Isabelle motioned to her, come with me child; your education has been slacking. Hermione followed mutely. She had a sinking feeling that finally she would understand what all this running was leading them to, she wasn't sure she wanted to know. But she was equally sure that what she wished by now mattered very little. Isabelle stepped into a bedroom and Hermione followed. The door clicked behind her.

I will begin as near to the beginning as I can. It is a long uncertain story, but it must be told before it is too late, before their is no chance. Hermione took a deep breath. Isabelle began,

The runes are the last vestiges of an older age of wizards. When these wizards were fading to their end, they entrusted the runes to the monks at Iona. All but one of them, yours in fact, were plundered during the Viking raids and scattered across Europe. In the fourteenth century, wizards posing as alchemists began searching for them as word had gotten to them of strange events that suggested magic at work.

One by one the runes surfaced. Once they were all in wizard hands again, they passed through the generations as they chose. Their powers were only slowly rediscovered and from nearly the start were kept as secret as possible, because of the prophecies. The prophesies came from Enelda of Inari, some of which you have seen, and from another whose name has been lost. The unknown spoke of a desperate story connected to the runes but could suggest no time when it might happen. Therefore, the council of the west has always needed someone watching, someone who could warn them, so they could do what needed to be done in time.

What you have seen of the prophecies is only a small fraction of what exists. Since Vera's disappearance Dumboldore has been concerned that events were beginning to unfold as had been foretold. Now he is certain they are.

The prophesies outline two crucial times where the actions of the council will determine much about the future of the wizarding world. They are called the circle times, and the first one seems likely to begin soon, in a few weeks.

Your actions are crucial. The rest of the council and I are here to help you, but we cannot tell you how to act and you will be leading us; it is the only way. Now you may speak.

You lot are so cryptic. leading us against what? Voldemort? asked Hermione.

No, . . . Isabelle trailed off.

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Authors note: more is coming soon, but this has been sitting on my computer for too long.