Omne initium difficile est- Every beginning is difficult
The scenery in front of me, when I appeared at gates to Nox Manor, was a carbon copy as I have last saw it. Half of the house was intact; the other one had traces of explosion. It was sad image. My family manor used to be superb Victorian country mansion located near small, quiet muggle village in Wales. Set within formal landscaped gardens and 28 acres of parkland, the building from grey stone was exceptionally ordinary in comparison to other wizarding family houses. But it was the most beautiful building for me. I knew the two floors, many dormers and decorative towers by heart.
I opened the heavy iron gates with simple press of my palm. The magic within the house must have recognized me as a Nox. Even when the wards were breached with Death Eaters previously, nobody could enter the grounds at simple will. Someone with connection to my family must have betrayed them. It was sad to think that somebody breached the Nox secrecy vow.
"Why them? Why now?" I asked desperately, silently demanding answers from the night itself. I knew it was because of me. Some kids, or better Death Eaters wannabees must have reported my "transfer" to Voldemort. He may be many things, but stupid he is not. He must have checked my background, my family, and the prospect of having powerful blood as ours on his side made him act. He wanted them to join. My family refused, as any Nox would. We may be extraordinary, more powerful and with variable abilities, we do not seek dominance and we detest blood supremacy.
I walked the gravel path slowly, admiring the gardens surrounding the manor. My grandmother had slight obsession with keeping the gardens in best shape, with different plants all over the world. Therefore the gardens were always blossoming, even during the winter you could easily find some interesting flower peeking from the white snow, which my grandmother would tenderly charmed with heating charm.
Entering the house was harder than entering the grounds. I already had tears in my eyes. I knew what I was about to find inside. I was scared. I knew there wouldn't be any bodies, but signs of the battle would be still apparent. I suppressed the shudder and with a deep breath I stepped inside. The smell of ink and parchment, freshly roasted coffee and unmistakable odour that surrounds old houses, welcomed me. I believe home is where you find peace, tranquillity, joy, and most importantly were you feel safe. And for 15 years this house, where I stepped for the first time in this timeline, was my home. First tear leaked from my eye.
"Linny?" I asked. With a loud crack the small figure of the house elf appeared. Her eyes were puffed and red from crying, her clothes dirty. She eyed me curiously and with suspicion. She must have had a rough day, with the attack and then with Ministry officials coming and going, investigating the whole incident. I let out small sight of relief. In my timeline, she didn´t survived the attack.
"Who are you?" she broke the silence.
"I am Zara Aveen Nox. I hope you will help me solve one question," I smiled softly, at her widened eyes, if it was even possible.
"And what that may be, Misses?" she asked. Never was she disrespectful, but she was more daring than normal house elf. Nox always treated their elfs with respect, almost their equals. I smiled at her.
"I need to know, if I am the new Mistress of the Manor. Can you lie to me?" I asked, knowing that house elfs can´t truly lie to their rightful masters. I was hoping that the blood in my veins would be sufficient enough for the intriguing matter as the heirloom laws were.
"Y..."she wanted to say yes, but then she shook her head. "No, Misses, Linny can not. Does Linny have new Mistress already? Those Ministry men told Linny that they were searching for relatives," she was confused, but somehow pleased at the same time.
"Linny, could we move to the Office? I´ll explain," I didn´t wait for her to comply and was already on my way to my father´s office. It was the first room to my right from the hall. It was not very big room, but at the same time quite spacious. Massive oak desk was the dominant feature. Walls were covered with my mother paintings, some photos and bookshelves.
With a silent flick of my wand I repaired every broken item that was lying around. Death Eaters and the Ministry workers went through my father's things with no respect. I could picture him sitting behind the desk, with a smile on his face, when I was peeking through the door asking him if he had time to tell me a bed-time story. I brushed my fingers against the polished wood. The room smelled like I remembered- like old books, ink and my father´s cologne, hinted with bergamot. With heavy sight I sat myself behind the desk.
"Linny, you don't have to stand there, sit. I know you´ve kept many of Nox family secret and I am going to tell you another one, even more important," I told her softly. She was clearly surprised about my attitude. Not many wizards treat house elfs with respect. Even when they literally raise their children.
"Linny, I am a daughter of your previous masters, Victoria and Dalton Nox. I´ve knew you since my birth. I came from the future Linny, really sad and dark future. I was sent here to make things better. And they are dead because of me, because I changed things just with my presence in this timeline. I caused the death of my parents before they had a chance to have a child," I couldn't take it anymore and I broke into sobs. Tears were falling on my father's desk.
"Missis, it was not your fault," said Linny and she placed her tiny hands on my knee. Her long fingers were caressing me gingerly. Telling someone who I knew since my birth was somehow liberating. I couldn't tell Linny was the best person to speak to, but she was definitely trustworthy.
"Sorry about my breakdown. I should be stronger now, I´ve been through this before, but it is so hard. And knowing that their dream of a children was not fulfilled breaks my heart even more," I confessed. She was not asking anything. Since I was her rightful mistress, she believed me. The magic of the place itself confirmed my veracity.
"Linny, I am going to renew the wards and seal the house. Would you like to stay here or come with me to Hogwarts till the end of the year?" I asked several minutes later.
"Linny will come with you, Missis, Linny wants to help," she said and her big brown eyes showed pure curiosity about the next adventure she was about to experience. I always like that.
"Good. Now go pack your belongings, I am going to do the same and restore the enchantments. Then I would like you to help me to repair the damages and cover the furniture, ok?" I sent her off. Another heavy sight and I was going through my father's records books and other things on the desk. After several minutes I found few important documents, I wrote a letter to the Ministry with the confirmation that I was the Nox, lost cousin of my father and I was claiming the property. My next steps took me to the small safe, where I´ve found a key to the Nox vaults in Gringotts, some muggle and wizarding money as well. I took few books from the shelves as well. Then I covered the furniture with sheet and left the room.
Linny was already waiting for me outside the office. We went through the house together, in each room I recalled some little memory to her. It was rather sad, but despite everything it made me smile a little. The worst part was my own room and the room of my little brother Jeremy. At that time they were simple host rooms, plain and indifferent. But in my memory they were full of toys, children drawings and laughter. It was painful just to think about the life my family could have without Voldemort. I reminded myself that I was going to make sure; he does not ruin more lives and families. He will fall. My family was lost, but that does not mean any other will vanish as well.
I took some clothes, jewellery and perfume from my mother's closet, just to be closer to her. She was such marvellous person. Amazingly talented in art and skilled as a witch. Her fast reactions to any mishap I caused with my accidental burst of magic in my childhood were remarkable. She used to play a seeker every time we had family contest.
When we were finisher I stood on the parlour, take a last look on the staircase and closed the door behind us for now. I locked it with charm, sealed the lock and put some enchantments on every door and window, just to be sure. Restoring the protective charms was easy part, but exhausting all the same. The tricky part was the blood wards. They were completely burned. It took me almost two hours to complete all four, at the east, south, west and north end of the grounds. I was locking the gates at the dawn.
"Let's leave, shall we?" I asked Linny and outstretched my arm. She took it and with a loud crack she apparated us right to the Gryffindor Common room.
AN: Sorry it took me so long... I was kind of preoccupied with other things... mostly trying to write my diploma thesis (and failing miserably...) So anyway here is new chapter, I still do not have a beta so you must cope with my mistakes... :D
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