In Every Lifetime

Chapter 1: Her Arrival

The night was heavy with rain, the storm lashing relentlessly against the towering trees of the Forbidden Forest. The wind howled through the ancient branches like a thousand tortured souls, and lightning split the sky with a fury that illuminated the dark, foreboding landscape for brief, terrifying moments. The dense canopy above was no match for the torrential downpour that soaked the forest floor, turning it into a treacherous quagmire. Amidst this chaos, the sound of a carriage racing along the muddy path echoed through the darkness, its wheels churning through the muck as if pursued by unseen horrors. The thestrals, invisible to most, galloped with a ferocity that matched the urgency of the two passengers inside, their skeletal wings slicing through the rain like knives.

Inside the carriage, Catherine clung to her daughter, Annaliese, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and desperation. Every jolt and lurch of the carriage sent waves of agony through her battered body, but she refused to let go, driven by the sheer force of her love and determination. Her hands, slick with rain and blood, gripped Annaliese's limp form tightly, as if her touch alone could anchor her daughter to life. The journey had been long and perilous, with dangers lurking at every turn—dark creatures with gleaming eyes that had stalked them through the forest, the constant threat of discovery by those who wished them harm—but they will finally reach the one place where she knew her daughter might be safe: Hogwarts.

Unbeknownst to Catherine, the storm had caused a significant breach in Hogwarts' protective wards. The magical enchantments, usually unyielding and impenetrable, had faltered under the storm's relentless assault. This breach allowed the carriage to approach the castle unnoticed, a vulnerability that remained undetected until it was almost too late.

As the disturbance rippled through the castle, a sudden magical warning erupted. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, deep in conversation in the staff room, were jolted by a flicker of light and a surge of arcane energy crackling through the air.

"Minerva, it seems the wards are under strain," Dumbledore observed, his calm demeanor masking an edge of concern. "Something beyond the storm may be testing their limits."

Professor McGonagall's face tightened, her eyes narrowing with steely resolve. "I'll alert the staff. If the wards are failing, we must be prepared for anything." With a swift incantation, she conjured her silver tabby Patronus. The ethereal cat leaped into the dim corridor, its shimmering form slicing through the darkness with purposeful urgency. "Notify the staff," she instructed firmly. The Patronus bounded away, a beacon of light against the encroaching gloom.

"I'll ensure that they're ready," Professor McGonagall added, turning back to Dumbledore. He nodded solemnly, and together they raced through the winding corridors, their robes billowing behind them. The storm outside roared with renewed ferocity, shaking the very stones of the castle.

Upon reaching the castle gates, they paused, peering out from the relative safety of Hogwarts. The storm raged with an almost malevolent intensity, battering the castle walls and causing the enchanted wards to flicker erratically. They scrutinized the tempestuous scene beyond the gates, their senses straining against the howling wind and blinding rain.

Then, cutting through the cacophony of the storm, came a new, ominous sound—a low, agonized groan of wood and metal straining against the elements. Through the sheets of rain and swirling shadows, the silhouette of a carriage emerged. Its wheels, struggling for traction on the slick cobblestones, slipped and skidded, each jolt a testament to the storm's wrath. The invisible thestrals pulling it fought desperately against the gale, their presence felt more than seen. The carriage rocked violently, as if the storm itself sought to drag it back into the abyss from which it came.