The Heaven's Paramount
June 20, 1984,
West Berlin,
After his name was called, Hans meticulously adjusted the knot of his tie, ensuring its perfect alignment. With an air of composed confidence, he proceeded to open the door to the meeting room. The eyes of the men and women seated before him fell upon him in silence, their collective gaze eventually settling upon the figure positioned at the center of the table. Gracefully, Hans made his way towards the chair specifically arranged for him, taking his place.
After a long moment of silence, Hans asked, "Excuse me, sir, but should I ask for a lawyer?" inquired Hans, his gaze shifting from one unfamiliar face to another, unable to recognize any of the individuals scrutinizing him.
Curiously, the man adjusted his spectacles and inquired, "What would require the need for legal counsel?"
"Isn't this a disciplinary committee, sir?" Hans queried, seeking clarification.
In response, the man maintained a silent gaze before slowly shaking his head, remarking, "No, we are not the disciplinary committee. We belong to the special operations unit," as he turned a page in his documents.
Persisting in his confusion, Hans interjected, "Yet, I received a subpoena..."
Interrupting him, the man interjected, "In the annals of history, pivotal moments arise, wherein the crux lies not in one's immediate reaction, but rather in the extent of one's preparedness. Do you concur, Agent?"
"Yes, sir. However, I fail to comprehend what you require of me," Hans responded.
"Are you familiar with the name Gellert Grindelwald?" the man inquired.
"No, sir," Hans admitted.
"Nevertheless, he bears a share of responsibility for the demise of approximately fifty million individuals. Have you heard of Lord Voldemort?" the man probed once more.
This time, Hans resorted to deception, as Sirius had mentioned the nefarious wizard during their encounter at the house, replying, "No, sir."
"A decade ago, he was perilously close to igniting a similar conflagration. Do you perceive any commonalities between these situations?" the man posed.
"No, sir," Hans confessed.
"Forty years ago, we were ill-prepared, and four years ago, even more so. Can you fathom the repercussions of a potential recurrence?" the man questioned.
"No, sir," Hans admitted once again.
"The next individual need not resort to murder, kidnapping, or bombings to achieve his objectives. His tactics operate under the shroud of secrecy. Waiting idly would only ensure our realization comes too late. Once Grindelwald was vanquished, Lord Voldemort emerged. Voldemort has now been defeated, yet another malevolent force lurks in the shadows. Unfortunately, this particular throne never remains vacant for long, Agent. How much do you know about Sirius Black?"
June 21, 1984,
New York:
High above the bustling cityscape, within the opulent confines of New York's tallest skyscraper, Leonard Leupolz assumed a kneeling position in the lavish lounge. Before him, a quintet of influential figures held dominion over the world's affairs, their presence hidden from the oblivious gaze of non-magical folk. The privilege of even acknowledging the existence of this council was a rarity among the wizarding community, and securing an audience was an honor granted to only a select few.
As the weighty aura of magic enveloped the five men reclining upon the plush sofa and armchairs, Leonard Leupolz, despite his considerable power, found himself compelled to lower his gaze. His eyes fixated upon the polished wooden floor, he observed a bead of perspiration descending from his forehead, his breath labored and heavy. With an air of trepidation, awaited permission to deliver his report, conscious of the impressive presence before him.
Comprised of five eminent lords, whose appearance betrayed their five decades of familiarity with Leonard Leupolz since their clandestine revelation sixty years ago, the Last Order stood as the paramount governing body of the world. Though they seldom interceded in the deliberations of the International Confederation of Wizards or the United Nations, their influence permeated every significant decision. Veiled in secrecy, yet wielding unchallenged authority, they exerted absolute control over all global governmental entities and affiliated organizations, regardless of their affiliation with the Muggle or magical realms.
Throughout his six decades of service, the true origins of the order remained an enigma to Leupolz, who possessed only knowledge of their names. Among them stood Vajranas, a sightless figure whose presence leaned upon a cane, adorned with a silver bull's head. Seated upon the sofa, Yawata, with his shaven head and piercing gaze, exuded an air of severity, fixed upon Leupolz. The remaining trio, occupying their respective armchairs, were known as Lords Nekhbet, Azibo, and Maldrek, attentively scrutinizing Leupolz's.
"Leupolz," Lord Yawata announced with an air of authority, "the council is prepared to receive your report."
Addressing the council, Leupolz began in a composed tone, "Eminences, as anticipated, the protective wards encompassing the Archway have weakened, allowing us to finally approach it."
Curious to ascertain the details, Lord Yawata inquired, "Were you the first to arrive, or was it Black?"
Regrettably, Leupolz replied, "No, I'm afraid Black reached there before us," gasping as his chest pressed against the floor.
Intervening to restore order, Lord Vajranas interjected calmly, "Allow him to finish, brother," motioning dismissively toward Lord Nekhbet.
Lord Azibo chimed in, recollecting the past, "Wasn't it your responsibility to prevent such an occurrence? I recall that two hundred years ago, we permitted that school to be built in close proximity for that very purpose."
"We fulfilled our duty, my lord! For two centuries, we have diligently waited for the moment when the wards would inevitably weaken," Leupolz defended.
Exhibiting a sharp tone, Lord Yawata queried, "Our sources suggest that the wards began weakening months ago, coinciding with the disappearance of two of your students. Why did you not inform us?"
"The headmasters of the academy were solely entrusted with the task of confronting the abomination that Salazar Slytherin left behind and retrieving the stele," Lord Maldrek reminded.
Lord Nekhbet reproached, "Instead, you allowed the very person we sought to keep away to claim the stele."
Lord Maldrek added, "And the German Ministry of Magic has now gained complete control over the area."
Interrupting the discourse, Lord Vajranas interjected impatiently, "The stele! That is all that matters! Where is it?"
Struggling to breathe amidst the heavy atmosphere in the room, Leupolz hesitated, loosening his tie to alleviate the sensation of suffocation. "It..." he began, carefully choosing his words, "was destroyed. However, as part of the initial group of Aurors to arrive at the site, I had a brief moment to examine some fragments. I can confirm that the stone was absent. Slytherin intended it as a legacy... The Ministry must..."
Leupolz's voice trailed off as Lord Yawata and the council dean stood up, approaching him silently. Lord Yawata commanded, "Speak."
Leupolz continued, his voice trembling, "Destroyed... However, if the ministry possessed it.."
"… We would not have asked you, Leupolz. In any case, thank you for your dedicated service over the years. The council no longer requires your assistance."
With a snap of Lord Yawata's fingers, a searing pain engulfed Leupolz as his body erupted into flames, disintegrating into ashes upon the carpet. Lord Yawata returned to his seat, sighing deeply as he observed the remeaning ashes vanish.
Lord Maldrek pondered aloud, "We waited patiently for one thousand and five hundred years, only to serve it on a silver platter to the very person we sought to keep away... Is it fate?"
Expressing his disdain, Lord Nekhbet spat, "Such a waste of time!"
Disagreeing with his counterparts, Lord Yawata interjected, "I must respectfully disagree with both of you. We have confirmed that the stone was absent. Was that not the purpose of our vigilance over that place?"
Lord Vajranas interjected with a contemplative tone, "If Slytherin entrusted the stone to his descendants, it suggests that he was unaware of its true power. Otherwise, he would have undoubtedly wielded it himself."
"We have yet to locate the chamber of secrets," Lord Azibo stated, his tone laced with frustration. "It appears that he has concealed another stele within, a domain of his own creation for his successors..."
"The Basilisk would have surely alerted Riddle, preventing him from currently possessing rats," Lord Azibo continued, his voice filled with certainty.
"I find it rather surprising that Slytherin chose to entrust the stone to one of his daughters," Lord Azibo remarked, his tone tinged with curiosity. "It is quite uncommon for a man of his stature. However, considering that only the Gaunts survived until this century, and they all perished in wretched circumstances, we can infer that Riddle killed Morfin. Thus, if the stone were still in their possession, Riddle would undoubtedly have identified and utilized it. I would consider it lost," Lord Maldrek concluded, his voice holding a note of finality.
"Lost until found again... I would like to shift our focus to a more pressing matter," Lord Yawata interjected, redirecting the conversation.
"I presume you are referring to this," Lord Hebis responded, presenting a newspaper on which Sirius Black's face adorned the front page.
"After all, it was a member of the Black family who obstructed our plans the last time. We suffered significant losses and came perilously close to exposure because of him. We would have been compelled to obliterate all life on Earth had he succeeded," Lord Yawata expressed, his voice conveying a sense of urgency.
"He has been deceased for over ten centuries, and ever since, we have diligently expunged his name from history. We have closely monitored his lineage, and he perished at a mere seventeen years of age, leaving no progeny behind. So, even if Sirius Black is somehow related to him, the bloodline has become extinct," Lord Azibo clarified, his words carrying an air of certainty.
"Do you believe, then, that his presence there was purely coincidental?" Lord Maldrek inquired, rubbing his forearm thoughtfully.
"Yes, I do. I have meticulously observed House Black for centuries. While they have undoubtedly produced accomplished wizards throughout history, they remain oblivious, fixated solely on wealth and blood purity," Lord Azibo responded, his voice tinged with disdain.
"I have heard that this particular individual is different and displays certain resemblances to his ancestor," Lord Yawata interjected, expressing his concerns.
"I understand your apprehensions, but he was merely a reckless teenager, carefree and oblivious to the world. I once contemplated eliminating both James Potter and Sirius when they became close allies, during their reckless wanderings under the full moon. However, I swiftly realized they would never live up to our expectations of reforming the alliance. Besides, one of them is already deceased," Lord Azibo explained, his tone tinged with a mix of regret and dismissal.
"There is still a living Potter... Furthermore, we have identified him as one of the five individuals possessing exceptional potential, alongside Dumbledore and Riddle. As a precautionary measure, I propose that we eliminate Harry Potter immediately and then pursue Sirius Black," Lord Nekhbet declared.
"I concur," Lord Maldrek chimed in.
"Brothers, we have already deliberated on this matter. Dumbledore is advanced in years and poses no significant threat. Therefore, we shall allow the boy to grow and confront Riddle. Whichever emerges victorious shall be recruited by us, dispelling any lingering doubts," Lord Yawata interjected, asserting his stance.
"My visions have revealed that Sirius Black will escape from Azkaban in nine years' time, only to meet his demise shortly thereafter, without leaving any noteworthy impact on his godson. However, something has gone awry, and we find ourselves groping in the darkness. Moreover, Riddle acted rashly, and we all know how that night concluded. Thus, I implore this council not to repeat the same mistake," Lord Vajranas pleaded.
"We shall closely monitor Harry Potter's activities once he begins his studies at Hogwarts, carefully observing his progress. Until then, Privet Drive is off-limits," Lord Yawata announced, drawing a clear boundary.
"Very well... I shall recall my assassins," Lord Maldrek conceded with a nod.
"In any case... Much has unfolded with startling rapidity, and it is with great reluctance that we admit even we have been caught off guard," Lord Nekhbet lamented, waving the newspaper as he made his way towards the grand window, offering an unobstructed view of the bustling city. "It is an absolute fiasco!" Lord Nekhbet exclaimed, slamming the newspaper onto the floor in frustration.
End of Arc II
