Evan Potter and the Gift of the Magi

by Auran Hart

Hogwarts has finally been rebuilt. The doors are opening once again. It has been nearly 13 years since the destruction of Voldemort. It has been nearly 13 years since the death of Harry Potter. A whole new generation of witches and wizards have arrived. Let the magic begin.

1. Chapter 1 - The Lake

The lake was quite calm this evening. Summer was coming to a close and the warm seasonal winds shook the tree tops. But the lake was still. Hundreds of dying leaves skipped across the grounds and collected in growing piles here and there. The boy's once tidy brown locks had become a halo of bushy curls whipping this way and that against his cheeks. He grumbled and gave a long sigh, pulling the pointed black hat from his head and mussing his hair back and forth with his free hand.

"I thought you were going to get a haircut." The voice came from another boy who stood at the edge of the lake. He was much taller than his friend, almost two meters in total. He was thin; a fact almost completely obscured by his black cloak. He didn't seem to notice the wind. He was as calm as the lake. His hands were clasped behind his back. The moonlight caught his large protuberant eyes giving him the impression of deep thought. His stoic disposition cracked with a large smirk that jut across one side of his face. With his head cocked, he turned to look at his friend.

The shorter boy swept his hair towards the back and quickly replaced his hat. "I did cut it", he shot back. "My hair just hates me." He crossed his arms tightly across his chest. The grinding of his teeth was almost audible above the whistling wind. He didn't dare look at the taller boy. His eyes were focused on the small boats that slowly shifted against one another on the other side of the lake.

And then in the distance they heard it. The squeal of metal on metal. The rhythmic marching of the engine's pistons coming to a standstill. The smell of burning came down on the wind. High beam lights cut through every gap of the treeline before appearing in full force directly across the lake from where they stood. It crept past, exposing the dozens of brightly lit red cars it carried. It was all a bit overwhelming. The train gave one last heave, and then the doors opened. A large shadow could be seen among the black swarm that poured out of the trains belly.

"Shouldn't be long", the tall one said.

"Yeah", the other one heaved, mesmerized by the scene.