"Albus, have you even checked the booklist for Defence?"
Albus flinches as the strident tones of Minerva's ire float up the stairs to his office. He struggles to remember what happened with the defence position…
As the door slams open, Minerva strides in with 6 copies of the schools equipment list, "Lockhart has put all 7 of his books down for every year, and you signed off on it."
"Minerva, my dear…"
"Don't 'my dear' me, you are supposed to review these book before you sign off on them. Have you even read these books?"
"But Lockhart is a Merlin Award holder."
"3rd class, you know as well as I do that a sufficient donation to the re-election fund will get you one of those. Now those books."
"Minerva, I've been…"
"Yes or No Albus, it's quite simple."
"I…" Albus slumps, "No, I've been running all over Europe with emergency meetings and trying to analyse the anomalous…"
"Albus, you are the headmaster of this school. Your first priority should be the students."
"I know, but…"
Minerva slams the lists on Albus' desk, "But nothing, this is your first, and if I had my way, only, responsibility. Last year was bad enough, with most of the students unable to understand Quirrell, but the only way this could be worse is if those blasted Harry Potter books were on the book list."
As the door slams shut behind her, the sorting hat says, "She's right you know."
Albus grumbles, "Oh you shut up!"
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Amelia, Mad-eye, and Rufus Scrimgeour stand in silence as Scotts turns off the TV and rewinds the video. Eventually Mad-eye says, "Well, she certainly left an impression."
Rufus looks at him open mouthed, "Is that all you can say?"
Mad-eye shrugs awkwardly, "What do you want me to say? She's one of The Morrigan's now."
A voice from behind them, surprising only Rufus and Scotts, says, "How about, 'We're going to report this breach of the Statute to the Department of Mysteries'?"
"Hello Croaker, did you enjoy the show?"
"That's not an answer."
Amelia shakes her head without turning around, "It is an answer, just not one you like. After all, you could have turned on a Television at almost any time since Christmas and seen examples of this. Though a dragon is on the extreme end of what's been going on. I've also been questioned by Dumbledore and Crouch about the effects of these things happening on behalf of the ICW. Finally, according to Clause 73, this is the Ottoman's problem not ours. We are just keeping ourselves abreast of what's happening."
"It is our responsibility if they are British magicals."
"Celtic, they are Celtic, and the Celtic people never signed the statute, and, so far as I know, are not part of our community."
"That's just splitting hairs, and you know it."
Amelia turns around, "Longbottom, it may be splitting hairs, but that hair splitting is all that's going to keep my men alive when you decide that you want them to arrest someone that can do that. They can not deal with this, and the only person that is rumoured to have ever done so, is missing, presumed dead. The same rumours that say that he also worked with the church, and led to several prominent witches and wizards being caught by the Inquisition on the continent before he moved to the UK."
Croaker is silent for a moment before he disappears, and then, when Amelia and Mad-eye keep watching him, apparates out.
Rufus sighs, "Do you think he'll take the hint?"
Mad-eye shakes his head, "Not a chance, but I doubt it will involve us anymore. Personally, if I was part of the ICW I would be designing an adjustment to the Statute to exclude Divine beings. Did you see in the Daily Star that Sidhe have been seen in northern France?"
"I hadn't, what happened?"
"A couple of churches have been completely frozen, along with all the worshipers at a midnight mass. No photo's, so it might be an idea to send them an owl to ask if it's true."
Scotts looks confused, "What does this mean?"
Mad-eye looks down at him, "Trouble. The Sidhe were a major problem in the UK for nearly 800 years since St Patrick converted Ireland to Christianity. That's how long it took for Wizards and Witches to find and destroy all of the Fairy Gates, except for the one they moved into what is now the Department of Mysteries. They predate even Flamel. All of this is easy enough to find out if you look through the right books, and struggle with the old language. Of course, it helps I was looking for the counter to a curse that a particularly nasty wizard was using in the 50's. Cost me my leg that one did."
"Did you find the counter?"
"I lost my leg didn't I. Of course I didn't find the counter."
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Padma looks nervously at Gringotts Bank as she walks towards it with her family and Kali. Occasionally, her feet start to tap out a rhythm, which causes her to pull harder on the mist to hide her magic. As they approach the doors, Kali looks down at her, "You can feel it, yes?"
Padma nods, "Um, Father. I'll wait out here with Kali in case Sue or Hermione come." As her father turns to look at her, she spins in place and taps her feet a couple of times.
Mohun turns around ready to castigate his daughter, before she does the spin. Then he looks more closely at her eyes, before nodding frantically, "That sounds like an excellent idea Padma. Why don't you take Kali for some ice cream in case we're delayed."
As he turns back to the bank, he does a good job of ignoring the 20 extra guards that are hurrying out of the bank. Or the worried glances they are shooting at Kali's back as Padma leads her to the ice cream store.
Once they're sat down, Kali says, "You can feel it can't you."
Padma looks up from the double scoop that she's using to try and distract herself from the song, "The song?"
Kali shakes her head, "The darkness. That's what's calling up your song. See the man in the black kurta and the walking stick, with the blond hair. Also the young boy next to him. The man is smothered in it, and light left inside him has no way to be shown. The boy, is grey, but there are dark roots growing inside him. If they are allowed to continue to grow, then they will smother his light as surely as that of the man beside him."
Padma shakes her head, "That's Draco Malfoy. However I can't see any roots, sorry."
"You need to let your magic sing, not smother it in fog. Otherwise you will lack warning when your song is about to overtake you."
Taking a deep breath, Padma pulls her magic from the fog and the world around them takes on a hazy grey fog.
"Everything is foggy?"
"Yes, you're seeing the way that the people and things in the area are affecting spirit of the area. The Tuuci Vastu. If you concentrate you can see the sources of this. When we lose to the song, we seek to destroy all that is impure. There are few who remain pure enough to avoid our wrath directly. I remember one such soul where some of those who thought they were doing my work called upon me to offer a pious scholar as a sacrifice. The scholar was so pure that his very presence burnt me, so I slaughtered those who sought to destroy such a precious thing, and released the scholar. There are things in that building that will stain the souls of any who come in contact with them."
While trying to focus, Padma asks, "Why haven't I seen this fog before?"
Kali laughs, "In the mountains, where nature is pure and mostly untouched? Or at the shrine, where you keep your magic shackled while we receive sacrifices? Or maybe at your home, where you again keep your magic smothered?"
Padma frowns, "I guess I asked for that. Sorry."
"It's quite alright, you are young. I don't know of any other Sura other than Lord Shiva who view the world the same way either. Of course, that doesn't mean there aren't any, as many of them avoid me."
It's around 20 minutes after Padma started trying to see more details that Hermione calls, "Padma!" and runs over with Sue Li. Beside her, Kali clenches her fist and Padma looks between her and her friends.
Holding her hand up, Padma says, "Girls, one moment. I'd like you to meet Kali. I'd also like you to stop hiding your magic, just a little. Um, Kali can't see you properly. Oh, and if Kali loses it, head into the mist and don't look back."
Sue does as asked, however Hermione asks, "Why do you need us to do that?"
Kali answers herself, "Because I cannot see your light when you do, so the song rises and demands that the darkness be expunged from your being."
Padma nods, "She's serious, please, just do it."
Hermione's eyes widen slightly at the sight of Kali's fangs, and she quickly, completely, releases her own magic. Kali settles down a little, but not back to the level she was at before. Though, Padma doesn't notice, "Hey you two, how has your holiday been? And have you heard from the others?"
Hermione smirks, "Daphne's been caught on TV multiple times, along with Dora, Airmed, and I think Daphne's family, though I've never met them. Looking at the two of you, you were mentioned in the Times once." When everyone stares at her she looks around, all innocent, "What? Mum and Dad joined a medieval martial arts group, and I was bored out of my mind when they stopped me being in the ring for more than 10 minutes at a time. Morgana and Harry pushed us far harder than they did, and they've made us really learn how to use a spear. I mean, I got told off the first time I laid someone out with the butt of the spear after they got through my guard."
Sue looks pained, "I remember the first time I thought I got past Morgana and she just slipped the butt between my legs and down I went."
Hermione nods, "The only other spear I saw there was probably just under twice as tall as the person wielding it. Anyway, just to change the subject, um, the book list. I may have come here the same day we got them, and well. Don't buy the defence books, Marie would probably pat me on the head, but they're ok for history books, maybe."
Sue holds the back of her hand against Hermione's forehead, "Well, you're not sick."
"Sue!"
"Says the person was absolutely insistent that everything written was true."
Hermione pouts, "It was really unfair of Marie to print out that stuff on Dihydrogen Monoxide. I even checked out some of the names listed."
While Padma is muttering under her breath, Kali asks, "What is Dihydrogen Monoxide?"
Hermione smiles broadly, "I've got the print out here if you want to read it. It's only 10 pages long."
Kali shakes her head, "I do not know how to read, only do."
Hermione starts to tear up, "I can try to teach you if you want, though I only know English, French, Spanish, and German. And I'm not very good with Spanish or German. What!? I learnt French because we have a holiday home over there, though I missed going to France this year as we always go for Christmas and the first two weeks of Summer. We also used to go for odd weekends. Oh, and I learnt German because our holiday home is near the border. And my Primary school taught Spanish."
Sue shakes her head, "Thank the gods you're in Ravenclaw, I dread to think what it would have been like if you were in Gryffindor."
Hermione mumbles, "I was going to insist on going to Gryffindor."
As Padma's family comes out of the bank, they all get up and do their shopping until Kali abruptly lunges at someone before Padma pulls her into the mist, and back to Nepal.
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Harry sits with a wooden lap-desk and a stack of well wishes that came in for his birthday. He's been trying to write replies to them for the last couple of weeks, since they were found in the courtyard at home. However, he's managed to write two, as his attention has been on Kate as she struggles to find the branches she needs for her circlet.
With a sigh he puts the desk to one side and looks over at the woman he named sister. Her skin is now thick with callouses that look more like wood than they do skin and he can see the effect growing as he watches. On the floor under her hand is the completed circlet, lying where she fell from exhaustion. On the grass beside her is Marianne, also asleep, tear tracks visible as white lines down her cheeks.
A gentle hand touches his shoulder, and he looks up at Marie as she hands him a glass of water.
"How is she?"
"Bad, her eyes… her eyes and mouth have sealed shut now. Why couldn't I say no?"
Marie takes a deep breath, "I don't know, honestly I don't know. I don't envy you or Morgana. You have the power to change so much, yet in many ways you are less free than most of he people in the UK."
Harry laughs humourlessly, "Yeah, I sort of understand why the Greek myths had the gods throwing tantrums all the time. At least this aspect of it is likely to become easier to manage as I get more chosen. Mum's told me about setting impossible challenges for some of those who requested to be with her. Do you know the worst thing?"
Marie shakes her head, "No, go on?"
"Now that I know about this, there's no shortcuts for people with their own magic. I wish I'd just gone with mum's method."
"Do you really?"
"Sort of yes, as it would mean that if any of my friends wanted to join me I wouldn't be endangering their lives. Sort of no, because they have four chances to back out once it starts."
"Can't you just use the oath with them?"
Harry shakes his head, "I can't even find the words anymore. I've tried. I think that this brought Brigid and I closer, well her memories and the echo of her personality."
Harry looks up at the lightening sky, "Marie, could you take Marianne home, or to the cottage. It's almost time."
Once they're alone, Harry watches as the sky brightens from the red of the predawn to the vibrant blue, and the yellow of the sun just cresting the horizon. As the first rays of sun brush her skin, Kate wakes up and sluggishly pushes herself to her feet before turning to face the sun.
As Harry bends down to pick up the circlet, he can already see Kates skin trying to join her legs together, so he calls loudly, "Kate! Kate! I need you to concentrate and remember who you are. Bend down so that I can give you your Circlet."
It takes her several minutes to react, but eventually Kate leans down and Harry works the circlet over her head until it sits snugly in the groove that was left when she took it off yesterday.
"Come on Kate, remember what you wanted. We need to get into the forest and the tree. I don't want to lose my new sister before I got to know her."
After much cajoling, Kate lifts one leg with the sound of tearing wood and allows Harry to lead her by the hand, one ponderous step at a time. As the sun climbs to its zenith, they make it to the edge of the forest, where they pause as the cool shade causes Kate to shy away and seek the warmth and light of the sun again.
It takes far far to long for Harry to persuade her to move again, to remind her of who she is, and what she wanted. To remind her of her daughter, and that if she doesn't do this, she'll never be able to hold them again.
Eventually, they reach the first tree as the sun has already breeched the horizon. Anxiously, Harry watches as Kate lifts her hand up to touch the tree, a strange trick of the layout of the forest allowing the last rays of the sun to illuminate the tree.
As the sun shrinks down to the merest sliver Kate slows down more and more. Finally, as the sun slips down the horizon, she stops and nothing happens.
Broken, Harry collapses against the tree and starts to cry. As he does, the tree seems to reach out and embrace him. At the same time Kate is slowly, and inexorably, pulled into the tree. As it does Harry's mind is filled with memories of Brigid walking into this tree with her chosen, and later returning, sometimes with a chosen, but most of the time alone.
Finally, he remembers when the land first formed, and Brigid was alone. Her son dead, and her husband disgraced and exiled. There she collapsed, unmoving for 10 years as the tree grew around her. It wasn't until the cries of the needy reached her from the mortal world that she stirred.
With a cry, Harry wrenches himself free and sprawls onto the loam of the forest. Turning over, he looks at the tree in horror as he sees his choice in stark relief. He's still lying there when first Marie, and then Morgana comes to find him. As she easily picks him up, he whispers, "She was alone here for 10 years."
Morgana nods, "That's why she's my sister. My husband adopted her as his daughter by blood after that too. We both promised that she would never have to go through something like that alone. I don't know what's scared you so much, but I promise that if it is within my power, you will not go through it alone. You are my son, or daughter, and I will be here for you if you let me."