The Search Is Over,
Chapter 107, Family Bonds
It was just after 11 p.m. Regulus stood with wand aloft. Letters that spelled out Ariana in a softly glowing green extended from its tip, providing a bright spot of verbal color that he hoped would gain the Necromancer's attention. Regulus had also layered a charm of nondetect over this that he'd learned from Orion as a mere boy to prevent Muggles from seeing the letters that now hung above them in the air. Kreacher looked this way and that, straining slightly up on his toes as the two waited just outside King's Cross. Passengers were unboarding from the only train that had come into the station, so their Necromancer had to be on board.
"I don't know what you're looking so hard for," Regulus complained, a slight twitch of amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth at Kreacher's enthusiastic antics.
"It isn't as if we know what she looks like."
"Yes, but Kreacher would see someone who appears to be looking for us, he should think. She could also have a sign of her own."
"Good point," Regulus admitted.
It was less than a minute later when a red head approached with several large trunks floating ahead of her. She was youngish and slender, pretty enough Regulus supposed, though he'd always only ever noticed such things in a distant and removed sort of way. She wore a black travel cloak and under it a long black dress. Fitting for a necromancer, Regulus couldn't help thinking, though he'd never exactly seen a necromancer before.
"I'm Ariana," she said, smiling a greeting as she lifted her hand in a little wave.
She seemed a mix of almost sweetly shy and happy to see them. Her accent was German, but she spoke English clearly.
"Ah. Good then," Regulus said, allowing the letters to wink out as he lowered his wand.
"I am Regulus and this is my partner Kreacher."
Ariana smiled warmly.
"It is good to meet you both. I had three ghosts looking out for you before the train even finished unboarding, so I knew you were waiting for me with a sign in advance. That was very thoughtful of you."
She sighed, shaking her head of shoulder length curls with an embarrassed shrug.
"I am afraid I have been so anxious about finding my father that I didn't give a thought to how you would know who I was," she admitted with a chuckle.
"It's a good thing the two of you had it covered, as they say. My only plan was eavesdropping ghosts! That sometimes works and other times not as well."
"So ghosts make good spies," Kreacher wondered and she nodded.
"When you find those who are bored enough and have a good enough attention span, but that isn't always the case, so the method is in no way fool proof. Many earth bound spirits are confused, upset or outright hostile and unpleasant, and those are the ones I have the most and quickest access to."
"Confused and angry or earth bound," Kreacher asked and Ariana chuckled.
"Sorry. I should've been more clear. The earth bound, thank goodness! Some are bored and fortunately mentally stable and as such eager to help."
"Have you somewhere to stay," Regulus asked, and Ariana shrugged.
"I have heard of the Three Broom Sticks. I suppose I could stay there, if my father won't want me with him...Then again it is late, I probably shouldn't disturb him at this time of night."
Her nervousness was telling. As she spoke, her slender hands twisted at the velvet like material of her heavy black skirt.
"First, perhaps we should start with his name. That will tell us if Kreacher and I even know who he is as if we don't, we shall need more time to track him down anyway. We can help you to get settled at the Three Broomsticks, or if you wish you may stay at our manor with us. We are glad to extend our hospitality, but if you are uncomfortable staying with strangers, of course we understand. There shall be another lady in the house with you, though, if knowing that puts you more at ease. A young Ministry worker who is a good friend of Kreacher's. As he shall eventually join me in vampirism, she will be there to help us out during the day with anything we are unable to handle."
Normally Regulus would never give extensive amounts of personal information to a complete stranger, but this one was a bit of an exception by necessity. As a Necromancer who would help him to speak with his parents, she was going to be exposed to plenty of personal information soon enough.
If letting her in on some of that now made her feel more at ease, he saw no reason not to share. As a Necromancer, she could likely sense something was different about him, so sharing the vampire bit only seemed logical. Perhaps she even knew he was a vampire, so he did not want to hide that fact and give off the wrong impression for any reason. Enough wizards he came into contact with were made aware, if not by him, then by the Lestranges or Severus, as it was no particular secret. As he spoke, she hadn't even changed expression, only nodding slightly in acceptance.
"I appreciate your kindness and if I do not stay with my father, I am honored to take you up on your offer. It would feel better staying with kind new friends rather than in a strange inn all alone in a country that is not mine. But my father's name...Yes of course that would help."
She gave a weak chuckle at that.
"I am embarrassed. I must seem so scattered and even stupid, but I promise you this is not usually the case at all. I've just wanted to know who my father is for so very long, and my mother would never tell me because she hated him so. The very mention of him always enraged her! She only left me his name after her death, listed in her will of all things!"
As she spoke of her mother, Ariana's blue eyes darkened with resentment.
"At any rate, his name is Aberforth Dumbledore."
Regulus felt his eyes going wide and his mouth dropping at least for an instant in what was likely a rather undignified expression of astonished shock! By Merlin's beard, though, it was difficult to imagine Aberforth Dumbledore even in a relationship much less having a child. He did not seem at all sexual, nor did he appear to have the interest in the social niceties that came along naturally with relationships.
"Your father runs a bar and tavern. The Hog's Head Inn. It's actually in Scotland, but of course it wouldn't take us long to get there."
Ariana gave a joyful laugh as she clapped her hands in glee.
"You do know him," she exclaimed as tears of exultation sprang to her eyes.
"You actually know where he is! I shall be able to meet him soon! I shall look into his face and tell him that he is my father! I will have family."
Regulus nodded, smiling along with Kreacher who looked openly touched by the situation.
"Yes you shall, and we are happy for you. Family is important."
Ariana nodded, not bothering to wipe at the tears that still stood in her eyes.
"And I promise I shall help you to talk to yours very soon. I will keep my part of the agreement. I would just prefer to do it after I meet my father so that I am entirely centered and focused on what I am doing in order to give your parents the strongest anchor to this plane."
Regulus nodded. He hadn't truly expected to speak with his parents tonight. If for no other reason than that Ariana would be worn down from traveling.
"Of course. I am certain you will attend to it as soon as you are able.
"It will be soon, I promise," she assured.
"Do you know my father well? What is he like?"
Kreacher and Regulus exchanged a glance during the four or so second pause that followed Ariana's questions. Describing Aberforth would be challenging.
"Well," Regulus began slowly.
"I can't imagine anyone truly knowing Aberforth well who isn't family, but this is merely my impression. I am no authority. He seems to prefer the company of goats to people, but goats are somehow the Dumbledore family business."
"But I thought you said he owns an inn," Ariana said, looking perplexed.
"Oh yes that's his personal baby, whereas the goats are a Dumbledore family thing and have been as long as anyone knows. I personally believe they're magical goats, perhaps connected to the goats of Thor, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr. Perhaps even descended from them for all I know, but I always thought they were magical and thus important. It's never talked of openly, so perhaps the goats are extra special and thus as a result need to be kept a secret from general wizarding society. I only speculate, though," he said, giving an embarrassed shrug.
He tended to quickly become rather technical and in-depth on those rare matters of specialized magical interest.
"Master Regulus is most astute and brilliant," Kreacher gushed.
"If he believes the Dumbledore goats are of the blood of Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr, they likely are."
As he spoke, Kreacher had a nearly glazed look in his large blue eyes that put Regulus in mind of heated moments in their bed chamber. For a second, Regulus was nearly distracted, but thankfully Ariana spoke, drawing his focus back to the present.
"Goats descended from those of a Viking god would be fascinating to see for sure."
Her voice was awe struck, and Regulus was pleased to have his theory taken seriously.
"That means, my family has ties to some old powers...My family! I am of the family Dumbledore," she exclaimed, then chuckled.
"I've never even heard of any Dumbledore other than Albus. Are they related, do you think?"
Regulus chuckled, nodding.
"Indeed they are. They're brothers."
This time it was Ariana's jaw that dropped.
"Is he a lot like my father, then," she asked once she'd managed to get her mouth to close again.
"Oh not at all," Regulus said.
Kreacher shook his head in agreement.
"Like night and day, Kreacher thinks the two are. Both are good people in their own way, and Kreacher believes Ariana shall come to care for both very much. He thinks she is fortunate to have Albus Dumbledore as an uncle. Albus Dumbledore has been very kind and helpful to Kreacher and Master Regulus."
Regulus felt his lips twitch, for of course Kreacher would decide a person's worth on precisely how helpful they were to him. Priceless and one reason he loved Kreacher so much. He was quite open about who he was, honest as the day was long, and amusing about it besides.
"Oh I can't wait to meet both of them," Ariana enthused.
"In fact, I very much wish to do so tonight, but the more I think about it, the more inconsiderate it seems, I suppose," she admitted with a disappointed sigh.
"If it is truly alright with you, I shall take you up on your offer of a place to stay just for tonight, for tomorrow I must meet my father as early as possible."
"Of course," Regulus said.
Kreacher glanced from Ariana to Regulus with a reluctant frown on his face.
"Kreacher would take Miss Ariana, but he prefers to wait until Master Regulus wakes in the evening."
The dismay on Ariana's face made Regulus feel like a complete git so he spoke up.
"It would only take you a moment, Kreacher. It's alright. And you can tell me all about how it all went when I wake. It's likely to drive Ariana mad if she has to wait until sundown."
The open gratitude and relief on Ariana's face made Regulus glad he'd spoken up.
"Kreacher supposes," the elf said reluctantly.
"Thank you, Kreacher. And I promise to return to you and Regulus for the work I owe you the very next day. I should be centered enough by then."
"So the day after tomorrow," Regulus clarified and Ariana nodded.
He would be speaking with his parents in two days. That was as exciting as it was surreal.