Chapter Twenty Four: The Meeting.
Over the next week, as Emalia lay sleeping in a hospital bed in St Mungo's, Albus was in contact with many of the witches and wizards who came from Veela lineage. It was only when he received a letter back from a witch named Celeste Dupoint. She was, as she stated in her owl, from an old and very prestigious line of Veela descendants and possibly had information about how to help Emalia.
A few days after Albus received Celeste's owl, he apparated to Sofia, Bulgaria. It was there that he met with the mysterious Celeste Dupoint. She guided him to a small restaurant resided in a little inlet street just off the main hustle and bustle of the busy city streets. 'A haven for witches and wizards a like' smiled Celeste as she gestured towards the restaurant.
When they had been seated and got themselves settled, Celeste began by asking 'Do you possess much knowledge about Veela, Mr. Dumbledore?' Albus looked at her, he was still trying to get a grasp on her and her intentions. 'Please,' he said 'call me Albus.' Celeste's eyes lit up with amusement. She threw her head back and laughed.
Her laugh sounded like the tinkling of piano keys; it was very pleasant to the ear. Albus noted that many, not all, of the wizards and indeed witches had intoxicated smiles on their faces. It made him wary of the woman sitting in front of him, not defensive though. He needed her help, he needed her to help Emalia.
Albus smiled 'I figured we should become more comfortable with each other. I do rather dislike being so formal. I find it acts as a deterrent sometimes.' he mused. Celeste smiled and threw her head back and laughed once more. The patrons surrounding them became even more intoxicated by her, oblivious to what was going on around them.
Celeste looked around and placed her hand on top of Dumbledore's, which was resting on the table. She looked into Albus's eyes and said with earnest 'I promise you; I will do all I can to help Emalia Potter. She is important to me and my kind.' Albus looked at her intently. He could see no malice or ulterior motive in her eyes. 'You are probably wondering why I laughed so much' she continued 'I had to ensure that no one here would remember our conversation here. I could not risk bringing you to a more secure location, you do not know me and I would not have accepted that invitation if I were you.'
Albus looked at her, taking in her body language and facial expressions as she talked. He knew that she had Emalia's best interests at heart. But the question was; why? 'I appreciate the effort you have gone to in reaching out to me when you heard about Emalia's condition.' said Albus 'However, I am afraid I will need you to explain everything you can to me before I let you near my goddaughter.' Celeste looked at him, a smile on her face that faltered slightly at what Albus was saying.
She whipped out her wand and conjured two glasses of Firewhiskey. 'This will be needed if we are to sit here all day. What I have to share with you, is long and it may take a while.' she smiled. Albus looked at her, a mischievous twinkle appeared in his bright blue eyes. He wrapped his hand gently around the glass and took a small sip of his drink. Celeste smiled and returned the favour by doing the same.
'Not many people know about Veela lineage. Yes, they know that some witches, wizards and muggles can be part Veela, however they do not know that there is hierarchy at play here.' Celeste said 'It is in essence a monarchy.' She paused and looked at Albus, trying to see what he was thinking. 'Please continue' he said, curious as to what was coming next. 'Legend has it that the first Veela was a princess from these lands, and she was the mother of all Veela that were to come. Her and her offspring were revered almost like gods by the people in these parts for hundreds of years.' stated Celeste 'This is fact amongst Veela, though not well known within the magical community as a whole'.
Albus looked at her, his interest peaked. He had indeed heard whisperings about this before, but Veela are notoriously secretive and protective of their own kind and heritage. Celeste continued 'Everyone is aware that Veela, full blooded Veela, are female. There has never been a male Veela.' Celeste paused and looked Albus straight in the eye. 'But there has been. The first and last male Veela was one of the offspring of the mother of all Veela. His bloodline is at the top of the hierarchy.' Albus smiled as it clicked in his head. Celeste smiled back and said 'Emalia is a very very distant descendent of this male Veela. Which makes her royalty in the eyes of the Veela.'
Albus mused over what had been relayed to him. 'So, you are here to look out for her?' he questioned. Celeste smiled, 'Yes, Albus. I am.' Silence descended between them, Albus knew there was more to come and Celeste had more to share. Albus waved his wand and their now empty glasses of Firewhiskey magically refilled themselves, a little more generously than last time. 'I think we might need it if we are to continue this conversation Celeste' smiled Dumbledore.
Celeste sighed and looked at Albus. 'There are many curses that witches with Veela blood have created. Some are pretty common. Some, like the one cast on Emalia, are a lot more obscure.' Albus's brow furrowed slightly while he listened to Celeste talk. Celeste sighed once more 'I can give you only the beginnings of a cure. As soon as the Veela community heard of the incident we immediately began to scour our folklore and our histories for instances of a similar curse. We found similarities in one curse but Corisande must have adapted it, made it her own.'
Albus leaned back into his chair, his eyes closed. 'Why did you act this way Corisande?' he thought to himself. Celeste was watching him intently, and as if she knew she what Albus was thinking she said 'Do not blame Corisande, Albus. She could not help what she did.' Albus looked at her quizzically. 'Please, proceed' he said after a brief silence.
Celeste looked at him 'There is a downfall to being part Veela' she said 'depending on the lineage.' Celeste shifted in her seat moving closer to Albus. 'When those of Veela blood fall in love and that love is reciprocated, when they lose that love to death...' she trailed off. She looked at Albus tears in her eyes 'It can send those of Veela blood into the depths of madness. You lose yourself. You fall so completely in love with this person, become one with them and suddenly they are ripped from your life. It leaves you cold, empty, half a person. The light that shone inside you quenched.'
Tears were slowly falling from Celeste's eyes. 'Some are not able to overcome it Albus.' Albus looked at her and took her hand 'It is not easy losing a soulmate' he soothed. Celeste looked up at him. For a brief second both of them recognised the same pain and scars they carried. 'Do you remember all those years ago, when Oliver and Aven Potter lost their lives? Oliver's friend had volunteered to watch their house that day?' questioned Celeste.
Albus had to think for a moment. 'Yes' he replied 'A young wizard by the name of Henry Kelvin. He worked in the Ministry with Oliver.' Celeste nodded 'He was engaged to be married when he died' she said 'To a young Professor.' Albus grimaced slightly as he finally put the final piece together. 'Corisande Guinevere'.
Albus and Celeste discussed for a further few hours. About how Emalia probably triggered something in Corisande. It is possible for a part Veela to not travel down the path of madness. It takes a lot of courage, support from those closest to you, a resilience to overcome the darkness. Corisande, according to Celeste did not deal with her grief, she pushed it aside until she could not fight it anymore.
Before they left Celeste pressed an old piece of parchment into Albus's hand. 'This is not a cure' she whispered into his ear 'It will only take away the pain when she transforms.' Albus took the parchment from her 'Thank you' he said. Celeste smiled 'I promise you Albus Dumbledore, that I will do all that I can to fix this.' Albus thanked her and thought of Emalia. 'It's not a cure, but it's a start' he thought.
Celeste and Albus exited the restaurant. Celeste went to the right and Albus to the left. He walked ten spaces and apparated. Moments later Albus appeared in the reception of St Mongo's. He made his way to the fourth floor where Emalia was staying. He found the healer in charge of Emalia and passed on the parchment.
The healer's eyes went wide as he read the parchment. He looked up at Albus 'This will take a month to brew, but it should help her. In the meantime, we will keep her asleep until this is ready so she does not have to feel any unnecessary pain.' Albus nodded and watched the healer walk away. He then turned and went to Emalia's room, to watch over her as she slept.