CHAPTER 23:
CONVERGENCE
Weeks later…
Percy Weasley hated the minutiae of being the Minister of Magic. True, he liked the wielding power part of it, but he knew that said power was granted by the public and the members of the Wizengamot, and losing their favour would mean losing that power. And Percy Weasley had no intention of being a puppet, for either the Blood Purists or Dumbledore's sheep.
Percy didn't hate Muggleborns or Muggles by any means. What he hated was disruptions. He needed a neat, controlled and peaceful existence, something he never had with his family, a chaotic pool of pranksters and idiots. He never got a moment's peace, especially not with Fred and George around. In truth, he was glad one of them got killed off during the Battle of Hogwarts. He'd nearly choked on that potioned cake they had him try!
Thus, Percy's ambitions could be said to be as a result of his needing to control the chaos of the world. While you could debatably say that this was little different than any dictator, Percy's ambitions were relatively low key. He didn't wish to rule the world or dominate the Muggles. He just wanted to ensure that Magical Britain ran tickety-boo and orderly, just the way he wanted it.
The main reason he despised Harry Potter was that he was a disruptive influence, a force of chaos and change. The boy had caused too many troubles during Percy's time as Prefect and Head Boy, to say nothing of Percy's early rise through the Ministry. The fact that Harry and Dumbledore were right about Voldemort meant only a little in Percy's book. They had still caused chaos and disruption.
Of course, so too did the Death Eaters, and Voldemort. Percy wasn't fond of them either. They caused too much change.
Which was why he had come up with this scheme. The public demanded the life of Delphini Riddle, and Potter was shielding her. They, along with that Granger girl and the Tonks woman and her grandson, had disappeared. Percy only learned of this when he had led a squad of Aurors to 12 Grimmauld Place, only to find them gone…and the Granger girl's notes left behind, albeit in fragmentary form.
Percy wasn't going to pursue them himself. Instead, he would send the more vocal Blood Purists, like Malfoy and their lot, along with some of his less-trustworthy Aurors, to this other world, once the Unspeakables had finished off recreating the ritual, they would head there. If they succeeded, good. If not, and they died, well, Percy had less obstacles to running Magical Britain the way he saw fit.
Dumbledore and Voldemort had been relics of an earlier time. In order to wipe the slate clean, Harry Potter and Delphini Riddle must be made an example of. True, Delphini was but a girl, but she was Voldemort's spawn. And Harry Potter had shown his true colours by sheltering her.
Yes, once they were captured, or even if they weren't, and those fools failed, all would be right with the world of Percy Weasley…
"Thou hath a habit of picking up strays."
Harry looked at Ranni as they sat together in his expanded trunk. "She was dying, okay? I couldn't leave her, Ranni. Plus, given what your mother intends to do, I thought she'd make a good guinea pig. If it works, then we not only have a new ally, but we can potentially deal with one of your brothers in a better manner."
"…Mayhap he can, but I am not holding my breath. Then again, I hath naught need to breathe in this form," Ranni mused. "Still, I hath my suspicions about what she is."
"…What she is?" Harry asked, noting the wording.
"Her resemblance to Malenia is uncanny. She resembles Malenia when she was younger, albeit of shorter stature," Ranni said. "And when I used some Sorceries to analyse her very being…'twas as if my half-sister was present, writ small. A near-exact copy, more than a child."
"But she called herself Millicent."
"I know. I doth not believe that to be Malenia…closer to…an offshoot? A budding? A clone of her, but with a mind and will of her own," Ranni said.
"Charming. Still…Caelid's nightmarish. I hope Melina was right, and that Malenia only unleashed the Scarlet Rot because of a lapse, not because she was desperate to win her little bout with Radahn." He shuddered at the nightmarish images of the growths, like tumours in the landscape, mutated people and beasts, and those weird prawn-like creatures, and the blood red sky.
He'd also finally met Gurranq, having found some Deathroot on his travels. Ranni had reviewed his memories in a Pensieve Andromeda had brought, and had revealed that she was certain of Gurranq's true identity, as Marika's Shadow, Maliketh. Harry remembered the hulking, bestial figure with the lupine features, struggling with some inner turmoil and his insatiable hunger.
And now, the Radahn Festival was upon them. Only a couple of short days before he would go into battle with one of the most feared demi-gods. Ranni's brother.
"If…if our plans don't work…you're fine with us killing him?" Harry asked.
"…I am resigned to it. For all that he interfered with mine plans…I loved him. I still do. Death would be a mercy to such a proud warrior in such a state. Once the stars hath been put into motion, one way or the other…I shalt join thee for thy sojourn into Nokron. Thou hath already risked much for me, too much. 'Tis past time I risked myself."
"…I appreciate that, Ranni."
Harry had, despite his earlier misgivings, grown closer to Ranni. It helped that, despite her regal and stoic nature, she still made an effort to reach out. And when one dug beneath the surface of that regal demeanour, one realised how lonely she truly was. It also helped that Delphi acted as a bridge between them. Certainly Ranni doted in Delphi in a manner any sane and caring parent would be proud of.
Indeed, now, he had begun to think of her as a friend. Despite his misgivings about her nature and actions, she had proved herself, if only by her actions towards others. It probably helped that he and Hermione had saved Rennala from her own madness, and Rennala helped act as Ranni's conscience, along with Blaidd, Iiji, and even Delphi.
Something came to his mind as he mused. "…Ranni, is there any news of Latenna and the others?"
"They hath reached the Haligtree this morn, while thou were in Caelid, and hath sent word," Ranni said, before sighing. "Tis not good. Most of the inhabitants are feral, and the Haligtree is infested with the Rot. They hath spoken with Lady Loretta, and there is a most grievous problem." She met his gaze. "Miquella is missing. His cocoon was taken from the Haligtree while Malenia was battling Radahn in Caelid. And if he hath been taken by force…then the most likely suspect is Mohg."
"Because that monster lusted after Miquella? Never mind that he was his half-brother and in the body of a child? So where the hell is he?"
"I know not. I suspect that his base is deep underground. He used to lurk within the Shunning Grounds deep beneath Leyndell, but I suspect he hath moved elsewhere."
"And Malenia?"
"I shalt treat with her later," Ranni said. "The preparations for the Radahn Festival take precedence." A cool hand descended on his own. "Mayhap we may have something to celebrate afterwards, and not just a Great Rune for thine quest."
"…There's still the other Shardbearers. Rykard, for example. I'm not sure where he's hiding out. And poor Zorayas…how Rykard gave birth to a sweet little thing like that, I have no idea. As for the other Shardbearers, aside from Mohg, Malenia and Miquella, there's Morgott."
Harry frowned when he recalled showing Ranni his memories of Margit the Fell Omen. Ranni had recognised him instantly. Though the Omen twins sired by Godfrey were hidden away, Ranni had met them a number of times prior to the Shattering, and she had identified Margit as being none other than Morgott. They had determined that Morgott was indeed, in all likelihood, the Veiled Monarch in charge of Leyndell, or at least involved with them, as Ranni had suspected.
"Why would an Omen, and one of royal blood, persecute his own kind?" Harry asked to himself. It wasn't the first time he had asked that.
Ranni sighed. Her answer was much the same. "Because, as I hath told thee before, Morgott is a good little cur of the Golden Order, in spite of his persecution. Eager for scraps of affection and acknowledgement. Though in thy memories, he had a shine of Grace in his eyes, a shine that was not there before. Remember, Voldemort was a Halfblood, and yet, he espoused his foul Blood Purist views. And many Omen are little more than savage brutes. Persecuting them is far from right, and yet, many hath caused problems before. I pity Morgott. If he adhered not to the tenets of the Golden Order, but championed the people, not just those touched by Grace…he would make a fine champion. But he hates impurity, the same impurity he sees within himself."
"…The sad thing is, I got the impression he had more virtues than Voldemort," Harry said.
"'Twould not be difficult to hath more virtues than he," Ranni said. "His daughter is proof enough of that. I hath said it before, but thou hath raised Delphi well."
"…I'm trying to. But…I didn't have good role models in terms of raising a child. I had to have Andromeda help me." He stood. "Well, how about we see how Rennala is faring with your…niece?"
Ranni chuckled. "I suppose 'tis an apt title…"
They emerged into the Caria Manor, and soon tracked down Rennala in a workshop, discussing something with the young red-haired woman with golden eyes sitting on a table. Said woman was missing an arm. "…Appears to be effective," Rennala mused. "But how doth thou fare?"
"I feel like I've been chewed up and spat out by Placidusax," the woman said. "But considering what I've felt like before, this is better. But how did you keep the Rot at bay?"
"A rather complex ritual I hath developed, albeit for another. I assume thou know of the fate of my son, General Radahn?"
The woman nodded. She actually had quite beautiful features, albeit with a rather large, calcified scar on her cheek left from the Scarlet Rot that had afflicted her. "I was left wandering the wilds of Caelid, I couldn't help but hear the stories. Still, I thank you for doing this, Your Majesty." She noticed Harry and Ranni standing there. "I remember you. You're the one who brought me here," she said to Harry. "Sorry, what was your name again?"
"Harry Potter," Harry said.
"And I am Lady Ranni," Ranni said in her habitual rasp.
The woman looked at them for a moment, before getting off the table. "You have my thanks. I had thought I would end my days in that church, spoiling from within from the Scarlet Rot. I am Millicent. I had not thought that my salvation would come from the House of Caria and those under its aegis, but I repay my debts both fair and foul. I cannot fight with my arm gone, but if you wish for my allegiance regardless, I will do what I can within reason to repay your kindness."
Ranni chuckled sardonically. "We Carians art masters of using puppets to fight, Millicent. A sturdy prosthetic is not out of the question, one that would at least approach the glory of the Blade of Miquella's own prosthetics. And if thou doth wish to repay thy debt, then I would task thee with such should we obtain such a thing. Harry here, the one who rescued you from Caelid, is a Tarnished who can see Grace. He is thus tasked with restoring the Elden Ring. And already, he doth possess a Great Rune, that of Godrick the Grafted. If he consents, and thou doth too, then be his sworn blade, to help him on his quest."
Harry grimaced at Ranni's presumption, even if he saw the logic of it, but Millicent turned to him. "Very well. If you would have me as your blade, then I will gladly fight by your side. Assuming, of course, I can fight again."
"I'll consider it, okay? And I have others who are willing to fight by my side, Millicent," Harry said, thinking of Nepheli Loux and Blaidd. "But I appreciate the offer."
Millicent peered at him, before nodding. "You brought me here and ensured that the Rot within me was quelled. 'Tis the least I can do. And to think, you seek to become Elden Lord."
"Only to fix the Lands Between up. And because Marika decided to force the issue," he said bitterly.
"We art not followers of the Golden Order, Millicent," Ranni rasped. "We seek our own path. Thou hath no objection to that?"
"…As long as you do not seek to dominate or harm innocents, I care little," Millicent said. "I doubt the Golden Order would look kindly upon me, infested with the Rot though I am. More than a few soldiers in Caelid had tried to immolate me, branding me as a witch. They seem to think I resembled Malenia the Severed."
"Thou doth resemble her, but thou art thine own self," Ranni said. "Take what comfort thou can from that."
"I'll try to keep that in mind," Millicent said.
CHAPTER 23 ANNOTATIONS:
Sorry about the wait. But here, we have some insight into Percy's mindset, as well as Harry and Ranni growing closer.
Review-answering time! TheGrimDragon: Well, I hope the above chapter whetted your appetite for Millicent-salvation.
LancsKid and Spectrum Search: I decided to use a hybrid of the translation and the Japanese for the ending.
No numbered annotations this time.