Post by Karlynne on Jan 15, 2005 3:49:01 GMT -5
Corner of the Sky (The Title bears no relationship to the story)
Albus Dumbledore hurried into Hogsmeade and entered the Three Broomsticks. Madame Rosemerta quickly ushered him into a back room and handed him a piece of parchment. Albus quickly read it before handing it back to her and apparating away.
He now stood in front of a large building divided into several flats. The security of Hogwarts Castle was being increased and Albus would have to become a commuter for the summer. Working at the school during the day and coming home each evening reminded him of his early years before teaching. It had been a long time since he had a home of his own and he found himself looking forward to a few rooms to call his own.
Hogsmeade was by far the most preferred location for him to live since it was close to the castle and he could easily apparate from his new home to the ministry or Grimmauld Place. Rosemerta had owled him only this morning to tell him of a vacancy here and Albus had immediately owled the landlord and rented it for three months sight unseen. Madame Rosemerta had assured him it was a fine establishment and currently secured behind a Fidelus charm. Albus would add his own wards and protective spells to his rooms to ensure further security.
Ethan Witherspoon, the landlord and owner, had greeted him warmly and taken him immediately to the top floor where his flat was located. It contained a large sunny front room as well as a large study. The bedroom was in the back and adjoined a lavish bath. The kitchen was small as was the dining room but Albus knew he would rarely eat at home. The most appealing feature was the flat came furnished and he need only move a few personal belongings inside. He paid all three months in advance and heartily thanked Mr. Witherspoon for accepting him as a tenant.
He would return to Hogwarts and pack a few clothes and other affects and return at lunch.
Minerva McGonagall crumpled the letter in her hand and tossed it in the fireplace and watched it burn. She had been expecting an invitation from her sister Diana to spend the summer with her as she did each year but for the first time in over twenty years, her sister had written and expressed her regret that she couldn’t invite Minerva as Gertrude her youngest daughter was bringing her newest grandchild and would stay several weeks.
Minerva preferred not spending the summer with an infant in the house but she had hoped to stay with Diana. It hadn’t occurred to her to make alternate plans and now she would have to hurry and search for a place to stay. The castle would have to be emptied as soon as possible. Hagrid was remaining and Argus was staying in a temporary shelter on the grounds with few comforts.
Minerva reached for her cane and began the long trek to the gates of the school. She would go into Hogsmeade and search there first. She knew she could ask Albus for a room wherever he was staying but she didn’t want to impose. While they were the best of friends, she didn’t want to over step her bounds.
An hour later she sank into a chair at Madame Puddifoot’s and ordered a cup of tea. She hadn’t found a room at all. Several realtors had taken her name but as she only needed rooms for three months, it would be difficult to find something. Minerva had offered to pay any reasonable rent and hoped to receive an owl soon.
She glanced around the room as she drank her tea and noticed a woman at the next table fishing in her pockets for change while precariously balancing several items in her other hand. Minerva saw her hand shake and the items began slipping. Minerva quickly pulled out her wand and froze the items in place. The woman turned and smiled at her gratefully before taking her own wand and levitating her possessions. Both women nodded at each other and Minerva finished her tea.
“Thank you for your help,” The voice was soft and Minerva quickly raised her head.
“You’re welcome. I’ve had to try to do more than one thing at a time for many years.” They smiled at each other and Minerva motioned for the other woman to take a seat. “Minerva McGonagall,” she said holding out her hand.
“Ruby Witherspoon,” she countered shaking Minerva’s hand. “It isn’t often people come in here alone.”
Both women rolled their eyes at the overly cute display of cupids and hearts and then laughed softly. Minerva knew instantly that she had found a friend and spent several minutes discussing topics of interests.
“I’m sorry to have to go but I am searching for a summer home and I must continue my task.” Minerva truly looked regretful and Ruby immediately smiled widely.
“Well it so happens we have a flat to let that just opened up this morning.” Ruby handed Minerva a card stating her address on it. “It’s under Fidelus but I assure you it’s a tenants delight.”
“I teach Transfigurations at Hogwarts and only need a place until school starts,” she said regretfully.
“That is fine. I have a way of knowing who will make a good tenant and who won’t. If you’d like we can go take a look at it now before my husband places an advertisement in the newspaper.”
The women quickly gathered their belongings and made their way to the Witherspoon building. Minerva immediately liked the flat and paid her first months, rent. She received a key to the front door and made arrangements to return with her belongings that evening. Albus hadn’t told her if there was a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix that evening but she would hurry over immediately after work. It wouldn’t take her long to arrange her things. It was nearly lunchtime. If she returned now she could finish work by dinnertime.
She returned to Hogwarts with a light heart and satisfied that one challenge had proven rather easy to meet.
Albus whistled as he unpacked and hung several robes in his wardrobe. He banished his toiletries to the bathroom and unpacked several books and placed them on the bookshelves in his study. He wouldn’t need much here as he would spend most of his time at Hogwarts but he liked a few touches of home.
He found a candy dish and carefully placed his last three lemon drops inside. He would have to remember to drop by Honeydukes before the meeting at Grimmauld Place.
Albus returned to Hogwarts feeling younger than he had in several years. His flat had an incredible view of Hogsmeade and if you looked carefully you could see the castle from the study windows. There was still a small hollow feeling tucked away but he chose to ignore it.
Minerva arched her back trying to stretch her weary bones. It was already five and she was ready to call it a day. There would be more work waiting for her tomorrow but her duties as Deputy Headmistress seldom went away completely. She needed to go to her rooms and pack a few personal belongings and take them to her new home. Albus had informed her of a meeting at eight at Grimmauld Place and she would have just enough time to take her things over and hopefully after the meeting Molly could be coaxed into providing a small meal. She was about to invite Albus to view her new place but he had mentioned needing to go to Honeydukes and stopping by the Three Broomsticks.
Minerva hurried to the Witherspoon building and levitated her boxes inside. She hadn’t brought much. A few things for the kitchen, a couple of cushions for the couch that she loved to lounge on in her animagus form, and several books. She was surprised to find several good books on the shelves already but thought Ruby had obviously placed them there, as they were several noted works of Transfigurations. She would have to remember to write a thank you note to her kind landlord’s wife.
There were several more boxes to unpack but it could wait until she returned from the meeting. It was mostly clothes anyway. She moved the boxes into the kitchen and out of the way and left for Grimmauld Place.
Molly had been more than pleased to provide Minerva with a steaming bowl of soup followed by several sustaining cups of strong tea. Molly had urged Minerva to spend the night and she had a room ready for her but Minerva declined. The Noble House of Black was gruesome at best and Minerva knew she would sleep better among her own things. It was nearly midnight when Minerva apparated to her new flat and let herself inside. It had taken several minutes to enter the flat, as she had to work through the wards protecting the flat. She was too tired to realize that she was using the same spells that she used on her own rooms at Hogwarts to pass through.
She regretted not having the chance to unpack her clothing but didn’t have the energy to summon the desire to find her nightgown. She would use her wand to conjure a brush for her hair and then off to bed. She took down her bun and stretched her neck as the brush soothe the knots from her hair and then another swish and her hair was in a braid hanging down her back. She extinguished the fire and made her way into her dark bedroom.
Albus Dumbledore hurried into Hogsmeade and entered the Three Broomsticks. Madame Rosemerta quickly ushered him into a back room and handed him a piece of parchment. Albus quickly read it before handing it back to her and apparating away.
He now stood in front of a large building divided into several flats. The security of Hogwarts Castle was being increased and Albus would have to become a commuter for the summer. Working at the school during the day and coming home each evening reminded him of his early years before teaching. It had been a long time since he had a home of his own and he found himself looking forward to a few rooms to call his own.
Hogsmeade was by far the most preferred location for him to live since it was close to the castle and he could easily apparate from his new home to the ministry or Grimmauld Place. Rosemerta had owled him only this morning to tell him of a vacancy here and Albus had immediately owled the landlord and rented it for three months sight unseen. Madame Rosemerta had assured him it was a fine establishment and currently secured behind a Fidelus charm. Albus would add his own wards and protective spells to his rooms to ensure further security.
Ethan Witherspoon, the landlord and owner, had greeted him warmly and taken him immediately to the top floor where his flat was located. It contained a large sunny front room as well as a large study. The bedroom was in the back and adjoined a lavish bath. The kitchen was small as was the dining room but Albus knew he would rarely eat at home. The most appealing feature was the flat came furnished and he need only move a few personal belongings inside. He paid all three months in advance and heartily thanked Mr. Witherspoon for accepting him as a tenant.
He would return to Hogwarts and pack a few clothes and other affects and return at lunch.
Minerva McGonagall crumpled the letter in her hand and tossed it in the fireplace and watched it burn. She had been expecting an invitation from her sister Diana to spend the summer with her as she did each year but for the first time in over twenty years, her sister had written and expressed her regret that she couldn’t invite Minerva as Gertrude her youngest daughter was bringing her newest grandchild and would stay several weeks.
Minerva preferred not spending the summer with an infant in the house but she had hoped to stay with Diana. It hadn’t occurred to her to make alternate plans and now she would have to hurry and search for a place to stay. The castle would have to be emptied as soon as possible. Hagrid was remaining and Argus was staying in a temporary shelter on the grounds with few comforts.
Minerva reached for her cane and began the long trek to the gates of the school. She would go into Hogsmeade and search there first. She knew she could ask Albus for a room wherever he was staying but she didn’t want to impose. While they were the best of friends, she didn’t want to over step her bounds.
An hour later she sank into a chair at Madame Puddifoot’s and ordered a cup of tea. She hadn’t found a room at all. Several realtors had taken her name but as she only needed rooms for three months, it would be difficult to find something. Minerva had offered to pay any reasonable rent and hoped to receive an owl soon.
She glanced around the room as she drank her tea and noticed a woman at the next table fishing in her pockets for change while precariously balancing several items in her other hand. Minerva saw her hand shake and the items began slipping. Minerva quickly pulled out her wand and froze the items in place. The woman turned and smiled at her gratefully before taking her own wand and levitating her possessions. Both women nodded at each other and Minerva finished her tea.
“Thank you for your help,” The voice was soft and Minerva quickly raised her head.
“You’re welcome. I’ve had to try to do more than one thing at a time for many years.” They smiled at each other and Minerva motioned for the other woman to take a seat. “Minerva McGonagall,” she said holding out her hand.
“Ruby Witherspoon,” she countered shaking Minerva’s hand. “It isn’t often people come in here alone.”
Both women rolled their eyes at the overly cute display of cupids and hearts and then laughed softly. Minerva knew instantly that she had found a friend and spent several minutes discussing topics of interests.
“I’m sorry to have to go but I am searching for a summer home and I must continue my task.” Minerva truly looked regretful and Ruby immediately smiled widely.
“Well it so happens we have a flat to let that just opened up this morning.” Ruby handed Minerva a card stating her address on it. “It’s under Fidelus but I assure you it’s a tenants delight.”
“I teach Transfigurations at Hogwarts and only need a place until school starts,” she said regretfully.
“That is fine. I have a way of knowing who will make a good tenant and who won’t. If you’d like we can go take a look at it now before my husband places an advertisement in the newspaper.”
The women quickly gathered their belongings and made their way to the Witherspoon building. Minerva immediately liked the flat and paid her first months, rent. She received a key to the front door and made arrangements to return with her belongings that evening. Albus hadn’t told her if there was a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix that evening but she would hurry over immediately after work. It wouldn’t take her long to arrange her things. It was nearly lunchtime. If she returned now she could finish work by dinnertime.
She returned to Hogwarts with a light heart and satisfied that one challenge had proven rather easy to meet.
Albus whistled as he unpacked and hung several robes in his wardrobe. He banished his toiletries to the bathroom and unpacked several books and placed them on the bookshelves in his study. He wouldn’t need much here as he would spend most of his time at Hogwarts but he liked a few touches of home.
He found a candy dish and carefully placed his last three lemon drops inside. He would have to remember to drop by Honeydukes before the meeting at Grimmauld Place.
Albus returned to Hogwarts feeling younger than he had in several years. His flat had an incredible view of Hogsmeade and if you looked carefully you could see the castle from the study windows. There was still a small hollow feeling tucked away but he chose to ignore it.
Minerva arched her back trying to stretch her weary bones. It was already five and she was ready to call it a day. There would be more work waiting for her tomorrow but her duties as Deputy Headmistress seldom went away completely. She needed to go to her rooms and pack a few personal belongings and take them to her new home. Albus had informed her of a meeting at eight at Grimmauld Place and she would have just enough time to take her things over and hopefully after the meeting Molly could be coaxed into providing a small meal. She was about to invite Albus to view her new place but he had mentioned needing to go to Honeydukes and stopping by the Three Broomsticks.
Minerva hurried to the Witherspoon building and levitated her boxes inside. She hadn’t brought much. A few things for the kitchen, a couple of cushions for the couch that she loved to lounge on in her animagus form, and several books. She was surprised to find several good books on the shelves already but thought Ruby had obviously placed them there, as they were several noted works of Transfigurations. She would have to remember to write a thank you note to her kind landlord’s wife.
There were several more boxes to unpack but it could wait until she returned from the meeting. It was mostly clothes anyway. She moved the boxes into the kitchen and out of the way and left for Grimmauld Place.
Molly had been more than pleased to provide Minerva with a steaming bowl of soup followed by several sustaining cups of strong tea. Molly had urged Minerva to spend the night and she had a room ready for her but Minerva declined. The Noble House of Black was gruesome at best and Minerva knew she would sleep better among her own things. It was nearly midnight when Minerva apparated to her new flat and let herself inside. It had taken several minutes to enter the flat, as she had to work through the wards protecting the flat. She was too tired to realize that she was using the same spells that she used on her own rooms at Hogwarts to pass through.
She regretted not having the chance to unpack her clothing but didn’t have the energy to summon the desire to find her nightgown. She would use her wand to conjure a brush for her hair and then off to bed. She took down her bun and stretched her neck as the brush soothe the knots from her hair and then another swish and her hair was in a braid hanging down her back. She extinguished the fire and made her way into her dark bedroom.
