Chapter 2

London, UK - September 20, 1979

She was running. She ran forward. She couldn't stop. Not now. Not when she managed to escape unnoticed with her almost dead daughter. An apportion wasn't an option. She couldn't be traced by possibly tracing her magic. Calliope Nott sighed when, shivering with cold, she had to finally stop. The rain didn't make it easier for her to escape.

She was in the outskirts of Muggle London when a car pulled up next to her. It wasn't like the ones she had learned about in Muggle Studies at Hogwarts, but it was definitely a car. After the windshield exposed the driver, she heard a woman's voice. - "Give you a lift somewhere?"

She pulled a piece of paper with the address her mother had given her on her wedding day from her robe pocket. Mother said that every witch in their community has that address. Calliope doubted that it really was, but she was desperate and had to ask for help. She couldn't get away from Thorus Nott herself. She could be forcibly brought to Nott Manor until the day she gave birth to a male heir to the name of Nott.

"Do you know this place?" - She wasn't sure whether to trust her. However, she had no choice.

The blonde with piercingly gray eyes so similar to those of Lucius Malfoy nodded her head in acknowledgment and opened the door on the other side of the vehicle. - "Please come in. I know exactly what you're looking for."

Calliope took a risk, without a word she got into the stranger's car.

xxx

Amber Orphanage, UK - September 20, 1979

It was a hard time in Marianne Brandon's life. Recently, the number of magical orphans has increased significantly. The war with Voldemort was gaining momentum and this place was under a real siege. This is why some children began to be transferred to orphanages in other countries.

The plump blonde rose abruptly from the desk. She sighed and wordlessly continued to think about their present situation. She used to take care of several children in a month. Currently, they have received several children a day. It was getting worse every day. They tried their best and she still had the impression that their efforts weren't enough.

She looked up and rubbed her eyes full of tears. She needed help.

Suddenly she heard the sound of the door opening. She didn't have to open her eyes to know who entered her office. - "Did you find someone from the side of the entrance to Diagon Alley?" - Marianne tried to keep her voice firm.

"Not. When I was coming back, I saw a girl in the suburbs. Only there is a serious problem. Her baby is almost dead. However, there are no visible injuries." - Ella was very businesslike. It had to be bad. This woman was one of the most emotional people she knew.

The head of the orphanage sharply turned her head towards her friend. She looked at her and said one short word. - "Lead.".

xxx

She watched the doctor examine her baby. It was clear to feel that he wasn't only a Muggle doctor but also a magic healer. She knew that she would receive help here, but she didn't know that this help would be so comprehensive. She hadn't expected this.

"When did you give birth to her?" - the doctor's voice was deep, reassuring. - "I have my suspicion, but I'd rather be sure."

"Yesterday in the morning."

"It doesn't differ from my diagnosis. Do you know what was done to your daughter?"

"My husband said that the magic core in the case of a woman will only go to waste. He tried to remove it. Yesterday evening the girl passed out. They didn't let me see her. I don't know if anything else happened after they asked me to leave my room. Only today I managed to…"

Calliope at that moment felt a hand on her shoulder. She shuddered and pulled her wand out of her robe pocket. It wasn't hers, so she wasn't sure if it would work. She turned and relief flooded her. Behind her was Ella, the woman who had brought her here, and the blonde with hazelnut eyes. She didn't know why she felt so relaxed at the sight of them.

"A girl? You didn't name her?" - The blonde seemed upset.

"That's the tradition my husband has. Without his consent, I cannot name my child. Actually, from the moment I get married, I don't own anything. I wish my daughter was safe. Even if I have to pay the highest price for my insubordination to Thorus. Will you accept her?"

"You own something. Your name. I am Marianne Brandon. And you?"

"Calliope Nott."

She saw the blonde sigh and said. - "If we manage to save her, we'll call her Calliope Nott. Name after her brave mother and father's name to make it easier for him to recognize what he has lost."

She didn't have much time. She leaned over the baby and placed a last kiss on her forehead. She whispered - "I love you. I hope we'll meet again."

xxx

Nott Manor, UK - September 20, 1979

She entered the Manor. She didn't know what would happen to her. She also didn't know if her husband had discovered her absence. She didn't care. With the ties put on her at the marriage ceremony, she wasn't strong enough to fight Thorus Nott. She knew she would have to submit to whatever punishment this bastard came up with.

It was too quiet.

She had expected the party to continue and to hear music or at least a buzz of conversation upon entering the manor. But to her misfortune, the only sound that cut across the silence was the sound of her own footsteps on the tiled floor.

She really wasn't expecting what was about to happen.

Suddenly, at first she felt someone tugging at her hair. Then there was only pain. It took her a moment to realize that her husband had hit her head against the wall. Another moment to realize that she is lying in a pool of her blood.

xxx

Ignite Orphanage, Ignite Academy, Italy - September 20, 1979

He hadn't expected correspondence so late. That's why he was scared by an owl that flew in through the open window in the dining room and sat down on the oak table. The hellish owl was very stubborn and didn't want to return the parcel to him. She did it only when, he bored with waiting, sat down on the chair next to the place where the owl sat. To his surprise, she waited for an answer.

"It's from Marianne. I told her I couldn't accept anyone else."

With expert fingers, he broke the seal on the letter. With every word he read, he was convinced that he was wrong and that he would have to make an exception for this girl. He scratched a few words on the back of the letter and handed it over to the waiting owl. She was just waiting for it, because she took off right away.

Albert Grindelwald sighed and said aloud, "It will be difficult. However, trying to take her core away could be repeated. This child needs a safe place."

The wizard wasn't sure if he would be able to handle the next child. He was only twenty-two. And so far, he didn't know how the hell he managed to become, at the age of less than twenty, the director of the Ignite Academy and the adjacent orphanage.

xxx

Nott Manor, UK - August 15, 1980

This time it worked. He proudly showed his friends, gathered in the parlor of his manor, the newborn heir of his name. Thorus Nott knew there was a danger of his first-born daughter reappearing. However, he believed that the risk was negligible. This is why he considered the child he was holding as the only extension of his lineage.

"Have you picked a name yet?" - he saw that Lucius Malfoy was disappointed that Calla had given birth to a son instead of a daughter. He hoped to reunite their families.

"Theodore Nott. My heir's name is Theodore Nott."

xxx

Ignite Orphanage, Ignite Academy, Italy - August 21, 1980

Albert Grindelwald smiled at Calliope asleep under his desk. She was curled up in a ball similar to the one in which their ginger cat, simply called Cat by the children, was curled up. He wanted to review papers on the extension of the boarding school. However, he thought it might wait. He picked up today's edition of the Daily Prophet and sank deep into his chair. The first thing that caught his eye was the article on the title page.

He read aloud silently, "The Nott Family in grief. After the heir's birth yesterday, it seemed Thorus Nott would be celebrating the enlargement of the family. Today we have been informed that his wife, Calliope Nott, weakened by childbirth, fainted on the stairs. Her condition was checked after the fall, but it turned out that Lady Nott was already dead..."

The wizard rubbed his temples and said looking at the girl. - You lost your mother but you gained a brother. I hope you will remember that you already have three brothers who will give their lives for you in the future. Just to keep you safe.

xxx

Another chapter in the story which was supposed to be a one-shot. How do you like it? Is it worth developing? I would like to know your opinion;) best regards Katie-Krum