Pull of Evil

Chapter Two: Choices

The walk back across the island was a long one. Legs and feet ached, and by the time Corrine and Dumbledore reached the monastery, every inch of exposed skin was frozen from the salted wind. Corrine settled instantly by the fire, where Minty their house-elf was preparing a meager dinner. The old monks' cooking hall was a large room used for both dining and preparing meals. The long table where her mother sat rocking back and forth in her madness was scrubbed clean, as was most of their home. This was the room they spent most of their time. Southern windows and a wide door led to the small kitchen garden, where the stunted plants attempted to grow in the desolate climate. Corrine often wondered how the hermit monks who had once lived there survived without magic.

"'Ere you are, miss," said Minty, placing a second cloak around Corrine's shoulders, though it did little to warm her. Corrine often tried to get Minty to wear more than a wool feed sack. How the ancient elf didn't freeze she had no idea. This place seemed to have a cold that reached deep into the very marrow of the bones. Only calm and perpetually serene Dumbledore appeared immune to the chill, but Corrine knew deep within him somewhere, it must reach him.

Dumbledore took out his wand, and with a fanciful twirl conjured a fine bottle of red wine. He poured a cup and brought it over to Helen. She smiled and took it from him, then continued to rock back and forth, humming an odd tune.

"Would you care for a small glass, Corrine?" Dumbledore asked. "It does rather help you to feel warm," he said, placing it on a small table next to her.

Corrine nodded, not wanting to refuse what surely would be a rare treat. Slowly she drank the wine. It burned a little as it went down her throat, but she liked the fruity taste and it most certainly warmed her. After a frugal meal of fish and onions, they retired to the cells that once belonged to the monks. Corrine only lay on her straw pallet a little while before going to sleep. The red wine had no doubt, another purpose.

Even while she was asleep, she knew that Dumbledore had been up late with her mother. Sometimes she thought that she could hear them talking, or the sounds of an incantation or two. She had long ago given up hope that her mother would ever be normal. She knew all she could do was savor the rare moments of clarity. Dumbledore never gave up. With every visit he tried, though Corrine secretly believed that there were things Dumbledore needed that only she had. There had been whispered talk of memories and information about the Dark Lord, none of which could be obtained until her mental illness improved.

It wasn't the twilight that one could scarcely call morning that woke Corrine, but a strange new sound outside her door. An animal was scratching at it; an animal that she knew about but had never seen. Her heart leapt and she tentatively walked up towards the soft whimpering sound. A second after opening her door, a warm and round little puppy bounded into her room, tail wagging and excited. Moments later, a second puppy came lopping in. Instantly Corrine, found herself on the floor being bathed in canine kisses and rolling around with the islands' new occupants.

Her happiness was overwhelming. Corrine felt as though she hadn't smiled so wide in her life. Where people made her feel uncomfortable, animals were another thing all together. Her daily life revolved around caring for the sheep, goats, and chickens of the island. Around them she felt completely at ease. A goat's reactions were always predictable. None of the questioning eyes or hurtful words. Animals couldn't curse, torment or torture you. They couldn't do any of the terrible things which she knew from her mother that people were capable of. Animals were simple: eat, sleep, play, be safe. That's all they knew. She loved the animals of the island. Each spring, the arrival of new lambs and other babies was a joy. But nothing was so wonderful as the two little puppies that came bounding into her room.

"I see your birthday presents have managed to find you," said Dumbledore, standing serenely at the door.

Corrine rose, the two little pups still hopping at her feet. "Oh, thank you! I love them! Are they Collies?" she asked.

"Shetland Sheepdogs to be specific. Smaller than Collies, but a related breed. I thought that they would be helpful herding the sheep and so forth, not to mention giving you some companionship. I had an Irish Wolfhound for a long time. So large a dog that I could almost ride him as a steed."

Corrine giggled and settled herself back on the floor, where the puppies bounced in and out of her lap. They both had a mostly white coat, one with brown patches, the other with black. She noticed that one was a girl, the other a boy. That could be trouble later.

"What will you name them?" asked Albus.

"I'm not sure. I always think that you have to rather see the personality of the animal before giving them a name. What about your pet? Where's Fawkes?" she asked.

"Oh, Fawkes is not a pet. A true friend and companion. So powerful a creature could never be called a pet. He is around here somewhere. He's not terribly fond of the island, but will come if I need him."

Corrine snorted. "Who is fond of this island?" she asked, knowing that the answer being a small group of long dead monks.

Everyone gathered for a nice breakfast together. Dumbledore insisted on conjuring a large fare rather than eating from the meager stores they had. Corrine tried to go about her daily chores, but couldn't help going back to her puppies repeatedly. After milking and feeding the goats and sheep, she moved on to gathering eggs and preparing the cheeses that were the bulk of their diet aside from the fish they caught daily. It was a hard life there; there was no escaping that. Minty was her only real help. She used her magic to aid things where she could and was a strong sturdy elf. Corrine's mother had been handy with a charm or two before she snapped her own wand. Other than that, her madness prevented her from doing much. Indeed, they spent a great deal of effort on her, rather than her actually helping in most ways. Still, Corrine didn't blame her. Not even knowing that her madness was caused by the man she had loved. It didn't change the fact that she loved her mother, and her mother had done everything to see that she was safe and alive as far away from her father as possible.

Around midday she ventured to take a break. The sun was finally warm in the sky and Corrine decided to bring the puppies and a small lunch down to the beach. Al came with her and mostly smiled as he watched her play with the dogs, throwing them scraps of food. She wondered what other presents he had brought her. There was usually a large supply. In addition to the presents were things to help them last out the year; grain, food and drink, and the like. Once he brought her a pair of dragon skin boots that were very useful until her feet grew too large for them. Finally, curiosity got the better of Corrine.

"So where are the rest of my presents?" she asked, still playing with the puppies. Corrine could scarcely believe how tiny and fragile their little bodies felt in her hands.

"They are at the house."

"It's not a house, it's a monastery," she corrected.

"True, but it is your home, so one would think to call it a house."

Corrine just shrugged, It was scarcely worth arguing about. She continued to play with the pups until the sun began to low, and the wind picked up again.

Corrine was chasing the female who was wandering too close to the water when she felt it. Normally she was careful to not get too close the edge of the island, unless of course she had to do fishing. Whenever she got near the edge of her world, she would feel a terrible buzzing sensation in her head and a wave of nausea. There were other times she felt it, too. Sometimes when she could see into her mothers mind, she felt it, when the deep scars of her father's magic made themselves known. There were other things that made her feel that way, too. Some magical objects made her feel it, certain places on the isle. She didn't know exactly what it was, but tried to ignore it as best she could. Today, however, she was unprepared for it.

Before she knew she had stumbled, Al was there helping her up. "How often does that happen, Corrine?" he asked.

She shrugged and reached for the pup who was already showing concern for its new master. "Once in a while," she said. "It's nothing. I usually know when it's coming and can offset it. I'm just distracted today."

"Well, let's come away from the shore now."

They walked up the path to the monastery in silence. It had been a good day, even for a birthday, but she knew the pleasing portion of the day was soon to be over. He had said there were even more difficult things they had to discuss, and she could see in his mind that he was trying to prepare himself to speak them.

Helen was actually doing well when they returned. She enjoyed spinning wool. Somehow, the rhythmic turning helped her mind. Minty was busy with house-work, and Dumbledore decided to take the opportunity with everyone so busy to speak with Corrine. They were in Corrine's room. She sat on the pallet bed, and Dumbledore on a lone chair. The sun was well down by then, (it wasn't yet four in the afternoon) and a small fire glowed in the corner fireplace. Despite the importance of what she was about to discuss, Corrine could not take her attention away from the puppies.

This did not bother Dumbledore. It seemed to make him more at ease. He sat smiling at her before finally begging to speak. "Would you believe me, Corrine, if I told you that I had children?" he asked her.

Corrine knew that it wasn't very good to tell people immediately that she knew that they were lying. "Maybe," she responded.

"Would you believe me if I told you that I had several hundred children?" he asked.

Corrine couldn't help but laugh. "No."

Al chuckled, too. "And why not?" he inquired.

"Well, you are old enough to have had a large handful of kids, but your not nearly good looking enough to have had so many girlfriends." She joked with a smile.

Albus laughed at the remark, clearly not used to such comments but appreciative nonetheless. "And you would be right, my dear. I have never had a child of my own. Though I am very fond of my niece and nephew. I have a school. It is a large one where many a generation of witches and wizards have come to learn magic. Hogwarts, it is called. Perhaps you've heard of it?" he asked.

She had. Not often or in any detail, but she had heard name enough to know that was where her mother had gone to school. No doubt her father had gone there, too. "I've heard a little bit about it. I didn't know it was yours."

"Not precisely mine, I am the school's headmaster. We have many professors and a multitude of youngsters learning the arts of magic."

Corrine began to feel a cold fear creeping into her chest. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked, knowing full well the answer already.

"Because you are now of the age when students enter Hogwarts. Your mother is wary of the idea of your studying magic. I think you understand why, but I think that you should be taught. You have a place at the school if you want one."

For a moment Corrine did not respond. The thought of leaving Eynhallow was certainly welcome, but it brought with it a plethora of other emotions. Though she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have friends, people to talk to, and to not have to work so hard just to get through the day, Corrine was smart enough to know that it would be a huge adjustment, having grown up in isolation. She wasn't sure if she was more excited or worried at the thought of it.

"What about my mother? How would she get on without me?" asked Corrine.

"Despite everything, Helen has remained a remarkably strong woman. I think she will be fine. And you'll be coming back in the summers, so it's not as though you won't be seeing her. It is other matters that I think will be more difficult."

"And what's that?" demanded Corrine, a little more harshly than she had intended to.

"The decision whether or not to study magic will be a large one in itself. You mother does not wish it. She has been given great cause to fear what uses you might put magic to. She is worried that your father's blood will inevitably influence you. I think not. I have seen none of the evil that was already so prevalent in your father at your age. It is of course your decision as to whether or not you want to study magic, but I do believe that it will be almost impossible for you to not use the magical abilities that you have. Even if you consciously tried to forgo all magic, I think it would always manage to find a way into your life. My main concerns about you are for your safety."

"Isn't Hogwarts safe?" she asked.

"Indeed, it is one of the safest places in the world, but that is only one element of the problem. I do not know what would happen if the world knew that Lord Voldemort had sired a child. Yesterday you had asked me, or rather required a confirmation, that you thought your father would seek you out if he knew of your existence. It is more than that. He would never rest until he found you. He may be gone for the meantime, but I have never doubted that he will return."

His words hung in the room for a while. The cold seemed have grown doubly since they had started talking, and the anxiety Corrine had begun to feel now punctured her chest like a knife. "What would he do with me?" she asked, her voice a scarce whisper.

Albus shook his head. "I do not precisely know. Expect you to follow and serve him, no doubt, but it would be complicated. Your being his daughter would instantly give you power amongst his Death Eaters. Power is not something Voldemort shares easily. Also, he has never had any desire to have children, or heirs. His aim was always to become immortal. If one cannot die, than it makes little sense to have an heir to their power. He may also have other worries in regards to you. He may very well feel threatened by your existence."

"Threatened by me? You're kidding, right?" she asked.

"Oh, yes, he would be threatened by you, Corrine. You will have inherited a great number of his talents and skills, as well as those from your mother. She was no meager witch herself. She too, is heir to a great, long standing pure-blood line that is centuries old. That was, naturally, her appeal for him. But there are many other people to be considered."

"Like who?"

"There are still many Death Eaters living freely among us, Corrine. I would expect them to have a great desire to take you for themselves, raise you to be their new leader. A Dark Queen, from a Dark Lord. That is a terrible danger in of itself. Your father's followers are nearly as dangerous as he was. With a new point around which to rally, they would be even more so. Not to mention the damage they would doubtless cause you."

The idea of being kidnapped and raised by Death Eaters was not exactly pleasant. She wasn't sure what to say. Unfortunately, Dumbledore had even more to add.

"There is still yet another fear in regards to the public knowing of your parentage. We know what Voldemort's followers are capable of, but we do not know what the rest of the magical world would do."

"What do you mean?" asked Corrine.

Dumbledore seemed even more uncomfortable now. "I have had many disagreements with the Ministry of Magic over the years. I suspect that they would be terrified if they knew a child of Voldemort existed. I have no idea whatsoever as to what they would do with that knowledge. They may do nothing at all, or do things that may be harmful in the extreme. While I would always support and advocate for you, I suspect that the ministry would attempt to interfere with your freedoms. Some people forget that we cannot choose our parents. They may try and take you away, too. To St. Mungos or even to Azkaban. They could be capable of as much damage and wrongdoing as your father's allies. I think that you can see, there is only one true option available to us, should you decided to go to Hogwarts."

"To hide that I am Voldemort's child," she said, having come to the conclusion earlier.

"It would not be easy. While I do not relish the thought of you having to lie to people, it does appear to be the only avenue available to us. We could easily manufacture a story about you being a muggle-born student, or perhaps an orphan. We would have to give you a new name, but there would be signs. Your ability to talk to snakes-- Parseltongue, it is called. You also look very much like your father. Luckily, there are very few people who now remember him as the handsome and charming man he once was. It would nonetheless be hard to hide."

Corrine thought for a few minutes without talking. There had been far too much to take in already. While she had no plan of advertising who her father was, it was still different than being required to live a lie to the entire world. It only confirmed what she had thought yesterday, that she would forever be cursed by her father's blood. His hand would always be there, pulling evil towards her.

"I don't like it. I don't like the idea of having to lie my entire life. Someone will find out. I know when people lie to me. There have to be others like that?" she said.

"Indeed there are. A true Legilimens is rare, but there are those with talent enough even amongst the Hogwarts professors. They would know that you were lying. There is also Veritaserum, a powerful truth potion that would let loose even the tightest of tongues."

"You don't think it is even safe for the other teachers to know?" she asked.

"My professors would always be loyal to me and follow whatever instructions I gave them. Even if the devil's own child appeared as a student, if I wanted him taught, they would teach him. With a great deal of scrutiny, I must add."

Corrine couldn't speak. She had no idea of what to do. Leave her mother in total isolation? Learn how to live among people, away from her animals, away from her life? It would change everything. Not only that, but she would have to lie everyday of her life in the outside world. But she could leave the island, and that had to count for something.

"To offset the problem of the public learning about your father through you, I could perform a certain magic that I dislike even to mention. I could perform a memory charm on you, so that you yourself would no longer know that you are the child of Voldemort. Then I would be the only person who knew for sure who your father is. I would, of course, at some point reverse it. If I did that, the most anyone could ever do is suspect."

Corrine was shaking her head before he had even finished speaking. "No. I don't want that! Detestable as it is, this is who I am. You can't just block it out! Besides, you said there would be those who would suspect anyway."

"Correct," said Dumbledore gravely. "This is your decision to make, Corrine. I can only guide you. This island has been like a prison to you. You have a chance to escape it."

Corrine shook her head. "No I don't. You tell me that I can leave, and study magic, but you tell me that I'll have to lie for the rest of my life. I don't like that, Albus. You may think that my mother will be fine without me, but I am the only reason she has lived this long. My leaving would destroy her. Why can't she come with me?" she asked.

"It would not be safe, Corrine. Helen was a known Death Eater. She is believed dead. If she were discovered she would be taken to prison in Azkaban. Plus, in one of her moments of lucidity, she might accidentally tell someone the identity of your father. It is too dangerous an option to consider."

Corrine nodded. She knew he was right. "But she doesn't want me studying magic anyway?"

Dumbledore sighed. "Indeed, she does not."

Corrine looked down at her puppies. They had fallen asleep on her pallet and were warm and soft next to her body. She could still hear the clicking of the spindle in the next room. Her mother was humming as she deftly turned the puffs of fleece into fine yarn. Corrine knew what her decision must be.

"I can't go, Albus. My mother sacrificed everything for me. For me she defied the Dark Lord, risked her life to take care of me and keep me away from him. She might be mad, but she has kept me safe here and loved me. I will not abandon her. She needs me, Al. You say that she will be fine without me, but I don't think so. She risked everything for me. What would I be if I took that chance she gave me and risked divulging to the world the secret that she kept hidden? Let alone the fact that I'd be leaving her here alone to rot? She did everything to prevent the Dark Lord from learning of me, how could I risk anyone learning about me? Not just for myself and what the world might do with me, but for her. It just wouldn't be fair and you know it."

Dumbledore listened calmly. In the end, he smiled. "I find it hard to believe that I am hearing the voice of such a young girl. However, I would not have asked you if I did not think that you could make this decision. I will respect your choice."

Corrine nodded. For the second time in as many days she felt hot tears burning inside her eyes. She closed them tightly, stroking the pups. She would not cry. Tears were weak. Just look at the dogs, she told herself. The male had its head in her lap. He had brown and reddish markings on his face and hind. Brady, I'll call him Brady, she decided.

Dumbledore was smiling again when she looked up at him, the tears finally pushed back. She could feel him trying to look into her mind. It took her less than a moment to push him out with a quick shove of her own.

Albus laughed as the force of her unvoiced shield sent him back in his chair. "You see, you couldn't not use magic if you tried. I think I can offer a compromise. Normally, while students are away from Hogwarts in the summer, they are not permitted to use magic. I think we can manage the reverse for you. How about if I teach you during the summers while I visit, and you refrain from using magic during the year?" he asked.

Corrine's head shot up, heart thumping beyond imagining. "You can do that?" she asked.

"I'm the headmaster, I can do a great many things," he said.

"When do we start?" asked Corrine, anticipation rising.

"Oh, I think we can begin our lessons in the morning."