A small group of people dressed for travel stopped walking as they had reached their destination. They stood, pale and exhausted, on a small hill some meters away from the stones path leading toward a small town.
It was in fact a village. Strong of a hundred habitants. It was a beautiful hamlet covered in greenerie and flowers with flat land full of healthy looking crop, sheeps and cows grazing. In the distance, one could vaguely see a tall mountains. Zig-zagging near the village was a river with pristine clear water and on the village’s outskirt was a forest with towering trees.
The group looked on as the townpeople lived their live. After a couple of minutes, the one in front spoke.
"We will move when night fall."
The others didn’t object. They didn’t want to disturb the peace that had settled over them as they watched in contentment the daily event happening below.
Night crept up quickly. A bright moon peeked out from behind the dark cover of clouds ; bathing the land under it in a soft glow.
The small group found themself in front of the forest nicknamed « Liadain » by the townpeople.
The tree at the forest entrance weren’t very welcoming ; they were big at the base but as it goes up and up the branches looked more and more like spider legs with claws at their extremities. Not one of them had leaves.
" My, Ô my, isn’t this the dream location for a honeymoon ?", someone in the group loudly mock-whispered which drew some weak laughter from his companions. But as the one standing at the forefront gave them a hand gesture to go on, they regained their seriousness at once and resumed their movement. The somber travel robed group silently infiltrated the forest. They navigated in it at night as if they were locals and not intruders coming in for the first time.
The Liadain forest could be said to be made up of three part. the first one is made up of broad-leaf trees such as english oak, beech, hornbeam, rowan and some others. The second one was filled with rainforest trees like hazel, ash, birch and Scots pine trees. From time to time a gorge or four could be encountered.
The last part of the forest was a large open glade. A lake with crystalline water where one could see fishes and various aquatic life form swimming. The breeze was feeble but chilly, with little to no scent beside decaying wood.
Throning in the center of the clearing was an monstrous yew tree.
Its roots firmly anchored into the soil had spun a substancial web around its trunk. Some of these roots even seemed to have made their way into the lake.
The tree, from its trunk to his leaves were of a bone white pigmentation. But another peculiar thing about the tree was some of its roots formation. Indeed, they had interlaced themself into a half-circle and a full circle under it.
This was where the cloaked group stood. Two of them were already busy working on preparing the place for what they had come to do.
The rest of the group silently stared up at the tree with noticeable unease. They didn’t spoke a word to each other as they waited for their companions to finish off the groundwork of their mad but desperate last ditch effort and to be quite honest strategy.
"It is done.", said one of the two cloaked figure in charge of the plan finer steps of execution. "Take off your cloak and follow me, Albus is waiting".
The group, made up of thirteen people, shred their cloak ; reveling their identities at last. They were Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Molly, Ginny, Ron and Georges Weasley, Hermione Granger, Lily, Sirius, Marigold and Sirius Jr Black, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Minerva Mcgonagall.
The remnent of the order of the phoenix. Most of them died in battle against Voldemort’s troups or under the Auror’s wand.
They were the last ember of a crumbling ideal.
The group silently made their way towards the yew tree with trepidation and a little bit of fear.
Each one of them had on an unshakable expression on their face. Ready or not they had things to do !
Dumbledore took out, from his moleskin, an untold number of small lanterns and placed them down everywhere. Now everyone could see as if it was daylight.
With this, the little group soon got themself busy. Some went to the lake to get water. A pair gathered woods. Another placed already lit candles on the roots. Some others pairs of hands were busy weaving wreath with magical flowers and woods they had taken with them specialy for the ritual.
Less than an hour later, the roots system in front of the yew tree was ready to host one of the darkest ritual it had ever witnessed.
A silver cauldron the height of an elementary school kid stood in the center of circle out of yew roots. Dumbledore and Snape were bent over it, expression grave but undaunted.
Nervous and unsetlled, the men and women stared blankly at the two ritual’s officiants after respectively taking their place in the two circles.
Few of them noticed the rune drew all over the roots in their unease.
But Sirius wasn’t one of them. Neither was Lily. He recognized them all. They were at the base of most ancient ritualistic dark magik. any runic magik for that matter.
These runes were , ALGIZ for protection and shield, SOWULO for life force, success and victory, RAIDO for travel and relocation, NAUTHIZ for patience and survival, ISA for challenge and reinforcement and last KENAZ for creativity and knowledge. All powerful rune on their own but absolutely fearsome and potent woven together.
Sirius would have laughed if their situation wasn't this dire.
His mother would have been proud (or frightened) if she could see him now. But he didn’t really think her laugh would hve been from happiness but of ridicule. He ran away from home because he didn’t conform to their expectation of what a proper Black child should be ; rejecting their ways, their magic and here he is now, almost twenty years later, doing everything and more he had sworn not to do.
He could almost hear her jearing and insults ringing in the shell of his ears.
He felt his cheeks burning.
Sirius retracted his gaze, conscience-stricken, from the runes to glance at Lily equally ashen face. She reflected back to him the expression of worry he was sure to portait as well. After all, the ritual they were attempting to execute was found in the recess of the darkest of darkest magik of Old in the Blacks library in the ancestral home.
Even the Black ancestors had warned their descendants to never draw the pitch-black book from its concealed shelf. He even heard that one of his many great grand-parent hadn’t listened and used it. He was found dead, as solid as a rock seventy-seven day after he had used it.
Every following Black had shied away since then from the trice damned pages of the ebony scripture.
Now that they were actually about to do one of the vilest ritual present in this fiendish book, recklessness and boldness curently evaded him. He once again exchanged a glance with his wife but it seemed like worry had been remplaced by cold determination now as she clutched tightly the hands of our children standing on either of her side. The twins grimaced but didn’t complain.
They understood our hopelessness and glumness of the situation.
Sirius gaze landed on Dumbledore and snivel- Snape, still hunched over the pot talking or arguing who know. Sirius observed his old childhood nemesis.
Tall. Greazy hair. Ugly. Dark Arts user. Ex Death-Eater. Helper (he refused to say right-hand man) of Dumbledore at time.
he stood by the large fuming cauldron. Always adding herbs or other ingredients with precision, calmness and accurasy many, as in futur potioneer, would envy.
But the bats was also know as Severus-the traitor.
That one made him want to laugh too. This time from mirth.
The ex-marauder dearly hoped one of his kind would find him, one day, to help him finish the job of avenging his bestfriend since he couldn’t do it as of now.
Dumbledore would not be very euphoric at the lost of " a valuable combattant and accomplished potioneer of his calibre, you do understand my dear boy, right ? "
He bared his teeth at the unsuspecting man in question. He instantly felt his hand being squeezed. It was the Granger girl. Her gaze was telling him not now.
He scoffed. But nonetheless inclined his head to tell her not to worry.
He would not act thoughlessly. He knew what was at stake.
After what seemed like an eternity of standing like idiot around millenia old tree roots while holding hands like a bunch of kids.
The very last steps of the ritual was about to be done.
Also the foulest.
Everyone, Sirius included, watched in horrified fascination as Snape extracted one after the others the corpse of a young man, woman and child from an old and beaten wodden trunk with silver handles. Then seven big containers followed suit.
Five of them had blood in it. The last two something that looked like expired jelly.
Sirius heard more than saw someone swallowing whatever that was in their mouth numerous time with great difficulty. Problably trying very hard not to empty the content of their stomach on the tree’s roots.
He would have understood perfectly if they couldn’t hold it in anymore. Really.
His stomach was also feeling a little queasy at the sight of Dumbledore and Snape messing around with the poor souls they had stolen from a muggle and wixen cemetery respectively.
It just would have been annoying to wait another six month to a year for a full moon if the sick had landed either on the runes or inside the circle, that’s all.
Still, he soldiered on and stared in transfixed revulsion as Dumbledore cut the rib-cage open of the fresh muggles and wixen corpses. He solemnly stared as the old wizard dug out the heart and entrails of the decesead. Once removed, Sni-Snape took over. He diced them roughly and tossed them into the waist sized cauldron before chanting a hair-raising spell.
Sirius shivered.
Then he saw Dumbledore adding the blood and jelly-like sustance into the fuming mixture at different interval under the strict instruction of a drenched in sweat Severus.
They each stirred the potion clock and anti-clock wise for half an hour.
Once that was done. They tossed the bones, hairs, eyes, tongue into the cauldron.
Strangely, the fumes were smelling like warm apple wine with a pinch of cinnamon spice and citrus.
Sirius grimaced.
It trully was a malevolant affair.
Black hung his head in shame. He was middly glad to notice he wasn’t the only one.
All of them knew. They all knew, this act marked a tournant in their live.
A new low.
Forever branding and tainting all of their souls.
But what choice do they have ?
A monster was running magical Britain with the ministry complicit in his actions.
Muggles were almost drove to extinction in some part of their country. The wizards brave enough to go against them turned up dead the next day. Most of the experienced fighters were already sleeping underground or into the veil. The war was so intense, Sirius feared that both magic and British soil wouldn’t be able to keep up.
Now they had resolved themself to use evil against evil.
Which is why, he was now standing under the dead canopy of an ebony tree, being a willing participant into what was undoubtedly a very Dark, tyrannical and ancient magik ritual to summon a being strong enough to help them get rid off of the evil destroying their lives, killing their loved ones and innocents alike.
Albus Dumbledore seemed to have visibly aged. No twinkle could be seen in his eyes as he stared at each of the men and women standing around the accursed potion. Only cold and resolute gaze gazed back at him.
A feeble smile tried to lift the corner of his lips but it sadly sagged back down. Instead, he gravely nodded.
It was time to act !
The order of the phoenix… or what was left of it, opened their mouth to… sing.
A guttural thing that scratched the throat and sounded nothing like something a human vocal cord should have any business doing. But the order’s members were anything but cowards so they, unwaveringly, persisted.
Chants reverbered loudly into the glade. It was strong… fervent… haunting at time even.
Lastly, The old ex-Hogwart headmaster threw the most precious (and faultless) ingredient into the potion : several vial of golden dust from Time-turners.
Another set of voices rose into the humid air. Dumbledore and Snape had joined them.
The melody sung by them sounded quite disturbing and ghoulish. It was also heavily consuming, draining. It sapped at their magical reserve with such vigor, everyone feared for their live but… they couldn’t stop.
It wasn’t time yet.
Following quite a number of unterminable minutes of chanting, their throat bleeding raw as a result of their mournful effort, the old yew tree finally glowed a ghostly white along with the runes scarred into the tree's roots. After-image of them rose into the air and started revolving aroung the caudron that smoked and bubbled aggresively, as if it was going to topple over at any given moment.
Grey fumes and slizzing sound came out like shooting stars into the night sky.
Its content, a somewhat cherry red liquid, finally spilled over on the soil, as the caudron could be seen dissolving at a speed visible to the naked eyes. It disappeared under the dumdfounded stare of the vigilants.
The burgendy liquid quickly turned into a semi coagulated substance floating harmlessly above the ground. That is, until, unexpectedly, a tower of blue flames shoot out from the soil. The cerulean flames seemed alive, dancing happily around the aqueous composite. It spun round and round like a jolly boat lost at sea in a thunderstorm.
The flames merged with the floating potion.
Strong gale spitting and growling like caged beast finally settled down.
All was silent.
The ritual was done.
The little group had all but been thrown onto the ground, as the liquid did what it was, hopefuly for them, supposed to do. They found themself with hair and clothing in disarray, blood and tears running down their eyes, ears, noses and mouth alike. Their entire body was shaking. They felt their skin prinkle as if some sort of power or something was crawling on them.
It felt… rather unconfortable.
The only one standing somewhat normaly were Snape and Dumbledore. Though they had been expelled from the ring-shaped roots. The old man was even combing down his beard with a wandless spell.
" Of course !", Sirius grumbled as he spat a mix of bloodied saliva and dark green soil out of his mouth. He glanced around him to check on his wife and kids.
They were all alright. His heart slowly settled back to its ribecage. They were a bit shocked and bruised but alive. Lily sent a rassuring glance and nod his way before walking over to where he stood with their children not far behind. The phoenix members too. Some were still on all four. Sirius even spotted Ronald Weasley emptying his guts near a very disheveled McGonagall.
" Did… did it work ?", Molly murmured eyes wide, gripping the edges of her frayed coat, still on her arse.
No one answered her. The group of misfit was too busy gwaking at the clouded circular ring with an outer track of dim runic symbols gliding rhythmically but sluggishly on it. It had rose from the soil like some sort of dais.
The mouth of the ring, its inner circle was murky.
It just looked like the entrance of an abyss. It exuded a shilly aura ; gripped at their heart and seemed to squeeze half the air present in their lungs.
The world went dark. Still. Dead for a second or was it a year ? Sirius wondered.
As angry dark cloud that hadn’t been here at the beginning of the ritual were now gathered above the lifeless canopy of the odious and disgusting ebony tree. A series of grand looking lightning bolt the size of a whale casually landed near them, shattering and scorching a large chunk of soil pitchblack.
The smell of wet burning grass rose into the air.
Then a long, shrill and painful scream escaped from the lightless spherical hole as it puked out a substantial black blob that went from the size of a nut to that of three grown men in a matter of minute.
Under everyone terrified gaze, the ball wetly dropped on the green soil before exploding like the eggsack of a spider.
A dark-green line branded itself deep into the soil ; effectively separating the two opposing group from coming into contact with each other.
For « protection » a line on the book had said. For whom the protection was, neither them nor the book had the answer to that.
Meanwhile, the gelatinous liquid surrounding the lifeform vanished like snow under the sun ; revealing the outline of what looked like a human shaped figure.
Well, two to be exact. Both collapsed. Some sort of light was envelopping them. Preventing any further identification.
" Two… ?"
Cold sweat dripped down Sirius back. The ritual…
" …wasn’t supposed to summon two people !", he heard Hermione yell in panic and confusion.
He could understand her feeling. They had potentially kidnapped two people (instead of one) into coming (forcefully and without consent) to their less than stellar world with no real promise of ever being able to be sent back to their own world.
" Maybe… maybe something went wrong with the potion ?", Ron suggested dimly.
" Thank you for this very helpful tibbits, Mr. Weasley, but all the steps of my… our potion, were executed to perfection". Came the lazy but irritated drawl of Snive…Severus standing right by Dumbledore.
Dread spread faster than the black death in the little group, their gaze piercing the back of one Albus Dumbledore for direction.
Albus stared speculatively at the new arrival with a mixture of surprise, sorrow, weariness and curiosity dancing on his features.
" What should we do, indeed…", he whispered, looking at the two sparkling forms with symphaty now.
A sigle one was needed. One only.
One who had the power to defeat the Dark Lord.
So, why two ?
" Which one has the power to vanquish Voldemort ?", Sirius pondered out loud. "One of them must have been unexpectedly caught up in the summoning. Like, i don’t know, trying to save his friend from a strange portal coming out of nowhere…", he added ruefully.
This question stopped the buzzing that had taken over the order members. They stared at Sirius owlishly. Albus, a feeble smile on his lips, watched him, a twinkle was back in his blue eyes. Sni… Snape and Minerva eyed him like he had grown a second head. Even Hermione Granger did the same.
The ex-marauder furrowed his brows.
" What ?", he exclamed, unconfortable with being stared at like that. "Don’t tell me you all didn’t think of that ?"
Amused, Albus was about to speak when a familiar voice cut in.
"Where is this ? Who are you people ? ", the voice demanded, imperious.
All tomfoolery ceased at once. That voice. That tone. Exclamation of surprise fused around once heads had turned to peer at the owner of said voice.
A man. A pale, pointed face. Long blond hair tied into a ponytail. Grey eyes.
Lucius Malfoy !
Even through the man looked a great deal like their favorite Death-Eater, Sirius noticed some slight divergence. Like the color of his hair. Lucius was a pale blond but this man’s was praticaly translucid. His eyes were upturned while Lucy’s were almond shaped. The new comer appeared to be left-handed while Lucius was right-handed, etc, etc, etc.
The most blatant disparity between the two men, was the newcomer’s physique. Lucy was lean and not particularly muscular, this man was built like a fortress.
The man was tall (like almost all Malfoys to ever exist), but his general body frame was strong and muscular. He had a well-developed chest, shoulders, arms and legs muscles. This type of physique was often time the result of warfare training.
Meaning : This man was a beast. A potencialy dangerous beast
In their current situation, where they couldn’t use any type of magic, he was their worst nightmare turned into flesh.
Sirius warily eyed the shimmering barrier currently working hard into separating them. He dearly hoped it didn’t have a time limit because, if not, they were doomed.
" Malfoy !", roared Ginny Weasley, flames raging in her eyes, wand draw. She had forgotten it was nothing more than a useless lump of dead wood here. Molly wisely scolded Ginny who relucantly pocketed her wand back.
Luckily for her, Malfoy’s grey eyes didn’t even deign look at her. His eyes didn’t leave Albus’s body for a second. Through, Sirius did notice a modicum of disgust turning the corner of his mouth into an unsightly grimace when he spotted Snape. The animagus sighed. Even in that man’s dimension, Sni- Snape was seen as a Brutus.
It was a talent at this point.
Albus lifted both of his hand, palm up, the universal way of saying he was not armed. It didn’t seems to rassure our visitor in any way.
" Are you responsible for this ?" The man asked, as he pointed out with his head at the still ignited line on the ground. He was, even now, crouching defensively in front of the group’s second (unwanted) guest. The only difference was, they now seemed awake and had taken to sitting. Sirius could see fingers with pink neatly trimmed nail clutching a fistfull of the dark sleeve of the Lucius look-alike.
Judging by the hand, the one behind him was probably young. A teen maybe.
It tugged at his heart but Sirius did his best to ignore it. Their cause was also important. Important enough to justify their act. He ruthlessly squashed his remorse into the recess of his mind to concentrate once more on Albus and Lucius clone conversation.
" No need to answer, we all know of your hatred for the Ethelreyde, Albus of the Endless !" Lucius double spat with so much venom, even Dumbledore himself took a step back. The man rose from his kneeling position to stand at his full height after patting the hand latched on his clothing.
Sirius eyebrow flew into his hairline. That escaleted a little quickly. Too quickly, in fact. They didn’t even have the time to plead their cause.
" Wha… ? No ! Listen to what we have to say ! Please !" He protested.
The man didn’t seem to hear him or just simply did not care. All of his focus was centered on Albus (Snape was braznly ignored).
" I do not know what tricks you used to sent us here, in the inner circle of the Andras forest, but do not think it will be an easy fight simply because I am outnumbered. I am perfectly capable of fending you off ; after all, I have sent plenty of your men into the afterlife already". Pointy chin snootily boasted as he drew from his side a silver sword with a wide blade.
The stupefaction that had been on Albus' face vanished. He too stood to his full height, his blue eyes getting icier. His right hand twitched but, like the rest of the order, he couldn’t use magic. Instead the old professor tried to appease the man first.
" Please, do calm down, my boy…"
It looked like this wasn’t he best of word to use as the Malfoy’s clone threw a small dagger at Dumbledore face.
" I AM NOT YOUR BOY !" He yelled, his whole being radiating blazing hot fury. However, after throwing his weapon, the scene, meaning Dumbledore hopefully dropping dead, didn’t end up happen how he thought it would. The dagger simply struck the barrier, creating small sparkles and bounced off of it before dropping, pointy head first, into the wet soil. The man didn’t stay frozen for long. At once, his palm was up and… nothing happened.
Malfoys stared at his hand in disbelief before shifting his glare on the leader of the order. Dumbledore took advantage of this lull to declare:
" I am not this Albus the Endless you talked about. My name is Albus Dumbledore ! Let me explain to yo…"
The man scoffed.
" Now you stoop as low as to deprive me of my magik ?" he yelled, refusing to listen to even a word of what Dumbledore had to say. "Your lot…-"
It was at this moment, another voice, delicate and silvery sounding, reverberated into the glade.
It stopped Lucius's double mid-rant. A strange noise gurgle in his throat. Still, he quickly retrieve his composure.
"Your Holiness… ?"
Holiness ? Did they summon royalty ? The order members felt their panic rise some more. But then…
A being stepped out of Malfoy’s shadow.
It had a white veil concealing its face that they removed promptly.
Sigh and exclamation of surprise coursed through the Order members.
They had a small face with a light tan. Their skin shone like honeycomb under sunlight. Long lashes encased viridescent eyes like a precious gems placed in a black velvet case. Their feature was, curiously enough, a mix in between delicate and strong. Feminine and masculine. Informal and Unyielding.
After the veil was lifted, most of their dark hair were hidden by it but a diamond studded tiara in a semicircular shape with a set of seven glowing dark red gemstones soon took everyone's attention away. It seemed to radiate some sort of magical energy. It pulsed with power. On their neck dangled a silver pendant a single row of dark green beads and moonstone adorning its length and carved into miniature bellflower motifs. It also had an elegant dangling centerpiece in the shape of a lotus flower.
They wore an immaculate floor length dress with slipt-sided long sleeves which were fastened by claps on her shoulders. The arms peeking-out were adorned with thick raven cuff in the shape of snakes. Old, exquisite bangles, with elaborate design of snakes, fishes and flowers ; embellished further with shimmering moonstones, chimed elegantly locked around both of his wrist. To complete the looks, a sumptuous gold embroidered belt, secured just under the chest area, helped in anchoring the clothing snuggling where it should.
Overwhelmed, Both Sirius Black and Lily Evans formerly Potter and now Black made the same chocked up squawk as they stared, mouth agape and misty eyed, at the wonder standing in front of them, who not only had Lily’s eyes, but also looked like the deceased James Potter.
Just a million time prettier.
Lily in an attempt to not faint, clung on to Sirius’s shirt for dear life. Her other children glanced at them with confused expression. The woman was too overhelmed to even open her mouth let alone explain anything to them.
Sorrow. Regret and guilt battled her happiness inside her.
Her child ! Her sweet little child coming back to her !
Her limbs trembled. Sparks were dancing in front of her eyes. She felt faint. Her body wanted to shut down. But she refused. Her child was here. In front of her. She would not miss even a second of their reunion.
Even if it was a version of her child from another dimension.
It was another version of her who gave birth to them. But it still counted, right ?
It was still her, right ?
Sirius thought were more or less similar. Through, they quickly stirred in another direction, in typical Sirius Black fashion.
« Were they a man or a woman ? » Sirius pondered as he scrutinized them from their opulantly ornated head to their unseen toes. « If they are a woman, I would have to fight off countless marriage proposal… » Sirius checked them over once again. « Errm, I suppose, it would be the same if they are a boy too …» he cheerfully assessed.
The prospect of fighting off throng of men and women seemed to put the former aurors into a very good mood. His eyes took on a mad glint that promised mayhem and/or tomfoolery. A sharp blow to his side woke him up from his day-dream. Glancing down, he saw Lily giving him a withering look.
" Did I, perhaps, said that out loud ?" he sheepishly inquired. The intensity of Lily’s glare grew twofold as an answer.
Sirius wisely closed his mouth, turned away from his annoyed wife and focused his gaze back on his godson/son-in-law (isn’t that confusing ?).
He discovered them looking their way.
An exhilarated smile spread on his lips.
" Harry !"
They tilted their head at the name calling, gaze thoughtful before turning their sight once more on Albus dumbledore and Snape standing tall at the forefront of their group.
" The One dwealing with the red flames…," they stated voice serene but toneless as they stared down Albus Dumbledore. " What purpose does it serve summoning me in the long gone Andraznüir Empire ?" They inquired. " The magik here is useless for you and you destroyed your chance at an alliance with the tree dwellers when you touched what you shouldn’t have. Why do you insist in not laying down your Brighid ? Your Order ? You already have lost so many, against Morsdwyrn. Seizing me would serve no purpose to you nor help you in gaining support from the Temple ; beside...-"
Their lips, thin and carmine-colored rolled up into a belittling smile.
" … you have already lost your beloved Ariana. You are an intelligent magus Albus the Endless, so why…-"
Albus, who had stayed stoïc until then, visibly flinched hearing that name. His blue eyes turned sharp. The other order members, perplexed wondered who ‘Ariana’ was for their Dumbledore.
" As I have been trying to tell you...", Albus interrupted with a hint of displeasure in his voice, " I am not the one you call the Endless or The one dwealing with flames. My Name is Albus dumbledore, we performed a ancient ritual who summoned you from your world to ours in hope it would bring a hero with power ample enough to help us destroy a dire threat menecing our society".
" You lie, Endless ! It would not be the first time !" Malfoy twin’s growled, his finger twintching on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it. For his part, Lily’s dead son counterpart lifted an eyebrow. Their viridian eyes, turned milky-white as they took a vacant look to them.
" At ease, Aemilius". They dreamily muttered, " He spoke the truth. They, indeed, summoned us from another world. Another dimension even ".
Malf- Aemilius stared at his… Master, for that is what their relationship seemed to be, with an expression of utter disbelief on his pale face.
" Then, can we go back ?", he asked turning his transluscent head toward the Order’s. "Can you send us back to our world ?"
" They cannot". His master answered in their place with the same dreamy pitch. "They did not know, this ritual of their was no more than a one way journey".
The hand resting on the pommel of Aemilius sword’s wobbled.
" But is does not matter"
Aemilius scrowled their way. His glare landed on Marigold and Sirius Jr. The heat in his eyes dimmed a bit. It sent shivers running down Lily’s back.
That stare. Why was he looking at her children like that ? What did it mean ? What was it supposed to convey ?
Lily could feel an hysterical fear seizing every inch of her body. She grasped so tightly on Sirius upper-arm, she knew it would leave a bruise. The rest of the wizards watched them, puzzled. They all detected that something was amiss witht he two newcomers.
" Something is not right", whispered Shaklebolt, speaking for the first time. "Something definitively went south".
Hermione, standing beside him with a grim look, nodded.
" The question now, is if it’s for us or for them ?"
" With the way Malfoy knight is looking at us, our chance seems extremely low", Macgonagall added, a cheerless smile on her pinched lips.
" Not very rassuring…", drawled Ginny not far from her.
Sensing the unease, Albus spoke once more.
" I know our action caused an inconvenience to you and I sincerly apologise for that but I am sure we can help you find something to help you go back to your world".
Aemilius sneered.
" After we help you getting ride of whatever plague cause harm to your world, I presume ?"
Albus inclined his head.
" I understand your anger but thrust me, it was not in our intentions to keep you both here ! We solely wanted someone to help us, a hero…-"
" Imbecilic and brainless enough to willingly take on risks and sacrifices himself for you ?"
" You must understand, ours side of the war has had great casualty. Most of our goverment fell under the rule of a dangerous wizar, the darkest magic user britain ever had in tree hundred year, hell bent on wiping out the non magique. We dearly need your strenght. If you have, if both of you have the power to help us, why not use it ?"
" Even in another dimension you still are the same, Endless."
Albus didn’t comment on that.
" Will you..-", the old wizard started but was cut by a shrill feminne laughter, reverberating into the night.
" Well, well well, if this isn’t interesting ?" purred a black haired woman dressed in black robe as she emmerged from darkness.
The order of the phoenix turned around like one man. Wand drawn. Forgetting once more, in their terror, that magic did not work in the forest of Liadain and their saviors, emprisonned in his shinning dome could not help them either.
Every bits of their attention was on the black wave breaking out of he forest.
" How… ?"
" Why is he here !"
" It doesn’t matter anymore !"
Voldemort stood, in all his serpentine glory, under the moonlight and glimmer of lanterns, by the edge of the wood. A lipsless smile revealed his gleaming white teeth. A battalion of Death-Eater encercled the small group of vigilente.
" I Must say, I am quite disappointed at not being invited at this marvelous welcoming party". He softly murmured, his crimson eyes glowing.
" It musn’t be too presumptious of me to state that, if you weren’t invited, then your presence wasn’t required in the least".
Voldemort lifted a faux-disconcerted non existent brow.
" Oh ? What an awkward situation…", he added, turning to his masked minions. Some laughed. "Now that I have imposed my self on this sublime little soirée, you won’t be shameless enough to drive me out, won’t you ?"
" You are not welcome here, Tom. Leaves". Dumbledore said as calmly as he could in such a situation.
The dark lord cocked his head, still smiling that horrid smile of his.
" I am terribly sorry to hear that". The dark wizard jeered, " Dear, I had even prepared a surprise guest to our impromptu gathering".
" What the hell are you talking about ?" Shaklebolt started before closing his mouth after hearing the earth-shattering, loud banging sound of tree being crushed under the weight of whatever nightmarish creature he had shown up with.
What emerged from the wood was something no one would have expected nor wanted to believe was there.
A long, flexible and muscular body. Dark green in colour. Rows of sharp poisonous fangs. Yellow eyes.
The eyes that had the power to kill instantly.
A Basilisk.
Silence reigned.
A dangerous, tension filled kind.
The pale death observed.
Nobody moved. They couldn’t.
The order’s members knew nothing good would be coming out of this situation.
They could do nothing but stare at this fifthteen meter tall serpent, their face either showing, dread, shock, loathing or collapsed on the ground, energy drained out of them.
" I am secure in knowing the festivities will be a delightful affair now that Regina is among us, yes ?" Chuckled the dark sorcerer. His tone misleadingly warm.
Dumbledore closed his eyes briefly. Of course Tom wouldn’t have come without a trick up his sleeve, a trump card strong enough to assure his victory…. Had he know it would turn out like this, he would have come with Fawkes too but, alas, today was his burning day.
He crushed every hope they had dared to harbor.
It pained him to admit it, but he had lost.
They all had lost.
This country would really be his to mould as he please.
He sighed.
He caught Severus dark eyes watching him. He saw unwillingness. Resentment. Despair. Wrath and so many more all at once. He felt sorry for the poor lad.
He felt sorry for all of them.
Dying so young. Some of them still children.
He sighed again.
For the first time in a good good while, he felt old.
The headmaster glanced at the face of his former student. His appearence tonight seemed even more vicious than he was accustomed too but, maybe, it was the glee, the giddiness, he could feel radiating off of him. Happiness he didn’t really feel must have affected him somehow.
But, maybe, it was also because he had caught them all in one fell swoop his palm ; wainting to be slaughtered like sheep.
Voldemort clapped, his scarlet eyes swiping everyone of the order before settling beyond Albus and Snape, unblinking.
" Yes, Regina is finally with us ! Now, I am sure we can take some time to know one another better, yes ?", he said, his gaze focused on a point. "I would like to get to know the new addition to your little group better, if it does not bother you, Albuuussss", He politely requested.
Of course, everyone present in the clearing knew it wasn’t so much a query but a command.
A command Dumbledore was forced to grant, wheter he liked it or not.
Without waiting for an answer, the dark lord, followed by two Death-Eaters, brazzenly walked through the glade.
They soon stood in front of the glittering barrier. The death-Eaters loyaly guarding their master’s back.
Voldemort leaned forward to touch it. The energy coursing through the barrier zapped him. Unfased, he whispered under his breath. The result was the same. The man stood back up, head tilted as his gaze cut up to this inaccessible target.
Wine-red met emerald.
Voldemort narrowed his eyes as a flicker of recollection went past.
" Harry… Potter…"
Someone chocked somewhere behind him.
The… boy (?) merely stared right back at him, leaning forward with slightly parted lips. They looked interrested.
" I have killed you. How are you here ?" he demanded, his voice going a pitch higher in his amazement.
" You have not", came the swift reply. " I was summoned", the boy simply replied, poker-faced, looking behind his shoulder. The dark wizard did not need more to understand. He laughed.
" Ooooooh, Albus, Albus…", he exclaimed without any real intensity behind it as he glanced back at Dumbledore, who didn’t seem really alarmed at being found out.
Well, yes, he didn’t have to. Their pathetic lot couldn’t go anywhere without Voldemort expressed command. He had them standing right where he wanted them to. He was generous enough to not kill them on sight (pun not intended, of course).
He was a philanthropic after all : he could do small mercy too.
Still, secure in the fact that no one would move unless they wished to seek an early death despite his extensive clemency, the dark lord reported all of his attention on the boy, vaguely aware of the hanger-on by his side.
" Summoned, hum ? Whatever for ?"
" Riding the world of a warmongering lunatic".
Voldemort side-eyed Dumbledore.
" Always such harsh words, Albus. I am not that bad", he promised. "I only strive to make my dream a reality". The boy blinked.
" What is your name ? Does it diverge from the one in this dimension ?", the dark lord asked, in the same breath he noticed the boy was dressed in temple clothing. The style comparable to a Greek chiton. Was he a priest ? A high-ranked one, he mused, if he was adorned this opulently and had a personal templar with him. His eyes rested a second on his forehead. He had no scar on it. Instead, had a small, barely there, snake eating his tail meshed into a helical shaped circle.
Voldemort frowned.
A snake. Snakes. He spotted the inky arms cuffs.
Suspicious. He filled this information into a folder in his mindscape and moved on.
" Marena", they simply stated.
Voldemort hummed noncomically. Had he not been drunk on his victory; Lord Voldemort would have noticed the signification behind the boy's name. Alas it was not meant to be.
" Will you head that man’s call, boy ? Will you leave your protection to fight for him ? For a world not your own ?"
They shook their head.
" I have no need for protection", they revealed, no emotion appearing on their face. Their lime colored eyes, through held something he knew well ; having seen it on the younger face of the defeated man standing behind him waiting for his execution : Pity. " They shouldn’t have called upon me". They added nonchalantly.
The dark lord crookedly looked their way, lips curled in derision over his white teeth.
" Why is that ?", the man said, remaining calm, in control and good humored. His gaze soon landed on their abdomen as he went on his perusal for clues. The boy absent-mindedly stroked it.
It seemed… slightly raised.
Voldemort stood still. Genuinely taken aback.
" You are a female".
A shake of the head was his answer.
" No. I am the Ethelreyde".
" No ?", Voldemort repeated, dubitatif. His red eyes glared on her immaculate dress rounding just under her belt. "Do you take me for an idiot ?"
Her belly was unmistakenly round with child.
But a word caught his attention.
" What is the Ethelreyde ?"
" Th one who hold the Ancient One".
" The ancient One ?"
" It is the Word. It is the destroyer. It is the abode of the blessed. It is the abyss of the damned. This is why they should have never touched that scripture. It is cursed for a reason. Now, they… no… you are all, convict of the same crime ; awaiting judgment. The seal of doom has already been branded on you".
Their eyes turned ghostly white.
Without him being able to react in time, they now stood in front of Voldemort, their hands, fast like lightning, grabbed either side of his cranium. They forced him to bent. To kneel.
They chant. They pray. They beg. Into his ears.
" It dwells within. I am its temple. I am the key. I am the door. I am the sacrifice. I am the altar. I am the cup. It drinks. It devours. It corrupts. It decays. It tortures. It breaks. It destroy. It does not let go. It does not know compassion. It does not forgive. It does not forget. It is immaculate. It is death".
The celestial vault exploded into a miriad of glimmering, sparkling shards.
The dark lord dropped on the ground like a puppet having its strings cut off.
Aemilius was, oddly, nowhere to be seen. Was he even really there, with them, in the first place ?
Marena’s scleras were coal black now. The Basilik nuzzle them affectionatly, as docile, as soft as a day old puppy. They rub their gigantic snout on their back.
It was beyond everyone comprehension.
They were now sitting on a chair with curved legs forming a wide X with no back.
They stare at him, petrified, terrorized, watching the dark lord’s still body laying at his feet.
After an interminable moment. They heard it. Earsplitting, in the silence that had overtaken the clearing.
The body let out a sigh.
Then it twist. Wriggle. Deflate. Vibrate. Rotate. Curve. As if something astronomical was trying to adjust themself into clothing extensively misadapted.
The dark lord rose.
Something not quite right slithered and writhed behind his face.
His partisans and enemies alike look upon him, and the horror looked back at them.
They could feel its stare warping, ungulfing, diffusing into their skins, like maggots forcing their way into their bloodstream, crawling into their lungs, sliding down their throat. They felt boneless. Burning cold. Freezing hot.
They coul heard their own mind screaming, tearing up the separate compartment of their ego. Their spyche erupting into overdrive. They could feel their mind shattering onto themself, nerve melting. Electrical activity shutting off like an old engine. Grey matter and cerebrum blowing up in a whirlwing of dissociated thought. Organic matter liquefid, decayed and fade away like putrid flesh in mud.
Most of the people present either fainted, clawed at they eyes, tore their hair and face until it was nothing more but a bloody mess, or killed themself, favoring the warm embrace of death.
They did not know they would get no reprieve there either.
A raven with blood dripping down its wings land on Marena's slender shoulder.
They gaze upon the destruction their mate generated, bred and grew.
They look on delighted as another world stumble and fall under them.
Laying on the wet ground, Sirius Black watches the chaos, the anarchy and death they had unkowingly unleashed upon their world.
It smile at him cherubically. With the face of his best friend, with the eyes of his wife and the youth of his dead godson and children.
Maybe, the minute they had found that book, their fate had been sealed.
His eyes close as the ground split under him.