The Mandora Amulet

Hermione arrived at Saint Mungo's half an hour later and walked into Harry's room to find Ron, Ginny and their parents sitting in chairs beside Harry's bed. When Ron saw Hermione he jumped up and rushed over to her. He pulled her into a relieved hug and planted a lengthy kiss on her lips.

When he finally released her, he said, "I'm so glad you're back. I was getting kind of worried!"

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stood up and Mrs. Weasley gave Hermione a motherly hug. "He was worried sick, wondering if you were alright. I've got to admit, we were all concerned as well."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley. I just needed to get away for a few days. I promise I won't do it again. So how is Harry? Any change?"

Mr. Weasley shook his head and said, "His bones have finally mended but I'm afraid nothing else has changed."

Hermione walked over to the bed and gazed down at Harry. Sure enough the bandages were gone and had been replaced pajamas. The bruises were also gone from his face which did not look as pale and gaunt as it had the week before.

She said to Ginny, "So how are you holding up?"

Ginny replied, "I'm fine. The good news is his energy levels have not deteriorated any more. Maybe they'll start heading in the right direction soon."

Mrs. Weasley looked at her daughter with sympathy and said, "You keep the good thoughts coming and I'm sure things will turn around. He's a strong boy. He'll get better eventually, won't you Harry?"

She placed a motherly hand on his forehead and gently stroked his hair to the side.

"Good to have you back, Hermione," Mr. Weasley said. "I wish we could stay longer but we have an appointment we must get to. Ginny, try not to stay too late tonight; you can come home with Ron by floo; and, Hermione, you are welcome to stay over."

Hermione smiled at him and said, "Thank you, Mr. Weasley. I think I will."

"Good. We'll see you later then. Come along, Dear," Mr. Weasley said and he and his wife left the room.

Now that his parents had gone Ron asked the question that had been on his mind for over a week. "So where have you been? I know you were owling me, but I thought I was going to go nutters worrying about you!"

"Oh, for Heaven's sake, Ron! I told you I'd be fine. It's not like I disappeared," she retorted, and then saw the concerned look on his face. "I can't believe you have suddenly become that over-protective."

Ginny looked between Hermione and her brother and said, "Ron, I don't think she's heard."

"Heard what?" Hermione asked.

Ron replied, "There have been several murders and they specifically targeted Muggle-borns."

"That's terrible!" Hermione gasped at hearing the news.

Ron continued solemnly, "The attacks have been getting more brutal. A couple of Aurors have disappeared, too. I'm just glad you're back and safe."

Ginny added, "The Daily Prophet also somehow got word that Harry is in here. There was a big article a few days ago about him having a confrontation with Voldemort which has put him on his death bed. It said that he's not expected to live."

"I hadn't been reading the Prophet while I was gone. But untrue articles in there about him are nothing new," Hermione said. "I am surprised the Ministry allowed it."

"They didn't," Ginny continued to explain. "From what Dad said, Minister Scrimgeour is furious. Even though Harry refused to cooperate with him and be their 'Poster Boy,' apparently there are many people that believe he is 'The Chosen One'. Dad said since the article appeared the Minister's office has been flooded with Owls from people demanding that his office find a way to better protect everyone."

Ron looked at Hermione questioningly and asked, "So now will you tell us where you went and why? I never really bought your 'I need to be alone' excuse."

"I went to stay with Nadia and Ivan," Hermione replied.

Ginny queried, "The older couple you lived with in Romania earlier this year?"

Hermione replied, "Yes. I wanted to do some research on something I had remembered reading about while we were there before."

"Research?" Ron asked in surprise. "Hermione, I realize for some weird reason you find research relaxing but why would you want to go when… well, I mean… we don't know if Harry is going to be okay yet."

Hermione answered, "I went there to see if I could find a way to help him and I did."

Ginny stood up and walked over to Hermione. "You did? You found something that can cure Harry?"

Hermione nodded. "After some convincing, Nadia and Ivan told me about an ancient spell and they let me borrow a talisman that we can use to restore Harry's energy levels."

Ginny clapped her hands together and smiled excitedly, "That's great! Oh, Hermione, I can hardly believe it!"

Ron stood back frowning with his arms crossed when he heard his girlfriend's revelation.

Ron said, "Hermione, you're the one who has gone nutters now! Don't you remember the last time we tried to 'help' Harry with one of those old spells?" he made quote gestures in the air, "We nearly killed him!"

Ginny's jaw dropped. "What? You've performed other old spells on Harry? And what do you mean you nearly killed him?"

"That was different, Ron," Hermione said, ignoring Ginny's shock for the moment. "We hadn't researched it as thoroughly as we should have. We're going to have help this time and take more precautions. Sure this one has its risks but I have taken lots of notes from my discussion with Nadia and Ivan and…"

Ginny interrupted, "Stop! I'm still back on the part where you nearly killed Harry. Did I hear you right? You used some kind of old spell that almost killed him and now you want to chance using another one?"

Hermione explained, "Voldemort had started going after Harry in his dreams again and it was getting really bad. We found a spell and potion meant to stop it but we had not been completely aware of all the side effects. We figured out how to counter them in time and Harry turned out to be okay."

Hermione continued, "I'll explain everything that I have learned but there is one thing you both need to know up front. Both of you will need to be involved in the spell and if either of you has the slightest doubt about doing this once I have told you everything, it won't work. If you do it could possibly kill him or one of us."

"Well that makes me feel a whole lot better!" Ginny said sarcastically, turning away from Hermione.

Ron asked in disbelief, "Hermione, how can you consider trying something like that again? Especially if you know it's dangerous! You can't even be sure it will work. We just got really lucky the last time."

Hermione replied adamantly, "But this time I know it works under the right circumstances! I learned about it from two people who have used it."

Ginny had turned back to look at Hermione. "Nadia and Ivan have used it and it worked successfully?"

"Well…" Hermione started, not meeting Ginny's eyes.

"Well what?" Ron asked. "It was either successful or it wasn't."

"It was successful for them, but not so on another occasion. It all really depends upon the witches and wizards involved," Hermione told them. "Nadia and Ivan felt that we can get it to work and so do I. I think you will, too, after you hear about it."

Ginny said, "Why don't you tell us about it then."

Hermione reached into the pocket of her robes and withdrew the box containing the spell book and the talisman.

She opened the box and started to explain, "This is called the Mandora Amulet after the witch who crafted it over twelve centuries ago. Mandora was one of the most gifted witches of her time and she was also leader of her people. She had an innate strength and a kind and pure soul. She was a great leader and she surrounded herself with three people who were her close companions and confidants. It was from these people she sought counsel and strength when times were the darkest and their enemies threatened them with war and terror."

Hermione paused, but seeing Ron and Ginny were listening intently, she continued, "In an effort to get Mandora to surrender to him, a powerful Dark Wizard kidnapped one of her confidants, Lenkai. He was also to become her husband. Mandora and her people tried for weeks to get him back but one day they found Lenkai tortured and unconscious. None of their Healers could bring him out of it so the remaining friends found another way to help him.

"Mandora crafted this amulet in the form of a triangle with each side representing one of them. The sun in the middle represented Lenkai and their hope to save him. The spell worked; Lenkai was revived and they defeated the Dark Wizard and his army and ended the terror their people had been suffering. Mandora recorded the spell they used and hid it and the amulet away in case they might need it again one day."

Hermione paused and Ginny asked, "You think the three of us can use the amulet to save Harry like Mandora saved Lenkai?"

"Yes, but you need to hear the rest. That is not the end of the story of the Mandora Amulet. Word got around about its power and many people, both good and bad, searched for it. Eventually it was found. Some stories tell of people who tried to revive another but they ended up killing them. Their motives were not pure or the reason for bringing the other person back was for their own gain and not truly for the person in need.

"The best-known story tells of a wizard whose friend was captured by his enemies and ended up in the same state as Lenkai. This wizard and two of his companions used the amulet to revive their friend, in whom they had unwisely misplaced their trust. When their friend woke up he drew the life and magical energy from the others to give himself greater power and strength. He killed them as a result."

Ron asked, "So if we use this on Harry there is a chance we will either cure him, kill him, or it could kill us?"

"Oh, Ron, weren't you listening to what Hermione said?" Ginny asked. "It sounds like the success of the spell and amulet depends on the motives and character of the people involved, right?"

"That's right," Hermione answered. "If we want to help Harry we must be willing to risk ourselves by offering him our magical and life energy. It also means that we must have enough trust in him to not turn the power and magic we invoke against us."

Ginny stated confidently, "I do not believe for one moment that Harry would turn against us or do anything to hurt us. I don't have a problem doing this for him."

"Me either," Ron said.

Hermione smiled at Ron and Ginny and said, "I knew you'd feel that way. But you both need to consider one other thing and this is only a guess on Nadia and Ivan's part. Harry has become a powerful wizard in his own right. We may have some difficulty when his energy levels are restored because he may not want to come out of this willingly."

"What makes them think that?" Ginny asked surprised.

Hermione explained, "Because he ended up in his current state due to Voldemort. They think that he may be choosing to remain unconscious to keep Voldemort from getting something he wants. That may be the reason the Healers have not been able to restore his energy levels. When he becomes conscious he may try to fight us..."

Ron finished, "And turn the power of the spell and amulet against us before he realizes what is happening."

Hermione nodded, "I think that is the biggest risk we are facing."

Ron said, "I think we should try it but we should get someone else besides Ginny. This sounds too dangerous."

Ginny made a noise very similar to an angry hippogriff and exclaimed, "Don't you dare start up! Hermione said this will take three people and I plan to be one of them!"

Ron argued, "Do you think I'm going to let you take a chance like that? Would Harry let you take a chance like that if he thought you might get hurt?"

Ginny countered, "I don't care what you think and Harry is in no position to argue the point! I'm going to be involved so you might as well get over yourself right now!"

Hermione said impatiently, "Would you two please stop arguing! Ron, Ginny has to be one of the three people for this to work, as do you and I. Each of the three people involved has to be significant to Harry and we are the only ones who qualify."

"But, Hermione! If this is dangerous—" Ron started to say.

"No, Ron, listen!" Hermione interrupted him. "We need three connections to Harry to complete the spell. One is Strength born in trust and friendship which represents the magical essence he needs to heal and become strong enough to come back. I figure that is you. I should take on another connection, The Counsel. This one represents Guidance and will ensure the connection of his mind back to his magical essence."

"And the third?" Ron asked still not convinced Ginny should be involved in the spell.

"The third is the one that I don't think anyone other than Ginny will be able to represent; the Soul, which to ensure the greatest success is supposed to be represented by the unconscious person's confidant and lover—"

"What! The spell won't work then! Ginny and Harry weren't—" Ron stopped and looked straight at Ginny, his face growing red. "You two never… you better not have or I may kill him right now whether he's out cold or not!"

Ginny stared at her brother speechless for the moment.

Hermione said, "Ron! Stop overacting! Nadia and Ivan said whatever Harry and Ginny have already shared between them is enough. The Soul represents a connection to life and the will to love- this is the connection that will bind us all together to complete the spell. Whether Harry admitted it to us or not he still cares very deeply for Ginny. If anyone can connect to him on that level, she will in a way that no one else can."

Ron calmed slightly but he continued to look suspiciously between his sister and Harry's still form on the bed.

"You haven't changed your mind about doing this for Harry have you, Ron?" Ginny asked feeling affronted by his outburst.

Ron shook his head slightly but she wasn't convinced. "I don't think you are entitled to an explanation but I'll put your mind at ease for Harry's sake. He was always a perfect gentleman when we were together and we never went any farther than some heavy snogging sessions. Feel better now?"

Becoming embarrassed, Ron said, "I'm sorry. Hermione's right; it's really none of my business and I shouldn't have said that."

"No, you shouldn't have," Ginny agreed curtly. "And if you ever go off like that again about what I may have done with a boyfriend," her tone suddenly turned steely as she finished, "I'm going to make you wish you never stuck your nose in where it has no right to be!"

Her last few words were said in a tone so cold and forceful that Ron winced.

Satisfied that she had driven her point home, Ginny changed the subject and asked Hermione serenely, "You said there were some precautions we'll take when we perform the spell?"

Smiling at seeing Ginny so effortlessly put Ron in his place Hermione said, "I have already been by to see Fred and George. I figured they are the only ones we can trust and I know they can keep it quiet. They have agreed to get me the ingredients for the spell as well as help us."

"They've agreed to this?" Ginny asked surprised. "Given how risky it may be and how overprotective of me they have become I figured they'd give you an argument."

Hermione smiled at Ginny and said, "They did; but I threatened them with the one thing that they seem to be afraid of."

"What on Earth would that be?" Ginny asked.

"You."

Ron said, "That would do it. Your bat bogey hexes are becoming legendary."

This caused all three of them to laugh together for the first time in many weeks.