1991, April 26th Late-Spring
Hogwarts Castle,
Mid-day.
Within the tallest ivory tower of Hogwarts was a beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises. Upon further inspection, several curious silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables emitting the usual whirring and puffs of smoke, portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses snoozed gently in their frames, there was also a majestic Phoenix perched alongside an enormous, claw-footed desk.
It was a common sight to see the illustrious Headmaster behind the very same desk, candle alight, books sprawled and parchment scattered, filled with various upcoming legislative motions from the Wizengamot and ICW.
It was evident that Albus Dumbledore was very old judging by the length of his silver hair and beard. His light, bright blue eyes, however, were hidden behind half-moon spectacles, the familiar twinkle diminished somewhat as the aged headmaster gave a weary sigh.
The progressives, traditionalists, and conservatives within the Wizengamot continued their various petty squabbles over the Privileges and Immunities Clause. It was a troublesome clause, to say the least. In short, the clause summed up the fulfillment of Britain's constitutional promise of enjoyment of life, liberty, and property. The well-intended clause however had allowed the Purebloods to keep Wizarding Britain in the same stagnant hold.
The conservatives as well as a large majority of the traditionalists refused to adhere to any amendments to the clause. It was no surprise why. The line of 'The right to protect oneself from self-incrimination,' meant methods of veritaserum and magical oaths were thrown out the door. It was for this very reason so many of the Dark Lord's deatheaters had escaped punishment for their involvement in the war. A simple claim of influence under the imperius with no events tying a large majority of the deatheaters to the scene of their crimes meant they'd simply walked free after weighing a couple of pockets.
Dumbledore, sickened by the blatant corruption, turned his gaze upon hearing the familiar scratching of the Hogwarts register. The ancient book had been writing letters since the time of the first four founders.
It seemed another acceptance letter was being written down.
'Ah!' Dumbledore internally thought as he popped a lemon drop into his mouth, salivating at the lemony goodness. The aged Headmaster was gladdened with the excuse from the slight reprieve from the cesspool that was wizarding politics.
The Headmaster rising from his ornate chair turned behind the claw-footed desk to view the open-faced book on the lowest ledge of the shelf. His eyebrows immediately raised in alarm upon reading the first three words.
'Dear Ms. Black, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.'
Dumbledore gave a splutter, nearly spitting out his lemon drop. The wizened, weather-beaten Headmaster's face, visibly aging. The Black's were considered a Dormant House after the war.
The patrilineal line had seen the loss of Regulus and the incarceration of Sirius Black. Arcturus the Lord Black had passed a few years previous. The idea of a Black lurking around was a troubling thought for Dumbledore, but it wasn't the only explanation.
'No,' The headmaster internally surmised, his mind continuing. 'Yes, this is still salvageable.' It occurred to him that the most likely explanation was an unfortunately named Muggleborn girl. Trying to give a firm nod to reassure himself, the shaken headmaster clutched the newly formed letter and strode over to the flickering fireplace in the adjacent corner. It wouldn't do to have an unknown after all, best confirm his suspicions...
The now agitated Headmaster grabbed a pinch of Floo powder from the overhanging jar and tossed the greenish powder into the flames.
"Minerva," Dumbledore called through the flames as he made a floo call to his deputy head.
"Yes?" came the blunt reply.
Dumbledore paused and braced himself, "there's been an unexpected occurrence with an acceptance letter, I wish to handle it myself."
"Albus," Mcgonagall's voice queried hesitantly, "you wish to handle one of the Muggleborns?" They both knew it was her job as deputy head to manage the introduction of Hogwarts muggleborn students to the wizarding world.
"Yes, yes." Dumbledore's voice said offhandedly. "The last name is an unfortunate occurrence, however, I wish to check up on the girl in question just to be safe."
"Very well." McGonagall's no-nonsense reply came back. It seemed she was too busy formulating lesson plans to care about a muggleborn who was unfortunately named.
Dumbledore however didn't like leaving things to chance, best to settle his nerves and put the whole situation to rest. 'Now,' Dumbledore internally thought tapping his foot, 'just where was she located?'.
Walking and grabbing the newly scribbled envelope off the ledge, Dumbledore scowled as he read the front.
Ms. O Black
Room. 33
Wool's Orphanage
Lambeth,
South London.
Dumbledore sighed, it was apparent the illustrious headmaster wasn't going to have a good day.
1991, April 26th Late-Spring
Wool's Orphanage. The front door
The headmaster had ventured quickly out of his beloved castle after viewing the new development. He was immensely uneasy, to say the least as he strode up to the iron gates of the orphanage.
Dumbledore had been frowning at the very notion of a Black being raised in a muggle orphanage. It all seemed like the beginning of a bad joke, the type of joke that would be shared around the Hog's Head with a glass of Firewhiskey.
No, the headmaster strictly told himself, relaying over and over again that it was just an unfortunately named muggleborn. He certainly didn't need a Black of all things attending Hogwarts during the first year of the Boy-Who-Lived.
Pressing the doorbell, Dumbledore sighed as he waited to be greeted. The headmaster in question flat out refused to acknowledge he was revisiting Tom's old orphanage. So many lives could be saved if he'd never showed up.
"Albus?" Came the confused voice of Mrs. Cole.
Dumbledore grimaced at another surprise, Mrs. Cole had been a young woman during his first visit to the orphanage. Dumbledore himself had resembled a middle-aged man.
"Mrs. Cole," Dumbledore returned with a kind smile nodding his head.
The old matron looked appraisingly at him, shrewd eyes scanning him twice over before replying.
"Why don't you come in?" Mrs. Cole said, "I believe we have much to discuss." The caretaker trailing off ambiguously…
Dumbledore internally winced. The woman was still abnormally perceptive.
"I believe that would be for the best," Dumbledore said evasively, still reeling from today's events.
Mrs. Cole simply inclined her head and gestured to Dumbledore follow through the door.
Stepping into a hallway, the headmaster recognised the familiar tiles of black and white that littered the hallway during his first visit. The orphanage, Dumbledore noted, however, appeared to be less run-down as he followed Mrs. Cole up the length of the hallway into a hybrid office/sitting room.
Parking himself onto a simple sofa, the headmaster watched the elderly matron shuffle towards a neighbouring room outside before returning with two glasses and a bottle of tepid water.
The matron now sufficiently seated on an adjacent sofa, glasses and water rested upon the coffee table directly in front of them began the conversation.
"So, you've come to accept someone in this school of yours?"
"Indeed." Dumbledore said in acknowledgement before continuing, "I was hoping to offer Mrs. Black our acceptance letter."
The matron blinked, clearly surprised.
Dumbledore realising her startlement, decided to press for information on the girl, remembering just how the last direction of their previous conversation went some fifty years prior.
"Is something the matter?" Dumbledore queried.
"Oh, no." Mrs. Cole waved him off before tentatively saying. "It's just I thought you'd be here for a different person. Ophelia, I suppose I can understand though." The matron continued offhandedly.
Dumbledore gave a nod and let the matter slide, It was a reasonable assumption that an intelligent child could win a scholarship. However, Dumbledore eased her concerns.
"It's no trouble," the Headmaster said genially. "Mrs. Black has had her name down since birth."
The matron acknowledged Dumbledore's voice absent-mindedly, appearing to accept the same cover story; she did look at him sharply, however, stating carefully.
"I suppose you'd like to know some of Ophelia Black's history?"
"Yes," Dumbledore gratefully said, "that would be most beneficial."
The headmaster was hopeful that Mrs. Cole could ease his suspicions and sweep the whole ordeal under the rug.
"I must admit, it's a tragic story." Mrs. Cole voiced, then admitted.
"I've only heard the story second hand but it's well known by myself and my co-workers that her mother was horrifically burned. She'd been rushed to hospital in need of immediate care after being found lying on a paved street."
The matron then swallowed.
"It was upon closer inspection in hospital, that the doctors realised she was visibly pregnant." Mrs. Cole's hands were clasped tightly, lips pursed, pausing before she continued the story.
"Thankfully from what I was told, the woman had only suffered superficial burns to the stomach area but it was addressed by the doctors that the other external damage was quite severe and due to the swelling and blistering. It was debated whether or not the mother would bleed out from childbirth."
Dumbledore listened intently as the matron then sighed.
"The mother was in the hospital for the next four months before Ophelia was born, I'm told however that no matter the treatment her burns refused to heal. The doctors were quite baffled and kept her constantly sedated due to the pain."
The matron then summed up the story.
"It was when Ophelia was born that the woman had been the most lucid since her arrival. But she died in childbirth, bleeding out exactly as the doctors feared. She did voice however that her name was Marlene Mckinnon and the father was Sirius Black."
Dumbledore audibly choked. Quicking reaching to pour himself a glass of water. His face was an image of horror.
Marlene Mckinnon had been an integral member of the Order of the Phoenix. She'd been a highly talented witch before her now supposed death at Mckinnon Manor. To hear Marlene had survived the torching of Mckinnon Manor was truly astonishing. Lord Voldemort had set the manor aflame with fiendfyre, the Order was completely devastated to hear the Mckinnon family had been wiped out. The news that Marlene had survived long enough to give birth to Sirius's daughter meant that the situation now wasn't as bad as it seemed. Line extermination was viewed as bad as the kiss in wizarding society. The Mckinnon's especially so as they were beloved by the light, to hear that the family wasn't extinct was truly a pleasing thought even if she was Sirius's daughter.
Dumbledore still signed though, the Prophet would have a field day when the news of Marlene's daughter with Sirius came out. He knew the light would scorn her. As a consequence of her father's actions, she'd be ridiculed at Hogwarts. Dumbledore himself would try to ease her burden as much as he could and yet it was well known of James Potter's legendary hate of anything dark or aligned with the conservatives. He couldn't have that. It was almost a certainty the newly discovered heiress of the Blacks and Mckinnon's would be driven from the progressives. It would been political suicide to hand over the votes of the Mckinnons and Blacks to the traditonialists or worse the conservatives. Dumbledore didn't care if had to cross James Potter. It didn't matter if he held the proxy of the Potter seat, the Potter vote was always with the progressives. Dumbledore himself knew it would be up to him to calm James down when he heard of Sirius's daughter, he wouldn't listen to anyone else.
The elderly headmaster just sighed, he'd deal with the hurdle when the time came. All he could do now was inquire of the girl's history within the orphanage.
Turning to Mrs. Cole. The headmaster nodded, asking the question in his mind.
"Aside from her tragic past, could you tell me of her history within the orphanage?"
Again Mrs. Cole swallowed.
"Ophelia has always been a difficult child. She arrived after moving to Wool's when she was six years of age. A neighbouring Orphanage had been closed down due to the government wanting to focus funding on one orphanage in the area. When she arrived I was shocked. She was more willful than any child I've seen, she didn't take well to authority either. It was known before she arrived that she'd always suffered from bullying. Her eyes, heterochromia I believe it's called, made her a target for constant teasing."
Dumbledore then butted in, "has she reverted to being shy as a consequence?"
Teasing and bullying often led children to close themselves off from others. It was something Dumbledore could deal with though, and might even be beneficial considering her father. She'd have become accustomed to it. Better to have experience than walking in blind, Dumbledore thought. He'd warn her of course…
Mrs. Cole however waved him off.
"No, no," the matron said. "She's a vindictive thing, spiteful I'd go as far to say. I've watched her closely."
Giving Dumbledore an uneasy look Mrs. Cole carried on. "The girl takes to violence as you would breathe the air around you. She's unlike any child I've ever seen at the orphanage in my many years in the orphanage. Even Tom."
Dumbledore grimaced as Mrs. Cole trailed on.
"Ophelia will bear scars as a mark of pride. They're symbolic I suppose, each one is a different battle won, her only saving grace, however, is the vindictive streak I mentioned earlier. Every opponent she selects is someone who she's been slighted by. She's not so callous that she'll attack anyone and everything. No, I dare say what she does is scarier."
The matron then continued, Dumbledore noted however she was pleased she could speak her mind concerning the girl. It was much the same with Tom.
"Ophelia, well the girl has cunning and intelligence in spades. She selects her opponents in front of others, baits the boys into either attacking first or waiting for them to say something worthwhile of retaliating. I've often called her a vicious minx" Mrs. Cole freely admitted.
A note of concern was hinted at in her next words. "Her only downfall however is her need for an audience, she could've attacked any boy who teased her in an empty corridor. No one would believe them either. My co-workers would simply think they were shifting the blame to someone they teased and bullied, rather than some petty fight between friends. Ophelia…" The matron trickled off. "The girl's need for an audience is evident. Every fight is carefully selected in front of a bunch of witnesses. It's almost like she wants the limelight centred on her. It seems she needs others to revel in her victory, to acknowledge her as something imposing and dominant. To send a message that she's not to be trifled with." Mrs. Cole finished off, seemingly satisfied with her response.
Unknown to Mrs. Cole. Dumbledore's mind was internally racing, trying to figure out disparities and similarities between Tom and Ophelia, he was simply thankful that the girl didn't have an incessant need for cruelty like Tom. But then again she could still prove troublesome.
"Any incidents?" Dumbledore slowly questioned.
Mrs. Cole gave a firm nod. "Yes, there was one in particular." The Matron surmised,
"I remember quite vividly the fight between Mark Ellis and Ophelia, she'd goaded Mark into the fight, the typical bullheaded boy said something to infuriate her enough to instigate a fight. Most likely a comment about her eyes. There wasn't much to it either, it was a typical tussle, a couple of cuts and bruises. We'd managed to separate them before things had become too serious. However it was the aftermath that was troubling, Mr. Ellis wouldn't apologise and instead insulted her. Ophelia the little nuisance chose instead to lash out with the strongest kick I've ever seen. Quite frankly I couldn't believe my eyes when Mark sailed in the air. The poor boy ended up with 6 broken ribs and an elbow."
Accidental magic Dumbledore mused, not particularly uncommon either. The boy was lucky however, he had gotten off lightly all things considered. If Ophelia wanted it to hurt, he doubted the boy would've been here today.
"Any other incidents?" Dumbledore said from his musings.
"No," Mrs. Cole seemed to hesitate but then answered.
"Ophelia stopped looking for fights not long after. I gave her a vicious tongue lashing that I assure you Mr. Dumbledore but it gave her some pause, I doubt however that words alone would have quelled her vindictiveness."
"No," The matron continued, "I think her interests simply changed, or someone changed them anyway, It was about the time she met Harry Potter." Mrs. Cole said speculatively. "They've been inseparable ever since."
Dumbledore instantly gave a sharp cough interrupting her abruptly as his eyes widened.
"I'm sorry." Dumbledore said cautiously in alarm, "did you just mention Harry Potter?"
Mrs. Cole looked at him curiously before speaking. "Yes, he was the boy I thought you came to see. There's something different about him." Mrs. Cole said offhandedly
The matron then continued, brow creased in frustration. "I just can't lay my finger on it."
Dumbledore just gave a weary sigh. His day had seemed to spectacularly plummet even more.
The headmaster seemed almost afraid to receive an answer as he gingerly voiced. "What can you tell me about Mr. Potter?"
The matron gave him a sharp stare, evaluating him before she replied. "I thought you were here to Interview Mrs. Black?"
The headmaster just gave another sigh seeing it was unavoidable. "I know his parents quite closely, I was of the assumption he was living with his aunt while his parents sought medical help for their other child." Fishing for more information Dumbledore then said carefully. "He was born in late July I believe."
Mrs. Cole raised an eyebrow before speaking questioningly. "July 31st?"
Dumbledore slumped. "Yes, I believe that's the date."
Mrs. Cole nodded slowly speaking. "You'll be wanting to speak to both of them then?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said with an incline of the head. "It would be for the best. I believe Mr. Potter's name is in the registry as well."
Mrs. Cole blinked but said nothing, digesting the information. Accepting Dumbledore's white lie at face value. Knowing Harry Potter's parents seemed to help The headmaster supposed. He was just thankful that he wouldn't need a confundus charm this time.
The Matron finally voiced up. "They'll be in room number 27. then. They rarely leave each other's sides, except for bedtime."
Still not having enough information, the headmaster asked one last question. "Is there anything you can tell me about Mr. Potter?" He was still inwardly cursing. The boy was supposed to be at Petunia's. Not alongside Sirius Black's daughter of all things.
"No. Not much," Mrs. Cole said with a shake of the head. "I've raised him since he arrived on the doorstep. Quite like Tom." The matron carried offhandedly as she remembered the similarity before quickly voicing. "He's a sweet boy, a gentleman really, always polite and thankful. Keeps to himself mostly outside of Ophelia. The only odd thing about him is how reclusive he is. Outside of mealtimes and the library you don't see him really, he looks down on the other children. Ophelia has only ever been his friend. I think it's to do with his intelligence. The boy can't stand to be around bickering children, he's simply advanced for his age."
Dumbledore listened intently. He feared Mrs. Cole was being deceived by the boy's words, Tom had the same ability Dumbledore remembered. But Mrs. Cole seemed to see through it. That was worrying, it occurred to him briefly that Harry Potter might have a superiority complex. It was a common trait of high functioning intellectuals. He just feared the boy would now look down upon muggles altogether when he found out he was a wizard, this kind of environment did influence that kind of behaviour after all."
Problems for another time, Dumbledore thought.
"I think I should visit the two now," Dumbledore said, speaking up.
Mrs. Cole just nodded her head a bit disappointed the conversation was coming to an end.
"Very well, I'll take you to them now." Mrs. Cole said, giving a slight strain to get up.
Dumbledore offered a hand as he rose.
"Thank you," the matron said earnestly as she grasped his hand.
Dumbledore simply smiled and gestured for her to lead on.
The two walked in silence down the immaculate hallway, walking further away from the entrance as they turned off the second landing, the smell of disinfectant palpable.
"Here we are." Mrs. Cole said, stopping outside the first room of a long corridor Dumbledore instantly recognised.
"Harry, Ophelia?" Mrs. Cole called, knocking twice on the open door and entering.
"You've got a visitor," the matron continued. "This is Mr. Dumbledore, he's here to offer you a place in his school."
With that Mrs. Cole politely excused herself and left.
Dumbledore met the inquisitive stares of the boy and the girl. It was eerie, it was concerning.
The headmaster honestly felt he'd travelled back in time when he saw the form of Harry Potter. The surrounding room was just how he remembered, small and bare, the old wardrobe now looking positively ancient. The iron bedstead even remained the same, the only additions an updated mattress and a simple bedside table with a lamp. It was Harry's mannerisms however that he found most disturbing, he was sitting on the top of the gray blankets. Legs stretched out in front of him holding a book. 'Just like Tom,' Dumbledore thought, giving an internal shudder.
The similarities stopped there, however. Harry, unlike Tom, had the girl, Ophelia Dumbledore remembered. She was the reason he'd visited this accursed place. The place which was the very precipice from which all of Wizarding Britain fell into inevitable conflict due to one man's incessant need for control.
Dumbledore took in the appearance of the girl lying on the floor, hazel hair fanned out, the once wooden horse she played idly left aside as she looked up to meet his eyes. Gellert's eyes stared back. Dumbledore swayed, resting his stricken body upon the adjoining wall for support. It was simply too much. The course of events, overwhelming.
It was lunacy! James and Lily's boy in the same room as the daughter of Sirius Black, her face the splitting image of her fathers. It seemingly got worse, both of them adopting mannerisms and characteristics of Tom and Gellert.
Mrs. Cole implying Harry with his general distaste of muggles and charisma that allowed people to fall under his spell and Ophelia, ruthless with a need to impose her dominance. Just like Gellert, Dumbledore thought. The girl bearing the Eye of The Graeae only seemed to reaffirm the image within his mind.
Dumbledore scowled, the Blacks weren't even known for the fated eye in their bloodline gifts. The eye only appeared in half a dozen wizards and wizards each century. To think that such a promising gift was bestowed upon her didn't sit right with the headmaster. It made him uneasy that the girl could see the aura of wizards and the colours of ambient magic at a moment's glance. It only seemingly worsened when he knew that she would eventually be able to discern weaknesses within wards that took teams of wizards to identity, for her it took all but a moment's notice. The final factor scared him the most. The girl would be able to collapse wards with a flick of her wand, altering the chemistry of the spell instinctively to suit her needs. It was what made Grindlewald so terrifying. No fortification was safe from him, the Dark Lord simply bulldozed his way in.
Dumbledore swore at all costs he would try to keep this girl to the light. She was a weapon otherwise. In dangerous hands, it would lead to catastrophic repercussions. Shaking his head Dumbledore returned to the inevitable discussion at hand.
"How do you do? Harry, Ophelia?"
Piercing emerald eyes met his stare. Black hair was uncommon in the Potters, however, the boy looked like James except with Lily's eyes.
Instantly Dumbledore winced as he felt the legilimency strike of Ophelia.
"That's quite rude, you know?" Dumbledore ground out frustratingly. The strike was bereft of any subtly instead, the girl opting for the equivalent to a hammer-sized blow. Thankfully as a master occlumens the headmaster was able to glance the blow off his mental shields. The only side effect was a slight bit of pain.
Ophelia just looked sheepish, Harry however was curious.
"You're one of us," He simply said.
The comment made Dumbledore fidgety, it was cold, cutting. The headmaster could hear the accusation and venom etched into the last word. It summed up Dumbledore's suspicions however and it made the headmaster all the more uneasy.
"Yes, I suppose." Dumbledore went on "Hogwarts is a school for people with special abilities."
The headmaster waited for their reply, hoping the incident with Tom wouldn't be replicated.
"It's a school for the supernatural then?" Harry asked with a tilted head.
Dumbledore sighed. It seemed the events of the day weren't done just yet. They knew the truth. Not even Tom had come so close in his guessing.
The headmaster nodded then spoke. "Yes and no. The supernatural is part of the wider world. However, at Hogwarts, we practice magic."
"Magic." Ophelia butted in, eyes boring into his. "You call it magic?"
But before Dumbledore could answer, Harry cut in.
"It makes sense, I'm sorry Ophelia. I simply called it the supernatural to identify what we could do."
Dumbledore was increasing in anxiety. They were unknowns, the girl was gifted at the very least. Wandless legilimency? He needed to know more so he could gauge the full scope of their capabilities.
"What exactly can you do?" The headmaster asked hesitantly
Harry, however, brushed him aside. "You can use magic too?" The boy asked questioningly.
"Yes, I can," Dumbledore replied
"Prove it then," Ophelia said idly
Harry nodded in agreement and continued. "If you want a demonstration, you'll give one yourself."
Dumbledore sighed "I take it, you are accepting a place at Hogwarts?"
The boy and girl gave a nod.
"Very well." The headmaster said.
The wardrobe burst into flames.
This time, however, unlike so many years ago the faint rattling of the box could not be heard.
Dumbledore glad, raised his hand and the flames vanished, leaving the wardrobe completely undamaged.
"That's it?" Ophelia scoffed
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in alarm. The headmaster thought it was a sufficient demonstration.
Annoyed. He continued."Hogwarts is a place of formalities. If you wish to attend then you will address me as, 'headmaster,' 'professor,' or 'sir.' Now I believe." Dumbledore said, acting stern. "A demonstration from yourselves is in order."
Harry sighed and gestured towards Ophelia.
The girl scowled, however.
"Very well, sir," Ophelia said testily.
Mrs. Cole was right, Dumbledore surmised. The girl doesn't take well to authority.
With that Ophelia's fingertips gave a spark before becoming alight with the flicker of flame as the fiery substance crawled up both her hands blaring with defiance.
Dumbledore's facade maintained the same usual frown, passively registering the girl's magical ability. Inside, however, he was internally shocked at the girl's wandless display. It didn't stop there, however.
Ophelia gave a flourish of her arms and the flames dissipated. Her very clothes then began expanding and elongating in thin strips. The cloth became alive around her as it swirled and snapped viciously, the thin long grey strips searching for anything to unleash their stranglehold on.
"Interesting." The headmaster mused out loud at the display, Internally however it was very impressive he thought. It was a performance that a large majority of adult wizards wouldn't be able to replicate without a wand. To see an upcoming first-year manage the feat wandless, disturbing would be an understatement. However, Dumbledore waved her off with indifference. It wouldn't do to soothe her ego.
"And you Harry?" Dumbledore then asked curiously. He was hesitant to ask but it seemed the boy's magical core had stabilized from a glance of mage sight. The only issue the headmaster could see was the boy's core was abnormally large for a first year. He will be very powerful, when he came of age Dumbledore grimly thought. It wasn't good news for his plans. His brother, the Boy-Who-Lived was prideful. He wouldn't like his brother being more powerful. Yes indeed, he wouldn't like it at all.
The boy in question simply glared at him, blue met green as stares were connected. Seeing that he had the headmaster's attention the boy began.
Harry raised his arms upwards, his breaths even. It was evident that he was concentrating. Before Dumbledore could so much as blink, twin spears of ice appeared out of thin air. The points, gleaming in the light, dangerously sharp. Dumbledore noted the boy allowed him to view the twin spears as they hovered. It was apparent they were well-formed, much like a medieval spear in shape. It was a lethal display, to say the least.
Dumbledore however waved him off at the wandless conjuration. The boy frowned at his dismissal but continued. Clamping his hands shut the twin spears seemingly vanished. The next section in the performance began. The boy gave a whistle and a flock of sparrows came into being, Dumbledore watched as they fluttered around the room. As a transfiguration master, he couldn't help but appreciate the display. A wandless oppugno wasn't an easy feat. From an upcoming first year, shocking.
"Very amusing," Dumbledore said even if he couldn't help find the display captivating it wouldn't do to place the boy on a pedestal.
Harry snarled. The old man was treating him like something trivial. He'd show him though the boy thought. Rising his hands up like a conductor, tendrils began to coalesce in dark bolts spinning around him. Satisfied, Harry threw the tendrils outwards into the surrounding room, engulfing everything into nothingness.
Dumbledore's vision was instantly cut off as the blanket of night was thrown outwards. In a flash before he could blink again, light finally returned as he saw the last remnants of the tendrils retracting into the boy's hand. Shadow manipulation, the fact the boy could manipulate the shadows around him only heightened his nervousness. It was an esoteric technique, very few books mentioned the elusive method. It was a party trick Dumbledore supposed, only used really by the select few for a handy escape. Another incredible display.
"Impressive," Dumbledore finally said out loud he was still hesitant. These two were dangerous.
Harry simply gave a polite nod. Seemingly pleased he'd finally caught the headmaster's praise.
The headmaster then gave a weary sigh, pausing before finally voicing. "We have a few things to discuss concerning your introduction to the wizarding world."
The two simply stared at him incredulously.
Dumbledore continued, "I assume you know your parents are Marlene Mckinnon and Sirius Black, Ophelia."
"Yes, Headmaster," The girl said quietly.
Dumbledore paused, then said, "You'll face a lot of adversity simply for who your parents were, Ophelia. Your mother's family were stout supporters of the light faction, the progressives. However, your father's family were staunch supporters of the dark faction, the conservatives. Usually, this wouldn't be an issue, marriages between the light and dark faction happen from time to time, but the reason I say you'll be held in contempt simply will be who your father was, Ophelia."
"My father?" The girl said questioningly, she'd never heard much about her father. Her mother though. She knew enough information to know she died in childbirth but, she was told but father never showed up, it was a memory of deep hurt for Ophelia.
"Yes, your father. Sirius Black is rather infamous in our world." Dumbledore said before continuing. "The events that befell Godric's Hollow, led your father to be incarcerated into the wizarding prison, Azkaban."
"It's a delicate subject," Dumbledore said hesitantly. "But your father was convicted for the betrayal of the Potters and the death of Peter Pettigrew alongside twelve muggles."
Harry gulped before softly voicing, "Her father betrayed my parents, the reason they're dead is because of him?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "No Harry, it's commonly known in the wizarding world that Sirius Black betrayed your grandparents to Lord Voldemort. The former Dark Lord who actively searched for the death of your family. Your grandparents died protecting you and your three other brothers." Dumbledore paused before revealing, "your parents are alive, however."
Ophelia paled. Panic etched into her face upon listening to Dumbledore's news about her father and Harry's family. The boy in question however was still in shock digesting the news.
"My parents didn't want me?" Harry asked questioningly, searching Dumbledore's face for any hint of an answer.
Dumbledore's heart clenched; he could tell the boy was distraught. "No, nothing like that," Dumbledore said genially before continuing. "What transpired on the night of October 31st was a cause for great celebration and sadness. Due to Voldemort searching for your family, your parents decided to separate themselves to make themselves a target instead. You were placed in the cottage at Godric's Hollow alongside your three other brothers. Your grandparents, Fleamont and Euphemia had agreed to hide you from Lord Voldemort, while Lily and James acted as decoys. Hoping he would concentrate his efforts on Lily and James, your parents. Unfortunately, the magical protection you were under was betrayed by Ophelia's father, Sirius Black the secret-keeper."
Dumbledore paused seeing the trail of tears in Harry's eyes and then spoke. "Your Grandparents and youngest brother Eric became icons of Wizarding Britain. Your Brother's name reached such fame that it was known across the wizarding world."
Seeing Harry's curiosity at this Dumbledore continued hesitantly. "Your Grandparents put up a fight of pyrrhic proportions. The attack on Godric's Hollow will forever be acknowledged as one of Britain's historical points of the 20th century."
Uneasy, Dumbledore then said. "Your grandparents managed to kill eleven supporters of Lord Voldemort but ultimately fell to the Dark Lord himself."
Dumbledore then gave a grimace. "It was your brother, Eric who hailed as the hero of wizarding Britain. No one knows what exactly happened within the cottage, however, it's known your brother Eric became the first survivor of the Killing Curse when the curse rebounded and struck the Dark Lord. All that remained of Lord Voldemort was his cloak and boots. It's assumed he's dead, the dark lord hasn't been seen since. "
The headmaster then said carefully.
Harry found however saw the headmaster was being evasive in his answers. "You still haven't told me why my parents abandoned me." The boy grounded out, clearly displeased.
Dumbledore gave a tired sigh. "Harry, " the headmaster tried earnestly. "Your brother was proclaimed a national hero, after surviving a curse that kills upon contact and vanquishing the Dark Lord that had plagued Wizarding Britain. Can you truly blame your parents for choosing to seek medical help and answers for what exactly occurred?
The headmaster tried to implore their reasoning but it seemed Harry wasn't having it.
"No," the boy practically growled before firing off questions.
"They abandoned me." He said stubbornly. "Where were my other brothers anyway, headmaster Dumbledore? Why was it me that was left with my so-called aunt who dumped me at an orphanage? and for what? The boy asked accusingly. "To seek special treatment for their other son who's a celebrity?"
"No." Harry continued his tirade, "Ophelia for all her father's faults is more family than them."
Dumbledore noticed the shaken girl perked up at that. However upon seeing the boy demand answers, he knew it was no use to make the boy see the reasoning behind their actions, he was too young. Didn't know what was at stake, but if Dumbledore had to trade a son's bitterness of his family for saving the Wizarding World then he would sleep easy at night.
"Alas, I'm sorry Harry." The headmaster tried, "Your brother Eric had to be raised to his potential and his safety took the most importance. Your other brothers, Antonius and Claymore were taken in by your Great Uncle Charlus and good family friend Alastor Moody. I'm sure you would've been taken into a wizarding family as well if not for your condition."
"Condition?" Harry asked heatedly.
Dumbledore gave a weary sigh, slumping further against the wall. The boy still seemed displeased. "After the events of Godric's Hollow, you experienced a magical backlash. Your magical core couldn't seem to process ambient magic as a normal child would. Usually, a child's magical core would siphon its magic out till it stabilized, if a condition of magical leaching occurred."
Dumbledore then continued. "Yours however was unusual, your core was absorbing ambient magic at an accelerated rate, your parents and I feared that your core would shatter under the stress."
Dumbledore then clasped his hands and said. "The only cure for Magical Leaching is to remove a child from places that contain highly ambient magic. It was the reason why your mother asked Petunia, your aunt, to take you in. We thought the same theory would act in reverse."
Harry scowled, noticing the 'we' Dumbledore included, clearly he was close with his parents and influenced some of their decisions.
"I don't think I want to hear about my family anymore." He said decidedly
"But, my boy." Dumbledore tried, apparently shocked. There would be grave consequences if young Harry didn't want to rejoin his family.
Harry just snarled. "I'm not your boy." before continuing. "You're the headmaster of Hogwarts, you're here to tell us about our education, not family issues."
Dumbledore just looked like he swallowed a lemon at Harry's casual dismissal of his family. He didn't protest, however, instead accepting Harry's frustration. Things would change once he met his family, the headmaster thought.
"Very well." Dumbledore sighed, pulling a letter out of his pocket, and then reached out to hand it to Ophelia.
"This letter is your acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Inside you'll find a list of items required for the school year."
Dumbledore then tried genially. "I wish you a Happy Birthday this Sunday Ophelia. If you would wish I can send the Deputy Headmistress, Professor McGonagall to collect you on Monday. She'll take you to Diagon Alley to purchase school supplies."
"What about Harry?" Ophelia vehemently replied.
Dumbledore sighed and tried to give a kindly smile. "Harry doesn't receive his letter till a couple of days before July 31st."
"Then I'll wait." The brunette girl Ophelia stubbornly replied.
"Now, Ophelia." Dumbledore tried
"It makes sense." Harry abruptly cut in. "No point in her going only to come back in a month and collect me." The boy then offered, "I can go along Monday."
"No." Dumbledore sternly replied. "Wands can only be purchased at the earliest on a child's 11th birthday."
"What's a wand?" Ophelia asked curiously
Dumbledore sighed and pulled a long wand of elder out of his robes, holding it aloft for the two children to see and said.
"A wand is a magical focus that makes spell casting easier. It's a necessity for every witch and wizard."
Both children gazed at the Elder wand unknowingly.
"I'll wait for Harry," Ophelia said decidedly.
Dumbledore frowned. He knew he wouldn't win the argument so he conceded.
"Very Well." The headmaster said, constructing a small white lie. "Professor McGonagall will most likely be busy so close to the upcoming school year.
"However," Dumbledore continued. "I can send the Gamekeeper, Rubeus Hagrid to escort you. He'll be there either way as he needs to pick up an important package for me." The headmaster said offhandedly.
"Yes, that would be agreeable." Harry slowly said
Dumbledore nodded his head. It was the best plan he thought. Dumbledore was fond of the Half-giant, however, he could be a little clueless. The Potters would be in Diagon Alley on August 1st anyway. Lily planned to go shopping with all four boys on their 11th birthday. Lily had wanted a reunion since they'd separated. Harry could travel with Hagrid, Dumbledore thought. Lily, James, and Eric had returned to Britain after a decade of on and off travelling. They'd recently come back from Baghdad after seeing a specialist in sacrificial magics to prepare for the school year a few months prior. They had yet to check up on Harry, James had been busy assuming the Potter seat as proxy after Charlus passed it on. The sullen man was too tired of wizarding politics, preferring to spend time raising Harry's brother, Antonius, and educating him as the Potter heir. It occurred to Dumbledore briefly. That if he was to make Ophelia's identity known to James Potter, then the man would separate and try them immediately. But It wouldn't nip the problem in the bud if two slowly went their different ways. He needed Ophelia aligned with the light. Yes, Dumbledore thought the plan would do nicely. Lily could thank him later. Now best give the Potter's the news Dumbledore grimly thought he'd been here long enough.
"Any last questions before I depart?" Dumbledore asked
"There is one." Harry hesitantly said, gesturing to his right arm as he rolled up his long sleeve. The boy continued speaking. "I touched a tablet at a museum a couple of months back. Somehow it became tattooed on my arm."
Dumbledore's eyes went wide as he took in the rune configuration on his arm. The headmaster's knowledge of hieroglyphics fell short, the configuration was unorthodox and positively ancient judging by the combination of hieroglyphs presented on his arm. Most of the symbols had fallen out of use 3 millennia ago. However, the headmaster could decipher that the imprinted hieroglyphs were a form of sealed protection, but he couldn't tell what. The only thing Dumbledore knew with certainty was Harry Potter was the first Runic born in a century and it went completely under the crooked headmaster's noise.
"Yes, I can understand why." Dumbledore slowly said, deciding he might as well reveal Harry's bloodline gift. "You're a Runic, a rarity I'll grant you. There's not much on Runic's. Only that they have the uncanny ability to absorb and spellbind runes to themselves or utilise them in magical combat." The headmaster continued "I'll admit you'll have to talk to Professor Babbling to discover the full depths of your gift."
Harry gave a nod. Seemingly satisfied with the answer.
Ophelia however piped in. "Is that why my eye can see aura and things Harry can't?"
Dumbledore gave a grim smile, of course, the girl would bring up Gellert's blasted eye.
"Yes," Dumbledore said hesitantly. "Your eye is another uncommon bloodline gift, it's referred to as the Eye of The Graeae, it'll allow you to see auras of wizards as you said, but more importantly you'll be able to see ambient magic around you."
Ophelia smiled, clearly happy she had a magical gift to rival Harry's.
"Is that all?" Dumbledore said.
Internally he was praying he could leave. The day had simply been too much. Too many surprises and shocks. James Potter's son and Sirius Black's daughter, childhood friends! It only worsened when both demonstrated remnants of Tom and Gellert in personality and appearance. Albus honestly felt he'd been viewing some sort of twisted timeline in the past. It was a nightmare Dumbledore thought, albeit a salvageable one. All the weary Headmaster knew was he needed to leave, needed to breathe, and by god did he need a glass of Firewhiskey.
Seeing the two heads nod. The Headmaster muttered a quick goodbye and all but bolted out of the room. Barely acknowledging Mrs. Cole as he mentioned his thanks, Dumbledore quickly disapparated back to his beloved Hogwarts.
1991, April 27th. Late Spring,
Potter Manor.
"James, Lily?" Albus Dumbledore called from the fireplace, his head sticking out. The headmaster was thankful he was one of the few people keyed into their floo network.
"Albus?" Came Lily's call questioningly from the living room.
"May I come in?" The headmaster asked politely.
"Of course, of course." Lily replied freely, "you know you can let yourself in anytime."
Dumbledore smiled upon seeing the exuberant mother as he emerged from the fireplace. He'd meant to share the troubling news after arriving back from Wool's, but the headmaster had found himself needing to ponder things through first.
The mother in question had been busily preparing for Eric's first school year, Dumbledore only wished Lily didn't coddle the boy so much. Both Antonius and Claymore had turned into well-rounded children. But It seemed young Eric had taken the worst two traits of Lily and James wholeheartedly. James' rashness and Lily's short temper meant the boy would blow up at any slight or grievance. Not exactly the humble poster boy Dumbledore had wanted.
Glancing at Lily, Dumbledore quickly said seriously. "It would be best if James were here, there's been some unexpected news."
Taking in Dumbledore's stern expression, the red-haired mother quickly left the room,
The headmaster had decidedly been passing time by settling in a club chair and flipping through a neighbouring Potions Today Magazine.
"Sorry Dumbledore, I'm late" came the voice of James Potter, "Eric had pestered me and the boys for a game of exploding snap, you said it was important?"
The Headmaster took in the stocky form of James Potter. As the couple emerged into the living room.
The headmaster just waved them off.
"There have been some developments," Dumbledore slowly announced "It seems your sister has been negligent."
Lily instantly paled as she opened her mouth. "But Tuney wouldn't, I know. She sends a letter every year saying he's busy as usual and in good health."
"Yes, I don't doubt the truth of her words." Dumbledore mused before continuing, "It so happens I last saw Harry yesterday, busy with a book in hand and in good health nonetheless."
The redhead seemed confused before speaking. "You saw Harry at Privet Drive?"
"If only." Dumbledore spoke, giving a pointed glare at the two, "imagine my surprise, when I arrived at Wool's Orphanage to deliver a letter to one Ophelia Black only to find her in the company of Harry Potter."
Lily squeaked "an Orphanage?" she said aghast, James however gave a snarl at the mention of Ophelia.
"Curious isn't it?" Dumbledore continued.
"But Tuney wouldn't." Lily tried to convince herself, "She always said he was busy."
The headmaster gave a sigh attempting to speak before he was interrupted by James's suspicious voice. "What do you mean by Ophelia Black?"
Black was a sore subject for James, a subject he'd channeled years of bitterness and loathing through. Not even Dumbledore's Potion master, Severus Snape had the same vehement hate that James seemed to have."
"It seems," Dumbledore said slowly "that young Harry's best friend is none other than
the daughter of Marlene Mckinnon and Sirius Black."
Lily gasped at the revelation. She'd known Marlene was pregnant, She was one of the three people that knew apart from Sirius and Alice Longbottom, James though didn't seem to care as the hotheaded male snarled his displeasure. Lily however was too panicked to register it.
"What are we to do, Dumbledore?" Came Lily's outcry, "Tuney was supposed to look after him not abandon him at an orphanage." It was easy to see the redhead was bubbling with guilt as she continued. "Are you sure it's Marlene and Sirius's daughter?"
Dumbledore just nodded his head, "I believe so, the doctors confirmed her parent's name on her birth certificate. She resembles Sirius quite vividly. Her hair however is all Marlene."
"We'll collect him tomorrow," James cut in.
However, Dumbledore abruptly stopped him.
"No James, I fear that would be more harm than good. The two have only had each other from what I was told by the matron, he'll resent you and your family even more if you pull him away, he didn't take the discovery well." Dumbledore carefully finished saying.
James shook his head and spat. "I don't like it."
Dumbledore sighed and thought, you'll just have to.
"James," Lily hissed, "she's Marlene's daughter. I was to be the godmother."
"She's Sirius's daughter," James yelled!
"And they're both dangerous," Dumbledore said quietly.
The arguing parents turned to Dumbledore, the heated discussion subsiding. Dumbledore took a breath and spoke.
"It seems they've taught themselves wandless magic," Dumbledore cautioned, "Feats that most adult wizards and witches would struggle with holding a wand."
The headmaster continued, "I suspect it's due to the intensive practice, I was much the same." Dumbledore revealed taking in Lily and James' startlement.
"However, " Dumble spoke it is their magical gifts and power that worries me the most, the girl bears the Eye of The Gracae and unseemingly Harry is a Runic." The headmaster said dropping the bombshell as he took in Lily's James astonished stare.
"But," Dumbledore paused. "It seems that their magical cores are unusually large for their age, Ophelia's is well above the usual size for a first-year, however, Harry's is abnormally large for a child his age. I suspected it after the episode of the magical leaching but it's still larger than what I assumed it would be."
Lily butted in with a question, "Compared to, Antonius, Claymore, and Eric?"
Dumbledore gave her a stern look and spoke. "Ophelia's is a good chunk larger than Eric's and slightly larger than Antonius and Claymore's. However, Harry dwarfs them by almost a quarter in size."
Continuing, the headmaster said, raising a finger pointedly. "They would be dangerous enemies if unleashed upon the light."
Turning to Lily he then said slowly, "If what you said is true and you can give a magical oath that Marlene knowingly wanted you as the godmother. Then I can't stipulate enough that you adopt her when you come to collect Harry."
"The damage they could cause otherwise is something I can't have on my conscience." The headmaster finished off.
Lily gave a nod while James grimaced, clearly hating the idea.
"Alright," Lily said quietly, James just said nothing.
"Good, Good," Dumbledore said in an approving voice before mentioning. "I've organised Hagrid for them to escort the two on the first of August. You can meet them outside Gringotts once they collect their trust funds."
Looking at James, the Headmaster carefully said. "I do hope you take in the girl, grudges aside. The consequences of Harry's further resentment and the girls would be severe."
"Very well." James finally said. "I don't have to like it but I'll accept it."
Dumbledore nodded, gave his goodbye, and strode to the fireplace. The old man, passing through the flames, just hoped he'd done enough so the two wouldn't fall from the light. There'd be chaos otherwise.