Many Thanks to those who reviewed Chapter One! It is always a pleasure and a joy to read your speculations and words of encoragment or advise. Please continue to feed my ever burning muse with your words!
Chapter Two
Shadows of the Past
For once in his life, Harry was excited that it was his birthday. He had been awoken by a smiling Faykan and presented with a tray of all his favorite breakfast food, along with a tall glass of pumpkin juice. Faykan told him to just relax and eat while he and the house elves prepared for the rest of the day.
"First thing though, I need to get the other party guest," Faykan added with a grin.
"Who?" Harry asked, his thoughts immediately jumping to Ron or Hermione.
"Draco, of course..." Faykan said as he moved to the fireplace in Harry's room, his sea blue robes dancing across the floor. He grabbed a fistful of Floo powder and with a shout of "Malfoy Manor," and the roar of the green flames, he was gone.
Harry didn't have long to ponder why Faykan was only inviting Draco, because only a few moments after his best friend vanished into the fireplace, Harry heard the rustle of wings and three owls flew into his room. They landed with a soft flump on Harry's bed, and the middle owl, which was large and gray, keeled right over and lay motionless. There was a large package tied to its legs. Harry recognized Hedwig immediately, her beautiful white body soaring over to his tray of food and landing with a small clatter of talons to present him with an affectionate nip on the ear and the mail she carried. The other owl, a large tawny one, offered him a letter and package that had the Hogwarts seal upon them. It ruffled its feathers importantly as Harry took them and flew back out the window it had entered through. Harry then finally recognized the unconscious owl; it was Errol, the Weasley family's owl. Hedwig nudged the graying bird until it roused, and finally it maneuvered to deliver its letters to Harry, who took them eagerly.
Harry sat back against the many pillows on his bed and grabbed Errol's package, ripped off the brown paper, and discovered a present wrapped in gold paper, and his first birthday card. Fingers trembling slightly, he opened the envelope. Two pieces of paper fell out; a letter and a newspaper clipping. The clipping had clearly come out of the wizarding newspaper, the Daily Prophet, because the people in the black and white picture were moving. Harry picked up the clipping, smoothed it out, and read:
MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE
'Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw.
A delighted Mr. Weasley told the Daily Prophet, "We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill, works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank."
The Weasley family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the start of the new school year at Hogwarts, which five of the Weasley children currently attend.'
Harry scanned the moving photograph, and a grin spread across his face as he saw all nine of the Weasleys waving furiously at him, standing in front of a large pyramid, plump little Mrs. Weasley; tail, balding Mr. Weasley; their six sons; and one daughter, all (though the black and white picture didn't show it) with flaming red hair. Right in the middle of the picture was Ron, tall and gangling, with his pet rat, Scabbers, on his shoulder and his arm around his little sister, Ginny.
Harry couldn't think of anyone who deserved to win a large pile of gold more than the Weasleys, who were very nice and extremely poor. He picked up Ron's letter and unfolded it.
Dear Harry,
Happy birthday!
It's amazing here in Egypt. Bill's taken us around all the tombs and you wouldn't believe the curses those old Egyptian wizards put on them. Mum wouldn't let Ginny come in the last one. There were all these mutant skeletons in there, of Muggles who'd broken in and grown extra heads and stuff.
I couldn't believe it when Dad won the Daily Prophet Draw. Seven hundred galleons! Most of it's gone on this trip, but they're going to buy me a new wand for next year.
Harry remembered only too well the occasion when Ron's old wand had snapped. It had happened when the car the two of them and Faykan had been flying to Hogwarts had crashed into a tree on the school grounds.
We'll be back about a week before term starts and we'll be going up to London to get my wand and our new books. Any chance of meeting you and Faykan there?
Try and come to London,
Ron
P.S. Percy's Head Boy. He got the letter last week.
Harry glanced back at the photograph. Percy, who was in his seventh and final year at Hogwarts, was looking particularly smug. He had pinned his Head Boy badge to the fez perched jauntily on top of his neat hair, his horn rimmed glasses flashing in the Egyptian sun.
Harry now turned to his present and unwrapped it. Inside was what looked like a miniature glass spinning top. There was another note from Ron beneath it.
Harry,
This is a Pocket Sneakoscope. If there's someone untrustworthy around, it's supposed to light up and spin. Bill says its rubbish sold for wizard tourists and isn't reliable, because it kept lighting up at dinner last night. But he didn't realize Fred and George had put beetles in his soup.
Bye,
Ron
Harry put the Pocket Sneakoscope on his bedside table, where it stood quite still, balanced on its point, reflecting the luminous hands of his clock. He looked at it happily for a few seconds, and then picked up the parcel Hedwig had brought.
Inside this, too, there was a wrapped present, a card, and a letter, this time from Hermione.
Dear Harry,
I'm on holiday in France at the moment and I didn't know how I was going to send this to you, what if they'd opened it at customs? But then Hedwig turned up! I think she wanted to make sure you got something for your birthday. I bought your present by owl order; there was an advertisement in the Daily Prophet (I've been getting it delivered; it's so good to keep up with what's going on in the wizarding world), did you see that picture of Ron and his family a week ago? I bet he's learning loads. I'm really jealous; the ancient Egyptian wizards were fascinating.
There's some interesting local history of witchcraft here, too. I've rewritten my whole History of Magic essay to include some of the things I've found out; I hope it's not too long; its two rolls of parchment more than Professor Binns asked for.
Ron says he's going to be in London in the last week of the holidays. Can you and Fay make it? I really hope you can. If not, I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express on September First!
Love from Hermione
P.S. Ron says Percy's Head Boy. I'll bet Percy's really pleased, though Ron doesn't seem too happy about it
Harry laughed as he put Herrmone's letter aside and picked up her present. It was very heavy. Knowing Hermione, he was sure it would be a large book full of very difficult spells; but it wasn't. His heart gave a huge bound as he ripped back the paper and saw a shrunken, dragon-hide bound trunk with silver words stamped across it, reading Harry J. Potter.
"Wow, Hermione!" Harry whispered, unlocking the trunk with a tap of his wand and looking inside. There were multiple compartments, all organized to be opened by any chosen method of the owner's creation, as well as protective charms and locks to keep out others, which Harry was grateful for. Ever since last year he had had trouble trusting that his things might not be rifled through by his housemates when he was away.
Harry put the shrunken trunk aside and picked up his last parcel. He recognized the untidy scrawl on the brown paper at once: this was from Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper. He tore off the top layer of paper and glimpsed something green and leathery, but before he could unwrap it properly, the parcel gave a strange quiver, and whatever was inside it snapped loudly, as though it had jaws.
Harry froze. He knew that Hagrid would never send him anything dangerous on purpose, but then, Hagrid didn't have a normal person's view of what was dangerous. Hagrid had been known to befriend giant spiders, buy vicious, three headed dogs from men in pubs, and sneak illegal dragon eggs into his cabin.
Harry poked the parcel nervously. It snapped loudly again. Harry reached for the lamp on his bedside table, gripped it firmly in one hand, and raised it over his head, ready to strike. Then he seized the rest of the wrapping paper in his other hand and pulled. And out fell a book. Harry just had time to register its handsome green cover, emblazoned with the golden title 'The Monster Book of Monsters,' before it flipped onto its edge and scuttled sideways along the bed like some weird crab.
"Uh oh," Harry muttered.
The book toppled off the bed with a loud clunk and shuffled rapidly across the room. Harry got up and followed it stealthily. The book was hiding in the dark space under the far desk. Harry got down on his hands and knees and reached toward it.
"Ouch!"
The book snapped shut on his hand and then flapped past him, still scuttling on its covers. Harry scrambled around, threw himself forward, and managed to flatten it. Hedwig and Errol watched interestedly as Harry clamped the struggling book tightly in his arms, hurried to his trunk, and pulled out a belt, which he buckled tightly around it. The Monster Book shuddered angrily, but could no longer flap and snap, so Harry threw it down on the bed and reached for Hagrid's card.
Dear Harry,
Happy Birthday!
Think you might find this useful for next year. Won't say no more here. Tell you when I see you. Hope the Muggles are treating you right.
All the best,
Hagrid
It struck Harry as ominous that Hagrid thought a biting book would come in useful, but he put Hagrid's card up next to Ron's and Hermione's, grinning more broadly than ever. Now there was only the letter from Hogwarts left. Noticing that it was rather thicker than usual, Harry slit open the envelope, pulled out the first page of parchment within, and read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
Please note that the new school year will begin on September the First. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock.
Third years are permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade on certain weekends. Please give the enclosed permission form to your parent or guardian to sign.
A list of books for next year is enclosed. Yours sincerely,
Professor M. McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Harry pulled out the Hogsmeade permission form and looked at it, no longer grinning. He couldn't exactly go back to Privet drive to just get one permission form signed, if the Dursleys would even do it. They'd probably refuse just to spite him. Harry finally shrugged; he could live without going one year. Next summer he'd get them to sign it, somehow. Sitting back down on his bed, Harry reread all of his birthday cards while polishing off the wonderful breakfast Faykan had brought him, as his mind wandered to what his friend had planned for the rest of this wonderful day.
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Draco sat expectantly in his private parlor, waiting for Faykan to show up to take him so they could plan Harry's birthday. Faykan had owled his father weeks ago to tell him, not ask, Draco noticed, that he was coming on July thirty-first to take Draco to his home for the remainder of the summer holiday, and that they would return in time for school to start. Lucius clearly noticed the lack of a request, but had said nothing about the matter, he being busy with meetings that Draco had not been permitted to attend.
Draco had a sinking feeling that they had something to do with the Death Eaters, and that they might have been planning something terrible for the next year or so, but he was started out of his thoughts by the fireplace flaring into life and Faykan entering his room with the grace of royalty.
"Ready to go Draco?" his friend asked without preamble.
Draco nodded. He had packed the things he was sure to need for the next month, as well as his things for Hogwarts only a day after Faykan's letter had come. Draco crossed the room to join Faykan just as his door opened and his mother came in.
"I thought I heard the floo just now Draco and, oh, Mr. Undol how nice to see you." she said as she noticed Faykan.
"Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy," Faykan said with a flourishing bow, "good to see you again. I have come to take Draco with me for the rest of the summer."
"Of course," Narcissa replied, walking to Draco and straightening his robes. Draco blushed slightly at the display of affection in front of his friend, but Faykan just smiled knowingly, giving them all the time they needed to say their goodbyes. Narcissa double checked that Draco had all his things, told him to behave while in another wizard's house, and finally kissed him on the forehead, giving him a small wrapped package and whispering in his ear, "Give your cousin Harry Potter this for me, my little dragon." Draco nodded and went to stand by Faykan, who offered him a small paper with the name of his house written on it. Draco studied it, allowing the magic of the secret keeper to wash over him, granting him access to the hidden location as Faykan pulled out a portkey; a small black key, and muttered the activation word.
With a final look at his mother, who waved in farewell, Draco felt the distinct pull behind his navel as the portkey sucked him and Faykan through space…
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Severus was meeting with Lucius Malfoy and other leading Death Eaters to discuss plans for the Quidditch World Cup finals the following year. Severus was only mildly concerned with the happenings, as he was certain that not only would Dumbledore do little to nothing to stop this, but that there would be little harm that the Death Eaters could inflict before the Ministry swooped it to attempt to arrest anyone. Severus decided that he would simply slip out and go back to Hogwarts, seeing how Nott Sr. was arguing the details of their plan with Lucius, and he had no intentions of participating personally anyway.
Severus left the drawing room and was about to head toward the main entrance when he saw Narcissa Malfoy climbing the stairs to the family bedrooms. He decided that it was only polite to notify the matron of the house of his intended departure.
Climbing after her to the Malfoy family's bedrooms, Severus heard the sound of voices coming from his godson's room. He had pushed the door open just in time to see Undol and Draco being pulled by a portkey, and Narcissa waving farewell to her son.
She turned and jumped slightly as she saw the Potions Master, but recovered herself quickly, "Oh, Severus. I didn't hear you come in."
Severus wasted no time in questioning the Malfoy matriarch about Faykan Undol's presence in her house. Unfortunately, she knew very little, only that he had sent a letter earlier that month saying he would be taking Draco to his home around this time, and that it was most likely under a Fidelius charm, which she explained because of the note Undol had shown Draco right before they had portkeyed away. She also mentioned that she had given a birthday present to Draco to pass along to Potter, assuming that he was also with Undol.
Severus thanked her for her hospitality and honesty concerning the matter, and flooed back to Hogwarts. Instead of remaining in his quarters as he had intended, he decided to immediately go up to the Headmaster's office, knowing that Albus would want to know of this development, even if it wasn't that promising.
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Harry was practicing the sword techniques that Faykan had drilled him on during the past month when Faykan and Draco appeared nearby. Draco landed hard, and had to take a few seconds to steady himself. He then looked up at the tower that was Faykan's house and audibly gasped. The look on his face clearly said that he had never seen anything like the black marble-like structure before him. Harry sheathed Hadhafang as Faykan approached him, allowing Draco to pick his jaw up off the ground and reset his dignity. He finally joined them and together the three boys set back toward the tower.
"Here, Harry," Draco said handing him a small wrapped package. "This is from my mother." Harry took it gratefully, and pulled off the paper to reveal a box of sweets from Honeydukes, the popular candy shop in Hogsmeade.
"Thanks!" Harry said as he bit into one of the many treats the box contained, and closed his eyes, relishing the taste. Faykan tried to steal a small chocolate out of the box, but Harry slapped his hand away. Faykan pouted at that, but cheered up greatly when they all reached the front doors. Throwing them open with a grand flourish, he stepped aside and Harry stared in surprise. The entire main room was decorated with red and gold ribbons, cloths, and balloons. The large throne had an enchanted lion's head mounted over it, which growled and roared occasionally. As the three boys walked in, small rockets zoomed up into the vast vaulted ceiling and exploded, showering them with sparks and forming the words 'Happy 13th Birthday, Harry Potter'.
Faykan and Draco had to force Harry to sit in the large black throne, and spent the rest of the afternoon treating him like a king, presenting him with the best selections of food and teasing him by referring him as 'your majesty' or 'milord'. They played wizard chess and exploding snap for several hours, both Faykan and Harry losing pitifully to Draco, and by the end they were all significantly singed from the exploding cards. Finally, Dobby and Faykan's two house elves appeared, levitating a huge thirteen layered chocolate cake that the three boys were sure they could never hope to finish.
After they all ate as much as they could until they felt fit to burst, Faykan pulled out a large leather bound book and handed it to Harry, explaining that it was a book about the language of the elves, and how to learn to read and write in it. Draco also gave him a watch that worked underwater, glowed in the dark, and could point to true north when the command word was spoken. Afterward they had lounged on the balcony near their three rooms (a new one had magically formed right next to Harry's for Draco) and Harry read from his new language book with Draco while Faykan smoked from a clay pipe, sending large smoke rings drifting out over the forest. Harry found it odd that his friend smoked at such a young age, but Faykan simply shrugged and said it was something he had always wanted to try. When the sun had finally set below the horizon, the three boys agreed that it was time to turn in. They all disappeared into their individual rooms, and Harry tried to settle down to sleep, but had some difficulty because of the excitement of the day. He was finally lulled to sleep by music that drifted from Faykan's room across the hall, which soothed Harry's mind and relaxed his body until he simply drifted off.
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Draco was exceedingly impressed not only with how Harry's party had gone, but with Faykan's house in general. The artifacts that he had decorating the walls of his many rooms were both fascinating and beautiful. Suits of armor, weapons, and banners from long dead kingdoms and cultures were among the many exotic possessions that drew Draco's attention. But the one thing that seemed to call to him was the strange spherical item in the main room; the cloth covered object on the small pedestal. It seemed to speak to him when he was near it, and during the night Draco could almost hear his name being whispered from rooms far below.
During the day, Faykan kept both Draco and Harry exceedingly busy either practicing horseback riding, sword fighting, dueling, or just strolling through the forest surrounding the tower. Draco had grown quite proficient at the stunning spell, while Harry tended to favor the disarming charm. Faykan paired them against each other for the most part, jumping in himself only to offer specific instruction to either of them or to correct their movements. Draco had borrowed an elven blade to practice against Harry and his weapon as well. Draco also noticed that his two friends seemed to grow significantly taller during their months stay at Faykan's home. When he arrived Faykan seemed to be only slightly taller than Harry, even though both boys were shorter than him by at least two inches, but by the second to last week of the holidays, Harry was almost as tall as Draco, with Faykan trailing behind him by a half inch.
The night before they had planned to go get their things at Diagon Alley, Faykan was reading to them from a book he named 'Quenta Silmarillion.' He was just reading about the awakening of elves under the stars long before the creation of the sun and moon, when there was a loud bellowing groan from the forest below them. Faykan leapt up, wand in hand, the book forgotten in the chair behind him. Within seconds he had reached the door and peered out into the gloom of night.
"Stay here, I'll be back soon," he said turning to Draco and Harry, before storming out and closing the door behind him.
Draco blinked at Harry for several seconds before speaking, "Wonder what that was about?"
Harry just shrugged before picking up his book about the language of the elves. Draco tried to read also, but something was pulling his attention to the center of the room, where the strange orb-shaped object sat. Draco tried to ignore the whispers, but after several minutes of the subtle tugs he finally stood and walked towards the plinth. As he approached, Harry turned to watch him but his friend said nothing. Draco ran a hand over the cloth covering the sphere, gently pulling it away, revealing a blackish stone, perfectly round and glass-like. Within the stone were swirling grayish clouds and shapeless lights.
Harry got up; his eyes drawn to the stone just as Draco reached out a hand to touch it.
"Draco…" Harry said but he stopped, unable to voice anything. The stone was warm in Draco's hand, almost as if it was gladdened that he was touching it.
Suddenly the flames of the braziers dimmed, casting the room into near total darkness. The clouds within the stone slowed and vanished from sight, replaced by images and scenes that neither Draco nor Harry could explain. They saw five figures, disembarking from a pure white ship. They were all old men; bearded and carrying staffs. Two wore blue robes, one a dull brown color, another wore grey, and the last who was in the forefront wore robes of shimmering white. Their eyes were the most piercing colors that Draco could ever remember seeing and they radiated power and majesty as they walked.
As suddenly as the image appeared, it changed. The two blue-robed men were riding horses through a strange forest, their staves in one hand, and bows strapped to their backs. Then it changed to the brown-robed man sitting in a large building, speaking to a large eagle before it took off into the sky. Then they saw the white robed man speaking to a group of men wearing ragged hides. The images whirled faster and faster, and soon Draco and Harry could only see glimpses of things before they changed into something else.
Finally the scene focused onto the old grey-robed man as he led a group of eight strange people through dark tunnels. Four of the strangers were small, only around three feet tall, another was only slightly taller, and Draco recognized him as a dwarf from last Valentine's Day and Lockhart's ridicules celebration, but this one was far older and nobler looking. Two were older men, though not nearly as old as the grey clad leader. And the last, the last was a person more beautiful than Draco could describe any being he had ever laid eyes on. The male figure was slender yet strong-looking. He had bright eyes and long silver-white hair very similar to Draco's own, and his ears were pointed. He was clearly an elf, one of the ones that Faykan had mentioned quite often.
Suddenly the group of nine started running. Many dark shapes appeared behind them and began pursuing them through the winding tunnels. They entered a large hall, and fire surged up behind them. And finally, the old man spoke, his voice ringing through the chamber as Harry and Draco watched. The language was strange, but both boys had no difficultly understanding.
"Look ahead! The Bridge is near. Be careful, for it is dangerous and narrow."
The figures were running towards a large black chasm. Their only means of crossing was a long slender bridge that jutted across it, only wide enough for them to cross one at a time. The old man stopped at the near side of the bridge and ushered the others before him, constantly glancing back with fear at the way they had come. Arrows were flying toward them from the darkness, striking one of the small people and bouncing off them. The fire far behind seemed to be cutting off their pursuers, strange creatures with slanted eyes and blackish skin covered in dark iron armor and carrying large bows and cruel-looking scimitars.
The elf man turned to fire an arrow back at the dark creatures in retaliation, but cried out in dismay and fear. Two giant shapes, trolls, Draco recognized, were setting large slabs of stone across the fire, and the sea of smaller evil creatures had parted in fear as something large and shadowy, man-like in shape but greater, full of power and terror that even Draco could feel it through the vision, moved to the edge of the wall of fire. Then with a rush it leaped across the fissure. The flames roared up to greet it, and wreathed about it; and a black smoke swirled in the air. In its right hand was a blade made of fire; in its left it held a whip of many thongs.
"Ai! Ai! A Balrog! A Balrog is come!" the elf cried in horror.
The dwarf stare with wide eyes at the darn creature as his axe fell to the stone floor, "Durin's Bane!" he cried, covering his face.
The old man in grey faltered, and leaned heavily on his staff, "A Balrog, now I understand. What an evil fortune, and I am already weary."
The dark figure streaming with fire raced towards them. The smaller creatures yelled and poured over the stone gangways behind it. Then one of the younger men raised a horn and blew. The challenge rang loud and bellowed, like the shout of many throats under the cavernous roof. For a moment the small creatures quailed and the fiery shadow halted. Then the echoes died as suddenly as it sounded, and the creatures advanced again.
"Over the bridge!" the old man cried "Fly! This is a foe beyond any of you. I must hold the narrow way. Fly!"
But none of the others heeded his commands, waiting on the far side of the bridge to watch him face the mass of creatures alone.
The Balrog reached the bridge first. The old man stood in the middle of the span, leaning on the staff in his left hand, but in his other hand a shining silver sword gleamed, cold and white. Draco recognized it as Faykan's sword Glamdring. His enemy halted again, facing him, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings. It raised the whip, and the thongs whined and cracked. Fire came from its nostrils. But the man stood firm.
"You cannot pass," he said firmly. The small creatures stood still, and a dead silence fell. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass."
The Balrog made no answer. The fire in it seemed to die, but the darkness grew. It stepped forward slowly on to the bridge, and suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall; but still the man could be seen, glimmering in the gloom; he seemed small, and altogether alone: grey and bent, like a wizened tree before the onset of a storm.
A red sword leaped out, flaming, from out of the shadow. Glamdring glittered white in answer. There was a ringing clash and a stab of white fire. The Balrog fell back and its sword flew up in molten fragments. The old man swayed on the bridge, stepped back a pace, and then again stood still.
"You cannot pass!" he repeated, his voice booming off the far walls of the cavern.
With a bound the Balrog leaped full upon the bridge. Its whip whirled and hissed.
"He cannot stand alone!" cried one of the younger men suddenly, and ran back along the bridge. "Elendil!" he shouted. "I am with you, Gandalf!"
"Gondor!" cried the other man as he leaped after him.
At that moment Gandalf lifted his staff, and crying aloud, "You shall not pass," he smote the bridge before him. The staff broke asunder and fell from his hand. A blinding sheet of white flame sprang up. The bridge cracked and broke right at the Balrog's feet, and the stone upon which it stood crashed into the gulf, while the rest remained, poised, jutting out into emptiness.
With a terrible cry the Balrog fell forward, and its shadow plunged down and vanished. But even as it fell it swung its whip, and the thongs lashed and curled about Gandalf's knees, dragging him to the brink. He staggered, fell, grasped vainly at the stone, and slid into the abyss. "Fly, you fools!" he cried, and was gone.
The stone went black afterward, and the lights from the braziers returned. They weren't as bright as before, seemingly lessened after what they had seen. Draco started as a hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. Faykan was staring into his eyes, worry and excitement gleaming in his, "What did you see?"
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