A/N: I just wanted to say hello everyone, and to those who are currently reading my Grey Dawn story that is still my primary story. This is the second story I've been working on. This is only the prologue and I don't know when the first chapter will be posted. This is mostly to get this part out there, rather then just sitting on my computer. Anyways I wont take anymore of your time, I hope you enjoy the beginning of The Old Renewed and will come back for more when I do finally post the first actual chapter.
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The Old Renewed
Chapter 1: Prologue
Unknown date – Tower of Ravens
All that had once been the beautiful gardens and grounds of the Tower of Ravens was now no more than a large crater. The Tower itself was damaged and only the ground which it stood remained undamaged by the battle that had only just drawn to an end. The crater was still smoking from the battle that had shattered the very earth as an old man in blue robes crossed the scarred ground. He came to a stop when he was only a few steps away from a woman who was laying on the ground holding her side as she bled. Both showed the signs of their great duel, with plenty of cuts, scraps and torn fabric to go around.
"So, you have finally come to murder an innocent woman, have you Merlin?" the woman coughed as she sat up against the painful pretests of her battered body.
"We both know you are not innocent Morgana," Merlin replied. "Anyone who studies the dark arts is evil."
"Only a fool would be so closed minded, Merlin the Fool," Morgana said with a cackling laugh which soon faded into coughs. "A smart witch or wizard should study all aspects of magic or else they become single minded."
"Alas you are wrong, studying the dark can only lead to death and destruction," Merlin said as he raised his wand. "I must kill you and all your followers, for the greater good, least others follow in your footsteps and fill the world with evil."
"How closed minded you are old man, and here I thought you would have learned something at Hogwarts," Morgana said as she moved painfully to her knees. "The world will know the truth of what you have done here today, maybe not tomorrow or the next day, or a year from now, but they will know how you murdered me just to make a name for yourself, a name built on lies, and of how you studied those so-called dark arts as well."
"The only lies here are your poisoned words Morgana," Merlin replied but paused as Morgana laughed once more.
"I have already seen your downfall, the truth will come to light, just as surely as I face my death with no fear," Morgana said with a smirk. "You on the other hand will die a coward's death, oh yes old man, my dearest love will see to that!"
"Avada Kedavra!" Merlin shouted as anger coursed through him and Morgana's body fell, her now lifeless eyes facing the sky. He refused listen to her anymore, or to believe the words of the enemy he had fashioned for himself. No one would learn of his manipulations if he could help it and he would spin his own story about how Morgana Le Fay was a Dark Witch and had to be stopped to save the world from her evil.
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The night before Lily and James' Wedding
Sirius Black was sitting at the bar and working on his third drink of the night. Yes, his best friend would be getting married the next day, but that wasn't why Sirius was drinking. It was because his first love was the one James was marrying. Sirius had fallen in love with Lily Evans from almost the first time he had seen her on the Hogwarts express. By all right he felt that he should have been the one Lily would be walking down the aisle to meet at the altar. While James was his best man, not the other way around. Downing his drink once more he called for another as he slammed the glass back on the bar.
All had been going so well, or so he had thought. It had taken until their fourth year, but he had won Lily's heart when he showed her that he was more than just a prankster. He had never liked how James pushed the pranks into bullying and had made it clear to Lily that he was trying to keep the Potter heir in check. It also helped that Sirius was always open to learn but held himself back, so he wouldn't outshine the boy, now man, he considered a brother in all but blood. Of course, he was aware that by dating Lily he was betraying James, but he didn't care, Lily was the love of his life. He was happy with the green-eyed witch, but then during their seventh year that all seemed to change. Dumbledore had been pushing Lily towards James and getting between her and Sirius. In the end Lily had broken it off with him and turned to James.
Sirius was bitter yes, but he could never turn his back on James. Not after everything the Potter heir had done for him. The fact that Lily looked happy didn't hurt matters, so he let himself move to the background and hope that Lily would come back to him or at least explain her change of heart. Those hopes were dashed when James had asked him to be best man at the wedding. Now here he was with his fourth drink being poured.
However, this turn of events wasn't bad for all involved as Lily braking up with Sirius had opened the door of Amelia Bones. Just as sharp and nearly as skilled, not much got past the Auror in training. She had fallen for Sirius around the same time he had fallen for Lily. Deep down she was happy that Lily had gone to James and had jumped at the chance given to her. She had always been the only other woman Sirius could truthfully say he loved, if not quite as much as he did Lily. It hurt her to see Sirius so down, but until now she had no way to ease his pain other than being there for him.
Only an hour ago Amelia had learned something from her brother that she hoped would ease Sirius' pain. When Edgar had contacted her, she had been surprised at how nervous the man had been. He was worried that he had somehow made himself a target. After the conversation she knew why and had to tell Sirius, or she would regret it, even if it cost her a chance at her own happiness. So, with that thought in mind she found Sirius at his usual Muggle bar.
"Sirius?" she called as she moved next to the man.
"Aims," Sirius replied with the nickname he used for her as he looked at her. His eyes were a bit glassy from drinking.
"We need to talk," she replied. Sirius looked like he was about to protest until he saw the look in his current girlfriend's eyes. "It's important."
"Alright…" Sirius said as he waited for her to continue.
"Not here, come on," Amelia said with a sigh as she helped him off the barstool and pulled him by his hand out of the bar. Once outside she turned down a nearby alley and apparated them to Bones' manor. As soon as they appeared Sirius doubled over as he got sick.
"A little warning next time love…" he muttered.
"Sorry," Amelia said with a shrug before leading him into the manor and to the study. Once inside she passed him a potion to sober him up, then put up the privacy wards Lily had created. "Drink."
"Alright now what's this about?" he asked after drinking the potion, his buzz gone instantly.
"You might want to sit down," Amelia said as she took her own seat. She waited for Sirius to do the same, but when he didn't she sighed. "Fine, this information comes from Edgar, so I know it's reliable. What he heard has him worried for his own safety…"
"I know when you're stalling Aims, and now would be one of those times," Sirius cut in with a raised eyebrow. With a deep breath and a sigh Amelia nodded, mostly to herself.
"He was at your Headquarters, the Order, He overheard Dumbledore talking to someone, but he doesn't know who," Amelia said as she took another breath. She could tell she now had Sirius' full attention. "Dumbledore said his plans worked, he was talking about pushing, or forcing Lily to marry James. H-he said he was planning to use a love potion or mind spell… b-but all he had to do was mention that something would happen to you if she didn't go to James."
Sirius had collapsed back into the chair behind him as Amelia had spoken, his face pale and a far-off look in his eyes. Amelia stood and crossed the room to him and sat on the arm of his chair. "Sirius?" she asked as she placed a hand on his arm. The man jumped and turned his eyes to Amelia, tears were forming in his eyes.
"S-she's protecting me?" Sirius' voice was barely more than a whisper. "But… Dumbledore… he wouldn't…"
"I didn't believe it either Sirius, but we both know Edgar's not known for lying," Amelia said as she wrapped her arms around the man she loved. To her surprise Sirius pulled her into his lap and hugged her back.
"I know…" Sirius muttered into Amelia's shoulder. "I need your help Aims… we can't let Dumbledore get away with this… we have to stop him."
"I can't stop tomorrow, and neither can you Siri," Amelia replied as she ran her fingers through his hair and held him close. She felt him stiffen at her words, but she only held him tighter. "But I will help you find out what he's planning and together we'll stop him if we can. We have to be careful though, nothing rash."
"I'll follow your lead," Sirius muttered.
"Good, I don't want to lose you," Amelia said as she leaned back to look in to Sirius' eyes. "I love you too much to let that old man hurt you."
"I love you too Aims," Sirius replied. "I know it's not the best circumstances but… will you marry me Aims?"
"I was worried you would hate me for telling you this, now you want to marry me?" Amelia asked with a slightly amused look on her face. "I better not be the alternative."
"Y-you're not," Sirius replied quickly as he pulled Amelia closer. "I love you and trust you with my life. I wouldn't want to face off with Dumbledore or Voldemort with anyone but you."
Amelia narrowed her eyes for a moment, before sighing and nodding. "I feel the same, I'll marry you, but you have to promise not to do anything rash or stupid tomorrow or any other time."
"Deal!" Sirius replied with a smile as he kissed her. Amelia sighed into the kiss, most of her doubts were eased. Of course, she knew Sirius loved Lily more, but she pushed the thought to the back of her mind. She wouldn't let her doubts stop her from enjoying her happiness at having her Sirius. The kiss deepened as the newly engaged couple leaned closer to each other.
Neither would reveal the conversation they had, or how it had led to them becoming engaged. Nor that their night had ended hours later with their naked and sweat covered bodies entangled on Amelia's bed. When they had woken up the next morning they had to rush to get ready, so they wouldn't be late for the wedding. Nine months later they would be at St. Mungo's where Amelia would give birth to their Daughter, Jasmine Seraphina Black. Amelia had allowed Sirius to name their daughter in honor of Lily, if he didn't reveal that to anyone and she got to pick the middle name.
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October 31, 1981 – Tonks Residence
The Potters had just been murdered by Voldemort, and Sirius was filled with anger and great sorrow. It wasn't just the death of his best friend, but the death of his first love. The only woman he loved more than his own wife. What made it worse was that the man who had betrayed them had been a friend as well. Peter Pettigrew had been their secret keeper at Dumbledore's suggestion. Sirius had so many questions, had the old man known Peter would betray the Potters, did he want it to happen? Whatever the answers Sirius would get them, but first there were things to take care of. He would track down the cowardly rat, then worry about Dumbledore, but there was something he needed to do first.
Andromeda Tonks nee Black had been shocked to say the very least when her cousin had shown up at her house begging for her help. After hearing the desperation in his voice and seeing the look on his face she couldn't turn him down. "What's this about Sirius?" she asked as she looked at the man across the table from her.
"Lily and James are dead… Peter betrayed them to Voldemort…" Sirius said without looking up from the table. Andi gasped at the words as she stared at her cousin, she knew how much the Potters meant to him.
"What!? How? What about little Harry?" Andi asked in shock. She hadn't missed that Sirius hadn't mentioned the baby.
"He's fine, I couldn't get him, but I know he's alive. I have something that I have to take care of before I can get him," Sirius said as he looked up at his favorite cousin.
"What could you possibly have to do that's more important than family?" Andi asked with a frown.
"I'm going to hunt down that coward Pettigrew, then I'm going to confront Dumbledore and find out what he knows," Sirius said coolie.
"You think he had a hand in this?" Andi asked, shock clear in her eyes.
"He was the one that suggested Pettigrew as their secret keeper, and he pushed Lily to marry James," Sirius replied. "But that's not why I'm here, I need you to do something for me."
"Anything, what is it?" Andi asked pushing the other information aside for now.
"I need you to look after Amelia and Jasmine for me, teach Jasmine how to be a true Heiress of the Black Family. Grandfather named her heir when I turned it down. I know you still talk to Narcissa so ask her to help as well, I'm sure it'll be a good excuse to get her own son away from Lucius," Sirius said, his tone left no room for argument. Andi mused briefly that he really sounded like their Grandfather.
"But wait Sirius, why are you asking this, what are you planning?" Andi asked, worry lacing her words.
"Something I don't expect to return form, that's all I can say," Sirius replied. "Now promise me you'll do what I ask."
"I promise Sirius," Andi replied. "But…"
She was unable to say any more as Sirius stood as soon as he heard her answer and made his way to the door. Andi followed him as he left the house, "Sirius wait!" she called as he left the ward line and apparated away. It wouldn't be until the next day that she would learn he had gone after Pettigrew and gotten caught. The Prophet had said it was Sirius who betrayed the Potters then killed Pettigrew and was sentenced to life in Azkaban without a trial. Only Andi and a few others knew the truth about what had happened that Halloween. Just as Sirius had asked she went to Amelia's house and told her what Sirius had asked. Amelia had agreed, and so the three women made sure Jasmine knew the truth and everything she would need to know when it was time for her to become Lady Black.
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