A/N: Thanks to Static-pixie for her great essay on the Ravenclaw mindset, which can be found on her Livejournal.
There have been two goddesses called Danu, but both were tied to water, so they likely derive from a proto-Indo-European goddess. There have also been a few groups in different cultures' myths called Danaans, so I'm combining them for this story.
Chapter Thirteen
Jupiter
The common people do not judge of vice or virtue by morality, or immorality, so much as by the stamp that is set upon it by men of figure.
-Sir Roger L'Estrange
July 4, 1996
A long time ago, Ireland was ruled by a magical and magnificent people. They were called the Tuatha de Danaan, the People of Danu. Where they came from, no one truly knows, except themselves. There are ancient records of the Greeks and Egyptians describing their kingdoms along the Mediterranean Sea. Most muggles consider them merely legends, as the wizarding world has tried to hide the existence of magic from them. This has never set well with the People of Danu.
The Greeks described the Danaans as nomadic and tribal, sailors who claimed to be the children of the great serpent Ophion and the Goddess Danu. Danu was first known in India as the Hindu Goddess of the waters. She had many names, and many guises, as she was a shape changer, a skill many of her descendants would possess, in varying degrees.
They ruled Greece until the coming of the Achaeans. Greece's conquerors initially tried to destroy them, but, as the People of Danu would often do in the coming years, a compromise was reached. Not only did the conquerors intermarry with them, but they worshiped Danu, who they would eventually call Eurynome. Not all the People of Danu would remain there, however, being the nomadic people they were.
They traveled, first establishing cultures along the Mediterranean, and then moving north, leaving their mark wherever they went, eventually founding the great Kingdom of the Danaans, now known as Denmark. Their knowledge and wisdom would become legendary, as would their ferocity in battle.
One day, for reasons known only to themselves, they migrated to what is now Ireland.
The island was, at the time, ruled by the Firbolgs. The Tuatha de Danaan, it is said, arrived from the sky in a mist, on the first day of Beltane.
After initial attempts at peaceful coexistence, followed by bloody war, the island was theirs. For many centuries, they ruled, fighting off the occasional invasion, such as that of the giants known as the Fomorians. Finally, though, they met an enemy who would take the land from them, the Milesians. The Milesians weren't without magic, themselves, due to their Queen, Scota, daughter of the Pharaoh. As with the Greeks before them, the conquerors were so impressed by the knowledge, skills, and wisdom of the Danaans that they made them their gods, and named the island Eire for the Danaan Queen. The Milesian King, Crimthan MacNair, married a Danaan, bringing their potent magical blood into the new ruling line.
To this day, Kings and Queens of Britain are crowned on the Stone of Destiny, a gift of the Fae, the right to rule based on the lineage and inheritance from the Tuatha de Danaan.
The Danaans, however, refused to be subjugated, exiling themselves to other magical planes, with various points of accessibility with the world they left. They would become known as the Sidhe, the Fairy Folk, the People of the Mounds. The Sidhe would never completely remove themselves from this world, however. Being who they were, they could plan for millennia.
The most famous of their otherworldly settlements was Avalon, where Joseph of Arimathea visited during a business trip to Britain. He'd brought with him a young relative, a remarkable child named Jesus. The Druids taught the boy, as did the Fae, who brought him into Avalon.
Years later, Joseph would bring the Holy Grail, and plant the Holy Thorn. There, the Grail would be kept by a sacred Sisterhood, members of a family, the most famous of the wizarding world, producing such notables as Merlin, Morgan le Fay, and, of course, King Arthur. The Merovingian Kings were descended from this family, the legend of their origins telling of a great sea serpent, an echo of the Danaan descent from Ophion. From this branch of the family tree would come Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of many remarkable Queens the Sidhe families would produce.
It was during Eleanor's reign that the Queen in chess changed from the weakest to the strongest piece, as tribute to her. At 19, she arrived in Vezelay on a white horse dressed as an Amazon, offering thousands of troops for the Second Crusade. With them, she went to the Holy Land, along with 300 of her ladies, all dressed in armor and carrying lances, to tend to the wounded.
Her Grandfather, William of Aquitaine, was a Troubadour. The Troubadours were called the Messengers of Love, soldiers and lyric poets. William had fought the Moors in Spain, but became influenced by Islamic Sufi philosophy, mysticism, and poetry that the Moors had brought with them. The great Sufi poets Omar Khayyam and Rumi described themselves as Troubadours. The Sufi influenced St. Francis of Assisi was known as a Troubadour. The Sufi, themselves, were heavily influenced by Jewish Kabbalah.
Eleanor and her daughter, Princess Marie, with the Troubadours formed the Courts of Love. They popularized in Europe both the Sufi style of romantic and spiritual poetry and the Celtic stories and spirituality of Eleanor's ancestors, especially the Grail. While the old saying that Love was invented in the 12th Century isn't true, the Courts of Love strongly influenced how we came to perceive it. This was where the codes of Chivalry and Courtly Love were developed. Many of the love poems were for the Queen, herself, such as the verse after she became Queen of England, which, several centuries later, would be set to music by Carl Orff in his famous Carmina Burana suite...
I would give the whole world
From the Red Sea to the Rhine
If the Queen of England tonight
In my bed were mine.
What she had started would eventually be stopped. The Sufi influenced Knights Templar were viciously persecuted. But, her influence would be long lasting. St. Mary rose to the most prominent figure in Christianity after Christ, himself. The mix of Celtic, Sufi, and Kabbalah would lead directly to Alchemy.
Eleanor began the construction of the great cathedral dedicated to Mary, Notre Dame de Paris, "Our Lady of Paris." She lived to the age of 82, very remarkable in the 12th Century, when the average life expectancy was 35. Some say the secret to her long life lay in something else she founded, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.
One of her descendants who went to that school, Fleur Delacour, was currently in Britain with her fiance, Bill Weasley. He had brought her home to meet his family, and she was not having a good time of it. It seemed that they had not only not realized France and England had moved past their old hostilities decades before, but they objected to her Veela heritage. She knew that Bill's mother, Molly, and his sister, Ginny, were calling her all sorts of insulting names behind her back. She mused that these supposedly brave Gryffindors couldn't summon up the courage to insult her to her face.
She had visited the Lovegoods, who lived nearby. Her Veela grandmother and Morgan were old friends, so the Delacours kept in touch with Luna. She told Luna of her problems with the Weasleys. Luna informed her that was typical of Ginny, who would speak nicely to her but, she knew, insulted her to others when she didn't think Luna heard her.
This morning, Molly Weasley was outside having a chat with Albus Dumbledore, who had stopped by on his way to the Ministry of Magic for some important meetings to decide who the future Minister for Magic would be.
"I'm afraid we may have a security situation at Headquarters," said Dumbledore, "so tonight we'll meet at the Hog's Head."
"Alright... Any idea when Harry can come here?" Molly asked.
"Soon... I think the weekend after next, if that is convenient for you."
"Yes, the sooner we get him here, the better. The poor boy is so malnourished with those people he's with... They even barred the window to keep him from being able to leave, once... I have to ask... Why does he have to go back to those horrible people, every year?"
"Ah," said Dumbledore, with a twinkle in his eye. "There's a very simple answer to that. Obliviate."
The memory spell did it's work. It wasn't the first time he'd had to use it on Molly for the greater good, after all. As she shook her head in confusion after the spell, as usual, Dumbledore gave her a lemon drop, which, in her confusion, she ate.
"Um," she said.
"I agree with you," he said. "Bill needs to be removed from the French tart's influence. And, speaking of love, I agree that it would be a splendid idea for Ginny to give Harry that nudge in the right direction that you gave Arthur. You were quite the natural with potions..."
"Aunt Lucretia taught me well."
"So, I'm certain you'll have Ginny brewing some especially potent Amortentia in no time."
"I don't know... Sure, she had a crush on Harry, but she seems to have moved on to another boy named Dean..."
"Now, Molly, she should never give up on her dreams. I'll even come by tomorrow to offer her encouragement to stay true to them, and pursue them."
Thursday was named for Thor, the Thunder God of the Germans. To the Romans, this was the day of Jupiter, ruler of the Gods, who hurled lightning bolts when he was angry. He was the most powerful of the Roman Gods.
On this Thursday, Harry Potter was contemplating power, especially his own.
Yesterday, Hermione had done what she'd always done so well, used logic and deduction to prove to Harry that he was, at least potentially, as powerful as Voldemort. People were always telling Harry that he was a powerful wizard, but he never felt powerful. Oh, he was good at defensive spells, and, in a crisis, he always pushed himself to do what needed to be done as best he could. But, he wasn't powerful the way everyone seemed to think he was. He'd gotten by in large part because of luck and the help of his friends.
The meditation exercises Luna was teaching him must have been doing more good than he realized. He was never this contemplative, before.
And now Luna had not only confirmed Hermione's theory on how powerful Harry actually was, but had discovered something was blocking his ability to access his power. Specifically, what the Dursleys had put him through for all those years...
They'd beaten him into thinking himself weak, helpless, powerless. They never failed to remind him that he was less than dirt, worthless. He's been shaped by so many years of believing that...
He felt a surge of anger, not just at the Dursleys but at the wizard that sentenced him to a prison more effective at breaking it's inmates than Azkaban and all it's Dementors.
Dumbledore arrived at the Ministry, and knew it was going to be a long day. Fudge was being forced out as Minister for Magic, and several factions would be looking to decide his replacement. He hoped to place his oldest and most devoted supporter, Elphias Doge, as Minister, thus insuring himself complete control over the Ministry, but realized it was unlikely. There were still so many in the Wizengamot that didn't fully trust him. The best he could likely hope for was a Gryffindor that wasn't under his control.
The next to worst case scenario would be another Slytherin like Fudge. How he had always hated Slytherins, and having to teach them... Still, it was good to have a house for all the unsavory elements, a home for warped wizards. That way, he could keep an eye on them, and work to break their spirits and cure them of their ambition. Unfortunately, many of them still managed to obtain positions of power and influence, and held resentments. Why could the rest of the Wizarding world not see them for what they were? Their very symbol was a serpent. He didn't know how many times he heard, "They're not all evil." Of course, they were. They wouldn't have been sorted into Slytherin, otherwise. How could these people not understand simple logic?
A Ravenclaw as Minister would be almost as bad. If there was one thing Dumbledore and Voldemort could agree on, it was that Ravenclaws could not be trusted. Ravenclaw was the least unified of the four houses of Hogwarts. It was Social Darwinism in practice, and one had to develop the strongest of emotional armor. Ravenclaws and Slytherins were also more likely to explore the Dark Arts than Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors. The Dark Arts appealed to Ravenclaws because of their thirst for knowledge, to Slytherins because of their thirst for power.
The worst case scenario, this time, though, was a Hufflepuff, of all things. There was strong support in the Wizengamot for Amelia Bones, Head of the DMLP. Given the confrontation between the Death Eaters and the Fae, Dumbledore had already guessed Andromeda Black-Tonks and her daughter, Nymphadora, were the magi who rescued Bones from an assassination attempt by Tom before Severus confirmed it upon his return from the most recent Death Eater meeting.
Tom hadn't given the Black sisters their radicalism. He just encouraged, and took advantage of it. Andromeda may not have joined the Dark Lord, but she was just as bad, in her own way, as those that did, Dumbledore thought.
Andromeda Black didn't share the desire to destroy muggleborns that drove most of Lord Voldemort's followers. Her marriage to Ted Tonks proved that. That didn't mean she was loyal to the Ministry, however, or wanted to preserve their way of life. No, Andromeda had other plans for the world, plans that related to the Sidhe.
Dumbledore had met one of Andromeda's Sidhe friends and if rumors were to be believed, lovers, Morgan, many years ago, an encounter that would leave a lasting impression. The woman was quite frightening, with her large, moonlike, silver eyes that never blinked, that, had Albus not been an expert Occlumens, would have looked into his very soul and seen the darkest secrets of his mind. Her daughter, Luna Lovegood, had those same eyes.
Morgan was gone, but not forgotten, Dumbledore mused. Her legacy and influence lived on.
Luna Lovegood was the embodiment of all that was Ravenclaw. She was utterly detached, rather mad, concerned for what was true and untrue rather than good and bad, and had absolutely no desire to fit in, to conform, to be a part of their society. The girl had no concern for what people thought of her. Dumbledore became worried when Luna began influencing Harry and his close circle of friends. Just like her mother, he thought. Luna even had that piercing, unnerving, stare.
Dumbledore was taking steps to insure she would be kept distant from Harry, this year. While he found it touching that they had named their group consisting of members of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw after him, it could not be allowed to continue. Too much support and students influencing Harry that Dumbledore could not control would interfere with his plans for the boy. The boy needed to be kept as isolated as possible, only trusting and confiding in Dumbledore and whoever Dumbledore chose, and even then only what Dumbledore wanted the boy to confide in them.
He'd spent too many years carefully preparing the boy as a sacrifice for the greater good to let anything get in the way, now. Yes, killing the boy was regrettable. Yes, his master plan would result in the deaths of many innocents, especially muggleborns, but if there were any alternatives, Dumbledore would have thought of them. After all, wasn't he the wisest and greatest wizard in the world?
He had to work in secret, confide fully in no one, because even his most devoted followers were too weak to do what needed to be done. They would refuse to guide Harry towards his death. They would insist on increasing his skills. They might even try to remove the blocks on the boy's power. Some already asked too many questions, like Molly, this morning.
Amelia Bones would ask even more inconvenient questions. She thought the laws had to apply to everyone, equally, even him. She had often questioned the safety and security of the students at Hogwarts. It had taken his power as Chief Warlock to prevent investigations. She simply wouldn't understand, foolish Hufflepuff that she was. She'd see all the necessary steps he had taken to shape Harry into his weapon as recklessly putting the rest of the students' lives in danger. Certainly, he'd been lucky students had been only severely injured... well, except for Diggory... rather than killed, but what were a few lives in the service of the greater good? An investigation of the school might even bring into question Dumbledore's hiring practices.
Many had wondered why Dumbledore didn't accept the post of Minister for Magic when Millicent Bagnold retired. Simply put, he needed to be at Hogwarts to shape Harry Potter into his weapon against Tom. His hiring practices were based on this top priority. Snape, Trelawney, Hagrid, all were experts in their subjects, but not good teachers. That didn't matter, though. He needed these agents in the war against Tom right there.
And if Bones started investigating his conduct regarding Harry...
That would destroy everything he had built. She wouldn't understand the necessity of placing him in a household where he would be routinely abused and starved. Not only did his power need to be bound to prevent him from becoming a threat, but he would be desperate for love and affection, thus making it easier for Dumbledore to guide him. He would be meek, making it easier for Dumbledore to control him. He would feel worthless, making it easier for him to commit suicide at Dumbledore's command.
Of all the times for Tom's plots to fail... He knew of the planned assassinations, of course. He'd even instructed Severus to tell Tom where Emmeline would be. Sacrificing a minor member of the Order of the Phoenix would insure that Tom believed Severus loyal to him. The elimination of Bones would mean the next Minister wouldn't have the support she would, and would move one of his own followers, Kingsley, one more step up the ladder towards Dumbledore's plans to make Kinglsey Minister for Magic.
Dumbledore was concerned that Andromeda's interference would also make Tom unpredictable. Severus had reported that Tom was going into a period of seclusion and meditation. That didn't fit Albus's plans, at all. He needed Tom to continue as he'd been doing, not stopping and reconsidering.
He considered that perhaps he could trump up a charge of vigilantism against Andromeda, but that would just give that blasted Bones woman the wedge to use the same accusation against him. How did a mere Hufflepuff manage to obtain such a high position, as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, yet? The woman clearly did not know her natural place, despite his best efforts as Headmaster to make that clear to that bunch of duffers what their proper place was.
He saw Madame Bones in a hall leading to the meeting rooms. With her was her niece, Susan. He would have to make certain she was kept from Harry as well as the Lovegood girl. With them was Andromeda Black-Tonks.
Bones saw him, and whispered something to Andromeda, who then looked at Dumbledore, her expression unreadable.
At Malfoy Manor, Narcissa Malfoy was sipping herbal tea. The meditations had calmed her, somewhat, and she needed to stay that way, keep a clear head. Her son needed her to be able to do that.
She'd often been called the Ice Queen, cool, calm, always in control. For the past two weeks, she'd been on the verge of complete meltdown.
It was supposed to be a simple mission. Lucius would get the prophecy, come home, and everything would be fine. Instead, he wound up in Azkaban, and Bella accidently killed Sirius. It was just a Stunner, but he was standing in the wrong place. This was immediately followed by Aurors arriving and interrogating her. As if being completely disgraced, Sirius being dead, and Lucius being... there, wasn't enough, Draco returned on the Hogwarts Express a giant slug.
As angry as she was with the students that did this to her son, she realized he provoked it. He'd never thought before he acted, behaving more like a foolhardy Gryffindor than a cunning Slytherin. He needed to learn better. His life now depended on it.
The Dark Lord was punishing Lucius by giving Draco an impossible assignment, killing Albus Dumbledore. There was a time when she wouldn't have believed Lord Voldemort capable of such petty cruelty to her. She remembered the handsome, brilliant, teacher she met when she was seven. His loss of humanity, since, had gone well beyond just his physical appearance. But, at moments like this when she cleared her mind, she realized he was always capable of this. He'd made this clear throughout the 1970s.
And now, she was hearing a voice in her head that sounded like Andy, saying "I told you so."
Andy had seen things as they truly were, and gotten out. Cissy had never figured out how Andy was able to. She'd been subjected to the same Black Tantra magics that Cissy and Bella were that gave Lord Voldemort such power over them. Cissy's urges were to continue to give the Dark Lord all her power, all of herself, in every way. Yet, Andy had somehow broken free, by sheer will.
Perhaps motive was the key. Cissy had never had Andy's idealism, or her moral sense. But now, only one thing mattered to her, and that was protecting her son. She would do anything for that.
Her plan was to visit Severus and beg for his help. Risky, she knew, but she was desperate. But, Andy had just changed everything, as it was Andy's tendency to do...
Lord Voldemort had informed his followers that their long term goals would proceed, but, due to Andromeda and the Fae, they would have to adjust their plans for achieving those goals. To that end, he was going to go into seclusion to mediate. They were to continue the preparations they had been doing, but not initiate anything without his direct orders. In the meantime, he would only have direct contact with the house elves and Bella.
Bella was already occupied with teaching Draco Occlumency. Ministering to the Dark Lord in addition meant that Cissy didn't have her watchdog following her every movement. She had some freedom to move without Bella always being there.
Andy was making some very large moves, that was clear. She was acting in opposition to the Dark Lord, but, as Cissy knew, she had no love, or respect, or anything but contempt, really, for Dumbledore. If Cissy knew her sister, and she did, Andy was plotting against the Chief Warlock every bit as much as she was against the Dark Lord.
Cissy wasn't naive. She knew Andy would demand something from her, even though they were sisters. It was her way. But, whatever she wanted from Cissy, it would be a price worth paying. Anything to protect Draco.
Their mother had long considered Bella a lost cause, but wanted her other daughters to reconcile. She had remained close to them both.
It was time to visit her mother.
When Dora came to pick up Harry to take him to the Rook, she told him he was going to meet her, and Luna's, former nanny, Mary.
Nah, couldn't be, Harry thought.
Harry's jaw dropped as introductions were made.
"Close your mouth please, Harry," Mary Poppins said. "We are not a codfish."
"Sorry... It's just..."
"Yes?"
"You... really do look like a young Julie Andrews."
"Actually," she said, smiling, "a young Julie Andrews looked like me. Walt was very careful in his casting."
"Wait... You met Walt Disney?"
"Of course. He was going to make that film about me, so he asked me to consult."
"But... How did he know you were real?"
"Walt was a wizard. Didn't you know?"
"No... So, the Magic Kingdom is really..."
"Magic, yes. How do you think the place is kept so clean, all the time?"
"Ah... I've never been."
"Well, you'll have to see it, one day. Anyway, it's been a pleasure to meet you, but Nymphadora and I are meeting her mother for tea. Or maybe a pint, depending on how her day has gone. I hope to see you again, soon, Mr. Potter."
"Likewise, Miss Poppins."
After she left, Harry said, "So, you two had Mary Poppins as your nanny?"
"Yes," Luna replied, "she's practically perfect in every way. She's also who did most of the work stopping the Death Eater and giant attack on Somerset. Blew them away. Dora told her of my painting of the Department of Mysteries entrance. She wanted to see it. She's always encouraged me to express my artistic side."
Luna was wearing an orange sundress, today, and was barefoot. The plan for today was to continue Harry's Occlumency lessons, watch a movie, and make out.
You know, the usual...
Fred Weasley looked around Diagon Alley, realizing he and George were, once more, going against the grain.
While so many shops were closing down due to people being afraid to go out in broad daylight, the Weasley twins soon to open joke shop stood out even more than it normally would have.
They were also members of the Order of the Phoenix, and today, they were being visited by another member of the Order, the half giant Rubeus Hagrid, Care of Magical Creatures Professor at Hogwarts. Hagrid was going to meet Dumbledore at the Leaky Cauldron once the Chief Warlock was done at the Ministry, so he popped by to visit the twins.
They were discussing who the new Minister might be and the Order meeting scheduled later that night when Fred noticed something unusual.
Wind was in the east, and mist was coming in, like something was brewing, and about to begin. What made it especially strange for Fred was he never rhymed in his head, normally.
It was George who saw her, first. A pretty, conservatively dressed woman was floating down from the sky, holding an umbrella over her head as though it was a parachute. Holding her hand was Nymphadora Tonks.
"Now, that's something you don't see, every day," said George.
They watched as the pair landed gracefully on Diagon Alley, and began walking in the direction of Gringotts.
"Who is that?" asked Fred.
"Dunno," answered Hagrid. "But, I don't like the looks of her."
"She's with Tonks," said George.
"So, she's alright, more than like," said Fred.
"Tonks," answered Hagrid, "ain't on our side any more... She's gone back to her mum."
"Was it something we said?" asked George.
"Because we'll be happy to apologize," said Fred.
"Nah..." said Hagrid. "Dumbledore thinks she just turned dark. Not a surprise, considerin' her parents. I'd better follow 'em, see what they're up to."
Dora and Mary chatted as they walked.
"Oh, by the way," said Mary, "who's the large man that thinks we haven't noticed him following us?"
"That's Hagrid... Really nice guy, but he's one of Dumbledore's most devoted followers. Pretty gentle, most of the time, but when you mention Dumbledore..."
"When are you planning on saying something to him?"
"When we're in more friendly territory... Where we landed was by the Weasley twins' shop. They're part of the Order, and I didn't want them involved if things got ugly. I like 'em, too much."
"I see."
When they were close to Gringotts, Dora said, loudly, "Stealth isn't one of your strong points, Hagrid. Ya wanna say hello properly, and explain why you're followin' us?"
He approached, and asked, "What are you doin', Dora? And who's this?"
"We're meeting my mother for a drink, and this is Mary Poppins."
Hagrid shivered at that revelation.
"You brought... her to Diagon Alley? You have gone dark!"
"Awfully rude, isn't he?" said Mary.
"For your information," said Dora, "this is the woman who led the folks who repelled the attack on Somerset a couple of days ago, the day I helped my mother rescue Amelia Bones from Voldemort!"
Hagrid shivered, again, this time at Dora's use of Voldemort's name.
"So," Dora continued, "if working with people who are actually doing something to save lives and fight the Death Eaters instead of some manipulative old pillock who just sits in his office and has his people do nothing means I've gone dark in your eyes, so be it."
Enraged, Hagrid waved his own umbrella over his head.
"NEVER -" he thundered, "INSULT - ALBUS - DUMBLEDORE - IN - FRONT - OF - ME!"
Mary said, "I'll not see you insulting Nymphadora."
"THEN LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE!"
"You may leave now, Mr. Hagrid."
"MAKE ME! YOU THINK YOU CAN MOVE ME?"
She could, and did.
Hagrid found himself swept up in the largest wind he'd ever encountered. It blew him off the street, and carried him for about a mile before depositing him, gently, he noticed, in a field. He realized, afterward, that he should have remembered she could do that. He considered why he didn't. Perhaps he just couldn't reconcile how someone that powerful would choose to be a nanny.
After their meditation exercises and Occlumency lessons, Harry and Luna decided to watch Beauty and the Beast. Since it was a favorite of both Luna and Hermione, Harry figured he should give it a go. Like with the movie they watched two days earlier, Luna made popcorn and they drank sodas, but this time they were snuggling.
He saw why Luna and Hermione both loved this movie, so much.
The opening song was about the heroine, Belle, and how out of place she was in the town she lived in. Belle's love for books reminded him of Hermione. The way she was seen by the townspeople, 'strange,' 'dazed and distracted,' 'her head's up on some cloud,' 'so peculiar,' 'with a dreamy far-off look,' 'rather odd,' 'very different from the rest of us,' 'doesn't quite fit in...' was the beauty curled up on the sofa beside him. Her father was even an inventor.
Harry felt shame that he was, when he first met Luna, just like those ignorant townspeople.
He could relate to the Beast, both in needing to learn sensitivity and to control his temper. Sometimes it seemed the Wizarding world was after him with torches and pitchforks, too.
When the title song was playing during the closing credits, he impulsively stood, pulled Luna up, and began a waltz. He still wasn't much of a dancer, though she seemed a natural at it. They ended the dance with a kiss. This was followed with returning to the couch for more kissing. And some groping.
Things at the Ministry could have gone better, and they could have gone much worse, Dumbledore thought.
Much to his surprise, when Bones was proposed for Minister, she turned it down. He had thought, for certain, that he'd have a fight on his hands, as Bones was the most popular choice. Andromeda Black-Tonks would have had her woman in charge. Yet, that's not what they did. So, what was Andromeda up to, exactly?
It was a Gryffindor chosen as the new Minister, Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Aurors. He even looked a bit like a lion. Unfortunately, he wasn't one of Dumbledore's loyalists. While he listened to Dumbledore, he just wouldn't fall into line. Scrimgeour had major concerns about the Fae, but wasn't wanting to take action against them since they were obviously opposed to Voldemort. He refused, outright, Dumbledore's request to find some excuse to jail Andromeda Black-Tonks. He needed evidence of some sort of crime. Why did these people always feel the need to question his reasons, rather than just doing as he told them?
That he wanted to have a meeting with Harry, though, was enough for Dumbledore to realize he must work to undermine the new Minister's efforts, so the greater good could prevail. He did agree to Dumbledore's suggestion to move Kingsley into his old job as Head of the Aurors. Fortunately, if Dumbledore's plans continued on schedule, Scrimgeour would be dead before next year's Summer was over. Tom would be in command of the Ministry, and things would proceed to Dumbledore's end game.
He stepped into the Hog's Head... Couldn't Aberforth at least try to clean up the place, just a little? The others would be waiting for him in a large room in the back. Some weren't able to be there, of course. An adult needed to be at the Burrow, so Bill wouldn't be there. He had Remus busy with the werewolves, which also served to keep Lupin from contact with Harry.
The meeting began, and Dumbledore updated them on the new Minister, as well as of the events of Tuesday. He informed them that Nymphadora Tonks had betrayed them, and joined her parents and their Fae allies. After the shock set in, he went on to describe the attack on Hagrid in Diagon Alley by the infamous Mary Poppins, that very day. Gasps were heard over the name of Hagrid's assailant.
Snape, however, had to ask, "Did you do anything to provoke her?"
"Well... I was takin' 'em to task for what they were doin'."
"Was it something they would consider a threat?" Snape asked, cooly.
"Well, yeah... Tonks insulted Dumbledore!"
McGonagall nodded, and said, "You were very gallant, Rubeus, against the deadliest of threats. Nymphadora's treachery will not go unpunished. You behaved as a true Gryffindor."
"Indeed," said Snape, quietly, trying not to roll his eyes. He reminded himself, once again, that he was doing this for Lily.
Dumbledore explained the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, and how the Seelie Court, despite historically being the more benevolent, was now the more dangerous of the two. The Unseelie Court had been beaten so severely in it's wars with the Wizarding world that it's ruler, King Jareth, would surely be too humbled to try to act against the Ministry, again. The goblins now knew their place.
Dumbledore described fairy magic, how they could use wands, but usually didn't. The magic of some Fae was especially potent, far more than most wizards. Hagrid didn't need to be told that, after his embarrassing confrontation with Mary Poppins. He promised himself he would have revenge on that vain, arrogant... No, don't think of her as a "woman". She's not really human, he reminded himself.
Some Fae, they learned, were shape shifters.
"Like Metamorphmagi," Arthur observed.
"Yes," Dumbledore replied. "We suspect there may be a connection, some distant ancestry, with our Metamorphmagi. That ability runs in families. One of the most famous shape shifters among the Sidhe was the notorious Morgan le Fay of Avalon. Being related to them is probably why Merlin was so good with disguises."
Molly said, "We've all heard of Avalon, but... Where is it? We'll need to know if we might be at war with them."
Dumbledore considered his answer.
"It's Glastonbury... and not."
"Huh?" Fred and George asked at the same time, pretty much speaking for everyone.
"It occupies the same space, but is on a different plane. All the Fairylands are like that. Wonderland is in the Oxford area, for example."
"How do we get to those planes?" Arthur asked.
"We don't. That's the problem. There are... ways... that have been described, but they don't make sense."
"But," Kingsley offered, "we know they're connected to these specific places, like Oxford..."
"Yes, and those places are usually the access points, but not always. Oz, for example... No one's certain where exactly it is, because it's been reached from so many different places. There are several theories; a few locations in the United States, such as Kansas, Chicago, Southern California, even Seattle. Some theorize it's in Australia."
"So," Arthur said, "they're all over the world, then."
"Yeah," Moody replied, "though their main centers of activity, for the last two centuries, at least, have been the Isle of Man and Oxford. The Isle of Man... That's been a major problem for the Department of Misinformation. No matter what we do, the muggles who live there just keep talking about the damn fairies. They seem really... proud of it. Then, there's those damn muggle researchers who go to Glastonbury to find evidence of Avalon, no matter how much work we've put into over the centuries to convince the muggles that fairies don't exist, that Avalon never existed, that King Arthur never lived, that magic doesn't exist... They just keep... believing that there's something more out there than what they can see, hear, and touch. Even ones who've been to the Isle of Man that can't accept the possibility of fairies believe in something happening, there. They think it's beings from another planet. Even if they can't accept beings from an Otherworld, they can accept beings from another world."
Emmeline Vance, who had just been quietly listening until now, asked, "Why is it so important that the muggles not believe? Don't most muggles who don't believe consider those that do... eccentric, to put it politely?"
"The Sidhe were once worshipped as gods," Dumbledore replied. "Faith and belief empowers gods."
"But," Emmeline said, "Nobody worships them, any more."
"There's been a slight revival, actually... But that's not important. Even among those who don't worship them... They still hold a place in their minds and hearts for the Fae. We thought we'd finally banished them, not just from our world but from the hearts of the people... Then came the Oxford situation."
"What happened at Oxford?"
"Minerva, since this involves one of your countrymen..." said Dumbledore.
"Of course, Albus," said Minerva McGonagall. "It all started with a muggle in the 19th Century named George MacDonald. He was a Scotsman and Theologian, yet he rejected the Doctrine of Predestination. He preached a different theology, and it was through him that the Fae began their current strategy... began reclaiming this world. He wrote of them, and the Fairylands represented his ideals, ideals no doubt they infected him with. His protege was the Reverend Charles Dodgson, who chronicled Alice Liddell's abduction and transformation. It was with the Liddell abduction that we realized the Fae were doing something new. As near as the Ministry was able to determine, Wonderland didn't exist until Alice Liddell saw a white rabbit and pursued it on May 4, 1859, her seventh birthday."
"That's impossible!" Arthur exclaimed.
"Actually, no, it's not," Moody said. "It just takes the power of a god."
The group took a moment as the implications of that set in, before Moody continued.
"There would be more, in future generations. The woods at Oxford are strong with fairy magic, and there would be a group called the Inklings, followers of MacDonald. One of them would rediscover the ancient fairy languages and write of their ancient history. Another would chronicle the history of yet another Fairyland, with yet more abductions and transformations, including the Pevensie children during the Grindlewald War. This Fairyland was, according to the Histories, created whole in 1900, though time passed much faster, there. A year, here, would be centuries, there. This one was reportedly created by a being who took the form of a lion."
Arthur asked, "Could this... lion... have created Wonderland?"
"No, though there seems to be a connection. We suspect Dodgson drew the Fae to her, but it would seem Wonderland was created by Alice Liddell, herself."
"A seven year old? A seven year old did that? But... you said..."
"A seven year old with the power of a god, yes. That is what we're facing."
Arthur realized, right then, that there were scarier things than Voldemort.
"Through these," Dumbledore said, "and others, the Fae were reborn, both literally and in the hearts and minds of muggles. This led to a great deal of chaos in the muggle world, especially during the 1960s. It even affected the Wizarding world. So, to answer your earlier question, Emmeline, the more belief in them, the stronger the Fae become. They've planted their seeds in wizards and muggles, alike. Everything we've built is in danger from them. If the muggles believe in them, if they continue to see the signs of magic that we've so carefully kept hidden all around them..."
Arthur said, "Then they'll see us, and know what we are."
"Exactly. They've also brought in American Fae. Kingsley, since you have the most knowledge of them?"
"Of course, Professor," Kingsley answered. "It was the Royal Army of Oz led by Princess Dorothy that destroyed the Death Eaters at that bridge and almost wiped out the Dementors, two days ago. Princess Dorothy is one of the most cunning, resourceful, and dangerous foes you'll ever face. She has an uncanny ability to observe and piece together seemingly random things to find a solution to whatever her challenge is. Once she's set on a course of action, she'll never stop. I've met the woman."
"When?" asked Arthur.
"It was several years ago. She was attempting to abduct a young girl, a seven year old, the same age she was when she was first abducted to Oz. In this case, we were alerted, because the girl she was trying to take was a witch. I led the squad. We fought. Princess Dorothy only withdrew because the girl's parents had been awakened, and they came into the room. We performed a memory charm on the girl, so she wouldn't remember, and took steps to be sure she wouldn't accidentally call Dorothy to her, again."
"Well, at least you saved that one from her..."
"The girl was Hermione Granger."
McGonagall, Hagrid, and the Weasleys realized how close the threat was to home. Of course, Molly reminded herself, the threat was currently in her home...
She asked, "And the other foreign Fae, like the Veela?"
"Yes," said Dumbledore. "I must ask you all to watch that seductress, closely. Bill must be saved from her."
The twins looked at each other and shared a smirk, knowing they were thinking the same thing: Their mother was saving Bill from sex by cockblocking the hell out of him.
"And what about Luna Lovegood?" asked Molly.
Dumbledore answered, "I'm taking steps that will keep them quite separated. Harry is currently safe, at home, and far from her influence."
Luna brought Harry back to the Dursleys' house, however reluctantly. Harry said he'd see her, tomorrow, and gave her a very passionate good night kiss.
After she left, Harry thought he had a great girlfriend, but they hadn't gone on a real date, yet.
He decided, tomorrow night, he was going to rectify that.