The Legacy
For many years, wizards and non-magic humans, commonly referred to as muggles, had lived amicably, side by side. Their existence was symbiotic; wizards gaining a sense of humility and appreciation of simplicity from watching their neighbors work twice as hard, without losing their love for life; muggles gaining protection and aide from their talented neighbors.
As the days of mankind went on, and mankind's thirst for power grew amongst wizards and muggles alike, the balance known at creation was thrown. Power hungry witches and wizards used their power to control, rather than aide, their muggle neighbors. Muggles, seeking power and fame, used their skills in manipulation to control their magic neighbors in an effort to magically oppress their fellow man.
As the tension between the magical and muggle population of the world grew, wizard families moved and hid their magical talents; not wanting to be manipulated nor accused of abusing their gifts.
As the years passed and the power struggle became bloody, a council of men and women from both magical and non-magical families were formed to address the issues that now plagued society. Among these honorable men and women were two, Darius Malfoy and Estella Weasley.
The Malfoy and Weasley family names were two which commanded respect at this time of unrest. Both had lineages which could be traced back through twenty generations of witches and wizards. Young Darius and Estella had been betrothed since Estella's conception. Born six months apart, they had grown up playing together, side by side with muggle and magical children alike.
One day when the children were twelve years old, young Darius had been playing with his best friend, Frederick Creevy. As the boys ran through the fields playing, Frederick stopped suddenly. Darius caught sight of his friend, and saw the look of panic on his face.
"What is it Fred," Darius called before trotting over and seeing the large snake poised for an attack before his friend.
Darius swiftly removed the wand that he had been presented on his last birthday, before taking aim at the snake, "Stupefy!"
The snake began its strike at the sound of Darius' voice, but froze once the spell hit, falling over to the ground, its head still poised for an attack.
"Th-that was amazing," Frederick stammered, "you saved my life."
The next day, Darius rushed out to the fields after finishing his morning chores at home, as he did every day. To his surprise, his friend Frederick had a group of five other boys with him. Darius slowed his approach, being careful not to draw the boys' attention, curious as to what the boys were speaking about.
"I won't believe it unless I see it," a brown haired boy stated plainly. Darius recognized the boy as Zachary Granger.
"That's amazing," another boy stated. "Can you imagine, you could have anything you wanted if you could do magic." This boy was Lawrence Riddle.
Darius listened as the boys started daydreaming of how they would escape their chores, or be constantly supplied with treats if they had the gift of magic.
"Hey Fred," Darius stated cheerfully, pushing thoughts of the conversation he had witnessed out of his head and revealing himself.
"Hey Darius," Fred replied, looking around sheepishly, not wishing for his friend to find out the boys had been talking about him.
"Darius, Creevy here told us that you did magic yesterday; froze a snake. I didn't believe it. There haven't been any known witches or wizards around here for five generations."
Lawrence spoke next, "I don't know Granger. I don't think Fred has it in him to lie, now do you," he questioned menacingly, facing Frederick.
"N-no," the small boy stammered, realizing he probably shouldn't have been so zealous to tell the other's how his best friend had saved his life.
"Well Malfoy, show us this magic," Zachary Granger stated, waiting for a demonstration of the talents that Darius had been instructed to keep secret all of his life.
"Yeah Darius, show us what you can do. From what Fred has told us, there's a lot that we could do with your talents," Lawrence stated slyly, placing his arm around the boy.
Darius looked around, his eyes landing lastly with a somber expression on Frederick before he turned and ran back to his home.
Darius ran so fast and so hard that he took no notice of his surroundings. He didn't see the bees gathering honey from the Geraniums growing wild in the field. Nor did he notice the herd of horses cantering in the distance. He ran so fast that he didn't notice the horse and carriage indicating that someone had called to visit his mother.
"Watch where you're going," Estella Weasley, chided as she stood brushing the dirt off of her skirts after Darius had knocked her down.
"I, I'm sorry," he stammered, lowering his head, not wanting his young fiancé to see that he had been crying.
Estella, and kind a gentle girl detected the agitation in his voice, and put her hand to his chin, lifting his face until she could see his eyes.
"You've been crying," she stated simply.
"Boys don't cry," Darius retorted, deepening his voice and gaining his composure.
"I won't tell anyone," Estella assured. "What happened?"
After careful prodding, Darius finally relayed to Estella his experience with the young boys in the field that he and Frederick had played in every day since childhood. Estella listened intently, careful not to injure the boy's pride as he explained how the boy Riddle had insinuated that he would like to exploit his magical gifts.
When Darius' eyes had dried, and he had expelled all of his concerns from the day, he turned to Estella and was surprised that the person he saw before him was not the playmate he had entertained when her mother called for his, rather a beautiful young girl.
Timidly, Darius leaned over and brushed her lips gently. The kiss was soft and sweet, and over just as quickly as it had begun. It was a kiss of a beginning love, a kiss of innocence, and their first.
Smiling shyly, Estella lowered her eyes before raising her head as her mother beckoned her in to thank their hostess for her hospitality.
As the years passed, Darius grew embittered by his experience with his old friend Frederick and the other boys. He shut out all of his muggle friends and took comfort in young witches and wizards his age; especially Estella. As they matured, so did their love for one another. Neither forgot their first kiss at the age of twelve, but minding the expectations of appropriate behavior they did not progress beyond innocent kisses likened unto the first.
When the call came for the formation of the Council of Witches, Wizards, and Muggles to find a solution to the influence that magic played in man's thirst for power, the Weasley and Malfoy families were naturally called to send representatives. Estella and Darius were now eighteen years old and to be married in a years time. Recognizing their status as adults, and impending marriage, both families agreed that their children would represent them at the council.
"Magical Brethren," the council co-chair Theodore Granger spoke, "our families have lived in peace with witches and wizards for generations," he bellowed.
"Muggle Friends," the other co-chair Ophelia Longbottom continued, "our families have protected and loved our neighbors for as long."
"We have formed this council to prevent the destruction of all man-kind as the thirst for power through the use of magic by wizards, or manipulation of wizards for magic has grown. The freedom that we delight in is in danger if we cannot come to an agreeable solution for Wizards and Muggles Alike," Granger stated.
"This situation is dangerous for all of our families. Wizards have risen up to try and enslave all of mankind, regardless of magical gifts, just as muggles have risen, with the aide of Wizards to do the same," Longbottom continued.
"Ms. Longbottom and I have debated this issue for the better part of our years, and we have come to a concensus. We feel as if it time for our one world to become two; one of Witches and Wizards; the other of muggles."
A hush fell over the council as friends looked out at one another. Many of the older council members had grown up playing together regardless of magical gift and could not fathom a world where their life long friends would not be a part of their daily life.
"It is a sad thought for us all, but we simply feel as if all knowledge of magic should be hidden from future generations of muggles," Ophelia interjected.
"We also feel as if a body made up exclusively of witches and wizards would be more effective in governing, and restricting those with magical gifts."
There was much debate over this subject before Ophelia and Theodore swayed the opinion of the council. There was a bitter significance in the co-chairs reaching that conclusion. They had both been widowed for years, and had within the past decade begun a shy and timid romance. With the separation of the two populations, that would mean the separation of the two seasoned lovers.
The council began mapping out how they would begin the segregation of witches, wizards and muggles. It was to be a slow process, the responsibility to be passed down for many generations until the muggle world had effectively forgotten the time when magic had been a part of their reality.
As the original council worked, Estella and Darius planned for their wedding. The young lovers fell more passionately in love with each passing day. As the final day drew near; the final alterations being made on the gowns and the feast being prepared, Estella and Darius stole away to a small stream not far from the Malfoy home. As they approached their favorite spot beneath a large Maple tree Estella noticed a small boy lying face down in the water.
Estella rushed over to the stream and pulled the boy out of
the water. "Darius, Darius," she called
anxiously, "you must cast a reviving spell on the boy."
"That boy is a muggle, the council has deemed that we are to be erasing all memories of magic from the muggle world."
"Yes it has Darius, but at what cost? Surely the price of a life is too high to pay for that separation. I am not talented at reviving spells, you must do it," Estella pleaded, feeling the boys pulse fade.
"I saved one of his kind once, I will not do it again," Darius spat, the pain of a twelve year old boy welling up in his chest as he turned his back on the dying boy.
As Estella held the dying boy, she felt his pulse slow until it ceased entirely. She wept well into the evening, cradling the young boys head in her arms. After many hours, Estella finally stood, carrying him home to his parents. After leaving the boys home, Estella called on the man she was to marry the next evening.
"I cannot marry you," Estella sobbed, her eyes lowered to the ground. "I cannot marry a man so cold as to watch a life; a life he has the power to preserve, slip before his eyes."
"So you love a muggle child that you did not know, more than you love me? We have loved each other since we were twelve years old," Darius pleaded, his heart breaking, and that of his descendents for generations to follow, at Estella's words.
"I have loved you since I was a child, this is true," Estella began. "But, I tell you that I, nor any of my descendents shall marry you, nor your descendants, until you repay the debt that is owed. You owe the Evan's family, the life of one of their sons. That is the legacy that you shall leave to your children."