A/N: Unbeta-ed. 4,831.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
- Soulmates - C1
Something about last night's fest remained on everyone's mind like glue.
An unfamiliar face seated at the end of Gryffindor's table.
It would not have mattered much, except for what had been happening in the past few months. What the Daily Prophet had been hinting all along.
The survivor of the Ashwill Village was here.
There had been no introductions during the welcoming speech, no sorting during the First Year, nothing to hint at a transfer student happening at the big feast. Given the thought it is not unusual but rather also not common for a wide-scale transfer to happen due to the Hogwarts protocols, it is not unheard of, so to speak. But to see such an unfamiliar sight begged for answers.
The news of what the Daily Prophet had been hinting about a muggle-born being rescued by the most powerful wizard of all times, it was as though a collective wandless lumos went on in their heads. The conclusion became easy to make.
And so they waited, the students did, for any news. Any clue.
But sans the joining of a new teacher, the puzzled few turned towards their peers. The result?
The theories got thrown. By the next morning, a chain of spectators was tracking the newcomer even before the first bell rang. It reached its height of frenzy when the newcomer – a girl really – was seen slowly ambling towards the Hospital Wing.
Students with their parents working in St. Mungo relayed the spectacle Dumbledore had made when he first came around with the muggle-born the week before, weird clothes splotched everywhere with blood at the hem, face smeared with soot, and a blank stare. Some questioned the need for attending the school when she was clearly not healed enough and a wizarding one at that.
Though the Hospital Wing seemed like an unusual place for a secret meeting - some did reason that perhaps that's the (unanimously agreed opinion) way their more than not infamous Professor Dumbledore wanted to keep the newcomer's whereabouts rather confidential. Even if this is another crazy experiment done by Dumbledore, which explains his silence on this matter.
Not that it seemed to be succeeding in any way.
The frenzy was mounting, such was the curiosity that it led the student body to divide into factions, all to obtain information rather enthusiastically.
A rather clever maneuver from a sixth-year Hufflepuff got to obtain information from a sick 2nd year Hufflepuff that had exited the Wing only ten minutes after the newcomer.
"Madam Pomfrey is biased," The Hufflepuff grumbled as he massaged his rather shiny right hand, "Been waiting to get spring since yesterday but suddenly it's all Ms Flamel this, Ms Flamel that! Just a damn headache and the girl swoon, pathetic!"
The Hufflepuff blinked owlishly at the surname. "Flamel?" The kid was still rambling, but the information obtained by the older kid's mind was already far away, their mind blanked because–
No…
It can't be —-
No way a muggle-born has THAT surname.
When the news first hit Ginny during her History lesson, something in her brain just snapped.
All those nights of her Dad going through Floo, her mum doing frequent visits to the Sirius place, the articles strewn across the kitchen table, even the hushed whispers when her parents thought the kids were out of earshot - something had been brewing.
Something had been brewing ever since the morning Mr Weasley had come late at night with holes in his robes, dried blood that even scourgify had been unable to keep off from his shoes, and the hollowed-eyed smile he had given before her mother had ushered him to their bedroom.
The reason, it seems to her now, has always been so close.
Angel Flamel.
A muggle-born who just got enrolled at Hogwarts.
The muggle-born who had survived the horrendous attack on a village that left nothing but a young girl. A muggle-born who should not be attending a Wizarding School, but she is.
And so, Ginny ran the moment the bell rang.
To the Owlery to Owl the twins - with whom she had been sharing her finding all this time. And Remus for some answers. And then she ran to find her brother. Just a bit to rub in his face for all those times he brushed her off when she showed the Quibbler Articles, that git.
Only to run into Neville on the way to the Gryffindor tower.
"Have you heard-" she began, panting.
"The new enrollee? Yeah, I was just with her in Herbology," Neville said with a grin, Ginny skidding to a stop, stunned. "Quite alright, didn't know Nicholas had reproduced though."
Ginny didn't know what to say to that.
"What did you guys talk about? Is it really her? Did she say anything about her incident?" she hurriedly asked him. Neville looked taken aback.
"Well, we just talked. It was just Herbology though, Professor wanted me to be her guide so I couldn't talk much," he explained awkwardly. "And are you getting to see Harry, Ron Hermione?" he asked as they reached the corridor leading up the tower. "I have questions too, do you reckon Harry will be starting DA anytime soon?" Neville whispered the last part.
"Honestly? Not a clue, but I plan on getting an answer to some of those things. Cabbage Patch," Ginny said to Fat Lady, who swung forward while doing her nails. Entering, she was immediately introduced to a pacing Hermione with Ron and Harry by the unlit fireplace window. Thankfully the common was deserted, the time being the second class for the day.
"I just Owled Remus, we might get an answer sooner, and Neville knows Angel Flamel now," Ginny announced by way of greeting, not noticing the stunned looks of the trio as Neville bid them shyly.
"Wha-what are you two doing here?" Ron asked. Ginny sent him a scowl. "Do you really think I would be able to focus on listening to Binns lecture on Goblin's riot?"
"They are quite the highlight, actually," said Harry helpfully. Ron nodded sagely.
"Neville! What are you doing here?" said Hermione in surprise, ignoring the chaos happening behind, looking at Neville, who was smiling at the scene and shrugged sheepishly at her. "I hope I am still in the club, I figure I might as well tag along since we all fought together anyway."
"Neville..."
He mock scowled at them. "And you guys aren't planning on hogging all the fun, are you? After all this time?"
Hermione, Ron, and Harry exchanged glances.
"Look," he sighed, "I know even if I ask Harry about the possibility of reviving Dumbledore's Army, it'd be futile," Harry stood straight, "but I still hope to be in the know because this is the only place I can feel like what's happening outside is not because I am going crazy," Neville said, gesturing. "I can no longer go back to the ways of before, I know you know that we stopped being children the second we got into this mess. I am not looking for trouble, I never have, but I do believe if I stay here, beside you three, I might still be of help."
Ron looked at his friend, both weary and in awe, "How long have you been keeping THAT in?"
Nevile blushed.
"Neville," called Harry carefully. "It was Hermione's idea to create that club, and I only became the helper because Umbridge wouldn't let us learn about the defense," Harry said, "I don't plan on going back to it, not because I don't want to, but because I am not fit to be a leader. But you are always welcome, Neville, you are a friend of ours, always been." Harry told him.
"So.. what did you guys talked about? The newcomer and you?" Ron asked him.
"Honestly, not much. But I am surprised to find that Nicholas Flamel has a family. I thought they didn't have any lineage." Neville said.
Hermione frowned. "I have never found anything in my readings as well. Perhaps, they never decided to reveal it. But…" she shook her head, ".. no, I am sure many have common surnames with that name."
Neville shook his head softly. "Not in here, not in this world. We have a tree recording every single birth." Ron was nodding to it. "But maybe Angel got a leeway just because she is a muggle-born. Like you." Neville pointed.
Hermione begins pacing. "So are you saying we have been lied to? After all this time? Just to keep the infamous alchemist family a secret?" asked Hermione critically. "How many children are still yet to be identified if that is the case? I thought the Book of Admittance had everyone's name. History of Hogwarts had never mentioned any incident where there were late comers." Hermione said.
Neville shrugged. "Would it be surprising? Not so. But Nicholas went into hiding because he saw what his inventions could fall into convincing hands?" he said suggestively.
Hermione rubbed her face, inhaling, "Where is Professor Dumbledore when you need him? I'm just surprised that no one told us about this before we left for Hogwarts." she said, still sounding unsure. "Maybe she really is someone whose surname matches coincidently"
But Ron scoffed. "Yeah. And I wonder if that's why Dumbledore is not around."
"And for what, do you think he is doing this on purpose, Ron?" Harry spoke for the first time, frowning.
Ginny interjected instead. "I think what he meant is that we should have already seen this coming."
Ron groaned. "Oh, come off it, do you seriously think that the Quibbler was right all along, Gin?"
Ginny gestured. "I mean, think about it, ever since You Know Who came back, there hasn't been a day that we didn't hear about something like this, even more so when it already became apparent what Harry had been screaming all about his return since last year."
"We are not following you two," Hermione interjected.
"I think," Ron said, rolling his eyes at Ginny's pointed look, "we need to tell you something Ginny had been keeping a close eye on, something she had been working so hard on."
Ginny pursed her lips, "Look, all I am saying is that maybe how dad's been all summer has got to do with what's been happening to the muggle-borns this year."
"Mr Weasley?" said Harry. "I thought you said he got a promotion in his department." He asked Ron in an accusing tone.
Sighing, Ginny answered instead, slowly, "He did, that did happen. And maybe that is why I think I first saw Dumbledore at Burrow back in June."
Except for Ron, all three froze.
"I thought I was seeing things, maybe the twins experimented on the house windows and they decided to mirror the most powerful wizard of all times tickling the gnomes in our backyard was the way to lift their spirits," she shook her head. "That was when I saw mum calling him over for tea…. And then it became a regular occurrence till articles began appearing about You Know Who's slow reign over muggle-born ministry."
Hermione turned to hit Ron's shoulder. "Why didn't you tell us about that?!" Ron looked offended. "Because I DID send you the newspapers, right Harry? You remember those, right?" he asked his mate widely. Who blinked, thinking back to the hours he poured over every single one of them. All are specifically related to one thing.
"Yeah… yeah, I did." Harry hoped his answer didn't sound as guilty as he felt, but it did the job.
"So he stopped coming over?" asked Neville, seeming unsure about the news.
Ginny nods, "Well... until we start getting the Owls from other Pureblood families."
Something in Neville's eyes shifted. And Harry shot Ron a glare. "If you needed more quills, Ronald, you could have me or Hermione owled you some." Harry mocked.
Ron squawked. "Didn't I say that something is fishy? Didn't I?" Hermione tsked, muttering about his odd timings of exercising selective brevity with clownery. Harry turned to face Ginny instead, gesturing.
"Ever since HIS return," Ginny began again, "it became quite obvious that what The Boy Who Lived said was true all along, and those who sided with Harry from the start became the side of the faith destroyers in the eyes of the society. So they were scouting by….. well, if you could count those who are supporters of You Know Who."
"So what did they want? An interview?" mocked Harry dubiously.
"I think I know what this means," Neville said slowly, taking on Harry's question, "factions - they are secretly looking for factions to turn in to save them, that's what Gran said too…. Or well…. At least those afraid of the moment You Know Who starts to scout them to join the army. In exchange for freedom, she says."
"Wait a minute, are you actually saying they are openly threatening you all?!" Harry felt lightheaded from the fury he was feeling.
Neville grinned, "Oh well, Granny says that the pigs will honk whenever they want, but even when they don't she will always believe in Harry." Neville ended it with a smile. "Besides, she said to have faith in Dumbledore."
"But what has the Quibbler's article got anything to do with what's happening now?" Hermione said.
"Because the Quibbler had been talking about a Muggleborn joining Hogwarts way before the Daily Prophet had covered the Muggle killings at the Ashwell Village," Ginny explained as Neville nodded fervently.
They all looked between them for a long minute.
"Not only that, the magazine had been speaking about how Professor Dumbledore saw what a huge link the Dark Lord had left, who was rumored to be personally present at the site, which is the reason behind the suspicion of the rumored survivor staying at Hogwarts. And of course, how this is connected to you Harry," said Neville.
Harry was stunned. "What - why?"
"Because…." Neville looked nervous. "Because…. The house the muggle-born had had a name carved on the skull…. It was yours." Neville answered Harry with some difficulty.
Hermione humphed, "Oh, c'mon! They are going on a random tangent just because an article or the Death Mark makes so much sense now. You Know Who had already been after Harry way before, even for years! For all we know, the Ministry could have been infiltrated by the You Know Who's followers by now at the speed at which things are going. Or worse, they might be the ones instigating it." Hermione said. "And would it be so shocking? I don't think so."
"But how could anyone trust this source if things are being written even before they happened?" Harry's mind was spinning. This was ridiculous.
"Two words - Luna's dad," said Ron.
"What?" said Harry, frowning.
Ginny threw up her hands, "Bloody hell, how come no one but me reads it!" she complained as she snatched her bag up and zipped through the inside. Before withdrawing her wand. "Accio Quibbler!"
A flutter of pages, and a crash from the stairs echoed in the room before a thick pink bundle zoomed past Neville's head by an inch and crashed beside Harry's foot.
"Read it! Because I think what that mad hag that nearly had Sirius last year had been making headlines ever since the summer began." Ginny huffed.
Harry looked at Neville immediately when he saw the picture of a maniacal grin with a dark look facing the column sideways, the headline seemed recent as it read:
'The gift escaped.' - Bellatrix Lestrange.
Neville seemed grim. "So she's been meeting with Luna's dad now?" he asked in a quiet voice.
Ginny was eying Neville, before reaching an arm out to tug him towards the sofa. "No," Neville silently plops beside her. "But she seems to be sending her portraits to the Ministry of her talking of the next mission, saying that this is all in the name of the Lord's glory," Ginny shuddered. "Luna said her father had been meeting up with the ex-Aurors to try to help and send a message to the wizarding world about this issue."
"So there has been help from the Ministry?" Hermione asks, doubting. Ginny shrugged. "If you say about being hushed secretly then alright."
Ron was still furiously skimming through the bundle.
Ginny continued faux cheerfully, "Also, Luna's father thinks that there is a high chance of it being no coincidence that Bellatrix's admittance connects with the recent muggle-born and how it being a gift for the Dark Lord hints at his interest."
"So Professor Dumbledore has Angel here," Neville said slowly finally, still staring down, "because he figured that out?"
"Nah," said Ron, looking up, "more like he's been into this the whole time." He held up a page. The face of half-moon specs facing the whole page with a tagline that reads -
'No one is safe. It's past the boundary this time.'
It was dated back in April.
They all looked at each other.
Something was up.
With the classes taking much of their time as the school went on in full swing, their focus seemed divided as much as the collective curiosity of their peers. The mystery of her surname seemed to have rattled the trio just as it did pretty much everybody.
With nobody knowing the reason behind the recent activities, they approached Hagrid.
"Merlin's beard, is that why Dumbledore sent me that le'ter?" Hagrid was muttering half-heartedly, but Ron picked it up.
Ron asked instantly. "What letter?" Harry and Hermione looked at him in alarm before staring at the giant. Hagrid seemed to have stopped moving.
"What letter Hagrid?" said Harry firmly. "Is it a mission?" Hagrid side-eyed him, looking equal parts startled but uncertain.
"Yah three shant skive off on mah," said Hagrid promptly, declaring the timings of his classes overlapping with this lovely but impromptu meeting. The three left the gingerbread cabin of Hagrid with a cemented suspicion that bordered on a maniacal belief.
And when the Remus letter arrived, it became clear that the order was definitely on it.
Ginny,
I am sure you and others must have heard about the tragic incident that had come to pass and the possible orders from the above. I cannot say much not because I am not allowed to but because of the person's confidential matters. But if I were to give any answers, then this would be the most appropriate.
There is no scale to measure the danger, yet, but I would still exercise some caution just for the recent time's sake. I will write as soon as something comes up. In the meantime, be safe.
Give my best regards to everyone.
.
Neville, who seemed to be sharing a rather close affinity as a new guide at Herbology, was eager to give the answers.
"Her parents were muggles, used to live in northern France before her grandmother died, and they recently moved to Ashville. No siblings or relatives. Her grandmother used to tell stories about this place, but Angel thought it was more like a tale her grandma frequently came up with." said Neville.
"Was she homeschooled then?" asked Hermione from the corner of her lips during Charms. Thankfully, they had decent seats ('It won't kill to take the back seats today Hermione,' said Ron desperately) to talk somewhat hidden. Neville paused in his half-cracked-up doodles of Quidditch bludgers.
"... sorry, I didn't remember to ask her that." He flushed.
Harry held back a sigh as Professor Flitwick aimed at the stack of solitaire cards where the cards fell into one another until only one card was floating in the air.
The swap between the new teacher and Potion took the cake though.
"Welcome dear students, take your seats, very well," Professor Slughorn beamed at the flurry of students entering the room. "I suppose the place is a bit deary, isn't it? Kind of a swamp, but ah, of course, the star of the show, come in, come in." Slughorn stood still with his hand raised the second the windows clattered open, beaming at the doorway. Ron and Hermione exchanged knowing smirks as Harry stiffened behind them.
"I thought I would be needing to speak with Minerva, never mind," said Slughorn as Harry finally came into view. "I suppose you didn't purchase your Advance Potion copy, Harry?"
Harry tried not to focus on the babying voices the Slytherin side was making. He shook his head. Horace nodded in understanding. "Well then, I suppose then Ronald—"
The tap of other footsteps entering the classroom halted his words. The muggle-born girl blinks at the audience, her short hair shifting as she tilts her head down before greeting in a low voice.
"Ms Flamel! Have you got the permit?"
She holds up a parchment inked in purple color. Harry blinked at seeing the familiar ink.
Slughorn took the slip from her. Examining it. He nods. "You can sit at the back." He told her amiably, before turning to point at Ron, "Ronald, if you can help Mr Potter look into the back cabinet. I believe I still have a spare edition. Everyone, get your books out, today is a wonderful time for practical theory!"
For the whole day, her presence had lingered at the periphery of his vision - out of reach but present.
The girl was quiet, mostly keeping to herself. Anyone with eyes could see the toll it was taking on her, though the mystery of her surname kept a hefty traffic buzzing around, rather than keeping herself occupied.
Maybe that is when the rumor of the Angel Flamel was seen walking towards the Hospital wing again before lunch reached them, Hermione's outburst was enough to keep the stragglers waiting patiently behind scrambling away in fear.
But Harry and Ron understood the reason behind Hermione's concern. Because she could not get past the seemingly poor judgment of Dumbledore this time around.
"Most of all, it reminds me of you," she said, looking at Harry, who felt surprised.
"Excuse me!?"
Her eyes softened. "Seeing her like that, I can't help but place myself and you in her position in our first year had we not met Ron," she chanced a look towards the redhead, who was staring at her. Who promptly grinned. "Aw, I love you too. Thanks, 'Mione."
Harry doesn't think Ron saw the flustered way Hermione's stomp to his shoe was meant to be the opposite. But oh well.
The switch between one particular teacher had been taking much of his focus anyway.
Snape didn't seem too jovial with the position he had been coveting his entire life, but what Harry did notice was the way he had been treating a certain Slytherin prince.
According to Ron and Hermione, the Prefect's lot had been called in for a private meeting once with him over the git, and pretty much told them to give the ferret a leaveway this year.
"Because the ferret is going through an extreme case of puberty, so he now needs a bat guardian to make his case for him," Ron had spat the minute they had done their patrols a night prior. "I wonder if the cellmates had been too chummy with his father."
What took the treacle to the tart, in Ron's words, was that old habits die hard. Snape had given them their first assignment even before the week was over.
"Mr Potter," called Snape as he did the roll call for the task. "Even if it pains you, I want you to complete your work with your partner," he points at the person, "and I expect it to be done within 4 days."
Snape's eyes gleamed when Harry opened his mouth at the blatant discrimination between one week for the class and 4 days, but thought better about it this year. Snape sneered, "Five-foot parchment on the differences between the Unforgivable curses when it got termed and its historical consequences with references."
Harry could only give a sharp nod before he looked back and at the end of the room. A pair of eyes looking back at him, troubled.
Dear Ms. Flamel,
Kindly meet me before your dinner. I would like to discuss some things with you. The password is smiles.
– Albus Dumbledore.
Such was the perk of being an honed Auror.
Moody eyed the look Remus shot towards the ceiling when he entered surreptitiously, specifically, the room the muggle-born was staying in.
Days that were close to millennium ring his yellowed memories in sharp focus still to this day. A fish-eye perspective that had long become his new normal decades ago tinged at that. But even without that, he could tell when the jig was up.
"So who are we picking up next?" he growled, catching their attention. "I thought the death-dealing was off for now."
"Must you always talk about war times, no one is dying," Molly glared at him as she got up to put on the kettle, "we just got Albus Owl, the child will be staying at Hogwarts now."
Moody blinked. "Had he lost it? What muggle-born is worth keeping there for? " Remus pursed his lips, catching Molly's eye for a sneaky second.
"It seems," Remus began slowly, "that maybe we misjudged things prematurely. The child has the same abilities as ours, though they were probably dormant for a long while."
Moody felt his stomach bottomed. "No... you gotta be joking, not an obscurial!"
"That won't be the case, Alastor," Arthur's voice reached the room as he walked to kiss his wife's cheek in greetings. "Shaklebolt made sure that the child got tested, so Dumbledore decided to keep them under supervision."
"What about the family?" Molly asked Arthur.
Moody could not believe the words he was hearing. "TESTED?! A Muggle?! For what? Dumbledore is barking bonkers, that's what – keeping an unknown origin where the lad is–!", it was as if he was the only sane person in the room!
"The parents were the only living relatives. An only child, I am afraid, Molly," Arthur said calmly, watching Moody muttering, "No search was able to recover anything. Though I must say, how a Muggle-born would survive with magic so suddenly. Surely there was no knowledge given before this discovery?"
"...but why Hogwarts?" she whispered. "Surely the child would have been safe living in that world, I am sure Dumbledore would have thought of something."
"It would have been the case if Dumbledore had not seen the marking of Harry's name on the house," Remus answered quietly instead, eyes watching his now cold tea. "He thinks that besides the Dark Mark, and the muggle-born killings, this was a hint left by You Know Who. For the first time at that. He thinks that…. the child got marked as well."
"So he is keeping and bringing the harbinger of possible death to the boy who is destined to fight it?" Moody said incredulously. "Even if that muggle-born is innocent, Albus is hell-bent on playing with two lives! After all the drabble with keeping it safe? What a nutter!"
"Rather," Remus began wearily, "he says that maybe the Quibbler's article had been right all along, about how it's time for the Boy Who Lived to build the fortress." Remus looked as though he didn't believe that but he relayed the information nonetheless. Moody scoffed.
"So what are we telling the kids then? Has he said anything? The Owls keep coming back with no news." Arthus asked Remus, who shrugged. "The session just started, surely the news of another addition to the school, no less than the Order, would raise questions?" he pressed.
Remus looked haggard, he wiped his face. "Believe me, I have tried, in every possible way, I asked him the same atop millions of questions, and the only thing Dumbledore could talk about was providing protection." Remus looked upwards and Arthur followed his gaze, and for the first time, noticed an icicle staining the woods as though it were a stain. Arthur jumped, wands drawn instantly.
But Remus held up a hand, still not looking away, and only saying, "Sirius."
Arthur slowly looked away to catch the stoic look on Lupin's face; he slowly realized the long debate they would be having when Sirius heard this.
- 1 -
AN: 10 years of making Soulmates and actively working on this for the past 3-4 years. I am no longer hogging this to my chest. I cannot thank you all enough when I say how every R/R, following or favoriting this story revived my will and determination to get this story to completion. I owe this story to you all. Thank you for the patience, consideration, and love you have given me, and for the hope and encouragement I needed. This has been a journey for not only making this into something tangible but also accepting myself as well. I am only posting this story here as a final penance and because of you. Thank you.
Till the next chapter.
Updated AN: Much thanks to TheQueenofGoodbyes for pointing out the inconsistencies with Angel Flamel's muggle-born origins. This issue is fixed.