FIVE YEARS LATER
Esme sat on the rug in the living room, resting against the sofa, casually turning the pages of a photo book Remus had given her for her last birthday. She happily watched her mother wave up at her, holding a younger version of her daughter tightly in her arms, their matching dark hair almost luminous in the off camera light. She turned the page again and saw her mother again, this time twirling happily for the camera in her wedding dress, the white material resting beautifully on her soft arms.
"Esme, your dinner is ready," Remus called in from the kitchen. Esme carefully placed the photo book on a shelf by the bookcase and followed the mouth-watering smell that was floating in from the kitchen.
"What are we having?" she asked, licking her lips hungrily. She was met by two plates of mashed potatoes and strips of chicken, steam rising steadily from them. She happily sat down at the table and grabbed at a knife and fork, ready to attack her meal. However, something caused her to pause. Remus had frozen halfway through his task of pouring two glasses of orange juice.
"Remus, what is it?" Esme asked, lowering her cutlery and trying to follow his gaze.
"Esme, transform, now," Remus replied, sharply. He grabbed Esme's plate of food and pushed it behind the cauldron, his eyes flickering to and from the window in the living room.
"Remus, what's wrong?" Esme asked, startled at the sudden tense atmosphere. Remus didn't reply and simply rushed around the kitchen and the sitting room, hiding framed pictures and ornaments and toys and books and the photo book –
"Why are you hiding my things?" Esme asked, suddenly realising the connection. However, it wasn't Remus who provided her with an answer. Instead, there was a sharp knock on the door and the both of them froze.
"Esme, transform and hide upstairs, now," Remus hissed. Esme didn't need telling twice. In an instance, she transformed into a robin and flew like shrapnel up the stairs, stopping sharply on the landing and rested on the bannister, hoping to see the sudden visitor. In the five years she had lived with Remus, they had never had any visitors except Andromeda once a month, so she could understand why Remus was so suddenly edgy.
She watched as Remus checked that she was no longer in sight before opening the door a fraction, popping his head out to identify the visitor. Esme half expected Remus to try and close the door as quickly as possible, but to her surprise, after a few seconds of hushed conversation, he opened the door wide and allowed the visitor into the house.
It was an elderly wizard, tall and thin, with long silvery hair and beard, both of which were tucked into his belt. His long robes matched the dark purple of his cloak, but contrasted with the bright blueness of his eyes. In fact, they were much like Esme's, although they were half-hidden by spectacles which were perched on the end of a very crooked nose.
This man was Albus Dumbledore, and Esme, from her position on the bannister, recognised him immediately as the man who had placed her in Remus' care five years previously. Esme swayed slightly on the bannister as terror gripped her. What was he doing here? Was he here to take her away again?
"Esme, can you come downstairs, please?" Remus called up, apparently not noticing the small robin on his bannister. However, Esme knew exactly why he hadn't asked her to transform back into her human form in front of Albus Dumbledore; he didn't want the old wizard to know about her ability. Remus had told Esme when she was nine that when Elizabeth had charmed her daughter into an Animagus, she had been breaking the law.
Silently, Esme hopped off the bannister and landed on the landing, before transforming back into her human form and, after adjusting her hair and skirt, she gradually walked down the stairs, worried what she would be facing.
"Hello, Esme," Albus Dumbledore said politely, his eyes twinkling.
"Esme, this is Professor Albus Dumbledore," Remus said quickly, as though worried Esme would be scared by the presence of what he obviously thought was a stranger. However, Esme simply smiled at both of the wizards politely and nodded her head.
"I remember you," she said quietly and Professor Dumbledore twinkled again. "Are you here to take me away?"
Remus instantly look worried at the prospect of losing Esme so suddenly, but thankfully, the old wizard shook his head.
"No, Esme, I am not here to take you away," he said kindly. "I can see how well you've settled in with Remus, and I certainly would not want to take you away."
"Well, thank you, Albus," Remus said as Esme beamed. "But, if you're not here for Esme, why are you here?"
"I am here to deliver this," Professor Dumbledore said and he pulled a cream envelope out from under his cloak. It was quite small and there was black small writing just visible under Dumbledore's fingers. He held it out to Esme, who took it apprehensively, glancing at Remus. The black writing said; Miss E Prince, Cana Cottage, Broxburn, East Lothian, Scotland.
Despite feeling incredibly confused, as the letter didn't appear to be addressed to her, Esme tore the envelope open and read the following;
Dear Miss Prince
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress.
"Professor Dumbledore," Esme said as politely as possible, "I think you've given me someone else's letter. This is addressed to Miss Prince; I'm Miss Black. And, Remus has already told me that I can't go to Hogwarts…"
The last sentence died in her mouth as she and Remus had already discussed whether she would be allowed to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and they had decided that Remus would home-school her. However, Dumbledore didn't agree with her, or take back the letter. Instead, he simply smiled.
"Actually, that letter is for you, Esme," he said kindly. "Professor McGonagall and I have decided that you should be allowed to attend Hogwarts, just like your mother."
"But, Albus, everyone will know who she is," Remus said worriedly. "Everyone knows what Sirius did, and there will be prejudice towards her."
"Remus, there is no need to trouble yourself with that," Dumbledore said, smiling. "Miss Black will attend under the name of Emily Prince, so people won't be alerted to her real identity."
"I have to pretend to be somebody else?" Esme said quietly and Dumbledore nodded.
"But, she looks like Elizabeth," Remus protested still, as though determined not to allow Esme to leave. "Even if we change her name, she is the spitting image of her mother, and people who knew her will guess who Esme really is."
"Do not worry, Remus," Dumbledore said, and Esme noticed the steely note in his voice as he spoke. "Severus has brewed up a potion that will alter Esme's appearance –"
"I'll look different?" Esme interrupted and regretted it immediately, as Dumbledore looked at her over his half-moon glasses. "I didn't mean to interrupt, Professor, I was just surprised."
"I didn't even notice, Esme," Dumbledore said softly and Esme smiled at his kindness, or rather at the fact she wasn't told off.
"How different will she look, Albus?" Remus asked Esme's question, glancing at the young girl as he spoke.
"Severus has assured me that it will only be her hair colour," Dumbledore said strongly. "As that, and Esme's eye colour, are what mostly connect her to Elizabeth's appearance."
Esme nodded, thinking of her mother's picture. She could see what Dumbledore meant. Remus often said that she looked a lot like Elizabeth; they both had incredibly pale skin, glossy black hair and bright blue eyes. However, Esme's nose was smaller, she had light freckles and her hair had straighter than her mothers, which had more of a curl. Although Remus never confirmed it, Esme suspected that she got those particular features from her father. She definitely had her father's explosive temper, often blowing up when angered by something. However, as her life with Remus was peaceful, she hadn't had a lot of reasons to get angry. The only time she had ever lost her temper so much that she had accidently used magic was when a stray dog had pulled one of her favourite toys out of her hand whilst she was playing in the garden, aged seven.
She had been sitting by the apple tree, quietly playing with her black toy dog, which smelt oddly of strawberry and liquorice, when the mutt had run into the grass and snatched the toy right out of her hand. Esme had been so angry that she had transformed into a tiger and roared at the thing, snarling viciously. It had taken Remus casting a Shield Charm to make her let the dog out of her jaws. He had been furious with her, but Esme had been just as angry. That toy was the one thing that her mother had left her –
"Elizabeth," she said suddenly as something struck her. Both of the wizards turned to look at her, both surprised at the sudden raised volume of her voice. "I don't want to be called Emily. Can I be called Elizabeth?"
Dumbledore beamed down at her and nodded before Remus could say anything.
"I'll organise it straight away," he said, with almost a hint of proudness in his voice. "There is one more thing, before I go. Your mother and your grand-mother, Eileen Prince –"
"That's where you got my new surname from?" Esme interrupted again.
"Quite right, Esme," Dumbledore beamed again. "They both have put money into a safe at Gringotts, which Remus will be able to access to pay for your books and uniform."
"Mum left me money?" Esme asked quietly.
"It seems so," Remus said, and Esme was surprised to see him look confused at the prospect of a mother leaving her daughter money. "Your list will be with your letter, Esme."
Esme looked down at her letter and pulled a second piece of paper out from the envelope, and read;
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
COURSE BOOKS:
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emetic Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT:
Wand
Cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
Set glass or crystal phial
Stelescope set
Brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
Esme re-read the letter three times, making sure she fully digested the information, and wondering where on Earth she and Remus were expected to get all of these things from. She was so absorbed in her reading that she hadn't noticed Dumbledore had moved towards the front door.
"With that, I will be off," he said pleasantly, shaking Remus' hand. "Esme, I will see you in a month. Enjoy shopping in Diagon Alley."
And, with that, Dumbledore left the cottage with a swish of his cloak, locking the door behind him. Completely bewildered, and with a fire of excitement burning deep in her stomach, Esme turned back to look at Remus, praying that what everything Dumbledore had said was true. Remus was still staring hard at the door, as though expecting Dumbledore to return and say everything was a joke, and Esme was to remain in the house for the rest of her life.
"What's Diagon Alley?" Esme asked, hoping to break the tension. Remus' eyes snapped to hers, and the confusion in his face instantly vanished and was replaced by a kind smile.
"It's a street in London, where you can buy all of your school things," he said, going back into the kitchen and retrieving their dinner. "We can go there tomorrow, if you want."
Esme chewed her lip thoughtfully, watching as Remus reheated the food with his wand and put it back on the table.
"Am I really going to Hogwarts, Remus?" she whispered, still not daring to believe it. She was sure that Professor Dumbledore was completely trustworthy, but Remus had never lied to her, so until he said the words, she wouldn't really believe she was going to her parent's old school.
"Albus Dumbledore wouldn't lie, Esme," Remus said softly gesturing her to rejoin the table. "If he says that you're going to Hogwarts, then you're going. Although, if we are going to Diagon Alley tomorrow, I will need to contact Severus about the 'hair-changing potion' he seems to have concocted."
Remus' tone on those three words was scornful, as though he didn't believe Esme's uncle had really been able to invent something that simple.
"But, I can really get all of the things on the list?" Esme asked, her eyes shining with wonder. "A wand and robes and everything else?"
Remus smiled at her, pleased that she was excited about her new adventure.
So, the next day, Severus sent an owl to the cottage with the potion that would change Esme' hair colour. The owl arrived around nine in the morning and surprised Remus whilst he was eating his crunchy brown toast, as it screeched through the window and landed with a thump on the kitchen table. Very apprehensively, Esme agreed to take the dark green liquid and swallowed it unhappily. It tasted of onions and stale vinegar and as she gulped it down, it burned the back of her throat.
"You okay?" Remus asked as the young girl spluttered. She nodded as she felt her hair do something very odd. Her fringe seemed to be lengthening and moving to the sides of her face, and from what she would see, it was quickly turning a lighter shade. Her locks also seemed to getting curlier as they swung down her back.
"Remus, what's happening?" Esme asked, standing incredibly still in case movement affected the potion.
"It's all right, don't panic," Remus assured her, watching her hair change its appearance. It was only when his eyes relaxed and he smiled at her that Esme stopped panicking.
"How does it look?" she asked nervously, fingering the material of her jeans. Remus smiled at her, conjuring a mirror out of thin air with his wand. Esme grabbed it tightly and dared to look at her new reflection. She was surprised to see how different she looked, simply by changing her hair colour. Instead of her usual jet black resting softly on her shoulders, with a fringe that often fell into her eyes, all she could see was a mass of dark blonde curls. Even her eyebrows had changed colour. She was more surprised that she could actually see her eyebrows, as her fringe was gone, and instead she had a middle parting with the side locks resting next to her cheeks.
"How long will it stay like this?" Esme asked, turning away from her reflection. Remus looked at the letter that Severus had sent with the potion vial, reading it aloud;
"This amount will last twelve hours."
So, after getting used to her new appearance, and trying to remember her new name, Esme set off with Remus to Diagon Alley.