Author's Note:

Thank you very much for the reviews. To the group of Charmes4ever and I Love Guinea Pig you're awesome! I can't express how happy I am to have you guys! To WiseboyLibra thanks a lot for the good advice on Chapter 1. I really appreciate it. You inspire me to write better. By the way, I'm going to use your favourite names on another story. Coming soon!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything!

Chapter 3 - Birth of the Heiress Part 1

Molly Weasley

December 1980

If the stranger will come again knocking at my door at this very moment, I will be glad to open it. For who will not be happy enough to welcome anybody who would give light to all the questions, confusions, and all those things babbling inside my head? It was like waking up from a nightmare and the moment you realized it, it was all a dream and then you ask yourself if reality did not really deceive your consciousness.

Moonlight beams cast their light on the window as I stared at the sky, my shadow gently resting on the night table beside the bed where Arthur was fast asleep. It was past midnight. A starry, starry night. A single bright star shone in heaven, a sign said the stranger in strange cloak that far beneath another world, a change in history will take its course. A change in history? I never believed the stranger who talked to Arthur in a peculiar way. But Arthur in all mystery was able to understand him. I have known Arthur since our school days at Hogwarts but never did he keep hideous secrets such as this. A simple man whom I thought had such humble beginnings. Arthur, great grandson of the leader of The Great Explorers? He never mentioned it. We have been married for more than a couple of decades and not even once did I have an inkling that his interest in muggle artifacts stemmed from his beginnings. And what was more? His family tree traced back to the mystical tribe of Lemuria before the great flood happened. Merlin of Merlins! The lost continent of Lemuria! I've heard of it during our studies of World History of Magic. But I knew it to be just a myth for it was never proven. A place too good to exist! According to the stranger, Arthur's family owned an island in Asia with all its castle and ancient glamour. This was non-sense. How could the family of Arthur own an island when we were too poor to even own a decent house? When we could not even afford to travel except thru winnings in raffles? And these strange people who called themselves mystical tribes. They stared at you in strange ways as if reading your whole soul. They did not carry wands with them. In fact, they didn't even need them to perform magic. No spells, no nothing. They just stare at you and things will start flying your way.

Just a day after I told Arthur I was pregnant, unusual things started to happen. Arthur kept on staring at a star from the constellation of Orion and kept muttering to himself "And so it was told."

"What was told?"

Arthur will not answer me as if hearing not a single word. I did not put much importance on these words; anyway they were nothing but merely words in passing. At least they were to me. They may just be thoughts. Maybe... But Arthur seemed to be less attentive these days, always deep in thought. His cup of agaricus mushroom boiled with centella leaves which was his favourite hot drink during breakfast, remained cold. New set of lines appeared on his forehead and I see both a mixture of sadness and happiness in his face.

Then I kept seeing a stranger in robes who did not looked familiar. He looked strange for a wizard. I saw him staring at me even in public places such as Diagon Alley. He seemed to be around where I was. Buying things at Twilfitt and Tatting's, walking along Knockturn Alley, window shopping at Madam Malkin's. When I told Arthur about this, he just shrugged his shoulder and did not say anything. Not so like Arthur!

"Could he be a Death Eater? A follower of You Know Who?" I asked him.

"Molly, the Dark Lord has gone. No reason to be a freak. He is not coming back."

"Not coming back? That's not what I heard from Albus Dumbledore the other day. He was gone yes but nobody knew for sure. Even James and Lily's child has to be brought somewhere to give him protection." Arthur just walked away from me not wanting to hear any word that I wanted to say.

Then one day, one of those cold snowy days, a stranger came knocking at our door. I was then in the kitchen preparing early dinner. Aunt Muriel was supposed to deliver the newly baked pudding from her old recipe. With quick strides, I was at the door anticipating the sweet smell of Aunt Muriel's pudding only to see Arthur get up quickly and getting ahead of me. My eyes grew wide as I recognized the stranger in robes. The man smiled in recognition upon seeing Arthur as if they knew each other well, his statuesque figure towering above the door. My eyes stared at the stranger then looked at Arthur ready to ask my first question. But before I could open my mouth, he led him to an old chair near the window where you could see the view to the burrow.

"Welcome my dear friend. It's been a long time." Arthur said as he smiled back and guided the man near the window. He sat quietly eyeing Arthur then fixed his gaze towards me. It made me uncomfortable.

"Yes, Arthur. It's been a long time," the stranger said as he let out a smile again. His smile put me at ease. He put both his palm together in his front in a gesture of a vow then nodded his head at me as a sign of acknowledgment. "I am here for the Council of Elders from the Seven White Brotherhood."

"Yes, I was expecting you Brother Houma." I gasped at Arthur. He was expecting the stranger? What's this all about? He was the stranger who watched me at Diagon Alley. He was tall, towering above Arthur and I, his robe of silk shining in the light. What did he want from Arthur? As if reading my thoughts, he glanced at me and after few seconds, he smiled again.

"It was more than a century since the Prophecy of Endon was revealed to us. The waiting was almost half done dear brother." He hesitated for a moment then spoke again "You saw the star?"

Arthur nodded as he looked at the stranger, his face both grim and hopeful. "Are you positive it's going to be our child?" He gazed at the man while waiting for a quick answer.

"Yes, a daughter beyond reasonable doubt. Elder Ramaya had seen it in a vision even before the star appeared. From your tribe Arthur, the Tribe of Light. The guardians are now complete all destined to do whatever there was to be done. We have been waiting for this moment and a few more years, we will be anticipating the rise of the guardians, the new generation of Guardians of White Brotherhood. I assumed you never discussed this yet with your wife?" and he looked at me again with an expression of respect.

"No, not yet. I have to talk to you first. And the island?"

"Everything is being taken care of. The Malfoys had been a little bit tricky the past years but the Keeper of the Sacred Knowledge will never be deceived. Your share, your family's wealth is in trust in a Swiss Bank until your daughter of course will turn eighteen. Again, we have to abide by the will of your great grandfather Howard Weasley." There was a note of sadness in his voice as he continued. "Howard Weasley. It was very unfortunate that the tribe or the whole council were not there to prevent his death. We were too late. It was a tragedy." He bowed his head low keeping silent for few minutes as if in utmost regret then he looked at Arthur again and finally composed himself. He sighed and changed his expression. "But you know very well brother that it is not the wealth of the island that concerns us. It is another matter." And he glanced at me again as if afraid to reveal a well kept secret. His expression changed in an instant the moment I shot him an inquisitive glance. "The Council is ready to extend any help to you and your wife whenever the need arises. But we will appreciate it much if you could come to the island as soon as possible."

"Our child will be born in the island?"

"No. It's too dangerous. It's like offering the victim to the predator, a sheep to the lion. The dark forces will all be waiting for a good chance to kill her. She will be born in your muggle hometown, the country house of the Herrings."

"The Herrings?"

"Yes. I'm sure you're well aware of the magical protection a muggle house can bring. Your wizarding world knows that. But before the time comes, you need to visit the castle and summon the stimulus and energy for the crystals. Then you can leave. The travel will be quite uncomfortable to you and your wife because there are certain points in our travel where we cannot do magic. But we will do the best that we can."

"I understand that. But we cannot stay long in the island. I have work at the Ministry of Magic and our other children will be spending their holiday home this Christmas."

"You can visit then at your most convenient time." Then, he looked at Arthur as if waiting for an answer.

"This…this daughter of ours. Are we allowed to see her or…or explain her destiny at least?"

"I'm afraid not. Remember, we all have our destiny laid and planned even before we were born. But for all we know, our future is being set more by the choices me make not by chances we take. Destinies can always change. As we have explained to you the last time we met, all we need to do is to patiently wait until it's time to summon the guardians at the right time, at the right moment."

"Then I have no other queries to ask you Brother Houma. Please let me know if there are further instructions from the Council. Send my regards to Elder Ramaya. I am happy to set my eyes on you again. Peace brother."

"Peace brother. It would be a pleasure to be our guest soon. The whole fellowship is very eager for your homecoming. Not since your great grandfather Howard's stay were we deeply honoured. The castle in the Island of Hope will be opened for your stay. The tribe will meet you at the time intended. We will still see each other soon. Peace brother." And with that, he stood up and walked towards the door. We felt the obligation to accompany him outside and holding my hand, Arthur and I walked towards the door. Once outside, the man called Brother Houma closed his eyes and disappeared.

I put both my hands on my head and snapped "Arthur! What's this all about? I'm getting craazzyy...!"

Arthur was still staring outside then he looked at me "Molly, I'm very sorry. This child in your womb…she will be a girl but...she's not going to live with us."

"Yes, I heard Arthur. But before anything else, can you give light to all these confusions before I break your neck for keeping secrets with me?"

The meeting took place in a comfortable weatherproofed cabin in a remote wooded area two hundred miles from the open road. The members had arrived discreetly at irregular intervals. When the last visitor appeared, the cabin door was locked and the guards took up positions in the full-throated December winds, alert for any sign of intruders. The members, seated around the large round table, were all powerful men in their own capacity, high in the councils of their respective governments. They had all met before in their official capacities. For added security, each had been assigned a code name. The meeting lasted almost five hours, and the discussion was heated. Finally, the Head decided the time had come to call for a vote. He rose, standing tall, and turned to the man seated at his right. "Seaguard?"

"Yes."

"Delta?"

"Yes."

"Zeus?"

"We're moving too hastily. The danger-"

"Yes or no, please."

"No."

" Sigma?"

"Yes."

"Thor?"

"Nein. If this should be exposed, our lives would be-"

"Ares?"

"Yes."

"I vote yes. The resolution is passed. I will inform the concerned. We will observe the usual precautions and leave at twenty-minute intervals. Thank you, gentlemen."

Two hours and forty-five minutes later the cabin was deserted then somebody moved in and set the cabin on fire, the red flames licked by the hungry winds. When the fire brigade of that place finally reached the scene, there was nothing left to see but the smouldering embers that

outlined the cabin against the hissing trees. The assistant to the fire chief approached the ashes, bent down and sniffed. "Arson." The fire chief was staring at the ruins, a puzzled expression on his face. "That's strange," he muttered.

"Why?"

"I was hunting in these woods last week. There was no cabin."

R&R! To Charmes4ever and her group:

Sorry for the long wait! The much awaited sequel of "A Walk on Manhattan" is coming up soon!