Chapter 4 - Runes
That evening, Hermione finished dinner quickly and made her way to Professor Babbling's office. The professor was waiting for her and took her arm as they made their way down the hallway and the professor began to explain what the night's task was.
"Tonight we are heading to the north side of the castle. There are no dorms over there, so not much has been done with repairs there yet beyond keeping the weather out. The north side of the castle is also the oldest. The stones there still resonate with the magics of our four founders. Being the most ancient, it is also the most powerful, but the work there will also be the most dangerous. Headmistress McGonagall and Professor Flitwick have already set charms and wards in place, so we should be fairly safe. Don't worry Hermione, I wouldn't bring you along if I wasn't satisfied with the precautions."
"I'm sure you're being careful professor. I have no concerns. I have faced worst."
The professor looked at her for a minute before continuing.
"Yes, of course you have. You are not our average student or you wouldn't be assisting with the castle. Now, back to the task for this evening. The castle has a number of protections in place all around it. These have been built up through many centuries. When the original founders first began construction on the north side of the castle they built carefully with the knowledge that the castle may be put under siege at some point in the future. Back in the time of Hogwarts' founding, the magical world was full of strife and factions, and many did not agree with bringing all young wizards and witches to one location for their education. So, along with protections, they built some unique features into the original walls. Features that would let the castle not only hold defensively, but also offered some offensive abilities. Much of what the founders built into the walls was done with runes. You of course understand the difference?"
Hermione nodded as she began to speak.
"Charms are more a surface level magic with set parameters in which they operate. Basic charms often have a limited range and time in which they will work. Advanced charms have less of these restrictions, but require much more skill. Runes though are something different. They are carved and worked into objects, changing the structure and function of the object forever. They have much greater power and flexibility, but also a much greater potential for disaster. A skilled witch or wizard who understands how to work multiple runes together can essentially weave their own type of magic."
Professor Babbling nodded and smiled.
"Precisely Hermione. I knew you would be able to help tonight. Now, for the details of our task. The cornerstone of the north wall has been damaged and there is one rune combination that needs to be reinstated. It's a unique combination that I have never seen anywhere else. After much research, I believe the original rune combination was put in place by Rowena Ravenclaw herself."
At that point, the professor made one final turn and they had reached a very old piece of wall in a section of the dungeons that was off limits. Hermione could see some damage, but it didn't look too bad. Then she stopped as she felt something else. The magic was palpable, but it was also wrong. It almost felt like a knot that needed to be undone. Professor Babbling watched Hermione's reaction and was satisfied that her student had noticed the change.
"Ah, so you feel it, don't you? The magic wards in place here have been disturbed."
Hermione nodded and followed the professor to a far corner of the wall. There she saw a mammoth block of granite wrapped in runes. One side was chipped loose and she somehow indescribably knew this was the source of the problem. The professor then began explaining.
"What you see here in the damaged area Hermione is a sequence of three runes. First there is targus, the rune for stone. Next is anh, the rune for change. It is barely recognizable in its current state. Finally, the third rune is rhio, the rune for form. Where our repairs need to be made is in the first two. They must be reinstated and tied back into the undamaged third rune. Now, do you have an idea what the purpose of these three runes, tied together, and placed here may be?"
Hermione took a minute to ponder, thinking back on several years of Runes study. She had an idea, but was still unsure.
"Hmm, well my guess professor is that it has something to do with transformation, a changing of form. I am puzzled though what that would have to do with stone."
"Very good, very good indeed. What these runes will allow is for the castle to make changes to its structure as needed for defense. There is another set of runes at the other side that allow for the observation and judgment of danger. This set of runes allows for action based on those observations. And the runes did work, if you look over at the far wall, what do you see?"
Hermione turned and looked, surprised to see several large old-fashioned cannonballs. She was about to pose a question when the professor spoke again.
"Those cannonballs were thrown by the giants that allied with Voldemort. They are sitting here because they were able to pass through the walls rather than smash into them."
Suddenly, Hermione realized what the walls must have done.
"Professor, do you mean that the walls opened up so that the cannonballs passed through?"
Professor Babbling smiled.
"So now you understand what the runes do and why we must reinstate them. Shall we began?"
The professor took Hermione by the arm and they approached the damaged cornerstone.
"Now, I will be the primary focus for this. I will initiate the spells, but it takes great strength. That is where I need your assistance. Aim your wand at mine and focus on the spell 'extrenomous'. I believe you studied the spell in your fifth year?"
"Yes, it's an extension spell. It is often used in conjunction with other spells to extend their duration or distance."
"Yes indeed, but here we will be using it to extend my powers as I reinstate the runes. While normally you would cast the spell singularly, what I will need you to do is a nonverbal cast in which you continually repeat without ceasing. The effect should continually magnify the strength of the spells I will be using for the runes. You should know that a continuous cast such as this will take a great deal of strength and focus. Are you ready?"
Hermione took a deep breath and nodded to Professor Babbling. The professor then stepped forward and extended her wand. Hermione was right behind, with her wand just millimeters from the professor's. As the professor began incanting, she did as instructed and continually cast 'extrenomous'. The wave of power that flowed around the two of them almost caused her focus to slip. She gritted her teeth and gripped her wand tighter as she struggled to assist the professor. They continued for almost an hour, although Hermione lost all track of time. The cornerstone had changed significantly and all three runes were complete and glowing, but they did not yet appear fully linked. Suddenly, a strange wave of loose power flowed back through the two wands and she wasn't sure if she could hold on. She gasped and then the professor dropped her wand, while at the same time pushing Hermione's down.
"Hermione, stop…I'm not sure…but something...I don't know…something…we were so close, but we need to stop here."
With that said, the professor dropped to her knees, exhausted. Hermione stumbled and leaned into the wall.
"Professor what happened? I think we were almost done, but I don't think they're linked yet?"
The professor took a deep breath.
"We were almost there Hermione, but there is something else here with us, almost another force or essence. Something that is somehow interfering. I don't understand it, but after that backlash I know we must be done for tonight. I'll give it some thought and try again another time. Maybe I'm just too tired."
The professor then stood up and put an arm around Hermione's waist.
"Come Hermione, we've both put in a full night's work. Let's see if the house elves can find us a snack."
Hermione and the professor made their way upstairs to the kitchens and found a night crew of elves busy with preparations for the next day. Seeing the two exhausted witches, the elves rushed forward to offer a selection of refreshments. Hermione had been in a bit of a daze since they left the dungeon, but suddenly she was famished as she dove into a plate of sausages.
"Excuse me, would it be possible to get some sauerkraut?"
A nearby elf smiled and rushed to do Hermione's bidding. Soon Hermione had a stack of sauerkraut piled as high as the sausages and she was eating with single minded devotion. Professor Babbling was tucking into a second piece of pie as she remarked.
"Heavy rune work always gives one an appetite."
Once they had both finished, Hermione gave a yawn, wished the professor and house elves a good night, and made her way to her dormitory.
