Arrival
It was an ordinary evening, as uneventful as they come. The sun dipped lower in the sky,
painting the horizon with hues of gold, pink, and crimson. A soft breeze rustled through the
trees, carrying with it the scent of salt from the nearby bay. Birds chirped less as nightfall
loomed, the world gradually settling into a tranquil lull. The scene was a masterpiece, a quiet
symphony of nature's artistry.
But peace seldom lasts.
Out of nowhere, a cascade of flashing lights exploded in the shadows. Blinding and erratic,
they sliced through the twilight, seeping out from an alley behind "The Little Book Shop" on
Scott Street in San Francisco. The calm was shattered by the pounding rhythm of footsteps,
erratic and frantic, echoing off the narrow walls of the alley.
Two young adults—close enough in appearance to be twins—ducked behind a rusted
dumpster. Their chests heaved as they fought to control their breathing, their movements swift
but calculated.
The girl turned to her companion, her eyes flickering unnaturally—brief flashes of silver
before returning to their natural hue. Her whisper was sharp and urgent, the kind that carried the
weight of someone accustomed to danger.
"Did we lose them?"
Her brother, golden eyes flaring to life like a hoard of ancient treasure uncovered, scanned
their surroundings. His voice was hushed but tinged with both exhaustion and determination.
"I'm not sure. Let me check."
He peered cautiously around the edge of the dumpster, the golden glow from his eyes faintly
illuminating the shadowed alley. As he did, a strange energy pulsed around him, wrapping his
frame in an ethereal glow. His body shimmered, and ornate, medieval-style golden armor began
to materialize, piece by piece, encasing him like a sentinel from a bygone era.
His gaze shifted back to the girl, and as if responding to his transformation, a silver aura
enveloped her as well. The energy coalesced into intricate, knightly armor, its craftsmanship so
exquisite it seemed almost otherworldly. The silver plating reflected the dim light from the alley,
making her appear both angelic and fearsome.
Her voice trembled slightly, though not from fear—adrenaline surged through her veins, and
her fingers twitched, ready for a fight.
"They're getting closer, aren't they?"
Her brother nodded grimly, the sound of distant footsteps drawing nearer. The lights grew
brighter, erratic, as if their pursuers were toying with them.
"Stay ready," he whispered.
His voice was calm now, resolute. "This isn't over."
With the sound of a low hum, energy began crackling around their armored forms. The
serene evening had become a battleground, and whatever pursued them was closing in fast.
Arrival
- Hermione Granger
The Granger household was as unassuming as any home on their quiet suburban street. Its
quaint brick facade, neatly trimmed hedges, and soft yellow light spilling from the windows gave
it an air of coziness that was deceivingly ordinary. Inside, Hermione sat at the kitchen table, a
teacup steaming in her hands as her parents read from their respective books nearby.
Her father occasionally chuckled at a passage, while her mother adjusted her reading
glasses, immersed in her novel. Hermione, however, wasn't reading. Her eyes flitted to the
window, her posture stiff, her mind far from the peaceful domestic scene.
Since returning home, life had felt...off. The world of magic was behind her, but never far
enough. Her parents had resumed their dental practice, unaware of the shadowy figures she
had spotted lingering at the edges of her vision for days now. They didn't remember the trauma
Voldemort had inflicted upon their family—thanks to Hermione's memory charm—and she
intended to keep it that way.
Her wand rested on the table beside her teacup, a silent reminder of her vigilance.
A sudden knock at the door jolted Hermione from her thoughts. Her parents exchanged a
glance, neither of them expecting visitors this late. Hermione's heart sank, and her fingers
instinctively closed around her wand.
"I'll get it," her father said, rising from his chair.
"No," Hermione interjected, her voice sharper than she intended. "Let me."
Her parents looked puzzled but didn't argue. Hermione moved toward the door, her steps
careful and silent. She could feel it—magic, faint but familiar, just beyond the threshold. She
reached for the doorknob, wand at the ready, and opened it just a crack.
The street beyond was empty.
She frowned, her grip tightening. Closing the door, she turned back toward the living room
when a sharp sound—like glass shattering—rang out from the kitchen.
The lights flickered as the temperature in the room plummeted. Hermione's mother screamed
as a dark figure materialized in the kitchen, cloaked and hooded, with glowing red eyes that
pierced the dim light.
"Get behind me!" Hermione shouted, positioning herself between her parents and the intruder.
The figure raised a wand, muttering a curse. Hermione reacted instantly, casting Protego. A
shimmering barrier erupted between them, deflecting the spell, which ricocheted into the wall,
leaving a scorched mark.
"You shouldn't have come back, Mudblood," the figure hissed, their voice dripping with malice.
More figures appeared, emerging from the shadows like wraiths. Hermione counted three in
total, each cloaked and armed with wands. She recognized them—former Death Eaters, ones
who had evaded capture after the war.
"I don't know what you think you'll accomplish," Hermione said, her voice steady despite the
fear coursing through her.
"But you won't touch them."
One of the Death Eaters laughed, a cruel sound. "It's not about them, Granger. It's about
you. We've been watching, waiting for the right moment. You've become complacent."
The first curse came fast—a streak of green light aimed directly at Hermione. She dodged,
her wand flicking upward to cast Expelliarmus. The Death Eater's wand flew from their hand, but
the others closed in.
Hermione cast Protego Maxima, a dome of light shielding her parents as the Death Eaters
bombarded her with hexes.
"Stay inside the circle!" she shouted, her parents clutching each other in terrified silence.
She retaliated with precision, casting Stupefy and Petrificus Totalus, immobilizing one
attacker. Another lunged forward, aiming a curse at her parents, but Hermione blocked it with a
quick Finite Incantatem, the spell fizzling out midair.
The battle was chaotic, spells flying in all directions, illuminating the room with bursts of light.
The furniture was destroyed, and the walls were scorched, but Hermione held her ground.
One of the Death Eaters, more skilled than the others, summoned a whip-like spell that
lashed against Hermione's shield, cracking it. She stumbled, the strain of holding the barrier
beginning to show.
"You can't keep this up forever," the leader taunted, advancing on her.
Hermione gritted her teeth, her mind racing. Then, she felt it—a surge of magic, different
from her own. It was ancient and powerful, awakening something dormant within her.
Without thinking, she raised her wand and shouted, "Expulso!"
The force of the explosion was immense, sending the Death Eaters flying backward. The
leader crashed into the wall, their wand clattering to the floor. The others lay unconscious,
groaning in pain.
As the dust settled, Hermione stood in the wreckage of her home, her chest heaving. Her
parents looked at her with a mix of fear and awe, but she had no time to explain.
Before she could say a word, a ripple of energy coursed through the room, and the air grew
thick with an otherworldly hum. Hermione's wand trembled in her hand as a blinding light
enveloped her.
The last thing she saw was her parents' faces, frozen in shock, as the world around her
dissolved.
When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in her home. The cobbled streets of
Waterdeep stretched before her, bustling with unfamiliar sights and sounds. She stumbled
forward, her mind reeling, until a sudden realization struck her.
