Link of Hogwarts

Sixty-Six

Link frowned at the front page of Daily Prophet. He didn't like Azkaban but a mass breakout was a warning sign that things had gone pear shaped. The fact that the Ministry even suggested that it was Sirius was an insult to their own government. Incompetency can only be excused for so much. Neville sought him out one evening, "Link...I need your advice,"

Link blinked up from his homework, "Yes?"

His friend fidgeted, "You know about my parents, yeah?"

Link nodded, "You told me how they became the way they once were,"

Neville sighed, "The Lestrange...they got out,"

Link scowled, "What do you want to do?"

Neville blinked at the direct question but shook his head, Link's sharp after all, and sighed, "I don't know. Mom and Dad are safe...for now. I'm sure the Lestrange would learn about their miraculous recovery soon. They won't be happy about that..." His fists tightened on his lap before his eyes gained a determined look, "Link...train me,"

Link studied his friend before leaning forward, "Neville. I don't want you to hunt them down," Before Neville could protest, Link added, "I only want you to defend yourself and your family. I don't want you to become an avenger. Because revenge will leave you empty. I want you to live and think more than just getting one over them. I don't want you to stoop to their level. I want you to be better,"

Neville was confused, "You're...not going to stop me?"

Link shrugged, "You have your right. I'm not you and I won't take the high ground here. Either way they will come for you and yours so it's better to prepare you. But I don't want you to live for the sake of revenge because once that's accomplished, you will feel empty. I want you to focus on the reason why you need to do it, to live for that reason and not the ending. And most of all, I want you to think of what comes next, a reason to live,"

Neville stared at him. Neville knew that Link can be strange but it had never bothered him. Link's wiser than most of his friends. Hermione's smart and Ron's resourceful, but neither can be considered wise. In their circle of friends, Neville often felt like he's the odd one out because he's just plain average. He's not driven like Hermione or social like Ron, so between them he's aware that everything that made him Neville is just average. He won't even compare himself to Link because Link's in a class all of his own.

Neville had been content to be the average one...

But Link didn't tell him to not take revenge. He admitted that he couldn't understand what Neville felt and so won't take the moral high ground because he doesn't have that right. Instead, he wanted Neville to live for himself and not revenge. That was...something that Neville didn't think about. When he read about the Lestrange's escape, his brain just white out. He had finally gained the family he didn't really have; he didn't want to lose them.

When he thought back on the fact that Link wanted him to be motivated by the reason why he had to do this instead of the ending where he finished the Lestrange, he was confused. Wasn't it the same thing? After a few days of thinking, he realized that it wasn't at all. His reason will keep him alive at the end of his journey for it will remind him the reason why he even embarked on the road at all. If he only focused on revenge, there will be nothing left for him at the end because he will have thrown it all away for something he meant to destroy.

Neville shuddered.

He didn't want to be empty, that would mean that he lost the war but win the fight. It would be meaningless. He walked up to Link after the enlightenment and thanked his friend, "You always know what road to take. I'm grateful for a friend like you,"

Link looked sad but welcomed the thanks all the same, "Maybe because I had lost my way first?"

Neville stared at him and steeled his gaze, "If you're ever lost, Link...then...then I'll be your guide. This I promise you,"

Link smiled at him, "Thank you Neville,"

The exam days grew closer as the season passed. Link was busy both as a student and Sheikah instructor. His headache grew worse whenever the blood moon rise in his dream but so far Voldemort has yet to penetrate through the golden veil of his mind's defense. He studied the Marauder's Map religiously, keeping an eye on Umbridge to try and keep ahead of her in their cat and mouse game. He might not be able to read her mind but he could try and read her intention through her actions.

The Ministry grew desperate as Sirius launched a more serious campaign against their incompetence. They have decided to the play the Ministry's cards against them by completely ignoring any attempt of talking about Voldemort's return; keeping their side's answer about the matter short enough that people started questioning their own view on things. If fighting against the Ministry head on was futile, then they might as well be maliciously compliant.

They will focus on the Ministry and the Ministry alone, raising questionable decisions and behaviors through the years thus getting in the way of the Minister's puppeteer. Swaying public opinion along with the media and causing more than enough alarm and paranoia that they don't really have to cry wolf to get the sheep moving to safety. The Azkaban Breakout was a strong incentive for the people to start following Sirius's campaign.

As the political battle grew more chaotic, Link focused on gathering strength. It was all too familiar to him. The need to move returned with a vengeance and he became restless. He used the Marauder Map to keep track of Umbridge and to navigate during sleepless nights. Something inside tells him that everything's coming to a head.

He has been here before; the waiting.

He barely recalled all the things that Snape drug up from the depth of his mind. He saw the open sky, the wide ocean, the endless field, and the lush forest. He met such strange people and strange races that felt like old friends. But most of all was the endless fighting. He has been fighting for so long, like a dance that never ends. Blood stained his hands, his body, his vision and his surroundings.

Something is missing though...

Someone in pure white, someone clad in gold, always beside him and always within him...

He needed to find it; the place on the map that wasn't on the known map. The map that he can draw like the back of own hand but never could remember where. Sometimes he dreamt of great beasts, not of blood and flesh but of a strange material like a mix of stone and metal.

Their eyes and light should be blue...

Why are they red?

Link shook his head. He never liked the color red. He preferred the cooling tones of blues and greens. His magic decided that he should wear more of blues and greens too if the re-dyeing of his clothes to that color spectrum said anything. Red reminded him too much of blood, of the dead and of Malice.

It reminded him the color that permeated the whole world when war came.

The waiting sounded loud despite the silent of the hall he stalked in under his invisibility cloak.

War is coming...