Chapter Six

"You mean you're tellin' me there seriously was a Merlin that did all this bippity-boppity-boo crap?" I asked the old dude when he came to visit.

He smiled, foldin' his hands in his lap. "We don't necessarily use the words bippity-boppity-boo, but, yes, there was a magical Merlin."

I leaned back in my seat. "Whoa! Okay, that's cool."

"Yes, very cool," he agreed.

"So did he form this school?"

"No, the four founders did."

"That explains a lot, thanks."

"If you read the books you have in here, they will explain everythng in a simpler way than I ever could."

Tappin' my fingers absentmindedly on the book we were discussin'. I tried to think of the rest of my questions I'd had. "So...he was the first dude to figure out his marbles were different."

Dumbledore shook his head, laughin'. "You've certainly got a unique way of putting things. But, no, I'm sure he wasn't the first wizard or witch out htere, but he was the first that started bringing us together in our own world."

"I have my own little world, too," I said. "It's huge and nobody's sane there."

"Do not take this the wrong way, my dear, but I believe it."

Smilin', I shook his apology off. "Allen would say the same thing." Realizin' what I'd said, it made me go silent. He and my parents would all come up with different stories 'bout what went on inside my noggin'.

Dumbledore was quiet for a moment, leavin' me be, then said, "You've mentioned this boy, Allen, before. If you don't mind me asking...is he your brother?"

I shook my head. "No. We were close, though."

"Was he on the plane?" he asked gently.

"Thank god, no. I don't think I would've been able to handle if he were gone too..." I trailed off, eyes tearin' up. I wiped 'em away furiously. It'd been close to a week; it was time to move on and get over it.

"This...Allen. Where you two...together?"

I blinked, then smiled. "Me and Allen? Ha, no. He was just the first friend I ever had. Besides, he didn't like my accent." His question made me wonder that, if we'd ever had the chance, we would have ended up datin'? I wasn't sure, but I thought it could've been a possibility.

Brushin' those ridiculous thoughts (or were they wishes?) away, I asked, "So...I sorta have a question, here."

"Yes?" I was grateful he let the subject pass.

"These books are great and everythin', an' don't get me wrong, I'm definitely in your debt..."

"No," Dumbledore interuppted. "Think nothing of it. You most certainly are not in debt to me, or anyone for that matter. All of this is the least, and by far not enough, that we can do."

I shifted, uncomfortable. "Okay...but thank you, for everythin'. But...I was wonderin' if there was somethin', by some chance, I could do."

"What do you mean?"

I sighed. "I'm bored, sir. I have trouble just tryin' to sit 'round an' do nothin'."

"Oh," he said, understandin'. "Do you have an active lifestyle?"

"I did."

"You do. Hmm..." He was quiet, thinkin', for awhile. While he did that, I got up and went to the kitchen, grabbin' a glass of water an' an apple from the fridge. i plopped down on the couch an' started crunchin' on the apple, lettin' him think in sorta-silence. Unconsciously, I started tappin' an unknown beat with my feet.

"Did you play sports?" he asked finally.

I finished chewin', then said, "Yeah, but not any of your freaky ones."

"Which of the 'normal' sports did you play?" he asked, eyes twinklin'.

"Eh, all of 'em. But normally I would just swim 'cause, ya know, of all the travelin'."

"Ah, of course. This is an easy fix, then."

My mood lifted sky-high. "Really? You have a pool?"

"Well...something like that. I'll have Wattie take you, but he'll have to escort you every time."

"Yeah, sure, I know. Besides, I like the little guy," I said. "An' don't forget to tell me to 'be careful' or any of the usually forebodin' warnings 'cause I'd forget an' screw it all up if ya didn't."

"I mean it this time, Evelyn." I had a feelin' he knew 'bout the incident from a couple days ago. Jeesh. Ya couldn't hide anythin'.

I looked down at my feet. "Yes sir. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, just careful."

"Okay. So, with that bein' said an' done, can I have a gun?"

He seemed startled by my request, yet I couldn't see why. I thought it was a perfecty reasonable question! "Absolutely not."

"What? Why?" I demanded, poutin'.

"Because I would be held responsible for all of the missing students after your 'clean up'."

"I'm not a psychopath!" I explained. Okay, well maybe that was a lie...

""No, but you've got a certain type of soul."

"Pardon?"

"You think that over awhile. If I told you everything, what fun would it be?"

"For you or me?"

"For both of us," he said, smilin'.

"Yeah, I doubt it."

"If you think that over, I will think about your request and we shall see about the answer."

"Really?" I squeaked out.

"Like I said, let me think about it overnight. Meanwhile, let's find Wattie so you can go for a swim."

"Awesome!" I said, tossin' my apple core in the trash.

"As always, it's been a pleasure, Miss Steele."

A/N: Guys, I'm sorry this is sooo late, but as you all know, I was out for a week. Sadly, I didn't get more than two chapters done even though I had three reviews, just because I had to put an equal amount of time on each and every one of my stories. Alsok, I realize this chapter is really short, but I hadn't realized that when I wrote it on paper, and then when I did notice, there was nothin' I could think to add to it. So please forgive me for everythin'.

Also, tomorrow I will be leaving for two weeks, so when I get back I should (hopefully!) have a whole bunch for you guys! Keep your fingers crossed!

Okay, now my thank-you's:

: Thank you for reviewing despite begin confused! I really appreciate it! What exactly are you confused about, because I probably will be able to help you understand! And thank you, I'm tryin' my hardest with describin', because I always have a hard time puttin' down in words what I have in my head. I like Wattie too, but I love the house-elves, so... :) Thank you for the review!

Jade: You liked that meeting? Haha me too! See, I thought it would be a brilliant way, and I could totally see it happenin' that way too! Besides, I'm not sure the first encounter would have worked any other way. Thanks for the review!

kistbydasun: Haha I just now figured out what your names said! Wow, I'm an airhead! ;) But thank you! I'm glad you really like this story! It makes me happy to know that some people do! But, as far as Evie findin' out she has magic...well, the possibilities are very slim, because, well...you'll see. But, as you saw in this chapter, she might get a gun, so badass-ness will be driven up to a higher-level! But we also have to remember that she's really shy around people (if she doesn't have a bone to pick with them) so she won't always act so...what's the word, heroic (?) all the time.

Alrighty! So, please review guys! Thanks for stickin' with me and puttin' up with my crazily late updates!

Nike