Note: Characters and world originally based J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. This story is set in the indeterminate future.
Note: By this time in the life of Harry Potter, he is known as 'The Great Wizard.' His name is John Bellamy. His daughters are Susan, Lesley and Mary. His employees include: Michael & Dot, Archie & Ursula Barnes, Peter & Gabrielle Barnes, Oliver Barnes. Sidney Bourne, Kitty, his wife, their sons, Luke, Ross and Ryan. The Family Khatabi: Akila Khatabi, (Peterson,) with Bahiti and Tristan, Hasina, and children. The freed slaves: Carol, leader, Gloria, Inge, Brigitta, Evita, the young girls. Tasha & Vince, (Valencio) Clarence & Bernice, Jimmy Rawlings.
Chapter 29:
Gloria and Bellamy were in deep conversation, Monday afternoon. Horses and riders for the horse show in two weeks time. Bellamy planned to attend, acting as groom and helper, but in riding gear which he never wore, and he said that his hair would be brown and his facial scars disguised with make-up. "And I'll wear my watches, of course."
"Kennedy?" queried Gloria. "Both Eva and Lucy have been riding him, and he's been fine."
"Too risky, still, I think."
"The girls plan to blitz all opposition in the gymkhana events with Mosquito, Gus and Storm, and there's six want to enter the jumping."
"Thowra's done some jumping, though he's not all that good, also a bit in the gymkhana events."
"Might be best to keep him for the showing. Such a pretty animal." And then Gloria said calmly, "I want Madigan myself for the jumping."
Bellamy nodded. "You're agreeable to having Ursula there?"
"Even Bryce, if you want." She smiled. "He's so clever, and such a twit!"
"He says if I get myself in trouble fighting again, he'll just let me die."
"He made a quick visit since, and saw Vince and Jimmy. Now they say they're as sterile as the rest of us."
Bellamy was surprised. Gloria said calmly, "That's what they say, on the other hand, Vince loves Tasha and Jimmy loves Brigitta."
Bellamy smiled. "If you love someone, future children are not that important."
There was a pause, before Gloria went on. "There was some competition for Nigretta in the showing, but I've decided that Maharni should have her. She's dark and exotic looking, rides well, and will give us a good chance. Maybe even a Grand Champion."
Bellamy cautioned, "Both Steve and Gemma, the owners of Storm, Thowra and Mosquito, will almost certainly be there, and will come to talk to you. Remember not to refer to me at all, and don't tell anyone a man called John Bellamy has anything to do with you. Also that some of the horses are Line of Sheba. That has to be secret as well."
"Everyone knows now, and we take it seriously since talking to Bryce."
Bellamy regarded her dubiously, and decided not to ask how much Bryce had told her.
Gloria smiled. "It will probably be the last big occasion that we'll all be together, and we're planning to win as many real prizes as possible, not fifth and sixth prizes awarded to give us confidence, but real prizes, awarded because our horses, or even us, are the best."
"Are you taking any of the ponies at all?"
"Mary and Connie are planning to ride Ruby and Kellie in the pairs, and there's others, but it's me, Tiffany, Eva and Lucy competing in the jumping that might do well."
"You'll be competing against world beaters this show, and only Tiffany has been riding more than a year or so."
Gloria smiled at him. "We've got good horses, and we're special people. We'll do all right!"
Bellamy nodded. "I know you'll do all right. How could you not?" And neither of them were talking about show jumping.
**x**
Thursday afternoon, Bellamy packed his things and left Loch Lomand, followed by Dot and Michael on Friday morning, to the pleasure and relief of Robin, who had his Mum and Dad back, and the slight apprehension of the medj, though not a one admitted to it.
It was an interesting spell-breaking session that morning. Not long after the morning tea break, Pierre showed Dasse Narzu-Han Khattak, Turkey's Head of Wizardry, into the Observation Room, along with a couple of other dignitaries and a bodyguard for Narzu-Han. Bellamy was deep in concentration at that time, doing the Rindi Curse victim that Gunma assured him would be the last one ever.
Narzu-Han watched with interest, and watched with more than his eyes. He couldn't probe deeply, as Bellamy always tried to block a little when he did this, protecting himself against his patients in case they managed to throw him out of their minds, which could hurt.
As he watched his patient led away by the ambulance man, Bellamy suddenly whirled, wand raised, and stared straight through the Observation Room window at Narzu-Han. At his action, Kupec, Collette and Jeremy also raised their wands and looked for the threat. The old forehead scar was livid as Bellamy stalked stiffly out the workroom to the door of the Observation Room, followed by Kupec and the others, very confused.
"Narzu-Han Khatabi," he said grimly, as he opened the door, wand still raised.
Narzu-Han rose. "I am the Dassio in Turkey now. I am not your enemy."
Pierre looked at the both of them, confused. The aurors filed in, and each of them had their wands covering Narzu-Han. One of those with Narzu-Han drew his wand, but Narzu-Han said to him to put his wand away. Instead, he looked at the great wizard, and said calmly, "Pierre tells me you're looking after some rescued medj. I'm interested to know if there's one called Valencio among them."
"I'm surprised you don't refer to him by number!"
"How is he?"
Bellamy spoke harshly, furiously, "Scarred, like they're all scarred. Except, of course, for those who are dead!"
"I heard you did little to the Khatabi-Richi, who were also culprits."
"You are Khatabi. You could have done something! Magritte Berne, an eight year old child, given to Ahjmed. She did not survive the night! Six-year-old twins, raped, again and again, side by side as they held hands, and in the morning, one was dead. Peter Jones, who was in Enclosure 3. Knew he was about to be killed, stood erect, faced Haru, and was killed. You could have done something to stop it, but you did nothing!"
Narzu-Han said, "I hear my little cousin has stopped it."
"Zoe and Najia. Just girls, and did what you didn't make the slightest move to do!"
Narzu-Han spoke in a calm voice, knowing how much danger he was in. "I have learned from their example. I have taken power in Turkey, and Turkey, too, will become more civilised."
"You were not supposed to be able to leave Turkey."
Narzu-Han suddenly wore an aura of arrogance. "I am Khatabi. Do you think I would let your orders command me forever?"
"I gave you orders as an alternative to killing you. I will kill you now, for little Laura, who was taken so young that her surname is unknown."
Narzu-Han said slowly, sadly, "I know of Emma and Laura. Maybe you are right. Maybe you had best kill me."
Bellamy was trembling, and Kupec touched him on the shoulder. He opened his mind, listening to Narzu-Han, who did not shield himself from his knowing. At last Bellamy stood more erect, pocketed his wand, and said, "Ingrid wishes to study to be a vet. Please check with my secretary, and send the amount of money she says it will cost." He looked at Pierre, "And get him away from me, or I'll forget I'm supposed to be civilised."
Pierre rose, "Narzu-Han?" They left.
Bellamy glared after them, still trembling, and when he returned to the workroom, he leaned against the wall, white-faced and tight-lipped. The others glanced at each other and waited, saying nothing, not even Bryce.
At last he sighed, "He's good, that one. I wouldn't have thought he could have overcome those instructions. He wasn't even supposed to know about them."
Dieter quietly entered the room, and said, "I'm glad you didn't kill him in front of us. I'd have hated to have to try and arrest you."
"Dassio!"
"Turkey is a lot more law-abiding since he took over two years ago. So maybe your instructions played a part in that."
"He has telepathy. Maybe that's how he understood what I'd done."
"Is he one of those you said nearly defeated you?"
"He and Yiko. Yiko was his father."
That afternoon, in his own lounge room, Bellamy did what he hadn't done for a long time. Sat quietly in his favourite chair, and felt for those others he had influenced. He hated to think that Ahjmed might be preying on children again. It took a while, but he found Ahjmed in Russia where he'd been sent, in some sort of a medj institution. The buxom nurse called him 'love,' but as if he was a child or maybe retarded. He wore a shapeless tracksuit, and watched TV with another. He didn't seem unhappy, but he didn't seem quite alive, either. Maybe 'talking to' people was not as merciful an option as he'd thought.
Adil Khatabi was in China, looking fat, as he'd never seen a male Khatabi. He was surrounded by small children, whom he smiled on. And when a rounded woman came in and called him 'love,' she meant it. Bellamy felt for her mind, and smiled in triumph. The woman was medj. They were happy together. It wasn't that many years ago, but there seemed to be four small children, and she carried a baby on her ample hip. Adil was in his late sixties, but there was nothing to indicate they were not his children. He still looked slightly sinister, with his eye-patch. Vince, of course. He wondered about the circumstances of that attack.
He knew about Yiko, Hicham and Narzu-Han, and now he tried to remember the feel of Iyad. He couldn't find Iyad, and suspected he might be dead. If a wizard was unable to defend himself, didn't know it, and was accustomed to being a powerful fighter, it could easily happen. But how many had Iyad killed and abused? Bellamy shrugged, and thought carefully about Faheem. Faheem also seemed to be living contentedly. His young wife had a small baby, and she, too, was medj. Bellamy smiled broadly. Losing their magic and being unable to hurt, had certainly made a difference to them!
He'd taken less notice of the women, but he tried to think of each he remembered, as well as he could. But they'd been less affected, as they didn't make a custom of hurting anyone in any case. Most of them were again living among Anirage. There were young ones, now grown, that he hadn't touched. But away from the culture of the Family, maybe they would be all right. Laki Khatabi? He might never work magic without a wand again, and they said he was slow to master the Pain Curse. The medj knew it was a good indicator. There was Salo, they'd mentioned, the same age, who'd had no trouble. But as he'd thought at the time, you can't punish people for their capabilities, only for their actions.
His thoughts went back to his responsibilities. The coming year might not be too bad, as most of the medj would probably continue to live at Loch Lomand. But what of the year after, when several wanted to go to University? That would be an expense, and the nearest good-sized university, he thought, was probably Edinburgh. There would be the cost of some sort of boarding house. Bellamy had never in his life had to worry about money, but now he worried about money.
Kitty found him at dinner time, looking disgruntled at some scribbled sheets of paper in his workshop.
"Inventing?" she asked with a smile.
"I was trying to, but I just can't concentrate, and I never have been able to either invent or write unless I was in the mood."
Kitty said comfortably, "Leave it to Dot and Alison. You always have, haven't you?"
He looked at her, troubled. "There's just so many! And they must have what they need to make a career."
After dinner, he spent time looking in the storeroom, and found some valuable jewellery, sent home years ago for gifts, and never used. When he ran short, he would sell old jewellery, and he felt a little cheered. Tomorrow, Mary would be home, finished school. There would be fees to pay for her, as well, as she was to train as a healer.
His medj were not worrying about money, but instead made a decision to publicise the names of those dead, so that family knew. It had to be discreet. The result was two large pages in a New York newspaper, the master list. 'Fate of some missing people.' The headings were 'Dead,' and 'Almost Certainly Dead.' In alphabetical order of Christian names, as so many of the surnames were unknown, never used in the enclosures. Any other identifying characteristics. Further information about individuals, available on request if an ad was put in the Classifieds. Other smaller ads were put in the newspapers of several countries, but containing only the names of its citizens. Enquiries had to be made through the same New York newspaper. They couldn't be checking too many newspapers.
There was a furore, and a lot of enquiries to 'The Survivors,' but they'd covered their tracks well, with the help of Dot's expertise, and some crio-magic, courtesy of Daryl Innes, who was an expert in the subtle art. No-one tracked down the men and women of Loch Lomand, though several of the locals had a very good idea. Oddly, when Rhonda, the hairdresser, tried to point the finger, no-one listened.
There was a mother of 'Pamela,' aged about twelve, blonde, probably English. She now knew her daughter was long dead, but had died very, very bravely. Her mind finally at rest, Pamela's mother also died. There were others. A woman of forty checked carefully the probable dates of 'Jeremy,' nothing else known. Her darling little brother. He'd been only ten. Full of life. Always in trouble for using his skateboard where it wasn't allowed. Dead. Dead these many years. No details, but the probable dates matched. A man whose bride had vanished a week after the wedding. Dead. It had been a long time ago, and she'd been declared dead, but he'd had to wait years before her estate could be settled, or he could remarry. No details at all for that one, just that she was dead, and the probable year.
**x**
Oliver and Bellamy had two more young horses in training for their morning ride. Oliver explained, "This year, what we do is put a photograph of the particular horse on the Internet, people put in their bids, and Paul sends them to his brother for the actual sale, as we've always done. Paul says we've never made so much money with a crop of three-year-olds." He laughed. "Trickling them onto the market, rather than selling them all at once, is profitable." He patted the brown horse he rode. "This one is already sold, and goes to America in a few days, to a man who's been on their Olympic team for years."
He glanced at the black mare that Bellamy rode. "Nantuckett is being bid for by an Italian rider and a German rider." He smiled very proudly. "We'll go to the Olympics one day I reckon, and it'll be nine tenths our horses competing in the jumping events."
"When do you go to Australia?"
"A couple of days after the horse show. And talking of that, you'll have to keep out of sight of Steve and Gemma, since you're supposed to be dead."
"I'll go in disguise, but you might help by keeping them away from the Loch Lomand horse boxes if you can."
Oliver nodded and said, "It'll be strange to go to a horse show, and not be competing."
"It's generous of you to give up Brandon."
Oliver laughed. "Show jumping was a prop to ensure a good supply of sex. But there are other ways. And anyway, I'll soon be with Vivienne."
That afternoon, Bellamy met the school train, and his daughter, Mary. It had been expected he'd be there, and Jeremy stood just behind him, and Reece stood a little way back, very alert. As usual, they totally ignored Bellamy when he assured them that nobody was trying to kill him these days. They even knew he'd come close to being very seriously ill just the previous week, simply from getting himself knocked about by four medj street thugs.
There were others there he knew, many he greeted. Kupec was meeting his sons, and Akila was meeting Najet and Zahra. They still called themselves Petersons, but were no longer fugitives, and had reverted to their own first names. There were Sidney's boys as well, and Maria Hargreaves and Tilse McArdle from next door. There were youngsters from families he'd known nearly all his life - Longbottoms, Weasleys, even a Malfoy, tall, blonde, and with a sneering countenance. Bellamy smiled. Malfoys were so predictable.
But Mary was hugging him then. He hugged her back, and sent her luggage home. And then watched, grinning, as other students struggled with heavy trunks. While the memory was strong, there was to be a full page ad for school trunks, and he bet that this time next year, three quarters of the student body would have school trunks with a picture of a flying pigeon in the corner. He frowned, it would only take them one way though. What if he had two 'landings,' one for Hogwarts, and one for home. He stared blindly at the students as they were claimed by parents and left the platform. The magic would be more complex, but maybe he should have thought of it before. Was it too late to recall them?
Mary nudged him. "Dad? Time to go home?"
He shook his head. "Sorry, just thinking."
A young woman with a baby finally mustered up the courage and quickly approached, pushed by a girlfriend. "Grandfather Harry? My baby's name is Elisha."
Bellamy enjoyed the company of Susan and Lesley, and their husbands at dinner, as well as Mary, only occasionally becoming a bit abstracted. But then he spent all night in the workshop, and Monte Bagster would shortly have a new lot of school trunks to treat.
**x**
There was a lot happening at Loch Lomand. Bellamy visited every two or three days, each time finding new developments. They were going out more, a few with men, sometimes with women acquaintances. Many were doing 'hobby courses,' including a 'current affairs' one, that was mostly history of the last twenty years or so. The hairdressers now offered haircuts for women, 'Experienced but unqualified,' but stated that services such as hair-dying and curling of hair were not available.
A long vacant shop in Bogridge was rented, and a force of medj moved in to clean, repair, and furnish. Connie did the sign writing. The Frock Shop, Proprietors Maliwan and Sheila. Dot couldn't help much with sourcing the stock, but Maliwan was confident, and Sheila chose well, her tastes more exotic than the conventional Scottish town was accustomed to. After fixing up the dress shop, the same work force moved on to the school classroom. It seemed they would not need to pay for a teacher, as the Education Department said that was their business. There were fees, but they were moderate.
Cramsie McGonnigal went around these days with a smile on his face. Tiffany now spent the night, as often as not, at his place. A former 'Miss America' might normally consider herself too good for a farmer, but Tiffany Keen believed that a man who was, first and foremost, kind and considerate, could not be bettered.
Carol decided that it was time there was a new Committee. Instead of equal numbers from Enclosure 1 and from Enclosure 2, it was to be just eight elected Committee members. There were some changes. Clarence had seemed to grow in strength and stature from the moment they were freed, and Bernice had taken on responsibility very early. They were elected. Also Gloria, deemed in the past too likely to provoke confrontation with the Khatabis. Carol was still undisputed leader.
Jimmy advised Carol that he was apparently getting some sort of pension from his old employer, since he was taken and damaged while under their employ. He would no longer accept a wage for his work, would pay board, and she was to come to him if more money was needed, as it appeared there had been some sort of large compensation payment.
Vince found that he could not obtain a heavy vehicle licence, as he hadn't been a qualified driver for long enough. But Jimmy had, and Jimmy already had his license, though he had to send to America for it. After careful discussion, a thirty-six seater bus was purchased, to be driven by Jimmy, as well as a twelve seater bus, which didn't need any more than an ordinary license. Things were working out.
***chapter end***
