30: Gray P Bogneed
Brogan took them a different way to Lough Gur this time - a long, winding road that led them across a bridge towards the peninsula of Knockadoon. He explained that the name for the small area of land actually came from the old Gaelic words 'Cnoc Doon,' which was the name of the small hill that was on the peninsula, much in the same way that the village of Knockainey's name was based on the Gaelic words for 'Cnoc Aine' - the old words turning into their English-sounding equivalents.
Brogan chatted in the front seat of the car with Katharine, while Harry and Ginny sat in the back. Ginny was glad for their interest and conversation with each other; it kept her from having to really say anything herself. Harry held her hand and sat next to her, but she felt as though they were miles apart.
She glanced at him out the corner of her eye, seeing his brow furrowed as he stared out his own window, deep in thought. She knew he was going over everything she'd told him in his head. She didn't know how to explain it to him that she was all right with leaving - not because she wanted to go but because she knew that was how it must be.
Even as Ginny thought it, she felt that little sense of rebellion in her raise its head - that same sense of stubbornness that Harry and she shared. No one told him what to do, and she had damn well spent a lifetime proving to her family that she was the same way. Why should she go along with everything just because it was what Aine wanted? What was wrong with her? When she'd been in the cave, it had made sense to her. But now, her brain felt fuzzy with the memory, and her acceptance of her fate felt surreal. Why exactly didn't she want to fight for a way to stay with Harry?
As if sensing her thoughts, Harry finally turned his head, and she could feel his eyes on her. She met his gaze, seeing that same fierceness of feeling reflected back at her. He tilted his head, and she immediately went to him. They didn't speak as she rested her head on his shoulder, and she felt his arm pull her to him, as though protecting her. Ginny closed her eyes and concentrated on the familiar yet always intoxicating scent of the boy next to her. Harry always smelled faintly of pine and fresh air to her - but like the kind of air you took in after a long winter's night, a breath full of starlight and the coolness of freshly fallen snow. She wondered if Harry ever associated any aroma with her, wondering what she smelled like to him. She let her mind drift as the car moved on towards their destination.
She was surprised, sometime later, to realize that the car had come to a stop, and she opened her eyes, noting that Katharine and Brogan were already outside. She turned to look up at Harry, who wore a vaguely worried expression on his face. He touched her cheek.
"I thought you'd fallen asleep," he said softly, looking as though he were trying to smile and failing.
"Being near you relaxed me enough that I almost did, I think," she said, reaching up to smooth the worry from his face. He stopped her hand and held it tightly in his.
"Let's have a good day, Gin. Let's not worry about...anything. Not now, not yet."
"Worry about what?" she asked, giving him wide eyes and what she hoped was her most convincing innocent look.
His smile grew wider, and he leaned in, kissing her forehead. "Come on then, before Brogan makes fun of us to impress Katharine with his wit."
Ginny giggled, and they pulled apart, getting out on Harry's side of the car. Katharine and Brogan were standing a little ways away, looking out at the lake. It was warmer, Ginny noted, and she was glad they wouldn't be freezing as they walked up to the castle. They were in a large car park, and she could make out the ruins of what had to be Bouchier's Castle nearby; she knew Black Castle was on the other side of the peninsula. Brogan turned to them as she and Harry came up behind them.
"We have to go for a short walk to reach Black Castle, but I thought we might take time to look around the actual ruins here. Mostly because Kath and I have never really looked at it either. What do you two think?"
Harry shrugged, deferring to her, and Ginny nodded her agreement. She didn't feel any strange sense of urgency to make it to Black Castle, and she definitely didn't feel anything like she'd felt the day before. She and Harry held hands as they followed Brogan and Katharine up a narrow path to the top of the hill that held the Muggle castle's ruins. Katharine's voice was clear and boisterous as she laughed at something Brogan said to her, and Ginny noted the other girl seemed very lively and full of joy. In her mind's eye, she remembered something from what Aine had shown her, and she smiled to herself.
Harry tugged on her hand. "What are you smiling at?"
Ginny grinned at him. "Nothing, really. Just...they seem like they could be a couple." She nodded her head to the pair in front of them, and Harry rolled his eyes, grinning.
"Now I know you're okay; you're matchmaking again. What about poor Tonks?"
Ginny merely shrugged, keeping her wisdom to herself. She didn't think Harry would want to know more about what Aine had shown her, and she didn't feel like breaking the mood with it.
"Aye, right then." Brogan turned and pointed off to what looked like a small, rather rudimentary grass hut, complete with a poorly thatched roof. "That's one of the first dwellings on the peninsula and around Lough Gur. And that's all I know. Do I amaze you with my unbelievable knowledge? Aren't you glad I'm your tour guide?"
Harry laughed, and Katharine snorted as Brogan made a mock stance of studiousness. But Ginny's eyes lingered on the dwelling as she wondered briefly who had lived in it - what their lives had been like. She shook her head - she was wool-gathering. They continued along their way, with Harry and Katharine taking turns in asking insanely detailed questions, to which Brogan would reply in the most educated way possible, yet still sounding as though he were pulling the answers out of thin air.
She smiled along with everyone but didn't contribute, feeling unexpectedly out of sorts. She paused as they reached the top of the hill, the ruins of the castle just in front of them, its grand tower stretching up to five lengths before them. Ginny turned and let her eyes find the small clump of trees that covered most of Black Castle from view, suddenly feeling as though someone was watching them. Harry tugged on her hand.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, coming to stand next to her.
"Do you feel as if we're being watched?" she asked, not being able to shake the feeling. She turned and looked at Harry, who frowned as he stared out across the peninsula. He narrowed his eyes as he stared at the same group of trees. He met her gaze.
"No, I can't say I do...but you feel something, don't you?"
Ginny sighed and looked back at the trees again, still feeling uneasy. It eventually faded, but she shrugged and gave Harry a small smile.
"No, I suppose it's just my imagination. Sorry, didn't mean to stop the fun."
Harry squeezed her hand. "Being on guard and mentioning things to other people is a good thing, Gin. When I said we should have a good day, I didn't mean we should ignore things if they bother...us."
Ginny nodded. "I know. I think I'm just a bit mental."
"Well, maybe it's that Gray P Bogneed person, and he knows we're about to bother him."
Ginny laughed. "Maybe."
They joined Brogan and Katharine at the foot of the tower. They seemed to be arguing about whether or not they should attempt to walk to the top.
"You can use a spell to secure the steps, you know. Just do it, Brogan," Kath was saying as she shook her head stubbornly. Brogan sighed and looked at Harry and Ginny.
"This one," he said, nodding at Katharine, "wants to go up to the top of the tower to see the view. I don't think it's all that safe. What do you guys say?"
"Erm, well," Harry paused and glanced up at the tower. "It looks ancient, but I reckon between the four of us we can cast some pretty good Strengthening and Leveling Spells on the stairs."
"Brilliant!" Katharine said, grinning widely at Harry. "At least he's got a sense of adventure. Honestly, Brogan...I think you've grown old before your time."
Brogan sighed again and shook his head, giving Harry a 'thanks a lot' sort of grin. He turned and used his wand to allow them entrance into the tower. After a few moments of everyone casting their share of charms and spells to keep them safe, they started heading upwards, moving one at a time up the spiraling staircase. Brogan stayed in the lead with Kath behind him, and Harry made Ginny walk in front of him, in case she slipped and fell back. Feeling as though she were twelve years old and not liking it one bit, she nevertheless appreciated Harry's foresight as her foot did slip a little while later sending her careening backward into him. He caught her and pushed her to her feet again, wisely not saying anything that even remotely sounded like 'I told you so.'
Once they reached the round rotunda at the top, Ginny was glad to see sunlight again and took a deep breath. Katharine went right to the edge of the outer ring of stone and gave a yell of excitement. Ginny had to admit, the view was rather spectacular. Harry gave her a huge grin as they joined Katharine at the edge. He moved behind her, and a moment later, she felt him wrap his arms around her, his breath warm on her neck.
"Wow. Isn't that beautiful?" he asked quietly in her ear, and Ginny nodded. The blue of the lake seemed even brighter and lovelier than the day before, and since most of the snow on the ground had melted, everything around them had a very fresh, recently-scrubbed-clean sort of glow to it. The lush foliage of the trees looked very green, and the colors of the rolling hills surrounding them looked amazingly vibrant, as though someone had merely come along and touched them up with a paintbrush or cast a Coloring Charm. She rested against Harry, letting him hold her entirely and felt something suddenly stirring inside her at the contact.
"I'm not sure this was worth putting our lives in danger with that staircase, but it is nice," Brogan said, surprisingly close, and Ginny turned to glance at him, hearing a note of something in his voice. He gave her and Harry a knowing smile and then turned to Kath. "Oi, Katharine, let's go see what's on the other side."
"Why do I get the feeling he's giving us a few minutes alone?" Harry said in her ear again, and she turned as he pulled her closer to him.
"Maybe because he is," Ginny said, wrapping her hands around his neck. Harry grinned and then lowered his head down to hers, kissing her gently. Soon she felt the cold stone of the wall behind her as Harry pushed her back against it, his hands moving over her. Ginny felt a small thrill shoot through her, and her feelings of uncertainty disappeared as she gave herself into the sensation of being with Harry. It doesn't matter what's going to come, not when we have this, right now, together, she thought, as she felt herself heat up. Ginny suddenly regretted waking up and being dressed before Harry that morning and felt a low pull in her body as she worked her fingers into the back of his hair. She heard a low growl, and she wasn't sure if it had come from Harry or from herself.
He finally pulled away from her, his cheeks flushed. His lips suddenly looked even more kissable to her, and she tried to pull them back down to her own, feeling fevered with passion.
"If you keep kissing me like that, I'm not going to stop," he said warningly, and she paused. She pulled back to see his eyes, seeing that same hungry fever from the day before. She forced herself to take a deep breath and shuddered as she moved away from him.
"No, I don't fancy Brogan and Katharine finding us in the middle of that," she said finally, her voice sounding strangely light despite the fire that seemed to have ignited within her.
"I want to know where all this enthusiasm was earlier when you were getting out of bed without waking me," Harry said, laughing yet sounding bemused. Ginny gave him a sheepish grin.
"Funny, I was just thinking the same thing."
They looked at each other for a moment, and Ginny felt another thrill shoot through her, but this feeling had more to do about what they were promising each other rather than what they had been doing. Harry looked as though he was very determined to pick things up again when they got back to the inn, and the memory of their last encounter made her heart beat faster at the thought of recreating it.
They could hear Katharine and Brogan laughing about something as they came around the other side of the tower and moved further apart, even though they'd been doing nothing wrong. Brogan flashed them another knowing look, and Ginny felt a tad disgruntled at being so easy to read. Harry merely grinned as though pleased, and she suddenly wondered when he'd grown used to Brogan being able to read them like a book.
"Well, onward to Black Castle, shall we?" Brogan asked as Katharine headed towards the stairs.
"Are you certain we'll be able to actually see it?" Ginny asked as she and Harry joined hands, and then both let go, the contact still too much. Harry looked away, and Ginny noted he took a series of deep breaths. Brogan paused at the door to the stairs and nodded.
"Aye. Pretty certain. We might have to do one or two Disenchantment Spells, but I doubt that Bogneed person is even around."
A little while later, they reached the bottom of the stairs and then headed outside again. Ginny took one last look around before hurrying to catch up with the others, her mood decidedly changed, thanks to the jumpstart Harry's kiss had given her. She was suddenly quite eager for the rest of their day to be discovered.
o-o-o-o-o
"That's...amazing."
Harry nodded his head in agreement, a bit non-plussed on anything he could add to Katharine's assessment. Brogan had done a simple spell after they'd finally reached the area where the castle was supposed to be, and it had appeared in front of them immediately.
Harry was always impressed with Hogwarts when he saw it - and Black Castle, while it was nowhere near his school's size and depth, was still impressive. It was large, yet Harry was reasonably sure you could get around it in one day, as opposed to Hogwarts, and its stones were painted a vivid red, not the usual bland color of sandstone. It had two distinct towers, one at either end and they looked to be at least seven lengths in size - reminding Harry of a smaller, less formidable Astronomy Tower.
There were minor, less high turrets here and there in between the two main ones, and each was speckled with a group of closed-in windows, the glass sparkling in the winter air. The main door sat behind a large archway type of iron gate that looked as though it had been designed to deter anyone from approaching. Harry could just make out what looked like scorch marks over the center of the doors behind the fence, and he wondered what had caused that. Brick chimney stacks were arranged over the turrets, and Harry wondered how many rooms the castle actually had - he had a feeling it looked more condensed than it actually was. He had a strange sense of something nagging at him as he looked at the castle and couldn't put his finger on what was bothering him.
"I've never seen such interesting brickwork," Katharine said as they slowly walked towards to the main gate, passing under a stone trellis that was overgrown with greenery.
"It is a remarkable color," he heard Brogan say, and Harry looked at Ginny, who was staring at the farthest and tallest of the towers, frowning. He tugged on her hand.
"Still feel someone watching us?"
Ginny turned to him and frowned. "No, not exactly, but..."
"Well, this is interesting," Brogan said, interrupting her. Harry and Ginny both turned to see why they'd stopped moving forward. Brogan tried the 'Alohamora' spell to no success, the gate refusing to part for them. There was a giant emblem of a snake across the front part of the gate doors, a symbol Harry recognized well, having seen it over most of the Black house in London.
"Someone has definitely cast a hefty Locking Spell on this gate," Brogan said, sounding puzzled. They all looked up at the castle, and Harry realized with a start what had been bothering him about it - for something that was supposed to have been deserted, it definitely didn't feel as though no one was home.
"I could try Parseltongue," Harry offered, as Katharine started at his words. Brogan shrugged, and Harry concentrated on the snake's image on the gate and tried to get it to open for them. It remained steadfastly closed. Ginny let go of his hand and moved to stand in front of the gate.
"Let me have a go," she said simply and took her wand out of her pocket. Instead of casting another Unlocking Spell, she said something in a soft voice that sounded like Gaelic to Harry. He frowned, wondering where she'd learned that when a small turning noise could be heard. They all watched as the snake across the gate seemed to move through the bars and then disappeared as the doors swung open. Harry had the faintest feeling of déjà vu.
"Nice trick. I didn't know you knew Gaelic," Katharine said, and Harry noticed that she glanced at Brogan in surprise. Ginny shrugged and turned to look at Harry, holding out her hand. He went to her, and she smiled faintly.
Brogan nodded at them to indicate they should go first. They walked silently along the short cobblestoned path and found themselves staring at the two massive doors that had somehow looked less alarming to Harry a minute ago.
Ginny bit her lip and then saw he was watching her. She nodded at the door. "Someone burned the snakes off."
Harry looked and saw that she was correct; the scorch marks he'd seen from before were indeed in the shape of an S, at closer inspection. He supposed they should take comfort in the fact that whoever this Bogneed person was, he didn't seem to have a love of Slytherin. That had to be a good sign, right?
"Do you reckon we should knock?" Katharine asked after a moment, her voice giving off a sort of false confidence.
Brogan looked at Ginny. "Feel like trying your hand at opening these?"
Harry saw that she blushed slightly as she shook her head. "No. I think...I think we should knock."
"Well, what if no one answers?" Harry asked as none of them made any motion to move closer to the doors.
"We go home."
"We try to get in anyway."
Brogan and Ginny looked at each other, as Harry frowned at them. He was surprised to hear Ginny suggest leaving so soon, and he squeezed her hand.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
Ginny pursed her lips and looked around. "I don't know; something just feels off. And I feel as though -"
She paused as they all heard a low scraping noise. They each looked around at each other, and Harry realized they all had their wands at the ready, and he briefly thought of Mad-Eye being proud of them. But his thought was short-lived as the noise was heard again. There was no mistaking where it was coming from. Brogan and Kath stood on either side of Harry and Ginny, and they formed a sort of human wall as they all stared up at the castle doors.
With what felt like an eternity and unbelievable slowness, they heard the telltale sounds of locks being undone on the doors in front of them. It seemed to Harry that they all held their breath together in anticipation. He didn't know, exactly, what he expected to see when the doors did open, but never in a million years would he have expected the sight that greeted him when the tall, worn and scorched entrance finally unlocked.
A petite old man, certainly no taller than Professor Flitwick, stood before them, extremely wizened and with hair so white it was almost silver as it caught the sunlight. He had on a long purple cloak adorned with gold and green stars and crescent moons of different sizes. Harry then realized what had made the scraping noise they had heard - the man was so tiny he needed a chair to stand on so that he would be at their eye-level as he opened the doors. Despite his aged and wrinkled appearance, he wore no beard, and his eyes were wide and bright as he stared at them all - a small and delicate set of spectacles rested half-way down his nose, and they gave him a sort of kind, and owlish look that Harry knew was probably misleading. The grim and stern expression he saw in those eyes was evidence enough that this man was no one to be trifled with. Harry realized with a start that the man had two different colored eyes - one was a piercing deep blue, and the other was an almost eerie sort of violet - the color of the irises his aunt used to grow in her garden - but this eye offered none of those flowers warmth. Harry almost shivered before he caught himself. He felt Ginny squeeze his hand and looked at her as she moved forward.
"Mr Bogneed?" she asked, her voice sounding strangely restrained and unnaturally high in the silence.
"Aye, who's asking?" the little man practically barked, his voice sounding gruff - as though it hadn't been used in a long time. He kept his eyes on Ginny, but Harry had the distinct feeling he was watching them all.
Ginny didn't say anything at first, and Harry wondered if she were okay as she seemed to sway slightly on her feet. Brogan must have had the same thought because he saw the other man move slightly forward alongside him. Ginny flicked her hair behind her shoulder so they could see her profile, and Harry put a hand out to stop Brogan from moving closer. The other man glanced at him, but Harry only nodded his head, not taking his eyes off Bogneed.
"I am Aine's heir, and he," Ginny nodded towards Harry with a tilt of her head, "is Sirius Black's godson, Harry Potter. And the person to my right is Aine's last descendant, Brogan Caley." Her voice sounded more confident, and more like her own, although Harry was wondering why she was telling all of this to Bogneed. The little man's eyes widened slightly, and Harry watched as they swept over him, lingering on his forehead, of course, where everyone's eyes eventually rested whenever they met him for the first time. He felt as though Bogneed was sizing him up for some reason and resisted the urge to stand up straighter. He watched as Bogneed's eyes went from Harry to Brogan, who did move slightly, as though wanting to appear as tall as possible. Bogneed didn't say anything, but he had a satisfied look on his face as his eyes went back to Ginny's again.
"Aye. Is that so? And who's the other one?"
"She is here at our request, and she is one of us. She is...dlúthchara."
Harry frowned again at the strange phrasing Ginny was using and felt Katharine stir beside him.
"You're vouching for her then, Bricneach?"
Ginny blushed suddenly but nodded in the affirmative, which seemed to convince the old man. With surprising quickness, he jumped down off of the chair he'd been standing on and pulled out a long, darkened, and rough bit of wood that Harry realized was his wand, making the chair disappear. Harry wondered why he'd bothered to drag it to the door, to begin with.
As if reading his mind, Bogneed looked at Harry, a flicker of a smile on his face for the briefest of moments.
"I dragged it to the door because I wanted to get your attention and stop you from breaking in my doors. It worked, didn't it? Aye? Well, come in then, no need for us to be standing about letting in the cold air; not in this weather."
He disappeared behind the opened door, and Ginny looked at Harry to make sure he was okay with continuing.
"After you, Bricneach..." Harry said, mimicking the word Bogneed had called her. A bit of apprehension seemed to leave her face as she smirked, and she turned towards the door, the rest of them right behind her.
o-o-o-o-o
They followed the small man through a vestibule that turned abruptly into a long hallway. The castle had the distinct air of having not been disturbed by anyone other than Bogneed for a long time - it smelled faintly of smoke, dust, and the strange yet familiar scent of burnt food. Ginny wrinkled her nose as she took in a deep breath and noticed that the long, almost threadbare carpet that lay beneath their feet swallowed up the sound of their footsteps. She felt Harry right behind her as they passed through another hallway entrance. Bogneed moved fast for such an old man, and Ginny lengthened her stride as he turned a corner without looking back at them. But for some reason, she wasn't worried about being left behind and had a strange sense of familiarity with the castle interior that puzzled her.
"Fast little blighter, isn't he?" she heard Katharine mutter to Brogan.
"You notice how the hallways light up as he moves through them?" Harry asked at her ear, and Ginny was startled to realize he was right - the light was bright enough and fell behind the small man so that they were basked in the glow of it, but the further away from them, he moved, the darker it became. They all hurried up their steps, and she was suddenly struck with how utterly idiotic it had been for them all to just blindly follow Bogneed into the castle, and stopped, causing Harry to walk into her.
"Uh, sorry."
"Shouldn't we try to keep up with him?" Katharine asked as the dark of the hallway pressed closer to them.
Ginny looked behind her and bit her lip. "Do any of you feel we should be on the defensive here?" She pulled out her wand, startled to realize she couldn't recall putting it away, and as the others looked at their own hands, she knew they hadn't felt themselves do it either.
"She's right," Harry agreed, looking at her. "Although I don't think any of us can do much to him. He seems rather…."
"Formidable?" Brogan asked, sounding a bit nervous.
"I didn't even realize I'd put my wand away," Katharine said, sounding baffled.
"Does anyone feel on edge?" Harry asked, sounding puzzled. Ginny searched her feelings and realized that she didn't, but still, that was troubling to begin with, wasn't it? Shouldn't they be a bit warier?
They started moving again, this time walking closer together, with Harry alongside her. The light from Bogneed led them like a beacon down the rest of the hall.
"I don't feel like I'm in danger, which is odd, isn't it? Considering we've just entered an old castle that some rather odd yet clearly powerful wizard has been living in for the last decade and a half," Harry mused quietly, and Ginny smiled.
"I don't think he's going to hurt us," Ginny said aloud, perplexed as to how she knew that exactly.
"Well, he seems to like you, at any rate," Harry said, looking sideways at her. Ginny felt herself blush. "What was with all the Gaelic back there?"
"I don't know, it just…came to me," she said, shrugging. "It's like…remember when you told me about speaking Parseltongue and how you just did it? That's how this was. I understood it perfectly. I think…." Ginny paused, a memory stirring in her mind.
"Gin?"
She glanced at him as they reached the end of yet another hallway and turned automatically to the left, as though something was guiding them. The light from Bogneed was moving up ahead of them, and they were almost upon it again.
"I think Aine speaks to me in Gaelic sometimes. Maybe that's where I got it," Ginny said, feeling odd.
"Feels a bit weird, doesn't it?" Harry remarked dryly.
She nodded and looked up ahead, noticing that the light had stopped moving, and the hall they were in was filling with illumination again. This particular hallway had a more lived-in feel; the air didn't seem quite as stale, and there were paintings on the wall that weren't covered with years of dust. Her eyes fell on each portrait as they walked past, their subjects all appearing to be dozing.
Harry spoke out loud about what she had been wondering. "Do you reckon these are all members of Sirius's family?"
"Aye. That they are, lad."
Harry and Ginny both stopped as Bogneed appeared in front of them. He looked up at them, his eyes darting from one to the other.
"They're all under a heavy spell too, so they won't awaken, if you try to talk to them," Bogneed said, as though that had been on their minds to even attempt.
"We met Sirius's mother via her portrait," Harry said as he looked around at the paintings. "I don't fancy meeting any more of the Blacks if they're all like her."
Bogneed seemed on the verge of smiling, but didn't, and he looked at Ginny again, as though sizing her up. "Right. This way. Afraid I can't offer any of you anything of comfort, I'm not used to having visitors."
Ginny bit back a laugh as Harry's response expression of 'no kidding' at such a statement seemed almost comical.
Bogneed turned and led them into a darkened room that lightened considerably as they entered. It was a library, of sorts; books filled every conceivable area - stacked on the floors, the desks, and the furniture. The shelves themselves were practically overflowing with dusty and rather heavy-looking tomes. There were even books on the windowsills and on the steps of a short metal staircase that led up to a second floor, which offered even more rows of weighty volumes. Ginny had a brief thought that this would be how Hermione would end up one day if left to her own devices. Harry caught her eye, and she knew he was thinking the same thing, and they shared a smile.
She glanced back at Brogan and Katharine, who were also looking around, their mouths open.
"Well, sit down," Bogneed suddenly barked at them, and they turned to see him perch himself on top of the least cluttered desk. He gave them a suddenly disgruntled look, as though he didn't like how they were looking at his library.
They moved quickly to one of the old, lumpy looking sofas, pushing books out of the way to make room for them all. Ginny sat on the end, while Brogan and Harry sat in the middle, with Katharine bringing up the other side. She sneezed as a puff of dust flew up in her face as she moved a pile of large books. Ginny saw Bogneed give her a disapproving look as though sneezing around books was a weakness he couldn't quite tolerate.
"Well, get on with it," Bogneed said, sighing and folding his arms as he sat down. His legs dangled over the side of the desk, and Ginny was suddenly compelled to laugh aloud. Knowing that the little man would definitely take that the wrong way, she folded her hands in her lap instead, and glanced at the others.
"Er, well…." Brogan started and then stopped, catching Ginny's eye. He gave her a shrugging sort of look, and she figured she'd better handle it.
"We're sorry to have disturbed you, Mr Bogneed," Ginny said, turning back towards the man, his glasses suddenly catching and reflecting the light of the room so that she couldn't see his eyes. "We weren't really expecting anyone to be here. We mainly came because of Harry's godfather and because of…Aine. And well, that's it, really…we just wanted to have a look around the castle."
Bogneed didn't say anything for a moment, and then he moved so that they could see his face. He stared impassively at Ginny for a moment.
"You didn't bring it with you, did you?" he asked as he leaned forward.
Ginny frowned. "Er, brought what?"
"The diary."
Ginny glanced at Harry, who looked as bewildered as she felt. For a moment, she had some strange sort of idea that Bogneed was referring to the diary from her first year - the one that had belonged to Voldemort as a young man and felt a bracing sort of coldness inside her.
"What diary, exactly, do you mean?" Harry asked, as though sensing her feelings.
Bogneed sighed and shook his head at them. "Well, mine, of course."
Ginny and Harry shared a glance, and she felt at a complete loss. "Why would I have your diary?"
"Well, if you figured out this castle was still in the Black family, I assumed the proper papers were given to you. Oh, this is typical." He snorted and shook his head.
"You lot have no idea, do you?" he asked. "I thought since you mentioned Aine, you'd have a fair head on your shoulders, but apparently not."
"About what?" Ginny asked, feeling more confused than insulted at Bogneed's words.
"About who I am, for one thing. Bloody hell." The old man swore and looked disappointed. "I'd at least expect the descendant to have some sort of clue; guess I was a bit optimistic on that point," he said, as he gave Brogan a disparaging look.
"Er, sorry…but, who are you then? And why am I supposed to know?" Brogan said, sounding cross.
"You honestly mean that none of you figured it out? It's really not that hard," Bogneed said, sounding haughty.
"Apparently," Brogan replied, his voice brusque, "it is."
Bogneed rolled his eyes and sighed, using his wand to conjure up what looked like the type of wooden blocks a child would use to learn the alphabet. The gaily colored blocks danced around in the air for a moment and then slowly started putting themselves in order to spell out the name, Gray P Bogneed. After making sure he had their attention, he flicked his wand again, and a giggling noise was heard as the blocks zoomed around the room over their heads, forming a sort of weird shape above them. They all turned their heads upward as the blocks slowly moved in and out from one another until they formed another name. It lingered in the air for a moment, and then more laughter and zooming commenced until the little man flicked his wand once making, making the blocks disappear. They suddenly found themselves staring into the face of one Peabody Grange, diary writer, and odd fellow wizard extraordinaire.
o-o-o-o-o
"Um, sorry, but…aren't you dead?" Brogan said before anyone else, and Ginny bit her lip to keep from giggling, suddenly feeling quite giddy. She realized it was nerves and exhaled slowly as Grange gave Brogan a very cross look.
"Do I look dead?" he spat out at them, slipping his wand back into his pocket.
"Erm, well, I think what Brogan meant was…." Ginny started but then stopped as Grange turned his dark look towards her.
"I know what he meant, Bricneach," he said curtly. "And no, I am not dead. Wizards in my family live a very long time." His voice held a note of pride, and Ginny glanced at Harry, who looked as though he was about to ask exactly how long a long time was, and she put her hand on his arm.
"Honestly, don't they teach the young any sort of manners nowadays?" Grange continued half to himself. He looked at Ginny and shook his head. "As Aine's heir, I'd think you would have figured it out, but the old girl must be stuck working with what she's been given, which apparently isn't much."
Ginny knew she should probably take that as an insult, but she didn't get angry for some reason.
"I've been reading your diary…your real diary. There are a lot of things I don't understand…things I wanted to ask you about, actually. Will you talk with us now? Even though we had no idea, you were here and didn't come prepared? You could teach us so much about the circle and…Aine…."
Ginny hoped the plea for him to share his knowledge was something he would respond to, and she was right as his face twitched for a moment, as though he wanted to smile. He nodded at her.
"I've let you in the castle, haven't I? I suppose we should get on with it. There's something I should show you first, though. Just you." He hopped down from the desk, surprising them all with how agile he seemed. He moved closer to Ginny and again studied her, his eyes lingering on her ring.
"There's a necklace that goes with that ring," he said, sounding odd.
"I know," Ginny said, looking at Harry. Her hand strayed unconsciously up to her neck. "I have it."
"Aye. Good. It'll help you." Grange said, nodding, his eyes glancing at Harry. "Well, come on. The rest of you wait. Don't touch anything. I mean it," he said as his eyes lingered on Katharine.
Ginny stood, looking down at Harry, who seemed hesitant to let her go. She touched his shoulder. "I'm sure I'll be fine," she said softly, and he nodded, his eyes following Grange as the little man walked to the door they'd all come through.
Grange cleared his throat impatiently, and Ginny hurried to catch up with him, feeling a surprising sense of exhilaration fill her.
o-o-o-o-o
Harry watched as Grange gave them another dirty look and closed the door behind him and Ginny, trying to push away the uneasy feeling in the stomach's pit. He looked at Brogan and Katharine.
"I know, mate, I know," Brogan said, sounding as shocked as Harry felt.
"I had no idea that loony was still alive!" Katharine exclaimed.
"Judging from his personality, death's probably too scared to come for him," Brogan said under his breath, and Harry felt like agreeing. He stared around the room, wondering what it felt like, to shut yourself up inside a world of just books and your own mind to keep you company. And Grange had been reported as being eccentric even before he'd spent the last eighty years locked up in Black Castle. It was mind-boggling.
"I wonder why he expected us to have the diary with us," Harry said aloud.
Brogan shrugged. "It's probably why it was with your godfather's papers, but the instructions of what to do with it were probably lost along the way. Blimey. Peabody Grange alive and well…really makes you think, eh? He has to be close to two hundred years old."
"Two hundred and five, actually," Katharine said as they both looked at her. "I did a paper about the Grange circle when I was in Muggle school. It was one of those local history courses. I picked it because it was easy, even though the teacher gave me a warning on it, saying I focused too much on the 'ethereal and magical mumbo-jumbo' of the place." Seeing their expressions, she explained further. "I talked a lot about the supposition that Aine wasn't merely legend but an actual witch and that Grange was on the right track. It didn't gain me any points."
"Bet that teacher would change his position now if you rolled Peabody in there for him to chat up," Brogan said, frowning.
"I can't believe he's been living in this castle all this time," Harry said. He looked at the first pile of books that Ginny had moved to the table next to them. The titles jumped out at him and seemed rather odd….
Life and How to Live It, by O. M. Kensey, The Lion, the Witch, and the Problematic Issues of their Meeting in a Wardrobe, by Ralph Periwinkle-Snout and Keeping the Cauldron Black by Melissa Dyepot.
Harry nodded at the books. "Mr Grange appears to have rather unusual reading habits. I expected something more significant than how to keep a cauldron black."
Katharine and Brogan stood up and started to look around with him, but all three managed to remember not to touch anything. For his part, Harry wouldn't put it past the old man to have booby-trapped the books.
"Do you think he really reads all of these?" Brogan asked as he pointed at a somewhat worn-looking book sitting on the desk, as though it had been the last one Grange had read. Harry looked at the title and raised his eyebrow.
"He doesn't strike me as a reel and tackle type of bloke."
"Nor to me either. There's something weird about these books…it's like he wants us to think he reads rubbish."
"He's probably charmed them," Katharine said as she paused in front of one of the shelves. "They're probably ancient texts, telling him secrets of magic profound or something or other."
Harry looked down at his new watch, noting the time and wishing that Grange and Ginny would come back soon.
o-o-o-o-o
"You've been in the cave."
Ginny simply nodded because it wasn't a question that Grange asked her.
"So you've spoken with her?" he continued as he led them down another dark hallway.
"Yes. Twice," Ginny said without thinking and then frowned.
Grange noticed and nodded at her. "Aye. The mistress does that to you. It's the rocks where she's kept. Time acts a bit funny around her. Ah, here we go."
He showed her into another room; this one was not filled with books but with more portraits. Seeing her puzzlement, Grange explained.
"I took down most of the portraits through the years; some were of people who had lived in the castle at one point in their lives, but most were Black relatives telling me off for keeping their castle in disrepair. This was before I figured out how to charm them to sleep forever. Goddess save me, they could drive a man crazy with their incessant prattling. I wouldn't even have to be in this part of the castle, and they'd be yelling at me—a bunch of pure-blooded, snobbish gits. Seymour Filitiasus Black was the last good one, trust me. He's the one who gave the castle to me, to keep the family from fighting over it. I wished he'd thought about what their portraits would say after he'd passed on."
Grange tottled forward and looked around for a moment. "It's a shame I had to charm this one as well; but I was afraid it would get lonely. Ah…." He stopped short and brought his eyes back to Ginny and finally gave a slight smile.
"You've read my diary, you say?"
She nodded and licked her lips. "Yes. Many times."
"So you've read what I've said about the stones and everything being connected."
"Yes, but I'm not sure I underst-"
"Bah. It's all there, girlie. Keep reading. Everything you need to know is in that book. Everything but this, actually. Now by showing you this, I'm breaking a law. Oh, no, not a bloody Ministry law or something like that," Grange said as he saw Ginny frown. "No, no, I'm breaking natural law, but…I reckon…well, you'll see. Come here, you have to stand here."
He indicated for her to move forward, and he turned her so that she was looking at a large frame that was covered with a long and dirty sheet. He waved his wand, and the sheet fluttered to the ground to reveal the picture underneath. Ginny blinked at it for a few moments before it registered in her head what she was looking at. She felt her mouth fall open, and she glanced down at Grange, who grinned widely at her.
"It's a good likeness, eh?"
"But…how…the only Black I've ever known was Sirius…."
"Aye. To this point in your life, he was, yes." Grange said, his eyes bright with excitement.
"I don't understand," Ginny said, feeling her heart beating fast in her chest as she looked at the painting again.
"No, but you will," Grange said mysteriously. "I say, I do think you're prettier in person, but they did capture your essence quite well, didn't they? Of course, you were a fair bit older when you sat for this."
Ginny couldn't speak. She could only stare at the portrait of herself and wonder what on earth was going on.
o-o-o-o-o
"He showed you what?" Harry asked for the third time as Ginny sighed and rolled off the bed. They had just come back from what Harry considered a very trying and strange day, and they had both collapsed on the bed as soon as they'd entered the room. He was still trying to wrap his head around the experience of meeting Peabody Grange in the flesh; Ginny seemed to be in a similar state, although she appeared to be a bit more wound up than Harry and for good reason, apparently.
"I told you…a portrait. Of me. From…the turn of the century. It was weird, Harry…to see myself…I could have carried on a conversation with it…with me!"
"Well, it can't have been you," Harry said, frowning as he watched her pace in front of the bed.
She paused and gave him a disgruntled look. "Are you saying I don't know myself when I…see myself?"
"Well, no, but -"
"Grange said it's been in the family's holdings for years. He also told me before he showed it to me that all the portraits were of family members and people who had lived in the castle. I lived in that castle."
Harry sat up and tried not to smile. "Gin, come on. Listen to yourself. You lived in Black Castle? Are you older than you've let on? Because I've got to say, you look amazingly well put together for a woman over the age of a hundred…."
"I'm serious, Harry!" she snapped at him and looked cross, her hair coming out of the ponytail she'd pulled it back into. Harry sighed and stood up, going to her.
"Ginny…look, I'm not making light of this, honestly, but…what exactly are you saying here? Grange showed you a portrait of a young woman who bears a resemblance to you -"
"It was me."
"Did you speak to yourself?"
"No, but -"
"He had it charmed, right? Like the rest of them?"
"Yes."
"How do you know it's not just some woman that looked like you, and he's trying to pull one over on us?"
Ginny frowned. "But why? To what point? He's just been living up in that dodgy old castle, waiting for me to pay him a visit to play mind games with me? That doesn't make any sense, Harry."
He took hold of her hand and started massaging it, trying to calm her down. "You just said it, Gin. He's been stuck in that castle for years, doing nothing but reading and who knows what else. And he apparently knows a great deal about Aine and you, her heir. Who's to say this isn't some elaborate trick to get you to trust him? He's a powerful wizard, that much is apparent just by half the charms he has on everything. He did ask you to come back tomorrow with the diary, didn't he?"
"But why?" Ginny said, sounding exasperated. "And he didn't just ask me back, he wanted you and Brogan to come too. I just don't think this is a hoax."
Harry let go of her hand and sat back down on the bed. He rubbed his temple and tried to come up with some explanation for what she had seen. It didn't make any sense to him either, but part of him also seriously doubted that she had seen what she thought she had - it just didn't add up.
"We should talk to Dumbledore," Harry said, meeting her eyes. "We should tell him that Grange is alive and what he showed you. He's the only person I know that would be able to make heads or tails out of all of this. And that includes that other bit you and Brogan weren't going to tell me, too; the part about you having to leave." He couldn't keep the note of reproach out of his voice.
Ginny's shoulders slumped, and she sat down next to him, and he pulled her into his arms.
"It was just…unnerving to see," she said softly, and he looked down at her, seeing the start of tears behind her eyes, and he knew she was really wound up. He held her closer to him, tightening his grip.
"I knew how to get through the gate…., and I felt…something when we walked into that castle, Harry. I thought it was just Aine guiding me, but maybe it wasn't. Maybe I was there, before…somehow." She frowned as she stared off into space, and Harry kissed the top of her head.
"Ginny, you've had a very emotional Christmas. Actually, we both have. Let's not speculate about what anything means until we can talk to Dumbledore. Maybe he can shed some light on this whole thing. There's probably an explanation out there, just waiting for us to figure it out." Harry tried the best he could to sound as confident as possible. Ginny turned her head and looked up at him, cupping his face in her hands. She smiled gently.
"You're very strong and wise, do you know that?"
"Is that the polite way of telling me I'm stubborn?"
"No. It's the truth, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you everything before -"
Harry shushed her, kissing her before they got into another discussion. He didn't want to think about things anymore. He wanted to get back that spark they had shared on top of the rotunda that morning. Before long, they'd fallen back on the bed, and he was looking down at her, his senses filling with everything that she was. And they held tight to each other - neither one wanting to be the first to let go.
o-o-o-o-o
"It is almost time, Wormtail."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Weasley? You know what you must do."
"Of course, my Lord. You can count on me. I will bring the item you require."
"I hope so, Weasley. I do not show my face this night for nothing. Wormtail, let the Malfoy boy know we are beginning our approach."
Lord Voldemort stared up at the school in the distance and smiled, a cheerless yet twisted sort of joy spreading through him. He had waited a long time for this night, and he would not be denied. If everything went right, the school would be his, and Dumbledore would be dead. Even if everything went wrong, at least one of those outcomes would come to fruition; oh yes, he'd waited a long time. Voldemort threw back his head and laughed - a hissing, guttural noise that only made the feet of his Death Eaters move faster in front of him as they moved into place. The time had come to settle old fights.
o-o-o-o-o