Dumbledore's Daughter: Islay.

She Is Only A Child.

Silver flew through the air as a tiny girl moved freely on a wooden stick. The broom moved a little unsteady to begin with but eventually the moves where smooth and rapid. Small hands clasped onto the stick with great strength as the field was lost from sight. Clouds took over Islay's vision and her broom was pointed down. Soon the floor that radiated green came into view and a man stood seemingly alone in the outskirts watching as her body came back into view. The freedom spread through thin fingers as the broom came plummeting to the ground. Wide eyes watched in hopes of her safe return and just before any spells had to get involved the broom was pulled. Feet slightly brushed the ground as the broom zoomed effortlessly through the air. A slight pink tint took to her cheeks as the chilled air hit her but still she soldiered on. Far above the stadium just in view of her father Islay stopped. Albus wanted to check on her but she started again. Her longs hair pulled into a safe ponytail. The rapid speed that she forced herself on with was mind boggling as she was moving around like a flash.

"Daddy. Can I practice with a snitch?" The old man didn't hesitate as his hand was opened and the golden ball flew valiantly through the wood around. The metal ball hurtled through the space and soon disappeared into the stadium. The man watched eagerly waiting for her to fly back out. "She is exceptionally gifted at the sport. Will she be chosen to play for her house I wonder?" The man shook his head to disagree and Rolanda relaxed her shoulders with disappointment. "I would have been proud to call her a team captain, no matter the house." Slinking away Minerva spoke from the other side. "Does she know of your decision yet?" His long hair shook to disagree and so the older woman clasped his forearm. "She will need to know." His blue eyes kept to the structure beneath him but a slight nod came and Minerva knew she had been heard. "I am required to be elsewhere for a week. Do you mind caring for her?" Beady eyes peered through the glass at the man. "Once in all three of our lives have I been required to care for her. Sometimes I swear I still catch a glimpse of green in my hair." The sharp tone left the man to change his advances of conversation. "Very well. I shall ask Poppy." The old man walked off before she could discuss the matter further.

"Islay, I require you to come back." The silver haired girl flew and landed delicately, broom in one hand and snitch expertly caught in the other. "Yes daddy." The pale, almost completely white, eyes moved from person to person. "Two things. I believe that you know I would never allow you to play a game of quidditch as part of a school team." The girl nodded and did not seem perturbed at all by his words. "Second of all I am required, elsewhere, for a week. I shall be leaving you in the care of M..." the man stopped when a thick Scottish one interrupted. "Me." The girl nodded and agreed. "Promise to come back. Not just that but safely too." Albus placed a finger on her nose tip and rapidly moved it down. "Now bean. I make no promises but my job here is not done. I will come back, one way or another." The sweet exchange was what Minerva slightly wished for herself but knew it could never happen and so forgot all about it.

"What do you wish to do?" Minerva asked interrupting the pair who stared into one another's eyes. "Well, you always tell me how you are so busy or too busy. I can read or spend time with Poppy as it would probably be less intrusive." Despite being young the girl always spoke so evenly. "I am your godmother and it was time I could act like one. I shall spoil you rotten." Shy looks were sent occasionally to Minerva as her upper body twisted and hands played with the hem of the tightly fitted shirt. "That would be nice." The older man kissed his daughter's cheek and head. He was gone like a shot and the pair were left alone.

"Can you tell me about Harry Potter?" The two were side by side and their slow steps back to the castle allowed for a long conversation. "He was born not too long after you. He was 5 months later. A prophecy was heard about him and so The-Dark-Lord tried to kill him. You see his mother loved him so much that it protected him. He lost both of his parents but the spell had backfired. The baby in a way killed the most evil wizard to ever live." The answer caused more questions to swirl in Islay's head even more but they were all forced down. "Am I in danger being daddy's daughter?" Surprised by the adult question Minerva let her face answer for her. "How bad?" A pointed face met Islay and a rapid topic change was made. "You still have not told me what you wish to do." Thinking a little on the question Islay answered honestly. "I wish to just spend time with you. Daddy often does work and so I have learnt to entertain myself." The isolated situation resulted in a sorrowful state. "I know that he means the world to you but you can make friends that doesn't include him in anyway." Islay just shrugged. "I don't really have anyone else. Mummy is dead and you are so busy. All of the other adults here are so occupied. Poppy is kind and we spend a lot of time together but she has to care for all the students. Uncle Aberforth is also busy. I know that he is my godfather but he has a shop to run. I only really fit into daddy's life." Only honesty came from the small girl as they approached the castle. "I suppose I might make friends at school though and I am sure I will have fun." Minerva found her hand falling into the smaller witch's as they walked.

"I am sorry for inconveniencing you. I know how I acted last time." Flashes of the round girl took the older woman by surprise. "You used to be so stubborn and resilient. I mean you are still resilient but now you just accept things." The voice sounded lost and eerie. "When I am with daddy I still am. I suppose I realised that I am only one person filled with a world of important someones." The professor huffed. "You need to get out more. Come on, you know it is bad when an old woman is telling you. We can go to the kitchens and bake something. We can shop later." Merrily the girl walked into the kitchen. "I have never done this before." The older woman walked past Islay and to a surface. The elves where off probably sleeping as they weren't required to cook anywhere near as much.

"I shall teach you." Cupboards were opened as the pair searched for desired ingredients that would help them make what they wished. "Found them." The last one finally being spotted the work surface was cleared slightly to allow for the bowl. "Right, two cups of this." A bag of sugar and a metal measuring container were handed to her and the measurements were exact. The brown sugar was like sand and almost asked to be played with but Islay held back. "One mug of butter." A large spoon was dug into the container and soon the mug was being emptied.

The bowl was filled with ingredients and so Minerva rolled Islay's sleeves back. "Mix it all together. Make sure no flour is left at the bottom." Hands became busy as the older woman slowly added flour when she saw fit. Eventually the raw cookie dough was in a ball shape and hardly even sticky. "Now, place that into the bowl and wash your hands." As Islay did this McGonagall got greaseproof paper and trays.

"Get small amounts and roll them. Let them all sit on the paper a fair distance apart." This was done very specifically. The broken up chocolate bars were an obstacle as the balls easily became misshapen and roughly built. "Well done." The dough went into the oven and as one tray finished another was rolled and put in until all of the mix was gone. "You are a better teacher than I would be. I am not patient enough. I also require precision." Minerva finished removing the cookies from the paper. "You were excellent to teach. I am also a professor remember." The silver hair covered a slightly blushing face as she realised the mistake made. "Don't you act shy. You once turned my hair luminous green and made me sure you were possessed."

Finishing up the dishes were done by magic as the pair packed away the food. "Daisy." The small elf appeared with groggy brown eyes. "We baked cookies. You and all of your friends may eat them." The small elf practically ran off and a stampede was heard as elves all wanted to see if it was true. Daisy ate one first and kept giving her thanks as the cookie tasted outstanding. "It wasn't me at all as all I did was what I was told." Islay remarked as the pair left the room. "Now, it is bed time. Bath, book, bed." Islay nodded and headed to her room. "No. You're in my room. Clothes are already there. My sofa will be a simple transfiguration." Turning on her heels Islay followed the woman rapidly.

As the week ended Albus walked in to see a quiet girl reading. "Keep at that and the school will run out of books for you to read." Islay ran to her father and had she been stronger he would have been crushed. "Now bean. How was it?" The child nodded readily. "I had fun. I can make cookies, I have a new dress and my hair was cut. My split ends are no more. I didn't know that uncle Aberforth was so handy with scissors." Albus tried not to show the discomfort as he patted her head lovingly. "How was she?" Minerva sighed. "You need to let her off the leash. She isn't a puppet you can control forever. You won't be here forever."

The pair were together once again and Islay pushed every boundary when she could. The broom seemed to consume her time and continuous begs of being allowed to try out fell on deaf ears. "Daddy. I will be safe and you saw how quick I can be." His paperwork filled his mind and so off Islay went in search of entertainment. The halls were empty as students were sat on the train ready to start school. Another year would have to be wasted by Islay as she readied for the next chapter of her so far short life. The many lessons she had witnessed from afar would soon be there for her to experience firsthand.