Fleeing from the strongest outburst of the Great Hall, Jacob Ava sprinted toward Harry Potter's shadow. Blood sped up in his body. The inner chamber's entrance for the champion was composed of stairs. The blond lion couldn't stabilize his body. He fell. His body hit each of the stone steps. His sight blurred. Back against the ground, Jacob tried to catch his breath.
Jacob's chest rose up. He trembled. He knew about the tournament. His chest fell down. He was going to die. His throat couldn't stop a guttural sound from escaping. His teeth hurt. He couldn't recognize his own laugh. All he had was going to disappear. He covered his face with his arms. That had to be a nightmare, he prayed. The new champion heard the presence of someone coming closer. A hand rested on his shoulder.
Unable to speak, Jacob wryly smiled at the savior of the wizard world. Taking support on his friend's body, the two red robes walked toward the champions chamber. Both were deep in their thoughts. The face of a strict mother displayed in the blond student's mind. Joan Ava would be pleased with that new. She would approve. There was no doubt. For the glory, she would say. It was the fastest way to increase the Ava family's reputation and bring it into the upper layer of the community.
Jacob clenched his fist. Tears flowed again. He was nothing but a tool for that witch. If his real mother was alive, Olivia would do all her possible to remove him from this suicidal event. How could he compete with seventh-year students ? How could he survive it especially when the tournament had been closed years ago because of the high mortality rate. His nose was wet. He didn't care, he wanted to leave.
Maybe the headmaster could... Jacob couldn't finish his thought when both fourth-year students reached the champions chamber. The female contestant was watching both of them with surprise. Her sight made the blond lion ceased to function correctly. All his worries were frozen for a second. He felt his friend tensed under his hand. Jacob almost fell when Harry ran away from him. Resting against one of the walls, the student avoided the sprinting headmaster.
" Harry ! Did you put your name in the goblet of fire ? ", the older wizard had grabbed the savior with his hands, preventing the latter to flee away. Facing the negative answer, the headmaster didn't stop and continued. " Did you ask one of the older students to do it for you ? You're absolutely sure ? ", the grip relaxed. The old wizard sighed. Yet, the frown from his forehead didn't disappear.
The heads of the other schools of magic and some professors chose this moment to rejoin the group. Madam Maxime accused the two underage champions of lying and cheating. Igor Karkaroff seemed more suspicious of the new professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts when Moody supported the leader of light opinion. Both had to be separated before a conflict started.
" The hell he is lying. The goblet of fire is an exceptionally powerful magical object, only an exceptionally powerful conjurer could have hoodwinked it. Magic way beyond the talents of a fourth year. ", the old ministry security agent pointed his staff toward the limping other champion. Jacob lowered his head, staring at his feet. " The rules are absolute, the goblet of fire constitutes a binding magical contract. Mr.Potter and Mr.Ava have no choice, they are as of tonight... tri-wizards champions. ", the words fell upon the last champion like a death sentence.
Jacob couldn't control his body. He crumbled and cries filled the chamber.
Heated curses traveled through the castle walls. Mikhael left the Great Hall after Draco repeated for the third time how his father would intervene to kick out Potter and Ava as illegitimate contestants. Many students theorized how the last two champions entered the tournament despite the security measures put in place. The voices faded away as the green robe reached the outside.
The sky was free of any obstruction. There was no wind. He was alone. His eyes lingered a moment on the empty carriage. Left here, at the sight of anyone passing by, the mobile residence was free of any horses. Those winged animals slept in the school's stable. Mikhael's hand met no resistance, the texture was smooth. Under the layer of white and gold, he detected magical arrays to diminish the structure's weight and others to increase the stability and resistance of the material.
The student stepped back. Someone was coming. " No congratulation ? I expected no less from you. ", the champion witch crossed her arms while facing the green robe. She tried to keep a cold expression, but her smile couldn't leave her face. She was standing high, shin up. " Try to catch me if you can, rude man. ", her head tilted back. The witch didn't wait for an answer and turn back.
In no less than a dozen steps away, she felt arms wrapping around her waist. " It was only natural. As a tri-wizards champions, I can indulge your pathetic attempt to best me. ", Fleur leaned her head back. She had all the attention of the dark orbs. Her arms covered the orphan's own, locking them in place. " Know your place, arrogant thing. ", she put her feet on the wizard's own.
Walking with the added weight didn't bother Mikhael at all. His body could bear heavier burdens with no sweat. He enjoyed the fresh scent. Different from the lilac perfume, the white-gold haired witch possessed an undefined odor, but pleasing to the nose. That was unique. It was her. Walking like a penguin for a minute was fun for the orphan as he balanced himself to not fall despite the witch attempt to. Mikhael tightened his grip. " Be careful. ", his shin rested on the champion's shoulder.
Fleur lifted her arms. Going backward, they touched and embraced the wizard neck. " I was born to never fail... ", she rotated. Her nose touched the orphan's face. Pressing forward, her lips met his. Slower than the first time, both appreciated the moment. Their tongues pressed against each other. She had waited for this moment since weeks. He broke contact first. " My win. ", it was her payback for the summer. She gasped for air.
A scream disturbed their moment. Through the castle's corridors, a redhead was running away. Fleur wanted to continue, but the first interruption was followed by the approaching presence of the other blue robes. She bit lightly the fingers that caressed her cheek. She gleaned at her peripheral vision, she noticed the shape of the other contestants. " I pity the youngest champions, both were so miserable. ", with one last nudge on the orphan's nose, she left to enter the carriage.
Noise from far way didn't reach the closed classroom. Empty of desk and chair, the place contained an adult-size mirror. White blankets kept the reflective surface from observing the world while the only student in the room had his back on the other side. His eyes fixed the cross around his palm. Tilting forward at the footstep's sound, his ears straightened.
The door creaked. It was coming closer. One foot away from the mirror, tissues rustled. The blanket had fallen. Seconds dropped with a calm breath. " You seem troubled my friend. ", the newcomer didn't advance nor retreat.
Like him, the student stayed in his position. His sight still on the same spot. " What would choose between salvation, and prevention, headmaster ? ", the voice was calm.
The air bore the sound of a slash. Something touched the ground. " Just call me Albus when it's the two of us Mikhael. ", the old wizard made a chair scraped the stone. Facing the mirror, the headmaster contemplated the fabricated reflection. With a pained expression, the man hid the desired image with the white blanket. His hand gripped the tissue hard. " As for your question, I faced the same problem around your age. Mistakes were made. ", the fingers let go of the white coating. " What I believed at that time... ", the chair scraped the floor for the second time.
" Only you, know the response, either is it the right one or the most alluring. ", the headmaster couldn't see the orphan behind the mirror. He could only guess the latter's expressions. He knew what phase the student was going through. Leaning his head against the furniture back, the leader of light allowed the silence to rest both occupants' minds.
The metallic resonance from the school's clock broke the room's peace. " Forgiveness... is hard to accept. One needs great strength in his heart to give a second chance. ", the headmaster rose up. The chair dissipated. His footsteps reverberated in the empty corridor. A head-size eye with vertical iris floated above the mirror, scanning through the castle's walls.
Mikhael got up. His hand touched the large object. Blue lines revealed themselves. Crawling into place, they formed the runes of the deceiver, TAELIR and one for the marking of 'me', MIG. The first rune, like the ones engraved under his skin for secrecy helped to hide the presence of the magical and physical presence of the magical lines. The second one allowed to monitor the position of the marked object.
Responding to his call, a small creature appeared in front of the student.
Heavy hit resonated in the forge. Floating a meter above the ground, flames licked every inch of white bright ingots while swinging hammers extracted the impurities. By group of five, the metal shaped into helmets, chest plates, shoulders parts with arm guard and gantlets, legs and feet protections. Mikhael with the help of two third eyes monitored the process to engraved runes of defense and immunity on the armors on making.
Waving his hand, the wizard made the first armor floated toward a dummy the room summoned. The metal part opened up to engulf the wood target. A red spell flew through the room and hit the chest plate. Cracking sounds reverberated. The metal showed a spider net on the impact zone before it crumbled down. The rune in the interior didn't resist the shock. It was a failure.
Another set of armor decorated the second wood target. This time a marble of iron was propelled through the air. No cracking noise but a deafening bang resonated. The armor and its wearer were forced six meters away. The projectile had pierced the protection from the front to the back. The damaged parts floated back to the metal workshop. One meter above the ground, the pieces were molded back into ingots of pure iron.
The wizard stopped his forging. There was no progression. He succeeded in crafting armors, but failed to enchant them as he wished. Around the forge workplace, shelves of books and theories on forging were read by three artificial humans. Mikhael couldn't control more than this number of clones. Unlike with his servants' minds, those inputs had to be analyzed and studied in-depth for his forging knowledge.
All the processes to master the temperature, the metal quality and final shape were done and repeated until perfection and improved with the major use of magic to make the ingots of pure quality. The second step to work with this metallic base into armor pieces followed the same path. The engraving of runes wasn't hard. Mikhael summoned one of his last armor. All parts split opened and covered the wizard.
Feeding on the wizard magic, the runes of protections and immunity covered the metal with a light hue. A sphere of fire floated in the air. The magical construct rotated on itself. The speed increased. The flame jolted toward the armored wizard. It hit the metal. Mikhael didn't flinch. The impact had been reduced to a breeze. The armor's glow had diminished.
The wizard removed his armor. There was no trace of the magical attack. The armors were fine for a wizard's protection, but it was a different story for the magical construct without a core. The servants couldn't inject magic to activate and feed the armor's runes. No works or books in the shelves helped this problem. The forger had to experiment with the magical core he retrieved, but it would only be a temporary solution as those core couldn't regenerate their magic, thought Mikhael. The equations and runes required for absorbing the ambient magic without accidents would take a lot of time. This research had been the dream of many, but all fail.
The ritual adept closed his eyes. He knew creatures of high mastery in the smithy. The goblins wouldn't give up their secrets willingly. If he obtained their knowledge, he could advance faster. No record of their techniques, but praise of their works were recorded in the school's library. It was proof of the goblins' achievement. The three clones returned all the books back to their original place.
Shelves and the forge dissolved in the floor. The room proportion grew to reach ten meters tall with a square base of seven meters. In the center, stood a giant cross with a statue nailed to it while water fell from its eyes, flew over its cheeks, ran on the torso, traveled on the legs and dropped in a basin. Mikhael waved his hands. The lines of wooden benches spread away as he came closer.
The suitcase opened. A transparent container flew forward. The ritual adept retrieved the silver crown. The cursed object was thrown into the water. Touching the bottom, the diadem darkened. Black liquid scattered from the object. Not wasting a second, the wizard summoned a chalice while a conjured knife engraved the ground around the basin. Magic gathered. The black substance resisted. It stayed glued to the diadem.
With forms similar of 'S', the runes of Sowulo for the sun and salvation glowed in blue. The color tainted the water. Fighting against the rune magic, the liquid darkness twisted like a snake around the silver crown. The ritual adept furthered his rune array with the addition of Laguz at the cardinal point. That symbol for water merged with the previous set of salvation to enchant the purification power in the basin.
To destroy an Horcrux a Fiendfyre or basilisk venom were the natural solutions, but to remove a partial soul from its anchor was something either, never attempt before or the recorded in lost tomes. The pure water pressured the black liquid to release the silver crown. Tendrils of darkness plunged into the water and pierced the black substance. The dark lord's soul couldn't resist the dual assault. It started with one drop, the black substance divided in two parts.
The smallest soul partition fell into the chalice. A second drop followed the same example. The cursed object weakened. Five drops at the same time were torn from the soul anchor. All the drops merged into a puddle in the new container. The golden chalice started fading. The metallic interior deteriorated. Thin layers of gold detached themselves as the liquid's level rose up.
Whispers of greatness emanated from the chalice. He could become great. He could surpass Dumbledore. All he needed to do was drinking the dark soul. All his desire would come true. Only one gulp was enough. He had to do it. Nothing would stop him, not even death. He wouldn't fear anything. He would be, absolute. He wouldn't be left alone again. He would be loved.
Mikhael threw away the object. The diadem was free of the soul. Black flames consumed the chalice. Screams resonated. The gold melt. Wind pulsed waved of agony. The giant cross fell. The fire burned the soul. Red dots appeared on the black liquid. It focused on the orphan. It was decreasing, but the mad glint lingered on Mikhael. The ritual adept waved his hand. Another burst of fire ignited the liquid. Nothing remained.
The green robe plunged his hands in the cold water. Runes around the basin stopped shinning. His finger touched the metal. The silver crown crumbled at his contact. The founder artifact had been damaged beyond any repair. No magic could reconnect the parts nor return it to its original state. The diadem known for its ability to grant knowledge and wisdom to its wearer was lost forever.
Enchanted badges with a supportive function for Cedric were popular in the month of November. Students wore them to show their support for their school 'real' champion. When Draco saw the first badges, he couldn't resist the urge to use them for a better purpose. With the collaboration of older Slytherins, new badges were crafted with an hidden appearance showing the savior in a green poop with a message 'Potter stink'.
Whenever no professors were in sight at the same time as either Harry Potter or Jacob Ava walked in the school's corridors, the students activated this function. Draco noticed the presence of his rival around the outdoor corridors. The blond snake smirked at the other students' attitudes. Nudging at a depressing Nott, Draco pulled out his wand and casted a Leg-Locker Curse.
The spell flew through the distance. Unprepared, Harry was hit by the curse. Instead of advancing, his legs refused to move forward and stuck together against his will. The savior fell. Laughers greeted him as he canceled the curse. Lowering his head, Harry went past a duo that blocked his path and discussed in private with Cedric about the dragons. The pale face of the older student made the observing group of green robes curious.
Mikhael probed the wizards' head. Giant lizards hidden in the Forbidden Forest were the first task. Conjuring a small paper, the orphan wrote down a few words. He knew she would have been informed by her headmistress, but he wanted to make sure. Watching his blond house-mate, Mikhael waved his wand. The paper transfigured into a raven. The bird deployed its wings and flew high. It knew where it had to go.
" Why so tense Potter ? My father and I have a bet you see. I don't think you're gonna last ten minutes in this tournament. He disagrees. He thinks you won't last FIVE. ", Draco waved his hands while posing. He stepped forward as his two bodyguards and Pansy protected his back. The blond wizard tilted his head, inviting Mikhael and Nott to join them. The latter followed to keep an unite front for his alienated house.
" I don't give a damn what you or your father thinks Malfoy. He's vile and cruel, and you're just pathetic. ", Harry faint a headbutt. Draco stepped back. Shades of red colored the shamed student. Harry smirked. Ridiculed, Draco lifted his wand. Harry pointed at him. Draco gritted his teeth, but lower his arm. Harry straightened his back and starred at Mikhael who didn't have pulled his wand.
Arms crossed, the orphan watch as the young champion walked away. Draco, still fuming waited for this moment to cast his spell. The magic was intercepted by a conjured stone. Mad-Eye with his magical eye scanned the group of green robes. Planting his staff in the ground, the professor transfigured the culprit into a ferret. Before things degenerated further, McGonagall interrupted the transfiguration and reprimanded the punishment.
Seeing the blond wizard fleeing away with Moody in pursuit, Mikhael watched one of his house-mate. He knew what caused this. Yet, he wanted to verify. " Why the long face Nott ? ", both green robes separated from Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle. The duo walked in silence for minutes. Fewer students occupied the hallway.
When no one was present anymore, the silent wizard turned his head toward the orphan. " I'm not the closest with my parent, but my father is my only relative. Even if we don't go along, I don't want him... ", Nott stopped. A Durmstrang group passed by. They nodded their heads, the duo responded the same. They were left alone again. " I don't want to believe it, but... I didn't see him since the end of the summer. I have no idea where he is. He didn't respond to any of my letters since the start of the school. One every Monday, and nothing back, I fear he is... He had many enemies, and with the company he was with... ", Nott's fist tainted the floor with drops of red.
" Some of his friends had already disappeared for years now. He told me the last time I saw him that he had a bad gut feeling. ", Nott stopped himself. He accepted a conjured tissue and swiped away his tears. They were closer to the school dungeon. " With the unknown bodies that disappeared at the Quidditch World Cup... ", Nott revealed the password to enter their common room. The duo sat before the fireplace.
" I have nothing to say that could help you. I just hope that speaking aloud your worries made them less harsher, even a small bit. ", Mikahel waved his hand and Winky apparated. She stumbled a second. Seeing the worry glint in her master sight, the creature spoke at unintelligible speed. She calmed down when the orphan gave his order. She had to rest for the day.
Nott's eyebrows rose up when another house-elf appeared. This one demonstrated another scene of veneration and brought with him a dozen of butterbeer instead of the two asked by Mikhael. Nott took a drink. The cold taste changed fast into a warm one. " Thank you are a good friend you know ? ", Nott lifted his drink.
Meeting the other butterbeer, Mikhael kept his expression neutral. " I'm not. ", he finished the drink in one go.
Near the Forbidden Forest border, a couple of wizard and witch enjoyed the fresh air. That day was just before the first task. Mikhael wrapped the slim body with a large tissue. The fabric covered all her shape. The invisibility runes were reinforced to last longer and the interior was covered with thin plates of metal. Each of those artificial scales bore runes of defense and Flame-Freezing Charm.
" Ugly design, it really is from you my rude man. ", Fleur mimicked a pucking face. Wrapping her body with it, she sneaked past the orphan and pushed him. Expecting such a reaction, Mikhael had a third eye floating above the duo. With the mental link, he saw the magical sight. The 'empty' space moving around him was not hidden. Like Moody's vision, this spell allowed the wizard to see through invisibility. Feigning to fall, the orphan caught the witch and pinched her waist. She let a shocked squeal escaped.
" I can't bring it with me. ", Fleur extirpated from the wizard's embrace and folded the tissue.
" Summon it. ", the orphan waved his wand. The modified invisibility cape flew into his hand.
" Why can't you... ", the witch sighed. She closed the distance. Biting her lips she presented the back of her skull to the wizard. Mikhael unfolded the cape and wrapped it around the witch head. Blinded with the tissue, her breath accelerated. The green robe took her hand. Without a word, he guided her around the lake. She couldn't see. Her grip strengthened when she stumbled on a rock.
Mikhael slowed the pace. Fleur leaned on his side.
The giant squid emerged from the water.
The 25 November marked the day of the first task. Mikhael had hugged Fleur before she entered the champions' tent. He noticed the presence of a bushy-haired witch when he left for the stadium. He and Hermione didn't interact much this year. She was going in to cheer up the savior, he guessed since Harry was the only one who was accepting her in the lion's house.
The stadium filled up with the students, school staff, ministry agents and reporters. Rejoining a lone girl, Mikhael brought with him some pastries. Luna brightened at the green robe presence. The event was almost starting when Nott, Zabini, Greengrass and Tracy sat next to Mikhael. The group stopped chatting when the headmaster rose from his seat and pointed his wand toward his throat.
" Please, sit down. Now you have waited, you have wondered and at last, the moment has arrived. Today, we witness The Triwizard Tournament first task. Today our champions will prove their courage and valor. ", Dumbledore paused a second to increase the power behind his spell. " Today, glory will meet the victorious ! To prove themselves, the champions have to collect a golden egg from the nest of a dragon. ", the headmaster sat down. The crowd cheered up for the task.
The rock arena opened in its center. A platform with five eggs and a golden one rose from the aperture. Next to it was a sleeping Swedish Short-Snout. The silvery-blue dragon was chained to a large rock. The dragon's reserve agent reinforced the chain and rock to sustain future strains. When they were sure of the security, they left the arena and shot spell from the viewer rank to wake up the beast.
A cannon fired. The Swedish Short-Snout lifted its eyelid. Flames spread from its nostrils. Excited with the view, the crowd applauded and cheered up at the first champion apparition. Cedric Lift one arm to adapt his sight with the bright light. Seeing the beast, he sprinted as fast as possible to a large rock near his entrance. Unnoticed by the dragon, the student waved his wand to transfigure a rock into a dog.
The canine panicked at the giant lizard sight. Barking in desperation, the animal fulfilled its role and distracted the dragon long enough for Cedric to retrieve the golden egg. A painful squeal outshone the crowd cheer. The dog was burned into crisped. Cedric put all his strength in his leg and sprinted. He had a hard time breathing. His lungs were on fire. Real flame licked his back as he reached the safety zone.
The reserve agents in synchrony casted stunner toward the frenzied beast. The dragon resisted. The chain extends fully. Magic rebounded on the scale. Flame chased after the closed entrance. The wizard sped up. Another two rounds of stunner penetrated the magical resistance and immobilized the dragon. The agent proceeded to change the beast for the next one with the corresponding nest.
The new contestant faced a green dragon. Native from Wales, the welsh roared in a strange but musical way. The witch in the arena waved her wand. Mikhael unlocked his pouch. The modified invisibility cape flew toward the girl. Catching it between her fingers, Fleur winked toward the stadium. Covered in the robe, she left the majority sight. The dragon sniffed the air, but its head tilted left and right.
Wind and new perfume filled its nose. The beast neck lowered. Almost asleep the dragon didn't react when the golden egg disappeared after a hand grabbed it. Letting a flow of fire before slumbering for good, the beast closed its eyes. Fleur uncovered her body before the champion's exit. She showed no burn marks nor exhaustion. Giving one last glance to the stadium, the champion left the arena behind.
Like for the previous champion, the reserve agents prepared the arena for the third champion. Unlike the sneaky way of his predecessor, Krum confronted the beast head-on. The Chinese Fireball threw projectiles at the wizard who countered with shield and Conjunctivitis Curse. The spell target the weak a spot. Irritating the eyes, it forced the victim to shut them down.
Succeeding to hit true after a restless assault, the son of the north marched forward to get the objective. However, he didn't anticipate the dragon fury. The scarlet and smooth scaled with a fringe of golden spikes stomped around with no other goal to flatten the wizard. The sheer amount of muscles and bones made the arena tremble. One egg fell from the nest. It broke. The snub-snouted face with extremely protuberant eyes stopped.
Krum hasted with this small window. The dragon roared and threw fireball everywhere. One of the stone exploded, its remnant hit the running wizard. The golden egg under his arms impacted the ground. Krum cursed in his native language. He extended his wand toward the beast. His aim targeted the dragon chest. He gritted his teeth. The high master, Igor Karkaroff screamed his champion name. Krum lowered his arms, he retrieved the egg and left.
Since the arena was too damaged, the working staff spent half an hour to repair or replace some parts to not unbalance the place nor the stadium. The fourth champion entered the arena. Jacob Ava was trembling. Wand ready, he levitated stones around him. The earth pieces flew toward the beast head. The large Romanian Longhorn didn't blink. The stone missed for half and the rest couldn't damage its hide.
Seeing the small wizard, the bulky dragon leaned forward. Cut horns faced Jacob. The front and back legs stomped the ground. The arena trembled for the second time. The wizard stepped back. The dragon lifted its front leg. It advanced. The small step turned into a bigger one. The chain soon was extended to is maximal capacity. Jacob fled back to the champion tent, sweat pearled all his body.
Another cannon shot. The last champion for the first task. Luna gripped Mikhael arms when Harry avoided the Hungarian Horntail fire and tail. The crowd cheered as the savior summoned his broom. The aerial performances helped the champion to evade the dragon assault. The used chain finally broke. The pressure and maintenance from the previous trial damaged the restrain too much.
The stadium's upper rank where the headmaster was, finished destroyed by the flying dragon. Mikhael didn't say any words to Luna. He couldn't cheer her for this student. He just hugged her to calm down. In his sight corner, the green robe noted the paleness Hermione and Ron harbored. The headmaster didn't try to help with this security problem and let the reserve agent pursuit the dragon with their feet.
Around half an hour later, the broken sound of mechanic announced to the public the presence of the savior. In bad shape, Harry retrieved the egg. He lifted his fist in the air, enjoying the student cheer. Luna only sighed with relief. Watching the disinterested face of her friend, she hugged him stronger. " I'm not like you Micky. I just, don't like violence. ", she extended one arm and grabbed the last pastry.
Barty took the end of the task in his hand and gave the score of each champion.
Fleur exited the resting ground before the crowd fully exited the stadium. She found the orphan with a younger witch in his embrace. The temperature rose up. She pushed away any student that block her path. Mikhael noticed her approaching. The fury in her face didn't diminish. Fleur towered the wizard and Luna. She lowered her posture. Monopolizing the orphan's lips she starred at the younger witch.
Not breaking eye contact, Luna finished her pastry.
The wind pushed away dark clouds. Free of obstacles, the sky blessed the tallest tower with its light. White rays traveled through the spherical astrolabe, their intensity rebound over the framework of interlinked rings containing the representation of the sun and its rotating planets. Tapping the celestial globe with his wand tip, the headmaster pulled the elements in the right place for this night.
" I'm feeling old as of now, Mikhael. ", the wizard took a seat next to the tower's aperture. With cautious, his back pressed against the cold stone while his gaze starred in the horizon. " Dark times are approaching. ", his shoulders lowered. Breathing in, he recomposed his previous posture. " In time of need... ", his voice stayed in suspense. The headmaster put his hand in his robe's pocket.
A pink and green paper in his palm, the wizard unfolded it with care, one corner pinched between his right index and thumb. " I'm just rambling, forgive me. ", the wizard grimaced at the candy's taste. For a whole minute, silence reigned the Astronomy Tower. With a last cough, the older wizard returned next to the sky instrument. Facing the green robe, the headmaster pointed his wand to the ground. " With age, we tend to forget ourselves, but there is one thing that can't be forgotten. ", the wand glowed white.
The white light transformed into a white mist. Covering half the wizard size, it kept growing. " Love, Mikhael. What a wonderful emotion, so powerful and yet, painful. ", the wand shot up. It pulsed like a heartbeat, sending waves into the concentrated mist. Shaping into a dome, the white light covered the full room and solidified. The green robe gritted his teeth while his face was expressionless.
" Expecto Patronum ! ", all the light focused into hundred of lines. The shape of a silver bird flew across the room and perched on the headmaster's shoulder. The ethereal phoenix tilted its head while no sound escaped its opening and closing beak. Cold sweats pearled on the student back. " I'm truly happy to see you interacting more with new people like the charming lady Delacour. ", walking toward the exit, the headmaster lift his hand. The bird rubbed its head against its owner's fingers.
The Corporeal Patronus swung its wings and left its position. Flying back to the spherical astrolabe, the silver bird flapped its limbs to stay at the student eyes' level. From its body, the voice of the older wizard reverberated. " It fills me with hope truly. ", the magical creation took its flight back to its original position. The headmaster waved its wand to open the door.
Under the wrinkled skin, the silver bird dissipated into a white mist. The surreal light that fell from the wizard's shoulder stained the floor with a small hill of silver dust. " However, with the way things go... Remember, Camille and Alice, they loved each other... Mother and daughter... the future is not safe Mikhael. ", the old wizard left the entrance. The silver dust moved. Without any feathers, a finger-size chick popped its wrecked head, starring at the student. " Regret is my constant companion. Do not let it become yours. ", the little phoenix burst into flames. Nothing remained.
Summoning two third eyes, the green robe made sure no one was present anymore before lifting his arm. Focusing his magic at his fingertip, he let the flow burst forward. A dimmed light shone. The illumination didn't have the time to grow when parts of it, conglomerated in a dozen of small dots. Thin expansions emerged from the whitish forms. With buzzing noise, it multiplied. Dozens duplicated into hundreds. Hundreds grew into thousands.
Red eyes with pale body, numerous maggots hovered in the room. Stopping the spell, the wizard didn't step back when all his creation turned their red sight on his person. Blue flames erupted from the green robe as the maggot descended toward their creator. Incinerated, the insects dissipated back into light dots. The silver color plastered on the hard stones.
The puddle of magic shivered. Thousands of small protuberances popped up. Shaking with strength, the eggs broke. New maggots twirled their limbs. Before they could deploy their wings, a black flame caressed their nest. The silver light dimmed before fading. Claps of the insects' struggle intensified. Fire melted the ones too far to be incinerated. Some maggots gave up their wings and twisted their unprepared legs to crawl away.
The flame consumed them all.