Categories > Books > Harry Potter > The Bulldog and the Archer
Part 2 – Field Shelter no. 38, near the Spring, two months later.
*
Scattered amongst the slopes and trees are small, cabin-sized, rock shelters. It is here that the Dragon Wardens live and work from when out in the field. Usually set into a slope or hill, partially buried, and camouflaged by trees and other natural foliage, the field shelters allow for one or two wardens to observe a portion of their assigned territory without being seen by the dragons. They also can write and file reports, which travel by floo, since Owls would be caught and eaten by several species. Though Dragon Wardens use as little magic as possible, since many dragons are sensitive to its use, the stone shelters allow for limited magic use within its walls. Brooms and Apparating are not allowed outside.
Food, water, and bedding are all maintained in the shelters for the Wardens. Gubraithian fire is also allowed within each shelter, keeping it warm when needed, as it consumes no fuel and does not pollute. All Wardens can cook for themselves.
Dragon Wardens are usually assigned to their posts for one month intervals. When paired up, the schedules of the two concerned tend to overlap by two weeks.
*
With a loud whoosh, green flames burst upwards in the hearth.
“Stay warm, Charlie!”
“Good luck in Covasna, Tomas!”
The Dragon Warden known as Tomas, his hands and arms full, steps into the floo, leaving Charlie temporarily alone, awaiting the next Warden to arrive. They had spent the morning cleaning and airing out the shelter, changing the linens on the two beds, straightening their files, and inventorying their supplies. Newly arriving Wardens always brought fresh supplies with them.
Charlie walks out into the observation room and cracks open the outside door, gathering and packing a potful of freshly fallen snow, which was now three feet thick outside.
He closes the door and walks back inside to start a fresh pot of tea. He sets out two clean mugs, awaiting his new partner. Charlie sits down by the window and reaches for the duty roster sheet for the fourth time that day. “M. Zark” is the only information recorded about his next partner. He places the clipboard and sheet back on the table, then settles himself, waiting for either the pot to boil, or the floo to activate. A daydream about a particular female Japanese Dragon Warden seeps into his thoughts again, leading him to a state of relaxation and then sleep.
“Konnichi-wa, Charlie Weasley. Wake up!” sings the new replacement.
Charlie comes out of his dream, hearing the voice of his angel of the slopes. Opening his eyes, he is once again startled by the Japanese girl of his dreams. She is leaning over his chair, a lock of her shiny, jet black hair, brushing across Charlie's forehead.
Smiling, he says, “What a nice way to wake up!”
She laughs, stepping back as he gets up from the chair.
Charlie stretches, both hands over his head, almost reaching the low ceiling.
“So you're 'M.“The Archer” Zark'?” he asks.
“Call me, Mayumi, or May, Charlie.”
Charlie offers Mayumi his hand, saying, “A pleasure to meet you and to know your lovely name, Mayumi.”
She takes his hand, only to have Charlie turn it over and lift it to his lips to kiss the back of it.
Mayumi smiles, replying simply, “Flirt!”
Laughing, Charlie walks over towards the fireplace.
“Well, I see we have some supplies to put away.”
A large bundle of boxes and packages sits upon a Tatami, all bound by a net meshing. The Tatami hovers a few inches off of the ground. Mayumi takes out her wand and casts, /“Uchikiru”/.
The Tatami lowers itself to the ground.
Appreciatively, Charlie lets out a low whistle, and bends down to examine the woven device. He turns to look at Mayumi over his shoulder, asking, “That's brilliant! A flying Tatami?”
Mayumi, busy now removing her warm coat and scarf, replies, “Uh-huh. It was made by one of the Master Weavers at the Enclave.”
“Nice! Of course, since it is made by a Japanese Wizard (his voice rises to query the accuracy of his supposition), one must cast commands in Japanese, yes?”
As Charlie talks, Mayumi walks over to the far side of the bundle and begins to manually detach the meshing.
“Hai.”
“Superb,” Charlie replies, as he too, begins to unfasten the mesh.
Together, they remove and fold up the net. Mayumi stows it in a pocket temporarily.
The stack of boxes and parcels quickly diminishes as the items find their way into cupboards and storage bins. Charlie notices a preponderance of Japanese menu staples. He also spies the bow and quiver that May had worn on their first encounter.
May proceeds to stow her personal items in their alloted spaces.
“Charlie, you don't mind if I place a few personal items about the place to “cheer” it up, do you?”
“Please do, May. Bloody well needs it, I'd say. If my Mum should see this place, she'd go bonkers wanting to touch it up.”
As May begins to unpack a pair of cartons, Charlie says, “Anything I can do to help?”
“Well, actually, yes. Would you mind using some of that cord over there in that box to suspend the tatami so that we have a privacy screen between the two beds?”
“Hmm, never had to do that before!” says Charlie with a laugh. He walks over to the box and finds the length of cord. A small pouch with fasteners and a hammer are next to the cord. He gathers the tools and spots two areas where he can hammer the fasteners into the walls. Several minutes later, the tatami is hung, each half hanging equally over the taut cord.
Charlie steps back and takes in the changes to the shelter. Mayumi walks over and stands next to him, an expectant smile upon her face.
First thing he notices are the two dwarf trees, or bonsai, sitting upon the windowsill. The candles and small paper lanterns that are grouped attractively in several spots catch his eye next. He notices the wooden chairs have small flat cushions on them, and that the table tops have fabric covers. Two pieces of art hang from the walls, each representing traditional Japanese art, or Nihonga, themed around dragons. The change is very warm and effective, but not ostentatious.
“Wow, May, it looks great!”
“It's not too much?”
“Not at all, May, not at all.” As he speaks, he slowly gravitates over to the windowsill to examine the bonsai trees.
“I've always had it in the back of my mind to read into keeping bonsai trees, but have never found the time.” As May moves with him, her hand now on his right arm, he gently extends a finger on his right hand to carefully touch and investigate the small beauty.
“It is a 'Trident Maple'” Mayumi states quietly, turning slightly to look at Charlie's face, seeing genuine interest in it. May's gaze moves to the naturally red hair on the man beside her, a true rarity to be seen in Japanese society. She notices the freckles upon his face, some large and darker, some lighter and smaller. “Almost like trying to count the stars at night,” she thinks to herself.
“And this fellow, May?”
“A type of dwarf pine. It is quite old for a bonsai, being a gift to me from my Gaisofu, when I first started.”
“Gaisofu?”
May smiles. “My Gaisofu is my Mother's Father.”
“Ah, your Grandpop!”
“Hai!”
Turning to share the warmth he felt, Charlie says, “Well, your trees are very welcome. Maybe you can teach me a little more about them over the next two weeks, May.”
“It would be my pleasure, Charlie.”
*
Scattered amongst the slopes and trees are small, cabin-sized, rock shelters. It is here that the Dragon Wardens live and work from when out in the field. Usually set into a slope or hill, partially buried, and camouflaged by trees and other natural foliage, the field shelters allow for one or two wardens to observe a portion of their assigned territory without being seen by the dragons. They also can write and file reports, which travel by floo, since Owls would be caught and eaten by several species. Though Dragon Wardens use as little magic as possible, since many dragons are sensitive to its use, the stone shelters allow for limited magic use within its walls. Brooms and Apparating are not allowed outside.
Food, water, and bedding are all maintained in the shelters for the Wardens. Gubraithian fire is also allowed within each shelter, keeping it warm when needed, as it consumes no fuel and does not pollute. All Wardens can cook for themselves.
Dragon Wardens are usually assigned to their posts for one month intervals. When paired up, the schedules of the two concerned tend to overlap by two weeks.
*
With a loud whoosh, green flames burst upwards in the hearth.
“Stay warm, Charlie!”
“Good luck in Covasna, Tomas!”
The Dragon Warden known as Tomas, his hands and arms full, steps into the floo, leaving Charlie temporarily alone, awaiting the next Warden to arrive. They had spent the morning cleaning and airing out the shelter, changing the linens on the two beds, straightening their files, and inventorying their supplies. Newly arriving Wardens always brought fresh supplies with them.
Charlie walks out into the observation room and cracks open the outside door, gathering and packing a potful of freshly fallen snow, which was now three feet thick outside.
He closes the door and walks back inside to start a fresh pot of tea. He sets out two clean mugs, awaiting his new partner. Charlie sits down by the window and reaches for the duty roster sheet for the fourth time that day. “M. Zark” is the only information recorded about his next partner. He places the clipboard and sheet back on the table, then settles himself, waiting for either the pot to boil, or the floo to activate. A daydream about a particular female Japanese Dragon Warden seeps into his thoughts again, leading him to a state of relaxation and then sleep.
“Konnichi-wa, Charlie Weasley. Wake up!” sings the new replacement.
Charlie comes out of his dream, hearing the voice of his angel of the slopes. Opening his eyes, he is once again startled by the Japanese girl of his dreams. She is leaning over his chair, a lock of her shiny, jet black hair, brushing across Charlie's forehead.
Smiling, he says, “What a nice way to wake up!”
She laughs, stepping back as he gets up from the chair.
Charlie stretches, both hands over his head, almost reaching the low ceiling.
“So you're 'M.“The Archer” Zark'?” he asks.
“Call me, Mayumi, or May, Charlie.”
Charlie offers Mayumi his hand, saying, “A pleasure to meet you and to know your lovely name, Mayumi.”
She takes his hand, only to have Charlie turn it over and lift it to his lips to kiss the back of it.
Mayumi smiles, replying simply, “Flirt!”
Laughing, Charlie walks over towards the fireplace.
“Well, I see we have some supplies to put away.”
A large bundle of boxes and packages sits upon a Tatami, all bound by a net meshing. The Tatami hovers a few inches off of the ground. Mayumi takes out her wand and casts, /“Uchikiru”/.
The Tatami lowers itself to the ground.
Appreciatively, Charlie lets out a low whistle, and bends down to examine the woven device. He turns to look at Mayumi over his shoulder, asking, “That's brilliant! A flying Tatami?”
Mayumi, busy now removing her warm coat and scarf, replies, “Uh-huh. It was made by one of the Master Weavers at the Enclave.”
“Nice! Of course, since it is made by a Japanese Wizard (his voice rises to query the accuracy of his supposition), one must cast commands in Japanese, yes?”
As Charlie talks, Mayumi walks over to the far side of the bundle and begins to manually detach the meshing.
“Hai.”
“Superb,” Charlie replies, as he too, begins to unfasten the mesh.
Together, they remove and fold up the net. Mayumi stows it in a pocket temporarily.
The stack of boxes and parcels quickly diminishes as the items find their way into cupboards and storage bins. Charlie notices a preponderance of Japanese menu staples. He also spies the bow and quiver that May had worn on their first encounter.
May proceeds to stow her personal items in their alloted spaces.
“Charlie, you don't mind if I place a few personal items about the place to “cheer” it up, do you?”
“Please do, May. Bloody well needs it, I'd say. If my Mum should see this place, she'd go bonkers wanting to touch it up.”
As May begins to unpack a pair of cartons, Charlie says, “Anything I can do to help?”
“Well, actually, yes. Would you mind using some of that cord over there in that box to suspend the tatami so that we have a privacy screen between the two beds?”
“Hmm, never had to do that before!” says Charlie with a laugh. He walks over to the box and finds the length of cord. A small pouch with fasteners and a hammer are next to the cord. He gathers the tools and spots two areas where he can hammer the fasteners into the walls. Several minutes later, the tatami is hung, each half hanging equally over the taut cord.
Charlie steps back and takes in the changes to the shelter. Mayumi walks over and stands next to him, an expectant smile upon her face.
First thing he notices are the two dwarf trees, or bonsai, sitting upon the windowsill. The candles and small paper lanterns that are grouped attractively in several spots catch his eye next. He notices the wooden chairs have small flat cushions on them, and that the table tops have fabric covers. Two pieces of art hang from the walls, each representing traditional Japanese art, or Nihonga, themed around dragons. The change is very warm and effective, but not ostentatious.
“Wow, May, it looks great!”
“It's not too much?”
“Not at all, May, not at all.” As he speaks, he slowly gravitates over to the windowsill to examine the bonsai trees.
“I've always had it in the back of my mind to read into keeping bonsai trees, but have never found the time.” As May moves with him, her hand now on his right arm, he gently extends a finger on his right hand to carefully touch and investigate the small beauty.
“It is a 'Trident Maple'” Mayumi states quietly, turning slightly to look at Charlie's face, seeing genuine interest in it. May's gaze moves to the naturally red hair on the man beside her, a true rarity to be seen in Japanese society. She notices the freckles upon his face, some large and darker, some lighter and smaller. “Almost like trying to count the stars at night,” she thinks to herself.
“And this fellow, May?”
“A type of dwarf pine. It is quite old for a bonsai, being a gift to me from my Gaisofu, when I first started.”
“Gaisofu?”
May smiles. “My Gaisofu is my Mother's Father.”
“Ah, your Grandpop!”
“Hai!”
Turning to share the warmth he felt, Charlie says, “Well, your trees are very welcome. Maybe you can teach me a little more about them over the next two weeks, May.”
“It would be my pleasure, Charlie.”
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