A.N.: To make this easy for you guys, in this year (2935 of the Third Age): Denethor was five; Aragorn was four, had been adopted (that's how it is on LoTR tale of ages) by Elrond and renamed Estel, living in Imladris. Six years in the future Bilbo will leave his Hobyton with the twelve dwarves and find the One ring.

To calculate the year of the third age from the Antarian counting, subtract 12510 from the antarian year. 15445-2935=12510.

.::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::.

Chapter one: Witches of Middle-earth, unite!

"Who can say
where the road goes
where the day flows
only time
And who can say
if your love grows
as your heart chose
only time" Enya, Only time.

@ Province of Arilin, Republic of Antar, year 2935 of the Third Age or 15445 after the foundation of the Republic.

Arien sighed contentedly. She had spent the last twenty five years traveling through the Republic and outside - making extensive use of polyjuice as she was among humans or getting close to elven borders – getting re-acquainted with her world (and she loved to travel) and also making research about the magical herbs and animals of that place. Her supplies wouldn't last forever, and she needed to find replacements. The family of unicorn she had brought with her was left loose on a protected area in the forests of En Arris. Several other animals were left on it as well, after she put heavy wards to prevent others from damaging the animals. Of course it had taken a hell of a work with the bureaucrats. But that was worth the effort.

The province was just perfect. Out of the seven in the republic, Arilin was by a long shot, the most beautiful and enthralling of all. It had everything she might need: rivers, woods, meadows, a medium-sized urban center on the homonymous town and, anywhere one might want to look at, a breathtaking landscape.

So Arilin it would be. Her new home. It had the inconvenience of being near the borders, but god knows if anyone would be able to defend a border, it would be her. And a good broomstick ride would take her quickly to the capitol, should need come to negotiate with the bureaucrats and politicians, or to the Eastern Sea, where, for obvious reasons, most of the population decided to live. Yes, Arilin was perfect.

"The Lady is sure about this business? Because I also have in store a great state at the Lake country that will be absolutely delightful for you. The government finally gave me leave to sell it, as it was once a national forestall park, and you see, it's absolutely quiet, as you requested. And much closer to the shores." Said the salesman. Ah, the shores. Eight out of ten renegades wanted to live near the sea. The wonderful charm of the ocean, plus the feeling of being really as far as they could from everything else on Middle-earth, made them feel a strong urge to live in the coast.

"Arilin is perfect, thank you, Coldian. I love it. May we proceed to finish this business?" she asked, her fingers itching to sign the papers saying those acres of land would be hers. Of course she had ruined the very first rule of negotiation – she had showed the salesman she was too interested. But then again, with everybody running to the shores, it was pretty much a land nobody wanted. Antares was inhabited merely by its historical value as the very first city of renegades and its status as the capitol. The inner borders were almost deserted.

The negotiations were short. She got a reasonable price over the state, and signed the papers along with the Governor Official and the witnesses. Arilin was hers.

And if everything went right, she would become the lady of a great city and a phenomenal magic school.

Of course things were not that easy. Magic was still pretty much looked suspiciously and she had placed great care on not overstepping the boundaries. She played nice and clean – though she knew a thousand and one shortcuts to the same ends – and always gave the government a report of her plans and asked for permission when she was going to do something that could be considered dangerous, or interfering, or in any way got in the path of the government. The whole political maneuver exhausted her, but she was firm in the resolution of having official leave to begin her activities.

Queen Valkyria, elected in 15435, was still hesitating about her intentions. The previous royal ruler, King Hayden, was obviously not a good option - she didn't want people whispering that she had somehow seduced the King to get her projects approved. So she waited for the next election before she made any moves, always taking great care about what she did and how she interacted with others. Her caution and hard work was starting to pay off, however. The citizens of Antar were getting more and more comfortable around her, now they knew she wouldn't do anything horrible to them. She had started some solid friendships – and also, in a way she found entirely slytherin (did I get this from you, Severus?), evaluated some possible apprentices.

The magical animals would be taken from the Forest in En Arris to her state in Arilin. She wanted them near her, where she could keep both eyes on them. Too bad she couldn't convince the centaurs to go with her.

Her truck (that had started a lot of speculation and amazement when she got in the Republic) was already parked in the meadow, shining metal against the sun, and her camp tent already made near it. She would build a house, magically of course, as soon as she had taken a more careful view of the lands and decided where the school grounds would be and where her house would be – there was plenty of space for two or three estates there. Her house would be her sanctuary, but she'd need to be at the school most the time.

Arien had requested, for the umpteenth time, permission to build a school of Magic in Antar. And Valkyria – poor lady, still afraid and doing her best to refuse politely without infuriating the enigmatic witch – refused again.

And God knows patience was not the best of Arien traits.

When Valkyria gets new of this acquirement, she'll have no doubt about Arien's intention - Arien had let them be quite clear from the beginning.

Screw it.

There was no law against buying a nice state in which she could be alone to lick her wounds, no matter whatever the hell the Queen might think. And she might as well start thinking about the design of the school, its passageways and secret rooms (or else it would be no fun at all!), how she would enchant doors to look like walls, and walls to look like doors, and make the stairs change. After all, the projects of the school as she envisioned it – the best of Hogwarts and Avalon – would take a great deal of time.

.::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::.

@ Antares, the national capitol; Province of En Arris, Republic of Antar, May 14th of 2950 of the Third Age or 15460 A.R..

Her sandals made no sound in the wide meeting room. The young queen wasn't particularly beautiful, but Valkyria certainly had that aura that made people look at her twice and unconsciously want to treat her reverently.

Arien was younger than the queen by several centuries – most of the renegades were older than the witch, and she would be treated only as a prodigiously talented child, if it wasn't for the wits and guts she had developed during her stay at Earth. Now the renegades knew better than to underestimate her, and she was treated like an adult.

Most tiresome.

The Royal counselors opened space for the queen, and Arien found herself standing face to face with the renegade that held the power on the seven provinces. Valkyria was four inches shorter even in her high heels, gray eyes in midnight black hair, and eyes that betrayed a strong personality and intelligence.

Arien lowered her head a few inches and put her hand on her chest, saluting her queen. Valkyria had the sense to release her from that display of subservience quickly.

"My Lady." Arien said, and waited for Valkyria to make the next move

 "Lady Arien," Valkyria acknowledged, and turned her back to sit at the simple throne on the head of the room. "I have been thinking about your request for the school for years now." She twisted her lips as if going to chew them, but stopped in mid movement. Most odd. Arien stood there, trying to control her body- or else she would certainly make a fool of herself.

"And Milady has come to a decision." Arien stated. It was the epitome of understatement – the Queen of Antar would certainly not find time on her crazy schedule to talk to her about naught. They had been having those conversations for years, her probing, questioning, examining, and Arien summoning all her calm and (quickly fading ) patience to answer the questions in a satisfying way.

It was just so absurd! Okay, so giving anyone wizarding training was a dangerous thing. There's always the possibility the guy will turn dark. But the others will be ready to defend themselves, against the elves, the men, other wizards and basically everything that might try to harm them.

Infinite power. There was a reason why Valkyria was hesitant.

"I decided to give you leave to open the school." The Queen continued, her voice quavering the smallest bit "with the condition I will name some people of my trust to be taken as apprentices."

"No." Arien said without blinking. Valkyria shot on her a steely gray stare.

"Why not?"

Arien armed herself with the very last drops of her patience. The Queen could be infuriating in her innocence sometimes. She was just so absurdly simple and honest, she judged people by her own heart and thought nobody able of malice until she had been given proof of their dark hearts. A very dangerous belief.

"This is no game, milady. I cannot take apprentices just because you trust them. I have to be convinced of their worthiness or else the results may be catastrophic. So, milady, I am choosing the apprentices, and no one else."

Valkyria could be expelling fume through her ears, given the intensity of her anger. Arien had found a few renegades who had the same abilities than herself as a mind reader – or similar. She knew Valkyria was not one of them – not a Comyn, or equal. The Queen was not a telepath. Perhaps that was the time for a drastic measure.

Indolently, Arien slipped her wand off her sleeve and into her hands. The counselors got immediately worried- and they damn well should – and waved it in front of the queen. To her credit, she didn't flinch, standing there proud in her short height, her gaze never faltering.

Arien turned her back to the counselors and shot her first enchantment. "Petrifus totallus."

They went rigid as stones, even when they could still roll their eyes. Valkyria blinked then, staring at them with a – Arien thought it was priceless – expression of amazement and disbelief. Them she turned at Arien in angry defiance.

"You'll never get what you want with that, witch. The people of Antar will never forgive you for it."

The redheaded laughed quietly and replies" Really, Your Majesty? I think they might even thank me."

Valkyria might be older, but she was positively way more innocent.

Arien then took a small vial out of her pockets and turned to the queen. "See this?" the royal nodded, fascinated, as the prey who can't run from a serpent. 'I owe you big for this, Severus'. "This is a potion we wizards call Veritaserum. It makes absolutely impossible for the drinker to lie for the next couple of hours. Now, what if I did slip some drops of it in the throats of some of your... people of trust? And we see what happens?"

Valkyria did more than blink then, and opened her mouth like a goldfish. Most an un-elfish thing, but they were renegades instead of elves, so who cared. Arien calmly put three drops in each counselor's mouth, and looked at the Royal Ruler with a smug smile plasted on her face.

"No, there is anything you might want to know from the people you trust so much?"

Valkyria recovered her Queenly pride and raised her head, "No. I trust them."

"You do, don't you?" another chuckle. "Finite Incantatem. Now... let's see. Daymon. Did Valkyria tell you she'd ask you to be an apprentice of mine?"

The renegade stared blankly at the horizon, staying perfectly still. "yes." He answered.

"When you have that power, Daymon, what would you do?"

"I would take down the other apprentices, kill you and rise as an emperor here."

"Wow, a usurper. Amazing how trust can be betrayed, don't you think, Valkyria?" Arien asked rhetorically to the royal ruler, who was still frozen on her spot. Then the witch turned to the next.

"Your name?"

"My mother called me Rachsell, but I changed my name when I reached the republic to Rammil."

Rachsell meant curse-child in sindarin. His mom must have been one of those who were violated at the First Age, and apparently she didn't love him very much. Not all renegades had as much luck as Arien had, having a family who actually cared.

"Then, Rammil, what did you think when you were told you were going to study magic?"

"I thought it would be rubbish. This things do not exist."

"But I have deprived you of your ability to move."

Rammil said simply "Yes."

One by one Arien questioned the counselors, exposing their souls and their secret plans. Valkyria got more and more flabbergasted by the minute, and finally gave up the pretense of superiority.

"That is, milady, why I will choose my pupils myself, and no one else, including you, will have a say in the matter. The first students are crucial, as they will help me to teach others when the school is built and I cannot have a traitor among them."

The two renegades stared at one another, blue fighting against gray.

"Release them from your spell." Valkyria commanded, as she was not alone in the room with a very powerful witch holding her wand against her bewitched counselors.

"As you wish, milady." Arien said, "but I may warn you not to say anything about this to them. They'll remember nothing, and you'll only endanger yourself."

"They're not monsters!" Valkyria lost her nerves, something Arien was yet to see even after years of difficult negotiations.

"No, they are survivors. As we all are. This is a lesson I'll give you for free, Valkyria: people are not good. Not entirely, I mean. There's always a bit of dark inside them, and you need to be aware of this or else you'll only be a fool."

The witch raised her wand in the direction of the counselors. "You tried to give them a power much beyond your understanding, Valkyria. This is not a game, I tell you again. This must be both the final insurance that no one will ever mess with us, or in the wrong hands, be our ruin. We must be sure we have a good number of faithful wizards before we can start teaching this to all renegade who has the talent –if ever. Ennervate."

"I'm afraid I can't accept your terms, milady. We'll meet again, I'm sure." The witch said with a final curtsy, and turned to leave – even thought she hadn't been given leave to retire. But Valkyria, in spite of trusting people too much, knew Arien wouldn't bend to her. Even when Valkyria was respected, she wouldn't be reverenced. That's the way it goes, of course, as they were all renegades at heart, proud of their own ability to survive in hostile environments and defiant and self-sufficient .

It was a tough decision. The younger renegade had bared her most in-depth fears as she said. This must be both the final insurance that no one will ever mess with us, or in the wrong hands, be our ruin. The stakes were too high.

But the witch had also let it quite clear that, if she had wanted it, she could have simply forced them to do whatever she pleased. And Arien had been in a room alone with her, holding her wand, and didn't do her any harm- in the opposite, she had opened her eyes to the true intentions of the people she had trusted unconditionally.

Wasn't it a spell ? had she enchanted me to believe my faithful advisors are traitors, ordinary and … or not. Oh, gods!

Valkyria would have no advice on that matter. She knew the witch wanted to do things the right way, but also Arien was one, she knew with all the certainty of her heart, with a very short fuse. She was too young to have fully learned the value of patience – even I am too young to understand patience fully!.

The counselors were still shaking their heads, absolutely oblivious to the horrors they had said. Later, no one would remember anything unusual happening at the meeting room. That would be a secret Arien and Valkyria kept to themselves forever.

"Arien."

"Yes, milady?" the redheaded stopped at the door, and turned.

"You have permission to proceed as you wish. The document with The Royal Seal will be on your room by nightfall." Valkyria said, with the ghost of a smile.

"I thank you, milady. Now, if you excuse me …"

"Yes, you may leave."

The door of the meeting room closed silently, separating a very frightened, very lost young queen, her not-so-perfect counselors and the witch who was bent on changing the history of Antar.

.::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::.

@ Arilin, province of Arilin, Aryan School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, February 12th of 15470 A.R.

She had finished. Arien sat on her armchair, in the rooms she had made for herself. For the headmistress. 'Jesus, help me' was the thought chanting on her mind.

"Nervous, dear?' asked the painting before her. The young, beaming face of her foster sister, Ginny Weasley Malfoy, was shown in all splendor of her youth – it wasn't hard to think they were blood sisters, after all. They were so alike. It had been funny, people had even whispered Arien could be the result of an affair of Mr. Weasley… how pathetic.

Arien let her gaze linger on the picture before her: it was a holiday in the burrow. The people were going everywhere, drinking wine, talking, and playing with the children on the floor. How badly she missed them all. Having that picture may not be the wisest decision ever, but she couldn't bring herself not to look, not to remember….

"Very. I've waited for this to come true for so long… I wonder what will happen if they don't accept me. They're all so much older, so much more experienced than me…"

 "You did just fine when we were training body combat in Hogwarts, Enn" Ron replied, coming from the kitchen, barely visible on the left corner of the painting. His compliment was very precious because at first, Ronald Weasley was suspicious of her.

"I know. But we were children back then." The half-elven whispered.

"You'll do just fine. We defeated the Dark Lord together, remember? You'll be okay. They will love you. And if they don't, kick their sorry arses off the school." Ronny reassured her, nonchalantly. His unconditional support did lift her spirits a bit. Enough for her to go change into a more 'wizardly' robe, and give a final glance on her quarters before going down to welcome her pupils.

The quarter was not like the one Dumbledore had had for himself in Hogwarts, but more like a mixture between the Ravenclaw dorms and her room in Black Manor – it had a personal library, a comfortable living room, and her bedroom. Everything had been decorated in blue and white, with pearly columns embellished by plants in front of the veranda. It had her name written all over. And windows – lots of windows, with baby blue curtains on it. She had chosen a nearly white wood to make the furniture.

Lovely. Cozy. Wonderful.

Aryan School of Wizardry and Witchcraft (1) was built. And her first apprentices would arrive in the morning.

She had chosen them carefully. Valkyria would step down from the Blue Palace in a few years and Arien's back would be vulnerable; the whole nation just waiting for her to make a mistake. A mistake she wasn't willing to make.

The wizards and witches to be would arrive at Arilin at dawn to start their training. People Arien had thoroughly probed and tested till she knew for sure they would be a safe shot – the original list had had over fifty names, but she narrowed it down to the current twenty.

Let the party begin, she thought complacently.

~*~ later ~*~

Elorie came first – intelligent pale green eyes and honey colored hair - (reminds me of Hermione...) knocking at the main door as the sun left the protection of the hills and shone on the lands of Esperanza. The name meant 'hope', and that was all Arien could think about for her new home.

The doors opened themselves with a flick of Arien's wand. Elorie didn't flinch, but her eyes widened visibly with that.

"Good day, dear. Did you have a nice journey?" Arien asked, with a smug smile on her face. She just loved to do those kinds of things. Elorie pulled herself together quickly and smiled.

"Yes, milady. It was most satisfying." Her voice was firm and even. Ah, courage.

"Oh, please!" Arien dismissed her statement with a wave of her hand. "You won't call me Lady. I'm too young for that. Call me Arien, as everybody else did before."

"if you wish – Arien."

"Better. Oh, I do believe we'll have company soon." Arien stated, looking directly at the raising sun. their eyes could perceive four dark figures against the morning light, riders approaching the castle.

"Are they the other pupils?" asked Elorie. The horses were approaching quickly.

"They better." Laughed Arien, "I don't like intruders on my parties."

Elorie stiffened a bit on hearing that. "Relax," soothed Arien; "I don't bite."

Four riders dismounted then, and approached the two ladies at the mahogany doors.

"Milady," said the tallest of them, with a short curtsy. Arien groaned. 'guess I'll wait till everybody is assembled to enlighten those little things...'

"Dalton. Have you had a safe journey?"

"Yes, milady," Arien flinched almost imperceptibly. "I saw others on the road. They won't be late." He said fixing his emerald gaze on hers. 'Whoa! Wait a bit, lad. Teacher-student relationship is a bit too complicated even for a freak trouble addict like myself. But we may have a nice little chat after this is over.'

Arien scanned the lands of Esperanza. She had five of her students before her, and the other fifteen were on their way. She looked at the four who hadn't said a thing yet – they were still staring at the castle - it wasn't a usual building on Middle-earth. Palaces, some. Big towers, yes. But castles? Not really.

And nothing was like that castle, for sure. Arien though even Versailles paled in comparison. She had been in lots of places around Earth, and recently at Middle-earth and she had had a lot of experience with architecture. She had spent most of her time at Earth preparing herself for this - and her castle was marvelous, with no fake modesty.

"And how are you, my darlings?" she said, purposely using the endearment. If some of them were not used to showing their emotions in actions and words, they would learn it soon. And they'd learn that she didn't have any shame of showing them, or of living according to her own conscience and not the convenience of others- being a witch and knowing the muggles on the twentieth first century had certainly ingrained her independent spirit.

They were confused for some time, but then proceed to introduce themselves to the other colleagues. Soon another group came, and another, and another, and she had all pupils gathered near the doors.

"Let's get inside, please. Breakfast is waiting."

The renegades walked through an elegant entrance hall and to a huge dinning room. There were four wide tables side by side and one table across them, in the end of the room.

"To the High table, if you don't mind." Arien directed, and the pupils followed her. The tables were made of oak and had thirty seats on it, all on one side, facing the four tables. "This is where the teachers will eat every meal. The students eat on these tables in front of us. Now, I believe I promised you some breakfast."

Food appeared on the table instantly after she spoke her last word. Barely audible gasps were heard around the table.

"This is merely a little trick. Save your amazement for something more relevant." Arien stated. "Now, eat! There's not poison in the food, in the case you've been wondering."

Breakfast was lovely. It was the first time those renegades were gathered together. They were from different provinces and had different backgrounds. Dalton was a renegade from the province of Lake Country- his parents were a second generation, and he was a third. Elorie was from En Arris, her parents both influent politicians - another reason why Arien had chosen her, and she was a fourth generation. Selton was a first generation like herself, but he was several thousand years older, being the oldest of them all. The sorting would most definitely be interesting.

And that was yet another weird thing about it. Her mother always told her that she'd live about six thousand years. And before her, in all splendor of his youth, was a renegade who was sixteen thousand years – and still looking like a twenty-five or twenty-six years old mortal.

Odd.

What else was a myth about the half-elven? What else was a myth about Middle earth? Who held the answers?

"The meal was delicious, Milady." Said Selton, with the slightest trace of malice under his wise, all-knowing eyes. Having him around would be both very educational – for her and for others – and nerve-wrecking. How does anyone teach a guy sixteen thousand years older than yourself? She smiled and nodded, repeating to herself the absolute need to get them to call her by her first name soon.

The title of Lady didn't fit her. Not at all.

"Now, here's a little something for you," Arien said, taking a hat out of a trunk behind her chair. "This is a replica of the hat that sorted me. Of course I couldn't bring the original one, so I had to duplicate it. I will put this on your heads, and it will tell you what house you'll be at. But remember, everything that is said and done inside this walls are secret until we decide it's safe to release information to the public."

'Of course it wasn't safe to go out in Antar (or anywhere else, for that matter) and say: hey, I'm just coming back from an interdimensional trip where I learned all this kinds of nice stuff. Cool, huh?'

The hat came to life and started singing – it told the story of Hogwarts school and how Arien had decided to bring the knowledge to Middle Earth. In the end, it sang the qualities that would put them into four different houses, and how their houses would be their families.

They took some time digesting the news.

"What was your house, Arien?" asked Elorie.

"I will answer that question in a few years, Elorie. I don't want it to interfere in your education. However, there is one thing I must say: at Hogwarts, There were houses that fought all the time, but here I won't allow it. You will get along and treat one another with consideration and respect. Am I clear?"

"Yes, ma'am." They all answered unanimously. Good.

"Oh, and something else." The air tensed around her. "We are the pioneers in this kind of thing, and we call one another by our first names in here. Right?"

After some more answering question and enlightening some doubts, Arien asked them to put the hat. Elorie was the first to try the hat.

"Gryffindor!"

Selton. "Gryffindor!" (no surprise there, a survivor will certainly develop some courage.)

Lavignia. "Hufflepuff!" ( the hat took some time before speaking. Check later what was the other option.)

Uliana. "Hufflepuff!" (immediate )

Dalton. "Slytherin!" (ah, that's interesting. Rather interesting.)

Amaelys. "Ravenclaw!"

Damon. "Slytherin!"

And on and on the hat put them into their houses. And the instruction began.

.::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::.

@ Aryan School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, Arilin province, Antar. May 5th of 15495.

The door opened with a loud 'bump!' And Elorie stepped inside of the gryffindor common room. It was all decorated in gold and red, of course, as it was the colors of the house. By the fireplace, stood her classmates- if one could call them so, they were under a rather unusual experience, being the first students and all. All of them knew their mistress would ask them – at least some of them – to remain at Aryan and help her teach the others when time comes.

Elorie wished fervently to be one of them.

"Arien asked us to be ready in fifteen minutes. We'll be the first to vote in Antares." She stated, trying to get the attention of the two wizards reading on the couch. Selton was the oldest, and very often the one who gave them all guidance and advice as soon as it wasn't about magic (not that he wasn't good, but that position was often filled by the Ravenclaws or by Arien herself). Säer and Callista were discussing something that looked absurdly important, but probably was only another argument about the virtues of Quidditch over the other sports played in Antar.

 "Why would she be so interested on making us go first?" asked Karilyn, the other Gryffindor. Selton shut his book and stared at his classmates with a smug-looking- I-know-something-you-don't look.

"What?" asked Elorie; she was the younger of the Gryffindors.

"Nothing." He answered, but kept his body signs open and wary. He was teasing them.

"Oh, please, Selton, what is that?" Karilyn tried again. Selton chuckled a little- he obviously found funny the young's attempts at perceiving the obvious.

"Mark my words, dear Gryffindors: I'll be the winner of our little bet."

There was a bet going on as to which house Arien had been sorted. So far the opinions were quite divided, but the majority of them seemed to think she had been either a Gryffindor or a Slytherin.

"She's not a Ravenclaw. She's a Slytherin." Karilyn objected.

"She is a Ravenclaw." Selton stated for god-only-knows- how- many-times. "And she is making us go first because her principal supporter is going to step down from power in one year, and she wants to look good in the new government's eyes."

"Purely slytherin plot. I'm getting the money, Selton." Karilyn retorted.

"If you say so." He replied.

"You can discuss what house she's at when we are riding our brooms to the capitol. Now go get yourselves ready!" Elorie cried.

"Not so loud, 'Lorie, we all have keen hearing here." Complained Säer.

"They why don't you listen to me?" Elorie was exasperated now.

"Yes, mom." Selton teased. "We're just getting our candies."

"Hmph!" was what he got for an answer.

"Open mind and wit, remember? Ravenclaw material, Säer, if I ever saw one."

"You don't have that much of an experience with the houses. None of us have."

"Your point being?"

"Oh, go get ready the two of you! We're getting late!" cried Elorie, louder than before. Säer put his elegant and long fingers on his ears, trying to block the sound.

"Pal, she doesn't behave like a mother, but like a marshal." He complained, his ears still buzzing.

::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::.

@ Antares, Province of En Arris, two days later.

The official spokesman of the Government of the Seven Provinces of Antar walked swiftly to the small podium in the center of the last stair. There was a large crowd standing below the stairs of the Blue Palace, waiting to know the results of the election. As usual, they had two candidates, the liberal Aimé and the conservative Kenan. The months of debates and campaign scrutiny had been – as usual – very tense and very, very competitive. It was the future of a nation that prided itself in individual freedom, innovation and strength that was being decided. For the next thirty years, one of them would be the most powerful figure in the political field.

And in the first line of the crowd, stood twenty-one renegades in forest green robes, with the crest of Aryan.

The whole nation had held their breaths when that child came from nowhere and announced that she wanted to share with her siblings her magic, knowledge and power. Of course the proposal was bold, and of course it sent chills down everyone's spine, from both fear and excitement. Succeeding, it would be eternal freedom and the power to keeping at bay the numerous wolves that were by history and tradition, enemies of renegades. Failing, it would be a second Age of Chaos – and would Antar survive another one?

Eventually, Queen Valkyria – very young, very talented, and very, very ahead of her time, even for Antarian standards – had given the witch leave to do it. And Arien had built a – what was the name? Castle. – and selected some of the most gifted renegades ever seen in history. And they had been under her wings ever since, going home only a few weeks a year, to stay with their family and catch up with the outside world. It already lasted twenty five years, so whatever she was teaching them, it must be pretty hard stuff, or very extensive, or both. The students spoke of her with adoration, even when she was so clearly younger and not as mature as many of them – there wasn't a single pupil younger than Arien. And rumors said the school would be opened soon, still highly selective of who came in.

No wonder. She was offering power beyond imagination.

"I am honored to announce" said the spokesman, looking directly at the crowd below him. Every renegade turned into immediate silence. "That Milady Aimé of Lake Country will be our Queen for the next thirty years. The numbers were..."

The twenty one wizards and witches let out a sigh of pure relief. They were relatively safe under liberal ruling, at least until the school got strength of its own and became an institution on itself.

"Let's go home." Said Arien, with a wicked grin that spoke volumes of her joy.

"Let me get the papers milady." Lunäere asked, and run to the salesman as soon as Arien nodded.

"Have I ever told you how odd is to order around people several thousand years older than myself?" Arien asked in awe.

"Only about a thousand times." Answered Pyrrhus, flashing his bottomless black eyes on her, Arien groaned.' Why did I have to resolve being honored just when I have about ten wonderfully attractive males around me?'

"Don't start with that, Pyrr, or I'll throw a particularly nasty curse on you," Arien mocked outrage, knowing they all knew she was just playing around.

'Why o why did I have to decide to be a decent teacher when I'm surrounded by so attractive males? It's not as if I would corrupt them or something. Jesus, they're some bloody thousand years older than I am. But no, I just have to develop this sick code of honor. Great.'

'Honor is not a good bedmate. Period.'

"Lavignia, I thought you had taken care of this sorry excuse of a lad ages ago." Arien turned to Lavignia with a sick feeling of satisfaction when the Hufflepuff blushed ever so slightly. Lavignia had often shared the bed with Pyrr, as had many other students, his age or not. Those black eyes were just irresistible. ' and I'm the only one who spends her nights bloody alone. The Eagles would be absolutely appalled if they knew of my current behavior, they'd get me locked in the psychiatric ward of St. Mungus right away.'

"He is not for long relationships, milady" Lav answered, carefully stressing the Milady knowing Arien hated the title.

"That hurt, Lav." Said Pyrr in mock brokenhearted act.

The other wizards got together to make fun of the lad on the spot, but on seeing that, the Hufflepuffs quickly got to his aid. When Lunäere got back, they were still bickering merrily.

And they were still doing so as they flied back home.

And the wizards were getting along just nicely. 'Maybe you only needed a strong identification and more things in common than merely being a wizard to keep the houses going along so well.'

'Because I'm not really sure anyone on Earth would believe that Gryffindor and Slytherin could actually get along nicely.'

.::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::..::(~'*'~)::.

A.N.:

(1) – Aryan means (play along) beginning, start, genesis. (in the language of Antar.)

(2) – Elorie and Arilin are names out of the Darkover series. Dalton and Selton are names of actors I like (=] ); En Arris I took out of the GURPS manual. Lol. Sabé, Padmé, and some names were taken from SW.