Dawn of the Phoenix: Cedric goes to Forks

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Permalink Reply by Erica on October 22, 2009 at 9:24pm

Thanks so much all star... I had to chuckle at your naughtiness! Maybe it's a good think I didn't post yesterday. I don't have a chapter yet for today either and it's 8:25 pm... I suppose I should go home, eat some supper and do some writing!

Thanks again for the comments and the nomination! :-)

Permalink Reply by Cullen225 on October 21, 2009 at 11:00pm

Great chapter! Lupin's reaction to Leah in wolf form was funny.

By the way, I nominated cedric goes to forks for best fanfiction.

Permalink Reply by Erica on October 22, 2009 at 9:25pm

Awesome - thanks so much Cullen225! I really, reeeeaaallly appreciate it! :-)

Permalink Reply by Rebecca on October 22, 2009 at 11:08am

Great chapter, good luck with work!

Permalink Reply by Erica on October 22, 2009 at 9:26pm

Thanks Rebecca! :-) It's coming!

Permalink Reply by Charli Cullen on October 22, 2009 at 4:10pm

Post more now or I'll provoke the Volturi and blame you!!!

I'm warning you....

I have the phone in my hand....

Permalink Reply by Erica on October 22, 2009 at 9:27pm

Hey, can you get the Volturi to come give me a hand with the piles of paper on my desk? I don't really care what they do with them, just as long as they're gone! And I have a few difficult people they could take care of while they're at it! Actually, how about we make Jane do my job and I'll just write! :-)

Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Obsessive Cullen Freak on October 22, 2009 at 9:50pm

Is there going to be a chapter today??

Permalink Reply by Obsessive Cullen Freak on October 22, 2009 at 9:52pm

Work is way more imporatnt than the story, so do that first. The story would be nice, though!

Permalink Reply by Erica on October 22, 2009 at 10:53pm

Thanks... I'm trying to get in a bit of both! We'll see how it goes.

Permalink Reply by Erica on October 22, 2009 at 10:53pm

I'm hoping so. I've started a bit from Leah's POV...

Permalink Reply by Erica on October 23, 2009 at 1:11am

Chapter 76: Part 2 – Leah's Point of View

The practices with Lupin were great. I could feel myself improving, learning to anticipate the spell and where it was heading. There wasn’t much time between the murmur of a curse and the flash of light, but it was there. With fast enough reflexes it was possible to avoid being hit.

I could hear the encouragement in my head from Seth and Jacob. I’d been somewhat embarrassed at the first full practice, when they watched me get hit time and time again.

Don’t worry about it Leah, Jacob had encouraged that first day, This is entirely new… besides, I can see you getting better and better with every series of strikes.

Man, that is so cool, Leah. I wish I could be there. Seth moaned.

Just wait until we get back. You can practice with Cedric – and he’ll kick your furry butt. I shot back, wondering, again, when we would be back.

Do you suppose it will be a long time? Jacob wondered, not really asking the question. I shrugged and turned back to face the next hex.

After that first practice, they both made a point of phasing to wolf form to watch… Though they couldn’t practice with me, I could feel them learning from my shared experience. After a week, I noticed a faint voice along with Jacobs… Sam. The automatic reflex to cringe took over before I realized I didn’t really care. Huh.

More then a few times I heard Edward’s voice and knew he was also listening in. And, before the end of the practice, he’d often ask if we could arrange for communication when I got back to the house.

I didn’t like that part so much. I really liked Lupin, but having him in my head was… intrusive. Strange, since I’d had so many voices in my head between the pack and Edward, you’d think I’d gotten over it long ago. But the way Lupin wavered in and out – I could feel him – like he was physically walking into my head and checking the place out. I shivered at the thought of his trespass. However, Cedric seemed to thrive on that communication and so I couldn’t say no… there wasn’t anything within my power I wouldn’t do for him.

There was something not within my power that I knew he needed badly. Though Sirius seemed to improve dramatically with our prolonged stay, it was taking a toll on Cedric. Everyday his temper got a little shorter and his face a little longer. Dark circles had appeared under his eyes and though he spent the bulk of the day inside, he seemed to get very little rest. I was beginning to worry about him.

“Lupin?” I approached him one day after practice, “Do you think Dumbledore will let Cedric out soon?”

“Cedric?” He mused, “I don’t know… He doesn’t want to see a repeat of our last excursion.”

“Pfft, me neither” I said, “But he needs a break from that house. If there was any way we could give that to him…”

“I’ll see what I can do.” He replied.

The next day the answer came as Lupin joined us for breakfast. It had taken some effort to convince Cedric to get up.

“Aw, what’s the point? I’m just staying here. I might as well sleep in.”

I kissed his forehead, but it only roused him a bit. It hurt me to see him like this. Finally I resorted to guilt. I hated to do it, but he needed to get up. “Cedric, I don’t want to eat alone. Please won’t you join me?”

He looked up at me and I saw the shame flash across his face, sending a ball of guilt to the pit of my stomach. “I’m sorry, Leah,” he said, his cheeks flushed, “I’ve been a grump, haven’t I? Come on, I’ll make you breakfast. At least I can do that.”

We hadn’t even started eating when Lupin gave us the news. “Dumbledore feels there’s been enough time without any indication of Death Eaters in the area. He suspects they think you’ve left.”

“Really?” Cedric’s face lifted and suddenly the grey skinned, lifeless expression was replaced with a huge smile.

“Yes, he’d like to run a test though.”

“Oh,” the smile fell only slightly.

“Yes, he feels that, though the Ministry is not terribly helpful at the moment, it is probably one of the safest places to be, at least during the day… and you were saying you’d like to meet up with your Dad, so…”

“I’m going to the Ministry to meet my Dad?” I could see and hear the excitement in his voice and now he was no longer the tired man, but the boy – anxious to see his father again.

But the pit of guilt in my stomach now turned to worry. Would I be going along? Would I meet his dad? Would he like me? Darn – why did this have to be his excursion out of the house?

“We’ll go as soon as you can get ready. Kingsley has ensured your father is in, and he’s on the look out for any known Death Eaters.” Lupin advised.

I hadn’t seen Cedric move this fast in the past month of his confinement. In no time at all, he was showered, dressed and back down stairs waiting for our departure. “We’ll apparate to an alley near the Ministry and then we’ll use the visitor’s entrance.” Lupin said.

I sighed. I still didn’t like this apparition thing. Even after the past month of transporting to and from the house to various locations in the country, it made me slightly queasy – the feeling of air pressing you from all sides as you slipped into darkness and then the relief as you appeared in a different place. But Cedric didn’t notice my hesitancy as we gathered on the front step and took Lupin’s hands. His eyes shone with excitement, his smile ever present on his face.

I looked at them doubtfully when Lupin led us to a phone booth on the corner of the street.

“Ah, Lupin, I hate to tell you this, but I don’t think we’ll all fit in there.”

“Come on – squeeze in…”

“You know, I’ll just wait out here.” I proposed.

“Leah, I want to introduce you to my father.” Cedric smiled brilliantly at me. Curse him and his irresistible smile. I got in the booth.

I just about jumped back out when the elevator lady voice started talking out of some point above me in the booth. “What?” I started but Lupin lay a finger to his mouth. Cedric just looked excited as Lupin spoke back to the lady and we began to sink into the ground. I grabbed on to the frame.

“Here, put this on.” Lupin handed me a badge from the phone’s change return. I shook my head… wizards!

“Holy crap!” The huge entrance to the Ministry was, shocking… and awe inspiring, but mostly shocking. There was a huge fountain with a lady, a little elf and a centaur and then a statue of a wizard pointing his wand to the sky, set upon a large expanse of floor, lined with office windows. The roof had to be at least forty or fifty feet high.

“That’s the Minister,” Lupin murmured with a hint of disapproval.

“He’s the one who doesn’t think Voldemort is back,” Cedric said softly, glancing around.

“Don’t use the name around here – not if you want to avoid a confrontation.” Lupin warned.

We walked across the expanse of floor and to a desk where a young man sat. “Wands please.”

Lupin and Cedric withdrew there’s and handed it to the man. He looked up at me expectantly.

“Sorry, I didn’t bring mine.”

He flashed me an odd look and then went to work setting them on some sort of scale. Only, instead of a weight it gave completely random facts like the type of wood and length. He handed back the wands and gave them a slip of paper. What was the point of that?

“We have to check in our wand so they know who’s been and gone.” Lupin answered my unasked question, “That way, if something happens and a wand is found, they know who to blame.”

“Why not just take it away – like a gun check?”

“Take it away?” Lupin looked panicked.

Okay, wrong question… I followed him to an old fashioned elevator and we started to move… The ride was ordinary enough until we reached the first stop.

“Level Seven – Department of Magical Games and Sport.” a voice sounded over head. The door opened to a flock of paper airplanes soared in, right at us. I just about hit the floor as Cedric and Lupin chuckled.

“What has you so jumpy today?” Cedric asked.

“Nothing but a bunch of paper airplanes attacking me for no reason.”

“They’re Ministry memos” Lupin said.

“Yeah, Dad says they got rid of the owls because of the mess.”

“Of course.” I said sarcastically, cringing at the thought of the elevator opening to a flock of owls…

“Level Six – Department of Magical Transportation” The door opened and a few memos left… good riddance.

“Level Five – Department of International Magical Cooperation”

“Why are the numbers going down?” I wondered out loud.

“The Ministry is entirely under ground. We come in on the Atrium level, which is level eight. Above that is the Department of Mysteries and The Wizengamot Courtrooms. So, as we go down, the numbers decrease.”

“Oh,” I supposed it made sense.

“Level Four - Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.” The soft elevator voice announced.

“Here’s where we get off.” Lupin said softly. I eyed the flying paper airplanes suspiciously, awaiting them to suddenly attack me once they realized I was an imposter. What was I doing here?

“Come on.” Cedric said, excitedly, and my stomach turned rock hard and sunk to the bottom of my core. I felt like I was going to be sick.

“Sure.” I mumbled and followed him out of the elevator.

I could have been in any office building, except that all around me, people were carrying box cages containing the strangest assortment of creatures I’d ever seen. There was something else about the place, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it… there was something just off…

We made our way down the hall. I glanced in a few offices as we walked by until we came to a stop outside of one. ‘Amos Diggory’ the plaque read. I took a deep breath and was mildly relieved to hear Cedric do the same beside me before he knocked on the door.

“Come in.” a voice called.

The office was the same as the others we’d passed, moderately sized with a typical civil servant desk and office furniture, a filing cabinet and a window… Wait, a window. That was it – that’s what was bugging me. Windows – in an office underground. And not just that, it showed the sun shinning brilliantly outside. It had been muggy and overcast when we arrived. I stared at it, unable to tear my eyes away. It must be a picture. But then a small bird flew by.

“Cedric?” the voice behind the desk sounded confused and I tore my eyes away to look at the man who was now staring back at us with a mixed look of shock and pleasure. “Cedric? Is that really you?” And in a moment he’d moved around his desk and was embracing Cedric in both arms. He pushed him away to look him from head to toe “Cedric it really is you… You’ve come back.” He pulled him back into another embrace.

It took him a moment to notice us. First he saw Lupin. A frown twisted his mouth before he could turn to a placid expression and address him. “Hello. I suppose I must thank you for returning him?” He said coolly.

“Not at all. I simply delivered him…” Lupin glanced up at him and then over at me, “I think I’ll go see Arthur. I’ll be down on level two.” He said and quickly slunk out of the office. What was that about?

It took a moment for Amos to notice that I was standing there, now slightly behind Cedric after his father’s repeated embraces. He glanced at me curiously. “Cedric who is this? Another of your friends?” he said the last word with a sour tone I wondered about.

“Dad,” Cedric said, drawing himself up, “this is Leah. I met her over in North America.”

“Leah?” He looked from Cedric to me and back again.

“Leah Clearwater.”

“Oh… Clearwater… seems to me there was a Clearwater at Hogwarts – I think she’s dating the Weasley boy who’s actually making something of himself.” Amos turned and shook my hand. “You must be her cousin?”

“Um.”

“Dad,” Cedric came to my rescue. “I think the name is just a coincidence… She’s not a witch.”

“Oh, well… still, could be. I don’t think the Clearwater girl is pure blood. Nothing wrong either way of course.” He quickly stammered.

“Well, yes.” Cedric said slowly, “I suppose it is possible… but Dad, that isn’t the point.”

“Of course not.” Mr. Diggory cut him off, “The point is that you’re here… you’re back… you’re mother will be so pleased. She’s been beside herself since you left.” He gave his son another hug, “She can’t get over it.”

“I’m sorry, Dad, but you know I had to go.”

“Yes… well, I suppose. With all that’s going on… Oh where are my manors, come, sit down.” He said, ushering us to the two chairs opposite his desk.

He politely turned to me, “So, Leah, what brings you to London? Cedric’s made it clear you aren’t related to the Clearwater girl… so are you here on business?”

“Well, in a way,” I said slowly, shooting Cedric a glance, “I’m here with Cedric.”

“You are?” He looked confused, “But” he glanced back at Cedric, “you’re not a witch.”

“No, Dad – she’s not… but that’s not what is important.”

“Of course not.” He said perfunctorily, “I’m not prejudiced.”

Cedric took a deep breath, “Dad, Leah is my girlfriend.”

The silence that took over the room was deafening. Perhaps it only lasted for a few seconds, but it seemed like ten minutes before Amos Diggory replied. “A girlfriend, Ced? But… but I thought you were…” he lowered his voice to a whisper, “on a mission.”

“I was… am… but I met Leah along the way and, well, we’re together.”

“Together? So you’re… dating?”

Cedric smiled, squeezed my hand and shook his head.

“Oh, okay – for how long?”

“A couple months.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me or your mother?” The retort was sharp.

Cedric’s cheeks flushed red, “It wasn’t something I wanted to discuss with you through the notebook.” His voice was firm, but I could hear an underlying warning… The lead weight that was my stomach was now twisting into strange shapes. This wasn’t going well – not well at all.

There was another moment of silence, but this one was thick with emotion as the two men, father and son stared at each other. Finally Amos sighed and looked away, “Well, at least you’re here now.” He said with a hint of the formerly good humor he’d expressed at Cedric’s appearance. He glanced back at me, “Forgive me dear. We didn’t part on the best of terms.”

“Yes, but I thought we’d cleared a lot up on my birthday…” Cedric said, not letting the matter drop.

“I only said I would try to understand… not that I agreed.” The tension hung in the air, never quite dissipating in the stuffy office. “So, Leah, Cedric said you’re not a witch.”

“No, I’m not.” I said, suddenly wondering if it, indeed, did matter.

“So what do you do then?” he asked politely.

“Well…” I glanced over at Cedric.

“She’s been accompanying me on my mission.” Cedric jumped in.

He raised an eyebrow in a clearly patronizing gesture. “In what capacity, exactly?”

I stared back at him, straight in the eye, “Protection.”

He blinked only once and then shook his head a little, “Protection?”

Clearly, Cedric was going about this all wrong. I’d decided to take matters into my own hands. “Yes, protection, Mr. Diggory. You see, while I am dating your son, I am also serving as a body guard of sorts… you see, I am a wolf.”

“A wolf!” He stood up, his face flashing anger as he looked between us.

“Dad, sit down.” Cedric ordered.

“Is she with that Lupin? Did he bring her to the order? What is the meaning of this?”

“Sit down!”

Mr. Diggory sat back down, but his face was flushed and I could hear his heart beating irregularly as he breathed heavily from the sudden exertion of his anger.

“Mr. Diggory, I’m not sure what you mean by being with Lupin. I only met him recently. But I can tell you that I am a shape-shifter” I said firmly, using the term I’d heard Cedric use to explain. “I shape shift into a wolf.”

“But you’re not a witch. You can’t be an animagus.”

“She’s not – it’s a different form of magical creature, Dad. I thought you might be interested to know more about it. She is from a line of tribal people who are born with the ability to shape shift into wolves… they can do it at will…” Mr. Diggory suddenly flinched, “and they are in complete control when they do.” He visibly relaxed.

“So, very much like an animagus?” Mr. Diggory asked.

“Yes, Dad – much the same. Only she can’t perform magic… other then her transformation.”

“Hmmm” he said, finally subdued, “that is rather fascinating. I’d be curious to know how that came about.”

Cedric looked over at me and smiled with a worried expression. I grinned back; reaching for his hand and squeezing it, letting him know I was doing okay. I wondered if I should go on… but given the past few minutes I decided it was, perhaps, best to wait. He was just warming to the idea of my being a wolf… let’s not throwing the imprinting thing in there yet.

“So, how long are you in town?” He asked casually.

“I’m not sure… but… I would like to see Mum sometime. I’m just not sure when I can… I mean – when it would be safe.”

“Why wouldn’t it be safe?” He demanded.

Cedric sighed, “I know you don’t want to hear this, Dad, but You-know-who is back and his followers are doing his bidding. I’ve already had a few run-ins with them.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Cedric.”

“Ridiculous, Dad? Do you think I’m making it up? Do you really think I’d pretend to be attacked by Death Eaters?”

Mr. Diggory cringed at the name. “Listen, I know they’re still out and about. I was there at the World Cup like the rest of them – but they’re just a bunch of trouble makers… some of the old crew, trying to make trouble for muggles.”

Cedric shook his head softly and looked way. I could see the pain in his eyes. His father simply didn’t want to believe what Cedric was telling him and it was a strain on their relationship. I wondered if it had always been like this.

“Cedric, maybe I should let you have some time with your father.” I offered, starting to get up.

“No,” he said, slowing rising himself. “I need to get back anyway. I’ll see you later Dad, when I can get away.”

A look of panic overcame Amos Diggory and the tension dissolved. “Oh, Cedric… I’m sorry… I really am. I know you’re just doing what you think is right. Please don’t hold it against me that I don’t quite see things the same way. Please, stay – come home. Your mother misses you.”

Cedric gave him a small smile, “I’ll come home before I leave. I will. Just not today, all right?”

Mr. Diggory looked as if he were about to argue, but then changed his mind, instead he got up and joined us back around our side of the desk, “All right – certainly, Ced. You’re mother will be so pleased… Do come soon, and you can bring…”

“Leah,” Cedric said firmly.

“Oh yes – old age you know – bring Leah with you.” He pulled Cedric into another hug.

“Bye Dad.”

“Bye Cedric.”

“Bye Mr. Diggory.” I said and he just waved his hand as we headed out of the door of his office. We walked silently along the hall, passing various offices until we got to the elevator.

When the doors closed, Cedric let out a huge breath. “I’m so sorry Leah…” He was staring straight ahead at the door.

“It’s fine, Cedric.”

“No.” He turned to face me, “It’s not fine – he should have welcomed you with open arms… It’s not your fault. It’s mine. He’s not very happy about my choice not to return to Hogwarts this year.”

I didn’t think that was quite the whole story, but instead of contradicting him I simply accepting the warmth of his embrace as the elevator dropped further into the earth.

“Level Two – Department of Magical Law Enforcement.”

The voice only faintly reminded me that we’d reached our destination. This is because Cedric’s embrace turned into a kiss and from that point on all attention to my surroundings was lost – gone was the flock of paper airplanes, floating threateningly overhead, gone was the strange names and even stranger beings who’d occupied the elevator with us and gotten off on level three – whatever that was. All I knew was the feel of his cool lips against mine and his body pressing me against the side of the elevator as my leg snaked up around his.

That was until the door opened. The smell assaulted me like never before and I felt the familiar quiver run down my back.

“Leah, what’s wrong?” Cedric whispered.

“Vampire!”

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