Previously in Sprawling Scotland, Hogwarts Castle
Walking through the ruble across the nonexistent, massive castle doors Harry felt his mauled heart clench agonizingly within his chest cavity.
The silence was deafening.
It echoed like crashing boulders against his sensitive eardrums. Everywhere he rested his eyes on, he was met with the desolate ruins of a once magnificent, magical, ancient structure of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Like a dementor, Harry explored the castle ruins. Pushing apart once sturdy-looking entrance doors and beholding The Entrance Hall. Stone walls crumbled, splattered with brownish-wine colored stains, torches like the ones found in Gringotts melted down into blistered waterfalls against the very stone wall they called home. Glancing upwards, Harry was surprised to see the architecture design relatively unharmed. He wished he could say the same about the magnificent marble staircase that lead to the upper floors. It was coated in ash, ruble and scattered stone limbs.
Traversing through the wreckage Harry could just about imagine the drone of hundreds of screams vertebrate through the stone walls from the vaporized doorway to the right – into the small empty chamber off the hall. His heartbeat began to quicken at the mere thought of –screams in the air. A sick jolt went through him, along with anticipation for battle. Harry's eyes scanned The Entrance Hall one more time before lingering on a large brownish-wine stain to the left of the chamber. He could remember the petite form, covered in tattered Gryffindor robes laying sprawled across the marble stone. Ginger colored hair spilled into a gruesome halo, vivid-green eyes staring unseeingly up at him, lips spread into a resigned-loving smile. Harry wearily ran his fingers through his hair.
"Anything's possible if you've got the nerve."
"Well, that was a bit stupid of you, seeing as you don't know anyone but me who's been possessed by You-Know-Who."
"I never really gave up on you. Not really."
"People think they know all there is to know about you, but the best bits of you are…heroic in really quite ways."
Harry swallowed thickly against the heavy lump in his throat. The familiar sting of tears prominent in his eyes as he quickly blinked them away. Enough tears have been shed for the dead, this past year alone. He continued his gait with a heavy air about his person. Eyes clouded in memories past.
"We're all going to keep fighting, Harry. You know that?"
Harry tried to shake loose the train of memories threatening to overwhelm him. His emotions where already a whirlwind, he didn't need any more triggers. Then….why was he exploring the ruins of Hogwarts? Breathing deeply, he kept his gaze focused on the path with the least amount of ruble in it.
Then something happened which made him immediately turn around, elder wand at the ready - a curse on his lips.
"Bloody Hell" he gasped. In front of him about a dozen or so ghosts streamed through the half-crumbled wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the space morosely. While others, seemed to gather together arguing heatedly. All except for one recognizable, ghostly figure.
"Harry Potter. It has been some time since last I've seen you –
"I-I thought you've all gone and disappeared forever! H-how…w-what… he spluttered, lowering the elder wand to his side.
"My dear Harry, this is our home. Or…what's left of it. We couldn't abandon it to ruin without attempting to rebuild it somehow." Nearly Headless Nick said, while floating though a fallen column.
"H-how are you all going to do that? If I may ask. There's so much wreckage, the ancestral magic Hogwarts had is all but gone! It took Godric Gryffindor centuries to accumulate such massive amounts of magical essence to even begin constructing Hogwarts"
"Ah. Yes brave Godric. Magnificent wizard I say. What you say may be true Mr. Potter, if only Godric was a 'normal' wizard. You see, what many didn't know about the first Gryffindor, was the fact he held the elder wand before your beloved Head Master Albus." At the mention of the elder wand, Harry tightened his hold on it subconsciously.
Nearly Headless Nick then turned and headed deeper into the ruins of Hogwarts. Sole patches of morning-sunlight filtered through the cracks in the ceiling. Casting oppressive shadows along the hall. Harry watched Nearly Headless Nick float away for a few moments, debating either or not to follow after the ghost and demand answers to his confusing revelation.
Harry's choice was made for him when the cause for his growing headache spoke up, "Are you coming Mr. Potter? I recon you're the new Master of the Elder Wand yes?" Harry stumbled on his feet before righting himself up again. Nick continued as if nothing happened, "We ghosts can't do much on our own to repair Hogwarts, much less the Ministry of Magic with all of the hexes and curses absorbed by the castle walls."
Following after the ghost, Harry oddly felt as though his legs had turned to bags of jelly. Was it possible to rebuild Hogwarts? Was it possible for him to gain his safe haven again? A place where everything he has been through did not matter, a place where the Daily Prophet and well-meaning witches and wizards could forget about 'The Savior'? A safe place for him to practice his magic in peace and solidarity? Perhaps he could venture as far as becoming an Auror or Head Master?
Well, someone's getting ahead of themselves aren't they? Psychologically, he is not compatible enough to either of those occupations. It's no wonder though, as sick and masochistic as it is, he needs to keep on fighting. To feel the thrill of dueling and overcoming the odds. The downfall of his desire for battle, are all the possible deaths he may cause. Unable to face the peace, the awe he has inspired in the Wizarding World, his only choice is to live without truly living.
Or is it?
Harry follows Nearly Headless Nick out of the crumbling chamber, back across the hall and through a pair of ash laden double doors into the remains of the Great Hall. During the war, the one place to go relatively unscathed was the Great Hall. It stood tall, sacred and proud, thousands of unlighted candles surrounded the great room. With the absence of magic, the candles were left looking like muggle table decorations, instead of the floating, whimsical items they truly where. Four long tables governed the majority of the space laden with dust covered golden plates and chalices. At the top of the Hall was another long table where twelve unoccupied high-back chairs resided.
"Tell me Mr. Potter, what do you think happened to all of the magical energy expended during the Fourth Magical War against…V-Voldemort, went to? The thousands of hexes and curses were absorbed by the castle walls yes. The stones themselves are in a way, living stone. Do you know what living stone is, Mr. Potter?"
Harry trailed behind the ghost and merely shook his head. Confused as to where Nick was getting too with this line of questioning.
"Living stone, is a magical embodiment of a reservoir. The reservoir collects magical energy both inside and outside the school grounds. As a living soul yourself, Mr. Potter, you can feel the vibrations of magical energy all around you in the Wizarding World. In Hogwarts though, you feel no such vibration. This is due not to the absence of magic as you believe so. But an obstruction, if you will, of sorts. After Godric gained the Elder Wand he inscribed the walls of Hogwarts in ancient runes of a lost tongue. Throughout the years, as thousands of students practiced magic the walls absorbed the residual energy. Now, you may be confused at this part." Nick turned his head over his shoulder to look at Harry, smiling at his confused expression before continuing on his history lesson.
"Godric foreseeing the eventual loss of the Elder Wand, took it upon himself to create a failsafe of sorts. The reservoir, as massive as it is, could not be placed for all to see or be so hidden as to leave future generations of witches and wizards without a magical tie to Hogwarts and its expansive knowledge. In order to hide the reservoir in plain view, but still be as inconspicuous as possible Godric transfigured it." Here Nearly Headless Nick stopped and turned to look at Harry fully. A serious expression on his ghostly countenance.
"The walls of Hogwarts are indeed significant in the restructuring of the school, yes. But we require…a conductor of sorts."
Harry worried his bottom lip, furrowing his brows in concentration. If he correctly understood what nick was implying…then that means….with a start Harry stared at Nick wide-eyed, slack-jawed and with the smallest strands of hope in his eyes. Nearly Headless Nick beamed at Harry, while nodding his head proudly.
"Like muggles conduct their…what was that term they used again...Ah yes! Electricity. Godric discovered the same concept muggles have over 'electricity'. In the case of wizards, this 'electricity' is our magical essence. Godric used a combination of his magical essence and that of the Elder Wand as the conductor for the reservoir. The walls of the school serve as storage space as well as 'impulses'. They absorb the positive and the negative essence Wizards release." Nick then points a ghostly hand in Harry's direction. "We found the conductor, which is you Harry and your wand, now we need to find the reservoir. For the magic to return to Hogwarts, we need to remove the obstruction that is prohibiting its flow freely. Once that has been completed, the magical essence stored in the living stone (it is living because it contains the magical essence of every wizard to ever walk the halls of Hogwarts and practice magic. Magical essence can additionally be referenced to a life-force); can be released in torrents. After the fall of the schools barrier during the war, the magical energy required to keep the barrier hole and the energy required to destroy it was stored and collected. Once it is released, the reservoir will be near full-capacity." Nick said ominously. Taking an unnecessary breath, Nick continued while continuously searching the ruble covered ground for something of interest.
"This burst of energy must be contained and directed…if not …."
"If not what? What happens if the energy is left to circulate without the reservoirs containments?" Harry pushed.
"It means that if the energy is not contained, it would be as if a massive Bombarda and Incendio were fused together and released in a muggle city. Only in this scenario, it will severely affect the Wizarding World…..what's left of it anyhow."
Harry looked across the Great Hall, taking note of every cobweb and crack on the walls before voicing his next question. "Nick...if what you're saying is true. Then how are you and the others still here if the reservoir has not been found, much less have magic to sustain yourselves? Unless..." Harry left the question hanging, feeling as if liquid ice coursed through his veins.
Nearly Headless Nick stopped searching the ruble and looked somberly down at Harry. "The reservoir is nearing full capacity. There are faint traces of magical impulses currently being released, it is such small amounts and occurrences that not all magical creatures are able to sustain themselves and fall into a trance-like sleep. This the reason there are no house-elves around, centaurs or any other Forbidden Forest creature has been seen around. There all in this trance. If we continue to leave the reservoir as it is, the slumbering creatures may just wake up only to meet their complete, utter demise."
Feeling the excitement bubble beneath his skin, Harry steeled his nerves and asked, "What does the reservoir look like, Nick?"
As if stating something completely obvious to the world, Nick responded with, "The Sorting Hat". Harry came to an abrupt halt and stared incredulously at a sheepish looking Nick. "The Sorting Hat is the reservoir?" Harry murmured, horror struck. "Yes, what did you think it was? A silly old, hat with nothing special about it? Ha! That crooked hat is older than me, by at least several centuries!"
Harry looked up at the ceiling, wordlessly asking for a reason to his dilemma. Instead of a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars, an enchantment to mirror the very heavens of the night sky, Harry was met with the skeleton of the ceilings impressive architecture design. While he continued to question the heavens, Nearly Headless Nick gave a loud exclamation, startling him out of his search for penance. Snapping his attention back on the misty white ghostly figure before him, Harry felt his heart skip a beat. There in between Nick's ghostly form and half fallen column, was the reservoir.
The Sorting Hat.
Getting a good look at, as he neared it, Harry could feel the faintest pulses of magic caress his skin. Alarmed at how potent such a faint pulse could be, Harry immediately grabbed the sorting hat and turned to Nick, a question visible from his eyes. Nick simply beckoned him closer to the middle of the Great Hall and in clear symmetrical placement beneath the cathedral of the room.
"With your wand, Mr. Potter repeat after me with a swish and flick, if you would."
"Reparo" Nick said simply. Harry looked severely dumbfounded and slightly annoyed but did as the cheeky ghost prompted.
As Harry murmured the incantation, he felt a sudden surge of warmth spread through his being as the magic coursed through his veins, down his arm, funneled through the Elder Wand and reached the Sorting Hat. A narrow beam of light was now connecting the Sorting Hat with Harry's Elder Wand.
"Remain focused Mr. Potter, the smallest distraction or magical interference can cause the reservoir to react in a way most deadly and unexpected." Nearly Headless Nick cautioned. Harry merely nodded and repeated the incantation again.
All around him, Harry could feel the magic thrumming from every crevice, wall, floor and arch of Hogwarts. Like a throbbing artery, the magical essence coursed through the inside and outside of Hogwarts, extended far beyond the Forbidden forest, Weeping Willow and surrounding lake. Encompassing the whole of Hogwarts grounds.
As the majority of Harry's attention was focused on the repairing and containment of the reservoir, he did not notice the golden magical strings attached to his person. Nor did he feel the presence of two house-elves bonded into his service. One by choice, the other by inheritance. Harry also did not notice the slow, and steady repairs going on through the ruble, nor did he think it unwise to think of his sweet Dobby and snarky Kreacher.
"Why would you look at that? Good job Mr. Potter, just like that. In a matter of time we will have this section of Hogwarts repaired in no time." Nearly Headless Nick crooned in satisfaction while floating around in wide circles, taking in the slow repairs being made to the Great Hall.
As the final vestiges of repairs were being completed, Harry chanced a question to Nick.
"Nick, as this section of the castle is already repaired. Does that mean the house-elves will be able to awaken now? Or would a specific portion of the castle need to be reconnected with the reservoir? I would like to see Dobby and Kreacher again." Harry said, unknowingly sealing his and Hogwarts fate for forever.
Nick turned, wide eyed with a shout of alarm. Harry confused by Nick's reaction turned his head slightly to see what had the ghostly figure so alarmed. That was when he felt the golden strings attached to his person.
That was when he felt his control slip in his relapse due to his shock.
As he tried to control the pouring magic from the reservoir and maintain a semblance of connection between the sorting hat and the Elder Wand, Harry was left stretched thin. Blinding light erupted and engulfed his entire field of vision. The last thing Harry James Potter saw was two small figures covered in filthy rags tied like a loincloth around their middle. One looked exceptionally old, with its skin several times too big for it while the other was considerably younger with firmer skin. Both figures were bald with a small quantity of snow-white hair growing out of their large bat-like ears. Eyes wide open in startling shades of luminescent green and blood shot watery grey, fleshy snout like noses.
Both figures, with a resounding crack of lightning apparated in front of a horrified Harry.
"Master Potter! Dobby is very happy to see his beloved master again!" a squeaky, ecstatic voice chimed.
"M-Master Potter. What would you like Kreacher to do?" a deep voice like a bullfrog's asked.
Like a chain reaction, the magical energy from the house-elves apparition combined with the opened reservoir and the Elder Wand, an explosion of incredible magnitude occurred.
With the rumbling of thunder before a destructive thunderstorm, the reservoir collapsed in of itself, magical essence erupted like an out of control fiendfyre. Covering everything within the room as well as swallowing Harry up, before churning violently, chaotically before a resounding BOOM echoed of the walls.
The last thing Harry Potter ever saw and heard, was the thundering of an explosive outburst of accidental, ancestral magic consuming everything in its vicinity whole.
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