A Glimpse Beyond - Echoes of a different star

Prologue ( Part 1)

In his fifth year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter is struggling under immense pressure. His summer had been miserable-isolated at the Dursleys, only to be attacked by Dementors and then nearly expelled from Hogwarts for defending himself. Worse, the Daily Prophet has been slandering him, calling him a liar, and casting doubt on his claim that Voldemort has returned. Harry's frustration and anger have been building ever since, with little information from Dumbledore, no guidance from the Order, and with Snape refusing to teach him Occlumency after the Pensieve incident. To make things even more unbearable, Dolores Umbridge's torturous rule over the school has him constantly on edge. His friends, Ron and Hermione, are worried about him, but even they don't fully understand the depth of his fury or isolation.

It's an ordinary night in the Great Hall, but Harry feels anything but ordinary. He sits with Ron and Hermione, his eyes scanning the enchanted ceiling of the Hall. The candles floating above flicker ominously, though no one seems to notice except him. His unease deepens. He clenches his fist, his wand in his lap, as the murmurs of students enjoying dinner fill the hall. His mind is racing-about Umbridge, about the Order's silence, about how everything seems to be falling apart.

Suddenly, the flickering candles intensify. The temperature in the room seems to drop slightly, and a tangible tension builds in the air. A few other students notice and begin whispering in low voices.

"Something's not right," Hermione mutters, her eyes darting around.

Harry feels the magic-thick, swirling, almost suffocating in the atmosphere. He grips his wand, standing suddenly, and his movement draws Ron and Hermione to their feet as well.

"Harry?" Ron asks, his voice full of concern.

"Something's coming," Harry replies darkly, his gaze fixed on the front of the Hall. His instincts scream danger. Around him, a few older students, like Neville and some Ravenclaws, are also standing, wands at the ready. The younger students look confused and scared, glancing around as the whispers grow louder.

Without warning, the air in the Great Hall hums with energy, and in a single, deafening moment, figures begin to materialize out of thin air. Harry gasps, his heart leaping to his throat. It's not just a few people-it's a crowd.

Dumbledore is the first to appear, standing tall and serene at the front of the hall. But behind him, to Harry's utter shock, stands Sirius Black, followed closely by Remus Lupin, the members of the Order of the Phoenix, the Weasleys, including Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, and even Percy. Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Moody are there, as well as high-ranking Ministry officials like Amelia Bones. Neville's grandmother stands among them, a stern expression on her face.

The Hall erupts into chaos. Students scream, and voices shout questions into the air, demanding to know what is happening. The younger children are in near-panic, and even the older ones are shouting for answers. Harry's heart is pounding in his chest, his wand still drawn as he stares in utter disbelief at the sight of Sirius standing in front of him.

"Silence!" Dumbledore's voice cuts through the noise like a whip, and the Hall instantly falls quiet.

"Professor, what's going on?" Hermione breathes, clutching her wand, her face pale.

Dumbledore steps forward, his eyes sweeping over the room, but before he can speak, the doors to the Great Hall slam open, and Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, barges in, flanked by a group of Aurors. His face is twisted in fury and fear.

"What is the meaning of this, Dumbledore?" Fudge barks, pointing an accusing finger at the headmaster. "What sort of stunt are you pulling now?"

Dumbledore's expression remains calm, though there's a flicker of something dark in his eyes. "I assure you, Cornelius, I had nothing to do with this sudden...congregation."