a/n: Thanks to all for reading and following. Many thanks to dennisud and poka for taking the time to leave your thoughts and reviews!
Prompt 11: Right, I'm leaving now.
Prompt 15: You weren't supposed to see that.
Prompt 13: Well, if he says it's all right, then it must be an ingenious idea
Chapter 4
Lavender grass rippled across the horizon with the wind. The boundaries couldn't be seen. Harry wasn't sure if they were in a magical space like the room of requirement or in an alternate time. There was wind. And the heat from the sun. The map didn't make it entirely clear where they were. As they walked along a narrow path, the lavender grass gave way to sapphire wild flowers. "We need to bring Hagrid here," he whispered to Hermione. He wanted the half giant to see the ancient creatures.
"I think we need to understand who lives here and why this place exists before we think about bringing anyone here," she said.
He knew she was right. He wished he had a camera at least. His friend would appreciate the magic at work that was able to preserve so many endangered species. "Do you know who the aos sí are?"
"I don't," she started to answer but stopped short when they rounded a curve and came face to face with two beings.
Harry immediately stepped forward. The pair were tall, pale, with delicate features. They had long points on the tip of the ears and long blonde hair that reached the ground. One had several braids taming the massive amounts of hair while the other let it flow free in the wind much like the grass fields. Harry couldn't determine the gender, they both had delicate human features that made it impossible.
"Two?" one asked in English but carried a thick accent that wasn't like anything Harry had heard before. It was almost like a song.
"Which one of you is in charge of the school?" the other asked.
"I am," Harry answered immediately. He still believed he was led to the cave, but understood he might not have been meant to bring Hermione with him. Nothing had stopped her. "I'm Harry. Harry Potter."
They both reacted to his name like they had heard of him. Which seemed odd if they'd been hidden away from the outside world. "Follow us," the one with the braids said. The two beings turned and headed down the path.
Hermione looked at Harry with some apprehension but continued to walk. Harry tried to stay a step in front of her. If they had broken some rule, he wanted to make it clear he was the one who broke it. "You know who I am?" he asked.
They turned their heads to look at him, but didn't respond. They rounded another bend and the village noted on the map came into stark relief against a picturesque valley. An impossible mountain was visible in the distance. Any question about whether or not the world they were in was simply concealed was gone. They were no longer in the forest. The village itself was comprised of round structures made from clay with straw, thatched roofs. The huts were mostly single story, with a few multistory structures at the center surrounding an intricate fountain. Harry guessed there were several hundred huts in the village. He wanted to check the map again to see if there were any other structures. He was trying to get a sense for how many of the beings were living in this treaty zone.
As the group continued forward, the other inhabitants started to take notice that there were outsiders in their sanctuary. Eyes were turning in their direction. All activity and talking trailed off. Hermione stepped closer to Harry. He understood her discomfort. Clearly visitors were a rare event. They were led around the fountain and into the largest hut.
"Your highness, the headmaster has arrived with a companion," the being with the braided hair announced.
A being who looked to be at least hundreds of years older than the escorts was shaping some pottery on a wheel near a large stone kiln. They grabbed a towel and stood as they wiped their hands clean. "The headmaster? We haven't had such a visit in several years. I was starting to think Albus fears had come to pass."
"It's Harry Potter," the second escort informed their leader quickly.
The older being's eyebrows went up. "Well now. That's not what we expected. Come, Harry Potter and…" they paused and looked toward Hermione.
"Hermione Granger," she volunteered.
"Is that right? Curious," they said, looking past the two as if expecting to see a third person. "Well, come sit and have tea with me. I imagine you have many questions."
"A couple," Harry agreed. He waited until the leader took their seat before deciding where he and Hermione were meant to sit. The chairs were very high to accommodate the tall beings. It felt a bit like being in Hagrid's hut as they awkwardly climbed into the seats.
"You can leave us Pan, Arwen. I'll summon you when we've exhausted Mister Potter's questions." The pair of beings left without objection or concern. Harry noted the leader didn't feel the need to out number the outsiders. He was certain that meant they had no doubt they could handle a witch and a wizard easily. It was best not to underestimate anyone in the village. "My name is Cirdan. Elder for the aes sídhe of the Coille Dorch."
"The coille dorch?" Harry asked, trying to understand the strange words.
"The Dark Forest of course. We're the people of the fairy mounds. That's what the wizardkind called us anyway," Cirdan explained patiently as they poured a light green tea into delicate clay cups.
Harry took an offered cup. "Who are the aos sí?"
"Oh that's us. It's what the English speakers could manage. They did their best," they said and sat back sipping their tea. "We lived in this forest for centuries. Hidden from your kind. Until four wand carriers attempted to colonize our land."
"The founders. Did they know this was your land?" he asked hesitantly. Hermione started to shift in her seat. Harry shot her a look, concerned she'd offend the being.
"They were... made aware."
Either the cryptic answer or Hermione's movements had Harry growing concerned. "Did they force you into this place?"
Cirdan laughed, "Oh no child. This has always been our home. Your predecessors entered a treaty with us that ensured our land would be untouched by your kind. And hidden from your government."
Hermione stood. Harry looked up in surprise at the sudden movement.
"Right, I'm leaving now," she said as professionally as she could. "This is a first contact situation, Harry. I shouldn't be here. I'm not authorized to be here. And I don't think I was ever meant to be here."
"That is correct to a point, Miss Granger, but we'll make an exception for you. Traditionally, only the past and current head teachers of Hogwarts have been permitted within our mound. The treaty is binding. But we decide who is welcome here."
"How do you know who we are?" Hermione asked cautiously, still standing.
"Albus of course. He kept us informed of the threats to your world so we could protect ours if you three failed."
You three. Hermione sat, trying to understand. The mysterious being was clearly referring to Ron.
"Ah! I see you have thought of several more questions. Should we break bread?" Cirdan asked with a good natured smile.
~~/~~
Hermione was torn. She wanted to ask every last question rushing through her mind. This wasn't an opportunity to learn every new piece of information she could consume. This was a centuries old situation and she was just a visitor. She let Harry lead the conversation, mentally note small nuances that could indirectly answer her many curiosities.
"Professor Dumbledore visited often?" Harry asked.
"I wouldn't say often. More so than any of the others. And more toward the end. He was worried the war would eventually breach the school grounds."
Harry rubbed his forehead. It was a subconscious tick Hermione recognized. She didn't think the scar hurt any longer, not sure the horcruxes were destroyed, but certain situations would bring back the old fears. And the old habits. "You never tried to protect the forest. We'd have known if a race of beings like yourselves joined the battle."
The confrontation surprised Hermione. It was rare for him to be so blunt. It didn't appear to phase Cirdan.
"It wasn't our war," they said simply.
"You're welcome," Harry shot back with a dull edge. Hermione knew his opinion of the war and how people approached it had changed with time. He wasn't bitter. He was… hurt mostly. That too many expected him to save everyone. If there had been a true, organized resistance, maybe things would have turned out better. Maybe many of the people who died didn't have to. It was a scar that ran deeper than the mark from the killing curse.
The elf didn't seem bothered by the implied accusation. "The affairs of your world don't concern us. Conflict amongst your kind is inevitable."
Harry put down his cup. He looked out a nearby window.
Hermione followed his gaze. The idyllic sanctuary was intoxicating. Hundreds of years untouched by conflict. It would be easy to detach from the rest of the world. But there was a responsibility that came with power. "You might not have a choice," Hermione spoke for Harry. "Someone knows your secret and they're trying to find you. That's why we're here. There are unauthorized people who have purposefully sought out the grove outside your fairy mound."
These words finally seemed to break through the apathy. As their brow furrowed, wrinkles made it more clear that they were older than their normally serene appearance suggested. "That's not possible. Albus…"
"Albus what?" Harry asked, still looking out the window. "Told you what he thought you needed to know? And since it was what you wanted to hear, you didn't ask questions?"
Hermione reached out for Harry, but stopped short of touching him. The last time they'd been together long enough to have any personal conversation, he was taking care of her. Helping her manage her own grief. She knew he was genuinely happy with his life with Teddy and Andromeda. That didn't mean he didn't have lingering trauma from everything he went through as a teen. This wasn't the place. She wrapped her hand around her cup of tea that was still impossibly hot.
"Albus said he'd protect the knowledge of this sanctuary. We assumed that was why we haven't had a visitor since our last meeting with him," Cirdan admitted.
"Professors Snape and McGonagall never came here?" Hermione asked, surprised that Minerva wouldn't have been trusted. They'd have to talk to her to see if she knew about the treaty. It was possible she just never felt compelled to see the treaty zone for herself.
Cirdan shook their head, "If they served the school between Harry and Albus, we never met with them. We understand you have paintings that captured the essence and knowledge of the head teachers of the past. They would know more about this topic than I."
Harry pulled out the map again, unrolled it, and placed it on the table. "They were the reason I found this. It's how I knew where to…"
Hermione leaned over to see what distracted him.
"There are still two," he said to Hermione.
"Two what?" she asked, trying to read the thousands of markers moving about the map.
He put his finger down at the very edge of the map. Headmaster. The tag was plain. And his was some distance away next to ICW Assistant Director and Chief Elder. "Two headmasters," he clarified for Cirdan and looked up at the elf.
It was possible the look on the being's face was guilt. Hermione thought it was closer to contrition. It was hard for her to know. So much of their race was unknown to her.
"Ah. You weren't supposed to see that," they said.
"I thought the map was showing me where to go. But it wasn't. There's a former Headmaster here? How is that possible?" Harry asked pointedly.
"Our treaty doesn't require that I explain."
The treaty? Hermione was invested now. "Your treaty is with the founders. Is there a founder here? A ghost you've permitted to live here?"
"It is their decision. If their portrait hasn't explained the situation, I'm not at liberty to explain it," Cirdan said, and stood. It was clear they wanted the conversation to end. "Thank you for warning us of the possible incursion. We will ensure our protections are reinforced, but we're not concerned with a possible breach. The magic in place is already impenetrable."
"Right. If anything changes, I'll let you know," Harry said.
"You're welcome anytime Harry Potter," Cirdan said diplomatically. It lacked the warmth of the initial introductions.
As they exited the hut, Harry took Hermione's hand. She was surprised by the gesture, but it wasn't unwelcomed. The reception in the village had cooled. The beings appeared to be aware of the abrupt dismissal. The two being who met them on the path, followed closely behind, escorting the humans back toward the exit.
Harry didn't look back. Hermione wasn't sure what he was thinking. They needed to find privacy to process everything. It was clear they weren't going to get it until they exited the treaty zone. Carefully they climbed up the rocks to the ledge. Hermione kept a keen eye out for the land fish. A few were hidden between boulders and cracks. She had to release Harry's hand to keep her wand out. Finally, when they stood in front of the door, Hermione looked down. The elves were still watching them. There was no chance they'd be able to investigate the mysterious marker. "Harry. What should we do now?" she whispered.
"We go back to the school. We find out who else knows about this map and which head teacher decided to spend their afterlife here."
~~/~~
The grove was strangely quiet compared to the many sounds of wildlife in the treaty zone. Harry hadn't realized how loud the ambient environment was until the door was shut behind them and they were reminded how isolated the grove was. Mostly on purpose, making it off limits to the sentient beings, but nature didn't read treaties. Everyone inside the protections were permitted to enter. The realization was also a curiosity Harry wanted to understand. Why have protections if they were going to stop humans?
It looked like several of the aurors were gathering in the center, their security sweep done. They might get down to them without being seen. "Come on," Harry whispered, moving along the ridge and down the steps.
Hermione followed closely. They needed to rejoin the group and leave the grove without raising suspicions. There were too many unanswered questions to tell the ministry anything yet.
"There you are," Williamson said, looking up at the cliff face. "We were looking for a way up there."
Harry stepped closer, hoping he hid the magic that made the path just for his use. "All clear. If anyone's been back here, they're gone now."
The auror eyed the headmaster warily. If he had suspicions, he kept them to himself. "We're going to set up the encampment, and establish the lines of communications back to Hogsmeade headquarters. It should be fairly boring."
Harry wondered if Williamson wanted to get rid of him, the civilian, or Hermione, the competing intelligence agent. He didn't care, but realized Hermione might. Harry turned to her, to give her the final say. She had a job to do that wasn't meant to unravel a centuries old mystery.
"Does your team have any requests? Equipment, security?" she asked.
"None at the moment."
"I'd like to check in with my office and come back tomorrow for your daily briefing," she worded as if it were a request. Her demeanor suggested it was a heads up.
The auror answered with a curt nod, "I'll be in Hogsmeade during the morning shift change at eight."
Harry resisted the urge to tap his foot. He really wanted to start the trip back to the school. He had an idea about how they could get to the castle faster, he hoped Hermione was more amenable to riding a thestral. Finally, they were alone and free to go. Harry walked forward quickly and out of the grove. The expected din of birds, bugs, trees rustling in the wind hit them again. He looked back at the grove one last time before veering away from the clearing and into the thick tree line. They were deep enough in the Dark Forest, he was confident a thestral herd would be easy enough to find.
"Harry. Where are you going?" Hermione whispered.
"Come on," he encouraged her, not willing to tell her his plan until he had to.
They walked for a few minutes until he saw signs of the dark creatures. Bones picked clean. Nests with dark, coarse hair. Through the trees he saw one of the leathery, winged horses.
"Harry no," Hermione said, looking right at the thestral.
He was surprised she could see them and wondered when that changed. It could have been during the war. He was sure many people earned the unfortunate talent over the course of Voldemort's reign of terror. "Unless you want to spend the next hour hiking through acromantula and quintapeds territory, this is our best option."
"Fine," she relented, not relishing the idea of wasting so much time.
Harry approached a thestral slowly, hands out. "Hey. We need to go to the castle. Hagrid will feed you," he explained. The thestral lowered its head and shifted to extend its wings out, giving Harry access to its back.
Hermione awkwardly reached out to rub the neck of a smaller thestral. It turned to nuzzle her side. She let out a small cry of surprise. "Sorry," she said to it, and scratched behind its ears. Satisfied it was friendly enough, Hermione used a stump to get higher and pulled herself up.
Waiting until he was sure she was as comfortable as she was going to get he gently tapped his heel. Both thestrals took off into the air, soaring above the tree tops. Hogwarts was immediately visible in the distance. It took very little time to fly over the thick forest. Harry wondered why he didn't do this more often. Maybe he would have known about the intrusion into the forest sooner. Guiding the thestral to a small garden area adjacent to his office, he slipped off and waited for Hermione's thestral land. Offering his hand to help her off, he patted it's side. "Go to Hagrid. He's home, I saw the smoke from his chimney," Harry told it and made a mental note to replace the large steaks he knew the game keeper would sacrifice to treat the creatures.
The creatures flew off and pitched downward toward the small hut at the edge of the school grounds. Harry crossed the green space, Harry opened the secret back door to the headmaster's office and immediately heard the portraits bickering. Silently slipping inside, Harry and Hermione listened.
"Do you think they'll tell him everything?" Dippet asked.
"Don't be an idiot. They won't have time to tell him everything. That's hundreds of years of history. Do you know everything?" Black said.
"Since I've been here longer than you, I think it's safe to say I know more than you," Spore said haughtily.
"Everyone. Whatever they told him, I should think our loyalty will be to the headmaster. We'll tell him whatever he wants to know," Dumbledore said, trying to get some control.
"You hear that, Severus. Albus says it's all right to tell Potter everything," Fitzgerald called out Snape. Clearly the conversation had been going on for some time.
"Well, if he says it's all right, then it must be an ingenious idea," Snape said snidely.
"You're just hurt that you were never told about the treaty until you were hung on the wall," Dippet chimed in.
Harry had heard enough of the bickering. He was angry. "Well that answers one of my questions," he said as he stepped around the corner. The portraits tried to act scandalized over the eavesdropping. "Oh knock it off," he shot back and sat down in a chair facing the wall. Hermione stayed standing, leaning against the frame of the archway leading into the portrait area, her hands clasped together, waiting for answers.
"Did you find the aos sí?" Dumbledore was the first to ask.
"Yes. We did. And they're still protected. Whoever is looking for them have not found them. Yet. They're close," Harry explained. "The chief elder doesn't seem concerned."
"Five hundred years free from conflict would give a sense of security," Undercliffe said.
Hermione pushed off from the wall, "Five hundred years? What happened in the fifteen hundreds?"
Black rolled his eyes, "Fytherley, you dolt. You have to watch what you say around that one."
"I did math," she said dryly. "Was the protected area breached?"
"No, no, nothing like that," Dumbledore stepped in. "There was an internal rift. A faction wanted to come and go from the fairy mound. The majority of the elves deemed it too dangerous. It wasn't just the village the treaty zone protects. It's the ecosystem. The chief elder found out some of the younger members were sneaking out despite the ruling. They were ejected from the fairy mound. They tried to fight back. To remove the elders. The battle was felt within the school. Edessa did her best to negotiate peace. Her overtures were rejected. One day, the conflict was over. The elders remained. They've never explained what happened."
"Not even to you?" Harry asked Dumbledore. The edge in his voice had the former headmaster sitting back. "Cirdan told me you visited several times. You were keeping them updated on our war. They didn't reciprocate?"
"It wasn't a priority," Dumbledore answered.
"It wasn't a priority," Harry repeated quietly. "Which one of you is still there? Or is it one of the founders?"
Every subject in the portraits started talking at once. It was hard to follow the conversations. Several left their frames to join others. The only thing that was clear to Harry was that his question was a genuine surprise. To most of them. Harry was sure that one was a very good actor. He let them squabble while he studied each one. Surprisingly, he realized he'd lost track of one headmaster. Harry stood. "Hey." No one heard him. "Hey!"
Finally everyone stopped and looked at him. "Where did Professor Dumbledore go?"
