This update took a while. I was winging it, but now I know where I'm going with this story lol I mean, I'm still an unexperienced writer doing it for fun, but I hope y'all are gonna enjoy it. This is now a Harry Potter x World of Darkness crossover, it's gonna be kinda dark, but not overly so. Reviews will make me update faster lol
Vivien was saying goodbye. She cradled her white rock, big silver eyes sweeping over her precious clearing, cold as ice. It was next to a deep and violent river, which tried to drag her down to its depths many a times. It was embraced by dense woods, which cloaked death that crawled and stalked, but it was the only home she'd ever had, the only place where she'd ever felt safe.
Having nothing else to pack, nothing she'd need, the young girl returned to the woman, who studied the clearing with suspicious eyes. With silent steps she got close, Minerva wouldn't have noticed her presence if it weren't for a soft clearing of throat.
Minerva sharply looked around, wise eyes meeting silvery ones. Vivien's eyes held a questions the witch almost felt compelled to answer, and she knew not why. Minerva cleared her throat to dispel the - to her - uncomfortable silence. "Miss Potter, I do have to ask. You survived through skills you shouldn't possess, and the structures built herein are far too complex for a child your age. Who aided you?"
Vivien pondered on her response, and decided honesty should suffice. Vivien knew the woman was magical, so she had nothing to hide. "I did it myself. magic."
Honesty seemed to have upset the woman, which confused the little girl. With a frustrated sigh the woman retorted. "As I said, impossible for a girl your age. Even through accidental magic, although I am not sure I should call what you can do that, you had no way of knowing it all. Children don't build sundials." She scolded.
The girl then lowered her head, raven black hair like rain covered pale, delicate features. She had learned it all, ancient knowledge was given to her through insight and introspection, but apparently this wasn't normal. Vivien wasn't normal, what a surprise.
"I have no reason to lie." She said unwavering, silver eyes held brown ones with cold intensity, and Minerva huffed, looking away.
The deputy headmistress would have scolded, deducted points, given her detention for the lack of respect were the little girl anyone else. It wasn't a conscious choice for Minerva, but against her own nature, she simple let bygones be bygones. "I have not the time for this. Have you gathered all you need?" She asked.
The little girl seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. "My parents are dead." She stated.
Minerva paused due to the unexpected deviation, then slowly nodded. "Yes." Was said solemnly. "Your parents were good people, died protecting our world, sacrificed their lives for you."
Minerva observed the girl's reaction, her beautiful eyes gazed upward, the curious silver strands shimmered in contrast; her scar at last visible.
Minerva knelt down, grabbing Vivien's cold hands. "They weren't the ones who abandoned you, they loved you so deeply. We left you with your relatives, as it was the safest option for you. Not the correct option, as we came to realize."
Vivien appreciated the honesty, and her soft smile reflected that. Her parents died protecting her, died protecting their world. What did she mean by that? She had no time to ask more questions, as Minerva took control of the conversation.
Looking around she sighed, frustration now faint, but still just under the surface. "I don't believe you did this all yourself, but we shouldn't be here any longer. Shall we go somewhere safe?" She waited for a nod, and then warned the girl to hold tight, and in a blur of limbs they disappeared.
The next thing Vivien knew everything went black; she was pressed very hard from all directions; she could not breathe, there were iron bands tightening around her chest; her eyeballs were being forced back into her head; her eardrums were being pushed deeper into her skull, and then— her fingers clutched at dark robes when the sensation of what could be described to squeezing through a tube subsided, a firm hand kept her up, and her mind slowly cleared itself from it's foggy state.
"are you alright? The sensation does take some getting used to." Minerva asked gently; She only nodded, her legs felt like straw. She shook away the cobwebs from her mind, and what she saw then was a sight that stole her breath away. Hogwarts Castle stood majestically on the edge of a black lake, its towers reaching for the sky like ancient sentinels.
The castle's stones wore a muted, ethereal glow under the moonlight, and the windows shimmered like distant stars. Vines clung to the walls, their dark tendrils adding an air of mystical enchantment to the centuries-old castle. Vivien could hardly believe that this hallowed place would be her sanctuary for the years to come.
The lake mirrored the night sky, a dark expanse that seemed to hold untold mysteries beneath its surface. A flotilla of small empty boats drifted serenely across the water, their silhouettes against the star-studded canvas. Beside the castle, a giant arena stood, and behind it Vivien could glimpse the vastness of a forest, beyond faint walls it crowned the horizon, and Vivien felt ecstatic. She wouldn't have to miss her forest that much, as she had a new one just within reach.
Vivien stood by the water's edge, a sense of enchantment washing over her. The small boat, barely visible in the moonlit ripples, awaited them. Professor McGonagall, her presence reassuring, stood by Vivien's side. With a kind smile, McGonagall motioned for Vivien to step into the boat. Vivien carefully settled onto the weathered wooden seat. The boat swayed as McGonagall joined her, her capable hands taking hold of the oars. With a deft push, they glided out onto the glistening surface of the lake, the moon's reflection dancing around them.
Vivien's eyes were drawn to the castle, its spires etched against the night sky. She felt a mixture of anticipation and wonder, knowing that her magical journey was about to commence. As they approached the castle, Professor McGonagall expertly steered the boat toward a small stone dock. The towering castle stood over them, its walls holding centuries of whispered secrets.
Once ashore, they made their way towards a waiting carriage, Suddenly, a small gasp escaped Vivien's lips, and McGonagall's gaze snapped to the girl. Vivien's eyes were wide, fixed on the Thestrals pulling the carriage, a mix of awe and horror etched across her face. - The deputy headmistress knew the carriages were drawn by the majestic winged horses with skeletal bodies. In silence horror McGonagall realized that this girl had seen and been through too much, and doubled her desire to make Hogwarts feel like home for this poor child.
Entering the carriage, Vivien couldn't help but notice the solemn expression that flitted across Professor McGonagall's face, and as she took a seat across from her, she had the desire to say something, ask questions, but words were tricky for the girl, and she simply gave up, letting silence fill the space between them.
As the carriage came to a gentle halt, Vivien stepped onto the cobbled courtyard, her gaze fixed on the towering oak doors. They seemed to stand guard, welcoming her into a world of magic and marvels.
The courtyard was hushed, the night air carrying a whisper of secrets only Hogwarts knew. She could almost picture the students, moving in soft clusters, their robes swathed in shadows similar to the woman's, their voices hushed but alive with quiet excitement. The courtyard seemed to hold its breath, the very stones seeming to pulse with an otherworldly energy.
Taking a steady breath, Vivien inhaled the scent of the surrounding forest, mingling with the earthy aroma of the castle. Her eyes traced the intricate details of the architecture, from the watchful gargoyles to the centuries-old carvings that adorned the entrance.
In this moonlit hour, Vivien knew she stood at the brink of an extraordinary adventure. Hogwarts, with its ancient walls and enigmatic history, was a place where magic and wonder held sway, and she was poised to inscribe her own chapter in its mystical tapestry.
They did not go through the towering doors, they silently walked through an archway into a long and thin corridor, lit by torches. Minerva used what seemed to be a wand to unlock the door, and as the locks clinked and clacked, it swung open. She followed the woman through a clack rock hallway, and up a flight of stairs. Soon enough they were in an office, it wasn't too big, but it was comfortable, with a heavy wooden desk, a chair fit for a woman like Minerva, and still nice albeit smaller ones to whoever unfortunate soul would sit across from her.
The middle aged woman stood in front of one of the many bookshelves, and pulled on one. Vivien's ears perked up as once again she heated the sound of hidden mechanisms, and the bookshelf gave way to another, much bigger room. Minerva turned around, a satisfied smile on her face. "Welcome." She simply put.
The little girl found herself sitting on an uncomfortable stool. She accepted a glass of water, glad she didn't have to boil it for safety anymore. The room was vast, the floor and walls were made out of black rock, but the decorations gave it life through color. She stood up and ran her fingers through the rows of books, and picked one at random. Long fingers then plucked it out from her, and with an amused smile the woman said: "I love how the first thing which got your attention were books, the thirst for knowledge and search for truth is a great virtue, but this shan't be the first magical book you'll read." Vivien watched with no low amount of exasperation as the book was returned to its place, and the older witch chuckled. "Now, now darling, remember your letter? You have a list of books to read, and tomorrow we will get them. Today you should get yourself cleaned up, eat and sleep. You have a whole new world to discover, and you will need all of your energies." And Vivien did just that.
After a warm shower in McGonagall's private quarters, she found a comfortable white gown and other clothes waiting for her at the bed, she smiled at the gesture, and decided she'd be nicer to the woman from now on. She did her best to sleep, but the sheets were a little too soft to the girl, she felt like the bed would slowly digest her through clouds of warmth. She gave up a while later, and decided to explore the sparse room. She knelt down near a cauldron, vials of different colors were neatly organized by color, unlabeled. She found herself once again in front of the books, but a noise outside got her attention. Through the window she located herself on the first floor, the ground floor under her. It was high, and through the dark night she saw the great wall, a big structure she saw before, similar to an arena she had seen once in a book crowned distant trees that stood in the darkness, and she knew exactly what to do. With little effort physical turned into mist, and outside, drifting towards freedom, she went onwards.
Vivien dropped her misty form when she reached the woods, past the walls. She felt when she broke a barrier, which she was sure stood for the school's protection. She didn't need protection, she thought to herself, not at night. She started running, laughter echoed through the trees as she went, things in Hogwarts wouldn't be that different, she assured herself.
This forest was different, she could feel it in the air, taste the bitterness of thick magic, static. Her sensitive ears picked up noises which sparked her paranoia. Vivien focused on the task at hand: explore her new territory and analyze its risk factor.
Between muffled steps she jumped, her mist form taking over mid air as she weaved through the trees unscathed, quickly turning to and fro her physical and misty form to easily cut through the dense trees. She approached a clearing, the magic there was full of light in a way she never experienced before; a herd of white horses were just about fleeing from it when she reached it; she considered following them, but decided against it. Vivien had found the perfect spot. Once she fled the orphanage she had developed a habit, every night she closed her eyes and, through carefully controlled breathing, she was able to elevate her mind towards something more, commune with her moon and gain insight.
The experience was often nothing more than a deep meditation, she felt calm and empty, the magic around her rushing through her mind like water. Yet sometimes, deep within, she'd receive visions, see with her mind's eye the knowledge of the ancients. She had seen people from different cultures, different places, the knowledge of survival was branded into her mind through the process, and she knew that soon she'd learn more, and she couldn't wait.
Beneath the ancient canopy, Vivien sat in silent meditation. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting a silver glow around her. As her breath steadied, a shiver ran down her spine, and the world seemed to blur.
She saw shadows shifting, dark figures moving through tangled underbrush. Moonlit eyes gleamed in the distance, glinting with a feral intensity. An eerie howl echoed through the trees, carrying a haunting melody on the night breeze. Shapes twisted and merged, revealing glimpses of otherworldly landscapes. Vivien felt the presence of ancient forces, their power surging through her, a symphony of cosmic energies.
In the depths of her meditation, Vivien's consciousness drifted, unmoored from reality. In disjointed fragments, she saw pale figures gliding through shadowed halls, their movements graceful yet unnaturally swift. A flash of gleaming, predatory eyes bore into her soul, hunger and ancient wisdom gleaming within.
Rooms adorned in opulence and draped in velvety darkness flickered before her, adorned with ornate candelabras and rich tapestries. Vivien sensed an air of decadence and power, a world veiled in secrets and veiled desires.
A fleeting sensation of cool breath brushed against her skin, sending a shiver through her spine. The last thing terrified silver eyes saw before opening wide, was a whirl of fragmented visions, Vivien found herself in a kaleidoscope of possibilities. She stood at the center, a point of light within the dark.
Flashes of moments sped by. She saw men and women, their movements precise and lethal, shadows followed each strike.
Massive humanoid creatures surged forward, their forms shifting and morphing with primal might. They roared, a symphony of thunderous defiance. An ancient pact spoke of fates.
more people, clad in robes of power, cast spells that crackled and illuminated the darkness. Their incantations wove arcane energies, intertwining with her magic. They looked at her, and it all came crashing down.
After the torrent of visions receded, Vivien found herself crumpled on the cold ground, her small form nestled amidst the grass of the clearing. The night air carried a chill that seeped through her clothes. She lay there, limbs splayed, eyes fixed on the star-dappled sky above.
Her breathing was labored, chest rising and falling with the effort of it all. Strands of dark hair clung to her damp forehead, a testament to the intensity of the experience. Her skin, normally pale, seemed almost translucent in the silvery moonlight.
There, she felt so small under the immense weight she bore. Her eyes, once gleaming with determination, now held a distant, contemplative gaze. They flickered with the remnants of the visions, still dancing at the edges of her consciousness.
The clearing around her exuded a quiet stillness, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves and the occasional distant call of a nocturnal creature. The earth beneath her felt cool and grounding, a reminder of the tangible world amidst the ethereal visions.
As Vivien lay there, recovering from the onslaught of revelations, she also felt a newfound sense of purpose, a steeling of her resolve to face whatever she'd find ahead as confusing as it all seemed. In that quiet clearing, under the watchful gaze of the moon, she began to gather the strength to shape her own destiny.
Next chapter shouldn't take long ;)