Author's Note
Numbers in [brackets] denote footnotes, which you can find at the bottom of the chapter.
Nothing from the wizarding world of Harry Potter is mine.
~ Refictionista, March 7, 2017
§ Chapter IX §
The Festival of Diana on the Aventine - Part Two
On the cobbled and puddle-filled Via Nova not too far from the temple, Hermione and Scorpius stood cheering on the street's dry sidewalk as the procession passed before them. The racing chariots and their costumed horses were heading towards the Circus Maximus.
After much fanfare, the flag waving crowd began to follow the end of the procession into the stadium.
"Hermione." Scorpius tugged on her arm in the opposite direction and pointed. "Let's go that way."
"We are not going to the Colosseum, Scorpius."[29]
"But—"
"No, absolutely not. You are much too young to watch the gladiator fights."
"I'll be six this year!"
"My point exactly." Hermione tried not to waver when she looked at his sweet disappointed face, but her heart broke when his big gray eyes watered. "Why don't we go visit Diana's temple before the races?" she suggested, not unkindly. "You said earlier you like going to the temples. Today there will be sweetmeats there to celebrate the festival's competitions."
"Okay, I guess." Scorpius looked mournfully in the direction of the Colosseum as Hermione pulled him along. "I still want to see a dimachaerus."[30]
"Why the interest in that type of gladiator?"
"They use two swords, but they're not really swords because they're curved, Hermione. That's sneaky."
"Well, you don't need any encouragement from the likes of them in that case. Plus, I'm not letting you leave my sight, so we wouldn't be able to sit down in the areas closer to the arena. You wouldn't see much from up high." The Romans did not treat the genders equally. Women and plebs watched from standing room only from the topmost tier. This level also held any slaves lucky enough to have permission from their masters to attend.
"Maybe Father would take me. He sits with the other senators. They are allowed to bring their own chairs, you know."
"Yes, Scorpius." Hermione sighed. "I'm sure spectators above realize how those with the best views watch those macabre spectacles comfortably on a cushion."
"Maybe if you had a cushion, you would enjoy the gladiatorial fights."
"I highly doubt it."
To avoid the heavily crowded streets full of festival goers heading in the the opposite direction to the Circus Maximus, they took a side street on the east end of the stadium. Hermione gripped Scorpius's hand tightly and hastened their pace as they passed the Temple of Bona Dea, for her cult had fallen into disrepute in recent years. Hermione did not think the temple's female attendants posed a threat.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
Eighteen years ago, Caesar's second wife, Pompeia, had hosted the festival of Bona Dea, which no man was permitted to attend. However, a young nobleman, intent on seducing Pompeia, disguised himself as a female harpist among the participants. Caesar's personal guard caught him, but the scandal led to Caesar divorcing Pompeia.
Caesar said his "wife ought not even to be under suspicion." Hermione didn't think it fair society blamed a woman for a man's misdeeds, and that they shamed the entire Bona Dea cult as a result. However, she suspected uninformed men impugned what they didn't understand. Still, she deemed it best they hurry by the temple held in official disfavor.
At the perimeter of the sacred grounds an old woman hobbled quickly to them and reached out to grab Hermione.
"I see you. The Gods see you. You bear their unseen mark!" The disheveled priestess twisted Hermione's arm, causing the younger woman to cry out in pain.
"Let my Hermione go!" shouted Scorpius.
A crowd gathered, trapping Hermione with their curious attention. No one came to her aid, but something had to be done. Draco had given her explicit instructions to never use witchcraft in public, but the old woman was crazed and had an uncanny strength.
Scorpius frantically pulled at Hermione's other arm, and the priestess's shabby cloak burst into flames. The bystanders gasped, and a few screamed. The old woman shrieked like an unearthly creature, arms flailing about and tearing at her back to fling the fabric off.
"Sorcery!" cried one man.
"Call for the cohorts!" called out another.[31]
The previously curious rabble quickly dispersed, fleeing from the scene before the authorities arrived.
Hermione grabbed Scorpius and ran away. He clung to her tightly, squeezing her chest so much she had difficulty breathing. Hermione paid no attention to the pain and slowed down only after they had reached the Temple of Diana on the Aventine Hill. She collapsed, gasping for air, on the entrance steps.
"Did I do that?" Scorpius whispered into Hermione's hair. He trembled, his entire body shaking from suppressed sobs. "Did I make that fire? I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I know I wasn't supposed to use magic, but I didn't mean to do it."
"Shh," soothed Hermione. "Accidental magic, nothing more."
"Will I get in trouble with Father?"
"No, my love." Hermione kissed his forehead and wiped the tears from his cheeks. "You did nothing wrong. Accidental magic happens, especially to children. When you feel threatened, your magic responds. The older you are, the more you can control it. Your father will understand."
"It was scary."
She hugged him and stood up, placing him on the step above her.
"Yes, it can be. Bouts of accidental magic are violent sometimes, but it's over now. You are safe. We are both safe."
He squeezed her hand and looked up at her, his somber little face out of place on such a sweet boy.
"My magic—it scared the people around us," he said solemnly. He looked back the way they had come. "I think I understand why Father wants me to keep quiet about magic."
"You are a wise boy, Scorpius. Come, let's go find a place to freshen up."
"Can we have sweetmeats first?"
"Yes, I suppose so." She ruffled his blond hair. "You must be feeling better now; you're asking about candy."
"I do. I hope they have honey covered nuts. I love those."
"We shall see."
Public ceremonies were performed outside the temple on the portico, and here they found another, much more docile, crowd gathered. Near the top, a plump priest, his fingers dripping with gold rings, greeted the worshippers. Realizing a ceremony was beginning, Hermione bade Scorpius to be silent and pay attention.
The priest led the people in a community prayer. Behind him, a line of Essenes with garlands on their heads each led a white heifer along the peristyle to the front of the temple.[33] Next to the head priest stood the popa, a large brute of a man. The popa struck each animal on its head with a hammer, and each fell without a fight. The priest used his ceremonial knife to cut the jugular and bless the sacrifice. Following his prayer and the cheers of the congregation, the temple slaves ran forward and butchered the carcasses, placing the meat in the open ovens hidden behind impressive pyres.
Slaughtering, a nasty, bloody business that gave Hermione an ill feeling, seemed not to upset Scorpius. The boy paid it no heed. They waited patiently for the sweetmeats to be passed out while the meat cooked.
All the animals carved and now roasting, the head priest walked up to the front again. He stood there wringing his pudgy hands with pursed lips for several moments, as if unsure of himself. Twice, he looked back to the cella of Diana's temple and then to a dozen well dressed noblemen at the front of the crowd, each standing next to a woman wearing a brightly colored toga and jewelled anklets. Hermione concluded these women were meretrices, as respectable freeborn ladies wore the stola.
The head priest held his hands up for silence, and the crowd hushed themselves and looked up with awe and anticipation. The only sounds were the distant cheers of the Circus Maximus and the crackling fires of the recent sacrifices.
"I request in my prayers to the all-good and most virtuous Diana and to the rest of the immortal gods, O Romans, that we bestow this festival's gifts to the maidens worthy of her divine retinue."
The women Hermione had noticed earlier all giggled with excitement. The priest paused, again looking back to the temple.
"Diana, daughter of Jupiter and Latona, give me your guidance. Let us rejoice in your decision of your chosen. May we be moved by your will. Guide my hands, give me your answer. I am yours to command."
An awkward silence ensued. The crowd tittered in confusion. Several of the noblemen had furrowed brows, as this was not the usual script of the ceremony. All stared at the priest, puzzled at the change of ritual. Even from a distance, Hermione could see the sweat droplets running down the head priest's 's heart accelerated and her skin broke out into a cold sweat. The presence of a celestial power, stronger than any magic known to mortals, tingled all around her. She drew her cloak around herself and pulled her wand from its concealed holster.
"Protego," she muttered forcefully, swishing her hidden wand in a strong downward movement. Scorpius looked up at her in fear, recognizing the protection spell but not the reason his tutor had cast it. An invisible shield bubbled around them as the ground began to shake. A noise like extended thunder bellowed over the city and people screamed. Those in the crowd were unable to run away, as the vibrations caused everyone to fall. The temple groaned, cracks appeared in the columns, and rubble fell from the heavily decorated roof.
The people around them tried to crawl to safety but only became more disoriented, grabbing their heads in an attempt to regain their equilibrium. Only Hermione and Scorpius stood unaffected throughout the tremors, and they did not go unnoticed.
The earthquake ended after a short eternity. Dust slowly settled over the crowd, covering everyone in gloomy powder, but none of it landed on Hermione and Scorpius. Their clean robes contrasted brilliantly against the disheveled mob now pulling themselves up slowly.
The head priest stood, excitement in his bulbous eyes.
"You there," he cried. "Girl, come here."
The crowd parted, clearing an open path to the front of the ceremony. Hermione considered Apparating them away, but dismissed the idea. With Scorpius's fine clothing and unusual pale blond hair, it was possible—no, probable—that the child had been recognised. Nor could they run away this time with deniable plausibility.
"Diana, virgin goddess of the hunt and the moon, has chosen a sacred maiden amongst us to be crowned. She has used her divine influence to guide us to this girl especially. Bring her forward."
The people began to converge, coming closer. The crowd herded them forward. Hermione picked up Scorpius and carried him up the steps.
"I am called Secundus. I am the head of Diana's cult and chief of the Essenes. Who might you be, my dear?"
"I am Hermione of Gkrantes. This boy is my charge and the son of my master, Senator Draconis Aurelius Malafides. No harm can come to him."
"A slave?" He hesitated, noting the expensive silk fabric she wore. "You're dressed rather finely for a mere bond servant."
"My father is kind to Hermione," said Scorpius proudly. "She takes good care of me, even though I'm incorrigible... That means I want to be treated like a boy." The crowd laughed at his innocent explanation.
"It seems obvious that our beloved goddess has bestowed her favor upon your mistress, dear lad. She spared the two of you from the tremors."
"We were... blessed," said Hermione.
He pulled her forward to face the crowd. "O Romans," he declared, "you can have no argument that this slave girl has been chosen by Diana herself. Those in this numerous assembly have seen her distinguished from all others. For the first time in our festival's history, the goddess has made her choice apparent to the people with a public manifestation of her will."
The people cheered, and the priest smiled at the crowd that hung on his every word. Hermione kept her wary guard up. She knew that the gods had indeed intervened in the festival, but her steady feet had been the result of witchcraft.
"This girl—Hermione of Gkrantes—she alone shall receive this festival's reward." Again, the crowd cheered. "With the exceedingly singular approbation of Diana, it is also apparent that she is to be gifted with more than just her freedom. This girl shall become a full citizen of Rome!"
The people erupted in applause. Scorpius buried his head in Hermione's hip as his tutor stared mutely at the celebration before her.
One of the noblemen came forward, incensed and with clenched fists.
"What means this declaration? This was not the intended aim of this festival. You have gone against my wishes, foolish priest." He stood tall, and a simpering woman stepped beside him. She smirked at Hermione.
"I follow the wishes of the gods and my goddess, Marcus Junius Brutus," said Secundus warily. "You cannot deny their divine emphasis on this woman. It is my sacred duty to adhere to their will."
"It is not the place of a high priest to grant citizenship! You defy Roman law, as no slave can become a citizen. Even more, this slave is property that does not belong to your temple. Not even Caesar can do this!"
"You dare deny the will of the gods?" shouted a bystander. Many more in the congregation became agitated, and the priest gained confidence from the discontent of the mob. Brutus backed away, defeated yet not without anger.
"I do fear the people choose this girl to not only be free, but a citizen," the pudgy priest said snidely. Brutus tried to protest, but Secundus turned his back to the patrician and his paramour.
The priest grabbed Hermione's hand and held it up.
"Dear people, meet Hermione Primis Generosus, the first Roman citizen to be chosen by the gods."
§
Footnotes:
[29] The Colosseum, or Flavian Amphitheater, was built in 80 A.D., 124 years before this story takes place. The first Roman amphitheaters were built during the 1st century B.C., but I used the Colosseum for recognition and ease of reading. The area was actually a densely inhabited urban neighborhood made up of insula (apartment buildings) during Rome's Republican Era.
[30] A dimachaerus was a rare type of gladiator who typically fought with two curved scimitars (siccae), though there has been some evidence of them also using straight bladed short swords (gladius). Curved blades were not a Roman style and often associated with more underhanded styles of fighting.
[31] Another anachronism, the cohortes urbanae were created by Emperor Augustus in 27 B.C. (17 years after this story takes place) to police Rome. Before that, privately owned slaves or the army kept the peace.
[32] Ancient recipes have been preserved which indicate that the Romans used boiled nuts and honey, sprinkled with ground sesame, as a candy treat. This would have been the precursor to modern nougat.
[33] Only female animals were sacrificed to goddesses, while male animals were sacrificed to the gods. It was not uncommon to offer dozens of animals at a festival, as they were a donation of meat meant to feed the people.