Hey everyone,
I am SO going to enjoy this chapter and yet – I'm also slightly hesitant with it. KH III is just a few days away – at the point of me posting this – and I really have no idea what the canon fates of Terra, Aqua and Ventus are going to be. And part of me wonders whether or not I should base their existence in this story on those fates or not. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Let's have fun,

Venquine1990
Shout-Out To:
Wishfull-star

Chapter 26
Hogwarts In Balance

3rd of January 1993
Great Hall, Hogwarts
Dumbledore's POV

The last two weeks have been unlike any I have had in a very long time and that is mostly because of what happened a few days after Harry and the King closed Hogwarts for the holiday break prematurely. The closing of the Keyholes has definitely had an incredible effect on Hogwarts and I have been able to sense this effect a little more every day.
My fellow colleagues all returned from a personal trip home to overthink the last year the other day and instantly they all commented on it. "What happened to Hogwarts? Something's changed." Is what most of them commented on upon setting their first steps upon the grounds and I told them about what happened in my office and the other three locations.
"So the reason so many students were focused on the negativity of the past was because of not one, but four Keyholes being active and calling out to the darkness in their hearts? Then why did we never suffer any threats from Heartless attacks unless they came from the other worlds?" Flitwick had asked and I had answered: "Because they're part of a different universe, my friend. Different rules."

And as I watch the students enter the Great Hall is it quite easy to see that most of them are noticing this as well as they are talking with a lot more glee to their tones and excitement shown on their faces. And what proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt is what I hear some of them, especially most of the older Ravenclaw students, talk about with each other.
"You know, we keep mentioning the Founders all the time, but we never actually talk about their actual accomplishments. Why was that? I mean, Ravenclaw was smart and talented enough not just to create a bit of jewelry that even enhances one's intelligence, she also managed to be the Founder of a school full of new students and a mother as well. That's talent."
These and other similar conversations fill the hall, some students talking about the better qualities of the Founders, a few of them even talking praise about the Founders of a House other than their own or other heroic or tragic characters. But every time the last of the aforementioned comes up, even then the students speak highly of why these people deserve to be remembered.
And I know that they are not alone as Professor Binns was also affected by the change and I heard him muttering in confusion about why he only speaks of the Goblin wars more often than not. This is yet another reason why I have been unable to stop myself from smiling for the better part of this elongated holiday, something that is shared by most of my colleagues.

Then all students are all situated at their tables, yet even now a lot of them are seated sideways to continue talking with those that are at other tables. This is yet another something that I know rarely happened before the Keyholes were closed and while part of me is at awe at how much those four affected the school, does it also make me feel that much happier about them now being closed.
I cough softly and this actually instantly draws everyone's attention, causing for a pleasant kind of silence to fall over the Hall. I stand up and decide that, even though I was just clearing my throat, I might as well make use of this opportunity to make my announcements as that will allow my students to get to their dinner faster, which I am sure some of them are anxious for.

"Good afternoon, everyone. I am sure that a lot of you have noticed that something may have changed about Hogwarts. This is indeed correct as over the holiday, the Organization sent our prince and our former students – I will get to this later – to the castle in the belief that there may be a Keyhole around Hogwarts that may be drawing out the darkness in our students' hearts.
However, instead of only finding one, the five of them actually found four Keyholes and managed to close each of them successfully, thus allowing Hogwarts to regain its control over the balance between Light and Darkness once again. And with the balance restored, all of you feel more inclined to recognize and speak about the more positive parts of our school's fine history.
However, there is also the present and the future of our fine school to think about and four new additions to the Hogwarts staff will help with this. Four incredible souls who have been trapped within the darkness drawn into the Keyholes that were within Hogwarts and who were released as they were closed off. Please welcome Masters Terra, Aqua, Ventus and Eraqus."

And the four mentioned Keyblade masters enter the Great Hall to the excited applause coming from all of the students, even if some of them are still a little more timid than others. The four of them wave in gratitude at the warm welcome and then take the seats that Minerva provided for them, one on the right of each Head of House as a sign of who these four will be helping the most.
I then turn back to what is most important to me and tell the students: "Now onto another important announcement. As I mentioned before, there are four people who are no longer students. These four are young misters Roxas, Axel, Demyx and Mss. Xion. They have decided this as they now entrust their jobs of helping our four proud Houses unite to our new additions.
In return they wished to go back to their previous ages and return their focus on the bonds between them, bonds that unfortunately were tested quite a few times over the last few months. Now I will allow you all to dig into your meal with this one last statement. I truly wish all four of them the best of luck, both in their endeavors and their futures. Now dig in."
And the plates fill themselves up as everyone finally turns back to their own tables and plates and yet again the hall fills itself with the sounds of numerous voices. And from what I can hear there are only a small few mutter in annoyance or disgust, but most of the students are either excited for the new staff additions or wishing the best for their former House mates.

"We are truly that much closer to our goal now, aren't we Albus?" Minerva asks me as I take my seat and I whisper back: "Yes Minerva, the future is looking quite a bit brighter. Though we can't go and try to change those that aren't as happy as the others. If we can just make sure they learn to balance their more negative side, they won't be a threat, to themselves or others."
To this Terra, who is sitting next to the woman, grunts: "Leave that to me." And just the look on his face proves that he takes a role like this quite personally. I also notice Aqua and Eraqus looking at the man worried, but then Ventus, who is sitting next to Pomona, says: "Great idea. If anyone can help those students, it's definitely Terra. He and Riku have the most experience, really."
I nod alongside his two other friends and yet Terra smirks at the other two and asks: "I don't have to prove myself to the both of you again, do I?" Aqua wildly shakes her head, but Eraqus smirks back and asks: "Isn't that something every son desires? To prove themselves to their parent?" And Aqua looks between the two smirking men in shock.
"Get with the times, Aqua. Anyone could see that Terra was just joking." Ven laughs, only to yelp as suddenly his glass of water freezes over and Aqua smirks at him as she retorts: "I'll get with the times when you stop leaving your guard down, Ven." And under the loving banter of these four, who obviously consider each other family, do I enjoy my meal.

Later that night
Boys Dorm, Hufflepuff
Harry's POV

I have never been more happy to be a Badger as I am now. While being a Gryffindor would have put me up in one of the highest towers of the school – and with that probably close to the top of the dome that houses the Wards surrounding Hogwarts – does being a Badger make sure that I am basically on an even level with the grounds of the school instead.
And because of that am I actually able to sense the way that a strong sense of Light magic is flowing through the school as the walls around Hufflepuff common room and dorm are also the foundation upon which most of the rest of the school is build and I am able to sense how this magic comes from the school and the cellar and goes up to the towers.
I definitely also sense a strong sense of Dark Magic coming from the forest and some point deep within the center of the school, but it finally seems able to move alongside the light magic, neither of the two feeling like they want to overcome the other. And yet at the same time I really wonder why I am suddenly able to sense all of this.

Yet thanks to Sirius am I now able to ask this question directly to my family as he gave me one of his Two-way mirrors, the man giving the other one of the set to my parents for them to keep in Where Nothing Gathers and Father Luxord is the one coming up with the potential solution. "It really is quite simple, little one. It's because of what happened." The man tells me through the mirror.
Yet I feel confused and he says: "You were the one most directly involved and in the lead when the five of you closed the Keyholes. You were even the one to pull all four of our new friends out of their cells. Because of that Hogwarts has obviously thanked you by allowing you to sense its power. I'd make use of that wisely when possible, if I were you."
I nod at him and say: "I will. In fact, this new cooperation with the school's inner magic will make it easier for me and our new friends to find the students that are left being controlled by their darker natures or those who don't want their inner Darkness to be in balance with their inner Light." The man nods and then tells me: "Indeed, now go to bed. It's getting late." And I happily comply.

Goodnight Harry.
So yeah, I don't think these chapters are going to be all that long, but there will still be a few things that will be done. Terra, Aqua, Ventus and Eraqus will all get their chance to shine, I still have a bit of a role for Hermione to play, there is still the meeting between Zexion and the Minister that is to take place, which will also be next chapter's topic.
Have fun,

Venquine1990