Dear child don't fret

[Briljantia Mysterium]

"But I'll never make friends, Mother!"

"Don't be silly my dear boy, you shall have a great many friends long before you go to school."

Briljantia Mysterium hunkered down, careful not to step on the hem of her skirts and offered her son a comforting smile as she traced gloved fingertips over his chubby cheek. She was grateful that he was a healthy young boy, full of youth and life. Perhaps one of the few good things that had come out of either of her previous marriages. The child had his fathers brilliant red-gold hair and more or less seemed to resemble her late husband Aurelius. He was a good boy if a bit sullen at times but she supposed that was to be expected given all the changes that had taken place in his young life.

"I shall see about finding you some new playmates soon enough, love. How about we go for a stroll." Caelius hesitated, narrowing his eyes slightly before nodding. Such a serious little thing he was. Standing once more, the new owner of the Apothecary held out her and to her son and then then two began their walk through the park. She'd been told that it was acceptable to take a turn in the park. She'd brought her companion along, a woman a handful of years younger than herself who spoke italian and very little english. She was a good companion--a widow herself who she was fairly certain hoped to marry again but for love--and kept an eye on Caelius for the time being until a suitable governess or nursemaid might be found for the lad.

Taking her parasol back from the younger woman, the three carried on their walk. This was a strange new place. Certainly different from the coastal estate of her late husband. An estate she had considered home for a brief few years. Hogsmeade was home now and she was doing her best to make connections and get into a club or two. Once she made friends with the upperclass matrons she might be better able to find suitable playmates for her dear boy.