Prologue : All My Stories Have Prologues, Dammit

Ehfanko lifted her head and brushed hair from her face, turning to look at her old friend.

"Raven. It's been too long." Gliding over, she embraced the dark-haired girl, who returned the hug with only minor hesitation.

"You have wings now," Raven observed.

"Oh, these? Do you like them?" Ehfanko twirled in place, letting her brilliant blue hair swirl about her shoulders.

"They're lovely. Very Fey." The empath seated herself on a rock, her skirt and cape flowing gracefully onto the ground like frozen water, and Ehfanko followed suit. "I've come here to ask you something."

"Oh, is that all? You can come just to talk any time you want, too, Raven. The others know you're a friend of mine…"

"…I know. I should visit my mother, too, in Azarath, but I've been so busy lately. Do you know what's been happening on Earth?"

Ehfanko leaned her chin on one hand and regarded the other young woman. "Marina Crawford is the President of the US. Japan has concrete plans for space tourism. Hmm, and I noticed that someone slew Voldemort."

"Yes. Lots of things have been going on, both in the magical and non-magical communities. I had to help defeat Ferozandaakhi and his lieutenant Kaman-Dûl. A teacher from your old school married a professor from Zuriel Weber, and they have a son. Albus Dumbledore retired from his position as headmaster of Hogwarts…"

"Wait—hold on!" Ehfanko cried, leaping to her feet. "Someone from Estrellita married someone from Zub? No way! Who was it?"

"Eshana Fenwick," Raven responded. "Did you know her?"

"Yeah! She was seven grades ahead of me. I don't believe it, though…" She laughed. "Well, stranger things have happened. What was that about Dumbledore?"

"Ah," the empath continued, "These last few years have been quite stressful, and he's not a young man. Back in 2000, Harry Potter—the boy whom Voldemort tried to murder, and failed—enrolled at Hogwarts, and every one of his academic years was highly eventful. Two years ago, Dumbledore was accidentally killed by a mis-aimed spell—" (Ehfanko let out a ragged gasp) "—but we were able to revive him almost immediately with phœnix down, so no permanent damage was done. However, he did come to the conclusion that his life had become far too exciting, so he stepped down from the position of headmaster and helped Harry pursue Voldemort, up until about a month ago, when Harry was able to avenge his parents by killing Voldemort in a duel."

"Using the sword of Godric Gryffindor, no less," Ehfanko said, nodding in approval. "I saw it all in a dream."

"Which brings us to why I've come," Raven said, smoothing her skirt. "They want you to teach at Hogwarts."

Ehfanko burst out laughing. "Do they, now?" Then she realised Raven wasn't joking. "They do?"