Title: Mabon
Author name: Desolate Butterfly
Category: Gen
Sub Category: Drama
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, OoTP
Summary: Harry learns something new about his wizarding heritage…and about Draco Malfoy.
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author notes: This will probably end up being H/D slash, just to warn any Harry/Ginny hopefuls reading this. Also, just so I don't have to deal with troublesome things like canon, this story will be AU.

Mabon

"A festival?"

Ron Weasley puzzled over the invitation in his hands, his fingers brushing over the characters of his name spelled out in red ink. Over his friend's shoulder, Harry Potter was trying to get a look at the mysterious invitation, while at the same time thwarting Ron's owl, who, having done its duty, fluttered dangerously close to Harry's breakfast plate. Across the table, Hermione Granger was involved in a bit of reading of her own, although it was not a glossy white invitation such as Ron's, but the newest edition of Hogwarts: A History (Vol.62 ½). She closed her book upon hearing Ron's puzzled exclamation.

"Give it here Ron," she said, holding her hand out to receive the invitation. She read it quickly, nodding several times in understanding before she looked up again. "Tonight is Mabon. You've been invited to the Second Harvest Festival!"

Harry looked confused. "What's Mabon, then? Some kind of school event? And why didn't we get invitations too?"

"Mabon is the Autumn Equinox, also known as the Second Harvest Festival, the Festival of Dionysus, the Wine Harvest, the Feast of Avalon, and Alban Elfred," Hermione stated, her eyes gleaming in a way that indicated she intended to give a lecture. "On this day, witches and wizards are supposed to celebrate the coming harvest and the prosperity they've enjoyed during the year. Celtic lore states that on this day, the infant Sun God, Mabon, was kidnapped and drawn into the earth itself. His absence marks the beginning of the winter season."

"I thought that was a Greek legend, not a Celtic one," Harry said, batting Pigwidgeon away from a link of sausage. "That whole thing with Hades and Persephone…"

Hermione beamed at him, thrilled that Harry had actually paid attention in Binns' class on magical folklore. "That is another version of what happens during the Autumn Equinox. The two stories are really just supposed to symbolize the coming of winter and the temporary death of the sun."

"Well then, what—gerroff Pig!—what does this have to do with Ron's invitation?"

"There's usually a ritual ceremony and feast for Pureblood students who are religiously observant," Ron said, frowning. "But I've never been invited to them before. It's mostly the Slytherins that hold it and my family isn't exactly considered prestigious enough for me to take part. I wonder why I've suddenly got an invitation to join in this time?"

Hermione tapped her fork against her lips, the way she usually did with a pen while she was thinking.

"Neville's owl brought him something this morning. I think he probably got an invitation as well. The number of Pureblood students has been dropping off ever since last year, when knowledge of V-Voldemort's –stop making faces Ron!— return became public. Most of the children of suspected Death Eaters were pulled out of school or transferred to Durmstrang. There can't be many left to observe the rituals."

"Are you going to go, Ron?" Harry asked.

Ron's face twisted into a sneer. "And hang around with stuck up Slytherins all night? No thanks. I'd rather play chess with Dean."

Hermione glared. "You should be studying for our Potions test. You know Professor Snape isn't going to make it easy."

Ron muttered something unflattering about what Snape could do with his Potions test that Harry was glad he couldn't quite hear. It seems that Hermione might have caught a bit more of it then Harry though, because she immediately blushed and started to scowl impressively at the red-haired boy.

While Hermione threatened to wash Ron's mouth out with soap, Harry gazed enviously at the crisp, white invitation on the table. He had never seen a traditional Wizarding ceremony before (unless you counted getting your arm sliced open by Wormtail and having your blood used to bring an evil wizard back to life…which Harry didn't) and he was a bit curious as to what one looked like.

"Where do they hold the festival?" he asked, interrupting his best friends' bickering.

"Around the edges of the Forbidden Forest," Hermione answered. "Really, I think Headmaster Dumbledore ought to move it a bit closer to Hogwarts this year. The centaurs have been roaming closer then ever."

"They only stay on the edges 'Mione. You know Mabon rites have to be performed on hallowed ground anyway. Where d'you think they could hold it, the Quidditch pitch?" Ron asked, shovelling a bit of egg into his mouth. "Besides which, they wouldn't let students out on their own."

Hermione looked appeased at this.

"Yes, that's true. Professor Snape usually supervises the ritual," she said. "So I guess it's safe."

"Yet another reason to stay home," Ron interjected. "I already see the greasy git—Don't kick me 'Mione— enough during school hours. No need to seek more torture outside of class time. Say Harry, do you want to watch me trounce Dean in chess tonight? Or we could play Exploding Snap and make a tourney of it…"

Harry shook his head before Hermione could nag them about the Potions test. "Actually, I think I'm going to visit with Dumbledore tonight."

Immediately the concerned questioning started.

Hermione stared intently at his face, as if she could discern by looking what he might have to talk to Dumbledore about.

"You've been sleeping haven't you? Your eyes don't look red…Harry Potter, have you been taking Pepper-Up in the mornings so we won't notice that you haven't slept?"

Harry's mouth dropped open in indignation. Obviously he was trusted to take care of himself less then he thought he was.

"Hermione! I wouldn't do that! Besides which, Ron would notice if I had to take a potion every morning, and Snape isn't exactly furnishing me with his stock here."

She placed her hands in her lap, shamefaced.

"Yes, that's true. I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions Harry--"

"Bloody well leaping to conclusions, I'd say," Harry muttered into his porridge.

I'm just worried you know," she pleaded.

Harry sighed and tried to summon up a smile. He managed half a one and decided it was the best he had to offer at present.

"I know."

"You okay mate?" Ron asked. "Scar isn't giving you trouble, is it?"

"Everything's fine. I just promised Dumbledore I'd keep him informed about how I'm doing and things. Because last year was so…well…you know."

They did. Hermione nodded gravely and Ron patted his shoulder in a gesture of understanding before turning back to his breakfast. Under the pretext of tossing a piece of bacon to Pigwidgeon, Harry got a clearer look at the invitation and memorized the time.

'Twilight. I'll just use my cloak and take a look. No one will know.'

Harry remembered stories in the newspaper that Uncle Dursley would read outloud at the breakfast table; tabloids about Wiccan rituals or festivals that involved either wild orgies or ritual sacrifices. Seeing as how a professor would be supervising the festival, even if it was Professor Snape—on second though, maybe especially because it's Snape. I can't see anyone able to even suggest an orgy with his sour face around—Harry doubted that these things would occur. However, he was still intensely curious about anything to do with his wizarding heritage.

Besides which, a part of him really did hope something like an orgy would occur.

'I have to keep an eye on the Slytherins anyway,' he justified himself. 'Maybe they just use this Mabon thing to cover up Dark Arts rituals or something.'

"Coming, Harry?" Hermione's voice called, stirring the boy from his thoughts. She and Ron had already finished their breakfast and had stood up to make their way to morning classes. They looked at Harry with a mixture of concern and expectancy.

"Er…yeah, just—" Harry shovelled the last of his egg into his mouth and picked up a piece of toast smeared with marmalade before gathering his books. "Let's go," he said, as if he were the one kept waiting.

As they made their way out of the Great Hall, Harry couldn't help looking back towards the table where Ron's invitation still rested neatly beside his empty plate.

To Be Continued…

Please feed the review beast. - DeB