The landscape began to change as the car drew closer to the coast.
Nimue had spent hours pressed against the window, her small forehead resting against the cool glass as she watched the world transform. The wide-open fields that had stretched endlessly across the countryside gradually gave way to smaller plots divided by fences and hedgerows. Before long, even those disappeared, replaced by towns where houses stood close together, their brick walls darkened by the damp coastal air.
Traffic lights and road signs began to guide their progress, and a steady stream of cars soon crowded the roads. It was a sharp contrast to the quiet country lanes they had travelled that morning. Even the air coming through the vents seemed different. The scent of grass and damp earth had faded, replaced by something sharper and saltier, mixed with a heavy industrial smell Nimue couldn't quite identify.
She leaned closer to the window, her breath forming a small patch of mist on the glass. The sky seemed wider here, no longer blocked by trees or distant hills, and the horizon stretched in a nearly perfect line.
"Is that the sea?" she asked, her green eyes widening.
Jane leaned forward from the passenger seat to look through the windshield. In the distance, a faint shimmering line was just visible beneath the pale sky.
« Non, ma petite. Pas encore. » (No, not yet.)
She smiled at her daughter. "Soon."
The car continued through increasingly busy streets. The buildings grew taller and more practical-looking, with warehouses and industrial structures appearing between the houses. Eventually, a road sign came into view, its bold lettering pointing towards Portsmouth.
The driver followed the directions without hesitation. Jack sat beside him, watching the road ahead.
The road widened, and then Nimue finally saw it.
The English Channel stretched before her, an immense expanse of slate-gray water reaching towards a hazy line where sea and sky seemed to meet. Large ships were docked along the piers, their steel sides streaked with rust and dried salt. Towering cranes stood above them like enormous metal birds, their long arms reaching towards the sky.
A ferry was already waiting at the terminal. It was a colossal white vessel, almost like a floating fortress, with its bow ramp lowered to reveal a dark opening into its enormous interior.
"Is that the boat?" Nimue asked, her voice growing quieter as she stared.
"That's the ferry," Jack replied, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. "It will take us across the water."
Nimue could hardly look away. She had seen pictures of boats in her books, but she had never imagined that one could be this large. The terminal was busy with activity, and cars were arranged in long, orderly queues.
The driver pulled into one of the lanes and brought the car to a stop. A man wearing a high-visibility vest over a thick navy jumper approached the driver's window. At Jack's nod, the driver rolled it down, letting in a gust of wind that carried the smell of diesel and saltwater.
"Booking name?"
"Keith."
The man checked his clipboard, his pen scratching against the paper.
"Portsmouth to Caen. You are early. Boarding starts in about forty minutes. You can wait here in the queue."
He handed Jack a ticket before moving on to the next car.
Nimue looked around at the other travelers. Cars stretched in every direction, some carrying entire families, while a few dogs barked from behind their windows. A large lorry nearby was covered by a heavy green tarp that snapped loudly in the breeze.
"Cinder stays in the car," Jane said gently, turning towards Nimue. "We can visit him during the crossing, but he isn't allowed on the passenger decks."
Nimue looked down at the fox. He was curled into a tight copper-colored ball on her lap, his eyes half closed. The white tip of his tail rested near her knee.
"He will be all right."
One of Cinder's ears twitched, though he didn't bother opening his eyes.
The queue eventually began to move. Engines started one after another, and the cars crept forward with a series of low mechanical sounds. Nimue watched the ferry grow larger as they approached. It was even taller than she had first thought. Rows of windows looked down from its upper decks, while the enormous ramp led into the dark interior of the ship.
The driver guided the car up the ramp. The tires made a hollow, metallic rumble against the steel surface. Inside, the car deck was dim and cavernous, illuminated by rows of yellow overhead lights. Men in high-visibility vests stood between the lanes, guiding vehicles with orange batons.
They were directed into a narrow space between two other cars. The driver parked and switched off the engine, leaving a sudden silence inside the vehicle.
"Leave the windows open a little," Jack said, glancing at him. "For the fox."
Jane lowered the windows just enough to allow air to circulate.
Nimue unfastened her seat belt and leaned over to stroke Cinder's soft head.
"We will be back soon," she whispered, letting her fingers linger behind his ears.
He lifted his head and looked at her with wide amber eyes, his ears pressed slightly backwards. A soft, high-pitched whine escaped him as they climbed out and closed the doors.
The family walked across the car deck, their footsteps echoing beneath the high metal ceiling. The air smelled strongly of petrol, rubber, and machinery. Other passengers were doing the same, stretching their legs and gathering their bags before heading towards the stairway at the end of the hold.
Jack took Nimue's hand, his palm warm and firm around hers, while Jane carried a small bag of snacks.
The passenger deck was much brighter and more comfortable. Large windows lined the walls, offering a view of the gray water and the docks of Portsmouth. Tables and chairs filled the seating area, and a small café counter stood at one end. A woman behind it was arranging white cups beside a glass display filled with pastries.
Nimue hurried towards the nearest window.
The docks were already beginning to fall away. On the shore, workers were pulling in the thick mooring ropes, while the enormous ramp slowly began to rise. It closed with a heavy metallic clang that seemed to shake the whole vessel.
"We are moving," she said, excitement and nervousness mixing in her voice.
"We are," Jane replied.
The ferry shuddered beneath their feet, producing a deep, vibrating rumble that Nimue could feel in her chest. Slowly, the vessel began to turn away from the dock. She watched the land shift beyond the windows as the buildings grew smaller and the great cranes became thin shapes against the horizon.
She pressed her palm against the glass. It was cold beneath her fingers.
They found a group of seats near the window. Jane went to the counter and returned with tea in paper cups and a packet of biscuits. Jack opened the packet and placed two biscuits on a napkin in front of Nimue.
"Eat something. It might help with the movement."
"What movement?"
"The boat will rock a little as we cross. Some people feel sick if they don't have anything in their stomach."
Nimue took a bite. The biscuit was dry and crunchy, and she ate slowly while watching the white crests forming on the waves.
The ferry was already in open water. She could feel the floor shifting beneath her feet, a slow, heavy movement that came and went with the waves.
After finishing the second biscuit, she looked up at her parents.
"Can we go outside now?"
"After we check on Cinder," Jane replied.
They returned to the car deck first. Cinder was wide awake, sitting upright in the driver's seat with his ears pointed sharply forward. His amber eyes followed them through the window, reflecting the yellow lights overhead.
Jane opened the door, and Nimue climbed inside to give him a proper pat.
"We are on the water," she told him quietly. "It's very big."
His tail gave a single, muffled thump against the seat.
After making sure he was comfortable, they returned to the passenger deck. Jack found a heavy metal door leading to the outside promenade and pushed it open.
The wind struck Nimue almost immediately.
It was cold and damp, carrying the sharp smell of salt and the fine spray thrown up by the waves. She hurried towards the railing, gripping it with both hands. Below them, the sea churned gray-green, turning white wherever the ferry's hull cut through the water.
England had become little more than a thin line on the horizon.
"It's going away," she murmured.
"Yes," Jack answered.
She watched until the land finally disappeared. There was nothing left but the gray water and the equally gray sky.
They spent the next few hours exploring the ship. There was a small shop selling magazines, postcards, and sweets. Nimue looked through the displays, though she didn't ask for anything. They also visited Cinder twice more. By the third visit, he had curled up in the back seat again, his nose tucked beneath his tail.
"He isn't worried at all," Nimue remarked.
"He trusts you," Jane said, looking at the sleeping fox with a soft expression.
Nimue didn't quite know what to make of that. She simply watched Cinder for another moment before letting Jane lead her upstairs.
As the afternoon wore on, the light outside began to change. The sky slowly shifted from gray to soft pink and purple before darkening into a deep blue. Nimue sat beside the window, watching the water while the steady hum of the ferry continued beneath her feet.
Jack stopped beside her and glanced at the crossing information displayed near the door. A map of the route showed their progress across the Channel.
"Almost there."
Nimue pressed her face closer to the glass.
The water had turned almost black. Then she saw the lights.
At first, they were little more than scattered points in the distance, like stars resting just above the water. Gradually, they grew brighter and more numerous, forming a long line of yellow and white. Buildings appeared beyond them, followed by the outline of a town and the solid shape of the French coastline.
The ferry began to slow as it approached the harbor. Nimue could make out cars waiting on the dock and another enormous ramp, much like the one they had entered through in Portsmouth.
« La France, » Jane whispered.
Nimue remained silent, watching the new land draw closer.
The ferry finally docked with a deep, heavy thud that vibrated through the ship. The ramp began to lower, and passengers around them stirred into action, gathering their belongings and speaking to one another in a mixture of English and French.
Jack took Nimue's hand.
"Time to go."
Back in the car, Cinder's tail began wagging as soon as he saw them. Nimue climbed into the back seat and settled him on her lap. All around them, engines roared to life, and headlights cut through the dimness of the car deck.
The driver started the engine and followed the line of vehicles up the ramp. The car emerged into the night, leaving the ferry behind and rolling onto French soil.
The roads seemed different almost immediately. The signs were blue, and the words were all in French. The buildings had their own character too, with shuttered windows, pale stone walls, and tall, narrow chimneys.
Nimue watched everything through the window as the car moved away from the port. The busy streets gradually gave way to quieter roads, then to narrow lanes winding between dark fields.
"Where are we sleeping?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
"At a cottage. It's near the sea."
The driver turned onto an especially narrow lane, where the hedges nearly brushed both sides of the car. Jack quietly gave him directions as they continued along the road.
The headlights eventually illuminated a stone wall and a gate. Beyond them stood a small house with a red-tiled roof. The driver brought the car to a stop.
Jane stepped out first, followed by Nimue. The night air was cool and damp, carrying the smell of salt and wet stone. Nimue pulled her cardigan closer around herself as she looked at the house.
An elderly woman stood in the doorway. Her gray hair caught the warm light spilling from inside, and she wore a thick wool coat despite the mild weather.
« Bonsoir. Vous êtes enfin arrivés ? Je commençais à m'inquiéter. » (Good evening. You have finally arrived? I was beginning to worry.)
"Traffic was quite heavy near the port," Jack explained with a tired smile. "Thank you for waiting for us."
The woman greeted Jack and Jane before turning her attention to Nimue.
"Ah, and this little one must be very tired, no?"
Nimue certainly was. Her legs felt heavy, and her eyelids were becoming difficult to keep open.
The woman welcomed them inside. The cottage had low timbered ceilings and cool stone floors. It was simple but comfortable, with a small kitchen, a sitting room arranged around a hearth, and three quiet bedrooms at the back.
Nimue's bedroom had a window overlooking the dark coastline. Even with the glass closed, she could hear the steady rush of the sea beyond the house.
Jane pulled back the blankets, and Nimue climbed into bed without hesitation. Cinder jumped up after her and curled at her feet, settling into the warm space beneath the covers.
"We are in France," Nimue whispered.
Jane brushed her white hair away from her forehead.
"We are."
Nimue closed her eyes. Outside, the waves continued to roll towards the shore and draw back again, their steady rhythm filling the quiet room like an ancient lullaby.
She was asleep before the next wave reached the beach.
= = =
There's images below
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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