Detention Miss Fiorelli cont'd

[Cecily Rambolt]

(Andromeda Fiorelli has permission to post in this thread.)

Together they whirled through air and space, the familiar yank behind Cecily's bellybutton causing shimmies of nausea to whirl around her stomach. She swallowed a groan as they landed in the tall grasses. They were facing the marshes, tall green grasses, murky waters and mossy trees of her grandfather's swamp. "Well we're here Miss Fiorelli."

 

[Andromeda Fiorelli]

Andy swayed for all of two seconds, she was so used to transporting this way she had done it ever since she was young enough to crawl. It was the sight that awaited her that left her confused. Why would her headmistress bring her to a swamp or at least a place that resembled one. She tried to think of all the possibilities of what detention in a swamp entailed but came up clean. She had quite literally come up against a brick wall concerning this particular detention but figured her headmistress just simply wouldn't be her if it had been an ordinary session.
"Where too now Miss? or should I be saying what now Miss?" she attempted to keep the mood as light as possible but the view all around her didn't give her much choice.

 

[Bane Wright]

Bane Wright stood arms akimbo on his front porch. He responded to the young witch's words. "You'll be spending the day with me, Miss Fiorelli," he called. He was a tall, thin man with a rough face and even rougher personality. He didn't mix words or do well around people due to his long years alone.

 

[Andromeda Fiorelli]

Andy swivelled her head around to see an elderly man standing on the porch of a house. Why would she be spending the day with him? Andy opened and closed her mouth a few times, not sure she understood this at all. Where exactly was she and who exactly was this man? There was something distinctly familiar about the feeling she was having though, she knew she had felt it recently enough and the time in the forest when she came face to face with the Slytherin fifth year came to mind. Why this was so she didn't know, but none of this made sense.

"I don't understand" she looked questioningly at her headmistress and then back at the man.

 

[Bane Wright]

Bane didn't allow Cecily to speak to her charge. "Off with you now. Your bundles waiting for you along the path." He shooed her along with his hand. Cecily looked from him to Andromeda then nodded and walked along the path. She looked over her shoulder and called out, "You'll be fine! I'll be back at nightfall."

Bane shook his head. "Well come along now. You'll need some food in your gullet before we begin." He didn't wait for her to follow him into the house. The door stood ajar. His house was old and rustic though sturdily built. It had one floor and appeared to be much like a log cabin with a wraparound front porch. An old swing hung from the porch rafters in a corner. Inside the house the floors were hardwood, wide planks. A throw rug was tossed here or there.

 

[Andromeda Fiorelli]

Andy felt two things when her headmistress began to walk away, sheer panic for not explaining any of this to her and a very strange sense of calm. The first she knew was normal, the second she couldn't fathom at all. She wanted to run after her but taking a deep breath decided she had better do as she was asked. Her Gryffindor courage ran deep but more so her hunger as he had mentioned food.

Looking at the open door Andy tentatively entered, following him across the wooden floors that seemed to creak with every step she took as if announcing to all and sundry that she was here.
He seemed to know her name but she hadn't a clue who he was, she wanted to ask but she had been brought up to speak only when spoken to regarding her elders and for some reason she thought that was truer now than any other time. She stood motionless in the room wondering what to do next.

 

[Bane Wright]

Bane was at the old fashioned pot bellied stove stirring something that smelled heavenly in a pan. He glanced at her with dark brown eyes then gestured with the wooden spoon he held. "Have a seat. It'll be ready in a minute." The kitchen was wild open and spacious with a small table that had once been painted white but was now distressed and a few chairs.

A few moments later Bane turned and began loading the table up. They each had a place serving; earthenware plate, mug, fork, spoon, butter knife. Breakfast in his house was an easy affair; hash browns, oatmeal, scrambled eggs with wild onions and a big pitcher of milk. A little pot with spoon held sugar.

"Ladies first," Bane said as he took a seat.

 

[Andromeda Fiorelli]

Andy smiled at the man but would have preferred to have been of some help. She took a seat though enjoying the aroma that filled the small kitchen. Still she couldn't shake the strange feeling of familiarity about him that and a keen weariness as if she should be on her guard. But her headmistress she knew would not have brought her anywhere that was not save, she simply knew she wouldn't.

Andy smiled as he said 'Ladies first' but only helped herself to small portions of each, not wanting to appear greedy though the smell was delicious and the food looked wonderful. She poured herself a glass of milk then still holding it looked at the man, for the first time wondering if he were a muggle or a wizard.
"Would you like some milk as well sir?"

 

[Bane Wright]

Polite girl. Bane shook his head, his dark blonde hair falling onto his forehead. "No thank you." His gruff voice had softened imperceptibly. He'd bartered for a jug of the stuff yesterday at the farmers market. He didn't drink milk; couldn't stomach the stuff. Not after...Gruffly he cleared his throat and busied his hands by serving himself.

He ate in silence for a while before he spoke again. "You seem to be taking this change of scenery in stride."

 

[Andromeda Fiorelli]

Andy put the jug down and proceeded to eat, the silence disturbed her a bit as she was so used to the ruckus at the Gryffindor table and the crazy riotous goings on back home in Ireland. Even when she had meals with Essie the two kept up a constant conversation. This was different but it was also nice. It gave her mind time to adjust and try to figure things out a little. Eventually the man spoke to her again. Andy finished chewing some of the delicious hash browns, then swallowing slowly she waited a moment before answering him. How could she explain any of it?
It wasn't necessarily that she was taking the change in her stride, she felt more as if she were in a home away from home. Perhaps it was the farmers upbringing she had, she really couldn't figure it out but the more time she was in his company, she felt more at ease.

The ridiculous analogy of being a cub back in a den had flitted briefly through her mind.
"I guess I've had to deal with change more than most. I learn to adapt pretty fast" she picked up her glass of milk and drank it slowly, carefully putting it down again she turned to look at him.
"Sir, do you mind me asking who you are?" she really hoped she wasn't being rude but if she was going to be here until dark and eat the mans food, surely she should know?

 

[Bane Wright]

Bane nodded and tended to his meal as she spoke. "I am Bane Wright and Cecily is my granddaughter." He gave her a moment to digest this bit of news before speaking again. "And you are here to help me tend to my crops. For your detention," his mouth jerked a bit at the corner, then he went back to eating his breakfast.

 

[Andromeda Fiorelli]

Andy put her fork and knive down gently as the man began to speak, once he told her his connection with the headmistress she couldn't but feel a sense of utter calm come over her. She also couldn't help but smile. The first incidence that Andy had ever received a detention had been back in first year for sneaking out and flying late at night, Professor King had served her detention with the groundskeeper Willie. She had spent the day doing some serious hard manual labour but had loved every minute of it. Andy had grown up on a farm and animal sanctuary, everyone chipped in and everyone had to pull their weight, so she was no stranger to hard work. In fact she thrived on it, her own grandfather had often said it was a balm for the soul.

Well she may not have a soul anymore but the peace that doing a decent days hard work would bring, was something she needed badly. She felt very grateful indeed to her headmistress to for cooping her up in a dark room. Andy smiled at the man as she picked up her knive and fork once more.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Wright" she looked at him for a moment wondering why she still had such a wierd feeling around him but now put it down to perhaps familiarity. Knowing his daughter perhaps had led to this feeling. She let the quietness surround her once more, it was nice after the hustle and bustle of the school. Andy wondered if she could get used to it.

 

[Bane Wright]

Bane finished his meal after a few more moments. He never really lingered over his meals unless it was the odd Sunday when he got a newspaper in town. He didn't trust muggle post and didn't care for owls either, although he did send the blasted bird of his granddaughters back with news of his home front. He enjoyed her letters and treasured anything she told him of his long lost daughter.

He waited patiently until she was done, not wanting to hurry her meal. Cecily had told him of the meals they were used to back at the castle and had made sure there was plenty to eat as it would be a hard day outside in the sun. Although it wasn't very hot out it was unseasonably warm. He had gloves for the both of them and hats too.

"We haven't many hours of sunlight for our day, it's why I asked Cecily to bring you so early. A storm should be rumbling through here well before nightfall so we'd best get on with our day." He rose and cleared away his dishes by hand. He set the smaller pair of gloves and wide brimmed grey hat on the table by her. His own faded brown hat he sat on his head and his gloves were slid into his back pocket.

"Are you ready?"

 

[Andromeda Fiorelli]

Andy picked up the hat and gloves and quietly donned them.
"I'm ready sir, don't you want me to clean up here first?" she didn't like leaving a mess and certainly didn't think he had a house elf, it seemed highly unlikely in this remote cabin. She pulled the gloves on a bit tighter wondering what type of crops they would be working with and a smile appeared on her face. Her grandfather used to take her out to the fields when she had been younger too, her uncle Patrick used to come down and tease her about the different crops and herbs that were planted. Confusing her with muggle and magical ones until she finally had gone away and asked her father for a book on magical plants so she would never be fooled by Patrick again. The thought of him now made a lump form in her throat but she merely stiffened herself till she was erect and waited further instruction.

 

[Bane Wright]

Bane fixed the girl with a gimlet stare with his brown eyes. Then he shook his head once. "No, thank you. Cecily will get it when she comes back in. Part of today's agreement," he grinned. It was a rusty half smile. His boots were loud in the quiet room on the wooden floor.

He held open the door for her, remnants of the days when he was a gentleman still long ingrained in his makeup, no matter his many years as a shut in. Once they were outside he led the way down a long wooded path that was over grown with many weeds. It had deep ruts in some areas and muddy spots in others. It went on for nearly an acre before it detoured abruptly into a clearing where there was a sea of wildflowers.

Bane stopped and gestured toward to medium sized woven baskets with handles. "Take one and fill it to the brim with those plants there, roots and all," he pointed toward the plants in question. They were purple, curled over and much resembled a monks hood. He watched her face for signs to see if she recognized just what his crop was.

 

[Andromeda Fiorelli]

Andy wondered just what this agreement was between Mr. Wright and her headmistress that would end up involving the scrubbing of dishes. She smiled though at the strange arrangement before following him outside. As opposed to his own loud steps that clattered across the floor, Andromeda's were slightly quieter almost to the point where she could barely be heard. She thanked him for his chilavric gesture and waited a moment outside so he could lead the way. There was no chit chat the entire way and Andy didn't mind this in the slightest, she allowed her thoughts to drift from her uncle to Bruin and even on occassion her mother filtered in there.

Once they had walked through the forest floor of weeds, her shoes were not exactly mud friendly and they squelched a fair bit but she didn't mind at all. She had been such a tomboy for years that a bit of mud on her shoes was not a major problem. When finally they came upon a sea of wildflowers. Andy recognised them immediately, a complete floor of wolfsbane. She had never seen so many in all her life. They looked beautiful and yet deadly all at the same time. She went and picked up a basket as he had asked her to and went straight to work. Kneeling down without a care for her uniform, she removed her gloves preferring to use her hands for this type of work. She certainly didn't mind getting them dirty. It would take quite some time to fill the basket but she didn't mind that either.

This type of work always settled her mind, comforted her as if she were back home working on the farm with her family. Carefully she picked one flower after another, root and all. Taking great care not to damage the root as she removed it from the ground. She turned after picking the first few.
"When I finish this basket do you need me to continue?" she would rather work on in solitude knowing what it was she had to do so she didn't have to unnecessarily disturb him.

 

[Bane Wright]

Bane nodded to himself, impressed with her no nonsense work ethic. Cecily had talked about the girl. Told him about her problems from the horrific night she was turned to the events of the present. She'd mentioned how the girl could be trusted to perform tasks without fail. It showed today.

"Ayup, you'll fill the next until the field is barren of the flower." Normally Bane would have joined in and lightened her load but he would go with his grand daughter's wishes. This was to be punishment, not tea time. Bane wandered over to the edge of the field and sat down, propped his shoulders back against the tree, lowered his hat to half cover his face and closed his eyes.

He would never leave anyone unattended in this dangerous area.

 

[Andromeda Fiorelli]

Andy heard him and looked out over the field, it was sprawled with the wolfsbane. Every spare inch of the field seemed to contain it. She sighed and nodded her head, it would surely take more than a few baskets then. She wondered why he would need this much wolfsbane, she knew of only one potion that actually had it and didn't seriously think for a moment that her headmistress would simply have her hear to gather ingredients for her own potions but then again it was a decent enough punishment if this were the case. Andy rolled up her sleeves and continued in her endeavours to uproot each wolfsbane plant as her ex-professor had once shown them how. It hadn't actually been wolfsbane but she had taught them the proper techniques on uprooting, replanting and various other horticultural methods.

Andy let her thoughts drift away, enjoying simply the work she had to do and the day in which she had to do it. She gave no more thought to the man not too far away other than wondering once more why they needed so much wolfsbane. She considered that perhaps this was where the school got their plentiful supply for her own potion. Eventually one basket was filled and though part of her would have used her wand to send one basket back and summon a fresh one, she got up and did the job manually instead. Once she had acquired the next basket she simply picked up from where she left off.