Previously on the Changing Tide
"That's strange." whispered Helga. "They reverted back into a coma instead of being conscious after my reversal charm. Rowena's spells aren't even causing it at all."
"I suspect it is the diadem. Something dark has corrupted the diadem's influence." frowned Rowena who was examining it with her wand.
Suddenly everyone was transported to a cave. Everyone had their wands out and were guarding the unconscious golden trio. Luna went to scout ahead with her wand illuminating the entire cave and returned.
"Erm.. guys? We are in trouble. I have seen something with dark magic, like Inferi." Luna said nervously
"Inferi!? How many of them?" asked Neville
"Thousands and thousands of them" said Luna
*The story continues*
Everyone tried to apparate away but it was no use."Someone has cast a disapparation ward around here! Everyone defend yourselves!" cried Rowena in alarm
Everyone raised their wand defensively and waited for the Inferi to approach them. Suddenly an extremely large fire spell came out of nowhere, attacked the Inferi and was heading straight for them.
Alarmed, Rowena and Helga cast their shields with the strongest spells they can find before the fire spell struck on the shields. However, the fire had pushed the Inferi to bounce against their shield as well.
Neville, Luna and third boy named Lee Jordan saw the Inferis approaching them at an alarming rate and started to use whichever spells they could think of.
"USE FIRE AND LIGHT! THE INFERI DO NOT TOLERATE THOSE SPELLS!" yelled out Rowena and Helga in strained voices.
"Got it! " everyone yelled out. After a few minutes of casting flame and light spells, they had managed to push the Inferi into the water where they had laid still. Everyone was exhausted after casting many spells.
"Wait.. what is that?" asked Luna. Everyone looked from her point of direction where a light glowed in the dark.
"That looks like a house. But what is it doing out here?" asked Helga.
"Probably a trap?" Said Rowena
"Let's get the others out of danger first" said Helga. The others agreed and have levitated Harry , Ron and Hermione to the house.
Rowena suddenly stopped as she had sensed a shimmer in front of her.
"Everyone stop. I sensed that there are runic wards cast on the house and the grounds that surround it." ordered Rowena
"All right. You guys guard the others. Helga and I will try to disable the runes before we enter." Rowena said. They nodded.
They have breached the runic wards after an hour of intense concentration, and sighed in relief.
"It is safe for now. Let's get in the perimeter of the house before I reapply the runes that are cast on them." Rowena said. They nodded.
Just after Rowena had reapplied the wards, numerous thin ropes sprang from the darkness and tied up Rowena and Helga. Neville, Luna and Lee Jordan saw it coming and tried to defend themselves but there were too many of them. Everyone fell down in a tied position.
Out of the darkness an unknown man appeared and asked "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"
"Your house?" Helga asked. The unknown man nodded his head.
"This is my sanctuary. I will not repeat myself again. Who are you? Are you working for the Dark Lord?" asked the unknown man as he raised his wand in a threatening manner.
Everyone revealed their names and had sworn that they are not working for the dark lord and revealed themselves as the defending students and founders of Hogwarts.
"Impossible. There are no wars in Hogwarts at all and the founders had long died since I was born." said the unknown man. Rowena and Helga looked at each other.
"My probable conclusion is that we had somehow traveled into another alternative dimension." Said Helga.
"My thoughts exactly" replied Rowena.
Neville became impatient."Would you mind telling us your name so we can at least socialise? We are not even dangerous when we are tied up."
"I guess there is no reason to do so." The unknown man shrugged. "My name is Regulus Black, the founder of the black sanctuary here, defector from the Dark Lord."
Neville, Luna and Lee Jordan gasped.
"That is not possible. You died before Sirius Black. Sirius is the last black who died. Both you and your brother's death dates were shown in the Black tapestry." said Neville.
"To be honest, I was going to die by the Inferi at first, but I had just enough strength to squeeze into another cave where they could not capture me. I had enough medical potions with me just in case of emergencies which saved me. I have been staying here ever since the Dark Lord took over the whole world with another ally." explained Regulus.
"The Dark Lord? Shouldn't he be called as Voldeā¦" said Neville.
"Don't!" roared Regulus in fear. Everyone raised their eyebrows at his sudden behaviour. "His name is a taboo. If we say his name, the name can be tracked to the location regardless of defensive spells being casted to ensure the safety of everyone." Regulus explained.
"That explains a lot." Everyone said.
"Oh dear. Looks like your friends are in bad shape." said Regulus waving his wand to diagnose Ron, Harry and Hermione.
"Is there anything you can do about it? asked Rowena.
"I think so. I have seen this kind of spell before. However the antidote is not easy to make since it is an ancient potion instead of a spell."
"Why a potion for a spell?" asked Luna
"This spell is no ordinary spell. It can cause extreme pain and drain on the victim's magic until they have no more magic to sustain themselves. The potion can deal with the magic drain and pain. But I can only lessen the massive amount of pain when theyhave finished the potion."
"Who is one who had such an intelligence to create an ancient potion like that to deal with the damage the spell caused?" asked Rowena in surprise. Regulus smirked and replied "That would be the great Merlin who is right next to this room."
Author Notes:What are your thoughts for the next chapter? Do Let me know what will happen . Sorry for making this chapter short .It will be worth the wait .
Have a nice day :)
