A huge big thank you to my beta, Aleta II Anon!
Beneath the Deep Depths of Green and BlueChapter 7
Despite Albus's earlier activities and his current indisposition sleep proved to be a fleeting mistress. The pale moon's long fingers crept between the cracks of his small abode casting uneasy shadows. Albus lay on the small makeshift bed with one arm behind his head listening to the howling wind playing with the crisp, autumn leaves.
Have I fraternised with the enemy?
The voice in his head was not his own but that of a paranoid, young auror whom Albus had had the amusement to teach in his last years of schooling. Albus also had the pleasure of meeting the young auror's late father on numerous occasions, although not an auror, he was a very mistrustful and obsessive floo inspector.
As a picture of Athena's bare thigh floated into memory Albus found his worries were elusive. Many forgot that he was but a man and just like any other man he wanted to savour the moment and not fret about anything else. So he lay back with a contented grin plastered upon his tired features.
His free hand ghosted across the sheets tracing crinkles made just hours before. In the right state of mind he would probably regret his actions. No, he thought, no I could never regret them. Even though his muscles ached and the skin across his chest strained tight with each breath, he felt the best he had in a long time.
That was not to last. Quick footsteps disturbed his peace. He tried to heave himself up as the door flung open and the cold night air gushed in. A frantic Lynn stood in the doorway, her grey eyes held a frenzied look as her skirts and shawls whipped about her.
"Shirt, shoes, now!"
Albus blinked twice in rapid succession. In that small amount of time Lynn had stepped into the hut and was gathering his things.
"Quickly Dumbledore!" She chided, flinging his boots in his direction. "They know! They know!"
This snapped him into action. He may not know exactly who 'they' were but he had a fair old idea. He was in no fit state to take on an island of Grindelwald's men. Where once he would have used wandless magic absentmindedly to tie his boots, tonight he could not spare such luxuries. He growled as he caught his trembling finger in the loop tying his left boot and mentally swore to never again buy shoes with laces.
They were out the door and into the shadows of night quicker than a golden snitch. Eight feet from the hut Albus felt a ripple in the air, wards of some sort though he had no time to ponder. Sprinting between bushes and brambles, their direction was unknown to Albus as he followed Lynn blindly. In hindsight that could have been a foolish mistake but from the smell of salty sea air she was leading him in the direction of the ocean. It was not long before they emerged from under the trees to see the broad, shining, expanse of the sea before them.
Albus turned to Lynn with a question burning in his eyes and for the first time he noticed she was carrying a broomstick. If she'd had this with her all the time or simply acquired it somewhere within in the woods he did not know, but he quickly caught on to his escape plan.
"The wards are failing but if you fly south a half mile you'll encounter a small cluster of rocks. From there you should be able to disapparate safely."
"And yourself? Athena?"
"Don't you go worrying about us. Go!" She shooed him with her arms. "Now!"
"But Athena – "
"– Is merely a girl. Leave her be. Whatever passed between the two of you was never meant to last."
The wind blew fiercely by the shore and the waves crashed against their feet. Albus was torn between fleeing and fighting, though deep down he knew there was only one logical option.
"Athena, she must – "
Lynn was losing her patience as she cut him off for the second time. Her tone was quite harsh and persistent. "–Mi – Did she mention she's engaged to be married?"
In his shock Albus missed Lynn's slight slip of the tongue. Lynn continued before he could gather his thoughts together.
"I didn't think so." Her face clearly showed her disapproval. "Look Dumbledore, she's a bonny wee lass, that we cannot deny, but I have high hopes for her. She's as clever as clever can be and you and I both know she'll go far."
Albus nodded trying to get a word in edgeways. "But –"
"–But nothing!" Lynn gestured with her hands to emphasise her point. "I will not have you jeopardising her bright future! Take this broom and go, go as far away from here as possible!" She shoved the mode of transportation into his chest. "Go!"
The blustery breeze blew the branches of the trees, caught Lynn's worn green shawl and whisked it away to the waves but Lynn barely blinked she was fixing Albus with such a piercing stare.
"She needs to riddle the what and the why." Albus said more to himself than Lynn, his attention on thoughts of previous ministrations. He shook his head to clear his mind and focused upon the witch in front of him. "I'll go Lynn but I tell you now, I will be back! And others will be here to round up Grindelwald's followers. He may have been captured but the war is not yet over."
Lynn's eyes widened and he realised that his defeat over the Dark Wizard had not yet reached the island. Albus clasped Lynn's hand in a gesture of gratitude.
"Thank you, Lynn. I owe the both of you my life. If ever – "
She waved her free hand, "Just go," but Albus noticed her tone was softer.
"Tell Athena…tell her…"
Lynn rubbed his shoulder quite firmly, giving him a nudge in the right direction.
"Just go Dumbledore," she shook her head, "Just go."
He turned and mounted the broom then looking back over his shoulder he could not help but ask, "Is he worthy?" He closed his eyes and though he lowered his voice his words still carried, "Does he deserve her?"
"Do you?"
When Albus next opened his eyes delicate, intricate shells thrown up by the tide, fragments of bleached wood and complex nets of weed were all that could be seen upon the sandy beach. Lynn was gone.
He kicked off into the air and adjusted his course southbound. His hair made the only note of vibrant colour in a landscape of grey, blue and black - a flame on the water in the night sky.
