The Parting of Ways -- Spring 2021?

The others were in their seventh year at Hogwarts.  I had graduated two years ago, Daphne by one year, and it was just Stan and Rory now.  I waited for the other three to show up.  We all had a pact to see each other regularly.  I got wind of a new era dawning and there was a meeting that would give us an opportunity to see what it was all about.  I sat at a table with a scotch on the rocks waiting for my friends.

I walked out of th ecastle and towards the village.  Stan was by my side.  I was worried about him; he kept getting quite a few migraines.  He seemed to have a sensitivity to light at times, too.  I think he could sense different things.  He told only a few of us that he saw visions... like a Seer.  We got to the Hogs Head and we saw Dorian sitting there already.  "Hey Ian... how have you been?" I asked, sitting down and smiling at my friend.

I smiled.  "I'm doing great.  Really getting along well at the Department of Mysteries," I said happily.  I really was enjoying my new position.  "Stan... you look like hell.  What's wrong?" He had dark circles under his eyes and he had not shaved.  He really did look horrid.

"Imagine me rolling my eyes," I said, getting a cup of water.  "It's so lovely to be visiting you happy lot," I said sarcastically.  I was feeling quite snippy.  I was miserable.  I really did nto want to come today.  Part of it was due to my headaches, lack of sleep... part of it was due to not wanting to see Daphne.

"Aw... and you're a ray of sunshine," I said, introducing my presence.  I wore a slimming black dress and stilletoes.  I had come straight from work and I did not have any time to change.  I gave Ian and Rory hugs.  I went to hug Stan, but he ignored me.  He looekd worse than I ever saw him.

I stood up, bumping the table.  I never was that clumsy.  "If we're just going to be snarky, I'm leaving.  I'm not in the mood for all of this," I said.  but that was when it hit me.  I grasped my head and fell to my knees.  I saw... I saw flashes of fire, people were screaming.  Then it changed.  I saw my dad and grandpa fighting back to back.  And then there was this man -- a man I did not know.  But when he spoke, his voice sent chills down my back.  He was the one who hurt me and dad so many years ago.

I stood there in my vision, frozen with fear.  I saw my dad and grandpa turn to face him, determination written all over their faces.  They dueled with vigor against this wizard.  I heard screaming when I saw flashes of green... and they were both down.  They fell.  They were gone.  And all I heard was laughter.

I stood up quickly and went to Stan's side.  He screamed and tears were falling from his eyes.  "Stan!  Focus... listen to my voice.  You're okay.  It's just a vision.  Stna," I said quietly.  I was trying to get my friend's attention.  I was not okay with letting him just lay there and do nothing.  I just had no idea what he was seeing to give him so much anguish.

I had stood up and made my way towards the other side of the table.  I have seen Stan have visions before... but it was nothing like this.  "Daphne, we'll be needing a wet cloth to help him when he comes through," I instructed, kneeling down.  Stan was starting to shake... I just could not tell if it was due to being cold or scared.  I did want to get to the meeting, but there was no way I would let my friend suffer.

I was panting, struggling to come to my senses.  I tried to listen to Rory... but my vision was still there.  My dad and granpda lying in a pile of rubble.  The cold laughter still chilling my blood.  But then it disappeared as quickly as it came and I saw only the familiar blackness.  I felt a damp cloth on my sweaty brow.  I was shaking uncontrollably.  Though I could not see them, I felt their eyes on me.  I tried to stand but was extremely weak.  "Guys, I'm fine," I said hoarsely.  I smiled at whoever handed me my water.  i downed it and was finally able to stand.

I looked at the other two guys there.  We all had the same looks of concern on our faces.  I walked and put a hand on Stan's shoulder.  "Are you sure you're okay?" I asked.  I hated the fact that he shrugged away from my hand.  It hurt.  He had pulled away from me whiel I was still at schools from us being in an almost relationship.  He said he could nto trust me.  I never got  a reason as to why he ended it, though.  I had a feeling it was due to one of his visions.  I felt like he thought I would hurt him... and maybe he had seen that I did just that.  I took a deep breath and tried to not care about what I felt at the moment.

I nodded, still shaking slightly.  "Ian... didn't you say you had an idea of what we could do this evening?" I asked, wanting attention off of me for the time being.  I really hated feeling their worried looks.  I just had to get them to focus on something else.

I looked at the other two.  "Well, there's this meeting my dad heard about.  He isn't sure what he's goign to do about it, but I thought we could all check it out."  It sounded like it was all word of mouth.  really I thought we would all be able to get interested in it.  I had a feeling this was all about the darkness that was spreading in the world around us.  There was going to be something that the word had it was named The Dark Star.

"Any more info than that?" I asked, thinking that this was a little mysterious -- which I liked.  "It really doesn't matter, though.  I'm game for going." I looked at Daphne and Stan.  I was growing weary with the way the two of them were dancing around each other.

"I only really know the name of the man who will be addressing us," I told them.  I did pause for dramatic effect.  "The Dark Star."  The name seemed to have an interesting effect on my friends. I was not expecting any sort of reaction, but I got one from all three of them.

I grinned.  "The Dark Star... that's intriguing," I said, taking a sip of th efire whiskey that I had ordered.  "It's all mysterious... it does sound quite interesting.  I'm game."  I would enjoy going to see how all of this would go down.