Chapter 8: The Relic of Power
Harry and his friends quickly found the name on the map. The spot labeled "McCourt" was in a large, oval shaped room located down in the depths. Accessing this room required traveling through several narrow passageways.
"How are you so sure?" Hermione asked Draco along the way.
"It's geneaology, really," Draco replied. "The name McCourt rang a bell when I first heard it. I saw the facial features and it became quite obvious. You see, every member of the Hogwarts Four had a special, enchanted object. The heirs can all use the object which is specifically related to their line."
"Blood lines are your specialty," said Ron. "You are who your parents are, right?"
"Ron, not the time. And yes, blood means something. Maybe not everything, but we're digressing. Right. Harry, according to your stories, weilded the Sword of Gryffindor, Cho there has the Sword of Ravenclaw with her. Riddle, the other heir, has some enchanted item in his possession probably, though no one knows what it is. Anyway, the main thing right now is Hufflepuff. Helga was rumored to have the most powerful object of all. It was called the Relic of Power. No one really saw it, except for the Hogwarts Four. But according to legend, she could do almost anything she wanted with its power."
"We're almost here," said Harry. He was holding the map.
"Where did you get all this information?" Cho asked.
"It's engraved in our memories at a young age," Draco said. "The memories of Death Eater children, that is."
"The luckiest children of all," Ron said sarcastically.
"I'll temporarily ignore that. To make a long story short. I think that Lindsay McCourt, the new 6th year transfer from Beauxbatons, is the heir of Hufflepuff, and I think she has the relic of power. And I think she aims to use it for dark purposes."
"We're here," said Harry simply. They had been crawling through a dusty vent and the opening ahead in the vent appeared to lead into a large room. "Okay, McCourt's standing in the middle of the room. Maybe she expects us. Is it possible, Draco?"
"I don't know," said Draco. "Maybe she can see right through the wall. Maybe she can hear us, too. Who knows?"
"Okay," Ron began. "We can either charge out of there like idiots, or one of us, Harry, can lean out there and get a glimpse of what we're up against first."
Harry groaned. "Fine," he said. He looked out, then his head retreated quickly. "It's her," he said simply. "Wearing a red robe. Got some pendant attached to a thin necklace around her neck. She's looking right at the opening. Who's feeling heroic today?"
"Let me through," Draco said. He crawled to a spot just short of the opening. He started shouting out of the opening, "Lindsay!"
"Draco!" Lindsay shouted casually.
Ron grabbed Draco's arm. "This is a trap, isn't it? She knows you."
"No it isn't!" Draco insisted. "She just senses things. I need to shout again, so let go." Ron obliged. Draco cleared his throat and then began shouting, "Lindsay! We were just adventuring around the castle and we ended up here. We're going to enter the room now, okay? We're just trying to see where we ended up, that's all!"
"Of course," said Lindsay calmly.
"Go, Draco," said Ron.
Draco groaned and crawled out slowly. He stood up in the middle of the room and stared at Lindsay. The relic, if that's what it was, was glowing brilliantly. "Coast is clear," he said to the others. One by one, they emerged.
They stood at the back of the large room and tried to smile at Lindsay.
Suddenly, she laughed. "Horrible liars, you are." She lifted up the pendant off her chest. "This is the relic of power," she said. "It gives me near-limitless power. I found it here, in this room, at the beginning of the school year. During the fight with the ninjas, I quietly picked up Harry's invisibility cloak in the Forest. I crept back into the castle and eventually found what I was looking for. Of course, I had determined the location from various scrolls during the last two years. It happened to be exactly where I expected it. It was in this sand floor you see here, but it was buried in a specific spot. It was easy. Then I crept out of the castle, still under the cloak, used the power of the relic to find Cho's parents, and I blasted them with a spell that made them unconscious and would eventually kill them.."
"Why, Lindsay?" Cho managed in her state of shock.
"I met someone on the train on the way to school at the beginning of the year. Oh I had read about him very much. I fell in love with the concept of Harry Potter, but I thought that the real person could never live up to that concept. I met him on the train, and he was so down-to-earth. Then I learned about his thing for you, Cho. I could sense the way he felt about you even then. It was a feeling I had never experienced with my workaholic father and constantly absent mother. I tried to get you to notice me, Harry, but to no avail. You were in love. I then knew what I was going to use the relic for once I got it. I would use it to make you love me. I thought that I could hurt your relationship by killing Cho's parents."
Harry saw Cho's fingers curl up into fists. He hoped that she wouldn't pull out the sword and do something irrational.
Lindsay continued. "I thought that you two would grow apart because of her misery, but the reverse effect occurred: You grew closer together! I didn't even know--until I learned from the relic later--that you, Harry, had convinced her parents to pick your friend--who failed as a secret-keeper, I might add--as their secret-keeper. The effect should have been magnified by that fact, but you two remained together. I still don't understand. Then I tried to kill you, Cho, at the Quidditch match, but I didn't count on Harry's magnificent dive."
"You are heartless," said Harry angrily.
Lindsay didn't bother to respond.
"How did you know the Death Eaters would distract us?" Hermione asked bravely.
"That was easy," Lindsay said. "Now, I was no Death Eater, but it didn't matter; I had the relic. I saw the tengu and his ninjas, and that was the golden opportunity. I called forth The Dark Mark, and a badly organized attack ensued. It didn't matter. It gave me enough time to attack the poor couple and return in time for the Death Eater embarrassment at the front doors."
"But the Death Eaters figured out that it was you who sent the mark," Harry asked tentatively. He had moved forward.
"A spell cast through the power of the relic has an extra gold lining around it," Lindsay said. "That thin gold lining outlined the Dark Mark that I sent. Any scholar could figure it out. It doesn't matter. I don't fear them in the least." She paused. "Enough explanation." She waved her hand, and a ring of fire formed in the middle of the room. In the circle were Lindsay and Harry, and the others were separated. Harry's companions could barely see over the top of the fire wall. "Circle of fiery hate," she said simply. "One can only go through it if one is full of love. I knew you'd eventually separate yourself from them, front and center. That eliminates your friend factor."
She continued. "Where were we? Ah yes, the choice. Think about it, Harry, if I snap my fingers, large hail could fall from the ceiling. Without any effort," she said as she levitated into the air, still standing upright, "I can fly. The power, Harry! I could infuse you with it if I so desired. It's infinite; I lose nothing. All you have to do is love me, and you will be able to do everything. Create at a whim! Control the weather. All at your fingertips."
"But I don't love you," said Harry defiantly. "I love Cho, and you tried to kill her! "
"Ah yes, the heir of Ravenclaw. Just like Rowena, this girl is apparently perfect in every way. Do you know the story? I know, because you see the relic has some of Helga's essence in it. So I know that Rowena married the man that Helga loved, the legendary Chinese warrior Li Chan. But Helga had the relic! She could have made Chan love her instead, but she did not act. She let love take its course. That was her mistake. You're not sorted based on virtue, but by your fatal flaw at Hogwarts. Don't you see? Helga's inaction--due to loyalty to her friend--led to her unhappiness. The relic tells me.
Yes, Chan protected Rowena with that sword Cho has, and when he died from a mortal wound he received while saving her, the sword became hers--the Sword of Ravenclaw.
The moral of the story. Power is meant to be used. Don't use it, and you will regret it. I have more power than wizards can ever dream of. Except you, Harry, the one I choose. The one I love. Join me, and we could rule the world! We could do anything! Pass it on to our children, and our children's children. Live the life of our dreams. Forever. Without pain or suffering. If you accept, then I can bring Cho's parents back to life as a trade."
Harry looked at Cho, but she shook her head slowly.
"You're bluffing!" Ron said defiantly.
"I'm not sure," said Draco in a quieter tone. "No one knows what she can do now."
"All you have to do is accept my offer," Lindsay said.
"I said no," said Harry. "I don't love you. And you can't make somebody love you. It's not real."
"Real love? It's the same thing. There's no difference; love is love. You can get what you want, and then use the magic from the relic to forget how you got it. No guilt at all!"
"There is a difference. You could never be my true love!"
This enraged Lindsay. She pointed her finger at him and shouted, "Imperio!"
Harry felt a sudden euphoria.
"This Imperio is exponentially more powerful than what you're used to," he heard her say. "You will kneel now, as a sign that you accept my offer. Then you will love me, and we will take what we want and do whatever we please forever."
Harry's mind struggled against the other mind inside him. He kept his legs straight.
"Crucio!" she yelled.
Harry felt the worst pain he had ever felt all over his entire body. He gritted his teeth as hard as he could and fell to the floor. He heard what sounded like girls' voices calling his name in fear.
After a few agonizing minutes of pain, he heard Lindsay again. "Imperio!"
Harry was weakened by resisting the Cruciatus curse. He found that he suddenly could not fight it very well. He was getting closer to kneeling. He looked over at his friends and hoped, desperately, that he would not give in.
Then he saw her. Cho came running through the fire. Everyone gasped as she appeared on the other side of the wall, in the middle of the circle, unscathed. Harry could hear more clearly now. He could see more clearly. And the knowledge that he had support from Cho helped him somehow find the strength to resist the curse and stand fully up. The energy around him from the curse lingered, but Harry was now standing easily.
Lindsay shrieked. "How could it be?" She paused. "Ah yes, so Cho has enough love to overcome the hate. Beautiful, really. No matter. Harry, I won't use curses. I offer you power."
Cho stood next to Harry and she held his arm tightly. He squeezed back. They faced Lindsay together.
Lindsay's face grew redder. "I will give you one last chance. Limitless power with me, or death in the arms of your 'true love.'"
"I would foresake all the power in the world out of love for her," Harry said confidently. "You don't love anyone, because you can never give up that power. Love requires sacrifice."
"Fine!" bellowed Lindsay. "Then you will be the first sacrifice. Incidentally, I will kill you with a type of energy that resembles your trademark." A huge ball of yellow and blue energy formed around Lindsay's right hand. "You will die, Harry, by a ball of lightning. You all will die!"
"Don't let go," Harry said to Cho. "You trust me, right?"
"Yes, I do," she said gently to him.
They held each other tight.
Suddenly, they heard a thunderous boom and the humming of immeasurably high electricity. The room was lit brightly, and they could just see the horrified expressions on the faces of their friends. They continued to hold on tightly to each other, and then they saw the huge ball of energy careen at the speed of sound into them. Just before it hit, they hugged each other tightly and closed their eyes from the blinding light. Harry's companions, who were somewhat shielded from the light by the wall of fire, watched, horror-stricken, as the huge blue and yellow ball enveloped Harry and Cho, and they lost all hope.
The envelope did not last long however. Harry and Cho, eyes closed, hugged each other so tight that they must have found it hard to breathe. And then, it happened. The envelope gradually peeled itself away from Harry and Cho, and it suddenly flew back at Lindsay.
Lindsay was mortified. "No! It cannot be!" She tried to flee it by flying away, but it pursued her closely.
Harry and Cho, having felt the ball of energy leave them, had opened their eyes and were now watching Lindsay.
"It's tracking the relic!" Cho shouted. "Lindsay, take off the relic!" She appeared to surprise herself with her words.
"Never!" shouted Lindsay. But those were her last words. In an instant, the ball of lightning hit her and she was killed.
The ring of fire and other traces of magic disappeared. The relic fell thirty feet onto the sandy floor.
Harry's mind raced. Cho had tried to save the person who had killed her parents. Was Cho thinking rationally or was she panicking? He knew that now was a bad time to ask.
"No one touch it," came a familiar voice.
They all turned around and saw Sirius Black and a stranger standing behind them. "We figured you out. Or should I say, Mr. McCourt figured it out. Lindsay left some clues around her room."
"Mr. McCourt, we didn't mean to--" Cho began.
"Of course not," said McCourt grimly. "My daughter brought it on herself. You were defending yourselves, not trying to kill anybody. I don't know whether it's my fault, or my wife's, or both of us, or neither of us. She was our only daughter. The last heir of Hufflepuff, as well. I'm somewhat relieved though. Now no one will be able to use that relic."
The face of Dumbledore emerged awkwardly out of the vent. "I am here to destroy it to make sure that it is never used."
"Dumbledore, no," Frank said desperately and his face showed an expression of panic.
"You have Hufflepuff blood, as well," Dumbledore said. "You may have the power, if you pick up the relic, to try to restore your daughter back to life. However, if I were you, I would not do it."
"It is a curse," added Harry. "Only Helga could use it responsibly."
McCourt hesitated. "Destroy it, Dumbledore, before anyone uses it again."
"As you wish," said Dumbledore. He pointed his wand at the relic from across the room and muttered, "Vaporizo." The relic disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Dumbledore looked at Harry and the others. "Once again, Harry, you have broken a slew of rules and yet saved the magical community. You don't need me to tell you how powerful she could have become. Perhaps the only thing that could beat her was herself. Unlike previous years, I don't think this calls for an explanation from me. As far as I know, she was never an aid to Voldemort."
"I doubt it," said Draco. "I'm sure she told the truth."
"Draco," Dumbledore began. "I did not expect to see you here, though I suspect that the others wouldn't be here without you."
Draco paused. "You're right," he finally said.
"Sirius, McCourt, our work is done here. Let us leave the children and have some tea in my office. McCourt, do you need help with Lindsay?"
"I can handle her myself," he said. He stared at the spot where her charred body lay, and then he picked up the body by himself and left. Harry thought about helping McCourt, but decided to leave the man to his own thoughts.
Sirius patted
Harry on the back before the men left wordlessly.
A/N: The quality of an HP story
is based on how good the climatic confrontation is. So how'd I do? Harry
and company won without casting a single spell, ironically. I put quite
a bit of thought into this, believe it or not. I wondered if there was
a way to get the tengu involved here? Was there a way to get Sirius or
Lupin involved in the battle? I already had five heros. How about some
big, grotesque monster in the chamber? Lindsay: Let me introduce you to
my 15-headed Flying Cyclops-Hydra-Golem! Hahahaha! Sorry, maybe in the
sequel. Of course, the whole "love reflecting dark magic attack" thing
is based on how Lily saved Harry when he was one year old. Did you mentally
groan when you saw that it was a "true love conquers all" ending? (That
line is from Sleeping Beauty, by the way). Anyway, I'd like to quote
Shakespeare: "Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn." You have one more
chapter to read.