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in_the_blue) wrote2014-12-24 09:39 pm
in_the_blue) wrote2014-12-24 09:39 pm
Entry tags:
December 25
YO HO HO EVERYONE! My lovely friend vivien isn't doing Yuletide this year, but that shouldn't stop her from getting a fic! Viv requested Albus Dumbledore and Father Christmas. Who am I to say no? HAPPY CHRISTMAS, VIV!
The only way to get to the workshop was, of course, by Portkey. The Floo network wasn’t nearly large enough, Apparating such a distance would be far too risky, and traveling by portrait was only an option for those who couldn’t travel any other way. Albus pulled his robes round himself and cast a quick warming spell. No matter how many times he’d been here, he still couldn’t get used to quite so much snow.
A sweet and innocuous elf bowed deeply. Its tea-towel had at one time obviously been laid out for Christmas, with its decorations of trees and reindeer. “Welcome, Headmaster,” he said without looking up. That was the house-elf’s way.
Albus smiled down at the elf graciously. “Thank you, good friend. Whom do I have the honor of addressing?”
The elf blushed furiously, and his voice quavered. “I’m called Hinky.” For a moment his knees knocked, but he regained his composure. “The Father is waiting for you, Headmaster, Sir. This way.”
Doing his best to contain his amusement, Albus followed Hinky. Elves and their antics had always amused him and while he’d not been particularly outspoken about trying to change the order of things, he did treat Hogwarts’ house-elves with more than a modicum of respect. Of course, Hinky was not exactly a house-elf, and this was no Wizarding school.
The room they entered was a workshop, and these were hard-working elves. Boxes stacked from floor to ceiling — some open, some filled — and everywhere he looked, the elves were hard at their assembly work. At the head of the room, consulting what appeared to be an endless list, stood the one the elf had referred to as The Father. Looking up over his reading glasses, the white-haired old man broke into a jolly smile. “Albus!”
Dumbledore moved over quickly, grinning through his beard. “My friend. It’s so lovely to see you.”
“And you. It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year.”
Albus laughed mildly. “Time does have a nasty habit of passing, whether we like it or not.”
The Father let out a much hardier laugh. “For some of us, at least. Are you ready, dear friend?”
Albus nodded. “Ready.” He drew his wand from a hidden sleeve, as did The Father. Spells flew round the room; the elves stood back and watched in delight as the remainder of the toys simply jumped to attention and built themselves. As the magic did its work the elves began to sing.
Jolly old St. Nicholas, Lean your ear this way!
Don't you tell a single soul, What I'm going to say;
Christmas Eve is coming soon, Now, you dear old man,
Whisper what you'll bring to me: Tell me if you can.
A telltale glimmer shimmered in Albus’s eyes. “Saint Nicholas, that’s what they call you now?”
The Father grinned and nodded. “The ‘Saint’ part is honorary, I assure you. I would never be able to prepare and deliver all these gifts if it wasn’t for your help. I might have magic at my disposal, but this task is far beyond my means. It only works because you take time away from your responsibilities to help me, year after year.”
Albus stroked his long beard. “The ‘Saint’ business might as well be real. You’re a legend, you know, both for Muggles and for Wizards. But helping you is always my pleasure, my old and dear friend. By the way, I thought you might like to see this.” Reaching into his pocket, he drew out a Chocolate Frog card and handed it to the Father.
Father Christmas took it, studied it for a moment, and let out a laugh so hard his belly jiggled. “Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark Wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Prof. Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and ten-pin bowling. You look good on a card, my friend. Remind me to have a set of bowling pins delivered to your office on Christmas.”
Dumbledore laughed, gesturing to the room. “And you do wonderful work… partner.” Lowering his wand, he beamed at The Father, the Elder Wizard, the Supreme Alchemist, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas: he was known by all these names, but to Albus, he would always and forever simply be his oldest and most talented friend, Nicolas Flamel. “Tell me, how is Perenelle these days?”
“Getting on,” Flamel admitted. He, too, lowered his wand and surveyed the factory carrying on in full swing. “But beautifully. Come, she'll be delighted to see you. I believe she's even got your lemon drops waiting.”
Viv, I could've made this into a 20,000 word thing if I'd kept going, but I wanted you to get your story. Happy Christmas!
This was my last prompt in the December meme. Thanks for playing along with me, I had too much fun. Happy Christmas, everyone who celebrates it. Have a wonderful day.
vivien isn't doing Yuletide this year, but that shouldn't stop her from getting a fic! Viv requested Albus Dumbledore and Father Christmas. Who am I to say no? HAPPY CHRISTMAS, VIV!The only way to get to the workshop was, of course, by Portkey. The Floo network wasn’t nearly large enough, Apparating such a distance would be far too risky, and traveling by portrait was only an option for those who couldn’t travel any other way. Albus pulled his robes round himself and cast a quick warming spell. No matter how many times he’d been here, he still couldn’t get used to quite so much snow.
A sweet and innocuous elf bowed deeply. Its tea-towel had at one time obviously been laid out for Christmas, with its decorations of trees and reindeer. “Welcome, Headmaster,” he said without looking up. That was the house-elf’s way.
Albus smiled down at the elf graciously. “Thank you, good friend. Whom do I have the honor of addressing?”
The elf blushed furiously, and his voice quavered. “I’m called Hinky.” For a moment his knees knocked, but he regained his composure. “The Father is waiting for you, Headmaster, Sir. This way.”
Doing his best to contain his amusement, Albus followed Hinky. Elves and their antics had always amused him and while he’d not been particularly outspoken about trying to change the order of things, he did treat Hogwarts’ house-elves with more than a modicum of respect. Of course, Hinky was not exactly a house-elf, and this was no Wizarding school.
The room they entered was a workshop, and these were hard-working elves. Boxes stacked from floor to ceiling — some open, some filled — and everywhere he looked, the elves were hard at their assembly work. At the head of the room, consulting what appeared to be an endless list, stood the one the elf had referred to as The Father. Looking up over his reading glasses, the white-haired old man broke into a jolly smile. “Albus!”
Dumbledore moved over quickly, grinning through his beard. “My friend. It’s so lovely to see you.”
“And you. It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year.”
Albus laughed mildly. “Time does have a nasty habit of passing, whether we like it or not.”
The Father let out a much hardier laugh. “For some of us, at least. Are you ready, dear friend?”
Albus nodded. “Ready.” He drew his wand from a hidden sleeve, as did The Father. Spells flew round the room; the elves stood back and watched in delight as the remainder of the toys simply jumped to attention and built themselves. As the magic did its work the elves began to sing.
Jolly old St. Nicholas, Lean your ear this way!
Don't you tell a single soul, What I'm going to say;
Christmas Eve is coming soon, Now, you dear old man,
Whisper what you'll bring to me: Tell me if you can.
A telltale glimmer shimmered in Albus’s eyes. “Saint Nicholas, that’s what they call you now?”
The Father grinned and nodded. “The ‘Saint’ part is honorary, I assure you. I would never be able to prepare and deliver all these gifts if it wasn’t for your help. I might have magic at my disposal, but this task is far beyond my means. It only works because you take time away from your responsibilities to help me, year after year.”
Albus stroked his long beard. “The ‘Saint’ business might as well be real. You’re a legend, you know, both for Muggles and for Wizards. But helping you is always my pleasure, my old and dear friend. By the way, I thought you might like to see this.” Reaching into his pocket, he drew out a Chocolate Frog card and handed it to the Father.
Father Christmas took it, studied it for a moment, and let out a laugh so hard his belly jiggled. “Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark Wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Prof. Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and ten-pin bowling. You look good on a card, my friend. Remind me to have a set of bowling pins delivered to your office on Christmas.”
Dumbledore laughed, gesturing to the room. “And you do wonderful work… partner.” Lowering his wand, he beamed at The Father, the Elder Wizard, the Supreme Alchemist, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas: he was known by all these names, but to Albus, he would always and forever simply be his oldest and most talented friend, Nicolas Flamel. “Tell me, how is Perenelle these days?”
“Getting on,” Flamel admitted. He, too, lowered his wand and surveyed the factory carrying on in full swing. “But beautifully. Come, she'll be delighted to see you. I believe she's even got your lemon drops waiting.”
Viv, I could've made this into a 20,000 word thing if I'd kept going, but I wanted you to get your story. Happy Christmas!
This was my last prompt in the December meme. Thanks for playing along with me, I had too much fun. Happy Christmas, everyone who celebrates it. Have a wonderful day.
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Merry Christmas, lady! ♥