siren and serpent

chapter 1

"Del? Del?! CORDELIA!"
"Merlin, what is it dad?"
"I didn't spend an hour making you breakfast just so it could get cold! Come and eat darling." He insisted. Father never was the best at cooking, I'm not suprised it took him an hour. However he is probably one of my favorite people on this planet, that man. He always cheers me up when I'm feeling glum, and tells me the best stories. Many of them were of my mother. I never knew her, but the way he speaks of her makes me feel like I did. Her name was Mira and  she was absolutely beautiful. In the pictures my dad shows me, the first thing that gets my attention is the long, sparkling silver hair, deep blue eyes, and glistening smile. All of which were passed onto me. Thankfully.

"Del, will you put the kettle on while I change out of these?" Said father while gesturing to his clothes completely covered in eggs, flour, and strawberry jelly.

"Yes of course, any preference?" I asked.

"Erm- I think lady grey will do nicely today." He replied.

"Coming right up!" I cheered whilst turning on my heels into the kitchen.

As I light a flame on the stovetop and reach for the tea in the cupboard, a silvery glint catches my eye. As I look out, there sat a glimmering silver phoenix perched on the windowsill.

"Father!" I beckoned.

"Yes dear? Is there a problem with the stove again? These muggle inv- Merlin's beard!" he exclaimed. Then he ran to the window and opened it, in it flew and opened its mouth, a voice softly filled the room saying,

"Hello Oliver, I am here to request to speak with you and your daughter about her education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please respond soon, for I have much more work to do before term starts. I would be delighted to meet young Miss Cascade. Sincerely, Albus"

"Albus? As in Albus Dumbledore?!" I asked.
He remained silent.

Father stood still for a moment, then grabbed his wand from his back pocket. Which is never a good place to keep it by the way. After muttering a few words, he waved his wand, and a silver fox emerged and ran out through the window of which the phoenix had once been perched. Father has shown me his patronus before, but I've never seen him actually use it. When I was younger I asked him what it was. He simply said, "Protection." So why was he sending it back to Dumbledore? Was Dumbledore a threat?

"You said a patronus is for protection, is Dumbledore dangerous?" I asked.

"Oh definitely not, but... me and an old group of friends would use them to communicate. Just as Dumbledore sent his patronus with a message, I sent mine back with a reply. Using our patronuses made it harder for people we didn't want to hear what we were saying." He explained, then started walking up the stairs. " You should get dressed and finish making the tea, you would like to impress the headmaster wouldn't you?" He asked.

"The headmaster?!" I shouted.

"Well who else would come here to talk about Hogwarts? Certainly not Cornelius Fudge!" He joked. "Go on! Get dressed Darling! He'll be here soon."

I quickly ran upstairs and threw on a green blouse with a black skirt that went just below my knees. I then went back and finished preparing the tea finally. As I finished setting the table with cups and a plate of cockroach clusters, there is a knock on the door. Father comes down the stairs and proceeds to open it.

"Ah, hello Albus." Father greeted.

"Hello, Oliver. May I come in?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes of course, of course. Del has prepared tea." he replied. "Oh- I will be right back. I've forgotten something." Father said as he bolted up the stairs.

"No worries Oliver, I am quite delighted to be here." Dumbledore said cheerfully, then turned to where I was standing and smiled.

"Hello, Miss Cascade."