Chapter 4
A matter that concerns me? I thought. What is he talking about?
"How?" I asked.
"All will become clear," said Dumbledore mysteriously. I hate it when he does that. You are never allowed to know something outright in here. "Now. You are familiar with the story of the Potters I presume?" He paused and I replied with a nod of my head – I mean, who doesn't? "Well there is more to the story than anyone but myself know."
"Hang on Albus," I said - could this get more confusing? "Are you saying that you are going to tell me this, when no one else in our world – or the muggle world – knows?"
"Yes," he said, sounding impatient, "Now, please do not interrupt or ask questions. It is important that I get this out in one go." He looked me directly in the eye. "Now, the Potters had another child. When they heard that Voldemort" I flinched "was after them, they made the heart-breaking decision to have her put into a safe hiding place. They did everything: changed her name, did memory charms on everyone who knew her, including themselves, they even changed her appearance, just in case someone recognised her. She was sent off to live with a wizarding family who would believe she was their own." He sighed and looked away from me.
"How do you know all of this Professor?" I asked. I kept on wondering what this had to do with me.
"Because, Miranda," he began, "I was the one who had to do the memory charms and all of the other necessary precautionary spells."
"Professor? Sorry – Albus. Was she at Hogwarts recently? Would I know her? What house was she in?"
"Miranda, Miranda," Dumbledore chuckled, "Yes, she has been at Hogwarts recently. You probably know her, but not as well as you would have thought, and she was in Gryffindor. I'll let you do the maths. She was born in 1996 and was one of the older students in her year."
"That means she was in my year… in my dorm!" I said excitedly, "What does she look like?"
"Well…" said Dumbledore, "She has dark brown hair, and dark brown eyes."
I started to think. Dark brown hair? Three of us had that. Dark brown eyes? Two. But no-one had both… no-one except…
"No," I said, my mind was being stretched to the limit. Outstanding in all my NEWTs I could handle, but this?
"You have to understand that this is a complete secret. Yes?"
I nodded, trying to understand everything Dumbledore had said.
"No-one must know. No-one," he repeated. I nodded again. "You may leave, Louise."
"Louise?" I asked - how could he have got my name wrong?
"That's what they called you: Louise Lily Potter." I turned to leave, but he stopped me, and handed me a portrait of himself.
"It's too dangerous – for you – to put anything in a letter," he whispered, "But if you ever need to talk, talking to the portrait will be exactly like talking to me. It knows everything we do." I turned to leave again. "Oh and Miranda, I know you are training to be an auror. I will make sure myself that you aren't put on any missions that would take you anywhere near Harry."
"Thanks," I said and finally left.
