Chapter 1: The Serpent's Wake

Hello everyone! This is my first Harry Potter fanfiction and also my first fanfiction in a while. I'm still a bit rusty so if there's anything I can improve on, please feel free to tell me. So anyways, please review and enjoy!

The forest was quiet, save for the snake's soft slithering. Its underside grazed against the moist green leaves, coiling and recoiling. Its scales were acid green, with the exception of the red markings on its hood and the yellowing paper wrapped around its middle; its eyes were a weathered gold, as if having seen the strife and discord of centuries past. As it moved, it flitted out its blackened tongue, taking in the humid air. Small animals made their way around the forest, but it had no appetite - it had eaten four days ago, and would have no trouble carrying on for the next week. But it sensed its destination, it could practically feel it ahead: a small cave hidden from above by the dense canopy and located in the darkest and deepest part of the forest. No Muggle nor wizard could set foot in it, for it was protected by powerful, deadly enchantments.

Entering the cave, the snake came to a stop; a second later, a wizened man stood in its place, his knotted hands clutching the yellowed paper wrapped around the snake. He wore a purple robe embroidered by gold; his bald, liver-spotted head was crowned by a laurel wreath. He hobbled into the cave, rasping softly in pain with each step. The cave's interior was completely innocuous, save for a several hundred tattered, beaten papers plastered on the jagged walls. The ancient-looking wizard wordlessly raised his hand, summoning a serpent-shaped staff from the recesses of the cave. Grasping it firmly, he used it as support to make his way to an uncovered portion of stone wall and slapped the paper against it; the sound eerily resounded against the walls.

"Astrictus." his gravelly voice echoed through the cave.

He put his hand down. The paper did not fall. Satisfied, the man turned and shuffled to the beginning of the row, where, as always, he began to read the clippings in order:

THE BOY WHO LIVED TRIUMPHS (2 May 1998)
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Meets His End

Harry Potter has immortalized himself in history as the wizard who brought about the death of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, arguably the most powerful Dark wizard in history, and liberated Wizarding Britain from his control. A thorough investigation by the Ministry of Magic has revealed that an immense battle took place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry between Death Eaters and Hogwarts staff, students, alumni, and members of the Order of the Phoenix. Current statistics show a casualty count of over five hundred, including the deaths of Nymphadora Tonks, Remus Lupin, and Fred Weasley (for a full list of deaths, see pg. 13). From interviewing eyewitnesses, many of whom participated in the battle itself, The Daily Prophet has created a timeline of the battle for its readers' convenience:

8:37 PM: Professor Minerva McGonagall summons the student body and staff, giving word that Headmaster Severus Snape, who has been confirmed by the Ministry of Magic as the murderer of Albus Dumbledore, had left under incriminating circumstances. The Heads of Houses prepare evacuation for students under 17 through a passage leading to the Hog's Head, a local pub in Hogsmeade.

9:02 PM: As evacuation is underway, teachers and students prepare the castle's defenses, animating stone statues and casting protective charms over the school. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his forces, a collection of Death Eaters, Dementors, and giants (and according to some eyewitnesses, the infamous werewolf Fenrir Greyback) reach the boundaries of the school.

9:18 PM: The first battles take place at the forest and Entrance Hall; small units are dispatched at the secret entrances to sabotage and defend.

9:42 PM: Evacuation is complete, and the passage between the Hog's Head and Hogwarts is destroyed to prevent Death Eater entrance. Students are taken away from scene of battle by members of staff and the Order of the Phoenix by Side-Along Apparation and Floo Powder.

10:14 PM: Death Eaters penetrate through the defenses, enter the school. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named allegedly absent from the scene of battle.

10:28 PM: Heavy fighting reported near the forest, Transfiguration Courtyard, Entrance Hall, and lower floors. Acromantulas reportedly entered the battle in an attempt to escape the burning forest. As many as a hundred dementors have entered the school grounds; several students and staff produced corporeal Patronuses to repel them.

11:00 PM: He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named calls an armistice, recalling his forces from the battle and addresses Harry Potter, saying that he would personally join the battle should he not surrender himself in one hour.

11:53 PM: The dead are collected from battle and placed in the Great Hall, some being underage; injuries are being treated. Last confirmed sighting of Harry Potter before post-armistice is by Neville Longbottom, 17.

12:14 AM: He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named enters the school with Death Eaters, giants. Rubeus Hagrid, gamekeeper of Hogwarts, enters with them while carrying the body of Harry Potter, who He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named claims was killed while trying to leave the battle.

12:28 AM: Parents of students, along with the centaur and Thestral herds of Hogwarts, and one Hippogriff enter the castle. Battle recommences.

12:39 AM: Death Eaters retreat into the Great Hall, suffer severe casualties. Harry Potter reveals himself to be alive, proceeds to address He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

12:47 AM: Harry Potter delivers final blow in the duel with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

4:09 AM: All Death Eaters in the castle are captured and detained; Kingsley Shacklebolt is named temporary Minister of Magic.

The Daily Prophet will have more information in today's edition of The Evening Prophet, but readers can get more information on recent updates on Wizarding Wireless Network News, working in conjunction with The Daily Prophet. Please stay tuned for further updates.

MASSIVE CHANGES IN THE MINISTRY (20 July 1998)
New Minister Calls For Massive Reformation in Ministry Policy

With the recent defeat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, the Ministry of Magic is already taking steps to minimize the damage done by corrupt Ministry officials. In a landslide victory, ex-Auror and temporary Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt, was elected into office this Sunday following the resignation of Pius Thicknesse, who The Daily Prophet can exclusively reveal had been acting under the Imperius Curse for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's regime for the past year. Ministry officials are yet to release a statement on Thicknesse's fate.

Having been sworn into office, Shacklebolt has already retracted several Ministry decrees made in the past year under Thicknesse's term, including the Muggle-Born Registration Commission, which illegalized all Muggle-born witches and wizards. "In spite of the recent insurgency, we all stand stronger than ever," Shacklebolt reassured his audience in his inauguration address. "Now is the time for reform and renewal - to weed out the roots of corruption from our diseased government; to purify ourselves with officeholders who will give out unbiased justice and to revoke the extensive damage the has plagued our world not just from the past year, but from the time when Dark magic dared to rear its grotesque face." Furthermore, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement has released all witches and wizards, granting them a full pardon and a compensation of 5000 Galleons for false imprisonment; the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures is currently relocating prisoners in Azkaban to Ministry prisons while removing Dementors from Azkaban. Wizengamot Administration Services report that cases of Muggle-borns imprisoned under the Registration Commission will be reviewed and judged by the court.

Several international governments have offered aid for victims of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's regime, including France and Bulgaria, both of which had already offered asylum to Muggle-borns persecuted in the past year. While not yet confirmed, reports indicate that the International Confederation of Wizards is to have an emergency meeting in the coming week.

The Ministry is also undergoing a purging of corrupt officials including Dolores Umbridge and Albert Runcorn, both of whom have been arrested and subsequently charged for crimes against humanity. With the deaths of many Aurors such as Nymphadora Tonks and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, the Minister has temporarily suspended the stringent requirements for potential Aurors; because of this, many fighters in the Battle of Hogwarts have enlisted and have helped capture several Death Eaters, bringing them to trial. Among these new recruits is Harry Potter himself, who exclusively told the Ministry "it has been [his] dream to become an Auror" since his fourth year at Hogwarts. With such qualified wizards on the job, the Ministry reassures us that peace and stability will quickly return.

HOGWARTS RECONSTRUCTION COMPLETE (5 August 1998)
Will Open For New School Year in September

Following the historic battle in May, in which Harry Potter defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in their legendary duel, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has been undergoing much reconstruction due to the severe damage from the Battle of Hogwarts. But as of yesterday, according to Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, Hogwarts has finished its reconstruction and will open as usual on 1st September for the new school year. "With the rebuilding of our school complete," Professor McGonagall says, "We will continue giving the finest magical education in Britain for young witches and wizards. Hogwarts will always be open to those seeking knowledge." With the recent repeal of the Muggle-Born Registration Commission, Muggle-Born students will be allowed to attend Hogwarts School once more.

Harry Potter, hero of the Wizarding world, recently spoke out about the late Severus Snape, who was appointed Headmaster of Hogwarts last September. He has also moved for the placement of Snape's portrait in the Headmaster's Office, in the tradition of all late Hogwarts Headmasters.) Severus Snape, a former Death Eater, turned spy for Albus Dumbledore near the end of the First Great Wizarding War, due to, as Mr. Potter claims, "a great act of genuine remorse". Readers should note that last month, Mr. Potter spoke out in an interview with Xenophilius Lovegood, editor of The Quibbler, after the latter's release from Azkaban. Mr. Potter claimed that Albus Dumbledore, former Headmaster of Hogwarts, had not been killed by Severus Snape. He had not, in fact, been murdered at all. The Daily Prophet has printed an exert from the interview here:

H.P. : Professor Dumbledore was already dying for a year before that night. He accidentally triggered a life-threatening curse while destroying an object of great importance to Voldemort.

X.L. : An object? What kind of object?

H.P. : I'm afraid I can't say. But it would have instantly killed him right then if it hadn't been for Professor Snape. He contained the curse in Dumbledore's hand, but the curse still would've killed him in a little more than a year. Dumbledore asked Snape to end his life that night at the Astronomy Tower. He wanted to go quickly and on his own terms, not Voldemort's. It was part of his plan to make Voldemort think that Snape was loyal to him.

Following his controversial interview, Potter demanded that Severus Snape's portrait be hung in the Headmaster's Office. He, like Albus Dumbledore, refused to reveal his reason to trust Snape, but has nevertheless described him as "...probably the bravest man I ever knew".

Several other clippings followed, each one less tattered than the last: THE BOY WHO LIVED PROMOTED TO HEAD OF AUROR OFFICE; GRANGER TABLES ANTI-PRO-PUREBLOOD BILLS; HOUSE-ELVES GRANTED RIGHTS TO WAGES, NO SELF-PUNISHMENT, IN REVOLUTIONARY LAW; POTTER DEMANDS FOR CHANGE IN STATUE OF SECRECY; DEATH EATER ACTIVITY REPORTED IN LONDON, IS YOU-KNOW-WHO'S RETURN POSSIBLE?; MINISTRY QUELLS FEARS OF HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED'S RETURN. And finally, the most recent article: DARK MARKS SIGHTED ALL ACROSS BRITAIN.

The old man let out a long hiss of satisfaction, his eyes focused on the moving pictures in the clipping: a collage of green serpent-tongued skulls floating over various buildings - a Muggle apartment complex, a triangular 50-foot high wall, and a large castle among others; a tall black wizard, broad shouldered and bald, with a single gold hoop earring speaking before a massive crowd; two tall men, one freckled and red-headed and the other skinny and bespectacled briskly walking, avoiding the crowd following them. The ancient wizard lifted his bony, wrinkled finger and softly traced it over the skinny man's face. He let out a sibilant snarl, in what only a few could understand as: Harry Potter... The Boy Who Lived... I will return... and you, and all your kind, shall know the true power of Dark magic long forgotten.