1The Patterson Twins And The Return Of The Apprentice
Chapter 1
Ashes From Thy Father
The darkness of night seemed to cast across the land like a gush of wind on a winter's day. Professor Albus Dumbledore paced the hallway of the residents of Samuel and Maria Patterson. His long face looked tiered and troubled sum as his half-moon specticals were worn at the tip of his nose. Suddenly, the door opened and out came a woman with a worn out pointed black hat. She had almost a pointed face which resembled a cat's and her glasses pushed up against her eyes.
"Minerva, the child?" Dumbledore said, straightening up.
"Children, Albus," The woman who was called Minerva said, "Two. Twin girls,"
"And Maria?"
"She is fine. There was no disturbances," Minerva said with a short smile.
"Excellent news. Now, we must quickly be off to the Potter household," Dumbledore said. Suddenly, there was a cracking noise, and clouds of smoke filled the hallway. A dirty boy stood before Dumbledore and Minerva. He seemed to shiver and twitch, as if he saw a ghost.
"Professor," The boy said looking at his feet.
"Pravus, my dear lad, what is the matter?" Dumbledore said walking toward the boy called Pravus.
"It's Samuel, sir," Pravus said as he continued to gaze at his feet. Dumbledore grabbed the boy's shoulders and straightened him up.
"What happened to Samuel, Pravus?" Dumbledore said forcefully, "Answer me, lad,"
"Professor... Samuel... he's-" Pravus stuttered for words, but closed his eyes. He reached into his pocket and took out a small box.
"What is inside the box, Mr. Greyson?" Minerva asked, confusingly looking at the box.
"These are the ashes of Samuel Patterson, Professor McGonagall," Pravus said, tears forming in his eyes, "Samuel is dead," The area around the three became quiet and cold. Nothing was said nor heard, except for the soft sobs of Pravus. Dumbledore looked at Pravus in disbelief.
"Are you sure, Pravus?" He said taking his hands off Pravus' shoulders. Pravus nodded and wiped his wet nose on his rope's sleeve.
"His last breath told me to sprinkle his ashes on his newborn, so that his power and will would be with his child," Pravus said holding up the box. Dumbledore sighed and looked at Pravus and Minerva.
"I must attend to the other members of the Order. Who knows what might have happened," Dumbledore said, rubbing his forehead. He started to walk forward, then stopped and turned to Pravus.
"Was it him, Pravus?" He said, his eyebrows up and ready for answers.
"No sir," Pravus said, "It was his apprentice," Dumbledore nodded and turned. He said his goodbyes and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Pravus turned to Minerva and sighed.
"Professor McGonagall, will we always live in a world doomed in darkness?" Pravus said, gripping the box of ashes tightly. Minerva smiled sadly and rested her hand on Pravus' shoulder.
"That is unclear, Mr. Greyson, but we are doing all we can to stop... well... you-know-who," Minerva said, sighing afterwards. She opened up the door she had exited not to long ago. She entered in, Pravus following her. Maria Patterson laid in her bed with a baby cradled in her arms. She looked up at Minerva and Pravus and smiled.
"Pravus, what are you doing here?" Maria said cheerfully. Pravus said nothing and looked down at his feet. Maria looked back and forth from Pravus and Minerva, a confused look on her face. She looked at Minerva.
"What happened, Minerva?" Maria said, getting out of her bed and carried her baby over to the two. Minerva choked on words, then said, "Maria, you might want to come with me into the hallway," Maria nodded and looked down at her baby, who was sleeping soundly in her arms.
"Pravus, will you hold my baby for me?" Maria said as she handed Pravus the sleeping baby with a smile, "Her name is Selena. She won't be of any trouble," Pravus nodded as he held the baby. Minerva and Maria went out into the hallway, shutting the door behind them. Pravus then quickly walked over to the bed and set Selena down gently. He pulled out the box, opened it, and pressed his thumb in the ash. He spread it across the baby's forehead, which the ash soaked in instantly.
"Ok, good so far," Pravus said, dipping his thumb back in the box. He spread it across Selena's forehead again, the ash to disappear again.
"Ok, last one," Pravus said, dipping his thumb again in the ash. Just as he was going to spread the ash, a loud cry came from a baby crib. Pravus shot up and panicked.
"T-there's two? T-two?" Pravus stuttered, pacing the floor. He quickly walked over to the crib, looked at his thumb, then down at the baby.
"I don't think it matters," Pravus said, putting the ash across the baby's head, "I mean, it's not like one of you is going to be more powerful than the other, ay?" The baby stared blankly up at Pravus, but then smiled up at him. Pravus picked up the baby and set it next to her twin. He then took out a sheet of paper and cleared his throat.
"Ashes from thy father, given to they..." Pravus read looking at the babies, "Daughters. Though bless thy children with thy gifts from thy father. Let them never be led into darkness," Suddenly, Pravus heard footsteps coming towards the room. Panicking, Pravus quickly said, "Thy father's blood though protect from evil, thy will be done," After saying this, the window burst open, followed by a strong gust of wind. The door to the room opened and Minerva and Maria re-entered.
"Pravus! You're sending in a drift! You might give the twins colds!" Minerva said rushing to the window and shutting it closed. Maria held her hankey to her nose and wiped it as she looked down at her children.
"Please, Minerva. Don't call them twins," Maria said reaching down and touching the babies soft hands, "Call them by their names. Selena and Apolla. They are both different in many ways,"
"Right, yes. They are," Minerva said as she locked the window and rejoined the group. As Maria began to weep again into her hankey. Dumbledore then suddenly walked in, a dissappointed look on his face. He looked at Minerva.
"Minerva, would you be so kind to let Hagrid set off?" Dumbledore said sadly.
"The Potters. What hap-"
"Lilly and James did not make it. Harry was the only survivor. Not even Voldemort could be found," Dumbledore said. Minerva nodded and disappeared. Maria sat on the bed next to her children, not saying a word. Trying to be less noticeable as possible, Pravus snuck over to the side of Dumbledore.
"Um, Professor. I think I did the ritual wrong," Pravus said nervously, "More ash was applied to one baby more than the other one, sir,"
"Selena, I presume. I thought I felt a strong sense in power in her that no normal baby could posses,"
"But sir, how will the ritual be correct if one baby is stronger than the other?"
"Let it be this then;
Thall child whom is powerful than the other,
Cannot act with that power,
Unless her other half is by her side.
"Now you see, Pravus? Nothing to worry about," Dumbledore said, grabbing his hat, "Maria, my blessing is with you. If you need me, you know where to reach me," Dumbledore then tipped his hat to Maria, then to Pravus. Albus Dumbledore than disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
