"There is no evil in sorcery. Only in the hearts of men."
- Merlin
Almost everyone in the wizard community know who the Weasley Family is; an old line of purebloods with red hair, freckles and enough children to start their own Quidditch team. But S...
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"Did Professor McGonagall mention why Professor Dumbledore wanted to talk to you?" Pucey wondered as they neared the ugly stone gargoyle who guarded the headmaster's office.
"No," Seraphina shook her head. "It's probably just something to do with Rosier's murder attempt on me."
"And what are you planning on telling him?" Avery wondered.
"That Rosier and I have our disagreements and instead of handling them like an adult he decided to act out and it almost killed me," Seraphina said with a shrug. "Now I thank you both for walking me here, and tell you to get to Potions class instead of waiting for me."
"But-"
"No buts," Seraphina told them firmly. Pulling both into a quick hug, she added, "I can manage on my own and it's not as if Dumbledore would simply let me die here on the steps."
Not giving her two friends any opportunity to argue, Seraphina said the password McGonagall had given her. One hand rested against the stone wall for support as she climbed up the spiral staircase. It took some time with all the limping and for a while she actually considered sitting down on her arse and slowly climb up one step at the time.
Once outside the office, she stopped for a few seconds to catch her breath and steady herself. The last thing she wanted was collapsing in front of the headmaster. Only, of course Dumbledore knew of her presence because the doors slowly opened, revealing the large circular room inside with the old wizard sitting behind the desk.
"Ah, Seraphina, I am very happy to see you up and running again," Dumbledore told her kindly.
"I'd not go that far," Seraphina said, trying to walk as smooth as possible despite the ache in her knee. "Madam Pomfrey would likely have a heart attack if she saw me running. She does not think I've recovered yet."
"You have recuperated much faster than any of us could have expected," Dumbledore admitted, offering a treat to Fawkes.
"I have always been a bit of a wonder, haven't I?" Sera said sarcastically, sinking down into the chair across from the desk. Wincing in pain from a sudden pain in her head, Sera couldn't suppress a glare, "Could you refrain from trying to get into my head, headmaster?"
It was something Dumbledore did from time to time. During meals in the Great Hall and sometimes during their private lessons. Ever since she started attending Hogwarts, he taught her both Occlumency and Legilimency. Told her it was an important thing to know. Now her head already hurt from her skull being crushed, so she didn't need any additional pain.
"You have gotten quite skilled at detecting any intrusion to your mind," Dumbledore noted. "A good enough Occlumens to stop even me." Resting his elbows on the table, hands clasped together, he then asked, "What happened between you and Mr. Rosier on the Quidditch pitch this weekend?"
"One of my players decided to go rogue and it ended with me in the Hospital Wing with a crushed skull and a dislocated knee," Seraphina shrugged, holding eye contact. When she was younger, she always thought Dumbledore's blue eyes seemed all-knowing and she'd never look directly into them; afraid that he'd find out all her secrets from a single look. "But I heard you solved the matter. Did Rosier's parents contact you? Did his father use his position at the Ministry to persuade you into giving him a milder punishment? Did the Minister vouch for him?"
When Dumbledore didn't respond, she said, "I thought so," she scoffed, knowing exactly that would happen. That was how the Wizarding World, and likely the Muggle World, worked. The rich and powerful covered each other's backs. They hurt others without a care in the world and rarely suffered any consequences for doing it.
"It would have been quite tragic, wouldn't it?" Seraphina said dryly, not capable of keeping the sarcasm away from her voice. "Merlin's only living descendant dying during a Quidditch match and the killer would likely have gotten, what? A month more detention? Or suspension for a week that he could spend at home in his mansion?"
Dumbledore was skilled at hiding his feelings but Sera could see the way his eyes widened just a fraction and he stilled completely for a moment, "I see you have figured it out. May I ask how?"
"The signs have always been there, haven't they?" Seraphina said. "I've never met my mum – I've never even seen a picture of her – yet she gave me my name and a pull towards dragons that I never could understand. I have magical abilities that no one else seems to possess, so she must have been someone special. Oh, and you will be pleased to know that all of those lessons in the art of Legilimency actually have given me something. You are a skilled Occlumens, Professor, but you have lowered your guard one too many times."
At that, Dumbledore chuckled, "I always knew the day would come when you figured it out."
"So you were never planning on telling me yourself?" Seraphina scoffed, a little annoyed. Questions she had suppressed for years were now bubbling to the surface. Perhaps it was the near death experience prompting her to get answers before it was too late.
"I was," Dumbledore told her. "When you turned seventeen. Just as I promised your mother – before she died.
"Did my dad know?" Seraphina then asked. Growing up, she asked her dad about who her mother was several times and every single time he shot her down. Dismissed every inquiry by changing the subject. "Does Arthur? And Bilius?"
"No, your father knew her name," Dumbledore informed her. "And your brothers know nothing. When you were born, your mother knew she wouldn't be capable of keeping you safe. Not when she knew her time was near. So she dropped you off at Septimus's doorstep."
"Like a fruit basket?" Seraphina said bitterly.
"Your mother kept her pregnancy hidden," Dumbledore explained. "It was the best way to keep you safe. The Weasley name from your father gave you more protection, a better disguise, than any spell ever could."
