ALL NOVEL Chapter 2: 02
The international Floo network terminal at Ilvermorny was eerily quiet at this hour. Most of the staff had left early — it was Halloween, after all. My footsteps echoed through the marble hallway as I sprinted toward the oversized fireplace, its green flames casting dancing shadows on the walls.
[SYSTEM UPDATE: TIME REMAINING UNTIL ORIGINAL TIMELINE EVENT - 47 MINUTES]
[SUGGESTION: UTILIZE BUREAUCRATIC BYPASS TO EXPEDITE TRAVEL]
"Right," I muttered, pulling out my wand. The system's interface flickered with new information, showing me exactly how to manipulate the Floo network's regulatory charms. It was like having an administrative backdoor to reality itself.
A few complex wand movements later, the flames turned a deep purple. Technically, what I'd just done would get me fired and probably arrested — bypassing international magical travel restrictions was no small crime. But what was a job compared to my sister's life?
I grabbed a handful of Floo powder, threw it into the flames, and shouted, "Godric's Hollow!"
The world spun violently, flashing with images of other fireplaces as I hurtled through the network at speeds that would make a regular Floo traveler sick. When I finally stumbled out, I found myself in the local pub's fireplace, startling a group of elderly witches having their evening tea.
"Sorry, ladies," I said, already running for the door. "Ministry business!"
Outside, the autumn air bit at my face as I oriented myself. Jack-o'-lanterns grinned from every doorstep, and children in costumes darted between houses, their laughter a stark contrast to the dread building in my chest.
[ALERT: FIDELIUS CHARM ACTIVE]
[ANALYZING POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS...]
[SUGGESTION: ACCESS MEMORY OVERRIDE FUNCTION]
The system was right — even though I knew Lily and James lived here, the Fidelius Charm prevented me from remembering exactly where. But I had something the charm hadn't accounted for: knowledge from another universe.
"System," I whispered, "override memory restrictions."
[ACCESSING MULTIVERSE KNOWLEDGE BASE...]
[APPLYING OVERRIDE...]
[WARNING: THIS ACTION MAY CAUSE TEMPORARY DISORIENTATION]
A searing pain shot through my head as two sets of memories fought for dominance. For a moment, I saw double: the charming village street as it was now, and overlaid on top of it, the same street from my memories of reading about that fateful Halloween night.
There. At the end of the lane.
I started running, my wand already out. The crisp leaves crunched under my feet as I sprinted past groups of trick-or-treaters. A few parents called out in alarm, but I ignored them. Nothing mattered except getting to that house.
Then I saw him: a tall figure in a black cloak, walking purposefully toward a house that seemed to waver in and out of existence as my magically-enhanced memory fought against the Fidelius Charm.
"Tom!" I shouted without thinking.
The figure stopped and turned. Under his hood, red eyes gleamed with curiosity. My heart nearly stopped — I'd just called Voldemort by his given name, something only Dumbledore dared to do.
[DANGER LEVEL: EXTREME]
[COMBAT ASSISTANCE ACTIVATED]
[SUGGESTING TACTICAL OPTIONS...]
But before either of us could move, a familiar voice called out from behind me.
"Ramon? What are you doing here?"
My blood ran cold. It was Peter Pettigrew, looking nervous and twitchy. Of course he was here — he'd just betrayed my sister and brother-in-law to their death.
I stood between the Dark Lord and my sister's house, my wand raised, as the system's interface filled my vision with combat suggestions and spell combinations I'd never even heard of.
"Hello, Peter," I said, keeping my eyes on Voldemort. "Funny running into you here. Come to watch your handiwork?"
Peter's face went white. Voldemort's lipless mouth curved into something like a smile.
"How interesting," he said, his voice soft and deadly. "The American professor knows more than he should. Step aside, Mr. Evans. This need not concern you."
I thought of Harry — my nephew, who in another life would grow up without parents, who would face more hardship than any child should.
"Actually," I said, feeling strangely calm as I raised my wand, "it concerns me very much."
[COMBAT MODE ENGAGED]
[UNLOCKING ENHANCED REFLEXES]
[GOOD LUCK, UNCLE]
The night exploded into light.