The Potters and Victor Whitehall where eating breakfast in the Dining Room two weeks after the part. Harry was in a bad mood; Drusilla had finally come by the night before to discuss the match making problems and he didn't like the solutions made. The problem was keeping everyone, like Augusta Longbottom and Lucius Malfoy, happy, so as they didn't try to legally hurt the family in some way. Victor was afraid the Light Magic Families would try and take away his custody somehow, or that Lucius would bring to light some shady business deal.
Harry looked across the table at his sister who had her pet snake around her body and chair. Ever sense Narcissa Malfoy gave his sister an enchanted hair clip that Willow didn't sense, Sr. Huggs had not left her side unless he was hunting. The snake was even going to go with her on her dinner date this evening. His sister was going to have dinner with Vincent Crabbe, his family, and school friends.
It was what everyone, but him, decided on to appease Lucius Malfoy. Willow would date Crabbe and then agree to a marriage contract. They were planning on getting her out of the contract later but had yet to plan how. To appease Dumbledore's flock, as Victor called the Light Magic Families, Harry would be arranged to marry Ginny. The young girl was the easiest to sell to the Dark Magic Families as they could always claim that Ginny owed Harry her life because he had saved her in the Chamber Of Secrets, and Dumbledore's flock would love Harry marrying a Weasley. It would also be a plus because Lucius Malfoy would think he was responsible for the failed match for Pansy Parkinson, after all he was the one who gave Ginny the diary that started the whole mess with the chamber in the first place.
Harry was worried though still. There was always a possibility that they couldn't get Willow out of the contract and she would have to marry Crabbe. He and Ginny would simply be allowed to dissolve there contract later when it was safe. They would have to act like they were trying to make it work though which would be difficult. If the Dark Magic Families sensed any weakness that could make an opening for Pansy, they may try and take it.
It was as Willow was giving Huggs a piece of sausage that the visitor charms on the fireplace sounded. It would appear they had an unannounced visitor this morning. Victor thought about sending them away, it could just be a salesman, but decided to see who it was. The family waited only a few minutes before Tilly led Albus Dumbledore into the Dining Room.
Lord Whitehall looked at the Headmaster and said. "Good morning Dumbledore, pardon our state of dress as we weren't expecting company." Whitehall apologized for the fact he and his grandchildren where in pajamas.
Dumbledore simply smiled and said. "An apology wasn't necessary Victor. I'm the one how must apologize for coming unannounced, but an urgent matter as recently been brought to my attention." Harry was curious about what the Headmaster wanted to discuss but Victor and Willow believed they both knew the problem. Victor was angry as it seemed Albus was trying to undermine his wishes about keeping certain information secret regarding his grandchildren's safety, Sirius Black was not someone Harry or Willow needed to know about yet.
"Don't worry Victor, as this has nothing to do with what we discussed in private. The urgent matter I'm here to discuss pertains to the Dursley family or, to be more precise, Dudley Dursley." Albus explained.
Everyone but Willow looked surprised. The redhead wondered what her grandfather and Albus had discussed in private but decided to investigate the matter later. She was a little guilty about what she was about to do to Albus Dumbledore, but sometimes a person needed to be humbled to grow. This she knew was going to hurt.
"I guess are cousin's magical core has refilled back to levels that make him a Wizard. I actually thought his core was to worn down to ever be restored." Willow snorted dismissively and looked back at the confused Headmaster. "What do you need from us exactly Headmaster?"
Everyone looked at Willow like she had grown another head. "What are you talking about Willow?" Harry asked.
Willow looked at Albus in fake surprise. "What, didn't you know Professor? What do you think powered the wards that protected Harry and number four Private Drive?"
"I don't understand your question Willow. The wards where powered by Ward Stones that I enchanted to retain the magic of your mother's sacrifice. The very love your mother had for both you and Harry was what empowered the wards." Dumbledore explained. He looked far more confused by the second.
"Professor, do you know much about Blood Magic?" Willow looked into Dumbledore's eyes and saw he didn't. "The magic mom used that night, whether intended or not, was the first form that magic was ever used in, Blood Magic. It is extremely powerful in its protection capabilities, but also extremely costly when it comes to casting. Mom had to die to cast the protection spell, and you thought you could keep that level of magic going with a few rocks? Are you nuts?" Willow exclaimed.
"Willow, I assure you that my knowledge of wards was adequate enough to apply the protection that Harry already had to your Aunt and Uncle's home. The Ward Stones where solid and properly placed." Dumbledore said somewhat forcefully.
"You misunderstand me Professor Dumbledore. I'm not saying you did the ward wrong, on the contrary you did it right, I'm saying you didn't know what really powered them. Life, not death, allowed mom to cast the Protection Charm and only life could place it on Private Drive." Willow said in an exasperated tone of voice.
"What you're saying Willow is that the wards on the Dursley's residents were powered by Dudley Dursley's magic? That when Dumbledore placed the Ward Stones on Private Drive, he unknowingly set this in motion to occur?" A surprised Victor asked for clarification.
"That's exactly what I'm saying." Willow told him.
Dumbledore had a dumbfounded looking his face as he stared at Willow. Harry had a scared look on his face as he looked from Dumbledore to Willow then at his grandfather before asking. "What would have happened if Dudley didn't have magic?"
Dumbledore quickly turned to look at Harry in surprise. He was still trying to wrap his head around accidentally stilling Dudley's magic and hadn't yet thought of that. Willow was having a small debate in her head. She could say the wards would simply have failed, but she knew that wouldn't be enough to humble Dumbledore. She was going to have to make this hurt.
The truth about the whole thing was Dumbledore really didn't understand the magic behind the wards. It was a self-sacrificial blood act that cast the wards, but it was the soul of Lily Potter, bound to the Earth, that had kept the wards on Private Drive going. The life force and presence of one of Lily Potter's living relatives was also required. The reason why Harry had to stay there was because Lily would have moved on the moment her son was no longer living there. If Dumbledore knew this, he would be arguing his case now and would have felt justified in keeping Lily from moving on to protect Harry, as that is what she died for. Willow would not let Albus Dumbledore justify his actions even to just himself.
The redhead looked at her brother and said. "It's simple Harry, life created the wards and only life could strengthen them to protect Private Drive. Magic was a substitute for life but, had there been no magic then there wouldn't have been a substitute. Ether Dudley or Aunt Petunia would have grown sick and died slowly over the course of your life until the age of seventeen."
Turning to look at a very pale Dumbledore the young witch said. "I'm sorry Professor, I always thought you knew. I didn't see how you could put so much faith in a magic you didn't fully understand. I just figured you would have deemed it as an acceptable sacrifice for the greater good. I don't know you very well, but that is the impression I've gotten learning about you from books and other people."
Dumbledore was at a complete loss for words. It was perhaps the first time in recent memory that this happened. He was hurt by what Willow told him. "You believe I would purposely harm someone to further my own plans."
"Please Professor, don't misunderstand me. I never thought you capable of letting an innocent person die, but Dudley losing his magic might not seem as important to you as Harry's safety." Willow said.
Everyone at the table was quiet as they thought over all that Willow said. Victor Whitehall was trying hard not to gloat about Dumbledore's mistake and Harry was wondering what house Dudley would be in. Harry really didn't see his cousin as a Gryffindor, Slytherin, or Ravenclaw. He could be Hufflepuff, mainly because Helga said she would take the students that no one wanted, but Harry doubted that she ever met someone like Dudley.
Dumbledore was wondering how he could have made such a greaves error in judging the Protection Charm placed on Harry. He always figured it was some form of accidental magic the young mother had inadvertently used. He looked at Willow and said. "It doesn't make sense. What you're describing sounds like Dark Magic, and I know Lily never used such powers."
Willow was absentmindedly scratching Sr. Huggs large pale head contemplating how best to sell the rest of her story. The truth was all she had told Dumbledore was in fact true to an extent. Willow had even checked if this wasn't what really happened on Halloween nineteen eighty-one. She was happy that wasn't the case as it would mean her mother had knowingly cast Dark Magic against Petunia. Still, she could bend facts a little.
"When you think of the first magic users, what do you see Professor? Magic was discovered when certain people began accidentally using it. Fighting led to bloodshed, magical bloodshed, that ultimately lead to the first celestials discovering how much stronger their blood was, rather than raw emotion. Man, at that time, went for the easiest magic they could find which was Dark Magic channeled through blood. The more blood, like from a sacrifice, the easier to channel magic."
"Mom accidentally called forth Dark Magic when she accidentally used Blood Magic. More than likely the Whitehall family was to blame, as I'm sure we have had our share of Dark Magic users in the family. Dark Magic can stay in the blood and be passed down through each generation. Mom never used Dark Magic, but it was still present in her body. It probably laid dormant until that night." Willow explained.
"I would have known it was Dark Magic when I ..." Dumbledore started to say only to fall quiet. "I placed the Ward Stones and tied them to the charm, but then they took over and cast the charm over the house, just like they were supposed to. I never actually touched the magic, so I never truly felt it." He finished quietly. He sat at the table and placed his head in his hands.
"What where you hoping to get are help with Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked in hopes of changing the subject.
Dumbledore blinked and looked at Harry as if he just remembered where he was. He straightened up and said. "Yes, in light of Dudley now having magic, he will have to attend Hogwarts. However, he is behind on his studies for his age and will need tutoring before he fully joins classes. As Hogwarts is unavailable for the Summer months, I was hoping he could study here at Whitehall Manor."
"Absolutely not! Those Muggles treated Harry no better than a House Elf and you want me to open my home to them! You have utterly lost your bloody mind Albus Dumbledore!" Victor roared. He was steadily turning red faced.
"Please calm down Victor and think logically. This is Lily's nephew and Harry and Willow's cousin. I'm not asking for him to live with you, only visit for a few hours a day. There will always be one of the Hogwarts staff present and Petunia will be the only parent to come as Vernon has to work." Dumbledore pleaded.
"The day I came here was the day I said I would never see another Dursley. I don't want him here ether and I sure as hell don't want him around my sister." Harry snarled.
Willow looked at Harry in shock. She had never heard him sound so angry before. Dumbledore was thinking the same thing and Victor was thinking 'That's my grandson. Ha.'
The young witch looked across the table at Harry and said. "I have never needed anyone to fight my battles for me and I don't need anyone now. I think I could handle Dudley. All I have to say is nonsense words to scare him. If that doesn't work, I can always use real magic as could you Harry. It could be a learning experience for are cousin in more ways than one."
Harry seemed to think about what Willow said before looking at Whitehall. "Well, he is family."
Dumbledore didn't now whether to be happy or scared. Dudley Dursley was about to have the tables turned on him in a big way. Victor was of two minds, however. On one hand he would have to open his home up to Muggles, but on the other his grandson could get some payback without all that adult supervision in school.
"Fine, he can come, but they will respect my grandchildren and my home." The old man said to the Headmaster. Dumbledore simply nodded and left.
As Willow walked out of the kitchen to go prepare for her dinner date, she couldn't help but smile. 'I really need to send Raza a thank you gift for a job well done.' She thought.