3 Chapter Three: The Unveiling of Arthur Belmont-Prince

She paused, her gaze never wavering from my face, seemingly peering into the depths of my very being.

"Tipsy, there was an accident outside. Clean it up," she directed with the authority of a general commanding troops, and then turned her attention back to me. "Come inside and follow me."

I trailed behind her, my brain doing mental gymnastics. Was 'Tipsy' a nickname or a job title?But her commanding presence left me no choice but to obey. My curiosity, coupled with the inexplicable connection I felt towards her (which was totally not creepy, right?), propelled me to accept her invitation, despite the nagging feeling that I was stepping into a world straight out of a fantasy novel.

Without hesitation, I followed her lead. The corridor stretched endlessly before me, adorned with portraits that looked like they'd seen more excitement than my entire life. The room awaiting me, already ajar, held the greatest surprise. My luggage – the very same my mother and I had carried on countless journeys – sat there, as if it had taken a leisurely stroll to the room itself.

Inside the room, a strange familiarity washed over me, like déjà vu but with a twist of lemon. It was a space neither too grand nor too cramped, with towering wooden cabinets guarding a trove of knowledge. At the room's end, a welcoming bed beckoned, its sheets crisply arranged as if they were expecting royalty. Well, surprise, it's just me, Arthur.

As I stepped into the room, her voice seemed to echo around, demanding my full attention.

Strange Woman: "Ah, it appears my letter reached you safely."

Arthur: "You sent the red letter? I was half-expecting it to self-destruct."

I couldn't help the amused smile that tugged at my lips, finding humor amidst the enigmatic circumstances.

Strange Woman: "Indeed, the letter was meant for you. This shall be your home now. All the questions burdening your mind will find their answers here. But for now, rest. You don't appear well. We shall talk at dinner."

Her words had an air of unwavering authority, the kind you didn't argue with.

Without uttering a word of protest, I yielded to her command. Uncharacteristic as it was for me to leave matters unexplored, something in her presence compelled me to acquiesce. As I drifted to sleep, her final words echoed in my mind, "Welcome to the emerald mansion."

Fatigue swept over me, and it hit me – I hadn't realized just how weary I was until my head hit the pillow. The stress of recent events had piled up, and it all felt like a surreal dream. I embraced the opportunity to rest, even if my mind resembled a hamster on a wheel.

After a while, a loud creak filled the room as the door swung open. It roused me from my slumber, and I glanced at the door, half-expecting a marching band. But no, the room remained as empty as my stomach.

Arthur: "Hello? Anyone there?" My voice tried to sound confident, but who was I kidding? It was more 'scared kid at a sleepover' than 'hero in a fantasy saga.'

Then, out of nowhere, this creature materialized on my bedside table. Picture a bat and a butler's lovechild, and you're pretty much there.

In a voice dripping with sarcasm, it began, "Quite pleased the young master isn't easily startled. Now, where are my manners?"

It paused for dramatic effect. "I'm Tipsy, the first free elf. At your service, but remember, every request has its price. A sickle on demand."

A toothy smile accompanied the proclamation, leaving me to wonder if I had accidentally walked onto the set of a fantasy movie. Tipsy, the free elf, looked at me expectantly, as though waiting for an Oscar-winning response.

Arthur: "Pleased to meet you," I replied, trying to sound unfazed. "My name is Arthur, Arthur Belmont."

His toothy grin suggested suggested I had passed some sort of test I didn't know I was taking.

Out of nowhere, a faint voice drew nearer, directed at Tipsy. I noticed a subtle twitch from Tipsy, a sign of acknowledgment, maybe?

Tipsy: "Tch."

Suddenly, another diminutive creature materialized, this one dressed in a maid's uniform that made her look like she was part of a Victorian cosplay.

I overheard her chastising Tipsy, "How can you ask the young master for money?! That's quite reckless, even for you!"

Tipsy's expression shifted, showing a hint of irritation as he responded, "You know full well about the arrangement I made with the landlord, Missy. Don't meddle in my affairs."

The maid, now known as Missy and apparently Tipsy's wife, looked taken aback. But she quickly regained her composure and turned to me, "I apologize, young master, for this. Rest assured, anything on my end will be free of charge. By the way, I am Missy, a proud elf, and Tipsy's wife. If he troubles you, just let me know, and I'll set things right."

Tipsy flinched at her words, and I couldn't help but chuckle. This was turning into a sitcom.

Arthur: "Pleased to meet you too, Missy," I said, still trying to wrap my head around the 'free elf' concept.

Missy: "Tipsy, you made me forget my purpose here. I came to inform the young master that dinner is ready, and Mrs. Iris is awaiting his arrival. Would you like me to teleport us there, young master?"

Teleportation? The last time I felt this dizzy was on a roller coaster. No, thank you.

Arthur: "I'd prefer to walk, if you don't mind. Lead the way, I'm rather famished."

The long corridor seemed to stretch on forever, its walls adorned with paintings that had a creepy lifelike quality. These once motionless portraits now watched me like I was the star of their favorite show.

Trying to ignore their watchful gazes, I pressed forward. Their animated faces seemed to whisper among themselves, probably commenting on my bed hair or something.

With each step, the intensity of their presence grew. I couldn't figure out how these paintings were so lifelike, It was like walking through a gallery where you're the main exhibit.

Missy, noticing my intrigue, offered, "They are your ancestors, Young Master. Eager to meet you, they are."

Ancestors? My family reunions just got a whole lot more interesting.

"Thanks again, Missy," I said, genuinely grateful. "I'd be wandering around like a lost puppy without you."

Her smile widened, "Young Master... Missy is very happy to help you."

Soon, we arrived at the dining room. As Missy vanished, I was left alone with the flickering candlelight as my only company.

The room, lit by the dancing flames, was like something out of a fairy tale – complete with an opulent feast that made my stomach rumble in anticipation.

There, by the fireplace, stood the enigmatic woman, her aura of mystery as tangible as the heat from the flames. I took a deep breath and offered a polite smile, "My name is Arthur Severus Belmont. Might I ask who you are and why I'm here?"

Her smile was brief but meaningful, "It seems hope is not entirely lost."

My heart skipped a beat as she revealed her identity: Iris Black nee Prince, is my aunt from my father's side. This was turning out to be one heck of a family reunion.

"We're in England, in Emerald Mansion," Aunt Iris explained. "And this letter," she handed it to me, "will explain why you're here."

I took the letter, feeling like I was about to open Pandora's box. Breaking the seal, I began to read, my curiosity peaking.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore...

Iris's voice cut through my thoughts, "Congratulations, Arthur. You're a wizard."

Well, that's one way to spice up my resume...

Iris's declaration hung in the air, surreal and heavy. "Congratulations, Arthur. You're a wizard."

I blinked, half-expecting the walls of the Emerald Mansion to start shifting. Me, a wizard? It sounded like a joke without a punchline.

Arthur: "Magic? Like in the books? That's real?" My voice cracked, a mix of disbelief and a weird sense of clarity. The odd occurrences in my life suddenly made a bizarre kind of sense.

Iris regarded me with a solemn nod, her eyes reflecting a story yet untold. "Yes, Arthur. Real as the ground beneath us. It's been a family secret, kept for your safety."

I processed her words like I was sifting through a puzzle, trying to fit pieces that didn't quite match.

Arthur: "So, Dad was a wizard, and Mom is... what, exactly?"

Iris: "Your mother is a Squib, dear. It means she was born into our world but without its gifts. It's quite rare."

A Squib. The term echoed in my mind. All these years, Mom knew but kept silent. The secret sat between us, an invisible barrier.

Arthur: "She knew about this and said nothing?"

Iris leaned forward, her expression softening. "She had her reasons, Arthur. Protecting you was always her priority."

Arthur: "And Prince? That's... Dad's side of the family?"

Iris's face clouded with a mix of pride and pain. "Severus Prince, your father, was a man of great courage and sacrifice. He played a pivotal role in the wizarding war."

A hero. My father, a figure shrouded in mystery, suddenly cast in the stark light of heroism and tragedy.

Arthur: "I wish I knew him."

The words left my mouth before I could stop them, a whisper of longing for a man I only knew through hushed stories.

Iris's eyes brimmed with unshed tears. "Severus was complicated, a man of few words but deep actions. He loved deeply, fought bravely."

The room's temperature seemed to drop, reflecting the chill settling in my heart. The flickering candle flames danced to an unseen melody of sadness and revelation.

Arthur: "He left us to be a hero? How does that make sense?"

My voice broke, anger and confusion warring within me.

Arthur: "Mom had to face everything alone, and for what?"

Iris exhaled a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of decades. "He believed he was protecting the future. Your future."

It felt like a hollow justification, a tale of heroism that left more scars than it healed.

Arthur: "I'm Arthur Belmont, not some fairy tale prince."

The name was a shield, a barrier against a legacy that felt too heavy to bear.

Arthur: "Why wait until now to tell me?"

Iris met my gaze, her eyes steady. "You weren't ready before. But now, it's time you embraced who you are."

The words were meant to comfort, but they felt like an anchor, dragging me into deep, uncharted waters.

Iris: "As for your mother, she's out there. When the time is right, you'll know where to find her."

Dinner passed in silence, my appetite lost in a sea of thoughts.

That night, alone in my new room, the reality of my new identity weighed heavily on me. I was no longer just Arthur Belmont; I was a part of something much bigger, Arthur Belmont was just a part of the story; now, there was Arthur Severus Belmont-Prince, a character in a plotline I was still trying to understand.

"You're both a Belmont and a Prince. It's a unique heritage, and you're not alone," Iris had said, her words echoing in my mind. But at that moment, the solitude of my room felt like the only companion I had.

Arthur Severus Belmont-Prince. A name that bridged two worlds. My worlds, now...

As the morning sun streamed through the windows, casting long shadows across the hall, there I was, sitting at the breakfast table, staring blankly at Missy's culinary masterpiece. The food looked fit for a king, or at least a very hungry wizard-in-training, but my appetite had taken a vacation. The revelations from the past few days had turned my brain into a blender of confusion and wonder.

Arthur: "Missy's outdone herself again, hasn't she?" I said, more to break the silence than out of any real interest in food.

The words felt like a lifebuoy thrown into the chaotic sea of my thoughts. I half-expected the eggs to start levitating or the bacon to sing a tune, considering the week I'd had.

Iris, ever the observant guardian, chimed in with her usual mix of concern and curiosity. "I heard you playing the piano last night. You're quite the musician, Arthur."

Arthur: "Oh, that? Just a bit of midnight melody wrestling. Clears the head, you know. The violin's more my jam, though. Hope I didn't turn the mansion into a nocturnal concert hall."

Iris: "Not at all. It was quite the serenade. We should get you a violin. Add it to the 'Hogwarts Essentials' shopping list."

Arthur: "Thanks, Iris. That means a lot. Any news from the international woman of mystery, aka Mom?"

Iris shook her head, her expression a mix of regret and 'I-wish-I-knew.' "No updates yet. She could give those spy novel characters a run for their money."

Arthur: "Runs in the family, I guess. Secret keeping must be our superpower."

A smile, tinged with sadness, flickered across Iris's lips. It was like she was trying to find the silver lining in a very cloudy sky.

Iris: "You're about to start a whole new adventure, Arthur. Hogwarts is just the beginning."

I gazed out the window, The morning sun spilled its golden light over the manicured lawns of the Emerald Mansion. A few days ago, I was just your average teenager with an allergy to algebra. Now? I was about to dive headfirst into a world where 'abracadabra' wasn't just something you said to find a parking spot.

As the reality of my new identity settled in, I felt like I was straddling two worlds – the one I'd always known and one that felt like it had leapt out of the pages of a fantasy novel. Ahead lay a path littered with magic, discovery, and a thousand unanswered questions. Hogwarts wasn't just a school; it was the starting line of a race I hadn't signed up for but was determined to win.