Aurora

Disclaimer: Don’t own, just playing.

Summary: The past is sometimes too painful to remember. This is for all the broken hearts.

Author’s Notes: There are a lot of ships here. But the focus is on non-cannon. There will be flashbacks and the invocation of myths and legends and there will be lots of mystery, romance but everything comes with a pinch of angst, so if you’re expecting fluff bail now. The story seems kinda strange in the beginning but it’ll all make sense soon. Read and review if you want to but please read. I’m a virgin here so please be gentle.

The night was gloomy, the clouds playing hide-n-seek with the blue moon that did nothing to lighten the atmosphere. On such a night, the candles that burnt bright lit up Hogwarts like a shining beacon in the dark. And the music interspersed with laughter that could be heard to the edge of the magical gates, was the only thing holding the darkness at bay. But the gaiety and happiness that permeated the atmosphere around the revellers was suddenly silenced as a piercing shriek followed by the howl of a lone creature rang out into the night. Even the lake obliged by injecting a certain haunting quality to the night by quickly filling the grounds with a grey mist. And from that mist as the spectators watched from the windows there was a quick flash of light that illuminated a blurred object hurtling towards the doors of the Great Hall. In that instant thunder struck and the Heavens poured black sleets of rain in a deluge. The creature making its way towards the castle seemed to be rising through the rain. With bated breath they waited, the off-duty Aurors holding on tightly to their wands and the guests nervously watching the silent doors. Another cry rang out, this one much closer and almost at the Entrance and the heavy, magically protected doors that could not let in anyone who did not belong there opened to reveal a human form.

The being was garbed in black flowing robes that hinted at the white cloth beneath them, the face obscured by the hood that yet revealed red glowing locks that seemed dripping what quite strangely looked like blood. The creature stood highlighted against the storming night yet silence reigned even as the doors closed magically. The hood was lowered as the creature made its way to the centre of the Great Hall and stood facing the old Headmaster, Dumbledore.

It revealed the face of a ghost, someone who was presumed to be dead a long time ago. And then she spoke, ”You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Am I not looking at one?” replied the elderly wizard.

“Come, come Dumbledore, you must know that I cannot die, well not until I have met with the Fates. You’re probably wondering why I’m here. But maybe you already know.”

“You’ve come for the stone.”

“Yes, the one my brother told you to keep for me.”

“He only mentioned the Seal, the stone belongs to the Order.”

“Come, come Dumbledore, there is no need to be greedy, there’s plenty to go around. And last I heard the Order doesn’t need any talisman when it has Potter.”

“It belongs to the Founders, it belongs to Hogwarts. You cannot take it from us Ginevra.”

“I’m not a thief who comes in the night, I will ask and you shall give it, you will be left with no other choice for I will give you what you yearn for in return.”

“You don’t have the strength for that.”

“Don’t I, Dumbledore? The one who has survived the Crucible and the Trial of Fire and come out unharmed. I am in the Cradle of Life and you know that nothing can harm me. Immortality has certain rewards.”

“You speak of blasphemy!”

“Wrong! I speak of Truth, the facts that you are blind to. I will give you the Dark Lord and you will give me the stone, count on it.”

“Harry will deal with Voldemort, not you.”

“Oh, that’s where you let arrogance rule, Potter is nothing but a glorified sycophant of yours, and he has survived so long because of the Game. His luck has run out, when next he meets Riddle, he will be mortally wounded, the Oracle tells you that. I wouldn’t put much store in his abilities.”

“He is supported in this quest by the Malfoys, Granger, the Weasleys and all those who you turned your back on ten years ago. He will be victorious.”

“Fine, don’t heed the words of a Seer, when he lying on his death bed, with his last breath he will be calling for Voldemort’s defeat and there will be no one to see that through. I have done my part, my duty as the Prophet of The Jai was to make you aware of choices and the futures awaiting you the rest is up to you.”

“You didn’t come here for the stone, did you?”

“Of course not, the Founders can rot in Hades for all I care, this was just a roundabout way of informing you of all that shall come to pass.”

“Then you are offering to help us?”

“No, the shadow hounds were chasing me through the Forbidden Forest and as I never graduated for Hogwarts, I am still protected by its charms and so I thought I’d seek refuge here. You know how it is, five months lost in the wilderness; you tend to crave drama and company, things like that. And this distracted you long enough, my Hunters are here, I’ll take it from there.”

“This was just a ploy?”

“Yes, of course. Ah, here they are. Well, thanks for the protection, it was quite chilly out there. Cheerio.”

With that said, the woman who was once known as Ginevra Weasley made her way back to the Entrance Hall. She stopped though, when she heard the charmed ceiling shatter to pieces and the Hunters descend to form a ring around her. They were all dressed the same with black robes but their faces hooded, only the one who seemed to be their leader had his face uncovered.

“Could you be anymore dramatic? I thought I told you to wait outside.”

From the ring of a dozen Hunters, the leader came forward to kneel before here and reply, ”Sorry milady, there’s seems to be a security breach at the perimeter. The shadow hounds have caught the scent, we must hurry and spirit you away from here. The Council and the Coven is waiting.”

“Alright, take me with you, but first fix the damage you’ve wrought here,” she replied.

With just a flick of a wrist and the collective astonishment of the guests, the Hunter returned the ceiling to its former state. The fascinating thing was that he did it without saying a word, this was the first time many were witness to wand-less magic, the highest physical form of magic there was. And then through the doors, she left with her entourage and disappeared in the invisible night.