Another super short Prologue, I know, but the format was useful at the time of the story's creation, and I didn't have the heart to change it. it gives a sort of good start/stop point if people are reading this in segments rather than in one long binge. Still, I hope you readers enjoy! ~F
A New Player, Year 6
Eye of the Storm
Prologue
Unspeakable Knowledge
Harry couldn't help but stare at the red robed man, even as he was led along with Draco and Faykan down and through the now extremely packed and busy tower of Orthanc.
Broderick Bode would point out select individuals as they passed, and several would bow and offer their greetings to Faykan. Harry had heard of the missing Unspeakable, and he clearly remembered the visit to St. Mungo's when they had all seen the man, but it still didn't explain why he was here, or why all these people were gathered here at Faykan's home.
However, it was Draco who beat him to finally voicing the obvious question that hung between him and Harry. "Mr. Bode… uh… how did you get here?"
It was Faykan who answered, "That was my doing," he said, stopping and turning to the two boys, "When we visited Mr. Bode last year in St. Mungo's, I gave him a portkey to Orthanc that would activate if he was in any danger. I had my suspicions that his accident was anything but that…"
"… and Lord Alatar was more correct." Mr. Bode added, "It activated as the plant that someone sent me for Christmas attempted to strangle me. I think it may have been a cutting of Devil's Snare."
"But, why did you want to save Mr. Bode specifically Faykan?" Harry asked.
"Simple reason, Mr. Potter," Bode responded, "I am Lord Alatar's contact in the British Department of Mysteries."
Harry's heart felt a pang at the mention of the place where he had lost his godfather, but Draco picked up the line of conversation. "The Department of Mysteries?" he asked in confusion, "Why would they be interested in Faykan?"
Mr. Bode started to chuckle, "You're asking why the independent section of the Ministry that investigates the secrets of our magical heritage would be interested in an eight thousand year old Istari? I would think that it would be obvious, the sheer knowledge we could recover from the past would bring magical Britain into a new golden age. There is a reason that he is literally called the last of the Old Ones."
"And… in the meanwhile," Faykan interrupted, "They keep me informed with the Ministry's inner workings and research projects. Occasionally I offer my advice as to what would most help the magical community, and they assist me when I need the Ministry to be... oblivious, to what I'm up to."
Harry and Draco shared a grin at those words. There was probably a lot that Faykan wouldn't want the Ministry to get wind of.
"My Lord," Bode said, turning back to Faykan, "The King of Rohan wishes to speak with you, and there are several reports that need your attention as well…"
Faykan brushed him off, "Yes, yes, I'll get to it in due time, but first I need to get my guests settled, and pick up some things from Gringotts. After that, I will gladly meet with the Lords of the Mark."
Mr. Bode bowed respectfully, and walked away, turning into the staircase at the end of the hall and making his way downward.
"I'll only be gone a few hours, and then we can organize that many things that need to be addressed, as well as what we will do over the summer," Faykan said before disaparating on the spot with a loud crack.
Harry and Draco looked at each other; confusion etched on their faces from the abrupt departure of their friend, then shrugged and headed for the guest chambers that lay midway down the tower.
Potential Spoilers Ahead, You Have Been Warned!
I almost didn't bother writing an end comment line for this chapter. it was one of the shortest I made, serving really only to hitch the last part of book five to the beginning of book six as I gathered my thoughts for how to start off with a bang, but still, I promised to keep these going, and I will do so even for this one. Ironically, this was one of the side plots that went unexplored, both in the original and even now. the connection between the Istari and the Department of Mysteries. I personally felt that it needed little explination, and as it dealt with next to nothing that concerned the war and the main cast, aside from Fay, that it didn't really need to be said. but what do you all think? potential here for a side story of Alatar's background... which also reminds me that I had another author who requested and started writing a backstory for Faykan set in the beginning of Hogwarts, along with the Four Founders, but somewhere along the way I lost contact with them... Maybe in future I should take up the charge and do some background for an older version of the story pre-Harry? give me your thoughts on that! until next time! ~F