Youve stolen my father from me!
Get out! Leave my flat this instant! I wont allow you to hurt my daughter! she shouted, her voice cracking like glass. If youre so devoted to your own child and cant build a proper relationship without demanding sacrifices from others, go back to your exwife! Theres no room for you in our family with Lily!
Everything is your fault! Max roared, finger pointed at her. Your stubbornness! Because of you I lost contact with my daughter! She suffers because of you!
Out of here! Victoria gestured toward the door. Now!
—
Mum, Ive finished it! The seventh Harry Potter book!
Victoria snapped the laptop shut and turned to Lily, who was perched in the doorway, the book clutched to her chest. Her eyes glittered with excitement, and a smile tugged at Victorias lips.
Really? How was it?
Its brilliant! Ive got no words, Mum! Lily leapt onto the sofa, flopping next to her mother. Especially the last one, when everything finally fell into place! Mum, can you imagine studying at a real school of magic?
Victoria wrapped an arm around her elevenyearolds shoulders. Shed devoured those books as a teenager, memorising every spell. It warmed her to see Lily share that same wonder, to have another world they could both dive into together.
I know the feeling. I dreamed of that when I was your age.
Its a shame we cant actually go there, Lily murmured, pressing her cheek against Victorias shoulder.
Victoria kissed Lilys crown and resolved to do something special. While most kids her age were glued to phones, Lily had spent hours turning pages.
A few days later Victoria scrolled through a marketplace, hunting for a gift. She stumbled upon an enormous Hogwarts building setintricately detailed, with towers, halls, tiny figurinesabout 1,500 pieces. It cost almost £150. She hesitated; that was a tidy sum. Still, she slipped it into her basket and paid with her card. Lily deserved it.
Three days later Victoria carried home a massive box. When Lily saw it, she let out a scream of delight that seemed to reverberate through Victorias very bones.
Mum is this really for me? Oh my God!!!
Everything for you, sunshine.
Lily hurled herself into Victorias arms, then collapsed onto the floor, trembling hands ripping open the packaging. Victoria watched, smiling. Moments like this made life worth living.
That weekend, Grace arrived. She was Maxs thirteenyearold daughter from his first marriage, who usually stayed over every weekend. Victoria tried to be kind, but Grace always kept a polite distance, as if an invisible wall stood between them.
Grace entered, greeted Max, and slipped into Lilys room. A minute later a voice floated out:
Where did you get that?
Victorias ears pricked.
Mum gave it to me! Lily chirped. Ive read all seven Potter books, and she bought me this set. Look how huge it is! Ive already built half of it.
Grace fell silent. Victoria passed by, catching the flicker of envy in the girls eyeseyebrows knit, lips pursed, a look that said she felt cheated.
Later, as Lily prepared for bed, Grace slipped into the kitchen where Max was scrolling on his phone.
Dad, why dont I get a set? she asked, voice pleading.
What set? Max replied, not looking up.
The one Lily has. Its unfair that she gets everything and I get nothing!
Max grimaced, shoulders tightening.
Sweetheart, Ill buy you something next time, okay?
No! Grace stomped. I want that set now. You dont love me!
Max sighed heavily, rose from his chair, and headed toward Lilys room. Inside Lily, clutching the box, felt a knot of dread tighten.
Lily, Max called from the doorway, darling, could you share the set with Grace? Let her build the other half.
Its my present, Lily said firmly. Im putting it together myself.
But youre such a kind girl. Grace is already hurting because her mother and I split. Could you be a little kinder to your sister?
Victoria, washing dishes, heard the rising tension and dropped the rag into the sink. She entered the room; Max stood over Lily, his bulk casting a shadow, while Lily sat on the floor, the halfbuilt castle trembling in her lap.
Max, this is a gift I bought with my own money, Victoria said, trying to keep her voice steady. Grace cant demand someone elses belongings just because she wants them.
From the hallway a sob broke out. Grace stood in the doorway, tears streaming down her cheeks.
You dont love me! she shrieked, eyes fixed on Victoria. You stole my dad! I want to go home!
She turned and fled to the kitchen, wailing. Max shot a hard glance at Victoria and followed.
Lily looked at her mother, eyes wide with confusion.
Mum, what was that?
Victoria sat beside her on the floor, pulling her close. What could she say? She had only met Max six months after the divorce, when he was already living elsewhere. Grace was simply testing the limits, trying to manipulate the adults. Victoria had no perfect answer, only a tight hold and gentle strokes through Lilys hair.
All will be well, love. Everything will be alright.
Max appeared later, his face a storm, jaw clenched, as he stood before the bedroom mirror applying cream.
Victoria, give Grace the setat least while shes staying with us, he demanded, voice hard, stripped of its earlier softness. My daughter already suffers from not having me around, and now Lilys flaunting her gifts.
Something ignited inside Victoria.
What does that have to do with me or Lily? she snapped, crossing her arms. You left your wife when I wasnt even on the horizon. Raising a child is your responsibility, not mine. I wont sacrifice my daughters happiness for someone elses whims.
You selfish monster! Max roared, face flushing red. Youre turning Lily against Grace! Youre tearing my family apart!
He stormed into Lilys room, where she screamed. Max seized the Hogwarts set and hurled it onto the floor. It clattered, a piece striking the corner of a table and shattering. Parts scattered, several assembled sections snapped apart.
Lily began to sob so fiercely Victoria feared for her. A red veil seemed to fall over Victorias vision. She grabbed Maxs wrist, pulling him close.
Get out! Leave this flat this instant! I wont let you hurt my daughter! she shouted, echoing the earlier fury. If you cant build a proper bond without sacrificing others, go back to your ex! Theres no place for you here!
Max shouted back, finger pointed, Its your stubbornness that ruined everything! Because of you I lost contact with my child! She suffers because of you!
Victoria gestured fiercely, Out! Now!
Two hours later the flat was empty of Max and Grace.
All night Victoria soothed Lily, rubbing her hair, kissing damp cheeks, whispering that everything would be fine and that Lily was not to blame. When Lily finally fell asleep, Victoria gathered the broken pieces, trying to glue them back together with trembling hands.
At dawn, barely awake, she logged onto the government portal and filed for divorce. A cold resolve settled in her chest. Shed never imagined the marriage turning so sour. Perhaps men just werent her luck, but better alone than enduring this.
Max called, sent long apologetic texts, begged for a meeting. Victoria answered only the legal questions, ignoring everything else.
A month later the papers were signed. The exhusband finally disappeared from their lives. Victoria then turned to Lily.
Sweetheart, shall we go to the bookshop?
Lilys eyes lit up.
In a specialist store they bought a limitededition Harry Potter collection, a Gryffindor robe that felt almost like the real thing, and an interactive wand that reacted to every swipe. Lily beamed, slipping into the robe and waving the wand with glee.
They left the shop, bags heavy with treasures, and Victoria felt a sudden lift, a breath of freedom. They were just the two of them against the world, unshackled, drifting through a dreamlike night where castles could be rebuilt and hearts could finally heal.
