Chapter Text
‘Alienor? You mean Mary, our scullery maid?’
‘Precisely, would you be so kind to call her in for I have urgent matter to discuss with her.’
Lady Clifford was considering the newcomer with a suspicious look. She had spied on him as the butler had led him to the living room. She was well aware of the unladylikeness of such behavior, but her experience had proven many times how precious information of people behavior while they thought they were alone was. Thus, she had nurtured this habit of discreetly watching her guests, unbeknowst to them, before greeting them. And this one seemed to be of a peculiar kind.
First of all, she hadn’t expected any company on this calm afternoon of May and she had never met this man before. He was well dressed, one could say, too eccentric for her taste but maybe he was from London. It had already been two weeks since she had left the city, surely the fashion couldn’t have changed so rapidly? She would need to make a quick trip there to make sure her wardrobe was ready for summer.
Secondly, he was a professor, in his own words. Why on earth would a professor have anything to do with the stupidest servant she had ever met? Not that she cared about the clumsy girl, but this visit was most intriguing.
Well, since she had nothing better to do this afternoon, why not oblige the strange man and see how events would unfold? She gestured towards her butler who had been standing near the entrance during this quick exchange who left promptly to fetch the young maid.
As soon as he left, Lady Clifford led her guest towards one of the comfortable sofa and rang for tea. While sipping it, she observed her guest. Usually, this would be the moment where the unwanted visitor would start to attempt small talk in order to break the embarrassing silence. But this one seemed completely undisturbed by it, if not oblivious to it. She was about to ask at what school was he teaching when the butler knocked on the door.
Alienor was perplexed. She had been cautious enough to not cause any trouble today and didn’t know why her Lady had summoned her. She couldn’t know about the book she had borrowed from the huge library. For once Lady Clifford didn’t read, and also because she had been borrowing books for the last decade and no one had ever noticed anything. She was clumsy, she couldn’t help it, but she was discreet. Very discreet. Sometimes it even seemed as she was invisible. But soon enough she would break or spill something, reminding everyone of her unwanted presence here.
The man stood as soon as she entered the room while Lady Clifford remained seated, looking rather displeased by the man’s politeness.
‘There you are, Mary,’ she said eventually with a frown. ‘It appeared that our guest here has an important matter to discuss with you.’
‘Indeed, I have,’ approved the strange man, ‘and I’d rather do it privately,’ he added while turning his gaze towards his host.
‘And I would rather not,’ Lady Clifford smiled. She had found her entertainment for the afternoon. ‘My servant’s business is my business as well as it may impact the reputation of this house.’ She gestured towards the butler who obeyed immediately and left.
‘Very well, then,’ the man replied with a calm that surprised Lady Clifford. He turned his attention towards the girl and his behaviour changed drastically. He smiled warmly at her.
‘Alienor, my name is Eleazar Fig and I am a professor at a school in which you’ve been recently accepted. We are well aware of the lateness of your enrollment and this is why I have come to offer you my assistance to get you up to speed before term begins this next september.’
It took Alienor a few seconds to process what she had just heard. It was the first time that someone other than her mother had adressed her by her real name. Then, why had she been enrolled in a school? She didn’t ask for it, moreover she didn’t have any money. Before she could reply anything, Lady Clifford intervened.
‘A school?’ She scoffed. ‘Did you take a good look at this girl? She is the most incapable maid I have ever met. If her mother hadn’t been under my service, no house would have wanted her.’
‘Then you won’t miss her help, will you?’ Fig asked casually.
Lady Clifford opened her mouth to reply but she didn’t manage to utter a word. It was the second time he had taken her by surprise. Who did he think he was?
‘Excuse me Sir,’ Alienor said while her mistress was looking for her words. ‘But are you sure you have got the correct person? I don’t remember signing up for any school. Besides… I am a girl. Girls don’t go to school.’
‘Alienor Lecomte, fille de Marianne et Renaud Lecomte, née à Orléans en 1882 et arrivée en Angleterre en 1888.’
‘Vous parlez français?’ Alienor exclaimed.
‘Only a few words,’ Fig smiled. ‘But now you have the confirmation I am not mistaken.’
‘Whether you are correct or not, it doesn’t matter. What kind of school is it where girls can go?’ Lady Clifford asked irritated.
‘A school for gifted young individuals,’ Fig explained.
‘Mary gifted?’ The woman laughed. ‘I suggest you spend the day with her and I promise you that by the end of it you will have changed your mind!’
‘That is a brilliant idea!’ Fig replied while turning towards the Lady with a polite smile. ‘Under the condition that Alienor agrees to it, of course.’
‘Wait… I.’ Was she stuttering now? What was up with this man? She felt like she had been trapped but no one had forced her to make this offer.
Fig turned his gaze towards Alienor again who was still unsure about what was happening. Eventually, her curiosity got the best of her. She was most intrigued by this man and this school.
‘If Madam has no objections, I agree.’
The Lady glanced at Fig before turning her sharp look towards Alienor.
‘One afternoon, no more. And be on time to serve dinner.’
‘Unless she proves to be the gifted young woman I suspect she is,’ Fig reminded ever so calmly.
Too irritated to reply, Lady Clifford stood up and left the room promptly. Never had she been treated so rudely in her life. As she closed the door, a small smile drew on her face. The man didn’t know what he was in for.
‘Why don’t you come sit down Miss Lecomte?’ Fig said kindly while gesturing towards the empty chairs.
Alienor approched cautiously and chose the chair facing directly the man. She couldn’t make up her mind about him. He looked old but his eyes betrayed a keen and lively mind. And, for the the first time in her life, she wasn’t being looked at with disdain, mockery or disgust, but with kindness and genuine curiosity. She watched him draw a finely crafted piece of wood which he briefly waved while muttering something before putting it on the table between them. A letter appeared out of thin air directly next to the wood, startling her. That… that wasn’t possible. How did this happen?
‘Oh I apologize for that,’ Fig said sounding sincerely sorry. ‘You still don’t know.’
‘What do I not know that could explain the sudden appearance of this letter?’ Alienor blurted.
‘Why don’t you read it?’ Fig suggested while gently pushing it towards her. ‘After all it is adressed to you.’
Alienor looked at him warily before picking up the letter. Indeed, her name was written on the enveloppe, but she didn’t recognise the seal. She broke it and started to read.
Eleazar Fig had been one of the most surprised when his colleagues and him had learnt about the girl’s registration. She was already fifteen years old, which meant there would a new fifth year student. Most unusual, he had observed, but not impossible. He was curious, to say the least, and had been quite content to be appointed to look after the new student. The said student who had just finished reading the letter and was looking at him, puzzled. Understandably so.
‘I realize it is a lot to take in,’ he said . ‘But you are a witch and as such, it is only natural that you receive the education to learn how to wield your power.’
Alienor frowned a bit and, eventually, a small smile drew on her lips.
‘As much as I am surprised, I must admit it explains a lot.’
‘Have you witnessed manifestation of your magic?’
‘It was rather chaotic, to say the least,’ Alienor replied. ‘Although I am quite sure that I managed to become… not invisible, but clearly less noticeable at times.’
‘Would you care elaborating on this?’
‘My mother died at the beginning of this year,’ the girl said as her smile was fading away. ‘It was supposed to be a cold but when the doctor arrived, it was already too late.’
‘My condolences,’ Fig said with a soft voice. ‘If you don’t want to tell me more, I’d understand.’
‘No it is all right,’ Alienor said quickly while holding back her tears. She took a deep breath and asserted her tone. ‘When she passed away, I was suddently expected to take over her duties. No one asked me my opinion but the day after her funeral, I was given her work clothes and was asked to help for dinner service. But I didn’t want to! I…’ Sadness had given away to anger. ‘I admired my mother for a lot of reason, but being a maid was her choice and her life. Not mine.’ She took a second breath, trying to clear her mind. ‘But anyway, the point is that I guess I started to... disappear. People were looking for me as I was right in front of them.’
‘It seemed that you didn’t want to be seen,’ Eleazar offered as an explanation.
‘I wanted to be left alone,’ Alienor admitted. ‘If magic exists as you said, maybe I accidently casted some spell to conceal my presence. If that makes sense.’
‘It makes perfectly sense, miss Lecomte,’ Fig said. ‘However, if I may ask, you said the word « accidentaly ». That is very interesting. Why do you think it was accidental?’
‘Well I never actually casted a spell,’ Alienor explained. ‘If it happened, I can assure you it wasn’t deliberate.’
‘But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t intentional, which is one of the fundamentals of magic. For it to be effective, it needs to be meant. It appears that you wished to be left alone so much that your magic helped you in this intention.’
Alienor had rarely listened someone with such attention. When she was young, her mother used to tell her about stories from a french poet known as Chrétien de Troyes. She loved those stories as they often featured magical characters such as Morgane or Merlin. It was a world in which her mind escaped from her sad reality. And now it appeareed that magic truly existed and, better than that, whe was a witch too!
‘I wonder,’ Fid said suddently. ‘Did you ever had episodes such as the one you described before your mother’s death?’
‘Not that I recall.’
‘Hmm. It may seem a bit far fetched,’ he eventually said. ‘Usually students are admitted in Hogwarts when they are eleven years old. It is very rare to have students beginning their studies later. Therefore, I wonder if this tragic event triggered your magic, which would explain why you were not detected earlier.’
He pondered his hypothesis a few instant and eventually shook lightly his head to chase them.
‘Well it doesn’t really matter, does it? What matters is that we found you and that we have three months to get you ready for you first, well fifth year at Hogwarts!’
‘Only three months to catch up four years?!’ Alienor pointed out.
‘I admit it is intimidating, but I have a strong feeling you have the potential for such an ambition.’
‘How so?’
‘The Disillusionment Charm isn’t taught to students before their fifth year,’ Fig smiled. ‘It is tedious to learn but it appears that you managed to use it on your own in an exemplary manner. It is not meant to make oneself completely invisible although one can approach it if they master this charm enough. And if you stood if front of those looking for you without them seeing you, well, it tells me everything I need to know about the quality of your magic and your ability to learn.’
Alienor remained quiet but felt she was turning red under the praise. She wasn’t used to it. She turned her attention back on the letter. After all why not? However…
‘But I suspect that magical studies requires special equipment doesn’t it?’
‘It does but we have special scholarship for students who are in special situation such as yourself.’ Fig stood up and stretched a bit. He didn’t like to remain seated too long. ‘According to the Ministry, the magical government, it costs less to have educated wizards and witches than uneducated ones. As for me, I believe education should be a right.’
He approached one of the walls on which was hanging multiple portraits. How sad was it that all those painted figures would have to remain frozen in one position they hadn’t chosen for eternity… or at least until destruction. He turned his attention back to the girl who still had her gaze riveted on the letter. He hadn’t expected her to be so resilent. Then again, everything was easier to accept for children, especially those who didn’t have a life with much choice. He felt a pinch in his heart while recalling a dream that he and his wife had never been able to make true in time.
‘If you need time to…’
‘No I don’t!’ Alienor cut the professor off. ‘Although as much as I want to come, I am not sure if I can.’
‘Have you signed a contract of any sort to work here?’
‘No, I just do the job my mother did.’
‘Then leave it to me,’ Fig said with an appeasing tone. ‘I suggest you go gather your belongings and meet me in the hallway when you are ready to depart.’
Clutching the letter in her hand like her life depended on it, and in way, it did, she headed towards the small room that served as bedroom and immediately started to pack. She didn’t want to think it through, fearing that it would all be a dream and that reality would come back too fast.
But when she finally arrived in the hallway, the strange man was still here, smiling at her, completely oblivious to the murderous look that Lady Clifford was giving him. Following his lead, she proceeded towards the front door, sparing any sort of salutation for the woman she had hated all her life.