Title- Because Of Them
Rating- T
Summary- Albus and Minerva's daughter thinks about her childhood.
~Chapter 1~
I stare at the newspaper in front of me. It is all about the death of Albus Dumbledore and the funeral that was to take place tomorrow. I have heard about his death long before the prophet arrived this morning. Mostly from colleagues at the ministry who knew him personally and were devastated over his death or from those who were terrified that Dumbledore had died while they were in the middle of a war. I however, felt nothing over his death. No fear and certainly no grief. No one thought much of it though. After all, they know that I attended Beauxbatons as a child and would know almost nothing about him. They were all mistaken however for I did indeed know him. Much more than anyone knew for I, Adara McGowan am actually Adara Dumbledore.
Yes, I am one of the 3 children born to Albus Dumbledore, headmaster at Hogwarts and his Deputy (wife in private) Minerva McGonagall. It was a secret known to only a handful of people meant to protect the children but honestly, all it did was hurt them. You might think "Oh with such a man like Albus Dumbledore for a father their childhood must have been grand!" Well, those people could never be more wrong!
I walk out to my balcony and stare at the night sky. I think of my childhood. For many children it is supposed to be a happy and wonderful time. For me, it was hell. It was in the middle of a war and it didn't help that the whole world depended on my father and my mother had a whole school to run. My parents would never admit it but me and my brothers always came 4th in their lives. 1st it was the wizading world, 2nd was the school, 3rd was each other, and 4th was their children. Often as a child I'd watch my father cancel plans with my mother. I knew he hated to do that but still, it bothered me. What bothered me even more was that my mother was never angry about it. Yes, she'd be a bit disappointed but would never be angry. Once when I was younger I asked her why she was never upset with my father for canceling their plans. My mother stared at me a long time before answering. "Adara, I love your father with all of my heart. He is everything to me. And when you love someone as much as I love your father, you'll do anything for them" At that time, I admired the way my mother cared so much about my father, but as I grew I pitied it.
I started out loving my parents as any small child would but then gradually I lost my respect for them to the point where I hated them. My eldest brother Alberic and my younger brother Aidan were more understanding and loved our parents unconditionally. Something I couldn't do. I remember being envious of them for this ability but just like my mother's love for my father, I pitied it. When our parents disappointed them by canceling activities they were devastated while I, who was already used to it, felt nothing.
By the time I was a teenager I had become a completely different person. I no longer smiled or laughed and dressed in head to toe in black. My blue eyes identical to my father's, without the twinkle was hidden behind black eyeliner and eye shadow. My hair the same as my mothers was often streaked with various colors. I wore short black leather skirts, black tube tops, and fishnet gloves and stockings gave me the look of a thug off the streets. My tattoo on my lower back and multiple piercings on my ears, navel, and tongue didn't help.
Often I would make a sad attempt at sneaking into the house in the wee hours of the morning drunk and high. My parents would always be on the couch in their nightclothes waiting for me. When I did come home my mother would yell at me and drag me to bed. My father did nothing however. He'd sit on the couch starring at her with an odd look in his eyes which I always assumed was anger. Looking back now I realize that it wasn't anger but disappointment and pain. He never took part in disciplining me until one night
"I can't believe you Adara! Is this how it's going to be every night? Having to wait until 3 in the morning until you come back from god knows where drunk and high?!? What kind of example are you setting for your brother?" My mother would say.
"You're one to talk about setting an example! You two who are never here and practically abandon us! Face it; you're a failure as a mother!" I'd bite back.
That's when my father stepped in.
"Adara, you have no right to speak to us that way! We are your parents!"
"No you aren't! All you did was fuck each other and got landed with us. You never gave a shit about us! You cared more about the children in Hogwarts than your own!"
"That's enough! You will apologize to your mother and me and go to bed!"
"No, that's it. I've had enough with this shit. I'm leaving!"
"Oh? And where will you go?"
"Anywhere! Anywhere is better than this hell hole!"
I summoned my trunk and belongings and walked to the door. I turned around to face them before I left.
"One good thing came out of being your daughter. While the rest of the world sees you as a hero and their savior, I know the truth. You're nothing but a bastard!"
I pointed to my mother
"And she is your prize."
That was the last time I ever saw either of my parents. I moved out of the house before I started my 7th year at Beauxbatons and didn't even see them at my graduation. I still kept in touch with my brothers though who would often beg me to make peace with my parents. I said I would when I was ready. The days turned to weeks that turned to months which quickly turned to years. Now it's too late to reconcile with both my parents. In my mind I'm debating whether or not to reconcile with my mother who I'm positive is in the depths of sorrow. I wouldn't be too surprised the prophet contained news of her death sometime soon. I was correct in pitying her and my brothers for their love for my father. But I was also correct in envying them for although my father was rarely there for his children, he loved us all very much and he showed it every way he could. But I wonder. Can a few memories of love and joy make up for a childhood of pain and loneliness?