(images downloaded from google)
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In this chapter we are introduced to some more characters: The Portuguese Minister of Magic, Jacinta Horta, the head goblin of the Gringotts Bank Lisbon branch, Panduro, the headmistress of the wizard school Tambangaisa, Alice Fonseca, Seta the centaur and we see a character from the Harry Potter series-Albus Dumbledore. A mysterious plant is discovered and the Silvas will discuss what to do next with the help of everyone else.
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For many centuries the mountain ranges seperating the Algarve from the rest of continental Portugal were nearly impassable to muggles thereby making this particular area a stronghold of wizard folk. They spent their lives happily tending the forest, there were herds of hippogriffs, thestrals, unicorns, moon calves and also a flying horse bred from the Lusitano#; a lovely strong and gentle breed full of courage. There were birds of every description magical and non-magical. There were trees of every kind and magical plants galore.
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As time passed there were more and more people and roads were built through the mountains. The wizards and their forest were split up into seperate areas. At the time of this story, there were only a handful of families still living and working in their designated areas. One of these families was the Silvas and they had just witnessed the end of their area of the forest.
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Black, charred earth as far as the eye could see with little islands of green sticking out like sore thumbs was all that was left of the Silva's area. The only remaining building was the roofless pigsty which was made of stone now backened. A series of pops broke the silence and suddenly the desolate landscape was filled with men, women and one goblin. The Portuguese minister of magic, Jacinta Horta, placed her arm around the shoulder of her secretary, Diego Silva, speechless. The director of Gringotts Bank Lisbon Branch, Panduro** the goblin, looked around revealing nothing of his feelings as his assistant, Tiago Silva, nearly fainted with shock. The headmistress of the wizarding school, Tambangaisa, Alice Fonseca, held tightly on to the hand of her assistant greenhouse caretaker, Lena Silva, lending her much needed support in this awful hour.
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Two figures were approaching from the south, covered in soot and their hair was full of grey ash. They walked slowly towards the new arrivals. The three Silva chidren ran to their parents and hugged them fiercely, "Thank Merlin, you're alright!" they cried with joy. Tears of relief were in everybody's eyes even Panduro's.
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"I'm afraid our part of the forest is destroyed and it will take many years to recuperate," Bernardo sighed. "All of the birds and animals managed to escape. We spoke to the local leader of the centaurs, Seta***, and he has agreed to a meeting later at sundown."
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"If you are wondering about Marisa, she is fine now, Julia conjured a 'globus memoria felice' spell," he looked in admiration at her, "It was perfect; the invisible bubble with just the one thread attaching to Marisa's brain hrough her ear, making her relive the happiest moments of her life, she settled right down with a happy look on her face," Bernardo chuckled at the memory. "I helped Julia reattach her paw and now she's back at the beach with Omar and her eggs. Jojo and Mojo are there as well just in case."
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Bernardo turned to look at Julia and she added with a slight shiver, "We came across the most wondrous plant just now, I don't know how to explain so it's better if you see it for yourselves."
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On that curious note, they all walked south until they came upon one of the green islands where there was a shimmering glow and the air was filled with sparkles. To their astonishment it was a fuchsia plant but instead of pink and purple flowers, it had pairs of earrings fit for a princess dangling from its branches: diamonds, opals, sapphires, emeralds, rubies and all the other precious and semi-precious stones twinkling in the sunlight. Nobody said anything for a long time.
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Finally Panduro broke the silence, "I have never seen anything like that in my life! The value of all those jewels is priceless. Does anybody have any ideas about what to do with it?"
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Everyone was stumped.
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Jacinta Horta cleared her throat and said, "I'll contact Albus Dumbledore immediately, he might be able to shed some light on this mysterious plant." Jacinta aimed her wand north and an Iberian lynx patronus shot out of the end, turned to face Jacinta and after a brief exchange of thoughts leaped up into the sky and was gone.
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The rest of the morning was spent checking on the damage. Although their part was destroyed, the rest was untouched. 'It could have been a lot worse if we hadn't kept the ground clear of debris,' thought Bernardo to himself: he was adamant that the forest floor should always be kept clear and it turned out he was right. All of the birds had lost their nests and some had lost their eggs and young ones. This really hurt the Silva family, it wasn't the birds' fault that there had been a fire.
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They came across Bica and Ursula. "Estrela be safe! It be here!" he slurred as he patted the empty air at his side.
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Julia threw out her arms to keep everyone from getting too close to the unicorn as Ursula gave a start to see all those people so near."Oh, of course, I forgot to mention it! Ursula gave birth to a thestramule right before dawn! I've named it Estrela," exclaimed Julia as she smiled at the memory, "if you want to see it, you'll have to drink some beer or wine," Julia explained.
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She summoned Trina and requested some beer, wine and glasses to drink to the health of the thestramule and its mother and also to be able to see it. Trina returned with some of the other elves all bearing drinks or trays with glasses.When every last person and elf had a glass of drink they raised them and toasted Ursula from a safe distance of course.After they had all had a drink they gasped as they were finally able to see the tiny pink beast with their own eyes! It was looking at them all curiously, flapping its tiny pink wings.
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"That be one beautiful baby, Ursie!" Trina exclaimed. "Is all as should be, Bica?" she cast her stern eyes on the soused house elf.
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"Yes, all be fine, hic!" Bica managed to utter quaking a little under her gaze.
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"Then we be off to make dinner, Dona Ju," Trina announced, as she led the way back to the burnt out shell of the house, the other elves following her carrying the empty bottles and glasses.
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Feeling a little cheered they continued their survey until sunset, the sky was turning all deep reds, oranges and yellows; it was as if the sky was on fire now, it was breath takingly beautiful.
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Seta came walking through the trees; he was old and grey. He bowed a greeting to all and then gazed up at the sky; after a minute he pointed at something that was coming closer; everyone looked up at the sky as Dumbledore was arriving on his thestral; he landed looking rather windswept but otherwise splendid in his purple robes embroidered with stars and planets. They all said hello, happy to be with each other.
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Bernardo pointed his wand at the ground, muttered, "manta brota", and an enormous beige blanket started to sprout from the earth and spread out and out like spilling water until it covered a lot of ground, he then uttered, "basta", and it stopped growing. He turned to the others and invited them to sit down.
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Trina appeared with a group of house elves, "I is sorry, but this is all we scraped together from the cans and jars in the underground cellar," looking sadly down at the trays heaped with bowls of tuna and black-eyed pea salad, tuna and chick pea salad, sardine sandwiches, black and grees olives, fruit salad, assorted biscuits, mint humbugs and some jugs of orange juice made from powder and water. All the house elves were looking at some point on the ground.
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"That looks like a veritable feast to me! You've outdone yourselves, elves!" Berardo exclaimed, "Why don't you join us?" he patted the blanket and smiled at them and they smiled back. He waved his hand to summon dishes, glasses and cutlery and they all sat down to share in the impromptu feast. Everybody had something to eat and drink, the meal was calm and silent; everyone was lost in their own thoughts.
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Dumbledore finally spoke after the meal was over, "now that we have all been fed and watered, I would like to see this wondrous plant.!"
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Everybody rose, the house elves went back to the shell of the house with the dirty dishes and Bernardo invited the rest to follow him and they went to the plant which could be seen quite clearly now that the sun was down. As Dumbledore neared it seemed to shine even more intensely filling the night with brightness. It appeared to be on fire, there was something phoenix-like about it; it had after all been born from a fire. He took out his wand and waved it over the plant chanting under his breath, staring intensely at it to see any reaction. He pocketed his wand and smiled, "This plant is in no way dangerous or black in magic, it is filled with the purest of positive magic. I have no idea how it came to be but it is something very good you must all guard it well."
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"How can we possibly do that? Our part of the forest is in shambles!" Bernardo remarked with anguish.
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"It's very valuable, how can anyone protect it from being stolen or destroyed?" added Panduro.
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"Venus is rising on the horizon," offered Seta.
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"Lena, can this plant be transplanted?" Alice Fonseca asked as she turned to Lena.
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The greenhouse caretaker crouched to take a closer look at the plant's stem and roots; after careful scrutiny she rose and said, "I believe so, is there a pot around? One of those great pots I brought home last time that will guarantee good growth no matter what plant it is." Lena stopped speaking and was almost on the verge of crying, "I'm sorry, they're all gone, aren't they?"
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"Actually, we have some of those pots at the flat in Lisbon, mana%," Diego remarked as he turned to his brother, "don't we?"
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Tiago nodded, "Yes, Chica was thrilled! Now she has no problem with some of her more difficult plants. We can go there later on tonight, I know she'd love to see you."
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"Fine, but where are you going to move it to once you've got it potted?" insisted Panduro.
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The Silva family all looked at each other, finally Bernardo spoke, "We could move it to our vacation home off the Açores, Jula and I could move in with some of our house elves and plant it there. We would have to leave some of our elves here to keep an eye on the forest; they could fix up the pigsty and live there."
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"I will also keep an eye on the forest, it will take a long time for it to recuperate but I and my herd will be here and we pledge out honor to take care of it," Seta solemly proclaimed.
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"Thank you, Seta, I am not afraid to leave this part of the forest in your capable hands," Bernardo whispered to the centaur visibly touched.
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Seta bowed solemnly and disappeared into the dark forest.
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Julia spoke up, "If we're moving to the Açores, I think we should take all our birds with us as they have lost their nests, Ursula and Estrela too, and the dragons could be set up on a beach by themselves. I don't like the idea of leaving them now that Marisa has finally laid some eggs!" Julia sobbed, "They are part of our family!"
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Bernardo hugged Julia very close. "Shhh, don't worry my love, we will figure it out," he rubbed his hands up and down her back holding her very close.
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"I'm sure all these problems will iron themselves out. Stay united in this hour of need. I must go now, even though Hogwarts is closed for the summer, there is a lot to be done," Dumbledore spoke to each in turn, then mounted his thestral and was off.
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"I can lend you the school transport if you like," Alice Fonseca offered after Dumbledore had vanished north, "That way, you can take everything in one go."
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"That would be wonderful, thanks for the offer!" Bernardo said as he held on to Julia who smiled at Alice, "Yes, thanks, now we have to gather the animals over the next few days and decide which elves stay and which go."
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"If you are bringing all your birds why don't you transform your home into a bird sanctuary?" Jacinta Horta inquired. "That way you would have all the protective spells that all sanctuaries have, plus some added protection for the plant and no one would be suspicious," she turned to Panduro, "What do you think?"
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Panduro didn't say anything for a while deep in thought. Finally, he said, "I think that is a very good idea and I will look into protective spells and charms with my colleagues at the bank. I take it that this home has all the usual muggle-repelling spells and is unplottable?"
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They assented.
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"Well, then, we'll just have to toughen up any existing charms and add a few of our own, it will be as well guarded as if it were in Gringott's itself," he smiled showing his sharp teeth. "Tiago will take care of it himself," gazing at his assistant, "Alright by you, Tiago?"
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"You can count on me, sir," Tiago proclaimed.
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"Well, I'll be going now, see you in the morning, Diego," Jacinta Horta bade everyone good night and apparated.
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"Tiago, Lena and I will stay in Lisbon tonight and one of us can escort Lena back with the pot tomorrow morning," Diego added looking at his siblings, "It will probably be you, Tiago, as I want to start on the paper work on wizard kind's newest bird sanctuary first thing tomorrow morning."
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"I have to get back to the school to get everything ready so I'll say good night and see you soon, " Alice Fonseca hugged Bernardo and Julia, then turned to Lena, "If you want to stay with your parents just say the word, we can get along without you at the school and they might like having you around."
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Lena gaped at her employer, 'how did she guess that? Has she been using legilimancy?'
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"You are very perceptive, headmistress! I don't want to sound ungrateful but I really would like to accompany my parents," she calmed down a bit. "Only I was thinking that my so-called green thumb would be better use in a garden center where I can get some seedlings started to replenish the forest; I was wondering if it would be possible to rent or buy a garden center on one of the islands of the Açores. The Island of the Crow would probably be best as it's the smallest one and it wouldn't attract so much attention. I'd take Mara and Mauro as well: they would look after me and I would insist they be freed and wear clothes as we will be interacting with muggles there," she looked around nervously,"What do you think of my idea?"
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Nobody said a word, they were all digesting the idea. Finally Bernardo spoke, "That is a brilliant idea and I think we can work it out!" He turned to Panduro, "Do you think you could find a suitable property there?"
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Panduro appeared to be deep in thought, "I will do my best to find something, it should be feasible as the island is so small amd out of the way. I'll get back to you as soon as I have any news." He gave a little bow, turned and disaparated.
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Alice Fonseca gave Lena a little hug, "I'm sorry I won't see you as much now but you are doing the right thing, I have a feeling that all the forests in this country will be needing tree seedlings and other plants; we are in the middle of a drought, as you know," she smiled, turned and disappeared.
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The Silva family gave each other warm hugs, they were sad of course but there was a feeling of hope too as though this move was the right thing to do. The three children said good bye and vanished, Bernardo and Julia went to their shining earrings of the princess plant, summoned their house elves, conjured sleeping bags and went to bed right there under the stars next to the plant which filled them all with hope and peace.
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*the fuchsia plant is commonly known in Portugal as "brincos de Princesa" which translates as "earrings of the princess
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**Panduro is a mix of "pão"meaning bread and "duro" meaning hard: hard bread or hard tack
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***seta is Portuguese for arrow
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#the Lusitano is a Portuguese horse breed
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%mana/mano-sis/bro
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Spells:
Globus memoria felice-globe of happy memories
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manta brota-spring forth blanket
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basta-enough
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