"Father and Son" Meet

After returning from Knockturn Alley, Will settled back into a satisfying routine of study. Apart from eating and sleeping, he buried himself in books to grind experience. He also exchanged letters with Sylvia and the others.

Before Christmas, Will devoted most of his time to studying Dark Magic. Partly, that was because he had gained very little Dark Magic experience at Hogwarts. The other reason...

"Imperio is one of the well-known Unforgivable Curses. The Ministry of Magic expressly forbids its use on humans. Violators face life imprisonment in Azkaban, though during a war, hardly anyone pays attention to that law."

"The Imperius Curse completely controls the target's mind, forcing them to obey the caster's commands. Note, however, that casting it repeatedly reduces its effectiveness."

"The incantation for the Imperius Curse is 'Imperio.' Pay attention to the wand movement when casting it, as well as..."

[You acquired new Dark Magic knowledge. Dark Magic experience +1]

[You acquired new Charms knowledge. Charms experience +1]

[You acquired new Dark Magic knowledge. Dark Magic experience +1]

[You acquired new Charms knowledge. Charms experience +1]

That was right: Will was learning the Imperius Curse. Some spells might never need to be used, but that did not mean he could afford not to know them. The Unforgivable Curses were a case in point.

He had held off for two reasons. First, his Occlumency had not been strong enough, and he had worried someone might discover what he knew after he entered Hogwarts. He had not met Dumbledore then, so he had no idea whether Dumbledore was truly the greatest white wizard or an evil old bee hiding behind a kindly face. Second, he had no use for the curse in the early stages of his plan and had not expected to need it for years. Nor had he expected his father in name only to come looking for him.

Plans rarely survived a change in circumstances.

Snow fell over London on December 24, 1991. At home, Will sat by the fire and read a Transfiguration book to pass the time.

Two in the afternoon.

Fine snowflakes drifted through the air, blanketing London in white. A dark stretch limousine wound through the streets and stopped outside a middle-class home.

An impeccably dressed older man stepped out of the front passenger seat. His charcoal-gray suit was pressed without a crease, a silver-gray bow tie sat at the collar of his white shirt, and his gloves were brand-new ivory lambskin. This was Thomas Gray, butler to the Howard family.

Thomas looked at the rather shabby house and put on a flawless smile. The Earl of Arundel clearly attached great importance to this illegitimate son. Why else would he send his butler to collect him in person?

Thomas had only just crossed the lawn and had not yet rung the bell when a boy opened the door. The boy had refined features, but his skin was pale and his expression cold. His unusual silver-gray eyes looked colder still amid the falling snow.

Thomas immediately approached at an even pace and stopped exactly two steps from Mr. Berens. He bowed slightly. "Good afternoon, Master Will. The Earl is waiting for you. I'm his butler; you may call me Thomas."

"Thank you," Will said softly, handing him his suitcase. There was an uncommon charm in even his smallest movements.

Before leaving, Thomas had been told by the Earl that Will's mother had passed away. He had expected the boy to be somewhat rough around the edges. Instead, Will was courteous and seemed remarkably well brought up, much to Thomas's surprise.

Will handed Thomas the suitcase and stepped into the limousine.

His first thought was, Damn capitalism.

The dark brown leather lining the inside of the door was so fine he could feel its delicate grain. Pale gold stitching ran along its edges, the stitches so tight that the seams were almost invisible.

Walnut Wood paneling clearly divided the cabin into two sections, with the main area reserved for Will. It ran from the doors to the center console. The grain was naturally straight, and rather than being polished to a shine, the wood retained its warm feel. Brass fittings engraved with simple scrollwork joined the panels.

The leather sofa was designed just right, soft and comfortable to recline on. Two brass knobs were set into the Walnut Wood armrest on the left: one adjusted the backrest's angle, while the other switched on the heat. Once turned, the leather gradually grew pleasantly warm, without any sudden, scorching heat.

Beside him, several cassettes sat next to a vintage tape player. Their labels read Mozart's "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" and a collection of British folk songs.

Cream-colored velvet lined the ceiling, as soft to the touch as a cloud. A ring of small, warm-yellow lights was set where the lining met the Walnut Wood trim, casting a gentle glow into every corner when lit.

The Howard family was plainly wealthy. Will wondered how many Potions ingredients and magic books this one car could buy.

Will pushed the two wands a little farther up his sleeve. After a casual look around, he closed his eyes and rested in the back seat. The Howard family's wealth certainly tempted him, but he had not lost his head. He knew exactly where he stood. There was no chance he would inherit that fortune through normal channels or by normal means.

What Will needed to do was keep using his advantages to grow stronger. In a world where one person's power could surpass that of an entire group, strength was the foundation of everything.

After putting the suitcase in the trunk, Thomas took a seat in the back as well. Finding Will reclining with his eyes closed, he thought the boy stranger still. How could a child from such a modest household, whose mother had died, show not the slightest wonder at a limousine like this?

Perhaps that was why the Earl paid him so much attention.

The limousine headed southwest.

Arundel Castle stood in West Sussex, about sixty-five miles from London and normally a two-hour drive. Because of the snow, the journey took them three and a half hours.

At six that evening, the limousine finally pulled into the castle's parking area.

Will followed Thomas into the castle. Quite a few servants saw him along the way but paid him no attention. Before long, the two arrived at a lavish study and met the Earl of Arundel: Will's biological father, Edward Philanthus Howard.

The man wore a finely tailored dark brown suit and was handling business beneath a bright light. His skin was somewhat dark. Will had already activated the Wizard's Eye, but he saw not a trace of Magic in the Earl. The man was a Muggle through and through.

When Edward saw Will enter, he set down his fountain pen and waved Thomas out of the study.

He looked Will up and down for a long while, then smiled, apparently pleased with what he saw. But his words did not please Will at all. "Will, you won't even call me Father."

"Father." Will's voice was cold and stiff. He fought back the urge to use the Imperius Curse. Until he knew whether the Howard family had any Wizards behind it, he would not act rashly.

Across two lifetimes, this was his first "father."

And yet Will's hand gripped the old wand inside his sleeve.