"Disclaimer: don't own anything in the Harry Potter world, I'm just borrowing them, k. anything else, I guess I'll claim them, they need a good home…
Return to Innocence
Love - Devotion - Feeling - Emotion
Don't be afraid to be weak
Don't be so proud to be strong
Just look into your heart my friend
That will be the return to yourself
The return to innocence.
If you want, then start to laugh
If you must, then start to cry
Be yourself don't hide
Just believe in destiny.
Don't care what people say
Just follow your own way
Don't give up and use the chance to return to innocence.
That's not the beginning of the end
That's the return to yourself
...The return to innocence.
Oh my god, I don't think I can do this, I can't be back here. I remember promising myself never the relive the past, if I can help it. I'd bet everything looks the same, although more weathered and old looking. (Yeah I know, nice phrase) When you're like me, you need to make up phrases just to make things interesting. When we reapparated in Hogsmeade, there was a carriage waiting for us, complete with a beautiful gleaming black thestral.
"Wait 'till you see the progress…" my husband said to me on the way to the building site, "you'll be amazed how fast it's coming along." I was barely listing to him; I was just staring out the window of the carriage into the sinister forest that was beyond the hill we were climbing. "Can't wait to go exploring in there, huh m'love?" he asked, noticing me.
"Hmmm…" I sounded nonchalantly.
"Well, not until this one comes, alright," he warned, caressing my noticeably extended stomach.
"Of course, dear," I said a little disappointed, but he did have a point.
"Ah, there it is..." he exclaimed, as we were just coming over the hill, I get my first glance of it. "Isn't it wonderful?"
"Yes it is…" I said in a small voice, barely above a whisper. Just then I came out of my reverie.
"What did you say Abby?" Minerva asked looking concerned, we has just gone through the main gates of Hogwarts.
I snapped my head to look at her, "Uh, nothing…" I said dismissing the path towards that conversation promptly. I returned my gaze to Hogwarts castle.
By that time, it was starting to rain.
This place never changes, in all my years it still remains the same. I actually think that it still looks the same as the first time I laid eyes on it. Talk about a universal constant, (not including myself). The same sloping lawn, the handsomely aged stone, I can even see the tower, me and my… ah we arrived to large oak doors of the castle.
Heavy rain drops pelted us as be exited the cart, and a very large man helped us under an equally as large umbrella.
Minerva seemed to get right on with business, walking fast through the large doors and straight up the same marble stairs I use to walk up. It was absolutely surreal being here again, almost like walking back through time. I could even imagine my…no mustn't get all nostalgic for more innocent times.
Just then something strange happened, it was just an odd feeling like a presence, and I'm not talking about being watched by the paintings. I looked to the doorway that I knew undoubtedly led to the dungeons, and notice the most interesting person I had laid eyes on in a long time. He intrigued me, and let me tell you, I'm not easily intrigued.
"Abby…Abby!" Minerva shouted tiring to get my attention, but I had my attention was otherwise focused.
"What Minnie?" I said hurrying up the stairs after her.
"You're making a fool of yourself; you look like a love struck school girl."
"You mean like you, back in the day," I said smiling at her.
"So tell me," I said looking over my shoulder, "who was that man. He seems interesting."
"He is our potion's master and completely off limits to you. He has much more important thing to worry about and I know how you are with new beaus."
"Hey, I resent that comment; I've been influential with the world's bests. Including yourself, my dear Minnie… I think my influence is quite appreciated."
We finally reached the entrance to the Head's office, which she felt I needed to know. "And this is the Head's office," she said.
'Well, obviously,' I thought sarcastically. I didn't say such things to her because she might take it the wrong way.
"Candy Corn," she spoke to the stone gargoyle. It immediately jumped out of the way and a passage appeared. When we reached the large oak doors, we entered immediately
It was like stepping into the past. I could remember when…
"Miranda?" I heard a voice say. I looked around… "Sandra? Leanne? Margo?" I heard some of my other aliases and realized they were coming for the paintings around the room, most friends or acquaintances from former lives. They shifted and waved at me from their portraits, also arguing with each other about who I was. I guess the commotion was getting loud so the headmaster took notice.
"What's going on here, Minerva?" I guess he was just expecting her. He stopped mid sentence when he noticed me. He just stood there for a short time, I guess taking in my immense beauty. (yup I'm humble aren't I?)
"Oh my Alby, I didn't give you a heart attack, did I?" I said waving my hand in front of him.
"Dora?" he said softly. I heard a painting near by of former Headmaster Wimble say, "you must be mistaken Albus, this is Regina…" Albus took no notice of this.
"Surprised to see me, huh?" I said.
"That's an understatement…"
"I thought you would have more to say than that, Alby… I was expecting a very warm welcome back." I said smiling. I walked up to him and gave him a hug which he returned.
"My dear, I'm not as young as I use to be, I think you may have broken a rib, lovely…" he said jokingly. I laughed.
"Oh, I would never hurt someone as handsome as you," I said with a twinkle in my eye, obviously flirting. Okay, I have to explain a bit here. Most of you who would be witnessing this scenario, would go 'yuck' but you have to understand, I know this man when he was a strapping young man, and boy large sigh did I know him, if you know what I mean. wink wink
"And what might I ask are you doing back here?"
"I heard about the trouble you all got in and I wanted to see what I can do to help. Man, I leave you alone for a few decades and you mess everything up." At statement was meant was a joke, but just now I can see how inappropriate and patronizing that was.
"Dora…uh Abby, may we speak alone for a moment," he was obviously referring to himself and Minerva.
"Oh, of course," I'm pretty sure there was a hint of sadness in my voice. I amused myself by examining his office. I really couldn't make out their conversation, but I could tell they were talking about me. I don't know, but I thought was this reunion would be different. I wasn't really expecting fireworks or parade's or even confetti, but I figured they would be happier to see me; instead it was more that my sudden appearance had an ominous feeling.
I was admiring a jeweled box on a side table that was emitting a very pleasant scent when a burst of flames occurred near Albus' desk. It was a phoenix. "Thank you Fawkes," I heard him say and with a gentle swooshing sound, the bird flew to his perch. Fawkes had brought a letter, and Albus and Minerva were discussing it. I looked at the bird, its beautiful red-orange feathers seemed to be creating its own light, his head was under his wing, getting a well needed rest. He was as beautiful as I had remembered him. My Beautiful. I let out a low whistle, barely audible to humans, but completely audible to him. His head perked up immediately and scanned the room, he finally noticed me, and began to make a very pleasing cooing sound and emitting wave-like flames around his body. Now we all pretty much know how a phoenix song is. It's like the most beautiful sound you could ever imagine. Well this sound was even more so, it was the song of a child pleasing its mother. He unfolded his wings and flew to my shoulder and proceeded to caress my neck, making the cooing sound.
"Oh my baby, I've missed you so much. Have you been taking care of Alby like I told you to? I think you have, he is in one piece, isn't he…" I spoke to the bird in a gentle loving tone. I continued to pet his head plumage as I walked back to Albus' desk, where Minerva was giving me a questing look.
"OH, he's mine, I loaned him to Albus for life, his life. I thought Fawkes could help this promising young man I one knew."
"Why didn't you ever tell me that?" she asked Dumbledore.
"Well, until ten minutes ago I didn't even know you knew Dora…er Abby to you."
"Well, it's actually Mary now, but I've always like being Abby. She was a pistol," said absentmindedly.
"What's that sound he's making?" she inquired.
"I found him as an egg when I was little and he kind of imprinted on me, and he thinks of me as his mother, aren't I baby…" I said to the bird, I know, kind of cheesy, "he's been my constant companion my whole life."
"Dora...ah…Abby…" he started, not knowing which name to use.
"Abby," I said shrugging my shoulders.
"Okay, Abby, we need to get to the business at hand. How do you think you'll be able to help us in this situation," he said very business like.
A little hurt at his tone, I said, "Well anyway I can, I'm not particular. As you might well remember, I'm quite a strategist. You know that whole Roman invasion of Britain," I said as I sat in an adjacent chair, leaning back I continued, "that was all me," I said shaking my head and smiling, reminiscing to myself. They continued to look at me strangely in a moment of silence, "what?" I asked rhetorically, "I seemed like a good idea at that time."
"Well, that would be very much appreciated, but I was thinking in another direction. As you may or may not know, we have in our possession the only person that will be able to defeat Voldemort…Harry Potter," Albus said. I didn't know the whole story about him, but from what I read in the papers here, it seems like they either hate him one minute or love him another. I kinda feel sorry for him, having all that weight laid upon your shoulders, and I should know, if he had 1000 pounds I would probably have tons. "In past years, there have been threats for his life that have somehow slipped through my fingers. I can't let that happen anymore, not now that the war has begun. He needs more protection."
"Okay, so you want me to be a sort of bodyguard to this boy; that seems fine. I guess I can pose as a teacher and keep an eye on him."
"Well, I had another thing in mind," he said with a small smile and glint in his eyes. He waved his wand in a circular motion and a shiny gold-foil box with a red ribbon appeared on a chair next to me.
I gently pulled the ribbon and slid open the box and looked inside. I thought it was a joke, but when looking up into Albus' eyes, I knew without a doubt that it wasn't. Oh, great…well, hit me baby, one more time…..
A/N: Thanx for reading, please review, even I you don't want to just put something down so I can know if anyone reads this. It gets lonely being the only person reading the story. This chapter was longer, yeah! Sorry it took so long to update, I have college and very hard classes. Hope you like this chapter. Okay byeee.
The song lyrics are Return to Innocence, by Enigma. I love that song, sooo pritty.
Aurora Angel