The Celtic Orb
Chapter 1: The Reuniting
Waves tossed angrily along the island shore and winds ripped out small plants growing near the edge of the water with ferocity. This didn't seem to bother the young woman who stood on a pinnacle of jagged rock overlooking the angry sea. For this suited her mood. Rain was pelting against her face. Her raven black hair lashed out around her causing her to look strangely inhuman. Her pale skin increased the effect. Though if you looked into her eyes you would see the pain only a human can bear.
Altair stood, her eyes sweeping around the sea. She unknowingly cast her eyes south, quickly turning them away once she consciously realized the direction. To the south just miles over the horizon was the only island or piece of land for leagues. The island of Azkaban.
"Azkaban," she thought bitterly, "That hell is were Sirius had been confined. Well" she thought with a hint of satisfaction, "No hell could ever confine Sirius. Some fiancée' he is though," scowling she corrected herself, "was." She stopped thinking for a moment and then realized how much it hurt to have the rain beating against her. Turning, she headed inside not noticing the jet-black dog swimming stealthily toward her island.
Upon reaching the house she stepped inside slamming the door behind her. The house was fairly cold and she soon realized how wet her coat was against her skin. She quickly peeled off her wet garments and pulled on the warmest nightclothes she had, with that accomplished she flopped on to her bed. After placing wand on the dresser she fell into a dreamless sleep.
Altair was on the brink of awaking, the sleepy dull place you have just before you wake up. She realized how warm the bed was. "Warm?" she thought dully "The beds never really warm in the morning..." her thoughts trailed off as wet nose nuzzled her hand. Opening her eye's she looked groggily into the face of a jet-black dog. His shaggy form was thin but he was huge. Seeing she was awake his face broke into a doggy grin, and he trotted to the foot of the bed where he had apparently had been sleeping all night. Reaching the end of the bed he leaped off, leaving a stunned Altair to contemplate her very confused thoughts. "A dog?" she thought, "How did it get her? What am I supposed to do with it? Keep it? It does get lonely on this island. Will the owner mind?" all this was answered, when the dog came back into the room, note in mouth. Taking the note she patted the dog's head and read while she scratched behind the dog's ears.
Dear Ally,
Long time no see. I'm sorry I can't stick around but I've got some business to attend to that I can't take my dog on. Would you take care of him? I'm looking forward to seeing you.
Sorry for such short notice,
~Remus
P.S. Are you going by Altair now? I really thought you'd dropped that name.
Altair was shocked. She thought Remus had forgotten her completely, much less remember where she lived. She completely skipped over the fact he'd used her nick name. "It'll be nice to have some company." She thought, "Even if it isn't human." Aloud, she said to the dog, "It looks like I'll be keeping you. The only problem seems to be what to call you." The dog seemingly didn't care. Seeing this, she decided to wait for the certain inspiration and make breakfast now, seeing that how both she and the dog needed it. She had never been good at cooking and living alone had not helped, the dog took one look at the food, made a choking noise, and looked at her as if to say,
"I'm sorry to bother you, but I'd like it if my food was edible." She sighed; this dog was as picky as Sirius had been, if not more. Going into the bedroom she retrieved her wand then went into kitchen again. "Breakfeuss" she sighed, and a beautiful feast appeared on the table, the dog gave a delighted bark and dug in, she soon joined him.
After breakfast she walked along the shore, seeing what damage last nights storm had done. The dog pranced in front of her, sniffing everything he passed. He stopped when he came to an oak tree and barked happily under the weather beaten writing, encircled by a heart, which read
Padfoot & Ally
Though this brought back memories she pushed them aside and allowed herself to see the brilliance in the name Padfoot. "Padfoot," she thought, 'Would be the perfect name for the dog, in an absurd way it would be like giving Sirius another chance. Also," she reminded herself, "No one's going to make a dog a secret-keeper."
Smiling broadly she turned back toward the house and said happily, "C'mon Padfoot. You wouldn't want to miss seeing me burn lunch in 18 different way's would ya?" It was lucky she was turned away or she would have seen a very surprised expression coming from the dogs face.
She spent the rest of the day trying to salvage lunch and eventually dinner; in the end both she and Padfoot skipped lunch and had pizza for dinner, (the instant by wand kind.) After dinner when she was doing basically nothing she noticed for the first time how dilapidated Padfoot looked. Seeing how his shaggy fur was long and matted and how dirt seemed to cling to him she took out her wand and said "Triremarow" and " Removotion." After seeing that Padfoot now looked more like a show-dog than a scruffy mutt, she headed off to bed satisfied.
That night when she was drifting off to sleep she thought how much Padfoot looked like some one and, try as she might, her sleepy mind refused to remember whom. That night she was troubled by very strange dreams.
Altair was in a cave, though small it seemed rather homely and lived in, less like a cave and more like a small hole in the rocks where grass and a few small trees grew. The grass under her feet was wet with morning dew; a small shaft of pinkish light danced around her illuminating her raven black hair. When she turned around to get a better look at the cave she started, a hippogriff was tethered to a tree. "Maybe it was something in the pizza..." she thought, but stopped as she saw three people enter the cave. Seeing who they were she decided it was something in the pizza, for there, standing in the cave's shadowed entrance was a mini version of James Potter. The two people next to James she didn't recognize; one was tall with flaming red hair. The other was about James's height with bushy brown hair. James seemed to be searching for something because he was looking up and down the cave calling something. What she saw next made her jaw drop considerably; someone she had failed to see in her small time in the cave was tackling James into a bone-crushing hug. Turning their heads she realized two things, 1. This was not James Potter 2. The second man was Sirius Black. Altair woke and would remember nothing.
Altair woke her face was covered in cold sweat. With all her might she tried to remember her dream. For she knew that whatever it was, it was life altering, nothing came to her. Looking at her clock she saw it was 2:04 in the morning and she knew she wouldn't be able to get to sleep. Getting up as quietly as she deemed possible she grabbed her wand and tiptoed down to the kitchen, feeling stupid that she was taking so much time to let a dog sleep. But she needn't have worried for when she reached the kitchen Padfoot was there, a snowy owl beside him. "Who would be sending me mail?" she wondered. But as she reached for the envelope Padfoot grabbed it in his mouth and hightailed it out of the kitchen.
"Dogs." She muttered under her breath as she chased after him. At this moment she was very glad that she lived on the island by herself or she would have had to explain to neighbors why she was chasing a dog around the island at 2:05 in the morning. She was panting and out of breath when an idea struck her. "You aren't a witch for nothing." She thought mentally slapping herself. Altair took out her wand and aloud said, "Accio Letter," the sound of paper flying through the air was heard as the letter came hurtling toward her, with a barking Padfoot in tow. She caught the letter and laughed as she watched Padfoot desperately trying to get it from her. But she stopped laughing abruptly and went a shade of sick gray as she read the letter. For it read,
Dear Sirius,
Thanks for your last letter. That was probably the strangest bird I've ever seen. The way it's tail feathers stuck out! I'm fine, how about you? Do you really think leaving Buckbeak with Professor Lupin is a good idea? Duddly's still on his diet, but I don't see the point as he's not getting any thinner. No my scar has not been hurting so don't worry about me.
Death to Pettigrew,
~Harry
Slowly looking up she saw not Padfoot but her fiancée', Sirius Black.
Disclaimer: Sirius, Remus, and Azkaban belong to J.K. Rowling. I own Altair.
A/N I'll post the next one soon. Please Review.
Chapter 1: The Reuniting
Waves tossed angrily along the island shore and winds ripped out small plants growing near the edge of the water with ferocity. This didn't seem to bother the young woman who stood on a pinnacle of jagged rock overlooking the angry sea. For this suited her mood. Rain was pelting against her face. Her raven black hair lashed out around her causing her to look strangely inhuman. Her pale skin increased the effect. Though if you looked into her eyes you would see the pain only a human can bear.
Altair stood, her eyes sweeping around the sea. She unknowingly cast her eyes south, quickly turning them away once she consciously realized the direction. To the south just miles over the horizon was the only island or piece of land for leagues. The island of Azkaban.
"Azkaban," she thought bitterly, "That hell is were Sirius had been confined. Well" she thought with a hint of satisfaction, "No hell could ever confine Sirius. Some fiancée' he is though," scowling she corrected herself, "was." She stopped thinking for a moment and then realized how much it hurt to have the rain beating against her. Turning, she headed inside not noticing the jet-black dog swimming stealthily toward her island.
Upon reaching the house she stepped inside slamming the door behind her. The house was fairly cold and she soon realized how wet her coat was against her skin. She quickly peeled off her wet garments and pulled on the warmest nightclothes she had, with that accomplished she flopped on to her bed. After placing wand on the dresser she fell into a dreamless sleep.
Altair was on the brink of awaking, the sleepy dull place you have just before you wake up. She realized how warm the bed was. "Warm?" she thought dully "The beds never really warm in the morning..." her thoughts trailed off as wet nose nuzzled her hand. Opening her eye's she looked groggily into the face of a jet-black dog. His shaggy form was thin but he was huge. Seeing she was awake his face broke into a doggy grin, and he trotted to the foot of the bed where he had apparently had been sleeping all night. Reaching the end of the bed he leaped off, leaving a stunned Altair to contemplate her very confused thoughts. "A dog?" she thought, "How did it get her? What am I supposed to do with it? Keep it? It does get lonely on this island. Will the owner mind?" all this was answered, when the dog came back into the room, note in mouth. Taking the note she patted the dog's head and read while she scratched behind the dog's ears.
Dear Ally,
Long time no see. I'm sorry I can't stick around but I've got some business to attend to that I can't take my dog on. Would you take care of him? I'm looking forward to seeing you.
Sorry for such short notice,
~Remus
P.S. Are you going by Altair now? I really thought you'd dropped that name.
Altair was shocked. She thought Remus had forgotten her completely, much less remember where she lived. She completely skipped over the fact he'd used her nick name. "It'll be nice to have some company." She thought, "Even if it isn't human." Aloud, she said to the dog, "It looks like I'll be keeping you. The only problem seems to be what to call you." The dog seemingly didn't care. Seeing this, she decided to wait for the certain inspiration and make breakfast now, seeing that how both she and the dog needed it. She had never been good at cooking and living alone had not helped, the dog took one look at the food, made a choking noise, and looked at her as if to say,
"I'm sorry to bother you, but I'd like it if my food was edible." She sighed; this dog was as picky as Sirius had been, if not more. Going into the bedroom she retrieved her wand then went into kitchen again. "Breakfeuss" she sighed, and a beautiful feast appeared on the table, the dog gave a delighted bark and dug in, she soon joined him.
After breakfast she walked along the shore, seeing what damage last nights storm had done. The dog pranced in front of her, sniffing everything he passed. He stopped when he came to an oak tree and barked happily under the weather beaten writing, encircled by a heart, which read
Padfoot & Ally
Though this brought back memories she pushed them aside and allowed herself to see the brilliance in the name Padfoot. "Padfoot," she thought, 'Would be the perfect name for the dog, in an absurd way it would be like giving Sirius another chance. Also," she reminded herself, "No one's going to make a dog a secret-keeper."
Smiling broadly she turned back toward the house and said happily, "C'mon Padfoot. You wouldn't want to miss seeing me burn lunch in 18 different way's would ya?" It was lucky she was turned away or she would have seen a very surprised expression coming from the dogs face.
She spent the rest of the day trying to salvage lunch and eventually dinner; in the end both she and Padfoot skipped lunch and had pizza for dinner, (the instant by wand kind.) After dinner when she was doing basically nothing she noticed for the first time how dilapidated Padfoot looked. Seeing how his shaggy fur was long and matted and how dirt seemed to cling to him she took out her wand and said "Triremarow" and " Removotion." After seeing that Padfoot now looked more like a show-dog than a scruffy mutt, she headed off to bed satisfied.
That night when she was drifting off to sleep she thought how much Padfoot looked like some one and, try as she might, her sleepy mind refused to remember whom. That night she was troubled by very strange dreams.
Altair was in a cave, though small it seemed rather homely and lived in, less like a cave and more like a small hole in the rocks where grass and a few small trees grew. The grass under her feet was wet with morning dew; a small shaft of pinkish light danced around her illuminating her raven black hair. When she turned around to get a better look at the cave she started, a hippogriff was tethered to a tree. "Maybe it was something in the pizza..." she thought, but stopped as she saw three people enter the cave. Seeing who they were she decided it was something in the pizza, for there, standing in the cave's shadowed entrance was a mini version of James Potter. The two people next to James she didn't recognize; one was tall with flaming red hair. The other was about James's height with bushy brown hair. James seemed to be searching for something because he was looking up and down the cave calling something. What she saw next made her jaw drop considerably; someone she had failed to see in her small time in the cave was tackling James into a bone-crushing hug. Turning their heads she realized two things, 1. This was not James Potter 2. The second man was Sirius Black. Altair woke and would remember nothing.
Altair woke her face was covered in cold sweat. With all her might she tried to remember her dream. For she knew that whatever it was, it was life altering, nothing came to her. Looking at her clock she saw it was 2:04 in the morning and she knew she wouldn't be able to get to sleep. Getting up as quietly as she deemed possible she grabbed her wand and tiptoed down to the kitchen, feeling stupid that she was taking so much time to let a dog sleep. But she needn't have worried for when she reached the kitchen Padfoot was there, a snowy owl beside him. "Who would be sending me mail?" she wondered. But as she reached for the envelope Padfoot grabbed it in his mouth and hightailed it out of the kitchen.
"Dogs." She muttered under her breath as she chased after him. At this moment she was very glad that she lived on the island by herself or she would have had to explain to neighbors why she was chasing a dog around the island at 2:05 in the morning. She was panting and out of breath when an idea struck her. "You aren't a witch for nothing." She thought mentally slapping herself. Altair took out her wand and aloud said, "Accio Letter," the sound of paper flying through the air was heard as the letter came hurtling toward her, with a barking Padfoot in tow. She caught the letter and laughed as she watched Padfoot desperately trying to get it from her. But she stopped laughing abruptly and went a shade of sick gray as she read the letter. For it read,
Dear Sirius,
Thanks for your last letter. That was probably the strangest bird I've ever seen. The way it's tail feathers stuck out! I'm fine, how about you? Do you really think leaving Buckbeak with Professor Lupin is a good idea? Duddly's still on his diet, but I don't see the point as he's not getting any thinner. No my scar has not been hurting so don't worry about me.
Death to Pettigrew,
~Harry
Slowly looking up she saw not Padfoot but her fiancée', Sirius Black.
Disclaimer: Sirius, Remus, and Azkaban belong to J.K. Rowling. I own Altair.
A/N I'll post the next one soon. Please Review.