Thane of Cawdor? Nah, he’s auror overseer!
Thunder and lightning. A strong wind forcing its way through the gaps of the trees, causing the rocks to howl and the damp ground to tremble. Three young witches stood in a clearing, forming a tight circle as they used wordless, wandless incantations to keep the rain from touching them. Nobody else is around to see them, as usual; they have always been able to have this spot to themselves, ever since they found it during a break during their school days. It wasn’t exactly difficult to find, but nobody seemed to find it too appealing, the strength of ancient dark magic swamped it up and sent them scurrying in fear before they so much as set foot in it. The witches are not plotting any dark magic, however, that really is not their thing. Prophecising and prediction are more their area of expertise, as has been the case since their time at Hogwarts.
Unlike usual, their meeting is not a friendly gathering of like-minded witches, as much as an emergency gathering to spread a warning.
Nervously, Lily and Pandora shared a look, trying to silently communicate their plans for the situation without startling Sybill any further. “Sybilll, dear, why did you call us here? You sounded panicked in your floo call. Could you not have come home and spoken to me if you are as startled as you seem? We could have invited Pandora around too if it really called for it, couldn’t we?” Lily placed a hand on her partner’s shoulder, shuddering as the thunder grew louder around them, echoing through the trees surrounding the clearing.
Sybill shook her head frantically and looked between the two of them, her hair falling over her wide eyes messily. Lily was looking greatly concerned and Pandora was keeping an eye on their surroundings.
“No, no I couldn’t! I couldn’t, Lily. I…could never. You don’t understand, I have seen something, something so vivid, so horrible, that if even a fly on the wall hears of it, the ministry may have me tortured for describing something so terrible.”
“What do you mean? What have you seen?” Pandora had stopped scanning the area and was instead looking into their friend’s eyes with equal worry to that on Lily’s face.
She shook her head frantically, raising her hands to gesture wildly, staring fearfully into Lily’s eyes as her girlfriend stood in shock, meanwhile, Pandora stepped a few paces back, trying to distance themselves from the flailing so they could think properly. Sybill struggled to maintain her breathing. “You know how the sight presents things as…worse than they turn out to be, the way it only shows the worst of the worst,” The other two nodded, urging her on. “Well, this was even worse than the visions usually are. It was horrid. So…strange. It felt like something from those books you used to read in school, oh Lily, they were just like it! What I saw…it was…it felt like fiction. It wasn't like anything I have seen before and I am certain you have not seen anything that feels the same way either.”
Pandora frowned and wrapped their arms around their chest. “What was it? Can we avoid it?”
Gravely, Sybill shook her head. “I don’t think we can. It is set in stone, we have no choice.”
“Would it be illegal to lead it along its course?” She nodded. “Well…do we have to?” Lily ran a hand up and down Sybill’s arm as a way of attempting to comfort her.
“I think we do.” Sybill’s voice dropped even lower, so she was barely whispering. “We need to help it along even if we get in trouble with the ministry, even if our family or friends get hurt because…I fear what may happen if we don’t. If we pretend to be none the wiser, it will still take place, only under much less care and guidance, it could end up worse than if we are involved,” She took a shaky breath. “Sometimes, I would try to avoid fate if it is this terrible, but if nobody is there to keep the human mind as restrained as possible, it could cause great devastation.”
Lily had frozen in her place and Pandora placed a hand on both of their backs to calm them from the thought of being involved in some ghastly affair, trying to distract them by taking over the discussion. “Syb…what was it?”
“I think we need to meet somebody to find out more. I only saw some images of what is to come. I don’t know enough.”
Pandora nodded and pushed further. “Who is it? Who do you need to meet?”
Sybill paused, then looked between the other two once more. “Do you remember Barty Crouch Jr from school?”
-
“Lucius,” Abraxas Malfoy called from where he sat in his office. His son quickly stepped forward, back straight and face schooled to perfection. “Take a seat, son.”
“Thank you, father.”
He nodded distractedly, looking past his son’s face, head tilted upward slightly, likely to make him seem more intelligent. “I have been told that Sirius Black made the decision to…switch sides mid-battle against the thieves, is this true?”
“Yes, father, I am afraid so.”
Abraxas nodded miserably. “Very well. I would be lying to say I was not disappointed, but I must put any past affections towards the boy aside. Order his murder immediately, don’t tell the ministry, it is not something they must know. We must give his place as overseer to another. I would give it to you, my boy, but would not wish to be accused of Nepotism. Besides, I am saving you another title, which I am certain you will appreciate much more.”
Lucius smirked proudly, bowing his head to hide the smug look on his face. “Of course, father…may I suggest Mr Black’s brother? He is one of our strongest.”
“No, no,” He waved a hand dismissively. “I wish to give the title to his friend. The one whom I have heard great tales of recently…Crouch, that is it! Leave now, make sure you send men after Black and hand on his place to Barty Crouch. He most certainly deserves it more,” Lucius nodded and stood to leave. “Thank you, my boy.”
“It is my pleasure, father.”
-
“Did you see me, Reg? I got that bastard right in the chest!” He made a jabbing motion with his wand and laughed, stepping around the corner and turning back so he could see Regulus, who was walking a lot slower than Barty.
“Surprisingly, yes. I was there, you know?” Regulus caught up, his hair was in his face thanks to the harsh wind, face warm from the way the sun broke through the trees.
“Well, I bet Malfoy was so proud of me for that, more proud than Moody ever was at least. I am so glad Abraxas took over, that git was insufferable.”
“Barty, you can’t say that! He was still our boss, you know? If anyone finds out you’ve been talking shit-”
“Merlin, Reg. Relax a bit, yeah? If anyone asks, I’ll say it’s because I’m so loyal to our current boss that I can’t imagine liking any other, okay? Abraxas is so much better, anyway. There’s no point trying to deny it.”
Regulus scowled, letting himself fall behind again. “You only think that because you’re his favourite.”
“Yeah, well at least Abraxas didn’t kick Ev off the course for no reason whatsoever, unlike some people I could mention. Honestly, if that man ever dares to-”
Letting out a light huff, Regulus rolled his eyes and interrupted. “Barty, he destroyed half of the poor guy's face in training, I think he was somewhat justified in that decision.”
He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at Regulus. “And? It was clearly an accident but that guy just had to go and kick him out of auror training, knowing he was the best they had. Nobody chucks my boyfriend out and keeps my trust, I’m telling you.”
Regulus ignored him, instead stopping and taking in their surroundings with a confused expression on his face.
“Where are we?”
After looking around for a minute, Barty shrugged. “Dunno, pretty sure it’s the woods we usually walk past but we seem to have walked in without even realising. Well, I suppose we can just keep going, can’t take too much longer than usual.”
“Barty, I can’t be taking detours, I have to be back home by 6 to help James set the table for dinner before Dorcas and Mary arrive!”
“Just apparate, then.”
“What do you not understand about the words ‘apparation ban due to frequent muggle sightings of it’?”
“Well, you’re only apparating into your house, so you’d be fine.”
Regulus looked positively fed-up. “They’re tracking everyone who apparates, Barty.”
“They are? Oh shit…anyway, Harry can sort out the table, can’t he?”
That earned him a cold scowl. “He’s a 7-year-old wizard with too much curiosity, Barty, do you really think we can trust him with steak knives on our mahogany table?”
“It was just a thought,” He mumbled.
Regulus seemed to have caught sight of something in the distance as he had shaded his eyes with a hand and squinted ahead.
“What is it?”
Regulus shook his head in confusion and kept walking. “I don’t know. Do those three look familiar to you? I can’t see them properly from here but something feels strange.”
“What, those three? I dunno mate, it just looks like three people standing around in the trees to me. Let’s just get home, yeah?”
Regulus was growing more agitated by the second. “No, there’s something off. I want to make sure they’re okay.”
He sighed but followed Regulus through the woods and towards the group. They stopped as they got closer, recognising them from school. The three witches stopped muttering and turned to look at them, faces layered with apprehension, determination and distaste.
“Crouch, Black,” The blonde one, Pandora, acknowledged.
Lily Evans stepped forward, her hand latched onto the trembling hand of Sybill Trelawney, gently tracing circles onto the back of it in a loving, soothing gesture. “We’ve been waiting for you two to show up.”