"Where are we going?" asked Ron as he, Harry, and Hermione were walking in a dense forest surrounded by Order members. Everyone had their wands drawn.
"Some ancient village," said Harry as they made their way cautiously through the woods.
"Tonks…" whispered Hermione.
"What?" she turned her head to look at the young wizard.
"What's the name of this place? And why are we going here?" she asked.
"I won't say the name aloud until we reach the village and we're going because it is one of the last remaining safe places in the world," she turned her head as they came into a clearing.
In the clearing resting against natural rock walls and surrounded by dark forests was a small village. It had cobblestone roads, country cottages and they could see a large castle looming in the distance.
Lupin stopped and turned facing them all, "We are in Myrddin. This is the village where Merlin once lived. It is now home to his only known surviving descendent, Cian Ambrosius."
The village was quiet. The streets were empty and they encountered no one as they made their way to the castle. There was overcast and it had recently rained for the rocks were slick beneath their feet. Harry and the others tucked their wands away knowing they were safe within the village.
They came upon the large oak doors of the castle. No one knocked, everyone waited 2 minutes before the doors were slowly opened and the Order walked inside. They were greeted by a warm meeting room that smelled like rich burning wood. It was lavishly decorated in medieval artwork and furniture.
"Welcome to Castle Emrys," said a man dressed in a 3 piece suit to their left. He was an elderly gentleman with a bit of scruff and thinning hair. He was tall and had a calming, but creepy presence.
"I am Holst. The castle caretaker," he smiled, "If you follow me, Lady Ambrosius is waiting for you."
Hermione, Harry and Ron all looked at one another as they followed the elderly man into a lavish library. The walls were covered in books. At its center were cushiony chairs and a beautiful oak table. Two large windows at one end and a fireplace at the other and standing beside the large oak table looking over maps and scrolls laid across it was a woman.
"M'lady the Order of the Phoenix has arrived," Holst bowed and stood off to the side.
She looked up from the table. She was no older than 23. She had short and close cropped brown hair. They immediately noticed her striking green eyes. Cian was well built and it could be seen even under her attire.
She wore jeans, boots, and a white thermal shirt with the sleeves pushed up showing her multitude of tattoos. Her lip was pierced with a ring and she had a very commanding presence.
"You are so young," stated Tonks, "I would have taken you for an older woman."
"Many do," she smiled which seemed to ease the tension in the room, "Hard to believe Merlin's only descendent is a 22 year old woman."
"Excuse me," Harry interrupted.
Cian look to him and stared briefly for a moment, "Yes Mr. Potter?"
"We were told on our way here that this is a safe village. Why?"
"Myrrdin is guarded by very ancient magic. Merlin may have passed on years ago, but the protection spells he cast on the village are still here," she stated, "Voldemort knows the danger if he attacks here."
"Where are all the villagers?" asked Hermione.
"What's today?" she looked at her watch, "Saturday? They would at the local pub most likely."
"All of them?"
"Incase you haven't noticed Ms. Granger this village isn't all that big. Some are probably be home, but a majority are most likely down at the pub," she smiled.
"But aren't they scared?" asked Fleur, "There is a war going on. People are dying."
"I'm very aware of this, and yes the villagers know too, and I'm sure they are scared, but what does hiding in your house not facing and battling the problem going to do?"
"We appreciate you allowing us to use the castle as the new Order headquarters," said Kingsley.
"Not a problem. Plenty of space and materials here for you to use," she lit a cigarette, "Excuse me, but it's a nervous habit," she apologized.
The members of the order that were there began to gather around the table and stare down at the maps and scrolls.
"I have complied maps of known Death Eater whereabouts. They change locations often, but these are the major headquarters," stated Cian pointing to marked areas.
"Having an ancient library comes in handy," smiled Hermione.
"That it does," laughed Cian as smoke billowed from her nose and mouth, "The scrolls list names, addresses of the some Death Eaters as well as spells they are fond of."
"How do you have all this information?" Harry looked at her.
"You'll be quite surprised at the number of wizards and witches working against Voldemort."
As they were going over the maps and scrolls a dog entered the room. It was a German Shepard his coat was dark and he went directly over to Cian. He was holding something in his mouth. Cian put her cigarette between her lips and she took the scroll and gratefully thanked the dog.
"Good boy, Rollo," she threw him a piece of food. He took and went and lay down near Hermione's feet. She bent down and began to pet him.
"He's a very handsome dog," she scratched his ears, "He yours?" she asked.
"Yes ma'am. He'll be 2 in about a month. He helps gather information as well. Rollo here is a very special dog," she smiled petting him.
"Cian?" called Lupin from the table.
"Yes?" she looked up.
"Harry has something he'd like to show you," she walked over and looked at him.
"What is it?"
"Here," Harry removed the Marauder's Map from his jacket and handed it to her.
"You've got to be kidding me," she took it in awe; "This is incredible. Now we have an inside eye into Hogwarts. I have to give Dumbledore credit he made that castle fairly impenetrable."
She smiled as she scanned over the map, watching the many feet go in different directions. Cian looked at the Order members, "Well it's late. Holst here will show you to your rooms. I'll see you all in the morning," she handed Harry his map back.
They all followed Holst up the stairs leaving Cian in the library looking over the scrolls and still smoking. The rooms Holst brought them to were incredibly lavish. Harry, Ron and Hermione were shown their room last. Hermione didn't want to sleep in a room a lone.
Holst sighed at this and when they entered the room there were already two beds, but he pointed his wand at a sofa in the corner and it instantly turned into a bed like the others.
"Goodnight," he smiled and closed the door.
"Wonder why we never heard of Cian before?" asked Ron.
"Hermione, have you ever heard of this town?" asked Harry.
"No," she sighed, "Not even in all the books I've read about Merlin."
"It's like this place doesn't even exist…" muttered Ron looking around the room.
The room and most of the castle was decorated in both Medieval, and Victorian furniture and artwork. It was very old and very valuable some of the things. The wooden beds were beautifully hand carved and very ornate. Ron sat down on one and could immediately begin to feel himself sink into it was so soft. There were tapestries and beautiful paintings on the wall as well as the carpet on the ground.
"This is incredible. It reminds me of Hogwarts," said Hermione tracing her fingers along one of the dressers.
---
Hermione awoke a few hours later and couldn't fall back asleep. The castle had grown still since everyone had turned in for the night. She decided to take a walk around the castle hoping it would help her fall back asleep.
She walked down the stone staircase in the lobby and into the library where she still saw a light on and there sitting in a chair sound asleep was Cian. Hermione smiled and walked over to her, shaking the young witch gently.
"I don't know why the elves stole your underwear…" she grumbled rolling to her side.
Hermione had to keep in her laughter and gently shook her again, "Cian…" she whispered.
"Wha?" she mumbled slowly opening her eyes, "Hermione?" she looked confused, "What are you doing?"
"Couldn't sleep," she smiled sitting down as Cian yawned and sat up in her chair. She looked at her watch and saw that it was 4am.
"So you have a problem with house elves stealing peoples' underwear?" Hermione cracked a smile.
"What?" Cian looked at her, "Oo..yea I talk in my sleep."
"I can see that," she laughed, "You look like you don't sleep all that much?"
"It's cause I don't," she sighed, "This war is getting ridiculous."
"Aside from the smoking habit you don't seem like the nervous type of person," she said.
"Composure, it might be eating me up inside, but this village is my home these people are my family and I can't let them see me crack," she ruffled her hair.
"But the town is guarded by ancient magic…"
"If Voldemort gets any stronger the village will fall. I'm not just worried about my village either. I have constant owls coming in from people begging me to help them whether it's individuals or entire communities. I'm doing the best I can, but I'm not Merlin."
"Comes with the territory," she looked at her, "From what I've read about you. You seem very capable of some very powerful magic."
Cian nodded, "That's a gift from Merlin. Not many in the family have been bestowed with his magical expertise," she laughed.
"Did you go to Hogwarts?" Hermione asked.
"No," said Cian, "Tutored here, but I've met Dumbledore a few times. He's been a friend of the family for many years now."
