Albus Dumbledore is a man who is not often taken by surprise. He is collected and hides his worries well behind his twinkling eyes.
But as he looked down at the letter from his brother his eyes widened in shock.
As he read the letter, an uneasiness started to boil in his stomach. It had been years since him and his brother had spoken. And for his brother to be asking for help let him know that whatever had prompted Aberforth to send the owl to him was urgent.
When he arrived at the rather run down inn, the first thing he took notice of was the light spots of blood that lead to the doorway.
That uneasiness grew as he stepped into the dark building. He followed the sound of whimpering into a small room lit with candles.
There, laying on the worn mattress that had seen better days, was Celeste Ivonne.
Albus had known that when his brother had mentioned in his letter that a former student of his was in need of his aid, that if would be Celeste.
During her teenage years Celeste had become a ward of Aberforth's.
Celeste was a beautiful child who could warm the coldest of hearts.
Her knack for trouble was only forgiven with her sweet and caring nature.
Her mischievous nature had only added to her allure for many, Albus thought sadly.
Her parents died at a young age. Leaving her in an orphanage for her first ten years of life.
There had been many pure bloods seeking to take her in as their ward. But Albus knew that the sweet child could not afford to be corrupted by those who did not have her wellbeing in mind.
She had too much in store for her.
Unfortunately her life there was not savory. She had been dealt a bad hand and Albus had sought to turn the tables, so to speak. Especially since it was his own doing that landed her in an unsavory home.
He had set her up a residence in Hogsmeade. Leaving her in the care of Aberforth. Aberforth had been stoic, not acknowledging the young girl that had been left in his care. But to the surprise of those around him, he grew to love the small white haired girl like a daughter.
Albus had watched them grow closer from afar. He was glad his brother and the poor girl found family in each other.
The more Celeste grew the more beautiful she became.
She had stolen many hearts in her years at Hogwarts.
But there was only one boy that seemed to stand out to the beauty.
His heart had belonged to her since the day he saw her. It had took years for her to fall.
But when she did, even she knew there was no going back. She was his and he was hers.
With both there wit and mischief they were a force to be reckoned with.
But now her beauty was hidden behind pain.
Her silver white hair was stuck to her face in sweat and her usually warm brown eyes were hidden behind skewered lids.
She was panting and her face was tight with pain. Her obviously pregnant belly was heaving up and down with the force of her breathing. Blood was coating the inside of her legs, indicating that something was very much wrong with the baby.
When Albus noticed this he rushed to her side. Aberforth, who had been holding her hand, turned to look at him with pained eyes.
"Albus..."
His brothers pained voice was all he needed to hear to know the woman was running out of time.
He knew he would help her. But he wasn't confident he could save her.
Healing magic on someone as pregnant as Celeste was limited and Celeste was weak from blood loss.
She knew she was dying. She knew that her time had come to an end. The only thing that gave her peace was knowing her daughter would live.
"Please, you have to save her. She's dying. He'll kill her when he finds her. He won't stop searching. He'll kill my daughter. Please.", she pleaded.
He looked into her eyes and saw her mind was made. She would die tonight. But her child would live.
With a solemn nod he looked to Aberforth who had tears in his eyes that refused to fall. Aberforth squeezed her hand one last time and left the room. Unable to watch.
The next hour was silent other than Celeste's screams. There was no way possible to birth the baby by natural means and have it survive.
He had no choice, but to preform a caesarean section. He looked to her as it was her choice. She nodded her head with a pained smile.
After a few minutes the room was filled with a worrying noise. It wasn't the noise they were expecting. They had expected the sound of a baby's wail, but what they received was nothing. Everything was silent. The screams of the new mother were now silent. Aberforth, who had just entered the room, was silent. The crickets that usually took residence in the trees behind the shabby inn, were silent. The trees that rustled in the winter wind, were now silent.
The baby that had just been born, was silent.
But then the baby gave a small, pitiful cough and began to cry.
It was as though the universe around them gave a sigh of relief and sound existed again.
Celeste smiled a weak smile and reached out for her daughter. The daughter she would only meet once besides in death.
And here they are.
Albus staring at the small bundle of life he had aided bringing into the world with sadness.
His eyes twinkled sadly when he handed the baby girl to her mother.
Celeste had known she would die before this war was over. She had seen it. And it pained her to keep this information from her husband, but she knew that he would be heartbroken.
She had been visiting Aberforth one last time before her family was forced to go into hiding when she felt it.
It was time. Her life was ending, but her daughter would live.
But when she was told she was with child she knew. She knew Voldemort would be threatened. He had good reason to be.
One day her and Harry will destroy him.
When she had a vision of an airy women deliver a prophecy that involved her daughter in the downfall of the man that threatened her family and friends lives, she knew they all would have to go into hiding.
Their children came first.
He will not harm my child, she thought as she looked down at the now silent baby.
Even before her baby girl was born she loved her. The child she had never met felt as though it was apart of herself. Someone she would protect with her life and love with her entire being. Someone to protect from others who wish to harm her.
She could tell already that the girl will be powerful. She has the blood of Ivonne running through her veins.
She had seen visions of her little girl growing to be a beautiful witch. With elegance and strength beyond her years.
She would be noble and honorable. A true Ivonne.
"Aceline Iven Ivonne Black. My little archer. Be kind and don't ever loose who you are." She said to her precious baby. Letting a single tear fall.
She suddenly grabbed Albus's hand. He could feel something cold being pressed into his palm.
When she took her hand away he could see a necklace. One made of silver and in the shape of an arrow.
"You have to keep them safe. Tell my husband I love him. And that I will see him again." She whispered as her eyes fluttered shut. Her arms that were squeezing the baby close went limp and the baby on her chest began to wail.
The day Celeste Ivonne died was not only the day a strong man broke inside.
It was the day a True Ivonne entered the world.