Echoes of The Past
There were few documents left.
Many books had been lost in the extermination. Hermione had little to rely on, few sources to truly understand prophecies and visions. But despite the scarcity of information, she was certain of three things based on what little she had uncovered.
1. A prophecy was absolute, unlike an ordinary vision. It would happen regardless of the means;
2. Only Arcanes could receive prophetic visions. In other words, ordinary wizards with no connection to the Force could not;
3. The Arcane who had the vision was either the cause of the prophecy or its direct target;
Her thoughts were a mess. There was no reason, no possibility, for her to betray her allies. Her friends. Her family. She didn’t understand Harry’s vision — or why he had never shared it with her. Was it fear? Fear of her? Fear that she might actually turn against them? Against him.
She wanted to believe that wasn’t the case. That Harry hadn’t left all the answers behind or that he had gone away precisely to find them.
"You look like you haven't slept in days" Sirius' voice echoed as he made his presence known. She knew that he, like the others, just wanted answers. Wanted to understand
"It’s hard to sleep with all this" she replied with a small smile. Despite being a risk to the entire Resistance because of Harry’s vision, no one in the Order of the Phoenix was against her. There was a silent unease, but she knew she could trust them. And they knew that Hermione would do the impossible to protect them.
"Did you tell Ron?" the man asked, pulling up a chair and sitting down
Hermione didn’t know what to say other than no. She didn’t want to share this with Ronald. There were too many nuances in their relationship, too many reasons why she kept things from him, but she couldn’t put them into words. Maybe because she thought he wouldn’t understand. Or maybe it was something bigger. Or maybe she just didn’t love him the way she said she did. The way she told herself she did.
"He has enough on his mind" she answered "He gave up his seat in the Order of the Phoenix because he couldn't find peace. I can’t take that away from him"
"You need to talk to someone" Sirius countered "I know Harry was that person for you and I'm here if you need me. But you have to be willing"
"Thank you, Sirius, but there's no need to worry about me. Let’s focus on those who truly need it" she said again with a faint smile "I was thinking of going to Jheda. The temple is still standing and might have more records"
"Jheda isn’t that safe anymore" Sirius reminded her. Jheda was an unclaimed planet, most of its inhabitants weren’t Force users or even wizards. They just lived their lives, doing mundane things. Surviving each day.
"I won’t go alone" she said, trying to reassure the man who seemed anxious about her words. She didn’t want to worry anyone, but she needed to move forward.
Sirius sighed before speaking "Just be careful"
——
The trip to Jheda didn’t take long. The ship was fast, and Hermione was a good pilot. She had enough experience after the war to manage on her own. The Starflare was her favorite ship — small and agile, designed for higher speeds than most, which helped with stealth. And besides that, BB-8 was an excellent co-pilot.
"We shouldn't be much longer" she said, speaking to the droid. BB-8 beeped in response, its tone slightly curious. The orange and white sphere spun slightly, adjusting the controls to confirm the navigation calculations.
"I know, I know" Hermione sighed, her eyes fixed on the dashboard "Jheda isn’t the safest destination. But we have no choice"
BB-8 emitted a sequence of worried sounds
"Of course I'm nervous" she pressed her lips together, manually adjusting the stabilizers "The First Order could have spies anywhere. And now this" Hermione pointed to the holographic map flashing on the screen, marking the exact landing point "this prophecy, this Harry’s vision. None of it makes sense"
BB-8 whistled in a comforting tone.
"Thanks, but Harry is the strongest Arcane alive" she forced a tired smile, releasing the controls for a moment and leaning back in her seat.
BB-8 let out a disapproving sound, tilting its head slightly as if scolding her.
Hermione chuckled softly "Okay, okay, I'll stop being dramatic. Let’s just land and see what awaits us in Jheda"
BB-8 beeped enthusiastically, refocusing on the ship's systems. The screen flashed, signaling their approach. Outside, the hyperspace vortex began to dissolve, revealing the vast expanse of Jheda below
The Starflare glided smoothly through Jheda’s atmosphere, its hull cutting through the planet's dry air currents. The ship slowed as it neared the designated landing platform — a discreet space, away from the city's busiest areas. The golden hues of the setting sun cast long shadows over the ancient structures rising from the sand.
With a gentle jolt, the ship touched down. The engines hummed softly before shutting down completely. Inside the cockpit, Hermione took a deep breath
She pulled her hood over her head, concealing most of her face. The fabric draped around her, shielding her not just from the curious eyes of Jheda’s inhabitants but also from the fine dust swirling in the air. With a quick motion, she activated the landing ramp. The hydraulic mechanisms responded with a muted hiss.
BB-8 rolled down first, scanning the surroundings. The droid let out a low, cautious beep
"I know" Hermione murmured, stepping onto the rocky ground, her hood casting a shadow over her eyes "We need to move fast"
The air was dry and carried the scent of incense and spices from the nearby temples and markets. Voices murmured, footsteps hurried, and in the distance, the electric hum of patrolling droids echoed.
Hermione kept her gaze lowered, her posture controlled, hands hidden beneath her cloak. She couldn’t afford to be recognized — not when the First Order had eyes everywhere.
BB-8 beeped anxiously.
"Let's go" she said quietly, following the uneven stone path "We have a destination to reach"
The Temple of Eldera was covered in gold. She had read ancient texts that claimed gold enhanced the Force’s energy, making it more fluid, malleable, and sensitive. That’s why temples were built that way, and this one was the last remaining. Tom Riddle and his followers had destroyed all the others.
"Come on, BB-8" she said to the droid, which beeped in response, rolling beside her as they entered the temple.
Draco Malfoy was irritated that afternoon. In another part of the galaxy, darkness stirred. He stood before the frozen expanse of Vornais, the planet serving as one of the First Order’s strongholds. The howling winds cut through the air, but he remained still, gray eyes fixed on the misty horizon.
He already knew. He had felt the disturbance before receiving confirmation.
"She’s arrived in Jheda" a voice behind him reported. The hooded figure didn’t need to say more.
Draco closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the Arcane Force pulse within him, pulling him toward a fate he refused to accept. Always the same connection. Always the same presence.
His jaw tightened
"I’ll handle it" he said, voice firm and controlled. His black cloak billowed as he walked toward his ship.
The Nocturne was dark and imposing, built for speed and discretion. Its matte black hull absorbed light instead of reflecting it, making it nearly invisible in the void of space. The design was aggressive, with angular wings that adjusted as needed — retracted for high speed or extended for combat maneuvers. Its interior was minimalistic and functional, devoid of unnecessary luxuries. The control panel glowed with a cold green light, highlighting the precise commands Draco effortlessly mastered but rarely used.
"Nott" Malfoy said, stopping behind his pilot. Theodore Nott had been a good friend over the years, but the scars on his face reminded Draco of things he preferred to forget. A failure that had cost lives. That had cost Nott his face "Set a course for Jheda"
"Setting course" a pause "Not calling the others?"
Draco considered it as he watched the ship's systems adjust. His knights, allies, loyal followers — a group created by him, for him, with the Dark Lord’s blessing. Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Marcus Flint, Daphne and Astoria Greengrass.
"Not necessary" he said "Course set?"
"Yes" Nott replied "Where do you want to land?"
"Near the temple" he replied "But not too close. We need to be discreet. Jheda may have many of our supporters, but there are those who would attack us"
"They would be fools to do so" Nott said
"But they would, even knowing it would be an act of treason and that they would consequently be killed by the Dark Lord"
"They fear you more than they fear hum" Nott reminded him. Malfoy did not like that — he accepted being feared, he accepted power, but he knew envy was a poison. Tom Riddle had given his soul in exchange for power and would not share the rewards with anyone, not even his most loyal follower.
Not even the one he had personally trained to be the best.
"This must not be spoken of again" the man said, warning the pilot, who silently agreed before taking off.
Already in Jheda, Hermione observed and noted down everything she could. The golden dust of the ancient scrolls seemed to glow under the dim torchlight. The silence inside the Temple of Eldera was absolute, broken only by the soft rustling of pages as Hermione ran her fingers over the worn inscriptions
She had found what she was looking for, or at least a clue to better understand
The text was ancient, written in a dialect lost to most, but not to her. Each word seemed to pulse with a familiar energy. BB-8 let out a low, hesitant beep
"I know" Hermione murmured, her eyes still fixed on the words before her "But if this is true, then we are dealing with something far greater than we imagined"
BB-8 beeped again.
"It's not that simple" she said, shifting in her chair "If Harry's vision is correct, if I join the Sith, it means more than just a war"
The droid beeped again, this time a little more worried.
"Don't worry, Sirius will know what to do" she said, grabbing her wand and passing it over the scroll to create a digital copy "There. We can go now"
As she stood up, she gathered the documents she had taken and placed them back. While doing so, something unsettled her. It was like a tremor, like a shiver, but it did not run through her body. It was something strange to describe, yet familiar. It had begun at the start of the war and had grown stronger in specific situations. Like a sixth sense warning her of danger
Hearing footsteps entering the temple, she pressed a finger to her lips, signaling BB-8 to stay silent, and hid between two shelves, pulling her cloak over her head. The echo of boots against the ancient stone floor shattered the sacred silence of the temple. The silhouette walked with calculated steps, each movement deliberate. He never rushed — he didn’t need to. The weight of his presence was already intimidating enough.
His long, structured black cloak brushed lightly against the ground as he advanced, and his cape swayed subtly with each step. The fabric was heavy, made to withstand the cutting cold of inhospitable planets, yet it flowed with an elegance that betrayed his lineage. Beneath the cloak, his dark tunic fit his body snugly, with silver details that reflected the temple’s faint light.
His eyes scanned the surroundings cautiously, cold and sharp. Hermione, still hidden, tried to recognize the man. She knew she had seen him before, knew she had heard those footsteps. And the scent. It was so familiar it made her anxious.
"I know you're here" the man said. She stopped breathing for a few seconds "I can feel you"
The young woman crouched lower, trying to make as little noise as possible.
"On my signal, you need to run to the ship" she whispered, and BB-8 beeped in response "I'll be there a few minutes after you. I promise"
The small droid had no way to refuse the request, so it beeped again, affirming that was exactly what it would do. Hermione stepped out of her hiding place, her hood no longer covering her face.
"I didn't come to fight" she said toward the man, who slowly turned in her direction.
"What did you come for?"
"To read" she replied. The man laughed without humor.
"I'm not surprised, Granger. You were always easy to find among books"
Hermione stood tall, trying not to show any hesitation. The man in front of her did not move immediately. He just observed her, like a predator analyzing its prey before deciding the right moment to attack.
"Fascinating" he murmured, taking a slow step forward "You’ve always been smart, but never discreet. If you think you can hide from me inside this temple, Granger, you’re deluding yourself"
Hermione tightened her grip on her wand, sliding one foot slightly to the side, preparing herself.
"I wasn’t trying to hide" she said, keeping her voice steady. He tilted his head slightly, as if amused by this.
"Really? Then what was it? A game? Or deep down, did you want me to find you?"
Hermione didn’t answer. Her eyes scanned every inch of the room, searching for an escape route. Her heart beat steadily in her chest, but her hands remained steady. With a subtle movement, she raised her wand, trying to cast a non-verbal spell.
But before she could even finish the thought, he reached out, and the wand flew from her fingers, landing directly in his hand.
"Ah, of course" he said, feigning understanding "The dedicated Hermione Granger. Always so right, so...determined" He twirled the wand between his fingers, almost distracted. Hermione fought the urge to lunge forward to get it back "And always so predictable"
She felt a chill run down her spine. That voice, that tone of disdain masked by forced interest. The way he spoke, as if he already knew all the answers before asking.
"You talk as if you know me" Hermione said slowly.
The man laughed, a low sound full of irony.
"Oh, but I do know you"
And then, in an almost lazy motion, he removed his hood, revealing the messy blonde hair and the sharp expression she knew all too well.
Hermione's eyes widened for a brief second before she regained control.
"Malfoy" she whispered.
Draco Malfoy smiled, and there was something almost cruel in that smile.
"Disappointed, sweetheart?"