In the Wynn Forest
December 14, 2019 -
It was 3 p.m and Harry had had no further progress on Albus's case, again.
Since going to the forest, he had had the fleeting hope that it would be possible to find more clues. There had to be something else there, something they could use to find more about his son's case. Anything. But the only news was that the blood there was Albus'. It was his son's blood. A lot of blood there on that horrible cabin in that creepy forest.
O'Neill should go to the cabin again today to investigate further. But the Ukrainian government had started to intervene. They were extremely irritated by the incursions of the aurors into the forest. And it got even worse when Ron tried to interrogate Clayton. Ukranian's newspapers talked about this, it was almost all the papers in the country. But it had also been reported by Dênis Salinger:
Aggressive British Auror tries to intimidate tour guide member of a protected tribe in Ukraine
Harry Potter and some aurors decided that, instead of doing their jobs, it would be a good idea to secretly go into a Ukrainian forest in search of his son!
Are you a citizen who wishes the aurors would be able to protect you (or at least try) from dangerous groups of dark wizards? Unfortunately, the great Harry Potter, Hero of the Wizarding World has no time for that! We'd better schedule some self-defense classes because if we have to rely on the Aurors' protection, then it's over!
Auror Ronald Weasley arrived, a few days after the infamous Auror incursion, in Ukraine. Some people have hobbies such as playing golf or reading..., but Ronald Weasley seems to be harassing members of protected tribes, intimidating them in their own country and tribe, threatening to arrest the man and take him (by force!) to a foreign country! This is definitely AGAINST the law! This is a shame not only for the Aurors' Department but for the whole country! A clear violation of the civil rights of the native populations!
The Ukrainian newspapers soon learned about the news because Mr. Clayton had the noble courage to warn the local public administration, which soon contacted federal agencies.
The problem reached the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, who immediately summoned the British ambassador for clarifications, three diplomats were expelled in retaliation for the Acting Chief of the Auror Department's actions. Ronald Weasley is now on compulsory license for an indefinite time and the head of the Department is now auror Norman O'Neill.
The Shasta tribe receives special care from the Romanian government that grants them protection and economic and social support. It is an ancient tribe, with about five hundred people residing in the Ukrainian and Romanian territory. They have their own cultural traditions and practices. Clayton (a name he uses at work, his real name is Hyhori) acts as a tour guide usually showing the population of Occamy, Demiguise, and Keelpies that inhabit the vast forest region where the tribe is located, many tourists from various parts of the world come every year to see the landscapes and the magical creatures that inhabit the areas.
He reveals that Norman O'Neill said he wanted to enter a specific and unusual part of the forest and go into an area that the natives believe to be (in the interviewee's words) "haunted". When I asked how the Celt forest could be haunted, he flatly refused to answer me.
The Ukrainian government has announced plans to prevent the entry of foreign law enforcement officers on duty (that have come to the area to actively investigate something) without a mandate or the necessary documents required by national Ukrainian law.
The Chief Judge of Ukraine's Supreme Justice High Court gave, at the Technical Magic School of Practical Magic of Kyiv, a speech where he advocated the necessity to further increase the protection for indigenous peoples and support measures that would convert the area where the Celt forest is located into an environmental reserve. If this were to happen, the National Statute for the Protection of Environmental Reserves would have to be actively applied. When I asked him, he reassured me that "it is necessary to rethink the protection of indigenous citizens so that they are not intimidated by foreign wizards who think they can do anything they want in Ukraine!"
Auror Weasley refused to speak to journalists who gathered in the Ministry's hall, eager to hear his justifications. Auror O'Neill, visibly dissatisfied with my insistence, gave me several stowed excuses, assured that "everything would be internally investigated fairly and serenely". When Leo Gyon asked him about Albus Potter's case ( that he continues to investigate!) he got angry and left the room. Horton Cirley had to come in and calm the journalists with Auror Otis' help who displayed an ugly wound on his leg…
Maybe what haunts Celt forest is something aggressive with a desire for fresh blood..., but I opine that whatever it is that is there, we should leave it there. We have enough problems here in the U.K. with the Dark Path Movement and the Proud New Magicians...
The situation was bad for Ron. Hermione reprehended him emphatically for, as she had said "act without thinking about the consequences." Internal Affairs would be entering the scene and would also request specific information about the Celt Forest incursion. After the whole confusion with Ukraine, The Minister of Magic himself, William Magis, had called him furious and nervous earlier today informing him that Albus's case would be immediately closed.
"You see, I value you very much. And it's just because of that, Potter, I wish you to pull yourself back together as soon as possible and get back in the force. I don't want to sound or be insensitive. Not at all. But understand that the world cannot stop and mourn together with you because of your son," he said a little too aggressively, he seemed to regret it almost immediately. He sighed and began to speak softly. But Harry would prefer him to continue with an angry tone, for the Minister's voice now demonstrated a pity he seemed to feel of Harry. It was a pity full of accusatory undertones as if he was calling Harry incompetent for not overcoming the problems he faced.
"In statistical terms..., and know that I am a man of science, Potter... hum-," he paused, seeming to try to formulate a way of saying what he wanted, "I'm sorry to say it so directly, but, in statistical terms, Potter, your son is dead," said Magis with a cold expression, his look even more icy, a general irritation at his expression addressed to Harry and no indication that he felt any authentic deep and good emotion towards him. Cold, heartless, all he could think about was his re-election, and Harry was getting in the way of it.
It was like a bucket of cold water was being thrown at him.
He, in fact, did not like William Magis.
He hated him, he'd only realized it fully now.
He hated William Magis.
Harry Potter hated William Magis, the Minister of Magic.
With all his might.
He tried to imagine Kingsley telling him something like that…, and couldn't. Kingsley at least had a heart. William Magis was an ambitious psychopath who only cared about himself and tried to destroy those who got in his way, the only time he cared enough to show a side of him that looked minimally human-like was in his political campaigns. He was a classic politician who defended socially retrograde agendas and was elitist and uncaring.
His hatred for Magis intensified. Miraculously, Harry controlled himself so as not to say anything. He bit his tongue irritated and pressed his nails against his hands until he felt the blood warm sliding down his palm. He wanted to shout "My son is not dead!" and "Who are you to say that?!"
(But what if he was?!)
Intrusive thoughts appeared before he could rebuke that dark logic that seemed to agree with Magisstatements.
(Almost a year. Almost a year. What if he's really dead?)
"I'll give you a week. One week and I want you to go back to the aurors department and do your job!" He shouted, exasperated, ending the contact.
Harry ran his hand through his messy hair. Lily was in the house, but he hoped his daughter hadn't heard any of it. Same. Harry still trembled with hatred, while feeling a bleak sadness that was almost paralyzing, but which paradoxically made him want to scream and destroy the portrait of William Magis at his desk.
A fluffy and chubby white owl appeared at his window, poking it cheerfully, seeming to mock his despair...
Harry had to calm down. He sighed deeply several times and slowly opened the window, letting her in. She brought him a letter from Hogwarts, a red envelope.
Dear Mr. Potter and/or Mrs Potter,
I inform you that your son James Sirius Potter will be suspended for three days, as he was, once again, involved in a fight with another student (using both his fists and wand), but this time it will be necessary to transfer said student to . The student is relatively well now but will need to stay under further observation for a while until he recovers fully.
We're calling you to school to pick up your son.
We also add that we are, indeed, aware of the difficult conditions your family is going through right now, and we respect that, considering it when applying the punishment. However, I affirm that your child has been anxious and aggressive and I advise, with his well-being as a priority, that a professional be consulted and that the parents talk to him, to, together with the faculty, be able to help him.
He had noticed that James was not doing well when he sent him to Hogwarts to start his fourth year. But as much as he tried to talk to him about the things that afflicted him, he kept it all to himself.
Guilt blended into the amalgam of disconcerting emotions. He came out of his office and knocked on Ginny's bedroom door and, without waiting for answers, came inside quietly. Ginny was taking a nap but soon woke up, confused.
Harry handed him the letter, lighting the lamp by the bed. She quickly read and let out a sigh that revealed a mixture of exasperation and worry.
"Harry, we have to talk to James. A long talk," she said wearily.
Ginny was still angry with him for not telling her about his discoveries about Albus's case, at Celt Forest. She said she wanted to have gone with him. And since Harry had told you, even the smallest details, about his findings, he realized that Ginny was much more stressed than normal, she had asked him several questions:
How did O'Neill know about the location? He talked about a ritual, didn't he, but what kind of ritual? Why in Ukraine? What exactly did they do to him? How many culprits? Why our son?
She promptly got up and started combing her long hair with a brush.
"Can you get James, Harry? I'm going to take Lily to mom's house, Hugo will be there too to be with her," she explained.
"Lily! We're going early, honey," she called, picking up her wand.
Ron was due to face a long inquiry tonight, Hermione was probably helping him prepare and, for that reason, would leave Hugo with Ron's parents.
Molly and Arthur were being extremely kind. Both, as well as the rest of their family and friends, were devastated by Albus's disappearance and did everything they could to help.
His daughter showed up at the door. Harry did not know if she had actually understood Albus's disappearance, she seemed to have extreme confidence in Harry and Ginny's efforts, seemingly thinking they could do basically everything. Maybe she saw them both as some kind of heroes, able to overcome everything, always being successful. Harry didn't felt like a hero, and he was pretty sure Ginny didn't feel that way either.
She, of course, cried a lot and lamented, but she never seemed to think about the possibility of them not finding Albus, about the possibility of failure. When she was upset, she said that it was because they hadn't found him yet, and that she did not like to wait so long, that she wanted Albus back now.
As an adult, Harry had been progressively forced to face the possibility of going through irreparable failures and committing consecutive mistakes, therefore he could not have such an optimistic view. He'd like to be this hopeful. But sometimes people fail, badly.
It's reality, and it's disappointing.
"Good luck, Daddy," said her daughter with a smile, saying goodbye when Ginny grabbed her by the hand and the two came out her door. Ginny gave her a sad look and just nodded her head, a mute goodbye.
Harry would go through the Principal's fireplace at Hogwarts. Other parents did not have the same privileges as him and had to walk or apparate to the nearby regions of Hogsmead.
Minerva McGonagall had retired a few years ago and now the new director was a man Harry thought to be way too young for such an important job, with little experience and with almost "no personality" named Laurent Balthus.
Maybe he was judging him way too much, but every time Harry talked with or met him, the boy always seemed scared and nervous. Academically, he didn't have many innovative methodologies or remarkable talents.
He had been personally appointed by Professor Edward Daniels Ikabonf who taught Defense Against the Dark Arts, with considerable support from the School Council. At the age of 29, Laurent Balthus now "commanded" Hogwarts, the one responsible for teaching hundreds or thousands of children so they could face the real world, so they would become adults with jobs and families. It was a lot of responsibility. One of the most important positions in the magical world!
Harry thought he was underqualified. He had no previous experience with school administration and his previous work was in his uncle's office who was a famous magical lawyer specializing in insurance and contracts.
When he arrived he saw that James was sitting in the chair with an angry expression on his face and his arms crossed, avoiding his gaze.
Laurent Balthus was standing, walking from side to side with his anxious smile, when he saw him, letting out a sharp and nervous little exclamation.
" Mr. Potter! What an honor, what an honor," he said with trembling hands. Her blonde curly hair and his face of fine features without a beard gave her a very youthful appearance.
He cast a hard glance at James, but the boy summarily ignored him.
At that moment Neville entered the room with a worried expression.
"Harry, can we talk?" Asked the friend, Harry nodded positively by casting one last look at James. The Director looked at him and James not seeming to know how to act at the time.
He ended up just smiling and then returned to his desk, beginning to fill out random papers, but with a curious expression on his face. Neville closed the door and the two went down a few flights of stairs.
"Let's step back a little further. The Director... is a little too curious," Neville revealed, uncomfortable.
They stopped in a long corridor, with several stools in the colors of Hogwarts houses (since Voldemort's destruction of Hogwarts, several renovations were made and the School had changed a lot). The school had built more areas and it had become even bigger.
"Director Balthus likes to decorate things around here," said Neville looking at the water fountains also in the colors of Hogwarts.
They were silent for a while, so Neville spoke.
"James is not well, Harry," he sighed, frustrated and sad. Who was well in the family after Albus disappeared?
"He's been very aggressive and I think he's depressed, Harry. I try to help, but he won't talk to me. He doesn't talk to any teacher and has fought with some of his friends, but he won't tell me why," the friend revealed.
"Why did he assault this boy?" Asked Harry, curious.
"The boy said Albus was dead." His tone was solemn.
"In statistical terms, Mr. Potter, your son is dead."
"Neville, answer me one thing...," the tone was of supplication "who do you think it was?" A long silence.
Who kidnapped Albus?
Who (killed) Albus?
"It seems that nothing leads me in the right direction. I feel like I shoot in the dark for fuzzy directions that don't change anything," he said with regret.
" I... I have no idea, Harry. I try to think about it, but nothing comes to mind, anyway. Who would be able to kidnap a child and keep them in captivity all this time?!" Neville was frustrated.
"They didn't just kidnap Neville, they..., they-" Harry couldn't say, "There was too much blood, Neville. And it was horrible," Harry confessed with his trembling voice and tearing eyes.
"Ron told me about the Celt forest and that O'Neill talked about a kind of black magic ritual..."
O'Neill later dismayed the matter, saying that he had only deduced from what seemed to have been used there and the fact that there was a circle on the ground. He trusted O'Neill so he hadn't asked more than necessary about it.
The veteran auror was able to be researching something on the subject on his own, he tended to be self-employed and preferred to work alone.
He just hated not being able to do anything. He missed Albus so much." I wish I could help more. Indeed," Neville lamented."
"It's all right, you already help taking care of James," he replied, the two slowly walked back, some students passed through both. A red-haired boy gave a lively scream while the others let out nervous giggles.
He returned to the room, and accompanied James to the fireplace, after saying goodbye to everyone.
They arrived home in a short time, James looked at him strangely, he looked sad while seemed afraid of something specific.
"James, do you want to say something?" Asked Harry, sitting at the kitchen table.
"Dad, is it my fault?" Harry stopped, surprised, not knowing how to react.
James threw himself on the couch hugging a purple cushion, hiding his face between the blankets left there.
"I was with him before... before... everything that happened!" he said raising his voice a little.
"James, listen," he silently approached the boy, who still hides his face in one of the blankets, he thought he heard something strongly similar to a sob "it's not your fault. It's no one fault," he said firmly.
(But it's my fault, it's my fault)
"Albus is missing, but I swear I'm doing everything I can to help, James. Me, your mother, your grandparents,"
James seemed to ignore him. He heard more sobs.
"Is he dead?"
(Dead, dead, dead. I don't know. I wish he isn't dead, but you could I know?!)
"Of course not. We found the place where he was kept, and we're investigating to see if he can find any clues," he said trying to tranquilize both his son and himself, as his hand was shaking a lot and he felt a growing sadness and despair.
"Did you find? Where?" He asked.
"In… Ukraine?"
"Ukraine?!" Asked James, shocked. His eyes were puffy and red.
"Who did it, dad?"
(That's what I want to know too!)
"We're investigating," James seemed angry.
"You always say that!" His son got up and went to his room, he closed the door aggressively.
He'd have to talk with him later, for now, he was not in the mood. He didn't felt… okay. He felt broken. James remained in his room for most of the day. He could hear his older son crying. He decided to give him some privacy because he felt he couldn't help him much. No new information. No new nothing.
"I'm going to make us another coffee, honey," Ginny sighed, frustrated. He just nodded. Yes, she had gotten a little colder with him since he had been with O'Neill the last few times without telling him, but that didn't stop her from joining him and cooperating to help find her son. But, despite everything, it was always the same thing, they started to review the case with hope at first, then the frustration phase started and they searched desperately for the rest of the night when tiredness dominated them.
He had once been so tired after a stressful investigation that he ended up in Albus's room. He had gone in and slept right there, in his son's bed. He woke up to find Ginny sleeping on a chair in the room. Since then, it became a habit for them to sleep in Albus's room. Harry could not explain why with certainty, but he felt that in doing so, he could almost feel his son, close to him, it would be possible to find him in dreams even if he was not able to do this in real life.
Ginny returned with hot coffee and Harry opened a large map already streaked across the diagonal alley to examine it again. They didn't talk about the possibility that Albus was already ...
Dead.
...
These last few days were being terrible.
Everyone seemed to begin to make sudden and constant references that his son was already dead, few still seemed to believe that it was possible to find him alive. James had locked himself in his room and barely went out to eat, his suspension ended and he went back to school without even properly saying goodbye to them. Ginny had tried to talk to James, but the boy revealed nothing about his most deep emotions, about his guilty concerning Albus' fate. Why was James feeling so guilty?
The Albus' already dead subject was one they preferred to ignore, that they had to ignore, or the pain would simply be too much.
Harry was no a fool. He knew that some people in the family already believed that Albus had died. After all, almost a year had passed with almost no clue about his whereabouts. Terrible nausea overcame him and he thought he was going to be sick.
It was horrible to think about it.
It was so wrong and unfair.
Albus had been only eleven, he was a child…
Although he was now twelve (if he was alive, he thought before he could suppress).
Where had Albus spent his birthday? In the company of crazy kidnappers, who sedated him and tied him up to a bloody bed?
Or, and the mere thought terrified him in a way that not even Lord Voldemort had done when he was a child, had he not even lived to complete another birthday and therefore would always be eleven years old? Never aging, always being his little boy… New memories of Albus would never be made, he would be perpetuated in the memories of his infancy times.
He couldn't take it anymore. A tear ran down the corner of his cheek. Ginny looked at him, sad and concerned, but understanding everything in a matter of seconds.
When two people are soulmates and are united in happiness and despair, words become unnecessary at times.
She whispered his name and hugged him gently, after a while he realized that she, too, was crying. There were not many words to say. It was just a very dark and painful moment for Harry and Ginny to say exactly what they felt. A pain too deep to be overcome with words alone.
Harry had cried a few times in the past few months, as had Ginny, but that moment was special.
In the dark corner of their minds, where they held repressed thoughts, they had already thought about it. Never really accepting, but subconsciously thinking that Albus could not be found alive anymore.
It was torture to have to think about that (his death) and Harry wanted to scream, it was much worse than the Cruciatus curse, maybe it was more like a Dementor's kiss. It was an icy, paralyzing pain. It was definitely not physical pain, but an emotional pain that made Harry feel desperate. He felt as if he were floating in a deep, black river of endless, empty, and soulless pain.
But strangely and suddenly, after some time in which the two cried in each other's arms, a warmth rose from the window at that moment, a soft white light: a Patronus.
O'Neill's Patron was in the room and could hear a message that made him happy, for the first time in months.
"We found him in Wynn Forest, Romania. Follow the coordinates that will arrive by owl very soon. He is alive."
All the hopelessness he felt started to disappear, Ginny gave him a tearful smile. He hugged her tightly. He was crying, but this time he cried with happiness and relief.
"They found him. They found him, Ginny. They found Albus. He's alive," he whispered in her ear, comforting. He was just repeating the message, but he had to do it. He had to say the words to make them more real so that they could ward off all negative emotions and all the pain they've been through in the last few months. He said them louder to his wife, the fact that Lily was sleeping nearby was completely forgotten.
"What is it, father?" It was Lily, now awake in pink cute pajamas.
"Lily, they found your brother," Ginny said with immense relief. Ginny had forgotten completely about the coffee and at that moment the two of them were arguing with whom to leave Lily ("Dad, I want to go too!") When a black owl holding a letter entered the hall. In the letter, Harry could read the coordinates.
"He's in Wynn Forest, Romania. We need to go there. Lily, we'll be apparating you back to your grandma's house, okay?" The girl protested, but in the end, she agreed to stay there, as Ginny said she could see Albus later, as soon as they got him back.
He and Ginny had to wake up Molly and Arthur, but they were really happy that Albus had finally been found and offered to look after Lily for as long as it took. Harry would always be grateful for the help. They could not give further details, they just said that he was in Romania, so they would have to make an international apparition to get there.
O'Neill had said he was alive, but he could be injured or traumatized, or both. He said this to Ginny, who had a determined expression on his face.
" Harry we will just have to survive as a family. We'll make it," she reassured him by holding his hand.
"We will manage," he agreed as the two apparated to Romania. Making an international appearance was nothing like making a national one, it left Harry extremely disoriented, dizzy, and nauseated. Even though he needed it a lot like Auror, he always felt that way. But this time, at least, he was given a very moving vision.
For the first time in months, he was able to see his son again. It may seem silly to put it that way, but to Harry, it felt like a vision of paradise. He missed Albus so much that it hurt. It hurt in his bones and soul, it hurt like hell, like a piece of him had been lost.
Before rushing to see his son, he quickly realized that he was injured, but it was only when he approached that he could see the extent of the damage. He swore that if he found the culprits, he would kill them. It didn't matter that he was an Auror and had a legal obligation to provide everyone with a fair legal process... If he found them, they would be dead in the blink of an eye.
Albus had a very swollen black left eye; there were red marks visible on his neck, perhaps signs of attempted strangulation, his left arm was very swollen and his fingers were twisted at wrong angles, his feet were cut, he was very thin. He was wrapped in a magic heating blanket and was wearing a black cape that was too thin for the winter, with no shoes. His son was sitting on a piece of log, looking exhausted, although his face was somewhat expressionless. O'Neill and another Auror were a little way off looking for clues.
Albus hadn't seen them yet because the healer was trying to talk to him, but it wasn't long before he noticed.
But he showed no reaction, he just pulled the blanket against his trembling body and looked at his parents for a moment, only to go back to examining the bloody snow around him.
It was his son's blood in the snow.
Ginny got there fast and was already hugging Albus carefully. Surprisingly, he seemed a little tense at first, but at least he was showing some reaction now. Her son soon hugged her back with his right arm. When Harry got there too, he hugged his wife and son gently so as not to hurt Albus
"Al. We missed you so much. We never stopped looking for you," Ginny whispered with teary eyes, her voice shaking with emotion, even Harry couldn't help but let the tears fill his eyes, fogging up his glasses.
When was the last time that Harry hugged his son? It was the same day he disappeared. He had missed it. He was relieved and happy now, but when they got there together, just hugging each other, he again wondered who had hurt Albus. He pulled out and looked at him, silently examining his son, he couldn't help asking:
"Al, who did this to you?" Albus flinched and shuddered for a brief moment, he looked away and did not answer.
"Harry, leave him alone. We'll talk about this later ..." Ginny looked at him with a tearful expression.
A healer approached him and asked to speak to him for a while. He wanted to be with his son after so long apart, but he also felt that he really should talk to the healer to find out Albus's true health state, he kindly asked Ginny to stay with Albus and accompanied the healer.
"So, how's he doing?" Harry was very direct. He knew he could be rude, but he just didn't want to spend too much time here.
"Well, physically, he has some cuts on his feet, a sprained left wrist, some bruises and cuts on his body, a black eye, but overall, we can heal all of that very quickly. He's very thin, but we can easily help him with a potion and some food ... and water because he is also dehydrated. But the problem is that-" The healer stopped and seemed to be thinking of a perhaps kinder way of saying the next words, Harry was getting anxious and impatient, so he motioned for the man to continue.
"We suspect that the Cruciatus curse has been cast at him repeatedly and for a long time, Mr. Potter," he said slowly, trying to sound as gentle as possible. He did not give Harry time to respond and continued, "I am concerned about his emotional state, he may be traumatized. It is a normal and understandable response in this case," he said softly, but firmly.
Harry was trying to process what the healer had just said, but it was difficult, he had first felt enormous anger and was afraid he'd direct it to the poor healer who was just doing his job. He had to calm down and think rationally.
He felt a sudden urge to go deep into the forest to hunt down whoever did it. But he decided, letting out a long sigh, that the culprits would most likely be far away now and the priority now was to keep Albus safe and stay close to his son, supporting him.
"How do you know it was the Cruciatus Curse?" He asked trying his best to keep his voice calm and controlled. He was an Auror and had already seen this curse used by many dark wizards, he knew that it could lead someone to madness or detachment from reality as a "coping mechanism" temporarily. But ...he still remembered Neville's parents who never recovered. A shiver ran down his spine and he suddenly felt very cold. He had some knowledge of this specific curse, but he wanted to hear the healer's explanation for the attempt to determine the extent of the damage that Albus had suffered.
"This curse, especially, has some particular signs, it can cause intermittent tremors, in short, you must know the final results as an Auror. Well, your son is having some tremors, not just from the cold ... He seems to be avoiding some physical contact and is not talking much to anyone, it may just be trauma and it may not only be related to Cruciatus. He also appears to have a certain lack of sensitivity to pain in the extremities of the body, this may be the result of prolonged use of the curse. O' Neill told me that when he found him, he was kind of ... indifferent. I think we should examine him, Mr. Potter, he must be taken to St. Mungus before he goes home. "
The Cruciatus Curse.
Anger was replaced by fear and helplessness. Would Albus have the same fate as Neville's mother and father? Al didn't look so bad ..., but Harry had no way of knowing how he really felt.
Would he have to live permanently in St. Mungus?
"Is it permanent? Did they manage to cause permanent damage to him?"
He managed to ask firmly, he should be grateful for his years of training as auror as the reason behind this.
He seemed calm when in reality all the happiness that Harry felt just a moment ago seemed to be gone and now, he just felt the cold of the night and a horrible sensation that he could not name, it was as if a dementor was extracting his whole soul at that moment and he would soon be empty and helpless.
"We don't know. Maybe if we give him time, he'll get better," the healer said slowly. Harry wanted to scream. He leaned against a tree in fear, he would actually end up carrying his fury on the poor healer ..., but instead, he decided to return to his son, he did not stop when the healer tried to speak to him again.
He felt the cold, sinister breeze from the forest and looked around. The sinister atmosphere, with trees that closed over him and the ugly crows' song, was very similar to that of the Ukrainian forest that he had visited with O'Neill, Ottis, Ron, and Clayton. They were at the edge of the forest, in a small space that was a little more open and facing the small Romanian village of Yukastasia. The British aurors had delimited the area, but a few residents looked at the scene, curious, with colorful traditional clothes and big handmade hats, an old woman with long black hair shouted a mysterious prayer that looked more like a dark song, she seemed full of fear and made frantic gestures with his hands.
"Go away, go away," cried a hunched old bearded man, he was beating furiously with his wooden cane on the muddy earth.
"Bad luck. Foreigners attract bad luck! Bad luck is on the way!" This time it was a young woman brandishing a strange object that looked like some kind of traditional Yukastasia musical instrument, it was a circular object made of rough wood, painted in red and black, she played the instrument that made a very ugly sound, it was like the scratching nails on a blackboard, and in that dark forest atmosphere, the sound was ominous. The old woman began to follow the instrument's with her somber song, this time speaking the words in English, her voice hoarse and with a strong accent.
Have mercy on those who enter the forest
The forest is not for the living and "for the pure"
Only the dead and the unclean make it their home
Keep the wrath of the spirits away from our humble village
Foreigners are the ones who enter Wynn, terribly cursed
Not us, our village is pure, here we celebrate life
Here the Circle is closed. Hermetic. It doesn't open anymore.
Nothing comes in and nothing comes out. Closed circle.
Circulushermeticus.
Harry raised his eyebrows puzzled, Clayton had said something very similar ...
The circle… was closed? What was that so-called Circle? What was the meaning of all that?
"Ignore these madpeople, Mr. Potter. It's like having a lot of Claytons talking about their beliefs all the time ..., they don't seem to like foreigners and, they think ... well, they think we call bad luck and the ire of spirits... only popular beliefs in those tribes, of course," said O'Neill, tired, suddenly appearing close to him.
"The circle is closed ... what does that mean?" Murmured Harry, staring at the woman who repeated the chant louder and louder.
"I have no idea... superstition, that must be it," said the older auror vaguely, without much certainty.
It was better not to think about it now and focus only on Albus. He would soon go to his son, but he felt he should ask O'Neill some details about the investigation, thanking the auror for finding his son.
"I received another anonymous tip, I don't know if it was the same person as the first time, but what matters is that as soon as I heard about it, I organized a search and rescue team and came here almost immediately... it's very difficult walking in this forest, Mr. Potter, is even worse than the one in Ukraine ... we were attacked by something, I don't know what it was, but something tried to attack us, we ran into the forest, because the thing seemed invisible and, after a while time, I found Albus, we caught him immediately and we came along a different path until we were able to get close to Yukastasia," said O'Neill, showing him several scratches on his arms caused by something.
"But don't worry about that at the moment, Mr. Potter. Everything will be investigated in due course, you should go and help your son. I will keep you updated."
He then went on to his son, trying to maintain more positive thoughts.
Albus could improve, even if he was not well now, he could recover.
They could be exactly the same as before, it was still possible.
He knew his face must be very pale because Ginny stood up with a fearful look.
"Al. We need to go to St. Mungus, okay? They will take care of you there. We will be with you," Harry said softly to his son who just nodded. Harry and Ginny held their hands. Harry took one last look at the woman singing the song before going to St. Mungus.
Albus was slightly more attentive as the healers examined him, but he didn't seem to like them touching him. He remained speechless the entire time. His son still hadn't said anything to him or Ginny. Harry missed Albus's voice.
"Mr. Potter! Mr. Potter! Hey, this is Dennis Salinger. Hey! HEY!" They barely arrived and Dennis Salinger was there, dragging a heavy state-of-the-art magic camera with a salmon overcoat and neon green glasses.
"How did you know that—" O'Neill started in shock.
"Horton Cirley told me that—" O'Neill prostrated himself in front of Sallinger so that Harry, Ginny, and Albus could pass, when Salinger adjusted the camera to try to record the family, the older auror put his hand in front of the camera, the reporter ignored him and asked, shouting "Mr. Potter, it's your son, isn't it?" Any comments? How do you feel now that you finally found him? Talk to me!" Demanded Salinger, trying to follow them, to no avail, as O'Neill stopped him in time.
"What did that healer say to you? Will our son be okay?" Asked Ginny when they walked away, both doing their best to ignore Salinger who was crying out for Harry down the hall, his wife only asked the question when the healers led Albus to a separate, nearby room.
"The Cruciatus Curse, Ginny." Harry decided to tell Ginny the truth, it took a while because he was trying to deal with it himself, and expressing what he heard out loud was very difficult. When he finished, he could see her eyes well up with tears and she started to cry. He hugged her.
"We'll be fine, remember. We will," he whispered in her ear, hoping she would calm down. After a while, she still had red eyes from crying but went in to see her son who was already asleep. The healers finished the exam rather quickly, as they would do more exams the next day.
"I recommend that you both let him rest for a while here." Informed an old magician in the hospital. Harry agreed. He and Ginny sat by Albus's bed. It was time to tell everyone who cared for Albus that his son was back. Even though bad things had happened to him, he was back and that was all that mattered for now.
ALBUS POTTER FOUND!
Albus Severus Potter, who had been missing for almost a year, was finally found. The family did not give enough information about the case and asked for privacy. He was found by Mr. O'Neill, the Auror responsible for the case. The boy missed his first year at Hogwarts and it is not known if he will start school, as some healers from St. Mungus are concerned about the traumas he may have suffered, but nothing more has been specified.
Sarah Bolly, The Daily Prophet.
How the aurors neglected the Proud New Magicians and the Dark Path Movement to find a missing boy [EXCLUSIVE INFORMATION!]
Auror Norman O'Neill finally managed to find the missing boy, Albus Severus Potter. Strangely, he was found in the Wynn Forest in Romania. After neglecting the Proud New Magicians for months, the veteran auror finally solved one of his cases.
"It is disgusting that O'Neill has done more to find his boss' son than to investigate a potentially dangerous underground group that threatens the entire magical society! I am scandalized! He wants a promotion in the future, for sure, so he is always trying to be on the bright side of Potter," said one interviewee. She claims that her son was co-opted by the group Proud New Magicians and has not returned home in months.
"They (the PNM) talk about some kind of common magical consciousness, but what they want is to establish a dictatorial system by brainwashing our children so that they believe in them and obey every word. They can be even more dangerous than the Dark Path because they pretend to be good and kind only to later behave like a crazy cult with crazy theories and terrifying goals," said a man (who wants to remain anonymous), whose son joined the Proud New Magicians shortly after finishing the prestigious Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
As for the Dark Path Movement, the responsible auror was Mr. Harry Potter. But, until recently, the case was with Auror Ronald Weasley. It is not possible to verify whether the threat of the Dark Path Movement has been taken seriously in recent months. Many believe that Auror Weasley neglected the DPM case and, like O'Neill, focused on helping his friend find his son. Mr. Potter had already wasted time illegally interrogating suspects in the case of his son (when it was already assigned to Auror O'Neill), but seeing that two more Aurors continued to waste time in the boy's case, instead of concentrating on the PNM and DPM threats are disgusting and just plain wrong!
Dennis Salinger, Times for Truth.
A new chapter soon (won't be able to post today)! Please, comment, like and tell me what you think until now please, it's very important for me. You can always give suggestions.