Crossroads 22: The Essence of Magic
Harry was happy with the progress the crew had made on the house in his short absence. It was now starting to look like an actual dwelling, instead of just random puzzle pieces. Ron had been a huge help, Andrew had said, and Harry was grateful to his best mate. They worked side by side most of the morning on a couple of tricky load-bearing columns that Harry wanted for the main living area, and before he knew it, it was almost lunchtime. He decided to stop early before starting the next part, and he and Ron enjoyed a few cold butterbeers in the dappled shade of the willow tree they'd had their picnic under a few weeks back. Harry decided then that the tree would be staying.
"So, Ginny and Dad," Ron said after a quiet moment had passed. He gave Harry a furtive look and then took another drink. Harry held back a sigh and nodded.
"Do you think I should.…" Harry started and then stopped, feeling awkward.
Ron shrugged. "I'm not sure it would help, mate."
Harry gazed at his best friend until Ron met his look. Ron's ears turned slightly pink. "I mean, I don't know what he's thinking. Er, well, I reckon I can imagine, but…you have to understand, dad and Ginny have a unique sort of relationship. I mean, he loves us all equally, but we all know that Ginny is a special case. Probably because she's the youngest and the only girl. Also, well, he always said Ginny reminded him of his mum, her spirit and feistiness, I reckon. She did things her own way, Grandma Drella. She not only married for love, which was bad enough, but she married a Weasley. It was apparently a radical act since they considered us blood-traitors even then."
"And here's her granddaughter not only in love with two men, but living with them," Harry said wryly. Ron's ears turned even pinker.
"Yeah, well. I'm not sure dad would enjoy the humor in that, Harry. Nor the insolent attitude," Ron said pointedly.
Harry sobered and nodded. "Yeah. I know." Still, remembering how upset Ginny had been when she'd shown up at the Library, Harry couldn't keep the dark note out of his voice. Ron must have heard it because he frowned at him.
Both men were quiet for a while, and then Ron sighed. "Look, this is awkward to talk about and it'd probably be best if Hermione were here, but…I can tell Ginny's upset. She's hiding it, but she's not hiding it if you know what I mean. I just think if you can figure out a way to make this easier without going off on dad, it'd be…it'd be good for everyone involved."
"He hurt her feelings, Ron. As much as I love your family, I can't abide by that. He made her feel…he made her feel as though there was something wrong with her. Father or not, no one does that to Ginny and gets away with it. Not on my watch."
"I know, mate. Trust me, I know. But I think…you're going to have to step aside until she asks you to do something. Not that I think she ever will, but…fighting with dad isn't the answer. I think you know it, too. Which is why my childhood home is still standing."
Harry snorted but then sighed and finished his butterbeer. Yeah, he knew it. Which was why he hadn't done anything yet. Because regardless of anything he did, he knew that Mr Weasley would either decide he wanted his daughter in his life or he would decide that he…didn't. Nothing Harry or even Brogan could do could change the other man's mind.
"I just hate to see her hurting," Harry finally said, putting his frustration into his voice.
"She's strong, our Ginny," Ron said, almost as though to himself. "I know I haven't appeared to recognize that much before this, but…she is. Maybe stronger than all of us combined. When I think of her fighting off that bit of Voldemort in the diary when she was barely 11? I get chill bumps, Harry. And I knew when you and she got together that her life would be filled with…."
"Danger, pain, torture, compulsion spells, bizarre empathic occurrences, and cheeky, soul-bonding bracelets?" Harry said before he could stop himself. He realized they hadn't had time to tell Hermione and Ron the latest about Sean O'Brien possibly being an actual Irish God. He knew his best mate would just love that.
Ron shook his head. "I knew she would be out there – living life to the fullest. And yeah, getting hurt and having strange things happen seems to be the norm with you two, but…you also make each other very happy. We've all seen it, which I guess is why we put up with all your bad traits. Of which there are too many to name."
Ron grinned as Harry scowled at him. Ron then shook himself as though the serious discussion part of the morning had come to an end.
"Come on, let's get back to it. We can work through lunch and knock off early. Enough man to man. I'm starting to feel downright un-British talking about all these…emotions."
Harry nodded and collected their bottles, banishing them with his wand. He felt bad for the rift currently going on in his favorite family and it was frustrating to know that Ginny was hurting and there was nothing he could do to fix it. He hoped she got somewhere with her time at the Ministry and that Nigel McFarrin had somewhat good news for them regarding Sean O'Brien.
o-o-o-o-o
Brogan could count, probably with one hand, how many times in his life he'd ever been truly shocked – the most recent time, of course, was when he woke up alive inside Aine's Well after he'd thought he'd fallen to his doom, closing the portal. The other, nearest occasion after that had been that day in the training room when Harry's lips had first touched his, and an entirely new world had opened up to him.
But this – finding out his healer – a man he'd liked and trusted was an Unspeakable and had been keeping tabs on them? This shock was right up there with the other two, maybe even surpassing them a bit. He wondered briefly what was next …Solace would tell him he was adopted? No. They were too much alike to be anything other than biological father and son, even Brogan knew that.
For her part, Ginny seemed to be in a similar frame of mind, although he thought she might be even angrier than he was at this point. Her eyes followed Sid as he joined them in McFarrin's office and they were narrowed and suspicious. Sid gave them both apologetic looks but he deferred to his boss and didn't say a word. Brogan figured the other man knew he was nicked and had decided to accept his part in things.
"Well, now since we're all-" McFarrin began but Ginny interrupted him.
"What gives you the right to invade our privacy? Did you ever think of just approaching us, being upfront, and asking us about Sean O'Brien? Because I'm sure he's the reason you've done all this. Dumbledore's portrait filled us in."
Nigel raised an eyebrow at Ginny. "I see. Well, as wise as that portrait is, I am sure he skipped over a few important aspects-"
"He told us you've been interested in me since my first year at school. Again, what gives you the right, Mr McFarrin? And don't try to sugar-coat it or talk down to us or we'll leave without talking to you at all. Not to mention the stink I will pull about his role in all of this." Ginny nodded in Sid's direction, her voice cold. "Healers spying on their patients? We'll see what the Prophet has to say about it, shall we? Minister Spunk does love a good press article about what goes on in her government, doesn't she?"
Ginny raised her head, her chin jutting out in a determined fashion. Brogan had to admire her boldness. There was a similar light of appreciation in McFarrin's eyes as well. McFarrin's lips twitched as he glanced at Sid and then his face was serious once more.
"Formidable, indeed," McFarrin said. "For the record, Weasley, if you can manage to keep yourself from hexing me, I have a job offer for you. As well as for you, Caley. We've long been interested in bringing you both to the team. But I can see my regular speech at this time is not going to work." McFarrin pushed back from his desk and stood up. "Perhaps cutting to the quick with a visual aide will help. Follow me."
Ginny seemed a bit startled at his sudden departure and Brogan held her hand briefly to indicate his support. Sid followed them out of the office and McFarrin was already halfway down the hall, not waiting for them as he passed by the offices and headed towards the main room of the department.
"Stop me if I seem as though I'm about to curse him, would you?" Ginny murmured.
Brogan smiled. "I might join you instead."
Ginny's fierceness ebbed a bit and she grinned briefly at him. "Out of the two of us, your temper is much better than mine and you know it."
McFarrin was waiting for them at one of the Doors of study – except this was not one that he could recall seeing before. He saw Ginny frown at it as well. With the current set up of the rotating chamber, it was a few doors down from the Veil room. Brogan realized he only felt slightly apprehensive at the thought of the Veil and was proud of himself. He realized that returning to the Ministry and the scene of his "death" had not fazed him much and he was thankful for small favors.
Sid must have had similar thoughts because he cleared his throat behind them. But Brogan watched as the other man paled under Ginny's withering glance and the healer wisely remained silent.
"Now, by letting you enter this room, you are agreeing to not speak of what you witness. Am I clear?" McFarrin said, rather menacingly.
"No deal," Ginny said, sounding equally as threatening. "We are allowed to talk to Harry about everything. Even what's in your precious room."
Brogan thought that McFarrin had finally had enough and was about to yell, or worse, aim his wand at them, but he did the one thing that surprised him – the older man laughed. And it was a full-on throaty sort of laughter that meant he was genuinely amused.
"Weasley, by Jove, you do not disappoint. Ah, you will make a fine addition, indeed." McFarrin's eyes lifted to look past them, towards Sid. "I told you, didn't I?"
"You did, Nigel, but perhaps more on this later?" The healer nodded at the door to the mystery room, looking nervous.
"Right. Weasley, Caley, you have my okay to talk to Potter. He's as much involved in this as you two are, probably far more so, since he's the master of those bloody bracelets. But no one else, is that clear?"
Ginny looked on the verge of disagreeing again, but Brogan, who could sense McFarrin's resolution, even without physical contact, squeezed her hand in warning. She eventually nodded her head once and Brogan did the same.
"This room doesn't have a name," McFarrin said as he waved his wand at the door in a complicated (and quick) series of flourishes.
"But what is that emblem then?" Ginny asked, staring at the center of the door. Brogan squinted, wondering if he'd suddenly gained Harry's bad eyesight again. Slowly he began to see what looked like an ancient rune start to appear on the door. He could have sworn there hadn't been one there before. It looked like no other kind of rune that he had ever seen. McFarrin was looking at Ginny as though impressed.
"Most people can't see that, even after I tell them it's there. I can't recall from your file, but did you take Ancient Runes at Hogwarts, Weasley?"
"No, but I did a crash course in them as well as sigils and the like for opening the portal to get Brogan back."
McFarrin gave her a weighty look. "Opening that portal was an impressive bit of magic, by the way."
"I didn't do it alone," Ginny said shrugging. She reached out as though she wanted to touch the symbol but stopped herself. Brogan saw her glance at McFarrin. "I don't recognize this one at all. But it does remind me of the ones I saw in the portal."
McFarrin looked impressed. "What would you say if I told you it stood for Essence?"
Ginny frowned. "Essence? The essence of what?"
"The essence of magic, of course," Sid said from behind them. He nodded at the door. "I think you'll understand better if you go into the room."
McFarrin nodded at the door and Ginny looked at Brogan. He shrugged back at her; they might as well see it through. She took a deep breath and then opened the door. Brogan was not sure what he was expecting after all of that, but he was still impressed as they entered the room.
As with most of the other rooms in the department, it was dark. But not pitch black like some – you could still see what was in front of you. And there were tiny shoots of light appearing randomly throughout the room, illuminating it for brief moments. It was almost as though the bits of lights were shooting stars falling in the night sky. The room was an amphitheater, much like the room with the Veil, except instead of a stone dais set in the middle of the room, there was a cliff face, complete with trees and boulders. There was a small path that led up and away from them and as Brogan followed it with his eyes, he had the strangest sense of déjà vu, as though he'd seen it before. Ginny stopped in front of him and looked startled.
It was a perfect summer day in the center of the room and he could almost make out the faint call of birdsong. The clouds around the cliff face were white and puffy and the sky was a beautiful cerulean. Brogan was not sure what the scene had to do with the essence of magic, but he did feel compelled to just sit and be peaceful, to almost commune with it. He shook his head to clear it from such a strange notion and wondered what Ginny's reaction was. Brogan reached out to hold her hand and could sense that she felt confused and…worried.
McFarrin watched them both and then stepped forward. He turned to talk to Brogan first. "Well, Empath, what do you feel?"
"Ironically, I feel more relaxed since we came into the room than before, out in the hall. It's calming," Brogan said, nodding at the scene. "Peaceful, even. I sort of want to sit down and just…take it in."
Sid nodded enthusiastically. "That was very similar to my reaction the first time, as well. I just wanted to soak it up and think about things. It's an odd sensation because when you first come in, there's nothing here. Except, well, when I was first let in, there was no cliff face. It was a large ocean – vast and as far as the eye could see."
He sounded almost wistful, and Brogan wondered why the image changed.
McFarrin, as though reading his mind, grunted next to him.
"It changes on a whim but usually it is tied to whoever is the strongest magical person in the room, save me, of course," McFarrin appeared humbled for a moment. "I employ Occlumency to keep myself out of it or otherwise it would look quite different. Do you recognize this place?"
"It looks familiar," Brogan admitted. "But…I can't quite remember where I've seen it."
McFarrin gave him a sharp look. "More memory issues?"
"It's because he dreamed it," Ginny suddenly said, startling them all.
McFarrin gave her an interested look. "And what do you feel when you look at it?"
Ginny turned around to face them. She had a frown on her face and she gazed unblinkingly back at McFarrin. "I feel…there's some fear, but only because I've been here before and neither time was exactly happy. But it's so…so calm now. So picturesque. But…there's danger here, isn't there?"
"You don't feel compelled to sit and just take it in, do you?" McFarrin asked, as though he already knew the answer.
Ginny shook her head and glanced back over her shoulder. Brogan could tell the image had deeply troubled her. "No, I…I want to walk around that boulder there and see what's waiting for me. Even though it might be something I won't like, I still…it's almost as though I need to see it. I need to face it."
Brogan frowned at her choice of words, but McFarrin nodded his head as though that made perfect sense. He looked at them, as though coming to a decision.
"I'd like to get your third part in here and have him take a gander at it, but I think I can already guess what his reaction will be."
"Harry hasn't had the dreams though," Ginny said, frowning. She looked at Brogan. "Do you remember when you were in the Well and you mentioned dreaming about storms? Does the cliff face look familiar now? Try to imagine it with dark clouds, wind, and rain."
Brogan concentrated and felt the familiar tug of a memory not quite realized in his head and let out a frustrated sigh. Sid murmured next to him and gave him a kind look.
"If you'll allow me?"
Brogan nodded and suddenly Sid was in his head, quickly finding the memory he needed, which made Brogan nervous. The healer had far too much familiarity with his mind, he realized. He wondered how much of his appointments had been used for healing him and felt a bit sick at the thought of someone in his head, nosing around. Before he could linger on the thought, the memory of Ginny and him talking about his dream was suddenly there in his memory. He recalled his dream too, even though it was a bit foggy. He suddenly understood what Ginny meant and knew that he too had been stuck on that cliff face, looking for answers.
Sid withdrew, an apologetic look in his eyes. "Your appointments were most definitely about healing you, Brogan. Please believe me. I never spied on anything you didn't want me to see, I only tried to determine why your bracelet had become a part of you or what you remembered from the Well and closing the portal."
"Yes, he was most emphatic about not messing with your head, Caley. Cut him some leeway. If anyone needs to be the focus of your grievances it should be me, not Sid," McFarrin said. Brogan had an idea that had been for Ginny's benefit.
She ignored them, of course, turning back to stare at the cliff face again. After a long minute, she turned to McFarrin.
"How far does it go?"
"As far as you need it to go. But I don't suggest following that path just yet. Here, let's have a seat."
They sat down on the stone benches and Brogan felt strangely peaceful again as he gazed at the scene. What was that? He also didn't understand what the room had to do with the essence of magic.
"This room changes based on the individuals present, as Sid mentioned," McFarrin said. "Although it is not a never-ending display of different scenes. Four main ones usually show up, but there are possibly at least seven in total. The other three scenes are rarely seen. As I said, it usually represents the person with the strongest magical ability. Dumbledore, for example, when he visited…oh, many years back now, was one of those wizards that saw one of the rarer scenes, so that should give you some indication of why we study this room and what the images mean. We've come to believe each scene refers to something important regarding the formation of various types of magic."
"The cliffside is one of the known scenes, but it is the least common out of the four. Most people, like Sid, see the ocean. It is usually a good sign that they will be some of our most adept researchers or thinkers. The cliffside, while less usual, does usually point to a witch or wizard as being extremely powerful or protective. It means their magic is more earth-based, usually. What do you think was your best subject in school, Weasley?"
Ginny was startled and frowned as she thought about it. "I suppose Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"She's always excelled at protection spells, especially," Brogan offered with a small smile.
"You're both earth-based, actually, since yours was Transfiguration," McFarrin added as an afterthought. "Interesting." Brogan was beginning to think McFarrin knew far too much about him and wondered if he was one of the reasons the Auror Department had originally been interested in him. Merlin, that seemed like a million years ago.
"Some people see a huge cauldron – which indicates they may be more fit for the arcane arm of magic – potions, alchemy, and that like. I was relieved I saw the ocean, to be honest," Sid said with a small smile. "Couldn't possibly imagine spending my whole life doing potions." He shuddered for effect.
"But this," Ginny said, nodding at the cliff. "This has something to do with Sean O'Brien, doesn't it?"
McFarrin gave her an appraising looking, clearly impressed she'd made the connection. "It does. What do you know about Taranis?"
"Not much," Ginny said. "I read about him a bit in Ireland…he's got a cult or something, Tuireann?"
"They're known as the Lightning Seekers to most modern witches and wizards, and as far as cults go, they're fairly innocuous. Mostly they research and talk about keeping the power of the old ones, like Taranis, known. We've had various members here for questioning through the years as well as kept our eye on them in more…personal ways. More of that privacy breaking you accused me of, Weasley," McFarrin said, with a roll of his eyes.
Brogan could see Ginny bite her tongue to keep from making a sassy remark. So he did it for her. He reckoned he was still a bit tetchy about Sid using his head for information.
"Yeah, what's privacy when it comes to protecting our world? We're all fair game, right, McFarrin?"
"I do what I need to do to protect and save this world of ours, as you put it, from itself. Wizards are an intelligent lot, but they are also dangerous and half the time they can go completely nutters. Voldemort was just the latest in a long line of completely mental beings that have come close to ruining everything."
"If you knew Voldemort was a nutter, why did you do nothing to stop him from getting as far as he did? Why did you leave it to Harry handle?" Ginny asked, the accusation clear in her voice.
"You were aware of his prophecy, were you not? There are some things, as much as I'd like to change them, that I simply cannot. Magic is as magic does, Miss Weasley, make no mistake about that. And while I admit I am a world-class manipulator, even I have my limits. Voldemort and Harry Potter happened because it was meant to. Why, exactly? I don't rightly know, but it did, and he won. As far as I can tell Potter came out of it pretty good, so let's leave recent history out of this for the moment, all right?"
Brogan and Ginny exchanged looks and then nodded. McFarrin just looked grumpy.
Sid cleared his throat. "Erm, maybe if we brought the discussion back to Taranis?"
Ginny pinched her nose as though she had a headache and sighed. "Fine. Why does Sean O'Brien want these bracelets back? Do you at least know that from all your spying?"
McFarrin squared them with a perverse sort of grin then. "Because he was their original owner, of course. He wants what was his returned to him. He wants to bring his triumvirate back across the void and wreak havoc on all the worlds, not just ours. He wants the Gods that Once Was to rule the earth as he thinks they were meant to. Where do you think magic comes from, Weasley?"
"We're born with it," Ginny said, frowning.
"But where did it start? How did it begin? Has it ever occurred to either of you that something had to jumpstart magic into happening to us humans?"
"So, you're saying this Taranis is one of the reasons there are magical people?" Brogan asked, after a moment.
McFarrin nodded his head. "He's one of the oldest known entities we have ever researched. As far as we can tell he helped create the current form of magic itself. And those," McFarrin nodded at Ginny's wrist and Brogan's tattoo. "Those bloody things helped him do it."
o-o-o-o-o
As Ron had suggested, they did quit the build early. Ron and he walked the short distance to the rental house to grab a bite to eat and see if Brogan and Ginny were back, but they weren't. Harry reached out with the link to make sure they were all right and was puzzled by the sense he got. Ginny felt frustrated and a bit angry, while Brogan just felt confused.
While Ron and Harry ate, Hedwig showed up with a letter from McGonagall, of all people, which requested Harry visit the school at his earliest convenience. Since Ron was heading there anyway to pick up Hermione, Harry decided to tag along and sent Hedwig back to the Headmistress saying he'd be there in a little while.
As they walked the short distance to the front gates of the school, the Astronomy Tower, or rather its charred remains, came into view. It was still darkened with ash from the explosion, although Harry could tell they had made headway with clearing up the debris and starting the rebuild process. Compared to the rest of the castle, the Tower seemed to either be a desolate reminder that their world was still an ugly place or, that despite whatever anyone threw at it, Hogwarts would always be there, standing tall, no matter what.
Harry decided to embrace the latter sentiment.
Hermione met them on the school steps, where she was sitting talking to Daphne Greengrass. The other girl eyed Harry openly and again he felt as though she were trying to make up her mind about him. As the women stood up to greet them, Hermione glanced between them and gave a little smile.
"Harry Potter, Daphne Greengrass, Daphne, this is Harry."
"Hello, Potter," Daphne said coolly as she looked him up and down.
"Greengrass," Harry said, feeling amused at her appraisal. Apparently, it was last names all around.
"My friends will be so impressed, I've met the Boy Who Lived," Greengrass said in a haughty tone, but her mouth was twitching as though holding back a laugh. "Or, sorry, most of them call you The Boy Who Got Extremely Lucky."
Harry frowned. He wanted to tell her that her friends could stuff it, but Hermione was looking apprehensively at him and he held himself back. Daphne raised her eyebrow when he didn't rise to the bait and looked mildly impressed. She relaxed her shoulders and stuck out her hand for Harry to shake.
"Sorry, Potter, I've heard your temper is legendary, thought I'd give it a go. Ask Granger, my sense of humor is odd and rather off-putting, but I mean you no harm, I promise. And as a Slytherin, may I also add that I appreciate what you did to rid the world of the worst of our kind. We're not all power-hungry snakes that bite. Well, at least, not all the time." She gave a playful toss of her head, and, rather surprisingly, winked at him.
Harry blinked back at her, wondering what she was playing at. He eventually shrugged, deciding to take her words at face value. After a beat, he finally shook her hand, feeling odd. Her eyes looked amused.
"Should you ever get…lonely and fancy a drink, you can call me anytime," Daphne said as she winked again. Hermione gasped but didn't say anything, and Harry was just bewildered. Was he being hit on?
Behind him, he heard Ron snort derisively.
Daphne sauntered off then, heading back into the castle. Harry watched her, wondering what world he was living in where a Slytherin now felt free to flirt. With him. He shuddered.
"I'm sorry, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. "She's been asking me all about you, and I thought if I had you two meet, she'd calm down. I did not expect her to chat you up!"
"Thanks," Harry said dryly.
Ron snickered and clapped a hand on his back. "Blimey, if that's how Slytherins flirt, no wonder they're slowly dying out."
"Ron!"
"What? Look, she was probably just having a laugh. She was entirely too amused with herself. As she often is," Ron muttered aside to Harry.
"Yeah, well, you can tell her that I am very much spoken for," Harry instructed Hermione.
"Maybe you should get Brogan up here and you two can snog in front of her, she'll really get the message then," Ron snickered rather loudly at his own joke.
"I might do that," Harry said, grinning at his best mate. "You going to watch too?"
Ron's ears turned red and he eventually chuckled. "No offense, but pass. You ready?" Ron asked Hermione.
She nodded. "Professor McGonagall is waiting for you in her office, Harry."
He said goodbye to his two friends and made his way into the castle. Was it his imagination or did it feel as though the castle was happy he was back? He stopped near the main stairs, and, after glancing around to make sure no one was around, he rested his hand on the stone wall. The castle was happy he was there and he felt it, that was the strangest thing. He concentrated a bit and cast a spell he'd learned on the build; it was a settling spell to ease any tough knots or bolts in the stone before working on carving or sculpting. A sort of soothing spell for the raw materials. He wasn't sure it would work on a castle already built, but it seemed to sigh in appreciation and he hummed as he made his way up the stairs, feeling lighter.
The gargoyle jumped aside for him again and Harry marveled at it. Good thing he wasn't the type to press his advantage about that or he could catch people in compromising positions. Not that Harry thought the current Headmistress had any of those to get into. Professor McGonagall was sitting at her desk and looked up in surprise when Harry entered.
"Mr Potter! Good of you to come, although I suppose I shouldn't be shocked the office let you in, not after talking with Filius and Kingsley. Come, sit. Would you like some tea?"
Harry nodded and chose the big, plushy red chair to the left of the desk. Almost against his will, he allowed his eyes to travel upwards towards Dumbledore's portrait. The painting smiled benignly down at him and then yawned, stretching out his feet. The portrait closed his eyes and Harry shook his head. Typical. He heard a 'hrumpf' sort of noise and saw Phineas Nigellus roll his eyes in his direction. Harry merely gazed back at the former Slytherin Headmaster and raised his eyebrow and didn't say anything. The portrait almost looked disappointed.
Professor McGonagall had poured the tea and was handing him a cup. Harry took it and added three cubes of sugar, and then after an internal debate with himself added a fourth one. He knew his former Head of House liked her brew to be quite strong.
"Thank you for coming so promptly, Mr Potter. How are Miss Weasley and Mr Caley? Everyone is well, I trust?"
"We're good," Harry said. "They're in London today, and I was busy at, erm, well, I'm building a house for us, in Hogsmeade. So it wasn't an imposition to come up here."
Professor McGonagall nodded her head primly. She put her teacup down and glanced behind her at Dumbledore's portrait. She pursed her lips at Harry. "I suppose Albus has explained about your role as a former Head. I want to thank you for being here for the school, Potter. I am not sure what would have happened if you hadn't been able to help the castle in its time of need."
Harry nodded, feeling self-conscious. "I was glad to help. Erm, how goes the rebuilding, by the way? It still looks a bit…charred."
Professor McGonagall frowned. "It is slow going, I've been told. The castle feels a bit healthier, but it is proving resistant to the magic the builders are attempting to do. I think it just wants to scare me that it won't be done in time for term. It's a little game the school and I like to play. It likes to frighten me into having more grey hairs and I like to walk its halls at night, willing it to behave."
Harry smirked because he could hear the frustration in the professor's voice. "Do they have any idea what happened or what caused the explosion?"
"Kingsley has shared that it was a device similar to what was used in Diagon Alley, I'm afraid. We have no idea how it was set or placed at Hogwarts. I have been going through who was allowed on the grounds for the time before the explosion and do not see who could have possibly done it."
"Draco Malfoy wasn't around, was he?" Harry asked, only partly joking. Professor McGonagall did not seem to share his humor and gave him a stern look as she shook her head.
Professor McGonagall frowned to herself as she finished her tea. "Filius was on site, of course. As were Miss Granger and Miss Greengrass. There were the Muggleborns they were showing around, of course, but I hardly think we have a future terrorist in our midsts out of that group of eleven-year-olds. The Auror Department is rather stumped at the moment. I am surprised they haven't approached you for more help."
"I admit I've received a proposition from Minister Spunk," Harry said, realizing he'd never told Brogan or Ginny and had put the job offer completely out of his head. That more than anything told Harry he'd made the right decision. "I've…decided to pursue other…avenues at this time." Harry didn't add that said avenues meant building his future house and shagging, for the time being.
Professor McGonagall's lips may have twitched as she studied him, but Harry couldn't be sure. "How do you feel about Quidditch, Potter? Still enjoy it?"
Harry was startled at the change in topic. "Erm, of course, Professor McGonagall. Although I admit I haven't had a chance to play in a while. Nor kept up with any of the leagues."
Professor McGonagall nodded her head. "As you may or may not know, Potter, Rolanda Hooch is considering an early, partial retirement this year. And I need someone to help take up some of her coaching duties, as well as take on a few referee duties for the matches. What do you think?"
"Erm, about her retiring? I mean, I don't think she's that old-"
"No, Potter, you misunderstand me. What do you say to helping out the school a bit more? A flyer of your caliber would be a boon, especially for the older children who are still having problems. You wouldn't teach anything but flying and run a few Quidditch workshops. You never had to bother with them because you were a natural, but some of the younger students seem to benefit from them greatly. And, other than the matches that Rolanda chooses not to referee during the season, I wouldn't need you on the weekends, either."
Harry stared at his old Professor, not sure if he had heard her right. "You want me to coach Quidditch?"
"You'd have to brush up on the finer points of the game, of course, but Miss Granger tells me that in previous years you already knew most of them and could quote them at will. I immediately thought of you for the position, since I know you are, as they say, in the area. I think it would be most beneficial to us both. I wouldn't have to pay room and board all year for a position that is just a few days a week, and you could have an excuse to be up in the air again."
Professor McGonagall's eyes did twinkle at that and Harry found himself smiling back. The idea was very tempting to Harry. To help students with their flying and show them Quidditch moves? It almost sounded like heaven.
"Erm, would I, erm, be a Professor in name only or…I mean, I don't want to be a professor! No offense."
"None taken, Potter," Professor McGonagall said rather dryly. "I think you can have the students call you whatever you would like. Rolanda wasn't a professor either and the title of Madam was honorary. It could be the same with you. The position would pay, of course, not a great deal, but it is enough to make it worth your while. I know building a house from scratch can be costly."
Harry nodded. He didn't care about the money, really, but once school started he reckoned the build would be slowing down, hopefully, and he'd need something to do with his time. Although he had considered apprenticing with Andrew as a junior Magic-Builder, he didn't know how active they would be once the colder weather hit. He knew he needed to talk to Ginny and Brogan first though, it was only right.
"Can I think about it and get back to you tomorrow?"
Professor McGonagall nodded. "Of course. I am sure Miss Weasley will be excited for you, and…I'm not sure, does Mr Caley even play Quidditch? He showed no interest in it while he was here, I must say. "
McGonagall said it as if that was the greatest insult Brogan could have done while being the DADA teacher, and Harry hid a smile behind his teacup.
"He's not really a flyer," Harry admitted. "But I was planning on weaning him from that point of view. I have plans to build my own pitch at the house I'm working on."
"Well, you'll have to let me know how you fare in that regard. And please, do tell Mr Caley I was glad to hear of his return," the Headmistress said, a small smile on her face. "Shall I expect an owl in the morning with your answer?"
Harry nodded and they chatted a bit more about the school, and Harry could have sworn the portrait of Dumbledore was smirking at him. Walking back through the castle, he detoured and made his way to the pitch once he was outside. Harry smiled, imagining it. Getting paid to be on his broom a couple of days a week seemed ideal and almost too good to be true. But he wanted it, the more he thought of it, and he hoped that his other halves would agree with him.
o-o-o-o-o
After their time in the Department of Mysteries (Ginny had never thought that title more fitting than now), she and Brogan decided to do a quick shopping excursion at one of the nearby Muggle supermarkets in London. She didn't have the energy for a lengthy shopping trip and they split up to cover more ground.
Her mind was whirling with everything they had found out, this much was true. But it was also whirling with everything they hadn't; Nigel McFarrin could be one cagey git when he wanted to be, of this Ginny was quite sure. She reckoned he didn't even do it on purpose anymore; he'd been working as an Unspeakable for so long now it probably was his habit, like breathing, or walking or even wearing tweed.
She was not paying attention to her shopping when she walked straight into someone down the tea aisle, and her apologies were out of her mouth before she even got a good look at the person. When she did, however, her excuses died in her throat as she stared at her brother, Percy.
He looked good, well, he looked better than the last time she'd seen him. He appeared less gaunt, although still skinny and tall (he always took after their father in this way) and his hair had been trimmed in the style he'd worn while at Hogwarts, short and cropped close to his head. She noticed abstractly that he'd purchased new frames for his glasses and they looked rather smart.
"Gin-"
"Perce-"
They both started and stopped at the same time. Ginny finally came to her senses first and gave him a half-hazard sort of hug with one arm. Percy stiffened and then relaxed, hugging her back briefly. She took that as a good sign.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
He held up the basket she hadn't noticed him carrying; it was filled with various boxes of tea and biscuits. He had an embarrassed look about him as though what he was buying was highly suspect. And to him, Ginny knew, it probably was. Percy always liked to act as though he appeared each morning, fully awake, dressed, already fed, and ready to tackle the day. Having to prepare things for himself or admit he needed a nice cuppa was probably a whole new world for her brother.
"The Aurors have a small, self-serve canteen near the cells and since I've been staying there, I've been drinking a lot of tea," Percy explained. "Thought I would replenish the supply."
Ginny nodded. She wanted to ask him why he had never replied to the letter she'd sent, requesting they meet. She wanted to know why he felt that sleeping in an Auror cell instead of staying with a family member was his best course of action. And finally, she wanted to ask him why he seemed so sad. Because there was no fire in Percy's eyes, no spark. Always the most formal and decorous of all her brothers, Percy had still had that gleam of unruly Weasleyness in his eye, even if just an infinitesimal amount. But now? Now, she saw nothing, and that gave Ginny pause.
But instead of asking any of those things, she nodded as if she understood. Neither of them said anything for a moment, making it even more awkward. Percy looked around and then back at her, a slight frown on his face.
"I thought mother said you were living in Hogsmeade now? Why are you shopping at a Tesco's in central London?"
"We were at the Ministry, and I didn't feel like bothering with doing it later," she said. "Just getting a few things."
"Harry is here?" Percy asked, looking around again. He sounded as if he disagreed with the idea of the wizarding savior having to pick up his meat and veg like everyone else in the world. Ginny frowned at her brother, bristling slightly at his tone.
"No, I'm with Brogan," she said without thinking. Percy glanced at her, his face unreadable, and then it was a neutral mask. Ginny pursed her lips.
"I see," Percy said. His tone indicated his displeasure at the news, and Ginny narrowed her eyes, ready to tell him off if she needed.
Just then, they both heard Ginny's name and they turned to see Brogan coming towards them down the aisle. Brogan was smiling, but when he reached them and saw Percy's unsmiling face in return, he soon sobered. He took Ginny's basket from her and dropped his few items into it, slipping it over his arm.
"Erm, hi," Brogan said, looking at Percy a bit apprehensively. "We met under rather odd circumstances before, but I'm-"
"The last descendant of Aine, yes," Percy said formally. Ginny thought her brother could live to be two hundred years old and still act as though he had a very large stick up his arse. But what her brother did next surprised her down to her toes.
"Percy, Percy Weasley," her brother said, offering Brogan his hand. "Weasley family pariah, black-sheep, and all-around persona-non-grata. Nice to officially meet you."
Brogan seemed taken back at first and then smiled. "I've never met a real-life pariah. How is it?"
Percy's eyes shone amazingly with mirth but he answered seriously enough. "Dreadful. I'm always getting disinvited to things. It's so hard to know which gatherings not to show up to."
Brogan's lips twitched in amusement as he shook her brother's hand, and Ginny could only marvel at them.
"Speaking of which," Percy said, glancing at Ginny. "I was sorry to hear about Harry's birthday party getting canceled. Although, since I had planned to show up and sit in the corner, scowling half of it away while people tiptoed around me, I suppose it is for the best. My facial muscles need the weekends to relax and look less austere, after all."
Ginny shook her head, feeling as though she was dreaming. "Percy, did you just make a joke? At your own expense?"
"Perhaps," her brother deadpanned.
"What has got into you?"
"Being a social outcast has done wonders for my self-esteem and humor. I now practice in front of mirrors, of course." Percy seemed to prepare himself then for whatever jibes or insults Ginny would throw at him.
But Ginny felt utterly gobsmacked in the face of her brother's apparent newfound sense of self-deprecation. Trying to see if she could sense more, she reached out with her minor empath skills and found that she could feel Percy's nervousness and anxiety. But there was also a sense of hopefulness that she would not reject him, buried deep underneath the other feelings. Brogan nodded encouragingly at her, indicating he'd sensed it a well. She eventually released a deep breath and just like that, she felt the tension between them leave. Feeling spontaneous, she wrapped her arm around her brother and gently squeezed his arm. "Come home with us. Let me make you tea while you impress us with more quips. You ignored my letter, you know. Very rude of you, brother."
There was a brief flash of relief in Percy's eyes, but his lips twitched in amusement. "I have a reputation to uphold, Ginevra, you know that. Pariahs aren't known for their manners."
Brogan chuckled and shook his head. Ginny smiled genuinely at Percy.
"I've missed you, Perce. But how can I take the mickey out of you now that you have self-awareness?"
Her brother raised an eyebrow, looking very much like his older, more stuffy self all of a sudden. But then his face broke into a wide smile and to Ginny, it was like the sun was shining full blast. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen Percy look so agreeable, and thought that whatever he'd been doing on his own, it was clearly for the best. She wondered what her mum would say about that.
o-o-o-o-o
"So, I've been seeing…well, what the Muggles would call a therapist," Percy was saying as they finished up their meal.
They'd come home to find that Harry had moved right past tea and straight into preparing them an early dinner. Fettuccine Alfredo with crunchy garlic breadsticks that Ginny desperately wanted more of because they were quite delicious. She grinned as Brogan broke the last one in half and handed her the larger portion. Harry had seemed surprised to see Percy, but he'd quickly added another plate to the table and welcomed him. It had made her heart beat with pride at his generous and giving nature, and she loved him all the more for it. Based on the past, Harry more than anyone had a right to tell Percy where he could stuff it.
"You know, I've always wondered if the magical world had those," Harry said now, chewing thoughtfully. "I could have used one around fifth year, no doubt."
"You and me both, Harry," Percy said seriously. "Although, perhaps all I really needed at that time was someone to just remove the giant post I had up my arse."
Ginny half-snorted, half-choked on her water, and Brogan patted her on the back. She looked at her brother. "Sorry, I still can't get used to this…new you, Perce. Is that what the therapist is doing? Teaching you to laugh at yourself? Because I have to say, well-done."
Percy's cheeks heated and blushed bright pink. "Audrey is…remarkable."
Ginny felt her eyebrow raise at that. Audrey. That sounded promising, or perhaps it had just been the soft way her brother had said the woman's name. Harry, who probably caught her feelings and knew where her mind had wandered, rolled his eyes at her.
"She's helping me with a lot of stuff. I know it's hard for you to realize this, Ginny, since you are the youngest and the favorite, but sometimes our family…it's a bit hard to exist in. Especially when you're outside the norm, like I was, or, still am, I suppose. Mother and father put so many expectations on me that I crumbled under the weight. Oh, I am not blaming them. I know I was obtuse and stubborn, and far too ambitious to see the forest for the trees. But I never felt as though anything I did was right. My job was the wrong type, my ambitions were the wrong sort, and yes, I stood by the wrong Minister but they never accepted the idea that I could think differently than them. Compounded with you lot always making fun of me at every turn for being stiff and formal, I…did the only thing I thought I could do to survive. I turned my back on my family. And I'm sorry. I will regret my actions during that time for the rest of my life."
Ginny paused, her fork halfway up to her mouth. She had never heard Percy speak so heartfelt before. She knew if Fred and George were there they'd be checking to make sure he wasn't Polyjuiced. But as he looked at her, she saw real pain in his eyes, as well as a request for forgiveness. And, since she had just recently felt the wrath of disappointing one of her parents, she felt as though she could truly understand Percy for the first time in their lives as siblings. She wasn't sure she could forgive him for being a git, but…she understood it. For probably the first time.
Harry squeezed her hand and gave her a tender look in understanding. He nodded at Brogan as they both stood and collected the dirty dishes. They went to the sink to do the dishes together, and Ginny turned back to her brother.
"I don't know what to say, Percy," she finally said. "I…don't want to absolve you or say it was okay because you and I both know that it wasn't. But…I'm sorry you felt that way and I wish you had tried to talk to us instead of running away. However, I know none of us would have listened at the time. We were all acting like gits, in truth, and I'm sorry for my part in that. Feeling like you're not good enough is not a nice way to feel and I know that. Trust me, I do understand, regardless of what think of my status is in this family. Disappointing Mum and Dad…it's just not a good place to be."
"Are you now estranged from our parents as well? Is that why mum canceled Harry's party?"
"I told Dad about…Brogan and it did not go well," Ginny said, glancing at the men. Harry was laughing at something Brogan was saying and she smiled fondly at them for a moment. Percy followed her gaze and nodded thoughtfully.
"Dumbledore…spoke highly of him, you know. He told me how important the last descendant would be to my family. I never really understood that until after…everything. I see you have chosen a different sort of life, as well."
Ginny met his eyes and instead of seeing judgment in them, she simply saw her brother. The one who had protected her from Fred and George's more outrageous pranks; the one who had cared about her during her first year and tried to take care of her, even when no one else noticed a thing.
"They both treat you with respect and love you," Percy said. "Anyone can see that. And that's all a brother can ask for, isn't it? You are happy?"
Ginny nodded. "Very much so."
"Then that is all that matters," Percy said. "Our father is…well, he is where I get my pigheadedness from, let's put it that way. For an easy-going man, sometimes, he is not…quite so…understanding when things fall outside of his ideal. Audrey has helped me see how my fear of disappointing him led me to the things that did exactly that. It's why I offered myself to Dumbledore to act as spy. I was trying so hard to be the son our father wanted, as though by being myself I had failed him, somehow."
"I can't believe the change in you, brother," Ginny said softly. She felt as though she had been unfair to Percy and yet, she knew she hadn't. He really could be a colossal git when he wanted to be. But this new man in front of her seemed very different. And she wondered if his pulling away from mum and dad was exactly what he had needed to grow into a better adult. Maybe it was what they all needed. She frowned at the dark thought. Her parents were wonderful, weren't they? Was this what all families went through as everyone transitioned into adulthood? Ginny didn't know.
"To live amongst the Death Eaters, to…become one of them, even if it was in pretend? It was life-changing, Ginny. And I still have years and years ahead of me of trying to work through all of what I had to do to survive." Percy looked so serious then, as though he was fighting off demons in his mind. He eventually relaxed again and met her eyes once more.
"You caught me on a really good day, you know. I'm usually a mess and not this communicative. But I had a good session today, and talking about everything and nothing with Audrey is the best balm to my ego. She wants me to reach out to each of my siblings, to see if I can have some sort of relationship with all of you." Percy paused that amused look on his face again. "How am I doing so far? You're the first."
Ginny smiled and patted his hand. "You're doing fantastic. We've never been that close, but tonight I feel as though we're a real brother and sister. I like it."
"I blame myself and…my natural ability to be standoffish. I never…I never pushed you away because I did not care for you, I only did it because I knew of no other way to be. I wanted you to know I am trying."
Ginny patted Percy's hand again and then gripped his fingers with her own. "I see that. Please, keep in touch, Percy. And tell me more about this Audrey person. I think she deserves a medal."
Percy's forehead creased, and he frowned. "She is my…therapist, nothing more, Ginny."
"But you like her," Ginny said teasingly.
"I…she is…." Percy opened and closed his mouth like a fish and then gave her an annoyed look.
"She is my therapist," he said firmly.
"Okay," Ginny said, shrugging. "What color hair does she have?"
"Radiant chestnut, but I do not see-"
"Eye color?"
"A warm, enchanting brown-"
"Is she tall or short?"
"Honestly, Ginny, I do not see how any of this is relevant. She is tall…slender. Elegant."
"Uh-huh."
"Hmm, perhaps I will go back to being the family pariah. You are being a busybody, Ginevra."
Ginny could only grin at her brother. Just his therapist, her arse; her brother was deeply smitten. He just didn't know it yet.
o-o-o-o-o
"Well, I think all of us had a very eventful day," Ginny said as she stretched. The three of them had piled onto the bed after Percy had left, although they hadn't done much more than snog a bit. There had been so many things to discuss and talk about. Harry was glad Ginny's brother seemed to be turning his life around, and not only that, that he was making a positive change for the better. It was nice to see there was more than pomposity to him and he could tell Ginny was happy with the changes in Percy, too. He hoped it took her mind off of her fight with her father for a while.
Ginny settled back against Brogan and Harry reached up and played with her hair as he gazed up at them from where he was resting across their laps; her hair was getting long again, finally. He was afraid to mention it though, in case she decided to get it cut again. While he thought the short hair suited her immensely, he had a personal preference for it to be on the long side. But Harry thought he might take that opinion to the grave; Ginny had very strong feelings about what the men thought about the length of her hair.
After he'd told them about McGonagall's offer, they'd told him all about their time at the Department of Mysteries, and Harry didn't know what to think about that. He was intrigued enough to follow up soon and go and visit with this McFarrin bloke and visit the so-called Essence of Magic room himself. He wondered if it would appear the same to him as it had to them.
"Don't you think it's weird we all sort of got job offers on the same day?" Brogan mused, running his hands gently through Harry's hair. Harry closed his eyes and sighed. He'd happily found that scalp massages were vastly underrated. They could lie in bed and just do this and he might never need to get naked. Well, almost never; Harry wasn't stupid.
"I still don't know what to do about that," Ginny said, still frowning off into space when Harry opened his eyes again. "I really don't want to work under McFarrin. But…there is something about actually being an Unspeakable and doing things outside the norm of the Ministry that is tempting."
"He does sound…difficult," Harry said, trying to be diplomatic. Brogan snorted in response.
"Well said," Brogan said, smiling at him. "You're learning, Harry."
"Yes, but it's just us here and he doesn't have to be so nice," Ginny said, smirking.
"He might be your future boss one day. Reckon I should get used to playing nice." Harry paused and turned so he could lay on his side and face them. "I still can't believe it about Sid though. Are you going to get a new healer now?"
Brogan sighed. "I don't want to. And…as much as his part in this unnerves me, I do sort of want to continue to see him. Is that wrong, do you think?"
"You liked him," Ginny said, squeezing his leg. "We all did. It's understandable."
"I think he still always had your best interests at heart," Harry said, thinking about their interactions with Sid. Whatever his motives had been, Harry had never sensed any true duplicity on the other man's part and he had seemed genuinely concerned about Brogan's health. "At least, from what you guys told me. Just, next time you see him at an appointment, set some boundaries. And if he isn't willing to agree to them, well, you have your answer as far as whose side he's really on."
Ginny looked impressed. "Very wise, Harry."
"Thanks, I try," he said. "I succeed occasionally, too. No need to look so surprised."
Ginny stuck her tongue out playfully and looked down at her wrist as Harry joined his hand with hers, their bracelets bumping. "It's so weird to think of these being as old as they are."
"How do you think I feel?" Brogan asked, holding up his arm as they both gazed at his tattoo. "I normally don't think of the thing but ever since we talked to McFarrin, I keep looking at it. Just wondering about it."
It was, Harry had to admit, a bit bizarre to think they had in their possession items that were responsible for magic being as widespread as it was. Or at least, that was the stance the Department of Mysteries was taking. If Sean O'Brien really was Taranis, and if he did indeed create the bracelets to help channel his power, then Harry understood why O'Brien wanted them back. But like the way he knew that his name was Harry Potter, he also knew the bracelets were his. Theirs. His mind wandered to something they'd touched on earlier while talking about what Brogan and Ginny had found out at the Ministry.
"So magic exists because Taranis deemed it so?" Harry asked, not clear on that point.
Ginny frowned. "As McFarrin tells it, magic did exist in the world but people themselves weren't magical. We didn't have wands or power inside us. It was all external."
"And Gods walked the earth, apparently," Brogan added. "People were…not enslaved to them but we did their bidding. We worshipped them and they did things like make our crops grow or keep us healthy. This part of the talk disconcerted me the most, I have to say."
"Yeah, there was Taranis and his family, and then others, who were able to cast magic, but it was rare," Ginny said.
"Couldn't it just be that instead of being Gods or whatever, there was just a small group of people who were born magical and used it to prop themselves up to be worshipped?" Harry asked.
Ginny nodded. "I sort of see it your way, but McFarrin insisted magic – as in magical people — wasn't a thing until Taranis used the bracelets. He did rituals and had ceremonies and-"
"Made people give sacrifices, yeah I read that bit before," Harry said as he made a face. "How did the bracelets help him?"
"He used them to join himself with two others; two who were almost as powerful as he was, but they were still considered lesser Gods. When the three of them joined, magic was created. It was two male deities and one female, which is why that is what the bracelets prefer to this day. Lucky us," Ginny said, smirking briefly. "But it was through the female God, Toutatis, when she bore the first fully magical child, that it became an inborn trait for humans. Every magical being since then is descended from the first child of that union. And it was a union between all three of them, by the way. Taranis and this other God, Esus, were both the father of the child. She was impregnated by them both."
"I didn't even know that was possible," Harry said, frowning.
"Apparently, for a god, it is," Brogan said. "Crazy part is, is that the child was still human. Just very, very magical. And it was their offspring that created all of us, eventually. Merlin himself could trace his bloodline all the way back. And remember he was Aine's uncle."
Harry marveled at what they were telling him. "Bloody hell," he said after a moment.
"Yep," Ginny said laying down next to him. "Now you know why we both had a headache for most of the day."
"And here I thought me telling you about becoming the next flying instructor at the school was going to be the most exciting part of your day," Harry said, kissing her on the forehead. Brogan joined them, laying on the other side of Ginny. Harry reached out and took his hand, linking their fingers together. Harry immediately felt his bracelet warm as they all connected, and he sighed happily.
"Well, former God or not, O'Brien is not getting these bracelets. I like them. I like being linked with you two. And I like what they do for us."
"Pretty sure he felt the same way, once upon a time," Ginny mused.
"Yeah, but he's all power-hungry and probably insane, at this point. I just want to use them for the really fantastic shags. I win."
Brogan and Ginny both laughed and to Harry, their love was the real magic.
o-o-o-o-o
