The Years of Riddle

Chapter Forty-Two | Ottery St. Catchpole, January 1971

Chapter Forty-Two

Ottery St. Catchpole, January 1971

The little cottage was dim, still half decorated for Christmas, with small movements in the yellow kitchen. Silas swayed in the mellow darkness, holding his swaddled, sleepy daughter to his chest. Inesa was over at Molly and Arthur's, having a little break and catching up with her friend. On November 29th, just two months before, Molly had given birth to her son, Bill, and two weeks after that, little Estelle had made an early arrival.

Silas had never thought he could love anyone so much, or be so proud of a smile, or a giggle – but everything Estelle did made his heart swell with pride. Sure, he and Inesa were more exhausted than they'd ever been, but joy was their primary emotion.

A light snow was falling outside, and as Silas looked up, he spotted a shadowy figure approaching through the haze. As it came closer, he recognized Albus Dumbledore, lifting his hand in greeting.

Holding Estelle close, he opened the door for his old professor. "Albus."

"Good evening, Silas." Dumbledore smiled down at the sleeping child in Silas' arms. "I heard you'd had a daughter, I hope my gift found you well?"

"Yes, thank you very much for the mobile." The mobile, looking like real clouds, hung over Estelle's crib. "She seems to like it."

"Estelle is a lovely name," admiring the petty girl, Dumbledore smiled. "Stars are wondrous, aren't they?"

"We thought so too." Shifting uncomfortably, Silas looked expectantly at his guest. "Is there anything I can do for you, Albus?"

Dumbledore sighed and sat down at the kitchen table, seemingly unaware of the dirty coffee mugs from two days before, or the crumbs getting on his robes. His face was grim. "We're entering dark times, Silas. I'm sure you're aware, with your close work with the Minister."

"I'm familiar with our current situation, yes." Silas hadn't been in to work since early December, but he'd been receiving frequent updates and working a bit fro, home. He would be returning in a week's time, and it would be hard to leave Estelle and Inesa in the cozy, safe home they had created. "It's getting worse, too."

"My point exactly." Albus leaned forward, clasped his hands, as Silas knew he tended to when getting to the root of a conversation. He was getting crumbs on his velvet sleeves. "I'm creating an organization, Silas, one to oppose Lord Voldemort, the Death Eaters – to protect people. We will work with the ministry, and hopefully save lives. Save whole families."

"What does this have to do with me?" Silas was worried he already knew.

"I would like you to join me, to help me build this order." The kitchen was quiet for a few moments, and Dumbledore smiled knowingly. "You're going to say no, aren't you?"

Silas sighed. "Albus, I think it's a good idea, but – I'm a new father, Estelle is barely two months. I couldn't put myself in danger like that."

"You're already in danger Silas," Dumbledore said gravely. "Wouldn't your daughter be proud to have a war hero as a father?"

"I don't want to be a war hero," he spoke harshly, but Silas didn't care. "I just want to be her father." Estelle began to fuss, and he rocked her gently, tucking in her blanket. "I have to put her down to sleep again, I think its time for you to leave." He stood, and slowly Dumbledore did too.

Dumbledore moved for the door. "If you change your mind, don't hesitate to let me know. We would benefit with your help."

"Goodnight, Albus."

Silas put Estelle to bed in her cot by their bed, and waited for Inesa to come home. When she climbed into bed next to him, pressing a kiss to his scratchy cheek, he told her everything.

"A secret society?" Inesa asked into the darkness. "Sounds like something Dumbledore would do."

"I can't believe he asked me."

Inesa took his hand under the covers. "Maybe he was trying to appeal to your sense of justice? You've always fought for what's right, he knows that."

He thought of all the people that had died in the past year, nameless Muggles, the handful of Muggleborns since the first back in May. He thought of the families he had had to console, the funerals he had attended. "Would you kill me if I joined?" he whispered finally.

"I knew you would," she sighed. "It's why I love you, and I would join too if I wasn't freaking nursing."

"I have no doubt you would." Rolling over, he kissed her deeply. "I love you, Ness."

"Love you more." She smiled into his kiss, and drew away. He could just make out the tears gathering in her eyes. "Make the world safer for Estelle, if anything."

Silas took Estelle out of her crib and lay her on his chest, where she sighed and snuggled closer to him. For his daughter, he would fight.

The following morning, he sent Albus Dumbledore a letter with just four words.

I'll join for Estelle.

A/N: A little girl!

Question: thoughts on Silas joining the Order, basically help get it up and running, and little Estelle!

Rose