Just Around the Riverbend

Jessie
Voracious Reader
Laur
angeles
Diamond-Halen
Sampdoria
Anathema
Alina

I Hope you guys enjoy this chapter!!!

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Lucius had his wand trained on the boy, his face furious.

“Put her down, boy!” he hissed. Phelan knelt slowly, and carefully put Daisy on the ground. Hermione was at her side immediately, and wet her face with a cool stream of water from her wand. Daisy spluttered and coughed, but sat bolt upright, looking at the forest in dismay.

“The centaurs!” she cried. She struggled to her feet and, wheezing gently, took several steps toward the forest before she went down on her knees. She pulled her wand from the bag at her side, and stuck it handle first into the ground in front of her. She put her hands together as if she were praying, and began to whisper. The words were unfamiliar to the three of them, presumably in Cherokee, and were broken by sporadic coughs.

Lucius was about to interrupt Daisy, when Hermione smacked his arm painfully.

“Damn it, Hermione, what?” he asked, and glanced over at the petit witch. She was looking up, her mouth open. Lucius’ head tilted up, and his eyes widened. Above the forest were rain clouds forming from nothing. The clouds swirled and rumbled, and as soon as enough mass was gathered, a downpour started over the forest, spreading out enough to wet those watching. It was as if the heavens had tilted a bucket upon the earth in just that small area.

The three watchers were soaked within seconds, and Lucius could hear the hiss of the rain putting out the fire.

“Holy fuck…” Phelan said. Perhaps he knew nothing of what he was getting himself into. This was no ordinary human! Not only was she incredibly fast, but her magic was more powerful than anything he’d ever seen. There were witches and wizards who could manipulate weather…but not to this degree. It usually took decades to learn the proper technique and even longer to perfect it. This girl couldn’t be any more than…what? Twelve? Thirteen?
The rains only lasted a few minutes, but it was enough to put out the raging fire in the forest. Daisy fell forward on her hands and knees, and the clouds disappeared almost as quickly as they came. Hermione fell to her knees beside Daisy, and pulled the girl into a sitting position. She was out cold.

~~

“Daisy…”

She heard her name, but she couldn’t open her eyes. They were so heavy…

“Daisy…”

The voice sounded so familiar. It sounded like… She sat bolt upright, her eyes met with an unfamiliar place. Everything was white. But there was no floor or ceiling, no walls. Just white. But she looked over, and saw a man standing not but a few feet from her.

“Daddy!” she cried, and scrambled to her feet. She launched herself at the man, wrapping her arms around him. His strong arms wrapped around her, and he laughed. His laugh was a deep belly laugh, and tears streamed down Daisy’s face at the sound. But she pulled back, a bit confused.

“Am I dead?” she asked.

“No, bumblebee, you’re not. But you are lost… My darling….you’ve forgotten what it is to be an American. You’re from the Home of the Brave, but twice you’ve run from your problems. You’re from a land where adaptation is survival, but you’re ignoring the rules of your new life. Despite his problems, your cousin is a good man. He wants to help you.” Her father said gently.

“I wish you were here, daddy.” He said softly, tears starting to fall again.

“I know, bumblebee. I wish I was there too…but I’m here now, and I’m happy. I’m with your mom. And one day you’ll be with us. But that’s not for a while. Until then you have a life to live. You don’t have to change who you are, Daisy, but you have to adapt. Show those buck-tooth Brits the true colors of an American. Red for valor, white for purity, and blue for justice.” He said, and leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

“I never got to say goodbye, or tell you I loved you and mom.” She said.

“We never doubted it, bumblebee. Now, I know this was short, but I have to go…”he said, turning as if someone had called his name.

“No! Stay a little longer, papa, please!” she begged.

“I can’t. But I’m never far away. Remember the movie Pocahontas? Your mom and I are like the wind. Whenever you feel it, we’re with you. You’re never alone.” He said, and started to fade.

“Daddy!” Daisy howled, and launched forward to attempt to grab onto him. But she went right through him, and landed on the ground. When she turned to get up, he was gone. She cried for several long minutes, before she felt a stirring of wind in the white void. She looked around, and wiped her eyes. “Que que na-to-ra. You will understand. Listen with your heart, you will understand.” She sang softly, her voice breaking. “Let it break upon you like the wave upon the sand.” The wind picked up slightly, moving her hair away from her face and drying the tears on her cheeks. “Listen with your heart, you will understand.”

The white void began to fade to black, and Daisy slipped back into unconsciousness.

~~

She opened her eyes again, but this time she was in her own room. She ached all over, as if she had worked out for hours. She saw up slowly and painfully, wincing at a particularly sharp stab in her leg.

“So you’re awake.”

She gasped and looked over, watching her cousin stand from a chair.

“Where’s the boy?” she asked softly, wincing when she heard her scratchy voice.

“His name is Phelan. And I have had to house him in the old garden house until such a time that he decides how he wants to use his life-debt that you owe him. What a foolish predicament you’ve put yourself in, Daisy…” he said, frowning. Daisy pushed her blankets back, and gingerly scooted off of the bed. She winced when her feet touched the floor, but she shuffled to where her cousin was sitting. She kept her eyes downcast sadly.

“I’m sorry. I promised in my letter that I was easy to get along with, but all I’ve done is cause trouble for you. I…I deserve to be punished for what I did in Diagon Alley, and for being a coward and running off. I wouldn’t owe a life-debt if I hadn’t run away. I’ll take a-any punishment you think is appropriate, just…please don’t hate me….please don’t send me away.” She said. Lucius stood from his chair, towering over Daisy. He saw her begin to tremble, and for one of the first times in his life, he regretted his height. He reached out, and gently tipped up Daisy’s chin, revealing her tear-stained face.

“I don’t hate you and I’m not going to send you away. I am, however, extremely disappointed in the way you handled yourself both in Diagon Alley and when faced with my reaction to it. I will punish you for your serious lack of judgment regarding those incidences, but it will not be this moment. You performed a serious bit of magic out there today, and the healer said it could take weeks for your magic to recover. It was dangerous of you to use so much at once…” he said, but she could tell he was begrudgingly impressed.

“So what am I going to do about…what’s his name? Feeler?” she asked.

“Phelan. Phelan Greyback.” He said, frowning sharply.

“Wow….you guys sure have some freaky names over here…” Daisy said, one dark eyebrow raised high. Lucius chuckled at her, and was rewarded with a brilliant smile from his little cousin. “Now! Back in bed, girl!” he said, and suddenly swept her up in his arms. She squealed in surprise, and wrapped her arms around his neck. He carried her back to the bed, and nestled her in her covers.

“I’m glad I came back.” She said as he tucked the thick blanket around her. He reached out and petted her head gently.

“I’m glad you came back as well.”

~~

Dinner was awkward that night, as Hermione had taken in upon herself to invite Phelan up from the garden house to join them. He sat a little further down from them and picked at the delicate fish they were having, not particularly fond of the meal. Daisy kept stealing glances at him through the meal. It was the boy from the alley, that much she knew, but she hadn’t mentioned it and neither had he. Besides…it wouldn’t do to tick off the guy who held her life-debt.

“You’re not eating.” Lucius said, and Phelan looked up at him, fairly creeping him out with those sharp yellow eyes.

“I’m not a big fish eater, but it’s good for what it is.” He said.

“Thank you.” Daisy said suddenly. Phelan blinked. “For saving me, I mean.” She added.

“Ah. Quite welcome.” He said, and speared a potato with his fork. “Saving damsels in distress. It’s a living, you know…” he said. Lucius narrowed his icy eyes at Phelan, before he was almost startled by Daisy’s giggle.

“You’re funny.” She said, and took a sip of her water. Phelan colored a bit, and Lucius snorted.

“He’s a regular clown…”

~~

Lucius sat in his study, a glass of firewhiskey in his hand. Today had been such a long day. With everything that had happened with Daisy, and then having to deal with that stupid bastard son of Greyback. He had a bad feeling about that boy. It just seemed too conventient…

He was dragged out of his reverie by the floo roaring to life, and a furious looking Severus Snape bursting forth, his son in one hand, the paper in the other.

“Have you read the Prophet today, Lucius?” Severus asked, his voice soft. But it didn’t fool Lucius. The way his left eyebrow was twitching and his nostrils were flared were two very big indications that Severus Snape was enraged.

“No, Severus. I was very busy today. Daisy came back…” he said.

“Lovely. Look.” He said, and tossed Lucius the paper. Lucius almost spilt his drink catching the paper, and set the glass aside to open it up. His blue eyes widened slightly when he saw the picture. It was an awkward-looking Severus holding Cole while Hermione held up a tiny pair of socks.

Secret Family for Snape?

Severus Snape has not been seen in public for nearly two years. After his name was cleared from all Death Eater related charges he disappeared into obscurity.

Hermione Granger never quite left the headlines. She rose in ranks as the first Muggleborn female in the Department of Records and History, and had a romantic dalliance with fellow war-hero Ronald Weasley. But it would seem that was not the only dalliance she had.

Seen here the two are shopping for clothes for a toddler. The young boy clearly belongs to Mr. Snape, but it raises several questions. Is Granger the mother? If so, how did she hide the pregnancy? Are Snape and Granger an item? Were they an item while Miss Granger was still his student at Hogwarts? This reporter would like to know!

Rita Skeeter

Lucius stared at the picture for a few moments, before gently setting the paper down.

“Severus, old friend….I think it’s time to call in a few favors…”

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*Cues up Jaws theme* Du duh. Du duh du dah. EEEEEEEPPPPPP

Pissed off Severus....pissed off Lucius....Phelan in the dog-hou- I mean garden house....so much DRAMA

I think you should all try to calm me down by reviewing.... Pwease?