I know right now hte chapters are short and it's a bit confusing. But it get's longer and better later.

Disclaimer: I wish this was mine.

Chapter 4: A Child, a grandchild, the first contact

December 5, 1967

Today was both a time of joy and sorrow for Albus. Just an hour ago he welcomed his daughter into the world. The baby looked as perfect to him as the one he had lost. He sat in the hospital chair holding her.

Less than an hour old and she already had her father wrapped around her finger. She had a few ringlets of curly black hair and the darkest green eyes. She would definitely look like her mother as the years progressed.

Looking into his little girl's angelic face he was reminded of another angel that had slipped away. He vowed the next time he saw her he would apologize for everything and do what ever it took to bring her back.

December 11, 1967

A girl. How was it possible? She didn't know. Would her lover…no master be furious? Of course. He wanted a boy not a girl.

The woman; now thirty-five, was given a month sabbatical to have her baby and to return. She was told that if it was a girl she should kill it before anyone knows of it. She didn't want to and seeing the baby's face she knew she never could. Lying in the abandon home she made a decision; to save her baby she would have to go home. She just prayed he'd be understandable; after all they had a new baby as well…maybe they would be amiable to keeping hers.

December 24, 1967

Headmaster Dumbledore was in his office working on his last bit of correspondence when one of his many instruments started going crazy. Grabbing his wand he quickly and quietly rushed into the nursery…only to find a figure with dark hair singing to the baby while staring out of a window.

He visible relaxed till he saw his son and daughter in their beds. He instantly tensed up again and trained his wand on the figure.

"What is you business in this castle?" he asked blocking the only exit with his body.

"The favor of a home and protection," the figure replied turning around. Albus stared blankly at the woman before him.

The years were very good to her; she looked only twenty-four. Her long brown hair was flowing freely down her back and her blue eyes as always gave off a faint glow. They shone with such a mixture of emotions that Albus could not pick them out. In her arms she held a small baby with a tuft of the same dark curls and chocolate eyes.

"C-Calypso what are you doing here?" he hissed stowing his wand and walking up to her.

"I came to see Rachel and Robert…and to ask you a favor," she sighed looking at the small baby in the cradle.

"She really is beautiful. I assume she'll grow up to be like her mother."

"I like to think so," Albus nodded.

"I'm glad you and Minerva are so happy together," Calypso said running a free hand through the baby's black curls.

"I am as well. I noticed she received a rather special wedding gift," he said watching the woman pull her hand out of the cradle.

"I thought it for the best. She deserves protection," Calypso sighed.

"So do you," he said lifting her chin to look him in the eyes. It was then the baby in her arms started to fuss.

"Oh hush now love. It's all right," the woman cooed and the baby fell back to sleep.

"Who is that?" he asked eyeing the new born.

"This is Natalie Maria Riddle. My daughter," she said handing the baby to Albus.

"She's very beautiful," he replied, "does the father know?"

"All he knows is that I left to have her. He can never know of her," she replied, "if he finds out she's a girl he'll have her killed."

"Then what do you intend to do?"

"I had hoped you would look past my faults and raise her," she said with tears in her eyes.

"Why not stay and raise her yourself. We can protect you and the child," he said grabbing her hand.

"No you can't," she sniffed, "I made my choice but she still has a chance. You can't go back and hope everything goes back to the way it was."

"True. But there are always roads to get home from where you are," he replied.

"Then maybe we can meet on level ground again," she smiled and kissed his cheek.

She then kissed her daughter's head and went to the toddler's bed. "Don't give them trouble and be a charmer sweet Robert," she whispered in the boy's ear before kissing his head and placing a stuffed lion at the foot of his bed.

She then moved back to the cradle. "I know you will get what ever you want from da' but don't be greedy. Be as sweet and kind as you are now darling Rachel," she whispered to the baby and placed a black panther with a green tiger's eye necklace around it in the cradle.

She then walked back to Albus and gave him a white panther with an amber tiger's eyes necklace for her daughter. She kissed Natalie once more before walking back to the window and jumping out. He ran to the window but saw nothing. He laid his grandchild in bed with his daughter and went to bed.

Quite a Christmas present for his wife in the morning.