Golden Stars

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Crystal Ball's Message

Hey Guys!

I know I haven't updated in a long time, but when I wasn't putting these chapters onto Wattpad, I was typing them seperatley. But, I am sad to say that Golden Stars will soon be coming to an end! It will most probably have 28 chapters total and one mysterious epilouge....

But anyway, I hope you enjoy reading!

-Advikachild42

Harry Potter POV:

We all stood there, having no idea what to do, when the door opened up, inviting us in with the dust cloud that flew into our faces from the years of no use.

"Well, come in then!" said Vladimir's voice, "We have a lot of discussion to do!"

Vladimir was a tall, lean man covered in a long gray cloak. He had long brown hair that looked weathered from years with no care for it. His face was sunken and grayish, but also looked sort of threatening and powerful.

We all cautiously stepped inside, to see Vladimir's hideout, which sort of looked like a dormitory. It was another circular room, but smaller than the others, with shelves full of books, and maps and mysterious-looking artifacts, lining almost the whole room. There were no windows, so the lights came from a few lamps lining the walls, and a few glowing artifacts on the dusty shelves.

But the most curious thing was the table in the middle of the room. It was covered in scrolls, and books, and quills, but in the middle of the table, was a crystal ball, which had a milky white look inside. I felt the object's smooth, glassy surface. It gave me a sort of shiver, as if it was trying to talk to me , and tell me my future.

"That is a dangerous artifact," said Vladimir, stepping over to the table and also touching the ball, "You should probably stay away from it,"

But just then, the milky white of the Crystal Ball, turned into broken, unexplained images.

"What's going-" I said, before I was interrupted by a loud whooshing sound in my ears. I blacked out, my head then felt like it broke into a million pieces, and I felt like I was falling. I tried to shout, but my mouth wouldn't work. But finally, when the falling feeling dispersed, I opened my eyes, to see myself in a dream- like state. That's when I realized Vladimir was there too, but looked more curious than alarmed, against the white background of this dream.

Maybe this is normal? I thought. Maybe the crystal ball tells the future like this. Maybe Vladimir's done this many, many times before, so everything is okay.

"Vladimir?" I asked

"It looks like the Crystal ball has pulled us both into a vision," said Vladimir calmly.

"Is-is this normal?" I asked him, looking around the blank space.

"Well, it hasn't done this in a while," replied Vladimir. But then he turned around. "You may want to look over here."

I looked at where he was gesturing to just to find blurred images flashing, and fading and dispersing in and out of the background.

"Ahh," said Vladimir, "It has pulled us into a vision. This crystal ball has been showing me these similar images for the past few days," then he looked away, "or maybe it was longer. I have lost my track of time over the years."

"But why did it pull us into this?" I asked.

Vladimir sighed, "The crystal ball makes short visions of the future when something major has changed in my current timeline. But it has only pulled me in once, and that saved my life," Vladimir turned to me. "You must be the one this future affects the most, if it pulled you in too,"

"Oh," I said. Then, I looked up once again to see the pictures, going in a loop of the same images every time. "A ghost," I said, trying to make out the smoky pictures, "A flower, a broken wand, a crystal, torn shreds of paper, a little multicolored tree, and some sort of castle," I looked at Vladimir, "Do you know what this means?"

Vladimir chuckled. "If I did, I would've told you a long time ago," then his face turned serious again, "but if the crystal ball pulled you in, then this future, is for you to decide,"

Then, I felt the rush of wind in my ears again, and in a second, I was back in Vladimir's hideout.

"Oh, good," said Hermione, "You both are alive,"

"What just happened?" asked Dex.

"The crystal ball pulled us both into a vision," I explained.

"I'm confused," said Tam, "What's a crystal ball, and what vision?"

I then explained to everyone about what happened, while Vladimir sat at his table, and examined the crystal ball.

"Wow," said Ron.

"But what could that mean?" asked Sophie.

"I don't know," I said, shaking my head. "I guess we'll have to find out,"

When I said that, the whole room suddenly got quiet. But to break the silence, Sophie started speaking.

"Vladimir," she started, "We all came here for answers. Now it's time we ask you some questions,"

Vladimir raised an eyebrow challengingly. "Okay," he said. "Get on with it,"

We all shared looks, wondering what to ask first from our growing pile of questions.

"We could start with 'how did you end up here?'" said Keefe.

"Or what the symbol is," suggested Dex.

"Or maybe what those pictures in the crystal ball meant," I said.

"Well," said Vladimir thoughtfully, "the pictures in the crystal ball are usually some prediction of the future, which will impact all of you, and me, if I was dragged into the vision with Harry,"

"Does that mean I'll have my wand broken for a second time?" asked Ron worriedly, touching his wand.

Hermione nudged him, telling him to shut up.

"Not necessarily yours," said Vladimir, "The crystal ball's messages can either be straightforward, or they can have a deeper meaning," Vladimir gazed at the crystal ball, "So the broken wand can either mean someone's wand gets broken, or someone loses their magic in some way,"

Glimmer gave him a look, "I don't like the thought of what the ghost could mean then," she said, "I don't know if I want to help you guys if I'm throwing myself into a death trap,"

"It doesn't have to mean one of us will die," Biana countered, "It could mean... like .." she trailed off, trying to think of another meaning for the ghost's image.

"She is right," said Vladimir, "It could mean something else entirely, and trust me, I have experience,"

I wonder what he means by that. I thought. What has Vladimir faced in his life that counts as experience?

"But let me clear one thing up for all of you," continued Vladimir, "It will sound strange, but just listen. This information will help you in the future,"

That caught all of our attention.

"This crystal ball doesn't just give me vague predictions of the future. It can show me anyone, at any time, no matter where they are. I just have to tell it to show me something, and it will obey," he said. "Here," he picked up the crystal ball, "Show me the Headmaster of Hogwarts,"

But what I saw next wasn't anything that I imagined.

Inside the crystal ball, the strange colors of smoke cleared, to show a picture that shocked us all. Dumbledore, one of the most powerful wizards in the Wizarding World, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, was trapped in some sort of magical green bubble, and his wand was in the hands of none other than Bellatrix Lestrange.