It had been a long time since he had been so exhausted by anything other than students who were foolish enough to be hazardous both to themselves and others. And strangely it wasn't a welcome change. Ever since that cursed Halloween incident, just two days ago, Hogwarts had been in chaos. Students had been quickly evacuated, (praise Merlin for that.) and soon, several investigation and restoration teams had arrived at the castle. In one evening, Hogwarts had definitely lost its status as the safest place in Britain. The last bastion that had stood firm throughout the last great British magical war a decade earlier, even after suffering several assaults from the Dark Lord's troops, had failed. And if that wasn't shameful enough, it was at the hands of a troll.
The Minister of Magic was humiliated. Great Britain was the international laughing stock after the government's total failure to cover up the affair. Albus had masterfully managed to shift the blame from himself to Fudge by pointing to the budget cuts that Hogwarts had repeatedly suffered over the last decade. Each new one was justified by the low number of students attending as a result of the war, a very weak reason for supposedly the best school of magic in Britain. The minister had been suspended for an indefinite period of time following suspicions of misuse of public funds which had led to the endangerment of others. Albus was not out of the woods yet, especially after the total fiasco of the Myosotis affair just two months earlier. Many voices were raised against him, but fortunately for the old headmaster, his invaluable role in easing tensions between the Grand Alliance and Britain two days earlier had given him enough credibility to have his defence heard. If Albus had failed to dismantle the corridor trap quickly, and the truth about it had been uncovered, Severus was sure that the Headmaster would have found himself in a far worse mess.
Surprisingly, one person's reputation had been greatly enhanced by the affair. Some voices pointed to the fact that they now had proof of Myosotis Potter's dangerousness, but a start to the school year without further incidents, and the fact that she had possibly saved the lives of several children from noble families through her action, had tipped public opinion in her favour. But on the other hand, the divide in opinion concerning her had become more pronounced.
One thing Severus had not imagined as a possible consequence of the event was that the ongoing investigation had already brought to light several structural problems at Hogwarts. This further eroded the confidence of the noble and upper-class parents who used to send their children to the school. Many had already publicly announced the withdrawal of their offspring, such as the Greengrasses and the Diggorys.
As a result, he had heard whispers about the school's future in uncertain terms. Some seemed to suggest opening the school to a wider public, in the manner of Beauxbâtons. Others spoke of a takeover of the school and its total privatisation, allowing only children of noble and pure-blooded families to enter.
As complex as the chaos that the incident had thrown the school into, it was not directly responsible for his exhaustion. No, the culprits were the various teams of wizards searching the school from top to bottom for security breaches. He had been given the thankless task of acting as their guide and pointing out any potential problems. This was no mean feat given that more than a dozen teams were present. Two of them were from the Grand Alliance, who had asked to be allowed to participate in the actions of Hogwarts, as this was one of their conditions for reducing tensions.
All day long he had been running around the school trying to meet everyone's needs. He had even had to explain over and over again for hours to a delegation from the Department of Mystery, that no, he had no information about the pyronecromantic construct that had been seen by everyone in the Great Hall on the night of the incident. And that no, trying to find out more was not a good idea if Britain wished to maintain peaceful relations with the Grand Alliance.
So it was with tired eyes, a slight headache and sore feet that he made his way through the corridors of Hogwarts towards his quarters to gather his things and return home, perhaps to find some peace and quiet at last. So far this year had been a strain on his nerves, and it was clear to him who was to blame for his distress. That feathered Potter already made his heart ache every day, so hard was it to bear the sight of that specific hue shining in her eyes, but on top of that, Lily's daughter had to make his life a living hell. Not a day had gone by in the last month without the young veela giving him something. Whether in public or in private. He had tried everything to escape her, but nothing helped. His desk was now the victim of the pile of artwork that lay there.
The worst had happened when, only a few days after Potter had joined Filius' choral club, he had been woken up by the girl who had seen fit to sing outside his bedroom door, a beautifully horrible song about the beauty of the Highlands and the joy of living. Worst of all, she had jumped out of the window before he had even had time to take a single point off Ravenclaw. What had he done to deserve such harassment?
He was jolted out of his thoughts by a movement he perceived out of the corner of his eye. He frowned and moved towards the window. The glowing light of the setting sun made the countless towers of the castle look as if they had burst into flames. Atop an old, long disused tower, several dark figures were flying in the orange sky. One of them, much larger than the others, was sitting on the roof. Severus hesitated between just ignoring the matter completely and investigating, but he refused to compromise his peace of mind.
He took out his wand, and placed the tip against his temple. Then he whispered a spell he had learned long ago that had been most useful to him as a spy. It had been one of the first he had chosen to anchor in his magic. "Occulo magnifatum aquilana." he whispered.
His vision suddenly cleared, the details of what he was watching becoming clear to him. He instantly regretted having tried to find out what was going on. Ignorance was now a luxury he would have liked to have. On the roof of the tower were five veela and a huge blue chickadee easily bigger than himself. The veela were flying in and out of the top of the tower through windows and filling numerous bags and sacks harnessed to the massive bird.
Severus muttered "finite" before clutching the bridge of his nose and letting out a deep sigh. If anyone asked him, he'd say he hadn't seen any veela looting the inside of an abandoned tower. No, this evening would be perfectly normal. To hell with them all. Severus was just too tired for this malarkey.
oOOOo
She felt like she was on a cloud. A soft, warm, feathery cloud. She could feel pillows beneath her, a silky blanket covering her, soft, comfortable fabric around her. She frowned, a ray of sunlight had just hit her forehead in an impromptu attempt to rouse her from her sweet slumber. In response to this impudence, she hugged the soft, warm form tighter and buried her face in the comfortable cushions of the large plush. Her wings quivered as she tried to get back to sleep. But her poor, aching body didn't agree. Unable to restrain herself, she moaned weakly in pain. Her throat was dry and parched, even breathing was uncomfortable. Only the soft auras of affection, calm and... something else she couldn't define that surrounded her allowed her to remain calm and not flail around in a vain attempt to get rid of the pain.
When she felt a hand rest on her back between her wings, another caressing her head, and another stroking and scratching her arm feathers, she stiffened. But against all rational judgement, she immediately relaxed again. Melting like pudding under the attention she was receiving. Her only reaction was just to squeeze the warm body she'd snuggled up against a little tighter. The auras that surrounded her, bathed her in their softness, had awakened with her. Becoming more active. She could feel a cloud of joy and excitement surrounding her.
When a new wave of pain ran through her poor aching muscles and she stifled a groan in the chest of the... person? Veela? Whom she was cuddling without any hesitation or distrust, she felt a wave of worry mingle with the auras surrounding her. Almost immediately, she heard the sound of fabric shaking, followed by loud flapping of wings moving away. Given that sleep, however much she wished for it, was now a chimaera, and that despite all her instincts telling her that she couldn't be safer than here, the small, still rational niggle in her mind told her that it might be a good idea to find out where she was and especially with whom. The hand in her hair had begun to massage the back of her neck, and although it was a most pleasant sensation, the question of 'who' she was hugging was becoming more and more pressing.
With an almost unbearably great effort, Myo raised her head and opened her eyes. Then she immediately closed them against the light. She blinked a few times, trying to get used to the brightness and to get rid of her persistent headache. Amusement strangely joined the cloud of soft reassuring emotions surrounding her. When she finally managed to open her eyes, her gaze was immediately met by a pair of large grey eyes staring back at her with affection. Her features told her nothing, except that it was an alabaster-skinned beauty with jet-black hair and no doubt another Veela bird thing, she didn't recognise her at all. Just as she was about to open her mouth to let the myriad of questions racing through her mind, a disarmingly pleasant scratch right on the back of her head interrupted any thought process.
"It's all right, darling. You're safe, it's all right." the stranger whispered to her. Myo was caught off guard for a moment before she realized that she was being spoken to in French. Those lessons with Isabelle and Luna, and then with Fleur, which she had regularly in preparation for her arrival at Beauxbâtons next year, made it easy enough for her to understand, especially when the gentle aura that enveloped her helped carry the message. The other Veela, who had remained silent until now, reached out to her companion, whispering that all was well in a soft French.
Myo was sandwiched between two French Veela, whispering things to her to calm her down, and from what she had heard, a third must have been present before she left. A few minutes earlier.
"Where are we?" She asked in a broken voice in her best French.
"In our house, on the grounds of the Delacour flock, in the Perch Cliffs," she replied.
"Fleur?" She asked in a croak.
She felt movement behind her and footsteps in the room. Then the sound of water being poured. At the same time, the veela she was huddled against manipulated her so that she found herself in a sitting position, her back against her chest. The ash-grey wings of the veela she was leaning against spread before her to cover her like a blanket. Her mind was still foggy, unable to properly comprehend what was happening to her. The only certainty was that she was safe, in the company of other veela, their auras blending in the most pleasant way. She was snapped out of her reverie by the voice of the veela behind her rattling her chest. "Fleur, will be here soon. Don't worry. They will answer all your questions. You need to know that you are safe and that everything is okay."
She nodded, a wave of relief washing over her. Fleur would arrive, she would see someone familiar in this unknown place.
She took advantage of this more advantageous position to observe her surroundings. Still trying to disperse the fog from her mind. The room was quite large, carved out of the rock. Large openings, big enough for someone much taller than her to pass through, let in the golden light of the morning sun. In the distance, on the blue horizon, she could see rocky peaks, snow-covered summits, high alpine pastures as well as rounded mountains covered with forest, like the spines of titanic sleeping beasts. The room was warm. Wall hangings and carpets in warm, vibrant, autumnal colours were hung on the walls, surely to hide the bare rock of the room. Some of the fabrics were just covered with floral and natural patterns, others depicted veela in flight or strange animals. There were also various pieces of carved wooden furniture scattered around the room.
She was drawn from her observation by the sensation of something cold being pressed against her forehead. She looked up to meet the gaze of a tall, blue-eyed Veela with long, light brown hair braided into a long plait, and beautiful light brown plumage with coppery highlights. On her head was a magnificent brooch adorned with three beautiful ash-grey feathers. She was dressed in a knee-length tunic made of a beautiful navy blue fabric embroidered with arabesques and abstract motifs reminiscent of clouds and feathers, as well as in slightly baggy forest green trousers, also embroidered. Around her neck she wore three gold and silver metal necklaces decorated with glittering little rivers. On her wrists were many thin metal bracelets, and in her hand was a carved wooden cup filled with water which she pressed against her forehead.
For a moment, Myo froze. She was getting used to seeing other veela, with Fleur and Isabelle visiting her once or twice a week. Therefore, she was no longer surprised. However, as Fleur and Isabelle always came to see her in clothes suitable for Britain, she had never seen a Veela in what she recognised as traditional clothing from her book on European Veelan culture. Especially... the colours, the reflections of all the metallic jewellery, it really made an impression on her. Enough for her to stare for several seconds before finally grasping the wooden cup with both trembling hands, still aching from the soreness.
The long gulp of fresh liquid that went down her throat, soothing the pain, cooling her chest, felt like a bucket of water spilled on her head. She quickly hyperventilated as the coolness of the water dissipated the effect of the aura surrounding her enough for panic to set in. Hermione!? How was she? Had Eldur saved her? Luna? Was her little moon in danger? Had Leopold protected her properly? Where was Eldur? Were there any other trolls? Was anyone hurt? She began to shake uncontrollably as her flames resurfaced, surrounding her, bathing the room in bluish light.
She felt the auras of the two veela around her begin to stir, to fill with worry and fear. But soon, as if perfectly synchronised, the two auras charged with sweetness, flowing against her like warm water. "Hush... it's all right, don't worry..." said the voice of the ashen-feathered veela in her ear as the other urgently opened a dresser drawer to pull out a vial filled with a purple liquid.
The neck of the vial was quickly pressed against her lips and Myo could only swallow the lavender-tasting liquid quickly. "This is a calming potion, it will help you feel better. You must not use your flames, your magic has not yet recovered enough for that." Said the long brown haired veela slowly and distinctly, doing her best to make Myo understand her French.
The potion took effect immediately, as if all the emotions that were bubbling up in her chest were slowly drowned in cotton. Her breathing returned to normal, and she stopped shaking and struggling. The combined auras of the two veela also did her the world of good, countless questions still pressed to her lips, but with the potions, the auras, and the hand lovingly caressing her head, she no longer felt on the verge of explosion. Besides, she knew that flooding the two veela with questions would do her little good, as she knew far too little French to be able to understand the answers properly.
Even as Myo was slowly turning into pudding under the attention of the two veela, her attention was drawn to the sound of wings beating the air as they approached. She gave a small cry of joy as her gaze fell on the approaching veela. Isabelle's beautiful red plumage in the morning sun was easily recognisable from afar, and just behind her was Fleur, and another blonde looking very much like her.
The moment Fleur and Isabelle landed in the room, Myo threw herself into Fleur's arms, clutching the other Veela with all her might, ignoring the pain that each movement inflicted.
"Myo?" Fleur asked, concern audible in her voice.
"You're here." She said simply, clinging to Fleur as if her life depended on it.
"Yes, I'm here." Fleur replied, looking a little lost. She heard Fleur and Isabelle exchanging a few words with the other three unknown veela. Then she felt Fleur move and carry her to a corner of the room where Fleur handled her in such a way that she faced everyone again. Everyone looked at her with undisguised concern except Isabelle who had already taken out her wand and started to cast diagnostic spells on her.
All the veela present, including Fleur, were dressed more or less similarly, tunics or dresses with colourful fabrics and beautifully embroidered with all sorts of motifs or symbols. The sheer quantity of jewellery of all kinds that each one seemed to be wearing filled her inexplicably with a deep satisfaction.
"Who are you?" Myo asked awkwardly, realizing that she should have asked this question earlier.
Fleur's voice, on whose lap she had found herself sitting, answered her with amusement. Her aura vibrating with affection against her. "This is Cacendra Delnë Delacour and Lucie Delnë Delacour. They are the ones who have been taking care of you for the past few days. She said, indicating the one with the ashy plumage, then the one with the brown hair." And last, meet my mother, Apolline Delacour."
Myo inclined her head in their direction in greeting while blushing, taken by a sudden shyness.
As Isabelle, obviously satisfied with the results of her diagnosis, pulled her from Fleur's arms to inspect her from every angle, as she had done several times before, Apolline approached and cleared her throat.
"Hello Myosotis Potter. I am certainly Fleur's mother, and as such I thank you for being such a good friend to my daughter. But I am also the head of the Delacour flock. Therefore, I have to welcome you to the flock."
Unsure of what to say, Myo nodded, as Isabelle was fiddling with her wing joints.
"I'm sure you have lots of questions, and I'm here to answer them." Apolline said.
"How is Hermione?" Was the first sentence that escaped her.
"Miss Granger is fine, she'll need to recuperate over the next few months, but other than that she's well on her way to recovery. You and Eldur arrived in time."
At these words, a wave of relief ran through her body, Hermione was fine. She had managed to save her. Her friend was safe and sound. Once the biggest weight was lifted from her heart, she asked the second most important thing to her. "Luna, is she all right?"
"Yes, young Miss Lovegood is perfectly fine. She's worried about you and can't wait to see you again. Miss Tonks and Miss Morelle are also safe. There was only one troll, and the teachers made sure everyone stayed safe."
Myo closed her eyes for several seconds, letting the stress evaporate second by second. "And Eldur?" She asked after a moment, trying to feel her connection to her familiar, but it was tenuous, as if Eldur was sleeping.
"Your familiar is... safe. All the magic he spent forced a premature burning day. But he'll be fine soon. He is currently in our home at the Perch."
"A burning day?"
"When a phoenix spends too much magic, or gets too old, its body burns itself into the shape of a... chick. This allows them to regenerate better. The tears he offered and the flame transport from Scotland to Paris exhausted him to the point of triggering one." She must have seen and felt the worry and guilt on Myo's face and in his aura because she added. "A burning day is not dangerous for a phoenix. It will just take a few months or years to return to its adult form."
Relieved, Myo nodded. "Why am I here?" she then asked. Frankly, she had expected to find herself back in the hospital rather than in a Veela house with Cacendra and Lucie.
To her surprise, it was Isabelle, who had been silent until then, who answered: "As you were not injured, but only extremely magically exhausted, the best thing for you was a treatment by exposure to aura to replenish your magic reserves as quickly as possible and in the best conditions. And to do this, leaving you with a newly mated veela couple was the best solution. Cacendra and Lucie kindly offered.
Myo didn't really understand what Isabelle had said, except that Cacendra and Lucie had helped her greatly. She stood up. Perhaps a little too energetically as she winced from the pain in her muscles. Then she walked towards Cacendra, enjoying the softness of the carpet under her scales. She stopped right in front of her, looking her up and down.
"Myosotis?" Cacendra asked, obviously a little surprised. In place of an answer, Myo hugged her, letting herself rest in her aura, letting her own mingle with Cacendra's. After a few seconds, she released her embrace and stepped back to give Lucy the same treatment, leaving the two Veela dazed, and her audience speechless. Myo didn't really know what had possessed her, except that it was the only way she could think of to thank the two people who had obviously taken care of her over the past few days.
This moment of strange intensity was broken by Apolline clearing her throat. "Myosotis, since your home at the Perch is not yet finished, Fleur and I would like to take you in for the time being.
Surprised, Myo turned her head sharply to look Apolline in the eye. "I would have a house here?"
"Hm... yes, when a Taïvaalta settles in a flock it is customary for the flock to offer her a place to nest. Not to do so would be a dishonour."
"Could I still go back to my tower?" Myosotis asked suddenly, anxious about losing her freedom by becoming part of a flock in this way... Besides, as nice as it was to constantly feel the auras of the other veela around her, she had no doubt that she would need to isolate herself regularly when perceiving their emotions and sharing her own in this way became too oppressive.
"Of course. You'll just have to let us know when you're leaving, and we'll have a way to contact you easily. Asking you to change your lifestyle in such a drastic way is unrealistic." Apolline amended, clearly uncomfortable for some reason that she could not understand.
Myosotis nodded. "Do you live near here? Could I see Luna again?" She asked in a small voice.
"Yes, just say goodbye to Lucia and Cacendra and we'll go." Apolline finished by giving her a smile, her aura warm and welcoming.
Despite the visible sadness of her hosts at the thought of her leaving, Myo said her goodbyes and was not surprised to feel Fleur stand behind her, before lifting her up, and throwing herself into the air through one of the openings in the wall, followed closely by Isabelle and Apolline, their powerful wings carrying them skywards.
oOOOo
Lucie watched the four of them fly away through the opening in the wall of their nest for a moment. The last few days had been surreal. Before, she had only ever heard stories about the Taïvaalta. About their flames, their intoxicating aura. She had never realized why flocks with a Taïvaalta were considered lucky. But now it seemed so obvious to her.
She heard the footsteps of her nesting mate approaching before stopping at her side. A large ashen wing protectively encircled her. "You know... I've rarely been jealous before." She said in a low voice.
"What do you mean?" Cacendra asked, tilting her head to the side and resting it on his shoulder.
"The matriarch, she's going to have Myosotis all to herself and her inner flock. The nest already seems colder without her. She may be an adult... but she's still a chick. She needs a family, and we..."
"Lucie, you have to understand, we're already lucky that the council of Vertfeuille decided that our Flock would be the best for her. And then... she already has a family. I don't know who this Luna is, but trying to keep them apart seems like the worst idea ever."
"At least our flock has a good future ahead of it." Lucie sighed.
Cacendra looked into her eyes, her eyes sparkling with mischief and sensuality. "Speaking of chicks... We finished nesting just over a week ago. Maybe the nest wouldn't be so cold if we had our very own." she whispered in her ear.
A shiver of desire ran down Lucie's spine. "That's an excellent suggestion." She said with a smirk. As Cacendra walked back to the depths of their nest, Lucie closed the curtains, hiding their haven from the world.
oOOOo
Myo was fascinated by what was happening before her eyes. So much so that she completely forgot her discomfort at being carried by Fleur instead of flying on her own. Their little group was flying over a mountainous landscape of cliffs and snowy peaks. Vast screes and high coniferous forest. Further down, she could see the alpine meadows, still green at this time of year, hugging the mountainside between forests, lakes and clearings. In the distance, a resplendent white summit dominated the surrounding mountains from its height.
But beyond the grandiose landscape, what really attracted her attention was the multitude of openings cut into the rock in the high cliffs. Some were closed with coloured cloth, others wide open. In rare cases, staircases were cut into the cliffs, allowing access to the openings. Scattered around, hanging from the cliffs, or on top of fir trees, she could see strange garlands of coloured cloth rectangles. Several other veela with variously coloured plumage were flying between the rocky peaks, some flying in and out of holes in the cliffs, others perched, often in small groups of two or three, obviously engaged in conversation. Some approached their group curiously, but an intimidating look from Apolline was enough to disperse them.
Soon the small group reached a fairly large opening in one of the high cliffs. As Fleur gently placed her on one of the large blue carpets embroidered with green, Myosotis looked around her. The room was large, high-ceilinged, with several openings in the cliffs which, despite being wide open, did not let in the cold or the wind. The walls were covered with embroidered tapestries very similar to those of the Delnë. At the back of the room was a large fireplace and in front of it a veritable collection of beanbags. Enough to accommodate a good fifteen people. In the walls other than the one they had entered were large doors closed by large curtains of coloured fabric.
She let herself be guided to one of the beanbags facing the fireplace by Fleur's hand on her lower back, while Isabelle announced that she was going to the kitchen to fetch her medicine and Apolline levitated logs into the fireplace with her wand before setting them alight.
She was somewhat surprised when Fleur sat down and settled her on her lap without asking, but Apolline spoke up before she could protest. Moreover, the way Fleur held her to her chest, running her hand through her feathers as if to make sure Myosotis was physically present, made her accept the hug without saying anything. Fleur looked like she needed it.
"Myosotis. I'm sure you're curious about what's going to happen to you now." Apolline said in a soft voice, looking at her with a kind of tenderness she'd only seen in Pandora's eyes so far. Myo nodded. It was all still a blur, she had only a vague idea of what had happened at Hogwarts and even less of what the wizards would want from her now. They weren't going to want to punish her for hurting their troll, were they? They weren't going to lock her up with Vernons again for daring to save her friend? The other bird things would protect her, but what about the wizards?
Her growing panic must have been more than noticeable because she felt Apolline's and Fleur's auras trying to soothe her as Fleur whispered reassurances in her ear that everything would be alright and Apolline reached over and laid a hand on her cheek, wiping away a tear she hadn't felt fall with her thumb. "Myosotis, look at me, listen to me. Nothing will happen to you, everything is fine. By killing that troll, you did a good thing, the right thing. You saved your life and your friend's life and that's all that matters, okay?"
Myo nodded, her throat too tight to say anything. "The green leaf advice... you read about it in the books you got, didn't you?" When Myo nodded again, Apolline continued. "The council has decided to entrust you to the Delacour flock because it is with us that you are most comfortable. We are responsible for your welfare and safety while you are on the flock's land. Yesterday, your belongings were transported from Hogwarts to the room that has been prepared for you here. It is intended that you remain in flock lands until you have recovered. After which you will be free to come and go as you please outside of our territory. Just know that you will always have a place here.
As Myo began to relax listening to Apolline's words, a new concern arose. "Luna... Nym... Hermione... they won't be able to come and see me..." she muttered sadly. The rules she had learned in one of her books in one of the chapters about the secrets of the flock were clear. Non-veela who were not mates of a veela were strictly forbidden on flock land. Deliberate intrusion into the territory could result in the immediate death of the intruder.
"They can come and see you." Apolline said with an aplomb that disarmed Myo.
"How? The book said that..."
"I don't think you finished reading the one specifically about the Taïvaalta." She said with a smirk.
Myo nodded, blushing.
"People marked by a Taïvaalta, just like mates, are among the few who are allowed in the flock's territory. Miss Lovegood and the other people you've marked will be able to visit you while you're recovering, don't worry."
Myo breathed a long sigh of relief. The thought of being separated from Luna for an indefinite period of time seemed unbearable. "Besides, when will I be healed? I mean, I feel sore, and I hurt all over, but overall I feel like I'm fine..."
"At least three weeks." Said Isabelle as she entered the room again through one of the doors closed by a large curtain. "If you take your potions and ointments properly." She added as she crouched down in front of Myo and handed her a vial containing an orange liquid filled with tiny bubbles.
As Myo swallowed the strange orange-tasting, slightly fizzy potion, which had the immediate effect of relaxing her muscles and soothing her pain, Isabelle continued by handing her another vial. "Myosotis, listen to me carefully, at your age, for a Taïvaalta to have control over her flames is normal. Flying like you do is also normal. However, what is not normal is to be able to take your elemental form. Normally, for a Taïvaalta, the transformation is only possible from the twenties onward. Rarely before. What is just as abnormal is to reduce a troll to dust and to melt the walls of the room in which he was. We are magical creatures, Myosotis. Take away a veela's magic and she dies. This is even more true for the Taïvaalta. The amount of magic you expended that night nearly killed you. You must learn to control yourself, to find your limits, so that you don't hurt yourself. I repeat, you are forbidden to use your flames and your magic until I judge that your health is no longer at risk. All right?"
Throughout Isabelle's diatribe, as Myo drank potion after potion, Fleur's embrace had tightened around her. For the first time since waking up, Myo really paid attention to Isabelle, her face, her posture, her aura. She was controlled, but tense, concern mixed with anger simmering. She seemed to realise what Myo was seeing because she smiled at her, and ruffled her hair. "I'm not angry at you, Myo. I'm angry at the people and circumstances that made you suffer like this.
Isabelle turned to Apolline. "Please don't take too long. She needs to rest. Besides, the potions I gave her will soon make her sleep.
"Yes Isabelle, don't worry. Myosotis, the important thing for you to know is that you are unlikely to return to Hogwarts. By putting yourself in danger like this, the agreement between Hymgaabal, the Grand Alliance and the British government has been broken, and it is unlikely that the British will have another chance to have you in their school. It is envisaged that you will be tutored for the rest of the year and join Beauxbâton next year."
Apolline was about to add something but Isabelle clapped her hands. "Fleur, can you show Myosotis to her room? She needs her rest and will surely be up for dinner in a much better state. And Apolline, that's enough information for the poor girl all at once."
Without argument Fleur stood up and took her by the hand. "Come on, Myo, I'm sure you'll feel at home with us."
Apolline gave Isabelle an outraged look for interrupting her but said nothing, choosing simply to wish Myo a good rest.
Myo was then pulled by Fleur, her hand in hers, towards a door closed by a large blue curtain embroidered with silver reminding her of a starry night. Behind it, a corridor lit by phosphorescent mosses bathing the place in an orange light, bordered by a few doors also closed by curtains. At the end of it was an ascending staircase, much wider than those at Hogwarts, obviously designed to accommodate the wings of a veela.
"I'm sorry about Mum. She sometimes lets her role as Flock's leader show too often... Tonight, Dad and Gabrielle will be there. With them in the room she'll probably be a lot less tense."
"Will I finally get to see your little sister?" Myo asked excitedly. Ever since Fleur had told her about Gabrielle, she had been dying to meet her.
A slight wave of inexplicable worry ran through Fleur's aura, but she smiled at her, "Yes, I've told her a lot about you and she's really looking forward to meeting you."
Myo gave a small cry of joy.
Fleur frowned. "You're not kidnapping her, right? She's my little sister. You can think she's as cute as you want, but that's it."
Myo simply gave Fleur an angelic smile. Fleur rolled her eyes and muttered something unintelligible.
A few seconds later, they passed a door closed by a thick dark green curtain. On the other side of it was a large rectangular room. One wall had three openings large enough for a full-grown veela to pass through, all three open, the curtains supposedly able to close them tied at their edges with grey cords. In one corner of the room lay a pile of cushions and blankets that she liked to sleep on. What struck her and filled her with great joy was to notice that the room had been furnished almost identically to the room she had taken in the tower at Hogwarts. The multitude of drawings on the wall, the shelves overflowing with books and various small treasures. The wooden desk covered in leaves beautifully stacked instead of their usual chaos. In another corner of the room behind what she recognised as an improved form of her barrier runes, a large pile of ash.
It was then that her gaze fell on a blanket rolled up on the desk, at the heart of which a small thing seemed to be moving. Myo approached cautiously at first, before feeling his familiar link vibrate gently and trotting quickly towards the blanket. In the centre of the blanket was a baby bird covered in thick, reddish-orange down with golden highlights. Myo gently lifted Eldur, hugging him to her chest, closing her wings in front of her to surround him. He was so small and adorable. His big black eyes turned towards her as he chirped happily, flapping his little wings. She watched for a moment the little phoenix's down, its own wings and other feathers, then Fleur's wings as she leaned in close to watch the baby phoenix, making little cooing sounds. A sly smile stretched her lips. Fleur, herself and Eldur were in dire need of an ash bath, then a preening. She closed the curtains of the room one by one under Fleur's bewildered gaze before moving towards Fleur.
"Myo, what are you doing?" Fleur asked before swallowing nervously.
Without waiting, Myo grabbed Fleur by the hand and pulled her into the big pile of ash with her and Eldur. "You're not getting away until I'm done with you," she said, bursting into laughter as Fleur gave a little high-pitched squeal of surprise.
"Myo, you're supposed to be resting." Fleur protested weakly before losing her ability to speak as Myo began to rub ash into her feathers, reducing her voice to an inarticulate chirp.
A few minutes later, Eldur was asleep in his blanket pile just outside the ash heap, his downy plumage cleaner and airier than ever, while Fleur was slowly being carefully groomed by Myo's skilled hands. She was leaning forward completely at her mercy, as Myo tended to each feather, singing softly in that strange, instinctive language she did not understand herself but had long associated with moments of preening. Every now and then Fleur would let out a coo of pleasure. However, unlike usual, her flames had not manifested themselves and remained silent, as if asleep. She could feel them gently vibrating inside her, but they seemed more like embers than flames. Therefore, unlike usual, the duo had not found themselves surrounded by blue flames, much to Myo's regret. But Isabelle was right, she had to let her flames rest for the moment.
Her reflections must have stopped her long enough for Fleur to regain control of herself and for Myo to find herself tackled to the ground in a large cloud of ash as Fleur extracted her terrible revenge by tickling her mercilessly.
"Myo you ask before you do that!" Fleur said in mock outrage. "Promise me you'll never do that to a veela you don't know, and without asking the one you do know, okay? I don't want anyone to take advantage of you so easily.
Myo didn't understand Fleur's reaction, obviously she wasn't going to do that with just anyone. Only Luna and Fleur for now. Deciding not to waste time arguing she nodded and pouted, "Yes Mum" she said mischievously.
"You little pest" said Fleur as she grabbed her and began to tend to her wings. Unashamedly, Myo felt herself becoming putty in Fleur's hands. She gave a deep sigh of contentment. "I'm glad you're here, Fleur," she whispered. The only response she received was a kiss on the temple.
oOOOo
Fleur was sitting on one of the flat cushions arranged in a circle in the dining room. To her left sat Myosotis, who had seen fit to rest her head on her shoulder. Not that she minded, on the contrary. The little Taïvaalta was still heavy and warm from sleep. Soon after Fleur had begun to tend to Myo's feathers, the potions had begun to take effect. Combined with the relaxing influence of a good preening, she fell asleep in her arms within minutes. Fleur had mixed feelings about what had happened with Myosotis today. Fleur was supposed to be the heir of the Delacour flock, her future flock's representative on the council. And yet, she had been unable to do anything against Myo. Even weakened after her fight with a troll, Myo's aura was no less intoxicating. Being in her company was almost a drug. The feeling of fullness, of security, of connection she had never felt it so deeply... The way her own flames bubbled joyfully whenever Myo's aura touched her... it was addictive.
She had then washed all the ashes off her and settled on the pile of cushions and under a blanket. She had then moved to the desk in Myosotis' room to continue writing her alchemy essay. She could have... should have... moved to her own room to work, but Myo's aura was too gentle for her to get away from it so easily. Besides, even if it sounded more like a bad excuse than anything else to her own ears, she'd figured Myo would appreciate having someone in the room when she woke up. She had then immersed herself in her work, giving it her best shot to make Professor Flamel proud. It was a difficult essay on the mechanical properties of living vegetal transmutations of steelwood, and she had found that the calm aura of a drowsy Myo helped her concentrate greatly.
Isabelle and Apolline had stopped by a handful of times to check on her, until finally Fleur was forced to wake Myo in the middle of the evening to take her to the dining room. As much as Myo needed to sleep for her recovery, letting her skip more than one meal was just not an option.
So it was that she found herself sitting with a half-asleep Myo leaning against her and Isabelle looking at her with a smirk that said enough to make her blush. It was strange, the idea of having dinner with just Mum, Dad, Gaby and Isabelle at the Perch. Usually, this kind of small-committee meal was reserved for when she was at Dad's ambassadorial mansion. Normally, the room would have been overflowing with cousins, Mum's sisters, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and sometimes even great-great-grandmothers.
Regularly, it even happened that the whole flock gathered to share a meal, it was actually quite common. Even at Beauxbâtons, her school sisters, even those from other flocks, liked to share their meals, and invite their friends. The evenings often ended in a big pile of veela having seen fit to stay overnight rather than return to the Veelary. In short, to say that a meal with only her close family seemed strange to her was an understatement. But Myo had to be considered, the young Taïvaalta had lived for years in isolation and was just starting to get used to the presence of other veela nearby. Throwing her directly into the metaphorical lion's den was a very bad idea. Especially since Myo was a Taïvaalta, veela with little restraint would all want to pounce on her at the same time and grab her attention. Poor Myo wouldn't survive...
Mum was absent for the moment, having gone to get Gabrielle and Papa. And she must have been coming back from the sound of footsteps and voices she heard approaching in the corridor. She was surprised to feel Myo suddenly straighten up, and start staring at the corridor where the noises were coming from with interest. The curtain closing the door swung open to let Dad in, carrying Gabrielle on his shoulders, she flapped her fluffy little wings excitedly, followed closely by Mom.
Dad flashed Myo a bright smile and tried to introduce himself, but Gaby interrupted him, squealing with delight before leaping off her father's shoulders to glide awkwardly, flapping her downy little wings desperately towards Myo. Just as Gaby was about to crash into the ground, Myo grabbed her by the waist with a swiftness that Fleur would not have thought her capable of, and suddenly found herself with an armful of Gaby clinging to her in her best koala imitation. Myo gave her a look of joy but also surprise and uncertainty, holding Gaby in her arms as if she were the most precious of glass sculptures.
Fleur stood up, giggling with amusement. "I think you're a goner, Myo. She's not going to let you go all night," she said as she approached the chaotic little group. Isabelle leaned back, watching the scene with amusement in her eyes.
"I don't mind," said Myo, who had put one arm under Gaby to support her, stroked her wings with his other hand, and wrapped her wings around her with a radiant smile.
Mum, who had been watching the scene with amazement, cleared her throat. "Myosotis, I present my husband and mate Guillaume, and my second daughter Gabrielle.
A few minutes later, the introductions were made, ending with everyone sitting on the circle of cushions, with a Guillaume having difficulty concealing his hilarity, an Apolline visibly dismayed by Gaby's behaviour, and said Gaby on Myosotis's lap doing her best to drown her with questions. Apolline had tried to intervene and get Gaby off Myo's hands, but Myo had fiercely refused to release her little sister.
Surely deciding that it was time to move on, Isabelle intervened, bringing a variety of traditional Veela dishes from the kitchen. Seeds, nuts and vegetables grown in the mountains skilfully cooked and seasoned with local spices. Myo seemed to be particularly fond of roasted chestnuts with onions and mushrooms, and silencing Gaby by feeding her. Another thing Myo seemed to particularly enjoy was the dish of snails in garlic butter, if the number of questions she asked Isabelle about them was any indication.
The discussion was going well, with Apolline Guillaume and Isabelle talking about the latest news and other inter flock politics and Myo being as curious about Fleur and Beauxbâtons life as Gaby was about Myo. As Gaby's babbling had ceased, she having fallen asleep with her head buried in her feathers, Myo seemed lost in thought for a moment before asking. "Fleur, are there many veela at the Perch? Are there any other veela villages in your flock's territory?"
"No, the Delacour flock is not very big. Some flocks have several villages, but we only have the Perch. Our flock has about five hundred members. A little more than two hundred live permanently at the Perch, the others live among the wizards in smaller groups. But as far as I know, no one goes more than a few months without returning to spend at least a few days at the Perch." Myo looked flabbergasted at her statement.
"There are that many Delacour Veela?" She said with wide eyes.
"And we are a small Flock. Delmaciel, the largest flock in the French part of the Grand Alliance, has at least two thousand veela." Myo looked as if he couldn't believe her ears.
"That's huge!" she muttered.
"Well... not that much." Fleur said thoughtfully... How to explain this to the little Taïvaalta. Myo had grown up isolated, she had never realised the size of the world she was living in. "Do you know how many wizards there are in Britain?"
Myo shook her head no. Fleur guessed that she had never really asked herself that question.
"I'm not an expert, so take what I say with a grain of salt, but in geography class at Beauxbâtons, we were taught that there were at least three hundred and ten thousand magicals in Britain. There should be many more, but with the repressive regime, the caste and nobility system, the strong ideology of blood purity, and the most recent blood war waged by the latest British dark lord, magical Britain is suffering a veritable demographic haemorrhage."
"Demographic haemorrhage?" Myo asked, clearly confused. Fleur cursed herself for merely repeating what Mr Navarin had said in his chapter on magical Britain. It was obvious that Myo was not nearly educated enough to understand what she had just said.
"There are not many wizard births in Britain compared to the rest of Europe, and countless wizards and creatures who feel oppressed or in danger exile themselves to other countries. As a result, magical Britain is facing a lot of difficulty these days."
"I didn't know there were so many wizards..." Myo said thoughtfully. "There weren't many students at Hogwarts."
"Myo, Hogwarts is a school reserved for the nobility, the upper middle class, and muggle-borns with enough potential to be deemed powerful enough to make good matches for noble families in need of new blood. There are plenty of other smaller schools all over the country for the lower middle class and those on scholarship." Myo didn't seem to have it all figured out, but she got the idea.
"Like Boggart Hole Clough?" Myo said, giving her an adorable, satisfied smile. The name sounded familiar to Fleur, a magical academy in Manchester. Good enough from what she could recall. Ironically, from what she had heard, it produced better results than Hogwarts.
"Exactly!" Fleur said.
"And the others?"
"What others?"
"Wizards who aren't rich or don't have access to a scholarship?"
"Ah... those who don't go to school. They are usually educated at home, sometimes in a muggle school. You know Myo... Most wizards don't have wands. They are far too expensive for most of them. They usually make do with witch-craft."
"I see... But what does that have to do with not making many Veela?"
Fleur took a few seconds to figure out how to explain this to Myo... Suddenly her eyes fell on the plate of snails. "Myo, imagine there are a hundred snails in this dish."
Myo looked at her quizzically.
"Yes?"
"Imagine that represents all the people who live in the French part of the Grand Alliance."
Myo nodded with a frown.
"And now let's take one of these hundred snails and take it out of its shell. It corresponds to all the magically endowed people and beings among these people."
Myo's eyes widened. "But it's so small!"
"Indeed." Fleur smiled. "There are approximately five hundred thousand mages and magical beings in France. Now, let's take this snail and cut it into a hundred equal pieces. Two of these pieces correspond to the number of Veela in the magical population. There are a little less than ten thousand Veela in France if we add up all the members of all the flocks of the Council of Vertefeuille.
Despite the questionable quality of Fleur's metaphor, Myo seemed to understand. "It's... really not much, actually..." she said sheepishly.
Fleur rolled her eyes. "Yes, there were many more veela before the secrecy status. But since then, our numbers have been steadily decreasing and have only recently begun to stabilise."
Clearly wanting to talk about something more cheerful, Myo changed the subject. "Do you come to the Perch often? You told me you had a mansion in the south of France."
"We spend half the year here. Dad works in the office of inter-being affairs as a diplomat, and the manor is used for easy access to his office in Paris, and to receive representatives of other species. We're there part of the year, but we come back here often. Dad manages to pass it off to his employer as a strengthening of the human-veela bond." She said with amusement and a little pride.
A few minutes later, as Fleur was describing Dad's latest mission to the Naga tribe of Lasskyssa in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, Mum caught their eye. "I'm sorry to cut you off, Fleur, but I have to tell Myosotis. Tomorrow you will have to meet the elders of the flock."
"The elders?" Myo asked curiously.
"The oldest veela in the flock. They form the coven of elders and must meet each new member of the flock. They will also do the flame and earth ritual for you. Not only will the old magic of the flock accept you, but it will help your recovery."
Myo looked a little worried but nodded without question. Apolline then looked through one of the openings in the cliff and, gazing at the last of the daylight, added. "Now off to bed, you three!
As Fleur held out her hands to retrieve her little sister, Myo got up and ran off with her in her arms towards her room, giggling, just quickly greeting Apolline, Isabelle and Guillaume. Fleur, outraged, got up and quickly said goodnight to everyone before throwing herself at the little pest of a sister snatcher.
oOOOo
To say that Myo was intimidated would be an understatement. She was terrified. She stood atop a rocky spur whose height towered above all the surrounding mountains. The platform was smooth as glass, the stone polished. A thick, unearthly fog surrounded the peak, giving the place an eerie atmosphere. The silence was heavy, thick. Despite the fact that she had wings in one of the few places where the earth joined the sky, she felt oppressed. As if a demented, immeasurable, indescribable, unspeakable presence had focused its attention on her, across the black expanse of the cosmos, across the eons. Apolline had accompanied her, silent, to this strange place. She'd given her a worried look before leaving, letting her alone with the seven figures encircling her. Seven Veela, with auras several times more powerful than Apolline's. Like all the other Veela she had seen so far, their beauty was transcendent. But in a way where age was perceptible on their features. Each of their wrinkles like the brushstrokes of a master, giving them power and character.
Two white-feathered elders bore a striking resemblance to Apolline and Fleur, and Myo couldn't help wondering if they were Fleur's ancestors. Then the silence was broken. One of the elders with huge orange wings and golden reflections spoke. "Give us your name, child of the high sky and flames."
"Myosotis Potter." She replied in a small voice. Deeply intimidated.
"I am Cedrella, this is Himrallys and her mate Moretia. This is Sophia, Angelina, Jade and Aliénor. We are here to welcome you to the flock. Under the eyes of the mother, by her flames and by the sky, to give you the Perch you deserve."
Aliénor stepped forward first, her huge blue wings giving her an ethereal aspect. She stopped in front of her and smiled, placing her hands on her shoulders. "Welcome back Myosotis. Your life has been hard. But now you are not alone." She then plucked one of the feathers, and placed it in her hair tenderly before placing a kiss on her forehead and returning to her place.
Jade followed, whispering to her that she was strong, that she now had a family much larger than she could imagine. She imitated the previous elder, placing a feather in her hair, and a kiss on her forehead. Then it was Angelina's turn, Sophie's turn, one after the other, then Moretia's and Himrallys', who came at the same time, and chose to place a kiss on each of her cheeks simultaneously. They all said a few words to her. That she was welcome, that she belonged, that she would only grow stronger.
Finally, Cedrella stepped forward. Her wings were even bigger than those of the other elders. Myo couldn't help but wonder if there wasn't something more to becoming an elder than age. No other veela she had met had such a presence.
"You who have wandered the skies, lost and lonely, you who have suffered the fruit of calamity, who have experienced what should not be. Welcome to your own." A solitary tear then ran down Cedrella's cheek. Myo could feel the regret and love in the mix of aura that surrounded her. A dull, vibrant pain. She placed a kiss on her forehead before hugging her and closing her wings around her, hiding her from the mists and the other deans. Myo felt lighter and lighter, her anxiety and fear slowly dissipating in the elder's arms.
After she couldn't say how long, Cedrella released her embrace and stepped back. Leaving Myo a little confused and saddened to lose the warmth of the contact.
All the deans then came forward simultaneously, forming a circle around her, holding hands. They began to sing in unison. In the same strange language that Myo used to sing during her preening. Multicoloured and changing flames rose from the ground around them, forming a blaze of colours as shimmering as they were impossible. The flames were soft against her skin and feathers. She had the strangest feeling she had ever had before. She was the sky, she was the earth, the rock, the snow. She felt life flourishing on its surface, she felt hundreds of flames within it, an avalanche of thought and feeling forming an indescribable chaotic torrent. She felt the limits, the ancient magic protecting their land. Insulating it from violence and madness.
She felt embraced, by something indescribable, infinitely superior. A distant and benevolent power. Gradually the words of the ancient language she had sung so often began to make sense in her mind. Not as if she was discovering a new language, but as if she was remembering something she had long ago forgotten but had always known. She remembered every night, when sacrificing her feathers, or honouring her plumage to honour the sky, she had sung in honour of the ancient mother. She had sung for her ashes, her sacrifice to bless the earth, the water and the sky. As in this moment, when the deans sang in one infinitely beautiful voice, calling for the mother's attention, for the sadness of a lost child found, for the relief of grief, for revenge and forgiveness. To a return to the order of the world, to balance.
Suddenly, the colourless flames of a thousand colours grew into a gigantic blaze, consuming the mists, liberating the sky. A huge gust of melodious wind was unleashed. When silence returned, the air was clear, light, as after a spring rain. Only the blue immensity surrounded the rocky outcrop.
oOOOo
It had been a good half hour now that Myo was passed from hand to hand of the deans. They all kept comparing her to their grandchildren and hugging her. She was still a little confused after the ... ritual. The experience had been confusing to say the least. The elders didn't want Myo to strain her wings, so they carried her to a clearing at the bottom of the valley where they sat on a large mossy rock, telling her that they had to talk to her about her role in the flock. But for the time being, they had spent their time asking her questions about her life before she met Isabelle and what she wanted to do later. Myo had the strange feeling that she was at one of the family reunions Luna had told her about, where she was at the mercy of her grandparents and aunts.
It was in a short moment of silence that Cedrella chose to speak. "Myosotis?" She said, all the other elders falling silent.
"Yes, Grandma?" She replied as Cedrella asked her to call her.
"What I'm about to tell you is important. But don't worry, my child. You'll have all the time you need to get used to it. You are a Taïvaalta. A veela of the high sky. The race that among the veela is closest to the mother, to the origin of our flames, to what makes us children of the sky. As such, in all veela communities, the Taïvaalta have specific rights and duties."
Myo swallowed. She didn't like the serious tone in which Cedrella was saying this.
"I repeat, don't worry. Nothing I say should be a problem for you. Just by your presence, you are blessing our land, improving the crops, making the animals and fish healthier and more vigorous. The same goes of course for the other veela. You may have noticed it when you lived in the old Cleite luaithre home, nature was getting better and better the longer you were there. Just living among us does us a great service."
Myo wanted to ask who the Cleite luaithre were, to finally know the identity of the Veela who had occupied her tower before, but she restrained herself. Interrupting Cedrella now didn't seem like a good idea. "The Taïvaalta also traditionally preside over religious ceremonies. Whether it's the First Flame celebrations, honouring the return to the flames and death ceremonies, or other celebrations. Of course, you will have all the time in the world, and we will never force you to do it. But we would all be in your debt if you were to accept."
She was about to answer, to say that she didn't mind, that she didn't really see any problem with it, but Cedrella waved her off. "Don't answer now. Take your time. You're still too young to do this kind of thing anyway. We're just telling you this so you won't be caught off guard in a few years." She paused briefly in her speech, as if thinking about how to phrase what she was going to say. "Finally, know that as a Taïvaalta, you will be welcome in any other flock's land. But know that to have a real connection to another flock, its lands and its members, another ritual such as the one we have conducted is necessary, and that in all flocks, you will be confronted with similar expectations."
The other doyennes seemed to realise that the serious discussion was over and continued to talk normally... In a way that was strangely similar to what Luna described her grandparents' discussions as.
Myo, letting her curiosity get the better of her, turned to Aliénor on whose lap she was sitting. "Who are the Cleite luaithre?" she asked innocently.
Aliénor gave her a sad smile. "They were a large flock of Scottish veela. They disappeared a little less than a century ago... surprised by the beginning of the great purges. The survivors are now spread out in different European flocks. Sorcha Cleite luaithre was a Taïvaalta and matriarch of the flock for several centuries. She and her warriors sacrificed themselves to allow as many veela as possible to escape. She is a famous and revered figure in all European flocks. You can find her legend in the library of the Perch. You can ask little Fleur to take you there."
Myo stood pensive... thinking of how the magic of the tower had accepted her... embraced her, all those years ago, when she had approached the ancient ivy-covered tower, exhausted, her wings aching.
oOOOo
Three days had passed since Myo and the deans met. Three days during which she had done almost nothing but sleep and play with Gaby, Fleur and Eldur. Gabrielle... Fleur's little sister, Myo had been impatient to meet her, and she had not been disappointed. Gaby had turned out to be even more adorable than she had imagined. She may have been tiresome and full of energy, but Myo adored her. And the feeling was mutual. For ever since Gaby had arrived she had refused to let her out of her sight. The only exception had been when she was taken to the elder's, but the rest of the time... Gaby refused to let her go, constantly asked for attention when she wasn't sleeping with her. So much so that Fleur had accused her of stealing her sister. And frankly, Myo was considering this possibility more and more seriously. But the way Gaby talked about her big sister, with passion and devotion, separating the little veela from her sister did not seem like a good idea.
When she wasn't sleeping, Myo had taken it upon herself to try to teach Gaby to draw, an endeavour that had so far proved successful, since the baby veela was more than happy to learn something from Myo, and the unwilling model for their drawing exercise was none other than her older sister. Myo and Gaby's new game was to follow Fleur around the house as quietly as possible and draw her without her noticing.
Gaby was also a great fan of cuddling. Cuddles that she constantly showered Myo with. The only person who could possibly beat Gaby's fluffy feather cuddles was Luna...
Today had been the scene of two big pieces of news. First, Isabelle had inspected her wings and given her the green light! Myo could fly again! Secondly, Luna, Pandora and Mélusine were going to visit her! These two pieces of news and her relationship with Gaby were what explained her current situation. She was flying between the cliffs and rocky peaks towards the gypsum plateau where the Lovegoods would arrive. Today's flight was a little more complicated than usual because she had not been able to say no to Gaby. She held the little veela by the waist underneath her, arms outstretched, giving Gaby enough room to flap her little wings to practise flying. It was adorable, and she was happy to help Gaby, but this position made flying complicated. Fortunately, the gypsum plateau was in sight.
It was called such because it was a rocky plateau so smooth it looked almost entirely crystalline, situated at the top of a rocky ridge, at the top of a cliff just outside the Delacours' territory. Fleur had explained to her that it was through this place that the flock traded with the guilds of the Hanseatic League of Svorak and that visitors were received. Fleur was supposed to accompany them, but she had gone to find what would carry the Lovegoods to their homes. Myo had tried to ask what it was, but Fleur had told her that it was a surprise and that she would love it.
Finally, Myo landed on the smooth stone surface, letting her brand new claw slipper gently hit the ground, before setting Gaby down, who was laughing with joy at having 'flown on her own' for so long, and immediately went off to explore the deserted platform.
Myo stretched her arms, legs, back and wings before letting her gaze drift over the magnificent landscape view from that height. The mountains and forest in the blue distance... Apolline had explained to her that just like the hidden nations, the territories of the veela flocks were hidden by powerful space spells, camouflage and other return paths. If a muggle were to get too close and bypass the many path reversals and other sensory disruption spells, they would be on the other side of the territory in one step, not even realising they had crossed. The only real threat was to be attacked by a group of powerful and organised wizards. And even then, without the help of an immortal and exceptional sorcerer, to overcome the magic of the dean's coven, it was almost impossible.
A small scream drew her out of her thoughts, Gaby had come dangerously close to the edge, obviously fascinated by a large object flying in the sky, rapidly approaching. Myo dashed forward, managing to catch Gaby just as the reckless baby veela was about to fall into the void. A few big wingbeats, and they were back in safety. Myo was about to scold Gaby, and forbid her to wander off again, but it seemed unnecessary, as she must have been very frightened, for she had buried her face in her tunic and was trembling all over. Myo reacted in the only way she could. She took Gaby in her arms and held her tightly, whispering to her that she was now safe.
As she did so, she watched the large shape come closer. Her eyes widened, it was a boat. A boat suspended in the air by thick ropes attached to some kind of strange white canvas egg with a large Arctic tern drawn on it. On the sides of the boat were hung some sort of wooden and canvas wings that moved slowly.
The huge flying craft stopped just above the platform, and a rope ladder was thrown from its railings. A moment later, Myo found herself with a Luna hanging on to her, above Gaby, talking far too fast and excitedly for Myo to understand anything. A few seconds later, it was Pandora and Mélusine's turn to step ashore, the rope ladder immediately being hauled up, and the ship resuming its journey.
"Luna, I'm glad to see you too." Myo said with a fond smile, "However, you're crushing Gaby."
Luna stepped back suddenly, her cheeks flushed, her eyes glistening with tears just waiting to be shed. "Your flame has flickered again, Myo. Don't ever do that to me again... okay?"
"I'll do my best." Myo said softly.
"Can you introduce me to this little Nargle?" Luna asked, looking at Gaby who was looking at her shyly.
"Luna, this is Gabrielle Delacour. Fleur's little sister. Gaby, this is Luna, my best friend, Mélusine, her aunt, and Pandora, her mother." She added, throwing a big smile at the two women who had approached smiling.
"Hello Gabrielle, Myosotis. The tunic suits you perfectly." Said Pandora.
"It's the kind of clothing that everyone wears here." Said Myo as she returned Pandora's smile before turning her attention back to Luna, while Gaby, shy, had gone to hide behind her. "Luna, I missed you." She added before hugging Luna.
Their reunion was interrupted a few minutes later, when Mélusine, who had been silent until then, approached Myo. She held out her hand and Myo gasped as Mélusine reached into her necklace and pulled out the small pendant Myo had received as a gift from her. "Myosotis Potter, the next time you find yourself in a situation like this, I want you to activate your medallion immediately. Before you do anything else, I want it to be the first thing you do. Swear to me." Mélusine said in a tone so stern that it made Myo stiffen and Gaby tremble.
"I swear it. Sorry Mélusine," she said in a small voice, lowering her eyes in shame. Mélusine wouldn't have had time to intervene in this case, but warning her that something was wrong and serious should have been the priority.
She was so caught up in her remorse that she didn't hear Mélusine approach and take her and Luna in her arms, hugging them to her black T-shirt. "Myosotis, I love you, you're part of the family. Luna was worried sick, Pandora was no better. Xeno was smoking five pipes of elven leaves to pass the stress."
"I'm sorry..." Myo whispered.
"I don't want you to feel bad, I want you to understand that people are thinking about you... and that even when you feel like you have no choice but to act, to let us know if you have the chance."
"I promise..."
Eager to break the strange tension, Pandora spoke up. "Myo, how is your stay with the Delacours going?" she asked with a smile. Luna, obviously excited to hear what Myo had to say, clapped her hands excitedly. Seeing the joy on Luna's face, Myo giggled slightly before beginning to recount in great detail her adventure, omitting the details of what she knew to be secret and starting with the little she remembered of her encounter with the ugly troll. Gaby, who up to now had been fearful, stepped out from behind Myo as she spoke and into Pandora's arms.
A few minutes later Myo was interrupted in the middle of telling the story of the very chaotic meal when Fleur's aunts and grandmothers had broken into the house, with the excuse that they couldn't stand not eating with everyone else, by Gaby who was tugging at her sleeve excitedly.
"They're coming!"
Indeed, Myo hadn't noticed it, but four huge great titmouses were approaching the rocky plateau. Beside them she could see Apolline approaching and riding another, Fleur. Luna's eyes were fixed on the huge titmice, their white cheeks, their yellow chests, their beautiful large wings. "Elvethic Oguls..." She heard her blonde little friend murmur with admiration as the group of winged creatures landed.
"Have you seen them before?" Myo, unable to take her eyes off the adorable fluff balls that were patiently waiting as they ran their beaks through their feathers.
"No, but I knew about the Oguls, I read about them in one of Grandfather's travel books. They are as rare as crumple horned snorckak!"
They both jumped when they were surprised by Apolline's voice. "Hello little one, you must be Luna, right? We've crossed paths but I doubt you noticed me at the time." She said, her gaze strangely fixed on the brooch adorned with Myo feathers that Luna wore in her hair.
"Yes, that's me, it's a pleasure to meet you Madame." Luna replied without taking her eyes off the Oguls.
"Likewise. However, I am surprised that you have heard of our feathered friends Luna ," said Apolline.
"Hm, my grandfather has about ten pages dedicated to them in his journal. I've dreamed of seeing them since I was a little girl."
"You can get close to them, you know? They are very cuddly." Apolline said with a big smile on her face before grabbing Gaby and heading towards Mélusine who was already chatting with Fleur and Pandora.
Myo only heard a few words of their discussion about secrecy, acceptance and feathering before being pulled by the hand by an overexcited Luna at the idea of approaching Oguls.
After a few minutes of being inspected with curiosity by the Oguls who observed them from every angle, pinched their clothing with their beaks and turned around them, Myo and Luna could approach them, Luna immediately starting to caress them and bury her face in their feathers, murmuring compliments and telling them how beautiful they were, how soft, how magnificent... Myo did not delay in imitating her, not being able to resist the attraction of the fluff. Their feathers were so soft, their plumage so thick, Myo just wanted to lose herself in them.
She and Luna had both settled on the floor, leaning against each other drawing the Oguls with the pencils and notebooks Luna had brought in her bag and were well into their third drawing of the beautiful birds that had decided to pose when they were joined by Mélusine, Fleur, Pandora, Apolline and Gaby. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, my darlings, but we have to go." Pandora said, giving them a pained smile.
"Oh poo, I was almost done." Said Luna with an adorable pout.
"You'll get a chance to finish drawing them later. I'm sure they'll love it when you visit them. They already seem to like you." Fleur reassured her.
"We'll go together. And something tells me that Gaby will want to come." Myo added.
"Besides, we're going to ride them to our hosts' house." Mélusine said, giving her niece a smile, "Besides, Myo, as soon as you've recovered, our training will resume. What happened with the troll is just proof of the need for it."
Myo nodded and swallowed. This kind of promise from Mélusine was not good news. As much as she adored the great witch, she was still terribly intimidating.
"And now that you're not at Hogwarts, our magic lessons can resume." Pandora said happily, her eyes shining with amusement and love. At this, Myo felt extremely reassured, if Pandora was teaching them too, Mélusine couldn't kill them in training without incurring Pandora's wrath. And even Mélusine was afraid of angering the normally sweet and calm blonde.
oOOOo
Night had long since fallen. From their perch in a comfortable crevice of the cliff, she and Luna could see the countless stars dotting the night sky and the great cold arc of the Milky Way seeming to split the sky in two. They had both fled, leaving Pandora in deep conversation with Guillaume, Fleur having gone to bed with Gaby who had no right to stay up so late, and Mélusine in the company of Fleur's and Apolline's grandmothers. The latter having been strangely adopted almost instantly by Amélie, one of Fleur's great-grandmothers present that evening. Myo had been astonished at the ease with which Mélusine and Pandora had integrated themselves with the twenty or so veela who had been present at the dinner that evening. Luna had explained to her that not only did the Lovegood clan have an excellent reputation among non-humans, but the fact that Myo considered them family must have helped.
Finally, after a day spent in good, but numerous company, Myo had finally had the opportunity to sneak away with Luna to spend some time with the two of them, snuggled up together. She had missed it terribly. Myo loved being with other veela, but it could be... overwhelming at times. Luna had been quiet for a while, having fun naming constellations, imagining new ones, and exchanging ideas of what they could observe through the Rookery's telescope. But now she seemed pensive, her eyes lost in the stars. Myo was perfectly happy to let her, enjoying stroking her silky blonde hair and playing with her necklace, feeling a strange pride and possessiveness at the discovery that Luna was wearing the skull of the hare from her first hunt around her neck.
After a moment, Luna spoke up, in a surprisingly serious voice for the usually dreamy girl. "Myosotis, I received a letter from Hermione before we left the Rookery this morning. Her parents refused to allow her magical education to continue beyond what is necessary to keep her magic safe. It was a farewell letter."