So at last, the preverbal cat is out of the bag. The role and nature of the Istari will shortly be explained, in part, and the 2nd Wizarding War has officially begun. I trust no one will mind if the inclusion of the Slayer of Darkness may at long last alter events going forward, now that he has been revealed and his power made manifest? Please, R&R and enjoy! ~F

Epilogue

Alatar, the Azure

Draco lay in the Hospital Wing with Ron and Hermione, chatting amiably about the recent events at the Ministry. Harry had been with them since they awoke, but said that Faykan had been asked to remain with Dumbledore longer, and had not been down to visit yet. Hermione read aloud the article from the Daily Prophet that declared the Dark Lord's return.

Ron's arms and hands were bandaged after being badly burned by the thought tendrils of brains that had been in the Department of Mysteries, while Hermione was taking almost a dozen types of potion every day to recover from a curse from one of the Death Eaters.

Draco only had had a concussion and several broken ribs from being blasted into a wall, and Madam Pomfrey had insisted he stay so she could check him in case there was spinal damage. It would have been much worse if he had not been wearing his mirthril vest that Faykan had gifted to him.

"You-Know-Who's Last Attempt to Take Over, pages two to four, What the Ministry Should Have Told Us, page five, Why Nobody Listened to Albus Dumbledore, pages six to eight, Exclusive Interview with Harry Potter, page nine... Well," said Hermione, folding up the newspaper and throwing it aside, "it's certainly given them lots to write about. And that interview with Harry isn't exclusive; it's the one that was in The Quibbler months ago..."

"Apparently Luna's dad sold it to them for a hefty sum of gold," Draco informed them.

They all stopped talking when the Infirmary doors open and Faykan walked in, looking distracted and exhausted. "Hey," Harry said, and Faykan nodded absently in response, pulling a chair over to sit with them.

"What've you been up to all night?" Hermione asked, looking at Faykan's tired face with concern.

Faykan sighed before answering, "Talking with Dumbledore." Draco noticed immediately that Faykan said the Headmaster's name with no trace of irritation or contempt.

"What about?" Ron asked, before biting into another sweet from the massive pile at the foot of his bed.

"Plans for this summer and next year, mainly," Faykan said, shrugging, "He knows by the way, that I'm alive."

Harry and Faykan shared a glance, exchanging something that Draco didn't understand.

"I have something very important to tell you all," Faykan said slowly as he cast a silencing charm around them all.

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

Harry could see the weariness in Faykan's face as he took several steadying breaths. He was readying himself to spill his secrets to Ron, Draco, Hermione, and most importantly, to Harry.

Harry hadn't fully understood what Faykan was saying the night before in Dumbledore's office, and was hoping to ask several questions about it. From the look on Faykan's face, he expected an inquisition, and was terrified about what reactions the revealing of his secrets would cause. He clearly didn't want to lose his friends, and he especially didn't want to lose Harry.

Looking down at his hands apprehensively, Faykan slowly began, "I… have not been completely honest with any of you. For a long time now…"

All three of his friends stared at Faykan with slight suspicion, clearly having not expected this. "Wha… what are you talking about Fay?" Draco asked in complete confusion. The atmosphere darkened, perhaps matching the mood of the occupants of the room.

Faykan looked nervously up at the four of them before looking back down at his lap. "I'm not who you think I am… well I am, but there's far more than I've told any of you… even you Harry…"

Harry looked at him encouragingly, trying to convey that whatever was going on, he could tell his friends everything, and they'd try not to judge. He willed Faykan to look up at him and, finally, he did, looking even more scared at the thought of going on.

"Just tell us everything, Fay." Harry said softly, but firmly with love and trust in his eyes. It was the look in Harry's eyes that gave Faykan the courage to continue.

Faykan sighed heavily, "Alright, but promise not to interrupt until I'm finished and have explained everything. Then you can ask questions. Okay?" He looked them all in the eyes as they promised.

With the reminder that they had promised to wait, Faykan continued in a soft, barely audible voice. "My name is not Faykan." Seeing the looks on the faces of his friends he quickly back tracked. "Well, it is, but it's not my only name."

Ron, Draco, and Hermione had a myriad of emotions streaming, almost too fast to identify, through their eyes; suspicion, confusion, disbelief, and anger just being some of them. Harry just looked thoughtful. He had already heard some of this in Dumbledore's office, though it was fuzzy because he had still been in shock.

Faykan continued after giving them time to absorb that. "My real and first name is Alatar, the Azure." Draco started to open his mouth, remembering the Palantír in third year, but Harry shushed him with a look. He too remembered, but they had promised not to interrupt.

"I am one of the five beings that came from the lands of Valinor over eight and a half thousand years ago to bring about the defeat of the greatest Dark Lord that ever existed short of the terror of Morgoth. I am the last of them left here in Arda, the last left to fulfill his assigned task…"

Hermione didn't seem to be able to resist interrupting however, her curiosity and disbelief apparent, "But… it was just a story, wasn't it? There's no way that could have actually happened, or there would be a written history of it." She nodded firmly to herself, as if the was the end of it.

Faykan smiled sadly at her, "I showed you the only remaining book that contained that history Hermione. So much time has past, and the world has changed so much, that no one remembers the roots of their ancestry. That history has dwindled into the realm of myth and legend. I strove to preserve as much as I could over the thousands of years that I walked this world, all kept in the tower of Orthanc in the valley near the river Isen, as well as many other relics of the men and elves of old."

This time, it was Ron who blurted out in a derisive tone, "How can you be thousands of years old, you're only sixteen?"

"Because Ron, I had transfigured myself into a child's body to be closer to Harry and protect him, just like I had done before over the years to walk unseen among the wizarding community."

"Had?" Hermione asked, puzzled and deciding to wait until the end of Faykan's little speech to conclude whether she believed him or not.

"Yes," Faykan said, slumping slightly further into his chair, "When Voldemort killed me during the Tournament, my body was locked into its transfiguration, and I am now physically sixteen, until I grow back to my original form."

"Of course," Hermione said, more to herself than to him, "That's why you were so hesitant in third and fourth year to confront Harry about… um… you know…" she blushed slightly.

"Well… Not really that." Faykan said, rolling his eyes, "Now, if we could move along from that false presumption…"

"But…" Draco said, finally breaking his own silence, "Why, why did you feel that you couldn't tell us this?" His angry plea acted like a whip to Faykan's flesh causing him to flinch slightly.

"It wasn't safe to reveal this information to anyone," Faykan cried out in frustration, "If Voldemort or Dumbledore found out too soon, either would stop at nothing to force me to their side, and I refuse to be subjected to anyone's will except those who sent me. To this end is why I had created many different personas to disguise myself from others."

Harry saw the look of remorse in Faykan eyes when the boy turned to face him, "Harry, I'm so sorry that I caused Sirius' death, its all my fault, I don't expect you to trust me right away, but I promise you that I won't lie to any of you again, I'll tell you all everything you ask of me, and together we will stop Voldemort."

Harry wasn't sure if it was the sincerity in Faykan's eyes, or the burning in his chest for the boy that he loved that made him speak, "I trust you Fay."

Hermione gaped at him, but Ron and Draco quickly agreed, giving Faykan their votes of confidence. Hermione after a moment, still rather hesitant, followed suit.

"Thank you," Faykan replied, bowing his head again, to mask the trail of tears that slipped down his face. He rose, lowering the wards around them and turned to leave, "I need to go talk to Professor Snape now, but I'll come back to visit soon."

Harry spoke up, "I'll join you, I should go visit Hagrid anyway…"

"Just one more question," Hermione asked, stopping the pair. "The quartered circles you carry on your belt. What are they?"

Faykan seemed to smirk for a moment, before sobering. "One of my many tasks, during a previous Dark Lord's reign and defeat, revolved around collecting specially prepared and crafted items of Light power, which when brought together can cause the end of the Dark's power for a time. I have received instruction that Voldemort's darkness has eclipsed that old threat, and it is needful to collect them again."

He paused a moment, raising his shirt to display the belt and the circles for them all to see clearly, "These six are the Signs of the Old Ones, the ancient symbol of the Order of the Istari, and are infused with power to guide me to the rest of the items. They, alongside the Grail and two other items will be a major boon to us in the coming war." He explained.

"They come with a prophecy all their own," he mentioned, lowering his shirt once more, "Iron for the birthday, Bronze carried long, Wood from the burning, Stone out of song, Fire in the candle-ring, water from the thaw. Six signs the Circle, and the Grail gone before."

Hermione looked well and thoroughly satisfied, and Faykan smirked, "There's more, but it's not pertinent at this moment. Rest now, and we deal with that matter when it's time to hunt for the other objects."

And with that he turned, and Harry followed him out of the Infirmery.

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

Lord Voldemort raged at the loss of his prophecy. Lucius and Bellatrix, ever his most faithful servants, had failed, losing the sphere to the blasted boy. Harry Potter and his allies had escaped, again. And what was worse, now the wizarding world knew that he was truly alive and acting again. His Death Eaters nearest his rooms had fled, not wanting to be near their Lord in case of their own injury during his bout of anger.

Once again, Voldemort found his thoughts wandering back to his own duel with Albus Dumbledore and the boy, the boy who had possessed as much power as either man, if not more… the boy who named himself as Alatar, the Azure. Why did it seem that he should know the boy as something else then?

"That was no boy…" rang the small cold voice inside the Dark Lord's mind. Voldemort started slightly, "Alatar is far more of a threat to you than you imagine, my Lord. For you to safely secure power, the Istari must die. The objects of the Light must not be gathered before your power is absolute."

Lord Voldemort smiled. Yes, the powerful child was definitely his number one threat, next to Harry Potter, but as he couldn't find or harm the boy over the summer, he should refocus his efforts. And he might as well throw Dumbledore on the list while he was at it. But how to get at the old man and the mysterious wizard, who would most likely be on the move constantly until the next term at Hogwarts resumed…

Then it hit him, of course, Hogwarts. Many of his loyal Death Eaters had children attending the school that year, and Voldemort knew of one in particular who would worship a chance to prove himself to his Lord…

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

Severus stopped in the shadows of the entrance hall to watch the spectacle between Theodore Nott, Harry and Faykan. He had been heading toward the Infirmary to acquire a list of potions to resupply over the summer for the next year, when he had seen the young Slytherin and his two goons, Crabbe and Goyle, accosting the two Gryffindors.

After glancing around, and conveniently missing Severus' hiding place, Nott scowled at the two Gryffindors, "You're dead, both of you."

Harry and Faykan both raised their eyebrows, almost identically, "Funny," Harry said, glancing at Faykan before looking back at Nott, "You'd think we'd have stopped walking around."

"You're going to pay," Nott continued, his face red with rage, "I'm going to make you both pay for what you did to my father…"

"Well," Faykan said sarcastically, "We're terrified now, I s'pose Voldemort's just a warm-up compared to you three…"

"What's the matter?" Harry asked, smirking at the three Slytherin's looks of horror at the Dark Lord's name, "He's was your dad's mate wasn't he? Not scared of him, are you?"

Severus had a bad feeling to where this was going, and soon he was proved right when Nott whipped his wand out before either Gryffindor could react.

"Nott!" Severus bellowed, emerging from his alcove near the dungeon entrance and striding over to the group of boys. Both Harry and Fay smirked as the three Slytherins whipped around and stared at their head of house in shock. "What do you think you're doing? Put that wand away at once, ten points from Slytherin."

"Do my own ears deceive me, or is Severus Snape taking points from his own house?" sounded a voice from the direction of the grounds past the open oak doors. They all turned to see Minerva McGonagall stumping up the stone steps into the castle, a tartan carpetbag in one hand and leaning heavily of a walking stick with her other, but otherwise looking quiet well healed.

"Professor McGonagall!" said Severus, stepping forward to be of help if needed. "Out of St Mungo's, I see!"

"Yes, Professor Snape," said Minerva, shrugging off her travelling cloak, "I'm quite as good as new. You two; Crabbe, Goyle…" She beckoned them forwards imperiously and they came, shuffling their large feet and looking awkward. "Here," said Professor McGonagall, thrusting her carpetbag into Crabbe's chest and her cloak into Goyle's, "take these up to my office for me." They turned and stumped away up the marble staircase. Severus suppressed a smirk at how effectively she handled disarming Nott of his muscle.

"Right then," Minerva said, looking between them all, and then up at the large hourglasses that lined the walls, "I seem to have missed some major house point changes." She said absently.

Severus knew what she was referring to, all the hourglasses, save Slytherins, was nearly empty. "Well, I think that Potter and his friends deserve fifty points apiece for alerting the world to the return of You-Know-Who. What do you say Professor Snape?"

Severus glanced at Nott's horrified face before turning back to Minerva, "I think that is a wonderful idea Professor McGonagall."

"So that's fifty each for Potter, Stanton, the two Weasleys, Longbottom, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood, Mr. Zabini, Mr. Boot, Mr. Goldstein, and Mr. Corner.' said Professor McGonagall, and a shower of rubies, sapphires, and emeralds fell down into the bottom bulbs of the four different hour-glasses as she spoke, quite filling the Gryffindor bulb in particular, so that it exceeded the level that Slytherin's had achieved during the rule of Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad.

"Well boys," Minerva said again, turning back to Faykan, Harry and Nott, "I think you three ought to be outside on a glorious day like this."

Faykan caught Severus' eye and moved to follow him as they all dispersed, Harry obeying Minerva and heading for the grounds, while Nott sneered and retreated back into the dungeons. Minerva smiled at the pair of them as she turned for her office, and Severus was alone with Faykan, mounting the stairs up toward the Hospital Wing.

"Something you want to discuss with me?" Severus said offhandedly, glancing at black haired boy at his side.

"However did you guess Sev?" Faykan replied, smirking in that same fashion that, a year ago, would have irritated Severus. Now however, he found it rather humorous and endearing. "As a matter of fact I have several confessions to make, if you have some time."

Severus paused, sensing that this was going to be something important and very private, and motioned for Faykan to follow him into an empty classroom. Sealing the door behind him, he sat across from the boy and listened to his story without interruption.

"Well, that certainly would explain a lot," Severus said finally when Faykan had finished.

"You do realize what this means Sev?" Faykan said, smiling in a slightly embarrassed way, "I never had a father, which means…"

Severus realized the implication instantly, and seized the shoulders of the boy in front of him, the boy that he had know since his own childhood, "Faykan… my dear Faykan, why must you always be so full of surprises?"

"It's what I do best Sev," Faykan replied, grinning madly.

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

Albus heard from Poppy that Mr. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy, and Miss Granger had all been discharged from the Infirmary with three days left before the end of term. Overall, he was glad that none of the students were harmed during the fiasco at the Department of Mysteries, but he was even more disappointed, in himself mainly, that it was even necessary for them to go in the first place.

As Alatar had told him multiple times, to the point where Albus agreed with him completely, if he had only been more open with them and less concerned with his own schemes that none of this would have happened. Sirius' death hung heavily over his own head as much as it did over the ancient Istari's.

Sadly, Albus had no power to change the past, only to affect the future, and thus it was that he threw himself madly into planning for what this second war would bring, conversing at great lengths with Alatar about the defenses of Hogwarts and Harry's protection.

The boy insisted that Harry be taken with him for the duration of the summer, but Albus was adamant that Harry should return to refresh the blood wards at the Dursleys, if only for the required two weeks. It had taken many arguments, but finally Alatar had conceded, angrily, that he would allow Harry to remain there for the requested time.

Then there was still the matter of Dolores Umbridge. Albus had barely managed to reverse the nightmare hex that Faykan had put her under, and she had been shakily resting in the Hospital wing until the day before the end of term, at which she had tried to make a break for the apparition point outside the gates. Unfortunately, she had run into Alatar on her way, and the Istar had taking his last chance to expel her forcefully from the school.

Many students had run from the Great Hall at dinner to watch her being chased, screaming her head off, by the ghostly form of Alatar's previous disguise, and an entire horde of the six-tailed Kitsune, all baying madly and spewing fire at her heels in their mad attempt to devour her.

The Heads of Houses tired only half-heartedly to restrain the students chasing after the hunting party, whooping and cheering as the cruel woman was forcefully driven from the school. Indeed, Minerva sank back into her chair at the staff table after a few feeble chidings and was clearly heard to express a regret that she could not run cheering after Umbridge herself, because her healers at St. Mungos had expressly forbidden her to do any strenuous activity for several weeks yet.

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

On the last day of term, Faykan gathered Hermione, Harry, Draco, and the Weasleys in the Entrance Hall to leave for Sirius' funeral. Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape were also attending the service. Hermione was deep in though as Professor Dumbledore explained that they would be taking a portkey to the place designated for Sirius final resting place, as well as the reading of his will.

Hermione's thoughts were still focused solely on the information that Faykan had revealed to them several days ago, about how he was an eight thousand year old Istari. Logically it just did not add up to her, despite all the evidence pointing to the possibility. People simply did not live to be that old, and his convenient story for being physically sixteen was just too good to be true.

Hermione was so lost in her contemplation that she almost missed touching the portkey before it whisked them away to a small village cemetery, situated in the shadow of the local church building. Everyone walked in a gloomy silence through the gravestones following Professor Dumbledore and Faykan toward a larger, white marble gravestone next to which a large hole was dug to the side of.

There they met Professor Lupin, and an elderly woman that was introduced as Balthilda Bagshot, author of "A History of Magic." Resting on the opposite side, in front of the neighboring grave, was a polished wooden casket. Golden symbols and Latin mottos were carved into the wood, and upon it was resting the ring that Hermione remembered Sirius receiving last summer from Faykan.

Professor Dumbledore glanced to the row of graves behind Sirius', a sad look in his blue eyes, before turning to face the rest of them, who had gathered in a half-circle before the open grave. "We are gathered here, in the small village of Godric's Hollow, to lay to rest a valiant warrior, and dear friend. Sirius Black may be gone from our company, but his spirit lingers on in those who knew him best. May Sirius find peace in the great adventure that awaits us all on the other side."

Everyone bowed their heads for a moment, before Faykan took Professor Dumbledore's place. Tears filled his eyes as he lifted the small ring from the top of the casket, and slowly began a soft melody, lamenting the death of their friend. The sounds the language, elven yet something greater, poured from his mouth like a torrent of silver water, pooling the air around them like Phoenix song. Even Professor Snape, proud and stoic as he usually was, was unable to restrain the flow of tears on his face at the pure sorrow the song evoked.

As softly as it began, Faykan song ended, and he rested one hand on the casket, "Be at peace, heir of the kings of Gondor." He whispered, before moving back to Harry's side, embracing the other boy as tears continued to flow down Harry's face.

Professor Snape lifted his wand, and everyone followed, levitating Sirius' casket into the grave, allowing it to settle gently before the soil filled around it, burying Sirius Black beneath the earth. Then Dumbledore raised his wand again, and golden words etched themselves into the marble tombstone.

'Sirius 'Padfoot' Black

Born August 25 1959

Died June 18 1996

Mischief Managed'

Hermione read the words over several times, smiling to herself. Then she noticed Harry and Faykan looking at the grave next to Sirius'. Leaning over, she read the names for herself, awe dawning on her as she read.

'James Potter

Born 27 March 1960

Died 31 October 1981

Lily Potter

Born 30 January 1960

Died 31 October 1981

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.'

Faykan was gripping Harry round the shoulders as a fresh river of tears trickled down their faces. Hermione realized this was the first time Harry had ever been to his parent's graves, and her heart went out to the black-haired boy.

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

Everyone was silent as they portkeyed back to Hogwarts, each wrapped in their own sad thoughts. Draco was saddened that he never truly was able to get to know his cousin, but was thankful that he was invited to witness his final departure. The thought turned him back to his own family, or what had been his family. Lucius had disowned him, and Draco was now just a wanderer with no name. It was a hard thing to accept, as it had been his life's ambition to prove to his father that he was worthy of the man's love.

"Draco?" Faykan said from behind him. Draco had been walking aimlessly toward the dungeons, wondering what he was going to do this summer, as he had no place to go. "Are you alright?"

"Of course," Draco lied, brushing his thoughts aside and turning to his friend.

"You're lying," Faykan said flatly, taking Draco by the shoulder, "You're concerned about your family and what you're going to do. I can tell; it's not hard to see. First of all Draco, never forget that your doing the right thing. And you are not as forsaken as you think you are. Only your father disowned you; your mother left him the very night, fleeing to Black houses in France. You are still a Black, and through them your heritage is great."

Draco sniffed, trying to conceal the emotion that threatened to spill out. His mother stood by him, just as she said she would. "But, the Black inheritance all went to Harry, where will I get the money to come to Hogwarts next year?"

"Don't worry, I have it all taken care of Draco, but more importantly, your coming with me this summer, I worked it all out with your mother by letter."

"Thanks Fay." Draco said, smiling sadly as he turned to pack his things in the dungeons.

"Draco," Faykan said, causing him to turn back, "Your father loves you, and he will remember it before the end…"

~~Sina tea kirma : This is a line break~~

As Harry watched at the Hogwarts Express sped away from Hogsmeade station, Faykan and Draco at his side, waving to his friends as they set off again for London, he thought about the chaos that had just been unleashed into his already mad world.

Sirius was gone, and his absence felt like a knife in Harry's heart, nearly as bad as when he had thought that Faykan was dead the year previous. Faykan was always there for him, never leaving his side in the case that Harry broke down and needed him, and for that Harry was grateful. At first it had been a great annoyance, as Harry had swung back and forth from wanting company to desiring solitude for days, but his best friend had stubbornly stayed by his side through it all.

It also didn't help that Harry was trying to put together the information that Faykan had told them in his mind. Now that Faykan had told them his secret, Harry could see all the clues with blatant obviousness. The way he talked, the way he seemed to know nearly everything related to magical knowledge and history, and the way he seemed to be so sure of himself all the time. It had been the perfect disguise, hiding in plain sight while the entire world simply ignored him as a strange child.

As the other students piled into the train, Faykan had held both him and Draco back, telling them both that they weren't taking the train this year, but for their safety, they were going to apparate straight to the tower of Orthanc. Hermione and Ron practically begged to join them, but Faykan said their parents would get suspicious if they didn't show up, and that he would find some way to pick them up over the summer.

Together the three boys turned and began to walk away from the station after the scarlet steam engine was out of sight, back toward the village and out of the anti-apparition field of Hogwarts station. The crowd of people never spared them a second glance, as it was now officially holiday, but a shout cause them all to turn back.

Professor Dumbledore was there, glaring in concern and disappointment at them all, "I thought I told you," he said to Faykan, "That Harry needed to return to his relatives."

"You did Professor." Faykan replied smugly.

"And you agreed, you promised that you would send him back, if only to recharge his defenses." Dumbledore continued, lowering his voice and walking toward them.

"Well… I lied Professor…" Faykan said, smirking as he grabbed Harry and Draco's hands.

The Headmaster yelled again, and swept his wand just as the disapparated with a deafening crack.

After a momentary squeezing sensation, Harry landed hard on the pinnacle of Orthanc, gazing out across the forest of Fanghorn out to the fields of Rohan with his two friends. Noises directly below caught his attention, and Harry looked down to see the open meadow surrounding the base of the tower filled with tents and hundreds of people. They looked as if they had been living there for at least several months.

"Greetings Lord Alatar, welcome back to Orthanc." Came a gravely voice form the staircase leading into the tower. Harry turned to see a familiar looking man with an unfaltering gaze and rather sallow looking skin.

"Harry, Draco, may I introduce you both to the recently missing Unspeakable, Broderick Bode." Faykan said, gesturing to the red robed man, who bowed slightly to the three boys.

To Be Continued…

Potential Spoilers Ahead: You Have Been Warned!

And with that Fifth Year is completed. Additionally, so has the absolute adherence to the canon storyline. I forced myself in the original to wait until Alatar was fully exposed for him to start actually changing events, as I felt strongly that the role and style of an istar would have waited, gathering all the information and allies he could, before acting in a devisive and devastating manner to wage the wizarding war. unfortunately, I couldn't avoid Sirius' death, as it is one of the powerful motivators that is required for Harry, as well as being the first known casualty of the 2nd war, his death marks the initiation of the Light's retaliation openly against Voldemort. Until Thursday my friends! ~F