Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Coronavirus Lockdown! We are Ghost and Miracle and we'll are thrilled to be your entertainment for the next fifteen minutes.
Chapter 18:
"If my analysis is correct (which in all fairness it may not be), Honour may also be dead (which presents a very frightening psychological argument). Who are the Knights Radiant? Or more accurately, who were they, and what caused their fall? Then there is Cultivation. This, to me, seems to be an odd name for a god. I can only assume that she (the association of a gender pronoun to each divinity is also curious) has power over the growth and evolution of things on this planet called Roshar."
From Albus Dumbledore's Notes; 20th Century, Earth.
Ginny stood on the edge of the Astronomy Tower, eyes closed, breathing the fresh air as the cold winter breeze brushed at her eyelashes and hair.
"Ready?" Harry whispered from his place beside her. She nodded softly, not opening her eyes. Harry took her hand and began to rise upwards. Ginny pooled her power within her and used the Fusion Force to decrease the force of Gravity binding her to the ground. Her feet lifted from the stone, and she followed Harry out into the open air.
She opened her eyes. The whole castle was open to her from here. Everything from Ravenclaw Tower to the Black Lake and Hagrid's hut. Mak and Ember hovered on the winds beside them, smiles of glee on their faces.
"It's gorgeous," she said.
"You haven't seen anything yet." Harry released her hand and dropped sharply. He flipped in the air, so he was diving face downwards, then backflipped and came to a rest fifty metres below.
"Try it!"
"Are you insane?!"
"Trust yourself." Ginny took a deep breath and, hesitantly, released her hold on the Fusion Force. Gravity instantly reasserted itself, and she plummeted down, wind whipping at her hair. She screamed, but did as Harry had demonstrated, pointing her feet towards the ground, and as Harry approached, she slowed to a stop – heart beating like a hammer in her chest.
"That was… exhilarating," she breathed. Ember, who had grabbed onto Ginny's hair as they descended, beamed.
"Again, again, again!"
"Well alright," Harry said, grinning. "Keep up if you can!" He zoomed off, Mak dancing around him as a ribbon of light. Ginny braced her legs, then, pulling the Fusion Force into her veins, shot after him. They danced through the towers, and Ginny couldn't remember a time in her life where she'd ever felt more free. With the wind in her hair, and the power to fly anywhere she chose… it was like a dream. The best dream she could imagine. She didn't think she'd ever be able to play Quidditch the same way again.
Eventually, finally, they came to a stop near Gryffindor Tower and watched as the sun began to sink towards the horizon.
Then, out of nowhere, Harry grabbed her by the waist, pulling her into his body. And he kissed her.
Ginny melted into his lips, bathing in the warmth of his hold. They stayed there together, absorbed in each other, until Ginny broke away, eyes heavy and breath raspy. She swayed slightly from all the blood rushing to her head and leaned against Harry's forehead.
"Ginny," Harry murmured, voice deep and hoarse, "Will you go to the Yule Ball with me?"
"Yes," she breathed, then she was kissing him again. Above them, Mak and Ember danced together in the evening light.
Harry met Sirius Black properly for the first time on a winter's day in Hogsmeade.
The shaggy black-haired man had cleaned up nice. The nice robes he wore hung far better off his admittedly still thin form, but he no longer appeared swallow and malnourished.
As Harry saw him, Black let out a booming laugh that was just so genuine that Harry couldn't resist smiling in turn.
"Sirius Black. You, my friend, are looking much better than the last time I saw you."
Harry, still grinning, offered his gloved hand to Sirius, who took the hand gladly.
"And I have you to thank for that. I can't thank you enough, Harry. I… my mind was frayed by my time in Azkaban. It was like I was trying to live both in the past and present at once… I truly am sorry for attacking you and your friends."
Harry waved off the man's concern.
"I've spent my entire life around people who've suffered just as much as you have, though not in the same way. I've found that most people who are hurt, just need a person to extend their hand to them, to help pull them out of whatever hell they've been trapped in. I'm just happy I got to you before it was too late."
"So am I, let me tell you," Sirius said, clapping Harry on the back.
"I saw you that night," he said, "Held you in my arms. I gave you to Hagrid, I thought you'd be safe with him, with Dumbledore, while I went after that scum Pettigrew. But instead, you ended up on the street. Starving and alone. I'll never forgive myself for that."
"And I won't ask you too. The only person who can forgive you, Sirius, is yourself. But what I can tell you is that I did have people who cared for me. I wasn't alone. In fact, since my seventh birthday, I've never been alone." Harry glanced to Mak, who nodded, a soft, tranquil smile on her face. Then he turned back to Sirius, who was staring at Harry in confusion.
"Sirius Black, allow me to introduce to you the most important person in my life: Makani, Masella de Tastheria." Mak became visible to Sirius, who stared at her, blinking a few times. Then he bowed to her.
"Well then Lady Makani, I believe I owe you a great deal. I don't know if you can drink alcohol, but if you can my new tiny friend, I swear to buy you any and all varieties you desire for the rest of your days!" Mak giggled, and Harry just rolled his eyes. She turned to Harry and poked out her tongue.
"Oh, I like this one. He has perfect manners, unlike you. I demand to be called Lady Makani from now on."
Harry facepalmed while Sirius and Mak laughed. Then Mak flew up to Sirius's shoulder and sat down primly.
"I can't drink your intoxicating beverages, Mr Black," she said haughtily, "however, I don't suppose that offer can be extended to caramel, can it?"
One and a half years ago,
Ginny grasped the woman's hand and allowed her to lead them down into the cave. It was the first time the spirit with the fire in her hair had arrived before the gold spirit had. Immediately, she had begged Ginny to come inside the cave, speaking with a musical voice Ginny couldn't help but be awed by. In that moment, Ginny had forgotten her fear and followed the fire-spirit into the darkness.
The cave was horrible. The walls were covered in mud and slime, and the floor was like clay. The only source of light she had as they spiralled down into the darkness was the spirit, glowing an ethereal red.
"Where are we going?" She asked softly.
"To the Perpendicularity. If I can get you there before He catches us, I should be able to send you back. Stop all this horror, free you from its hold."
"It? You know what's doing this to me? What's making me kill people?" Heart pounding, Ginny renewed her pace. Her disgust of this place was nothing compared to the guilt and hate she had for herself, unable to stop the killings. Hermione… She was going to be next. The genius girl had figured out what the monster was… had warned Ron and Ginny to carry mirrors around with them at all times. Now, Ginny knew that the next time she unleashed the Basilisk from its prison – however, she was doing it – Hermione would die. If this spirit could free her… she'd do anything.
"That cursed Diary! If I ever get my hands on Tom Marvolo Riddle, I swear I'll…." The spirit's head shot up towards the ceiling, expression riddled with panic. Then she spun back to Ginny.
"Keep going! Don't give up!" The gold spirit – the man with the white hair and the golden robes – appeared beside Ginny in the dark. The fire-spirit screamed in anguish, hands flying to her head. Then she vanished in a torrent of flame.
"Now, now, Miss Ember. We can't have you ruining my fun. Hello, Ginny, dear." A wall of fear slammed into Ginny, and she fell to her knees in the mud. Why was she here?! She didn't WANT to COME HERE! Oh, why couldn't she be stronger? Why couldn't she stop the killings? It wasn't her fault, it was… it was… the Diary. But Tom was kind to her. The only one who cared, the only one who listened. She cast her eyes around, frantic, searching for light, but all she could see was the gold spirit. He gave off no light. Why, why hadn't she listened to herself? She… NO! Stop it, Ginny!
"It's alright to hate yourself, Ginny. Really. It's not your fault all these things are happening to you. You can't do anything, and that's ok. Sometimes you just can't."
She wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. She hated herself so much. If she was strong, she'd be able to fight back. Why did she have to be weak and pathetic? It was hopeless.
GET UP, GINNY. DO NOT LISTEN TO HIM!
A woman's voice echoed through the cavern, tranquil and serene. Below, Ginny realised she could see a faint light coming from down the passage, refracting like a rainbow. The beam!
The golden-spirit's face turned from pity to rage in the blink of an eye.
"Equality…" he growled, eyes burning with purple fire. He vanished, and Ginny was left alone, panting in the mud. There was only the cave and the pinprick of light deeper inside.
The weight of fear that engulfed her began to ease, smoothing away like a migraine easing. Bracing herself on the clay-like wall, she stood on shaky legs. Then, one foot at a time, she continued down. Towards freedom.
Harry realised, rather quickly in fact, that killing Lucius Malfoy had not been a good idea. It had been a brilliant one.
"POTTER!" Draco screamed as Harry and Ginny walked back from Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid, having a rousing discussion about Hippogriff mating cycles.
Harry, who had grown quite adept at ignoring Malfoy, continued listening to Mak and Hagrid's conversation. Mak had a very high opinion of Hagrid, and he was the only person she'd ever shown herself to without Harry having to ask first. That was high praise indeed.
"They really have three mating seasons a year?!" Mak said, buzzing around Hagrid's head.
"You bet they do," Hagrid said, "It's the eagle in 'em. Makes them more 'er, well randy really." Mak giggled, before flying down to Ginny's shoulder, where Ember was perched, and elbowing her.
"Did you hear that!?"
"POTTER!" Malfoy screamed again, and Harry was forced to look up at the bleach-blonde boy (who, in Harry's mind, simply screamed white male privilege) as he approached with what looked like at least twelve Slytherins behind him, all with wands drawn.
"This should be fun," Ginny muttered.
"You killed my father!" He spat.
"I've killed several people Malfoy; you're going to have to be more specific." Harry began scratching his brain. Who had he killed? Oh… right. The First Task. He'd shot the Killing Curse back at that emo guy. Honest mistake.
Malfoy came to a stop, wand pointed at Harry's face, face bright red.
"Right now, Malfoy, put that down," Hagrid said, moving forward to slap Malfoy's arm away, but Harry held up a hand, stopping him.
"Let him come. I'll be fine," he said softly. He may not like Malfoy Jr, and Malfoy Sr might have been a complete and total fuckwit, but Harry had still killed Draco's father. That… he could have handled better.
"The coroner's report came back today. He didn't die in the fire. He died from a Killing Curse! I know it was you! You were the last one in that arena… you… you killed him!" A tear dropped from Draco's eye, sliding down his cheek.
"Silver hair? Black-robes? Stupid mask?" Harry asked, biting his lip. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ginny clench her left fist, tiny flames dancing across the skin. Her right hand was open, ready to grab Malfoy – to use Fusion or Division like he'd been teaching her. Mak and Ember both had their mystical armour formed around them.
"I'm going to end you, Potter. I don't care how powerful you are."
"Draco," Harry said, voice low and dangerous, "Your father was a criminal and a mass-murderer. I've seen the reports from the War. No one knows how many humans Voldemort and his cronies killed, and your dad was one of his captains."
"The imperious curse…" Draco muttered.
"Is bullshit and you know it. Don't try and brandy the law with me. I grew up on the wrong side of it my entire life. I don't care if your father was able to get out of jail using a technicality. I care about right and wrong. And raping and killing women and children is wrong."
"Pah! Muggle filth! What my father did was a mercy! What I'm going to do to you now, won't be."
"Careful Draco. Your dad tried to kill me at the First Task, and he got his own curse thrown back at him."
"Liar…" Harry simply lifted a hand and pointed at the jagged white lines that formed the scar that cut across his face. Draco took three very short sharp breaths, Then, sneering, he jerked his wand forward and opened his mouth.
Ginny pounced on him.
She grabbed his arm and infused him with the Fusion force. His whole body lurched backwards as gravity began pulling him adjacent to the ground. Malfoy squawked, a red spell flying free from his wand into the sky, then he barrelled into the people directly behind him, knocking them all down to the ground. The Fusion wore off, and Malfoy slumped to the grass. Ginny stepped in front of Harry, hands held outwards, palms open. Mak and Ember both dissolved into flashes of light, circling around her, creating an artificial wind that made her hair begin to float behind her. Though Harry couldn't see them, he would bet a considerable chunk of money that her eyes had started to glow.
"Merlin's beard," Hagrid whispered.
"If you want Harry, you'll have to go through me," she hissed. Harry couldn't help but grin, an odd rush of pride surging through him. He folded his arms and floated up in the air slightly so he could see over Ginny's head.
Draco struggled to his feet, complete and utter rage burning across his face.
"Stupefy!"
The spell was followed by dozens of others cast by Malfoy's friends, but Ginny simply thrust forward her hands, and a shimmering wall of Division Force formed in front of her. Every spell vanished without a sound, and a few of the Slytherins lowered their wands in shock. Ginny released the shield, then slammed her fist into the ground. Two men, forged from stone, broke free of the earth, giant hammers in their hands. They began trudging towards Malfoy's gang, footsteps echoing on the cobblestones. Harry's smirk grew even wider. Two older looking students managed to destroy the golems, but Ginny had already begun crafting a new power. Using the Charge Force, she bent the light around her, letting it split into another version of herself, then another, then another, then another. Each one raised a hand, lightning crackling along their fingers.
"Leave," she said through five mouths, "Now." The dam broke, and Malfoy's gang deserted him, running back up the rise and through the covered bridge. Malfoy remained, tears streaking down his face, holding his wand pointed at Harry with a trembling hand. Ginny's four selves remerged into the original, but Mak and Ember continued their dance.
"I'll make you pay!" He shouted, "Both of you!" Then he too turned and fled. Once he was gone, Ginny sank to her knees, and Harry dropped to the ground beside her, pulling her into a fierce hug. Her eyes were glowing with a soft inner fire. Mak and Ember finally reformed, and Ginny sagged into Harry's shoulder.
"That," she whispered, "takes a lot more out of you than I thought."
"You'll get used to it. That was excellent. I'm really proud of you," he replied, muttering into her hair, then placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Thanks. I don't think I've felt that powerful since… since the night I fought him off." They sat there for a minute or so before Hagrid finally regained his voice.
"Ruddy BRILLIANT!" he boomed. Then he reached down and picked both of them up in his giant arms.
"I'm breaking out the Butterbeer! That deserves a drink!" Then he carried them as they laughed all the way back to his hut.
Authors Note:
Our older readers will recognise this note from before our break, but given the current climate and the number of people locked inside with nothing to do, we figured we'd post it again.
This fanfiction, while obviously centred on Harry Potter, has incorporated several elements from the Cosmere novels written by Brandon Sanderson. The author has written several series of novels of different genres within the same continuity, with the occasional crossover character or event.
Because we love these books so much, we're going to plug them below. You can start from either of the two series that follow.
The Mistborn Trilogy – Book 1: The Final Empire.
"Ash falls from the sky on the planet Scadrial. Beneath a red sun, and chocked by oppressive mists that dominate the night, no flowers or green plants have bloomed on this planet for a thousand years. Not since the Lord Ruler killed the prophesied Hero of Ages, taking the world for himself.
For a millennia, the Skaa have slaved in misery and lived in fear while the Lord Ruler reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, a divine and invincible leader. Hope is long lost, until a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa in the depths of the most hellish of the Lord Ruler's prisons discovers he has the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, Kelsier will turn his talents to the ultimate caper: one with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.
Only he's not just planning the greatest heist in history, he's plotting the overthrow of a divine despot.
Kelsier has recruited the underworld's elite, the smartest and most trustworthy Allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge.
But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel's plan looks like a long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she's a half-Skaa orphan with the powers of a Mistborn, but she's lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets, and gotten it. She will have to learn to trust, if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed."
Set in a world where the Dark Lord won, if you're a fan of Dystopias like the Hunger Games, or wish to learn about Preservation and Ruin, we recommend starting here.
The Stormlight Archive – Book 1: The Way of Kings
Speak again the ancient oaths:
Life before death.
Strength before weakness.
Journey before Destination.
and return to men the Shards they once bore.
The Knights Radiant must stand again.
"Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.
It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armour that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.
One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.
Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.
Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war."
If you love Game of Thrones, the Lord of the Rings and other works of high fantasy, we highly recommend reading this series. To learn more about Odium and his war against Honour and Cultivation, start here.
