Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling
Dies the Fire is owned by SM Stirling
Slytherin Rising was created by J.L. Matthews

Author's note: Dies the Fire is a novel by S.M.Stirling in which all Muggle technology abruptly stops working. It takes place in Oregon and deals with the consequences of "the change." A few people are able to survive because Oregon is heavily rural. But one of the characters muses that the situation would probably be much worse on a heavily populated island like Japan or Britain. This fic explores the consequences of "the change" on Wizarding Britain. I am also, in this chapter offering an explanation of "the Event". In the source books, no explanation is ever given as to why "the Change" occurred.

Prologue: the end of the Dark Lord

3-18
"How could this happen? Where are they?" Ron Weasley asked himself as he flew lower. The final battle against Voldemort had been going badly. They had caught up with him a couple of miles in the air above an island off the North American coast. Standing on his magic carpet he was single handedly holding off over two dozen Hogwarts students, Auror trainees and Aurors. To everyone's surprise, the Auror Trainee, Deana Tyler, had pulled out a revolver and managed to get a couple of shots into the Dark Lord before he cast an unknown spell that turned the nearest person to him (an Auror named Hestia Jones) into a squib, made Deana's gun stop working and conjured a glowing dome that was miles in diameter with Voldemort's carpet at it's peak. After this, he had started losing. The end came when Harry Potter and Luella Flint had simultaneously cast the killing curse at him. The Dark Lord had disintegrated. Unfortunately, while casting the killing curse, she had fallen off of her husband's broom. Harry seeker's instincts had led him to dive after her and they had both fallen into the gigantic energy dome just before it vanished.

They had been searching for the two ever since. Before Voldemort had cast that spell, there had been city lights on the island below them, but when they flew down to the island, they could find no sign of human habitation. After the sun rose, they were better able to search. But no sign of Harry or Luella was to be found. They searched all day, after the sun went down and when it became too dark to see, they had to accept that they would not be able to find the two. Ron and his friends apparated back to Hogwarts and the adults returned to the Ministry of Magic to inform the world that the Dark Lord was dead.

3-20
Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, Hermione, Ginny and Ron Weasley appeared outside the gates of Hogwarts. It was around midnight when they arrived. As usual, the gates were locked so Hermione sent a patronus to the castle so that they could get someone to open the gate. Eventually, they saw the light of a lantern coming towards them being held aloft by Mr. Filch.

"Well, well, look who is out after curfew" said Filch. "You'll be in trouble for this"

"Just let us in. We've got to see McGonagall" exclaimed Ron.

"Last I heard, you two had dropped out" Filch replied indicating Ron and Hermione.

"Just open the gate already!" yelled Ginny.

Just then, Hagrid stepped into the light, his crossbow slung over his shoulder. "What's all this about?"

"Weasley, Longbottom and Lovegood were trying to sneak in these two adults" said Filch indicating Ron and Hermione.

"Well, open the gate already! Can't you see 'oo they are?" said Hagrid

"We need to speak with McGonagall immediately! You-know-who is dead!" Hermione blurted out.

"Don' worry about it Filch, I'll take them to 'er" said Hagrid.

After the teens filled in Professor McGonnogal on the dramatic events of the previous night, the three students were sent to their rooms while Ron and Hermione were put up in the Room of Requirement.