Runes and Rituals
30th of June, 1998.
Golrii and Yolliz were flying around happily in the soft morning breeze. They landed on the dewy grass and wandered together. They knew the humans who would decide if their pack could come were on their way. They could smell how nervous Krinahkro was. He was walking around with the young elves telling them how to care for dragons. He was using Dragon Tongue as well as English because he wanted them to learn. Draco was sitting not that far away. He had figured he could be both moral support and show these people that it wasn't just Kato who could speak to dragons. He assumed that might be beneficial.
Harry had opted to show himself as Kato in case the Ministry employee wasn't trustworthy. He wasn't that worried about the member of the MacFusty Clan that was coming. They had no connection to the Dark Lord or anyone else unseemly. They simply took care of their dragons.
The wards pinged and Kato finally stopped pacing. He straightened up and looked towards the house. He had asked Winky to escort them out. "Welcome to Ennerdale," he said with a deep bow as they reached him. "I am Kato Peverell, the owner and proprietor of this Sanctuary."
"Meghan MacFusty," the taller of the two said. "My family has run the MacFusty Reservation for generations. I see you already have dragons here."
"We have all the necessary paperwork to keep these two no matter our location. I can have copies presented if you wish," Kato said. He could tell that the Ministry employee was already itching to bear down on him. He had gotten one of those types it would seem. He snapped his fingers and told Winky what he needed.
"Marcus Spaark of the Dangerous Creatures Division," the ministry employee introduced himself. "What makes you qualified to keep dragons?"
"Simply put I understand them," Kato said. He held his arm out and called, "Het!"
Golrii came flying over. He shrank and landed on Kato's arm. He studied the two who would decide his pack's future. "Rek los dovah fron, she is dragon kin. Rok, he is a rat," he said. "Golrii does not like him."
Kato rolled his eyes.
"Dragons are not pets," Mrs MacFusty said.
Kato shrugged. "I'm not so much their Master as a high-ranking member of the pack," he said.
"They also don't live in packs."
"These ones do," Kato said. "I believe it might be because they are quite small in comparison to their brethren. They need numbers to survive. The pack we found has lived in a cave below ground for centuries. If they weren't a pack before that they would have killed each other or evolved."
Meghan nodded slowly. "A fair assessment," she said. She drew her wand as she walked further in. "The young man, who is he?" she asked.
"That is my apprentice," Kato said.
"He is learning how to handle dragons?" Meghan asked.
"Not necessarily. He is leaning towards becoming a Healer," Kato said.
"Meaning you are a Healer?" Meghan asked.
"Among other things. My resume is a rather long one," Kato said.
"You warded the property yourself?" Mr Spaark asked.
"The goblins laid the ground wards then I have added on top of their work," Kato said. "I have their paperwork as well as my own ready for you."
Mr Spaark huffed as he went back to looking around while also glaring at the dragons. If goblins warded the property it wasn't likely that he could find any faults with it. They wouldn't even have anyone to send who could find faults with it. It annoyed him that everything looked so perfect.
"Goblins are very expensive," Meghan said. "You must hold significant wealth to hire them."
"That is neither here nor there," Kato said. "I'm a member of Clan Alfknif. In-clan prices differ a great deal from out of clan. We deal a lot in favours, and they are invested. The money we could make from freely given Crystalback scales will be significant. Not to mention what they might allow us to harvest after their deaths. I haven't spoken to them about that yet though."
"How long do they live?" Meghan asked.
"We don't know," Kato said. "Since they have been living underground for so long they don't have any time perspective but generations; unfortunately we haven't found anything else down there that says exactly when they got locked in either."
"From experience, smaller dragons tend to live longer," Meghan said. "It doesn't differ much in our known species, but Ironbellies have the shortest lifespan I know of."
Kato nodded slowly. He didn't find that strange at all. He was wondering how introducing the Jill would affect things eventually though. Introducing a dragon that could live for thousands of years to a world that wasn't used to it might be disastrous.
"I would like to see how you do with our dragons before I turn in my assessment," Meghan said. "I can see that these dragons are different from ours, but I need to know that you can handle our Hebrideans."
"Can do as soon as Mr Spaark is done with his assessment," Kato said.
Meghan looked at the man from the Ministry. "He didn't seem like the friendly sort," she said.
"The Goblin Nation will override the Ministry if they have to, but I'd rather not step on their toes quite so badly," Kato said, making Meghan laugh loudly.
Mr Spaark returned to Kato with his clipboard. "Well, everything seems to be in order though I don't see why they have access to the lake. Wards are extremely hard to place in water.
"My property line reaches into the water. There was no problem for the goblins to place the sanctuary wards," Kato said calmly. "If we return to the house I can give you the paperwork and answer any questions you may have." He led the way back to the house and took them to his study. He handed a folder to Mr Spaark. "Everything is ordered in there," he said. "Is there anything else?"
"Not as of right now," Mr Spaark said. "If we find something we will be in touch."
"And when can I expect to know if it is alright for me to bring dragons in?" Kato asked.
Mr Spaark straightened up. "We at Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures have a lot to do. You will have an answer when you get an answer, sir," he said.
"I see," Kato said calmly. It would seem he might have to send a strongly worded letter to someone. He would figure out who in time. He led Mr Spaark off the property before returning to Meghan MacFusty. "You wanted to see me in action ma'am?" he said.
"That I do, lad," Meghan said. "We can apparate from here?" she asked.
"Go ahead," Kato said. His familiar walls gave way to beautiful rolling hills. He breathed in deeply. The Scottish hillside reminded him of Whiterun Hold.
"Good yer back mum."
A man about Kato's age walked up to them in one hand he held the reins of a big black horse and in the other a bucket.
"Need help?" Meghan asked.
"Could do. Drew is elbow-deep in problems and da is busy," he said. Then he motioned to Kato. "So who's this schmuck? Looks like a clown."
"This is the one they wanted me to take a look at," Meghan said. "I want to see how he does with our dragons."
"He'll get toasted out there mum. You sure?"
"He'll do fine," Meghan said. She looked at Kato. "Do you ride?" she asked.
"I do," Kato said.
"Bring my horse and the roan?" Meghan told her son.
He looked like he wanted to argue but thought better of it.
"Sam has a heart of gold but he's slow to trust," Meghan said.
"I don't need him to trust me. I need to show you that I know how to handle dragons." Kato said. He turned as Sam came back and dumped a saddle in front of him. He shook his head in amusement. He took the reins to the horse calmly. "Let's go for a little run, you and I," he said in Tamrielic. He started running and the horse followed. Eventually, he moved back and pulled himself up on the horse's back. He caught up to Meghan and Sam.
"You're a real show off," Sam said.
"Sometimes," Kato said. "Sometimes I just do what is necessary and it looks showy."
They reached the top of a hill. From there they could see for miles. In the distance, dragons flew around. "How many dragons do you have?" he asked.
"Fourteen at the moment. Though I'm hoping there are a few more on the way. Since they are so aggressive we only have a few at a time. They kill each other young, unfortunately," Meghan said.
"A shame," Kato said. "But there is little that can be done about it."
"We try to guard the young a little but their mothers aren't too interested in our help," Sam said.
"They might not know that you are trying to help," Kato said.
They were still moving. Dragons were flying around overhead now. They didn't seem too interested in the humans below. They crossed over another hill and a dangerous scene unfolded before them. A man was standing between two roaring dragons. One was guarding a nest of eggs against a steep hillside. The other was spreading its wings wide.
"Mum, what do we do?" Sam asked.
"Stay back," Kato said. He jumped off the horse and started running. "Hon zu, hear me great dovah!" he called.
"Bovul muz, flee human or feel my bah, wrath," one dragon roared.
"I do not faas, fear you great one. I have krii, felled many dovah," Kato called. "I do not wish to krif, fight you."
"Prove yourself muz wo tinvaak, human who speaks," the dragon said.
"Drem yol lok, zu'u Krinahkro," Kato said. "Yol Toor Shul!" A cloud of fire headed for the dragon who moved aside. She had not expected this human to breathe fire with such intensity. She raised her head and returned his greeting. He did not move. "Speak Krinahkro," she said. "My kiir, child will not listen to me. Her clutch is doomed."
"Why is it daanik, doomed?" Kato asked.
"The father is dur, cursed," the dragon said.
"Ni ful, not so," the daughter growled.
"None of his clutches make it."
"That isn't his fault. He is the strongest."
"May I check?" Kato asked. "I can tell if the clutch is cursed."
The dragon lying curled around her eggs puffed smoke at him. "You may approach, but do so slowly," she said.
Drew had taken off running towards his mother and brother as soon as he noticed the dragons' attention turning to this new human. "Who the heck is that guy?" he asked Meghan as he reached them.
"He heads the Ennerdale Sanctuary," Meghan said.
"Will he be a problem?" Drew asked defensively.
"He cares for a breed of dragon that is very different from ours. All I can see is an opportunity to learn," Meghan said.
"What could he possibly teach us?" Sam asked.
"How to speak to them," Meghan said. She had heard rumours of course, but she hadn't been inclined to believe them. Now she could see with her own eyes as Kato Peverell calmed down two angry dragons and was let close to the clutch of eggs. The dragon watched him intently but did nothing else.
Kato rose back up. "There is a defect in the shells of the eggs. It doesn't affect the little ones inside, but they need a lower temperature around them. Don't blow yol, fire on them as long each time you do and they will be fine," he said.
"No curse," the mother-to-be asked.
"None," Kato said. "If the father is the reason for the defect, the mothers have been toasting their own hatchlings because of the thinner shells. They have died because of the heat."
"I will be careful."
"Good luck and may your little ones grow strong. Kaan koga hi, Kyne bless you." Kato backed off slowly before heading back to the others. He told them what had been going on.
"We'll have to keep an eye on that then," Meghan said. "You know your dragons. Will it only be you who cares for them?"
"No, Charlie Weasley will be joining me. He is studying them in their current habitat and I am training two house-elves to help us as well. In time there will probably be more."
"I will give my verdict to the Ministry. You can expect a response in a few days' time," Meghan said.
"Thank you," Kato said with a bow. "I will leave you to it. I have many other things to prepare for."
8th of July, 1998.
Kato moved slowly as he finished drawing an Octogram on the ground. On each point and dip, he placed one of his gemstones. The entire star was made of runes Dragon, Nordic and Celtic. He and Bill had worked hard to get everything ready. He had been working for three days to get it done without exhausting himself.
Bill arrived and Kato walked over to him. "Done?" he asked. "Looks good. Fleur is getting some snacks ready then she'll be over."
"How is she doing?" Kato asked.
"The baby is kicking a lot," Bill said with a wide smile on his face. "They are driving her up the wall."
"What did the Healer say last time you went?" Kato asked.
"That everything looks good. I got the feeling that Fleur prefers your checkups," Bill said. "She is still set on stepping in to help if little brother doesn't show."
"Which brother," "could that be, Bill?" Fred and George asked as they appeared with the original Quidditch team. "We filled them in Kato." "Might have some questions later, but everyone is caught up and ready to roll."
Hermione and Neville showed up next. Kato had made sure that everyone involved worked well with him. Tracy Davis and Daphne showed up together. The two of them spent a lot of time together and Tracy cared a lot about Astoria, she was aiding in the inner circle.
Hermione walked around the star looking at the runes. When Harry had first shown her the Dark Mark she had asked him if he could make something similar. Now she had proof that he could. She knew Bill was part of the process, but most of this was Harry's doing.
"So this will cure my sister," Daphne said.
"And make sure that the curse does not continue in you," Kato said.
"You have a strange gathering of friends, Kato Peverell," Tracy said.
"I'd be glad if you didn't speak too loudly of that," Kato said. "I'm doing this to help Astoria. Her health is more important than my secrets, yet I would like to keep them for a while longer."
"As you wish," Tracy said. "We'll figure it out eventually."
"Not too late are we?"
Kato smiled as Charlie showed up with Fleur and Draco. "Not at all," he said. He walked up to Charlie and kissed him. "You're right on time," he said. Then he took a step back as a blue and green blur jumped at him from within Charlie's shirt.
"Monah!"
Kato laughed. "Hello little one," he said. "Have things been good with Yolfronin?"
"Qozul has missed monah, but bormah is fun to be with. The caves are big, but the dovah really want to see the sun," Qozul said.
Kato was smiling brightly and he hadn't missed what Qozul called Charlie either. He carried his little dragon with him as he started placing people where they needed to stand. He was matching them with the runes and the gemstones as well as how their magic flowed with those nearest them. Hermione and Neville stood nearest Draco since they had accepted his change and he had apologized for his behaviour. Fred and George stood opposite their older brothers to balance the ritual.
Everette arrived with the rest of his family. Astoria looked nervous but determined. They walked up to Kato and he showed them where to go. Lastly, he took his own spot.
The first part of the ritual was entirely in Tamrielic so only Kato knew the words. "By the blessing of mother Kyne and the strength all those gathered here cure this innocent child of what ails her," he chanted. "Nol fin Brom, from the North the icy winds of change bring their blessing," he said.
"Naal koga ven," Charlie, Bill and Draco repeated.
"From the South the rains that give and take give their blessing and take away the curse."
"By blessed water," Hermione, Fred and Oliver said.
Then Kato switched to Latin. "From the East the Sun rises and night follows the turning of the Earth takes the hurt away."
"By blessed time," Valencia, Everette and Daphne said.
"From the West the great spirit rises to take away that which is wrong."
"By blessed spirit," George, Neville and Alicia said.
"Ven Lizyol Tiid Zii," Kato shouted and the runes activated.
Then like many rituals of old the next part was not in words but in melody. A melody brought forward by the one leading the ritual and picked up by all those present. The wordless hymn continued for what felt like forever or no time at all.
Tracy, who had already figured out that Kato was Harry, wondered briefly if it was even possible for them to mess up at this point. She didn't want to try though. Not when it was Astoria's health on the line.
Then Kato moved down to his knees slowly. He leaned forward and placed his hand upon the runeline as the melody reached its end. There were no words, but no words were needed. The Octogram shone brightly. Light bathed Astoria for a moment before settling down.
Kato slowly moved back to a sitting position. Everyone was breathing heavily. They could feel the drain on their magic. Astoria lay unconscious on the ground in the centre. Her parents tried to move for her but couldn't. Magic stronger than theirs held them in place.
"Do not step on the runelines," Kato said slowly. "Valencia. You may approach your daughter."
Valencia felt how the magic holding her let go and she walked deliberately into the centre of the star. She knelt next to her daughter and brought her up in a hug. It might have been a trick of the light, but she felt like Astoria already looked healthier.
"Oliver, Katie, Alicia, Angelina, George, Fred, Neville and Hermione. Please move back out of the star in that order. Do not step on the runes and wait for the previous person to be firmly outside the star before following," Kato said. He waited until they had all left before turning to the next group. "Tracy, Everette, Daphne, Bill, Draco and Charlie. Move out of the start without stepping into another part of the star or stepping on any lines. Please wait until the person before you is completely out before following."
Once again Kato waited. When only he remained except for Astoria and her mother, he gathered all the ambient magic left from the ritual and remaining in his gems. He slammed his hand onto the runes and said, "By your mother's love you will be protected." He was speaking Tamrielic so no one understood, but everyone could see the result. The answer was brighter and more intense than the ritual before it had been. Kato pulled himself up on his feet and walked out of the star the same way everyone before him had. He could see Draco moving towards him, but it was Charlie who caught him as he collapsed.
Bill was already spreading a mixture of salt and chalk over the runes to cancel them out so they could get Astoria out of there.
"And once again he can't stick to the script and just has to do that little extra that brings him to the brink of death," Draco said irritably.
Charlie lifted Kato up and Draco applied a feather-light spell on him so he wouldn't be so heavy to carry.
Fleur checked him over. "He is fine. Just exhausted," she said. She walked up to Lord Greengrass. "Kato taught me how to check for the curse. I can see if it still lingers in your youngest daughter. In you and Daphne, Kato will have to check once he is well again."
Everette nodded slowly. "We would appreciate that," he said. He knew he would turn to independent healers as well, but so far he had gotten the feeling that Healer Peverell and his allies were the honest kind.
Fleur walked with him to Astoria and cast several spells. She smiled softly. "The curse is gone," she said. "She'll regain her strength slowly and will need to exercise to rebuild what she should have had, but she'll be well."
Valencia looked up at her husband with tears in her eyes. Their little girl would be alright. He bent down and lifted Astoria up. "Thank you," he said. He turned to the group. "All of you thank you."
Oliver shrugged. "We're just happy to help," he said. "No one should have to suffer because of something their ancestors might have done." He put his arm around Alicia and the two of them headed home.
In pairs or by themselves everyone else left. There was nothing else that could or needed to be done right then and there. Charlie put Kato in bed once they were back at Ennerdale. Draco headed home to his parents to spend some time with his mother. "You are a miracle sometimes," Charlie said. He reached out and started unbuttoning Kato's shirt. His clothes didn't look that comfortable to sleep in.
Suddenly a strong hand was moving his wrist away as amber coloured eyes opened. "What… are you doin'," Kato asked somewhat confused.
"Helping you out of these clothes," Charlie said. "You need to rest."
"Need food," Kato said.
"Then I'll call Winky," Charlie said. "But you need to rest. You did too much."
"Did what was needed," Kato mumbled but his eyes were already falling shut once more. He had let go of Charlie as soon as he realised who was undressing him. Charlie was safe.
Charlie just shook his head and smiled lovingly. What had he gotten himself into?
11th of July, 1998.
It had taken two days to get Harry back on his feet after the ritual. Winky had fussed over him continuously and Charlie hadn't wanted to leave even though he was needed back at Dragon's Breath Cavern. Bill, Fleur and Draco had promised to keep an eye on Harry and make sure that he didn't try anything stupid until he was recovered fully.
Now Harry was sitting outside by the lake watching Qozul as he dived in and out of the water. Bill was sitting nearby working on the rune array of a portal. They wanted to put one up between Shell Cottage and Ennerdale, but it wasn't something that was usually done. Everything had to be perfect or someone could get seriously hurt. He wasn't willing to risk the life of his child on a miscalculation. When Harry had suggested it he had been firmly against it until he had learnt that goblins used portals like these. They weren't adapted for humans though. That's where he came in.
An owl came flying and dropped a heavy letter in Harry's lap. It didn't stay to see what happened. Harry opened it up and started reading. He was smirking by the end of it. "Winky," he called.
"Yes Master Harry," Winky said as she appeared. "Could you go see when Dumac is available," Harry said. "And bring him this." He copied the papers he was holding and sent her off.
"You find the Ministry funny?" Fleur asked.
"What did they write?" Draco leaned over Harry's shoulder. He read through the letter and Harry handed him the rest. He started laughing. "If Dumac can't help you then Father can," he said. "This is so clumsy it is frightening."
"I'll let Dumac deal with it. They are trying to insult the Goblin Nation," Harry said. He was surprised the people in the Creatures Division had the stomach to try to insinuate that they should be granted some kind of boon if they allowed him to bring dragons in. They had already paid all the fees necessary. His only obligation was to his clan. Dumac would deal with it.
Fleur rubbed her stomach and sighed. "They won't stay still," she said.
Harry looked over at Bill. "Transfigure my chair so your wife can come over here," he said. He would have done it himself if everyone present hadn't ordered him to not do any magic.
Bill drew his wand and transfigured the chair without even looking up from his calculations. He knew that Harry could help Fleur and right now he just wanted his wife happy. When he looked up maybe half an hour later both Fleur and Harry were asleep.
Draco was sitting and talking quietly with Qozul. It was a strange yet fitting picture. Bill summoned their camera and moved away from the rest of them.
"If you try to use that as blackmail I'll make your life miserable," Draco said, but he didn't move or look up.
Bill wasn't concerned. He happily took more pictures. Who would have known that he would count a Malfoy among his friends? It would never have happened if it wasn't for Harry. Harry had changed a lot of things since coming back from Skyrim. Life would have been duller without him.
…
Later that day Dumac came by. He looked like Christmas had come early. Anti-goblin attempts from the Ministry was something he loved working on. It was extra funny when they were badly done.
"Will there be any problems?" Harry asked.
"No, you can go ahead and start bringing them in if you would like. Though maybe doing a few at a time is a good idea," Dumac said.
"I'll send Charlie a message and the Clan can help I'm sure," Harry said.
"We'd be honoured too," Dumac said.
"There won't be any trouble from the Ministry then?" Draco asked.
Dumac snorted. "Someone took liberties. We'll sort it out or we'll declare this land goblin land officially and there will be nothing they can do," he said.
Harry just shook his head. He had known that allying himself with the dwemer had been a good idea, but it was turning out to be much more than that. "Thank you, brother of my Clan," he said.
"You are more than welcome," Dumac said. "I haven't had this much fun in years."
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Harry asked.
"Are you cooking?"
"Certainly."
"Then I shall stay."
15th of July, 1998.
"Everything has turned out as we hoped," Kato said once he had taken a look at Astoria and her family. "Astoria is doing great and there is no trance in either you or Daphne."
"I brought in other healers," Everette said.
"As is your right," Kato responded.
"They couldn't find anything either but one of them wasn't very nice about it. He said that work like yours is bound to backfire," Everette said.
"Sounds to me that he doesn't like that someone else can find a solution to something he could not," Kato said. "I wouldn't bring him in again, but it is up to you what you wish to do."
Everette nodded slowly. He looked at his daughters who were sitting together looking through a magazine. He had been blessed with two daughters and now they wouldn't die from some foolish family curse. He was quite grateful for everything that Healer Peverell had managed. "Don't take this the wrong way," he said. "But I hope we never have to ask for your services again."
Kato laughed. "We shall see. I have many talents and can help in many ways with many things," he said. "Hopefully never something so life-threatening though shall we say."
Everette agreed. He watched Kato leave before looking back at his daughters.
