Inside the living room, the air was thick with tension.
"So, how can he have..." Newt hesitated, trying to voice his doubt, but before he could finish, Dumbledore dropped a bombshell.
"He's an Obscurus," Dumbledore stated, his voice calm yet firm. "Cain has an Obscurus, but what surprises me is that I can't sense its destructive power. It feels... controlled."
Queenie and Tina were stunned. They had prepared themselves for countless revelations, but never had they imagined that Cain would be an Obscurial. Newt, still grappling with the revelation, voiced his concern.
"But he's been using magic since an early age. How could he possibly be an Obscurial?"
Dumbledore offered him a knowing smile. "The wizarding world never ceases to amaze, Newt. There are always unexplainable wonders, mysteries yet to be unraveled. Some abilities defy logic and reason. But more importantly..." His gaze shifted toward Queenie and Jacob. "Don't you both feel something different about yourselves?"
The room fell into an uneasy silence. Queenie and Jacob exchanged puzzled glances. The conversation had been about Cain—why were they suddenly being addressed?
Seeing their confusion, Dumbledore elaborated. "Jacob, when was the last time you needed your walking stick? And Queenie, have you noticed that your hair is beginning to get it's earlier blonde shade?"
The weight of his words settled over them like a chilling fog. They had been so preoccupied with Cain that they had failed to notice the changes in themselves.
Queenie hesitantly touched her hair, her fingers grazing the strands near her ears. It was true—there were tinges of golden blonde reeping into her once white locks. Jacob, meanwhile, straightened, realizing that he had been standing with ease for months, without needing the walking stick he once relied on.
"As you've now realized, both of you are becoming younger," Dumbledore continued. "Jacob, you no longer need support to walk. Queenie, the fine lines on your face are fading, and your hair is regaining its youthful color. I suspect it has something to do with living with Cain. There are mysteries surrounding him that even I cannot explain."
Queenie and Jacob were lost in thought. Their lives had changed subtly, yet drastically, after Cain entered their home. Jacob could still work in his bakery effortlessly, and Queenie now looked more like her younger self. How had they missed these signs?
Newt and Tina had the most severe reactions. They had come here prepared to guide Cain away from the horrors of forbidden knowledge, believing that their experience in raising and nurturing would help him understand the dangers of the occult. But now, they were faced with an even greater enigma—Cain seemed to possess an ability that defied the very nature of time itself.
"Are you suggesting that Cain is reversing aging?" Tina finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"No Tina, I am merely pointing out what is evident," Dumbledore said. "As for explanations.... I have none."
If not for being held by Queenie, Tina would have definitely lashed out at Dumbledor for speaking in riddles.
The room was suffocatingly quiet. The mere thought of a child possessing such an ability was beyond anything they had ever encountered. Cain, an Obscurial, should have been plagued by instability and destruction. Yet here he was, not only controlling his condition but seemingly granting vitality to those around him.
"Understanding it may be the key," Dumbledore agreed, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of slyness and mischief. "But for now, all we can do is observe and learn."
Before they could voice their concerns, rain began to pour outside. Queenie and Jacob loved their time in Britain—except for the rain. It always arrived unannounced.
Just as they were about to call Cain, Dumbledore stopped them. "Perhaps we can find him performing another wonder," he said, noticing their confusion. He then pointed toward the window.
When they reached the window and looked outside, their mouths fell open in astonishment. The trees in the garden had intertwined their branches, forming a vast canopy to shield Cain from the rain. And Cain himself—he was busy transfiguring various animals, delighting the birds, squirrels, and snakes that surrounded him. The scene before them looked like the perfect cover illustration for a children's fantasy book. But this was no illusion; it was all real. Cain had the extraordinary ability to communicate with trees and animals. Standing beside him were Fawkes and Arcanine, watching in quiet admiration as he performed magic for the little creatures.
The silence in the room was broken when Dumbledore spoke again. "Magic never fails to amaze me," he mused with a fond smile. But as quickly as the smile had appeared, it faded into a frown.
Outside, the rain had grown heavier. They watched as Cain waved goodbye to the small animals, who scurried away to their shelters. Then, raising his hand, he released a dense, violet-colored Obscurus. The swirling mist took shape, forming a protective cover around him. Both Arcanine and Fawkes stepped inside. The group inside the house watched in silent awe as Cain approached through the rain, completely untouched by it.
When he finally entered the living room, the air was thick with anticipation. No one spoke. Their expressions ranged from confusion to sheer disbelief, their minds struggling to grasp what they had just witnessed.
....
"So, you regard this as your... friend? You call it Venom, and you can manipulate it into becoming any weapon, shield, or even a hand? Moreover, you can cover your body with it, making it like a suit... You dumb crackhead, do you even realize what you're doing? Shouldn't you have informed Queenie upon discovering such abilities?..."
Grandma Tina scolded me for a while, her voice filled with frustration. I looked at Grandpa Newt for help, but he was too preoccupied with Arcanine to notice my predicament. Seeing my helplessness, Grandpa Jacob stepped in, but one glare from Grandma Tina silenced him instantly.
"Now, tell me everything—your abilities, your friends, and this so-called occultism of yours. We will decide whether you should continue pursuing this taboo subject or not," Grandma Tina demanded.
I sighed, realizing there was no escape. So, I started explaining my abilities—or rather, telling them a carefully woven story. After all, with my memory maze and acting skills, no form of magic or skill could detect my lies.
I told them that from a young age, I had the ability to see visions of the future when I came into contact with someone. I could focus on a specific aspect of a person and prophesize about it. As for Venom—known more accurately as Obscurus as they told me—it had been with me for a long time, acting as my companion. Additionally, I had the ability to communicate with all plants and animals. Lastly, I revealed that my knack for occultism came naturally to me, allowing me to communicate with souls.
Of course, I carefully concealed my water manipulation abilities for now.
As I finished speaking, I noticed everyone staring at me, wide-eyed.
"Let's put this discussion on hold for now. We still have time to go over it later. For now, tell me about the ritual you plan to perform this evening," Grandma Tina said. Before she could continue, however, Grandma Queenie called us for lunch.
No one noticed Dumbledore's hands trembling.
That night, I prepared for the ritual. I drew a salt circle around the mirror and, with mud and chalk, inscribed several symbols behind it. After placing the food and sweets in front of the mirror, I called Grandma Tina and Grandma Queenie to sit inside the circle, facing it.
As the appointed time arrived, I began the incantation. The Obscurus within me responded naturally, spreading throughout the circle, enclosing both grandmothers and the mirror. Outside the house, the wind howled as the once-clear night sky after the morning shower darkened once again with thick dark clouds—except for the moon, which remained unobstructed, casting its light directly upon the house.
Inside, the temperature plummeted, and all the lights flickered out, leaving only the candles burning. I realized that, according to my knowledge, I had succeeded in summoning them—only one final step remained. Quickly standing up, I stepped into the circle and touched the symbols behind the mirror.
The people in the living room watched in awe as I performed the ritual. As soon as I touched the symbols, hazy figures appeared in the mirror. Perhaps due to the Obscurus covering the entire circle, those outside it could only see Queenie and Tina speaking with tear-filled eyes. They could do nothing but wait and pray for their safety.
After twenty minutes, Queenie and Tina stepped out of the circle, wiping tears from their faces. But seeing their smiles was enough to confirm that they were happy—very happy.
"Let's not talk about it now. We can continue this conversation tomorrow," Grandma Tina said before Grandpa Newt could even open his mouth.
Dumbledore left, taking Fawkes with him. The others dispersed to their rooms.
Later that night, after a long bath, I sat down to write in my diary. Ready to gain more trust from the diary holders. Today I was determined to get a higher trust level from them.