Once Forgotten
July 6, 1993
Things were calm in the hills of Scotland, even with the children of Hogsmede running around with their toys from Zonko's. Even with the current escape from Askaban occupying the back of the adult's minds, their work helped keep them distracted.
This was also true of the large castle that stood proudly over the hills, visible for miles as it looked as spectacular as the day it had been built. Magic was very good at having that effect.
Magic, however, always has. the effect of the unexpected happening, something the residents of the castle would remember shortly.
The second week of July was always quite busy for Minerva McGonagall, since she had always been back from holiday only a short time. Though, despite the stress that came with preparing for the new school year, she was alway excited for the next year. She believes, like many (but not all) of her colleagues would say if asked, teaching was the most rewarding profession.
Though, writing out each individual letter that the upcoming first years would receive could be taxing. It was one of the few minor downsides to her job. So she began to write down the names in the school enrollment book, written by the enchanted quill of Ravenclaw. It had given here the names of every new student for as long as she had been Deputy Headmistress. And while the letters could be tedious, seeing the young faces when they learned what they would be taught at Hogwarts made it worth is.
As the quill stilled though, Minerva did not expect or even imagine what came next.
The book turned back to the page of first years from 1991, and began to write once more. Adding another name at the bottom of the list in glowing letters, almost in a burning color.
Shocked beyond belief, she nearly failed to write down the name and address before running to the headmaster's office.
She quickly exclaimed, "Hersheys!" as she was approaching the stone gargoyles, which sprang aside as she rushed up the stairs. Bursting inside before her friend could even beckon McGonagall in vocally. Looking amused, Dumbledore began speaking before she could catch her breath.
"Minerva, as I am sure that it is worse this year than the previous one, whatever entertainment the Weasley twins have left for us to enjoy, is not as bad as it may seem," Albus said calmly with a smile.
Something usually had been left each year, intentionally or not, by the students that would give the staff a surprise or two. Most times it would merely be a small firework or dung bomb, which was handled quickly. Then other times there things like static doorway traps or clouds of smoke that left the victim looking like a jester for a time. Albus alway found them more amusing than his deputy.
McGonagall only looked at him, and seeing her not even look irritated at his comment. This only worried him.
"What has happened?" asked Albus.
Gathering herself, she handed him the paper.
"The name appeared just now in the Book of Enrollment! Turning back to the class from two years ago, the boys name was added at the bottom. Not only that as it wrote, the letters were glowing slightly! Has anything like this ever happened before?" McGonagall asked slightly panicked.
Albus grabbed the parchment, examining the address listed next to the name. He could not imaginge why the Quill would have waited so long to give the name. Nor could he imagine why the address would be inside one of muggle London's worse areas.
"Not that I am aware of, if you would, join me to come see the boy." Already moving around his desk to head towards the front gate, after quickly pulling an envelope out an tapping it with his wand before placing it in his robes.
McGonagall was relieved to at the very least have her college's help in the strange situation.
"Should I go finish collecting the names first, in case there are others?" she asked.
"Given the address, maybe it would be best the see this one first, in case he won't be able to recieve his letter later," said Dumbledore worriedly.
"Very well," said McGonagall. "If I recall it's not a residential district of any kind."
"Indeed it is not," he replied somewhat grimly before holding his arm out for her to take. Both disappartating with a flash of flame as his familiar transported them away.
Arriving at the location, their memories proved to be quite correct at describing the area they had come to.
Quickly transforming his own flashy, purple robes into a light blue suit, Dumbledore examined his surroundings, seeing that things he had only seemingly deteriorated since he'd last past through here.
It was muggle London alright, but it eerily reminded him of Knockturn Alley. Mostly boarded up shops, bars, and abandoned buildings that looked unfixable. Even by magic, it would be quicker to simply rebuild completely. There was not a single place either of them would consider a good place for a child. That thought reminded Minerva of another child whom she had helped place somewhere she wasn't sure was a good place.
The sound of glass breaking, followed by a child's scream caught both of their attentions as they hurried towards the alleyway it came from.
"Listen here, you little br-"
Before they could reach it, however, they heard the man grunt loudly followed by a loud noise.
CRASH!
The sound of scurrying feet echoed away as they turned down the alley to see a bald muggle man, probably his early thirties, laying on the ground unmoving. That wasn't what shocked the though.
It was that he seeming forced directly through the brick wall of the building. Check to see if he was alive, Albus breathed out relieved. Still breathing, however, it was with extreme effort. Quickly healing his broken ribs, and obliviating him with a wave of his wand, Dumbledore turned his attention down the alleyway where there was supposed to be a dead end, but the metal gate that was there had been forced aside. As though something strong had merely moved it because of an inconvenience.
Albus could also sense magic in the air, a skill he had honed over many years. However, it was very faint. It felt... off strangely, like it hadn't been actually cast.
"How did we not hear that?" asked McGonagall. Truth be told, he had been so caught up in his observations he'd forgotten she was there.
"I believe it was done seconds before we arrived," pointing towards three sets of footprints in the mud, one coming through the gate alone, then exiting with another. The larger of the two being large enough for a older teenage boy at most, considering their size. While the smaller being that of a small girl.
"I believe time may be of importance here, my friend," Dumbledore said, "and you can follow faster than I."
Understanding his words, she jumped in the air, turning into a tabby cat, bolting after the footprints. Quickly firing a tracking charm, he followed at a slower, but still fairly spry pace for his age.
"Ow!" the girl exclaimed as her busted cheek was touched with the rag.
"If you had done as I said, and stayed away from the Crows, you'd be fine. So shut it!" scolded the older boy. The girl lowered her eyes, though more so in shame than fear. He sighed as he poured more alcohol on the rag, tending to her other scrapes.
"Wait, where did you even get that stuff?" another boy, around 7 asked.
"Doesn't matter," he quickly muttered.
"Hold on! You'll steal that stuff, not food!?" yelled a girl that was closer to the oldest's age.
With an irritated look, he turned, "This was an emergency so she doesn't get an infection. We can't afford a hospital trip, so I took this."
Seeing her about to respond angrily again, he continued.
"When exactly have I ever let ANY of you starve? Go so cold for longer that a few hours that youight freeze?" He asked.
"Never," he said without waiting for a reply. "I will not steal if i don't need to, and this will not go unpaid for either," he said shaking the bottle of medicinal alcohol.
"I'll leave a note and some money when I can gather it though. I won't have the cops catching us, especially because of the Crows," he stated with finality.
Sufficiently cowed, the older girl started to walk away, only to walk straight into a woman in an emerald green dress, behind her a man in a suit.
"Uhhh, guys? We have another problem!" she said.
When Albus caught up to Minerva, he never believed it would be in a scrap yard. The woman having already changed back after ensuring she wasn't seen.
"There are four kids inside, a young boy around seven, two girls around 8 and twelve, and a young man who must be around fifteen. Though neither of the boys are the right age, so why follow them?" the Scottish woman said rapidly as he approached.
Dumbledore pondered the information he had briefly, before stating calmly, "Appearances can be decieving."
He the silently started moving the debris in the direction he could sense magic in, and it was close.
It took them several minutes, trying to make little noise as possible. Though any noise they did make was covered up my the machines in the next lot over. Seeing an area lit by fire, he moved forward as voices began to be heard. Becoming much clearer as they neared the entrance.
"-ote and some money when I can gather it though. I won't have the cops catching us, especially because of the Crows," coming from a young, but stern voice.
Albus started to ponder how to approach them when it the decision was made for him. As what he believed to be the oldest girl, walked around and straight into Minerva. Shaking her head confusingly, the girl looked up at them then slowly started to back up with a shocked look on her face.
"Uhhh, guys? We have another problem!" She said to the others still backing away. All four pairs of eyes looking immediately in their direction. Scanning the room Albus could see it was completely made of scrap metal, though some was covered in blankets that looked long overdue for a wash. To his left sat the young boy, sporting a short hair cut that looks like it had been done with sheep shears, though not too choppy all things considered. In front of him was the teenage girl that bumped into them with light brown hair, and a hoodie that said BITE ME in big letters.
The last two were on the other side of the room next to what looked like a decommissioned smelter that had a fire going in it. Sitting on the table with her legs dangling down was a small girl around eight with bright blonde hair, a scrape on her cheek where it looks like she was hit. Beside her standing defensively, was the boy he belived they were looking for.
His black hair was cut almost to skin on the sides and back, with the top being long enough to reach his neck as it was pushed back. He looked older than the thirteen year old they were looking for, but his physique explained that, as it was muscular and bulky.
Though his didn't look as though he would be lumbering around like two of the Slytherin students his age. His eyes were hazel colored, with a fierceness he had only seen when family was on the line.
"Who are you, and what do you want!?" the older boy snarled.
"I am looking to help," Dumbledore said calmly. Walking out in full view of them, stepping around McGonagall.
"Don't want it, no leave!" the girl in front of them said. Quite steadily, seeing the fear in her eyes.
"I am guessing you were the one attacked in the alley earlier?" he asked.
The boy in front of her responded coldly, "Doesn't matter, she's in fine health as you can see."
"The man wasn't, as he had some broken bones." Albus replied.
"He fell over!" the blonde said.
"Through the wall?" McGonagall asked not believing her for a moment.
"Buildings fall apart around here if you breathe on them wrong, not our fault." The oldest said.
It was strange, as if the young man had done the damage, and was doing his best to hide it. Most his age would boast about it, or at the very least try to scare them with it.
While it wasn't strictly legal, he reached out with legitimancy to read some surface thoughts, not wishing to dive in his mind at all. Albus simply wanted to de-escalate the situation some, though he ended up achieving the opposite effect. Not only did he read no thoughts, but he was forced away from his mind. Feeling as though something had tried to attack him for getting too close. Things only got worse as the boy grabbed his head and yelled angrily, his rage seemingly overtake him. Albus's worry increasing exponentially when the boys eyes turned red.
"SCATTER!" he roared, before grabbing the boat engine next to him, shocking both him and McGonagall, and throwing it with a backhand motion towards them.
Several things happened at once. The other three children dove into various holes and crevices in the walls, the boy charged them, and Dumbledore drew his wand while pulling himself and Minerva out of the way of the high speed engine.
Thinking quickly, he banished a metal plate towards the boys legs so he would trip, only for it to be kicked midair back in their direction. Albus shielded against it, wondering what he hd gotten them into. Worried about hurting him, McGonagall sent a half powered stunner, shock them again, when he merely staggered slightly. Albus sent his own stunner, more powerfully, as McGonagall followed up transfiguring the environment to catch him and hold him. This time, the boy slumped over, tied back into a chair.
"What on earth was that!?" She yelled.
"I am afraid I'm not sure," Dumbledore replied worriedly. Those red eyes burning into him mind. Was this Voldemort's doing? Had he done something to this child before his destruction? Casting diagnostic charms on him, he learned to boy was completely fine physically at the very least. Well, he would get no answers just standing there. Pointing his wand at the restrained boy, he silently revived him.
Rennerverate
The boys eyes flutter open slowly, their previous hazel color returning. Before Albus could sigh in relief though, upon seeing them, turned red once more. Albus looked closely, however, to see the eyes were a crimson red, not the scarlet he had see in Voldemort's. A small difference maybe, but a difference no less.
"Young man we are not here to harm you! We are merely here to speak with you!" McGonagall spoke sharply, cutting off whatever angry retort was about to be spoken.
"You don't even know me, nor I you! So there's nothing to talk about." He returned just as sharply. "Now let me go!"
The boy began struggling against his bonds, and from what he could see, there was no doubt he could escape given enough time, as the transfigured restrains were already groaning under stress
But Dumbledore knew he would harm himself in the process.
"Very well," Albus said calmly. Waving his wand, vanishing the bonds. Some level of trust had to be shown, or the boy would never stop fighting.
Though he looked ready to bolt, the boy stood slowly with suspicious eyes that were turning back to hazel overtime.
"What could you possibly want from me?" he said quietly.
It took him a moment to realize the boys accent wasn't English, it was American. Ignoring that detail for now, reaching into his jacket, Albus pulled something out, "A mere moment of your time." Handing over the envelope he had pulled from his desk earlier.
Reading his name on the front, along with the location of the scrapyard as the address, he read it so quickly Albus thought he'd be a good pick for Ravenclaw. Though the bravery he had shown would make him a good candidate for Gryffindor.
"What is this?" he asked, seemingly not dismissing the letters content.
"This letter is sent to all students who are eligible to be admitted to Hogwarts. But yours had some... complications, let's say," McGonagall explained.
"Like what?" he asked.
"Your name only just appeared to us, and it should have appeared the school year you were to turn eleven," explaining further.
"So you think I'm magical, is that it?" His reply was almost non-caring, but Albus could see the curiosity in his eyes.
"Think so? No my dear boy, I know so. Not only can I sense magic within you, the strength and resilience you've shown just now is beyond non-magical explanation," Albus told him excitedly. It wasn't often he got to come see new students like this, and the situation had his mind turning with questions.
"So what. I'm sure there are plenty of others that were simply born strong too," the boy countered.
"I'm sure there are, however there is no way you could have done what you just did as an ordinary muggle. Your body would crumble after your adrenaline was gone. And even though I'm not a healer, and excuse my lack of modesty. My diagnostic spells are still quite well cast."
"Muggle?" he asked.
"Those who can't use magic." said McGonagall.
His face turned to a frown, "That's the name you came up with?"
"We didn't necessarily," replied the Deputy. "It is merely the term that's been used for many years."
"Well, the Americans took to calling the No-Majs." said Dumbledore. Albus was pleased that the boy was talking to them, still noticing how tense he still was.
"If I'm reading this correctly then I'd be gone from September till June, right?"
McGonagall spoke up, "Yes, you would be staying in the dormitories with your classmates, though you have two years of catching up to do."
He handed the envelope back, "Not interested."
To say this shocked the two of them would be an understatement.
"Why ever not!?" the Deputy said, finding her voice..
"Because the people here rely on me, and I won't abandon them simply to go to school."
Scratch Ravenclaw, though Albus, a Hufflepuff.
"You could help them much more with what you would learn at Hogwarts," Albus said, trying to appeal to his sense of duty.
"Only to abandon them during the time in between. Forget it, you want me at this school? My siblings are protected then," he said in a way that tried to leave no room for argument. The boy showed some cunning as well, though too blunt to make it in the House of Snakes. Albus's mind thought to possible solutions, which wasn't too hard considering his decades of experience. Even though there was a way he could, he would have to test some things before implementing them. Also the other children would have to be here first.
"Well, there are certain accommodations that could be made," Dumbledore said thoughtfully while stroking his long beard.
"Like what?" said a voice behind them. Turning, it was the three younger children from earlier. That worked out quite nicely.
"Albus!" exclaimed McGonagall. "You'll breach the Statue!"
"Maybe..." thoughtfully responded before flicking his wand where it wasn't seen and conjuring a shining ball of light which enraptured their attention. "Well that answers that," he said grinning.
"HEADMASTER! This is illegal, you can't-" she began to rant.
"My dear Deputy, they are NOT muggles. They may have possibly just had a memerable instance of accidental magic, or ENOUGH magic to be able to cast. Otherwise they couldn't see it." Dumbledore said going into Professor mode. "The magic is similar I scope to that of dementors being invisible to them."
In her hurry to protect her mentor, she hadn't bothered to ask.
"You could have warned me of what you intended.," she said as she regained her composure. Albus at least had the decency to look abashed.
She then turned her attention to the young man next to her.
"Only a few blocks from here, there is a pub called the Leaky Cauldron. Go inside, and speak to the man running the bar. His name is Tom, he'll let you into Diagon Alley where you can purchase your school things." She was cut off before her next sentence.
"I'm still not sure my family will be fine. If you can assure all four of us, then I'll consider it," he said.
His loyalties were certainly set.
"This is where I come in. Our gatekeeper, Rubeus Hagrid, can help give them something to occupy their time, and also assist the school. This will make sure they're not seen as... how would you put it? Freeloading I believe is the term," Albus explained to them.
"And they would be unharmed during this time?" he asked
"You have my word, young man," Albus replied.
They started at one another for around 30 seconds before he looked towards the others, "Rose, what do you think?"
"I wanna go see magic! Pleeeeease, can we go?" the small blonde near screamed. The young man snorted with a light grin, expecting that kind of response.
"Jack?" The younger boy looked to the ground, seemingly thinking hard on his response.
"If nothing else, we're doing something differently," the younger boy said thoughtfully with a shrug."It's not like we'll be improving too much around her with the Crows," he added almost scornfully.
The oldest boy merely nodded.
"Sarah?" he asked the older girl. She didn't look entirely convinced that this was all that it was cracked up to be.
"Honestly? I think there's more to it than what we know," she clearly wasn't entirely on board with the idea.
"I will not lie, and say there won't be those that don't want to see you at Hogwarts," Albus stated. "However, that type of ignorance can be true anywhere you go."
Sarah and the boy both winced as they begrudgingly agreed with that statement.
"I suppose it beats hanging around here to freeze at least," Sarah said skeptically.
Slowly nodding his head, he turned towards Albus.
"Alright, I'll come, but my family comes first. They end up in a bad situation, and we are gone. Fair?"
"Quite," Albus smiled, holding out his hand.
"Then you have a deal Mr..." The boy asked.
"Oh dear me! Where are my manners? Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This is Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, Transfiguration professor, and possibly your head of house. I must admit, though, I'm not sure how your name is pronounced."
The boy grasped his hand firmly, "Fenrir, Daeiel Fenrir."
So there's chapter 1 finished. And it probably shows, but no I am not a writer full time or even part time. It's an idea that's been floating around in my head for a while. If you enjoyed this, or not, I whole heartedly recommend TheBlack'sResurgence. Fantastic writer and is current working on another story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and all that jazz. Never would have been smart enough to do so.
