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71. Behind the Shadows
🕑 Added 2025-06-15 01:22:00 +0000 UTCChristian was eating in the Great Hall with a newspaper in his hand. The article briefly mentioned a newly discovered fungus that was once extinct, followed by a story of a man who met a strange fairy in his garden. The Fairy was beautiful and very intelligent. She conversed with him for hours and called herself the Fairy Queen. She had powerful magical abilities, which were an anomaly for their kind. However, the story could not be corroborated as the fairy disappeared afterward, and all searches to find her were unsuccessful.
Such a thing would typically interest Christian, but all he thought about was whether he should ask one of the house elves to buy him some painkillers in the Muggle World. While Christian was distracted, Fawkes appeared in the Great Hall to drop a letter on his lap before flying away.
‘From Professor Dumbledore?’ he thought before opening the letter. The headmaster agreed with his plan to save the environment and gave him detailed suggestions on how to ensure its success.
First, he needed to write a book providing detailed information on the world’s environmental destruction and its consequences. Then, he must use his popularity to rally volunteers for an ocean cleanup. According to Dumbledore, as long as he has enough volunteers, the Ministry of Magic will support him.
The headmaster’s idea is to show the Internal Federation that such a program was possible by using the UK as a successful case. It will then be easier to convince other countries, knowing that the British Ministry of Magic was successful. By then, Dumbledore will show his support as the Supreme Mugwump, increasing his chances of creating an international environmental objective.
Christian’s eyes squinted after reading this letter as he thought, ‘I often focus on Dumbledore’s magical abilities while ignoring his brilliant mind. I should not make this mistake and underestimate him.’
Christian replied to the headmaster before writing to his mother and aunt to tell them about this. He also wanted his aunt to acquire the latest published data about environmental warnings. Jim became interested in the environment in his later years and read many books, one of which became a core memory. Christian plans to read these and combine them with current data for his book.
After that, he continued his charade, hoping his shoulder would heal before the finals. He went to the Undercroft to continue extending his bag of holding. He wanted to know the limit of the Extension Curse and whether the space inside would continue to expand or collapse.
USA:
A group of five men dressed in all black with their faces covered apparated to a small mansion.
“Is this the place?” asked the leader.
“Yes, sir.”
The leader looked at the houses and said, “I’m afraid we’re too late.”
“Did the Mystic Weavers get to the child before us?”
“Most likely,” nodded the leader before entering the mansion. As expected, it was empty, and he saw signs of rushing.
“What now?”
“Let’s go to the next destination,” said the leader.
“This is pointless,” complained the shortest member. “We know the Mark One is Christian Malik, and he has already contacted the Key — Harry Potter. So why are we wasting time with these losers?”
“Do you want to garner the wrath of Dumbledore?”
“He’s only a Grand Sorcerer with no control of ancient magic. We can kill him with the right preparations and sacrifice.”
“What a stupid thing to say; he must die in the ceremony at the right time — not a second early or a second late.”
“Enough,” said the leader. “ It’s taboo to contact the Key so early on. The Mark One will also be protected until his 14th birthday. Before then, even if he stood before us, we could not do anything to him.”
The upper echelons of the Veilbreakers knew of the Mark One’s identity on the first day he contacted the Key and disrupted the Ceremoby. However, due to a powerful covenant, they could not touch him or his family until he was 14. The only way they could find a loophole in the covenant was to use the Prophecy Orb from the Prophecy Hall, but that was gone.
“More importantly, none of the Mark Ones ever survives until their 14th birthday,” said a man with a grave voice.
“Then, what’s the point of hunting these fakes?” asked the short one.
“To prevent them from becoming the real one in case the Mark One dies,” explained the leader. “Now, let’s move on.” The group Disapparated, and a few minutes later, another group arrived, and their leader was Christian’s uncle, Sullivan. He rushed with a group of five Aurors, looking everywhere in the mansion.
“The child and his family disappeared, just like the others,” explained a female Aura.
Sullivan frowned, “Who are these people? And why are they hunting children between the ages of 9 and 12?” He’s been following this case for months now, and the situation has been the same: dead or missing child.
“Let’s return to find another lead.”
Mediterranean Sea, Mystic Weaver Alliance’s headquarters:
Four wizards in different robes stood on a boat before a well-protected and invisible island. An elderly man, a middle-aged woman, a young man, and a sleeping child.
“Those bastards from the [Veilbreakers] should be fuming by now,” said a young wizard of Indian origins, showing all his teeth. He was eager to foil the Veilbreakers' plans, as he despised these traitors with a passion.
“Sir Carlos, do we know our next destination?” asked the middle-aged woman.
“Not yet,” replied the elderly man in a monotone voice.
“What’s going to happen to these children?” asked Rajeesh. He was new and did not know many things.
“We will train them to prepare to take on the role of the Mark One,” explained Mileena.
“Can this position be inherited?”
“Technically speaking, all of them are Mark Ones from birth, and many should inherit the position. Maybe even compete. Unfortunately, our situation is unique, and only the one who awakened first gets the title,” explained Mileena. “According to records, these kids should have lived a normal life, but the [Enclave of Oracle ] somehow awakened their magical abilities.”
“Is that abnormal?”
“Awakening one or two is normal, but they awaken all of them.” Mileena was also perplexed, as their records never indicated that these Seers were so capable.
Rajeesh nodded before sighing, “I envy these children. I would do anything to have their magical talent.”
“What’s to envy? None of them have ever lived past 15,” sneered Mileena.
“Here,” said Sir Carlos, and the two quieted down. A small part of the invisible island became visible as a small boat passed through the enchanted barrier. A beautiful woman with a strict appearance, round glasses, and holding a folder stood on the boat. Once she arrived before them, she bowed:
“Sir Carlos.”
The elderly man nodded before waving his wand to transport the sleeping child into her boat. “What’s the order?”
“This is a list of possible destinations for the others,” said Fatima, handing him a piece of paper. “Also, the [Enclave of Oracle] sent news: the First Shift will occur soon.”
Carlos’s calm eyes finally showed signs before returning to their calm. “I understand.” Fatima drove the boat back to the island, leaving this team to continue their missions.
“The First Shift: I’ve heard about it; that’s good news for us, right?” asked Rajeesh.
“If the Mark One survives, then yes,” explained Mileena.
“What exactly does it do?”
“There are many things, but the most important is destroying the Veilbreakers’ Ceremony and bringing more mystery to the world to prevent the decline of magic,” said Mileena.
“We then can save the magical world?”
“It’s not that simple. The Mark One must survive a few shifts before the world can return to its glorious past,” Mileena explained, but she also knew that this statement was not the full truth. However, it was more than enough for a young rookie.
“Is it that difficult?” asked Rajeesh.
“Most die during the first shifts, and the ones that survive succumb to the Curse of Madness,” sighed Mileena. “Our highest record was only two shifts.” Their reality was not doing too well, thought Mileena.
“I’ve read the records of the Madness Curse; however, they are vague and only describe it as terrifying. What is it exactly?”
“We don’t know for sure,” explained Mileena. “Some say it’s an actual curse, others describe it as the Mark One learning a truth so devastating that it drove them to madness, and some believed it to be an attack from an unknown entity.”
“That sounds terrible.”
“It probably is.”
“Let’s go,” said Sir Carlos.
England:
Donald McGwen entered a booth and took a telephone.
“What is it?” said an old voice.
“Dumbledore has not taken the bait,” he reported.
“That’s a shame. If he could wield ancient magic, the effect on the Ceremony would have been evident,” sighed the old voice. “Is there anything else?”
“No.”
“Keep on standby in case he changes his mind.”
“As you wish, sir.”
Donald ended the phone call and walked out of the booth. He was confused. Why did the Keepers originally agree with the Ceremony and remove Dumbledore’s Magus Eye, and now they want to oppose it by returning it to him? It made no sense. He shook his head, deciding not to think too much about it.
Comments
hector lyng
The Guardians and the Mystic Weavers are on the same side???
