serendipity - r. lupin

EIGHTY SIX

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Even in the almost always sunny town where they lived, it was hard to ignore that the winter had hit them harshly. A thick layer of snow had settled upon the ground for two weeks now, and it was predicted that the snow would only get heavier from here. Despite the cruel temperature outside, Thomas watched as his eldest daughter sat outside on their decking steps, wearing nothing but jeans and a thick jumper.

Surrounding Genevieve were five red-breasted robins, and they seemed somewhat comforted with her presence. While four were casually hopping around on the floor next to her, one was perched on her finger, singing its sweet, melodic morning song.

Genevieve whistled along with her, trying to match her tune to the robins. Or was the robins matching Genevieve? Thomas couldn't tell. All he knew was that whatever magic Genevieve had brought with her back home, she had also attracted more than a few animals. Thomas had observed that within the past few days of her being home, three foxes had casually strolled into their back garden, undaunted by the presence of humans inside the house. He had also caught a few red squirrels eating seeds from the bird feeder that Mary had perched in the trees.

Slipping on his shoes, he made his way outside with two cups of tea in his hands. Hearing her father approaching, Genevieve turned to him, an appreciative smile on her face as she gratefully accepted the mug of tea. "Thank you," she said, quietly, not wanting to scare the robin in her hand.

"They seem to like you," Thomas observed, watching the robins with a tenderness in his eyes.

"I can't understand why," said Genevieve.

"Neither do I," Thomas joked, earning a playful eye roll from Genevieve. "Do animals usually come up to you like this?"

"Sometimes, but usually in the summer when they are happier," Genevieve answered. "They mostly come up to my friend, Bradley. Or Alice."

"What does it mean if animals greet you?"

Genevieve furrowed her eyes. "Well, Professor Kettleburn has said before that it is a multitude of reasons," she explained, "The most common is having a kind soul, which I reckon is Bradley's case, but another explanation is that animals are also experimental creatures who which to be around different species. Animals can also communicate warnings through closeness. If I was taking a guess, that's what they're doing right now."

The robin, as if on command, gently shook its wings of orange hues and took flight from Genevieve's pale finger. With bright eyes, she watched as the robin flew to the sky of white.

Thomas watched Genevieve slowly take sip of her tea, her eyes closing in delight at the taste and taking comfort in it. "Warning you about what?" he asked.

"I'm not sure," replied Genevieve. "But i'll figure it out." Upon seeing the newspaper this morning, it was hard to ignore that the muggle attacks were getting closer to Dartmouth. Torquay was the closest attack, leaving a family of muggles dead.

Thomas stared at the robin with concern in his eyes. As a chill whipped through the air, he watched the robin's feathers ruffle, yet he seemed unbothered by the harsh cold. "Genevieve," Thomas started, already knowing what his daughter was thinking, "you don't have to worry about it."

"Do you worry about it, Dad?" Genevieve questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Naturally," said Thomas, a shrug in his shoulders. "That doesn't mean you should be, though. Don't you think you should be enjoying your youth while you still can?"

"Easier said than done."

Thomas let out a small sigh at his child's stubborn nature, a puff of cold smoke leaving his mouth. "Listen to me, Genny," he said. "What happens, happens, let it be fate that decides. You cannot intercept it, no matter how much you try stir it off its course."