Chapter 39
“Harry? Fortinbras and Isengrim would like to speak to you, before we leave.” Sigi said. “Not business, more a private matter. And I thought you might want to bring Isengrim up to date with a Disclosure?”
“Of course, Sigi.” Harry nodded.
~~~
August 29th 2920
Sigi and Harry sat back and waited for Isengrim to process what Harry had just shown him.
“Istari…” Isengrim muttered. It seemed he was no fonder of Istari, than his father had been.
“No.” Harry shook his head. “Istari are beings created by the Valar, to be their agents in middle-earth, or so I gather. My information on them is… limited. But my friends and family? We were brought here. By who? I don’t know. I remember a woman laughing. Fred doesn’t remember anything. Neither does Lavender. Colin remembers a woman telling him that he’d be needed. Remus remembers a woman crying. Tonks doesn’t recall anything. Dad remembers talking to someone that was very upset. Mum doesn’t remember anything. Neither does Fabian or Gideon. Cedric remembers someone crying but not whether they were male or female. Dumbledore remembers nothing at. Snape said his arrival was, to quote him, ‘most unpleasant’, but that he figured that was more to his being attacked by a huge snake than anything else.”
“Ah.” Isengrim grunted. “That would be why father told me to consider you and your people, good and worthy beings. That he would welcome you to the Great Smials, at any time. He even asked for rooms to be assigned to you.”
Sigi whistled. “That’s rare.”
“Very rare.” Fortinbras added. “The last was... Aramorth(?), the leader of the Rangers and that was during our great-grandfather’s time as Thain, I think it was.”
“Yes.” Isengrim nodded. “That was… hmm… seventy-six years ago, if my numbers are right.”
“2844?” Harry asked.
“Ah, seventy-seven, then.” Isengrim corrected. “I understand his son is leading the Rangers, now. He’s a good lad, a bit reserved, but he’s good at heart.”
“We haven’t had any contact with them, as yet.” Harry said. “We’ll welcome them if they come, but I’ve no idea of how to reach out to them.”
“We can do that, if you like.” Isengrim offered. “Our Bounders see them on a relatively regular basis.”
“That would be much appreciated.” Harry smiled and nodded.
“Fortinbras? I’ll leave that in your hands.” Isengrim directed.
“Of course, Uncle.” Fortinbras agreed.
“Fred raised an interesting thought.” Harry said hesitantly, he wasn’t sure that what he was going to offer would be welcomed. “He wondered if we could leave an emergency portkey here.”
“An emergency… portkey…?” Isengrim asked. “I’m not sure I understand the significance.”
“If there was an emergency, an accident…” Harry started. “Like the smial collapse, last month. Or a fire. Or… something that we might be able to help with, using magic.”
“Ah.” Isengrim nodded, slowly. “And what exactly is a portkey? What does is do?”
“If there’s an emergency, someone would pick up the portkey and say the activation phrase.” Harry answered. “The portkey would then transport that person, magically, to the destination, probably the Mayor’s Office at the Willow’s Pond, would be best.”
“How?” Fortinbras asked.
“It’s kind of hard to explain…” Harry said. “I personally hate them, but that’s only because I’ve had them used to kidnap me, by someone with the intent to kill me. It grabs you, feels like a hook behind the navel and everything twists. When the twisting and swirling stops, you hit the ground in another place.”
“Perhaps a demonstration?” Fortinbras asked.
“Sure.” Harry nodded. “Fred, Sigi and I all have one. While Fred and I can apparate back the Willow’s Pond, Sigi can’t. Lavender wanted us all to have the means to return home, whenever we wanted.”
“What is the actual item? A key?” Isengrim asked.
“Pretty much anything you like.” Harry said. “We only have to apply the appropriate charms to whatever you want to use. It can be a key, if you like, or a picture, or a bracelet, or just about anything you choose.”
“A demonstration, first.” Isengrim said. “Then we’ll discuss the item.”
“Of course.” Harry nodded. “Sigi? How about we use yours?”
“Sure, Harry, we can do that.” Sigi pulled a sleeve up and exposed a leather cuff around his wrist, it had a black-steel medallion on it, with a stylised willow tree etched onto it.
He removed the cuff and held it out to Harry. “You know how to use it better than I do.”
Harry nodded. “Gentle-hobbits, if you would step outside with me? It’s best not to use these, indoors.”
“There’s a private garden, just out here.” Isengrim said and led them through a door at the rear of the office, through a room with a pair of armchairs and out a small round door. Poor Harry had to duck to go through it.
Once in the garden, Harry held the cuff by one corner. “If each of you would take a hold of one of the corners.” With each person holding a corner, he looked at Sigi. “This is tied to you, you have to say the activation phrase.”
Sigi grinned and nodded. “Home again, home again, jiggety jig.”
It was late evening, when a second portkey deposited Harry, Fortinbras and Isengrim back in that little garden. Each hobbit now wore a cuff much like Sigi’s, that could be used to take them and up to three others, to the Willow’s Pond, depositing them in the courtyard of what would become a hospital.
“Thank you, Harry.” Isengrim gave the dwarf a tired smile. “Now, before you go, the reason that I wanted to meet with you? Fortinbras said that you might have a way of sending a message to my brother. Hildifons left Tuckborough years ago, I don’t even know if he’s still alive. But even if he left, he still deserves to know that father’s… gone.”
“That’s easily done.” Harry nodded. “We can send him a Patronus, if it goes, you know he’s still alive, if not…” He shrugged. “What would like to say?”
“I would just ask that he contact the current Thain, as Gerontius Took, first of his name, has journeyed to Yavanna’s Gardens.” Isengrim replied.
“May I add, that if he doesn’t wish to rejoin the family in Tuckborough, that he visit the Whomping Willow’s Pond?” Fortinbras asked.
Isengrim tilted his head and considered that for a few moments. “Yes, I accept that. As long as someone can tell mother that they’ve seen him, I will happily forgo entering a fight to get him back here.”
“Very well.” Harry nodded. “You’re going to like this.” He grinned pulling his wand from a holster. “Expecto Patronum…” A massive silvery-blue stag burst from the wand-tip, as though leaping from it. The feeling of warmth and affection that it exuded, caught the two hobbits unprepared, both had tears on their cheeks, but also wore soft smiles. “A message for Hildifons Took, son of Gerontius and Adamanta Took, when no-one but he can hear.” The stag shuddered as it magically searched for a recipient, before it opened its mouth to receive the message. “Hildifons Took, first of your name, it is with sadness in my heart that I inform you that Gerontius Took, first of his name, has passed to Yavanna’s Gardens. Isengrim, third of his name, has accepted the title of Thain and all the responsibilities that go with it. It is requested that you return to the Shire, either to the Great Smials, directly, or if you prefer not to return to Tuckborough, then you will be welcomed by two, or possibly more, of your nephews, at the settlement called The Whomping Willow’s Pond, one mile the east of the Brandywine River, on the East-West Road. May the blessings of Yavanna and Mahal be upon you.” Harry glanced at Fortinbras and Isengrim and when both nodded, he looked at the stag and nodded.
The stag nodded back and leapt into the air, prancing around the garden before running up the side of the Great Smials and into the sky. It continued to prance above the top of the Smials for nearly a minute, filling the evening air with the affection and joy that Harry had been focusing on, when he’d cast. Eventually, the stag’s prancing lifted it high above the Smials and it began to run, a gallop that became a streak of light, that vanished into the darkness.
“Oh, my…” Isengrim whispered. “That… What was that? It felt…”
“That?” Harry grinned. “That was a Patronus. A guardian formed of positive emotions. I was focusing on the love and affection I have for my family and my friends, your father included.”
“I see…” Isengrim said.
“That was some powerful emotions, Harry.” Fortinbras whispered.
“Yes.” Harry nodded. “I lived almost my entire life, being abused by people that were supposed to care for me, but would have preferred me dead, if given a choice in the matter. To be reunited with my parents, after thinking each other dead, for sixteen years? Yes, my emotions are strong and I see no reason to hide them.”
“No.” Isengrim agreed. “Family is something to value and the fact that you value yours so highly, is to your credit. I agree, it is not something to hide.”
“Agreed.” Fortinbras nodded.
Harry just smiled and nodded.
“It’s late and I think mother should not be alone, tonight.” Isengrim said.
“Lalia is with her, but Ferumbras is only four and should sleep in his own bed, else he’ll be grumpy come morning.” Fortinbras added.
“Then, I shall bid you goodnight.” Harry gave them a slight bow. “That book’s partner is in the Mayor’s Office and will be checked daily. If you write in it, you’ll get a response, at least by sunset.”
“Thank you, Master Harry.” Isengrim gave Harry an untrained bow, quickly followed by Fortinbras. “And thank you for the picture, mother will appreciate it, I’m sure.” Lavender had pressed the frame into Isengrim’s hands moments before they returned to Tuckborough.
“You’re most welcome.” Harry stepped back from the hobbits and with a final nod, apparated back to the courtyard of his home. He saw Dancer and Delilah’s heads sticking over the fence and with a sigh, crossed to them, he petted both mares for a few minutes before he headed inside.
“Harry, mate?” Fred leant against the kitchen door. “You alright?”
Harry smiled at the redhead. “Not really, Fred. But I think I will be, given enough time. Mum said there was nothing that could be done, not at that point. But I wonder if she’d seen him earlier, would that still be the case?”
“He was old and hobbits aren’t like dwarves, they’re more like humans.” Fred said. “He was one-hundred-and-thirty, that’s nearly thirty years more than the average for a hobbit. I think that was a good run.”
“Yeah.” Harry nodded. “I think so, too. Thanks, Fred.”
“No worries, mate.” Fred answered. “Now, off to bed. We’ve got a hospital to build, tomorrow.”
“Oh, yay…” Harry replied, flatly.
~~~
September 10th 2920
Harry looked up as the wards dinged, telling him that someone had entered the village.
“I really need to find a deputy Mayor.” He muttered and left his workshop on Pond Lane, or rather Little Pond Lane, as the smaller lane was called. He made his way along the lane and onto the larger Pond Lane before crossing a bridge and skirting the pond that gave the Willow’s Pond settlement its name.
As he did, he saw a hobbit walking up Road Street, as the street between the Pond and the East-West Road, was called.
“Yavanna’s Blessings, gentle-hobbit.” Harry said as he neared the hobbit.
“Yavanna’s Blessings, Master dwarf.” The hobbit’s voice was quiet and calm, a contrast to his wild curls. “I am Isengar Took. Sigisimond asked me if I was interested in being a Mayor’s assistant.”
“Oh, thank Yavanna and Mahal.” Harry slumped in relief.
The hobbit barely blinked, but he did smile slightly. “That pleased to have an assistant, are you?”
“Yes.” Harry nodded fervently. “I’m only a year past my coming of age and I’ve been informed by my family and friends that they chose me as Mayor, I didn’t ask for it, they just lumped it on me.”
“Ah.” Isengar grunted. “And why would they do that?”
“The only thing I can get out of them is that I’m the one with the greatest experience in leading troops into battle. How that’s supposed to equate to leading a village, I just don’t know. I need a good Sargent to handle the non-essential stuff and I haven’t got one.” The last sentence was muttered quietly, but not so quietly that Isengar didn’t hear it.
“Well then.” The hobbit replied. “I think I’d like to help. If you have no objections, I’ll shadow you for a few days, get a feel for how things are done. Then, I’d like to sit down with you and discuss any concerns and plans for the future.” He hummed. “I would need a place to live, though. Travelling from Hildibrand’s every day would require a pony and cart and quite frankly? I’m not comfortable with the creatures.”
“Understandable.” Harry nodded. “We have a number of smial sites available, once you choose a floorplan, we’ll get to work.”
“And where do you suggest I stay in the meantime?” Isengar asked, calmly.
“Oh, right.” Harry grimaced. “Disclosure, yeah. Come on, I’ll show you the office and do the reveal at the same time.”
It was almost sunset before Harry, Fred and Sirius finished the construction of Isengar’s smial, much to his satisfaction. Number One Market View Drive looked out over the market field, perched just off the intersection of Market and Field Drives. As yet, Isengar had only a bed, dresser and a kitchen table. Before Fred left, he transfigured a slice of tree trunk into a stool.
“Come over to the Den for dinner, Isengar.” Sirius said. “We’ll finish fitting out your smial, tomorrow. Fred’s transfigs last the longest, but they won’t last forever, we’ll need to find ourselves a furniture maker soon.”
“I’ll add it to the list of priority trades.” Sigi said as he joined them. “Uncle.” He nodded to his uncle.
“Sigisimond.” Isengar nodded back. “I’d like to see that list.”
“Of course, Uncle.” Sigi agreed. “Shall we meet after breakfast?”
“That sounds fine.” Isengar replied.
~~~
September 30th 2920
Apple trotted in through the Willow’s Pond’s gateposts just in time for afternoon tea, Bilbo holding her reins in steady hands. He guided the pony around the Pond, stopping briefly at the Mayor’s Office to greet Isengar and get directions to Harry’s workshop. From the Mayor’s Office to Harry’s workshop only took a minute or two and Bilbo was easing Apple to a halt in front of the open, folded doors.
“Harry?” The hobbit called, on the seemingly empty shop, knowing that just because he couldn't see Harry, it didn't mean the dwarf wasn't present. “Harry? You in there?”
Harry popped up from behind a table. “Bilbo? Bilbo Baggins? It’s September. What are you doing here?”
“Mother wanted to go and see her brothers and father decided that he was coming, too.” Bilbo answered. “Having Apple and the cart means that it’s an easy trip for father. Or at least a relatively easy one.”
Harry nodded. “Yeah, I can see that it would be. Did you stay with Hildibrand and Tansy, last night?” He asked, as he tidied away whatever it was he'd been doing.
“We had couple of nights there, actually.” Bilbo said. “Left their place after second breakfast. Stopped and had a nice picnic lunch, a couple of hours ago and now we’re almost ready for afternoon tea. But we want to see what you’ve done with the Willow’s Pond, before I leave mother and father at the Den and Apple with Squire.” He grinned at Harry. “You going to give us a tour?”
“Sure, why not?” Harry laughed. “Got room in there for me, too?”
“Of course, Harry.” Belladonna laughed.
Harry left the workshop, quickly sliding the doors closed and climbed into the cart with the three hobbits.
“Afternoon, Lady Belladonna, Mr Bungo.” Harry smiled at the two older hobbits. “Welcome to the Whomping Willow’s Pond. This is Little Pond Lane and off of it is the Crafters Loop. Most of our craftspeople that need workshops will have spaces here.” He directed Bilbo back towards the Pond. “Turn right, here. This is Pond Lane, it starts at the Willow’s Pond and goes west. This bridge here, leads to Hill Street and Dock Lane. Most of us dwarves are on one or the other of them…” For the next half hour he acted as a tour guide for the three hobbits, as he directed Bilbo around the village.
“Well, it’s certainly a lot larger than I expected.” Bungo nodded appreciatively.
“The smials are lovely.” Belladonna agreed. Harry had, at Bungo and Bilbo’s request, told her their story, the complete truth, not just a part of it.
“You’ll like the Den’s guest smials.” Harry said. “We based them on Bag End and the Great Smials. Or at least, they were the inspiration we used.”
“Isengar’s is nice, very light and the windows are bigger than I imagined.” Bungo commented.
“Magic, Mr Bungo, magic.” Harry laughed. “We got small window panes from Hobbiton, Tuckborough, Brandy Hall and Bree and… we used magic to heat the glass and stretch it. Most of the glass we were able to get was heavy and thick, so heating and stretching it made each pane thinner and larger. That meant we got to have larger windows and more light coming through them.”
“Oh, that sounds like a marvellous idea.” Belladonna replied.
“Makes me wish we’d had a magical around when I was having Bag End built.” Bungo laughed.
“And this is the Gryffindor’s Den.” Harry said as Bilbo turned Apple away from the Pond and let her amble up the little bit of drive, to the Den. “Guest smials are on this level, but the dining and tea rooms are upstairs. We’ve had a few older hobbits with mobility issues, coming in by pony and cart, so we’ve made up these.” There was a strange looking bridge chair with wheels, sitting in front of the Den. “Back in England, we called them wheelchairs. They’ll let you get around the guest smials without assistance and when you’re ready to head up for tea or dinner, just give Sigi a call and he’ll show you the elevator. It’s crank operated, so Bilbo or Sigi will have to do that for you, but it will give you access to the upper levels, without having to climb stairs.”
“Oh… thank you…” Bungo’s smile was soft and warm. “You’ve thought about everything.”
“Probably not.” Harry objected. “It seems like… every time we turn around, there’s something else to add to the list. The latest are glass blowers, furniture upholsterers and cabinet makers.” He paused. “And a dairy, too. I’m tired of having to apparate to Bree to buy milk and cheese or cream and butter.”
“Oh, I know a young lad that might be what you’re looking for.” Belladonna said. “Hanno Mudge.”
“Of course!” Bilbo gasped, excitedly. “Why didn’t we think of him, earlier?”
“Tell me about him?” Harry asked as he helped Bungo down from the cart and guided him into the chair and then looked over to Bilbo, when he saw Squire emerge from the Den’s cellar. “Oh, Squire, will you take Apple for Bilbo? Save him the walk back?”
“Of course, Master Harry.” Squire stepped over to the pony’s head and after slipping her a treat from his pocket, he took hold of her reins, just behind the bit.
“Oh, thank you, Mr Burrows.” Belladonna smiled at the younger hobbit.
“Not a worry, Mrs Baggins.” Squire assured the hobbitess. “I’m heading back there, anyway, so taking this little Lady with me is no trouble at all.”
“Still…” Belladonna smiled. “Thank you, all the same.”
Squire just ducked his head, with flush to his cheeks. Being complemented for doing his job, didn’t sit right with the scarred hobbit.
“We’ll be staying for a couple of days.” Bungo said, from his seat in the wheelchair. “So, you don’t need to keep Apple ready for us.”
“We are.” Belladonna nodded. “I’ve not seen Isengar for years, but I’m looking forward to spending some time with him.”
“Well, your timing is impeccable, then.” Harry laughed. “He’s off for the next two days.”
“Oh, lovely.” Belladonna’s smile grew.
~~~
October 15th 2920
Harry was just about to leave the Mayor’s Office for the day, when he happened to glance at the book connected to the one that they’d sent to Snape. It was glowing, which signalled it had received an incoming message.
“Your timing, Snape…” Harry huffed and picked up the book, he was due to meet the other magicals for dinner and a discussion on what they were going to do next. He closed up the office and apparated up to his house, he needed to get changed before heading down to the cottage that Fred had built, but was yet to move into. It being empty, made it the prime location for these meetings.
He was grinning as he entered Fred’s kitchen. “Dinner’s going to have to wait.” He said to the gathered magicals. “Snape’s an impatient bastard. He’s sent at least a half-dozen messages.”
“… ooh…” Tonks soundlessly whistled.
“Let’s see what the greasy bat of the dungeons has to say.” Fred laughed and took the book from Harry, opening it and laying it on the table.
Cauldron ~ Magpie (sent 10.15am, October 15th 2920)
Weasley!
What have you done?!
Harry snickered at Fred’s attempt to imitate Snape.
Cauldron ~ Magpie (sent 10.18am, October 15th 2920)
More to the point… HOW!?
How the devil did you get YOUR hands on MY wand?
MY WAND!
It was in my hands when I died. HOW did you get it?
Snape’s second message had Sirius and Remus snickering.
Cauldron ~ Magpie (sent 10.21am, October 15th 2920)
This smacks of Potter!
He’s involved in this somehow, I just know it!
“Write and tell him that Hermione was behind it, not me.” Harry told Fred.
Cauldron ~ Magpie (sent 10.27am, October 15th 2920)
The seeds and plants will be godsend, I will admit.
With them, I will be able to brew and create much more effective potions than I would have without them.
You have my thanks, Mr Weasley, Miss Brown.
“Nice…” James nodded to Fred. “Getting a thanks out of Snape, that’s not easy…”
“But it wasn’t really me, Harry did most of it.” Fred argued.
“Maybe, but he doesn’t know that. I’m still not ready to tell him, I’m here. Not yet.” Harry objected.
Cauldron ~ Magpie (sent 10.34am, October 15th 2920)
The charm work on the holsters is impeccable.
Which one of you did that?
I know that Miss Brown would have easily achieved an O on her charms NEWT.
And that you, Mr Weasley, kept a lot of your skills well hidden, but the level of knowledge needed for the holsters is far beyond what is taught at Hogwarts.
“Do we tell him?” Fred asked looking at Lily. “Or do we bluff? I can hint at what George and I provided in the shop, the shield hats and cloaks.”
“Bluff.” Lily said. “I’m not ready…” She drew in a shaky breath. “I’m four months pregnant, I’m not sure I can be objective if he writes to me directly…”
“Yeah, I can understand that.” Harry nodded.
Cauldron ~ Magpie (sent 10.45am, October 15th 2920)
Who is responsible for this book?
Would I be correct in assuming that this is based off of Miss Granger’s coins for your little club?
The one that Umbridge did her best to end?
Also, whose is the second symbol? The Magpie is surely Mr Weasley’s, but what of the rabbit?
To whom does that belong?
And I notice that there is not a symbol for Albus Dumbledore. Might I ask why not?
“Didn’t we tell him the rabbit was for Lavender?” Harry asked.
“Whoops…” Fred grimaced.
Cauldron ~ Magpie (sent 10.59am, October 15th 2920)
Tell me that you’re safe.
That you’ve managed to find someone in the west, to assist you in establishing yourselves?
Do you have skills or abilities that you can utilise, here?
Have you managed to acquire beads? For your families? For your friends? For your employable skills?
Have you managed find employment? Accommodation?
I shan’t ask after finances. The LAD Summoning spell-chain is ingenious. Mr Weasley, I see your hand in that.
Have you managed to keep Miss Brown out of an unwanted marriage, or did you marry her, yourself?
“Talk about wanting answers.” Harry was laughing by now.
Cauldron ~ Magpie (sent 11.13am, October 15th 2920)
Where did you find as many magical plants as you have?
Between what you’ve sent and what I had, I have an almost complete potions ingredient store.
Certainly the plant side is nearly complete. I would hazard that there’s less than a dozen plants missing.
If you ever spot a Devil’s Snare? Some of the most effective healing potions known, use various parts of that particular plant.
I would be most pleased if you could acquire one for me.
“Hmm…” Fred looked at Harry. “You’re the one that knows Neville’s charm. Think you can whip up a Devil’s Snare for him?”
“Excuse me?” Lily asked.
“Neville Longbottom, Gryffindor's resident herbology genius.” Harry said. “Created a method for converting a conjured plant into a natural one. I’ll try, but not until morning. Plus, I’ll need a stasis box to put it in, if we’re going to send it all the way to the Iron Hills. Same deal as for the wands.”
“I can put them together.” Lily said. “But I want to know this method you’re talking about.”
“Okay.” Harry shrugged. “It’s not like it’s hard, just complicated.”
Cauldron ~ Magpie (sent 3.46pm, October 15th 2920)
Albus called in to the healers’ halls, moments ago.
He commented that you sent him a parchment that would enable him to write to you.
He implied that he was aware that you would not be sending the same to me.
I did not inform him of this book and shall not.
I shall assume that if you wished him to know of its existence, you would have either told him or sent one to him.
I also note that you did not send him a wand. Is there a reason for this?
“Shall we reply?” Harry said.
“I think we’d better.” James said. “He’s concerned about Fred and Lavender. He's actually concerned, he’s not just saying the words…”
“It came as a bit of a shock that his first words to us, were basically… ‘are you safe?’ Not some insipid pleasantry like Dumbledore sent.” Fred said. “But Lavender told us what he did while he was Headmaster. How he stopped the Carrows from torturing or raping students. So we had an idea that he wasn’t quite as anti-student as he appeared.”
“Alright.” James nodded. “Let’s write back to Snape.”
“Start with a sheet of paper and we can work out what we want to say.” Remus suggested.
~~~