For the Want of a Horse-shoe Nail

For the want of a nail, the shoe was lost

For the want of a shoe the horse was lost

For the want of the horse, the rider was lost

For the want of the rider, the battle was lost

For the want of the battle, the kingdom was lost

And all for the want of a horse-shoe nail

Disclaimer: I own the rights to nothing of the Harry Potter stories, movies, merchandise, sexy underwear, or other paraphernalia, which are owned by J.K. Rowling and her associates – I am definitely not her, nor them. I have written this for my own entertainment and hopeful the amusement of some others as well. I have invented some characters of my own, so any blame for those does rest with me. Absolutely no money being made in any fashion at any time from this exercise in ravings of a lunatic.

Rating: T. Seriously AU. Warning, some character deaths, some character bashing. Horcruxes

Chapter 1: Consultations

Quotation: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"

Attributed to Edmund Burke and also Leo Tolstoy

May 4, 1991

The headmistress of the Academie des Beauxbatons was sitting at her desk, looking over the results of the year and planning for the upcoming year. There were invitation letters to go to prospective students, diplomas to prepare for the upcoming graduates, contract negotiations and bonuses to be considered for new and continuing staff, and all the other minutia of running one of the foremost schools of the magical arts in Europe. In spite of it being Saturday, there was always too much to do.

The floo in her fireplace flared with a green flame, and a voice issued forth. "Madame Maxine, Philip Ste. Claire here. Do you have time to speak briefly?"

Olympe smiled to herself. Philip had been one of her star pupils some thirty years ago, and was now the director at 'L'Ecole des Batons de Feu', the magical adjunct to the French St Cyr military college in Brittany.

She turned to the fireplace and said "I am here, Philip. Do you wish to come through, or just speak?"

Philip's voice answered. "May I come through? I think this needs a face-to-face conversation."

Olympe grew a bit tense. Philip's school dealt with military secrets and weapons, and the times when he wished an in-person meeting usually has serious implications.

She responded "Please come through. Do you wish others to attend as well?"

St Claire stepped out of the fireplace, more gracefully due to long years of practice than many managed. He smiled and said "I don't think we need bother anyone else, at least not yet."

Philip was a tall man, but Madame Maxine had to bend low for him to kiss her on both cheeks in greeting. Being over 3 metres tall herself, this was an accommodation she was very much used to.

After offering refreshments, Olympe sat and gestured to a chair for her guest. "How can I help, my old friend?"

Philip leaned forward, almost in a conspiratorial way, and said, "I have had word from the Broceliande Chiron that he wishes to meet with you on a matter of some urgency."

The tall witch smiled at the reference to the head centaur of the Broceliande forest. Like the titles 'Augustus' and 'Caeser', what had once been a personal name had over time become a title of respect and power.

"And what does the good Marcellus wish to speak of?"

The wizard grimaced. "He has had word from the seers of his people. At Beltane, they had a gathering of their wise ones and diviners, and some dire predictions were made. Apparently, there is going to be trouble in the United Kingdom in the near future, a threat from the past, and there are things we can do, perhaps even must do, to assist. He says that he wishes us both to attend a meeting to discuss ways to protect those fleeing the upcoming troubles, and contain the problems. The fact that he wants me there as well sounds like there may be military issues, or at least security matters" Part of Philip's work had to do with military intelligence, so some covert matters could be involved.

Through many wars and revolutions, the French magical and mundane communities had come to a mutually beneficial working relationship, at least in certain circles. Unlike Britain, the slogan of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity was applied to all French peoples and races. Some had long magical pedigrees, while other families were relatively new to the powers, but over time, the French had found that ability was the key and not bloodlines. This was not to say that there were not tensions and family pride, but these had as much to do with wealth and social status as magical heritage.

The headmistress nodded. "I see. When and where? Am I to assume the regular place?"

Philip smiled. "But of course. The tomb of Merlin is the only proper place for magical peoples to meet, no?. As to when, he would like to meet the Monday after next, at sundown. Monday is the day of the new moon, and he says his seers have stated it is an auspicious time for new beginnings and new projects. I have seen some of their doings, and they seem to know what they are about, so I agreed, subject for your own availability."

Madame Maxine stood. "May 13th it is then! The usual protocol, I assume?"

Smiling widely, Philip nodded. He hoped that the middle of May was going to be warm. The forest could get a bit cool in the evening.

May 13, 1991

In the middle of the forest, a witch, a wizard and two centaurs approached each other around a stone pillar that marked the tomb of the one who was thought to be the greatest wizard who had ever lived. The fact that he was a manipulative old bastard who had been an accessory to a royal rape didn't seem to bother many people, and in some quarters actually was looked on as a sign of greatness.

As was the custom for such meetings, with clothing being superfluous to the centaurs, the participants were dressed in starlight and warm breezes. They did wear badges of their offices.

The majestic palamino stallion carried a yew bow tipped in gold and wore a jewelled diadem, and the other centaur, a brown mare, wore an garnet on her forehead over where the mystics say the third eye is located, and carried a long dagger. The witch carried her wand in her right hand, and worn a jewelled necklace bearing a pendant of two crossed golden wands. The wizard carried his wand in his left hand, and worn a necklace with a pendant with a vertical wand of bronze with a bloom of fire at its upper end.

As was often the case at such meetings, Philip looked at his former teacher, who was now his mentor. The half-giant witch stood well above his own not-inconsequential stature, and as always he thought, "That's a hell of a lot of woman!" His mind went back to his schooldays at the Academie, when one topic of discussion among the pubescent boys was how Madame Maxine had managed to be conceived, and the implication to the anatomy of giants (depending on which of her parents had been which, a secret which had never been revealed).

The four approached the stone in the centre of the clearing. The mare handed Philip her dagger, and he handed his wand to her, while the stallion passed his bow to Olympe who passed her wand to him. Having exchanged their own weapons for those of the others, the four then leaned the items against the rock and joined hands. Together they spoke the injunction "We come together in peace for mutual benefit". The Ritual of Trust being complete, they could proceed with what they came to do.

The four nodded to each other. The stallion spoke with a deep voice saying "Greetings Olympe Maxine, Chiron to the Young Humans, and Philip Ste. Claire, Chiron to the Warriors. I am Marcellus, Chiron of Broceliande, and this", gesturing to the mare, "is Char, a Seer of my herd.

Philip snickered slightly, at which the centaurs scowled. He bowed his head towards them, and asked, "Your pardon, please. I mean no offense. In my work, I must converse in English at time, as I have been doing most of today, and Char the Seer, is humorous in that tongue. Again, I ask your pardon."

The mare spoke in a light alto voice. "My people also deal with the English at times, and I was often teased when I was young. Sir, I take no offense."

The tension decreased, and all smiled.

Olympe looked at Marcellus, and asked, "You asked for this meeting, and I was told the matter is serious. How may we serve?"

The stallion nodded to the mare, who spoke. "My people have seen the signs that tell of much trouble ahead. There are serious problems on the islands to the north, and an old threat is rising again. They will reject one of their own, who some think cannot be one of them, a young filly with a wild mane. She will need sanctuary and her family will need protection from those who in power who are most un-wise. Later, an aged roan mare and a colt will also ask for succour. You are in a position to offer the assistance which is needed. As they are of your kind, rather than ours, this help should come from you."

"If they are given the assistance they need, the wizard and two witches of whom I speak will be instrumental in curing the cancer afflicting our cousins to the north. Not since Lancelot left these woods to cross the waters has such an opportunity arisen. "

"Madame Headmistress, it is the season when you invite those to be initiated into your society to come to your place of learning. We ask that you send a missal to the family of the girl, and extend such an invitation. This is of such importance that our people will pay your tuition fees for her."

"We will also pay for the colt's education if it is needed, but he is to inherit wealth, so this may be only a bridge until he can converse with the goblins and rightfully access his assets. We have seen that there are those who will want to prevent this from happening."

The two humans were stunned by these statements. The centaurs were known to value learning above all else, but never had they offered to sponsor any human student.

Char continued, "I see by your expression that you are puzzled by this offer. It is imperative that the girl attend Hogwarts for two months. She will then need to leave within the following month, and she will be fleeing for her life. Her family will have paid the tuition at Hogwarts, and will not be able to afford your fees as well. When she flees, her family will be in danger from the British Ministry as they are not magical, and must be protected. Our people cannot travel freely among humans, so we require your assistance in this."

"When the elder witch flees, she will bring with her the colt, who is of much future power and importance. He is the heir of an old family of great prestige, but will not yet have come into his inheritances. He is, at the moment, ignorant of your ways. There will be those who would use him or kill him, and we cannot permit that. Again we ask for your assistance – the elder witch is a revered teacher, and has much to offer to either of your schools. It is imperative that these three be out of Britain while the purges continue, and their later presence is critical."

Philip was shocked by Char's statements. "You say there will be purges? Are you sure?" At the mare's scowl, he shook his head and added, "Your pardon, my lady. I spoke in haste and in shock. Your people speak truth, and would not have called this gathering if you were not sure. Again, I apologize."

Char nodded. "I understand your reluctance to believe my words. The Wise of my people discussed this matter in depth. The most optimistic of our visions and prognostications indicate at least thirty deaths of prominent people, while the most pessimistic see many more, and possibly even involving wide-spread combat with the non-magicals – should that last happen, the casualties would be catastrophic"

"Again, I say that it is imperative that these three, or at least the girl, be out of their lands before the killing begins. If more can be saved, that would be all to the good as well."

The stallion nodded, and turned to the humans. "You have heard the words of our people. Will you help?"

The two humans looked at each other, and nodded. Olympe nodded to the centaurs. "Of course, we will do what we can. The invitations will be sent to the girl and her family, and when the time comes, an additional letter will be sent to remind them of the offer. A letter will be sent to the teacher and to the boy as well."

Char grimaced, and added, "Your letter to the witch must state that she not reveal the offer to her headmaster, except in the form of a usual offer you would send to competent teachers you wish to recruit. He is one of the problems."

At this, Madame Maxine was stunned. "But Dumbledore is one of the most respected wizards alive. Surely he can help with this."

Char shook her head, flipping her mane back and forth across her neck. "No, I say no and my people say no. He has been Headmaster for thirty years, he has been Supreme Mugwump for fifteen and Head Warlock for fifty, and what has he accomplished? Yes he fought Grindelwald and defeated him. He and his organization fought the One-whom-they-fear-to-name, and they almost lost that battle, until the colt of whom I speak drove the monster away somehow in an unknown manner. Since then, his school is a place where those of non-magical parentage are regularly abuse and assaulted. At the end of the Voldemort war, at a time under his authority, many murderers who followed Voldemort were pardoned, and never questioned with your truth-telling potions – some are even on the board of governors of his school. He forgave those who committed Unforgivables, and he fails to protect the weak and innocent. He has the power to cure their society, and he fails to do so. Our people, both on this side of the water and on theirs, feel he is more interested in having his positions of power than performing their duties. He likes having the jobs, but does not do the jobs! He is part of the problems they will have to deal with. We can but assist those who need help."

Olympe nodded. "I hear your words. There is much to be done, and it will be done."

With this, the four picked up the weapons, handed them back to their owners, and turned from the place. The centaurs blended back into the forest, and after some discussion, the humans returned to their offices to start doing what must be done.