The ground trembled.
In the darkness of night, as the full moon hung up above the world surrounded by its ethereal glow, the world trembled in anticipation of the might of an ancient and powerful magic about to be invoked.
Invisible shockwaves of power induced goosebumps to those not able to feel the deeper intricacies of the world, while those sensitive to it felt naught but primal fear and awe.
Gentle ripples moved through a pitch-black lake, appearing like a calm summer breeze upon its surface. Yet all the creatures within it, both sentient and simple, magical and mundane, all turned their heads beneath its surface towards the source of the magic.
Leaves belonging to the trees of the dark and dangerous forest that grew around the lake's banks moved in unison, dancing to an invisible tune in the night. The creatures lurking within its narrow, harrowing paths too turned their heads in unison towards the disturbance. Spider pincers clicked violently as if disturbed, as hooves of a variety of quadrupeds stomped at the ground in agitation.
The clouds far up in the sky accelerated their movement towards the far horizon, as if being chased away by the waves of power that seemed to dominate and pulsate throughout the world. Avian creatures of all kinds wavered in the air as they flew, following the clouds in their retreat. Those who were grounded tried to rise up and take off, although many couldn't, trapped and disoriented by the disturbance.
A castle situated in the middle of the grounds seemed to vibrate in anticipation of what was to come. The din of battle was heard from within its sacred walls and flashes of colourful light were visible through its windows. Occasionally, stray bolts of magic pierced through the glass, breaking out into the world, only to fizzle out in the air having completely missed their target. Roars of anger, anguish, pain and defiance saturated the battle within the hallowed halls.
Unbeknownst to the fighter and fleers, someone floated above them all watching as events unfolded before them. They were the first to feel the change.
The sounds of the world were suddenly muffled, before going mute as both the sound of battle and beast all came to a sudden halt. As creatures of the land, of the water, of the forest and even of the air all collectively shivered.
Then it happened.
The colourful vision of the observer showed them the truth.
Waves upon waves of ambient magic moved, as if sucked towards the castle. Beads of magic flowed into it as they were drained from the air, water, and land.
As the magic flowed into the structure, the observer found themselves within its halls, having followed the beads as they moved into the castle. The battle was still raging, but it was quiet now despite the loud screams and roars, as people fought, and were injured or killed. A singular voice was heard above all the noise, but the one observing the events could not decipher the words, as if fate itself had denied them the opportunity to listen.
As the magic of the world continued to pour around the observer, and through the stone halls, they realised that what they had assumed to be the castle collecting the magic for some unknown purpose had been false, and that the ancient bastion was as much a victim of the true caster as the earth, wind and water.
The draining slowed down as sound seemed to reassert itself upon the world, and panicked and painful screams assaulted the observer's hearing with a full and pressing force. From somewhere within the hallowed halls, the magic that had been collected was returned to the world through the ground and back into nature, returning from whence it had been drawn. In that moment, as the world pulsed with power, the floors and walls of the castle were no longer solid.
Furniture, ornaments, various debris and possessions as well as the people themselves started sinking into the ground.
As more and more objects and people were pulled into the ground, magic seeping from all of them into the firmament, it was saturated by a magic of the kind not felt in a thousand years, since the castle had first been built upon the spot. The drain was still present, going to whatever unknown caster had pulled the plug on the magic of the land, but the magic it took back from those now ensconced within it was more than it had lost.
The lake dwellers felt powerful and safe within the magically saturated lake, more so than before.
The forest dwellers felt the warm embrace of magic envelop them, as the star-readers rejoiced at the event, as if it was a gift from a higher being.
The sky dwellers that had stayed erupted into the sky with accelerated flight and newfound vigour; a gift from the world that blessed their wings.
It was a calamity. It felt like a natural disaster, but it was man made. The fighting had long since stopped as men and women of all ages struggled against the sinking ground, feeling the magic within them escaping their bodies.
The destruction of the castle paled in comparison to the calm wrath of the invoker, whom had showcased their might in order to end the farce that was taking place within the hallowed halls of Hogwarts.
In front of the one observing the events, light bloomed and they felt themselves get pushed back above the Black Lake of Hogwarts by the magical currents now swirling through the air.
They saw the world outside that rejoiced in the magic.
They were pushed further away.
And further...
And further…
…
…
A pair of eyelids, hiding pale, silvery blue eyes, flew open. The usually dreamy gaze of the observer was noticeably absent, replaced by an acute awareness and eerie intellect.
Her brain was working overtime in order to accurately record the dream in her mental world, as she tried to decipher its meaning, yet she knew there was no need to do so. The dream had no deeper meaning. It was merely a glimpse of what would come to pass.
She knew already that her dream would become reality at some point during the coming year. It was instinct, honed by her gift and the experience of dealing with it ever since she'd been a young witch.
"Oh my."
She spoke in a dream-like voice, as if seeing beyond the veil and into the true nature of the world, past, present and future. A perfect voice for a young seer.
"What a year… I can't wait to live it."
Luna Lovegood smiled.