I am absolutely blown away by the response my last chapter generated, I had 76 reviews that's almost double of the previous highest number, I'm really sorry I didn't replt to them all but I've been in Wales (and where grandparents exist- internet dows not) , I would like to thank you all now though:
Way Walker,
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and
bluezy261175 Thank you now I'm smiling x
Chapter Thirty Two
'Rhoan,' Anton whispered, he was frozen in place unsure of what was happening.
When the silvery haired person fell to their knees it was like a spell had been broken, emotions crashed through Anton, uncertainty, hope, fear, anger, pain, joy.
He ran to the person bearing the face of his oldest friend and confidant.
'Anton, it's been a while,' he said his voice weak as he looked up to Anton's face.
'Is it really you Rhoan?' Anton asked scarcely able to believe it.
'Found Dad hanging in a tree in the back garden after Death Eaters attacked, and Mum killed her self under the imperious.' Rhoan replied his tone bitter.
'You were dead,' Anton said with all the calmness of one discussing the weather, 'I ran in to that clearing and you were dead, I buried you in a fucking hole.'
'To be honest it's all a bit fuzzy,' Rhoan replied attempting a faint smile 'but I'm sure I can fill in some of the blanks once my heads stopped spinning and I've stopped seeing double.'
Anton was about to ask another question but before he opened his mouth a small shape flew past him and into the arms of his adoptive brother.
'Rho Rho!' Teddy yelled burying his face on Rhoan's shoulder 'A'ton said you were with the angels but I knew you'd come back!'
'Well I had to prove Anton wrong,' Rhoan said trying at humour tears filled the young mans eyes and he whispered 'I'm just so glad to find your back as well.'
He looked exhausted, his face was thin and pale in much the same way Anton expected he had looked when he had first arrived, Anton also took in the listening students and staff and realised any other questions would be best asked in private.
Rhoan hugged Teddy back but he sent Anton a look that conveyed just how little time Rhoan felt he had before he either passed out or threw up.
Anton rushed forwards and gently loosened Teddy's grip from his adopted godfather, Teddy wasn't exactly willing to let go but Professor McGonagall soon rushed to his aid and took the five year old a distance away.
Anton grabbed Rhoan's shoulder as he swayed to one side, Rhoan smirked slightly and said quietly.
'Now you're not the only one who can survive the killing curse.'
And with that his eyes rolled up and he slumped limply against Anton.
--
The Hospital Wing was quiet, it was now late into the night and after the students had been reassured by Dumbledore that they were safe they had been sent to their common rooms with the promise that dessert would be sent up.
Rhoan was lying unconscious in the dimly lit room, he was very pale with his silver hair accentuating this fact, he was as lean as ever with his face still showing the tiredness that had featured on it heavily during the war, his hair was as long as Anton's had been when he had arrived and he secretly suspected it had been just as straggly. His sword was propped up against a wall much to the Nurse's consternation who didn't believe it should be in her Hospital Wing.
Anton shifted uncomfortably on the chair positioned next to his fellow elementals bed, Teddy was fast asleep curled up on his lap with his head resting against Anton's chest and his cuddly wolf clasped loosely in his limp hand. Anton desperately wanted to move but he was worried he'd wake the sleeping child so he settled instead for stretching his legs out trying to rid himself of the stiffness that had settled in them.
The noise of the doors opening had him twisting his head round to see who had entered, Sirius hurried across the ward, the smart suit told Anton he'd probably been out at dinner with Mylee.
'How is he?' Sirius asked concerned, his eyes were fixed on Rhoan as if he couldn't quite believe it.
'Madam Pomfrey said he's fine physically but he's exhausted and his magical core is drained.' Anton shot the older man a tired smile 'you didn't need to cancel your date Sirius.'
'Mylee completely understands,' Sirius replied smiling 'and anyway we don't need valentines to go on a hot date.'
Their voices woke Teddy and he stirred sleepily, he blinked up at his great godfather and smiled.
'Look Pa'foot, Rho Rho came home.'
'Yes he did,' Sirius said ruffling the small boys head 'yes he did.'
'Did Dumbledore call you?'
Sirius nodded 'he's talking to the Ministry right now, Fudge is under the impression dark wizards have found a way to break into Hogwarts.'
'I assume we have Umbridge to thank for that sound notion.' Anton scowled.
'I would say your assumption is correct,' Sirius answered, he looked at Teddy again 'do you want me to take Teddy?'
'Thanks but I think I'll keep him here for the time being,' yawned Anton 'hopefully he'll wake up soon anyway.'
'If he's anything like you I won't hold my breath.'
--
It was well into the early hours of the next morning that Rhoan made even the slightest of movements, Anton was alone in the Hospital Wing, Sirius had gotten hungry sitting still and Teddy certainly hadn't complained at the prospect of food.
Rhoan's eyes flickered blearily open and Anton jumped up from his chair instantly to be at his side.
'Rhoan, how're feeling?'
'How the hell do you think I'm feeling,' was the groaned reply.
Anton couldn't help the grin of happiness that spread across his face.
'I can't tell you how glad I am to see you again,' Anton laughed 'when she came out with that prophesy I thought at first I'd gone mad.'
Rhoan managed a weak laugh 'I wouldn't trust anything she comes out with, load of rubbish, I've still got the memory of my OWL divination stuck in my head.'
Anton laughed again before sobering and asking quietly 'Rhoan what happened?'
Rhoan's eyes closed and for a moment Anton thought he'd gone back to sleep but then he spoke,
'I was in Limbo.'
'Limbo?'
'Halfway house, midpoint, indeterminate state,' Rhoan elaborated 'must have been anyway, I knew I'd died, I knew that much, then I was in this white room for an absolute age, and then I met Fate.'
'Bet that was fun.'
Rhoan snorted 'Fate explained what was going on and that they were sending me back, didn't give me any reasons just booted me into the past.'
'Aww they must like me more,' Anton smirked 'they spent a good five sentences informing me that they were unhappy with how things had turned out.'
'They told me Teddy was still alive and I couldn't believe it,' Rhoan whispered 'we spent an entire year thinking he was dead, we didn't even look for him.'
'I said those very words,' Anton said softly 'but what's past is past, and with how things turned out near the end he was probably safer in the hands of the enemy than with us.'
Rhoan slowly lifted himself onto his elbows and fixed Anton with a very familiar stare.
'That Anton, was a stupid thing to say.'
'Got some truth to it though,' Anton pointed out 'we all ended up dead or in my case very close to dead, if Fate hadn't intervened I would have been. While he was Ofelia he was mainly out of danger.'
'All hail her,' Rhoan growled rubbing one of his eyes 'you do know we really have to stop her.'
'Did Fate give any hints on what she was up to at the moment?'
'Nope, Fate barely told me anything, just I was being sent into the past and you guys would be here.'
Anton pulled a face 'brilliant, I was hoping Fate would have provided attack plans, but that would be too easy.'
The noise of the opening doors came again and Rhoan who had a direct view went slightly paler.
'Professor Dumbledore.'
'It is a pleasure to meet you, far more grown up I must add than your counterpart who I saw less than five minutes ago.' Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
'Er…'
Rhoan's face was a mix of emotions as if he didn't quite know what to make of there being two of him.
'It'll be easier if you just pretend he's just another person,' Anton said smiling.
'I have sorted out your appearance with the Ministry,' Dumbledore informed Rhoan 'your arrival was quite spectacular, but I'm sure my explanation will provide us some time to work on a firmer cover story.'
'Cover story?' Rhoan still seemed to be in a state of shock.
'Oh they're all the rage,' Anton joked 'we've all got them, us people from the future.'
'There were concerns raised that you were a dark wizard but I believe we've got those under wraps, Madam Umbridge was adamant that you were but as you made no attempt to attack student they had no proof.'
'I'm assuming the fact he's been introduced as my brother wouldn't help matters.' Anton said dryly.
Dumbledore looked grave 'that was another concern raised, Cornelius already is of the view you are no good and Rhoan here is sadly marked with the same brush.'
'Now that's just great,' Rhoan muttered 'having people have an opinion about me when I've only been here five minutes.'
'You can act as aggrieved as you want,' Anton told his brother 'but we both know you love the attention.'
'Ouch, that hurt,' Rhoan snorted but he made no attempt to deny it.
--
Her eyes blazed blue with fury, her normally controlled temper burst through, she was livid. Unleashing her anger she let out a blast of icy water directed at the wall in front of her, it smashed against the stonework like a whip.
How dare he return, not when everything was working out so well.
--
'Silence!' commanded the member of Wizengamot 'there will be silence!'
The assembled witches and wizards reluctantly fell quiet from their conversations.
'We are here to formally discuss the implications of the arrival of one Rhoan Lukyen, and what his intentions are.'
'I say arrest him!' a young witch shrieked 'we must protect our society.'
'I second that!' a wizard joined his hair sticking out wildly.
'Silence!' Madam Bones ordered and instantly all sound was wiped out 'we have no proof of any guilt therefore an arrest would be illegal, we are not above the law.'
'But how can we be sure he's not a danger,' Fudge announced 'he did after all arrive right on the grounds of Hogwarts, what's to stop someone else doing the same at a later date.'
'Dumbledore told us himself that he had provided Rhoan Lukyen with the Portkey that brought him to Hogwarts,' an elderly witch said gravely 'and with his brother also employed as a teacher I don't think it would be wise to brand him as a dark wizard.'
'Yes yes,' Fudge said impatiently 'but there's also the matter of whatever the conversation was between the two brothers seconds after his arrival, Madam Umbridge informed me that she suspected it was suspicious in nature and that Anton Lukyen seemed shocked to see his brother.'
'Well as no one heard what was said we cannot possibly make guesses as to what was said,' Madam Bones cut him off.
'There's also the matter of the prophesy this Professor Trelawney made,' a balding wizard snapped gruffly 'she's related to the great seer Cassandra is she not, her prophesy did state he was coming to help fight the darkness.'
'Nonsense!' Fudge erupted heatedly 'she could have been either making it up or it relates to another group of people entirely!'
'He did arrive with a lot of wind though,' pointed out another witch.
'According to the reports on her teaching,' Fudge boomed trying to drown out all the other speakers 'she has been labelled as incompetent, and has never once so far made a real prophesy to her class, she even predicts the death of one of her students each year, which so far has not happened. This man is a danger!'
Cries of agreement rose up but also among the shouts was disapproval.
'You have no proof to justify that claim Minister,' Madam Bones interjected 'and I would suggest you curb your accusations.'
Fudge scoffed angrily 'is direct proof really needed when our students may be in danger.'
'I repeat myself when I say, we are not above the law!' she retorted 'now if you want to organise a meeting with Rhoan Lukyen, that is something we can do.'
'Then organise a compulsory meeting!' came a cry from the higher seats 'in my belief we didn't push his brother hard enough when he first turned up.'
'Here here,' came a muffled agreement 'always was something funny 'bout the way he appeared.'
'Absolutely!' A stout witch roared 'appearing right outside the Ministry in the muggle sector fighting with a sword, reckless and dangerous, I bet the whole families rotten.'
More shouts of agreement came.
'Let us not forget that the man he was fighting was a Death Eater, who was responsible for the murders of James and Lily Potter,' an irritated wizard protested 'surely that accounts for something!'
'Bah,' the wizard next to him jeered 'the pair of them are probably just as dark.'
'There is no proof!' Madam Bones said her patience wearing thin as she was forced to repeat herself yet again 'and unless some is suddenly produced we are moving away from this strain of talk, Anton Lukyen was cleared by the Ministry of any wrong doing, and his brother so far has done nothing to warrant these allegations.'
'Still a meeting will be held,' Fudge said determinedly 'we can never be too careful of who we allow into the school.'
'Some would say that that decision is up to Professor Dumbledore,' Madam Bones said lightly 'after all he is the headmaster.'
'Dumbledore is an ageing relic,' Fudge spluttered 'and his history of choosing responsible wizards is hardly reassuring.'
More shouts echoed in the chamber.
--
As the Wizengamot gathered at the Ministry the Order were assembled at the Headquarters, Anton had been unwilling to leave his brother but as he was fast asleep Madam Pomfrey said there was nothing to be gained by waiting around and she would call if anything arose.
The room in the basement was brimming with confusion, at the news Rhoan Lukyen had appeared by the lake many were recalling the fact they had saw him being murdered in Anton's memory.
'Albus what's going on?' Mr Weasley asked as the older man stood at the front.
Dumbledore felt a moment of confliction, he wasn't sure whether to tell them the truth as far as he could or choose to answer certain questions, he didn't know how it would conflict with Fates rules.
He was saved however by Anton speaking,
'I showed you the memory of my brother dying,' he said slowly 'I saw his body he was defiantly dead, that's why I went after Voldemort at that moment I didn't care whether I lived or died, when I asked Rhoan he didn't actually remember what happened.'
Dumbledore decide to quickly join in 'I believe that Rhoan Lukyen was killed that night but I don't believe he died.'
'Is there a difference?' Lupin said confused.
'Sybil made a prophesy about him,' Dumbledore said gravely 'much in the same way she made one regarding Harry, where as he lived through the attempt on his life, it is my belief that Rhoan was killed and then he came back to life. Something I did not believe was possible.'
Horror featured on many faces at the thought of what it would be like to be brought back from the dead.
'But how did it happen?' Moody demanded.
'That Alastor is something I do not know.'
'But this is good for us isn't it?' Tonks asked curiously 'I mean he is a light wizard?'
'He is undoubtedly light,' Dumbledore replied he turned to Anton 'however the question remains, will he fight for us?'
Anton didn't even have to think about the answer, 'he will fight until the very end, with everything he has, until either he's dead or they're stopped.'
--
She walked slowly towards the large doors, turning her head she checked around her making sure she was not being followed, the corridors were dark with only the slight glow of moonlight to distinguish the path to her destination.
It was extremely quiet, no teachers or prefects were present which she suspected had something to do with it being the early hours of the morning. Her feet were silent on the hard floors, the pictures lining the walls pursed their lips as she passed and shook their collective heads in disapproval. She ignored them.
The door she was aiming for came into view and she allowed herself a small smile, she came to a stop before the heavy door, leisurely she reached out and placed a hand on the smooth wood feeling the grain beneath her fingers.
She drew her hand back and placed it lightly on the handle of the door instead, slowly she pushed down on it and eased it open making sure that it made no sound.
She stepped into the dimly lit room and sought out her target.
There he was, lying still on a bed at the far end near to the office of the nurse.
She made her way towards him drawing her wand out as she went, the door of the office opened and the nurse appeared with a grim look on her face. The woman opened her mouth as she spotted the person who had entered the Hospital Wing.
'You can't be in here,' she said glaring at the trespasser 'so I…'
She never got a chance to finish what she was saying, she never had a chance to block the spell that went hurtling towards her.
She sprawled back not moving, her eyes were closed and her faced turned away from the door.
The intruder started walking again holding her wand to her side, he had not moved the entire time, his eyes were also closed, his complexion was pale.
She drew up next to his bed and tentatively reached out with her fingers, she stopped just before they came in contact with his face.
She frowned and drew her hand back disciplining her expression into a cold front.
As if he sensed she was there his eyes flashed open, he stared for a moment confused, unsure to what had woken him. Turning his head he spotted her and his confusion deepened.
'Can I help you with something?'
She nodded and undid the magic disguising her, the uncertainty was wiped from his face as a hard look settled on his face.
'Ofelia.'
That was a lot of reviews and I'd like to say thank you once again, sorry about another cliffhanger (grins sheepishly)
I'm off to Ireland in a few days so I'm not sure if I'll have been able to post another chapter between then, but I will try x