Butterflies, Bees, and Filthy Cockroaches

Jack, Max, and Sunny were enjoying the sights of Hogsmeade on one of the warmest weekend of the approaching spring. Sun shone bright but the wind bit cold – it was a nice combination to keep people comfortable. Sunny always loved the little village, especially because she could gaze upon Hogwarts. Jack assumed Sunny could see it, regardless of her muggle blood, because she had been admitted into such places as The Leaky Cauldron and had been raised within a magical household for the past year. She would not question it, and there would not be any suspicion of magic in Sunny for years. Sure, the girl seemed to turn up in the most random places, but that was just the sort of things kids did. Jack would know – she was an auntie.

Let’s be real. She was almost a mother.

She was glad to have Max with them. He had been busy recently balancing his job, the duties of the halfbreed school, and making sure the house didn’t fall apart. Jack was not home very often anymore, her own job sucking much of her time out of her life. She was so focused on taking down James Blood and this marriage law that most nights, she did not realize it was late until the cleaning crew came in. She was staying even later than Fred Weasley, her friend and companion who was surprisingly dedicated to his job, lazy attitude put aside. Then there was Quidditch practice. And helping however she could with the school. Home was usually bed and breakfast.

So this weekend with her family was much needed. She led them into a small book shop, intent on finding some sort of reading material. Sunny ran off towards the children’s books and Jack called, “Stay close.”

While she and Max browsed, Sunny quickly got bored with the book store. Everything looked new, and Sunny preferred books with a little wear and tear on their covers. With a sigh, she rethought her ventures. That was when she remembered Honeydukes. Her aunt had said stay close... Honeydukes was only a few shops over.

Sunny was soon wandering the streets of Hogsmeade, hopelessly and optimistically lost. Little frightened the girl, as she found that no harm had ever truly come to her. Yes, she had stopped living with her real parents, but the parents she had been given in return were leagues better. All in all, Sunny had never learned any hard lessons about this cruel world, so she was wholly unperturbed. In fact, she enjoyed this leisurely stroll, taking a road less occupied with people. Her attention fell upon a floating butterfly, and she took chase, oblivious to the vender cart that was bustling her way, the driver distracted as he tried to outrun a swarm of bees he had infuriated…

Felix was nervous.

Well more then nervous. He was terrified.

Sophia had managed to convince him it was time to start apologizing. After hiding away in her house, taking care of plants, well now was the time to get out in the open with a few people, and convince them he had changed. Felix could feel his knees literally knocking together as he apparated to Hogsmeade, ready to face his fears.

Sophia had found out this was where Jack Dyllan would be today, with her family, enjoying the spring weather. Felix wasn't sure how he felt about Jack Dyllan, under normal circumstances she would have kicked his ass. She was an accomplished dueler, his great specialty had resided in torture, which meant not much dueling but a lot of pain. She would have taken him down easily if they had ever come face to face.

Instead he had kidnapped her air-head of a best friend, Chase Moor, and nearly killed the girl, instead only driving her insane, where she had spent quite some time in St. Mungos in a comatose state, unable to do anything on her own without help. Unresponsive to her family, or to Jack. As far as Felix was aware, the girl had died later in completely unrelated circumstances in the arms of Jack Dyllan, who had watched her die.

Sad story... Felix was prepared to die today.

In fact, he had prepared himself years ago for every single day to be his last. One spell and he'd go out like a light, unable to defend himself. The people Felix feared however, were the people who called themselves 'good'. A long time ago, they'd never kill a man who had his back turned, instead they would give him a chance to defend his life. These days it wasn't like that so much. They would kill him on the spot if they knew who he was.

Felix wore a long, black cloak today, the hood pulled up over his face. The last thing he needed was to be recognized by anyone other then Jack Dyllan and family. He would rather the authorities not get involved in a situation like this. He was hoping to prove his worth before turning himself in, to show the world he could change and did not deserve the Dementor's kiss.

It was quiet and warm where Felix apparated to, and the first thing he saw nearly made his heart stop. A little girl of about six was crossing the street in pursuit of a brightly colored butterfly. And bearing down on the fragile girl was a vender cart. If that hit her she'd most likely die from the injuries, and Felix had to act fast.

He abandoned all thought of not being recognized as he flung himself across the street, scooped up the little girl and tucked her in close to his body as he spun in midair, holding her to his chest as he landed hard on his back. The wind was knocked out of him as he held the girl tightly, almost afraid he might have hurt her in the impact. But the way he had landed had caused any injury to be put on his back and arms, and not on the girl he had managed to get out of the way of the cart.

Panting with the loss of his air, fear, and exertion, Felix sat up, letting go of the girl carefully, his arms shaking.

"Are you okay?!" He asked quickly, looking her over for any injuries. "You could have gotten yourself killed! You must watch where you are going."

Sunny was perfectly fine on her own. At this rate, she would probably be able to get her own house in, ooh, probably a week, by her calculations. This whole ‘living in the real world’ thing seemed to be a cinch. And in her few minutes of complete freedom, she had not stumbled into any trouble, nor had she grown bored. The pursuit of the butterfly was not only fun, but stimulating. She could probably get a job catching butterflies. In fact, she figured she was probably the best butterfly catcher in the whole wide world. Maybe the only one, which automatically made her the best. How clever of her, though, inventing a job for herself. Yes, she would do well in this world.

Oh, but if she lived on her own, Max would not be around to draw. And Jack could not make her hot chocolate. Nor would Charlie be around to help her plant sunflowers. And the pets would not move with her, but stay with their owner, her aunt. Okay, she would get a house for herself, and then make Jack, Max, Charlie, and the animals move with her. Merrrrrrrr, but she did not want a new house, she wanted the one she already had. NEW PLAN. She would kick her family out of their house, buy it, and then make them move in with her.

Sunny was ready for adulthood.

Suddenly, the world spun around her. MAYDAY. MAYDAY. Childhood could stay. It was only a moment of two or panic, before the turning of the world became fun. Scary, confusion, and oodles of fun. Her stomach flipped one way and flopped the other and suddenly everything was still, and a man was holding her. She looked up at his face, which was young and pretty. By society’s standards, that meant he was surely to be trusted.

She giggled. “That was fun.” She paused. “I would have watched – but I was hot on the trail.” She looked around and saw that her butterfly was gone. “Oh, boy. You made me lose my butterfly. I’ll forgive you for it, but you’ll have to help me find it now.”

Felix felt his stomach twist at the sight of the little girl who spoke so happily. The last encounter he had had with a young girl had been the girl who thought he was a fairy, and left him food on a windowsill. She had looked someone like this little girl, with long blonde hair and rosy cheeks. Though she wasn't nearly as intelligent. Felix couldn't help it, her speech made him grin, a grin that lit up his whole face.

He had started to gain back a little weight that he had lost over the last two years. He was no longer skin and bones, but had a bit of meat to him, he was obviously working out as well, for his muscles were growing under the tight shirt he wore under the cloak. His hood had fallen down, and he readjusted it as he found his footing again, glancing up and down the road for the parents of the little girl who was now insisting he help her find the butterfly.

Felix couldn't help it, as long as she was with him, he knew she'd be safe. Which was sort of an odd thought coming from Felix, no one in their right mind would entrust Felix with a young child, let alone trust him with anyone in his care. However, Felix had changed lately, well, not quite lately, more like changed forcibly over the last two years. Felix grinned at the girl, crouching down so he was eye level with her.

"Alright Princess, I'll help you find your butterfly, I couldn't forgive myself if I were to have made you lose such a valuable thing." He said with a grin, looking up and down the road in an exaggerated fashion, before glancing up above his head. "Did you see which way it went? It might have gotten across the road." he said with a lazy flick of his hand across the street.

"Lead the way, Princess, then we can find your parents."

Sunny had never been afraid of people, because she had never met a 'people' to be afraid of. If she could not find fear in her heart for lions, and tigers, and bears, she could not understand why people would be afraid of other. She knew this was a phobia, too. One night, early in her new life with her aunt, a boggart had trespassed the safe boundaries of Layabout Lane, and Sunny had firsthand witnessed her aunt's greatest fears. The two that came out the most had been a redheaded girl and a very handsome man. Sunny had not understood and still could not. What could one person do to another to be so terrifying?

It was a lesson Sunny would eventually have to learn, but no one wanted her to have to learn it the hard way. Especially Jack.

She righted herself, feet finding the ground beneath her. He spoke and the nickname was lost as she clung to the idea of him helping her recover her lost fluttering conquest. She hopped a little, as young children were prone to do when they had more excitement in their body than they could control. She crossed her arms at his words and said, "I would have seen where it went if someone hadn't blocked my sight. I won't name names," she added this last bit in exaggerated stage whisper.

Always with the dramatics.

It was a family trait.

She caught the name this time and she tilted her head. "No offense, mister, but I'm not a princess. I'm a king. Your king forgives you." She smiled, beginning to walk down the path. "And my parents aren't here. Not my real ones anyway. I'm with Aunt Jack and my best friend Max."

Felix felt a huge grin on his face, and he couldn't stop it. This little girl was so ambitious, and wild, and carefree, putting complete trust in a stranger she had just met. It was obvious she had grown up decently sheltered with just enough freedom. A family who let her explore, but kept from her the bad things in life. Felix felt it pull at his heart to see such a happy and wonderful child who simply wanted to find the butterfly she had been after.

She hopped on the spot and Felix grinned again, glancing around the area for the butterfly that had gotten away. This little girl was the most dramatic and playful girl Felix had ever met. Not that he had met very many little girls. Nor had the opportunity to talk to one for much longer then a few seconds. No this whole experience for Felix was something new and exciting, and he wasn't sure what it was that made him just so happy.

She corrected his nickname and Felix immediately put on a face of horror. He moved away from her and swept an imaginary hat off his head, bowing low. "I do apologize for the mistake, Your Highness." He looked up at her and winked with a grin. "You are a kind and noble King." He said and then frowned when she spoke of her family. He straightened himself and glanced around a bit nervously.

Jack wasn't normally a woman's name.. unless it was Jack Dyllan, most people didn't put Jack with the word Aunt, and Felix had the unfortunate feeling in his stomach that this little girl might be the niece of the woman he was looking for. Felix straightened himself and looked down at her. "Well we must find this butterfly and get you back to your Aunt then!" He said and suddenly bent down, picking her up and putting her on his shoulders with one smooth gesture. "Do you see the butterfly from up there, Your Highness?" He asked with a grin.

Her royal subject bowed before her and she raised her chin with dignity, squaring her shoulders as she looked down her upturned nose at him. All kings looked at their subjects like that, because it reminded their subjects to look up to their kings in reverence. It was not cruel, nor was it unfair. It had to be this way to keep peace in the kingdom, and peace was absolutely essential. Sunny knew she was a peaceful ruler, fair and kind - but her subjects must never forget their place either. A kingdom of chaos was barely a kindgom at all.

"You are forgiven," she said graciously. "Don't forget this. A king never forgets who disappoints her." She nodded curtly.

He scooped her up onto his shoulders and she smiled gleefully. She quickly composed herself, though, and looked around for the butterfly, suddenly all business. "I cannot, but do not fear, peasant! The search has only just begun!"

Meanwhile, Jack was preparing her purchases. She walked towards the cash register, meeting up with Max. "Sunny!" Jack called for the third time. She looked to Max in concern, suddenly realizing how long it had been since she had seen her niece. The books were abandoned at the cash register as she bustled through the store, sharp eyes searching for a short mop of red hair.

It was not here.

Jack ran to Max, gripping his arm. "I can't find her." And like that, she was hurrying outside, the clerk calling after her in regards to her purchases. They no longer mattered.

Felix grinned happily as she called out from his shoulders, and he glanced both ways before crossing the road again, heading towards where the butterfly had last been seen. He pulled his wand out and rested it on his palm, bouncing the girl up and down as he did, whispering a soft incantation and watching it spin on the spot before pointing towards his right. He walked that way quickly, hoping to find this butterfly quickly and bring the girl back to her Aunt.

He searched around quickly, his eyes scanning from the sidewalk and up for this elusive butterfly that was ready to give him a heart attack. The little girl was important, he could feel it in his heart, she was extremely important and he wanted to get her back to her Aunt, but he also wanted to make her happy, and that was why he was on this absurd quest to find the butterfly. This absurd quest that brought a huge smile to his face, and made him walk with a bounce to his step.

Suddenly Felix spotted a blur of movement and color and he picked up his pace, walking towards the butterfly he now saw. "There is it Your Highness!" He said quickly, pointing forward at the butterfly, grinning as he glanced up at her. "This is your stop, I'll stay back here and provide backup." He said, and lifted her off his shoulders, setting her down carefully on the ground. "You ready to capture this beauty, Your Highness?"

Felix grinned as the little girl caught the butterfly. The butterfly they had been chasing down for a little bit now. He bent over to examine the little thing, a huge smile on his face as it carefully fawned it's wings on her hand. "They call those butterfly kisses you know." He said with a grin when suddenly he saw the girl look over his shoulder. He straightened up to see what she was looking at, and saw a mass of red hair and anger sweeping towards him.

"Shit."

Felix watched the young girl get pulled away from him like he was going to hurt her, the only thing he saw before he lost view of her, was well.. she looked terrified. And then a fist came flying towards his nose. He heard a strange cracking noise and blood started to flow from his now broken nose. "Oi! What the hell was that for?! I was just about to bring her back to you!" He hissed and glanced around to see where the girl had gone, only to see her safe in the arms of some other man.

Felix held up his hands as a sign of surrender. Her punch had sent him sprawling on the ground, and he got to his knees quickly, his head bowed as he held his hands out in front of him to show he had no weapons. "I wasn't going to hurt her.. we were.. we were catching a butterfly, She nearly got hit by a cart... I had to jump across the road to save her." He explained in a weird, nasally muffled voice, as quickly as possible.

"Please just hear me out.. I'd really rather not die today, and I'd rather not make you a murderer as well.. please.. I understand your anger.. just.. let me talk.." He was talking as quickly as possible, as though to make sure she couldn't get the chance to pull her wand and kill him on the spot. Suddenly he reached into his pocket and pulled his wand out, laying it on the ground in front of him as a sign of complete surrender. "Just.. hear me out."