Chapter Forty-Two
The First Memory
When Quintin came in from the Sparring Tournament, he was was too tired to get into research, let alone studying, but he did let Jeremy into his room long enough to report what books he had found. He frowned when he saw that there was only a book and a scroll under Jeremy's arm; the book was Hogwarts, a History, and the scroll was Ambrose Tinker's Addendum.
"What? Is that all?" Quintin said and gawked at him.
"No," Jeremy said, pulling out a really long list and handing it to him. "There are actually a lot of books on Slytherin in there, but they're either in the Restricted Section or in the Research Library. Some of them don't have a location list, but Boulderdash said that's because they may be in private libraries. Sometimes professors give him a list of their titles another professor needs to track one down. I wrote down all of the titles including the unmarked ones, and notated them with RS, RL, and question mark so that you could tell them apart."
"I knew I should have insisted that you had full access to the Restricted Section too," Quintin grumbled.
"It still wouldn't have gotten me access to half of them. There are spell and potion books he personally wrote, several biographies written in different time periods, and an enormous amount of speculative articles written about him in Dark Magic magazines that I didn't include. They all had names like, Slytherin's Power Compared to the Wizards of the Modern Age, Slytherin's Forgotten Wisdom, or my favorite, What Would Slytherin Do?" Jeremy reported. "All of them sounded more like opinion articles rather than actual facts, so I decided not to bother with those."
"Considering how much seems to be written about him, I doubt we'll need them," Quintin said, frowning at the list. "Does it bother you that Slytherin has at least twenty times the amount of books written about him than the other three combined? Because it sure as blazes bothers me."
"There are two titles about Janus Craw," Jeremy offered. "Although one is the Dark Wizard's Compendium and the other are his journals."
"Thanks, Jeremy. We'll deal with it on Saturday," Quintin replied.
"Right," Jeremy said. "What did you learn from Professor Weasley? Any news on the Scroll they left?"
"Only that it doesn't have any memories attached," Quintin said. "As for the third spell, she refused to talk about it, and said it was a secret."
"I'm sure that's what she said..." Jeremy repeated, gazing at his friend knowingly. "But did you pick up from her face what it was about?"
"Yeah," Quintin admitted. "I'm not telling you what the spell is, especially since I shouldn't know it at all. I'll only say that it was meant as a last resort in case Voldemort won. But since he didn't win, it doesn't really matter, especially with what we're working on. Dusthorn's memories are somewhere else."
"Well, that doesn't make things very easy, does it?" Jeremy said.
"If they had been easy to find, they would have been found a long time ago," Quintin replied.
"But that makes no sense! The four apprentices wanted those memories found eventually, if they wanted their descendants to use them to defeat Voldemort. They would have hidden them somewhere that would be easy for to find, not somewhere hard. Somewhere obvious that a descendent would automatically check," Jeremy argued. Quintin pondered that.
"Maybe you have a point," Quintin said at last. "In fact, I may even have an idea on where some of them are hidden... we can see if I'm right on Saturday," Quintin decided, then went to his room to get some sleep.
On Friday at lunch, Quintin made himself comfortable in Anna's office, setting a couple of the offered sandwiches on his plate as he listened her recount the time she went to the Chamber of Secrets to rescue Alex and Aurelius.
"When I went down there, I was just following my instincts. I knew that someone was in trouble and I was the only one who could get to them," Anna explained. "It's not something I could control, especially back then... to be perfectly honest, I had no control of my magic at all at that point. It simply took over, and I found myself in motion... or on the floor... whatever the situation required," she said sheepishly. Quintin nodded solemnly at that. "Honestly, I'd prefer it if that happen to me at all, except for life and death situations... over the years, I've learned to control the instinct to the point that it doesn't control me anymore. I've become more aware of the warning signs and have time to assess the situation, so I can make my own decision on whether or not I have to intervene. So... other than when I was pregnant with Samantha... I typically curb that ability and don't use it unless it's absolutely necessary. In fact, other than Apparating and basic quality of life conveniences, I try to use magic as little as possible now."
"Yes, I know," Quintin said, then grew thoughtful. "I suppose Wuscfrea must have felt otherwise, considering his job teaching Spell Creation at the school. I wonder if he had any control over those impulses when they happened?"
"He must have," Anna decided. "It's possible that creating spells that work for everyone was probably how he gained control in the first place. He may have been choosing spells that he was casting by instinct and developed wand movements and incantations to force them to behave... it was a way to put them in a box, so to speak," she speculated.
"That makes sense," Quintin decided. "Formal magic was still pretty new at that point. That was only a few centuries after Merlin began structuring it."
"He didn't do it all by himself, you know. I believe that Morgan Le Fey had a lot to do with it too," Anna said. "Incorporating old druidic rituals she learned from her mother, as well as incorporating herbs, trees, earth, the stars and their positions and so on. In a way, I think of her as the mother of what we refer to as Physical Arts now... Potions, Items, and Divination."
"Huh. I never thought of Divination as Physical Arts before, but you're right," Quintin decided. "Most of the time, we're manipulating items of some sort to find answers in Divination, and Astrology uses the sky as a tool. But what about Herbology?"
"I have no doubt that Morgan did her fair share of cultivating plants and using them... namely the poisonous ones, if what I've learned from Merlin's books and Aunt Viviane's recollections are true."
"It's not often that they both recollect the same thing," Quintin pointed out. "Which means it's probably accurate."
"I think so too," Anna agreed with amusement. "We also know that the set of Merlin's twins that came from Morgan ended up being the Sentinel of Darkness and Sentinel of Ancient Magic, which fits with her skillset and what she would have been teaching them. Herbology as we know it today came from the Guinevere line... she had Fae blood too, after all, through her mother's line. In fact, she had more elven blood than than Morgan did, despite the mention in Morgan's name. Herbology as we know it came from Guinevere's daughter's line."
"That makes sense, considering her daughter was the first Sentinel of Wild Magic," Quintin concluded.
"Yes, but how did you know that?" Anna asked curiously. "For a long time, I was convinced that the girl was Light Magic rather than Wild Magic."
"I learned it from the Sorting Hat, of course. I found out that the first Sentinel of Light was his grandfather," Quintin explained. Anna sighed with exasperation.
"You know, if I had guessed what was going on with that Hat years ago, I would have saved myself hours of research," Anna realized with frustration.
"Anyway, about Wuscfrea," Quintin said, getting her back on subject. "Did you learn anything about him other than his name from the Shackles? Did he have any memories in them?"
"No, it wasn't that sort of a device, and it's just as well," Anna said. "I'm not sure I'd want to see such horrible memories, would you? Besides, storing memory strands is something you have to physically want to do and concentrate on," she pointed out, pulling out an empty Pensieve. "For example, if I think about that event, I have to concentrate on the memory until I see it clearly, and then use a wand to... hang on. I have to find it..." she realized, then began rummaging around in her desk.
"It needs a wand?" Quintin repeated.
"Well, I need one, anyway, because it's not a natural thing for me. Corey probably doesn't need one, but this isn't a instinctual thing, it's turning a thought into something physical... there it is," Anna said triumphantly, pulling it out. "Because of that, you're not likely to see someone's death blow from their point of view, unless they lived long enough to pull it out afterwards, I guess," Anna mused.
"Even then, it would still need to be put in a vessel of some sort to work. There are a few steps involved... concentrating on it, using a spell to put the memory into a strand..." she said, pulling a memory strand out with her wand, "and then having somewhere appropriate to put it, somewhere safe for you to store it that not just anyone can find it, since it's private... even more private than keeping a journal," she said, putting it into her Pensieve. "Peeking into someone's memories without permission would be just like you walking into their bedroom and reading out of their journal. How would you feel about that?"
"I wouldn't feel right about it at all," Quintin realized, but then paused. "But what if they're dead? Or what if the whole reason they stored a memory in the first place was so that people could find it in the future?"
"Then I'd say that's different, as long as you are prepared for what you might see," Anna said.
"Please. Spare me the 'be careful because you're researching tough stuff' speech, I've heard it more times than I can count already," Quintin said flatly.
"Okay. Then I won't," Anna promised.
"Thanks," Quintin said sincerely.
"Finish your sandwich, and I'll show you my memory of that rescue," Anna said.
"What, now?" Quintin said with surprise.
"Sure. As your advisor, it's important for me to help you get your feet wet, because I know you're fully intending to go after those missing memories the Sentinels left," Anna said fixedly. "Really, did you think Sirius wasn't going to tell me about that? Finish your sandwich."
"It isn't as if no one knew about it. I already told my mother," Quintin said.
"Who's conveniently out of the castle until Monday," Anna said evenly.
"She made me promise that I'd take the Hat with me any time I did research," Quintin said in annoyance. Anna grinned at that.
"He always was a good babysitter," Anna observed.
"Now, don't you start!" Quintin protested, downing his juice. "I'm ready."
"Okay," Anna said unceremoniously, taking his hand and tapping the surface of the Pensieve.
Quintin heard a loud girl's scream and was blinded by a light in front of him, making it hard at first to tell what was going on. Even when it faded, he seemed to be floating in a silvery haze that made little sense.
"Where are we?" Quintin asked anxiously.
"I heard Alex's scream and jumped into the Shackles that Aurelius was trapped in, the same ones that Slytherin imprisoned Wuscfrea in," the Anna next to him explained. "Watch and listen," she said, pointing towards a figure attempting to right himself in the strange space within the Shackles.
It was Aurelius. Dark tendrils were around him, the only visible sign of the Shackles' influence on him.
"So, this is the one who would deem himself worthy of the power I have gathered," said a dark voice that made Quintin's hair stand on end. "How dare you even suggest it? You are not loyal of Slytherin, Parselmouth or no."
"I am loyal to the Slytherin House," Aurelius said proudly. "I am its Prefect, and I do everything in the best interests of my fellow housemates."
"Your job, Prefect, is to make sure that the house doesn't forget my ideals," said the menacing voice. "Not to promote your own!"
"Times have changed, sir," Aurelius said guardedly. "A thousand years have passed, but most of the traditions are still honored. Slytherin House has come to look after its own interests, instead of a mere individual."
"I see," said the voice of Slytherin. "Just as clearly as I see that you are anything but in the Houses' best interests. Treachery is in your eyes, weakness in your heart, and you are anything but loyal to me! So be it! Share the fate of my enemy! Your own magic power will match well, I think, with that of this fool! Perhaps this will teach the house what happens to those who defy our true cause…to one day allow our kind to be the true rulers of this world!"
"Stop!" commanded a voice, both feminine and yet snakelike. In the darkness, an iridescent figure appeared in the form of a giant snake that encircled him, its strangely regal face and slit eyes gazing into the darkness. "You may not harm him! I chose to spare him as I did you, and you may not, even now, touch him!"
"He is in my domain, not yours, Brigid," the voice snarled. "And it was his own choice to follow my path!"
"He was not spared to follow your path, Salazar, but to answer for it," Brigid said.
"That may be," the voice hissed. "But I shall indeed get in the final word!"
Aurelius began to wail in pain as bright lights began piercing through him, like a thousand arrows of light as the Snake snapped at the dark tendrils. Quintin found himself feeling fearful that the Snake's efforts was doing more harm and good, since Aurelius' spirit seemed to be caught up in the very center of their fight over his soul.
It was then that Quintin and Anna heard a voice; Anna's younger voice.
"It's his soul!" Anna shouted at them angrily. "It belongs to no one but him!"
"Aunt Anna!" Aurelius pleaded, and Quintin saw a pair of glowing lights.
"You can do it! You can do it, keep pulling!" shouted an unfamiliar voice. "The key is about to turn!"
Suddenly things began to blur as Anna reached in and grabbed him, pulling Aurelius into a dark, creepy room. In fact, she pulled so hard that things were shaking and toppling in the memory, and Quintin had to close his eyes for a moment until it stopped. Everything righted itself again, and Anna was on her knees. Aurelius was slumped on the floor in front of her with Alex close by, hovering over her brother until his eyes finally opened.
Just before the light around Anna began to fade, she looked over at a strange silhouette, weak and apologetic.
We have succeeded... I am free as well. I am grateful, Cuthbert whispered in her mind. As the glow around her faded away, so did the spirit. Shakily Anna steadied herself and check on Aurelius.
It was at that point when Aurelius opened his eyes.
"He's all right! He's awake now," Alex reported, looking over at her aunt.
"Aunt Anna!" Aurelius said, frowning at her in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"You have some nerve asking me that after what you two just put me through!" Anna snapped at him, her pale face suddenly flushed with anger as she checked him over.
"It was my fault, Aunt Anna, please don't yell at him," Alex said. "He simply followed me down here afraid I was going to get in trouble…"
"Well, he should have told someone instead, and you should know better!" Anna snapped.
"Are you going to tell Father?" Alex asked as Anna helped Aurelius to sit up.
"No, you are going to tell him! The two of you shouldn't have been down here! In fact, after we get Aurelius to the hospital wing, you and I are going to march straight up there!"
"No need," Severus said as he stepped in the door.
Aurelius took one look at him and decided to lay down again. The memory began to fade, and Quintin found himself back in his chair in Anna's office once more.
"I'll spare you the reprimand that came as we tried to get Aurelius up to the Hospital Wing. It wasn't pretty," Anna admitted.
"But that was all so confusing!" Quintin protested.
"Try living through it," Anna said dryly.
"I mean, where were you? And who was that first voice? And who was the Snake? And what was that whispering at the end? And why did everything look so strange?" Quintin asked all at once.
"Before I answer, I have a question of my own," Anna said evenly. "What are you going to do if you encounter a memory like that and there's no one to ask?"
"I don't believe that any other memories out there could possibly be as confusing as that one."
"Really? Even the memories of an insane man?" Anna challenged Quintin. Quintin looked a lot more unsure of himself.
"I don't know," Quintin admitted, subdued.
"Me either," Anna replied. "Let's hope that Ick only stored memories when he was feeling sane, or you really will be for a rough ride," she warned, pouring him some more juice. "The reason things looked strange was because I was Astral Projecting to where Aurelius was to get to him quickly. My body was standing stiff in front of the two of them, while my mind went inside the Shackles to try and get Aurelius' soul out after he had gotten trapped inside. Believe it or not, I had been in a similar situation to his before, although in my case, my body was pulled in as well. I was trapped inside an orb designed to drain the magical power from living creatures and store it for the owner's use," she explained. "You see, Aethermages are closer to magical creatures than they are to wizards in some ways. We don't have to train and harness magic, because we already are magic."
"I knew that," Quintin said with a nod.
"Well, devices that drain magic like that weren't made with humans in mind. They were invented by wizards involved in creature experimentation as a way to drain creatures... Fae creatures especially... of their magic to use for their own inhumane purposes," Anna explained. "Technically, they were outlawed along with a lot of other experimental tools thanks to a highly controversial treaty to end the revolts. A lot of wizards thought it gave them too many concessions, but the goblins wouldn't sign any treaty without it, and after how long they were treated no better than animals, I don't blame them in the slightest," Anna said evenly.
"Still, they had been legal for so long that there are quite a number of draining devices still out there, even if they were outlawed. And some of them, like the Orb I was put into, are modified so that they could drain higher beings, such as True Fae, Fomorians, and apparently, Aethermages. Back when no such restrictions existed, it would have been fairly easy for Slytherin to get his hands on creature shackles that were forged to drain its prey. So when he realized that Wuscfrea had left on the day the Cauldron disappeared from the school, Slytherin maliciously altered the Shackles so they were capable of holding a human, catching Wuscfrea on his way back to his castle and then stashing him in his Inner Chamber in hopes of learning where the Cauldron was. Of course, Wuscfrea never told him anything."
"If Wuscfrea never talked, then how did Janus find out where the Cauldron was?" Quintin asked.
"I'm not sure. Maybe Rowena told Janus at some point after Slytherin's funeral," Anna suggested. "Then once things were calm in the castle and everyone had adjusted after Slytherin's death, he left to find it... and as you know already, he didn't return until we found him on that island as a ghost. He did write about it in the last part of his journal."
"Yes, Mum is going to let me borrow it," Quintin said, and Anna nodded to him. "But what about those voices? The first voice that spoke, it was Slytherin's, wasn't it?"
"Yes," Anna said, then saw his expression. "Oh, his soul and his memories weren't trapped in the Shackles, if that's what you're worried about," she reassured him. "It was more like a set of instructions that he cast on the Shackles. In other words, it was the Dark Magic that he imbued inside the Shackles that was speaking on his behalf," she explained.
"And the Snake?" Quintin asked.
"The embodiment of Brigid herself, summoned through Aurelius to protect him," Anna said with a smile. "Aurelius has had the blessing of Brigid on him since he was before he was born, which is why he's so deeply connected to the Dark Forest. That blessing has even saved his life a time or two, including this occasion. I may not have gotten Rel out in time if Brigid hadn't stopped Slytherin's curse from taking hold, even if she was having a hard time fighting it."
"So this special blessing is why Aurelius named one of his daughter's Brigid," Quintin decided.
"You got it," Anna agreed. "And the last voice was, of course, Wuscfrea."
"He was helping you, wasn't he? He was trying to help you open the Shackles," Quintin recalled.
"Mostly Wuscfrea just visualized what I needed to do so I knew how to free Aurelius. He really didn't have any power left to help with the actual pulling out," Anna replied. "But yes, he did help as much as he could." Quintin smiled at that. "Well, now that you understand what that memory is all about, I suggest you write down everything you experienced and everything I just explained you," she suggested. Quintin gasped.
"I should have had a Dictation Quill going," Quintin realized, grabbing his notebook.
"It's not like it could have written down the memory without you talking about it anyway," Anna said, offering him a Never-dry pen. "But I suggest you write it down as quickly as possible, leaving lines in between so you can add in details you miss the first time around. Experiencing someone else's memory is a lot like having a really vivid dream... you might be alert and remember every little detail while it's going on, but the moment you get outside of it, things fade fast. Go ahead and do it now," Anna advised, and Quintin spent the rest of their lunch hour getting much of it down as possible.