Chapter 5
Chapter 5
August 1, 1990.
Harry pointed a finger at the mouse-sized spider on the desk in front of him. He winced as the spider melted into a puddle of slime.
“Well, you did something,” Charlos said staring at the mess on the table.
“Poor spider,” Luna said sadly.
Harry looked down at the desk where the melted remains of the spider dripped off the edge. “Only you could feel bad for a spider,” he said ruefully.
“Come on,” Luna said. “Let’s go see Mum. Maybe she knows about something that can help with your control.”
Charlos cleared his throat. “No, Harry still has some studying to do.”
“Grandpa,” Harry groaned.
“Harry,” Charlos said sternly. “This is important.”
Grumbling, Harry strode towards Charlos’s study.
Charlos glanced at Luna. “Harry can go with you in a few hours if it’s alright with your Mum.”
“Okay,” Luna said. “Can I wait for him?”
Charlos nodded. “Certainly.”
**ROE**
Harry gazed around the study that had been his classroom for the last year.
Two large armchairs sat on either side of a large oak desk. A large fireplace ran the length of the back wall of the room. A fire burned every day of the year no matter if it was the coldest day of winter or the dog days of summer.
On the wall over the fireplace, there hunt two longswords in polished leather scabbards. His Grandfather had once told him the swords were forged from Goblin steel. Harry had asked how his grandfather had gotten those swords, but the old man wouldn’t tell him. Harry’s thoughts were interrupted as the study door swung open.
Charlos entered the study and smiled as he saw Harry sitting at the large oak desk with his book open.
“Very good,” Charlos said sitting down on the other side of the desk. “Now, do you remember where we left off?”
“There are twenty-eight wizarding families that founded the wizarding government, but the Potters aren’t one of them. These families are called The Sacred Twenty-eight.”
“Correct,” Charlos said. “We could’ve been, but our family was far too outspoken to go far in politics. Some of our members were part of the Wizengamot, but we weren’t able to pass many laws we wanted to. Not to mention, the blackguard that made the records said our name was too Muggle.”
“But why be so outspoken?” Harry said. “Wouldn’t it be best if we kept quiet, we could get into politics and change things.”
Charlos shook his head. “I don’t agree with Dumbledore on much, but sometimes it is better to do what is right rather than what is easy.”
Harry blinked at his grandfather. “What does that have to do with politics?”
“The Potter family has always stood up for what they believed in, even when it wasn’t the most popular point-of-view. If we had stayed quiet, that would be lying to get elected. That would be dishonest and honor and integrity means a lot to our family.”
Harry’s eyes widened. “I think I get it. Since the sacred twenty-eight didn’t agree with the views of our family, we had no chance when it came to making real change.”
“That’s right,” Charlos said. “Because we couldn’t join the sacred twenty-eight, we have always used our wealth to fund those in politics who would fight for what was right. Additionally, we have never been afraid to stand up and fight for our world. The Potters fought against Grindelwald and Voldemort. We paid for those wars, but no one can say our family hasn’t done what we could for our world. There will come a time when you must make that decision for yourself.”
Harry straightened in his chair. “I won’t let you down.”
Charlos smiled. “I know you won’t.”
**ROE**
Lily smiled as she watched Harry carve the runes with her old wand.
“Well done.”
“What’s the point in helping me get so far ahead?” Harry asked as he laid the wand down on the table in front of him.
“I intend for you to go to Hogwarts, but you need to be ready for whatever may happen.”
“Why do I need to go to Hogwarts?”
“The fae mature faster than humans, but you still need to be around those your own age.”
“I have Luna,” Harry said.
“You need to be around more than just one girl,” Lily said with a chuckle.
Harry handed her wand back to her. “What next?”
“You can go see Luna now.”
Harry smiled. “Great.” He stood and headed for the door.
“Be back by dark,” Lily called.
“Got it,” Harry said.
**ROE**
“What are we looking for now?” Harry asked.
“We are looking for Rackspurts.”
“I thought you said they clouded people’s minds?”
“They do.”
“Then how do we find them?”
“We just look,” Luna said smiling happily.
Harry snorted and followed Luna into the woods. “What’s your Mum working on today?”
Luna’s smile faded. “She won’t tell me.”
“Why not?”
Luna scowled. “She says I’m too young.”
“We could go and spy on her.”
Luna paused. “I don’t know. If she catches us, she’ll be furious.”
Harry grinned. “Where’s the fun without a bit of risk.”
Luna giggled. “Alright,” she said. “Let’s go. We can look for Rackspurts later.”
**ROE**
Pandora frowned at the runic sequence she’d drawn. Everything looked correct, but she wouldn’t know until she tested it. With a sigh, she walked to the other side of her lab and picked up a spider the size of her hand from a small cage on a shelf. Placing it on the table, she watched it scuddle across the desktop.
“Petrificus Totalus,” she incanted pointing her wand at the spider.
The spider froze in place. Pandora drew the runes around the spider and sent magic into them. As she waited for the runes to charge, she went over the spell in her mind.
If she was right, this spell would block the killing curse. Once she was sure it would work, she could send her findings to the international confederation of wizards. Unfortunately, the only way to see if the spell worked was to use it on a living being. Since humans were out of the question, this little spider would have to do.
“It should block the spell,” Pandora muttered. “If my calculations are right, the magic that fuels the killing curse will make the shield stronger.”
The runes flashed white letting her know they were fully charged.
Taking a deep breath, Pandora raised her wand. “Mortem Patronum,” she whispered.
A white dome appeared around the spider. Pandora looked at the dome carefully. There didn’t seem to be any breaks or cracks. She gently prodded the dome with a finger. The wall of white light didn’t so much as ripple.
“So far so good,” Pandora murmured. She gazed at the spider still frozen in place. “If this doesn’t work, I’m not sorry. I hate spiders.”
Raising her wand, Pandora pointed it at the spider. She thought of everything Voldemort had done to the wizarding world. She thought of the families destroyed and the lives lost. As she felt the rage and hate rise up inside her, she spoke two words.
“Avada Kedavra.”
**ROE**
Harry and Luna watched through the window of Pandora’s lab as Pandora raised her wand. As she pointed it at the spider, Harry felt a swooping sensation in his stomach.
Something was wrong? Something was seriously wrong. He had to get in there before it was too late. Reaching for the doorknob, he tried to open the door.
“Locked,” he grumbled. How could he get in there. As he thought frantically, he remembered what his Mum told him when she was explaining fae magic.
“Fae magic requires intent.”
Concentrating, he willed himself into the room with Pandora. Nothing happened.
“Harry?” Luna said softly. “What is it?”
“Something is wrong in there. I don’t know what, but Mrs. Lovegood could get really hurt if she tries whatever it is she’s doing.”
Luna’s eyes widened. “Mummy,” she whispered.
Harry tapped the lock with a finger and willed it to open. Again, nothing happened.
He punched the door in frustration, but all that did was hurt his hand.
‘I have to get in there,’ he thought. ‘I can’t let Luna lose her mother.’
Straining, he forced his magic to act. He needed to get to Pandora. It was life or death he was sure of it.
The world seemed to shimmer around him. Mist swirled in the air. There was a rushing sound as air rushed in to fill the space where Harry had been standing.
Luna stared at the place Harry had been. Where had he gone? Turning, Luna ran towards the house. She had to get her Daddy. He would know what to do. Behind her, she heard a deafening boom.
**ROE**
“Avada Kedavra,” Pandora incanted.
A jet of green light flew from her wand and struck the dome of light. There was a sound like shattering glass. The deadly green spell reflected off the dome and streaked back towards Pandora.
Pandora heard a rushing as the light approached and then she was falling. A heavy weight had struck her from the side knocking her to the ground. There was an explosion as the killing curse struck the wall.
Rolling over, Pandora stared at Harry lying on top of her. “Harry?” she said breathlessly. “What are you doing here?”
“Saving your life,” Harry said. Gripping her arm, he focused on his desire to be out of her lab. Mist shrouded them. When it faded, Harry and Pandora had vanished. Pandora’s workshop exploded in a massive ball of fire raining chunks of stone and wood everywhere.
**ROE**
Pandora took a sip of tea and sat the cup down on the saucer. That had been too close. If Harry hadn’t been there…
She glanced over at the sleeping boy. Whatever magic he’d used had clearly exhausted him. Glancing toward the window, she gazed at the burning wreckage that had been her lab. A flash of guilt rose up inside her. Her experiments had nearly gotten Harry killed.
It was true she hadn’t asked him to teleport into her lab, but regardless, the end result would’ve been the same. Harry would’ve died and she never would’ve been able to forgive herself. Should she consider a new career? She didn’t want to leave Luna without a mother. Her husband was a good man, but he was a little absentminded.
“Mummy,” Luna said entering the room. “Are you alright?”
Pandora smiled and wrapped Luna in a hug. “I’m fine. You and Harry have seen to that.”
Luna shot a quick look at Harry sleeping peacefully on the sofa. “Is he alright?”
Pandora’s forehead creased in worry. “I hope so. I’ve sent an owl to his Mother. She should be here soon. I do wish your Father hadn’t disabled the Floo network.”
Before Luna could respond, a wall of mist rose out of the floor. They stared as the mist formed a human shape before solidifying into the familiar form of Lily.
“What happened?” she asked as she moved towards the couch where Harry lay.
Pandora quickly explained what had happened. “Is he going to be alright?” she asked.
Lily frowned. She waved a hand and several runes appeared floating over Harry. “He’s exhausted,” she said. “Fortunately, he doesn’t appear to have injured himself. A little sleep and he should be just fine.”
Pandora sighed in relief. “Good,” she breathed. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Lily. “How did Harry get into my lab? It was supposed to be warded against all forms of magical travel. Come to that, how did you get in here? Our home is supposed to be warded.”
Lily winced. Sitting down on the sofa, she gathered Harry’s sleeping form into her lap. “I guess this had to come out eventually,” she muttered.
“What are you talking about?” Pandora asked.
“She’s fae Mummy,” Luna said. “Harry is to.”
Lily blinked. “How do you know that?”
“There’s no iron in your home,” Luna said matter-of-factly. “Even wizarding homes have iron in them, but all your dishes and tableware are made of gold and silver. Your doorknobs are made of brass. The only thing I’ve even seen that’s close to iron is some steel swords hanging over the fireplace in Mr. Potters study.”
“That’s it?” Lily asked. “We don’t have iron in our home so we must be fae?”
“Well that, and you never use a wand for magic.”
Lily chuckled softly. “You are the most clever girl I’ve met in a long time.”
“Excuse me,” Pandora said, “but the fae are gone. Most wizards now days have forgotten about them.”
“We were never as gone as you thought. We did leave, but we never abandoned the wizarding world. The fae continued to protect you. Too many wizarding families have fae blood for us to do otherwise.”
“But why did you leave?” Pandora asked. “We needed your help.”
“The witch trials were over. Mankind no longer believed in magic. They had turned to the more rational science. With that change came an abundance of ironwork. You know that iron weakens us. If we are bound in iron, it restricts our magic and will burn our skin after prolonged contact. We had to leave until such a time that we could not be found out so easily.”
“And that time is now?”
Lily nodded. “The industrial revolution made steel far more abundant. We can work with steel and it doesn’t burn us with prolonged contact.”
“So, what happens now? Are you going to take me back to Elphame to pop out faerie babies?”
“we never took anyone against their will, technically,” Lily said mildly. “No, all I ask for is an oath that you will keep our secret.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it,” Lily confirmed. “The fae are returning, but we aren’t ready to reveal ourselves yet.”
“And if I won’t take the oath?”
“Mummy,” Luna said shocked. “Harry saved your life.”
Lily stared at Pandora, her green eyes darkening. The air seemed to grow colder. “The fae aren’t as good at the mental magics as wizards,” she said quietly. “I would be forced to attempt to modify your memory and I cannot guarantee you would still be sane after the experience. I will not allow knowledge of our existence to endanger myself or my son.”
Pandora shuddered. “We were friends at Hogwarts. You would really do that to a friend?”
“To protect my son, I would do far worse as I am sure you can understand.”
Pandora nodded. “I’ll take the oath.”
“Good,” Lily said. “Let’s get the wording right.”
After some back and forth, they agreed on the wording of the oath. Pandora raised her wand and pointed it at the ceiling.
“I, Pandora Selene Lovegood, swear on my life and magic that I will not tell anyone about Lily Evans Potter or her son being fae. I also swear not to inform anyone of the return of the fae, neither in word, writing, or action. So mote it be.”
There was a flash of light as the oath took effect. Lily nodded and relaxed slightly. “Thank you.”
“I do wish you would’ve let me tell my husband,” Pandora said.
Lily shrugged. “I’d have to convince him to give another oath and I don’t have time for that now. When Harry is better, I can reveal myself to him that way you do not have to keep secrets from one another. For now, I must go.”
As Lily gathered Harry in her arms and stood, Luna rushed over.
“Can I come over and see him tomorrow?”
Lily nodded. “Of course,” she said stroking Luna’s hair. “You are always welcome so long as your mother says it’s okay.”
Pandora smiled faintly. “You can go, but you and I need to have a talk first.”
Luna’s face fell. “Yes Mummy,” she said quietly.
Lily nodded to Pandora, and in a swirl of mist, she was gone.
**ROE**
Arawn appeared in the small room in the leaky cauldron. He raised a single eyebrow as he saw who was waiting for him.
“Ariana?”
“Hello Arawn,” Ariana said. “Are you busy?”
“Not at the moment,” Arawn said sitting down in a chair facing her. “What is bothering you?”
“There’s been something I’ve been wondering about for a long time. “Why did you take me to Elphame? Albus won’t tell me what happened. I know they thought I was dead before I came back in 1950, but Albus won’t talk about it and Abeforth just seems happy to have me back.”
“I see,” Arawn said. He was quiet for a few moments. “Are you sure you want to know? Had I not interfered, your life wouldn’t have been pleasant.”
Ariana nodded. “Yes,” she said fiercely. “I need to know the truth.”
Arawn nodded. “Well, the day I took you, I left what we call a fetch in your place. This was a construct that would act just as you would.”
“Wait,” Ariana interrupted. “You didn’t use a changeling?”
Arawn shook his head. “The day I took you, some boys attacked the fetch I left in your place. The trauma of the attack damaged the fetch both magically and mentally. Your Father attacked the boys that attacked what he thought was you and spent the rest of his life in Azkaban. Your Mother died from a magical outburst seven years after the fetch was attacked. You know everything after that.”
Ariana nodded looking dazed. “Albus got involved with Grindelwald and the fetch died during a three way duel. For over a decade, Abeforth and Albus thought I was dead until I came back.” She stared at Arawn. Why did you interfere?”
Arawn sighed. “My wife was a mortal witch. She was a member of the family that became the Dumbledore family. Before she died, I gave her my word that I would watch over her family. The fae can’t predict the future, but we can sometimes get an inkling of something. The day I took you, I was watching you and saw those three boys that would attack you. I did what I thought was best.”
“Why didn’t you stop the boys from attacking me? My Mother may have survived longer and my Father wouldn’t have been sent to Azkaban.”
“I did what I thought was best. Looking back, I could’ve stopped the boys from attacking you, but I didn’t know for sure that was going to happen. Remember, I didn’t have a vision of future events, I just had a feeling that you were in danger.”
“If you hadn’t taken me…”
“You would’ve been attacked by those boys and ended up killing your own Mother by accident.”
“I need some time to think,” Ariana said.
Arawn smiled slightly. “Understandable.”
“You did all of this to protect your wife’s family?”
Arawn smiled wistfully. “I gave her my word that I would watch over her family. You know the fae our word is our bond.”
“Thank you.”
Arawn nodded. “I did raise you like my own daughter,” he said quietly. “I did my best for you.”
Ariana nodded. “I know. You could’ve placed me with a fae family and forgot about me, but you didn’t. I just need time.”
Arawn stood up and kissed her forehead. “Take all the time you need, I’m not going anywhere.”
The shadows wrapped around him, and he vanished.
**ROE**
She looked around. The man kneeling before her stared determinedly at the floor in front of him.
“You betrayed me, and you refuse to look at me?” Her voice was soft, like the chiming of bells, but with an edge that cut like a knife.
“Milady please,” the man said. “I beg your forgiveness, but you are not well. Your rage at the mortals blinds you.”
“Blinds me?” she asked her voice as smooth as silk. “How can you say it blinds me. Everything I do I do for our people.”
“They will learn what you are doing,” the man said.
“By that time it will be too late. Do I need to remind you what they did? Two thousand men women and children. Two thousand fae slaughtered in their senseless hunt for witches. They will pay in blood for every life they took.”
The man rose to his feet. “I won’t let you do this.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed and began to glow. “You won’t let me do this?” she repeated. “My dear servant, how do you intend to stop me?”
The man drew a long iron knife from the cloak he wore and lunged at her.
He froze in mid lunge as if he’d been turned to stone. He began to scream. Blood burst from his eyes, nose, and mouth. He fell to the floor and convulsed violently.
The woman leaned over him and stroked his hair. Tears ran down her face as she watched the man’s struggles grow weaker and weaker. “This brings me no pleasure,” the woman said softly. “Had you not drawn that knife I would’ve let you walk away, but someone must protect the fae and that is what I intend to do.”
The man’s body stopped trembling and he lay still. She closed his staring eyes with gentle hand.
Fae bodies turned to dust not long after death, so she would not need to worry about cleaning anything up accept the blood. She had her supporters. The other two royals had agreed to perform the spell with her. The foolish man thought the rulers of Faery would not avenge their people. The mortals would pay for what they’d done.
**ROE**
Lily awoke and sat up with a gasp. Reaching up, she pushed her sweaty hair out of her face and stared around the room.
That dream had been different from the ones she’d had before. She’d felt the woman’s rage, but she’d also felt sadness and determination. The woman did not like killing whoever that other fae was, but she’d viewed it as a necessity. Who was she? More importantly, why was she having dreams of a woman she’d never met.
For a while, Lily had considered reincarnation, but she’d never been able to confirm reincarnation even happened let alone that it was happening to her. In a way, that was a relief. At least Voldemort wouldn’t be reincarnated.
Knowledge of the soul was one thing that wizards and fae had over their mundane counterparts. They knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that the soul existed. What no one knew was what happened to the soul after death. The ministry had studied the subject for centuries but had come to no concrete conclusions.
Maybe it was time to talk to someone about these dreams. She would speak to Arawn the next time he came over. Perhaps he would know something that could help her.
**ROE**
Charlos flipped the pages in the leger he was studying. The Potter families finances were coming along nicely. Harry would have enough to be getting on with once he was gone.
Leaning back in his chair, he stretched his arms over his head and groaned as his back popped. Turning in his chair, he stared out at the full moon rising above the trees. He wished there was more he could do to help the lad, but he’d taught him everything of importance about their family history. He wished the Potters had kept more ministry contacts.
Not for the first time, he wondered if his ancestors had been wise to be so outspoken. Perhaps Harry had been right. Perhaps it would’ve been better to be silent and gain a high ranking ministry position so they could affect real change. Instead, they had relied on others to push their agenda.
“All it takes for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing,” he murmured.
Had they been good men? True, they had never shirked their responsibility to the wizarding world, but had they done enough? What would future generations say about his family. Would they be remembered as a family that fought for what was right, or lukewarm defenders of justice. These were questions he would never have answers to.
He yawned. He was tired. All the books were balanced. It was time for bed. He made to stand, but a sudden pain shot through his chest and down his left arm. He gasped and tried to cry out for help, but all that came out was a soft whisper.
“Harry,” he croaked. “Lily.”
Slumping back in his chair, he felt the darkness closing over him.
**ROE**
Lily watched Harry finish the last bite of bacon. He turned to her, frowning slightly. “Grandpa is usually up by now.”
“You’re right,” Lily said. She frowned. “Why don’t you go to Luna’s for a while?”
Harry stared at his mother. “Why?”
“Because you’re getting the day off and that’s probably not going to happen again for a while. Now get out of here before I change my mind.”
Harry rose and placed his plate in the sink before heading for the door. At the door he glanced back at Lily. “Shouldn’t I go at least talk to Grandpa?”
Lily shook her head. “I’ll go.”
**ROE**
Once she was sure Harry was gone, she headed for Charlos’s room. A glance inside showed the bed hadn’t been slept in.
Turning away, she headed for the study. As she approached the door, she felt her stomach drop. Something was seriously wrong here. She could sense something, something bad.
“Charlos,” she called. “Charlos are you alright?”
There was no answer. Raising her right fist, Lily wrapped hard on the door.
“Charlos,” she called again. “Can you hear me?”
Lily tried the doorknob and finding it unlocked, slowly pushed the door open. She hesitantly stepped inside and saw Charlos slumped in his chair.
“Charlos,” she called. “Charlos.” She hurried over to the old man. As she touched him, her heart dropped. He was ice cold.
“Arawn,” she called without thinking.
The shadows twisted beside her and Arawn appeared.
“Lily,” he began before he saw Charlos. Without another word, he hurried to the old man and bent over him.
“He’s dead,” he said quietly. “Been dead for several hours. Judging by his expression and the way he’s gripping his arm, I’d guess it was his heart.”
Tears began to flow down Lily’s cheeks. “He accepted me,” she said in a small voice. “He accepted Harry.”
Arawn wrapped his arms around her and held her as she cried.
**ROE**
The funeral was held three days later. Fortunately for Lily, Charlos had made all the arrangements beforehand. He’d wanted to be buried between James and his wife, Dorea.
Harry had been quiet the passed three days, not speaking unless spoken to. Luna had been his constant companion, staying most of the day until she’d been called home.
Lily was drawn out of her thoughts as Arawn laid a hand on her shoulder and pointed to the mourners approaching the grave. Each mourner threw a handful of earth onto the coffin.
When it was her turn, Lily sprinkled her handful of earth over the coffin. “Goodbye Charlos,” she said softly. “Thanks for everything you did.”
“Goodbye Grandpa,” Harry whispered. “I promise I won’t let you down.”
Lily took Harry’s hand and led him towards the gates of the cemetery. As she approached the gates, she saw they were made out of wrought iron. Wrapping her hand in her coat, she pushed the gate open. She was just about to step through when a voice spoke from behind her.
“Lily, I’d hoped to see you today.”
Lily turned and saw Dumbledore standing there. The soft breeze ruffled his long white hair and beard.
“Albus,” Lily said her voice lacking any emotion.
“Charlos said you would come and see me, but you never did.”
“I’ve had more important things to do over the passed few years. This is not the time or place to discuss my grievances with you.”
“Of course,” Dumbledore said inclining his head. “I would like to talk to you however.”
Arawn stepped forward. “Perhaps you can speak to her later. For now, I would ask that you show a bit of compassion.”
At sight of the white-haired fae, Dumbledore’s eyes narrowed.
“Of course,” he said stiffly. He turned to Lily. “My apologies.” Without another word, he turned and strode away.
Lily watched him leave before taking Harry’s hand. “Let’s go.” In a swirl if mist, the two vanished.
**ROE**
Later that night, after Harry was in bed, Lily sat drinking a cup of tea. Sensing another presence in the room, she looked up to see Arawn sitting across from her.
“I thought you’d have gone back to Annwn by now.”
Arawn shrugged. “I’ll leave in the morning. I’ll have to stay away for a while. Will you and Harry be alright?”
Lily nodded. “Sure.”
“Good,” Arawn said. They sat in silence for several moments.
“I need to tell you about something,” Lily said finally. “With what happened to Charlos, I’d quite forgotten about it.”
“Forgotten about what?”
Lily quickly explained about her dreams. “What do you think it means? Am I going crazy?”
Arawn shook his head. “I have a suspicion.” He stood. “I’ll go ahead and return to Elphame. There are some books there I want to look at.”
Without another word, Arawn vanished in a swirl of shadow.
Lily stared after him. Somehow, she didn’t think she was going to like whatever Arawn discovered.