3: Phoenix
Ginny watched the students from afar, hidden away in the little private room she had been staying in for the last couple of days. She had mostly slept during that time, kept under potions by the motherly matron, who had been horrified to find a child in the state that she had been. Her body still had faint scars left from her so called detentions with the Carrows and she would have to take an Invigorating Draft daily for the next three months to prevent lasting damages from her repeated exposure to the Cruciatus Curse. She had been happy to learn that morning that she could be released from the matron's care within two weeks, if she agreed to meet with the woman twice weekly for a check up until the end of the month.
In the distance, Ginny could see the students making their way to the carriages that would take them down to the station. Looking at that picture of normality and innocent happiness, Ginny felt hot, treacherous, tears rolling down her cheeks while something else formed inside her; hope and resolve.
She was crying for all that she had lost, suffered and witnessed in the past years. Experiences that no-one, especially someone her age, should have had to go through.
She had hope though. She may have been stranded in a strange time but this time was untouched by the evil of Lord Voldemort, and Merlin curse her if she wasn't going to do her best to keep it that way.
A knock at the door distracted her from her observation and she rubbed at her eyes to chase away the tears before turning around.
"Hi, Professor," she greeted the deputy Headmaster as he walked in.
"Hi, Ginevra. I hope you feel rested this morning? Mrs Clearwater tells me you have been a star patient," Dumbledore said with a sympathetic smile.
"I feel better, thank you, Professor." Ginny smiled back, still not quite at ease with the younger version of Dumbledore. He somehow looked less imposing but she knew that this wasn't true. His famous duel against his former flame Grindelwald was only a few months away. This hadn't made it to the Modern History of Magic books for being unimpressive.
"I was wondering if you would join me for a stroll along the lake? The students have now left and I do quite enjoy the quiet of these first few days when the castle is deserted. I hope you will agree with me and find it comforting." Dumbledore invited her.
"Sure, Professor." She looked around. "Could you transfigure me a robe? Mrs Clearwater has forbidden me to use my wand for now and I don't have anything here." She swallowed painfully, the loss of her previous life still burning at the front of her mind.
Dumbledore looked at her with a clear twinkle in his eyes now before silently transfiguring her bedcover into an elegant robe in a dark Gryffindor red with golden trims. She smiled happily at the display and wrapped herself in the delicate material. "This is so beautiful, thank you, Professor. Will you teach me? I never quite managed to transfigure anything of such quality before."
"Textures and materials are part of the NEWT curriculum, I hope you will be joining my class this September?" Dumbledore answered jovially as they started down the corridor.
Ginny looked at him in surprise. "Will I be allowed to join the students in September?"
"Of course, Ginevra. It wouldn't do to have a talent such as yours go to waste." Dumbledore confirmed.
Ginny smiled brightly, genuinely happy at the prospect of a relatively normal year to finish her magical education.
They walked in silence towards the lake, Ginny looking around the intact castle as if it were the first time she saw it. Dumbledore was watching her reactions closely and finally started the conversation again. "Tell me about what happened in Hogwarts, Ginevra," he requested. "You may talk to me freely, I will swear a vow to keep your secrets as needed and will remove dangerous knowledge from my mind once we have had time to go over it. One as young as you should not have to bear alone a weight such as the one you carry, my dear girl. I just request that you do not name people when it is not needed, I like to be able to judge a person based on their actions and not ones they may take in the future"
Ginny felt a wave of relief at Dumbledore's words. In the few hours that she had been awake that weekend, she had been burning in anxiety, making herself sick at the idea that she was now stranded much further away in the past than she should have been. She knew the laws surrounding time travel and even if going back to 1993 would have still been highly illegal, she could have counted on the support of the people she knew. Here in 1944 however, she was very much alone and she felt immense gratitude towards Dumbledore for allowing her to share her story freely. And so she did, starting with how Lord Voldemort had taken over the wizarding world in Britain, seizing the Ministry and Hogwarts as his prized possessions.
As she spoke, they had reached a secluded place along the treeline and Ginny had sat down on a bench that Dumbledore had transfigured from a fallen tree. Being Dumbledore's creation, it was of course far from a simple bench and Ginny found herself drawing along the intricate patterns that decorated the armrest on her side.
Dumbledore was listening attentively, only interrupting to offer comfort or ask her to add some more detail. Twice he asked her to stop though, to prevent her divulging too much.
"Well, Ginevra, you have given this old man a lot to think about," said Dumbledore when she stopped her tale.
Ginny laughed at his words, despite the tears that had come back as she recounted her story. "I don't think you should call yourself old, sir. If anything you are really quite young," she decided, looking at him and noticing the sharp differences from the wizard he would be in the 90s. "How old are you?" She asked curiously before she could realise that it may actually be rude to ask. "Sorry, you don't have to answer that obviously!"
Dumbledore chuckled, a twinkle in his eyes as he answered. "It's quite alright, Ginevra. If anything, you have earned the right to ask a few personal questions yourself. I am 63 years old, almost 64 actually as my birthday is at the end of August."
"My birthday is in August as well, 11th," Ginny answered, liking the trait she shared with her only ally in this time.
"We will have to arrange for some cake then. Am I right to assume it will be you 17th birthday?" Dumbledore asked, assuming from the fact that she had been at the end of her 6th year when she arrived in 1944.
"Yes, though, will my birthday still be my birthday? I arrived almost 2 months later than I left," She mused aloud.
"A very interesting question, indeed. I would not assume to understand Magic's intent but in that case, I am fairly confident that your birthday remains your birthday. What is your favourite cake?" He asked distractedly.
"Chocolate, the one that melts in the middle," Ginny said without thinking, allowing Dumbledore to redirect the conversation towards lighter topics.
"I am partial to lemon drizzle myself, buy I see the appeal."
They sat in silence for a while after that, looking at the peaceful lake moving minutely with the Scottish wind as the sun rose higher in the sky.
Finally, Ginny stretched and Dumbledore suggested they get back to the castle.
"I must discuss your situation with Headmaster Dippet to arrange your schooling for September. I will visit you this evening to see if you would like to spend some more time in the company of a not-so-old Professor."
Ginny smiled genuinely and they parted. She felt a little better, knowing that she was not as alone as she thought and actually had a powerful ally in Dumbledore.
Mrs Clearwater finally cleared Ginny ten days later, under the condition that she would keep taking Invigorating and Nutrition Drafts until told otherwise.
In the time that she has spent recovering in the infirmary, Dumbledore had visited her daily, sometimes more than once. They sometimes went for walks as they had done that first time and at other times they simply sat for tea or dinner in her room or in his office.
They hadn't talked about the future since she had shared with him the tale of what happened in her last year at Hogwarts. Rather, they had talked about lighter topics, from her family and the twins' creativity especially, to his time travelling the world for his Mastery in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
More importantly maybe, he had been here to comfort her as she grieved, both for what actually happened and the lives she had seen destroyed but also for her own life as she knew it.
As Ginny exited the infirmary on her own for the first time since her arrival, she was at a loss as to where to go. She couldn't go to her dorm, since it wasn't hers anymore, and she couldn't leave the castle, currently nameless - and sickle-less as she was.
Luckily, she did have to ponder much as a house elf appeared in front of her, inviting her to join Professor Dumbledore in the Transfiguration gardens.
Ginny thanked the house elf and made her way towards the Transfiguration wing. The Transfiguration garden were lovely in summer, with plenty of trees to offer a reprieve from the summer heat while one enjoyed being outside.
She found Dumbledore having tea, a little iron table and four matching chairs nestled under a weeping willow.
"Good afternoon, Professor," she announced her presence, semolina to startle Dumbledore out of his thoughts.
"Ah, Ginevra. I hear you have been released from Susie's tender care?" At her nod he continued, gesturing to the chair on his right at the same time. "I am happy to know you are better, my dear child."
"Thank you, sir. I am happy as well. I…" she hesitated, swallowing the lump in her throat. "It's also thanks to you that I feel better… having a fr…, well, someone to talk to has helped me feel less alone and see the light in my situation."
Dumbledore smiled. "Thank you, Ginevra. I must admit that you have helped me as well in a way," he answered but seeing her curious look, he added; "but this is a conversation for another time. We are expecting guests soon."
Ginny stopped her movement to pick up her cup, startled by the announcement. "Guests, sir?"
"Indeed." Dumbledore's eyes seemed to twinkle with mirth. "But before I tell you who they are, I would like to ask if you have ever heard of your great aunt Evelyn Prewett?"
Ginny furrowed her brow in concentration, trying to remember whether she had heard of her before. "I haven't exactly, but this is my mother's middle name so I imagine she was named after her aunt?"
Dumbledore nodded at her conclusion. "This is correct. Evelyn was a good friend of mine. Actually, we went to Hogwarts at the same time. She was a 6th year Ravenclaw Prefect when I was Head Boy."
Ginny had to remind herself to keep her mouth shut, startled as she was to learn that small nugget of information about her ancestor. "This is fascinating, sir, but why tell me about it now? Is she one of the guests you mentioned?" Ginny asked, guessing it may be the link.
"Sadly, no. I am sorry to say that Evelyn died of Dragon pox earlier this year."
"Oh. Hmm, well, I am sorry for your loss, sir."
"Thank you, Ginevra. The reason I am telling you this however is that you need an identity and this is something Evelyn can provide you with."
Ginny looked positively confused. "I don't get it, how…"
"Evelyn was known to be quite withdrawn in the last twenty years, after her husband was killed in Europe where they lived at the time. He was killed by Gellert…" Dumbledore stopped briefly and Ginny may have missed the note of sadness in his tone if she hadn't been familiar with Dumbledore and Grindelwald's story. "... by Grindelwald. Evelyn's secretive life could easily be explained by a need to hide from her husband's killer and few would actually know the details of her life…"
Dumbledore looked at her meaningfully and Ginny started to understand where he was headed. "People wouldn't know that she had a child if she was scared Grindelwald might come for her?" She asked Dumbledore, seeing whether she had understood his meaning.
"Exactly. You are as much a Prewett as you are a Weasley by blood and the family magic would recognise you as such, it is quite ideal, really."
Ginny nodded in agreement. "But what about the ministry's records? I wouldn't appear on them until now."
"Purebloods are rarely questioned on their family trees. Your father will recognise you, due to your mother's recent passing, and the records will be amended, leaving no doubt of your legitimacy."
"My father? I thought you said Evelyn had lost her husband years before I would have been born?"
"This is why I will be the one to recognise you, dear Ginevra."
Ginny couldn't help herself, her lips parted in shock. "You? But, I mean, you… you wouldn't… Did you?"
Dumbledore chuckled slightly, amused by Ginny's flustered state. "I am afraid I will need you to elaborate a bit more, my dear."
Ginny straightened, taking a deep breath in. "I mean, you do not like…" she stopped, feeling silly for how she had reacted but needing to explain her behaviour. "Well, in my time, it is said that you were… never interested in women, that you were involved with Grindelwald." Her voice was so low but she knew Dumbledore had heard her, given the surprise he displayed. "I am sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned it."
"Do not worry yourself, Ginevra. I understand. Evelyn and I used to be friends and we have kept in contact over the years, it would not be unbelievable that we could have had a child together. Also, by wearing the name of your mother, my relationship to you as your father would not be obvious. That would make it a secret ready to be uncovered."
"A distraction!" Ginny exclaimed in understanding. "Most people would not wonder further once they discovered our connection. This is a fantastic plan, Professor."
"And this is where our guests come in, my dear, to give our story more tangibility."
At that moment, the house elf popped near Dumbledore.
"Mr and Mrs Pretty are on the Grounds, Professor Dumblidore, sir," the elf announced.
"Thank you, Dory" Dumbledore said as the little being popped away.
"Who is coming?"
"Iris and Gabriel Prewett," Dumbledore said simply, enjoying the happiness and surprise he could read on Ginny's young face.
"My grandparents?"
"Indeed."
"What do they know?"
"The highlights of your story, who you are to them and that you have suffered much. Enough to care deeply about what becomes of you."
Dumbledore allowed Ginny time to ponder his words before continuing; "With you being Evelyn's daughter, Gabriel will be known as your first cousin. Him and Iris have offered to go along with the story and wanted to meet you before we made it official."
Before Ginny could say anything else, a young couple walked in.
Her grandfather was a lot like her twin brothers and a painful squeeze in her throat left her breathless for a moment. Her grandmother however was so blond that she wondered for a fraction of a second if she was related to the Malfoys. Then she remembered; she was indeed. They were still so young and Ginny struggled to reconcile the picture of this couple with the grandparents she knew as a young child. It was them however, there was no mistaking the deep blue of her grandfather's eyes or the way her grandmother would still love to braid her hair decades from now.
Ginny stayed glued to her seat as Dumbledore gestured to Iris and Gabriel to join them at the table. "Lemon tea?" Both nodded and with a wave of his hand, the two remaining cups were filled and came to rest in front of the new guests.
"Iris, Gabriel, this is Ginevra, whom I told you about. Ginevra, I know you are familiar with them," Dumbledore introduced with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Ginny snorted slightly, having grown used to the man's sense of humour in the last few days that she had spent in his company. Godric, was he infuriating with his constant plotting. "I am familiar with them, indeed, Professor." She repeated, accentuating on the word familiar to let him know that she knew what he was playing at. "It's nice to meet you…somehow."
Ginny smiled, feeling slightly awkward meeting her grandparents in their youth. In 1944, they couldn't be much older than 25 and it was a stark reminder of her situation
Iris took her hand gently in hers and squeezed it lightly. "It is so lovely to meet you, Ginevra. Gabriel and I were sorry to hear of what happened. I… You are so brave." Iris' voice broke slightly and Gabriel put an arm around her shoulders, offering comfort, and Ginny noticed her grandmother had teary eyes.
Seeing the emotions on her grandparents' faces was too much for Ginny and a sob escaped her. Before she knew it, uncontrollable tears were rolling down her face and she found herself in their embrace.
"Oh, sweetheart, you are so, so, brave," Iris said.
"We are so grateful that Dumbledore told us your story," Gabriel added. "You shouldn't have to do this alone. We're here for you, Ginevra."
Ginny continued crying, her sobs becoming more controlled as Iris and Gabriel kept comforting. Dumbledore had given her back as much of her family as he could and the relief and gratitude she felt had been overwhelming.
She sniffed, taking her handkerchief out of her robes' pocket in order to wipe her face. "Thank you," she said, looking at each of her three companions in turn. "I can't tell you how much this all means to me."
"You are a Prewett by blood, our blood," Gabriel said. "If anything, you have given us hope in the knowledge that we will have a daughter." He smiled at Ginny. "And a granddaughter braver than any Prewett before her."
"Iris and Gabriel have agreed to have their memories altered so they would believe you to be their cousin."
Ginny gasped, horrified at the idea. Memory charms were highly regulated because of the gravity of their consequences. Something surely as intricate as what Dumbledore was suggesting would be irreversible.
"Your cover story needs to be as protected as possible in order to not raise questions. You have Prewett blood by birth. I will adopt you into the Dumbledore bloodline. You will, in effect, belong in this time."
"This is… is there no hope then? I will never go back?"
"Time travel is a complex matter. From the little we know about a jump such as yours, the fact is that you would likely age magically instead of naturally, should you be returned to your own time via time travel means."
Ginny could feel Iris' comforting hand in hers, as well as Gabriel's presence as he stood behind her. She was completely still however, too horrified to fully comprehend what this meant.
"I told you, Ginevra, you are a Prewett, you are our family, it doesn't matter to us how you came to be in our life," Gabriel declared passionately. "Family comes first, always and we will gladly change our memories to make it so you are safe and part of our lives."
"We may have just met, but I know I love you, my sweet, brave Ginevra."
"You will stay with us for the rest of the summer, that will give you an opportunity to go through our Family Book and learn more about Evelyn and the rest of our line."
"I will leave you to talk," Dumbledore stated, getting up from his seat. "I will come back in a couple of hours so that we can perform the rituals.
By that time the following day, Ginevra Molly Weasley was no more and Ginevra Eve Prewett was very much real according to the Ministry's records. Those same records that now stated Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore had come forward to register as her biological father, offering a sample of their bloods to be tested for the familial magic a father and his child would have in common.
—
Thoughts?
Until next time!
