The Three Fates of Darth Gladiolus

A letter arrived bearing her name arrived that afternoon. Edelweiss fought back a smile, finding her name written in the Headmaster's careful scrawl. She did not hesitate before opening the letter. She read it over several times, a vague furrow on her face once she finished. Dumbledore had come through for her this time, scheduling a meeting between her and "Madam Amelia Bones, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement" for the Twenty-Seventh. The message was otherwise sparse, though it did mention Mr. Weasley would escort her to and from the Ministry of Magic. Beneath that was a time, early in the morning. Just early enough, no doubt, to sneak under Fudge's watchful gaze.

Sirius pulled her aside the next morning. They made their way down to the dueling chamber beneath Grimmauld Place before he informed her with a regretful look, "We need to put off any training until after your meeting."

Her brows furrowed. "Why ever not?"

"Because you're going to be meeting with a department head. And not just any head, but the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. You will be passing through the Ministry's security, and they will inspect your wand for any sign you've been using it recently."

"And that would be an issue why?" she asked, knowing nothing of the Ministry's likely lackluster defenses.

"If your wand displays any sign of being used since June, the Ministry has to investigate," said Sirius, sounding quite exhausted. "It doesn't matter if you're in a magical household and thus the Trace can't pick up the difference between you, me, or Mrs. Weasley. They're bound by law to act, and the Minister will certainly act—unless you can get Amelia to protect you. But she's always been a stickler for the letter of the law. We were lucky she was only a recruit during the previous war, or some of us might have seen the inside of an Azkaban cell."

Edelweiss spat on the floor of the dueling chamber before storming back upstairs. Her godfather was right, and she wished he could be wrong. When she had first met him two years ago, Minister Fudge had seemed kind, if perhaps a touch incompetent. But after what he had done back in June and over the summer, it was clear she had judged him wrong. He only desired power and thought her—and Dumbledore—to be a threat to that power.

She hoped Madam Bones would be understanding of what she did earlier in the month. That or be susceptible enough to the dark side to be influenced.

The morning of the Twenty-Seventh arrived with little fanfare. Edelweiss woke early, startled out of her restless sleep by visions of Voldemort. Whatever she had dreamed of slipped from her mind almost immediately upon waking, yet she swore the entire vision had been from Nagini's perspective. That disturbed her, heading for the bathroom. How had she peered through the eyes of Voldemort's snake? How the vision came to her was a great mystery, one as intriguing as it was disturbing. She had thought little of the truth when she had been first informed there was a connection between her and the Dark Lord years ago. Her recent vision was proof enough that the connection persisted, firmly entrenched in both their minds.

I must destroy it, she thought while under the steaming shower.

Edelweiss knew she required guidance for the task of severing their connection. Lord Salazar, she hoped, would either know how to sever the bond or would have a holocron capable of teaching her how. The dark side possessed powers over the mind; certainly, it had an answer to whatever bound her to Voldemort. There had been an odd error while accessing Ziost Hangar. That, she hoped, would provide answers.

That reunion was still seven days away.

She put thoughts of the future out of mind and focused instead on her coming meeting with Madam Amelia Bones. From all she gleamed from Sirius and the aurors in the Order, the woman was fair yet strict with a hard edge of practicality. Edelweiss was confident she would experience little trouble from Madam Bones when it came to the events early in the month. She would have to skirt around the Force and its influence, for her secret remained too valuable to hand over so easily. Maybe the woman could be bound by an oath. Sirius did mention them in passing.

When she finally came down for breakfast, she found Arthur Weasley already waiting in the kitchen. Edelweiss had grown accustomed to rarely seeing the Weasley patriarch, for he often left for work early and returned late. He smiled as she made her way to the table.

He wore a plain robe over muggle business clothes, including an oxford tie. That the colors did not clash or stand out took her by surprise. Then again, Edelweiss suspected Mr. Weasley had just enough experience dealing with muggles that he knew how to dress around them. His behavior around muggles and his treatment of them reminded her uncomfortably of the patronizing teachers she had in primary, though.

She probably should tell him. Any enduring qualities to his oddity had faded long ago.

"Albus informed me you have a meeting with Madam Bones this morning," Mr. Weasley said, setting a plate of toast and rashers before her. She scooped out a bit of blackberry jam and spread it across a slice of toast. "He asked me to escort you there and back."

"So he said in his letter informing me," said Edelweiss around her first bite. She swallowed, and then asked, "Do you know why Madam Bones wished for it to be so early? I think Dumbledore only passed along his suspicions."

"I imagine the Minister would like to interfere with the meeting, should he learn of it. Fudge has pushed bizarre conspiracies about you ever since you sided with Albus back in June. I think part of him wishes you would have rejected Dumbledore's claim You-Know-Who returned."

"Then he is a fool," grumbled Edelweiss. She took a vicious bite out of her rashers. "Dumbledore only makes that claim because I told him. Anyways, I doubt Fudge will be in office this time next year."

"I didn't take you for an expert in politics."

Mr. Weasley might have meant his comment kindly or even thought it might remind her to be humble. Yet a twisted, offended anger roiled low in her gut. Her face twitched as she struggled to maintain a calm composure. The dark side flowed into her, whispering for her to lash out with her terrible power. Yet it would be counterproductive to act rashly, especially since this man was her key to accessing Madam Bones.

I could subvert her, thought Edelweiss. She was almost surprised she hadn't considered it before. The dark side has the power to sway minds, though a woman like this 'Madam Bones' will not have reached her station without being stronger than the walls of Hogwarts. It may be impossible…

She rejected the idea. While the idea of controlling those in power sounded lovely, it was too risky at this juncture. One day, Magical Britain would be hers. She would need to carefully sow the seeds of her future conquest.

"I've witnessed enough muggle politics to guess what will come to pass when the truth comes to light," Edelweiss declared with great certainty. Mr. Weasley's eyes brightened at the comment. He began questioning her about the muggle government. It was almost alarming how many questions he posed. She was doubly alarmed that the Head of the Office for the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts would be so clueless about the governance and law systems of muggle Britain.

Mr. Weasley leaned forward. He nearly placed a hand on his plate of eggs and toast. "Tell me: what is the fundamental dynamic between the Tories and the Whigs."

She blinked and felt everything she had picked up through osmosis almost slip away. "The Tories are still around, though they're technically the Conservatives." Edelweiss shrugged. "They're who Uncle Vernon supports. They're opposed by Labour, not the Whigs. It's been that way for a century or more. I have no clue how long it's been since there was a Whig Party in Britain."

"Labour? Truly?" Mr. Weasley had the look of a man introduced to a miraculous prophet. "And who do they represent? I know that much about your…parley-a-ment"

Edelweiss bit her tongue to stop from laughing, though she did smirk. For now, she would not bother correcting Mr. Weasley's pronunciation. Watching Hermione argue over the proper pronunciation of muggle terms was always amusing. There was time to engineer a conversation that would lead to a discussion of parliament another time. "Labour is for working folk. Miners, fishers, industry people." She tilted her head, remembering her uncle's rants. "Uncle Vernon hates them. Goes on and on about how they're ruining the country, but then he's in business. Maybe they're also supported by Asians and Africans? That might be part of Labour…"

"Ah, well they must be decent folk."

She shrugged. "I wouldn't know, since I barely followed their politics. But what I have noticed is that men are men, regardless if they're wizards or muggles. Fudge is afraid of losing his office. Especially since he's in the pocket of a formerly alleged Death Eater."

Mr. Weasley frowned, but she waved off his impending response.

"Yes, yes. I know. I know. But remember that I saw Lucius Malfoy in that graveyard back in June. The trouble just happens to be that he, as far as the law is concerned, was innocent of any crime during the previous war. It'd take finding him in robe and mask leading Death Eaters without a trace of the Imperius to put him in Azkaban. Or a strong minister, but that would require Fudge being dismissed from office. He's a worm, and one without use during a period of war."

"Fudge performed well for most of the past thirteen years."

"Because those years were during an era of peace, where any fighting between the factions hungry for power occurred within the halls of the Wizengamot and not in the streets and fields of Britain," said Edelweiss. "I've read enough of Voldemort's previous war to know that he was on the verge of victory when he came to murder me—and was defeated." She sighed softly. "A tragedy how weak the Ministry was in the war's wake to allow so many to go unpunished."

"You wouldn't understand," Mr. Weasley said, turning away. Edelweiss frowned. It was tempting to try and reach out with the Force. But doing so would not serve her well. "Nobody knew who to trust back then," Mr. Weasley continued. "It was a dark, dark time, Edelweiss. Nobody batted an eye when Death Eaters claimed Imperius since so many innocents were under it as well."

Edelweiss nearly choked on a laugh. She knew from all she read that the war had been a massive, dreadful mess with Voldemort and the Death Eaters abusing the Imperius. But she was surprised the Ministry had yet to develop some means of determining whether or not their claims were genuine. Certainly, someone must have studied the Imperius—or better yet, the Dark Mark, if only from a speculative perspective.

Perhaps there he left notes behind in the Chamber, she thought, slouching back. I never did try to decipher what I did find in the accessible parts of the Chamber before stumbling upon Ziost Hangar.

It was unlikely she would find the secrets of the Dark Mark down there. But Edelweiss would not know until she tried It would be challenging making sense of the scribbles and markings upon those pages, but perhaps with Lord Salazar's aid, it would be possible.

All things are possible, either through magic or through the dark side of the Force, she reminded herself. One only needs to seize the power necessary.

They finished their breakfast shortly after, eating the rest in silence. Edelweiss glanced at Arthur a few times, noting his furrowed brow and uncertain expression. She could sense his wavering feelings, the hints of doubt and uncertainty that might allow her to separate the Weasleys from Dumbledore. It was unlikely, given how partisan his family was. Yet if she could create separation between the old man and any of his supporters, it would ease her domination of magical Britain.

Mr. Weasley led the way once they left Grimmauld Place. Edelweiss took in the sights as she followed him, wishing she could have known the location of the Ministry and how to enter before this day. While it should be possible to use Grimmauld Place's floo to reach the Ministry, that could risk exposing Sirius's hiding place to any aurors attempting to capture her godfather. She could grant Dumbledore credit where it was due, primarily in how he convinced the aurors in the Order to hide Sirius from their peers and superiors.

I should try to learn his rhetorical tricks, thought Edelweiss. I will need them once he is gone. I would be a fool to only rely upon my name and my Sith powers to ensure the complacency of the public—even if it will be easier.

As they traveled from Islington to Whitehall, Edelweiss noticed they began to acquire unwanted attention. Mr. Weasley appeared ignorant to the stares directed their way, even after he waved at a group of men in muggle business suits. They shot him queer looks with hints of confusion and more than a hint of disgust. Their gazes fell upon her and turned to a leer. She sneered back. Had she the power to get away with it, she would make them suffer for how they looked at her.

They rounded a corner near Whitehall proper, which loomed with its many fluttering Union Jacks. Edelweiss smiled slightly at the sight and wondered if the Ministry of Magic possessed as much grandeur and national pride. She could not fathom the Ministry looking less splendid than muggle government buildings, constructed in beautiful styles old enough wizards would remember them fondly, despite the centuries of secrecy and separation.

Mr. Weasley brought them to a phone booth, marked off with a large OUT OF ORDER sign. Edelweiss glanced between him and it, wondering if his mind had been addled. Otherwise, the Ministry was truly so arrogant they thought muggle laziness would protect an entrance into their central base.

"This is the visitor's entrance," said Mr. Weasley. He slid the booth door open and stepped inside. Edelweiss followed glanced up and down the street before following him in. She watched as he dialed: 5-1-3-3-1. She nearly groaned, realizing he had dialed magic. Magic, of all bloody things!

That was when the booth shifted. It shook; rocking for a brief moment, and then the booth began descending into the ground. Mr. Weasley lifted the phone from the receiver.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic!" a small, cheery voice said. Edelweiss stared at the phone receiver, else her gaze flicked over to Mr. Weasley. She did not need to see the smile on his face. "Please state your name and the purpose of your visit."

"Arthur Weasley with a guest, Edelweiss Potter. Here to… speak with Madam Amelia Bones of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

A few seconds passed as if there was someone on the other side of the phone's receiver. Soon enough, two badges popped out of an oversized coin deposit, larger than any muggle coin Edelweiss was familiar with. Mr. Weasley picked them up, keeping one for himself and handing the other to her. She stared at the green badge and read:

EDELWEISS POTTER — — — — — GUEST

 MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT HEAD BONES 

"Huh." She spun the badge about in her hand. On the backside, she found a very muggle-styled pin stretching across it. Edelweiss pinned the badge to her breast. She noticed in her reflection that the green of her badge was a shade almost identical to her eyes. It went well enough with the robe she wore, though she wondered if it would have been wiser to choose a robe that was grey or white for visiting the Ministry. The black she chose, while comforting to her, would present an image at odds with the savior she was meant to be.

Sunlight vanished once the booth descended beneath ground. Edelweiss assumed an illusion or some kind of replacement moved into place above them. She would not fault the Ministry for selecting a common phone booth for their visitor's entry. Though she found herself suspicious of the proximity to Whitehall. Had the magical ministry once been closer to their muggle counterparts? Or perhaps it was the Crown they once served before the separation of the magical and muggle worlds. She had never considered whom among Her Majesty's government knew of the magical world, though certainly some did: the Queen, certainly; probably the prime minister, along with those cabinet members whose offices would be affected by the actions of witches and wizards.

She glanced at Mr. Weasley, before shaking her head. He was too clueless about muggle governance to know who in high office would be informed of the magical world. Edelweiss would learn their names and titles once she ascended and became Darth Gladiolus. On that day, she would cow all of magical Britain and hold their lives in the palm of her hand.

For now, she would focus on the task at hand: her impending meeting with Madam Bones.

The lift emerged from the darkness they passed through and revealed a large atrium hidden beneath the streets and tunnels of muggle London. It stretched out past several dozen fireplaces, many glowing a fiery green as people came and went. Most were dressed in fine robes. Those dressed otherwise either had business in the muggle world or were one of the red-garbed aurors. She spotted only a few aurors; symbols of the apparent safety the magical world lived under. Few would readily admit the need for a serious effort to maintain security in the Ministry.

She spotted a great fountain near the far end, where the stretching path opened into a circular space with several doors equally spaced. The statue was difficult to see clearly from a distance. Edelweiss had to remain content with the knowledge she'd see it as they headed for Madam Bones's office.

Mr. Weasley led her out of the booth and to a security desk ten yards away. A pair of lazing aurors inspected the wands of people entering the Ministry. Some passed by the desk without being checked. Edelweiss hoped they all worked for the Ministry. She was guided to an auror with a sullen face and an obvious bit of fat beneath his weak jaw.

"Arthur, good to see you," the man said before turning to Edelweiss. "Who's the girl?"

She flashed her badge. The man bit back a gasp as his eyes flickered up to her brow. A few people glanced their way, though none bothered reading the green badge pinned to her robe. Edelweiss brushed her hair around, so she could fully hide the lightning scar that marked her identity. A single glimpse and a loose tongue were all that was required to reveal her identity to all present. Given how the auror reacted, she might not have the luxury of stealth for long.

"She's a family friend," Mr. Weasley said awkwardly.

"Of course," the auror muttered. "A family friend." He then shook his head. He held out a hand and met Edelweiss's gaze. "Wand, miss. Need to inspect it before you can enter."

Edelweiss drew out her wand from inside her robe. She had left her holster back at Grimmauld Place. The auror raised an eyebrow at where she placed it but said nothing. She handed over her wand. He drew and waved his wand over hers.

"Holly and phoenix feather, eleven and a half inches," the man said as he returned her wand with a slight furrow. "Feels like you've used it since June, though nothing came up."

"Just been around a lot of magic—more than usual for my summer."

"Muggle family, huh?"

Edelweiss nodded, trying to not scowl at the reminder of the Dursleys.

Mr. Weasley thanked the man. Edelweiss pocketed her wand. They pressed on into the Ministry. She wondered when Minister Fudge would learn of her presence. She expected to reach Madam Bones before he could interfere. Whether or not she would be gone remained up in the air. If his efforts to slander her and the Headmaster via the Daily Prophet were to be judged by, she would assume there would only be enemies and obstacles within the halls of the Ministry. And if Fudge caught on quickly enough, he could force something that would benefit him, like a sudden trial. Violations of the Statute of Secrecy and the Underage Ban would come up, despite the fact she had cast no spells that night.

And then she remembered what the aurors had said when they came to Surrey. Her decision to blend the dark side of the Force and her magical powers had drawn them to Surrey that night. Not enough occurred to securely press charges—and that was a pleasant surprise, given the slander and their certainty she had done something—but it was enough to take note of and remain cautious. After all, Madam Bones might levy charges herself.

They eventually reached the golden statue Edelweiss had spotted from the lift. Her lips twisted into a disgusted frown, witnessing all it revealed. At the center were a witch and wizard, positioned to subtly portray the superiority of wizards over witches. They held up wands that spewed water in cascading arcs that fell into the fountain around them. As accompaniment were a trio of magical beings—a goblin, a house elf, and a centaur. They stared at the humans with awe and gratitude, as if their meager positions in society were not a deliberate insult to keep them low and weak.

"The Fountain of Magical Brethren," commented Mr. Weasley, noticing where she stared. "All money thrown into the water is donated to Saint Mungo's."

Edelweiss nodded, sickened by what was crafted in gold. For a moment, she considered the merit of tossing a coin. She rolled a silver sickle in her right hand for several seconds. After her hesitation passed, she tossed it over her shoulder and smiled at the small splash of water.

Let them see the foolish savior they expect in that action.

They came to the circular end, which turned out to be an elevator bank. One door happened to already be opened. Edelweiss pressed forward, Mr. Weasley just on her heels. They entered and the doors closed behind them.

Madam Bones's office was in the rear of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, which dominated the Ministry's fifth level. Edelweiss had been surprised to learn the atrium was the eighth floor, for simple logic would dictate an entrance to be the first floor or the ground level. She assumed now that the first floor was where the Minister had his offices as if the numbering was enough to prove his importance. It was hard to not sneer thinking of the portly man "leading" magical Britain. The moment he rejected her declaration Voldemort had returned from his exile and was restored to his old powers was the moment he set into motion the destruction of whatever legacy he built.

Mr. Weasley guided her to a desk where a pleasantly attractive woman sat. She looked up from whatever had kept her busy and smiled glibly.

"Miss Kline," said Mr. Weasley, nodding to the woman.

"Mr. Weasley." She glanced at Edelweiss, then back to him. "How may I help you this morning?"

"Miss Potter to see Madam Bones," he replied. "We might be a tad early."

"Amelia had her schedule cleared this morning to ensure she could meet with Miss Potter immediately and for however long their meeting takes." Miss Kline turned to Edelweiss. "If you'll follow me, Miss Potter."

Edelweiss nodded. The secretary rose from her desk and headed down a narrow corridor behind her, deeper into the DMLE. Edelweiss gave Mr. Weasley a quick nod of thanks and then followed Miss Kline. A few aurors glanced her way as they passed, but none moved to stop them.

Her lips twitched, trying to resist the temptation to draw into a violent, crooked smirk.

Miss Kline knocked twice on Madam Bones's door, no doubt for Edelweiss's sake. She could sense the woman within; she must know who waited beyond.

Madam Bones responded almost immediately. "Send her in."

The secretary opened the door for Edelweiss. She gave the woman a slight nod before entering. Miss Kline closed the door behind her.

Edelweiss was now alone with Madam Bones.

The Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was a severe woman with red hair like her niece and a monocle over her right eye. Her lips were drawn in a thin line, even as she gestured to one of the chairs before her desk. "Please sit, Miss Potter. I would like to end this meeting as soon as possible."

Edelweiss sat before asking, "Because you wish me gone, or you worry the Minister will interfere?"

Madam Bones frowned slightly "Does it matter to you which it is?"

"I have no desire to deal with the bumbling buffoon we call 'Minister'," Edelweiss said carefully. "Though you must suspect he will make a greater deal out of what happened back in August than it's worth the time—or the tax money—to trouble with. You could benefit from some of that money coming your way. To properly… finance the aurors."

Madam Bones grimaced. "If Cornelius knew about our meeting, you would be facing a trial before the full Wizengamot. And if he heard what you just said, we would both face bribery charges."

"I'm not an adult, though."

"One could argue that having participated in the Triwizard Tournament, where the rules stated an Age Line was to be implemented to keep under-aged witches and wizards from putting their name into the Goblet of Fire, that you already are one."

"And that would prevent him from prosecuting me under the Ban on Under-aged Sorcery." Edelweiss smiled, thinking of how Hermione had spent days researching magical law the prior year. Had they access to the Black Library, they might have spent days there preparing for this meeting. Instead, Edelweiss had some peace and Hermione slept in. "Naturally, that means my wand cannot be snapped without committing a capital offense, nor will he have the ability to expel me from Hogwarts without the Headmaster's explicit approval."

"Fudge is already at odds with Albus. There's no point in worsening an already difficult case." Madam Bones sighed and rubbed her temple. "He's already furious I've blocked any attempt to bring you in on trumped-up charges. He knows little of that August day. Be thankful what he does know is not enough to prosecute you, Miss Potter."

Edelweiss hummed as she wondered what Fudge knew. Odds were he knew about the scars she left on the dementors, along with the Ministry's uncertainty over how she achieved her great feat. Even with the traces of her magic lingering on her wand, there was no way they could learn the truth. What she used against the dementors was more Force than magic.

And it was unlikely Madam Bones knew of anything akin to the Force. All Edelweiss needed to do was skirt through this conversation and she would be free.

"So, what did you wish to know?" Edelweiss asked, laying her hands upon her lap. "I doubt the report you received from your aurors was satisfactory, given you pushed for this meeting. Dumbledore was less than pleased about me coming to speak with you."

Madam Bones frowned at the mention of Dumbledore. "Albus has long preferred for others to bow to his whims and fight using his methods. The Ministry listened to him for too long during the previous war, and we nearly lost because of it. I hate to admit it, but if nothing changes soon—since I already fear you're right about You-Know-Who—then Britain will be lost."

Over my dead body, Edelweiss thought bitterly. She felt her anger flare. The dark side whispered sweetly of battle and death. She suppressed that desire. This was not the place for those powers.

"You did not answer my question, Madam Bones."

"I want to know everything that happened on the day those two dementors were cursed. Our sensors detected unknown magic used in Surrey, aligning with what happened to them. And most of all, I wish to know what your involvement was."

Edelweiss struggled to not frown. "Will you require an oath? Threaten me with veritaserum?"

"Must I?"

She grimaced. "I would demand an oath from you in exchange for the full and entire truth. I do not wish my secrets to spill out into the halls of Ministry—or worse, the front page of the Daily Prophet."

Madam Bones considered the proposal for over a minute, one eye fixed upon Edelweiss through the madam's monocle. If it did not possess enchantments, Edelweiss would question how this woman earned her post over someone as dedicated as Mad-Eye Moody. Then again, dedication could become zealotry or madness. Given Madam Bones was willing to go against Fudge, there was steel in her spine and a functioning mind in her skull.

"And if I won't?"

"Then I will keep my secrets. There are a great many things I do not want others to know. You will be left to wonder and speculate about the gaps, knowing it was by your choice they exist."

She watched Madam Bones consider her options. Whatever thoughts the elder woman previously possessed were being revised in real-time, or so Edelweiss assumed. Eventually, Madam Bones sighed and murmured, "I, Amelia Bones, swear to keep the secrets of Edelweiss Potter as told to me within the next hour. I will tell not a soul of what is confided to me."

"That I can accept," replied Edelweiss, hoping she was not about to make a fatal mistake. She felt a ripple of magic as the oath took shape. While in any other case they would need to progress further with ritualistic words or spells, there was no need now. The Force transcended magic, and so Edelweiss used the Force to snatch threads of their oath and weave them into a binding contract.

"Wha— How?" whispered Madam Bones, eyes blown wide from feeling a brush of the Force. Edelweiss felt a tremor run through the older witch.

She grinned, crooked and full of teeth.

"I have come into another power," whispered Edelweiss as she leaned across the table. "One greater than magic, known only to Salazar Slytherin. With this power, I turned back the dementors without reliance on my magics. Every pretender seeking to live up to the legacy of Lord Salazar is deaf and blind to this power. For it is I, who stand in opposition against the madman who claims descent from Slytherin, that has become his true inheritor." She leaned back and crossed her legs, a pleased smile gracing her lips. "That, Madam Bones, should be enough to explain what transpired—and why you cannot prosecute me, yes?"

Before Madam Bones could respond, still rattled by the revelation, her office door slammed open. Miss Kline scrambled backward into the office as a trio of red-garbed aurors escorted a squat man in a green suit into the office. His purple bowler cap sat askew upon his head.

Madam Bones rose to her feet with a burst of fury. "Cornelius! What is the meaning of this?"

"The meaning of this? The meaning of this?" hissed Fudge, pointing at Edelweiss as his eyes narrowed. "Why was my office not informed you had scheduled a meeting with the Potter girl, Amelia?"

"The Potter girl?" snarled Edelweiss. She rose to her feet. The sweet siren call of the dark side roared in her ears. Memories of wielding Force lighting flashed in her mind. The dark side beckoned her to repeat what she had done that night. This pathetic man would certainly make sweet, sweet sounds as he screamed and begged. It would be so simple to unleash her wrath and fury upon the foolish man who dared defame and attack her. Her restraint could easily slip, yet she could not act yet. She was not powerful enough to escape the consequences of her actions. "The Potter girl? It was only a few months ago you were singing my praises in the Prophet! You bragged about a potential upset in that thrice-cursed tournament! And now this is it? Girl? GIRL?!"

The room rattled with her wrath. Sparks crackled between her fingertips. Edelweiss clenched her fists and reeled back her power. Now was too early. Too soon for the Force. I have yet to complete my training. I have not even sat my OWLs. Those stepping stones toward my future power are necessary, no matter how insignificant they might be.

Fudge whimpered, backing away from her. The aurors had wands drawn. Yet until she drew her wand in a foolish attempt to curse the Minister, there was nothing they could do but point their wands at her.

"Stand down," demanded Madam Bones. She stormed around her desk. When the aurors hesitated, she snarled, "If you're going to raise wands so willy-nilly, then get out of my office!"

"But ma'am," one of them protested, "Miss Potter threatened the Minister."

Madam Bones glowered at Edelweiss before telling the protesting auror, "She is quite upset about the Minister's actions towards her this year. Miss Potter should have more sense than to allow her magic such free reign, but she appears to have it under enough control to avoid violating the law."

The Minister's mouth opened. "But Amelia—"

"No buts, Cornelius. If there is a problem you have with Miss Potter, you can handle it on your own time." Madam Bones turned back to Edelweiss, her eyes a storm. "Thank you for confiding information about that past incident, Miss Potter. You are free to go. I will have another auror, one less curse happy, to escort you back to Mr. Weasley."

"Thank you for the offer, Madam, but I believe I can see my way out." Edelweiss knew Dumbledore would loathe her having the freedom to roam as she pleased. This was her sole chance before September and the inevitable return to Hogwarts to liberate herself from the presence of the adults typically around her. She gave Amelia Bones a polite nod, then turned to the Minister. "Minister Fudge. This has been my most unpleasant meeting with you—and that does include back in June when you first called me a liar."

And with that, she departed Madam Bones's office to the shouts and screams of full-grown witches and wizards. Edelweiss stormed out of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement before her simmering rage got the best of her.

Had she paused to glance into a pane of glass, she might have noticed her eyes briefly flash a poisonous, sulfuric yellow.

Edelweiss returned to Grimmauld Place with the high summer sun baking her back. Dressed in her black robe, she would have suffered without the power of the Force coursing through her. It prevented sweat and kept her cool, nearly miraculous since she could not use magic during the summer hols. Her presence at Diagon Alley garnered attention, with many sets of watching eyes following her as she went from store to store, collecting her new books, resizing her uniforms, and even restocking for potions.

She came to Number Twelve with her supplies packed away in a shrunken bag. She climbed the three steps up to the door and tried the handle. It barely turned; locked. Edelweiss scowled and rattled the handle. Her mouth opened so she might demand the house grant her entrance. She was the closest thing to an heir that Sirius had, and thus this house would be hers upon his death.

The door swung open before she could speak. Albus Dumbledore stood at the threshold. He did not look upon her as a kindly headmaster or a disappointed grandfather might. His blue eyes were thunderous. She could feel his power, restrained just to the point any who encountered him would be reminded just whom the last two dark lords feared.

She would not be like Grindelwald and Voldemort. She would not fear Dumbledore.

"Miss Potter," he said softly. She shivered. The dark side came to her, flooding her with power. Yet her passions stayed at a low simmer in the back of her mind. "You have been missing for most of the day, and have done so without leave. Kingsley was assigned to return you to Grimmauld Place after your meeting with Madam Bones. Yet instead you decided to wander muggle London. Alone and without escort during a time of war."

"I also went to Diagon for supplies," Edelweiss said. She had not known about Kingsley, but it made sense Dumbledore would trust one of his auror pawns to return her. "Still, I doubt any of Voldemort's followers are capable of walking the streets of muggle London without making a fool of themselves, And as for Diagon, since you'll ask, nobody dared walk up and speak with me. Plenty recognized me. But none acted."

"Do not underestimate what Tom is capable of," warned Dumbledore. "He is a cunning foe. He has always benefited from his enemies turning against each other."

Edelweiss struggled to not roll her eyes. The Headmaster might think his words could convince her to follow along with whatever he desired. But she saw through his intentions. If she parted ways from him and created a faction loyal to her, then he might fail to defeat Voldemort once the war reignited in full. It was an arrogant, foolish desire. Yet he was an old man, losing glory and prestige.

She had seen and read enough to know old men hated being challenged by the young—and especially by a young woman like her.

"I am well aware what kind of man Voldemort is, Headmaster. There's no need to lecture me about his ways. I could have ended up like him, were I stripped of the few sweet mercies I have snatched for myself. Were it not for my friends, for the Weasley family and their influence, I could have followed the path he blazed—or worse, made myself into one of his pathetic, simpering servants. You were the one who told me it was my choices and decisions that make me different from him, regardless of our many similarities."

Dumbledore frowned as she threw his words back into his face. He had spoken them to her following the Chamber of Secrets crisis when she had been young and foolish and coated in several foul fluids. Edelweiss knew thanks to her discovery of Lord Salazar's secret she was closer to following in Tom Riddle's footsteps than ever before. Perhaps she would be nearly identical to Voldemort, once she became the Dark Lord of the Sith.

Her master seemed certain it would happen one day.

"You should be careful how you speak, Miss Potter. Those opposed to Voldemort must work together, side by side as friends."

"'Side by side'," she repeated as her brows furrowed. "One can do that as allies, not as friends."

He smiled, regaining his grandfatherly mask. "Is there a reason we cannot be friends?"

"Is there a reason you must control where I go?" Dumbledore blinked at Edelweiss's question. "Ever since my parents died, you have influenced nearly every choice available to me. I understand my death would be a devastating blow to your cause, but can I be more than a living symbol?"

Her words hung between them for several seconds. "Yet you understand how it is, Miss Potter," Dumbledore eventually said. "You are a living symbol. I would have preferred for you to have a longer childhood, happy and safe from the evils and dangers of the world. But it seems I have failed you."

"Wishes, hopes, and dreams, Headmaster. Wishes… hopes… and dreams. Best you treat me as an equal partner or ally in this coming war, or else I shall pursue the means that best suit my interest—and my interest alone."

Dumbledore considered her for several seconds before sighing. The strength he had been projecting faded. Old sorrows, along with his exhaustion, seeped up to the surface. "Must you fight me at every turn? Only a few months ago, you trusted me with the truth of what happened that night in Little Hangleton."

"You're Albus Dumbledore," said Edelweiss. "Of course, I would tell you about his return. I only hoped you would come to terms with the fact I will not back down from my role in the war to come. I have two paths forward: victory of death. Either he dies, or I do. There is nothing else for me." She stepped in close as the Force whispered to her. She listened, and despite her training otherwise, allowed the Force to guide her next words. "I cannot live while he does. My survival requires his death."

Dumbledore paled; his shade was not the brittle white of his beard, but near enough. She felt horror and fear ripple from him. She would have savored the feeling, were she not confused by how her words had drawn a severe reaction. For a split second, she was dearly tempted to reach out with the dark side and learn what she could from him.

Her need for secrecy outweighed her curiosity. Dumbledore had learned too much of her powers already. For all Edelweiss wanted to lash out, she needed to learn patience and develop enough wisdom to properly wield her powers.

"Please step aside, Headmaster. I wish to enter."

He blinked. Whatever dark mood he had been trapped by vanished. Dumbledore stepped aside, granting enough space for her to slip past. Edelweiss continued onward into Grimmauld Place without looking back. She felt his gaze on her back. Yet she did not look back. She could not, for in a petty corner of her mind, that counted as a victory for him.

Soon enough, she would return to Hogwarts. Her mind already reached for the Chamber of Secrets and the secret hangar Lord Salazar had hidden under the school he helped raise. There awaited more holocrons, more knowledge from the ancient Sith long dead when Salazar Slytherin walked the land.

Edelweiss would learn from them. And in time, she would ascend. She would be Darth Gladiolus.