***"Elizabeth, it's not nice to stare," chided my mum.***
"Oh that's quite all right, Cassidy. Besides, I seem to remember you doing quite the same many years ago" said the man.
"Hmpf, dear, would you mind joining us at the table please," said mom.
"B-but who? Whaaaaa?"
"Oh how rude of me," the white-bearded man said, "My name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, but you Ms. Johnston, may call me Professor Dumbledore."
"Wait, you're the Headmaster of the school that sent me that weird except acceptance letter!" I said, my eyes widening in surprise.
"Indeed I am," said Professor Dumbledore with a chuckle, while I blushed.
My eyes immediately grew even bigger when I thought "So hes a real wizard?! And I'm really a witch!"
Just as I opened my mouth to ask, he said, "Yes I am indeed a wizard, and a pretty good one if you ask me," he said, ending with another chuckle.
"Did I say that out loud?" I thought. This guy is weird.
"Ahem, now Eliza, we have quite a lot to tell you dear," said my mom.
"Oh yes, I'd almost forgotten, but we really must try to hurry. I have quite a lot to do as Headmaster you know."
"Certainly Albus. So..Liz, we are going to answer your questions and Professor Dumbledore is ..well, you'll see."
"First off we need to explain some things, and then you may ask your questions," said Professor Dumbledore.
"So where to begin?" mom asked Dumbledore.
"Let's start with the family." he replied.
Mum took a steadying breath and then sighed, "Okay...so Elizabeth. Now before you ask, I am not a witch, but my mother and father were. I um, well I also have a brother you don't know about, his name is Frank Longbottom. He was also a wizard and until he got his letter I didn't know they existed, our parents hid it you see...although not very well now that I think of it. Anyways that's how I know about this, but once Frank went to Hogwarts, I rarely saw him and as I was older, I left the house before he even returned. I didn't really see too much of my family fr-from then on..."
"Why haven't i ever heard of Frank?" I asked, but mom made a noise between a choke and a sob, "What?"
Then Dumbledore took over, "You see Ms. Johnston many years ago, 11 to be exact, the wizarding world was facing a terrible crisis-" started Dumbledore who was interrupted with another sob-choke from mom.
"What does this have to do with my uncle?" I asked seizing the opportunity mom created.
"Ahem, well you see during this time, a man who deemed himself as 'The Dark Lord' came to power. He and his followers terrorized muggles and the wizarding community. Voldemort-" my mother gasped at this point.
"You can't say his name! I thought you and all wizards were never to say it!" she said.
"Fear of the name creates a fear of the thing itself. Anyways, Voldemort often used the killing curse or cruciatus curse on any person who defied him or stood up to him. He was very feared indeed which caused such names as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and You-Know-Who to be used among most witches and wizards."
"...and my uncle..?"
"Oh right, right...your uncle, Frank Longbottom, was one of the many brave wizards who stood up against Lord Voldemort along with his wife, Alice, and many others. They in particular were caught together and, you have to understand that his followers were cruel, heartless people...so when they were caught, one of his Death Eaters (that's what his followers called themselves), Bellastrix Lestrange, she..well...she used the cruciatus curse on the both countless times." At this my mum broke out in full out sobs and Dumbledore looked at me almost expectantly but...
"But what's the cruciatus curse?"
"My I forgot to tell you," said Dumbledore, "the cruciatus curse is, it's a torture curse." This was my turn to gasp. "Yes, it's quite a terrible thing. It causes immense pain...and when used multiple times without a break, will cause insanity and mental disabilities incurable even amongst our most trained and successful healers, or what you would call doctors."
At this point, I had tears silently sliding down my cheeks for the uncle I never even knew. Odd isn't it? How you can feel pity and sorrow for someone you have never even seen?
Then mom sobbed out, "I-I nev-never even knew what ha-happened until they were Already beyond help! Whe-When I went to their hospital they di-didn't even rec-recongnize me!"
"Now, now Cassidy, you know there was nothing you could do," said Dumbledore patting mum on the back.
"B-but maybe I could-could've done som-something! I could ha-have tri-tried..."
Turning back to me, still attempting to console my mother he said, "Your mother met me a few times because of Frank, then was the one to deliver the terrible news of her brother on that terrible, terrible day. Before that day however...your uncle and aunt had a child. A boy, his name is Neville Longbottom."
"I-I have another cousin?"
"Yes, yes indeed you do. After the attack, he went off to live with your Grandmother, who is a witch."
"Wait a moment, is Neville a wizard...like me?"
"Yes, and because you mother is no-"
I cut him off "Mom does dad know about your family?!"
Wiping her eyes she said, "I told him when we married but we didn't even consider you becoming a witch... I'm sorry we didn't tell you sweetie."
"..that's okay mom..."
"Ahem. Now as I was saying, your mother and father are muggles, non-magic folk. However, your grandmother and cousin are, so your mother agreed that for the remainder of the summer you will be staying with them, and in August she will see you off to your school. Neville will also be going to Hogwarts, and your Grandmother will take you along with him to be purchasing your school supplies."
Stunned by the idea, but wanting something to say I just asked, "When do I leave?"
"I will return tomorrow morning to bring you. When I arrive I expect you to be ready and packed. Your mother should be able to help you a bit if you are unsure. Well, see you tomorrow!" And with that Professor Dumbledore stood up, spun around, and disappeared on the spot.
