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Albus Dumbledore liked to think he was the king of secrets. He kept his close to his chest while collecting other people’s like Chocolate Frog Cards. He’d pepper in a tidbit in a conversation to twist the guilt, to fan the flames, to inspire bravery. Whatever a situation called for. A good king knew just how much to reveal he knew and just how to use it. The problem was, Albus Dumbledore had bought into his own press. This is the story of how not knowing one secret changed the fate of the Wizarding World.
* * * * * * * * * *
Cokesworth, 1954
Henry Evans was a man in love. He’d been dating Margaret Hughes for almost a year. He’d been saving up and had his eye on a ring to propose. The problem with his plan was that while he was head over heels in love with Margaret, she saw him as a passing fancy. They were sitting on a bench in a park in Cokesworth when she shattered his heart and his world to pieces.
“Pregnant?” he asked, his voice low and in shock. This wasn’t in his plans, but they could make it work.
Margaret nodded sharply.
“Okay, well, this is unexpected but we can adjust. After we get married Old Man Cole will give me more hours. I’ve passed a sign for a flat to let for the past month or two. I’m sure it will need some work, but it’s a place to start,” he babbled on planning out loud while not noticing Margaret stiffening beside him more and more with each word that came out of his mouth.
“Henry,” she tried interrupting his flow of words to no avail. She tried again, “HENRY!” That brought him to silence as he turned to look at her. “Henry,” she sighed, “I’m not sure we’re on the same page. I’m not even sure we’re reading from the same book. I don’t want to lead a small life here as the wife of a factory worker.”
Henry looked at her puzzled and concerned. “Then….what do you mean?”
She squared her shoulders before replying, “Mother has a friend who went to America after the war was over. She’s agreed to let me come stay with her while I’m,” she lowered her voice to a whisper like there were people behind every bush listening to them, “with child.”
Henry’s face paled, he had begun to see where this was going.
“She’s been unable to have children of her own as much as she’s tried. I’ll stay with them until after I deliver and heal. Then she and her husband will raise the child as their own. They are well off and can afford my care and raising the child with no problems,” She paused as Henry began to interrupt and disagree. “No, there will be no changing my mind. I do not want a child, you can not support a child, and I want a new life away from this depressing town that no one ever escapes. From here I’m heading straight to the airport, I’m only telling you now so you don’t pester my parents with questions and worry.”
“Margaret…please don’t do this,” Henry begged.
“It’s already done. Do your best to forget about me and live your life. You deserve happiness, Henry.” She kissed him on the cheek before standing and walking away.
* * * * * * * * * *
Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, 1971
Sitting on the edge of her seat in her sixth-year potions class was Thunderbird Shannon Fielding. She always loved potions class, but in this lesson, they were finally brewing Inheritance Potions. They’d been going over the ingredients and steps for a whole month as the ingredients were expensive and volatile if mixed improperly. The potion, if brewed correctly, would show up to 4 generations of family with place of birth as well as date of birth and death.
Few classmates were as excited as she was. They were more interested in the difficulty the brew offered. Shannon, however, was more interested in the results the brew would reveal. Her mother and father were kind but ultimately seemed uninterested and dismissive of her once she refused to ignore her magic and insisted on attending Ilvermorny. There had always been a disconnect between them, but the distance had grown with every passing year. She’d noticed hushed conversations behind closed doors on her summer vacations that didn’t come out and anything directly and maybe she was reading way too much into a few odd comments, but something niggled at her brain about it.
Either way, this would at least answer the questions she had one way or the other and she’d know definitively. As she finished counting down the last counter-clockwise turn she slumped back onto her stool. It was finished. All that was left was to pour the potion on the parchment and prick her finger. She looked around the room noticing a few others on the same stage as she was. She slowly and carefully distributed the potion on the parchment before taking a breath to calm herself. Grabbing her wand from where she had placed it on the desk, she pierced her finger with a charm allowing the required 10 drops to fall.
Slowly the blood changed from simple drops to flowing words across the parchment. She dropped onto her stool in confusion and sadness. It appeared she was right to be suspicious of her lineage, but she had just assumed she was the product of an affair her mother had. It would have explained the distance as she grew older and her looks differed so much from her parents. But apparently not only wasn’t her father her biological father, but neither was her mother her biological mother. She had never heard a mention of any of the names on the parchment. And she was a bit bewildered that not only were her biological mother and father born in some place called Cokesworth, England, but she also had 2 younger sisters. Unfortunately, she had no idea if any of them were magical, and thus sending an owl to ask wasn’t something she was able to do.
The noise suddenly rose and she realized she’d been staring off into space with her thoughts and class was over. As her classmates gathered their belongings around her she stayed on her stool, almost unable to move. Professor Northman was clearing his desk when he noticed a student hadn’t packed her belongings or left the class yet. Sadly, he wasn’t surprised as this lesson sometimes revealed results no one was expecting. He cleared his throat in hopes she’d hear his approach as it seemed her attention was elsewhere and he didn’t want to startle her.
“Ms. Fielding, is there something I can help you with?” he asked softly.
She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes and gestured toward the results. “I just… I knew something was going on, but I never would have believed this,” she answered in a whisper.
He glanced down at the parchment. He was unfamiliar with students' family situations, but he could easily tell that whatever information was before them was completely new to his student. She quietly explained in a hushed tone her suspicions and fears as well as her lack of any knowledge of the people listed. “Could it be that you were adopted and your parents just haven’t told you?” He was hopeful for her sake that was the case, but something felt off about the entire situation.
She shrugged, “I mean, I guess? But I’m 16 years old, surely they’d have at least mentioned it by now?”
He shrugged, “Maybe they planned to tell you when you turned 18, maybe they always meant to but the topic was too difficult to start,” he paused not wanting to say his next thought but unfortunately, Ms. Fielding wasn’t an idiot.
“Or maybe they never planned to tell me,” she finished his thought.
He nodded. “They treat you well and love you, right?” At her nod, he continued, “Well, best to give them the benefit of the doubt I’d say. Write them and explain what you’ve discovered. They could have the answers you need. If not, you can contact MACUSA and they will reach out to the British Ministry to see if the Statute of Secrecy applies. I’d wager if you have magic, your biological parents or sisters could as well.”
Finally feeling like she had her feet back under her with a plan Shannon rose from her seat to hug her professor. “Thank you,” she sincerely said, letting go of the startled man and taking a step back. She smoothed her robes before wiping her face with her sleeve and began clearing the desk in front of her. He brushed off her thanks and told her he’d take care of the mess. She gathered her belongings and made her way to the door, pulling it open before looking back and thanking him once more. She walked towards her dorm with a smile on her face and a plan in her mind.
* * * * * * * * * *
The next few years found Shannon building a relationship with her newfound family via letters and after she graduated a trip to Cokesworth to meet them. She shared a smile and eyes with her biological father. His wife was a lovely kind woman who welcomed her into their lives with open arms. She had two younger half-sisters, Petunia and Lily. Petunia, unfortunately, turned cold after finding out that Shannon was magical like Lily. It hurt, but Shannon honored Petunia’s wishes and did not force an unwanted relationship. Lily however was over the moon to meet Shannon. The two were very similar both in looks and temperament.
Shannon and Lily sent each other countless owls and Shannon had the pleasure of witnessing her youngest sister fall head over heels for her classmate, James, through letters eventually attending their wedding and meeting more family and several of Lily’s friends. They were a bright, vivacious bunch and Lily flourished in their company. A few months after Lily’s wedding she was engaged to a quiet but steadfast Marine named Leroy Jethro Gibbs. They were planning on a longish engagement as she wanted to finish her mastery in Charms before getting married. Gibbs didn’t mind as he was just thrilled to call Shannon his.
* * * * * * * * * *
Stillwater, 1980
Shannon was worried. She and Lily used to exchange owls multiple times a month and never ran out of things to discuss or debate. Last year the frequency of the letters trickled down to once a month and the content was less lighthearted and instead filled with worry. Shannon herself had been busy studying and testing for her mastery so at first, she hadn’t thought much of it. When pressed Lily admitted there was a possible threat but they were being safe and told Shannon not to worry.
August’s owl brought news that her nephew, Harry James Potter, had been born on the very last day of July. A picture accompanied the news which featured a besotted James and Lily and a tiny baby with a head full of dark hair. Shannon made plans to visit in the fall to meet her nephew and introduce Gibbs to her family.
Sadly, just a month before Shannon and Gibbs’ planned trip, Henry and his wife Rose were killed in a car accident. Shannon dropped everything to rush to her sisters' side. Gibbs could not join her as his leave was for next month. Instead of happy and lively introductions, it was a bittersweet event. Petunia was even more aloof and unpleasant without the buffer of her parents watching over her.
After the funeral, Lily’s letters came even less often and sometimes there were as many as 3 months between replies. While normally she wouldn’t worry, she had a bad feeling as each day passed without an owl. It was now nearly the end of November 1981 and Shannon hadn’t heard from Lily since a letter about Harry’s first birthday.
She explained her fears to Gibbs, who knew of magic because his mother was a witch, and he encouraged her to reach out to Petunia. She didn’t have high hopes, but she figured it was worth a shot.
Petunia,
I am aware you wish no correspondence with me and I have stuck to that even as it pains me to know you don’t care. However, I ask you to forgive me as I have no other idea about who to reach out to. I haven’t heard from Lily since July. I’ve tried owling several of her friends as well with no response either. I’m extremely worried about her, Harry, and James. Please, find it in your heart to reply or call and let me know if you have any information. I promise to not bother you again if you please just let me know if you know anything.
Best Wishes,
Shannon
She scribbled her phone number at the bottom of the page and made her way to the owl post office hoping she’d hear something within a few days, but also knowing the chances were very slim.
* * * * * * * * * *
Little Whinging, Surrey 1981
In a house on Privet Drive sat a woman at her kitchen table. On the table in front of her was a crumpled and tea-stained letter. She had received it last week from someone she’d long hoped was in her past and threw it in the bin as soon as she realized what it was. It wasn’t until later that night lying in bed unable to sleep she crept back down the stairs and carefully pulled it out. After wiping it off she heard her husband awaken and begin moving around upstairs. She quickly but silently threw it in a drawer to deal with it the next day.
Now here she sat, unsure what to do but unable to ignore it any longer. When she had first found out about her older sister she was eager to learn everything about her. They exchanged letters via regular post for almost a month before Shannon had revealed she, like Lily, was a witch. Petunia was enraged once again. Why did her sisters get magic and she got nothing? What made them worthy and her not? It was one more thing for them to bond over and leave her out on. So she cut off all contact with her oldest sister and was only polite when required to be by her parents.
Now, with the mindset of an adult instead of a child, she wondered if she had been rash in her decision. Shannon had gone out of her way to stay in touch with both Lily and her father even with an ocean between them. She wouldn’t have cut out Petuina if Petunia hadn’t cut her out first. She sighed. It was too late to matter really. She didn’t regret it exactly, but she couldn’t help but wonder how things might be different now if she’d chosen another path.
A cry from under the stairs shook her out of her thoughts. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before refocusing on the letter in front of her. Vernon had gone to the shop to pick up a few groceries so she had time to think about what to do. While she had no desire to raise her youngest sister’s son, she didn’t agree with Vernon’s methods. Normally through the week, she’d get him out of the cupboard during the day when she knew Vernon would be gone all day but without knowing when he’d walk in, she couldn’t risk it right now. He’d already hit the child multiple times after yelling in his face. The last thing the child needed was for Vernon to think he’d gotten himself out on his own. The lad might not survive.
Petunia wasn’t a fool. She knew her husband wasn’t a good man but he’d never hurt her or Dudley. He loved them. Harry, he would have drowned that first day if he had found him on the porch instead of her. They’d planned carefully for Dudley. Saved up money for Petunia to stay home without it being a strain on their finances but they knew every pence would count. They’d done well for themselves for almost two years until that fateful November morning. Now there was another mouth to feed and another child to clothe. Vernon flat-out refused to do either. He’d pulled out the blankets and a few boxes from under the stairs and put Harry in there without a second thought.
She didn’t agree with what he’d done, but she didn’t stop him. She knew that made her just as much of a monster as her husband but she didn’t honestly care. Now though, there was a different option in front of her. Shannon was much better equipped to take care of the boy. She was older and well-established and she had that infernal magic in common with the boy it seemed.
Decision made she sat down to pen a letter to her only living sister. She debated calling as it would be the quicker response, but she didn’t want to explain the charges to Vernon when the bill came.
Shannon,
I don’t know of any easy way to say this and I hate that I have to tell you the news the same way I found out via letter instead of face to face. Lily is dead. She and her husband were killed at the end of October. I don’t know where her friends are or why they haven’t gotten in touch with you but I have no idea what’s going on in your world. I’d think if they were still alive, they’d have reached out to you at least knowing how close you both were.
Harry is alive. He was dropped off on my doorstep the morning after his parents’ deaths. Another reason why I believe her friends must have perished because there is no way she would have left him in my care over that of other freaks.
While he is alive, he isn’t well. Vernon would gladly kill him without remorse. I’ve kept him from coming to much harm by telling Vernon that the freaks are probably watching us. I doubt they are as if they were they would no doubt question why he never leaves the house when we do and who watches him while we are gone. Nevertheless, while I have held off his anger thus far, I do not know if I will always be able to do so. Even if I do, the child will not live a life here worth living and to be completely honest, I’d much rather not have to raise him. Not only does he appear to be a freak like Lily and yourself, but he’s also a financial burden we can’t support.
He had a letter pinned to his shirt the morning I found him stating he must live with a blood relative for some kind of ancient protection. You are a blood relative. I ask that you make arrangements to come and get him as soon as possible. I’d prefer to never set eyes on him–or you, again.
When you are local, give me a call during the week from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. Absolutely no later as I’d like to keep Vernon as in the dark as possible as to where the boy has gone.
Petunia
She quickly reread the letter before adding her telephone number under her name. Then she stuffed it in an envelope and opened the window making eye contact with the owl who had been hiding in the tree outside for a reply for almost a week.
* * * * * * * * * *
Stillwater, 1981
Choking on tears after reading the reply from her sister Shannon reached for the phone to call Gibbs. They were due to get married next week and now she didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t leave her nephew in the situation he was in for a day longer than she had to. But she knew it’d take more than a day or two to wrap up custody issues as well as immigration papers. On top of that, while she and Gibbs had discussed kids in the future, this was an instant family. She knew there was no way she could walk away from the boy, but she had to give Gibbs the option to do just that.
The phone in the barracks was picked up and Shannon asked for Gibbs. She patiently waited while making a list in her head of things she needed to do. She was so thankful that international travel as a witch was much easier than it was as a no-maj. She’d already worked out her notice at work due to her upcoming marriage and move so that was one less thing to worry about but she would need to let her parents know what was going on and why she had to suddenly disappear so close to the wedding.
“Gibbs,” came the reply down the line.
“It’s Shannon. Gibbs–,” her voice broke and she began sobbing again.
“Shan, what’s wrong? Are you ok?”
She sniffed and wiped her eyes again after a deep breath and continued, “Gibbs, they are dead. Lily and James are dead.”
“Oh Shannon, I’m so sorry. What can I do?”
“Someone left Harry with Petunia. I’m not exactly sure what is going on but her letter did not paint a pretty picture of a happy family. She wants to get rid of him and mentioned her husband would likely kill him if he got the opportunity,” she achingly said. “I can’t leave him there Gibbs and I know we talked about kids somewhere in the future and the wedding is just around the corner with about a thousand things left to do but…” she trailed off. “I understand if this is too much, but I have to take him,” she said with confidence.
“Of course you do. I’ll call my Dad and explain what’s going on the best I can. My leave starts in three days, I’ll head into town and smooth any ruffled feathers between him and your parents. Don’t worry about it. I told you I’d marry you anywhere. So we do it on the courthouse steps instead of the church. Doesn’t matter to me,” he paused and swore he could hear the relief through her half-hearted chuckle. “Go get our boy, Shan.”
It was with a watery smile Shannon said “I love you, Leroy Jethro Gibbs.”
“I love you too, Shannon Marie Fielding.”
They discussed the finer details of what needed to take place over the next few days and she promised to call him at his Dad’s place in four days' time before saying their goodbyes and hanging up.
After a quick call to her parents to explain that they needed to at least postpone if not cancel the wedding and dealing with the drama that caused she quickly threw a bag together. She decided to swing by Jackson’s store and explain what was going on instead of trying it over the phone. His reaction almost mirrored his son’s and wouldn’t Gibbs hate to know how similar they were? After a long and loving hug from her soon to be father-in-law he pulled away and wiped her tears telling her he was so sorry for her loss but he was really looking forward to meeting his first grandson.
It was a broken-hearted but determined woman who made her way to MACUSA for the first available portkey to the British Ministry of Magic. She had no clue how the next few days and weeks were going to go, but she was ready to fight whoever and whatever stood in her way until she had her sister’s son safe in her arms.