A/N: Here's chapter 2; I worked very hard on this, was very careful as I filled in all the major plot holes from the original version. Please let me know what you all think. Read, review and enjoy!
Cheers!
Chapter Two: What Was and Will Be
Born in 1881, Albus Dumbledore had lived long enough, seen enough and done enough that he was rarely if ever truly surprised. When the Falcon's won the World Cup in 1904 and then again several years later, he had been surprised but not overly stunned. When Horace had given him a bottle of 200-year-old firewhisky from his private stock last year for Christmas, Albus had been mildly and pleasantly surprised but, again, not altogether shocked. Having a sixteen year old witch suddenly portkey into his sitting room at half past two in the morning wearing rather odd looking garments and a timeturner around her neck, that one succeeded where all the others failed and for the first time in nearly three decades Albus Dumbledore was good and wholly floored.
It was a nice thought, knowing that there were things out there in the world that could still surprise him and, eventually, after staring at her for quite some time during which she stared back, the startled wizard recovered enough to remember how to speak.
"Greetings Miss?"
The question hung in the air limply but, rather than answer it, the young witch just reached into her dressing gown – at least he assumed it was a dressing gown of some type; it really didn't look like one – and pulled out a folded up bit of parchment. Extending it towards him the expression on her face told him that he was meant to read it. Taking it from her he opened it up and began to read:
Dear My Younger Self,
Greetings! I understand how odd this must feel at the moment and I know, personally from this very same experience, that you have more than a few questions. First allow me to offer my apologies for dropping Lily on you like this but, alas, times being what they are by the time she arrives I'll trust you to understand that there simply was no other choice.
Time, as we know, is a tricky thing and a truly wonderful thing if you think about it. Lily, as I'm sure you've guessed, is not from your time nor is she of any time before it. She comes after, several, several years after and from a world very different from either of ours. In her time witches wear pants and aren't expected to be kept; I do not need to tell you what I mean I'm most sure. They run and fly and play Quidditch and duel and they are all very good at it. Lily is very good at it as well. She is a remarkable witch, powerful and not unlike another you know although her darkness is not so far reaching. I cannot tell you everything, obviously, but I can tell you this: she is there for a reason.
And now, no doubt, you have found your curiosity piqued and would like to know what. That I cannot tell you for to do so would be damaging, very, very damaging for what will and must be. We both know that time cannot truly be changed; things are and always will be exactly as they are intended. Lily's time in your present will be long reaching, several years if I remember correctly, at the end of which she will return forwards only after she has completed that which she was sent to do. Just as you are, know that she is oblivious to her purpose as well. She knows only that there is something she must accomplish, she knows not what it is, and that is how it must remain. Things must play out as they are meant to or else, there will be no world for her to return to when her task has been completed.
To this end I leave you the following instruction: Let her go to Hogwarts. It is there that she will begin her mission and it is there that she will harness the means by which to complete it. She will need a protector, someone whom can play the role and whose own power can persuade others that there is a reason she knows what she knows and acts as she does; unafraid and defiantly independent. She will need to be prepared for the time in which she finds herself, of its happenings and leanings so that she can better acclimate herself to her new surroundings. She will do well and so you will see, she is the last hope any of us have to make right the world and keep the darkness from consuming the light.
I leave her in your care and know that you will take care of her. More will reveal itself to you in time. Listen to what she says, the names and events she will speak of will tell you what to do when the time is right so that in the future you yourself can write this letter that will in time finds its way back to you.
Cheers!
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Upon the completion of the letter, and upon seeing his own signature at the bottom, Dumbledore was even more in a state of shock then he had been in previously. The girl, Lily the letter had said, was from the future and had been sent backwards on a mission she knew nothing about only that she was on one in order to, if he had interpreted it correctly, save the world. Of course, Dumbledore knew better than to try and interfere, as he had told himself in the letter, events in time will always happen exactly as they're meant to and the upcoming years, apparently, that Lily would spend with them in this present were no different.
But oh, the headache he was going to have from all this in the morning. The prickle of one was starting behind his eyes right now. This was why, after he re-read the letter to see if he missed anything he sighed, folded it up, set it aside and returned to looking at the young witch before him.
"Your name is Lily," he eventually said to her, not truly knowing what else to say. As indicated, she apparently knew less about the situation then he did.
"And you're Albus Dumbledore."
He had to admit that for someone who just left everything they've ever known and had travelled through time, she was remarkably self-composed. It was almost uncanny. He took a breath, "Do you know the year?" peering at her from behind his spectacles he wondered what if anything she had been told. "Do you know anything about why you're here?"
Lily shook her head. "I know the year, it's 1943 but other than that…" she trailed off and crossed her arms with a huff, obviously annoyed that that was all she knew, "My father didn't tell me anything!"
The feeling was mutual although Albus supposed that he was more frustrated than anything else. The lack of information certainly made the progression of things more difficult. The old wizard let loose another sigh. "I know little more than you, I'm afraid," he informed her, indicating the letter he'd set aside with a nod of his head. "I have, however, been given a set of instructions. It appears as though your mission, whatever that may be, is to begin at Hogwarts so to Hogwarts you must go although coming up with a story as to why you are suddenly there when you weren't before promises to be rather difficult. You are certain that you know nothing more about why you are here?"
Lily shook her head. "No sir," she told him, "Nothing."
Perhaps it was because the last time someone had said those words to him it had turned out to be anything but nothing, Dumbledore peered harder at the girl over the top of his half-moon spectacles. His scrutiny concluded when her emerald eyes narrowed and she glared at him.
"You don't believe me."
"I don't not believe you, Lily," he said, "It's just, this situation is highly unusual and I can't help but want to have all the answers."
Lily dropped her eyes. "You and me both," she muttered.
"Yes, that would certainly make things easier wouldn't it?" Dumbledore asked although, he knew that she knew that it was more of a rhetorical question then one he expected to be answered. He glances at the clock above his mantle. "Well now, it's quite late and you, my dear, are no doubt very tired. Perhaps it would be best if we both were to go to bed. We can pick up where we've left in the morning."
Agreeing with him because, honestly, Lily was tired not to mention more than a little overwhelmed she stepped back so that the old wizard could rise and then followed him from the room. They went up a flight of stairs and then turned down a hallway until Dumbledore stopped in front of a door. With a wave of his hand it opened and Lily peered forwards into what was to be her room for at least the next night.
"I bid you goodnight, Miss Lily," Dumbledore told her before allowing her to step pass him and into the room.
"Goodnight Sir," Lily replied as she closed the door behind her and promptly collapsed onto the bed. Rolling over onto her back, she stared up at the dark ceiling and thought about what had happened to her. It didn't quite seem real and she very much suspected that it wouldn't for quite a while yet. Closing her eyes and feeling herself drift into sleep; Lily knew that she half expected to find herself back in her room at home when she woke.
Only time would tell.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Dumbledore stood there and allowed himself a moment to think. Consulting what he remembered from the letter he knew that if Lily was to go to Hogwarts and not be obviously out of place then a backstory would have to be made in order to explain both her presence and why she had suddenly appeared now. The task was daunting to say the least and while Dumbledore normally held to the ideal that the best lies were the simplest ones he knew that creating a history for Lily would be no easy thing. The letter has said that she was powerful and had lent much to the belief that she was very ahead of the times as far as social progress was concerned. Dumbledore had to assume then that she came from a time when witches and wizards were considered equals in all things and that being told that she'd have to conform to being lesser was not something she'd handle well.
With a head full of ideas and plans for every conceivable possibility, Dumbledore returned to his study rather than taking his own advice to go to bed. Setting himself down at his desk, he pulled some parchment and a quill towards him and began to write. If he was going to do this then he needed help and there was only one wizard he could think of that could be trusted with a task such as this. Summoning Fawkes to him with a wave, Dumbledore concluded his letter, folded it and passed it off to the phoenix.
"Take this to Xavier," he asked the bird who bowed his head, took the parchment in his beak and then took off out the window.
Now that that was done, Dumbledore dragged himself back upstairs and went to sleep.
~xXx~
When Lily woke in the morning it was to a strange room in the dim light of early morn. Sitting up, she looked around and tried to remember how she got here. Her stomach dropped and it all rushed back to her. She had gone back in time, was in Dumbledore's house and would apparently be going to Hogwarts in the near future. Lily had to lean forwards and put her head between her knees in order to keep her world from spinning.
What oh what had she let her father talk her into?
As soon as she could count on herself to no longer feel ill with the enormity of the circumstance she'd been literally thrust into, Lily threw back the covers and got up. Looking around the room once more she espied what she assumed were time appropriate clothes laid out for her on the foot of the bed. Shirt, skirt, belt, boots and socks there were also two other things in the pile that she had absolutely no idea what they were. Examination proved one to be underwear although to Lily they looked more like high-waisted shorts then panties but she dismissed it as a sign of the times. The other thing left her stumped.
"What the bloody hell is this?" she murmured aloud, holding it up to examine it. It looked like some sort of corset contraption. "How am I supposed to – ack!"
A soft crack interrupted her mid-examination and Lily let out a surprised sound before turning to investigate the source of the noise. She didn't draw her wand because she'd been taught to never let the enemy know you're armed until you had to. That way they were surprised when they suddenly found themselves hexed which gave you the chance to either kill them or get away. In this instance, Lily was glad she hadn't overreacted because the creature she found herself looking at was a harmless house-elf. She let out a shaky, almost inaudible breath.
"Who are you?" she asked.
The elf blinked at her and then smiled, dipping down into a little curtsy. It struck Lily at that time that she was wearing a nice little dress rather than a pillowcase or something else like you'd normally see on a house-elf. Popping back up out of her curtsy, the elf replied, "I is Missy and my master is telling me to help young miss get dressed today."
Lily frowned. "Oh…thank you but I can get dressed myself I just need to know what this," she indicated the corset looking thing, "…is."
Missy looked positively tickled at the thought of explaining it to her. "That is a spencer, young miss," the elf explained, "You is wearing that to keep everything in. It stretches and you is stepping into it and then tying up the back. That is why Missy is here, Missy is helping young miss get dressed."
Mouth forming an 'oh' of understanding, Lily quickly took off her pajamas – a pair of sleeping pants and an old quidditch jersey of her mother's that had Gryffindor embellished across the back – and her modern underclothes and got redressed in the ones Dumbledore had provided for her. Contrary to what she'd told the elf, Lily did end up needing her to lace up the back of the spencer. Once it'd been tied off, Lily realized why witches in old photographs from around this time always looked so prim and proper; it was because they were forced to stand up straight. Taking a seat on the end of the bed Lily discerned that there was absolutely no way to slump while wearing this thing.
It did however, do wonderful things for her figure and her breasts. The support was phenomenal so she decided she didn't mind much not being able to slouch. While she was adjusting, Missy pulled a pair of stockings from under the remaining pile along with what was obviously a slip.
"Here yous go, young miss," the elf chirped helpfully. "Does you needing my help?"
Lily shook her head. "Ah…no, I think I've got it from here. Thank you Missy."
The little elf beamed her grin almost wider than her whole face. "You is welcomed young miss!"
Taking the offered garments, Lily stepped into each stocking and affixed the top to the garters hanging off the spencer. Then she slid on the slip. When at last all her undergarments were on (and in Lily's opinion witches in the forties wore entirely too many of them) she reached for the shirt and skirt, put them on and then turned to look at herself in a mirror that she suddenly noticed was there. She had an odd feeling that it had just magically appeared.
Her eyes widened at the image reflected back at her. No way was that her. She looked…grown up. The blouse that had been provided was made of cream colored silk with a high neck and large lace collar; the sleeves were long and the cuffs flared out to cover the top portion of her hands. The skirt was long and had a high waistband of very dark brown leather before giving way to a more chocolate toned silk and was slightly longer in the back then in the front. When she put on the boots and then stood back in front of the mirror Lily let herself smile.
She definitely liked this outfit better than a t-shirt and jeans.
"Would you likes Missy to help young miss with her hair?"
Turning from the mirror, Lily looked at the elf and shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
Missy let out an excited sounding squeal before reaching for Lily's hand and then guiding to sit before a large, dark wood vanity. Once the young witch was seated, the elf picked up a brush and a comb and then went to work on Lily's long, scarlet tresses gleefully smiling the whole while.
~xXx~
"I can positively say without a doubt that you did indeed write this."
Albus glared at the young, well, younger, wizard standing across from him in his drawing room. Rather than sending a reply back with Fawkes, Xavier Prewett had decided that a more personal visit was in order which was why Dumbledore had been awoken not twenty minutes ago to the sound of somebody apperating into his bedroom. He really hadn't been surprised to discover that it was Xavier so he'd gotten up, gotten dressed and then escorted his friend down to the drawing room where he proceeded to explain things to him in more detail. Xavier had then asked to see the letter and now, having read it, the curse breaker had seen fit to make a sarcastic remark that Albus was entirely not in the mood for.
"It was sealed with a blood seal which could only have been opened by the one who sealed it so yes, thank you, Xavier but I much assumed that I did indeed write it."
"Or rather, you will indeed write it sometime in the future."
Dumbledore sighed. "Yes, that as well."
Xavier smirked. "Forgive me Albus, you know how I like to play with words," the younger man took a seat across from his elder counterpart. "What do you make of it?"
"I do not entirely know," Dumbledore answered truthfully. "She appeared at random, straight through my wards; given the content of the letter and whom it was written by I can assume that the portkey was created by my future self. Her mission must be important whatever it is."
"And we have no idea, no clue?" Xavier asked, frowning.
"Nor does she."
"That is putting a great deal on faith."
Dumbledore nodded. "I agree but I dare not attempt to hinder her. I fear that I am bound to follow the instructions given me by my future self or suffer the consequences."
Xavier's face turned solemn. "Disastrous things happen to those who meddle with time."
"Indeed yes," the bearded wizard took a great sigh, "And I should not like to be one of them."
"What do we have to go on?" Xavier asked, leaning back in his chair to study the dying fire. "What type of witch is she; do we know anything about her or her abilities?"
Dumbledore opened his mouth to respond but was prevented from doing so by the voice of the witch in question. From her tone, it was obvious that she was annoyed that they'd been talking about her. "You could always ask her."
Both wizards twisted in their chairs in order to look at her. She was standing in the doorway wearing the clothes that Albus had selected for her and the old wizard had to admit, attired as she was in a time appropriate fashion, acquired her a presence that would have been more than a little intimidating for your average witch or wizard. As it was, there was now no doubt in his mind that she was powerful.
"Good morning Lily," her host greeted, nodding to her and gesturing with a hand towards the wizard sitting in the room with him. "This is -"
"Xavier Prewett, I know," she interrupted, turning her brilliant emerald eyes onto the curse breaker. She'd seen a picture of him once in an old family album her mum had shown her when she was seven. She had thought him intimidating then and she felt the same way now but she wasn't about to show it. Instead she held his gaze with hers and refused to look away.
Xavier smirked, the girl had gumption he'd give her that. Not many people were brave enough to meet his eyes and here she was staring him down, a little slip of a witch who couldn't be any older then maybe sixteen. Oh he liked her, he liked her a lot. "Heard of me have you?" he inquired, eyeing her shrewdly. Her gaze did not waver.
"We're related," Lily informed him, noting that this bit of information seemed to startle both wizards whose eyes widened and then narrowed respectively. She went on, "You're my grandmother's uncle."
"Am I?" Xavier questioned, surprise still rolling in him at the revelation that the girl from the future was connected to him in such a way. The letter had said that she'd need an ally, someone to protect her and support her during her stay. The fact that she could claim him as a relation could not be a coincidence. Xavier had a feeling that her ally was meant to be him.
Albus had the same idea but required more information. "Lily," he implored, "The letter said that you could do things, things other young witches from this time might not be able to do. Could you tell us what you think those things might be?"
Lily pondered the question. "Well in my time, we're in the middle of a war, a cold war but a war nonetheless. I've been trained to fight since I was old enough to do magic."
Dumbledore and Xavier looked at each other before the latter asked, "Fight how?" and then, "Can you duel?"
The witch shot him what could only be described as a patronizing look. "I've been dueling since I was ten."
"Impressive," Dumbledore intoned.
Xavier was less inclined to agree. "And your level of proficiency?" he asked wondering after the fact if she even knew what that was. Most witches and wizards had no idea that there was a system in place to determine at what level one could duel. He was just about to amend his stamen when she surprised him.
"Auror level three," Lily supplied, a slight smirk appearing on her mouth as both wizards looked to her in obvious surprise.
"Can you cast the unforgivables?" Xavier wondered.
"Yes," Lily said. "We started on them when I was about twelve although we didn't get around to actually casting them until almost a year later. I've had training to be able to resist the Imperius and I've been conditioned to withstand quite of few rounds of the Cruciatus provided they're short. The only thing I can really do against the killing curse is dodge it. Because Avada is such a focused spell, it's got a narrow range which means if you're quick enough you can just step out of the way. Our teacher had us practice by firing stinging hexes at us."
Neither wizard knew what to say to this although both were getting a very solid idea of what sort of world Lily had come to them from. The future suddenly seemed bleak, very, very bleak and unfortunately the only way to fix it was to help Lily complete her mission in any way that they could. At the moment, that meant devising a history for her, a backstory to explain her both her presence and her lack of one until now. The question was how to do it.
"I have an idea," Xavier announced, looking first at Lily then to Albus before he continued speaking. "As she's technically a Prewett, albeit a few times removed, it would be easiest to claim that she's mine. My notoriety is a good enough reason why both her existence would have been kept secret until now and why it is no longer safe for her to remain by my side. Given the state of worldly affairs, I hardly think anyone will question her sudden appearance if only vague information is given and her tie to me is made known."
Dumbledore frowned. "And how do we explain her level of magical competence?"
"Do you not think me capable of being able to teach my daughter how to spell cast on my own, Albus?" the curse breaker asked with a straight face and with all seriousness.
Lily smirked.
Slowly, Dumbledore began to nod. "Plausible, very plausible," he looked the wizard who was setting himself up quite nicely, "And her mother? What of her name? Will we call her Lily Prewett?"
Xavier shook his head. "No, I rather think not. Lily," he turned to her, "What, may I ask, is your middle name?"
"Claire."
He returned his gaze to Dumbledore. "Claire will be her mother's maiden name that way it will look as if I thought to obscure her from being associated with me for her protection."
The elder wizard nodded. "And the fate of her mother?" he asked, mentally taking note of the story in his head and hoping that Lily was, at this moment, doing the same.
"Dead," came the admittedly predictable response. Xavier turned to Lily, "Do you understand?"
She inclined her head. "My mother's maiden name was Claire, she's dead, I'm your daughter and nobody knows about me because if they did then they'd use me to get to you because you're somewhat of a threat to pretty much every dark wizard alive despite the fact that it can be argued that you are one. I'm coming to Hogwarts because it's no longer safe to stay with you due to the rising danger of the war with Grindelwald," she paused, "Did I miss anything?"
Xavier shook his head. "No, I'd say you have a fair grasp of what's happening," he turned to Albus. "Term starts tomorrow; it would look odd if she were to arrive at its very start. I think perhaps we should wait a day or two, perhaps a week and in the interim, I will write to Dippet explaining the situation to him."
"Very good," Dumbledore confirmed, "Will you be taking her with you then or would you prefer that she remain here?"
Xavier smirked. "She will come with me, I think," his gaze shifted towards the witch he had just, for all intents and purposes, adopted, "We can use the intervening time to get to know one another. The interaction can be utilized later to add depth to our little charade should we ever have need of it," he then thought to add, "Is this acceptable to you?"
Lily nodded. "Yeah," she replied, "That'll work. Maybe I should study up on current events too while I'm at it. I don't want to be asked a question that I'd be expected to know the answer to and say the wrong thing."
"A reasonable request," Xavier was pleased with her forethought. He stood and held out his arm, indicating that she should take it. "Shall we?"
Placing her hand on the wizard's arm, Lily was able to thank Dumbledore for his hospitality before Xavier apperated and the room she had been standing in vanished.
~xXx~
In the end, Xavier waited four days before sending an owl to Hogwarts with a letter explaining that he had a daughter whom he would like to begin attending school. He was purposefully vague and gave only what information was necessary and yet still enough so that he'd be believed. He received a reply less than a day later and so he knew that the plan had worked, Lily would be attending Hogwarts. Now all there was left to do was prepare her.
True to her word, Lily had spent the days since leaving Dumbledore's house reading up on current world events as well as some of the more notable goings on in the past decade and a half; things she would be expected to know or at least have heard about once she was amongst peers her age. She and Xavier had even come up with more solid details concerning her story and the past that everyone would have to believe they shared. The curse breaker had told her about his family; about how his mother had died and his father had remarried. Lily was quite shocked to learn that his brother, her great-great grandfather, was actually younger then she was.
"You'll probably have at least one run in with him while you're at school," Xavier told her, "I've not spoken to my father since before Ignatius was born so it won't look suspicious that he doesn't know about you. I must admit, there are very few that can claim to know anything about my personal life. It's quite feasible for me to have had an actual daughter and have nobody know. Sometimes, anonymity has its advantages."
Lily had been inclined to agree given the circumstances and they'd continued to trade little bits of frivolity back and forth between each other until bed. In the morning when Lily woke the first thought that came to her was that after today she'd be an official student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The knowledge was both thrilling and terrifying. All her life she'd heard her parents, Uncle Ron, Aunt Hermione, Neville, Luna and Hannah talk about their years at Hogwarts with the understanding that she'd never actually get to go. Now that she was, she was almost in fits she was nervous. She didn't know what would be worse; if she got there and realized that it had been all built up in her head or that it was all true and just as wonderful as her parents had always described. And if her own internal contraries were not enough Lily had to remember that she was going to be attending Hogwarts in a different totally different era, seventy years before either of her parents would set foot in the school. That on top of everything else just made her that much more anxious to just get there and get it over with.
But of course because she was so riled up, time seemed to have stopped and was moving ridiculously slowly. Lily felt like she was libel to start screaming at any moment when Xavier seemed to take sudden pity on her and suggested that she accompany him to Diagon Alley to get her school things. He'd explained to her that Dippet would wish to test her in order to place her in the appropriate year but both he and she were confident that she would be placed in sixth regardless of the fact that she'd be appearing halfway through the year. Therefore Xavier didn't think it to presumptuous to go ahead and prepare her as though her placement had already been decided.
Lily was just thankful for the distraction.
The first place they went when Xavier apperated them into the magically concealed London alley was Gringotts. Lily wasn't really paying much attention for the first ten minutes or so after they'd entered the wizarding bank but once Xavier turned to her and asked her hold out her hand, she shoved her thoughts aside and started to pay attention.
"Why?"
The wizard humored her with a smile. "Our family vault is one of the oldest at Gringotts, located beneath the mines. One does not use a key to get into such vaults as that. They open only for those whose blood they recognize."
Lily was beginning to see how being Xavier's great-great-grandniece was going to come in handy in when they needed to corroborate their story. Technically she was a Prewett even if her last name was something different. Two days ago Xavier had explained quite a bit about blood magic to her over dinner. It had been an interesting conversation to say the least. "Alright," she said and held out her hand.
The goblin that she hadn't known she'd been standing in front of, took her hand and turned it so that it was palm up and parallel to the ground. Taking a small, silver dagger, he made a small cut and then let go. Lily was surprised that one, the cut hadn't hurt and two, it closed on its own as soon as the Goblin released her. With equal parts curiosity and amazement, Lily watched the goblin walk over to a giant leger, touch the tip of the dagger with her blood on it to the page and then step down and turn towards them.
"Your daughter's blood is now capable of unlocking the vault, Master Prewett," the creature said, bowing a little towards the wizard. "At any time she may enter it and remove however much funding she requires."
"My thanks," Xavier replied before he offered Lily his arm and leading her towards what looked like a mining cart on wheels. "Hang on," he whispered to her and then they were off, the little goblin that had cut her at the helm.
"That was fun," Lily exclaimed when they finally stopped deep in the earth beneath the bank. "Can we go again?"
"On the ride back up," Xavier laughed; pleased with her excitement over something that would've been trivial to anyone else. In the past five days Xavier had learned a great deal more about the life that lily had left in order to come here and the more he learned, the more he pitied her. There were so many things that she had never gotten to do, never gotten to experience before coming back in time that Xavier prayed she'd have the joy of knowing before she returned. It made him feel more like a true parent as each day brought him new ways to share with her a world that she'd only ever stood on the very edge of.
Now, she was right in the middle.
The goblin led them away from the cart and through a narrow passageway to a very small, inconspicuous looking door that looked altogether too ordinary to belong to one of the oldest and wealthiest houses in the wizarding world. Of course, that was the idea and Xavier told as much to Lily as they stood waiting for the door to recognize them and give them entry. Once it did, it swung open inwardly to revel a large, cavernous room that was filled to bursting with piles and piles of gold coins, chests of gold and silver bricks, cases of rare and priceless books, and all manner of other shiny, valuable things littered here and there.
Lily stared. "That's a lot of gold."
Xavier smirked. "You'd be hard put to spend it all that's for certain although; I suppose it's not impossible. About a century ago one of our ancestors certainly tried; he died before he could do too much damage."
"Natural cause or convenient accident?" Lily asked, one eyebrow lifting in silent query.
Xavier laughed. "The official story is that he caught the dragon pox but I really don't know. I would not have put it past one of his sons to have killed him."
"We may never know," Lily intoned solemnly although levity was evident in the twitch of her lips as she spoke.
"Very true," the wizard agreed with equal humor as he strode towards a pile of coins, scooped a large sum of them up into a little, green velvet sack and then held said bag out towards Lily. "Try not to spend it all in one place."
"I shall try," Lily promised before backtracking and following Xavier and the goblin from the vault back to the cart. The ride to the surface was just as much of a rush as the ride down had been and Lily was feeling much better and less stressed upon her departure from the bank then she had going into it. Taking Xavier's once again proffered arm, she let her pseudo-sire lead her out into the bright winter's day and towards the other shops in Diagon Alley.
"Where are we going first?" she asked him.
Glancing sideways at the clearly happy witch, Xavier outlined his plan for the day. "Our meeting with Dippet isn't until nearly four, it's barely eleven now. Not only are you new to the time but you arrived with nothing. I think it's best if we start from scratch with you so, Lily, tell me what you think you need the most?"
"Clothes," was the witch's immediate answer. "Not that they're not cool or anything but I'd really like to pick out my own clothes for a change, if that's alright with you."
"I thought that might be where we started off," Xavier sighed and began walking down the street. "Madam Malkin's is this way."
Minutes later Lily found herself in a shop surrounded by brightly colored fabrics of every type and design. Sitting himself down on one of the chairs by the entrance, Xavier waved Lily off to go explore while he conjured a book out of his pocket and began to read. As if in a daze, the young witch led herself wander deeper and deeper into the store until she found the proprietress. "Um, excuse me," she began hesitantly, "I…ah, need some help."
The witch that turned to her had a cheery sort of face and a kind, happy smile. "What can I do for you today my dear?" she asked sunnily.
Lily floundered for a minute unsure how to put into words what she needed. Thankfully thought, Xavier was paying attention and came to her rescue.
"Hello Madam, so nice to see you again."
The woman, who Lily assumed must be Madam Malkin, looked up past her and once her eyes alighted on Xavier, let out a loud gasp; her hands flying up to over her mouth. "Xavier! What on earth are you doing here!?"
The wizard smirked and indicated Lily with a nod of his head. "I'm here to purchase my daughter some things. I trust you will be able to oblige?"
The Madam stared at him, blinked several times and then looked from Xavier to Lily and then back again. "I didn't know you had a daughter!" she exclaimed loudly.
Xavier gave her a look that was not unkind but did contain warning. "Most people don't and I aim to keep it that way. Lily is most precious to me and while I do not like the idea of parting with her I fear that, at the moment, I have no choice. It is simply no longer safe that she remain with me."
"And so you've returned and brought your girl with you," Malkin surmised, coming to her own conclusions based on the information provided. "Will she be going to Hogwarts? Term has already started hasn't it?"
"It has but due to the gravity of the situation I've convinced Dippet to allow her to enroll anyway," Xavier explained. "She'll need school robes for certain but as we've come rather hastily from our previous location I'm afraid that Lily wasn't able to bring anything else with her. She requires a new wardrobe, one that will suit her in her new role and environment. I trust," and there caution reappeared in his tone, "…there will be no problem with this?"
Madam Malkin shook her head vigorously. "No, no Xavier everything will be fine. I'll take good care of her," she then turned to Lily and gestured for the girl to follow her, "Come this way," she instructed, "Let's get started."
After receiving a quick nod of encouragement from Xavier, Lily followed the witch to the back of the shop and let her put her on a low, round pedestal where the Madam pulled out a magic tape measurer and began taking Lily's measurements. Then she began whisking robes from all directions towards the bewildered witch and holding them up to her for her to see. Lily was able to discern from there that it was rather like playing dress up and as she'd never really had much of an opportunity to play at it as a child, she decided that it really was quite good fun.
An hour and a half later found her with everything she could possibly ever need including but not limited to skirts, dresses, boots, shoes, blouses, jackets, coats, capes, belts and a variety of other add-ons the likes of which she'd never dreamt of being able to call her own. All in all it put rather a large dent in her money bag but Xavier didn't seem too worried and Lily all but skipped out of the shop and down the street; all of her items in bags and shrunk to fit in her pocket.
"Now what?" she asked excitedly.
Xavier could no long contain his amusement at her exuberance. Chuckling he replied, "I thought we might do lunch next and from there we shall see to your school things and then, I believe it will be time to go."
Lily smiled. "Sounds like a plan."
The wizard indulged her with a smile and let her to the Leaky Cauldron where they were seated and served in less than twenty minutes. They spent the meal lost in idle chatter about any number of things and then, with the bill paid, they were off again to get the last of the things Lily would need for her time at Hogwarts.
This time the shopping didn't take nearly as long. The books were easy to locate and buy as where the various other things; caldron, scales, potions ingredients, parchment rolls and quills. The last thing they purchased was a trunk in which to store it all and Lily carefully transferred her new wardrobe into the chest before Xavier touched her arm and announced that it was time to go. The curse breaker shrunk her trunk and then held out his arm as had become customary and then disapperated.
They reappeared in front of the main gates of Hogwarts and Lily, whose eyes immediately fell on the castle, heard herself let out a breathy sort of gasp.
"Wow," she breathed, unable to believe that she was really, honestly here.
"Quite the sight is it not?"
The witch nodded. "Yes," she answered, "It really is."
"I remember my first time seeing it," Xavier mused, holding out his arm again. "Shall we?"
Taking it, Lily allowed her pseudo-father to lead her through the gates, up the slopping lawn and into the castle proper. The halls were quiet and Lily was left to assume that classes were either still in session or had just gotten out and that everyone was in their dormitories. Either way, they met no one on their way to the Headmaster's office and suddenly all the nerves that she'd thought she'd gotten rid of earlier in the day came back and hit Lily with their full force. She swallowed hard and clung more tightly to Xavier's arm. The wizard seemed to know what was running through his head because he whispered to her that it would be alright just as they reached the stone gargoyle that blocked the entrance to the Headmaster's office.
"Cockroach clusters," Xavier spoke the password and then turned towards Lily as the stone beast sprang aside and the way up was revealed. "Dippet let's Albus choose the passwords because he can never remember them."
It was an attempt to alleviate some of her anxiety and Lily had to thank the wizard for it even if it didn't work. Within minutes of climbing they'd reached a door. Xavier knocked and the door opened inwards revealing an office that looked nothing like what her parents had described or what she'd seen in old pictures. Upon entering the office Lily and her escort found themselves looking at two wizened old wizards; one seated behind a very large, very ornate carved wooden desk and the other in a chair before said desk. The wizard in the chair was Dumbledore and so Lily concluded that the one behind the desk must be Dippet. She inwardly frowned. It felt wrong to her for Dumbledore not to be headmaster; she's never heard of any time when he hadn't been but then, she didn't know of anybody from this time period other then maybe McGonagall and Lily had never actually met her father and mother's old head of house. She guessed that it was just one more of many things that she'd have to get used to here in the near future.
"Ah, Mr. Prewett," the wizard behind the desk greeted, acknowledging the wizard with a bow of his head before turning to look at the young witch by his side, "You must be Lily."
Trying to remember her manners, Lily sketched a curtsy while still holding tightly to Xavier's arm. "Headmaster," she acknowledged, raising back up. "Thank you for receiving us."
In his chair, Dumbledore smiled, pleased with Lily's response. Despite the fact that he could tell she was nervous beyond measure, she was doing very well.
The headmaster, meanwhile, took a moment to look the girl over. She certainly looked like Xavier. Her mouth was the same as were her cheekbones and nose. Her hair was such a deep, rich shade of red that it was almost scarlet, the same shade as her father's mother. Her skin was pale, not peach but not ivory and it was flawless save for a small smattering of barely noticeable freckles across the bridge of her nose. She was a beautiful girl, a very beautiful girl and for the second time since he'd learned of her existence, Dippet wondered how Xavier had managed to keep the world from knowing about her for so long.
He didn't need an explanation as to why. Xavier Prewett was arguably the most dangerous wizard alive triumphing even Grindelwald in terms of sheer, raw power. The difference lay in how he used it. Xavier Prewett was technically a curse breaker, an extremely powerful individual that went around taking hexes off of cursed objects or places and opened things like tombs and the like off in faraway lands. Xavier, however, had taken it a bit further than that. He'd opened his fair share of tombs but he'd gained his infamy by undoing some very powerful works of magic originally cast by some very dark wizards. Since he'd first risen to power, Xavier had let it be known that anything Grindelwald did, he would undo and it was a promise he'd kept for the last decade or so. The point was that there were many a witch and wizard abroad that wanted Xavier Prewett dead and if they'd known that he had a young daughter then Dippet didn't want to think about what they might try and do in order to get to him through her.
No, Armando understood perfectly why he had never heard of her before. What still baffled him was how completely Xavier had managed to keep her a secret and for how long. It was an extraordinary feat to be sure and spoke to his obvious devotion to her. Dippet admired the man for it and also feared him for if he had done so much to keep her hidden and keep her safe, then what manner of ill fortune must have befallen her to have her father suddenly reveal her existence and ask him to let her attend school here for her own protection.
"I feel I must ask you something," the headmaster began, folding his hands gently atop his desk, "But, alas, I find that I do not quite know how."
Xavier, however, did not need an explanation, He could well guess what Armando's question was and so he stove to answer it for him. "Why, if I have kept her from the world for so many years, have I chosen to reveal her now?"
Dippet inclined his head thankful for Xavier's reasoning and deduction skills. "Yes, that is it exactly."
The wizard sighed. "I have kept my daughter with me since the death of her mother whom I allowed to leave my side only to have a terrible fate befall her. I could not risk the same with Lily, not when she is so utterly precious to me. She has remained by my side exclusively these past sixteen years and I trust very few with the knowledge of her existence but, recently, there is one that has learned of her. One, whom I fear, will take this new information back to his master. I fear for her and in my ability to keep her safe if so many were to come for her. That is why I have asked that she be allowed to continue her studies here. Hogwarts is the only place that I would ever dream of allowing her to exist separate from me, this castle has ancient magic that has been unchanged in centuries. It will protect her and keep her until the threat is gone and I can fetch her back to me."
Throughout his speech, Dippet had watched as more and more power seemed to gather around the curse breaker until, by the end of it, his aura was so charged that the headmaster pitied the poor, ignorant creature stupid enough to try and harm the witch. Yes, it was clear to see that her father adored her and he would protect her, with everything he had. It would also not surprise Dippet if Lily herself knew more about defensive magic then most young witches her age given the danger that could threaten her at any moment.
Still, curiosity prickled at him. "I can assume that while she is here that you would like to continue her anonymity as pertains to her connection with you?" upon the wizards nod, the headmaster let out a deep sounding sigh. "How do you plan on accomplishing this if she is to be sorted under your name?"
"Simply," Xavier replied, "She won't be. I christened her with her mother's maiden name as her surname rather than my own. Her birth record states her name as Lily Claire and while her mother's name is listed, mine is not. I knew, even then, of the dangers that could befall her if she were ever linked in such a way to me. I took precautions and those precautions will stand to this day. I trust that none will be able to figure it out unless they are expressly told."
"Which they will not be," Dumbledore spoke from his chair, his elbows resting on its arms, his hands steepled before him. " I assure you, Xavier, there will be every effort to conceal her identity for as long as possible."
"Yes, as long as possible," Dippet agreed, turning his attention from the father to the daughter who, he noted, had long been eyeing him with much too much scrutiny for a witch her age. Unable to stand the intensity of her emerald stare, Dippet tore his eyes from hers and returned them to Xavier. The time had come to discuss the true reason the four of them had gathered here.
"In your letter, you indicated that you have been responsible for her education up until this point," Dippet looked for confirmation and continued when he saw the curse breaker nod. "At what level of spell casting is she deemed proficient?"
Remembering what had happened the last time someone had asked that and her response; Xavier turned his attention towards his 'daughter'. "Lily?" he prompted the young witch who had apparently calmed herself as she was no longer trying to cut off the circulation to his arm with her fingers. "Would you like to give the headmaster an overview of your abilities?"
Dippet's attention traveled to his prospective student and held.
Lily took a deep breath, plastered on a serene looing smile and answered, "Perhaps, if you would permit me, I could perform a demonstration?"
Slightly surprised by the offer, Dippet inclined his head in invitation for her to proceed. Lily drew out her wand and pointed it at a random object upon the headmaster's desk. With a quick and decisive flick and jab of her wrist the object – a very fine gold goblet – was instantly transfigured into a white parrot. Another flick and the bird's plumage changed from the color of snow to the most brilliant shade of orange she could muster. A swish made it sing. Another flick changed the pitch of the tune and then a final sweeping motion, a reverse of the first movement performed, turned the parrot back into a cup.
Lily lowered her wand and Dippet leaned forwards just enough so that he was able to see that she had even returned the cider he'd been drinking to its original place.
"Impressive," he allotted her, taking a sip only to realize that it tasted better after having been transfigured then it had before. He set the goblet down and looked appraisingly at the young witch. "Does that conclude the demonstration or is there more?"
The corners of Lily's mouth turned up only just as she raised her wand once more and began casting silent spells left and right. By the time she was through she had charmed the headmaster's many books to sing the school song, all with prefect pitch and in a round; the empty chair next to Dumbledore was tap dancing; the letters on Dippet's desk had been transfigured into a flock of birds and were flying around the office like a great, synchronized cloud of bees; the glass in all the window's had vanished; Dumbledore's beard was an elaborate shade of blue; and the headmaster, the chair he was sitting in and his desk were being held at a constant level of levitation three feet off the ground. As easily as she had cast the incantations, Lily ended them all in the same instant with only a quiet finite. His office once more put back to sorts, Dippet was about to open his mouth to pronounce a job well done when Lily turned towards him and announced that she had one more thing she wished to show him.
"Please," was the headmaster's encouraging response.
For the final time Lily lifted her wand brandished it before her in a familiar pattern of movements. "Expecto Patronum!"
All three of the wizard's in the room felt their eyes widen when, a moment after she finished speaking, a sliver transparent serpent spilled from her wand tip and began to slither through the room. The snake circled the room twice before it's mistress canceled it and then lowered her wand, at last content that she had done all she could to prove that she deserved to be here. At least as far as spell casting was concerned.
As soon as the slivery serpent was gone, Dippet folded his hands upon his restored papers and gave a nod towards the witch for a job well done. "Very well done, Miss Claire," he intoned before he cast his gaze towards her father, "She is a credit to you, Xavier. A very great credit."
"I choose to think so," the wizard replied, bestowing upon the witch a smile of genuine pride.
Beside him, Lily let herself smile although her outward expression was nothing compared to her inward one. Inside she was doing mental jumping jacks while screaming silently over and over again, "Way to go me, way to go!"
Dippet smiled at her. "I have but a few more questions before we decide your placement and get you sorted. They pertain to potions. What two ingredients lend the Draught of Peace its potency?"
Lily smirked. "Moonstone and syrup of hellebore."
"Correct," Dippet went on, "What is the most effect way to save someone dying of poison?"
"Shove a bezoar down their throat and hold their mouth closed until they swallow."
It was a sarcastic answer but a true one and all three of the wizards fought to control smirks.
Dippet continued. "Name the ingredients needed and the instructions for brewing polyjuice potion."
"Lacewing flies stewed for 21 days, leeches, powdered bicorn horn, knotgrass, fluxweed picked at full moon, shredded boomslang skin and a bit of whoever you wants to turn into…"
The questioning continued along in the same vein for some ten more minutes before Dippet was satisfied that Lily knew what she was talking about. When at last the interrogation came to an end, Xavier turned and looked the headmaster dead in the eye.
"She has earned a place I trust?" he asked.
"She has, I believe," Dippet replied, taking another sip of his cider, "One could hardly refuse her after that performance," he turned to look at Lily, "You are sixteen are you no Lady Claire?" when she nodded, he proceeded to ask, "And when is your birthday?"
"July thirty-first."
"Very good then," Dippet paused to consider something before continuing, "Given your level of advancement, I do not believe it would be too troublesome to insert you into the sixth year even though the term in already half over. I do not feel comfortable placing you in seventh but I've no doubt you would be bored to tears if I were to put you into fifth. No, sixth year it is for you my dear, I think you shall do well there."
Lily dropped into another polite curtsy. "Thank you, headmaster. I shall see to it that your faith in me is not misplaced."
Dippet grunted. "I do not see that there is any fear of that, Miss Claire, given what I have seen of your magical abilities. Now, all that remains is to get you sorted and for you to select which classes you think you would like to take."
Her stomach clenched as she remembered the conversation she'd had with Hugo, the twins and Alice about what house she'd theoretically be in if she were to ever go to Hogwarts. "Well," she thought, "I'm here now, it's not a theory anymore. Let's see if everyone's predictions come true." Still, even as curious as she was, she almost wanted to save the best, the sorting, for last. "Might we do the course selection first?" she inquired.
"As you like," Dippet replied before reaching into his desk to withdraw a paper which he then passed off to her. "These are the courses available to study for students in the sixth year. You may select up to nine or as few as five. As soon as you're sorted, I'll give your selections to your head of house and a timetable will be made ready for you tomorrow."
Graciously, Lily took the booklet and began to leaf through it, pausing every now and then to read the description of the class and to listen to Xavier's comments over which ones he thought she might like the most. When she was done and had made indications on the paper beside each of the classes she wanted to take, she handed it back to Dippet who placed it to one side and nodded towards Dumbledore.
Taking the silent cue, Dumbledore stood and retrieved an old, battered looking hat from atop a set of bookcases. Walking back over towards Lily, he offered her the chair he'd just vacated to sit in. "Now, let's find out what house you shall be in although if I may say, if your patronus is any indication, I think I it would be safe to make an educated guess."
That's what Alice was saying; Lily recalled as she took the offered seat, folded her hands into her lap and then held her breath as Dumbledore lowered the hat onto her head. Suddenly, Lily heard a voice begin to whisper in her ear.
'Ahh, Miss Potter, you've come a long ways to get here haven't you?'
'It's Miss Claire now," Lily thought back at the hat, "I don't suppose you'd get on with it would you?'
'All in good time, young witch, all in good time,' the hat went on, 'Now, let's have a look here shall we? My, my, I see cunning, yes, yes, you're very cunning, and confident; very confident in what you can do and, my dear Miss Potter, you can do a great deal can't you? Yes, yes I see it all: you want so badly to prove yourself, to be all that you know you can be and more. I see power, a great power lurking deep inside of you. You are destined for great things young witch, great things. I know exactly where to put you, some place where your power with be coveted and allowed to grow, you my dear will do well here. Yes, very well indeed…'
She knew it was coming, knew as soon as the hat had said she was cunning and that it sensed power in her. Hugo, the twins, Alice and Teddy; they'd all been right and no sooner had she acknowledge this then she heard the hat announce its decision.
"Slytherin!"
As Dumbledore removed the sorting hat and put it back on its shelf, Lily stood and let herself think about what had just happened and what it all meant. As of now, she was an official student at Hogwarts, she was going to have opportunities that her friends and cousins would never have, she would get to be normal for at least however long a time it took before she completed her mission and, above it all, she was now a certified member of Slytherin house.
A smirk played across her lips as Lily realized that she was where finally where she was meant to be all along.
A/N: Reviews are the only way fan-fiction authors get paid so put a quarter in my cup and make my day!
