The Wizard's Discovery

by Rossaldinho7

Luna and Xenophilius Lovegood go looking for the People in Ireland. Set inbetween Eternity Cube and Opal Deception, so will most likely not include Artemis and the humans.

5. Chapter 5

The Wizard's Discovery Chapter 5

Dumbledore's Office

Albus Dumbledore sat behind his desk, a copy of the latest issue of The Quibbler open in-front of him, as he absently picked at a bowl of sherbet lemons. The interview was interesting. He knew of the fairies of course, though they had disappeared from the world before Hogwarts was even founded. The fairies were an enigmatic group of magical creatures who everyone believed had disappeared over a millennia ago. The elf "Holly", who was described completely differently from a house elf to the point Dumbledore was certain it was a different creature, had been vague about where she lived, though she did say she lived underground. She did talk about her technology, which somehow worked alongside her magic, though she didn't know enough about it to be useful. She said her friend, Foaly the Centaur, would be able to tell them more. Centaurs, too, were another connection between their worlds, though the way Holly described him was a lot different from the centaurs in the Forbidden Forest.

Dumbledore turned the page, as he heard a knock at the door. He opened it to find the stern figure of Minerva McGonagall, though she looked perturbed.

"What seems to be trouble, Minerva?" he asked, as she entered the room, and sat down at the desk across from him.

"I just went to collect the Hogwarts letters for the new first years," Minerva said "Most of them were nothing out of the ordinary, but this one had a note attached."

She placed a letter on the table, turning it so Dumbledore could read the words.

Holly Short

Apartment 8R

Rumple Building

Haven City Centre

"I've checked all the maps we have," Minerva said "None show this Haven City on them. Who is this Holly Short? Can you make any sense of this?"

"Perhaps," Dumbledore said. He turned the issue of The Quibbler, so that Minerva could read. After scoffing at the magazine, Minerva's eyes widened as she read the interview.

"You think this Holly Short is the same one that gave this interview?" Minerva asks

"I would guess this is the case," Albus said "Her unusual circumstances is likely why the Quill and the Book sent it to me. I suggest we bring the letter to Xenophilius Lovegood. He may have a way to contact Holly that we are unaware of."

"Do you think it's wise to consider admitting a non-wizard to Hogwarts?" Minerva asks "Not to put too fine a point on it, but she shouldn't even be able to use a wand, let alone the documentation we would need to get from the Ministry for her to be allowed to carry one."

"Hogwarts accepts all who have the potential to learn," Albus said "I would not deny her the opportunity to learn if she wishes to do so. I will handle gaining the documentation if that is necessary."

"I will check through the other letters again to make sure there isn't anything else unusual. Who will you send to speak with the Lovegoods?"
"I shall go myself," Albus said "This is an important development, and I wish to make sure it is handled carefully."

Lovegood Residence

A knock came on the door of the house just as Luna and her father were washing up after eating dinner. The interview had gone rather well, and both Luna and Xenophilius were very happy with how it had turned out. There were some things that Holly had told them off the record, about the People, and Xenophilius had promised not to put it in the article. Holly had seemed baffled at the lack of any muggle technology in the house, but as part of the exchange, Luna and Xenophilius told Holly about their own society, and the effect that their magic had on said technology. The fairy technology offered an opportunity, however: while some of her technology didn't work within the magical tent or area, most of it did. An alliance between the fairy folk and the wizards would be beneficial to both groups.

"I can finish these up, Daddy," Luna said, "If you want to go get the door."

Xenophilius nodded, and walked to the door as he dried his wet hands. He opened it to see the tall figure of Albus Dumbledore standing on the porch.

"Ah, Xenophilius," Dumbledore smiled "May I come in? There are a few things I wanted to discuss with you."
"Of course, Professor," Xenophilius said, opening the door wide, allowing Dumbledore to step inside. He led the headmaster into the living room "What did you want to discuss, Professor?"

"Albus is fine," Dumbledore said "And I wanted to discuss a rather unusual interview in the latest issue of your magazine. Do you have contact with Holly Short?"

"We do," Xenophilius said "Though her and her people prefer to be left alone. I won't reveal my source's location unless it endangers myself or my Luna."

"Well, as you may be aware," Dumbledore said "Muggle born witches and wizards are found using two artefacts at the school. The Quill of Acceptance and the Book of Admittance. They both must agree for anyone to be submitted. When Minerva collected the letters, we found this one."

Dumbledore slid the letter across the table to Xenophilius. A moment passed as Xenophilius read the address. His eyes widened in surprise.
"Is this even possible?" he asked, "A non-human witch?"

"The Quill and the Book don't make mistakes," Dumbledore said "If they say she can do magic, she can do magic."

"Well, I know she can do magic," Xenophilius said "But it's not the same as our magic. She doesn't use a wand, like a goblin or house elf. The rules for her magic are just so different from ours, I don't see that there's overlap."

"Regardless, I'd like to talk with her," Dumbledore said "If she is to attend Hogwarts, she will need special dispensation from the Ministry to be allowed to carry a wand, and to go to Diagon Alley to collect her supplies."

"I have a way to get in contact with her," Xenophilius said "I can't promise she'll want to meet you, but I can ask her."

"If it would not be any trouble, I would like to remain here until you hear back from her," Dumbledore said

Xenophilius nods, and leaves Dumbledore in the living room, retrieving the communicator that Holly had left with him.

Haven- Holly Short's Apartment

Holly was restless. Returning to Haven after her interview with the wizards, she had expected to be back on duty. But Root had insisted that she complete her leave. The mundanity of her days was grating on her, and she would do anything for a distraction.

As if on cue, her communicator buzzed as she received a call.

"Xenophilius," Holly said "Do you need something?"

"Holly," Xenophilius said "Do you remember what we told you about Hogwarts? Letters being sent out to witches and wizards and prospective witches and wizards?"

"I remember," Holly said

"Well, the headmaster of the school arrived," Xenophilius said "He has a letter addressed to you. Apparently, you have been accepted to Hogwarts."

Holly sat down. "Is that even possible? Our magic doesn't work the same way. Can I even learn your magic?"

"According to the headmaster, the way you were enrolled doesn't leave doubt that you have the ability to do our magic," Xenophilius said "He wished to speak with you and give you your letter."

"I will need to request an above ground travel permit," Holly said "It might be a few hours, but I'll be there as soon as I can."

After contacting Foaly and Commander Root, she had a pod to the surface quickly, and a set of Valkyrie X-7s to fly from the shuttle port to the Lovegood residence.

There were far too many unanswered questions about these strange wizards, and Holly already had some form of 'in' with them.

Lovegood Residence

Holly arrived at the house in the evening. Foaly had insisted on fitting her with both an iris cam and a hidden comm, just in-case. Commander Root had chosen to accompany her. The council had wanted to send a different negotiator to the meeting, but Root had lobbied that it was an LEP matter. He was allowed to accompany her on condition that he asked questions about their community and how they hid themselves so well from fairy sensors.

The Lovegood's home was a strange one from the outside: garden ornaments in the shape of strange creatures, dream catchers in the shape of what appeared to be dragons, and a variety of flowers. The outside of the house was painted like the rays of the setting sun, in oranges, yellows, reds and blues. Just looking at the house, Holly felt calmer and more relaxed.

Perhaps stranger than the Lovegood's house was their visitor. A tall mud man of probably 60 to 80 years old. He wore half-moon spectacles and what appeared to be a robe of violet and silver.

"Ah, Miss Short," the man said as Xenophilius led her into the living room. He rose from the armchair and held out his hand to shake hers "My name is Albus Dumbledore. Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"Nice to meet you," Holly said "But why does a mud person headmaster want to see me? As I understand, you tried to send me a letter. But how did you know where to find me? Xenophilius Lovegood said the letter you sent had my address below ground on it."

"Ah, yes. The magic that lets us find potential for our magic among the non-magical community can also locate them. It gives their address to an exact degree. What's rarer is the owls being unable to reach the area where a student is."

"I understand your students are usually a lot younger, too," Holly observed "I'm eighty years old. A little older than your typical student."

Dumbledore nodded. "Regardless, our way of finding prospective wizards doesn't lie. You may be unique in this respect. You are the first fairy to ever attend Hogwarts."

"I haven't agreed to attend yet," Holly said "I have my own magic. I don't really need yours."

"You have innate magic? Like goblins and house elves? Interesting."

Holly was suddenly on guard "Goblins? Your people are allied with the Triad?"

Confusion showed on the headmaster's face "I assume that you have encountered creatures called goblins before?"

Holly nodded "A group of goblin criminals recently tried to assault our headquarters," she said "They used their ability to conjure fire from their nostrils to burn several of our personnel. If you are allied with the goblins, we will have to do something about it."

"Extraordinary," Dumbledore said "The creatures I'm talking about have innate magic, but mostly in curses and hexes, not fire. If they are indeed the same creatures you describe, they diverged from those that live among your kind a long time ago."

Holly remembered the second creature Dumbledore had mentioned "And house elves? I assume they are different from me?"

"Small creatures. They act as servants to wizards, cleaning houses, mending clothes and shoes, that sort of thing."

Holly nodded "Those sound like Brownies. We have creatures like you describe. You keep them as slaves?"

"Not all of them," Dumbledore said "Though a lot of wizards treat them as such. Many house elves like to serve us, and setting them free devastates them forever."

"Well, of course they'd be devastated," Holly said "They love to work. The idea they might not be able to do so anymore would be like severing a limb. They would choose to work regardless of you enslaving them."

Dumbledore seemed uncomfortable with this conversation.

"Logistically, it would be difficult, but I may be able to organise freeing the house elves. In Britain, at least, I don't have influence over the rest of the world. This will have to be handled delicately or it may cause more problems than it solves."

Holly agreed. "Brownies are sensitive creatures, so I appreciate that. But let's get back to this school. Why should I attend?"

"If you are manifesting our magic," Dumbledore said "It will likely begin manifesting around you unpredictably. Usually in moments of heightened emotional stress."

"That could be a problem in our line of work," Root pinched the bridge of his nose

"I understand your people also prefer to remain hidden," Dumbledore said "I expect part of the Ministry allowing you to attend Hogwarts will require them putting the magic they put on all underage wizards on you, which detects use of underage magic."

"Captain Short isn't underage," Root said "Would that magic work on her?"

"Potentially not," Dumbledore said "If it does, though, should Holly use magic, the Ministry will know exactly where she is."

"Allow us to converse about this," Root said, leading Holly from the room.

They put on their helmets to connect with Foaly at police plaza.

"This is a unique opportunity, Commander," Holly said "I don't think we can ignore it."

"Too dangerous," Root said "If this tracing magic can find you anywhere, that could be very bad for us."

"Can't be that hard to foil," Foaly said "I adapted the power to stop time from magic to technology. I'm sure I can foil some tracer magic."

"It's the best option, Commander," Holly said "It'll also give me some extra magical options. Especially if it doesn't require the Ritual."

Root nodded, conceding the point. "Fine. But I'd feel better about sending you if we know what's going on, in-case you need backup."

"I think I can help with that," Foaly said "I've been adapting our tech so we don't get as much interference in areas where these wizards' magic is prevalent. We'll be able to communicate if Holly chooses to go."

"How much have you tested these devices?" Root asked "We don't want another finger incident."

Foaly bristled. The finger incident hadn't been his fault.

"I've tested them as much as I can without exposing them to these people's magic," Foaly said "Captain Short will need to do field testing herself."

Holly nodded. "I think we should do this, Commander."

"If you do this," he said "We'll need approval from the Council. And we'll send you in with every advantage we can."

Holly removed her helmet, walking into the room where Dumbledore waited.

"I will accept your offer of a place at your school," she said "Pending approval from my people's government."

Dumbledore nodded "When you come to a decision, inform the Lovegoods. They will be able to get a message to me. I'm sure they can also help you find your school supplies."