Chapter six: Akator

Harry followed James back into town. His head full of conflicting thoughts. Ginny in danger, Neville kidnapped. He hadn't even seen Neville for a few months. They had used to work at the Ministry together, but since Neville had accepted a post at Hogwarts, teaching Herbology, his favorite subject, Harry had seen less and less of him. Now that he thought of it, he hadn't seen Ginny for some time either.

"We can go to the Hogshead," said James. "It's out of the way, less crowded."

"Which makes us more conspicuous," said Harry. "We'll go to the Three Broomsticks. There'll be less chance of being overheard by anyone undesirable."

James didn't argue, and before long they reached the tavern. It was warm inside and, as was common on Hogsmeade weekends, packed. Mainly with students, though Harry recognized a few of the staff as well. He and James took a booth in a corner of the crowded room. James slipped away for a moment, and Harry rested his head in his hands.

He scrutinized the crowd. A couple of goblins around a table, playing gobstones. A group of Ravenclaw girls gossiping in the booth behind him. A pair of sixth-years snogging in the corner. All normal, all uninterested in him and James, no threats.

James returned with two steaming flagons of butterbeer. As he sat, Harry burst out in questions. "What's going on? Where is Ginny? Who took her? Where are the other kids?"

James raised a hand, warding off the questions. "Albus and Lily are at the Ron and Hermione's, they're safe. Let me start from the beginning.

"It started two months ago, Proffesor Longbottom left, said he was going to South America on some sort of biological expedition. We've had a substitute since, people have been wondering what happened to him. All was fine, until two weeks ago. Mom got a letter from Neville, dunno why he sent it to her instead of you. Anyway, it said he found some kind of crystal skull."

Harry nodded, "I've heard of the crystal skulls. Deity carvings. Great workmanship. There are legends that if you stare into the eyes of a crystal skull long enough you'll glimpse the secrets of the universe…or go mad trying."

"Yeah, I think he said something about psychic powers. Anyway, Proffessor Long... Neville said this one was really something special. And that he was taking it to some place called Akator. Have you heard of it?"

"Yeah, I've heard of it," said Harry, thoughtfully.

"What is it," James pressed.

"Have you ever heard of El Dorado?"

"The city of gold?"

"That's the one. Akator is, according to legend, a lost city built along the Amazon River. The Spanish called it El Dorado.

"The story goes that seven thousand years ago the gods demanded a native civilization called the Ugha to build a city of gold. With the gods help, the Ugha built the city and became the most powerful people in the Americas. In 1546, a conquistador named Francisco de Orellana, nicknamed 'the gilded man', disappeared searching for it. He wasn't the last. Many wizards and muggles have disappeared searching for it. Treasure hunting fools."

"You're saying it doesn't exist?"

"I'm saying no one's ever found it."

"What does that have to do with Neville," James asked, only mildly interested.

"That's not the whole story," Harry continued. "Legend also has it that a crystal skull was stolen from Akator, by Francisco de Orellana. That was when the Ugha civilization fell, wiped off the map almost overnight. It's said that if the lost skull was ever recovered and returned to its temple in Akator, it would unlock to power of the gods."

"What kind of power?" James questioned.

"I don't know," sighed Harry. "It's just a story. Why don't you continue yours?"

"Alright," James paused before continuing. "Mom reckoned Neville was going crazy. So she went to find him, going to talk some sense into him before he did something stupid. And then she got kidnapped. They sent me a letter. Untraceable, crumbled into flecks after a few minutes. Said they had her and Neville. Before they got him, Neville hid the skull somewhere. And unless they find it, they'll kill both of them.

James was becoming less and less calm, "Dad. The letter, it wasn't signed with a name. It was signed with the dark mark."

"Damn," said Harry quietly. Natasha. It had to be.

"Are they Death Eater's," James whispered. "Is Voldemort back?"

"Voldemort isn't back, he's dead. I killed him myself. They are Death Eater's, though. I met a few of them recently. Don't worry, I'll figure something out."

"One more thing," James said, calming down. "Mom managed to mail me this letter, one that Neville wrote." He rummaged in his pocket to pull out a rumpled envelope. Harry took it, and glanced at the parchment inside.

Harry tucked the letter away, he could examine it later. As he did so, a deep voice said, "Give us the letter, Potter."

Harry looked up to see two bulky men standing beside them, blocking the way out of the booth. Both wore black, and both carried wands under their coats, aiming at Harry.

"Back off," Harry looked back to see that James had produced his own wand, leveling it under the table at the two men.

"Put that away, boy," said one of the men calmly, "Before you get hurt."

"Put it away," Harry echoed, he didn't want James getting hurt. Then to the man, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You will," said the man. "Outside, both of you."