IMPEDIMENTA
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Perceval Ducasse ; 2099

Perceval had promised his father he wouldn't do magic. The Americans don't play around, and who knows how much money Yves Ducasse would have to pay to get his son back to France. Problem was, the blonde woman in the tie dye dress was getting away.

"Impedimenta!" Perceval cast and watched the woman fall to the ground. Perceval's English was passable at best, but as he knelt down to speak to his mother for the first time, he found the words as if they were in his mother tongue.

"You owe me an explanation, Maman."

Hyacinth Keaton looked at her son with terror. "No, Falcon. I'm not your mother."

Perceval's vision turned crimson. "You ARE, you LIAR. You ARE my mother, you gave BIRTH to me. You DISAPPEARED."

Tears appeared in Hyacinth's eyes, equal to his own. "I did. But I am not what you need. Go no, Falcon, go now and forget me. This is not your home. I will never-" but the jinx lifted before she could finish and the wrinkled woman disappeared.

Teardrops stained the pavement, and he cursed before fleeing his crime scene. In the alien city of his mother, Perceval Faucon cried.

ORCHIDEOUS
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Kai von Brandt ; 2084

Kai had made a lot of mistakes in his life. He often wondered if he was some sort of record holder for Man with the Most Erroneous Decisions at only twenty four years old. Between his work, his family and his love life, Kai wasn't sure about anything anymore.

Except for Viktoriya Vitvinina. Kai had always been sure about Toriya.

He remembered the first time he'd come to this garden in Saint Petersburg, her hometown. He had been seventeen and looking to impress his date that night. He'd conjured her a bouquet of radiant white flowers. He couldn't even remember her name now.

Kai always had everything he wanted and nothing of what he needed. Girlfriends, but never love. Bright work prospects, but no enthusiasm. All the money in the world and no lasting happiness.

Today that changed. They were back together. They were promised to each other.

In this pavilion with Toriya, lit by a thousand floating lights, Kai conjured a bouquet to put all others to shame. He'd practiced. Shades of blues, purples, pinks and a white so pure it lit both their faces. "I love you, Toriya. I'm going to love you forever."

And he did.

JELLY LEGS
Rome, Italy
Auberto Barsi ; 2087

"LOCOMOTOR WIBBLY!"

"OW!!"

Those idiots.

Auberto imagined smoke coming out of his ears. Since when did underage Barsi's disobey direct orders? Since when did they pull out their underage wands to cast magic that would undoubtedly call the authorities? Since WHEN- Auberto breathed.

He had been sent to do some quick pick ups. Select victims, take photos, snip hair, tidily document, and pull back. Illegal, simple, easy. He had Polyjuice potions to brew.

You see, Auberto was a Barsi; a revered Italian wizarding crime family. He was immeasurably important, and now- now, he was babysitting. It was unthinkable. Brancaleone, youngest, and Quintilio, most useless, had been told to tag him today. Then Bran had cursed Quin. In broad daylight. In Rome. Auberto imagined the hell he would rain down on them at home and it made him feel better.

Auberto easily snatched Bran's wand and informed the insufferable teenager he could find his own way back. He would have undone the curse on Quin, except he didn't want to. Auberto grabbed at the useless lump and they disapparated just as familiar law enforcement officers appeared meters away.

He chuckled. "Kisses to the boss." And he was gone.

LEVICORPUS
Cardiff, Wales
Alis Hanover ; 2100

It had been a grueling day at Dad's gym; today's classes had been about self defence post Levicorpus spell. Her shoulders ached as she dutifully helped tidy up. By the time she'd put the last mat in its place her knuckles had stopped bothering her, and only they were left.

The fifteen year old caught her reflection in the mirrors as she flicked off most of the lights. The fight with Jackson was visibly taking its toll, and she sighed. Then she had an idea.

"Dad, could I be alone please?" the fifteen year old asked, and watched her dad nod and leave as she made towards the music player. She needed to dance. Not ballet, never again. But dance, move around, express herself.

Without the confines of ballet technique, Alis flew across the space, spinning, leaping to a brooding cacophony of violins and drums. With every dizzying crescendo her body threw itself in a different direction, pouring anger and frustration into her movements. It felt incredible. It felt right.

Lying breathless on the floor several long minutes later, Alis found herself laughing. Perhaps she needed to be hoisted up by the ankles twenty times a day, more often.

REDUCTO
Saint-Denis, Réunion
Valentin Faucher ; 2101

It was just another day of meetings at the BNP Paribas in Réunion. An acquisition process on behalf of the wizarding conglomerate he worked for. He had been coming here for months; a nicely timed half vacation. There was nothing for him in France these days. Réunion had beautiful beaches, enticing company and exquisite food. Most importantly, it did not have her.

Pulled from his daydreams, he easily played the part of attentive manager, fully expecting a hefty raise once this was all done. Valentin was in very fine spirits. Until his assistant delivered the news.

Excusing himself, Valentin made for the bathroom and pulled his wand out. He stared at his reflection, his knuckles whitening. The divorce was finalised.

Sophia had Vera.

A vein pulsed. He wasn't sad.

He was angry.

"Reducto!" Valentin's features contorted as he blasted the mirror to a fine dust. "Reducto, reducto!" The toilets were gone.

He concealed his wand as the muggles rushed in, his face a picture of suitable panic and worry. "I walked in and the pipes blew, this is unacceptable. You must take better care of your infrastructure. Fire whoever was in charge."

His fist relaxed.

Later.

BLUEBELL FLAMES
Dortmund, Germany
Hugo and Abigail von Brandt ; 2098

"Move!"

"No I won't! I got here first Abigail!"

"Hugoooo!! But I'm a girl!"

Hugo, thirteen, thin and much smaller than Abigail, gaped at his cousin. "That's stupid, what if I said I'm a boy and I'm more important than you?"

Naturally, a quiet spell fell over the family gathering at that precise moment and Abigail's face turned devilish.

"Uncle Kai, Aunt Toriya, did you hear?! Hugo said boys are more important than girls!"

Hugo winced at the expressions on both of their parents' faces, but he didn't budge from his spot by the violet flames filled vase. He just wanted to stay warm! It wasn't his fault someone had invited everyone over for a Christmas party in a garden.

Aunt Chaela looked furious. Dad seemed disappointed, which was worse. "That's not what I said! You heard it wrong, Dad, please!"

"And I told him, I'm a girl, so I deserve to be warm before him, that's only fair. Isn't that right?"

Hugo relaxed when Uncle Tima and Aunt Chaela turned stern gazes on their daughter. "Ha!" he whispered into Abigail's ear. "See? you're not THAT smart!"

Finally, a victory! Hugo 1, Abigail… uh, 12.