Chapter 1: The Trio's Introduction

By: SirMixAStories

The library at Hogwarts had always been a sanctuary for the inquisitive, a place where knowledge was cataloged and preserved like a delicate potion—each book a carefully measured ingredient in the grand recipe of wisdom. But tonight, it was more than that; it was a refuge from the mounting tensions that were beginning to seep into the very walls of the ancient castle.

Minerva McGonagall moved through the rows of books with a purpose that was both precise and unyielding. Her green eyes, sharp and discerning, scanned the spines of the volumes, searching for something specific, something that would offer solace in the form of understanding. She wore her usual stern expression, but there was a softness in her movements that betrayed a mind preoccupied with thoughts far heavier than the textbooks she perused. Minerva had always prided herself on her ability to remain composed under pressure, to rise above the petty squabbles of her peers. But the shadow of Grindelwald was spreading across Europe, and even she could not entirely escape its reach.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. She turned, already knowing who it would be. Abraxas Malfoy emerged from the darkness between the shelves, his presence as commanding as the name he bore. With his platinum-blond hair slicked back and his aristocratic features set in an expression of practiced indifference, he was every inch the pure-blood scion he had been raised to be. His movements were fluid, almost languid, as though the world itself was an inconvenience he had learned to tolerate.

"McGonagall," he drawled, his voice dripping with a mixture of condescension and amusement. "Still burying your nose in books, I see. You know, there's a war brewing outside these walls. Perhaps you'd like to join the rest of us in the real world?"

Minerva's eyes narrowed, but she did not rise to the bait. "And I suppose your idea of the 'real world' is fawning over Grindelwald's every word? The man's a demagogue, Abraxas. He's not going to bring the utopia you're hoping for."

Abraxas smirked, his eyes glinting with something that might have been amusement—or perhaps something darker. "It's not about utopia, McGonagall. It's about power. And if you're not aiming for power, what's the point of all this?" He gestured vaguely at the books around them, his disdain for anything that did not immediately serve his ambitions evident in the casual sweep of his hand.

Before Minerva could respond, a third figure slipped silently into their midst, her arrival so unobtrusive that it might have gone unnoticed if not for the subtle shift in the air. Eileen Prince was a shadow, a whisper among the hallowed halls of Hogwarts. Her dark, lank hair framed a pale face that was perpetually half-hidden behind the curtain of her fringe. She rarely spoke, and when she did, it was in tones so quiet they were almost lost in the ether. But there was an intensity in her dark eyes, a sharpness that suggested she saw far more than she let on.

"Have you found it yet?" Eileen's voice was a soft murmur, directed more at Minerva than Abraxas, though her gaze flickered briefly to him as if to measure his reaction. She had always been the observer, content to let others dominate the conversation while she absorbed every word, every inflection, storing it away like the ingredients of a potion waiting to be brewed.

Minerva shook her head. "Not yet. But it must be here somewhere. We need something… something that can help us."

"Help us?" Abraxas's smirk widened, his tone almost mocking. "You're not still thinking about that Animagus nonsense, are you? You do realize that's a path fraught with—"

"Risk, I know," Minerva interrupted, her tone firm, brooking no argument. "But these are dangerous times, Abraxas. We need to be prepared for whatever comes our way, especially if Grindelwald's reach extends further than we expect."

Abraxas's expression darkened, the smirk fading as he regarded her with something closer to seriousness. "You're afraid," he said, his voice softer now, more contemplative. "You're afraid of what's coming, and you think turning into a—what? A cat?—is going to save you?"

Minerva's jaw tightened, but she didn't look away. "I'm not afraid," she replied, though there was a flicker of something in her eyes that betrayed the lie. "I'm being realistic. And you would do well to consider the same."

Eileen shifted slightly, her gaze moving between them. "If we do this," she said quietly, "it has to be in secret. No one can know, not even Dumbledore. Especially not Dumbledore."

The mention of the headmaster's name seemed to cast a shadow over the trio, and for a moment, none of them spoke. They all knew what it meant to keep something from Dumbledore, the man who seemed to know everything before it happened. But the world was changing, and even Dumbledore couldn't see everything.

"We'll need a place," Minerva finally said, breaking the silence. "Somewhere we can practice without being disturbed. And we'll need to be careful. This isn't just about the magic, it's about survival."

Abraxas raised an eyebrow, a trace of his earlier smirk returning. "Always the strategist, McGonagall. I suppose that's why you're in Gryffindor, though I'd say you'd do well in Slytherin if you weren't so… righteous."

Minerva didn't dignify his comment with a response, instead motioning for Eileen to follow her as she began to lead the further into the library. Eileen fell into step beside her, her usual reticence more pronounced in the presence of Abraxas. It wasn't that she feared him—though there was an undeniable intimidation in his commanding presence—but rather that she was acutely aware of the delicate balance between the three of them. Minerva's fierce independence, Abraxas's domineering personality, and her own quiet cunning created a tension that was as exhilarating as it was exhausting.

They moved through the dimly lit corridors of the library stacks, where the air was thick with the scent of aged parchment and dust. The only sounds were the soft, rhythmic swish of their robes brushing against the stone floor and the faint, intermittent drip of water seeping from the castle's ancient walls, echoing like distant whispers in the stillness. As they ventured deeper into the labyrinth of shelves, the atmosphere grew heavier, more oppressive, as if the very weight of the knowledge contained within those tomes pressed down upon them.

Eventually, they reached a secluded corner of the library, where the shelves were lined with volumes on aquatic plants, their spines worn and faded from centuries of neglect. The books here seemed untouched, forgotten by time, the pages likely brittle from disuse. A thick layer of dust coated the shelves, disturbed only by their arrival.

Minerva turned to face Abraxas and Eileen, her expression set with determination, her eyes gleaming with a resolve that matched the gravity of their mission. "If we're going to do this, we need to be clear about our goals," she said, her voice steady and measured, each word carefully chosen. "This isn't just a test of our magical abilities; it's a means of safeguarding ourselves, a way to prepare for the storm that's on the horizon. We all know the risks, but we also know what's at stake."

Eileen nodded, her dark eyes reflecting the faint starlight. "We need to be ready for anything. If Grindelwald's forces reach Hogwarts, we'll need every advantage we can get. But this… this has to stay between us. No one else can know."

Abraxas crossed his arms over his chest, his expression inscrutable. "I'm not one to shy away from risks, but I hope you both understand that if we're caught, the consequences will be severe. This isn't a schoolyard prank; this is real magic, and it could cost us everything." He paused, glancing at Minerva with an intensity that belied his usual arrogance. "But I'm in. If we're going to do this, let's do it right. If I'm to join Grindelwald, I need to be prepared for anything."

He emphasized the word 'join,' making it clear to his friends that he would be on Grindelwald's side at the end of the war. They knew this, even if both women were ardently opposed to it, but for now, while still safe within Hogwarts, they could pretend.

Minerva's eyes narrowed, but she kept her tone even. "And if you're going to survive my wand cursing you across the battlefield, Malfoy, you'll need more than just blind ambition."

"You'd love to face me in battle, wouldn't you, Minnie?" Abraxas smirked. "You do remember who won our last duel?"

Minerva's lips tightened into a thin line, though her eyes flashed with something that wasn't quite anger. "You won because I let you," she retorted, her voice clipped. "I didn't want to embarrass you in front of the entire class."

"Is that so?" Abraxas chuckled, a low, mocking sound. "It seems I underestimated your generosity, then. I suppose I'll have to repay you on the battlefield one day, assuming you don't run the other way when you see me."

"Assuming you can keep up," Minerva shot back, her tone icy. "But don't worry, Malfoy. I'll be sure to give you a fair chance. You'll need all the help you can get."

Eileen, who had been silently watching the exchange with her usual detachment, finally spoke up. "You two can argue about who's got the bigger wand when we're not standing in the middle of the library," she said quietly, her voice cutting through the tension. "For now, we need to focus. This Animagus transformation isn't going to happen on its own."

Minerva's lips twitched, the hint of a smile almost breaking her stern demeanor, but she quickly returned to the matter at hand. "Eileen's right. We've all read the process—this isn't just a spell we can cast and be done with. The potion alone will take months to brew properly, and we'll need to be meticulous in our preparations. One wrong step, and we could be stuck in our animal forms for life, or worse."

Eileen nodded, her expression serious as she added, "And that's not even the most difficult part. We'll need to meditate deeply on our inner Animagus forms, connecting with the magic that's been lying dormant inside us. It's not something that can be rushed, and we'll need a quiet, secluded place where we can focus without being interrupted."

Abraxas, who had been leaning against the shelf with a look of mild boredom, straightened slightly, his usual smirk returning. "A quiet, secluded place? That can be arranged. I might know of somewhere we can practice without drawing too much attention."

Minerva raised an eyebrow, skeptical but intrigued. "And where exactly would that be, Malfoy? You know as well as I do that we can't afford to be caught. If the wrong person finds out what we're doing, the consequences—"

"Would be dire, yes, I'm aware," Abraxas interrupted smoothly, waving off her concern with a casual flick of his hand. "But don't worry. The place I have in mind is rarely used, and those who do know of it are easily… persuaded to keep their distance. We'll be left alone to do what we need to do."

Eileen glanced between them, her dark eyes narrowing in thought. "If this place is as secure as you say, then it could work. But we need to be absolutely certain. We're taking a huge risk as it is."

Abraxas met her gaze, his expression unusually earnest. "Trust me, Prince. I'm not in the habit of taking unnecessary risks. You have my word that it will be safe."

Minerva studied him for a moment, weighing his words before nodding reluctantly. "All right. We'll meet there tomorrow night, after classes. But remember, Malfoy, this isn't just about you. We're in this together, and if you slip up—"

"I won't," Abraxas cut in, his voice firm. "I know what's at stake, McGonagall. We all do. So let's stop wasting time with what-ifs and start preparing."

Minerva nodded, satisfied for the moment. "Agreed. We'll need to gather the ingredients for the potion as soon as possible, and we'll need to be discreet about it. The last thing we need is Slughorn—or worse, Dumbledore—getting suspicious."

Eileen spoke up, her voice quiet but determined. "I can help with that. I know where we can find some of the rarer ingredients. It won't be easy, but I can get what we need without raising too many eyebrows."

"Good," Minerva replied. "Then it's settled. We meet tomorrow after classes in this place of yours, Malfoy. Make sure it's ready. We don't have time to waste."

Abraxas gave a mock bow, his smirk firmly back in place. "As you wish, Minnie. I'll make the necessary arrangements. See you both tomorrow night."

With that, the trio exchanged a final glance before slipping back into the shadows of the library, each of them already turning over the many dangers and possibilities in their minds.

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