London Field Trip
an Essentially Magical Alternate Universe Tangent, storyette #3
(Meaning: this child story runs by the same universal rules as EM, though its timeline and events are entirely independent.)
Author's note: In case you happen to have noticed it before I took it down, this storyette will incorporate a Free Story Idea I once posted and never thought I'd use – concerning a scenario where vampires became exposed to the world. It'll be interesting. :) Enjoy!
* * * Giant Problem * * *
Shortly after the last day of school for every senior (and also after the newborn threat has been thankfully eliminated), Edward & Bella, Alice (with Jasper acting as chaperone), Angela & Ben, and various other students from Forks High set off to London for their senior class field trip. Unbeknownst to them (because of the magic and/or creatures involved), this trip is occurring at a time when various much-watered-down disturbances of the wizarding war are just starting to leak into the daily news reports of Muggle London.
One of these tumults happens while the senior class is enjoying lunch together at a mall cafeteria, which opens up into an elaborate high-ceilinged indoor fountain display. Somehow, an irate giant – in the process of wreaking havoc upon many persons and their property – appears on the scene. Alarmingly more than four times larger (in every dimension!) than anyone else in the vicinity, his presence immediately has everyone in a panic. Incidentally, the foreign creature has recently been brought into the area by certain disruptive wizards, and the usual response teams (generally from the Ministry and/or Order of the Phoenix) have not known about it for long enough to respond yet.
Though none of them have ever met such a creature before, and Alice is unable to see anything about this strange being – since no one among them has any idea of what to do about the unprecedented and fantastic situation, Edward can't help but purposefully take a stand to protect more than just Bella from the destruction. Trying out a number of less-than-successful methods right off the bat, in an experimental attempt to get the massive creature's attention away from the fragile population – Edward finally ends up having to throw pebbles hard enough to cause non-severe injury (increasing in force every time, it finally takes one thrown at vampire speed to sufficiently slice through the thick skin of his arm!) before the giant is successfully halted in his tracks.
Confused and angered about having been hurt, though unable to locate a clear aggressor among the tiny humans scattering about him, the giant's gaze eventually shifts in the direction of the stationary vampires' party… giving them the opportunity to prudently take control of the situation. Using the invaluable advantage of a mind-reader's practiced and quick understanding of the basics of any unfamiliar language, combined with a dauntless willingness to approach him, Edward's convincingly human offer of medical assistance for his injured arm (made particularly inviting with help from Jasper) turns out to be enough to settle the giant down and get him to listen.
Naturally, totally unaware of his invulnerability, the surrounding onlookers (comprised of both friends and strangers) are frozen with fear for Edward – as well as awe for his efforts. (Not only has he put himself in close proximity to a violently unpredictable arm as thick as he is… but he has also had to painstakingly climb onto the high ledge of a fountain in order to reach the site of injury.)
By the time the first Ministry and Order of the Phoenix members arrive on the scene (suddenly putting the whole situation mentally into perspective in Edward's mind) and have assessed the circumstances enough to begin damage control – Edward has neatly bandaged the cut and all but convinced the massive entity that the people who brought him here are the ones that deserve his wrath, rather than everyone else. They had only been using him to do their dirty work for them.
Albus Dumbledore and the other wizards in attendance are thoroughly surprised to find that a muggle has been able to calm the frightening situation so effectively… but even more surprised – and concerned, surely – to learn that there was something in the vicinity strong enough to injure the giant in the first place. It takes a ridiculous amount of muggle force to do such a thing! Unable to explain it, they promptly search the area for any outstanding magical clues that might have been missed. However, there aren't any to be found.
Immediately after the wizards are able to carefully take over the creature situation, Edward rejoins Bella, Alice, & Jasper at the table in company with Angela and Ben… the latter of which are massively impressed by his bravery. When Ben asks Edward if he knows anything about the oddly-dressed wand-wielding people that suddenly appeared after the strange occurrence of the Giant – and have been occasionally throwing out fantastical beams of light in an effort to repair the damage – Edward admits in a calming manner "I have heard of them before, actually. These are wizards and witches, who can perform magic." The fact that he'd never heard of them before today, is beside the point.
"What?!" Ben is taken by surprise by the thought. Angela holds his arm more tightly in the face of the unfamiliar, and both of them shift to stand just a little closer to Edward and Alice in an unconscious appeal for their protection. The vampires inwardly chuckle at the motion.
"Welcome to Oz," Edward comments wryly. Though Alice can see that at some point, thankfully and curiously, their friends' memories of this event are going to become erased… in the meantime, it would be wise to keep everyone calm.
Startled by the notion, Ben looks up at him in alarm, and whispers: "Could they be like the Wicked Witch of the West, then?"
"Or, the Good Witch of the North…" Edward shrugs in reply as he watches the wizards keenly, particularly the one called Albus. His magic carries the scent of a vampire, though he seems to be a promising character. "Take your pick. The trick is to be able to know which shoes fit." Dumbledore, who overhears this, appreciates the fair perspective he is promoting.
Once the giant is finally relocated (literally 'given the boot', to the fearful amazement of every muggle onlooker when it suddenly causes him to disappear), all of the terrified, dazed, and/or impressed muggles in the area are obliviated. Watching the entire scene from his outside roof vantage point, to which he scent-safely retreated as soon as the Giant had been subdued, Jasper easily predicts (in a normal voice which only his family can hear): "Surely when Emmett gets over missing the action, he's going to get a kick out of that one."
The wizards don't understand, however, when they perform the obliviate spell – why neither of the two Cullens in attendance, nor Bella, is affected by it. Maybe they have some sort of magical background, even though they appear to be muggles? The young man among them has already made comments to that effect; that must be it. As the rest of the cafeteria's occupants begin to recover from their memory adjustment, and obliviously prepare to continue on with their day (requiring the trio's prompt accompaniment on the field trip with their classmates), Edward and Bella quickly set up an impromptu meeting with the intriguing – and intrigued, certainly, when he further notices the odd eye color the two Cullens share – headmaster that evening, in order to become better acquainted. (Alice politely bows out of the magical rendezvous, however, due to a previous engagement with Jasper – and the undisclosed fact that they won't want to display their vampire similarities to a community that will be more inclined to notice.)
Finally, having taken care of everything to their satisfaction – with discreet but appreciative nods of farewell, the two supernaturally aware contingents part ways.
A/N: This is the last of my ready-to-begin-posting stories for the time being, so after the next chapter update – we're likely only to be seeing sporadic updates of existing stories/storyettes for the foreseeable future. But at least, after a recent break from writing and with the beginning of the kids' school year – I'm hopeful that the refresh of focus will help them not be too far in-between.
Thank you for reading and sharing! Your support is appreciated. :)