Change of Plans Solo

There were two things that Avis noticed upon tumbling out of the fireplace amidst a woosh of green flames: one being the stuffed carpet bag at Mam's feet and two being the man in a dark trench coat who was standing smack in the middle of the Greymonds' front hallway.

She stared up at both her Mam and the man in shock, realizing after a moment that the stranger identified as Da's old Auror partner, Conan Dogwood, and that her older brother Will, who was streaked with fireplace ash and soot, was currently in a heated argument with him.

"And where's Avis goin' ta go without Mam around?" he barked, his Cork accent thick and his voice rising. "I'm the only logical option. Mam's got an entire bloody business ta run!"

Dogwood looked exasperated. Mam was tugging at both of their sleeves with stressed urgency, her eyes wide.

"Wilson Tobias! You will not speak to Mr. Dogwood that way. He's only trying to help-"

"It's alright, Tabitha. He's got a right to be angry-" Dogwood tried to say calmly, giving Will a pained look. Avis' brother wasn't having it.

"Oh you'll bet yer sorry arse I do, stealing away Mam and puttin' her in danger like that. There's no way in seven Hells she'll be goin' wit ya," he snapped, his accent only deepening as he grew more upset. Avis glanced around the room, looking helplessly for her older sister Prim who was sitting quietly on the sofa, arms looped over the back. The look on her face made it seem like she was almost enjoying this.

Avis stood as the argument continued, brushing herself off and straightening her shoulders. With a huff of breath, she marched over to the group of adults (well, almost adults considering Will was only 17) and cleared her throat angrily, tapping her foot impatiently against the floor.

All three went quiet immediately. It seemed they had forgotten that Avis was in the room as well and perhaps, she, a child, didn't need to be hearing all this.

But she had. And she would figure out what was going on.

She turned slowly to Mr. Dogwood, a solemn expression overtaking her face. She narrowed her eyes.

"Explain," she said simply, holding up a hand as Will took an angry breath. Mr. Dogwood hid a smile but nodded with equal gravity. He folded his hands in front of him.

"Your father..." he paused to give Avis' mother a questioning look but she just rubbed a hand over her face and gestured for him to go on. "Your father has been sighted in the middle of Berlin, Germany, which is important because he hasn't been seen since Christmas. I have been attempting to track him but have had little success. It is imperative that one of us-" he broke off, gesturing to him and her mother. Will let out an angry huff. "-go immediately to Berlin and attempt to figure out where he will go next. This is usually my job, but I have a new lead on the nasty man that put your father in this situation in the first place, so I will go after him and your mother will go to Berlin."

Silence filled the small hallway. The only sound that broke it was the grandfather clock in the living room ticking away and Prim keeping time to it with her fingers, drumming idly on the back of the sofa.

Avis swallowed, her throat suddenly very dry.

"And why must Mam go?" she asked quietly. Will went red but Tabitha gave him a pointed look that clearly said 'keep your blooming mouth shut for a moment.' Dogwood cleared his throat.

"You and your siblings have school coming up, including Will here, and this could take us a few months. Your mother will be back as soon as she is able. It was her idea after all. You see, it's just a bit too dangerous for you lot to tag along, seventh year or not," he continued, his eyes sliding to Will. "But I know people in Berlin that will help your mother and keep her safe while she looks."

Avis was nodding slowly as he spoke and was about to ask another questions when Will's top finally blew.

"I don't care about bloody school! Da needs me! So does Mam! She can't go alone. At least let me go with her!" he shouted, his voice closing up in frustration. Mam looked slightly sick and went to take a seat on the bottom stair across the hallway entrance. Prim slipped off the sofa and went to sit with her while Avis went to grab her brother's hand.

"You can't go, Will. I need you," she squeaked, tears threatening to fall. Will's face fell.

"I-" he said but stopped, his head hanging slightly. Seconds later, his head snapped up, fierce blue eyes stabbing daggers into Mr. Dogwood's stormy gray ones. "She'd better get back here safe or I'll come after you personally," he growled and stormed out the front door, hand slipping from Avis' fingers.

After Mam had put the kettle on and everyone but Will had settled around the small chipped green kitchen table, it was decided that Will, Prim and Avis would go stay with Mam's brother Uncle Donal in Kenmare until summer camp in August. Prim mentioned that she'd rather stay at home, of course, but Mam was worried about safety and the house and such so it was decided.

Avis didn't quite know how to feel. She'd been very disappointed about originally having to stay home from summer camp and help Mam with laundry all summer but now she was torn. She was excited for camp, excited to see Maisie again, excited for the fair and all the jolly things that would come with it, but she desperately wanted Mam to be safe and in a familiar place. Berlin was so far away. What if Mam went missing too?

The girl did her best to keep her fears hidden. She wanted to be supportive because she could tell Mam was already very worried and probably nervous. Avis didn't remember the last time her mother had left Wicklow, much less Ireland.

Later that night after Mr. Dogwood had left and Mam had finished packing, Avis heard the floorboards outside her room creak and she quickly turned over in her bed, slowing her breathing and pretending to be asleep. Her bedroom door opened and quiet footsteps shuffled in.

Moments later, she felt soft lips on her temple and a gentle hand smooth her covers, tugging them up over her shoulder. "Goodbye, my little bird," came a familiar soothing voice. Avis felt her eyelids grow heavy as her mind began to drift off. She hadn't realized how tired she actually was.

Before her surroundings faded to black and her dreams took hold, the young girl heard her mother stand, watching her daughter sleep for a moment.

"Go gcasfar le chéile sinn arís," she whispered in soft Gaelic, her retreating footsteps fading into Avis' consciousness.

'May we be together again.'