Title: Gwydion's Sword
Author: P.L.S.
\speech\ - a kind of telepathy between the Potters and the loa who like them.
speech - Spanish.
- English.
I'll add more to it as they become needed.
ooOooOoo
(Chapter Two- Logistics)
When Ti-Jean Petro made himself known to Luc, to say the brujo was surprised was a grave understatement, but a welcome thing. It was well known among the devotees as well as the practitioners within the Group that the serpent was very fond of the missing Potter. Besides that the loa was very insistent that it knew where his favorite was and that Potter needed Group backup, no one who wore the firebird and arrows could turndown the offer to help their own.
Luc took a swig of his special brew and nodded to his apprentice who ran out of their tent to go tell the good news. They were going to Britain to literally make the bastards pay for taking a very valued Group member. It was going to take a lot of gold to stop the Group from tearing apart whatever prison held Potter. As another plus, since the was the finder his cut would be a bit larger and more money was never a bad thing.
----
Luc wasn't the only one of the practitioners who were visited, Papa Legba, Ogoun and Erzuile all visited with blessings to shower upon those that were going to go and join Potter. Erzuile also swore to watch over the children despite the fact that Simbi was already there and keeping a close eye on the three. The lead priestess for the Haitian sect, Ursula LaCroix, was surprised at the out pouring of support and questioned it, to which Papa Legba seemed to shrug and threw an overused Shakespeare quote at her. She had no idea where it came from exactly though.
Erzuile was a bit more helpful, but not much. She seemed to imply that another family of loa had dibs on Potter and wanted him safe. But when asked for more information the capricious spirit laughed and left the hounfort. Ogoun was silent on all but one matter, time. He made it very clear that time was not on their side.
With that done, planning started and almost immediately a team of six was sent out with one of the members trained in diplomacy and international law. The six would go one to Hogwarts, but the lawyer would go to Brussels and make sure that King Draco knew of Potter's abduction and support the Group enough so that they could either extract Potter in the night or launch an attack if need be.
As soon as word came of just how much support Flanders' king could give, they could move fully, but until then small teams of no more than ten would be sent to join the six and torment Hogwarts.
----
Harry woke when a familiar and missed sensation of energy twisted around him and serpentine hisses of a plan filled his ears. Ti-Jean was unhappy to see that his magic was still fettered and offered to ride him and break his body free, but Harry declined. After all, his magic wasn't really all that hindered because he had shorted out the cuffs in the first night. But Harry wanted that to be a surprise for his captors.
\Why?\ asked Ti-Jean, \Why not just escape now?\
\I'm not powerful enough to get past the two armies they host here. Besides, despite our past, I can't leave Snape here.\
\But still.\ Ti-Jean stopped and looked up as if seeing someone.
\Ti?\ Harry asked. The serpent spirit hissed an obscenity.
\Ogmius insists that we take the ward holder. The man should not be holding school wards when there isn't a school to protect.\
\Who's Ogmius?\
\The one who is tied to the wards and is the spirit of the castle. Powerful, like the greater loa. He cannot leave this to the warriors until the wards are dropped.\ Ti-Jean seemed to try to shrug, \He seems to be unseeable for you. Why?\
\Maybe I'm just wired to see you, or something. All of us are unique and no one ever has quite the same skills.\ Harry said. Ti-Jean nodded.
\True enough. It has been too long since I was human. I don't even remember that properly.\ Ti-Jean seemed a mix of confusion, irritation, and amusement. Harry smiled.
\I suppose riding the devotees during the ceremonies doesn't quite let you live again, does it?\ Ti-Jean did laugh now.
\No, it doesn't.\
\Would you be reborn, if you had the option to?\ Harry asked. Ti-Jean hissed a sigh.
\No. I suppose not, I'm more use now than I probably was as a human. Besides, who else would keep you company when things like this happen? Aida-Wedo?\ Harry laughed at that.
\I guess we could commiserate about the pains of childbirth and such.\ Harry grinned, \But really, I think I've been blessed enough by her.\
\I forgot about that.\ Ti-Jean said, \Ah, reminds me. Simbi's been hanging around your three monsters, Ester is the only one who can see him.\ Harry nodded.
\Each is attuned to a different element, Ester is a water, Bastian is an earth, and Estrella is an air.\
\So Ester would see all the loa associated with water, Bastian would see all those who are associated with plants and such, and Estrella would see all the loa of the storms and the emotionally gifted loas.\
\Right. But I still get to see all you serpents as well as anyone else who wants me to see.\
\But your attuned to the Petro as well as the Guede.\
\Yes.\
\Maybe that's why you can't see Ogmius. He's more like the Rada.\ Harry nodded.
\That could be the cause.\ Harry sighed, \I just wish we knew what made me and my children able to see into the invisable.\
\Grand Maitre is the only one who knows, but he won't say. Even to Papa Legba.\
\Right. Can you take tangible objects from one place to another?\
\No, otherwise I'd bring you your weapons. What did you want me to tell Simbi to tell you children?\
\That I love them, I'm safe, to listen to their elders, and stay safe.\ Ti-Jean wrapped around Harry and gave a wave of warmth off.
\They know you love them. That town you like to visit has taken them in and they are in the care of the church there. They are going to classes with their peers, hearing new stories, making friends, and doing as you would have them do. Erzuile is mothering them and watching their dreams. The Group has placed a contingent of guards on them and the old priest who has taken them in is a wand wizard like you.\ Ti-Jean huffed, \You don't need to worry about anything but getting home.\
\I can't help it.\
\I'll hold you tonight, like before.\
\You sure you don't want to be human again? You'd make a wonderful boyfriend.\
\As opposed to the best friend you've ever had?\
\Well...\
\Just sleep.\
\Sure.\
----
Ester looked up from her reading. Simbi was excited about something, but it was still had for her to understand any of the spirits that her father seemed to just talk to with ease. Maybe it came it age. Her brother was with some of the boys from class, playing futball or something. Estrella was out in the markets with Padre SanPedro, she was helping the father do shopping as it was well known that all of the three were good at getting prices that they liked. Besides Ester was the only one of the three who truly liked to read about sciences and such.
Ester watched Simbi's shadow form twist and try to convey something, but all she really understood was that something was wrong. But she should stay put because Padre SanPedro said that the church was sacred and it would protect her.
Ester frowned, if that was the case Bastian needed to come back. Unlike the father, the village kids weren't any good for protection. After their father had been taken Ester was very aware that they needed help. Running out through the kitchens she saw Estrella coming back with a basket of mangos, plantains, and bananas.
Where are you going? asked Estrella.
To get Bastian. Simbi's panicking about something. Estrella nodded, ran to the door, placed the basket just inside, then caught up with Ester.
The boys moved to the dead field behind the cantina. Estrella said and they changed course.
Finding Bastian was no problem after that, and he followed them back to the church as soon as they showed up on the field. But then again they didn't notice that while they had accidentally lost their watchers from the Group, they didn't lose the group of wizards sent to fetch them as blackmail against their father.
A/N: I owe the wonderful CD's I just got for this chapter. If it weren't for Ministry of Sound or Basement Jaxx, I know this wouldn't have gotten done. Now I just need to finish the two other short stories I started in the past week. I also apologize to any voodoo devotees, I know that the way I'm using the loas in this story isn't true to life but I needed to establish a connection with otherworldly powers and the loas seemed to be the best way to start as they are still active and more likely for Harry to come in contact with. I'm not a devotee or anything, I'm just fascinated with other cultures and have a minor education in both the big five (Hindu, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, & Christianity) as well as general anceint myths, some tribal religions, cults, and lesser known religions.