Chapter Notes: I know the last chapter was sparse and small. It didn't offer a lot of answers to be quite frank. This chapter is one of the better things I have written and I hope it makes up for it. As a matter of fact I couldn't wait until tomorrow to post it because I like it so much. So this is posted and dedicated to Astrea Severin Orion Black because she has been waiting for this climatic chapter since I posted this story the first time. So you can stop threatening that heart attack now Ast LOL!

When we last left our story...

Harry and Ginny where sitting at the old battered dining room table as they arrived, he had her hands in his and they were talking earnestly. The way they turned easily showed it wasn't a private conversation.

"So did you find it?" Harry asked, a note of excitement in his voice.

Hermione knew that Ron would want to milk it a bit but she was too excited. "We found everything!" she squeaked.

Ron shot her an annoyed look for stealing his thunder, "Well we went a bit further than your list, mate," he stated with a big grin on his face.

"What do you mean?" Harry sighed in his relief.

"Well, what we are saying," Hermione interjected breathlessly, "is that if we can find a body of water somewhere near by, we can destroy that awful book once and for all!"

Ginny, who had been filled in by Harry, looked worried. "So Harry was right?"

Ron nodded gravely. "Fraid so."

Ginny sighed, placing her head in her hands. "Than we are in deep trouble!"

Hermione sat in the seat beside Ginny, exhausted. "The whole world is," she stated flatly.

They were interrupted by the sound of another arrival through the floo.

George stood there with a big grin on his face. "Well, are you lot ready?"

Harry stood. "As we'll ever be."

George's grin faltered a bit. "Good thing! Because I found him. We need to hurry."

Hermione spoke up. "I hope we have time for a stroll by the lake."

Now, in the Garden of Black Briar Manor at Dusk...

AfterMagic

Chapter5

A Brother In Need...

Ron heard the chanting rolling over the hedges before they even got to the clearing.

He knew this place from his childhood.

Black Briar Manor, Great Aunt Muriel's estate, was a rolling, sprawling bit of country and the Weasley children had wandered every square inch, mostly so they could get away from that old, ill tempered, elitist bat. When Molly and Arthur had visited her, rather than have the extra stress of having George and Fred in an old flammable and fragile trinket filled mansion, they normally turned the whole clan loose to play away the visit out among the expansive property.

The clearing in question was in the middle of a huge, elaborate, hedge labyrinth that was designed by a very clever ancestor sometime in centuries past.

The children had gotten lost several times before they discovered the heart of the maze, and over the years, they learned the solution by heart, even when the magical hedges changed from time to time, rare was the time the clever children failed to solve it.

After they wandered through, with a few wrong turns caused by their haste, they stepped into the open in the statuesque garden at the, with all its fountains and stone figures, marble pathways, cascading waterfall pools defying gravity. In the centre, in a well-groomed grassy patch was a miniature of Stonehenge. Miniature in scale, not size with the stones still a story and a half tall.

Ron glanced up at the burnished bronze sun, which was in the process of retreat, an act that would speed up dramatically in the next fifteen minutes or so. Not much time left.

It was indeed Percy's voice, but yet it didn't sound like him. That smooth cultured, pompous voice that had made Ron cringe so often wasn't what he was hearing coming from the middle of the stone edifice. The formerly cultured anxious voice, sounded ragged, and worn, speaking words that where harshly pronounced in a language so old and powerful, it made your bones ache just hearing them.

"Where did Percy learn to speak like that?" Ron wondered aloud.

"He didn't." came Harry's simple reply.

Ron stared at him, then noticed the strained lines in his friend's face, he had seen them before, usually when things where a lot more serious then he let on.

"What's going on Harry?" he whispered just loud enough, his hand found Hermione's, she gripped back hard enough to make him wince. Under his other arm he had a long thin package, it was hard to believe what was in his possession, but this whole day had been weird.

Ginny came closer and George leaned in, it was time for the final instructions. Whatever was going to happen was happening now in the next moments.

Harry's face was intense in the orange glow of the diminishing light, "I hate to go all Dumbledore on you, but I can't reveal everything right now, my plan depends on everybody doing their part. And just their part, okay?" His tone was pleading, he was taking control but he wanted to make sure they understood he considered it temporary. That fear was entirely unjustified, but it was why Ron would follow Harry Potter into the fires of hell itself. An individual that demanded loyalty, would never receive it to the extent of someone who earned it, but never took if for granted. "I need to know if you all will trust me, what we are up against is more powerful than I care to imagine, but we can stop it here."

They all nodded gravely. He turned to George, "You've got to get Percy to see reason, and stop the ceremony, George." George licked his bottom lip nervously staring at the rock formation that was taking on an odd amethyst glow, and then he looked at Harry and nodded. "Hermione, can you find a way to breach an outer containment circle long enough for Ron to slip our package through?" A pensive look twisted her features, "I don't know Harry, and if it's set up right I might not be able to breach it." Harry sighed, his nerves showing, "If you can't breach it, can you lift a corner of it? Maybe even go under it?" Hermione chewed her lip in thought a moment or two, "I know something that might work." He beamed, "Great!" He turned to Ron, "You need to remember the time you held Godric's sword. That's all I can say, just remember."

Ron's mind jumbled in confusion as Harry bent and kissed Ginny on the cheek, "You know what to do. I'm sorry but I can't think of another way." Ginny nodded gravely, "I'll do my part, you be careful Harry." She wasn't content with the peck on the cheek, she leaned up and kissed him on the lips.

Ron bristled; He's my best mate, but oy! Snogging my little sister in front of me, I don't care what's going on, I might just slug him! Hermoine punched him lightly on the arm, and gave him that glare that said, I know what your thinking Ron Weasley and don't you dare! He gave her a sheepish look.

"You're up George." Harry murmured.

George squared his shoulders and walked to the opening, Ginny and Harry crept over to the side where they could still see, Hermione grabbed Ron's arm and they went around to the opposite side, creeping up to look inside. George was speaking.

"Well mate, if you was going to throw a party, you should have invited me."

The chanting stopped immediately, a voice so cold that Ron had an urge to check his nose for frostbite said, "Leave...now!"

He and Hermione peered inside. There, inside a milky white shield circle, was his formerly immaculately-groomed older brother. He looked absolutely ill and pained. His face was pale as bleached parchment, his red hair, normally cemented in place by potion, was was floating free around his head like a halo blown by an unknown breeze, the eyes were sunken and haunted he wasn't wearing his glasses. He was standing over a makeshift altar on a large turned-up broken piece of rock, where rested a book and a nasty looking knife, beside a glowing cauldron from which the purple light was emanating.

George somehow managed to look disinterested, leaning against one of the monolithic rocks with a casualness he couldn't be feeling. Ron had to admire the acting job, of course George and Fred had talked there way out of so many sticky situations over the years that he definitely had had some practice.

"So whats the scam, Perce? You gonna let me in on it?"

"No! I told you to go away!" came the weary reply.

"What in our life together makes you think I'm going to listen to you now?"

Percy glanced up at the dying light and he started to ceremony again ignoring George. George started taunting his brother, "Perfect Percy. Big Head Boy. You're finally doing something naughty, you need my expertise you dumb prat. Let me in this circle."

Percy's face was strained from trying to focus but failing. Suddenly he stopped altogether. His face looked strained, then suddenly he relaxed and a vulpine, evil smile touched his lips, one that Ron would never have believed his brother capable of.

George backed up a few steps.

A smooth cultured voice broke into the silence, "If you do not leave now, I will kill you slowly. As it is, I intend on destroying the rest of my host's family anyway."

Hermione grabbed Ron's arm as he stood there stunned at Percy's words and they crept to the back edge of the circle. She began a complicated wand movement, Ron had nothing else to do but wait and watch the drama that was unfolding in front of him.

He said host? Percy said host...

George didn't look as taken aback as Ron felt. He straightened up his slouch, and squared his shoulders as Percy began to chant again in that dark, awful grunting tongue as if there was no interruption.

"Who are you and what are you doing with my brother?" George demanded.

With a casual flick of his hand a sliver of that bright purple glow shot through the barrier and struck George lifting him off of his feet and knocking him back through the opening.

Ron stood and nearly shouted but Hermione anticipated it and grabbed his arm. She shook her head putting a finger to his lips as she went back to her spell

Through the opening he could see George beginning to stir so he breathed a sigh of relief.

That sigh was choked off when Ginny came strolling boldly, and determined through the door.

"What is this? A family reunion?" the Percy-thing grumbled and lifted a hand to attack her.

"I know what you are, and who you are. I want you to release my brother. I'll take his place." she informed the amethyst shrouded man.

Ron just about shot up at that. Hermione tugged him back down, she pinched his arm for emphasis. He glowered at her as he rubbed the sore spot, he was really tired of her doing that!

He turned back to see that Percy-thing had stopped it's incantation and was eying Ginny almost hungrily.

"What makes you think you are a worthy vessel for me?" it inquired.

Ginny's bottom lip trembled almost imperceptibly. Ron knew she must be terrified but she glared at the wizard in front of her defiantly. "Because I was a host before!" she shouted, "and I'm the correct shape."

The Percy-thing extended it's hand towards her like it was feeling of her in some way. Ginny immediately blushed and began rubbing her arms. Ron gaped, what just happened?

"Yes you are right, you have been used before, and you are a more fitting vessel. This one was convenient and vulnerable, but you please me."

It extended a hand at the barrier, Ginny walked forward as it beckoned.

Where's Harry? That thing is about to take my sister! Ron thought, outraged.

He was about to intervene when Harry rushed in and knocked both him and Ginny through the circle. They were now both inside with it.

Harry picked Ginny up and gave her an apologetic look before turning to face the Percy-thing. "I am Harry Potter. On behalf of the Weasley family, and the Ministry of Magic, I demand you leave this host and depart into the life-after forthwith. Your Horcrux is to be destroyed immediately."

Ron twitched, Horcrux? The book was a Horcrux?

The Percy-thing laughed, but the laugh had a decidedly feminine edge to it. "I was going to have to hunt you and destroy you anyway. You are the current guardian of this realm after all, inheritor of Merlin's mantel. This is a fortuitous day indeed!"

Suddenly Percy collapsed and was flung aside like a discarded robe. Standing in his place was a raven-haired sorceress whose beauty Ron had never seen the like. She was statuesque with a perfect figure barely shrouded by silken robe that swirled about her like shadows. Here eyes were purple and bright, but they had no warmth in them. Ron would remember the dark malice that shown from them the rest of his days, he wagered.

Harry didn't look surprised he moved Ginny behind him and drew his wand, "I name you, Morganna. You have no place here, your evil is passed, depart from this realm."

Ron blinked. Those words sounded like someone else! Harry had a power about him like he had just spoken some spell into existence that was as old or older than Morganna herself.

Morganna smiled icily, "Ah, Merlin's blood, he haunts me still, but no more, tonight it ends, forever. This world will be in darkness. So begins my reign with your death."

She lashed out at Harry with a power so strong it blew Ron and Hermione back. Harry flicked his wand and a shield came up between him and Ginny, his eyes bright with the purple glow of the power he was deflecting. His feet were making tracks as he was pushed back. He was gritting his teeth with the effort, Ron didn't think he would last long.

"Did you get through?" came a voice from behind them. Ron almost yipped as he spun and saw George creep in, his face was pained and dirty but his eyes were eager and worried.

Hermione paused in her spell work just long enough to shake her head.

They saw Percy move. He turned his head toward their voices wearily.

"Where am I? He asked, his voice horse from speaking that awful language.

Suddenly images slammed into Ron's brain. He was in a wood, he was holding a sword over a silver locket, it was taunting him, making fun of him, torturing him, then he broke free of it's influence and impaled it.

"Got it!" Hermione crowed, there was a small space in the milky-white shield under her wand but she was straining. "Hurry Ron!" she demanded with gritted teeth.

Ron drew the sword from the wrappings they had disguised it with, and slid it under just before Hermione collapsed, he caught her. She looked up wearily, "Did we get it in?"

Ron nodded. He looked up to see that George had gone over to where Percy was stirring inside the shell.

"Come on Perce, you gotta destroy that book." he was pleading.

Ron glanced down at the sword.

So that's Excalibur, blimey!

The legendary sword of Camelot glimmered purple in the glow from the Sorceresses' power.

Ron had suddenly felt weary in the Ministry archives and had sat down on this reading couch for a moment. Then he awoke suddenly with the idea that he needed to check the shelves chronologically going back to the oldest books. He had followed the dates he found in the shelves steadily back until he reached the oldest books, then he looked down and there on a shelf it was. The book Ron had found was a copy of Morte d' Merlinas. The accompanying tag written in, Percy's hand, had read that it was written by Merlin himself. When he opened it, he found he could suddenly read the Gaelic English! He looked for Morganna's book mentioned, and found a page near the back.

"She wrote a tome of all she has been doing. It must be destroyed at all cost. Alas the enchantments she has wrought can not be undone by mortal hand. Only one weapon can pierce it, thus ending the threat forever. The sword Excalibur. It now resides with the Lady. She can be summoned by these following words, and if the cause is just, she will give up the sword for a short season, but it must be returned immediately after the quest is passed.

What followed was a string of words in a lost language that Ron couldn't begin to fathom. Hermione had taken one look and declared that they were runes, and she could translate. They had gone to a lake Ron remembered on Aunt Muriel's lands that the Weasley children had swam in during those long summer days they visited. Hermione's voice had rung across the water like sweet music, a hand came through the surface near them, it was made of the water of the lake but solid. In it's grasp was the sword that was before them now on the ground. It was so simple and clean, Ron wasn't impressed at first until he saw reflected under the surface of the metal, letters reflecting in the sun. The sword's blade was lined with them. Hermione said they were more Runes but Runes older than she had ever seen before. She could make out enough to tell that they were powerful enchantments designed to strengthen the blade against any spell. The sword would be able to cut through magic as well as matter.

Ron looked over at Harry, he could see his friend was tiring. His face was drawn by the effort. Ginny had her hands on his shoulders whispering encouraging words in his ear, otherwise he would have collapsed already. They were running out of time.

Hermione and George were both on their knees trying to get Percy to destroy the book.

"But I can't." Percy murmured tears running down his cheeks.

Ron bent down, "You've got to Percy, it's got to be you. If you don't close the door, she will haunt you the rest of your life. Believe me I know. It's got to be you!"

Percy shook his head adamantly, "But I've got to bring Fred back, that book can do it. I have to save my family."

"Fred's not coming back." George replied quietly. Ron and Hermione looked at him. He was crying too, but his jaw was set and determined. "You're here Percy, he's not. I'm not going to bury another brother. I can't do it."

Percy finally looked like something had gotten through. "Brother," he said to himself. He closed his eyes and smiled peacefully.

He stood wobbly to his feet. Ron actually smiled when he saw Percy straighten his robes out fussily. He limped over and plucked Excalibur off of the ground and unable to lift it he drug it over to the Altar. With a great effort he lifted the sword and put it's point on the book. The hidden runes under the shiny surface of the blade blazed to life with an orange fire.

Suddenly the roar of power stopped. Harry and Ginny fell to the ground all wrung out for breath.

The beautiful Sorceress hissed when she saw the sword. She immediately smiled and became even more compelling. Ron found himself smiling at her. Percy was weaving on his feet, wavering.

"You can not destroy that book Percival Weasley. Think of your brother, of your family. It is, like you confided in me, impossible for them to go on without him. You destroy my book, I can not bring him back for you. Think of your family.

Percy smiled at her grimly. "I am."

He leaned and pressed the point home. There was a wave of power exploding from the book that hurtled Percy away. Morganna disappeared with a screech and the bubble that had been holding them back blew outward in a ring of amethyst energy knocking them all back.

Darkness...

Character Notes: I have to say that I got pretty choked up at what George said to Percy. I can't claim credit for it. It took me by surprise as well! I suddenly occurred to me that this whole story is about the Weasley's grieving and reaching that place of acceptance. Thing is, this is a Gryffindor family, they don't grieve like you or I. They need a huge crises affecting the entire Wizard world to snap them out of it! LOL!