Harry took careful note of who walked through the door and approached the Ravenclaw table, and the reaction of the Manxmen. Airmed, discretely, moved closer to the table, her hand on the pommel of her sword. Dumbledore was leading the queue of people, his bright orange and yellow robes blinding to the eye. Behind him were Minister Cornelius Fudge, Professor Umbridge, and a squad of Aurors, their hands openly on their wands; Harry recognized Tonks and Shacklebolt from the Order of the Phoenix among the five. Umbridge was wearing a scowl on her face, that infernal clipboard in her hands. Behind the representatives from the Ministry, was Remus Lupin. Harry's heart nearly broke at the sight of Moony: his robes were very threadbare, his face was far more lined and weary, but he still had a thin smile on his face.
They came towards the table, and Airmed detached herself from the Manxmen to make the appropriate introductions. King Nuada looked at all of them, but it was Queen Ethne and Prince Fionn that bore stony faces. Two years ago, these people were symbols of the institution that had nearly destroyed Mann and its people. Now, they were part of an alliance, tenuous at best, but an alliance nonetheless.
Fudge, his bowler hat in hand, walked forward in front of Dumbledore. "Your Majesty, it's a honor to meet you." Five of the knights had hands on their weapons faster than an eye's blink when Fudge raised his hand for the king to shake. Donnchadh raised a hand and looked at them to stand down. Knowing his mistake right away, Fudge lowered his hand and looked bashful.
Defusing the situation right away, King Nuada leaned across the table and reached out his own hand, returning the innocuous gesture. "Minister Fudge, it is my pleasure to meet you as well. I understand that you were involved with Sir Wolfshead's negotiations last year. I thank you for the… generous hospitality that you and your administration shown her."
"Will this be starting soon?" Fudge, the look of ill ease off his face at the amiability of the king, asked. He looked around for a chair to sit.
"In a few moments. We are waiting for the last of the representatives to arrive." Queen Ethne spoke with a light voice, belying the steel at her side. A dull roar filled the air, as if coming from a distance. A smile crept onto her face. "Ah! They are fast approaching." She looked to the gathered British wizards. "You may wish to move."
Umbridge's mouth seemed to form a question, but a thundering roar overwhelmed her words. The stones of the floor seemed to shake as Harry's gaze turned back to the entrance.
A dragon, easily greater than the size of the Hungarian Horntail that Harry faced two years ago, flew into the hall. Opening its maw, it let loose a roar that made the glass reverberate and the tapestries shake. Its scales were as black as night with little crimson flecks that looked like blood spray, making him frightening to behold. Its wings folded against its side as it landed to the floor, revealing bony spikes along its spine. The ivory claws were sharp as steel, leaving massive scratches in the stone floor where he walked. Harry got a quick look at its eyes: they were red-black like the rest of it.
Beside him, a griffin made a far more graceful landing. Its body was roughly the size of two Clydesdale stallions, as it tucked its wings at its side. The eagle's head, wings, and neck were a dull silver color, merging flawlessly with the grey fur of the lion's body. Keen gold eyes stared out at the crowd with an imperious gaze.
Around them, twelve men and women walked into the hall. However humanoid their appearance, they were not human. As they walked closer, Harry saw cat's eyes, pointed ears, and a grace not present in a normal human. They were garbed in silver plate armor, iridiscent accents gleaming against the pale of their skin and the glow of their white hair. As they peered at the humans gathered, Harry saw eyes of blue, purple, green, red, orange, even the golden yellow of Niamh. He was so enraptured by their unnatural beauty that he almost revealed himself. Airmed bumped into him as she moved, reminding him of the lesson at hand.
Airmed walked forward and placed a hand on the dragon's chest, craning her neck to stare up at its head. The griffin cawed at her, and held her under its wing for a moment as she welcomed it. "Please, allow me the honor of introducing Ferrovax, he that is eldest of the dragons, Airgead-Sciathán, the matriarch of the griffins, and the Queens and Kings of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. All have been our allies over the centuries, and all have been affected by the war."
Minister Fudge looked beyond frightened at the sight of the massive creatures, but Umbridge looked furious. Her lips were pursed so tightly, that the white of her skin seemed to go translucent with rage. None of the Manxmen acknowledged that.
When all had gathered around the table, Queen Ethne raised her hand. "In the name of land, sea, and sky; in the name of Danu, mother of the gods, and of Manannan mac Lir, I declare this council begun. May Ogma bless us with eloquence of speech and Brigid bring us inspiration. May we each leave with lightened burdens and clear directions. By our wills…"
"…Our wills be done." To a man, every knight present bowed his or her head and closed their eyes. The British people present looked quite perturbed by the act, like they did not understand. Harry understood: in magical Britain, there was no overriding religion or spiritual beliefs. To witness a group of men and women come together and pray like this, to believe in a higher power, was not quite within their comfort zone.
King Nuada was the first to lift his head, his storm-grey eyes staring straight into Fudge's squirming expression. "First to be addressed, is the thanks that we owe Cornelius Fudge and his government, for allowing us and our people to remain here until we can reclaim our home." Fudge looked quite relieved at the comment, going so far as to preen a bit. When Nuada's face turned to stone, that all changed. "However, we would address the current treatment of our people. This decree set out by your High Inquisitor regarding our weapons and the registration of our people…" He placed both hands on the table, leaning forward a bit to emphasize his point. "It would be a shame if we were to consider this an act of undue aggression on your part."
The hall erupted into noise from the Ministry representatives. Dumbledore, Fudge, Umbridge, and the Aurors were all trying to talk at once, trying to make themselves be heard. Only when Ferrovax opened his maw and roared once more, did silence reign again. Not one of the Manxmen reacted to the bellow or the noise preceding it; in fact, they were like stone statues. Airmed placed her hand back on Ferrovax's chest.
"Ferrovax tells me that all of this noise solves nothing. Our hatchlings are still in danger, and if we are to survive, we must set aside our hate and work as one for the time being." Airmed's voice got deeper, more guttural, as she spoke with Ferrovax's voice. As soon as she removed her hand from his chest, her voice returned to normal.
Nuada and Ethne nodded to Ferrovax, and turned back to Cornelius; a look of fright had come across the Minister's face as he collapsed to the floor. Nuada walked around the table and helped him to his feet, before moving back. "Cornelius: for the time being, we are allies. We have upheld our end of the agreement: we have sectioned ourselves into Hogwarts. We have not spread throughout Britain, Scotland, or Wales. We have not preached about the old ways, the old religions, or the ban. However, you have passed legislature making it mandatory for us to register with the Ministry? To give up our weapons? To have a tracking spell placed on us while we were on Hogwarts ground?" He shook his head. "You are going to revoke these legislatures, or we will go before the International Confederation of Warlocks and submit before that august body that you have declared war upon us." Nuada leaned forward. "We are a battle-hardened people, Cornelius, and you will lose if you attempt to fight against us. Instead," he took a deep breath, visibly calming down, "allow us to stay until Samhain of next year, and then you need never worry about the Manxmen ever again. We will return to the Isle, and we will never disturb you or your Ministry again."
Fudge looked nervously to Umbridge and his Aurors before nodding his head. "You have my word. The legislation will be revoked."
Nuada's smile was grim. "Thank you. Now, you may go."
"Excuse me!" Umbridge, it seemed, had finally had enough. "This is the Minister of Magic! You will show him the proper respect!"
Airmed chuckled, placing her scarred hand on the table. "I'm sorry, Madam, but respect is earned, not demanded." She looked to her King and Queen, looking for their silent permission. "Minister, the rest of the Council is in regards to matters of Manx affairs. They are not problems for your Ministry."
"You will be silent, you stupid girl!" Umbridge did not see Ferrovax growling, or many of the knights reaching for their weapons. "I knew what you were the moment you began making trouble in my class: a pathetic orphan without a hope for a friend in the world. You and your people are an infection on proper British society!"
That was enough. King Nuada lifted his hands from the table and began to summon wind between his hands. The wind began to grow in strength, until he pushed the gale towards the British officials and blew them out of the main hall. The sheer ferocity of the force slammed the oak doors behind them.
Harry's jaw dropped. That was a serious display of magic, revealing that King Nuada was, at the very least, a grey robe. What was more, they were not going to receive any help from the Ministry in this last fight.
Dumbledore turned to King Nuada and Queen Ethne, a sad look on his face. "Your Majesty… would it not have been better to forgive and negotiate? As Ferrovax so boldly stated, we must work as one for the time being." He peered over his glasses, that twinkle in his eye muted but still shining.
"Dumbledore, you were invited to this Council as an observer. You have no say until you are invited to have a say." That was Queen Ethne, the steel in her voice almost as sharp as the blade as her back. "There is a difference between negotiation and laying down and letting those at the table simply walk over us. We are free men and not criminals, and we will not stand idly by and allow our rights to be taken away from us like we are common thieves."
Thus began the true meetings of the Council. Harry stood next to the table as the Manx knights and their rulers dissected battle strategies for the autumnal equinox next year: everything, from placement of specific troops to where those unable to fight would be hidden, was discussed. It was agreed that all of the Hogwarts students were to be locked in their dormitories: they had no place in this fight.
Ferrovax and Airgead-Sciathán all spoke with Airmed as their mouthpiece. As she spoke for them, her voice would change. With Ferrovax, it was deep and rumbling, like stones rubbing together. With the mother of the griffins, her voice became like a breeze, airy and almost hollow in a way. Airmed's eyes would change with each of the translations. With Ferrovax, her eyes would become red with black sclera. With Airgead-Sciathán, her eyes would turn into golden cat's eyes.
The running theory was based off their most recent intelligence. Iseult Blackone and Voldemort were entering into negotiations with each other, aiming to work together. The autumnal equinox duel was becoming the date and place for the battle between dark and light, good and evil: this was when it was going to come together.
Niamh turned to Dumbledore halfway through the talks. "You mentioned a way to destroy Voldemort through your correspondences with Airmed. What is it?" Harry saw that the stress of the planning was getting to him: Niamh looked like spending the next week in bed sleeping might dent the shadows under his eyes or the general weary look that he gave off.
The Headmaster shook his head. "That is something that only Harry Potter can do. I have only theories, but there is no way possible for a spell to kill Voldemort."
Sirs Lugh Lynxclaw, Gwydion Lionsbeard, and Sorcha Greenblood stood together over a piece of parchment. "Tell us what your theories are, at least, Headmaster. We might be able to come up with a way." With rapid flicking of quills and random spraying of ink from excited writing, they wrote down what little Dumbledore had to offer. Eyebrows furrowed as they exchanged Manx mutterings trying to decipher the puzzle. "Well, it's a start, at least."
Prince Fionn turned to the Queens and Kings of the Sidhe, as they stood next to the table. During the discussions, the Sidhe Lords and Ladies had contributed largely to the intelligence gathering, but their troops played a vital role in the defense of Hogwarts. "Your Majesties, is there anything else that you might like to add before Council is adjourned?"
"Yes, young prince." One of the Queens of the Unseelie Court came forward to act as their spokesman. "We find that these plans will work, but we will need utmost secrecy, in the event that the Black One has planted a spy in our midst. Therefore…" With a wave of her hand, purple motes flew to each of the Manx humans at the table, pushing themselves into their foreheads. "There… now that we have searched your intentions, the magic of the Sidhe Courts will shield your minds."
As she turned to Dumbledore and Remus, she sneered at Dumbledore but became gentle with Remus. She walked towards him, placing a hand under his chin to look him in the eyes. "You believe that you are cursed, lycanthrope. However, your strength will only increase if you accept the wolf inside of you. He will make you stronger, faster, healthier. It is a choice that you must make, but know that being a werewolf is not evil. Those that bit you as a youngling… they were evil. Control the beast, and control yourself." With that, the six Sidhe walked through the door.
Ferrovax and Airgead-Sciathán both flew out the doors soon after, presumably returning to their clans. As the knights began to leave, Airmed spoke up. "Remus Lupin, will you please stay for a moment? I have something to ask of you." Looking uncertain, Remus stayed at the table.
With a wave of her hand, Airmed undid the concealment spell on Harry and Neville. Neville left the Great Hall, following after his aunt. Harry stood beside Airmed, looking at Remus' shocked expression.
"Harry…" Remus' mouth moved as if to speak, but no sound came out.
"Hello Moony." He smiled nervously, as he looked at the two remaining reminders of his parents. "Did Padfoot come with you?"
"Hi, pup." A disembodied voice talked near the table, as an Invisibility Cloak fell from Sirius. "You look… better." That pause in the sentence made Harry begin to think, but he kept the thoughts to himself.
"Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, on behalf of Their Majesties, I offer you asylum on the Isle of Mann upon the conclusion of this war." Airmed stared at the both of them with the same look when she told Harry that there was a prophecy about him. "Both of you are allies to Lord Harrison Griffinswing-Potter, and both of you, it seems, have been maltreated by the British magical government. In addition, you both have claims to Manx lineage. Therefore, please consider this alternative."
Both Sirius and Remus looked at each other with abject shock on their faces, before turning that look towards Airmed. "What?"
Airmed looked at Harry, confusion written on her face. "Was I not being clear enough?" Harry checked her over: she was being completely honest.
Harry turned to his dogfather and his closest adult friend and tried again. "You two have always been there for me. You two are the ones that I turn to for help: not the Order, not Dumbledore, not even Ron and Hermione. Airmed is offering you a chance to live on Mann, with me."
"When are you moving to Mann?" For once, Sirius was living up to his namesake.
"I decided that when I learned my heritage. Speaking of, Sirius…" Harry turned his gaze to his godfather. "When were you going to tell me that I was your heir?" Sirius turned red with embarrassment. "I found my parent's letters, Sirius. Why did you not tell me?"
"Because…" Sirius' shoulders slumped. "Dumbledore told me not to. He convinced me to swear an oath until the end of the war. He wanted you to be a kid for as long as you could before the burdens would stack up with multiple Lordships."
Harry shook his head. He had feared this. "Well, I do know. The offer still stands." He raked his fingers through his hair, trying not to reveal anything but failing. "You two are the only family I have left." He took a deep shaky breath.
Airmed placed a hand on his shoulder, lending him her strength. "Sirius Black, of the Blacksun line of Mann, and Remus Lupin, of the Moonbright line, please consider my offer. You have until the duel on the autumnal equinox to decide."
Turning her back on them, she led Harry out of the hall. She looked to him. "Well, ready to begin?"