The Prophecy of Absconditus

Chapter Six: Hideout B

Kerry Daubert knew of the feud between Draco and Ron. There were very few people in the wizarding world, let alone Hogwarts, that didn't know about the rivalry between the Malfoys and the Weasleys. It only suited that Draco and Ron would not get along. In spite of this, or maybe because of it, Kerry remained quiet and sat on his mattress. He looked between Ron and Draco, breath bated

Clearing his throat, Ron coughed loud enough to make Draco jump. Draco sat up, rubbing at his tired eyes with fists like a small child rather than the teenager he was. As he looked around the room, his eyes landed on Ron. For a moment he looked lost. Vacant expressions crossed his face in variations before his eyes narrowed. He stood, walked over, and lifted his chin to stare Ron in the eye.

"Weasley, what a surprise. Someone actually decided that your life was worth saving, was it? Or are you here because that old bat McGonagall saved precious Potter, and you couldn't bear to be left behind."

"Yeah, Malfoy, that was it. Harry had to leave so I left, too. I mean, I would be so lonely without him around. I don't know what I'd do with myself."

"Good of you to finally admit it. Must do wonders for your mental health."

"Malfoy, what are you doing here?"

"Same as you. Avoiding Death Eaters and fighting for Hogwarts. Not that I should have to explain myself to you."

"Fighting for Hogwarts? Yeah, right. Funny, that. Since when have you been on our side?"

"I already said that I don't have to explain myself to you."

"And why is that? Because you don't have an explanation!" Ron felt his cheeks heating up, and he wished that he didn't get worked up so easily, but Malfoy always had a way of crawling under his skin. It was annoying when the one person he wished didn't get to him set Ron off the easiest. "You want us to believe you're on our side so you can turn us over to Daddy and his Death Eater mates. Tell them where we're hiding. Well, don't think you're going to fool me. I'm onto you."

"Fool you? You sound like a bloody fool, yourself. You don't need any assistance from me. And don't talk about my father like that."

"Why not? Did I hit a nerve?"

"That -- that's very simple, Weasley. I shouldn't have expected more out of you." Malfoy huffed, pink spreading across his pale cheeks. "Do you -- you know -- ever listen to yourself when you speak?"

"Sod off, Malfoy."

"Clever."

The curtain ripped back, exposing their room to the others, and Professor Valmont hung in the doorway before crossing the threshold. Their shouts must have drawn the attention of the other students, or even the professor, himself. He looked at Kerry on the bed and motioned to the doorway with his thumb.

"Go out to the meeting room, Kerry. It's the large one that you first walked in when you got here. We're having a meeting in about ten minutes."

Kerry stood, gave Valmont a smile, and left the room. Valmont waited until he was gone before ordering the students in the next room to leave, and then pulled the curtain. He turned, surveyed Draco and Ron, and sighed.

"What's going on in here? Lavender Brown came to tell me she heard you fighting."

"Weasley accused me spy for the Death Eaters," said Malfoy. The pink in his cheeks turned a shade deeper.

"I can't share a room with him, Professor," said Ron. "He accused me of being here just because Harry had to leave Hogwarts."

"We just don't get along," said Malfoy. Valmont rubbed at his temples.

"Back up. Start from the beginning. What happened?"

"Weasley came barreling through here, accused me of spying for Voldemort, and insinuated that Father is a Death Eater."

"Your father is a Death Eater!"

"He has a point," said Valmont.

"Phoenix!" said Malfoy.

"All right, all right. Ron? Your side of the story?"

"I came in here like you told me. Malfoy said I was only here because Harry had to leave, so I asked him what he was doing here. I'm sorry if I don't trust him, but he's a Malfoy, and his father is a Death Eater."

"I think you forgot a few parts, Weasel."

"Okay, okay. Stop!" Valmont fixed Malfoy with his eyes as if trying to tell him something. Malfoy froze. His mouth hung open, a small gap separating his lips, and then he nodded. He buried his hands in his pocket and dropped his eyes to the floor. "We have limited space. There's nothing I can do about this right now. Until we're settled in, you two will have to make yourselves get along. This isn't meant to be a pleasant situation. I don't care how you do it, but learn to tolerate each other."

"I think you're asking for a lot more than is possible," said Malfoy. Ron, strange as it felt, was in full agreement.

"Just do it, Draco. And Ron, try to lay off the Death Eater comments. Don't provoke him."

"Yes, sir."

Malfoy sniggered, causing Ron and Valmont to glare at him.

"What?" said Malfoy.

"That's not going to fly around here. Respect, Draco. Ron, get settled. I imagine we'll be here for a while. Be in the meeting area in ten minutes, though. Sev and I want to have a few words with everyone."

"All right, Professor."

Valmont looked between the two one final time before exiting. Moving away from the entrance, Ron walked to the empty bed and dropped his bag. He sat, stretched out, and began to empty the little amount he brought along. From the other side of the room, Malfoy leaned against the wall, watching Ron's every move. It started to make him feel paranoid, but since he didn't want Valmont coming in again, Ron chose to ignore him. That was the only way he and Malfoy were ever going to get along.

As Ron shoved his things in the corner of his bed, Malfoy pushed off from the wall and left the room. The curtain rustled from Malfoy's exit, and Ron stared at the empty space Malfoy occupied. That area of the room didn't look like it belonged to someone like Malfoy. In fact, he brought very little more than Ron did. Everything was in disarray, and it was only after Malfoy left that Ron realized dark circles hung under Malfoy's pale blue eyes.

Part sheepish, Ron crept out of the room. Just because Malfoy didn't look so well and Valmont seemed to trust him, it didn't mean that Ron needed to trust him. Then again, just because Malfoy had been a self-absorbed little git in the past did not mean that Ron should continue to hold that against him. It was too hard to figure out, and Ron disposed of all thoughts Malfoy as he walked into the meeting room. The effects were not good. As soon as Ron entered, Valmont shoved him next to Malfoy and walked to the front with Snape.

"If everyone could just quiet down," said Valmont. The room grew quiet and Snape motioned for Valmont to continue. "For those of you who don't know me, my name is Phoenix Valmont. Since we are not in a school setting, feel free to call me Phoenix. I've already asked some of you to do this, but if you don't feel comfortable, Professor Valmont works, too. Everyone should know Professor Snape. You can call him Sevvie."

"Phoenix," said Snape, staring hard at Valmont.

"What is it, Sevvie? I'm talking to the troops." Snape remained unmoved. "Oh, right. He doesn't like being called Sevvie, but that never stopped anyone before, so go for it. For those of you who are afraid he'll murder you, poison you, or the like, I'm here to tell you he's harmless."

"Get on with it, Phoenix."

"You're the one who interrupted me in the first place. Now where was I? Ah, yes. Those of you who are here know that we've evacuated the people we could because of a vision depicting a Death Eater siege on Hogwarts. For now it's just a precautionary. If, by the morning, everything is fine at the school, Professor McGonagall will owl us, and we can return. However, if we don't get a message, then things go on as planned. There are just a few things Professor Snape and I wanted to let you know before we really get settled, so pay attention. If Professor Snape gets really cranky, there might be a test.

"If you're a member of one of my classes, then this might sound familiar. I am a big advocate of respect. The first point I want you all to focus on is that everyone here is on the same side. You need to first respect each other, and build up a trust, because without that trust, we're never going to win this war. Each of you has been surveyed and deemed a trustworthy individual dedicated to fighting for this cause. A lot of thought was put into who stayed and who left, so I want you to keep that all in mind."

"Thank you, Phoenix," said Snape, "for that charming speech on respect. Is that your favorite word?"

"Actually, no. My favorite word is audacity."

Snape shook his head and grinned at Valmont. It was strange, foreign, and almost scary. Several of the other students seemed to agree, for they took several steps away from him.

"Since we are no longer at Hogwarts," said Snape, "you will not be in a controlled learning setting. There are three hideouts as you've, no doubt, already been informed. At each of these camps, we'll do tutorial classes condensing anything that you may need to know for this war. Also, each of these camps has a Master of one subject or another, and you will be assisting in any preparation needed."

"For example," said Valmont, "at this camp, we'll be making a lot of the Potions needed for battle, injury, and illness. Sev will help you with making them. Now, this is tying in with another policy, and this is how things are going to work around here: if we don't receive an owl from Professor McGonagall, if the Death Eaters have taken over Hogwarts, it will only be a matter of time before they try to find those of us who escaped. Thus, we instituted the Zero Magic Policy."

"You may keep your wands," said Snape, "but we ask that you do not use them. Be reminded that the Ministry keeps a close eye on wand usage of underage wizards, and Death Eaters have already found their way into the Ministry system. In addition, areas of highly concentrated magic are easily detected. With that said, if everyone were to use magic, it would look strange that an area in the middle of nowhere would have so many wizards. If only a few of you were to use magic, it would be detected by the Ministry anyway as almost all of you are underage."

"No magic," said Valmont. "We cannot stress just how important this is. I know some of you don't know how to function properly without magic, but you may not use it. If you feel that you will not be able to survive without using your wand, you may go back to Hogwarts now. If you'd prefer, Professor Snape or I can keep your wands for you. That decision is entirely up to you."

"Another point is that we will not be sending messages by owl. Owls can be intercepted, so we will be using human messengers," said Snape. "Potions and messages that need to be sent to other hideouts will be sent with one, or even two, of you. They'll be looking for owls before they look for people, so keep that in mind."

"A lot of what you'll see going on in these hideouts is keeping on our toes and paying attention to Death Eater activity. We'll be focused on planning battle tactics, strategies, and attack formations to take back Hogwarts and get rid of Voldemort forever. This is the way things will be at the other two camps, but for the Potion brewing and magic usage. Hideout A is in a populated area and magic may be used there. You'll learn healing charms there with Madam Pomfrey. At Hideout C you'll practice Defense Against the Dark Arts and physical combat in the event that you lose your wand during battle."

"We start tomorrow," said Snape. "I suggest you all get your sleep. We are in for a difficult couple of months."

Malfoy hung back as everyone left the room, and Ron snuck a peek at him. He stared at Valmont, those heavy bags hanging under his eyes. As the room started to clear, Ron left without looking back. Kerry was already under the thin blankets when Ron entered and crawled onto his own mattress. Malfoy entered soon after, but Ron was asleep before Malfoy's head hit the pillow.

*

Blood stained the center panel of the vault door. No words passed as the locks clicked with the sound that metal makes when it hasn't been touched in years. The rusted metal made a sickening snap, and then screeched as the door opened.

Everything was dark and smelled like a foul combination of an old, stale room and sewage. Broken stone lay weathered and eroded along the ground, and Ron avoided small piles of it as he walked. Harry was by his side, wand in hand with a faint glowing at the end -- a result of the Lumos spell. Fungus grew along the walls and ceiling, and reminded Ron of a terrifying combination of Aragog's lair and the Chamber of Secrets. Needing to feel contact, he reached behind and grabbed the familiar hand which brought him the most comfort.

Walking ahead, Harry checked out the passageways.

"Blaise," he said, "left or right?"

Blaise Zabini passed Ron and walked to where Harry stood. An old, yellowed sheet of parchment hung limp in his fingers. Faded lines vibrant hundreds of years ago painted the way out of this hell. He needed to be in the sun again, to feel its rays on his skin. This place had a way of making someone feel dead and decayed, like the atmosphere which surrounded you.

"Right," said Blaise after studying the parchment. "The fountain was said to be to the right."

"You better be right this time," said Malfoy. "You said the vault door was to the right, and we ended up walking in circles."

"We walked in one circle," said Harry, frowning. "We got it figured out, didn't we?"

"Don't you two start fighting again," said Blaise. "Really, Draco, I've got it figured out this time. I was unsure last time, remember?"

"I just want to get out of here."

It was when Malfoy tucked his left hand under his arm that Ron realized he held Malfoy's hand. The fingers of his right hand curled around Ron's, and clasped tight enough that it was almost painful. All coherent thought told Ron to let go. Why would he want to be holding Malfoy's hand? Except it felt wonderful and safe in a place just shy of being the worst he'd ever managed to find his way to. That and Malfoy had really soft, exquisite skin. It felt nice against Ron's palm.

"I don't know about this," said Ron. He was talking more about the hand holding with Malfoy than anything else, but Malfoy nodded.

"Part of me wishes we would have never come down here in the first place. But if we didn't -- I can't live with that kind of guilt. If I can help and I turn my back on it because I'm scared --"

"Scared?"

Malfoy closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Terrified. I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know what I'm going to have to do. It's all too big."

Ron didn't answer as the followed Blaise and Harry down the dark corridor. Harry waved his wand back and forth, trying to see everything at one time. The attempts were futile. There was too much darkness and a simple Lumos spell would never give them enough light. Malfoy dropped Ron's hand to wrap his arm around Ron's waist and rest his head on Ron's shoulder.

*

His eyes snapped open as Ron rolled over. The room was dark, but that probably had a lot to do with the fact that there were no windows in the underground hideout. Kerry Daubert lit candles the Muggle way with matches and set them around the room with the old oil lanterns. He smiled upon seeing Ron awake, and carried a candle over to him.

"Phoenix said to set these around the hideout. Not a lot of people are up yet. Breakfast is in the meeting room. It looked like some kind of porridge. I think Snape made it. You might want to think twice about eating it."

"Thanks for the warning."

Ron crawled out of the bed. Malfoy was sprawled across his mattress, arm lying above his head. His fingers were curled into a loose fist. It made Ron think of the dream and of his own fingers wrapped in Malfoy's. The skin on his palms itched as he thought if it and Ron rubbed them against his legs before walking out of the room.

In the meeting room, Valmont was eating a runny looking substance with the few students already awake. He grinned at Ron and pushed an empty bowl toward him.

"Porridge is up at the front. Sorry it isn't great, but we don't have a lot of options right now. We didn't get an owl from Professor McGonagall. Professor Snape is out tracking down a Daily Prophet right now. Hopefully McGonagall is just late. I really don't want that vision to be right."

"You aren't the only one," said Ron. He took the bowl from Valmont and headed for the front table where the large pot of porridge stood with several pitchers of water. Once he had his food and drink, Ron returned to the tables and sat next to Valmont.

*

"What are you doing? Phoenix needs you in the Potions lab," said Draco.

No word reached Hideout B from Hogwarts, and nothing was printed yet in the Daily Prophet. Snape intended to go out later for a copy of the Evening Prophet, but for now, things were going on as planned. Ron had a headache and asked to be excused from any work for the day. Snape actually let him go, too, but now here was Malfoy, screeching in his ear. Ron groaned and rolled over onto his stomach.

"Snape said I didn't have to work today," said Ron, sitting up. "I don't feel well. In fact, I feel shitty."

"So what am I supposed to tell Phoenix?"

"I don't know. That Snape said I didn't have to work today because I feel like I'm going to pass out? How about that?"

"You don't have to get shirty with me, Weasley. I'm only relaying a message." Malfoy paused, staring at Ron, whose face had gone blank. His limbs and shoulders twitched, Ron's eyes fixed on a point that Draco couldn't see. "Weasley? Weasley! Shit."

Draco ran from the room and in the direction of the Potions lab. He needed to find Snape or Phoenix, whoever he came across first would do just fine. Snape was working with fifth years in the classroom today, which meant that they were going over battle strategies. The Potions lab was closer, so Draco took a left and pushed through the curtains blocking the entrance.

"Phoenix! You have to come quick! I went to get Weasley and -- I don't know -- something's wrong with him."

"Okay. Everyone stay here. I don't want any of you to leave this room. If I find out you did, there's going to be serious punishment." Phoenix ran from behind the makeshift desk, followed Draco through the curtain and down the corridors. They passed the same students hanging around when Draco made his way to the Potions lab and Phoenix slowed his pace in effort to keep a bit of a low profile.

"He's in here," said Draco, pushing open the curtains. Ron sat comatose, his face blank, and eyes wide. Phoenix took one look and hurried to his side. "What's wrong?"

"He's having a vision," said Phoenix. "He's not screaming so that's good. Rebekah told me that he sometimes screams during the bad ones."

"A vis --"

"How was he before he went into it? Was he okay?"

"He said that Snape let him off work for the day. Said he felt like he was going to pass out."

"Bollocks. All right. Here, Draco, grab his legs and help me get him up. We're going to move him to the infirmary. The visions really drain him, and if he wasn't feeling well before this one . . . he's having too many too fast. Rebekah said it happens sometimes when they first get them -- they need to adjust and learn how to take them."

Draco and Phoenix carried Ron out of the room and into the infirmary. When they arrived, Snape was pulled back the curtains around one of the beds and helped them put Ron into it.

"I heard you went to see Weasley," said Snape. "One of the students saw you heading for his room and came to tell me."

"He had a vision so we brought him here," said Phoenix. "We should have sent him to Hideout C with Rebekah. She'd have handled this better."

"Becky would have been just as lost as you are. She's not used to this any more than you."

"But she understands it."

"Don't even dare to tell me you don't understand something, Phoenix."

Draco snickered, sitting on one of the unoccupied beds.

"And what do you find so funny?" said Phoenix.

"Nothing. So what is this about visions?"

"Visions. Ron's a Seer. He's been taking Rebekah's Advanced Prognostics class this year."

Looking from Phoenix to Ron, Draco arched an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Yes, really," said Snape. "Listen, Phoenix, I need to get back to my class. Can you get him a potion for when he comes out of it? Give him the day to rest and keep him here overnight. Depending on how he fares, we might need to keep him here tomorrow, too."

"Okay. Draco, can you sit here with him in case he wakes while I'm gone?"

"No problem."

"Thanks."

Phoenix and Snape left the room, and Draco's eyes settled on Ron. His breathing slowed to the pace that one maintains while sleeping. He remained unmoved from the way he was when they first brought him in. Ron's eyes were still, Seeing everything and nothing at all. Draco shifted on the unoccupied bed, and almost fell off when Ron gasped, sucking in air.

"God, Weasley, you scared me," said Draco, clutching his chest.

"Oh, my head," said Ron.

"Phoenix is coming with a potion." Ron grunted and Malfoy slid off the bed, approaching him. "He told me you were having a vision. Thought I killed you for a moment."

"Don't flatter yourself."

"Funny, I bet Phoenix would have said the same thing."

"Why aren't you fighting with me?"

Malfoy frowned. "Because you scared the shit out of me?"

"Good answer."

"You're really a Seer?"

"Yes, I'm really a Seer."

"You're up," said Valmont, walking into the room. In his hand was a vial filled with a bright amber liquid and a bag. "Drink this. It'll help with the headache." Ron took the vial and tipped the contents down his throat. "You okay? I was saying how it would have probably been better to send you with Rebekah. I don't know what to do when someone has a vision."

"I feel terrible."

"Worn out. Yeah, I know. Draco wasn't giving you any problems, was he?"

"None at all."

"I find that hard to believe."

"Shut up, Phoenix," said Malfoy, sitting on the unused bed again.

"You two fight a lot," said Ron. "And you told me not to fight with him."

"You aren't allowed to fight with him. For me, it's a right."

"That you abuse," said Malfoy. Valmont grinned at Ron and smacked Malfoy over the head.

"Isn't he such a little dork?"

"I'm going to tell Snape you were beating me up again. Corporal punishment is not allowed."

"Not at Hogwarts, but it's perfectly acceptable in Hideout B. Listen, Ron, here's the details. Sev doesn't want you doing anything for the rest of the day but occupying this bed. You're supposed to stay here tonight as well. Maybe tomorrow if that head of yours doesn't improve."

Ron nodded.

"Also, there are a few things I need to talk to you about. One of them is those visions of yours."

"I don't really like to talk about them," said Ron. "Not unless I have to."

"Well," said Phoenix, pulling something out of the bag, "I have something to show you. Then we'll decide if you want to talk about those visions of yours. Draco, I want you to stay here for this. Remember in class when we started the Prophecy of Absconditus?"

"Yeah," said Ron. Malfoy nodded.

"In class I didn't even begin to cover all the details of the legend, but I'm sure you've both figured there was a reason I wanted to teach it if I made room for it before Halloween. The reason why I wanted to teach it to you is because that it's a popular theory the Mages have been reborn in this time. You remember me telling you about the souls being bound for the Mages to return?"

"The Mages are back?" said Malfoy. Valmont shrugged.

"It looks it. Here, take a look. And that's only the beginning." He handed an old copy of the Daily Prophet to Draco. "The second of November, 1981. Just after Voldemort disappeared. Same issue, in fact, with the report of Sirius Black's conviction to Azkaban."

"Where did you get this?"

"Father's had it for years. I think he reads over it and weeps."

"Father?" said Ron.

"What?" said Malfoy. "Haven't you figured it out yet, Weasley? Such a shock."

"Draco, don't taunt, or I'll have to beat you again," said Phoenix. "It's okay, Ron. We never really explained. You see, Draco is my younger brother."

"Your younger --"

"Yes, I know. But my last name isn't Malfoy. But we look nothing alike."

"Actually, you look a lot alike," said Ron. "It explains a few things in that area."

"Really? You think?" Valmont winced, looking at Malfoy. "Well, you know. I'll explain all in due time. First things first, though. The article. The Mages. The thing we're depending on most to defeat Voldemort."

Draco walked over to where Ron lay, carrying the old Prophet article with him. He stood next to the bed and held the paper so that they could both read.

THE PROPHECY OF THE FOUR MAGES

The Prophecy of the Four Mages is an intricate one. In a time of uncertainty and corruption, four wizards from different walks of life each held a gift. One held immortality, one held foresight, another time, and lastly strength. Each was mysteriously cursed, tried for murder, and sentenced to death, their gifts to be taken to achieve ultimate power of the government. On the eve of their judgment day, they disappeared never to be seen again.

Legend holds they scattered their magic in Absconditus and together collapsed the city. Determined to find revenge, they bound their souls together to reunite centuries later when evil reigned freely once again. Only their blood together in a new life could unseal the city.

Supposedly, in the center of Absconditus there was a beautiful fountain. The fountain is said to be the only visible point of the universal web of magic. Believers claim the fall of the city crushed the fountain, the threads cut off from returning to the rest of the realm and wizarding world. Of the time of the Mages and centuries still, the fountain collects magic. Belief has it that to gain entrance to Absconditus is to evoke this massive collection being the first outlet in over a millennium.

The founding of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has never been without controversy. No doubt, the reason being the Mages only bloodlines lain in Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Reports have shown unexplainable surges in the level of activity at the school; the most popular theory remains the fountain resides beneath the enchanted castle. There has been another oddity at the school. Never has an heir from each of the founding families resided in the same year, and strangely, the complete trace of all four families is nowhere to be found. Such renowned blood does not often disappear without notice or documentation.

If legend holds true, each Mage will be reborn into their families, will show unusual signs of their magic, and will learn the craft at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry together when our time is uncertain and the future of magic is at risk. Will these four saviors show? Is wizard legend true? As for me, I can only hope so.

Death Eaters have loomed. Voldemort has disappeared. For now the time seems safe once again, all due to the late James Potter's son who survived. How can a young babe possibly survive the killing curse when so many before failed? A baby, defenseless, innocent, and a Potter, no less -- Could this be our first Mage? One thing is certain; all eyes will be on young Harry Potter and his time at Hogwarts.

"Does this mean -" said Draco. He frowned. "Is Potter a Mage?" Phoenix nodded.

"Yes. Harry is one of the four Mages. In fact, popular theory suggests that may be the reason Voldemort wanted to kill him in the first place. Get rid of the Mages while he still can."

"What about the other three? The article says that all four should be at Hogwarts in our year."

"Well, that depends. Ron, are you ready to tell us about your vision?"

Draco's brow furrowed and he looked to Ron, frowning. Ron stared at the article in the old issue of the wizarding newspaper. He tried to focus on how old the printing looked, how worn the paper was. No longer able to procrastinate, he looked to Phoenix.

"I'm a Mage, aren't I?" he said at last. "I'm Ryan."

"Yeah. You are."