(A/N: As much as I might wish otherwise, I do not own Harry Potter.)
We don't see things as they are; we see them as we are.
-Anais Nin
Four
Prologue
Yesterday I received news of the recent death of a man who was once a very dear friend. It had been nearly thirty years since last I saw him, and it was not on good terms that we parted. I will confess, that although in truth I lost him long ago, I wept yesterday, for losing him again.
This morning, I found some comfort for my grief from an old roll of parchment. The map has aged, as have I, the ink is faded. The map sits beside me now, as I write this, unaware that it holds the long ago dreams of four young friends. And still I smile at the words that adorn the top of the page, written in a slanted hand, draco dormiens nunquam tittilandus.
Time has passed without my taking great notice, for it does not seem to me so long ago this map was drawn. This half-century has slipped through my fingers. I will not deny that much has been accomplished, this map was only the beginning of great things. But still it feels like it was only a short time ago, that we were young men and women, laughing at the words that became our motto.
But time has passed, and claimed them all, I alone remain. I wonder what will happen to this map when I too am gone? It does not matter, I suppose, what happens to the foolish map, as long as the place it depicts still stands, the product of our dreams.
-Helga Hufflepuff