14The graveyard was almost deserted on this wet evening. Only three people could be seen amongst the tombstones: a young girl with red hair, kneeling by a simple double gravestone with a bunch of flowers, and two supernaturally beautiful young men with pale skin and golden eyes, wandering around with an air of enquiry, stopping occasionally to read the names carved into the numerous memorials.
Carlisle and Edward had decided to visit the graveyard to see if they could learn anything from its former inhabitants, and especially for Carlisle to visit the graves of some of the people he had met in his last visit to the small village. Rather thankfully, he could not seem to find Albus Dumbledore's grave here, so he assumed that he must still be alive, but much older than he was the last time their paths crossed.
A sudden squeal broke the silence, followed by a thud and a nasty cracking sound. Carlisle and Edward's heads snapped around immediately, to see the young girl sprawled on the ground, having seemingly tripped and banged her head rather hard upon the corner of another gravestone.
Carlisle immediately hurried over, glad to see that the girl was still conscious and without damage to any other part of her body, but whimpering in pain whilst clutching her head.
"Don't worry;" said Carlisle gently, bending over the small figure. "I'm a doctor. It seems as if you have hit your head pretty hard. Do you feel dizzy or confused in any way?"
"I feel fine, but my head really hurts," the girl said in a small voice. "I want to go home."
"How about we take you home?" spoke Edward, standing at Carlisle's shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll carry you and then Carlisle can treat you in comfort. Just tell us the way."
"Okay," said the girl. "It's quite close actually."
Edward picked the girl up and carried her carefully in his arms, and the three of them left the graveyard. Soon, following the child's directions, they reached a small house with stone walls and a small front garden. Carlisle rang the doorbell and waited.
Soon the door opened to reveal a man with messy black hair and round glasses. His eyes were a bright green, but were haunted with the look of someone who had seen far too many horrors for his age and had grown up far too quickly. He swiftly surveyed the scene in front of him, barely noticing the two men before his eyes zeroed in on his daughter being held in the younger man's arms and taking in all aspects of her appearance, including the blood in her hair and on her clothes.
"What happened to her?" he asked, his worry making the question sound more like an accusation.
"Don't worry, Daddy," said the little girl, "I tripped and banged my head in the graveyard. The man says that he's a doctor."
"I am, Dr Carlisle Cullen, and this is my son Edward" spoke Carlisle. "Your daughter wanted to come home, and I would find it easier to treat her here where there is a supply of bandages and antiseptics, I hope."
"Yes, yes, come in," said the man standing in the doorway. He stepped aside to allow the little group into the house.