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True Myths

Chapter 4 – Planes of existence

Hermione barged in the Gryffindor common room, and without moment of hesitation went straight for the corner in which Ron and Harry played chess.

"Well?", she asked. Unfortunately, all she received were confused looks. It certainly didn't improve her already bad mood.

"Well what, Hermione?", Ron said annoyingly, noticing how angry she looked, while some small voice in the back of his head kept reminding him not to pick a fight with her when she was looking like this. Of course, that small voice was called reason, and Ron never listened to it. Ever. Even more never when she was in question.

She shot them another glare and continued, "I just met McGonnagal and she told me to get you two and meet her in the Professor Dumbledore's office. Just what exactly did you do this time?"

Harry just opened his mouth to swear their innocence, but was cut short with Hermione's, "Save it! Now lets go, we'll be late."

Harry shrugged and cast a look on Ron, who was clearly steaming, but surprisingly managed in keeping his mouth shut. No need to say, Hermione led the way, looking like Goddess of Anger herself.

Sirius followed the woman in complete silence. Of course, he was still checking occasionally if the spell had wore off by opening his mouth and trying to protest against this treatment. No need to say that it didn't work. Sirius was 'enchanted' for good. Only after they entered the Forbidden Forest he stopped gaping, and concentrated his attention on keeping all of his limbs attached to his body. After all, he once witnessed that kind of a scene and was not too eager to see it happened to him tonight. Or ever, by that matter.

He could tell they were deep in the Forest. By the silence that seemed like an omen of things ahead, by the cold wind chilling his very bones, by the glow of eyes that seemed to flicker in the dark only for a second before disappearing.

Xandra stopped abruptly, causing closely following Sirius to crash into her. She looked at him, smiled and said in a mocking tone of voice, "I thought you weren't afraid, Sirius Black."

He simply glared at her for a while, enjoying wild thoughts of strangling her that suddenly came rushing to his mind, then pointed a finger on his mouth.

"Oh, yes,", she smiled and cocked her head to one side, observing him intently. "You can speak now."

"Well, I am very grateful you decided to return me my ability to speak,", he replied bitterly.

"Irrelevant. We are here,", she answered shortly.

He did a full 360-degree turn. Forest, forest and some more forest. Oh, and couple of beasts in the distance. Nothing out of ordinary. No house, no settlement of any kind.

"Forest." Smile started creeping onto his face. "Ok, so what's the real deal, lady?"

"Oh, yes, you are human,", she said more to herself and in a tone that made it sound like it was a bad thing.

"Thank you for noticing,", he was utterly confused, but wouldn't let it show, not now and not in front of this... woman. "And you aren't?", he tried to be sarcastic.

She eyed him, then quietly replied, "We should hurry. We are attracting a lot of attention."

He surveyed the Forest once again. Nothing. Yet, somehow, he was sure she was telling the truth. Sirius gulped. Xandra then did the strangest thing. She raised her hand and did a move like she was wiping the fog of the window glass. Forest shuddered and disappeared in the mist...

Clear blue sky and a bright light were the first things Sirius noticed. He was standing on a grassland, with sporadic hedges and some mountains in the distance. It was middle of the day and birds were singing... By now Sirius was pretty sure he was not in the Forest anymore. Or on the Hogwarts grounds. Or on the planet Earth. Hell, maybe not even in our own galaxy... His musings were interrupted soon.

"We live in the parallel plane of existence,", Xandra's voice seemed muffled and distant.

Ron, Harry and Hermione were sitting in Headmaster's office, barely daring to breathe. Old man looked troubled, and... well, that was not his usual self. Somehow, Harry felt that Voldemort was not the reason behind Dumbledore's grave appearance. Still, Hermione was sure it was Harry and Ron's fault, and kept throwing rather nasty glances at both of them. Ron, on the other hand, just stared at the Dumbledore in complete fear. 'Maybe it was something we did...'

Dumbledore sighed, breaking the awkward silence, and causing all three of the Gryffindors to jump out of their chairs.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, the reason I called you tonight is in direct connection with both of you. Ms. Granger, as you are their friend, this is of your concern as well."

"I knew it,", Hermione quietly exclaimed and shot particularly angry round of glares around. 'If this decreases my chances of being a Head Girl...'

"I am afraid, Ms. Granger, that you have no reason to be angry with your friends, as they did nothing wrong... this time,", small smile appeared on old man's face.

Now it was Hermione's turn to be confused, and Harry's and Ron's to throw glares at her. 'I would have told her so, if she would just listen...'

"Well, Sir, why did you call us then?", Harry cautiously asked, after noticing that Dumbledore had drifted away in his thoughts again.

"Ah, yes...", Dumbledore looked up at the small group, and continued, "You must understand that what you hear tonight, is not to leave this room."

His tone was heavy and serious, and all they could do is simply nod. Phawkes, who was asleep on his perch all this time, opened one eye and curiously looked at his master.

"Miss... Xandra is not a human being."

Hermione gave a small squeak of surprise.

"She is..."

Sirius turned around. There she was. Xandra. Standing, no, levitating some foot above the ground, wearing completely different... skin. Instead of pale white color, her skin was dark brown, almost glittering in the sun. Her hair was still black, as well as her eyes. Her robes have changed as well. Instead of black ones, dark forest green. Sirius took a step back. Incidentally, the earth beneath him took a step forward, and he was on the same spot as before. He wildly looked around. Still peaceful, no sign of danger. Come to that, no sign of life as well, if you take away our strange couple. Bird song has died away.

"Who... what are you?", Sirius croaked. "Where am I?"

Xandra laughed, and he was surprised to notice that she was exhibiting much more emotions, with much more ease. It eased him a bit as well. 'After all, those who feel, feel both joy and pain,', Sirius thought, as images of Potter's wedding and their burnt house came to his mind.

"One thing at a time, Sirius Black."

"I am..."

"...Terra,", Dumbledore sighed as if some heavy weight was lifted off his chests. All three of his young students look dumbstruck. Even Hermione.

"She is what?", Ron squeezed through clenched teeth. He had the weirdest feeling he was not going to like this.

Dumbledore diverted his eyes from them and glanced at his enchanted watch. Both arms were showing 'Not yet.' .

"Terra,", his voice seemed to crack a bit as the repeated that word, "are the most powerful creatures ever to walk this Earth. Ever to exist." In that moment, Trio felt what their Headmaster felt. Unexplainable fear.

"Only few chosen people know of our existence. We do not interfere with human affairs, unless they involve ancient forces. Forces only a few people can call upon. I am here, Sirius Black, to change the future of your world. Terrae can see the future, all the timelines, and all the possibilities. I have already changed it twice, since I materialized in your plane. First time, when I protected Harry Potter from the werewolf. If I hadn't, he would have been gravely injured and failed to fulfill the prophecy. New timeline has been created instantly. Second time, when I saved Ron Weasley from accidental, but certain death. If that had happened, it would have inflicted many changes on the future. Again, timeline was changed. And now, I am doing it for the third time. If you have stayed at Hogsmeade, and received Harry Potter's letter, you would have gone to meet him, where you would be captured, and before anyone would have heard about what happened, Dementor's kiss would have been administered on you. It should have happened tomorrow. Again, timeline is changed. I will keep on changing the future, until conditions that prophecy requires are met. But, next change is not to be done by me. It is to be done by you. Any question?"

Sirius just kept staring at the young woman.

"She comes from a different... world. The world that is not human. That is very different from our own. They posses many powers, many of them are frightening indeed. Terrae do not require wands to convey their energy, as the energy is congregated in their very beings and it is powerful. What they can do is beyond mind of any wizard... or a witch."

Harry could swear he saw Dumbledore's chin tremble.

"Terrae act out of their own interest, and vary rarely interfere with our world. Actually, encounters are so rare, that there are only few other wizards, except myself, that know of their existence. Ms. Granger, you will have to believe me when I say there are no books written on this particular topic. Xandra is here for a reason, and all her actions have a purpose. Unfortunately, I have not been able to determine if her goal is noble or a foul one."

To be continued...

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