Chapter 26: The Key

When Harry woke early the next morning, it did not immediately register why there was a warm body nestled against him. Realizing that it was Ginny still sleeping peacefully beside him, he put on his glasses and regretfully eased his way out of their warm cocoon.

He placed more logs on the embers of the campfire and went about heating up a thick porridge. He heard Ginny stir behind him and he turned to see her watching him.

He whispered, "Good morning."

"'Morning," she replied and stretched lazily.

Harry watched her body unfold like a graceful cat's and he decided he had best turn his attention back to the porridge. He placed a lid over the cauldron but could not stop thinking about the possibilities if the two of them had been alone and there was time to crawl back into the sleeping bag with her.

She came over and sat next to him. "Did you sleep well?"

Stoking the fire he whispered, "I did. For once, I didn't wake up freezing in the middle of the night. You make a pretty nice bed warmer."

He glanced over at her and added, "I could get used to that."

It was hard to tell in the still-dim light but he thought he saw a blush come to her cheeks.

She whispered back, "Me too."

Hermione joined them in less than five minutes' time and just after Harry finished ladling the porridge into bowls, Ron came groggily over as well. They consumed breakfast quickly, packed up their supplies, and were soon continuing their trek to meet up with Mohamier.

They hiked through the forest the entire day, only stopping for a brief lunch and then again to make camp at sunset. This time, not only did Ginny automatically assume they would share a sleeping bag, but Harry noticed the sleeping arrangement did not cause the slightest reaction from Ron.

They arrived at their destination close to noon the following day. It was an abandoned settlement along a small river consisting of several tiny, crumbling cottages with a small stone church at the center. The shutters on the windows of the church hung crookedly on rusted hinges and the door was not in any better shape.

Harry and Ron carefully pried the door of the church open, pulled out their wands and walked inside. When their eyes adjusted to the meager light coming through the broken shutters, they saw that a thick blanket of dust and dirt covered the floor; a stone altar was at the far end of the room and rough wooden benches were scattered hodge-podge around the interior.

Ron asked, "Are you sure this is the right place? It doesn't look like anyone has been here in ages."

Harry replied, "It has to be. We followed Mohamier's directions exactly and this is definitely an old church."

Hermione said, "Maybe we made better time than Mohamier expected us to. He'll probably be along soon."

The words were barely out of her mouth when they heard the door creak behind them and Harry spun around toward the sound before the others even had time to blink.

He demanded, "Who's there?"

When the others turned, they saw that Harry already had his wand trained on a tall, thin, hooded form silhouetted against the brightness of the doorway.

The others followed suit and raised their wands but the figure remained motionless.

Several long seconds passed before they heard a raspy male voice that Harry did not recognize say, "Excellent reflexes. However, it would have been viser to have one of your companions keep vatch on the door."

The man's face remained hidden by the hood of his cloak and when he started to step through the door, Harry said, "That's close enough. Raise your hands and keep them up where we can see them."

The man slowly complied and they saw he was not holding a wand.

Harry instructed the stranger, "Don't move!"

He said sideways to the others, "If he does move, stun him."

Harry walked toward the new arrival and reached out to pull his hood down. The man's hand shifted slightly toward Harry's outstretched arm and the next thing Harry knew, the man crumbled to the ground and landed with a thud. His hood had fallen away from his face and Harry immediately recognized him.

Harry knelt down and said, somewhat surprised, "It's Mohamier!"

They heard a feminine cry and then Lina rushed through the door. She pushed Harry out of the way to get to her grandfather's side.

She demanded, "Vot did you do to him?"

Ginny said from behind her, "I stunned him."

They heard Mohamier groan and Lina and Harry gently helped him to sit up.

Seeing that her grandfather was recovering quickly Lina turned on Ginny and said accusingly, "You knew he vas coming here to meet you! You had no right to stun him!"

Ginny replied, "He should have identified himself and he moved when Harry clearly told him not to." Then she added, narrowing her eyes at Lina, "I won't take a chance on anyone where Harry is concerned."

Harry helped Mohamier to his feet and Lina took a step toward Ginny who stood firm in the face of the icy-cold daggers she saw in the other's eyes.

Lina asked furiously, "Vot are you implying?"

Harry saw Lina's hand move toward the pocket of her cloak where he was certain she carried her wand. He began to consider his best course of action should Lina and Ginny start dueling, which, by the expressions on both girl's faces, was exactly what they were about to do. Ron and Hermione seemed to be experiencing similar concerns because they kept glancing warily between the two girls.

Mohamier said with a hint of amusement, "Careful, Granddaughter. You may find you have met your match vith this von. Her actions vere expected."

Harry noted that the raspy quality he had heard in Mohamier's voice only moments before was gone. Had he purposely disguised his voice so that they would not recognize him?

Upon hearing her Grandfather's words, Lina froze but Harry could not be sure if it was due to his warning to be wary of Ginny or from his declared expectations of Ginny's actions.

Lina tossed one last glower in Ginny's direction then snapped at Mohamier, "Another von of your tests? Really, Grandfather! You should no longer be doing such things at your age!"

Mohamier ignored Lina's comment and held out his hand to Harry, "Hello, Harry."

"Hello, sir," Harry said shaking his hand.

Mohamier shook Ron's hand and then placed a light kiss on each of Hermione's cheeks.

Mohamier said, "I am sorry I alarmed you but I had to be certain who entered the church ahead of me. Plus I never could resist the opportunity for a character study."

Mohamier walked over to Ginny and said, "You are Geany?"

At her confused nod, he continued, "Excellent choice of hexes, my dear. You stunned me just enough to ensure I could not be a threat should I be an enemy and little enough for me to recover quickly should I be an ally. Most impressive."

Lina let out an exasperated snort and folded her arms in disgust as Mohamier offered his hand to Ginny. Bewildered by the compliment she took it and replied, "Um, thank you."

It was obvious Lina had gotten her height and her coloring from her grandfather's side of the family. They shared the same extremely blue eyes and even though Mohamier looked to be as old as Ivan, his thick, graying beard and shoulder-length hair was still evenly peppered with black; at one time it had been the same jet-black color as his granddaughter's.

Mohamier turned back to Harry and said, "Thank you for coming here to meet vith me. And I am relieved you all agreed to accompany him. It is no longer a trip von should make alone."

Mohamier looked at Lina reprovingly when he said this; he was obviously still displeased that she had gone alone to see Harry in the village the previous week. Lina's attention was on Harry and she ignored her grandfather's comment.

Hermione asked, "Why couldn't you both have met us in the village?"

Mohamier said, "I have reason to believe it may not be safe for my granddaughter or me to venture there at this time." He turned to Harry and asked, "You vere not followed?"

"Followed?" Harry frowned at the question. "No. No one but Nadia and Ivan knew we were coming here. Why? And why do you think the village is not safe?"

Mohamier's caution was making him feel uneasy.

"I vill explain," Mohamier said, and then looked in turn at Hermione, Ron and Ginny. "But first, I must beg your patience and ask you to step outside to allow me to speak vith Harry alone."

"Why?" Ginny asked, instantly becoming suspicious.

Mohamier turned to her and said, "It vill be Harry's decision vether or not to share vot I discuss vith him."

Harry said to Mohamier, "I don't mind if they stay."

Mohamier replied, "However, I vould prefer that they do not."

Harry said mostly to Ginny, "It's okay, go ahead."

"Okay…," she said reluctantly then tossed a cautious look back at Lina, "but I'll still be keeping my eyes open," and she turned to walk out the door.

Ron said, "We'll be right outside, then," and he and Hermione followed Ginny.

Lina smugly watched Ginny leave the church and then moved to stand closer to Harry.

Mohamier said to her, "Please go outside vith the others."

Lina protested, "But I vont to stay!"

"Do not argue vith me," Mohamier replied firmly. Lina began to pout but she reluctantly did as her grandfather bade.

Once she had gone through the door, Mohamier waved his wand and placed a silencing charm around himself and Harry. He motioned for Harry to take a seat on one of the old benches.

Harry asked, "So what can you tell me about the old Dark Mark? Ivan said there is a legend about it being the mark of one of the original Dark Arts sects."

Mohamier replied, "It is fact, not legend that the mark vas the symbol used by such a sect."

Harry said slowly, "And this sect created spells and rituals that enabled them to gain greater power?"

"Yes," Mohamier answered. "Your note said you saw the mark on a tablet that vas vithin Voldemort's possession."

It was not lost on Harry that, unlike most in the Wizarding world, Mohamier said 'Voldemort' as casually as if it were any other name.

Mohamier asked, "Vill you tell me how you came to see it?"

Harry looked away from the old wizard; he had not expected Mohamier to ask him to recount an experience he still very much wanted to forget.

Noting Harry's hesitation Mohamier said quietly, "I do not doubt the incident vas extremely unpleasant for you; However, I believe your account vill enable me to answer your questions more thoroughly."

Having to take Mohamier at his word, Harry explained what had happened, but carefully left out any mention of Horcruxes.

When Harry was finished Mohamier asked, "Can you recall the incantation of the spell Voldemort used on you?"

Harry said, "No. I only remember the light coming at me. I thought it was the killing curse because it was the same color green."

Mohamier said, "Please describe the tablet you saw."

Harry replied, "It was the size of a large book and it was broken into several pieces— part of it was missing. The old Dark Mark was near the top and each piece had symbols of some kind on them. There was an indentation about this big," with his index fingers and thumbs, he made a circle about four inches in diameter, "in the middle of it."

Mohamier carefully traced a rectangle in the dust on the floor. He drew a jagged edge from the middle of the top edge of the rectangle to the middle of the right side and then erased the right corner lines.

He asked, "Vot you saw vas shaped something like this and it vas in three pieces, yes?"

Harry stared at the drawing Mohamier had made; the outline was the same shape as the tablet he had seen.

"Yes!" Harry said excitedly. "So you have seen it!"

Mohamier continued to gaze at the figure on the floor and said, "No…"

Harry frowned and asked, "Then how do you know how many pieces there were and the exact shape of the part that was missing?"

Mohamier replied, "Because I have bean searching for this tablet for a very long time and I recently obtained the two pieces that complete it—"

Harry exclaimed, "You have them?"

Mohamier reached into his robes and pulled out two flat stones. "I do; vich I am certain Voldemort now suspects. That is vhy I vill not go back to the village nor do I vant Lina to be seen there again."

He handed the pieces to Harry who examined them closely. They contained the same symbols he had seen on the tablet outside his cell.

Harry handed the pieces back and asked, "Is there any way to find out what the symbols mean?"

Mohamier answered, "It is a spell that enhances von's magical power."

Harry said surprised, "You can read it?"

At Mohamier's affirmative nod, Harry said, "Do you think Voldemort can decipher what it says?"

Mohamier replied, "I know he can because I taught him."

Harry asked incredulously, "You taught him?"

"Vhen I did this I had no idea vhat he vas to become. There vas a time vhen he vent by a different name…"

"Yeah, I know. Tom Riddle."

It was Mohamier's turn to look at Harry with mild surprise, "You know of his past?"

"You could say that," Harry replied dryly.

Mohamier continued, "Then you also know he spent many years searching for knowledge of ancient dark magic."

At Harry's affirmative nod, he said, "Tom Riddle vas very charming vhen he introduced himself to me. I pride myself in being an excellent judge of character, so you can imagine how disturbed I vas vonce I discovered vhat he truly is…"

Mohamier's voice trailed off for a moment and then he said, "He came to me looking for a research apprenticeship and his timing vas impeccable. I had just made a breakthrough in identifying the origins of the old Dark Mark. Then the young man who had been vorking vith me met vith an accident in von of the ruins vee had been exploring. He had bean a dear friend and his death vas devastating, but I had already come so far in my search… I required an assistant and Tom vas exceptionally qualified. Together, Tom and I discovered clues that we believed vould lead us to artifacts crafted by the old sect.

"Then, von evening I discovered him using dark magic against our Muggle guide. He said he vas trying to understand the true implications of the hexes; but I vas furious! I am interested in the dark magic that ancient Vizarding societies used, but I never intended them to be put into practice."

Mohamier's anger over the incident was evident as he paused again.

Harry asked, "So what happened?"

Mohamier answered, "Vee had a lengthy argument until Tom's manner changed abruptly and he suddenly apologized. He promised never to use the dark spells again, but I told him to leave and to never come back."

"And he left?" Harry asked amazed. "Just like that?"

"Yes, just like that," Mohamier replied. "But I had already entrusted him vith much of the information I had gathered; including clues to finding a powerful Dark Arts artifact and the means to translate the ancient symbols that vould be inscribed on it."

Harry asked, "The tablet?"

"Yes," Mohamier replied. "Centuries ago, another sect sworn to defend their people from those vielding the Dark Arts learned of the tablet's existence. They attempted to destroy it. But there vere spells and enchantments protecting it, so they vere only able to break it into five pieces. Left no other option, they hid each of the pieces hoping they vould never be found."

Harry stated, "So you and Voldemort discovered where the pieces were hidden."

Mohamier replied, "Separately vee learned that the pieces vere concealed vithin common Muggle objects and hidden throughout different parts of the world—"

Harry gaped at Mohamier and interrupted, "The jars and chests! That's why Death Eaters have been stealing them from Muggle museums!"

Mohamier replied, "That is correct."

Harry said puzzled, "But Mr. Weasley said they were all empty…"

Mohamier explained, "The pieces vere concealed vithin the base of each object in a vay that no spell could detect them. Von vould have to know they vere there."

Harry said, "Mr. Weasley had the last two artifacts but… you took them from the Ministry! The Death Eaters were threatening Mr. Weasley!" Harry suddenly stood up, incensed. "Voldemort ordered them to kill members of his family if he didn't turn them over!"

Mohamier said calmly, "I cannot allow Voldemort to obtain the last two pieces. Nor should you—"

"You should have told Mr. Weasley!" Harry shot back angrily. "The Death Eaters almost killed two of Ron's brothers! They killed a girl they thought was Ginny!"

All that remained of Mohamier's previously friendly demeanor disappeared.

He replied in a tone much like a teacher instructing an errant pupil, "Vee are at var, vhich you know better than anyvon else! My sources vithin the Ministry informed me Arthur Weasley obtained the artifacts I had bean searching for."

"But Mr. Weasley is fighting against Voldemort, too and—"

Mohamier snapped sternly, "You vill stop interrupting and listen if you vish to understand vot you could face vhen you encounter Voldemort again!"

Harry continued to glare at Mohamier. He felt Mohamier could have prevented the attacks in Diagon Alley and the threats against the Weasley family. Then there was the haunting thought that Ginny could have been the girl they killed that day…

Barely winning the battle to suppress his anger, Harry sat down back down heavily.

Mohamier continued, "I believe Voldemort attempted the spell from the tablet on you vhen he captured you because he vants to use you to enhance his power; but it did not vork because he did not have the information on the missing pieces."

"Why me?" Harry asked curtly. "Couldn't he use anyone?"

"He could…" Mohamier said carefully, "but there is a limit to how many times the spell can be used to increase the power of a particular person. Voldemort believes, as most Dark Vizards do, that the power gained vill be greater if von's most powerful enemy is used. It vould seem he believes this to be you."

Harry recalled the lengths to which Voldemort had gone to ensure it was Harry's blood used for his resurrection. Now Voldemort wanted to use him again as an instrument in his quest to become more powerful and formidable.

Almost as if Mohamier had been reading his mind, he said, "Your account of the night Voldemort returned appeared in the papers several years ago. I recall your blood vas von of the ingredients he used to restore his body?"

"Yes…"

"Therefore, your blood flows vithin him. My pieces of the tablet contain a varning that the spell cannot be successfully used against an unwilling brother."

Mohamier paused thoughtfully then continued, "That vould explain vhy the spell did not vork on you. If Voldemort shares your blood, you are in essence, brothers, at least as far as the dark magic is concerned. Therefore, it may provide you similar protection against other dark magic he might try to use against you. Not the killing curse, of course, but there may be others."

Harry remembered the night he had came back from the graveyard after Voldemort's return. Dumbledore had insisted that Harry relate, in detail, all that had happened. He remembered thinking he had seen a look of triumph in Dumbledore's eyes when he told him that Voldemort had used his blood. It had happened so quickly that Harry thought he might have imagined it. Dumbledore must have realized, even then, that Voldemort's use of Harry's blood might one-day provide him some bit of protection.

Harry asked, "So if Voldemort tries to use old dark spells on me, they won't have an effect?"

Mohamier answered, "I doubt they vill be healthy for you; but I believe some ancient spells or curses may not have the desired effect should Voldemort try to use you against your vill."

Harry stated, "Well he's going to be disappointed then because I'd never do anything willingly for him."

Mohamier eyed Harry carefully and asked, "There is nothing that vould cause you to cooperate?"

Harry was about to respond in the negative when a feeling of foreboding washed over him and a cold knot formed in his stomach.

"Ginny…" he said quietly. "He can use Ginny… Or Ron or Hermione."

Mohamier stood up and crossed the room toward the old altar. "Now you begin to understand... Of course, he cannot use your friends against you unless he knows who they are. It is also possible he does not know this idiosyncrasy of the spells vithout the remaining pieces of the tablet."

Harry stared at the dusty floor. Ginny's face had flashed in his thoughts when Voldemort and Snape had forced their way into his mind. Even if they recognized her, Voldemort had only been asking him who else knew of the Horcruxes. They could not have realized the true depths of his feelings for her just from that encounter, could they?

Harry looked back toward Mohamier who now stood on the other side of the stone altar.

Harry asked, "You said the spell on the tablet could enhance his magical power. What does that mean?"

Mohamier was rubbing his hand over the altar and he answered, "I can only assume it vill enable him to transfer or absorb someone else's magical energy or knowledge."

The spell Mohamier described resembled the one that Ginny, Ron and Hermione had used to invoke the powers of the Mandora Amulet; the similarity made Harry uneasy.

Trying to get his mind off this line of thought, Harry said, "Even if he can use the information on the tablet to become stronger, it's only one spell. Why would anyone go to such lengths to hide it?"

Mohamier did not answer but continued rubbing the altar. Harry thought the old wizard had not heard him so he walked over to get a better look at what he was doing.

Finally, Mohamier exclaimed with satisfaction, "Aha, now I remember."

Mohamier tapped the top of the altar with his wand and Harry watched a hinged door appear out of nowhere. Mohamier pried the door open and reached inside the cavity. When he pulled his hand back, he held a small round disk. The disk was about four inches wide and covered with the same symbols that Harry was now familiar with. In the center was a small etching of the old Dark Mark.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"I believe it is a key, of sorts," Mohamier replied.

"A key?" Harry asked. "To what?"

"To the tablet," Mohamier replied.

Harry frowned at him and said, "I don't follow you."

Mohamier explained, "I discovered this disk many years ago and even then I realized it had to be of great importance, so I hid it vithin this church. Vhen inserted into the completed tablet, I believe it vill turn it into something like an encyclopedia of Dark Magic spells. That is vhy someone vould go to extreme lengths to acquire it or hide it, as vell as vhy it must be kept out of Voldemort's possession."

"The tablet contains more than one spell?" Harry asked in surprise.

Mohamier answered, "Yes. The spell Voldemort attempted on you must have bean the last von used before the key vas removed for the last time."

Harry asked, "Does Voldemort know about the key and how the tablet works?"

Mohamier replied, "I am sure he does. However, the fact that I know the key's location is something I have never revealed to anyvon until just now."

"Then why are you telling me?"

"You have interested me since I first learned of Voldemort's attempt to kill you as a child. He has singled you out on numerous occasions and I am certain he vill do so again. After I read your message, I felt you should be armed vith as much information as possible."

Attempting to absorb everything he just learned, Harry finally replied, "Thank you, I appreciate it."

Before Harry could ask him more questions, Mohamier placed the disk inside his robes and started walking to the door.

"Wait!" Harry walked quickly after him and asked, "What are you going to do with the key and the pieces of the tablet?"

Mohamier looked carefully at Harry. "I think it best for you to remain ignorant of my plans. All you need to know is that I am taking them, as vell as my granddaughter, to a place vhere they vill not be found by Voldemort or anyvon else."

There was a tone of finality in his voice and Harry knew it was pointless to ask the old wizard to explain further; he had no choice but to simply follow him out of the church.

Ginny, Ron and Hermione were sitting next to each other on the ground in quiet conversation and Lina was leaning against the trunk of a nearby tree. They all came over when they saw Harry and Mohamier emerge from the church.

Mohamier said, "I believe it is not vise for us to linger here much longer." He held out his hand to Harry and continued, "Mind all that I have told you."

Harry shook his hand and said, "Yes sir, I will. Thank you."

Mohamier said to Ginny, Ron and Hermione, "Take care also. May vee find all is vell in the end."

The others said their good-byes to the old wizard and then Mohamier turned to his granddaughter, "Vee must be going, Lina."

Lina walked up to Harry and he eyed her warily.

She looked at him sadly for a moment before she placed a kiss on his cheek and said, "Good bye, Harry. I vill miss you."

She nodded to Hermione and Ron but ignored Ginny completely and followed her grandfather toward the path that led out of the settlement.

Once they had disappeared through the trees, Ginny went to Harry and asked gently, "Are you okay?"

Harry's gaze locked with hers and in that moment, the realization struck him that the feelings he saw in her caring, brown eyes completely reflected his own; they were feelings that touched his very soul; they were feelings that spoke of what he wanted to share with her for the rest of their lives. They were feelings that could get her killed.

With a great amount of effort, Harry forced himself to look away from her.

He replied, "I'm fine. Let's head back."

The others exchanged worried glances; it was obvious Harry did not want to discuss what Mohamier had told him, so they had no choice but to follow him on their hike back to Nadia and Ivan's.