Albus wipes his brow with a hanky as he leans over a large ward plan of the place called Sanctuary. His own diagnostic spells are being added to what they've already discovered about the magic protecting the location.
The lead curse breaker looks at the updated map and swears, "Your information confirms it. These protections aren't arithmantic in nature, and they're using a magic system I've never seen before, combined with what might be Ancient Druidic, though there are precious few examples of those left. It's worse than the first Egyptian tombs we discovered. As at least there, according to our records, there were some weak protections we could throw shit at. This? Throw the wrong thing at it, and I doubt you'd even know you'd made a mistake. You'd be dead that fast."
Albus nods, "What about the one in MacUSA?"
The curse breaker, shakes his head emphatically, "I wouldn't even try to scan that one, as it is an active protection. This one is at least a passive intent based protection. Before you arrived, we brought in some volunteers, and asked them to see what's going on in the area. They had no trouble finding it, unless they had tracking charms on them."
Albus strokes his beard, "Would we be able to do that? Put a tracking charm on everyone trying to enter the area?"
"Supreme Mugwump, with all due respect. This ward is less than a year old. The people that made the ward still check up on it occasionally. How long do you think it would take for them to discover what we did, and retaliate in some way?"
Albus shakes his head, "I'm sure they wouldn't…"
"Dragon, a huge fuck off dragon that makes ours look like chickens scrabbling in the dirt. That's what they did when the Serbians tried to get clever. They turned the entire attacking force into nothing. The fire the dragon used, it melted the Merlin damned ground. Since then, none of the forces in this area have tried to be clever about stopping those magicals doing whatever they're doing. Those magicals also haven't pulled out the big guns again. I do not want to be here if you want to try and persuade them to bring out the big guns again."
Albus looks mildly surprised, "How did you know about that?"
"Who do you think got paid to investigate it? Curse Breakers, and we talk, share news, tips, and tricks. Keeps us all alive, as more than a few employers will neglect to tell you that a ruin has eaten three or four teams already."
Albus gives a disappointed sigh, before creaking to his feet and shuffling out of the tent.
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In Romania, Arthur Weasley cracks open a letter from Ginny with a smile. After reading the first line, his smile drops, and he gets up to leave Charlie's hut.
Molly looks up from the fireplace where she's knitting a pair of socks, "Is everything ok Arthur?"
Arthur nods, "Just official house business."
Molly smiles at her husband, "Well, don't take too long."
Arthur nods noncommittally, before he heads to the large communal lodge, and finds a chair in the corner to sit at while he reads the letter.
While he reads the rather lengthy letter, his smile returns as his youngest shows exactly why she was sorted into Slytherin, along with a desire to learn more about the muggle world. Something he feared none of his children would ever develop.
After reading the form, Arthur puts a couple of knuts in the stationary pot, and takes a sheet of parchment, and a self-inking quill, before penning a reply with the same formality at the beginning of the letter. He then goes on to say how proud he is of her for following her own path. And how he hopes she finds as much wonder and joy in the muggle world as he has. Finally, he folds the letter with the consent form, and carefully uses his signet ring, and a spell he's rarely needed to use, to place his seal on the fold.
With that done, he hands the person manning the bar a couple of sickles and the letter, before returning to Molly.
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Madam Marchbanks totters up the path from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts, not even pausing as the gates open themselves because of the Sorting Hat sitting on her head. When she reaches the front doors, they, too, swing open for her.
Tottering into the great hall, she makes her way to the headmaster's chair, and sits down with a sigh, "Are you sure about this?"
From the top of her head, the hat says, "Yes."
"You remember that once you do, it will break the treaties with the Ministry of Magic."
"I am aware, though new treaties can always be drawn up. But too much knowledge has already been lost to fear and time."
"Don't go looking at me, these old bones are too old to teach kiddies anymore."
"But your mind is still sharp. Maybe it is time for you to ensure that your knowledge is not lost to time. If only I could work out how those blasted Hufflepuffs disappeared."
"Why?"
"Hogwarts protections and amenities are powered by the magic the residents give off. No magic, and the school dies."
Marchbanks nods, "I take it, that's a literal death."
"Indeed."
Marchbanks smiles, "Well, I'm going to have a nap, wake me when people start to arrive."
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Tears streaming down his face, Harry tries over, and over, again to make himself enter the tree and fully claim his heritage. She finally leans her head against the tree in exhaustion, and looks down at the dress she's wearing. Hurriedly, he strips himself of the dress and throws it as far away from her as he can. Why can't he do this? Why can't she face herself, and find out who he is once and for all? They slide down the tree, headless of the scratches the bark leaves on their back.
Morgana crouches down in front of Harry, "Harry, is there anything I can do to help you?"
Harry looks up over her knees, "I'm not Harry, I'm not Brigid, I don't know who I am. And I can't face the tree, I'm scared mum. What if I can't do it before Sally-Anne dies?"
"Yvor, I know who you are. You are my child. Nothing that you do will ever change that. I will always love you, always. If you can't do what you need to do before Sally-Anne dies, then you learn to accept that, and you move on. Would it help if you took me in with you?"
Yvor puts their eyes against their knees and shakes their head minutely, "You couldn't. You are tied to another domain, and I couldn't accept your oaths even if you weren't."
Morgana lays her hands against their head, "What about Kate?"
Yvor shakes their head again, "Only I can enter this tree multiple times, as it's my tree. Every other tree here could wake on their own, and leave. But they won't because they don't remember being human."
"Yvor, why are you so afraid?"
Yvor looks up at her mother her voice a double timbre, "The tree, it's a test. The test really. It's a test of acceptance, can you face yourself and truly accept it. The year before last, you spoke about me wanting to be a Disney princess when I grew up. But I don't remember that. If I don't remember that, what else don't I remember? What if Shaun did more to me that made me forget who I am?"
Morgana pulls Yvor into her arms, "Then you learn and accept it. I am a past master of hiding from my past, but I have never denied that it's there, or that it's anything other than it is."
Yvor looks up at Morgana, "Who am I mum?"
Morgana lets her glamours fall away as she reaches down and kisses their forehead, "You are Yvor, as I named you when I claimed you as my child by blood. That is all that matters. Whatever your public name, or appearance, who you are will always be Yvor."
"What if I'm actually Brigid?"
"Then I would already know. I would have known when you were seven. You are, and you always have been, Yvor. Remember what I told you, be true to yourself. Who you are isn't the same today as it was yesterday, and you won't be the same tomorrow. You certainly weren't the same 5 years ago. Sometimes the changes are tiny, other times they larger. But there are always changes."
Yvor hiccoughs, "Where did you get that from mum?"
Morgana ruffles Yvor's hair, "Why you! If you must know, it was a book on Buddhism. I do have one last thing to say, just because my sister faced this alone, doesn't mean that you have to. I saw the training dummy, and I know that Brigid never had one. This is your domain, and you shouldn't be afraid of doing your own thing. Now, come on, you need to get the train, and Sally-Anne will be safe for the moment."
As Yvor is gathering their clothes, they ask, "Mum, am I male or female?"
Morgana looks at her child sadly, "Yvor, you took the women's oaths. Have you ever regretted that?"
Harry shakes her head, "No, never."
"Have you ever regretted not forsaking the men's oaths, even though you never took them?"
Harry opens his mouth to say No, but pauses, "Sometimes I think, but I need to keep them if I want to use a sword."
"Yvor, my child, do you think I have ever taken the men's oaths? Do you think Aífe did?"
Harry shakes her head, "No but…"
"Yvor, Aífe was born human. Remember that."
"I don't understand."
Morgana smiles as she pulls her glamour around her, "No, I don't suppose you do. But when you do, I think you will be ready to face your doom."
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After an uncomfortable train ride, dominated by both Harry's discomfort, and the knowledge of the fact that his discomfort is because Sally-Anne's life hangs in the balance. The mundane studies group trudge into the Great Hall, and morosely take their places at their tables. Not even noticing Marchbanks, or that everyone else seems to pause to look at her.
Dean Thomas, the other muggleborn in Gryffindor, looks absolutely lost without Sally-Anne around.
Once everyone has filed in, and is sat at their tables, Madam Marchbanks pushes herself to her feet and touches her wand to her throat. "Good evening everyone. Tonight I am here as the head of the department of education, and as the representative of Hogwarts, the school."
Daphne nudges Harry to pull him out of his internal anguishing, at the same time Marchbanks looks around the hall.
Once her eyes have completed a circuit Marchbanks says, "Would all of the adults, that are not students of the school, please form a queue in front of the top table, between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. Professor McGonagall, please take the head of the queue." As the confused adults start to move from their seats, she continues, "In a moment I will explain just what is about to happen. In the meantime, I wish to relay something I just learnt about this school. It is a living entity, and it survives off the stray magic given off by those who live in these walls. Would the 2nd year Hufflepuffs please allow some of your own magic out, as we do not wish for the school to die if enough students start doing whatever you've learnt."
Minerva looks up from her place between the two tables, "Madam Marchbanks, why are we all queuing up?"
Marchbanks smiles, "Why, you're going to be sorted. Over the last couple of months I have been going over the past treaties that Hogwarts has made with the various magical governments that have existed in this country, and the wider Great Britain, since the school was built. I have done this because the acting headmaster approached the Ministry of Education for assistance when it became clear that the headmaster would be absent for longer than originally thought. Though for you all to understand what is about to happen, you need a brief history lesson of the school. To that end, I will hand over to the sorting hat."
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Everyone's gaze shifts to the hat on top of Marchbanks head, "Well, this is an unusual opportunity. This is a brief story about my creation, and purpose. The story begins a year after the untimely death of Salazar the Slytherin, the witch, at the hands of his estranged son, Salazar the Bigot. Contrary to modern opinion,was not a bigot. As a witch, he had more contact with the common person than any of the other founders, and he spoke of caution and practicality when speaking of those magicals that came from that background. As the only education most of the common folk got was from the church, and even that was oral. Many young magicals from that background were taken in by the monasteries and convents, but the other three were determined to teach those the church overlooked. His son, who's only experiences of the common folk were when he accompanied his father, turned that caution into hate, and helped fan the flames that would ultimately see the magical communities split from the non-magical communities."
Marchbanks coughs deliberately.
"Right, this was a year after Salazar the Slytherin was killed. Helga the Badger, a druid, Rowana the Raven, a wizard, and Godrid the Gryffin, a battle mage, were all shaken up by the realisation that not only would they die, but it could happen before the school had fully established itself. After all, this school was set up to preserve the different traditions of magic, with all practitioners and students welcome in its halls. At the time, Rowana was the only one of the four versed in wanded magic, the only magic that the church approved of. It was in this meeting that took place a mere week after they received confirmation of Salazar's death, and the circumstances surrounding it, that they decided to create an advisor. Something that would contain their memories and personalities, as well as those of the leaders of the school that would come after them. This is also when they created the four houses, the house of the Raven, the Badger, the Gryffin, and the Slytherin.
"They also created an administrative position to deal with the day to day details of running the school, leading the actual heads of the school to concentrate on teaching their students as well as making the decisions that the administrator couldn't deal with."
Marchbanks claps her hands together sharply, "Thank you for that, and it covers one of the most important aspects of the schools history. The sorting hat was created as an advisor, and a judge of character, for the leaders of the school. Its job was to go through the candidates and pick the best suited candidate for the position that had opened up. In 1313 the leaders of Hogwarts signed the first in a series of treaties with the governments of this nation. In return for the government not interfering with the school, they gave the administrator more power to speak on the school's behalf as well as a promise of mutual defence. Over the next few centuries, other treaties were made that changed the administrative position into the position of headmaster we are all familiar with."
As Marchbanks finishes speaking, a silence filled by susurrus of whispered conversations spreads across the hall.
As the whispers start to rise into intelligible words, the sorting hat calls out, "As the advisor to the deposed heads of the school, I hereby declare the treaty with Robert the Bruce voided by the Ministry of Magic with the creation of the Board of Governors in 1817. All other treaties based on that treaty are now without basis. As I say it, so shall it be!"
Around the Hall the students and staff all look around, as though there's something they should have noticed at that proclamation. All except the most adept of the 2nd year Hufflepuffs, and the Danann's, who can feel the knots of ancient oaths slipping from around the school, and slowly more and more oaths come unravelled.
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"Minerva McGonagall, please come forward." The sound of the Sorting Hats voice rings across the hall, now clear and full of authority rather than the bag of old gargled gravel it used to sound like.
With her head held high, Minerva walks up to stand in front of Marchbanks. With a twitch of her wand, Marchbanks sends the hat to rest on Minerva's head.
On Minerva's head, the Sorting Hat speaks to the room at large, "Minerva the Cat, you do not hold any of the qualities needed to hold a leadership position in this school. If Loyalty and Hard work were the defining traits of The Badger, you would be first in line. Your abilities as an administrator may yet be needed, please stand to one side."
As a confused Minerva awkwardly takes two steps to her left, the hat calls out, "Severus Snape… Potions Master, you do not hold any of the qualities needed to hold a leadership position in this school. Additionally, your loyalties are further divided between the anchors of the past and your desires for the future. If you wish to follow in the footsteps of The Slytherin, there are many works in the Library he penned on the tradition of witchcraft. There is also a Pixie present in these walls that could teach you much about the magical side of witchcraft. Please take your seat."
"Skye Harris… Skye, please reveal yourself so I can see you, gently though."
Skye sighs as she turns around, "You know, I don't want this position."
"In the future you may find someone who is an acceptable replacement, but at this time the school needs its leaders. Please reveal yourself."
When Morgana nods, Skye sighs and lets the mist recede from her slightly. From her head, the Sorting hat claims, "Skye Harris, you hold the traits of The Raven. You are Intelligent, Inquisitive, and Critical in your thinking. Please take your place as The Raven."
Skye coughs, "Just where would that position be?"
"Why, under the Ravens window." Skye turns around and looks up at the stained glass windows, before groaning at the symbol at the top of each window. "This is why you are not The Slytherin."
"Filius Flitwick… My my, aren't you an odd duck Filius the Quick. Undeniably Intelligent and studious, you lack the Inquisitiveness and Critical thought processes that The Raven would require. However, your Insight and Canniness are perfect for The Slytherin. If only you were more Observant. Please stand beside Minerva, as your skills may still be needed."
"Bathsheba Babbling… Apprentice Runesmith, I'm afraid you do not have any of the traits needed for a leadership position. Though I would recommend that the Leaders continue to grant you oversight of a dorm, your sense of duty and compassion are ideal there."
"Morgana Danann, please take your seat, I do not want to go anywhere near your head."
Morgana looks at the hat strangely, and then it calls out "Kali, please take your seat, I do not want to go anywhere near your head." Laughing, she claps her hand on Kali's shoulder, "Come, it seems our reputation precedes us."
Kali shakes her head, "I do not know why I was even there. I am here to remind my chosen of Thaipusam, the festival celebrating Shiva and Parvati's son. I also wish to find her sister, and let her know my sister wife has invited her to the celebration."
From the Gryffindor table, Parvati exclaims, "No, no, no, you can't do this to me!"
Morgana chuckles, "I think you've just informed her. Don't forget to ask her parents to send written permission for both of them to be absent from school for that celebration."
Kali nods, "You speak with wisdom."
The sorting hat tartly says, "Can I continue without risking a natural disaster wiping out the school now?"
Both Morgana and Kali look at the hat oddly as they take their seats.
"Septima Vector… My you are very much the wizard aren't you. However, apart from your intelligence you do not yet have the qualities for a leadership position. Continue to grow, and learn from the leaders of the school, and you will have your chance again in the future. Please take your seat."
"Kate of Brigid…"
Kate looks around with a confused expression, and Pomona prods her forward, "That's you."
Nervously Kate walks forward, "But that's not my name, and I'm just your apprentice."
As the sorting hat lands on Kate's head, it says, "You are an apprentice in name only. Your patron has already provided everything you need to heal, you just need to believe in yourself, and them. Your past has taught you Compassion and Understanding where others would have grown callous or apathetic. Despite your own trials you still tried to protect your daughter and your patron. We shall see how Merciful you can be in your position as The Badger. Please take your place under your symbol."
Kate looks around, "Um, I can't be The Badger, I'm not good enough for such a position."
"Kate of Brigid, you are good enough otherwise I wouldn't have chosen you. You have the Strength of character needed to make your voice heard. You have the experience to know when no amount of Compassion or Understanding can justify Mercy. Finally, you chose to join Brigid even when you had other, easier options. Where you a student under my brim, I would be torn between placing you in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. Just remember to turn your Compassion and Understanding on yourself occasionally."
Kate looks lost as she slowly makes her way to stand under the stained-glass window with the sign of the badger.
Behind her, the sorting hat calls, "Poppy Pomphrey… Poppy the Healer, you are Intelligent, Understanding, Observant, and Practical. Once, you were also Compassionate, though you have allowed your time here to rob you of that part of your character. Out of all the heads I have sat on so far yours is the only one that has prominent traits for any of the leadership positions. Please join Minerva and Filius, your services may still be needed."
"Pomona Sprout… Pomona the Sprout, you are Practical and you have recently been taught Understanding. You also have hints of the Honesty and Forthrightness needed to become The Gryffin. Please stand with the others beside me."
"Aurora Sinestra... You are Intelligent and Observant, however those are not enough for the leadership positions left open. Please take your seat."
"Rubius Hagrid... Rubius the Kind, you do not lack in Compassion or in Practicality, however you are too Merciful to be considered for a place in the leadership. Please take your seat."
"Marie Danann..." Marie looks around and points at herself, "Yes that Marie. Marie the Lady of the Wild. It is through your Honesty and Forthrightness that you have come into your status, though you could stand to be more Practical. Please take your place beneath the sign of the Gryffin."
"Sybill Trelawney... Sybill the Prophet you do not have any of the traits needed for a leadership position. Though you are a true prophet, you are not a seer or diviner. Rather than pretend to see portents you would be better served teaching your students how to find their own inner sight, or how to tell those who are seers and diviners from those who merely know the trappings."
"Irma Pince... While you do not have the traits needed for the remaining leadership position, you do have the qualities needed in the administrator. Please take your place beside Minerva."
The last of the adults in the school are quickly eliminated as potential leaders for the school due to split loyalties, in the case of the auror's, or unsuitability, in the case of the other suitable staff.
Finally, back on Marchbank's head, the hat calls out, "Filius the Quick, please take your place beneath the Slytherin icon. Everyone, I present to you your leaders in the school. Each one exemplifies the traits the founders thought were necessary to make decisions for the school, The Gryffin, Practical, Honest, and Forthright, theirs is a difficult burden to bear. The Badger, Compassionate, Merciful, and Understanding, theirs is a difficult burden to bear. The Raven, Intelligent, Inquisitive and Critical in their own thinking, theirs is a difficult burden to bear. Finally, The Slytherin, Observant, Insightful, and Canny, theirs is a difficult burden to bear. These four have been chosen because it is in their nature to be these things, for no person can be all of them all of the time." One of the Slytherin 7th year students raises their wand, "You have a question?"
"Why do they have different traits to the ones traditionally associated with each house, except Ravenclaw?"
The hat chuckles, "Even Ravenclaw. The answer is, they don't. Do you not think it takes Courage to be Honest and Forthright? Do you not think it's Hard Work being Compassionate and Understanding? Do you not think it takes Intelligence and Wisdom to be Inquisitive and Critical of your own thoughts? And do you not think it takes Cunning to be Insightful and Canny? The original purpose of the houses was not to shape your future, it was to place you under the leader that would best be able to shape you and allow you to grow to your full potential. What is Intelligence and a love of learning, if it isn't tempered by asking Why?. What is Courage and Bravery if it isn't tempered by Practicality? What is Loyalty and Hard work without Compassion and Understanding? Finally, what is Cunning and Ambition, without the Insight to use what you Observe? Each and every one of you has all of these traits inside you already. But will people call you an Honest man? Or a Canny businessman? Can you be both? But enough is enough, I am the advisor to the leaders of the school, and they will have a task to complete on the morrow."
Marchbanks nods, "Elves, please restore the table of four."
As the table appears, chatter around the hall turns to what's just happened rather than dwelling on the Monster that could still be roaming the halls.