He stood in front of Dumbledore his hands clasped behind his back, the muttering of the portraits that adorned the walls of the office rumbling in his ears. He couldn't believe what a fool he had been. Everything would fall apart now, all because he cared for the boy, and in a moment of weakness he let it show. Dumbledore paced behind his desk, his eyes flicking to Severus intermittently. He felt like a boy who was awaiting punishment. Finally, Dumbledore stalled and let out a sigh.
"Severus, perhaps it could be easily explained away." He placed both hands on his desk and stared at it as if it held all the answers.
"They're actively burning Cokeworth to the ground Albus. They followed me. I doubt any shoddy explanation would quell them. Perhaps it's best to just move forward." He knew Dumbledore would be trying to devise a way to explain him back into Voldemort's ranks. He was invaluable in the role, but he had long ago wished to leave it.
"Quite right I suppose." Dumbledore answered with hesitation. It was clear he wasn't happy with the way of the conversation. "However Severus, I'm not sure in which way to proceed. If we no longer have an ear in Voldemort's pocket we will be in stride behind him." His brows drew together and his mouth drooped slightly. He placed his hands behind him and began to pace again. "Leave me please."
Severus opened his mouth to speak but decided against it. He silently made his way from Dumbledore's office and down the staircase. Once in the corridor, with only the gargoyle in sight, he flung himself against the stone wall. His fists balled and his teeth clenched. They had lost their view into Voldemort's plans and fell from the hilltop they had been perched on. The Death Eaters were after him now, He ran his hand over his face as if to wake himself from the dream but no new clarity came. With a tightness in his stomach he marched to his quarters.
She sat in a pub in London, dingy and forgotten from the looks of it. Only a few patrons had been inside when she arrived. From time to time someone would slide through to the back and not reemerge. She watched. Her eyes flicked from face to face as she anticipated seeing any of the Death Eaters that had attacked her village, or the man who had brought them there.
She had fled with the few neighbors that she found in the streets. They escaped on foot, nothing but the clothes on their backs made it out with them. As they scrambled to the edge of the village, nothing but ruin could be seen from the hilltop. The trees seemed to weep as homes crashed down and tiny fires spread through the wreckage. Smoke overtook the sky, reflecting the gloom they carried with them as they marched away from their homes. No one in their group had seen anything like that before. Their terrified faces traipsed through her mind. When they had reached the next village, kind residents had offered rides or a place to stay to the arrivals.
A kind old man had offered to take her to London, where she would hope to find some answers. While explaining the phenomenon, he had whispered "Death Eaters" under his breath. So quiet that she was sure she wasn't meant to hear. He never repeated the word aloud during their trek. She had debated asking him if he knew anything about magic or what had happened to her home, but decided better of it. She didn't want to have to finish her trip to London on foot.
She had examined the shops and surrounding area before entering the Leaky Cauldron. Something about it had drawn her in. Though now looking at the state of it, she wasn't sure why. Though the barkeep was nice enough, he kept her water glass full. She could really use a drink to quell her nerves, but maybe she would find a place to stay first. She had sat facing the door so she could examine the faces that entered. She was gulping down a large swig when the very witch who had delivered her Hogwarts letter entered the pub. Her eyes bulged as she choked on the liquid lodged in her throat. She swallowed with great difficulty, followed by a deep cough. The witch stared at her, her eyes holding a look of slight annoyance. Her glasses perched on the end of her nose and that cat-like face, there was no mistaking this was the same woman. Twenty one years had deepened the lines in her thin face but it was her.
Elsie jumped from her seat making a ghastly scraping sound, causing heads to turn in her direction. The witch paused and gave her a soft look, like her Nan used to.
"Hello dear." Her voice was kind and the annoyance had left her eyes. "I don't think we have met. Are you new here?"
"I…uh…we have met, it's just been a long time. I was about eleven." Elsie said. The witches brows knit together and her eyes searched Elsie's face with intrigue. She seemed to be searching the files for any sign that she had seen the girl before.
After what felt like an eternity the witch spoke. "AH!" She threw her finger in the air as if to punctuate the connection she had made. "Your parents denied you from Hogwarts. One of the very few times that has happened in my career there."
Elsie shook her head almost shamefully. "They passed away a few years back but I didn't know how to find anyone who might be able to tell me anything more about that world." She was wringing her fingers together in front of her.
"Then you're in luck dear. My name is Minerva McGonagall. I am a professor for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I was actually on my way to Diagon Alley. Would you like to accompany me?" She extended her hand and Elsie shook it with the excitement of a small child. Her eyes lit with the prospect of being allowed into the world she had been denied for so long. It dangled in front of her and she couldn't wait to grab it.
She followed closely behind Minerva to the back room where people had disappeared throughout the time she had been there. She watched with awe as bricks were cleared and an archway stood waiting for them to enter. People bustled past, the smell was something she had never smelled before.
"So am I to assume you don't have a wand if you were raised Muggle? No galleons to speak of?" Minerva questioned as she stepped through the arch.
"No, I don't have anything. The only reason I even know about this world is because of my Nan. She tried to get me books and would tell me stories. Well and my school letter." She said as she continued to take in the many sights around her. Her senses struggled, overloaded but it was wonderful.
"Hm. Who was your Nan, if I may ask."
"Harla Rye. She passed about seven years ago now." Her eyes grew sad at the thought of her Nan being gone. She would have been elated at the thought of Elsie being here. Sharing the joys of her world with her. Her heart became heavy, quickly she ran her fingers over the small quartz heart that hung around her neck. Her Nan had given it to her and it always brought her a sense of peace when she twirled it between her finger tips.
Minerva came to an abrupt stop and whipped around to face Elsie. Her eyes were wide but held a sadness in them now. She hung her head slightly. "I'm so very sorry, I knew your Nan. She was a wonderful woman and a talented witch. She spoke so fondly of you and was devastated when you were denied the opportunity to be involved in our world." She placed a gentle hand on Elsie's shoulder. Words left unsaid seemed to float in the air between them, but perhaps they would be heard later. "Hm. Let's see about getting you a wand shall we?" Minerva motioned toward a shop with the name "Ollivander's" teetering over the entrance. Inside the walls were blanketed by mountains of boxes. Some stacked meticulously and some haphazardly laying about. Each box was long and rectangular. The old man behind the counter greeted them with a kind smile. He seemed to know Minerva and as they caught up Elsie explored the shop. Reading the writing that was scribbled on each box.
Ten inches/Unicorn Hair/Hawthorn
Nine and Three Quarters/Dragon Heartstring/Oak
The words Dragon Heartstring drew her attention. She picked up the very beat up box, stained and compressed. She ran her fingers over the words and then slid them into the opening of the box. The wood felt soft under her fingertips, it was smooth, light colored and slightly curved at the end. She took it firmly in her hand and pointed it towards the ceiling feeling abundantly confident of the feel of it in her grasp. Happiness swelled in her chest as she looked toward the wand in her hand, the rush of emotion swept through her. Then a bright blue light coupled with wispy white orbs appeared swirling above her as if a portal was about to open and pull her through. She gasped and dropped the wand with a clatter, stepping away from it. Mr. Ollivander and Minerva appeared on either side of her, both looking at the spot above them where the light had just been. They had seen it and both had perplexed looks on their faces.
Mr. Ollivander cast questioning glances between Elsie and the ceiling with only his eyes. "You say she's never had a wand or any magical experience?"
"That's my understanding." Minerva said calmly, her eyes trained on the wand discarded on the floor.
"Hm. Interesting." Ollivander said as he ran a finger over his chin. "Was that the first wand you handled?" His eyes were searching Elsie's now, her stomach dropped. Had she already done something wrong? She shook her head timidly. "Well, the wand chooses the witch and it seems in this case the feeling was instantly mutual." He said as he reached for the wand still waiting patiently on the floor. He placed it gently back into the box it had been housed in and proceeded to the front desk.
She clutched the box to her chest as they left Ollivander's. Her excitement oozed from her very being. She felt like a child during Christmas. However, she had never received a gift as grand as this. "Thank you Minerva! I can't repay you for what you've done. However, I do wonder where I might learn more about magic and acclimate into this world."
Minerva took a deep breath as if to say something but silence followed. She stood with her hands clasped in front of her, her eyes searching something that no one but her could see. "Perhaps you could spend time with each of the professors at Hogwarts, an internship of sorts. You would learn and could offer help in return. I will have to discuss it with the Headmaster of course but I would get back to you soon." The hope in her voice melted into Elsie's ears.
"But I don't have anywhere to go Minerva. My village was recently destroyed by Death Eaters. I don't know exactly what they are but they're wicked."
"Death Eaters?" Minerva's voice was shrill and dripping with fear. "We must go, you will come with me to speak to the Headmaster." And with a loud crack, they were gone.