❝︎Your bravery was greater than your ambitions❞︎

2-8: Dumbledore

e were all seated in the great hall studying, not too far from us was Ginny Weasley. Hermione and I thought it would be a good idea to keep a very close watch on her just in case. I could feel everyone eyeing Harry, even Ginny. He looked around frantically and annoyed, even Ron and Hermione was looking at him. I didn't bother looking up, there was no need to. I know Harry would never attack Hermione or any other muggle borns.. But so would Ginny. Unless.. She wasn't, she was being controlled by someone. But who?

"I'll meet you guys at the dormitories," My thoughts were cut off by Harry getting up to leave. Probably uncomfortable from all the stares he was getting.

"I'll check on him," I tell Ron and Hermione heading off and following Harry.

I was about to call out his name when I noticed something strange. He was looking around frantically again trying to chase something. He must be hearing the voices again, this happened last time too. I closely examined him following him in a distance, he was turning corners sharp and confused until he stopped.

"..Harry?" I called out carefully. I walked towards him as he just stared at me.

"Is it the voices again?"

"I think it's going to kill."

I should tell him about Ginny, warn him about her, and everything I told Hermione.

"Harry, there's something I need to tell you. When I-" I stopped and noticed a puddle of water. Strange, the puddle spread through the entire corridor. I walked towards it and Harry followed noticing the water. There I saw Nearly Headless Nick and the Hufflepuff boy back at the dueling session, petrified.

"What in the world.." I say examining the scene. What connections were there? Both of the attacks.. There was a trail of water. What could that mean? Harry got on his knees to examine the petrified boy. Nearly Headless Nick's head was.. well nearly pulled off.

That's something he does when he is greeting someone, so the attack must have happened when he was greeting someone, either the Hufflepuff boy or the attacker. The Hufflepuff boy had fallen backward after being petrified. This means he saw the attacker in front of him through Nearly Headless Nick's body. The trail of water was in front of the Hufflepuff boy, it had something to do with the attacker.

"Caught in the act." Harry and I looked around noticing Filch standing around the corridors.

"I'll have you out this time Potter. Mark my words.. You too Clermont," He turned around walking off.

"No Mr. Filch! You don't understand!" By the time Harry called out his name, he was gone. I looked down at the petrified boy again and saw the spiders walking in a line up the walls of the corridors and out through the window again.

"Harry, look." I nudged him. He stood on his feet and examined the spider, his gaze following the trail of spiders. Footsteps started to approach us and McGonagall and Filch showed up. She let out a gasp when she saw the scene.

"Profesor- I swear we didn't" Harry turned to face McGonagall.

"This is out of my hands Potter.. Follow me, let's go to Profesor Dumbledore. You too Evelyn"

~***~

"Profesor Dumbledore will be waiting for you" She brought us to a room with a phoenix statue in it. Harry looked at me and I nodded as we stepped inside the tiny room with the statue.

"Sherbet Lemon" McGonagall motions her hands towards the statue which rotated creating a staircase. It was quite a grand entrance. I followed Harry up the staircase and into Dumbledore's office.

It had many paintings, everyone in the paintings were asleep. On the walls were tools and vials. It was a huge place decorated with golden furniture.

"Profesor Dumbledore?" Harry called out cautiously. No one responded. We walked around the office examining every tiny detail, it was magical. On top of the shelf sat an old hat, the sorting hat.

"What is on your mind, Clermont?" It asked. Of course, the only thing in my mind was Ginny but I did always want to ask one question.

"Why Gryffindor?"

"Ah.. Yes. You would have done excellent in Ravenclaw like your sister. I was going to put you in Slytherin, you were most fit for it"

"Well, why didn't you?"

"Your bravery was greater than your ambitions" I nodded. That made sense in a way.

"And you Potter.. You were particularly difficult to place. You would've done well in Slytherin too." It said to Harry who was now standing beside me.

"You're wrong," He says walking away. I followed him to see a beautiful red phoenix. We smiled at each other and then back at the phoenix. It looked at us with curiosity and then... disappeared in flames. It was time for it to rebirth. Harry however looked shocked, he probably never knew about this.

"Harry?" I heard a voice. I looked up to see Dumbledore, the man I looked up to ever since I was a child.

"Professor! Your bird! There was nothing I could do! He just caught on fire" He says, his voice shaking a little. I smiled a little, his panicked expression was adorable.

"Oh and about time to. He's been looking dreadful for the past few days. Pity you had to see him on a burning day" He responded walking down towards us.

"Fawks is a Phoenix Harry. They burst into flame when it is time for it to die and then they are reborn from the ashes" Harry peered into the ashes of the Phoenix and watched as a baby phoenix rose.

"Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads and their tears with healing powers" Dumbledore explained as Harry and I both watched in awe.

"Profesor Dumbledore! Wait! Listen! It wasn't Evelyn or Harry sir!" Hagrid came barging in.

"Hagrid-" Dumbledore said trying to calm him down.

"If I were to be told to swear at the Ministry I'll be prepared"

"Hagrid! Relax, I do not believe Harry, not Evelyn attacked anyone" Dumbledore said putting his hand on my back trying to calm Hagrid down.

"Of course you don't and- Oh.. oh right well I'll uh.. just wait outside then," Hagrid says clearing his throat and exiting.

"You really don't think it's us?" I asked turning towards Dumbledore.

"No Evelyn, I do not think it is you or Harry. But I must ask you, is there something you wish to tell me?" About Ginny Weasley of course, but I didn't have enough evidence yet to prove it. It would be better for me to keep it for myself. As for Harry, he's probably thinking about him being a parselmouth, being the heir of Slytherin even. But that wouldn't do us any good if he did tell him.

"No sir," I said nudging Harry. He looked at me though I keep my eyes on Dumbledore.

"Very well then" Dumbledore nods. "You can leave now Harry, Evelyn I would like to speak to you." Harry looked at me worried and this time I looked at him back nodding before he leaves the room.

"An urgent letter from your father, Evelyn" he hands me a sealed envelope.

"I believe you are a very smart lady, look after Harry for me will you?" He says putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Yes sir" I look up at him and then back down at the letter.

~***~

I sat on my bed staring at it, father hasn't sent me a single letter ever since the sorting ceremony and now he decided to send one urgently. I opened the envelope to read the letter half out of curiosity and half out of anger.

My sweet Evelyn.

I am very sorry for not writing to you. I was very busy at the ministry. Something dangerous is bound to happen at Hogwarts, please be careful. Your mother seems to know about what is going on and even have a part in it. She has changed into a hateful person, a supporter of you know who. I'll be here when you come home from Hogwarts. Stay safe.

-Dad

My eyes widened as I gasped trying not to make a noise waking up other girls. My mother is a supporter of Voldemort, how could this happen? I can't help but think this is all my fault. Ever since I chose Hogwarts she started to change, I ruined her. I felt tears start to roll down from my cheek. My cold yet loving mom had changed.

I remember calling my parents "mom and dad" instead of "mother and father". It all changed when I reached the age of 8 and was taught to call them mother and father. I noticed the signature at the end, Dad, instead of father. I missed him so much, I haven't seen him since my first year of Hogwarts. I wonder how he's doing, was he safe staying with my mother? I laid back down holding the letter close to my heart. What did he mean by my mother had something to do with these attacks? My head was filled with different thoughts until I fell asleep.

꧁♡꧂

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