(A/N: According to Celtic Mythology, Morgana is the Goddess of Magic and Death and Morrigan is the Goddess of Wisdom and Beauty. Stealing the idea from Quoth the Raven, Nevermore, by GenkaiFan – a fic I highly recommend – Morgana is a witch in the Harry Potter World who worshipped The Morrigan who is the Goddess of Magic, Mother of Death, etc, etc and is associated with, among other things, Ravens. Also, Dwyn is the God of Tricks and Pranks and is known for his manliness and love of mischief – Sirius MUST have been a worshipper.)
Pt 8: A Day Long Remembered
Luna Lovegood slowly opened her eyes. Something, she knew, was different.
Opening her eyes fully, she found that she was in an unfamiliar bed and that she was holding an unfamiliar smaller figure. And she also found that she was warm.
Upon that realization, her sleepiness fled instantly. Carefully not jostling the smaller girl, she sat up and looked around. She found she was wearing one of her nightgowns that often disappeared which was one reason she was so warm.
What amazed her most was not that she was in a larger room with another bed off to the other side (with people apparently in it) but looking around everything she had ever brought to Hogwarts seemed to present.
Every pair of shoes, every sock, every dress, every set of knickers, every picture – everything was set up almost on display around her. It was a wonder. She carefully set the girl down and reached out to the picture of her mother and father sitting on either side of her that she had lost in her first year.
Holding both the happiness and the tears at bay, she held the photo against her. It had been devastating when it had disappeared.
After a moment, she caught a movement from the side of her vision and looked over. The smaller girl that was in bed with her was looking at her with a kind smile, even if it was a bit sad.
"Hello," she said quietly. "I'm Luna Lovegood. Where are we?" The girl somehow had pipes and instead of answering she played a few notes. Confused, Luna said, "I'm sorry. I don't understand."
The girl put her pipes aside and put her fingers to her lips asking for quiet. Luna nodded.
Climbing out of bed, the little girl was now on the floor, which Luna noted had a very nice carpeting. The girl then looked at her expectantly. Luna considered and asked, "I should come with you?"
The girl gave a happy smile and nod.
"Okay." Luna put the picture of her mother carefully on the shelf she had taken it from and slowly climbed out of the bed as well. When she was out, the girl turned and moved to the door which contained the bathroom. Luna followed. There was a set of steps up to the sink which the smaller girl climbed up. From a pile next to the sink, she picked up a rubber balloon and motioned Luna to come over.
"Why are we filling water balloons?" she asked curiously. The girl pointed to the large bed on the other side of the room. Luna was skeptical as she asked, "Are you sure?" The girl snickered. "That's kind of mean, though." The girl gave her a pouting and pleading look.
Luna had seen Ginny Weasely once give this look to her mother when both girls were at the Burrow and asked for some of the pudding before it was served at dinner. Mrs. Weasley had said no when asked, and Ginny had this exact look.
Amazingly, Mrs. Weasley had relented and allowed the two girls a very small amount.
Luna had never though to try such a technique as she had never wanted anything that much, but she found that being on the receiving end of the look was very effective in changing one's mind.
It must be a magical way to control wrackspurts.
Luna held out – a little. "Why don't we first try saying 'Hello' and then if that doesn't work we can use the balloon." The girl considered that and nodded. "And the water must not be too cold or warm." The girl sighed and nodded again.
Luna allowed the girl to fill a small balloon before moving back into the large room.
Stopping a few feet away from the larger bed, Luna called out "Hello?"
One of the two adults appeared to stir and sat up. Luna saw that this was the woman who had arrived after the second task last night. "Well, hello," she said to the two girls. "And how are you today?"
"Well, I am awake. It was very nicely warm in bed but I don't know where I am. I asked her," she motioned to the girl next to her, "but she only talks with pipes and I don't speak Pipe. She wanted to wake you with water balloons, but I got her to allow me to try speaking first. I'm Luna Lovegood."
"Hello, Luna Lovegood. I am Lady Hyacinth of the French Veela Enclave. The girl next to you was called Flute by my bedmate Harry. And this is Harry Potter, but an older one that the one you know. You are in the room of requirement after Harry found you in the hallway last night and brought you here. We really should wake him up and talk about it."
Luna nodded. "Well, that would be nice. But I promised Flute that if talking didn't wake you, I would let her try the balloon. And I can't go back on my promise. Would you like to stay there or get up to avoid the water?"
The woman snickered and said, "Why don't I stand up and then Flute can wake him up her way?" Luna nodded and glanced over. The little girl had a mischievous smirk on her face. The beautiful woman in a very nice nightgown stood up and moved next to the girls. She looked down at Flute and said, "Fire away!"
Flute crowed and aimed her alarm balloon and threw – she was very accurate.
The man in the bed sputtered awake and sat up. "Hello, Lover. Flute asked to wake you this way and she was too cute to deny. I hope you're not mad." The Lady gave a very amused look.
The man who did look like an older Harry Potter glared for a moment, and them, looking at the little girl who was the picture of innocence now, laughed. "Somehow, I think I will just let this one go. I will get her back – sometime. I don't know when and I don't know how – but I will get her back."
Flute pulled her instrument and trilled her pipes in a very confrontational way. Luna actually understood that one! "Bring it on!"
"Anyway, Luna is confused and you're the best to explain." Harry nodded.
"How about we all get up and shower and dress and then we can talk about last night and what's changed? Okay?"
Luna looked to the other females who both seemed agreeable. "Okay."
Harry performed a spell and saw it was early. "Why don't you two take a bath together and Lady Hyacinth and I will be in the other bathroom. Take your time to make sure you're fully clean."
Luna accepted that and moved to collect what she needed. Flute rolled her eyes and followed.
Her father Sparhawk had often used this tactic to allow him "alone time" in the bath with her mother. Did he really think he was so clever? Humans were far too concerned with certain activities. Then she remembered that in her alternate form she was older and married and did such things with her own husband, Talen, who was a young Pandion Knight under her father's command.
She had learned that Humans weren't being so silly after all. She had decided on Talen when her Danae persona had turned eight. He was already devious and fun and a master thief at ten years old. With her own nature as a trickster, he fit her perfectly. Sparhawk had finally conceded defeat and made certain that the boy was fully trained and ready to be a Knight by the time she reached seventeen.
She had wanted to get married at fourteen and her father wanted her to wait until she was thirty. They had compromised. It had helped that her own mother had started planning on trapping Sparhawk when she was a little girl and was fully sympathetic.
Luna and Flute had a very fun bath. Luna was not so old and proper that she didn't know how to have fun and Aphrael was, after all, the eternal child. For all of that, each knew what was expected and were clean and dressed by 8:00.
Luna was re-introduced to Winky (she had only a vague recollection from the night before) and both were happy to meet each other under better circumstances. Asking that she leave out any pork (Aphrael absolutely couldn't stand the smell of it) and added extra pudding (Luna's request), Winky served a delicious breakfast and then popped off to the Rookery to ensure Xeno Lovegood was still making progress on arriving by 9:15.
Xeno had been awoken at 7:00 AM by the smell of breakfast that he had not cooked. It took him a small time to understand that Winky was now their house elf and that he was expected at Hogwarts this morning.
Harry and he had talked about gifting Hogwarts with ten snorcacks for Hagrid's gardens, after ensuring that – yes, he also had Garden Gnomes in one garden for Care of Magical Creatures.
Needless to say, his lessons would have to change. Harry didn't think Hagrid would mind though.
The students of Hogwarts had been surprised when the Prefects had gone around and made sure that everyone was awake for a mandatory meeting in the Great Hall after breakfast at 9:00 AM.
It was a Saturday and many felt that this was sacrilege – no one should be made to wake up before 10:00 on a Saturday. The Prefects, having been ordered by their Heads of House, were not sympathetic though and, despite much grumbling (especially from Gryffindor) everyone was present. With one exception.
Marsalla Randell, 6th year prefect for Ravenclaw made her way up to the Head Table, a look of concern plastered on her face. "Professor Flitwick? All students are present except 3rd Year, Luna Lovegood."
The Professor looked at his student calmly and said, "Thank you, Ms. Randell. Take your place with the rest of the students."
Ms. Randell, however, decided to push it. "Will you be taking care of her punishment personally or would you like the prefects to handle it?"
Very calmly and without any of his normal cheerfulness, Professor Flitwick looked at the prefect and said, "I know exactly where Ms. Lovegood is and why she is there. I will be handing things personally with the help of the other staff. So you should not worry about what punishment Ms. Lovegood might be receiving. Return to your fellow students."
It was at that moment that Marsalla Randell first got the glimmer that things were not as she was used to and the world had changed overnight.
Without any apparent concern, the girl returned to the Ravenclaw table. She did have a quick word with two other students nearby. They each had a bit of a worried look when the conversation was over.
At 8:55, the doors to the Great Hall opened and Harry Potter, Lone Traveler, entered the Great Hall with another of Hogwart's guests, Lady Hyacinth, Matriarch of the Veela Enclaves of France.
The males in the hall were very interested in the woman and the females were actually quite impressed by the man. "Mr. Potter?" the Deputy Headmistress asked. "Your charges?"
"Right behind us. Washing their hands – they were eating sticky pastries and … well, I sent them to wash." The Deputy Headmistress nodded.
At 8:58, Luna Lovegood entered the Great Hall, carrying a small girl who looked around the room in interest. As they walked by, a few girls made quiet snide comments about her, quiet enough not to be heard at the Staff Table but loud enough to be heard by the surrounding students.
Luna Lovegood, contrary to expectations, stopped abruptly and said with a clear voice, "Apologize! Now! I don't care what you say about me but you will apologize for the comments about Flute!"
Before things could escalate, Professor Flitwick stood up. "Ms. Lovegood?"
"Yes, Professor?" she asked with her normal airy voice.
"We will take care of such things shortly. Please bring your guest and have a seat near the staff table please."
Luna gave a hard look to the girls, who looked mutinous, and continued on. The other girls had missed a very important thing which they would later regret: The little girl with Luna did not look like she didn't understand or that she was sad. Instead she had an anger all her own at the casual abuse of the blonde girl. Those who had done so would be feeling it very, very soon.
At 9:00 exactly, Professor McGonagall got everyone's attention.
"Last night, a crime was committed against a student of Hogwarts," she began. "In the past, the former Headmaster has prevented the staff from punishing those who committed such acts to the level which would be proper. Bullies have been allowed to act without interference and heinous acts received a slap on the wrist. No more."
Quite a number of students in the hall felt, suddenly, very nervous. This was NOT what they were expecting on a Saturday morning in February.
"At 12:00 last night, when all the students of any age were to be in bed, three students conspired to stun their fellow housemate, a young girl, and put her into an out of the way hallway. The perpetrators were Marietta Edgecomb, 5th year, Ravenclaw; Marsalla Randell, 6th year Ravenclaw and Prefect, and Stanley Poole, 6th year Ravenclaw and Prefect. The victim was Luna Lovegood, 3rd year Ravenclaw. After being left stunned in a hallway by these three, who deftly avoided the 5th and 7th year prefects in doing so, Ms. Lovegood was further attacked by Barbara Stansberry, 7th year Slytherin, and cousin to Ms. Edgecomb. As a result, Ms. Lovegood was left in a pair of knickers only and then revived.
"Upon waking up, she attempted to return to Ravenclaw but found that the three Ravenclaw students had bespelled the door to not allow her to return to her own bed. She then found her way to an out of the way cubbyhole in an attempt to get warm.
"Our visitors, Mr. Potter and Lady Hyacinth, Matriarch of the French Veela Enclaves, were guesting on the Seventh Floor and found her. Summoning Professor Flitwick, she was given comfort by our guests and taken to a place where she could sleep safely. Steps were then taken to investigate and the following students were found to be in possession of items that had been stolen from Ms. Lovegood since she began her education, or, their magical signature was found on items that were hidden in various places in Hogwarts."
Professor Flitwick stood up and listed out twelve additional students beyond those already named – all of her dorm mates were included on this list.
Every student just named, you will come up here right now and I will hear no protest or complaint."
When they were all present, the Deputy Headmistress said, "Your punishments have already been set. I have seen enough proof, as has Professor Flitwick. Before we continue," she looked over at the blonde girl who was holding the smaller girl for comfort in the face of all the attention on her, "Ms. Lovegood. What requests would you make to help rectify the abuse you have suffered? Any reasonable request will be satisfied."
Very quietly, "I just want to be left alone and to not have my things stolen or damaged."
Before Professor McGonagall could reply, she was interrupted from another source. "Professor." Everyone looked over and saw that several Gryffindors were standing including most of the fourth and third years, the Weasley twins, and the Quiddich team. The spokesman was one of the Weasley twins. "If Ravenclaw cannot take care of their own, Gryffindor will claim her and ensure she is kept safe." Such was their seriousness that there was no attempt at twin-speak.
Several Gryffindors were murmuring in agreement. Minerva McGonagall had never felt so much pride in her house as she did right at that moment.
One of the accused finally had enough. "They can have her! We started treating her this way to try to teach her to not be so weird! She goes on and on about strange creatures and dresses like a St. Mungo's patient! We'd be glad to be rid of her."
Suddenly, the whole room was interrupted by a sound that no one was expecting. The girl who had been in Luna's lap was now standing on the table and the sound from her pipes was pure anger.
Harry Traveler looked at this and said to his companion, the Lady Hyacinth, "This is about to get ugly."
The visitors from the other schools had been amazed at the goings on this morning at Hogwarts. They did not know why they were included but what was happening was shocking.
All watched as the small girl started playing her flute. She closed her eyes and played her heart out and started walking forward. However, instead of walking on the table, the room was stunned to see her walking on thin air. As she played she walked into a circle until she was easily visible to all the students.
After a few minutes, she stopped playing and looked at Harry. He knew his cue instinctively. He stood and cried out, "Behold Aphreal! Child Goddess of Styricum!"
At that, several things happened: Igor Karkaroff, who had dreamed of pipsong throughout the night, fell down to his knees and cried out, "Goddess!"
The girls who were just standing there insulting Luna were now beginning to feel real fear.
The staff all gaped, only Professor Flitwick crying out, "Of course!"
And Lady Hyacinth, after gaping at the spectacle for a moment, turned to Harry, hit him with her bag and said, "I was watching over a Goddess all night and you didn't tell me?"
Flute, who was standing in the air looking down snickered at this.
All of this fled people's consciousness quickly at the next event to happen. A bird, a very large Raven, flew into the hallway and suddenly turned into a very stately, very beautiful, very tall woman who was more regal than almost any there had ever seen. And appearing next to her was a very manly looking fellow, who also exuded a certain presence.
Both smiled and looked at Aphrael. "Cousin!" the woman said. "Welcome to Our world! What need have you of Us?"
Murmurs of "The Morrigan" floated around the room and the students accused were now feeling terror. It didn't help that Professor Flitwick had retrieved several people from the room off the Staff area which included several parents and the Head of the DMLE with two Aurors.
The Child Goddess ignored this as She started playing Her piped and walking down the air as if it was a stairwell. After a few passages, She was done and pointed to the gathered students.
The Morrigan was not amused. Before saying anything, She walked calmly around the students until She was next to Luna. She reached down and with Her hand, She cupped the girls face with all the tenderness of a mother. Luna's tears fell down her face as the Morrigan looked into her soul.
After a murmured, "Blessed be, my Child," and a pat on her cheek she turned to confront those who made Luna have a miserable Hogwarts experience. "In all these many centuries, rarely have I felt the desire to lash out against mortals as I do in this moment. One of My own, who is blessed with My gift, has been abused and attacked by those that should be living in kinship with her. At this moment I am sore tempted to burn My gift away from you and curse your lines to never know magic again." By now those accused were whimpering and crying.
She sighed. "However, I feel that this would make my chosen even more upset than she already is." She turned to the staff. "Headmistress. What punishment have you set for these who would attack one of Mine whom is now also favored by My Cousin, whom all of Us love?"
The Headmistress sighed. She had not been ready for Divine influences this morning. It was times like these that she wished she had said "No" when she had first been asked to teach.
"First, the only one of these who is – according to our laws now – of age is Ms. Barbara Stansberry. The Director of Magical Law Enforcement, or at least those who work for her, will be taking this one to be tried for violations of the laws that our society runs by for her part in this. She is also expelled from this School."
The Morrigan nodded. "I respect the idea of Law. I expect proper Justice to be served," was her comment to Madam Bones.
Madam Bones curtsied and said, "Yes, Great Lady!"
"The two students who have completed the tests which would normally indicate they are sufficiently mature enough to operate in society have obviously shown that they have no place among us and I am expelling them as well. This includes Ms. Randell and Mr. Poole."
The Morrigan looked at them and said, "Banishment. I will accept this." She looked at the parents of the two who were present. "Take these from My lands. If they, or any of their children within three generations, return to these lands that I call Mine, I shall see their lines cursed. You have seven days from this moment to be gone!"
Igor Karkaroff called out, "And do not come to Durmstrung! You have offended one who is favored by my Goddess Aphrael and I will not accept you."
Madam Maxime echoed that sentiment. These would have to live far away in east or across the sea to find a home that would accept them.
The Morrigan looked at the remaining students (the older ones had parents there), and asked, "And what of these? What punishment for these who have also caused harm?"
Before the Headmistress could speak, Aphrael started playing her pipes. She also danced as she did so, including the second visitor in the dance for a moment. The Morrigan smiled in amusement. She turned back to the Deputy Headmistress and said, "Include ALL the options for punishment that you considered."
"Our options included suspension, that is a temporary banishment, to allow their parents to teach them proper behaviour, as well as arduous tasks upon their return to pay for their transgressions." She paused and almost reluctantly added, "There was talk of allowing our resident pranksters to add their own measure of justice against them to repay their poor behaviour."
The Morrigan laughed at that. "And so we have my cousin Dwyn, God of Pranks and Tricks." The Manly God off to the side grinned in acknowledgement.
She addressed the remaining students. "Then here is your choice: Accept the temporary banishment that has been stated for a period of one moon and perform the arduous tasks set upon your return, knowing that you shall still know my displeasure until I feel you have made recompense for your actions; OR, take the alternate punishment. You shall not be banished, and I will rescind my displeasure, but you have humiliated one of mine and so these sons of Dwyn," she pointed to the Weasley twins who were standing there in some shock, "shall take steps to ensure that you experience an equal measure of your own spite until they determine you have paid the penalty. Choose carefully – your future hangs in the balance. Should you choose My displeasure, leave this Hall and wait for your instructions. Should you choose the more earthly punishment, return to your fellows, knowing that you shall still pay for your transgressions – only by less Divine means."
Most were torn between the two options. They looked between the two Divinities and the manically grinning twins. Finally, they decided that the twins were less likely to harm them long term and each quickly found their way back to their seats.
Dwyn laughed loudly and said, "My sons! I expect to see the beginning of their payment to begin soon!"
The twins bowed and said, "As you wish, Your Greatness!"
Before much else could be said, the doors to the Great Hall opened and Xeno Lovegood walked in carrying a covered cage. Behind him was a house elf with a much larger cage floating in front of her. Everyone stared at the man as he walked in. When he saw who was standing at the front of the hall, he stopped in shock, as did the house elf. However, he recovered quickly and continued forward, Divine visitors present or no.
He stopped before the Goddess and said, "Your Divine Grace! You bless those here by Your very presence." He bowed to Dwyn and said, "And Your Divine Grace! You are also welcome!" And, finally, seeing Flute, he bowed once more and said, "Your Divine Grace! Welcome to our Dimension! I hope You are enjoying Your visit!"
"Well met! Xenophilius of House Lovegood. Your daughter is a treasure. What purpose have you here this day?" the Morrigan asked.
"Er. Well, I came to deliver gifts."
At that a grinning Aphrael played her pipes to inform her cousins. The Morrigan smiled and turned back to Xeno. "Then deliver your gifts and know they are blessed by Us!"
"Thank you!" he said. He turned to his daughter who was watching with wide eyes (fairly normal for her actually) and said, "Hello, Pumpkin! I wanted to drop off your new familiar." He placed the cage of the table and allowed Luna to take to cover off.
She gasped as she opened the door and pulled the small animal out. "A Crumple-Horned Snorcack! You found them!"
The entire Hall, except Harry and the Divine visitors, stared in shock. Luna quickly (protecting the small animal) threw herself into her father's arms. "Thank you, Daddy!"
"You're welcome, Sugarplum."
He let her go and pulled out a copy of the booklet. "Care and feeding instructions. You'll have to give her a name yourself!"
"Coco! For her color! Like Hot Cocoa."
"Then Coco the Snorcack she is!" Luna grinned and cuddled the animal, pulling back on occasion to inspect her closely.
Xeno nodded to the Morrigan and then walked around her. "Hagrid?"
Hagrid, off kilter, stood. "Er. Xeno?"
"Winky here has your gift." Winky floated the larger cage in front of Hagrid who pulled off the cover. "Five breeding pairs. Here's the paperwork from the ICW and Ministry, and this is because you're in charge of the creatures here." Xeno handed him a limited license to breed Snorcacks for Hogwarts only and not for sale to other institutions or individuals.
Hagrid read it over. "Thank ye! Yer a generous man!"
"No problem! I just know it's important for students to learn about them. OH!" He pulled out a stack of booklets. "These are booklets about their care you can use for reference until we get more printed up."
Hagrid nodded in appreciation. Xeno quickly retreated to sit beside his happy daughter.
The Morrigan smiled at them and said, "Well, then. If there is nothing else, I believe it is time to go."
A voice spoke up. Many were surprised to see Hermione Granger standing. The Morrigan looked at the girl curiously. "Yes, child?"
"Your Divine Grace? I do not seek to be presumptuous but may I ask You a question as regards Your gift?" She had quickly heard from other students that "her gift" referred to Magic.
"Ask, child."
"You are the Goddess of Magic and all who wield it are beholden to You for Your gift to us. And we thank You for it." The Morrigan smiled and nodded regally. "My question if I may is: Do you have any opinion as regards any difference between those who have magic who come from parents with magic compared to those of us with magic who come from parents who do not, apparently, have Your gift?"
There were gasps in the hall. The Purebloods were shocked at the audacity of this girl. Those who didn't have an opinion were curious. And those who were muggleborn really wanted to know.
The Morrigan smiled. "No. Any who bears My gift descends from others who bore it before. At times My gift leaves due to poor breeding, damage to a pregnant mother, or a curse cast upon a family by Myself or another, Mortal or Divine. When the blood is sufficiently cleansed, My gift returns to the line. But it matters not. All who wield magic do so at My whim and at My aegis. My Blessings are for all who wield My gift well. Those who claim a right to magic beyond others and work to deny the gift to those I have Blessed I find repugnant. If they should fail to learn the errors of their ways, I often curse their line to lose My gift until they learn better. Any child who bears magic is one of My children. Even if they are also claimed by others." She said this last with amusement as she pointed to the Weasley twins.
Hermione gave a deep curtsy. "I thank you for your wisdom and forbearance, Great Lady."
The Morrigan added one more comment. "Harry, of House Potter."
Harry stood nervously. "Your Divine Grace?"
"Send quickly the remaining parts of that fool, Tom Riddle, who calls himself Lord Voldemort, to my son, Death. I would see him pay for his presumption and for the crimes against My children."
Harry bowed. "I and others work to ensure it will be done within the next two days. It will be as you demand, Great Lady." The Morrigan nodded, pleased.
Finally Dwyn spoke, "Amelia, of House Bones!"
The Director of the DMLE curtsied. "Your Divine Grace."
Dwyn raised his voice. "PADFOOT MY SON! Come forth!"
Out of a hidden area behind a tapestry, a large dog which appeared to be a Grim came out. He changed to Sirius Black. The Hall gasped.
"My son, Sirius of House Black is falsely accused! He is under My protection! My Cousin and I await Justice being properly applied and the true criminal held in judgment for the crimes committed against one of Mine."
Amelia curtsied and replied, "I shall do my best, Great Lord."
The Divinities then left, Aphrael playing and dancing as she disappeared into the air.
The Lone Traveler is the one who broke the tableau. "Well, that was quite a morning. And it's only half of 10:00. I think I could use some hot chocolate right about now."