Chapter 21 Underground
Draco Malfoy hated the great snake. He remembered the time the great snake swayed and slithered from Voldemort's shoulders on to the dead body of Charity Burbage. He barely managed not to show his disgust to his aunt's incarnation and said,
"Aunt Bella, how did you come back?"
"Rod let me come back. How charming she is. Is she your girlfriend? Is she Pure-Blood, of course?" her shrill voice reverberated. The great reptile snarled at his girlfriend, "If you are not, I can teach you lessons."
Astoria's face went pale. Draco thought she would lose her consciousness soon. He held her hand tight to reassure her and said,
"Of course, she is Pure-Blood. Aunt Bella, I'm glad to see you again but we must leave, we are still students of Hogwarts," he pushed Astoria into the cart, and he jumped in it. He urged the goblin to drive the cart without glancing back to the great snake.
"Draco, we'll regain control of Ministry. Don't hide! See you soon!" her high-pitched voice echoed through the dark cave, which made them shudder.
After Ron sent his Patronus message to Robards, he mounted on the broom and soared up to the dusky sky with Dawlish and Williamson. They didn't notice a hooded thin man emerge from the hiding place. Rabastern Lestrange mounted on the broom. He did Disillusionment Charm, and he chased after them stealthily. Ron and his team landed on the ground of London near Leaky Cauldron.
"Weasley, stand by in front of Gringotts till Miss Granger will appear. Gawain and Minister are waiting. We'll join you soon," said Williamson.
"Yes, sir," said Ron, and he disapparated for Gringotts.
The Wizarding World faced a critical phase again. Most of the wizarding family couldn't draw their money from Gringotts except Pure-Blood family. Only Half-Bloods that could be identified one of their parents was Pure-Blood were allowed to draw some Galleoins in a short time. Muggle-borns also couldn't change their Muggle money into Wizarding money at Gringotts.
Next Tuesday afternoon Bill Weasley, Gawain Robards and Kingsley Shackbolt exchanged their glances after their negotiation with goblins. Goblins insisted they couldn't do anything without the sword of Godric Gryffindor and its swordsman. They asserted only the swordsman of Godric Gryffindor could solve the problem by beating the great snake. It was apparent that goblins wanted to get the sword of Gryffindor.
"Bill, check other family vaults and try what you can do, anything," said Kingsley.
Bill nodded and took a step closer to the goblin sitting on a high stool, held out his wand. The goblin examined it carefully and handed two keys to Bill. He whispered Bill,
"Even a Curse Breaker can't break the curse of the great snake. Be careful, Mr. Weasley. You have never treated the curse before. Any complicated runic magic can't break the curse."
On his way to Weasley's family Vault, Bill could not find a Hungarian Horntail at the end of a passage. Instead of a dragon, eerie dark haze was hanging around. Bill took out his wand, wrote complicated runic combinations in the air with his wand. Though he could feel the vibration in the air, nothing had changed. After another cart-ride, he stepped out to the floor where old English wizard family vaults were. Most of them were Pure-Blood family's vaults. He checked the Weasley family vault, took out his master key, walked past Malfoy's family vault, to Potter's vault. When he inserted a key in a lock of Potter's vault, he couldn't open the door. Then he was startled at the sight of a great snake coiled up near the small door of Potter's vault. He felt the source of eerie dark haze was emitted from the great snake. He was lucky. The great snake was sleeping. If she woke up, he would be attacked. He left there stealthily no to disturb its sleep and pushed the cart and jumped in. When he stood outside of the exit of Gringotts, Kingsley asked him,
"How was it?"
"I couldn't break the curse at all. Goblins don't tell a lie. I felt Dark Magic underground. I saw a great snake in front of Potter's vault. I think only the sword of Godric Gryffindor can break the curse."
"You mean someone must kill the great snake with the sword of Gryffindor?"
"Yes."
Kingsley knitted his brows. He wondered how many times Harry had to prove his bravery. Then Robards walked up to them and said,
"I got information from Ronald Weasley. Hermione Granger got a message Harry Potter was sent to Gringotts. Was Potter underground now?"
"No, I didn't see him," said Bill.
"So the information was false," said Robards.
Suddenly popping noises announced the arrival of three wizards and a witch. They were Ron, Dawlish, Williamson and Hermione.
"Thank you for coming, folks, but Mr. Potter isn't underground. How many wizards are watching the castle now?" said Robards.
"Six Aurors including two trainees and two Unspeakables, sir," said Dawlish.
"Is Potter underground, sir?" asked Williamson.
"No, he isn't now. , a Curse Breaker checked. Potter isn't at Gringotts but Mr. Weasley found a great snake in front of Potter's vault."
Hermione gasped and exchanged glances with Ron. She was fingering Harry's holly wand Ginny handed her at Hogwarts. She remembered Ginny's anxious look.
"Bill, couldn't you break the curse at all?" asked Ron.
"No, I couldn't. I've never experienced such a curse before. All runic methods couldn't break through the curse," Bill bit his lips.
"Well, Mr. Weasley, do you know these runic combinations?" Hermione took out the journal 'Ancient Magic' Luna gave her.
Bill took it and opened the pages. "I've never seen these runic charts. May I have this for a while?" said Bill.
"Sure. I think I can help you. Please tell me about your way of breaking the curse," said Hermione.
"If you succeed in breaking the curse, we will not have to rely on Potter," said Robards.
"You're right. I don't want let him bear the burden any more. Please use the number eleven in the first floor of Leaky Cauldron to plan your strategy to break the curse," said Kingsley.
Ron nodded and Hermione left with Bill for Leaky Cauldron.
Harry was thirsty. He had not drunk water since he was taken to the castle. Dara urged him to drink water at breakfast table, but he couldn't drink, he was afraid of her mixing love potion in his glass. Juicy fruits Oisin gave him were not enough to quench his thirst any longer. He took out the portrait of Sir Cadogan and his pony while Dara left her seat, and asked,
"Sir Cadogan, do you know the place where Oisin is working?"
"Yes, I do," said Sir Cadogan.
"Please guide me down to the kitchen," he left his seat, and he went out of the dining room.
Harry felt they were descending down to underground. On their way, he noticed a big picture of Giant's Causway on the wall. Finally he found a door that led to an enormous kitchen entrance door. Harry reckoned the entrance was big enough for Oisin, a half giant to get through. The door was open, he entered the entrance, and he found Oisin, who was preoccupied with cooking various excellent cuisines.
"Excuse me, Mr. Quinn," Harry talked to him.
Oisin looked up and said, "Harry Potter, how could you find me here? I haven't expected you could find this place."
"Well, I'm thirsty. Would you do me a favor? May I have some water, please? If possible, I would like to keep a bottle of water."
"Don't you have a wand? You know the spell," Oisin raised his brow.
"No, I don't have a wand. I only have two substitute wands," Harry took out them out of his mole skin pouch.
"Oh, did they take your wand?"
"No, they didn't. But they took my girlfriend's wand so I gave her my wand,"
"What are the substitute wands?" Oisin looked at the sticks in Harry's hands.
"They have no magical core," Harry explained.
"So your magic is a core of your substitute wand."
"Yeah, you're right."
"What's your tree?"
"My tree? I suppose holly and cypress? I'm not sure."
"I see. So your birth date is from July26 to August4." Oisin threw chunks of salmon into a pan.
"How do you know my birth date?"
"We all practice magic with a specific wand made of tree of our birth dates and practice doing wandless magic in the castle," Oisin handed Harry a goblet of water.
"How do you explain about its magical core?"
"In our magical lands most of the trees have their magical core in the tree. We don't need put in a magical core made of other magical creatures."
"Oh, I didn't know that."
"Oops, I talked too much. Please don't tell anybody I told you about druidic wandlore. If my chieftain knows I told you, I will be punished,"
Harry grinned at Oisin, remembering Hagrid.
"OK. I promise. I will not tell anyone."
Harry wondered his cypress stick had magical power itself and closed his eyes and chanted "Aguamenti" then a drop of water dripped from the tip of his cypress substitute wand. He felt excited, took out the oak stick he made at Auror Headquarters training and chanted the same incantation but this time nothing dripped from the oak stick. He understood the meaning "Trees choose the wizards". His tree was cypress or holly. Or his substitute cypress wand tree had its own magical core in the tree itself. It was lucky for him that he and Ginny could stay in the hollow of the magical cypress tree during the storm. Or did Sirius lead him to the small island? Harry wondered. He took out the portrait of Sir Cadogan and his pony and asked,
"After retrieving the sword of Gryffindor, I will escape from this castle and join the other Aurors and Unspeakables. Do you know the way to the entrance gate?"
"I'm sorry, Harry Potter. I don't know the way to the entrance gate. I only know the way to the portrait of the High Queen Cliodna and to the kitchen. There was no portrait in the corridor to the entrance gate,"
Harry felt disappointed. So the only way to get out of there was flying.
"OK. Please lead me to the portrait of Druidess Cliodona, then," said Harry.
In the Manor House of Parkinson, Pure-Blood wizards were assembled.
"We're sorry Mr. Malfoy can't attend this meeting, he was under constant surveillance by Aurors and Hit Wizards," continued Parkinson, "But all of us know it's about time to finish this absurd game. Get back Slytherin pride. Shackbolt will regret what he has done in these months."
"When Shackbolt resigns his position as Minister, Mr. Malfoy will come back to us. Our days are coming. Many wizards and witches began to express their disapproval of the Minister's policy against goblins. Most of them can't draw their money now," smirked Flint.
In the room of number eleven of the Leaky Cauldron Hermione and Bill put their heads together in disentangling a knot of puzzling runic patterns.
"They seemed to blend druidic rune incantations with Dark Magic, so it will take more time than I thought, but there will be a way," said Bill decisively.
"Yes, there will be a way," Hermione bit her lips and frowned for a while and began to scribble runic patterns on her parchment. Studying was always hard in her school days, but it was her pleasure. She felt rather thrilled to learn the new magic.
Bill smiled at her working stance, "I wonder why the Sorting Hat sorted you into Gryffindor. You have much Ravenclaw nature in you."
"I can say the same words to you, Bill. I really respect you. How could you learn these complicated magic spells?" She stopped writing and asked.
"Just my curiosity. I love adventure. You know who my father is." Bill winked at her.
"I understand." She beamed at him. She was happy and proud of the Weasleys including her boyfriend.
A beautiful albatross transformed into a druidess in the portrait,
"Gringotts was cursed. The spirit of the evil witch, a great snake cursed Gringotts. Only Pure-Blood family can draw money now. Minister of Magic in your country will bear hardship. They will demand his retirement," said Druidess Cliodna.
"What? Kingsley deserves Minister of Magic. I can't think other people for Minister." Harry protested standing in front of the portrait of Druidess Cliodna.
"It's my prophecy. Only you and your friends can change this situation. You must retrieve the sword of Gryffindor to defeat a great snake. I'll open the door of the Twin monuments tonight again. Your godfather will help you. Owen is coming," she said and transformed into an enormous albatross, flew away.
Harry heard the footsteps and glanced back. Owen Cadwagan took a step closer to Harry and said,
"Why doesn't she help me to retrieve our lands? Well, the time has come. Fly to your country with my daughter tomorrow to kill the great snake. After you did your task, give the sword of Gryffindor to goblins. She is happy like this flight is her honeymoon trip." Cadwagan was leaving there.
"Why do you want me to kill the snake? What advantage will you take by giving the sword to goblins? "Harry asked him from behind.
Cadwagan didn't answer and walked down the hallway.
"Sir, wait, please, where is my palmtop mirror?" Harry chased him and asked.
Cadwagan glanced back and said, "I don't know at all," and he tried to leave.
Harry cast wandless summoning charm on Cadwagan. But nothing hurtled into him. Then he felt the burning sensation through his body again. Watching Cadwagan's back, he fell on his knees. The vision was flashed in his mind. Umbridge's message was sent through his cursed scars. This time, Hermione was tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange. Harry feared it was true. He was sure the great snake was underground Gringotts was real. Dara told him his friend would be in danger. The evil witch must be Bellatrix. She came back. Hermione was in danger or would be. He waited till his pains had gone.
That night Harry transformed into a big raven and flew from the window of his bedroom to one of Twin monuments. He returned to his former figure and took a step closer to the door of the monument, turned the knob. The door was open, and he entered the monument. Soon Sirius whispered to Harry.
"My dear cousin, Bella came back. You must send her back to where she should be."
"Yes, I will, Sirius."
"You have a cypress wand and they don't know you can do wandless magic, so you have the advantage over them. But they do weird magic using Dark Magic blended with Druidic magic."
"They sent the message Hermione was tortured by Bellatrix through my scars."
"Was your smart friend tortured by her?"
"Yes. Do you think it's real?"
"I don't think Bella retrieved her body but …they won't mean it."
"What do you mean?"
Then they arrived at the Merlin's forest. He walked deeper and deeper in the forest. The surface of the Lake Loe was shimmering. Harry felt the magical power from the lake. Then he heard the familiar song from the lake.
My love, my love I will hide your cloak on the roof
While my dad cared his stallion's injured hoof
My mother Mary I found your cloak, my father's wand was made of oak
Say good bye at the mouth of River Shiel
"Now touch the water of the lake with your tree," whispered Sirius.
Harry had no hesitation about his tree, took out his cypress stick, he touched the surface of the lake with it. Then ripples spread across the water, a hand of a merpeople, mermaid? Harry wondered, the mysterious hand thrust itself up from the water holding a great silver cross with glittering rubies in its hilt.
"Take it," whispered Sirius in his head.
Harry stepped into the lake, took the sword of Gryffindor in his hand. He felt the strong magical power through his body when he gripped it.
When he got back to the door of the monument, Dara was waiting for him outside.
"Harry Potter, my future husband. Are you ready to leave?"
"Lady Dara, I'm not your future husband. I must leave."
"So where will you go first?" the blond-headed witch smiled and asked him. He admitted her smiling face was very beautiful. He cleared his throat and said,
"We'll go to Gringotts in London."
"OK. We'll need a rest, one night stay at Godoric's Hollow on our way to London. I have wanted to visit the magical place of your country where Godric Gryffindor was born," she said and transformed into a big raven which had a red beak and red legs.
Harry did the same. Two big ravens flew away to the gray sky from the cliff where the castle was standing. They drifted on the breeze for a while and flitted to the south. Harry thought it would be joyful to fly like this. He looked down below, wondered whether they had already passed the camp where other Aurors and Unspeakables were standing by.
Dean looked up at the morning sky. He noticed two big ravens flew from the castle. Did Ron tell them to watch out a big raven, Animagus form of a daughter of Druid, didn't he?
"Oi, Seamus! Look at the ravens," shouted Dean.
Seamus walked up to Dean, and he stood by him. He looked up at the sky and said, "Let's chase them," he took out his broom.
"Wait trainees! Where will you go?" one of Aurors halted them.
Seamus shouted, "We'll chase a daughter of Druid," and he mounted on his broom, kicked off the ground.
Dean followed him.
Harry could see the land which stuck out of the bottom of his country below in the day light. He reckoned that was Kernow but Dara urged him to lead her to Godric's Hollow so he swerved to Somerset. They glided down the air, landed on the ground, and hopped into a thicket in the outskirts of Godric's Hollow. Dara soon went back to a witch, got out of the thicket. When Harry tried to get out of the thicket, he noticed two familiar wizards accosting Dara. He waited for a chance to let them know he was also there.
"Are you Lady Dara? Why do you visit Godric's Hollow?" asked Dean.
Dara kept silent.
"Do you speak English?" asked Seamus brushing away a fat beetle off his hair.
She remained still silent.
"Can you speak Gaelic?" asked Dean to Seamus.
Seamus shrugged. Then Harry went out of the thicket and called out to them, "Dean, Seamus, I didn't know you were here."
"Harry! How could you get out of the castle? We have been worrying you," said Seamus.
"Did they allow you to disapparate?" asked Dean.
Harry glanced at Dara, she nodded. He answered, "Yes, they did. I have just apparated now."
"What is their purpose? What do you have to do for them? Is it a dangerous task?" asked Dean.
"Yeah, I suppose so. Let's go to the village. We are exhausted. Two of you must be tired after a long flight, aren't you? Let's find an inn. I'll talk about my task there," said Harry.
They walked to the village. When they could find an inn, it was getting dark. They followed the innkeeper, Ann, who beamed at Harry welcoming the Boy Who Saved the Wizarding World, went up a wooden staircase. Harry reckoned the wood was cypress tree, to a door with a brass number eight on it. She unlocked a door with a brass number seven and opened the door for Dara. He watched her go into the next room and shut the door. He urged Dean and Seamus to enter the room eight.
"What's your plan?" asked Seamus soon after he sat on his bed.
Dean poured water into a glass, handed the glass to Harry and said, "What does Cadwagan want you to do?"
Harry gulped it down and said, "He wants to retrieve his magical lands. I don't know about all lands he wants, at least, Kernow was his clan's land one thousand and six hundred years ago."
"So long? How will he retrieve the land? What's his plan?" asked Seamus.
"He uses Umbrige, her allies and the remaining Death Eaters. He won't get his own hands dirty but let them do for his aim to get back his magical lands," said Harry.
"If Ministry gets back one of his lands, he will stop his plot, it's my opinion," said Seamus.
"It's not so simple. Even Dumbledore…" Harry wondered. If he could persuade Kingsley to return one of Druidic magical lands, the situation would change.
Seamus brought in a bottle of Firewhisky and three glasses. Harry tasted the searing whisky after a long time. He had a good sleep after joining other trainees.
Next morning in the parlour, they rounded the table to eat breakfast. Dara kept still silent, finally opened her mouth,
"Harry, to where will you take me today?
Seamus surprised at her speaking English and said, "Blimey, you speak English, Lady Dara! And you call Harry his first name. Are you friends?"
Dara reddened her face and said, "He is my fiancé."
Harry was shocked at hearing what she said, and added hastily, "Don't believe what she said. I'm not her fiancé."
Seamus smirked, "Hey, lady-killer! How will you explain about this to Ginny?"
"I'm wondering if there leave a space for me to get back together again," said Dean.
Harry stared at Dean. Dean grinned and said,
"I'm kidding. How about showing her the shopping district? "
Harry didn't know about Godric's Hollow well except his parents' wreck cottage and headstone. He was at a loss and said, "Lady Dara, I actually don't know about Godric's Hollow, so I can't guide you around this village."
"Harry, don't you know about your birth place?" Seamus said.
"No, I don't." Harry felt gloomy remembering the snake coming out of Bathilda's neck.
Dean was a better reader of Harry's mind and said, "How about asking the innkeeper? She'll tell us how to get to the shopping district."
Ann handed a map of the shopping district of the village to Harry with delight saying, "I can't forget your parents. They are really brave and nice people. I haven't forgotten your family had fought against Dark Wizard. All wizards and witches of Godric's Hollow will never forget your bravery. You defeated You Know Who twice. The fact you were born here in Godric's Hollow is our pride and joy. "
Harry felt overwhelmed by her words and said, "Thank you."
Dara's eyes were twinkling with her curiosity. She said, "I didn't know you were born in Godric's Hollow where Godric Gryffindor, one of founders of Hogwarts, was born. And I heard from my father Albus Dumbledore had lived here."
"Yes, he had," said Harry and he glanced at the Daily Prophet on the table in the parlour. He noticed a headline:
The Shackbolt Ministry was demanded to resign en masse till November.
"Lady Dara, sorry, we have no time to tour around the shopping street. We must leave now," said Harry.
Dara glanced at the Daily Prophet and seemed to understand.
"Let's disapparte to Leaky Cauldron," said Harry.
"Bill, I think this time it will work," said Hermione showing her parchment to Bill.
"Hermione, you're brilliant! I agree. These runic combinations will work," said Bill.
"So will we leave now?" asked Hermione.
"Yes, let's go," said Bill.
When they went downstairs to the parlour of Leaky Cauldron, they saw three wizards and a witch approaching them.
"Harry! When did you get out of the castle?" shouted Hermione.
"Hermione, what a relief! You are all right. I thought you were captured and tortured," said Harry drawing a long sigh.
"Oh, Harry you got an annoying message from Umbridge, didn't you?" asked Hermione anxiously.
"Yeah."
"Harry, go upstairs with me now!" she took hold of his hand.
"Now?"
"Yes! You need to remove your scars as soon as possible!"
"OK. I'll go upstairs. Seamus, Dean, wait for a while with Lady Dara," said Harry and he left there with Hermione.
When they entered in the room number eight, Hermione said to Harry,
"Harry, lie down on a bed, and take off your clothes."
Harry pulled off his Auror robes and T-shirt and he lay on his back on the bed.
Hermione mumbled, "Ginny was right…" and the others Harry couldn't hear, then he asked,
"My body, what?"
"Nothing," she put a soap stone and began to stroke his body with it gently whispering an incantation.
Harry felt quite comfortable on the bed. Her chanting induced his light sleep. He had a dream when he was first year at Hogwarts. He was flying on the old broom chasing a winged key.
"Harry, wake up." Hermione woke him up in about fifteen minutes or so.
He opened his eyes and sat up on the bed, examined his upper body. All cursed scars disappeared from his upper body except the big lightning bolt scar.
"I'm sorry I couldn't remove your biggest one," said Hermione apologetically. "Don't you have the other scars on your lower half?" She said and reddened at her own words. "If you have them, I'll call Bill to help with you to remove them."
"Thank you, Hermione. I had the scars only on the upper part."
"How do you feel now?"
"Brilliant. I feel my body is light," then he stared at the scars on his left back hand:
I must not tell lies.
"Oh, I forgot to remove them," said Hermione and she put the soap stone on the back of his hand and chanted the incantation.
Soon the scars had gone, too. He stared at the back of his hand and grinned at her and said, "Blimey, how powerful druidic magic is. Most of the cursed scars have gone," he put on his clothes. Then he stared at her throat and said, "Did you remove your heart-shaped one of Slytherin's locket?"
"Yes, I did. I also removed the one from Ron's throat. And we found out the way to remove the curse underground Gringotts. The druidic runes helped a lot," said Hermione.
When they went down to the parlour, Kingsley and Robards were there, too.
"Harry, I'm glad to see you again," said Kingsley and he hugged Harry.
"Kingsley, I read a head line of Daily Prophet this morning."
"I'm sorry for worrying you, Harry. But things are going to be all right. Your smart friend and Bill found out the way to break the curse. I believe it will work out," Kingsley beamed at Hermione.
"Could you find the incantations and the runic combinations?" asked Dara.
"Excuse me, but who is she?" Hermione asked Harry nodding towards Dara.
"She is Lady Dara, a daughter of Chieftain of magical land in Ireland."
"Oh, nice to see you," Hermione held out her hand.
"Nice to see you, too. How did you find the runic combinations? They're druidic ones. It's very complicated for you, I suppose."
"I've learned about runes at Hogwarts and my friend gave me..," then Hermione stopped talking, because Harry gestured, "Don't talk too much."
"Well, are you ready to leave?" Bill asked Hermione.
"Yes, I'm ready, let's go," said Hermione and she left there with Bill glancing back to Harry.
"Potter, Finnegan, Thomas, go with them," Robards commanded.
"Williamson, Dawlish and Weasley are standing by in front of Gringotts. Join them."
"Yes, sir," Harry followed Hermione and Bill with Seamus and Dean.
"Harry, look at her!" Seamus shouted pointing to the sky above.
A big raven was flying away to the grey sky of Diagon Alley.
"She transformed to her Animagus form. Shall we chase her?" said Dean.
"No, we don't have to. I reckon she will inform what she heard here to her father. Her act won't do any harm, if we deal with the curse faster," said Harry.
When they joined the other Aurors, Williamson told Harry, "Potter, put on your Invisibility Cloak and guard Miss Granger while Mr. Weasley and she try breaking the curse,"
"Yes, sir," Harry took out his father's cloak and pulled it over.
"Me and Dawlish will cover you. Weasley, Finnegan, Thomas, stand by here."
Bill, Hermione and invisible Harry entered the vast marble hall. Williamson and Dawlish followed them. One of goblins muttered, "One of thieves came again. She's brazenfaced,"
The other goblin whispered, "She doesn't know she'll be cursed on her entering underground."
Harry felt Hermione became tense. She gripped his holly wand tightly and took a step closer to the goblin sitting on a high stool. She held out the holly wand and said, "We came here to break the curse. Please give us your permission to enter Potter's vault."
Author's Note: I imagined this story a few years ago. Please leave your feedback. Thank you for reading.