Post by Sensiblyquirky on Aug 8, 2006 16:14:33 GMT -5
Title: Fawkes’ Care
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Fawkes finds Minerva hurt in a clearing of some woods, and Albus goes to see what he can do to help.
Rating: T
A/N: I have not found a good plot bunny to write on in ages, so I may be rusty. Hopefully this story will pan itself out.
Chapter One:
George Luxley smirked as he looked up at the sky one bright October morning. His family had said he was mental when he explained to them what he saw, but he knew his mind wasn’t playing tricks on him. For the second day in a row a bird with plumage to echo the colors of a setting sun flew into the woods a mile from his house. George watched as the bird circled over a spot above the tree tops before it descended into the foliage.
Looking back toward his house George saw his wife Lily was preparing breakfast.
“Lily I’ll have to skip breakfast today Henry needs some help with his fields by the woods, and I’ve said I’d lend him a hand.”
Lily gave her husband a quizzical look as he entered the kitchen, but rather than question him she began to fix him some lunch to carry with him.
“Is Sarah up yet?”
“She’s just making her bed.”
George nodded thoughtfully and waited on Lily to finish preparing his little sack of food.
“I’ll be back before dinner,” he promised giving his wife a chaste kiss before heading out the door.
Lily watched her husband for as long as she could see him then returned to her cooking. George was a kind man but a bit odd she thought to herself, traits he had passed on to their only child Sarah. Combined with Sarah’s knack for causing accidents Lily sometimes wondered what she would have done had they been able to have more children.
“Mom need some help,” a girl of just ten with dark chestnut hair and bright blue eyes asked as she bound into the room knocking a candle to the floor.
“I think it might be best if you just watched, dear.”
While Lily was cooking and Sarah was trying to go a morning without accidentally spilling something George was getting closer to the edge of the woods. Wanting to find the magnificent creature before it disappeared. George had begun to run when he was sure Lily could no longer see him. She was just too practical to understand some things.
Breathing heavily as he entered the woods George stopped to listen for any unusual sounds. Finding none he proceeded to head toward what he believed to be the area the bird found so interesting. Nearing a clearing George’s eyes widened, half in amazement and half in disbelief.
The brightly colored bird’s wings were fully extended above what appeared to be a young woman. Looking more closely George could make out the woman’s jet black hair fanning out in the mud around her. She was wearing robes of green, which George found unusual. Beginning to sweat George looked around for a stick to scare the bird away from the girl, afraid that he would harm the poor woman.
Before George could act a sound broke from the bird, a melody more heavenly than the choir had ever produced and George would know as he never missed Church. He stood transfixed as gold rays enveloped the young woman and the bird. So mesmerized George almost missed the approach of a man to his right; George wasn’t sure which sight was more unbelievable: a magical bird or a man with a long auburn and grey beard, long hair, and robe clad appearing in the woods.
The bird had stopped and was looking toward the man. “So this is where you have been disappearing to my friend,” spoke the man.
George watched as the man knelt beside of the woman and drew a stick of some sort from his pocket. Before thinking George burst into the clearing, “Now you wait just a second!”
George was unnerved by the fact that the man had not flinched at his outburst, but merely turned toward him smiling.
“I have no intentions of hurting this young lady, my good man. My familiar, Fawkes, found her yesterday and I think she could use our help.”
“Fawkes, the bird is yours, but it is—I mean this can’t be real.” George rubbed his eyes with work worn hands.
The man chuckled, “I think Fawkes owns me more than I own him. I’m afraid introductions will need to wait as this fair lady needs medical attention. Perhaps you have a home we can take her to, and then we can chat over a drink.”
George wasn’t sure he wanted to take this man and his strange bird to his house, but the lady did seem to be in bad medical shape.
“Ok, but let me warn you if you try anything on my family I’ve got a gun and I’m not afraid to use it.”
“I can assure you no harm will come to you and yours, but your point is clear. Lead the way.”
Albus leaned over the woman and gently lifted her up into his arms, angling her head toward his shoulder.
“Do you need any help carrying her,” George asked knowing they had a mile trek back to his house.
“No I can manage, she’s very light.”
George spent the duration of the walk home looking over his shoulder to see if Albus and Fawkes were behind him, and to his slight surprise they were. At least now Lily would know he was right when he told her all about the strange looking bird he saw flying around the house.
Opening the door to his house George called for his wife, “Lily!”
“I thought you,” but before Lily finished her sentence she let out a frightful scream that sent Fawkes soaring into the air.
“Is that? It is real—you brought it into my house?”
“Madame if I may interject,” Albus spoke and then continued without waiting for a reply, “thank you. I can assure you Fawkes is completely harmless and will not disrupt anything in your home unless you have some sherbet lemons about, I’m afraid he’s rather fond of them. My fault you see. If you have a spare bed for the lady I just need to tend to her wounds, and then we can discuss what has happened today.”
Lily could only nod and point a shaky hand toward a small room in the back of the house, to which Dumbledore retreated immediately. So doing he passed Sarah and gave her a friendly smile, she blushed by way of a reply.
George spent the next half an hour telling and retelling his story to his eager family while Albus attempted to help the young woman. Only once was he interrupted when Albus called for Lily’s aid.
“How is she,” George asked upon Albus’ return to the kitchen.
“She’ll be asleep for another hour then Fawkes' enchantment should wear off, and she’ll awake ready to tell us who she is and how she came to be in her current situation.”
“Enchantment,” Sarah asked wide-eyed.
“Yes, you see Fawkes is a phoenix. Have you heard of them?”
“Yes, but they aren’t real. Are they?” Sarah replied inching a little closer to Albus only to be pulled back to her mother’s side rather hastily.
“Neither Fawkes nor I are figments of your imagination, my dear. You see I come from another world, I am a wizard.”
“George he’s more eccentric than you.”
Albus ignored the aside and continued, “When your husband saw me pull my wand from my robes he thought I meant harm for the lady, but that is how I do magic. There are thousands of witches and wizards, in fact I’ve taught a good many of them at Hogwarts.”
Albus could not help but chuckle at the three dumbstruck faces peering at him from the kitchen table. “Normally I would not tell non-magical people, who we call muggles, about our world, but you see not all of your family is non-magical.”
Turning to look at Sarah Albus smiled while Lily paled. “What do you mean?”
“I could see the magic around your daughter when I passed her in the hall; I daresay she’ll be receiving a Hogwarts letter in a year or two at age eleven.”
“That’s next year, I’ll be eleven next year! Is that why I always cause accidents?”
“Yes I’m afraid so, but at Hogwarts we can teach you how to control your magic and use it effectively. However you have another year before your letter and another seven at Hogwarts to learn all about that. Now, Mrs. Luxley, would you mind preparing some tea? I’m rather parched from this morning’s activities and our patient will want something to drink I’m sure.”
Lily just stared at the man before rising to fix some tea, she could not explain why she felt compelled to do everything he said but she was beginning to believe in his magic talk. Besides it would explain Sarah, oh Sarah a witch?
Sarah looked up to find her mother staring at her before she returned to her task, Sarah swallowed.
“Could you show me magic, Mr. Dumbledore?”
“Professor is fine, and if your parents agree I could show you a simple spell.”
Sarah looked eagerly toward her father who agreed, just as curious as his daughter was. They watched as Albus summoned an object from across the room to their side, turned a chair into a frog and back again, and charmed the broom to sweep the floor on its own. While George and Sarah sat transfixed, their excitement growing with each passing second, Lily dropped one of her tea cups startling the other occupants of the kitchen.
“Oh dear, let me fix that for you since I seem to be the cause of such distress.” With one flick of his wand Albus repaired the tea cup.
Conversation died not long after tea was served, each person mulling over all that had happened. When an hour had passed Albus stood and left the family to check on the patient.
Gingerly he opened the door and was pleased to find the young woman awake, though the brightness of her green eyes almost startled him.
“It is good to see you awake. My familiar, Fawkes, found you yesterday and currently you are in a muggle family’s home so I could tend to some of your wounds. May I ask your name?”
The woman tried to sit up but gave up when her efforts seemed fruitless, “Minerva McGonagall Professor Dumbledore.”
“My fame follows me everywhere I see.” Minerva noticed Albus sounded somewhat dejected at that prospect.
“Forgive my rudeness, but may I inquire as to your age and if you have family near by?”
“I’m twenty-six, and my family was killed during the war.”
“You have my condolences. Do you feel well enough to move? I can take you to the hospital wing at Hogwarts; I do not think you’ll be in need of a Healer. Fawkes helped to repair most of your injuries.”
“Oh, it seems I am much indebted to you Professor.”
“Albus.”
“Albus,” Minerva replied smiling slightly, “I would love to see Hogwarts again, but I’m not sure I can move at this moment.”
Dumbledore nodded then left the room and returned with George and Lily, “These are the Luxleys, whose home you are now in, and they have agreed to keep you through the night. They know about our world as their daughter Sarah will be entering Hogwarts in a year’s time. I’ll return tomorrow and we can leave for Hogwarts. I’ll leave Fawkes to look over you, he is quite anxious to see you.”
“This is very kind of all of you. I am indebted to your family, Mr. Luxley, and I do hope you will mention any inconveniences my presence causes so that I may reimburse you.”
“That will not be necessary, dear,” George spoke softly seeing the young woman was struggling to remain awake.
Albus led the family back out, and checked in on the patient one last time before leaving. He looked down on her peaceful face, now noticeable since he had cleaned the mud from her. She was young and beautiful, he thought before apparating away.
TBC…
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Fawkes finds Minerva hurt in a clearing of some woods, and Albus goes to see what he can do to help.
Rating: T
A/N: I have not found a good plot bunny to write on in ages, so I may be rusty. Hopefully this story will pan itself out.
Chapter One:
George Luxley smirked as he looked up at the sky one bright October morning. His family had said he was mental when he explained to them what he saw, but he knew his mind wasn’t playing tricks on him. For the second day in a row a bird with plumage to echo the colors of a setting sun flew into the woods a mile from his house. George watched as the bird circled over a spot above the tree tops before it descended into the foliage.
Looking back toward his house George saw his wife Lily was preparing breakfast.
“Lily I’ll have to skip breakfast today Henry needs some help with his fields by the woods, and I’ve said I’d lend him a hand.”
Lily gave her husband a quizzical look as he entered the kitchen, but rather than question him she began to fix him some lunch to carry with him.
“Is Sarah up yet?”
“She’s just making her bed.”
George nodded thoughtfully and waited on Lily to finish preparing his little sack of food.
“I’ll be back before dinner,” he promised giving his wife a chaste kiss before heading out the door.
Lily watched her husband for as long as she could see him then returned to her cooking. George was a kind man but a bit odd she thought to herself, traits he had passed on to their only child Sarah. Combined with Sarah’s knack for causing accidents Lily sometimes wondered what she would have done had they been able to have more children.
“Mom need some help,” a girl of just ten with dark chestnut hair and bright blue eyes asked as she bound into the room knocking a candle to the floor.
“I think it might be best if you just watched, dear.”
While Lily was cooking and Sarah was trying to go a morning without accidentally spilling something George was getting closer to the edge of the woods. Wanting to find the magnificent creature before it disappeared. George had begun to run when he was sure Lily could no longer see him. She was just too practical to understand some things.
Breathing heavily as he entered the woods George stopped to listen for any unusual sounds. Finding none he proceeded to head toward what he believed to be the area the bird found so interesting. Nearing a clearing George’s eyes widened, half in amazement and half in disbelief.
The brightly colored bird’s wings were fully extended above what appeared to be a young woman. Looking more closely George could make out the woman’s jet black hair fanning out in the mud around her. She was wearing robes of green, which George found unusual. Beginning to sweat George looked around for a stick to scare the bird away from the girl, afraid that he would harm the poor woman.
Before George could act a sound broke from the bird, a melody more heavenly than the choir had ever produced and George would know as he never missed Church. He stood transfixed as gold rays enveloped the young woman and the bird. So mesmerized George almost missed the approach of a man to his right; George wasn’t sure which sight was more unbelievable: a magical bird or a man with a long auburn and grey beard, long hair, and robe clad appearing in the woods.
The bird had stopped and was looking toward the man. “So this is where you have been disappearing to my friend,” spoke the man.
George watched as the man knelt beside of the woman and drew a stick of some sort from his pocket. Before thinking George burst into the clearing, “Now you wait just a second!”
George was unnerved by the fact that the man had not flinched at his outburst, but merely turned toward him smiling.
“I have no intentions of hurting this young lady, my good man. My familiar, Fawkes, found her yesterday and I think she could use our help.”
“Fawkes, the bird is yours, but it is—I mean this can’t be real.” George rubbed his eyes with work worn hands.
The man chuckled, “I think Fawkes owns me more than I own him. I’m afraid introductions will need to wait as this fair lady needs medical attention. Perhaps you have a home we can take her to, and then we can chat over a drink.”
George wasn’t sure he wanted to take this man and his strange bird to his house, but the lady did seem to be in bad medical shape.
“Ok, but let me warn you if you try anything on my family I’ve got a gun and I’m not afraid to use it.”
“I can assure you no harm will come to you and yours, but your point is clear. Lead the way.”
Albus leaned over the woman and gently lifted her up into his arms, angling her head toward his shoulder.
“Do you need any help carrying her,” George asked knowing they had a mile trek back to his house.
“No I can manage, she’s very light.”
George spent the duration of the walk home looking over his shoulder to see if Albus and Fawkes were behind him, and to his slight surprise they were. At least now Lily would know he was right when he told her all about the strange looking bird he saw flying around the house.
Opening the door to his house George called for his wife, “Lily!”
“I thought you,” but before Lily finished her sentence she let out a frightful scream that sent Fawkes soaring into the air.
“Is that? It is real—you brought it into my house?”
“Madame if I may interject,” Albus spoke and then continued without waiting for a reply, “thank you. I can assure you Fawkes is completely harmless and will not disrupt anything in your home unless you have some sherbet lemons about, I’m afraid he’s rather fond of them. My fault you see. If you have a spare bed for the lady I just need to tend to her wounds, and then we can discuss what has happened today.”
Lily could only nod and point a shaky hand toward a small room in the back of the house, to which Dumbledore retreated immediately. So doing he passed Sarah and gave her a friendly smile, she blushed by way of a reply.
George spent the next half an hour telling and retelling his story to his eager family while Albus attempted to help the young woman. Only once was he interrupted when Albus called for Lily’s aid.
“How is she,” George asked upon Albus’ return to the kitchen.
“She’ll be asleep for another hour then Fawkes' enchantment should wear off, and she’ll awake ready to tell us who she is and how she came to be in her current situation.”
“Enchantment,” Sarah asked wide-eyed.
“Yes, you see Fawkes is a phoenix. Have you heard of them?”
“Yes, but they aren’t real. Are they?” Sarah replied inching a little closer to Albus only to be pulled back to her mother’s side rather hastily.
“Neither Fawkes nor I are figments of your imagination, my dear. You see I come from another world, I am a wizard.”
“George he’s more eccentric than you.”
Albus ignored the aside and continued, “When your husband saw me pull my wand from my robes he thought I meant harm for the lady, but that is how I do magic. There are thousands of witches and wizards, in fact I’ve taught a good many of them at Hogwarts.”
Albus could not help but chuckle at the three dumbstruck faces peering at him from the kitchen table. “Normally I would not tell non-magical people, who we call muggles, about our world, but you see not all of your family is non-magical.”
Turning to look at Sarah Albus smiled while Lily paled. “What do you mean?”
“I could see the magic around your daughter when I passed her in the hall; I daresay she’ll be receiving a Hogwarts letter in a year or two at age eleven.”
“That’s next year, I’ll be eleven next year! Is that why I always cause accidents?”
“Yes I’m afraid so, but at Hogwarts we can teach you how to control your magic and use it effectively. However you have another year before your letter and another seven at Hogwarts to learn all about that. Now, Mrs. Luxley, would you mind preparing some tea? I’m rather parched from this morning’s activities and our patient will want something to drink I’m sure.”
Lily just stared at the man before rising to fix some tea, she could not explain why she felt compelled to do everything he said but she was beginning to believe in his magic talk. Besides it would explain Sarah, oh Sarah a witch?
Sarah looked up to find her mother staring at her before she returned to her task, Sarah swallowed.
“Could you show me magic, Mr. Dumbledore?”
“Professor is fine, and if your parents agree I could show you a simple spell.”
Sarah looked eagerly toward her father who agreed, just as curious as his daughter was. They watched as Albus summoned an object from across the room to their side, turned a chair into a frog and back again, and charmed the broom to sweep the floor on its own. While George and Sarah sat transfixed, their excitement growing with each passing second, Lily dropped one of her tea cups startling the other occupants of the kitchen.
“Oh dear, let me fix that for you since I seem to be the cause of such distress.” With one flick of his wand Albus repaired the tea cup.
Conversation died not long after tea was served, each person mulling over all that had happened. When an hour had passed Albus stood and left the family to check on the patient.
Gingerly he opened the door and was pleased to find the young woman awake, though the brightness of her green eyes almost startled him.
“It is good to see you awake. My familiar, Fawkes, found you yesterday and currently you are in a muggle family’s home so I could tend to some of your wounds. May I ask your name?”
The woman tried to sit up but gave up when her efforts seemed fruitless, “Minerva McGonagall Professor Dumbledore.”
“My fame follows me everywhere I see.” Minerva noticed Albus sounded somewhat dejected at that prospect.
“Forgive my rudeness, but may I inquire as to your age and if you have family near by?”
“I’m twenty-six, and my family was killed during the war.”
“You have my condolences. Do you feel well enough to move? I can take you to the hospital wing at Hogwarts; I do not think you’ll be in need of a Healer. Fawkes helped to repair most of your injuries.”
“Oh, it seems I am much indebted to you Professor.”
“Albus.”
“Albus,” Minerva replied smiling slightly, “I would love to see Hogwarts again, but I’m not sure I can move at this moment.”
Dumbledore nodded then left the room and returned with George and Lily, “These are the Luxleys, whose home you are now in, and they have agreed to keep you through the night. They know about our world as their daughter Sarah will be entering Hogwarts in a year’s time. I’ll return tomorrow and we can leave for Hogwarts. I’ll leave Fawkes to look over you, he is quite anxious to see you.”
“This is very kind of all of you. I am indebted to your family, Mr. Luxley, and I do hope you will mention any inconveniences my presence causes so that I may reimburse you.”
“That will not be necessary, dear,” George spoke softly seeing the young woman was struggling to remain awake.
Albus led the family back out, and checked in on the patient one last time before leaving. He looked down on her peaceful face, now noticeable since he had cleaned the mud from her. She was young and beautiful, he thought before apparating away.
TBC…
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