Chapter Seven: Dumbledore's Wishes
January 12th, 1975: Riddle Gardens
"Remember when we wed here?" Tom asked his wife. His hair was turning slightly grey with age, as was his wife of twenty-five years'.
"How could I forget? She looks beautiful, doesn't she?" Her daughter stood in front of the altar next to her long time best friend and soon to be, husband, Lucius Malfoy. He nodded his head, agreeing as the two kissed and made their marriage formal.
It was so strange to Tom to watch Lucius Malfoy, the eldest son of the Malfoy family, marry his daughter. He never looked on blood status for anything, but he knew that the Malfoys did. When Lucius made his intentions known, it came as a surprise to know that he no longer cared about blood differences, as well as wealth. The wizarding world was indeed changing from what it was when he was child.
He could remember when they would laugh at him and Sarah when they were younger for being mudbloods, but know, it wasn't even questioned anymore. Even the notoriously pureblood families, such as the Blacks were marrying out of rich and pure bloodlines. And now his daughter was marrying into a family that was as notorious for hating muggleborns and half-borns alike. He and his wife had always wished for this for their future family.
"Daddy, I love you." Magdalena Malfoy whispered in her father's ear as he and his wife came to say their goodnights for the evening. He gave her a fatherly kiss on her cheek and shook her husband's hand.
"Goodnight Mr. Riddle." Lucius said.
"Nonsense, call me Tom or Dad. Anything besides 'Mister'." Lucius laughed and gave Sarah a hug goodnight.
"You two have a nice honeymoon." She winked to her daughter who blushed.
"Goodnight." Tom and Sarah floo-ed home to a comfortable silence that allowed them to waste away their night, reading the latest potions articles and discussing magical politics.
July 2nd, 1978: St. Mungo's
"It's a girl!" Lucius' vibrant and happy face said to Tom and Sarah Riddle as the sat outside the room waiting to see their daughter and new grand-daughter.
"Do you hear that, Tom? It's a girl! We're grandparents!" She squealed in delight. Lucius smiled excitedly. "Can we see her?"
"Come on in. Lena's a little tired, but it's kind of expected." He led the happy grandparents into the room where they found their sweat drenched and glowing daughter holding onto a baby of her own.
"Rosalind, meet Grammie and Gramps." Tom and Sarah smiled, tears in both of their eyes as they allowed their beautiful grand-daughter to grasp their fingers.
"She's lovely, sweetie." Sarah whispered. Rosalind Annabel Malfoy had bright blue eyes and shining blonde hair.
They spent the rest of the evening coddling their daughter and her new family.
December 13th, 1980: Sarah's Office at Hogwarts
"Do come in Albus. You know you are always welcome here." She smiled beautifully. Pictures of her grandchildren lined her desk. Along with Rosalind, Magdalena had recently given birth to a baby boy that she and Lucius named Alexei. He was now only three months old and already demonstrating great magical abilities. He turned his mashed peas into applesauce.
"Dearest Sarah, how is the family?"
"They are great. I am so happy to have them." She looked onto the pictures, reminiscing of all the times they shared. "So what do I owe the pleasure, Albus?"
"I have an assignment for you. There has been a problem that one of my close friends has come across. It seems while he was brewing a potion, he accidentally added pomegranate to the asphodel," Sarah gasped, "and as you know, has aged quite dramatically. I believe that you are perhaps the only qualified potions mistress that could ever even attempt to create a permanent youth serum." She looked at Albus quizzically.
"How much has he aged? The potion would have to be precise."
"Fifty-four years. It's quite tragic. He can't even move anymore."
"Of course I will help, Albus, but this will take me a while. How long do I have?"
"Medi-witches expect him to only live another year. I suppose that it would be imperative for you to have it brewed by October, next year."
"Then I should get started now." She began to rush around her room. Albus smiled sadly, knowing the truth behind her brewing the potion and the sadness it would bring to who can only be described as the closest person to a son he has ever had.
October 31st, 1981, 6:00 p.m.: The Headmaster's Office at Hogwarts
"Good evening, Sarah darling." He smiled, unable to truly feel happy about what he was being forced to do.
"How is your friend? Did the potion work?" She was on the edge of her seat waiting for the answers. She had spent hours and hours working on the potion and knew that it had to be correct.
"It has worked splendidly. He is back eating Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and playing Exploding Snaps with his grandchildren." She smiled in a way that can only be described as motherly.
"That's great." Dumbledore conjured a teapot of tea. He poured the liquid, knowing full well of the potion that he had emptied into her cup. He could feel the sadness building in the pit of his stomach as she drank her 'tea' to the last drop. He was thankful that she was so adept at potion making. In a matter of seconds, on the chintz armchair laid a beautiful baby girl who looked at the stranger before him with amusement in her eyes.
"Oh dear Sarah, please forgive me." He said as he lifted her from the chair and cast the 'oblivate' charm on her to make sure that she could remember none of her life as Sarah Riddle. It was indeed time to bring her back to her expecting parents. Albus left Hogwarts and went to the Granger's home.
AN: I was sad to see this happen, but it will get better.