Harry Potter and the Will of Magic
A/N: And here we are again. Harry Potter's main story kicks off here, though obviously not in first year. It starts slow, as every great building needs a foundation, not that I'm saying this is great or anything. So serpents galore as the child of darkness takes Hogwarts by storm, and the High Priestess laughs at the chaos he causes.
Last Time on Harry Potter and the Will of Magic:
As she considered her next step, a door appeared in the wall to the right of the chest. It swung open in silence, though when she became aware of it, she took a quick peek inside, and made a sinister smile.
For on a pedestal within, lay the fragments of the Rowan Staff.
Now on with the show:
Collecting the pieces carefully (as even in this broken state they still contained a great amount of magic) she wrapped them in the cloth decorating the stone plinth before giving a cursory glance around the hidden room.
Nothing seemed to jump out at her. Not to say it wasn't a nice room or anything, but beyond the Rowan Shards there wasn't anything else there.
Not that she could see, anyway.
She decided to come back at a later date with Geoffrey but concluded that they had other business to attend to at the moment so after leaving the room, the door curiously sealed behind her. But before she roused her nephew from slumber, she decided to check the chest again, and found within a side compartment the fang of the Questing Beast. Morgause wasn't quite sure how Morgana acquired it, but it would be fitting to create a new magical focus for her nephew with these materials. She hid it in the bundle before shaking him awake.
"We are leaving, nephew. We have things we must accomplish yet and the sun's light is waning."
He nodded jerkily, letting himself be led from the room with one last mournful look inside before the door closed shut and the magic barrier reapplied.
Back in Ragnok's office, they were handed a bag that when opened had several large gold coins inside.
When they asked about it, he said, "It is what we promised Her Majesty, if you should reappear, we should give our full support to you. The High Priestess' of the Old Religion have always been good to us, and Her Majesty helped us before we became what we are now. There was another stipulation, but I am forbidden to speak of it until the right time. The bag refill automatically when empty, so don't worry about overspending."
After that, they were given an honor guard as they left the premises, the witches and wizards in the bank surprised by the fanfare for one of their own (hah!) before they were told that the bank was closed for the day and all Wizardkind had to leave. Immediately. Most of them didn't take that too well, but soon enough the halls were cleared, and silence overtook the upper bank while in the lower areas there was a great party underway because one of the Great Ones had returned.
Some speculated later that the noise coming from the bank sounded like battle cries, but considering nothing made the news beyond the fearmongers worrying about another Goblin Rebellion the next day meant that it all died down rather quickly, though years later people did wonder if this was when it all began.
Snape met them outside, looking worse for wear as he had not been told anything by the goblins about why they were taken, and the goblins didn't take kindly when he insisted on being brought to wherever they were.
"What happened?" The man was not one for fretting, but the situation called for some concern, as no human had ever been treated respectfully by goblins (or at least Binns never spoke of it, preferring to talk about their rebellions) so to have his charges squirrelled away without any explanation meant he had few endings to consider for how their lives would go.
She quirked a brow. "What happened is none of your business. We had business with their chief and finished it for the time being, and now are on our way to acquire necessities."
"I have the list of things required for school. I assume you have a wand?"
Morgause shook her head disappointedly. "So, you are followers of that practice, are you? As a High Priestess of the Old Religion, I have no need for such paltry foci, and neither does my nephew."
Severus frowned. "Whatever your… opinion of wands may be, having one is required for classes."
Geoffrey snorted, only for his aunt to hit him upside the head. "A Pendragon does not snort, little prince. But the sentiment is correct. However, If such a thing is required, I shall craft him one myself in the ways of old. And no," she gave Snape a hooded glare, "I will not explain that to an outsider. I have been reliably informed by the goblins that no wizard practices the Old Religion anymore. We intend to change that, but for the time being, we shall adhere. But know this, we shall not conform. Your rules are not ours. Nor is our world yours. We come from the time of myth when magic was more pervasive. You would be wise not to test the lengths we are willing to go to achieve our aims."
Gulping nervously, the wizard nodded. She eyed him suspiciously for a moment before letting it pass. She turned back to Geoffrey, "Come, nephew. We have goods to purchase and then we shall see about your focus."
That throughout this Severus Snape never saw fit to mention the bundle in her arms was because what one takes from the bank is their own business, Hagrid's horrid botching of that something that saw him barred from reentering for 3 more years as the man had all but bragged about the task Dumbledore gave him the previous year after going to the Leaky Cauldron following the pickup. The goblins naturally found out and blamed him for the break-in and banned him for the mistake.
Dumbledore by virtue of being the employer was barred entry for 10 years. The fact that the other teachers at Hogwarts weren't similarly banned was only due to Professor Flitwick who, despite being a half-goblin, was well-respected among the purebloods. Though they did request (read: demand) that he swear on his magic that he had nothing to do with the theft.
While he was a clever fellow, the wording required meant he had to disclose his involvement, even if it was only after the fact, and that it was only to guard the stolen item in question, even if he hadn't been given all the information necessary to do that.
Back to the present, the trio made their way to Flourish and Blotts pick up the required books, and some extras. Morgause being particularly interested in Curses and Countercurses by Pr. Vindictus Viridian. Snape tried to drag her away but she bought it before he could stop her.
Honestly he had just been surprised she could read it at all considering the language barrier, but she professed to having acquired an enchantment to allow one to read and eventually write any language they come across.
After that they acquired the items necessary for Potions as well as a trunk to store everything followed by acquiring a messenger bird. Though this turned ended poorly as none of the owls wished to go with him, all seeming reverent but fearful.
Morgause resolved to get Geoff a better familiar (as this way to relay information was relatively new in their time due to Uther's manaphobia) and move on to get the remaining items, ending with him getting measured for his school robes. They originally went to Madam Malkin's, but after seeing the quality they looked elsewhere, (Snape being no help when they asked) and eventually coming across Gladrags Wizardwear, where a Mr. Dibble manned the counter. The elderly man looked up with a smile.
"Welcome to Gladrags Wizardwear, home to some of the best clothiers in the wizarding world. I am Alastor Dibble, how can I help you today?"
The time travelers turned to converse with each other quietly before answering. "We need everything in the finest materials you have."
He looked surprised for a moment before chuckling, "I understand. And as I haven't seen you before, I assume this young man is going to attend Hogwarts and will thus require new robes?" He nodded. "Excellent, we are grateful that you chose us for your clothing needs. I just need the young man to step this way and we'll get him measured."
"I also require a new wardrobe."
Mr. Dibble gave her a onceover. "I'm not sure I have the ability to make clothes as fine as what you are wearing, but if you desire, I can see to putting my best foot forward in trying. Amanda, could you please take her to get measured?"
The duo was stood on stools separated by a curtain while a tailor's tape whizzed about, cataloguing their leg and arm-length, along with chest size and shoulder width. After finishing, they selected items from a catalogue, which they had never seen before, and were openly gawking at the options. Considering how, well, medieval Camelot was, it wasn't surprising that their knowledge of such things was still lacking.
Leaving the apparel store in a daze, the trio returned to Hogwarts, and Morgause began scheming in earnest.
Taking her nephew into the Forbidden Forest, she took the shards of the Rowan Staff and placed them in a circle she drew on the ground. Making sure that the moon was high (and the correct phase) she began to chant, the drawn runes glowing blue as her voice grew louder. The forest became quiet as the first ritual of the Old Religion in over a thousand years was performed.
When the light died down, there in the center of the circle was a staff. Morgause was aware of the 'requirement' but as a High Priestess, she was above such trifles. And she refused to let her nephew walk around with a stick for protection when a stave was so much better. After all, not only could it cast spells, but it was also a blunt instrument so one would be able to protect oneself even when magic wasn't an option.
As a precaution, the staff can also become a wand, but that was for emergencies only.
She knelt down and picked up the new magical focus, turning toward her nephew with a sad look on her face.
"Here is your first staff. I know your mother wanted to be here for this moment, but we don't have the luxury to wait." He took the staff, holding it gingerly as he looked at it in awe. "I know it doesn't make up for it but- *oof*" Her breath was knocked from her chest as he wrapped his arms around her in a hug. She opened her mouth to rebuke him when she felt her dress getting damp.
She smiled gently, Well, I guess it's okay for now. You better get here soon, sister, or I'll be monopolizing his firsts.
A/N: Thanks for reading! It took me a bit to write because some of the words just weren't coming to me. Until next time!