CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
It was not a stretch to say that St. Mungo's Janus Thickney Ward had seen less tumultuous days, even in the cases of their most damaged patients. Ambrose and Bradley were getting severely on Philip's nerves, and it wasn't every day that the Healer wished it was ethical to put two patients under a Sleeping Charm without their consent or knowledge, or to at least knock them out for a couple of hours. However, ever since Healer Wilkins had mandated a two day rest for both of the men before any letter would be sent to Hogwarts, both men had tried their level best to essentially bully their caretakers into rescinding that decision. Both Ambrose and Bradley would barely touch their food, would only take their potions under supervision and had tried several times to visit other wards. Emma had practically glued them to their beds for that. It wasn't helping that both men slept terribly each night, waking at ungodly hours screaming the ward down to the point heavy Silencing Charms needed to be put around their beds to ensure their ward mates could get some sleep.
On Sunday morning, the routine continued. Both of the gentlemen refused to go and take a shower as Emma instructed and had said that they would take one later. When Emma tried to bribe them with coffee and cake from the canteen on the fifth floor, both Ambrose and Bradley had given her sassy looks that translated clearly to, 'woman, do you think we are that stupid?'
"We refuse to shower until you get in touch with that Cursebreaker and her friends," they continued to insist. "For the thousandth time, it's a matter of life and death! We need to talk to them – now!"
By this point, Philip, Emma and many of the other Healers had begun to lose the will to continue to wage this battle of wills. The two men were absolutely set in their ways, adamant they had something of import to tell three seventeen-year-olds; Healer Wilkins had been wrecking his brain about what it could be, but couldn't for the life of him comprehend what these strange men could have to say to a young fledgling, freelance Cursebreaker. Perhaps the Dark magic had damaged the senses of the men in more ways than one!
Whatever delusion the men were living under, it had made them very set on speaking to the children who saved them. It was now definitely not something Wilkins could simply delay. Once more, Wilkins was hosting a meeting in his office to discuss the matter with several of the exhausted Healers and their intern present.
"I have to be honest, sir, I do not have the energy to keep fighting these two," Philip confessed. He was sitting in one of the chairs in front of his superior's desk, his head in his hands. "I cannot take much more of this, and I am used to being attacked by Patricia, for Morgana's sake!"
"I say, we humour them," Alison Hightower stated with a tone of almost finality. "It will spare us further arguments."
"But they are still not well!" Emma protested, shaking her head in disbelief. "Forgive me, Healer Hightower, if I am interfering above my station, but the effects of the Dark magic that was inflicted on them lingers still-"
"Emma, I have a feeling that the effects of the Dark magic used to lock them into that portrait will never truly leave them," Philip pointed out, looking quite grave as he raised his head once more to look at his intern. "They were inside for too long. I think we should ask the children to visit, but make sure that a parent or guardian accompanies them on the trip."
"I agree," Simon Carstairs, who had been pacing up until this point, concurred firmly. "The other patients need rest, and they are not going to get it with two jumpy and irritated ward mates to deal with. It is in their interest as well that we indulge these two so that they can all get back to focusing on healing."
Healer Wilkins nodded. "Agreed. I will get in touch with Headmaster Dippet and see to the arrangements."
Emma still was not convinced that this was the most prudent course of action but she knew that she was overruled and held her tongue. The only conciliation she had was that when she informed both John Doe One and Two that contact would be made with the children's school, they immediately acquiesced to take a shower and afterwards, ate their food without complaint and joined in the wards' arts and crafts session without so much as a frown or a glare shot at the Healers. The other Healers breathed a sigh of relief.
However there was one thought in both Philip and Emma's minds that simply still did not leave despite this change: what could be so damn important that those two could only tell three children who were strangers to them?
####################
In the early hours of Sunday morning, close to six o'clock, Harry left her dorm room under her Invisibility Cloak, with her weapons in order to do some training of her own. Thanatos, Hypnos and Melinoë may have decided to give her break for a bit, but that didn't mean Harry could start slacking. Harry knew the penalty for that, and it was not one she was willing to pay again. As Harry made the journey from the dungeons to the Room of Requirement, she took great joy in taking in the early morning sun and hearing the first bird song and Thestral calling of the day. True, she did not get much sleep since she and Orion had been discussing the theories behind their business, should they join forces, quite late into the night and helping Altair with his homework but Harry found she had not woken groggily at all.
The Room of Requirement had come equipped with different statues and fake foes made out of different types of stone, ranging from human to undead. Harry had tried her hand at Animancy first, once again finding she had very little trouble animating the smaller creatures. The hippogriff had taken ten minutes to animate on this particular try, but still Harry found that she could not muster up enough will or power to wake the sleeping dragon statue, which caused her no certain amount of frustration, especially since she tried at least five times to try and wake the dragon but each time, Harry felt barely a spark ignite inside the statue. The life force she needed for the dragon was clearly more powerful than anything she could conjure at present.
Instead of dwelling on it for too long, Harry moved on to her combat and Spirit Weapon training. As soon as she did, some of the dummy foes came to life, the humans drawing their wands and the vampires and ghouls lunging like hungry wolves. Harry sent a non-verbal Old English Stunning spell at the humans, flinging them up into the air, before slashing her Spirit Dagger in the air, calling forth the artic fox. She acrobatically dodged the attack, but not before her right arm got slashed by one of the lookalike ghouls. The artic fox engaged to the ghouls while Harry summoned Soul Fire and began syphoning it and turned them into fireballs the size of oranges and hurled them at the charging vampires. One dodged, but the other was hit squarely, and was promptly reduced to dust. Harry's sharpened senses told her the counterfeit humans had recovered, which led her to summon a Protego diabolica around her again. The spells were deflected with ease and the mock-up vampire, not as intelligent as its real life counterparts, walked straight into the purple flames and too was reduced to nothing but ash. The artic fox, who had dealt with the ghouls by now, charged the humans, disorientating them enough for Harry to throw a couple of her daggers towards where she knew some vital organs would be. Upon lethal blows, the fake humans too burst into piles of dust and ash. The artic fox yapped in triumph before returning to the dagger.
Harry, after round one, laughed quietly to herself. "You don't go easy on me," she said to the Room. "Good. I like that."
Pushing yourself again, I hear.
Harry chuckled. Morning, Tosti. Didn't take you for a morning god.
I usually am not. Hemera is my half-sister; she's always insufferably punctual, the god of death grumbled. By the way, we have decided it is best to train you on Friday evenings and Saturday evenings. Does that sound good to you?
Perfect, Harry agreed as she unsheathed her rapier. Hey Tosti, may I ask you something?
Fire away, Mistress.
Could you bring me one or two more souls you think I can work with? I have been really struggling with bringing some of the bigger creatures to life, and I was thinking maybe working with some more unruly souls could help.
I think you may be right. I will ask Melinoë to see what she can find for you.
Thank you, Thanatos.
You're welcome. Don't strain yourself too much.
Harry didn't even roll her eyes as she felt the Link close again. It was nice, having someone who actually cared about her welfare first. True, Molly Weasley had treated her like a second daughter, but apparently not enough to make note to anyone that the Dursleys had put bars on her bedroom windows when she was twelve. Harry's divine friends and portrait family were already in a tiff after she had fainted!
Harry turned to see a mock-up human draw his own rapier and bow to her respectfully. Harry returned the gesture and began sparring with the magical simulation for a good half an hour. She suspected the gentleman was perhaps endowed with the skills of a musketeer because he was more than a match for her novice tactics, but Harry was pleased to note that the battle was not one sided, ever. Both got decent hits in; she was faster on her feet than the dummy human and could think more creatively. It was when Harry had managed to trip the fake up and point her rapier at its chest that it disappeared like all the other fakes into dust.
Harry was by now breathing quite heavily, knowing fully well she was in need of a good shower before breakfast. She took her scythe in her hands and twirled it around a bit, swishing the blade through the air and practising high and low cuts. True, fighting with a scythe was not ideal but Harry still wanted to make the weapon work somehow.
"What to do with you," she muttered to herself. "Death Infusion would be too stereotypical and I don't want that for you. Hmm, I'll think of something eventually."
By now, Harry's ability to sense life forces around the castle were so sharp, she felt some of them begin to move. A Tempus told her it was almost eight, about ten minutes to the hour, and so Harry, cloaked, made her way back to the Slytherin dungeons, using a secret passage or two to make her journey shorter and sneaked her way through the common room. When Harry got to her dorms, the other girls had only begun to awaken. Fortunately all four were groggy enough for Harry to quickly dump her stuff back into her trunk without them noticing too much.
"Morning, girls! Scotland has been blessed with a rare bout of autumn sun," Harry stated cheerily, gathering some clean clothes and heading to the bathroom to take a shower.
"How are you awake already?" Druella demanded, shaking her head in disbelief, half of her bedhead covering her face. "It's Sunday, you mad woman!" she yelled after Harry even as she heard the bathroom door close.
"I will never understand her," Walburga agreed, sitting up as Seraphina stretched, Athenaïs jumped down for her perch easily and Sigyn yawned loudly and rolled over in her bed.
"I have given hope regarding that already, I suggest you do the same," Ygraine sighed as she heaved herself into a sitting position as well, hearing Harry singing in the shower. She laughed with mirth as both Ophelia and Sigyn began bobbing their heads to the song Harry was singing, mostly because Ophelia's curls were bouncing up and down in front of her face.
Harry came out washed, dressed and hair brushed, whistling, humming and doing a small silly dance. She then flopped back down onto her bed, patting an entertained Athenaïs, who was watching her with a looking of amusement. Harry picked up her extensive pile of parchment that was her Herbology dissertation and continued on said Ashwinder dissertation while she waited for the girls to get ready for breakfast, wishing she had a radio to put some music on. Ophelia was the next girl to take control of the bathroom, followed by Walburga, Ygraine and then Druella. Sigyn tolerated a grooming from Ophelia before the witches set off for breakfast.
"I am glad you're in such high spirits," Druella commented to Harry with a grin.
"Did some morning training," Harry informed her with a grin. "I didn't feel any lingering tiredness, so I thought why not?"
Orion and Altair met them in the common room, with the boys telling the girls that Dolohov and Malfoy had all but ignored them the night before and that Rosier had been spookily friendly to Orion – he had willingly given Somnus some food and had managed to get the owl to stay awake for more than five minutes! He had read a story to Orion's familiar, one of Orion's Classics; something that not even Orion had ever done before.
"My brother has well and truly lost it," Druella had decided very quickly.
Harry didn't think it was as sudden or stupid as some of her friends did. Rosier wasn't stupid; he saw Altair hanging with their group more and actively breaking from the Knights, away from Rosier. Rosier was buying his way back into Altair's good books, through Orion and Somnus. It was obvious; cute, but embarrassingly obvious.
At least breakfast passed in relative peace – well, there was an argument between Artemis, Minerva and some of the other Gryffindors about who would win in a duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald. Altair, Harry, Orion and Loreley wisely kept out of the discussion. Harry noted that Loreley wasn't sitting with her usually whimsical expression, but rather with one that was quite dark and heavy.
Oh no. That spelled trouble; the premonition she had must have been rather dark.
Harry pushed that thought aside for a moment and decided to try and distract Loreley from whatever premonition she had. "Hey, Loreley. Orion and I were discussing our possible business partnership last night. We decided that it would be best that we keep Gringotts as a client and ally rather than working always directly for the goblins."
"It gives us a little more freedom to take other clients," Orion added with a small smile. "We also want to make connections with the Muggle Relations department of the Ministry in order to stay in the loop if the Muggles ever find anything … untoward."
"It seems you are much more taken with the idea than before," Altair commented as he popped a piece of pineapple from his fruit salad into his mouth.
"I am still not entirely sure what my father will think, but I … find that I am not against the idea at all," Orion answered with a wider grin.
"Orion and Harry, business partners?" Artemis squealed, forgetting her croissant in an instant. "Now, that is what I am talking about! I would back that endeavour, and I have no idea what kind of business you two want to go into."
"Cursebreaking and Warding," Altair informed her with a slight grin.
Artemis lit up further. "Sold! Have you come up with a catchy name yet?"
"Not yet. We played around with some names yesterday but nothing stuck," Harry sighed as she sipped her coffee.
Loreley suddenly lifted her head and a sliver of her old self came back into place. "Scythe and Raven Cursebreaking and Warding," she uttered in a manner that made a shiver run down Harry's spine.
Harry felt her heart stop for a moment. Orion's face lit up, and even Altair gaped. Artemis was grinning like the cat who caught the mouse. It was like a eureka moment, and one that would have a huge impact.
"It's perfect," Orion breathed out. "There is nothing more I can say to that. Perfect."
"Absolutely," Harry agreed, laughing shortly. "Scythe and Raven Cursebreaking and Warding it is!"
Loreley looked at Harry. "Have you got any plans today, Harry?"
"None. I will continue doing my work and some reviewing later, but other than that I deliberately didn't plan anything," Harry answered as she tucked into her boiled egg. "Why?"
"Well, I was wondering if you would like to join me for another Thestral ride? It is very fine out today," Loreley asked, looking very hopeful.
Harry nodded. "Sure. I'd like that."
"You girls have fun with that!" Altair shook his head. "Thestral riding – whatever next, swimming races with the merpeople?"
Artemis rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Nott. Don't be so dramatic."
"I just find it a little strange, is all," Altair responded slightly defensively. "I am going to be spending most of my day on my own dissertation for Herbology. I have barely managed to get to 2500 words!"
"I will join your little homework club," Orion informed with a smile. "I want to see if I can find some extra reading on creative Charms in the library."
Artemis sighed. "I suppose I will join you. I haven't even started two of my essays yet and they are due tomorrow."
"Oh, Artemis!" Minerva scolded.
The Potter girl exhaled sharply in irritation. "Yeah, yeah, I know! 'We are in our seventh year and I need to become more responsible'; I know."
Harry chuckled at Artemis and Minerva's antics; sometimes they reminded her of her own relationship with Hermione. Yet, curiously, when Harry thought about that, instead of feeling pain, all she felt was a melancholy nostalgia.
Straight after breakfast, Loreley and Harry made their way down towards the patch of Forest where the Thestrals grazed. On the way, they stopped by Ogden's house to say hello and have a quick cup of tea, despite having a few at breakfast. Neither of the girls could turn down the groundskeeper's polite offer of tea, or stories about his late wife. Once the girls arrived, the Thestrals who recognised them immediately came to greet them warmly.
As they mounted two of the most eager of the Thestrals to fly, Harry looked to Loreley. "Not that I am glad to be able to do this again, why did you ask to fly with me?"
"I'll tell you once we're up in the air," Loreley reassured cryptically.
The two girls urged their spooky steeds forward, and the two Thestrals leapt into an eager gallop before spreading their bat-like wings and taking to the sky. Harry laughed as the wind wrapped around her, sweeping her hair back. Once the Thestrals were in an easy glide, Loreley turned to look at her friend. "They want to see us."
Harry knew immediately who Loreley was talking about. "The two men? What about?"
"That part I did not See, but all I know that it will lead you back to the Continent. A battle ensues," Loreley replied, looking grave. "Grindelwald will become more interested in you than ever before."
Harry licked her dried up lips, trying to ignore the pounding of her heart. "Did you See anything else?"
"Nothing concrete," Loreley responded. "My visions are not always definite, much like Fate itself. Some things are left in the balance, and some are as clear as cut glass. All I know is that you are coming to your own crossroads, Mistress of Death. Orion is at his but yours is fast approaching."
"What crossroads?" Harry wanted to know curiously.
"You need to decide," Loreley replied rather smally. "Between whom you are and who you were. You need to decide who Harry is."
Harry blanched, clearly not expected that answer. "What? But … I am just me."
Loreley smiled at her. "This is why we love you, you know," she stated candidly, which made Harry catch her breath in surprise. "For all the power you have, what you have been through, you never once let it corrupt what is truly in your heart. But you are not 'just you' – there is more than one of you."
"Not that I know of," Harry frowned. "Loreley, you know who I am. What I am. Why can't you just tell me what you know?"
The silvery blue orbs of the Seer met Harry's peridot green ones at this point.
"Because like you, I am bound by rules set by the Three Weavers," Loreley replied as the Thestrals took a turn around Hogwarts. "As your friend, I have the need and duty to warn you that a reckoning is fast approaching. But as a Seer, I cannot say more than that."
Harry sighed in frustration but she nodded. "I understand. I wish I didn't, but I do."
"I know you do. Only you could, other than Abraxas and my mother," Loreley grinned.
Harry honestly had no good answer to that. She wanted a straight answer, for once, but knew that Seers were forced to be cryptic. The Moirai were not simply going to allow a mere mortal to know the full truth of the matter. The Traveller was momentarily distracted by the sight of her Gargouille elegantly catching a sparrow that had landed on her snout. Athenaïs really was a poised and deadly huntress.
"What would you have done, in my position?" Harry found herself asking Loreley candidly.
Loreley scoffed. "In all honesty, I would have likely lost my mind by now. To lose friends and family, and then find oneself in a completely different time period … anyone with lesser resilience would have crumbled to pieces."
Harry flushed bright red.
"Harry, may I offer some advice?"
Harry nodded. "Always."
Loreley's eyes danced. "Hear the serpents out."
The Traveller frowned but knew better than to question it. The Thestrals soon made their descent back down towards their piece of the Forest, urged by Loreley and Harry. Once back on the ground and heading out of the Forest, both girls walked in complete silence, taking in the October sun and each other's company. As they made their way back to the castle, a velvety call ran out from behind and reached their ears very clearly. "Harry! Could you wait for a moment?"
Harry stopped in her tracks, felt her heart skip a beat and turned around to see Tom Riddle approach her from where he and his Knights had been sitting at the side of the Black Lake. The Knights, who all had books on their laps, were watching Riddle and Harry. She was too far to see what their facial expressions were, but she was willing to guess at interested, eager or disgusted.
"I have nothing to say to you, Riddle," Harry replied coolly. "I do not know who cursed your hair or your books and even if I did, I would not tell you-"
A pleading expression entered those cursed burgundy orbs. "I don't care about the pranks," he cut in. "I promise I have no ill will against you – I just … need to talk to you."
Harry wasn't convinced, but the butterflies in her stomach made her look back at Loreley, who had a knowing look in her eyes.
Harry wanted to grumble. Bloody Seers and their stupid Eye.
"What is it, Riddle?" Harry demanded coldly.
Tom swallowed and fidgeted slightly, his fingers subconsciously playing around with the Gaunt ring on his hand. "As I said, I was wondering if I may have a moment of your time. There is something I … would like to say."
Harry scoffed, folding her arms. "What makes you think I want to hear anything you have to say?" she sneered angrily.
"Because I am a humongous idiot," Riddle's candid response took Harry more than by surprise, "and I wish to express my side of the grotesque miscalculation I made and the deep regret I have for it."
Harry's jaw clenched and she looked once more to Loreley, who shot Harry a wink. The Lady Regnant rolled her eyes, which flashed silver momentarily in annoyance. "Loreley, I will catch up with you," Harry stated, already slightly regretting her decision when she saw the delight in Riddle's eyes.
"See you soon, Harry," Loreley sang as she left.
Harry turned her attention back to the person she had promised to somehow redeem. "Talk," she ordered.
"Would you take a turn with me along the Black Lake?" Riddle asked amicably. "I know you and … Loreley just flew over it – we saw you, you know, just not your steeds as well – but it is rather pretty in the rare Scottish sun."
Harry wanted to refuse, but at the same time she was rather curious at what Riddle had to say for himself so she followed his lead, much to the baby Dark Lord's relief. As soon as he was sure that they were out of ear shot, Riddle spoke again. "Did you have a good flight?"
Harry snorted. "It was refreshing and illuminating, which is more than I can say for your opening question."
Riddle rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling awkwardly. "Forgive me, I thought small talk might break the ice a bit."
"Ice you were responsible for making," Harry countered with a mirthless chuckle.
Riddle tried to look confused. "What are you-"
"Don't act like you're surprised by the accusation. You were responsible for my exile. Plus, do you honestly think I don't know about Avery's little spy ring?" Harry cut across with venom dripping in her tone. Riddle stopped short in his tracks, looking shocked. Harry stopped a few paces away from him, and smirked slightly in satisfaction.
"You found out," Riddle observed, sounding as though he was more affirming it for himself than anything else.
"Yes, thanks to a certain Gryffindor doppelgänger of mine," Harry informed, folding her arms once more. "So, what excuse have you got lined up for defending your actions?"
Riddle swallowed and leaned against a nearby tree. "There isn't one excuse or explanation that I can offer," he responded with a small sigh. "It wasn't one factor – there was a major one but I will admit the rest could be considered petulant," he at least had the decency to hang his head momentarily in shame. "My friends – as you probably have noticed, they all come from some powerful and prominent families with their own unique talents. Rosier is one of them, and well, for one reason or the other, he saw your growing fondness of Nott as a threat. I still do not understand it myself but, that day when he put that Ill Health Curse on you and after his altercation with Nott, I promised him I would deal with his problem for him."
"Me," Harry growled, her eyes flashing silver. "You promised to deal with me."
Riddle gulped. "Yes," he confirmed readily. "That was the … primary factor for what we did. But on a more personal level, when Avery informed us of who you really are, I admit that, at least on my part, that I was actually not only shocked, but rather hurt and jealous."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Hurt and jealous?" she repeated incredulously. Baby Voldemort was jealous of her?! And hurt?!
"Indeed. Hurt that you had not trusted us with your secret, despite us trying to welcome you into the House and prove to you that we would be your new family," Riddle continued, beginning to pace. "You told us your parents were dead, and then discovering that your father was actually alive – it didn't sit well with many in the House."
"Fleamont Potter is not my father," Harry snarled. "He means nothing to me! I don't care what rights his recognition would bestow me; I do not want them. Fleamont did not raise me, thus he has no right to know me."
"I understand that, Harry, but illegitimacy is a touchy subject for purebloods as it does not work in the same way as with the Muggles," Riddle pointed out. "You in theory have more rights and power than even Artemis-"
"And she's legitimate, I know. I have heard this before," Harry stated coolly. "I still don't see why you should be affronted as well, because as far as I know, you are a half-blood."
"I was not affronted because of the pureblood laws surrounding heirships. I just … didn't understand you. You're a Potter by blood, and that means something here. We could not understand why someone would not wish to claim this right," Riddle continued. "It just made no sense."
"Maybe because I don't care about the power it would afford me," Harry countered. "Maybe I prize loyalty and family over blood and status." Her eyes bled silver fully this time. "Plus, have any of you even considered for a moment that perhaps it was none of your FUCKING BUSINESS?!"
The wind suddenly picked up heavily. Harry ignored it as she stared down a wide-eyed Riddle. "I have been hunted since I was a child. My family have been persecuted for their use of what the Light deem unnatural magic, and for the Dark to try and use what we have for their own selfish gain! To be a Peverell is a fucking death sentence, I never once considered Fleamont Potter my father, and you're surprised that I didn't tell you? I didn't trust you! I trusted no one! The only reason the girls found out was because Sigyn was being a little cow and Orion knew about my bastardy because I accidentally told him."
"Black knew?" Riddle looked like he couldn't believe his ears.
Harry sighed. "That I am a bastard, yes. To which House, no. As for who my father is, James Peverell-Evans is my father and no one, not even Fleamont bloody Potter will change that! This may surprise you, Riddle, but contrary to what your friends tell you, a father is someone who loves and cares for you, not simply the man who helped create you."
That answer kept Riddle silent for a good minute.
"I understand why you did it," Riddle whispered, "I do now. As do the others. We are a nosy lot by nature in Slytherin and you are this enigma that when you think you have solved one part of it, an equally troubling and challenging puzzle presents itself. Frankly, Harry, none of us knew, or know still, how to deal with it."
"And that is supposed to excuse you ruining my reputation, possibly exposing me to the Potters and – worse – to Grindelwald himself should any of them catch wind of what happened?" Harry sneered.
"No," Riddle replied placatingly but firmly. "It doesn't, which is why we will be cleaning up our mess."
Harry blinked at him. "Sorry, what?"
"Well, it is what we are taught very early on: if you make a mess, you clean up after yourself. So that is what we will do," Riddle clarified brightly, his charming smile back on his countenance for the first time in the argument.
Harry scoffed at him, shaking her head at him. "You really are delusional. It's a little too late for that."
"Are you sure?" Riddle's burgundy eyes danced. "Because I promise you that no one outside of Hogwarts will know you are either a Potter or a Peverell by Friday."
Harry genuinely laughed at him. "Good luck with that!"
"Please?" once more Harry was taken off guard by Tom Marvolo Riddle practically begging. It was disconcerting. Voldemort would never have begged for anything. "I am asking for a chance to make it up to you."
"Do what you like; you do so anyway," Harry fired back almost dismissively. "But if you think I am just going to trust you again after this, you have another thing coming."
"But you will allow us to try and win it back?" Riddle asked eagerly.
Harry hated to admit it, but Riddle's puppy-like expression was almost as potent as Altair's. "You can try," she replied as coolly as she could manage. "But I refuse to give even half of my trust you or any of the others unless you too open up slightly."
"Very well," Riddle didn't look to happy about that prospect, but Harry didn't care. "That is a fair deal to me. But I ask you to be patient with us. We are not an open lot by nature."
"Gee, I hadn't noticed," Harry responded sarcastically. "Because I have been here for almost two months and I still don't know anything personal from more than half my year group, not counting the girls because I live with them and pick up on minor things."
"My favourite colour is blue," Riddle supplied her with a grin.
Harry sighed, grumbling under breath. "You're bloody unbelievable!"
Riddle had a look of faux offense etched onto his countenance. "What? It is! Plus you want to get to know your year mates so we might as well start now. No time like the present after all! My favourite animals are snakes, my favourite hobby-"
"Irritating people?" Harry guessed snarkily.
Riddle's eyes flashed with amusement. "No, reading. I also enjoy horse riding when I get the chance. My favourite season is autumn and my favourite subject is Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"Wow, Riddle the teacher's pet actually can pick a favourite," Harry commented with a tone of sarcastic teasing.
"Of course! I think you can guess why I love Defence so much," Riddle declared as they began to continue to make their journey along the Black Lake. "The strategies, different tactics, the creatures we learn to face and the different branches of magic we have to the potential to face. Nothing is predictable! It is my passion."
"You don't say," was all Harry managed to come back with, seeing an odd sparkle in the burgundy orbs of Tom Riddle. "Favourite kind of music?" she found herself asking, much to her own irritation.
Riddle's countenance morphed itself into an expression that could only be described as apologetic. "I … do not have a favourite kind of music. It has never been something I ever took an interest in. However, I must say I liked the song you sang to my snakes in our duel and the song you sang to lull Miss Prince to sleep that one time."
"Huh," Harry ducked her head to try and hide her flushed cheeks.
"What about you? Surely being musically inclined you know the branches of music well enough to have a favourite," Riddle smiled.
"With violins and fiddles, definitely folk music," Harry answered easily. "Singing, I do not have a preference. I just need to like the song and the rhythm of the accompanying music. But I am asking the questions here."
"Sorry. Next question?" Riddle asked innocently.
Harry was very much tempted to ask about his time at Wools Orphanage, but knew this was not the moment to ask about it, especially since she was still quite vexed at Riddle. "Greatest birthday wish?" was the next question that flew out of her mouth.
Riddle's countenance once more became rather conflicted. "That one is more complicated. I … used to wish for a family as a child. One I could spend Yule and my birthday with instead of at the orphanage but at around eight, I stopped wishing for that and started wishing to simply turn eighteen so that I could leave the orphanage myself. But as for present-presents, I always love a good book or something creatively made."
Harry nodded. "What do you define as 'creatively made'?"
"Objects forged from magic, art, an original story, a spell created by the person in question," Riddle listed. "Anything, really. Just as long as it is tasteful."
"Your birthday is December 31, right?"
Riddle looked surprised. "Yes, Midwinter. How did you know?"
Harry simply gave him a knowing smirk and strengthened her Occlumency shields. Looking back at her own time, Trelawney had in her own batty way confessed that she had known about the Horcrux inside Harry's head. Harry had remembered that Trelawney had asked if Harry was born at the end of December and the whole class laughing at her – as it turned out, Trelawney had addressed the Horcrux with that question.
"When is your birthday?" Riddle asked, clearly unable to resist digging for further information on Harry herself.
"July 31," Harry answered easily.
"Oh! We missed it," Riddle actually looked disappointed at hearing that!
Harry shrugged. "There's always next year," she told him. "OK," she started pondering on what to ask him next as they decided to head back towards where the Knights were waiting. "Dream job?"
Harry had her money on Minister for Magic and world domination.
I'm betting ten Galleons it isn't, she heard Thanatos snicker at the other end of the Link.
You're on, Harry replied.
She almost didn't catch the answer that lost her the bet. "Defence Against the Dark Arts professor."
Damn it.
Told you so!
Tosti, no one likes a gloater.
And you're a sore loser.
"A teacher?" Harry exclaimed. "But … why all the political connections if you don't have political ambitions?"
"I do have some," Riddle admitted. "But I really want to teach the next generation, passing knowledge on. Ideas. That is just as, if not more, powerful than being the Minister for Magic and looking out for wizarding interests in Great Britain." He grinned. "What about you? Is Cursebreaking with Gringotts your dream job?"
"It changed over the years," Harry replied. "When I was young I really wanted to do something with my music, especially when I learned the violin and the fiddle. But that changed as I got older. I wanted to become an Auror, mostly to irritate a few of my least favourite tutors – I never really found my niche until two months ago when Gringotts took me on." Harry chuckled lightly.
"An Auror … I could see that happening, given your talent in combat," Riddle confessed, though he didn't seem too happy about something. Harry could only guess at what. "But you would not take an Auror job if offered?"
Harry scoffed. "No! Not anymore. After the war, I think it is safe to say I will have had my filling of dealing with Dark wizards. I have no interest in hunting them down."
Riddle seemed very relieved to hear that. Harry almost rolled her eyes at this.
Harry then moved onto a different topic. "Is Frey your first familiar?"
"Frey? She is my first official familiar, yes," Riddle answered easily. "What about Athenaïs? Is she your first familiar?"
"No. My second," Harry swallowed. "My first familiar was a snowy owl called Hedwig. She was stunning and one of the first friends I ever had. She … died trying to protect me from the Dark Lord."
"Oh my … I am so sorry," Riddle genuinely looked and sounded apologetic. "Attacking a familiar: that is the height of cowardice."
Harry nodded curtly as they drew closer to the Knights. Rosier and Lestrange both gave her smiles in greeting. Dolohov and Malfoy avoided her gaze and Avery was plucking at the grass, clearly trying to not look directly at her either. Mulciber was looking out over the lake.
"Hey, Evans! You and Tom talked? We heard shouting at one point and the wind turned icy," Rosier said, trying to not sound as worried as he looked.
"We talked. It will take some time for all of you to be forgiven," Harry confirmed coolly. Rosier deflated under her steely gaze. "You may have been hurt or jealous or whatever, but how you treated me … how you treated Orion," she glared at Dolohov and Mulciber as she said this, "was utterly unacceptable. Clean up your mess for all I care; you two will apologise to Orion and you," Harry turned her Killing Curse-green eyes back onto Rosier, "will apologise to Altair for how you treated him as well."
"You're on a first name basis?" Rosier did nothing to disguise his shock; neither did Riddle or the Knights.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "As you can see. Apologise to him, Rosier. I don't care how or when. Just do it."
Rosier didn't even look like he had the energy to make a counter argument, simply nodding his head slowly, conceding whatever argument he had inside of his head.
"Why should he?" Dolohov sneered, causing Riddle to pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Why should I apologise to that weakling you have befriended, Peverell?"
Harry laughed at him coldly. "Because to every other sane person who witnessed your behaviour, it was utterly abominable what you were doing. Attacking Orion because he refused to divulge information? Really, Dolohov? You call that normal behaviour, do you?" she asked condescendingly. She then scoffed. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised; both you and Mulciber would happily dance on my mother's grave because of the fact she was born!"
The silver hue was back in Harry's eyes and the wind had picked up again. Dolohov and Mulciber had the decency to flinch at this.
"The apologies will be made," Riddle affirmed, an oath clearly embedded in his tone. "I will make sure of it."
"No," Harry countered. "Nothing less than genuine apologies will suffice in this matter. No coercion, nothing."
Mulciber paled at hearing this. Dolohov looked set to curse Harry.
The tension was cut, however, as itt was at this point Orion's silver dolphin Patronus swam up to the group and started dancing around Harry. "Harry, we are needed in Dippet's office as soon as possible! Apparently it is an urgent matter. Loreley and I have been summoned too."
Harry took a deep fortifying breath as the dolphin disappeared. She ignored the looks of curiosity and concern she was getting as she conjured Padfoot, who looked very eager to be delivering a message again. "Tell Orion I will be there as quickly as I can."
Padfoot woofed and leapt into silvery mist.
"Good luck," Lestrange gave her a reassuring smile.
Harry smiled back momentarily. "Thanks."
She gave Riddle a curt nod, which was returned, and turned tail and headed towards the castle as fast as her legs could carry her. Harry zoomed past students, up several different flights of moving staircases that stayed put for a little while longer to make sure she reached each landing safely and zig zagged between different groups of students to make sure she didn't mow any of them over, thus getting an earful from Prefects or the Head Girl. War and her friends caught Harry speeding but War only gave her a cheerful wave, not even contemplating enforcing the No-Running-in-Corridors rule. Harry raced down Gargoyle Corridor and skidded to a halt in front of Dippet's statue, where Loreley and Orion were waiting for her, seemingly timing how fast she would get there.
"Wow! A record seven minutes!" Orion cheered. "Well done! It's quite the journey from the grounds to here."
"I think if we keep this up Hogwarts might make an obstacle course just for the three of us," Loreley joked.
"I hope not! Those stairs are obstacles enough!" Harry laughed. She turned to the statue. "Kraken scales!"
The gargoyle once more moved aside to let the three students inside to the grand Headmaster's office. There Headmaster Dippet was waiting inside, together with – to all the children's surprise – Thanatos, disguised as Mr. Burke, a beautiful regal woman with blonde hair and bright electric blue eyes like Orion's who was dressed in a stunning gown of black with silver accents and raven feathers sewn into the shoulders and sleeves of her dress, and a woman with a fairy-like countenance, silver hair, impossibly yellow eyes and dressed in a dress of royal purple with golden creatures embroidered into the fabric.
Orion paled considerably and Loreley looked resigned.
"Mother!" Orion exclaimed. "Why are you here? Is Father all right?"
The Lady Melania Black smiled reassuringly at her son. "Everything is fine, my dear. Your father is well; tearing his hair out about a new piece of legislation and stressed about his Prewett alliance falling down the drain if Lucretia does not behave herself, but other than that he is in perfect health!"
"Then, may I inquire why you, Mr. Burke and the Lady Malfoy are here?" Orion asked nervously. "Is it our grades? Are they falling-"
"Mr. Black, I assure you that your current grades, Miss Evans' grades and Miss Malfoy's are more than satisfactory," Headmaster Dippet reassured immediately. "This morning, I received a correspondence from St. Mungo's Hospital. It seems that the two gentlemen you three saved are awake, and are insisting on meeting with all three of you."
"They want to meet us?" Harry exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Why? Whatever for?"
"That Healer Wilkins refused to say," Headmaster Dippet replied, looking quite vexed at that. "All he would say is that both gentlemen were rather … adamant that they had to speak with the three of you."
"Naturally under the law, while you are still at Hogwarts you are still seen as students, despite being legally off-age," Lady Malfoy continued serenely. "That is why we are here. As your parents and guardians, to escort you."
"And you agreed?" Orion could hardly believe his ears. "But all of you are busy-"
"We are never too busy for our children," Mr. Burke cut across gently, the two women nodding in agreement.
"We would have liked to be informed of your exploits through personal letters, rather than a Fire Call from the Headmaster," Lady Black grumbled. "Really, Orion! Do you wish for me to get a heart attack?"
"Apologies, Mother," Orion flushed.
"Well, I suppose the only consolation is that I officially get to become acquainted with Miss Hera Evans and her guardian," Lady Black stated brightly as she approached Harry and dipped a curtsey, as was customary for a Consort of another Lord to do to a Lady Regnant. "It is an honour to finally meet you, my Lady. Orion has spoken of nothing else since he met you on the Hogwarts Express and I must say you are even finer a lady than he described! My, your eyes are stunning. I dare say none of my emeralds shine like your eyes. Oh, and that scar! I am so sorry to hear about your family; war is such a terrible business. A child should not have to go through such things-"
"Melania, I think you should let the poor girl answer," the Lady Malfoy cut in, looking very amused.
Harry blinked in shock; she could see where Orion got all his abundant energy from! Thanatos watched with a face splitting grin. "Thank you, my Lady. I am very pleased to meet you. Orion has been telling me some family stories," she answered truthfully.
"About my daughter Lucretia no doubt," Lady Black sighed. "I despair at that girl sometimes. I have no idea where she gets her wilfulness from!"
Lady Malfoy gave her friend a pointed look. "You do not? Melania, really? It is clear that she gets that from you! When you and Arcturus first started courting, you rejected him the first time, saying 'I would not wed a proud specimen like yourself even if you were the last man on earth'."
"Ah, yes! I did say that," Lady Black smiled nostalgically. "In my defence, he really was the most prideful man I had ever come across back then."
The children couldn't help but start giggling at the shocked expression on the Headmaster's face, the faces of some of the portraits and Lady Malfoy shaking her head at her friend's antics. Loreley and Abraxas' mother then turned her attention onto Harry herself and curtseyed to her. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, my Lady. I am Praxilla Malfoy; I always await my son and daughter's tales of you with great interest!"
Harry blushed crimson as she bowed her head in formal acknowledgement to the Lady Malfoy. "You are too kind, Lady Malfoy. I am pleased to meet you as well."
Praxilla Malfoy beamed. "Now, shall we get going? I think we have kept those gentlemen in suspense for long enough. The three of you can tell us the whole story on the way."
"You can Apparate outside Hogwarts' new wards," the Headmaster informed, still shaking slightly as Mr. Burke gave him a pointed look. He still clearly remembered the dower man's ire! Harry almost snorted with laughter and bit her cheek harder than she meant to in order to stop herself from doing so.
On the way Harry and Orion told the adults the story from the beginning, with Loreley chipping in now and again. The six of them went past shocked and staring students and teachers alike. Harry giggled quite madly when Praxilla Malfoy spotted her son and gave him a cheery wave as they went past Riddle and his group who were heading towards the library and Abraxas ducked his head away in embarrassment.
When it was time to Apparate, Harry and Orion had just gotten onto the part where the two gentlemen had flopped out of the portrait and onto the floor of the Room of Requirement. The wizards and the secret deity Apparated close to the large, old-fashioned red brick department store named Purge and Dowse Ltd. The magical gateway of St. Mungo's Hospital, Harry remembered. It still had that same shabby and miserable air to it with crooked dummies still in the windows with ugly, horrendous fashions that no one would be caught dead in and wigs askew on top of the dummies' heads. CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT was still written on those rusty doors.
Harry snorted. No amount of refurbishment could save this place!
"Odd place that," she heard a group of Muggle kids say from behind them. "It never opens."
"I swore I saw a bunch of people go in there the other day, though," said another.
"John, you were seeing things! No one in their right mind goes in there," a third kid snickered.
"My nan would!"
The three children and their guardians walked right up to one of the windows. The dummy wearing an ugly yellow floral gown and a red wig looked up at them. "State your business, ye who wish to enter."
"We have an appointment with Healer Wilkins, regarding two men in the Janus Thickney Ward," Thanatos stated clearly. "Our children were asked to visit them."
The mannequin looked from Harry to Orion to Loreley before nodding its assent. "You have been expected for a while. Walk through."
The group walked through the window and straight into the bustling and overcrowded reception area of St. Mungo's. Fortunately they did not have to wait there very long because a young woman who was perhaps only two years older than Harry, Orion and Loreley, dressed in the lime green robes of a St. Mungo's Healer but had a yellow bone and wand badge on her shoulder, came hurrying over to them. "Thank you for coming so swiftly! I do apologise for any inconveniences this causes," she atoned, greeting them with a small bow. "My name is Emma. I am an intern here who has been helping John Doe One and Two."
"John Doe One and Two?" Orion repeated with a frown.
"They haven't given their names and they had no identification, so that is what we call them," Emma explained with a small smile. "So, you three are the children who freed them."
"Hera Evans," Harry introduced. "But everyone calls me Harry."
"Loreley Malfoy," Loreley dipped a small curtsey.
"Heir Orion Black," Orion added with a small smile.
Emma paled quite considerably as she recognised the Lady Black and the Lady Malfoy, who both smiled serenely at her. "Oh my … it is a pleasure to meet you. Follow me," she stated, sounding quite dazed.
Harry noticed that very little had changed at St. Mungo's in around fifty years. True, there seemed to have been more winding corridors and more flights of stairs in her own time than in the 40s but the magical hospital was still as extensive, white-washed and smelling of disinfectant spells as it had been in the 90s. The robes and symbol looked largely the same, except there was a slight different between the Healer's symbol and Emma's, which was likely because Emma was an intern and not a full Healer yet.
At the Janus Thickney Ward, the group were met by a man with sparkling brown eyes that held a sternness to them that was not commonly seen in someone his age. His countenance could be considered pleasing enough and he had curly brown hair. Harry guessed he possibly had Spanish, Italian or Greek heritage.
"These are Harry Evans, Loreley Malfoy and Orion Black," Emma informed her superior as Harry studied them. "The children in question."
The man's face lit up. "Welcome to the Janus Thickney Ward. I am Healer Philip Desoto. My patients are quite anxious to meet you. Now, a word of warning, both John Does are still suffering from the effects of the magic they had been put under so we will be on hand to step in if we see the magic triggering them again but other than that you have our permission to set up some privacy spells."
"Thank you, sir. That is good to know," Harry let out a sigh of relief.
"We will go and have some coffee upstairs," Lady Malfoy told the children. "You will call us if you need us?"
"We'll send our Patronuses," Orion grinned at the reactions of his mother and Lady Malfoy. Mr. Burke led the two ladies up to the fifth floor where the canteen was.
Harry, Orion and Loreley followed Healer Desoto and Emma into the Janus Thickney Ward. As it was in the 90s, there was a funky hospital smell hanging in the air. There were patients muttering, patients singing incoherently, patients drawing, there was one who lunged for anyone who stepped too close to her bed but her Healers were on hand to restrain her before she could grab anyone.
"Sorry about Patricia; she doesn't know that she's doing it half the time," Healer Desoto explained as he saw their freaked out expressions. "A powerful Imperius and some nasty mind magic can completely re-wire someone until nothing of their original self is left."
The two gentlemen in question were right at the end of the ward, near the windows. Both were trying to force down some rather distasteful looking concoction that Harry supposed was meant to be soup but it looked close to troll bogeys rather than actual food. It made her scrunch her face up in disgust at the sight of it. Once both the men noticed the arrival of their three saviours, they immediately put their bowls to one side and greeted them with smiles.
Healer Desoto chuckled at their antics. "I see you recognise these three already."
"Of course," the blonde John Doe looked a little affronted. "They are the reason we haven't completely lost what's left of our minds."
"Questionable in your case," his companion joked, earning himself a pillow to the face. The children giggled at this. Healer Desoto rolled his eyes and conjured the three young visitors a chair each.
"I will be checking on Patricia if you need me," Healer Desoto informed them before leaving the group be. No sooner had he left, Harry set up some privacy spells with Orion's Runic magical help.
"I see you kids definitely know what you are doing," the man with the funny ears commented as he watched them. He had a slight accent; either Irish or Scottish, Harry guessed. "That's good to know."
"You can never be too careful these days, as you two have helped to prove," Harry replied as both she and Orion sat back down after finishing. She sighed. "I think first introductions are in order."
"We know who you are," the blonde man reassured with a charming, boyish smile that Harry noted wasn't quite as easily captivating as Riddle's. "Harry, Orion and Loreley. We heard you call each other those names."
"You heard us?" Orion repeated, looking and sounding shocked. Harry and Loreley's eyes too bugged out.
"On the rare occasions that we didn't hear the shadows whispering, yes," the funny eared man with the Irish or Scottish accent answered with a small awkward smile. "But I see we have you at an unfair disadvantage." He cleared his throat and held his hand out. "My name is Ambrose. Pleasure to meet you. The guy next to me is my friend and partner Bradley."
The children each took his hand with a curt but polite nod as they did so. Bradley simply waved at them, not really one for formality or physical contact at present. It would seem he didn't trust himself enough yet.
"Grindelwald did this to you," Harry stated bluntly.
"Yes, he did," Bradley confirmed. "Damn bastard caught us unawares. I owe Vida Rosier a hex or two."
"Vida Rosier?" Harry repeated, eyes wide.
"You know the name. She comes from an old pureblood family who went to England, and she's one of good old Gellert's favourite and most deadly Generals," Ambrose explained darkly. "He sends Rosier to capture key targets because of how efficient she is in getting those kinds of jobs done."
"Why were you targeted?" Orion wanted to know.
Ambrose and Bradley exchanged and look before Ambrose took a deep sigh. "It goes back to the original fighting force Albus Dumbledore had tried to get to together to fight Grindelwald and his forces. The Scamander brothers, Theseus and Newt, Porpentina Goldstein as she was then, a Muggle baker named Jacob Kowalski who somehow managed to wield some magic for himself, Yusuf Kama, Eulalie Hicks, and several others. Somehow they failed in their mission to bring Grindelwald down …"
"As Grindelwald's following grew, the Dark Lord started going after members of the original Resistance," Bradley continued. "One of them was also Nicholas Flamel."
"You have got to be joking," Orion shook his head.
"We're not," Ambrose assured coolly. "To protect the original Resistance members, Theseus Scamander began recruiting those with nothing to lose. None of us have families to speak of and very little tolerance for wizards who want to reveal us to Muggles on masse. Plus, killing wizards is kind of what Bradley and I have been trained to do for years."
"Hit Wizards," Harry guessed with a certain amount of certainty.
"Correct, little lady," Bradley grinned, his blue eyes sparkling. "We were assigned to Flamel's detail and fortunately, one of our colleagues has a very sharp sight and warned us that we had to move him and his wife Perenelle to a new safe house. Ambrose and I had come back to set up a decoy when Rosier and her band of thugs nabbed us. Rosier then took us straight to Nurmengard," Bradley continued. "I thought Grindelwald would simply try to extract information out of us, but it seemed he was more interested in testing his new favourite."
Harry scoffed, shaking her head. "He's bonkers."
"You have no idea," Ambrose chuckled gloomily.
"I don't get it. Why would the Dark Lord go after a six hundred plus year old alchemist?" Orion questioned, shaking his head, trying to wrap his head around the information. "Does he want the Elixir of Life or the Philosopher's Stone?"
"Not that we know of," Ambrose shook his head. "No one in their right mind wants to live forever, and I hate to say it but there is a perverse logic to Grindelwald. He cares not for immortality."
"So what does he want?" Harry queried, trying to resist the urge to look at Loreley. "Why go after Flamel and not an easy target like a Muggle baker?"
"Because Kowalski isn't exactly weak, nor poorly protected," Bradley replied with a smirk. "Besides, Kowalski doesn't have the added benefit of having lived six centuries and therefore knowing about a certain family Grindelwald is obsessed with."
"The Peverells," Loreley whispered.
"That's right," Bradley nodded. "The shadows … they said he was going to go after Flamel. Soon. He wants the Peverells, and thinks Flamel can hand them over on a silver platter."
"Can he?" Harry felt her hands curl in her lap.
"I sure hope not!" Ambrose laughed mirthlessly. "Because if Grindelwald gets his hand on any Peverell, we are all fucked."
"You don't say," Orion murmured lowly, a dark look in his eyes.
"Why tell us this?" Loreley demanded. "We are nothing more than seventh year school students. Why did you not ask to speak to Professor Dumbledore?"
"Because we were not born yesterday, Miss Malfoy," Bradley answered candidly. "Scamander may trust that old codger with his life, but we know better than to trust a General. Most of them either do not fight the fight themselves or they take orders blindly. You three at least have the capability to think for yourselves. Besides, you probably know a few people who could help, even if you can't do anything yourselves. I doubt that though – the kind of power I felt coming from you isn't something you see every day."
Harry, Orion and Loreley snorted in perfect sync.
"Don't fret about that, by the way," Ambrose added. "We won't breathe a word. But I do think we need to start resting soon because I can see Healer Desoto's brow furrow from here."
Harry nodded. She and Orion took down their privacy wards and spells; the three children quickly thanked Healer Desoto before heading up to the fifth floor to find their parents and guardians. They found Lady Black and Lady Malfoy gossiping, enjoying some tea and cake while poor Thanatos looked very bored out of his wits.
You OK there, Tosti? Harry teased.
They have been going on about shoes for around half a bloody hour! Not even Aphrodite is this bad. And I have had to pretend not to see some of my Reapers or ignoring complaints that someone has refused to die! Thanatos wailed. I am certain if I could, I would have died of exhaustion by now.
Harry chuckled under her breath.
That was when Orion and Loreley's mothers looked up and lit up. "Ah, your business has concluded already? What did you discuss?" Lady Black asked eagerly.
"Melania, really," Praxilla Malfoy sighed.
"They expressed their gratitude to us, Mother, and then we talked about this and that," Orion answered smoothly as the kids pulled up some chairs and joined their guardians at the table. "It seems Healer Desoto is very strict with their care so we could not make it too long."
"And rightly so," Praxilla Malfoy stated primly. "Would you children like a cake? Their cheesecake here is actually quite good."
"Yes, please!" all three chorused in relief.
Fortunately the rest of the discussion was mostly Lady Black asking about school gossip; if there were possible new alliances forming between children of the purebloods in the form of courting, teachers losing their marbles, detentions people have been receiving and of course if Slytherin versus Hufflepuff would get a rematch. Harry felt like slapping Orion around the head when he mentioned to his mother that Altair Nott had a soft spot for her, blushing redder than a tomato. When she returned with the cake, Praxilla Malfoy confessed at her despair at not finding anyone suitable for Loreley and Abraxas yet, though her husband Brutus was considering a match with Lucinda Yaxley for their son. Harry was rather uncomfortable at hearing these marriage alliances being discussed so openly.
Apparently it seemed to be quite the norm for purebloods.
As the group left St. Mungo's, Harry walked beside her guardian. What do we do about Grindelwald going after Flamel?
There is nothing much we can do, except interfering,
Thanatos replied candidly. If we do nothing, Flamel will escape by a narrow margin but Grindelwald's obsession will only increase. He will tear Europe apart looking for the Peverells.
And what happens if we interfere?
Harry wanted to know, her heart beating fast. What will that do to the timeline?
Our interference could have unforeseen circumstances, especially if we are recognised,
Thanatos answered candidly. Harry, what are you planning?
Flamel knew the Peverells very well, didn't he?
Harry stated. His manuscripts, some of them were signed off by a Peverell. Harry sighed. It was our family magic he used to make the Elixir of Life, wasn't it?
Thanatos looked extremely grave at this. Yes.
Which means Grindelwald has figured it out, and it also means Dumbledore knows as well,
Harry continued. Which explains why he used Flamel in my time the way he did – to make sure I could never figure out by accident who I really am.
Thanatos chuckled coldly. Indeed, my Lady.
So, we make sure both Flamel and his wife can't be used,
Harry grinned at her friend.
I will send a sign for you when it is time to leave, Thanatos replied. I have yet to decide if this pure bravery or foolishness on your part, though.
Probably both.
It was at this moment that Harry suddenly began to understand what Loreley meant with her being at her own crossroads. By saving Flamel now, Harry automatically ensured that Dumbledore's Philosopher Stone plan in the future would play out differently than it should. Her timeline would now be changed, without a doubt.
Though that scared her, Harry was not put off from her decision at all. Not even the knowledge of the location of Flamel's hide out changed her mind.
Antwerp. Where, as Harry remembered from Hermione's blabbing, a vital battle to allow the Allies' shipping to reach and pass Antwerp and the Battle of the Scheldt was raging. It should have been worrying that the prospect of going into a battlefield made adrenaline fly through Harry's veins in anticipation.
She didn't notice the worried looks Loreley covertly sent her throughout the remainder of the day.
################
King Ragnok sat in a high-backed chair in the giant meeting room of Gringotts, sighing apprehensively and tapping his nails on the antique table. Along the long rectangular, rowan table sat Griphook and several of the most prominent goblins in the bank: Ironfang, the accountant of the Black family vaults; Burgnaught, the accountant of the Malfoy family vaults; Rockwell, the Overseer of Wages; Goldheart, the Head of Security at Gringotts; Snowfell, the accountant of the White family vaults; and Rosberg, the accountant of the Lestrange family vaults. Each one looked very disgruntled, like they had much better things to do with their time in the late afternoon.
"We all know why we are here," he stated crisply. "To decide the fate of the self-confessed traitor in our midst, our very own Rollo Rowle."
"I have a question to start off these proceedings. How do we even know we can take his confession seriously?" Snowfell demanded. "We have the word of one man! A wand-wielder; he could be covering up for someone."
"I asked him the questions again under Veritaserum," Griphook responded with a slight snarl. "He's telling the truth. None of the other Cursebreakers knew of anything, save the ones who had been amongst the Cursebreaker team that were captured by Grindelwald."
"Wow, an honest confession from a wand-wielder. There's a first!" Snowfell shook her head, lips curled in a sneer.
"I do not see why judgement has not been passed yet!" Ironfang snorted. "We are frankly all sitting here for no good reason. He's a spy; our laws are very clear about how to deal with anyone who betrays the Goblin Nation. Put him to death and be done with it!"
"And what? Incur a scandal of epic proportions?" Goldheart sneered. "Have you not considered for a moment, dear Ironfang, how this will be perceived and written by those wand-wielders? They will blame our lack of precision on the matter of our own security! We will be made into a complete laughing stock and we cannot risk a debacle so soon after that business in 1895. Furthermore, we will not be simply executing a wand-wielder, we will be executing a Rowle!"
"It could cause a complete uproar," Rockwell agreed, though he seemed to hate it admit to it. "An uproar we can ill afford."
"Rowle or not, he is a traitor," Rosberg pointed out. "We cannot allow him to simply walk away completely unscathed, or our reputation will be ruined."
"Our reputation ruined? No one knows we have him yet!" Snowfell exclaimed. "We have kept this business contained to ensure that we can give plausible deniability. His Cursebreakers believe he is unwell!"
"That's partially true at least," Burgnaught commented dryly, shaking his head. "I do not agree that we should simply let him walk free, but nor do I believe that simply putting him to death will solve this matter. After all, Grindelwald still thinks he's undetected. If Rollo disappears, it will alert the Dark Lord something is wrong and that will mean an unpredictable Dark Lord."
"Something everyone can ill afford," Griphook stated. "So what do we do?"
"It was just a thought," Burgnaught remarked, "but I hear the Muggles have been rather good at deceiving their enemy using double and triple agents, if rumours are to be believed. It was because of some of these double agents that the Muggles managed to make it to Normandy last June."
"How on Earth would you know that?" Rockwell sighed. "You know, what – never mind I don't want to know."
Burgnaught gave him a pointed look. "As I was saying," he continued, "I think we should take a similar approach. We make a deal with Rollo: in return for his life, he becomes our agent, sending Grindelwald in the direction that we want him to go in."
"Do you honestly think he'll agree?" Ironfang laughed mirthlessly. "How do we even know he will keep to the bargain?"
"Simple: we monitor all of his movements and all of his messages are reviewed," Burgnaught answered easily. "As for whether he will agree or not, we have his life in our hands. He does not have much choice."
"Much like his situation with Grindelwald," Griphook observed. "Because let us not forget that the Dark Lord still has our people trapped at that castle of his, which was why Rollo betrayed us in the first place."
"Things would have been so much easier if they had all died on that trip," Ironfang sneered, causing the other goblins to sneer and glare at him.
"That's enough out of you, Ironfang!" the King snapped. "I am the King, not you. The decision is not yours to make, and I refuse to risk the lives of other Cursebreakers for the sake of vengeance." He looked at Goldheart. "You will be Rowle's handler, should he accept our … offer. Make sure he has guards with him at all times; if anyone asks any stupid questions, you have my permission to say that there has been a threat to his person."
"Yes, Your Grace," Goldheart bowed his head.
"Griphook, you will tell our prisoner of our decision," King Ragnok added with finality.
"Thank you, Your Grace," Griphook looked rather relieved at this.
The King nodded his head curtly. "I think that concludes our business for now. You are all dismissed! Keep me apprised of any further developments, if you please."
The goblins jumped down from their chairs, bowed to their king and left, some looking more happy than others. King Ragnok himself stayed seated for a little while longer, sighing, leaning his head back into the back of his high-backed chair and gathering his thoughts. He knew many of his people would view him as weak for allowing a traitor to live, but this particular traitor was more useful alive than dead. Even if it was to ensure that none of the other Cursebreakers would die because of the miscalculation of executing Rowle.
The cawing of a raven knocked the King out of his head and he looked to see a handsome corvid with shiny feathers waiting expectantly with a letter tied around its leg. The King frowned, wondering from whom it could be. With a click of his own fingers, the window flew open, allowing the corvid in. The raven landed elegantly in front of the King, extending its leg.
The King untied the letter, broke the odd seal on the back and unfolded the letter.
To Your Grace, King Ragnok,
We have met only once, Your Grace, quite recently. Gringotts knows me as Mr. Burke, ally to House Peverell and the goblin-recognised guardian of the Lady Hera Peverell. We have been made aware by the two gentlemen in St. Mungo's that the Dark Lord is planning on capturing Nicholas Flamel in the hope that he will divulge the location of the Peverell family. The Lady Peverell is determined to rescue him in order to protect her identity and the rest of her friends and family but I would be a great fool indeed if I was under the illusion we would need some extra help getting in and out of Antwerp as quickly as possible.
Would Your Grace be able to assist us in this matter?
May your enemies fall at your feet,
Thomas Burke.
A rescue mission! The King could barely contain his excitement; the Lady Regnant had barely gone four days after saving two experienced Hit Wizards from a Dark prison and now she was planning a dangerous operation into Muggle Europe. That girl would go far, if she survived, and Ragnok was determined to ensure that she did.
Eagerly, the goblin king quilled a reply and began to make some discreet arrangements.
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It seems that Harry is closer to having to come to a very tough decision, especially since it seems old habits do die hard! And it seems that Tom has seen the error of his ways – how will this change his relationship with our Traveller? How will Rollo Rowle take to being a double agent and will it fool Grindelwald? You will just have to stay tuned!
Orion: I also want to thank one of your reviews for their confidence in my potential partnership with Harry! They are a GhostWriter with a number next to their username … what's a ghost writer?
Someone who writes a story or an article anonymously or for someone else, I believe.
Orion: Oh, so they aren't a ghost?
Not that I know of, Orion!
Orion: OK! See you guys next time!
Kingmaker'sUmbreon