Chapter 4 - The Conglomeration
This is a work of fiction, any similarities in characters, locations, and situations is unintended and coincidental. This work will contain coarse language, sex scenes between gay men and boys, and references and depictions of supernatural phenomena. Some characters will be under age and sexually active. I do not own any rights or claim any ownership of Harry Potter or any of its related content, and any reference to Harry Potter or Harry Potter related content is done with no intent to infringe or profit. So, basically, there's mentions of Harry Potter related concepts in this and future chapters, and I'm yet to actually gain any ownership of said boy wizard. Please don't sue me. . Please don't read if you are offended by this kind
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Chapter 4 - The Conglomeration
Both Tom and Seb hit the footpath hard after the collision, confused as to the cause of their fall. Once they are on their feet again, they're startled by a nearby voice speaking.
"Oh, good, you've found each other. We can get started now.", the air in front of them says, obviously unaware or unconcerned with the fact that voices don't generally come from nowhere, and continues, barely acknowledging the presence of the obvious, apparently invisible elephant in the room. "I'd hoped you would have found your Anchor by now, but I guess the fact that you've initiated the soul bond and survived the first attack is enough for now."
"Um, Tom? Can you hear the disembodied voice too, or am I just having a stress induced stroke?" Seb's voice was shaky. He was obviously as disturbed about the situation as Tom himself.
"No, it's not just you, I can hear it too. I can't offer any explanations, but it's definitely happening." Tom replied, equally as shaken and unnerved. "What do you want with us, and what do you mean by 'anchor?" he asks in the general direction of the voice.
"Oh, shit, sorry, forgot that I was wearing my cloak. I imagine that must have been a bit disturbing for you," is heard before a boy appears in a swish of fabric and the suddenness of a veil being lifted. He was about 16, 5 foot 9, with striking green eyes like emeralds and bright platinum blonde hair a la Draco Malfoy. His plain yet stylish jeans and t-shirt combination accentuated an obviously fit physique, and both Seb and Tom would be lying if they denied an instant attraction . "I'm Alek Romulus, a pleasure to meet you. Let's relocate to somewhere less public and exposed, so we can get to the business of bringing you boys up to speed with what's going on. Please place your hands on the umbrella, and hold very tight." Alek says as he produces a large rainbow umbrella from seemingly nowhere, raising questions as to where he could have possibly been keeping it.
Dazedly, the boys placed their hands as instructed, and immediately felt a sharp tug behind their navels as they were hurtled through space. They are deposited unceremoniously in a cosy sitting room, a large, lit fireplace occupying the wall directly in front of them, with comfy looking armchairs arranged around it. A low, obviously antique, intricately carved coffee table stood in front of the chairs, littered with important looking documents and various writing implements. The room gave off an air of extravagance and sophistication, and neither Tom nor Seb entirely understood what they were doing there. Alek popped into being beside them, startling them both and causing them to jump.
"Sorry about that, it's a new invention I've been working on, kind of based on Portkeys from Harry Potter. Well, directly plagiarised from the concept of Portkeys if I'm being honest, but let's just say that Ms. Rowling is blissfully unaware of the fact I've used her idea, as well as the existence of actual magic, and if she knew of said magic's existence, it could create a situation that would most certainly destroy all life in the universe. Thus, I feel that a small bit of magical plagiarism is acceptable, so long as it does not become public knowledge that such things exist."
Tom looked to Seb, who looked exactly as bewildered as he felt, and just said, "Huh?", quite intelligently, if you asked his opinion, yet entirely insufficient in expressing his deep confusion.
"But I digress," Alek continued, "now to the matter at hand. It seems that you've both come into your inheritance, and have attracted the attention of the Conglomeration. The Conglomeration is an organisation made up of various groups of people and creatures who are hell bent on eliminating Witch magic from the Earth. After the series of incidents that eventuated when Tobyas Drake and Axyl Kayl met and soul bonded, the Conglomeration was formed to ensure all terrestrial instances of Witch magic are located and the source eradicated without prejudice.
"The Conglomeration are responsible for the capture and subsequent death of at least 400 Witches that surfaced after Toby Drake's exodus. The magical nature of the Drake and Kayl family's escape was a catalyst for the activation of the Witch gene, also called Kayl's Gift. There are approximately 10,000 people worldwide with Kayl's Gift, but ponly about 300 of those actively express the gene as you do, Tom. It is unclear how the Conglomeration are able to detect the gene, but the fact remains that they can, and that is a massive problem. You are safe from detection here, at Romulus Castle, as the ancient wards and protective charms are naturally occurring, utterly unplottable, and entirely impregnable. They've survived centuries of magical and mundane attacks and are yet to waiver." Alek says all of this in one long, impressive deluge of words, and once he pauses to breathe, Tom takes the chance to speak up.
" Um, OK, that is, admittedly, a great deal to process, and I'm sure Seb agrees when I say 'fu ck', but I just want to make sure that I'm one hundred percent clear. So, you're saying that we are both basically wizards, being hunted by the magic equivalent of the Mafia, we are doomed to forever look over our shoulders for the next assassination attempt, so you brought us to what basically amounts to Hogwarts in order to avoid said assassination attempts. Did I miss anything?"
"Actually Tom, that is a pretty succinct summary. Only, there's one more thing. You are both, and have been for a while, the highest priority targets for the Conglomeration. It is unclear how, but it's possible that you have a, heretofore unidentified, yet nevertheless direct connection to Toby Drake and Axyl Kayl. We're not sure if it's familial or spiritual, but it seems the two of you may be the only known link to the strongest magic users in history, and thus are the only ones capable of defending the Witch population from destruction. Perhaps I should have led with that, but I guess that sometimes hindsight is the only sight available in the moment. My bad." And at that, Alek summoned a large bottle of whisky and started handing out equally large glasses to Tom and Seb, both of whom accept and absent-mindedly begin sipping the amber liquid.
Seb, to this point conspicuously silent, pipes up with a rather weak; "Well fuck me.", before downing the entire glass and motioning for a refill.
"I concur, Seb. OK, you're right Alek, it would have been preferable if you'd begun with 'you're our only hope of survival", but I can see the wisdom in leaving that until after we started digesting the 'everything you've ever known is a lie, you're a fucking wizard, and you'll spend the rest of your days running for your life'. I can see how those fucking bombshells are probably less bitter pills to swallow in the grand scheme of this entirely fucked up conversation!" Tom finished his, entirely well earned and justified, mad rant and repeats Seb's actions, completely annihilating the rest of his drink and demanding another.
Alek brightened significantly at Tom's passionate words (which says something, as the boy was already quite bright), shooting a smile at the boys and exclaiming, "Excellent! You both seem to be taking this rather well. And at that, I believe we've earned a nice, restful night's sleep. Allow me to show you to your quarters, you guys will be in East Wing, I think, much more comfortable than any other part of the castle. There's not as many ghosts or dangerous dark artefacts there. Follow me! "
At that, armed only with the clothes on their back and their newly filled whisky glasses, our boys follow Alek silently towards what will be their new home for the foreseeable future.
'If only I'd actually foreseen this happening , then I might be better prepared to deal with it.' Tom thought bitterly.