Dementor

The Walk Home

"Father!"

Kirsty Lowe bolted out from the cover of the brown bridge that extended across a very deep valley below, and ran straight into her father's arms on the other side!!

She was wearing black robes around her person, which seemed too big for her small body. Nevertheless, they enclosed her lower legs rather nicely. The robes were trimmed around their edges with the color of dark yellow.

"Oof!" Frederick grunts, embracing his young offspring. "Was your day as lovely as I said it would be?"

"Oh my...it was better! You won't believe it; i'm a Hufflepuff!!" Kirsty squealed gleefully, still holding onto her father's crimson coat!

"A hufflahuh?"

"Oh...you mean to say that you do not know about the houses!?"

"I don't go to school anymore, darling."

"You should still know, you hob."

"Well, I'll tell you what. You can inform me on the walk home."

"Okay!" Kirsty squealed once more, taking a hold of her father's hand and letting him lead the way out of the stone circle. "And check this out..."

Kirsty pulled a small coin purse out of her robe pocket, and held it up above her face with small, anxious fingers! "All of the professors gave the classes these bags. I have ALL of my books, and even my cat in there!"

"Ah, the extension charm?"

"I believe so!"

"Sounds like you've had a worthwhile day, love."

"Oh, and let me tell you about the houses!"

"Stop."

Frederick stopped walking as he and Kirsty approached the opening to a path; it led straight down into the woods that surrounded Hogwarts castle.

Frederick knew about the forest, and what might be inside, so he wanted to make sure that nothing was going to harm him or his daughter.

"What's the matter, father?"

"Shh." Frederick hisses, reaching into his large coat and drawing his 10" wand out. He aimed it directly in front of his body, as if there was an invisible creature ahead that had taken an offensive position.

However, there was nothing visibly there.

Kirsty carefully slid behind her father, watching curiously. 

"Protego Maxima." Frederick said calmly, waving his wand up over his head, and bringing it down along the sides of his body.

A bright light had encased both of the Lowe's within a small, dome-like case of protection. Almost as quickly as it had come, the light shimmered away into the air, and departed the two for good.

"Father, what-"

"It's okay, darling. I put an protective charm around both of us, just now. If you stay close to me, nothing can harm us."

"Why would anybody harm us?"

"It's not always someONE who wants to do harm, darling. I...I suppose I never mentioned that fact to you."

"Now I don't want to go in there, father."

Almost immediately, Frederick let out a huge sigh of breath from his chest. He had been so naive...and so blinded by his own fear for his daughter; he had never taught Kirsty anything about defending herself...or anything to defend yourself from.