Divining Two Worlds

Prologue

Delphi

The vision plagued Delphi's dreams ,a nightmare she could't escape, tethering her to heart of a thick forest .The starry night rang with the snarl of a beast ten folds her own might as hooves thundered the earthy floor ,littered with fallen autumn leaves.Through flashes she witnessed the ready battle stance of a mysterious figure ,caught haunting green eyes, dark tresses that blended with shadows and the glint of a bronze dagger, that emitted a strange blue light.On the verge of waking she heard a terrified scream that sounded like her own.

Delphi's forehead was beaded with sweat ,while her ears rang with the beast's snarl and her heart raced. Through the drawn curtains,she saw a sliver of gold rising from a sea of cottage roofs, and realisation hit her like ice water, banishing her sleepiness as her spirits lifted even while the memory was vivid.Hogwarts was in sight. Opposite her own bed, her younger sister Sybil snored away, whilst Delphi dressed as a muggle and grabbed her new aspen wand containing a core of phoenix feathers.

She tiptoed downstairs to find the sun barely up. Her mother was a muggle, her dad a wizard, both had cooperated their natures by moving to Godric Hollow. Extinguished candles littered the place, as Delphi smothered a piece of toast with jam, while practicing her wand work by trying to levitate a teacup. Animated pictures lined the walls as she saw past wizards and witches of her family including,her great-great-grandmother Cassandra Trelawney, the gifted seer displayed above the mantle.

Red curls framed her wrinkled face, as she wore a snarl,her frail hands wrapping around an ornate cane. Sybil often took her as an inspiration, like Cassandra she was a self-claimed seer, and like Cassandra had been called a fraud though as far as Delphi knew, Sybil had about as much prophetic knowledge as a doorknob. Yet Sybil said like Cassandra ,people would come to accept her if only she would be patient.If only Sybil knew about the dreams Delphi had had, she would probably turn green with jealousy.

Her wandering thoughts were interrupted by her mother and father coming down.

'Morning dear' Mrs. Trelaweny said beaming, she hugged Delphi tightly,tears glittering in her stony grey eyes, the same eyes Delphi shared.

'Write at once you get to Hogwarts, and have a brilliant time dear' before hugging her one last time and kissing her husband before heading for work, slipping into her cloak as Delphi and her father waved her goodbye from the doorstep. Later, Delphi woke Sybil as she lugged her suitcase downstairs and carried her ragdoll cat, Leo, who on far sight resembled a lion with his golden mane and considerable size

'Ready for Hogwarts?' Mr. Trelawney inquired extending an arm for the two to grip as they apparate with a crack and disappeared into thin air.

Asteria

'Are you done yet?' Asteria called up the stairs.

'Don't you dare hollar in my orphanage Foxglove,' the orphanage's director yelled herself in a furious tone, descending from the steps. But before Asteria could comment on the irony, Mrs. Harrison yanked a strand of her hair harshly.

'Come girl,I don't have all day to escort you to Kings Cross'

Asteria glared, though the spot hurt a lot, she held her head high, determined not to give Mrs Harrison any satisfaction. She had had years of being confined in that dreadful orphanage besides other unfed, uncared-for children, while Mrs. Harrison ran it as a prison and Asteria knew only too much of the sting of her yardstick.

Yet excitement made it hard to focus on even her bitterness, for Hogwarts was not only an escape, but it was a step closer to following her father's roots and might make it possible to actually track him. She had only been seven that fateful day when he was back from his work, locked all day in the department of mysteries as an unspeakable. His eyes filled with worry while, he had leafed through his writing desk and burned every paper he had with flames from his wand as Asteria watched from the threshold nervously.

'Take this to the train station' He said, handing her a train ticket as his eyes brimmed with tears, though his tone was calm.

'Your mother will protect you, don't be scared' he said gently but firmly

Her mother? Her father had talked of her often, sure she was still alive, though she was never there to teach Asteria to ride her first broom or tell her the Greek myths, father enjoyed so much at bedtime.

When the stern-looking witch had arrived less than two weeks ago, Asteria felt a burst of hope that she would be returning to the wizarding world, where she belonged. Her visit to Diagon Alley was the first sign of wizards and witches she had seen in four long years. When Mrs. Harrison and Asteria headed for Kings cross in the crisp September morning, she made a plan to meet her dad again and find her mom.