After lunch, Mika and Minerva returned to the dressmakers’ to see if the wedding robes that Mika had ordered were finished.
“Ah, lay-dees!” Miss Dawdley exclaimed with an exaggerated smile and clasp of the hands. “Just in time to try on our lovely creation.”
He ushered the two women into the back fitting area and held up the most magnificent creation either woman had ever seen.
“Is it not just magnificent?” Miss Piddley’s round, piggy face turned pink with glee.
“Yes, please, do try it on.” Miss Dawdley pulled back a curtain and held the dress out for Mika, indicating that she should go inside and slip it on. Mika did this and a few moments later emerged, smiling broadly.
“It’s a perfect fit! How did you guys… um, ladies do such a fabulous job so quickly?” she marvelled, catching herself.
“Magic, my dear.”
“Of course!” Miss Dawdley clapped his hands in glee as he examined his and Miss Piddley’s work. “Absolutely splendid, don’t you agree?” he cooed.
“It is a most remarkable garment,” agreed Mrs. McGonagall. Even her ancient face beamed with delight.
Mika smiled and twirled around, coming to a stop and looking at herself in the set of full length mirrors that were there for just that purpose. As she stared into the centre mirror, however, her smile faded. The others saw her peer deeper and deeper into the mirror, a look of growing horror on her lovely features.
Minerva came forward immediately, alarmed, and looked into the mirror herself. “Mika, what is it?” she said worriedly. “Mika!”
The timelord opened her mouth, but no words came out. Slowly she raised her hand and pointed at the mirror. “Can’t you see it?” she whispered finally, her voice shaking as was her outstretched hand.
“No, Mika, I cannot see anything. Just your reflection, and mine of course,” Minerva said softly and soothingly.
“There! There in the mirror!” Mika’s voice was louder now and more hysterical. She tried to look away but just couldn’t. She was transfixed.
Seeing the distress their client was clearly in, Dawdley and Piddley rushed forward, wands out, and muttered spells that immediately covered all the mirrors with thick, black cloths.
“Oh, my dear! We are truly sorry!” The ‘Ladies’ were in terrible distress, wringing their hands, wands having disappeared again beneath their long skirts.
Now that the contact with the mirror was broken, Mika was able to look away and she immediately buried her face in Minerva’s consoling embrace.
“Oh, Min, it was horrible!” she sobbed into her robes.
“What did you see, my dear? Tell me what you saw and maybe I can understand?” she urged soothingly.
Mika took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. The dressmakers were rushing about frantically trying to make her more comfortable first by bringing her a chair in which Minerva gently seated her, then by bringing her a cup of tea. Then the two ‘lay-dees’ argued over the cup of tea, one insisting that she required something a bit stronger and brought out a bottle of brandy, and poured her a glass, offering it to her.
The timelady accepted the brandy and took a sip, Piddley offering Dawdley a smug ‘I told you so’ grin.
“Just take your time, Mika, that’s it. Now,” Minerva sat down in another chair that the dressmakers had brought in for her. “What was so horrible? What did you see?”
Mika leaned forward, her elbows on her knees, head held in her hands. She was trembling all over in spite of the caring attentions of Minerva and the dressmakers extraordinaire. She was thinking, trying to picture the image in her mind so that she could describe it accurately. She wasn’t sure what it meant, but she knew it was not good.
“I saw…” she began, her words slow and careful as she tried to remember every detail accurately, “a clearing in the forest. I was standing there at the end of a makeshift aisle. Everyone was there but I could hear nothing. Albus was standing with his back to me, a large book floating open beside him. I turned to see Remus, he was smiling but suddenly his smile faded and I found myself surrounded in flames. Everyone began screaming but I could not hear them. I heard maniacal laughter and then Albus turned around to reveal a grinning skull. The skull turned green and glowed and separated itself, Albus’ robes falling away to nothing. The laughing, grinning green glowing skull came closer to me closer…” Mika stared straight ahead as if seeing it all over again before her. “Suddenly I found myself atop a tall tower, the grinning skull above it. I was alone. I peered over the side to see a dark form crumpled and still on the ground beneath me. That’s when the mirror was covered. I didn’t see any more.”
She buried her head in her hands once more, her body wracked with sobs.
Minerva leaned in and hugged Mika to her comfortingly. “There, there now, I am sure it meant nothing.”
“I can’t go through with this wedding,” Mika said suddenly. “Not if it means people will be harmed. Not if… “ she swallowed hard, “not if Remus is in danger.”
“Oh Mika, you can’t halt the wedding on a mere vision,” Minerva began.
“But you don’t understand, Min. I have had these visions before. And they are almost always accurate. I can’t let anything happen to Remus. I would rather die.”
Sunday 17 July 2005
Dawdley and Piddley
Now that things had been arranged, it was time to really get going on the wedding preparations. After all, they now had less than a week! Minerva decided, at Dumbledore’s suggestion, to take Mika to Diagon Alley to be fitted for her wedding robes. Using flu powder, they set off early the next morning.
“I will take you to the best tailors in the wizarding world, Dawdley and Piddley. They specialise in wedding designs. But I must warn you,” Minerva whispered. “They are a bit… odd.”
“What do you mean by odd?” Mika asked, warily.
“You’ll see when you meet them,” was all she’d say.
The two women made their way through the busy magically hidden streets of Diagon Alley, where time had seemed to stand still sometime back in the late Victorian era. Minerva strolled along, her nose in the air as if she owned the place. Everyone they met in the street seemed to know her and greeted her in passing.
Mika, on the other hand, marvelled at all the wonderful sights and sounds and smells that filled the ancient street. The shops they passed were like none she had ever seen. She made a mental note to get Remus to bring her here when they could spend more time just browsing. It all seemed so fascinating.
Before long they came upon a shop that was a bit brighter and cheerier than all the others. In fact, it seemed strangely out of place. It was draped in white gauze and brightly coloured flowers both inside and out. Above the large plate glass window was a sign painted in fancy gold lettering. It read ‘Mssrs. Dawdley and Piddley, Dressmakers to the Magical Realm’.
Mika made a face as they entered the shop; everything was so flouncy and foo-foo-y.
She looked around whilst Minerva sought out the proprietors. She was admiring a black gypsy sort of dress when the two ‘men’ strolled in.
“Awww Mrs. McGonagall,” the one ‘gentleman’ greeted her with a flounce and a kiss on the hand. The other one merely curtsied. Yes, curtsied for both were adorned in full Victorian costume… women’s costume.
“And what can we do for you two lovely lay-dees today?” the first one, tall with dark ringlets and way too much makeup sang in a deep falsetto voice.
“My friend here, Miss Mika, would like to be fitted for a wedding dress. She is to be married on Saturday,” Minerva stated matter of factly but not without a trace of proud excitement in her voice, almost as if she were the bride’s mother.
The man strode over with an exaggerated grace. “Oh, Miss Mika, congratulations! And do we know the lucky wizard?” he said, looking between the two women.
“You may have heard of him,” Minerva responded. “Professor Remus Lupin.”
The two men gasped. “Not THE Remus Lupin?” the tall one gasped and looked over to his partner who was shorter and much rounder and had a moustache as well!
“Oh, my, what a lucky lucky man he is!” said the round one, approaching Mika and taking her hand.
“Allow me to introduce us to you. I am Miss Piddley and that is my partner, Miss Dawdley and we are totally at your service,” the strange little man curtsied, as did the tall one who was still standing by Minerva.
“Miss?” Mika said, casting a questioning glance at Mrs. McGonagall. The witch only shrugged and shook her head. “But you are guys, right?”
The tall one, Miss Dawdley glided over quickly to stand beside his/her partner. “Oh no, can’t you tell? We’re lay-dees!” They both said the last bit in unison.
Mika just looked at them, a shocked and puzzled look on her face. Minerva came to her rescue. “Trust me, my dear, these two are the best dressmakers in the wizarding world, in spite of their rather odd ways,” she said this casting them both a disapproving glance.
“If you say so,” the timelord said sceptically. “But Dawdley and Piddley? That sounds like they’re maybe a bit… slow. The wedding is Saturday. Will it be done….”
“Ohhh yes, my dear don’t let our names fool you,” said Piddley.
“We are in fact the fastest dressmakers in the world! If you select the pattern and material that you like now, we’ll have it done before you can finish your lunch,” added Dawdley.
“So, if you lay-dees would step right this way, we can begin to design a dress fit for a queen.”
Mika snickered at the way they both pronounced ‘ladies’ and followed them into the fitting area.
They seated Minerva and Mika down in a pair of elaborate, overstuffed Victorian armchairs and began showing samples of their wares. There were robes and dresses everywhere as well as the familiar moving photos of happy brides in their lovely garments on their happiest of days. Dawdley and Piddley themselves even modelled a few of their favourite designs themselves. It was very hard to keep from laughing.
But Mika was finally beginning to feel like a bride to be should, being surrounded by all this and being fussed over. She felt a shiver of excitement travel down her back and bring a smile to her lovely face. Before long she had picked out one that she really liked and hoped that Remus would like. The wizarding dressmakers extraordinaire then brought out their tape measures and autoquills to take down Mika’s measurements.
Once this was done, they spent the next few minutes choosing just the right fabric. In the end she chose a beautiful white silk embroidered material that seemed to have almost an iridescent sheen about it.
“It goes lovely with your magnificent eyes, does it not Miss Dawdley?”
“Oh indeed, Miss Piddley. You are soooo right.”
“Now, you lay-dees run along and finish the rest of your shopping…”
“Have a spot of lunch…”
“And we should be ready for the first fitting by the time you’re through,” they took turns saying as they ushered the women out of the shop so that they could begin work.
“They are certainly an odd pair!” Mika announced once they were outside the shop.
“I told you they would be,” Minerva almost giggled. “But you cannot deny that they are very good at what they do.”
“Hmmm, you were right about that too. So where to now?” she asked the older witch.
“Perhaps some lunch, as they suggested?”
Mika nodded and the two women turned to head down to the Saskia Lemongrass’s Sandwich Shop when they ran smack dab into none other than Lucius Malfoy.
“Ladies,” he greeted them coolly.
“Lucius,” Minerva eyed him as she always did, with contempt.
“Mr. Malfoy,” Mika nodded her head.
The elegant looking wizard glanced up to take note of the shop they had just emerged from. “Dawdley and Piddley’s?” he said, arching an eyebrow in curious amusement. “Don’t tell me that you’re getting married again, at your age, Minerva?” he drawled.
“As a matter of fact, I am not, Lucius,” she fairly spat out his name.
“I am,” Mika couldn’t help but beam at the thought.
Malfoy’s eyes widened in astonishment. “My dear! So soon have you captured the heart of some lucky man? My sincere congratulations. May I ask who this very lucky wizard is? Is it someone I know?”
Mika grinned coolly, knowing full well he would not like the answer. But she was proud and happy and couldn’t care less what Lucius Malfoy thought about her choice of husband.
“I believe you know him,” said Minerva. “It’s Professor Remus Lupin.”
The smile vanished from Malfoy’s face. “Lupin?” he nearly choked on the name. “My dear, you do know that he’s a…”
“Werewolf? Yes, I do. And it’s no matter to me. I love him and we’re getting married,” Mika said, her eyes filled with love for the sad professor. “Quite soon, in fact.”
The women could tell that he was both dumbfounded and extremely envious. Despite the fact that he was already married, Lucius Malfoy was so vain that he expected any woman whom he deemed beautiful to naturally have eyes only for him.
But apparently he must have held a great esteem for Mika for he refrained from doing his normal routine by sneering down his nose and making defamatory remarks about her choice of husband. “Well, my dear,” he was clearly struggling to maintain his cool charm. “I wish the both of you all the very best.” He took her hand and kissed it, with perhaps too much relish. “I shall bid you good day, then. Ladies.”
With a nod of his head, Lucius Malfoy strode off very quickly, as if he couldn’t wait to get away… or go and spread this news.
“Now that was most peculiar,” Minerva shook her head as she led Mika off in search of lunch.
“I will take you to the best tailors in the wizarding world, Dawdley and Piddley. They specialise in wedding designs. But I must warn you,” Minerva whispered. “They are a bit… odd.”
“What do you mean by odd?” Mika asked, warily.
“You’ll see when you meet them,” was all she’d say.
The two women made their way through the busy magically hidden streets of Diagon Alley, where time had seemed to stand still sometime back in the late Victorian era. Minerva strolled along, her nose in the air as if she owned the place. Everyone they met in the street seemed to know her and greeted her in passing.
Mika, on the other hand, marvelled at all the wonderful sights and sounds and smells that filled the ancient street. The shops they passed were like none she had ever seen. She made a mental note to get Remus to bring her here when they could spend more time just browsing. It all seemed so fascinating.
Before long they came upon a shop that was a bit brighter and cheerier than all the others. In fact, it seemed strangely out of place. It was draped in white gauze and brightly coloured flowers both inside and out. Above the large plate glass window was a sign painted in fancy gold lettering. It read ‘Mssrs. Dawdley and Piddley, Dressmakers to the Magical Realm’.
Mika made a face as they entered the shop; everything was so flouncy and foo-foo-y.
She looked around whilst Minerva sought out the proprietors. She was admiring a black gypsy sort of dress when the two ‘men’ strolled in.
“Awww Mrs. McGonagall,” the one ‘gentleman’ greeted her with a flounce and a kiss on the hand. The other one merely curtsied. Yes, curtsied for both were adorned in full Victorian costume… women’s costume.
“And what can we do for you two lovely lay-dees today?” the first one, tall with dark ringlets and way too much makeup sang in a deep falsetto voice.
“My friend here, Miss Mika, would like to be fitted for a wedding dress. She is to be married on Saturday,” Minerva stated matter of factly but not without a trace of proud excitement in her voice, almost as if she were the bride’s mother.
The man strode over with an exaggerated grace. “Oh, Miss Mika, congratulations! And do we know the lucky wizard?” he said, looking between the two women.
“You may have heard of him,” Minerva responded. “Professor Remus Lupin.”
The two men gasped. “Not THE Remus Lupin?” the tall one gasped and looked over to his partner who was shorter and much rounder and had a moustache as well!
“Oh, my, what a lucky lucky man he is!” said the round one, approaching Mika and taking her hand.
“Allow me to introduce us to you. I am Miss Piddley and that is my partner, Miss Dawdley and we are totally at your service,” the strange little man curtsied, as did the tall one who was still standing by Minerva.
“Miss?” Mika said, casting a questioning glance at Mrs. McGonagall. The witch only shrugged and shook her head. “But you are guys, right?”
The tall one, Miss Dawdley glided over quickly to stand beside his/her partner. “Oh no, can’t you tell? We’re lay-dees!” They both said the last bit in unison.
Mika just looked at them, a shocked and puzzled look on her face. Minerva came to her rescue. “Trust me, my dear, these two are the best dressmakers in the wizarding world, in spite of their rather odd ways,” she said this casting them both a disapproving glance.
“If you say so,” the timelord said sceptically. “But Dawdley and Piddley? That sounds like they’re maybe a bit… slow. The wedding is Saturday. Will it be done….”
“Ohhh yes, my dear don’t let our names fool you,” said Piddley.
“We are in fact the fastest dressmakers in the world! If you select the pattern and material that you like now, we’ll have it done before you can finish your lunch,” added Dawdley.
“So, if you lay-dees would step right this way, we can begin to design a dress fit for a queen.”
Mika snickered at the way they both pronounced ‘ladies’ and followed them into the fitting area.
They seated Minerva and Mika down in a pair of elaborate, overstuffed Victorian armchairs and began showing samples of their wares. There were robes and dresses everywhere as well as the familiar moving photos of happy brides in their lovely garments on their happiest of days. Dawdley and Piddley themselves even modelled a few of their favourite designs themselves. It was very hard to keep from laughing.
But Mika was finally beginning to feel like a bride to be should, being surrounded by all this and being fussed over. She felt a shiver of excitement travel down her back and bring a smile to her lovely face. Before long she had picked out one that she really liked and hoped that Remus would like. The wizarding dressmakers extraordinaire then brought out their tape measures and autoquills to take down Mika’s measurements.
Once this was done, they spent the next few minutes choosing just the right fabric. In the end she chose a beautiful white silk embroidered material that seemed to have almost an iridescent sheen about it.
“It goes lovely with your magnificent eyes, does it not Miss Dawdley?”
“Oh indeed, Miss Piddley. You are soooo right.”
“Now, you lay-dees run along and finish the rest of your shopping…”
“Have a spot of lunch…”
“And we should be ready for the first fitting by the time you’re through,” they took turns saying as they ushered the women out of the shop so that they could begin work.
“They are certainly an odd pair!” Mika announced once they were outside the shop.
“I told you they would be,” Minerva almost giggled. “But you cannot deny that they are very good at what they do.”
“Hmmm, you were right about that too. So where to now?” she asked the older witch.
“Perhaps some lunch, as they suggested?”
Mika nodded and the two women turned to head down to the Saskia Lemongrass’s Sandwich Shop when they ran smack dab into none other than Lucius Malfoy.
“Ladies,” he greeted them coolly.
“Lucius,” Minerva eyed him as she always did, with contempt.
“Mr. Malfoy,” Mika nodded her head.
The elegant looking wizard glanced up to take note of the shop they had just emerged from. “Dawdley and Piddley’s?” he said, arching an eyebrow in curious amusement. “Don’t tell me that you’re getting married again, at your age, Minerva?” he drawled.
“As a matter of fact, I am not, Lucius,” she fairly spat out his name.
“I am,” Mika couldn’t help but beam at the thought.
Malfoy’s eyes widened in astonishment. “My dear! So soon have you captured the heart of some lucky man? My sincere congratulations. May I ask who this very lucky wizard is? Is it someone I know?”
Mika grinned coolly, knowing full well he would not like the answer. But she was proud and happy and couldn’t care less what Lucius Malfoy thought about her choice of husband.
“I believe you know him,” said Minerva. “It’s Professor Remus Lupin.”
The smile vanished from Malfoy’s face. “Lupin?” he nearly choked on the name. “My dear, you do know that he’s a…”
“Werewolf? Yes, I do. And it’s no matter to me. I love him and we’re getting married,” Mika said, her eyes filled with love for the sad professor. “Quite soon, in fact.”
The women could tell that he was both dumbfounded and extremely envious. Despite the fact that he was already married, Lucius Malfoy was so vain that he expected any woman whom he deemed beautiful to naturally have eyes only for him.
But apparently he must have held a great esteem for Mika for he refrained from doing his normal routine by sneering down his nose and making defamatory remarks about her choice of husband. “Well, my dear,” he was clearly struggling to maintain his cool charm. “I wish the both of you all the very best.” He took her hand and kissed it, with perhaps too much relish. “I shall bid you good day, then. Ladies.”
With a nod of his head, Lucius Malfoy strode off very quickly, as if he couldn’t wait to get away… or go and spread this news.
“Now that was most peculiar,” Minerva shook her head as she led Mika off in search of lunch.
A Piece of Cake
Mika held her head up high as she strode into the hallowed Council Chamber where the Supreme Council of Timelords on Gallifrey were gathered. They had called a special meeting just to hear her petition. She came to a halt before the central dais.
“Madame Mika,” Chancellor Borusa said, for once abandoning the formality of addressing her by her rather long formal name. “We know why you are here. You seek ‘time off’ from your duties to pursue a private life, is that not right?”
The timelord raised an eyebrow in surprise. Someone had obviously tipped them off, and she had an idea who it was. “Yes, that is correct, Chancellor, your honour. You see, I believe that after nearly 3000 years of uninterrupted service, I deserve… no am entitled to a holiday. Say, three normal life spans. I would settle for two.”
“And why do you believe you are entitled to this ‘time off’?” asked Nirada. Mika knew her of old. She had been kind to her before.
“Well,” Mika said feeling more at ease. This seemed to be going better than she had expected. “If I were employed by any other corporation, I would have certain rights, and I only figure that since I’ve tried to do my best and have given nearly three millennia to your service…” she let her voice trail off. They got the message.
“Very well, Mika,” Chancellor Borusa said, “You may have your ‘holiday’.”
Mika was astounded. “What? Just like that? No trial or third degree interrogation? Just, ‘Ok’?” Her eyes narrowed. She knew something was up.
“Of course. You are not on trial, my dear. This is just an informal gathering of your ‘bosses’ to hear your petition for a break from your duties, which, as I have just said, has been granted.”
“Ah. So. What’s the catch?”
“Catch? Whatever do you mean, Mika dear?” asked Nirada sweetly. Several other of the cardinals giggled. This was most unlike them.
“Yeah, catch. What do I have to do in return?”
Borusa folded his hands neatly in his lap. He smiled. It was most alarming. “Just, as you say, as if you worked for a normal corporation, while on leave you would not have the use of that corporation’s facilities, would you not?”
Mika frowned. “You’re not going to strand me there are you?”
“Of course not,” Nirada spoke up. “You will still have your TARDIS.”
“Just not full usage of the said time capsule,” another cardinal finished.
Mika smiled sarcastically.
“You will have full access to the interior but it shall remain… immobile for the duration of your leave,” Borusa stated.
“And how long will that be?”
“As long as you wish, although we would like you to sort of be ‘on call’ should anything dire arise,” he added.
“We promise that we will only call you in an extreme emergency,” added Cardinal Latavia.
“If that is all, Lady Mika, we shall conclude this meeting.” Borusa smiled again.
They all rose and filed out of the room, each congratulating Mika on her upcoming marriage. Nirada was the last to leave and she walked out with Mika.
“My dear, I wish you all the best with your marriage. I must say that I envy you. He sounds like a wonderful man.”
“H… how do you…”
“How do we now about your Professor Lupin? Well, a certain Professor Dumbledore sent us a really nice message, as well as an invitation.”
Mika looked at her in astonishment. “How… that sneak!” she laughed. “I can only wonder at how he managed to get a message to you.”
Nirada grinned. “Ah, now that would be telling. Good luck, my dear. And may the Guardians protect you and your Lupin.”
Mika smiled and thanked the woman. Now on her own she stood in the corridor outside the Council chambers. She heard footsteps shuffling behind her and turned around.
“Well, well, that didn’t take too long did it?” Runcible grinned.
“You stinker!” she laughed and playfully slugged his arm as he pretended to duck. “You knew about it all along!”
“Well, I’m supposed to be wise aren’t I? I am an old man after all.” He grinned. “Now, about this invitation…”
“Yes? I didn’t even know any had been sent out,” she admitted. Mika took his arm and together they walked slowly down towards the other end of the corridor.
“Well, I doubt that anyone else will show up, but I would very much like to.”
Mika stopped and looked at him. “Really? That would be nice.” Then a thought struck her. “Would you perhaps do me the honour of giving me away at my wedding?” she asked.
Runcible grinned, his eyes twinkling with glee. “I thought you’d never ask!”
“Madame Mika,” Chancellor Borusa said, for once abandoning the formality of addressing her by her rather long formal name. “We know why you are here. You seek ‘time off’ from your duties to pursue a private life, is that not right?”
The timelord raised an eyebrow in surprise. Someone had obviously tipped them off, and she had an idea who it was. “Yes, that is correct, Chancellor, your honour. You see, I believe that after nearly 3000 years of uninterrupted service, I deserve… no am entitled to a holiday. Say, three normal life spans. I would settle for two.”
“And why do you believe you are entitled to this ‘time off’?” asked Nirada. Mika knew her of old. She had been kind to her before.
“Well,” Mika said feeling more at ease. This seemed to be going better than she had expected. “If I were employed by any other corporation, I would have certain rights, and I only figure that since I’ve tried to do my best and have given nearly three millennia to your service…” she let her voice trail off. They got the message.
“Very well, Mika,” Chancellor Borusa said, “You may have your ‘holiday’.”
Mika was astounded. “What? Just like that? No trial or third degree interrogation? Just, ‘Ok’?” Her eyes narrowed. She knew something was up.
“Of course. You are not on trial, my dear. This is just an informal gathering of your ‘bosses’ to hear your petition for a break from your duties, which, as I have just said, has been granted.”
“Ah. So. What’s the catch?”
“Catch? Whatever do you mean, Mika dear?” asked Nirada sweetly. Several other of the cardinals giggled. This was most unlike them.
“Yeah, catch. What do I have to do in return?”
Borusa folded his hands neatly in his lap. He smiled. It was most alarming. “Just, as you say, as if you worked for a normal corporation, while on leave you would not have the use of that corporation’s facilities, would you not?”
Mika frowned. “You’re not going to strand me there are you?”
“Of course not,” Nirada spoke up. “You will still have your TARDIS.”
“Just not full usage of the said time capsule,” another cardinal finished.
Mika smiled sarcastically.
“You will have full access to the interior but it shall remain… immobile for the duration of your leave,” Borusa stated.
“And how long will that be?”
“As long as you wish, although we would like you to sort of be ‘on call’ should anything dire arise,” he added.
“We promise that we will only call you in an extreme emergency,” added Cardinal Latavia.
“If that is all, Lady Mika, we shall conclude this meeting.” Borusa smiled again.
They all rose and filed out of the room, each congratulating Mika on her upcoming marriage. Nirada was the last to leave and she walked out with Mika.
“My dear, I wish you all the best with your marriage. I must say that I envy you. He sounds like a wonderful man.”
“H… how do you…”
“How do we now about your Professor Lupin? Well, a certain Professor Dumbledore sent us a really nice message, as well as an invitation.”
Mika looked at her in astonishment. “How… that sneak!” she laughed. “I can only wonder at how he managed to get a message to you.”
Nirada grinned. “Ah, now that would be telling. Good luck, my dear. And may the Guardians protect you and your Lupin.”
Mika smiled and thanked the woman. Now on her own she stood in the corridor outside the Council chambers. She heard footsteps shuffling behind her and turned around.
“Well, well, that didn’t take too long did it?” Runcible grinned.
“You stinker!” she laughed and playfully slugged his arm as he pretended to duck. “You knew about it all along!”
“Well, I’m supposed to be wise aren’t I? I am an old man after all.” He grinned. “Now, about this invitation…”
“Yes? I didn’t even know any had been sent out,” she admitted. Mika took his arm and together they walked slowly down towards the other end of the corridor.
“Well, I doubt that anyone else will show up, but I would very much like to.”
Mika stopped and looked at him. “Really? That would be nice.” Then a thought struck her. “Would you perhaps do me the honour of giving me away at my wedding?” she asked.
Runcible grinned, his eyes twinkling with glee. “I thought you’d never ask!”
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