Like a Fairytale
I didn't sleep very well during my first night at the Tonks'. I couldn't remember having slept alone in a room ever. It was hard to sleep that way. It was rather embarrassing. I was far too old to be scared of being alone in the dark but at least no one knew..
At breakfast, this was quickly forgotten. Mandy was up again as well. She looked still rather pale but said that she was feeling better. She ate a bowl of oats with milk and honey while I had a few slices of toast with marmalade.
"I need to go to London with Vivien today," Aunt Andromeda announced during breakfast. I looked at her questioningly. "It's the last chance to voice any Christmas wishes as well. "
"I'd like to have a Nimbus 2001, Mum," Dora said.
Her mother frowned. "You know that this would be very unreasonable Dora. You won't even play Quidditch anymore when you're working."
Dora sighed. If her expression was anything to go by, she had already expected this answer. "Oh Mum, don't you want to help Hufflepuff win the Quidditch cup for once?"
"You're addressing the wrong one there girl," her mother said. "Your Dad is the former Hufflepuff."
"I don't think Hufflepuff house defines itself by using the most expensive equipment," Uncle Ted said with a grin. "Sorry, Dora. I'm going to get our Christmas tree, by the way. Do you feel well enough to come with us, Mandy?"
"Yes, I think so," Mandy said. "At least, I feel like eating again. That means I must be better."
That was true. Mandy never ate when she was ill.
"The fever is gone completely," Aunt Andromeda said. "You seem to be good at fighting disease."
"We're going to get the tree on a Muggle market," Ted said.
Dora rolled her eyes. "That's some sort of family tradition. We're always buying a Christmas tree on the Muggle market. I want to look for some Muggle music."
"Good," Andromeda said. "I think we're going to eat in town. Come on Vivien. We have an appointment at 10 o'clock."
"An appointment?" I asked. "Where?"
"At the Ministry. I'll explain when we're on our way," Andromeda said. "Put one of your Hogwarts robes and cloak on."
I did as I was told and a little while later, we both stood in front of the door. "I've made an appointment with the Magical Inheritance Commission," Andromeda explained when we were outside. "This way you'll get officially acknowledged as your parents' daughter. There will be a few benefits from this and will be able to use your family's money as well then. Only limited access, but it will allow you to take care of your school fees and equipement and you can buy what you need. A Nimbus 2001 will be out of the question though." She smiled slightly.
"Alright," I said. I wasn't going to buy anything overly expensive anyway. The idea that I might have a bit of money of my own soon was appealing though. "Thank you for arranging this," I added.
"No problem. We'll need to use a Portkey because you can't get into the Ministry via the Floo network. It's for employees only. Have you ever used a Portkey before?"
"Yes, when I travelled to Diagon Alley for the first time with Professor McGonagall." I smiled at the memory.
"Good, just hold onto my bag."
Travelling by Portkey had been the first form of magic I had experienced knowing what it was. It still felt exciting but not as much anymore. Strange how quickly you got used to magic.
This time, I managed to land much more smoothly than back at the Leakey Cauldron. We were in a grey street that looked perfectly ordinary. Right in front of us was an old telephone box. "It works as a sort of lift and gets us in," Andromeda explained as we stepped into the phone box. She dialled a number and a few moments later, I received a button reading, Vivien Lestrange, MaIC appointment. Then the floor started to move downwards.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic," Aunt Andromeda said.
I looked around curiously. People hurried around looking very busy. We were standing in a large atrium with a golden fountain. You could throw money in that would be donated to Saint Mungo Hospital. I remembered that my father used work there and I would have liked to give something but I didn't have any money yet.
"We need to take the lift," Andromeda told me. "It's part of the MLE."
"What does MLE mean?" I asked, as we walked into one of the lifts.
"Department for Magical Law Enforcement," Andromeda explained. "They're handling most of the legal matters."
"Law Enforcement?" I asked feeling suddenly queasy. "Does that mean that there are Aurors here?"
A scarlet-robed wizard gave me a furtive glance. "No need to worry young lady. Or have you done something wrong?"
"My niece is visiting the Ministry for the first time Mr Dawlish," Aunt Andromeda said. "That's why she's a bit nervous."
When we had finally reached level two where we needed to get out, Andromeda gave the other wizard a head start, before talking to me. "We need to walk past a few of the Auror cubicles but you don't need to be scared. They're not going to harm you. Aurors aren't monsters who hurt children on purpose."
I knew that my behaviour was ridiculous probably but somehow, I still remembered Aurors as something to be careful off. When Dora really meant to become one, I'd have to change my opinion on them though. I tried to hide in Andromeda's shadows while we walked past them.
The Aurors made me a bit curious as well and I sneaked a few glances into some of their cubicles. A woman with short brown hair and sharp eyes seemed to know my Aunt. "Good morning Andromeda," she called while her quill wrote a report on its own.
"Good morning Cordelia. Everything going well?"
The Auror called Cordelia shrugged. "I'd wish we had caught those people who broke into Gringotts. Rather embarrassing situation. I'm glad I'm not in charge of this case."
"Well, maybe they would have been caught if you were. I've heard you got Medea Mortimer," Aunt Andromeda said. "This should quiet the illegal potions market."
"I hope so," the Auror said. "What are you doing here? I thought you were on holiday?"
"I am," Andromeda said. "My niece Vivien is staying with us over Christmas and we have to settle something here."
For the first time, the Auror looked at me. "Your niece? Is she-?"
"The daughter of my older sister? Yes, she is," my aunt said. "Vivien Lestrange, Cordelia Savage."
"Good morning, Madam Savage," I said attempting to be polite. The woman had seemed friendly enough so far.
"Whatever happened later, I owe your father much," Cordelia Savage said. "He let himself be seduced by evil and by this evil woman but that doesn't mean you can't choose better. Never believe that your blood forces you into anything."
I simply nodded, not sure what to say about that.
"Well, we have to go now," my Aunt said. "We don't want to let Selwyn wait. Have a nice day, Cordelia."
"Why does she owe my father something?" I asked Andromeda when were out of Cordelia Savage's earshot.
Andromeda hesitated slightly before she explained. "Well, you already know that your father used to work as a Healer before he chose to dedicate his life to, well to the dark arts instead. Cordelia was severely injured in the cause of her work and he saved her life and her health. Most people believed she was doomed but instead, she recovered completely. He was a very gifted man your father."
"Was?" I was startled at her use of the past tense. "He's not dead, is he?"
"No, he's not dead, he's still in prison," Andromeda said. "The choices he's made have very likely robbed him of these skills though."
I wondered why. I didn't really know anything about the Dark Arts yet. Quirrell's lessons on this subject were completely useless. We had reached the entrance to Selwyn's office though and I knew it wasn't the right moment to ask for any details.
Selwyn's secretary gave me a very curious look as well before she told her boss that we were here. He asked us to come into his office right away. There obviously weren't many people in need of the Magical Inheritance Commission at the moment.
"Good morning Miss Lestrange," Selwyn said shaking hands with me. He was tall man with greying brown hair, high cheekbones and blue eyes. "Good morning Mrs Tonks. Take a seat."
I glanced at the papers in front of Selwyn. One of them was a small book in blue and silver with the Lestrange family name and crest on it.
"You've come here to verify Miss Lestrange's parentage, am I correct?" Selwyn asked.
"Exactly," Aunt Andromeda said.
"Very well. It's very simple though a tad bit unpleasant," the Ministry official said. He opened the blue book on the first page. "This is one of the Lestrange family books given to our commission for this very purpose," he explained. "I'll need a small drop of blood from you, Miss Lestrange. If you are truly part of this family, your name will appear here."
"Alright," I said only a little bit nervously. This probably wouldn't hurt more than getting a vaccination or something and I had done this before.
"Hold your hand over the book," Selwyn said
I obeyed and Selwyn cast a quick spell that caused a small wound. It stung slightly but wasn't too bad. A drop of blood rolled from my finger and fell down upon the book. As soon as it touched the parchment, a name appeared, written in the same dark blue ink used for all the others. Vivien Ricarda Lestrange.
"You see, everything in order," Selwyn told me. "My congratulations. You are indeed a pure-blood daughter of the Lestrange family. Never forget to value this."
He sighed deeply. "True pure-bloods are extremely rare nowadays. And some of those who are left do not choose to honour their heritage the way they should."
He gave Andromeda an accusatory look. The glare he received in return made him look away very quickly.
"Well, ehm, what else. I have prepared a letter for the Gringotts Goblins. I need to sign it and then you can withdraw some money. You'll only have full access to it when you're of age that means from your seventeenth birthday on. From now on, you will also have access to the Lestrange properties. This goes for your parents' house which is unoccupied at the moment as well. I wouldn't advise you to go there on your own though. Death Eater houses might pose serious dangers to the unprepared."
"Yes, thank you," I said. The idea that there was an empty house that more or less belonged to me would take some getting used to. I'd surely go there someday but only when I had learned more about magic. For someone so new to magic it would really be too dangerous.
"Your blood relatives beside Mrs Tonks will be informed about this development as well," Selwyn continued.
I remembered my cousin Roger. I thought I'd like to get to know him. Would they inform my other aunt, Draco Malfoy's mother as well? I didn't really fancy any contact with her but she probably wouldn't be interested in spending time with the Muggle-raised daughter of her convict sister.
"That is all," Selwyn said, handing me the family book. "This is yours now."
"Thank you." As soon as I was at home, I'd have to look up the names of my ancestors. I really wanted to know how many of my fellow students were related to me.
"Here's the letter for Gringotts and a passing card. You'll have to bring this every time you want to get money until you're of age and handed your own key."
About ten minutes later, we stood inside Gringotts and showed the letter to a suspicious looking Goblin. Those beings made me rather nervous. I had read about the rebellion they had staged and they really seemed to be rather dangerous. This one seemed relatively cooperative though and told me and Andromeda to accompany him to our vaults.
We were travelling inside small carts which led us underground. While the reception area had been white and gleaning, the passageways downwards were dimly lit and made of rough grey stones. The cart moved very quickly and I thought that maybe, I shouldn't have eaten that much toast for breakfast. I really didn't want to get sick and embarrass myself by vomiting in Andromeda's presence.
We reached her vault first. She simply unlocked it with her key and walked in. I stayed in the cart because I thought it was rude to look at other people's money. When she was back, we travelled further downwards. My family's vault seemed to be very far down. I felt very queasy when we finally arrived. The blind dragon that reared its head threateningly didn't make me feel any less nervous. It seemed to fear the Goblins though which made me worry even more about them.
The door to our vault didn't have a key. Instead, the Goblin had to open it with his hand. "Step in," he said with a rather nasty smile.
Swallowing down my nervousness, I got off the cart and into the vault.
Inside, I looked around and could hardly believe my eyes. I had never seen so much gold and other precious things in one place. It was almost like a fairytale where the hero stumbled over a hidden treasure. I hadn't believed that something like this really existed but magic existed as well so why not?
There were goblets made of pure gold and bottles containing unknown potions. I wondered what made these potions precious enough to hide them in here. I would have loved to take a closer look but my classes with Snape had already taught me that potions could be extremely dangerous and it was likely that these were. Beside the potions there were strange-looking animal skins and a skull still wearing a crown. I wondered if it had belonged to a man my ancestors had slain on one of their Viking rampages.
One of the golden objects seemed strangely out of place. It was a cup and there was no outer sign that something was wrong with it. For some reason, looking at it made my skin tingle. The same kind of magic I sometime used to sense and end headaches in other people seemed to make me notice this. I definitely wasn't going to touch this thing.
In a far corner of the vault, there were all kinds of jewellery. I couldn't keep myself from picking up a pretty silver hair slide with a feather on it. It would go very nicely with my black hair and grey eyes. There was a golden diadem with strange symbols made of some sort of black stone on it. They looked scary and intriguing at the same time. I would have liked to try it out and find out what they would do but I didn't dare to do it. It could be dangerous.
In the other far corner of the vault, there were various books and rolls of parchment. One was a copy of the book called "The Art of Pain," the original handwriting if I wasn't completely mistaken. I would have liked to take a look, simply because it was forbidden and I would know something the others didn't. With Andromeda waiting outside, I wouldn't have much time to read though.
Next to it lay a book called "A Study on Plant-based Torture Methods by Rosamund Lestrange." So far, the idea that plants could be used for torture hadn't occurred to me. I didn't really understand why anyone would find this subject matter worthy of an entire book. Some of my ancestors obviously had had a rather unhealthy obsession with torture. I felt tempted to look at the books and parchments beneath but didn't. I might be able to another time.
"Vivien, everything alright?"
"Yes, I'm coming, sorry," I called back and quickly picked up some money. I wasn't quite sure how much I was allowed to take but the Goblin didn't object when I filled the largest pocket of my cloak.
Afterwards, I hurried outside quickly. While looking at all those shiny things, I had almost forgotten about Goblins and Dragons. Now my worries returned.
I joined Andromeda in the cart for the journey back up; the Goblin closed the vault behind us. To my relief, the journey upwards was easier or maybe I had gotten used to riding the cart. I actually enjoyed the journey now.
A short way further up another cart crossed our way. It held a man with shoulder-length wavy grew hair and a fierce look in his eyes who made me think of an aging knight. By his side sat pale and shaking, Neville. The cart seemed to make him so uncomfortable that he wasn't able to look up.
"Hail my fair ladies," the elderly man by his side called to us with a smile.
"Hail Sir Algernon," my aunt called back. I wasn't quite sure if they were making fun or if pure-bloods were supposed to talk to each other like that.
Algernon Longbottom told the Goblin in his cart to stop and so did Andromeda. Neville's face was still hidden in his hands.
"Morgana's blood shall run strong," Mr Longbottom said. "So that's your young niece, Andromeda. Looks like a perfect little Black. Nothing of those Lestranges on the outside. Let's hope the same is true inside. I'm sure it would never have come to this with your sister if she hadn't married one of this lot. Much better to marry a first-born wizard like you did."
I was a bit confused. If I believed Cordelia Savage, my father had been a good person to start with before evil people among them my mother had "seduced" him. According to Algernon Longbottom my father came from a family of evil and my mother had been the one who was seduced.
"We really need to get going now," Andromeda told him. "Have a nice holiday and a merry Christmas."
"You too Andromeda, you too. And young Vivien and the rest of your family."
Our cart started to move again, the Goblins seemed to be glad the annoying disruption was over. On my way back to the surface, I wondered about my family. I felt honoured because Algernon Longbottom had acknowledged that I was descended from Morgana over my mother's line. He seemed to think more highly about them while Cordelia Savage thought that my mother had led my father astray. Well, maybe I'd learn more soon. I had to ask Aunt Andromeda when the opportunity arose.
We spent the rest of the morning doing Christmas shopping. The shops were all full of people who wanted to do the same and we often had to wait for quite a while. I got a magical novel for Mandy and a Weird Sisters fan shirt for Nymphadora. This was the first time I had money of my own I could spend and it was a good feeling. I wouldn't depend on other people's help when I wanted to get my stuff anymore. I really had no idea what Ted and Andromeda might like but Flourish and Blotts sold gift coupons which would allow them to get a book of their choice. After the shopping we had lunch at the Leakey Cauldron. People weren't giving me odd glances anymore; no one seemed to notice me as someone who didn't belong. I was sure that I'd be at home in them magical world soon.
When we returned to the Tonks' house we found Ted, Dora and Mandy busy decorating the new Christmas tree. I was really happy to see that Mandy seemed to feel well again. Maybe her illness had only been because of the nervousness after all. Now that she knew that she was welcome with the Tonks, she felt well again.
"That looks really nice," Andromeda said and gave Ted a kiss.
"And you completed your "business?" Dora wanted to know.
"Yes, everything fine. Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Yes, I did. I got some music Vivi and Mandy might like. Are we excused?"
"Yes, but please be down here again at dusk. We want to sing and I'd like to tell the girls a bit about Midwinter."
"Alright," Dora said with a sigh. "So you're going to receive Mum's Midwinter lecture," she said on the way upstairs. "I really don't get why she thinks it's important to uphold some pure-blood traditions most pure-bloods have already forgotten about."
"Well, it's boring for you but we need to learn," Mandy said.
"Ravenclaws," Dora said.
"You won't fall asleep I'm sure." I added with a smile.
"No, probably not," Dora said. We sat down in her room which also contained a Muggle cassette recorder. Dora obviously felt rather at home in both worlds as well. It felt nice to hear some of the music I knew from my earlier life again and Mandy felt the same way. Afterwards we spent a bit of time talking and the afternoon passed quickly.
At dusk, we assembled in the living-room as we had promised Andromeda. She had lit the Christmas tree and candles on the table and in all four corners of the room. Mistletoe and holly were decorating the room as well.
We sat down together and started to sing. Ted and Andromeda did this really well and Mandy was quite good too. Both Nymphadora and I probably would never get positive attention for our singing. We sang Christmas songs we already knew well but also a few others about light and darkness and long nights that didn't seem to have anything to do with Christmas.
"In the darkest night, let's look for the light inside our soul," Aunt Andromeda sang and I remembered. There had been a night like this where my mother had sung this, her voice as clear as Andromeda's. My father and both my uncles Rabastan and Barty had been there as well. We had had holly and mistletoe decoration and the candles but no Christmas tree.
I had been listening to Mum's singing enthralled as Dad got up. "This is completely stupid," he had shouted. "Why would we sing about looking for the light when we do everything to find someone who's calling himself the Dark Lord?"
It had been one of the few times I remembered him shouting and they had argued. Mum had wanted to uphold her traditions while Dad thought it wasn't suitable.
"If you want to hear the lecture, you need to listen now," Dora whispered and I realised that Andromeda had stopped her singing.
"The seasons of the year have an influence on our magic," she began. "Witches and wizards in the past were more aware of that because it used to be far more common to practice our art out in the open. With the need to keep magic secret from Muggles most of our magic use has been moved inside but that doesn't mean that this doesn't matter anymore. Midwinter is one of those days. Halloween or Samhain as it used to be called is another. You've celebrated it at Hogwarts. Witches and wizards and earlier Muggles as well have founded various rituals and traditions for these days. These allow us to come to grips with our magic better. My family, the Blacks used to be one of the few who still celebrated Midwinter the old way but nowadays, there's no one left who could do it. Most families, even those who set much stock in being "pure-blood" have given up on it completely. They too were influenced by contemporary Muggle culture. Some people blame the Muggle-borns for this but there's nothing fair about this. It's our duty to teach everyone who joins our world."
"A duty Mum takes very seriously," Dora whispered to me.
"We can't make a big Midwinter celebration with ritual duels and everything else but we can sing and we can celebrate the light in our own magic. Like the year, every witch's or wizard's magic has a light side and a dark side. The light side of our magic consists of everything that is fuelled by feelings such as trust, hope, love, friendship and the desire to help. Spells that are fuelled by feelings like anger, hatred, a desire to cause pain and destroy and by sadness and despair are dark magic."
I listened with interest. I had been wondering what "dark magic" actually meant in the magical culture I'd belong to now.
"Often it's attempted to divide into spells that belong to one side and those that belong to the other but it's almost never entirely possible. Most spells can be both, depending on the intent of the caster. When there is so much outer darkness in the middle of winter, we are more likely than usual to succumb to dark feelings as well. That's why it's traditionally part of every magical Midwinter celebration that everyone casts a spell that is considered light magic as a sign against the darkness. I know that you can't do much magic yet as first-years but I'm sure you've learned the Lumos spell and it will serve as a symbol well enough."
The Lumos spell was the first one I had learned and it had worked really well.
"Ted and I are going to use the Patronus spell. It's a spell fuelled by happy memories that creates a protecting spirit which helps against Dementors and other dark creatures. The Patronus usually takes the shape of an animal that either represents an aspect of ourselves or a loved one. I'm sure you will learn it as well but at the moment, you are still too young. And Dora hasn't started practising either, so you will do another one as well. Alright, get up and get your wands ready."
We all did as she said and did the Lumos spell as she told us to. Dora cast a spell which created a cascade of bright stars that were filling the room with bright light. Ted and Andromeda said the incantation: "Expecto Patronum."
A silver snake slithered from Ted's wand while a silver badger sprang from Andromeda's.
"Dad's been a Hufflepuff and Mum's been a Slytherin," Dora whispered to me. "That's why they have each other's house animal for their Patronus."
That was really romantic, I thought. The sight of Dora's stars, the two shining animal spirits and the light of our wands was very pretty indeed.
Being here with an aunt and uncle and cousin who all cared for me and my friend who had recovered from her illness though was enough to make me happy and free of any "dark feelings" for the moment without the help of any spell.
