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Sixteen

When the Marauders got back from their journey, it was two days into February break. Everyone had wondered where they went, but no one bothered to ask. Considering the people that had gone – James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, and Lina – they probably had some crazy, dangerous explanation that no one really cared to hear.

It wasn't too long – a little while into March – before Lina was summoned to Professor Dumbledore's Office.

". . . And that is the charm we use to repel a Red Cap," Professor Martin said just as a knock echoed on the door. "Come in," he called, and Professor McGonagall entered.

"Hello, Professor Martin, may I have Miss Peterson for a moment, please?" she asked.

"Yes, of course. Off you go, Celina," he said dismissively. Lina stood up and walked slowly over to Professor McGonagall, whose lips were pursed. She could tell something was wrong. After she was outside the classroom, Professor McGonagall grabbed her arm and began dragging her towards what she remembered was her old room. She knew this had something to do with her father. She never went in there unless it was incredibly secret.

"Professor, what's going on here?" she asked timidly.

"You will find out soon enough, Miss Dumbledore – just follow me," she replied, emphasizing the "Dumbledore" part. Celina knew that Professor McGonagall disapproved of the fact that she hid her real last name, even though that technically wasn't even her real last name.

Little did she know, she was about to find out what her real last name was.

She got to the portrait of Rosalie that guarded her room. Rosalie had a solemn expression on her face as Lina approached.

"Rosalie, what's wrong?" Lina asked, concern in her voice.

"Oh, Lina . . ." she murmured. The question was left unanswered, but not for long, as Lina entered the room to find Professor Dumbledore, her adoptive father, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Celina, my dear," he said quietly. He walked over to her and hugged her. She didn't know why, but there was no longer the same sparkle in his eyes.

She pulled away from him gently and asked sternly, "Dad, what's going on?"

Her father sighed and pulled a folded piece of paper with a wax seal on it from his pocket. "This came for you today," he said in barely more than a whisper.

Lina took the paper and turned it over a couple of times in her hands before opening it. Inside, the letter was written in strange symbols she had never seen before. They were beautiful and ornate, but so intricate as it would take years to learn what they all meant. And yet somehow, the words rolled off her tongue as though she had spoken the language her whole life.

Ithilwen, meleth nin,

I know this will be hard for you to understand, but you were not born into this family with which you live. The person who claims to be your father is not your father. And though I know you already knew that, I am here to tell you that you can no longer live with him.

Yes, you've spent your whole life with him. Yes, you love him like a father. But I am your true father, and now it is time to come back to me.

My name is Onónion, and I am your true father. And though there is no easy way to say this, you must come back to our world and live with the Elves. When you were born, you were bound to serve the King of the Elves, Lord Elrond once you became of age. Your 4310th birthday was the age we decided upon, and now it is time for you to come back. We even gave you three years time to say goodbye. Now, you must say goodbye for real.

I will be there in March to pick you up. Until then, meleth nin, no in elenath hîlar nan hâd gîn.

Your Father

"My goodness, Albus, what could that mean?" Professor McGonagall said once Lina had finished reading. "She just read the entire letter in a different language!"

"Elvish . . ." her father – or rather, used-to-be father – whispered.

"It says that I am to go back to my world," Lina gasped. "Dad, I don't want to leave!"

"I'm sorry, my dear, I fear you must," he said quietly.

"What did that last line mean?" Professor McGonagall inquired, completely left in the dark.

"It means, May all stars shine on your path," Lina explained. She didn't know how she knew it. But then she figured it must just be her Elven instincts.

"I knew this day would come," Professor Dumbledore said darkly. "I have feared it for many years. And now, my fears have been realized and become reality. I'm sorry, Celina, my dear, but you must go."

Suddenly, a fire blazed to life in her fireplace, and a head appeared within it. It was the face of Professor Martin.

"Headmaster, there is someone here to see you and your . . . daughter," he said, whispering the ast word.

"Thank you, John. Kindly ask him to report here, please."

Before Lina could comprehend everything that was happening, there was a knock on her door. Dumbledore went to open it, and stood in front of the stranger. Once he stepped aside, Lina saw a tall, pale man with long blonde hair. The most prominent feature – the first thing she really noticed about him – were his ears. They were much longer than a normal person's ears, and came to a sharp point at the tip.

"Celina," Professor Dumbledore stated inaudibly, "I would like you to meet your true father, Onónion of Rivendell."