"Maverick… Maverick!"

  "Huh?" Maverick blinked, pulled from his thoughts by Silvia's voice.

  "Lost in thought, huh?" she asked, notig as he scratched his head. "Sorry, I just… remembered something."

  "Really…?" She raised an eyebrow, her tone skeptical at first, then pyful. "So?"

  "So…?" Maverick replied, looking fused.

  "I was asking if you'd mentioned your travel pns to Isabel—that you'll be leaving soon."

  He hesitated, then sighed. "I'll tell her today… I just sort of fot t it up," he admitted, sounding a bit anxious.

  Silvia raised an eyebrow, but from his expression, he didn't seem to be lying.

  Silvia sighed, her gaze softening. As Isabel's mother, she knew her well and had noticed subtle ges since Maverick moved in, giving her a good idea of what was going on.

  She decided to tease him, a mischievous glint sparking in her eyes.

  Maverick suddenly felt a shiver and gnced around until his eyes met Silvia's. He gulped, sensing something was ing. That look spelled trouble.

  "You and Bel…" she began.

  'Shit… I knew she'd notiething ged, but, why am I panig? It's not like I've done anything wrong…' Thoughts raced through Maverick's mind.

  "You two seem a little different tely…" Silvia tihen looked over at her husband, who was buried in his neer. "Isn't that right, hon?"

  "Edward!"

  "Huh? Uh... Yes, darling? What's going on?" Edward asked, peeking over his paper, looking a bit dazed.

  Silvia's brow twitched slightly. "I was saying, Mave—"

  But then, both Maverid Edward turoward the dining room entrahat led to the living room. They'd sensed a faint ripple of magiing from that dire.

  Whoosh.

  With a fsh of green light, Isabel Garling stepped out of the firepce.

  Silvia, hearing the burst of fme, realized someone had used their Floo work—and they were expeg only one visitor. "That must be Bel..."

  Sure enough, moments ter, Isabel appeared, hurrying toward them with aed look on her face.

  "Got it!" Isabel announced, holding up three envelopes.

  Edut down his neer. He wasly worried, but that didn't mean he wasn't eager to see how his daughter and Maverick had done on their exams.

  Isabel walked straight over to Maverick, taking a seat beside him at the dining table.

  "Did you check?" Maverick asked.

  "No… I wanted us to open our OWLs together," she replied, handing him two of the three envelopes.

  Silvia cpped her hands. "Alright, go on, open them already!" she urged, her voice mixed with impatience.

  Isabel and Maverick gave her a gnce, smiled, and both teared open their OWL results.

  Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

  Office of the Headmaster

  Marquis, Agilbert Fontaine

  June 1989

  Maverick Caeser

  Home Schooled

  Teachers: Edward Garling, Simon Walker, Sarah Walker

  Exam Institute: Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

  Dear Maverick Caeser,

  leased to inform you of the results of your Ordinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.) examinations, which were held during the past academic year. Your performan these exams has been nothing short of exceptional, and we gratute you on your outstanding achievements. Below are the results for each of your subjects:

  History of the Magical World: Excellent

  No-Maj Culture: Excellent

  Arithmancy: Excellent

  Charms: Perfect

  Potions: Perfect

  Transfiguration: Perfect

  Defense Against the Da

  rk Arts: Perfect

  Alchemy: Perfect

  Your achievements in the O.W.L. exams demonstrate not only your aptitude fical studies but also your dedication and hard work despite learning outside the traditional school enviro. We are fident that these remarkable results will serve you well in all future endeavors.

  Please ensure you share this information with your tutors, Edward Garling, Simon Walker, and Sarah Walker, to discuss your steps in academid career pnning, as your exceptional performance opens many doors for you.

  Once again, gratutions on your impressive performance, and we wish you the very best in all your future endeavors.

  Sincerely,

  Agilbert Fontaine

  Headmaster, Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

  Maverick read his letter, then gnced over at Isabel, who was doing the same. After a moment, she met his gaze and fshed a bright smile, but she didn't say anything.

  "Sting it out, children," Silvia called, causing both Maverid Isabel to look her way.

  "All Perfect..." Isabel said, her voice light, making her mh with relief. Her father nodded approvingly, and for a brief moment, Edward also let out a quiet sigh, clearly relieved to hear her results.

  Silvia stood up from her chair, walked over, and gave her daughter a hug. "I'm so proud of you, sweetheart."

  Edward grinned, showing all his teeth, and said, "That's right. I knew our daughter could do it." His voice was full of approval.

  Isabel smiled, soaking in the praise from her parents.

  Then, all three of them turheir attention to Maverick.

  "Uh... First of all, gratutions, Bel," he said, giving her a look that said he was happy for her.

  He then g his letter. "All Perfect, except for History, No-Maj Studies, and Arithmancy. I scored Excellent in those three," he said, his voice much softer than the excited energy of the lioness beside him.

  "Wonderful," Silvia said with a proud smile.

  Edward nodded approvingly, his expression calm but full of pride, showing that he had never doubted his apprentice.

  Isabel gave him a pyful, teasing look, and Maveriew exactly what it meant. She wasn't trying to show off her better scores; it was just her way of saying she had finally beaten him at something.

  Maverick smiled quietly, then shrugged it off as he tore open his s envelope.

  Dear Maverick Caeser,

  leased to inform you of the results...

  He quickly focused on the scores.

  Here are the results for each of your subjects:

  Charms: Perfect

  Potions: Excellent

  Transfiguration: Perfect

  Defense Against the Dark Arts: Perfect

  Alchemy: Excellent

  It was exactly what he expected. Potions and Alchemy—he could have easily scored Perfect if he had used the system's help, but he had chosen to master them on his own. Still, Excellent was a solid grade, sed only to Perfect, with Very Good, Good, Pass, and Fail following after.

  He felt satisfied with the results. They weren't enough to make him a "on-a-geion" genius, then draw unnecessary attention to him, but they were more than good enough not to disappoint his teacher. It was the perfect achievement for him.

  He floated the letter to his teacher, which Edward took and read. Edward then g Maverick, pausing for a moment, making Maverick feel a bit nervous.

  Edward smiled, showing all his teeth, proud, just like when he praised his daughter. "Good job," he said, then paused before adding, "You should share this with Sarah and Simon before you leave for your jouromorrow."

  "Tell us the scores, you two..." Silvia called, and Maverick smiled, turning toward her.

  "Five subjects, three perfed two excellent," he said to Silvia, then looked over at Isabel to see her rea.

  However, he noticed her expression looked unusually fused. Then it clicked in his mind. 'Oh, shit...'

  "Leave?... What journey?" Isabel asked, looking at her father uainly.

  Silvia quickly uood. Although Maverick had said he would expin things to Isabel ter, she expected him to have at least mentioned something by now, especially since Isabel spent most of her time with him after school.

  But it seemed Isabel had bee pletely in the dark.

  Seeing the fusion and disappoi on her face, Maverick was eager to expin.

  Before he could say a word, Edward cut him off—mercilessly.

  Silvia sighed.

  "Hmm... Well, since he's pleted my training program, he'll be traveling to different tries o learn more—basically gaining more hands-on experience," Edward expined casually.

  The Arch-Magus clearly didn't know how to read the room.

  Mavericed at Isabel, her eyes wide in shock—though not the happy kind. He felt sorry for her and worried she might resent him for keeping her in the dark.

  Isabel then turned her head from her father to Maverick. When she saw the apologetic look on his face, she k was true.

  For some reason, the news made her heart ache. Without thinking, she followed her instincts and ran upstairs to her room, not saying anything to anyone.

  Maverick wao stop her but hesitated. The look in her eyes—the disappoi—made him realize that Isabel truly had feelings for him.

  "What just happened...?" Edward asked, his face showing fusion. He g his wife, then at Maverick, and back to his wife.

  Silvia ignored him, her attention on Maverick. She looked at him sympathetically. "You wao talk to her?"

  Maverick paused for a moment, then sighed. "No. It's better if I speak to her. Thanks, Aunt." He stood up and walked toward the stairs.

  Edward still wore a bewildered expression, looking at his wife as if seeking an expnation.

  Silvia sighed and expio Edward the ges she'd noticed in their daughter and his apprentiot worried about his disapproval—after all, Maverick had been part of their lives since he was a kid, and they khe kind of person he was.

  ___________

  Author's Note:

  These chapters were a bit challenging to write since I'm introdug romao the story—and it's my first time writing romance!

  It may not be perfect.

  It might be just the way you like.

  And some of you may find it ge-worthy.

  heless, please leave feedback. Good? Bad? Okay? I handle criticism!

  P.S. No R18.

  Just a quick update — up to Chapter 62 is already avaible on P AT r30n!

  PAT r30n [.] / RyanFic