A/N: As usual, thanks to Gin110881!
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Chapter 19
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The Day Before Imbolc
It was an uncharacteristically sunny day in Scotland. Even deep in the watery depths of the Black Lake, the sun's rays managed to penetrate the water, creating a dance of light around the lake floor. Ginny sat on the boulder- her safe place- reviewing the plan for Imbolc over and over in her mind. She brushed her hands through her long flowing hair with nervous excitement as she prepared herself for her final venture to the surface in just a few short hours.
It would happen tonight.
Tonight, she would be released from her watery prison, spring free from her shimmering Mermaid tail, and break the curse that had held her captive for so long.
Fidgeting with nerves, she swam around her boulder, looking for any trinkets or possessions she might want to bring with her. After all, she had had what felt like a lifetime beneath the surface, and as much as it was a curse, she did not want to forget. Spotting a small white shell in the sand, she plucked it up from where it rested and placed it in her hair. It was a special occasion, after all. It wouldn't hurt to look nice.
As she adjusted one of her rock bracelets, she felt the water stir around her, and the regal figure of Queen Merneith emerged from the shadows. The Queen's iridescent scales glimmered, reflecting the hues of the lake water, but her expression was somber.
"Ginny, my little one," the Queen began, her voice a soft melody that echoed through the water. "You have waited so very long for this, and I could not let you leave without my blessing."
The previous evening, the Mermaid village had gathered together to say their goodbyes to Ginny. Though she felt she hadn't known them well at all, they had taken their turns nodding or even bowing to her in respect, wishing her well on her journey. The Queen had been reserved and unreadable at that time, but now Ginny could see the emotion behind her eyes, and it made her heart clench.
The Queen swam closer. "This journey will not be without its challenges."
Ginny nodded, a lump forming in her throat. "I know." Saying goodbye to the Queen was unexpectedly painful. "I will never forget your kindness, my Queen. I think I truly would have been lost had it not been for you. I can never repay you or the Merpeople for that, but I will break the curse on your people. I will find a way. I won't stop until it is finished once and for all."
The royal Mermaid's gaze filled with a mix of sorrow and pride. "What fire you have inside you. So rare to see in the waters. It has become unlocked inside you, unlocked and freed, and what a beautiful sight it is." Her hand reached out, touching a lock of Ginny's hair, a rare show of affection. "You must be strong, little one. Your next journey is the start of a long road, but you are more than capable. Never forget your time down here. Remember, you carry our legacy with you. A part of us, however small, will always remain with you. Stay true to that, and to yourself."
Heart brimming with emotion, Ginny raised her arms and embraced the Queen. Smiling, the Queen wrapped her arms around her, returning the warm embrace. "Go and know that you are never alone. We will always be with you."
As they parted, Ginny felt the weight of the Queen's love for her, and the responsibility to free the Merpeople. The Queen gave one last lingering look before she swam away, leaving Ginny alone with her thoughts. Sitting down on her boulder, she became overcome with a wave of sadness. Leaving was tearing a hole in her heart. So much had happened while she had been down in these dark depths, and her gratitude for the people down here was immeasurable.
She would save them.
She had to save them.
Straightening her shoulders, she looked up at the surface, where the dappled light was beginning to dim. Her heart began to race in anticipation and a hint of fear. It was only a few more hours now, a few more hours until she would forever be in the world above, and she was ready to embrace it all.
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The deep abyss was rising rapidly around Harry.
He- along with Ron and Connor Blake- had begun their slow descent to the bottom of the Black Lake. After a short deliberation, Harry and Ron had been convinced by Blake to use Gillyweed instead of the Bubble-Head Charm. The benefits were certainly favorable- they moved quickly and lithely through the water with nearly effortless ease, and though the speech between them was slightly garbled, they could communicate despite being beneath the surface. The cold water had initially been a harsh distraction from his worries, but now he was grateful the Gillyweed had made his body impervious to the frigid temperatures.
The sunlight filtering into the water grew fainter as they swam, leaving them enveloped in a dense, twilight-blue haze. Harry's heart was pounding, not from lack of air but from the strange sense of being in a realm where time and space seemed warped. Craning his neck, he glanced back up at the surface which now seemed so very distant. The pressure of the water grew, and with it, an oppressive silence pressed against his ears.
He had never been much of a swimmer. Sirius had taught him early on, of course, but it was taught out of necessity rather than of recreation. Now, with webbed hands and feet, it felt second nature. Ron and Blake seemed to be having an easy go of it as well, both moving calmly alongside him. He felt anything but calm- but he tried to stay focused and alert. The aquatic world around him was providing plenty of distractions- it was both mesmerizing and unsettling. Strange, bioluminescent plants slowly floated by him, their eerie glow reminding him of the Moon Plant. Occasionally, a school of fish would venture near but never daring to come closer to the odd visitors. Harry paid the fish no mind, looking warily around for more concerning creatures. A large fish passed by in his peripheral, and for a moment he startled, mistaking its large, lantern-like eyes for a Grindelow. Before realizing his mistake, he shot an impediment jinx at the fish. The large glowing eyes of the fish bulged unnaturally in different directions before the entire fish flipped over, rolling slowly until it was upside down. Ron laughed next to him, releasing a stream of bubbles. Embarrassed, Harry placed his wand back in his holster.
"Thanks for that," Blake said, clapping him on the shoulder with a webbed hand, "I reckon Big Bertha over there could've killed us all."
Harry huffed- or rather, blew more bubbles- in annoyance. Thinking back to his last encounter with Grindelows- and the sharp, bloody scratches on Ginny's back-it was no wonder he was trigger-happy. Shaking off the nerves, the three of them ventured deeper into the gloom.
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Ginny glanced back up at the surface.
Nearly time, but not quite yet. Too early an arrival and she might stumble upon the others, might feel the words of Tom's curse clench its fingers on her mind, might flee and hide, unable to stop herself from doing so. The hold on her was so complete, so entwined with her being, that she was a slave to it.
But not after tonight.
Biting her lip in thought, she tried to recall the bits and pieces of her memories to the surface. They still came in flashes, rarely making much sense, but still giving her glimpses of things once treasured.
"You're still here."
Jumping at the voice, she whirled around to see the Queen had returned.
"My Queen? You're back, I didn't think-" Ginny stopped midsentence when she looked at the Mermaid. "What is it? What's wrong?"
The Queen was clenching her hands, eyes wide with worry. "I know you are soon to take your leave," she said slowly, voice trembling, "but something has happened. I cannot think of what else to do. Please understand."
"What's happened?" Ginny asked. The Queen showed few emotions but never had Ginny seen her look frightened.
"My people," she started, "many of them are in a state of… unrest."
Ginny winced inwardly. "They are upset."
The Queen nodded.
"Of course they are," Ginny sighed, "and I can't find fault with that. I am causing contention by leaving, so if they are upset the fault is mine. But I am not abandoning them," her voice turned pleading, "I swore to it I would help them. I swore I would find a way, and I won't stop until I do. Please, you have to tell them!"
"I have done what I can," the Queen held a hand up in reassurance. "I have told them as much. But many are worried, and many are afraid. Some have risen up in the village, and in the last hour the unrest has turned to violence."
Something prickled up the back of Ginny's neck. "Violence?"
The Queen closed her eyes and let out a heavy breath. "Yes, I'm afraid it has come to that. Fear and uncertainty have grown these last years, and your arrival was like a current of hope passing through. Now they feel betrayed. Bitter. I had hoped my reassurance that they would not be forgotten would be enough, but it isn't, and I could not think of what else to do. My Shaman is with the people now, he is using his magic to help restrain the violence, but it is becoming too much for him."
"This is all my fault." Ginny's chest squeezed painfully tight, the dread and guilt a terrible anchor of weight. "What- what can I do?"
"Come with me," the Queen said quickly, "tell my people what you have told me. Reassure them you haven't doomed them. Tell you are not so selfish as to do that to the very ones who cared for you. Come with me and tell them yourself, help the Shaman restore faith in the Merpeople."
Ginny's gaze fell. The words stung deeply. "I'll talk to them... I'll try to explain. The ritual is at midnight, I have a little bit longer before I need to go."
"Come now, then," the Queen grasped her wrist tightly, "quickly."
Ginny was pulled away by the Queen, towards the village, afraid of what she might see when they arrived, and of what the Merpeople would do when they saw her.
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He knew they must be getting close.
After swimming for what felt like hours, Harry could see the lake bed finally rising up to meet them. Light from the surface faded away, and only their brightly lit wands allowed them to see. The uneven and jagged ground was menacing, and the expanse of sand scattered between the serrated rocks looked like illustrations from a fantasy world brought to life. He half-expected to see a sunken ship buried in the sand or broken artifacts scattered across the expanse. But the sharp rocks hid neither ship nor artifact, just a looming emptiness. Ginny had said there were villages- several of them-all teeming with life. Aside from a few deep-water fish that skittered out of sight as they approached, the area seemed desolate.
"This isn't it," Harry said as he waved his wand so the light penetrated further into the water, "let's keep going."
"Which way?" Ron asked.
"Doesn't matter," Blake said cheerfully, gliding casually through the water, "they'll find us before we find them. They probably already know we're here. Delightfully elusive creatures. D'you know, years ago my best mate and I swore we'd both get a kiss from a Mermaid before we turned 30."
Ron raised his eyebrows in annoyance. "Aren't you like, fifty or something?"
Blake whirled around. "I am not!"
"And you haven't done it yet, have you? I bet your mate hasn't either."
"Oh good ol' Roger, bless him. He was never the same after he lost that buttock. I've never kept my wand in my back pocket since."
Ron snorted, releasing a large bubble. "Please. Everyone and their uncle spread that rumor in fourth year-"
"Well, you tell that to Roger and the remaining half of his arse!"
"I'm talking to an arse right now!"
"Enough!" Harry rounded on the pair, holding up a webbed hand to quiet them. "Shut up for two seconds, will you?"
Ron and Blake immediately quieted at his serious look. Even with the noise of their bickering, Harry knew they were being watched. No person or creature was in sight, but eyes were following their every move. It seemed that Connor Blake was right- the Merpeople knew they were here. The three gripped their wands a bit tighter, before Harry made a motion with his hand. If they weren't going to show themselves, then it was time to keep moving.
The water was feeling heavier, making their movements slower and more deliberate. Harry's pulse was a drum in his chest- there was something up ahead, and he was being pulled towards it like a magnet. They soon swam through the sharp rocks, and the earth flattened into a wide plain of sand. In the distance, were a dozen or so Merpeople hovering above the sand, yellow eyes locked on their approach. Moving closer, trying to swim slowly and calmly, Harry saw that each pair of hands held a spear. The moment he noticed the spears, they were pointed in their direction. A warning. Relaxing his arms and legs, he stopped swimming, gesturing for Ron and Connor Blake to do the same.
"Ow! Oh my- hello there!" Blake's cheery voice garbled behind him. "That's awfully sharp now, isn't it?"
More Merpeople had appeared behind them, and both Ron and Blake had a weapon held against their neck. Not daring to use his wand against them, Harry raised his hands calmly. Answers would not be found if he rendered them unconscious or dead. But were these Merpeople friend or foe?
"I'm not here to fight," he said evenly. "My friend is missing. I just want to find her."
The Merpeople in front of him buzzed with whispers in Mermish, before a large male drew closer. The eerie skin of his face was marred with scratches. Fresh ones. For a heart-stopping moment, Harry imagined Ginny's nails raking across the face in front of him as he restrained her against her will. But the scratches were large- far too large to have been from Ginny's small hands. The Merman pointed his spear so the tip was inches from Harry's face.
"Name, boy."
"I need to speak to-"
"Name!" The spear was millimeters away.
Harry looked the male in the eye. "My name is Harry Potter," more hissing erupted among the Merpeople. They were tense and on edge, looking around warily as if expecting more visitors. Sirius' voice spoke in his head- Tread carefully, both in words and how you say them. Advice he'd heard a dozen times in training, but they rang true. He chose his words carefully. "I need to speak to Queen Merneith. It's very important I meet with her. She is expecting me."
The Merman lowered his spear slightly, and two more swam up to flank him. More Mermish was exchanged between them, with one of the three gesturing emphatically to the wand in Harry's hand. An agreement appeared to have been reached. The Merman retracted his spear and pointed it to the distance.
"Come," he growled and began swimming in the direction he pointed.
All the weapons had been lowered, and the Merpeople followed the lead of the Merman, swimming gracefully away. Glancing at Ron and Blake, Harry nodded toward the Merpeople.
"D'you think it's a trap?" Ron muttered as he swam up next to him.
Harry said nothing. Even if it was a trap, they had no choice but to spring it.
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"This way."
Ginny swam behind Queen Merneith, who was leading her towards the palace. Just before they reached the entrance, the Queen veered off and towards a cave in the distance. Ginny followed, squinting her eyes to see the rocky entrance. A slight glow was coming from deep within. Was that where the violence was occurring? Drawing nearer, she could see markings around the mouth of the cave, symbols she did not recognize. No Merpeople were visible, nor was there any sound. The cave appeared more ominous than it had from a distance. Ginny hesitated, feeling uneasy. She didn't want to go any closer. "What is this place?"
"We have no time, Íde ." The Queen grasped her wrist, pulling her into the mouth of the cave. "Quickly, now."
They swam through the entrance, a small corridor that barely fit them side-by-side. At the end of the corridor, the cave widened into a large chamber- large enough to fit dozens of Merpeople. Ginny's gaze immediately went to the center of the chamber. At first, it seemed they had swam into some kind of temple. In the middle of the room was a dais, with what looked like a crude altar in the middle, heavily marked with symbols and runes. Water herbs and plants grew in urns surrounding the altar. Sitting on the altar itself was a small cluster of green flames- the source of light. It was beautiful, and certainly magical, she stared at it for several moments before tearing her gaze away. Studying her surroundings, she nearly jumped out of her skin when she looked to one end of the chamber and saw they were not alone. A Mermaid hovered silently, with her head bowed. The stillness was unnatural, and then Ginny realized that the Mermaid's wrists were bound. Scraps of cloth were hanging off her shoulders, deep scratches on the green skin beneath. A rope was wrapped around her tail, anchoring her to the rocky floor. Heart jumping into her throat, Ginny swam quickly to the bound Mermaid, touching her softly on the arm.
"Hello?" She whispered, but the Mermaid did not stir. Ginny clutched her shoulders and gently shook her. "Are you alright? Can you hear me?" The Mermaid's head lolled lifelessly as she shook her. "Something's wrong," she shouted over her shoulder to the Queen, "She's hurt badly, and she won't wake! We have to help her!" Turning back to the Mermaid's bowed head, she carefully placed her hands around her and lifted her face. Something terrible had happened to her. "It's alright, we're going to get help. Try to open your eyes. Wake up, please wake-" Ginny's throat closed off mid-sentence, words stuttering to a halt. The face she held in her hands was battered and bruised, long hair tangled and disheveled. But underneath the injuries, the face she was gaping at in horror- in confusion- was one she knew well.
"My-my Queen?" She whispered.
The battered Mermaid's eyelids fluttered and cracked lips moved in whispered Mermish. "Little one."
Little one.
But- this was impossible. If this bound Mermaid was the Queen, then who- ? She whirled around to where the other Queen Merneith had been, only to find herself face-to-face with her. The other Queen smiled, and it was unpleasant to behold- wide and unnatural. An imposter. The Mermaid towered over her, and cold fear trickled down Ginny's spine.
"Íde," the false Queen spoke in a deep voice. "The hour is late. We must begin."
Ginny backed away. "Begin? I don't- I don't understand…" She was confused. Terrified. Her mind struggled to reconcile what she was seeing. The pieces were there, but she couldn't seem to fit them together. "Begin what? Who are you?"
"You shall see. Tonight is Imbolc, after all."
"How do you know about Imbolc?"
The false Queen's smile turned menacing. "Là Fhèill Brìghde is sacred. A night of magical tides."
Magical tides?
"Tell me what's happening!" Ginny demanded, gesturing toward the injured Queen. "Did you hurt her? I know she is the true Queen. Who are you? Show me your true form."
A slow laugh bellowed from the false Queen. With a wave of the staff she held in her hand, her features distorted and blurred, the magical farce falling away. Ginny reeled back in horror as the skin on the Mermaid's face appeared to melt. As it sloughed off, a dark, elderly face was revealed in its stead, yellow eyes gleaming in triumph.
Ginny's stomach plummeted. The moment she had understood what had happened was also the moment she knew it was too late. Never- ever- would she have thought anyone capable of hurting Queen Mernieth. Especially him. The realization of the situation was a painful blow to her chest. She couldn't keep the despair out of her voice when she spoke.
"What have you done?"
The Shaman smiled wickedly, a madness in his face. He did not answer but began waving a hand and chanting in Mermish. The water began to pulse and hum with magic, and the Shaman briefly closed his eyes. Seizing the opportunity, Ginny turned and swam as fast as her tail would take her towards the only exit. More laughter rumbled and she crashed into an invisible barrier, making her momentarily disoriented. A pair of hands seized her painfully- hands that were younger and stronger than the Shaman. Djet whipped her around roughly, his face grim. Ginny screamed, flailing and clawing at Djet to be released. He dragged her back towards the Shaman who still chanted. She didn't stop struggling, didn't stop screaming, until something struck her heavily on the back of her head, making the world stop. Stars erupted behind her eyes, her body jolted and froze with shock and pain from the blow, before going limp. She fought to stay conscious, but her muscles became heavy and sluggish, her vision fading away. As the darkness rose around her, she felt ropes around her wrists.
It had all been a trap, and now it was too late- the trap had sprung with her in it, and she could only blame herself. Harry wouldn't know what had happened to her, would probably never find her, and even if he did it was too late. She had ruined everything.
The darkness finally claimed her and the Shaman was still laughing as she succumbed to it.
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TBC
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