Warnings: AU, lots of things from the 4th book and up have been changed. Not beta-read.
Disclaimer: The only thing I own is my OC
Important Notice: I'm not planning on making my OC and Rodolphus lovers or anything of that kind, he's simply going to be a big part of the story.

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The smoke hung thick in his bedroom and the little boy covered his nose with the sleeve of his pajamas jacket. He had woke up to the sound of screams only to find himself coughing as the smoke entered his lungs. Panicked he cried for his mum to come and rescue him but received no answer. Now desperate he tried to reach for the window but couldn't quite reach it, neither could he find something to stand on. He knew that the only way out of the room was through the door but was afraid of what he would find on the other side.

He touched the door and realized with a start how warm it was but saw no other choice but to open it as his lungs were hurting and he were beginning to feel lightheaded. As he opened to door he felt an immense heat and then he felt himself being flung backwards and a sharp pain in his head as he landed. The last thoughts running through his head before darkness took over were how cold the floor suddenly got.

16 years later a young man woke up from yet another nightmare. It was always the same dream that plagued him and he couldn't help but think that they were somehow memories of the past.
Erebus had been found knocked out cold on a sidewalk in a little town in France and had spent 14 years at an orphan near the western border. Although he didn't dislike the orphan he was still saddened about the fact that he couldn't remember his parents or why he had been abandoned. The police though he had been kidnapped and left for dead when the kidnappers didn't get the ransom.

It was pure luck that he didn't die that night according to the hospital since not only was he chilled and had a concussion but his lungs were also filled with smoke. They couldn't figure out how the smoke had gotten in him because there were no fires near the area that night, however it was the reason why Erebus thought his dreams were memories.

For as long as he could remember he had been unexplainable afraid of fire, even candles and things such as matches, he had never been able to conjure fire either for the fear of getting burned. He could easily remember how shocked he had been when he received a letter from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic when he was 10, suddenly a lot of things made sense if such things as magic existed. A couple of hours later one of the staff members at the orphanage took him into a private room used for therapy and explained all about the school and tried to answer his questions as well as she could, apparently he wasn't the first magical child the orphanage had.

At that time he wasn't keen on leaving his school and all his friends there but the aspect of magic were enough for him to give the school a chance and he never regretted it. His fascination for magic left him with high grades in almost all subjects with Defense against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration and herbology in the top. Although he was interested in healing he didn't posses much talent in the area and his teacher kindly told him that his talents were at better use in another direction.

Because of that he was at loss for what to do when he graduated a year later and ended up working in a bookstore in Calais. The store didn't have many customers and to pass the time until he could go home to the small apartment he shared with 2 friends, having to leave the orphanage when he came of age, he read through most books in the little shop. Almost a year later, just in time for summer, the store had to close since it wasn't making enough money and Erebus had a hard time paying for his share of the rent.

What saved him was when he heard of a job at a school in Scotland through an old professor he met while visiting the Academy during a summer course, apparently no one wanted the job and they were desperate enough to hire anyone. He contacted the school in the beginning of July and they agreed to hire him. Erebus couldn't have been more happy about the opportunity but he was still a bit apprehensive about leaving France. The language wasn't a problem since he spoke English fluently, albeit with an accent, but there had been rumors about trouble brewing in the UK. He decided not to think about such negative things anymore and smiled to himself. Tomorrow he Erebus Durand, 19 years old, would be a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was definitely going to be a challenge!

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Keep in mind that this is only a prologue!
Things that are unclear in this chapter will most likely have an answer later in the story.
If you spot any mistakes, see things you feel should be improved or simply liked it please give me a review and let me know!