Belladonna

"The Lion Lads, Potter? Really?” Bella questioned, as they sat down on an empty table with their coffee in hand.

“It’s a great name and it fits us!”

“I’m not a lion and I’m not a lad.”

“But the band is formed by two lads, we are the majority.”

“But you’re the only Gryffindor in it” she argued. “We’ll have to think of a new name, Potter. Get over it.”

“Whatever.”

They were having breakfast in Diagon Alley. The summer was almost at its end. And after two more presentations, where Potter had introduced them as The Lion Lads, Ofelia had called for an intervention.

It had become something habitual for the two of them to meet for breakfast, even if they had to use the Floo Network to arrive to the heart of Magical London. Apparently, these friends could not live without each other for more than a week. Ofelia grabbed the newspaper laying on the table, while Potter focused his eyes in his work. He was arranging the new time schedule for the Duelling Club.

“Are you going to join the D-Club?” Potter asked.

“I don’t know. I’ll have a lot of free time now. So...”

She interrupted herself when she read the front page in the Daily Prophet.

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE, THE PUREST SOLE IN THE WIZARDING WORLD

“What in the actual fuck...?” she whispered to herself and then she proceeded to read the article.

Yesterday, the new Supreme Mugwump was chosen, being Vicencia Santos the first female to take this position. But, how was this decision resolved? The Qilin        -an ancient creature that is able of distinguish the purest heart in the room- did not choose Gellert Grindelwald, leading to his defeat. Instead, the noble creature bowed to Albus Dumbledore, who was in the scene with the purpose of detaining Grindelwald’s trickery.

Nevertheless, Dumbledore rejected the position pointing to Santos as the new international leader for the Wizarding society. Could Dumbledore possibly choose to stay at Hogwarts before controlling the Wizarding World? What kind of lunatic is teaching Transfigurations to our children? […]

“Have you read it already?” Potter asked.

“Since when Dumbledore is the purest sole in our world?”

“I thought that you’d be happy that Grindelwald isn’t ruling us.”

“Yes, of course” she nodded. “I just don’t get the Dumbledore part.”

“What is your problem with the Head of my house?” Potter asked living his work behind. For him, Dumbledore was not only a great teacher, he was a mentor.

“He just gives me odd vibes.”

“Odd vibes?” Potter questioned her. “That isn’t a real thing.”

“Yes, it is!” she contradicted him. “It's when his attitude doesn’t really make sense and you can smell something fishy in his intentions.”

“What are you a psychic or something? Besides, the Qilins don’t make mistakes. He hasn't a bad bone in his body.”

“I still don’t trust him” she responded wrinkling her nose.

“You have trust issues, my friend.”

“Yes, Monty, I do. My mother died in front of me when I was 10.”

“Good morning, my mates!” Chuck appeared joining at the table with Ames. “What are we talking about?”

“Dumbledore.”

“Oh, did you read the news?”

“That’s what we are discussing.”

“Bella doesn’t believe Dumbledore is pure of heart” Potter announced.

“What’s your damn problem with Dumbledore?” Ames turned to look at the blonde-hair, Slytherin girl.

“I don’t trust him. He gives me odd vibes” she explained defensively.

“Odd vibes? That’s not a real thing.”

“That’s what I said.”

“Shut up, Potter.”

“Relax, we’ll find out in a couple of minutes” Chuck made peace.

It was true. They were about to find out what happened the other day, as they paid for their coffee and left to the hidden meeting spot behind the Broom Polish Shop in Diagon Alley. Ames had received the secret location where that meeting was taking place, so they decided to give it a go. Well, actually, Longbottom had intervened in Theseus Scamander’s owls to find out the secret spot, but they were going to pretend that they had been invited. In the back part of the shop, there were so many people already that they had to stand almost outside the room. In the front, there were many recognised wizards that were publicly against Grindelwald. The rest were middle-class wizards with a desire to end the war.

Newt Scamander was standing next to Tina Goldstein, who Ofelia recognised from the international news. There were also a blonde woman and a chubby man. Theseus entered the room escorted by Dumbledore and a black woman.

“Good morning, witches and wizards!” the head of the aurorers greeted. “Thank you for sharing your precious time with us. We know it is hard to make the decision of standing up and facing a dark wizard like Grindelwald. However, we are here for a motive. A reason: to defend the Wizarding World and protect the ones that we love” he expressed. “That is why we ask you to join us. Any ability will be taken into account. We need any help we can get.”

“Now, we know that you may have some questions and we are here to answer them” the black woman said in an American accent.

Immediately, almost everyone raised their hands and waved them in an attempt to call the speakers’ attention.

“Yes?” Theseus pointed to a man in the front.

“Is it true that the Qilin chose Dumbledore?”

“Yes, it is true...” he responded and then turned to the next person.

“Why would he recline the position?”

“I am sorry, but if you are here for gossip, I am afraid I will disappoint you” Dumbledore opened his mouth, standing behind the Scamander brothers.

“Does anyone have a question that it is not related to Dumbledore?”

Everyone in the crowd lowered their hands a little too embarrassed.

“Told you. This is a waste of time” Newt whispered to his brother.

But Theseus continued to scan the crowd trying to find someone that actually cared about the cause. Ofelia raised her hand, but as she was way at the back, Theseus could not see her. He just saw a hand, raised over the heads.

“Yes, the hand at the back!”

The crowd moved, presenting the underage wizards to the organizers. Tina’s eyes jumped as they were obviously kids and Dumbledore smiled, pleased to see his students.

“If we decided to join,” Ofelia spoke loud and clear “will we eventually face Grindelwald?”

“Yes, probably” Theseus answered, taken by surprise.

He recognised the Slytherin girl from Slughorn’s Christmas party.

After her question, the other wizards started to ask appropriate questions as well and the meeting became a full success. They placed a stan for people to sign up. The line was eternal, but they still waited, eager to join. When they finally arrived to the front, they were the last group remaining. Ofelia grabbed the quill to write her name, but...

“Wait!” Tina Goldstein interrupted her. “Theseus, this are kids!”

“I know...”

Ofelia felt a pressure in her forehead all of a sudden, like a feeling of invasion. Very similar to the feeling that Riddle gave her that night in the girl’s restroom.

“Oh, no! This girl has a strong feeling of revenge against him. A tragedy, a horrible tragedy against her family. Her mother...”

“I don’t appreciate when people dive into my head” Rizzo stopped the New Yorker, blonde woman.

So, that was what Riddle had done. That bastard!

She knew that it was impossible for them to join. No sane adult would allow it... But she still had to try.

“This are my students” Dumbledore announced, as if it was a key to their problem. “They are very bright, very brave.”

“What are you saying, Dumbledore?” Theseus asked.

“That they would be really useful.”

“So, are you allowing us to join?” Rizzo questioned.

Yes, of course she wanted to join. But when it came to Dumbledore, she'd never trusted him. She didn’t want to get involve with him. He nodded, which confirmed her thoughts: no sane adult would allow it. And Dumbledore was not sane at all.

“Dumbledore, are you sure?”

“Yes, Mister Scamander.”

Theseus extended the piece of paper to the teenagers uncertainly and Ofelia signed feeling her fingertips tingle in the process.

As they were leaving, Ofelia walked behind her friends. They were celebrating, dancing with the idea of getting some beers, despite the fact that it was not midday already. But she was still wondering what was Dumbledore’s plan.

“She doesn’t trust you. You know it, right?” the blonde woman whispered to Dumbledore as she was leaving the room.

“Yes, I know it very well” he confessed. “That is why we have to keep an eye close to her. Just in case.”