The boy who was trolled
Chapter 06
…
Rituals were an incredibly complex and finicky branch of magic. They hadn't been taught at Hogwarts in any form or fashion in over a hundred years. This was mostly due to a lack of capable people to teach it, not any concern about the potential dangers.
I mean, come on, it's Hogwarts.
Despite a lack of tutelage there was no shortage of books and other assorted text's detailing the art to one degree or another. Most were locked away in the restricted section because… well, yeah, because.
Such barriers had never proven much of an obstacle to Harry, not even the first time around. Now on number 13 he came and went as he pleased. The defenses were nothing special, locks and bars and one snippy old witch. It's like they didn't even care.
None of that mattered to Harry. Even if they'd had a nesting mother dragon guarding the place he'd have found a way in. His current project was too important to let such trivial obstacles stand in his way.
"Hullo Harry, that's a lovely drawing."
Harry glanced up to find his favorite blonde and her bodyguard looking at him in that adorable big-eyed way only Luna could.
"Hello, sneaky feet. Didn't hear you come in."
"We're practicing our stalking" said Luna, "Mr. Bunbun already has the silent walk down but mine still needs some work."
"Well, Mr. Bunbun does have the advantage of being stuffed."
The bipedal bunny toy that followed Luna around like a shadow had been his best solution for the bully problem. It was just as tall as Luna and magicked to high heavens. Flitwick had been very impressed when he'd been introduced to the fluffy guardian. Less impressed by the reason for its existence.
Harry would never forget the expression on Flitwick's face when he'd said, "I see you have everything well in hand Mr. Potter" and then walked out of the room leaving everyone else to gape.
He wished he could say they'd taken the hint and left Luna alone.
"Has Mr. Bunbun had his exercise today?"
"Oh yes" said Luna, "three of the third-year girls thought I was alone and tried to lock me in a broom cupboard."
Wo said Ravenclaws were smart?
"Are you okay?"
"Oh yes, Bunbun was very firm with them."
As he should, that was how he'd been designed. It actually made him wonder why wizards didn't use golems more often.
"What are you drawing Harry?"
Oh right.
"It's a ritual circle Luna" he explained.
"Ooooooh!" she expressed adorably, "What does it do?"
Harry smiled at her innocence. It was a welcome change from dealing with just himself. Turns out himself was a crotchety old grump.
"If I've drawn it correctly, it should help me find the rest of these" he said, gesturing to the small leather-bound journal next to him.
Luna scrunched up her nose at the book, "Why would you want more of 'that'?"
"So I can destroy them" Harry said, returning to his work.
"Did you do this the other times?"
"I did not."
He didn't so much as bat an eye at her referring to his previous lives. He hadn't told her about them, but she still seemed to know. He didn't mind. Even if she did tell someone they'd never believe her.
"The last times I had to find these things, I knew where they were. I've already checked for several of the others and they weren't where I thought they should be."
"The rules of the game have been changed" she said.
There was an edge to her voice when she said this, but he chose to ignore it. If Luna was going to start prophesying, he wasn't sure he wanted to hear it.
"Or at least the locations have been changed" said Harry, "that being the case, I am forced to use alternative methods."
"I like alternative. Daddy has several records. What kind of music do you like Harry?"
"Never really thought about it" never had time to think about it.
"Music is good for the soul."
"Ya don't say" might explain why he was such a grump, "Would you hand me the map on the table there?"
"This is a very big map" she observed, handing the massive scroll over.
"It's a big world" he said, "If he's not using the usual hiding places, chances are his new ones aren't even in Britain."
"Have you been outside Britain Harry?"
"A little" some marks just insisted on running, "Alright, everything's ready, let's get started."
The chant he was using was a derivation of an old Norse hunting chant. He sat chanting for several minutes before the circle began to glow. Given how wide a net he was casting he needed to build a lot of power.
Minutes grew and grew, a half hour passed then, just as they approached the one hour mark he stopped. An eerie hum emanated form the circle as magic pulsed through the lines, the map, and most importantly, the horcrux.
"That should do it" he said, standing to examine the map.
"Did you find them?"
He wasn't sure. So far there was only one dot glowing on the map. The dot that represented them.
As they watched, others began to appear.
"Here we go."
They appeared slow at first. One, two, three. Harry didn't' recognize the locations but they were all in Britain. Number four was not.
"France. And, there's another, and another."
France in total had four, but it didn't stop there. The dots started coming faster and faster. Spain, Germany, Sweden, Norway.
"Sweet Merlin!"
It was like watching an infestation grow. The dots didn't stop till they'd reached the far side of the map.
"Good grief."
"Ew, so much ickyness."
It took him a while to count them all, and the final tally made him want to curse, "Seventy-seven" how did he even break his soul into that many pieces?
"What are you going to do Harry?"
Harry pondered the question for a time, staring at the map and its 77 glowing dots till he had his answer.
Taking the journal, he tossed it away from the ritual circle before blasting it with fiend fire till it was nothing but ash, the wail of the passing soul fragment didn't even make him flinch.
"Luna, I believe we will be seeking alternative measures for dealing with dark lords this time round."
Luna smiled at his declaration, "I like alternative."
