Belladonna

Sunlight burst through the windows and touched Ofelia’s face kindly, like asking her to wake up. It had been a while since she had slept that well. As she stretched with her eyes closed, her arms stumbled with a body lying next to her. Soon she realized that she wasn’t in her bed.

“Morning.” A deep voice whispered into her ear.

The memories of the night before came back to her, as she opened her eyes and discovered the naked body of Aberforth Dumbledore tangled with hers.

“Morning” she smiled back and he gave her a soft peck in her mouth.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, I did...” She incorporated herself in bed.

“Bella, last night was... amazing.”

“But...?”

“There is no ‘but’. Just amazing” he clarified.

That melted her heart. Could it be possible that she had so low expectations in men thanks to Riddle, that now the littlest gesture made her heart skip a beat? She was so lost, so enchanted that she almost forgot about her family. Well, she did in fact forget about them for a couple of hours. But now that the rush of excitement had come down, the voice of her father irrupted her mind like a lightning sound.

“Shit...” she mumbled to herself and stood up like the bed was on fire.

“What are you doing?” he asked. “Aren’t you staying for breakfast?”

“Oh, that sounds nice” she spoke fast, as she dressed up. “But I was supposed to be home before sunset yesterday. They’re going to kill me.”

She abandoned the room with her boots on her hands and searched for the stairs. There was no time for goodbyes. Ofelia could feel the anger of her papà, even from where she was, in a completely different time. She walked over to the living room hoping to not waste more time and go home.

“Miss Rizzo...”

Of course, she wasn’t expecting to find the other owner of the house sitting in one of the armchairs.

“Professor, good morning...” she said cautiously.

“Bella, wait up!” Aberforth appeared running down the stairs, only wearing his trousers. But he didn’t keep on talking when he saw his brother in the room as well. “Albus, Bella stayed last night because...”

His brother raised his hand, indicating to speak no more. “I thought that by now you’d know the amazing use of a silencing spell, dear brother. They are very effective, you'll see.”

And after mocking them, he stood up and left the room.

“I should probably go” Ofelia marked pretending that her face wasn’t burning red.

“Yeah.”

As soon as she went into her house, she knew what was waiting for her. She knew her father would be waiting, sitting in his armchair in the living room. Everything was quiet, when she walked in to find her father already asleep. He had fallen asleep waiting for her. Ofelia stared at him in silence. How peaceful he looked, but how old as well. The years had really passed through him, since her mother wasn't there. It was the first time she noticed the wrinkles in his face and the tiny greys in his hair.

“Papà...” she whispered trying to wake him up. “Papà.”

“Belladonna?” He woke up.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“Ti avevo avvisato di arrivare presto. Ho detto prima del tramonto e sei arrivato il giorno dopo” he growled. “Cosa sta succedendo? Non mi prendi più sul serio?”

“So di aver sbagliato, papà. Credimi, non volevo disobbedirti in quel modo. Scusate.”

“No, le tue scuse non sono più sufficienti!” he snapped, standing up.

“Papà, ascoltami-”

“No, mi ascolti!”

When Bella and her brothers were younger, they would be scared when their father would yell at them. It would impose respect, even fear sometimes. But she wasn’t scared now. Maybe it was because she was grown enough to jump into that phase where teenagers stop fearing their parents. Of course, she didn’t like to see him so upset and she felt guilty as well. He must have been worried sick wondering where was she all night. These were still difficult times and despite Grindelwald's defeat, his followers were still around. However, as far as she was concerned, there was no fear in her body.

“Non so più cosa fare con te. Non ascolti più, non obbedisci più... È come se non volessi far parte di questa famiglia.” He could have said anything, but saying that she didn’t want to be a part of this family destroyed her.

“That is not true, papà.”

“That is what you show.”

“How dare you?” she exploded. “All I did, all of it, was for this family. Everything I do is for this family. Every second of every hour of every day, since mamma died. I fought for this family. I defeated Grindelwald for this family. I have a job now, and there are people who count on me.”

Her father seemed ashamed for his daughter’s confessions. He knew that his sons were listening to everything upstairs, but they wouldn’t come downstairs.

“I’m sorry I was late” she said with tears in her eyes. “But I’m not sorry for protecting my family. I can assure you that.”

“In what moment, did you become the head of this family?” Braulio questioned. “I am responsible for you, not the other way around.”

“I grew up” she declared. “You ought to accept that.”

“You are sixteen. You are a girl.”

“Yes” she admitted. “But sometimes it feels like I grew up the moment we left Italy.”

Her father couldn’t take her words anymore and burst into tears. He sat back into his armchair hiding his face with his hands. Ofelia had never seen his father cry, not even with the tragedy that had strike them. He cried in silence, in private. But now, he had reached his final point. See how he failed to his daughter was a punch in his ribs.

“Papà...”

“I’m sorry” he cried. “I’m sorry for not protecting you like I should have done. I’m sorry for not noticing what you-”

His voice cracked and she hold him tight.

“It isn’t your fault” she cried as well. “You’ve done everything you could, since we moved here. It hasn’t been easy for any of us, papà. But that night, maybe you were the one who lost the most and I haven’t heard you complain even once.”

They hugged for a while. She rested her head in his chest and listened to how his heart slowed down. The constant beat kept her calm, almost falling asleep in her chest like she was a little girl again. The truth was that although she pretended to be a grown-up, that she didn’t need anyone else or that she could handle everything by herself, deep inside she was still a little girl in the arms of her dad.

“I slept at the Dumbledores’” she found herself confessing before falling asleep.

“The Dumbledores’?”

“Yes, it was getting late and they invited me to stay. They were only being nice and they were alone. They have nobody” then she lied. “And I thought that it would have been rude to say no.”

“I understand” her father whispered, “you can’t really say no to people like the Dumbledores. But you could have sent an owl.”

“I’ll take that into consideration.”

She stood up and search for the stairs. But when she was about to go up, she thought that she was tired of keeping secrets. Maybe she could tell a bit of the truth.

“Papà.” She went back to the room.

“What, Bella?” he smiled with his eyes red. “Is there something else you wanted to tell me?”

A parent always knows. “Yes, there is something.” She sat next to him. “I like someone.”

“Potter?”

“No!” she denied and then took a deep breath. “I’m interested in Aberforth Dumbledore.”

Braulio nodded trying to accept the situation. “Then... I guess it would be nice if we invited the Dumbledores for Christmas.”

“What?!”

“You said that they are alone. Besides, they had a nice gesture with you, so we should too.”

“Please, don’t.”

“If you like him, I should meet him, don’t you think?” Her father smiled mockingly and then he got up to leave the room.

“We are here today to honour all the heroes that fought to restore peace to the Wizarding World” Leonard Spencer-Moon, the provisional Minister of Manic, announced. “Let’s have a minute of silence for all the casualties in and off-battle.”

Everyone stayed in silence paying respect to the fallen soldiers. It was a commemoration taking place at the Wizengamot, which was located in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Ofelia remained quiet, while her family was standing beside her. It had been a great honour for her family to be invited to the ceremony.

“Now, we shall pass to the medal ceremony of the Order of Merlin” the Minister announced, as one of the employees brought the ribbon medals.

The ceremony was pretty simple. All the important participants in the war, like the Scamander brothers, received Second Class awards. It lasted an hour with all the acknowledgements that had her yawning every once in a while.

“Moving on to the First Class awards, there are two people that we would like to commemorate tonight” the Minister announced. “For capturing Gellert Grindelwald for his crimes against the muggles and the Wizarding community, we honour Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore with the First Class medal.”

The professor let the man put the green-ribbon medal around his neck and everyone clapped in response, as he faced the crowd.

“Also, we would like to ask you, professor” he continued, “if you would accept to be the new Chief Warlock for the Wizengamot.”

“It will be my pleasure” Dumbledore accepted and the crowd applauded in return.

“We have one more medal to give away: Ofelia Rizzo. Please, climb up to the stage.”

She couldn’t believe her ears. It wasn’t possible. She? Receiving an Order of Merlin: First Class? It was too unreal.

“They said your name, come on” her father whispered in her ear, pushing her so that she would step forward and receive her medal.

“Miss Rizzo receives the highest rank in the Order of Merlin for being the first one ever to defeat Grindelwald in battle” he explained as they put the medal in her neck. “She is the youngest wizard or witch to receive this award ever in the history of magic. And for that, we invite her to join the Wizengamot as well, as the British Youth Representative.”

Ofelia could not believe it. Finally, she was recognized for what she could do. This moment was an open door to all her future plans, for everything she had dreamed of. Being the representative of the youth in the Wizengamot was a big deal for someone her age. Of course, it wasn’t like she actually was a part of parliament or that she could present new ideas to the circle of honourable wizards. But she could vote, which meant everything to her. And the gold medal hanging from her neck by the green ribbon made her heart be filled with pride. First Class, the highest rank in the British community.

“Congratulations, Bella” Theseus hugged her as she went down the stage, making her heart grow larger. “I know you’ll go far.”

“Figlia mia” her father held her tight.

“Does this mean that you won’t be going back to Hogwarts with me?” Filipe asked with an angel face.

“Don’t sound so excited about it” she frowned. “Of course, I’ll be back. I have to be. What have you been doing at Hogwarts that you are so interested in my absence?”

“Nothing...”

“Bella!”

Her friends appeared all of a sudden to congratulate her. All her mates that had fought besides her.

“We are so proud of you” Monty smiled. “Let us see the medal.”

Ofelia showed it to them with such eager that the boys knew immediately her ego was twice as big now. But it didn’t matter, they loved her just the same.

“Oh, lads, this is my father” Bella introduced them: “Braulio Rizzo.”

“A pleasure.”

“Papà, these are Charles Nale, Ames Longbottom and Fleamont Potter.”

“Mister Potter, I heard a lot about you” her father offered him his hand.

“Me too, sir” Monty said, quite pleased. “Bella, always talks about you.”

“Does she? I don’t believe you...”

“Miss Rizzo” Professor Dumbledore appeared with his brother by his side. “Congratulations to the brightest witch of the year. We’ll be working close.”

“I suppose so, professor” she agreed.

“Should I be scared that by the age of 16 you have achieved what my brother achieved at the age of 37?” Forth questioned crossing his arms over his chest.

“Yes, you should.”

“Professor Dumbledore is 37?” Longbottom thought out loud. “I mean... Shall we go, lads?”

The boys left them, knowing that Ames had screwed up.

“Congratulations on being the new Chief Warlock, professor” Filipe said to the head of his house. “It’s truly an honour for the Gryffindor house.”

“Shut it, bootlicker!” Ofelia hit the back of the head of her younger brother. “Why are Gryffindors so enthusiastic about their house, huh?”

“I don’t know” her older brother responded. “I don’t think that we would be so honoured if Slughorn became Chief Warlock.”

“Exactly.”

“Signore Rizzo, I don’t think that we’ve been properly introduced. I am Albus Dumbledore and this is my brother, Aberforth.”

“Oh.” Her father took a glance at her daughter and then shook the man’s hand. “Yes, Bella mentioned she stayed at your house the other day... because it was getting late.”

“Oh, yes, yes” Dumbledore lied almost professionally. “We thought it might've been better if she returned home with the sun up.”

“Of course,” her father agreed. “Bella says that you are alone for the holidays-”

“Papà-”

“-Perhaps you would like to come for supper this Christmas’ Eve.”

“I’m sure they already have plans, papà” Braulio supported his sister’s interruption.

“No, actually we don’t” Albus denied. “Right, Aberforth?”

“No, we don’t” he agreed with a forced smile.

“It’s arranged then” her father concluded. “We’ll be expecting you.”

He saluted them once more and then turned around to leave. As his children imitated him, Ofelia saw Forth once last time with an apologetic look, to which he smiled knowingly.

December 24th, Christmas Eve

“This is awful, papà. How could you?” Ofelia questioned him, as she persecuted him around the kitchen, while he finished arranging the supper.

“Are you going to stop whining and help me?”

“It isn’t too late to cancel” she pointed out. “I could send them an owl saying that all of us have the dragon pox.”

“Belladonna, now you are being ridiculous.”

“Nope!” she denied. “This night will be a disaster.”

“Aren’t you going to help me?”

“No! I’m on strike!”

“Strike?”

“Yes, sciopero!” she announced. “Deal with it!” she exclaimed and left the room.

“I think I’ve never seen you so nervous in my entire life” Filipe established going down the stairs. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Why, you haven’t had a particular long life, have you?”

“Orright, don’t use your claws on me” he backed down. “I’m not the one who invited them.”

Suddenly, someone called on the door, making Ofelia jump on her feet.

“It’s them” she whined. “Braulio, open, please.”

“No, you open” he said from his armchair, as he read a book.

“I can’t open” she marked like it was obvious.

“I don’t care.”

“Braulio, open the bloody door!”

“No!” He stood up. “You open your bloody door for your bloody guests!”

“Why are you mad at me?!”

“Because Tom was supposed to come for Christmas and now, he isn’t!”

“And how is that my fault?!”

“He said he didn’t want to share a table with the Dumbledores, your bloody guests!” he yelled.

“It isn’t my problem if Riddle doesn’t like my acquaintances, Braulio...”

“Whatever.” He sat back down.

“Open the bloody door!”

“Fine” he walked right into the door and opened it, as if it was stuck. “Good evening.”

“Good evening, Mister Rizzo” his former professor saluted him with a kind smile ignoring the discussion that they had clearly heard, as the door it was just made of wood. “How is the med-school treating you?”

“Very well, sir.”

“That’s nice to hear.”

Both brothers scanned the room searching Ofelia, as they had heard her yelling from the outside. But they were surprised to find that she wasn’t there, as well as her own brother who would have sworn her sister was standing behind him just a moment ago. The girl had run up the stairs to check out her looks. The nice satin shirt that Walburga had given her for her birthday had come out of her trousers while fighting with Braulio. She arranged the fine cloth and tried to smooth it standing in front of the mirror. She approved her reflection and decided to join her guests downstairs.

“Oh, I didn’t hear you when you arrived” she faked a surprise tone.

“Right” Aberforth chuckled, making here blush.

“Why is your face red?” Filipe asked interrupting the moment.

“My face is not red” she argued walking past him.

“Just a little” Forth offered following her. “But it suits you.”

Ofelia couldn’t help by smiling, but she concealed it when her father appeared to greet his Christmas guests. She wasn’t sure what he intended with all of this nonsense, but she knew that it was a test of some sort. Was it to test her or was it to test Aberforth, that it was unimportant.

The evening passed in the midst of anecdotes and jokes from the Dumbledores and her father. It seemed that the Gryffindors were trying to win Braulio like it was some contest that -mind you- Forth was winning. He was charming her papà with all his stories about his travels around the world. Apparently, he had visited almost every remote corner of the planet, magical and non-magical places. This captured her father instantly, since he had been a little bit of a traveller in his youth. Of course, he hadn’t toured as much as the other one did, but he was delighted reminiscing the old days before he was a married man. And Ofelia was swooned as well, listening attentively to all the adventures he narrated. It was as if she could see a little bit more of his mind now. Even Filipe was enchanted by the magical world of the Dumbledore brothers.

The only one that seemed to be annoyed by the chatter was Braulio II. Whether it was because he missed his friend or because he tried to stay loyal to him –as everyone always seemed to be so impressed by Riddle and now no one even remembered him –, Ofelia couldn’t give a damn.

“You must feel very proud, Mr Dumbledore” her father pointed out. “Chief Warlock.”

“Oh, yes indeed!” he admitted cheerfully. “Although my brother disagrees.”

“Why do you disagree, Mr Dumbledore?” Filipe asked.

“Please, it’s Aberforth” he corrected the kid. “And it isn’t like I disagree with you. I just don’t care about the Wizengamot.”

“Why?” her father questioned, feeling a new anecdote behind his comment.

“My brother had an incident once with them” Albus confessed.

“How come?” Ofelia gasped.

“It was hardly an incident” Aberforth explained. “I was a young and wild, and wanted to mess with my parents. So, I did something –apparently illegal– involving a goat.”

Everyone burst out laughing, even her older brother couldn’t help it.

“What did you to that silly goat?” she giggled.

“Oh, no, that must remain a mystery” he explained and they booed. "Anyways, that is why I find the Wizengamot to be a little... dumb.”

“How dare you?” Ofelia roared. “We’ll be taking care of the acolyte trials next year. How can that possibly be dumb?”

“Ah, I forgot that you are such a nerd like my brother.”

“I am not a nerd!”

“Does anyone want coffee?” her father asked as they had already finished eating. “No? Then, why don’t we move to the living room?”

Everyone followed Braulio, while she stood up to grab all the dishes and take them to the kitchen. She was used to it. However, when she was about to start washing them, the dishes started to clean themselves by magic.

“That’s better” Aberforth smiled while he returned his wand to his pocket.

“Tell me” Ofelia insisted, “what did you do to that goat?”

“No, I’m never telling you” he opposed. “It’ll take out all the mystery in me.”

“Yeah, because you have such a mysterious soul.”

“You have no idea.” He moved closer to her and grabbed her by the waist. “Are you having a good time?”

“Yes, I am” she nodded. “Are you having a good time?”

“Yes, I really like your father.”

“You are supposed to like me, not my father.”

“I already like you. So, what is the difference?” he gave her a little peck in the lips that melted her heart. “However, I think your brother doesn’t like me that much.”

“Braulio? Nah, he’s just mad that Riddle didn’t come.”

“Who is Riddle?”

“Oh, no one” she sighed. “Just my brother’s best friend. They are living together in Diagon Alley, but he didn’t want to come.”

“Why?”

“Don’t know, don’t care.”

Aberforth stared right into her eyes and then grinned.

“You used to date this lad.”

“No, what? No!” He kept that smile and she had to break the acting. “Date is a very strong word. We just fooled around... last year.”

“And he felt intimidated to come here tonight.”

“Intimidated? By who?” she laughed. “I doubt he even knows I’m into you. No, he just didn’t want to see your brother. They don’t get along.”

“Ha! For the first time in my life, my brother is useful” he chuckled bitterly. “Check that out!”

“You wouldn’t like him anyways. He’s a douchebag.”

“Then, we are better off without him.”

The evening passed in the midst of anecdotes and jokes from the Dumbledores and her father. By the end of it, it was clear that Aberforth had win his father-in-law. Maybe all his family-in-law too. And when everyone went to bed, nobody thought about Tom Riddle and how he had spent his Christmas’ Eve by himself in a cheap, lonely apartment. Not even his best friend, whose mind was invaded by his little sister smiling and flirting with the older man, boldly in front of their papà. And his ears were corrupted by the cryptic sound of his sister sneaking out of bed and using the Floo Network. Probably to pay her charming boyfriend a visit.