Federal Alchemist at Hogwarts (Rewrite)
Prologue Part 1
Somewhere in Wales
In a remote area of untouched wilderness, far from any signs of civilization, an old and solitary house stood hidden among the trees, almost as if it were disappearing into the forest.
The place was utterly abandoned and neglected. The floor was covered in a thick layer of dust, indicating that no one had been there for a long time. The old and worn furniture was draped in dirty sheets, and the fireplace was filled with cold, gray ashes.
The entire house exuded an air of abandonment and decay, accompanied by an oppressive silence that seemed to engulf the space.
Suddenly, a faint sound broke the quiet. A small flame sparked to life in the old fireplace, igniting magically.
The flame was tiny at first, like a flicker, but it quickly spread, and the fireplace erupted into a green blaze. A small group of figures materialized within the room.
"Hot water and clean cloths. Quickly," a sharp, youthful voice commanded as a young woman, no older than twenty, began clearing items off an old table before dashing upstairs. She was a striking young woman with shoulder-length brown hair and a rebellious glint in her dark eyes.
"Understood," replied an older voice as a man in his early thirties rushed toward the fireplace. With a swift motion, he pulled out a small wand, waved it, and conjured a small flame.
His neatly trimmed short hair and beard, along with a pair of round glasses, gave the man an intellectual air. He carried a bag strapped to his back and a beautiful silver sword adorned with a red gem.
As he lit the fireplace and, quite literally, summoned a cauldron out of thin air, a weak voice called out, "William..."
The man paused briefly and turned toward the source of the voice. It was a young woman with long, dark hair and deep green eyes that seemed to glow. She was undeniably beautiful but visibly exhausted, her face etched with weakness and anguish as she cradled her large belly. She was pregnant.
"It's alright, Aila. Just take it easy," William said, moving toward her as she walked slowly while holding her belly. "Come, sit here for a while and relax, okay? Let me and Crista handle everything."
"But—"
"Relax. Here," he said, reaching into his bag and pulling out an old teddy bear, which Aila accepted with a smile. "Now, breathe in and out. In and out."
"In and out."
"Good." William smiled and, after confirming she had calmed down, returned to the fireplace, poured some water into the cauldron, and waited for it to boil.
A short while later, Crista came down the stairs with some old but clean linens. After covering the table with them, she approached the sofa where Aila sat.
"How is she?" Crista asked softly, trying to soothe the expectant mother, who was visibly stressed but, more than anything, scared.
"How do you think?" Aila replied as Crista helped her to her feet.
"I know. But this will be over soon, okay?" Crista then turned to William. "Hurry up with that!"
"I know, I know. Calm down," William replied without turning around, grumbling about how Crista didn't treat him as gently as Aila.
'I'm this child's uncle, for crying out loud. Would it kill her to show me some respect?' he thought, waving his wand to levitate the cauldron of warm water behind him.
Together, Crista and William helped Aila onto the table, where she immediately began to give birth.
"You really know how to do this, right?" William asked, holding his sister's hand as Crista prepared for the delivery.
"Do you want the truth, or should I just do it?" Crista responded tensely, while William simply gripped his sister's hand more firmly.
"Wait, wait," Aila said suddenly. "Fabian..."
"He's fine and will join us soon. Don't worry," William replied calmly, though the glint in his eyes betrayed his concern.
In the old, dimly lit room, where the only light came from the fireplace and a few scattered candles, Aila began to bring new life into the world.
<><><><><>
Two Weeks Later
Aila sat in a rocking chair in one of the bedrooms of the old house, gazing at the trees outside the window. Her bright green eyes were dark, filled with loneliness and fear.
She stared at the old, leaf-covered road, waiting for something, softly humming a lullaby as she cradled a tiny baby in her arms.
'Fabian...'
Lost in thought, Aila suddenly felt the baby stir in her arms. She stopped moving.
"You're awake, my little one?" she said warmly, looking at the tiny infant.
The baby was so small, so fragile—a new life created by her and her beloved. Tufts of soft hair peeked from his tiny head, and his small green eyes, though mostly closed, occasionally fluttered open to take in his surroundings.
As the baby began to squirm and whimper, Aila adjusted her dress, baring her breast to feed him.
She watched her son nurse eagerly, a smile on her face. When he finished, she gently placed him back in the crib before leaving the room.
After she left, the small baby opened his eyes again. They appeared pure and innocent, but deep within, a dark determination and a chaotic, distorted mentality were slowly awakening to the world around him.
Downstairs, William and Crista sat silently by the fireplace. They were old acquaintances from their school days, and despite the nearly ten-year age gap between them, it was clear that their bond went far beyond simple friendship.
"We can't stay here any longer," William said as he prepared some tea and added more wood to the fire.
"I know, but Aila won't want to leave. You know that," Crista replied, wrapping herself in a blanket on the sofa.
"It doesn't matter if she wants to stay or not. I'm not risking our safety any further by staying here." William sat down next to Crista, and together, they sat in silence, staring into the flames.
At the base of the stairs, Aila stood quietly. She had overheard Crista and William's conversation and knew they were right—it was dangerous to stay in the house any longer. But she still wanted to wait for Fabian.
'You said you'd come. Where are you?'
Defeated, Aila returned to her room and once again sat by the window, looking down the old path, waiting.