Harry Potter: A Mage's Path Chapter 12

Hi all,

Dumbledore finally appears. Some parts of the chapter will be dedicated to his viewpoint. Enjoy.

Harry returned to the memory of that Halloween night, except he had Celeste with him this time. When he discovered he could walk around the room, he decided the Pensieve was an incredible piece of magic. Although he couldn’t interact with objects, he merely phased through them like a ghost. There was also a boundary that was limited to the area where the Memory Shade manifested.

Celeste flew over to where Lily was playing with baby Harry.

“Pause memory,” Harry stated. The scene froze.

“This is so cool,” Celeste said, peering around the room before returning her attention to Lily Potter. “Your mother was beautiful.”

“Yeah,” Harry swallowed a lump in his throat as he observed the joyous mother and child frozen in perpetual happiness.

They searched around the room but didn’t find anything of note, not that they were expecting to, but it paid to be thorough. Harry identified three key areas that might give him clues about what happened to his mother that night.

First was the runic array sketched out on the floor. Here, they could study it in detail at their leisure. When they examined the floor back in the Potter Cottage, they found no evidence of the array. Whether it had been removed by someone or disappeared that night was still a mystery.

Second, there was the man who called himself Uriel. Despite his face being obscured, they may find some distinctive features that would reveal a clue as to his identity.

Finally, the explosion at the end was the most significant for Harry as he could discover what had happened to his mother. Was she dead or alive?

“Unpause.”

Harry watched as Lily panicked after hearing his father's shout before pulling the mat away, and he froze the image again. He stepped forward and peered down at the runic array scratched into the floor. Would Observation work? Harry tried examining the array, but nothing happened. Since this was only a memory, it didn't work as he had hoped.

“Let's move on,” Celeste said. "The one you altered with your accidental magic is more important. We can always come back to it if necessary."

Harry agreed, and he started the memory again and watched until Uriel stepped through the room.

“Stop,” Celeste commanded, and Harry froze the scene.

Celeste circled Uriel, looking for any clues on the man's identity. Harry followed her actions, searching carefully.

“Look here,” Celeste pointed to a tattoo on the man's neck. It was a symbol of a flame, orbited by nine spheres.

“What does this even mean?” Harry asked.

“Not a clue,” Celeste shrugged. “Whoever he was associated with must be a powerful organization. He alone took out Voldemort.”

“Uriel could be working on his own,” Harry pointed out. “Nevertheless, I find it a strange coincidence that his name is Uriel, one of the archangels depicted in religion. Didn’t you say there was divinity magic?”

Celeste scowled. "That's not possible. Divinity magic has not been seen for centuries. If people are practising it in the present, we're in more trouble than just having Uriel coming after you."

“Well, at least we have a clue to his identity,” Harry sighed. “But it's not what we are after at the moment.”

“We should be attentive to what Uriel says,” Celeste replied.

Listening to the man speak, they both agreed that he did not sound like a benevolent archangel. What kind of person would murder a baby in cold blood?

"Why does he think you will bring about the apocalypse?" Celeste ran her hands through her hair in frustration. "You were only a baby at the time. How could he possibly know? Unless he's following some kind of prophecy."

“Are they real?” Harry asked incredulously. There were books about Divination in Flourish and Botts, but he didn't pay much attention to them.

“Yeah, but they are very vague,” Celeste said. “There are so many ways to interpret a prophecy, and trying to enact them is an exercise in madness. Also, there are bad people out there who spread false prophecies to cause trouble.”

“Right,” Harry muttered. “So it pays not to worry if I’m some future evil lord who will bring about the world's destruction.”

“Well, I wouldn’t completely dismiss it,” Celeste said in a mean tone. “It still could happen.”

Ignoring her, Harry continued with the memory until he got to the point where his younger self changed the runic array.

“How did you even do that?” Celeste looked incredulously at the array. "It is not something that accidental magic should be able to accomplish. It is too precise; simply waving your hand shouldn't enact such a change. Even as a baby, you were a monster. It's no wonder the system chose you."

His shoulders shrugged. “I’m awesome, yeah?”

Harry wanted to draw the runic array but wasn’t sure if his inventory worked in the Pensieve. He attempted to take a pencil and paper from out and was pleasantly surprised when it worked.

He spent the next two hours attempting to draw the complex runic array, but he kept making mistakes due to his mediocre drawing skills. Eventually, he managed to come up with something he was reasonably happy with and placed it in his inventory. As a bonus, he even got a new skill.

=====

Drawing | Active | Level: 2 | Next: 12% | Cost: 0 |

Description: Drawing is a skill in which an artist uses a set of techniques and concepts to create two-dimensional art, in which they use drawing skills and concepts. There is no doubt that it is an invaluable skill that can be applied to a variety of disciplines, including the esoteric art of Ancient Runes. The greater the player's skill level, the more accurate the drawings he will be able to make and the less likely he will be to make mistakes.

• +2% to accuracy

• +2% drawing speed

• +2% to sketching

• +2% to copy an image or drawing.

=====

“Let's move on to the main attraction," Celeste said.

He hesitated for a moment. The first time he watched it, it flashed by too fast, and the explosion obscured his vision, so he could not tell if his mother had died. Would he be able to find out for sure what the answer was?

"Before you even had Gaia, you already thought she was dead," Celeste gently reminded him, landing on his shoulder. "No matter how things turn out, you will get through it."

Harry took a deep breath, restarted the memory, and waited for the moment that the curses collided. When he saw the bright light illuminating the room, he involuntarily closed his eyes.

"What the hell?" Celeste shouted, causing him to open his eyes. He squinted, trying to see what she was seeing.

The sight before him caused him to feel incredibly confused. The scene was frozen as the energy from the explosion expanded, creating a beautiful spectacle despite its destructive purpose. However, it wasn't what attracted his attention the most.

To the side of Lily Potter and Uriel, a door-sized portal was present, and two black vines had wrapped themselves around the two adults and were in the process of pulling them into the portal.

"Did I do that?" Harry wondered. He briefly restarted the scene and instantly paused it again. The scene had changed slightly, and the two adults were halfway through the portal, with the eruption chasing them. The speed at which the vines pulled them in was incredible. They shouldn't have had a chance to escape the explosion, but as he forwarded the memory, he could see them enter before the gate closed behind them.

"Did I cause that by changing the array?" His eyes filled with tears. "Where did I send her? Is she still there?"

"Rewind it so I can examine the portal," Celeste said, flying over to the spot where the portal had appeared.

When Harry regained his composure, he rewound the memory until the portal appeared once again.

He joined Celeste in examining it, and he discovered the writing on top of the gate. But it was in Latin, and he had yet to learn the skill.

"What does it say?"

Celeste read the words silently and then went into deep thought.

"Well, what does it say?" Harry asked impatiently.

"I don't know if I should say," Celeste admitted, turning to Harry with a sorrowful expression. "If they were taken there, then your mother would be in deep doo-do."

"Just tell me," Harry snapped, his nerves on edge.

"The words state Gateway: River Styx, in the fifth circle of the Abyss."

"Are you serious?" Harry exclaimed in disbelief. "The River Styx? Are you talking about Hell?"

"Not exactly," Celeste said. "The Abyss is essentially a series of connected dimensions that exist here on Earth. Because the dimensions of the Abyss are layered upon each other, it is called the seven circles, a reference to the first part of the narrative poem The Divine Comedy - the Inferno."

"And does its reputation live up to its name?" Harry asked.

"Yes, it's filled mainly with lowlifes and criminals. Some things they get up to there would make Voldemort seem like an angel in comparison."

"When were you going to tell me about this place? Isn't it pertinent information?"

"At your current level, knowing about it is useless. You're not strong enough to handle it," Celeste said. "If you had ever encountered their kind, that would be the only reason I would have to tell you."

"I sent my mother there? And Uriel was with her, so it is quite possible that she could already be dead."

"I don't know," Celeste said. "I do know, however, that if baby Harry had done nothing, she would definitely be dead, as well as yourself. So don't be too hard on yourself."

"Do you think I could replicate the runic array?" Harry asked eagerly. "I could go and search for her."

Celeste slapped a hand to her forehead in exasperation. "Even if you could, what good would it do? Do you think you can survive in such a place even with your Gamer ability?"

"But," Harry began.

"It's useless," Celeste interrupted. "Do you think that is what your mother would have wanted? To throw away your life after she took extraordinary measures to save it? If she is still alive, she has survived there for ten years. Waiting a bit longer is not likely to change that."

In a state of despair, Harry slumped down on the ground. With all the hope he had built up over the last few days, the reality that he couldn't do anything about it felt like a punch in the gut.

As Celeste flitted over, she patted his cheek with her hand. "We will work hard to find your mother one day. However, I do not want you to be disappointed if the answer you seek is not to your liking."

As soon as Harry received the notification, he opened it, knowing what was most likely to be found inside.

=====

Congratulations!

A Desperate Gamble 02 has been completed!

Rewards: 2000 Exp, + 2 Intelligence, + 2 Charisma.

The player has reached level 8!

=====

New Quest Received!

A Desperate Gamble 03

The Abyss

There is a possibility that Harry Potter's mother may be in the fifth circle of the Abyss. At the present time, he lacks the ability to traverse this dangerous dimension. Learn about the place, including the safest way to enter.

Current Objective: Find information on the Abyss

Time Limit: Six Months.

=====

New Quest Received!

Preparing for Hell

Description: Harry Potter has discovered that the world is more dangerous than he ever imagined. As a result, he will have to achieve level forty in the next six months. This will enable him to protect himself from the Abyss and possibly rescue his mother.

Current Objective: Level up to level forty.

Bonus Objective: Increase Fire and Shadow Affinity to level 25.

Bonus Objective 2: Obtain the rank of Novice Mage.

Bonus Objective 3: Obtain the heritage of the Peverell family.

Time Limit: Six Months. (Actual time - not affected by Instant Dungeons).

=====

Harry read through the quest's information with steely resolve. As long as he worked hard, he was confident that he would be able to achieve this goal. He had no idea what the future held for him, but he was more concerned about finding his mother right now than anything else.

Maybe he was chasing a pipe dream. It was logical to think that she had died after reaching the fifth circle. Perhaps he did find his mother, but she may not be the same person she was ten years ago. There was a possibility that the reunion might not be a happy one, and he was setting himself up to be disappointed in the end.

But he didn't let that stop him. He could deal with disappointment, as it had been a constant companion his entire life.

"Right," Harry stood up, taking one final look around the room. "Let's get out of here."

<====({owo})====>

3rd of July

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was located close to the wizarding village of Hogsmeade in Scotland. The ancient castle was located in a valley area with mountains surrounding it and a large lake to the south. West of the castle stretched the Forbidden Forest, where there was an abundance of magical creatures.

In the Headmaster's office, Albus Dumbledore sat staring at a report from Gringotts regarding Harry Potter. In his role as the boy's magical guardian, he looked after his trust vault. With so many galleons in his vault, small withdrawals weren't a concern.

However, the account statement raised two concerns. The timing of the withdrawals suggests the boy already knew about the magical world, even though he hadn't received his Hogwarts letter. Did his family tell him?

Second, there was the amount he had withdrawn on his first visit. Over eight hundred galleons had been taken from his trust vault. While that was a tiny amount considering the size of the entire Potter Estate, it shows a lack of restraint. Why did the boy need so many galleons?

Stroking his beard, he turned his head to the Phoenix perched on his stand by the window. "What do you think, old friend? Should I intervene or wait until he arrives at Hogwarts?"

He ignored him, as he had been doing more frequently lately. He assumed that it was because the bird disagreed with his methods. His heart ached because he had been his companion for so long, and he was the only one he could completely trust. However, he was helpless to remedy the divide that grew year after year.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches," Dumbledore murmured. A refrain that he had repeated so many times before.

Dumbledore retrieved a lemon drop from a bowl on his desk, placed it in his mouth and sucked it contentedly. Without even realising it, his gaze slid to a locked drawer in his desk, where he kept one specific item that weighed on him heavily.

As soon as he had set up the Wardstone at Privet Drive, he lined his shelf with objects that notified him of any developments at the Dursley's home. However, one of them he had removed from the shelf and locked in a drawer after he decided he no longer wanted to see the evidence of his cruelty. Out of sight, out of mind, he reasoned.

Inside was the Health Monitoring ward tied to the boy that alerted him whenever he received a serious injury. When it first happened, he contacted Arabella to find out what was happening.

The two cousins got in a scuffle, and the bigger boy broke Harry's arm. While it was slightly concerning that the boys were fighting, it was still not a cause for alarm. Dumbledore returned to the castle, assured that nothing serious had occurred.

Two weeks later, the alert ward went off again. Once more, he contacted Arabella, who reported Harry had fallen down the stairs due to poor eyesight.

The Dursleys got the boy some glasses to remedy the situation. Although he was suspicious, it sounded plausible, considering that Harry's father, James, also wore glasses.

Dumbledore was tempted to add some extra monitoring wards to the property but resisted doing so in the end. He had promised the Dursleys that he would keep magic at a distance for their peace of mind.

Over the years, the incidents kept happening, and he could no longer pretend nothing was happening. The reports from Agatha got more detailed and scathing at his lack of response. He stopped reading them at some point, although he could not fathom why.

"Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies..." Dumbledore chanted softly.

It led to his final disgrace when he threw the Health Monitoring Ward's alert into the drawer and locked it away. It had never been opened since. The guilt he felt had kept up some nights, yet he justified his actions as a necessary evil, and as long as the boy survived and came to Hogwarts humbled, he could lead the boy to his destiny.

"...and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not..."

Dumbledore hummed a tune, unaware that he had gone into a trance. Fawkes flew over and whacked the Headmaster over the head with her wing, trying to break the spell he was under, but he was unsuccessful.

"...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives..."

The door opened, and Minerva McGonagall stepped into the room, perusing some parchment before she raised her head as she realised something strange was occurring.

"Fawkes, what is wrong with the Headmaster?"

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will..."

A loud bang sounded, and Albus was broken out of his trance. He blinked up at Minerva, who pointed her wand to the ceiling.

"Minerva, was that really necessary?"

"Albus, what the hell is wrong with you?" Minerva's brogue came out as she raised her voice in agitation. She looked at the man with concern, having never seen him appear so affected.

"Nothing is the matter, Minerva," Dumbledore raised his brows merrily. "I was merely deep in thought. Now, what can I help you with?"

Minerva hesitated, her instincts telling her to follow up on the situation, but her trust in Albus overruled her good sense. "We have a problem that threatens the school."

"What do you mean?" Albus straightened, the powerful and confident man returning.

"Hagrid has been getting reports from the centaurs that strange creatures are appearing from the depths of the Forbidden Forest. So far, they have been clashing with the Acromantula, which is not the worst thing that could happen if their numbers are thinned out. However, their appearance suggests...."

"That there may be a Dungeon that has erupted inside the depths of the Forbidden Forest," Dumbledore removed his spectacles and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "If it's not one thing, it's another. The Ministry didn't detect it?"

"You know how strange the forest is," McGonagall shook her head. "The magical network barely works half the time. It's not a stretch to imagine that it wasn't detected."

He stood up and walked to the window in order to look out over the forest. "I'm off to check the situation out. We cannot leave it as it is, or Hogwarts won't open this year."

McGonagall nodded, relieved that the Headmaster was taking charge. 'Do you want me to come with you? It may be dangerous."

Dumbledore shook his head. "I will take Hagrid with me. I will do my best not to get into any fights if at all possible. I would like you to stay here and keep the castle running in case anything happens to me."

"Alright," McGonagall nodded sharply before following Dumbledore out of the office.

<====({owo})====>

An exhausted Harry followed Tonks and Hermione out of the Louvre Palace, housing the Museum with some of the best-known works of art in the entire world.

After spending hours touring the place, Harry was tired. He could not deny that he shared Hermione's interest in its incredible history, but he felt it should be appreciated in smaller doses.

His eyes were drawn to the Louvre Pyramid, a striking structure made of glass and metal that was surrounded by three smaller pyramids.

'The pyramid wasn't here the last time I visited this place,' Celeste said from atop his shoulder.

'Do you like it?' Harry asked curiously as he followed the girls out of the main entrance and into the streets.

'Eh, it's alright. But I prefer how it looked before. Humans build so many unnecessary structures, making other species suffer when you consume so much of the natural world."

"Are you saying that some magical societies are correct for staying stuck in the past and that progress is wrong?"

'Not exactly. It's more accurate to say that humans breed like rabbits; the more the population grows, the more resources they consume.'

"Harry," Hermione turned to stare at the teenager. "Don't get distracted by your surroundings, and keep up."

"Sorry, I'm talking to you know who," Harry whispered, wary of the crowds of people streaming around them.

"What?" Tonks raised her voice, causing others to glance at her in curiosity.

Tonks pushed the kids into a nearby alley. "What did you say, Harry?"

"You know who?" Harry asked, puzzled before he realised what the woman was getting at and rolled his eyes.

Celeste appeared on his shoulders, and Tonks groaned. "It's the metamorphmagus girl with the two left feet," Celeste said cheerily.

Tonks gritted her teeth, ignoring the fairy and speaking to Harry. "You scared me there for a moment. Don't casually say his name."

"Who?" Harry asked.

"You-Know-Who," Tonks shouted.

"I don't know. That's why I'm asking," Harry pretended to be confused.

"Voldemort," Tonks said with gritted teeth.

"Oh, why didn't you say so in the first place."

"Did you know that Voldemort means 'a flight from death' in French?" Hermione said helpfully.

Tonks ignored her and took out her wand. "Mister, do not get funny with me. If you do, I am liable to torture you with tickles."

"Tonks, why isn't your hair colour changing like it usually does?" Hermione asked inquisitively.

Tonks took her eyes off her little cousin and turned to Hermione.

"My mum brought me this runic earring," Tonks pointed to the silver stud earring in her left ear. "Given that I have been spending more time in the Muggle world lately, she brought me this to conceal any changes in my hair colour."

"Fascinating," Hermione said. "How does it work?"

Tonks was about to speak when Celeste called out to him urgently. "Harry, I sense a strange presence."

Harry took out his wand before he received an urgent notification.

=====

The surrounding area has been enclosed by a dimensional space.

=====

"What's going on, Harry?" Tonks raised her wand as soon as she saw him take out his wand with an anxious expression on his face.

"I think someone has just trapped us," Harry said flatly, searching around the alley and on top of the buildings for the culprit.

"Harry?" Hermione stepped closer to the boy, taking out her wand with trembling hands.

"It's going to be okay, Hermione," Harry reassured her. "I have a way to escape if need be."

Well, that was only an assumption. Was ID Escape able to work in a dimensional space as well? What was it? Is it a dungeon?

A woman appeared in front of them, standing in the alleyway. A short skirt, thigh-high boots, and elegant chest armour adorned her white outfit.

"Harry Potter," the woman commanded. "Now that you're away from your sanctuary, you will answer my question."

Harry stared at the lady in confusion. "Who the hell are you?'

Tonks stepped in front of Harry protectively. "How about walking up to him and asking like a normal person? What's your problem?"

Tonks was completely ignored by the lady, and she carried on conversing with Harry in a manner as if Tonks were not even present.

"Greetings, I am Angelica, a servant to the wise and powerful Uriel, and I am looking for my master."

Harry stepped out from behind Tonks and glared at the woman. "Do you work for that bastard? The man is a murderer and a coward who attacks babies."

"Lies!" Angelica shrieked in fury. "Now, answer my question before I hurt your friends. Where is Uriel?" She exuded strong and powerful energy from her body

in an attempt to force them to yield.

Harry could feel a heaviness threatening to pull him to the ground, and Hermione squeaked in terror as she fell to her knees. Tonks was made of sterner stuff, holding her position with her raised wand.

"Aw, you're a bitchy bitch!" Tonks screamed before throwing a dark red curse at Angelica, who calmly sidestepped the attack and raised a hand, manifesting a golden spear of magical energy within seconds.

"This woman is beyond us," Celeste shouted frantically. "Get us out of here."

Harry agreed. Neither girl should get hurt on his account. Taking a vial with a memory inside from his inventory, he threw it high into the air. "Here's your answer. Go fetch it."

The vial soared through the air and over Angelica's head. Seeing the vial, the woman cancelled her attack, sprouting wings as she jumped into the air in pursuit.

Tonks used that moment to try and cast a spell at the woman, but Harry slapped her arm down. "We need to get out of here. That woman is beyond your capabilities."

Tonks nodded, her expression grim. "Grab hold of me, and I will apparate us out of here."

"Not going to work," Harry said urgently, pulling Hermione to her feet. "I think it works the same as the Dungeon."

"How do you know that?" Tonks asked incredulously.

"Call it a hunch," Harry said as he grabbed onto the two females, as Angelica flew back with the vial clutched in her hands.

'ID escape.'

The world around them shattered before they returned to the real world. Harry pulled them out of the alley, his senses alert for any sign of Angelica. It was only when they got back on the crowded street that Harry breathed a sigh of relief, although he was not quite sure if they were safe.

'Her presence is gone.' Celeste said.

Tonks turned to Harry and glared at him fiercely. "Want to tell me what the hell is going on?"

"This is not the time," Harry said. "Put away your wands, and let's get out of here."

They hurried down the street with no specific location in mind. Once they had gained a fair distance, Tonks called them to stop.

"We need to return to England," Tonks said. "The rest of the trip is cancelled.

It is still uncertain if that woman will return later. And you're planning to tell me who that woman was and the other person she mentioned, Orielle?"

“Uriel,” Hermione corrected, beginning to regain some of her spirit after the ordeal.

"Was that a memory vial you threw at her?" Tonks asked sharply. "Is that why you needed a Pensieve so urgently? What did it contain?"

"Just a memory of me threatening my relatives," Harry said breezily. "It was such a pleasant memory that I extracted it and planned to watch it at leisure."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "No, that wasn't what she was after."

"No," Harry grinned. "However, I hope that she does get a good laugh out of the memory, for all the effort she put into getting it."

Tonks looked around carefully. "There is no doubt that woman is going to be pissed off. She may return at any moment."

"Why didn't she grab me sooner if that was the case?" Harry asked logically. "There were plenty of times when I was alone, so it would have been easier to grab me then. It wasn't easy for her to appear here, I'm guessing."

Tonks nodded in agreement. "Let's check out of the hotel, and then I'll apparate us back to Calais. We should be able to get a ferry back today if we are lucky.”

"It shouldn't be a problem," Hermione said.

"I have to get the wand removed," Harry waved his arm, which felt strange, like he had a small appendage growing the length of his arm.

"If it's as simple as removing it from your arm, my mum can do it. You can send a letter to the wand crafter to ask her," Tonks said, looking up into the sky. "Is Hedwig here? We can have her deliver the message."

'Hedwig?'

'I'm up at the top of the tall building on your left. What trouble did you get into this time?'

'I will explain it later. Can you deliver a message for me?"

'Are fairies not the most annoying creatures in the world?' Hedwig asked rhetorically.

'Hey. That was rude.' Celeste shouted over the bond.

Harry sat down, retrieved a piece of paper and a pen, and began writing. Hedwig landed on the back of the seat and watched her charge as he scribbled a message for Isabelle.

Isabelle,

Something came up, and I had to return to England right away. Is it possible to remove the wand without you being there? I know someone who is a Mediwitch, so could she do it instead?

I will return the book to you once I have finished reading it. I appreciate your help.

Regards,

Harry Potter.

Harry attached the letter to Hedwig's leg and stroked her feathers softly. "We are heading back to England. Make your way there after delivering the letter."

'Okay, hatchling. Stay out of trouble.'

Hedwig took flight, and Harry watched as she disappeared into the distance. It shouldn't take long for her to deliver the letter, as Isabelle's store wasn't far from here.

"Let's go," Tonks ordered.

<====({owo})====>

Dumbledore stepped into the clearing with Hagrid by his side. The half-giant carried his crossbow in his giant mitts, and Fang was by its side, looking around with his tail tucked between his legs.

"Dear gods," Hagrid whispered. "Who is responsible for such slaughter?"

" Who, indeed?" Dumbledore looked at the scene with a grimace on his face.

The clearing was littered with corpses. There were dozens of Acromatula and other unfamiliar beasts, painting the ground with blood and scenting the air with the smell of death.

Dumbledore stepped forward carefully, his wand held firmly in his hands. Hagrid followed him, the crossbow raised in preparation for a fight.

It was at this moment that the two men heard clapping above them and to their right; they turned around and saw a man sitting high up in the tree, watching them closely.

"The cavalry has arrived," he chuckled. "A little too late, but I give you some points for effort."

"I'm afraid you have the better of me," Dumbledore said calmly. "May I know who I am speaking to?"

"Call me John."

"Why are you here?" Hagrid said gruffly, his crossbow trained on the man.

"Cleaning up a potential problem," John waved his hand. "No need to thank me. However, I find it strange. Compared to you, Albus Dumbledore, these beasties are not that dangerous to the kids at this school."

"What do you mean?" Albus narrowed his eyes, his grandfatherly expression disappearing as he observed the man who had just delivered the insult.

"Dumbledore is a great man," Hagrid shouted, his temper showing as he came close to releasing, pulling the trigger on the crossbow.

"Hagrid, stop!" Dumbledore commanded, and the giant man subsided.

"You're not even aware that you are cursed?" John asked with surprise before barking out a laugh. "Oh, this is rich. The great Albus Dumbledorebrought to his knees by a Hag. Oh, if only others could hear about this."

"A Hag?" Dumbledore asked, puzzled. "I would have realised if I was cursed."

"Have you listened to any prophecies in the last two decades?" John asked curiously. "You have been inflicted with a divination curse that causes a wizard's mind to deteriorate slowly as they attempt to bring about their interpretation of the prophecy. I bet you that it is not valid. It is merely a device for spreading chaos."

Dumbledore's mind raced as he tried to ascertain the validity of the man's words. It was possible, as he had heard of those witches before, but they usually were located in the Americas, and he had not heard of one appearing here in centuries.

"Trelawney," Dumbledore breathed. He turned back to stare in the direction of the castle. Was it true that he had invited a dangerous woman into his castle, someone with enough power and guile even to fool him? Had the woman harmed his students over the years under his very nose?

An intense burst of magic erupted from the powerful old wizard, saturating the clearing with power that had not been seen since he fought Voldemort. Even Hagrid was affected, and the half-giant was highly resistant to magic.

"Hagrid, I'm returning to the castle. May your way back on your own," Dumbledore turned his attention to John, who looked impressed with the display of power. "If you don't mind sticking around until I have taken care of some business, I would like to speak with you further."

With that, the Headmaster disappeared with a silent crack.

"Look at that," John muttered. "The old fool has awoken. Perhaps they still have a chance of surviving what is coming."

So what do you think? This chapter has certainly thrown things into a tailspin, huh?

Thanks for reading.