Mieczyslaw Genim Iskra, also known as Stiles Stilinski, had been alive for centuries. Nothing had any meaning to him anymore. He was just about to give up and seek out his eldest cousin Elijah for help in ending his existence when he received a letter from some place called Hogwarts. Minerva McGonagall had heard of the esteemed Spark and had an offer for him.

Dear Mister Iskra,

I have heard a great deal about you. All of us here at Hogwarts have heard quite a lot. However, we did not know as much as we thought we did. We would not know what we know now without the knowledge given to us by one of our teachers. She speaks very highly of you. 

So, after speaking with the majority of our staff and making the final decision myself, I extend this formal invitation to you. It is our wish that you may accept our invitation to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at our school. 

Please let us know at your earliest convenience of your level of interest. I’m sure you’re a busy man. I hope to see you in September for our first term. 

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Stiles was inclined to dispose of it. Then again…

“You should accept, Mieczyslaw,” Elijah said. 

“Why? What purpose would it serve me?” he snapped but it was half hearted. He chose not to reprimand his cousin for using his full name either. It wouldn’t stop him from doing so.

Elijah adjusted the cuffs of his suit. “Well, if nothing else will persuade you from erasing yourself from existence I won’t stop you. However, did you notice she referenced a woman having dropped your name to her?” His tone held amusement as if he knew something his cousin did not. 

Stiles swallowed. “You don’t suppose…” he trailed off, hope quickly building in his chest. Aqua sparks began to dance across his pale skin. “It can’t be, can it?”

“Do tell me how dear Ginevieve is, won't you?” Elijah inquired nonchalantly. He moved to leave the room, pausing at the doorway. “Oh. I do believe you called her Ginny. Yes?” 

“Yes,” Stiles whispered. “Ginny Love, could it really truly be you? After all this time?”

✦❇ 📜 ❇ ✦

Stiles sent his reply post haste. Even if it would not be his Ginny, perhaps a couple semesters at the school would do him some good. He packed up and left the following weekend. He needed to get a feel for his new home before everyone else arrived. 

The first week he saw no sign of the woman he had hoped to find. The first month passed much the same. He was summoned to the office of the headmistress for further instructions and an autograph. It was a bit awkward for him, but the woman was giving him a job. He consciously ignored how she placed it on the wall right behind her wingback chair where everyone who entered her office would be able to see it. 

The students arrived at the end of August, all of the students, years two through seven. The year one students would not arrive until the first week of September. 

His first two months of teaching were nerve wracking, but he firmly took control of his classroom and did not take any lip. They grew to respect him and in turn he offered the same. 

It was hard when the first term ended as he chose to stay in the castle while the students (most of them) went home for Christmas break.

He used the time to search for Ginny, but his efforts proved fruitless once more. He debated asking the headmistress but quickly decided that wasn’t appropriate. Stiles didn’t want anyone knowing of their connection anyway.

When the second term started up, two red headed children, a girl and a boy, were placed in his class. He had no idea who they were, and they mischievously refused to tell him. He sighed and his eyes flashed a bright aqua color. What he saw crushed him. His eyes then flickered back to normal, and he turned away. “No practical demonstration today. Open your books and turn to page 394.” 

The students obeyed, even the twins who looked like they knew something was wrong. If Stiles thought that they looked concerned, he waved it off. Most likely the twins were simply worried that they were in trouble. 

Still, the two students approached him after class. “Professor Iskra?” they said in sync. 

“Yes,” he replied, tension filling him, making his muscles go taut. 

“We’re so glad to meet you, sir. Mother has told us so much about you.”

Stiles cleared his throat debating how to approach the conversation. He settled for grabbing his messenger bag, slinging it over his shoulder and turning toward them. “I don’t believe you know me. I don’t know you. You are my students. You are nothing more, and you are nothing less. Good day.” 

“But—” they tried. 

“Good. Day.”

He left no room for interpretation, and they left after a final backward glance when they reached the door. 

Stiles inhaled sharply and exhaled on a sob. He rushed to his office and spelled the door shut. No one would be able to enter. His magic was unlike any currently in existence or to ever exist before. He was powerful but something so simple and yet so complex all at once, had made him lose his composure. He collapsed against the closed door and slid to the floor, burying his face in his arms as he hugged his knees to his chest. 

There was no stopping the memories. There hadn’t been a way to keep them at bay since he received the letter. However, the memories invading his mind at that moment, were of what he saw when he learned the names of the twins. Ryder Genim Potter & Ryana Ginnifer Potter. Their father was a man named Harry James Potter and their mother…their mother was a woman named Ginevieve “Ginny” Marie Potter. 

✦❇ 📜 ❇ ✦

Stiles withdrew more after that. He did not change how he interacted with his students, but he kept his distance from the twins despite their repeated attempts to communicate with him. He was close to asking the headmistress to assist him when a letter appeared on his nightstand one night toward the end of the second term. He had penned his resignation prior to getting into bed. 

The letter was magic in origin, and he would recognize the handwriting anywhere. It was a Whisperer (the complete opposite of a Howler). He settled beneath his covers and carefully opened the letter. A soft tune began to play and then a voice he knew and could never forget began to echo softly from the pages. “Ginny,” he whispered as the voice began to read after finishing its tune. 

Dearest Iskra Mojego Serca,

How I’ve missed you. I know you will doubt it as by now you’ve met Ryder and Ryana. Please do not be angry with the children. It is I who broke the promise we made. I was young and foolish. Harry showed interest and I was so lonely. It is not an excuse and I love my children too much to regret having them. I only regret that they aren’t your children as well as mine. 

They know you as their godfather. Harry has left us for another woman who cares about his status as an auror. I’ve never cared for it myself. When I found out I took the children who were only five at the time and moved. We live in London now and when they received their letters for Hogwarts, I knew they would meet you. 

You’re probably wondering how everything came to pass. I used a gift from a friend to play with time a little. I left a note for the headmistress to find. She knows I’m a teacher, but she does not know that I do not teach at Hogwarts. I never wanted to deceive her, but I needed to find you and I was afraid when you learned of my broken promise you would disappear again. I couldn’t bear it. So, I hope meeting the twins goes better without me there. 

However, if you should so wish it, I shall meet you. Ask for me. Write to me. I will come. 

Will all my heart, the heart that has always, is and will always belong to you and you alone…

Your Ginny

Stiles was stunned, feeling so many things at once that he had to push the small switch his cousin Elijah had taught him in order to not be overwhelmed. It was a stupid thing to do, as humanity shouldn't be played with like that, but he needed to focus now on the most important thing. The thing that mattered most right now was his godchildren and he planned to find them first thing.

The next morning, he found them as they were just about to board the train. He hugged them tightly and asked them to stay with him at his home for the first month of summer. They grinned at him with hope lighting up their faces. Meanwhile, the letter of resignation was turning to ash in the fireplace of his office. 

✦❇ 📜 ❇ ✦

Ryder and Ryana stayed with him all summer and made sure to keep their mother updated. They wanted to ask their godfather so many questions, but they refrained. They were too afraid he would send them home. 

Surprisingly, during the final week of summer, their godfather asked them to join him for a walk. During their meandering, he told them a love story. He did not tell them who the lovers were, but they knew as their mother had told them the same story from the time they were born.