Chapter 47
“You’re not the devil’s spawn, you’re a little girl.” Harry told her. “Your daddy was wrong. Magic’s not evil, it’s just a tool. There’s good witches and bad witches, just like there’s good people and bad people. And you’re a good person.” He assured her. “Come on, let’s get you two home, checked over by our healer, into some dry clothes and get something warm to eat. Okay?”
“Yes, please, Harry.” Dennis spoke for the two of them, as he finished strapping his wand holster to his arm.
~~~
July 9th 2922
“Morning, sweetheart.” Lily brushed a kiss over Harry’s cheek as she deposited Rosen on his lap and sat beside him. “How’s the little one settling in.” She’d been surprised that Harry had insisted that both of the newcomers were staying with him, she’d expected the lad but had thought that he’d ask for the girl to be housed with either her and James, Alice and Frank or with Remus and Dora. But that hadn’t been the case, at all. No, Harry had taken both Dennis and Jessie into his home and provided them with everything that he could. Would her son ever stop surprising her? She doubted it.
“Good.” Harry nodded. “Jessie’s found a couple of wands that like her, and dad and Fabian spent yesterday with her, showing her how they made a holster for each of her wands and how to wear them. Remus and I are going to take turns teaching her. We’ll start with some basic history, before we bring in other people. I’d like you to teach her some charms and potions, please.”
“Of course, sweetheart.” Lily answered. “Just let me know when and I’ll clear a bit of time.”
“Thanks, mum.”
“We should add a teacher to our wanted list.” Lily added.
“Yeah, but neither hobbits nor dwarves can teach magic.” Harry argued. “They’d have to be a magical.”
“Perhaps you could ask Frank and Alice?” Lily mused. “They seem to have more free time than the rest of us.”
“I was thinking of each of us, giving a few hours each, every week.” Harry replied. “Just for the magicals or those that want to learn arithmancy, runes or potions.”
“Oh, now that might work.” Lily nodded. “Next town meeting?”
“I think I might wait for a couple of months, in the meantime, Remus and I are taking turns to cover the basics.” Harry said. “One-on-one, Jessie’s going to learn faster, than with a teacher with a class of twenty students.”
“That’s very true.” Lily agreed.
~~~
July 10th 2922
“Alright, Dennis.” Harry said. “You wanted to talk?” He handed the younger dwarf a mug of tea.
“Thanks, Harry.” Dennis nodded. “Colin suggested that I catch you up on what’s been happening in the wizarding world, since… you know…”
“I’m not sure if I want to know…” Harry said quietly.
“Oh, no, you probably don’t.” Dennis snickered. “The Ministry announced that You-Know-Who was dead. Then the Prophet went on a rant about how marvellous it was, you being sentenced to the Veil. After killing You-Know-who.” He snickered again. “The public didn’t like their attitude.”
“Oh, boy…” Harry sighed. “They took offence, didn’t they?”
“Oh, yes, very much so.” Dennis nodded. “Rita Skeeter and Mister Cuff tried to brush it off, but there were riots. Witches and wizards broke into the offices of the Prophet and… Cuff’s been discredited and Skeeter’s in Azkaban for being an illegal Animagus. Not to mention the slander, she aimed at you. Hermione went to town at her and once she’s served her time in Azkaban, she’ll have her magic bound and be cast out of the wizarding world.”
“Woah…” Harry blinked.
“Yeah…” Dennis smiled. “Umbridge has the cell next hers and she’ll be there until she dies. Some of the muggleborns that she ‘interviewed’ didn’t survive her tender mercies.” The young dwarf sneered.
“Couldn’t happen to a better person.” Harry huffed.
“The new Minister is a wizard called Kingsley Shacklebolt.” Dennis went on. “Hermione said that he was a good man, but that he was going to get too bogged down by the purebloods, to be effective. But that at least he was trying, which was more than she could say for most of the Wizengamot.”
“That does sound like Hermione…” Harry chuckled.
“The public aren’t pleased with the Wizengamot’s treatment of you.” Dennis said. “But Hermione and the Minister assured them that everything was done by the book. They still weren’t too pleased, but after a few months, everything settled down again. Hogwarts opened in September, as usual, but parts of the castle were off-limits, due to spell damage. Curse-breaker Weasley was sent by Gringotts, along with a whole team of curse-breakers, to deal with whatever they could. The ICW ended up sending a specialist team, to deal with the worst of it.”
“Ouch…” Harry grimaced.
“But as students, we didn’t have much to do with them.” Dennis shrugged. “Classes were back to normal within a month and… Everything else went back to normal, too. Professor Flitwick ran the DA, after Euan and Natalie asked if we could keep it going. But other than that, Hogwarts is still the same.”
“And outside?” Harry wasn't sure he wanted to know.
“The Ministry seems to be business as usual.” Dennis grunted. “They’re not badmouthing you, but… that’s because they’re not talking about you… at all. Hermione said that they were burying their heads in the sand, again.”
“Oh, great…” Harry huffed.
“Things are quiet in Diagon Alley.” Dennis continued. “A lot of shops haven’t re-opened. Ollivander’s included. Weasley’s is open, but it’s much quieter. Hermione said that George isn’t coping well without Fred and that she wouldn’t be surprised if he just... disappeared... one day. She said that he was often talking about the trip you guys did to the Ministry and about someone called Sirius and how he died?” He didn’t look too certain about the last comment.
“Crap…” Harry sighed.
“Yeah…” Dennis’ sigh echoed Harry’s.
“I do have one bit of good news, though.” Harry said.
“Yeah, I could do with some of that.” Dennis huffed.
“The Man in the Lighthouse?”
“Oh, God…” Dennis grimaced. “What about him?”
“Turns out the Rangers know about him.” Harry answered. “Apparently, it’s his job to prepare the dead for burial, but due to wood being so scarce there, the coffins are tiny, so he cuts them up for better packaging…” Harry looked almost sick as he explained.
“Ooh…” Dennis looked just as ill. “So, he didn’t kill that lady?”
“Nope.” Harry shook his head. “And he was just doing his job, not mutilating her body.”
“Oh…” Dennis was relieved, but the memory was still gruesome.
~~~
September 1st 2922
“Seems weird, not to be on the Express, heading for Hogwarts.” Dennis muttered.
“Instead you’re here, in middle-earth, trying to figure out how to make a printing press, so you can print a newspaper.” Harry snickered as he handed Dennis another book from the collection that Hermione had sent. “Here, try this… See here?” He pointed to a section. “We just need to work out from the pictures, how to make it and how it moved. This description here, tells us how to use it, what actions to take, so we just need to combine that with which of the image’s parts should be able to move.”
“Bugger…” Dennis whispered.
“Go see Lavender.” Harry suggested. “She might be able to help you with converting the images from the page to a three-dimensional illusion.” He paused. “Actually, go see Pandora, first. She’s Luna’ mother, she might remember enough about her husband’s press, to give you a memory. And then Lavender can work her magic on that, to get you an illusion that you can use as a blueprint.” Dennis’ eyes widened in surprise and he leapt to his feet. “Slow down!” Harry ordered. “There’s no need to hurry, we’ve got plenty of time and no-one’s hunting us. Take a few deep breaths and just… slow down.”
Dennis sighed and did as Harry ordered. “Yes, Harry.”
“Good, lad.” Harry laughed. “There’s no need to hurry, take your time. Off you go.”
Even so, Dennis still bounced on his toes as he left Harry’s house, heading for the big barns where Pandora worked.
He had a press to make. And a newspaper to print.
~~~
September 18th 2922
Lavender’s trial was an eye opener for Harry. For some reason, he was expecting something a little more like what he’d been through with Nori Ri. Just a few people, standing around, while she faced off against Gloín, or someone similar.
But no… Not for Lavender.
Privately, Harry thought Thorin had something to do with the hype it had drawn. Dwarves from Tharbad, Bree and the Blue Mountains had descended on the Pond, and even a couple from further afield, had shown up. The Livery yard was packed and the field beyond the Crafters Loop, had taken the excess of ponies and carts. Little campfires were dotted about the field, giving it a feel of a hastily erected shanty town. But all the incoming dwarves were well mannered and polite, treating the local hobbits and dwarves with respect and beaming smiles.
The centre of the Crafters Loop was to be the location for the actual trial. A slapped together stadium had gone up in less than two days. The Blue Mountains dwarves had descended on Fred, demanding to know, ‘what trees they could take down for timber, to build the seats and stands’? It amused Harry to see Fred leading a band of older dwarves around and ordering them about, so like his mother would do with her children.
Not that Harry was foolish enough to say that. Not where Fred could hear, anyway.
But the stands and seats went up, in preparation. And the number of people wandering about, meant that the Market was turned into a middle-earth version of a fair-ground. Traders from Tharbad, the Blue Mountains and Bree, had brought their stalls and produce. There were even a few Men, mostly from Bree and Tharbad. One had brought a small herd of ponies, that Frank was very interested in, another had come with iron ore and more still came with leather and fabric.
The Pond swelled from less than two hundred souls to well over a thousand.
And all of them were here to see Lavender swing an axe.
The girl had smirked and waggled her eyebrows at Harry, making him sigh. She’d been spending too much time with marauders.
The next time he saw her, she was dressed in far more feminine clothing, her hair held up in intricate twists and braids, her beads brightly polished and sparking in the late summer sun. All in all, she looked like a fantasy doll. Pretty, fragile and delicate. Not what anyone expected from someone that was about to trial for a Grand Mastery in axe-fighting. The wagers flew, thick and fast, dwarves betting on and against her, while Harry and his people just shook their heads. They knew what Lavender could do.
Now, it was the last few minutes of her Trial.
She was on the field, with three others standing against her, the last of six that had started this bout. She was stripped down to trousers, bodice and stays, the closest a female dwarf would ever get to being naked, in public.
Each swing of an opponents' axes had her ducking, spinning, twisting and turning. Her blades swing and whenever they met an opponent’s sparks would fill the air above the fighters. But other than the grunts and gasps of the fighters, there was not a sound to be heard. The spectators were here to see history in the making, or to support their friend, depending on where they came from.
The rules were simple. Once Lavender scored three hits on each of her opponents, they would withdraw from the bout.
At first, she simply waited them out, Hogwarts, Harry and Snape had taught her patience, not something that many dwarves were familiar with, but she was quite prepared to use that to her advantage. Twists, turns, swings and jabs. One by one her opponents began to realise that this delicate looking girl, was quite capable of wielding her axes and had no hesitation in smacking them with the flat of a blade, if she thought they were being condescending or not fighting to the utmost of their abilities.
But even so, her determination and skill shone through. She felled her opponents, one by one, a cut to this one’s arm, a stab with an axe-pike to that one’s leg, a slice down that one’s leg, a scrape across the back of that one’s hand, a slice across that one’s cheek… and so it went.
During the fight, Lily nearly crushed James’ hands. Each time it looked like one the opponents would catch Lavender, Lily would gasp and clench her hands, leaving James wincing and Harry glad that he’d put a silencing charm on her, before the bout started. He hadn’t been certain that his mother would be able to refrain from screaming.
On Harry’s other side, Thorin was seen to give the barest of twitches, if blades got too close to Lavender’ hair or face, but Harry knew Lavender, he knew what she could do, he’d watched her training with Harden and Colin. He’d watched her sparring with Gloín and he’d heard the redhead’s mutterings, about how hard the dwarrowdam was pushing and that standing against her, had forced his own improvement, something that he hadn’t thought was possible.
When the last opponent dropped his axe, with his eyes wide in shock, Lavender’s axes were at his neck. It had Harden blinking, not even he had thought it possible for the girl to wield a double-headed broad-axe with one hand, but here she was…
Her pike-axe was behind the other dwarf’s neck, holding him still as her double-headed broad-axe’s blade rested against his throat. Take a deep breath or swallow and his throat would be cut.
“End!” Harden called. As the only other Grand Master of the Axe, it was his honour to stand as Senior Judge, on a panel of four Judges, and call the bout to an end. After a heartbeat, Lavender’s axes fell away and she stepped back from her last remaining opponent, but until he acknowledged Harden’s call, she didn’t let her guard down, her axes still ready to draw blood. When he nodded to her, she nodded back and turned to face Harden, resting her hands, one on the haft of each axe.
The strangled silence that filled the Loop, as the spectators waited for her Judgement, was tense. This was a monumental moment for most dwarves, to see a Grand Master pass their Trial was something that few would ever forget. So few Masters ever trialled for a Grand Mastery.
“Lavender, daughter of Liam, son of Peter. Daughter of the House of Gryffindor.” Harden stood, his peg leg resting against his seat. “You have faced Judgement this day. Six of your peers have stood against you and against six of your peers you have prevailed. Not one of them has marred your skin, not one of them has drawn your blood and not one of them has escaped your blade.” A cheer went through the crowd, that was quickly silenced. “You wield the blades forged by a Grand Master and you wield them with the skill of a Grand Master.” The cheer rose again.
“I am Harden, son of Lowden, son of Raiden.” Harden’s voice filled the Loop. “I am Grand Master of the Axe… and I Judge that Lavender, daughter of Liam, son of Peter, bears the skills needed to wear mithril. I have found someone worthy of their axes.” The cheer went up again, this time to last longer before slowly falling silent. “I present you, Lavender… Grand Master of the Axe!”
The cheer that went up, would have taken the roof off of any building, if there’d been a roof above them. Stamping feet, beating hands, whistles, yells and cheers filled the air.
“Further…” Harden raised a hand and, like someone had cast a silencing charm, the noise vanished, leaving an odd echoing silence in its place. “Further, I know when I see someone, who’s skills outweigh my own. I am old now, and it’s time that I handed on my greatest treasure.” He held up a small plain throwing axe. “This axe was the last work, of the first ever Grand Master of the Axe, Durin the Second.” The gasps came from many throats, Thorin’s included. “It has been handed down from Grand Master to Grand Master. At his direction, it was always present at a Grand Master’s Trial and was entrusted to the safekeeping of the strongest Grand Master of each generation. And today, I pass it to Lavender. Not because I am old, but because I have never seen her equal. I earnt my own mithril, before we marched on Khazad-dûm and I have watched many bouts between the Grand Masters of Thrór’s court, but I doubt that even they could stand against you and walk away, without their blood on your blades.” He paused again, for another cheer to rise and fall.
“Lavender, Grand Master of the Axe, come forward.” Harden ordered and a stunned Lavender walked across to stand in front of him, her surprise making her fall back on her pureblood etiquette. Calm, collected and unhurried. Harden held up his other hand, in it a black-steel chain with a single ring of bright shining mithril, the faceted surface catching the light and sending prisms of light in all directions. He leant forward and carefully eased the chain over Lavender’s head, one of the few times, that touching someone else’s hair would be ignored. “You have earnt your mithril, wear it with pride, daughter of Liam, daughter of the House of Gryffindor.” Lavender smiled at him prettily and gave him a deep curtsy, once she was upright again, he held out the little axe. “This axe is the Token of Office of The Grand Master of the Axe, wear it with honour and the respect of all who wore it before you.”
The axe itself as small, barely six inches from end to end, the blade talking nearly a third of that length, it was old, the blade pitted and knicked, but the workmanship that went into it was clear. This was the work of a Grand Master that felt no need to embellish his work, the quality of it, spoke for itself.
“I would request that you wear this, either on an arm or a leg, where it may be seen by any who approach you.” Harden went on. “But I shall not order you, for you are its bearer and will decide it’s position.”
“I shall ask Master Fabian to make me a holster for it, that I may wear it, upon both arm and leg.” Lavender replied, her voice calm and strong. “Here in the safety and peace of our home, I will wear it upon my leg, but when I leave this place, when I enter the outside world, I shall wear it upon my arm, where all who stand before me, will see it.”
It was clearly the right thing to say, as the cheers went up and took many minutes before they quietened again.
Harry saw the speculative nods that Thorin, Balin and Dwalin gave and just smiled. Lavender had earned the respect of the dwarves that had faced the dragon.
But Harry wondered to himself, where had this ability come from? Lavender had been little more than competent at duelling, but here she was being declared a Grand Master. Colin had been almost clumsy at Hogwarts and now he had a Master’s bead in staff-fighting. Fred might have been an excellent beater, but how did that transfer over to using a sword? And Harry? He was a Grand Master of knife-fighting, but other than taking a knife off of Dudley, he’d never used a knife for anything other than cutting food or a rope during the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
So…? Where did the knowledge come from?
~~~
October 6th 2922
“Welcome to the Pond’s town meeting.” Harry told those that had gathered in the large meeting room, under the Mayor’s Office. “Thanks for coming. I’ll give a brief rundown on what’s happened recently and then open the floor to new business. Alright?” A few nods and some ‘ayes’ filtered around the room. “Great, so…? The Pretlows have settled in well, their pastry shop is doing well and is quite popular with travellers. To the point where they’ve been asked to add savoury pies and pasties, for take-aways.” He nodded to the couple, who flushed and ducked their heads.
“Kalin and Saradas are going well, taking turns to travel to Newbury, to Mr Gundegast’s workshop. Both are doing well, Saradas is spending more time with Violet and Sigi at the Store, than he is with Mr Gundegast, but no-one seems too worried, because at least he’s being kept busy.” There were a few chuckles from various people. “But he’s starting to get interested in tin-smithing, so who knows?” He picked up his mug and took a sip of tea. “Kalin’s doing well and enjoying the challenge, so that’s good, too. The Beddley brothers from Long Cleeve are doing well, they’re running two teams of ponies, one delivering grain and larger items between here and Hobbiton or Brandyhall and the other hauling firewood. Jass Marcher and Lee Grinsby have taken on the role of delivering mail between us and most of the Shire, at present they’re not going any further than Hobbiton and Tuckborough, but they have located a couple of younger hobbits… lads that found the Bounders a bit too restrictive. For the present, the lads are training with Jass and Lee, but the idea is that they will take up the areas that Jass and Lee don’t do. Clegg will probably do the northern run. Whitfurrows to Oatbarton, Greenfields, Long Cleeve, Nobottle and back to Hobbiton. While Hughlam will take the south-western option. Whitwell, Longbottom, Sackville, Michel Delving and Greenholm. Not sure where they’ll base themselves, but they’re tentatively thinking of Hobbiton. The four of them have a meeting with Bungo Baggins and Justen Cotton, who runs the Green Dragon Inn. Jass is hoping that they can build a small shop-smial and office next to the Dragon, to use as a base. Here’s hoping, I know some of our hobbits have family in the more remote areas and sending them mail is problematic.”
There were a lot of heads bobbing at Harry’s last comment.
“Miss Allie has settled in well.” He went on. “Recovering nicely. Healer Alice is pleased with her progress. But it’s raised a potential issue. Schooling. Not just for the dwarflings but also for the faunts. At present, the magical dwarves are rotating their time, each of us giving up a morning, in turn, for the kidlets. Only mornings, kids need to play and this is as safe a place, as we can make it. So, we let them have the afternoons to play. It’s working, so far, but it can’t be a long-term situation. That means, we’re going to need a teacher and probably a schoolhouse for them to teach in. It needs to be fairly close to the centre of town, so I’m thinking that the corner of Willow Lane and Field Drive, next to the swimming hole, might work. Either that, or it’ll have to go above the Market. Think on it and let me or Isengar know, if you know anyone that might be interested in teaching, or if you can see a better location for the schoolhouse.”
A few more nods.
“Also, for those that are worried that the Men that attacked her, might target another child?” He held up a hand. “Rest easy. I sent notice to the Rangers and they've since notified me that they’ve been hunting that band of Men for a few years. But... Thanks to the information that Allie was able to provide, they’ve been able to track them down and apprehend them. And due to the circumstances around their capture, Allie won’t need to be involved. At all. Which is great. All of that led me to speak to Denlon and see if I could get anything more out of him regards his experience, and it turns out that most of the Men that beat him are members of the same band. All are in the hands of the Rangers. I have no idea what their punishment will be, other than Arameth and Arathorn said that they won’t be able to re-offend.”
“Lastly is Dennis.” Harry waved and Dennis stood up. “You all know Colin and most of you have met Dennis by now. He’s Colin’s younger brother and we found him and Miss Jessica Carbonelli, lost and alone, how they came to be where they were, we’re not sure. Miss Jessie’s father is responsible, we think. We know that he tried to hurt her and Dennis stepped in to stop him, but how he managed to get them from the Carbonelli home, to where we found them, we just don’t know, the distances alone are phenomenal and that's not adding in the time it would take for someone to physically travel that far...." He sighed. "What we do know is that, with both Dennis and Jessie’s disappearances happening at the same time, from the same place, the local authorities will have to investigate and that will not go well for either of her parents. However, due to her father’s actions and her mother not even attempting to stop him, we’re not going to let Jessie go back to such a violent home. And thankfully, she doesn’t want to go back, so… we’re keeping her.”
That earnt Harry a few more chuckles, his tendency to ‘keep’ people had been noted by many.
“Yeah, yeah, I know…” Harry laughed and waved them off. “Anyway… Dennis is going to start a newspaper. A paper that tells people all the gossip and news going around the village, for those that miss out on all the itty-bitty details, or want to send one to family, to catch them up on what’s happening here. At this point, it’s only going to be a monthly thing, but that’s because there’s only Dennis and he’s got to finish his education, first. But give him time and it’ll probably be a twice monthly affair, maybe even weekly, if others give him articles and interviews.”
“Hopefully.” Dennis agreed, with a bright grin.
“Give it time, Dennis, we’ve got plenty.” Harry reminded the young blonde, before he turned back to the room. “Last month saw Lavender’s Trial and… wow… I didn’t expect the turn-out that we got.” There was some chuckles from different corners of the room. “Yeah. But Lavender passed. Our little Lavender, who’s sometimes more concerned with how the ribbons in her hair look, than she is about how much practice she’s put in with her axe, is now the highest-ranking axe-fighter in the country.” This earnt more laughs and a mock-glare from the girl in question. “But she’s still our Lavender and I feel sorry for anyone that doesn’t take her seriously.”
“She’ll flatten them.” Sigi called from the back wall.
“Pretty much.” Harry nodded. “Good fun to watch.” More chuckles answered him. “So? That’s about where we’re at. Does anyone have anything they want to add?”
“I do.” Harden held up a hand. “I know I’m only a newcomer, but you’ve welcomed me and housed me and I appreciate it greatly. In the preparation for Lady Lavender’s Trial, I noticed that one of the things this town is missing is a lumber yard. The dwarves setting up the stadium had to go foraging for timber, which drew Mr Fred away from his workshop and meant that he had to forego possible profits. Not a good thing. I’d like to suggest that you look into getting someone in to set one up and run it.”
“I had that, to ask about, too, Harry.” Fred agreed.
“I have a cousin, up near Needlehole, that’s looking to strike out on his own.” Violet said. “He’s been working at the family lumber yard for a few years, now. But you’d also need a tree feller, or there’s no wood for Hamlin to turn into lumber.”
“Bugger.” Harry muttered, making a note of a sheet of paper.
“Oh!” Bartleby Nettling waved a hand. “I know a young lad, down at Woody End, that’s a fine tree feller. He’s not married, so not too worried about his income. We might be able to partner the two together.”
“Alright, that might work.” Harry agreed. “How about Bartleby and Violet pop into the Mayor’s Office, tomorrow, and talk to Isengar and I about it? We can send them letters with a proposal, see if we can come to a suitable agreement.”
“Will do.” Bartleby said and Violet nodded from her seat, a few rows away.
“Great.” Harry said. “Anything else?”
~~~
January 29th 2923
The storm whistled in from the north, driving the residents of the Pond into their homes, only the Den, the hospital and the Mayor’s Office were still open. One by one, the magicals had apparated to the homes of the hobbits and made sure that each smial had sufficient wood for heating and food for its inhabitants. After checking that all was well, the magicals and Isengar met in the Mayor’s Office.
“Everyone accounted for?” Isengar asked. He had asked for a portkey between his back door and the Office, wanting to keep on top of any work that might pop up.
“Willow Lane residents, all good.” Colin chirped.
“Garden Lane residents, no issues.” Dennis added.
“Cherry Tree Drive, all good.” Lavender said.
“Market View residents, fine, but I did drop off another box of wood to Filbert and take him up to Alice.” Remus offered. “His shoulder was acting up, she’s debating de-aging him, but it won’t happen until the weather breaks. The cold stops the potion from working properly, so he’s just going to have to put up with symptomatic treatment, until spring.”
“Ouch…” Isengar grimaced, he’d seen how much Filbert had hurt, when the cold had hit, last winter.
“Yes.” Remus nodded. “But Alice has a plan, so let’s leave her to it, shall we?”
“I think that’s a good idea.” Isengar agreed. “Next is…?”
“Farmer’s Lane, all fine.” Fred offered.
“Hazel Lane, no problems.” James said for he and Lily.
“Fig Tree Lane, all good.” Cedric said.
“Field Drive…”
“…no issues.” Gideon and Fabian said together, causing Fred to wince, a wave of sadness sweeping across his face.
“Gina sent a Patronus, all good at their place.” Harry added. “And Pandora’s fine.”
“As is Dorcas.” Sirius added, ignoring the slight flush that drifted across his cheeks, at the knowing look that James sent him. “Shut up, Prongs.”
“Didn’t say a thing.” James shook his head.
“Don’t need to, I can hear you thinking.” Sirius muttered.
“Then I don’t need to say it, do I?” James cackled and ducked as Sirius sent a stinging hex at him.
Before anyone could comment or Lily could chide them on their childish behaviour, a Patronus entered the room. A bright, shining boar barrelled through the wall and stopped in front of Harry, who was closest to that wall.
“Help... Please, help.” The Patronus spoke with a familiar voice. “I’m in some mountains and am injured. I’ve tried a Point-Me, but there’s no magical or human settlements within fifty miles. The snow is becoming sleet and I have no shelter. Please, you’re the nearest magical, please help me.” The voice broke and the last three words were almost a sob.
“Is that…?” Lavender started, then frowned. “Who was that?”
“Ernie…” Harry blinked. “That was Ernie Macmillan.” He laid his wand flat on his hand. “Ad Ilud, Ernie Macmillan.”The wand spun in a circle and pointed due west. “I need to have access to the ground to fine out anything more than that.”
“I have the most experience as Field-Healer’s Aid. I’ll go with you.” Lily said, standing up.
“Let’s go, then.” Harry headed for the stairs, unsurprised to find Colin, Dennis, Lavender and Fred joining he and Lily. A minute and a half later, and Harry had a location for Ernie, with enough detail, that Harry was confident that he could apparate to within a few yards of the Puff.
“Joint apparition, you lead us, Harry.” Lily said. “You focus where you want to go and we’ll focus on staying with you.”
Harry nodded, but said nothing, he held out his hands and watched as his mother and chosen siblings took hold of them, Lily taking his left hand, Lavender his right, Colin and Dennis each took hold of a wrist, while Fred stood behind him and held onto both of his upper arms. A little twitch and Harry let his magic pull them through space, the feeling of being squeezed through a straw faded and the six of them were surrounded by snow.
“Ernie!” Harry yelled, even knowing that he wouldn’t be heard over the storm. “Expecto patronum.” He cast and focused on the stag finding the other magical. The stag looked at Harry and shuddered, Harry was surprised to see a dusting of snow settle over the stag’s shoulders, but that didn’t stop the stag from turning and walking slowly into the snowstorm.
“We follow.” Harry yelled to those holding him, not certain whether or not they could hear him. He took a step and nearly dragged the others after him, before they also started to move. Thankfully, the stag stayed within sight and in less than a minute, a huddled mass was being circled by the glowing stag.
“Ernie!” Harry ignored those that held onto him, he just grabbed at the unconscious boy and apparated back to the Pond, straight to the hospital’s apparition point. He was pleased to note that he six passengers, when he landed. “Alice!” He yelled, sweeping the near frozen Puff up into his arms and carried him through into the treatment rooms.
“Harry?” Alice darted out of her little office.
“Got a magical for you.” Harry said, laying Ernie down on a bed. “Ernie Macmillan. Puff, my year, pureblood. Don’t know what happened, he sent a Patronus saying he was injured and stuck in the storm in the mountains.”
“Ah.” Alice grunted. “Well, let’s see what we’ve got, then, shall we?” She began to wave her wand over the still form. “Hmm. Hypothermia… just mild, thankfully. Some warming charms, hot tea and a Pepper-Up should fix that. Now, let’s see about these injuries. Hmm… Ooh, that’s going to sting. He’s barked his left leg and taken most of the skin off the shin, as well as breaking his ankle, too. Ouch. I’ll have to vanish the bones in his ankle before I give him a dose of Skele-gro, but the skin I can deal with, immediately.” She started a gentle healing chant and Harry sighed as new skin on Ernie’s leg faded into being.
“What would have caused him to be out in the middle of winter, in nothing but his underwear?” Lily asked.
“I have no idea, mum.” Harry shook his head.
“I’ve given him some dreamless sleep.” Alice said. “He’ll be out for twelve hours. Come back in the morning and maybe you can get some answers.”
“Fingers crossed.” Harry nodded.
~~~