When the he had finally broken the silence that had surrounded him since his rebirth into earth and stone, it caught even the Golem off-guard. But then, Virginia had always managed to create the nexpected in him. The symbols itched and ached, pulling him away from any memories he might have, reminding him he had a purpose here. No room for old thoughts--they caused hesitation from the task at hand as they grounded against each other.
But a thought rebelled against the dullness that swathed his mind and past-- Why had he followed the order? She was not Master. The symbols did not answer, and the inner eye's stream of thought provided no revelations.
Virginia Weasley, nineteen years old, graduated two years ago from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizards. Possessed as a child by the manifestation of Tom Riddle hidden in a diary--
Again the voice, not swathed in numbness screamed-- possessed by me! I am Tom! It was me that held her like a puppet on little silk strings! She was mine! I am Tom Riddle! I REMEMBER--
--Freed by Harry Potter. Elder brother Bill was killed by Voldemort in Egypt last year, elder brother Percy turned into a Death Eater four years earlier. Was taken captive once three years ago by a trio of Death Eaters. She killed one with a pen and escaped, but still suffered from post-traumatic stress. She mentors Godric Leibowitz-the Master- in archaic Defense the Dark Arts spells, many which she has uncovered herself after her imprisonment. Has attempted to keep Godric from getting himself killed, living up to his ancestor's name, Godric Gryffindor. Has feeling of affection for the young wizard, but has vowed against any love until the war is over.
He tried to ignore the unending history of Virginia Weasley. He knew her already, better than Master, better than Harry Potter, better than anything the symbols could ever tell him. The voice ravaged against the emotionless veil, demanding the symbols acknowledge this, to admit that they did not know everything.
The symbols did not answer him.
It was one thing to be given a gift. It was another to use it wisely.
"I say we have it charge through and kill Voldemort. That would settle this war once and for all!" Ron smacked his fist against the table to make his point.
Virginia shook her head at her elder brother. "A Golem is immortal, yes, but it can be stopped. Blast it into little pieces and it could take years for it to gather itself back together. Freeze it, or bury it, and it will be gone for several days at least. No, it needs to do a job that we can't, but one that won't make it obvious we have it to our advantage."
Harry nodded. "She's right, Ron."
Ron glowered at his sister. "For all we know, she could still be his little thrall-" His muttering was stopped by a slap, not from his sister, but from his lover.
Hermione, who had been quiet this entire time, save for her usual string of cryptic observations, held her companion's cheek, guiding his gaze to her and away from his sister. "You still hurt from Percy's betrayal, Ron. That is no reason to attack her. You know your sister has proven her worth a thousand times over."
Ronald Weasley bowed his head in shame. "I'm sorry, Gin."
His sister smiled a tired little smile at him. "Then stop calling me by childhood name. We're not children anymore. No one is." The last phrase was soft and bitter, and argued by none. She turned to Hermione. "What are your thoughts on the Golem?"
Three eyes met, and Virginia couldn't help but internally shiver at the price Hermione had been willing to pay for the ultimate knowledge. Unlike the others, Virginia had been present when the ritual had taken place, for she had the best medical skills of the group, had the rite gone wrong. She knew what lay underneath the red and gold swathe of silk and lace. She also understood the sacrifice, and accepted it, something her brother could not. "The Golem can speak, can it not? What does it have to say for its fate?"
The Golem, which had stayed a silent guard at the door for all this time, looked up. "I will do whatever I am ordered to do. That is my purpose." Rock eyelids moved, making a mockery of a blink.
Virginia threw her hands into the air. "Don't you have an opinion, in the least?"
"I am without will. I only follow my master's will."
"Then why did you answer me? I am not your master!"
The automation blinked again. "But my master would answer to you."
Virginia looked at Hermione, and they shared a silent thought on the amount of will of this creature. Women's intuition nagged at the statements of the creature. But it was pointless to argue with something made of rock. Hermione looked to the creature.
"It is strong and it is fast, and no Death Eater can detect it. It is the perfect thing to be a courier to the front and back. It won't be seen behind our lines, but will still be able to protect those who cannot help themselves. We need not to waste good man power moving the wounded from harms way. It would free many of us from so much…worry." She shot Virginia another look. She knew the Head Medic's constant worries about them as she was forced to stay behind.
Harry nodded, as did most of the others. The Golem's fate was sealed.
The Golem almost nodded in agreement at the wise decision. But it knew better. Golems were not wise.
Golems have no wills.
But a thought rebelled against the dullness that swathed his mind and past-- Why had he followed the order? She was not Master. The symbols did not answer, and the inner eye's stream of thought provided no revelations.
Virginia Weasley, nineteen years old, graduated two years ago from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizards. Possessed as a child by the manifestation of Tom Riddle hidden in a diary--
Again the voice, not swathed in numbness screamed-- possessed by me! I am Tom! It was me that held her like a puppet on little silk strings! She was mine! I am Tom Riddle! I REMEMBER--
--Freed by Harry Potter. Elder brother Bill was killed by Voldemort in Egypt last year, elder brother Percy turned into a Death Eater four years earlier. Was taken captive once three years ago by a trio of Death Eaters. She killed one with a pen and escaped, but still suffered from post-traumatic stress. She mentors Godric Leibowitz-the Master- in archaic Defense the Dark Arts spells, many which she has uncovered herself after her imprisonment. Has attempted to keep Godric from getting himself killed, living up to his ancestor's name, Godric Gryffindor. Has feeling of affection for the young wizard, but has vowed against any love until the war is over.
He tried to ignore the unending history of Virginia Weasley. He knew her already, better than Master, better than Harry Potter, better than anything the symbols could ever tell him. The voice ravaged against the emotionless veil, demanding the symbols acknowledge this, to admit that they did not know everything.
The symbols did not answer him.
It was one thing to be given a gift. It was another to use it wisely.
"I say we have it charge through and kill Voldemort. That would settle this war once and for all!" Ron smacked his fist against the table to make his point.
Virginia shook her head at her elder brother. "A Golem is immortal, yes, but it can be stopped. Blast it into little pieces and it could take years for it to gather itself back together. Freeze it, or bury it, and it will be gone for several days at least. No, it needs to do a job that we can't, but one that won't make it obvious we have it to our advantage."
Harry nodded. "She's right, Ron."
Ron glowered at his sister. "For all we know, she could still be his little thrall-" His muttering was stopped by a slap, not from his sister, but from his lover.
Hermione, who had been quiet this entire time, save for her usual string of cryptic observations, held her companion's cheek, guiding his gaze to her and away from his sister. "You still hurt from Percy's betrayal, Ron. That is no reason to attack her. You know your sister has proven her worth a thousand times over."
Ronald Weasley bowed his head in shame. "I'm sorry, Gin."
His sister smiled a tired little smile at him. "Then stop calling me by childhood name. We're not children anymore. No one is." The last phrase was soft and bitter, and argued by none. She turned to Hermione. "What are your thoughts on the Golem?"
Three eyes met, and Virginia couldn't help but internally shiver at the price Hermione had been willing to pay for the ultimate knowledge. Unlike the others, Virginia had been present when the ritual had taken place, for she had the best medical skills of the group, had the rite gone wrong. She knew what lay underneath the red and gold swathe of silk and lace. She also understood the sacrifice, and accepted it, something her brother could not. "The Golem can speak, can it not? What does it have to say for its fate?"
The Golem, which had stayed a silent guard at the door for all this time, looked up. "I will do whatever I am ordered to do. That is my purpose." Rock eyelids moved, making a mockery of a blink.
Virginia threw her hands into the air. "Don't you have an opinion, in the least?"
"I am without will. I only follow my master's will."
"Then why did you answer me? I am not your master!"
The automation blinked again. "But my master would answer to you."
Virginia looked at Hermione, and they shared a silent thought on the amount of will of this creature. Women's intuition nagged at the statements of the creature. But it was pointless to argue with something made of rock. Hermione looked to the creature.
"It is strong and it is fast, and no Death Eater can detect it. It is the perfect thing to be a courier to the front and back. It won't be seen behind our lines, but will still be able to protect those who cannot help themselves. We need not to waste good man power moving the wounded from harms way. It would free many of us from so much…worry." She shot Virginia another look. She knew the Head Medic's constant worries about them as she was forced to stay behind.
Harry nodded, as did most of the others. The Golem's fate was sealed.
The Golem almost nodded in agreement at the wise decision. But it knew better. Golems were not wise.
Golems have no wills.