JKRowling owns Harry Potter and all the characters in that story. She is a pure genius.
FASA owns Earthdawn
I'm posting this a bit soon after the last chapter, but it was ready and a few people seemed to dislike the ending of Chapter 24. So, Harry helped fend off an attack on an award ceremony by controlled muggleborn witches and wizards. In the last moments of the battle, Bill was struck by the killing curse and died. This is where we pick up.
Special thanks to this story's Beta reader, the MoleOfWar for your excellent feedback.
—Casting Shadows—
Chapter 25 The Hall of Ma'at
Beauxbatons Garden Ceremony
Right after the Battle Ends
Harry stared at Bill's lifeless form. Fleur had her head on his chest and was crying hysterically. The killing curse he dodged had struck Bill! No, that wasn't right, the angles were all wrong. Harry suddenly realized he had never been the target.
No, this isn't possible. Bill has always been there for him. Even when he was a tiny first year, Bill was there. All through Hogwarts and then afterward… always Bill. Shifting his vision to detect life, he saw the final flicker of Bill's life force begin to drain away. The heart had stopped and the spirit was moving on. This is the natural cycle…
No.
It can't end like this! Hell no!
Harry launched himself to his dear friend and slid across the grass to a position just above his head. Staring down into the unseeing eyes, Harry focused on the Resurrection Stone and cast an ancient spell. The ancients called it 'Last Chance' as it would resuscitate the recently deceased. It was the ancient magical equivalent of CPR. No, that's not right, more the ancient magical equivalent of 'shock paddles'. It was as much physical as it was soul magic. Bill's life glow stopped fading for a moment, but then began dimming once more.
The killing curse killed in a different manner than drowning, or being shocked. This was absolute death. Harry saw the life glow fading in the moments after Bill was struck, and that only happens when true death has occurred. Casting the 'Last Chance' spell allowed him to see the life force fading in far greater detail, like he had a 'tag' on it. Maybe he could use that. Staring deeper into the lifeless eyes and focusing on his magic and the Resurrection Stone in his ring, he projected his consciousness. His spell had created a 'trace' on his friend's spirit and he went after him like a bird of prey. He flew right through his friend's body and deep into the lowest levels of the astral plane.
Where souls go on their final journey.
Sensing Bill's spirit, he focused all his will and propelled himself forward. The Resurrection Stone in his ring flared up and assisted. It was singing with power. Finally, it was being used in a way that challenged it. Sensing Bill's spirit, Harry noted it was quite far away, how had it moved so fast? Focus on catching it! Everything became a blur and his consciousness moved faster than the speed of thought. Time ceased to exist.
—Casting Shadows—
Malfoy Château
Nernier, France
During the Battle at Beauxbatons
Andromeda and Narcissa are reviewing different options for redecorating Grimmauld place
Narcissa placed three wooden slats on the table between Andromeda and herself. "What do you think of these options? I could definitely see the lighter stain on the first floor. Of course, we'd have to replace the curtains." Considering it a moment, she asked, "Does Harry have a light to dark preference?"
Andromeda smiled, "I don't even think he knows what shade is there now. He seems to like dark green leather wingbacks. Other than that…" She just shrugged. Harry was giving her carte blanche in remodelling Grimmauld Place. She wanted it to be comfortable for him, but she also knew he would likely be moving out to his own manor at some point.
Narcissa raised one eyebrow. "That makes this easier. Still, having it done by December seventh will be a challenge. But I love a challenge. Tell me, if Harry continues spending time with Ms. Greengrass, should we include her in these discussions?"
Andromeda was a bit surprised to hear that, "Don't you think it's a bit early for that?"
Narcissa laughed. "No, I really don't. Oh, I'm not saying we give the young lady any real say in the house, but it would be nice to make her feel included."
Andromeda hadn't even considered that. "Did you do the same with Astoria? Include her in your remodelling efforts here in Nernier?"
Narcissa sipped a cup of tea. Setting it down, she said, "Of course. I showed her the pallets I had chosen and asked her what she thought. Astoria is a lovely girl, but her tastes are geared more toward comfort and earth tones than mine. Still, I made sure she felt somewhat included."
Andromeda forced herself not to laugh. Narcissa would never share decorating decisions in her home and Astoria no doubt would have picked up on that. Daphne, on the other hand, had taste that aligned nicely with her own. It might be a good idea…
Suddenly, Narcissa stood up in shock. "Andi! The wards have fallen! We're under attack…"
Andromeda had not allowed anyone to call her 'Andi' since she left the family nearly three decades ago. It had been Bellatrix's nickname for her. Now she couldn't stand it. If Cissy was using it, she was as panicked and she appeared.
Andromeda registered her words right as they heard an explosion in the back of the house.
"Teddy!"
—Casting Shadows—
Deep in Astral Space
Harry found himself on a gorgeous wooden boat moving along a river. It seemed Egyptian in design, but Harry knew that was due to the pursuit of Bill's spirit. It was so solid and strong. The wood itself was alive. It was night, but the moon was full and impossibly bright. It was easily three times the size it normally was. The stars were many times brighter than he had ever seen them. Under the moon and the star's celestial illumination, he could see for miles. All around were pyramids and obelisks. Sphinx statues watched him as his boat glided down the river. Impossibly large and more than just statues.
This had to be the Nile. Or some astral representation. This was Bill's interpretation of Death. Harry realized he was tagging along with Bill and seeing his friend's idea of the afterlife. All those years spent in Egypt had a deep and profound impact on the man.
To his left was his mother and to his right, his father. Recalling his situation, he realized he had moved at the speed of thought in pursuit of Bill's spirit. He had to bring him back. But, what if he went too far? Could he even come back from death? His left hand blazed with power, looking down he noted the Resurrection Stone set into the ring. Brilliant in its glory. Aiding him. Guiding him. This is what it was designed for, not just summoning the dead, but navigating the astral pathways.
His father put his hand on his shoulder. His mother grasped his hand. These were not really his parents, he could see that clearly in this realm. They were incarnations. Gifts his parents had left with him as they went on their own final journey. Somehow, he just instinctively knew this. The Resurrection Stone, maybe? The boat was being steered by a cloaked figure. He knew immediately who that was… Elianar Messias. The original 'Master of Death'.
Harry looked the spirit over. This was no 'incarnation', it was the real deal. Dressed like Death itself in a hooded black robe. It seemed a bit over the top. At least he wasn't a skeleton carrying a scythe. Still, this seemed creepy and more than a little ominous.
"Master Messias?" Harry gently asked.
The ancient spirit looked over and gently nodded his head. "Apprentice, you are taking a huge gamble. Following a soul into the realm of the dead… there's always a price to pay. And don't blame me for this ridiculous outfit, this is your interpretation, not mine."
Lily's incarnation squeezed his hand, "We're with you, Harry."
The incarnation of his father, James, added, "No matter what."
Harry heard both his parent's voices in his dreams on a regular basis for years, but this was stronger. Closer to their 'source'. Does that mean he would be closer to his parents? Their final destination? If he passed over, could he be with them? At that thought, his ring flared and shocked him. No, don't think like that.
Messias spoke in a voice that cut straight to his heart. "Don't get distracted, descendant. Remember why we are here."
Harry realized his ancestor was right. Messias was not just steering the boat, he was anchoring his soul. How easy it would be to just… No. Again, his ring shocked him a bit. As comforting as being with his parents may be, he kept sight of his goal. Find Bill. Bring him back. To the living world.
To the world of pain and loss. To hunger and despair. Why on earth would he ever want to…?
"Harry!" This time it was his mother's incarnation. "Stay focused."
Yes. Yes of course. Stay focused. He thought about Teddy. His son. The small child that needed him so very much. How he loved and cared for him. His little Teddy-Bear. The light of his life. Now he had two lights, he also had Catherine. His daughter in spirit. Absent from this journey for some reason. Andromeda, his adopted mother. The woman who was always looking out for his best interests. So like Hermione in that regard. His dearest and best friend. Fleur was like a sister, and Victoire was his niece in all the ways that matter. Gabby is like a sister, but almost more. As an apprentice, she would only be a sister. And Daphne. So much potential there. He couldn't get her out of his mind.
Harry focused on the people he loved the most. The Resurrection Stone seemed to help him focus. This kept him from longing for his own eternal rest. He wasn't done. Neither was Bill. He just needed to find his friend and convince him to come back. Harry realized that if he was feeling as drawn to eternal rest, despite the anchoring presence of the Resurrection Stone, Bill must be feeling it ever more intensely.
The boat seemed to drift along for hours. But the moon never moved, the stars stayed in their position. Only the landscape let him know he was moving forward. Looking at his hands, he suddenly realized they were covered in thorns. How had he missed that? His connection to the Everliving Rose was still present and a part of his pattern. He was the rose and the rose was him. Thankfully, the pain that usually accompanied the thorns was no longer present. Instead, it was comforting. But that meant… the boat. It was a representation of Oakheart. He could feel the ancient elemental. Harbouring and protecting him.
Harry realized he was 'all in' now. His spiritual support team was there and he was charging into a different kind of battle. One that held deep ramifications on everyone he cared for. He could still feel Bill's spirit, it was moving along the same river he was. Had the Resurrection Stone been helping him stay connected to Bill? He was so used to using the Wand and the Cloak, but the Stone was only when he communed with the departed. But here, in this realm? It was so much more.
Focusing again on Bill, he now knew the ring was helping him. Fortunately, the distance was shrinking. Soon, he would catch up to Bill. Harry focused his concentration on Oakheart, the boat, and their speed doubled.
Messisas kept them on the river. There were rocks and serpents along the way, but they always steered clear. There were other boats coming in alongside his own. They were joining the main river from dozens of tributaries that had only begun to show. Harry began to realize, he had been on a tributary himself. Looking at the other ships, he determined that none were matching his own vessel for speed, but a few were larger and more ornate. Did they reflect the life the occupants lived?
They were getting deeper and deeper into the underworld. How much time had passed? An eternity? A millisecond? Harry sensed that Bill was no longer moving. He had arrived at his destination before Harry could catch him. Still, they were close. Perhaps there was still time. They were so very close.
Within an indeterminate span of time, they arrived at a massive port designed to accommodate the thousands of vessels that made the journey each day. Messias stood very still. Locking eyes with Harry, he pronounced in his ethereal voice, "Descendant, think very hard before you proceed. One wrong move, and you will never find your way back. If you tarry too long, you will never leave. If you go too deep, you will have to pay a steep price to leave. Is this really worth it? To step off this vessel is to risk true death."
Harry looked at his parent's incarnations. They looked worried as well. James spoke first, "You are the last Potter. The last Peverell. Whatever you choose, your mother and I will be beside you."
His mother embraced him, saying, "To turn back, shows pride in your lineage and a recognition of the natural order. A desire to care for your godson and spirit child. To proceed forward shows a loyalty to your friend and a willingness to risk all for those you love. No matter your choice, we are proud of you."
Harry briefly considered their words. But only briefly. To spend any real time considering their implications would only weaken his resolve. And time was pressing. Stepping out of the boat, Harry looked about and noted masses of spirits. They were all heading down a huge thoroughfare that ran through a marvellous city toward a massive golden pyramid. All around the path were obelisks and smaller pyramids. At different points along the way, there were enormous statues of long forgotten heroes. Men and women who had accomplished great things in their lives. Those who had changed the course of history itself. Occasionally, Harry noted a few faces that sparked recognition of a sort. Was this ancestral memory?
Stretching out his mind, his ring flared in power and he located Bill's spirit and was shocked at how far it had gone while he was looking about in wonderment. How on earth did he cover so much ground? Harry sprinted down the thoroughfare toward an immense pyramid that was far away. After fifteen minutes of flat out sprinting, the pyramid didn't look much closer. How big was that thing? Stopping to catch his breath, be realized he was standing in front of an enormous obelisk standing in the middle of the thoroughfare. It was welcoming the dead to the Duat*. How had he missed this? Should he be concerned?
Harry considered the situation. 'OK, I have to catch up to Bill before he goes too far, but he is way ahead of me.' As he stepped around the obelisk, he realized he had left the final space reserved for the living and was now firmly in the realm of the dead. Realizing how much ground he had to cover, he shifted into his owl form and flew as fast as his wings would allow him. He could only fly about twenty or twenty-five feet off the ground before being 'pressed' back to a lower level and he was unable to veer from the path, but he didn't need to.
Harry flew for what felt like hours, but unlike before the obelisk, he felt no fatigue. He briefly wondered why he wasn't out of breath, then realized… he wasn't breathing. Oddly, he wasn't bothered by this. He finally landed at the entrance way and proceeded inside. There were other souls around him, but for some reason, he didn't really notice them. He did, however, notice that his mother and father's incarnations appeared beside him. It just felt right. He was at peace. His ring had not flared up since crossing the obelisk…
Stepping into the pyramid, Harry found himself in a massive corridor. Harry knew instinctively that this was the Hall of Ma'at. The place of judgement. On either side of the hallway, there were statues of Egyptian gods and goddesses. They all seemed to watch him as he walked through. Before each statue, they would stop and one of his parents would recite a proclamation of a sin Harry had never committed. The proclamation was in ancient Egyptian and delivered by each parent in a long and ritualized manner. At the end, the three of them waited until the statue nodded and gestured for them to continue. Somehow, Harry knew he had to follow along.
Each parent alternated with their 'negative confession', awaiting affirmation by each of the statues before they would proceed. This process repeated itself forty-two times, and each time, Harry felt more at peace and relaxed. The entire process took what felt like hours. He knew that his parents were an extension of his own soul and were speaking for him. It all felt so natural.
After the last statue gave its blessing, Harry found himself at the entry point of a large round antechamber which descended a hundred or so feet to the place of judgement. It reminded him of a large bowl shaped amphitheatre. He was at the end of a long line of souls waiting for judgement. The line was made up of hundreds of souls, in a single file column that spiralled and stretched from the centre of the antechamber, around and around until it reached the entry point. Harry continued moving and made slow and steady progress as he followed the spiral and watched souls getting judged.
The judgement consisted of each soul removing their heart and placing it on a scale. A jackal headed Egyptian god would then administer the judgement by comparing the weight of the heart to that of a golden feather. Another Egyptian god, with the head of an ibis, would record the result. Harry knew these gods to be Anubis and Thoth. When a heart was found to be heavier than the feather, the goddess Ammit would devour it. She had the head of a crocodile, the fore body of a lioness, and the hind quarters of a hippopotamus. When she devoured a soul, it was lost forever.
Harry felt a sense of foreboding and revulsion at the idea of his heart being consumed by Ammit, but this was the way of things for those with hearts heavy of sin. For those without sin would have a different fate. They would approach Osiris, who sat at the end of the judgement hall on a large golden throne. These souls would then move on to their next eternal home.
The line moved steadily onward as souls were judged. Eventually, Harry saw someone he knew. The man was tall and had red hair. Slowly, Harry remembered why he was here. How on earth had he forgotten? All this way… Seeing Bill reach into his chest and remove his heart, Harry knew he had to act swiftly.
Harry shouted as loud as he could, "Bill! Don't do it! Please, don't do it!"
The Egyptian gods and goddess looked up at him. Their gaze was like nothing he had felt before and they radiated power beyond anything he had ever encountered. Bill slowly turned toward Harry, he seemed confused. The line stopped moving and all the souls were now peering at this one individual that dared interfere in the final judgement of a soul.
Harry suddenly found himself standing beside Bill. Under the immense gaze of Anubis, Thoth, and Ammit. They seemed almost amused by him. Almost… Then he heard a powerful voice beckoning him to come forth and present himself. He heard the voice, but there was no sound. Looking over, Harry realized the summons came from Osiris, Lord of the Egyptian Underworld. Harry knew he was required to weigh his own soul for validation. An audience with Osiris is only for those who prove themselves worthy.
Harry reached into his chest and extracted his own glowing orb. Placing it on the scale, he was relieved to see it evenly balanced. Harry then slowly approached the throne and fell to his knees, eyes downcast. His parent's incarnations were beside him, also on their knees in humility. Harry noted that this was not the way he normally acted, but this was the way of things… The way of dead things. Like him... Was he dead?
Osiris spoke, but the words meant nothing and everything at the same time. They were indecipherable and universal. This was 'soul speech'. Osiris wanted to know why Harry was here and why he was interested in William Weasley. Harry and his parents all spoke at the same time and in the same voice. Souls speech again. They told of pain and loss. Of victory and defeat. They spoke of a great friendship and a life taken too soon. Osiris listened intently. Harry ended his 'soul speech' by proclaiming that Bill's body still had a glimmer of life that had not yet been extinguished.
After weaving a tale that seemed to last days, Osiris held up his hand. He conveyed his outrage at the creation of the Horcrux and a sense of indebtedness to Harry for destroying them. He conveyed the need to prepare the world for another scourge in the millennia to come. Possibly sooner if the world loses its defenders. Later if the defenders are resolute. Harry was to take up the task his ancient ancestor had walked. Defending the world from Horrors. When Osiris was finished, Harry knew he was to step back and stand beside Bill.
Harry knew he could return to the world of the living, but Bill would have to be judged himself. Bill then stepped up to the scale. With a shock, Harry realized Bill was ready to move on, it was written all over his face. He was at peace. Before he was ready to receive Osiris' judgement, Bill needed to want to return.
Harry implored his friend, "Bill, you need to come back. You have to want to live…"
Bill smiled at Harry with vacant eyes, "Harry, my time among the living is done. Take care of my family, I need to move on now."
Harry couldn't let this go on. He came so far, risked so much, was still risking so much… "Bill, Fleur needs you. She needs you so much. Come back for her. For Victoire and for the unborn child Fleur is carrying. They need you… We all do."
Bill paused a moment, "Unborn child?" He looked perplexed.
Harry smiled, "Yes, Bill. She's glowing far too bright for just one life. There has to be another blossoming in her. Come back and welcome your child into the world. Please, Bill. Your time is not yet here, despite what you may think."
Bill reluctantly nodded, then gently placed his heart on the scale. It teetered a bit, then fell into balance, just like Harry's had. Anubis nodded to Thoth and Ammit growled lightly. Bill and Harry once more approached Osiris. The room began to glow, brighter and brighter. Eventually, it became blinding in its brilliance. Osiris gave Harry a task, and likely, Bill had received one as well. Then, as suddenly as it all began, Bill and Harry found themselves back at the obelisk that marked the entrance point to the Duat*. They were standing on the 'living' side.
Harry looked at his friend, they were almost home. His ring with the Resurrection Stone had blazed back to life. Suddenly, he realized something was missing. Something precious. With an abrupt shock, Harry knew he was no longer connected to the incarnations his parents had left for him. As he started to panic, the incarnations slowly materialized on the other side of the obelisk. The side of the 'dead'.
The forms of his parents were facing him with their arms around each other. James' incarnation spoke first, "This is goodbye, Harry. Don't be sad, be proud. We certainly are proud of you. Of the man you are and the time we have had together. I love you dearly my son."
Lily's incarnation then said, "We will always be with you, Harry. In your heart. We go to re-join the true spirits of your parents and will await you on the other side. But we will always be with you, my dear child. Know that you are now, and will forever more, be loved. Goodbye my son."
They slowly faded away. Harry struggled for breath. Where had they gone? He needed them… Stepping forward, he sensed that one more step would place him back in the realm of the dead. And he would not get another pass to leave. This was goodbye. Astral tears fell down his face as he realized the price of visiting the underworld. There really are no free passes.
One thing left to say, "Goodbye Mum, Dad. I love you both. Thank you for everything." Harry sensed that they heard him. Not just the incarnations, but his actual parents. This close to the realm of the dead, he could feel them. The Resurrection Stone had to be helping him sense the dead and resist the pull, but it could only do so much. And Bill had no such protection. It was time to leave.
It was a short trip back to the boat, but Harry had to continuously remind Bill that they were going back and why. The pull of the Duat was relentless and subtle. When they finally reached the boat, the draw relaxed and Bill was able to shake off his confusion. Harry was still coming to terms with his own loss. Neither man would ever be quite the same, but they were both survivors.
Bill looked over at Harry and realized what his friend had lost. He knew about the incarnations, but never realized how real they were. Not until he saw them. What would losing them do to Harry?
"Harry? Are you all right?" Bill noted how different his friend looked in this realm. Eyes glowing green, his scar flaring with a glow of its own…thorns protruding from all over his body. He wanted to reach out and hug his friend, but the thorns made it tough. At least they weren't causing him pain as they had that year in Hogwarts.
Harry looked back at Bill and gave a short nod. No time to tarry, they needed to head back while they still could. Looking over at his ancestor, he gave another nod and the boat pulled away from the pier. They were the sole boat moving away from the Duat and it was tricky dodging the incoming crafts. Some of the arriving spirits stared at them as they passed. Some looked in wonder and bewilderment. Others with open envy and outrage. A few seemed sad and waved at them in a way that seemed to wish them well.
A handful of vessels tried to follow, but could not. The river was just too strong. Or maybe it was the pull of the Duat that could not be resisted. Still, a few tried hard. One malicious spirit even tried to leap onto their small vessel, but Messias was able to veer away. That spirit fell into the river and never emerged. The vessel it was on crumpled and sank. That individual was devoured as surely as if Ammit had feasted on its heart. Harry wondered what that person had done in their life to make them so afraid of judgement. Best not to dwell on that.
Messias looked at his two passengers and spoke. "You both have emerged from the real of the dead, but you are not yet flesh and blood. Don't get distracted by the landscape of your own thoughts. For now, focus on returning." He then turned to his descendant and apprentice, "Harry, you need to direct me to your tributary. Reach out and try to find it or we will wander about on the river of death for all eternity."
Harry took this in stride. He should be feeling more, but he was mostly numb. Closing his eyes, he focused on finding his way back. He felt the Resurrection Stone in his ring aid him, but it was a struggle. Finally, he felt something… Playful and mischievous, but also affectionate. Kind and brave with a zest for life. It was a beacon for Harry the way a lighthouse and guides ships in rocky waters.
Catherine.
But how could a spirit have a zest for life? Something to consider when he got back.
"Master Messias, the tributary is the… third on the right." As Harry proclaimed this, a new tributary formed for yet another soul that had passed, "…No, the fourth."
Messias steered the vessel and they began to pick up speed. The closer they got, the faster they moved. Messias looked over at Bill and sent a silent thought to the man. "My descendant willingly risked everything for you. He also lost far more than you. You better be worth it."
Bill remembered seeing the incarnations of Lily and James. He knew they had been Harry's lifeline when his life was at its worst. The coming weeks would be rough on Harry. Very rough. It would be like George losing Fred. Fred and George were constant and grounding presences for each other. George had never really recovered**, but would Harry?
Looking back at the ancient spirit, Bill proclaimed, "I will always be there for Harry." This seemed to satisfy the spirit. When they got back to their bodies, he'd have to ask Harry who or what that spirit was.
Bill knew he had his work cut out for him. And if Fleur was pregnant, he would be a very busy man. It was time to step back and take stock in his life and possibly make adjustments. Maybe running off into the third world countries to pursue treasures and artefacts wasn't really something he should continue. It might be time to put the dragon tooth earring in a drawer and focus on nappies and foot rubs. The Hogwarts position may be the best opportunity he would ever have for this. Harry too.
Harry was at the front of the boat, focusing on the signal from Catherine. Soon, he could sense his familiar and her zany ways. She always made him smile. All three of them. Also, there was something else. Something ancient that had a connection to him. What the hell was it? It was… searching for him right this very moment. It was voracious in its hunger… This is the presence that was on the edge of his property. And at the Delacour manor. Always watching him from the shadows. Definitely not human…
Stop, focus on Catherine. The 'other' could be dealt with when he got back. The boat continued to pick up speed. When they reached the tributary, the boat was moving far faster than any boat has a right to move. It was no longer touching the water. It began rising up and the speed increased… Soon they were traveling at the speed of thought. Everything went 'white', then dark.
—Casting Shadows—
Harry had a feeling of vertigo and felt an impact. His ears were ringing so loud he couldn't hear anything else. He was lying on his side. Realizing that his eyes were closed, he slowly opened them and saw he was staring at Fleur embracing Bill's form. Slowly, Bills arm came up to hold her. She gasped and hugged him even more frantically, shoulders shaking as she sobbed. She was talking but, he couldn't hear over the ringing. Did he have a concussion?
Ever so slowly, Harry rose up to his knees. There were shocked faces all around him. Staring in utter shock, horror, amazement, and whatever else. He was used to this. The vertigo returned and he turned away from Fleur and Bill to empty his stomach. Yuck. Astral travel sometimes did that. Padma came to his side immediately. Saul was right behind her. She was talking, but he could only see her lips moving.
Harry decided to just speak. "I CAN'T HEAR YOU. MY EARS ARE RINGING." Given the way Padma flinched, Harry realized that he must have been yelling. He staggered and she caught him. She began stroking is back. He was trembling. His legs felt like they were made of rubber.
Trying to speak softly, he said, "Take care of Hermione, she was being controlled. Oh, and those bastards," he gestured to some of the attackers he had taken out with his lightning attack, "They were in on it. Check wands. If any of the attackers used defensive spells, they were not being controlled. Probably." Padma mouthed something back and nodded.
Slowly his hearing began to return. Looking over the area, he saw a number of injured. Most would be fine, a few looked pretty bad. The Aurors seemed to be efficient. Throwing around stunners was kind of their thing. So was mopping up. Healers were arriving.
Padma turned to him and tried again, "Harry, can you hear me?" Harry nodded, "Hermione will be fine. The Aurors know they were possessed. Saul already recommended the wand check. He had drawn the same conclusion during the battle. Are you OK?"
Harry just nodded. He was now able to stand on his own. Bill was also standing, but Fleur was there if he floundered. Looking over, they made eye contact and both smiled. It had been close. Now they had a moment to catch their breath and get their bearings. Thank god Daphne had elected to stay in Britain and help Michael recover. This was a mess.
Harry then felt the arrival of a Patronus. It was a wolf, sleek and nimble. Protective and fierce. Andromeda. It approached him at a dizzying speed. Something was very wrong.
From the wolf's mouth, Andromeda's voice rang out, "Harry, the Malfoy Château has been attacked! The perpetrator has Teddy! He demands that you return and meet with him."
Harry's blood turned to ice. No! The wards, he needed to get outside the wards and apparate away. Could he even get that far in one jump? His head was still swimming… He began running toward the edge of the wards. His legs were not working right and he wobbled as he ran. He had to get to Teddy.
Suddenly, Harry felt the inhuman presence that had been stalking him. It was blazing and no longer content to sit on the side and wait. Harry sensed that it had been searching for him and now it was acting. Why now? Of all times? Teddy needs me… if I can get to the edge of the wards, I can apparate away.
Harry began sprinting to the get out from under the wards, but he had a hundred yards or more to go. A streak of fire flew out from the periphery and struck him in the back. It lifted him up and exploded in a huge fireball.
—Casting Shadows—
Malfoy Château
Nernier, France
John Franklin was sequestered in the drawing room of the Malfoy Château. He never could have pulled this attack off in Great Britain. After having experienced two brutal wars, those residents had learned to seal their homes up tight. The French homes, in comparison, were all so poorly defended. Peace had reigned for too long. One of the reasons John had been able to rise so quickly – no one was ready for him. He had expected more from a Malfoy home, but why look a gift horse in the mouth.
The château was beautiful, but only had one ley line to draw from. The ward stone was poorly protected and susceptible to a focused power surge. Once it had been disabled, a second surge broke the stone, destroying all protection completely. Child's play.
Three of his followers then attacked from the rear, while John simply entered a side window. While his followers were battling the adults, John had captured the boy. The area he was in was warded with a set of pre-charged ward stones and were now tied into the ley line, overriding any hope of re-starting the native wards on the house. He was safe.
Looking at the two entrance points to the room, the two women and the young man were just outside the wards. Apparently, none of his followers were in a position to join him. Given the reputation of the Blacks and the Malfoys, John had little doubt of what their fate had been. That's alright, they were expendable. Just like the pawns that attacked Beauxbatons'. Diversions. He had other plans. Plans for immortality.
The three-year-old child in front of him was the key. He would use the small child to force Harry Potter to reveal where to find an elder god. One who could restore his youth and vigour. To grant him power over life and death. Harry Potter was the key. The brunet witch, she knew him best.
"You, woman. Send word to Harry Potter. Tell him to come immediately, or the child will suffer." Seeing the woman pause, he placed a knife to the boy's throat. "NOW!" That got her attention. She sent out a Patronus with a message. That was unexpected. John had anticipated the woman would send out an owl. This would speed things up. Given approximately three apparition jumps, plus the time for the Patronus… Maybe ten minutes. Assuming the battle was over.
Checking his wards, John felt certain they were strong enough. Potter may have the raw power to get through them, but not fast enough. If Potter tried anything, his godson would die and John would portkey away. But nothing like that would happen, because Potter valued the boy. He would have to come and negotiate for the life of the child. An unbreakable vow would bring the bastard under control. John and his acolytes had spent two days designing the wording the vow, and Potter would take it to save the child. Once John had found a new god to worship, he would sacrifice both Potter and the boy.
Looking down at the child, paralyzed with a petrification spell, John saw the innocent eyes looking up at him. He was scared. Terrified of what was to come. He should be. Small and helpless, just like Potter had been when they first met***. But that was a different time. Before John had begun to lose his health. Before he found the great power that restored him. More than restored him, enhanced him. Enlightened him and gave him power.
"Tell me, boy. Do you think your precious godfather will save you? He can only save you if I allow it. I am the only hope you have, little one. Put your faith in me, and you may yet survive." Looking up, John saw the women were seething. The man was glowering. They would die soon enough. He would have Potter kill them. Time…
Suddenly, a huge fiery blast erupted right in front of him.
Harry somehow knew where he was. He also knew what had brought him here. Or rather, who had brought him here. How on earth had he forgotten? Had it been that long? Materializing in a ball of flame, he was propelled forward and roughly impacted the man standing over his godson. With a knife.
The impact jostled both of them and Harry suspected his left shoulder had been injured. The man he impacted was foul and corrupt. He reeked of the vile and putrid magic that Harry had become so familiar with. Recovering first, Harry drew his dirk from his boot and plunged it into the man's face. It passed through his eye and into the back of his head.
Slowly rising up, Harry walked over to his godson. Holding out his wand, he said. "Finite!" The small boy leapt up into his arms crying.
"Shhhh. It's alright, Teddy-Bear. Daddy has you. I will always come for you." Harry rubbed his child's back and noted the shocked looks on the faces of Andromeda, Narcissa, and Draco. Large flaming wings rose up behind him until it was clear they were attached to a bird. The large red bird landed on Harry's shoulder and began to sing. The song comforted Teddy and Harry as well.
Harry looked over at Fawkes and realized how much he had missed the beautiful Phoenix. As they stared into each other's eyes, so many things became clear. Fawkes had marked him long ago when he fought the Basilisk. Then when he was injured during Voldemort's rebirth, Fawkes had donated so many tears to Harry's healing. Both to the wound and through ingestion. No wonder they were tied together.
Fawkes looked at his wizard. At long last they were reunited. The connection was already forming and solidifying. After Albus died, he decided to never again take a familiar. But Harry was different. He had a massively long life ahead of him. And the emotions Harry could feel… Fawkes had forgotten how intense the emotions of wizards were. And this one in particular. The pain, the loss, the love and the kindness… Harry was everything Albus had expected him to become.
Now that Harry was his familiar, the young wizard's feelings and emotions were something he could feel as well. The monotonous detachment of the last few years had been maddening. The hunger he had felt was unbelievable. He longed for the passion and the energy… the unbelievable depths that this wizard could feel. Harry's capacity to love was so rare. The love Harry felt for his godson was buffeting Fawkes and it was intoxicating in its glory. Fawkes knew he could never again give this up and once again become a disconnected being. To be a Phoenix meant he would be distant. Eternal. To really feel, he needed a familiar. And Harry Potter was the best familiar on earth.
Fawkes continued singing. Calming the small child that they loved so much. The family they were so close to. His wizard was magically exhausted and close to collapsing. Sleep is what he needed. Then, they could get ice cream. They could eat Shepherd's pie. They could hug their loved ones and be loved in return. They could grow annoyed with the bickering of their silly three headed snake. And Fawkes could once again enjoy the tart taste of lemon drops!
But first, they would mourn. His wizard had journeyed into the land of souls and returned. Just like Fawkes did on a regular basis. But Harry wasn't a Phoenix, so he didn't do it right. He had lost something precious… but Fawkes knew he could help him through this. After all, he loved his familiar. It wasn't easy taking care of humans… but it was worth it.
—Casting Shadows—
*The Duat is the name of the Egyptian Underworld.
**It's been stated by JKR that George was never again able to cast the Patronus charm after Fred died.
*** John Franklin is the Master Cursebreaker Harry met in chapter 10 of Harry Potter and the Dance of Death. He was a desperate and insane wizard looking to ally himself to forces beyond our world.
Notes:
So, questions have been answered. I laid a lot of the hints back in early chapters of both this story and the Dance of Death. I had always planned to send Harry to the underworld to bring back Bill. The more I learned about the Egyptian mythology and their beliefs around death, the more fascinated I was. It is so rich and detailed. Not many people know this, but the Egyptian culture is one of the reasons we know as much as we do about the ancient times. Civilizations rose and fell, but Egypt remained. And they carved so much on stone…
I really short changed the trip into the Duat, but it would have taken at least three chapters to cover it well enough… Still, I encourage anyone interested to do a bit of research. And don't hold it against me for cutting corners. I needed to advance the story, and that trip would be a story in itself. So rich and vibrant.
Yes, the incarnations are now gone, but their knowledge was fully passed on to Harry long ago. They became emotional support more than anything. From a story telling perspective, they were a distraction. In the Dance of Death, they were critical to shaping Harry. In Casting Shadows, it's a little creepy. His parent's incarnations are living inside his head. Nice to have when you are a child. Hard to justify as an adult. Time to grow up and move out, Harry. Still, it will be a tough transition.
I'm still wrapping up Paris, but i need to switch back to The Dance of Death for a bit. Thank you all for the excellent reviews.
Familiars:
Fawkes is back and I had always intended this. A familiar bond is a connection between a greater magical being and a less magical being. The familiar gains the most in the exchange, but the greater power also gains something.
With Hedwig, Harry was loved and developed the ability to focus on a target and pursue it. Ever wonder why he took to flying so well? Of course his animagus form was always there under the surface, but no doubt his connection to a bird helped. Anyone who has ever seen an owl hunt knows how good they are at this. Hedwig became unbelievably intelligent. Far beyond what an owl could normally achieve. She could understand English and Harry had an empathetic connection that let them understand what the other was thinking.
With his runespoor, Harry picks up a bit of speed and a slightly better ability to consider problems from different perspectives. He longs for a family, and he has one in the form of three high spirited daughters. All vying for his attention. His runespoor gains a bit of intelligence and physical might. It is also able to mirror some of his Nethermantic ability. Worth noting: Fawkes sees Harry's runespoor familiar the way a parent would view their child with a puppy. Put simply, Fawkes sees Harry as the familiar, not the reverse. So no jealousy.
With Fawkes, Harry can now be teleported. Note that in canon, I never saw Fawkes teleport anyone other than Albus, so I'm thinking he can only teleport with a bonded wizard. I see Fawkes feeding Harry a small amount of instinctive knowledge to his Elemental and Nethermantic side. But only a little, the ability to ride along when Fawkes teleports is enough. Of course, Fawkes is in charge, so Harry doesn't really have unlimited range teleportation at will. He goes where Fawkes takes him and only when Fawkes wants to. This is not the huge benefit it may seem to be at first glance. Easier to just apparate, unless you have to deal with a ward of some sort.
Fawkes is an immortal being of amazing magical power and intelligence. Note that the intelligence is not human, so he views the world a bit differently. Normally, a phoenix is disconnected and relatively emotionless. They live a monotonous life that never ends. With a connection to Harry, Fawkes gains the ability to feel emotions and the joy of living again. He is feeling everything like he is in his first life once more. Everything is so bright and vivid through Harry's eyes. Every emotion is felt so intensely. Food is so tasty. The nervousness of a first date. A first kiss. The warmth experienced through bonds of friendship. The sting of loss. The joy of caring for another… And Harry always had an enormous capacity to love. Now Fawkes does too. And it is addictive.
Next Chapter: Dealing with Loss