Disclaimer; I do not own Harry Potter or the Blood.
/This is two people talking mind to mind./
"Hey Rascal, how are your classes going? Need any assistance in anything?" Harry asked Lucille the next morning.
"I'm doing alright. Transfiguration is so different from Craft that it is tough for me but Charms and Potions are just so natural after everything my family taught me. Defense is different from what Lucivar taught me. Professor Moody seems to know what he is doing though."
"I'm glad to hear that things are going well. So, what is your favorite class?"
"Herbology is just wonderful. Not only am I good at it, but it is nice to have a class where I can just re-attach myself to the land and listen to nature. And there are so many different plants to learn about that we don't have at home."
"If you want, I will introduce you to my friend Neville. He is obsessed with Herbology and has a pretty nice greenhouse from what I hear. He may be interested in trading cuttings and plants with you so you can introduce them to your garden."
"That sounds great!"
"Ok, I'll introduce you two when he gets back from Hogsmeade. You aren't cheating in Charms just doing everything with Craft and Jewels are you? You are supposed to be here to help us understand how they both work."
"Yes Dad. I'm doing them the right way. They are easy because I know how the magic works on an intimate level, not because I am cheating. For instance the levitation charm, wingardium leviosa, the swish and flick are like a fly fishing pole. You draw a little thread of magic from your wand and cast it towards the object forming a link between you. In craft, you simply push the magic out your fingers to create that same link. The wand does indeed make it easier to let the magic flow, but I can see how it could also become a crutch."
"Very good, those kind of observations are exactly what you are here to learn. Once you learn spells the way we do them, study the energy flow and examine the intent. Then maybe you can reverse engineer it to work with craft. Transfiguration especially relies on tricky wand movements to work the magic. You may need to construct a simple web to achieve the same energy flow with Craft. I am trying desperately to do the reverse by the way. I learned so many new and innovative ways to use magic from you and your family over the summer and I am still trying to discover how to do them with a wand so I can teach others. You and I are the bridges between our two worlds."
"Alright. By the way Harry, why was Luna wearing that funny hat today at breakfast?"
"The sombrero with little chili peppers? Let's just say that Luna is a lot like your Grandma Tersa and leave it at that. Luna does things for her own reasons that do not always make sense."
The auction for Malfoy Manor began early on December ninth outside Gringotts. A variety of people came to the auction, from new money families hoping to buy and old money home to old money trying to keep the home within their community. Some felt the property had too much history to pass off to a family that two or three generations ago was muggleborns.
"Welcome everyone to our auction, today we are here to sell a wonderful estate outside Wiltshire." Slipjaw began, "We are going to open bidding here today at sixty five thousand galleons, an absolute steal for this property. Fifteen bedrooms, on twelve acres with complete wards already in place. This property is for sale as is, you will be buying not only the home and land but anything the former owners may have left inside."
Bidding was fast and furious at first, but then it seemed that some of the bidders were glared into silence by some of the other bidders after it broke one hundred fifty thousand.
"I've heard two hundred thousand galleons, going once... Come on everybody this is a wonderful property still at this price, an absolute shame to let it go so low... going twice... Will no one bid against Madam Avery? Alright going..." Slipjaw was suddenly interrupted.
"Two hundred fifty thousand galleons." A lady's voice called.
"Thank you Lady..."
"Angelline." Jaenelle said as she approached the front of the crowd.
"Thank you Lady Angelline. The bidding is at a quarter million galleons, can I hear better?"
"Three hundred."
"Three fifty."
"Four hundred."
"One half million."
"Three quarters!" Avery called.
"Take it, it wasn't worth a sickle." Jaenelle said as she turned to leave.
"Alright we have seven hundred fifty thousand galleons, any more bidders? Once? Twice? Sold for seven hundred fifty thousand galleons plus twelve percent brokerage fees to Madam Avery. You have one business week to secure the funds before we level late fees. Your total will be eight hundred forty thousand galleons or four million six hundred twenty thousand pounds sterling." Slipjaw was grinning enough to show teeth. His personal stake was just under forty thousand galleons... Harry would be pleased.
"Well done Slipjaw, I told you we would get more than it's proper value if we auctioned it off instead of selling it outright. I honestly didn't expect even a half million galleons for it. Four million Sterling is an excellent deal."
"I should warn you not to try that again. It is illegal to bid in your own auction."
"I don't know what you mean. I wasn't there."
"Please Mr. Potter, humans may not have very good memories but the Goblins aren't stupid. Lady Angelline has only ever been seen with you in Britain. If rumors are true, you are serving in her court. If she wanted to buy your property and was willing to pay the half million you didn't expect and she bid, why did she wait until the auction? No, the Goblin nation isn't stupid. We know who she was and why she was there. If we didn't already know you would be getting it back soon anyway we would have stepped in."
"You mean to say the Goblins keep track of the Death Eaters too?"
"Oh indeed, they are quite obvious to us. Every knut they spend seems to go through a half dozen shill accounts first. The Ministry would never be able to keep track, but when you are the ones running the bank, it isn't hard."
"Really, that is most interesting. When and if the ministry ever agrees to my demands, are you going to let them know about the shill accounts?"
"Probably not. Even though we could take outrageous transaction fees and charge them for the paper trail we would need to create, the Goblins do not feel that there is enough profit in turning the shill accounts over to the Ministry."
"You do realize that would void the deal I am trying to create right? Quite a risky stance you seem to be taking."
"It would be if you actually cared about the money. No Mr. Potter, the Goblins understand mercenaries. You seem to just want to be left alone. That's why on behalf of the Goblin Council Ragnok has asked me to present a new deal. When the war is over, we will cut you in 65/35 on the shill accounts. We are going to need them as untraceable slush funds too if we are going to purchase up all the influence you are about to set adrift."
"You'll cut me in for thirty five percent hmm... That sounds like a wonderful plan. What the ministry doesn't know won't hurt them. I know they are going to waste the other half of the money on the pureblood bigots and bribes anyway, but I wrote it that way for good publicity."
"Indeed, you can try to be generous, but bureaucrats will always screw things up. Oh, St. Mungo's may get some funding, after swimming in a see of red tape. St. Olaf's wizarding orphanage might get some too, but the majority of that money will be wasted. We at least are being honest about sidetracking the money."
"Agreed. So tell me how the land grab is going."
"Well, in the month and a half I have had to work on this, we've spent just shy of four million Galleons, twenty million Sterling. This has made significant inroads into the SaDiablo accounts. You've just over one and a half million left in the SaDiablo vault and just shy of a million in the Potter account. You've bought fourteen houses and cottages in the village itself and have acquired nearly four hundred acres total. The remaining lands were agricultural lands outside the village proper. You paid just over fifty thousand pounds sterling or nine thousand galleons per acre when you ignore the structures."
"Let's stop at five hundred acres. That's like two square kilometers right?"
"Close enough."
"That's more than enough room for me to live on. Now let's talk about what I want you to do with the money from the auction today."
"I'm ready to listen whenever you are. Also remember that you still have four properties for sale, those will eventually add capital to your plans. Not nearly as much as the Malfoy estate did, but some."
"I'll keep that in mind. I need a holiday spot. I'm thinking somewhere either near the mountains or near the sea. I want to do this through the muggle world so as to be completely inconspicuous. Maybe filter the money through a few shills and under a fake name. I want to do this the muggle way so no wizards find my little hideaway."
"Interesting idea, do you have any suggestions?"
"A healthy magical community nearby never hurt. And while I can translate to any language I need, it might be nice to be somewhere they at least understand English. Friendly locals and a rich environment are added bonuses."
"Ok, friendly locals, English speaking, interesting scenery, mountains or sea, ability to blend in... I've got a few ideas. Let me do some asking around and I will get back to you sometime this week. Do you have a time frame?"
"Three weeks? I would like to have one real holiday before the war starts. I've never had one."
"Three weeks for a real estate deal? That's moving fast! I can do it, but we will probably get over charged. Still, with three quarters of a million galleons we can certainly throw our weight around."
"Harry, good to see you again, how is everything?" Jaenelle greeted him as she and Professor McGonagall came into the common room.
"Lady, wonderful to see you. What's the occasion?"
"I was in the area on business as if you didn't know and so I wanted to stop by and drop off Winsol gifts for you and Lucy. I understand that she wont be able to come home until the next day."
"Yes, but she tells me we are going to celebrate here. Hedwig and I are looking forward to it since we have never been involved in this celebration before. The four of us are apparently going to have a small ceremony on the grounds."
"Were you planning on asking permission Mr. Potter?" McGonagall butted in.
"Whoops, forgot you were there Professor. Well, actually no I figured it was easier to ask forgiveness than permission. Winsol is like Yule or Christmas in their culture. They exchange gifts and what not. Could I bribe you to look the other way for the night of the twenty first? You could come of course, but I am not certain you would like what you see. Lucy told me all about it and there are a few minor parts of the ceremony that society may frown upon."
"Is there anything dangerous or immoral going on?"
"Oh no, Headmistress!" Jaenelle was quick to defend, "Mostly it is music and dancing, a party of sorts. But from what Harry has told us of your culture some of the traditional phrases and rituals may be taboo."
"Actually, now that I think of it Headmistress, please come celebrate with us. Just leave all preconceptions and responsibilities in your office."
"That sounds like an interesting idea. It will let me get to know Lucy a little better if I understand where she comes from. I enjoy learning new things anyway."
"So do I Professor. Meet us at ten pm on the twenty first in the entry hall."
"Well as much as I would like to stay and chat, I just wanted to drop this off," a long thin package appeared in the air above Harry's lap, "and talk to Lucy for a few minutes before I go."
"She's in the first room up that staircase. Let me know before you leave, I need to take care of the candles after all."
Harry got a letter from Slipjaw and his jaw dropped open. This was perfect! The property he had found was absolutely perfect. Mountains AND ocean, people who spoke proper English, and far enough away that he wouldn't need to use a fake name when talking to the locals. Could it get any better? Harry didn't think so and wrote back to carry forward with the deal, he even upped the commission to a solid ten percent in gratitude.
On the eighteenth of December he got another letter. James Evans had purchased Motukawaiti Island. Part of the Bay of Islands off the North Island of New Zealand. It was ninety five acres of paradise, and only cost him a third of what he sold the Malfoy estate for.
The island was shaped like a tear drop. The north tip was rocky and rose out of the sea 115 meters (380 feet) before opening into a wide grassy plain that gently dropped to the sea. The entire east coast was rocky, but the south west quarter (facing towards the Bay and North Island) had a perfect white sand beach for five hundred meters. The island was surrounded by crystal clear waters and a few small coral reefs. Lying at about thirty five degrees south latitude, it would be about as warm as the south of Spain or Portugal. Even the winter would be far more habitable than Hogwarts was at that time of year.
There were no structures on the island, but since it was summer in the southern hemisphere Harry thought a camp out sounded pleasant. Eventually he would carve a home and maybe a dock out of the rock on the north end. He had no reservations about living inside the island, it sounded like an indestructible home actually.
All told, it was the best money he would probably ever spend once he had time to build. His own private island...
Harry, Kaelas, Hedwig, Professor McGonagall, and Lucy met in the entrance hall the night of the winter solstice and proceeded out over the darkened grounds. They soon came to a spot that Kaelas had prepared earlier in the day.
There was a five meter radius circle clear until all that remained was packed earth. In the center of the circle there was a pile of wood for the bonfire. A collection of natural stones formed a makeshift altar. A pair of specially charmed drums was next to the altar to provide the rhythm.
Lucille, dressed in a long black silk dress strode forward to the altar where she called in a silver knife and a small silver chalice.
"We gather tonight to celebrate Winsol. It is the time we give thanks for the gift of Craft, and remember what it means to be Blood. In this sacred ceremony we will honor the Darkness and dance to the glory of Witch. We dance to celebrate the primal origins of our people and the male and female within us all. We shall open with a blood sacrifice before we close the circle and light the fires. If there is anyone unwilling to participate, let them leave now."
She took the knife and knicked her wrist, letting the blood flow into the chalice. After three seconds she pressed her thumb over the wound and used craft to heal it. Kaelas came forward and held his paw for her to cut and heal. Hedwig nipped her own wing and let it drip. Harry felt the magic rising in the area as he walked forward. The knife stung as it bit into his flesh, and he watched with morbid fascination as his blood flowed into the goblet. He turned and looked to the Headmistress, who was clearly uneasy at the concept of giving her blood.
"It's alright Professor, there is nothing to fear. When you give your blood, concentrate on what it means to you to have and use magic. Good, bad, and in between, let your feelings flow with your blood." Lucy prompted.
McGonagall reluctantly came and gave her blood, and was surprised at how quickly Lucy could heal her wrist. After everyone had given, Lucy walked the perimeter of the circle and let a small but steady stream of blood hit the ground. As she completed the circle, the very air itself flickered with magic and a dome of energy slowly rose around the celebrants. The bonfire in the center lit itself and threw sparks high into the night sky.
"As the Darkness gifted us with the power to use Craft or Magic, so now we give back. We give of ourselves on this the longest night of the year, when the Darkness is closest to all of us." She cast the remainder of the blood into the flames, the air grew thick with the scent of hot blood as it sizzled. "And now the witches dance for the glory of being female. We are the connection to the land. We are the mothers of our peoples. We hold charms and knowledge no man will ever know. Dance with me sisters for tonight we are witches."
Harry picked up the drums and activated the charms. They began to pound with deep throbbing notes in a rhythm that was both alien and familiar. The flames danced higher and beings made of pure fire leapt forth to dance. Lucy indicated that as the oldest present McGonagall should be the first to join the fiery figures. Lucy soon joined and Hedwig floated in behind. Though hesitant at first McGonagall soon lost herself in the fire and rhythm. It was like nothing Harry had ever seen. It was as though the dance was designed to flaunt their femininity, no matter that McGonagall was going on her eight decade. They danced for nearly forty five minutes before the fire settled.
Kaelas began stalking round the fire and his deep rumbling voice sounded in all of their minds. /And now the Males take the fire. We are the strength of our people. We protect the females. We are the keepers of history and masters of the fire. Dance with me brother and revel in what it is to be male./
Again the fire rose high and the sparks formed fiery figures. Harry felt the heat and heard the drums. They beat in time with his heart and made his blood burn. He stripped out of his robes and shirt, dancing around the fire barefoot and wearing only his trousers. He danced the circle and felt the magic within himself. He and Kaelas fought a battle of wills to control the fire. They moved closer and closer to the flames, letting the craft and magic flow. Two spectral warriors rose above the heart of the flames and fought according to the will of their controller. Harry eventually one, then felt Kaelas's mind slip in behind them and soon the fire was changing in time with their combined will. Acting on an urge he would never understand, Harry suddenly ran and jumped thought the heart of the fire. A moment later Kaelas jumped through as well. They took turns, each adding just a touch more flair either with craft enhanced acrobatics or through controlling the flames. The sweat poured off his half naked body and he realized something. He had never felt this alive!
When Kaelas bested Harry in the ariel stunts, the drums tapered off. Harry threw back his head and let loose a savage howl, reveling just in being alive. Kaelas joined him with a roar that shook him to the bones and would make his enemies bowels run like water.
Lucy approached the altar and set three small crystal goblets down on the stone where the heat from the fire would warm them. She carefully poured some of the special rum for the ritual and let it heat.
"Now comes the fun part, presents! Gifts are exchanged now before we open the circle. Professor McGonagall, I hope you don't feel bad, but I didn't know to get you a gift."
"That's perfectly fine, just being a part of this tonight is gift enough. I can feel the magic, and I daresay I haven't felt this young in a long time. I just hope no one was looking out their windows and saw me dancing like that!"
"No worries Headmistress, when we closed the circle at the beginning the magic hid us from any outside observers. The most anyone would see was the five of us disappearing. They will never even see the fire."
"That's powerful magic. So, since I have no gifts to exchange, would you be willing to tell me who you are Mr. Shadow?"
/My name is Kaelas. I am a member of Lady Angelline's guard and am here to protect the kitten./
"Hey, I am not a kitten anymore."
/But you are not yet a she-cat. You are still young, would you prefer cub?/
"Well it is nice to meet you Kaelas, but I can't help but wonder why I never noticed an extra student."
"Umm... Professor, I think now is the time for me to break some bad news to you. You know how the entrance letters say that new students may bring a cat as a familiar? Kaelas is not an animagus. He actually is an Acerian Cat. He has been in the castle the entire time as Lucille's familiar. He is a fully trained wizard in his own right, so don't call him an animal. He is kindred, a term for nonhuman magic users. Oh by the way, Hedwig here is Kindred too, but not yet fully trained."
Professor McGonagall sat down on the ground and just put her head in her hands. "But... then... How... When... I give up!"
Harry and Lucy traded gifts. He got her a nice goblin wrought gold bracelet that Slipjaw managed to find for him. She gave him a few books that explained the basics of web weaving. If he studied carfully he could learn to erect wards of a sort or even spin a web to attract pleasant dreams, but they were far from true Hourglass craft. Harry even gave McGonagall a lovely ruby pendant he got from the Malfoy estate. It was a lovely deep red color set in a simple gold setting. The package from Jaenelle contained a new broom. The handle was carved froma rich honey gold colored wood, and the bristles were carved from the same deep brown wood from the door to the Manor. The note inside said that Daemon had done the actual carving while Jaenelle worked the enchantments. They said it worked, but seemed to scale its speed according to a persons strength instead of flying one speed like other brooms.
As they all got off the express the next morning Harry stopped to hug his friends goodbye. "If everything goes well with the ministry I will be at the Burrow about six o'clock on Christmas day. Until then I am finally going to have a holiday. It will be the last break I get before the war starts, so I am intending go see the mountains and the ocean. I need to see the good in the world before I see the bad."
"Be careful Harry." Hermione implored him. "We need you. I need my friend back, no holiday is worth losing you."
"Don't worry guys. Trust me when I tell you I won't be in any danger. Ron, when we graduate, you and I are taking a trip. Think of it as my graduation gift, we are going to go do things we never did before, two young men out on the prowl."
"Sure thing mate. You're on."
"Harry, what about me? You can't break up the trio like that."
"Sorry Hermione, this is about guy time. You and I can go to the Library at Alexandria after we get back. Or we can all go to my place in Ebon Rih and I will introduce you to my family. But you can't just tag along on guys doing incredibly stupid stuff. We're going to do stuff like get drunk on three continents, go parachuting from a broom, or stuff like that. You honestly want to join us?"
"What girls can't drink?"
"Hermione the last time I got you drunk you went and insulted McGonagall. If you really want, we'll talk about it later. In the mean time I need to get Lucy home and then I have a letter to drop at the ministry before I leave the country."
"Will you at least tell us where you are going?"
"Wait, you got Hermione drunk and you didn't invite me?" Ginny pouted.
"Ginny, it wasn't like that. I was trying to get McGonagall plastered, but Hermione drank it first. At least the professor is a repeat customer. I have a feeling that I'm going to make a lot of money off her. Hermione never asked for another." Harry placated her. "No Hermione I can't. I am safer if even my friends can't find me. I'll be back in a few days."
Well, Lucy and Kaelas were home, the letter to the ministry had been delivered, and it was time for Harry's first Holiday. He stopped by a store in Diagon Alley that catered to back packers and picked up a small tent and a few other supplies before catching the black wind.
With any luck he would be able to make it to his island before the evening, or early morning local time. He didn't know how he was going to deal with the twelve hour time difference, but he figured pepper-up potions and willpower would just have to do. Thankfully he had slept a bit on the train.
A/N; Regarding money in this fic; 1 Galleon 5.5 Pounds Sterling (canon I think) 16.5 New Zealand Dollars. Thanks to for currency help between GBP and NZD. Motukawaiti Island actually was for sale at the bargain price of NZ$4 million. http/ for more info on it or other islands for sale. I know alot of fics have Harry being insanely rich, like 20million galleons. I made him rich, but 5-6mil rich not stupid rich. I don't know about land prices in England, but I do think Harry is getting ripped off. Agricultural land aint that costly, but buying fomr people who may not want to sell is very costly.
I see that everyone liked my Make a Wish referance last chapter. It just seemed like the kind of thing I ought to throw into the marauder library.
There is only one more fun chapter left before I get serious and start writing a war story, but even the fun plots are all going to tie together eventually. The Winsol scene was partially gleaned from The Invisible Ring and partially from my own imagination.