A/N: Sorry it's been a little while since my last update – my roommate unfortunately likes my others stories better and I fear him, so…
Bluie Twilight Star – Wow, I'm really glad that you're enjoying this fic. One of the reasons it took me so long to post anything was that I didn't want to do the same thing that someone else had done.
Lembas7 – Aahhhh, you're going to make me blush. I tried to find Harry Potter and the Legacy of the Light by Garamyre, but once I do I'm definitely going to read it. It's so hard to find DiRS/HP xovers, so thanks for the info! Yeah, I write it…leave it for five minutes…then proofread it. So I miss a couple of grammar/spelling errors. But I figure everyone would rather have the update sooner rather than later. As for the cliffhanger….BWHAHAHAHA tremble before me mere mortals!
Ruth – I've got powerpoint but don't worry about making a presentation, unless you feel a pressing need to – send it to a.dash@sasktel.net -- that email account has the largest space. This chapter should answer the rest of your questions…geez, I wonder how Will's going to handle Will, Dumbledore…and Bran? Mmmm…I wonder if I should give a 'cliffhanger' warning to all my stories…
MaraWeaves – See…if I don't leave cliffhangers you might just stop reading and I would miss everyone's reviews ::sobs::
L'Ananada – I know the meeting with Dumbledore could go a number of different ways, that's one of reasons it's taken me a while to update! I had creative overload – too many ideas! I think I came up with four or five different ways of doing this chapter.
Starr Light1 – oh oh I know ::hehe:: there are a lot of fun things I can do! Unfortunately, I can't do all of them! I hope you enjoy the next chapter.
MegCat06 – Well, I'm glad you found this fic – I've waded through the HP fanfiction section and my god is it huge!
Astyana – a confrontation between Bran and Will, eh? I might be able to arrange that …. ::conspirative wink::
Obdormio -- I'm touched for your concern for my welfare – that updating binge I went on was taxing. But YES! I made it through I chapter without you finding plot holes! And I'm just going to ignore the short part.
Without further ado, I give you…Chapter 7!
Chapter 7 – Interludes
"It's about Will – I think I know who he really is. And if I'm right – I don't think he's human"
There are moments in time when the course of history changes, evolves, and a new way is paved. What once was, is no more – old dynasties give way to new and the past remains the past. For an Old One, these moments come a multitude of times in their lifetime – and rarely do they affect them. As a creature that lives outside of time and history, at any moment he may live within history but he isn't a part of it.
But not even an Old One leaves any footprints.
In Will Davies' hand he held such a footprint – a photograph, marked by time, of four children on their spring vacation. And in his mind he held the legends of the Old Ones, as passed down from his father.
Davies handed the photograph to Dumbledore, whose eyes widened at he recognized two of the boys in the picture. Recognizing Dumbledore understood, Davies began his story.
"I was named for my father's best friend from when he was younger. Apparently, Will introduced my parents to each other," Davies said with a chuckle. "He drowned when they were fourteen – his body never found. I'd seen pictures of him before, but it wasn't until I saw this one did I recognize him. I know I look a lot like my dad, but Will looks exactly like Will Stanton," he turned to Dumbledore, half hoping the professor would chuckle and find a reasonable explanation why Will couldn't possibly be thirty years old. Instead, Dumbledore frowned and looked at Davies' seriously.
"A moment ago you said you thought Will wasn't human, what did you mean?"
Davies' eyes widened and he looked away.
"I only meant that someone who hasn't aged in thirty years can't possibly be human," Davies said quickly, a little too quickly. The headmaster continued to stare at the boy. Davies sighed.
"When I was a boy, my father would always tell me our folktales. I know that everyone says that folktales are only tales muggles made-up, but…I've always thought there must be some truth to them. I mean, there are tales about Merlin, and he really existed!" Davies looked at Dumbledore helplessly, confused by his own ramblings. The professor reached out a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder, and smiled gently.
"There are legends in Wales of a race known as the Old Ones. It's said Merlin was one of them, but he's the only one anyone knew the name of. They were said to be powerful magician's the lived forever, and guarded the world against the powers of evil. I don't know why I made the connection, but when I saw Will's picture the Old Ones were the first thing I thought. It's as if I instinctively knew."
Sitting back in thought, Dumbledore thought about Davies' theory. Unlike many wizards, Dumbledore didn't dismiss the folktales as muggle fantasy. Though he had never heard the tale of the Old Ones, he didn't dismiss it out of hand. In previous years, Davies had displayed an affinity for recognizing unusual forms of magic; particularly the kind surrounding ancient relics. If the boy instinctively felt something, it wasn't the imagination of a fourteen years old boy.
Dumbledore told Davies to go to the Gryffindor Common Room and get some rest. The boy turned to leave but stopped.
"Professor…if he really is Will Stanton, would I be able to tell my Da?" Davies asked nervously.
"Perhaps in time," Dumbledore said vaguely. Davies' nodded and left.
Again, Dumbledore sat in front of the fire thinking. This time the Sorting Hat didn't interrupt the thinking wizard.
Neither noticed the absence of Fawkes.
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For Harry, it had been the best Christmas ever. The entire time he had spent playing with Will; the younger boy becoming like a brother to the wizard. Though at times Harry couldn't be sure if Will was the younger or the older brother. The two boys had managed to get into a great deal of mischief, as well as concoct several schemes for when the Weasley Twins returned – in retribution for all the pranks played on them in the last few months.
But whenever Harry felt lonely, or depressed, Will was always there to give the wizard advice and encouragement. Harry guessed it was because Will grew up on the streets -- experience making up for his lack of years. The younger boy had filled a place in Harry's heart that he had reserved for the family he had lost.
So at this moment the two boys were enjoying a quiet afternoon, in front a fireplace. A common enough event, but one that left both boys feeling warm and whole for the first time in a very long while; both finding family in the other.
Will stretched out in front of the fire, slowly caressing Munin. The greatest gift he had received as an Old One was to wade through time as a child – it was also his greatest curse. An old man trapped in a boy's body – or a boy who can never truly grow up. The Old One often wondered which he would be; all the knowledge of Grayamere didn't make him 'old', nor did a youthful body make him young. By a conscious decision on his part, Will chose to enjoy his perpetual youth – but the universe doesn't care what anyone decides, not even an Old One.
And there are many things that can make you old.
A great flapping was heard, and Fawkes came storming into the Common Room. Unbeknown to the two boys, it was an attempt to precede the following Will Davies. Will looked at the phoenix, puzzled by the bird's frantic behaviour.
Old One, you're identity has been discovered! Fawkes cried.
How? Will responded, shocked; a sentiment echoed by Munin.
Will Davies recognized a picture of you from when you were truly young, and has shown it to Dumbledore.
Even then, there is no way for Dumbledore to know of the Old Ones, or make the connection to me.
The blood of the Pendragon flows through Will Davies; he made the connection himself.
Harry watched Will's face grow confused, then darkened. The look froze the boy wizard's blood; dimly recognizing the cold determination as the same one Tom Riddle once showed him.
I must stop this at all costs. The Wizarding World cannot know of the Old Ones!
Why is it so important? All the Old Ones have left, besides you, and Voldemort has access to the Dark's magic. Wouldn't it make sense to allow the wizard's access to similar magic? To balance things? Munin questioned.
You don't understand! Voldemort is using the power of the Dark, but my power as the Agent of the Earth is a balance to his. If the wizard's find out about the Old Ones, the Light will be in breach of High Law. As punishment, I would be sent away from Earth – leaving it defenceless against Voldemort and the Dark.
I will need to speak with Merriman about these matters, Will suddenly stood up and walked out of the Common Room. Harry hurried behind him, repeatedly asking Will what was wrong. The Old One refused to respond. Making a sharp turn, Harry lost sight of the younger boy and when he turned the corner as well…Will was gone.
The Old One entered the Sanctuary and walked to a silver door. The door was sealed shut, with no door hand and no apparent way to open it. It was the doorway to Avalon.
Munin…Fawkes, you can't go with me beyond this doorway.
The two phoenixes gracefully left the Old One's shoulders and settled down on a nearby chair.
What happened before, if a wizard found out about an Old One? Fawkes asked.
The door opened and a brilliant light shown through obscuring the Old One's face. He started to walk through the door and Fawkes thought the Old One would not answer. But as his figured faded into the brilliance, his disembodied voice answered.
"We killed them."
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There are moments in time when the course of history changes, evolves, and a new way is paved. What once was, is no more – old dynasties give way to new and the past remains the past. For an Old One, these moments come a multitude of times in their lifetime – and rarely do they affect them. As a creature that lives outside of time and history, at any moment he may live within history but he isn't a part of it.
But they are remembered – not as Old Ones but as family and friends.
At that moment, a small boy looks for his 'brother'; at that moment, the heir to the Pendragon thinks of his namesake; at that moment, family and friends he hasn't seen in years remembers the way he looked and smiled.
And at that moment, Voldemort used the powers of the Dark to ensnare the body of a dragon – now capable of using the full force of the Dark's power.
TBC
A/N: Gee, can you feel the foreshadowing?