**Disclaimer** I do not claim to own anything that's not mine (J.K. Rowling wrote these amazing things before I could even dream of them). I do claim my main character, Dee and my new original character that you will meet in this chapter. =) enjoy.
Crickets chirped and an owl hooted as I descended the steep incline that led me to safety. The decrepit shack looked barely able to stand. Its outer walls looked like rotting bark peeling off a dead tree. I wondered briefly to myself if a soft breeze were to come, if it would still stand. But, alas, I was not deterred. I had to sleep somewhere and I preferred it not to be the cold, wet ground.
I lay my pack inside on the dusty floor. It had been many years since I had been here and it looked as though it hadn't been disturbed by anything since then. This was good. It meant that my magic had kept out those who would wish to sabotage one of my safe spots. I had used these safe spots to stay in when Da had sent me on different missions. My heart pained me as I thought of him. I wiped a tear from my cheek roughly and quickly set about to make the place inhabitable once more.
B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B
I awoke to a scratching noise on the door. I grabbed my wand and crept to the door. The scratching started once more and I jerked the door open. In burst a small owl and my eyes followed it as it landed gracefully on the bed post. I let out a relieved sigh.
"Holly, what are you doing here?" I asked the owl in annoyance. She gave me a look that spoke of annoyance right back. I bet she didn't want to be here. Holly was always one for a nice cozy perch in front of the window, not outside of the window. She lifted her leg, which I now noticed held a rolled piece of parchment. I untied the scroll from her quickly and she hooted in thanks. I dug through my bag for a treat for her and luckily found one. She quickly gobbled it up. I let out a small laugh just as a gruff, crackly laugh sounded from the door that I had forgotten to close. I spun on my heel quickly and pointed my wand at the very old, hairy man. He grinned a toothless grin at me that was trimmed with a long grey mustache and beard. His head was full of grey hair as well, quite shaggy and matted and filled most likely with bugs.
"Well, hell to yew as well. What uh greet-in is this for an old freend, miz De?" I lowered my wand and smiled in return.
"You startled me, is all. My apologies. How fare thee 'ol bones?" I replied and Holly fluttered out before my new guest could finish entering the shack and close the door behind him.
"Just as they all wayz be miz De. Old and crack-in just like me wit." I laughed in response. "It been too many yearz since I heard such sweet cackling from a fair young maiden." He added with a silly wink that caused me to laugh some more. He leaned heavily upon his long wooden cane that was gnarly and knobby. His clothes were grey tatters that seemed only slightly thicker than mosquito netting.
"Don't get any ideas now ol' Lark. A nice young man back home would be quite upset if he had to duel you over me." I replied in a soft, teasing tone. Ol' Lark cackled so hard he hunched over and held his middle. I waited patiently for him to stop. When he finally did he grinned at me.
"Such a jester, you is miz De. As if any young man besidez me self would find ye purdy. Them frail bones of yez make ya look weak, not good fer child bear-in. Tho I know yez would fight hard n mighty like to have some cubz. Yez should jest settle in here. Now that yez of age maybez yew n I could discuss some pleasur-in rangementz tat could pop yew out some fine look-in hairy cubz." He said, his wide grin never faltering. I smiled patiently at him.
"Now there Ol' Lark, I wouldn't want to have to worry bout you breaking no bones. I may be a skilled witch but I'm not skilled enough to make you quite right enough for such rigorous work." His grin vanished and he scowled at me before moving agilely over to the table and sitting down.
"Surez enough yew is growed. Own lee a true, mighty like woman can put her foot down so firm n soft at the same time. Course, own lee makes yee more deezireble n me eyez and bones." He added with a wink, his grin returning. I shook my head and laughed.
"You ol' scoundrel. Where have your manners gone to? This is not the friendly old man I remember." I chastised him with a small smile.
"Yew ain't the small girl I member. Whatz yee point?" He replied as he propped his feet up on the table and leaned back in his chair.
"I prefer men my own age." I replied plainly. He laughed.
"I prefer me womenz of age." He replied with another wink. I couldn't help but to laugh at his persistence even though I knew he was messing with me and that he wasn't really trying to convince me to take him to bed.
"Do you need a warm place to stay for the night?" I offered slyly. He threw his head back and laughed. The cackle all gone, now only a deep baritone sounded softly, echoing around the room. It was in that laugh that you knew you had a true friend for life.
"Yez me dear. I would love me a warm spot upon yez hearth." He replied, though he frowned at my response to his term of endearment. "What have me wordz spoken wrong?" He asked in genuine concern. I shook my head to indicate that I didn't wish to talk about it and brushed a tear from my eye.
"It is good to see an old friend again." I said softly with a warm smile. He seemed uncertain for a moment before returning the smile.
"Yewz been through much since yee waz here last. It be nice to have entertainmentz again fer a bit." He said seriously and with that he pointed his cane at the fireplace and a fire was started. "Yew bringz anything good to eat?" He asked, rubbing his belly. I laughed.
B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B
"So yez says this Gorge has stole me favorite galz heart away?" Ol' Lark said with a false frown. "Me knewz I should av kept yee here under me watchful eye. Yez father, bless his wizarned soul, nev-r kept good enough eye." I gave him a sharp glance from over top my coffee mug. "Ohz, don be do-in that look-in. Yee knowz this ol' bag o bonez is happy fer yaz." He added, and then paused to drain his mug the rest of the way. "So when yez get-in dat knot tied?" He asked with a smile as he slammed his empty mug back down on the table. The question startled me and he could tell. His deep baritone laugh resounded within the room again. I felt a blush creep up my neck and into my cheeks. "Wellz now, yee canz make dat girlie blush fro talk o marriage but not fro talk of pleasure. Yez quite da catch fer this young fella. I betz ye already knowz how best yee can pleasure him but not how yee can chain dat ankle o his to yerz." His statement made me blush some more. I stood up abruptly.
"Guess it's time for bed old friend. Good night." I said coldly, not appreciating the way he was painting me so whorishly in bad English. His cackle did little to help him mend the situation and I hurried to the bed.
"Dat right girlie, crawl into yeez bed where yee know all bout movin an feelin good. Don yee face notin dat make yee think or have to work." He said softly as he turned to the fire. My heart burned with anger, but not at him, at myself. I knew he was right. He wasn't just talking about George and marriage either. He knew I was dreading having to do what I had to do. One of which things was leaving here as soon as possible. Not to escape him and his truthful judging, but to face the task which I had set out to do. Ol' Lark knew how this little old shack somehow comforted me and made me forget my true task. I was procrastinating. I listened to the soft baritone of his voice singing my favorite lullaby from when I was a child, Smile in Your Sleep.
"Hush, hush, time to be sleeping
Hush, hush, dreams come a-creeping
Dreams of peace and of freedom
So smile in your sleep, bonny baby"
The cadence of his voice soothed my irritation and I reached to my chest where my heart locket nestled between my breasts. I missed George…
"Once our valleys were ringing
With songs of our children singing
But now sheep bleat till the evening
And shielings lie empty and broken"
The faces of Annie and Con sprang to my mind. I left them to fend for themselves. Guilt gnawed at me and tempted ideas of returning home and once more my thoughts drifted to George.
Hush, hush, time to be sleeping
Hush, hush, dreams come a-creeping
Dreams of peace and of freedom
So smile in your sleep, bonny baby
Where is our proud highland mettle
Our troops once so fierce in battle
Now stand, cowed, huddled like cattle
And wait to be shipped o'er the ocean"
Fear clawed into my soul. Not just for myself, not just for those whom I loved. But for the people of our magical community whose only hopes resided within the soul of an orphaned boy.
Hush, hush, time to be sleeping
Hush, hush, dreams come a-creeping
Dreams of peace and of freedom
So smile in your sleep, bonny baby
No use pleading or praying
For gone, gone is all hope of staying
Hush, hush, the anchor's a-weighing
Don't cry in your sleep, bonny baby"
My heart lightened and George's grinning face burst forward in my mind. I drifted to sleep as Ol' Lark sang the last note and turned towards me with a sad smile.
*** Yeah! I loved writing this chapter. I loved creating Ol' Lark. I hope you guys like him as well. I'm trying to be better about updating faster. I really want to finish this story soon. It feels like I've been writing for so long. I'm sorry it's taking me so long to take you guys to the end. But I promise I will do my best to give you your times' worth. I really appreciate all of you sticking with me so long and reading my story. Thank you for Reading. Please Review. Love you all! P.S. Don't forget to read the companion story Tyger. I have been trying to go back and forth between that one and this one so that the story connects. Just type in the address bar www . fan fiction . net / s/7328033/1/Tyger =) Enjoy!