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Part 8 – Field Shelter #27 “The Tower” , that night.




Charlie reclines against the side of the heated grotto, the hot water up to his chest. Groups of candles, and a single fuel-oil lantern hissing away near the entrance stairs, provide a dim, but romantic atmosphere. The natural spring, heated by geothermal energy, is one of the few redeeming features of the solitary Field Shelter #27, known colloquially as 'The Tower'. A tall, narrow structure, it is one of the few Field Shelters that can be used as an observation post during the heavy snows. Too small for two Wardens to work out of at the same time, it was ideally suited for one. In this case, Mayumi had the duty there for her two week cycle, and every evening, Charlie would floo in and spend the night. Most of the time, they would make the short journey down through the hollow base of the Tower into the depths of the cave below, and slip into the heated water pool contained therein, to bathe, skinny-dip, and catch up on their love-making.

Mayumi, wrapped in the arms and legs of her lover, lounges against his chest. Eyes closed in contented satiation, May's long, unbound hair fans out from her neck and shoulders, over the surface of the heated water. She smiles as Charlie's lips nuzzle her neck and ears. His feathery touches to the undersides of her breasts and all along her inner thighs keep her state of arousal elevated, even though they had already made love for over an hour.

“May,” he whispered quietly, “what do you remember of your interview with Lord Aramys?”

“You mean, when Iformally applied to the Warden's office for the job?”

“Yes.”

“Not too much. Iremember the interview was held at the Enclave, instead of down at Headquarters. Both of my parents were with me, though the interview was held in private.” May pauses a moment, then continues.“There were five of us to be interviewed that day, all Japanese, all applying for Warden positions. I remember one of the applicants was not accepted by Lord Aramys.” She pauses again.“Ryunobi Masakai, a young man, was rejected. His parents were most ashamed. The Mother is a Dragon Rider and a Warden, but the Father was an Administrator at the Enclave. Apparently, he was not akind man, and had passed on some of his predisposition for meanness to his son. Both the Father and son left the Enclave in disgrace. Ithink the Mother divorced the Father and remarried.” May, having been softly stroking the hair on Charlie's right arm, stops and twists her neck to look towards his face, then says, “It has been awhile since I thought of them.”

Charlie reaches out to cup a handful of the hot water and gently pours it over May's shoulder and collarbone. He repeats his action several times, covering both of her shoulders to keep her warm. He leans his head forward to softly kiss her ear.

Closing her eyes once again, May snuggles in, enjoying the comfort and warmth of the moment. For several moments, a state of quiet exists. Then softly, May speaks again.

“As to my memories of the interview itself, I think it was somewhat brief. Iremember the way Lord Aramys addressed me – it was rather strange – he called me, 'Maiden Mayumi'. He was kind of strange, but at the same time, I knew that he was very wise and very special. There was a sense of power about him that was strong.”

Having reverted to stroking his arms again, May opens her eyes and turns to address Charlie.

“What about you?”

“Oddly enough, my recollections of the interview itself are just as vague as yours.”

“You see, it was Professor Dumbledore who first told me about him. At the end of my seventh year at Hogwarts, after having just finished my N.E.W.T.s, I...”

“Your whats?” May asks with a laugh.

“Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests. They are the advanced wizardry tests we take at the end of our seventh year of school at Hogwarts.”

“Oh – sorry, please, continue,” she says abashedly.

Charlie gives her aquick kiss on the head, and a brief hug, remembering that May only attended school for five years.

“Anyways, Professor Dumbledore called me up to his tower and had a talk with me about my future after Hogwarts. Knowing about my love for magical creatures, and, probably having already been informed of my test scores, he told me all about the Dragon Preserve and the Dragon Wardens. Although I had known of the Preserve for quite some time, Iwas somewhat ignorant of what the Wardens did, as are most people.”

“Hai.”

“Well, it was that interview with Prof. Dumbledore, which convinced me to apply for the job. Once I did submit the application, Prof. Dumbledore told me that I would be formally interviewed by Lord Aramys, and that it would be his word that would decide the final outcome. Prof. Dumbledore then did something extraordinary for me; he handed me aparcel which I was to personally deliver to Lord Aramys at the time of my interview.”

“What was inside it?”

“At the time, Ihad no idea. Months later, when I presented the parcel to Lord Aramys at my interview, I learned that it had contained some sort of letter of recommendation, along with a peculiar object; a sealed memory vial had been rolled up inside the entire time.”

“A memory vial?”

“Albus Dumbledore is a collector of many exotic magical devices. One of the most unique ones that he owns is a Pensieve. It is a large, bowl like, magical vessel that holds a liquid. Into that bowl of liquid, one can pour in the contents of a memory vial, which of course, would be a memory. He can then review that memory over and over again, even reclaim it and store it in a vial, once more.”

Listening very raptly, and partially turned in Charlie's lap to give him her full attention, May asks, “What do these memories look like, that they can be stored in a jar?”

“Let me show you, darling. Would you stand up and reach my wand for me?”

May unwraps herself from Charlie's arms and legs, stands, and leans over the side to retrieve his wand for him. She turns back to hand the wand to Charlie, and stands there in front of him with a mischievous smile upon her face, her wet hair plastered to all of her curves, teasing her lover. Over the past week, this had become a popular game of intimacy for them, which they named affectionately, 'Hide-n-Seek'

“Alright, you cheeky tease, sit your bottom down here beside me.”

May laughs and sensuously lowers her body back into the water, letting her hair once again fan out around her. She sits on the side, facing Charlie, who has turned slightly in his own spot to face her better. They quickly entwine their legs together.

“Now watch, darling.”

May sits and watches intently as Charlie closes his eyes and places the tip of his wand to his temple. Shortly, he begins to extrude a wisp-like silvery substance from his head. It hangs like a thick, silky spider-web, from the tip of his wand. He carefully rotates the wand to keep the substance from slipping off the end.

Charlie opens his eyes and says, “Now, May, I want you to lean your head back and close your eyes. I want you to clear your mind and think of a pool of calm, flat water.”

She does as she is asked, and quickly clears her mind.

“Now, think of asingle drop of water, as it falls, splashing onto the flat surface of the pool, making ripples, and that small sound of the splash. Then, think of a second drop, splashing onto the surface. Do you see the ripples and hear the tiny sounds?”

Very quietly, May replies, “Hai.”

“Keep thinking of more drops slowly falling and hitting the water.”

As May continues, Charlie moves his wand over above her forehead and slowly lets the slippery substance drip off the wand and onto May's forehead, where it quickly dissolves and disappears, seeping into May, becoming apermanent part of her.




In May's head, the flat pool of water and the drops hitting it quickly morph into the sight, sounds, and smells of a cozy country kitchen, full of red-haired people, sitting or standing around a man who has crawled beneath a rustic old sink and cabinet. Within that sink, a spigot slowly drips large, noisy drops of tap water onto a flat pie tin. Through the window above that leaky faucet, brilliant beams of sunlight pour through the panes of streaky glass. Two large potted Aloe Vera plants sit basking upon the sill, beside a collection of other odd organic growths, some potted, some not.

“Arthur, are you sure you know what you are doing down there?” asks the only woman of the group. May recognizes her as Charlie's mother.

“Sure I do, Molly,” calls out the man from under the sink. “I just finished reading a book about 'blumping' this morning.”

Three boys sit at alarge kitchen table, giggling and laughing, all eyes fixed on what their father was doing. May walks around the side to get a better view of them. Surprised, she realizes the oldest one is Charlie, though appearing to be about three or four years younger. Next to him are the twins, Fred and George. They both whisper to each other something mischievous, as sly smiles cross their faces. She watches as one of them slowly draws his wand.

“How 'bout now, Molly?” calls out Arthur from below.

Everyone can see that the water has stopped dripping. Molly tentatively turns the faucet controls on and off.

“Arthur, you did it! Merlin, I can't believe it!”

As Charlie and one of the twins begin to cheer and clap, the other twin whispers'Aguamenti' and produces a rather prodigious stream of water from the end of his wand, shooting towards his father and the area beneath the sink.

“Blimey!” says the other twin...




The scene morphs once again.




Mayumi finds herself outside in the heat of a fading summer day. A large tree overshadows the oddest wooden house Mayumi has ever set her eyes on. But it is the rambunctious activity of three red headed children that gathers her attention. Once again, a younger aged Charlie is present, romping on the ground beneath the fierce onslaught of a little brother and even smaller sister. Looks and cries of of fierce determination emanate from the two little ones, as they wield small mock swords. The little boy, Ronnie, May tells herself, has a faded orange cape attached to his neck. His sister, her very long fiery red locks of hair bound together in a braid that would rival even May's long braid, has the remnants of a sparkly silver tiara in her hair.

“I give up, Igive up!” Charlie calls out, laughing at his predicament, flat on his back, sword points thrusting towards his face and stomach. “I surrender, Prince Ronald. I surrender, Princess Ginevra!”

The two little ones lift their swords high in the air and dance about, exalting their victory over the evil dragon.

May laughs, and looks upwards to see Molly staring out the kitchen window, smiling at the antics of her beloved children.




Once again, the view changes...




Little Ginevra is awake in her bed; an old, well worn, and well loved, comforter pulled up to her chest. Clutched tightly in her tiny hand, a stuffed animal that has seen better days, and much repair, rests, its two big plastic eyes glaring up at Mayumi. A single candle burns at her bedside on the other side of the bed.

May sits in a small chair, with her back to the window. She feels a cool draft creeping in through the leaky window frame, making her shiver (she realizes for the first time she is still naked).

The creaky door opens to admit Charlie, who walks over and kneels down at the far side of the bed next to his sister. He begins to tuck the covers in more securely.

“Charlie? Do you think my hair is pretty?” she whispers, missing her two front teeth.

“I think you hair is beautiful, Ginevra!”

“Really?Ronnie keepth teathing me, pulling my braid.”

“As a matter of fact, someday I'm gonna marry a pretty girl, with a long ponytail, just like yours!”

“Really Charlie?” Ginny asks with surprise.

“See that bright star outside your window?” Charlie points out the window, his eyes looking directly into Mayumi's.

“Uh-huh.” Ginny stares upwards, looking at the star beyond May.

“Wizard's promise on that star!”

“Witch'th curthe, if you don'” Ginny joyfully answers with the traditional reply.

The turn and smile to each other. Charlie leans over and plants a kiss on his sister's nose.




The scene changes again.




“I'm very glad to hear of your decision, Charles! The Dragon Preserve needs good sturdy wizards like yourself.”

The man sitting across from Charlie has the longest silver and white beard May can remember ever having seen. A pair of half moon glasses sit on the edge of his nose, as more silver hair frames his face. A tall blue Wizarding hat resides upon his head, and long blue robes adorn his apparently tall frame.

Shiny, silver and brass objects fill the room, providing a cacophony of sound and enough visual imagery to overwhelm the unsuspecting. The walls, covered with pictures of old men, make Mayumi feel very self-conscious, standing there without a thread on. Then, from the behind the wizened Wizard talking to Charlie, perched upon a large roost, a brilliant, scarlet and orange Phoenix sits quietly, looking directly at May. She stares back, moving slightly from one side to the other, only to realize the Phoenix can actually see her.

Fawkes spreads his wings suddenly, and lifting his head, calls out a loud warble, then bursts into flames.

May is astounded, and can only stare open-mouthed, as the golden flames shoot high into the air of the tower. Suddenly, the ashes of the Phoenix fall to the catch-tray below.




May is standing over Charlie's shoulder. She realizes she is in the duty room at the Warden Headquarters. Charlie is reading a piece of parchment. May leans in closer, placing her hands upon his shoulders. He does not react. She begins to read the bottom of the parchment;




Lastly, it is with happiness that I have received news that another Weasley may have found true love. I am very happy for you, Charles, or should I say,“Bulldog”? I look forward to meeting your young lady someday soon. My Japanese is a bit rusty, but I may be able to remember enough to embarrass myself!




---Albus P.W.B. Dumbledore




Suddenly, May is back in the grotto, sitting where she was, in the hot water. Charlie has crept in closer and put his arm around her shoulder. May turns and looks deeply into his eyes, her own, wet with emotion.

Almost overcome with asense of wonder at the memories she had just been given, May can only whisper, “Thank you!”, before wrapping her arms around Charlie's neck, and leaning forward to throw herself into his arms. She touches her forehead to his and holds it for more than a minute. She tries to remember one of the memories that she had just been given, and smiles widely when she realizes she has complete recall.

“Welcome to my family, my love!” he whispers with a smile.

She moves her lips to his, suspending all conversation for many minutes to come.