A/N: Yes, the Javacrucian Caffeinated Cross ritual is a real one. It's not performed Skyclad unless you just happen to be naked at the time. The memory trick Seth refers to is from The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. The movie Andy and Dora quote is The Blues Brothers, which I highly recommend. Skip the sequel, though.
Back in Chapter 8, Dora referred to something her mother picked up in New Orleans that was part of Thelema's defences, but wouldn't be approved by either the Ministry or Dumbledore.
Chapter Sixteen
The Sun
I was standing by my window
On one cold and cloudy day
And I saw the hearse come rolling
For to carry my mother away
Can the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Oh, I told the undertaker
Undertaker, please drive slow
For this body you are hauling
How I hate to see her go
Can the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Lord, I followed close beside her
Tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave
Can the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
Went back home Lord, My home was lonely
Since my mother she had gone
All my brothers, sisters crying
What a home so sad and lone
Can the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky
-The Carter Family, Can The Circle Be Unbroken
July 7, 1996, Deep Ellum, Dallas, Texas, USA
It was at midnight that Lulu stepped out of the Blind Lemon into the sultry Summer night.
She was a pale skinned, petite, American Fae with black hair in a bob, wearing a short vintage dress that made her appear as though she would have been at home in the Flapper Era of the 1920s. Of course, being much, much, older than she looked, Lulu remembered the Roaring 20s Jazz Age fondly. Good times...
She'd spent some of that era on these very streets, which still carried the magic of those years. The bar she'd left was named for Blind Lemon Jefferson, one of the many legendary blues men and women who got their start busking on these streets. Other legendary names that played for tips on the sidewalks and played in the nightclubs included Blind Willie Johnson, Leadbelly, T-Bone Walker, Bessie Smith, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Whistlin' Alex Moore. The notorious gangster Machine Gun Kelly bought his suits here, from the same tailor Blind Lemon Jefferson bought his suits from. In both the criminal and musical worlds, buying your suits from that tailor meant you'd made it. Bonnie and Clyde were regulars at the clubs. Lulu remembered them, like everyone else in Deep Ellum did, as nice kids, which completely contradicted their actions in their line of work. Whenever she was in town, Lulu visited Bonnie's grave, and left flowers. Many did, always leaving flowers, trinkets, poetry.
Bonnie loved poetry.
Sometimes, the Deep Ellum Blues guys would go to nearby Fort Worth, where the Western Swing style was developing with folks like the Light Crust Doughboys and Bob Wills, and play with them. Other times, the Fort Worth Western Swing musicians would come to Deep Ellum and play with the Blues guys, the two styles having a big influence on each other.
A recording of Blind Willie Johnson's "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" was among the music placed on the Voyager spacecrafts sent to the outer edge of the Solar System, to travel to the stars, to introduce the human race to space faring civilizations that might come across them.
Deep Ellum was still producing and nurturing musicians, all these years later. A trio of women called the Dixie Chicks had gotten their start a few years before busking on these streets just like so many legends did, before.
Just a short bit away, a couple of blocks from Dallas's Farmer's Market, Robert Johnson recorded his most important songs. Legend said that Robert's musical brilliance was owed to selling his soul to the Devil, whom he met at a crossroads, accounting for his death at 27.
It wasn't the Devil that Robert met, that fateful night. While a deal was struck, his soul wasn't the price. His death wasn't supernatural powers come to collect, but was from being poisoned by the jealous husband of a woman he was flirting with. That said, Robert likely didn't recognize the being he met at that crossroads.
The Devil doesn't teach you how to play guitar, though he does seem to have a lot of influence over record company executives. He also doesn't meet you at crossroads.
No, it was someone else, the reason Lulu waited at the corner of Main and Crowdus outside the Blind Lemon.
Long ago, when the Irish came to what the Europeans called the New World, the Fae came with them. They weren't the only ones to come. St. Mary arrived first, and quickly mixed with the Divinities that were already in what would be called Mexico. Blocks away, in Dallas's Arts District, was the beautiful Gothic cathedral dedicated to Mary's manifestation in North America, Our Lady of Guadalupe. A branch of the Naga were already there, of course. Wherever there were both humans and snakes, there were the Naga.
Lulu felt his familiar presence before he spoke.
"Mmmm," he said in his deep voice, "I haven't seen you dress like that in... a very long time, Lulu."
"Everything comes back in style in time, Papa," she replied, "except maybe polyester Disco suits. May we never see that, again."
Papa Legba smiled at the Fae that wasn't his child by birth, and replied, "Mm hmm... What about Swing?"
"Got that in the works, already."
"Looking forward to it. So, where to?"
"Cafe Brazil, or are you in the mood for Tex Mex?"
"Tex Mex sounds good to me..."
They walked to a place a block away on Commerce Street that catered especially to Deep Ellum's night life. Papa Legba was, or a least he appeared to be, an old black man wearing a straw hat and walking with a cane. But, like Lulu, he was far more than he appeared to be. He was a Loa of the Orisha people, the African distant cousins of the Fae. He was the gate-keeper for the practitioners of Vodou, the intermediary between mortals and the Loa, who opened and closed the door between mortals and the Mysteries.
On this side of the Atlantic, he wasn't exactly the Legba of Africa, though. Vodouists considered themselves good Catholics, and might curse you if you said otherwise. Papa Legba was related to St. Peter and St. Lazarus as much as he was Eleggua. Everything in this part of the world was syncretic, even the food, such as the Tex Mex Papa Legba and Lulu were ordering. That's part of why the British Magi were so disapproving of the Magi of North America. They tried to understand what was practiced here entirely by their own concepts, and, to them, it seemed "Dark." Granted, someone like St. Muerte must seem quite dark and frightening to those who don't understand her.
The Loa, Fae, Saints, and others here were especially proud of how the greatest expressions of magic, music and dance, developed here in the American South.
When slaves were brought to North America from Africa, they brought their musical traditions with them, with counter-metric rhythms, single line melody, and call and response patterns, but without the European concept of harmony. It was functional, for work or ritual.
The Irish, driven from their homeland, brought their step dancing, rhythmic to the point that feet were percussive instruments. Along with the British, they also brought their folk music.
Then, there was the Church, with its hymns and spirituals. This taught the African descendants European harmony, and the Irish and British folk traditions. They also learned how to play the European instruments, bringing their own traditions to the mix. The Irish and British descended folk musicians, in turn, learned from them.
The results were known as Ragtime, Blues, and, ultimately encompassing it all, Jazz. Jewish immigrants brought their own traditions, and Texas's proximity to Mexico and the Gulf Coast states closeness to the Caribbean added the Latin influence. German immigrants added their own styles to both the US and Mexican musical mix. The religious roots would find their way into many Jazz standards, perhaps most famously in Louis Armstrong's version of "When The Saints Go Marching In."
The Americans now had a music of their own. Bayou, mountain, field, city, light and dark, sacred and profane, this was the music of it all. It was the music of World War II, or the Grindelwald War as the European Magi called it, for the western Allies. Many Europeans embraced this new voice, but not all. The Nazis cracked down on Jazz and Swing dancing, declaring it "Negroid," "Jewish," and "decadent." The Nazis misunderstood the Americans, in general. They just couldn't conceive that a population made up of so many diverse elements could be a true nation. That misunderstanding led to underestimating the Americans, and the Nazis paid dearly for that. But then, the Nazis underestimated the Russians and the British, as well. They really should have known better than to underestimate the Brits.
Racist elements in America hated it, too, as they did in the 1950s, when a new style of Jazz drawing on Swing, Blues, and several styles that derived from those two, such as Western Swing, Boogie Woogie, Honky Tonk, and Bluegrass, rose, called Rock and Roll.
When she was a young Fae, Lulu decided Jazz would be her realm, and that she would be its spirit. So, Papa Legba considered her as much his wild child as the Fae's. Lulu helped inspire the spread of Jazz in all it's forms around the world. It had even infiltrated the deeply enclosed British magical community, the old men who ruled there not realizing they'd given the hated American magical system a foothold, the British wizards not realizing that it's all connected.
Aside from catching up, the situation in magical Britain was what Lulu and Papa Legba had met to discuss.
Lulu said, "The Seelie Court and Naga are about to fulfill the terms of their alliance."
"'Bout time," Papa Legba replied.
"Hey, circumstances just made 'em have to wait 'til now. Andy has to put aside several months for this, y'know. It's not like she didn't want to, but things there... She couldn't take the time."
"I know. Andy's a good girl." And a good student, Papa Legba thought. He'd taught her a few things when she visited New Orleans one Mardi Gras. That was certainly memorable, especially when her older sister turned up for her master. Those so called "Death Eaters" thought they could recruit Papa Legba's people to their cause. How little they understood...
"Yeah," Lulu agreed. "I love that girl..."
"She does owe you a lot, just for helping get her and Ted to get along at that bash Alice threw for Lucia."
"Well, you were busy jamming with Keith and Mick."
"She still remembered me later, though..."
"You're a little hard to forget, Papa."
"As are you, child, as are you."
Sunday is the Day of the Sun. Well, obviously...
A boy becoming a man with a magical scar on his forehead that was a Sun rune and not the lightning bolt he'd always thought it was found himself awake before sunrise.
The girl he loved, named for the moon, awakened with him.
"Mmm," she said, snuggling.
Harry thought of the night, before, how Luna had freed him from the chains that were binding his magic, his power. Even though it was all in his head, she had experienced torture and death to do it, and he had resurrected her with the Water of Life poured from a golden cup.
All that, for him. He swore he would be worth it to her, if such a thing was possible.
And the cup... Voldemort recognized it, and viewed it with reverence... And that look of regret when he couldn't grasp it...
Harry couldn't figure out why, but he knew he had just won a tremendous victory over the Dark Lord.
And... Luna had visited the Afterlife, and spoken with her mother. She was going to tell him and Dora what her mother had told her, later today.
What he was wondering now, though, was why they were both awake before sunrise.
"It seems," Luna said, "we are to greet the sunrise."
"Mmm... I'll fix breakfast, then."
"After we shower."
"OK."
The pixies still hadn't returned his clothes, so it looked like it was going to be another naked day. After exiting the bathroom after the shower, they found Dora waiting.
"Mornin', lovebirds."
"Sorry," said Harry. "Did we wake you up?"
Dora shrugged, and said, "We got a lot to do today, anyway. May as well get started... after I shower, of course."
"I'll have coffee made be the time you come down."
"Kay."
Luna added, "We'll be greeting the sunrise. I was thinking the Javacrucian way."
Dora smiled, and said, "Sounds good."
Harry wondered what the "Javacrucian way" was.
Dora entered the kitchen, not bothering to dress since no one else in the house was. Harry poured three cups of coffee for them, but was stopped by Luna before he could take a sip.
"Wait, Harry. We must first do the Caffeinated Cross Ceremony of the Javacrucians."
"OK... What is that?"
Dora said, "It's kinda like the Japanese Tea Ceremony and the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, except it's nothing like them."
"It's almost daybreak," said Luna, so let's take our cups outside."
So, they went into the clearing behind the Rook, while Luna explained what they were about to do.
"The roots of Javacrucianism date to the offerings of coffee to The Most Highly Caffeinated Saint Lucia on her Feast Day of December 13. She parties the entire night before, so she needs these offerings in the morning, you know."
"I guess she would. So, what do we do?"
"It's daybreak, so just follow Dora's lead."
Dora stood, facing East where the sun was rising, holding her cup, and assuming a posture of wakeful alertness. Harry saw Luna was doing the same, so he followed suit, holding the cup in his wand hand, and following Dora's movements.
She brought the cup to her forehead and intoned, "LATTE."
She lowered the cup to her navel. "MOCHA."
She brought the cup to her left shoulder. "CAPPUCCINO."
She brought the cup across to her right shoulder. "FRAPPUCCINO."
She clasped the cup in both hands over her heart chakra. "ARABICA! OH MAN!"
She extended her arms to her sides, and intoned, "BEFORE ME, MRS. OLSEN. BEHIND ME, JUAN VALDEZ. AT MY RIGHT HAND, M J B. AT MY LEFT HAND, THE BROTHERS HILLS. FOR ABOUT ME SWIRLS THE COFFEE AROMA. WITHIN ME SINGS THE CAFFEINE HIGH."
They drank the coffee, in communion with the spirits of the Sacred Coffee Bean.
When they had finished their cups, Dora closed the ritual by intoning, "GOD, I NEEDED THAT."
As a child, Phineas Nigellus Black had been annoyed at his parents for the name they had given him. It basically translated to Black Black Black. "Very funny," he'd told them.
It did, though, instill a devotion to family in Phineas, a devotion that remained with his portraits. He had portraits in several places, such as the various family homes, the Ministry of Magic, and at Hogwarts, where he had served as Headmaster.
A magical portrait didn't contain the soul of its subject, but it did contain their personality, much of their knowledge in life, and what primarily drove them. The portraits of former Headmasters of Hogwarts acted as advisers to the current one. He disliked advising Albus Dumbledore. Many, including Dumbledore himself, assumed it was because of the current Headmaster's support of the rights of Muggleborns. That wasn't the true issue, though. Phineas took his responsibilities as Headmaster very seriously, and took issue with Dumbledore's seeming lack of concern with either educating or protecting the students. In particular, Dumbledore was plotting the sacrifice of one of Phineas's descendants, Harry James Potter. Due to the enchantments placed on the portraits in the Headmaster's office, Phineas couldn't warn the boy, directly.
That didn't mean he was completely helpless to act, however.
His function at Hogwarts being to serve the interests of educating and protecting its students gave Phineas a certain amount of freedom that Albus Dumbledore didn't consider.
Having several portraits, he could move from one to another. In addition to being available to advise the Headmaster, he could also advise the Black family, not that there was anyone with that last name left in magical Britain. There were still a few left who had been born with the name, though. With Bellatrix an escaped fugitive, and one that wasn't acting in the best interests of the family, anyway, given her seeming determination to wipe the Blacks out, that left Phineas's great-great-granddaughter Andromeda as the de facto Black family matriarch.
So, his was now at his portrait at Thelema, conversing with his descendant, who was now, as she often was during their conversations, sitting nude, having just done her Yoga Sun Salutation, with Seth at her feet, sipping coffee. He'd have preferred her to be a bit more modest, of course, but he had become accustomed to it over the years.
There were many things he disapproved about Andromeda, starting with her marriage to the Muggleborn Ted Tonks. Of course, since they were both Fae, now, with Andromeda also sometimes being a Naga like Seth, blood purity was a pointless issue. As much as Magi were loath to admit it, the Fae had a higher status than they did. So did the Naga, for that matter. Riddle had committed a great sacrilege by capturing and enslaving one.
In life, Phineas knew, he'd have been quite alarmed at Andromeda's plan to not only revive the Black family name, but make the Blacks more powerful than they'd ever been, though he also would have been impressed by her Slytherin ambition and cunning.
With the interests of the Black family and protecting the interests of Hogwarts coinciding, Andromeda now had eyes and ears everywhere Phineas had a portrait, such as the Ministry, the house in London, Malfoy Manor, and the office of the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Snape," said Phineas, "reported your meeting with him and Narcissa to the Headmaster, omitting your points questioning Dumbledore's own trustworthiness and intentions."
"Of course. He doesn't want the old coot to question his loyalty."
"He did forward your warning not to start the use of force against you, though, as well as your suggestion he wear gloves."
"Good... Not that I think a warning will stop him from acting against us, but he won't be able to honestly claim we struck first."
"Dumbledore is also going to send a letter to Harry Potter to arrive on Tuesday."
Andy sighed, and said, "Then he'll have to be back with his relatives by tomorrow, so he can receive it."
"Have Dora and Luna made progress with his Occlumency training?"
"Quite a bit, as I understand..."
The phone rang. It was Dora.
"Wotcher, Mum."
"You're up, early..."
"We were watching the sun rise. Harry's fixing breakfast."
"How are things going, over there?"
Dora told her mother of yesterday's events. Andy was amazed by the story she was told, but was very worried about Luna's well-being.
"She's OK," Dora assured her. "She's better than OK. She's... Well, she bathed in the Water of Life."
"Yes... Of course..."
"And you should see how hers and Harry's energies are intermingling..."
"So... The Grail."
"Yeah."
"Does Harry understand what that was?"
"I don't think so. He knows it held the Water of Life, but he called it a golden cup. If he knew what it was..."
"He'd have called it that, yes."
"I think you might do a better job of explaining it to him than me."
"And Voldemort saw it, wanted it, and it disappeared when he tried to grasp it?"
"Yeah... Harry was pretty surprised to see how he reacted. I mean, it's not like Voldie to show regret."
"Mm hmm... There's a big difference between talking about higher concepts and actually experiencing them. And Luna... spoke... with Morgan."
"Yeah, so you need to come. She's going to tell us what they talked about."
"And Xeno?"
"Um... The pixies still haven't returned Harry's clothes, so we're all still naked."
"Since when would Xeno have a problem with that?"
"He wouldn't. But, I don't think Harry would be comfortable being naked with his girlfriend in front of her dad, yet, especially since he's not letting Luna out of his sight, and wants physical contact as much as possible. Holding hands, having an arm around her..."
"Ah... Well, I'll be sure to dress appropriately, then. I already am, in fact."
"Good! Bring Seth, though."
"Alright, but why?"
"Well... Harry speaks Parseltongue naturally. He's never had to learn it. And he was... responsive to my Naga form... I think I know what his Animagus form would be, but I'd like Seth to be able to confirm it."
"He'd be able to tell. What time would be good?"
Even though the events of the previous night had been in Harry's head, that didn't make them any less real.
So, all he wanted to do was hold Luna, comfort her, protect her.
He felt he'd learned more about the magical world and its history in the last week than he had through five years at Hogwarts. Regardless of what the Ministry thought, these were things they needed to know. How could they study magic in Britain, of all places, and not be taught about the Fae? The goblins were running the banking system, and all they were ever taught at Hogwarts about them was they'd gotten pissed off and rebelled a few times. Wizards had to deal with these people, and goblins were people, every day. Wouldn't it help to have plenty of knowledge about them?
While he was enjoying each new discovery about this girl he loved, it would have been nice to have had a few years of education about her people.
And that cup, containing the Water of Life... He knew there was something familiar about it, but he couldn't place it. It was something he knew he should know. Voldemort obviously recognized it for what it was...
Voldemort... For that moment, he wasn't the dreaded, demonic, Dark Lord, but Tom Riddle, a simple human being, like Harry.
Harry needed to learn exactly what that cup was. And the Water of Life, for that matter. He knew, somehow, that the cup wasn't something Luna had created in his head for that moment, but something very real.
During breakfast, for which Luna and Dora complimented him, Dora told them her mother and Seth would be visiting. Dora had told him about Seth and the Naga the previous day, making him wonder about Nagini, Voldemort's large snake that seemed more than just a pet and weapon.
Harry had experienced being in Nagini's head, the previous year, when she had attacked Arthur Weasley when he was guarding the prophesy about Harry and Voldemort stored in the Department of Mysteries. But, it wasn't really Nagini's mind his was experiencing, but Voldemort's. The Dark Lord was in complete control of her, possessing her, just as the teenage version of him in the diary had possessed Ginny, just as Voldemort had briefly possessed Harry, himself.
Harry had hated Nagini, seeing her as just an evil serpent serving Voldemort. But now, having learned that the Naga were a race of intelligent beings, he had to wonder if Nagini was in any more control over her actions than Ginny had been.
Perhaps meeting Seth would shed more light on the issue. But, there was another concern.
"Um," he said, "your mother's coming, and the pixies still have my clothes hidden."
"Don't worry about it," Dora replied. "We're clothing optional at home. Mum just won't bother to dress."
Luna added, "You'll like that. She's quite beautiful."
Harry wondered just how powerful a witch Hermione was, since her cursing him with beautiful naked women was continuing. Not that he minded...
When the time came, it was not one, but two boas that emerged through the floo.
Harry turned to one, and said, in Parseltongue, "It's an honor to meet you, Seth. I'm Harry Potter." To the other, he said, "You must be Mrs. Tonks."
The female boa smiled, the same way Dora smiled in her boa form, and said, "Call me Andy. How did you know which of us was which?"
"You're the female."
"And you can spot that, immediately?"
"With snakes, yes, it seems I can. I've always been able to speak with them in their language... I guess I have an affinity with them."
"That's very useful."
"Yeah, it helped, a lot, during my second year at Hogwarts. Scared the hell out of a lot of my classmates, though."
"Yes, it would. So many prejudices... Naga are honored in other parts of the world. Speaking of which... Seth?"
Seth, who Harry had noticed had watched him, intently, replied, "I have the same feeling from him that I had with you and Dora, like he's a Naga in human form."
"Ah!" said Andy. "Harry, we know your Animagus form. Can you tell what kind of Naga?" she asked Seth.
"A white python, I think."
"Oooo," said Dora, with delight.
"Mmm..." said Luna, with a smile.
"Um, is that good?" asked Harry.
Dora replied, "Girls love a white python."
"Human or Naga girls?"
"Both."
"Really?"
Luna replied, "It's a thing."
Dora added, "Celebs and models will want you to pose for pictures with them... Don't be surprised if some pop star asks you to perform on tour with her."
Ah, well..." Harry responded, a bit embarrassed, "Um, besides the coolness and sex appeal factors... Luna thought a snake might be my Animagus form, but... And no offence or disrespect meant, here... what would be the advantage of it?"
Seth answered, "There are certain advantages, such as our ability to sift through all our memories and recall them, no matter how distant, through a meditation we can do. It can be helpful when forming a strategy in the present. Also, there are certain differences between a regular boa or python and a Naga one. You notice we're python sized, larger than a normal boa. Also, unlike regular boas and pythons, we produce venom."
Harry turned to Dora and asked, "You're venomous?"
Dora replied, "I can be pretty sharp-tongued when I wanna be, but I only produce real venom in my Naga form."
Andy added, "Naga venom is used in some potions, but is difficult to get, given it's rarity. Dora and I are able to produce our own."
"So, why are you Naga instead of... just regular boas in your Animagus forms?"
"We're also Fae, so an intelligent snake that can take a human shape that is also a minor deity is a Naga."
"So, to be a Naga as an Animagus, I'd have to be a Fae, then."
"And, this leads us to how committed you are to Luna."
"Hmm?"
Luna answered, with a very serious expression, "If you were to come with me to the Otherworlds for a time, you'd need to eat. Eating the food of the Fairylands makes you... one of us."
"I love you, and want to be with you, whatever that requires."
"There's a lot of responsibility that goes with being one of us."
"My first responsibility is to you."
"There'd be a responsibility to the world."
Harry shrugged, and said, "Haven't I always had that responsibility, ever since I chose to face Voldemort?"
"This would be beyond that. You have a choice."
"The world needs someone looking out for it besides dealing with this one dark wizard."
"Yes, but... You know I'm rather... ostracized by... a lot of people..."
"Yeah, well, story of my life. You met my aunt. You've heard about my uncle and cousin. Yeah, I used to want to fit in, but... Well, the opinions of people like that don't matter one bit to me, any more. I'm not normal, whatever that is. I don't want to be normal, if judgemental pillocks like the Dursleys or gits like Draco Malfoy are the standard. I want to be me, I want to be with you, and I want to make this world a better place."
Luna smiled beautifully, a tear flowing down her cheek, and said, "Thank you," followed by a deep embrace. Harry held her, not caring about their nude intimacy in front of the others, who, for their part, were happy with the choice made, and the love being shown before them.
Knowing they still had a lot to talk about, they ended the embrace, but kept an arm around one another.
Harry said, "Something I was thinking about... Voldemort has a large snake he calls Nagini. Do you know if she's one of your people?"
Seth replied, "Her name is Sloka. 'Nagini' is just what a female Naga is called."
"Why doesn't he use her real name?"
"Because, to him, she is just a possession to be used, not even worth a name."
"That's... horrible. Sounds like him, though. Any idea how she... came to be in his service?"
"He lured her... trapped her... magically enslaved her."
"Can she be freed?"
"It would be difficult."
"But, can it be done?
"If we can capture her alive, there is hope."
"Then I'll have to add that to my list of things to do."
"It would be greatly appreciated by the Naga."
"I wouldn't be doing it for the Naga, but for her."
"Even better."
Luna said, "I think I got a good catch, don't you, Seth?"
"Yes. Your mother is quite proud of you, I'm certain."
"She told me she was..." Luna said, wistfully.
Andy nodded, and replied, "Are you ready to talk about last night?"
"Yes."
Luna and Harry recounted what Harry experienced from their ritual. Dora had told Andy, already, but it was best to hear it from Harry, himself. He demonstrated his magical power that had been unlocked by summoning his wand, as he did the previous night.
Andy asked, "Do you know what that golden cup was?"
"I know it wasn't just something Luna made for what was going on. I know it's something real. There's something familiar about it, but I can't place it."
"What do you know of the Holy Grail?"
"Not much... I know it was Jesus's cup and had something to do with King Arthur."
"And here is possibly the most important part of the history of magical Britain that they don't teach you at Hogwarts. Interestingly enough, it was Voldemort who first told me about it, just before my first year at Hogwarts, the day I had my first encounter with the Fae."
Andromeda shifted into her human form, which Harry, as was always the case with him when it came to the Black sisters, found beautiful. She then told Harry the story of the Holy Grail.
In Christianity, God is three divine persons, known as the Trinity, three distinct beings, who are, nevertheless, One. They are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is the Hebrew Creator God, Yahweh. The Son is Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of God that teaches, inspires, and fills us, depicted in art as a dove, often carrying an olive branch. The olive branch has symbolized peace since ancient Greece, one of the attributes of Eirene, the Greek Goddess of Peace. The Water of Life is the Holy Spirit.
A long time ago, the wise King Solomon was meditating on the quality of womanhood, and received a revelation. "There shall come a woman through whom man shall know joy greater than a hundred times than is your sorrow; and she shall be born of your inheritance."
He studied every sign, waking or dreaming, to learn the truth of this descendant. When he discovered her, he determined that he would send knowledge through time to aid her and her son. Her name would be Mary.
To that end, Solomon's wife, Bilquis, the Queen of Sheba and subject of The Song of Solomon, the beautiful book of love songs in the Bible, built a ship that would carry the message of the Grail through the ages. Solomon and Bilquis placed objects within the vessel. These were Solomon's crown; the sword of his father, King David; a great bed made from the Rood Tree; and three branches from a tree that grew from a branch of the Tree of Knowledge from the Garden of Eden, one red, one white, and one green, the colors of the Alchemical process. The branches were placed above the bed in the form of a triangle from which a canopy could be suspended. Wood from this tree had also been used for the Ark of the Covenant. They sent the vessel, unmanned, to sail through time and space to the era and place of the Grail Quest.
From the moment of her conception, St. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was kept free from original sin, possessing a sanctifying grace, the Holy Spirit always indwelling, leading to her being called the new Ark of the Covenant.
Mary's uncle was Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy trader. On a business trip to the tin mines of Cornwall, he brought along the boy Jesus. While in Britain, they visited Glastonbury, where Jesus was taught by the Druids, and the adjoining Fairyland of Avalon, where he was taught by the Fae.
Years later, Joseph returned to Glastonbury. With the Druids, choosing what he sensed was the right place on Wearyall Hill, he thrust his staff into the ground, which grew into the first Glastonbury Thorn. In the 1600s, the dictator Oliver Cromwell had the tree chopped down and burned. But, there are hawthorns in Glastonbury that are descended from that original tree. Unlike ordinary hawthorns, the ones in Glastonbury blossom twice a year, the first time just after the Winter Solstice. Every Christmas, a flowering sprig is sent to the British Monarch.
To Avalon, Joseph brought the Grail.
The Grail was, originally, wooden, the chalice Jesus used to serve the wine at the Last Supper. To the disciples, Jesus said, "Drink this, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." This became the basis for the Eucharist tradition in Christianity.
At the Crucifixion, the Grail was used by Joseph to collect the blood of Christ, and became hallowed. In Avalon, a Holy place was built, dedicated to St. Mary, where the Grail would be enshrined, kept, and protected by a sacred Sisterhood of nine Fae. St. Mary, the living Grail, bore the blood of Christ within her own body, as did this vessel.
It is a vessel of regeneration and plenty. Like St. Mary, it is filled with the Holy Spirit. If one glimpses it, one must pursue it. But, only the truly worthy can achieve it.
Joseph's brother-in-law Bron, descended from the Irish High Kings, and therefore also descended from the Tuatha de Danaan, was made ruler in Glastonbury, known as the Fisher King.
Centuries later, the Sisterhood of the Grail was led by the Queen of Ireland, Morgan le Fay. She was descended from the Fisher King Bron, and was the heir of the Morrigan. Her half-brother was Arthur, High King of Britain. She was a powerful witch, and renowned for her healing arts. St. Mungo's, the primary hospital of magical Britain, was named for one of her grandsons. Another of her descendants, Sorcha, called the Ravenclaw, was a founder of Hogwarts.
She assisted Arthur, but saw that dark times were coming. So, she used her shape-shifting skills to take various forms from young maidens to old crones to create scenarios to challenge, test, and teach Arthur's Knights, such as Gawain with the Green Knight, so that they would be ready for the tasks ahead.
The time she foresaw came. The Fisher King Pelles had received a severe wound to his groin which left him immobile. As the land was tied to him, his impotence made the land infertile and reduced it to a barren wasteland.
This being a time when magic wasn't secret, not to mention his own Fae ancestry, Arthur recognized that the cause of the barren land was magical in nature. He called together his Knights to meet at the Round Table, to find the cause of the situation and find a solution.
It was then that they had a collective vision of the Grail. It being the Grail, they immediately knew what it was, and felt it calling to them. Being a vessel of plenty, each person in the hall discovered his or her favorite dish before him, with the hall filled with perfume and music. Their hearts were overflowing with unity and love for each other and all Creation. After, the Quest for the Holy Grail began.
One of the Knights was a very young man named Perceval.
Perceval had been raised by his mother in a secluded forest. His father and two oldest sons had been killed in battle, and she was desperate to protect her youngest. He was raised ignorant of the ways of Knights, chivalry, and his heritage. He didn't even know what a Knight was when three of them passed through the forest. He thought them angels.
His natural innocence made him seem foolish to those more worldly, and he certainly seemed the fool when he approached the Knights, asking questions about things they thought were obvious. They wished him well, and left.
He ran home to his mother and told him of the encounter. She reluctantly told him who these men were and of his heritage. Perceval declared that he wanted to be a Knight. His mother attempted to dissuade him, but, seeing his determination, relented and sent him to the Court of King Arthur in Camelot.
After some foolish mistakes, Perceval made his was to Arthur, managing to kill one of the King's worst enemies with a hunting javelin. He took the fallen foe's red armor, with Sir Gornemont assigned to train him in the ways of combat and chivalry. Perceval, wanting to learn all he could, had a habit of asking what his teacher thought were too many questions, so Gornemont told him to restrain his inquisitiveness and use fewer words.
He fell in love, winning the heart of a noble damsel named Blacheflour. When the Grail Quest began, he visited his mother, then came across the castle of the Fisher King, the shields and banners there depicting a dove. Upon meeting King Pelles, he learned of the wound to the King's genitals which left him crippled. During a feat at the castle, an astounding procession took place, which included a young maiden carrying a golden cup which glowed with a strange light. Perceval had many questions he wanted to ask about both the Grail and the King's injury, but he restrained himself, remembering his mentor's advice and not wanting to seem rude. He slept that night in the castle.
When he awoke the next morning, everyone in the castle was gone, as was the Grail. He saddled his horse and rode from the castle, only for the castle itself to disappear.
An old crone found Perceval, and told him that by not asking about the Grail, he had failed the most important test to achieve it. Had he asked, the Fisher King's wound would have been healed. She also informed him that his mother had died of a broken heart.
Perceval was stricken with grief, but travelled in search of the castle, determined to help the Fisher King. He had many adventures along the way, learning with each experience. Having gained much wisdom, he encountered Solomon's ship, which brought him to Avalon, where he rediscovered the castle. He was again welcomed, but this time, when the procession came with the young maiden holding the Grail, he asked the Fisher King, "What ails you? What is the secret of the Grail? Whom does it serve?"
The Fisher King's wound instantly healed, and the barren land was restored to bloom. Perceval learned that the Fisher King was, in fact, his uncle. His initiation complete, he brought Blacheflour to Avalon, where they married, and, in time, Perceval became the next Fisher King, the pure fool who gained wisdom, enlightened by compassion.
"Well," said Harry, "Snape always calls me a fool... I guess there's hope for me, yet."
Andy asked, "Do you have any questions?"
"Yes, the obvious one, which I guess I'd better go ahead and ask. Last night... Was that actually the Grail?"
Andy turned to Harry's girlfriend. "Luna?"
"Yes," Luna said.
"I... Wow..." was the most articulate response Harry could make, at the moment.
"That's the usual reaction," said Luna, smiling. "It can be a bit overwhelming."
Andy added, "Now you see why it's often said that words can't adequately describe the experience."
Harry said, "I wasn't... questing for the Grail, though... I was just trying to help Luna."
"And what was Perceval trying to do when he found the castle, the second time?"
"Help the Fisher King."
"See? You do have a lot in common with the Grail Knight. From what I've been told about you, you're driven primarily by your compassion, not seeking glory."
"I can relate to the Grail Knight, a lot, and not just because of last night. So could my friend Hermione, I think, in a different way. She's always asking questions."
"That's good, since I'll be meeting her, tomorrow. She wants to study Alchemy, so I hope she has plenty of questions."
"She will, trust me." So, Hermione was going to be studying with these people. Harry was pleased, as he wanted nothing more than for her to continue on this journey with him.
"And Luna?" Andy turned to the girl.
"Mum... We talked. First, she wants Dad to re-marry. She suggests Emily, since she's so close to him, you, and Ted. She told me she's very proud of me, and...
"She told me what she was doing at the time of her death. It involved something called Horcruxes... They're a method some dark magi use to keep from passing to the next plane. Through murder, they split their soul and place a part of it in some object. They'll usually make a few of them. She was certain that was what Voldemort did."
Harry considered that, then remembered something.
"Back in my Second Year... Ginny was possessed by a diary that... had Voldemort's personality when he was a Hogwarts student in it. I destroyed it. It put up one hell of a fight, and almost killed me."
Dora said, "I'd say that confirms Morgan's theory."
Luna continued, "She was working on a method to identify one, then use it to find the others the dark magi has made, as they'd be connected, when she died. She said... her death was no accident. She'd checked her calculations. They were perfect. Someone tampered with them."
"Who'd do that?" asked Harry.
Dora answered, "One of Voldie's people, I'd guess."
Andy asked, "What about her notes? She always kept detailed records."
"They were taken by the Ministry," Luna answered. "I don't remember it, but... Mum said they... modified our memories..."
"Why would they do that?" asked Harry.
"Independent research into the Dark Arts," Andy answered. "They're hostile to that, even when it's research to counter the Dark Arts."
Harry said, "Her research would be kept in the Department of Mysteries."
"Then, we'll have to retrieve it," said Dora, "though I doubt they'll give it up, willingly."
"Wouldn't be the first time I've raided the place. I want to have a plan this time, though."
"Yes," said Andy. "We'll have one. Dora, you spoke with Harry's aunt?"
"Yeah," she said. "I told her that this would be the last Summer that would be his address, and, to make it as pleasant as possible for them, they'd leave him alone. Since he has a mobile, he doesn't need to use their phone. All he really needs from their house outside of his room is the bathroom and kitchen. They also know they're not to breathe a word to Dumbledore or anyone else about our conversation."
"Good, because my sources have informed me that Dumbledore is sending him a letter to arrive on Tuesday."
"So," Harry said, "I'll need to be there Tuesday to receive it. Who's your source with Dumbledore?"
"Phineas's portrait. He watches out for the family."
"Ah... He's..."
"A sarcastic bastard with a lot of prejudices, yes. But, you'll also need to be there, Monday, if he addresses the letter, then. We don't want him knowing you're here. He plans to retrieve you, Friday evening, to take you to the Burrow."
"Hmm... Looking forward to seeing Ron. Not looking forward to seeing Dumbledore, though, or spending more time at the Dursley's house."
Luna said, "There's no reason you can't have company on Monday and Tuesday. And you can spend Wednesday and Thursday here."
Dora added, "And, if certain underage people's wands just happened to have the Ministry tracers and monitoring charms removed from then, which, let me emphasise, I would know nothing about..."
"Of course," said Andy. "That would be illegal."
"...you can set up silencing charms, so no one hears what you two are getting up to in your room, especially if she spends the night."
"That's good to know," said Harry.
"As long as she's not there Friday when Dumbledore gets there, you're fine."
"And the Burrow is close to here, so you can visit," Harry told Luna. "And, I can always come by here."
Luna said, "Mrs. Weasley won't like that. She doesn't approve of me."
"You're my girlfriend. She'll just have to deal with it. Why doesn't she like you, anyway?"
"I'm a Fae."
"Why is that a problem?"
"She blames our pixie friends for how Fred and George turned out. They were rather normal boys, at one time. Mrs. Weasley had warned her children never to venture into the woods, here, especially the caves where the pixies are. They did. And, after encountering the pixies, they've been the Fred and George you know, ever since."
"Hmm," Harry said with amusement, "I wonder if Tinkerbell and her friends had the same effect on my dad and Sirius in Kensington Gardens? They became the most notorious pranksters of their generation."
"That would explain it."
"But, isn't Fleur a kind of Fae?"
Dora answered, "Yeah, and Molly doesn't like her, either. Let's just say she hasn't been having a very welcome stay at the Burrow. She and Ginny even keep dropping hints that Bill should date me. They don't know that I'm a Fae, too, and that he'd just be exchanging one for another."
"Well, we can be a united front, then."
"And remember, if it gets really bad, where you just have to get out of there, I'm your bodyguard, assigned by Amelia Bones, herself. So, call me. If Molly says you can't visit Luna, call me, and I'll be your escort. Molly won't like it, but she can't say no since I'm on assignment from the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Don't get me wrong. Molly's a good person. But, she feels the need to be everybody's mother. Also, the Burrow isn't wired for electricity, so you'll need to pop by here to charge your phone. We'll need to think of an excuse for you to have to go there, daily, since we don't want Dumbledore knowing you have a mobile... He'd know you'd had to have gotten away from your aunt and uncle."
"Hermione has a mobile. She can just bring it with her, and say she needs somewhere to charge it. And, since my girlfriend's house is wired..."
"That'll work. And, naturally, you have to come with, since Luna's your girlfriend."
"Speaking of which... Andy, the house I just found out I owned in Kensington is wired for electricity, but I'm told it's all 1970s, and you and your husband had a company that can upgrade magical homes for that sort of thing."
"Yes," said Andy. "Shall we set it up?"
"I'd like that."
"Anything else you'd like done with the property?
"Dora suggested adding an indoor swimming pool... But, I need to find out if Sirius has a portrait in the London house, which I also inherited, from what I'm told. I want to move it to Potter House. Keep my parents' portraits company."
"Why not just commission two new portraits? That way, you can have one in both places, so he can move between both your properties."
"We can do that?"
"Yes."
"Why two new portraits?"
"He was my cousin. I'd like one for my home."
"Of course. We'll do that, then. Now, I just need to find out if there's a portrait in the first place."
"There more than likely would be. Do you just own the old Black house, or all of Sirius's property?"
"All of it."
"Then, you own the house elf. Call him here, ask about the portrait, and order him to bring it."
"He's... not the nicest house elf in the world."
"And rather insane, too, from what Dora tells me. We'll have to find out the cause of that. But, if you own him, he'll follow your orders. Just be sure you're precise about them. Plus," Andy said, looking at Luna, "we have someone who will make him more... agreeable."
Harry remembered how the House Elves at Potter House, Fig and Minnie, reacted to Luna, calling her "one of the Lordly Ones."
He decided to ask. "Luna, what's a Lordly One? Obviously, you're a Fae, but what's the difference?"
"Sidhe who are directly descended from the Tuatha de Danaan," she answered.
Andy added, "Most people in Europe and a lot of the rest of the world have their blood, but for most of us it's by way of a lot of generations of mortals. house elves, despite all the conditioning the Magi have done to make them subservient to them, recognize one of the old family when they see them, something from when they were brownies that the Magi can't get rid of. The Lordly Ones created the brownies. So, they are, literally, the gods of the house elves."
"Wow," said Harry. "So... How do I call Kreacher here?"
"Focus on your intent, which is for Kreacher to attend you. Then, call his name."
Harry focused, and said, "Kreacher."
With a crack, the house elf appeared, and was clearly not happy about being owned by Harry, if his immediate temper tantrum was anything to go by.
He yelled, "Kreacher won't! Kreacher won't! Kreacher wo..." Then, he noticed Luna approach him, and his eyes widened in awe.
She said, with a gentle smile, "Now, now... That's no way to behave towards my lover, especially in my home."
Kreacher was what could only be described as gobsmacked by this revelation. "The filthy Potter bra... Um, my new Master... is your lover?"
"Yes, and I assure you, he's not filthy. You, however, could stand to make yourself more presentable. You wouldn't want to be in a Seelie Royal Court looking like that, would you?"
"Kreacher apologizes... and will clean himself up, and dress more appropriately. If Master gives Kreacher his leave..."
"He has something he wants you to do, first." She turned to Harry.
Harry was stunned by what he was seeing, but remembered why he'd called Kreacher, and said, gently but with authority, "Does your recent Master, Sirius, have a portrait somewhere in the house?"
"Yes," Kreacher answered.
"I want you to bring it to me."
Andy said, "One more thing... Harry, you'll want to tell him not to tell Dumbledore or anyone else about this. Dumbledore is supposed to think you're at your relatives' home and know nothing about your inheritance from Sirius. He'll want to be the one to tell you about anything, so you and Kreacher will have to act as if you haven't had this conversation in front of him or his people."
"Um, yes," said Harry. "What she said."
The house elf replied, "Kreacher understands, and will behave so, and even stay filthy until it is safe to be a proper house elf, again."
"Good. Now, if you could bring the portrait?"
"Yes, Master," Kreacher said, then bowed and disappeared with a crack.
"Well... that went better than I expected," said Harry.
Dora replied, "Your girlfriend increased your standing with him."
Andy said, thoughtfully, "He didn't used to be that... big of a mess, and I'm not just talking about his appearance."
Luna said, "He's been through something especially traumatic. Harry, you'll need to be gentle and compassionate with him."
Harry replied, "That's what Hermione told me. So has Dumbledore. He said... Sirius treated him... badly, and Dumbledore thought that was part of why... Kreacher wasn't loyal to him."
"For once," said Andy, "I agree with Dumbledore."
Another loud crack signaled Kreacher's return, and he had a portrait with him.
"Sirius?" Harry asked the portrait.
"Harry?" the portrait responded.
"Thank you, Kreacher."
The house elf asked, "Will Master be needing anything else from Kreacher?"
"Not now. And again, thank you."
"I am at your service, Master." With that, Kreacher departed with another crack.
Sirius was stunned, and asked, "How did you get him to act like that? And why are you and everybody else naked?"
"Oh," said Harry. "He respects my girlfriend... This is Luna, we're at her house. Tinkerbell and her pixie friends are hiding my clothes."
"Ah, that sounds like them. At least you were at someone's home when it happened. When Tinkerbell and friends did that to your parents, it was at Kensington Gardens." Sirius smiled at the memory. "Fortunately, I had my camera with me. Your mother yelled, 'Don't you dare!' but she loved the pictures, later. So, that explains you, but the rest?"
"It's Luna's home, so she decided to stay naked with her boyfriend. And Dora was here, and figured she should dress like the rest of the house."
"And Andy?"
Andy answered, "I was visiting, today, and we were always taught to dress appropriately for any occasion. Seth, here, is always naked, since it would look silly for him to wear clothes."
"True. You're still beautiful, cousin. How did you get involved with my godson?"
"I'm determined to help him win this war, and live to tell about it."
"Thank you. Please tell me you're not planning to add him to your harem."
"I have enough lovers, Sirius. Besides," Andy added with the Patented Black Smirk, "I'm certain Dora has already marked these two as her territory."
"Mum!" Dora protested, "I'm not going to build a harem!"
"Dear, you are a shape-shifter from the Rosier line. Having many lovers is your destiny. Embrace it."
Luna said, "I wouldn't mind being Dora's lover. Would you, Harry?"
Harry answered, with his best imitation of the Patented Black Smirk, "Wouldn't mind a bit. Should have known she was plotting to seduce us."
Dora, whose hair was now redder than her blushing face, said, "I'm not..."
Luna smiled, and said, "Don't think I haven't noticed the way you look at Hermione."
"Hermione?" Harry responded. "Naughty, naughty, Dora..."
"Did you know Metamorphmagi, since they can be both genders, attract men and women, equally?"
"So, she's got a shot at my best friend, then..."
"I..." Dora said, even more flustered, "C'mon, it's Hermione! Of course, I look at her that way!"
"Good point."
"Heh," Sirius interjected, "I thought you had your eyes set on Remus."
"I did," said Dora, "but he's been being... well..."
"Remus?"
"More than usual."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yeah... And, I realize that... long-term, we're just not right for each other."
"Well... It's best to know that before marriage and kids. I want you both to be happy."
"Thanks."
"So, while I'm happy to see everyone and to be out of that house, why did you bring my portrait here?"
Harry answered, "We're going to commission two more portraits, so one can be at Andy's home, and one can be at Potter House with the portraits of Mum and Dad."
"Mmm... I'd like to be able to visit them."
"And, I'd like you, there."
Andy then summoned Jeeves to take the portrait and make arrangements. From there, Andy tested Harry's progression with Occlumency. She concluded that, while he hadn't mastered it, yet, his Occlumency was strong enough to pass casual scans. But, it would be best to build some defences since he'd soon be spending time with master Legilimens. Seth also had made some observations.
"Yours and Luna's magical energies have become intertwined," he said. "She released all of her energy to you last night to free you. You then returned most of her energy with the Grail, but gave her some of yours, as well. There is some of her in you, and some of you in her."
Harry replied, "That explains why I've felt so connected to her, today."
"Yes. Where your extra power comes from, and it's nature, it would be best for Andy to explain."
Andy said, "As I'm sure you probably guessed long ago, it relates to that scar on your forehead."
Harry replied, "The prophecy said Voldemort would mark me as his equal."
"He made you his nemesis. Do you know what the shape of your scar is?"
"A lightning bolt."
"It's a sun rune, actually. Whatever Voldemort did, and it had to be accidental, he made it to where you're now channelling magical Sun energy, all the time, and have been since that night. Jesus was called the Sun of Righteousness, so that will give you an idea of the type of power that Voldemort unintentionally opened you to, what's been pouring into you since you were marked."
"Sun energy?"
"Not literally, but what, in magic, the sun represents. You're always being filled with life-giving magical energy. It likely has a lot to do with why, despite all your experiences, you're such a good person, always wanting to help people."
"Hermione called it my 'saving people thing.'"
"And, it goes beyond just heroic rescues. Your nature is, when you see someone in need of help, you help them."
"Sometimes. I have to admit I get a little... self-absorbed."
"Understandable. We're just discussing your basic nature, here. You want to help and heal."
"Whenever and wherever I can, yes."
"Perceval healed the land. The world is in need of a lot of healing, now."
"And that's what I want to do, protect and champion those who need it."
"Like a true chivalrous Knight. You see," she paused for dramatic effect, "we're on a mission from God. And, we're going to see it through, no matter how many Illinois Nazis there are chasing us."
"I hate Illinois Nazis," said Dora.
"Illinois Nazis?" Harry asked, confused.
Luna explained to Andy, "Harry has many gaps in his education in non-magical culture."
"We're working on it, though," said Dora.
"I'm afraid I don't have that one to show him."
"We do."
"Oh, goody!"
Andy said, "Now, about building the extra defences in Harry's mind... Harry, you and Luna will be entering what we call your mindscape. That's where the events of last night took place, but this will be far more pleasant. There, you will be constructing defences and traps for those who would invade your mind."
"Ah... How will we be doing that?"
"It's your mindscape, so whatever you imagine will appear. Now, where did you do the ritual, last time?"
Luna answered, "In my bedroom."
So, the group went to their destination. After Andy complimented Luna's paintings that were there, they set to work.
Andy said, "Focus on your will. What is it you're going to do?"
Harry answered, "Build defences in my mindscape to block or trap any invaders."
"With that focus, your subconscious will already have the basics there for you. You'll just have to add details. Let's begin..."
Any concerns Harry had about his ability to get an erection on cue were resolved as soon as Luna pressed her body against his and began kissing him. Doing the same exercises they did the night before, he entered her, and they found themselves somewhere else.
It was a castile.
"Very good, Harry," said Luna. Perfect fortress for a Knight."
"Thanks. It's a little Hogwarts, and a little... I don't know what."
"And you already have a large wall and a moat. Anything you want in the moat?"
"How about sea serpents?"
With that, sea serpents appeared in the large moat, below.
Harry added, "And maybe some dragons patrolling the skies?"
With that, there were dragons.
They entered the castle, and added other defences, including animated suits of armor.
"How about a maze?" Harry asked.
"Oh, I like that," said Luna, and they designed a maze, with various things waiting to attack. Luna added a vicious killer rabbit.
"Mum had attack rabbits at home," she explained. "Anything else you'd like to have waiting here for unwanted trespassers?"
"Hmmm... Needs to be something that'll fit... Got one."
He motioned, and the mountain troll from his first year appeared. It lumbered off to find its own corner of the maze.
"He gave me a lot of trouble my first year at Hogwarts," he explained. "But, he's also the reason Hermione became my best friend, so I owe him, I guess..."
"That you do. May I design the maze's conclusion?"
"Please do." He was curious about what she'd come up with.
She motioned, and a passageway appeared. Looking through, Harry saw steps leading down.
"It's a downward spiral staircase," she explained.
"Where does it lead to?"
"Nowhere. At one point, it loops. They'll keep going, thinking it will eventually lead them somewhere. They'll have to pull out entirely, or they'll be stuck there, forever."
"Brilliant."
After they were done, and returned to the physical world, they finished their lovemaking, relaxed and chatted with Andy and Dora, cleaned up, went for a swim, ate, watched a movie...
Then, Harry saw something he hadn't seen in a while, his clothes.
It was time to return to the Dursleys.
"You know, I haven't worn clothes for two days," he said, "five if we count those three days in my head. I'd gotten used to not wearing them."
"Well," said Luna, "we'll just have to get you out of them again when I visit you, tomorrow."
Harry and Dora dressed. She pulled a cylindrical object out of a pocket and said, "Before we take you home, let me key you into my parents' home's wards."
Andy said, "It's the safest of safe-houses."
Luna added, "Not to mention the most luxurious."
"I am a Black, after all... You're always welcome there, Harry."
"Thank you... All of you, for everything."
Luna gave him a farewell kiss, as it wasn't goodbye.
"Until tomorrow," she said.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
Dora said, "Take my hand," and with that, they were away.
They arrived in his bedroom. After Dora left, Harry greeted Hedwig when she flew in through his window. He relaxed on his bed, and phoned Hermione.
"Harry! How are you?"
"Doing well. It's been an eventful week, and in a good way, for a change."
"What have you been up to?"
"I'll tell you all about it when I see you again. What have you been up to?"
"Spending time with my parents, and reading, of course..."
"Of course."
"It's a book by Dora's mum. She's Europe's leading Alchemist. I'm going to meet her, tomorrow. From her book, she seems fascinating, someone I could learn a lot from."
"I'm sure," Harry said, knowingly.
"Harry?"
"Mm hmm?"
"You sound... different."
"Like I said, it's been eventful."
"You'll tell me everything when we see each other."
"Promise. Your wish is my command."
"You'd better believe it."
"I do."
After they finished their conversation, Harry let his mind drift where it would. Where it happened to drift was to the teasing Dora was receiving earlier in the day about her attraction to Hermione. His thoughts then drifted to the two of them naked, with Dora acting on her attraction.
Naturally, this led to blood rushing to his lower regions, and the discovery that, despite the great sex he'd had, his body was still up for more.
Harry sighed. Despite how much he'd matured, he was still very much a teenage boy.