The Crystal Council
Chapter 1
The Dragon Lost in Space and Time.
Hermione was in shock for the second time that day she had no idea where she was, and her mind was in overdrive trying to figure out why she had been called here. The area was filled with a pure gold mist accented with a light purple throughout.
This is what magic must look like in its purest form thought Hermione.
She took a small tentative step forward no longer certain to what was happened as the feeling of being called had vanished. She noticed immediately that the step took more energy than it should have.
The magic makes it hard to physically move here. Hermione frowned and wondered. How far will I be able to make it before I can't move anymore?
Hermione failed to notice that the doorway had shut behind her as she began pushing through the mist. She did notice one aspect of the mist that was interesting. Its avoiding me, the mist is not actually coming in contact with me physically, maybe that's why its so hard to move through it? If the mist is pure magic, then maybe it requires magic to move through it! Hermione grinned having figured out the secret of the mist and began pushing her magic around her but fell quickly when she felt the sheer force that the mist exerted on her magical core.
"Ow" whispered Hermione as she lay on what she assumed was the ground as her magical core was crushed and destroyed or cramping in the worst possible way.
"Hello" said an unknown voice "Are you okay?'
Hermione only shook her head before realizing that someone or something was speaking to her sending her into a mental panic.
"Who are you? Where are you?" Hermione asked terrified of what might be able to survive in the mist.
"Please calm down you're causing fluctuations in the mist. I will explain everything after I heal your core." The voice said
Hermione tried to calm herself down as she did the pain began to ease and she could feel her energy return if only at a trickle.
"There I've done all I can to heal your magical core but I'm afraid the collapse will permanently cripple your magical strength and eventually kill you." Said the ethereal voice. "My name is Viskara and I suppose you could call me the keeper of this place."
Now with the pain gone Hermione could look up and saw with her own eyes a man about the same age as her with blue eyes, brown hair, pale skin and average physical stature. He looked completely normal, but Hermione could sense the power radiating from his presence.
"Who are you? What are you? How can you move? Where am I? Hermione rattled off as quickly as she could more questions entering her mind every second until a chuckle broke her train of thought.
"I'm not surprised to see you haven't lost your curiosity through your time in dimension 6008B. I have already told you my name is Viskara and I am a dragon stuck it this hell."
Hermione blinked several times wondering if it was her ears or her eyes that were playing tricks on her.
"How can you be a dragon you look human?" Hermione asked.
"Magic duh." Replied Viskara "I have been here for as long as I can remember though time takes a different… perspective in this place."
"Which is where exactly?" asked Hermione
"That's a little harder to answer first we should probably find someplace for you to sit that isn't the floor," He replied stretching out his hand.
Hermione still sore from expelling her magical core took his hand and was pulled to her feet and as she was pulled up, she blinked and found herself next to a sofa and coffee table.
"How did we get here?" she asked
"This place bends the rules of time and space to allow near instantaneous travel and as for the furniture it was dropped here from another dimension." Answered Viskara.
"How many other dimensions are there?" asked Hermione
"To be honest I'm not sure though if I had to guess I would say an infinite amount." He replied
"Why?" she asked
"Because every world is different in some way no matter how small or how large the difference is. The multiverse is much like looking from a tree from a top-down perspective with a single origin point that then branches off in multiple directions."
"But that means that…" Hermione started as she realized what he was saying.
"Yes, it means that there are universes where you win the war and others where you don't even exist. Every possibility can and does exist in the multiverse though they all stem from universe 000 the very first universe." He interrupted suddenly
Hermione was stunned. She had no idea how to process what she had just heard. She shook her head before stating. "That doesn't explain where I am now though."
"Good point lets see what's the best way… Ah! I know imagine for me planet Earth in a pure void." He said
"Ok." Replied Hermione.
"Now surround that Earth with other Earths keeping them as close as possible without touching. Now That space in-between each Earth is where we are now." He said
"So, we are in a void world?" she asked
"No, it is more like a liquid wall that flows between dimensions keeping them sperate from each other and preventing people from one dimension from crossing into another." He replied.
"Is that what happened to me?" she asked
"I have no idea to be honest. Were you trying to cross over into another dimension?" He asked
"No. It was more like something was calling me here." she responded
"Hmm… that is strange why would you feel drawn this place" he said
Viskara began walking back and forth in deep thought. Hermione was sitting on a rather comfortable sofa chair just as deep in thought. Viskara was pulled out of his head by a sudden idea and reached into the mist and pulled a red cord of magic from it and yanked hard enough to break it. Hermione still deep in thought was oblivious to Viskara's actions as he continued to pull and break some magic cords and tying others together. After a few minutes Hermione finally pulled herself from her thoughts and was about to ask a question when she looked up and saw what Viskara had been doing.
"What is that?" Hermione inquired
"This is a thread of destiny or cord of fate or however you want to put it. This thread is also a open door to your future. However, it is not yet ready, and I need you to tell a bit about your past so that I can adjust the thread accordingly." Viskara replied.
Hermione was curious and cautious. She knew what having a destiny meant and how it could all go horribly wrong in a matter of seconds. It was sudden the flashback and very painful as she found herself back at the battle of Hogwarts watching as her best friend was killed by the other. She relived the moment as he turned to look at her eyes blazing with desire for power and lust. She was frozen with fear until a member of the order grabbed her and apparated away. She was pulled from her flashback just as quickly taking a gasp of air as her blood pounded in her ears. She looked up from her hands straight into Viskara's eyes and saw something akin to pity combined with determination.
"What do you want to know?" She asked
"Start at the beginning, your first year at Hogwarts what happened." He replied.
"Okay though nothing out of the ordinary happened until my fourth." said Hermione.
"Really? You never heard of the Philosophers stone or had to deal with a Basilisk or help a convict escape from a corrupt Ministry? He asked as he pulled a few more strings from the gold clouds.
"No but during out forth year a tournament was held, and Harry was chosen to participate despite not being of age." She responded.
"What happened at the end of the tournament?" Viskara asked.
"Harry was almost killed by Voldemort. He survived but he received a massive scar across his chest." Hermione replied
Interesting. Did Harry have any previous scars that you noticed before the end of your forth year? He asked
"No, he had no other visible scars that I was aware of but maybe his parents…" She answered
"Wait wait wait, Harry's parents were alive during his time at Hogwarts?! Viskara exclaimed
"Yes, they didn't die until the battle of Hogwarts in our last year." Replied a glaring Hermione.
"I see. Still at least Harry had his parents in your universe hopefully he had a good childhood." Viskara contemplated
"What are you talking about?" inquired Hermione.
"In the original universe Harry lost his parents to Voldemort as a baby and was given the title of Chosen One." Viskara replied.
Hermione was shocked the original Harry never knew his parents and more over survived an encounter with the Dark Lord. Everyone else she had seen stand up to the Dark Lord had died and yet in another world Harry had not only lived but managed to kill the Dark Lord. Tears began to fill Hermione's eyes. In a different world they had managed to win, it was all too much for her and she couldn't stop the tears that flowed down her face. She cried as she remembered her friends who had fought and died to protect peace and freedom in the wizarding world and the idea that in another world they had succeeded where she had failed. Viskara was quietly letting Hermione get her feelings out properly. As time passed Hermione calmed down and with her emotions drained her brain began running again. Hermione looked up and with a cracked voiced asked.
"What happens now?"
"That depends on what you choose to do next." Viskara answered.
"You have three options first you can return to your own dimension and in doing so you would die. Second you could remain here, and I could teach you magic and the secrets of this place. Finally, you could take this thread and go to a new universe where you get a second chance to stop or win the war." Explained Viskara.
"Why would going back to my own universe kill me?' Hermione asked
"As I mentioned before your magical core was damaged during your trip here. My magic is the only thing keeping it from collapsing and you dying as a result. If you leave my presence without the proper safeguards you would die instantly." Viskara answered.
Hermione fell into a thoughtful silence. I won't go back and just die, but I also don't want to stay here forever. The only question I have is…
"Will I truly be able to change the outcome of the war in this new world?" Hermione asked
"Yes, for you this is a new story with new opportunities and new power to obtain." Viskara replied.
Hermione sighed "Then I'm going to need that thread you've made for me."
"All you need to do is pull the tread as hard as you can and it'll be like falling asleep, though waking up won't be as pleasant so be prepared." Viskara replied.
"Right, Thanks" Hermione replied as she took the thread out of his hands. It felt lighter than air and yet stronger than any physical magically enchanted bond she could think of. The thread began to weave its way around her arm it was cool to the touch and felt like silk. Taking a deep breath she clenched her hand around the thread and pulled hard. No soon had she pulled the world around her went dark and she felt herself falling.
AN: This took longer than i thought it would. a lot longer but its done now. The next chapter will be shorter and hopefully out sooner.