Although not a traditional story, this is the background information for Dabih Black, a recurring character in my works. He first appeared in "Where No Witch Has Gone" and has since resurfaced in "Penney Parker and the Wolf in the Fold". While certain details about him may shift from story to story, there are fundamental aspects of his character that remain consistent. This backstory is provided solely for the reader's benefit, giving them insight that may not always be available to the characters themselves.
The journey began on a fateful day, May 13th in the year of 1842. It was just two months before Dabih's birth, the start of his life and the end of many others. His father, Nigellus Black, sought out the counsel of the renowned seer Cassandra Trelawny - a customary practice for pureblood families at the time. However, what she prophesized about his unborn son would send shivers down anyone's spine. According to Cassandra, Dabih was destined to come into this world under a cursed star and grow into a ruthless killer. She foretold that his first victim would meet their ultimate fate on the very day of his birth, and from then on he would continue to take lives with little regard for who they were. Out of fear for what her predictions could mean for their family name, she urged Nigellus to take action and end the child's life before it was too late.
According to her prophecy, if Dabih's existence was allowed to continue, it would bring about disastrous consequences. The bloodshed he would cause would be unending and it was foreseen that it would take at least a hundred years for someone else to rise up and stop him. The weight of this knowledge must have been heavy on Nigellus' shoulders as he contemplated whether or not to follow Cassandra's advice and terminate the pregnancy. But ultimately, it was a decision that could change not only the fate of his family but also that of many innocent lives.
When asked who could defeat Nigellus’ unborn child, Cassandra would answer that their opponent would be born in the muggle world. In "Where No Witch Has Gone," Cassandra predicted that Dabih's reign would end in a field of stars, far from Earth, at the hands of a crew of muggles on a great ship that sailed amongst the stars. The power of Dabih would finally be shattered by a muggle-born witch using non-magical means. In "Penney and the Wolf in the Fold," Cassandra foresaw that Dabih's downfall would come from a young muggle who was bitten by destiny, blessed with great power, and burdened with great responsibility.
In a state of disbelief and arrogant conviction that no member of the house of Black could ever be bested by mere muggles, Nigellus Black outright rejected Cassandra's prophecy. He scoffed at her words, believing her to be mistaken and unworthy of his attention. Little did he know that this single decision would seal the tragic fate of not only himself, but also his wife Eudokia and countless others for over a century to come. His pride and ignorance were like shackles, binding him to a path of ruin and destruction.
As the clock struck midnight on July 25, 1842, the first part of Cassandra's prophecy began to unfold. The air was thick with anticipation and a sense of dread as Dabih Black, just born that same day, claimed his first victim - his own mother who perished during childbirth. In that moment, Nigellus finally understood the gravity of Cassandra's words and the true power of her foresight. Desperate to prevent any further fulfillment of the prophecy, he cast his son out into the unfamiliar muggle world in hopes that he would meet an early demise. The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the scene as Nigellus made a desperate attempt to alter fate itself.
The unnamed newborn child ended up in an orphanage. The name given to him by the muggle caretakers has been forgotten with the passage of time; anyone who knew it is now deceased. Instead of meeting his father's desired fate, the boy, who would eventually take on the name of Dabih, grew up in a strict and unloving environment until he turned eleven and received his letter of acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Dibah wound up getting sorted into Slytherin where he would face the same isolation he had endured at the orphanage for all seven years of his school life. But he refused to let it break him, using his time to acquire forbidden knowledge and strength in search of his true identity and seeking retribution. After learning of his lineage, Dibah waited seven more years before acting on it, taking on the rigorous training of a healer in the meantime.
In the sweltering summer of 1867, aided by his older brother Licorus who wanted access to his long-awaited inheritance, Dibah's determination was unwavering as he set out to break through the formidable barriers surrounding Grimmauld Place. His dark purpose? To take the life of his despised father Nigellus using the ancient Black ceremonial blade, imbuing it with a piece of his own twisted soul in a ritual that would make it his horcrux. In those fateful moments, he shed his former identity and took on the infamous name of Dabih Black, a name that would strike fear into the hearts of all who heard it. Thus began his reign of terror, casting a shadow over the wizarding world for years to come.
It's impossible to determine his exact body count, but at least eight victims were found in the muggle world, where he was known as Jack the Ripper. Some believe he may have killed hundreds or even thousands of people before being stopped by muggles, fulfilling Cassandra's prophecy from over a hundred years before. While he didn't discriminate when it came to killing men or purebloods, Dabih preferred to target women, particularly those who were muggles or muggle-born witches.