Old Ways
Author's notes: My new fanfic finally! Remember its not related to my other one. New batch of Hogwarts kids, action, mystery, adventure, romance- you could say it has got a bit of everything. So please be kind and read and review.
DISCLAIMER: I own the plot and setting of this chapter and Rudrapratap Ray is my character, but everything else belongs to Rowling. And by the way, I don't own Macbeth either, I am just quoting Shakespeare, I love this play, its one of my favourites!
Prologue
"When the hurlyburly's done,
When the battle's lost and won"
(Macbeth,William Shakespeare)
The young English youth stirred. The Indian bent over his face. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly as the man opened his eyes. He did not reply. He looked at the high ceilings from which hung a gold chandelier, at the huge exquisitely curved walnut door at the end of the unfamiliar room, at the tall windows shaded by richly embroidered curtains and finally at the stranger standing beside his bed. He was a man of medium height and dark complexion and having intelligent black eyes and wavy grey hair. He was wearing white cotton robes with an embroidered white shawl thrown around his shoulders. He blinked. Where was he? The Indian read the question in his eyes and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry," he said, " I am your friend. I knew Dumbledore. You are absolutely safe here with me."
"Where am I? How did I come here?"
" Well," said the older man, "you are at Parital in India, at the Kalpadrum School of Magic. I am Rudrapratap Ray, the headmaster. I was in Scotland to attend the meeting of the International Confederation of Warlocks and accidentally found you lying unconscious and injured in a valley. Now you see, not all your enemies have been caught and convicted and I am sure not a few of them would like to see the end of you. I felt it would be highly unsafe for you if they knew you were alive and vulnerable, so I brought you here. But you are getting better now, and as soon as you are strong enough you can return. I dare say they'll be glad to see you back."
"But where shall I go?" the youth asked blankly.
Ray was shocked into silence as a sudden suspicion hit him. " Don't you remember who you are?" he whispered at length. The youth nodded. He did not care. He did not want to, he could not think. His body ached and his brain felt numb. He only wanted to sleep. Sleep boundless, powerful and enslaving, engulfed him. He sank into slumber again.
The Indian stared at his sleeping face sadly. He was but a boy still, yet to cross his teens. "Let him rest;" he thought, "he has earned his rest."
The departing light of the setting sun fell on his face as he walked out of the room and stepped outside. Vaporous shadows were rising from the earth, engulfing the fading red and golden hues in the horizon. From the muggle village below, sounds of bells ringing and chanting came floating over the valley. Evening prayers had begun. " Its getting late." Murmured Ray to himself and started towards the staff-room.
Back in the room, the young guest slept on, not knowing who he was, not knowing what he had done, not knowing he would have to wait eleven years to find himself again.
A decade passed away.
Chapter 1 Good Times
N.B: The prologue is set in 1998, before our story begins. As you might have guessed, it is right after the final battle and Voldemort's death. Parital is a place invented by me, pari in Bengali or Hindi means fairy and tal means lake. Keep reviewing this and my other story as well. Thanks a lot to those who read and review me.