Heaven's Above: Sprite on the Scene

by

Daniel Thomas Andrew Daly

Copyright 6182 SC

Standard City Park. The 6^th Heavenly Realm. Not too far from the Potter Girl's abode. Traversing from New Terra along pathways of human and angelic transport concourse – ruddy wonderful. Even had to fork over her sprite passport upon entering the 6^th heavenly realm, because the guy at the terminal could indeed see her and said, 'Hey you. Where do you think you're sneaking off to sister.' But she got in, found this big shitty city world, found a part a few clicks away, and settled down. She saw the line of trees in the distance a bit, and figured a watering hole might be near them. So maybe down there for a bit in the morning. But she was examining this parkland, and there were a few friendly looking trees and bushes and things, and she felt she might have some space for a stay for a while. But the big Oak in the centre. Probably a dryad up there. Probably even watching her now. Cautiously surveying this Sprite which had dropped in unawares, and was roaming around her turf. Dryads were friendly enough, attuned to natue, an Water Sprites could always work up a chat with Tree elementals. Lots to discuss. Always had been. Always would be. Miny looked at the see-saw, climbed up it, and sat at the top, looking out at the park. Lucy, she imagined, was not going anywhere, and she had eternal time to kill. So what was the gameplan, huh, sprite? Hang tight for a while, build up a bit of knowledge of the local terrain, and surprise Lucy that way, feign innocence, and ask her to show her this wonderful world? Maybe she should do that now, and be so perfectly innocent. But that was hardly the way of a sprite now, was it. Full of tricks. You never knew what you were going to get. She lay down on top of the end of the see saw, and fell asleep.

* * * * *

'She's obviously stupid,' said a male voice.

'You're stupid,' replied Minxy, rubbing her eyes, sitting up instantly.

'Yep, she's stupid sis,' said the blonde dryad.

The redheaded sister dryad looked at Minxy. 'Aww, what's the matter sprite? Did you lose your way or something. Life can be hard. Too bad so sad. This is our turf bitch. Better be careful if wanna rumble. We dryads, we got some cool turf here, you see. Nice parkland, and the other faerie folk have learned there lesson, you see. Don't mess with Sparky and her brother Rumbles. We're tough, and we like the good life, and can fight to defend bitch. What's your business.'

'Bite me matchstick,' said Minxy. 'No, stuff you. I'm going to settle here for ages now. You have officially annoyed me.'

'She is a bit alright,' said Rumbles.

Sparky assessed her. 'You don't want no Sprites in your offspring do you Rumby. No telling the kind of crazy kids which could come from this pretender.'

'I'm sharp as a tack,' said Minxy. She looked at Rumbles. 'Ooh, you are cute aint'cha. Maybe baby.'

Rumbled gulped. 'Standard sprite? No nymph dryad in the blood?'

'Heaps,' replied Minxy. But she came clean. 'No, not really. Just a lot of fun.'

'We fight hard,' said Sparky, bearing her fist. 'You might be cool?'

'Minxy,' replied Minxy.

'You might be cool, Minxy. 'But we like a lot of the landscape to ourselves. Besides, how long is the stay?'

'Lucy lives that way a bit,' said Minxy.

'Yeh, been there once or twice,' said Rumbles, scratching his head. 'They're coven is about to get properly started and stuff. Could be interesting.'

'Know her from aeons ago,' replied Minxy. 'This could be permanent on and off again visitation territory.'

'Mmm,' said Sparky, scratching her chin, looking at Minxy. 'You have enough fire in the belly, and Rumbles likes you. I could tell straight away.'

Minxy pulled out her knapsack. 'I have cake. Eat some with me.'

The faeries sat, and ate, and chatted, and the morning passed.

* * * * *

'Hermione Granger. She has a lesser intellect. Mere Gryffindor isn't she?' queried Lucy Potter.

'You do have a penchant for dismissing Gryffindor's quite quickly, I have noticed,' replied Shelandragh.

'Errggh. Seriously Shelandragh. Give me a break. Harry – he's an unusual cousin. But his flaw, as is common throughout Gryffindorians, is that they are heroes. Overcomers. True legends. Always dedicated to the spootlight, and being the champions on the scene. Courageous, brave, bold. Confronting evil, and they are oh so cool about it. You know, it's all Gryffindor with the community. Harry Potter. Hermione Granger. Ron Weasley. Bleh bleh bleh. I've met Hermione. Saw potential. But in the end, there are flaws. Dedicated to being good in the end. Learned and academic, and just a tad proud about it. But oh so lacking severity of detail. It's more of, here I am. I have studied this book 17 times. You are quite obviously far less learned than my exemplary effort. That's a Granger for you. Only so much fire in the belly. She passes herself off as a good example, and the quintessential maiden of serene beauty and intellectual prowess of Gryffindor triumph, but she lacks.'

'You're too proud Lucy,' replied Shelandragh. 'They do what they can.'

'I suppose,' said Lucy, biting into an apple. 'All things in God's good creation have purpose and a being. Even a Gryffindor I suppose. Good as a scullion kitchen hand in the long term I would imagine. Suitable passion to accomplish that much in the fulness of time.'

'You say this because?' queried Shelandragh.

'I see it all around,' replied Lucy. 'Day after day, I rock up at wizards and witches throughout the community, there abode, and they've grown slack. Disenchantd. Resting on their laurels. As if the debate has been settled, and they've claimed the glory, and have won the day. But there magic is second rate these days, and their imagination severely lacking. And it's a malaise in Gryffindor. Resting on their laurels. No longer an achiever. Claimed some glory, but did not persist with the thing. Got over really thinking life could go on with new possibilities.'

Shelandragh cut the sandwich she was making in half, and handed a slice to Lucy, and they sat there, at the kitchen table in Lucy's aobde, quietly eating.

'New spells?' Lucy asked Shelandragh.

'A project,' replied Shelandragh. I've been researching a number of millennia now.'

'Any hints?' asked Lucy, eyebrow raised.

'You have a guest in a nearby field,' said Shelandragh.

'Change the subject if you must then,' replied Lucy. 'Who then?'

'Minxy. She is scoping out the neighbourhood and settling in for a while. I caught glimpse of her and asked some questions.'

'Little sprite. She has some gall thinking she can rock up here. Claim my glory will she?'

'As all will do if they can,' replied Shelandragh. 'After all Lucy Potter. Life goes on.'

Lucy finished her sandwich, and started on her applied juice. She looked at Shelandragh. 'Get to that spell witch. A new coven needs a new dose of the arte.'

'I have noted that,' replied Shelandragh. 'But you'll have to wait.'

Lucy eyed Shelandragh. 'Fine. 5 months of chopping wood at Minoxxia. Nothing more.'

'6,' replied Shelandragh.

'If you insist,' said Lucy. Sometimes there were prices to pay.

* * * * *

Hermione examined the see-saw. It looked – adequate. She sat on one end and pulled it up. 'Your Turn Daly,' she said.

Daniel got on the other end. 'I'm quite old, Granger,' said Daniel.

'A dare is a dare,' said Hermione.

'Ooh, we should be getting this on tape,' said Sparky to Rumbles. 'The infallibly cool Ravenclaw Daniel Daly reduced to a see-saw competition with the amazingly overrated Gryffindor Hermione Granger.'

'It's not a see-saw competition,' said Hermione. 'It's an exercise in adaptability.'

'Excuse word,' said Minxy. 'Intellectualizing riding on a see-saw as an experience is really pretty shitty, Granger. You might be smart. But it's a friking see-saw.'

'Yep,' said Spark. 'Cameral Rumbles. Now.'

Rumbles headed off.

'I can still intellectualize it anyway,' said Daniel.

'You would,' said Lucy.

'Hey, you dared us,' replied Daniel. 'So, as I am incapabnle of being less than quintessentially cool at all moments along the infinity and eternity timestreams, I will indeed intellectualize this encounter and describe it in words fit for consumption by the grandest and greatest of wizarding and witchery quarterlies.'

'What about Malfoy's Marvellous Magic Monthly,' said Hermionc. 'Is it fit for that Slytherin tome?'

'Quite suitable. I shall demonstrate,' said Daniel. 'The Earth. It lurks there, like a snake, beneath our feet. And in the bowels of hell Voldemort grumbles, for when he was he young, he enjoyed a see-saw on occasion. Yea, the one who shall not be named, was a little kid at one point in his existene, eating Willy Wonka Bars, riding on Roundabouts, reading Enid Blyton stories, and a little hopscotch champion. This I know. Bellatrix has photos. Riddles parentage indeed provides some fascinating pictures of Voldies escapades at a price. A steep price, but I have finances in abundance. So thus, verily in hell, where he belongs, or cross town a few clicks with that coven people should not visit, Voldemort gapes with awestruck amazement at the sheer audacity of a minor wizard, barely an animist, like Mr Daniel Daly, taking on the undoutbable prowess of the skilled verbalist, herbalist and nerdalist, Hermione Granger.'

'Nerdalist?' queried Lucy Potter, eyebrow raised.

'Deniststry. Solidly nerdist profession. Pulling teeth. Completely for squares.'

'Your father. What did he do?' replied Hermione.

'Wildlife Warrior. Adventurer. Soldier of Fortune. Crocodile wrestler. Hitman for hire. All these were pastimes.'

'Telecom worker, I believe,' replied Hermione.

'Shaddup,' replied Daniel. 'But I shall continue.'

'Please do,' said Hermione.

'Shall I start filiming,' asked Rumbles who had returned.

'Give that to me,' said Spark, and flew up on to the centre of the see-saw. She pointed the camera at Daniel.

'Ok Daniel. Who is the bes and prettiest of all the witches of Hogwarts?'

Daniel went silent. Finally, a comment. 'Lucy outstanding, Luna is amazing, but Hermione has the edge.'

Sparky turned the film to Hermione. 'Ok Hermione, who is the bravest and boldest of all the wizards of Hogwarts?'

Hermione went silent. 'Hagrids is faithful, Dumbledore is kind, but Daniel is clever. I like him because he is clevcr.'

'Ooh,' said Sparky. 'Daniel has a chance landing Granger. Could be interesting.'

'Oh, dream on,' said Hermione to Daniel.

'Cute,' said Daniel, and gave Hermione a wink.

The day passed. The See-saw competition was a draw. Sparky posted the vid on youtube. Wizard and witches galore commented.

* * * * *

Standard City Park. The 6^th Heavenly Realm. Not too far from the Potter girl's abode.

'Lucy. Your coven ceremony is shortly,' said Minxy.

'Very,' replied Lucy, eating an apple.

'And I have traversed distances extreme and engaged with very questionable dryads to accomplish a particular purpose.'

'I would imagine,' replied Lucy, eating her apple.

'A sprite on the scene,' continued Minxy. 'Is a great privilege.'

'No tickets on yourself then,' replied Lucy.

'And a mere human, albeit magical kind,' continued Minxy unperturbed. 'Is greatly honoured when one of our magnificent faerie folk creatures could simply be bothered to get off our tushes, travel quite a distance, and engage with interactions with old acquainatances of such folk.'

'I am greatly honoured,' smiled Lucy.

'As you should be,' replied Minxy. 'Now I am very fond of you Lucy Potter. Human. You can be faulted for that, but I forgive, rascal.'

'What are you driving at,' replied Lucy.

Minxy flew into the air, cast a spell, and sparkles and fire and tiny coloured lights flickered through the air, around Lucy.

'We like you Lucy Potter,' said Minxy. 'Keep up the good work. Life is so much more pleasant when humans have a bit of an imagination.'

'You are kind,' replied Lucy.

Minxy landed on Lucy's head. 'Herminoe's chances with Daniel?' she asked.

'Buckley's and none,' replied Lucy, and stood, and danced around the see-saw, and Minxy egged her on quite a while, skipping, dancing and frolicking, and, all things considered, having an animated and exciting sprite-filled thrill of a time. Just the way Lucy always liked it with her besty from Chakola, of the Sprite Kind that is, the amazing and altogether lovely Minxy the Sprite.

The End