The path not taken
Hogwarts, a castle in the Scottish highlands. It is here that an event was currently being held. This being the most famous magical school within the boundaries of the UK. It was an institution with a long and glorious history. Many of the most famous witches and wizards ever to live have gone there. The fact that these were just the ones that the mundane population knew about and not the entirety of the most famous wizards meant that only a fraction was relatively well known.
The event being held was an old one. It had been created and designed to promote the advancement of the schools and their schooling by having a competition between the biggest schools in Europe and promoting international cooperation. The tri-wizard tournaments however began to cause more trouble than they solved as there were multiple times where champions of schools had been killed in the tasks set for them. This was only compounded by the fact that the champions were usually the best and brightest of their schools and thus the country they were from. The side effect meant that it was usually an heir to some prestigious family or another that had died.
After several hundred years of the tournament being banned, political expedience and other co-operating factors came together to create a new situation into which the tournament was revived. It had been a well intended move by most involved. There was however always another motive behind the act when it came to the British wizengamot as it was one of the most corrupt governments in the world.
Within the great hall of the castle, where all of the students ate their meals lay 5 long tables. One for each of the houses that made up the school's dorm system. A system that over the years had become tarred by the reputations of those that had passed through the school, and remolded the system into a ghost of its former self.
Now each of the houses had a predetermined reputation and each child was molded to the house rather than just being placed there to aid their studies. Familial prejudices and political alignment ended up choosing the house more than the child themselves. The only ones that got even close to a fair sorting was the mundane born students but even here they were influenced by those they met coming or the books they have read beforehand. The fact that the hat, an enchanted item from the founders, allowed the student the final choice on the matter of where they would go has been lost to time and rendered most of the system into meaningless tradition.
Within the hall with the students were representatives from the other schools. Beauxbatons academy of magic and drumstrang. Both prestigious schools focused more on different parts of magic. Drumstrang was more of a combat school whilst beauxbatons had more of an emphasis on enchantment. There were also the representatives of the ministry. All of those that had come to witness the event of the drawing of the champions.
Thus it was when a temporal distortion field was raised around the castle, It was noticed quickly by those with more attuned senses. This was quickly followed by white flashes of light, Each flash depositing a different person into the isolation field. The malfoys, Weasleys, potters and their associates. There were others as well such as department chiefs and the minister of magic. All of the new members either joined their children at the tables or were sat on one of the new tables that had appeared. Confusion however was a universal trait along with worry.
An event such as this, even in the world of magic took an incredible amount of effort and coordination to make happen. This does not even mention the power it would take to pull it off. Minister fudge was one of the first to speak, his secretary standing close by her beady eyes obviously trying to use the situation to her advantage.
"Albus what is going on here!?" demanded the minister, although some disliked it, the man was the most learned wizard in the country. So when he admitted that he did not know it was a scary thought.
What was confusing to some people however was that there was one table that had no one sitting at it. The table was clearly ready for people to be their but there was none. Just as some were starting to voice questions an oppressive aura filled the room. Suddenly standing before them was a man in a well-turned-out suit and neatly styled hair. He was tall and leanly built, this however was not what caught most of the room's attention, besides the females who were distracted by his otherworldly good looks, What did however was the aura of power and authority that dwarfed that of dumbledore. "Might i ask who you are my boy?" asked dumbledore in his patented grandfather voice.
It was a deliberate choice of his to use it as it cultivated an image that he could use to nudge people in a way he wished, For the good of the magical world of course. This time however it backfired. "Be careful who you call boy, you never know when you are dealing with something beyond you." echoed the voice from the man, confidence oozing from him.
"My name is kaos, i am the primordial that braught forth existence itself." this caused an involuntary flinch. It had once been common knowledge amongst the magical populations that beings such as the gods existed but when they had retreated from the wizarding world they had begun to fade in importance and the stories of the feats done by demigods were devolved into just being the work of powerful wizards. So to have one of them to return in such a fashion was terrifying.
"I am also the one who isolated this castle from the timestream. I have done this to show you a path that has not been taken. To show you how things could have gone if things were slightly different." he said, the words laying heavily on the room.
"The differences begin on the night of the attack on the potters," he explained getting a look of interest from those around him. "In this time line like all timelines the whole potter family had a chance in which they could all survive, It all however depended upon their free choice. Destiny is a neutral thing and gives all sides an equal shake. It might lay out the map of what should happen but it is down to the actors what route they take." explained the deity. The hall was in dead silence as they absorbed that nugget of information. A piece of information that horrified dumbledore. He had always assumed that the defeat of voldemort was practically assumed, True he would have to go through the motions and there was that one line that brought him to doubt every now and then but it was a done deal. Apparently not.
"In this timeline, the potters dug deep into the archives of their family and found a solution from the time of the family whilst they went under a different name. This solution, however, was impractical under almost any other situation however it was usable by them and thus the family survived. Barely." the explanation continued with the potter parents agreeing to what was said, shocking the others in the room at how close the famed family had come.
"In another one, the one which will be shown at this event the family had found another solution but was only able to make it work due to the unknown condition of their attacker. In other words, Lily and james potter died." the room gasped at the thought of such a thing happening as, despite their political alignment, the family was very well respected amongst the community for their work. The thought of them having died was a shock.
"Due to the irregularities of magic, i have imbued this tomb" at this he held up a thick leather-bound book that radiated energy. " with the record of what happened in that timeline. It will allow key moments to be displayed but it will mainly be restricted to make sure that the connection is stable and secure."
Everyone was staring at the book. It was a very powerful artifact. Thus when the deity placed down the book onto a table and vanished no one moved to touch it. It was a bad idea to touch such an obviously powerful item. It was not long before the first reader was chosen.
Albus did not know what to think of what was going on. His entire grounding had just been shaken and now they were told that they were going to observe another path. The explanation of where the alteration happened did explain things as it was like a ripple on a lake. This however did not cheer him up as he was still worried about what magic was used. There was a flash of white light and the book appeared in his hands.
Upon opening it he saw what appeared to be a page of context.
He coughed to get everyone's attention. " it would appear that we will be here for a whilst so i have notified the elves to prepare some snacks and drinks for us all." he said getting appreciative hums of approval at the action. He took a moment for them to settle down before continuing on.
"It appears that there is some context required before we begin." he said getting looks of confusion. Suddenly a flash of blue flame hovered above them and resolved itself into an image/screen.
"Gameindustri" he began in his all knowing grandfather voice. He was using it to calm the students and appear as if everything was perfectly normal. "A world full of magic and technology working in tandem." this got a gasp as it was known that magic could not work with technology, everyone said so, right?
"It is split into four dominant nations. Planeptune." at this an image of the city of Planeptune appeared to the awe of the people in the room. " a country of vast technological research, this power house of a nation has long been the most advanced nation in the world."
This got nods from the mundane born as it was like looking at a futuristic version of the biggest cities in the world.
"Lowee" Dumbledore continued as the image changed to show a rather disconcerting image of a snow-covered town with a large castle in the distance. "The most advanced country in the usage of magics, due to its terrain being harsh." he continued to explain.
"Lastation" again the image changed to a steampunk style of city. "This city is known for its industry and large economy." he continued to read. Truly he was shocked that such places even existed. True he had seen some of the wonders that had been built by the muggles but that does not mean he expected… this.
"Leanbox" again the image shifted to show one of the nations cities, he assumed it was the capital. "A land which is known for its great beauty and innovation now that pact has been signed by the leaders of the nations."
Looking at the next part he frowned, "CPU or console patron unit is the current title given to the leader of a nation. They along with the nation's' oracle' who acts as an advisor run the nations and maintain the safety and well-being of their people."
There was some mumbling at what was said. It seemed to be in understanding. However, as Albus looked around he could see the speculation and the greed in the eyes of the people in the room. The thought of entire nations in which magic could be used excited some. There were others, himself included who were nervous at the prospect and what it could mean for their way of life.
"Now that that is out the was, though i am sure that if required more context will be provided. Shall we begin?"
AN/ This is a reading story that I have initiated with the permission of its original author Kithrin.