THE POWERS OF CHANGE
::Black Velveteen looks suspiciously at the words:: Hmm. that might change - but right now, it fits the story. Let's see - ::shuffles papers around:: Here we are! Step one - title. Got it. Step two - Disclaimer. Oops. Nearly forgot that...
Disclaimer: Um - Do you see a copyright symbol anywhere? Nope - I didn't think so. If I owned, it wouldn't be called fanfiction. If I owned it, my name would be JK Rowling, and I'd live in a castle. Does this look like a castle to you? No. Have I made my point yet? I. Don't. Own. Harry. Potter.
Okay, check step two off. Step three - Author's Note, if you wish. Um. I guess I've been torturing you with that one for a little while now, haven't I. Okay, forget that step. Step four - the story. Well, I guess I'll leave you to that now, shall I?
The Powers of Change Prolouge : The Hooded Man
A/N: Sorry, had to slip a note in. Note - this takes place after book seven. Many years after it, in fact.
The hooded man walked quietly down Diagon Alley. He had not seen this place in a little over five years. The Alley itself hadn't changed a bit. The people in it had. Five years before, things had been a total wreck, as the man recalled. Witches and wizards had been afraid to leave their homes - let alone open their shops. The Wizarding World had been very near its end. For, five years ago, Voldemort himself had walked these streets, bringing death to all those who opposed him. Now, however, things were coming back to a daily routine.
It was a week before September 1st that this man walked the street, watching people. Strangely enough, the man realized that he recognized many of these people, some of which he had fought beside naught five years ago.
Around him, witches and wizards bustled about their business, inquiring about the price of unicorn horns and newt blood. There were a few children running about, chasing each other while their parents did business. One of the conversations caught the man's ear.
"Sam, I promise, he's a good cat! See, he's purring at you!" This was the voice of a small girl, barely eleven. She had in her arms a large ginger cat, and was shoving it in the face of a boy the same age as she.
"Hallie! Get the monster away from me! You know how cats frighten Galler!" The boy held a large squeaking rat against his chest, hiding it from the view of the cat.
The hooded man chuckled slightly. He remembered days when there was another boy and girl having a similar conversation. He hoped that things would turn out different for those two. He definitely hoped that the rat was innocent, and that he was just a rat.
The man kept walking, picking up other pieces of conversation. Some seemed to mimic some of his own memories so clearly that he thought he was having flashbacks. But no, they were real - the oddities were just coincidences. And the man had come to expect that when he returned, every corner would bring back a fresh wave of memories.
The man surveyed the Alley one more time, drinking the splendor and happiness one more time, before Apparating away, to another place where the memories would be even worse - maybe worse was the wrong word. They would sting worse, and be more painful to come back to. But he couldn't hide from them any longer.
He apparated to a dark woods, and began walking. Just as he thought, there was no way he could apparate any closer. It was a good a half a day's walk to get there from here - but he had the time. There was no rush now, not when he'd waited this long.
When he did get there, the sun was fading, and the clouds were setting in. That, however, did not ruin the sight he was seeing. For the first time in five years, he was seeing his old home. For that's what it was to him still. Home.
He looked up at the ancient stone castle, remembering the times he had stood here as a boy, looking at the majesty that was Hogwarts. At the time, he had not appreciated what it meant to him. Now, after years of pain and grief, he was glad to see it again. But would the people in side it be glad to see him?
Hood still up, he made way for the castle doors. Slowly and quietly, he creaked the ancient doors open. Slipping inside, he amazed at how little the castle had changed. Even though the Entrance Hall had been rebuilt, it looked exactly like it had when he was a first year. Right down to the last tapestry and armor, it was the same.
The hooded man could hear laughter coming from the Great Hall. It was a laughter he recalled very well.
As he opened the door to the Great Hall, he heard shrieks that ended the sweet laughter, though. All the Hogwarts teacher had stood to see him now, wands drawn, surprised looks written all over their faces. A wizened older lady stood, and spoke. The hooded man smiled a bit. This voice had greeted him many years ago, when he had known terribly little.
"Who are you? What brings you here? Speak, or we shall curse you where you stand!" it was the voice of Minerva McGonagall.
The hooded man surveyed the others. He recognized many of the faces, but they were all so much older. She was much older looking than he remembered her, but she had the same bushy brown hair. Had that much time really passed?
"Surely," began the hooded man, in a calm voice, "you won't curse me down. I have been waiting a long time to come back, and I'd hate to leave now." He pulled off the hooded, and smiled a bit, watching the shocked faces of the Hogwarts staff members.
A/N: Okay, I know that was a tad short - BUT THERE'S MORE!! Okay, so there's not more right now - BUT THERE WILL BE! As soon as I know what you think of it - and you can tell me, by pressing that little button that says review. Got it? Okay - I'll leave you too it.
Now, Press the button. No!! Not the Back button!! The Review Button!!!!
::Black Velveteen looks suspiciously at the words:: Hmm. that might change - but right now, it fits the story. Let's see - ::shuffles papers around:: Here we are! Step one - title. Got it. Step two - Disclaimer. Oops. Nearly forgot that...
Disclaimer: Um - Do you see a copyright symbol anywhere? Nope - I didn't think so. If I owned, it wouldn't be called fanfiction. If I owned it, my name would be JK Rowling, and I'd live in a castle. Does this look like a castle to you? No. Have I made my point yet? I. Don't. Own. Harry. Potter.
Okay, check step two off. Step three - Author's Note, if you wish. Um. I guess I've been torturing you with that one for a little while now, haven't I. Okay, forget that step. Step four - the story. Well, I guess I'll leave you to that now, shall I?
The Powers of Change Prolouge : The Hooded Man
A/N: Sorry, had to slip a note in. Note - this takes place after book seven. Many years after it, in fact.
The hooded man walked quietly down Diagon Alley. He had not seen this place in a little over five years. The Alley itself hadn't changed a bit. The people in it had. Five years before, things had been a total wreck, as the man recalled. Witches and wizards had been afraid to leave their homes - let alone open their shops. The Wizarding World had been very near its end. For, five years ago, Voldemort himself had walked these streets, bringing death to all those who opposed him. Now, however, things were coming back to a daily routine.
It was a week before September 1st that this man walked the street, watching people. Strangely enough, the man realized that he recognized many of these people, some of which he had fought beside naught five years ago.
Around him, witches and wizards bustled about their business, inquiring about the price of unicorn horns and newt blood. There were a few children running about, chasing each other while their parents did business. One of the conversations caught the man's ear.
"Sam, I promise, he's a good cat! See, he's purring at you!" This was the voice of a small girl, barely eleven. She had in her arms a large ginger cat, and was shoving it in the face of a boy the same age as she.
"Hallie! Get the monster away from me! You know how cats frighten Galler!" The boy held a large squeaking rat against his chest, hiding it from the view of the cat.
The hooded man chuckled slightly. He remembered days when there was another boy and girl having a similar conversation. He hoped that things would turn out different for those two. He definitely hoped that the rat was innocent, and that he was just a rat.
The man kept walking, picking up other pieces of conversation. Some seemed to mimic some of his own memories so clearly that he thought he was having flashbacks. But no, they were real - the oddities were just coincidences. And the man had come to expect that when he returned, every corner would bring back a fresh wave of memories.
The man surveyed the Alley one more time, drinking the splendor and happiness one more time, before Apparating away, to another place where the memories would be even worse - maybe worse was the wrong word. They would sting worse, and be more painful to come back to. But he couldn't hide from them any longer.
He apparated to a dark woods, and began walking. Just as he thought, there was no way he could apparate any closer. It was a good a half a day's walk to get there from here - but he had the time. There was no rush now, not when he'd waited this long.
When he did get there, the sun was fading, and the clouds were setting in. That, however, did not ruin the sight he was seeing. For the first time in five years, he was seeing his old home. For that's what it was to him still. Home.
He looked up at the ancient stone castle, remembering the times he had stood here as a boy, looking at the majesty that was Hogwarts. At the time, he had not appreciated what it meant to him. Now, after years of pain and grief, he was glad to see it again. But would the people in side it be glad to see him?
Hood still up, he made way for the castle doors. Slowly and quietly, he creaked the ancient doors open. Slipping inside, he amazed at how little the castle had changed. Even though the Entrance Hall had been rebuilt, it looked exactly like it had when he was a first year. Right down to the last tapestry and armor, it was the same.
The hooded man could hear laughter coming from the Great Hall. It was a laughter he recalled very well.
As he opened the door to the Great Hall, he heard shrieks that ended the sweet laughter, though. All the Hogwarts teacher had stood to see him now, wands drawn, surprised looks written all over their faces. A wizened older lady stood, and spoke. The hooded man smiled a bit. This voice had greeted him many years ago, when he had known terribly little.
"Who are you? What brings you here? Speak, or we shall curse you where you stand!" it was the voice of Minerva McGonagall.
The hooded man surveyed the others. He recognized many of the faces, but they were all so much older. She was much older looking than he remembered her, but she had the same bushy brown hair. Had that much time really passed?
"Surely," began the hooded man, in a calm voice, "you won't curse me down. I have been waiting a long time to come back, and I'd hate to leave now." He pulled off the hooded, and smiled a bit, watching the shocked faces of the Hogwarts staff members.
A/N: Okay, I know that was a tad short - BUT THERE'S MORE!! Okay, so there's not more right now - BUT THERE WILL BE! As soon as I know what you think of it - and you can tell me, by pressing that little button that says review. Got it? Okay - I'll leave you too it.
Now, Press the button. No!! Not the Back button!! The Review Button!!!!