The wand
The elders of the family have also noticed that Gellert had drawn too much attention to himself. Thus, without much ado, he was sent to great-grandmother Joyce for a few months. Yet, before leaving for America, he had gone for a few days to Nurmengard to meet his cousins from the house of Grindelwald – and they were many.
To tell the truth, Nurmengard had never been his true home; he often changed the place he lived, visiting numerous relatives. Yet, as he had been born in the castle of the Grindelwald House, it was considered his main adobe.
It was the great-grandmother Elisabeth who brought him there. They crossed Lake Constance with a boat without any disturbance – the water was calm and the magical boat – swift and steady. Having disembarked, they stopped for a moment to look at the magnificent construction. Nurmengard was huge, perched on a steep rock like a bird's nest; the rock itself was located on the magical island of Tegerstein, invisible and inaccessible for Muggles. The white walls glowed in the light of the rising sun, turning into a deep shade of pink and orange.
`The Alpenglow` whispered Elisabeth, visibly moved with the spectacle. They were watching the castle change colours, till it turned into its normal white.
`Has Nurmengard even been a prison?` asked Gellert, suddenly feeling that it would be a pertinent question to ask.
The old witch stared at him as if he turned into a unicorn.
`No way,` she stated firmly, `No sane owner would dishonour it like that. Though, I assume it must be difficult to leave it without permission if you have no wand. The rock, the lake… Yes, you could get trapped inside. But the construction clearly shows Nurmengard was designed as a fortress and a family house.`
Later, in the castle, she showed him plans of Nurmengard, Beauxbatons and Azkaban, and so Gellert learnt a lot about mago-architecture. `As you see, there are substantial differences, ` she explained, `Between a family fortress, a prison and a public use castle.`
That rang a bell, that sounded so familiar, but he couldn`t put his finger on it. Yet, something else jumped to his mind.
`Shouldn`t those plans be secret, Grandmother?` he inquired.
`Oh, regarding Beauxbatons, those are old plans, from before the last substantial renovation. The plans would be of no use for an aggressor… Anyhow… Forget it.`
`Anyhow what?` His curiosity was incited.
`Oh, you will find it out anyhow`, she murmured, `Well, it is a public use castle. You can always find a traitor who would let you in, this is as a rule a wiser move than a classical siege... And as to Azkaban, I made this plan years ago… from above. On a broomstick.`
`Can you come that close?` he wondered.
`I used a telescope,` she explained plainly.
`Don`t they use spells that would distort…`
`Of course they do! But I used a Muggle telescope. As a rule, they are not affected by the fooling spells,` she laughed triumphantly.
.
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When he arrived at Louisiana, the last raindrops were still falling, and the hot ground was already steaming. He was engulfed by hot, tropical mist, so different from the chilling alpine fog
He stayed with great-grandma Joyce till December, learning both how to See and how to make chutneys. Joyce was teaching him how to read the shadows and how to use local herbs for potions. However, he was not allowed even to touch her shishas.
`Smoking at your age? Over my dead body!` she stated firmly.
`But their images are easier to understand than prophecies,` protested Gellert.
`Wrong,` she snapped, `May a fool ended badly, believing what he has seen with his very eyes. Those are just like pages ripped out of a thick book. No more than that. They can lead you astray as easy as prophecies – but are far more convincing. You will not smoke till you will be able to separate the wheat from the chaff`.
There was no way to persuade her otherwise – and Gellert finally gave up. The `incident` with the oaths had taught him something – magic was nothing to tamper with.
However, life was not just work. Gellert loved the rainy, hot afternoons where he and his numerous cousins played games and listened to great grandma`s gramophone. It was not a regular gramophone – Joyce has charmed it to play music from the future.
Cousin Gwendolin preferred the hoarse-voiced singer who also played the trumped. Kailani loved what was called "twist" though to great grandma muttered that twisters are a horrible weather phenomenon.
Ehecatl liked slow, romantic songs, sweet as icing without the cake underneath.
Przeborka loved… well, noise. Drums, fortissimo prestissimo.
Gellert also had his favourite song, though he did not know what the "nah palm" could be.
I'm a steamroller baby
I'm 'bout to roll over you
I'm a steamroller baby
I'm 'bout to roll over you
I'm gonna inject your soul
With some sweet rock'n'roll
And shoot you full of rhythm and blues
I'm a napalm-bomb
Guaranteed to blow your mind
I'm a napalm-bomb
Guaranteed to blow your mind
If I can't have your love now baby
There won't be nothing left behind!
Time was galloping like a slepinir; Gellert had a feeling that hardly had he unpacked his trunk, he had to pack it again. Yet, one cannot miss a skiing season.
Great grandma Ludwiga, visibly feeling better, conjured gorgeous glass balls and Christmas tree chains – and it seemed she had had a whole forest brought to the Linderhof palace. Christmas carols, sung by the armours and the portraits filled the halls, enchanted, giant snowflakes fell off the ceilings.
Christmas was coming.
Only then Gellert realised he had not opened Aberforth`s letter yet. He had received it before his trip to America but was reluctant to read it, fearing reproaches. Now, having finally read that, he felt deeply ashamed. So, he wrote a long, long reply; great grandma Ludwiga helped him also to make a splendid enchanted postal card and to choose the presents. Abi received a book about animal anatomy that Ludwiga authored. Ariana, who could draw nicely, a huge set of magical crayons `Thousand colours of magic`; as to Albus, Gellert had not even checked what the great grandma had chosen. That was some big, pompous book about history of magic.
Hundreds of relatives and friends came to meet. They have eaten seven stacked cakes, each seven floors high – great grandma Elisabeth had conquered the kitchen and did her best, as usual.
Then, thousands of presents got opened; the house elves diligently packed the ribbons and the colourful packing paper for next year. It was, as usual, out of question to rip the paper into shreds – great grandma Ludwiga severely forbid such a waste. Each present was unpacked slowly and carefully, each paper neatly folded – it was so soaked with magic that one could not treat with any repairing spell.
Somewhere between the chocolate and the almond cake, Gellert noticed great-grandma Elisabeth talking to Ferenc. He smiled. Maybe she was not angry with his brother anymore.
And when the fireworks lit the sky, he forgot all his worries altogether.
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Winter passed in no time. Skiing, riding, games, books. And, of course, lots of magical exercises.
Snowdrops bloomed, then crocus, then lilies of the valley. The works at Neuschwanstein Castle were progressing. Great grandma Ludwiga had the school coat of arms hanged over the entrance but spelled it invisible. No begging could make her change her mind.
`You will see it, like everyone, in September, ` she stated curtly.
And there was still so much work to do, she mused. Cutlery. Bedsheets. Broomsticks… And the parents. Children, as any teacher would confirm, were a small problem. But the parents…
Ludwiga and Sidonia were influential among the magical folk, and as highbred, genteel ladies impressed muggles. Nonetheless, it was not easy.
The purebloods had their doubts.
`Sidonia, with muggleborns?` Befana Lastrega moaned theatrically, `They have… lice! You must teach them to wash their hands! And this gods of theirs! I don`t want my grand-daughters to study with boys who consider women lower creatures!`
Sidonia von-Einmal-Eins counted to ten… and then counted backwards. Yes, Befana was not actually wrong but muggleborns, to be ever useful to the society, had to learn the wizarding ways. And how could they learn them without contact with other witches and wizards?
`Muggleborn boys learn quickly to respect a witch,` she snapped, `As a rule, after being jinxed well for the first time by a girl. Take into consideration that our world is new for those children; they are thus rather intimidated than arrogant.`
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The muggles had their doubts as well.
`Madam, you cannot let boys and girls study in the same school,` protested the terrified wife of a silk merchant, `Who would marry them after… such a scandal?`
Sidonia gritted her teeth. She hated this attitude: a girl had to please and to fulfil the expectations, her only goal in life was to marry and to prolongate the family life. HIS family line, of course, though it would be her to risk her life during childbirth.
`But one should choose a spouse among equals, isn`t it?` she replied sternly.
The merchant's wife, blinked, understanding what Sidionia alluded at.
`You mean… of your kind of men?`
`Of course. If you want to avoid gossip and scandal, they should choose a wizard. Otherwise, the problem would anyhow appear the latest when her children would demonstrate their powers. I suppose you were… ashamed a few times because of the children magic, weren`t you?`
The muggle woman considered that but said nothing.
`We, witches and wizards, are few and far between, ` continued Sidionia, `This is why we prefer that all our children study together so that they could easier meet an appropriate spouse. And believe me, no scandal will penetrate to your world. We have our means to stay hidden, don`t we?`
The merchant's wife sighed with relief.
`Madam, could you also… cover what has already happened? This incident of last week…`
Sidonia smiled.
`This could be done… if you agree to send your daughters to school. For the complete length of education. And you can trust me, the Headmistress, Princess von Bayern will take care that no improper behaviour takes place at her school.`
It could even get worse than that…
`With Jews? Catholics? With Gypsies? With bastards of tramps and beggars?` hollered the infuriated pastor, thumping with his huge fist against the table, `No my only son! The vice can be eradicated with discipline and hard work! God…`
`Have you already forgotten, reverend,` cut Ludwiga in warningly, `What happened last time you attempted to enforce this discipline?`
That is, when he went too hard. A slap in the face or horrifying stories about hell did not count as "too hard", of course. Like in most muggle houses.
`Have you already forgotten?` repeated Ludwiga slowly.
The man flinched,
`But one cannot leave sin unpunished!` he repeated stubbornly, though with a quieter tone.
`The power cannot be eradicated with violence, reverend, I have already told you that,` announced Ludwiga with her royal tone, `Rather, it renders it uncontrollable.`
`As a father, I have the right to punish my son!` the man was turning hysteric.
`Maybe you do. But you cannot anymore, not without unpleasant consequences,` she retorted coldly, `Correct me, if I`m wrong.`
`Such a shame! Such a sin! Have I done something wrong to enrage God?`
`Of course,` growled the old witch, `Instead of nurturing your son, you just scared and hit him.`
`God tells us to punish our children to save their souls from hell,` he retorted
`True,` she smiled nastily, `But He also tells you that you should not judge or condemn. Unless you want to be judged and condemned yourself. And that all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Like begets like, reverend. Your violence has turned against you. But it can be redeemed… still.`
`You can teach him to hide his… peculiarity?`
`Yes, we can. And be warned, reverend` she could not help an evil grin, `Where one magical child is born, others may follow.`
The man paled. He had many children and also took care of the orphans of his brothers.
`I cannot tame all those… beasts!`
`Let me show you something`, smiled Ludwiga and led him to his own backyard. A swift movement of her wand and her carriage became visible.
The man jerked, seeing the winged horses and a bunch of other creatures.
`What is THAT?` he whispered.
`My horses. And my sentinels. The beasts I tamed,` she stated proudly, `Anyone can train a poodle. But me, I can work with tigers and dragons, if you understand what I mean.`
`Couldn`t you, madam… examine the other kids? So that… nothing happens.`
`With pleasure, reverend, with pleasure. And I can help you to take care of them.`
.
And so it repeated over and over again.
`With this filthy riff-raff of muggles?`
`What about the Holy Mass? We go to church every day!`
`Muggle boys? Not with this scum! They girls are nice but those brutal, haughty brats…`
`We want that she marries the oldest son of the rabbi! What will people say, if our daughter just disappears for months?`
`He is to take over the factory!`
`We have been teaching our children magic for millennia, we need no school! You cannot overrule our customs simply like that.`
`How come, we have to send her there? She is on the list for Durmstrang! You cannot disrespect the tradition like that!`
.
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`It is amazing,` sighed Ludwiga, shuffling the papers, `How few people ask about WHAT their children are going to learn. The most important issue seems to be with WHOM they are going to learn. And whether we force them to follow the proper religious rites.`
`You`d rather get used to that, Ludwiga,` retorted Sidionia.
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`It`s time to buy you a wand, Gellert,` announced great-grandma Ludwiga one May morning, `We better do that now, before everyone else comes to shop. Choosing a wand is a subtle and intime process, you cannot do it properly with a bunch of impatient witches breathing at your back.`
Not sooner said than done, Ludwiga, Gellert and a bunch of muggleborns she was taking care of, mounted into a carriage and off they were.
Gellerthad already met Hippolith, an orphan adopted by a kissing cousin of great-grandma Elisabeth and Hodel, who had to leave her house when her powers were revealed.
The wandery was a tiny, wooden house, one of those that were much more spacious inside than outside. Over the door, a simple sign announced "Wands - Yvette, Kalina, Tulia and Erle Baumgärtner". The wand-maker, Madame Yvette, was a tall, bony woman; the tall tiara and long, loose robes made her look even taller.
`Ladies first,` she announced, smiling, `What is your name?`
`Hodel,` whispered the muggleborn shyly.
`Your name suggest that a myrtle wand could be suitable,` replied the wandmaker, taking the first one off the shelf. Seven wands later, magic spoke. Not myrtle, but a fever tree with an abraxan mane hair, twelve inches long.
`A fever tree?` Hodel nearly dropped the wand, scared.
`It is a medicine tree,` explained the wandmaker, `Both us an muggles use it. You may turn a healer, miss.`
Hipolit was faster – the second wand turned out to be the right wand. Linden with a unicorn hair.
`Maybe you also will become a Healer,` smiled the wandmaker.
Gellert had to test thirteen wands. The rowan one pleasantly vibrated in his hand. The baobab one seemed to fit. The oak one shot a shower of stars, the tip of the yew one glowed, filling the room with bluish light. Yet, the wandmaker was not pleased, till…
Magic run from his core through his arm, focusing in this very special piece of wood.
`A weeping beech with a feather of a Russian firebird, thirteen inches,` announced the wandmaker.
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`That was to be expected,` shrugged the great-grandmother Charlotta when Gellert showed her his new wand, `Beech is the tree of Seers. Even Muggles kept the horses, that they used to tell the future, under beech trees.`
`But why a weeping beech?` he wondered.
`Better so,` she replied, `A regular beech is also a tree of gods. It reaches up to the sky. It is good for spiritual leaders and theoreticians, for bigmouths and day-dreamers. It doesn`t fit you. In you, the earth element is very strong. You get things done. Though definitely, you dream big and think out of the box, unlike most .`
Regarding the enormous family tree of Gellert: Well, in a world where population is small and blood matters so much, family ties should be strong, in particular that travelling is easy. Thus any pureblood should have tons of (kissing) cousins – and they should keep contact. Not to mention a horde of friends/co-workers/colleagues/team mates etc.
I know the HP books do not show that but it is somehow strange. Even Ron, a pureblood from an old family never ever mentions that any of their schoolmates is his cousin, a brother of Bill`s best friend, a grandson of daddy`s boss… Rather strange, don`t you think? As if he never left the Burrow.
Tegerstein castle and island appear on old maps of Lake Constance – but they are not there anymore. As if they were a mere fantasy.
I'm a napalm-bomb
Guaranteed to blow your mind
I'm a napalm-bomb
Guaranteed to blow your mind
If I can't have your love now baby
There won't be nothing left behind
Whenever I listen to that (preferably by Elvis), I cannot help thinking of Grindeldore.
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