Angel of the Apocalypse
Chapter Six: The Moors and The Archmeid
Ginny held on to Gavin for dear life as Pendragon soared them far above the clouds over all of England. She was tired and hungry, but there was no place they could safely stop for the night. Gavin didn't show any signs of fatigue. It was more important to get Ginny to a safer location. He didn't know where he was going to. However, a feeling came over him at around sunrise.
Ginny was fast asleep against Gavin's back when he landed Pendragon. "Ginny, wake up," he whispered gently without moving his back. Ginny mumbled and moved off of him. She rubbed her eyes and looked at around.
She didn't know where they were. It was cold and the area was desolate. There were rocks and very little green grass. "Where are we?" asked Gavin out loud.
"You were the one who landed here. How could you not know?" asked Ginny.
"I don't know. It just felt right. I don't know why," said Gavin softly as he looked around. For a place so empty, it made Gavin feel whole.
"We're in the Moors. We're in the northern country. We just have to be. We're not that far from Wales," said Ginny finally. She didn't need her powers to know where she was. She had seen and read so many books about England to know where she was.
"The Moors," whispered Gavin as if trying out the word in his mouth.
"What about the horsemen?" asked Ginny suddenly.
"We can afford to rest for a while, and we'd better get something to eat," said Gavin.
"I thought that you didn't need to eat. You only did that so you wouldn't look different from everyone," said Ginny.
"I feel hungry for some strange reason. Let's go. Pendragon should get some rest," said Gavin as he picked up Pendragon off a rock. "He's earned it."
They both set off for the wilderness of the Moors.
~*~
Dumbledore didn't know why there weren't any prior academic records for Gavin or any information about his transfer from his old school. In fact, Dumbledore didn't even remember Gavin saying what school he came from. It looked like he apparated out of thin air. The only records for Gavin Skyler were the ones made when he started.
It gave him a feeling of uneasiness. The professor went in further search of Gavin and Ginny, but didn't turn up anything. Dumbledore ordered that their trunks be brought up for inspection. Ginny's brothers brought her trunk up, and with Harry and Hermione's help, Gavin's trunk was brought up as well. Dumbledore allowed them to stay because they had to be questioned.
"Is there anything that you know of missing from your sister's trunk?" asked Professor Dumbledore.
"The only thing missing is her cloak. Her wand's here," answered Fred. He and his brothers looked rather pale after last night's events.
Dumbledore didn't like the sound of that either. "What about Mr. Skyler's things?" he asked.
"I don't know. The thing that I know is missing is his lizard. His familiar," said Harry immediately.
"I see," said Dumbledore.
"What's going to happen, Professor Dumbledore? Will everyone have to go home?" asked Hermione.
"I am afraid so. A lot of the students have already written home. Hogwarts Express is getting ready to take everyone back home until further notice," said Dumbledore.
The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge was arriving soon to look at the damage. The only good thing that came from the attack was Fudge was now willing to take Dumbledore seriously about the threat the Voldemort posed. However, Dumbledore wasn't so sure that Voldemort did it. The public at large wanted Fudge to do something about it. The Slytherin looked particularly frightened why would Voldemort attack the school directly if some of the students there were his next generation of followers. Draco had been uncharacteristically quiet. It was as if everyone knew deep down inside that Voldemort didn't cause the attack.
"I don't think my aunt and uncle will want me to come home," said Harry with a sigh.
Everyone looked at him. They knew that they would be going home and wanted. Their parents would be glad that they were alive, but Harry's guardians were never happy to see him.
"Harry can come with us," said Ron immediately as he looked at his brothers. Fred and George nodded in agreement.
"No," said a voice from behind them. They all turned to see Moira Kelly standing at the doorway.
"Why not, Professor Kelly?" asked Harry in a sad voice. He would much rather be with the Weasleys. Professor Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eye that hadn't been there for a while. It was small, but there. He never really explained the protection that Harry had with the Dursleys.
"You'll be going with me," answered Professor Kelly. Harry looked even more surprised as she regarded him with as smile and added, "If that's all right with you."
"Yes. Of course. That's fine," said Harry quickly afraid that she would withdraw her offer.
"We should be able to get everything back in order soon. For now, the teachers are assigning packets of work to make sure that everyone keeps up with their studies. This is by no means a vacation," said Dumbledore in a brisk manner as he dismissed everyone and had Professor Kelly stay to speak with him.
Harry was wondering why Professor Kelly would offer to have him over at her house. Fred and George separated from them to go back to their room to get ready to go home. They were sticking closer to Ron because they were afraid of losing another sibling. "Isn't great that you'll be with Professor Kelly? I mean going with a teacher will make sure that you'll keep up with the work, and you might even get ahead of the work in Defense Against the Dark Arts," said Hermione.
"I don't think I want to do that," said Harry.
"You're wondering why Professor Kelly wants to take you with her. I say don't worry about it. Just be grateful you don't have to go to the Dursleys. And she's the most beautiful woman around here," said Ron. Hermione gave him a glare. "Of course, I should say second most beautiful," he quickly corrected himself. Hermione smiled and Ron put his arm around her shoulders.
"You're right. I should just be happy. I mean with all the bad things that have been around here, I should just be happy," said Harry. He was still thinking about it, but he decided to walk ahead of Hermione and Ron. He wrote Sirius about them, and he wrote backing that they sounded a lot like Harry's parents in Hogwarts. If Harry's parents were like Ron and Hermione, then he would have been sick with the public display of affection anyway. Harry felt embarrassed just standing there, so he moved forward. Besides, Ron and Hermione were going to have to go home and be separated from each other. Harry wanted to give them a chance to be together alone for a while.
~*~
Gavin was having some strange feelings of familiarity go through him as he walked around the Moors. He remembered as a child when the worlds of the humans connected with the world of his people for one afternoon. His world connected with the human world on and off and mostly at night, but rarely during the day. Gavin remembered wondering off to the human world when he was just six years old. He spent the afternoon playing underneath the humans' golden sun. The sun in his world was blue. Gavin's skin seemed to be immune to the golden sun's rays, while his father and everyone else burned underneath the human sun. As soon as the sun went down in the human world, his father came to retrieve him at once and carried him back kicking and screaming to their world. Gavin screamed and told his father that he preferred the human world to their world. The sun was warmer and more welcoming. Gavin's father said nothing as Gavin cried for what seemed like hours.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Ginny.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about how wonderful the sun is here," he said softly.
"What's so special about it? It's just the sun," said Ginny with a shrug. "Where are you from?" she asked again.
"A place different from this," said Gavin simply.
"You look like you belong here, but there are times where you don't. I know it's sort of an oxymoron, but that's what I think," said Ginny out loud.
"There are times when I felt like I didn't belong in my world, but there are times where I don't feel like I belong here. I was confused as a child. I knew that I was different than everyone else," said Gavin.
"Why don't you tell me about your world?" asked Ginny.
"It's different from here. The sun is blue and it's cooler. Everything is usually quiet and still. It's peaceful and horribly boring," said Gavin with a yawn.
"I would rather have boring these days than what's going on now," said Ginny as she looked at her palms. "How many people are going to get hurt before I have to decide what happens? How can I make a decision like that for everyone else?"
"Because you have to," said Gavin simply.
"Maybe, it would be better if the horsemen caught me. At least, I would be the only one to die, then everyone else will be spared," said Ginny softly.
Gavin looked suddenly so serious that she knew she had said something wrong. He shook his head and said, "If you are killed before judgment is made, then the world will automatically go to Apocalypse. It is your decision to make. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here to keep you alive until that time."
Ginny paled over and nodded. So, that's why she had be protected. "But, why don't you just explain it to the people who are trying to kill me? Who are these people?" she asked.
"They are called the Magi, and they're a different brand of wizards who have made it their mission to protect the rest of mankind from you. They are the ones who control the four horsemen," said Gavin.
"I don't blame them. If I were them I would want to kill me, too," said Ginny.
"You're compassion makes you what you are. However, they are only a small band of people and are misguided," said Gavin. He was wondering why Ginny's typical human need for survival and self-preservation wasn't kicking in. From his limited experience with humans, he knew them to be selfish creatures. He was slowly starting to see what made Ginny Weasley so different from all of them. The world would rather not have her exist, but she would rather save it.
~*~
Harry, Ron, and Hermione got on Hogwarts Express by the next morning. Moira Kelly was in another compartment with some of the other professors. Ron's worry about Ginny had gone from bad to worse. Hermione was trying her best to keep calm. The Weasleys didn't want to leave Hogwarts without look for their sister first, but they knew that they have to face their parents. Percy was going to be a member of the inspection team coming to Hogwarts. For some strange reason, it brought some piece of mind to Ron.
They were quiet most of the time. "I want to get started on the packets as soon as I get home. My mum's taking time off to act as one of my teachers. She says it's going to be fun," said Hermione.
"I think my mum's doing the same thing," said Ron with a grim sigh. Before Hogwarts, he was home schooled with his mother just like all the other children. They couldn't very well be sent to a Muggle school near the Burrow.
"Well, I'll be with Professor Kelly. I think I might even get to see Professor Lupin and hopefully Sirius," said Harry. He said the last part quietly so no one could hear. The students weren't wandering around the train like usual because everyone had to be taken accounted for. Fred and George said that they'd met Ron right before getting off the train; they were with their friends Lee Jordan and Angelina Johnson.
"Well, you should send word if you see Professor Lupin, and we'll just assume that you've seen Sirius with him," said Hermione quietly.
"Sure. I'd like to know about it, too. My parents are worried. Actually, I'm sure my mum's hysterical about Ginny. We brought back her trunk anyway. It was all we could do," said Ron sadly.
Hermione rubbed his shoulder. Harry thought about the stranger known as Gavin. Professor Dumbledore said nothing about him, but Harry knew that there was something strange about him. He could feel it.
The time passed much more quickly than expected. The train was pulling into the station before they knew it. Ron and Hermione moved towards where Ron's brothers were and met them on the way out. Harry was with them, but waited for Professor Kelly before getting off.
"Harry, we have to take some Floo Powder to the house," said Professor Kelly as she caught up with him. They met Mrs. Weasley and Percy on the Platform 9 ¾. "Hello, my name is Professor Moira Kelly. I'm the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I'm taking Harry with me, so that he doesn't have to go back with his aunt and uncle," she said to them.
"Hello, I'm Molly Weasley, and this is my other son, Percy," said Mrs. Weasley who looked rather pale. Moira looked at her with nothing, but sympathy.
"I am sorry about what happened. I know how it feels to lose a child without knowing what happened," said Moira softly as she placed her hand on her shoulder.
"Do you have any news?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"Unfortunately, no. I don't. I was looking for her for at least twelve hours. I am so sorry for not doing a good enough job of finding her," said Moira. Her heart went out to this woman whom she barely knew. Mrs. Weasley could see the pain that Moira said. It sounded like she really had been through it.
"What about your child?" she asked softly. Thankfully, the children couldn't hear their conversation. Moira looked at Harry for a moment.
"I lost him or her fifteen years ago," answered Moira.
"I see," said Mrs. Weasley. She realized that Moira couldn't even tell what sex her child was, but by the way she looked at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, her child would have been their age. She didn't ask Moira anymore questions. Everyone at the Platform 9 ¾ separated and Harry waved goodbye to his friends. Eventually, they got to one of the portals of the Floo Powder Network and transported to Moira Kelly's home.
~*~
Ginny and Gavin moved along the Moors as soon as it was warm enough. They continued their trek until they found a small village that was in the middle of almost no where. Ginny looked around. "I don't know where this is," she said.
"Let's go there and get some food," said Gavin.
"We don't have any money. And I don't have my wand," said Ginny.
"Don't worry about it. I've got it covered," said Gavin as he went forward. Ginny had no choice, but to follow him. The people in the village looked at him strangely. Ginny realized that they were dressed in wizards' robes. "It's a wizards' village," said Ginny in a happy voice.
"That's right. You two look tired. Why don't you come with me to the inn?" asked a kind looking lady. Gavin studied her for a moment and nodded.
"Where are we?" he asked as he followed the woman along with Ginny.
"Oh, this is Godric's Hollow," answered the woman. Ginny froze at once. Godric's Hollow was the place that the Potters lived.
"Come on, Ginny," said Gavin as they went to the inn. Ginny felt cold. She looked at around her. She heard something when she looked far off into the distance. It sounded like screaming. The sounds of a baby crying. "You-Know-Who came here before. He killed the Potters here," she said.
The woman stopped once they got to the inn. "You shouldn't be saying that out loud, Miss. People are still afraid," said the woman.
"Why do you all live here then?" asked Gavin.
"It's our home. We will be damned if we surrender our home to the likes of You-Know-Who. The Potters died here, but Harry Potter is the boy who lived. This place has a special protection over it," said the woman knowingly. Ginny wasn't so sure if it were was or not.
The innkeeper gave them some food and two separate rooms to sleep. He said, "To protect the Miss' virtue." Ginny was still shaken. Her powers were allowing her some insight that she never thought she'd ever see. And for the first time in her life, she was not afraid of Voldemort. It was a sign that her powers were getting stronger.
~*~
Harry looked around him. It was large manor house. He had no idea that Moira Kelly had so much wizards' money. It looked very old, but beautiful. Harry had a feeling that Moira Kelly came from a long line of wizards. She was a pure blood. "Are you sure that your family, won't mind me?" asked Harry in a timid voice.
"I have no family. This is what's left of my family really, Harry. My mother had a brother who had a son. He was like a big brother to me. When my mother married my father, she moved away to Ireland, but we would come here during the summer and I would be with my cousin. He passed away fourteen years ago," she said sadly.
"You must miss him," said Harry softly. His father and mother died fourteen years ago when he was just a year old.
"Come. There's room for you. My cousin's old room. I think you'll be comfortable there," said Moira as she guided in him inside. They were met by a house elf named Binky.
"Hello Mistress," said Binky.
"Hello Binky. This is my student who will be staying with me, Harry Potter," said Moira. Binky's very large eyes bugged out even more. "Harry Potter?"
"Yes," said Harry with a nodded as he lifted his bangs to show his scar.
"Ah, but you look like him so," said Binky. Harry blinked. The only person who he looked like so much was his father.
"Please show, Harry, his room. The one upstairs on the next to the East Wing. I must go set up the protection wards," said Moira with a soft smile.
"That room? Of course," squeaked the elf with happiness as he took Harry's hand and took him away.
Harry's room was huge. It was so big that it looked like an apartment within the house. He had his trunk there. It looked like it once belong to a boy. A boy who liked the same things he did. He saw that there was an old wizards' chess on the table. Harry thought of Ron. He saw that there were books that lined the shelves, but he didn't want to look through them, but he thought of Hermione. He saw a set of Quidditch books there. Those he would read later. He just wanted to look around.
Downstairs, the house elf was with Moira. "Mistress. It so good to have the young master here. He has never been to the Archmeid before. Does he not know what this place is to him?" asked Binky.
"No. For now, it's best to keep quiet about it. We don't want to overwhelm him," said Moira softly as she continued putting up the wards to protect Harry. The only blood relative she had left.
~*~
Godric's Hollow was the last place the Potters called home. James and Lily Potter set up house there after James was targeted by Voldemort. James was working with an Auror named Frank Longbottom. It was Frank who uncovered the plot and told James to tell Dumbledore. For their protection they moved there fourteen years ago. Just after Harry James Potter was born. However, their secret keeper turned them over to Voldemort and they were murdered.
Ginny knew that Godric's Hollow held the horrors of that night right down to the soil. During the evening, Ginny left her room without Gavin and Pendragon. Not knowing where she was going, she walked around aimlessly until she was just outside the village. She stopped when she saw where she was. It was a ruin of a house. The Potter house. She had no idea why she had to see them. Perhaps it was one of the things she needed to see to judge the world. If she judge based just on that, then the world was not worth sparing.
She could destroy the world, so that Voldemort would be gone, too. However, that would be unfair. The weight of her responsibility brought her to her knees. She looked at her hands for a moment. There were bright lights coming from her palms. It was gold light. The pain was burning her and bring tears to her eyes.
"I might as well be the Angel of Death," she whispered. The only thing she could see in her visions was destructions. And a fate worst than death for her. She would cause all the pain and be alone. All alone. Because there could be only Angel.
AN: Moira Kelly is pretty cool if I do say so myself. I also know that Harry has a small fortune at the bank left to him by his parents, so the Potters are pretty rich. J.K. Rowling said that James Potter had enough money that he didn't need a job that paid too much. I think read that in one of her interviews. Ginny's journey has began. And the Magi aren't the only people who aren't after her.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and the rest of the people belong to J.K. Rowling. I own this story, Moira Kelly, Gavin Skyler, and Pendragon. Don't steal my dragon. ^_~