Chapter 22 – The Betwixting Forest
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Previously on The Forgiven: Grimm, Liar, and Norse successfully broke into Gringotts and assisted in the Stone's move to Hogwarts. While the artifact will be under the protection of Dumbledore there, another liability exists. The Life Alchemist: Nicholas Flamel remains out of safety's reach, vulnerable to the hands of the enemy.
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It was peaceful…
Tranquil….
…
Grimm closed her eyes and felt the gentle breeze brush against her face. The leaves above rustled softly with a gentle sound that brought peace to any mind.
The witch opened her eyes and saw vibrant layers of green vegetation all around her. It was the afternoon, but the trees around her had grown so tall and wildly that they provided shade everywhere. The coolness on a hot day brought further comfort to the forests' visitors.
Grimm couldn't detect the presence of any animals or even insects. It was as if the surrounding flora and her companion were the only things alive in this world. The pain in her heart and the stiffness in her nerves seemed to melt away into the soft dirt beneath her feet.
With a sincere smile Grimm followed in the footsteps of the young woman in front of her.
Tonks spun towards her in a summer white dress. The skirt fluttered in the small breeze, color contrasting beautifully against the vivid, dark green surroundings.
Grimm gave a quiet laugh.
"Grimma."
Tonks spoke her name. Voice playful and sweet.
"Grimma….."
"Hm?"
….
"Grimm, wake up."
The witch felt someone's hands shaking her shoulders.
Instinct kicked in and she moved with a speed not seen with the naked eye. With her left hand, she reached under her pillow for her wand. With her right, she grabbed the one waking her by their collar. In a fraction of a second, she was holding her wand at the person's throat.
"You need to find a better way to wake me up. I was having a good dream, for once."
"That is rare. I will make sure to commit that to memory, as I prefer to remain breathing through my mouth rather than my throat," Liar said with a sympathetic smile. "Unfortunately, we have an emergency meeting."
Grimm let Liar go and began getting dressed.
"Emergency meeting, huh? Is it Flamel?"
"Mad Eye's found him."
"Norse still out?"
"She's making her way back. Moody's right pissed she wasn't here on standby."
"Guess he would be." Grimm finished changing. "But this couldn't wait until morning?"
"Why rely on Auror and Law Enforcement working hours, when you can sortie 24/7 available shadow agents? The price of being reliable operatives," Liar shrugged. "Also, he said we needed to hit the ground hard and running on this one."
Grimm raised an eyebrow to the statement.
"No time to put together a full plan? The situation's that bad?"
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"It's that bad…!" Moody snarled.
Before him, Grimm, Liar, and Norse were packing their equipment in record time. While they did so, the Forgiver filled them in on the key details.
"Time is of the essence. Nicholas Flamel's location's been leaked for half a day now. Whoever's after the Stone most likely has a head start on you, as well as any other blundering idiot who wants eternal life."
"How the hell did that happen?" Grimm asked.
"Of all people, it was Mundungus Fletcher who found Flamel's whereabouts."
"Mundungus?! Shite. If that's how it is, we can assume every thug and desperate bloke for coin in Knockturn Alley knows!" Liar exclaimed.
"Word is a few of the mercenary guilds are already organized and making their moves."
Grimm patiently took a long sip of her black coffee.
"Who are we up against?"
"A lot of amateurs will be in the mix, to be sure. But the notable ones are: Shadow Cape, Spriggan, and Troll Garden."
"'Troll Garden'. They've been making some waves lately."
"So the three of us against an armada of dark guilders." Liar exhaled a puff from his cigarette and spiked it on the floor. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't be a very Forgiven operation, if there weren't some gambling odds."
"They have the superior numbers, but the disadvantage won't play too hard in this case. According to the intel, Nicholas Flamel's been hiding out in the Betwixting Forest."
The three stopped what they were doing at the same time and stared at Mad Eye upon hearing the location. He wasn't surprised this was how they were reacting.
The Betwixsting Forest was a famous place with a reputation fitting of its name. There, any magic casted went absolutely haywire. Something about the odd intersections of the earth's leylines caused spells to malfunction. If someone attempted to incant something, half the time, the magic would backfire; and the other times, the effect would be astronomically less or astronomically more than the desired effect.
Because of the area's unique effect, the forest gained some rather unique inhabitants over the years. Creatures that were extinct everywhere else, existed there to escape being hunted by Magi. It was rumored a large number of vagrants, criminals avoiding the law, Squibs, and other manner of peoples fled to the location to deter any magic people from following them.
"Explains why we never found Flamel till now, and how Mundungus found him before any of us. I know he's an old Order of the Phoenix man, but you should consider doing something about the prick."
"Duly noted and added to our to do list, once this mess is settled. As I was saying, you three hold a distinct advantage over your competition. You've all trained yourselves physically, while the enemy's probably soft and crippled without their magic. Also, you're Animagus. Your animal forms still work, and will let you maneuver the Forest quicker. And then there's your Origin Magic," Mad Eye lectured.
Grimm, Norse, and Liar, touched a certain tattoo they all had branded over their hearts.
"Your Origin Magic won't be affected by the Forest, but remember, they only work once—so choose the moment carefully."
The three Forgiven nodded.
"Originally, the Forgivers were to help you on this. But Dumbledore's guarding the Stone at Hogwarts, Kingsley's working to contain the information leak, and I'd do more harm than good if I went with you. Eye won't work, and forests aren't exactly peg leg friendly."
After spending so much time with him, they could all sense whenever Moody felt frustrated or guilty. The veteran Auror would gladly be at the front of every battle, or the first into the fray, if he could. It inspired something in them, whether Moody knew it or not.
"Leave it to us, Mad Eye. We'll see this done," Grimm answered.
"Atta girl."
The old Auror looked at them all with a determined stare, as if instilling the three with his energy and vigilance. He finished giving them the rest of the key information. And right when he was about to leave, he approached Norse.
The large witch was looking down. A bruise on her cheek was beginning to swell from where Moody hit her earlier for not being at the base.
"Sometimes…I…"
"…"
"I forget how much I ask from you—from all of you."
"Mad Eye, I—"
He held up his hand.
"I overreacted and that's my foolishness." Moody held Norse's face and healed the bruise. "I know things have been getting a little hairy lately, and they're only going to get worse." He looked at them all. "When we recruited you, we didn't expect you to become…this." He paused trying to find the right words. "We asked you to give us everything—unfair as it was—and you have. In fact, you've always delivered more than what was promised."
Moody sighed and stepped back to address them all.
"I'm proud of you three. And….the world might find you one day, and they won't like the things you've done, or understand the reason for what you had to do—the sacrifices you've had to make.
….But fuck 'em."
The sentiment brought a bright smile to the three Forgiven.
"You're the best I've had the experience of coming across, whatever anyone might believe. I'm not one for compliments. Get back safe, you bloody idiots. I haven't taught you everything you have to learn yet."
He turned and began limping away.
"I love you too, Mad Eye!" Liar called back to him, but Moody ignored it.
As the Forgiven were left to themselves, they made small talk as per their usual routine. Idle, dumb, chatter always seemed to work wonders on their nerves when preparing for a particularly daunting mission. Bad jokes and unhealthy amounts of caffeine were practically victory rituals for them.
"You know what I think we need?" Liar made a sudden question. "I mean, for our base of operations."
"…..A House-Elf?"
"Oh! That too. But you know what else?"
"More video games?"
"No! Bah! You two are terrible at this!"
Grimm was already rolling her eyes.
"Okay, Liar," she groaned. "What do you think we need?"
"An animal companion. Not an annoying one, though, like a dog or anything, but something tamer."
"I would prefer a dog. They are loyal, and make wonderful assets in combat."
"I'd feel sorry for whatever animal we took in. They're really sensitive to their surroundings, and…" Grimm glanced at Liar and Norse. "…we're not exactly the most warm and nurturing type of people. Plus, they'd be stuck underground all the time."
"We could hide them at one of our safe flats," Norse suggested.
"That is a viable option," Liar agreed.
"The ones we rarely visit and should only be used in case of emergencies? Even if we tried to go there on a regular basis, the Forgivers would notice. We're supposed to keep those safe houses secret, even from them, remember?"
Liar kicked the ground and Norse pouted her lips.
"You guys really want a pet, don't you?"
Norse and Liar bobbed their heads.
*Sigh* "Let's table it first and see if we can't figure something out later. The way Moody is, maybe we can guilt trip into the idea."
The large witch broke a wide grin in agreement. Grimm gave her a small shove and they began elbowing each other playfully. Their small bout of intimacy was interrupted by the sound of a knife stabbing into wood behind them.
The two witches walked over, curious to what Liar was doing.
"Are you…carving your name on your wand?" Grimm asked with an offset brow.
"Yes. Yes, I am."
"What are you, a child?"
"Hey! It's cool, okay? Aaaaand–" Liar threw Norse an accusing glare. "Both of you repeatedly obliterate your wands! Wouldn't want one of you picking up mine by mistake. Isn't that right, NORSE?"
"For the last time, it was broken when I found it!"
"A likely story," Liar harrumphed with an upturned nose.
In return, Norse turned in the opposite direction and crossed her arms. Even if Liar didn't believe her, Grimm did. She knew Norse was telling the truth.
She knew this because she was the one, who broke Liar's wand and planted it near her.
"I see," Grimm said, trying to stifle a laugh. "Well, then. You better make sure you spell your name correctly."
Liar lifted his right hand up to make a rude gesture. Grimm only broke into large, unrestrained laughter.
"That's NOT your middle finger anymore, HAHAHA!"
The young man was confused at first, but then realized the hand he used for the gesture, was the one missing its pinky.
"AAAGGHHH!"
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The Forgiven had never Apparated like this before.
As Liar carried them through the space between the underground base and the Betwixting Forest, the party encountered a large amount of "turbulence". The three felt their bodies stretch left and right, threatening to reappear in a different location from their destination. Strong gravitational forces tried to tear the Forgiven from each other, and it took all of Liar's efforts to keep them together.
"Liar! What's happening?!" Grimm wailed.
"The Forest is interfering with the Apparation!"
"I thought you were moving us far enough out of the field!"
"Apparently, the idiotic magic zone fluctuates! Just bear with it! We're almost there."
And suddenly, as if answering their words, the three were shot out of thin air. Though, they left the space between Apparations, the Forgiven's bodies were still being thrown about like little toys. Sharp winds whipped at their limbs and rain drops pelted their faces.
Grimm, Norse, and Liar, had teleported above the Forest, in the middle of a storm.
A dense gale hit them like an invisible wall, and separated them. Three bodies went flying in different directions, flipping haphazardly through their descent. It was complete and utter chaos.
Though, despite the swirling madness, it actually felt kind of easing for Grimm. To just be blown around with no sense of control. To simply give herself to whatever would happen.
I think….It would be fine….
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I think it would be fine, if I just died like this….
The intrusive thought arose in her head and seemed to deafen the howling winds around her.
But the thought lasted only for a second.
Grimm looked to Liar and Norse falling ahead of her. The two were coordinating where they would fall, and Grimm followed suit.
After much effort, they were able to gain some control and position themselves for their landing. Crossing their arms and closing their legs, Liar and Grimm made themselves as streamlined as possible. Norse, on the other hand, opted to transform into her Penguin form, and dove nose first. The three saw the watery surface approaching quickly, and simultaneously held their breaths.
*SPLOOSH*
The Forgiven submerged to a deep into the body of water before buoyancy outmuscled gravity. They swam to the surface and was again met with the chaos of the storm. Maneuvering themselves on the lake's waves, they were able to swim to nearest beach.
*Cough! Cough!*
Grimm and Liar hunched over in the sand, both hacking out the water in their lungs. Norse shifted back to her human form and began patting their backs. Once the last bit of water was out of their systems, they all lied down on the beach, arms spread out in fatigue.
The monsoon seemed to rain harder on the three with every passing second. Even so, the Forgiven needed to take a small breather before continuing their mission.
Grimm looked up into the swirling dark grey clouds and pouted.
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"This place sucks…"