A/N - This is my first fan fiction. I am sorry for any issues there may be (reviews are always welcome). I am writing this fanfic simply for my enjoyment, but I hope you find it interesting too! I'll admit that this will not be an action packed fanfiction, but I promise there is a plot.
J.K. Rowling owns everything Harry Potter related. I am just playing make believe in her world. :)
Hogwarts was eerily quiet. The rest of the wizarding world was joyous, exceedingly so. The dark Lord Voldemort was finally defeated. An unexpected young child, Harry Potter, destroyed one of the darkest wizards to ever live. Still, the halls of Hogwarts were silent and still in the night.
Albus Dumbledore sat quietly in the headmaster's office. His normally pleasant face was creased with sadness as he read the contents of a letter. He raised his head, and for a moment the worry was replaced with a twinkle of amusement.
"Minerva, why do you linger at the door? You have been lurking far too much recently."
The cat that had been skulking in the doorway suddenly transformed into a fully grown witch.
" You seemed so forlorn. I had no intention of..." the slightly ruffled professor explained.
The older wizard silenced her with his hand.
"Sit and I shall explain."
As Professor McGonagall chose a chair, the headmaster tiredly summoned two cups of steaming tea.
He continued, " As happy as I am that this war is over, there has been so much loss. The news I have received is surprising. I assume you have heard of the Crestfala family?"
The witch nodded in confusion, " Yes of course, Victor was in my year at Hogwarts. Didn't he marry that young, pretty Malfoy girl?"
" Yes, I am afraid that theirs was not a love match. As you no doubt know, the Crestfalas are descended directly from Merlin. Victor, was the last remaining Crestfala, and Abraxus Malfoy promised his daughter in marriage to him before she was even out of the womb..."
Professor McGonagall shook her head, " I never liked Victor. He was as spoiled and as cruel a boy as I have ever seen."
The headmaster continued, "And extremely private. The truth of the matter is that Victor went mad. Apparently, he became so obsessed with blood purity that he refused to even speak to those he viewed as less pure. He holed himself up in Crestfala Estate, and only left in order to take a wife to continue the Crestfala line."
Professor McGonagall looked confused, " What does this have to do with you, Albus?
The wizard suddenly looked weary again,
" I have just learned that Victor had recently ceased his reclusive ways and threw all of his support to Voldemort. I wish I could say that is the worst of the news. However, the tale told in this letter is sordid and gloomy indeed..."
Professor McGonagall took a sip of tea and looked on expectantly.
He continued," Aveline Malfoy was young when she was married to Victor. Too young.."
The witch broke in, " Surely, she had reached her majority?"
The Headmaster sadly shook his head, " Aveline was bonded to Victor on her fifteenth birthday. And, until recently, no one has seen or heard from her. Victor was a demanding and extremely malicious husband. He quite literally locked her away in the estate..."
Professor McGonagall exclaimed, " But, even the Malfoy family wouldn't have stood for that!"
The headmaster paused before continuing,
"Abraxus died almost immediately after the wedding. And, later... obstacles prevented Aveline from leaving."
"What sort of obstacles?" Professor McGonagall inquired.
"A child resulted from the union- a young girl named Antoinette. In his own, obsessive way, Victor worshipped the child. He took extreme precautions to ensure that, as long as he lived, she would be bound to estate."
He cleared his throat before continuing, "Aveline recognized the ever growing insanity in her husband. Every day, his loyalty to Voldemort became more and more fanatic. Aveline began to fear for her life as well as for her child's life , but Antoinette was tied to the estate. And even if escape was possible, Aveline had nowhere to run - the rest Malfoy family was becoming as extreme in their loyalty to Voldemort as her husband."
He paused again and took a sip of tea, " Today, I received a letter from Aveline. It contains an account of the drastic measures she took in order to protect her daughter."
Professor Dumbledore held out the letter, " Read it... I imagine you will find it enlightening."
Professor Dumbledore,
I am truly sorry that my first, and only, correspondence with you must be so very morbid. I have just heard the news-Voldemort is dead! The overwhelming joy that this news has brought is weighted down in sorrow. My husband has not returned yet from wherever it is that he goes in those awful black, death eater garbs. The happy news has preceded him. I am writing this with haste, I know I have little time left. My husband is insane. I have no doubt that the news of his Lord's downfall will send him over the edge. I have been preparing for this moment for a long time. As shocking as this sounds, I fully expect to have to kill my husband within the hour. Unfortunately, due to the extensive magical blood bonds formed between us at the time of our marriage, his death will certainly result in my death. I have accepted this, and I entreat you to feel no pity on my behalf. I will rest easy knowing that my beautiful, darling girl will be safe. I have studied the family lineage, and discovered that you and your brother are two of the very, very few living relatives of the Crestfala family. The Crestfala family's obsession with purity has caused their line to essentially die out- ironic, is it not? I digress from the purpose of this letter. I beg of you to take my daughter on as your ward. My brother, Lucius, will no doubt be on trial for his foolish actions. I want her to be free of the darkness that has so enraptured and enslaved my family. I have heard of you. I know you are an honorable, and powerful, wizard. There are many enemies of the Crestfala and Malfoy families, and her safety cannot be guaranteed at an orphanage. She has never left the estate, but I have confidence she will thrive wherever she is. She will be eleven in less than a year, at which point she will attend Hogwarts. Until then, I beg you to take care of her. My husband has returned. I must go.
Indebted to you even in death,
Aveline Crestfala
When Professor McGonagall finished reading, she looked up at the headmaster.
" What do you intend to do Albus?"
The older wizard simply replied, " I have a ward now. I plan to collect her from the estate tomorrow morning at the latest. The child should not be left alone with only house elves for protection. "
Professor McGonagall regarded the headmaster gravely before stating, " I suppose you realize what this means. To raise a child Albus.. You do know how much work, how much devotion it takes? What about the school? What about your post?"
The headmaster nodded, " The situation is not ideal. But, the Hogwarts guidelines make allowances for the children of the headmaster. She will live here. I will prepare some chambers for her."
" But, who will look after her? What will the child do all day?", the witch worriedly inquired.
The headmaster considered for a moment, " The students will all leave for the winter holidays in a little over a month. I will ask her what she wishes to do. I imagine she is used to entertaining herself. She has grown up with little company after all. Hopefully, the child will be well behaved. We can only hope. "
He paused before continuing,
" We will see how the next month goes with her living at the school. Ulterior arrangements can be made in the spring, if necessary."
The headmaster suddenly smiled, "Professor McGonagall, I had almost forgotten the real reason for your visit! You are here for me to confirm or deny the rumors, correct?"
The witch huffed," Well, yes. You've found me out. Is it true what I hear? Are you really hiring an ex-death eater as a replacement for Slughorn?"
"He is the youngest potioneer to be made potions master in a millennium. He truly has a brilliant mind, Minerva. He will work under Slughorn for the remaining month of fall term before taking over in the spring term."
McGonagall studied him warily, " But, surely the school board will have objections?"
The headmaster smiled grimly, " I firmly believe that he will be an excellent addition to the Hogwarts staff. The school board will be convinced after some persuasion. I have total faith in Severus Snape."
