Chapter One: Lockhart or Dumbledore?

Hermione was still observing the strange visitor as he began to walk towards her. He was… what he was… it was… impossible, right?

(Flashback)

Hermione was sitting in the library at Hogwarts, reading a book she managed to snatch from the restricted section, trying to find a clue towards Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. She had no luck, however. The book in front of her, Ancient Societies of Old, was full of information of old wizarding lands, such as Greece, but the Horcruxes were not mentioned. It only mentioned Herpo the Foul as the creator of the Basilisk, nothing else. The following page, however, told a story of an Atlantean myth. It was already a myth at the time of the Atlantis, and one native to it. It read that the first Atlanteans, at the time they first learnt about magic and civilization, built their capital city around an ancient and beautiful fortress, overlooked by a topless tower by the sea. They referred to the rulers of those two mythical places as "The Ancient Ones". The book also had pictures, strangely of muggle, non-moving type, in it. The fortress's ruler was a woman in white and silver dress with long brown hair and a golden staff and blue eyes, though the note under it said they actually changed color. The ruler of the tower was dressed in white, with a tower symbol on the cloak. The book said that he hadn't been seen ever since the Fall of Atlantis, and even then he was a rare sight. It also said that many Atlanteans believed him to be immortal… does that mean that he too had Horcruxes, ones that nobody ever found?

(End Flashback)

She was suddenly afraid that her paths crossed with those of yet another Dark Wizard, this time one who had the skill to survive for who knows how many millennia. But then again, she did not want to believe that. For it would mean an end to her quest, to her friends, perhaps even an end to wizarding Britain. Two Dark Lords at the same time…perhaps they would turn on one another? But then she had no more time to think, for the apparently immortal Atlantean reached her, an amused smile on his lips. He bowed slightly, obviously expecting her to return the gesture, which she did after a second. He did not seem hostile to her, so far. And then he spoke, in a slow and deep voice, with perfect accent, and yet it could be felt that he was unused to English. "Ah, miss Hermione Granger. I was expecting that you would find my Gate, sooner or later from the moment you were born. I came through to greet you. You impressed me, you know? For several thousand years the Gate stood, and nobody ever managed to come this close to finding its location," he said. Then he added, in a lower voice, as if to himself: "But with the Lady's impending return, perhaps it was inevitable for someone to find the gate." He then looked into the distance, as if lost in thoughts. She too, was lost. He certainly gave a speech worthy of Voldemort, by length, but he seemed so calm, so studious and serious that he once again reminded her of Dumbledore.

"Who are you?" she asked, unable to help herself. If the man was expecting the obvious question, he surely did not show it, for he remained silent for good thirty seconds, just looking her in the eyes, as if he was trying to decide what to tell her. Then he turned around in one swift move, waving his hand towards the trees, who were transfigured into minstrels.

"You stand in the presence", the first tree-minstrel began.

"Of Lord Anduin Torrens", the second one continued.

"First of The Watchers", the third added.

"And the Lord of Twilight", they finished in unison, once again becoming trees.

No, he was no Dumbledore, was her initial mental reaction. He more resembled Lockhart, with that sense of dramatics. But Lockhart would never be capable of such a complex Transfiguration. And this "Lord Anduin" did it both non-verbal and wandless! Who was he? Turning back to her, he saw the baffled expression on her face and smiled once again. "Does that answer your question, young one," he asked.

"Yes, thank you," she replied, not knowing what else to say. If she was not so dumbstruck she would think that Ron would find it so hilarious that someone managed to leave her speechless. But alas, Ron was not here, and Harry was still asleep. She would have to find a way out of this one on her own, she thought.

The Atlantean seemed pleased by her answer. What he said next left her even more confused. "I am more than willing to prove myself to you, young one. I know you had bad experience in the past, both with those who just talk and do nothing and those who just act, never revealing the reasons that led to their actions. I, for one, always explain my actions, even though some of my fellow Watchers disagree, especially the one that you already had the chance to meet in person."

"And who would that be," she asked, wondering if this was all a ruse.

"Alas, my dear, you will find that out in a few hours. But first, let me make you a demonstration of my abilities, rusty as they are, so you no longer think me a fraud. Impervio!"

"Now, miss Granger, you shall use anything you know to break the shield around me, while I sit here and meditate. You can also bring young Harry with you, if you want his help. Now, let's get to business. You have one hour." With that, he sat down on the ground, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. Then he whispered "You're allowed to use the unforgivables, should you decide so."

She made no attempt to break the shield instantly, instead thinking of all he said. But she could find nothing to hold on to in his words, and he promised an explanation, so she decided to try and break his shield.

"Bombarda! Stupefy! Incendio! Bombarda Maxima!"

Nothing seemed to work.

You're allowed to use the Unforgivables... his final words before the test came to her mind. Did that mean that his strange shield was impervious to the Killing Curse? Or that he himself was immune to it? Both would be a sure way to show his power, for both were impossible. But then, that word often came to mind when describing this Lord Anduin.

But she could not, would not, resort to Unforgivable curses. She simply didn't have it in her, the hatred and attitude that were needed to use those three darkest spells, not on someone she had just met, even if she was close to accusing him of being a Dark Wizard.

"Aarrgh!" she growled. She would need Harry to help her with this. Leaving a small tracking charm on the leaves around the Atlantean, she went to wake up her friend.

(Lord Anduin)

Feeling that his young acquaintance has left, Lord Anduin stretched his legs. Her spells did no damage to his shield, and he knew that they wouldn't. In this day and age, they have forgotten true power. That was the reason he chose to come through the Gate in person for the first time in 12.000 years. For his plans to succeed, power had to be reintroduced to the wizarding world. The muggles… well, they too would be influenced, and in a positive way, by his plans, but only by their effect, not their realization. Yes… it will work. The shackles will be broken. He just needed to enlist one Hermione Granger, and her friends, into the ranks of the Legion. And that was exactly what he was going to do…once she gathered the rest of the Golden Trio.