Author's note: chapter 4 is finally up! I know I haven't updated this forever as for now, and as always, I own nothing; I only own my plot and the characters I created. This a heavy dialogue chapter Since I need to give a bit of a world-building to explain the history; the anger is paramount.
Like the magical races we saw were integrated, unlike anything we had ever seen before. It felt like the eye on Hermione would pop out of her skull, and the smile was so big and giddy, and Harry was just stuck by it. Noting the way they seemed to need to be dragged, the hair on the back of your neck stood from the amount of magic that permeated the wards as allowed you through. The buildings just as well protected and secure as you passed, but the closer we got to the castle, the more assured we felt but intimidated. They thought about the whole thing. They made you feel protected like a bomb could go off, and it wouldn't even leave a scent much less leave a scratch on the sidewalk. The path was clear most of the people moving out of our way with the oddity of Harry's clothes, making him stand out like a sore thumb as well as being a part of a group of sixteen years old in the middle of the day when they should be at school.
We walked in the direction of the castle; the city streets filled at it felt like see a spectacle in front of the group.
The castle was immaculate and well maintained. Standing there in the distance a testament to the claim of their mythical country of legend, it stood proud in the relative distance making the town that stood with its skyscrapers seem pale in comparison. The expansion of where they had landed was almost enough of a culture shock standing in the park in the middle of the city capital proper. Finding the exit out of the park and walking out about the city. Mothers and their children's family, milling about spending time with their kids' people going back to work.
The castle itself It's looked impenetrable, and the wards were thrumming with palpable power. As did the town that inhabits the people that were milling around. All of them like busy bees with places to be and people to see. It didn't feel like culture shock, but it was odd to see this with everything that they had experienced with the magical world compared to Diagon Alley. This looked like London proper. The hustle and bustle of the working people with suits and ties. But it was odd to see a centaur wearing a suit and wearing pants walking into an office building.
It felt like the day they went to Diagon Alley. In every moment in every way, it felt like they had stepped into a new world. The one that they originally assumed the magical world would be. When they came into it the very first time when they were eleven years old. It seems so open it looks like everyone has their rights, and everyone has a choice one what they want to do and be. Seeing magical species that were unseen to Harry and Hermione before they were tall and waif-like light green skin pointed ears all in a group seems to be speaking about something important going about, living their daily life, and just going about their business. When they were clearly not human. The streets were filled with people just going about their day going to work going to coffee shops. The entire city was modern; the entire roads were modern. I just saw a car pass by this is a modern city with magic powering everything that I've noticed I did see people pull out their moms I did see people do things like park their carpet and it felt for hearing her my knee like their heads were going to explode at least that's what she was looking at them just the shock and amazement of so much progress at once.
The letter fell on our heads through the owl landed on Sam's shoulder. He didn't claw him he just gingerly waiting there we wanted to read it there, but they were at the gate of the castle it was right in front of us, and we had to at least wait for a place to write out a response. But the owl seemed to be patient sitting there on Sam's shoulder like he belongs there. They kept walking Sam acknowledge the owl but knew he wouldn't shoo the owl off. The guards open the door and a buzz of activity, so many people descended upon them they tried to take the owl who started pecking wildly at all who wanted to unseat him from his unorthodox perch on Sam's shoulder.
"He has a letter to deliver, and he's not leaving until he gets his reply."
They stopped trying to go after the owl and ushered us into a what could only be described a board room with a long table and lots of chairs, and pens in a cup and stack of papers we open the letters. And we all pass the letter around it was informative, but something we already had an inkling about. In this, Katherine and Lorna made it clear that this was going on. But they gave Fred and George a letter that they are safe, and they will be very far from all of this. We tied up the letter. And gave to the owl who promptly flew out of the room. He was a blur before he was gone. The group was approached by the staff who surrounded them and quickly led them to another room altogether different. There were two thrones ornate befitting royalty made of purple and gold trim. They were empty now, but I could hear a precession incoming. The Royals were on their way to discuss what plan they had for the five of them. Being escorted into a room.
"Announcing Queen Sofia And King Marco Of Avalon-Atlantis." Spoke the attendant who had taken us here led up did while a bow and follow the other advisors seemed to take off. Leaving only the knights in the room as well as leaving some air in attendance who were taking care of things and making Phone calls, which was odd enough to see us up until now, both Harry and Hermione are used to magical having no concept of what a Phone was. Much less their value.
"Please have a seat. We have a lot to discuss. We know it was a bit of an unceremonious request to have you come here. And to have such a large request in mind. But we have tried to be reasonable the last few centuries to no avail." Queen Sofia said with this world-weary tone in the end. Her attendant creating an extravagant but comfortable could for the group to sit with. Hermione and harry take an in-depth look at this are a woman who had gone over everything with a fine-tooth comb but saw her choices were and far between.
"We have tried a more straightforward method for weak results." King Marcos seemed to say clearly, trying to convey what is being said at this moment.
"Originally, England through brute force might work. But the civilian casualties that resulted was too much, and we had to stop. England, for all intents and purposes, would fight to the last man woman and child to run their country independently while stealing from everyone and claiming their superiority. Regardless of suffering for being independent. An example of this is their time turners are weak because they are supposed to be restored at the time star and can't because they refuse to fall in line with every other country." King Marcos said with the air that this had been a long-suffering problem that they knew they had to deal with.
"You know what we are asking of you I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't necessary." Sofia started looking at the three teens she knew best.
"If your superiors hadn't made it clear you, Sam and Lorna, you are the best of the best." Then looking at Harry Hermione, who wouldn't know the intricacies.
"They are the best of the best. They can easily calculate the risk of this mission and cement yourselves as well as ensure your safety throughout this mission. Sam is tactical minded and well versed with spell casting as well as an asset we can have faith in. As well as tactically inventive, we can easily protect the mission as well as keep the identities we are asking of you. Too long has Britain been allowed to do what they want. And they have created more damage and ruined the international policies. For Christ's sake, we had a Giant population that has been happily living in the wilds of Canada and Russia. After they pushed the giant population into the mountainous regions of Greece and Romania. which causes a break in the statue of secrecy since its mostly flat and caused a raucous, and there isn't anything there for them to feed on. So, they would go to the nearest town and have a buffet? Do you know how hard it is to get hungry magical being to keep away from essentially all you can meal?" Marcos, for his part, made it clear it wasn't an easy task and having to clean up the incident. The fact magic was exposed on an international level was a problem they had to solve several times on magical Britain's behalf.
"After, we were able to entice them into not eating people and eating the game available, that tastes better than humans ever did. They have taken to the taste of bears, and the occasion beached whale that is dumped in the wilderness of both places. In the words of several magical zoologists, they have become an exemplary example of their species. With the ability of not being cooped up and being allowed to roam, they have prospered and seeming to learn English to express their thanks something, no one could have foreseen centuries ago. Same for other magical species, we have relocated many magical denizens to places that are safer. What Britain did and has done because they have been able to dodge and keep us off the land is why I can't send my knights. We need insurgents that won't be suspected. That will be able to disable the protection and charms that surround the island of Britain so they can put back under the laws and guidelines."
"For the sake of Pete, when they were left to their own devices, they would shit themselves and blame everyone but themselves for their mistakes. And refused to follow the protocols that had been firmly established. Which is why when the international witch trials took place almost 800 years ago? something that was preventable, and most other nations during that time took sanctuary here for almost a century going back, creating their own niche in society after the hysteria was over." Queen Sofia spoke as if she knew the history like the back of her hand. She spoke with a surety and slight anger at the loss of life no matter how long ago. It was clear that she didn't care to see the death of innocents and by standards due to other stubbornness.
"Britain, on the other hand, was nearly wiped out at the time. They had no formal government or any type of unifying body as a community. They were closer to a nomadic band of travelers. And those that survived beseeched us for safety something that was given in kindness, Hogwarts only exist because of that kindness. Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw made an excellent case for the survival of Britain and that they swore that they would use the school to create their society into something Avalon would be proud to call their premier subject. Four hundred years later, the death of those founders had only cause strife and friction among themselves. They the elite of England took it upon themselves trying to usurp our throne for themselves, and this wouldn't be the last time they would make actions against others. Considering the environment in Britain was responsible for Grindelwald to become a threat. Understand the dark magic in Drumstrang? It is just the spells that Hogwarts refuses to teach. Like magical integration spell. Or something as basic as well as ensures literacy in their pupils." Marcos, to a breath, addresses them directly a steely gleam in his eye.
"Or anything else that would pull Britain out of the dark ages or allow society to progress. More the once British parliament considered nuking the entire wizarding community in the last ten years for the sheer threat they hold and the lack of awareness to the world population around. They left the world no choice but to have a strong fist and direct oversight something that hasn't been needed in a long time, not since Grindelwald, but most of them came to heel once they realized that the place isn't dominating or ruling the non-magically population. Most of them follow our laws with =complaint and honestly thank us for our distant oversight." King Marcos said with all the workers and the knights stamping their weapons in the agreement of joy, noting the smile on Katherine and Lorna's face about living happily.
"This about turning them around. For Christ's sake, none of the wizards live in seclusion; they had been able to resolve the worst of it as well as being able to take a deliberate position about which leaders we tell or don't about the magical community."
We have made it clear that the statue only takes place and only needs to be broken for those who are required to know, should already know, and who will not miss use magic if told about it. You know how dangerous it would be if someone with genocidal tendencies knows about magic and for cooperation created a scenario created a possibility where the magical population would have to kill others to further this maniac's agenda? It's not a far-off scenario; it's one of the reasons the statue of secrecy was put in place in 1000 a.d. Which magical Britain decided to follow 600 years later with their own stipulations to it." With Sofia rolling her eyes at the difference of it in question.
So, telling every person that becomes Prime Minister that not only magic exists but that something is going on doesn't leave any room for good in cooperation to get through. See the issue is, we made it clear if we don't think they're trustworthy, they shouldn't be told. And the last few prime ministers put in secret initiatives with the fact that they knew that magic existed. Do you know how much of a hassle it was to stamp out a registry that one Prime Minister made a secret registry? Where he would cross-reference every child that had been summarily taken out of the British education system with no traces to where the new school would be and figuring out at all those students, we're magical. He tried to create a quiet army of children. Because magical Britain has no concept of how easy it is to figure a secret out once you know the half of it. And he created insurgents within magical Britain. It took a long time for Anna a lot of my knee raising and manipulation to save those children from becoming child soldiers. Much less live their daily lives, we had to relocate and move these children America. To allow them to be able to live a healthy, peaceful life and get the education they deserved. Keep in mind this happened all in the 80s. And this wasn't even the first time the Prime Minister after finding out about magic, decided to intervene. They are undocumented since there is a community that, for all intents and purposes, is still stuck in medieval times and has no knowledge of how mundane people live their daily lives and how it's any of it gets anything done. This is unacceptable that they claim that they should stand with all the other countries when they don't even understand the need for childcare or why there would be a need for further education." Sofia stated this shaking her had her eyes a cascade of emotions her eyes held.
"We know that we are all asking a lot of you; it may seem like you are betraying your country. But it's time for Britain to go back to sanity. As well there are certain aspects like forcing Britain to be the country it should've been instead of the dystopian nightmare, they allowed themselves to become. The fact that their inbred elite runs the country and their government is barely representational tells you precisely what needs to be done.
Hermione, Harry, if you want an idea of England, is comparable to the rest of the other countries that we rule over? Imagine Britain as North Korea. Refusing help and always creating international incidents even in countries they are not citizens of. The only way to help is to take pure control of the country." Marcos said he voice exuding the strength of what he said. the knight stood there as still as stone
"I know it seems extreme, so was the fact there have been wizards killing non-magicals on the semifrequent basis from the reports we can make the fact there was a basilisk in Hogwarts that doesn't change the other things like the vaults of Hogwarts. Something that took place right before you came to Hogwarts but makes clear that they can't handle the world, and they need oversight and direction, something that would publicly shame them and would be a lesson to everyone and anyone."
The looks on their face, you could almost see the thoughts. This was not only a big decision, but it was a ridiculous one as well, they knew in their heart what they would choose, but it didn't mean they didn't need to make sure it was the right decision.
"What if when we get to the time in question, you don't believe us, and we are left entirely to our own devices or worse get ourselves killed?" Hermione spoke up who up until now had been absorbing everything spoken with fervor. Considering what she had been through with the injury and the injustice, she suffers from the same elite. She would completely understand what they meant, and Harry wasn't too far behind, realizing that he must be raptured by the royals speaking.
"Let's not forget the time star is in the middle of the Lake that the lady of the Lake came out of don't forget that we are going back to a time before we were selected by you, your highness. Going back 7 years is a long time. And it is a concern I had been thinking about though you had been considering sending a team for a long time."
"What suggestion do you have in mind then?" Queen Sofia seemed intrigued because it seemed her own concern
To be perfectly honest, something that only you would do you said you've done this before correcting you've never done this with children I'm assuming. I think what you should do is take a moment to take a picture with us and write a note and put a pass a code or a word or phrase that only you would know or even pass on to yourself I know that it seems like it's making things more complicated than it needs to be, but no one would ever bring a child to the past that's just basic so as doing this at all seems crazy, and I know even your past self would think This is crazy so it's probably a better idea to be safe than sorry then we have to do all this by ourselves trying to convince you about the truth maybe two years in.
"Once again, Lorna, Katherine, you are wise beyond your years, giving you some proof that you are who you say you are. I know that this a top government secret, but you will be commended for this on success on this endeavor, and that includes all of you. After the restructuring is done, I can promise you, all of you, that magical Britain will be the example it was supposed to be." Sofia, for her part, had a wide honest smile. King Marco nodding along. Taking a moment to speak himself.
"I know this all seems incredible and something almost unbelievably false. But I figure we might need to show you the facts versus taking what we say at face value as well allow you as to the library for the things that Katherine and Lorna asked to be requisition on your behalf. But if you could stay with us, we do have a pensive when Katherine got here? She already knew what the mission was and why. That's what an actual seer is capable of the past, and the future is but child play in hand, but Lorna needed convincing. Sam, on the other hand? Was a child of Avalon, had known the tale since childhood, and already understood its importance and was acting as their guard on the island. Son of our elite battlemages. He was asked to complete this honor both from the magical proficiency as well as the death of his battle experience." Sofia nodding at the same looking at him with pride.
All three of them have about thirty years of experience from a lot of trial and error. They under the tutelage of some of the best mages within our kingdom inside our specialized time dilation room. Well, they may seem about your own age. They've been training and preparing for this day for them a little close to thirty years have passed for them. Well, I know that doesn't seem to comfort you. I hope that way of seeing this piece if you can see what we already know and understand England needs to fall back in line. If not, it will be the end living separately but harmoniously as we have all done for the last three hundred years. I personally do not want to go back to living in complete and utter isolation and having to house every single magical on the planet on this island and keeping it warded until they forget about us entirely because Britain fucked up.
I know I feel like your turncoats to your own nation that you were going to. But I want you to take the next few days after this trap into the pieces to really take in Avalon take in the culture take in the species that live right here on our grounds on our land take note of the mermaids take note of the center take note of the goblins and trolls everything here immerse yourself because once we receive back England and put it back where it belongs what you see in Avalon, you will see in magical England I promise you. Because of the one thing that magical Britain needs more than anything? Is to be back under the right rules, the right laws, and in the proper restrictions. For heaven's sake, if I remember correctly, your system of government is barely functioning, it's run incorrectly, and it feels like it's just monkeys running the asylum, am I correct? There is no council. No lower education. No medical clinics. No sense of innovation and the one real media can be won with twenty galleons. That's not what we run here, and that is not how the rest of the world runs England knew this, but they'd instead make themselves in charge of what is not theirs. They want to be stuck in the fifteen hundred. And they need to bring to the present, kick and screaming if necessary.
Now I need all of you to follow me. Down the halls, we went the building itself look like it had been retold and re-modernized what would have usually been stone walls like you would see at Hogwarts? was now similar to if we had been visiting Buckingham Palace or a new age version of a Castle in this day and age it was shocking to see all the guards were standing at attention most dutifully Anne respectfully nodding their heads at their Royals who were leading the charge all five of us walking in at what is polite pace behind our Royals and 3rd stood on a pedestal the piece of that apparently held all the memories that would either tell them the truth or be another bald-faced lie. I know your lives I've had reports and the things that you have gone through. I won't even pretend to understand it. So, if you want nothing to do with this? I completely understand This is not an easy decision, and for all intents and purposes, we could comfortably be lying to you even though with everything you've dealt with in magical Britain?
"Do you honestly believe that a country that is already proven that they are behind on the times incapable of wanting to move forward would be lying about their own system of government? Lying about the fact that they have this tremendous international cooperation?" queen Sofia had this look of magnanimous her thoughts couldn't be shaken. It makes more sense if they are literally staying in the past because traditions feel more comforting to them. Look at this town you stepped into the integration of magic and technology I have no doubt you at least saw how magical species are just allowed to coexist with us they had chosen to live here all the ones left in Britain we're the ones who are left behind when we closed our borders, and that has been our biggest regret because they yearn for the land of home we cannot open our gates until Britain is back under control. You do have a choice to make, and I hope in a week? You're willing to make that decision that you're ready to stand with us but regardless of whether you choose to do this or not, Katherine, Lorna, and Sam will do what they must do. What they were trained and taught to do with or without you Harry and Hermione. This has been their mission for as long as they have been with us. Training with us and for over a long, long time. They have been readying this day, and there is nothing short of a nuclear bomb? Which will stop them from completing this task and setting everything as it should have been a long time ago? Its great choice up the choice is up to you ultimately.
"What do we do now?"
"Right now, you have a week to make a choice. The castle is open to you, and you are allowed passage anywhere and everywhere. But give a decision as soon as possible this is top-secret. Not even our advisors know we are sending you. Make an informed decision about what to do. This a world-changing endeavor we are asking you take. If you chose to do this, you would be going to undertaking a lot of strain, as well as the planning that our team must go over. I hope you make the right choice."
There is a pain in their faces at what they wanted to do and what they wanted to say. The intricate planning and the fact that this was something these royals wanted to do, but it was something they wanted to do. That they were sending kids to do it? Never a good sign, you could almost read on both of their faces. And it would be honestly worrisome and something that Katherine grasped why they were counting on them at all. Her visions showed her reasoning and understanding. It made sense to send us over the others, particularly for what we are. And that the fact we are kids? The plan needs flexibility and adult can't necessarily replicate. The more people who know the project, the more who come with, the less chance of success, and it was something that had already happened before. We weren't the first team that had tried to change the past and bring magical Britain under the heel, they were maybe the 5th team over the five centuries. Not many have high hopes on this plan working. But at the same time, they didn't have me on those teams. Worse not one of the members one this specialize as Sam is, or the ace in the hole that's me. Of course, they trust us with this who else would be better at the task. To be better at dealing with everything they had asked of us. I was lost in my own thoughts that I hadn't heard Harry ask me something.
"Huh?"
"Can you show us where the pensive is I would like to see all of this verified?" Harry said while Hermione was being escorted out of the room by doctors if their attire was anything to go by. Harry seemed to be following her with his eyes, but from the soft murmuring knew that he could not follow her.
"Sure, I know the way."
Final note: I started writing this when I was in my teens. Now I'm in my late 20s. Finishing up a story that I started back then, I have one rule to finish what you start while I still breathe. To be fair, I don't abandon my stories, not now, not ever. I finished my twilight fanfic earlier two years ago or so for that exact reason maybe, later, I'll clean up the mistakes that riddle that work in question. I've been near the end of college, and this takes more of my mental power, and I must really think about the next step in this story more than my other ones. I know people don't like that I have people who are patiently waiting, but I'm doing this from a different place than when I started writing it. I'm older, wiser, and have a different view.