I Do Believe in Fairies ☽ 𝗔 𝗛𝗣 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 [1] ✔️

xviii| Little, White, Lies.

Albus Dumbledore always indulged on hot chocolate after a day of ministry duties. It was a tradition for the Headmaster to wander down to the kitchen, ask one of the house-elves to make the warm beverage (with a drop of firewhisky occasionally) and then stroll about the castles, conversing with the many portraits.

With a jam-packed day behind him, Albus decided tonight was definitely a night for a whisky hot chocolate. So at around half-past eleven, Albus left his chambers, taking a secret shortcut to the kitchens.

It only took the elves ten minutes to make the beverage, sending the headmaster on his way. However, this night was not silent, instead resembling a horrific nightmare.

As he made his way up the grand staircase, he could hear the portraits whispering among themselves, some crying out for help. Wondering what all the commotion was about, Albus asked the painting beside him.

The portrait of Godric Gryffindor lifted his head, displaying the sombre look on his face," Oh it's awful, to think someone could do this to a professor."

Immediately concerned, Albus dashed the staircase, his face whitening as he saw blood pooling around the bottom of the steps, spilling off the bannister. Taking a deep breath, the headmaster walked around the corner off the staircase, blocking out the screams and wails of the portraiture.

The image before him brought the man to pieces, unable to comprehend the situation. Maria Lightly was sprawled out on the staircase, drenched in a sea of her blood, positioned as if she tried to climb on.

Shouting across the grand staircase, Albus rushed over to the fairy, checking for a pulse as he barked out orders, "Send for Madam Pomfrey now! There's been an attack!"

Holding back his tears, Albus scooped up Maria, trying his best to get her down the staircase and to hospital wings before it was too late. Luckily when he arrived, Madam Pomfrey was already there, fearful as to the circumstances.

"Albus, what happened- Oh my Merlin!" Poppy gasped as she got a good look at the beaten fairy.

Poppy guided him over to one of the empty cots, helping him lay Maria down. Before he could say anymore, Maria began to cough, choking on the red liquid building in her mouth.

"Quickly, roll her on to her side." Madam Pomfrey instructed, turning her head over to the right.

The drops of blood made an audible plop against the tiled floor, reminding them of the severity of the situation.

"I'm going to need you to wait outside, " Albus went to cut her off but the mediwitch had already shooed him over to the door, " It's going to take a while for me to do my work, and I can't have you breathing over my shoulders."

"She's going to be alright, it's the baby I'm worried about."

Albus nearly died standing, this was news to him. Yet before he could inquire further, Poppy left for the wing, shutting the doors behind her.

The waiting game began. One hour turned to two, quickly followed by three. By the fourth hour, Professor Dumbledore alerted Minerva of the situation, who hid her fear and anger behind a numb wall.

On came the fifth and sixth hours, the sun now rising above the castle. Both teachers waited apprehensively outside, their anxiety spiking.

"What did Madam Pomfrey mean she said 'baby'?" Albus asked Minerva, staring at the large oak doors ahead.

"Maria's pregnant Albus, she was trying to get hold of you all week to tell you," Minerva replied, gulping back a tear.

A small 'oh' from the headmaster finished the conversation just as the doors opened, revealing a rather dazed and shabby matron.

"She's stable, I was able to close the wounds while I put her on a blood replenishing drip, you can come in and wait with her until she wakes up." Madam Pomfrey explained as she guided them over to a cot.

A crisp white curtain closed off the fairy's bed. Taking a few steps forward Albus stood at the end of the bed, silent and unmoving as he took in the image before him.

Numerous drips hung out Maria's body, bandages covered her torso, legs and upper arms. Bruises dotted her cheeks, completely masking the beautiful women beneath.

Her eyes began to flutter, squinting at the bright lights, "Albus...Minnie?"

Minerva, who was staying in the chair next to her, gave her a consoling smile and gently squeezed her hand.

"The baby, is the baby alright?" Maria asked, her voice raspy and hoarse.

All three professors turned to the mediwitch, who visibly whitened, taking a few steps towards the end of the bed.

"Your pelvis was completely broken and some of the bones pierced your womb, " tears built up in her eyes as Madam Pomfrey composed herself, " the stab wounds and blood, there was so much blood, I'm so sorry but they didn't make it."

Albus could see the amount of anguish and desperation resonating on Maria's features.

Almost inaudible to the human ear, the fairy whispered through tears, "They?"

"Twins, a boy and a girl." Madam Pomfrey clarified.

At this moment, Maria completely broke down, jumping into a fit of hysterics, sobbing into the shoulder of Professor McGonagall.

Once her cry had died down a little, Albus rested himself on the corner of the cot, asking the all-important question, "Do you know who did this to you?"

Many emotions flashed across her face, from recollection to numbness, replying bluntly, "No."

"Are you sure?" Albus knew by her answer she was suppressing information.

"Yes I'm sure, " she irritatedly replied, attempting to sit up in her bed, "I want to see them."

Seeing her struggle, Poppy rushed over, trying to get her to stay put, "I'm not sure that's a good idea-"

"I want to see my children Madam Pomfrey!"

Silent at Maira's outburst, Poppy quietly helped her to her feet, bringing her over to two metal tables, both covered by a small white cloth.

"I'd like a moment with my children."

"Are you sure you're up to it?"Dumbledore questioned, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Yes, I'm damn well sure Albus, now let me be," Maria shouted, shrugging his hand away.

Sighing his head in defeat, Albus left the grieving fairy alone, stopping outside the curtain. The delicate cries scarcely caught his ear, reminding him of the amount of trauma Maria had experienced in one day, almost comparable to his own.

Abiding by Maria's wishes, Albus left the hospital wing along with Minerva, Poppy staying behind her desk to keep an eye on Maria's recovery.

Once outside the headmaster let out an exhausted sigh, rubbing his forehead.

"What do we do now Albus? Obviously, we'll have to arrange a funeral, but then what-" Minerva began to ramble, planning every last detail as her own way of coping with the situation.

Straightening his half-moon glasses, Albus spoke softly, "Now we let a grieving mother mourn for her children."

~~~~~~~

8

This chapter is late I know, I was working Monday and Tuesday so today is the only day I had to write. I promise I will try and get the chapters out on time like scheduled. Have a great day!

*The_lost_flower*