August 2005, Year 6
On a sun-dipped summer twilight casting shadows of corals and rubies across the sky- an owl who was broad and dark in color, swooped in from the brilliance of colors silently, perching itself upon your open window.
Seeing it's presence soundlessly out of the corner of your eye, such a curious thing it was, you had noticed an envelope attached to the creature. "Well, Hello there" you stroked his delicate feathers, examining the envelope back to front
"To: Mrs Jane Crowe"
No sending address. No return address.
As though the bird needed no instruction to know where it needed to be headed to deliver it.
"Who would be writing to my mother..." You stared at the simple inscription on the front, mystified
All you had known of your mother, were the stories Dad and Gran would tell you. You had pictures of her, some with your father, so you would grow up knowing who she was and what she looked like.
She had rather mutable features, and was quite plain. By no means unattractive, but by no means a woman of great beauty. She had mousy brown hair, and her eyes appeared to be a bluish hazel. You always liked to look at her lips in pictures, you had very full lips just like hers. The only attribute you could seem to connect to her.
"Her greatest feature was always her heart" your Father would remark, "Her heart was what drove me wild"
Your Father was strikingly handsome with dark thick hair, his eyes a stone blue that captivated everyone he met. Everyone always commented that you held such a striking resemblance to him, your fathers good looks ran very strong with you.
Your Mother, Jane, had passed away moments after you were born. Complications with hemorrhaging made it a risky delivery, and nothing could be done to save her. Your Father always made it a priority to instill so much love into you, and he made it clear it was never your fault. Your mother loved you and wanted you more than anything- as did he.
You became overwhelmed with the need to know, who or what this message could possibly be about?
Delicately, you slipped a pen knife under the seal to break open the wax.
"Be it known, that I, Winslow Holmer Rexsan Selwyn, of sound body and mind, wish to express the following as my final will and testament due unto my sole living heir. I hereby name the benefactor, Jane Delouis Levangeline Crowe neé Selwyn, to be bequeathed all the Selwyn Estates and earthly possessions by which birth right has found her and/or blood kin be bound-"
Your heart plummeted to your stomach.
You couldn't bring yourself to finish reading, you already knew what it's contents were going to say.
You weren't even allotted the moment to process such a heavy hitting blow...from a man you had never met...
A man who was your grandfather...
You sat there, dumbfounded in what felt like total limbo. You were confused, not grief stricken, but then again this was the only connection to your mother you even had left...and now he was gone.
"Great heavens child, you look as though you've seen a ghost!" Your Gran caught you off guard
You looked up at her, trying to piece any words together you could, "...Gran...This came today"
You held the parchment to her, not caring what she would say at you having opened it.
She looked at you quizzically as she stepped into the parlor, taking the letter. She adjusted her spectacles for a closer look.
The color instantly drained from Grans face, her eyes widening, mouth slightly ajar, "(Y/N)..." she swallowed, making sure to maintain her usual tactful composure "We should discuss this matter with your father...Come with me"
You simply nodded your head, no knowing what else to say or do with yourself at the moment. You followed Gran leading you down the corridor, her footsteps filling the halls and echoing from the marble floors.
Finally, you had reached the great intricate carved doors to your fathers Office, your Gran rapped on the door, "Colin"
"Come in!" You heard your Father call
Your Gran placed her hand on your shoulder, "Go on Sweetie..."
Your Father looked up from his antique black desk, it had been in the family for hundreds of years- and quite a heirloom being Goblin-made.
"Is something the matter?" Your father swept aside a hair from his brow
"Colin...We have something we need to discuss with her. We also need to make all the necessary arrangements to contact the Ministry as well as getting in touch with our representatives", Gran handed him the letter
Your Father looked to the piece of parchment, then back to you before taking it. His face stayed calm, and unwavering as his eyes scanned the page left to right, his breathing steady and slow.
He paused, looking up at Gran "When did this arrive?"
You swallowed, "Just about an hour ago"
He nodded, "Have a seat (Y/N)"
Gran brushed across the office to shut the door, and came back to take a seat right by your side.
"(Y/N), do you know who Winslow was?" Your dad started
"Moms Father" you felt like eye contact with anyone was somehow uncomfortable
"(Y/N), there's nothing at all to be anxious about" Dad always knew exactly what you were feeling, "but we do need to impress on you that this is pretty serious stuff, okay?"
You nodded, looking at him finally face to face, he gave a small side smile before looking back to the letter.
"Now, we hadn't seen or made any contact with him for many many years- so the reason this was delivered to Mom, was because he doesn't know anything beyond when we were married."
You nodded
"Before you were born, Mom had estranged herself from her family", he looked up to you, "Winslow was one of many Deatheaters who followed Voldemort."
Dad looked quite serious, a straight brow and furtive hold on his jaw was such a rare sight. His eyes found their way back to the parchment as he continued, "Now, the conundrum with this- is basically he has no other living relatives besides what he assumed was your mother. He's been in hiding for the past 13 years, and with no idea where he has been or what he has been up to- we need to call the Ministry to investigate all his estates and affairs before we can proceed with any legal matters of inheritance. Does that kind of make sense?"
"-because he might be playing a trick?" You asked
"No, no. What your Gran and I would be worried about is the fact that he may have information, artifacts, or something illegal referring to the Deatheaters. We need to be smart about this, because Winslow was a collector of a lot of shady stuff."
"So he had no idea I even existed?"
"Well, Not exactly- you see it says here 'kin' which is just meaning any children she may have had, meaning you. Winslow obviously figured your mother and I would have had at least one by now, so that's why he needed to address it to her- but it was directly delivered to you"
"Wait, that means I'm the only one left? There's no brothers, or nephews, or half cousins 5 times removed?"
"Mom was an only child, kid" he rose from his seat, walking over to his oak bar cabinet, "She was the only one left in the whole Selwyn family until you were born"
"Seeing as you're only 16 though Dear, we really have to make some arrangements for you because we want to be cautious." Gran placed a gentle hand on your arm, "You are young, but it's times such as these that being more mature for your age is a necessary obligation we had hoped wouldn't come for quite some time"
The sound of Dad pouring a short glass of bourbon directed your attention to him, "What Gran is trying to say, is that you're also the sole benefactor to the Crowe Estate too. We have no idea about exact numbers, but your Mothers family probably has a small fortune collecting dust under Gringotts. Gran and I love ya- but we're not always going to be around forever. If something happens to us, Merlin Forbid- Gran and I would be worried about many, many people trying to manipulate someone as young and impressionable as you just to get to your money"
"You're a very clever and responsible young girl (Y/N), your Father and I just need to ensure that this is taken quite seriously" Gran looked to Dad, "Colin, we really should reconsider her return to Hogwarts- just for this semester until the Holidays"
"Nonsense, (Y/N) will be perfectly straightened out before the school year begins" Dad sat back to his desk, taking a sip
"So what does this all mean then?" You finally found your voice, "I'm going to have to be investigated or something? All because someone I've never met, left me a house that might be booby-trapped with Voldemorts toenail clippings?"
Your Dad cracked out a riotous laugh "PAAAHAH!"
Gran shot him an eye
"Look, I promise you it's nothing like that. At all. Gran and I will be with you every second- it's sounds more complicated than it actually is. It's just that combined together, you're going to be responsible for a lot of things kid"
"Like what?" You asked
"Well, that's exactly what we intend to find out"
May 2007, Year 7
"I just can't get my head to focus in on all these potion ingredients- they expect us to memorize all these and then some in a week?! The nutters! Bloody infuriating is what it is!"
"If I don't have this down by next period, I'm done for"
Ominously to the back of the great hall, a Gryffindor girl could be heard audibly having a mental meltdown, her tears making her ink run
You observed the surroundings at the Slytherin table casually, every so often lifting your goblet to your lips, "Practically pissing themselves the lot of them" you thought
Glancing side to side, not drawing attention to yourself, you cunningly drew a small flask underhandedly from your sleeve, pouring its contents into your cup of orange juice.
"Oi, Crowe!" Someone whispered
"Yup?"
"How's about a swig for me?"
"Don't mind if I do" you nodded drawing back a swift sip
"Bullocks, You prat" he shook his head
Doc Cornwall. He was in the same year as you, but you hadn't become best friends until about 2nd Year. He was a mischievous sort, but then again, you were always in on whatever he was up to next.
Giving him a passive look, you pulled the side of your robe outward, revealing a second stash, "Please" you mouthed- as if you went anywhere unprepared.
Stealthily, you handed him the goods from under the table, "The place could use a little lightening up...Pumpkin or Orange Juice?"
"Eh- I'll go with Orange" he murmured, taking the pitcher and filling it the rest of the way up
"Don't tell me you're ass backwards about these N.E.W.T.s too?" You smirked
"It's not like everyone here has a choice like you (Y/N)" he whispered, pouring the liquid to his goblet, "Some of us have lives depending on these N.E. you know"
"Doc" you feigned sarcastic shock "are you taking something seriously?"
"I wouldn't get comfortable as much to say that" he eyed you back with a grin
You nodded, "Granted...but what if you didn't always want to do one thing the rest of your life?" You took a drink, "You think we're suppose to figure out how to spend the next 50 years? Give us a bloody curfew with Filch frolicking up and down the corridor on our asses, sure- you don't trust us out of bed but you sure as hell trust us with that decision eh?"
Doc just glanced off to the side, nodding with a "point taken" look, taking a big gulp from his cup "ugggh"
You had the highest confidence that your N.E. were in the bag, you had carefully followed the curriculum from the moment you set foot in the castle for years. Studying was simply second nature to you, a blessing in disguise being just barely a week before finals. You were relaxed, but ready.
"There's no telling if I'll get this all down in a week" Doc set his book off to the side
"Hell if I know mate" you replied
"I can't be that hopeless" Doc looked up to you, almost a plea is his eyes "right?"
"Well..." you didn't want to discourage him so last minuite, but if you were able to help your best friend- Merlin willing you would, "...You know what?"
"What..." Doc was beginning to show his loss of faith
"I think I might know something that can help with your N. .s"
Doc dropped his quill, perking up, "Go On..."
"We can't be too sure this will work, or too careful- but I was reading about the squid in the lake the other night in the common room"
"...and?"
"AND, apparently, its not just a giant glop of seafood swimming around the castle"
"What do you mean?"
"Legend has it, that very species of squid produces an ink that is not only magical- but it possesses the ability to help those who use it to succeed 'most favorably', in their endeavors"
"...Meaning?"
"The squids Endeavor Ink could help you pass your N.E.W.T.s!"
Doc stroked his chin considerably until he looked up, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"You don't think, so can't say I do"
"Oh shove off (Y/N), I say we find the squid!"
"That's not what I had in mind" your face dropped, " I meant going into Hogsmeade and scouring Borgin and Burkes for any supply of it!"
"Oh come on (Y/N)! How else are we to blow off steam from all this paperwork and academics" he fluttered one of his scribbled parchments, "This is my Only hope at this point without going completely mad! Who knows, what if fresher ink means better chances?"
"Mr. Cornwall, Ms. Crowe?" You both straightened at the familiar voice
"Professor Mcgonagall!" Doc turned to smile
"Mr. Cornwall, though I admire your enthusiasm concerning making life long friendships here, had that energy been extended toward your studies, perhaps Professor Flitwick might not have to ask you after class so often, hmm?" Professor Mcgonagall fixed her spectacles.
"My apologies Professor"
"Ms. Crowe, I ask you to please observe that others are working hard for their upcoming exams- and you two are most distracting."
"I'm sorry Professor Mcgonagall, it won't happen again"
She nodded, she always had such kind eyes no matter what, "Right, carry on with your studies then"
"Yes Professor" you both mumbled, Doc looking back to his book
"Oh...and by the way..." She turned back to you and Doc "I would have gone with Pumpkin"
Later that Evening
"Come on, Crowe!" Doc hissed nearly sprinting down the stairs
"Would you be QUIET?!" You whispered almost seething, "we're going to be caught!"
"Voldemort!- just hurry up and we won't!"
"This was YOUR stupid idea"
"Thanks to your suggestion"
"Had I known theyd be out of stock in B n'Bs- I wouldn't have"
"Well you didn't have to come if you didn't want to"
"You're an idiot- who knows if you'd drown yourself going about this whole chara-"
"-SHHH"
You heard voices coming from down the stairwell, and you both stood still against the stone walls, listening.
"This way!"
"Ben, where are we going?!"
"Shhh, it's around here- a quiet spot outside where we can be alone together!"
You both heard a girl giggling and the footsteps of the supposed couple began to fade off into the distance.
"'Least someone's having a good time tonight" Doc smirked
You punched Him in the arm, "SHHH"
"Ow!" He whispered holding his arm, "What was that for?!"
"Come on" you pulled him down the stairs just to get the two of you out of there quickly.
As soon as you reached the bottom of the stairwell, the two of you scurried briskly to the end of the stone hall. The moon was dim that night, perfect- maybe you would be able to find shady covering.
"This way!" Doc motioned, you both scurried down the hall as quickly as you could.
Twisting walls and doorways lead you two out into the crisp and cool night air. The ground had been slightly damp, being careful of any slippery footing as you crept away from the lights of the castle.
A little footpath was coming up ahead, not many students went down at night, due to the mystery of what may lie within the bushes and trees guarding it.
You stopped before it, taking out your wand, "Lumos" you cast, a dim and subtle light emerging from the tip of your wand
"Did you remember the bait?" You looked to Doc
Taking a strap from his shoulder, he held up a bunched bag with a piece of twine holding it together. The stench suddenly permeated aggressively between the two of you, catching you off-guard and gagging.
"Ugh- put it away!" you held your nose, "$ %#"
Doc threw the strap back over his shoulder, "You've any idea what they do with fish heads in the kitchens?"
"Shhh!" You started forward, "before someone sees us"
You went ahead of Doc, not wanting to be stuck behind the odor of fish carcasses down wind. The path lead down hill a little ways, it was eerily dark, with only the flicker from your wand to guide the way.
"Shady bit down here, huh?" Doc remarked, "You sure this is it?"
"I'm positive" you kept facing forward, "look- up ahead"
You could just barely make out the outline of whatever moonlight reflected off the subtle ripples of waves. As you walked closer, you could make out more and more of the sand bar. Leading down a gritty path, it brought you two out from the darkness of the trees.
"This is it?" Doc quipped
"Over there- to the left" you motioned, "See that little boat?"
Doc turned, and there, you illuminated the upturned wooden craft with your wand.
"Let's roll her over then, shall we?" Doc walked over and waited for you to help him lift. The paddles fell onto the sand, with a tumble that made an echo across the waters, "SHHHH Doc" you seethed
"Sorry!" He bitterly whispered
You both placed the boat down to the edge of the water, "Hop on, I'll push us out"
You seated yourself in, before Doc threw the bait bag as well. Two oars blankly were handed before you, "Ready?"
After taking the planks in, your nodded "As I'll ever be"
Off into the waters he pushed the craft in, jumping in and steadying himself carefully.
"Lets go catch a fish then!" Doc picked up an oar, both of you rowing out into the night.
...
It was quiet, you could hear the scribbling of late night quills all the way from the castle if you tried.
You two had been sitting in that boat for hours, simply waiting for the hope of the squid finding a tackle of fish heads.
"Where the bloody hell is this overgrown cod" he groaned
"Maybe she's seen you in the windows down in the dungeons" you replied, "She's not the only girl whose run"
"Shove off Crowe" he sneered looking into the waters
"She's probably not in the mood for fish" you suggested
"It's a floppy blub of guts and arms- how would you know what mood it's in?"
"Because I'm not in the mood to be here with you either" you smirked, "then again you've heard that once or twice"
"I'll kill you Crowe, I swear to god"
You laughed, "Look, why don't we head back in and sneak down to the dungeons? Nothing's happening tonight"
"I NEED that ink"
"Well, I suppose you could go back to square one and actually study"
"With only four days left- this big shrimp is my only hope"
"Well why'd you solely rely on getting the Endeavor Ink so damn bad-"
*Plop!*
"Shh" Doc sat upright, "What was that?"
You both sat still, perfectly silent waiting
*Plop!*
Suddenly, the rope holding to the bag of bait began swiftly unraveling and shooting straight down into the waters below, "THE ROPE! GRAB IT!"
Doc lunged forward trying to hold fast to it, "HELP ME!"
You grabbed the length behind him just barely hanging on, until you both felt the boat itself start being pulled straight on out into the lake further and further
"She's gotten it! Keep steady!" Yelled Doc
"She's trying to get it away from us!" You shouted back
Your strength holding on to the rope was beginning to lose its grip, the boat was now full speed ahead being dragged by the gigantic squid across the lake with no idea where you were headed
"STEADY!" Doc repeated, "STEADY!"
"I DONT THINK I CAN HOLD FOR MUCH LONGER!" You called back behind him
The waves were rushing past you both, tracing the boat on all sides until abruptly- "WHOOOOOOAAAAAH!"
The slack came completely loose and the both of you fell backwards into the boat. As you looked up, a great black blob was heading straight down your way before you rolled out of its direction just in time
SPLAT!
"UGGGGH!" Cried Doc in Disgust
The bag of fish heads had shot straight back out of the water, completely covering Doc in the most god awful stench imaginable
You gagged from the smell permeating off him, "ACK!"
Without a moments notice, you felt the sides of the boat begin to rock amongst the waters from side to side, "What's happening?!"
"SHES TRYING TO GET THE BAIT IN THE BOAT!" Doc rustled from the empty bag
The waters bubbled and rocked to reveal a great form emerging to the surface of the lake. Shooting out from the dark depths- long slimy tentacles began to feel its way around the craft.
You had never heard Doc scream like that in all your life, "AAAAAAAAAAH!" As a slithery arm from the squid began to coil itself around him, "DO SOMETHING!"
You sharply ripped out your wand to stupefy the Giant beast, but just before you could even mutter the first letter- the Squid managed to smack you by the arm and lose your balance.
"DAMNITT!" You yelled
Furiously looking around for your wand, anything to get the thing off of Doc, you spotted the Oar right to the side of you, "HANG ON!"
Trying to maintain steadiness of the boat- you grabbed the paddle running to his aide. With all your might, you brought the oar straight overhead, and thrust it crashing down into the squids eye.
"BLLLLUUUUUUUUUUUURRRGG!" You heard the Giant Squid moan, releasing its grip on Doc, it began thrashing all its arms around- whipping and smashing into the both of you.
The beasts strength was so great, it managed to capsize the entire vessel as you and Doc fell splashing into the waters.
Sputtering, and trying to stay afloat above the surface, you yelled out "Doc? DOC?!"
The tentacles were still lashing around the both of you until you heard him cry out, "IMPULSO!"
A great flashing bolt struck the Giant Squid, and you watched as it was stunned retreating itself back below the depths, trailing a wave behind it as it swam furiously away.
"Crowe?!" He called
"We Need to get to shore!" You yelled back, swimming towards his voice, "We can't stay out here!"
"Where's the boat?!" He yelled back
"It's lost" you replied, "Come on! We have to get back to the castle Now!"
Paddling hand to feet, all you could think about was losing your wand to the lake. Now you'd have to go to Hogsmeade to find a new one, and you had no idea how you were going to explain that one to Gran or Dad.
The waters were much smoother, as the both of you trudged through the waves. Finally, you both were able to make your way to a small patchy area of sands.
You both crawled ashore panting, you could hear Doc sputtering and cursing to himself as you both made your way into dry land.
Trying to catch your breath, you looked over to Doc, "You alright?"
Collapsing on the ground, and breathing heavily, he replied "For now"
You sighed, "Any more bright ideas mate?"
"They'll have to wait for another night I'm afraid" the two of you heard a familiar- and gut dropping voice above you both, "Mr. Cornwall...Ms. Crowe"
You both looked up, in unison "Professor Mcgonagall"
...
The two of you stood before her, soaked and dripping to the bone. You could still smell the fish guts that had been spilt all over Doc.
"Do you realize the seriousness of this situation?" She began looking at the two of you from over her spectacles, "That is an endangered species of Magical aquatic refugee!"
"We weren't tying to kill it Professor! Honest!" Doc remarked
"Be that as it may, Mr. Cornwall, both of you students were out of grounds past curfew. Not to mention destruction and misplacement of school property, disrupting the peace, and Merlin knows what other rules you may have broken!" She sighed, "I have notified both your parents of the incident, and you will have 20 points taken from Slytherin"
"But- Professor!" Doc protested
"Each."
You both looked down, guilty and not looking forward to the unhappy glares from your fellow housemates tomorrow morning.
"Additionally, you will be joining either myself or Professor Slughorn in detention every day for the next week after classes" she went on, "Have I made myself quite clear?"
"Yes Professor" you both recited
She paused for a moment to look at the two of you, "Had something more serious happened out there tonight, no one would have known what had become of you" she fixed her spectacles back up her bridge, "You are both lucky to be alive I hope you know"
Nodding, your gaze never left the floor.
"To bed, both of you" she finished, "I don't want to see either of you setting a toe out of line. That means straight to class, straight to the great hall, and straight to bed"
You both nodded, "Yes Professor"
"You are both excused" she looked to a stack of papers on her desk as she began to rifle through them
Both of you turned away, and began to walk out of the office, "and incase either of you think to act upon such a hair brained idea again..."
Both of you stopped in your tracks
"...Perhaps it would be wise to know what exactly it is that you're getting yourselves into in the first place" looking up from her stack of writing, "Only the Males possess the ability to produce Endeavor Ink"
You looked at Doc, his face shifting to an overwhelming bright red. your lips pursed and eyes glared so fiercely, he could still feel them burning into him the rest of the night.
...
After everyone had been so frazzled over their exams- and not too impressed with the 40 point deduction from Slytherin House, Everyone was counting down to Graduation.
You, of course, managed to incur high honors on all your final N.E.W.T.s, Some of the highest points in all the class! Dad and Gran were so proud, they ravished in celebrating your academic success.
Then, the day finally came, where everyone had received their scripts from Hogwarts, almost as swiftly as the warm summer air had begun to loom around the castle.
Your Dad insisted upon taking you around the world, as an enthusiastic intern, visiting prestigious Wizarding authorities and ranks from around the globe.
Father was the British Ambassador of the W.E.I.R.D. Union (The Wizarding Embassy of International Relations and Diplomats), he opened your eyes to the cultural and political wonders of the entire Wizarding universe like never before.
You did eventually take on the role of being more in the public eye alongside your father, especially concerning family obligations, familiarizing yourself in foreign wizarding policies, and even handling much of the family estates affairs.
You were young, but soon you would have to realize that change was a very inevitable and necessary thing.