Dora left the house right around midnight with new information.
The Grimm, infamous omen of death, known to bring about the demise of whomever encounters it, never existed. To be more accurate, it never existed as it was imagined. It was an exaggerated rumor which had turned into an urban legend.
A few years after the creature was created, the then Lord Black passed away in his sleep. This was something unusual for a member of the family at the time and the title was inherited by his son. The new Lord almost drove the affluent and powerful family trough the edge of a cliff. He was soon murdered by the second child.
His successor, a more respectable member of the family, took it upon himself to bring the family back to it's former glory. He did so by stealing the lands of his neighbors, usually by murdering them and their families.
Using the creature, he began a campaign of fear so successful even Muggles heard of it. Thanks to them rumor became legend. Lord Black expanded his territory all trough England, the Americas and parts of Asia. To keep appearances he had Muggles hold the 'real' title but he reaped the magical benefits.
By the time he had finished the Black family's future was secured. The legend then became a myth and the image of a black hound became synonym of death around the world.
Dora had been shocked as Kreacher proudly explained the history of her family to her and Harry. She had once asked Ezekiel as a joke if there were any catastrophes the Black family hadn't been involved. He had soberly replied 'Few' but she had laughed it off, in all fairness she had been fourteen at the time. Still, she had more pressing matters at the moment.
Dora left the house well into the night, once Harry was asleep. It took some convincing but the creature eventually agreed to change to a more discreet for than a dog one could ride to battle.
The creature now resembled a Sphinx cat, with a very thin coat of fur and thin body shape. It had an emaciated, almost skeletal appearance; its bones could be seen through it's fur-less, dark skin. As a result, the creature had a large head and paws, long neck, sharp claws, big pointed ears, and a long tail. The cherry on top of this nightmarish carcass was a disturbing human-like smile, which it flashed to Dora when Harry wasn't looking.
Why wouldn't it turn into the black falcon Zeke usually had, Kreacher couldn't tell. As far as Dora could tell, it was because the fucking thing hated her. The feeling was mutual.
She walked around London following the cat for what felt ages only to find herself back on the alley behind St. Mungo's.
"Are you shitting me?" She asked in disbelief. "I've checked this place first, he's not here."
The cat meow at her in response and smiled.
"Don't." Dora glared at it. "Don't do that ever again or I'll tell Zeke to lock you away and throw the key, got it?"
The cat frowned and hissed at Dora. It then walked to one of the walls and gestured with it's head to follow it.
"What?" Dora asked confused.
The cat gestured at Dora, who approached it slowly as it began walking up the wall. Dora looked amazed as the animal sauntered all up the middle of the hospital. It then turned around as if gravity was more of a suggestion rather than a law and beckoned her again.
Dora watched astonished at the cat sat, with the moon behind it and whose only visible features were now his glowing eyes and eerie smile. She took a minute to process the view, winking slowly to convince herself of what was happening.
One look around to check for witnesses, a quick Disillusionment Charm and she found herself climbing right behind the feline. It wasn't difficult, her fingers creating a locking connection necessary to support her body.
They reached the top of the building without problems and Dora realized she had missed something important. St Mungo's was a five store building but at the rooftop was a small room. Small for Muggles at least, inside there could be enough room for a Quidditch stadium for all she knew.
"Good kitty." Dora scratched the top of it's head, which the cat received with a pompous look. "Yeah, you're Zeke's alright."
Dora inspected the rooftop in less than a minute. There were the stairs leading to the rooftop and a few feet away from it, a small single room. Four walls, roof and a door. There weren't even a small window to peek inside, meaning whatever magic they were using to make the inside bigger didn't allow mistakes. The rest of the rooftop was empty, not even birds landed on it.
What came later was a good all fashion stake out, meaning as boring as it gets. For the rest of the night nobody got in or out. Of course, Dora reasoned, they might have a floo connection in there. Which would've been illegal but if the place was a safe house as she suspected then she wouldn't be able to use it either.
A silver lining appeared at the crack of dawn, when she reapplied her Disillusionment Charm. She was getting ready to call it a day when the door opened and a small contingency of wizards in lime-green robes walked towards the stairs.
So Healers could get in, Dora thought. It wasn't much, but at least it was a start.
"A room on the rooftop?" Andromeda said when Dora finished her tale. "I've never heard of it."
Dora hadn't bothered to return to the house, instead heading to her parent's. Harry had just arrived and they elves were serving breakfast.
"Are you sure?" Dora asked. "Perhaps they made you take an Oath...?"
"No, no." Andi dismissed shaking her head. "I worked at the emergency room. I've never set foot anywhere higher than the third floor."
"Can't you can take a picture, see if she recognizes someone?" Ted asked, much to Dora and Andromeda's surprise. "What? I read."
"That's not a bad idea..." Andromeda said. "I actually know most of the people there from the break room."
"But it doesn't solve the problem." Dora replied. "I still need to get inside and for all we know it could place a curse on me for life."
"You could ask Gringotts" Andromeda mused. "They do have the best curse-breakers in the world."
"They won't help her." Ted replied. "She's not a Black. They have no reason to help her because they know she won't give Ollivander to them and we can't afford their help."
"He's quite right, I'm afraid." A voice sounded behind them.
The family turned towards it's origin with their wands drawn and found a goblin in an expensive business suit with a parcel in his hands.
"I apologize for the intrusion." The goblin gave a quick bow. "During our attempts to recover Lord Potter's stolen property our team came across an item. This heirloom has been in his family's property for generations. We thought he would want it back."
"How did you get in my house?" Ted demanded with his wand pointed at the goblin's head.
"My good sir, we're the ones who made the connection." The goblin replied smiling as he approached Harry and handed over the package. "Lord Potter, it is with great pleasure I return this family heirloom to it's legitimate owner. Rest assured the Underground Kingdom will not rest until your last Knut is returned to you."
"Thank you." Harry said before he felt Ted's hand on his shoulder. He turned towards him and the law-wizard gestured to stop talking.
"Your thanks are much appreciated, My Lord despite the circumstances." The goblin replied. "I must confess we we're quite surprised once we checked the heirloom's authenticity."
"We're grateful for the diligence Gringotts has shown, regardless of the circumstances." Andromeda said taking control of the conversation. "And hope this unfortunate situation can be resolved as swiftly and discreetly as possible. Please make sure his Underground Highness gets our regards."
"It will be, Madame." The goblin replied with a stiff smile. "I shall see to it myself."
There was an awkward pause as despite being clear the conversation was over the goblin remained in his spot.
"Is there anything else, mister...?" Andromeda asked.
"No, no, Madame Tonks." The goblin replied anxious. "I was wondering if there any other service I could provide you."
"Hey, don't I know you?" Dora asked with a frown.
"No, I don't think so, my lady." The goblin assured her.
"No, I'm sure we've met before,. I just can't remember where..." Dora said.
"Perhaps it'll be better for me to leave." The goblin excused himself nervously. "I apologize for taking so much of your time."
"ADNOK!" Dora pointed at the goblin. "You're the one who almost got me killed with that bounty!"
"The WHAT?"
"KILLED!?"
Ted and Andromeda's reaction was quite different.
Ted took Harry by the shoulder and placed him and Dora behind him. Andromeda for her part had launched a curse which hit the goblin square in the chest and shot him backwards. Adnok hadn't fell to the floor when a second spell glued him to a wall.
"Nymphadora." Andromeda took deep breaths to calm herself. "You never mentioned a bounty."
"I didn't?"
"NO-" Andromeda managed to rein in her temper.
"You told us there was a problem you couldn't talk about." Ted replied.
"Is that why you asked me about Orion's protection?" Andromeda asked.
"Well...yeah." Dora confessed. "But it wasn't such a big deal. I managed to give them the slip, I've done it plenty of times at work."
"There's a difference between doing one's work and being hunted like a fox thanks to some greedy, slimy, little-!" Andromeda said pointing her wand at the goblin again.
"Andi, we can't hurt him." Ted put himself between Andromeda and Adnok. "We'll get in more problems than we can handle."
"I'd suggest you listen to your husband, Madame Tonks." Adnok said from his spot on the wall. "It'd be a shame for young Lord Potter to lose someone as close as you."
"You utter another word, goblin." Ted fumed. "And I'll move out of my wife's way and let her finish whatever it is she has planned for you."
"What do you want, Adnok?" Dora asked guarding Harry.
"To be on the ground, for starters." Adnok replied.
Andromeda stared at the goblin on her wall, giving serious thought about where to hide the body before finally cancelling her spell. Adnok fell into the floor with an undignified thump and waited for a helping hand which never came. He huffed as he got up and fixed his suit.
"I'll have you know, I came in peace." Adnok said ignoring Andromeda's seething look. "And the bounty wasn't my idea, as I tried to explain to Lord Black."
"Say what you have to say and leave, Adnok." Dora replied irritated.
"Very well." The goblin replied. "I'd like to offer you my services as your liaison between your family and the Underground Kingdom."
"Why?" Ted asked. "Ezekiel is the one who deals with your nation, we don't have any value."
"You're right." Adnok admitted. "Most of what you said was right. However, he "Adnok pointed at Harry. "Politically speaking his family's voice carries far more weight than Lord Black's, not to mention his own achievements. I could help him to become a Friend of the Goblins like Lord Black."
The family turned to each other with doubt in their eyes.
"Imagine something like this happens again." Adnok continued. "Wouldn't it be better to have an ally as powerful as Gringotts? Lord Potter." Adnok addressed Harry, who hide behind Dora. "I've been told you value lives over gold and fame. How much easier would be for you to help people, not just wizard but countless oppressed masses in dire need of your help?"
"Enough." Andromeda growled. "If you think I'll stand here and let you deceive Harry then you're insane. Get out of my house, goblin. You're not welcome here."
"I understand your anger, Madame." Adnok replied walking backwards to the fireplace. "But I do hope you can see the advantages of having me as a friend. I'll bid you goodbye for now. And Lord Potter, please check the package. I think you'll find it quite handy should you require... privacy."
Adnok left the house with three wands locked onto him even after he disappeared between green flames.
"If that thing tries to set a foot into this house, I'll end him." Andromeda staring at the fireplace. "Consequences be damned"
"Don't worry about him." Ted said. "A goblin smells gold like a shark does blood. He's looking for an edge."
"No." Dora sighted. "He's scared."
"And how do you know?" Andromeda asked.
"Zeke's been... busy." Dora replied uncomfortable. "I'll tell you later. What's in the package, Harry?"
Harry almost jumped where he stood, remembering the parcel still in his hands.
"I don't know"I think it's a cape?" Harry replied
"Let me see." Dora reached for the package but as she touched her hand shot backwards as if it burned her. "Fucking Hell!"
"You can't open it, Nymphadora." Ted said sitting back at the table. "Only Harry can."
"You could've said it earlier." Dora replied sucking her fingers.
"It's some piece of cloth." Harry said unwrapping it.
"May I?" Andromeda asked and Harry handed it over. She inspected the fabric with interest, rubbing it between her fingers and looking trough it. "This is an invisibility cloak."
"What?"
"Really?"
"What's an invisibility cloak?" Harry asked.
"It's an enchanted piece of fabric. You put it over yourself like this and... voila!" Andromeda demonstrated vanishing in front of their eyes.
"No, it doesn't make any sense." Dora said. "Adnok said this thing was an heirloom. An invisibility cloak lasts for ten years tops."
"It does look brand new." Ted pointed out.
"Still, it's an useful thing to have." Andromeda said popping out her head. "Why don't you give it a try, Harry? Ted help him out, darling?"
Dora gave her father a pleading look which was ignored as he left them alone.
"What on earth do you mean by 'Ezekiel is busy'?" Andromeda asked.
"Look, don't tell the rest but..."
"Now, Nymphadora." Andromeda said sternly.
"The Crown gave Zeke a to-do list after you went into the chamber. Nobody knows what it's on it but Zeke has been going around scaring the hell out of everyone."
"Scaring them how?" Andromeda asked.
"People... people died. Lots."
"Do you know if anyone has said anything yet?" Andromeda asked.
"I don't know what he's been doing. All I know is the bodies are piling up and no-one has a clue why he's doing them. My boss said-"
"Your boss?" Andromeda interrupted her. "She told you all this?"
"People are scared, she's desperate for answers." Dora replied.
"Are you sure she's reliable?"
"Yes."
"Sure?" Andromeda pressed on.
"YE-" Dora caught herself and checked Harry and her father weren't alarmed by her outburst. "Yes, I'm sure." She whispered.
"And she said people are scared of Ezekiel? It doesn't make sense. There's nothing to gain by having him act so irrational. The arrangement has always been the same. Lord Black kills whatever it is they need killed but the country has to ask for it first." Andromeda recalled.
"Maybe the Queen finally lost it and wants to conquer the magical world?" Dora offered joking.
"No, this is something else." Andromeda tapping her lower lip. "He's doing it on purpose."
"You think Zeke is killing off those people because he wanted?" Dora asked astounded.
"Or because he needed to." Andromeda replied.
"Mum!"
"Nymphadora, this is the first time in well over a century the Crown has given orders to a Lord Black without other countries knowing about it." Andromeda rebuked her. "I've had to talk to the Queen already and that woman doesn't know left from right when it comes to the magical world. If she came up with the wrong idea, killing all those people could've been his way of stopping it."
"You're seriously okay with him murdering all those people?"
"I didn't say that." Andromeda replied. "But if it means we don't get dragged into the Muggle world by an idiot, then yes."
"DORA! LOOK!" An exited Harry exclaimed ending their conversation. "NO HANDS!"
Mother and daughter laughed at Harry's disembodied head.
"It's amazing." Ted said.
"It's alright." Andromeda replied. "I remember Orion had a similar one, although this one is far better than his."
"How so?"
"Orion's was more like a cape." Andromeda replied. "I remember it being so thick you could barely see trough it. This one is made of a silk, acromantula's, I imagine. You can see trough it without problems."
"Yes, it does feel a bit weird doesn't it?" Ted frowned feeling the fabric between his fingers. "I was afraid it would be too chilly but somehow it doesn't let the cold in."
"I suppose it's the difference between buying the most expensive thing available and having it made by someone who cares." Andromeda chuckled.
"You think this was a gift?" Dora asked.
"If you could make something like this, you don't keep it to yourself." Andromeda replied. "You advertise it to the right people and make a mint."
"Maybe you can use it." Harry said. "You could sneak into the room without being seen."
"It wouldn't work, Harry." Dora replied. "An invisibility cloak is useful for people who aren't prepared for it. There are ways to force them to reveal themselves."
"But..." Harry hesitated ."I mean, if this is a better one..."
"Let me show you how it works." Dora offered. "It's not gonna hurt or anything, cover yourself with the cloak."
Harry did, disappearing into nothingness and Dora pulled out her wand. He watched fascinated as Dora waved it in a semi-circular motion and chanted Revelio and her wand gave a faint blue light. Harry braced himself, not sure what to expect but nothing came.
"Did it work?" Harry asked unsure.
"Nymphadora?" Ted asked surprised.
"I know." Dora replied.
"Can you see me?" Harry asked again.
"Harry hold still." Dora said taking out her own wand. "Ted, could you...?"
"Sure." Ted said taking out his wand.
"Dora?" Harry asked a bit frightened.
"It's fine, Harry." Dora assured him. "Just checking something."
Harry stood still as they casted the same spell over him but again, nothing happened.
"How is this possible?" Andromeda asked confused.
"Hang on, let me try something else." Dora said pointing her wand again. "Specialis Revelio! Homenum Revelio!"
"Nothing." Ted said astonished. "How is this possible?"
"Harry, do you feel anything?" Andromeda asked removing the cloak from his head. "At all?"
"No, I'm fine." Harry said folding the cloth. "Did it work?"
"I'd say." Andromeda replied as Dora took the cloak on her hands and began inspecting it against the light.
"This thing doesn't even have runes in it." Dora said. "And it's so light, might as well be air..."
"Are you sure?" Ted asked, Dora gave him a look saying not to ask her again.
"I can't tell what it's this fabric supposed to be either." Dora continued.
"Regardless of what it might be." Andromeda said. "This could be the answer to your problem."
"And that's another problem." Dora replied exhausted. "Nobody thinks how messed up is the fact goblins can walk into the house?"
"We knew there were risks when they installed the connection. I'll ask Ezekiel to set things straight once he returns. But would this actually help?" Ted replied.
"I... I don't know." Dora sighted. "Harry, can I borrow this for a bit? I'll check it and I'll give it back, promise."
"Sure!" Harry beamed.
"Harry, while your help is very appreciate, your need to keep in mind this is something which has been on your family for years." Andromeda advised him. "You can't just lend it around, even to us."
"But I'm really grateful for it." Dora promised to the dejected boy. "I'll be back in no time and then we can go somewhere and forget about all of this, okay?"
The promise brought back Harry's smile, which Dora noticed had began turning into a lopsided grin lately.
They finished breakfast and Dora left him with her parents while she headed for work. The adrenaline run out quite fast after she entered the building, the rest of the day turned into an uphill battle not to fall asleep. Afterwards, whenever she wasn't at work or taking Harry to his lessons, Dora spent her time casting spells on the cloak. The result was always the same: Nothing. Even dogs and cats, who were more sensible towards magic than people, didn't knew she was there. It was almost as if putting on the cloak erased it's user from the face of the earth. It took Dora almost a month of testing for her to be comfortable with the cloak. She felt ethereal when she put it on. The feeling that nowhere was out of her reach was such, she didn't realized she was already in the building.
Dora began taking deep, slow breaths as she took what seemed to be a first look at where she was. The inside of the room held a two store building in it. The hallways were narrow so if two people from opposite sides wanted to go across it they'd crash with each other. And there were people on them, Dora noticed. Guards walked up and down the corridors, none the wiser to her presence. This wasn't a problem for her, her body had already shrunken leaving her petite and skinny. She didn't had to worry about dragging the cloak. It seemed the fabric enlarged or shortened according to the size of it's user. Dora had tried it's limit and found the cloak could spread just enough to cover the table on her parents dining room.
Dora faced a problem, as they seemed to be many on both sides of the hallway and she had no-
Second Floor, fifth door on the right.
WHAT THE EVER LOVING FUCK WAS THAT!?
Dora turned around frantically looking for the the voice's owner but no-one was around. She needed to get this cloak off, was the only thing Dora could think of. Yet, the feeling, the certainty, that Ollivander was on the second floor in the fifth room on the right, remained.
Another thing she noticed and she hadn't until she had the cloak on her, were the sounds. Dora had a better hearing than anybody else, but with the cloak on it was different. She didn't just hear them, she could feel them. The breath of the guards, the air stream dancing its way trough the hallway. There were insects too, flies which she hadn't seen yet but there were there. And by there she meant near the last door on the first floor. Again, she had an absolute certainty where they were. Dora wanted to ignore the urge to go up the twelve steps and walk the remaining fifteen steps it'd take for her to reach the fifth doom which was currently unguarded. But then again, how did she knew all this?
No, Dora thought, going in would be too risky.
She inspected the first floor without much problems. These guards, wizards who she didn't recognize, weren't particularly thorough.
The main problem this place had was the fact everything ran exactly as it should, meaning the floor didn't creak and the doors were well oiled. Everything was made by wizards who clearly didn't knew a lot about infiltration, who didn't understood sometimes flaws were necessary. Given the powerful spell which protected the front door, she understood there was a certain overconfidence but come on... The only safety measure they used where the fact the hallways was too narrow and the doors weren't at the same place as the walls so one could hide in the space between. Other than that, you were on your own.
The interesting bit were the occupants of the room. Dora's eyes had widened so much she feared they'd pop out. The place was filled with creme de la creme, many famous and wealthy wizards were staying there, although not many of them were sick. At least not medically. The entire first floor was seemingly dedicated to debauchery and excess, not that Dora was against most of the things she saw but they'd been taken to a disturbing extreme. If she had a camera, she'd be set for life.
Now the second floor was indeed filled with sick people. Sick of what Dora couldn't tell, in some cases she could smell the disease just standing next to the door. She decided to avoid those, until the last room left was the fifth on the right side. Dora walked up and down the hallway, making sure nobody else but the guards were there. She even tuned her hearing to a painful degree to make sure no other living being but the patient was inside. Taking a deep breath, Dora looked around one last time and sneaked in.
The room was a simple one. A dim glow on the upper part of the walls showed a bed, a wardrobe and a nightstand. Privacy clearly wasn't a concern, Dora noticed as she discovered a toilet on the wall opposite the bed with nothing covering it.
Dora heard a faint breathing coming from the bed and approached it with caution. Tucked in bed laid the unconscious body of Garrick Ollivander, who showed no signs of injury. Relieved that Harry hadn't killed one of the most beloved citizens of the United kingdom, Dora leaned over to study his face.
"Would you mind not staring while I sleep? It's quite rude." Ollivander muttered.
Dora straightened when she heard the old man's voice, wondering just how was he able to if not see her, at least feel her presence.
"Don't worry, I'm positive that I'm the only person in this entire building who knows you're here." Ollivander replied as if he could read her mind. The old man opened his eyes and tried to sit on his bed but failed to gather the strength to do so. "I'm terribly sorry but would you mind giving me a hand? I'm afraid I'm not as spry as I used to."
"Oh God, sorry." Dora replied rushing to help him and placing the pillow behind his back.
"Thank you. Now, who am I addressing if you don't mind me asking?" Ollivander asked narrowing his eyes. "My, my, I don't think I've ever seen such a thing in my life. Is it a charm?" The man asked to where he thought Dora was. "No need to worry, this room isn't guarded, why don't you remove whatever this is and ask what's on your mind? I'm assuming given the fact that I'm not dead that's why you're here, aren't you?"
"How did you knew I was here?" Dora asked taking off the cloak.
"Oh, Miss Tonks. Fourteen inches, flexible, rowan and unicorn hair." Ollivander said smiling.
"Not that I'm not impressed, but it was better when you were blind drunk." Dora replied. "And you haven't answered my question."
"Well, Miss if you promise to keep it a secret, I wouldn't mind telling you..."
"You want an Oath?" Dora asked cocking an eyebrow.
"No, I believe we are both quite capable of keeping a secret." Ollivander replied. "I'm asking as a personal favour."
"Very well, I'll keep your secret."
"Thanks. The truth is that in my youth, I became fascinated with an old wand-making legend. I'm sure you've heard the Tale Of The Three Brothers?"
"The children story?" Dora asked suspiciously.
"Precisely." Ollivander smiled again. "I'm part of a group of people who believe the Deadly Hallows are real, you see. Well, I believe the Elder Wand is, at least."
"It's a children's story." Dora said surprised such a serious man could even entertain such thought.
"On the contrary, it's quite real. It's actually the easiest one to trace. There are gaps, of course, and long ones, where it vanishes from view, temporarily lost or hidden; but it always resurfaces. It has certain identifying characteristics that those who are learned in wandalore recognise... I'm sorry I digress." Ollivander chuckled embarrassed. "The point is, I became enamored with the wand and like many others before me I decided to create a wand as powerful, if not moreso. My research led me to the discovery of the three supreme cores, which if don't mind me saying, revolutionized wand-making."
"What does any of this have to do with what I asked?" Dora asked impatiently.
"I apologize, Madame. My wife says I tend to lose myself when it comes to wands."
"You're married?" Dora asked surprised. "Does she knows you're here?"
"I hope so." Ollivander replied. "Otherwise I'll have quite a few words with whoever is in charge of this place before I leave."
"I'll be happy to tell her." Dora offered.
"Please do." Ollivander smiled warmly. "But we're still digressing. As I said, I studied all the materials available as well as the ingredients needed to make a wand when a thought popped up in my mind. A type of core never considered before or since, thankfully. Something which is both material and immaterial at the same time."
"What on earth could it be?" Dora asked intrigued.
"A poltergeist." Ollivander replied. "I was convinced that if I managed to find a way to fuse one such spirit with a material strong enough to hold it's power, it'd surpass all wands ever made."
"That's insane."
"It was." Ollivander agreed. "And if I had stopped for a second and gave it a rational thought, I would've realized it. Instead, I dedicated myself to trap one such spirit of chaos and convinced myself that iron would make the perfect substitute for wood."
"But iron is the worst metal for magic." Dora said appalled. "It's one of the first things they tell you in Transfiguration."
"Again, I wasn't in my right mind." Ollivander explained. "The result almost destroyed the Alley, had Lord Black not caught news of what I was doing."
"Orion knew?"
"Orion Black, fifteen inches, blackthorn with Hungarian Horntail hearthstring. Gregorovich's, not mine. I'd have never made such a horrible combination but I guess it suited him" Ollivander recalled. "Indeed, I don't know how he knew but I'm glad he did. He used some sort of dark spell to destroy my creation before it'd destroy me and everyone else. All he asked in return for his silence was my help to get Gregorovitch his own shop in the Alley. Honestly, I'd have done it anyway as I admired his craft. I dropped my obsession soon after but my exposure to the poltergeist left me quite sensitive to such energies."
"You think this cloak is like a poltergeist?" Dora asked.
"I'm afraid my knowledge is limited to wands, but I can tell you this: while it shares some aspects of a poltergeist, the feeling it gives is quite different. Older, one might say."
"You don't say..." Dora replied examining the cloak for the millionth time.
"Now, what can I do for you, Miss Tonks?" Ollivander asked.
"I wanted to know exactly what you told the people in here about what happened to you." Dora said.
"Nothing." Ollivander replied. "As far as they know, they think the shock made me forget all about what happened."
"What about me or my mother, or Harry?" Dora asked.
"For what I've gathered, whoever those people who got me here were, they didn't care about anyone except me. Then again, I've been here for Merlin knows how long, so take it with a pinch of salt."
"It doesn't mean they couldn't have tried to get inside your mind or alter your memories." Dora pointed out.
"And risk this?" Ollivander said tapping his temple. "They can't, one of the advantages of not having an apprentice. Now, there's something I'd like to know."
"What is it?" Dora asked suspicious.
"Harry Potter, he's different isn't he?" Ollivander said studying her face. "I've never seen a wand react so violently to a wizard."
"I'm afraid I can't answer that question without an Oath." Dora replied.
"It's fine, I just wanted to talk to someone about it. Thinking out loud helps me work things out and sadly, I can't speak much with the people here." Ollivander said dejected.
"Now, the problem was his magic. Usually when a wizard is chosen their magic reacts, it's usually a bit of wind which is what happened but then it became something else, didn't it? Yes, indeed..."
Dora watched amused how the man began arguing with himself in a manner which would had him labeled as mental by anyone who saw him. Oh, apparently he didn't like the response he had given himself.
"Yes, the core." Ollivander nodded to himself. "It's his core what's causing the problem. Dark where it should be Light and Light where it should be Dark, no wonder the phoenix feather worked so well."
"Excuse me?" Dora said before she could stop herself. "You think the wand you gave Harry worked?"
"No, no, of course not!" Ollivander said excited. "The wand was rubbish! But the core, oh yes, the core was perfect! A phoenix is a creature of rebirth, I have no doubt it'd convert that magic of his into normal one. Yes, for someone like him such core is a must, it was the wood what failed!"
"Okay, Gary?" Dora interrupted him as she placed the cloak back on her body. "You need to calm down, somebody might hear you if you don't watch the tone."
"Sorry." Ollivander gave her a guilty look. "But now we've established the core for Lord Potter's wand, we'll need a new wood for it."
"You still want to make Harry a wand?" Dora asked surprised.
"Absolutely!" Ollivander smiled like a child. "Such an interesting client, a challenge like him rarely appears once in a wand-maker's career! And I believe I know what's needed to complete it."
"Great, just tell me what it is and I'll buy you the ingredients for his new wand."
"It's just a matter of finding the right wood, Miss Tonks. The core has already chosen mister Potter."
"But that core could be anywhere." Dora replied. "Harry destroyed your store when he tried the wand, remember?"
"Oh, but I hid it." Ollivander replied patting his stomach.
"You mean to tell me..." Dora said pointing at him.
"I ate it, yes. And it was quite fortunate I did so, otherwise I fear my old body wouldn't have made it."
"But why haven't you... digested it already?"
"Because it takes a terrible type of Dark magic to wound a phoenix, and even then it will rise again." Ollivander explained. "The only thing that can kill a phoenix is the creature itself. Right now, the feather feeds from my magic and releases its own. Which is great for me because phoenix are amazing healing creatures. Once I'm good enough to leave this place-"
"I'll leave those details to you, if you don't mind." Dora interrupted him raising her hand. "And please don't tell Harry about it either."
"I understand. Still, I'll need a special kind of wood. Lord Potter's magic is the opposite of what it should, the feather will convert the magic but it needs a medium strong enough to contain the energies while it does."
"So?"
"So if Lord Potter's magic is Light but with Dark properties, the wood needs to be Dark with Light ones to counter it."
"And what kind of wood is that?" Dora asked.
"I don't have the faintest idea, but isn't it a fascinating concept?" Ollivander replied smiling proudly.
Dora was about to jump at the old wizard's throat when she felt the knob on the door started turning. She quickly finished covering herself with the cloak and prepared to leave when she froze in fear. Entering the room was the living legend Alastor "Mad-Eye" hadn't changed a bit since her days at the academy, if not for a few white hairs popping out here and there. His face still looked as if it had been roughly carved from wood, but that wasn't the problem.
The problem were his eyes, one was small and dark while the other was a vivid, electric blue magical eye that moved around independently from his normal one. That magical prosthetic was no only the source of his nickname but was also capable of seeing through objects and the back of his own head. And to detect invisibility cloaks.
"Who are you talking to, Ollivander?" Moody said walking into the room. A noise caught Dora's attention, the cause being a wooden leg with a clawed foot which he didn't had last time she saw him.
"Nobody." Ollivander replied.
"Really?" Moody said. "Because I saw you trough the door and it certainly looked like you were having quite a conversation..."
Fuck, Dora thought terrified, she was fucked.
"I was talking to myself, if you must know." Ollivander said. "It's the only way I can have a smart conversation these days."
"Is that so?" Moody asked leaning over the bed and into Ollivander's face.
"Do you see anybody else here, Mister Moody?"
"One never knows who could be in th shadows, lurking, listening."
Dora froze when Moody began looking around, his blue eye specially rolled around. Except to her surprise, it never stopped on her. She also noticed Ollivander grinning and trying to hide his gaze from where she was. But he didn't made it subtlety enough and Moody followed his gaze. This time both eyes were looking directly at her. One of Moody's hand shot to grab her but she managed to dodge it, the other one casted a revealing charm.
Dora quick took out her wand, still covered by the cloak and rose it to shoot back a spell of her own but was surprised when Moody just grunted and placed his wand back into his holster.
"A bit paranoid, aren't we Mister Moody?" Ollivander asked amused.
Moody said nothing, his remaining eye frowned as his prosthetic began looking around as usual. He hummed to himself before turning around, not before telling Ollivander to stop making noise.
"Dear me." Ollivander chuckled covering his mouth.
"He didn't saw me." Dora said once she was sure Moody couldn't hear her. "He looked right at me but he didn't saw me."
"Well, I did said that cloak was something special." Ollivander replied still covering his mouth. "Now, Miss Tonks, I'm afraid we're out of time. You must hurry and find the wood I need."
"I will." Dora whispered back. "Owl me once you get out of here."
And with that she made her way out of the building.
"Dark with Light properties?" Ted asked confused. "Is that even possible?"
Dora decided to take this conversation while Harry was at school. She didn't wanted to risk another uninvited guest from Gringotts sneaking in trying to get into her family's good graces.
"Well, my magic became Light some Dark characteristics after I turned." Andromeda said. "But as far as I know this only happens to wizards."
"Yeah but, trees are living things too right?" Dora replied "So shouldn't it be possible?"
"Maybe?" Both of her parents replied at the same time.
"MADAM!" Kreacher screaming as he apparated with a loud CRACK in the middle of the room. "MADAM! THE MASTER NEEDS YOU!"
"Kreacher calm down, you'll rile up the entire block!" Andromeda ordered. "What do you mean?"
"THE MASTER, MADAME!" Kreacher screamed. "THE MASTER IS DYING!"
I don't own Harry Potter, all characters except OC belong to J. K. Rowling.