"If what you said is right… Would this person have demonstrated any magical abilities?" Dumbledore asked Naoko as she had tea with the Headmaster and his assistant in his office.
"Probably, but we have no idea at all as to his parentage. What we do know is that he is a few years older than I am. He lived in Europe…" Naoko's voice faltered. "You're not saying…!"
"It is ever a possibility, my child. I have heard tell in some circles of children with such talents, that they can manipulate the mind unawares that they are doing it themselves," Dumbledore said.
"The one nearest to where he lived would be South Hampton. There is a small, holding area for wizards who are extraordinary," Minerva McGoonagall said. "I assume that you may find his records there," she continued in her crisp voice.
"It'll be useless. I doubt that such records exist, for one, and I doubt that they will yield us any clues to him," she said.
"That is true, but it is most often when hope seems to fail, that is when it blossoms," Dumbledore said kindly.
"Not in my world," Naoko said, a trace of bitterness in her voice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a cool evening. Damien stood next to the window, wondering the asphalt would feel like after a twenty-storey drop. Life without Karen was one he had never contemplated, at least without saying goodbye to her. He missed her dreadfully, and this visit to Japan was taking much longer than she'd promised. The fact that he hadn't heard from her also made his heart ache. Lord knew how much he loved her… If only she would come back…
"I'm done!" Yusuke Urameshi said, coming out of the bathroom. Kazuma Kuwabara was nowhere in sight, but the oaf had gone downstairs to find a gift for Yukina.
"About time," Damien said, turning from the window and grinning at the boy. Karen had agreed with him that his grins did not become him, but she loved it when he smiled… He shook the fancies from his head. "I think that you should have dinner before you go," he said to Yusuke.
"I doubt you have anything to satisfy me. Where's the oaf?" Yusuke tossed the towel onto a chair, combing his hair carelessly.
"Downstairs. I know where to find him, and the store with the best sake in town. Or do you prefer something stronger?" he smiled.
"Whatever you have to offer, Damien," Yusuke grinned, and let Damien out first.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More to come soon, I promise!!!
