Family Ties
Her boots made clicking noises along the hallway, her robes billowed out behind her, and her hawk-gold eyes missed nothing yet remained firmly fixed on the enchanted gargoyle in front of her.
"Canary cream!" she spat, her voice thick and stifled, her gloved hand clutching a piece of crumpled parchment.
Swallowing hard as the gargole leapt aside, she climbed onto the revolving staircase.
"Ah, a pleasure, Miria. To what do I owe this visit?" asked the man behind the desk, his eyes twinkling beneath his beard and hair. Walking to him, she slammed the parchment onto his desk, and hissed,
"You know damn well what's going on, you old fool. How dare you meddle in my affairs, and bring that woman's child here."
Her hawk eyes blazing with anger, she was barely able to suppress her fury as she shook with the force of her rage. To her growing frustration, that damnable wizard merely raised an eyebrow as she slumped, defeatedly, into a poofy armchair that had appeared.
"Is it I with whom you are angry, Miria, or is it something else?" he asked quietly, his twinkle gone.
The flying instructor buried her head in her hands and took a deep breath.
"She is not the child of only Lydia, my dear," he said gently, "She is Vladimir's daughter as well. I am sorry, Miria, for your heart, but do not let yourself be guided by your anger at your sister. You yourself have not seen your niece her entire life; regardless of her lineage, perhaps you should see her as more a friend than relative."
"She's bringing her sister's children as well, Albus. Her brother might visit here as well," she moaned into her hands, "If I haven't seen the daughter, I have seen the son: he is the mirror image of Dimri. I have no doubt she will be just like Lydia."
"If it would please you, Miria, it would be possible for me to send another to greet them. I can spare Severus for a few days."
"Thank you, Albus," she drew in a breath, "I will ask him myself."
She got up shakily from her chair, and walked toward the stairs.