Chapter Text
"Do you think the ones we love truly leave us when they die? They are always with us... until the moment they begin to fade from memory..."
Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, was considered the most powerful wizard alive; he was indeed powerful—proving that age was of no consequence—and he was wise. Most importantly, he had not allowed the power he possessed to drive him mad. He had learned to use his magic and his reason in the best possible way.
He turned his blue eyes—now dimmed of their sparkle—toward his phoenix; Fawkes, in turn, fixed his dark, knowing eyes upon his dearest friend.
"When I set out on this path, Fawkes..." Dumbledore said in a low voice, "I had charted the course myself, vowing that I would not stray from it, come what may..."
He looked away from Fawkes. "But now, I can no longer be certain how steadfast I can remain to this path..."
Fawkes let out a cry, attempting to convey through his birdsong that he understood.
"I had never reckoned with him suffering so much..." whispered Dumbledore, his face betraying his vulnerability. "I never wanted this... I never wanted Harry to drown in his own blood at such a tender age..."
Dumbledore stood up, approached Fawkes, and ran his fingers through the bird's plumage.
Fawkes leaned toward Dumbledore without hesitation, feeling his touch upon hia feathers.
"My everything," Dumbledore whispered to Fawkes with a gentle smile. "Help me... let me truly make Harry happy before it all comes to an end... so that, at the very least, the screaming of my conscience might be quieted as much as possible..."
Fawkes chirped, fixing his round, black eyes on Dumbledore. His feathers were fluffed up.
Dumbledore approached his window and turned his gaze toward the new moon.
"To new beginnings..." he whispered.
The new moon was reflecting the sun's light more powerfully than ever.
Fawkes let out a loud cry as he gazed at the moon.
The star Sirius, which had been greeting Hogwarts in all its glory, began to fall.
A massive burst of energy erupted.
Under the pretext of patrolling the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid was sitting on the ground, stroking a white-coated unicorn.
"What a beautiful creature you are..." the half-giant whispered admiringly.
The unicorn started, quickly breaking free from Hagrid's grasp to stand up; it began to neigh in response to an energy manifesting around it.
Hagrid blinked and glanced around quickly, trying to figure out what had frightened the unicorn. "Sweetie! What's happening?"
The unicorn neighed, then bolted into the depths of the forest without once looking back.
Hagrid stared in astonishment at the unicorn as it galloped rapidly away.
He stood up, deciding it would be best to return to Hogwarts.
He began to walk quietly, breathing in the fresh air.
He heard a low moaning sound—not from just one person, but from several.
Hagrid immediately looked around, trying to locate the source of the noise.
He heard it coming from behind the bushes.
Hagrid hurried toward the sound; a group of students who had decided to break school rules must have been hurt!
The half-giant pushed past the bushes, glanced quickly around, and saw a massive bank of fog.
The fog had formed a circle, and everything within it was incredibly blurred.
Hagrid’s eyes widened; he looked up at the sky and noticed lightning bolts striking directly into the fog.
The noise was deafening; Hagrid wasn't even sure if anyone would hear him if he screamed.
"Is anyone there?" he shouted; the thought that someone might be in the fog made him panic. A flash of lightning appeared again and plunged into the mist.
The wind picked up with such force that Hagrid had to cling tightly to the old oak tree beside him; otherwise, even the half-giant might have been swept away by the gale.
Hagrid wasn't sure how long this supernatural event had lasted. The lightning ceased, and the fog began to slowly disperse.
Twigs and insects had become tangled in the half-giant's beard. Hagrid sighed and tried to clear them away. The poor half-giant was out of breath.
"Is everything all right?" Hagrid looked up immediately upon hearing two cold, rasping voices.
The centaurs were watching Hagrid, arrows in hand; their muscles were tense and their gazes cold.
Ronan’s gaze was not on Hagrid, but on the stars. "Something very important has happened..." he said in a low voice to their leader. "The stars have shifted."
Magorian narrowed his eyes. "What sort of thing could have happened?"
Ronan’s cold eyes turned toward the dissipating fog.
As the centaurs immediately aimed their arrows in that direction, Hagrid lunged forward. "No, don't! We don't know who is there! We can't harm an innocent person!"
Magorian laughed scornfully at Hagrid's stupidity.
No one even bothered to reply to the half-giant.
Ronan strode heavily toward the mist and stepped into it.
The mist dissipated completely.
"There are five students here!"
The centaurs lowered their arrows slightly.
Hagrid was dumbfounded. "Did five students do all this?"
Magorian addressed Ronan in a stern voice. "Do you know them?"
Ronan turned his face toward the stars and remained silent for a few seconds.
"You, half-giant..." said Ronan. "Come here."
Although Hagrid was reluctant to move, he shuddered under Magorian's cold gaze and walked over to Ronan.
Hagrid felt his eyes widen. "Harry?!"
"Harry?" Magorian stepped up behind Hagrid. "The one whose destiny is written in the stars, Ronan—is it Harry Potter?"
"It's Harry Potter!" Hagrid cried out, dropping to his knees in horror. "Who did this to you, Harry?"
"Can't you see he's unconscious?" hissed Ronan, then looked at his leader. "This person is not Harry Potter."
"It's Harry Potter!" Hagrid shouted anxiously. "Same hair! Same features!"
"Then where is the scar?" Ronan raised his eyebrows.
Hagrid immediately brushed back the unconscious boy's sweaty, damp hair with his giant hand, revealing a smooth forehead.
There was no scar.
The half-giant stood up in astonishment and examined the figure again.
Yes, this wasn't Harry Potter.
He looked like him, but he wasn't him.
This figure was tall, muscular, and healthy.
Hagrid looked in amazement at the other unconscious figures.
Four males and one female.
The girl had long, red hair. She was very beautiful.
One short male caught his eye. He had blond hair.
Another male was tall and slender. There were scars on his face.
As for the other male—his identity was immediately obvious.
Wavy, shoulder-length black hair; aristocratic features.
"That can't be possible..." Hagrid whispered.
He stepped back in fear. "I have to let Dumbledore know..."
He started to run; his massive frame slowed him down considerably, but he didn't care.
It was fortunate for Hagrid that the students and professors were asleep; he didn't have to answer to anyone.
He quickly gave the password and went up to the Headmaster's office.
He was out of breath.
"Professor Dumbledore!"
Hagrid caught sight of Fawkes; the bird blinked, then burst into flames.
"Professor Dumbledore!"
Within seconds, Albus Dumbledore appeared; his blue eyes turned anxiously first to the burning Fawkes, then to Hagrid.
Hagrid swallowed hard.
"They're back, sir!" he said in a trembling voice.
Dumbledore's blue eyes widened with concern.
"Who?"
"The Marauders and Lily!"
End of Chapter One.
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