Return from holiday
Holly and the Granger family were on a holiday in Ireland for two weeks. There, they met with Iris M. Sallow and her husband Sebastian. One day, the girls sat outside and the Sallows were explaining how ancient magic works.
"So, you probably wonder, what ancient magic is and why only a few people, like me, can see it. This form of magic is actually just pure energy. To cast it and use it, you have to just use your emotions and will and it will do, what I can do. It works with the conventional spells as well as you know, but those can still be cast by intent alone. This magic really needs emotion to work. In fact Holly. Your mother used ancient magic on you to protect you from Tom Riddle and it spread to the Dursleys house through Petunia. But, I managed to remove it and cast it on the Granger house. That unfortunately meant, that Dursleys were exposed to him and he killed them immediately. But from what Albus told me, it was good riddance."
The girls nodded. Holly asked: "How can you move enchantments around?" Iris explained: "Because like I said. It's energy. It's actually physical matter, that can be moved around. I actually created that spell by modifying the spell to remove emotions, which Isidora Morganach taught me as you know from my diary." Sebastian added: "The first successful use of that spell was on my sister Anne. To remove Rookwood's curse." Iris continued: "Thanks dear. Now back to ancient magic. As it's based completely on emotions, Tom is not able to use it and never will be. That's why he didn't expect it when attacking the Potters and why he is afraid of me and Albus. He knows, we are above him. In fact, he is not even the most powerful opponent I came across. That title goes to Gellert Grindelwald. Yes, Albus fought and defeated him, but later on he returned and I was the one to finish him off, when I was storming Nazi labs in Lithuania during World War 2. I was tasked to assassinate him by Stalin himself. That was not in my diary, because I only gave Amit the one about my time at Hogwarts."
Amaryllis said: "You could publish another one about your World War 2 experience as well. It would sell extremely well. People love your book. It was translated into many languages." Iris said: "That might be a job for my kids and grandkids. They are already compiling everything in Russia and yesterday I got letter from my daughter Nastya, that they are almost done. Now why can only a few people see ancient magic? And why are our abilities delayed? As you know, we start using magic at around 15 years old instead of 11. It seems to be some kind of rare genetic mutation, that makes the magic gene develop stronger connections with our emotions. The thing, the ancient magic comes from. That allows us to see it and causes the delay and the connection makes us innately more akin to use it. Regular spells are easier too with this ability."
They talked some more about the ability and world war 2. The ancient magic looks like a liquid, because it's fluid just like emotions, that create this form of magic. It's so powerful, because the caster just has to want it to do anything and it will do it. Be it permanently change something. Control weather, remove emotions or curses, build anything out of any material in existence, heal, disentegrate and other things. Both Iris and Sebastian served in the Red Army in WW2. They fought in Leningrad before becoming separated for a while with Iris being sent to assassinate Grindelwald and bunch of top Nazi scientists and Sebastian being sent to fight against the nationalist Finns. Their kids fought in Stalingrad alongside legends like Vasiliy Zaitsev and Tanya Chernova.
After they returned home from Ireland, Holly received a letter from Draco inviting her to a date. There was also a message from Dumbledore for Holly to meet him in the train station and a letter from Rhonda, that she's going to stay for a week.
Holly put on her black jeans, Slytherin T shirt and leather jacket and went to meet Dumbledore. When they met, Holly immediately noticed, that something was different. He looked more frail than before and his left hand was dead. Looked like it was decomposing. Holly looked at it and Dumbledore said: "Unpleasant sight am I right? There's an interesting story behind this. Now we have a place to go to. Take my hand." He put his right hand forward. Holly hesitated. "Do, what I'm saying." Holly grabbed it and they were immediately teleported into a random village.
Holly said: "I was apparated right?" Dumbledore said: "Yes. And I must say successfully. Most people vomit the first time." Holly raised her eyebrow. "I don't understand why. Where are we?" Dumbledore said: "We are in an enchanting village named Babbling Brook. Plenty of interesting people live here. One of which I want to introduce to you."
They went to one of the houses. Inside it was completely ruined and messed up. Everything was broken. Dumbledore and Holly lit up their wands and went forward. Dumbledore was asking for someone: "Horace? Horace." They got into the living room. From the ceiling was dropping some strange red liquid. Dumbledore immediately recognised it as dragon blood. He noticed striped sofa in the room and he poked it with his wand. A head popped out: "Merlin's beard! You don't have to harm me Albus." The sofa turned into a man in striped pyjamas. Dumbledore said: "I have to say, that you can play sofa convincingly Horace. Holly, I'd like to introduce you to an old friend and colleague. Horace Slughorn. Horace, well you know, who this is." Slughorn said: "Holly Potter. Very nice to meet the star of my house." Holly asked: "You are from Slytherin?" Slughorn nodded: "Yes. Was Slytherin house head for years before Severus took over. And the potions teacher. I have heard, that you can read people very well. Just like me." Holly felt warm for meeting another Slytherin, who seemed very nice.
Slughorn turned back to Dumbledore: "Deatheaters have been pestering and threatening me for months Albus. This destruction is their doing. I can't repel them forever. Muggles from this house are on Canary Islands." Dumbledore said: "Well, we should get things in order here what say?" And he flicked his wand. The entire room was repaired in a matter of seconds. Now, it was nice living room. In the corner was a collection of magical photos.
Holly looked onto it and there was also her mom Lilly. Slughorn explained: "These are some of my best students. I see, that your face is just like your mother's, you just have black hair. Interesting as your father had brown." Holly said: "I'm simply mommy's girl, I guess. But I'm not a sweetheart." Slughorn said: "Of course Holly. I have heard about your sharp tongue. But also of your heroism and kindness. But also of your cleverness, which your mother also had. She was incredibly talented. And amazing at school as a muggleborn. I'm not prejudiced not at all, but muggleborns are at a disadvantage." Holly said: "I understand. Two of my best friends are muggleborns. And my experience is very much like them."
They were looking at the photos and Slughorn explained more: "Regulus Black and his older brother Sirius. Your godfather right?" Holly nodded. "Both very talented boys. Regulus unfortunately became a deatheater and no one has heard of him since. I was house head for all the Blacks except Sirius. A pity." There was also director of the Daily Prophet, the captain of Holyhead Harpies - an all-women quidditch team. Holly said: "So, you see potential in people and help them achieve glory. How could you stop teaching? I already see, that you would be amazing."
Dumbledore returned just as Holly said that. "She's right Horace. Holly can see potential in people just like you. You two are very similar to each other." Slughorn said: "Very well Albus. I know, why you came here and I was about to refuse, but you two have convinced me. But I want the cabinet of professor Meritolthe and not that laundry room, I had last time. And I want a raise in payment. These are mad times. Mad." Holly said to herself: "Fucking right they are." They shook hands and then Dumbledore left with Holly.
