The Witch Queen of Avalon
A Harry Potter UNIVERSE/ Sasporilla Bucket Fan Fiction
by Darren Kelly
Chapter 15
On the rocky edge of the Zaharrainian desert lay the burning forest. A place named for the brightly coloured red and yellow leafed trees, which gave the appearance of being on fire, but more so for the heat that came off the fiery leaves. A reflection of the desert heat, not allowed into the forest by the protective trees. The legendary thermals above the burning forest made this place the greatest place to practice gliding on the open warm thermals that spiraled upward, as the sun sank low on the horizon, but Blue and Sasporilla Bucket had other plans.
"We must set down on deserts edge to camp for the night." Sasporilla said. "We dare not start over the forest and have to set down in there. The faeries will not be welcoming."
"Can we not glide in the thermals just once before bed? Blue pleaded. "Please????"
It was moments like this that Sassy remembered the giant Ice phoenix was still very much just a child.
"Ok." Sasporilla laughed. "But just for a few minutes and then we must land!"
"I promise!!!" Blue smiled excitedly catching a thermal in his large out stretched wings and soaring upwards into the orangey dusk sky.
Sasporilla quickly turned on her protective environmental setting. A magical bubble formed around the broom protecting her from the heat of the burning forest. It worked surprisingly well. Sasporilla allowed herself to get very close to the treetops. She could see the heat waves emanating from the orange and yellow leaves. More than that, as the sunset turned the sky a deep shade of purple Sassy saw the faint flicker of blue across the leaves.
"Burning gas flames!" Sasporilla gasped. "The forest truly does burn!"
With a distant shuffle and a loud CRACK something long and thin broke through the canopy of the burning forest and struck Sasporilla sharply in the right shoulder, knocking her backwards from her broom.
Blue gasped as he saw his friend fall through the fiery treetops and dove down but to late.
Moments in Angelo's arms. The frowns of deep disappointment and wild glorious joy of Professor Splatterpalette’s encouragement. The battle of Hogwarts. Her first kiss with Korry. Karry Curtis' smile. Her mom tickling her. Daddy loves you.
The ground came up on her quickly as Blue's gigantic talon clutched her, plucking Sassy from the grip of certain death. It was there, just before she passed out she saw the centaur between the trees. Angry with his bow readied to take another shot, Magnus Redhoof, the centaur of the Forbidden forest pack that was banished to Avalon stood in silence staring hatefully at her. With a snort of derision he lowered his bow and galloped off into the burning forest as Sasporilla passed out. A centaur arrow stuck precariously out of her right shoulder. Blood staining the cloth of her top.
"Oh no Sasporilla Bucket." Blue cried. "What am I to do?"
"Drop the magi!" A small voice commanded as a spear no bigger than a toothpick bounced off Blues talon. "Leave her to us and leave our woodland undisturbed. Destroyer of the burning wood."
"Who said that?" Blue screeched.
A small red faery painted with green war stripes fluttered up before his eyes. Hundreds, maybe thousands more fluttered up through the flaming treetops behind him.
"I am Tilkin of the fire forest fae." The faery said pointing the smallest of small spears at Blue's icy beak. "You're trespassing on our lands as all of your kind have done for millenia. You bring with you destruction and death. Well not this time, you just keep moving on!!!"
Blue could no longer support his weight on the last of the thermal current that had held him aloft. His legs crashed down into the forest splintering trees and crushing anything below.
"I'm sorry." Blue said hanging his head. "I don't mean to cause damage, but I am just so big and this is my path to follow. I know no other. However someone has done harm to my friend Sasporilla Bucket, whom I hold in my talon. I ask for help for her. Then I'll do anything you ask."
"Anything?" The Fae leader Tilkin asked.
"Yes." Blue insisted.
"You'll stand here and not move while we heal her?" The Fae grinned.
"Yes." Blue smiled.
"Agreed." The Fae leader laughed and dove down through the trees. The others followed like a swarm of bees down through the tree's canopy and down to the beast’s talon. Gripped tightly was the young pink haired witch, the arrow sticking out of her right shoulder. Her top torn and bloodied from the arrow and the fall.
"So," The Fire faery commander sneered, this is the mighty House Elf Queen? She who fights to free all from tyranny? Taken down by one arrow?"
"Looks like a centaurs arrow?" Jinxi of the Sparx division said.
"That damn Centaur again!" Tilkin huffed. "Always causing problems. Well this time he may have saved the forest from the beasts destructive path."
"What are we really going to do with the witch?" Jinxi asked.
"We place her in a magical sleep and heal the wound of course." Tilkin smiled. "We have promised the beast as much. We simply never wake her. That will hold the beast to it's promise to stay still until his magi is returned."
"Or until it gets so angry it goes to war with us?" Jinxi gasped.
"Then we have his magi to hold hostage!" Tilkin grinned evilly. "Move an inch and we burn your witch!"
*************************
Draco Malfoy's magically vailed footsteps echoed faintly on the cobbled walk of the dark Austrian street. Tje towns square clock chimed three times as his darkly cloaked form ducked into the alcoved doorway of the Phoenix Book Cafe and cast 'Alohamora'!
Two wands, one pressed into each of his cheeks, came from either side of the doorway.
"Password." A voice demanded.
"Chocolate Frogs." Draco said as the wands were removed.
A hanky came in and wiped a smudge from the young wizards left cheek. "Sorry Draco," Professor Splatterpalette said with a motherly grin, "got a bit of shmutz on your cheek. There, all clean now."
"Thank you." Draco Malfoy smiled a bit embarrassed as he pressed on into the shop, passed the giant storybooks and up the stairs to the cafe secreted away from plain view of the street. Professors Splatterpalette and Phenix followed close behind.
"What is the great emergency Draco?" Josie Phenix demanded. "It's one thing to put ourselves in jeopardy by gathering but to do so HERE at my families muggle owned business back home."
"I'm sorry professor Phenix but this place has been compromised." Draco said. "We all have been and I had to warn you all."
The last of the nights of the table round sat around cafe tables, pushed together to form a meeting place. Professor's Phenix and Splatterpalette sat on either side of Lyra with Professor Hannah sitting across from them.
"So what have you got for us Draco?" Lyra asked. "What's so important that we meet outside of Avalon?"
"Outside of the Witch Queen's field of power." Draco said. "Far enough away that she may not sense what we are about to do."
"Sounds ominous." Professor Splatterpalette said. "I'm in. They will sing songs of our bravery, erect sculptures to our..."
"Dina!" Professor Phenix said placing a plate with a piece of chocolate cake down on front of her friend and colleague. "Eat this."
"Ooooo cake!" Professor Splatterpalette giggled and clapped her hands picking up a fork.
"One of us is spy and doesn't know it." Draco said.
"How is this possible?" Lyra asked. "We've checked for every known curse!"
"However we haven't checked that all of us are really all of us." Draco said looking at everyone. "One of us has been captured and replaced with one of the Witch Queen's creations. A Gormlem, a type of golem, that takes on the full appearance and memories of the person they copy. The creature doesn't even know it's a Gormlem until it's mission is complete or until it's truly discovered."
"Well then shouldn't it be divulging itself about now?" Lyra asked. "You having just broken it's cover and all?"
"No." Draco said shaking his head. "Indeed I haven't blown it's cover. In fact I'm not sure which one of us it is!"
"How can you be sure at all then that any of us are?" Professor Hanna asked.
Draco pulled a cloth wrapped object, from his suit jacket pocket, and placed it on the table. The young wizard carefully unwrapped a golden dagger within. Blood, congealed and since turned brown stained the blade as a radiant gem glowed black in its hilt.
"This dagger is how." Draco said. Holding it up. "The runes carved into the blade are the spell for creating the creature. The only thing that can reveal the Gormlem is cut from blade that made it."
"Also the only way to prove ones innocence." Professor Phenix scowled.
"Unfortunately yes." Malfoy said pricking the end of his finger with the blade. "Well it's not me, apparently."
"You mean you even suspected yourself?" Lyra said surprised.
"I told you it could be anyone of us!" Malfoy hissed with an air of his father’s disdain for stupid useless repetition. "And that the spy would not, Could not know!"
"Take it easy Sam I am." Lyra chuckled picking up the blade. "I'll eat the green egg's and ham in a boat with a goat."
"What?" Malfoy scowled clearly confused as Lyra pricked her finger and even rubbed the blood on the blade.
"Clear?" Lyra asked
"Yes." Malfoy nodded taking the blade and handing it to Professor Splatterpalette.
"No, no." The professor said holding out her hand, closing her eyes. "I'll never be able to jab myself. You'll have to do it for me. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a chicken that way. I mean no one likes getting stabbed but..."
"Dina." Professor Phenix laughed. "He's finished you and moved on to finish jabbing me!"
"Oh?" Professor Splatterpalette smiled seeing the small pin prick sized drop of blood on the tip of her finger. "That's not so bad. Anyone got a bandaid?"
"That only leaves me?" Professor Hannah smiled holding out her hand. "I know it's not me. Who was your source?"
"He may have been wrong but," Malfoy began, "why do you ask professor?"
Malfoy jabbed the dagger quickly but lightly into Professor Hanna's open palm. Her open green eyes blink closed and opened jet black.
The witch and wizard knights of the table round kicked over the tables drawing their wands as the Gormlem's form shifted from the lovely blue haired professor Hannah to a 9 foot monstrous slab of sludge and tree root. Thorned tendrils shot forth as spells blocked and disintegrated them.
It became clear to Draco the beast wasn't fighting to kill them. The Gormlem was fighting to escape! It wanted, needed to get back to the Witch Queen!!
"We must stop this creature at all costs!" Draco commanded. "Zytacho!"
Zytacho, a tactical maneuver they had only tried once, and even then it failed miserably. Take up points of tactical advantage around an open point of escape with one single knight standing in the way.
The worst thing was the only point of egress was the stairs down and the wizard in the way was Malfoy.
The Gormlem reached out with thorned vines, where it's fingers once were. They flew forward like whips and wrapped around Malfoy's throat like iron.
Malfoy struggled to breathe as he raised his wand.
"MAXIMUS DELETRIUM" The professors cast striking the creature from all sides. Disintegrating the Gormlem as it undid the spell, which created it.
The golden dagger lay on the floor next to an over turned table and began to rattle and shake. Then with a convulsive arch it shattered into dust.
"I guess that was suppose to happen?" Professor Phenix asked.
"No." Malfoy said sadly bending down and running his hand through the golden dust of the daggers remnants. "I hoped that Professor Hannah was still alive. This indicates she is not."
"Oh no!" Professor Splatterpalette gasped.
"I'm afraid she was lured away by the Witch Queen's evil spies."
"Yes." Lyra cursed. "They fill your head with lies until you follow them to your doom. No different from Voldemort’s death eaters."
"Indeed." Professor Splatterpalette said. "Poor Hannah."
"We know one thing for certain." Malfoy said. "None of us was her target. She is still hunting Sasporilla Bucket."
*************************************
Sasporilla Bucket heard small voices arguing as consciousness washed in and out of her mind as she came too. She was laying on a bed of straw like an animal in a stone cell. It was being guarded by two young fire faeries with spears.
"I can't believe we've been put on guard duty... AGAIN!" Aysel complained.
"It's because we're the youngest." Kian said. "You know that."
"I know you want to be Fire Far chief one day Kian but I don't!" Aysel said. "So all this silly guard duty makes no sense to me. I want to be an animal doctor and treat the poor injured beasts of the forests."
"The same ones that try to eat us?" Kian laughed.
"Only when they’re desperately hungry and don't recognize we're faer..." Aysel broke off.
Sasporilla tried to sit up. She quickly realized her motions were limited, as iron chains attached to the walls were also attached to shackles on her wrists and ankles. Not to mention an iron collar around her throat.
"It's hard being young." Sasporilla said surprising the faery's. "But honestly, you'll find there's a lot of responsibility and jobs you want to do as a grown-up either, but that's what being grown up is."
"She's awake!" Kian yelled as both faery's turned and pointed their spears at their prisoner.
"Don't you move or get any funny idea's magi," Aysel said, "my brother and I may be young but we are fierce warriors of the Fire Fae!"
"I believe you." Sasporilla said. "I mean no disrespect. I am Sasporilla Bucket."
The fierce snarls fell from their faces at the sound of her name.
"The Queen of the worker elves?" Aysel asked.
"Yes." Sassy smiled shyly.
"The Queen who kneels before her subjects?" Kian asked.
"That's the one!" Aysel said.
"Wow." Kian whispered.
"Why are you here?" Kian asked.
"I am travelling with my friend Blue." Sasporilla started.
"The great beast that destroys our forest." Aysel frowned.
"Unfortunately yes." Sassy nodded.
"Why can't he just fly over?" Kian asked.
"He isn't strong enough yet." Sasporilla shook her head. "He can only glide on thermals for a ways. If I could find a way to keep him aloft then perhaps his feet would never hit the trees or the ground. He would never touch your forest."
"Why is the prisoner AWAKE?" The old jailer demanded as the stout faery waddled in. "She is suppose to be kept asleep!"
"If you can find my friend Gooseberry!" Sasporilla asked as the jailer snapped his fingers and waved his fiery pixie hands casting pixie dust over her. Sasporilla fell back asleep onto the hay.
"You two," the jailer growled, "I don't care if you are Tilkin the chief's daughter and son, you are not to allow her to awaken! Keep her asleep and guard her!!! Don't chat with her and have tea parties like your old friends!"
"Yes sir!" Aysel and Kian said snapping to attention.
Watching the jailer waddle out of site Aysel turned to Kian and said "I'm going to find her friend Gooseberry. I've heard of her. I know just where to find her."
"You'll get in trouble." Kian said.
"I think if what she said works." Aysel smiled. "We'll stop more trouble than the adults are causing by keeping her here like this."
Hugging her brother, Aysel extended her wings and flew off.
*****************
A flurry of pink wings fluttered in the Golden Grove that afternoon. Faery dragons spiraled through the air as pillar cats munched on the leaves and fruit of the golden cherry orchards. Rainbows arched through the cornflower blue sky. Not from any near by rain, but from rays of sun refracting from crystals in the nearby crystal canyon.
The fierce warrior fae, The Amzia of the crystal canyons often came to the Golden orchards to hunt faery dragons. Not to eat! Heavens no! They sought them out to be the perfect steeds to ride! However first the head strong beast’s spirit had to be broken so that they could become obedient.
"There." Pipsi a very experienced crystal faery warrior scout pointed through the trees at a patch of unsuspecting young faery dragons. "They'll do nicely! Are you ready?"
The scout asked looking back at the rest of the eight faeries in his squad.
"Ha-yee." They answered.
Spears in hand, the crystal faeries flew out of the trees into the clearing surprising the the contented faery dragons, who oddly did no more than look up at them as the fae aggressively approached. The crystal faeries flew into an octagonal formation and pulled a net between them. This was going to be easy. It was at the last moment the faeries of crystal canyons started to howel, to alarm disorient their prey as they attacked.
The cluster of faery dragons separated and instead formed a very organized line. In front of them stood Gooseberry the out cast!!! The self appointed freedom fighter that tried to stop the attacks on the warlike Fire faery factions and Crystal Faery factions against the peaceful faeries of the great fae forests.
"Breath in!" Gooseberry commanded holding up her hand.
The faery dragons inhaled deeply and began flapping their wings lifting slightly off the ground. Goose berry snapped her fingers. The clever faery and the line of pink faery dragons appeared behind the shocked crystal fae warriors who looked every for their missing quarry.
"FIRE!" Gooseberry yelled.
The breath of a pink faery dragon is a cloud of pink gas that if inhaled has the same effect as a confundus spell. A light euphoria makes the subject very agreeable to suggestion.
"Mas..." was all Pipsi, the leader of the crystal canyon faeries could utter before breathing in the pink cloud and being ensnared in it's wonderful warmth. Like his mothers hugs and warm river berry pies.
"Listen up you lot." Gooseberry commanded. "You're going back and quietly release all the faery dragons you got ya?"
"Yes of course!" Pipsi smiled.
"Then your going to let the dragons breathe on your leaders and tell them the faery dragons are off limits and never to be touched again!" Gooseberry said. "You got wings. If you want to war with people use your own wings to do your own dirty work."
"Understood." The Crystal canyon faery smiled pleasantly.
"Now leave yer nets, weapons and such and piss off," Gooseberry chuckled, "the lot of you!"
The crystal canyon fae warriors turned peacefully and flew away home. The faery dragons flew back to their leafy spot on the floor of the golden orchard. Flossy stayed back with Gooseberry who stayed above the golden treetops surveying the horizon.
"I thought we would have seen them by now?" Flossy said.
"I'm actually getting worried." Gooseberry said. "Sasporilla and the beast should have passed through yesterday. That's why I'm here!!! Where are they?"
"Do you think something’s wrong?" Flossy asked frightened for her friend for the first time.
"I know something’s wrong." Gooseberry frowned.
"Help!" A small voice cried from the distance coming out of the fire fae forest. Gooseberry looked as a young faery popped out on foot into the orchard.
"Help!" Aysel cried again. "Please someone help!"
The faery dragons, seeing a fire faery, the most dangerous of the fae enter their grove, surrounded the child, growling. Aysel was frightened but held her ground.
"I'm not here to fight you, but I will if you for e me too." Aysel snarled. "I bring news of the House Elf Queen, Sasporilla Bucket! She is in danger!"
"Sasporilla!" Gooseberry shouted landing before the girl with flossy. "Where is she."
"In my father's prison in the Burning Kingdom."
"Then that would make you Aysel one of the Tilkin's two children?" Gooseberry asked.
"Yes." Aysel replied proudly and unafraid.
"Thank you for telling us." Gooseberry said. "You were very brave to do so. In some situations you could have been harmed by or used by those who wanted their friend back. We aren’t like that. Go back in peace. You're father need never know you helped us."
"Thank you." Aysel smiled as Gooseberry snapped her fingers returning Aysel to the Fire fae kingdom.
****************************
Kian stood guard over the prisoner dutifully, but bored out of his mind. As he stood there looking down at the stone floor, counting the rocks that cobbled it together, for the tenth time today... he wished his sister would get back already so he would at least have someone to talk too.
"Still ten thousand one hundrand forty seven and a pebbles?" Sasporilla Bucket asked making Kian jump.
"What, who, where???" Kian jumped drawing his sword looking forward down the shadowy stone coridore.
Sasporilla reached through the iron bars and tapped the young fairy on the shoulder causing him to jump, almost clean out of his skin, with a very high pitched scream. Kian turned and pointed his sword at the prisoner. His breath was quick and heavy as gulped in the dank dungeon air. "Don't do that!"
"Sorry." Sasporilla fought to hold back a smile.
"How are you even awake again?" Kian asked. "You're suppose to be under a spell."
"Sorry." Sassy said. "Should I lay back down and lay still?"
"Yes!" Kian insisted.
"Well I'm not going to." Sasporilla smiled folding her arms defiantly throwing off the shackles.
"How did you get out of those?" Kian asked frustrated.
"Been Picking at these with a bobby pin since I woke up first time?" Sasporilla smiled. “Pays to have a miscreant friend my like my bestie Lyra.”
"Well just you don’t get any Ideas about trying to break out of that cell!!" Kian insisted poking his sword forward.
"Are you implying that you would do me harm with that sword if I don't do as you say?" Sassy frowned.
"I'm a Fire Faery guard!" Kian snarled. "I'm rough and I'm tough. What do you think?"
"I think," the voice of his sister Aysel said, “that you had better put that sword down before she hurts you!"
"What?" Kian looked dumbfounded at the return of his sister coming down the dungeon hallway. “I’ve found your friend Gooseberry. She is working on a plan.”
"Father won't be pleased about you helping the prisoner breaking out of jail!" Kian frowned.
"The prisoner has a name!" Sassy insisted.
"Yes she does." Chief Tilkin snarled two guards standing at his side, flaming swords drawn. "That name is Sasporilla Bucket."
On the rocky edge of the Zaharrainian desert lay the burning forest. A place named for the brightly coloured red and yellow leafed trees, which gave the appearance of being on fire, but more so for the heat that came off the fiery leaves. A reflection of the desert heat, not allowed into the forest by the protective trees. The legendary thermals above the burning forest made this place the greatest place to practice gliding on the open warm thermals that spiraled upward, as the sun sank low on the horizon, but Blue and Sasporilla Bucket had other plans.
"We must set down on deserts edge to camp for the night." Sasporilla said. "We dare not start over the forest and have to set down in there. The faeries will not be welcoming."
"Can we not glide in the thermals just once before bed? Blue pleaded. "Please????"
It was moments like this that Sassy remembered the giant Ice phoenix was still very much just a child.
"Ok." Sasporilla laughed. "But just for a few minutes and then we must land!"
"I promise!!!" Blue smiled excitedly catching a thermal in his large out stretched wings and soaring upwards into the orangey dusk sky.
Sasporilla quickly turned on her protective environmental setting. A magical bubble formed around the broom protecting her from the heat of the burning forest. It worked surprisingly well. Sasporilla allowed herself to get very close to the treetops. She could see the heat waves emanating from the orange and yellow leaves. More than that, as the sunset turned the sky a deep shade of purple Sassy saw the faint flicker of blue across the leaves.
"Burning gas flames!" Sasporilla gasped. "The forest truly does burn!"
With a distant shuffle and a loud CRACK something long and thin broke through the canopy of the burning forest and struck Sasporilla sharply in the right shoulder, knocking her backwards from her broom.
Blue gasped as he saw his friend fall through the fiery treetops and dove down but to late.
Moments in Angelo's arms. The frowns of deep disappointment and wild glorious joy of Professor Splatterpalette’s encouragement. The battle of Hogwarts. Her first kiss with Korry. Karry Curtis' smile. Her mom tickling her. Daddy loves you.
The ground came up on her quickly as Blue's gigantic talon clutched her, plucking Sassy from the grip of certain death. It was there, just before she passed out she saw the centaur between the trees. Angry with his bow readied to take another shot, Magnus Redhoof, the centaur of the Forbidden forest pack that was banished to Avalon stood in silence staring hatefully at her. With a snort of derision he lowered his bow and galloped off into the burning forest as Sasporilla passed out. A centaur arrow stuck precariously out of her right shoulder. Blood staining the cloth of her top.
"Oh no Sasporilla Bucket." Blue cried. "What am I to do?"
"Drop the magi!" A small voice commanded as a spear no bigger than a toothpick bounced off Blues talon. "Leave her to us and leave our woodland undisturbed. Destroyer of the burning wood."
"Who said that?" Blue screeched.
A small red faery painted with green war stripes fluttered up before his eyes. Hundreds, maybe thousands more fluttered up through the flaming treetops behind him.
"I am Tilkin of the fire forest fae." The faery said pointing the smallest of small spears at Blue's icy beak. "You're trespassing on our lands as all of your kind have done for millenia. You bring with you destruction and death. Well not this time, you just keep moving on!!!"
Blue could no longer support his weight on the last of the thermal current that had held him aloft. His legs crashed down into the forest splintering trees and crushing anything below.
"I'm sorry." Blue said hanging his head. "I don't mean to cause damage, but I am just so big and this is my path to follow. I know no other. However someone has done harm to my friend Sasporilla Bucket, whom I hold in my talon. I ask for help for her. Then I'll do anything you ask."
"Anything?" The Fae leader Tilkin asked.
"Yes." Blue insisted.
"You'll stand here and not move while we heal her?" The Fae grinned.
"Yes." Blue smiled.
"Agreed." The Fae leader laughed and dove down through the trees. The others followed like a swarm of bees down through the tree's canopy and down to the beast’s talon. Gripped tightly was the young pink haired witch, the arrow sticking out of her right shoulder. Her top torn and bloodied from the arrow and the fall.
"So," The Fire faery commander sneered, this is the mighty House Elf Queen? She who fights to free all from tyranny? Taken down by one arrow?"
"Looks like a centaurs arrow?" Jinxi of the Sparx division said.
"That damn Centaur again!" Tilkin huffed. "Always causing problems. Well this time he may have saved the forest from the beasts destructive path."
"What are we really going to do with the witch?" Jinxi asked.
"We place her in a magical sleep and heal the wound of course." Tilkin smiled. "We have promised the beast as much. We simply never wake her. That will hold the beast to it's promise to stay still until his magi is returned."
"Or until it gets so angry it goes to war with us?" Jinxi gasped.
"Then we have his magi to hold hostage!" Tilkin grinned evilly. "Move an inch and we burn your witch!"
*************************
Draco Malfoy's magically vailed footsteps echoed faintly on the cobbled walk of the dark Austrian street. Tje towns square clock chimed three times as his darkly cloaked form ducked into the alcoved doorway of the Phoenix Book Cafe and cast 'Alohamora'!
Two wands, one pressed into each of his cheeks, came from either side of the doorway.
"Password." A voice demanded.
"Chocolate Frogs." Draco said as the wands were removed.
A hanky came in and wiped a smudge from the young wizards left cheek. "Sorry Draco," Professor Splatterpalette said with a motherly grin, "got a bit of shmutz on your cheek. There, all clean now."
"Thank you." Draco Malfoy smiled a bit embarrassed as he pressed on into the shop, passed the giant storybooks and up the stairs to the cafe secreted away from plain view of the street. Professors Splatterpalette and Phenix followed close behind.
"What is the great emergency Draco?" Josie Phenix demanded. "It's one thing to put ourselves in jeopardy by gathering but to do so HERE at my families muggle owned business back home."
"I'm sorry professor Phenix but this place has been compromised." Draco said. "We all have been and I had to warn you all."
The last of the nights of the table round sat around cafe tables, pushed together to form a meeting place. Professor's Phenix and Splatterpalette sat on either side of Lyra with Professor Hannah sitting across from them.
"So what have you got for us Draco?" Lyra asked. "What's so important that we meet outside of Avalon?"
"Outside of the Witch Queen's field of power." Draco said. "Far enough away that she may not sense what we are about to do."
"Sounds ominous." Professor Splatterpalette said. "I'm in. They will sing songs of our bravery, erect sculptures to our..."
"Dina!" Professor Phenix said placing a plate with a piece of chocolate cake down on front of her friend and colleague. "Eat this."
"Ooooo cake!" Professor Splatterpalette giggled and clapped her hands picking up a fork.
"One of us is spy and doesn't know it." Draco said.
"How is this possible?" Lyra asked. "We've checked for every known curse!"
"However we haven't checked that all of us are really all of us." Draco said looking at everyone. "One of us has been captured and replaced with one of the Witch Queen's creations. A Gormlem, a type of golem, that takes on the full appearance and memories of the person they copy. The creature doesn't even know it's a Gormlem until it's mission is complete or until it's truly discovered."
"Well then shouldn't it be divulging itself about now?" Lyra asked. "You having just broken it's cover and all?"
"No." Draco said shaking his head. "Indeed I haven't blown it's cover. In fact I'm not sure which one of us it is!"
"How can you be sure at all then that any of us are?" Professor Hanna asked.
Draco pulled a cloth wrapped object, from his suit jacket pocket, and placed it on the table. The young wizard carefully unwrapped a golden dagger within. Blood, congealed and since turned brown stained the blade as a radiant gem glowed black in its hilt.
"This dagger is how." Draco said. Holding it up. "The runes carved into the blade are the spell for creating the creature. The only thing that can reveal the Gormlem is cut from blade that made it."
"Also the only way to prove ones innocence." Professor Phenix scowled.
"Unfortunately yes." Malfoy said pricking the end of his finger with the blade. "Well it's not me, apparently."
"You mean you even suspected yourself?" Lyra said surprised.
"I told you it could be anyone of us!" Malfoy hissed with an air of his father’s disdain for stupid useless repetition. "And that the spy would not, Could not know!"
"Take it easy Sam I am." Lyra chuckled picking up the blade. "I'll eat the green egg's and ham in a boat with a goat."
"What?" Malfoy scowled clearly confused as Lyra pricked her finger and even rubbed the blood on the blade.
"Clear?" Lyra asked
"Yes." Malfoy nodded taking the blade and handing it to Professor Splatterpalette.
"No, no." The professor said holding out her hand, closing her eyes. "I'll never be able to jab myself. You'll have to do it for me. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a chicken that way. I mean no one likes getting stabbed but..."
"Dina." Professor Phenix laughed. "He's finished you and moved on to finish jabbing me!"
"Oh?" Professor Splatterpalette smiled seeing the small pin prick sized drop of blood on the tip of her finger. "That's not so bad. Anyone got a bandaid?"
"That only leaves me?" Professor Hannah smiled holding out her hand. "I know it's not me. Who was your source?"
"He may have been wrong but," Malfoy began, "why do you ask professor?"
Malfoy jabbed the dagger quickly but lightly into Professor Hanna's open palm. Her open green eyes blink closed and opened jet black.
The witch and wizard knights of the table round kicked over the tables drawing their wands as the Gormlem's form shifted from the lovely blue haired professor Hannah to a 9 foot monstrous slab of sludge and tree root. Thorned tendrils shot forth as spells blocked and disintegrated them.
It became clear to Draco the beast wasn't fighting to kill them. The Gormlem was fighting to escape! It wanted, needed to get back to the Witch Queen!!
"We must stop this creature at all costs!" Draco commanded. "Zytacho!"
Zytacho, a tactical maneuver they had only tried once, and even then it failed miserably. Take up points of tactical advantage around an open point of escape with one single knight standing in the way.
The worst thing was the only point of egress was the stairs down and the wizard in the way was Malfoy.
The Gormlem reached out with thorned vines, where it's fingers once were. They flew forward like whips and wrapped around Malfoy's throat like iron.
Malfoy struggled to breathe as he raised his wand.
"MAXIMUS DELETRIUM" The professors cast striking the creature from all sides. Disintegrating the Gormlem as it undid the spell, which created it.
The golden dagger lay on the floor next to an over turned table and began to rattle and shake. Then with a convulsive arch it shattered into dust.
"I guess that was suppose to happen?" Professor Phenix asked.
"No." Malfoy said sadly bending down and running his hand through the golden dust of the daggers remnants. "I hoped that Professor Hannah was still alive. This indicates she is not."
"Oh no!" Professor Splatterpalette gasped.
"I'm afraid she was lured away by the Witch Queen's evil spies."
"Yes." Lyra cursed. "They fill your head with lies until you follow them to your doom. No different from Voldemort’s death eaters."
"Indeed." Professor Splatterpalette said. "Poor Hannah."
"We know one thing for certain." Malfoy said. "None of us was her target. She is still hunting Sasporilla Bucket."
*************************************
Sasporilla Bucket heard small voices arguing as consciousness washed in and out of her mind as she came too. She was laying on a bed of straw like an animal in a stone cell. It was being guarded by two young fire faeries with spears.
"I can't believe we've been put on guard duty... AGAIN!" Aysel complained.
"It's because we're the youngest." Kian said. "You know that."
"I know you want to be Fire Far chief one day Kian but I don't!" Aysel said. "So all this silly guard duty makes no sense to me. I want to be an animal doctor and treat the poor injured beasts of the forests."
"The same ones that try to eat us?" Kian laughed.
"Only when they’re desperately hungry and don't recognize we're faer..." Aysel broke off.
Sasporilla tried to sit up. She quickly realized her motions were limited, as iron chains attached to the walls were also attached to shackles on her wrists and ankles. Not to mention an iron collar around her throat.
"It's hard being young." Sasporilla said surprising the faery's. "But honestly, you'll find there's a lot of responsibility and jobs you want to do as a grown-up either, but that's what being grown up is."
"She's awake!" Kian yelled as both faery's turned and pointed their spears at their prisoner.
"Don't you move or get any funny idea's magi," Aysel said, "my brother and I may be young but we are fierce warriors of the Fire Fae!"
"I believe you." Sasporilla said. "I mean no disrespect. I am Sasporilla Bucket."
The fierce snarls fell from their faces at the sound of her name.
"The Queen of the worker elves?" Aysel asked.
"Yes." Sassy smiled shyly.
"The Queen who kneels before her subjects?" Kian asked.
"That's the one!" Aysel said.
"Wow." Kian whispered.
"Why are you here?" Kian asked.
"I am travelling with my friend Blue." Sasporilla started.
"The great beast that destroys our forest." Aysel frowned.
"Unfortunately yes." Sassy nodded.
"Why can't he just fly over?" Kian asked.
"He isn't strong enough yet." Sasporilla shook her head. "He can only glide on thermals for a ways. If I could find a way to keep him aloft then perhaps his feet would never hit the trees or the ground. He would never touch your forest."
"Why is the prisoner AWAKE?" The old jailer demanded as the stout faery waddled in. "She is suppose to be kept asleep!"
"If you can find my friend Gooseberry!" Sasporilla asked as the jailer snapped his fingers and waved his fiery pixie hands casting pixie dust over her. Sasporilla fell back asleep onto the hay.
"You two," the jailer growled, "I don't care if you are Tilkin the chief's daughter and son, you are not to allow her to awaken! Keep her asleep and guard her!!! Don't chat with her and have tea parties like your old friends!"
"Yes sir!" Aysel and Kian said snapping to attention.
Watching the jailer waddle out of site Aysel turned to Kian and said "I'm going to find her friend Gooseberry. I've heard of her. I know just where to find her."
"You'll get in trouble." Kian said.
"I think if what she said works." Aysel smiled. "We'll stop more trouble than the adults are causing by keeping her here like this."
Hugging her brother, Aysel extended her wings and flew off.
*****************
A flurry of pink wings fluttered in the Golden Grove that afternoon. Faery dragons spiraled through the air as pillar cats munched on the leaves and fruit of the golden cherry orchards. Rainbows arched through the cornflower blue sky. Not from any near by rain, but from rays of sun refracting from crystals in the nearby crystal canyon.
The fierce warrior fae, The Amzia of the crystal canyons often came to the Golden orchards to hunt faery dragons. Not to eat! Heavens no! They sought them out to be the perfect steeds to ride! However first the head strong beast’s spirit had to be broken so that they could become obedient.
"There." Pipsi a very experienced crystal faery warrior scout pointed through the trees at a patch of unsuspecting young faery dragons. "They'll do nicely! Are you ready?"
The scout asked looking back at the rest of the eight faeries in his squad.
"Ha-yee." They answered.
Spears in hand, the crystal faeries flew out of the trees into the clearing surprising the the contented faery dragons, who oddly did no more than look up at them as the fae aggressively approached. The crystal faeries flew into an octagonal formation and pulled a net between them. This was going to be easy. It was at the last moment the faeries of crystal canyons started to howel, to alarm disorient their prey as they attacked.
The cluster of faery dragons separated and instead formed a very organized line. In front of them stood Gooseberry the out cast!!! The self appointed freedom fighter that tried to stop the attacks on the warlike Fire faery factions and Crystal Faery factions against the peaceful faeries of the great fae forests.
"Breath in!" Gooseberry commanded holding up her hand.
The faery dragons inhaled deeply and began flapping their wings lifting slightly off the ground. Goose berry snapped her fingers. The clever faery and the line of pink faery dragons appeared behind the shocked crystal fae warriors who looked every for their missing quarry.
"FIRE!" Gooseberry yelled.
The breath of a pink faery dragon is a cloud of pink gas that if inhaled has the same effect as a confundus spell. A light euphoria makes the subject very agreeable to suggestion.
"Mas..." was all Pipsi, the leader of the crystal canyon faeries could utter before breathing in the pink cloud and being ensnared in it's wonderful warmth. Like his mothers hugs and warm river berry pies.
"Listen up you lot." Gooseberry commanded. "You're going back and quietly release all the faery dragons you got ya?"
"Yes of course!" Pipsi smiled.
"Then your going to let the dragons breathe on your leaders and tell them the faery dragons are off limits and never to be touched again!" Gooseberry said. "You got wings. If you want to war with people use your own wings to do your own dirty work."
"Understood." The Crystal canyon faery smiled pleasantly.
"Now leave yer nets, weapons and such and piss off," Gooseberry chuckled, "the lot of you!"
The crystal canyon fae warriors turned peacefully and flew away home. The faery dragons flew back to their leafy spot on the floor of the golden orchard. Flossy stayed back with Gooseberry who stayed above the golden treetops surveying the horizon.
"I thought we would have seen them by now?" Flossy said.
"I'm actually getting worried." Gooseberry said. "Sasporilla and the beast should have passed through yesterday. That's why I'm here!!! Where are they?"
"Do you think something’s wrong?" Flossy asked frightened for her friend for the first time.
"I know something’s wrong." Gooseberry frowned.
"Help!" A small voice cried from the distance coming out of the fire fae forest. Gooseberry looked as a young faery popped out on foot into the orchard.
"Help!" Aysel cried again. "Please someone help!"
The faery dragons, seeing a fire faery, the most dangerous of the fae enter their grove, surrounded the child, growling. Aysel was frightened but held her ground.
"I'm not here to fight you, but I will if you for e me too." Aysel snarled. "I bring news of the House Elf Queen, Sasporilla Bucket! She is in danger!"
"Sasporilla!" Gooseberry shouted landing before the girl with flossy. "Where is she."
"In my father's prison in the Burning Kingdom."
"Then that would make you Aysel one of the Tilkin's two children?" Gooseberry asked.
"Yes." Aysel replied proudly and unafraid.
"Thank you for telling us." Gooseberry said. "You were very brave to do so. In some situations you could have been harmed by or used by those who wanted their friend back. We aren’t like that. Go back in peace. You're father need never know you helped us."
"Thank you." Aysel smiled as Gooseberry snapped her fingers returning Aysel to the Fire fae kingdom.
****************************
Kian stood guard over the prisoner dutifully, but bored out of his mind. As he stood there looking down at the stone floor, counting the rocks that cobbled it together, for the tenth time today... he wished his sister would get back already so he would at least have someone to talk too.
"Still ten thousand one hundrand forty seven and a pebbles?" Sasporilla Bucket asked making Kian jump.
"What, who, where???" Kian jumped drawing his sword looking forward down the shadowy stone coridore.
Sasporilla reached through the iron bars and tapped the young fairy on the shoulder causing him to jump, almost clean out of his skin, with a very high pitched scream. Kian turned and pointed his sword at the prisoner. His breath was quick and heavy as gulped in the dank dungeon air. "Don't do that!"
"Sorry." Sasporilla fought to hold back a smile.
"How are you even awake again?" Kian asked. "You're suppose to be under a spell."
"Sorry." Sassy said. "Should I lay back down and lay still?"
"Yes!" Kian insisted.
"Well I'm not going to." Sasporilla smiled folding her arms defiantly throwing off the shackles.
"How did you get out of those?" Kian asked frustrated.
"Been Picking at these with a bobby pin since I woke up first time?" Sasporilla smiled. “Pays to have a miscreant friend my like my bestie Lyra.”
"Well just you don’t get any Ideas about trying to break out of that cell!!" Kian insisted poking his sword forward.
"Are you implying that you would do me harm with that sword if I don't do as you say?" Sassy frowned.
"I'm a Fire Faery guard!" Kian snarled. "I'm rough and I'm tough. What do you think?"
"I think," the voice of his sister Aysel said, “that you had better put that sword down before she hurts you!"
"What?" Kian looked dumbfounded at the return of his sister coming down the dungeon hallway. “I’ve found your friend Gooseberry. She is working on a plan.”
"Father won't be pleased about you helping the prisoner breaking out of jail!" Kian frowned.
"The prisoner has a name!" Sassy insisted.
"Yes she does." Chief Tilkin snarled two guards standing at his side, flaming swords drawn. "That name is Sasporilla Bucket."
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/ )