Filius Flitwick was already heading out to the Great Hall when he heard the most beautiful voice singing. It also sounded familiar. Whoever that student was, why hadn't they signed up for music class? He would love to have her in the choir, at least he thought it was a her?
Coming further in, he saw Minerva and Lucy Potter stand there with a few others he did not recognize. They seemed as enhanced as he was, their backs facing him as they stared at the small singing figure in front of the tree.
Finally finding a space up-close, the Professor was stunned.
Could it be? From the back and the height, it sure looked like her and that voice?
If it was, this was truly a Christmas Miracle! His daughter, his only child had returned!
Sarah had rebelled some years ago during her last year of Hogwarts and after taking up with that boy. She ended up vanishing completely. This was also during the war when Lord Voldemort was stirring up trouble and gathering followers. Oh, he wished and prayed that his child was safe. But after the years of searching and waiting, especially when the war was over. Filius had all but given up hope, until now…
However, upon addressing the girl and when she turned around. Professor Flitwick wiped his tears away, seeing clearly. It wasn't her, there were differences in the face yet familiar as well?
"I'm sorry, for a minute you reminded me of someone I knew. I won't bother you anymore" the Professor turned away disappointed, "Merry Christmas, and enjoy your visit" for the girl was obviously not a student here.
"Wait!" said the short girl, going after him.
Filius paused just outside the hall, wanting to be polite. It hurt him to tell you the truth, knowing she wasn't his Sarah when she bared such a strong resemblance.
"Mr.-?"
"Professor, My Dear. Professor Flitwick: Charms Teacher and Head of Ravenclaw here at Hogwarts. What can I do for you?"
Midnight bit her lip nervously as she thought over her question. Dare she take a chance? "Professor, you mentioned a name just now: Sarah? You wouldn't happen to be referring to "Sarah Athena Flitwick-Black," are you?"
The short man now raised his eyebrows up suspiciously, dare he hope again?
"I was not aware of the "Black" part but yes. Sarah Athena Flitwick is her name. Do you know her?"
The teen gave out a big sigh, "I hate to tell you this, but she died. Fourteen years ago, in childbirth, Mine… Please don't hate me for it" said Midnight as she braced herself for his reaction. What she wasn't expecting was for the older man of her height to completely engulf her in his arms less than a second later.
"Never," Filius whispered in his new granddaughter's ear, "I will never blame you for something beyond your control. I am sad that your mother is gone, but I am also overjoyed she left me something as precious and beautiful as you to remember her by. I am just sorry we didn't meet sooner. Where have you been?"
"I was raised at the hospital I was born in, back in Surrey, England"
Her grandfather was surprised:
Had Sarah been abandoned by that boy? If so, why didn't she come home? She should have known; that he would have welcomed her and the baby despite their earlier fallout? And even if she did die, horrible as it would have been. He would've loved raising his grandchild. Granted it would've been much harder without his Polly, alas his wife had unfortunately died of Dragon Pox back when their daughter had been in her third year. But he could've done it.
"What about your Father?"
"He also died, in the war. Fighting You-Know Who. He had just married Mum when she told him they were going to have a baby. At least that's what Mum's journal said, she started keeping one when she got pregnant with me. The staff didn't get rid of it but rather put it away so I would have something of hers when I was ready"
"That was considerate of them," said Professor Flitwick, thinking of asking to borrow it sometime. "What is your name?" he asked, starting to feel foolish as they'd been talking for a while yet and he hadn't asked.
"Midnight," she replied, "I'm Midnight Polaris Black, mother's idea. I guess she wanted to keep up the mystery of my father's side"
Mystery was right, the entire "Black" family was mysterious, in their ways and about everything this else practically. The short man nodded, "Allow me to re-introduce myself, to mostly everyone in this castle: I am Professor Flitwick, but to family? I am your Grandfather Filius"
"Grandfather?" Midnight breathed in shock. He smiled, brushing a strand of hair back to reveal her pointed ears.
"I see our goblin shared gene has once again resurfaced. Don't be ashamed of it, you look beautiful" he said, raising one of his hands to match hers as well.
"Thank you," she said, not used to getting complements about her person.
"How? How did you get here?"
"The Headmaster's bird flashed us here, he apparently sent him looking for Lucy. Not realizing that she had McGonagall's permission since she had actually contacted Miss Aurora. So now we're stuck here until the storm ends."
Miss Aurora? Miss Potter's previously, very talented tutor? "She's here?"
"Of Course, she is! Like she would willing let a strange phoenix appear and abduct her entire class. He paid the price too, that was a nasty bird bite she gave him"
"Bird bite?"
"Miss Aurora is a parrot Animagus. I don't think he'll be doing that again, at least not around her."
The Professor felt like laughing, but he knew he shouldn't. It was just like Albus and that bird of his to stick their nose and beak where it doesn't belong. Filius liked the Headmaster, but there were times he found his employer to be a bit nosy. And he understood Miss Aurora's need to defend her students, he would do the same for his in a heartbeat. Whether they were in his house or not.
The problem here was communication: If Minerva knew, she should have told Dumbledore (when he asked.) But did he ever ask? Was the question. Don't assume, but he guessed that's why his colleagues were in Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw.
"I think I should be heading back now," Midnight whispered, realizing that she had followed and been away from her friends and Miss Aurora for quite some time.
"Of course," he answered, wanting to meet the witch who had done such a good job with her.
"Midnight, where-?"
"I'm sorry, I just had to talk to Professor Flitwick. He knew my Mother"
"More than "knew," he chuckled.
"He's my Grandfather,"
"What?" was the word echoed throughout the hall.
"Sarah was my mother"
"Really?"
"No way!"
"Filius?" questioned Professor McGonagall.
"It's true Minerva, Sarah is unfortunately gone but Midnight remains" he sighed, both with regret and relief in his voice. The Head of Gryffindor House, bent over and gave her colleague a compassionate hug. She knew this was hard news for him but she was also glad he wasn't alone either.
"This is a surprise," said Miss Aurora, "I wasn't aware that Midnight had any family left. She's been my pupil for the last five years."
"Five?"
"I got an early start because Mary Jane's lessons, it didn't seem right to leave me out and I proved I could keep up, both in the workload and magic. Then Lucy joined us, completing the trio."
"Trio? Trio of what?" questioned Professor Snape, having just entered.
"Merry Christmas Professor," said Lucy, walking over and giving him a polite handshake.
Severus stared at her, but relaxed when he read that she didn't want to embarrass him by outright giving him a hug in public. She "understood" that he had an image to maintain. "Merry Christmas, Miss Potter" he said, accepting her handshake and quickly letting go, ignoring the other teachers' smiles.
Lucy had seemed to have already warmed her way into Severus' nearly impossible "good graces" Did he know? From the way his eyes softened when the girl wasn't looking, Minerva began to suspect. Now if only some of it would wear off on his attitude towards her brother. But thinking back now, she realized. Severus was not as hostile towards James' son then he originally was. In fact, he barely said anything about Harry anymore. "It is the season to be grateful for even the smallest of favors" she supposed.
"I thought you were supposed to be gone, visit your friends" said Snape,
Lucy ruefully sighed, not wanting to get into it again. "I was, but Fawkes had different ideas and so we're all here. Throughout Christmas Day or longer, depending of the weather"
Professor Snape looked around, seeing the new faces mixed in with the familiar ones. Longbottom was standing beside the tall new girl with his arms wrapped around her waist. Looking as if she was almost going to disappear if he let go. Seeing her hair, it matched Frank's. Severus knew this had to be Mary Jane, the unfortunate werewolf. To his left was Filius? With a teenage girl of his height, that was Midnight Black? He still wasn't sure who her father was. Lucy had said it wasn't Black rotting away in Azkaban, "But you never know with that mutt," he muttered under his breath. Maybe growing up away from that side of the family had done the girl some good. She didn't appear to be a menace but he'd just have to wait and see. That only left, Miss Aurora….
The minute he looked into those eyes; he knew exactly whose family she belonged to!
"Psst!" his daughter whispered in his ear. "Please don't say anything about her Uncle. She's still sore at him for forcefully bringing us here. We're talking "Christmas Tree up in flames," mad"
Snape nodded, to make sure she knew, he understood. Though he was also now sorry that he had appeared to have missed a very entertaining show. It wasn't until this year that someone, mainly (his daughter) had stood up for themselves instead of letting Albus Dumbledore walk all over them. Lucy truly was one of a kind and he found himself surprisingly proud to be her father.
"Miss Aurora," the Potions Professor, acknowledged the woman with an affirmative nod. His tone not rude, but also not "warmingly" welcome either.
"Professor Severus Snape, I presume?" she answered back.
"Correct, I must say I am interested in your teaching methods. Miss Potter is not as disappointing as some of the other Gryffindor Dunderheads I teach"
"Oh Severus!" the other heads of house exclaimed/sighed in dismay.
"That's-! That's alright, Professors. Coming from the- the s- source, that's as cl- close to a Christmas present as you can get"
"Watch… yourself, Mr. Longbottom" the Head of Slytherin firmly yet quietly intoned instead of abruptly taking points.
"It must be Christmas" thought everyone who knew him or at least liked to think they did.
"Now, one of you when I came in mentioned they were part of a trio? What trio is this? The "golden" trio featuring your brother and his two troublemaking friends? What are they up to this time?"
Lucy shrugged, "All I know is that they are currently searching the library for information on someone named "Nicolas Flamel"
"What?!" exclaimed the other Professors, while the Potions Master rolled his eyes "Of course they are, and how did they come by that name?"
"Hagrid," which equaled more eye rolling.
"I knew that Oaf couldn't keep a secret. Loyalty: maybe. Brains to keep his mouth shut? No."
"Severus, that is not fair!" said McGonagall.
"Life isn't fair Minerva; I don't doubt he is loyal to the Headmaster but I would not ever ask him to be my Secret Keeper if I needed one"
"He does have a point," agreed Professor Flitwick, "The only thing we can do now is try to keep an eye on Mr. Potter and his friends and prepare to stop them before they go too far."
"Fat Chance of that" as the Americans say, Albus has all but given those three free reign of the school. Like taking a bunch or points and giving out detentions is actually going to do anything in the long run" Professor Snape grumbled, causing Lucy's eyes to widen in horror. He's baiting him!
HARRY you had BETTER stay away from anything to do with the third floor OR I am going to turn you over my knee! Ugh! Why do I always have to be the RESPONSIBLE one? Don't worry about it now, this is Christmas…. Try to relax," she told herself.
"We weren't referring to Harry, my friends and I. My sisters from other mothers like to call ourselves "The Trio of Misfit Witches." All of us have a little something extra besides "Witch" in our DNA. Even me, I know Mom claimed to be "Muggleborn" but in later years, especially when she gave birth. It became obvious that there was some kind of "creature blood" in her. Perhaps one of her great grandparents was or at least part an elemental Elf? Both Harry and I came out a different skin color and body temperature closer to that of another being who could stand the harsher winter climate. We stayed that way for a good five minutes before our bodies I guess? adjusted?"
Professor Snape looked puzzled, almost as if he was trying to remember something.
Lily had been a little more active in the winter months then the rest of the year. At the time, he thought nothing of it, but now? He quickly decided, it didn't matter. His Lily was beautiful, kind and smart with a slight mischievous streak he adored. Plus, she had left him a gift, one he never dared to hope for yet here that girl stood. If Lily had been an elf or fairy? Severus found it all the more enchanting…
...
Christmas Day came and went as each of the new family members got to know one another. It truly was a magical time, for everyone except Albus Dumbledore.
The old man had spent the rest of the holiday sobbing and sulking in his office. Even when his alarm bells went off alerting him that Harry had found the Mirror of Erised. Despite his plans, Dumbledore knew he wouldn't be able to keep face if he looked or quickly glanced at the reflection while he was supposed to be guiding young Harry. He would give it a day or two, if the boy came back. Which he knew he would, then he would say something. The Headmaster had to admit, it had been one of the worse Christmases he'd ever had. It was almost like he was that character in the Muggle Dickens novel.
"Well, what are you going to do?" thrilled Fawkes, "You've been confronted with the Past: Aurora. You're being confronted with the Present: Lucy. What are you going to do when the Future shows up?"
"Hey! I just got here!" wheezed a voice coming from the Phoenix' perch, causing both occupants to head in that direction.
"Who are you, little worm?" thrilled the bird, as he gazed down at the tiny reptile.
"Little worm? Listen here "Cheep Cheep" all I'm try to do is find my mother. Granddaddy's locater spell said she had been here"
"And who is your mother young one?" asked Dumbledore, taking a guess from the sound of his voice.
"Oh, forgive my manners, allow me to properly introduce myself" said the small creature as he jumped down and transformed into a young man. "I am Thomas Thaddeus Dumbledore, Miss Aurora's son from America"
Aurora's son? The Dumbledore line continued further then he knew.
"Look, I'm not here to give you a tongue lashing. Momma already did that. I just wanna know where she is, she didn't show up to our annual Christmas gathering. I figured the storm had something to do with it. Grandad almost choked on his firewhisky when he discovered she was here, so?"
"Your mother was here, but she went back with her students to the hospital this morning"
He nodded, "Thank you," before shifting again.
"By the way, for future reference. I'm a dragon, not a worm or a lizard. I don't do that tongue thing. And if you don't make a serious effort to change your ways? You are going to regret it" He said, shaking out his wings, preparing to take flight.
"Even more then you already do, especially when Lucy Potter becomes of age and makes a deal with MACUSA's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D for a work visa and asylum for her and Harry. Once she takes him, the Wards will fall on the Dursleys, condemning them to their fate in a matter of time when Tom riddle returns and you will be no better off"
Dumbledore's eyes widened as the dragon flew away, "Wait!"
His only response was the wind whistling.
Six months, he had little more than six months! Before everything he'd planned for over a decade came crashing down. Merlin! Would he ever stop being punished for his follies?! Wait a minute! An idea went off in his head:
Freedom is what Lucy wants, then Freedom is what he'll give her…!
What is Dumbledore up to now? Hope you enjoyed and will review...