A Glimpse Beyond - Echoes of a different star

Chapter 1- The first glimpse of future

The Great Hall was filled with an air of curiosity and tension as students and professors alike settled into their seats. Murmurs of excitement rippled through the hall, as no one quite knew what to expect from the strange event that was unfolding before them. As the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall began to shift and transform into a mesmerizing display of the universe, a sense of awe fell over the audience. It was as if they were no longer in the castle but floating amidst the stars, enveloped in the vastness of space.

Suddenly, mist began to gather in the air, swirling in front of the students, taking the shape of a screen. The hall was filled with gasps as the screen brightened, drawing everyone's attention. All eyes turned toward it, and the first glimpse of the future appeared.

The scene on the screen showed a breathtaking view of Hogwarts at midnight. The castle was bathed in moonlight, the stars above twinkling like diamonds scattered across a velvet sky. The camera panned slowly, revealing the iconic Astronomy Tower, where a lone figure stood, gazing out at the night sky. The figure turned slightly, and the audience in the Great Hall could now see who it was—15-year-old Harry Potter.

On the screen, Harry Potter stood at the Astronomy Tower, calm, smiling, and waiting. His body language was relaxed, entirely at ease in a way no one had ever seen before. He was leaning against the stone railing, his eyes scanning the horizon, clearly waiting for someone.

The hall remained silent, the students unable to reconcile the version of Harry they saw now with the boy they had come to know. He had always been distant, always carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, always surrounded by turmoil. But this Harry—this Harry was serene, as though something in his life had finally brought him peace.

Ron whispered to Hermione, unable to tear his eyes from the screen, “What the bloody hell is going on? Why is he just... waiting up there?Since when does harry sneak out to stargaze?And he looks so—happy.”

“I don’t know, Ron,” Hermione muttered, her brows furrowing. “But something about this feels... significant.”

Harry, sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table with Sirius and Remus beside him, felt a strange sensation wash over him.  When was the last time I looked like that? he wondered. The Harry on screen seemed content, free of the burdens that had weighed him down for years. But how? And more confusing—why was he alone at the Astronomy Tower? He had never felt this way at the Astronomy Tower, not like the Harry on screen. There was a lightness, a happiness in his eyes that Harry couldn't recognize in himself.

The sound of soft footsteps echoed in the Hall as the figure of another person began to emerge on screen.

“I knew you’d come, Sparks,” Harry’s voice broke the silence, his tone filled with affection.

Sirius leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing. “Sparks? When did you ever call someone that?”

Even Remus, who was usually so composed, was leaning forward in his seat. “This is not the Harry we know,” he murmured under his breath.

“And I knew you’d be waiting, Phoenix,” the girl’s voice responded. It was soft, musical, and carried with it an undeniable warmth.

At the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy scoffed. “Potter, sneaking out to meet someone? Typical.” But there was an edge to his voice, his eyes narrowing as if he knew something was about to unfold.

The camera moved closer, revealing more of the girl’s silhouette, but her face remained hidden. As she stepped into the light of the moon, the flash of silver on her finger caught everyone’s eye. The gleam of the Black family crest ring was unmistakable.