Hathewiga's Dungeon, August 23rd, 1991
Harry was sitting on the edge of his bed, stroking Hedwig absentmindedly. Although his calm exterior didn't show it, his mind was in great turmoil. Excitement, apprehension, joy and fear all mixed inside him in an amalgam of disjointed strings of thought. Harry was almost shaking in anticipation. He felt that if he waited any longer, he would burst from impatience.
Today was the day. The chance to see how much he had grown, how much more powerful he had become. Hathewiga mostly kept the information to herself, but from the little things she let slip, Harry felt that he could guess quite a bit about their venture.
First of all, they were doing a heist. Merely thinking about it made Harry realise how ludicrous it sounded. It seemed like something out of the muggle detective novels Hathewiga had given him to read. Nevertheless, it was true. He was going on a heist. And an important one, if his specialised studying was anything to go by. Since his birthday, Hathewiga had drilled him in the practical use of warding and arithmancy. She only taught him the most useful parts, a crash course of sorts. Their time was limited, after all.
From what he gathered, they would only have a small window of time to accomplish their task. The inhabitants were off on holiday and would only be back in the last days of the month. Hathewiga had decided that tonight was going to be the best time. It was a new moon, so the property's wards would be at their weakest. Still, she warned, it wouldn't be an easy task.
Despite his excitement, one question permeated his mind. Why did Hathewiga let him come? Whatever they were stealing seemed of great importance to her. In her place, he wouldn't have taken the risk. Yet, she had, and whatever the reason, he was grateful for her trust. For the first time in his life, Harry had found a person who had faith in him, and he would do his best to give back that trust in turn.
Harry's thoughts were interrupted by a loud hoot as Hedwig flew up to her perch. He looked up apologetically. He knew she felt uneasy in a basement.
"Not long anymore", he reassured her, "Hathewiga promised that after the heist, we can finally go out."
That was another reason for his impatience. Finally, after more than two years of living in this dungeon, they would be changing scenery. As usual, Hathewiga didn't give many details, but she hinted at a more practical approach that would need more space. It made sense, he guessed. Now that he had his wand, training in the dungeon would be more dangerous than anything. She had also mentioned meeting other kids. Harry didn't really know how to feel about that bit. His experience with kids had so far only ended in a beating, either by the kids themselves or by Dudley and his gang, for daring to speak to others. He clenched his hands in anger before taking a deep breath. They had no power over him anymore. And if they ever dared to touch him again, he would show them how much stronger he had become.
Still, he would miss this place. Harry lifted his head, looking at his room. It was a far cry from what it looked like when he first came in. During his stay with Hathewiga, Harry had upgraded it from small, spartan quarters to quite a lofty chamber. Through the room, soft balls of light reminiscent of those he had seen in the church were slowly wafting in a serene and enchanting waltz. The light purple walls were lined with several bookshelves. They were brimming with books, ranging from spell theory to ancient runes and even generic muggle novels. Harry had discovered that while he craved learning new things, he also enjoyed simply sitting in his bed and reading a book under a blanket. It was nice to relax every once in a while. In the corner of the room stood a tall, dark mahogany wardrobe. Hathewiga had ensured it was full of multiple sets of clothes for every occasion.
The entire room was his creation, either through transfiguration or charms. Well, he was given some base material for the wardrobe and the bookshelves as conjuring remained out of his league, but still, he felt accomplished. His pride and joy, however, was the recent addition that lay on the floor. The deep green carpet was his first successful enchantment and the result of five months of hard work. Harry stepped on it barefoot and sighed in contentment. It was unbelievably soft in the way only a cushioning charm could attain. Weaving it into the fabric was tricky but well worth the effort. It might not be as flashy as his spellwork or as impressive as his lighting, but to him, it showed how far he had already gone and how far he had yet to go.
"Harry!" Hathewiga's voice resounded through the dungeon, "Get ready! It's time!"
Harry gathered his courage, verified that his wand holster was wrapped firmly around his forearm, and stepped out of his room.
"You alright?" Hathewiga asked as he walked up to her. She was wearing a dark indigo cloak that seemed to suck up the light from the room. Her pale hair was hidden beneath her hood, through which her two bright blue eyes shone mysteriously.
"Yeah", Harry croaked, taking his own cloak from her outstretched hand and covering himself with it.
"Well, if you're sure, let's go then."
Harry grasped her arm, and with a loud pop, the pair vanished from the dungeon.
"*"
Unknown location, 11.30 pm
As soon as he felt the ground beneath his feet, Harry fell on all fours, heaving profusely. He didn't think he would ever get used to apparition. After waiting for his head to stop spinning, Harry looked around. They had landed in a forest clearing. Tall pine trees that seemed to touch the skies surrounded them. It was a beautiful night. As expected, the moon was nowhere to be seen, and the starry night was a mesmerising sight.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Hathewiga asked in a whisper, as if afraid to break the moment's magic.
She smiled sweetly at Harry's absentminded nod as he continued to watch the sky in awe.
"Alas, we have a job to do. There, do you see it?" Hathewiga asked, pointing at something through the trees.
Harry half-heartedly pulled his gaze away from the night sky and willed it to follow her finger's direction. There, in the distance, he could see a massive mansion overlooking a large lake that sparkled beautifully under the stars.
"That's where we have to go. Get ready for a hike." Hathewiga stated, beginning her trail towards the mansion.
Harry followed her, making sure to make as little noise as possible. Who knows what creatures the woods may contain? Whatever they may be, he wasn't eager to find out.
Every few minutes, Hathewiga waved her wand, muttering a mangle of words. Harry thought he recognised some of them from the crash course in ward-breaking, but he couldn't be sure. Once again, he wondered why he was even here. She was with no doubt competent enough to do it on her own.
"Hathewiga..." Harry hesitated before continuing at Hathewiga's reassuring nod, "Why did you bring me with you?"
A resounding silence fell onto the pair as the question was left hanging in the air. But Harry waited. After two years of being with Hathewiga, he liked to think he knew her quite well. She would respond eventually, she just needed to find the right words. The sigh she finally let out confirmed his prediction.
"You know me as a knowledgeable, wise and scholarly witch. I have delved into subjects that most can't even begin to understand. My mastery of magical theory is matched only by a very select few. Yet, despite all this, you have something I don't have, something that brings me down to the level of a common witch. Do you know what that is, Harry?"
Harry shook his head, listening intently.
"Power, Harry. The thing you crave most. As knowledgeable as I am, my magical power is slightly below average. Yet, just like you, I cannot accept what cards the world has dealt me. In that mansion, I have found something that will help me in my quest. On the way, I hope to help you too."
"I see", Harry interrupted, "but what does that have to do with our heist? You seem to be doing well enough with what power you have."
"For now, yes. These are mere beast and muggle-repellant wards that can't do anything to us. They can, however, interfere with our destruction of the principal ward, which is why I am taking the time to dispel them. The ward I mentioned is the estate ward, installed and reinforced by generations of witches and wizards spanning several centuries. That is where you come in. While I may not have the power necessary, you, on the other hand, have one of the largest magical reserves I have ever seen. It is still very unrefined, but the potential is there", Hathewiga took a break to breathe in before going back to her teacher-like lecture.
"What you must realise is that every magic leaves a trace, an echo of its presence, albeit not a permanent one. The bigger the magic, the longer this echo stays. A simple stunning spell may leave an echo for less than a second, whereas a big conjuration's echo will remain for hours. The estate ward is a piece of magic of great calibre. Once we destroy it, the echo might remain for days. By itself, that wouldn't pose any problem. There is no way to find out who the caster is, only the nature of the spell. What can be traced, however, is the wand the caster used. To put it simply, the echo acquires a unique aspect that can be traced to a singular wand. That is why the Ministry often uses wand specialist's help to find criminals."
"You mean like Ollivanders?" Harry interjected, not able to imagine the eccentric man on a crime scene.
"Yes, but only in rare circumstances where the wand isn't filed in the ministry's logbooks. For the more generic cases, there is an Auror branch specialised in such research, much like detectives in the muggle world. Back to our problem, I don't have the power to break the ward. You have the power but lack the control the wand brings you. That is where my plan comes in. Using our master-apprentice bond, you will lend me your power, and I will use my control to break the ward."
"Won't you need a wand to do that?" Harry asked, dubious about her plan, "And is it truly that simple? It seems too good to be true."
"I bought one from a pawn shop in Knockturn Alley. It's not perfect, but it will do the trick. As for the plan, you must realise that such a bond is a rare thing nowadays and that a person cannot create more than one at a time. Moreover, our respective levels of control and power paired together are unprecedented and have not been accounted for when fortifying wards."
Hathewiga fell silent and continued walking as Harry trailed behind her, trying to process the information he received. After a brief walk, Hathewiga stopped.
"We're here."
Harry looked up from his pensive state and couldn't help but gasp in awe. In front of him was a massive metal gate beautifully decorated with fleur-de-lis and golden leaves. On the centre of the gate was a coat of arms depicting a knight helmet, an osprey and a badger. Underneath was the family motto: "Benigno Numine". Behind the gate stood the large mansion, even more imposing up close. With ochre brick walls and brown tiled roofs, the Gothic mansion stood ominously in the darkness of the new moon night.
"Are you ready?" Hathewiga asked.
"Yes", Harry answered resolutely. He knew he was strong enough for this.
"Good, now take my hand and focus on pulling out as much magic as you can. I will take care of the rest. You might feel weak, but don't stop until I tell you to, or this will all be for nought. Ready? Now take my hand."
Harry put his hand in hers and closed his eyes. He focused on the familiar feeling in his chest, and after a brief moment, he was face-to-face with the vast ocean of magic, roaring in welcome at his arrival. Harry smiled before extending one hand towards the surface. Sure enough, a stream of water latched onto his arm as a surge of power washed over his body. It was electrifying, yet he didn't let the power overthrow him. Instead, he aimed his other arm towards the void where the sky should be and pushed. At first, it seemed like nothing was happening, but soon, an invisible force latched on to his outstretched arm and started syphoning the ocean's power, using Harry as a conduit.
"That's it, Harry. Just don't stop", Hathewiga's voice resounded in the distance, but Harry paid no mind to it. His concentration was entirely directed at the transfer of his magic. He felt his body weakening. It was only a slight drain, yet, slowly but surely, it was taking its toll. He didn't know how long he stayed like that. Perhaps seconds, or minutes or hours. Time was irrelevant as long as he continued to pour out his magic. After what seemed like an eternity, a liberating voice interrupted his unending tribulation.
"It is done. You can let go now."
As soon as the words left Hathewiga's mouth, Harry broke the link with his magic and fell to his knees. He took a deep, shaky breath and opened his eyes, only to close them again instantly. His vision was swimming, making him want to vomit. His head was heavy, and his body was shivering despite the warm summer night.
"Well done, Harry. You did great", Hathewiga whispered soothingly, crouching down by Harry's small form, "You'll be alright. Magical exhaustion takes quite a toll on your body. Lucky for us, nothing a Pepperup Potion can't fix."
Harry felt a cool flask entering his hand. Trusting Hathewiga not to poison him in his current state, Harry put the gullet of the flask up to his mouth and poured its content down his throat. As the first drop entered his mouth, Harry felt his strength slowly creep back into his body. Soon, he was able to get back on his feet.
"You'll still need a long sleep after, but this will delay the effect for an hour or two", Hathewiga said from the other side of the gate, already having opened it while Harry took his potion. Harry smiled warmly at the genuine excitement in her eyes.
"What are you waiting for? Come on, already!" she told him giddily, before almost skipping towards the mansion's entrance.
Harry followed her at a brisk pace to keep up with her. Hathewiga barely paused after entering the front door. Inside was the lavish grand entrance, with two marble staircases leading to the second floor. But before seeing more, Harry broke off his gaze and ran after his mistress before he lost her. Corridors and rooms flew by and mixed into a mass of shapes and colours as Harry jogged by, his eyes solely focused on the dark streak that turned, ascended and descended in an assured stride. Hathewiga seemed to know exactly where she was going and trusted him to follow close behind.
Harry, not fully recovered from his ward breaking, was out of breath and seriously considering letting Hathewiga continue without him when abruptly, she stopped. In front of her was a simple black door with a golden handle.
"It's here", she whispered, seemingly entranced by the door, "I can feel it."
Before Harry could ask what she had felt, Hathewiga opened the door and entered the room. Harry felt a wave of magic wash over him and tensed. He felt the mansion's hostile nature that wanted him far from this place. Yet, he also knew that it couldn't do anything to him as it was. Without the wards powering it, the room was as defenceless as any other.
As Harry analysed the feeling of the room, Hathewiga wasted no time perusing its content. Frankly, it was rather lacklustre. Harry half-expected a secret dungeon full of magical artefacts and obstacles. Instead, he was greeted with a small, dark room containing three pedestals. On the middle pedestal was a thick leather book that practically reeked of magic. On the left one was a simple yellow gem. It didn't feel any particular way, but Harry figured its appearance must be deceiving, considering how well hidden it was. As for the one on the right, Harry got but a glimpse of glass and a glint of gold before Hathewiga snatched the object greedily and brought it up to her chest.
"Mine", she said in a voice that reminded Harry of a dragon hoarding its treasure.
She stayed so, her hand up to her chest, for a few more seconds before going back to her usual self. She grabbed the book and the gem and put them in her robes before turning back to Harry.
"Take my arm", she ordered him and apparated away as soon as she felt his grip on her forearm.
"*"
Harry landed in Hathewiga's dungeon in a heap, not prepared for such a snappy apparition. He wanted to complain, but his words stopped in his throat at the strange look in Hathewiga's eyes.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice full of concern at her. She seemed different than usual, more subdued.
Hathewiga looked back at him ominously, "I'm really sorry about this, Harry, but it must be done."
"Wha-" Harry started but was interrupted by a spell hitting his chest. The last thing he knew was a pair of bright blue eyes full of sorrow and a flash of red light.
"*"
Hi again! This is probably the last chapter before Hogwarts. I'm pretty happy with how this turned out. I tried to flesh out Hathewiga and Harry's relationship before her betrayal, so don't hesitate to tell me what you think about it. I didn't explicitly state whose mansion it was, but the most curious can probably find out with a small search. For the rest of you, you'll find out next chapter. On that note, thanks for reading, it means a lot to me.
Burgundy Phoenix signing off