Sand and Snow

"No," Khaat said definitely. "If we go, we go as friends. We could always take a couple of men along to do the work. Besides, someone needs to carry all the packages."

"That's me, Pack Mule," Brian said. "Grunt work for hire."

"I already hired you for that," Khaat said. "So, I presume I can go this afternoon."

"It'll last about ten minutes," Robert said. "You're not up to it. If you're going, then, I'd do it today. Or you'll stove up by morning and won't be able to go."

"Then we go," Khaat said simply.

"Make it short. Cassidy can shop for your mother some other time," Robert said.

Khaat didn't realize until she got up to go shopping what a mess she really was from falling into that deep dark dirt hole. She had to take time to change before they left. She did find that she was feeling a bit better after the hot steamy water had rolled over her body. She was already aching and hurting in places she didn't know she had. She knew her father hadn't really wanted her to go at all, but when he had told her he didn't want her to be long, he was fully meaning her to go to one shop, pick something out and come back--within the hour. Not hours. One.

She changed and was unhappy that her jeans and shirt were too big. When she tried to resize them with her wand, nothing happened. She couldn't figure it out. And the more she tried to use her magic, the more she found that none of it worked.

She finally went downstairs and looked blankly at her father. He had picked up their copy of The Daily Prophet and had started to read the front page when he saw her. He looked up and frowned. "What?" he asked.

"My magic. Its gone," she said. "Totally gone." He laid aside the paper and went over to her and assessed her quickly.

"You're right. Its from hitting your head. You should have it back anytime. Could be minutes, hours, or a few days. Its hard to tell. But it is temporary. Its not uncommon for wizards to temporarily short circuit their magic under the right conditions. It will repair itself. Alright, you lot. Heads up. Khaat doesn't have an ounce of magic. Its not that it'll go wonky if she casts a spell. She can't cast a spell. You can still shop, but she's going to be totally dependent on you all. You think you can handle it?"

"We're good with it," Brian said. Khaat could almost read his thoughts. He was just glad she had survived--magic or not. The magic was not why he loved her. It wasn't ever about that.

Brian helped Khaat to her feet and made sure he had wrapped a lot of physical strength and support around her. "You know the shops, Steven. We'll see you there." He apparated them both out and to the shop.

Khaat was pleased to be in Diagon Alley, in front of her favorite shop. Brian walked her inside. He took her in and made sure that he helped her over to the clothing racks. "Take your time--until you hurt," he told her.

She began looking for a pair of slacks first. The colors were still winter colors and were a bit limited in her size. That didn't make her happy, but she decided to continue to look.

Khaat saw Cassidy and Steven come in, and Cassidy was looking a bit green. "The more you do it, the easier it gets," Khaat told her. "It really is the only cure for it. Trust me. We all go through it when we first train to apparate or portkey either one."

"Hey, Khaat, how about these?" Brian showed her a pair of really beautiful olive green silk slacks--they were made of raw silk in a loose cargo style. They looked amazingly comfortable. Khaat liked them immediately. "Suppose they'll fit?" she asked.

"Doesn't matter. Wands do wonders," he grinned. "If you like the, take them."

"What about the black ones?" she asked.

"Not your best color. Try the khaki if you want another pair. "

"Okay."

"Lets go look for a couple of tops," he told her.

"Khaat prefers dresses," Brian said, "But she is so self conscious about her size and about the bruises she's going to have that there is no way she's going to wear a dress that night. I know her."

Khaat ignored them and went over to some of the more comfortable tops. She found herself gravitating to the ivory colored ones. She finally found a v necked cashmere ivory sweater.

She found another one that was trimmed in lace--it was ivory but totally different. The last thing she bought was a longsleeved printed dress. It was maxi length, and she knew she had boots to make up the difference. She found a fabric sash in a solid color--a purple color. It matched the print in the dress. But she thought she'd use it as a belt. What she liked about it was not only the print but the soft fabric that was going to make it comfortable.

"Brian?" Khaat asked. "What do you think?"

"Its very pretty," he smiled., stroking her cheek, "Just like you."