A/N: The prologue is written in a bit of an experimental manner. It consists of short snippets from different people's P.O.V's, except the first, which is obviously an excerpt from a book. I believe that it's not at all difficult to connect them in your minds after reading, since the timeline is linear, but it might seem a bit weird at first. Also, the book excerpt might be a bit heavy an opener, but it's kinda important so please don't ditch me just because it starts boring… ^^'
Also, THE RAINBOW WARNING! THIS FIC WILL CONTAIN HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS, CRUDE LANGUAGE, TORTURE AND OTHERWISE EMOTIONAL SHIT. Dumbledore is a meanie, Harry goes dark grey, and Voldemort goes through a change of perspective. If you don't like that, don't read. And I know that no one actually reads author's notes, but what the heck, I warned you.
Disclaimer:Harry Potter & co. belong to J. and her publishers. I do not receive any financial or otherwise profit or payment for writing this story.
PROLOGUE
An excerpt from the book 'The Great Magicks' by Dahlien Terra, published by The Seven Alleyways Print in 1849 b.c.e., :
"THE SHADOW MAGICKS: INTRODUCTION
The shadow magicks are divided into three branches: black magick (otherwise called dark magick or the dark arts), mage magick and necromancy. They work with the three levels of our reality and their magick; the Otherworld, The Dark Lands and the Underworld.
5.1.1 The planes
The Otherworld is the plane in which you and me exist. It was named by one of the very first Necromancers who only stayed on our plane for short periods of time. (more on pg. 367, chapter 6)
The Dark Lands are the plane in between The Otherworld and The Underworld. It is the plane which shadow mages use as a means for transportation. It is said, that time and distances are not laws on this plane, and can be modified by a skilled shadow mage to quite great lengths. (more on pg. 453, chapter 7)
The Underworld is not, despite it's name situated in any way below this world. It is the afterlife, but also a place for other beings and spirits. It is divided into six levels which will be further explained in chapter 8 (page 621). The ruler of The Underworld is said to be The Necromancer.
5.1.2 The Magicks
In theory, anyone born with magickal talent is capable of using black magick, but the use has been notified to be easier to those who have a dark affinity inherited through a bloodline. Even a need to use this branch of magick has been recorded in some families, to keep their magickal skills steady. Black magick draws it's power from the wild magick of our honored Mother Earth, not the tame, ambient magick in the atmosphere or the wizard's core like light spells do.
Black magick is often portrayed as the 'opposite' of the light magicks because of it's most common uses and a 'dark' and 'wild', intense feeling experienced while it is being used. This polarization is however untrue, for black magick is only a branch of the shadow magicks and light magicks are a whole branch in as themselves. Also, black magick can very well be used in a way commonly viewed as 'light'. Even some healing spells are categorized as black (see attachment 3; 'List of black magick considered light/grey' and attachment 6; 'List of Ministry approved black magick'). The notion of black magick being 'evil' is entirely ridiculous. (See more debate on this matter on pg. 1732, chapter 16.)
The users of mage magick are called shadow mages, and the ability is somewhat restricted to those of higher level of power. The skills every mage possess vary, but there are some common themes. The shadows, The Otherworld and The Dark Lands are every shadow mage's levels of existence, none of them more important than the other. Shadow mages are known to guard their secrets most ferociously and before the training for a shadow mage can begin a test of great importance must be cleared and a vow vowed. The shadow mages have a book of rules in which they mark their most important laws. It has been said not knowing every law by heart can prove fatal for a user of mage magick. No information about what these laws include has been leaked outside their assigned circles, ad as such it is believed that any such leakage would garner a very hash punishment.
Necromancy deals with the Underworld and is an inherited talent. It is said, that the most powerful necromancer of a time is the ruler of the Underworld. Not very much is known of this branch of the shadow magicks, for a necromancer to visit the Otherworld is very rare, even if they most commonly die and are born on our plane-"
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A pale hand twisted the once-white bedsheets wrapped around a lithe form, choking and suppressing. An anxious gasp was heard as a few drops of sweat travelled down to the dark eyebrows featuring a lighting bolt -shaped scar, and now also a pained frown followed by a whimper. The-Boy-Who-Lived was having a nightmare.
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Maddrow crossed the small audience hall as quietly as he could, avoiding the light and keeping to the shadows. Cold sweat ran down his back as he listened to the screams coming from the room ahead. If he was captured he would be killed, most probably tortured and mauled. Once again he questioned his need to be here, in the headquarters of the most evil wizard in decades, desperately searching for an excuse to leave and never come back again. He found nothing. His fear was pulling him forward, just as it was pushing him away, but the need to see his brother alive and as well as possible was winning.
His brother knew that the Alleys were important. He knew that and should by default want to protect them as long as he could. So why was Madbran having difficulties with the Alliance? Didn't his brother know how important it was to keep the secret until the human-child appeared? In his heart Maddrow knew that Madbran did know this, and this trust was the reason he was there, trying to save his brother. He just hoped he was right, and Madbran in fact needed saving. For the other option was…just too horrible to even think of.
The screams and crazed laughter had gotten louder now. Maddrow stopped in front of the thin pillar of light coming from the ajar door and took a deep breath. He felt sick. These wizards were monsters, taking pleasure in the pain of others and reveling in the blood of the innocent.
His brother was innocent. Or he should have been. Maddrow opened the door quietly.
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Harry pointed his wand at one of the worthless muggles and laughed with a high pitched voice. The muggle screamed and cried as she felt the skin on her arms turn upside-down. Harry had previously cast a charm on her that prevented her from going numb and made her feel every cruel action for hours. She would scream until her vocal chords were shredded to pieces and would continue even after that. The fact that these weaklings would inflict so much damage on themselves when provoked just a little would never cease to amuse Harry. And even when they didn't scream they bit their lips to pieces or shredded their bodies with their nails.
Harry was well aware that he had a freeloader in his mind and just this once didn't care. He should show the boy some of the treatment he would get when he'd be captured.
"You see that, Harry-boy? That's what's going to happen to you," Harry said, "if you don't join me."
"Go fuck yourself," Harry spit out, and suddenly knew himself.
The door opened, but neither noticed.
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There were eight deatheaters. There were..no, there had been thirteen muggles. Now five of them were corpses and the rest becoming ones too quickly. And then there was his brother. Oh, his beautiful baby-brother. Not so beautiful anymore. Despite his disgust and sadness Maddrow felt a slight bout of relief; his brother had not betrayed them, his brother was loyal!
Maddrow took a deep breath to gather his strength, took the form of his shade-crow and glided in the shadows to the darkest corner behind the deatheater that was torturing his brother. From the thin waistline and curvy shapes Maddrow deduced that this one was a woman.
'That is good. It might be more easy to knock her down,' Maddrow thought in a desperate try to think positively. But he also knew that there was a very good change that this woman laughing in a crazed manner before him was Bellatrix Lestrange, and that could never be good. He also knew that the Dark Lord's inner circle was numbered eight. And that all three of the Lestranges were part of it. But he preferred not to think about the fact that not only was he going against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but also his high-generals. He was already sweating a lot more than was brave.
Time was now the key; he had to do this quick. So Maddrow took a deep breath, and without wondering for too long if this was at all intelligent and not the most stupidest thing he had ever done, he again took the form of his shade-crow and leapt at the female deatheater, pulling the shadows he had been hiding in with him. When Maddrow pushed his black, etherial wings down on her shoulders and over her head, she let out a startled cry swishing her hands about trying to get the offending black material off. Maddrow made sure she was properly entangled before letting go his hold of the shadows.
The fifth rule of the shadow mages: 'All shadow-material always wants to, and will, get out of light'.
And out of the light it went, back to the dark corner, the Death Eater within it. A last sound of shocked anguish escaped her lips as by the wall she was consumed by the black goo, vanishing entirely. Now she was in the Dark Lands, wandering the plains endlessly, before becoming only a wisp of a shadow herself. Continuing his dive quickly, Maddrow leapt at his brother, colliding straight with his chest and letting the shadows swallow them both. The Dark Lands opened before them. The first thing he saw was the tall, silvery tower of Tir Nan Oge, beholding the spiraling Silver Cloud, where it was rumored the Necromancer's magic was kept until He would return. Across the grassy soil without the illumination of either the sun or the moon Maddrow could see lighter paths.
The second rule of the shadow mages: 'Never stray from the paths'.
Holding his brother close to his chest, Maddrow started walking, weaving his magick of time and place.
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A/N: So, what do you think? Not much of Harry here, but he'll very much be the main character, and the whole next chapter will be about him.
PLEASE, if you got to this point, REVIEW. Even one word would be enough! And if you didn't like it, tell me why. I'm a new author so I'd like to know in which things I have to do better