Enchantress of the Day and Night

Kneazle

Disclaimer: All characters/ideas belong to JK Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastics, etc, K.A. Applegate's EverWorld, Fern Gully: the Last Rainforest, Mist of Avalon (the movie), Aladdin, Ever After, Chocolat, The Count of Monte Cristo, Enchantress of the Stars by Sylvia Louise Engdahl, Cirque De Soliel, Princess Mononoke by Hayao Miyazaki, The Vision of Escaflowne, Rayearth: the OVA, Record of Lodoss War, Tekken: The Motion Picture, Macross Plus, Blue Submarine No. 6, Pretty Solider Sailor Moon, Dragonball Z-GT, Babylon Tokyo, X-Men: Evolution, The Princess Bride, "Disney's Atlantis", Sweep by Cate Tiernan, Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce, The Dragon's Tapestry, The Prism Moon and The Taker's Key by Martine Bates, Circle of Three by Isobel Bird, Young Wizards Series by Diane Duane, Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Hexwood by Diana Wynne Jones, Daughters of the Moon by Lynne Ewing, Bibliomania.com, Wiccan.com, Feri.com, Exodus by Julie Bertagna, the movie (2001) Brotherhood of the Wolf, Lord of the Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers), Mel Gibson's Braveheart

Summary: AU – In a world where witches and warlocks battle over slavery rights, where no sex is seen as an equal, a precious few gather to change the races' views before the war between the two escalates into something that could be the beginning – or end – of an era.

**-**

Chapter Twelve

          Harry paled and turned around quickly, his eyes resting on the leather lace-up boots of very large feet. His eyes then continued to travel upwards, over brown cottony pants, tied at a very wide waist by lighter, fawn-coloured material. The shirt was long and loose, made of the same material and colour of the pants. A long, long, large black-brown jacket hung from the man's shoulders. A scraggly beard with matching crinkly brown eyes peered down on him.

          "Ah… I think I'll be going now," said Harry, his eyes wide and blurring slightly. He slipped out from under the giant's hand (no small feat), and then proceeded to shout at the top of his lungs, "Hermione!"

          He dashed around the nearest tent, smashing into another large pair of feet, ones that were twice as large than his last giant companion.

          What the hell? He thought, before backtracking and heading in the direction that Hermione, Draco and Oliver had gone off to.

          Emerald green eyes glanced this way and that, making sure that there were no trees pretending to be giants in disguise. He had enough scares for one day – and he certainly didn't need any more.

          He skidded across the dirt ground, sliding a bit past a tent and then backtracking to continue weaving through the large community.

          He had only passed a couple other tents when he slammed into something big and heavy. Looking up, he saw that it was the giant that he had met before while on watch.

          "Now, where d'you think yer going?" he asked, swooping down and lifting Harry.

          Wiggling around, Harry tried to find his way out of the giant's crushing parody of an embrace, only to be tightened to the his jacket.

          "Let me go! I demand that you do this instant!" commanded Harry in his best "I am James Potter's son – hear me roar!" voice.

          "Ahh… ah don' think ah will," replied the giant, his voice rumbling from deep in his throat. Harry felt it before he spoke.

          "And why not?" asked Harry, realizing escape was futile at the moment. He decided to relax and enjoy the short ride towards the stone building he and his friends had neglected to notice earlier.

          "Because yer trespassing on our lands," the giant continued with a deep chuckle. "Didn't yeh know this was the land of the Black Clan? We giants?"

          "Um… no," a sheepish Harry replied. "We're kind of on a Death Eater hunt at the moment."

          "Well, there are no Death Eaters here," said the giant before entering the stone building. "Ah'm Hagrid, by the way. Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of the keys and grounds of the Black Clan."

          Hagrid set Harry down on the dirt ground, before backing up a couple steps and shutting an iron gate. Harry winced as the gate slammed shut – it was only then did he realize he was in a prison.

          "Pardon me for not shaking your hand, Hagrid. Now, why don't you let me out?" he smiled, hoping to win some points.

          "Sorry, ah can't do that," shook the massive head.

          "Why not?"

          "Me mum was the one who order me ta place yeh in here – you and yer friends. Gotta find them now, too." The giant rubbed the back of his head. "Yah see, me mum is the Giantess of this here clan. I can't do what she doesn' want meh to."

          Harry saw the logic and reason in that. "Oh. I see."

          "Do yeh? I hoped yah did. I like you, boy – actually, you look mighty familiar," said Hagrid, peering closely at him. "'Ave we met before?"

          "I'm afraid not. You make quite the impression," laughed Harry, before settling himself down on the dirt floor. "I suppose I'll just sit here and wait for you to find my friends. Just don't hurt Hermione – I love her."

          "Which one is she?" asked Hagrid, as he made to move back to the enormous opening in the building.

          "The one with the bushy hair and brown eyes."

          "A'right."

          And then Hagrid was gone.

**-**

          "Something doesn't seem right," whispered Draco to Hermione and Oliver as they stooped behind some bushes on the far Eastern side of the Black Clan grounds.

          "Why do you say that, Lord Malfoy?" asked Oliver, looking past Hermione to see the blond young man.

          "Harry, Ron and Lavender should've been past this area already if they were doing a search of the grounds. We haven't seen any of them since an hour ago," he said. "Besides, the grounds aren't that large."

          "That's true," replied Hermione. "Do you want me to place a locating charm on Harry?"

          "That might be a good idea," nodded Oliver, looking over their shoulders to make sure nothing was creeping up on them.

          Hermione nodded back, picking up a twig that lay on the ground and placing it vertically in front of her. Then, she laid her palms face down in front of her, parallel to the black soil. She closed her eyes, and whispered, "Point Me to Harry Potter."

          The twig on the ground started moving around and around in circles, before it finally pointed northwest.

          "How accurate is that?" asked Draco in wonder.

          "Fairly. It only shows direction, however. I would need something of Harry's to do a more complex, finding spell," answered Hermione, flashing a grin at Draco. "Why?"

          "Because there isn't anything in that direction, isn't there? We checked that way before, and only saw a pile of rocks."

          "Or was it?" mused aloud Oliver.

          "What do you mean, Ollie?" asked Hermione, raising an eyebrow.

          "Well… was it really just rocks? I'm sure that it look large enough to be another dwelling…" Oliver trailed off, letting the realization sink in.

          Hermione paled. "Do you think it's a prison?"

          "Most likely," said Draco, slowly rising from the ground and brushing the dirt off his hands. "Let's go."

          Oliver and Hermione nodded, standing as well as they followed the young Malfoy off towards the stone house.

          They moved stealthy and quietly, keeping to the shadows. As they turned a corner, they heard the drunken laughter coming from further around the corner they were traveling. Oliver put a finger to his lips, and Draco drew his wand out. Hermione began rubbing her hands together, creating tiny sparks of blue and pink and yellow as they bounced off her skin.

          Together, they peered around the corner and saw a group of giants sitting around a large bonfire, eating and drinking in the growing twilight. They apparently had no concerns about these three strangers, because there was no one on watch.

          Oliver motioned for them to go around the opposite way. Doing as he said so, the three teenagers crept past the bonfire and giants to the stone building, keeping their backs to the stonewall as they inched their way towards the door.

          Laughter close by made them stop, their breathing halted, as they waited for the voices and laughter to fade.

          Footsteps made them shrink towards the shadows as Hermione placed a "do not see me" spell on them, so they were allowed more freedom of movement.

          "This way," whispered Oliver as they entered the dark and damp building. Inside, they were able to move around more freely, as the whole area was dark. As they continued further in the stone building, they heard voices.

          Two voices, that is.

          "It's Harry!" exclaimed quietly Hermione after a couple minutes listening to the accents.

          "And who?" whispered Draco back.

          Hermione shrugged. "Shall we go forward?"

          "I will go," replied Oliver. The other two agreed, and he moved forward confidently, his staff still drawn.

          "Oy, an' who do we 'ave here?" a loud voice, the other one Harry was speaking to, declared.

          Draco and Hermione exchanged curious looks, and peered around the rock they were hiding behind. They spotted Harry, Ron, Lavender and now Oliver in a prison, guarded by a large giant.

          "Oh crap," muttered Hermione. "What do we do now?"

          "I don't know," replied Draco, frowning. "Lure him out? Attack?"

          "Well, I don't know how to attack a giant, do you?" sniped Hermione, glaring at Draco. "Because if you do, go right ahead."

          Draco sneered at her. "Enchantress, I wouldn't dream of leaving you vulnerable and in this state of mind."

          "Vulnerable!" shrieked Hermione, not caring that her voice bounced off the walls. "Vulnerable! Malfoy, you are the largest, conceited, egotistical bas—"

          "'Ello! What do we 'ave here?" a voice boomed above them.

          The two bickering teenagers looked up in unison to see the guard giant grinning above them, peering down at their puny little forms.

          "Oh shit," they both said at the same time, before hands came down and swept them up.

          "Well, we've been looking fer yeh now fer quite some time," said the giant. "I'm Hagrid, by the way."

          "Lord Draco Malfoy, and put me down this instant, you great oaf!" snapped Draco, glaring and trying to wrestle his way out of Hagrid's hands.

          Hagrid drowned. "Now, that's no way ta talk to meh."

          Hermione rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and waiting patiently until Hagrid entered the cell and placed her carefully down.

          "Put me down! Now!"

          "As yeh wish, Lord Malfoy," quipped Hagrid, dropping Draco from waist-high. Draco hit the ground hard on his bottom, letting out a string of curses as he did so. He gingerly stood and began rubbing his backside.

          Ron and Harry started laughing right away, slapping each other's hands as they did so.

          Hermione turned and smiled when she saw Harry, only to have that smile fade off. She took a step forward, her eyes shy and downcast.

          "Hello Harry," she whispered, as Harry smiled softly and shook his head slightly. He came towards Hermione, wrapping her in his arms when he reached her.

          "Silly Enchantress," he murmured affectionately. "You know I can't stay mad at you."

          Hermione grinned into his chest, wrapping her own arms around him as he kissed the top of her head.

          "Well, no that that crisis is over," said Ron dryly from his spot against the wall, "Can we now continue with the real problem?"

          "And what is it?" asked Oliver, his Scottish lit heavy with drowsiness. "We're been searching for Death Eaters all day, and it's getting late. Are we going to stay here tonight and then leave in the morning?"

          Harry looked questioningly up at Hagrid. "Are we, Hagrid?"

          The giant shook his head. "Ah don' think so. I'll 'ave ta ask me mum."

          "Why don't you? Please tell her that we're very busy and need to find Voldemort – eh… You-Know-Who – as soon as possible." Hermione said, turning slightly in Harry's embrace to face Hagrid.

          "Well, ah can ask…" he sighed. "Ah don' know what ah'm goin' ta do. Ah don' even know yer names."

          Hermione smiled. "Well, we'll have to introduce ourselves properly, won't we?" She turned and motioned to Ron to start.

          He cleared his throat and bowed. "Ronald Weasley, son of Arthur Weasley of the clan Talamanca." He then rose from his bow, and went back to leaning against the stone wall.

          Lavender bowed her head and said in his slightly whimsical voice, "Lavender Brown, seer."

          Draco snorted, rolling his stormy eyes. His reached Hagrid's and he sneered, "You know who I am," before turning his head towards Oliver and away from the giant who frowned.

          Oliver shook his head slightly before going down on one knee, and placing his right fist against his heart. "Oliver Wood, Captain of the Priest's Knights, Fifth Regiment. Now currently the Enchantress' guard."

          "Enchantress?" paled Hagrid, glancing at the remaining girl of the group. Harry smiled and pushed Hermione gently away before bowing too, and declaring, "Harry Potter, son of James Potter, leader of the Talamancaian clan."

          "'Arry Potter!" crowed Hagrid. "Bless me soul – it's 'Arry Potter!"

          "Oh brother," moaned Draco, turning his back on the group.

          "Ah knew yer father, and only saw yeh once when yeh were a wee lad," the giant wailed, as he pulled out a handkerchief and cried into it. "Yeh look just like yer father!"

          Hermione grinned widely as Harry blushed. She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek before moving in front of Hagrid, separated only by iron bars. She then curtsied deeply, going down on the floor before rising again, in ancient Enchantress, Priest, warlock and witch custom.

          "I am the Enchantress," she spoke, commanding obedience and attention. Draco turned away from the wall he was looking at to stare at Hermione. Everyone seemed to be drawn in to her, like an angel. "My name is Hermione Granger, leader of the extinct Wycliffe Coven."

          She raised her eyes, looking at Hagrid. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

          Hagrid's watery eyes misted some more, but his sobs stilled, as he took in Hermione's form and curtsey. He then sniffed once, before bawling out a, "Aww… I'll talk ta me mum ta let yeh out – the Enchantress! And little 'Arry Potter!"

          He then turned, nearly running out of the stone building to tell his mother of their captives.

          Hermione turned, a smile on her face. "That went well, didn't it?"

**-**

Sirius frowned as he searched the night sky again for the twentieth time. Remus looked up from his staff that he was polishing, only to murmur, "Give him time to reply, Padfoot. He's safe, you know that."

          "It's not that, Moony," replied the black-haired man. "Did I ever tell you what happened when I went to find James on the battlefield those seventeen years ago?"

          Remus looked up, stopping completely from his staff. "What about the battle, Sirius?"

          Sirius took a deep breath, turning away from his perch in the trees for signs of the owl he sent off, to face Remus. "Well, I went to the last place I saw James… by the enemies camp. When I got there, the battle was already over and we had won. Our clan was disapperating away, back to their homes, when I stumbled across the ruins of one house in particular. I can remember it like it was yesterday…"

          The sky was still black form the fires that had been burning across the lands, and the battlefield still smelt like scorched flesh. I was in despair, thinking I would never find James… and of course Lily and Harry. I still don't know why he decided to take them with him to the battlefield – but I suppose it was because he didn't want to leave them behind in Talamanca in case they lost and were ambushed while escaping.

          Anyways, I approached the ruins of this house, when I noticed the green smoke billowing from inside. I knew at once, this was where Voldemort had been in residence, and hastened my steps. When I entered the building, I immediately saw James's body on the ground, blocking the doorway from anyone exiting or entering.

          I bent to check for his pulse and found none – we knew that he was dead already, but I had to check, Moony. Then, I heard a wail; it was Harry.

          I hurried to his side, only after closing James's eyes, and saw Harry lying on the ground swaddled in a blanket by Lily's arms. She too, was dead, staring lifelessly up at the roof of the building. I closed her eyes before picking Harry up as his godfather, ready to take him home with me.

          It was only when I turned around did I realize that the ashes and left over robes were Voldemort's, and that Harry had been the sole survivor of their encounter.

          I turned to take him back with me, wondering what James had been doing so far away from our side of the battlefield, when I realized that he was probably escaping before we had our turning point of the battle (and that was capturing the Lestranges, remember?).

I carried Harry out, only to be stopped by a giant man – indeed, he was a giant by the name of Rubeus Hagrid. He was a messenger from Dumbledore, who said that Harry was to come and study under him in Castle Lorien. Of course, I said no, Harry is my Godson and no one was going to take him away from me.

Hagrid said he had his orders, and I kept saying no, finally winning that case… but I shall never forget the giant, and his kinds words whence he consoled me of James and Lily's departure and his need to take Harry to safety.

"Do you think that he would harm him now, if they met up in the Black Clan?" asked Remus. "I presume that he is there, being a giant and that the Black Clan is the home of the giants."

          "Well, I do wonder," replied Sirius, frowning slightly, his eyes becoming hooded in the darkness. He pointed his staff at a gathering of branches, murmuring a quick, "incendo."

          A fire roared to life, licking at the branches greedily as their flames grew in height. Now shrouded in firelight and semidarkness, Sirius let out a sigh.

          "I am worried about my godson. Is that wrong, Moony?" he asked.

          "Of course not, old friend," smiled Remus, in his all-knowing wisdom and twinkling eyes. "You are entitled to the right of worrying over him. You are his father, regardless of parentage, and he is your son. Don't forget that."

          Sirius nodded, and clasped Remus on the shoulder. "Thank you, Remy. That was what I needed to hear."

          "I'm glad to be of help."

          They were staring into the flames, lost in their own thoughts, when the cry of their scouts return reached their ears. Hurrying to Dumbledore's side, they watched with growing concern as the young Knights kneeled, their faces white with horror.

          "Milord," said one, breathing heavily, "We've come from the Death Eater camp to give our report. And it is thus: There are no Death Eaters on the site, or around the area. It is a decoy from the original battlefront."

          Dumbledore frowned, before looking up at the stars, which twinkled merrily down at them.

          His frown deepened, as his eyes grew dark.

          "Dumbledore?" asked Sirius. "Where are they?"

          "The Mystic Lands," came the reply, the voice of their leader rumbling deep in his throat as anger coursed through his veins. "It was meant as a way to lead us off their scent. They are traveling to the Mystic Lands, and we best be getting there soon."

          "And if we don't?" Cedric asked quietly.

          Dumbledore's eyes turned sad. "Then Voldemort calls on the ancient power residing in the Mystic Lands and makes himself invincible. We leave at dawn – be ready then."

**-**

**-**

          It was midnight when the hoot of an owl drew everyone in the cell's attention to the large window.

          There, circling in the sky, it searched for the owner of the letter it was supposed to deliver to.

          Harry whistled to it, two fingers in his mouth, as Hermione raised her arms and sent her mind out to the owl to draw its attention towards them.

          It swooped inside the prison, landing on Harry's outstretched arm, nipping gently at his ear as he relived the bird of its burden.

          "What is it?" asked Ron, stepping closer to his friend. Hagrid had been gone for hours now, and they were all getting anxious about their release or to-be-planned escape.

          "It's a note from Sirius. They found a Death Eater camp," frowned Harry, "This morning. No other notes since then, I'm afraid. They're just going to send scouts to check it out tonight… or rather, a couple hours ago."

          "That's it?" asked Draco. "Then what? Any plans mentioned?"

          "None," Harry shook his head. "That's all that was written here."

          Draco didn't believe him, and snatched the letter from Harry's finger's, only to scan and read it for himself, growing more agitated as he read further. The short note was then crumpled, and a groan escaped the blond's lips.

          "Now what?" he muttered.

          "Well," sighed Hermione, rubbing her temples. "I believe we plan our escape. Perhaps they need us."

          It was no sooner than she spoke when another owl soared through the sky, and landed where the previous owl had, on Harry's arm.

          "Now what?" echoed Draco, an eyebrow raised. "Who is it from this time?"

          "Sirius again," said Harry, surprised. He cleared his throat and read this one out loud. "'Dear Harry,' Sirius wrote, 'Our scouts returned from the Death Eater campsite, only to report that it was empty and set as a decoy for us to storm. Voldemort has set off for the Mystic Lands. Wherever you are, you must leave immediately and make your way there – we will meet you in a week's time, at the Northern side of the Apollo Lake. There, the battle will commence. Bring all your supplies, weapons, and able bodies you can. See you soon and take care, Sirius.'"

          Hermione lowered her head and looked at the ground. "We won't be there in time if we don't leave right away," she said softly. "They'll lose without us there."

          "They'll be slaughtered," agreed Ron, clenching his fist, knowing his brothers and father were going to be at the battlefield.

          Hermione was about to say more when a clang of iron against iron caught her attention. The group turned to see Hagrid opening the cell door.

          "Go now," he urged, in a whisper. "Hurry. Me mum doesn' know that ah'm letting yeh out – but the world is at stake, Dumbledore told meh."

          "Dumbledore?" questioned Harry. "How do you know him?"

          Hagrid smiled. "I was suppos'd ta take yeh to Castle Lorien when yah were a baby, 'Arry. Instead, yah godfather took yah with him to Talamanca. I was under Dumbledore's orders, and always am. Ah am loyal to him, and him only – not meh mum, but don' let her know that." He winked as the group slowly trudged out of their cell, towards the Black Clan again.

          They followed Hagrid towards the outermost area of the Black Clan. He handed Oliver a cloth. In it was food, enough to last them all comfortably for a couple of days.

          "Now, head ta the Mystic Lands, will yeh? We need yeh for the final battle, and its important yeh all arrive on time," he smiled and wiped at tears threatening to fall.

          He reached over and brought Ron, Harry and Hermione into a bear huge, crushing them to his chest.

          "Now, now, Hagrid," laughed Hermione as they were put down. "We'll see each other again, I promise."

          "So long," called Harry and Ron as they group began moving out of the Black Clan area. "See you again soon!"

          Hagrid watched them till they were nothing more than specks in the darkness, before they disappeared all together. He would face the wrath of is clansmen and his mother alone, but not without telling them what he knew of their personalities. They were going to save the world, he knew.

          Poor kids.

**-**

AN: Well, no battle. Yet. But, it's getting there. The "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers" are great to listen to while writing this. They really made the emotions and flow of the stories go. Well, hope you enjoy this installment. As everything is being dragged out, there might be more chapters than I had previously thought… but no worries. The story is reaching its climax, and then it's all downhill from there on in. Enjoy, and don't forget to leave reviews. I *heart* reviews!