Author's Note:
Hi again all! Thanks for the patience, I hope it's worth the wait. I've got a lot of people following/reviewing/favoriting this story, so I think there's a lot of pressure on me to make it good. Here's hoping it lives up to your expectations! I think Chapter Five will be the end, but we'll see!
Chapter Four:
McGonagall realized quickly that a silence had fallen around her. She glanced up and couldn't help but utter another gasp; a shining barrier surrounded them, and she saw the arrows suspended in front of them. The centaurs, as well, stood in frozen terror. Yuko, her arm raised calmly and her wand glowing the same color as the barrier, allowed a couple of seconds of silence for everything to sink in.
"You who call this your holy ground should know, then, that I have done you a favor by coming here and removing this stone," said Yuko, the slightest trace of haughty in her voice. "The fact that this went unnoticed tells me that you are not a leader of any sort for your clan, which, if I'm not mistaken, means you have no right to allow an attack on any human, even one that, as you put it, 'trespasses' on your land."
The centaur's face contorted in rage and his face reddened, but it was obvious that Yuko's words were correct. A few of the mini-war party glanced around, uncomfortable that a human was aware of the inner workings of the centaurs. Yuko allowed a small smile as she held up the Resurrection stone in her free hand, levitating it a few inches.
"This stone, as well as the ground, was tainted with the blood of innocents," she said. "Years ago, when the Dark Lord the humans feared the most fell in these very lands, when the defenders, and even some of your own kin, were killed, and when The Boy Who Lived sacrificed himself for the world… all of these lead to a terrible taint upon this ground."
"She speaks the truth…" one centaur muttered tentatively, wincing as the leader and some of the others turned their furious gazes on him. "Our spiritual leaders performed multiple rituals to cleanse the land, but nothing was ever truly effective…"
"And to those of you who watched from a distance saw me performing the ritual a few minutes ago: clearly none of you are experienced in the art of purifications or you, too, would have realized my intent was to both locate this stone and purify the land," Yuko said, glaring past the arrows that still hovered frozen in front of her. "Return here later with your true leaders and they will confirm that this holy land will once more blossom and prosper."
The centaurs shifted uncomfortably, most lowering their bows and some stomping their hooves. The one who had spoken up in defense of Yuko bowed to her slightly and turned, walking away. The others seemed to realize that the game was up and they had been incorrect, remorseful expressions on their faces.
"Now then," said Yuko, smiling. "Payment. These arrows you have provided us will do nicely. Minerva, if you would collect these…"
"Why our arrows?" demanded the leader as Professor McGonagall quickly snatched them out of the air. "Humans are not fit to possess virgin arrows of centaurs—"
"A dozen centaur arrows are enough payment for me for the purification of your holy ground," said Yuko. "And the others will function as payment for the stress and terror you caused poor Professor McGonagall here. Of course, the alternative is that I come to your homes and speak with your clan leaders—"
The centaurs showed signs of panic at this suggestion, a few even rearing up or making terrified noises. The leader, his jaw clenched in anger, glared at the calmly-smiling Yuko, but after a tense couple of seconds he merely snorted, turned, and lead the party away. Yuko smiled and, once they were out of sight, allowed the barrier to disappear. She placed her wand and the stone into her pocket and also turned, heading back for the edge of the forest and Hogwarts castle. McGonagall followed after her, her arms full of the centaur arrows.
"You did quite well back there," said Yuko, although her voice held the smallest traces of patronization, and McGonagall did not appreciate it.
"Yes, well, I can honestly say the centaurs and I have never gotten along, it was only Albus who was able to ever have meaningful talks with them," replied the Headmistress. "I'd rather have nothing to do with them myself. A few years ago we almost had a staff member murdered by the centaurs, although frankly I wish they'd…"
Her voice trailed off, remembering Yuko's words about murder and wondering whether wishing harm on others would cause her to pay a price. Yuko said nothing, idly removing the Resurrection stone to examine it. They passed through the rest of the forest in relative silence, until they finally reached the edge of the grounds.
"I will depart from you here, Minerva," said Yuko, taking a dozen centaur arrows from her. "I've always wanted to visit the historical village of Hogsmeade, especially the tavern run by the beautiful and talented Madam Rosmerta."
"And what am I to do with these arrows?" asked McGonagall, still carrying a fair few.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll think of something," said Yuko as she walked towards the gates. "Sell them, if you'd like. They'll fetch a hefty price on various markets and fix some of the budget issues you're always complaining about. Or you could research their more potent magical properties and see if that's of any use to you. Whichever!"
Yuko chuckled as she walked away, her mind intently focused on some good liquor. McGonagall sighed, exasperated, and heading back to the castle while examining the arrows and wondering what exactly she could do with them.
King's Cross Station, Platform 9 3/4.
"This is quite exciting, isn't it?" Hermione Granger said, as she, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Luna broke through the barrier. "It's almost like we're going back for another year."
Harry and Ron glanced up and down the deserted platform. They couldn't have disagreed more; trips to Hogwarts were never as smooth and peaceful as this one. The lack of flying cars, Dementors, or annoying Slytherins was actually a bit disappointing, almost boring. Ginny and Luna were already boarding one of the carriages near the front of the train, so the three headed on after them.
"It's nice of them to give us a ride on the train out there, though," said Ron, settling in to one of the nicest cars, usually reserved for prefects. "Even if it does take a few hours longer than it should."
"It's nice of McGonagall to invite us all out like this," said Luna, vaguely. "It'll be nice to see Professor Trelawney again."
"Er… right," said Hermione, obviously not in the same mindset. "I do hope Madam Pince is around, though, I wanted to do some research on—"
"No. No, Hermione, you are forbidden to speak of anything involving work, on this train," said Ron, covering her mouth in a teasing fashion as he put his other arm around her. She jabbed him hard in the ribs with her wand and he let out a yelp.
"Why a sudden trip, though?" asked Ginny, curiously, as the train left King's Cross. "It seems bizarre that we'd be called out after the students and staff have left…"
"She was a bit vague," said Harry, pulling out the letter from within his robe pocket. "Uh… required mediation in negotiations with an impartial auditor for the removal of some objects at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"Mediation seems like it would be more up Hermione's ally," said Ginny as she rested her head comfortably on Harry's shoulder, her voice thoughtful. "I wonder if it has something to do with stuff Dumbledore left you?"
"Nah," said Harry. "He would have given it to us back when he gave us the rest of the stuff…"
"I'll bet the Witch of Dimensions wants to see you," said Luna, with a smile.
"The what?" asked Ron as Hermione resisted an eye roll. She had gotten much better at putting up with Luna in previous years, but some things were a little too bizarre, even for her.
"A specialized woman from Japan who can open paths to other dimensions and grants wishes for the correct price," replied Luna, enthusiastically. "She's rumored to have entered Hogwarts a couple of days ago, trying to remove a dark curse hidden there."
"And where did you hear that from?" asked Hermione, her voice betraying her disbelief.
"One of Dad's star undercover reporters heard it from Hagrid the other night in the Three Broomsticks," said Luna, matter-of-factly. "He was ranting about it in a drunken haze."
"Sounds like Hagrid alright," chuckled Harry. "Always saying the wrong things to the wrong people before he realizes he shouldn't…"
Of course, that followed with some of the stories and memories of things he shouldn't have told them while he was at Hogwarts, which segued into an early afternoon of memories on their favorite times and worst experiences of Hogwarts. The conversations lasted most of the train ride, covering their eight total years of schooling at Hogwarts, including their comparatively calm "Seventh" year, which was only interrupted by reporters and construction work.
When the train at last pulled into Hogsmeade station in mid-afternoon, the castle stood before them on the hill, as beautiful as it always had been. Harry hadn't been back in almost two years; his Auror work had taken him around the world in some cases. Hermione had made the trip the previous year for research purposes, Luna made sporadic visits to visit Trelawney, and Ron and Ginny, as well as the rest of their family, made yearly pilgrimages to the memorial for Fred.
"They've done a bang up job of fixing the Astronomy Tower," said Ron, marveling at it. "I remember it basically collapsed after the battle…"
"And that huge hole in the wall that used to be on the seventh floor, remember that?" asked Ginny, smiling sadly. "That curse resisted every urge to fix it until Hermione figured out how to dispel it."
"Anyone could have figured it out if they'd read Arcane Constructs: Volume XXXIV," replied Hermione in faux-modesty. "A few simple charms and a complex incantation as all it took."
"Did you guys bring any flowers for the memorial?" asked Luna, producing a couple of lethal-looking beauties from her bag.
They shook their heads and made a quick diversion into one of the newer shops in Hogsmeade. The already-famous village had become even more renown in recent years, and its little economy was booming. They passed by various acquaintances and former classmates on the busy streets, stopping only for brief chats as the residents returned home for their dinners. They reached Flora's Fabulous Flora with only minutes till close, although she was more than happy to give her time to the famous Harry Potter.
As the sun began to set, the five marched up the hill towards the castle, pausing to place their flowers on the Grave of Dumbledore and the Battle of Hogwarts Memorial. The area was crowded with plants, trinkets, and cards, the anniversaries of both events having occurred only weeks previous. A solemn couple of minutes later, they finished their trek into the silent halls of Hogwarts, passing the enormous pendulum from the clock and standing before the Great Hall once more.
"Oh, Potter, you're here," came a familiar, crisp voice from the stairs.
Harry and company turned to see Professor McGonagall descending quickly towards them, her expression that of tired relief. She greeted them as warmly as her demeanor allowed her, and a few minutes of small talk followed as she lead them into the Great Hall, where only a few places were set for the evening meal.
"You look exhausted, Professor," pointed out Luna, brightly.
"I am, my dear," said Professor McGonagall with a heavy sigh. "The Library is a very difficult place to navigate without dear Madam Pince to assist me…
"Seems as though you're out of luck, Hermione," said Harry with a grin while Ron and Ginny snickered. Hermione attempted to hide her look of disappointment and failed miserably as the food magically appeared before them.
"Are any of the other Professors here?" asked Ginny through mouthfuls of food.
"Most have left for the time being," replied McGonagall, carefully wiping her mouth off before she spoke. "But some of the core staff have remained behind, including some of your favorites. Hagrid will be thrilled to see you all and, yes, Luna, Sybill remains with us yet again."
Luna clapped her hands delightedly and returned to her meal (she had recently started eating her desert first, but had already progressed backward to soup). The others ate quickly, hoping to get a chance to visit Hagrid before it got too dark. Professor McGonagall explained the sleeping arrangements, stating that they were allowed to stay in Gryffindor for the night, and Luna had the option of either Gryffindor or her own room.
"I'd rather stay with Ginny and Hermione if that's alright with you," she said at the suggestion. "It would be rather fun to have a sleepover!"
Hermione nearly fell off her bench when she'd said that, although Ginny seemed genuinely excited about that. Ron and Harry had another laugh at her expense and they headed for Hagrid's Hut. Unfortunately, a sign on the door told them that they'd narrowly missed him and that he was treating the esteemed guest of the school to butterbeers down at the Hog's Head for the night. Pitying the poor guest, they returned to the castle and ambled about the various floors, reliving some of their favorite spots and memories, before retiring for the night.
The next day dawned warm but cloudy, and the darkened storm clouds in the distance weren't looking promising. Harry and Ron, having stayed up late into the night talking, met Hermione in the Common Room and went towards the Great Hall together. She didn't seem like she'd gotten a lot of sleep, either.
"Luna, of course, told about a million and a half tall tales about Hogwarts last night," said Hermione, practically using Ron for support. "I only called her out on something once, and that's because it was a blatant contradiction to one of the finer points of Hogwart: A History, but I think I did very well in ignoring her outlandish claims."
"How did Ginny take it?" asked Harry, glancing back to the Fat Lady, who waved jollily after them.
"Oh, her usual self. Patient, understanding, occasionally excited when she recognized something Fred or George had also mentioned…" Hermione said, sleepily. "I do hope we can finish our business here today so I can leave. I'm not sure another night with Loony—er, Luna… will end well…"
After a quick brunch in the Great Hall, they ran into Professor McGonagall, who was still cradling a few heavy texts. She told them to meet her in the staffroom in about an hour as they had to discuss things with their impartial auditor. As she stumbled away, Hermione dashed off to help her with her books, and Ron decided he had better go get his sister and Luna up so that they could meet with them. Harry nodded and then walked off, heading for the Headmaster's Office. Unfortunately, he was unable to enter, and no amount of polite requesting or death threating would make the door budge. He sighed heavily and began to aimlessly wander the halls; he had really wanted to speak with Dumbledore's portrait.
After about fifteen minutes of being lost in his thoughts, he found himself standing at the stairs that lead out to Herbology. He saw Professor Sprout standing in front of Greenhouse Four with a tall, mysterious woman wearing a huge, black-and-silver robe, apparently discussing something about the Greenhouses. The woman held a small potted plant in her hand and gave it to Professor Sprout, although Harry was slightly too far away to hear what was going on. Professor Sprout seemed reluctant at first, but finally consented, nodding and heading back into the Greenhouse. The mysterious woman smiled after her in a way that unsettled Harry slightly; was she the auditor?
The woman immediately turned her gaze on Harry and her smile slowly faded as she examined his face, her eyes going straight to the scar Harry tried to keep hidden behind his bangs. She smiled and ascended the stairs, and Harry felt a momentary urge to turn and run. Instead, he waited for the woman to come to him as rain slowly began to fall behind her. A rumble of thunder in the distance and the echo of her heels on the stone floor were the only sounds that broke their silence. Harry gulped as the witch stopped and fixed him with a look that made his insides shiver.
"Your name?" she asked him.
"Uh… H-Harry Potter," he replied, nodding his head in respect. "And you?"
"You may call me Yuko Ichihara, or just Yuko," she said. "I was supposed to meet you with Minerva and the others in about an hour, but clearly that wasn't meant to be. Come, we have things to discuss."
A bewildered Boy Who Lived followed Yuko down the halls as she lead him to an empty classroom, one that he vaguely recalled as being the room for younger-level Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. It was bare now, and Yuko conjured up two chairs with her wand, a slender one made of a wood Harry couldn't recognize, even after being drilled about wand-wood identification in his training.
"Um… if you don't mind, Yuko, why have you brought me here? Who are you?" he asked.
"I go by many titles," she replied, smiling. "The only one that should matter to you is the one dear Minerva so nicely coined for me: independent auditor."
"I figured as much," said Harry, taking the seat next to her. "McGonagall said you wanted to discuss something about a… payment or some removal of something…"
"Yes. Harry," she said, smiling. "But there's no need to rush into that. We've got plenty of time before Minerva expects us and I'm sure she wouldn't mind if we're a few minutes late."
Are we talking about the same Minerva? Harry wondered, thinking of all the times he had been chastised for being late in his years of schooling. Yuko snapped her fingers and almost immediately, with a loud crack, a house elf appeared. Harry gasped, recognizing Winky almost immediately. She looked a fair bit less twitchy than he'd remembered, though still shook slightly as Yuko ordered two goblets and an a few bottles of liquor. She disappeared and, presumably, got to work on filling the order, while Yuko began to talk with Harry.
"Harry Potter… The Boy Who Lived. Your fame extends past the United Kingdom to even the Far East," she said, an odd smile seemingly frozen on her face. "You've had quite a fate dealt to you, have you not?"
"I suppose…" said Harry, a bit unsure and unwilling to discuss his past with a perfect stranger. "Of course the Daily Prophet and all those other papers have speculated on that for years…"
"Yes, they have," said Yuko, nodding in agreement. "While your position as the Boy Who Lived has caused you much anguish, much pain and loss, it was all inevitable. It was something that had to happen, something that you were destined for. And that destiny isn't quite over yet."
"Oh?" said Harry, feeling a stirring of irritation in his body. "And just what makes you say that?"
"Because there is something you have that I need, that Hogwarts itself needs," said Yuko, her voice becoming slightly more serious. "It's a decision you're going to have to make, and it will cost either yourself or Hogwarts a heavy price."
Harry's heart began to beat faster and he felt his adrenaline start pumping. This woman, he figured, may be dangerous after all. He could sense she was a powerful being, and she seemed to be sidestepping her real desires, hiding her true motives, perhaps trying to distract him. His Auror training kicked in and he faked a natural fidget in his seat, his hand drifting casually toward the pocket of his robes where his wand waited.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," said Yuko, smirking. "Hogwarts just finished rebuilding and if you were to duel with me, I assure you, this castle would suffer its share of destruction."
Harry flung out of his seat and pointed his wand directly at Yuko's face. She met it with an amused smile as another crack signaled Winky's return. The scene was frozen in a very awkward state: Harry, standing and breathing heavily with his wand pointed at Yuko's forehead, her smiling at the house elf with her head playfully sitting on her hand, and Winky, confused and frightened by the situation, pouring both of them some firewhiskey as her little arms trembled from fear and the weight of the container. At a nod from Yuko, she disappeared again, but the moment was enough to let Harry calm down. He lowered his wand, though didn't pocket it yet.
"Who are you really?" he asked, his anger still pulsating through his body. "You talk of fate and destiny… are you a Seer like Trelawney?"
"A Seer, yes, of sorts," said Yuko. "Like Trelawney? I should think not… although we share a love for fine alcohol."
She took a mighty swig of her firewhiskey and exhaled with a groan of enjoyment. Harry, completely bemused by Yuko's antics, found himself sitting again, sipping at his own cup after detecting no poisons in it. The seconds ticked by as Yuko finished her cup and poured another, holding it in her hand as she turned herself to face Harry directly.
"Now… to business then. You are aware, of course, that the Dark Lord Voldemort placed a curse on Hogwarts when he was denied the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts almost a generation and a half ago, correct?" asked Yuko.
"Yeah… Dumbledore spoke of that…" confirmed Harry. "Said something about how after the last one they couldn't keep a staff member for more than a couple of terms…"
"That's correct. The curse Voldemort placed on this school was powerful to begin with, however with the creation of his Horcruxes, the curse became fragmented as well, and mutated—" Yuko started to explain.
"Hold on!" Harry exclaimed. "How did you know about Horcruxes? Those are supposed to be secret from—"
"As I have said to everyone else in this castle," Yuko began with a grin. "My line of work has made me privy to innumerable facts and memories you could only dream of. Horcruxes, while disturbing, are far from the strangest or most unique bit of information I've got in my own mind."
Harry accepted that and Yuko continued on with the explanation of Voldemort's curse and its grip on the school. While she was at it, she also updated him on the situation with the price and payments, about how nobody at Hogwarts was willing to give up their livelihood for the school, and how she'd received one of the three bits of payment she needed from the grounds. Harry kept silent through it all, trying not to get lost in the whirl of information. Finally, once Yuko had downed two further cups of firewhiskey and he had refilled his own, he spoke.
"So… you require a price from me, then?" he asked. "What could I give you? I'm not very rich…"
"Money is not the correct payment," said Yuko, shaking her head. "No amount of money could cover what needs to be done here. To remove this malignant curse requires a different type of payment, one that only you are able to provide."
"What is it?" asked Harry, persistent on getting to the point of the problem.
"A name," she said, simply and mysteriously.
"… A… name…?" Harry asked, let down at the seemingly anti-climactic answer.
"Yes. I will take the name of the one who brought you to your destiny, the one who caused you so much anguish over the first twenty years of your existence," she said, nodding. "The name Lord Voldemort. That is the price you must pay."
"I don't think I fully understand, but sure, go ahead and have it," said Harry, shrugging. "I don't like thinking about it anyway."
"You shouldn't agree to anything so quickly," cautioned Yuko. "Let me explain the exact consequences of your price before you up and agree to it so quickly."
"Alright, sure, but I don't fully understand how the name thing is gonna change anything. Or why I'm the one to pay it," said Harry.
"Names are so much more powerful than anyone ever realizes," Yuko said, sighing. "Yet they so freely give them away. With a name, one has complete control over that person, and can, with the right techniques, alter their very existence or destiny. In this case, by granting me power over the name of Lord Voldemort, I will be able to erase his name from the pages of time."
"You're going to what?" Harry asked, stunned.
"The name Lord Voldemort shall be removed from the minds and pages of those who knew of him," Yuko said. "His genocide will not be forgotten, those memories will be intact. The only thing that will change is nobody will ever be able to give the person who committed those atrocities a name. For much of the population, many of whom still see the name as a Taboo, this will be no change, and he will be known as the Dark Lord and You-Know-Who. Those who once spoke his name as an act of defiance will no longer have the name to remember. Do you understand?"
"I do…" said Harry, a smile on his face. "That's brilliant! Why didn't you come here sooner, we could've taken care of this—"
Yuko suddenly stood and placed her hand on Harry's cheek, leaning in close to him, far closer than his comfort zone allowed. She stared at him, her eyes devoid of any emotion, and Harry immediately fell silent and the uneasy feeling returned to him.
"You fail to understand the consequences even now," said, sadly. "Harry, you have been haunted, have you not, by dreams and terrors in the night of Lord Voldemort, have you not?"
"I… that is, yes, I have," Harry admitted, realizing hiding the truth from her would be too much. Only Ginny knew, and even she didn't realize the truth in the dreams; Harry had said it was visions of those who had died, not Voldemort himself.
"Those are frightening dreams, are they not?" Yuko asked.
"Yes…" said Harry, remembering some of the nights where he woke up screaming, trembling, and, occasionally, in tears.
"Though the fear is strong, that fear has a name," Yuko said. "By allowing me to have this name, those dreams will continue, but the fear will become nameless. You will not remember who it was that scared you so bad, only the strongest emotions of fear you've ever felt will be with you."
"Y-yeah…" said Harry, her hand still on his face. "But it… it can't be all bad, right? I mean, sure it'll still be fearful, and maybe I won't be able to put a name to it, but…"
"This nameless, faceless fear," said Yuko, sadly. "It will be the same as the fear the Dementors cause you when they get too close."
Harry's eyes widened and he felt his insides drop. The proposition from Yuko had gone from a godsend to a further curse upon his life. Though the dreams didn't happen all too often—twice in a fortnight, at most-, those nights were often sleepless and disturbing enough that it could throw off his life for at least the full next day. The thought of replacing that feeling with a that of a Dementor around him was about as uninviting as it got.
"I… is there any way to cancel that… maybe to stop the dreams altogether?" stammered Harry.
"The price for that, I'm afraid, is too great," said Yuko, seeming to sympathize with him, finally removing her hand from his cheek and resuming her seat.
"Why me?" asked Harry. "I mean, why must my price be so great? Voldemort killed more people than just my parents, many who suffered the same traumas I did… could they perhaps share the price…?"
"Unfortunately, this is a price you alone must bear," replied Yuko, shaking her head. "For it was you who took his life. The taking of a life, under any circumstances, has dire ramifications for the one who takes the life. Even if it is a person that anyone could universally agree on was evil."
"But… but I had to…" said Harry, his mind reeling under the stress of his price. "I was the only one who could… the prophecy… Dumbledore…"
"That is correct. The fact that you would have to take the life of Voldemort was your destiny, something that was inevitable," Yuko said.
"Why is my fate so awful, then?" demanded Harry, rage building slowly inside him. "It's not fair!"
"Fairness, good, and evil are just a few of the concepts that are created by humans," said Yuko. "They mean nothing to the force that drives the universe forward. The balance of the universe is the only concern of the force we know as fate, destiny, and inevitability. Having said all of this… are you willing to pay the price?"
Harry stared at the ground for a few long, quiet moments, trying to compose himself. He felt like he didn't really have a choice in the matter, despite Yuko saying that he did. He glanced up and she waited in patient silence for his response. He opened his mouth to ask for alternatives, but somehow realized it was a futile attempt that could cause someone close to him to pay an even worse price. Slowly, his head in his hands, he nodded.
"Very well," said Yuko, placing her arm on his shoulder and bowing her head. "Your price has been accepted. Let us go and meet with Professor McGonagall and the others."
"Can… can I ask a quick favor?" asked Harry.
"What is it?" asked Yuko.
"After the meeting… can I speak with Professor Dumbledore's portrait?" asked Harry.
Yuko smiled and nodded. "I see no problem with that at all. I need to discuss the last bit of my payment with Minerva as it is…"
Harry nodded and took a deep breath, getting his emotions back under control. The years free of Voldemort, in addition to his training as an Auror, had made it much easier to control his emotions than any Occlumency lesson ever had. Yuko swept the bottle off the table and, with a flick of her mysterious wand, she vanished the chairs and table as the two set off for the staff room for their meeting with the remaining Hogwarts staff.
Author's Note:
Feel free to review, I enjoy feedback on my writing! 'Till next time!