CARNIVAL du MYSTIQUE
A Harry Potter UNIVERSE/ Sasporilla Bucket Fan Fiction
by Darren Kelly
Chapter 11
Sasporilla Bucket had to admit that Bombarda Inflamari may have been a tad harsh of reaction to a stolen kiss but the aggressive nature of the incident was all brought to light at the morning meeting.
"So you're saying you did nothing to encourage, nor invite this action?" Mr.Beauxchamps asked.
"No." Sasporilla insisted.
"Ah you bloody loved it." Merlauxn smirked.
"I'll show you assign how much I loved you..." Sassy said drawing her wand.
The old wizard held out his hand and gently pushed down on Sasporilla’s wand as he shook his head. With his other hand he swatted his nephew in the back of the head.
"Oy." Merlauxn protested.
"You my dear nephew need to learn how to treat a young lady properly." Mr.Beauxchamps began. "This incident is of course most unfortunate and can not go without fine. Ms.Bucket. You will be fined five galleons for using a spell in an aggressive manner on an unarmed member of the company with good reason. Please pay at the office within twenty four hours."
"Yes sir." Sasporilla sighed. "I need to pay Ms.Copelinzki a visit any way."
"Merlauxn." Mr.Beauxchamps smiled. "You will be fined ten galleons for insulting a young lady in the company and another five for taking unwanted liberties!"
"That's rubbish!" Merlauxn protested. "I took her hand and walked her home. She owed me a kiss. She was lucky that's all I tried to take. I won't pay your stupid fine."
"Are you saying my twenty five galleon fine is unfair?" Mr.Beauxchamps growled.
"It's fifteen by my maths old man." Merlauxn smiled.
"Keep it up you ungrateful pup and it will be fifty." The old wizard spat.
"Fine." Merlauxn said. "I'll pay the twenty-five galleon fine."
"Splendid!" Mr.Beauxchamps smiled as his bratty nephew stomped away. "I'd like to welcome back Mrs.Dumbleshire who is feeling much better and ready to resume running her Bubble world booth."
Sasporilla wove through the crowd up beside the older stout matronly Mrs.Dumbleshire.
"Well hello Ms.Bucket." Mrs.Dumbleshire smiled. "I am happy you came over. I wanted to thank you for helping out at my booth. You did a very good job and an honest one, unlike most."
"Thank you Mrs.Dumbleshire." Sassy smiled humbly. "I'm not sure I understand though? The others?"
"Most carnies try to run some side scam or skim off the top of the receipts." The old woman sighed. "You just honestly did the job and handed them over. You're a rare one here Ms.Bucket, believe me."
"Thank you Mrs." Sassy smiled. "I was happy to help out. I'm just happy you're feeling better."
"Yes well..." Mrs.Dumbleshire turned her eyes away. "I'm afraid I've been under the weather quite a bit lately."
"Is there anything that can be done to help?" Sassy asked as Mr.Beauxchamps dismissed the meeting.
"Not really." Mrs.Dumbleshire said walking away, Sasporilla walking beside her. "You see just between you and me, and everyone else around here that has their nose in my business, I like the drink just a bit to much. I try to stay away from it. I really do, but these days it seems to find me!"
"How do you mean?" Sasporilla enquired.
"I have a secret admirer." Mrs.Dumbleshire blushed. "In some cities, after we set up, I find a lovely note and a rose attached to a case of wine left just outside my caravan door."
"Oh my." Sassy gasped.
"Indeed." Mrs.Dumbleshire giggled. "The note writer professes his undying love for me but... the wine."
"The wine does you no good." Sassy sad sadly.
"No." Mrs.Dumbleshire shook her head. "I take it inside and just can't help but drink it. If I can't get my life under control soon enough Mr.Beauxchamps will be forced to start fining me then deal with my behavior if I can't run my booth."
"Forgive my bluntness Mrs.Dumbleshire but does that sound like the kind of position a person who loves you would put you in?" Sasporilla asked.
The old woman stopped a looked at the young witch for a moment. Sasporilla didn't want to shatter her illusions but she suspected someone may be trying to hurt the old woman. She just didn't know why?
"No my dear," Mrs.Dumbleshire stiffened, "it most certainly does not. I feel like an old fool."
"No Mrs." Sassy said hugging the old woman as tears welled in her eyes. "You're a woman, with hopes and needs. Someone made you feel wanted, needed. Took advantage of a problem you have. One we can get you help for if you want help."
"Thank you my dear." Mrs.Dumbleshire said. "Your words are of great comfort."
Sasporilla walked Mrs.Dumbleshire back to her caravan. Sassy was careful to pay attention to the eyes that watched them. Everyone was curious but looked away, attempting not to appear as nosey as they were. Oddly enough Merlauxn and Lester turned up in three different locations just hanging out talking, but their eyes never leaving the two women.
"Mrs.Dumbleshire I meant to ask you about a wooden hatch I found in the booth?" Sassy asked.
"Ah yes." Mrs.Dumbleshire nodded. "That is there from the war dear."
"The war?" Sassy asked confused. "The wizarding war?"
"World War two dear." Mrs.Dumbleshire laughed. "You see, back in the day before we had our own pocket world to travel in, we traveled and set up the show in the muggle world. During the war, there were horrible bombings! Muggles built underground places to escape down into. We helped to build some of them. Long large tunnel systems to help hold and protect hundreds, sometimes thousands of muggles. The hatch opened into those old tunnels."
"Oh I see." Sasporilla said. "So the hatch no longer functions."
"Oh no!" Mrs.Dumbleshire smiled. "Some places have built over and under the tunnels and in those places the hatch doesn't work. In some places we never had tunnels connected so once again, nothing. However in most spots, like in old Piccadilly Circus the hatch still connects to the old tunnels. For safety reasons more than any other really. I imagine they're dirty, dusty and full of old cob webs. Have always wondered what they're like. No one ever goes down there."
"I would imagine no one would ever have reason to." Sasporilla said.
"No." Mrs.Dumbleshire laughed. "You have cheered me up young lady. Stop by any time for tea."
"I will indeed Mrs.Dumbleshire" Sasporilla smiled and waved as she walked off to take care of her morning chores.
Sasporilla wasn't very hungry. A quick slice of toast and half an apple with a half-cup of reheated tea from yesterday’s breakfast would suffice. A quick rummage through her small refrigerator found a couple of left-overs and a juice box which she stuffed into her bag along with her Wand care travel kit.
Sassy's first stop was the house of mirrors. Nancy Nightingale, the corpulent raven haired beauty, infatuated with the image of Severus Snape she found in the sibling mirror of the mirror of Arriset, was already awake and sat before the mirror smiling at the images that revealed themselves to her.
"Hello Nancy." Sasporilla said digging in her bag pulling out a slice of cold pizza wrapped in foil and a box of orange juice. "I thought you may be hungry so I brought you this."
"How thoughtful." Nancy said taking the food with an amused smile. "Pizza and orange juice? Two of my favourite things!"
"Do you mind if I stay and talk to you a while?" Sasporilla asked.
"If you like." Nancy said not really caring one way or the other but not wanting to insult the young witch who brought her breakfast.
"To be honest I was surprised to see you walk through the gates when we opened." Sasporilla said.
"I don't why?" Nancy said taking a bite of pizza.
"I thought..." Sassy hesitated, trepidacious at letting on just how much she knew. "...perhaps something more real would have captured your attentions?"
"There is nothing more real than my love for my Severus." Nancy Nightingale said touching the cold glass of the mirror. "What did you think could ever lure me from him?"
"What about Narwell?" Sasporilla asked.
"That gigantic oaf?" Nancy laughed. "What do you know of him? Did you know he has been the one taking me to safety after your people eject me from the carnival every week?"
"Yes." Sasporilla nodded.
"The great ox professed his undying love for me last week and kissed me!" Nancy said incensed. "The unmitigated gaul. As if I could ever love a boy such as him over a man such as Severus Snape!"
"Snape is Dead!" Sasporilla said. "Narwell is alive! He loves you. YOU! He is flesh and blood not a mirror!"
"You're just like all the others." Nancy said jumping to her feet drawing her wand and pointing it at Sasporilla. "You just didn’t understand. Please leave... and thank you for the breakfast."
Sasporilla sighed and left the house of mirrors. She resigned herself that she had lost this battle had not given up the war. There must be some way to get through to Nancy Nightingale that there is a real world of love and life around her, that she is missing by looking into that stupid mirror.
Sasporilla wound her way through the midway. The first smell of deep fried foods was wafting through the early morning air as the food booths offered morning fry ups for hungry carnies willing to pay for breakfast. Sassy passed the rides and games until she came upon the large show caravan. The young pink haired witch couldn't get over the ornate faded paint that covered every square inch of the Beauxchampian behemoth. If you looked hard enough you could still see clowns and dragons and wand wielding wizards casting all sorts of magical delights. It must have been quite a glorious sight in its day.
Sassy walked around back to the barred office window. Mr.Beauxchamps sat patiently as Paxti Minxx, the generally disinterested young blonde woman, her hair dyed blue and red tied in pony tails on either side of her head, from the ride ticket booth counted out her coins on the counter.
"Fortythree, forty four, forty five." She said blowing a bubble and cracking it loudly. "Yes it's all there."
"Did you imagine for a moment that I would short change you?" Mr.Beauxchamps asked.
"Trust no one but yourself in the carnival." The young woman said. "You taught me that."
"Yes." Mr.Beauxchamps chuckled. "Sad but wise words Miss Minxx. Good day."
"Mr.B." the young woman said scooping up her galleons and putting them into a small velvet coin bag, which she slipped into her purse.
Sasporilla approached the carnival office window. Mr.Beauxchamps smiled politely.
"Ms.Bucket! Come to pay your fine?"
"Yes." Sasporilla said politely reaching into her bag and placing five galleons on the counter. "Worth every penny."
"I regret having to doll out the fine but discipline must be maintained equally and without favouritism." Mr.Beauxchamps said.
"You don't need to explain your decisions to me sir." Sasporilla said. "All though I do appreciate it and I do understand. My reaction was... overly defencive?"
"A good description." Mr.Beauxchamps smiled. "Frankly I do not know what gets in that boys head some times. One moment he seems ok, then he's very worked up. Like someone has put 'ideas' in his head."
"That was he was like that night." Sassy frowned. Started off nice then he got aggressive and almost insulting."
"I just don't know what's getting in to him these days." Mr.Beauxchamps said shaking his head.
"Is Ms.Copelinzki about?" Sasporilla asked. "I promised her I'd stop by to work on her wand."
"Oh yes, of course!" Mr.Beauxchamps said. "Step around to the side door and ring the bell three times. She will answer."
"Thank you sir." Sassy waved as she ran around the side of the caravan to the door. A bell hung on a coiled spring with a long chain. Sasporilla pulled the chain three times, ringing the bell. Little foot steps could be heard coming down a long set of stairs, then across a short carpeted hall. Sassy waited patiently as the little feet got closer thumping up and down steps. Opening and closing doors until finally the door opened before her revealing old Ms.Copelinzki dressed in red and gold dressing robe, her thin whitish blue hair still in curlers.
"Ms.Bucket! What a pleasant surprise!" Ms.Copelinzki said. "What brings you here this fine morning?"
"I promised you a house call?" Sasporilla said surprised the old woman didn't seem to remember the conversation they had only hours before. "For your wand?"
"Oh yes!" Ms.Copelinzki smiled. "Come in! Please come in!"
"Thank you." Sasporilla said stepping into the caravan.
A dusty stuffed mule wearing a top hat stood in the carpeted hall. Sassy assumed it was the fabled Edgar who use to haul the show caravan between towns back in the day. Several clocks kept different times accurately. Sasporilla looked at years of vintage carnival prizes which sat on shelves lining the hall.
"That is Mr.Beauxchamps personal collection
" Ms.Copelinzki smiled proudly. "Not only has he collected them from their various booths, he has taken pride in actually WINNING each one!"
"Really?" Sasporilla asked surprised. "That's a very impressive feat."
"I was just about to start on the paperwork for our next venue." Ms.Copelinzki smiled. "You can join me in the office."
Sassy followed Ms.Copelinzki up one hallway and down the next. Through doorways and up and down staircases. She loved the size of some magical homes. Finally they reached the office. A large mahogany desk sat amongst heaping piles of journals and ledgers. Filling cabinets lined the walls with boxes labeled old tickets, new tickets, used tickets, unused tickets piled on top.
Ms.Copelinzki disappeared into a cupboard and came out with her hair done, her robes changed and her best hat on for the day. The old witch carried a file and placed it on the desk then climbed up onto the stool.
"I have a lot of permits to fill out for the next venue that are getting timely you see." Ms.Copelinzki said. "The Carnival du Mystique will be joining up with several other shows in one large festival. It will be quite grand! But a lot more paper work!"
"Speaking of paper work Ms.Copelinzki I wondered if I might use an owl to send off my University paper work?" Sasporilla asked.
"Company owls are for company business but can be rented at standard rates." Ms.Copelinzki said dryly. "Where are your documents going?"
"University of Avalon." Sasporilla said stiffly.
Ms.Copelinzki pursed her lips and whistled, then tuned to the adding machine. She pressed a bunch of keys and pulled the lever five maybe six times causing the old paper tape to fly up and out.
"Surprisingly not as much as you might think. Six galleons three sickles." Ms.Copelinzki held out her bony hand as Sasporilla handed over the documents and the coins. Ms.Copelinzki quickly drew up an official receipt whistled for a strong black owl named Nigel who took the rolled papers and flew off. "Nigel will get them there for you by early afternoon. He knows all the interdimensional gateways, short cuts and fast tracks. He's never let us down."
"Thank you." Sassy smiled. "It's my future he carries. My papers for all my choices for classes and housing at university."
"Please take a seat Ms.Bucket." Ms.Copelinzki said drawing her wand and shifting a chair over for the young witch to sit in on the other side of the desk. Sasporilla placed her travel wand maintenance kit on the desk and opened it.
"That's a handy little kit to have." Ms.Copelinzki smiled.
"It was a gift." Sasporilla said taking up the old witches wand. "From Mr.Olivander, the summer I interned with him in his shop. sequoia nine and three quarters inches with rose wood inlay and three ruby garnets inset in the handle. Zouwu hair core! How unusual! And in desperate need of tuning!"
"You are a lucky young lady to have interned with Garrik Olivander." Ms.Copelinzki said.
"I learned a lot in a very short time." Sasporilla said setting up her portable tuning table. "But of course I've also learned as much and more since from teachers at Hogwarts, Drurlily and other Wand makers."
Sasporilla placed the wand in the tuning cradle and had Ms.Copelinzki strike the harmonics fork and touch it lightly to the wands handle. Sasporilla adjusted the core until its resonance was back in tune with wand and its witch, as it once was.
"That's perfect." Sassy smiled. "Now just a few cracks to fill in and smooth out and a good polish and your wand will be as good as new!"
"And you're doing this entire service for us for just two galleons a wand?" Ms.Copelinzki asked amazed.
"Yes mam." Sasporilla smiled debating between Orange oil and Linseed.
"I think you've undercut yourself my dear." Ms.Copelinzki chuckled. "Mr.Olivander should have taught you a better business sense."
"Yes well he did charge five galleons for a similar service." Sasporilla sighed. "But then he was Garrek Olivander. People would pay it to have their wand serviced by such a trusted name! Who would pay that to have it done by me?"
"Yes I see your point." Ms.Copelinzki as she watched the young witch polish and care for her wand like she had seen no other ever do so before.
"There." Sasporilla smiled handing the old witch back her wand. "Good as new!"
"Remarkable!" Ms.Copelinzki. "Your work is out standing! My wand hasn't looked this good since the day I bought it from Olivander more than fifty years ago. I would gladly pay five galleons to have you care for my wand Ms.Bucket! I'm very sure word of mouth would travel very fast about your talents. You should be in a shop some place!"
"Yes well I tried to get a summer placement in Olivander’s now that it's reopened," Sasporilla sighed, "but as Mr.Olivander has been placed in Madame Forwinkles Home For Bewildered and Befuddled Wizard and Witches in Dover by his family I'm afraid they simply weren't interested in accepting my CV."
"They've done what to Garrek?" Mr.Beauxchamps voice boomed as he stormed into the office. "Tell me everything you know. Please, Ms.Bucket, I beg of you."
Sasporilla Bucket had to admit that Bombarda Inflamari may have been a tad harsh of reaction to a stolen kiss but the aggressive nature of the incident was all brought to light at the morning meeting.
"So you're saying you did nothing to encourage, nor invite this action?" Mr.Beauxchamps asked.
"No." Sasporilla insisted.
"Ah you bloody loved it." Merlauxn smirked.
"I'll show you assign how much I loved you..." Sassy said drawing her wand.
The old wizard held out his hand and gently pushed down on Sasporilla’s wand as he shook his head. With his other hand he swatted his nephew in the back of the head.
"Oy." Merlauxn protested.
"You my dear nephew need to learn how to treat a young lady properly." Mr.Beauxchamps began. "This incident is of course most unfortunate and can not go without fine. Ms.Bucket. You will be fined five galleons for using a spell in an aggressive manner on an unarmed member of the company with good reason. Please pay at the office within twenty four hours."
"Yes sir." Sasporilla sighed. "I need to pay Ms.Copelinzki a visit any way."
"Merlauxn." Mr.Beauxchamps smiled. "You will be fined ten galleons for insulting a young lady in the company and another five for taking unwanted liberties!"
"That's rubbish!" Merlauxn protested. "I took her hand and walked her home. She owed me a kiss. She was lucky that's all I tried to take. I won't pay your stupid fine."
"Are you saying my twenty five galleon fine is unfair?" Mr.Beauxchamps growled.
"It's fifteen by my maths old man." Merlauxn smiled.
"Keep it up you ungrateful pup and it will be fifty." The old wizard spat.
"Fine." Merlauxn said. "I'll pay the twenty-five galleon fine."
"Splendid!" Mr.Beauxchamps smiled as his bratty nephew stomped away. "I'd like to welcome back Mrs.Dumbleshire who is feeling much better and ready to resume running her Bubble world booth."
Sasporilla wove through the crowd up beside the older stout matronly Mrs.Dumbleshire.
"Well hello Ms.Bucket." Mrs.Dumbleshire smiled. "I am happy you came over. I wanted to thank you for helping out at my booth. You did a very good job and an honest one, unlike most."
"Thank you Mrs.Dumbleshire." Sassy smiled humbly. "I'm not sure I understand though? The others?"
"Most carnies try to run some side scam or skim off the top of the receipts." The old woman sighed. "You just honestly did the job and handed them over. You're a rare one here Ms.Bucket, believe me."
"Thank you Mrs." Sassy smiled. "I was happy to help out. I'm just happy you're feeling better."
"Yes well..." Mrs.Dumbleshire turned her eyes away. "I'm afraid I've been under the weather quite a bit lately."
"Is there anything that can be done to help?" Sassy asked as Mr.Beauxchamps dismissed the meeting.
"Not really." Mrs.Dumbleshire said walking away, Sasporilla walking beside her. "You see just between you and me, and everyone else around here that has their nose in my business, I like the drink just a bit to much. I try to stay away from it. I really do, but these days it seems to find me!"
"How do you mean?" Sasporilla enquired.
"I have a secret admirer." Mrs.Dumbleshire blushed. "In some cities, after we set up, I find a lovely note and a rose attached to a case of wine left just outside my caravan door."
"Oh my." Sassy gasped.
"Indeed." Mrs.Dumbleshire giggled. "The note writer professes his undying love for me but... the wine."
"The wine does you no good." Sassy sad sadly.
"No." Mrs.Dumbleshire shook her head. "I take it inside and just can't help but drink it. If I can't get my life under control soon enough Mr.Beauxchamps will be forced to start fining me then deal with my behavior if I can't run my booth."
"Forgive my bluntness Mrs.Dumbleshire but does that sound like the kind of position a person who loves you would put you in?" Sasporilla asked.
The old woman stopped a looked at the young witch for a moment. Sasporilla didn't want to shatter her illusions but she suspected someone may be trying to hurt the old woman. She just didn't know why?
"No my dear," Mrs.Dumbleshire stiffened, "it most certainly does not. I feel like an old fool."
"No Mrs." Sassy said hugging the old woman as tears welled in her eyes. "You're a woman, with hopes and needs. Someone made you feel wanted, needed. Took advantage of a problem you have. One we can get you help for if you want help."
"Thank you my dear." Mrs.Dumbleshire said. "Your words are of great comfort."
Sasporilla walked Mrs.Dumbleshire back to her caravan. Sassy was careful to pay attention to the eyes that watched them. Everyone was curious but looked away, attempting not to appear as nosey as they were. Oddly enough Merlauxn and Lester turned up in three different locations just hanging out talking, but their eyes never leaving the two women.
"Mrs.Dumbleshire I meant to ask you about a wooden hatch I found in the booth?" Sassy asked.
"Ah yes." Mrs.Dumbleshire nodded. "That is there from the war dear."
"The war?" Sassy asked confused. "The wizarding war?"
"World War two dear." Mrs.Dumbleshire laughed. "You see, back in the day before we had our own pocket world to travel in, we traveled and set up the show in the muggle world. During the war, there were horrible bombings! Muggles built underground places to escape down into. We helped to build some of them. Long large tunnel systems to help hold and protect hundreds, sometimes thousands of muggles. The hatch opened into those old tunnels."
"Oh I see." Sasporilla said. "So the hatch no longer functions."
"Oh no!" Mrs.Dumbleshire smiled. "Some places have built over and under the tunnels and in those places the hatch doesn't work. In some places we never had tunnels connected so once again, nothing. However in most spots, like in old Piccadilly Circus the hatch still connects to the old tunnels. For safety reasons more than any other really. I imagine they're dirty, dusty and full of old cob webs. Have always wondered what they're like. No one ever goes down there."
"I would imagine no one would ever have reason to." Sasporilla said.
"No." Mrs.Dumbleshire laughed. "You have cheered me up young lady. Stop by any time for tea."
"I will indeed Mrs.Dumbleshire" Sasporilla smiled and waved as she walked off to take care of her morning chores.
Sasporilla wasn't very hungry. A quick slice of toast and half an apple with a half-cup of reheated tea from yesterday’s breakfast would suffice. A quick rummage through her small refrigerator found a couple of left-overs and a juice box which she stuffed into her bag along with her Wand care travel kit.
Sassy's first stop was the house of mirrors. Nancy Nightingale, the corpulent raven haired beauty, infatuated with the image of Severus Snape she found in the sibling mirror of the mirror of Arriset, was already awake and sat before the mirror smiling at the images that revealed themselves to her.
"Hello Nancy." Sasporilla said digging in her bag pulling out a slice of cold pizza wrapped in foil and a box of orange juice. "I thought you may be hungry so I brought you this."
"How thoughtful." Nancy said taking the food with an amused smile. "Pizza and orange juice? Two of my favourite things!"
"Do you mind if I stay and talk to you a while?" Sasporilla asked.
"If you like." Nancy said not really caring one way or the other but not wanting to insult the young witch who brought her breakfast.
"To be honest I was surprised to see you walk through the gates when we opened." Sasporilla said.
"I don't why?" Nancy said taking a bite of pizza.
"I thought..." Sassy hesitated, trepidacious at letting on just how much she knew. "...perhaps something more real would have captured your attentions?"
"There is nothing more real than my love for my Severus." Nancy Nightingale said touching the cold glass of the mirror. "What did you think could ever lure me from him?"
"What about Narwell?" Sasporilla asked.
"That gigantic oaf?" Nancy laughed. "What do you know of him? Did you know he has been the one taking me to safety after your people eject me from the carnival every week?"
"Yes." Sasporilla nodded.
"The great ox professed his undying love for me last week and kissed me!" Nancy said incensed. "The unmitigated gaul. As if I could ever love a boy such as him over a man such as Severus Snape!"
"Snape is Dead!" Sasporilla said. "Narwell is alive! He loves you. YOU! He is flesh and blood not a mirror!"
"You're just like all the others." Nancy said jumping to her feet drawing her wand and pointing it at Sasporilla. "You just didn’t understand. Please leave... and thank you for the breakfast."
Sasporilla sighed and left the house of mirrors. She resigned herself that she had lost this battle had not given up the war. There must be some way to get through to Nancy Nightingale that there is a real world of love and life around her, that she is missing by looking into that stupid mirror.
Sasporilla wound her way through the midway. The first smell of deep fried foods was wafting through the early morning air as the food booths offered morning fry ups for hungry carnies willing to pay for breakfast. Sassy passed the rides and games until she came upon the large show caravan. The young pink haired witch couldn't get over the ornate faded paint that covered every square inch of the Beauxchampian behemoth. If you looked hard enough you could still see clowns and dragons and wand wielding wizards casting all sorts of magical delights. It must have been quite a glorious sight in its day.
Sassy walked around back to the barred office window. Mr.Beauxchamps sat patiently as Paxti Minxx, the generally disinterested young blonde woman, her hair dyed blue and red tied in pony tails on either side of her head, from the ride ticket booth counted out her coins on the counter.
"Fortythree, forty four, forty five." She said blowing a bubble and cracking it loudly. "Yes it's all there."
"Did you imagine for a moment that I would short change you?" Mr.Beauxchamps asked.
"Trust no one but yourself in the carnival." The young woman said. "You taught me that."
"Yes." Mr.Beauxchamps chuckled. "Sad but wise words Miss Minxx. Good day."
"Mr.B." the young woman said scooping up her galleons and putting them into a small velvet coin bag, which she slipped into her purse.
Sasporilla approached the carnival office window. Mr.Beauxchamps smiled politely.
"Ms.Bucket! Come to pay your fine?"
"Yes." Sasporilla said politely reaching into her bag and placing five galleons on the counter. "Worth every penny."
"I regret having to doll out the fine but discipline must be maintained equally and without favouritism." Mr.Beauxchamps said.
"You don't need to explain your decisions to me sir." Sasporilla said. "All though I do appreciate it and I do understand. My reaction was... overly defencive?"
"A good description." Mr.Beauxchamps smiled. "Frankly I do not know what gets in that boys head some times. One moment he seems ok, then he's very worked up. Like someone has put 'ideas' in his head."
"That was he was like that night." Sassy frowned. Started off nice then he got aggressive and almost insulting."
"I just don't know what's getting in to him these days." Mr.Beauxchamps said shaking his head.
"Is Ms.Copelinzki about?" Sasporilla asked. "I promised her I'd stop by to work on her wand."
"Oh yes, of course!" Mr.Beauxchamps said. "Step around to the side door and ring the bell three times. She will answer."
"Thank you sir." Sassy waved as she ran around the side of the caravan to the door. A bell hung on a coiled spring with a long chain. Sasporilla pulled the chain three times, ringing the bell. Little foot steps could be heard coming down a long set of stairs, then across a short carpeted hall. Sassy waited patiently as the little feet got closer thumping up and down steps. Opening and closing doors until finally the door opened before her revealing old Ms.Copelinzki dressed in red and gold dressing robe, her thin whitish blue hair still in curlers.
"Ms.Bucket! What a pleasant surprise!" Ms.Copelinzki said. "What brings you here this fine morning?"
"I promised you a house call?" Sasporilla said surprised the old woman didn't seem to remember the conversation they had only hours before. "For your wand?"
"Oh yes!" Ms.Copelinzki smiled. "Come in! Please come in!"
"Thank you." Sasporilla said stepping into the caravan.
A dusty stuffed mule wearing a top hat stood in the carpeted hall. Sassy assumed it was the fabled Edgar who use to haul the show caravan between towns back in the day. Several clocks kept different times accurately. Sasporilla looked at years of vintage carnival prizes which sat on shelves lining the hall.
"That is Mr.Beauxchamps personal collection
" Ms.Copelinzki smiled proudly. "Not only has he collected them from their various booths, he has taken pride in actually WINNING each one!"
"Really?" Sasporilla asked surprised. "That's a very impressive feat."
"I was just about to start on the paperwork for our next venue." Ms.Copelinzki smiled. "You can join me in the office."
Sassy followed Ms.Copelinzki up one hallway and down the next. Through doorways and up and down staircases. She loved the size of some magical homes. Finally they reached the office. A large mahogany desk sat amongst heaping piles of journals and ledgers. Filling cabinets lined the walls with boxes labeled old tickets, new tickets, used tickets, unused tickets piled on top.
Ms.Copelinzki disappeared into a cupboard and came out with her hair done, her robes changed and her best hat on for the day. The old witch carried a file and placed it on the desk then climbed up onto the stool.
"I have a lot of permits to fill out for the next venue that are getting timely you see." Ms.Copelinzki said. "The Carnival du Mystique will be joining up with several other shows in one large festival. It will be quite grand! But a lot more paper work!"
"Speaking of paper work Ms.Copelinzki I wondered if I might use an owl to send off my University paper work?" Sasporilla asked.
"Company owls are for company business but can be rented at standard rates." Ms.Copelinzki said dryly. "Where are your documents going?"
"University of Avalon." Sasporilla said stiffly.
Ms.Copelinzki pursed her lips and whistled, then tuned to the adding machine. She pressed a bunch of keys and pulled the lever five maybe six times causing the old paper tape to fly up and out.
"Surprisingly not as much as you might think. Six galleons three sickles." Ms.Copelinzki held out her bony hand as Sasporilla handed over the documents and the coins. Ms.Copelinzki quickly drew up an official receipt whistled for a strong black owl named Nigel who took the rolled papers and flew off. "Nigel will get them there for you by early afternoon. He knows all the interdimensional gateways, short cuts and fast tracks. He's never let us down."
"Thank you." Sassy smiled. "It's my future he carries. My papers for all my choices for classes and housing at university."
"Please take a seat Ms.Bucket." Ms.Copelinzki said drawing her wand and shifting a chair over for the young witch to sit in on the other side of the desk. Sasporilla placed her travel wand maintenance kit on the desk and opened it.
"That's a handy little kit to have." Ms.Copelinzki smiled.
"It was a gift." Sasporilla said taking up the old witches wand. "From Mr.Olivander, the summer I interned with him in his shop. sequoia nine and three quarters inches with rose wood inlay and three ruby garnets inset in the handle. Zouwu hair core! How unusual! And in desperate need of tuning!"
"You are a lucky young lady to have interned with Garrik Olivander." Ms.Copelinzki said.
"I learned a lot in a very short time." Sasporilla said setting up her portable tuning table. "But of course I've also learned as much and more since from teachers at Hogwarts, Drurlily and other Wand makers."
Sasporilla placed the wand in the tuning cradle and had Ms.Copelinzki strike the harmonics fork and touch it lightly to the wands handle. Sasporilla adjusted the core until its resonance was back in tune with wand and its witch, as it once was.
"That's perfect." Sassy smiled. "Now just a few cracks to fill in and smooth out and a good polish and your wand will be as good as new!"
"And you're doing this entire service for us for just two galleons a wand?" Ms.Copelinzki asked amazed.
"Yes mam." Sasporilla smiled debating between Orange oil and Linseed.
"I think you've undercut yourself my dear." Ms.Copelinzki chuckled. "Mr.Olivander should have taught you a better business sense."
"Yes well he did charge five galleons for a similar service." Sasporilla sighed. "But then he was Garrek Olivander. People would pay it to have their wand serviced by such a trusted name! Who would pay that to have it done by me?"
"Yes I see your point." Ms.Copelinzki as she watched the young witch polish and care for her wand like she had seen no other ever do so before.
"There." Sasporilla smiled handing the old witch back her wand. "Good as new!"
"Remarkable!" Ms.Copelinzki. "Your work is out standing! My wand hasn't looked this good since the day I bought it from Olivander more than fifty years ago. I would gladly pay five galleons to have you care for my wand Ms.Bucket! I'm very sure word of mouth would travel very fast about your talents. You should be in a shop some place!"
"Yes well I tried to get a summer placement in Olivander’s now that it's reopened," Sasporilla sighed, "but as Mr.Olivander has been placed in Madame Forwinkles Home For Bewildered and Befuddled Wizard and Witches in Dover by his family I'm afraid they simply weren't interested in accepting my CV."
"They've done what to Garrek?" Mr.Beauxchamps voice boomed as he stormed into the office. "Tell me everything you know. Please, Ms.Bucket, I beg of you."
PLEASE REMEMBER
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, donate to J.K.Rowling's charitable foundation LUMOS! Link below! ( https://www.wearelumos.org/ )
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, donate to J.K.Rowling's charitable foundation LUMOS! Link below! ( https://www.wearelumos.org/ )