Prologue

Ilvermorny, United States of America

May, 1973

"Professor Dumbledore, I just don't think that she needs to keep attending magic schools. We let her go to one in the country and she ruined her chance. I think it's time she really started thinking about her future and going to a normal school and a normal college to get a normal degree."

Her voice was soft and inviting, but Theodosia knew better. This was far more trouble than her mother was anticipating. Theodosia could see how tight her smile was over her lips, and the sharpness in her eyes. Her father could see it too. He was frustrated, Theodosia knew. When it came to Theodosia's "talent" they were agreeing to disagree on what was best for her.

"Miss Clarke is free to do that if she chooses. I am merely here to present her with an option. I know that sending your daughter across an ocean must seem intimidating, but if she chooses to make the journey, then she has a place at Hogwarts."

Silence fell across the room, as if no one knew whose turn it was to speak. Mrs. Clarke kept her lips in a tight line and looked at her daughter, daring her to speak. Theodosia wasn't that brave tonight. She knew what her mother wanted, and she didn't know exactly what she wanted, so she decided that silence was the best of options.

"May I ask why you want her?" Mrs. Clarke's smile had wavered, losing patience. "She doesn't really… excel, does she? And she was expelled! I don't see why you would want her at your school at all, let alone why you made this trip. It seems like a great deal of effort for one small… witch."

Theodosia prided herself on hiding her emotions. She usually locked her jaw and raised her chin and pretended that everything bounced off of her but this time she couldn't hide the hurt that covered her face. She turned herself to face her mother, but her mother refused to look back. "Mom?"

"You know it's true, Theo. Don't look at me like that. You were always much better at being like us than like them." Mr. Clarke rolled his eyes. He was a no-maj too, but he found magic to be a far more inviting concept than Mrs. Clarke did. Mrs. Clarke treated it like a passing fancy hoping that her daughter would come to her senses and stop this nonsense.

"Momma that's not true. You know that's not true. I was good, that's why Professor Dumbledore is here, right professor?" Her pleading look wasn't acknowledged though, and Theo couldn't fight the hurt that she was feeling all through her body. Suddenly everything felt like it was aching.

"I am actually here as a favor to an old friend; an old friend that assured me that your daughter is a very talented young woman. I trust that this friend would not lead me astray, and if they have faith in her then I do too."

"Diane, maybe this is a good thing." Mr. Clarke finally chimed in, incredibly tired. He was much more excited by the fact that Theo was a witch than Mrs. Clarke, and was eager for her to continue her studies. Her attending a school for witchcraft and wizardry was already a point of strain within the family, and now this. Theodosia felt like everything was just such a mess, and knew without a doubt that it was all her fault.

"I don't think it is! She has to think about her future! What are we going to tell people?!"

"Is that all you care about? What people think?" That was also a frequently argued point. Mr. Clarke came from a well off family, and parents who didn't seem to really enjoy raising children. Theo had heard stories about how her grandmother would beat her children if they embarrassed her, and knew that he was adamant not to let the same thing happen to his daughters. It made sense that his wife's words would upset him.

"Guys, please stop." Theodosia regretted stepping in the moment they turned on her.

"Be quiet Theo! Your father and I wouldn't even be fighting if it wasn't for you! I'm so angry at you I can't even see straight!" As if to emphasize her point, Diane Clarke closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I was wondering if, perhaps, I may speak with Miss Clarke alone." Dumbledore's voice seemed to remind Theo's mother of exactly where she was and what she was doing. She was sitting up straight again, smiling tightly as she addressed the old wizard.

"If you'd like, but you must know that Theo's choice is her own." This may seem like Theo actually had a choice in the matter, but that could not be farther from the truth. Whatever Mrs. Clarke wanted would go, unless Mr. Clarke decided to really step in. In the end her opinion didn't matter. All that mattered was which parent had the stronger will.

"Of course," Dumbledore nodded. With a huff, Theo's parents left the room taking any support (or lack thereof) she may have had with them. Theo couldn't bring herself to look at the older man. She was twelve and awkward and scared and this man had crossed an ocean as a favor to a friend on her behalf. She briefly wondered what he must have thought of her, but she decided not knowing might preserve her dignity.

"Why don't you tell me what happened, Miss Clarke?"

Theo didn't know what to say. This was the first time she'd been asked since the whole ordeal even began about two days ago. She considered an evasive response, but reconsidered after actually looking at the old man. He made her feel very safe, and for a second wondered when she had lost the feeling of security.

"Uh, yes. Sir. I um." Why was this so hard? She just had to tell him. If he believed her it was up to him, she just had to explain. Just explain… "I realize that what I am about to say is going to sound weird, and impossible. But I had a dream."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow but said nothing so Theo continued.

"I've had some strange dreams of people I've never seen before, or places I've never been. Usually they're blurry, so little detail that I can barely make them out if at all. But then maybe the next day or the day after, I'll see those people or those places. I know it's silly, but they're so different from my normal dreams. They're always just a little bit off. And sometimes they happen when I'm awake too.

"So I had a dream like those, except it was much sharper. It was the night before, and it was of the Professor I… yea. She had this really mean look on her face, and she was marching down the hall in her black robes and her hair pulled back in this really tight ponytail, and I know that's a lot of information but I saw it. It was so vivid. In the dream she grabs this boy, he is a year younger than me. I knew him because he got teased a lot, and I always felt bad. Well she grabs him, really tight by the arm, and yells 'Mr. Shephard, how dare you?!' She was so loud and angry that everyone stopped to look. The kid looks all scared and says 'I don't know what you're talking about.' So the professor pulls a parchment out of her pocket and shows it to him. I didn't know what it said but the kid looked terrified at the site of it. I think it was a prank someone pulled maybe? He was a sweet kid. I don't think he would even have the guts to do anything to offend anyone purposely. I don't know.

"But then he just starts babbling, saying he'd never seen it before and that it wasn't him and she tells him not to lie and he says he isn't and she raised her hand and slaps him so hard across the face that he falls over and starts crying, and then I woke up."

Dumbledore remained silent, never taking his eyes off of her as she recounts this bizarre tale to him. She feels self-conscious but now that it's all out in the open she felt a weight lift off of her shoulders. Maybe this wasn't so bad. Maybe he'd even believe her? She continued the tale, a hint of hope in her voice.

"And so, the next day I'm walking, and I get this weird feeling like I've done this before, and I look up and see the professor heading for the little boy. I try to think that it's not the same, it's not the same, but then she grabs him and yells at him. And I watch the exact scene from my dream start happening before me and as soon as she pulls out the parchment I panic, because I know what's going to happen so I run and I-I just.."

"No need to continue, I think I understand Miss Clarke." Theo's stomach began doing somersaults as she thinks about how absolutely insane she must sound to this poor old man who was probably regretting even coming here in the first place. "It is an interesting situation you've found yourself in. You realize that being expelled generally means that you are no longer allowed to practice magic, yes?"

Theo only nods.

"However, this is a unique situation." Theo may have been imagining it, but there seemed to be a small smile on his lips. The beard made it a little difficult to tell.

"It is?"

"Indeed it is. Most students are expelled for misuse of magic, as you may have guessed, but you have been expelled for something entirely different. According to your laws, there is no reason that you are not allowed to continue your education in the field of magic."

Theo's heart was beating quickly. She had wondered why her wand hadn't been snapped yet, and now she understood. Whoever Dumbledore's friend was, he knew the law and knew how to get around it. The question was, however, whether or not she would be allowed to go to school an ocean away.

"So you are welcome to join us for your third year of study, if you are interested."

"I would love to, sir, but I am not sure my mother would let me." Another one of those almost smiles graced his bearded lips.

"Perhaps you can leave that to me." With a swish of his robes, he stood and strode to the door her parents had exited through. Theo wondered if she should be following but elected to sit in place, hoping against hope that she could actually, really, have a second chance. She wanted one, she really did. She loved magic, she loved everything fantastic that surrounded her and while Theo did not believe in God, she hoped that if there was one they were listening and rooting for her too.