There are some AU elements so please don't expect everything to match cannon.
A/N: The Characters and the universe all belong to J.K Rowling. Nothing is mine.
I told Hedwig to go sit back on her perch as I explain the workings behind Godspeed.
"Now as you know, having the advantage of speed in the field of infiltration and assassination is a pretty big advantage in itself. The Sumerian rituals and spells are designed to help owls specifically achieve great speeds."
I took out a large folded diagram from the Mesopotamian notebook. The diagram when unfolded had a lot of inscription on it but the main focus were three circles that were drawn concentrically right in the center. Also what stood out the most was the drawing of Inanna, the goddess, depicted as a beautiful golden owl in the center of the innermost circle.
The three concentric circles were not like a line drawn by some instrument with clear demarcation on the boundaries of the circles. They were a drawing of some of the elements fading into each other. To describe it visually, it was like the outermost layer represented the element of air. The air forms the outermost circle which slowly dissolves into the second innermost circle of fire. The fire is a golden scarlet making the middle layer of the concentric circles shine which then dissolves into the innermost circle consisting of the element of lightning and in the center of that lightning sits the mythical golden owl Inanna.
I go over these details quickly with the rest of the members of the SP, explaining to them what each circle and the owl represent. Then finally coming to the crux of the matter, "So what basically these diagrams represent are the different stages of Godspeed. The ritual when completed will create a bond between Hedwig and the elements. The first element as should be evident from the diagram to bond with Hedwig will be the wind. Now-" I take a second to breathe.
"The wind will grant Hedwig the ability to travel as the wind." As they contemplate the specific use of my words I elaborate, "Yes. 'As the wind', not 'like' the wind or 'as fast as' the wind but as the wind."
I look towards Hedwig, "You will merely be a wisp of air, no body and no presence. In simple words you will be a magical wind." Hedwig looked positively giddy.
"There are disadvantages of course. First, there is a time limit." Everybody started protesting in annoyance at once, even Dobby's ears had fallen at the knowledge, "Oh come on! Don't be like that."
"Hedwig can stay as the wind for a total of 105 adult human breaths." The human breath is the counter of time used in the diagrams, therefore I'll have to translate it for the rest so, "One breath is about four seconds long that will give us about 420 seconds of time, which is exactly equal to seven minutes."
"Therefore you have 7 minutes" Hedwig looked contemplative, with her head tilted to the side. 7 minutes is a good enough number to at least make an escape.
"Oh yeah! It will take about a week for your balance with the element to settle again and allow you to assume the form of the wind. Don't give me that look Hedwig, it's not like we'll be doing something every second day. A week's rest will be just about fine."
Summing it up," In conclusion, Hedwig will be able to become the wind for seven minutes every week."
As everyone was digesting this final statement, I decided to spice things up a little, "But!"
That grabbed their attention, or maybe it was my shouting, whatever, "…but, that's not the end. You seem to be forgetting about the diagram. The wind is just an outer covering to the elements lying within. To be honest, I also don't know exactly what the fire represents but there are hints within the notes that imply something almost preposterous."
I love the Drama.
"There are mentions of owls that became so connected with the wind that the gods of the wind decided to bless those owls with the flame."
…
"Those owls that have said to been blessed with the flame have been mentioned to have shown abilities reminiscent to a true…"…, "blooded…"…, "Phoenix."
Silence.
"If any Owl can do that, then it is definitely you Hedwig. That is why I trust you to with the power this ritual will provide, because you already are a phoenix at heart."
This time there is no humor from anyone but only a serious nod from Hedwig. Everybody is contemplative for a moment when Dobby gets up and walks over to the table. He extends one of his long fingers and puts it on the innermost circle in the diagram. The Lightning.
"Honestly Dobby, I don't' know. Not much at least."
I take out the Mesopotamian notes and open up a particular passage, I point it out and read it for them in the simplest English translation possible,
"- the third tribal chief's loyal Shubnalu was sent offerings by the king himself. The rumor is that he has ascended even beyond."
Addressing the members of the SP again, "Shubnalu is the name of the owl loyal to the third tribal chief of Sumer, a part of the Mesopotamian civilization. It is a given that Shubnalu was blessed with the flame as it is mentioned quite frequently."
"So when, 'rumor is that he has ascended even beyond' it is very clear what the implications are."
I gave them time to digest this before the final revelation.
I flipped the notes to another page. There is a single line written on the entire page.
"This is an excerpt from the notes written by the third tribal chief on Shubnalu's death. It goes something like this…" I translated again, "loyal Shubnalu travelled to the ancestral lands leaving behind 7 syllables, 'Not the end'."
"So basically, the owl's dying message was 'Not the end.'"
I looked at Hedwig's line of sight, "You are correct girl. I also think that the golden owl in the middle is not some fancy symbolism. There is something even further beyond lightning."
"A fourth stage, a final dimension, the stage of the Goddess Inanna, the true Godspeed."
Well that's a moot point for now since we have yet to perform the ritual for even the stage of wind.
I clapped my hand three times to break everyone out of their stupor, "So that concludes the second set of notes that were made on the Mesopotamian civilization."
"I have 5 more sets of notes with me. I do have a lot of ideas in these remaining five, but I think we should be patient with these as we already have our hands full already."
I look at Trevor, "I'm sorry Trevor I did not know what to help you in and was unable to procure anything. Why don't you show me what you've done over the few weeks so that I can think of something next time."
Trevor croaked and jumped a few times in the basin trying to say something. Dobby as if remembering something brought a pair of long leaves to Harry.
"Master Harry potter Sir this is what Trevor bringing."
"Hmm..?"
It is a pair of leaves that are stacked one on top of the other. They are relatively long for a pair of leaves making one wonder how Trevor carried them. He could have used his long tongue, maybe.
Trevor looks towards me and prods me to go further. I nod and remove the leaf on top.
Fuck.
"Trevor are these…?"
Trevor nods enthusiastically and jumps a few times for good measure.
Unicorn Hair.
Two of them.
"How did you find them? Fallen on the floor of the forbidden forest?"
But that can't be because this pair of Unicorn Hair is still vibrating with Magic meaning they were willingly given. Unicorn Hair without the magic is already rare as it is. I mean, even in the wands all Unicorn hair is not willingly given hair. The purpose of Unicorn hair in wands is to conduct, so dead hair is also fine as long as they are in a shape to conduct magic. But…
…willingly given hair is something else entirely. It is almost on the level of a willingly given Phoenix feather, like Daniel's wand core or…
…Voldemort's.
" How did you manage this Trevor?"
Trevor looked at me and then started to croak loudly and jumping about the basin.
"Uhhh…"
Anybody knows toad here?
Hedwig doesn't seem to be paying attention now and is probably thinking of the discussion earlier.
Dobby seems to be staring at Trevor intently and nodding his head whenever Trevor would croak. Thank Merlin at least one person got it.
"Dobby you understand what Trevor is trying to say?"
"No Master Harry Potter Sir."
What the-
"Then why are you nodding your head at whatever he says?"
"OH. Dobby trying to be guessing sir."
"Really? Have you guessed anything?" Something useful maybe?
"Yes Master Harry Potter Sir. Dobby think Trevor saying that grapes are better than apples."
…
"Huh?"
What in the world? How can someone even reach that conclusion from a toad jumping in a basin?
Ah, Whatever. I'll go crazy if I think too much about it. I'll just let it go for today.
Coming back to my formal mode, in order to carry the meeting forward I cough to draw everyone's attention to me.
"So with that we conclude the third point of our first agenda too; as we have an idea about everyone's skills and future except Trevor in the SP. But looking at Trevor's accomplishment today, I will definitely find something useful for Trevor the next time."
"Now there is only one more agenda for today that is brought by me. The second agenda is the matter regarding the items and ingredients that will be needed for the two rituals that we have to perform. The ingredients for the ritual of Godspeed are not that difficult, but uncommon nonetheless. The ingredients necessary for the ritual regarding my concept of 'universal radius' are even rarer, but just by a little bit."
I take out four pieces of paper and hand it to each member of the SP, myself included. I roll it into a cylinder and Trevor grabs it by his tongue, Hedwig clutches it by her talons and Dobby simply holds on to it.
I point to my own paper and show it to them on the center of the table. "This is a complete list of all the ingredients we will need. We all have on such identical list. Whenever you find any one of these ingredients just apply your saliva on top of the name of the ingredient that you have found."
I know it's a little icky, but it does the desired work, that being…
"Whenever one of us will report something it will update everyone's list on which ingredient has been found and who has done it. This way we can divide the work of finding the ingredients and finish it faster."
Trevor looks at me and croaks sticking out the rolled up sheet in his tongue.
"Don't worry Trevor, I have charmed it so that an intentional lick by you will only trigger the magic. Also, when all the Ingredients are found the sheet will warm up and glow, signaling for an immediate meeting here, in the room of requirement."
All of them nod in understanding, but it looks like Dobby has a question.
"Yes Dobby?"
"Master Harry Potter sir, what about final ingredient?"
Everybody looks at the list lying on the table. Our eyes scanning, we reach the final ingredient in the list,
"
79*Salamander Blood
80*Wolf Nails
81*The Blood of the subject( Tom Marvolo Riddle)
"
Yes, the blood of Voldemort. It had stumped me too in the beginning; but "There is a person who has the exact same blood running in his body as that of Voldemort."
Hedwig understands immediately and takes on a grim look.
"Or should I say Voldemort has this person's blood running through his own body."
There will be some difficulties but I'm sure I can make it work.
"My older brother, Daniel Potter."
A/N: PLEASE REVIEW AND TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS.
