The Way Forward

'You have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and you've been brought up in hate and pain. You're not rash like Gryffindor and neither are you manipulative like Slytherin. You're ruled by emotions and you need to learn about emotions if you are to choose a path. The question is; are you capable of undoing the damage done to your mind or will you continue to wallow in hate and become a true monster.'

- The Sorting Hat to Harry Potter

"Atlantis."

The name and the lore around the continent swirled in Harry's mind and the outside world melted away.

He had quietly taken up a far corner around one of the fires, wanting to rest after the thrilling encounter with his past.

People huddled around the fire exchanging humour and gnawing on the bones of what Harry knew was once lizard.

A silent cleansing and warming charm got him comfortable and he stared into the fire and let his mind drift.

The Void, the Engine, Avalon, the Badlands, Hogwarts, the Source, Atlantis, the Dragon, the Desert. It was all connected and the stream took Harry back to the singularity where it all hypothetically began and the inevitable question that arose.

The greatest magical mystery of all.

How had the Ancients of Atlantis managed to sink an entire continent? Had it been a dystopian or utopian haven?

Oh, the sweet taste of mystery quickened Harry's pulse and drew an unshakable grin on him.

All the lore pointed to the Sahara Desert. To get there he needed a way around his own spell.

A spell which had taken its own consciousness and created a web that was still beyond his understanding.

He thought about entering the Engine in the Enchanted Forest but ruled that out almost immediately. The Forest was mystical. He never realised it before but now, in hind sight, there had always been an underlaying force, talking to him, nudging his mind when he was in there.

He was not keen on going down an unstable path.

He had instinctively thought of London after crushing Dudley. He wondered what could be left here that could lead him to Atlantis.

A cold draught broke through his spell and Harry huddled into his robes; hood drawn. Sleep was beginning to overcome him and at the forefront, his mind began to wonder.

Could he use the secret of Atlantis to bring about a conclusion to the curse?

What would the collateral look like?

Time Unknown, The Desert

Consciousness returned to Albus Dumbledore sluggishly. His senses were scattered. The last thing he remembered was letting go.

"Why am I alive?" he mumbled.

His eyes began to flutter and sensed the mild light of the moon.

His senses began to clear and he realised he was laying in the shade of a makeshift tent and head rested on an uncomfortable bag pack.

A South European woman swam through his vision. She wearing a black dress and had a large hat that shaded her tanned skin and dark hair.

His eyes drifted towards the rifle slung over her back and down to the shotgun she had causally over her lap.

"How are you feeling?"

Dumbledore closed his eyes, took a deep breath and used occlumency to clear his mind and organise his thoughts.

He had not let loose in a long time. All that suppressed power released. His mind felt good. Better than it had felt in decades.

He opened his eyes and smiled. "Alive," he said.

The woman grinned. She was sitting crossed legged on the ground and smoothly turned the muzzle of the shotgun towards his face.

"And is there are reason I should keep you alive?"

Dumbledore blinked and processed her words. Clearly she adept at killing and was in this for survival. She probably viewed everyone as a potential threat.

"Maybe because I'm not a threat to you?" Dumbledore replied with a dry smile.

She laughed and suddenly her composure relaxed and Dumbledore felt a tension he wasn't aware was present release it's hold on him. "I'm just surprised you're still alive."

Dumbledore felt strength return to his body and he curled his fingers and toes and sighed. The woman had some interesting powers. Was she aware of them? He wondered.

"My name's Freya, what's yours?"

Dumbledore pushed his torso up and looked at Freya more clearly.

"Albus," he replied.

Thirteenth November, Nineteen Ninety-Seven, Tower of Elysium

It had been weeks and multiple trips to the bar but there was no glimpse of Bellatrix every time.

Hermione was fed up with Draco's insistence that she would turn up and was seriously considering taking up Moody offer.

Daphne, however was staunchly against it.

Their funds were low and would allow them only a few days of the luxurious apartment which had now led to the time to make a decision.

"I say we move on."

"Move on to where?" Hermione asked. "This place has the most to offer and we could find a way to lift the curse if we take up Flitwick's offer."

The two woman were sitting on armchairs in the balcony of the apartment restfully sipping on tea as they watched the sun set on the ruins of London from high above.

"That won't lead us to Harry," Daphne replied firmly.

"Maybe it's time you gave up on that. We've been here a while and both you and I know that what's happening here is great. A bit immoral but probably the best thing we have for rebuilding our civilisation. If we join the High Council maybe we can contribute to the revival of our lives!"

"Given up on the muggles eh?" Daphne returned dryly.

Hermione laughed. "It's survival of the fittest Daphne. Haven't we come to terms with that?"

Hermione was right. Daphne knew it. But the idea of being part of something that called themselves the High Council just repulsed her. And not to mention she cared nothing for the rebuilding of civilisation.

"You go ahead if you must," Daphne said. "I'm going to find us a job so that we can keep this sweet place until Black turns up."

"I think if we joined the council we'd get something even better."

"So how about you join and I'll keep my ear to the ground. There's so reason for us to stick to each other."

Hermione sipped her tea and mulled the idea over.

"Looks like we found our way forward," she said with a grin. She raised her cup and looked at Daphne solemnly. "To Luxury."

Daphne laughed and raised her cup as well. "To getting what we want."

Hermione and Daphne had evolved. They no longer worried. They no longer feared death. They had gained the instincts to survive the desert and didn't have to depend on others.

They were free to chose their own paths and Daphne felt like she was the only one who felt they owed it to Harry.

And it was that thought that secretly tortured her. And it was the reason she still wouldn't give up on finding Harry. She didn't know how she'd react when she did and was curious to know how it would turn out.

She was free to chose her path after all.

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