I do not own Harry Potter. But hopefully this time next week I will own a brand spanking new BBQ
Chapter 17 Glastonbury Tor
Dumbledore provided a port key that took Harry, Remus and himself to a country lane about a mile away from Glastonbury Tor. "This way I think." Dumbledore said.
"Wait sir." Harry said. "There is a massive music festival going on here right now, we need to dress more muggle like."
"Ah, of course." Dumbledore nodded his understanding. "I was at the first Glastonbury festival in 1970 you know. I know the frog card says I like chamber music, but I was also quite the fan of Cyclodelic Folk and T-Rex where one of my favourites. Ah to be young again." The Headmaster pulled out his wand and silently transfigured their robes into jeans and t-shirts. Dumbledore looked at his own T-Rex t-shirt. "Far out." He said. "Shall we?" he led the way down the lane.
They met Hermione and Sirius at the base of the Tor. "How did it go?" Hermione asked.
"Fudge called me a liar and now I have to go see Director Bones tomorrow." Harry told her.
"I'm sure there's more to it than that." Hermione said.
"As it goes Miss Granger." Dumbledore said as they walked to the top of the Tor. "That is fairly accurate."
They walked the rest of the way to the top of the Tor in silence. When they reached the top, they wandered around St Michal's tower.
"Well now what?" Sirius said.
"Dose anyone else feel that?" Harry asked.
"Feel what Harry?" Remus asked, but Dumbledore held up his hand to quiet him. Harry wandered around the outside of the small tower. He stopped at a random stone and reached out his hand. The stone glowed white and there was a rumble beneath them as the earth began to move aside inside the tower to reveal a staircase descending deep into the Tor. Harry pulled out his wand and began to descend into the darkness. "Lumos." He cast, lighting his wand as he walked down the stairs. The others lit their wands and followed him down. They seemed to be walking down for a very long time until finally the stairs brought them to a vast perfectly round chamber. The walls where covered with shelves and those shelves where filled with scrolls and instruments. One of the shelves had a sword and shield with a phoenix embossed upon it. In the very centre of the room was a round table with twelve chairs
"We need to sit." Harry said taking a seat. The others followed his lead.
"Now what?" Sirius asked.
"We wait." Harry said. They sat in silence for a few moments more.
"Well isn't this a turn up for the books." Said a wispy scratchy voice. "Finally, someone found their way down here."
They all looked around to find the source of the voice.
"One thousand years." The voice continued. "One thousand bloody years I have waited for you my boy. I have watched the rise and fall of kingdoms, of society's and even religions. I even helped to shape one of the greatest kingdoms this island has ever known, Camelot. Oh, it was grand."
"Is that?" Hermione whispered quietly.
"Surely not." Remus murmured.
"Hundreds of miles of green and pleasant lands. Where magical and mundane mingled and intermingled. And now you have all gone and buggerd it up!"
"What is he talking about?" Sirius asked.
"It was all going so well. The magical people, we called ourselves Druids, not so grandiose as wizard I'll grant you, and the non-magical working together to build a society that works. And it did work. Until that no-good cow Morgana bolloksed it all up for everybody. Now you have Witches and Wizards and Muggles, what the hell is a muggle anyway? But now. Now we have a chance to fix it all."
"Where is this voice coming from?" Harry asked.
"I believe we need to think of if it as in fact real." Dumbledore added.
"Real?" The voice said indignantly. "Of course, I'm bloody real!" From the shadows of the entrance of the room stepped out an old man. He was short with a hunched back, a white beard trailing to his sandaled feet. He wore a white linen smock that had yellowed with age, a moth eaten, tattered and faded red cloak hung from around his shoulders. The old man limped to the centre of the room where they could all see him clearly.
"Merlin?" Harry asked.
"That's right young man." Merlin confirmed.
"Please, won't you join us?" Dumbledore asked standing.
"Me sit at Arthur's table?" Merlin asked incredulously. "No, that is not my place. I do not sit at the Round Table, but rather stand behind my King to advise him." The old druid limped to stand behind Harry.
"But your dead." Harry said. "You must be dead, you had a will and if you weren't dead, you would be over a thousand years old."
"One thousand and forty-nine to be precise." Merlin confirmed. "So yes boy, I am dead. Well and truly snuffed it I did; a long, long time ago."
"So, you are a ghost?" Sirius asked.
Merlin reached over to Sirius and slapped him around his head. "Do I feel like a ghost you rude mutt?" Merlin snapped. "No, I am a memory. A sad shade of the man I was when I was alive. I remain for one purpose, and that is to fulfil the last of the Pendragon Prophecy's."
"I have never heard of such a prophecy." Dumbledore said mildly. "And I have made somewhat of a study of prophetic lore."
"Oh, pish posh." Merlin chided. "What you actually know about prophetic lore would barely fill a twelve-foot scroll, you sanctimonious windbag."
"So, what is this prophecy that you need to fulfil?" Hermione asked.
"Ah sweet Guinevere to Lord Potters King Arthur." Merlin said kindly. "The prophecy details Harrys rise to power. Not kingly power you understand but power non the less. The prophecy details the defeat of the last dark lord and the ushering in of a world of tolerance. Breaking down the barriers in the magical community. The muggle born, the half-bloods and the full bloods are just bloods; just people." Merlin said.
"How?" Harry asked. "How do I do that?"
"Well you have my Order." Merlin began. "And you will, very soon have my ring. And you have this." He waved his hand at the table. "The Round Table of my King. Settle in my friends we have a lot to go through." Merlin began to tell them of the power of the round table. "Warriors of the light, magical and non-magical have sat around this table. Warriors who fought with sword and shield as well as wand have sat around this table with one purpose. To fight against the forces of Darkness. And now you too will have that privilege. Harry you will lead, of course, Remus his Loyal Vassal, Sirius his Knight Protector, Albus the Mentor and you, dear sweet Hermione, his soul. Harrys tether to the light, because I am sorry to say my boy, you will be called upon to do some terrible things. Great, yes, but terrible. You will give orders that take life and you will take life with your own hand. But rest assured with every life of evil you are required to take; you will be saving many more. But your number is not yet complete, you will need the makers, and the doers. People who will help you in your quest." Merlin intoned. "Now, I must give you this." Merlin held up two long and thin bony fingers and a simple gold band appeared. He handed it to Harry. "This Ring, Harry, contains magic untold. It will focus your own amazing power as well as giving you access to magics long since lost. You will have to learn to control it. The magic of the Will and the Word."
"The Will and the Word?" Harry asked taking the ring. "What is that?"
"It is a magic that comes from within you. A power that will allow you to produce whatever you wish, so long as you know what it is you wish, with a simple word. No incantations but will. Try it on."
Harry put the ring on, he instantly felt the power and, in that instant, understood it. He thought for a few moments and held the palm of his hand out. "Ring." He intoned and a simple silver band came into existence. He turned to Hermione completely forgetting that everyone else was even there. "Hermione, I love you." He said. "I want you to have this ring as a symbol of that love. It isn't an engagement ring, but it is a promise, that one day, if you still want me, I will put an engagement ring in its place." He slid the ring onto the ring finger of Hermione's right hand.
"Oh Harry." Hermione said tears in her eyes. "I love you too, and yes I will wear this ring and I promise whenever you choose to replace it, you won't be told no." They shared a brief kiss.
"You will need that love before all of this is through." Merlin told him. "This feeling you have right now; you need to hold on to it. And when you need it, use it. My time grows short." Merlin declared. "This chamber is yours to use. The scrolls contain spells and rituals and wards. Simply put knowledge. It is yours to share or to horde Harry. There are also specific volumes here on how to use the Will and the Word. It will take a lifetime to master the art, Harry. You must study it. Just please do not give it a stupid name like the 'Fortress of Solitude'." For the first time Merlin straightened out. His smock shimmered and returned to a bright white, the red cloak repaired itself and became a deep crimson. He looked almost regal. "Thank you all." He said. "By being here you have helped me fulfil my purpose on this plain."
"You mean we killed you?" Harry asked.
"No of course not! I died many, many years ago, I just could not move on. I was born before my time. My purpose in life was to bring about Albion. I do not think that is possible now, but you can achieve what I always wanted. Balance and fairness in a society, if you manage it then you will have finished my life's work my boy. and you will have my gratitude. Thank you again." Merlin said as he began to climb the stairs. "Bippity Boppity Boo." He sang as his form vanished into the darkness.
"Well," Dumbledore said quietly. "I do believe we have been truly blessed. We have conversed with Merlin."
"We have been given orders by Merlin." Sirius added.
"No." Harry disagreed. "He didn't give us any orders. He just asked us to do him a favour."
"Finnish his life's work?" Remus added. "That's one hell of a favour."
"Well he was one hell of a man." Hermione said. "So, what do we do now?"
It was decided that they really needed to go and visit the Potter property, Lorrain Hall which was fairly close, and a place they could set up a base of operations then make a plan on how to catalogue the room, which Harry dubbed Phoenix Hall.
Lorrain Hall was a beautiful stately home in picturesque Summerset, the three-story home was set in the middle of several acers of farmland.
Remus lead everyone up the drive. "Hermione, I should warn you that there are house elves living and working here." Remus began. "But I have to tell you before you meet any of them that you have a somewhat warped view on the house elf enslavement because of your experiences with just two elves who were in the service of two wizarding family's. The Potter elves are treated with respect and dignity. They don't wear rags; they wear uniforms that they make themselves." He went on.
"But then how are they still enslaved if they have clothes?" Hermione asked.
"Bonded, not enslaved." Remus corrected. "And they make the clothes themselves. They run the household and they are immensely proud of their house and their grounds and even more proud to serve the House of Potter."
"How many elves?" Harry asked.
"Twelve." Remus responded. "They are mostly one family. The head elf is Poppy, she will claim the honour of being your personal servant. As the head elf it is her right." Remus continued. "Shall we?" He led them up the steps into the house. "Poppy?"
"Mister Wolf!" A squeaky little voice called in surprise. "Do you have visitors for us?"
"Yes, Poppy I do. You may remember Sirius Black?"
"Mister Shaggy Doggy." Poppy cried. "Yous be looking very thin. Your elf is not looking after you very well!"
"Hello Poppy." Sirius smiled. "It has been a long time."
"This is Professor Albus Dumbledore." Remus continued
"Ah Professy Dumbydore. Dobby has been telling Poppy all about yous and your scooling."
"Thank you for a warm welcome Poppy. I will be sure to tell Dobby we have met. I am very fond of him."
"This Poppy," Remus continued, "is Hermione Granger."
"Welcome Missy Grangey." Poppy greeted Hermione.
"Thank you, Poppy, and please call me Hermione." Hermione replied.
"And this Poppy," Remus continued. "Is Harry Potter!"
"MASTER HARRY!" The tiny elf squealed with excitement. "I be so happy to be seeing you again. We has been looking forward to yous coming back and yous is be bringing us a wifey too."
"Please don't call me Master, Poppy." Harry said. "And Hermione isn't my wife, yet, but I do love her very much."
"Would you like a tour Harry?" Poppy asked.
"Yes please." Harry said. "I've never had a home before."
Poppy showed them around the house. Most of the rooms where empty or what furniture there was had dust sheets over it. They moved from room to room. Sitting rooms and parlours on the ground floor as well as a grand dining room and a ball room. "The dining room can sit fifty peoples at a table," Poppy told them, "For anything larger we would use the ball room."
"Would we be able to turn one of the parlours or sitting rooms into a smaller, more informal dining room?" Harry asked.
"Of course." Poppy said. "I will be having Tippy draw up some plans." They moved on to a large set of double doors "In here is the Potter Library." The doors where opened on a large room containing thousands of books. Hermione gave a squeal of delight. In the middle of the room was a large table stocked up with parchments and quills. There was a fireplace with comfortable wing back chairs for reading. "There be over five hundred books in here." Poppy told them, "Magical books, story books, mechanical books, potion books, books of every kind you can imagine."
Next, they went to a small room next to the library. "This is Mister Wolfs office." Poppy said showing them a small office with a decent size desk, bookcase and filing cabinets. "I thinks you should be meeting with Abe, he is the elf that has been looking after the Potters interests these years."
"Thank you, Poppy," Remus said, "I will make sure to do just that."
"I is being terribly sorry Master Harry Potter Sir, but the upstairs is not being ready for viewing. There is much cleaning and decorating to be doing." Poppy explained. "We's be needing at least another week before we cans be showing you your personal study. Hermys study and the rooms for all your friends."
"That's fine Poppy. How about some lunch then?" Harry said.
They had a small lunch in the grand dining room while they planned their next steps.
"Tomorrow Harry and I will meet with Amelia." Dumbledore reminded them. "Harry will share his memories of the night of Voldemort's resurrection and then in my role as the Supreme Mugwump of the International confection of Wizards I will carry that Testimony abroad wile Amelia will be able to do the same in the Wizengamot."
"Meanwhile, I would like Sirius and Hermione to begin to go through the stuff we found today." Harry said. "We need to start to work out what it means."
"No problem." Sirius said. "I look forward to being able to use my mind again."
"What about me?" Remus asked.
"I need you to get a handle on things here." Harry said. "There's no point in moving in just yet, we leave for school in two weeks, but it might be nice to spend this Christmas at home for the first time."
They continued their conversations whilst enjoying the food the elves prepared.
Authers notes: Welcome welcome one and all than you for takeing the time to read my litterery ramblings. I am glad so many people are along for the ride and seem to be enjoying it.
Thank you to my Beta Gin-Sensu for this chapter and also for going back and re-editing chapters 10 and 15. You make me look a lot better than I am at this!
Review time…
Ladyphoenix68: Thanks for the review. In short, Yes I do want the government to seem corrupt and to be undermined and some what useless. You see in my head Harry cant be fighting Voldamort on every single page he has to have other enimies that are more mondane and easy to fight, except they aren't easy to fight because they are essensally on his side. There is more government stuff to come so hopefully you will be able to see where I'm comeing from.
Karatekid-Ninja: You know what I like about you? Youre their every single chapter. I just know after I post this tonight I am going to wake up tomorrow with a review from you and they are always complimentery and constructive. So as ever thank you for your review and thank you for reading.
Nickie02: Thanks for reading. Hear you go, mainlineing Harry Potter fanfic like some kind of text based heroin. Only too happy to oblige.
Dillonga2: Thank you. Glad your enjoying it.
OnceuponABlueMoonDream: ok, some one needs to calm down just a little bit. This is not a fake pandemic. It's not pretend. It's the real deal as of today 30,076 people have died in the UK. That's not fake! I am sorry if you disagree, but it is a fact. The UK Law (I am based in the UK) at the moment is to stay inside which why I sign off each chapter delivering that message. If that is not your governments advice then you crack on and do what ever it is you want. I have been sent home from my job as well. Im a chef in real life so my industry is screwed and the only way it will get better is if we can get back to normal and the only way to get back to normal is to do as we are told and stay the fuck at home! If you don't like what I have to say then don't read the authers notes. I have resurched the situation preserveing life vs preserveing life style I will always come down on the side of life. There is not propaganda hear just my opinions which, if I understand your Constitution correctly I am perfectly at liberty to do.
Teachergirl: Thanks, we have fixed this. Hope you came back for more.
Ronnie R15: Thanks for letting us know. We have fixed this now. I'm glad you have enjoyed the chapter.
Please stay safe and healthy people and if it is what your government demands of you stay home!