It is a dark time for wizardry.
Angered by the continued failure of the Ministry of Magic to resolve a series of dissappearances and murders, Professor Albus Dumbledore (with reluctant Ministry approval) has taken matters into his own hands. Seemingly, Dumbledore is the only one willing to admit that those tragic events are linked with the rise in power of the one who calls himself Lord Voldemort.
The headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy has invited a seemingly random crowd back to Hogwarts just before the beginning of term...
Richard Harper the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Rytal Jlin with a penchant for paperwork and a cat named Ty, Marina Actura, a gossipy socialite with a shady family, Saristina Riffington with her love of animals and the curse of true foresight, Arawn Stanton a man with a sense of adventure, Peter Dathot the Slytherin who despises the Dark Arts, Sylvan Draconem with memories of a tragic loss, and Londonerry Kirkus a notorious dillettanté...
Among others, of course. Several new players have made their way into the upcoming war. Among them is Jake Keyson, a youthful prodigy almost fresh from Hogwarts, Shayla Omeron, a 'mother hen' of Hufflepuff, whose soft exterior hides a hard core, Regis Granger, a medimage from the old Granger family (the one with nothing but Muggles, but an exceedingly powerful wizard in a generation or two), Rufus Bridslove, the flying-mad journalist and Jacob Weissman, a seemingly quiet, affable Ravenclaw.
Familiar patterns are forming, alliances are being forged among those who did not answer Dumbledore's shocking call to arms, a book has gone missing from the library. War has been declared on Voldemort...
Ariane Lloyd has finally made a decision about which side she is on. Soon Voldemort will welcome a new Death Eater to the ranks.
But at Hogwarts an investigation is underway -- why was Whimsy the house Elf murdered -- surely it couldn't be someone dissatisfied with her flower arrangements?
The answer, shockingly enough, lay in the heart of one of Dumbledore's invitees. Barnabus Chillingworth, once a trusted friend and peer, was now revealed to be a crazed lunatic with the lust of a killer's -- or perhaps, a hunter and assassin. The shock of such a revelation then escalated into fierce combat -- with Chillingworth subdued and a few injuries among the former students. It was at this time both Jacob and Shayla made their appearances -- for both had been delayed by time and circumstance.
Chillingworth was later brought to the Ministry by Griren Thorn, a Ministry Auror. Both have not been heard from so far.
An interesting encounter occurred one night atop of the Astronomy tower between Lucius Malfoy and Sylvan Draconem after Sylvan was revealed to have snitched to Richard Harper. Peter Dathot overheard her telling him about allegiances of several of her fellow Slytherins and about the fact that Miss Actura is deeply under the influence of Imperius. Preparations are under way to break it.
In a conversation between Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore revealed the nature of the book stolen by Voldemort's allies -- a book written by an ancestor of Marina Actura, it delves into the mysteries and secrets of the Sacred Sphere of Wobb, a magical device so deadly and so devastating, only the most powerful and potent Muggle weapons -- the atom bomb and its ilk -- can match it. Dumbledore will take the ultimate risk -- he will let Voldemort find and use the weapon. But at what cost?
And it doesn't get any better than this, as questions begin multiplying and more alliances begin to form. It seems that Jacob is a member of a mysterious organization that has its roots in the Italian Rennaisance -- one that may or may not potentially tip the balance between good and evil. Both Dumbledore and the Heresy are at the time being cooperating, but there are small cracks within that alliance, despite Dumbledore's acceptance...
Both Weissman and Keyson have finally joined Dumbledore's side, Weissman as liaison between the Heresy and Hogwarts, while Jake Keyson now a spy, working against the power of Voldemort within the Ministry itself.
We are left with many questions: What did the house-elf know, and why did she die? Why has Dumbledore let the book slip from under his nose, and what is his plan? Will Voldemort fall for the trap, and will this spell his end? What is the nature of Jacob's allies -- are they firmly with Dumbledore and the Ministry or are they merely working to undermine them? And what will befall Jake Keyson? Stay tuned...
Last Updated: 19th August 2001