𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲 , marlene mckinnon

𝐢𝐱. Work in progress

" the night we met "

   "Charlotte's a rare case... I'm sure most of you wondered from the beginning why she needn't have to be of age to join the Order, despite being only in her third year." Dumbledore treats Charlotte as his own daughter. As if Evelyn Adler was in her, a Hufflepuff with devoted dedication to oneself.

He didn't need to sugarcoat it, there were at times he worried that Charlotte would go down a path Tom did in his school years in Hogwarts. Everytime after this slip up, Charlotte always redeemed herself as someone who is good and pure, not evil and bad. She loved her mother despite not being spoken to since the first time she could remember.

Dumbledore points at a wall, preferably at the next room where other members of the Order were appointed to wait. "Those people, I've counted on them to trust Charlotte, despite her family heritage and what it gains in her life if everyone in the Wizarding world knows the truth."

"I'm sorry, Professor, I don't exactly understand why you're trying to say here." Remus politely intervenes, has his arms folded and stood behind a sofa where Lily, Marlene and Dorcas were sitting.

"There's really no point of beating around the bush in this particular discussion. I've had it twice and the first one didn't get along so well and I hope you try and understand from Charlotte's view." Dumbledore clears his throat though he wasn't normally one to be nervous of such a thing. The new members of the Order took notice and wondered how deeply did Charlotte Adler even mean to him.

"If it's about Charlotte, wouldn't it be easier for her to tell us whatever this is herself?" Sirius asks, carelessly slouching on a sofa's arm rest, one leg on top of the other.

"Yes, well, I've had her assigned on a rather personal case in Wimbourne." Dumbledore simply informs just as he leans back on the desk, facing youthful adults who wouldn't expect what's to come next. "Charlotte's father is Lord Voldemort." Visibly, Sirius began coughing like he'd been choked. "And her maternal grandfather is Gellert Grindelwald."

"G— Grindelwald?" Peter repeats, gaping horrifically like he'd received a news that would get him killed. "The Dark wizard, Grindelwald?"

"Indeed."

"Charlotte's father is the Dark lord?" Sirius managed to say, holding a hand on his chest dramatically though his eyes laced with visual concern. It would be rational to think how that is but honestly, Sirius couldn't see how Charlotte could be related to that monster. Especially by looks, he noted to himself.

"That's what I've said, yes."

"Why keep such a secret?" James asks, frowning.

"Apart from the obvious, Potter? People would want her dead." Marlene grumbles from his earshot.

"Yes, Miss Mckinnon, that's correct. I've feared most of all what the Minister would do to her if he ever finds out that the Dark lord bore a child. Especially one that can be used as leverage to end the war." Dumbledore would've had a different discussion with the Minister if he ever finds out. It'll be like fighting two wars at the same time.

"Let me get this straight ; Charlotte knows who her grandfather and father are?" Lily asks, appointing her hands as if it was so difficult to understand.

"Since she begun her first year in Hogwarts, yes."

"And no one apart from the Order and the Dark lord himself knows about this?" Dorcas asks, mind obliterated shattered to smaller pieces than it ever could be.