading outside. The wind hit Nimue instantly, cold and wet with salt spray. She gripped the metal railing tight. Below them, the water was a churning grey-green, turning white where the hull cut through the waves. England was nothing more than a thin line on the horizon now.
"It's going away," she murmured.
"Yes."
She watched until the line vanished entirely. There was nothing left but grey water and a matching sky.
They spent the next few hours exploring the vessel. There was a small shop filled with magazines and sweets. They visited Cinder twice more. By the third visit, he was curled up asleep in the back seat, his nose tucked under his tail.
"He isn't worried at all," Nimue noted.
"He trusts you," Jane said, her green eyes soft.
Nimue didn't quite know what to do with that. She simply looked at the fox for a moment before letting Jane lead her back upstairs. The light began to fade as the afternoon wore on. The sky bruised into shades of pink and purple before settling into a deep, velvety blue. She sat by the window, losing track of the time as the ship hummed beneath her.
"Almost there," Jack said, checking a glowing screen by the door. It showed a map with a little dot nearing the French coast.
Nimue pressed her face to the glass again. The water had turned black. Then, she saw the lights. They were tiny at first, like scattered stars, but they soon grew into a steady line of yellow and white. Buildings, a sleeping town, and the solid line of the coast appeared. The ferry slowed as the lights drew closer. She could see cars waiting on the dock and a ramp that mirrored the one in Portsmouth.
"La France," Jane whispered. (France.)
Nimue stayed silent, simply watching the new world arrive. The ferry docked with a low, heavy thud that vibrated through the entire ship. The ramp lowered, and the passengers began to stir, gathering their belongings and calling out to one another in a mix of English and French.
Jack took Nimue's hand. "Time to go."
Back in the car, Cinder's tail wagged excitedly when he saw them. Nimue climbed into the back seat and settled him on her lap. Engines roared to life all around them, and headlights cut through the gloom of the car deck. The driver brought the car up the ramp and onto French soil, the engine echoing as they left the ferry behind.
The roads felt different immediately. The signs were blue, and the words were all in French. The buildings had a different character too, with shuttered windows and tall, narrow chimneys. Nimue watched it all pass by with her face against the glass. The car moved away from the port, leaving the town behind for narrow lanes that wound between dark fields.
"Where are we sleeping?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
"A cottage. It's near the sea."
The driver turned down a particularly narrow lane where the hedges brushed the sides of the car, following Jack's quiet directions.
The headlights illuminated a stone wall and a gate before coming to rest on a small house with a red-tiled roof. He brought the car to a stop. Jane stepped out first, followed by Nimue. The air here was cool and damp, smelling of salt and wet stone.
An elderly woman stood in the doorway, her grey hair catching the light from inside. She wore a heavy wool coat and smiled warmly as they approached. "Bonsoir. You are arrived? I was beginning to have the worry for you."
"Traffic was quite heavy near the port," Jack explained, offering a weary smile. "Thank you for waiting for us."
The woman shook hands with both of them before turning her gaze to Nimue. "Ah, and this petite one is very tired, no?"
Nimue was indeed exhausted. Her legs felt like lead, and her eyelids were heavy. The woman showed them inside the cottage, which had low, timbered ceilings and a cool stone floor. It was simple but comfortable, containing a small kitchen, a sitting room with a hearth, and two quiet bedrooms at the back.
Nimue's bedroom had a window that looked out toward the coast. Even with the glass closed, she could hear the low, rhythmic rush of the sea. Jane pulled the blankets back, and Nimue climbed into the bed. Cinder wasted no time jumping up to curl at her feet.
"We are in France," Nimue whispered.
Jane smoothed her white hair back with a gentle hand. "We are."
Nimue closed her eyes. The sound of the waves remained, rushing and falling in like a steady, ancient lullaby. She was asleep before the next wave hit the shore.
= = =
Flash Q&A
This time was from whateverla22 on AO3:
hi gen question, it feels like they don't really do any magic? like there isn't a comment on the parents wands or anything
love the fic girl but this is genuinely bothering me 😭
My answer:
About the lack of magic so far.
During this trip, they are not really using wands or magic at all. And honestly, up to this point, there hasn't been much need for it. If I remember correctly, there are only a few moments where I actually had them use magic.
The main reason is simple. In these early chapters, I want to focus more on their interactions with the MC. And most of those moments, especially the family dynamics, don't really require magic.
There's also another reason. I want their family to feel more grounded. More… down to earth. When magic isn't constantly present, it's easier to connect with them on a basic, emotional level. It makes their reactions, their bonds, and their feelings feel more relatable.
A large portion of Volume 1, especially around the early to middle-late parts before she turns five, leans heavily on emotion. If I filled those scenes with magic, it might create a kind of invisible distance between the characters and the reader.
So I chose not to do that.
That said, it doesn't mean they don't use magic at all. They still do, just mostly off screen.
And yes, I completely understand why some of you pointed it out. This is a magical household, but the way it's shown right now can feel almost like a normal one since magic barely appears.
I do plan to show more magic and introduce it more actively once they return home after this trip.
And thanks for pointing it out. I appreciate it.
- - -
Here's a little heads-up about some stuff coming in future chapters/volumes. Wanted to clarify now before it slips my mind!
So… there's gonna be, uh, some bashing. Especially Dumbledore and the Weasleys. You know how Draco in canon always targets Harry? Well, the MC will often target the Weasleys, Ron in particular. Her relationship with the twins is also… complicated.
She doesn't go after them out of pure spite or anything, but she genuinely hates blood traitors (just like other traditionalists), and she's not ashamed about showing it. She also has double standards. I mean, what do you expect from her?
Now for volume six, which is the "Cup of Ashes" arc or basically Year 4 at Hogwarts (Goblet of Fire era). That year is going to be the "romance" year where the MC's love life gets the most active. There will be tension, some kissing, and more emotionally charged moments.
And one thing I should let you know: MC and Fleur will do the deed before Fleur heads back to France. It's kind of a "demonstrating her status" thing. Also, there's G!P involved (and yeah, Fleur is the top in those scenes. And no, Fleur didn't have that, but there are magic here, remember?) After that, there might be some casual sex sprinkled here and there in later volumes.
As for how I write the sex scenes… I usually go with a euphemistic style, but I'm not sure if that style works well with G!P. So it might end up being a bit more "vulgar." Or I might still try to keep it euphemistic. We will see.
If any of this isn't your cup of tea, you can absolutely skip those chapters. I will try to make sure they don't contain any major plot stuff or main storyline elements. Totally skippable.
Just wanted to give you a friendly warning before we get there