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Chapter Begins:
It finally happened.
Madam Villanelle's worst fears had come true.
Professor Dumbledore, feeling betrayed by the Order of the Immortal Lotus, had taken the extreme step.
The Order of the Black Phoenix, with over three-fourths of the world's wizarding communities and other magical forces under its wing, now glared toward the USA, the beast named the Dark Alliance eyeing it back.
Madam Villanelle had hopes that it would never come to this.
But the utterly selfish actions of the Six Seats, including the Witch of Endor, who was her original self, had pushed things beyond redemption.
Not only had innocent people died in the aftermath, but it had also effectively forced Dumbledore and Darcie to take drastic steps. Steps that good-hearted and ingenious people like them would never have taken otherwise.
One had accepted the Despair he had been carrying all this while.
The other… was being requested to follow his suit, accepting the chaos she carried within her.
Walking through the empty corridors of Hogwarts, donning purple, starry robes and a witch's hat, Madam Villanelle's silver-gray eyes shook in dismay.
She couldn't put her finger on the time when everything had started taking the worst turn.
However, even now, she remembered the utterly horrifying sensation she had experienced when Lord of Azkaban had been freed, presumably by Lord Yellow Warlock.
Everything that happened later could be traced back to that event; even the resurrection of Herpo the Foul from the seams of myths.
Unlike Dumbledore, Madam Villanelle had known how Merlin, the Blue Seat, was nothing but Herpo the Foul's Horcrux — the Staff of Merlin. She had also known the relationship between Herpo the Foul and Lord Ekrizdis, the Inferi being the legendary wizard's first Horcrux.
Yet, this knowledge in itself had remained inconsequential… in the absence of the characters involved.
Now, her own existence felt small when she thought of the shadows of the grand figures looming over the world in this game of Order and Chaos.
And, in all this, Madam Villanelle's heart went out to the innocent girl, who would have no choice but to give up her ordinary, teenage years.
Darcie Malfoy, the Obscurial, would be guided by Herpo the Foul himself, the Six had decided.
No matter how much of an otherworldly genius she was, though, Darcie was still only thirteen years old. After a careful examination of her body and spirit, Herpo the Foul had declared that she would be ready to shoulder the responsibility after reaching her fourteenth birthday.
Madam Villanelle had just dropped the girl at her home, as she would be coming to Hogwarts tomorrow.
One more year… she thought, walking out of the School premises. Only one more year… I have one year to save Darcie… somehow…
Not for once did Madam Villanelle trust that Herpo the Foul was as innocent a party as the Six Seats claimed him to be.
Not for once did she believe that Darcie would survive Herpo the Foul's training, once he got his hands on her.
And not for once did she now think that the Six Seats had the best interests of the girl in mind. Not anymore.
There were millions of Darcies across timelines, if not more.
There were even more Madam Villanelles, perhaps.
All that mattered to the Six Seats regarding this timeline now was the existence named Lord Yellow Warlock and nothing else.
So, storming through the dew-stained meadow, Madam Villanelle found herself… agreeing with Dumbledore's decision.
They must take the fate of this world into their hands.
Even if it meant… making deals with the enemy.
Madam Villanelle stared ahead, her steps involuntarily slowing down as she saw the two figures.
On the bank of the lake was Lord Black Phoenix, the ends of his black robes lashing out in the wind's direction as if they were tongues of black flames.
At this moment, Dumbledore was looking at the sky, where a hooded figure hovered, with his loose yellow cloak flapping mightily in the stormy wind.
The figure lifted his head, and two blobs of yellowness glared at her.
Madam Villanelle's heart thumped.
She wanted to… worship him.
BOOM-CRACKLEEEE!
Black flames exploded out of Dumbledore, washing over the entire School.
Madam Villanelle, shocked and horrified beyond bounds, found herself kneeling, sweat drenching her back. Her throat had gone dry, and there was a cloudiness in her mind, as if she had forgotten many moments of her life.
Shaking, the reincarnated, biblical witch looked up and found Lord Yellow Warlock clapping.
"We only met a few days ago," the Horror was saying. "But you seem even stronger, Lord Black Phoenix. How? … Devoured another one?"
Madam Villanelle saw the flaming black robe of Dumbledore pause before resuming its crackling motion.
"Responsibilities do that to a person, Lord Yellow Warlock," the Headmaster said. "A shame that you'll never understand the weight of that word. All your kind knows is pillaging… from innocent people… from worlds. Those who have never known despair will never understand…"
Dumbledore couldn't complete his words.
A wave of pure Sadness flooded the world, becoming Despair, freezing the entire meadow.
Madam Villanelle felt a wetness on her face. She touched her cheeks and realized she was crying, her vision blurring by seconds.
Not only her, but even Lord Black Phoenix looked shaken, and the ends of his black robes lengthened, becoming sheets of black flames.
"You!" Dumbledore gasped, the color of his eyes blurring between black and his original blue tones.
Lord Yellow Warlock glided down slowly, reining in the Despair. "… I have known despair, Lord Black Phoenix," he declared. "The path you are walking… I had already succumbed to it. Once. Now, I walk a new path. I call it — The Peak of Absolute Power!"
As the leader of the Dark Alliance began walking toward Hogwarts, a shocked Dumbledore took a deep breath, calming his nerves.
"One Vault," he warned, making the enemy remember the deal. "If you succeed, I will be the one dealing with the aftermath."
Lord Yellow Warlock stopped, a chuckle slithering out from under his hood. "… if?!"
"Something has changed," Dumbledore said, remembering his weeks-long search. "I couldn't find the Vaults…"
"As long as I get to fight the strongest…" Kai mumbled to himself, resuming his walk. "… I don't mind any change."
The moment he entered Hogwarts, he took out Jack Sparrow's Compass, activating the Rose of the Winds.
And the Compass' needle spun rapidly before coming to a sudden rest, directing Kai to what he desired the most…
… even if that desire would turn out to be fatal to him!
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