May it be
An evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be
When darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk along a road
Oh how far you are from home
Mornië utúlië (Darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornië alantië (Darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now
May it be
The shadow's call will fly away
May it be
A journey on to light the day
When the night is all gone
You may rise to find the sun
Mornië utúlië (Darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornië alantië (Darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now
A promise lives within you now...
~May It Be by Enya~
Mornië Utúlië
Prologue
1
2 July 15, 1995
Outside of Dublin, Ireland
The dark clouds threatening to rip open loomed above fifteen-year-old Morrigan Discordia O'Connor ominously. She shuddered as a cold breeze ripped through her jet-black hair and nervously looked behind her. For some reason, she could not escape the feeling that she was being watched. She closed her ice blue eyes tightly, hoping that the feeling would pass, but it didn't. After a moment, Cordi continued toward her house, absently rubbing her left forearm.
As she approached the house she shared with her parents and sister on top of a hill, a horrible feeling began to churn in her stomach. Instinctively, she glanced up at the manor and immediately saw what she feared the most—the Dark Mark.
"Please, God, let them be okay," prayed Cordi, as she dashed up the hill, fingering the Celtic cross she wore around her neck.
When she reached the gate, she slipped her hand inside the pocket of her jean skirt and pulled out her wand. The short and slender girl crept silently to the front door, only to find it ajar. She drew a breath and pushed the door open the rest of the way. What she found inside did nothing to help her feeling of unease.
The normally immaculate living room looked as if someone had had a bit too much fun with a whirlwind charm. Pillows were ripped apart; pictures lay smashed on the floor; priceless artifacts were shattered and spread about the house; and the huge family portrait that usually hung above the fireplace had been burned. Cordi bit back a whimper and proceeded into the kitchen where she found more signs of trouble.
Unable to stand it anymore, she called, "Mum? Da? Gwen?"
All she got in response was silence. Cordi finally let out a sob and continued to make her way through her childhood home, only finding more damage. When she finally reached her massive bedroom on the third floor, the normally composed girl let out a shrill scream.
Lying on her bed were the only people in the world she cared about: her mother, Deirdre O'Connor—the beautiful and kind blonde haired woman with warm brown eyes who was always good for a laugh; her father, Gavin O'Connor—the handsome and jovial sandy haired man with the green eyes Cordi had always adored because they always regarded her with such pride and love; and her younger sister, Gwen O'Connor—the sweet and loving blonde with their father's eyes, Cordi's partner in crime. All three had been hit with the Avada Kedavra curse.
Sobbing, Cordi approached their peaceful forms and closed their eyes, unable to bear their blank stares. She slumped against her bedroom wall and slid down to the floor, glancing heavenward. That's when she noticed the message. Written across her ceiling in creepy green lettering was: I'm back, my dear. Did you really think you could hide from me? I look forward to the day when you're finally at my side. Until then, Lord Voldemort.
"You bastard," Cordi cried through her white-hot tears. "Why couldn't you have just left me alone?"
She buried her face in her hands, not noticing that the mark on her left forearm was glowing a hideous black.
Cordi remained oblivious to anything but her pain until several Ministry officials Apparated into the room.
"Morrigan O'Connor?" a man in a green robe questioned.
Cordi nodded her head dully.
"Are you in anyway injured?"
She shook her head.
"Were you here during the attack?"
Once again, she shook her head.
"Very well. Arabella, can you please escort Miss O'Connor to her godfather at Hogwarts? I believe he's still there and she'll need him," the man said.
An older woman with gray hair and kind eyes nodded. "Come with me, dear."
"Where are you taking me?" Cordi questioned, for she had not been paying attention.
"To your godfather, Severus."
The young girl just nodded, only one thing on her mind: she would have her revenge, no matter what it took.
An evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be
When darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk along a road
Oh how far you are from home
Mornië utúlië (Darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornië alantië (Darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now
May it be
The shadow's call will fly away
May it be
A journey on to light the day
When the night is all gone
You may rise to find the sun
Mornië utúlië (Darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornië alantië (Darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now
A promise lives within you now...
~May It Be by Enya~
Mornië Utúlië
Prologue
1
2 July 15, 1995
Outside of Dublin, Ireland
The dark clouds threatening to rip open loomed above fifteen-year-old Morrigan Discordia O'Connor ominously. She shuddered as a cold breeze ripped through her jet-black hair and nervously looked behind her. For some reason, she could not escape the feeling that she was being watched. She closed her ice blue eyes tightly, hoping that the feeling would pass, but it didn't. After a moment, Cordi continued toward her house, absently rubbing her left forearm.
As she approached the house she shared with her parents and sister on top of a hill, a horrible feeling began to churn in her stomach. Instinctively, she glanced up at the manor and immediately saw what she feared the most—the Dark Mark.
"Please, God, let them be okay," prayed Cordi, as she dashed up the hill, fingering the Celtic cross she wore around her neck.
When she reached the gate, she slipped her hand inside the pocket of her jean skirt and pulled out her wand. The short and slender girl crept silently to the front door, only to find it ajar. She drew a breath and pushed the door open the rest of the way. What she found inside did nothing to help her feeling of unease.
The normally immaculate living room looked as if someone had had a bit too much fun with a whirlwind charm. Pillows were ripped apart; pictures lay smashed on the floor; priceless artifacts were shattered and spread about the house; and the huge family portrait that usually hung above the fireplace had been burned. Cordi bit back a whimper and proceeded into the kitchen where she found more signs of trouble.
Unable to stand it anymore, she called, "Mum? Da? Gwen?"
All she got in response was silence. Cordi finally let out a sob and continued to make her way through her childhood home, only finding more damage. When she finally reached her massive bedroom on the third floor, the normally composed girl let out a shrill scream.
Lying on her bed were the only people in the world she cared about: her mother, Deirdre O'Connor—the beautiful and kind blonde haired woman with warm brown eyes who was always good for a laugh; her father, Gavin O'Connor—the handsome and jovial sandy haired man with the green eyes Cordi had always adored because they always regarded her with such pride and love; and her younger sister, Gwen O'Connor—the sweet and loving blonde with their father's eyes, Cordi's partner in crime. All three had been hit with the Avada Kedavra curse.
Sobbing, Cordi approached their peaceful forms and closed their eyes, unable to bear their blank stares. She slumped against her bedroom wall and slid down to the floor, glancing heavenward. That's when she noticed the message. Written across her ceiling in creepy green lettering was: I'm back, my dear. Did you really think you could hide from me? I look forward to the day when you're finally at my side. Until then, Lord Voldemort.
"You bastard," Cordi cried through her white-hot tears. "Why couldn't you have just left me alone?"
She buried her face in her hands, not noticing that the mark on her left forearm was glowing a hideous black.
Cordi remained oblivious to anything but her pain until several Ministry officials Apparated into the room.
"Morrigan O'Connor?" a man in a green robe questioned.
Cordi nodded her head dully.
"Are you in anyway injured?"
She shook her head.
"Were you here during the attack?"
Once again, she shook her head.
"Very well. Arabella, can you please escort Miss O'Connor to her godfather at Hogwarts? I believe he's still there and she'll need him," the man said.
An older woman with gray hair and kind eyes nodded. "Come with me, dear."
"Where are you taking me?" Cordi questioned, for she had not been paying attention.
"To your godfather, Severus."
The young girl just nodded, only one thing on her mind: she would have her revenge, no matter what it took.