A/N: Thanks to midnight zoe and Can't Hide From Insanity for their help with this chapter! Really, you guys helped a lot!
Chapter Eleven
"THIS PLACE IS SORTA CREEPY," I said to Wattie as he led me up a spiralin' staircase that never seemed to end.
"Define creepy for Wattie again, Misses Evelyn. It seems Wattie has forgotten," he said, walkin' ahead of me.
"Never mind, my friend," I sighed as we came to a stop in front of a gargoyle with eyes of stone that, somehow, seemed able to pierce your soul.
"Erm…Wattie?"
"Yes?"
"I thought you said Dumbledore wanted to see us, not some scary gargoyle-dude."
"Chocolate fish eggs," Wattie said in a completely serious voice.
I felt bile rise up in my mouth, but I somehow managed to swallow it back down. "Um…what?" I didn't get an answer 'cause the gargoyle moved, raisin' its wings as it slid out of our, revealin' a door that hadn't been there before.
"Have a nice day," it said in a gravelly voice, gratin' on my nerves. My tummy still felt sick and twisted at the thought of chocolate fish eggs when we walked through the door into a friendly, warm atmosphere.
"My dear, you don't look too well." I looked up from holdin' my stomach at Dumbledore's kind face as he stood by a fiery red bird who was perched on a post, lookin' at me with wise red eyes.
"I will never, EVER touch fish, eggs, or even chocolate again!" I muttered darkly, leanin' against the door, closin' my eyes. I heard him chuckle.
"Ahh…so you appreciate my password," Dumbledore said, a smile in his voice.
"No. Absolutely not. It's made me feel repulsed at the thought of chocolate. Chocolate! That's just horrible and wrong!"
"You haven't acquired the taste for them, my dear," he said seriously, his ever-present mischievous smile on his face.
I glared at him. "Seriously! How d'ya even come up with these things?! That's just so…so…gross!" I shuddered at the thought, swearin' I was never gonna touch those three foods separately again.
"When you have lived as long as I, you learn to be brave and try new things, even if those things make you feel repulsed."
"So you mean ta tell me that you've actually eaten chocolate fish eggs before?!" I'm not sure which grossed me out more; the fact that he'd eaten it or the fact that he'd thought of it.
"Oh yes. Several times. It's a delicacy in some countries," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Really? Which country would that be? I'm dyin' ta know."
"I have not exactly figured out which country it is, but I am sure there's got to be one."
"Okay then. Well you lemme know when ya figure that out," I said, noddin' my head slowly.
"You will be the first," he promised.
"Oh joy. Can't wait."
"Even though this is a lovely conversation, Evelyn, this is not the reason I called you here today."
Damn, I thought. He knew. The old man had found out 'bout mine and Wattie's little game to the place they called Hogs-alcohol, or somethin' like that. Now how was I gonna worm my way outta this one?
"So…what was your reason, sir? I'm curious as ta how it could possibly be more interestin' or excitin' than chocolate fish eggs."
He smiled at me, then gestured to a big, comfy chair that was placed adjacent to another one in front of this big oak desk. I noticed Wattie was already sittin' in the one on the right, swingin' his legs in mid-air 'cause they couldn't touch the ground. Poor guy. I remember when I was his height when I was…oh, I dunno, three?
I took a seat in the chair to the left, closest to the red bird with red eyes, who was still starin' at me.
"Erm…Dumbledore?"
"Yes, Evelyn?"
"What the heck is that bird?"
"Fawkes? She is a phoenix."
I stood straight up. "A phoenix? Really?!"
"I take it you might now what a phoenix is?"
"Of course I do! I just…I didn't know they existed!"
"My dear, you're in a whole world that you thought never existed. How is a phoenix so hard to believe is real when you already know magic is?"
"I—point taken. So does Fawkes actually…ya know…go boom!" I made little hand gestures of lightin' on fire and then the ashes fallin' down.
Dumbledore blinked at me, then laughed. "Not necessarily does she go 'boom!', but, yes, when she is ready to die, she catches on fire and is then reborn from her ashes."
"Cool!" I breathed, lookin' at Fawkes with a new interest.
"Yes, very," Dumbledore agreed. "Now, have a seat, Miss Steele. We have a lot to discuss."
I tore my eyes away from the majestic bird and put them on Dumbledore, takin' a seat slowly. "What did ya need?"
He leaned back in his chair, hands in his lap, as he studied me. "I have decided to grant you your wish."
I stared at him. "I'm sorry, what now? What wish are we talkin' 'bout here?"
"I don't know what other wishes you have, but I mean to grant your desire of a gun."
"Really?!" My voice came out squeakier than I'd meant for it to.
"Yes. But…" he said, cuttin' me off, "…I must go over a few things with you before I release you."
"Oookkaaayy…" I said, grinnin' from ear to ear.
"Okay," he repeated. "Now, Evelyn, this isn't a gun that you can find in the muggle world, I want to make that clear."
"How so?" I asked, curious. By the way Dumbledore had first reacted when I talked 'bout one, I hadn't thought there were guns in the wizardin' world.
"Because I value the safety of others, as well as your safety, I have added a few things to protect some, yet at the same time protect you."
"Meanin'…what, exactly? I'm sorta confused."
"It means that I have placed powerful spells on the gun. It will make your shot go awry if you ever take aim at an innocent, making the bullet either miss completely or lodge itself in an area that won't cause too much pain or damage. Now, if you shoot at somebody to protect yourself or someone else, and they do mean you harm, then it will not have any magical effect.
"You will, of course, have to rely on your own skill to be able to shoot and actually hit something, or someone, but I trust that you have that under control."
"Yup! Sure do," I agreed, not able to sit still. He was gonna give me a gun! An' even better, he made it so I wouldn't be able to shoot innocents, which was good, I guess, if I ever couldn't tell the difference, or if I was in a close range fight. That'd be sorta bad…
"The next spell I put on is to protect you, Evelyn."
"Really? And what would that be?" Not answerin', he opened a drawer in his desk and pulled somethin' out, placin' it on the desk in front of me an' him.
I gasped when I saw it. "Is that a 1911 Colt .45?"
Dumbledore looked at me startled. "How do you know this?"
"I was raised 'round guns; I know what I'm lookin' at." It was a handgun, and when I picked it up, it was perfectly balanced; not too heavy and not too lightweight. The gun was black, but the handle on both sides had a strip of brown on it. I pulled the black magazine out and saw that it was filled to the brim with silver bullets.
"Now, these ain't like werewolf huntin' silver bullets, are they?" I asked jokingly.
"No. They're what the gun called for," he said seriously, givin' me a half smile.
"Yeah, I know."
"To protect you, I have put a spell on the gun so it will never run out of bullets, making that one less thing you have to worry about."
"Whoa, seriously? You're the best!" I exclaimed, lookin' at the gun happily.
"It is the least that I can do," Dumbledore said, smilin'. He handed me a black holster with an easy release, which I immediately fastened on the left hand side of my belt, placin' the gun in its place. I felt more at home and safer now than I had in awhile.
"So when an' where can I go sight it in?" I asked eagerly.
"I don't think you'll have to worry about that," he said, "but if you want to, I can take you away someplace next week so you can practice, get the feel of the gun, if you would like."
"I would love that," I said appreciatively.
"Now, one more thing," he said. "I don't want you to take everything into your own hands, are we clear?"
"What does that mean, sir?"
"I mean, I don't want you going after any students who have done you, or others, wrong. You will get yourself in more trouble than you can handle, even if you are seemingly more dangerous to them. Remember; the students aren't alone here. Voldemort and the Death Eaters are watching some of the kids every move, keeping an eye and ear out for anything unusual."
I nodded and said, "But—"
"Listen to me. The time will come when you can have your revenge. For now, it is best to leave your anger and misery in the past and move on. There is nothing you can do at the moment, so don't torture yourself with the thought of it."
"Yes sir," I said quietly.
"Now, one more thing," he said. "I know you are easily bored, Miss Steele, but I would wish, if you ever go out again, that you go in disguise. Hogsmeade, and even the hallways of Hogwarts, are not entirely safe. I am happy you had Wattie go with you, but I need you to be disguised if you ever leave your room again."
"So…you ain't mad at me fer sneakin' out?"
"No," he said thoughtfully. "I knew you wouldn't stay put; it just doesn't seem in your nature to do so. I'm just happy that you are being a little bit careful, keeping to yourself and having Wattie with you at all times."
I sighed in relief. "Thank you, sir. But…I have ta admit somethin', now that we're forgivin' an' forgettin'."
He looked wary. "What would that be?"
"I, uh…well, somebody knows who the real me is."
Dumbledore looked alarmed. "Who?" he demanded, his voice takin' on an edge. I was startled at how hard his voice sounded. It sorta scared me, makin' me remember that, despite bein' old an' kind, this man was dangerous.
"She's my age. She appeared on the first day Wattie took me ta go swimmin'. Her name's Lily Evans."
Dumbledore sighed, relaxin' as he smiled. "You have nothing to worry about, then. Miss Evans has one of the kindest hearts, putting others before herself. You will be fine with her."
"So…can I tell her the truth? She thinks I'm some exchange student bein' tutored by you 'til I get caught up."
"You came up with that? I'm impressed." He smiled. "If you wish, and you're willing to trust her and my judgment of her, then yes, you may. But let me lead her to your room, so no one will overhear."
"You'd do that?"
"Yes. Miss Evans is one that I plan on offering a spot to in the Order, next year. But you will be wise not to mention that fact, or the existence of the Order, to her. Am I clear?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. Then you may go." He stood and showed me to the door, openin' it for me.
"Thank you. For everythin'," I said to him. "You don't know how much this all means ta me."
"I do understand, Evelyn," he said. "Now be careful and stay safe. I'll see you soon."
"Goodnight, Professor."
"Goodnight." I started to walk down the stairs with Wattie when I heard Dumbledore call,
"And Evelyn?"
"Sir?"
"I'll be sure to send you chocolate fish eggs for breakfast in the morning."
A/N: First off, sorry this is sooo way beyond being late! I got myself stuck in a hole and…yeah. FINALLY got out of it! Yay! :D
Anyways, my thanks:
Arina-Peachy: Thanks! And remember…in Chapter Seven, Lily and Evelyn met, much to Wattie's dismay (at the time). Thanks for the review!
What's A Kammel-Monkey: I sure will! Haha, and I don't think any of us can wait very long for that! Thanks for your review!
xXallegedangelXx: Wow, really?! That's always a nice thing to hear! Haha, and sorry, not bazooka or anything even too remotely cool…Dumbledore's sorta practical, huh? Sadly, right? ;) A bazooka would've been cool, though, and a machiene gun would be fun! I WISH! Haha, and this review made me laugh as well! Thanks for the review and the fact you think this story is awesome!
midnight zoe: Ha, thanks! I try! ;) Thanks for your review!
Okey-dokey guys! So all that's left is to R&R! Let me know what'cha thought, and next chapter will be up soon!
Nike