Chapter Twenty Nine

Hermione and Damiana called their ancestors one last time for practice. It had been three weeks since they had decided to move up the date of the battle. Dumbledore even went as far as to excuse them from Wednesdays of class so they could practice. Harry and Ginny would call their part of the spell to prevent Ron and Draco from entering the circle, and then Dami and Hermione would call to their ancestors to come forth and place judgment. If the four Ezil Wis disagreed, or if the Cri and the Reia decided they didn't like the decision, then they would fight until death or withdrawal.

The girls knew that their aunt and sister were calling as well. They would be ready for this, and Hermione and Damiana could not waiver in anything they said to the ancestors. Weakness was not a virtue, and it could get them killed.

Draco had told her that morning, "You've got the blood of one of the best wizards of the world in your veins, and the love of so many others. Channel that into courage when all else fails. Because, kitten, you can't."

Ron was not pleased at the speed of which the battle was coming, but he did not voice his worries to Dami. He loved her too much to add to everything else. He didn't sleep at night much, just kept watching her form as she slept. Athos had Snape brew a potion for the two girls to cause dreamless sleep so they had optimal rest. They had to be at the top of their game, everything had to be set. He hated it though, not having her company to talk to at night. He just watched her, brushing her hair from her eyes and kissing her cheek every now and then, praying to every god he could think of that his Dami and Mione would win, and everything would be peaceful again.

Harry and Ginny only watched, and practice every chance they got on Draco and Ron. They knew that they could not risk the two boys getting away form their grasp, for it would make Dami and Hermione lose, and that could not happen, it just couldn't.

Serenity finished calling to her ancestors, but they would not come to her. She had a very bad feeling about this, but the Cri insisted that the ancestors would always prefer the Cri over a ... and then a large amount of very unkind words would flood from the older woman's mouth. The Cri hated Serenity's sisters, her granddaughters, for deciding to be free. Hadn't that been what Serenity had left her muggle parents for? The freedom of the world around her? and here she was, fighting a battle she had not beleived in, and serving a woman she had come to hate. How could he betray her sisters like that?

"Easy," she spoke to know one, and to every one that had died in her bloodline, "The Cri commands it, and i am, regretfull, her willing Servant." Even as she said it, she wished it was not true. She should have been with them. But the choices were made a long time ago, and a Tegwan never goes back on her word

They had chosen the Companions that would fit the need, two weak ones for their own and then two to cast the circle that kept all companions out. Serenity knew that Potter and Ginny Weasley would be Casting the circle on her sisters' side, and that Draco and Ron would stand their and watch. That alone made the girls stronger than Serenity, and she knew it. The original Companion at the making, and the two wizards that preformed the binding spell would make them a force to be reckoned with.

The Cri was unscathed at this fact, shrugging it off like it would be nothing, but deep down, Serenity knew that the Cri feared her sisters, and that this battle would be lost. The only way to win was the Ancestors, and they weren't answering Serenity. She bowed her head once more, and spoke her prayer again, knowing it to be in vain.

One the day of the battle, all of the Seventh years went with them, even after it was forbidden. It helped, knowing that their world supported them, even though many were still leery of them. A mix they were, but they were proud and graceful, kind to all who were the same to them.

Only Ezil Wis were allowed to the circle, for Ezil Jast are an entire different sanction of the Aleva. So these women landed to sit in the trees, and as Hermione and Damiana watched, they began to pray to their Goddess.

"Heaven help us if she's on their side." Damiana said, speaking of the goddess Selene. "We can't beat them if they are in her favor."

"She won't take sides in this. It's forbidden even to her. Our ancestors are our deciding force, no one or nothing else."

"Do you know your lines?" Dami looked to Hermione, who had dressed them both in the outfit she had seen Serenity once were. Riding pants and knee high riding boots in black, with flowing blouses, Hermione's in green and Trimmed in silver to match to Draco, and Damiana's in a Red with gold trimming to match to Ron. Over that they wore black sleeveless overcoats that reached the floor, lined with soft black fur on the inside, because winter had come to Hogwarts just two days before. They pulled their hair up out of their faces and placed it on the top of their heads with pins and hairspray, because all magic would be canceled on their person when they entered the circle. On top of their heads they placed musketeer hats to match their clothes, both black with a feather the color of their blouse coming out of the top. They had tried the wands as swords, but it wouldn't work with the circle, so Albus and Athos each presented them with a sword and a dagger, each engraved with their father and mother's names and their own. They placed their daggers on their right, and both being right handed, placed their swords on the left. They had practiced double drawing and were very good at controlling both at once. They had been over their plan and what restrictions and what they wanted a hundred times, and knew exactly what they should be ready for.

The time came quickly, and they slowly walked out into the courtyard, were two Clydesdales were waiting to take them to the circle, every one else already being there.

As the mounted, Hermione looked to her sister. "Beat you there, Dearest sister. First one gets to fight the Cri!" And with that, they were off.