Dumbledore had invited Daphne and Aaric to his office after classes because of the letter Aaric had written to him in the morning. They entered the office and found him writing some letters behind his desk.
"Come, my dears. Please sit while I finish this letter. It is addressed to a great alchemist, your master, in fact. My boy," Dumbledore said.
It seemed he was writing a letter to Elder Huo.
Aaric and Daphne sat down with a nod as Dumbledore finished the letter and placed it to the side, intending to bring it to the Owlery later for an owl to deliver it.
"I will be writing to Elder later today, Headmaster. I can send your letter with mine," Aaric offered.
He received a jovial smile from the old man.
"That would be most convenient, dear. Thank you," Dumbledore said and handed the letter to Aaric.
"Lemon drop?" he offered, gesturing to the candies in a glass bowl.
"Thank you," both Aaric and Daphne said as they took one each.
"Would that little critter be the subject of our meeting?" Dumbledore asked.
He looked to the little serpent resting on Daphne's shoulder through the rims of his glasses. Daphne nodded and placed her palm near the pet.
The serpent climbed onto her palm after a moment before she brought her hand near the table, where it climbed down.
"Her name is Bakunawa," Daphne said, introducing her pet.
"Bakunawa," Dumbledore echoed. "I believe in the Visayan dialect the name means Moon Eater. Do you eat moons, little one?"
Dumbledore asked the snake with a smile. The only reply he got was the snake looking from him to Daphne again and again.
"I believe she is not big enough yet, Headmaster," Aaric said with a chuckle.
"It seems," Dumbledore chuckled.
He began to observe the serpent in earnest.
"I have never witnessed such a magical creature. From where did you procure her, dear?" Dumbledore asked.
Even Fawkes flew over to the table to observe Bakunawa.
"The Philippines," Daphne answered with a nod.
"Have you formed a familiar bond with her?" Dumbledore inquired.
He received a nod from Daphne.
"Hm. I will allow you to keep her in school as she seems to have bonded with you. I trust you as a bright and responsible child," Dumbledore said to Daphne kindly.
"Thank you, Headmaster," Daphne smiled.
She reached over to caress the cheek of Bakunawa with her finger.
"Could I request something of you?" Dumbledore asked Daphne with a little hesitation.
Daphne tilted her head before nodding.
"You see, my old friend Newt Scamander may be visiting me some time soon. I hope you may allow him to observe little Bakunawa here," Dumbledore said.
He and Newt were still friends and in contact. Newt would also visit the school from time to time and Dumbledore knew the man would be fascinated by a new magical creature.
"I won't mind. I trust Mr. Scamander will not be too invasive," Daphne stated with a shrug.
She received a nod from the old headmaster. Dumbledore then asked Aaric about his preparations for the third task that was very near and asked Daphne about her studies for a little bit before they left.
The headmaster was left in his office with a hopeful outlook as he looked to his phoenix and thought about the changes coming to the magical world.
"I just wish she was here to see the world change," he whispered to himself as the guilt crept in again. Who was he kidding? It never left. Ever.
| Evening |
In the evening, Aaric was having a walk on the ocean with Fleur on the world of Thalmyra while Luna and Daphne were exploring Pandora and the changes the planet had gone through.
All seven planets in the solar system Daphne had seeded life in now had their own gods. They were constantly in contact and were using magic and divine bridges to keep the seven worlds in connection.
Daphne had stopped accelerating time in the solar system now that it was mostly developed and prospering with the alliance of the planets.
While Thalmyra was the first and most powerful of the gods because of her higher experience, she was the leader of the alliance and managed over the afterlives of the beings in the solar system as well.
"Would it not be cool if the wizards of our world form an alliance with this solar system?" Fleur asked mid conversation.
She observed the sheer amount of potent magic in the planets.
"Well, they will have to grow as people first," Aaric said with a shrug.
He was sure if the current wizards, specifically British wizards, made contact with the inhabitants of these planets, they would classify them as magical creatures and try to subjugate them.
And he was sure it would take minutes for them to be crushed with how magically advanced these worlds were.
"I guess," Fleur muttered.
She watched her phoenix, Moon, soaring through the skies above the island of Thalmyra with the ethereal image of the whale goddess herself floating beside her. She stood still while Aaric gently wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and kissed her neck.
They looked ahead and saw a massive leviathan leaping from the ocean, creating a massive wave before emerging back in the ocean. Fleur smiled at the scene before she slowly turned around, still in the arms of Aaric.
She took a breath as she glanced at his lips that were inches away from hers. She had made the decision to tell him her feelings as she opened her mouth.
Aaric seemed to have recognized her intention and took the first step himself. He leaned in and kissed her soft lips as he held her waist firmly.
Fleur's breath hitched before she moved her hands to hold the neck of Aaric as she did her best to respond to his kiss just as passionately.
Their tongues intertwined and Aaric placed one hand behind her neck and formed little circles on her skin with his fingers while his other hand roamed on her back.
He leaned in further and moved his hand lower to hold her thigh. She raised one leg and wrapped it around him seductively.
"You were saying?" Aaric asked mischievously after their kiss ended.
A red faced Fleur stood there, completely enamored as she clung to him.
"I hate you," she said with a pout.
She held him close and kissed him again as if it was an act of revenge.
"I believe you," Aaric said teasingly after the second kiss ended.
Fleur was still left leaning on him and completely red faced as he stood on the water, grounded with his hands on her backside while her legs were wrapped around him.