Chapter 1

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry opened it's doors again to one of the darkest terms in history. The incoming class of first years was only 25 kids and the school's numbers still dwindled due to students killed in the attacks. The New Four had reached their 7th and final year. Sitting down at the Ravenclaw table, Stephen leaned over to talk to his best friend Troy. The two boys had grown more mature during the attacks that shaped the world. Stephen had cut his hair short and had grown out a trimmed beard. His eyes were still sharp with intelligence but his gaze had become harder as he had seen much death and suffering. He stood at a sturdy 5'10 inches and had grown more muscular. Troy had undergone a similar change. He was 6 feet tall, and had cut his hair short at well. He was the most muscular out of all of them, and his voice had deepened a bit more. He was an informal second-in command to Stephen, and had saved all of their lives at one point or another. Next to Troy sat Tika. Her red hair had grown long and streamed behind her. She was taller, and the stress of battle had thinned her. However, she was just as beautiful as she had ever been. Shapely and sweet, Tika was Troy's love and compliment. Stephen straightned up and waved to a girl sitting at the Gryffindor table, Rose. A skinny girl, Rose had been changed since she defected to the Dark Warlock years before. Upon her return to the light, she was thinner, taller, and more powerful. Her nature was terse, and almost bitter at times. However she was brave and strong and could easily take up a leading position when the need called. Her hair was as black as the night and had a light blue stripe running along the side. Her skin had tanned slightly, and her grey eyes showed a troubled past. She loved Stephen though, and was forever by his side. Sam Hudock, Rose's father, stood up to give his speech as he was Headmaster,

“Students, as you all know, these are dark days. The world outside our protective area has been ravaged. There are creatures that roam the wasteland that even the blessed Four could not destroy. I urge you to continue your studies as you have, but do NOT exit the protective area. If you leave, you cannot come back, and nobody will come to get you. With that said, welcome new first years. I know you are few in number but you will greatly enjoy your time here, Hogwarts is one of the last safe places in the world. Dig in.” The same sumptuous food appeared on the golden plates and the entire Great Hall began to eat. Rose sat down beside Stephen and he said,

“Hey. Aren't you supposed to be at the Gryffindor table?” Rose shrugged and said,

“The House system is so outdated. Besides, look at how many Gryffindor there are. Half the table has either graduated, or been killed.” Stephen glanced at the Gryffindor House table. It held a sparse 50 kids. He shrugged and joked,

“They say Gryffindors are brave and headstrong. Looks like it got the best of them.” Rose chuckled and they ate in relative silence. Troy leaned in and said,

“Good that you're over here Rose. We need to discuss some plans after dinner. Meet us in the Shrieking Shack.” Rose looked at Troy quizzically. Tika piped up to explain,

“The Shrieking Shack is on the edge of Hogsmeade village. It's undergone various renovations and has served different purposes. Troy and I scoped it out and found that it's like a fully furnished house, with four rooms and a living room. It has a kitchen too. The odd thing is, nobody lives there. Everything inside is covered in dust, as if it hasn't been touched in years.” After dinner, the New Four left the great Hall and walked out onto the Hogwarts grounds. They still shuddered at the sight that greeted them. The Hogwarts ground were covered in snow, but it stopped abruptly at the edge of the massive magical dome that stretched over them. Outside of it, the land was grey and black, burned by fire and gouged by magic. Trees were ripped up by their roots and bodies lay in horrific poses. The New Four averted their eyes as Stephen led them to an ancient tree. When they neared, it creaked slightly and looked as if it were trying to move. Stephen said,

“That used to be a Whomping Willow. But it was injured during one of the Battles of Hogwarts. Now it just creaks. Here is the entrance.” He pointed to a tunnel in between the roots of the tree. Crouching down, Stephen slid into the tunnel and the other three followed suit. After a few minutes of cramped crawling they emerged in a spacious living room. There was a fireplace and four large armchairs. To their right was a kitchen area and a staircase leading to bedrooms. Stephen said,

“This place is very odd. But it feels almost like home, I don't know why.” He went up the stairs and Rose followed him. Four doors faced him and he walked to the one all the way on the left and opened it. The walls were white with posters of an old wizarding band. A bed with red sheets lay in the center of the room. On the right wall, a mahogany dresser stood with many old pictures on it and on it's corner lay an ancient top hat. Stephen moved closer to the dresser and picked up one of the pictures. Wiping the dust off, he almost dropped the picture in surprise. He was staring at a picture of his mother and father, embracing and smiling. They were very young, and wore black Hogwarts robes. Kevin wore a top hat, just like the old one sitting on the dresser. Stephen said,

“Rose...come here...you have to see this.” Rose rushed over from looking at the old robes in the closet and gasped. She said,

“That's Uncle Kevin and Aunt Mary! What? How did their pictures get in here?” Stephen said,

“I think...Rose, go look in the room next door.” Rose left quickly and pushed the door open into the next room. A bed with rumpled yellow sheets stood in the center of the room. The walls were white as well, but posters were everywhere. In the closet, old Hufflepuff Quidditch robes hung and an ancient broomstick rested against the wall. On the dresser Rose found her answer. Rose found pictures of her mother and father laughing and playing. Ruth was young, with long brown hair, and she still had a wand. Taped to the mirror was a faded newspaper clipping about the Hufflepuff Quidditch team beating the Slytherin team for the first time in 100 years. The picture on the article was one of Ruth catching the snitch. Troy heard Rose and Stephen yell for him to come upstairs and he dashed to them. He burst into the room Stephen had been in and said,

“What's up?”

“Do you know whose house this was?”

“No. Whose was it?”

“This was our parents' house Troy. They lived here while at Hogwarts. Look, pictures of them when they were young. Old quidditch robes, it's all here. I bet your father's room is somewhere down here.” Troy left and opened the door to the room all the way on the right. Dark blue sheets were neatly made on the large bed in the center. The walls were also dark blue and blue Quiddtich robes lay neatly in a corner. Troy found the pictures of his father on the dresser. However, his mother wasn't in the pictures. It was another girl, she looked almost asian and had a bright smile. Turning the picture over, he read, 'Camelia and I, Fourth Year' in neat cursive. Troy turned around to find the other three standing behind him. He showed them the picture and they were all puzzled. Troy opened the top drawer and found an old letter. Holding it gently, he read it. Stephen said,
“Well, what does it say?”

“Apparently Dad and Camelia were close. But she went to the spirit world or something? I don't fully understand. It says here that only those of the purest of heart are taken to guard the dead.”

Stephen said, “Wow. She must have been a good person.” The others nodded. Troy said,

“Wait. The Dark Warlock uses necromancy right? That's how they raised all those dead.”

Stephen said, “True. What are you thinking?”

“If this Camelia woman knew the Four, and she was taken to the Spirit World, then she might know how to stop the dead. Or at least destroy them with magic.”

Rose said, “How do you suppose we get there. We aren't dead nor dying.”

Troy pointed at the letter and said, “My Dad can show us the way. He left some clues.”