Harry Potter and the Guardians of Power
Disclaimer: I own nothing belonging to the Harry Potter Universe except the twisted plot, a few original characters, and a desire to share my weird obsession with others.
Summary: After being captured by Voldemort, Snape and Potter escape to … AU/Middle of 5th Year, No HBP Spoilers, NO Slash, and No Mary Sues.
AN: I will not respond to individual reviewers on this story site. If you really need a question answered please review and I will respond to questions on my author page. Please read and review. Question: Would you like longer chapters or faster updates? Also, Chapter 5 was revised to clarify Severus' apparently too quick change in attitude towards Harry. Please read 5 again if you have not. Thanks.
Chapter 6: The Purification Ritual
Severus had had the first watch last night since he hadn't been driving the wagon and had slept the entire night before. He had still not totally recovered since losing so much sleep caring for Harry, and the opportunity to hand over the responsibility for the boy's welfare, if only for a few hours, allowed him to release his mind into truly deep sleep. He was normally a very light sleeper. At times his dreams rivaled Harry's and he had used so many sleeping potions over the years that they no longer worked for him. But total exhaustion is nature's best sleeping aid. And for once, he was sound asleep, without a nightmare or needing a sleeping potion, still when Emrys shook him on the shoulder to wake him Severus was instantly alert, wand in hand. Luckily, he stopped before flinging a curse when he realized who had touched him as he slept. All of the Hogwart's house elves knew not to touch Professor Snape when he was sleeping. Emrys chuckled at the look of chagrin on Severus' face and moved on to wake Harry. He stooped to gently wake Harry. "Come child, it is time for the ritual to begin. We must do it exactly at dawn. Come, come child. Severus, can you carry him down to the lake?"
Severus carried Harry through the dewy, wet grass and through the gravel to the edge of the lake and laid him down carefully on the blanket that Artemus had spread for him on the shore near the southern river. Emrys stood facing the eastern sky where the first gray light was beginning to glow on the horizon. He held his staff aloft and invoked the ancient power of the sun and the lake to bless their endeavor and to save the innocent. On the shore, Emrys removed his robe and stepped, naked, onto a rock about 2 feet out into the lake that was completely surrounded by water in the southern part of the lake. Artemus stopped and held a rough grey stone bowl aloft and although he made no sound, it was apparent he also called upon the sun and the water to bless the ritual. Artemus took 7 steps to stand directly in front of Emrys. The brown haired man bowed and knelt to Emrys while holding the bowl up to the old wizard with both arms stretched over his head. Emrys took the bowl from Artemus and bowed to him, then turned and held the bowl aloft to the sunrise that was starting to paint the lake in soft pinks and yellows.
Emrys silently directed Severus to disrobe and to stand directly in front of him in the lake. Somehow Severus knew that he was not to speak unless asked a direct question. Most ancient rituals were very stylized and must be performed exactly. He did his exercises to completely clear his mind of all thoughts but the coming ritual. Severus had quickly but deliberately disrobed, and entered the water walking to stand in front of the older man. He stood in front of Emrys and bowed respectfully.
Severus was surprised that the water wasn't cold and actually felt strangely as if it was body temperature. The water in front of the stone was not quite up to his knees and was so clear he could see every pebble on the lakebed clearly. Emrys used both hands to lift the stone bowl above his head while directly facing the sunrise. The red glow of the sun was just kissing the horizon and the lake was almost glowing with the power of the sunrise. A soft white glow came from the water and up the rock. It rose magically up the wizard's body until it spread completely around the wizard and the bowl in his hands. It shimmered for several seconds that seemed an eternity to the three watching. The power was so palpable they found themselves involuntarily holding their breaths. The white light pulsed outward and then contracted, and then disappeared with a flash completely into the bowl. Emrys handed the bowl to Severus and directed him to spread the softly glowing substance everywhere from head to toes while facing the sunrise directly to the east. Severus complied, and was told to take exactly ten steps to the south and to stay completely submerged for at least one minute. Severus carefully counted nine swishing steps, carefully making no splash. He stopped and took several deep cleansing breaths, than a deep breath, held it and sank into a deep sinkhole with his tenth step.
Severus felt as if the substance he had spread on his body was now reacting with every cell in his body. He felt on fire, but not a fire like Crucio, a fire like the warmth of a cozy winter fire when you come in from the snow; or the wonderful feeling of a warm summer sun on your skin after a swim in a cold lake. He thought it felt like he was bathing in pure love, or joy. His world stood still as he lost himself in the amazing feeling of total peace. He realized he had forgotten to count the time and started hurriedly counting. For good measure, he stayed under water until his lungs burned from lack of oxygen. He turned around and took one step back onto the lakebed. Quietly gasping for breath, he tried to recapture the feeling that he had felt flowing through every artery, vein, and capillary. He felt strange, somehow at peace, but with a curiously empty mind. He couldn't describe it but it didn't feel bad or good, just there somehow. His mind was strangely blank, as if his head was filled completely with a peaceful white fog. He turned obedient eyes onto Emrys and waited for the man's next instructions.
Emrys called for Severus to return and undress the boy while remaining with his feet in the water. Artemus had removed the splints and bandages from the child while Severus had been cleansed. Severus stood with the water lapping at his ankles and reached for Harry who was being held upright by Artemus. Severus leaned the boy up against one shoulder and started to remove his robe from his right arm. He noticed Harry's face was turning red so he looked deeply into his eyes and sent feelings of trust and caring to the child. Harry stilled and understood the man's unspoken message that the ritual was right and that he should not speak. This man cared deeply for him and had taken care of him for the past week; there was no reason to be embarrassed at being undressed.
Harry kept his eyes on Severus' face as he was gently turned from one side to the other to be disrobed. Of course, Emrys and Severus were both naked already, so it couldn't be too embarrassing could it? And without his glasses it somehow didn't feel as bad as he thought it would be. The old magic he could feel flowing all around him made the ritual much easier to bear.
When Harry was naked and cradled like a baby in his arms, Severus carried him to stand directly in front of Emrys again. Emrys repeated the chant over the stone bowl until the white glow flashed and disappeared in the bowl, and then reached down and completely covered the front of Harry with the softly glowing white substance. Severus turned Harry over in his arms until he was facing the water and watching Severus' feet. Emrys then spread the substance over the back of Harry until he was completely covered head to toe, front and back. Emrys was upset to notice the word 'FREAK' carved into the pale skin and the thin white scars that crisscrossed the boy's back.
After Emrys nodded at him to turn the boy back over, Severus carried Harry the nine steps to the south, waited until he saw Harry's nod that he had a deep breath held; he clutched him tightly to his chest and stepped off letting both of them sink into the strangely clear, warm water. Severus was amazed as he saw Harry's body start to glow with the same light that had surrounded Emrys as he chanted. He then saw the light turn grey then darker, and finally completely black before it was completely washed off the boy's body and flowed like an evil dark cloud down the river and out of the lake. He gripped the youth tightly to his chest and stood up on the lakebed once again. Both men were gasping for breath. Severus looked with great concern at Harry but he didn't seem to be in pain. Harry's face mirrored the white fog that still blanketed his own mind as he strode through the water returning them to stand in front of Emrys again.
Emrys stepped down into the water and placed one hand on Severus' forehead and the other one on Harry's. He walked backward, slowly leading them while maintaining contact with their foreheads. He chanted continuously as they slowly walked through the waist high water. He led them north until they stood directly in front of the waterfall where he continued chanting in his deep bass voice in the unknown melodic language as they stood at the base of the magnificent, glittering waterfall. A golden glow gleamed brightly around all three when Emrys stopped a meter in front of the cascade. He removed his hands and stepped aside, turning to face the glittering waterfall with the two beside him. Both Harry and Severus felt strangely bereft of something. Severus grasped Harry firmly and took 7 regal steps forward until they were both completely inundated with the falling water. The sparkling light coming from the water intensified until Harry thought they must be standing inside a rainbow. A feeling of euphoria washed over him, taking the white fog that had blanketed his thoughts. He felt that he never wanted to leave from under the cascading flow but his air quickly ran out. Harry's lungs were burning and he began to wonder how long Severus could hold his breath. Certainly longer than Harry could. Harry touched Severus gently on his cheek and was astonished to find tears streaming down his professor's face. His tears mingled with the crystal water from the waterfall and fell on Harry's chest enveloping him with a feeling of peace and tranquility.
Harry's gentle touch broke the trance that had held Severus and he looked at Harry as he realized the boy's damaged ribs probably meant he couldn't hold his breath very long without pain. He quickly kissed Harry's forehead before he lost his nerve and carried his boy out from under the water.
Emrys was waiting to help Severus climb out of the water. Artemus handed a towel to the wizard who dried Harry and then Severus laid him gently back on the blanket so his splints and bandages could be reapplied. Severus gasped as Emrys removed the towel he had been drying Harry's hair with. Harry's scar was faded and almost non-existent. He had to know where to look to even see it! "Harry!" he exclaimed, "Your scar is almost gone. The ritual must have worked!"
Harry was making noises and opening and closing his mouth as he pointed at Severus' arm. Severus looked down to see what was wrong with the boy. Certainly he knew he bore the Dark Mark? He knew that the child knew he was a spy. He glanced at where the boy was looking. He startled himself. Severus Snape was speechless. His Dark Mark was gone as if it had never been. No scar, no blemish, no pain…he was free!
Severus fell on his knees and dropped his face into his hands and wept. He felt Harry pulling him down to wrap his thin arms around Severus' neck. They both wept as the realization of true freedom from the Dark Lord's touch sank in. Harry was beginning to hurt again when he felt Emrys and Artemus kneeling on either side of the two and wrapped two sets of arms around them for a moment of support and caring.
Reluctantly, Emrys said, "Severus, Harry, we need to get you dressed and fed so we can get underway. We still have a long journey and young Harry needs to have his injuries re-bandaged before we leave."
With one last squeeze, Severus laid Harry down to allow Artemus to give Harry pain potions before re-splinting his arms and legs. He pulled on clean undergarments and robes and knelt beside Harry to support him while Emrys rewrapped his ribs. He smiled as he realized all the scars from Harry's uncle were gone. The boy's skin was unblemished and perfect. He gave a quizzical look at Emrys. "All evidence of evil was washed from both of you. Your scars are also gone, Severus. Any other marks from accidents or such will remain. Only marks given deliberately with anger and evil are gone." The two men smiled as they finished re-bandaging the now groggy youth.
Severus kept pulling back the left sleeve of his robe as if to check that the despised mark was still gone. He felt as if a heavy weight he had not known was there had been lifted from his mind. How had the mark disappeared, he thought only his death or Tom's demise would remove the mark completely?
The four traveled in the wagon in silence, each lost in their own thoughts about the daylight ritual. Harry had been dosed, though not as heavily as the day before. He dozed off and on while settled comfortably on Severus' lap. His teacher would absent-mindedly brush the fringe off his forehead and run a finger over the faded scar and then look at his own bare left forearm and mutter to himself in amazement several times each hour. After several hours, quiet conversation started again but almost by an unconscious consensus, talk remained inconsequential and avoided any deep issues. They stopped several times that day for a brief rest to eat and feed and water the mare. Severus was careful to climb in and out of the wagon without disturbing Harry, who was once again heavily dosed against pain and asleep. The constant bumps and jars of the wagon had caused him so much pain that Severus had decided the risks of drugging him were less than the damage caused by tensing and fighting the movement of the wagon were.
They came to a clearing next to a rapidly flowing stream just as the late afternoon sun was reaching the tops of the trees and decided to stop for the night. It would still take several hours to reach the castle and no one wanted to travel in the open after dark. Harry's pain potions should be wearing off soon and Artemus wanted to fish for their supper. Emrys informed Severus that Artemus had mentally sent him a message that he was tired of sausages and bread with cheese. They left Harry sleeping in the wagon while Severus and Emrys set up their modest camp. Artemus had pulled a string and hook out of a pocket in his robe and tied them to a long stick he had found before setting off up the river to find a quiet pool to fish.
Emrys started a fire while Severus went to fetch Harry who had woken up and called to him worried about the absence of movement of the wagon. After Severus picked the child up, Emrys gathered the bedding out of the wagon bed and fashioned a bed against a log for Harry to sit by the fire so they could talk about what had happened that morning.
After a wonderful dinner of fresh trout and fried potatoes with wild carrots and onions, the four sat back drinking hot tea in contemplation. Emrys began to speak first, "The first ritual is used to cleanse the body of any evil and dark magic. It broke the mental connection between the evil one and his marks, both the scar and the brand. Without that connection, the physical mark had no anchor to remain. Harry's scar is still there because there was a deep physical wound as well as the curse. I found evidence in both of your minds that the evil one was draining magical power as well as physical life force from each of you. Much more from young Harry than from you Severus, but it was there for each of you. Harry, when the killing curse rebounded on the evil one, the connection of your scar allowed him to use your life force and magic to remain alive. Now that he is out of your mind, you will find your magic will greatly increase very rapidly. You might not notice for a while because of your injuries and the release of the draw on your physical body will probably mean you will be subject to a rapid growth spurt after you have healed. He has been using you to keep himself alive, especially since last year when he used your blood to resurrect himself."
He turned toward Severus, "And the evil one feeds upon anger, pain, and darkness. He used your mark to encourage those feelings in his followers. In essence, he worked to stir up those negative emotions in you. I feel he has bound each of his followers in this manner to allow him to maintain his unnatural body. He has bound the life and magic of each of his followers to his own life. When he dies, anyone wearing his mark will also die. I have truly never heard of one so evil before. He must be stopped. We will help you in any way we can."
Severus looked thoughtful, "Is that why my emotions have been so difficult to control around Harry, since I felt the Dark Mark beginning to return in Harry's first year of school? And why the mere sight of Harry's face was enough to make me fill with unreasonable and unfounded hate and rage?"
"Yes, you were being fed those emotions through the mark. The mark on your arm allowed the evil one to access your mind. Not enough to read thoughts, but enough to feed each of his follower's false emotions. It became a destructive loop that he used to strengthen his shade until he could build a golem and imbue it with his shadow last year. When you and Harry escaped and appeared in the meadow, you were beyond his reach and without his constant prodding, your own emotions were able to come forward. You were able to each see the other without the anger and hate that the evil one fostered. I do not believe you could have changed your opinion of each other as quickly as you have, were you still under his influence."
Harry perked up, "If you know how he came back to life, do you know how to destroy him? I know he keeps trying to kill me and my luck is bound to run out sooner or later. I mean each time someone has done something to help me get away from him. I certainly can't kill him; I'm only 15 for goodness sake!"
Emrys looked speculatively at the youth, "15? I thought you were much younger. The evil one really has been draining you of life energy!"
Harry just hung his head while Severus explained, "Harry had been living with his Aunt and Uncle who worked him as an unpaid slave while withholding adequate food, and sometimes they would starve him for days at a time as they tried to 'beat the magic out of him'. They, of course, are non-magic themselves and hate anything to do with magic."
"Ah, that explains much that I saw. I could not understand how Harry had been so wrapped in hate and evil unless he had been bathed in it every day of his life."
Harry smirked, "Yeah that kind of describes the Dursley's care pretty well. So do you know how to defeat him for good so I don't have to return to their loving care each summer?"
Emrys reached over and patted Harry on the shoulder, "Yes, child I do. He lives on negative emotions. We will battle him with the opposite, powerful positive emotions. Like those used to produce a patronus. Have you heard of those yet, Harry?"
Severus laughed, "Ask Harry how old he was when he first produced one and what his patronus is." His voice reminded Harry of Uncle Vernon when he talked about Dudley winning his boxing championship. Could Pro – er – Severus be proud of him? Harry thought hopefully to himself.
Harry smiled with pride, "I produced a corporeal patronus when I was 13."
Emrys looked startled and asked Severus, "Corporeal? Has he faced a dementor then?"
Severus smirked and answered, "He drove off over a hundred dementors all by himself when he was 13."
Emrys looked surprised, very surprised. "I can tell you will be very powerful when your magic peaks on your 16th birthday if you were that powerful with the evil one draining your magic. We must train you up or the magic within you will burn you up from the inside."
Artemus and Emrys stared into each others eye and then both men nodded as if they had reached a decision. Artemus refilled their tea cups and then sat back again as Emrys began telling Severus and Harry a tale.
"Harry, do you remember exactly what you were thinking when you threw yourself in front of Severus and you two appeared in the meadow?"
"Yeah, kind of. I just thought 'Sweet Merlin, please keep us safe.' And then I yelled, 'Merlin, help me!" Harry said quietly.
Emrys smiled. "And it worked. My full name is Merlin Emrys. My grandson is Godric Gryffindor, his wife is Rowena Ravenclaw. My granddaughter, the healer, is Helga Hufflepuff and her husband is Salazar Slytherin. By the stories you have told us about your adventures and Harry's history, I assume you recognize all of these names, gentlemen?"
It took more than five minutes before Severus was able to pose a coherent question, "What year is it?"
"The year of our Lord, 994 A.D." Was the quiet answer. "And Godric and Helga are actually great, great, grandchildren as I am over 200 years old."
Severus and Harry were unable to formulate any more questions so they listened as Merlin talked to them for the next hour. He told them about the troubles in his lands, how Salazar had gotten drunk at the age of 14 and had a fling with a local maid who gave birth to a son who was now rampaging the countryside claiming to be Salazar's heir and waging war against all the non-magical communities because he hated his mother and father, but most especially his grandfather, the local barman who made him work for his keep and the local villagers who shunned him and called him a bastard. Salazar had not even known of his existence until 2 years ago when the then 16 year old started tormenting local townspeople and telling everyone that his name was Slytherin. Salazar had tried to talk to him, but the boy was too full of hate and had actually nearly killed him. Godric and Sal were reluctant to go against the boy, but he was becoming more of a danger to the area with each passing day. He was also gathering a following of thugs and highwaymen about him that were running lawless through the villages. That was why Merlin and Artemus themselves had come to fetch the travelers. Merlin of course was very powerful, and most people underestimated Artemus because he was a mute, but he was able to do soundless spells quite well and was powerful in his own right.
Merlin explained the five of them ran a very small, select school for young witches and wizards and that each of them would train between 4 and 6 apprentices each in their chosen field. Salazar's and Helga's fields they already knew, but Godric was a master in both charms and defense, both magical and physical. Rowena was an expert in Transfigurations and Arithmancy and could also teach the occasional seer, though true seers were very rare and she had no apprentice in that at this time. Artemus taught soundless magic and herbology, as well as Legilimency and Occlumency. Merlin himself only took one apprentice on at a time as he taught elemental, wandless magic, and shape shifting; as well as having his apprentice learn all the other subjects taught in the castle. His apprentice must be exceptionally powerful and able to command magic with great control. He had not found a suitable apprentice in thirteen years since his last apprentice had left to travel to the Orient.
"Harry, we don't usually accept an apprentice until they are at least sixteen years old because it is hard to know how strong someone's magic will be until they reach magical maturity, but you are already more powerful than most of our older students. Would you consent to become my apprentice? I know that you will need training in magical control before your birthday simply because of the cutting of the connection that was draining you. From what Severus told us, your magic was forced to become active at only 15 months old, when you survived the killing curse and the scar connection was forged. Most children's magic does not become active until around 7 or 8 years of age and some even later than that. You must know that the younger a person's magic manifests itself, the more powerful the wizard."
Before Harry had a chance to respond, Artemus and Merlin both stood and turned to look out into the darkness. Artemus had his wand drawn and Merlin's staff was pointing in the same direction. Only a second later, Severus also stood, wand in hand. Harry felt useless. Merlin started to glow as he swung his staff into a circle above their heads. The circle spread out until their campsite was enclosed within the glowing gold dome. Flaming arrows sped through the night only to stop and slide down the dome, causing the grass outside the protective circle to catch on fire. A second volley quickly followed the first and was equally ineffective. Artemus and Severus were firing stunning spells at the shadows that could be seen flitting through the light of the burning grass. With a last arrow that completely missed them, the attack ended as quickly as it began.
Emrys stood holding the shield dome in place as Artemus hitched the mare to the wagon. Severus gathered up their belongings and stashed them into the wagon. When everything was secured, the two men picked up Harry, bedding and all, and loaded him into the bed of the wagon. Only after everything was ready to leave did Emrys drop his staff and almost collapse into Artemus' waiting arms. Severus and Artemus helped Merlin into the back of the wagon with Harry while Severus climbed up on the seat beside Artemus. The thin grass of the glade had burned out as the mare pulled the wagon into the encroaching darkness. It was a long time before Severus or Artemus relaxed into talking quietly, even though neither man put away his wand, as the two in the back of the wagon slumbered on in exhaustion from the long, eventful day. Neither of them noticed when they arrived at the castle three tense hours later and they were carried, in Harry's case, or levitated, in Merlin's case, into their beds for the night.