The Doe

The Ministry

My brown boots tapped against the floor as I waited outside the door to Dumbledore's office. The dark mahogany of the grand entrance reminded me of the formality to this meeting, my palms sweating slightly as I tucked my hair behind my ears and took a deep breath. As I knocked on the door, it swung open and Professor Dumbledore stood before me in snowy robes, silver thread weaving through the edges.

"Miss Chase, come in," he smiled, stepping to the right to allow my entrance.

My heart froze as my eyes caught the Minister of Magic stood next to the professor's desk, his gaze following my movements.

"Madison, this is Harold Minchum, the Minister of Magic."

He held out his hand, which I took softly, shaking it.

"Albus has told me all about you, Miss Chase. Muggle-born, yes?" his smooth voice asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," I replied, the confidence in my voice contrasting to the knot in my stomach.

He hummed in acknowledgement, before turning to Dumbledore.

"Her parents?" he questioned, raising a cup of tea off the desk to his lips, before taking a grateful slurp.

"Both unfortunately have passed."

"And her living arrangements?"

"With the Potters."

"Interesting. Do you really think this girl is the only descendant? We have been searching for years, Albus. Forgive me if I am slightly dubious of this young witch."

I watched in growing anger as they spoke about me as if I wasn't right in front of them. My eyes flickered between them as they discussed details about my life, private details, that should only slip from my lips.

"She's a girl, Dumbledore. A 17 year old girl," the Minister huffed, shaking his head.

"And Tom Riddle was once a 17 year old boy," retaliated the professor.

"That is a very different example, do not compare the two."

"They are not so dis-similar, Harold," Dumbledore insisted.

"She is a child, Albus!"

"And these children will be the ones who suffer should Tom gain more power."

"I can not put the fate of our world on a simple little-"

'Do not finish that sentence,' I thought, my fists clenched as I stared into the back of his head.

He stopped, abruptly, his body pausing almost like he was frozen. The Minister slowly turned to face me.

"What did you say?" he asked, his voice low and his eyes wide.

"Nothing," I replied, frowning.

"You told me not to finish my sentence."

I opened my mouth to argue, before something in my head clicked.

'I wonder,' I thought, smiling, slightly.

I looked at him again, focusing on his dark eyes.

'I don't need to prove myself to you. I don't need to be the descendant of Merlin. I just need to know if it's true.'

His mouth hung open, his right hand going to his chest.

"Oh my lord..." he breathed, taking my hand and staring at me, "Albus, accompany her to the Ministry immediately."

The Ministry was cold and dark, the hallways nothing like Hogwarts. Millions of eyes stared at me as I passed, contrasting to the people in the centre of London who push past you as they go on with their many daily errands. The light became dim as we entered a far away corridor, the Minister's assistant leading Dumbledore and I forward. The dark green door to the office swung open upon the assistant's hand movements, revealing an unsettlingly tidy room. The furniture looked like it had never been relaxed into, the books as if they had never been enjoyed, the ornaments on the shelf almost like they had never been cherished. In the centre, behind the burgundy desk, two men were quietly discussing something of great importance. Their heads swivelled to the doorway as we entered, and a smile grew on Mr Minchum's face.

"Ah! Albus, Miss Chase, this is Professor Everleigh. I believe he has some news for you," he informed us, reaching into his desk as the man beside him walked forward.

He had short black hair and a perfectly styled black moustache. His black spectacles reminded me of James', making my lips turn up into a smile.

"Miss Chase, your blood sample has allowed us to identify you as the descendant of Caldwell Merlin. You are the last living descendant of the family of Merlin."

My breathing stopped as my eyes widened. He continued to speak, but only half of the words entered my ears.

"Mr Merlin, as you know, was born a squib. He left to the muggle world and that is where our information on him ends. This is possible due to the fact that-"

"I know," I told him, cutting off his words.

He looked at me.

"A muggleborn exists due to a squib that then started a family with a muggle. The magical gene isn't active in them, but they pass down the gene until eventually it is active again, creating a muggleborn," I explained.

He smiled at me, nodding his head.

"Exactly."

The Minister made his way over to us, a small golden box adorned with rubies and emeralds in his hands.

"This is the last family heirloom of Merlin. Under these circumstances, it now belongs to you."

He opened the box slowly, the red velvet inside contrasting with the golden ring in the centre. The golden band split into multiple strands, almost like vines, as they wrapped around a ruby that lay on the ring. I took it out of the box, slipping it on my middle finger. The ruby seemed to glow for a second, the golden vines moving slightly until they settled again.

"That was the confirmation. That was the ring confirming your blood," smiled the Minister.

"I'm a Merlin," I breathed, moving my finger so the ring glinted in the light.

The Great Hall doors opened before me as Dumbledore and I entered. The chatter that echoed through the room suddenly stopped as hundreds of eyes settled on me.

"Bambi!" called James, Remus waving me over to the Gryffindor table.

Making my way through the hall, I settled next to James who put his arm around me.

"Sorry, Mads, you know what it's like... the word gets round," Sirius grimaced.

"It's ok," I started, smiling, "it's just one of those things-"

"Oh my god," Remus whispered.

I turned to face him and saw his eye-line was to my hand.

"That's the ring of Merlin, it's the only remaining heirloom," he explained.

"So you really are?" James asked, staring at me with wide eyes and an open mouth.

"Seems like it," I laughed, lightly in disbelief still.

Before I could disapprove, Sirius and James pulled themselves onto the benches we were sat on, standing at their full 6 foot height.

"My friend is the descendant of Merlin!" Sirius yelled, smiling from ear to ear.

"My girlfriend belongs to the most powerful wizarding family ever!" James shouted, also smiling maniacally.

I put my head on the table in embarrassment as they both began to dance stupidly, the students in the hall beginning to laugh and clap in time with their dance moves. As soon as they sat down, a crowd began to form around me. I sent daggers to Sirius and James as they smiled at me innocently.