The Silent Life of Flora Jain Potter.
By Novum Arkilum.
AN:
Please note that this story does not follow the canon timeline nor canon events to the letter, even diverging when the writer deems it necessary.
Hope you enjoy the story.
© Copyright disclaimer:
I (Novum Arkilum) do not claim any right to the Harry Potter franchise or anything connected to it. All rights belong to the original writer JK Rowling.
Thank you for your time.
Chapter four
A visit.
The eldest of two, a man with a long silver beard, his crystal blue eyes twinkling behind half-moon spectacles sitting upon a crooked nose that seemed to have been broken several times turned to face her. "Ah, Ms Potter, your timing is impeccable. "
Flora Staired, there was something strangely familiar about the man… though she could not place why.
"I'm Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster at Hogwarts, and this is my Deputy Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall" the man introduced.
Flora curtsied stiffly in a way of greeting the two Professors, unsure what to expect. Though Professor Dumbledore either did not notice or did not care as he was carefully rummaging through his robes, eventually fishing out a dark red book.
"Something I wanted to give to you for your birthday today, it once belonged to your mother, she placed it in my care," he said giving the book, taking the book in her hands, Flora noticed Professor McGonagall smiling a little… who otherwise appeared very similar to Mrs Medlock in nature who seemed to be keeping out of the conversation for time being.
Diary of Lily J Potter (née Evans)
Flora had a million questions crop in her mind… and only just released that she left her notepad in her room, instead, she presented the letter with a questioning look.
"That brings us nicely into the subject matter." Professor Dumbledore nodded "Minerva, I believe this is your area of expertise." the deputy nodded.
"Good day Ms Potter, and very happy birthday to you." Professor McGonagall started.
"Professors, I have a hard time grasping the situation, you're telling me young Flora here is, a Witch? and that yourselves are capable of magic, and you wish to teach Flora?" Mrs Medlock intervened before the conversion could continue.
Professor McGonagall raised her brows. "Yes… I am assuming you need evidence?" Professor McGonagall replied. having been in this situation many times before.
Mrs Medlock gestured to a nearby plain wooden chair that Flora herself was deeply familiar with having sat in it many times before.
Professor McGonagall withdrew what looked like a wooden stick, in a rapid series of movements, there was a flash of light followed by the chair being replaced by a midsized black and white dog, that seemed very eager to bound up to a wide-eyed Flora with excitement, who petted the dog before it vanished becoming a chair once more now next to Flora, overwhelmed seated herself in it… though still finding it just as uncomfortable as it had ever been.
Mrs Medlock met her eyes, Flora paled when she released what her caretaker was asking her, with a light nod… Flora folded back the collar of her shirt revealing the scar along the side of her neck.
"Ms, Potter has a speech impediment, in that she is mute" Mrs Medlock explained, Flora looking down at the floor, her face uncomfortably warm.
"Ms Potter, it is nothing to be ashamed of, a great many witches and wizards with various impediments have passed through the prestigious halls of Hogwarts, many of those have gone on to do great things." Professor McGonagall said, cousin Flora to look up once again.
"Indeed" Dumbledore nodded "However, it won't be without great difficulty. Though, I am confident that you'll do well in your studies at Hogwarts… it's not something that is normally taught until sixth year, it is entirely possible to use magic without so much as uttering a word." He finished.
Flora blinked, before shaking her head… how could any of this be possible, if she was truly a witch, she would have turned the Dursleys into toadstools a long time ago… no she was Just Flora, right?
Professor McGonagall took a deep breath as if she had been distracted and relieved a little, evidently in a more familiar situation. "Ms, Potter I am assuming you have difficulty in seeing yourself as a witch?"
Flora nodded carefully.
"Have you ever done anything strange when you were under a lot of stress, or upset?" The professor asked.
once again nodded, Flora understood… her freakishness, which had gotten her into and out of so much trouble of the years especially in regards to the Dursleys.
When Marcus had been teasing her relentlessly and she had hidden away in her room, it wasn't until Mrs Medlock managed to calm her down that anyone could enter, the door itself featuring no lock, it was never figured out how the door was locked in the first place.
"You will have to make a fast decision Ms Potter, sadly as term starts tomorrow we will have to spend our time today getting all your school materials should you wish to attend.
Flora looked between The two Professor's and Mrs Medlock… how could she decide… on one hand she would have a chance to understand and master something that has been the source of so much trouble, on the other… she would be leaving to the once place she had always felt somewhat safe.. though maybe…slowly, She nodded.
"excellent" professor Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling.
Looking down at the letter again, Flora flipped over to the list of materials, the list was like nothing Flora Had seen before for a School list.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY.
Uniform
First-year students will require:
1:Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2: One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3: One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
"Dragons!?" Mrs Medlock exclaimed, who had been reading through the list as well.
"Naturally" Professor Dumbledore replied with a chuckle, "Dragonhide is extremely durable and magic resistant, my pair of gloves have saved my hands countless times over."
"I mean, are Dragons real?" Mrs Medlock pressed, seemingly short of breath.
"Whilst very real, and very proud creatures, they are few and far between in the British Isles." Professor McGonagall replied before things could get out of hand, and put her skill as an educator on show.
A somewhat rattled Flora turned her attention back to the list
4: One winter cloak (black, Silver Fastenings)
Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
A Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (Pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.
Mrs Medlock took a deep breath, "I am assuming that we will have to make our way to London for these materials?"
"Indeed," Professor Dumbledore replied, "there used to be a magical district in York, however, it had been sealed off after Grindelwald's war, no one has visited their senses."
At Flora's and Mrs Medlock's confused expressions, Professor Dumbledore gave a small though sad smile "you would know the conflict as world war two."
"but Children were sent to York to avoid the blitz… at least on the non-magical side, my sister and I were both sent to a small house where we grew up not far from here."
"ah, indeed on the mundane side of the conflict the north was fairly peaceful, but that was far from the case on the magical side." Professor Dumbledore replied, "though before we go too much further on this fascinating tangent, we should get underway" he continued.
"Professors," Mrs Madlock interceded, "it will take us till morning to reach London, and I'll have to alert the children and staff of my absence. "
"Ah of course, understandable that your absence will need to be alerted, I myself can scantily leave or arrive somewhere without half the wizarding population in England seemingly needing to be aware of it." Professor Dumbledor replied nod "as for the distance, I have some good friends living nearby who happen to need to visit Diagon Alley as well that I have already spoken to. They have been gracious and have allowed us the use their floo."
Flora looked at the Professors confused… a million questions burned that she was unable to ask, wishing she would have remembered her notepad, still in her room on the fourth floor.
With questions remaining unasked and unanswered, Flora found herself following the two professors alongside Mrs Medlock down the familiar path along the hedges and up the large hill. Where true to form, she found the large old building sitting upon the moor.
Come to a quick decision Flora nervously took hold of the sleeve of Professor McGonagall's robes getting her attention and pointed towards the building, desperate to get this long-standing question finally answered.
The professor was confused "I'm afraid I see nothing but the moor, and a rather handsome poney" she replied
"Ah," said Professor Dumbledore "What I believe young Flora is seeing that none else is able to, is the ancestral home of her family, Potter Moor Manor."
Flora looked wide-eyed at the manor, what kind of family was she part of? What seemed to at least used to be a very wealthy looking one, she could imagine a place like that would have had dozens of butlers and other servants cleaning and cooking… Was that the kind of lifestyle her parents lived… the lord and lady of a manor? Before they drank themselves silly and died in a car crash… was that story even true, there was so much the Dursleys had told her, she was left starting to question almost everything, but didn't find answers to anything. It was frustrating as she was so close to some possible answers now, yet had no means to ask. due to her being in such a hurry earlier. Unless it happened to involve getting the attention of one of the professors and pointing at a physical object, such as the now seemingly elusive possible unicorn… if they were real at all.
The group by now had moved on and had gone further than she had ever gone before, finding herself off the pavement and following the professors and Mrs Medlock down a dirt path that she had never noticed before, even though she could very clearly see the hill where she would always stand and look out over the moor on.
Soon they were standing before a towering, off canter looking house that had seemed to have had bits of new parts added to it over the years all painted a miss-match of colours… to Flora, it looked like something out of one of her storybooks.
"Welcome to the Burrow, home of the Weasley family." Professor Dumbledore said, in what seemed to be in an overly grandiose tone given the situation, "we should be expected." He continued with a kind smile, his azure blue eyes sparkling behind half-moon spectacles before walking up to the front door and knocking.
There was a minute where it seemed to Flora to be a lot bustling and fussing about inside before the door opened, behind it, a rather plump her cheeks red and flushed.
"Professors! welcome." the woman said, her voice kind and motherly if not a little out of breath. "Molly," Professor Dumbledore nodded, before turning his attention to Flora and Mrs Medlock "this is Molly Weasley, she is the matriarch of the Weasley family. She and her children will be joining us on our outing to Diagon Alley today," he explained, before continuing with introductions.
Mrs Medlock nodded, greeting Mrs Wealsley, whilst Flora gave a small shy curtsy.
"It is lovely to meet you, Flora, Mrs Medlock. " she nodded, before showing the four of them inside the small household.
Inside, was surprisingly large, before them a living area and beyond that what looked like a large full-on kitchen…at least by pre-industrial standards. Entering the living area from the kitchen was another girl, almost seemed to be half a head taller than Flora (who had come to accept that she wouldn't grow much taller than she was already). The girl blinked as she came to stop at the doorway between the kitchen and living room, and met Flora's eyes with her own brown eyes.
"Hello," the girl said, her tone shy.
Flora curtsied once more, seemingly startling the girl, who gave a soft squick and gained a nice red colour on her cheeks.
"Y-your Flora Potter!" The girl whispered in awe, her eyes taking glances at Flora's forehead before looking back down at her emerald green eyes, then back again.
"This is Ginny, my youngest" Mrs Weasley introduced with pride, clearly evident. "She will be starting Hogwarts as well this year, (*1) All her brothers have already started."
Flora only nodded, not knowing what else she could do, she then turned her attention back to Ginny, who she was confused by, as the red-haired girl was the first person Flora could ever remember feeling somewhat comfortable around. leading to even more questions she was unable to ask… internally leading to increased frustration at herself for forgetting her paper and pen. Especially when it seemed both Mrs Weassley and Ginny were expecting an answer from her. Though thankfully Mrs Medlock saved her once more.
Clearing her throat, managing to redirect attention, "Ms Potter is speech impaired, in that is unable to speak, please do not take it as an insult when she does not reply to you."
Mrs Weasly very quickly went wide-eyed, her attention falling back on Flora… "oh!"
Ginny seemed confused for a moment then determined, before gently walking closer, until she pulled the shorter raven-haired girl into a hug.
Flora was all the more confused…. Nothing like this had ever happened before… there was a comfort to the gesture she was very unfamiliar with.
As soon as the hug had started it had ended… leaving Flora with (to her) an equally strange feeling of wanting the warm comfortable feeling to continue, that followed with an uncomfortable warmth… a blush?
"To be young." Professor Dumbledore chuckled "we best be off, the longer we wait the more crowded it will be." The headmaster said,
Professor McGonagall nodded, her stern expression seemingly unyielding.
Flora expected for them to head back out the door, as did Mrs Medlock it looked like, so she was all the more confused when rather than turn for the door, they were guided further inside the household and to the fireplace.
"Will be travelling to London via the flew network" Professor Dumbledore explained, "without getting into detail, it works fairly simply, it is simple case of throwing some flew powder into the fireplace turning the fire green, step in, and very clearly say the name of your destination, in this case you'll say, Diagon Alley."
He then gestured to Minerva who nodded, then promptly stepped up grabbing water flora guessed to be flue powered out of the bowl. Then stepped up to the fire, throwing the powder into flames turning them a florescent green, before stepping into the fire and calling out. "DIAGON ALLEY!"
Much to Flora's shock, completely vanished as the flames burst… What on earth had happened?
