ILLEGITMATE CHILD
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter universe and all it is! I own nadda, zip, zilch!
Reviews are welcomed, but please refrain from flaming this story. I definitely accept constructive criticism as I want to become a better writer. Thank you very much, I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoy imagining the plot and putting it in words for all to read.
Prologue:
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, sat back in his chair at his desk with all his silver spindly, odd-looking instruments placed in perfect disarray, exactly as he wanted it. The man sighed in exhaustion, staring at the massive amount of paperwork that lay at his desk. Absentmindedly, Dumbledore twirled his wand between each long finger.
You see, it had been a long and arduous day for the Headmaster. He had loads and loads of work to go through. Dumbledore spent his day sifting through his professors' curriculums for the following year for approval and filling out dull paperwork of his own.
Not to mention, the Hogwarts caretaker, Mr. Filch begged the Headmaster to allow the punishments of old to be revived at Hogwarts. As Dumbledore did year after year, he patiently explained to Mr. Filch why he would not approve of such a thing. It had been a tiring day, indeed and tomorrow would be no exception!
The wizened old man began to doze off into a light sleep. His head sagging slightly, his electric blue eyes barely seen under his drooping eyelids, and his silver spectacles sliding down to the tip of his crooked nose. Breathing steady and deeply, Dumbledore began to relax into his chair.
"Albus…Albus…ALBUS!" Dumbledore jerked wake. "Huh? What? Oh Minerva, dear! What a fright you gave me…" He cast a weary smile and tried to stifle a yawn, peering at the witch in front of his desk.
Minerva McGonagall stood across the Headmaster's desk with a piece of parchment in her hand. The Deputy Headmistress didn't look very much better than her counterpart sitting at his desk stretching his old bones and joints. McGonagall's hair was not in its usual tight bun, it was rather dishelved and there were runaway strands of hair loose from the bun. The lines of age and weariness etched upon her face.
"My lady, do sit down and tell me what I owe to your most wonderful presence. Lemon drop, Minerva?"
"No thank you, Albus. You know I've no fondness for those muggle sweets," shaking her head at the Headmaster's unusual love for muggle sweets. Dumbledore smiled and unsticked a lemon drop and began sucking happily at the sweet.
Minerva sighed, "Albus, I was going through the usual list of new students for the following year. I came upon a rather unusual name. It's a familiar and unfamiliar name."
"Familiar and unfamiliar? Why that's a contradiction, Minerva." Dumbledore chuckled as McGonagall rolled her eyes at the Headmaster's twinkling eyes.
"The child's name is Avril Potter, Albus. As far as I knew, Harry was the last in the Potter family line," McGonagall replied.
Dumbledore leaned forward on his desk and interlaced his fingers together, "hmm…Harry is the last of the Potters."
"Well apparently not, Headmaster. You know the roster doesn't lie; it records every child born in Britain that has magic in their veins. What's strange Albus is that this girl's address is in Bradford, Massachusetts…in the states." McGonagall handed over the parchment to Dumbledore.
"Strange indeed, now why wasn't she recorded at the Salem Witches Institute instead?" Dumbledore's brow furrowed in deep thought as he scanned the parchment.
"I already spoke with the Headmistress, Janet Cornwell. She knows of no Avril Potter, she doesn't even appear on their roster," Minerva sighed.
"Very well, Minerva. Write up Miss Potter's acceptance letter and I personally will see that she gets it." Pinching his nose, he waved a hand of dismissal.
Rising from her seat, McGonagall cast a sympathetic glance at Dumbledore, "Be sure to get a good night's rest, Albus or I'll sic Poppy on you. It's been a wearisome day"
"Minerva, you know I wouldn't dream of disobeying you lest you sic the school nurse on me!" Dumbledore chuckled and rose to his full height.
With a smirk and a graceful swish of her cloak, the Headmistress took her leave. Dumbledore extinguished the candles and retreated to his private rooms.