Purest Love [Harry Potter Fanfic AU]

Ch. 20 To protect your thoughts

Cornelius and Tulip arrived at Fudge Manor with Sebastian, Ominis, and the Aurors following behind him.

Tulip's cousin, Rufus, was in the living room, watching TV. He looked surprised to see everyone coming in through the chimney. He watched the group head towards Cornelius' office.

" Honey. Pepper. Please let my wife know that I will be in my office, and we have guests." Cornelius says.

" Uncle?" Rufus called out, watching the office's doors open. " Is everything alright?" He asked, looking worried when he saw Tulip clinging to him.

Cornelius ushered Sebastian, Ominis, and the Aurors into the office. He and Tulip looked at one another and then at Rufus.

" Something came up. We'll talk about it later." Cornelius says, escorting his daughter to his office.

The office's doors closed after Cornelius and Tulip entered. Cornelius lets go of his daughter and looks at her from head to toe.

" You are safe now, Tulip." He brushed some of his daughter's hair behind her ear.

Tulip nodded, looking relieved.

" Can you tell us why we need to learn how to protect our thoughts?" Sebastian asked, looking curious, while Ominis nodded.

Cornelius looks at his daughter, wanting permission to tell the two Wizards about what happened on Halloween in 1981.

Tulip turns to Sebastian and Ominis.

" Almost ten years ago, on October 31, 1981. My life changed drastically." She says, causing Sebastian to look at her while Ominis stays quiet to hear what she says.

" Your nephew came to my house and put my Father in a Coma. He also killed my Mum with an Unforgivable curse called the Killing Curse, better known as Avada Kedavra." She shivered.

Cornelius' hands lightly squeezed his daughter's shoulders, comforting her.

Mad-Eye Moody and Shacklebot's eyes dimmed whenever they heard what happened to their dear friend and colleague, James Potter. When learning of James' whereabouts after pledging to become Cornelius' bodyguards, they kept his location a secret.

" Not only that, that madman is why my twin brother and I separated. I don't even know where he's at." Tulip looks at Sebastian and Ominis.

" All I know is that I might see him when we attend Hogwarts this Fall." She smiled.

" Sebastian. Take me to Tulip." Ominis says.

Sebastian nodded, escorting Ominis to Tulip.

Tulip's eyes blinked, looking at Ominis.

" Forgive me for what transpired on that awful evening. Due to my nephew being a member of my family, as the Head of said family, I am at fault." Ominis apologized.

Tulip grabs Ominis' hand and squeezes it.

" Do not apologize to me. You are not at fault." She reassured. " It was your nephew that changed my life, not you." She says.

Ominis nodded.

" And we must teach you three how to protect your thoughts because people can take advantage of what you all know." Cornelius firmly says.

" Everyone believes Lord Voldemort is dead, but we in this room know he's not. And we must keep it that way." He looks at Mad-Eye Moody and Shacklebot.

" What do you guys plan to do?" Tulip asked.

" Since you, your brother, Sebastian, and Ominis will attend Hogwarts this Fall. I will meet with the Board of Education to have a group of the best Wizards and Witches check the school's Wards to ensure all students are protected." Cornelius responded.

" We all know Headmaster Dumbledore will not approve of this." Mad-Eye Moody looked at Cornelius.

" But parents will want those Wards to get checked so they know their children are safe." Shacklebot looks at Mad-Eye Moody.

" Headmaster Dumbledore would want to know why the Ministry of Magic suddenly wants to check Hogwarts Wards. The last time those Wards got checked was when a student died in June 1943 before school ended to go to the summer. At that time, the Headmaster was a Wizard named Armando Dippet." Mad-Eye Moody says.

" And guess what? The student that found the deceased student was no other than Tom Riddle. Don't you find it odd that a young future Dark Wizard was there when a student died mysteriously?" Shacklebot asked.

" The files back at the Ministry said that Tom Riddle told Headmaster Dippet it was Rubeus Hagrid. Stating that it was a magical beast that killed the student." Cornelius responded.

The three children looked at each other.

" Can you tell us what kind of creature killed this student?" Ominis asked.

Shacklebot and Mad-Eye Moody looked to Cornelius.

" The files stated it was an Acromantula," Cornelius responded.

" They are man-eating spiders." Tulip shivered, remembering learning about the Acromantula with Newt Scamander.

" Why would a student have that of all animals as a pet?" Sebastian asked.

" And where is Rubeus Hagrid now?" Ominis asked.

Cornelius' eyes dimmed, which Sebastian caught.

" He currently works at Hogwarts as a Groundskeeper." He says.

" I don't know why he works there. He has a fascination for mythical creatures. Wouldn't be surprised if he brings different kinds of animals to Hogwarts." Shacklebot shakes his head.

" What do you expect! Headmaster Dumbledore is a softie for Hagrid. It's why he hired and gave him the keys to the Bloody Castle." Mad-Eye Moody sneered.

" Isn't the Squib, what's his name, Argus Filch, that has the keys to Hogwarts?" Shacklebot raised an eyebrow.

" One of those two. Which I don't know why Headmaster Dumbledore decided to hire the bloke." Mad-Eye Moody shakes his head.

" We have children present, remember, Moody," Cornelius motioned to the three children in the room.

" And besides, the Board of Education and I have more political power than Headmaster Dumbledore when it comes to the safety and education of the future generation of the Wizarding World. So, he can't be questioning us about the wards." He reassured.

" Speaking of wards. I'll train the kiddos with their Occlumency." Mad-Eye Moody looked at the three children.

Tulip gulped, which Sebastian noticed, and Ominis heard.

" I'll also help the children master their Occlumency," Shacklebot reassured.

Tulip sighed in relief, which Sebastian noticed and Ominis heard.

Cornelius looked relieved that his two trusted Aurors would help the children protect their thoughts before they attended Hogwarts.

" They have two months to at least master Occlumency before they go to Hogwarts." He looks at the children.

" Great! I always wanted to learn Occlumency." Sebastian smiled while Ominis nodded.

Tulip smiled since she would have someone learning Magic that wasn't Draco during the summer before she attended Hogwarts.

" Yay! Summer school with Shacklebot and Maddy! So exciting." She looked at the two Aurors.

Shacklebot smiled while Mad-Eye Moody glared because of the nickname but didn't say anything due to Cornelius' presence.