*Narrator pov*
St Mungos Hospital was the premier healing facility in magical England, the building wasn't grand nor was it modest. From the outside, the hospital seemed like a normal building.
Inside the feeling was much different, in some sections, there was an ambiance of relief and happiness as families and friends embraced each other reveling in the news their loved ones would be okay.
In other sections, it seemed as if all of the happiness and relief were sucked away and replaced by grief and crippling sadness.
Edgar Bones sat on a bench outside one of the many rooms, his figure stark against the white backdrop. His hands, bloodied and trembling, are clutched tightly together as if he's trying to squeeze away the memory of whatever violence brought him here. The brightness of the surroundings made the red on his hands even more vivid, a harsh contrast to the sterile environment. The silence around him feels oppressive, filled with unasked questions and unspoken fears, as he waits for news from within the room.
Teardrops fell from his eyes plopping onto the floor as the memory of the night played over and over again in his head. Footsteps rapidly approached him but he couldn't care enough to lift his head, "Edgar!" he heard, his head whipping up with relief and surprise, "Sam!" he yelled standing from his bench and bracing his wife, "I'm so glad you're okay," kissing her cheek he held her away and scooped up his terrified daughter, "I'm so glad your okay sweetie I wouldn't know what I'd do if I lost you," he held her so tight it looked as if he would never let her go
"Honey, what's wrong they wouldn't tell me who was hurt," Samantha asked frantically
Edgar seemed to lose all of the warmth and happiness he was feeling by seeing his family again as he collapsed back onto the bench setting Amelia in his lap, "Edward," he whispered haunted by the sight of the life slipping away from his son
Tears started flowing freely once more, "What about Eli, where is he Edgar!" she screamed not at him but in fear
Lord Bones gripped his wife's hand tightly, "He is okay, right now Eli is getting a checkup to patch his bruises and make sure nothing is wrong with him,"
"What's wrong with Edward," Amelia asked in fear
Edgar gripped his daughter tighter, "He was hit with a nasty curse, they aren't sure if he will make it. I'm sorry I should have sent him and Eli with you both,"
His wife sat down next to him, "Dont think like that, this is NOT your fault," she hissed in anger, "It was the fault of those bloody terrorist,"
As Lord Bones went to reply the door opened in front of them the healer and her team walked out each adorning looks of distraught, "I'm sorry,"
*Morpheus pov*
I sat in my study sipping on a generous glass of wine as I read the morning paper, it seems the Bones family catastrophe was abated by Dumbledore's intervention. Of course, he and his comrades are saying they were there for dinner and definitely not another faction at play.
Laughable as it is most people would probably buy it, the man is known for being close with most of the light faction. Smirking I took another sip of my wine, the next Wizengamot meeting will certainly be interesting.
Sighing I looked down at my glass and lifted it once more downing it in one go. So uncivilized but, I do need to get going. This war is building the Aurors, Hit wizards, and even Albus are just adding wood to the dam letting it build and build.
Soon that dam will break and everything will go to shit. I would never admit it out loud but this part is what makes me nervous, when everything collapses so do plans. I have done everything possible to set up the future I desire, I CRAVE.
And to have that future?
I need to get my hands dirty.
Picking up my wand I apparated out of my manor, my feet touching the soft grass on the outskirts of the Kielder Forest also known as the home of the giants.
Normally I would try to negotiate with them and try to make them my allies, sadly I learned about four maybe five hundred years ago how grave that mistake would be.
Giants are strong, resistant to magic and so much more. They are practically the best front-line soldiers against the other races their downfall is simply their mind. Oh so simple and unpredictable.
Making them my ally would be inviting a whole new realm of unpredictability. It would be as if I wanted my plans to fail.
I stepped over the line where the forest began, and the air changed instantly. It always did. The familiar chill sank into my bones, wrapping around me like an old, unwelcome friend. The trees here were the same as I remembered—pale, their bark almost glowing in the fading light, branches tangled together high above, creating a canopy that swallowed the sky. It felt like stepping into another world. I'd been here more times than I cared to count, but the feeling never changed.
The moment my foot crunched on the soft earth beneath the trees, I knew I wasn't alone. I never was here. The forest was alive in a way that wasn't natural, and it always watched. The air grew heavier, like it was pressing in on me, and I could feel the weight of unseen eyes. They were everywhere, hidden in the shadowed spaces between the trunks, watching, waiting. It wasn't threatening—yet—but there was no mistaking the awareness. It was impossible to walk this ground unnoticed.
I kept my pace slow, deliberate. No point in rushing. The forest knew me, just as I knew it, and that brought no comfort. Every step felt measured, the silence thick around me, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves and the distant groan of branches shifting in the wind. My fingers brushed against the rough bark of a tree as I passed, the sensation grounding me in the present, reminding me of where I was.
Yet another reason the giants still exist, the forest they make home will always like them more. And I fear the forest knows my intentions.
"MORPHEUS!" a growl echoed across the trees wrapping around me
"My friend!" I greeted, "I'm here for negotiations!"
"No your NOT!"
Popping a pill I quickly ran to the side dodging the rock aimed at my temple. No, it was more like a boulder.
I could feel and hear the thumping of their footsteps nearing my direction, "Word travels fast!" I shouted back having to stick to short blinks of Apparations, "Goblin wards how did you swing that Igor!?" a warning would have been nice I am going to have a long chat with the esteemed king
Weaving in between trees I saw the giants approach and smirked close quarters is their only choice besides throwing anything they can find.
Entering a clearing I began to set up as many traps as possible before ducking out.
Now comes a game of cat and mouse and I so hate being the mouse.