Happy Saturday, my darlings. Finally a weekend devoid of plans. So posting on Saturday. Usual legal disclaimer I own nothing. I appreciate your continued support, thank you for reading this story. Enjoy.
Chapter 6 The Enclave
"Portus," Harry activated the portkey. They landed in a snow covered meadow down the hill from a walled village. Shouts came from the figures pouring throw the gates. Some shifted into animal forms to move through the crowd easier and faster. An evergreen forest surrounded them. While they waited for the throng to reach them Marcus addressed Hermione.
"You obviously checked for the devices with wandless, wordless magic. But what was that noise?"
"Some of those devices allow them to listen in real-time. This gives them a nice second sting after the first one gives them a knock."
"Teach me? That could be bloody useful."
"Sure," they exchanged a fond look. Harry observed their interactions silently.
Annika and Balor lead the crowd gathering to greet them, "Welcome, Hermione. And you as well, Harry and Marcus," Annika said.
Balor spread his arms wide and proclaimed, "While you dwell among us our home is your home. Allow us to introduce the chief amongst the elders, Tore and Freya." He bowed to the white-haired man and woman that approached in front of several other elderly people. Hermione bowed in greeting as well.
The elders bowed in unison, "Greetings, honored guests. Please join us in the village," invited Tore.
The two lead the trio up the hill and through the gate. In the center of the village, they stopped outside a small wooden cottage. The entire place reminded Hermione of a medieval town. She loved the wooden and stone homes, surrounded by stone fences containing little gardens. She found the effect charming and relaxed further. Unconsciously, she threaded her fingers with Marcus's as they walked. He allowed it his only response a quick half smirk with a side glance, his face returning to unreadable stone quickly.
As assistants to the elders, Annika and Balor made all the hospitality gestures then stepped back for the elders to speak. Freya addressed them first, "This house has been set aside for your use. Tove will be available for cooking and cleaning. We know your magic can serve you, but waiting on the honored guest is a great reward. She earned this position."
"We are humbled by her eagerness," Hermione responded.
They looked pleased with her words, Freya continued, "This evening we will celebrate your arrival and the beginning of the festival. Starting at sundown we shall eat, drink, and be merry. At noon tomorrow, we will begin the fasting and meditations to purify ourselves and open ourselves to the universe."
Hermione nodded, "To clarify by fasting you mean small meals of plain bread and water?"
"Correct," Tore nodded, "the meditation path will take twelve hours, from noon to midnight. The next morning we rise, bathe, dress in our ritual robes again, gather and greet the sun to welcome the magic. We dance, sing, and revel for the day. At sunset we sing the songs our people have sung since time began."
Freya took back over, "Afterwards you may share the blessing to varying degrees, Annika and Balor will teach you. Know that it is a conscious process. You must wish to share the blessing, and you can control to what degree. A verbal blessing can be granted to a larger grouping, like a family." Hermione nodded. "The aims of our celebration are healing and happiness. You bore the brunt of battle to your detriment. Mother Magic guided us to select you for her blessings. You exit as you enter, owing no debt to anyone.
Tore picked back up, "The remainder of your stay is to allow you to relax as your body and psyche acclimate to any changes."
"I think that covers everything I wondered about. Guys?" Both men shook their heads.
Balor stepped forward, "Allow me to show you your accommodations."
"That brings up a question," Harry said, "may we explore?"
"Certainly. We truly mean our home is your home," responded Tore.
Freya nodded, "You will find most will invite you into their homes and be delighted to answer any questions."
"Thank you." He turned to Hermione. "Ready when you are."
"Lead on," she instructed Balor. Instantly Marcus and Harry flanked her. She slipped her hand into Marcus's enjoying how her smaller hand felt engulfed in his larger one. He continued to survey the area surrounding them, but squeezed her hand, bringing a small smile to her face.
The snow covered two story cottage reminded Hermione of the houses in her childhood storybooks. A beautiful blonde around her age waited in the first floor common area. Annika beamed, "Hermione, this is Tove. Tove, dear, this is Hermione Granger, and her guards, Harry Potter and Marcus Flint."
The girl bowed her head, "Greetings, I am excited to be of assistance. I have been practicing English recipes, so please ask for anything you desire."
"Thank you, Tove. Would you show us to our rooms so we can get settled?"
The girl lit up with pleasure, "Yes! This way. Let me show you around. This is the sitting room, dining room, and kitchen." She gestured to the couches, table, and stove. "The bathroom and backdoor to the sauna." She indicated the two doors on the back wall. "And this is my room and the first guard's room." She lead them to the stairs, carved into the front corner of the house. They curved up to the upper floor at right angles. "And this is the master room for Hermione and the second guard's room." She pointed to each in turn. "The master room has a connected washroom. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"Not at the moment. Thank you, we'll determine arrangements and get unpacked."
"Just call if you need me." Tove retreated downstairs.
Harry poked his head into the spare room, "Oi, Flint, someone designed this bed with you in mind, extra long. Objections to me taking the room downstairs?"
Hermione looked at Marcus who shook his head, "No, that's fine."
"Last question then, do you still sleep with all those security wards?" He rubbed his chest, remembering past pain. "I want to avoid nasty early morning surprises."
"Only when stressed or feeling unsafe. I'll warn you," she promised.
"Thanks," Harry clomped back downstairs.
Marcus looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "Security wards?"
"Hold over from the war. Too many nightmares and I have to ensure I'm safe."
"Do you have nightmares often?"
She moved her bedroom door, "Occasionally, when I'm stressed, or anxious, or some events trigger memories." She looked down, embarrassed, "I've had them a lot lately," she whispered.
Marcus stepped behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Have you had one since we got to Norway?"
"No, I feel safe with you," she admitted.
"Do you want me to stay with you? Provided the bed is big enough, that is."
"Yes, please."
He kissed the top of her head, "Excellent, should we tell Potter?"
She shrugged, "I'm on the fence, probably, but not this moment." She opened the door and stepped inside.
The large wooden box bed dominated the room, the panel doors pulled open to display the thick quilt over the furs. A cheery fire crackled in the fireplace.
"Looks like the bed is large enough," he remarked dryly.
"Large enough?" she snorted, "the three of us could share."
"Yeah, let's not. I like Potter fine, but not that much.".
"He's my brother in everything but genetics," she scrunched her face. She unpacked her things in the provided wardrobe, hanging up her assorted clothing.
"I'm going to put my things in the other room. No reason to announce private affairs to everyone."
"If you like, I don't disagree, but don't want you to think I;m hiding you." When she finished her tasks she returned to the common area. Tove greeted her warmly. Hermione acknowledged her on her way into Harry's room. She perched on the bed and watched him.
"Interrogation or confession?" he asked without looking at her.
"Feeling guilty, Harry?" she teased.
"No, but after you left Ginny gave me another ultimatum, her or you. I refuse to choose between people, so I picked not her. Told her it was over. I regret nothing. I feel nothing."
"She'll try to get you back," Hermione predicted.
"Things would have to drastically change, and even then I would be waiting for the other shoe to drop, you know?"
Hermione raised her legs parallel to the floor, holding her toes together. She examined her shoes before answering, "I do. I took Ron back and tried moving forward, but even if Veronica hadn't shown up pregnant, I can't guarantee we would have lasted. Any time he ran late, or went out with the boys, not you and Neville, that fear would have been there, was there, actually."
"Hermione, I'm sorry."
She wiped away a tear. "Not your fault. The worst part is that before I knew what she looked like, I found myself comparing myself to her. Wondering how I how I ranked."
Harry sat next to her, "I think you're better looking, kinder, smarter, and all over a better person."
"I think you might have a possible bias," she bumped his shoulder.
"I miss life before Veronica," admitted Harry.
"Sure, or at least the world that existed until I shattered the rose-colored glasses in regards to everyone's behavior."
Harry thought for a moment, "Bill, Charlie and the twins don't act that way. They never have. None of them act like everything should revolve around Hugo and Veronica, not constantly, weird that." Before Hermione could consider the matter seriously, Harry continued. "Okay, confession time. What's going on between you and Flint? And don't say nothing. I won't believe you."
"It isn't nothing. I don't know anything more than that. It is brand new and precious. I like him. I like how I feel around him. Where it goes from here I don't know. Life taught me I don't need all the answers immediately and sometimes the answers change. I, also, cannot control everything all the time."
"Do I get to threaten him?"
She rolled her eyes, "Sure, Harry, go ahead and threaten your coworker. I'm sure he'll be terrified."
"I'm more afraid of you." They both jumped and looked over to see Marcus leaning against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest. "Potter would be a straightforward duel. That I could handle, might win, might not. You have a reputation for, shall we say, creativity."
"My previous love life does not suggest I am a fiery woman scorned."
"No offense, by Weasley's brain ceased higher function the second he abandoned you. A fair number of hit wizards have seen you in action. They like to speculate what horrors await him when the shock finally wears off. Others think only fatherhood has spared him." She shrugged and he continued, "But back to the conversation at hand, this is new, we don't know what it is, and that's all anyone else needs to know. I suggest we go look around. Escape routes are useful knowledge."
"You're not wrong," Harry replied. He stood and offered Hermione a hand.
Tove requested they return before sunset to facilitate escorting them to the hall. They wandered up and down the lanes, looking through the shops and watching tradesmen working. "Like a medieval village," remarked Hermione.
"Very close, miss," the silversmith told her with a smile. "Like our veela brethren, we learned to adapt or risked dying out. Though it seems unlikely we will ever move any further towards the outside world." She nodded her understanding. He handed her a delicate clip and hairpin of a many branched tree with numerous roots. "For you."
"Thank you. This is Yggdrasil, yes?"
"The tree of life, yes." He smiled approvingly as she clipped it in her hair. "Wear it in good health."
When they reached the wall, they followed it for a time before turning back towards the center. As they walked they waved or nodded to the adults who greeted them in return, the teenagers that stared, and the children that ran up to them and then away. Once they made a full circuit Harry suggested heading back.
A cheery welcome greeted them. Balor, Annika, and Tove inquired after their exploration. "Tonight will be informal. We bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. The seasons turn and we celebrate both. Be aware some of us will be changing shape that can and will include other human forms. The forms of the honored guest and their guardians are forbidden, but ours are not. We will make no requests of you this evening. And no one will make demands ever. Anyone wearing our faces and doing so is untrustworthy," Balor explained.
Annika jumped in, "Not that we expect anything to occur. But we would be remiss not to caution you."
Marcus looked at Hermione, "You stay with me or Potter or within sight."
She nodded, "Good plan, safety in numbers."
The hall stood in the true center of the settlement. Built of logs the long open building had roaring fires in all three fireplaces. Long tables with benches filled the room. Mouth watering aromas wafted about on the light breeze. The crowd entering parted, all insisting Hermione precede them inside. She nodded her head regally, Harry and Marcus again flanking her. Freya and Tore gestured for her to join them at the table on the dais. They introduced her to the few elders and leaders she had not met earlier. Two of the younger members of the leadership swiftly took seats on each side of Hermione. Marcus glowered menacingly. One tried to bluster, but he ignored it. "Only with her permission," he rumbled. He turned his attention to her, "Are you comfortable with this?"
"If you and Harry sit on either side of them," she answered after considering it. Both guards sat wordless, neither radiating friendship on any level. Both leaders behaved perfectly during dinner, and once they realized Hermione would not be overindulging left once the drinking began. Marcus and Harry slid closer to her. "I'm afraid they both hoped I would be open to intimate liaisons. I am not." She brushed her leg along Marcus's.
"I should hope not," was all he said. Harry chuckled, "Something funny, Potter?"
"Nope, nothing," he gasped between laughs.
Hermione's eyes narrowed, "Harry."
"I'm sorry. I got a mental image of Ron's face if you told him some men invited you to an orgy."
Hermione stared at her oldest friend for a second before throwing back her head in laughter. "Ha, ha, his eyes would try so red and his face would do that thing."
"Right?" howled Harry. Several hamingja smiled approvingly at their hilarity. Even Marcus chuckled lightly.
Hermione wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I think next time he implies I'm not feminine enough, I'll tell him about this." She picked up the tankard in front of her, "But he's not here. So, let's have some fun, or at the very least a really pleasant time."
"We're working, so we have to settle for a pleasant time," Harry said.
"Cause you're usually such a party animal," she joked. She watched the people around them drink, sing, play music, dance, and go about changing shapes. Laughter overflowed from the hall. Late into the night, or rather early in the morning, the trio returned to their lodgings.
Harry bid the two a sleepy good night as he stumbled onto his room. Upstairs, Hermione pulled out light sleep clothes than she previously wore, "I'm afraid after the last few nights we're going to bake tonight."
"Since we've essentially been sleeping outside in an ice dwelling, that is possible," he laughed.
A jaw-popping yawn caught her by surprise, "Regardless those pillows are calling my name."
"Can one of them call mine?" he asked following.
"We'll see." She tucked her wand on the little shelf in the headboard. "Shutters open or closed?"
"Closed, even magical fires can drop low or go out." Marcus reached out and pulled them closed.
She never expected him to be such a cuddler. She suspected she would miss that when they returned home. She couldn't hold in the sigh at that thought. He pulled her to him, resting her head on his chest, "What's wrong?"
"Just realizing I'll miss this part of the day when we go home," she divulged.
"I'm sure we'll find time to cuddle," he reassured her.
"For a while. Then you'll get tired of my quirks and lose interest. Don't feel bad, everyone does at some point. I won't make a scene, I promise."
"What do you mean, everyone loses interest?"
He felt her shrug, "At some point even my closest friends kind of check out of life. They come back to some extent. Hell, even my parents decided they wanted a life of dangerous dentistry over staying close to me."
"Why do you think that?" he asked.
"Because my parents keep signing up for longer and further tours with Dentists Without Borders. And it is natural for people to focus on their own lives. My friends are starting their adult lives. Theirs didn't stop because someone stole mine." She sighed again. "I know my habit of hiding my pain doesn't help, but seriously, it is like no one thinks I have feelings."
He hugged her, "Have you considered your parents believe you to be so independent you don't need them?"
"I suppose that could be possible. I never considered that."
"Mention that you miss them, that you'd like to see more of them."
"I have, both directly and indirectly. I'm afraid they don't care, or perhaps are used to me bending to what everyone else wants. Just like I worry my friends won't pick me," her voice wavered. "This is the first time Harry picked me over anyone else. And even then part of it is because he objected to Ginny's attempts to manipulate him."
"He cares about you," Marcus rubbed her arm. "Carter told he and the minister objected to the original auror drawn. Potter demanded to replace them. He wants this to be the reward the hamingja intend it to be, not another obligation to others."
"That makes me feel better."
"Good," he paused, then decided to risk her shutting down. "Tell me about what happened with Weasley. I only know the rumors. Please?"
She took a deep breath, "We were engaged. Just bought a flat together. My period was late, like weeks late. We went to see a healer for confirmation. But we were wrong. I wasn't pregnant, just a fluke. Then she dropped the bombshell. Due to years of dark magic damage, I would need the assistance of potions to conceive, then other potions to carry the baby to term." She swallowed hard. He gave her a gentle squeeze. She continued, "Ron left. He just walked out without a single word. Like I didn't matter. That my pain was unimportant. As if he was the one told he had medical issues. He acted like the healer said never or impossible. She said planned and labor intensive. Ron isn't a fan of hard work without an immediate reward. He didn't come home until the next morning. He confessed everything and begged my forgiveness." She knew she was crying but couldn't find any embarrassment for it. "I was livid but the only thought I could focus on was I would lose everyone. The Weasleys would side with Ron because he was their blood relative. Harry was dating Ginny, he would side with her. So I forgave him. Not that it mattered, four months later Veronica Holmes showed up at the door proudly waving a positive pregnancy test. Being honorable Ron wanted to provide for his child, and Veronica would only let that happen as her husband. Everyone focused on the positive: a wedding and a baby. That slag got my home, my husband, the life I wanted. And I'm stuck with the life everyone else left me with: my work. Of course, I work long hours, I have no one to go home to, no one to go out with. My closest friends, the ones I see the most only talk about Hugo Weasley. And he is simply the most brilliant amazing baby of all time. I can only stomach so much before wanting to lash out. The last thing I need is being labeled the bitter shrew that hates an innocent baby."
Marcus began rubbing circles down her spine. "Well, going forward you're going to have me and my mates to come home to. Not literally, but we'll help you spend your evenings and your weekends when you want. And I swear to you no one will mention Hugo Weasley. Adrian's train wreck of a love life, but no baby talk."
"Thank you," she whispered. "Molly sent me a howler for not instantly inviting Harry and Ron. I can only imagine that disaster. How dare I suggest Ron miss darling Hugo's first Christmas,
or Harry abandon his fiancee? She'd have ripped me to shreds after painting me the villain. Instead, I'm a greedy ingrate."
"She's the shrew," Marcus growled.
"I have already decided to start distancing myself from the family. I won't abandon Victorie or her parents. I doubt the twins would let me. But I'm tired of being ignored unless I can be useful."
Marcus remembered something she said to Johann and himself. "Did Lucius Malfoy really try to bribe you to be seen with Draco?"
She giggled, "Not Draco, of everything Riddle forced them to do my torture haunted Narcissa the most. And she didn't even participate. I think it might have been watching her sister be crazy. Whatever it was, she'd fallen into a depression. Letting her help me after the war greatly assuaged her guilt. I won't say we're friends, but I like the woman."
"That was kind of you not many in your place would have helped her after all that."
"You'll note we do not advertise our relationship."
"True enough. We need to get some sleep. Long day tomorrow," he teased her.
"Full of self examination," she quipped back.
"And devoid of food," he added dryly.
She giggled and snuggled in, "Good night."
"Good night, Hermione." He kissed the top of her head.
A knock on the door woke them, "Good morning! Breakfast is prepared. You'll want to eat a good meal," Tove called.
"Thank you," Hermione called. She grinned at Marcus when they heard Tove knock on his door. Even without an answer, she returned downstairs. Knowing Annika and Balor would deliver robes shortly they dressed simply.
The quartet ate in silence. Tove prepared a full English breakfast to welcome them. She promised traditional Norwegian food in the future. A quiet knock announced the arrival of the assistants. "Greetings, we come bearing robes and instructions." Balor indicated the bundles in their arms. A simple white wool tunic and trousers covered with a fur cloak. They were expected to skip underclothes. "The Elders will lead us in seven hour long medications. There will be twelve minute breaks between each one. During the breaks water, bread and some vegetables will be available.
Annika and Tove joined Hermione to prepare as Balor walked Marcus and Harry through the process. The women braided their hair to keep it up and out of the way. When they departed for the meditation, Harry took point which seemed to be his habit, and Marcus stayed next to Hermione, moving to just behind her when they had to walk single file. The vibrant village felt subdued. Hermione doubted all of it was due to hangovers. Balor led them to several cushions in the center of the area. Nearby Tore and Freya waited to begin the ceremony.