Chapter 37
The Master of Water
"Thanks, old friend." Lyra said, softly brushing Burst's top feathers as the phoenix perched herself, on Lyra's shoulder. They had travelled a long way, covered thousands of miles, in a matter of minutes. Lyra found herself, outside the Governor's bungalow. She walked through the large iron gates that opened for her. On one side, the sprawling mansion opened out to the Pacific Ocean, in Plymouth. The lawns had several beautiful Horned Serpents, lazing by the shore. Another thing, Governor Gaunt, was revered for, his ability to understand these beasts, just like Isolt Sayre had.
The MACUSA guards outside the mansion, recognized her easily. After a short conversation, they led her to the Governor's study, as they went to alert him of her arrival.
Governor Demetrius Gaunt, was one of MACUSA's oldest members. He had risen through the ranks from junior aid to undersecretary. He had had a short and celebrated term as president as well. He was also one of the oldest members of the 27 Coven. He had been nominated to lead the coven, but had stepped down to let Tessra Jones take charge. He lacked the ambition or want, to be at the top. He was happier, being a part of the coven than its head. Frequently caught saying he'd rather live happily than take on the burdens of the world.
The governor was a gentle and kind man. Always willing to help and support people who needed it. A propagator of muggle and wizard co-ordination. He was usually, the one MACUSA turned to whenever they needed to send an diplomate to the president who led muggle America.
However, that didn't mean, he wasn't a skilled wizard. He, like Lyra, had been inducted into the 27, at a very young age. Mastered the element of water, in a matter of years, his love for Horned Serpents getting the better of him both times. He had majored in Healing and Arithmancy, and later joined MACUSA, to make good use of his skills. The 27 revered his knowledge, even Tessra would consult with him frequently.
Albeit, his family history and being a descendant of Gormlaith Gaunt, made him unpopular at the beginning of his journey in America. Demetrius Gaunt had proved to be nothing like the rest of his ancestors. In fact, he was more like, the extended branch of his family, Isolt Sayre, the founder of Ilvermorny. He himself, being a product of Ilvermorny. One of the handful of the coven, to have been picked from Ilvermorny and not AIMS. A rare endeavour indeed, for the coven who were sometimes bitter about their connections with the school.
Unlike the others, in the 27 Coven, who had not been keen on Tessra's pursuit, of Lyra as the new recruit to their fold. Governor Gaunt, had seen what Tessra had and managed to convince the rest. Lyra had of course, proved him right, by outperforming their expectations in a matter of years. Lyra recalled, her initial years as a recruit and just how kind he had been to her, helping her understand and learn things, that others refused to teach. He had seen potential in her, when others hadn't, and she had been thankful for it. She herself respected him immensely, having been on a few training missions with him. She knew how truly powerful he was, yet extremely humble about it.
"Lyra? I'm so sorry, to keep you waiting. I wasn't expecting you." Stated Governor Gaunt walking into the room. He looked much older, than the last time Lyra had seen him at the conclave, just a couple of months ago.
"I apologize, for upending your evening, sir. I realise, how late it is…but I am in need of urgent assistance." Lyra replied earnestly.
"Oh! I was just finishing a short project for Tessra. I'm sure she can wait a little longer. You seem to be pressed by something much larger. How can I help you?" He replied picking up on the desperation in her voice almost instantly.
Lyra licked her lips, wondering how much information she should divulge. However, Lyra trusted Demetrius completely, so she told him everything. About what her destiny had called for, about her discovery of Horcruxes, about Voldemort and his ties to Harry Potter. And of course, how all of this culminated in Mr. Weasley fighting for his life.
"This is a lot to absorb." Demetrius Gaunt said twisting his thin moustache.
"Can you help, Demetrius?" Lyra asked urgently.
"You said…it was a snake bite?" He asked. Lyra nodded. Demetrius remained quiet. He seemed to be deep in thought, his face was muddled by thoughts that Lyra couldn't understand.
"I would have gone to Tessra…but…your knowledge of snakes exceeds us all." Replied Lyra. It was a commonly known fact within the Coven that Demetrius could speak parseltongue. That was why his beasts were Horned Serpents.
"Very well…take me to him." Demetrius said finally. Lyra looked up at Burst, as the Phoenix understood what needed to be done next.
Burst flapped her wings as Lyra caught onto her tail. Demetrius followed her moves. In minutes, they reappeared outside the ward. Dumbledore and the Weasleys, were speaking to the healers, the second they saw them, they rushed towards them.
Demetrius straightened himself as he shook hands with Bill.
"This is Governor Demetrius Gaunt. One of the members of the 27. Master of Water." Lyra stated, introducing the old gentleman to the rest.
"May I see the patient?" He asked softer. Lyra nodded and led him to Arthur Weasley's bedside.
Demetrius studied the man and asked the healers for a more detailed report. They told him, the things they had already tried, which had all failed. Demetrius then stood there pensively.
"Can you help him?" Lyra asked unsure of what Demetrius' next move would be.
Demetrius looked up at her, his old eyes carrying a glint of hope. He nodded, removing his black gloves, twisting the platinum and aquamarine ring, which stood out amongst his other many rings.
"Now, I haven't used my ring in a while…but…"
However, the ring and his magic did not fail him. His movements were not as quick and snappish as Lyra's were, when she used her ring. They were more fluid, like water should be. He focused, on the task at hand, as his fingers moved through the air like he was playing an imaginary piano. Droplets of water seemed to manifest out of thin air.
To the untrained eye, this would seem like magic that broke the barriers of Gamp's laws. However, Gamp's laws, were based on the principal that something could not be conjured out of nothing. All elemental magic, was different. Be it fire, water, earth or air, all existed as atoms, it only used these atoms to conjure the elements, while the master's magic helped them control these elements once they manifested. Some theorised that elemental magic was flawed in cases where there was a vacuum. However, that was why the 27 had formulated their rings, made from elements that each member had a mastery over. Like Lyra's ring was made of bands of sulphur and phosphorous, two elements that when combined were known to create explosions of fire. While Demetrius' ring, was made of Aquamarine, a crystal that was known to have originated from water itself, millions of years ago.
The droplets of water, floated above Arthur Weasley's wounds, as the rest watched, the master of water work his magic. The minute the drops fell on the wounds, Demetrius used them meticulously to wash away the venom. Those drops were discarded. He then generated many more drops, which he let fall through into the gaping holes that the fangs left behind. Mixing those drops with the infected blood, he waved his fingers all over the body. Bringing the drops back out of the same holes, they had fallen through. At points, you could see them running under the man's skin. However, when brought back out from the puncture holes, those drops were no longer as clear as when they had fallen in, they were black. Demetrius had just pulled out venom from the man's bloodstream. Controlling the drops, in such a way that they would absorb every particle of the venom, that ran through the man's veins, purifying his blood. He repeated the process multiple times, until finally the drops of water returned clear.
Lyra watched Demetrius in awe, she had witnessed the other masters of elements at work, even Tessra herself. But none of them had been as graceful and magical as Demetrius.
Once he was done, he looked at her, with a small smile on his face.
"The water has done its job. However, it won't close the wounds. For that…we will need fire." Demetrius said looking at Lyra expectantly. Lyra looked at him aghast. She had never used her elemental magic to help heal anyone.
"I've never…" She began.
"It's alright, it's not that hard…" Demetrius replied, showing her how to channel her magic.
She twisted her ring carefully, activating its elements. Feeling the burn on her fingers, that she now knew all too well.
"Rub your hands…create some warmth…" He instructed as Lyra followed his movements. Her hands now caught fire as the flames danced on them gently. She had never seen that happen before. Demetrius used his hands to press the wounds to close.
"Don't be scared of your element's powers…" He said, directing her to place the flames over the wounds.
"Guide it…channel it…understand it, Lyra. Be one with it…only then will it be one with you. You are its master…it is not yours!"
Lyra watched as the flames burnt the flesh near the wound. It brought back terrifying memories of her brother's melting face. But the longer she focused, the more the wounds began to cauterize, until there was no opening left, just burnt flesh. But that was an easy fix.
"You've done well, my dear." Demetrius said smiling proudly.
The flames on her hands died away, not leaving her with any marks or burns of her own. Which in itself was a first. Usually, when she used her elemental magic, it burnt her fingers to a certain degree, she had grown used to it, and she thought it was normal. After all, she was playing with fire. But this was the first time that she had realised, that the fire she was creating was meant to help her, not hurt her. It was meant to be her power to wield. She realised; how special this ability truly was. She was supposed to control an uncontainable force, and not the other way around. This was the first time; Lyra had truly felt in control of her new magical abilities.
"Thank you, Demetrius." She said in mild disbelief, looking at her hands. He patted her back proudly as the healers took charge from there, repairing the man's other maladies.
The two of them joined the Weasleys and Albus. The healers soon declared, that Mr. Weasley would be fine and that perhaps they should all go home and get some rest.
"Thank you, sir! I don't know how I am to ever repay you! And Lyra…you saved Arthur's life…I can't even begin to…"
"Please Ma'am…it is our duty to help. Our magic is meant to be used for good…and we're happy that your husband is safe." Demetrius replied, shaking Mrs. Weasley's hand.
Lyra smiled as she watched Demetrius, console Mrs. Weasley. But her smile faltered when she noticed his blackened hand. What she hadn't seen in the dark ward, she saw in the lit corridor.
"Demetrius! Your hand, what happened?" Lyra asked shocked.
"A long story, my dear." Replied Demetrius softly, raising his blackened hand to look at it in disgust.
"Demetrius…?" Lyra asked worriedly. In a search for her own solutions, she hadn't realised that perhaps he had his own issues.
"That looks like a curse." Albus said carefully.
"It is indeed." Replied Demetrius, looking Dumbledore straight in the eyes. His gaze then fell on Lyra. He smiled in mild confusion, but said nothing.
"Can you not stop it?" Lyra asked hurriedly.
"I am afraid not, my young friend." Demetrius replied with a small smile.
"Tessra and Erasmus, were able to contain it, however…"
"Let's talk in your office?" Demetrius offered. Lyra looked horrified, but nodded leading the way.
"Do join us, Mr. Dumbledore. I believe this might…uh…concern you as well." Demetrius said intelligently. Albus nodded and followed them.
Demetrius stepped into the messy office. He tsked teasingly at Lyra about her disorganized office. Lyra waved her wand embarrassedly, sending things flying across the room to make space for the two men to sit. Demetrius settled down in a large armchair and began telling them and interesting story.
"Before you arrived tonight, Tessra had called for a coven meeting, a few months ago. She urged each of us, to look into your mission of finding Horcruxes. None of us, could believe, what she had said…such dark magic, should never have existed. However, we were to help find any piece of information we could gather, on Lord Voldemort." Demetrius spoke as the other two listened.
"—This hand…happens to be a result of that research. You see Lyra, what a lot of people do not know about me is…Lord Voldemort and I are related. The surname Gaunt is as unpopular in Britain, as it is in America."
Lyra raised her eyebrows at this revelation, she couldn't believe what he had just said.
"We're both descendants of the Gaunt family. I, however, did not share the beliefs of mine. Just like you Lyra, I was born in England as well, but I was spared from living my life by my family's pureblood rules. My parents died, when I was very young, so I was thrown into the care of my absentee uncle, Marvolo. I grew up with my cousins, Merope and Morfin, until I was ten. Then I received my letter, from Ilvermorny, and I decided to accept it. They had a summer habitation program for students who weren't American. So, I managed to escape Britain. However, my cousins, were not so lucky, because when I left, I took my parents fortune with me. Leaving them to fend for themselves. My uncle, wasn't much of a father to them. He was more concerned about his blood status being enough. However, your blood status, doesn't put food on the table, it does not raise your children. They lived of the scraps of their likeminded friends who revered the Gaunt name. Marvolo had a taste for the finer things in like. My cousins were raised in abject poverty, while their father spent whatever galleons people threw at him on wine, women and dark magic. When I heard Merope, had run away with a muggle boy, I was happy for her. Happy that she got herself out. I never heard from them again. And I never wanted to. That was until, the last time, Lord Voldemort gained power. I found out, he was Merope's son, born out a false union. You see my cousin, in her urgency to experience a life away from the abuse of her world, had crafted a love potion to make the muggle man fall in love with her, marry her, and procreate. And when the effects wore off, she had hoped, he'd stay. But he clearly, didn't. And she ended up dying at child birth."
"I continued to live my life without intimation of these things. I never bothered to check in. As you know, my surname haunted half of America as well. But I worked hard to prove them wrong. It was out of selfishness and self-preservation, that I decided it was best, to keep my distance from things happening in Britain. For a very long time, I managed it well. Up until earlier last year, when I received a letter from a department of the no-maj ministry in England. Stating that they had been trying to find me for years, they wanted to tear down the old shack that belonged to my Uncle Marvolo to make way for a wider road. But since his family were all dead, after a lot of digging, they discovered I was the sole Gaunt left who could sign off on it. I refused to take their money, hoping that this would be the end to all this pureblood snobbery. They insisted I visit the shack, before they tore it down. Just in case, there was anything of value there. They said it was procedure and I'd be doing them a favour. They were willing to pay for a flying ticket as well…I'm not sure why I'd need a ticket to use a broomstick…or what crazed person would even consider making such a long trip on a broomstick! At first, I had my reservations and I refused, but my curiosity got the better of me, I suppose. For I found an heirloom ring. It had been in the family for years, given to my father, the older of the two brothers. Marvolo, in his greed, had taken it from me when I was a child, stating it belonged to him as he was my father's brother, and that it would go to his children and not me. I picked up the ring, and left the house, feeling like, I had got what was rightfully supposed to be mine. However, the minute I put it on. I was cursed by it."
Demetrius, took off the ring from his finger and laid it on the table.
"I believe, this might be a Horcrux…I think Merope might have stolen the ring and passed it on to her son, something for him to remember his roots." Demetrius added shrugging.
"This…makes a lot of sense." Dumbledore said suddenly, as the other two looked at him.
"The first time, I met Tom Riddle, was at Wool's Orphanage. His mother had died, they didn't know who is father was. Apart from the fact, that his name was Tom Riddle on the child's birth certificate. No trace of him. All his mother had left him with…was a ring and a locket…which a man, claiming to be his uncle…I presume, her brother had come to retrieve. When the caretaker at the orphanage, had asked him to take the young child of eight, with him. He had yelled at her, brandishing "a stick" or his wand at her and telling her he was the heir of Slytherin and the child was a stain on their legacy. She of course, did not know what any of it meant. However, once Tom was at Hogwarts, he knew exactly what being the heir of Slytherin meant." Dumbledore stated putting the pieces together.
"You can keep this. I don't know, what to do with it…" Demetrius said giving the ring another disgusted look.
"What about your curse…?" Lyra asked softly. She had a bad feeling in her gut. She felt like, she already knew the answer to the question.
"I have lived a long and happy life, Lyra. Perhaps, it is time, I passed my post on to someone worthy enough to hold it." Demetrius said softly, smiling gently at Lyra. She shook her head in denial.
"There…there, Lyra. We must accept our destinies as the cards we are dealt. However, I do hope to see you again, my dear. Until then, stay strong, stay safe." Demetrius stated kindly.
Burst who had been sitting on her perch, flew over to him and sat on his shoulder. He stroked her long neck gently as if thanking her for her service. In a flash they were gone.
Lyra sat on her chair, not having the strength to move after the night she had.
Albus used his wand to lift the ring up and conjured a box to put it in.
"That makes two…" Albus said studying the ring in the box.
"Three…" Lyra said, leaning back in her chair, resting her eyes and placing her warm hands on them. Hoping the tears that had formed in her eyes would clear. She sniffed wiping them away.
"Regulus Black…seems to have been tasked with hiding the locket. Sirius found it in the house, his brother had left it to him. Thinking it would find its way to you." She said resting her chin on her hands.
"This is good news! Arthur Weasley has managed to recover Helga Hufflepuff's goblet…he traced it to an old muggle antique store."
"That's great! We can use the sword to destroy these things." Lyra stated hopefully.
"It's not so easy though…" Dumbledore replied calmly.
"What do you mean?"
"These are parts of his soul, Lyra. Can you imagine the pain you'd feel, if a part of your soul died?" He asked rhetorically.
"We can't just dispose them, as and when we like. We have to collect them all, and destroy them together. Decrease the chances of him finding out, what we're up to."
Although that made sense, Lyra hated being around those things. Each one somehow, felt darker than the other. And knowing how these things were created, somehow made it worse.
"What about the remaining two? The diadem and the last horcrux…?" Lyra asked wondering how they were going to figure out what the last Horcrux even was.
"I am working on locating the diadem. As for the last horcrux, I have a feeling, I might have made a connection after tonight's events. I will fill you in further, when I see you at headquarters later this week." He said, picking up the box that held the ring.
"Be careful with that thing…it terrifies me." Lyra added looking away from him. He nodded. However, he paused before leaving. Looking at her broken form, he felt his heart pinch.
"I must get back to Hogwarts, now. I'm sure your mother could use the help in dealing with that horrible Umbridge woman." He said looking at her as she just sat in her chair looking helpless and nodded absent mindedly.
"I'm sorry about your friend…" He said softly.
"He was one of the few to truly believe in me…to see me…before I could see myself." Lyra replied shaking her head disappointedly.
"Even the blind…can see how special you are, Lyra. Don't let the ones who have eyes, dictate your value. Their eyes deceive them most times." He replied looking at her gently. She smiled at him painfully. They shared a comfortable silence as he looked at her, like she was the most priceless thing he had seen in all his time. He then sighed, recalling his past idiocies that her face brought back every time he looked at her. The fact that he had missed out on his daughter's life, made him feel like he was the most awful and unforgivable person in the world. But when she smiled at him, it made the pain easier to bear.
Albus nodded at her and took his leave. Lyra looked at the closed door and sighed. Running her hand through her hair, she had a feeling, she would be needed back at headquarters soon. Before leaving her office, Lyra took many deep breaths. Bottling away her feelings, the best way she could. She decided to visit a muggle pub before going home.
AN/- Hope you're enjoying the story so far :)