Happy Birthday Little Fyre
After an hour and after her mother's trepidation cooled to at least a simmer, the three made an odd group sitting in a suite in a muggle hotel. It was a big room, with a television and everything, but Alice was too captivated by the little dragon for anything else to have her attention.
Her mother was fidgety and kept shoving her hands behind her back and continued looking out at a window.
"Don't be so worried Fyre, if I were going to kill you and your pretty little daughter, I would have." Freya said sitting back comfortably on the sofa. She had removed her cloak, revealing that most of her body was covered in scars. She wore them how some people wore creative tattoos.
The scars looked like the ones Alice's mother covered in shame. Alice also knew her mother hadn't chosen her scars. Freya was someone who worked with dragons, she chose her scars. Alice hoped to have a slew of scars someday if she did her job right.
"Oh, I'm sure." Her mother's eyes darted around, she was sitting on her hands now. She was sitting as far away from Freya as possible, leaning away from her so far she was practically falling off of the sofa.
Freya rolled her eyes, "And don't worry this little meetup will remain private, I don't need anyone knowing I did this, could ruin my reputation, people might say I've gone soft."
Alice was sitting on the white carpeted floor, playing with the little dragon, watching her fly around her head and rubbing its belly.
Duke was on the floor as well, but the girl dragon wouldn't let him nearer than an inch. He'd tip toe closer and the girl dragon would growl at him.
"Oh that's typical." Freya explained, "Especially at her age-"
"So you are saying she hasn't reached full maturity right?" Alice sat up and asked. "By her underdeveloped wingspan I assume she's barely three, maybe four years old."
Freya's lips parted before leaning forward, "You are right."
Alice watched the little dragon roll onto her on her back again, Alice had read once that dragons liked when you mimicked them, so she rolled on her back.
"She hasn't chosen her lifetime companion yet has she?" Alice asked as the little dragon stuck a tongue out at her. She followed suit and stuck out her tongue.
"No, well with no other small dragons to cling to, she hasn't had the chance." Freya said, her eyes glued to them. "And I've tried to prevent her attaching herself to me."
"That's very difficult I assume." Alice rolled back onto her belly, with the little dragon following.
"It is." Freya leaned forward before looking back to Alice's mother, "How old are you kid?"
"You don't have to answer any questions." Her mother spat before Alice could answer.
Freya rolled her eyes, "I'm not asking her to sign her life away with me, I'm asking how old she is."
"I'm fifteen, today." Alice answered scowling slightly at her mother. Alice didn't see the harm in Freya knowing a bit about her.
"Well then happy birthday!" Freya smirked, "I assume that means you are Alice then? You are the youngest?"
Alice nodded as the little dragon jumped to her shoulder, "Yes, I'm Alice."
"Have any hobbies Alice?"
"That's enough." Her mother snapped.
"Yes, I play Quidditch." Alice giggled as the dragon nudged its nose against her ear. "I'm the Keeper."
"Have to be very strong to be a Keeper." Freya smirked, "Difficult at your stature I presume."
"Oh very, but I've been able to manage." Alice giggled more, "I'm hoping to build my strength so I can be a Dragonologist."
"Alice." Her mother's voice became louder but Alice ignored her.
"Difficult career." Freya rubbed her neck, but a smile had grown to fully spread across her thin lips.
"Oh I know." Alice giggled, "Char-"
"Alice!" Her mother yelled this time, silencing both Freya and Alice. Alice could feel a sting in her throat, she'd gone too far.
"That's fine Fyre." Freya sat back, her nostrils flared at Alice's mother. "Protective mother bit. I understand, you don't want me knowing too much about your little baby. I'm not going to hurt her, I promise. I'll do an unbreakable vow if you need it."
"No, just cut the Dragon questions." Her mother scowled, "No offense, but seeing as it's her chosen career, I'd prefer her not take advice from a poacher. We have resources lined up for her future."
"Touché." Freya nodded her head. "I worry for her boyfriends if you are this protective."
"I've never had a boyfriend for her to worry about." Alice explained with a lean against her fist, "But then again Min's boyfriend never went through the wringer and he should have."
"Oh." Freya's eyes lit up, like a single star in a dark night. "You can't be that pretty and never have had a boyfriend."
"Nope." Alice said feeling very complimented. She knew she was pretty, everyone said so. Even people who didn't like her said she was a beautiful girl. "Boys are intimidated by my obnoxious and headstrong nature, not to mention I'm better at Quidditch than all of them."
"So they pretend not to like it, but honestly real men appreciate a woman with some power behind them." Freya leaned closer to her.
Alice's mother began to protest, but Freya cut her off quickly.
"I may not be the best for respectable dragon careers, but I possibly have amazing advice for dating, I mean I was an innocent fifteen year old at one point." Freya narrowed her eyes towards Alice's mum.
"Were you?" Her mother's sarcastic ton was a common friend Alice had encountered before.
Freya laughed a little, "And there was a boy I was quite beside myself for,"
"Kai Jones?" Alice asked leaning closer. She wondered what he was really like as a child.
"Sure." Freya smirked.
Alice's mum rolled her eyes but didn't protest.
"Let's just say, he was very preoccupied, other girls, Quidditch,-"
"Dragons?" Alice interrupted.
"Sure." Freya shrugged a little. "Honestly, more my lifelong obsession, my point is, I got him to notice me."
"How?" Alice moved closer. She didn't mean to, but her mind flashed to Lorcan.
Freya giggled, "First I made out with his best friend, then everyone else on the Quidditch team but him, then I screw- "
"I don't remember Kai being on a Quidditch team." Alice's mum interrupted, stopping Freya from finishing her words.
"Alright, it wasn't Kai." Freya leaned back, "My point is, I did eventually get that fellow. And when I did finally realize Kai was the person I wanted, I got him too. Taking charge and being desirable has always worked for me."
"Has it?" Alice's mum asked as she pulled out a flask from her pocket. She took a quick swig.
"Better than the raging alcoholism has for you." Freya said, her eyes lingering on the flask.
"That's not alcohol. That's my mum's medicine." Alice blurted excitedly, "She has to take it!"
"Medicine?" Freya laughed, "Is that what they call Whiskey now?"
"No, she has a blood Malediction!" Alice stood up, clenching her fist aggressively. The little dragon jumped on her shoulder and began to growl at Freya.
Duke flew up to Alice's mother, he laid onto her chest.
"I forgot about that, you barely mention it in your books." Freya looked at Alice's mother. "Don't want people knowing your weaknesses?"
Her mother struggled to get a word out, "I-"
"Don't you dare mock my mother. She isn't weak at all." Alice said in a tone she averagely saved for Cas.
Freya began to laugh like the bubble of a cauldron.
"Don't you dare mock me!" Alice stepped closer to Freya. "Did you know it was actually made worse by you poisoning her years ago?"
"What?" Freya's mouth began to gape as her laughter stopped.
"And because of her condition being horrible, she almost died giving birth to me." Alice reached into her pocket for her wand, she wanted to stop talking, this woman could kill her. She couldn't help the words as they flowed. "And that's because of you."
Freya silently looked her over, a whiteness had gripped her face, like the sheets her Gran preferred.
"Then she took a torture curse two winters ago!" Alice warned, her eyes narrowing, "I'm lucky to still have a mother! So don't you dare mock her condition."
"Alice." Her mother calmly begged, "Wand away, now."
Alice put the wand away into her pocket, the ribbon Lysander had attached still glittering.
"Who'd you piss off Fyre?" Freya raised an eyebrow dragging her eyes from Alice. "No one just performs the torture curse freely unless they really hate you, or they are psychotic."
"Lark Crawford." Her mother said before taking another drink.
"That author that went coo coo?" Freya leaned back, "The one with the dementors?"
"That's the one." Her mother looked sick, her face turning green.
"Damn, I knew he attacked the school, but I didn't know it was about you." Freya laughed, but cut the laugh midway, "Old boyfriend?"
Alice defended without thinking, "My mum isn't a slag."
Without even a trace of sarcasm her mother said, "Thanks Alice."
"Then how'd you piss him off?" Freya asked.
Her mother turned her face back to Freya, "A long time ago, he used an enchantment on me, and um-he made me, um- well he was trying to get to the Prophet." Her mother said nervously looking around.
Freya's face was no longer mocking Alice's mother. Instead the corners of her eyes softened as she muttered, "What does that even mean?"
Even the dragons became quiet as Freya stared at Alice's mother.
Freya's fist tightened, "What did he make you do?"
"Nothing I would like to mention in front of my daughter." Her mother's eyes lingered on Alice.
Freya stood up aggressively making the table shake, "Where is the bastard?"
Both Alice and her mother shared a confused expression. Alice had a small idea what had happened with Crawford, she wasn't completely ignorant, but why would Freya of all people react to that?
"Sit down, he's in Askaban." Alice's mother said in an exceptionally calm tone. Her eyes had drifted far from Freya and wasn't focusing on anything, just out.
"For what he did to you?" Freya's eyes were wild. Alice decided to never be on the receiving end of such dark eyed fury.
"Well, the torture curse yeah, but mostly for the disappearances and the dementor uprising." Her mother grimaced, "Please, sit down."
Freya forced herself back down. "He is scum."
"Ironic coming from you." Alice's mother quipped.
"I would never be involved in anything of that-" Freya shook her head, looking at Alice, "I'd never be in that sort of business."
"You use the imperious curse, a lot."
"I would never make anyone do what I suspect he did to you, I'd rather just commit murder, it's faster, less painful." Freya spoke so softly that Alice realized Freya was speaking from experience.
Alice's mother ceased shaking after another moment of bleak silence, "So do you mean to leave the dragon with me? If she's meant to be Duke's mate I suppose you do."
"I was, but now I think she should be in Alice's care." Freya revealed looking to her as Alice remained standing above her. "We can't separate them now, it's obvious they've bonded. And this way, Duke can finally have a mate in close proximity."
Alice's heart leapt out of her chest, "Really?"
"Of course." Freya smirked.
"Mum really?"
Her mother said, "It looks like we don't have a choice."
"I knew it, I knew something amazing would happen when I turned fifteen." Alice breathed out, "And here she is."
"Merlin's pants." Her mother began to rub her neck.
Freya took Alice's hand, it felt clammy, "She is obviously more than capable to care for the dragon."
"She is." Her mother put her head into her hands, "But I can't be responsible for breeding dragons."
"I'm sure you can find help, you are rich enough." Freya nodded before standing, she went to a drawer and pulled out a bag. "Kid, this is for the dragon, it should be enough to keep her fed for at least a month or two. Your mum can take care of the rest with all those royalties she gets."
Alice took the bag, it was heavy. "Mum likes me to pay for my own hobbies. It creates responsibility and all."
"Alice, I'll help you." Her mother stood, summoning her cane into her hand, "Special circumstances and all."
"That's lovely," Freya said, her eyes circling Alice's face. She walked over and touched under her chin with her knuckles. "Happy Birthday little Fyre."
"No one's ever called me my mum's name before." Alice said looking up into the woman's dark eyes. "It's funny though, that's what my middle name means."
"What's your middle name?" Freya asked.
"Eiden." Alice looked onto her shoulder where her little dragon now sat, "What's her name? Her human name I mean, I know Dragon's have names they give themselves, but humans can't pronounce them."
"Well, she doesn't have one." Freya walked over before putting a hand on Alice's shoulder, "You belong to her now, so you must name her."
"I'm going to name her Stardust." Alice exclaimed making the little dragon stand up on her hind legs and turn around. "Stardust Alison Longbottom."
They left a few moments later with Alice's mother muttering to herself, "How in the world am I going to explain this to your father?"
"Say it's a birthday present?" Alice said as she and Dusty twirled around together.
"I don't lie to your father."
"Then tell him the truth I suppose." Alice shrugged in response as Dusty flew around her feet. "He will meet Dusty and totally understand mum, I just know he will! He will understand because she's so beautiful."
"I suppose." Her mother hobbled through the streets of Diagon Alley again. "I thought her name was Stardust?"
"Dusty as a nickname." Alice giggled as Duke again attempted to get closer to Dusty by jumping off of her mum's shoulder.
Dusty growled at Duke, making him jump backwards.
"So then it's Duke and Dusty?" Alice's mum's smile crept across her face, "Ok, that is adorable. How'd you pick the middle name?"
Alice felt her cheeks become warm, "Oh mum it's not nearly as meaningful as my name is."
"Well, your father and I do have some excellent naming skills." Her mother chuckled, "But I'm sure you have a good meaning for Dusty's middle name, is it a play on your name?"
"It's Taylor Swift's middle name." Alice said proudly pulling her shoulders back.
Her mother rolled her eyes a bit, "I should have known."