After The Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Prologue

There had been a surge of magic so strong it was believed to have been felt across the expanse of the wizarding world. Without a moment of hesitation, the ministry of magic dispatched a team to investigate it. Minister Spavin, more concerned by the fact that the magic seemed to come from an underage wizard, after he had just outlawed it, wasted no time in bringing the child back to hold trial. So, the trial had made a last minute addition to the day. Professor Eleazar Fig had been there that day to try and convince Minister Spavin that the Goblin Rebellion had started to get too out of hand, but now he looked at the small girl placed in the middle of the room for her trial.

"So, before the day we found you, you had no knowledge of your wizarding ability?" the Minister asked. The small girl shook her head.

"No sir, I - I knew of wizards, but I didn't know I was one." She wrung her hands that sat in her lap. She was thin, dark circles under her eyes, she looked malnourished, like she needed to rest and eat before they threw her up for trial. Eleazar couldn't help the scowl that now overtook his features. "I grew up in a home for kids, an orphanage, in London. I was taken, by them... the wizards, a couple of years ago I think." Another council member from the side spoke up.

"When they found you, they told us everyone in the room was dead, but they didn't find you with a wand. Are you saying you used wandless magic, without any practice, or any knowledge that you even had the ability?" Even from where he sat, he could see her shoulders shaking.

"I promise, I don't know what I did. They-" Her voice choked up as she squeezed her eyes shut, swallowing her grief before opening her mouth again. "I- I was so tired and angry, I- I just screamed and then I suppose I passed out. I woke up when they found me." The silence wafted loudly through the room as everyone took in her words.

"I guess," The minister spoke slowly, as if he was second guessing his words, "We need to figure out what to do with you, how we will get you started on your training, or in a school."

"She could come to Hogwarts Sir." Professor Weasley was standing now. Fig hadn't even realized she had been there. He had been so busy rehearsing his words when he had walked in, he now noticed a good amount of Hogwarts staff was there. "She is 15 right? She can start as a fifth year, we have a few months before the new school year starts. She could learn the basics, train with someone beforehand, and we could give her additional studies during the school year to help her catch up." The judge sat in silence as he thought everything through. The girl had turned around to look at professor Weasley, and Eleazar's heart ached. The girl, though severely malnourished, reminded him so much of Miriam; his wife, who he had just recently lost.

"I guess," the judge began, "that could work. We would just need to find someone who can catch her up to speed."

"I can sir." Eleazar was on his feet within seconds, nodding at the judge. "I have plenty of books and practice wands she could use. She could stay with me and I could teach her the basics." The girl's eyes met his, and the profound sense of hope he saw in them broke his heart. The sound of the gavel made both of them jump.

"Alright then, she will start at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry as a fifth year. Until then, Eleazar Fig will catch her up in the basics, and then she will continue to further her knowledge with additional studies throughout the school year." The gavel was struck again and the girl was then hurriedly taken out of the room as they moved onto the next order of business. Eleazar of course never had a chance to speak on the Goblin issues, but his mind was now too busy reeling with thoughts of the girl.

Once everything had ended, he had made his way out of the room, and directly to where they had been keeping her. She sat in a way as if to make herself smaller. Her knees were pressed together, shoulders slouched, hands clasped, head down.

"Hello there." he greeted her gently. She looked up at him as he extended a hand out to her. "I am Eleazar Fig, I am excited to start your training with you." The girl smiled politely up at him. He could see the weariness in her eyes, but she still accepted his hand.

"I am Siren Song. I am excited to start

ᑐ🝐 ⠁⭒*.✩.*⭒⠁･｡ﾟ . *:｡･:*:･ﾟ

Fig had given her a full month to rest, eat some food, and just find herself before he began her training. In the early days he provided her with a large stack of books, mostly about the wizarding world since it was obvious that she was more attune with the muggle world. She would sit outside in the grass and read, enjoying the breeze and the warmth of the sun on her skin.

The first day he had presented a wand to her, she had cupped her hands up close to her chest, as if the wand held the darkness that she had experienced through the wizards that hurt her. He had let her take as much time as she needed to pickup the wand. Once she did, everything seemed to come naturally to her. She worked hard, learned quickly, and grew strong.

He now looked at the young woman in front of him. In such a short amount of time, she had grown to be confident and strong; opposite of the small girl he had seen on the bench outside of the trial, and even more reminiscent of Miriam. Finally the day had come for them to begin their journey to Hogwarts. Fig couldn't help but feel sad at the thought of their time together coming to an end. He and Miriam never had kids, and this experience had been almost like having a daughter.

Fig added the last of the bags he needed to the carriage

"Ah," he said, making his way back over to the girl who was eagerly awaiting their journey. "appears we are almost ready to depart."