Chapter 2 Della Riddle
Della knew very early on that she was different.
Before she was able to use the magic that Dumbledore mentioned, she met Maggie, discovered her ability to talk to snakes, and with the help of the little snakes, she survived her difficult childhood.
When she was a little older, she discovered something abnormal about her eyes.
As long as she silently recites her request in her mind when looking at someone, she can control that person to a certain extent, of course, within a certain limit.
In order to achieve better control, she had to behave well and her requests should not be too excessive. However, just getting some clothes that fit her was already good enough in this orphanage.
After mastering this ability, Della also thought about finding a well-off family to adopt her. If she continued to use her ability, she would indeed be able to live a good life.
However, as she realized, she was different, no matter where she went, she was different, so if she just placed dolls around her, anywhere would do.
Before the arrival of Dumbledore, the old man with a white beard who looked like someone in a fairy tale book, except for the children whom Della deliberately left behind to show her true self, she had turned all the adults around her into uncles and aunts who doted on her.
Della has her own little room, a large, shabby but sturdy bookshelf, her own small wardrobe, and can use Mrs. Lamp's reading card to go to the town library. She can read books all day without working and still get the most care from the director's mother.
Her eyes were very convenient for her life, but they also made everything, including herself, boring.
When Della noticed Dumbledore's presence, the first thing she thought of was the possibility of facing trial, but she was not panicked at all, and even felt a little relieved.
She overused her abilities for her own convenience and had long since fallen into the abyss of numbness. At this moment, the judgment that could end everything would probably also destroy the bottomless abyss.
But her luck was better than she imagined, because Dumbledore, who could really be said to be an old grandfather from a fairy tale book, came to take her to the world where she belonged.
"You did a great job, Della. I think you are really talented." Dumbledore praised Della as she packed all the luggage in a small handbag under his guidance. He then continued, "The next step is to purchase the items on the list. If you don't mind, I will -"
Dumbledore paused for a moment, causing Della, who was organizing a book, to turn to look at him, quietly waiting for what to say next.
"I'll arrange for an elf to take you. I just suddenly remembered that I have something else to do." Dumbledore smiled apologetically at Della.
"It's okay, Principal. I'm already very happy that you can come to see me in person." Della said politely to him and turned around to put away the last book.
"You really don't act like a child. You'd be cuter if you had more childishness, Della." Dumbledore said half-jokingly. He waved his wand at the admission letter on the table, turning the letter into a white bird stained with ink and shining with light.
"It will lead the way for you tomorrow morning. Don't worry, Muggles can't see it." Dumbledore said, and he stood up. "I think I should go now. I look forward to seeing you at Hogwarts, our little witch."
"I'm looking forward to seeing you when school starts, Principal." Della smiled sweetly. Although her eyes were still filled with bottomless darkness, her delicate features made her look very lovable.
After seeing Dumbledore off, Della sat on her little bed, staring at the empty little house in a daze, not knowing what she was thinking about. Of course, it was also possible that she was thinking about nothing. At this time, her Maggie came up to her.
"Haha-s (Are you scared)?"
The blue-gray little snake, which had been quietly lowering its head, turned twice around her pale neck, causing her ink-black long hair to sway along with it, and its tongue rubbed Della's delicate cheek soothingly.
"Haisa-ya (On the contrary, I'm looking forward to it)." Della replied to him in snake language.
"Haishi (I'll always be here)."
The girl stopped speaking snake language and instead rubbed the snake's head affectionately, which she thought was very delicate.
No matter where I go, there will be no problems as long as Maggie is by my side.
The next day, after saying goodbye to the dean's mother, Della visited her uncles and aunts who always brought her things. She said goodbye to each pair of eyes that would lose their luster when they looked at her. Finally, she stuffed a letter into the mailbox in front of an empty house. It was Aunt Mason's mailbox.
She stood in front of the stylish two-story house for a while. A few days ago, there were laughter and joy in it. With the kind aunt and friendly brothers and sisters, Della spent the happiest time she could remember here.
And she enjoyed this in them when she was not using her eyes on them.
It’s hard to say how happy she was, but Della felt very comfortable, which was more than enough. She was looking forward to her aunt and her family coming over again next summer vacation.
After sending the letter, Della walked on the road carrying her small handbag. The early morning sun was not too scorching and only brought a little blush to her pale face. Maggie hid herself very well in her coat which was a bit stiff and stuck to her short-sleeved shirt.
Her other hand was gently pressing the little bird from yesterday in her pocket. Dumbledore said that it could show him the way and would not be seen by ordinary people. Although Della had tested it in the orphanage and found it to be true, she still carefully pressed the lively little bird into her pocket.
It was not until she reached the fork in the road following the directions given by Dumbledore that she took out the bird.
As soon as the bird came out of the pocket, it circled around her head and made a sound that seemed dissatisfied. If it weren't for Maggie's hissing sound coming from inside the coat, Della believed that the bird that had been trapped for a long time would have wanted to peck her twice.
After circling a few times, the bird finally flew slowly to a fork in the road and flew in front at a speed that Della could keep up with. Before following it, Della turned her head to look at the small town where she had lived for eleven years.
At this time, people had already started to get busy. Some small and noisy sounds were heard. Della felt that these sounds were very far away. She just took a look and continued to follow the bird with ink patterns on its body forward.
After walking for a while, the bird in front of her stopped. Della watched it turn a few circles on the empty road and it seemed to emit a little light. A bright red telephone booth suddenly appeared in front of her. Even though she was calm enough, Della still widened her eyes in surprise. At this moment, she finally realized that the magical world might be more wonderful than what she had read in books.
This realization made her a little excited.
As the bird's orange beak pecked at the handle of the phone booth, making a sound, Della followed its instructions, opened the phone booth and walked in. Facing the structure that seemed no different from usual, the bird once again radiated light and turned around a few times.
A strong suction force suddenly came, and Della subconsciously pressed the small snake hanging on her shoulder. The surrounding environment began to blur, and colorful colors kept mixing in front of her eyes, as if her whole body was squeezed. It couldn't be said to be painful, but it made people extremely uncomfortable. Even after the surrounding environment became clear again, Della, who was leaning against the telephone booth, still couldn't calm down and was gasping for breath.
Sensing Della's discomfort, Maggie slowly moved up from her neck, rubbing the green spotted snake head against her cheek as usual. He retreated back into his coat when he felt Della's breathing gradually slow down.
Della touched Maggie soothingly as she curled up in the room, took a deep breath, and then walked out of the phone booth amid the chirping of birds.
As soon as the door was closed, the telephone booth in front of her disappeared the moment Della let go of it.
Della blinked and subconsciously waved her hands forward, with only scattered air between her hands, as if the telephone booth just now was just an illusion.
She heard the bird's chirping urging her again, and Della turned around reluctantly and followed the bird forward.
She followed the bird as it walked in this dark and deep alley. Apart from the faint sound of the wind, the only sounds in her ears were the chirping of the birds.
This alley was also different. No matter how long Della walked, the light at the exit in front seemed to have never changed. The bird in front of her was still flying lightly, circling impatiently from time to time.
As she was looking at the bird, the light around her suddenly became brighter, and the noise of the street filled Della's ears. Before her was a bustling street scene that she had never seen before.
People of all kinds were walking around. Not far away there was a very elegant-looking coffee shop. Many people wearing suits and fashionable dresses that were not common in the town were sitting there drinking coffee and reading newspapers. Various smells mixed together and rushed into her nose.
Except for her slightly widened eyes, the part below Della's eyes remained unchanged like a stone sculpture, which made her surprise seem a little hypocritical. She turned around and the darkness behind her had turned into a dark orange brick wall, which fit in very well with this busy street. Considering the pedestrians on the street, Della resisted the urge to reach out and touch the wall, and walked forward amid the chirping of birds.
The bird led her to a large dark wooden door that looked very heavy. The door looked very different from the transparent glass doors on the left and right. Della craned her neck to look at the dim sign hanging on the door, which read 'The Leaky Cauldron'.
The bird began pecking at the door again. Della let out a breath, patted her pale face, and grasped the door handle.