Welcome to the Family, Nena. ((Closed))

[Angela Merciano S7]

The house was dark and gaunt at this hour of the night. The Merciano Manor was a huge estate that was literally big enough to house all of Hogwarts comfortably. It was probably more beautifully decorated than the castle was as well. Somehow though, this huge manor was always home to some sort of activity. Hector-Miguel was constantly holding meetings with his own “extended family” as well as throwing large parties for the Ministry to keep up appearances in-between. Even now, at three thirty in the morning, there was activity in the house. Angela’s older sister Gabriella and her son were fast asleep, as was Nico; Angela’s older cousin. Her little sister had probably fallen asleep in her library again as she did frequently before her elves came to bring her up to her room to sleep comfortably. Her father and grandfather were probably in some sort of a meeting, which is where her mother would have been had she not been stolen by the damned Hemingways. Angela was asleep as well, or at least she was—before she heard the noise.

Over the years, Angela developed the talent of sleeping very lightly. She could sleep like a child in its crib for the entire night, but once she felt someone else’s presence in her bedroom, she woke instantly. Her grandfather taught her how to master this way of sleeping, as one could never know when the enemy could find some way to breach the manor’s security and find their way into Angela’s sleeping quarters. Angela’s grandfather was the head of a legendary group called the Cavalieri mob, so he had quite a few things to worry about when it came to the safety of his children and grandchildren. Angela was still only considered a child in this Cavalieri “family”, so she wasn’t permitted to be too involved in it until she was out of Hogwarts. This tedious rule frustrated Angela. She hated that she had to wait until she graduated to be part of the life her ancestors had dedicated themselves to. Angela knew what she would be getting herself into someday. There was a lot of danger involved in this family, and if Angela ever wanted to start a family of her own, she’d have to be extremely careful. First off, she couldn’t marry anyone who wasn’t as ready for this life as she was. It just didn’t work unless they were a team. Then there was the children. She had to be prepared to know that at any moment, they could be killed. Angela’s older sister Gabriella had tried time and time again to explain these issues to her, but she just didn’t understand how those were such great hurdles.

Angela woke instantly. She sat up in her bed and grabbed her wand that was hidden in a thin elegant box under her bed. She pointed it at the bedroom door, waiting for the person to show their face. In any other family, it would have been odd for someone to just point their wand at every visitor that entered the room. It could be just someone coming in to borrow a hairbrush from her bathroom. But you could never be too cautious. Her grandfather had always said that one was in their most vulnerable state when they were asleep, and it was important that as a Merciano, vulnerability is not an option. So when her grandfather turned the doorknob and saw her up pointing her wand at the door, he smiled at his favorite granddaughter’s quick reflexes. “Good work, nena. Always prepared for a fight. That’s my girl. Now put on a bathrobe, we’re going to my office for a bit of a chat with the boys. Bring your wand mija, there’s no time to waste.” So, without even a question as to what was going on, Angela silently retrieved her bathrobe and followed her grandfather to his office.

Translation:

Mija: pet name, meaning my daughter.
Nena: loving term for girl. Usually used to describe a daughter or young girl.

[Angela Merciano S7]

The late night meetings at the Merciano Manor were only for those who have vowed. Many secrets were discussed, and Hector-Miguel couldn’t have anyone spilling any of the Cavalieri plans to the others. Angela had always wanted to be a part of these late night discussions, but she was never allowed. Her father and grandfather had always made it a point to have Angela know what was going on, but she was never really allowed to make any decisions or be a part of any of the action. It frustrated her sometimes. But it seemed that this was about to change. She walked down the empty corridors of her large home, barely awake but as attentive as she could be. She had a feeling something very important was going to go down soon.

Perhaps her grandfather was planning a hit and wanted her to be a part of executing the job. Or maybe her grandfather changed his mind about making her wait until graduation to make the vow? Angela didn’t know, but she couldn’t help but be curious. Her light amber brown eyes scanned the corridor in search of other people or some sign as to what was going on. She found no such sign. All she saw were the elegant tapestries and the wide windows with the curtains drawn over them. She saw a busy house elf here and there, but that was nothing new. There was a house elf per person in the Merciano home, so they were all either conversing or keeping themselves busy running around the house in some sort of mad vendetta to keep the huge estate clean.

“Abuelo, there’s nothing wrong is there?” Angela asked sweetly, in the same tone she always used when talking to her beloved grandfather. Words could not describe how intensely Angela loved and admired that man. Of course, he was raised in a name of greatness, so there wasn’t work involved with his title. But he still had a lot to deal with. It took a lot of skill to pull of what he did every day. Not only that, but he was a very wise old man. He was homeschooled, but it was thanks to his own intellect that he graduated two years ahead of his class at Hogwarts. Hector-Miguel didn’t believe in true rest. Every year when his friends from Hogwarts were enjoying their summer and winter holidays, he worked through his vacations. He wanted to have the satisfaction of knowing he was smarter than every single child in that school. And he sure did earn that title.

After he graduated, he immediately took up a job at the Ministry. He started out small, working in the departments no one would ever dream of taking office in. Angela’s grandfather grew up around the same time the Dark Lord did, and they both had similar goals. They even worked together at times. But Hector-Miguel did not want to dedicate himself to this “Lord” like many of his classmates did. While they were giving their lives away to become some of the earliest Death Eaters, Hector-Miguel was taking over his father’s very small family business. Instead of tormenting and working against the muggle “filth”, he exploited their weaknesses without giving them the slightest hint at what was going on. He used their vices, their addictions. He had the power and the position to give those greedy muggles all the drugs and illegal substances their greedy little hearts desired. It was all about money, power, and family for Angela’s grandfather. He wasn’t the least bit concerned in the vendettas of Lord Voldemort after he rose to power, though he definitely used him as a role model who really knew how to take over and make a good name for himself. Now, as a ripe old man, Hector-Miguel was living the good life. He smirked at his granddaughter’s question.

“No, mija. Nothing is wrong. The boys gave me a very good idea for you to be useful to us.” He said as he stroked Angela’s chestnut hair lovingly. Her thoughts immediately ventured to the Cavalieri’s rule about the Unbreakable Vow. You were not a member of the Cavalieri family until you made that vow committing yourself to the family as long as the leader sees fit that you stay. “Does that mean you’re going to let me make the vow before graduation?” Angela asked excitedly in a low voice so as not to wake those sleeping in the house. Not only was the Merciano Manor home to the Merciano family, but many of the respectable Cavalieri members sought residence there as well. “Oh no, nena. You know your mother would kill me if she comes back and you’re an official member before your time. You know what she always used to say.” Hector-Miguel said in a loving tone.

Angela loved how sure he was that her mother would return home safely. Angela rolled her eyes though, imitating her mother’s kind, sweet tone as she spoke the words Angela used to hear constantly. “Life as a Cavalieri is beautiful, but it involves many sacrifices even a child as brilliant and beautiful as you can’t yet comprehend. I want you to chose this life with open eyes. When the time comes, you’ll know the right decision. But not a minute before.” Angela chimed as her grandfather spoke the exact same words. Angela knew that both of them felt Mrs. Merciano’s presence in the room. If only she were really there to remind Angela of those words herself. “Very good. It is important to always remember those words in everything you do. Even now. So come inside. Everyone is waiting on you.”

[Angela Merciano S7]

Hector-Miguel’s office was off limits to anyone who hadn’t vowed during meeting time, but the large room was definitely not unfamiliar to her. Throughout her childhood, one of the images that stuck in her head was her grandfather busy at work in his office. Santino Merciano, Angela’s father had an office as well—many of the older family members did. But there was no office in the manor quite like this one. Not only was the room large, but it was also homely. It kind of reminded Angela of the Slytherin common room in a way, only without the tacky green furniture that just had to match the house colors. The walls were mostly painted a sort of caramel brown, but there was clearly more window than there was wall. The windows were charmed to be completely impenetrable by both magic and muggle technologies and no one could see what was going on inside. However, even at three in the morning, the view of the beach and water outside the office was breathtaking. There were armchairs everywhere and they all faced the big desk—the desk that made it clear to anyone entering the room that whoever sat in that desk had some immense power. It was almost on an altar. There were many men in the room. Many more than there usually were at her grandfather’s late night meetings. Angela’s father was sitting in the rather large armchair directly to the right of her grandfather’s altar-like desk. There was a smaller looking chair beside Angela’s father that remained empty. That chair had been empty for months. Angela turned her head, trying not to think about it.

The room smelled like a mixture of leather and cigar smoke—a scent that Angela always categorized with her grandfather. He always smelled like his office, but then there was always a bit of his Old Spice cologne as well. There was only one man actually smoking a cigar though, Angela’s ex-boyfriend Emilio Ramirez. Of course he’d be there. Emilio had already taken the vow, something he never seemed to shut up about whenever Angela got him angry by rejecting him again. He winked at her and Angela rolled her eyes. “Nice nightgown.” Emilio said, glancing at Angela’s lacy black night suit. She closed her bathrobe immediately. “Emilio. You watch your tongue in front of my granddaughter or you’ll be the next to go on vacation. Comprendere?” Angela’s grandfather snapped in sharp Italian. Angela understood the Italian language decently enough to understand what was being said, but not well enough to speak it fluently. Angela preferred Spanish to Italian any day. The meetings were always conducted in a mixture of both Spanish and Italian, but Angela translated the words to herself as they were spoken.

“Yes sir.” Emilio muttered. He didn’t glance at Angela again. Her grandfather nodded and sat down at his desk. “Very good. Now, Nena. I’m not sure if you remember our dear friend Thomson. Well, he broke his vow. He will no longer be with us.” Angela nodded, but didn’t show any sort of emotion. She didn’t pity anyone who would dare betray their family. Especially Thomson, who came to Angela’s grandfather with nothing, in search of a better life for his children. “So that means we will need a new way in. It is a shame we had to live with a traitor in our midst. I am very confident that we were very close to finding your mother. So our dear brother Francesco found some very key information for us while buying his son a new broomstick for his birthday. Do send him over here sometime so I can give him his gift, Francesco. I’m sure he deserves it. But I’m old, I ramble. As Francesco chose a broomstick for his young boy, a very helpful sales clerk assisted him with the sale. A Hemingway. It seems Luciana Hemingway’s eldest son has finally resurfaced. I believe that he is our best way in. Nena, I got you a starting position at the Quidditch shop in which the Hemingway boy is working at. Your job is to get close to him.”

Translation:

Comprendere?: Italian. Understand?

[Angela Merciano S7]

Angela’s jaw almost dropped in joy. She was being trusted with a tremendously important job, and she hadn’t even made her vow to the Cavalieri. She would be their main source to the Hemingway family’s activity. But how would she be able to get that close? Surely even the oldest and most uninvolved Hemingway child would notice a Merciano in his presence? There was no way he’d let her get anywhere near his personal life. “If you don’t mind my asking, how would I be able to get close if he already knows of my family? Surely even that blazing idiot of a boy should know who his enemy is.” Angela wondered aloud, making some of the men laugh with her apparently amusing choice of words. Her grandfather smiled. “Ah. You see why she is my granddaughter? I knew you’d pick up on this. Surely a very clever disguise will need to be made. Polyjuice is far too overplayed. I’m sure the Hemingways, as bright as they are would have thought of a way to detect this. Plus it tastes terrible. So, mija, I invented a new spell just for you.” Angela smiled at her grandfather’s complete confidence in her. He continued on to explain.

“In order for the spell to work, you must first make a change. The purpose of this spell is to take that change and magnify it. This change must be done magically, so it will be easy to change it back when you want your old identity back. It could be your eyes, your hair, or other changeable features. I’m thinking your hair, so we don’t change your original beauty with the spell. Once the spell is completed and you have made this ‘change’, no one will be able to connect your new identity with Angela Merciano’s. The only ones who will not be affected by this spell are those present here. They will only see you with your different hair, but still know you as the wonderful girl you truly are; and that is my granddaughter Angela. It’s a rather clever spell of mine that I made just for this job. So what would you like to change, mija?” He said proudly. Angela smiled. She had always joked that she was going to go blonde one day. She was pretty pale at the moment due to lack of sun, so a blonde look would be perfect for her. “I’d like to dye my hair blonde. Could you do it for me?” She asked politely. Of course her grandfather obliged. She hugged him tightly as he placed his wand on her head and magically transformed her long brown locks into blonde ones. She smiled as she admired the new look in the mirror. Seconds later, Angela heard a loud crack. She turned around and suddenly, her entire family was standing at the door accompanied by house elves looking curious and extremely tired. “I invited your family to see the change take place, so we don’t have any surprises come tomorrow morning.” Hector-Miguel explained, clearly amused with something.

“Now, I’m afraid I can’t say the spell I’m about to cast aloud, since there are many here who haven’t vowed. So, if you’ll just stay completely still…” Angela’s grandfather pointed his wand at her once more and just like that, Angela felt the change taking place. She felt a warm sensation sweep over her and moments later, she could feel the change. “Now I chose a new name for you, mi vida. Come read your new details.” He said, handing her a piece of paper. Angela read aloud. “My name is Ava Jackson. Age 19, adopted. Unsure of ethnicity.” Angela smiled up at the room. “This is clever. So when do I start?” Angela asked as she read through more of her new information. Her grandfather patted her back. “Tomorrow. Nine o’clock. I have full faith you will do your family proud. Welcome to the family, Nena. Now get some rest. You have a big job ahead of you.” He said as a house elf approached her to apparate her back to bed.

Moments later, Angela’s father stood up and addressed the room. “I will assign a different person each time to make frequent but discreet checks on my daughter twice a month. But do let her know before you come, or don’t bother. Can’t have you barging in at crucial times. And with that last note, I will say meeting is adjourned. Rest up men.” Angela wasn’t sure how much sleep she was going to get tonight with all her excitement and anticipation, but with the sound of the men apparating out of the room ringing in her ears, she made her way back up to bed.

Translation:

Mi Vida: Spanish. my life.

((END.))