Chapter 23: An Evil Book
A/N: Some graphic descriptions in this chapter may upset some people. I don't believe in trigger warnings for stories that are rated R because it feels unnecessary. If you are reading an R-rated story, you know what you may get. I have had people before complaining about gore or adult language/situations when they chose to read a story that has never pretended to be PG. Proceed with caution or wait for the next chapter. You have been warned. -Lux-
Bill was officially scared shitless. That was not a common occurrence. In his line of work, he had seen horrible things. Curses, human sacrifice, decaying bodies, etc. However, this was so strange and alarming that his body hair was standing on ends all over. His sister was becoming too much for him to handle. She was reading weird books that she was sent by supposedly Luna Lovegood. The more she read, the weirder she acted. Tonight, William decided that enough was enough. He would look through one that she left in the living room. He saw it open on the rug, and it looked blank. Something about it felt… dark as he approached it. His curse-breaking instincts kicked in, so he put on dragon hide gloves from work before he touched it.
William tried several spells he knew to get to read it, and just when he was about to write a word on it to see what happened, Ginevra's ice-cold, small hand and sharp nails grabbed his wrist tightly, making him jump. Her face was frightening: her skin was translucid, her dark circles were deep, her eyes were puffy and red-rimmed, and her hair was a frizzy mess. That would not have been so bad. She reminded Bill of Molly after she delivered twins. The woman had almost died with the 48-hour labor. But when Ginevra spoke, her voice was deep and croaky… And very much unlike her.
"What do you think you are doing?" she growled, her upper lip twitching. She plunged her nails harshly into Bill's skin, and her eyes showed that she wanted to hurt him.
His eyes widened, and he ripped his arm away, taking the book high up with him where she couldn't grab it. "Checking this book."
"Give it here. It's mine," Ginny bared her teeth and seemed ready to lunge at William.
"No, I don't think I will, Ginevra. Look, I have no idea who sent you this, but something tells me it wasn't Luna. I will contact her father and ask him," Bill explained. Ginny got impossibly green at this. "If he says she did send this, he will know how to read it, and once I have made sure it isn't dangerous, you can have it back."
"Give it to me NOW!" she jumped towards him and scratched him across the face with her long nails, cutting his skin with 4 thin lines across his right cheek.
The pain wasn't much, but he was shocked. She had actually attacked him, and when she screamed the word 'now,' his very blood ran cold. He couldn't explain it. She sounded like something else, something evil, and his skin prickled. It was more a growl than a yell. He pushed the book down the back of his pants, praying it wouldn't touch his skin, and grabbed her by both forearms. Their size was so different that his hands covered most of the space between her wrist and elbow. Her feet were no longer touching the floor, and she kicked and screamed for him to let go. She swore and called him horrible things. What surprised him most was that those insults were too grown up for her.
"Ginevra, calm down! You will NOT run all over me like you did with Arthur and Molly!"
"It's a shame we are technically related because I would love to get all over you!" she lunged again to kiss him or bite him (who knew?), but he pushed her away with all his strength, and she flew back several feet and landed on the small sofa with a groan. He immediately felt horrible for pushing her. A decorative trinket that was on the coffee table fell and broke. He couldn't believe she had just implied that. It was horrifying, nauseating, and all sorts of wrong.
"Ginevra! Shut up! And be a child, for Merlin's sake. You have no idea what you are saying. You are eleven years old, for crying out loud!"
"And you do?! I know you aren't getting laid because I live with you. Do you miss it? What could be more convenient than fucking me?" Ginevra laughed evilly. She stepped on the broken pieces of the trinket and barely grimaced when her soles got cut and started bleeding while William watched, horrified. "We live together. No one will protect me. You could do anything you wanted to me. Be as dominating as you want. I rather enjoyed this rough treatment. Did you?"
Bill felt like throwing up and running away. "Go to your bed right now. This conversation is over!"
"No need to get your panties in a twist. It's what all men want anyways. Are you going to join me in bed?" she smirked, moving towards him menacingly.
"Never," he crossed his arms over his chest and gave her his most stern expression. "I would never touch you like that, and you know it."
"You might as well do me now, you know… have a good memory for Azkaban," she laughed someone else's cold laugh. "I bruise like a peach, William. I can call the Aurors and have you arrested for rape. Those scratches on your face and the signs of struggle will prove I tried to defend myself," she bent over and got her hands covered in her own blood, dragging them over the table and the sofa. She grabbed an oil lamp on a side table and threw it by William, breaking it without hitting him. "But how could I? You are much bigger and stronger!" Ginevra looked at him and stared deep in his eyes, and then she hit her own face twice with a closed fist. She didn't even flinch. Bill was aghast, and he gasped. "Oh, and do you know how easy it will be to accuse you? I can go to my room and fuck myself with anything rough enough to do some damage. And then you will be screwed in at least one way," she finished in an eerie tone.
Bill paled. His whole body wanted to shake in raw disgust and fear. "You are absolutely deranged."
"Maybe," her haughty expression vanished, and suddenly she looked every bit the child she was, and in a couple of seconds of looking into his eyes, she was crying. She fluttered her now wet lashes. "Who will they b-believe? The brutish a-adult who lives with an u-unaccompanied minor who doesn't even h-have a w-wand to d-defend herself? Or will they believe the p-poor c-child who was forced to keep his h-house clean, cook, and s-satisfy his more basic i-instincts?" Ginevra added in between sobs.
"Okay, that's it. We're done here," William said. With a few wand motions, he had her stupefied and tied up. He levitated Ginny to her bed and did a runic arrangement around the child's bed to ensure she wouldn't be able to leave. He wanted to search her room, but he was terrified of what he would find. William actually threw up his dinner once he made sure she wouldn't go anywhere and then wrote to several people: Xenophilius Lovegood, Tonks, and Lady Potter. He needed to make sure the books weren't from Luna, to procure legal counsel, and to talk with an experienced mother. Little did he know, he would get three.
Lady Potter gathered Nymph, Emma, and Ianthe. William didn't disclose many details, but what he did say alarmed her enough to gather some cavalry. They were standing outside William's door. He had blocked the floo to be sure, so they apparated. When he opened the door, Tonks' eyes widened. He looked like he had been to hell and back. She hugged him. "You look great," she said sarcastically. He collapsed into her arms and growled in pure frustration, and she felt like she would topple over backward.
Ianthe was glad she had brought her portable pensieve. She pulled the young man off of Tonks. "William, I know you are quite shaken, but let's discuss this inside," she pushed him back slightly.
"O-Of course, sorry," he said, turning around.
They watched the memories he gave them, and Tonks was the first to react. She was green and completely disgusted. Meanwhile, the mothers were extremely concerned. Ginevra's behavior was not only strange and not age-appropriate at all. It pointed to sexual abuse. Not by William, of course, but still. Something was really wrong with that girl.
"Do you want to press charges?" Tonks asked.
William shook his head. "I can't do this..."
"Press charges? Like hell, you can't! That girl needs professional help," Tonks threw her arms up. "She's a menace."
"Tonks, he means he can't continue to be her father figure. I agree," Ianthe squeezed the young man's hand. "This is not your fault."
"Then whose fault is it?! I am supposed to be taking care of her! I am her oldest brother!"
"Let me take some pictures so we can vanish the blood and the mess," Tonks commented before anyone messed with the potential crime scene.
"William, if I may?" Emma asked. When he nodded, she pulled him to sit in the dining area. The doctor sat beside him. "Your sister needs to be evaluated by a healer. They need to look her over for sexual assault and maybe something else. A Mind Healer would be ideal. That book should be taken to Gringotts and then to the DMLE. We need to know who sent it. Whoever did that may have hurt her."
"I shouldn't have taken the teaching job. She has been alone a couple of nights per week. I thought she was safe here. She has no money and doesn't know anyone around. I locked her in here," he said with desperation. "She had food and everything she could need in here. She was supposed to be safe! I don't understand."
"This is not your fault, son... I will go check her over," Lady Potter patted his shoulder. "Emma, perhaps you can talk to him about the possible symptoms, make a list?"
Emma nodded. "Of course."
Bill handed her a scroll and a feather pen. She put it down and took out a ballpoint.
"I'll search her room," Tonks said, leaving quickly. Emma's expression meant business, and she'd rather leave. Ianthe sat on the coffee table, avoiding the blood puddle and vanishing the broken trinket.
"Let me ask you some questions, okay? I need you to be very honest, Bill," Emma smiled encouragingly. "It doesn't matter if it is embarrassing or if it is something you are not certain of, alright?"
"Yes, anything I can do to help," he nodded.
"Has she had any nightmares that you know of?" Emma asked.
"I don't think so. At least not while I have been here… Ginny sleeps with her door closed, though," Bill shrugged.
"Does she seem distracted? Like she's not really there?" Emma asked.
"Yes. Sometimes Ginny stares into nothing for quite a while," Bill rubbed the back of his neck.
Emma took notes, "Has Ginevra been eating normally?"
"Now that you mention it… She's not eating much, but I thought it was the news of Ronald… and then Arthur and Molly."
"I see. How about Ginny's mood? Is she having mood swings?"
"Every single day. She is happy one minute, angry the next. She is withdrawn at times and cold, and then she seems to want all the attention possible… and it's not normal attention either, I think," he blushed.
Emma scribbled something. "Not normal how?"
"She looks at me… Merlin. I can't believe I am saying this out loud."
"It's alright. We are not judging you, but this is important," Ianthe squeezed his hand.
"Morgana…. I can't. I have to be wrong," Bill was turning green.
"She looks at you sexually. Is that it?" Emma asked in as neutral a tone as she could muster. Ianthe winced when he nodded.
Bill pulled his hair in frustration. "I used to sleep shirtless in my underwear… When we decided Ginevra would stay with me, I started wearing pants to sleep because I thought boxers would be inappropriate… But she started staring at my chest and like… touching my arm, and trying to hug me. At first, I didn't think anything of it. I thought she just wanted comforting. It was a very hard few weeks with being disowned and losing Ronald. Then soon enough losing our parents."
"We understand," Ianthe smiled slightly.
"Is she talking about sexual things implicitly or explicitly?" Emma went on.
William told them everything that had been happening, and Emma took a lot of notes. The torturing of bugs and small animals was a very big red flag. They were about to call Dorea and Nymph when a loud "Bloody hell!" made them all turn towards the room.
"Oh, hell no!" they heard Tonks exclaim. She walked outside briskly. "You need to have her committed!"
"What is it?" Emma asked with a deep frown.
Tonks dropped a stack of papers she was levitating on the table. Everyone's eyes went wide. Scrolls full of the word kill in two different handwritings. She had drawn different people in different states of maiming or different ways of dying.
Ianthe gasped and stepped away. "Is that actual blood?" She knew better than most that blood magic was mighty and quite deadly.
"Don't touch it!" Dorea warned. "It could be ritualistic."
There were depictions of snakes, rats, Bill, the twins, Percy, Arthur, and Molly. Charlie and Ronald were absent, interestingly enough. Tonks levitated each to hover in front of Emma so she could write down details and then floated them over to separate them in a pile of words, animals, and people. Emma was taking notes when something made her look up: a drawing of her daughter decapitated. The doctor took a deep breath to calm her anger; she then got up and grabbed the hateful image using Bill's discarded dragon hide gloves to pull it close to her.
The paper seemed to recoil from her as she pulled it closer. That made no sense. Unless… Emma looked down to her chest. The glint from a cross dangling from her neck was shining on the paper. It started to crumple up and darken as if it had been burnt.
"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Emma asked, looking around and seeing paper-white faces. They all nodded rapidly with wide eyes. "Ianthe, call Martin."
"But the time difference-"
"Call him! We need to get him here ASAP."
"But he's in Brazil-"
"We can get Minerva to have someone from Castelobruxo help him get here right away using our means," Dorea scribbled a note. Bill opened his owl's cage and sent the note.
Ianthe stepped into the girl's room to make the call. It took a while for Martin to pick up.
Martin thought he was having a nightmare when the phone rang at around 6 am. He usually woke at 5, but he was exhausted from the five-hour walk he did the day before through the favelas [slums] trying to find a medico bruxo [witch doctor]. He touched blindly around until his hand grabbed the hotel's phone. He activated the speakerphone while he stretched.
"Hello?" his voice was sleepy.
"Martin…. I'm sorry to wake you," Ianthe sounded apologetic.
He instantly felt awake and sat up. She wouldn't call him if it wasn't something serious. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, but we need your help. There's a child here that may be similarly affected to Harry," she said cryptically.
"You mean magic?" He blinked repeatedly, feeling a bit stupid.
"No. I mean something… sinister," Ianthe whispered.
On her end, Ianthe felt like she was being stared at. That room made her all sorts of uncomfortable, and it was strangely cold. She turned slowly to look at the girl and saw her eyes were wide open, with very dilated pupils, looking at her. She gasped. How on Earth? She was stupefied!
Martin's concern was evident in his tone, but he also sounded frustrated, "Ianthe, how am I supposed to help? I'm literally in a different continent, and Argh!"
An unknown man materialized in front of Martin's bed. He was wearing a suit and glasses. The priest jumped towards the armchair near the window to grab the self-defense baton he had taken to carry.
"What is it?" Ianthe's agitated voice asked.
"Who are you?! How did you get in?! Quem é você?"
"Calma padre… I am not here to hurt you. Estou aqui para levá-lo de volta. Headmistress McGonagall sent me," the man smiled and put his wand on the floor. [Calm down, Father… I am here to take you back.]
"Martin?" Ianthe asked on the phone. "Are you okay?"
Lady Potter went into the girl's room. "Tell Martin that someone will be there to collect him soon."
"They are already there, almost scared him to death," Ianthe said, having heard what happened on the other end. "The person there will get you to Hogwarts. Minnie will bring you here. We'll see you soon."
"Why are her eyes open?" Dorea paled. She felt the room start to get colder than when she stepped in.
A deep growl made both women jump. "OUT!"
Ianthe saw the girl (?) look quickly towards the dresser behind her then looked away. She frowned.
"Dorea-"
"What the bloody hell was that?!" Tonks ran in with her wand in front of her.
Emma and Bill followed, both equally shaken by the animalistic growl.
"Can you do that thing where she's wrapped in rope?" Emma asked.
Tonks did just that. Emma put her hand in her front pant pocket and sat on the girl's bed to everyone's shock. "Hello. My name is Emma Dagworth-Granger. How do you feel?"
The growl that followed was furious and loud. "Did you silence her?" Emma asked over her shoulder. Bill nodded. "Undo it."
"I don't think that's wise," Tonks said in a warning tone.
"I promise you this is important."
Dorea undid the charm. She trusted Emma implicitly. Tonks looked at the matriarch with a frown.
"Better?" Emma asked the girl.
"I know you…." a male voice spoke through the girl's lips, and her eyes narrowed. "The perfect mother," the voice said in a mocking tone.
Emma frowned, "You have me at a disadvantage. Who are you?"
"Ginny No-Name," the girl replied. Her voice sounding less manly.
"I don't think that is true. What's your real name?"
Ianthe moved to open the dresser while the girl was otherwise engaged, but the scream that followed made her freeze and realize that nothing could happen in that room without that creature's knowledge.
"Don't touch that, HAG!"
Ianthe looked at Ginevra, alarmed, but she wouldn't obey, "I don't like people telling me what to do." She opened the doors and wanted to throw up. Mon Dieu! It was an altar: a most disturbing collection of pictures from the Family's press appearances. All had one thing in common. Harry was circled by hearts, and everyone else had their eyes cut off or stained with… dry blood? Or was it feces? She gagged.
Ginevra was trashing on the bed, trying to get out of her bindings unsuccessfully. The cross on Emma's neck grew uncomfortably warm, but she didn't want to let the 'girl' see she was scared about that. In any case, the doctor felt she had seen enough. "Let's see if we do know each other, shall we?" She brought out her rosary beads which Martin had blessed, and Ginny immediately pulled her tied limbs closer to her chest and away from Emma. She started hissing.
"Stay away from me!" Ginevra growled. She was sweating. She growled words that no one seemed to understand.
Emma crossed herself with her rosary wrapped right hand, "In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti," she began.
"NOOOO! Bill, please stop her! I'm scared! Help me! She wants to hurt me!" Ginny's voice was normal now. "Make it stop! PLEASE! I'll be good! I promise!"
Bill took a step forward when he glimpsed his sister. Tonks pulled him back with one arm across his body. Ianthe stepped away for Dorea to see the madness in the dresser. Lady Potter had to hold on to Ianthe. Her husband needed to know about this.
Emma closed her eyes and summoned all her faith, "Exsúrgat Deus et dissipéntur inimíci ejus: et fúgiant qui odérunt eum a fácie ejus. Sicut déficit fumus defíciant; sicut fluit cera a fácie ígnis, sic péreant peccatóres a fácie Dei," Emma's words seeed to hurt the girl who wailed and growled. [Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered: and let them that hate Him flee from before His Face! As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.]
Ianthe could understand most of the Latin and was feeling overwhelmed by the whole scene. "Emma… let's wait for Martin. Please, this could be dangerous."
The girl looked at Emma with unadulterated hatred, and suddenly, the cross on her neck levitated and turned upside down. The doctor felt it move in slow motion with dread. Everyone saw it float and turn, but before she could take it off or Tonks could reach her, the chain choked her harshly. Tonks rushed to her and used her nails to try and pull the chain away but whatever strength was tightening was too much. Ianthe pulled out a special necklace Martin made her promise to carry. She really hoped this would work.
"Ab insídiis diáboli, líbera nos, Dómine…" Ianthe got as close to the thing as she dared and uncapped the long thin vial in her necklace. "Sanctus aqua defendat!" Ianthe emptied the vial on the creature's forehead. The skin bubbled as if severely burnt; the girl let out an inhumane scream and fell back limp. [From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Lord… Holy water, protect us!]
The chain around Emma's neck was ripped off by Tonks, who had not stopped pulling. When Ginny fell unconscious, the supernatural force that had been tightening the necklace vanished, and so Tonks flew back and fell with a thud, the broken necklace in her hands.
Bill fell to his knees from the shock of it all. "What the hell just happened? What did you throw at her?"
"Holy Water. I can't believe that actually worked," Ianthe sighed. "William, that is not your sister."
"Holy Water? What even is that?!" A knock sounded outside, and Bill all but ran to the door.
Dorea rushed to Emma, who was coughing and rubbing her neck. "Are you alright, dear?"
Ianthe summoned a cup and filled it with water handing it to Emma and helping Tonks up.
"I'll be f-fine, D-Dory. Don't worry."
A worried Professor McGonagall stood there with a priest. Bill was confused and scared.
"Hello, William. This is Martin Shaw. Martin, this is William No-Name," the professor introduced them.
"Come on in… I don't mean to be rude, but why is there a priest here?"
As Martin stepped through the threshold, he started to feel dark energy. Ianthe walked towards him and hugged him tightly. She spoke rapid-fire French to him, and he replied just as quickly. The priest tried hard to ignore how her hug felt so good, like coming home after a long time away. Ianthe pulled him toward the bedroom. Minerva made to follow them, but Bill pulled her back.
"Headmistress, I can't keep working at Hogwarts."
"Bill, take some time to figure this out… Don't resign just yet. Whatever is happening, you still need the salary, don't you?" Headmistress McGonagall asked.
"That's irrelevant… What I just saw can't- I… I can't abandon her," Bill sobbed, and the headmistress sat him down on the couch and held him as he cried.
Martin came in the room after saying a quick prayer outside. He saw Emma's reddened neck with a frown. He simply opened his arms, and she held on to him tightly. She was shaking like a leaf. He took out his Holy Water container and applied it with his hand to her neck. Then, he placed his hands on her head and said a prayer, silently blessing the doctor.
"I did my b-best," Emma coughed. "I should have waited for you, though. Ianthe was right," the doctor sighed. "You are my hero for doing this professionally. I am drained."
"I am glad you will be okay. Never attempt this again, Em. Never do anything like this alone. Please. This is dangerous."
"Don't worry. I am not looking forward to doing it ever again," Emma grimaced softly.
"We need to move the girl to a safe space. The Holy Father gave me special permission to use my aunt's cloister for things like this. It is holy ground away from any curious onlookers."
Xenophilius' reply confirmed that Luna had stopped being friends with Ginny and corresponding with her long before the Weasleys became No-Names. William was terrified at the possibilities. If the Lovegoods had no idea who had done this, who could? After all, the No-Names had no friends in their neighborhood. Who could have given Ginny that book? Even worse, who could want to hurt a child? Ginny wasn't the nicest child, but still. Whatever was inside that book seemed to have taken hold of her. It was decided to move Ginny as soon as the sun came out.
Daniel was on his third cup of coffee. He had been studying for a procedure all night. Emma had left with Dorea, and she still wasn't back. If it wasn't for Neesy's expert touch with Gabriel and for little Luna, who could somehow calm him down with a single touch, Daniel would have exploded in frustration. His stress level was high. He didn't know it would go through the roof at seeing Emma's bruised neck when he came home. Daniel had always wanted to specialize in surgery, but as he worked hard through the lack of sleep, he realized that there was indeed a reason that people did their rotations when they were still young and mostly responsible for just themselves. Studying while working full time and raising two kids and a baby was a lot to juggle. While Harry and Hermione were at Hogwarts, Daniel was still worried all the time and there was always something to do at the Dugard's home.
While Father Martin prepared everything at the cloister, his aunt helped all the sisters in the east wing move to the west wing. All furniture was removed, except for a heavy bed with leather ties like those used for controlling violent mentally ill patients. The room was adorned by one crucifix high up and centered in each wall. The only other thing was a small table where Martin placed Holy Water, incense, his rosary -blessed by the Pope himself- and a couple of relics.
Andromeda had come to make sure the healing side of the equation was covered. Nymph and Elloise had a rudimentary knowledge of religion. Emma had decided to sit this one out; she had to heal her neck. Dorea and Charlus would be holding the protective and anti-apparition wards. Ianthe would be on call outside in case Martin needed additional assistance. His Aunt would be helping him inside. Two goblin soldiers would be in the room in case Ginny needed holding down.
Right now, he was sitting down in front of everyone involved explaining what an exorcism truly was. The witches and wizards, as well as the goblins, had many questions.
"How come all of the praying does anything at all?" Andy asked with a frown.
Martin took a deep breath and began, "When the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion, it is called exorcism."*
"But where do all these rites come from?" Lord Potter asked.
"Well, Jesus performed exorcisms, and from him, the Church has received the power and office of exorcizing. Most people seem to think that an exorcism is quite rare, but for instance, in its simplest form, it is performed at the celebration of Baptisms. Now, the solemn exorcism, which is the one people associate with the word, is called a major exorcism," Martin took a sip of tea.
"Is it only Catholic priests who do… this?" Lord Potter asked.
"Exorcism exists in both Christian and Jewish traditions. In Catholicism, though, only a priest can perform a major exorcism, and it has to be with the local bishop's permission. I do not need to do this for the Holy Father gave me carte blanche to help in these matters," Father Martin replied. His Aunt handed him a buttered piece of sourdough bread.
"Can any priest do this?" the younger of the goblins asked. He was quite pleasantly surprised when the nun handed him buttered bread with raw meat on top. While they were wearing their human appearance, apparently Martin had spoken to his aunt.
"No, not at all. There are very few exorcists. I started younger than most because I became a priest earlier in life. I grew up in this cloister and began studying at the Seminar fresh out of high school. I met my first mentor there. I trained under different exorcists for several years while I finished my studies," Martin replied.
"Is there like a set of instructions for what should happen in there?" Andy asked with a sigh once she tasted the delicious bread.
"Exorcists like me… Well, we must proceed with prudence, strictly observing the rules established by the Church. Exorcism is directed at the expulsion of demons or liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to his Church."*
"But how can you tell?" Andy asked in a doubtful tone.
"If they are simply ill or possessed, you mean?" Martin asked. Andromeda nodded enthusiastically.
"Well, illness, especially psychological illness, is a very different matter. Before an exorcism is performed, it is important to ascertain that one is dealing with the presence of the Evil One and not an illness. That is why the Mind Healer goblin is seeing the girl now. Once we get his perception, and only if he agrees that this is supernatural in origin, will I proceed," the priest smiled. "I also need express consent from the girl's family. If I understand correctly, Tonks and Elloise are working on getting one of the girl's siblings here. William agreed, but he feels the need to ask Charles as well. I tend to agree, especially because they are not believers."
Martin began to warn them of what they could see tonight, what they should watch out for, what to avoid, etc. However, as none of them were religious, it all sounded like a gross exaggeration. Levitation without magic? Objects moving on their own? Speaking in tongues? Superhuman strength? Knowledge of a person's innermost thoughts and desires? Reaction to religious figures and relics? No. It was too much.
The Mind Healer was shocked. The damage to the girl's psyche was severe, but it wasn't of regular origin. Ms. No-Name had, of course, suffered a significant hit with the disowning, the moving, and the loss of a brother and her former parents, but this went deep beyond the regular scope of trauma, especially for her age. She displayed signs of PTSD from a trauma that appeared to be sexual in nature. However, her brain had compartmentalized what happened to avoid more damage. There was no way she could speak languages she had never even heard. The necklace choking Lady Dagworth-Granger had no logical explanation, which wasn't accidental magic. Still, the necklace had been tested, and it didn't have any magical signature as it would have if it had been manipulated by the girl somehow.
The book was currently inside a thick glass box. Even from within it, it reeked of evil to the goblins. This was quite strange for, in goblins' history, evil was relative. Why? Because what is bad to some is good to others. This book had them questioning everything. Their king had insisted that he and his wife be allowed to observe. A camera had been placed facing the bed. Its tripod was bolted to the floor while the camera itself was additionally tied to the tripod. This object, like young Scion Potter's exorcism, brought up many questions. What even is evil? Is there such a thing as objective evil? All creatures that had come close to Horcruxes reacted the same. They felt it was evil, wrong, an abomination. Even those who had no idea what a Horcrux was or how it was created felt ill and uneasy around it. Rooms would be devoid of warmth; the silence within was deafening. It made you hear your darkest thoughts. Your heartbeat sounded louder and agitated. The sound of your own breath was infuriating.
This Papal Cloister* was designed to only look within. The building was a rectangle without any windows facing outside. There was a chapel in one of the shorter sides. There was only one way in and out, through the main doors that were closed at all times. They only opened to let in visiting priests, nuns, or doctors, which rarely happened as most common maladies were handled by a couple of nuns who studied nursing before joining the cloister. The building was self-sufficient: the nuns grew crops and raised chicken, cows, and pigs. They didn't rely on electricity most of the day. Daylight was abundant as the building was happily situated atop a steep hill. They cooked using wood stoves and baked using outdoor clay ovens.
Nuns dedicated their time to prayer, study, and work. They would prepare baskets for the poorest people around, sharing their resources. Most of them were great cooks or bakers. They made marmalades, preserves, bread, and even wine. One of the sides, the east side, was full of rooms where the nuns slept. The largest room, which was used only by visiting priests, was where the exorcism would be conducted. Nagkrat paced the yard with Gankra. The couple was meditating on the nature of this type of evil. They couldn't remember anything other than child abuse that would be disapproved of with such vehemence by all sapient beings.
Even animals were reacting weirdly at the presence of the book. It had been placed within the glass box inside a led chest at the foot of the bed. The birds that had been lining the roof all around the cloister, for the nuns would always feed them, were purposefully avoiding the guest room quite distinctly. While the nuns were curious, Father Martin's Aunt was their abbess [Mother Superior or Chief Nun], and as she told them to stay away from the guests and the guest room, they would obey her. It was in their vows, after all.* The King remembered Emma mentioning that the nuns were Dominican nuns. Their apparel was as she had described: a white tunic and scapular, a leather belt, a black mantle, and a black veil that almost reached their hips. He had left Emma talking to the queen when Father Martin asked him to see the offending object.
Gankra was quite impressed by the place and its female residents. They lived without any males. They worked hard and stayed isolated without this ever hindering their desire or ability to help their poor neighbors. Emma had explained that Dominican nuns lived in contemplative activity at the service of the Church… And seeing how they worked, the queen felt inspired. This order was an exception because St. Dominic founded it long before the friars, knowing that the success of his preaching depended upon and was linked intimately with his 'daughters' intercession. This was the first time Gankra had heard of something like that in Catholicism. Giving power to women so that men could succeed afterward was quite a bold concept considering the Dominican nuns were founded in 1215.
Martin was quite concerned at seeing that the object seemed to be recognized by all creatures as evil. Did that evil come from inside the girl? There was no way, absolutely not. She was too young. How would she come across a Horcrux? Did evil get inside the girl? But, how? Most cultures knew that evil tends to be invited in, and that is why most smart people avoided any activities that could open doors to it. When you talk into the realm of spirits, they know who you are, but you have no idea who or what is replying. Gankra had told Martin that goblins had always found abhorrent any practices of disturbing souls. Most people with sense would. Be it through supposed seances, mediums, or Ouija boards. Spirits were supposed to be in a separate plane for a reason. The queen told him that many humans and goblins had gone insane trying to breach dimensions through supposed portals, both magical and supernatural, through rituals, sacrifices, and even concoctions with hallucinogens.
The priest felt this would be a more difficult challenge than the Horcrux lodged in Harry. After all, every account pointed to that one being created accidentally. Who knew how much more powerful this one, purposefully achieved, could be. He dreaded to have his secrets told to the world by an evil force. But he couldn't tell Ianthe. No. He would have to show that spirit that there was no bargaining to be done. Martin had given up a possible family when he took his vows, and he would not go back on his word. It pained him that he would never get to experience that part of life, but Ianthe deserved the peace that had taken so long to come after her loss, and so did her daughters. Father Martin left everyone in the kitchen and went towards the chapel. He would pray until the sun went down to quieten his soul. He had a good lunch, and he would skip dinner. In his experience, an empty stomach was an advantage when dealing with revolting circumstances.
Tonks was really uncomfortable at being here for… this. What she had seen at Bill had her terrified. She was glad to see Charlie being side-apparated by Elloise and welcomed him with a tight hug.
"Clumsy!" Charlie smiled despite the circumstances.
"My dear Dragon! I am so glad you are here."
"Tell me everything, please. The letter was too brief."
Ginevra was hungry, tired, and furious. She was tied to a bed and silenced. Where was her precious book? It was in the room inside a led chest and outside of her viewing range. She started banging her small closed fist against the headboard. A strangely dressed old woman peeked through the door. Before Ginevra could school her face to look sorry and scared, the woman scampered away. Soon enough, William came in the room with a tray carrying soup, bread, butter, and juice.
"I will undo the Silencio if you promise not to scream," he said.
She nodded rapidly.
"Finite incantatem," Bill said, pocketing his wand.
"Where am I?"
"That's irrelevant. Are you hungry?"
"As if you care."
Bill placed the tray over the girl's lap. "Do you remember what happened?"
"Do you mean how you manhandled me? Because I will never forget, William," Ginevra's scathing reply hurt him deeply.
He sighed, "I didn't mean to hurt you. You were completely out of control. All I wanted was to stop you from hurting yourself further," William buttered the bread without looking at the girl.
"You allowed them to hurt me. You never wanted me to live with you. Ship me over to Tessy then. At least there, I won't be alone all the time," the reproachful tone felt like a stab.
"I work two jobs to provide for us. Not for my own amusement, Ginevra," he replied, gathering soup in the spoon and offering it to her.
"I am aware that I am a burden to you. You don't need to rub it in!" Ginny snapped.
William took a deep breath. "You are not a burden. You are my family."
"You certainly don't act like I am!"
"Well, neither do you! What you said you would do-! To accuse me of rape! Of hitting you! You know full well that I would never see you like that!"
"I know I am not as pretty as I used to be, but I would appreciate it if you didn't act disgusted. After all, pussy is pussy, isn't it?" Ginny smirked. Bill dropped the spoon into the soup. Where the hell did she hear that? "Or are you hitting on your students then?"
"Oi! Miscreant! Bill is a gentleman!" Tonks exclaimed from the door, her arms were crossed, and an angry frown made her look older than she was.
"Fuck off, bitch!" Ginny yelled.
"Ginevra, language!" Charlie stepped in from behind Tonks.
Ginny's eyes filled with tears, and so did Charlie's. They had tied her up like an animal. William stood up and left without a word, taking Tonks with him as Elloise guarded the door just in case.
"Charlie!" the girl exclaimed.
He reached her, and looking over his shoulder, he asked, "Can I please untie her arms at least?"
Elloise looked doubtful. "At your own risk, Charles."
"Yes, of course. She would never hurt me."
Elloise turned and scoffed. Oui, elle le ferait, she thought. [Yes, she would.]
Ginny played victim within the privacy bubble that Charlie created. She cried like a scared child, told him that William was always leaving her alone, scared, and her only friend was Luna. She accused Bill of treating her like a house-elf. She said that Bill had looked at her inappropriately, that he had touched her. Then she said that last night, he pushed and punched her, that he tried to force himself on her. According to her tale, he was a bastard. She ended things by telling Charlie that William then had invaded her privacy, gone through her things, and brought her here without her consent. Ginevra accused everyone of forcing her to be seen by a Mind Healer and told Charlie that Ianthe Greengrass had attacked and burnt her. Charlie saw the hand-shaped bruises on his sister's forearms with rage. Additionally, her face was swollen and bruised by her mouth. Ginny held on to Charles as if he was a lifeline.
"Please eat all of this, sis. Do it for me," Charlie offered a spoonful of soup.
"What if it's potioned?" she asked, feigning fear.
Charles ate the bit of soup, and nothing happened. It was delicious and comforting. "See, nothing is wrong?"
"Okay. Charlie… Please don't tell William what you know. He will only get angrier."
"I will do what is best for you," he answered cryptically.
Bill was taking deep breaths to calm himself. Tonks was directing him. Inhale for three seconds. Hold for one second. Exhale for six seconds. Hold for one. Repeat. They were on the fifth breath when Charlie tackled William to the ground and punched him harshly twice.
"Whoa! Charlie! Stop!" Tonks exclaimed, trying to pull him back.
William didn't even try to defend himself. He was exhausted and heartbroken. Tonks had to jump on Charlie and choke him to get him to stop throwing punches.
"Let me go, Nymphadora!" Charlie grunted, rolling away from William.
Tonks rolled with him and sat on his stomach, flicking him on the forehead, "Don't call me that!"
"It's your bloody name, woman!" Charlie tried to get her off him, but she had her legs wrapped around him tightly. He couldn't move at all. Fucking Auror training, he thought.
"Yes, but you don't get to call me that! Or to assault your brother!" she exclaimed.
"He assaulted Ginny!" Charlie said this looking at William accusingly.
Bill closed his eyes and allowed tears to finally fall. Tonks slapped Charlie, "How dare you even think that!? Your sister is deranged!"
"Ouch. Get off of me!"
William stood on shaky legs and pulled Tonks up. "Don't bother. He has already decided I am a child abuser," Bill looked green once more.
Charlie felt his heart squeeze painfully, "Then, what the fuck happened!?"
"Watch my memories, and once you get your head out of your ass, come find me. I will not defend myself to you of all people. It would be insulting and humiliating," William handed Charles the vial and walked away towards the chicken coops. Tonks told Charles to find Ianthe and left after Bill.
Charlie could have used a long stay at St. Mungo's Janus Thickey Ward. The previous night's memories William gave him were enough to send any sane person to an asylum. He needed two calming draughts and a nausea remedy to sort himself out. Would Bill forgive him? Bloody hell. Whatever that was… it was not the sister he knew, nor the sister he had just left tied to the bed.
"Charles?" Ianthe shook his shoulder.
"Yes, madam."
"Your sister is asking for you," the woman said in a neutral tone.
"I can't see her… Not after watching… that," Charlie motioned at the pensieve. "I wouldn't know how to act. She was lying through her teeth before, and I believed her. She made me believe that William molested her. I don't even understand how. I know in my core that he would never even look at her in any way that is even slightly inappropriate or hurt her on purpose. But I felt she was honest and very scared."
"Charles, I know you don't know me at all… But I saw your brother last night, and he was entirely shaken up. I am not going to tell you what to do. Just hear him out. He needs you," Ianthe squeezed the young man's hand, and he nodded. "You work with dragons, right? Do you have any interest in Magizoology as a whole or just dragons?"
"I will… Um… I love all magical creatures. Why?"
"How familiar are you with Newt Scamander's work?" Ianthe smiled.
"He didn't mean that, Bill," Tonks had her arm wrapped around his waist. They were sitting on a lonely bench by the coops.
"That he so much as hesitated is what hurts. He knows me best. We grew up together. We were the closest among our siblings," William sighed.
"I understand, but put yourself in his shoes as well. Charlie hasn't seen Ginevra for a while, and he comes to see her bruised, and I am sure she played the victim. Bill, Charlie sees Ginevra as his baby sister that he's supposed to protect. He is probably thinking he failed, and worst of all, that he should not have relied on you so much," Tonks rubbed circles on his back.
"It's not his fault. I was the one who talked them into becoming No-Names. I am the oldest. It's my job," Bill's tears fell on his shirt.
"William, enough! You are not her father!" Tonks shook him.
"I am the reason she doesn't have a father!" Bill exclaimed.
"No, you aren't! Bill, I am sorry for causing you pain, but your negligent father is the reason she doesn't have a father!" Tonks said vehemently.
"Shut up, Tonks! I get to disparage Arthur because he fucked me up! But you don't get to talk shit about him!"
Nymph stood up and looked down at him, giving him a look that could have made hell freeze over, "I will pretend you did not just snap at me on account of the trying day you've had."
Bill took a shaky breath. "Just go. Please. I am not good company."
"Nymph, can we talk in private, please?" Charlie approached them.
Tonks turned, squeezed Charlie's arm in silent support, and walked away. Bill stayed as he was, slumped over his knees, his head resting on his hands.
"Bill… I-"
"Don't… I can't. Not now."
"William, you don't have to say anything. I am an absolute unmitigated ass. You have every right to hate me for even contemplating the possibility that you would ever do anything untoward at all. I am sorry that I haven't been able to help you more. Ginevra isn't just your responsibility. She's my sister too, and I have been doing a piss poor job at it. That ends today. I just sent my resignation. Lady Greengrass is going to recommend me to Newt Scamander so I can move in with the two of you and work at the hospital the Potter family has created."
"I am happy for you. That was one of your dreams," Bill smiled slightly.
"I will be helping you with this. You are not alone. I don't want you to quit Hogwarts. It's a great long-term opportunity, and you deserve that. You have sacrificed enough for our family and whatever has taken hold of Ginevra is plain evil. The priest says that he exorcised Harry Potter. Apparently, his scar was similarly cursed. According to everyone in there, the kid is doing great. You tell me. I think he's your student," Charlie offered a small smile.
"Harry's a great kid. Patient, helpful, protective of his friends… He has an innate talent in defense and his leadership skills are great. I would have never known he was… um… possessed?" Bill said the last word in a questioning tone.
"Bloody hell. I am so sorry Ginny said such horrible things to you. It's truly the stuff of nightmares. You did not deserve any of that and it is not your fault. You didn't hand her that blasted book."
"But I should have been there. I should have done better," Bill sighed and turned to look at Charlie.
Charles was able to see the scratches on his brother's face. He caressed William's cheek. "Fuck. I am so sorry, brother. I should have been there. Period. I was entirely gone. If you want to blame yourself, you have to give me half of that burden."
Ginevra had eaten and she was allowed to shower and change under supervision. After that, she was placed back in the bed and tied up. Father Martin was ready, although his knees were hurting from the hours he spent praying. Bill and Charlie were told that they had to stay outside. Tonks and Elloise were there for security backup. The goblins were going to be chanting around the building to strengthen the wards they had placed. They wanted no direct contact with that thing. It creeped them out. Martin's Aunt had instructed the nuns to pray in the chapel while the exorcism took place. The priest organized all he needed over the led chest at the end of the bed. His Aunt stood next to him with her own rosary and bible. Ianthe had made a cushioning charm in case they were pushed towards the walls or fell. Then she left to help the goblins outside. Before they began, the wise nun hugged her nephew tightly and crossed him, praying for him with her wrinkled hands over his head.
Aunt and nephew held hands, and in unison, said, "Arm yourself with prayer instead of a sword; be clothed with humility instead of fine raiment."*
"Let us begin," the nun sprinkled holy water towards the girl and her reaction couldn't have been more extreme. The wails and growls that followed scared even the king and queen, who were watching from the kitchen. The nuns in the chapel started praying immediately.
*Martin's explanations are taken and adapted (for dialogue purposes) from Catholic Canon 1673
*Papal Cloister: it is the strictest form of enclosure, in which a nun does not leave the boundaries of the monastery except for serious reasons. The norms defining papal enclosure are given by Rome.
*Cloister nuns take four vows: chastity, poverty, enclosure, and obedience, and they follow a rule of silence.
*From the very beginning of the Order, St. Dominic associated Dominican nuns with 'the holy preaching,' through a life of contemplation, liturgical prayer, work, and sacrifice. Their life is apostolic and universal in scope, consisting, according to the Dominican ideal, in giving to others the fruits of contemplation: 'contemplata aliis tradere.' The end of the Dominican contemplative nun is to live by God alone and for God alone.
*A quote by St. Dominic.
A/N: Thank you for reading! I had to cut the chapter off here because otherwise, it would be too long. I hope to be able to upload sooner rather than later. I want to thank the people who have found my stories recently and have been favoriting them or me. I thank you for your kind comments and I hope you are all safe and healthy. xo -Lux-