Chapter 53

The rest of the evening went swimmingly. Hermione and Severus danced and ate all night, stopping to chat with Lord or Lady whomever. or sneaking a moment to say hello to a friend. Hermione avoided any hexes, but she did catch her fair share of dirty looks from among witches Severus' age, and one from her dance instructor who she didn't expect to be there.

She had been grateful when the Weasleys finally arrived shortly after midnight, and had a dance with each of them, even Ron, who turned out to be a better dancer than she had thought possible.

Dad said we needed lessons. He's the Minister of Magic now, and we aren't to trod on any dignitaries' feet.

Harry and Ginny had danced the night away, since they hadn't had any type of wedding reception, steaming up anyone they got near, to much annoyance.

Mithrax, to everyone's surprise, periodically turned into a small thunderstorm that rained down crystal droplets. He had been surprised to discover Hermione wasn't wearing the Shard, but he agreed Gringotts was the most secure location for it.

Asta and her Hufflepuff mates danced until the sun came up, and several members of the Brotherhood were delighted to meet the acquaintance of Sara and Cat.

Hermione had never experienced anything like it in her life, and she got to experience it with her friends. She was content, tired, and full of exotic snacks.

As night became morning, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, Ginny and Mithrax, Nicolai, Nyssa, Mikhail, and Asta relaxed on their reserved balcony. The sky was growing light and they could see the view of the pretty valley Durmstrang overlooked. Sunlight twinkled on the dewdrops that decorated the trees and flowers and a cloud of starlings twisted in the sky.

"We have to discuss the curse eventually," Ginny said in a tired voice. "We all know it's is more than anyone is willing to talk about."

Mithrax agreed. "I think his bloodline will remain tainted for all time. It seems to be more of a corruption than curse. He can pass on the weakening effects, as we have seen."

"What do we do?" Ginny asked worriedly.

"Get sterilized," Mithrax said looking at them. "Don't let this go any further. It will just become stronger."

"To what end?" Hermione asked, her faced white.

"Until their line gives birth to the monster that will swallow the world. Two souls are tainted now." Mithrax stood up. "I don't know how far in the future that will be. The curse is one of ours, and was born of chaos. It is transferrable."

"That's fine," Harry said simply. "I'll do it."

"Harry!" Ginny squeaked. "Shouldn't we talk about this?"

"We'll adopt." His face had a look of finality. "I'll raise a family with you, if you want, but someone else can have them. If we part ways, I'll be celibate. I'm not passing this to anyone else. I'm sorry I passed it to you."

"You didn't know," Ginny said insistently.

"There would still be normal children for generations," Nicolai pointed out. "Maybe the monster will appear at the natural end of the world and he's just the physical personification of a prophecy."

"I think we've had our fill of prophecies," Harry said firmly. "I'm done."

"I don't blame you," Nyssa said. She was wearing Nicolai's cloak and leaning against him, her eyes sleepy. His arm was around her.

Mithrax shook his head. "I'm not an expert in prophecies or curses. I'm a historian." He looked at Harry. "Do you feel different? Has anything changed besides your memories?"

Harry looked guilty.

"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed.

"It's not anything bad!" Harry insisted. "Sometimes I… see things."

"Like what?" Mithrax asked.

"I couldn't figure out what it was at first, but," he hesitated. "I tried a few tests—"

"Seriously, Harry, what is it?" Hermione asked exasperatedly.

"I can see traces of magic," Harry admitted.

"Like a goblin?" Ron exclaimed.

"Goblins can see magic?" Harry asked.

"Of course, they can!" Ron said in disbelief. "It's how they can have a bank full of magic when they can't have wands."

Harry looked relieved.

"Anything else?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"Sometimes I feel… like there's something building up inside me. When I get angry or frustrated—"

"That's perfectly understandable under the circumstances," Nicolai said.

Ginny patted Harry on the shoulder. "I think we all feel that way sometimes."

"But it feels like—it feels like I might lose control," Harry admitted.

"Lose control of what?" Nicolai asked.

"I don't know." Harry's shoulders slumped.

"I think we should test this," Nicolai said firmly.

"I disagree," Nyssa roused herself. "I think we should do much more study before even thinking of doing practical testing."

"We can do it in the old coliseum," Nicolai said, pooh-poohing her. "Neither Muggle nor Magical technology can pierce it's protections."

"How long has it been since we used it?" Nyssa asked incredulously. "Five hundred years? Muggle technology has improved quite a bit."

"We can test it before we test him. It should leave you plenty of time for research," Nicolai reasoned.

"So, it will just be us doing the research, will it?" Nyssa sat up. "While you run around building things and playing games?"

"Playing games?" Nicolai began turning red. "Is that what you—"

"What about the prophecy?" Hermione asked. "Are we going to act like it doesn't—"

"What's that?" Harry asked suddenly, looking out over the valley.

"I don't know," Asta said, frowning as she followed his gaze.

Nicolai got to his feet and went to see what she was talking about.

"Those aren't birds," Asta said squinting at what they had assumed were starlings. "What are they?"

Nicolai swore and hit a tile on the wall with his elbow. It lit up and he put his finger to a square in the center.

"This is Nicolai, Representative of The Mystic Brotherhood. Please apparate to your respective homes in a civilized manner. There has been a dementor sighting and the building must be evacuated. Thank you."

Hermione heard the message repeating itself throughout the building. She looked at Harry to say something and the whole building shook so mightily the masonry cracked and the balcony above them started to crumble.

The face of an enormous Golem peered over the edge of the balcony at them. It's skin was rock and ice and it glowed with a life from within. It roared, its mouth a pit of blue fire.

Harry was shaking his wand, but nothing was happening.

"Join hands!" Mithrax ordered them, and they did without question.

There was a flash of light, and they were gone.