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Chapter 1: The Prophecy

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January 11th, 2004

Michael Dalton, High Leader of the Supreme Coven of the American Community of Witches and Wizards returned home with his granddaughter Allison from the Birthing Center of the Green Mountain Health and Healing Campus. He held his two-day-old great grandson in his arms. Severus Algiedi Dalton weighed over ten pounds and seemed to be a sound sleeper. Already, the boy held Michael's heart hostage. Michael felt blessed that he had lived long enough to see yet another generation of his family come into being. He and his wife, Viola, were thrilled that Allison had decided to live at home and raise her son on Dalton Farms, the family's horse and spectral breeding farm.

As he stepped out of the Mir-Tran Link into the foyer of his home, he saw that his wife, Viola, his Auxiliary, August Winters, and his security guard, Paul Steele, Chief Agent of the Supreme Coven Security Force, were there, waiting for their return.

Michael smiled. "I guess neither of you could wait to get a look at my first great-grandchild. Well, here he is. He is quite the handsomest baby I have ever seen. If I may say so myself."

"You must come to Supreme Coven Chambers at once, High Leader," August said.

"What's happened?" Michael asked.

"It's the High Seeress; she has called a gathering."

Michael's face grew pale, and, for practically the first time in his life, he felt a surge of panic run through his soul. He looked down at his newborn great-grandson, then back up at August.

"No, it can't be," he said. The High Seeress existed for one purpose only. To reveal the birth of the next destined High Leader. He looked back down at the sleeping babe in his arms. No, he thought, it's impossible. The destined High Leaders are always born to non-Magical parents. That is the way John Alden set it up in the beginning, to assure that pure-blood mania could never overtake our country. It must be some other child.

Allison knew full well the function of the High Seeress. "It…it can't be my baby, can it?" she asked, her voice revealing her fear. If Severus was, indeed, the destined next High Leader, she would not even have custody of him. His life would never be his own, and she would have no say over how he was raised, educated, and trained. Any attempt to interfere would result in him being taken to Coven Chambers to be raised apart from her. They would obliviate her so she would completely forget she'd ever had a child.

"No, it can't be. The Anointed One is always born of non-Magical parentage," Michael said. "At least all except for the first. It's some other boy. It has to be. You did say his father is a wizard, right?"

"Yes, Severus is not a half-blood."

Viola, confused and beginning to grow panicked herself, asked, "What is wrong? Who is the Anointed One?"

"It seems, my love, that the Tenth High Leader of the Supreme Coven has been born."

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Rebekkah, the High Seeress of the Supreme Coven cackled in her chambers as she made ready to address the Supreme Coven. All had worked out precisely as she'd planned. She wondered if the boy's father was, indeed, Harry Potter, if the hex of lust she had placed on him that day out in the corridor had come to fruition, or if the High Leader's new great-grandson was fathered by a different man.

Either way, it did not really matter. Her revenge was meant for Michael Dalton alone. He would now have to watch as a child of his own blood underwent the harsh training that he, himself, had experienced, and it would be at his hand. He had taken something precious that had been hers, and now, she was instrumental in taking something precious of his. And even if she could not watch it due to her blindness, she would enjoy listening to the screams.

"Glynnis," she called out to the eight-year-old girl whose body would one day be her own when this body was at the end of its lifespan. Then, for about two short decades, she would be able to see again, be young, and free of age and infirmity.

"Yes, High Seeress?" Glynnis replied.

"The time is here. Help me to the Gathering Chamber."

"Of course, High Seeress," Glynnis replied.