Chapter Thirty-Six: Gone Too Far

10th Downing Street

London, England

October 15th, 1939

Joseph Patrick Kennedy Senior stared at the letter in his fingers, horrified at what he was hearing – and, for some inexplicable reason, holding out hope.

About a month ago, his intellectually disabled daughter, Rosemary, had received a letter from the tiny village of Knockingturn. The senior Kennedy didn't know the village well – he'd driven through it once or twice, and knew a canning industry executive called the place his home – but that was about it.

Until, of course, Rosemary got the infamous letter and picture from Ravenna Royston, daughter of said canning industry executive. He had not seen the letter – he'd been doing his job, but when he managed to meet up with his wife, Rose, she'd told him that his sweet daughter had been "overjoyed to the point of obsessed" with the letter.

"No one – at least, nobody that I know – has ever written a letter like that to our Rosie," she had said. "And the picture of that girl – have you seen that awful picture?"

"No – and what in the world makes this picture so awful?"

"Well, it acts like a moving picture, for one thing," Rose explained. "The woman in it…she has this long, stringy black hair…and her eyes peer into you. Her one finger looks like a claw…and she has these…well, Joe, she has…"

"For heaven's sake, Rose, what does she have?"

"Wings, Joe, she has wings!" Rose exclaimed. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say she's an evil witch, trying to seduce our Rosie!"

"If she's a witch, she must be a real coward, going after Rosemary," Joe replied. "Now, tell me, Rose – did you happen to read the letter? What did it say?"

"That's what I don't know, Joe," Rose admitted. "She won't let me see what it says. I told her the girl was probably a witch, and she burst into tears. Already that wretched girl's at work."

"Don't worry, Rose – I'll find out what's going on."

Joe then wasted no time entering Rosie's room, where the picture of the winged girl sat in a golden frame. He grimaced – that frame was where the picture of her at her court presentation used to sit. The letter itself wasn't a tough find, sitting beneath the frame. Picking it up, he read it…but was dismayed to find no mention of witchcraft.

He wanted to confront Rosie…but he knew there was something different about this whole situation. Perhaps…maybe, just maybe…this Ravenna had a way of reversing the intellectual problems Rosemary had suffered from since childhood. If Ravenna could do what all the doctors could not…make Rosemary normal…then perhaps-

Then, he remembered that Neville Chamberlain – one of his right-hand men – had contacts with a mysterious place called the "Ministry of Magic." As the thoughts crashed through his mind, he formulated a plot.

It was risky…but for his daughter, it was worth it.

…

Meanwhile, back at Hogwarts, Ravenna was once again in a rage.

Donnie Wiseman, the Devotti's soon found, was a fountain of information, and they discovered that Grindelwald had planned to bomb 10 Downing Street, using the Wiseman gang as cover. However, William had uncovered the plot and, with the help of his father and a schoolmate, disarmed their bombs, leading to the confrontation. The schoolmate, thankfully, managed to escape to safety – where was unknown.

The only good news to be had was that Raymond and William, thankfully, were still alive…but they had been tortured. If Ravenna didn't hand herself over to Grindelwald – whom would be sending his associates to meet her at Hogwarts next month – they would be killed in front of her.

Now, sitting in Potions class with Slytherin and the Ravenclaws, Ravenna stewed, being careful to look as normal as possible, especially now that another of her fingers had been distorted into a claw. The claw…had come out as the result of a...very pleasurable night of torture…but she knew that if her reputation was exposed, she could easily be expelled. Part of her really didn't care – she could brew Love Potions in her sleep…but she needed to make a strong effort at keeping up appearances, especially now.

Then, almost as if without warning, the door to the classroom swung open, and two men came in. One of them was Professor Dumbledore, who looked something between confused and absolutely incensed. The other…oh, no.

It was Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister of Great Britain…and Ravenna's palms began to sweat. She knew she was toast…there was no other explanation.

"Professor, we need Ravenna for a moment, please."

"Very well," Slughorn said. "Ravenna, I know you already know this like the back of your hand…but I want a three-scroll report on Amortentia by the end of the week."

"I'll get it to you in three days…provided I haven't been arrested first, Professor."

Slughorn nodded. Of all her professors, Slughorn seemed to be the most understanding of the bunch. She wasn't part of the Slug Club…and didn't really want to be, if she was being totally honest…but Slughorn, even without knowing half of what he should have, was a great professor who knew to keep himself at arm's length from her business. He had seen what had happened to Moltrov in her last days, and seemed to get that getting too close to Ravenna was a surefire way to court death. Ravenna then left, shaking hands with the Prime Minister before leaving the room.

Dumbledore, for his part, wasted no time in reaming Ravenna. "Miss Royston…I have tolerated your previous attempts to skirt the law in the name of defeating Grindelwald…but what was the point of nearly trying to violate the International Statute of Secrecy?"

"Professor, my office and the Ministry saw no violation of the Statute of Secrecy in Ravenna's communication with Miss Kennedy – and while I am considered a weak leader, I can see when wrong has been committed." Chamberlain countered. "In light of the fact that her family has been ripped in half in order to maintain this nation's peace and safety – thanks to someone you and your government should have incarcerated years ago – I believe you owe this patriot's daughter an apology at the very least."

"My professor owes me nothing, Prime Minister," Ravenna replied. "I would prefer not to open accounts in my ledger for my teachers."

"As you wish," he replied. "Professor, have you established contact with her muther?"

"No."

Ravenna's eyes bulged – this wasn't good. First her father and brother…and all of a sudden, Professor Dumbledore was saying he couldn't establish contact with her muther? The scratching in her stomach…the dark desire to unleash all of her evil….suddenly intensified.

If the Wiseman's had kidnapped her muther…well, Ravenna could only hope the Wiseman clan had fat life insurance policies and strong magical skill.

Dumbledore immediately sensed the darkness rising up from Ravenna. "Miss Royston…I have no reason to believe the Wiseman's have laid hands upon your muther. Your proclivity to lean toward the worst case scenario is not a desirable trait."

"Professor…tell me one time my instincts have been wrong." Ravenna asked as they walked toward the Headmaster's office. "Please…tell me one time I've been wrong. Tell me the last time you spared me from watching someone die…or caught the people trying to kill me before I ever had to see their faces. Have you succeeded in that?"

The silence from Dumbledore was pregnant…and deafening. "Exactly," Ravenna replied, knowing the answer. "Over and over, I have had to put my neck on the line – alongside witches and wizards far better than I - to keep this school from turning into a war zone. So…you can either stop trying to play hero with one hand and coddling Grindelwald with the other…or you can keep your mouth shut on the matter."

Dumbledore looked like he wanted to dock points from Slytherin on account of her mouth, but Ravenna was barely concerned. "Dumbledore…you know full well you played a hand in making this mess I find myself in – the same one Credence Barebone was in. I would greatly appreciate it if you would "man up," take responsibility for Ariana's death, and work on fixing the problem with that "blood pact" you made. It would make it far easier for me to trust you…and perhaps, I would be more considerate of your opinions."

Dumbledore stared at Chamberlain, looking for help, but he found none. Then, the door to the Headmaster's office opened – with Headmaster Dippet staring down a half-dozen members of the Wiseman gang. A blonde – haired man armed with a pistol had his back to the wall, looking like he was ready to pump the attackers full of bullets.

"Give Ravenna to us, old man, and we'll talk terms," one of the assailants snarled. "We don't want the Roystons – we'll just take Ravenna peacefully, and never come back."

"Yah won't be taking anybody!" the blond Muggle roared. Then, he fired, sending one of the assailants to the floor with a bullet to the chest. Despite her rising hatred, Ravenna took note of the Muggle – she liked him already, smiling as the Prime Minister took his place against the wall as Dumbledore stood in front of her, completely enraged.

"Mr. Kennedy…while your courage is admirable, I do not believe this violence is necessary," Dumbledore said with a smile, producing his wand. "I will handle this." Ravenna grimaced at the idea, but stepped forward, wand at the ready.

"You want me?" she said, aiming her wand. "Well, here I am. Better start talking…because if you did what I think you did…you went too far…and not one of you is leaving here alive."