OLD MAGIC

Chapter 39: We Won! But the Next Battle is Still to Come

Watching the fire as it flickered to coals in Hagrid's fireplace, Harry sighed, glanced toward the door for the millionth time, then back at the fire. "I wish someone would come tell me what's going on," he muttered to Fang. The Boar Hound just flapped his tail a bit in response. Then, suddenly, he raised his head and woofed, eyes staring at the door.

Frowning, Harry stared at the dog a moment before getting to his feet and making for the door. He halted again, hand on the door lever, and looked again at the dog but Fang didn't show any sign of being afraid or angry. His mouth hung open in a friendly doggy smile and his tail was waving madly. Harry took that to mean whoever or whatever was outside wasn't dangerous to him. Sighing, he opened the door a crack. A streak dashed in and leaped onto the table.

"Wine!"

The kneazle gave a loud meow and lashed his tail.

"The battle over?"

Wine nodded his head and gave a cat-like smile, showing some fangs.

Harry cheered and leaped in the air. Walking up to his familiar he reached out and scratched Wine under the chin.

"So does this mean I'm allowed out?"

Snorting in amusement, Wine jumped down from the table and went to the still slightly open door. Turning his head to look over his shoulder, he meowed again then went out.

Grinning happily, Harry hurriedly pulled on his cloak and went out the door insuring he closed it firmly before dashing after Wine.

Dawn was flickering over the horizon though not much of it could penetrate the forest floor as Wine and Harry entered and made a beeline for the battle site.

What he found on arrival was a cluster of exhausted fighters laying or sitting around four firepits. It was obvious the fighters were simply too tired to move far. A few had suffered injuries but Agatha Hagrid was already busily taking care of their wounds while Rubeus was handing out bowls of something hot as well as mugs of drink.

Harry quickly joined Hagrid in his chores receiving a tired smile of welcome and thanks. Harry worked his way around the makeshift camp handing out the soup and drink. Pausing by a dwarf and centaur laying together, Harry was careful to not step on the long limbs of the centaur as he handed over a bowl and mug to each person.

"Thankee lad," the dwarf said in a very deep voice. Surprising for one so small in stature. He took a deep draw of hot chocolate then smacked his lips in pleasure.

The centaur nodded tiredly as he took a deep slurp of the soup. Nodding his huge head, he finished the soup in one go and sighed in repletion. "Ahh ... Delicious as always. Agatha is an exceptional cook," he murmured in an appreciative tone.

"Aye, that she is," the dwarf sighed in agreement.

Harry smiled at them both before moving down the line. The next person turned out to be the potion's master. Snape sat on a thick, plaid blanket, his left arm bandaged and strapped to his side. Noting that everyone else had now been served, Harry decided to sit with Snape, hoping the professor would be willing to tell him the details of how the battle had gone. Snape obliged, leaving nothing out.

Harry gave a low whistle of amazement. "A Banshee ... really?" Snape nodded. The boy shook his head. "Never thought one of those would do what Voldemort wanted. At least there was only one to deal with. Glad you're weren't hurt worse."

"Thank you, so am I."

They were silent for a long moment. "Are you certain he's really gone?" Harry asked, worry shining in his eyes.

Snape sighed. The boy could be forgiven his doubts as that evil had defeated death before. To prove the validity of his claim, he set down his mug and bowl then rolled up his right sleeve.

Harry studied the smooth arm a moment then raised his eyes, triumph and joy lighting within them. "Finally!" Snape smiled with him. "So now that Voldemort is gone, there is still the matter of ridding the Ministry of Magic and other important businesses of all the death eaters insinuated within their ranks."

"At least you are aware the work isn't finished not like some who will not believe or insist there was no danger in the first place because of the blather Fudge spread about." Snape grunted, shifting his body a bit to ease his wounded arm. He had no potions with him and had only what little magic Hagrid still possessed to ease the worst of it. He couldn't wait to get home and deal with it himself.

"That is going to be a major problem," Harry admitted. "How do we convince the public that Fudge was lying? And how do we get the aurors to hunt more diligently for the death eaters?"

"Very carefully and with great caution. We can't very well effect change if we're in jail, eh?"

Harry scowled. "Why would they do that?"

"One, no one but the Order of the Phoenix and our allies even believed Voldemort was still alive. Two, only those here are aware of our enemy possessing a teacher at Hogwarts. Three, only we here know Voldemort is truly dead and how he died. Four, no wizard, especially the aurors and the Ministry of Magic believe the Forest Dwellers are any kind of threat much less that they were able to kill Voldemort."

Harry's face fell and he groaned in annoyance. Snape was right. "So what happens now?"

"I suspect the Elders have a plan to insure the Ministry of Magic can't sweep this under the rug once the truth is known. That first step happened when myself and Draco were 'kidnapped' which laid the seed of fear within the Ministry of Magic's minds that the forest dwellers are very unhappy with wizard kind and are not willing to be treated poorly any longer. They've demonstrated clearly they will take action to get their concerns aired."

"I hope whatever they intend to do is strong enough of an incentive to keep Minister Fudge from trying to discredit them and pretend none of this happened or worse yet call us and them liars!"

"Oh, I'm fairly certain the Elder Council has something up their hairy sleeves to prevent that from happening."

Harry frowned in confusion. "What would that be?"

"I have no idea … yet. Remember, I'm not privy to their councils. However, I know they will take action quickly. What happened here and at Christmas will be their weapon to force the government to realize the forest dwellers mean business." Snape gave the boy a pat on the shoulder. "Have patience, Harry."

Rolling his eyes and heaving a great sigh Harry shook his head in disgust. "That's what I'm always being told."

Snape's eyes shot him a question.

"You have to wait or be patient, Harry!" The boy snorted. "I'm tired of hearing them or the other equally annoying truism they give me, "Wait till you're older."

The professor couldn't help but chuckle at the boy's plaint. He well understand the boy's frustrations. "No child has ever liked being reminded they are too young but nothing can hurry maturity and that is the state of mind and body you will need." Picking up his bowl of soup, Snape went back to eating it and relaxing in a way he'd not been able to do in a very long time.

Walking away, Harry said in parting,"I know … believe me I know but that doesn't make it anymore palatable." Then he was gone.

"Ah youth ..." a deep voice sighed near Snape. The professor glanced over and realized Magorian was laying behind him nestled in a patch of soft pine needles. "He has such fire and need within his heart to set the world aright."

"He does indeed. I shiver sometimes at what I believe he'll accomplish in his life. But for right now, getting him to reach adulthood alive and with his idealism intact will be our greatest task."

"Oh aye. And with his sense of urgency, he'll make as many new enemies as friends in his fight to change the world," Magorian heaved himself upward until he was back on his four hoofed feet again. Shaking out his mane, he took a few steps and seemed reasonably recovered.

Snape sighed and set his empty bowl down. Leaning against the tree behind him, he looked up at Magorian with a grim expression. "Of that, I'm certain so it's up to me and those that care about him to keep him from making dangerous and ill-thought out decisions without stifling his enthusiasm."

"Humph, a difficult balancing act that will be and wish you the best in managing that." The centaur leader gave the potion's master a wink of understanding. "As for now, we should be returning home and recovering. As soon as can be managed, weal have a council meeting to decide what actions to take now that our worst enemy is gone. Rest, heal, and weal be seeing you soon, Severus."

"I'll be waiting."

Magorian made a soft whistling call and was soon joined by the rest of the centaurs. The group wheeled about and took off deeper in the forest, vanishing quickly.

After their departure, the rest left in small batches until the clearing was nearly empty. Agatha raised a hand and made a simple gesture. Within seconds all the fires were vanished as were all the dishes leaving a nearly pristine clearing except for the body of the Bicorne.

Hagrid approached the body and stopped to stare down at the creature. Shaking his head, the half-giant muttered something softly then waved his hand in a sweeping gesture. The Bicorne glowed red a long moment before turning to ash.

Finished with his task, he returned to Agatha, Snape, and Harry … waiting for him near the path that lead to his cottage and Hogwarts.

"Do you want a lift home, Severus," Rubeus asked as he reached their side.

The potion's master thought about it a moment then nodded. "I am still rather fatigued and don't want to stress my injuries too much. Thank you, Rubeus."

"You are welcome. See you later today. We need to bring Professor Dumbledore up to date with the night's doings."

Snape grimaced. "That will be a miserable experience and he will certainly be quite angry as well."

"No doubt."

"Let me be there as well," Harry begged, interrupting them.

The three adults traded a look then Hagrid sighed and nodded. "Alright, Harry. However, this meeting will also reveal my deception so things will get rather nasty fast."

Harry eyed him in surprise. "Are you sure that's necessary?"

"He must." Snape gave the boy a grave stare. "There is no way the rest of the Order of the Phoenix will believe us when we tell them the danger is over and who had accomplished it."

"He's right, Harry. Time for some hard truths that wizard kind don't want to hear …"

"And will fight hard to not believe," Harry interrupted again, bitterness lacing his words.

"Aye, that be true but I intend to insure they will not be ignoring me words or abilities," Hagrid said, tone grim.

Harry frowned and looked worried. Hagrid smiled gently and clapped a big hand on the boy's shoulder.

"No sense worrin' about that na' Harry. Time for sleep." He looked up at the brightening sky. "And not much of that so let's be off." Hagrid turned to Snape and eyed him questioningly.

"I'm ready when you are," the professor said, standing slowly and swaying only a little.

Hagrid nodded, made a gesture. With only a soft pop the professor disappeared into the ether and back to the castle on the wings of a well placed traveling spell.

That is definitely better than a portkeying or disapparation and gentler too, Snape thought as he carefully walked from the back of the classroom where he'd appeared to the potion's cabinet to fix himself a potion for pain and one for repairing his wing faster.

Back in the forest Hagrid turned to the boy. "Now it be your turn, Harry."

"If you don't mind, sir, I'd rather walk back so I can carry Wine. He took a few swipes from something big with claws earlier. Come to that, so did Hedwig so I'll be stopping by the owlery to check her too."

"Ah so that be what made such a ruckus earlier, eh." Hagrid eyed the kneazle as it walked up to Harry and the boy leaned down to carefully pick it up. Wine was moving a bit carefully. It didn't seem too serious as the kneazle didn't show much pain, just stiffness and exhaustion. He would allow the boy tend the hurts of his familiar rather than interfere.

"Do you know what it was?" Harry asked bringing the half-giant's attention back to him.

"There have been rumors of a big black cat roaming the Forbidden Forest. I suspect it be someone's pet panther from the muggle side of the magical barrier. Being an animal and all, the barrier doesn't halt their passing through it though most normal critters are not partial to the odd beasties that walk in our lands so they keep out. This newcomer was more afeared of his world than ours so has been lurking about."

Harry's eyes widened in shocked surprise. "A panther?! And that is just walking about?"

Hagrid snorted, amusement glinting in his eyes. "Ah, he be only a small cat compared to what else roams these woods." Before Harry could object to a panther being anything but little, the half-giant continued. "However, he's been getting a might too close to the castle of late so I may have to deal with him."

"You wont cage him will you?" Harry asked anxiously. He didn't want the poor creature to suffer. It wasn't it's fault that it's former owner was a get.

"Of course not. I'll send him back to his true home..."

"Would that be South America … the Amazon perhaps?" Harry interrupted.

Hagrid smiled. "Aye, the Amazon."

"But if he was a pet, would he be able to survive in the wild … wait …" Harry smacked his forehead. "Must be more tired than I thought. Of course it can. After all, it's been living well among the weird creatures here so it should be fine with creatures that are more 'normal'."

"And that's wat I thought as well, Harry. He'll be happier there. Now don't you worry. I've just not had time to deal with him until now. So let's be off."

"Aye, it be getting very late and you need some sleep before facing the headmaster," Agatha said, a bit facetiously.

Harry rolled his eyes at her levity then frowned. "Aren't you going to be there as well?"

Agatha looked surprised. "Whist now. Why would I be there? None of those sorts know who I am anyway and I'd much prefer to keep my anonymity for now. I don't need them in my business."

"Oh … good reason. Won't that be a problem for you as well, Hagrid?"

The half-giant scratched his beard and thought a moment before speaking. "Aye, no doubt. But there's no avoiding it as Dumbledore already suspects me of knowing more than I should. However, we need him informed about what happened tonight at least. The rest of the wizarding government will just have to wait until we're ready to face them head on. So the meeting tomorrow will be just be you, me, Severus and Dumbledore. That be enough right now."

"Right. That makes sense." Harry sighed and shook his head.

"Let's be getting back." Hagrid repeated. "See you later, mum," he said over his shoulder.

"Take care son and you too, Harry." She smiled then apparated.

The two males began the trek back to the castle.