Coming to Terms
Ambrosius had been feeling a sense of calm since his encounter with his mother's ghost in the Forbidden Forest. For years, he had been plagued by questions about his past and his true identity. He had been wondering what made him different from the Dursleys, but he had never expected to learn that he wasn't the son of Lily and James Potter but the son of James and Athanasia Potter.
As he sat in the Great Hall, enjoying his lunch and chatting with his friends, he couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. He had finally come to terms with the truth about his past, and he was determined to embrace his birthright as his mother's heir.
But his peaceful reverie was interrupted when Dolores Umbridge, the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, approached his table. "Mr. Potter," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "I must speak with you about your recent change of name and appearance."
Ambrosius bristled at her tone. He had grown accustomed to the stares and whispers that followed him wherever he went, but he had never before been confronted so directly by one of the school's authority figures.
"What's the problem, Professor?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm.
“It has come to my attention that you have changed your name to Ambrosius Hadrian James Potter, and have altered your appearance to such that no one recognizes,” Umbridge said, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I must remind you that such behavior is a violation of Hogwarts rules."
Ambrosius felt a surge of anger at Umbridge's words. He had always despised the woman's rigid adherence to rules and her blatant disregard for the students' well-being.
"I have done nothing wrong," he replied firmly. "I simply wished to honor my birth parents by taking their names and embracing my heritage. And as for my appearance, it is my right as a wizard to use magic to alter my appearance as I see fit."
Umbridge's face turned even more sour, and Ambrosius could see the anger simmering just beneath the surface.
"Be that as it may, Mr. Potter, I must insist that you follow Hogwarts rules and regulations," she said coldly. "You are not to change your name or appearance without the express permission of the school's Headmaster. And until such permission is granted, you are to be addressed by your legal name and appear as you did when you were admitted to Hogwarts."
Ambrosius felt a surge of defiance at Umbridge's words, but he knew that it would do him no good to argue with her. Instead, he nodded curtly and said, "Very well, Professor. I will abide by the school's rules."
Umbridge seemed satisfied with his response and turned to leave, but not before shooting him a final glare.
As she walked away, Ambrosius felt a twinge of regret. He had always prided himself on his ability to stand up for what he believed in, but he knew that in this instance, it was better to bide his time and wait for the right moment to assert himself. For now, he would have to be content with the knowledge that he had finally come to terms with his new identity, even if it meant holding himself back from expressing it openly.
Over the next few weeks, Ambrosius did his best to keep a low profile and follow the school's rules. It wasn't easy, especially with the constant whispers and stares from his fellow students, but he managed to push through and focus on his studies.
But despite his best efforts, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of frustration and anger towards Umbridge and her oppressive regime. He knew that she was working closely with the Ministry of Magic, and that she was determined to root out any and all "undesirable" elements from Hogwarts.
Ambrosius knew that he was one of those undesirable elements, with his newfound knowledge about his heritage and his refusal to conform to Umbridge's strict rules. But he wasn't going to let her bully him into submission.
But he couldn’t help but to worry that Umbridge would suck up to Fudge to pull out his file. Hermoine and the others assured him that she wouldn't. But three days later, during dinner, his fears came true as he stared at the pink clothed toad who they call Professor was presenting a file of paper.
It was his birth certificate, she announced. Ambrosius felt a knot form in his stomach as Umbridge held up the file for all to see. He had always known that his true identity was a secret, and he had taken great pains to ensure that no one would discover the truth about his birth parents. But now, with Umbridge waving his birth certificate around, he knew that his secret was out.
He looked around the Great Hall and saw that all eyes were on him. He felt a rush of panic, unsure of how to handle the situation. He could see the smug satisfaction on Umbridge's face, and he knew that she was relishing the opportunity to humiliate him in front of the entire school.
But before he could say anything, a voice spoke up from the Gryffindor table. "What is the meaning of this, Professor Umbridge?" It was Professor McGonagall, looking as stern as ever.
Umbridge turned to face her, her expression still smug. "I am simply presenting Mr. Potter's birth certificate, as per Ministry regulations," she said.
"And why is this necessary?" McGonagall asked, her eyes flashing with anger.
Umbridge smiled thinly. "There have been reports of unauthorized name changes and appearance alterations, and I am simply investigating the matter."
"I see," McGonagall said, her voice cold. "And what exactly does Mr. Potter's birth certificate have to do with this?"
Umbridge faltered for a moment, seemingly caught off guard by McGonagall's questioning. But then she regained her composure and said, "Well, as you can see, Mr. Potter's birth name is Harry James Potter, not Ambrosius Hadrian James Potter. And his appearance has been altered beyond recognition, which is a clear violation of Hogwarts rules."
Ambrosius felt his anger boil over at Umbridge's words. He knew that she was twisting the truth to suit her own agenda, and he couldn't stand to let her get away with it.
"Actually, Professor Umbridge, my birth name is Ambrosius Hadrian James Potter," he said, standing up from his seat. "I changed my name to honor my birth parents, who are both deceased. And as for my appearance, I simply used a glamour charm to enhance my natural features."
She turned to Ambrosius, her expression softening slightly. "Mr. Potter, I apologize for this intrusion. But I must ask, is this birth certificate accurate? Is Athanasia Potter truly your birth mother?"
Ambrosius took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, Professor. I recently learned the truth about my parentage."
McGonagall looked at him for a moment, her eyes full of concern. "I see," she said softly. "Well, in that case, I will speak with Headmaster Dumbledore and see if we can come to a solution that honors your birthright without violating school regulations."
Ambrosius felt a sense of relief flood through him. He had always known that McGonagall was a fair and just professor, and he was grateful for her support.
Umbridge, on the other hand, looked furious at the turn of events. "I must insist that Mr. Potter comply with Ministry regulations," she said, her voice rising in anger.
But McGonagall was not intimidated. "I believe that this matter is best left to the discretion of the Headmaster," she said firmly.
Umbridge opened her mouth to protest, but at that moment, the doors to the Great Hall burst open, and in strode Albus Dumbledore, his long white beard trailing behind him.
"Good evening, Professor Umbridge," he said, his voice calm and steady. "I trust that everything is in order?"
Umbridge looked taken aback by his sudden appearance, but she quickly composed herself. "Yes, Headmaster," she said, her voice clipped.
Dumbledore turned to Ambrosius, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "Ah, Mr. Potter, I see that your birth certificate has caused quite a stir."
Ambrosius felt his cheeks grow warm, but he managed a small smile. "Yes, sir."
Dumbledore smiled back. "I have already spoken with Professor McGonagall about your situation, and I believe that we can come to an agreement that satisfies both the Ministry regulations and your desire to honor your heritage. In the meantime, I must ask that you continue to abide by the school's rules."
Ambrosius nodded, relieved that he wouldn't have to give up his newly discovered identity.
"Thank you, Headmaster," he said.
Dumbledore turned to Umbridge, his expression growing serious. "Professor, I must remind you that it is not your place to challenge the Headmaster's authority or the authority of the Ministry. If you have any concerns, you are to bring them to me directly."
Umbridge looked chastened by his words, and Ambrosius felt a surge of satisfaction. He had always known that Dumbledore was the true leader of Hogwarts, and it was comforting to see him take charge of the situation.
With that, Dumbledore turned and swept out of the Great Hall, leaving Ambrosius feeling relieved and content. He knew that there were still challenges ahead, but he also knew that he had the support of his friends and the headmaster. And with that knowledge, he felt ready to face whatever the future held.