Hi everyone! Welcome to this Alternate Universe SYOC! Here's the prologue, and if you are interested (I hope you are), please submit an OC through PM. Rules and more information can be found on my profile.
Submission deadline is on 28 August (Singapore time). Good luck!
Thanks to my Beta reader: Laura 001
Darren "Dare" Lancaster, 25, Male
How would you react if an age old myth turned out to be true? Declare that it was merely a myth, and it was impossible to truly exist? I would have done so, if not for the fact that two of the objects justifying the legend were in my possession.
You might say that I was being too naïve and quick to believe, but I have seen and touched those powerful items. Just by feeling the Crystal Prism, I can sense the tingling of immense power surging into my arm and circulating my body. And at that very moment, I knew that what was once a mere myth, was indeed a fact.
The only reason why Voldemort never sought these magical items was because he did not know of their existence. If only he knew the unstoppable power he could possess if he had all three items - the Crystal Prism, the Silver Ring, and the Goblet – Hogwarts would have been in ruins, and Death Eaters would have roamed both the wizarding and Muggle world.
For many centuries, perhaps even for a millennia, the legendary objects were hidden, and forgotten by those who had some inkling about them. As the years went by, those who knew of them, had passed on, and the items seemed to have vanished. A force so powerful and great was lost. And then in more recent years, out of the blue, a Muggle was reported carrying a strange, and otherworldly object. The Ministry of Magic looked into this matter, and rumors were spread like wildfire, all of them regarding the legendary ancient object. Ancient scrolls and books were pulled together, and various schools of thought were formed. When the second object was found months later, everyone had the same conclusion: The Legend was true.
As part of the Order, I was assigned to take both the discovered objects to a safe location. I was to keep it out of sight for the safety of both the magical and Muggle world. In the wrong hands, someone who possessed all three ancient items could cause worldwide destruction. While the third item was still missing, no one other than the Order was to know that the Crystal Prism and Goblet were in my hands. They trusted me to keep my mouth shut and items in a secure place. As an ex-Hufflepuff, I promised to do as I was told.
As my thin, white t-shirt flapped in the chilly breeze, I pulled my worn out black leather jacket tighter around my torso. A sling bag was slung over my shoulder, shielding the two ancient items from unwelcome gaze. I picked up my pace, feeling the icy cold wind seep into the fabric of my blue jeans, barely glancing at the other shops in Diagon Alley. The cold was really killing me.
Gringotts, the safest place ever in the world, was just up ahead. All I had to do was to deposit the two items in my vault, and pretend it had never happened.
Simple, right? Nothing could possibly go wrong.
I could not have been more wrong in my life. Just five meters from the glorious, golden warmth of the wizard bank, everything spun out of control.
Instinct told me to duck, and true enough, I watched as multiple jets of red light streaked over my head, missing my head by inches, and ruffling up my honey-blonde hair.
Immediately, the wand concealed in my sleeve was out and at the ready. Whirling around I tried to take in the identity of my attackers as they approached me from all sides.
My heart sank. There were ten of them, all wearing the same, heavy-looking hooded black cloaks. But worst of all, they were Shadow Agents. An independent organization working for a mastermind who desperately sought for the three ancient items in the hope of utilizing its power for personal gain. His followers were loyal, and highly trained in a wide range of spells. I was hopelessly outnumbered.
Deep down, I knew I had no chance. I could not stand against them for long. My mind was filled with only one hope – to secure the two ancient items. Gringotts, only five meters away from me, seemed so distant.
With a flick of my wrist, I sent a stunning spell at the nearest Shadow Agent, only to watch as it got deflected with a lazy swipe of his wand.
"Protego!" I said in a whisper, and a strong, temporary shield charm expanded between me and my attackers. The Shadow Agents growled and lowered their wand arm a little, knowing that it would be fruitless to attack while the charm held. Yet they continued to advance on me, trapping me in an ever-tightening circle.
There was no way I could Disapparate out of here. Shadow Agents always placed charms around the area when they were hunting a target. Still, it was worth a shot. No harm trying.
I focused at the Order's Headquarters, and spun on the spot, willing myself to disappear from this unfortunate situation. As predicted, the Shadow Agents had barricaded the area with their charms, and I stayed resolutely where I was.
My heart pounded in fear and hopelessness as the shield charm flickered. I vowed to myself that I would protect the ancient items with every ounce of strength I had. I would protect them with my life.
"Crucio!" a masked man yelled.
"Expelliarmus!" another said.
The sounds of other incantations were either non-verbal or too soft to hear, and I leaped to the side, sending spells of my own back at them.
Dancing out of the path of colored jets of light, I managed to kill two Agents with my well-aimed killing curse.
I twisted in mid-step as an Imperious Curse flew towards me, barely missing my outstretched arm.
In the confusion of blinding lights and shouts, I did something most unworthy of a Hufflepuff.
A sneak attack.
I used one hand as a distraction, while my wand hand sent a silent, killing curse at one of my opponents at point blank range, followed by gutting another man with a concealed knife pulled swiftly out from my belt.
Both men had a look of surprised etched on their faces just before they collapsed unmoving on the concrete ground.
It was what most wizards and witches would call a lowly Muggle trick, and an unfair shot as what most Hufflepuffs would agree on. But my Muggle mother had taught me that Muggle trickery was not to be underestimated.
With six more Agents left, the tallest of the masked men stepped forwards with his arms wide, in a peaceful manner. It probably would have looked welcoming if not for the wand clasped tight in his hand, and five other men at the ready.
"Darren, right? I know your name." The man said in a low voice. "Valuable Order member. Tasked to keep the Crystal Prism and Goblet safe."
I hesitated. The Shadow Agents already knew that I was part of the Order. That was not so much of a secret, after all. But what worried me was how he knew about my duty to keep the objects locked up in Gringotts. It was a highly classified job, discussed in utmost secrecy. So how did this information leak out?
The tallest man stepped forward once more, this time tilting his head a little in mock contemplation. "You'd be surprised that I know a lot more about you, Darren Lancaster."
He paused for a moment, before continuing. "Mid-twenties…25 to be exact. Half-blood. Father was the wizard, but he died five years ago because you did not agree to work for our cause. Your mother was the Muggle, whom you tried to hide to protect her from us. She's the last family member you've got left."
How could the Shadow Agents possibly know so much about me? I thought uneasily. I would have to move my mother to another secure house. The Agents were too close for comfort.
With another step, the man planted himself just an arm length from me. I had a chance, if I could only move quick enough to…
"You don't want to kill me, Darren." The man said, looking first at the bloodstained knife in my hand, to the wand I was gripping tightly. Finally, his stern gaze settled on my eyes.
"And why would I not want to kill you?" I replied calmly, not breaking eye contact with him.
The amount of tension could almost be heard as my brown eyes held his coal black ones. Electricity seemed to burn in between.
"Because," the man said slowly and clearly, "we had your mother brought in to our Headquarters just this morning. And if you don't come in quietly, you will be the last of your bloodline."
His words rang in my ears. I could feel an icy numbness spreading from my chest. Suddenly, it felt hard to breathe. I was unable to maintain the contact with him, and dropped my gaze.
I watched in anger and hatred as the corners of the man's mouth twitched upwards. He could sense my heavy heart and dread.
I was caught between choosing worldwide destruction and my mother. But she was the only person I had left. I could not lose her. On the other hand, the third item – the Silver Ring - had not yet been found. He could not work his magic without that last item.
I did the last thing I could think of. Alert the Order. With that thought full in mind, I casted a Patronus to carry a final message to the Order's Headquarters.
As soon as the Agents saw the silvery wisp of my pug Patronus, they raised their wands in unison. I ducked again, but the Agents had predicted my movements, and the combined stunning spells hit me hard, causing me to fall forwards onto the hard floor. My left elbow sprang forwards instinctively to break my fall, but was unsuccessful. With a sickening crack, pain whipped up my arm, and I collapsed on the floor. Somehow, my sling bag had slipped off my head, and it was flung into the air by the impact of the spells.
Knowing I only had seconds, I croaked out to the silvery figure of the pug waiting for me.
"Order's Headquarters," I instructed, trying to ignore the overwhelming pain on my left arm, and attempting to keep my voice steady. "I've been compromised. Outside Gringotts. It's the Shadow Agents."
The tall man pointed his wand at me and sturdy ropes sprang out, pinning my hands to my body. My ankles were bound too, and there was no way I could possibly move.
The pug turned and leaped into the night, leaving a wispy silvery trail before disappearing with my message.
The tall Agent snatched my bag off the ground, and strapped it over himself. He dragged me up to a standing position and disappeared into the night, taking me along with him.
Although the guilt of knowing that I'd just switched the lives of everyone in this world for the life of my mother weighed down my heart like a rock, I didn't know how I could do otherwise.
I would probably lose whatever trust the Order had in me the minute they received word of my capture. As for the ancient items, they would most likely send out a group of members to make up for my mistake. Who the group is, I had no idea, but they had to be formidable to take down Shadow Agents in these numbers.
With the Shadow Agents focused on finding the Silver ring, the final item before they could take total control of the world, time was limited. But I had a budding hope. From my time spent in the Order, I know of wizards and witches capable of putting up a fight. As long as they could come together, they may still be able to save the world.
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OC form is on my profile, along with rules in information.
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