Disclaimer: We all know how these work, I acknowledge that J.k Rowlings, Warner Bros. and Scholastic own Harry Potter and all other characters and settings from cannon, and I get to write whatever I please and even add in characters of my own as long as I don't get any money. The no money sucks but there you go, at least I don't get lawyers knocking on my door. Addendum: If you recognize a name of a character from elsewhere it isn't mine.
Sirius' Savior
Chapter 37 Wicked Witch?
Sunday afternoon of the weekend following Harry's nightmare, Beth's whole security team entered a park in Washington DC that was a wizards only. Winry was on edge, not that anyone else on the team was much better. Consulting Morgana O'Shanahan, the most feared witch in WIS, made them all nervous.
When Sirius, Beth and Harry got there they slowly wandered to the picnic table where the meeting was to take place. Just as the clock tower of a nearby church began to chime ten there was a loud crack, and the elderly witch appeared.
Sirius stepped forward ready to be polite when Morgana glared at him and said, "I didn't come for pleasantries, no matter how pleasant time could be spent with a fine looking wizard such as yourself." She gave him a leer that made him recoil in horror and Beth glare angrily. "I came for the boy, come here boy."
Harry stepped forward and looked at her with all the concentration she was looking at him with. After a couple of minutes Morgana's head tilted to the side until her left ear was almost touching her left shoulder.
"Such a sideways view eagle child. How did...ah a world rocked sideways by your mother's death. So you are the one to face darkness, not just the black of night but also the dark that masquerades...Train you must, folding time itself, the twelve must teach you but only you can lead...First you must be freed of that which ties you. Contact Yiska Walker Azee'tsoh Dine'e of the Navajo Nation. He will see the darkness and together with the protectors he will free you to live in light. Air will always lift and sustain you, you have only begun to grasp it's power. You must know yourself, it is from that knowledge your power will flow."
"Play the mystic seer much? World rocked sideways? The twelve? The protectors? Pfft. You look more like a muggle's idea of what a wicked witch looks like than a normal person..."
"HARRY!" came mortified shouts from Beth and Sirius' throats. That similar thoughts had crossed their minds would never be admitted but still she was here to help.
The gleeful cackle that escaped the ancient crone's mouth stopped their scolding before it really got started. She finally straightened her head."You have courage enough to fly with Eagle child. I just wish I would be here to see the world resulting from your work. Alas I'll have long since turned to dust when that happens. There is one last bit of wisdom I would share with you. You will never overcome the darkness completely for there can never be light in the absence of darkness, therefore vigilance must be constant."
"Okay. Thank you for the information on how I can get rid of it. As for the rest I'll try to keep it in mind. Why call me Eagle child?"
"You will know soon enough." with that she apparated away.
Radar immediately apparated back to his apartment to cross reference the name in his computer.
The name was listed as a resident of the Navajo Indian Reservation in the Monument Valley area. He pulled up and printed off everything he could get from every source.
Sirius, Beth, Harry and the rest of the detail headed back to the house to debrief. They wore Harry patience thin making him repeat what Morgana had said so they could extract every nuance. After two hours Harry finally lost his temper. "What do you mean how did she look when she said, train you must folding time itself? She looked like an old hag! I have exams to study for I've had enough of this bullshit. Sirius are you taking me back or am I finding my own way?"Glaring at the adults.
Sirius looked at the emerald eyes that were so furious and promptly caved. "Let me grab my keys." As they went out and climbed on to the motorcycle he thought about what to say but decided to wait until Harry was calmer. Twenty-five minutes later when Harry climbed off the bike and removed his helmet in front of the gym acting as a temporary dorm. Sirius spoke. "I'm sorry kiddo, sometimes the people around you forget that we're the adults and you're just a kid. We're concerned for you and O'Shanahan's demand to meet you kind of freaked us out. Being on the receiving end of a prophecy like you were kind of pushed us over the edge."
"You think? I got the name of a person to help. Let's take things one step at a time, isn't that what you've always taught me. Step one get rid of the damned horcrux, then worry about turning me into a kick ass wizard and whatever other damn prophecies have been made about me. I need to go study if I ace my Latin final I might pull my grade up. Later."
"Remember..."
"Yes, I remember you and Beth are gone; her to Geneva for the latest talks and you to meet with the Navajo guy about me So I'll see you all for the concert Tuesday but then not until after finals."
"I love you Harry."
"I love you too. Even when you act like an idiot and piss me off."
"We good?"
Harry finally let go of his annoyance and reached out to hug his godfather. "We're good."
Sirius' portkeyed from Dulles to Flagstaff late on Wednesday. Thursday morning he left on his motorcycle heading north towards Monument Valley. He had the directions Radar had given him just before seeing Beth and her security team off to Geneva the day before, he didn't envy them they were on an eight and a half hour flight from Baltimore to Geneva. Beth didn't have enough magic to be safe with a portkey for that distance and rather than draw straws the entire team opted to fly with her. It was one of the little things that made Beth trust her detail.
Sirius gassed up in Kayenta and carefully followed his directions to Indian Rd. 42, when he finally found the correct address he turned in. It wasn't what he was expecting, an older mobile home type trailer and a hogan, but then again he hadn't really known what to expect. He went up to the door of the trailer and knocked not sure if anyone was even home this time of day. After a moment an elderly woman answered the door, "May I help you?"
"Yes, I'm looking for, sorry if I mispronounce this, Yiska Walker Azee'tsoh Dine'e."
"My husband is not here he is at the council offices. My husband in general prefers to be known as Yiska Walker, you must be a wizard to know him by that name."
"Yes, a seer on the east coast Morgana O'Shanahan, gave his name as someone who can help me, or more specifically my godson, with a problem."
"Come in. You may wait here until he returns."
"Thanks."
As he waited Sirius sat and reviewed the notes about the ritual Sri and he had created. It was scary. Part protection, part of the horcrux ritual itself to separate the soul fragment, part destruction of a soul ritual. He had always subscribed to the school of thought that said the darkness or lightness of magic was 95 percent intention because you could kill with a wingardium leviosa but even to him this was borderline. To need to persuade another person to help was hard, he was willing to stain his own soul doing the ritual but another's, it troubled him. It had troubled the few healers that Winry had found as well, so much so that they had refused any part of it which was how it ended up he was here.
He didn't have a choice however the spell required a mage class or higher witch or wizard preferably one with strong healing magic for the destruction aspect. And usually only fifteen mages or so were born every generation worldwide meaning only one or two might be a healer. Albus and Grindelwald's generation had been the first in centuries to be marked as having two high arch mages born to it. Most generations lacked a high arch mage at all. Only the founders era had had more. That was one of the things that had marked the founder's era. Four arch mages coming together to create the first school of magic. Beaubatons had been founded two generations later by an arch mage inspired by the founders, Durumstrang by a group of seven mages, most subsequent schools had followed Durumstrang's example. Sirius himself was only a sorcerer class wizard. James, Lily, Remus and, as much as he hated to admit it, Severus Snape and his former cousin Trixie all had been or were stronger than he was, being Grand Sorcerer level wizards.
As he read through it he found that Walter had added a page of notes suggesting that Harry have protective glyphs and wards inked onto his skin that could be activated after his "death" to prevent the horcrux from being able to repossess him when he was resuscitated; that that might allow a quicker resuscitation. The notes included details of the wards and glyphs he was suggesting. Sirius found himself smiling, in the thirteen weeks they had been in the United States Beth's team had become good friends to both himself and Harry. The proposed changes in front of him were proof. There was no criticism or debate just helpful support. The team would have cheerfully attempted to help with the ritual but like himself, they were only sorcerer class wizards. Stronger than 75 percent of wizards but lacking that last bit of strength to put them high enough to help. He looked up as he heard a truck drive up and stop.
Yiska Walker noticed a motorcycle parked outside his home as he pulled in with his truck. That was odd, Jenny and he seldom had visitors. As the second highest ranked member of the Azee'tsoh Dine'e Clan, or the Big medicine clan, he was respected and somewhat feared so they seldom had casual visitors. He hurried inside. Jenny was calmly standing at the stove making supper. In the living room stood a young man.
The spirits whispered wizard to him. " You are?"
"Sirius Black. I was given your name by a seer, Morgana O'Shanahan. She said that I, we should come and seek your help."
Will you eat with us?"
"Only if it isn't an imposition."
"You will eat with us then we will speak of this help you seek."
Sirius was slightly off balance because both the old man and his wife hadn't asked questions beyond the first, he knew their names because of Radar's file. They acted as if he was both there and not there and it struck him as odd. After dinner Yiska said, "We'll talk in the hogan, I don't talk of medicine in the house." When they entered the hogan Yiska lit a fire in the fire pit and three kerosene lamps. "Sirius Black, why do you come to me?"
"I come seeking your help to free my godson from an evil spell." Sirius was feeling torn between being completely open with the old Indian in front of him and flipping out because of the weight he felt. He wasn't sure what it was or why he felt it it was just there.
"What is this spell and why was it placed on your godson?"
"I have a file here to give the particulars. However I require an oath of secrecy, not for myself but to protect my godson."
"An oath is a sacred thing."
"As my godson's safety is to me."
"An oath to do what exactly, white men have used such oaths to steal and cheat the Dine'."
"I want you to oath not to share the contents of this file with anyone without my express permission."
"Very well,I Yiska Walker Azee'tsoh Dine'e, solemnly swear on my magic never to reveal to anyone the contents of Sirius Black's file to anyone without his express permission."
Sirius handed him the file it was three inches thick. Yiska started to read. Shortly after midnight he closed the file as he struggled with the urge to vomit. "Do you know why I became a healer Mr. Black?"
"No sir."
"I fought Grindelwald's followers and then I fought with many of the Dine' that had no magic against the Japanese. By doing so I committed many acts of which I am deeply ashamed, I tarnished my soul. I have spent more than forty years working to balance those acts of shame. It took me a long time. This.."he tapped the file, "is so.."
"Close to an atrocity that you aren't comfortable with it. I've heard that from the healers I've found that are powerful enough to help; most all of them are too afraid."
Yiska frowned, the man before him seemed almost heartbroken. "Do not put words in my mouth I have not yet said. Why would you wish to do this, and how does your godson feel about it?"
"I wish I didn't have to do it, I wish that Voldemort never attacked Harry and his parents that night. But as Sri used to say if wishes were fishes we'd all live in the sea. I have to deal with what is. Harry was born a wizard but thanks to the spells on him he can't live as one. To live around magic is like giving him a slow acting poison courtesy of that thing Voldemort put in him. Unfortunately him coming into his magical core means he needs to be schooled in magic. Diametrically opposed needs don't you think?"Sirius paused and pinched the bridge of his nose fighting tears. He wondered what words he could use to persuade the old healer; the man had been a solider surely he understood that desperate times called for desperate measures.
"Harry has known about the horcrux since last November, when he was first told, he told me he wanted it gone. When he was informed of what it would require he thought about it for a night and came to the conclusion that even if it cost his life getting rid of that monster was worth the sacrifice. We would have done it when June came, but several things changed not the least of which is that Sri Lie the healer that created most of that file you just read died on December 17. Harry and I moved here to the States and I have in between putting together a life here for us but I have been searching for someone willing to take Sri's role in the ritual And yes, the soul destroying portion of the ritual is pretty damned dark. However that piece of that bastards soul should have already left this plane of existence when his AK was reflected off Harry. After all that's when his body died, his spirit should have too. You say you became a healer to restore balance, how is forcing Harry to live under this curse balance? We want to do this ritual to give Harry the life he was meant to have back or at least as much of it as we can. Some things he'll never be able to get back." Sirius realized how heated his voice was becoming and paused "Sorry I just..."
"You feel passionate about this and you are right forcing...Harry to live with these curses is not balance. For a change it it's darkness that brings out that which is light. Your plans mention Muggle methods of death and resuscitation who was to do that?"
"When Sri and I planned this she was going to oversee that detail."
"Humph."
"Are you saying you'll help us?"
Yiska was silent for a moment. He looked searchingly into Sirius' face for several minutes. Finally he spoke,"I am a trained paramedic in the muggle world but what is proposed is beyond my skills, you would need someone with more knowledge and experience than I have and frankly most would not regard Harry's inability to do magic as enough motivation to stop his heart the way you propose."
"What do you suggest?"
"I have a granddaughter she is a squib."
"So? So is my wife what does that have to do with anything?"
"That is a more open minded opinion than I would have expected of a wizard Mr. Black."
"Anyway what has she to do with this?"
"She is a pediatric cardiologist at UCLA." At Sirius' blank look he said, "A heart doctor for children. She's coming for a month long visit in three weeks time. She takes time every year where she comes home to the reservation and put her skills to work for the tribe."
"Would she be willing to help us?"
"If approached correctly."
"What do I need to do?"
"She will insist on a full health work up of the muggle kind. I'll get a list, you will need to find a cooperative doctor in your area to order all of them. I will want a detailed magical scan but I will do that myself. I want to examine the ritual more closely and I will speak to my granddaughter. The magical tradition your Sri comes from is different than my own. I probably will make some changes to make it a bit easier for myself."
"Not to be crass but what sort of compensation do you want and how much money will your granddaughter want?"
"We Dine', are always appreciative of gifts. How generous a gift? I would say depends on how important to you your godson is."
"What does the tribe need most?"
"Another medical clinic, we can afford the building but not the equipment to make another clinic."
"Get me your wish list, I'll see what I can do."
"It is late. You would be welcome to sleep on our sofa."
"No thank you I have a room at a hotel about fourteen miles from here, I'll just apparate. When should I come back?"
"In four days," Yiska said. "I'll have gathered everything in four days and I'll give this back then." he said tapping the file in front of him.
Sirius spent his four days exploring the area he visited Four Corners and the Grand Canyon and just spent time looking around and people watching. Sirius only had a vague idea of what it would cost to equip a medical clinic, but as he stayed in a hotel on the reservation the lifestyle discrepancy between the reservation and the D.C. area became very apparent. He resolved to set aside quite a large chunk of money and figured that Harry would probably be willing to spend some money on improving the reservation as well. He did research into what a pediatric cardiologist made and knew what he would probably have to offer to get her cooperation.
Three weeks, he reflected. The timing was just about perfect. Harry would have been out of school one week at that point which meant the plans he had made for a family trip to Orlando, Florida wouldn't have to be changed. The travel agent who had made those plans had found the idea of making honeymoon plans that included a son and a security detail odd, but had shrugged and booked the three connected suites at Disney's Polynesian Resort and made all arrangements for a week of fun in the sun starting the sixteenth of April. Harry would get the chance to relax after a busy trimester before facing the stress of the ritual. If he remembered what Harry told him of the exam schedule he would pull Harry from school for the medical tests after he finished his exams but before he got his results back. Harry wouldn't like it but he wouldn't protest either. The only potential problem he saw was if Harry's magic was out of control it could delay his return for the summer trimester of school. He resolved to talk to the staff and make arrangements so Harry could miss a few weeks if he needed to.
Suddenly it struck him maybe that was what Morgana had meant train you must, folding time itself. Sirius remembered when he dated that one witch who worked in the Department of Mysteries, what was her name? Emma that's right, Emma Watson. Anyway she had told him about a nifty little magic item called a time turner. Perhaps he, Harry and any other designated teachers could get one and train Harry. But who should his teachers be? Sirius half grinned as he realized that he was working from the assumption that Harry would be ready for learning at nine instead of eleven like most witches and wizards.