Order of the Sphinx... Why should HP get to have all the fun?

Chapter 2: The Truth

Chapter 2: The truth

To say I was shocked was a complete understatement. I stood there for a few minutes, trying to get my brain to function. This wasn't possible! It was some kind of sick, sick joke. Albus Dumbledore? Yeah right! I'm no idiot. I mean come on! I know J.K. Rowling had a ridiculous amount of money and power and was probably planning to take over the world with her minions, but geez, this wasn't funny. I could come to no other conclusion other than that I was being punked.

I snorted, twisting and turning my head. "All right" I said obnoxiously "you got me! The joke's over now. I know what you were trying to do." I began to laugh, uneasily. The noise sound strained even in my own ears. "That was a good one" I said, smiling, begging my hands to stop trembling. From the looks on their faces, I could tell they thought I was loosing it, hell, I didn't blame them.

"No honey," mum said, her voice more fearful than comforting. "This really is Albus Dumbledore." I felt the blood drain from my face. Albus took his cue to stand, "Hello Ileana" he said, his voice comforting, the clipped British accent floating ominously on the wind. He held out his hand. I took it and shook it wearily, "please, just Anna" I said my voice sounding foreign.

He chuckled. "Alright, Anna" he said, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously. In spite of myself, I couldn't help but return his small smile. He gestured for me to sit on the lounge, odd really, but I sat down anyway. I folded my hands in my lap, and mum quickly crossed the room and sat next to me, her arm winding around my waist.

It didn't actually comfort me like it usually would have. It seemed more of an effort to calm herself than me. I was a bit worried. What more could they possibly have in store for me now? Oh wait... let me guess. There was some prophecy which told the world that I was a vampire slayer, and it was my task to kill Dracula and protect myself from the evil coven of vampires who wanted to use me as a weapon of mass destruction, so they could take over the world.

"Ileana. I am sure you want to know why I am here" Dumbledore began, sitting laxly in the arm chair with his fingers pressed together in a tent shape. I nodded vigorously. His blue eyes twinkled, almost excited at the prospect of telling the tale. Reaching down for the delicate teacup which sat on the coffee table in front of him, he took a hearty sip then, seemingly finishing his cup of tea, placed it down gently in its spot.

Looking up at me, his face became serious, though one corner of his mouth was still turned up. "Many, many centuries ago, there was a clan of Romanian nobles who lived in the Carpathians. The townsfolk believed that the members of this clan were kind sorcerers who kept them safe from the evils of the supernatural world. They were right. The Varias clan were wizards and witches who were fortunate to be gifted in the art of Dragon Whispering. In the safety of the mountains they breed many of the world's species of dragons and helped to tame them for prospective owners."

Dumbledore paused then, waiting to see if it sunk in. It had, but my head was reeling with one thing he had said. The Varias clan were wizards and witches. My mother's maiden name was Varias. That had to be a coincidence....right? Dumbledore continued, seeing I was desperate to know more.

"Eventually though, the townsfolk turned on the Varias clan, driving them from the area and deep into the mountains. Setting up wards, they made their work secret, only available to the Wizarding Elite. Each 10 years, they took in an apprentice from the outside word. They would train them for 5 years, before sending them out into the rest of the world, their memories wiped of the location where they trained. Each apprentice who trained with them, were considered the best in the business and were quickly snapped up as dragon keepers as soon as they left the camp."

Dumbledore paused, looking over at my mother who was now very anxious. She had managed to twist her hands into a knot and was glancing at me in a panicked way. Obviously, this history lesson wasn't as safe as I had been thinking. It was obvious that Dumbledore was about to reveal something. Something big. Something that my mother didn't want me to know. Something that she had been keeping from me for 17 years.