Chapter 39

Amelia grumps as the sound of the Floo interrupts her time with Susan, "I'm sorry about this."

Susan smiles, "It's ok auntie, I know it's your job."

"Yeah," she grumbles, "but you'd think they could handle just about anything that comes up."

Amelia trudges out to the Floo and activates it, as she does Shackbolts head appears in the fire, "Bones, sorry to call on your day off. We've got a code Danann."

"Why haven't you just had Scotts given them a call to see if it's them?"

"He's not answering his Floo Ma'am. Damn," Susan levitates the bowl of Floo powder up and down urgently, "One moment, I just need to check something."

Storming out of the room, she closes the door gently, "Susan, this better be good."

Susan quails, "Um, I can contact Harry from here."

Amelia leans against the wall and bashes the back of her head against it gently, "Go ahead, I wish you'd told me you could do that before."

A couple of minutes pass and Susan smiles, "I know what happened. Airmed adopted a child."

Amelia blinks a couple of times, "Sorry, did you say adopted?"

Susan smiles broadly, "Yes, they do it with blood."

"Do you know who?"

Susan shakes her head, "I'm not telling the Director of the DMLE, sorry."

Amelia opens the door and marches back to the Floo, "It's not an attack. Apparently this is the result of a magical adoption."

Shackbolt blinks, "Really?"

"I have it on good authority that it is."

"I see. Well at least we know we don't have to respond to an emergency. The unspeakables are going to love being called in over Christmas."

"Well, that's their problem, it's not the first time this has happened."

Shackbolt laughs, "Well, it's the first time it happened on Christmas Day."

"True. I'm going back to having fun with Susan as her Aunt."

"Enjoy your day off."

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"What is it Peterson?"

"Professor, it happened again."

"What happened?"

"My pager went off because the detectors went mad. I'm looking at the readout now. That makes 3 separate instances this year that the Michelson-Morley experiment has registered flux."

"Tell me we have it on camera."

"I don't know yet."

"Damn it, why is it always when the museum is closed?"

"Professor, the 1982 incident happened in broad daylight and was witnessed by a dozen people. Including a PhD student making some money giving tours."

"I am aware of that. But every single disturbance this year has been after the museum closed, or today. We need definitive proof that this isn't just something like a bird landing on the equipment. If we can get that, we can get the funding to set the experiment up with proper 24/7 surveillance in multiple locations."

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Astoria looks at Airmed, "Why?"

Airmed looks back at her, "Why what?"

"Why adopt me?"

Airmed pulls Astoria into a hug, "To cure you from the malediction. However, don't ever think I didn't do it of my own free will. My agreement with you father was only to treat all of you, and I could have done the same treatment I will be doing with Daphne. If it failed, then I would have still fulfilled the word of the agreement even as the curse came back worse than before. I chose to adopt you because I knew the magic of the ritual would clear out the curse, because you're a child and the sins of the father should never be visited on the children.

"It may not be something I was expecting this morning, however I am happy that I now have a daughter, and I hope to be a part of your life for a good many centuries to come."

Astoria stares at her, "Centuries?"

Airmed frowns, "Did I use the wrong word? Hundreds of years to come."

Astoria squeaks and Daphne shakes her head in amusement, "No, you used the right word. Though you caught me off guard. I've had a few months to get used to how old Morgana is. Mother and Father have only had hours, and Astoria has had minutes."

"Ah, I see. Maybe I should have not mentioned it yet."

Astoria shakes her head, "No, I wanted to know, but does that mean I'm not going to grow up as fast? As I want to be a big girl and go to school like Daphne does."

Airmed laughs, "And you will, you will grow up just like any other girl does. In the meantime, you'll be learning magic in the way of my people. I also want to teach you about herbs, healing, and the wild. What's left of it anyway."

Reginald coughs lightly, "Would you care to join us for Christmas dinner?"

Airmed shakes her head, "No, I will not take part in any Christian festivities. However, I wouldn't be averse to celebrating the adoption of my daughter."

Astoria pouts, "What's wrong with Christmas, you get presents, mum and dad are fun, and there's good food."

"I am very old Astoria, I remember when the Christians… took my people from me. I am not willing to acknowledge their religion in any positive way because of that. Our mid-winter celebration is coming up soon, as it's two 7 days after the winter solstice. I think that is the 4th January by your calendar."

Astoria bounces on the cot, "Will there be presents?"

Airmed laughs, "Yes there will be presents."

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"Reginald, what did you do?"

Reginald looks over at Joanne, who is inspecting one of the ward markers, "I treated Airmed as I would any other healer or respected member of our community."

"This one's going to need to be re-engraved too. Which means?"

"I told her that if she could treat my family I would do anything for her that I could do personally."

"What if she'd asked for sex?"

"Our marriage vows would have prevented that, remember I vowed to be faithful to you for as long as we live."

"Reginald, don't take me for an idiot. I've spent more time in the family library than you have since we married. I know full well that wives have disappeared in the past when a better prospect comes along."

Reginald walks over to his wife and struggles to lower his occlumency barriers so that she can see, "Joanne, I wouldn't do that. I care about you too much."

"I know you do, but you don't love me. I'm not even sure you can, I saw what your training was doing to Daphne. It's the same way you were taught isn't it."

Reginald nods as she turns to face away from him while hugging herself, "It is. It's the best way to ensure that she has strong barriers. Now that Astoria is healed, I'll start with her training soon."

Joanne laughs bitterly, "Don't you think you should check with her mother about that. I couldn't do anything to stop it, but Airmed hasn't taken any such vows."

Reginald looks at his wife with a chagrined look while she slowly moves to the next marker.

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Marie looks over at Morgana, who's sitting on a wooden stool surrounded by woodchips.

"Morgana, I just want to say thank you."

Morgana looks up and shakes her head, "Don't thank me, you still haven't got to the worst bit."

Marie laughs, "This is kicking my arse more than the flu did at uni. I'm thanking you because my mind is clearer than it has been for years. Do you know when I last laughed spontaneously is? It was well before the dig, I think maybe in my 1st year of uni. Did you know that my mum, birth mum that is, thinks my belief in you and the other Celtic gods is just a phase. Christ, I stopped going to church when I was 14, I'm 21 now. First of all I did it because I wanted to be more like you. Then I started to realise that the rituals that you taught had far more meaning than anything in the church did. I mean, what god would want people to sit on hard wooden seats while their priest stood at the front reading from a holy book that's 1,500 years old."

"Canta would, you might know him as Dian Cécht. For a long time he was the best healer we had, and allowed it to go to his head. After he killed his son Micah, the rest of us started to go to him in preference so that he wouldn't take his jealousy out on one of the other healers. I don't actually know what happened to him in the end. Whether he grew a tree for his followers, or just retreated from the world after his people were killed. Come, it's time for you to feed again. I will be with you every step of the way."

Marie smiles, "Yes mum. Why did we need to start this on a full moon?"

Morgana shakes her head, "You're not delaying this by asking interesting questions. In answer to your question, symbology. The waning moon symbolises the leaving of the old, when you reach the new moon you have a blank slate. Finally, the waxing moon is the building of something new. Now drink."

Marie pulls Morgana down for a hug before she starts, uncaring about the blood she's smearing on her own skin by doing so.

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On boxing day, all of the Hufflepuff first years receive an invitation, for them and their families, to attend a Christmas party at the Bowling Alley on Saturday. Included in the invitation is an "Introduction to LARP" booklet, along with a suggestion that it is a good mundane worthy excuse for the adults that will cover any conversational slips about the magical community. There is also a list of public Floo points and the closest public transport stop.

You are cordially invited to a midwinter party at the Red Top bowling alley in Stirling, Scotland.

The doors will open at 2pm, and transport will be provided from the Leaky Cauldron in London. If you are unable to make it to either destination, please let us know and we will work out alternative transportation for you.

R.S.V.P The Danann household by Owl, Post, or Telephone.

The event itself goes down well, with the only family not attending being the McMillians. With the arcade being free, and a large stack of Pizza's being purchased for the everyone to share. It was an eye opening experience for the magical families who have signed to allow their children to study Mundane Magic. For the non-magical families, it was a chance to meet the parents of the magical children who have been coming for the last few months. Though, Morgana is sorely missed.

At the end, Amelia hands Harry a letter and a shrunken package containing a bottle of wine and a small rose salt crystal, around the size of a person's thumb.

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Over the next week Marie's health deteriorates dramatically as she starts to sweat, suffer from diarrhea, vomiting and incontinence. Despite their best efforts, the only thing she seems to be able to keep down is Morgana's blood. Finally, the 4th January arrives and Marie is able to hold down some broth.

Everyone, including the Greengrass', Tonks', and Bones', look up as a portal opens into the living room at the Danann mansion. Through the portal comes Morgana supporting a weak but smiling Marie.

Reginald pulls his wand and starts running through diagnostic spells, "Merlin, Morgana, and Mab, what happened to you?"

Morgana notices the markings on his hands, and stills her reaction, "She has survived. Everyone, I would like to introduce you to my daughter Marie. My blood is now igniting magic in her body, and no matter how things go, she is my daughter in truth."

After situating Marie in a chair, both Morgana and Marie are congratulated by everyone there.

Once everything calms down again, Airmed stands and pulls Astoria up, "Everyone, I would like to introduce my new Daughter by blood, Astoria Greengrass-Danann. Her father, Reginald, is one of my chosen, I hope that her parents will allow me to have a significant role in her life going forward."

Once again, there is a round of congratulations.

Once everyone has calmed down, Andromeda looks over at Marie, "Tell me young lady, is there any reason why I shouldn't just drag you down to St Mungo's and put you on a strict potions regime."

Airmed answers quietly before Morgana can get offended, "Because this is only the halfway point. Marie is about to experience a lifetime of magical growth in the next 14 days, along with a growth spurt to match. There is nothing we can do, magical or mundane, to spare her the effects of this as her magic will just burn everything out of her system. If Astoria didn't have her own magic I would never have adopted her as her curse would have killed her before my blood did. About the only thing we could possibly do is ensure she can sleep safely and comfortably."

"What about dreamless sleep?"

Airmed shrugs, "I don't know, it didn't exist when I last walked the mortal world."

"Do you mind if I ask why you seem to call everyone by their first name?"

Airmed looks surprised, "How else would I refer to them? I'm not going to use their private name in public, and their clan name will just get confusing very quickly. This is why we have given names after all."

"In our society, it's considered impolite to use someone's first name without permission."

"Then what do you do in a situation like this, where we have three Greengrass', three Tonks', and two Bones, not to mention the 4 Danann's present."

Andromeda thinks for a moment, "We would refer to the most senior member of the house by their family name, and the rest by their given name."

Marianne stops earwigging, "When we were in Imber, Harry and I were told that this is only a custom amongst landowners."

Andromeda looks flummoxed, "I can't say she's wrong."

Marianne runs over to Morgana, "Morgana, I've just remembered. You said you were going to find the Norse gods for Jimmy's mum."

Morgana smiles down at the young girl, "I did indeed. However, it is something that will take me at least a week. I simply have not had that much time free. Now, how are you getting on with the cloak?"

Marianne smiles broadly, "It's great! It comes and goes when I want, and Auntie Airmed says it's anchored my magic to my body. That means I can exercise it more without needing to worry about losing it."

Morgana kneels down next to Marianne, "It does, but you still need to be careful. If you use too much magic it could kill you. Whenever you feel tired while you're practicing, I want you to do your best to get to a safe place where you can sleep for a bit. Do you understand?"

Marianne's eyes widen, "Is that what happened to Marie?"

"Do you remember what it was like when you ate the apple?"

Marianne rubs her stomach with a grimace, "Yes?"

"It's a bit like that. However, unlike a child, a chosen doesn't have nearly 20 years for their magic to grow and mature while they tend it slowly and carefully. So we give them our blood instead if they don't have their own magic. If they don't have enough, then our blood will poison them and they'll die before it can ignite magic inside them. If they have enough, then they will gain magic before they die. This is what my predecessors did before they made the apple trees. If you take nothing else from this, remember that there are no shortcuts to power, only different prices that need to be paid. Your apple gives you the tiniest spark of magic that you must shepherd and feed until it becomes a self-sustaining fire. Marie has my magic in the blood she's drunk to teach her body how to produce magic, but the cost of that is the risk that she'll die before it starts, or that the pain of her growth becomes too much to bear and she kills herself. The Sidhe must consume the apples from their tree otherwise their magic will wither, and with it so will they until they die."

"But…"

"Marianne, today is a time for celebration and play, learning can happen any other time."

"Yes mum."

As Marianne leaves, Amelia takes her place, "First of all, I would like to apologise for abusing your hospitality. I am trying to separate my work life from my personal life better."

Morgana smiles, "You are most welcome, and I hope that we can grow to call each other friends. What's the second?"

"I would like to arrange time to talk some personal business."

"You've chosen your fate?"

"I have, I wish to learn the sword."

"I will save you a meeting, I do not have the time necessary to teach you, and you are unlikely to be willing to give up being a protector of your people so that you can fit in with what time I do have."

Amelia's shoulders sag with the news, "Thank you for at least considering it."

Morgana places a hand on Amelia's shoulder, "Don't give up hope just yet. If you ask my granddaughter nicely, and following the traditions, she may consent to take you to see Manannán mac Lir, the only warrior that I know to still be Danann and alive. Just remember, our magic means that we will take any offers that you make seriously. So Do Not make open ended offers."

Amelia smiles, "Thank you, also this is for you. Your books said it was traditional to give a gift you made yourself." Morgana takes a small bag from Amelia and opens it to find a crude wooden needle inside it, "It's based on the first Transfiguration lesson we ever have, where we are tasked changing a matchstick into a metal needle."

"Thank you, and you must have really pushed yourself with those books. They were designed for University students, not for lay people looking to learn about my society."

Amelia smiles, "It was, but it was also worth it. We are using your tradition of escorts in the DMLE now, Fudge's face was an absolute joy to behold when he wasn't allowed to just wander around the floor. Such a simple thing and it doesn't inconvenience any of my Aurors overly much."

"I'm glad some aspects of my culture are being brought forward into the modern day. Now, I think that my son wants a hug, behind you."

"Hey mum, this is for you so that you know that you're always welcome in my domain. I've given one to Marie already."

Morgana opens the present to reveal an ornate sword surrounded by a snake that's eating it's tail. The whole thing has then been mounted on a shield made from obsidian, "This is beautiful, thank you. I will wear it with pride."

The rest of the evening passes with cheer and laughter, only coming to an end when Marie doubles over as her abdomen cramps.