Magic is not real, everyone is just a liar.
Theodore thought glumly over his fish and chips, the group home was serving this at breakfast now. So wonderful, for the past three days this meal was breakfast and dinner. This right here is proof magic is not real, Dumbledore told him he could make things happen out of nowhere just by wanting or wishing it badly, but Theodore has been craving bacon for weeks yet the fish never changed.
He stirred his food around and spotted a small hair sticking out. Disgusting, not only are they serving the same cheap meal, but they're not even wearing hair nets during prep. Theodore pulled out the hair to show it to the chief, it was short, black, and wavy. Ok never mind, it's probably just one of his and even if it wasn't they'll blame it on him.
Losing his appetite Theodore pushed the plate away, he was planning on leaving it there so the group home has to deal with it but the janitorial staff are really good people whose helped him out more than once and are treated teribily by everyone else, so he cleaned it up.
Living in a group home was simultaneously boring and nerve-wracking, constantly. You can never know if you're about to get attacked by some un-stable maniac or if you'll spend the day living like a zombie, slow, thoughtless, and always hungry.
Today, Evangeline was out getting a haircut, so with his only source of enrichment gone Theodore had nothing to do but go outside and bask in the sun. Or do his late homework but that's not happening, he's supposed to go to a magic school or an insane asylum soon anyway.
Dumbledore was definitely lying, and that fire was imagined. Theodore didn't know how he managed to hypnotize him, but that's what happened, Dumbledore was a hypnotherapist that was sent by his regular therapist because she's evil. What a terrible nagging thought Dumbledore planted in his head, Theodore took out the Hogwarts letter and squirmed to the shade when the sun glared on the paper making it hard to read.
Almost every day Theodore reread this thing, he would never admit it to himself, but he was wishing this was real. Though if wishing couldn't even get him bacon, there was no way it could make this exist. Even so, say this was real, what would this make him? A wizard obviously, but what about authority? How powerful is magic and can he use it against his "muggle" bullies? But what good is magic if he can't control it?
Theodore picked up a stone. Maybe Dumbledore left out some information, maybe wishing isn't enough to make something happen, maybe you have to actively work to make it happen. He wanted this stone to disappear, and to make it happen Theodore wished for magic to prove itself and squeezed his hand around it tight. He held it like that for a solid thirty seconds, wishing his want over and over again, and when he opened his palm, the stone was still there.
'I'm going to a hypnotherapist insane asylum.' Theodore sighed.
'Witch boy!' The group home's fifteen-year-old bully, Simeon Baas, called him. He's bored, and sadly Theodore is his favorite toy.
Theodore squeezed his eyes before looking up at him. Simeon looked a lot older than fifteen, eighteen at least, only more reason to fear him. He had specks of facial hair; he's been growing that for two months now, and he was almost as tall and wide as the double doors, all from muscle. By far the most angry, scary, and beast-like of all the group home bullies Theodore's faced thus far, but at least this one left Evangeline alone.
Simeon stomped up close to where Theodore was sitting, but not too close. Ever since Theodore (didn't) light him on fire, Simeon made sure to keep a respectful distance. He huffed like the big bad wolf before speaking with his deep trombone voice.
'So, you get to leave this place? I heard some guy came for you, that true?' Simon's expression was so angry and tense Theodore could see veins popping on his forehead. When Theodore couldn't bring himself to speak Simeon took it as confirmation. 'Well, I just came by to give you a parting gift, something to remember me by.' Theodore is smart enough to recognize a threat.
Slowly tucking his letter away, Theodore got up but kept his eyes on the predator. He noticed Simeon's yelling had attracted the attention of the rest of the children out on the playground. This is not good, Simeon's threating stature gives him the ability to command respect and obedience just by showing up, and living in such a boring place the other children will do anything for a good show, they formed a ring around them so Theodore can't get away.
The odds are against him, no one is going to stop this whether it was because they're too scared to stand up to their overseer or because they have the blood lust. Theodores legs felt as stable as his future at this point and he almost let himself fall, his heart was loud and powerful like drums.
'You won't light me on fire again with everyone watching, will you?' Simeon smirked as he shouted this but there was a fearful question in his voice, like he was asking for reassurance. He wasn't going to get any and Theodore was going to take the small victory of Simeon being scared of him to his grave.
Theodore made the mistake of looking to see how much room he had to run away as not a second later he was launched back like he'd just been rammed by a bison. He heard multiple loud cracks from where he landed on his shoulder and his hands and arms felt like lava.
Simeon had smoke flaring from his nostrils as he hungrily looked up, smirking. Theodore swore the whites of his eyes had turned a bloody red. The children's laughter sounded demonic and Theodore scrambled to get up before Simeon could charge him again but he was too slow. Staring down at him, Simeon wasn't interested in launching Theodore again, this time he grabbed him from the tops of his shoulders, squeezing them till Theodore couldn't move his arms, and lifted his feet off the ground.
'I don't understand how you always manage to escape the punishments you deserve for the pain you keep causing everyone, but this time, you will know what it feels like.' Simeon spoke low and serious, almost growling right in his face. 'Are you goanna kill that old man that's kind enough to take you away from this place like you've tried with all the others? He should've picked someone else.' Theodore stared back wide eyed and terrified.
'You're scared of me.' Theodore didn't know why he said that, why did he say that? For a second Simeon looked like he was going to crush his forehead in like an egg, but in the next second he broke and let out a pained whimper, then a blood curling scream before dropping Theodore to the ground joining him down there right after.
Simeon writhe around on the pavement with chocked screams ripping from him, the sound was new and scary to Theodore and felt like daggers in his ears. Theodore didn't know what the hell was going on, he quickly backed away and stood up, looking on at Simeon in horror. Is he going to die? Theodore whipped all the way around, everyone else looked confused and shocked but they weren't doing anything. The ring slowly backed further away from them as Simeon started twisting and convulsing in the most violent ways, it was like he was possessed. Is this magic proving itself? Was Theodore getting what he wished so hard for, because he didn't wish for this! 'DON'T DIE!' Theodore shouted; his hands flew to his scalp grabbing his hair. What is he supposed to do?
'WHAT'S GOING ON!' Oh no not Precious. The black curly haired pig woman waddled up to them, her gross skin almost glistening in the sunlight in sweat. She screamed for the ring to disperse and ran to Simeon when she saw him. It didn't take long for him to stop dying after that. Theodore knew it, magic's not real, everyone is just a dick and Simeon was acting. How was he sweating that much from acting though?
'Witch boy!' Precious snapped her head at him. 'This was you! DON'T YOU LIE THIS WAS YOU IT'S ALWAYS YOU! THE THIRD CHILD YOU'VE HURT IN A MONTH.' Precious took out her walkie-talkie and called for a volunteer to tend to Simeon. Then she charged up at him, Theodore almost felt back down she was so fast on those sausage legs.
'YOU WILL BE SPENDING THE NEXT THREE NIGHTS IN THE CRATE!' Theodore cried out No hearing the punishment he was going to receive. This was the first group home to have punished him by locking him in a tiny crate all night and it was the worst thing he's ever experienced.
Precious snatched his wrist with a fist like a lobster claw as he tried to run away and Theodore dug his heels into the ground screaming for help. 'I didn't do it, he's acting!'
'Wretched witch boy!' The pig woman spat. 'You dare have the cheek to lie to me? Didn't you see him, do you ever see what you do! You're even covered in his blood you delusional brat!' Theodore looked down at his clothes and sure enough, there was blood. But it's his! There are scrapes all along his arms from when he fell!
'Precious wait!' Theodore clawed at her hands but she ignored him, and now that they were inside the building his feet slipped and skidded all over the floor. Precious's grip was so tight Theodores's hand started throbbing as she pulled him into the Madam's office.
'State your name and reason for coming to see me.' The Madam asked. She looked up from her work and her eyes immediately landed on Precious's grip and Theodores bloody shirt. 'Precious what happened to this poor boy? Let him go!' Precious obeyed and the Madam walked around her desk and bent down to Theodores's level, grabbing his hands to look them over.
'Nothing happened to him Madam. This boy was single handedly attacking and fighting the other children in the playground, leaving them badly hurt on the ground.' Precious slapped Theodores's shoulder. 'I was the one to stop it.' She confessed proudly.
'He needs aid Precious, look at his hands and arms! The scrapes!' The Madam walked to her desk and came back with some hydrogen peroxide a towel and a watermelon lollipop.
'But Madam! The other children need more attention than him, Simeon Baas was on the ground screaming, he couldn't speak at all! This is a regular occurrence for Riddle.'
Theodore chewed on the lollipop; those lies Precious is spewing sting as bad as the peroxide. Theodore scowled, too much of it was spilling on the floor as she disinfected his scrapes, what a filthy mess. He knew the Madam was going to believe Precious and he was going to get the crate for three nights, all for something he didn't do. Simeon was only acting like everyone else, the bully wished for this to happen and he got it.
'That may be true, but terrible actions do not exempt children from proper care. I'm sure you did your job correctly and had sent someone to help Simeon before you dragged the child I know you have a grudge against to me.' The Madam gave Precious a stern glare and Precious was quick to tell her of how she handled the situation. 'Very good. Right now, Theodore is under my authority, you may leave.'
A heavyweight was lifted off his shoulders when he felt Precious leave out the door behind him. It was silence after that, Theodore stopped chewing on the lollipop as to not disturb the Madam and irritate her as she fixed him up. The room was very uncomfortable and Theodore couldn't help the small tears falling from his eyes, this was embarrassing and now he'll be in the crate, for three whole nights.
'Forgive me for intruding, but I am meant to take Theodore Riddle outside today. From twelve am to four pm.' A soft voice said coming from the doorway.
at hearing his name, Theodore twisted around. It was the hypnotherapist old man wizard, Dumbledore. Today he was wearing more normal dark grey robes and a matching floppy pointed hat. Has it been a month already? Calendars may as well not exist when it's summer time. Theodore got a new rush of anxiety; feeling he's going to get locked up in something worse than a crate.
'I'm sorry Mr. Dumbledore, but Theodore has just been involved in an incident of his own making and cannot go out today.' Just as Theodore expected, the Madam took the lie Precious told her with nothing but her word.
'I beg your pardon?' Dumbledore walked deeper into the room, standing close beside Theodore. 'I'm sure whatever incident he created shouldn't keep him away from school supply shopping, that's why I'm here today. The terms starts in less than one week and we need to go all the way to London to fetch his supplies. You understand I am a very busy man and his papers for the school have already been filled up, we cannot reschedule.'
What does all that mean? If he were going to an insane asylum wouldn't the Madam remember that and rush to send him off as soon as Dumbledore stepped through the door? Was he wrong, is magic school real? Theodore's heart raced and his mind swirled, he could hear his brain yelling at him to not get his hopes up, that what Dumbledore was saying is all for show to keep him calm and docile during the transportation process, not that it was working. Meanwhile his heart was leaping, trusting and excited and scared to get proven wrong.
He begun to get dizzy and short of breath, distracted by all his inner shouting and fighting and wishing he couldn't focus on the calm conversation Dumbledore and the Madam were having about his incident and arrangements. Theodore jumped when he noticed Dumbledore now sat in front of him and the Madam was nowhere to be found, and the door was closed too.
'I asked to be alone with you so we can discuss what happened in the playground.' Dumbledore told him when he noticed Theodore was lost. 'So, fill me in.'
'One of the bullies attacked me and thrashed the skin on my arms and legs, and I think he noticed Precious the supervisor nearby so he fell to the ground and started squirming around while screaming. Precious hates me and he was pretending I hurt him to get me in trouble with her.' Theodore said quickly.
'Hmm, he pretended you say?' Dumbledore asked. 'What makes you so sure he was pretending?'
'He was fine when Precious came over, stopped screaming immediately. He knows she doesn't like me, so he acted hurt to get me in trouble.'
'What if I tell you that maybe he wasn't pretending, and that you had casted a spell on him so he would let you go. It was all in self-defense, you wanted to be safe, needed to be safe. There is a spell that does exactly what you described.' Dumbledore studied him for a moment and Theodore didn't feel comfortable enough to talk.
He was conflicted and confused, he couldn't understand if that really was true, that he had casted a spell in self-defense, or if Dumbledore was just pulling his leg. Theodore rubbed his forehead after a small pressure headache appeared, he didn't realize how much his hands were shaking until he lifted one.
'Hold your arms out to me, palms facing up.' Dumbledore instructed.
Theodore did as he was told, too mentally exhausted to question it. Like with his radio Dumbledore took out the stick, or wand is the proper name, and pointed it at his scrapes.
'Sigillum Vulnere.' The tip of the wand glowed white, making his speckled blood look like sparkles. Dumbledore healed each break of skin and bloody scrape, the dirty blood vanished straight off of his arms and little strings of white skin stitched themselves over the glossy red flesh. There weren't any marks or bruises left over, Theodore's skin looked as healthy and strong as when he was sitting, trying to do magic on a rock.
'I have an understanding you still cannot comprehend magic exists; I hope that was proof enough. If not, you will have no question when we visit the stores we need to today.' Dumbledore smiled and slid his wand back into his sleeve. He bent forward. 'But first we need to talk about that magic you casted on the bully.'
'What's there to talk about?' Theodore was feeling defensive now, because it is his fault Simeon got hurt. He hasn't eaten or drank anything today, that means there was no time to drug him with hallucinogenic and he made sure to not look too closely at Dumbledore's hands once, so he wasn't hypnotized either. Yet he saw his skin's healing process accelerate like that with nothing but a wave of Dumbledore's wand, because of magic? 'I didn't wish for that to happen, it's not my fault!'
'I'm not saying it is, Theodore. I want you to know why that happened, and I want to know if you understand why going to Hogwarts is so important.'
'It happened because he wanted to kill me and I need to go to Hogwarts so I can get better control over magic. You said I casted a specific spell, and when you healed me, you said something to get it to work. Is there something I have to say to make that spell I casted work again?'
'You will never need to know the incantation for that spell Theodore. The spell you casted is illegal and if you were an adult wizard, you would've been sent to Azkaban.' Theodore only realized now just how serious Dumbledore was behaving. His voice was stern and serious and his stare was pointed.
'What's Azkaban?' Theodore asked in a small voice, and Dumbledore looked down on him darkly.
'It's a terrible place in the wizarding world where bad wizards and witches get locked up, it is maximum security and very dangerous, so dangerous you can even lose your soul.' Theodore's blood ran to ice. 'If you cast that spell as an adult you will go to Azkaban, and if you never go to Hogwarts and have an accidental magic burst like you did today and it is that spell again, you will be locked up in Azkaban. I have reason to believe that you are more prone to accidental magic as terrible as that than others are, I have only ever met one other child who could do that at your age, and his life did not end well.'
Theodore could feel himself shake in his shoes. He didn't want to get locked up in Azkaban, what do they do to people in there? Torture? Executions? But with magic-maybe they cast the illegal spell as a punishment...
'Theodore look at me.' Theodore listened. 'You are not in trouble, you will not be sent for Azkaban for what you did today, but you need to understand how serious that was.' Theodore nodded vigorously, heart hammering in his ears. 'Hogwarts will stop the accidents?'
'Yes, once you have a wand to channel your magic, and a chance study at Hogwarts, your emotions shouldn't get the better of you, at least not as bad as today.'
Theodore frowned. His emotions shouldn't get the better of him? Why did he have to word it like that? And there's still a possibility that he could accidently cast a spell like that after? What if he does and the wizard police think he did it on purpose?
He looked back up at Dumbledore when the old man told him to go change into clothes that are less bloody and more formal, saying some tidying up is greatly appreciated in the wizarding world, and ushered him out of the Madam's office with a promise that they will head over to London as soon as he comes back.