Nova's Universe

Chapter 11 (1998)

Charlie

Dominik's booming laughter echoed through the pub as he slammed his empty beer bottle on the table, finishing off his outrageous tale. "And then," he declared, wiping tears from his eyes, "I just stared him down, and the Ukrainian Ironbelly backed right down!"

Andrei almost fell off his stool, and I found myself wiping a tear away from my cheek, my sides splitting with laughter. Dom's story was pure invention, utterly unbelievable, but his delivery was pure gold.

"Come on, Dom," I wheezed, "you're telling me a grumpy Ironbelly just gave up because you wouldn't share your sausage?" The absurdity of it all just fueled the laughter.

"Exactly!" he roared, puffing out his chest.

He wanted to continue with his boasting when suddenly his eyes darted past me and Andrei. They widened comically, and a jolt of ice shot down my spine as I followed his gaze. Bill's Patronus shimmered into existence at the edge of the pub garden.

"Charlie," Bill's voice boomed, echoing all around us. "Gather everyone you can. There's a battle at Hogwarts."

The jovial atmosphere in the pub vanished instantly. We all scrambled to our feet, adrenaline coursing through me.

"Alright, listen up!" I barked, clapping my hands for attention. "Who knows how long this battle's been going on already. We need to get moving, and fast! Spread the word, send out owl messages, and gather everyone you can. We need to get to Hogwarts!"

"There's no time for a portkey, Charlie," Andrei interjected, his voice tight with urgency.

"I know that," I replied, my mind racing. "But I need to get to Nova first. We'll apparate there and hope for the best."

Andrei nodded grimly and began barking orders, mobilizing the small force we had gathered here in Romania. People started apparating in and out of the pub yard, their expressions a mix of confusion and apprehension. All I could hope for was that the network of allies we'd been building for years wouldn't let us down, no matter how many we could reach on such short notice.

I joined Andrei in his frantic efforts, informing and organizing the growing group before running outside with him at my side.

"Good luck, mate," he said, pulling me into a tight embrace. Then, with a sharp crack, he disapparated.

I watched him go, a lump forming in my throat. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself. There was no time for sentimentality. With a silent plea for Nova and our daughter's safety, I apparated myself.

Nova

Aoede clapped her chubby hands, her happy gurgles echoing through the cosy kitchen. "Yummy!" she declared, reaching for another bite of pureed broccoli.

"There you go, my strong girl," I cooed, swooping another spoonful toward her open mouth. "These little green trees will help you grow big and tall, just like your daddy."

My mum chuckled beside me, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I can't believe how much she loves vegetables," she said.

"Right?" I agreed, wiping a bit of stray puree from Aoede's chin. "It's like she has a built-in appreciation for them. Andrei even made up this whole story about Veggieland, a magical place where all the vegetables live and their only purpose is to make Aoede strong and healthy."

"And Charlie?" Mum inquired, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

"Oh, Charlie tried to involve dragons, of course," I laughed. "Something about Veggieland having special dragon guards made of broccoli to keep it safe. Aoede wasn't having any of it though."