Author's Note:
There is the new chapter, with among others, the discovery of Harry's sister.
Enjoy this chapter, I'll see you at the bottom of the page!
Translator's Note:
Hi guys and girls! In her note, the author wrote a dozen lines on Hermione not being Harry's twin sister because her readers asked her this question frequently, but I didn't translate it as it is not relevant to what you think. If you want me to translate her entire notes, say so in the comments, otherwise, I'll only translate what you need to know for this story. Also, in future chapters, there will be tiny spoilers in the notes, do you want me to translate them too, or do you prefer to keep the surprise? Talk to me please, I'd like to get along with you, but I can't have an opinion on my audience if I don't receive some kind of feedback, even negative, as long as it stays constructive of course. I hope you like this chapter!
Original Author: Jin Ginkaku
Disclaimer: The characters belong to the amazing J.K. Rowling. (except a few though)
Chapter 3: Selena Grindelwald
The week that followed was unquestionably the best of all times in Harry's opinion. And knowing that it would continue, again and again, without ever having to go back to the Dursley's pleasantly warmed his heart.
The morning, he woke up at around ten, without his aunt to yell at him, or his cousin in a bad mood. He ate alone or in Skeeny's company, who turned out to be the nicest of house elves. The elf had quickly noticed his young master's favourite meals and willingly prepared them for him. And, even if his grandfather advised him to rest, he couldn't wait to catch up with the year he lacked and studied in the study room adjoining the library during all morning ends.
At around half past twelve, Albus came back from Hogwarts to eat with his grandson. The Headmaster had agreed with him that he would work at Hogwarts only the first week, and therefore, they wouldn't see each other a lot. In the afternoon, the white wizard went back, leaving his grandson who went to take a walk in the domain just after eating. The latter revealed itself to be bigger each day, more beautiful, more interesting. The ex-Gryffindor loved to climb one of the hills' slopes circling the property and have an overview on it. When it was too cold, he took refuge in the greenhouse, which reminded him so much of the Herbology classes at Hogwarts, even if it was way prettier than the rooms where he studied with Professor Sprout.
During the rest of the day, he sometimes read, went to study, or helped Skeeny. Day after day, the latter tried as best he could to teach him Russian, as he would shortly have his mother's nationality. For the moment, he had only learnt some key words, but it was enough for him. His grandfather never stopped telling him to take his time and he hoped to take advantage of the present moment. He was also getting used to his new identity, and his name, Ladislas Grindelwald.
Besides, he had done some research about his second grandfather in the family's library - which Hermione would have loved. Some history books didn't hesitate to establish parallels between Grindelwald and Voldemort, which unsettled Harry. But in view of what his grandfather had done, he had to admit that he was indeed a dark wizard.
He had also noticed that no historian seemed to be aware of the relationship his grandfathers had before their final face off. Besides, not even once his father, Wilhem Grindelwald was mentioned, as if his existence had been kept a secret.
During the evening, grandfather and grandson played Wizard's Chess while talking about such and such things. Harry was still more astonished by Albus' culture and wisdom, and he couldn't help but ask him that he narrates him all sorts of stories, which his grandfather did happily.
Finally, Friday came, and with it a big change. Indeed, it was the day Harry would meet Selena, his sister.
When his grandfather had talked about it, he had lingered on several points. Having been raised in the Domain, Selena never had to change her appearance, and was always her real age, thirteen years old. She had been sent to Beauxbâtons, so she didn't suffer from her grandfather's reputation that the English saw from a very bad eye. Furthermore, Albus and her didn't want them to be blamed any affiliation. So she had been in France, for two and a half years.
Albus had assured Harry that she'd be pleased to meet him, but it didn't prevent him from being worried before they left.
"Worry not," Albus tried to reassure him again when they got out of the Domain, "she asked me many times how you were doing and always wanted to know more about you… It was by the way one of our main arguing topics."
"What do you mean?" Harry wondered and he raised his eyes full of curiosity and hope towards his grandfather.
"Well… I never revealed your identity as Harry Potter, so… when she asked me news of you, I stayed very vague. Too much maybe… but she's always wished for you to know the truth."
"Why didn't you do it?" asked the soon to become Russian.
"I didn't want to force you," answered the Headmaster after a thoughtful silence. "I thought you could be happy but... "
"It's a good thing that you ended up telling me the truth." Harry smiled warmly.
They exchanged a complicit look, then prepared to leave. They both took polyjuice potion, so they wouldn't be noticed - Albus was slightly paranoid - and Apparated to Munich. Once there, they went to the SNCF station and asked for a trip to Paris. While they were waiting for their chimney to be ready, Albus told him some information about Beauxâtons and the parisian wizard's community.
"In general, you'll find in books that Paris is divided in twenty districts. However, there is in reality another one, invisible to the Muggles' eyes, for wizards. It's way bigger than Diagon Alley as there is, as well as a shopping arcade, residential accommodations, a reserve for magical animals, and of course, the Beauxbâtons school of magic.
The French are in a way, less strict than the English. However, they care very much about some of their traditions. For example, they don't have a wizards' train, only carriages drawn by winged-horses. Yet, as it is strictly forbidden to make parents enter Hogwarts, it is authorized - and even recommended - to go pick up the students inside the Institute's property. Oh, it's our turn…"
He stopped his explanations, while the ghost - always as friendly - waved at them to enter the chimney. Now that he knew how a big chimney worked, Harry didn't worry when the flames came to lick the soles of his shoes. He closed his eyes and waited for the silence that would mean they reached their destination.
Apparently, all the SNCF stations were built on the same scheme: one room for the bookings and a yard to welcome travelers, so Harry wasn't disoriented. However, when they left the shop and ended up in the street, he was breathless seeing what awaited him.
If he thought Diagon Alley was impressive, then the place they found themselves to be at was stunning. Dozens of owls were perched on the Haussmannian-style buildings' rooftops circling the street. Shops that presented potions, books of magic, brooms and wands spread along the avenue filled with wizards dressed colourfully. The place was luminous, full of life and colours, and well opened, in comparison to it's English twin which was way more narrow and with duller and darker tones.
Christmas decorations fluttered between people as the shops' windows brightened in reds and greens. High in the sky rose huge, brightly shining Christmas trees, surrounded by the traditional blighters. Ice statues stood in the middle of the large intersections, crafted and charmed so they wouldn't melt. Finally, lanterns were hung in between the buildings, and floated with the wind.
They arrived in a square. In its center was placed a fountain representing Nicolas Flamel discovering the Philosopher's Stone. Up in the sky, wizards traveled from balcony to balcony on their brooms in a general indifference which blew Harry.
"As I told you, the French have less worries regarding Muggles, since they have their own district," Albus commented as they passed in front of Gringotts.
"It's… impressive," Harry whispered, avidly contemplating the surrounding show.
They kept walking along several avenues for a few more minutes before arriving in a French-styled garden surrounded by golden gates. As he passed underneath the front gate, Harry managed to decipher in French: Académie de magie Beauxbâtons. He had already seen French gardens in history books, but this one, in addition to the elegance and symmetry this style owned, had wizardry elements, such as plants Harry recognized thanks to the Herbology classes in Hogwarts.
It was magical, Harry beamed while admiring Morgana's fountain.
The gardens were filled with students whose uniforms attracted the young wizard's eyes. Each girl had a dress and a cape in light-blue shades, with an elegant hat of the same colour on their heads. They walked graciously between the flowerbeds, waving at each other with a distinction some could have called snobbism.
As for the academy building itself, it was a castle from the Renaissance with light-grey stones and a tiled-roof. The castle's three storeys were slitted by large windows while two towers rose by the edifice's extremities. At the facade's centre was the school's blazonry: two crossed wands casting sparkles. It seemed more recent than Hogwarts, of which the architecture was more in the Middle Ages' Gothic style.
"I think the third years are over there," Albus indicated while grabbing his grandson by the arm so he didn't lose him in the crowd of parents and students greeting each other for the end of year holidays.
They took a path leading them to stables for creatures similar to pegasus' - Albus precised they were Abraxans after seeing Harry's confused look. Just like the main building, the stables were in the Renaissance style. A few teachers watched as their students departed while those who stayed chatted among each other in a French hubbub of which Harry didn't understand a single word. Finally, Albus discretely showed him the girl who was his sister and who was patiently waiting, away from the flood of students and parents.
In one hand, she held a cat cage while in the other was her suitcase. She observed distractedly the flight of a coach in the sky. As she was thirteen and not twelve, she was slightly taller than Harry. While observing her, the ex-Gryffindor thought that when he'll get his real appearance back, he had few chances of being disappointed - if he looked like his sister anyway.
Her face was pleasant to look at with big eyes between purple and blue - reminding of his grandfather's sparkling gaze. Her complexion was also quite pale, making the colour rather astonishing of her irises stand out even more, while her shoulder-length hair were brown with slight auburn reflections.
Before she noticed them, she had a little impatient hand movement and pulled her chin inside her jacket's collar, attempting to warm up against the cold December air. Albus took his grandson with him and walked closer to her with a warm smile.
"Selena," he greeted her while taking her luggage gallantly, "I hope you haven't waited too long..."
"No," she assured him with a smile, "I just..."
She stopped sharp while her gaze landed on Harry, who had stayed behind. The young girl's purple eyes widened before she paled.
"You… you..." she stuttered, "you are… Ladislas ?"
"Yes," breathed Harry while blushing embarrassingly.
"Ladislas… You're Ladislas..."
She carefully scrutinized her brother, who did the same himself. Harry felt deeply relieved seeing she seemed very pleased to see him. He lips blued by the cold stretched into a smile while she turned towards their grandfather:
"How could you hide this from me?" she said indignantly while displaying a downcast face, highly amusing her brother.
"I wanted to surprise you," Albus smiled and his gaze looked sparklier than usual.
"It worked," Selena assured, bringing her attention back on Harry who smiled shyly.
"Now that the introductions are made," Albus started while searching his cloak's pockets, "I'll have to leave you for a while, I have to discourse with the Headmistress, Madame Maxime. Here, take a few galleons. Selena, you'll show your brother Paris' interesting spots, eat if you want and if you wish to buy anything..."
"Okay," the young girl replied while taking the coins, making a disappointed pout which Harry noticed.
"Stay on the wizard's side, and… let's say you'll be in front of the SNCF agency in an hour?" the Headmaster of Hogwarts thought, already making his way towards the main institute's building.
"See you later!" his grandchildren waved before looking at each other.
"Hum… are you hungry?" Selena asked, taking her brother out of the school grounds.
"A bit," Harry admitted, having eaten early and in little amounts, anxious when thinking about meeting his sister, who is actually really nice.
"We'll buy elvish bread, it fills up quite nicely," chose the young girl, heading towards a shop named La Baguette Ensorceleuse. The inside looked like a bakery, with bosh displaying different kinds of breads. While they were waiting in the queue, Harry asked his sister what an elvish bread was.
"It's a sort of bread, very tasty, and especially nourishing. A bite is enough for a whole meal. It's very practical for journeys, when there isn't a lot of space in your bag… It is quite expensive however..."
She stopped when they arrived at the counter and ordered an elvish bread in French and gave half of it to Harry, who took a bite curiously. He was surprised by the bread's taste, which was both crusty and fluffy at the same time. But above all, once he had swallowed the whole bite, he felt a satiety sensation, as he would after a Hogwarts feast while having only taken one bite of this magical bread.
"It's… impressive..." he whispered while they entered the Wizard District's shopping streets.
"You've never had some before?" the young girl wondered, throwing him a curious glance. "There isn't any in England?"
"I don't know," Harry answered with a shy smile, "to be honest, the wizarding world is still very foreign to me."
"No way..." Selena breathed and stopped suddenly. "you… you've been raised by Muggles?"
"Hum… yes."
"Incredible, so Grandfather didn't… I mean..."
They looked at each other with complicity, both of them knowing their grandfather's nature, liking to keep secrets, then carried on walking. After having paced in the big shopping streets, they ended up entering a menagerie. While Harry got closer to the chimney to warm up, his sister started talking to the wizard managing the shop. Not understanding a word of their conversation, harry got interested to the various animals filling the room. He waited for a good ten minutes before his sister grabbed him towards the exit, a food bag in the arm.
"It's for my cat," she explained, "Seshir. He likes acid pops for cats."
"You have a cat… I have an owl, well had..." Harry corrected, a frown taking place on his face. He had to let Hedwig go, being to noticeable.
"When grandpa asked if I wanted a pet, I was in my cat phase," Selena laughed. "He was lucky, because three months later, I would have asked for a dragon!"
"I doubt one can call that a pet," Harry smiled while thinking about Norbert.
"Depends on the point of view," replied his sister, winking at him.
They kept chatting while walking towards the SNCF shop. After having waited a few minutes in front of it, they decided to go inside, but noticed with disappointment that it was no warmer than the outside.
Selena was of really good company. She had always hoped in her childhood to find her twin, despite her grandfather's repeated explanations, and was now delighted to have her brother in the flesh right in front of her.
"Do you know what Albus is doing?" Harry ended up asking, starting to get worried. Their grandfather should have come back a while ago already.
His sister frowned and nodded.
"He's talking to my Headmistress, Madame Maxime..." she muttered and lowered her gaze to her shoes.
"Why?" Harry asked, intrigued. His grandfather didn't see every single student's parents at Hogwarts. First, he didn't need to, and second, he would never have the time to.
"Let's just say that… I have a few issues at school..."
"Oh..." Harry whispered, not knowing what to say.
As an embarrassing silence had set between them, their grandfather came back, an anxious frown on his face. He forced a smile however, and happily asked them what they did, while they waited for the next chimney to Cologne.
The journey back to the Domain was joyful. Albus and Selena occasionally taunted each other, making Harry laugh. He didn't think he could ever do so with his previous Headmaster. Even if he seriously started to get used to the idea the most powerful wizard of the XXth century was his grandfather, he would need some more time to be as accustomed as his sister. However, having been raised by Albus, it was normal for her to be so close to him.
That evening, the diner was very animated: Skeeny had prepared a feast for Selena's return and they found themselves in front of a mountain of dishes, each of them absolutely delicious. Harry and Selena discovered each other, under Albus' soft, moved gaze. He still avoided the remarks skillfully placed by Selena about her brother's past, the latter blushing each time. Harry didn't like the idea of lying to his newly found sister, even if it was closer to dissimulation. But his grandfather had implied that after things had settled, he could eventually reveal his previous identity to the last Dumbledore.
"You'll stay here until June?" wondered the Beauxbâtons student as they were now in the private living room on the second floor. Albus had left them to finish some paperwork, and they had decided to play Wizard's Chess while they kept chatting.
"Yes, that way I can catch up with the year I'm missing," Harry explained.
"Mhh," his sister thought, "and which school will you go to?"
"Good question," admitted the brown haired while scratching his surprisingly smooth forehead. Because his sister didn't know his appearance, he had taken polyjuice again, as it was planned he did the ritual allowing him to take his real appearance back that same evening anyway. "Albus told me there was several schools other than Hogwarts..."
"So it is decided it won't be Hogwarts then?" she said in a surprised tone while glancing at him.
"Yes!" Harry rolled his eyes when imagining going back to his previous school. It was absolutely out of question, especially if his relationship with his grandfather was revealed…
"As you're not a girl, we can exclude Beauxbâtons, then there is Durmstrang if you want to stay in Europe… Oh and there is also Koldovstoretz but it much more complicated to enroll..."
"Koldowhat?"
"Koldovstoretz," Selena repeated while smiling slightly at her close victory however without a surprise given Harry's game, who was still awful at chess, "it's in Russia. But there's about two hundred students who manage to enroll successfully. One needs to be from a good wizards family, to have good enough magic powers, and knowledge way higher than needed for Hogwarts or Beauxbâtons. Koldovstoretz, the best magic school in the world..."
"I thought it was Hogwarts," noted Harry as he frowned seeing the chess board. He felt he would lose soon.
"Well… in the way it admits Muggle-borns and manages to provide them with a suitable education, Hogwarts is indeed the best school, however the elite is situated in Koldovstoretz. They study rare subjects there, like alchemy, occlumency, legilimency, and intuitive magic. The students who graduate from Koldovstoretz are pure geniuses."
"Oh… well, I'll think about it," muttered Harry while registering the information in a corner of his head, promising himself to research about occlumency, legilimency and intuitive magic.
"Yes," Selena encouraged him, "plus in Durmstrang, there's a risk you'll have problems regarding your name."
"My name?"
"Grindelwald," clarified the young girl, "one one side, you'll have his followers who will adulate you, and on the other, the relatives of his victims who will blame you for sure."
"Does this happen to you in Beauxbâtons?" the brown-haired asked while sinking his eyes in his sister's purple-blue ones.
"I..." she hesitated, "yes, I… well… it's alright… no… It's complicated."
"Why don't you change schools?" risked the ex-Gryffindor whose gaze had lost itself in his younger years during which, because he was Dudley's cousin, he hadn't had any friends.
"Because… Hogwarts is even worse regarding mentalities, and gracious me, Durmstrang is meant for boys."
"What about Koldovstoretz?"
"I've applied two years ago, but I wasn't accepted, probably because I hadn't revised anything for the entrance exam… But anyway, I'm at Beauxbâtons, and I won't leave. It would be admitting that..."
"That?"
"That because my name is Grindelwald, I don't have the same rights as the others. It's unfair."
Selena's eyes shone with determination, so much Harry didn't ask anymore questions on the matter. After all, he was stubborn himself, and perfectly understood his sister's reasons. As for him, he just had to do some research about this Russian school.
One one hand, it gave him a change, as he was against the idea of going to Durmstrang, renowned to train dark wizards - including his grandfather. And plus, if it could teach him all he ignored about magic and this new world…
"Check mate!"
The Survivor got out of his reverie and observed the game board, on which effectively, his king had been destroyed by Selena's queen. He smiled, perfectly remembering the full-scale game he had played merely a few months ago, then went on to tidy the remains of the pieces, helped by his sister.
The living room's clock rang ten o'clock, as their grandfather opened the door.
"It's about time to go to bed, don't you think so?"
"Okay," replied Selena before going on, "have you seen Sheshir? He disappeared as soon as we arrived..."
"I think Sheshir is clever enough to manage himself," Albus smiled archly while looking at her above his glasses.
"True," the young lady admitted then stood up to put the chess board away. "Good night, Ladi !"
Once Harry realized it was him she was talking to, she was already gone. He stood alone with his grandfather, who showed him a bright white potion.
"So, I just need to take it?" checked the ex-Gryffindor while examitating it from up close. Its immaculate colour worried him slightly.
"And sleep," his grandfather replied with a wide smile. "When you wake up, you'll be brand new..."
The Headmaster's blue eyes dimmed slightly, as he murmured:
"You'll surely look like him..."
He closed his lids then finally smiled:
"Come on, even if you are on holidays, you'd better not go to bed too late… Good night, my child."
"Good night," Harry whispered while going out in the corridor.
Her sister's bedroom door - the one in front of his own - was closed, so he went into his bedroom directly. Lying on his bed, he observed once more the potion his grandfather had given him. After hesitating for another while, he opened the cap in a soft pop. A smell of fresh and snow elevated in the air before he quickly swallowed the content of the bottle. Before he even noticed it, he was asleep while his body, still transformed by the polyjuice, started to change.
Author's Note:
There you go… Our little Harry's appearance is going to change! This kid is growing up fast…
What do you think about Selena? I hope she doesn't annoy you - this happens a lot with OCs - and that she tickles your curiosity. Who is Sheshir? All the answers are in the next chapter!
Don't hesitate to leave a comment on your feelings, your theories, your ideas, anything you want to talk about!
Translator's Note:
Sorry! I'm so sorry it took so long to translate this chapter, but there it finally is! You've finally met the mysterious twin sister, Selena! She mentioned this school Koldovstoretz. Do you have any idea how tiring it is to write this word over and over again?! I ended up copying and pasting most of them anyway. Bloody long word!
I still thank all of you for reading, following and putting this fic in your favourites, it means a lot to me and the author, as well as the beta reader! There are now 40 chapters published, and the fanfic is far from being over! I can't wait to translate the rest, everything moves and changes a lot from where we are at the moment, so I'll do my best to bring chapter 4 sooner.
I'll - hopefully - see you guys in the next chapter!
Extra Note:
Académie de Magie Beauxbâtons = Beauxbâtons Magic Academy
La Baguette Ensorceleuse = The Enchanting Baguette
Pretty much similar, but I wanted to make sure you understood everything. Damn me if you've googled it already.
Once again, I'm so sorry for any mistakes. If you spot any, please point them out to me and I'll correct them right away!