Dumbledore sat in his chair, lost in his thoughts, with the Sorting Hat on his desk. He saw Christian's eyes turn purple when he used magic. Others may have overlooked this insignificant thing, but he could not, and that's because he used to be like this.
Many people thought his light blue eyes were natural, but they were not. His brother inherited their mother's blue eyes, but he inherited his father's brown eyes. However, when he was at Hogwarts, he discovered his eyes would change color when using magic, and by his fifth year, they had completely turned blue.
'I remember I searched for an explanation in my fifth year, but why are the memories so fuzzy?' thought Dumbledore with a frown. After a few minutes, he looked at one of the paintings. "Could you call Merlin for me? He should be in the Grand Staircase next to Sir Cardogan."
He looked at the hat and asked, "What did you think of Christian?"
"Malik? I've never met such a gifted child. Even you and the one called Tom did not impress me as much as him," replied the Sorting Hat.
"Such high praise?" asked Dumbledore.
"He has the talent, ambition, inquisitive nature, and drive you two did, but he's even more disciplined and has greater willpower, a firmer mind, and his out-of-the-box thinking. On top of everything else, he has a mother who knows how to draw out his full potential. This kid will be a legendary wizard."
"I think it's the first time you've praised someone so much."
"What can I say? He's very interesting. By the way, do you know his mother?
"Tiara? I do, why?"
"You should hire her as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. She could become one of the best professors this castle has ever seen."
"I did invite her once, but she was still pursuing her husband's disappearance and had no interest."
"That's a shame."
Dumbledore chatted briefly with the hat before putting it away. Merlin had appeared in one of the frames.
"I saw a boy whose eyes will turn a different color when he uses magic. Do you know anything?"
Merlin looked at him, "After all these years, you finally asked."
"You do know something."
Merlin nodded, "I would have brought it up if you didn't."
"I'm listening."
"There are many names — Blessed Eyes, Divine Eyes, Yin-Yang Eyes—most lost to history. Some people even called them the Merlin Eyes, but such a gift is more ancient than anyone could imagine. The most common name is the Magus Eye, and it is a sign or indicator of people with an extreme affinity to Ancient Magic to the point that they can physically see it."
Dumbledore furrowed his brow. He had a few experiences with Ancient Magic. Members of the Dumbledore family will often have a Phoenix that comes to their aid, and that's because of an Ancient Magic that one of their ancestors used to make a [Bloodline Familiar Pact] with the Phoenix Race.
The Blood Pact that prevented him from fighting Grindelwald was also an ancient magic, and the only one he knew and could cast. Lastly, there is the love magic Lily Potter used to protect Harry that night, which is also a form of ancient magic.
"It's a scarce gift that Morgana and I shared. In the past few hundred years, only five people had it: Pecival Rackham and Elizabeth Burke, both former teachers at Hogwarts, an unknown wizard or witch who attended this school in 1890 but has been lost to history, you, and that boy, Christian Malik."
"You said those eyes allowed an individual to see traces of Ancient Magic?" asked Dumbledore.
"Are you wondering why you can't see it?" asked Merlin.
"That's right."
"The ability was taken from you in your fifth year."
Dumbledore frowned. "Is that why my memories are fuzzy?"
"That's correct," replied Merlin. "If you want more details, go to this address, and someone will tell you more."
Dumbledore knew the address, so he decided to visit. He put on a cloak before calling Fawkes and Apparating away. He found himself before a small house near Godric Hollow. He did not approach and waited, and less than five minutes later, a gentleman with a black coat appeared.
Dumbledore looked at the pin in his robe, which had a flame design composed of well-put-together sticks.
"Come in, Headmaster."
Dumbledore followed, and there was nothing inside besides a table and two chairs. They sat down, and the gentleman introduced himself.
"I'm Donald McGwen, a member of the Keepers."
"The Keepers?"
"An old organization started by wizards for the sole purpose of preserving ancient magic and preventing it from getting into the wrong hands."
"That's very noble of you," said Dumbledore, looking over his half-moon-shaped glasses.
"Don't say it like that," Donald rebutted. "Can you imagine how much worse Voldemort would have been if he had access to ancient magic? Would you have found reason in your youth and abandoned these extreme ideals if you had control over such a powerful form of magic?"
"Voldemort always had a disdain for ancient magic. It's why it cost him so much that night. However, you make a fair point about me." Dumbledore knew power was his fatal flaw, especially when he was young. So, if he could use ancient magic when he met Grindelwald, he would have walked a different and dangerous path, and the wizarding world would have paid for that.
"Our order has had a few unwanted disasters, so we have become cautious in who we allow in or even know our existence," explained Donald. "We refused your entry after failing our tests because of your extreme views. Many people wanted to eliminate you because of your talent, but that's not what we do. So, we removed your ability to see ancient magic instead and prevented any knowledge from reaching your hands.
"We observed Voldemort or Tom since he had a high affinity for ancient magic despite not having the Magus Eye. However, he was also eliminated for obvious reasons. Even that boy, Christian Malik's mother, was considered a possible member to join us. However, she was also eliminated because she killed a Dark Wizard in cold blood when she was 17. Although it was out of revenge, we did not want to take any chances."
The Keepers have few members because of the rare talent to wield ancient magic and the strict requirements. As a result, they have not increased their number in the past decades. The only member who fit their requirement was Lily Potter, but she died at 21 while they were still observing her.
Dumbledore nodded before asking, "Are you going to invite Christian Malik?"
"Not until he's in his fifth year and his eyes truly manifest. Then, he can pass our tests to check his character and motives before becoming one of us."
"It's good to be prudent with such powerful magic," nodded Dumbledore. "Now, why don't we discuss the real reason you wanted to meet?"
"I would expect nothing from a man as wise as you," replied Donald with a smile. "Our organization existed because wizards of old discovered ancient magic was slowly fading from the world; they noticed it was slowly disappearing with each passing year, and our organization was an attempt at preserving it."
Dumbledore listened without interrupting.
"In modern times, ancient magic is almost extinct. According to our calculations, in another 20 to 30 years, ancient magic will no longer exist; no one will be able to wield it. However, about a year ago, we noticed a sudden reversal trend. Ancient Magic was growing instead of diminishing."
"Why?"
"We don't know," replied Donald. There are many theories among the Keepers, and some people do not even care as long as they know ancient magic is reviving, and they will become stronger.
"That's where you come in. We have an artifact that can give us answers, but only someone with the Magus Eye can use it. So, we're hoping you could help us find the cause in exchange for unsealing your talent."
Dumbledore thought briefly, "Give me some time to mull it over."
"Of course."
Dumbledore left. He needed to investigate more information, as he could not take Donald's or the Keepers' words at face value.
[AN: The Keepers and Ancient Magic Plot is based on and inspired by the game Hogwarts Legacy.]