Chapter 1 …and all hope was lost
There was a castle deep in Scotland's land where the most magnificent (or strange, depending on your point of view) things happened. I am speaking of course of non-other than Hogwarts, one of the oldest and best schools of Wizardry in the world. The castle walls have stood witness to the most extraordinary performance of magic and the worst, have been filled with laughter and sorrow, have seen talented witches and wizards come and go. One could almost feel the warmth of its presence if only one paid attention. Indeed, Hogwarts always had a welcoming feel, whether you belonged in the house of Gryffindor or Slytherin. What many did not know was that the castle and its Headmaster/mistress had a connection. Of course the connection was not always obvious; in fact it was rare for the Headmaster/mistress at the time to even have knowledge of that connection. You see the wizard (or witch) must be an extremely powerful one and have an extensive knowledge of Hogwarts. And so in the extremely rare event that such a connection is acknowledge, the walls of the castle can sometimes feel the emotions of the headmaster and react to it. The past 40 years or so have seen the castle become a bit mischievous, tripping students (and teachers), the stairs getting people lost and the like. All harmless but playful events have graced the halls of the castles to the point that few remember the most serious atmosphere when there was a different headmaster. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore was, of course, responsible for these events, since for an old man he found great amusement in pranks and jokes and Hogwarts couldn't help but respond to that.
Alas, the past few years have not been the best that Hogwarts have seen; in fact, it has been one of the worst. The castle has felt the constant feeling of fear and despair that seem to be the only company of its occupants. It has been many years, centuries, since the last time Hogwarts felt so much anguish and hopelessness. And so in the middle of summer, Hogwarts still remembers the frigid cold and bleakness of winter and let that memory bleed into the reality of June.
Atop one of the towers, where the Headmasters office was located, emanated such levels of anguish that the walls of Hogwarts just wanted to cry. Albus Dumbledore sat in his chair, surrounded by the most intriguing objects that no one seems to know the function off but him, and portraits that were unusually silent. It wasn't the fact that the portraits were silent that was unusual, after all they were only there to offer guidance to their successor and they have been known to simply be too bored to offer any comment (as they were too busy sleeping). But this night, each and every one of them was awake but they did not have any word of comfort, assurance, promise that could make a difference. So they sat, silent, as they watched the man they respected and knew to be one of the best Headmaster they had seen, lose all hope. They watched as Albus Dumbledore sat, watching unblinkingly the wall in front of him for the past several hours. And they all felt sorrow even when they could not see a tear escape his eyes and fall in his white beard. But Hogwarts could see and Hogwarts could feel and that is exactly what happened: Hogwarts saw and Hogwarts felt. And in its anguish, it awakened something. Deep within the castle's walls, one of the safeguards installed by the founders to protect Hogwarts was activated. With the connection it shared with the Headmaster it knew where the source of the anguish and sorrow originated: a dark wizard that left only death in his wake. And so it searched for one that could stop him. It searched until it found a person that could.