A/N - This is the first chapter of the companion piece to Veralidaine's "Fa A Bhialainn Ann." Please R/R but no flames, please. Enjoy!
Sapphira pushed a lock of silvery-blond hair out of her eyes, and blew softly on a dandelion, scattering the seeds to the wind. She blinked and smiled as a breeze that strongly smelled of snow snatched up the seeds and flung them out to the world beyond, carrying the fluffy white tufts far above her head.
"I guess that's just the way of things," she murmured softly to herself. "You think you're safe, all snug and secure; where you're supposed to be. Then a rogue breeze pitches you out into an oblivion, where all you know is confusion." Sapphira again smiled, plucked the pencil from behind her ear, and jotted this sentence down in her open notebook. When flowery phrases spurted out at random, it was good to have something handy to write them down with, as they made such good inspiration for poems you didn't then have the time to write.
A chilling gust of wind made her shudder against her jacket, and Sapphira hastily closed her notebook, hefted her backpack, and walked quickly back through the woods to her house. She had a lot to do before leaving in the morning, and she wanted to make sure that everything was ready for the trip to England the next day.
***
Tucked into a tiny seat on the airplane heading east, Sapphira's mother, Brenda, was trying to get her daughter's mind out of her book and into a conversation.
"Sapphira, honey, I'm hardly going to see you at all until next summer. The least you could do is talk to me! What's on your mind, sweetie?"
"My friends. My life. Amesbrook Academy. Hogwarts. Everything! I don't have any idea what to expect! I feel like I've been diagnosed with some sort of infectious disease, and now I'm being banned to a community where I won't infect anyone who's clean." Sapphira hardly glanced up, but her lip was trembling and her already red eyes were threatening to again overflow.
"It's not like that! Think of Hogwarts as a wonderful opportunity! I mean, God, honey, it's a wizarding school! Neither your father nor I ever even dreamed of such a thing when we were you age. Why, not even a couple of months ago! Think of all the exciting thing's you're going to learn . . ." Seeing Sapphira's lack of enthusiasm, Brenda continued. "Sapphira, you never even liked Amesbrook. Remember how, just a month ago, you were coming home crying once a week about how mean everyone was to you? And how stupid they all were? Now you'll have a chance to make real friends. Stop protesting and see this for what it really is!"
"Mom, I know I hated Amesbrook, but I'm so scared!" she shouted, rousing all of the sleepers on the plane. "For God's sake, Mom, I'm completely ignorant! You and I both know that I've always wished I were magical, that I could transform into a-a dragon or something. Now I know that I can do something, and I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of everything that's ahead, even myself!" Having released some of the tension that had been building up over the past few weeks, Sapphira slumped against her cushions and finished the conversation. "I - I don't want to talk right now, Mom. I'm just going to think for awhile." Brenda fell silent at last, a silence for which Sapphira was exceedingly grateful. Now she was free to mull over the hectic events of the past few weeks and sort everything out before she went to school.
***
It had been quite a shock when Sapphira had received the letter of acceptation to Hogwarts. It had been even more of a shock when Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of the school, had come calling on Sapphira no less than forty-five minutes after the arrival of the letter. Apologizing profusely for being late, the strangely dressed, gaunt old man had offered to take her and her mother out to lunch to explain the uniqueness of the offer he was about to make.
Over Starbucks coffee ("Amazing stuff!" Dumbledore had grinned, smacking his lips and swigging a cappuccino) the headmaster explained exactly what was going on. Lowering his voice when he expressed his opinion of American schools for witchcraft and wizardry, he noted that Sapphira had somehow been overlooked by the American wizardry schooling system. He related the entire story to the stunned mother and daughter, everything about the wizarding world and the whole lot about Hogwarts. Eventually he got to saying that the normal admittance age for students entering Hogwarts was eleven, and so it would be impossible for Sapphira to enter the school as a first-year. Being fifteen, she would have to enter as a fifth-year, but this presented a slight obstacle. Every other fifth-year would have received five years of education about how to work spells to their advantage, whereas Sapphira could barely grasp the concept of a wand. He lowered his voice again as he presented a solution to the problem.
"If Sapphira wishes to enter Hogwarts," Dumbledore smiled mischievously, "There is a spell I could work that would give her the magical education of a student entering fifth-year. I am not," Dumbledore's smile widened, eyes twinkling impishly, "supposed to be using this spell on students, but I feel that it is necessary if you wish to attend our institution. You see, you would want the experience that goes along with education, which is why we do not administer -"
At this point, Sapphira had interrupted. "Why me?" she had asked. "Why did you come all the way over to America to talk to me if even the USA's school system couldn't track me down?"
Dumbledore had replied, "I don't have the slightest idea why the colonies' - er, the United States' tracking system didn't find you, but you seem to have appeared on our system because of your - er, unusual brand of talent."
"What's so unusual about my kid," Brenda had snapped. She was feeling so overwhelmed that it was impossible for her to have any other reaction than aggravation.
"My dear lady, I haven't the faintest why her magic is so unusual. It just is, and we were lucky enough to find her and offer the education that she needs and deserves." Dumbledore still seemed jovial, but now there was a slight hint of fatigue in his musty voice. "If you have any questions, don't hesitate to post me. You have heard my offer, so I must now take my leave. The start of the semester already took place, so I suggest you decide as soon as possible. We could bring you in over Christmas break with the most ease. Farewell." Dumbledore winked at Sapphira, and started rummaging in his pocket for something. He got to his feet and -
"Wait! What's your address? How to we get in touch with you?" cried Brenda, frantically searching through her shiny leather purse for a pen.
"Address?" Dumbledore asked, quizzical. "Oh, yes, muggles. Just use Caliburmus here. Tie a message to his leg; he'll find me." Dumbledore retrieved what appeared to be a highly polished stick from his pocket and -poof- disappeared. A large tawny owl flapped through the coffeehouse to land on their table and hooted loudly.
"Caliburmus?" Sapphira cooed softly to the beautiful bird. "Hello. C'mon, we've had enough excitement for one day. You can sleep in my room."
***
Several hours later, Sapphira's plane touched down in Heathrow Airport, England with a soft hissing noise and a thump. Brenda guided her stolid daughter out of the plane and into the airport whispering consolations and confirmations into her ear.
"You'll be fine, baby." She said as they fetched their luggage from the revolving carousel. "Just take a deep breath and smile."
Sapphira rolled her eyes discreetly, grabbed her bulging bag, and stalked off in the direction of the doors leading to the transit station. I have no intention of smiling, mother dearest. She thought venomously.
Sapphira's mother sighed and followed, careful not to muss her dress, as she would soon be taking a taxi to a meeting for her company. As long as she was in England, she might as well get some needed work done.
As her mother caught up with her, Sapphira slowed her pace. They both took seats in the station and waited for Dumbledore, who has said that he would meet them there at promptly six o'clock. After about fifteen tense minutes, Dumbledore came staggering, red-faced, out of the ladies' lavatory.
He smiled, however, when he saw the uneasy looks on the faces of Sapphira and her mother. "I Apparated just slightly to the left of my destination," he said apologetically. "I was aiming for the men's room."
***
Sapphira flopped down wearily onto her bed at the Leaky Cauldron in a room that Dumbledore had generously rented for her. It had been quite a day. After leaving her mother at the airport, the Headmaster had escorted Sapphira all around Diagon Alley to fetch the necessary supplies for her training at Hogwarts, which would begin the day after next. They had first stopped at Gringott's Wizarding Bank to cash in her muggle money for galleons, silver sickles, and tiny bronze knuts. After the necessary exchange, the pair had made their way down the fascinating street, stopping to get all of the necessary books, robes, miscellaneous supplies (herbs, powdered beetles, cauldrons, etc.), and finally her very own wand.
A first made nervous by the pale-eyes Mr. Ollivander, Sapphira finally managed to choose (or be chosen by) a fairly unique wand. Ollivander fairly glowed when silver sparks flew from the eleven-inch wand of white birch and unicorn hair. Informing her of it's assured ability with charms and transfiguration, she purchased the wand and gratefully stepped out of the musty shop. As soon as they were in the sunlight, however, another little depot caught her eye.
"Headmaster, um, do you think we might have a look in there?" Sapphira asked coyly pointing at the Magical Menagerie across the way.
"Lead on," smiled Dumbledore, and offered his arm.
Inside the Menagerie was an astonishing assortment of animals, some of which Sapphira had never seen before. Oddly colored toads, skipping rats, double-ended newts, cats of every color, and beautiful owls were just a few members of the vast collection of animals. Sapphira was gazing at a jeweled tortoise by the window when a small spark caught her attention. Turning and going into the darker back half of the shop, Sapphira stopped by a cage that held a small, scaly, black and orange lizard. He glared at her; unfurled two minute jet wings on his back, and flitted to the other side of his cage. He hissed, and a small spark escaped his lips.
"Cross-breed, that 'un." Sapphira jumped as a woman with a strong Cockney accent peered over her shoulder at the little lizard. "Some wizards were playin' around with transfiguration a month or so back. Tried to turn some salamander into a dragon! Little mite 'ere was the result. No buyers yet - 'es got a vicious temper, that 'un. Seems to have taken a shine to yeh, though," she remarked as the lizard stopped hissing and looked Sapphira with interest.
"He's beautiful," Sapphira breathed, laying a finger on the glass. She turned her head to gaze at the woman. "How much?"
The woman looked surprised. "'Cor, I'd sell 'im for a knut!" Her eyes widened in shock with what she'd said, and hastily, "Er, 'es three sickles an' not a knut less. Yer lucky I'm sellin' 'im so cheap, bein' the cross 'e is."
Sapphira smiled and paid. The woman gingerly removed the top of the cage and tried to stop the lizard from dating out, with little result. The tiny thing zipped between her fingers and did a loop around the shop, buzzing the cages that contained small furred mammals. He slowed and flitted down onto Sapphira's shoulder, blowing a tiny spark into her ear - just hot enough it tickled. They left the uproarious shop in a hurry, and met Dumbledore outside. By this time, the sun had set quite low in the crimson sky, and the two took rooms at the Leaky Cauldron.
Sapphira smiled and closed her eyes, with little Ember (as she had christened her new pet) curled up on her pillow. They breathed in unison, and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
A/N - I hope this came out looking all right. I'm not that experienced with uploading yet, so please be gentle . . .
Sapphira pushed a lock of silvery-blond hair out of her eyes, and blew softly on a dandelion, scattering the seeds to the wind. She blinked and smiled as a breeze that strongly smelled of snow snatched up the seeds and flung them out to the world beyond, carrying the fluffy white tufts far above her head.
"I guess that's just the way of things," she murmured softly to herself. "You think you're safe, all snug and secure; where you're supposed to be. Then a rogue breeze pitches you out into an oblivion, where all you know is confusion." Sapphira again smiled, plucked the pencil from behind her ear, and jotted this sentence down in her open notebook. When flowery phrases spurted out at random, it was good to have something handy to write them down with, as they made such good inspiration for poems you didn't then have the time to write.
A chilling gust of wind made her shudder against her jacket, and Sapphira hastily closed her notebook, hefted her backpack, and walked quickly back through the woods to her house. She had a lot to do before leaving in the morning, and she wanted to make sure that everything was ready for the trip to England the next day.
***
Tucked into a tiny seat on the airplane heading east, Sapphira's mother, Brenda, was trying to get her daughter's mind out of her book and into a conversation.
"Sapphira, honey, I'm hardly going to see you at all until next summer. The least you could do is talk to me! What's on your mind, sweetie?"
"My friends. My life. Amesbrook Academy. Hogwarts. Everything! I don't have any idea what to expect! I feel like I've been diagnosed with some sort of infectious disease, and now I'm being banned to a community where I won't infect anyone who's clean." Sapphira hardly glanced up, but her lip was trembling and her already red eyes were threatening to again overflow.
"It's not like that! Think of Hogwarts as a wonderful opportunity! I mean, God, honey, it's a wizarding school! Neither your father nor I ever even dreamed of such a thing when we were you age. Why, not even a couple of months ago! Think of all the exciting thing's you're going to learn . . ." Seeing Sapphira's lack of enthusiasm, Brenda continued. "Sapphira, you never even liked Amesbrook. Remember how, just a month ago, you were coming home crying once a week about how mean everyone was to you? And how stupid they all were? Now you'll have a chance to make real friends. Stop protesting and see this for what it really is!"
"Mom, I know I hated Amesbrook, but I'm so scared!" she shouted, rousing all of the sleepers on the plane. "For God's sake, Mom, I'm completely ignorant! You and I both know that I've always wished I were magical, that I could transform into a-a dragon or something. Now I know that I can do something, and I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of everything that's ahead, even myself!" Having released some of the tension that had been building up over the past few weeks, Sapphira slumped against her cushions and finished the conversation. "I - I don't want to talk right now, Mom. I'm just going to think for awhile." Brenda fell silent at last, a silence for which Sapphira was exceedingly grateful. Now she was free to mull over the hectic events of the past few weeks and sort everything out before she went to school.
***
It had been quite a shock when Sapphira had received the letter of acceptation to Hogwarts. It had been even more of a shock when Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of the school, had come calling on Sapphira no less than forty-five minutes after the arrival of the letter. Apologizing profusely for being late, the strangely dressed, gaunt old man had offered to take her and her mother out to lunch to explain the uniqueness of the offer he was about to make.
Over Starbucks coffee ("Amazing stuff!" Dumbledore had grinned, smacking his lips and swigging a cappuccino) the headmaster explained exactly what was going on. Lowering his voice when he expressed his opinion of American schools for witchcraft and wizardry, he noted that Sapphira had somehow been overlooked by the American wizardry schooling system. He related the entire story to the stunned mother and daughter, everything about the wizarding world and the whole lot about Hogwarts. Eventually he got to saying that the normal admittance age for students entering Hogwarts was eleven, and so it would be impossible for Sapphira to enter the school as a first-year. Being fifteen, she would have to enter as a fifth-year, but this presented a slight obstacle. Every other fifth-year would have received five years of education about how to work spells to their advantage, whereas Sapphira could barely grasp the concept of a wand. He lowered his voice again as he presented a solution to the problem.
"If Sapphira wishes to enter Hogwarts," Dumbledore smiled mischievously, "There is a spell I could work that would give her the magical education of a student entering fifth-year. I am not," Dumbledore's smile widened, eyes twinkling impishly, "supposed to be using this spell on students, but I feel that it is necessary if you wish to attend our institution. You see, you would want the experience that goes along with education, which is why we do not administer -"
At this point, Sapphira had interrupted. "Why me?" she had asked. "Why did you come all the way over to America to talk to me if even the USA's school system couldn't track me down?"
Dumbledore had replied, "I don't have the slightest idea why the colonies' - er, the United States' tracking system didn't find you, but you seem to have appeared on our system because of your - er, unusual brand of talent."
"What's so unusual about my kid," Brenda had snapped. She was feeling so overwhelmed that it was impossible for her to have any other reaction than aggravation.
"My dear lady, I haven't the faintest why her magic is so unusual. It just is, and we were lucky enough to find her and offer the education that she needs and deserves." Dumbledore still seemed jovial, but now there was a slight hint of fatigue in his musty voice. "If you have any questions, don't hesitate to post me. You have heard my offer, so I must now take my leave. The start of the semester already took place, so I suggest you decide as soon as possible. We could bring you in over Christmas break with the most ease. Farewell." Dumbledore winked at Sapphira, and started rummaging in his pocket for something. He got to his feet and -
"Wait! What's your address? How to we get in touch with you?" cried Brenda, frantically searching through her shiny leather purse for a pen.
"Address?" Dumbledore asked, quizzical. "Oh, yes, muggles. Just use Caliburmus here. Tie a message to his leg; he'll find me." Dumbledore retrieved what appeared to be a highly polished stick from his pocket and -poof- disappeared. A large tawny owl flapped through the coffeehouse to land on their table and hooted loudly.
"Caliburmus?" Sapphira cooed softly to the beautiful bird. "Hello. C'mon, we've had enough excitement for one day. You can sleep in my room."
***
Several hours later, Sapphira's plane touched down in Heathrow Airport, England with a soft hissing noise and a thump. Brenda guided her stolid daughter out of the plane and into the airport whispering consolations and confirmations into her ear.
"You'll be fine, baby." She said as they fetched their luggage from the revolving carousel. "Just take a deep breath and smile."
Sapphira rolled her eyes discreetly, grabbed her bulging bag, and stalked off in the direction of the doors leading to the transit station. I have no intention of smiling, mother dearest. She thought venomously.
Sapphira's mother sighed and followed, careful not to muss her dress, as she would soon be taking a taxi to a meeting for her company. As long as she was in England, she might as well get some needed work done.
As her mother caught up with her, Sapphira slowed her pace. They both took seats in the station and waited for Dumbledore, who has said that he would meet them there at promptly six o'clock. After about fifteen tense minutes, Dumbledore came staggering, red-faced, out of the ladies' lavatory.
He smiled, however, when he saw the uneasy looks on the faces of Sapphira and her mother. "I Apparated just slightly to the left of my destination," he said apologetically. "I was aiming for the men's room."
***
Sapphira flopped down wearily onto her bed at the Leaky Cauldron in a room that Dumbledore had generously rented for her. It had been quite a day. After leaving her mother at the airport, the Headmaster had escorted Sapphira all around Diagon Alley to fetch the necessary supplies for her training at Hogwarts, which would begin the day after next. They had first stopped at Gringott's Wizarding Bank to cash in her muggle money for galleons, silver sickles, and tiny bronze knuts. After the necessary exchange, the pair had made their way down the fascinating street, stopping to get all of the necessary books, robes, miscellaneous supplies (herbs, powdered beetles, cauldrons, etc.), and finally her very own wand.
A first made nervous by the pale-eyes Mr. Ollivander, Sapphira finally managed to choose (or be chosen by) a fairly unique wand. Ollivander fairly glowed when silver sparks flew from the eleven-inch wand of white birch and unicorn hair. Informing her of it's assured ability with charms and transfiguration, she purchased the wand and gratefully stepped out of the musty shop. As soon as they were in the sunlight, however, another little depot caught her eye.
"Headmaster, um, do you think we might have a look in there?" Sapphira asked coyly pointing at the Magical Menagerie across the way.
"Lead on," smiled Dumbledore, and offered his arm.
Inside the Menagerie was an astonishing assortment of animals, some of which Sapphira had never seen before. Oddly colored toads, skipping rats, double-ended newts, cats of every color, and beautiful owls were just a few members of the vast collection of animals. Sapphira was gazing at a jeweled tortoise by the window when a small spark caught her attention. Turning and going into the darker back half of the shop, Sapphira stopped by a cage that held a small, scaly, black and orange lizard. He glared at her; unfurled two minute jet wings on his back, and flitted to the other side of his cage. He hissed, and a small spark escaped his lips.
"Cross-breed, that 'un." Sapphira jumped as a woman with a strong Cockney accent peered over her shoulder at the little lizard. "Some wizards were playin' around with transfiguration a month or so back. Tried to turn some salamander into a dragon! Little mite 'ere was the result. No buyers yet - 'es got a vicious temper, that 'un. Seems to have taken a shine to yeh, though," she remarked as the lizard stopped hissing and looked Sapphira with interest.
"He's beautiful," Sapphira breathed, laying a finger on the glass. She turned her head to gaze at the woman. "How much?"
The woman looked surprised. "'Cor, I'd sell 'im for a knut!" Her eyes widened in shock with what she'd said, and hastily, "Er, 'es three sickles an' not a knut less. Yer lucky I'm sellin' 'im so cheap, bein' the cross 'e is."
Sapphira smiled and paid. The woman gingerly removed the top of the cage and tried to stop the lizard from dating out, with little result. The tiny thing zipped between her fingers and did a loop around the shop, buzzing the cages that contained small furred mammals. He slowed and flitted down onto Sapphira's shoulder, blowing a tiny spark into her ear - just hot enough it tickled. They left the uproarious shop in a hurry, and met Dumbledore outside. By this time, the sun had set quite low in the crimson sky, and the two took rooms at the Leaky Cauldron.
Sapphira smiled and closed her eyes, with little Ember (as she had christened her new pet) curled up on her pillow. They breathed in unison, and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
A/N - I hope this came out looking all right. I'm not that experienced with uploading yet, so please be gentle . . .