Bow Down Before The One You Serve
A/N: This is just a random plot bunny. I thought, "What if the qilin bowed before Credence?" And then I thought, "What if it approached all three members of the Dumbledore family?"
The baby qilin, stumbling through the crowd, lifted her head and studied the witches and wizards in her presence. Not one appeared worthy of her time, but then she saw him.
Prancing with unsteady movements, she made towards Albus Dumbledore. The sea of faces, men and women alike, gasped and whispered when she stopped at his feet. She thought he would be pleased, lowering her head and kneeling before him. But all she heard was a breathless, "No. No, no, oh dear, Merlin. Please, no!"
Her ears drooped, the smallest of frowns gracing her features. If Albus would not accept her, then who would she choose?
Turning slowly, she spied a young man on the steps. His hair was trailing across his face, and it appeared as though he were fifteen seconds away from vomiting all over the stairs. She felt drawn towards him in his suffering, knowing that a heart so full of anguish must have been abused, beaten down, but still kind at its core.
The qilin hobbled up the stairs towards him, kneeling and waiting for his response. But Credence lifted a hand from his midsection, gently pushing her away.
"Don't..." he murmured, wincing and fighting against the urge to vomit. "I can't... I won't make it. I... I'm sorry."
Feeling frustrated, the qilin snorted, folding her ears against her skull. If Albus wouldn't accept her, and Credence turned her away, then who on earth was she going to choose?
And then she saw him. The third and final member of the Dumbledore family. She plodded across the polished stones, stopping in front of Aberforth, who looked as though he were delighted by her presence.
He knelt down in front of her, stroking her gleaming scales and smiling. He would have gladly welcomed her, but she took one look at him, turned up her nose and ran.
"I looked after your nonmagical relatives, you know!" Aberforth called after her. But it was already too late. The baby qilin had rejected him.
Well, at least he still had his son. Now, if only there was an easier way to walk him down five million stairs...