AT ANDREW HOUSE,
The room fell into a heavy silence the moment Dagger and James stepped inside. Rose, Scorpius, Albus, Frank, and Bobby hurried in behind them, their wands raised in caution. Miss Mirael instantly shrank herself, slipped into Frank's pocket, and vanished from sight.
The sight before them froze their breath.
Old Andrew sat in a worn wooden chair, his face pale, his body trembling and covered in wounds. His once-strong figure had withered, silver hair spilling like threads of moonlight over his shoulders. Multiple stab marks bled through his robes, and though his eyes remained open, their light was fading. But when he saw Dagger, a weak, gentle smile lifted his lips.
And then a cold, terrible laughter cracked through the silence.
Voldemort materialized from the shadows, his wicked grin stretching unnaturally across his face. His eyes burned with dark joy as he clutched a poisonous dagger dripping venom.
"Ha… hahaha… HAHAHAHA…"
His gaze shifted slowly between Dagger and James.
"You cannot defeat me, James," he whispered, voice sharp as a blade. "And you, Dagger… I will not spare you."
Before any of them could react, Voldemort lunged and seized James by the throat, lifting him off his feet. James gasped, struggling, his wand slipping from his fingers. Dagger rushed forward, but Voldemort sent a pulse of dark magic into the room, releasing his shadowy army upon the group.
Rose and Scorpius pushed Albus, Frank, and Bobby behind them, wands pointed fiercely. "Stay together!" Rose shouted.
Dagger raised his wand and unleashed spell after spell at Voldemort, desperate to free James. Voldemort only tightened his grip, his cruel smile widening as James struggled for air.
"LEAVE HIM!" Rose screamed, voice cracking with fear.
Voldemort turned toward her with a mocking hiss."Shooo… shooooo…" His wand lifted. "Be ready to die."
James, still trapped in the Dark Lord's grasp, cried out in pain. "AHHHHHHH!"
And then something extraordinary happened.
James's bag began to glow—soft at first, then blinding. The Gryffindor Sword, hidden within, responded to his suffering. Dagger noticed immediately. Voldemort began to sense something too.
"I should not…" Dagger whispered to himself.
In one swift move, he shoved James aside, placing himself directly between Voldemort and the glow. Voldemort snarled and unleashed a violent burst of violet energy toward Rose and the others. They shut their eyes instinctively—
—but when they opened them, James, Dagger, and Miss Mirael stood before them, shielding the blast with everything they had.
A violet wave surged toward the group. Rose tried to run forward, but Scorpius held her back. Tears streamed down Rose's face as she watched James and Dagger struggle, their wands glowing fiercely.
"Protego Divinum!" James and Dagger shouted in unison.
A brilliant golden barrier erupted before them, swallowing the violet curse and shattering it into sparks. Miss Mirael snapped her fingers and sent another protective shield around the entire group.
Finally, the attack faded. Rose sobbed in relief. Everyone rushed toward Andrew, who was barely breathing.
Dagger clasped Andrew's cold hand."ANDREW! Wake up. We need your help, my friend. Please don't close your eyes."
Andrew's breathing hitched. "Tom… came for information… about Slytherin's lost diamond… the gemstone… I did not reveal anything. But he learned about the prophecy…"
His gaze settled weakly on James.James knelt before him. "Mr. Andrew… please stay strong. We'll save you."
Andrew raised a trembling hand and touched James's forehead. His eyes widened as he saw the faint birthmark on James's shoulder—Aldric Gryffindor's ancient mark.
"You… James… are kind-hearted," he whispered. "And destined for greatness."
He then turned to Dagger. "Do not become weak. You do not yet know how strong you are. Awaken your inner power. Find the strength that will make every force bow before you." His voice trembled. "And Dagger… save James. He is the future hope. The Legend."
Andrew pointed at a hidden book on the shelf. Dagger nodded firmly."I promise," he whispered.
Andrew closed his eyes for the final time.
"MR. ANDREW!" James cried.Dagger placed a hand on his shoulder. "He's gone… and he left me a great responsibility." Tears slid down his face as he performed Andrew's last rites. Everyone bowed their heads in grief.
AT HOGWARTS,
, Harry Potter sat with Ron and Hermione as he read the mysterious words glowing inside the old diary:
DARK BATTLE.
Ron frowned. "Dark Battle? Aldric Gryffindor fought something like that?"
Hermione asked, "Harry… are you saying Aldric battled an ancient evil?"
"Maybe," Harry murmured. "Let's see what the diary says."
He wrote: Who is the Dark Evil? Tell us what happened.
The diary trembled… then began writing:
Varkon Blackshade.
More words followed, telling a forgotten legend:
Long ago, Aldric Gryffindor, Helian Hufflepuff, Selene Ravenclaw, Seraphine Slytherin, and Varkon Blackshade were powerful magicians, each blessed with unique abilities and ancient magic. Four of them possessed legendary gemstones: Gryffindor's deep red and black gem, Hufflepuff's golden diamond, Ravenclaw's glowing green stone, and Slytherin's purple-black gem. These gemstones chose their masters by spirit and loyalty.
But Varkon, cousin to Seraphine, turned toward darkness.
He commanded a fearsome dragon, Shadow Claw—known as the Hunter Dragon—whose violet-red flames could burn even dark magic. Varkon created a shadow army and enslaved innocents, tormenting muggle-born families.
Seraphine confronted him, warning him of the line he was crossing. But Varkon only laughed, claiming no weapon existed capable of killing the dark power inside him.
Aldric, Helian, Selene, and Seraphine united, determined to end his cruelty. They entered battle with their ancestral gemstones. In a moment of divine miracle, all four gems left their original masters and fused into Aldric's sword, transforming it into a legendary weapon of pure light.
Aldric defeated Varkon's shadow army. In desperation, Varkon ordered Shadow Claw to kill him. But the dragon hesitated—Aldric had once saved its life. Bound by its master's command, it attacked anyway. Aldric, heartbroken, struck it down.
During their final clash, Aldric healed again and again as Varkon's dark blade struck him. Finally, Aldric impaled Varkon through the heart.
With his final breath, Varkon cursed them:
"I will return. Darkness will rise again. I will destroy Gryffindor and Slytherin. The Dark Battle is not over."
Shadow Claw wept, realizing its master had never loved it. Aldric soothed it as it died, wishing it a kinder life in its next birth. Helian foretold that the dragon would be reborn after many generations.
But Aldric knew the truth—Varkon's words were a prophecy.
"I WILL COME BACK."
Aldric whispered to himself:
"We must find the solution… before darkness rises again."