Book I. Saint Amelia

Prologue. Hufflepuff's Secret

Albus Dumbledore took the liberty of studying the family portraits at Fleamont Potter's home office. Every single one of them had a picture of a young boy with unkempt jet-black hair and thick rectangle glasses. The boy, who was the spitting image of his father, waved energetically while on top of an expensive looking broom in one picture. In another, he hung an arm around his mother… It was easy to see that this boy had had a very pleasant life. The most current picture was of the boy with his three best friends. He was in the middle. On his right side, a blond pudgy boy smiled proudly. On his left, a brooding, handsome man snarled suspiciously at the camera. To that young man's left was the final boy, a brunette with kind eyes.

"Professor," said James Potter coming in behind his father, Fleamont Potter. His friend, Remus Lupin, was at his side just as Albus had requested. "You asked for us?"

Dumbledore smiled kindly. Mr. Potter motioned towards the seat behind the desk. "Albus, please. Take a seat. I will leave you three to be."

"I appreciate it, Fleamont," said Dumbledore earnestly as he took a seat. Fleamont gave him a courteous smile. Dumbledore had refused to reveal the sensitive matter he was bringing to his son and his friend. Still, there was no one in the world Fleamont trusted more than he did Albus Dumbledore. With this in mind, Fleamont slid out the room. "I trust I find you boys well."

"We are doing very well, Professor," replied Remus. Both boys had remained standing. "Thank you."

James, obviously feeling that enough small talk had been allowed, quickly cut to the chase. "Are we in trouble? Because if we are, I feel the need to be straightforward. It was me that hexed Severus Snape on the train ride home… Moony had nothing to do with it."

Remus eyes scolded him for being so impertinent with an adult. "Prongs, hush."

"A seat please," said Dumbledore.

Headmasters did not have favorites. Still, he had always admired James' bravery, his quickness to own up to his own faults and his eagerness to help his friends. No, headmasters did not have favorite students but Albus would always have enough Gryffindor in him to favorite those traits.

"I did not pay you a home visit to talk about wrong doings, Mr. Potter. I trust that by now you have received your Head Boy letter?" James nodded tentatively. "I do have faith that you will live up to those responsibilities. And you, Mr. Lupin, will continue to serve as Gryffindor Prefect?" Remus nodded reassuringly. "Excellent. Then I come not with Headmaster grudges but with a favor to ask."

James slumped into his chair obviously more relaxed. "Anything, Professor."

"Many years ago, around the tenth century, two brilliant wizards and two, perhaps even more brilliant, witches met with the idea of building an institution that would mold and train other young boys and girls into brilliant witches and wizards. Together they built the foundation for, pardon my bias, the most prestigious Wizarding School.

"Hogwarts," interrupted James energetically. "You are talking about the Hogwarts founders!"

Albus nodded. If he was bothered by the interruption, he did not let on. "They each founded a house based on the virtue they thought to be most important. Salazar Slytherin wanted students to reach their full potential, to leave no dream unacted upon."

"Ambition!"

"Rowena Ravenclaw didn't believe dreams were anything without cleverness. She wanted our students to be resourceful and with quick minds."

"Intelligen-"

"Let him finish," said Remus underneath his breath as he kicked James' shin.

James mumbled an apology, and Dumbledore continued, "Godric Gryffindor thought ambition and intelligence would both go wasted if a student did not have the courage to follow through. He wanted students to be loyal to their cause and to have the bravery to face any obstacles. I am pleased to see there's much of him in you boys." It wasn't often that one received a compliment from Albus Dumbledore himself and both boys turned light pink with delight. "Helga Hufflepuff looked at all these virtues and thought them wonderful. However, few people know that Helga had been born with the ability to read emotions."

The boys sat up suddenly interested by this new twist in the story. "You mean Hufflepuff could read minds?" asked James curiously.

"No, not minds," clarified Albus. "Solely emotions. An overly sensitive soul if you must. The only person to know of this gift was Rowena. Rowena was often traveling with Godric throughout Europe trying to find pupils worthy of their school. During this time, the two friends exchanged letters in which they spoke of Helga's gift. Those letters have recently been given to me, and I trust that their secrecy will be kept among us three."

Remus and James exchanged looks. They suddenly understood that Albus coming to the Potter's house was no small event, and the favor he was about to ask them was not to be taken lightly.

"Rowena worried about Helga. She was constantly caught in the middle of the arguments between the other founders. Helga felt their struggles too close to heart which all but shattered her nerves. When Rowena was excited, she felt excited. When Salazar was disappointed, she felt disappointed. It is easy to see why Helga decided that in order for there to peace in Hogwarts, and in the Wizarding World, pupils needed to be kind to one another."

"That's fascinating," said James eagerly. "Why isn't that in History of Hogwarts?"

"Helga felt very self-conscious about her gift. Rowena convinced her that the others would use this power to their advantage. She wrote to her warning her that knowledge of her gift would instantly convert her into a weapon. After all, it would be beneficial to Salazar to know how the others were feeling. He would then be able to use those emotions against them. Years after the rift, Helga wrote to her friend and told her gift had left her and had been transferred to her daughter at the moment of birth... And so the gift has been passed on for generation after generation, daughter to daughter…

"That means there might be a descendant of Hufflepuff today who has Helga's ability?" asked Remus.

"There is, and she's at Hogwarts," said Dumbledore. "Now, I am sure that you are aware that Death Eaters have started to recruit Hogwarts students. It is a reality which I did not want to face but which I can no longer ignore."

"Well we knew that," grunted James.

"I know you have had your suspicions, Mr. Potter. I find it troubling to have to admit those suspicions were right all along. Severus Snape has been marked." Had Albus not looked so sad, James would have probably blurted out a "Ha!" The Headmaster looked so solemn, however, that James almost felt sorry for him. "He has been practicing Legilimency as well. I am certain he has no idea the girl or her gift exists, but the danger is still there."

"We can take care of him," James assured him.

"Mr. Potter, I trust that you will. I would like for you to keep in mind that I chose the both of you for a reason. I know you will fearlessly protect her when the time comes regardless of the dangers that must entail. While, Mr. Lupin, will help do so in a manner that will attract the least amount of attention. I do not want Mr. Snape to know he has been found out. He is not skilled enough yet, but I hope that you will help me keep her away from him. I would like for you to keep this information from both Mr. Black and Mr. Pettigrew. I am aware of the immense trust you have for one another, but I have reasons to believe that the least amount of people involved, the better it will be."

He gave the boys a few seconds to think. Once they both agreed to that last term, he continued. "The Minister of Magic has also proposed that we start recruiting Aurors as soon as they turn seventeen, even if they haven't graduated. He wants these individuals to start training so they are ready to go into the war as soon as they graduate."

"That's brilliant!" said James.

"No, it's not," said Remus looking at Dumbledore's blue eyes. "That would further help the Death Eaters spot her."

"I do not know how much longer I can keep the Minister from acting on the notion… maybe a few months… maybe a year… I can hopefully stall him until the war ends. Yes, boys, the war will end one day, and I hope that we can avoid as many casualties as we possibly can until then. However, if the Minister is granted permission, I am sure that you will be chosen, Mr. Potter. You have the bravery, the scores, and the family name to make you the perfect candidate. I hope I have an alliance in you."

"Always."

"Mr. Lupin, there is no use sugar coating. They will not admit werewolves into the program. I, however, still wish to count with your alliance."

"If Moony's not allowed in then I don't want to either," pouted James.

"Ah that I had assumed,' said Dumbledore not unkindly. "It is indispensable that you do accept if an offered is made."

"Of course," said Remus. "He will, and you will always have my support, Dumbledore."

James wasn't sure what gave Remus the right to speak for him, but he figured this was something they could later discuss in private. Instead, he asked, "Who's the girl? The one we are supposed to look after?"

"I am sure that you read about the couple that was killed two weeks ago."

James nodded. The Bones had been brutally tortured and killed by Death Eaters. The whole ministry had gone into high alert. His own family had been forced hide out of Europe until things had settled a little more. "I was friends with George Bones."

"Then you know that both of the Bones brothers have graduated. They only have one younger sister that is still in Hogwarts. George is in training to become an Auror, and there are rumors that Edgar will be given Head of Auror Office. In that case, all family members will be need to be protected. This why their mother gave me Helga's letters earlier this summer. She knew that her daughter would suddenly be of interest to Death Eaters if her brothers were promoted. That risked her gift being exposed. Now that both of her parents are gone, I feel an even greater responsibility to assure her safety."

"Do you think she is at risk now?" asked Remus.

"Like I said, I am certain that Severus has no idea. However, the day he finds out... It is almost certain that he will going try taking her to his master. I am so sorry to have brought the war to you so soon. You are so young, and I wish I could allow the last year of Hogwarts to be carefree. But these are desperate times, and I am afraid that I have no one else I could trust with this task. Having an Auror following her around would be too obvious, and Snape is focusing all his efforts on reading Professors' minds… It has to be a student."

James tried remembering George's younger sister but could not conjure either an image or a name.

Remus, who was the more observant of the two, faintly remembered a shy little girl with her head stuck in a book. "Amelia Bones."