Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
Hello! I don't really know what to say, except that the idea for this story came to me after a pretty messy break-up with my long-term boyfriend. The bad relationship prevented me from writing another pending story that I have, Patch for the Doctors. I'm getting back on my feet slowly, but this time Draco and Hermione just spoke to me, and I started writing and I couldn't stop. I already have next chapter written, and third is on it's way.
I had to tweak some Greek mythology to adapt them to my story, so don't hold it against me.
I hope you will like this. Here we go!
Prologue
There is a legend, an old myth, about how two constellations, Draco and Ursa, were aligned.
The Giants, offspring of Gaia, conceived by the blood of Uranus that fell upon Gaia as his Titan son castrated him, battled the Olympus Gods for the supremacy over the cosmos. In this dark time, which is called Gigantomachy, many battles were fought.
Athena, Goddess of wisdom, courage, strategy and strength, fought her opponent, the Giant Enceladus, master of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Enceladus threw fire at her, but Athena had a powerful gorgon shield and escaped unharmed.
Enceladus decided to put Athena to the test, and with trickery he lured her to Arcadia and threw the Dragon at her. It was in its twisted form when she snatched it. Athena threw the Dragon to the stars, and fixed it at the very pole of heaven. To this day it appears with twisted body, as if recently transported to the stars.
Callisto was the most beautiful nymph, daughter to Arcadian King Lycaon. She was a follower of Artemis, Goddess of hunt, childbirth, wilderness and virginity. She took a vow to remain a virgin, but Zeus, ruler of the Gods and the Mount Olympus, saw her and decided to have her. He deceived her and took her virginity, which enraged Artemis who banished Callisto from her followers.
Zeus saw Callisto wandering through the woods alone, and decided to turn her into a bear and transport her to the stars, to spear her from the sorrow and sadness that awaited her on Earth. He put her next to the Dragon.
The Dragon had been watching Callisto while she was on Earth, and saw the trickery and injustice caused by Gods, who destroyed her life. So the Dragon curled itself around Callisto, shielding her on three sides, preventing any harm from coming to her ever again. He shields her from the world; she brings him solace and understanding. They are bound together by the injustice, having no one but each other to turn to.
That is how constellations of Draco and Ursa stayed aligned until this very day.
July 17th, 1980.
The Department of Mysteries, located on Level nine of the Ministry of Magic in London, held many different secrets. Many parts of it are denied to the public, yet that does not mean they do not exist.
The Hall of Prophecy is one among those hidden chambers. Its shelves are filled with records of prophecies, old and new, important and unimportant, good and bad, all gathered into small, dusty, glass orbs. Some of them glow dim, liquid white from within, others stay as black as the abyss to Hell.
Beneath each orb there was a yellow paper, with initials and numbers on it. The rows and rows of towering shelves hold records of human history, both Wizard and Muggle, however very few are aware of it.
In Row Three, on a shelf at the bottom of the room, in the far left corner, on the second panel from the top, there was a small orb that glowed a little brighter every day. It was as if it were calling to someone to notice it, to take it, to listen to it. The light it cast was bright red, in contrast with the soft white and blue of the room.
The letters beneath it said: C. to H. 852 BC.
In Row Fifty – Seven, another orb glowed. This one had a piece of paper attached to it which said: C. H. P. B. V. to T. A. E. 1855.
In Row Ninety – Two, you could see a glimpse of red. Letters C. T. to A. P. W. B. D. 1901 were written on the old, yellow paper under it.
A man entered the Hall of Prophecy from the Time Room. He walked through the rows, not faltering for a second to look at any of the prophecies. His shoes hit the pavement, contributing to the eeriness of the cathedral – like room.
He stopped when he caught a glimpse of red in his peripheral vision. He stopped by Row Fifty – Seven, and made his way to the blood orb. Reading the paper and therefore making sure it was the right one, he smiled a wicked smile as he went to grab the orb.
As his fingers touched it, his smile faltered. He could feel something happening, and he snatched his hand back.
It was too late.
Daily Prophet
July 25th, 1980.
Page 15
Written by: Amos Almeidas
AN UNSPEAKABLE LOSES HIS MIND
On the morning of 18th of July, an employee of Ministry of Magic was admitted to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries after his colleagues found him mumbling incoherent things to himself.
As our reporter finds out, D. A. (32), allegedly an Unspeakable, had been placed on the Fourth floor of St. Mungo's shortly after his admittance to the hospital. Healers refused to say anything, due to nature of his job, but a reliable source confirmed that D. A. apparently lost his mind completely and is unaware of his surroundings and condition. Whether the injury was obtained on a dangerous mission or otherwise, we can only speculate. However, our source confirmed that the now – mad Unspeakable shall remain a permanent resident at St. Mungo's.
Daily Prophet
November 12th, 1981.
Page 15
Written by: Amos Almeidas
Unspeakable still in hospital
After more than a year spent in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries on the Fourth floor, which is home to those who suffered damage from a spell, the Ministry of Magic employee D. A. (33), allegedly working at the Department of Mysteries as an Unspeakable, shows no signs of improvement. Inside source told us that his state took a turn to the worse, as his mumblings become more and more incoherent with every passing day.
"He keeps talking about red lights and water and circles. It is exhausting, not knowing what he wants to tell us." Our source confided in us.
To remind our readers, the Unspeakable lost his mind on a dangerous mission, and healers believe there is no cure for him. He will forever be lost in the depths of his own mind, unresponsive and unaware to the doings of outside world.
After this War and its consequences, I believe the Unspeakable is the lucky one.
November 14th, 1981.
Professor Albus Dumbledore stood by the window in his Headmasters office. The copy of the Prophet was on his desk, open on page fifteen. Next to it, a Pensieve stood, its silver surface as smooth as silk.
"Albus, would you wipe that tired look off your face. You are the Headmaster of Hogwarts. You need to uphold some standards."
He turned to the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black, former Headmaster of Hogwarts and, according to rumours, the least popular one.
"For a man a whole century old, I believe I'm entitled to feel tired sometimes." Dumbledore replied, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses.
Phineas opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment the doors opened and a man entered the office.
"Good evening Severus."
Albus Dumbledore recalled the last meeting between them, held in this same office. It had been right after Lilly Potter's death, and he had never seen Severus Snape so broken as he was in that moment. They made a deal that night, a deal which had the potential to save the Wizarding World should another War arise.
"Good evening, Albus. Let us skip the pleasantries. Tell me, what do you want?"
Tonight, however, no emotion could be read from his face. Dumbledore smiled.
"I have something to show you. A memory of mine that I believe you should know about."
He moved himself so he was standing right next to the Pensieve, leaning to the surface. Snape hesitated for a moment, and then reluctantly nodded and took a step closer. As they both leaned into the stone basin, silver cloud-like liquid started to move, creating ripples on the surface. They both dived in at the same time.
When they emerged, couple of minutes later, Severus Snape looked as if he was going to barf.
"If... if that is true, than... he doesn't even need old magic, or to split his soul, or anything. If they... if they turn against each other... or join him... I..."
Dumbledore sensed his confusion, and the fear Severus felt lay deeply in his one hundred years old bones. He sat behind his desk and looked at the young man who had already sacrificed so much, and asked him for another sacrifice.
"I know who the boy is. Now listen to me, and do exactly as I say. Future of our whole world depends on it."
"No pressure there," said Severus glumly.
So... tell me what you think!