SILENT MIND - YEAR 1

2. Albus Dumbledore

Four days had passed and, in spite of my initial fear, no one chased after me or waited around some dark corner to attack unexpectedly. I kept my eyes open, but there were no more people in strange clothing anymore. Maybe they – whoever they were – feared me as much as I feared them which was a good thing. Or so I think. Of course, I did not told Charlie about the incident in "Leaky Cauldron". And why should I, anyway? He would never believe me. The second reason of why I kept my mouth shut was that I was scared beyond my senses of what happened.

As the more time passed, I slowly relaxed and eventually decided to forget that day's events like a bad dream. Today we went to see Buckingham's palace and that was where we spent the most of day. Now I was back in my room while Charlie stayed in sport bar across the street – his favourite football team had a game tonight which he did not wanted to miss. It was just fine for me.

Before leaving Phoenix, Phil gave me parting gift – absolutely new digital photo camera which I used during this trip. Rene's gift was photo album so I could start to document my new life with Charlie. I decided to spend this evening by overlooking the pictures I already made to pick up the best ones to print them out and place in the album.

Suddenly someone knocked at the door, causing me to nearly jump out of skin. It could not be Charlie – the game was still on. My insides froze, instantly recalling "Leaky Cauldron" and the man who tried to attack me. What if he found me somehow? What if he had been following me all these days, waiting for the perfect opportunity?

The polite, yet persisting knocks continued. I was in trap, with nowhere to run or hide. I could pretend that I was not here, but somehow I got this strange feeling that it would be hopeless. Whoever was there, he or she knew that I am here. Might as well go and face the music, but I was not about to simply let anyone to walk away without scars.

I took a lamp from nightstand and unplugged it, then slowly moved towards the door, quietly turned the key, unlocking the door. Holding the lamp in left hand, I carefully opened a small crack to peek at the person who stood on the other side.

It was an old man with impossibly long, silver beard and hair, his icy blue eyes kindly gazed down his crooked nose from behind half-moon spectacles. He wore strange robes and hat, indicating that he was undoubtedly one of the kind I met in "Leaky Cauldron".

"Good afternoon, Miss Swan," the man politely greeted, then he looked at the lamp I held up in shoulder level, ready to defend myself. "Please, do not fear, I assure you that it is not my intention to harm you. I merely wish to have a word with you."

"Who are you?" I tried to act braver than I felt, however my voice slightly trembled as I spoke.

"My name is Albus Dumbledore," the man answered, bowing his head ever so slightly. "And you must be Isabella Swan, I trust?"

"Yes, I am. Are you here because of the incident in "Leaky Cauldron"?" I asked, already knowing what the answer would be, yet I needed to hear the confirmation.

"I'm afraid so, Miss Swan."

I sighed, absently staring at the moonstone ring on my right hand's index finger. "I apologize for what I did. I swear, I had no idea – "

"Don't worry about that, no one got hurt. The man who attacked you – the Aurors arrested him right after you left. You were not the first one he tried to abuse. Many young women were complaining about him, but he always managed to slip away before Aurors arrived to the place."

I had no idea of what the Aurors are, but I felt a sudden surge of pride for being able to stop that freak from hurting anyone else in future. I hoped they would lock him up for a long time. Then something dawned on me. He knew my name, but I never told him that.