Chapter Text
It’s the third time this week that Rey is sent to Unkar Plutt’s office.
She refused the first time, only a few weeks prior. Having seen the owner of the orphanage a handful of times and hearing the absolute worst from the other girls, she wanted no part in whatever he had planned for her. But there was no avoiding him, and Rey was dragged to the dreaded room, screaming and fighting the tight grasp the oldest Irving boy kept on her. She had an inkling of what she was in trouble for, originally expecting it to be that she forgot to clean one of the sinks; turns it out was much, much worse.
All Rey wanted to do that day was lay down, but Serena was sick, so she had to take over her chores for the day. She hated sweeping to begin with, and now she was forced to do double the amount since it was Serena’s day to sweep. Her hands began to grow warm, like someone had opened an oven door nearby, and thought nothing of it initially, since it was a very hot day. One of the girls nearby screamed out, which prompted Rey to turn and find that the broom in her hand was on fire.
She felt nothing, and didn’t dare move as someone passed out nearby. The oldest girl at the orphanage ran for the Irving boys to put it out, and once the smoke had cleared, they snatched her up and brought her to Unkar, where she was sentenced to a week of double chores and only two meals a day.
Her charge? Incineration with the intent to harm.
She argued for what felt like hours to that she had nothing to do with the incident, as she was physically incapable of setting something on fire at that moment. However, since Rey was literally holding the broom, the blame fell on her, and it was pointless to fight on something she couldn’t control. So, she left the office and began to work on her chores, gritting her teeth the entire time.
These “incidents” continued, becoming increasingly frequent as the summer progressed. After a while, she began to believe Unkar, that she actually did set the broom on fire. It was easy to attribute these occurrences to moods she was in; Alana, her mortal enemy at only eleven years old, had ripped her one good shirt while doing laundry on purpose, and Rey started to think about how to get revenge. Just like that, Alana was thrown across the room and the blanket she was folding was in tatters. When she was hungry, she attempted to materialize a cake or tray of cookies, but nothing happened. Sometimes, when she was feeling particularly lazy, the bed would fold itself, and she would have more time to read. Rey quickly learned that this was a spontaneous phenomenon. Upon this realization, she tried to banish all thoughts that arose after something terrible happened, but even a fleeting thought caused things to go amuck.
Which is why when she’s brought to Unkar’s office, she is perplexed at what she could have possibly done this time, since the building had yet to be damaged that day and Alana was still very much alive. She finds it even more confusing that Unkar isn’t alone in the office.
He is talking quietly but intently to a very short woman. Her round glasses take up much of her face, and she speaks vividly with her hands to Unkar. The accent is unfamiliar to Rey, but her unique drawl seemingly calms Rey as she knocks quietly at the door.
“You asked for me, sir?”
Unkar straightens up and moves back behind the desk, plopping down with a large thud. “Yes, there is someone here who wants to see you.”
The woman walks up to Rey, who is shocked to find that she is taller than her. Long grey robes drag behind the woman, and Rey has to wonder how she’s not sweating bullets in the hot office. She extends her hand out; Rey stares at the hand, not sure what to do with it. No one has ever shown her such formality and respect in the four years she has lived here.
“I’m Maz Kanata. Would you walk with me, dear?” Maz gestures to the door. Rey hesitates for a moment, until Maz pushes up her glasses, waiting for Rey to take the lead. Rey leaves the office and they walk slowly up the small hallways of the orphanage.
“So, Rey. I heard that there are some… strange things happening here.”
“Are you here to take me away?” Rey wants to get out, that is for sure, but the last place she wants to end up in is the psych ward. At least at the orphanage, she could leave when she turns eighteen; but the mental hospital would keep her locked up forever. Panic starts to build and Maz lays a hand on her shoulder to calm her. Rey jumps away, not used to the sudden contact.
Maz pulls away and smiles apologetically. There is no pity in her voice as she says, “I won’t touch you unless you want to be. I apologize.”
If Rey was soft like Mary and Alice, she would probably weep at the kindness. But years of dealing with the Irving boys and Unkar hardened her, and she gives Maz a curt nod before continuing their walk.
“I have heard many wonderful things about you, Rey. We have a place for special children like you, where you have a safe place to practice your talents-”
“Talents?” Rey knows it’s impolite to interrupt, but to hear that word in such a dim place like this was unheard of, literally. A lot of the older girls called the orphanage the place where dreams die, as many of the girls never got adopted. They never had a chance to pick up a hobby and become talented at it; Rey wouldn’t consider the weird mishaps occurring on a daily basis her talent, but if it could get her out of the orphanage, she was all for it. “What is my talent?”
“Why, it’s magic of course.” Maz gently laughs at Rey’s eyes widening. “Magic is real, my dear; it is not something to fear. It is a gift.” She twists her robes aside and pulls out a long wooden stick. She asks Rey to hold out her hand, and Rey does, after a few moments of uncertainty. Maz raises the stick to her palm and taps it a few times, and before Rey’s eyes an envelope appears in her hand. She eyes Maz hesitantly, gazing at the envelope with utmost interest.
“Open it.”
She studies the carefully pressed wax seal, finding the crest of an unfamiliar boarding school. Rey wastes no time in ripping open the envelope to find a letter addressed to her. A quick skim confirms that her dreams are about to come true: a one-way ticket out of the orphanage, and a proper education. Better yet, she is going to learn how to use magic.
“Read it aloud.”
Rey clears her throat, not realizing how her voice is caught from trying not to cry.
“Dear Rey, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31st. Yours sincerely, Luke Skywalker, Deputy Headmaster.” She recalls the day and she feels a twinge of anxiety. “But, the deadline has already passed-”
“Do not worry about that. We have no time to lose, Rey. Do you need anything from your room?”
Rey thinks about her question briefly, but there isn’t a single object that holds any significant purpose to her. She shakes her head. “There’s nothing left for me here.”
“There is one more thing we must establish before we leave. We could not find a last name for you in the records, and neither could Unkar. Do you have something in mind that we can call you?”
To belong to a family name was something Rey always strived for, whether it was through adoption or eventual marriage. Now she was faced with a split second decision on what she would call herself for the time being.
“You don’t have to choose now, but do think about it.”
Maz extends her hand once more to Rey, and she takes it gratefully, pushing all of her fear and anxiety down before she can think twice.
The years of scrawling ticks into the wall counting how many days she had been at the orphanage were over. The only hope she ever had was the knowledge that one day she would escape and could begin her life. Years of her life wasted by those with no love or compassion in their heart; Maz has given her more than she ever desired in less than five minutes. Rey could begin to hope again, to keep that passion close to her, instead of pushing it away like she used to. She is curious as to what she is passionate about; would it be the friends she would meet, or the classes she would take? What would bring a smile to her face the easiest when she arrives at her new home?
Rey couldn’t wait to find out.