Disclaimers: Refer to the first page.
A/N: Sorry for the so very late update. I couldn't find the time nor the mood to write. Too many assignments and the thesis pending. So, I'm really sorry but the updates will still be very slow. By the way, just for clarification, Ms/Mr hmm, Naoe and Takaya are not the characters from Mirage of Blaze. I did not realize that their names are the same as the two characters from that anime. Thus, it is purely coincidence since I just plucked the names out of my limited memories of the Japanese names I heard before. That aside, on with the story!
The figure of an old man stood near the window and stared out at the dark sky. It was so dark that the stars seemed brighter than normal. However, without artificial light or moonlight, it was impossible to make out anything outside the castle. The gently blowing wind brought about sounds of rustled leaves suggesting that there was a forest nearby. A faint eerie howl echoed in the breezy night fighting to co-exist with other sounds of the forest.
In the brightly-lighted room, the old man gave a weary sigh and turned away from the window. He stared at the portraits of the Headmasters before him. Their eyes stared back at him knowingly. "Have I made an unforgivable mistake?" His voice was soft but still sounded so much louder in the quiet room. He stared straight into the eyes of the occupants of the portraits searchingly. It was a couple of long minutes later that he finally closed them, giving up…or having found the answer.
"What else was I to do? It was the happiness of two or the lives of the world. I made the only choice available. What else was I to do?" he asked more to himself rather than the silent portraits.
"If you do not believe that you have chosen wrongly, then do not waste your time on meaningless guilt trips. We have a more pressing matter to consider here," Armando Dippet finally snapped.
"Yeah! They have united. We have to do something!" One of the older portraits spoke up while the rest nodded their heads.
Dumbledore released yet another weary sigh. "It is no use dwelling on the past mistakes." As he told himself that, his depressed demeanor changed back into the usual him. With a louder voice, he said, "They have reunited. It is as we feared. The aura of the older twin has not changed from the moment of the conception even though the younger twin has already been reduced to a mere wizar…"
"MERE!" An indignant shout rang out. "He is one of the Twin Star. There is nothing MERE ABOUT THEM!" the portrait's voice raised at the end of his sentence.
"Granted, Harry's power is still above average if….no ….now that the ward had been released, but he is not…." He was unable to finish the sentence; the ancient prophesy sat heavily on his soul as it had every second of his life the moment he became the Headmaster of Hogwarts. The tension in the air grew at the mention.
"Regardless….there is nothing we can do except observe for now. A face-off with the Twin Stars will be suicidal," the knowledgeable voice of one of the older Headmasters deduced, breaking the pregnant silence.
Pensive silence returned to the occupants of the room. Occasionally, the soft croaks from the featherless baby phoenix broke the silence but not enough the lighten the atmosphere..
The Sorting Hat looked on and continued to observe the proceedings taking place in the room. He had heard the same topic being discussed during the Founders' time, then every century after that and 16 years ago as well. Finally, the appearance of the older Potter had brought about this discussion again. It was ironic that the one considered to be the greatest wizard after the Founders had faltered where his previous predecessors succeeded. When one by one the occupants of the portraits either went off to visit their other portraits or closed their eyes, signaling the end of the conversation, the hat closed his eyes as well, a lingering thought forever never to find an answer dangled in his mind, "I do not understand humans."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Somewhere a long distance away, in Little Hangleton, sat an old rundown manor up on the hill. Surrounding the manor was an atmosphere of darkness. The cold damp air enforced this feeling of bad premonition about the supposedly abandoned manor.
However, if one gifted with the sight had examined the place, they would have found a magical force field surrounding the top of the hill especially the manor. Occasionally, the force field would shimmer with the hint of crimson red, as red as a human's blood. One knowledgeable in the darkest arts of magic would have known straightaway that this is the dwelling place of a Dark Wizard for only wards built on the blood of the innocents could bring about such a shimmer. It was definitely enough to frighten even the bravest wizard away, not to mention the whispers of the promise of torturing backlash if one was to enter without permission.
In the manor, far deep into the earth, a dark throne room existed. It was empty except for the throne on the raised stage. Made of the blackest material, the throne let out a cold ominous feeling that could be felt from even the furthest spot away from the throne even with the size of the room. The only light available in the room was from the flickering lights of the candles lined against the side walls.
On the throne sat the Dark Lord. His features had not improved since his 'rebirth'. His red eyes are slitted. Two small holes substituted as his nose about an inch above his thin lips. His bald head and skinny body only served to make his appearance more hideous, more beastly. It was definitely a far cry from his original aristocratic features.
Voldemort's eyes narrowed as he stared at the letter in his hand. The wheels in his mind was turning quickly. He weighed the pros and cons of making an attempt to at least come to a compromise versus an out-right cries of war. The presence of a new powerful, according to Lucius, player in the game complicated things. His only comfort was the thought of what this Harold Potter's appearance would do to the trust the younger Potter had for the meddlesome old fool.
Finally his mind made up, he wrote a quick reply and sent it with the preening majestic eagle, as befitting the familiar of a Malfoy. He watched as the eagle soared out of the dungeon. "Harold Potter, what are you?"
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
A long nimble pale hand reached out and took the letter from the eagle. The owner of the hand opened the letter slowly but surely, showing his confidence in himself and also the manners of one raised in a prestigious and wealthy family.
Soon the orders from the Dark Lord were in bared in front of his eyes. A small smirk could be seen on his face. "He is indeed a wild card." Waving his wand, he whispered, "Incinerate!" followed by the banishment spell. Not a trace of the letter remained.
"Potter is a family of old….almost as old as ours. It would do us and them well if they return to the traditional way." Lucius stared at his heir, who was sitting in front of him, waiting patiently or what the not-so-observant people would think. However, to his practiced eyes coupled with his deep knowledge of his son, he could see the impatient light in Draco's eyes and the slight movements of adjusting his position on the stiff but elegant antique chair. Instead of carrying himself confidently, his rigid posture gave off his awkwardness in the presence of his demanding father.
"Make sure that you do not disappoint me this time. Befriend them and guide them back to their place in our world."
"Yes, Father. If that's all…" he gave a slight bow of respect as befitting the Head of his family.
Lucius only gave a curt nod in answer. He watched as his only son walked stiffly out of the room. Disappointment churned in his stomach; although he had tried his best to train and guide his future successor, apparently the passionate blood of the legendary Blacks was too potent in Draco. Even with the strict regime he had imposed on his only son, Draco still could not portray the perfect image of a Malfoy.
"Perhaps this task will teach him a thing or two," he whispered to himself, the faintest hint of hope in his voice.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
A short distance away from the magical castle, the Forbidden Forest stood on the edge of the school grounds. Looking at the forest a safe distance away, it seemed like any normal forest, its name undeserved.
However, if one knew of all the creatures dwelling in this forest, one would not think that any more. This forest definitely deserved its name – Forbidden Forest – prohibited for those with weak hearts or those who did not possess an ounce of defensive skills and also those who were not ready to be torn apart. Only the brave, the strong and the suicidal went in there.
At this moment on this eventful night, a group of half-horse-half-mans was gathered in the clearings of their territory. They were all staring up at the twinkling stars in the sky. Even the ever alert warriors of the centaurs had forgotten their duties.
The infants of the group did not understand what had captured the adults and the elders' full attention that even their normal mischievous antics failed to capture their attention. However, even their juvenile minds understood that something significant had occurred or would occur. Thus they remained silent after a short while.
One of the more inquisitive of the baby centaur trot towards one of the adults. In a small curious voice, she asked, "What is that brightest star? I have never seen it before." She pointed with her chubby finger towards the sky.
Indeed, there was a star that was shining exceptionally brighter than the rest. At a second more careful look, it wasn't only a star. It was actually two stars that had overlapped with the others and thus shining more brightly.
The adult centaur looked down at the younger one distractedly. "They are the Twin Stars," he whispered, as if afraid he would be heard by some unseen voice if he spoke louder than that.
The youngling was obviously not satisfied. "What's a Twin Stars? I've never heard of it."
"Hush!" One of the nearby elders ordered. Immediately the spell was broken. All the centaurs gathered around the elder.
"The Twin Stars have once again emerged and shining more brightly than ever before. We will wait and observe which direction they took as our ancestors had done before us, as we had done 16 years ago." With that, the group disbanded and each proceeded with their duties.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
All over the world, the magical creatures, dark and light stirred from their normal pace. Their blood sung in anticipation. Though they did not know the arts of Stargazing nor did they have the Gift of Foresight, they knew something big was about to happen, something that would shake the foundation of the magical world.
A/N: Now review! What do you think of the hint of the plot I wrote in this chapter?
