Chapter 3: Helping hand

POV Pitter Ward

For a second, my eyes fell on my grandson. He looked pained, and his eyes were staring at nothing. And I remembered myself when my son and wife died.

The elders engaged in a furious argument, ignoring the boy whose life had changed once and for all, and whose fate and future were bound by the stranglehold of prophecy. I wanted my grandson, the last person really close to me, not to lose himself and his dreams because of the prophecy. So I decided to stop this farce.

-"Silence," my voice boomed in the room. All the arguing elders immediately fell silent: -"My friends, could you please leave the assembly hall for a moment?" I need to discuss something with Alexey in private. Thanks"

All the members of the council immediately left the hall through the back door.

After waiting for everyone to leave, then closing the door. I went over to my grandson. His short blond hair, tall stature, and slightly delicate features reminded me of my son Colin.

After standing in silence for a few seconds, I abruptly hugged him.

And then the guy couldn't hold back the tears. His cries of injustice, that his life was no longer his own. That he was now shackled in chains that could not be removed. And much more.

I just patted him on the back to ease his pain and frustration a little. In my heart, I knew that only he himself could go through this thorny path. That my actions will not help him much, but on the contrary, only complicates his life. After all, a prophecy is not just words spoken in delirium or divination on tea leaves. These are the messages of magic itself. What to warn our faithful servants and what we will do with this message is up to us.

After standing there for a few minutes in an embrace, the guy finally calmed down a little. But his legs went limp. I had to take him to the nearest bench so he wouldn't rest. When I saw him lying down, I noticed that his eyes were still red from crying, but they were no longer as empty and lifeless as before.

I sighed heavily, knowing that I couldn't follow his path, only that he had decided his own fate. It is in my power to give him a helping hand so that he can break out of the depths of apathy and fear for his life and move on. But that's all I can do for him.

All further events depend only on him. In my opinion, this is too heavy a burden for an 11-year-old boy who has never left the house.

POV Alex Ward

Alex is recovering a little from the tantrum. He looked into his grandfather's blue eyes, which were full of sympathy and humility at the same time. His smile had never been as warm as it was now. He wanted to never leave it again, to feel safe from any harm. Alex gathered his thoughts and said through a slight ache in his throat:

-What should I do?" he said, and zraz paused, knowing that if he continued to speak, the tears would come again.

-You have to keep going, no matter what. To follow this path means to return to your dreams, which are in your heart, and to protect what is dear to you. Your life is just beginning, and these events should not cloud your thoughts.

Alex listened intently to his grandfather's words, turning over in his mind what was dear to him.Grandfather. Mother. His home and his extended family. Dream... What does he dream of and what does he want to get? This question, as usual, made him lose himself. He no longer noticed how his grandfather noticed this change of mood on his face, and he smiled a little wider. After a few moments, my grandfather continued.

-"You should go to Hogwarts. This is the only way to start your journey. After all, Hogwarts is a place open to both light and dark, where most of the children in magical Britain gather, and where the future is decided. Children are the future, aren't they?

My grandfather's words stunned me again. Hogwarts! Since 1942, the children of the Ward family have not attended this school due to a conflict between the grandfather and the ministry. This was because the Wizengamot demanded that our family provide protective artifacts for free, and banned the use of our family charms and turned them into a kind of forbidden magic. Fearing that the Ward family might seize power while the Grindelwald war rages in Europe.

-"I don't think they'll take me to Hogwarts.", Dumbledore and I are not friends.

-Oh, my boy, you shouldn't bother your bright head with such questions. Leave it to me and the elders. "

-Will they support you? "

-"Hmm, I think I can clearly explain that this needs to be done. Alex thought his smile turned sinister for a moment.

-"And the minister?

Before Alex could finish his question.

Peter interrupted him: -"I'm telling you again, it's not your job to clean up this mess," Grandpa replied in a sharper tone.

- Your task is to prepare for school and for the current political situation in Britain. I hope you understand me. I immediately nodded,

-"Well, I think you should go home and get some rest." Call the house elf to bring you back.

-"Grandpa, we don't have one in the house. Mom doesn't like to use them, it's slavery. "

-Oh, your mother's Muggle-born manners. well, then, use mine. Jack: "Yes, master?" - " Take Alex back to his house.

-"It will be done.

Alex got up from the bench where he'd been sitting, took the house elf's hand, and gave his grandfather one last look. The man gave him a confident smile. As if to say that he was on his side. Alex nodded firmly, accepting his support.

The next second, he was on the porch of his house. He felt a little dizzy.

-"Young master, is there anything else you need?"

-"No, thank you, you're free. "He bowed in return and disappeared. Left alone ,Alex sighed, gathered his thoughts, and went to the house, where he was going to start preparing for school and making plans for the future.