CHAPTER 11:
ON AVOIDING THE PITFALLS OF POWER
Dinner was a lively affair for some of the Seven Shades. Delta and Zeta, of course, were their usual boisterous selves, especially Delta. Epsilon, meanwhile, held forth on some matter with Gamma.
Alpha, Beta, and Lily seemed subdued, though. Harry wasn't sure why, unless they were affected by what they had learned. He was still a little nettled that he hadn't been allowed in the thick of the action, as it were, even if he did see some. He understood why, that it was because he lacked the experience in magical combat these girls all had. But it still hurt to think his mother didn't trust him enough, even if that was a touch irrational.
He didn't have much actual appetite. True, he was hungry, and he ate his fill, but he didn't take much pleasure in it. Part of it was his resentment, true, but it was also seeing the Possessed, treated like an animal, an attack dog, a monster. Especially after seeing the reality of those monsters being formerly human.
Afterwards, though, Harry was taken by Lily, along with Alpha and Beta, down to Eta's labs. The quiet Elf had her dinner in her labs while she finished working on what she had taken from the Wall estate. The two daughters of Esquire Wall were sleeping in their beds, sedated for now. For people who had been mutated into monsters, they seemed more at peace than he was.
"Anything interesting?" Lily asked.
Eta nodded, indicating a sheaf of papers. "Experiments interesting. Crude, though," the laconic mad scientist remarked. "Those two are healing, but need observation."
Alpha went over to the two women, and scowled. "We see variations on this theme time and time again, and yet…it never fails to enrage me. Esquire Wall did this, and to his own children no less. And for what, power?"
"People have done worse for less, Alpha," Lily said solemnly. "And power is one of the most enticing things there is. Snape, for example, made a choice between our friendship, and the power he could gain. Power he would gain through both the Dark Arts, and through the Death Eaters and their allies. I thought our friendship meant better. In truth, calling me Mudblood was the breaking point to a friendship that was already becoming strained. When he spoke to me next, I gave him a choice between my friendship, and the power he was seeking. He made his choice." Lily shook her head. "Even when you seek power for the best of intentions, it can end badly."
"Why do you say that, Mum?" Harry asked, noting the melancholy look on his mother's face.
"Look at Dun Scaith. I described it as a vigilante group, yes, but…at times, I feel like I'm running a damned cult!" Lily snapped. "And yes, the irony is not lost on me!"
"Lily…we know that you're not a god…" Beta began to say.
"Yes, but that didn't stop Zeta from trying to arrange for me to become one, and behind my own back!" Lily retorted. "I understand her motives, given what she's gone through. The world needs good people to stop evil. And once the Cult is gone, it doesn't mean some other organisation won't take its place. But…she didn't have any faith in people to counter it. Just because they might make the same mistakes doesn't mean they necessarily will. And I don't want to rule over others. I want to protect them, yes, rid them of the evil that besets them, but rule them? Hell, no!"
Harry stared at his mother in shock. While he'd heard of Zeta being involved in something that displeased Lily in passing, he didn't know the full details. So this was enlightening, even if it was a shock.
After a moment, Lily said, "You know how Dumbledore became famous for beating Grindlewald during the dying days of the Second World War, Harry?"
"Yeah, it's on his Chocolate Frog Card," Harry said.
Lily nodded. "What you don't know is that, over a century ago, the two were best friends, possibly even as close as lovers."
Harry stared at her. "Sorry, what? Where did you hear that?"
"I learned about it long ago while researching Obscurials," Lily said. "I spoke to Newt Scamander, and, well, it unravelled from there. Keep in mind, Dumbledore regrets his actions with Grindlewald. But there was a time when they both wanted to conquer the world, and subjugate the Muggles, for their own good, no matter what anyone else had to say about the matter. On the gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau, they had 'Work Makes You Free' in German. On the gates of Nurmengard, they had 'For the Greater Good'. You see how seductive those words are? How you can justify anything with just those words?"
Harry could. He was only 14, but he could. Though it was shocking to hear that Dumbledore had been friends with Grindlewald, of all people! A man whose notoriety eclipsed that of Voldemort in the wizarding world. He was trying to wrap his mind around that. When Dumbledore claimed to be holding socks in the Mirror of Erised when they discussed the artifact, Harry wondered, did he see Grindlewald with him?
But he saw his mother's point. He even got the feeling that Dumbledore had tried to warn him along similar lines, albeit subtly. Croaker certainly had to some degree.
Harry, after a moment, said, "The first time I met Voldemort, that I remember, when he was basically a tumour growing out of Quirrell's head, he told me there's no good or evil, there's just power, and those too weak to seek it. I spoke to Croaker about that not long afterwards, and he wanted to know what I thought."
"…And what was that, Harry?" Lily asked.
"There is good and evil, but…thinking in terms of what Croaker called moral absolutism is dangerous. You know, thinking that there aren't any shades of grey to morality," Harry said. "He also told me something, that Plato said that the measure of a person is what they do with power."
"Yes, I learned that from him as well, ironic, considering I'm the Muggleborn," Lily said with a chuckle. "Power can corrupt, yes, but it doesn't mean it has to. You just have to know how much you could wield, and should wield. I'm glad you're with me for that reason, Harry. I wanted to come back to you more than anything else, but I didn't want to come back, only for you to hate me for what I had become."
"But would you end up something I hate, Mum?"
Lily chuckled bleakly. "Did you expect me to turn up as a leader of a vigilante group known for using lethal force?"
"I guess not."
"And there's the rub," Lily said. "Harry, I know there's a darkness in me. Anger, violence, hatred…I think it was brewing in me ever since I learned I had powers, and my sister envied and hated me for it. Then, being called a Mudblood by a bunch of inbred snobs, losing one of my longest friendships, having a genocidal madman target everything I held dear, losing the love of my life thanks to some drunken seer and treachery, having to tolerate the vile slander of that senile harridan…" Lily shuddered. "The potential for evil exists in all people. I'm trying to stop myself from crossing the line, never mind others."
Eta harrumphed, but didn't look up from her work. "Mum, I know you won't do that," Harry said.
"Harry, my darling son, I know you have faith in me. But you don't know me as well as I do," Lily said. "I may not be like Voldemort or Grindlewald. But I worry that one day, I may reach a breaking point, or the power's temptation is too much. Maybe I am worrying too much, and yet…now that I'm the head of Dun Scaith, I have to worry how far I am taking things, whether I'm losing myself in a Batman-style vigilante fantasy." She sagged into a nearby chair, rubbing her forehead.
"…Lily," Alpha began. "We know this. You know we are loyal, but not unquestioningly so. Even Delta, for all that she doesn't really question your orders, would probably baulk at you harming innocents, especially after your teaching her. And when you learned of Zeta's intentions, you rebuked her, punished her, and made sure she understood why she was wrong."
Beta nodded. "You told us the wisdom of the philosopher Nietzsche, that those who fight monsters must take care not to become them. And while we fight the shadows infesting this world from within the darkness hiding them, I agree that we should avoid losing ourselves to that darkness. We seek to stop the Cult of Diablos and expose the truth about the world, not take the Cult's place. We'll make sure you don't drown in the darkness of this world."
Harry, after a moment, cleared his throat. "Umm, do you need a moment, or…?"
"Stay, Harry. You're one of us now, and, more importantly, my son," Lily said.
"…I know, but…on today's mission…"
"You weren't quite ready yet. I know, you want to prove yourself Harry, and I don't want to coddle you either. But until I am sure you can handle almost anything the Cult can throw at you, at least within reason…sorry, it's a mother's worry as well as worrying about a new member of our organisation. But…you have an advantage over each of the Seven Shades."
"What is it?"
"Alpha has her organisational skills and leadership ability, and I wouldn't hesitate to call her a near-genius if not an actual genius. Beta, while something of a jack-of-all-trades, is, through her writing, better able to discern the nature of people and their interactions with others. Gamma is a genius in economics and business. Delta has everyone beaten in raw speed and strength. Zeta is a talented spymaster, capable of ferreting out any hidden secret, given time. Eta is a genius in all things scientific. And Epsilon is not only knowledgeable about the nobility, but is ridiculously precise in terms of magical control."
"So what do I have?"
"You are the most experienced, aside from myself, with using the spells of Earth. You're quick to learn, too. I'm still amazed that Moony managed to teach you the Patronus so quickly. That speaks much of your potential. I still think that prophecy Trelawney uttered is a load of bollocks, but…well, call it a mother's prejudices, but I think that, if there is a power Voldemort knows not, it's your potential. He always sneers at the potential in others, believing only he has the right to power. And yet, he took shortcuts, the worst kind. Horcruxes, and vile rituals to enhance his body."
"Something we see here," Alpha said. "The Tears of Diablos are a means by which certain members of the Cult can use to enhance their bodies. And we have reason to believe that the Possessed may be the source, at least in part. It's twisted, what some people will do for power."
"But…what about that enhancement you put me through?" Harry asked.
"It only amplifies your own innate magical power, it doesn't add to it from an outside source," Lily said. "And it's still dangerous if not done properly. Remember the rocket analogy. Too narrow a nozzle, and kaboom. The rest is all training designed to bring your power and control up to scratch. And honestly, I think you may need it. And not just for the Cult."
"…You think Voldemort or that Longbottom bitch will try something?"
"Augusta, probably not, at least nothing truly serious. The Unspeakables have considerable autonomy compared to the rest of the Ministry, and she should know better than to go after Sirius or the Tonks family, even with her obsession with revenge against the Potters. Remus is more vulnerable, but he's also got Dumbledore's protection." Lily sighed quietly. "And Harry? Croaker and Sirius told me about your…arguments with him. Moony is a good man, but he needs to grow a damn spine."
"That's what I told Alpha," Harry said.
Lily chuckled. "Well, we're in agreement there, then. Anyway…thanks, Harry, and you too, Alpha and Beta. I…I needed the reassurance."
"We are with you to the end, Lily," Alpha said. "We'll make sure you don't fall into the darkness, and we'll watch each other to make sure none of us do so either."
"…Let's hope it's enough," Lily said. "Now, let's leave Eta to her work, and try to relax before bedtime. Hopefully, we've ended more nightmares than we've caused…"
Thus would continue Harry's time with Dun Scaith, being trained. The raid on the Wall estate was the only actual mission they'd go on. But over that time, they grew closer and closer.
But keen, malevolent gazes were fixating on Harry Potter. They drew up their plans against him, plans that were in conflict rather than concert. But all the same, they intended him harm. They thought the advent of Dun Scaith a freak occurrence, that lightning would not strike twice.
They would regret such hubris, in time…
CHAPTER 11 ANNOTATIONS:
So, there you have it. A bit of Lily angsting about her power and actions, mixed in with some clichés, and a turning point in the story.
And once again, we see why Shadow Garden would be better off in the hands of a (relatively) mature person than a delusional sociopathic chuunibyou.
There'll be a timeskip to the beginning of the TWT now.
No numbered annotations this time.