"'When I grow up,' I tell her, 'I too will go to faraway places and come home to live by the sea.' 'That is all very well, little Alice,' says my aunt, 'but there is a third thing you must do.' 'What is that?' I ask. 'You must do something to make the world more beautiful.' 'All right,' I say."
From Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Chapter 2: Saying Goodbye
"Merlin's pants, Madeline! Whatcha packin?" growled Alastor.
"Essentials," answered his sister as she nestled her mandolin between the folds of a green and purple knitted afghan in a large blue and white suitcase.
"Don't ye think you may want some clothes?"
She paused in her packing and flipped her long coal black hair out of her face. "No, I don't think they wear clothes in Romania," she answered in jest.
"Very funny," he grumbled with a half smile.
"Well," she continued seriously, "clothes are just clothes, but my books, photos and mandolin are precious. I only wish I could pack you." She planted a kiss on his heavily scarred cheek. He patted her arm in a fatherly manner. "Anyway, I packed enough clothes for now, including my wedding dress!" Her voice got all sing-song at the end.
"I'll bring the rest of your gear when I come along in a couple of weeks to see you hitched," he said.
"Hitched? Ooo, Alastor, ever the romantic." She grinned.
"Come on and hurry now. The portkey leaves at three and it won't wait for ye," he urged.
"I know, I know, I know." She shut the suitcase with a click and lifted it. "Ugh, it weighs a ton. Maybe I shouldn't have packed the 200 Dragons of Europe and Hogwarts A History."
He raised an eyebrow at her and his magical eye swivelled in its socket to look through the case.
"I'm joking," she laughed, laying it back onto the bed. "I'm not that obsessed."
Her brother waved his wand at Madeline's suitcase, casting a featherweight charm on it and then lifted it up effortlessly in his gnarled hand. He watched her look around the room wistfully.
"I love this house and I am going to miss you so much, Alastor."
"Now, don't go all misty-eyed on me. You'll get me blubbering too." He offered his arm to her and she took it. They turned on the spot and he apparated them to a field where an elderly rusted plow sat surrounded by a dozen or so witches and wizards with luggage of their own. "Well, this is it, dear," he announced.
She choked back a sob and stood on tiptoe to wrap her arms around him. He unceremoniously dropped her suitcase and hugged her tightly. "My jewel, my life," he said, his voice hoarse. He then held her at arms length. His normal eye welled with tears. "Now let me take a look at you. That Charlie is a lucky man." Then he shook a crooked finger at her. "But don't let him take a husband's liberty with ye before the wedding."
She rolled her eyes, "Alastor!" Then she smiled warmly. "I love you, my oh-so-protective brother."
"I love you too, but promise," he growled.
She nodded, "I promise. Charlie's a gentleman. You've known him forever. You know he's an honorable man."
A sudden thought popped into her head. "Oh, and remind Molly to bring the red roses for the wedding. Charlie doesn't like the yellow ones, although I don't know why."
"Ok, ok," he assured her.
"And be sure and remind Percy he can bring his new girlfriend. I'll toss her the bouquet." She giggled mischievously. The witches and wizards around said their farewells to friends and family and all began grabbing onto the plow.
"Ok, ok, goodbye now, my dear," he said. "It's time. Go."
She grabbed her case and touched the plow. "Goodb..." But her words were cut short as she and the other travelers were whisked away by the portkey.