Chapter 80 – Decisions and Progress
The group toiling in the Headmaster's office reconvened shortly before the dinner hour. It had taken Harry and Severus just about an hour to identify several passages in the untranslated Slytherin notebooks that seemed to bear most potential and merited immediate translation. Harry had discovered that by speaking the translation aloud to the quills that Severus had charmed, he did not lapse into Parseltongue thinking he was speaking English. That freed Severus to join Albus and Hermione.
Albus looked to Severus to summarize their work for Harry.
"We looked at the spell that Voldemort used. All indications are that it was originally a spell that put someone to sleep and preserved them for 100 years. Thus, it once had both a sleeping and stasis component. One alteration Voldemort made was to strip out the stasis component. In further modifying its breadth and method of casting, the Ministry estimates that the 100 years became two to three months, and their calculations on that point look reasonable.
"We don't see waking muggles as a viable action. The old sleeping spells were notoriously difficult to break, absent the very specific counterspell or event intended to break them. "
Albus had been the lead theorist on the preservation issue, so he summarized that portion of the work.
"Harry, the ways we have today to put someone today into a state of preservation or stasis are all potion-based. The most is extreme is the Draught of the Living Death – there are others in that vein that are not as powerful. A potion is not an option here because most don't work absent some magic, we certainly do not have enough of them for all the muggles in the world nor a way to deliver them, and it is extremely dangerous to attempt to spell a stasis potion into someone who has been rendered unconscious already by some other spell or potion.
"We did find something in that chapter that you translated from the seventh notebook that helped us formulate some ideas for a spell. There was a reference to a healing spell that was already ancient when Salazar wrote of it. Before there were healing potions or wizards trained with healing skills, the best most could hope for in many cases of illness and sickness was that a wizard's or muggle's body would have enough time to heal itself. This healing spell could be placed on someone already in a coma or otherwise unconscious, or it could be administered to someone in conjunction with a sleeping draught or spell, and it basically held their physical condition steady while the person was not conscious. If the condition that prompted its use was something that could be resolved with time, when the person recovered and was ready to wake, the spell fell away. If the underlying condition was not one that the body could resolve with time, typically the person would die, but at least in their sleep and not in pain.
"It's a very basic spell and we expect it will work. Normally, we'd want to run tests before employing it, but we do not have the time for that. I will ask Madam Pomfrey to check that it works as we believe it does, and assuming that to be the case, it is the spell that we believe is our best option right now."
Harry and the others turned hopeful eyes to Hermione – he assumed that the casting of this spell over the entire world would be a challenge. However, if the answer, or even the hint of an answer, was in a book somewhere, odds were that she had already read it or could find it. She did not disappoint.
"Harry, the spell you found in the seventh book should be a viable stasis spell, but we cannot have you do again what you did to waken the magical people. There are just too many muggles, over too much space. The attempt would fall short and almost assuredly kill you. Professor Snape remembered the spell you spoke in the Winter Lands to seal the capstone to the ground over the Well of Despair: Terra Fas Sigillum Protego. You commanded the earth to hold the capstone fast, and it did. I consulted the book in which we'd found that old spell, and there were others in that general "commanding the earth" category, including one that delivered a royal command to spread something throughout the earth. We can combine the stasis spell with that one – it's called Regius Procuratio Per Obis Terrarum – and send the spell throughout the world."
"Even engaging with the ley lines and calling on the earth like that, I'm not so sure that one wizard's power will do it, Hermione." Harry looked worried.
"Well, it won't be just you. You have to cast the command spell, of course, because you're the only one who can cast the royal stuff, but remember the spell that Professor Dumbledore used to join us all in casting the shield for you on the Quidditch pitch? He is very confident that it will work here, to join the magic of others casting the stasis spell with yours. We can ask as many witches and wizards as are in the castle now to join us, and with the earth's cooperation, and all our power joined with yours, we should be able to do this."
Harry shook his head in awe as he looked around the table at these three wonderful people. "This is amazing. That you came up with such amazing ideas, in so little time and under such pressure – I don't know what to say. Thank you."
Severus smiled at Harry, but shook his head. "Don't thank us yet. This is all theory. No one ever made all this work before. You two go along to the Great Hall for dinner – you need a break and a fortifying meal to replenish yourselves. The Headmaster and I need that as well, but we'll stop in at the Infirmary first to ask Madam Pomfrey to assess the healing spell, and then we'll join you at dinner."
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Harry was nearly slack-jawed as he and Hermione entered the Great Hall, where dinner had just appeared on the tables. The room, always large, was now at least triple in size, filled with a number of new trestle tables all crowded with people. Harry looked for Sirius and Remus at the extended head table, and was glad to see them, seated together, speaking quietly. He knew they'd been very busy all day going out with students to find families, and they looked spent.
Harry's fervent hope that he'd be able to get to his seat with minimal attention was not fulfilled, as heads turned and whispers began immediately as he and Hermione walked over to their friends. Ron and Neville made space for them and they quickly took the seats and ignored the fuss.
"Ron, thank you for all your work on the rescues. What did we miss?"
Ron, Neville and Seamus all had stories to tell, both of their own excursions outside the castle or those reported to them by others who had gone out. Some were happy and some were tragic. Quite a few "muggleborns" had found that they were actually the children of squibs, who did not know of their magic. Muggle family members had been found and brought to the castle and delivered into Madam Pomfrey's care; there were already nearly 2000 muggles sleeping in the castle! Almost 500 squibs had been found and brought to Hogwarts among family, friends and even neighbors who were wandering about trying to make sense of the horrific devastation and wondering why no one else was awake. On the tragic side were the stories of family members who perished in accidents and fires as they slept. There had been mercifully only a few of those, but each loss was deeply felt by all.
Ron concluded their stories with "And then there were the Death Eathers!"
Harry hadn't given that any thought. He knew Severus was tired, but aside from that, he seemed fine. Of course, his Dark Mark had been warded by the Headmaster. "What about them?"
Ron told him about the two seventh-year Slytherins still in the Infirmary, dangerously depleted of their magic. He also told of Draco's distress at finding his father in such bad shape, although Lucius was expect to make a full recovery. Then there were the stories of the children of other Death Eaters. The lucky ones found their parents in the same situation as Lucius, but others were in alarmingly bad condition. At this point, only bare-bones information had been passed along by Draco, but Ron believed that at least two Death Eater parents had died from the drain, and some were unlikely to recover their magic to the level of being wizards any longer. They were going to be squibs, or even muggles now. "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named sucked them dry of their magic, with no regard to what happened to them."
Harry realized it would be difficult to get a solid read on the Death Eater situation since so few publicly admitted to having taken the Dark Mark, but maybe Severus could feed some names to someone at the Ministry and have someone check? It might be helpful to get the word out about what had been done to them to disillusion Voldemort's followers and get some to desert him. He'd speak to Dumbledore and Severus later.
To his friends, Harry repeated his thanks for all their efforts. Hermione started answering questions about the work they'd been doing all afternoon, and Harry directed his attention to her, hoping the others would look to her and allow him to eat his dinner. He was famished!
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Several long tables over, at a different end of the room, Petunia was sitting with a group of the most normal-looking people she had been able to find. She'd gotten back from the greenhouses, dirty and bruised, but otherwise unharmed from her encounters with those horrible plants, and gone to the dormitory to change and freshen up for dinner. She was a bit shocked that her bed had been made up with fresh linens, clean towels were available to her, and even the clothes she had worn yesterday were now laundered and in the dresser by her bed, along with all the other things she'd brought from home, and her suitcase was gone. Well, while she might have issues with the staff and caliber of people in this place, at least whoever provided the service knew how to do that properly. She never actually saw a servant or staff, but had to admit that things were taken care of thoroughly and quickly, and she had to assume (again, from her glossy magazines) that the goal of those in service had to be to accomplish all that without intruding on the guests. Cleaned up and in fresh clothes, Petunia felt slightly more comfortable now.
The people around her at dinner all had different assignments during the day. One older woman had spent the day in a "potions laboratory" and was going on and on about chopping things up and boiling things in cauldrons. How hideous! And these people used this stuff as medicine? The older woman actually looked at Petunia with a strange look in response to her comment. "Actually, Hogwarts is renowned for the potions brewed here. The Potions Master, Severus Snape, is famous across the wizarding world and his potions are highly sought after. We're supplying potions not just to our own Infirmary, but to St. Mungo's and to the Ministry, which I heard is sharing them with foreign institutions. To say nothing of the fact, Snape is bonded to Harry Potter!"
That last comment brought a number of murmurs of "Lucky man!" and expressions of jealousy, and Petunia nearly choked on a mouthful of tasteless food. "What? Bonded? What on earth are you talking about? And who in their right mind would want anything to do with that miserable wretch Potter?" People nearby were looking at HER as if there was something amiss! "The boy's a freak, always has been."
People were visibly trying to move to put as much distance between themselves and this harpy. The older woman responded "He's a remarkable and powerful young man, and recently acknowledged as the king of the wizarding world. He's the one who woke us all from the spell cast by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. If he hadn't done that, we'd all be sleeping, and many of us would not be waking up. You truly have your nerve speaking ill of him."
Petunia glumly pushed the tasteless food around her plate. She had really believed that normal-looking people would understand her perception of that awful boy with whom she was saddled years ago, and sympathize with her. She never expected that normal people would take the freak's part, against a refined woman such as herself!
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As the meal ended, Harry saw Madam Pomfrey approach the head table, and briefly interrupt the Headmaster and Severus for a word. They conferred briefly, and then Severus left with her. Harry's heart leapt with hope, that they could do the casting, and soon.
A moment later, the Headmaster stood to address the crowded Hall.
"I welcome you all to our first dinner as an extended magical family! We have many members of our students' families joining us now, as well as many others who did not realize that they had magic until today, and we are all pleased to extend the hospitality of Hogwarts Castle to you. Thanks to all who participated in the efforts to bring us all together here today!
"I have a counterpoint to the dark event we have all experienced. With thanks to Professor Snape, Miss Hermione Granger and, of course, Harry Potter, we have formulated a plan to help the muggles, beyond those we've been able to bring here to Hogwarts! This is something that has never been done before, but we are optimistic that it will work, and we are confident that the action we will take will not harm any of us. It will be a group casting effort. Mr. Potter will cast a royal command to the earth to spread an ancient healing, or stasis, spell across the world, and we will all join him in casting that stasis spell, too. Several of us will cast the "Iunctum" spell to join all your magics with Mr. Potter's into one large burst.
"We invite all adult witches and wizards, including our guests and all students in the fifth year and higher at Hogwarts, to participate. We will gather out by the greenhouses, and proceed as a group out past the castle wards, under the protection of the warriors of the Winter Lands. Participation is completely voluntary. If you have concerns or reservations, feel no pressure to join in, and we understand. However, if you wish to participate, please report to the greenhouses in half an hour. Thank you."
The head table began to empty immediately, as all the staff and others invited to sit at that table headed out to prepare. The rest of the room erupted in conversation as everyone seemed to want to comment on the plan at once. Those at the Gryffindor table were very excited at the chance to participate in something untried but likely to do so much good. The Ravenclaws were discussing the history, development and theory of all the spells mentioned. The Hufflepuffs were very excited to participate in a group casting. The Slytherins wanted to know how Hermione Granger got herself involved here.
Draco explained, to the amusement of those at his end of the table, that it was actually Hermione who found all those ancient royal spells and taught them to Potter! Many Slytherins wanted power and prestige for their own personal glory, but an equal number were very happy to whisper in the ears of the powerful. Hermione's role here added new meaning to the term "the power behind the throne" and they were duly, if reluctantly, impressed.
As groups finally stood to make their way out to the greenhouses, it was apparent that every student in the fifth year and higher, all of the staff, and all of the adults with wands were heading out to the grounds. As Harry walked in the midst of the Gryffindors, his departure was tracked, and dozens of his classmates, from all houses, reached out to squeeze his hand or arm in gestures of support. He found himself deeply touched by this demonstration of their concern.
Sirius, Remus and Mrs. Longbottom were among the adults working with the staff to make the final preparations. A short bit of time would be needed to teach everyone the spell. There was some talk of how best to arrange all the people who would be casting, to enable them to focus their magic on one point on the ground. As they became aware of the incredible number of witches and wizards who were going to participate, some last-minute adjustments had to be made to fit everyone in, but they made it work.
The warriors formed up as a most impressive escort just inside the castle wards, and as the casters arrived and were instructed where to stand for the casting, they moved to protect them all as they moved past the wards to assume their places. It was a huge crowd, all arranged facing down a sloping hill. Harry had pointed to a spot where he saw sigils intersecting, and decided that was where they should cast the spells. Sirius marked the spot with a brightly burning flame. When all were assembled, Severus walked out with Harry to a point toward the front of the crowd that had been held aside for them, and Albus, Sirius and Mrs. Longbottom took up places toward the back of the crowd. The participants went silent, all intently watching as Harry took his place, turned to them and applied a sonorous charm to amplify his voice.
"I am first going to cast the spell to ask the earth to receive and disperse the healing spell. Once I've done that, we all need to cast the healing spell that you've just been taught, and hold it for as long as you can. Mrs. Longbottom, Professor Dumbledore and Mr. Black will then cast the Iunctum spell to join us all in one massive pulse of magic. You might hear that, and you might feel a surge of magic, but don't be distracted. Hold the healing spell! And aim for the space ahead marked by the flame. I am so proud to be doing this with you all, and so proud of your generosity in joining in. Thank you all."
Severus had smirked at Harry's choice of words – asking the earth, indeed! Anyone who knew Latin would realize that the earth was being commanded!
More than a few standing hear him gasped at the sheer power in Harry's voice when he intoned the command to the earth. Those who could not hear his voice were stunned by the impact his spell had on the flame that marked the spot for them to cast their spells. It had been a brightly burning flame about a meter high, but by the time Harry had finished his spell, it was ten times higher.
As Harry began to cast his healing spell, his voice was joined by others. The red beam that shot from the end of his wand was soon joined by others as well. Behind them, the Iunctus spells were cast, pressing a massive surge of power through them all and finally uniting all the red beams into a solid wall of red light that poured itself into the flame. Slowly, the white light of the flame turned more yellow, and finally red to match the red from their wands. Just as Harry felt he had no more energy or strength, the brilliant red flame vanished down into the earth. It was over.
The staff gently herded the throng back toward the Great Hall with promises of chocolate and news as soon as it was available as to whether this worked. Many who were too young or not sufficiently magical to participate had watched the casting from various spots along the castle walls, and they came down to join the tired but excited crowd slowly proceeding to the Great Hall. In the midst of the crowd, surrounded by his friends and family, Harry milled along with the others, too tired to notice the looks and whispers that followed him and Severus the entire way back. Severus had his hand at the small of Harry's back, ready to catch him if he faltered or stumbled, or just needed support, but not in a way that was obvious to others. It looked like such a caring gesture, provoking more than a few jealous sighs from besotted witches thinking back on those pictures of Severus in the Daily Prophet.
Severus wanted to bring Harry to sit at the head table, but Harry was adamant that he would sit with his classmates, so they detoured to the Gryffindor table and Severus proceeded on from there to the head table alone. He personally thought the sugar rush from all the chocolate bars and hot chocolate already appearing on the tables was going to make this a miserable night for all who had to maintain order in the castle, but he also had been a teacher long enough to know that once chocolate had been promised, reneging on that promise could provoke a near riot. He stoically nibbled on a bar of chocolate, although he asked the house elves for some tea to drink.
Fortunately, the wait was not long. Most were still on their first cup of hot chocolate, and maybe a few bites into a candy bar, when Madam Pomfrey arrived from the Infirmary with news for the Headmaster. She whispered urgently into his ear, and he immediately rose and called the room to order to hear the news.
"Madam Pomfrey advises me that she has confirmed her results here with medical staff at St. Mungo's and other hospitals across the world. The sleeping muggles are all in a state of stasis – the prolonged sleep will not kill them! Your casting worked!"
A loud cheer went up, and lasted for several minutes as students leapt to their feet, hugged one another, stomped and clapped. Their families, squibs and guests were no more reserved. It was quite a raucous scene over which Albus Dumbledore patiently presided. When he finally spotted the chance to continue his remarks, he added "Celebrate tonight – you have helped the world avoid a catastrophe of an enormity we cannot fathom. But sleep well – the world will need all of our efforts and energies tomorrow!"
At the head table, the hot chocolates (and Severus' tea) was replaced instantly with large tumblers of excellent brandy. Severus accepted the congratulations from his colleagues and the others sitting with them, and savored the rich taste of the brandy, all the while keeping a careful eye on Harry. He was at the center of a big knot of students. Severus wanted him to enjoy this moment, but knew how exhausted the young man was and how much he needed rest, so he was very attentive to any sign that he had to get Harry out of there. It was actually Draco who caught Severus' eye and signaled for him to come for Harry, who was nearly falling asleep standing up by the time Severus arrived. With his own offers of congratulations and thanks to the students, he gently took their hero in hand and guided him to their rooms in the dungeons.
After Severus had given him his bottle of Dreamless Sleep, Harry sidled over in bed and rested his head on Severus' chest. More than anything, he wanted the soothing music of Severus' heartbeat to lull him to sleep. Severus gently folded the younger man in his arms, and followed him into much needed sleep.