"I did what you told me to do," Harry said. It was Harry's first visit in the laboratory since they came back via the portkey after their episode at the graveyard. "I wrote to Sirius. He's been telling me stories about my father." There were a few indistinguishable sounds. The young lion sat with Godric, Helga, and Salazar in their lounge area. "He invited me to his place for the hols."
"Is that so?"
Salazar's tone was deceptively casual, but Rowena heard the undertones. Apparently Harry had too as he immediately responded, "I told him no."
"I see. Did you want to go?"
"Not really," Harry said with a sigh. "It's interesting to read the stories about my dad. They were pranksters, apparently, but the stories make him sound more like a bully... and Sirius finds them hilarious."
"You should talk with Dad," Salazar suggested, "there must be more friends of theirs out there. We'll make a point of searching for answers."
"Really?" Harry sounded so hopeful, it was almost painful.
"Certainly." There was a short pause before Salazar admitted, "I should have thought of that sooner. I apologize."
Rowena did as she always did when people spoke while she worked: she ignored them and let them talk all they wanted. There was a long pause in their conversation.
"Oh, Hagrid finally came back," Harry told them.
"Back from where?" Godric asked.
"He wasn't here at the beginning of the school year. Didn't you notice?" Helga asked.
"Apparently not." Salazar responded with a chuckle.
"Did you go visit him?" Helga prompted, getting their conversation back on track.
"We did; Hermione went with me."
Rowena understood that the boy was nervous. Talking probably kept him calm. Distracted. Personally, she tended to speak aloud only while brainstorming, but otherwise was a solitary, silent type of person.
Harry went on, "He looked like he'd been in a fight, a black eye, old cuts, and bruises. But he said he's fine."
"Of course he did," Salazar said.
She could appreciate the stress Harry was under, understood that he'd be prone to panic and might even attempt to walk out the door, but Rowena also knew that Godric and Salazar wouldn't allow him to get very far.
"I guess he's okay," Harry was still talking about his friend the half giant, Keeper of the Keys. "Hagrid is tough. Takes a lot to scare him."
"Yet, he's a tender heart," Helga reminded the boy. "He has a weakness towards misunderstood beasts."
The ritual circle had been prepared, written in runic schemes that were etched into the stone flooring, and was ready for use. They had to wait for the right date (Winter Solstice, December twenty-second), the precise time (fourteen minutes past the eighth hour), but otherwise, everything was as prepared as she could manage.
"Hagrid was trying really hard not to tell us anything about where he's been. Said it was Order business, but eventually told us. He and Olympe, the Headmistress from Beauxbaton, went to see the Giants."
"Olympe?"
Rowena finished working on the wards for the evening, forcing herself to stop after three hours of constant magical use. She could feel herself getting lightheaded. She went immediately to the sofa and had a seat, closed her eyes, and took slow breaths.
"Is she okay?"
"I am," Rowena said. "I pushed myself too hard. Used too much magic and felt a bit lightheaded. Also, I finished your ring. I opted for something different than ours, more like Samuel's: silver and brass. I think it suits you. Either way you must wear it at all times." Rowena kept her eyes closed, reached into her jumper pocket and handed the ring she found there to Harry. Or at least, she held it out for someone to take, hopefully it was Harry or someone would hand it to the boy. Rowena's eyes were still closed, so she wasn't entirely certain who took the ring from her hand.
"Thanks," Harry said, but it sounded more like a question.
"Put it on and repeat after me: Dachaigh."
"Da..Dach..."
"Dachaigh."
"Dachaigh." A moment later, Harry's voice came from a few feet to the left of where he had been talking. "Wicked."
Rowena smiled and looked over at the boy teetering near the warding stone. "That is your emergency portkey. Say that word, with the intent of being here clearly in your mind, and it will bring you immediately. It's currently attuned to me since I made it, which is why you moved to the ward without knowing how it works. However, it will attune to you providing you wear the ring at all times. Never, under any circumstances, take it off." What she did not tell the boy was that she added the locater runes on it as Salazar requested. Best not to let the lad know he could be found at any given time by the founders.
Harry touched the ring with his forefinger and smiled again. He repeated, with sincerity, "Thank you."
There came a splash and Rowena sat up. Ismanna was usually much more subtle about entering the laboratory when she knew someone was already there. For her to rush into the laboratory was unheard of unless, of course, there was some sort of emergency.
Rowena watched and listened as Ismanna and Salazar hissed back and forth. Salazar looked stunned for a moment, then thoughtful when he said, "There's a giant in the forest. A youngster. Small or stunted." He looked at Harry. "What are the chances that Hagrid brought a little friend back with him? I doubt it is a coincidence that you tell us Hagrid is back and Ismanna comes with news of a giant."
Ismanna hissed again and Harry looked a bit ill at whatever it was she had said. Harry wrinkled his nose. "No. Ew."
Helga moved forward towards her girl and reached out to caress her snout, grinning when Ismanna snuggled back in her larger-than-the-room sort of way. "What is it? Hmm? What sort of mischief is my little queen getting into?"
Salazar chuckled. "She wants to eat the giant baby in the forest."
- - - - Bonus Scene - Salazar - - - -
Salazar stood in the Room of Hidden Things. He was staring in the vault at one of Tom's cleansed possessions. A familiar feeling of accomplishment washed over him. Tom created these... things, for a reason. What were they? What was his motive for creating them?
He may never know the answers, but it felt good to cleanse each and every one of them. The man had tainted Rowena's diadem, his grandfather's locket, Helga's familial cup, and, worst of all, Harry. There were the other things too, such as the diary, the snake, and the Gaunt ring but those paled in comparison to a young innocent boy.
Every item that Salazar cleansed was cathartic in its own way. Salazar felt as if he was giving something back to the world with each small thing he could take from his descendant. For there was no absolution for Tom. What he had done in his past was inexcusable.
Salazar crouched in front of the window and cocked his head to the side peering at the ring. Salazar found it interesting, while the band of the ring simply remained intact, the stone was now unblemished with the Peverell insignia. It glinted in the dim light.
- - - - End Bonus Scene - Salazar - - - -
It was lunch time on Wednesday of the first week of the Yule holiday. Rowena had been pushing herself to finish the wards and felt a bit listless lately. Nothing too stressful, but still, perhaps she should take a nap later.
Her ring warmed and vibrated. Rowena read the short message: To The Lab If You Please. She looked around the Great Hall and noted all of her friends were present. That meant, Samuel?
Rowena stood immediately and made her way to their laboratory. She was joined by Helga while Godric and Salazar were soon to follow.
Samuel was waiting for them and said, without waiting until they were all gathered, "It's time. The Headmaster is off on one of his flutters."
"When will he be back?" Salazar asked.
"Late," Samuel said. "Dumbledore left McGonagall in charge. Told her that they'll be back before morning. He took Snape with him. The professor did not look pleased to be dragged along. Dumbledore didn't give Snape a choice."
"This is it," Godric said and moved immediately to the warding stone. He took a deep breath and planted his feet firmly. He took a steadying breath and in the next moment, his magic flared out in a blaze around him.
Helga sat on the floor and pressed her hands flat against the stones. Unlike Godric's inferno, her magic was calmer as she activated her own wards and, in Helga's own words, reminded the earth of its promise.
Rowena bit her lip and looked at Salazar. "I can't."
"Can't what?" Salazar looked at the warding stone and then back to her. "You've been working on this for years. I don't understand."
Rowena sighed and looked up at the stone and admitted, "I didn't know if the Headmaster would leave, or when... so, I've been working on my part of the wards every chance I could, but if I finish this now..." Rowena flinched. "I won't be able to do the ritual on the Winter Solstice in two days' time."
"How can I help?" Salazar asked and looked up at the warding stone.
"You can help supplement my magic," Rowena answered. She watched Godric work before she closed her eyes, feeling the man's magic flow almost violently around them.
"Together," Salazar offered and held out his hand.
- - - - Founders - - - -
Rowena had slept away most of the day on Thursday - which was something she loathed doing, but needs must - and felt nearly herself once more when she was woken, as requested, before the sun rose on the winter solstice. Her eyelids were heavy, but she still managed a smile for the kind elf. "Thank you, Moppsy."
"Woulds Mistress care for tea?" Moppsy offered and Rowena nearly groaned in pleasure at the idea.
"Yes, Moppsy, that would be delightful." Rowena managed to get her feet under her by the time she sat up and shuffled off to her morning ablutions. Having the dorm room to herself was a boon. It certainly made speaking with Moppsy easier. No hiding, no waiting for others to sleep or leave.
By the time she exited the loo, her tea was beside her bed accompanied by a scone with jam. While the elf was not noticeably still around, Rowena still thanked her all the same.
At seven that morning, the four founders, Ismanna, and Harry were gathered within the laboratory. It was nearly time to resolve the issue of Harry's scar. Rowena had gathered everything she required... nearly everything. She looked at Salazar and gave him a small nod.
Salazar nodded in return and looked at his adopted little brother. "Harry, there is one thing we will need from you before we can begin." Salazar walked over to three small brass chalices and took up the ritual dagger. He placed the blade in his palm and sliced it swiftly and efficiently. Harry flinched in surprise at the action and watched as Salazar allowed his blood to flow into the first chalice. He didn't fill it to the brim, that wasn't necessary, but the cup was a third full before Salazar stopped the flow and healed his hand.
Carefully cleaning the blade, Salazar looked at Harry and nodded at the third cup. "That one is yours." Harry took a calming breath then held out his hand. Salazar gave him a smile and slit his palm swiftly. The blade was extremely sharp and Harry flinched slightly, but didn't move away. Once the cup was filled as much as needed, Salazar healed Harry's hand and cleaned the blade, setting the ceremonial knife down over the middle chalice.
"So, this is blood magic?"
"It is," Salazar agreed and handed the boy a cloth. "You need to strip down and wear only this woolen shift."
"It's like yours?"
"It is."
Harry nodded and looked over at Godric. "I was wondering how you got Godric in a dress." Godric grunted sleepily from the couch, but otherwise ignored the boy. Harry grinned and looked around nervously. "Um, where?"
Salazar chuckled and gestured to an alcove. "If you require privacy, you can use the lavatory over there. It isn't as if we haven't all seen a naked man's body before. Some of us used to have one."
That had Harry pausing and he snorted. "I forget that sometimes." But that didn't stop the boy from moving towards the alcove in order to strip down. Harry stopped. "Wait. You said only. As in... only?"
Salazar laughed. "Yes, Harry. Only. As in strip down to be... What is the word they use?"
"Starkers," Godric said in his muffled half asleep voice.
"Ah, yes. Harry, you need to be starkers under the shift. Now, off with you. You're wasting time."
When the boy came out, he was staring in wonder at his feet while he walked. "I thought the floor would be cold."
Rowena just smiled as she moved to the center chalice. Rowena picked up the dagger saying 'Wards - they're a wondrous thing' and slit her palm to fill the last chalice.
Harry stood near the circle without touching a thing. He fidgeted and asked, "What do I do now?"
"Take off your ring," Salazar prompted, "and your glasses."
"Ro said never to-"
"Yes, under normal circumstances, I agree. These are not normal circumstances."
Harry nodded and set his ring and his glasses on the nearest flat surface. Salazar took him by the shoulder and led him away from the woman as she began chanting, "Tha mi a 'tabhann dhut ìobairt airson na daoine nach eil deònach. Tha mi a 'tabhann dhut tiodhlac an deònach. Tha mi a 'tabhann dhut comharra de mo dhraoidheachd. Gus an tèid an gnìomh a dhèanamh."
Sitting the boy in the center of the ritual circle, careful not to step on any of the runes, Salazar took position across from the chalices on the outside. With all three chalices filled a third of the way, Rowena set the dagger down, but did not heal her wound. She worked swiftly and moved to Harry. She repeated her words and used her own blood to mark a rune on his forehead, following the lines of his scar. Harry did his best not to move, but watched in silent fascination.
Godric pulled himself up off the couch, stretched, and yawned silently with only a few pops of his joints. He moved to the far side of the circle on Salazar's right while Helga gracefully glided to her own position on Salazar's left. Each of the founders were dressed alike. Each had been stripped bare with the exception of the woolen shift.
Rowena continued her runes: one on Harry's sternum, one over his wand hand, one on each wrist, one on his right thigh, one on each ankle. She hadn't looked at her friends while she worked, as she knew they would be where she needed them to be. Salazar was the only one of them holding an object. It was the sword of Godric Gryffindor, the last relic of a founder not yet tainted. Something - possibly - of import to Tom. While none of the others asked why the sword was necessary, Rowena had figured out that what was lurking within Harry's scar was more than just a curse, it was a soul... or at least a fragment of Tom's soul. Therefore it was important not to only cleanse Harry's scar, but to remove that piece of Tom.
Still chanting, Rowena eased Harry backwards onto the stone floor, and nodded as he got into position. Harry's feet were pointing towards Salazar, and, when he laid down, his head was near the Chalices. Harry closed his eyes. Rowena went over the runes upon the boy's body twice more using Harry's blood next, then Salazar's. She then moved to Salazar and eased the man within the circle and began putting her blood on the sword, careful not to knick herself, in the runic shape of Sōwilō following the same ritual as she had with Harry, chanting once again.
Standing within the ring, chanting over Harry's head, Rowena spoke with soft melodic tones. For the last time she chanted her words, "Tha mi a 'tabhann dhut ìobairt airson na daoine nach eil deònach. Tha mi a 'tabhann dhut tiodhlac an deònach. Tha mi a 'tabhann dhut comharra de mo dhraoidheachd. Gus an tèid an gnìomh a dhèanamh."
Harry stiffened when each rune grew cold; Salazar's eyes were drawn to the sword as the runes sunk into the blade. Harry's hands fisted at his side and he swallowed hard. Rowena couldn't stop to give him any words of encouragement, but he stayed still all the same, eyes closed and trusting her to do what she could to save him. The trust he showed in her brought a tear to her eyes and she lifted her head and called out, "Thig, Hecate. Gabh ris na tiodhlacan sin a chaidh a thoirt dhut mar do chòir. Bidh mi ag iarraidh ort an dath seo a thoirt air falbh bhon phàiste."
Rowena practically collapsed over the boy. She was able to weave until she landed ungracefully on her bottom instead and Harry screamed. The boy's body was rigid as his back arched and his hands were balled into fists. Salazar stayed put, his eyes growing wide as a stream of black was forcibly ejected from Harry's scar. Harry's body collapsed back to the ground, his screams silenced and his breathing heavily labored.
The blackened soul paused for only a moment and turned towards the nearest person. Thankfully, Rowena was spared when Tom was pulled screaming into the blade. The screaming didn't stop. Once the soul reached the blade, Ismanna's venom did it's job, destroying the soul upon contact.
Smiling, Rowena stated 'Hecate, a bhith air a mholadh' and passed out.
- - - - Bonus Scene - Godric - - - -
A few hours later, Godric left Rowena and Harry in Salazar and Helga's care. The two were resting comfortably, but they still hadn't woken. Godric quietly left the laboratory and made his way to Snape's office. He ran through the conversation he and his friends had a few days ago, when he and Salazar were going through the last of their preparations for the infiltration of the Ministry. They had decided to allow the professor access to the laboratory - and him alone. The man had proven himself trustworthy.
Getting to the office door, he didn't notice any magical signatures nearby so he knocked and settled himself for a wait. Godric walked through the different topics he and the others wanted to broach with the professor, and five minutes came and went quickly, with the professor joining him at the office door. "Miss Dunbar."
"Professor."
The professor let them in and once the door closed behind them, Godric sealed the room. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "I apologize if I took you away from something important or time sensitive. This won't take long."
Snape raised an eyebrow. "And what is it you wish to speak to me about?"
Godric was too tired to be anything but blunt. "Two things. The first of which: if you like, we will grant you access to the laboratory. It will be keyed to your magic and password specifically." Surprise filtered across Snape's face and Godric continued, "We won't be able to grant you access today, the earliest would be tomorrow. And you do not have to accept if you don't wish to. If you do decide, just let one of us know and have a password chosen."
The man took a few moments before saying, "Understood."
"Now, for the second reason I'm here. In two days, we are going to retrieve the prophecy."
Snape's eyes snapped to Godric's, but Godric simply kept his attention on the man's nose.
"The reason we're telling you this is two-fold." Godric sighed. "We were hoping to use your floo, yet again. We will only borrow it to leave. We have our own way back." Snape's mouth twitched, and Godric assumed the man was hiding a small smile. "The second is..." He paused, trying to fight a sneer. "We wanted to offer you the opportunity to hear the full prophecy." When Snape didn't reply, Godric noticed the man had shut down and couldn't decide if it was because Godric didn't hide the contempt in his voice or the offer itself. To cover his bases, he pushed on, "I have experience with a prophecy and I have not cared for them since. Having choice taken from you, of being told that it is 'fate'..." He shook his head. "The offer is just that, an offer. You heard part of the whole, and you, more than most, deserve the choice of hearing it all or not."
"I appreciate the opportunity," Snape said stiffly. He swallowed and closed his eyes briefly. "I will have to think on your offer."
"Of course."
Google Translate Time:
Tha mi a 'tabhann dhut ìobairt airson na daoine nach eil deònach. Tha mi a 'tabhann dhut tiodhlac an deònach. Tha mi a 'tabhann dhut comharra de mo dhraoidheachd. Gus an tèid an gnìomh a dhèanamh.
I offer to you a sacrifice for the unwilling. I offer to you a gift of the willing. I offer to you a token of my magic. Until the deed is done.
Thig, Hecate. Gabh ris na tiodhlacan sin a chaidh a thoirt dhut mar do chòir. Bidh mi ag iarraidh ort an dath seo a thoirt air falbh bhon phàiste.
Come, Hecate. Accept these gifts given to you as your right. I ask you to remove this taint from the child.
Hecate, a bhith air a mholadh.
Hecate, be praised.
Dachaigh = home
AN Ajellah:In case you're curious, the rune written in blood on the sword is Sōwilō: The Sun - energy, life, fertility, warmth, positivity, wholeness, seat of the soul, guidance, shield. Many claim that Harry's scar is this same rune.