Hey guys , I hope you enjoy this chapter and it's contents , if anyone has any reviews or ideas they'd like to share , I would he happy to see what I can do , I'll try adding more immersive and descriptive content from here on out to really build the immersion.
Again please leave a review , I love hearing from each of my readers
I'll be editing the previous chapters soon
Anyway, onto the next chapter , I hope you guys enjoy , remember to leave a review on what you think and any questions you have
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1964
Towering ferns rose over their heads , her giggles echoed through the dimly lit wood.
" Ya ... " She threw a rock at a raven hanging in a tree high above , squaking at her before flying off into the forest. She bounced with joy as she left the safety of her garden , The two story house behind her a presence of safety as she walked into the treeline .
She ducked sown in curiosity, Picking up a withered log to , joyous at the grubs , worms and bugs crawled under the small log she had lifted.
" Hahaha " Like bell chimes her joyous laugh echoed, Dumping the log as she moved further into the forest .
" Hm ... " A sudden cry of several birds drew her gaze upwards , As several birds flew through the trees away from the interior of the forest , Fleeing the canopy and into the afternoon sun .
" Wow ... " She ignored the Fleeing squaking birds and stepped over a fallen branch .
" Ah ... " She suddenly reached to a tree , Doubling over in fright at the loose footing , her curly hair shifting as she let out a huff and turned her gaze to the right.
Her eyes widened in surprise , her body freezing for a moment as she stared unabashed .
A boy , Black hair hanging around his head , Golden eyes stared at her , Unblinking , Palid yellow robes hanging from his lithe figure , Looked at her as if too frozen by her sudden appearance.
" ah.... "
Their eye contact lasted for several long seconds before he suddenly whirled around and darted off into the wood like a loosened arrow.
" HEY ... " She picked up the base of her dress and sprinted after the flowing figure.
' Wow ... how is he doing that ' Child like wander crept as she watched him flow over towering roots , leap vast distances in a single gait and seemingly phase through thick treestumps in his path.
" WAIT " As miraculous as his movements were , he never fled her vision as she chased , Occasionally slipping over the same thick roots he simply bound over , Her laboured breaths ignored as her gaze kept locking onto his Fleeing frame .
She followed like a bloodhound until he leapt into a thicket of roses , The yellow of his robes Vanishing as soon as he dove in.
' Ouch ... ' She stopped just before the towering roses , Their beauty great but the threat of pain and punishment clear , As their barbs glistened under the small amounts of sunlight that broke through the canopy above .
" Hm ... " She stepped on her tipping toes and looked into the rose bush , Squinting from left to right , Leaning forward but aware of not to touch the bush itself .
Suddenly , something in the bush moved ever so slightly, Vanishing further in before she could properly identify what it could be.
" Hey ... wait up " A branch struck her face , causing her to cry out in pain , as she shut her eyes and pushed forward through the branches .
" Get. .. out of " She hissed as a rose bush brushed her skin , Stinging as it cut her open .
" Of my way "With one last push , She broke through the thick thicket of bushes , The sudden lack of tension freeing her , yet the force she was putting Into her steps made her stumble , falling through the last vestiges of the brush leaves.
" Waaaa " She suddenly fell , Loose footing causing her leg to bend at an awkward angle , Her cry echoing as she fell and rolled down a steap embankment.
Her head raised , Whitened dirt falling through her brown locks .
" Woah " The flaring pain in her leg fled immediately, Forgotten as her breath was robbed by the silent woof she found herself in.
Creeping through the sparce forest , She looked around in confusion, Thick white trees , dead , Reaching with their withered branches into the pale yellow skies.
" What is this place " She turned back to the hill she had just rolled down , Yet behind her there was nothing but empty , pale white ground with withered trees in all directions.
" Huh " Her mouth hung agape slightly as she rose , The sting in her leg gone entirely .
Through the trees, soft white fog rolled through on non existent winds , Weaving between the trees that vanished like shadows into the milky curtain .
" Let's goooo " With the fearlessness of childhood , She turned in a random direction and began to walk , intending to explore the strange place she had found herself in .
The reached down and picked up a fallen white branch .
Dropping its tip into the white dirt , where she let it fall.
Seeing the direction it fell pointed into the clear rolling hills of white , She nodded her head and began to walk forward .
She spied the dead trees , The soundless rolling fog and the yellow skies high above. She explored to her little hearts content ,Happily walking forward without hesitation.
She didn't even notice the subtle yet not sudden shifting of the dense wood of dead trees that spread in all directions.
Until her attention was drawn to what appeared to be the end of the wood .
She sprinted forward in curiosity, Her footprints leaving shallow grooves in her wake as she found herself just beyond the reach of a lake of black that had no tide .
More than anything. It wasn't the impossible silence of the lake that drew her attention , nor the rolling fog that crawled across its surface . The mountains she hadn't seen behind her taller than any mountain she had ever seen far beyond the wood .
No what drew her attention peeked through the fog like a spying child . It's silhouette parting the fog that began to clear on its own.
" Wow " Across the lake , Standing like a blackened monolith that stretched the horizon as far as their eyes could see .
Reaching up to the skies with spires as black as the night , gold tapestries fluttered , hung from the non euclidean shapes that cast long shifting shadows through the silent fog.
Monolithic towers stood tall , Staring over the endless city , an ever looming existence .
" Beautiful " A song , Or ... noise came from the city , Not pleasant but not harsh , Like whispers on the wind echoing across the lake . Alien noises indescribable assaulted her ears as she stood across the great black lake .
Against her will , Well .. not exactly , her hand raised as she took a step forward , And her toes dipped into the silent shores of the silent lake .
" Huh ... " She hadn't had any time to react nor see what happened , But as soon as her right foot touched the surface of the lake , She vanished into its surface , sinking in like she had suddenly fallen into am impossibly deep pit , Not even as she sunk was the surface of the water disturbed , And without her presence. The echoes of the great city silenced, Yet loomed like a mirage on the horizon .
....
HOGS HEAD INN
....
" Have a nice day " Aberforth bid his customer well , Wiping down a mug that had just been left on the bar .
" You too Mister dumbledore " The couple , Recent graduates from hogwarts left the bar hand in hand , The chime of the door closing leaving the bar in quiet whispers of the remaining patrons.
' Not much life today ' Though he wasn't disheartened by the slow pace , Days like this often made him think , And thinking wasn't something he wanted to do , especially when he became stuck in his own head .
Grunting , His brow furrowed as he turned away and placed the mug with the others below the counter ,gliding across the bar with practiced ease , ignoring the mounted boar head to his side .
Smelling of goat , The aroma that caked the interior of the small room that was the inn made his nose twitch , A small smile coming to his face as he began to wipe down the bar counter .
Within moments of the previous couples departure , The chime of the entrance opening drew his attention.
" What can I help you with today " His last word stuck in his throat, brow furrowing as instead of an adult, a teen wearing the robes of slytherin strode in.
" How ... interesting " The boy sniffed the air but made no face , Studied the ground beneath with a raised foot and a higher raised eyebrow.
" I think you need to clean the floors sir , they seem to have abit of grime on them " Though he didn't leave , Instead aberforth watched the teen stride over to the bar counter , Eyes regarding everything in sight with a cold calculated detachment.
" Scratch that , Maybe everything instead " Pale hands rested on the counter as their owner sat himself down , Twinkling golden eyes Peering into aberforths own Scrutinising gaze .
" What can I get you boy " Aberforth growled , The dirty rag in his hand merely smearing it perpetual blackness over the countertop .
" Whatever you have " The boy reached and pulled out a chalice of black and gold , Jewels lining its exterior that glistened under the bar light .
" Hm " Aberforth snatched the chalice, Turning with a huff and beginning to fill it with a none alcoholic drink , Muttering under his breath before turning back and placing the sloshing drink onto the counter top .
" Thank you " The boy took the chalice , Wiping the dirtied finger prints aberforth left on its exterior before taking a sip of the provided pumpkin juice .
" Strange place for a student to come " All sorts of shady groups huddled about within his inn , For a student still at hogwarts to step inside was ... not unusual in groups , but attention grabbing on their own.
" Curiosuty drives " The reply was short but consise , Where the boy glanced at the other patrons for a moment before turning his even and highly inexpressive gaze apon the owner .
" And what about my bar is curious to you boy " Aberforth twitched , feeling like he was being picked apart under those illuminated , wrong eyes .
Instead of answering , that boy aberforth realised was anything but a typical student , turned his piercing gaze to a large painting of a girl that sat on a hearth .
" She looks like a sweet girl ... though her fate saddens me ... I think " Searching , those eyes seemed distant , considering as they pondered the meaning of the word sadness.
" What do you think you know boy " Aberforth hissed, bile in his throat rising as he cursed the memories that surged at the boys words.
" I saw the day it happened ... from another perspective " The admission drove a stake through the aged man's heart, His face reddened and anger flared .
" Albus ..." That cursed name of his elder brother spat with the venom of a viper , as if the word disgusted him to no end.
" Exactly right ... though I'm sure the days feeling would he different to yours " The boy turned back to him with open curiosity , Studying the angry wizards face as if he hadn't dragged the bar keepers worst memories to the surface .
" Why did you come here " Aberforth growled , Throat rumbling something fierce as his knuckles curled over the counter top .
" As I said ... curiosity " Heedless of the owners anger , the infuriating boy spoke without passion nor teasing , just simple facts .
" You can take your curiosity else where " He had enough of the boys evasiveness and apparent ease of angering him , Turning away and Dismissing the boy with a wave .
" Can I... it wouldn't be me losing out in this conversation ... but fine ... " The boy whose mouth reeked of venom rose , The chalice in his grasp Vanishing under aberfoths gaze.
" If the good turned resentful don't want to converse ... then I would be naive to push " His hand swept and only then did aberforth notice the lack of anyone else in the inn .
" Enjoy your day Mister dumbledore ... and good luck ... " The boy strode to the inns entry like he was the rightful owner, Casting one last glance of mirth towards aberforth " I would keep your wand at the ready ... it's a strange day about "
His teeth gnashed as the black locks on the boys head turned away , An amused snicker ripping from the boys lips before he left .
Yet for all his anger , his eyes turned to the large portrait looking apon him with that same look she always did .
" Fine ... " He slumped , turning away as the anger in his veins evaporated as quickly as it came , the dirty rag in his hand returning to spreading its filth over the counter.
' But ... ' The boys warning , As strange and almost insulting as it was , was headed , As he grabbed his wand , hidden within his robes and at the ready . He too could feel the shift in the atmosphere within the inn.
....
" Rude little shit " He continued to curse under his tongue long into the day , Shortly after the boys departure did patrons seem to return to his establishment, though soarce and slow. He was too angry to care about them as they sat in the corners amd conversed amongst themselves .
" I should tell dumbldore to keep his little goblins fron coming here " He growled , Rag smearing the same circle it had been darkening for the longest tune.
" hnnnn ... " The veins in his forehead grew larger as his blood Raged, but most of all he couldn't remove the boys words from his head . Like persistent whispers echoing through his skull , they simply couldn't be removed.
When the inns entry was opened once more , Aberforth didn't even welcome the customer as he stewed in his frothing anger.
The soft whispers of the inn slowly receded as he stared at the countertop , A sudden chill resonating within the inn that gave him pause .
" Hm ... "
' The voices have stopped ' They hadn't left , None of them had , yet their silence spoke volumes ' what an interesting boy '
' PROTEGO ' His wand hand flew up , Blocking several spells that lurched from within the shadows of his inn , striking his silently cast shield , where he stared through its Glistening radiance at the shadowed figures.
" Death eaters " He spat the word , Growling as they stepped into the confined space of his inn .
They didn't speak , Instead they pointed their wands at him , Their intent clear .
" Looking to hurt my brother through me aye " His fingers toyed at his wand , gaze sweeping from each death eater from one to another.
" Sorry to say ... albus won't be getting that news " He struck hard and fast , A silent curse Leaping from the tip of his wand at the nearest deatheater .
A tether of blue striking a protego cast by his attacker .
That was the opening for their impromptu duel .
BANG
At once they attacked , aged as he was , going on sixties , yet he was no push over .
His arm flicked from side to side , sweeping through the air as he focussed nit on speaking his spells , but fueling their intent .
CRACK
he swept a red curse to the side with ease , responding with a tether of liquid lightning that blasted the deatheater apart violently and destroying a part of the wall behind him .
SWIP
He ducked to the right as a pale green struck the drooling boar head behind him.
" You really want to kill me " He bounced with grace rarely seen from one his age or stature , dodging and Weaving several more spells as he made his way to the far end of the inn , Turning to face the entrance of the inn .
" I don't think you children quite understand what you're in for ... I may not be albus " He threw a table top infront of him , making it act as a shield between him and his dastardly foes .
" But you certainly are not my natch " He pointed the tip of his wand at his open hand , a spell of blinding white appearing on its tip and between his fingers .
" Foolish wizards " He suddenly slung the white ball at the tip of his wand , throwing it at the centre of the group before calling several more spells to his front .
BAAAANG
His ears exploded and eyes became illuminated to white , Blinding him momentarily as he grounded himself with his magic.
His foes however , and anything infront of him simply exploded away , Ripped apart and shredded as the inns entrance was blasted apart in a single wave of sweeping heat that blasted his face like an open furnace.
Blinking away the spots in his vision , Aberforth grunted and stepped forward over the ashen remains of the death eaters .
" Good riddance " He knew it wasn't over however. Puffing his head high and stepping through the rubble of the front of the store , The smell of burning ozone resting in his Nostrils.
" Oh poor naive children " Like a quaking giant , he stepped atop the rubble and regarded the lines of deatheaters standing infront if his store , a vicious , hate filled smile twisting his features as the monsters before him took a half a step back " Let me show you what a dumbledore can do "
...
Their battle raged through hogsmeade. Stores crumbled and people fled . Yet he stood alone against the attacks , shouting from people to flee as he ducked , weaved and blocked the wall of spells aimed at him with perilous intent .
A tree exploded under a mis cast spell , Toppling and blocking the path as sweat ran down his brow .
The heat of a blasting curse burst by , yet he gave it no worries as his arm moved a blur. Near after images slinging spell after spell back .
" YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ME " His anger rushed through his veins , yet he wasn't angry, Rather he was revelling in the duel , The blood rushing through his veins. The heartbeat in his ears . The threat of death looming over him like the heads man's axe .
" HAHAHAHA " He bellowed joyously , Arm Flinging to the side to send a deatheater to his death as he slammed into the front of the quiddich store .
" DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH " He lost himself to his dueling instincts . Years of pent up hatred and frustration bubbling to the surface as he unleashed said fury apon his opponents.
" DIE " He blocked three hexes cast with laughing joy , His hair sweeping as he moved , the stone underfoot warping against the heat pressed apon his shield .
" DIFINDO " The spell left his lips and his wand swept , Slinging across the air as it struck his attacks before they could react .
" FOOLS " Two of the three collapsed , their stomachs opening wide as their robes fell to either side .
" IS IT JUST YOU , WHERE'S YOUR BACKUP " He bellowed , his large frame descending apon the lone deatheater , Left ... right, his arm moved as blasting curse after blasting curse left the tip of his wand , either blocked or sent spinning off in odd directions as the last standing death eater continuously brought himself more time.
To his side , The candy store of honeydukes exploded apart thanks to his spell slamming into its foundations, Yet his tunnel vision blocked him from understanding his actions. His building frustrations screaming through him as he continuously advanced apon the struggling last deatheater .
" FUCKING DIE " He noticed rushing shades in their approach , Teeth gnashing as backup arrived through the way he had came , Ignoring the bodies of the other deatheaters in their haste to rush him .
' from two fronts Huh ' He growled , now splitting his attention between the last deatheater and the new arrivals .
" BRING IT ON " He wasn't an accomplished duellist for nothing , And he proved his mettle .
He danced his deadly steps , Up and down rubble , across the bodies of the death eaters ,back and forward between the two groups of foes .
Ozone burnt its smell into nose , Even as the occasional spell stung him , burning the hairs of his beard , He exchanged spell after spell with his foes , trading blow for blow with spells he knew he'd survive . But his foes weren't so lucky , as one was exploded by a confingo , Sending his burning robes into his comrades .
He leant back as a beam of death passed by , And he flicked a hex back, Laughing as another died , the smell of a burning corpse registering in his rinckling nose.
And that last deatheater whom had managed to survive , stubbornly refused to be cut down , through several defensive spells , Aberforth growled at the bug that refused to be crushed .
He stood , A monolith of strength , a symbol of terror to those muderers and skull wearing their masks . A dumbledore he was , and he bathed in their filth as the ash of their bodies peppered his face.
And he Raged.
That was until a cry tore him back to his senses , the joy of the battle frozen dead in its tracks as he turned back with a whirl toward the storefront that had been blown open by his blasting curse.
' No ... ' His heart stung and he stumbled , Slinging a defensive spell forward as he zeroed in on the child's cry .
" Colin ... " A slytherin girl cried out as aberforth found the source of the cry , eyes widening and breath escaping his lungs as he saw the sight .
There , Amidst the rubble overlooked by many , a blonde girl cradled another boy in her arms , her wails shaking the ground around her as magical energies erupted all around.
Death eaters lay sprawled before the store front , Not by his hand but from the valiant actions of another , yet aberforths gaze settled on the boy who lay limp in the wailing child's arms.
"Its... I... Again and again ... they ... everyone " Iron filled his tastebuds as blood erupted within his mouth , His teeth sinking into his gums.
Rage ... unadulterated, searing rage rushed through aberforths veins like molten copper , the veins on his forehead surging under his skin whilst his dull grey robes shuffled as the magic within him surged outwards .
" Monsters.... monsters the lot of you " His hand twitched , guilt ... sorrow ... hatred bubbled within... self loathing . They were here for him and children had fallen . They were here for him and another innocent had died under his watch.
' I ... I should've ... I could have ... '
" AAAAAARGH " His wand surged towards the nearest death eater and without even uttering a word , the man exploded apart into motes of blackened ash .
Flames exploded infront of the storefront , splitting the street in half as the girl cried alone behind the seering heat , Separating aberforth and half of the remaining death eaters whilst the other half ignored her cries , instead revelling in her anguish with mocking jabs .
' WAIT FOR ME CHILD ' His foot slammed down , His arm flying as old but not lost dueling experience surged forward, his skills fueled by pure , bubbling hatred .
' Just like back then ' His teeth flashed , blood soaking his teeth as he cast a diffindo through two deatheaters.
Crack
Another store behind him exploded as he brushed off a blasting curse with a backhand , responding with a blasting lightning like red surge that struck another in the chest , Burning a seering hole in his chest all the way through.
He twisted around another curse. Head falling to the side as his thick frame side stepped three continuous barrages of energy .
" DIFFINDO " A wide surge of slicing speared through several carriages , Spraying the streets stones with blood of his victims .
It was as the last body fell on this side of the flames , Split apart vertically by another severing charm that aberforth turned to the soft cries that now echoed through the silent street .
Flames continued to sear even as soft rainfalls began to fall from the sky .
' I'm coming child hold on ' He pointed his wand at the wall of flame. Yet his face twisted in the uncomfortable heat , The flames would not be quelled so simply .
Shadows danced behind the flames, Obviously he hadn't killed the last of the death eaters as the others re.aimed on the other side , their forms mocking him as he glared at then through the orange heat.
His magic surged urgently , yet the flames remained , mocking jabs carried through the unquenchable flames as the death eaters laughed and pointed at the dumbledore in his rage .
' I'll... kill you ... take another one and you shall know no greater fury ' He cursed in his head as his magic thundered at the cursed flames impeding his path.
' ill kill you ... I swear on it ... I'll make sure of it , you'll die this day ' He cast a hate filled glare at the silhouettes beyond the flames .
He would make sure of it , they would die today like the dogs they were .
In his rage , a sudden , soul scarring radiance exploded across the battlefield , his breath shuddering as something strange happened.
Like an angel dispatched to act on his behalf , The other side of the accursed flames went silent like noise itself had been denied , The source stepping out from a shrouded alleyway .
Barefeet crashed against blackened ground , yellow flowed on the scorching winds as the cursed palid woman strode forward unapologetically.
Abeforth froze at the woman's sudden arrival , No sensing nor magical outburst , she simply stepped onto the scene .
The death eaters only noticed her presence through the sudden freezing of abeforth , Rounding and pointing their wands at her .
Yet their fates were sealed with ease , a simple wave of the hand infact.
They collapsed , Not with word play nor spells , just ... dropping like their strings had been cut , as she strode forward without resistance.
Her target only became clear when she stood over the wreckage of honeydukes . The blonde girl seemingly rendered unconscious by the palid woman's approach . The body in her arms falling to the side as her grip lessened , her unconscious form slumping against the rubble .
" YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE" Raged , wand held and pointing as the silent lady reached down with scooping arms.
She said nothing as the boy was lifted into her arms , and as silent as she arrived , vanished through the same alley she had arrived in ... and only then did the flames that had blocked his entry ... did they disperse .
' No.... NO ' He surged forward , the previous heat that scarred thr ground black singeing the bottom of his shoes , he rushed towards the silent child.
' Please not another one ' He grabbed the girls tiny frame and dragged her to his arms , Only then did he relax , feeling the faint but present breath on his skin.
" I'm sorry ... I'm so ... so sorry " He wept into the night , Hunched over , A failure once more .