Canon compliant through the epilogue and what JKR has released and on Pottermore so far (as best as I could do). Something strange has occurred and Harry is investigating as an Auror. This chapters starts in January 2016.

Chapter 2: Life and Time, Not Always Intertwined

Harry had walked out of the store with not a scratch. He was glad of it. Andrew had been sent straight to St. Mungo's for treatment. He was not in good shape. His arm was gone and would be so for good. Harry walked around his office now as he mulled over everything.

Voldemort had never been as strong as the man had been. Maybe Sarah Gilmore had disappeared and this was someone else. Just a coincidence after all. Harry had believed in too many coincidences because of Dumbledore's guidance.

Anger coursed through him though. Not because of being outsmarted. He was used to having smarter people around. He had been told that a strength of his was knowing his limits, most times. Hermione was a clever witch and one of the smartest individuals he would ever know. That was certain.

But she was too wrapped up in having Ron back at the house with her and being a family. The distance disappeared a bit after Christmas she had with Ron. Harry had stayed out of it though being wrapped up with the investigation.

Harry decided a trip to Hogwarts was in order. Neville might have some answers. Walking up the path was a trip filled with memories as always. Most were good ones. Too many were poor. The comforting knowledge that his parents had been walking the same grounds always made him feel better.

Neville was in his office, plants and other growing things on every surface he could fit them, smiling a thousand watt smile as Harry came in. "Harry mate!" "Neville!" "Come to see young James?" "I doubt he is in that bad of trouble I need to talk to him." "Of course."

They caught up for a few minutes before Harry brought up why he was there. "I heard about that, yeah. It was pretty bad what happened. Hannah and I live there now, you know." "Yeah, I heard." "I figured you might be able to help me." "Of course, if I can, Harry."

Harry smiled, "You've always been a help, Neville." "Of course." "So. The person I ran into at the store had some vials, like these." Neville inspected the vials. Opening them led to him quickly closing them. "These have some dangerous, illegal substances." "I figured. None of what I found I could identify." "That's because these aren't from England. Or near here. These are from… where are they from?" Neville flipped through a bunch of books before he excitedly showed Harry.

"Look here," he said pointing. Harry looked. Unsarmore Salemani was a plant found in southern Italy. It was an important mind altering herb that the Italian wizards used a lot. Dark Patrons had been known to try brewing vile potions with it. Apparently the man at the store had found a way to use them. It fit with what the students had reported.

"Always a help, Neville." "Glad I could be a good mate." "Always, Neville."

Harry felt relieved that he had made the trip. Progress felt good. "I don't think this was brewed by a man though, Harry." "Why?" "See the bottle and the writing? Very feminine touch to it. And the smell… alluring. The potion needed magic added to it. A part of the brewer. Their essence. And she added it." Harry nodded. Neville wasn't great at potions but had picked up a lot of knowledge that Harry never appreciated.

"Thanks again, mate." "Of course." "Almost lunch time though, isn't it?" "I think so," was the happy response. Harry followed the Professor up to the Great Hall. The students were filing in slowly from various parts of the castle. It was always another perk of being back. Getting to see all the things one missed once they were no longer a student. Neville had the dream of teaching and always being around Hogwarts. Harry had thought of taking up the Defense Against the Dark Arts position but Professor Roughshod had been raved about for the last five years he had held the position. Harry had come back a few times to help out.

James came running up and stopped short of him. He looked like he wanted to give his dad a hug but instead shook his hand. "Hey, Dad!" "James." "Professor Longbottom." "Mr. Potter." James grinned. He loved knowing a few of the teachers.

"Can I sit with you, Dad?" "Maybe." "Please?" "Sure. I'll come sit with you." "Yes!" Harry said hello the rest of the faculty. As normal, he was well received. Taking a seat at the old Gryffindor table next to James, he enjoyed hearing the muted conversations around him. They took back to sitting with Hermione and Ron. Hermione would always chastise them for their sloppy eating habits.

A few of the students asked for his autograph. Harry obliged them. James was overtly happy by the attention brought on by his dad being at lunch. Harry did feel old though being around the students and noticing, more so than around his kids, that they all seemed innocent. He had felt innocent when he first came into the Great Hall and argued with the Sorting Hat over which House to be in.

His innocence had been gone by the end of his First Year. James still had his. Harry hoped that he would keep it for years and years. It was a worthy dream. A lot of blood had been shed to gain that innocence.

Progress hadn't been made in months. The Hogwarts visit was a rare calm in the busy storm of work. Ginny had even gotten frustrated with the long hours. It seemed on a monthly basis a Dark Wizard or Witch would try to cause some havoc. A few even gained a few followers before they were arrested. Harry tried finding any link to the mysterious man with the female brewed potions. There were none to find.

Ginny was happy now that the summer holiday was there. The boys ran around with their cousins as Lily cutely followed her around the house if she wasn't helping the boys and cousins cause havoc. Ginny loved the summer holiday more than any other.

The first time she had spent any time around Harry had been when her brothers had smuggled him out of his aunt and uncle's house. Harry had been thrilled to spend time in the Burrow with the Weasley's. Harry had admitted that he had seen that time as being part of an extended family. He had found it funny that she had hid so often from him.

Then he had rescued her at the end of the school term from the Diary. And she had recovered over the summer holiday again. Now, her oldest child was back home for the summer and Harry seemed relaxed again.

It surprised her though the week after Harry's birthday that Hermione showed up when Harry had left for work. Tears flowed down her friends face freely. Ginny wrapped her in an embrace. Something terrible had to have happened.

"Ron and I got into a horrible fight last night." "Ohhh. Everything went wrong?" "Yes. It was like the Horcrux locket was around Ron's neck the whole time. The only reason the kids didn't hear was the silence spell I cast. Ron went back to his parents. I told the kids he was helping their grandparents. They're with Angelina now."

Tears came again to her friend. Ginny felt sorry. Ron was a git even when he wasn't trying to be one. It was the worst quality in Ron. He had a lot of strengths and his flaws made him unbearable. Life was weird.

Something Harry had mentioned months ago came to her mind. As much as he loved his friends, and enjoyed them together, and they were now family with the marriages, he felt they maybe weren't right together. Ginny couldn't help but agree. She soothed her friend's feelings and helped her through the day. It had been a few years since they had been this way. Her shoulder had held Hermione's, and Hermione's on hers.

Hermione seemed happy when she left that afternoon. An owl came at dinner saying things were well between the two again. It had just been a bad fight.

Harry plopped himself down at his chair once he was home, "Whoo, honey, I am spent. It is time to take a vacation." "Oh?" "Yes." "Rough day?" "Yes. Even worse was Ron going on about how big of a blast ended skewt he was." "Hermione told me of some of why my brother was the biggest git on the bloody planet."

The children came rushing in at the heavenly smell of food. Molly's talent with food had transferred to her daughter. Ginny had a thought it was because she never wanted to not have it. Harry tried at cooking. Try was a generous word. His attempts were often failures. He had some skill when it came to breakfast foods. He admitted he only ever really helped with breakfast at his horrible aunt and uncle's house.

Dinner was the typical joyous affair. James kept bragging about being at Hogwarts and how it would be more than a year until Albus would be able to go. It was a typical dinner since school ended. Harry took care of putting the children in bed as she soaked in a wonderful solution she had found in Diagon Alley for the bath. It relieved her stresses and made her feel ready for anything. It also smelled of her favorite things. Each person had the same response. Harry enjoyed the solution as well.

He slid in the bathroom. His eyes grew as he inhaled the wondrous aromas. "Hmm. Mind if I join?" "Of course not." His shirt went flying. His pants slid down around his ankles before they were kicked. She giggled. Harry had a goofy look on his face. His wand pointed at the tub. It expanded before he jumped in with her. He slid along the side to her.

Harry's eyes closed quickly. Ginny lay her head on his shoulder. Harry moaned at the comfort. "How long have we been enjoying this marvelous find of yours?" "Several months now." "I always feel truthful in here too. Almost like veritaserum." "It does feel that way doesn't it?"

"I can smell your desire." "I can smell mom's minced pie. Hmmm." Harry kissed her, "I don't smell like minced pie." "I know. But it's what I really want right now. I almost made it tonight." His lips met hers yet again. It was heavenly. His fingers found her under the wet. They slid in without effort. Their lips kept pressing together. Her moans created a steady sound in the otherwise quiet room.

Harry got her close to mini heaven when she wanted nothing more than to take him back to the bedroom. Harry obliged her request. Her sleep was aided by the after bath activities. Yet when she woke Harry was already gone off to work. Life was good, almost great for them.

Tavitani grumbled. Hiding out in Hogwarts had lasted for a few weeks before her nerves got to her. She wasn't a steelhearted person yet. And she wanted to be free. Not cooped up somewhere. She needed freedom.

Freedom had been what drove her away from her past. Not that she was shamed by it. She had done some great things where she had been in life. Voldemort had been a fool for how ashamed he was of his blood. That blood gave him his might that he had tried to turn into power. His failure was partly due to his shame.

Divisions based on blood were worthless. It had been a lesson learned elsewhere that Voldemort hadn't learned. Divisions based on merit were meaningful. The more powerful someone was, the more merit they had. Others based it on knowledge. Knowledge could lead to power when used properly. She used her knowledge and experience for power.

Some followers had flocked to her over her time becoming the Duchess Tavitani. A lot of them joined without coercion from her. It was easier to have them without magic. The bonds worked better that way once they swore them. A few of the Englishman didn't see why the bonds were needed. Voldemort had proven why.

Her mind was preoccupied now as she climbed the stairs along with three of her followers. It was a long climb. The castle dominated the local area. Legends in the Muggle world even cropped up because of this place. A lot of the hate to Muggle's in idiotic Pure blood minds made them ignore Muggles as much as they could. Legends from their world could inform better than any tale from the magical world.

Such is how she found herself climbing. Muggle lore said the owner of the castle had cursed any who tried entering the castle other than the climb up the stairs. A follower of hers had tried several ways to enter besides the climb. It had been funny to see her follower fail each time. One of the three still alive had been appalled. If any more… victims were needed that one would do.

The castle had been abandoned for years. Dumbledore had briefly stopped here on his fight with Grindlewald once he had deigned to join in. How Death surely had shirked his date with destiny. Did Harry Potter know he was the Master of Death? How amusing that was. A tale in the Wizarding world was real and people forgot its origin. And one of them was truly the Master of Death, and he had no dark desires that he exposed. Even with all the death he had experienced he had been wiser than experienced fools.

That Andrew fool from the Auror's had proven useful in several ways. One of them was ensuring there was no prophecies in London dealing with her. Her threat or twisting into destiny should not have been foretold. She didn't mess with Time. Life was different than Time. She had learned harshly how a lot of people thought they were intertwined together.

The owner of the castle had once researched how Life and Time were tied together. Rules of Time Travel were highly regulated by all Wizarding associations. The taking of Life was highly frowned upon. Yet the bonds between the two were hardly recognized yet thought fleshed out and realized. Altering Time would alter Lives. So the altering of the past and future would alter Lives.

Yet Lives would be lived regardless of the altering of Time. Time was a constant. It was loopholes that allowed devices like Time Turners to operate as they did. Yet they only went backwards into Time, not forward. And if the spells and aids would send someone back, they could only go as far as the person had lived forward. Which was always the Present. Past, Present, Future.

She was altering the Future as it was. She was bending Time and distorting it. Ripple effects should be occurring according to theory even though it wasn't the Past. The Future turned into the Past by the sure progress of Time.

Tavitani had stumbled upon a truth. If one sidestepped the bonds and ties of Time, Life could be altered. The reason Time Turners wouldn't go forward, if they could, past where the user had been was because it hadn't been lived. Time hadn't been established yet. Prophecy somehow dealt with reading the way the Future turned to Present immediately into the Past.

A theory was people had to travel backwards through Time with Time Turners and such to enable the use of Prophecy. Prophecy was a ripple of Time going backwards to Lives already lived. It altered them through prophecy.

Yet the Lives would still be Lived according to Time. Sidestepping Time would not alter Time. Life could be altered. Always Altered.

The floor of the main hall inside the entrance was a stone mosaic of Time. Various representations of Time flowed throughout the artwork. It was a sight to behold. It had been studied extensively.

Part of what the Muggles said was cursed in the castle was you would mysteriously age while in the Castle. Time wouldn't shift. Five minutes would be five minutes. Yet they would be younger or older. No potions or various other blatant use of Magic.

What did happen was Life. They would live years of their lives in the short time they spent in the castle. Research had led her to know the proper spells to use to counteract the curses. She always had a thrill in the use of countercurses. It felt so… against the Dark Arts.

Her followers continued with their instructions as they split up. Tavitani went about her task there. To the study she went. There she found her desire after a thorough search. A book that smelled of age and musk. The words were still legible on the inside.

An alarm rang in her head. A ward from the entrance was sounding. It wasn't one of her followers. She moved swiftly to the entrance.

Six men stood there in dark robes, wands in hand, as they looked around. She confidently moved into sight. The tallest of the men stepped forward. "Duchess Tavitani. How… shocking to see you here." "I am surprised you knew to find me here." "I easily found you, fool."

"You are a fool, McMann." "I have covered your tracks for years. You owe me." "I owe you nothing. I have never asked you for anything." "You needed my help before." "That wasn't help. That was pity on a young, helpless woman. You wanted to be a hero. Such an odd choice for a Dark Wizard."

"I haven't hid behind fake names. I thought you despised fake names." "I do. Tavitani is not a fake name. It was bestowed upon me." "By others. Not your birth name. I understand you hid out at that school of the English magicry. A weak hiding hole. And now here you are."

"As are you." McMann laughed, "I am here because I want to be. You are here because you need to be." "I am here for my reasons." "You have always been too weak to be a threat." "Yet you are here to stop me." Anger contorted McMann's face.

"Avada Ke-" He fell before he could finish the spell. His posse all held their wands ready to counter spells, if they could. They were staring wildly as they tried to find somewhere to hide behind.

"Your leader has fallen easily, leaches. I could use you for my own devices, though." "What did you do to him?" "I ended him." "I was with him in Salem when he helped you escape." "I could have survived that entire incident without him. He just proved useful." "How are you not indebted to him? Your spell should never have worked." "Who said I used a spell as he tried to kill me?" "You had to have!" "Keep arguing and you will face his end." "I doubt it."

Tavitani smiled. A flick of her wrist sent the man to his knees. "See? You are at my mercy now." The other four began casting spells. The colors ruined her vision as she ducked behind a door. An explosion sent her flying as the door burst apart.

Gaining her feet, she saw one of her men laying on the mosaic. His body covered Father Time. Guilt sang loudly in her mind as she tried finding where the enemies had sought covered. Her last two followers were dueling with the four she saw standing.

The one who been vocal once McMann had fallen turned to see her. She decided to let him know his end was there. "Avada Kedavra!" The green light hit him straight in the chest. Her soul ached in her body. How dirty that spell was. How much damage it caused with little gain. Death was easy to cause. Why not always have a gain? Tearing ones soul was not much of a gain.

Two more bursts of green light came racing towards her. A flick of her wrist sent the spells flying off into the distance. "Silly men!" The men began racing out of the entrance, spells flying behind them, as she stalked after them. All three of them were reckless with their casting.

In the valley below, Muggles were gaping at the hill as they saw lights flying. The Haunted Castle was experiencing something extraordinary. Some terrified screams reached Tavitani's ears as she let the wild spells miss her. It was a waste of effort to counter them. They weren't aiming for her. They were trying to Apparate away and be safe. They would never be safe.

Three times, she cast the same spell, and three times, green light raced to the men. They stumbled and fell as the spells hit them. They did not stand again. Her soul burned her entire body as she ran back to the Castle. Tears flowed down her cheeks.

Maor was dead. His blood flowed into the lines of Father Time. McMann was already dead. The one who had struck Maor down was dead. Vengeance was all she wanted and had had already. Yet it was wasn't enough. The parchment she sought hadn't been in the study. The book had been the prize, but the parchment was more important. Maor didn't have the goblet either. He wouldn't have returned to the hall unless he hadn't found it.

Nathaniel stooped to talk as she held Maor's head in her lap. "We couldn't find any of what we came for." "I know." "What do we do now? Failure keeps occurring." "We have won here. Even with the loss of Maor." "Duchess, we should leave." "Leave then. Gather the rest." "Where do we head?" "I will find you all. Tell them to flee."

"Duchess?" "LEAVE!" Nathaniel flew into the wall. Once he was on his feet, he ran as fast as he could away from her. Maor still had his eyes open as she looked at him. Of the few people she had ever really felt close to, Maor had been the closest. He had seen and said nothing on a lot. When she had been at her lowest, he had picked her up and returned her to strength.

And he had never asked her for anything. She had always given him what she felt he wanted. Yet never had he asked. Pain would be felt for this. McMann still had family. They thought him imprisoned. What a shame he wasn't. He could've been useful still.

Word had slowly come to Harry and his office of the Battle of Arlon. Muggles in the local town had been attacked in what seemed a fit of fury. An American man named Martin McMann had been found. No known spell had caused his demise. A few men associated with him had been killed by the Killing Curse. Harry felt frustration rising. Voldemort had been a consistent threat. A terrifying one but consistent.

Whoever this new Dark Witch or Wizard was worse than Voldemort. The Castle that was the center of the battle had been an ancient seat of a Dark Family. Weak ties to Grindlewald had been whispered and never proven. Powerful spells had been removed from the castle that had been there for centuries.

A summons from Hermione had brought him to her office now. A stack of parchments was about to tip over on the corner of her desk. The opposite corner had a neat book pile. None of the titles were in English.

"Harry!" "Hullo, Hermione." "Thank you for coming so quickly." "Of course. You said you had information about what happened two months ago in Belgium?" "Yes." Harry had gotten used to Hermione always having answers.

"Well?" She handed him various scraps of parchment and even a few newspapers. Various reports of McMann being imprisoned for actions related to… the Salem Seven. Sarah Gilmore's name yet again. He was supposed to still have been imprisoned. How had he escaped? A report sent from Hermione's American counterpart stated he was last seen imprisoned the day after the battle. They had since verified that it was a man enchanted to look like McMann. They were quite embarrassed by the mistake. Dementors had never been trusted in the States.

"How accurate is all of this?" "I took a Portkey to the Magical Congress. It's all accurate." "What is Minister Shacklebolt saying?" "He wants us to work on it together. With the Americans. The prevailing theory is still this Sarah Gilmore."

"Any reports of aliases yet?" "No. But… I was talking with the Healers again." "About Andrew?" "Yes." "He was befuddled by someone. I think it was the same as who went after Ron." Pain flashed on Hermione's face. "You know it was the same." "I know. I just… don't like talking about that."

Harry understood. That had been the lowest point of her marriage with Ron. "So what about Andrew?" "He kept going on about this lady, remember?" "Yes. After the explosion in Hogsmeade, he was delirious about how she had run from him." "And you only saw that old man. And Neville said it was a female brewer of the vials." "She somehow disguised herself as that man and my spells didn't discover it?" "Yes."

She handed him an official report. It was not one from the Ministry but the Magical Congress. Harry felt his interest rise. Hermione had a wonderful mind and used it well. The title of the report concerned him though. The Salem Seven and the Reports of Time Warping.

He was captivated as he read through the report. Sarah Gilmore and her cohorts had been studying Time. They had attempted to Warp time. That had caused the Muggles to come closer to the Institute. The theft had been a Time Watcher that the Congress had entrusted to the High Coveness of the Institute. It had been found after Gilmore fled. The Watcher was linked through unconfirmed history to the Arlon Castle.

"There still the high alert for Sarah Gilmore?" "Yes, Harry," Hermione said with annoyance. Harry sheepishly smiled in apology. She smiled back. All was forgiven.

"I need to head to Arlon, and Salem. Will you come with me?" "Harry. The children. I can't. Ron is gone right now for the store." "Oh Merlin! I forgot he went to France." "Take some of the Auror's, Harry. Kingsley will want you to follow through on this." "I know. Sometimes, I tire of always charging off on some quest to find a Dark Wizard or Witch. Normally we have enough information. I think we're always informed enough to be ready with this lady. And she is always ahead of us."

"You'll figure it out, Harry." "I always think so. But not now. Not with this. Voldemort always laid a trail that could be followed. And I could see his thoughts, remember? It was a blessing and a curse. We were linked. I have no links to this person besides what they've done to my friends and family."

The owl chirped annoyingly as she read the latest report. All was well with the investigation that the infamous Boy Who Lived was conducting. The ruse of Ron was still effective. No one thought that Hermione would be covered. And sending Ron off to France to open a new store in Paris to tie her up in London had been genius.

Harry Potter was headed to Arlon and Salem. He would be away from England. Time to return to that land. McMann had tracked her to Hogwarts. He probably knew little of what she had actually done. And he had thought himself clever so he wouldn't have told anyone what he did know.

Tavitani looked at Maor's dead body. She had enchanted it so it was always life like. The preserved Saints in Muggle Europe taken to be miraculous were actually enchantments. Studying them had allowed her to preserve Maor's body.

"I will avenge you, my sweet." No words came from him. Tears fell once more. "England will wait. Salem comes first."

A full team had come with Harry. They were joined by Belgian Aurors along with a handful from America. It was a pressing need to find the truth. Voldemort seeking out Gregorivitch and being unimpeded had been a blow to International Magicry. Cooperation had increased after the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry had been a key to the closer relations.

The town was still partly destroyed. It had once been a full Wizarding town like Hogsmeade. After some atrocious crimes by the Lord of the Castle in the 1500s, Muggles had taken over time. No Wizard or Witch wanted to go back unless need pressed.

Harry felt the evil pressing in on him as he walked through the town. The Castle had been a ruin to Muggle eyes. To his, he saw a ruined, destroyed castle. Walking the way up, he saw where spells had landed. Erratically cast spells had landed haphazardly.

The Entrance Hall was still intact. A mosaic on the floor caught his interest. Motioning to one of his team, they took photos of the mosaic. It felt important, somehow. Dried blood still lay caked into one part of the design.

Flowing lines of a beard led to a wizened face. Several hourglasses hung off the man's robes. Father Time. Depictions of him always seemed to be the same. This one was different. Harry tried placing it. It looked so normal.

To the right of Father Time was a depiction of a younger version of Father Time. In his hands he held a parchment. Looking back at Old Father Time, there seemed to be a blank spot on the mosaic. Carefully trying spells finally had one unveil writing. The words didn't make sense to Harry. He took careful transcription of what he found.

"Harry?" Ian was pointing at something on the floor. It was an hourglass that had arrows that seemed to be saying forward. Another hourglass had arrows that seemed to be saying backward. "Yes?" "There was movement in the hourglasses." The artwork was detailed enough to show beads of sand. Something struck Harry. Other mosaics like this would move. This one didn't. Unless…

"Lunford?" "Yes, Mr. Potter?" "Develop photos quickly of these hourglasses." "Yes, Mr. Potter." Harry kept his eyes on the hourglasses. Nothing seemed to change. Stooping down, he looked closer at the hourglasses. They looked more like Time Turners than normal hourglasses. How strange. This was supposedly a castle of Dark research. Time and Life.

Muggles and Wizards had been aged if they hadn't been wary. Time hadn't shifted yet Life had seemed to. In Life Truth. In Time All. Why was that coming to him? Touching the hourglasses, he felt nothing strange. Something glowed to his side. He looked. It was the writing on the floor. It had turned into a parchment. "Accio parchment!" The parchment landed in his hands.

His head felt heavy suddenly. Pressure kept building and building. Harry found himself screaming. The pressure was getting to be too much. Harry dropped the parchment. The pressure was still there. It was almost like the pressure one felt when traveling by Portkey.

A message was scrawled in tidy handwriting on the wall. It had not been there before.

Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived. My unwilling follower. You are searching for me yet do not know me. We have met, Master of Death. You have united the Hallows and been where few have. The Dark holds no power over you. I applaud you for that. I was like you, once, unable to do what I felt was Dark magic. I realized you were the one who would be able to find the Parchment of Life. I will have it from you, eventually. Only one who had Mastered Death could find it. I have Mastered Life. I am the balance to you now. I am not Sarah Gilmore, the one you search for. I will see you after your Headmaster heads to school. It is fate. Not prophecy. I am the Antilife as you are the Antideath.

Harry looked at the parchment. More writing then earlier was on it. It was still unreadable to him. Harry excused himself from the search.

Several hours later had his team surrounding him. "Harry, the parchment is not recognizable to us. But a warning from when the Master of the Castle went on Trial might apply." "Yes?" "He had said, 'I will not challenge this decision. I have been where none have! I have done things none of you could comprehend. My life has been glorious. I fear not death. Death holds no power over me. Time is the only master I fear!'"

Been where few have. Somehow, even without the Hallows, the Dark Wizard had mastered death. Hermione would be giddy with this information. Who else had done what he had, and now this Wizard? His name was apparently lost to history. Yet his works were sought after.

Something on the side of a small hill in the distance drew his attention. Harry pointed, "What is that?" "I will ask." Harry felt drawn to it. It was a stone cylinder structure. It had symbols drawn onto it but they were weathered. Great power seemed to flow from and into it. It required magic.

"Sir?" "Yes?" "They say it's an old artifact. Has been here for centuries. It is rumored to be why the Dark Wizard build his castle here. Because of this. No one has ever figured out what it does." "But what is it?" Harry ached to know.