What's Said, Is Said
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Moonlight Sonata and Turn, Turn, Turn belong their composers, producers and performers. Reviews are welcomed, flames are not. There is maybe one to two chapters left. -GF and the Frau
Chapter 43: Moonlight Sonata
The night was crisp and a chilled silence greeted All Hallows Eve. The wind had died to nothing and normal night-time noises were hushed, waiting.
Two shadowy figures stood in front of Riddle Manor. One tall and lanky, the other shorter by half a head with a more lithe body.
The shorter of the pair withdrew something from a case he carried and placed an elegant violin to his chin. He ran a quick scale, then softly played the opening notes to 'Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.' The muted, haunting melody broke through the silence of the night. Hovering just below the refrain a bit of magic trembled,
calling seductively in the rich, velvet voice of his companion:
"Be at peace, no need for alarm.
Sleep's healing peace will keep thee from harm.
Listen well to the music's charm.
Be at peace."
The pair moved unhurriedly up the portico stairs and into the building itself. They met no resistance, no one tried to hinder them, nor did any of the guards seem to note their presence. The music grew slightly louder as they passed the wards, allowing the pair inside. The magic inherent in the music went unrecognized by the magic used to protect the manor and those within.
The werewolves guarding the door were restive but calmed the closer the music came. They knew someone was there, but something unseen leashed their aggression, calming them. One of the growled as the intruders passed but made no move to stop them.
Shadows seemed to come alive as the two mysterious figures passed by, myriad eyes following their every movement from the darkness.
Garion played, pouring his heart into his music as he entered the throne room. It took all of his will to continue despite the heavy stagnation permeating this place. Magic here had been fouled, was tainted beyond anything he had yet known. He strained to call forth all of the magic within his soul, pouring his strength into the unforgettable music cascading from his instrument.
Severus shivered in awe as he watched the building swirls of magic respond to the music.
Violin music echoed off the walls as the first foul strands of magic that clung to the walls answered obediently to Garion's call, collecting around them, helping the pair remain hidden.
Once inside the Throne Room, they moved to sit on a window seat in the back. As the Moonlight Sonata drifted to a close, none of the others had yet noticed them. Nor did they notice the growing maelstrom of magic around them. The underlying magic within the music still held them in its thrall. "Peace. Peace. Be at peace, no need for alarm . . ."
Garion Williams, Master Bard, knew that he could not attack the wizard that had caused so many so much pain and misery. As a Bard, if he attacked, with weapons or magic, he could lose the Bardic immunity that was his by the Will and Law of the Ancient Magicks. However, there was no law restraining him from cleansing the manor and the magic it held. He had been tasked with taking down this evil being that had so affronted the Ancient Magicks and he would not fail the Lady who granted him his abilities.
Garion handed the violin to Severus and pulled out his guitar. He knew what he wanted to do to finish this.
Magic paused,waiting for the music to continue. It had been awakened now and was loathe to go dormant again.
Quickly checking the tuning, Garion started to play. He called the drifting magic to come to him, all the magic that was within the manor, be it ambient or in use. For a moment it fought him but then, as the first strains of his song sounded, it complied.
"To every thing
Turn, Turn, Turn
There is a season
Turn, Turn, Turn
And a time
To every purpose under Heaven.
A time to be born,
A time to die
A time to plant
A time to reap"
The Death Eaters stood at attention, stirring slightly as their master shook his head in bewilderment.
The meeting should not be taking this long. He wanted to get his followers out to do his bidding. He couldn't understand why things were moving so slowly.
The bardic magic was swelling once more and so they failed to notice the growing tension building behind them.
"A time to kill
A time to heal
A time to laugh
A time to weep
To every thing
Turn Turn Turn
There is a season
Turn Turn Turn
And a time
To every purpose under
Heaven."
However, the magic responded. It pulled from every room, nook and cranny, drawing avidly forth each strand. This manor, while holding much tainted magic, was a muggle residence and so the magic really hadn't had a chance to permeate the structure, making it easier to call up.
The robes of the Death Eaters as well as the torn curtains started to sway in the growing wind. Nagini raised her head, noticing something in the shadows.
"A time to build up
A time to break down
A time to dance
A time to mourn
A time to cast away
Stones
A time to gather
Stones together
To everything
Turn Turn Turn
There is a season
Turn Turn Turn
And a time
To every purpose under Heaven."
Magic, now freed, was fighting against the control that Garion imposed. The bewildered Death Eaters began to shift nervously as it moved around them to the middle of their gathering.
"What is going on!" shouted Lord Voldemort as the magical vortex grew before him.
Then, above the howling of swirling strands of magic, music could be heard, ringing clearly:
"A time to love
A time to hate
A time of war
A time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain
From embracing
To every thing
Turn Turn Turn
There is a season
Turn Turn Turn
And a time
To every purpose under Heaven."
The cyclone of magic, now a torrent of wildly unrestrained power, color, and wind, turned faster and faster, growing rapidly. It commanded center stage. It would not be gainsaid.
Angry voices were drowned out. Bellatrix Lestrange started what was the first of many very disastrous mistakes. She fired curse, after curse into the vortex. Several others joined in.
The spells didn't bounce off, nor did they stop the rampaging hurricane around them. Their curses were sucked into the maelstrom, adding to the already collected magic. It was now growing.
The Dark Lord stood and fired off several killing curses, only to bring the whirlwind's attention to himself. If he had remained silent, perhaps the magic would have left him alone. Now he became the center of its rage.
When the magic surrounded the Dark Lord, his followers to stop their attack as they watched in abject horror as their Lord and Master screamed.
"A time to gain
A time to lose
A time to rend
Swirling strands of magic ripped from the body of Voldemort and Nagini joining with black tendrils that came from outside the manor. Across the island of Great Britain, four ancient artifacts flared as long black tendrils escaped from within. In the Underground a blackened crystal cleared as the dark soul that was once housed in Harry Potter also answered the call.
"A time to sew
A time for love
A time for hate
A time for peace
I swear it's not too late."
As the song came to an end, the magic rose, bursting through the ceiling into the night sky as a cyclone of color, sparkles and wind. Like a Chinese rocket, it burst in a spray of color that was seen for many miles by wizards and muggles alike.
Inside the manor, many of the death eaters lay dead. Few remained alive from the drain on their magic and life force through the Dark Mark. Magick simply recalled that which made up the Dark Lord's body. It was a recognized by magic as a conglomerate of magic and not a true human body. All that was left where the Dark Lord had been standing was now a pile of old bones, a rotted hand and robes stained with blood. Without magic to bind him together, he was reduced to the key components that had created his body.
Garion stood and swayed from exhaustion. His work was done. He looked over at Severus Snape sadly. "I tried to keep him from drawing magic from others but . . ."
Severus placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You aren't at fault. He made his choice."
Garion nodded as he banished his guitar, leaning against Severus for support.
"It's true," Jareth agreed as he stepped out of the shadows. "Congratulations Bard Garion for beating your enemy without going against your oath. Well done."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Garion said, with a shaky bow.
Seconds later, several pops echoed in the darken chamber. The trio turned to see Albus and his Order appear along with several Aurors.
"Severus, where is Tom?" Albus asked, looking around at the many bodies littering the floor.
"Hey this Death Eater is dead!" called an Auror.
"So is this one!"
"Merlin, it's Lucius Malfoy!" exclaimed Tonks. "He's dead."
"I have Bellatrix Lestrange's body over here!"
"My boy, what have you done!" Albus exclaimed in horror. "Was it really necessary to kill all of them?"
Severus, ignoring the headmaster's comments, looked down at an exhausted Garion, then at Jareth. "You need to get him out of here, Your Majesty."
"Severus, who is this?" Albus demanded, looking at the Goblin King.
"Someone you don't want to cross," Jareth said as he produced a crystal. Twirling it around in his hands, drawing everyone's attention to it. "Magic has claimed its due." His free arm pulled Garion's limp body against his chest.
"Father," Garion murmured as his arms wrapped around the Goblin King.
'Now see here!" exclaim one of the Aurors. "We need to know what happened. Where is He Who Must Not be Named?"
Jareth waved his crystal around then tossed it up. "You know what happened." When it came down it shattered on the floor, as he and Garion disappeared into the shadows.
All around them, the Order Members and Aurors heard the twittering laughter of many small voices in the shadows. They looked around and at each in terror.
"Severus, who was that man? Your apprentice must be detained and questioned," Albus insisted. "Dark magic was used here."
Severus shook his head. "That's just it, Albus. No wizarding magic was used here at all by either my apprentice or myself. Garion simply pulled all the magic in this room and sent it where it belonged. There was no dark magic involved, save what he cleansed from this place."
"How was that possible?" Tonks asked.
Severus looked at her with a smirk. "Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!" he said, taking a page from Garion's insanity. "Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets! And with that, Adieu!" He touched a hidden portkey and disappeared. He wasn't about to give them the answers they sought. Maybe there was something to be said about being an insane bard afterall.
0o0o0o0
We felt the Byrds, "Turn, Turn, Turn," was a fitting song for ending Tom. I also wanted to use "Sunrise, Sunset" but it just didn't lend itself to the chapter.
Severus' quote was from Julius Ceasar Act 3, scene 1.
Until next time. -GF and the Frau