Hello everyone and welcome to my new Harry Potter story! I am quite the wizarding world lover and when I got this idea I knew that I had to make a story about it. This story takes inspiration and elements from some other fanfictions I've read and so if I use those ideas all credit to the original authors! So with that being said, sit back and relax, get a mug of hot butterbeer and enjoy Harry Potter and the Hero of Ilvermorny! (Cue Hedwig's Theme)

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There was a legend about the forest. Most called it 'The Slanting Woods', as the trees bent at a very odd angle that they found to be fascinating, yet most unnatural. Some say if you listen close enough you can hear the trees whispering secrets to one another. Secrets about a world unknown. Secrets about every witch or wizard who had passed through there. For they know that if one goes back far enough into the branches of their family tree, they're bound to discover some secrets. But some families have bigger secrets than others. This could not have been truer than for the one living in the grand house that the slanted trees were enchanted to conceal. The moon may have been full and gleaming on this specific night where our tale begins, but the forest was empty of any wanderers. Perhaps this was a good thing. No one was around to hear the woman scream.

Now these were not screams of terror and fright. Ones of great pain, yes, but also of immense love. On this night a baby was being brought into the world, one that would help fulfill a prophecy and save wizardkind from the most evil force it had ever known. The bright early June moonlight shown through the windows, giving the lady of the house's birthing chamber a soft glow that married the golden candlelight. Her silvery-blonde hair was strewn about her pillow, and her forehead was beaded with dewdrops of sweat that the maid faithfully sponged away. The room consisted of a suitable four-poster bed with cream linens, a fireplace to keep her warm should she need it, two or three portraits on the wall (even though the characters were not present to give the lady her privacy), and a small nightstand upon which her loving husband had placed a bouquet of roses. Present here were members of the house staff, which were the Pukwudgie midwife and the aforementioned maid, and members of the lady's family, her mother and her aunt, and her mother-in-law as well. Her husband was pacing back and forth outside the room, his auburn hair as equally askew as his wife's, and wanting more than anything to hold his beloved's hand in her time of pain. The midwife had insisted he stay out of the room until she could see the baby's head. He kept focusing on the thought of his child, his mind racing about the notion that he was soon to be a father. Yes, the little one would be born into a life of wealth and honor, but also one of love and kindness. These were things he hoped to balance out to the best that he could, for he wanted to be the firm yet gentle man his father always was. The baby was overdue, but perhaps this was fate's birthday present. Yes, today was his birthday, and it was very likely he and his little child may share the same. He worried about parenthood, trying to convince himself that he was ready for this.

But he was only twenty, as was she. They were barely adults themselves. This made him think of his schooldays, flying around the lake with his four good friends and scoring goals in Quidditch, the late study nights and the Howlers he received from his mother whenever it came out that he had broken a rule, and everything in between. However, those days were long gone, an entire ocean away now. A light tinge of sadness stirred within him as he knew that none of them were there to meet his bundle of joy nor see them grow into a fine witch or wizard. He made a mental note to ask the one he was closest to out of the bunch for tips, as he and his wife were expecting as well. Another scream from the lady inside the room tore him away from his thoughts. He was about ready to defy orders and go in, but the midwife appeared at the door that very moment. "Master," she said. "You may come in now."

"Thank you, Pimney," he replied in his deep accent. He combed a hand through his hair so as not to looked so stressed, followed the Pukwudgie in, and made his way to his wife. He nodded in acknowledgement to his in-laws and mother, each of them giving a faint smile in return.

"How are you, Iskra?" he asked her, his hand instantly finding hers.

"Our little one's a fighter Dominick," she replied, cracking a tired smile. "I feel power from them already. They will do great things, mark my words on that." She scarcely spoke the sentence before another great scream was let out in its place.

"Darling, are you sure that you don't want me to help-," he began to say, taking out his wand and wanting to place upon her a spell that would help her pain.

"No, dear," she interrupted through staggered breaths, holding up her hand to stop him. "I want to do this without magic. I desire the full experience of labor and everything that comes with it. I only want more of Mama's herbs." He nodded and put his wand away, taking her hand once more. Her mother came over to her and handed her a small wooden bowl, filled with a concoction made from the herbs her people often used to help cope with birthing pains. She had taken a few long sips, and the maid once again sponged her forehead. "Many thanks, Sibkey," she breathed, earning a nod from her. Just then, the midwife Pimney spoke again.

"Just a few more pushes, Mistress," she instructed. "The shoulders are beginning to make themselves visible." Iskra nodded, swallowed hard, and took a deep breath in, bracing herself for a new wave of pain to overtake her body. Clutching on to Dominick's hand so tightly that he though he might've needed Skele-Grow when this was all said and done, the groans she made through gritted teeth soon erupted into more screams. Thrice more she pushed her muscles to their near maximum before a sharp little cry pierced the air at the very same moment all the clocks in the house began to toll exactly midnight. Iskra fell back onto her pillow in exhaustion and joyful tears as Pimney and Sibkey helped with the afterbirth process and the cleaning up of the newborn infant. Their cries ceased a bit and the clocks finished ringing. Dominick and Iskra looked at each other, smiling through their tears.

"You were so brave, Iskra darling," he said as he brushed some her hair out of her face.

"That's quite the compliment coming from you." Her breathing was heavy, reminiscent of one after a hard-won game of Quidditch, or an intense duel. They continued to stare into each other's eyes, thinking the same thing; how their lives, though so different, were ultimately brought together, perhaps by magic, by fate.

Thirteen Years Ago, New York City

Seven-year-old Iskra watched the April rain slide down her bedroom window at the orphanage. She had gotten into trouble again, this time for giving Franklin a black eye because he wouldn't give her back her doll. He thought that he could get away with doing whatever he wanted since he was to be adopted in a few days. Unfortunately, Ms. Glass had seen her and now she was in time-out because she needed to 'think about what she had done'. To achieve this, Ms. Glass was making her write 'I must not attack other children' thirty times on a piece of paper. She wasn't doing it though. She'd rather look out her window and imagine that the rain was washing away her anger cocoon and giving birth to a butterfly of contentment. She didn't know why she gave in to her anger a lot. Perhaps it was because she simply couldn't be left alone. Perhaps it was because she didn't have friends. Or perhaps it was because she was jealous that other children got adopted while she continued to go through her days without a mother and father to kiss her goodnight at the end of them. How could they? She had been at the orphanage her whole life, having been brought to it when she was only three months old, and not knowing where she came from or who her real parents were. The only things she knew about her identity were her name and her date of birth, December twenty-second. Just then, a knock sounded at her door, and a head of kinky black hair popped in. "Iskra?" said Michelle, one of the older children. "Ms. Glass has asked to see you in her office." Iskra's stomach sank. What could she have possibly done this time? She tried to remember the last two days as best she could, combing through to see if she had broken any other rules. Other than not writing her sentences (and how could she have been found out?), her mind remained empty as she followed Michelle. With each step, the feeling in her stomach got deeper and deeper. She was nearly shaking when Michelle knocked on the door and opened it for her. The nausea turned to confusion, however, when she noticed the two people sitting in the chairs in front of Ms. Glass's desk. They turned around and she got a good look at their faces. The man was fair-skinned and clean-shaven, and he had a pair of blue eyes that twinkled behind his round spectacles. A mass of crew-cut black hair adorned his head, and a smile graced his lips. The woman's Native features were graced by caramel skin, silky straight also black hair that flowed down to her lower back and equally black doe-like eyes. She had bare feet and a gentle expression. Iskra was at first shocked at how young they were, no older than 25, but she soon became shocked at their style of dress. They were wearing robes, the man an olive green and the woman a rich plum.

"There you are, Iskra," spoke Ms. Glass in her usual tight tone. "Sit down. There are two people I'd like you to meet." The young girl did as she was told and took the vacant chair that was betwixt the young couple. "Iskra, meet Robert and Amitola McGonagall," she gestured to the pair and Iskra shook their extended hands. "They're here to adopt you." Iskra's blue eyes were blown wide with shock and delight.

"Really?" she squealed. "You're gonna be my Mama and Papa?!" She couldn't help the smile that spread over her face. Surely she must be dreaming.

"Yes, we are, Iskra," replied the man in a thick Scottish accent; Robert, was it? Yes, that was his name. "And we can't wait for you to be our daughter."

"They've just signed the papers and you're scheduled to go home with them this very afternoon. Congratulations." It didn't sound like she meant it, but that was her usually cloudy nature that blocked the sun within. Iskra spilled a few tears of happiness as she hugged her new mother as her new father hugged them both. She finally had a family and a home.

She had gone home with them to upstate New York that day, outside a town called Lewiston, and it kept getting better as it went on. As it so turned out, her new parents were very, very rich, as Amitola's family had made a fortune from selling her people's famous healing herbs. Using the money, Robert had built a grand mansion that rivaled even the most wealthy of No-Maj's. Yes, it had come out that her new father was a wizard. This had come as a bit of a shock to young Iskra, and at first she thought that he was simply trying to fancy her imagination. She almost didn't believe him…until he had told her to hold a stick in her hand. He subsequently made it fly out of her hand by uttering a strange word. Then, she believed, and to make it better, Robert had suggested that it was very likely Iskra herself had magic within her bones, for it had been discovered that she was a veela; a beautiful human-like woman that could transform into a bird-like creature if her anger was stoked. This was found out after an argument over dessert, as she got angry over being refused a second helping and had begun to sprout feathered wings and a beak. Robert had calmed her down and told her what she was, though it was perhaps she was a half-veela as the transformation wasn't as strong. Ever since then, both Robert and Amitola had explained to her how the Wizarding World worked. Iskra couldn't have been happier about her new life that was full of love, but it wasn't long before she'd have to leave again.

Five Years Later, Ilvermorny, Mount Greylock, Massachusetts

She was nervous as she fiddled with a lock of her hair. Iskra was next to be sorted. She was now eleven years old and had received her letter to attend Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Robert had been right; she did have magical blood in her, and she intended to use her abilities as a witch to make her family proud. Then, the Headmaster Alister Breckenridge rolled her name off of his tongue. "Iskra McGonagall," he announced. Swallowing hard, she stepped with shaking hands to the center of the Gordian knot in the middle of the floor. The rest of the school went silent and watched on bated breath as Iskra clasped her hands in front of her and waited. She didn't have to wait long though, for she smiled with delight as the statue of the Pukwudgie raised its arrow into the air. "House Pukwudgie!" Headmaster Breckenridge declared to the rest of the school. The other students cheered for her, but the Pukwudgie students cheered the loudest. Iskra's smile grew even larger as she ran over to the other Pukwudgie's who welcomed her with hugs, handshakes, and introductions. She felt happy to belong and knew she had found a home away from home.

Six and a Half Years Later, Hogwarts

Seventeen-year-old Dominick slammed his quill down on his desk and practically ran to Professor Flitwick only to thrust stack of papers in his face. He had just finished his last N.E.W.T and was ecstatic to get outside and join his friends for one last afternoon of mischief before they graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "All done, Mr. Fawley?" Flitwick asked, taking the Charms N.E.W.T from him.

"Yes, sir!" Dominick flashed his signature smile as Flitwick combed through his exam. After a few minutes, the professor smiled up at him.

"You may go now, Dominick," he said, smiling at him, giving him a dismissal wave. Dominick's eyes lit up as he bolted for the wooden door where he knew his friends were waiting at the end of the hallway. "Oh, Mr. Fawley-," Flitwick spoke again in his always cheerful voice.

"Yes, Professor" Dominick said through nearly gritted teeth as he turned around. He was worried Flitwick would think he was cheating, but he surprised him instead by what he said.

"You will make your bloodline very proud in the near future. I know that we can expect great things from you." he complimented. "That being said…stay out of trouble."

"No promises, Professor Flitwick," Dominick grinned, giving a friendly two-finger salute to Flitwick, causing the Charms teacher to give a hearty chuckle. Running out of the classroom, his black and scarlet robes flowing behind him, he spotted his group of friends at the end of the hallway, laughing together. They spotted him and waved as he sped up to join them.

"Finally!" greeted James with a pat on the back. "We thought Flitwick was holding you hostage, mate!"

"You didn't use an enchanted quill, did you?" Peter asked in suspicion laced with the tiniest bit of presumptive shock.

"The quills were laced with an anti-cheating spell, remember Wormtail?" said Sirius, nudging him in the ribs with his elbow.

"Oh, yeah," Peter chuckled as he rubbed the back of neck and blushed in sheepish embarrassment.

"Do you think you got a good score?" Remus asked him with concern, always the studious one.

"I don't know really," Dominick shrugged. "All Professor Flitwick told me was that I'd make my family proud and to stay out of trouble."

"Ha!" James chortled. "That's rich! Is there anyone who doesn't think that, Dom? Like there's even anyone who'll be as great as an almighty son of-, "

"Shhh!" Dominick whisper-shouted, covering his friends' mouth before he could blurt out his secret. "Do you want the whole school, to hear you, Potter?" He couldn't help but crack a smile.

"It's not like the whole school already knows, mate," James smiled back. "Really I'm just further building your reputation." They all shared another laugh before Sirius spoke up again.

"Well, lads," he said. "Fancy one last ride around the lake, eh?"

"Thought you'd never ask, Padfoot," replied Remus. "Last one on their broom is a blast-ended skrewt!"

"Accio Broom!" the other four shouted in unison. Drawing their wands and summoning their brooms, they all took to the bright blue skies that bathed the entirety of the grounds in the rite of spring. While Dominick knew his time at Hogwarts was over, he also knew that that was his past. As he and his friends raced toward the horizon and away from the place that had been his home for the past seven years, Dominick knew his future held another adventure that he couldn't wait to embark on.

Six Months Later, MACUSA Headquarters, New York City

Dominick raced as fast as he could through the halls of MACUSA, hopelessly lost. The building was huge, and it was just his luck that he had never been here in his life. Of course, the Minister of Magic had decided that he, an inexperienced eighteen-year-old, and fresh out of Hogwarts would be the one to get sent on this business trip to represent the whole of the Auror department. Yes, he may have been the youngest person ever to be awarded the title of Head Auror, but that certainly didn't mean he was an expert at navigating new and unfamiliar government buildings. What was the destination that he was so desperately trying to reach? It was a meeting room. President Quahog was heading a meeting with the MACUSA department heads and he had invited some wizards from the Ministry. One would think that there would be a directory of something of the sort so international and visiting witches and wizards would know what was where and how to get there. He checked the time. He was running out of it. It wasn't long before the introductory meeting of the conference.

"You're not from around here, are you?" The voice startled Dominick and he whirled around to meet the blue eyes of a tall, slender young woman with silvery-blonde hair. She held a good-natured smirk. Dominick tried to suppress his blush for she was very beautiful.

"Ah, you've caught my rue, miss," he said. She raised an eyebrow at his obvious accent. "I'm afraid that I've a meeting to attend with your President, but I can't seem to find the space."

"Do you happen to be referring to the meeting the department heads are having with some employees from the British Ministry of Magic?" she asked still smirking. Dominick nodded in confirmation. Then, she took a few steps towards him. "Lucky for you," she said. "I happen to be heading there myself. I'm the Head of the Department of No-Maj Misinformation." He looked on her lapel, where a golden badge indeed read "Department Head: No-Maj Misinformation"

"Merlin's beard!" Dominick sighed. "You just saved my life! Could I perhaps walk there with you?"

"But of course," she said. "This way." She gestured to a hallway on their right which they traversed down. They walked in a content silence before Dominick realized something.

"Forgive me miss," he said. "Where are my manners? I have forgotten to ask your name." She smiled before answering.

"Iskra," she replied. "Iskra McGonagall." Dominick's eyes widened. He shook his head almost in disbelief that he had heard her correctly.

"McGonagall?! As in 'Minerva McGonagall'?" Iskra giggled, a sound that reflected the dainty tingling of bells.

"Yes, I believe my aunt was your Transfiguration professor. Her brother is my father, who moved here many years ago before he and my mother adopted me." Dominick nodded in thoughtful understanding. "Well now I believe now we're at a disadvantage. You know my name, but I don't know yours."

"It's Dominick," He flashed her his charming smile. "Dominick Gr-…I mean…" That was close. He was lucky to have caught himself. "Fawley. Dominick Fawley." Iskra cocked an eyebrow in suspicion, but luckily didn't say anything more for a few moments.

"Ah, here we are," she said, gesturing towards a door. "Right on time, too if I'm correct."

"Thank so you much, Iskra," Dominick said. "I believe repayment is in order. Let me treat you to dinner tonight." He turned on his charm, flashing her his famous grin. The dusty powdering of a rose-hued blush decorated her cheeks.

"Lucky for you, my schedule just so happens to be free," the beauty smirked again, flashing him a wink. This time it was Dominick's turn for his cheeks to flush. He followed Iskra into the room for the meeting, absolutely enchanted.

Present Day

It was almost second nature that they ended up where they were now. That dinner turned into many, many more outings that the two would share. Iskra had captured Dominick's heart so that he could not bear to be apart from her. He had asked Minister Minchum to be fully transferred to work at MACUSA. Luckily for the young man, they just so happened to have an opening for the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and Dominick ended up being a perfect fit. Around a year after they initially met, the two of them were wed in a most intimate and grand ceremony that was very easy to accomplish with both of their families combined immense wealth. Dominick had become master of the household and with their prestige, blood purity and money their family was perhaps one of if not the most powerful family in North America. Now here the happy couple sat, Iskra out of breath and joining her husband with tears of joy glistening their eyes. He kissed her multiple time with the same love he had always felt. She had received hugs from Amitola and Minerva. Dominick was engulfed in one of his own by his mother, Corah. It was reminiscent of something out of a dream for the joy that he felt was incontrovertible. After a few more moments Pimney and Sibkey had finished cleaning up the child and placed them on the new mother's chest upon which she stopped crying. They needn't ask the question in both of their minds before the answer was brought to light.

"You have a daughter, Master and Mistress. She is a healthy weight and everything is normal. Congratulations." Of, course little emotion was shown from Pimney, but that was of course the natural Pukwudgie way. Dominick let out a joyous exclamation at the news. He had been secretly hoping for a little girl as his heir. Now his dream had come true. Iskra held the little girl close to her sweat covered bosom. It was now safe for the family to be gathered around them. This they did now, all cooing over her. Dominick stroked her soft cheek with his finger and when he did this, she opened her eyes at him. Never before had he felt a sense of love and need to protect so strong. Furthermore, with this touch he was almost certain he could feel the power radiating through her already. He knew Iskra would be proven correct; she would do great things for wizardkind.

"Hello, little one," Iskra whispered. "I'm your mother and I'm so happy to finally meet you. You gave me quite the challenge. I can't wait for you to understand how you are so loved." A few more tears were spilt. "Dominick, dear?" she asked. "Would you like to hold her?" He could find no words. He merely held out his arms as Iskra placed the newborn into them, Careful to support her tender head he also spoke to her.

"My little princess," Yes, this would be what he called her from here on out. "You are so beautiful already. And I know that you'll become one of the greatest witches we've ever seen." A few more moments of blissful silence passed over the room as the company gathered dried their tears as best as they could. Corah placed a hand on her sons' shoulder.

"So," she inquired. "Do you have a name picked for her?" Dominick and Iskra looked at each other and smiled once more. They had had one picked out for months now if it was a girl.

"We do," he said. "Born this night at midnight on June 5th, 1980 we give our daughter the name…"

"Malina Delancey." They said it in unison, causing more smiles to break out.

"It's perfect," said Amitola.

"Yes," Iskra said, looking at her daughter nestled peacefully in her husbands' arms. "She sure is." As the moon still shone full and bright through the windows of the chamber, the family looked on at their newest addition, sound in her father's arms. For just that moment, all was well.