Introduction
The Offer
August, 1993
It had been a perfectly normal day. She liked those days the best. Where she simply had to do her job at the local Owl Emporium, perhaps run a few errands for the Emporium owner, Mr Magrat, and then return to her apartment to read. She could sit there for hours pouring over pages she had read a hundred time over, all these muggle stories she had collected that now had slowly become long, spindly piles up to the ceiling. The apartment itself held no indication that it had been lived in for nearly a decade. No photos decorated the ebony walls, no paintings or little knick knacks sat atop the small mantlepiece. All that resided in the small space was books and essential utensils, and a rather battered-looking cauldron that was balanced atop an oval table in the far corner. This cauldron was clearly hardly used as dust formed around the rim and the four rusted legs. A good thing, really.
True, it had been a normal day. However, she barely had to time to flick her wand and make a pot levitate beneath the tap when a polite tapping echoed on her front door. Her head snapped quickly at the sudden noise, wild eyes darting around for a moment before she straightened herself up and relaxed. It was likely just a Muggle neighbour, they were always trying to politely make small talk with her or gossip about this that and the other. Though she noticed gossip usually centered around a young Muggle mother a few doors down. Poor girl.
With another quick flick of her wand the levitating pot clunked heavily into the sink and then she cautiously opened the door. The worn smile on her face dropped when a familiar silvery beard greeted her wild eyes. She blinked. No, it wasn't a mistake. The man wore his own small smile, but she noted the unusual warmth in the action. Blimey, when was the last time she had seen that smile?
"Good evening, Miss Riddle."
She swallowed down a gasp and spoke coolly, "Professor Dumbledore."
"Come now, no need for formalities. You haven't been a student for many years. Dumbledore will be fine, or Albus if you prefer."
"Professor Dumbledore," she persisted stubbornly, "not to seem rude but why are you here? How did you-"
"The Ministry of Magic always knew where you were, Miss Riddle. As did I. Though, I never imagined you would be here of all places."
"I prefer muggles these days. They don't know anything about me." She explained with a hint of venom.
Dumbledore ignored the viperous tone and continued warmly, "American muggles at that, a surprise I must say. May I come in?"
She nodded stiffly, opening the door wide and swiftly moving back inside the room. Once Dumbledore had quietly closed the door she flicked her wand and the pot began to levitate once more and fill with water. "Would you like a cup of tea, Professor?"
"Ah, yes please." Dumbledore answered. His bright eyes avidly watched her movements behind his half-moon spectacles. Faded, emerald robes clung to her thinly frame. Her face was hollow and sullen and her skin had gained some pigment again since the last time he had seen her, though the paleness of it would have seemed unchanged to anyone else. Her dark hair had been cut short and created some ambiguity, though this ambiguity didn't seem to lessen her anxiety as she fleeted about the place flicking her wand to hide most of her possessions from his view. There was not that much to hide.
Eventually the two sat opposite in plain, brown armchairs with cups of tea balanced on their laps. She brought hers up to her pale lips with trembling hands, avoiding as much eye contact as possible. Dumbledore did not show the guilt he felt in his heart. Instead, he sipped the watery tea gently and began to speak, "very refreshing thank you. Sherbert lemon?"
"No thank you, and it's too watery," she argued flatly. "Still, it's better than my potion-making."
"I recall Horace telling me once how your draught of living death wouldn't even be able to kill a fly," Dumbledore spoke thoughtfully.
At the mention of the old potions master she shivered and deciding the cup was safer out of her trembling hands, she placed the cup of tea on the table in front of them. It was hard to imagine this woman's actual age considering her mannerisms and appearance were far more common in a younger witch. "If you've c-come here to talk about the past then please just leave." She stuttered, pain glinting in her wild eyes.
Dumbledore took another sip and then discarded the watery tea onto the table as well. "That's not why I am here."
"Then why?"
Dumbledore's smile loosened slightly. "To put an offer to you," he began, "an offer to teach at Hogwarts."
Silence. Then, a cold cackle erupted in the room. She couldn't help herself, the dark irony was too much and years of suffering came out in painful laughter that lasted a good while. Dumbledore didn't appear perturbed, but his judgement on her reaction was quite wrong. He had not expected her to laugh.
Finally the cackle died away and she shook her head. "You are asking me? Me? To teach at Hogwarts? I'd heard you had gone mad but I didn't believe you'd be barking mad."
"It's an excellent job for you. Care of Magical Creatures," Dumbledore continued, ignoring her questions completely, "you'll be helping Rubeus Hagrid as Silvanus Kettleburn has retired. You may come to Hogwarts before classes start in September to setup a lesson plan with Hagrid. He's excited you know, to be working with you, I honestly thought he would need more of a push."
"Couldn't you have sent this 'offer' by owl?" She sneered.
"I felt it needed a personal meeting."
"No." She answered.
"No?"
"No I will not. I did not agree to this nor would I ever agree to it," She hissed.
"If I recall you were quite gifted in the subject, both in your O.W.L and later in your N.E.W.T, and to be a co-professor would be best suited as you have limited experience in teaching."
Her eyes darkened. "I will not agree to it."
Dumbledore smiled warmly at her once more. "I understand, it was insensitive of me to put you in this situation. It must be difficult to think about your time at Hogwarts, and teaching children is a task indeed. It is a rare talent." He picked up the cup of tea and drained it. "I had best be off then, but thank you for the tea."
Her face scrunched up as he stood to leave. She leapt to her feet. "Wait! I'll do it. But on one condition, they do not find out who I am."
Dumbledore turned to face her again and was more than thrilled to see excitement sparkle in those wild eyes. It was always her pride. Always. "I shall do my best."
"I mean it, Professor, they can't know. I can't…" she trailed off. The unspoken words were not needed. Dumbledore knew the dread that she felt.
"I will do my best," he repeated.
They talked for a while more until Dumbledore convinced her to come to Hogwarts in the following weeks. Before leaving he had tapped her shoulder in a friendly gesture, however she found the contact unnecessary and awkward. She was truly dazed by the time he had left. After all these years, after all that had happened, he still greeted her with a warm smile as if she was that eleven year old girl again. It was both relieving and confusing. She shook her head. There was no way that anyone would know who she was, Voldemort had made sure of that long ago, at least they wouldn't know fully about her. But to be working alongside Hagrid, to be at that damnable school again...perhaps she had been mistaken to agree. Alas, Dumbledore knew how to peak her interest.
When was the last time she had had a challenge?
Actually, that was something she did not want to think about.
Her hand clasped around a pendant that hung from her neck, the small silver bird almost sizzling beneath her fingertips. Fear engulfed her for a moment before she sighed loudly and decided that an early sleep was needed. However, an early sleep didn't stop the nightmares that plagued her mind that night.
Finally decided to try a hand at writing a Harry Potter fanfic again, my first ever attempt at writing was initially a HP fanfic but I really hope I've improved since then _
This fanfic will fleet between the 1940s and Harry's third year a lot but hopefully it won't get too confusing.
And please forgive the awful cover image, I'll likely change it soon.
Would greatly appreciate feedback as I haven't written an OC in a fanfic for years now :)