Harry Potter and the Mage's Guild
Chapter 2
Interludes
Interlude 1: Hogwarts
Professor McGonagall, with a fond smile watched as the charmed quill address the letters to the potential incoming first year students. In all her many years of teaching, this was one of her most treasured duties. In addition to the potential incoming first year students, the quill was also scribing the letters to the returning students as well as their supply lists.
There were no real surprises as the letters were written and sent by class year to the students via the many school owls. Another feature of this particular room, which contained the charmed address quill and the book of births (which worked in conjunction with the quill), the room also held other letters. These letters were to students who had declined to go to Hogwarts (for many reasons) and letters for potential students who no longer lived in Magical Britain and not subject to the mandatory attendance laws. These specific letters remained 'active' until the student reached the age of magical majority in Britain, which was 17.
But just at the last batch of letters for the incoming 5th year students were about to be sent, specifically Harry Potter's letter, another letter 'glowed' for a moment and then 'joined' with Harry Potter's letter. A gasp of surprise escaped Professor McGonagall's lips as she took note of the name on this letter – Deanna Sebastian. The one student whose parents had quite emphatically denied the letter when it had been sent originally and the one student, besides Potter who the headmaster was desperate to have attend his school.
"I must inform Albus about this immediately" McGonagall stated aloud in the room.
What the professor failed to notice in her haste to inform the headmaster, was that the letter was not attached to a different owl, but specifically the one that held Potter's letter. Once that letter was safely on its way to southern England, the professor changed into her Animagus form and quickly left the room, heading thru the exceedingly long, stone-crafted hallways of Hogwarts and headed to the headmaster's office.
Interlude: Gringotts's Bank – England
The goblins of Gringotts, for centuries, had prided themselves on keeping on top of any changes in the magical communities across the world. And the last few years had seen quite a few changes, some good, some bad, and some which they would not know the effects good or bad for several years to come. The Goblins had branches in every country on the planet but saw the most dramatic changes seemed to happen at Gringotts in New York and Gringotts London, which held a higher number of magical citizens than other areas of the planet.
In addition to keeping themselves 'on top' of events in the magical world, they deemed it vitally important to keep track of major events in the non-magical world and the mutant communities (as some mutant's abilities mimicked magic) and more importantly, the people involved in those events. Prophecies were another thing the non-magical world did have in common with the magical community and what affected one 'community' could affect the other one, so much so that their 'sages' deemed it a necessity.
The goblins were quite aware of the rise in the mutant community and that some unique individuals were both mutant and magical, which bore special watching and, if necessary, goblin intervention, as it was told by the goblin sages, that these select individuals held the weight of the world in their hands.
It was business as usual in Gringotts, there was a steady flow of witches and wizards entering and leave the marbled halls, conducting business, until an enormous rush of pure magical energy surged through the halls of Gringotts and then there was a flash of light that appeared directly over the Head Teller's desk. Once the flash faded away, there was a simple looking scroll that sat centered on the teller's desk.
Once the teller's eyes had readjusted back to normal, he looked carefully at the scroll sitting on his desk. At first inspection, the scroll was incredibly old, but in was also in perfect condition. What had truly caught the teller's eyes was the specific seal holding the scroll closed. It was an ancient seal, one which all goblins were taught to recognize, but had not been seen by the Goblins in well over 1500 years.
Grasping the scroll carefully, Head Teller Griphook closed the station and climbed down from his seat, pausing to stop at the senior floor teller's desk.
"Axegrind, you are to watch everything until I return."
Axegrind nodded, but asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Griphook, what is it? This is most unusual; you have not left your station before."
"This is most unusual, I know" Griphook agreed, then continued, his voice subdued and surprisingly reverent "I must bring this scroll to King Ragnok's attention immediately."
"What has happened? What is it?"
"Look at the seal, Axegrind. This scroll bears the seal of the Mage's Guild. The Mages have returned to Britain."
Interludes: Buckingham Palace – Queen Elizabeth's offices
Elizabeth sat her desk, sipping contentedly on a cup of her favorite tea as she methodically read and signed the large mountain of paperwork, that inevitably came with running a country as a true, functioning monarchy.
She was halfway thru the paperwork mountain, when there was a knock to on the doors and they opened unexpectedly, admitting the heads of her intelligence services (non-magical) MI-6 and the magical head of MI-13, the latter of which was holding a softly glowing letter in a gloved hand.
Knowing that both gentlemen did not like each other, Elizabeth immediately knew that it was something extremely important to bring both of them together, in the same room at the same time. She motioned for them to take the seats in front of her desk quickly and once they had seated themselves, she asked.
"So, gentlemen, what is so urgent that you both are here together at the same time?"
Both men looked at each other before MI 13 Director Killian replied.
"Your Majesty. We have just been made aware that there has been an incident in the states involving someone that you know well."
"This person has been a 'guest' of a certain radical branch of the quasi-legal, secret anti mutant government groups." M continued
Getting a bit frustrated at the lack of details from the two men, the heads of her non-magical and magical intelligence services, she snapped back.
"Who was it?"
"It appears that they had a Posse member."
"Which one did they have?"
"They had Spellshadow."
Elizabeth knew the name and the person very, very, well. Spellshadow was a key member of the superhero group known as the Posse and not only served as the primary team medic, but the 'magical' specialist and had personally saved Elizabeth's life several years ago when she had taken back full control of England. Elizabeth quickly put the pieces together and she now knew where Spellshadow had 'unofficially' disappeared to and exactly in who's company she had been kept.
"What happened M?"
"We still do not have all the details, but this is what we do know so far. All that the public knows is that Spellshadow was 'not with the group' due to recovering from some serious injuries. However, we have managed to piece together that as some point, perhaps a few months prior to her 'disappearance,' there had been some kind of huge internal fight, and she was abruptly booted from the group."
Upon seeing how upset the Queen was, Director Killian replied.
"Your majesty, this letter appeared on my desk a brief time ago. It is addressed to you specifically."
Taking a calming breath, Elizabeth took the offered letter. As soon as it was in her hands, the seal holding it closed, opened and several sheets of paper fell out onto her desk. Carefully unfolding the sheets, Elizabeth began to read what was written.
"Liz,
Circumstances have arisen which has necessitated this letter to you. To protect you as much as I can, I will NOT go into the details of my 'forced vacation,' but I will safely guess that you have already been made aware of some of them. I know the 'goon squad' is with you, so I will get to the point.
Simply put, I am calling in the favor you said you owe me. I am formally requesting sanctuary here in England. It should be easy, as I still maintain dual citizenship. My primary request is that you keep the goon squads away. That means, NO monitoring of any kind.
However, given their raging paranoia, I will stay connected with you through a single, select member of the intelligence services (There is only ONE person that I am talking about). Separate information on the contact's identity will show up once those two leave.
A word of warning. If I SEE, HEAR, FEEL, SMELL anyone else watching me, I will leave the remains (and it won't be much), in a very public place after doing things to them that would make my grandfather cringe, and you are only aware of a fraction of what he is truly capable of.
This is a threat (and yes, it is a blatant threat at that), which also applies to ANY SHIELD operatives, especially that one eyed bastard in the black leather duster.
Simply put, leave me alone and I will do the same. That is all I want, is to be left alone. If I wish to talk or visit, I will initiate it. Do the above and I call us even.
Spellshadow (retired)
A lone tear wound its way down Elizabeth's cheek as she finished the letter. The tear fell not just for the loss of such potential, it fell for the pain that she had endured to have to have come to such a decision and the loss of such a protector for all. Steeling her resolve, Elizabeth turned her attentions back on the two gentlemen sitting impatiently in the chairs in front of her.
"This is a direct order. One that is NOT to be countermanded by ANYONE. She is not to be approached or watched in any manner, by ANY of our intelligence services, is that ABSOLUTELY clear, gentlemen?"
Both men nodded in agreement upon seeing the serious expression on Elizabeth's face. It was obvious to them that Spellshadow was someone quite special and important to her.
"In addition, you are to keep Nicholas Fury and SHIELD out of my country, or I will let her have at you both. Do NOT try to find out the identity of her chosen contact, either."
"Yes, your Majesty. We clearly understand and will comply."
"Dismissed."
After both gentlemen left, Elizabeth's thoughts quickly turned to worrying about what was going to happen next. Not for her, but for England and the world.
Interlude: Hogwarts Headmaster's office
Albus Dumbledore sat contentedly in his comfortable throne-like chair behind his desk, idly going through the paperwork that came with the headmaster's position and the preparations for the start of a new school year.
He was quite pleased with how tumultuous the previous school year had been, given that Hogwarts had hosed the Triwizard Tournament and his 'pet project' had been entered against his will. Potter's 'forced' entry by the fake Moody, had alienated the young wizard from staff and majority of the student body, which served his purposes quite nicely. The only slight 'hiccup' in the whole plan was the death of a student, but even that served his purposes, as it had further driven a wedge between the staff, student body and Harry Potter. Diggory's death had been regrettable, but necessary for the Greater Good (specifically his).
His pawns had done quite the job of 'fanning' the flames last year and he was planning on how to utilize them for the upcoming year. He was about to enjoy a piece of his favorite lemon candy, when he felt the stairs rotate and then an urgent knock sounded at his door. Schooling his features, Albus called out.
"Enter."
The door to his office opened, allowing Professor McGonagall to enter, a happy expression on her normally serious face. Taking the offered seat, Minerva waited to be addressed.
"So, Minerva, what brings you to my office at this particular time of day? I thought you were maintaining a vigil over the address quill, watching the letters go out? "
"I bring good news, Albus. As you said, I was in the letters room, observing the owls and the address quill addressing the letters to the potential first years and returning students."
"Normally, that doesn't bring you here and in such a good mood."
"One of the legacy letters activated."
That bit of news drew Dumbledore's attention. The hold overs, the legacy letters and the declined letters were not very numerous as he had long since memorized all the names on the various letters.
"Which one activated? There are not very many letters of that nature."
"It was the letter for Deanna Sebastian. She is currently living in England."
Albus let out the breath that he was holding. It seemed as if his plan had finally worked. The impending arrival of the most sought-after student to his school was long overdue and finally she would be under 'his' guidance and 'molding.'
A smile grew on his face as a plan he had put into motion a couple of years ago was finally coming to fruition. Without letting on to Minerva, he replied
"That is incredibly good news. Did you see the address? Ms. Sebastian will need to be fully evaluated to see what areas she is behind in, along with what class year to place her in, and that includes a full exam by Poppy. Will you see to it?"
"I am sorry, I did not. Of course, Albus. As soon as I have a solid address, I will make the home visit, place the monitoring charms, and assess her skill level."
"I will leave you to it then. If you will excuse me?"
Minerva nodded and quickly left his office, leaving the headmaster to ponder this new turn of events.
"The two children of prophecy are going to be in my school at the same time. My plans are finally coming to fruition. I will finally have the power I need."