It was currently 4:00 am and Obelia was in Hog Head's Inn. She was currently looking out the window patiently waiting until the sound of an open door caught her attention. Similar to what she was wearing, a man with black hair was wearing all black, down to his leather shoes.
"Uncle Han, over here!" Obelia said, motioning with her hand to come quickly to the table she was sitting at. The tall man walked over and sat on the opposite side of her.
"There is my cute little niece, tell me, how's Hogwarts for you?" Han said, chuckling a little at the sour face Obelia had when he mentioned Hogwarts.
"Everything is strange, I met Draco Malfoy and he said he wanted to be friends, I saw the savior, and I even got sorted into Slytherin! Can you believe that? Me? A Slytherin!?" Obelia said in shock, shaking her head in disapproval.
"Well, you do-" before Han could continue his sentence, Obelia had beaten him to it, "come from a family of criminals, I know." She rolled her eyes, not wanting to talk about it. Han, who got the hint, quickly changed the subject.
"Well anyways, I got a small manor a bit far from Diagon Alley, that is where you will be staying during breaks, I even got you a house-elf," Han said, snapping his fingers and a small house-elf came running to him.
"His name is Gin, make sure you take care of him, if you need anything from me you can contact me through him." Han pushed Gin near Obelia and Obelia looked at the small house-elf before looking back at her uncle.
"Are you going away again?" She asked, knowing the answer already. Her family could never really stay in one place for too long, and she knew it better than anyone. Han looked at her disappointed face before patting her head once again.
"I'm sorry sweetie, I came here to ask you for something before I leave, I'm quite the selfish uncle aren't I?" Han looked disappointed in himself before finally pulling out a small scroll.
"You're not selfish, I'd rather have you be safe having my items than you endangered without them," Obelia said, picking up the small scroll and unrolling it. She sighed and tapped her diamond hanging earring, a string of white fog came out and she watched the fog twist and twirl before landing into her hand. A small pouch appeared in her hand and she tossed it to him.
"This has everything you need, maybe even more, and don't worry about having to pay me back, we are family after all," Obelia remembered how hard it was to get those items. Most of the items were potions in marble form for easy consumption, but dragon-blood talismans were in there as well.
"My niece is just the cutest, I'll make sure to bring sweets and pretty jewels next time." Han pinched Obelia's cheek before getting up, and he disappeared into the shadows. Obelia rolled her eyes, 'leaving right after you got the items, how cold.'
Obelia was about the get up to leave as well, she had to return to Hogwarts before people found out she was missing, however, life had other plans as another man appeared right in front of her.
"H-headmaster!" Obelia quickly backed away and grabbed the house-elf Gin by the hand, maybe if she ran away now the old man would think it was just a dream. She had chosen to meet her uncle here because Dumbledore's brother and him were not on good terms. 'Why in the world is he here!? I was so careful not to leave a trace!'
"Sit, Obelia." He said before another man appeared, Aberforth Dumbledore. "I supposed you are here to pick up a student, but you're not welcome here, leave." He said in a cold tone to Dumbledore, picking up a rag and glaring at him before turning to Obelia.
"Next time you sneak out choose a location he doesn't know, he walks into whatever place he wants, even if he is not welcomed." Aberforth glared at Dumbledore while saying that, and picked up the gold galleon on the table.
"My, how impatient you have become, those eyes of yours won't kill a man."
Dumbledore seemed to not mind his younger brother as he turned to look at Obelia. "I believe me and you have some important matters to discuss, since I'm not welcome here, how about a walk?" He got up from his seat not waiting for her answers and stretched out his hand for Obelia to reach for. Obelia was still in a state of shock and unintentionally grabbed it.
'Why… are they out of character? And how did I get caught?!' She was someone who could be in one place for a second and disappeared in the next, so she was in a daze as she followed Dumbledore out of Hog Head's Inn. Gin followed her from behind, looking at his new master.
___
Obelia noticed where she was heading, it was the entrance to Hogwarts, but they were still quite far. Dumbledore begins to speak now that they where away from Hog Head's Inn. "Sneaking out the very first day of school, I didn't expect you to be the first troublemaker this year, Miss Wever, how surprising." He chucked for a bit before glancing at Obelia.
"H-How did you know?" Obelia stumbled over her words a bit and looked at Dumbledore, and all he did was smile and shake his head, pointing to Hogwarts from afar.
"Hogwarts is my home, and I know what goes in and out of it." He took a look at his pocket watch and continued, "I have a favor to ask of you Miss Wever, and it's something only you can do." He placed the pocket watch in Obelia's hands before continuing to walk again.
"If it's about Harry Potter I have no intention to help you protect him, you know it too right?" Obelia passed the pocket watch to Gin before following, "What made you think inviting a Squib was a good idea anyways?" Obelia asked walking faster to keep up with the headmaster.
"I need a trustworthy student, to see things I can't," Dumbledore walked slower noticing Obelia struggling. "And as for why I invited you…well…only time will tell."
Obelia rolled her eyes unintentionally. She knew how much Dumbledore favored Gryffindor and how he had a strong dislike for Slytherin. "Ha, why don't you go ask the honest Hufflepuffs? Perhaps the smart Ravenclaws? Or how about a brave Gryffindor? Maybe someone who can use magic!" She said in a rude tone, she had no plans to die, and if it meant acting rude to convince the other party not to trust her, then so be it.
Obelia knew with her limited knowledge, she would need to play it safe, she needed to get stronger yet remain quite. 'Act like a fool and they think you're a fool' Obelia looked at the large back ahead of her and felt a sense of weakness.
Dumbledore finally turned around to see Obelia panting and gripping her knees. "Because I know you can do no harm, at least in the eyes of others, you are very good at flipping the blame, I've been watching you for quite a while now, it's very entertaining."
Obelia suddenly remembered her first trip to Diagon Alley and her eyes widened in shock.
'He was there at that time wasn't he?'
___
Obelia panted quickly and made her way into an alleyway, gasping for air. 'I can't believe I ran into an Auror my first trip here, how unlucky.' She quickly put her cloak back on and made her way to the main street again. She held her breath for a while to prevent herself from panting loudly and gripped her cloak
"Caught you, how dare you try and escape, did you think I wouldn't notice you using magic to trip me!?" The Auror gripped her wrist and she turned around with a surprised look on her face.
"And you are?" She said before yanking her arm away from him in disgust pulling down her clock in the process. The Auror stood in shock, he had gotten the wrong person, not to mention this person looked like a young pure-blood wizard from a noble family.
"Ah, I'm sorry Miss, I was looking for a brown-haired girl with green eyes, and you looked like her…" Obelia smiled internally, she had just removed her disguise artifact and was back to black hair with gray eyes. 'Artifacts are so useful in times like these.'
"Maybe you should check before gripping another person's wrist, you never know who you might offend." Obelia touched her wrist gently and glared at the Auror, "I thought the Aurors here would be busy, but I guess they aren't since they are chasing children."
The Auror had an embarrassed look on his face and was about to yell but remembered how he didn't recognize the girl even thought she looked wealthy. 'A rich foreigner, they are always so entitled.' He quickly apologized for the misunderstanding and turned back around, knowing he could do nothing about it.
___
"That wasn't even me flipping the blame at him! He tripped and accused me!" Obelia quickly cleared her name, if Dumbledore was watching her then he would know it wasn't technically her fault.
"I could have sworn you kicked his feet preventing him from reaching for the last chocolate bar." Dumbledore hummed after he spoke, recoiling the scene.
"I was there first!" Obelia quickly said before realizing what she had done, since she had failed to deny it first, she unintentionally admitted guilt. "Headmaster, I can explain."
"No need, I'm not here to judge you, only to ask, will you watch over him?" Obelia stopped walking for a second, and asked, "Why should I?" Dumbledore shook his head and sighed, "I know there is something you want, and I just so happen to have it." He pulled out a small key.
"One year. I only need you to watch him for one year, and if you succeed in keeping him safe, this key is yours." Dumbledore moved the key close to Obelia and as she was about to grab it he yanked it back.
"I'll keep him alive. For one year." Obelia said before making her way back to the Slytherin dorms, but stopped and turned back. " You won't report me for sneaking out right? I mean I never promised to follow the rules, it's your fault for expecting me to follow them,
I promise next time I-." Obelie looked at the chuckling Dumbledore and then noticed him slowly disappearing. "There won't be a next time Obelia"
'Because next time I won't get caught' Obelia finally noticed the house-elf still by her side. "Why don't you wear something decent?" Obelia said before pulling out a measuring tape.
"H-House-elves wear makeshift clothes to symbolize-" Obelia quickly stopped Gin from finishing his sentence and looked at him, "Do you want clothes? Do you want to be free?" Obelia did not need a house-elf, her family was very wealthy, even if it was all stolen, and she didn't like the sight of Gin wearing only rags.
"I-I don't know" Gin had never been asked such a question causing him to go into a state of shock. Obelia looked at him and sighed. "Tell me when you have an answer, for now go to the manor and clean the place, I'll pass by, don't get killed." Obelia turned back to leave not waiting for the Gin's answer.
The sun had started to rise and she rushed back, her first day at Hogwarts would officially start soon. When making it back to the room and into bed she suddenly felt a chill near her neck.
'Why do I feel…a little uneasy?'