Harry stood in the headmistress' study, facing the many portraits hanging there, and recalled the entire conversation from the day before. He had, after all, told Albus that he would bring them any new information. He wasn't sure he had learned anything during his conversation with the imposter, but he was certain his former headmaster would expect to be informed. As he finished recounting the entire experience, Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling. "Well we know he's obviously after something other than, as you say, fun. I think, in fact, that we may know exactly what he's after." Harry looked at him, questioningly, and the white-haired wizard continued, "Aberforth, after extensive research into magical artifacts in America, found a rumor. According to some, there are seven rings called the 'eptá Kidemónon'. That is Greek for the Seven Guardians, they're said to each carry a separate power. Per the legends, they were created by a group of wizards just before the American Revolution, some say that George Washington himself was among them."
Harry, who had some experience with legendary objects, laughed, "So we've basically got another seven Deathly Hallows. Great." Then he thought of something, "And you think he's after all seven."
"I'm almost certain he already has at least four of the set." Dumbledore said.
This surprised Harry, but he allowed his headmaster to explain the legends associated with the rings. One was said to bring about a darkness that only the wearer could see through. Another, according to Dumbledore, could change the wearer's appearance. Well at least now we know how he's doing that, Harry thought. Dumbledore went on to explain that another could conjure storms and control them. Well, I'm glad that one isn't being used yet. The next, supposedly, warned the wearer of any immediate danger, and was said to increase the speed and reflexes of the wearer. Another of the rings was supposed to summon an impenetrable shield. Yep, seen that one too. Harry was starting to wonder if he was going to be able to stop this dark wizard, even if he found him first. Another, Dumbledore postulated, was assumed to be used by George Washington, it created golems that could be controlled by the creator. Harry guessed that this one was particularly useful during the Revolution, considering the armies of that time usually just marched directly at each other. It also explained the way the Golems all attacked in waves, just like the soldiers of that time. The seventh, according to Dumbledore, was a complete mystery.
"Aberforth, in all of his research, cannot find any information about the seventh ring, other than who its first owner was rumored to be, Benedict Arnold." Harry knew enough about the American Revolution to know that Benedict Arnold was a traitor, it made sense that if he had one of the rings, it would still be an unknown quantity.
"Do we know anything about how the rings work, Headmaster?" Harry asked, and Albus shook his head.
"We know very little, much like the deathly hallows, these rings were considered mere legends until now." Dumbledore said, "I think the best course of action would be to speak to one of the Americans about it, I believe you are still harboring one of the men?"
Harry nodded, "I think you're right, but if what you're saying is true, he's unlikely to tell me anything. He's had more than enough time to come to me about the rings if he suspected that they were the target."
"Forgive me if I'm wrong Harry, but I seem to remember a professor that once held a secret for many years about a young Tom Riddle. I also remember a sixth-year Gryffindor that managed, somehow, to gain the information that even I couldn't." Dumbledore said, "I believe you may be the most qualified wizard, in fact, for the task at hand."
Harry left the study a few moments later, somehow feeling better about their chances, and worse about the situation, all at once.
The Winter holidays approached at an alarming rate, Harry spent most of his time focusing on the dueling club, which now included all of the NEWT level defense against the dark arts students, and quite a few students that hadn't even elected to continue the class after their OWLs. Harry pushed his students much harder, especially after the attack on the school. Frankly, Harry was impressed at how well the students had responded to the attack.
More and more students from the younger classes had come to Harry's office, casting wispy patronus after wispy patronus. He allowed each of them to try, but so far, only three students below fifth year had managed to cast an acceptable patronus to join the dueling club. He was seriously considering, however, opening the club to students below the OWL level, but he would have to find a new entrance requirement. He was sitting in his office, grading a third-year paper about defending against rogue werewolves, when Ian and Ryan arrived in his office.
The twins were becoming a consistent sight in Harry's office, he had once joked about getting them their own desks, but they had thought he was being serious. Thankfully, he managed to talk them down to having their own chairs and a couple of incredibly extravagant lap desks that Harry had conjured up. "Hello, you two." Harry said as the door closed and they took their seats. Thankfully, he had some new information for them this time. Harry hadn't told them about the rings, and he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to.
He started the conversation with no real pleasantries being exchanged beforehand. He told them about his encounter with the imposter, he had actually taken to calling him that in conversation. The twins remained stoic throughout the entire story. At one point, Ian even yawned. When he moved to put his hand over his mouth to cover the yawn, Harry noticed the ring he was wearing. A black stone was set in a platinum ring, when he moved his hand, Harry could swear he saw flashes of light coming from inside the stone. That must be the one with the storm inside, Harry thought, as he examined the ring, pausing his story.
"I'm sorry, am I boring you?" Harry asked, attempting to cover for his abrupt pause. Ian shook his head.
"No, professor, I'm just exhausted. Quidditch, our research, and the dueling club, all on top of classes has me wiped out." Ian said, yawning again. This time Harry saw the Roman numeral VI on the side of the ring. Curious, he thought, I wonder why they're numbered. He made a mental note to tell Dumbledore about that, and decided he may as well ask Ian about the ring.
"Ian, I wonder, could I see that ring?" Harry asked, pointing it out. Ian looked confused, but took it off and slid it across the desk to him.
"I don't see what my ring has to do with anything, professor. I found it in my trunk yesterday, I didn't even realize I had it, must've found its way into my stuff while we were on the run." Harry found this to be even more curious. Why would he have such an important ring without even knowing he had it? Harry could feel power radiating from the stone, and spiking each time it flashed. Harry decided that if he didn't realize the power he held, it should probably stay that way. The last thing Hogwarts needs is a student that can control the weather. He passed the ring back across the table, deciding not to tell them anything about the other rings, lest they put the pieces together and learn the power Ian held.
After the twins left, Harry summoned his penseive from the cupboard and watched his own encounter with the imposter over again, hoping to learn something new. Upon entering the memory, he looked first to the man inside the shield, and focused on his hands. He was wearing a ring, with an emerald colored stone set in a golden band. Harry hadn't noticed before, but it seemed to be pulsating along with the shield. Well that's obviously the shield one, then. Harry then looked more closely at the ring, and found what he was searching for in the numeral, II, engraved into the side of the band. He was also wearing a ring on his other hand, but Harry could only see the band. He assumed that this one was allowing the imposter to take on the form of Zach. He couldn't see the number engraved on the side, and since the man in the shield moved very little during their conversation, he never got the chance.
After watching the memory three more times, Harry decided that he had learned everything he could from the scene, and decided to return home for the night.
Harry flooed to his sitting room, to find Ginny sitting on the couch with Hermoine, who seemed to be telling a very animated story about something that had happened at the Ministry that day. Ginny looked incredibly bored with the whole ordeal, but she managed to look interested when Hermoine looked up at her. Harry knew that Ginny cared very little about the inner workings of the Ministry, just as Hermoine cared very little about quidditch. The two women, for their parts, always managed to abide the other's work stories, though.
They both looked up and smiled as Harry stepped out of the fireplace into the room. "Harry!" Hermoine said, "Just who I wanted to see. I'm having an absolute nightmare trying to fill your position in the DMLE. I need you to recommend a replacement."
"You just want a scapegoat so you don't have to take the blame if they do poorly, you're turning into a real politician, Granger." Harry said, but he pondered her question and came up with an answer fairly quickly, "You should promote Luca Lauritz, he's probably the most qualified." Luca had been an Auror in Germany before moving to Britain during the last war. He had fought with the defenders at Hogwarts, and Harry had always admired him for moving into a war zone instead of away from it. Hermoine had always thought he was a bit too combative for any important positions, though, and Harry didn't have high hopes for his suggestion.
"I don't know, Harry. He's pretty abrasive most of the time, do you really think the rest of the Aurors would listen to him? Much less the rest of the DMLE?" Hermoine asked, Harry had expected a simple 'No', so this threw him off.
"I think he's got all of the qualities you need in a leader, he's calm in a crisis, and he's experienced as an Auror in two countries. I think he'd be a great department head, just like I thought he'd be a great head Auror when I took the promotion last time." Harry said, Hermoine just nodded and he was left wondering if he had convinced her. After a few minutes of small talk, Harry decided he may as well have the conversation with Tyler sooner rather than later. "Have either of you two seen Tyler?" Harry asked. It was Ginny who answered.
"He was upstairs last time I saw, he doesn't come down too often when we're not eating." She said, "Probably in the first guest bedroom." Harry left them in the sitting room and started toward the bedroom, still unsure about how to bring up the questions he had.