Magic Within Us - An Ateez Hogwarts AU

Memory

A/n: yo this chapter has a tw - death, ptsd

"Wh-what," San stuttered. He had heard the words, heard them as clear as one can hear life changing news. But it stopped there. His brain refused to process what it meant, what Professor Longbottom's words were saying. "I don't understand."

Professor Longbottom placed a hand on San's back and turned them both to face the castle, gently pushing him toward large doors.

San let himself be moved. Let the pressure of Professor Longbottom's hand push him forward. His mind too far away to be bothered to resist, or ask more questions. Professor Longbottom's words looped in his head, trying to get him to finally acknowledge them.

This couldn't be happening. Not again, not again.

And in a single moment San wasn't walking up the steep path to the castle at Hogwarts. In a single instant he was surrounded by fog, light flashing past in zooming bursts. He stared ahead at a man he had only heard about. The man had long black greasy hair that was cut jaggedly at his shoulders. His clothing was expensive and elaborate but nothing quite matched, a dark emerald green cloak with mustard yellow pants and a royal blue hat. But it was his face that held all of San's attention. There was red, dark and thick, across his cheek and his eyes were yellow like violent lightning. Sunken deep into his long hallow face.

Neither of them spoke as the man stared at San. His hand spun the handle of his wand over and over clenching and unclenching around it as if he was aching to cast a spell.

There was a shout from behind San and someone, one of the Aurors ran in front of San, their wand held straight out.

"Run! Get to saftey!" The man shouted as he blocked a spell and returned fire.

"Where's my brother?!" San still stood rooted to the spot, his knees shook. If he tried to takes a step they might just give way.

"He's with the others! GO!" The Auror shouted again. He turned to look at San and shoved him back, forcing his feet to steady him as he stumbled back.

That push was what San's body needed to start through the forest, the thick mists swirling around him, spells continued to shoot over his head.

Up ahead another Auror was battling a Gytrash as it stalked around him and his spells bounced harmlessly off it's shell of fur. San turned to the right before either noticed him and started running again. His wand, clutched tightly in his hand, was completely useless.

A streak of light zipped by so close to San's face that he felt the energy coming from it. He looked behind him and something caught on his foot. He went tumbling to the ground, his knees pressing into something soft as his hands scraped against the stones and twigs on the ground. His wide eyes took in horrors around him. Over his head, lights shoot back and forth into the mist. Someone's hand was on his shoulder, pulling him to his feet.

As he rose he saw the still form of a body, face down in the grass.

The man stood in front of him once again. More blood on his clothing as he cursed the wizard who had helped San to his feet and stalked towards San. It was so strange to see so much blood. But he couldn't remember why.

He grabbed San from his neck and yanked him into the air. The claws that were his nails digging into San's neck. Pain was all he could think about as his feet left the ground and the man shook him like a rag doll.

"Where is it?" He growled.

San shook his head, not knowing what the man wanted. He couldn't think, he couldn't even remember a spell to help himself.