Post by Karlynne on Jun 13, 2005 2:07:16 GMT -5
We found this story among some that Karlie had written and thought it was perfect for the challenge. It was untitled and unedited, of course. Kandie
Challenge #32
“Albus Dumbledore! You told me we were going to Birmingham!” Minerva tried not to raise her voice but it was a losing battle. This was the first day of their long awaited vacation and they were supposed to be in Birmingham, just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Wales. But they seemed to be somewhere foreign and definitely muggle.
“My dear, I configured the portkey personally. We can’t be very far off course.” He smiled genially at her and nudged her shoulder. A young man wearing what appeared to be sporting attire was walking towards them.
“Good morning, sir. Might you tell us what city we are in?” Minerva decided a liberal dose of her Scottish brogue would help the young man determine that they were visitors to the area.
“Y’all are in Birmingham,” the young man tossed at them as he kept going.
“What did he say?” asked Albus.
Minerva shrugged. “I’m not sure but he did say Birmingham so it must be nearby or perhaps we’re here.” She looked around at the busy streets and the noise. “I haven’t been in so long. It certainly has changed.”
Albus continued to look at the back of the young man that was now far in the distance. “Did he seem different to you?”
“He may be native to another country. His English certainly had a strange inflection or maybe it’s a lesser known dialect.” Minerva glanced at the passersby again. “We seemed overdressed, Albus. It’s much warmer than at Hogwarts.”
Albus looked around to make sure no one was paying them any attention and made some adjustments to their clothing. He now sported a casual shirt and trousers along with comfortable walking shoes.
Minerva was dressed in a lightweight summer dress and sandals. Her hair now flowed down her back and she gave him a pointed look.
“My dear if my hair has to be cropped the least you can do is indulge me and wear yours down in my place.”
Minerva shook her head and gave up. Albus was in a playful mood.
“We need to meet with Franklin Thompson before we can leave for Wales. I haven’t been to Cardiff in fifty years.
At that moment a loud blast of music sounded and Albus took Minerva’s hand and led her in the direction of the noise. More and more people were standing around now and soon they were in the middle of a large crowd. Several bands were warming up and Albus went over and spoke to several people. He returned to Minerva within moments.
“They are having a celebration today. That’s why there are so many foreigners in the city today. The bands there come from Inverness, Sheffield, Oxford, Leeds, and Brighton. We just need to find a seat and enjoy the celebration. We’ll find Franklin later and we’ll be in Wales tonight.
Albus circumspectly conjured two chairs and he and Minerva found a spot on the curb and took their seats. The parade was spectacular with bands and performers rousing the crowds.
Vendors selling strange foods came by and Albus hastily looked about for muggle money before simply casting a spell at the vendor and making him believe he had been paid. Albus would have to pay him later by anonymous owl that the members of the Wizengamot used when dealing with muggles and their government.
Minerva peered into a damp bag that Albus handed her and reached inside. There were peanuts and pecans inside and they had been roasted and salted. Another vendor sold them a drink called sweet tea that cooled her and drove away the thirst the nuts had created.
The parade was long but Albus and Minerva sampled most of the food the vendors were selling. Sweet potatoes that were roasted and filled with butter and cinnamon, hush puppies that turned out to be bread balls filled with spices and tiny bits of onion, huge slices of watermelon, ice cold peaches, and meats.
There were many types of so-called barbeque meats. Mostly pork, beef, and chicken but each vendor had cooked the meat in a different sauce although they all claimed to be barbeque sauce.
By the time the parade ended, they were full but they still carried plates of red velvet cake and peach cobbler.
“Oh Albus, let’s just go back to Hogwarts and try again tomorrow. I need to lie down and not move for ten hours at least.” Minerva rubbed her tummy in emphasis and held out her hand so Albus could help her up.
“My dear, you ate far more than you should.”
“Albus, it isn’t often so many visitors come out and in such large numbers. I don’t think I’ve come across a Brit or Scot yet.”
Albus banished the chairs away and shrank the desserts before placing them in a clean handkerchief and putting them in his pocket.
Minerva was a little unsteady as they walked to the portkey spot. Albus finally placed his arm around her waist and held her close to his side.
“Are you feeling alright, Minerva?”
Minerva turned to look at him and he could see her reddened face in the dim light. “I think I’ve had a bit too much sun. I’ll just have to get a potion from Poppy when we return to the school and I’ll be as good as new.”
A boisterous group of young people passed and Albus had to scoot against the wall of a large building to avoid being trampled. Minerva was pressed into his body and he wrapped his arms around her.
“Such rudeness and here we have so many visitors.” Minerva glared disapprovingly at the teens as they passed.
“I don’t mind if it allows me to hold you in my arms.” Albus whispered in her ear. Her intake of breath made him realize that he had muttered the words out loud. He held his breath as Minerva lifted her head to gaze into his eyes.
She found love, respect, and just a touch of vulnerability there and responded by placing her face against his chest. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a small squeeze.
“Why don’t we go home, my dear? I know Birmingham isn’t the other side of the world but I am tired and we will have to make an early start in the morning.” Albus brushed a strand of hair from her face but he didn’t loosen his hold of her although the rowdy group had passed.
“Our vacation starts tomorrow then?”
Albus raised her hand to his lips. “We’ll start everything anew tomorrow.”
The End.
Birmingham, Inverness, Sheffield, Oxford, Leeds, and Brighton are all cities in Alabama, USA as well as cities in England and Scotland. Karlie
Challenge #32
“Albus Dumbledore! You told me we were going to Birmingham!” Minerva tried not to raise her voice but it was a losing battle. This was the first day of their long awaited vacation and they were supposed to be in Birmingham, just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Wales. But they seemed to be somewhere foreign and definitely muggle.
“My dear, I configured the portkey personally. We can’t be very far off course.” He smiled genially at her and nudged her shoulder. A young man wearing what appeared to be sporting attire was walking towards them.
“Good morning, sir. Might you tell us what city we are in?” Minerva decided a liberal dose of her Scottish brogue would help the young man determine that they were visitors to the area.
“Y’all are in Birmingham,” the young man tossed at them as he kept going.
“What did he say?” asked Albus.
Minerva shrugged. “I’m not sure but he did say Birmingham so it must be nearby or perhaps we’re here.” She looked around at the busy streets and the noise. “I haven’t been in so long. It certainly has changed.”
Albus continued to look at the back of the young man that was now far in the distance. “Did he seem different to you?”
“He may be native to another country. His English certainly had a strange inflection or maybe it’s a lesser known dialect.” Minerva glanced at the passersby again. “We seemed overdressed, Albus. It’s much warmer than at Hogwarts.”
Albus looked around to make sure no one was paying them any attention and made some adjustments to their clothing. He now sported a casual shirt and trousers along with comfortable walking shoes.
Minerva was dressed in a lightweight summer dress and sandals. Her hair now flowed down her back and she gave him a pointed look.
“My dear if my hair has to be cropped the least you can do is indulge me and wear yours down in my place.”
Minerva shook her head and gave up. Albus was in a playful mood.
“We need to meet with Franklin Thompson before we can leave for Wales. I haven’t been to Cardiff in fifty years.
At that moment a loud blast of music sounded and Albus took Minerva’s hand and led her in the direction of the noise. More and more people were standing around now and soon they were in the middle of a large crowd. Several bands were warming up and Albus went over and spoke to several people. He returned to Minerva within moments.
“They are having a celebration today. That’s why there are so many foreigners in the city today. The bands there come from Inverness, Sheffield, Oxford, Leeds, and Brighton. We just need to find a seat and enjoy the celebration. We’ll find Franklin later and we’ll be in Wales tonight.
Albus circumspectly conjured two chairs and he and Minerva found a spot on the curb and took their seats. The parade was spectacular with bands and performers rousing the crowds.
Vendors selling strange foods came by and Albus hastily looked about for muggle money before simply casting a spell at the vendor and making him believe he had been paid. Albus would have to pay him later by anonymous owl that the members of the Wizengamot used when dealing with muggles and their government.
Minerva peered into a damp bag that Albus handed her and reached inside. There were peanuts and pecans inside and they had been roasted and salted. Another vendor sold them a drink called sweet tea that cooled her and drove away the thirst the nuts had created.
The parade was long but Albus and Minerva sampled most of the food the vendors were selling. Sweet potatoes that were roasted and filled with butter and cinnamon, hush puppies that turned out to be bread balls filled with spices and tiny bits of onion, huge slices of watermelon, ice cold peaches, and meats.
There were many types of so-called barbeque meats. Mostly pork, beef, and chicken but each vendor had cooked the meat in a different sauce although they all claimed to be barbeque sauce.
By the time the parade ended, they were full but they still carried plates of red velvet cake and peach cobbler.
“Oh Albus, let’s just go back to Hogwarts and try again tomorrow. I need to lie down and not move for ten hours at least.” Minerva rubbed her tummy in emphasis and held out her hand so Albus could help her up.
“My dear, you ate far more than you should.”
“Albus, it isn’t often so many visitors come out and in such large numbers. I don’t think I’ve come across a Brit or Scot yet.”
Albus banished the chairs away and shrank the desserts before placing them in a clean handkerchief and putting them in his pocket.
Minerva was a little unsteady as they walked to the portkey spot. Albus finally placed his arm around her waist and held her close to his side.
“Are you feeling alright, Minerva?”
Minerva turned to look at him and he could see her reddened face in the dim light. “I think I’ve had a bit too much sun. I’ll just have to get a potion from Poppy when we return to the school and I’ll be as good as new.”
A boisterous group of young people passed and Albus had to scoot against the wall of a large building to avoid being trampled. Minerva was pressed into his body and he wrapped his arms around her.
“Such rudeness and here we have so many visitors.” Minerva glared disapprovingly at the teens as they passed.
“I don’t mind if it allows me to hold you in my arms.” Albus whispered in her ear. Her intake of breath made him realize that he had muttered the words out loud. He held his breath as Minerva lifted her head to gaze into his eyes.
She found love, respect, and just a touch of vulnerability there and responded by placing her face against his chest. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a small squeeze.
“Why don’t we go home, my dear? I know Birmingham isn’t the other side of the world but I am tired and we will have to make an early start in the morning.” Albus brushed a strand of hair from her face but he didn’t loosen his hold of her although the rowdy group had passed.
“Our vacation starts tomorrow then?”
Albus raised her hand to his lips. “We’ll start everything anew tomorrow.”
The End.
Birmingham, Inverness, Sheffield, Oxford, Leeds, and Brighton are all cities in Alabama, USA as well as cities in England and Scotland. Karlie
! This was great
