Chapter 14
In hindsight, Hermione should really have expected portrait-Merlin to ask of them a favour entirely too absurd. After all, in her numerous dalliances with Hogwarts: A History she came across many mentions on the nature of The Great Merlin’s Portrait, often described as eccentric and enigmatic - a description Hermione was quick to rightfully interpret as an understatement.
Portrait-Merlin took entirely too long to explain what he wanted them to do, this after having forgotten he had wanted to ask a favour from them in the first place. He had introduced himself as Dragoon The Great and refused to answer to Merlin and had the nerve to ask them if they were ‘very, very, very, very sure’ Merlin was alive. Thankfully, before Hermione snapped, portrait-Merlin was overcome with a rare moment of sanity and finally divulged their quest; To awaken Lady Hogwarts before the Merlin-Merlin came back.
Portrait-Merlin could only give them one clue to help them in this quest, as apparently Merlin-Merlin hadn’t given Portrait-Merlin the full run down on how to awaken their Lady. Nor had he known Merlin-Merlin was without his Magic, but, at the very least, had a ‘small, small, small, small idea’ why Merlin would block his Magic.
Now pacing the length of the Potions room Harry, Ron and Hermione, try to dig for some profound meaning into the first clue ‘Darken the den of the beasts’. They are so focussed on their thoughts they fail to notice the man in the portrait watching them amusedly.
“Den of the beasts…” Harry carefully enunciates each word, repeating the phrase and stressing a different word each time as if the answer might suddenly bounce out at him. Ron pauses to watch Harry intently, nodding along to every word he says.
“Watching the three of you I am reminded of my nephew.” The man in the portrait muses, startling the three teenagers.
“Hello, sir.” Hermione quickly recovers.
“Good Morning, children. What troubles you three this fine day?”
The trio shared glances between each other, Hermione cleared her throat, “We received a… a quest, sir. From Portrait-Merlin. To awaken Lady Hogwarts.” She said awkwardly.
“*Portrait-*Merlin, you say? How curious, and might I ask, where is my nephew, then?”
“Who’s your nephew?” Ron asked, blinking at the portrait.
“Why, Merlin, of course! The one who is not a portrait.”
Hermione blankly nodded to herself, silently sorting out what the man had said.
“He snuck off to the forbidden forest with Snape!” Harry blurted out, cheeks reddening as he smacked a hand over his mouth the next second.
The man simply nodded, “sounds like him.” He continued, casually bringing the topic back. “So, you intend to wake Lady Hogwarts? Sounds like quite the quest.”
“Y-yes.” Hermione stammered, straightening her back, “Portrait-Merlin gave us the clue ‘Darken the Den of the Beasts’ but we’re not to sure where to start.”
“I’m a big fan of searching for answers within the pages of a book. I’m sure you’ll find some more clues here in the library of the Dragon’s Lair.” He raises an eyebrow that somehow manages to convey a thousand words and nods to a staircase going up that appears to the right of him.
Hermione stomps up, hissing as she goes. “Dragon’s Lair! Of course - why ever not?”
The library of the Dragon’s Lair is the one of the most magnificent sights Hermione has ever seen, second only to that of the Library of Alexandria, worlds better than the Hogwarts Library. She takes a second to mourn the four years she had been forced to settle for less, when this library had apparently been hiding right under their noses. Harry and Ron are fast to catch up to her, stopping to gape at the beautiful, sublime, enchanting view, she’s sure. It’s a pity they had a quest to complete, she thinks as she heads straight into the maze, bypassing the seating area. Though she’s not quite sure what she’s looking for, her experience with part of Merlin’s Magic guides her through the maze, occasionally pausing to run her finger down the spines of books as she waits for the boys to catch up.
Somewhere along the way, Hermione and Ron lose Harry in the maze.
Harry had made sure to keep his eyes on his friends, fond as he watched Hermione wonder and Ron follow after her like a puppy. And just like that, one second his friends where in front of him and the next he turned right into a dead end. Harry sighed to himself and turned a different direction, now wondering around aimlessly.
Now alone, he is free to think through the thoughts he had previously shied away from, yesterday’s revelation. Ron had the right thought when he confessed to wishing it was a dream, Harry himself is mortified from every interaction he’s had with the man. But most of all he finds himself thinking back to his conversation with Professor Aurelianus, who had claimed to accept Harry as a younger brother and implied Merlin would be happy with that. Harry simply could not imagine Merlin ever wanting to look at someone like Harry in that way. Sirius, who was his Godfather, couldn’t even separate him from his father enough to see Harry for who he was, always expecting him to act like his best friend and pull some fucking miracle out of his arse.
Merlin was, well, Merlin; greatest sorcerer of his time, living legend. No matter what title Harry might have gotten for not dying when he was a child, at the end of the day, Harry was just a normal, ordinary child.
Suddenly - but not that surprisingly, the world was never kind to Harry after all - Harry is succumb with a feeling of intense ecstasy, the feeling dropping him to his knees as his eyes white out, his scar throbbing harshly. He presses his hands to his heart desperately, a scream blocked in his throat, tears clinging to his eyelashes.
He was wrong, Harry is far from normal or ordinary and Voldemort is far too happy for his liking.
~~~~~~~
“Well, first things first,” Hermione sighed to Ron, having given up trying to find Harry in the maze. “We need to learn everything we can about Lady Hogwarts.”
Ron nodded from where he was sat on the floor, leaning against a bookshelf. “I don’t suppose you know where the books about Lady Hogwarts are?”
They blinked as a book flew out from the bookshelf behind Ron, fling around them in a manner similar to a golden snitch before diving headfirst into the maze, weaving skilfully through it, leaving only a thin golden trail following its movements.
Hermione laughed, “I think that’s the way to the books about Lady Hogwarts.”
As Hermione and Ron followed the golden trail deeper into the maze of the Dragon's Lair library, the atmosphere around them transformed. The air grew thick with the scent of ancient parchment and magic, and the dim lighting lent an aura of mystery to the surroundings.
The shelves towered above them, stretching impossibly high towards the ceiling obscured by shadows. Each shelf was laden with books of all shapes and sizes, their spines adorned with intricate designs and symbols that seemed to pulse with hidden power. Dust motes danced in the faint light that filtered through the gaps between the shelves, adding to the enchanting ambiance.
As they ventured further into the maze, the books seemed to grow older and more weathered, their covers worn with age and their pages yellowed with time. Some volumes appeared to be bound in exotic leathers or adorned with gilded edges, hinting at the priceless knowledge contained within their pages.
Occasionally, they passed by alcoves filled with artefacts and curiosities from centuries past - delicate vials containing mysterious substances, ancient scrolls adorned with faded runes, and ornate wands crafted by long-forgotten wizards. Each item whispered tales of bygone eras and long-lost magic, adding to the sense of wonder and reverence that permeated the library.
Despite the labyrinthine nature of the maze, Hermione and Ron pressed on, their curiosity driving them forward. The golden trail led them deeper into the heart of the library, guiding them with its ethereal glow as they navigated the twisting passages and hidden alcoves.
Finally, they emerged into a vast chamber bathed in soft light, the golden trail coming to an end before a towering shelf adorned with ornate carvings depicting scenes from Hogwarts' history. The books arranged upon it seemed to radiate with an otherworldly glow, beckoning Hermione and Ron closer with the promise of untold secrets and ancient wisdom.
In front of the bookshelf was a bookstand that was decorated with delicate golden spirals, it held a tome that flew open at their arrival, it pages moving in a flurry until it dropped to a rest.
Hermione stepped forward to read the page it was open at and turned to smile at Ron, “Behold; all about the Lady Hogwarts.”
She then started to read it aloud.
“In the year of our Lord, nine hundred and ninety-three, when the stones of Camelot Castle were repurposed to house the burgeoning legacy of wizardry, there arose a need for a guardian of unparalleled valour. As the legends of King Arthur and his knights faded into memory, a new era dawned within these walls.
As the four venerable founders – noble Godric Gryffindor, benevolent Helga Hufflepuff, wise Rowena Ravenclaw, and cunning Salazar Slytherin – etched their indelible mark upon the annals of history, a fifth founder emerged, veiled in the enigmatic shroud of secrecy, her genesis intertwined inexorably with the very essence of Hogwarts itself.
The Lady Hogwarts, as she came to be known amongst the learned circles of wizarding society, was born not of mortal flesh but of the purest arcane energies, her form a manifestation of the collective hopes and aspirations of every student who has ever graced these ancient corridors. From her inception, her purpose was clear: to safeguard the students of Hogwarts, to nurture their talents, and to guide them along the path of enlightenment.
Throughout the ages, tales of the Lady Hogwarts' benevolence have been recounted in reverent tones, passed down through generations like treasured heirlooms. In times of peril, she has been a bastion of strength, her unseen hand guiding students through the darkest of hours.
One such saga tells of a time when the shadows of malevolence threatened to engulf the realm of Hogwarts. Muggleborn students, innocent in their birth right yet persecuted for their magical heritage, found themselves besieged by fear and prejudice. In their hour of need, it was the Lady Hogwarts who rose to their defence, summoning forth a fearsome basilisk from the depths of the castle to safeguard those under her vigilant watch.
Yet, the Lady Hogwarts is not merely a guardian of the realm; she is also a friend and mentor to the students who walk these venerable halls. Often, her spectral form can be glimpsed amidst the shadows, her laughter mingling with the joyful echoes of youthful exuberance. In times of sorrow, she is a source of solace, her ethereal presence offering comfort to those in need.
Beyond her role as protector and confidante, the Lady Hogwarts serves as a font of wisdom, her teachings transcending the confines of conventional education. Through her guidance, students learn not only the intricacies of spell craft and potion-making but also the timeless virtues of courage, loyalty, and camaraderie that define a true Hogwarts education.
In the annals of the Lady Hogwarts, we find not only a record of her deeds but also a testament to the enduring power of magic itself. For as long as Hogwarts stands as a beacon of enlightenment in the wizarding world, so too shall the spirit of the Lady Hogwarts watch over her beloved students with unwavering devotion and boundless grace.”
“That’s it!” Ron exclaimed, “The Den of the beasts must mean the founders chambers; like the Chamber of Secrets with the Basilisk was for Slytherin.”
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows as she pondered, “That makes sense. But, where would we even begin to look for the other founders secret chambers?”
Startled, Hermione looked down at Crookshanks who brushed against her legs, a scroll held in her mouth. Hermione and Ron shared a glance as she knelt down to pry the scroll from her cat, she passed it to Ron and stood with Crookshanks cradled in her hands.
Ron huffed, turning the scroll to face her with an amused look. There on the scroll was a map of Hogwarts, the founders chambers - The Dragon’s Lair, The Badger’s Hollow, The Lion’s citadel, The Raven’s Eyrie and The Serpent’s Sanctum - all conveniently marked on the map.
“Any idea where Harry is, oh Magic Library?” Ron asked the ceiling and was surprised when the bookshelf suddenly vanished, exposing a kneeling Harry clutching at his head and chest. “Ah.”
“Harry!” Hermione cried out, running to his side. “What’s wrong? Is it You-Know-Who?”
“H-Happy. He’s too- He’s too happy, Hermione.”
“Mate, clam down. You need to take some deep breaths.” Ron said, rubbing Harry’s back. “Copy me, come on. In through your nose, 2, 3, 4, out through your mouth, 2, 3, 4. And again, come on, Harry.”
They sat together, helping Harry breath through the pain until he settled, cuddling Crookshanks into his chest.
“It doesn’t matter.” Hermione said, determined but quietly. “Let You-Know-Who, no, let V-Voldemort be happy today. Because today is the last day he will ever be happy.” She looked up to meet their eyes, her own glinting defiance. “We’ve got Dragons and Merlin, and very soon we’ll have Lady Hogwarts. Voldemort doesn’t stand a chance.”