Chapter 13
In the quiet of the night, Albus Potter found himself unable to sleep. Perched atop the staircase, he strained to listen to the murmurs drifting up from below. Familiar voices, including that of his father, Harry Potter, reached his ears before he caught sight of them. With Harry was an elderly man, Amos Diggory, confined to a wheelchair.
"Amos, I understand your plight, but I've only just returned home," Harry's voice sounded weary.
Amos interjected with frustration evident in his tone, "I've attempted to secure appointments at the Ministry, Harry. They brush me off with promises of future meetings, leaving me waiting endlessly."
Harry sighed, "Coming here in the dead of night while my children prepare for the new school year—it's not appropriate."
Amos's voice trembled with emotion, "Months pass, Harry. Each time I'm told you're unavailable, delaying any resolution. You're shutting me out."
"I'm not shutting you out, Amos. But as the Head of Magical Law Enforcement, my responsibilities—" Harry tried to explain.
Amos interrupted sharply, "You have responsibilities, yes. But what about my son, Cedric? Voldemort didn't want him; he wanted you! 'Kill the spare,' he said. My beautiful boy was just a spare to him."
Harry winced at the mention of Cedric, "I remember your son. His loss—"
"A loss I can't bear anymore," Amos's voice cracked with anguish. "I'm here to plead with you, Harry. Help me bring him back."
Harry's astonishment was palpable, "Bring him back? Amos, that's impossible."
"The Ministry possesses a Time-Turner, do they not?" Amos pressed on urgently. "Rumor has it they've seized an illegal one from Theodore Nott. Let me use it. Let me bring my son back."
In the dimly lit room, a heavy silence hangs in the air, fraught with tension. HARRY struggles visibly, his inner turmoil evident as he grapples with the gravity of the situation. ALBUS, standing nearby, watches intently, sensing the weight of the moment.
"HARRY," AMOS speaks, his voice laden with desperation, "is it truly beyond our reach? Can we not alter time to spare just one life?"
HARRY's expression tightens, betraying the conflict raging within him. He knows the risks, the immutable laws they're bound by.
"Amos," HARRY replies with a heavy heart, "you know the consequences. We can't meddle with time."
AMOS's eyes betray his anguish. "How many people perished for the sake of the 'Boy Who Lived'?" he pleads, his voice trembling with emotion. "I implore you, Harry, save him."
The plea strikes a chord within HARRY, stirring painful memories and unresolved guilt. But he stands firm, his resolve unyielding.
"Whatever rumors you've heard," HARRY asserts firmly, "the tale of Theodore Nott is but a fabrication. I cannot alter what has transpired."
Suddenly, a voice breaks the solemn atmosphere, causing ALBUS to startle. DELPHI emerges, a striking figure with a determined gaze and black, curly hairs.
"Hi there!" she greets casually, her sudden appearance catching everyone off guard. "Didn't mean to startle you. I used to be quite the eavesdropper myself, lurking on the stairs, waiting for even the slightest hint of intrigue."
In the dimly lit foyer, Albus Potter stood, his expression a mixture of confusion and curiosity as he confronted the intruder who had just breezed into his home.
"Who are you?" Albus inquired, his voice tinged with a hint of apprehension. "This is sort of my house, and..."
Delphini with a mischievous glint in her eye, responded in a playful yet slightly menacing tone, "I'm a thief, of course. About to steal everything you own. Give me your gold, your wand, and your Chocolate Frogs!" She paused dramatically before breaking into a disarming smile. "Or perhaps I'm Delphini Diggory." She ascended the stairs gracefully, extending a hand towards Albus. "Delphi. I look after him—Amos—well, I try." She gestured towards Amos, who stood nearby.
Albus couldn't help but offer a rueful grin. "Albus," he replied simply.
"Of course! Albus 'famous' Potter!" Delphi exclaimed. "So, Harry is your dad? That's quite something, isn't it?"
Albus shrugged nonchalantly. "Not really. He doesn't approve of my best friend just because he's in Slytherin, and our parents had a complicated history at Hogwarts."
Delphi winced sympathetically. "Ah, I see. Looks like I've stepped into a bit of a sensitive topic. They used to say similar things about me at school. Delphini Diggory—there wasn't a hole she couldn't dig herself into."
Albus nodded in understanding. "They've had their fair share of fun with my name too."
As a brief pause settled between them, Delphi regarded Albus thoughtfully before being interrupted by Amos's voice calling her name.
"Delphi," Amos interjected, prompting her to hesitate before addressing Albus once more with a warm smile. "We don’t choose our family ties. Amos isn’t just my patient; he's my uncle. It's part of why I took the job at Upper Flagley. But it hasn't been easy. Living with people stuck in the past can be challenging, don't you think?"
"Upper Flagley?" Albus inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"St. Oswald’s Home for Old Witches and Wizards," Delphi clarified. "Drop by sometime if you're interested."
"Delphi!" Amos's voice interrupted once more, reminding her of her duties.
"Yes, Uncle," Delphi responded dutifully before gracefully departing down the stairs. As she disappeared into the room where Amos and Harry awaited, Albus couldn't help but watch her, pondering their encounter.