The Wizards of the Djinn
Chapter 7; Awaking a City
The cavern that was behind the wall was immense, it probably spanned a space half that of the forest above it. Stretching right beneath the Wizarding School as well.
They walked through the gap and onto a two metre ledge that stretched out to both sides along the curving wall to meet at a point in the far distance opposite them, but Harry barely noticed that as beneath them, stretching across a ten mile wide cavern was a city; the cavern was full of ornate looking buildings. Some wide based whilst others were only ten metres across at the base but flew into the air far above the above to almost one thousand feet so that from Harry's position, about five hundred feet above the city, they towered above him.
A strong fast river ran through the city coming in on Harry's right at the same height as the ledge where the path that Harry was on bent over it in a bridge. It fell in a monstrously broad and loud waterfall to the lower levels before arching around the far edge of the city and then after about a third of the Caverns circumference it meandered into the centre point of the city and then turned again in the other direction to leave not three hundred feet to Harry's left through a dark cave in the wall. Harry could see the strength and vitality of the water from his vantage point and it glimmered silvery as it cast huge patterns over the cavern that lit it up like a dream from the light entering through the one hole in the ceiling and through this no lights were needed to like the cavern. The water acted like a large mirror bouncing the light into every crevice of the building.
He noticed two things at that moment, one almost inconsequential, the other a bit more worrying. The first was that there was light coming through the hole in the domed ceiling and therefore dawn must have passed whilst they were exploring the caves. The second observation was that the walls were moving. Taking a better look he realised that it was actually things moving on the walls. Things that blended in with the grey stone and all of them were heading straight towards his group very rapidly. He almost hit himself on the head in his stupidity.
"Of course this place would be defended!" He half muttered to himself and half spoke to the others. They had already seen the moving creatures but Harry's eyes were better and Carver named them for what they were. 'Djinn!'
"Lots of them!" Agreed Chris, "We cant fight off all of them!"
Alter, who had got them in to the cavern in the first place, put in her piece. "Harry, you were given entrance, you should be able to control the Guardians."
"Oh, because that sounds like such a good idea Alter!" Chris replied sarcastically as his Demon form grew slightly taller and more deadly in preparation for the fight. The others had done the same except for Alter who was convinced she was right and was still in the form of a small girl that she had become when they were exploring the caves.
"This is the Lost City of the Marids. And Harry is technically a Marid, and an alpha one at that, he should be able to take the role of Lord easily enough. Beside not only can we not win in a battle of one thousand versus five, besides Bartimaeus needs proper healing and we could do without the delay. It's at least worth a shot."
'Any ideas Carver?
'Just one, it's part of a song sung to all Marids, about finding our long lost home.'
'You mean you guys have fairytales?' Harry asked flabbergasted at the concept of Demons having fairytales.
'It doesn't matter now, just let me talk!' Harry didn't put up a fight as he felt his mouth start to move without his control. And even though the words coming out were in the old language like that of the door. And surprisingly he understood it and figured it must have been because Carver was controlling him slightly.
His voice was loud enough to echo across the whole city, the words were clear and seemed almost to ring like an incantation. Unknown to him his words echoed across the Forbidden Forest and through the many halls of Hogwarts and the houses of Hogsmeade.
"I heed fear, I heed your warnings, but I do not bow to the will of the old!"
His voice grew bolder as he shouted over the clamouring of the closing ranks of Stone Gargoyles.
"Maridis, Maridis, heed my return, heed my arrival!"
In the vast forest above the ground seemed to writhe with power, the trees groaned and creaked. The Aurors stood stunned by the sudden echoing voice that seemed to bounce off every tree as if the trees themselves were coming alive and repeating the words as line by line called out in a language no wizard new.
"Home to the Marid, home to the Djinni, home to the Afrits. Home to me."
On the grounds of Hogwarts the very stones of the building only a tenth of the age of the city below it that none new was there seemed to vibrate with the worlds as if quailing to its power in the hope that it wasn't destroyed. Like a mouse before a great dragon.
"Rise again under the control of the right, summon all the powers that you will."
The one wizard there that had even an idea of the language could only stare in shock as the forest before him seemed to move. To turn against them. He felt his links to him many search webs crumble apart and he could do nothing but flee to his school.
So the teachers fled as did the Aurors as the trees moved against them, closing off any passage inwards.
"Protect yourself, protect your children, we are your children. We, together, will rise."
Above the ground a large golden dome rose from the ground around the edges of the cavern. The Aurors only just got out of the area but Hogwarts and its students were caught inside the dome whish closed over and destroyed the tallest tower which had stood too tall.
Beneath the ground in the cavern that housed Maridis the onslaught had halted. The group sighed with relief, and below them ten small strips of rock flew out of the wall, each containing an imp to control it, and formed a staircase of steps each holding itself up but completely stable.
"After you Harry!" Chris said and took a large step backwards. "I prefer completed staircases."
"When in Rome." Harry said more to himself and chuckled at the looks of confusion on his friends' faces. He just shrugged and stepped onto the incomplete stairs. The other followed and as the last person stepped on and the highest step was cleared it flew underneath the others and appeared at the front, creating an ongoing stair, like the rollers of Egypt and Stonehenge that Harry remembered from his Muggle Schooling. The path twisted down in a gentle curve till it reached the very centre of the City where the second bend of the river was.
When the group finally alighted after their ten minute walk they were met with a wide open space. The river ran in a clear cut channel to their left where a bridge arched across it. There were four cobbled roads spanning out from where they stood. One led over the bridge, two more heading to their right and behind them where the stairs used to be and the last made off in front of them. This path was the one that drew their attention the most though as it led to and under a large ornate building where there seemed to be more gold and silver on the outside then normal stone.
Harry made to walk down that path as it looked the most promising and the others followed him. In no more than two minutes they were walking under the building where it leaped over the cobbled road and were greeted when they emerged by a courtyard of at least one hundred metres. Straight opposite them a huge set of metal doors greeted them so they headed that way and Harry was about to put his hand on them when Chris pointed at words written across the doors.
'Enter only the friends of Develar Dratis, Speaker of the Marids, Protector of Maridis, Keeper of the Book of Daemons.'
Carver had to translate it just like he had with the inscription on the entrance to Maridis.
"I thought Maridis was empty, I thought you said it was deserted." Harry asked both mentally and vocally.
"Obviously not." Chris grunted.
A/N; Not a very good ending to the chapter and I know it is a rather short chapter, but I was trying to do it so my ideas for the rest of the story (or what ideas I have) can still work.
Thanks to all my reviewers. Only a couple of points…
David; The chalk is a circle on for summoning rituals and as protection and containment against and for the Djinn (in this case) summoned. However when he 'summoned' Luke it wasn't really a summoning since he was already present in England but only trapped inside the mirror he was originally placed in to watch other the infant Harry. Secondly with both Luke and the other Djinn like Chris, they are loyal Djinn that I mentioned earlier who willingly come to Harry's family's aid and therefore containment of and protection from are not needed. Also as will be found out later the circles will only be needed as summoning circles as Harry has the protection of Carver and the powers of the most powerful type of Daemon.
Gtip6688; You can't summon Golems, in the second book of the trilogy it tells you that they were created from stone by the Wizarding country (the name of which temporarily eludes me) that the British wiped out and were controlled by a wizard directly. However I know what you mean and I have yet to decide, but with them being so powerful it would be more interesting if Harry didn't in fact control them if you know what I mean.
Pandas rule the world; Yes, as Hogwarts is now partially trapped inside the shield that Maridis created I cant see them getting away from a meeting at some point.
Dead Feather; Way older I'm afraid
Cindy Snowflake; As for trapping Djinn in mirrors, Nathaniel traps an imp into a reflective object and uses it to 'Scry,' I'm sure a Djinn wouldn't like being used in such a manner however and would be able to resist if it was tried in the book, also why use more energy to summon a Djinn when an imp will do the job and be less dangerous.
First of the Fallen; If you let me know what is confusing you I will try to help if I can.
