Chapter 11 – I Return To The Cave
I feared that I wouldn't sleep, more out of excitement than dread, but the whale song and some ancient chants knocked me out within five minutes, and I slept the whole night. I felt very refreshed as Harry and I travelled to the Great Hall for breakfast. I also felt strangely eager to just get on with the Quest. I had spent months thinking about it and weeks in intensive planning and training. Now I just wanted the action to begin. Although I had no rational reason to believe so, I felt very confident that I would survive the Quest, as would my assistants. It was the same sense I often had before a Quidditch match that even if the other team looked imposing, as the Eire team certainly had, that I and my team were good enough and well prepared enough to win. Not the certainty of bravado, but the recognition that skill and preparation tilted the odds in our favour.
I ate a hearty breakfast, filling my belly with all the breakfast foods I was unsure of having during the Quest. I had croissants with jam, lots of bacon, some eggs, one of Mrs. Bones' wonderful hot chocolates which Ron was kind enough to bring back, when he retrieved Stewart from London, and a banger. This was a Quest, not a Quidditch match, so being sluggish upon my broom was not an issue.
We were expected in the Elf/Goblin cave at 8 A.M. I brought my team, plus three potential alternates, Harry, Ron, Neville, and Dad. McGonagall and Narcissa knew that they were coming only as alternates. Barb and Adrienne knew that I would select one of them but wouldn't choose until I knew which of my first four choices were approved. I expected Stewart's presence to be more than a tad contentious.
I was greeted by both Cotto and Firenze, who were already at the cave, even though my team arrived five minutes early. Kings Goblanze and Gobbledegook were waiting for us outside the cave. The cave might be Goblin property, but these Goblins weren't permitted to enter at this time. Tendra received a quick hug and words of encouragement from her father as we entered the cave.
Cotto greeted me and said we should get right to the approval of my suggested assistants. He balked at Stewart, just as I expected he would.
"Representative of the British government. Sorry, but no Stewart, no Quest. Tony insists on a representative hearing the final instructions directly from you. Can we move on to selection of my Quest team?"
"It is most unusual, but I suppose you give me no choice. Stewart and Tony should understand that they are honour bound to protect the secrecy of what is said here."
"I accept that condition," Stewart promised Cotto.
I started with what I knew would be my most contentious nomination.
"I propose that the position of former adversary/foe be filled by Jaden Caulfield. She was the girlfriend of Voldemort and had as much as anyone to do with Tom Riddle gaining the knowledge and skills which changed him into Lord Voldemort. I was nearly killed by Tom Riddle, when I was a first-year Hogwarts Witch. I know that Voldemort later kidnapped her and kept her prisoner for decades, but they were allies for over a year. It was she who first taught him about horcruxes, so that he could create the horcrux Tom who nearly killed me."
Cotto and Firenze went further back into the cave to discuss this choice outside of our hearing. They were gone for five minutes. When they returned, Cotto told me "this is a very close call. We'll approve your choice, but please don't bend the categories so much with your other picks. It could harm your Quest if you are seen to be cheating the Gods."
"For both the old Witch and the first to depart this realm, I propose Mafalda," I told Cotto.
"That clearly is a most acceptable choice," Cotto told me. "Who have you selected to be your young Witch?"
"I propose Cissy Montaigne as both the young Witch and the female Keeper."
"Cissy is clearly acceptable."
"I choose Cho as my next assistant. She is assigned to no special category."
"In that case, clearly I must approve her. I assume your final choice is Narcissa Malfoy or Caulfield."
"No, actually it is not," I told Cotto. "She will not be a member of my Quest party."
Cotto and Firenze again excused themselves to the rear of the cave. This time they were gone for ten minutes. When they returned to us, it was only to touch a ring to the spot on the wall which transported them to the floor of the pyramid. I assumed they felt the need for a very intimate communion with the black stone. It was a full half hour before they returned. It was Firenze who spoke.
"Our pardon, Mother - we didn't properly explain the Rules of the Quest at our last meeting. It is our understanding that Jaden and Narcissa are mother and daughter."
"That is true," I replied.
"If a mother and daughter both appear in this cave at the time of the Quest, then both must make the Quest."
I couldn't help myself from blurting. "I knew you would find a way to force me to take Narcissa. I'm just glad I didn't invite my mother here to learn of my Quest first-hand."
"We are both only interested that you have the greatest possibility to succeed in your Quest – within the rules, of course," Cotto told me. "To break the rules, is to invite failure. It is as important to us and to the Light Guardian as it is to you that this Quest is a success. There is a precedent of a mother and daughter being counted as one for purposes of the Quest. It is a strained precedent, as the daughter was not yet birthed, but a valid precedent none-the-less. That Quest was a success. We feel almost confident that it is acceptable to treat Jaden and Narcissa as one and allow you to pick a fifth Witch assistant."
I felt stymied and manipulated. I just didn't trust Narcissa. She had deceived us too many times. She had cheated my truth teller skills. While pretending to bend over backwards and be all so accommodating, Cotto and Firenze were forcing me to do exactly what they wanted. If I had my true wish, neither Cissy nor Narcissa would be part of this Quest. Now I must take both. My fifth choice was forced. If I had Narcissa at my side, then I needed to have Barb Rich covering my back. I had badly wanted Adrienne's Siren skills to ease our way past the Gods. I wanted her Witch sculpture talents as we fashioned rock to rebuild circles. Now I needed Barb's skill, not to deal with the Gods, but to spot threats from within my own team."
"I choose Barb Rich as my final Witch assistant," I told Cotto.
"She is of course acceptable," Cotto told me. "I fear that you are starting your Quest in a bad mood. I am sorry if I am responsible. It is important that Narcissa be part of your Quest."
"Why? How can she possibly be the best choice?"
"I cannot reveal the reasons. Let's move on. I can say that she is a safe choice as former foe. You do not trifle with the Gods by choosing her as a former foe."
"I did not choose her. I'm not entirely sure that the designation 'former' is entirely correct. She's your choice. Let's leave it at that and move on."
"Fine. When you leave this cave, you will have another twelve hours to rebuild your spirits, before your Quest begins. I strongly urge you to do so. I understand that you have other candidates for the Quest."
"I propose the Elf Catta, the Goblin Tendra, the Unicorn Pegasus, the Centaur Cantring, and the Spider Aagog. You had promised to inquire whether anything about the Quest made it inherently impossible for a Centaur or a Unicorn to enter the Quest."
"Your choices are all accepted, and we know of no reason why any of them should be unable to finish the Quest."
"You may ask us three questions. If we can do so, we will answer them."
"Are we only allowed to move from one Quest location to the next, or may we temporarily move back to a previous location or another underground retreat location?"
"You may move back to any prior Quest location but must return to the Quest within two full days or you forfeit. You may have one retreat location. You may travel to it for one full day no more than twice during your Quest. To exceed these limits is to forfeit. You must name the location of your retreat, before you leave this cave."
"I think it wiser to keep the location secret, but if I must identify it …"
"You must."
"Then I choose the floor of the Hogwarts pyramid."
The answer to this question had made my two other questions mute.
"What is your second question? Cotto asked."
"May we bring animals on the Quest."
"You may each bring one pet. We will not limit your choice of pets, although please don't push the rules and tell us that one of you has a pet dragon. What is your final question?"
"Is it permissible to travel to the Quest locations as spirits, rather than in our bodily form?"
"Ah, that is why you chose the pyramid as your retreat. I should have guessed your purpose. Yes, you may travel and even fight or tune a circle in spirit form. Except for the final Quest location, you will be limited to two times of a full day as spirits, since your location is presumed to be the location of your physical body. If you can manage to travel as spirits from a Quest location, that would increase your flexibility, but I seriously doubt that is possible."
Firenze now addressed us. "I have a few final thoughts and rules to convey to you, before you make your final election to accept or decline our invitation for your party to pursue the Quest.
First, an interpretation of a very mundane rule. You have all come to the cave this morning fully burdened. Only Keepers and Quest participants may carry supplies to this cave ahead of the Quest. What was carried by Professor McGonagall, Professor Celine, Headmaster Longbottom, and Minister Weasley must be removed by them, when you leave this cave at noon."
"Neville is a Keeper," I told Firenze. "I added him to the list. Bane approved him."
"Whose spirit will he keep?" Firenze surprised me by that question.
"Cissy," I told him. "He is her headmaster. Should I have Keepers for each of the other Quest participants?"
"You have asked the three questions which you are allowed."
Well, that was just great. Very helpful, Professor Firenze, you might have explained the Keeper rules a bit more fully during our first visit to the cave.
As if reading my thoughts, Firenze apologised, telling me "I fear I should have been more explicit during our first meeting. I'm sorry, but I cannot answer any more questions. You must try to do what you feel you must do. Infractions of the rules will be upon your head."
I didn't know whether that was meant as a cheating suggestion that I quickly find more Keepers or a warning against trying any such thing.
Firenze continued with his comments. "First, you should know that whether you finish the Quest, you officially become the Mother of the Future when you leave Durmstrang. This is true, whether you leave Durmstrang to continue the Quest, or whether you leave to return home. The Stone can reveal more information to you at that time. The rules may change. It will be your choice whether to continue the Quest or to return home without penalty. Any member of your team may choose to return home.
"The Stone will transport you from place to place on the Quest. Even if you know the next destination, you may not take yourselves there. The Stone will not carry you to the next stop on the Quest until you have satisfactorily completed your assignment at your current stop. The Stone is the sole judge of satisfactory completion, unless the Light Guardian accepts your appeal.
"The first three stops of your Quest are meant to be doable by any qualified Mother and Muse. If you find yourselves stretched too severely by them, it is best not to continue beyond Durmstrang. We do not desire your deaths. That does not mean the first three stops are unimportant. They deal with circles of great importance and a God and Goddess in need of your help.
"You should know that as you restore the perfect magical force in a place, that creatures of the dark magic cannot survive in that place, nor can they abide in the same place as you or your assistants once you accept the Quest, nor can they control you or your assistants in any way. Once you accept the Quest, you are the warriors of the Light Guardian. Some of its power travels with you."
"I now must ask Ginny and each member of her team whether they accept of their own free will, willingly taking on the responsibilities and hazards of this Quest or whether they decline the Light Guardian's invitation to Quest on its behalf."
Firenze called the roll. Each of us answered yes, although Narcissa hesitated for a moment. She glanced at McGonagall and finally said yes in a rather weak voice. Firenze asked her a second time. This time she immediately gave him a strong 'yes' in response.
"Excellent. I welcome you to your Quest and wish all of you well. It is most fortuitous that so many different magical beings have joined this Quest. That augers well for success. When you return, you should be wearing the robes of holy beings, which you each will be, just as soon as you swear the following oath.
We each swore: "I swear fealty to the Covenant among all magical creatures. I will not kill any creature who thinks, unless there is no other way to save myself or other innocents. I will persuade other magical creatures to follow this fundamental rule. I will support the right of all magical peoples to choose their own government and way of life. I will do my best to persuade the leaders of my people that they must not attempt to dominate other thinking peoples. I will support those Gods and Goddesses who support the Covenant. I will help the weak and the injured. I will educate those who need to learn. I will live my life as an example to other thinking creatures of a life well and truly lived. I will learn as much as I can and share my learnings with others. I will fight for what I know to be right."
Firenze passed out robes. The Witches got the white robes of the Light Guardian Priestess. Tendra received the scarlet robe of the Priestess of the Master. I saw that Catta, Cantring, and Pegasus were each given white robes. I say robes, but for Cantring and Pegasus they were cloth ovals with a hole for their necks to go through that tied in the front. They were as much very rich and soft extended blankets as robes. Aagog received the steel grey robes, or rather ruffle and short skirt for her upper belly, of a Daughter of Gog.
"It is half an hour until noon. You may not leave this cave until noon. Please remember all that Cotto and I have tried to teach you. Please trust that the Stone is your friend and wants what is best for you. I am pleased with the retreat place which you have chosen. I think you made the second-best possible choice. Other Quest leaders have chosen less well or not realised that a temporary retreat is possible."
Silence had descended upon us. Cotto and Firenze apparently had said all that they meant to tell us and were prepared to just wait out the time until noon. Cotto was staring at an old silver pocket watch. Firenze was staring at Hermione.
"May the Muse ask a question?" Hermione broke the silence.
"The Muse is always allowed one question."
"You said that if we retreated to a site other than the one Ginny named or if we retreated there for longer than two one-day stays, that we forfeit. Do we forfeit the Quest or our lives?"
"You forfeit the Quest. You may need to fight for your lives. Choose the proper place of retreat and your lives should be safe. You have fifteen more minutes to wait. I brought your favorite chocolate. You might as well enjoy some while you wait."
"So, we must have a second, ultimate retreat location for abandonment of the Quest," Hermione whispered to me. "It sounds like it needs to be some sort of impregnable fortress. Perhaps the throne room of Castle Weasley?"