SHARING THE SUNLIGHT WITH THE FREE - THE DAWN
Chapter Six
Aurelia waited outside Professor Gryffindor's office. All four professors were inside already, talking with Merlin. Any time now, they would be calling her.
She was slightly nervous. Not because of anything to do with speaking with the 'great Merlin', but mostly due to the fact that this whole interview would be to discuss her unusual capabilities. It was not something she was looking forward to.
The only thing she was truly curious about would be her (and Kière's) theory that she had Divine Sight. She would like to have it confirmed, know for sure if she had it or not, yet if she did have it, what would she do with it?
She was just pondering this, when the door opened, and Professor Hufflepuff's sweet face peered out at her.
'Aurelia? Come in, please.'
The moment had arrived. She followed Professor Hufflepuff in silently.
The professors, Merlin and another unknown wizard were all seated in a circle. Professor Hufflepuff returned to her seat, leaving Aurelia standing in the middle of all of them.
'Aurelia, as we have told you - Merlin here would like to.have a chat with you,' said Professor Gryffindor. He turned to Merlin. 'Would you require privacy?'
'No,' said Merlin. His voice was gruff. 'Unless Miss - er.' he looked at Aurelia questioningly.
'Bland.'
'Yes - Miss Bland. Unless she has any objections.'
Professor Gryffindor turned to Aurelia now, waiting for her answer.
Her eye fell on Professor Slytherin's expressionless face and she was tempted to say no. No, she did not want Professor Slytherin there, she was afraid of him. But she turned to Professor Ravenclaw and saw her expectant face, shining with the anticipation of knowing that her favourite student was indeed a witch with strong magic. What would Professor Ravenclaw think if she said no? Suddenly her fears about Professor Slytherin seemed irrational. He was her professor, after all, and she had lived with him for years and years. Nothing to be frightened about.
'It is fine,' she murmured, almost inaudibly, but Professor Gryffindor heard her, and nodded.
'Thank you - we are sorry about this intrusion, of course, but I must admit, we all are dreadfully curious.'
Merlin nodded curtly, and fixed his eyes on Aurelia.
'Come here, child.'
Although she felt she was too old to be called a child - she was eighteen, after all - she moved forward and stood before him. He looked old - older than any other wizard she had ever seen. His hair and beard were long and silvery-white. It framed his face, which was pale, with a pair of close-set grey eyes, and a long sharp nose. He was thin too - his magenta robes appeared to be hanging off him. Perhaps long ago, he had been plumper and had fit perfectly in them.
Merlin scrutinized her carefully for a few minutes. Finally, he spoke.
'Tell me about yourself, child.'
She supposed that to him, anyone her age would seem but a child.
'I - I am eighteen, sir. I am in my seventh year at this school. I -' she stopped, not exactly sure what he wanted to hear.
Merlin shook his head. 'Start at the beginning. How you were brought up. How you came to Hogwarts. What you feel about studying here. How do you find the magic you study?'
Aurelia felt tongue-tied. At the beginning.how could she start at the beginning?
The witch hunter, leering at her.
The village, in flames.
She pushed the memory away fiercely. She could tell him about the professors, and her life with them, though. But how could she start?
'You must understand, Merlin, she was an orphan,' Professor Ravenclaw spoke up.
Most people would not have detected the mistake in tense, but Merlin was not most people. Neither was Aurelia.
'Was?' Merlin stared at Professor Ravenclaw. 'Explain yourself.'
'Her birth parents died when she was six. So she is technically an orphan. But she is not. Because she has us.'
Aurelia smiled, grateful.
'I was brought up by Professors Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and - and Slytherin.' She was a bit uneasy about mentioning him as part of her upbringing. She could not remember him ever having really cared about her. But then, perhaps in never showing emotion towards her, he had taught her a few things. It was hard to explain, even to herself. 'They found me when I was six. My parents - died.' Do not ask me how, she prayed. Thankfully, Merlin just nodded.
'I was with them when they first began building Hogwarts,' she continued, more confidently now. 'When I was twelve, it was complete, and I was among the first batch of students. We were educated, in Magic Application, Magical Theory, Potions and Herbology. I enjoy it, magic - comes naturally to me.' She wondered if Merlin would take this to mean that she was a pure- blood witch. But then, the professors must have told him that she was Muggle-born.
'Well, then, Miss Bland. You seem a normal student - however Godric here insists that you are special. Tell me why.'
'Everybody is special, Merlin,' interrupted Professor Hufflepuff insistently.
'Yes, yes, Helga, my apologies. I meant magically special, of course. Miss Bland? I have heard about the Goblet of Fire from your professors. I would like to hear your version. Tell me about Samhain.'
'I - well, Samhain.there was the traditional broom flight across the lake to find the Goblet of Fire - but you know that already, I guess.'
'Refresh my memory please.'
'Oh - there are.five competitors.and they fly across the lake while we walk around it.to the edge of the Dark Forest.and they have to find the Goblet of Fire before we reach there.'
'Very well. Now.what happened this particular Samhain challenge?'
'My best friend - Kière - he was flying. He won.' She could not help stating this proudly. 'He found the Goblet of Fire first, and he let me hold it a while. When I took it, it - it just lighted up. Just like that.'
'You did not attempt to light it up? You did not cast a spell on it?'
'No.'
Merlin sighed, looking very deep in thought.
Aurelia suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. She had not been completely honest about Samhain. There was still the crossing of the time threshold.
Tell him. The voice in her head again. But this time, it was different. It sounded more.sharp. More cold. She looked around. As before, nobody seemed to hear but her. Merlin was still contemplating. Professors Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff were looking concerned. Professor Slytherin had the same expressionless look that he had been wearing the entire meeting. The last wizard was dozing slightly in his chair.
Tell him. He may be able to give you an answer from that.
'Merlin - Sir.'
He looked up questioningly.
'There is more.to Samhain.'
He raised his eyebrows. 'Enlighten me.'
'Before we met the competitors - when we were walking.I - ' her voice dropped to a whisper '- stumbled across a time threshold.' She knew the words sounded stupid the second they left her mouth, but it was too late to take it back.
'Aurelia! You never told us.' Professor Ravenclaw was shocked. And also.hurt... Aurelia hung her head, feeling guiltier.
'I - sorry, Professor,' she said softly.
'Tell us now, then,' Merlin told her gently. 'What happened?'
She launched into her description of the stone place, the altar, the two men, the crowd.the sacrifice she was meant to be.
They listened, entranced, until she finished. Merlin nodded decisively.
'I have an idea what happened. One last test, first.' He looked expectantly at the dozing wizard. 'Archibald!'
The wizard came to in an instant.
'May I introduce Sir Archibald Ollivander, Miss Bland. He is a wand-maker, and I have specially requested his company today such that he might have a look at your wand. You have it with you?'
Aurelia nodded, and drew out her wand from inside her robes. She handed over to Sir Ollivander, who handled it expertly.
'It seems to be in good condition,' he said, smiling at Aurelia. 'You have taken good care of it, Miss Bland.'
She flushed at his compliment.
'I try, Sir.'
He nodded, and went back to the testing. Aurelia wished she could understand it. He was drawing circles in the air with it, then it emitted sparks. He repeated the procedure with other shapes, finally ending off with an intricate design, after which a whole explosion of gold and silver sparks burst from the tip of her wand. Muttering excitedly, Sir Ollivander turned to Merlin and whispered something into his ear. Merlin looked deep in thought for a few moments, then nodded (he seemed to do that a lot, Aurelia thought), and smiled.
'Miss Bland, I think that you should have no worries. You are as normal a witch as any other, and you have as much potential to be a good witch as anyone else. I wish you luck for your remaining education and future. I am sure you will do much for the wizarding world.'
Aurelia was crestfallen - she was glad to be normal, of course, but secretly, she had been harbouring the hope of possibly being a Seer.
'Wait! That cannot be possible. The Goblet of Fire - and surely that wand test proved something! I know it is more than just a normal occurrence! I may not be a wand expert, but I do know strong magic when I see it,' Professor Gryffindor said hotly.
'For heavens sake, Godric,' said Professor Slytherin, finally speaking. 'Are you just irked that your favourite student is not the big star you expected her to be?'
'I do not play favourites, Salazar,' said Professor Gryffindor, with an edge to his voice. Professor Slytherin rolled his eyes.
'Godric! Salazar! Will you remember your manners!' Professor Hufflepuff scolded. 'Merlin - I am so sorry. These two.'
'Quite all right, Helga. And Godric, I was just about to explain - the Goblet of Fire's unnatural behaviour in the hands of young Miss Bland was likely caused by her recent time travel. It left a mark of magic on her that gave her the power to light the Goblet. This power is still embedded in her wand, but it will wear off soon. I know you may be disappointed, especially if you harboured high hopes about the outcome of this interview, however, I might remind you that Miss Bland is still a perfectly capable witch, and she seems to me to be very accomplished for her age. Salazar has quite the right idea, that although she is not, as he says, 'a big star', she is still a good witch, and you can all be proud of her.'
Aurelia did not think Professor Slytherin had really meant to say that she was still a good witch, despite not being extremely powerful, but she kept her silence.
'Merlin. I have a question.'
'Please ask, Rowena.'
'How did Aurelia cross the time threshold? I am quite sure that time is fluid for druids alone, and there has not been a druid for centuries. Perhaps even a millennium.'
'And you suggest that Miss Bland is a druid? Or rather, as we put it now, a Seer?'
Merlin had said the magic words. Aurelia held her breath.
'Yes.'
'You said so yourself, Rowena. There have not been Seers for a millennium. They are well extinct. It is impossible for Miss Bland to be one. I regret to say that I have no idea how she crossed the time threshold, but I am convinced about the effects that the time travel had on her magic. She will, however, be fine. Nothing lasting. Perhaps the four of you should set up wards against time fluidity. It is hard to understand how the druids of the past managed to rip the fabric of time to bring people to their present. I believe that they found sacrificial offerings that way. From what Miss Bland has said, she was very lucky that they let her go.'
Professor Ravenclaw accepted this. Aurelia let out the breath she had been holding, a little disappointedly. She was not a Seer. She had no extraordinary powers. Merlin had said as much.
But she was normal. She was bright. Merlin had said that too. And also, she was lucky. She hoped the professors were not too disappointed.
'That is all, Miss Bland, it was nice to meet and speak to you,' nodded Merlin. 'You may go now - I would like to speak to your professors a while.for old times sake, you understand?' He winked at her. 'I used to know them when they were children.' He let that sink in a while. 'Brightest young ones I ever met.of course I am not so sure now that I have met you.'
'Merlin!' complained Professor Gryffindor. 'Quit teasing!'
Merlin laughed. 'On your way then, Miss Bland! I hope to see you another time.'
~
Kière was waiting for her just around the corner outside Professor Gryffindor's office. Aurelia nearly ran into him.
'What did he say? What is he like? Did he do any strong magic?' He unleashed a steady stream of questions on her before she could even catch her breath.
'Wait, slow down,' she said, laughing at his excitement. 'Merlin is - well, old.'
'Of course.he must be more than a century old!' Kière brushed off her answer. 'Did he do anything interesting?'
'Except for asking a bunch of questions, he did practically nothing.' Kière looked disappointed at this. 'But he brought a wand maker with him. They tested my wand.' Aurelia slipped her hand into her robes to retrieve her wand.
It was not there.
'My wand! He still has it -'
'Never mind that now,' said Kière impatiently. 'We can go find him. What about you - are you a Seer, then?' His eyes were alight with interest and anticipation.
She hated to disappoint him. Slowly, she shook her head.
'I am normal.'
'That cannot be! The Goblet of Fire - the time threshold.' Kière gaped at her.
'It was because of the crossing of the threshold that I could light the Goblet,' explained Aurelia softly. 'The druidic magic that brought me there.it stayed a while when I returned. This is Merlin's theory, at any rate.'
'No!' Kière cried out. 'Merlin must be wrong!'
'Kière! You said so yourself - Merlin is the greatest wizard in the world. His theory is sound enough - we must just accept it -'
'I do not care,' Kière said stubbornly. 'He is wrong about you. You are special, Aurelia. If he says otherwise - well, I - I will not believe it.'
His show of loyalty was touching, and Aurelia was gratified, but she understood that it would not help for him to insist upon the fact that she was more magically powerful if she was not.
'Whatever you may believe,' Aurelia said evenly, 'I am no more than a common witch, and I hope you can accept it.'
Chapter Six
Aurelia waited outside Professor Gryffindor's office. All four professors were inside already, talking with Merlin. Any time now, they would be calling her.
She was slightly nervous. Not because of anything to do with speaking with the 'great Merlin', but mostly due to the fact that this whole interview would be to discuss her unusual capabilities. It was not something she was looking forward to.
The only thing she was truly curious about would be her (and Kière's) theory that she had Divine Sight. She would like to have it confirmed, know for sure if she had it or not, yet if she did have it, what would she do with it?
She was just pondering this, when the door opened, and Professor Hufflepuff's sweet face peered out at her.
'Aurelia? Come in, please.'
The moment had arrived. She followed Professor Hufflepuff in silently.
The professors, Merlin and another unknown wizard were all seated in a circle. Professor Hufflepuff returned to her seat, leaving Aurelia standing in the middle of all of them.
'Aurelia, as we have told you - Merlin here would like to.have a chat with you,' said Professor Gryffindor. He turned to Merlin. 'Would you require privacy?'
'No,' said Merlin. His voice was gruff. 'Unless Miss - er.' he looked at Aurelia questioningly.
'Bland.'
'Yes - Miss Bland. Unless she has any objections.'
Professor Gryffindor turned to Aurelia now, waiting for her answer.
Her eye fell on Professor Slytherin's expressionless face and she was tempted to say no. No, she did not want Professor Slytherin there, she was afraid of him. But she turned to Professor Ravenclaw and saw her expectant face, shining with the anticipation of knowing that her favourite student was indeed a witch with strong magic. What would Professor Ravenclaw think if she said no? Suddenly her fears about Professor Slytherin seemed irrational. He was her professor, after all, and she had lived with him for years and years. Nothing to be frightened about.
'It is fine,' she murmured, almost inaudibly, but Professor Gryffindor heard her, and nodded.
'Thank you - we are sorry about this intrusion, of course, but I must admit, we all are dreadfully curious.'
Merlin nodded curtly, and fixed his eyes on Aurelia.
'Come here, child.'
Although she felt she was too old to be called a child - she was eighteen, after all - she moved forward and stood before him. He looked old - older than any other wizard she had ever seen. His hair and beard were long and silvery-white. It framed his face, which was pale, with a pair of close-set grey eyes, and a long sharp nose. He was thin too - his magenta robes appeared to be hanging off him. Perhaps long ago, he had been plumper and had fit perfectly in them.
Merlin scrutinized her carefully for a few minutes. Finally, he spoke.
'Tell me about yourself, child.'
She supposed that to him, anyone her age would seem but a child.
'I - I am eighteen, sir. I am in my seventh year at this school. I -' she stopped, not exactly sure what he wanted to hear.
Merlin shook his head. 'Start at the beginning. How you were brought up. How you came to Hogwarts. What you feel about studying here. How do you find the magic you study?'
Aurelia felt tongue-tied. At the beginning.how could she start at the beginning?
The witch hunter, leering at her.
The village, in flames.
She pushed the memory away fiercely. She could tell him about the professors, and her life with them, though. But how could she start?
'You must understand, Merlin, she was an orphan,' Professor Ravenclaw spoke up.
Most people would not have detected the mistake in tense, but Merlin was not most people. Neither was Aurelia.
'Was?' Merlin stared at Professor Ravenclaw. 'Explain yourself.'
'Her birth parents died when she was six. So she is technically an orphan. But she is not. Because she has us.'
Aurelia smiled, grateful.
'I was brought up by Professors Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and - and Slytherin.' She was a bit uneasy about mentioning him as part of her upbringing. She could not remember him ever having really cared about her. But then, perhaps in never showing emotion towards her, he had taught her a few things. It was hard to explain, even to herself. 'They found me when I was six. My parents - died.' Do not ask me how, she prayed. Thankfully, Merlin just nodded.
'I was with them when they first began building Hogwarts,' she continued, more confidently now. 'When I was twelve, it was complete, and I was among the first batch of students. We were educated, in Magic Application, Magical Theory, Potions and Herbology. I enjoy it, magic - comes naturally to me.' She wondered if Merlin would take this to mean that she was a pure- blood witch. But then, the professors must have told him that she was Muggle-born.
'Well, then, Miss Bland. You seem a normal student - however Godric here insists that you are special. Tell me why.'
'Everybody is special, Merlin,' interrupted Professor Hufflepuff insistently.
'Yes, yes, Helga, my apologies. I meant magically special, of course. Miss Bland? I have heard about the Goblet of Fire from your professors. I would like to hear your version. Tell me about Samhain.'
'I - well, Samhain.there was the traditional broom flight across the lake to find the Goblet of Fire - but you know that already, I guess.'
'Refresh my memory please.'
'Oh - there are.five competitors.and they fly across the lake while we walk around it.to the edge of the Dark Forest.and they have to find the Goblet of Fire before we reach there.'
'Very well. Now.what happened this particular Samhain challenge?'
'My best friend - Kière - he was flying. He won.' She could not help stating this proudly. 'He found the Goblet of Fire first, and he let me hold it a while. When I took it, it - it just lighted up. Just like that.'
'You did not attempt to light it up? You did not cast a spell on it?'
'No.'
Merlin sighed, looking very deep in thought.
Aurelia suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. She had not been completely honest about Samhain. There was still the crossing of the time threshold.
Tell him. The voice in her head again. But this time, it was different. It sounded more.sharp. More cold. She looked around. As before, nobody seemed to hear but her. Merlin was still contemplating. Professors Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff were looking concerned. Professor Slytherin had the same expressionless look that he had been wearing the entire meeting. The last wizard was dozing slightly in his chair.
Tell him. He may be able to give you an answer from that.
'Merlin - Sir.'
He looked up questioningly.
'There is more.to Samhain.'
He raised his eyebrows. 'Enlighten me.'
'Before we met the competitors - when we were walking.I - ' her voice dropped to a whisper '- stumbled across a time threshold.' She knew the words sounded stupid the second they left her mouth, but it was too late to take it back.
'Aurelia! You never told us.' Professor Ravenclaw was shocked. And also.hurt... Aurelia hung her head, feeling guiltier.
'I - sorry, Professor,' she said softly.
'Tell us now, then,' Merlin told her gently. 'What happened?'
She launched into her description of the stone place, the altar, the two men, the crowd.the sacrifice she was meant to be.
They listened, entranced, until she finished. Merlin nodded decisively.
'I have an idea what happened. One last test, first.' He looked expectantly at the dozing wizard. 'Archibald!'
The wizard came to in an instant.
'May I introduce Sir Archibald Ollivander, Miss Bland. He is a wand-maker, and I have specially requested his company today such that he might have a look at your wand. You have it with you?'
Aurelia nodded, and drew out her wand from inside her robes. She handed over to Sir Ollivander, who handled it expertly.
'It seems to be in good condition,' he said, smiling at Aurelia. 'You have taken good care of it, Miss Bland.'
She flushed at his compliment.
'I try, Sir.'
He nodded, and went back to the testing. Aurelia wished she could understand it. He was drawing circles in the air with it, then it emitted sparks. He repeated the procedure with other shapes, finally ending off with an intricate design, after which a whole explosion of gold and silver sparks burst from the tip of her wand. Muttering excitedly, Sir Ollivander turned to Merlin and whispered something into his ear. Merlin looked deep in thought for a few moments, then nodded (he seemed to do that a lot, Aurelia thought), and smiled.
'Miss Bland, I think that you should have no worries. You are as normal a witch as any other, and you have as much potential to be a good witch as anyone else. I wish you luck for your remaining education and future. I am sure you will do much for the wizarding world.'
Aurelia was crestfallen - she was glad to be normal, of course, but secretly, she had been harbouring the hope of possibly being a Seer.
'Wait! That cannot be possible. The Goblet of Fire - and surely that wand test proved something! I know it is more than just a normal occurrence! I may not be a wand expert, but I do know strong magic when I see it,' Professor Gryffindor said hotly.
'For heavens sake, Godric,' said Professor Slytherin, finally speaking. 'Are you just irked that your favourite student is not the big star you expected her to be?'
'I do not play favourites, Salazar,' said Professor Gryffindor, with an edge to his voice. Professor Slytherin rolled his eyes.
'Godric! Salazar! Will you remember your manners!' Professor Hufflepuff scolded. 'Merlin - I am so sorry. These two.'
'Quite all right, Helga. And Godric, I was just about to explain - the Goblet of Fire's unnatural behaviour in the hands of young Miss Bland was likely caused by her recent time travel. It left a mark of magic on her that gave her the power to light the Goblet. This power is still embedded in her wand, but it will wear off soon. I know you may be disappointed, especially if you harboured high hopes about the outcome of this interview, however, I might remind you that Miss Bland is still a perfectly capable witch, and she seems to me to be very accomplished for her age. Salazar has quite the right idea, that although she is not, as he says, 'a big star', she is still a good witch, and you can all be proud of her.'
Aurelia did not think Professor Slytherin had really meant to say that she was still a good witch, despite not being extremely powerful, but she kept her silence.
'Merlin. I have a question.'
'Please ask, Rowena.'
'How did Aurelia cross the time threshold? I am quite sure that time is fluid for druids alone, and there has not been a druid for centuries. Perhaps even a millennium.'
'And you suggest that Miss Bland is a druid? Or rather, as we put it now, a Seer?'
Merlin had said the magic words. Aurelia held her breath.
'Yes.'
'You said so yourself, Rowena. There have not been Seers for a millennium. They are well extinct. It is impossible for Miss Bland to be one. I regret to say that I have no idea how she crossed the time threshold, but I am convinced about the effects that the time travel had on her magic. She will, however, be fine. Nothing lasting. Perhaps the four of you should set up wards against time fluidity. It is hard to understand how the druids of the past managed to rip the fabric of time to bring people to their present. I believe that they found sacrificial offerings that way. From what Miss Bland has said, she was very lucky that they let her go.'
Professor Ravenclaw accepted this. Aurelia let out the breath she had been holding, a little disappointedly. She was not a Seer. She had no extraordinary powers. Merlin had said as much.
But she was normal. She was bright. Merlin had said that too. And also, she was lucky. She hoped the professors were not too disappointed.
'That is all, Miss Bland, it was nice to meet and speak to you,' nodded Merlin. 'You may go now - I would like to speak to your professors a while.for old times sake, you understand?' He winked at her. 'I used to know them when they were children.' He let that sink in a while. 'Brightest young ones I ever met.of course I am not so sure now that I have met you.'
'Merlin!' complained Professor Gryffindor. 'Quit teasing!'
Merlin laughed. 'On your way then, Miss Bland! I hope to see you another time.'
~
Kière was waiting for her just around the corner outside Professor Gryffindor's office. Aurelia nearly ran into him.
'What did he say? What is he like? Did he do any strong magic?' He unleashed a steady stream of questions on her before she could even catch her breath.
'Wait, slow down,' she said, laughing at his excitement. 'Merlin is - well, old.'
'Of course.he must be more than a century old!' Kière brushed off her answer. 'Did he do anything interesting?'
'Except for asking a bunch of questions, he did practically nothing.' Kière looked disappointed at this. 'But he brought a wand maker with him. They tested my wand.' Aurelia slipped her hand into her robes to retrieve her wand.
It was not there.
'My wand! He still has it -'
'Never mind that now,' said Kière impatiently. 'We can go find him. What about you - are you a Seer, then?' His eyes were alight with interest and anticipation.
She hated to disappoint him. Slowly, she shook her head.
'I am normal.'
'That cannot be! The Goblet of Fire - the time threshold.' Kière gaped at her.
'It was because of the crossing of the threshold that I could light the Goblet,' explained Aurelia softly. 'The druidic magic that brought me there.it stayed a while when I returned. This is Merlin's theory, at any rate.'
'No!' Kière cried out. 'Merlin must be wrong!'
'Kière! You said so yourself - Merlin is the greatest wizard in the world. His theory is sound enough - we must just accept it -'
'I do not care,' Kière said stubbornly. 'He is wrong about you. You are special, Aurelia. If he says otherwise - well, I - I will not believe it.'
His show of loyalty was touching, and Aurelia was gratified, but she understood that it would not help for him to insist upon the fact that she was more magically powerful if she was not.
'Whatever you may believe,' Aurelia said evenly, 'I am no more than a common witch, and I hope you can accept it.'