Sorry for being a few days later on this weeks chapters. I just got back from vacation! It was amazing - and on the Twilight front, I had a reunion with my Twilight Sisters and took a side trip through Forks - absolutely beautiful! The ocean, the green fo the Forest and the moss covered rocks... and the trees are HUGE!
I hope you enjoy! (And if you're interested you can follow me on Twitter - EricaBailey11)
Dawn of the Phoenix: Cedric goes to Forks
Story and Characters owned by
Stephenie Meyer and JK Rowling
Story Adaptation by Erica K. Bailey
Chapter 9: Feels Like Home
I had taken a Port Key many times before and knew that distances could have an affect on the duration, but I was unprepared for the obvious increase in velocity of the trip. The feeling of the hook pulling my from my waist increased tenfold. It took my breath away. When we arrived in the rented room at the Leaky Cauldron I had to bend over and breathe deeply.
"Pretty intense isn't it?" Hermione smiled, "I haven't traveled by Port Key much – only that once when we went to the Quidditch World Cup. But that was nothing like this."
I was surprised by her sudden admission of something she wasn't aware of or didn't have experience in. That realization caught me off guard and I chuckled, "Ah ya. I've taken Port Key a lot, and it was still pretty shocking for me."
"It must have been really interesting growing up in a magical family." She said.
"Funny, I was thinking it must have been really interesting growing up in a muggle family – you know when you started exhibiting your magical abilities." I replied.
She laughed, "Oh yes, Mom and Dad were pretty surprised. But they've been really great about it."
"So, maybe while I'm here I should get an owl." I said thinking maybe we could check out Diagon Alley.
"Um, it's six in the morning." Hermione laughed.
"Oh yes. You must be exhausted. How did you adjust so quickly when you got to Forks?" I realized she had fit right into our schedule.
"Oh" she blushed, "I was doing some research over the first couple weeks after school ended, you know, to keep my mind active, and I came across a potion for jet lag."
Of course, she would discover a potion that apparently neither Sirius nor I knew about. "Wow, that is really great. I could have used that when I moved to Forks."
"Well, I'd be glad to share it with you. It's actually quite simple and you can prepare it in a couple days."
"Thanks Hermione." It's too bad she has to go back to Hogwarts. She really would be a useful travel partner. "Well, then I guess I'd better get back…" I delayed, "So when are you coming back for the wedding?"
"Well, I'm going to visit Viktor Krum for a week." She blushed when she said that, "And I am going on holiday with my parents… but Bella wants me back at least a week before the wedding. She says it's to help with plans but I think she really wants an excuse to avoid Alice's last minute manic state." She smiled.
Wow, she really had that figured out. "Well, I look forward to seeing you again in a couple weeks."
"Sure" she said.
I wasn't sure why I was hesitating. I really needed to get back to Forks. "Well, good bye."
"Bye Cedric" she gave me a little hug. Then I put my hand on the Port Key and in seconds I was back in Forks.
"You were going for a few minutes." Edward mentioned as we walked around outside aimlessly after my return. Alice had already snatched Bella away to provide further instruction on her new purchases and Sirius settled into our living room for a visit with Dumbledore.
"Yes, I though maybe I could go pick up an owl, but I forgot about the time change. I suppose it would have been too late anyway even if it was the same time as Forks. I wasn't really thinking…"
"I see…" He said quietly. I couldn't make out the look on his face. He seemed almost concerned. "Well, I'm sure we can get an owl tomorrow. I think Dumbledore is planning to show you where you can go to get supplies and how to find wizard markets in new places tomorrow."
"Oh, that's good…" I paused. "Edward, there was something I was wondering about. When I learn to drive, I'm going to need to find a car. But I have no idea what to look for or how much a car even costs… I don't even know how much money I have in muggle funds..."
"I can help… and if we find a fixer upper, I'm sure Rosalie would love to help. She's amazing with an engine."
"Really" I couldn't imagine Rosalie covered in grease, working on a car – beautiful, exquisite, graceful Rosalie in mechanics scrubs… no, couldn't picture it.
Edward smiled, "Yes." He suddenly craned his head up toward his house. "Well, I'd better take Bella home now. She needs a break from Alice."
"See you later tomorrow."
While the last few weeks had been an exploration of everything new, the next day was a return to the world I knew. The world I was comfortable in. It began with our trip to the market for wizarding supplies in Seattle. Only Dumbledore and I went, a Sirius indicated all he needed was access to an owl, and he wished to go back down to La Push to visit the wolves. Dumbledore surprised me by being able to drive, guiding me to a grey sedan that was parked in the driveway.
"Here in Seattle, the wizarding community lives quite in harmony with the muggle. It is easier on the west coast where people seem more open to alternatives to traditional means of living. So here," Dumbledore guided us into a shop that advertised healing message, tarot readings, detoxifying treatments and appeared to sell various types of rocks, "You see a muggle shop, but though the back," he led us to a door that you might have missed at first glance, "Is where you get what you need."
As he opened the door, I felt a wave of nostalgia as the homesickness I didn't realized had welled up in me suddenly boiled to the surface. I hadn't felt this way, even when I returned to London last night by Port Key. Perhaps it was because I wasn't homesick for home, but for my world. I felt like such a foreigner, even among the Cullens who were so welcoming.
The door led to a small market, much smaller then Diagon Alley. And yet it had what I needed. There was a shop that sold various creatures - we would need to stop there to get an owl - an Apothecary to get potions supplies, a store that sold various magical equipment from cauldrons to sneakoscopes, a place to buy wizards robes and other articles of clothing, a book store, a candy store, and what appeared to be a muggle coffee shop.
"How did you know this was here?" I gasped in amazement at all the new sites that looked so familiar.
"It's not hard if you look around and pay attention. I found this yesterday as you were shopping with Alice.
I was ashamed. I had been here for over two weeks now and had wondered over how I was going to get my supplies. Dumbledore found this place in a day. He chuckled, "Cedric, be easy on yourself. I've had many, many years to be on my own and find my own way. I've had to learn to find the signs. I daresay it would have taken Sirius several days if he'd been looking. Of course, he wasn't too concerned… and so he wasn't looking… funny how that works, isn't it?"
"Still, Dumbledore. I feel like I'm letting you down. I haven't even met a new vampire since I've come here."
"Oh, I'm sure you'll have plenty of time for that, and, if I'm not mistaken, you'll have an opportunity to meet several new vampires in about three weeks?"
"At the wedding?" I asked. Did he want me to wait three more weeks before I made contact.
He chuckled again, "You have a lot to learn before that meeting takes place, Cedric. Concentrate on the task at hand. You have to take the next step before you can reach the road ahead." He always had a way of making me feel better.
We proceeded to the Apothecary to obtain the necessary potions supplies. It was considerably smaller then the shop in London and with less selection, but they had what I needed. I stocked up on the necessities, before we moved on.
"Dumbledore, do you think I might find travel notebooks here?"
"There is a shop down at the end that looks like it might fit what you need." He smiled.
Sure enough, at the end of the lane, there was small shop. It had the oddest assortment of items, from bewitched necklaces that would make the wearing fall in love with the giver, to walking canes in which you could slip your want for concealment, but have it out instantly. In one corner I found what I was looking for – a pair of travel notebooks, which were bewitched to show whatever was written in the other.
"I want to send one back to my mom, so she can write to me and not have worry about sending an owl all the time."
"Very wise, Cedric. I am sure they are concerned about your decision to follow Dumbledore on some foolish journey."
It was a statement not a question, and I wondered how he knew. I was embarrassed to confirm it. "They think I am distraught over my friend's passing." I said, neither confirming nor denying.
He sighed, "Given the times, and your father's position in the Ministry, perhaps it is best that way. Though I know how much you dislike dishonesty."
"It is more troubling when there is no reason for it."
"Ah yes, and then again, if we lose who we are in this war – then what is there left to fight for."
I wasn't sure if he was trying to make a point, but I sensed it was a dilemma that I would continually face.
The last thing I needed was an owl, but along our way, Dumbledore stopped at the coffee shop. "I think I'm in the mood for a butter beer." He said definitely.
Just the sound of it made me feel at home. I quickly followed him into the shop and we ordered two, and then sat at a table. It indeed looked like a muggle coffee shop – much like one I had seen in the mall the day before, except that this one sold butter beer and pumpkin juice and a variety of pasties that reminded me of the cart on the Hogwarts Express.
"Mmmm" escaped my mouth as I took my first sip.
"Reminds you of home." Dumbledore observed.
"It's hard to explain, but yes. None of this looks like it would in Diagon Alley or in Hogsemede, but it feels like home."
"Don't forget that, Cedric." Dumbledore said, "Don't forget who you are, where you come from, or the feeling you had as you came here today. You will need to find ways to be at home even when you are in completely unfamiliar territory without the help of good people like the Cullens…"
I understood. Even under what seemed to be ideal circumstances – living with friends who were helpful and provided more then just for my needs, who were teaching me things I needed to learn and who were part of my life – I felt homesick for my world. I realized now that I had felt this way almost since the day I arrived, but with everything new and exciting, I hadn't found a way to express it.
I could feel Dumbledore's blue sparkling eyes on me as I considered this – as I came to this realization. I wondered if he was assessing my resolve and my ability to complete this task. I wanted to prove myself to him, but I had to ask myself, was I really up to this task? Not the technical things. Even with the frustrations I'd already experienced, I was confident I had the ability. But did I have the mental stamina to survive in world that wasn't my own, to find ways to comfort myself and find those pieces of home, to combat the homesickness that was sure to come on even stronger as I moved further away from what was familiar. Was this why he'd brought me here today, alone?
I had been completely naive when I left London, eager to make something of my life, to prove myself and live out what I believed and having no idea what it meant to really leave home. I'd never left home before. I realized I'd lived a sheltered wizard life. Even simple day to day things I was completely ignorant of. I had to not only over come those, but push past them into even more unfamiliar territory to complete my task. I hadn't even gone the short distance to visit the wolves yet. Was I really prepared to venture out on my own, to make my own way and, then, meet with unfamiliar vampires?
Then again, could I turn back now? I knew something big was coming, even if Dad and Minister Fudge refused to see it. It seem obvious to me. No, I couldn't sit back and ignore it. I had to act. I had to do this. There was no turning back.
I looked up into Dumbledore's curious eyes and after a moment I saw a shift, from the incessant curiosity to a guarded, someone what sad, confidence. "I see you've made your decision." He said.
I nodded.
"It's not an easy decision to make when you've had a taste of what that decision entails, and believe me, you've only had a taste. This is a decision you'll have to make over and over again on your journey, but I am glad to see you've made it with a little more knowledge then you had when you left Hogwarts."
"Going back is not an option for me." I confirmed.
"I know. Though part of me hoped it was."
We completed our business. I picked up an owl for Sirius and I and we returned to our car to drive back to Forks.
"How are your driving lessons coming?" He asked.
"At first, I was terrible. But the last time Edward took me out, I was feeling a lot more comfortable." I said confidently.
"Demonstrate." Dumbledore said as he tossed me the keys.
I was more nervous driving with Dumbledore and, as a result, I ended up driving slower on the highway, which was much busier then the section between Forks and the Cullen house. I also forgot my turn signal a couple times and didn't dare to change lanes until there was no one even in the vicinity, but we did arrive home without incident.
"Not bad for how little time you've had to learn. I assume Carlisle is holding your full license until he's given you a complete road test?"
I nodded. I wasn't looking forward to that. Especially if it was as difficult as his written test.
"Well, then. When you've met his requirements for your license, you can use this to get around."
I stared at the car. Did I hear correctly? "Are you serious?"
"Certainly. You are on Hogwarts business and Hogwarts has a vehicle for that business. Of course you can make use of it for your work." He smiled. "It's not new and it might need a tune up. But I understand Rosalie is quite accomplished in that area."
I couldn't believe it. I had an automobile. "Thank you," seemed inadequate for the gratitude I felt, and yet those were the only words that escaped my mouth.
