Chapter 15
Now that Hermione was safe, Harry was able to take care of some loose ends back at Hogwarts and check on Minister Shacklebolt's suspicions. He and Ginny had spent, for lack of a better word, a magical night together. Since her return to Hogwarts to make sure he was okay, he realized that he had been an idiot about the whole ordeal.
Both his parents were in the Order and both his parents sacrificed themselves for a good cause. He couldn't keep trying to protect Ginny anymore. She had played a huge role in the war and kept him sane. He would be a fool not to allow her to be a part of things because of selfish reasons. That wasn't the kind of person Ginny was and it was the reason he was in love with her.
They walked hand in hand that morning through the walls of Hogwarts to Headmistress McGonagall's office to explain what was going on. Two more students had collapsed but were still mostly alive in St. Mungo's and the students were beginning to catch on that it was no freak accident or illness. Something sinister was coming.
When they got to her office, McGonagall greeted them with a large smile.
"It's about time," she said simply.
Ginny grinned while Harry rolled his eyes. He always knew that the professor had a certain affinity for them but it was different hearing it out loud from her herself. He gave a slight wave to the portraits of Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape behind her desk and made a stern look that showed their visit would not be a pleasant one. They sat down and began to explain everything they had encountered the past few weeks.
Ginny had gone through everything from Hermione meeting Blaise in a bar and going on a date with him, to finding Draco stuck in an underworld to then being kidnapped by the Dark Lord's Obscurus.
"Of course this is all speculation," she finished, watching the wheels turn in McGonagall's head. "But it's the closest thing we have as an answer.
"Very curious," the headmistress whispered. She turned towards the portraits of Albus and Severus behind her who were also listening intently. "What do you two think?"
It was Snape that spoke first. "Towards the end of his days, when Potter finished off most of the Horcruxes, I did notice that not only had he kept Nagini close, but he would often go visit Godric's Hollow. You were on to something those years ago Potter, about it being a place of significance for him I just didn't realize why until now."
They all waited with bated breath for him to continue. He spoke of an ancient ritual, that was founded in ancient times. Only the Egyptians had clear documentation of it therefore it was said to have been created by them. Like many civilizations, they believed in immortal gods and a way to become immortal after death. He described how they believed the souls had five parts and any of those surviving parts could perform a transference of consciousness ritual to then go on and live for eternity. But the ritual would have to be done once every century to sustain the soul.
The KA is the part of consciousness which stays here on planet earth. It was represented in hieroglyphs as two up-stretched arms reaching toward the sky. The KA, or spirit, is the part of us which can roam illusory creations of the mind. The Dark Lord's Obscurus remained intact but started to present itself when he was at his most vulnerable. However, it was confined to one place: The place where it all started.
Snape turned to Harry directly and said, "Godric's Hollow became a Nexus. I felt it that night when I returned for Lily and I suspected it further towards the end of the war. I thought if the Dark Lord was gone, it too would vanish."
Albus nodded his head and continued, "I too, suspected something of the sort but there were much larger and more immediate stakes to take care of. It would seem now, that old Tom figured out how to secure another chance at life."
"What exactly is a Nexus, sir?" Harry asked.
A twinkle formed in his eyes as if he found it both exciting and dangerous. "It is a connection between two things. In this case, Godric's Hollow is the Nexus between you and Voldemort but since that connection has died, when you sacrificed yourself, that particular connection has ended. If I'm to take a guess now, I'd say this Nexus is a portal to the world the Obscurus is trapped in."
Ginny spoke next, "let's get back to that bit about the transference of consciousness though. If that ritual back at Godric's Hollow was for that, why would he choose Hermione as the person to take over?"
"That Ms. Weasley," said Albus. "Is the mystery we must solve, and quickly I might add. From what you say, the 13th moon is only a short time away."
Harry nodded knowingly. He sent out a Patronus with everything they discussed so far to Hermione and Draco before turning back to the group.
"We are going to Egypt to find out more about that load of energy that's raising flags at the ministry. It may have something to do with why there are kids getting hurt at Hogwarts."
"I wouldn't be surprised if it's linked with the Nexus, and using the magic of students here to feed off of," Snape said.
McGonagall looked worried, "Should we send the children home? Maybe it senses all the magic in one place and that's what alerted it to us?"
Dumbledore nodded his head in agreement. "I'm afraid Minerva, that is what will most likely have to happen if that's the case. Harry, will you alert us as soon as you find out?"
"Yes, sir."
He turned to Ginny, who nodded and they set out to catch a portkey to Cairo.
Cairo was unlike anything Harry had ever experienced. Ginny had already been when she went his third year so she seemed less enthusiastic about it. He loved seeing the pyramids, and the markets and the people. The Wizarding community seemed to fit right in so it was difficult to discern who was who.
When they made it to the ministry embassy, they were greeted by a tall slender man, with dark skin and dark eyes.
"Hello, you must be the Potters?"
Harry blushed and Ginny giggled but neither corrected him.
"My name is Abduul, Shacklebolt told us you would be coming. I'm here to escort you to the site."
"Thanks, Abduul. Please call me Harry and this is Ginny. Have you noticed anything peculiar in the last few weeks with the people around here?"
Abduul nodded and said, "there have been more, stray witches and wizards acting off and rambling on more than often but other than that no. I was quite surprised to hear from the UK ministry to be honest.
He walked them through a tall building that had hieroglyphics of witches and wizards, large windows and statues. Harry was embarrassed and shocked to stumble on one particular statue of a boy with round glasses and a scar.
Abduul laughed "Even in Cairo, Mr. Potter you are most famous."
Ginny couldn't control it anymore and burst out laughing. "It looks just like you Harry!"
"Shut it Gin," he mumbled.
When they got to Abduul's office he led them to another portkey and in moments they were in front of a rather large, decaying looking pyramid.
"This site, not recently closed off, was accessible for everyone. Inside lies the tomb of Horus, a great wizard. Those affected were believed to have been in contact with this tomb," Abduul said.
"I remember this one," Ginny said. "We visited here on our trip. It did feel a little off to me, but never thought anything of it."
Harry frowned, and cast a few simple charms over it to see if anything would happen. He knew he was going to have to go inside if he was going to get anything. Ginny protested but he calmed her down before stepping Abduul removed the blocking spell and let him in.
The pyramid itself was quite spectacular and he felt immediately transported. There were images of falcons headed humans, who he assumed was Horus himself everywhere. As he went further into the pyramid, wand at the ready, he came across a small tunnel that was already faintly lit.
Checking his shoulder, he walked the path slowly. Wind filled the tunnel making it as if someone was whispering around him. He kept walking, seeing a reddish light emanating from ahead. When he finally reached it, he found himself in a small room, with a low ceiling, He must have been pretty far underground because the air was thick and chilled.
The light was coming from what looked like a stone tablet on an altar. On the tablet he saw images of an orb surrounded by people kneeling. He noticed a girl with bushy hair in the middle as well. She was lying on the floor, lifeless while the others appeared to be chanting, hands stretched out in front of them. As he went to touch the tablet, a gust of wind knocked him to the ground angrily. The stone grew redder and Harry realized what it must have been.
He immediately raced out of the tomb and found Ginny and Abduul waiting anxiously.
"Where have you been, Harry? We were about to call for help."
Harry frowned, I haven't been down there that long Gin," he said.
They looked at each other weirdly. "Harry, it's been 2 hours."
"There's no way, it only felt like 30 minutes top," Harry said. "And you'll never guess what I think is down there. I think it's a prophecy, Gin. Like in the Department of Mysteries!"
"What!? What did you see?" Ginny said.
"Pictures of the Obscurus and its servants doing a ritual. And there was a girl in the middle of it all. It looked like Hermione, Gin. I think we figured out why Voldemort is using her now."
"We need to get back to Malfoy Manor!" Ginny said.
Abduul led them back to the embassy bidding them a short goodbye. Harry took Gin's hand and smiled. He would never have been able to do this without her.