Harry Potter: Instant Kill

The party was now in full flow as Elizabeth and my grandmother returned, immediately they were accosted by an angry Malfoy "Mrs Greengrass may I ask you about the validity of something your daughter has said tonight? She has told everyone here that she is engaged to one Erik Bodewig, someone I have no idea about instead of being engaged to my sweet entirely pure-blooded Draco. Is this factual or was she just trying to embarrass us?" The pompous fool spewed out. 

"I can assure you Mr Malfoy that no mistake was made by my daughter as she was indeed engaged to Erik way before you even thought of trying to make a deal for her betrothal. It was decided by an ancient contract when they were born so there is no way out of it." Elizabeth replied with a smile on her face that told Lucius clearly how it made her feel to spoil his plans. "Just who is this kid who will be marrying your daughter, I haven't even heard of the Bodewig family and we have businesses all across the world."

"That would be my Grandson and it is no wonder you haven't heard of us as it is a family curse for first-born heirs to stay at home and learn magic with their parents whereas any subsequent males take on a different family name and go out into the world with the support of the family. This curse was meant to kill our family off but it caused our family to sire

 many well-known families, for instance, the Dumbledore family is an offshoot of ours with dumbledores father being the third son of that generation, Grindelwald also another line, and the Lestrange line was started way back in the 700s by one of our lines and of course, how could we forget that the Potters and the blacks have origins within our family but those are before the Hogwarts was built." My grandma said to the pompous prick as she thoroughly knocked the wind out of his sails.

The party had lulled itself into silence as the audience to the conversation grew in number, with quite a few shocked by the revelations being dropped. Over the quiet that was made a voice spoke, "I hope I am not too late to this party I had some business at the ministry to wrap up." The voice which broke many of the masses including Lucius out of shock was none other than Albus Dumbledore himself. "Not at all professor, there has only been some dancing so far so you are in time for the birthday girl to blow out her candles," Elizabeth said as she motioned for her house elf to bring out the 3 tiered cake covered in snowflakes and ice sculptures.

"Albus even at this age you are still a tardy little boy, I remember when you used to come in late when you were playing down in the village. Don't get me started when you started school, not a week went by where your father didn't receive an owl telling him you were late to all your classes again." My grandmother chided the man as if he still was the little boy and not one of the strongest mages in the world, I could tell since his magic flow was like a torrential river whereas mine was a stagnant stream. The elderly man didn't get angry at my Gran's words he simply smiled and said "My dear aunt I haven't seen you in years, it must have been since my father passed, how are you?"

At this point, I tuned the conversation they were having out as Elizabeth approached me, "Erik dear we have identified the mouse you and your grandma discovered, it is what is left when a bogart dies and it is a very useful potion ingredient. Also because you asked for it to be identified, I was able to find a potion to possibly deal with a problem of mine. Since you have helped me out I have found it fitting to aid you by giving you a book my family got when Grindelwald fell and since it relates to your family you may be able to read it." Handing me a thick black leather-bound book with what looked like burn marks all over it she then left towards the cake and had Daphne blow the candles out.

Quickly looking at the front cover I saw an odd squiggle that slowly transformed into words, 'The Beauty of Magic." I turned the first page to find that there was a message, "For the people who read this, there are many secrets in this world, some of them horrifying and some of them beautiful. This is to aid in the creation of more beauty, this book will aid in alchemy, potion making and spell work. The future looks forward to what you will create." Doing a cursory browse through the book showed many alchemy props, potions and some spells that were crafted to look beautiful during and after casting all in many different handwriting. The book also had space for stuff to be added towards the end of each chapter. Right at the end of the spell work chapter, there was a spell I recognised Protago Diabolica, it detailed the wand movements and also the counter-curse as well as a small special note on how to shape it and fiend fire which the spell is based into different "beautiful" shapes such as dragons or basilisks with a signature 'G. Grindelwald.'

The excitement of having this book put a permanent smile on my face, one Daphne said suited me, it also caused the evening to fly by leading to the end where most guests had left and it was just Elizabeth, Daphne, my Grandmother, Dumbledore and me left. "I will bid you goodnight Aunty I will see you next Friday when we have that tea party, until then be well." with those last words in the air Dumbledore apparated away with a soft pop leaving a letter which slowly floated towards me. On the letter was a crest I recognised for it was the Bodewig family crest and all it said on the front was "To Erik, Open when alone."