Chapter 50
“So…” Harry counted. “We’ll get a definite forty, with a possible… six more?” He slid the paper over to Lee. “Have I missed anyone?”
“Forty-one, Harry.” Alicia corrected. “Or as many of them, as they can get through the portal in one go.”
~~~
November 24th 2924
“And that’s not including anyone else that Hermione talks into coming, too.” Lee added.
“And how many is that likely to be?” Harry asked with a frown.
“This is Hermione we’re talking about, it could four or forty.” Angelina huffed.
“Or four hundred.” Fred laughed.
“Oh great.” Harry huffed back. “Wonderful. Thank you so much.” The sarcastic response was nearly automatic.
“Oh give over, Harry.” Lavender ordered. “At least Hermione sent this lot ahead, so you’ve got some warning.”
“Oh, yes.” Harry snarked back. “Thanks be to Hermione… for warning me that she’s sending me what could be hundreds of people.”
“Well, you can take it out on her, when she gets here, Harry.” Neville grinned. “She’ll be in the last batch.”
“Don’t you worry, I will.” Harry was nearly snarling. “Does she have any idea how hard it’s going to be to house fifty-odd people and find occupations for them?”
“Some of us do come with transferrable jobs, Harry.” Neville chided.
“Yeah?” Harry blinked and looked hopeful. “Like what?”
“Angelina has her primary-school teaching certificates, she was working at one of the Ministry's day-schools.” Lee replied. “And sooner or later we’re going to have kids and need her to teach them the basics of reading and writing. Alicia was administration assistance for the DMLE, Scrimgeour’s replacement warned her that many of the Wizengamot were likely to support Malfoy, just to spite Hermione. Thankfully, that warning came early enough that she could quit, before they fired her. There’s a lot of admin needed to keep a group as big as we will be, organised. She and Hermione have been in charge of that... more Alicia than Hermione, as Hermione has been the one apparating around and visiting people, while Alicia has been handling everything that Hermione throws at her. Let her keep doing that. Katie’s a medi-witch, did her training with Pomfrey and only finished last week, she’d planned to work at St. Mungo's so had taken a Ministry-paid apprenticeship. Even if Mrs Longbottom is a healer, you’re still going to need a medi-witch for triage.”
“And the rest of you?” Harry asked.
“Dean’s just finished an apprenticeship as a magical artist.” Lee went on. “Seamus has been working as a market gardener, for the last year or two. Luna’s an enchanter. Neville is a herbologist. And me…? I worked for the Wheezes, I can run a shop, of pretty much any sort. Or go wherever you put me.”
“Right.” Harry was writing this down as Lee spoke. “And those coming?”
“Bill and Fleur do as much warding, as cure-breaking.” Lee answered. “They’ve spent the last year warding the homes of muggleborns and their families. Charlie and Alec are bringing magical critters. Bowtruckles, fairies, mokes, kneazles, hippogriffs, fwoopers, nifflers, puffskeins, salamanders, snidgets, unicorns, abraxans, crups, that sort of stuff. None of the bigger, more dangerous stuff. No dragons, griffins, chimera, trolls or erumpents. Nothing that Hagrid would like. Call it a magical petting zoo, if you like” He tilted his head. “I think Alec was going to try and get a couple of phoenixes and a nesting Augurey or two, but I’m not sure about that.”
“Oh, Merlin…” Harry sighed.
“Of those still to come?” Lee went on. “Torrence Ollivander was his grandfather’s apprentice and Ollivander gave him the contents of the shop, when he retired. All the wand-wood, cores, focus stones and anything already made. We’re going to need him. Brennan Doyle and his wife, Melissa, both worked at one of the Ministry’s OWL and NEWT day-schools. Same with Penny’s husband, Mitchel. They can teach anything that we learnt at Hogwarts. Kevin Macdonald raises chickens, both for eggs and food. Simon Blithely is a boot- and shoe-maker. Both of them are self-explanatory.” Harry quickly made notes as Lee talked. “Colbert Weiss has worked for Horace Temple’s post-owl training company. He’s even bringing nesting owls and a few clutches in stasis.”
“Oh, that’s handy.” Sirius nodded.
“Then there’s Jane Abercrombie, she’s a midwife.” Lee continued. “Muggle trained but still… a fully trained mid-wife. Oliver? His fighting at Hogwarts didn’t go down well with Puddlemere’s Malfoy supporting owners, so he left before they fired him. Joined the Aurors, passed the entrance exams, did the training, but the minute that Melvin Burke suggested the contract thing, he quit. Told Robards that he hadn’t fought DeathEaters at Hogwarts, to see the survivors punished for doing the right thing.”
“That is so Oliver.” Harry shook his head in amusement.
“But we don’t know about who Hermione is still trying to persuade.” Neville said. “I know she was going to speak to Krista Wellington’s family, as well as Eliza Tarren’s and Derek Gilmore’s. But whether any of them are prepared to basically abandon everything to join us…?”
“This is Hermione…” Harry nodded. “She’d be keeping a large amount of her plan to herself.”
“Yeah.” Neville agreed. “She did mention trying to get Ken Towler and Grant Rockman, but I don’t know if she actually added them, or not.”
When the meeting drew to an awkward halt, Harry stood up.
“Right. Until just recently, I was mayor of this village. We build this village and named it the Whomping Willow’s Pond, after Hogwarts’ Willow. Lavender and I are the two most senior ranked of the magical dwarves, both of us hold Grand Masteries. Lavender prefers to run her business, than to run the dwarven contingent of the Pond, so that’s my job. And I’m calling it done, for tonight. Nev and Luna need some family time and you four probably want to catch up with Fred and George.” He looked from Lee and the quidditch queens, to his own former dormmates. “So… Seamus, Dean? You pair get to stay with me, Colin, Dennis, Jessie and Lavender. Lee and the girls can stay here with Fred and George. Nev and Luna will stay with their families. Let’s meet again tomorrow afternoon, I need to brief Isengar on your arrival and on those still coming.”
Lee blinked at Harry’s take-charge attitude, but nodded when the raven-haired dwarf finished. “Sounds good.” He nodded. “Thanks, Harry.”
Neville followed his mother and father into their little cottage, his toddler brother still in his arms.
“Neville…” Frank’s lips trembled.
“Nev'i…” Lawry tried to say his brother’s name.
“Oh, Neville…” Alice whispered, as she raised a hand to cup his cheek. “My beautiful baby grew into such a handsome man.”
“… oh…” Neville gasped and tried to stay calm, but the touch of his mother’s hand was too much and he collapsed into his father’s arms, taking care not to crush his little brother.
The three adults slid to their knees and together, they wept for the years that they’d missed.
Luna serenely followed her mother into her tiny cottage.
“Hello, my little moon.” Pandora said, as she turned to watch her daughter.
“Hello, mummy.” Luna’s smile was as calm and as peaceful as ever. “I missed you.”
“And I missed you, my darling.” Pandora’s smile was just as calm. “How is your father?”
For the first time, Luna lost a bit of that peaceful expression. “Not good.” She said. “He doesn’t take care of himself and I could only do so much. He misses you dreadfully but he wouldn’t listen to me when I said I was coming here to you. He’s convinced that the Wonglewoplins have kidnapped you and he’s determined to rescue you from them.”
“But Wonglewoplins don’t like blondes, darling.” Pandora frowned.
“I know, mummy, but daddy won’t listen!” The last word came out as almost a whine.
“Oh, dear…” Pandora sighed. “Well, we’ll just have to hope that whoever brought me here, decides to bring him, at some point. And in the meantime, tell me, daughter of mine… Tell me about your expeditions. Where did you go? What did you see? Who did you meet? What did you find?”
Luna wandered in the direction of the kitchen, seeming to know exactly where everything was. She made two mugs of hot chocolate and cast an absent-minded incendio at the kindling in the fireplace, before sitting in a plush armchair with her mug perfectly balanced on the chair’s arm.
“The summer before I started at Hogwarts, daddy took me to…” She began to talk.
“Alright.” Fred grinned. “The girls get the attic room, it’s big enough for all of you and has its own bathroom. Lee’s at the end of the hall, on the left. Forge and I have the two rooms on the right, we have to be up fairly early and they’re the most east-facing. Drop your stuff and come on back down. We’ve so much to talk about.”
“You’ve no idea…” Lee muttered.
“This is us, guys.” Harry said to Seamus and Dean. “Up the stairs and all the bedrooms face to the south. I’m at the far eastern end, with an empty room between me and the stairs. Lavender is at the far western end, Jessie's beside her, with Colin and Dennis in the next two rooms. You guys can either take the remaining room on this level, or you can have the attic. That’s split into four rooms, all with their own bathroom.”
“Uh…? Where’s Ernie staying?” Seamus asked.
“He’s moved in with Cedric.” Harry snickered. “Hufflepuff solidarity or something like that. Mum seems to think it’s more but I’m not sure about that. I think Cedric’s interested in Denlon. I guess, we’ll wait and see what happens. Bets can be laid with Master Harden, he’s holding the Wagers’ book.”
“Nice.” Seamus nodded. “I always wondered about Cedric and Cho, what he saw in her. She’s kinda… wishy-washy.”
“Yeah.” Harry nodded. “But she was the prettiest seeker.”
“Point.” Dean nodded.
“Hot chocolate, while we go over the house rules?” Harry asked.
“Sure.” Seamus nodded and slid onto one of the benches that surrounded the big kitchen’s table.
~~~
November 25th 2924
“Oh, my…” Isengar whispered. “Where are we going to put them all?”
“It’s kind of going to depend, on how many come through the next portal and when that will be.” Harry replied. He knew this was a lot for the hobbit to deal with, finding out that his friends and a decent chunk of the village were actually from another world, had left the poor fellow just sitting there in shock. Harry had half expected him to faint, but after sitting and blinking for a few minutes, he’d sighed and waved at Harry to continue. He’d known that there was a reason that Harry was telling him now, after having kept it quiet for so long.
“If they all manage to come through, that’s going to be forty-odd people.” Harry went on. “What we’re proposing to do is to build a… communal building. Or…? Maybe a series of inter-connected buildings? Anyway... This complex will include the school, living spaces, kitchens, gardens, play areas and short-term accommodations for important guests. Not just dwarven guests, but hobbit ones, too. It’ll be split into sections. One section will be living spaces, short term-accommodation for those guests and that the incoming can use short-term. Those students that don’t have family with them, will be housed in the dorms, hopefully with another student’s parents as chaperone. Who will depend on who comes through. Some of the families haven’t been confirmed.”
“And then?” Isengar was slowly nodding.
“Once that is up, the Incoming… as we’re tentatively calling them…” Harry paused to clarify the use of the word. “Once the Incoming arrive, we’ll slot them into that building. Work out who has occupations, that can start work immediately… and I understand that most of them do. Where possible we want to place families in a home, of their own, like we have with the hobbits. But we may ask them to foster a student, whose family is either deceased due to the war or who have opted not to follow the student here.”
“And how many homes do you think that you’ll need?” Isengar tilted his head.
“At a bare minimum? Ten.” Harry shrugged. “That’s based only on the existing numbers. Given that Hermione’s already got plans to talk to more families, we may have to double that. But let’s start with ten. We can build more, when we have a clearer idea of numbers.”
“And where are you considering?”
“There’s empty blocks on West Hill, that we designated as residential.” Harry answered. “Five on Potter’s Row. Four on Dock Lane. One on the island. Over the bridge past my place and the block on the southern side of Hill Street can easily be split into three blocks. Plus, Gina’s not keen on her flocks getting too near the creeks, so if we were to lay a road, we could have blocks running alongside North Creek.” He paused and his eyes narrowed. “Actually… If we put the road back a bit and had smaller blocks, we could possibly get in a road and blocks on both sides of it.”
“One side having creek frontage and the other backing onto fields?” Isengar asked. “That would work for above ground homes, but not for smials.”
“I was thinking about that.” Harry offered. “If we combined a smial shaped structure with the building materials, and methods, of an above ground home? How do you think hobbits would react to them? Maybe some double storied, like the Den?”
Isengar sat back and considered the idea. “I think…” He mused. “I think that would be quite acceptable.” He nodded. “How many blocks do you think you’ll have, between West Hill and along North Creek?”
“If we re-arrange the fencing on the Hill, just a tad?” Harry suggested. “We can go from ten blocks between Potter’s Row and Dock Lane to thirteen. The four blocks closest to the river can easily be divided into six. We’d not want to go any smaller, but six would work well there. The same with the big paddock between Dock Lane and Hill Street, but that’s so big that I think we could break it up into three, or maybe even five. It’s not like we really need them as pony paddocks, Frank keeps most of the ponies across the Big Road. The only ones we keep over here, are our specials.”
“You mean, the only ones kept are your specials.” Isengar corrected. “Everyone else leaves their ponies with Frank, now. Only you keep Golly and your ladies, close at hand.”
“Golly’s an old man, leave him be.” Harry pouted.
“And you spoil him.” Isengar teased.
“Hmph, I’m allowed to.” Harry huffed and ignored the jibe. “There’s one block on the island with the Prewett twins. As for the other side of North Creek? South of Hill Street, that big block could be split, like I said, it’d be easy to get three out of that. And two rows of small blocks along the creek. I’m guessing, and it’s only a guess, until we start to lay out smial footprints, but I’m guessing we could probably get eight to ten blocks in each row.”
“Sixteen to twenty blocks?” Isengar blinked a few times. “That’s nearly half of the number of smials on Market Hill.”
“I know.” Harry nodded. “And George deciding to keep his orchards east of the smial-suitable area, gives us a little more land, there, too. Particularly if hobbits are accepting of the proposed two-story smials, we’d have room for another eight to ten, on that side.”
“Does it matter to you, if a hobbit wants to move into a smial across North Creek? Or if a dwarf wants a place on Market Hill?”
“No, not at all.” Harry denied. “I was just thinking that there’s a few sites on Market Hill, north of the existing smials, that could be built on, if we could combine hobbit-like smials, with dwarven materials and structure, then there’d be more buildings available to choose from.”
“And while there’s a difference in height between a dwarf and a hobbit, it's not too significant.” Isengar hummed. “If you were to build smials that were tall enough for a dwarf but not so tall that a hobbit would feel out of place?” He tilted his head in thought. “I could see hobbits living in them, quite happily.”
Harry sighed in relief. “Thank Merlin…” He let his shoulders slump and took a few breaths, not realising how tense he’d been until the hobbit had agreed with him.
“And what of jobs?” Isengar asked. “Do they have occupations?”
“From what I gather?” Harry answered. “Yes, a lot have occupations that transfer over to a more agrarian type of society, such as the Shire.”
“Oh?” Isengar tilted his head.
“There’s teachers, a midwife, a market gardener, a wand maker, warders, a magical artist, law enforcement, an administration assistant, chicken farmer, a bootmaker and Fred’s older brother and his partner have a collection of magical animals. As far as I know, they’re keeping them in a magical trunk that simulates the outside environment. Somewhere that they can keep the critters safe, but still contained.”
“I see…” Isengar hummed.
“Plus a few students and some younger children.” Harry added. “I understand that the youngest could be only days old. That will depend on when they arrive, at least one female is currently pregnant but Gringotts don't want her to use the portal until the child is born.”
“And what does healer Alice say?”
“She’s going to study the information that Gringotts sent, before she decides, but she knows that Gringotts won’t willingly risk the life of a child.” Harry replied.
Harry had just sat down to a plate of stew when the familiar otter Patronus appeared.
“Oh, shite…” He muttered and laid his spoon down.
“Next full portal, November 14th, next year.” Hermione’s voice filled the room. “Complications from the portal discharging burnt out a number of power nodes. Meaning, that it will take much longer than the original estimate, to recharge the remaining nodes. Will attempt to send information package, for summer solstice, using a combination of a partial portal and a banishing charm. As it will be a physical item, probably a book or box, it's best if someone was present to collect it. Same opening phrase as the map, of course. November will be our only chance to join you, Harry. With each portal frying multiple power nodes and the fact that it takes ten years to grow one node, Gringotts will only allow one more full portal attempt, however, they now believe that they can hold it long enough for all of my prospective people to transit through. Unfortunately, the Ministry is cracking down on muggleborns and muggle-raised, so we’re staying on a Gringotts-owned island and only leaving for very limited shopping trips to the muggle world. But we’re safe, secure and healthy. And even if the Ministry could find us, they can’t touch us on Gringotts-owned ground. I’m still recruiting, but plan to stop just prior to sending the info packet. Gods, I hope you get this, Harry, I really-” the message cut off, obviously before Hermione was finished.
“November 14th…” Harry nodded. “And summer solstice, that's June 22nd.” He blinked and frowned before nodding sharply. “Expecto Patronum.” When the ghostly stag stood in front of him, he continued. “Message to Lavender, mum, Alicia and Lee.” The stag’s mouth opened. “Heya, I spoke to Isengar and have the go ahead for land divisions. Also? I received a Patronus from Hermione, but it cut out before she finished. However, she did provide a date for the Incoming, as well as that they were going to try and send an information packet through beforehand. Either way, we need to get started on the land divisions and the building of homes. Can you meet me at the Mayor’s office to get started on the divisions? Tomorrow morning? Half-nine?” He nodded and the stag’s mouth closed. It stood for a second before trotting out of the cottage, through the nearest wall.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do and not a lot of time to do it in.” Harry muttered. “Thank God for magic.”
~~~
December 5th 2924
“Right, that’s the last of the land blocks divided up and marked out.” Alicia looked up from the portable desk, that sat in the middle of the gravel path that was Hill Street. “The North Creek roadway is marked but yet to be named.”
“We’re already calling it North Creek.” Lavender said. “But will it be a street, a road, a lane or what?”
“And do we stop it at the end of the blocks?” Lee asked. “Or do we continue it to meet up with Mill Drive?”
“Might be a good idea.” Alicia suggested. “Gives people a way to bypass the village it they’re wanting to avoid people.”
“Then have North Creek Road join Mill Drive at the same place as that cattle track.” Lee said, pointing with a pencil, where he meant. “That way, if we ever need to extend the road, there’s a path already there.”
“Nice.” Lavender nodded.
~~~
February 3rd 2925
“That’s the last of the floorplans, done.” Harry laid the sheet of paper down on the table. “We’ve got fourteen homes planned, for West Hill, plus one on the island and three over North Creek, using four layouts.” He looked at Isengar, who nodded slowly.
“Those last three are to be for the three larger families.” Alicia added. “We’re calling it Hill Street West and it only has four numbers. Number One is for the Ollivander family. One-A is further back and we’ve tentatively pegged that for Bill and Fleur Weasley and their kids for that one. Number Two is Gina and Matt Lucas. Number Three is closest to the river and we’ve pencilled in the Blithley family, there.”
Isengar studied the modified town map and nodded again. “Please continue.” He looked from Alicia to Harry and back.
“North Creek Road.” Harry said, tapping a finger on the map. “We’ve marked most of the blocks, but that’s definitely not the end of the road. There’s enough space to add… half that many again, if we need to.”
“There’s eighteen blocks marked out.” Alicia went into more detail. “Each is roughly a quarter of an acre, small but with the plans that we’ve created, each block is large enough to house a family smial, with room for a garden and a play area for faunts or dwarflings.”
“We’ve created floorplans just for the location, there.” Harry went on. “For the blocks on the creek side, we’ve got three floorplans. And four for the field side. Again, we’re going to randomly select them… from a hat, probably.”
“We’d like to get a few of them built,” Alicia said, “or at least started.”
“All the magicals are going to give an hour a day, towards it.” Harry added.
“You’re not going to let people choose their own floorplans?” Isengar blinked.
“We want a few built, in advance.” Harry said. “We plan to use them as display homes. Show people what each floorplan can look like. Minor modifications are easy to do, but for the most part, people will choose from a limited selection of pre-existing plans, that we can get working on, in a matter of hours.”
“Ah, that makes more sense.” Isengar nodded. “And the big building?” He tapped a finger on the map, on the large square that sat behind the Den.
“Yeah, this we’re doing along similar lines as the Den.” Harry grimaced. “But instead of having a central hub, we’re going to have square building with a small-ish tower-cum-hub, in each corner. One will be the library, another will be a hall for dining. The kitchens will be next to the dining hall, of course, but not the arm between the dining hall and the library. Not sure about the others yet, either hubs or wings. Some will have VIP guest spaces. Some-”
“Vee Eye Pee?” Isengar asked. “I’m not familiar with the term.”
“Oh, ah…” Harry blinked. “V... I... P... is an abbreviation for Very Important Person. Um… Consider it like… diplomatic privilege? Gorbadoc would stay there. So would Thorin Oakenshield. Isengrim or Fortinbras. That level of importance.”
“Ah. Visiting dignitaries.” Isengar nodded. “I understand, now.” He waved them on.
“We want that done before the incoming arrive.” Harry gave the hobbit a smile. “That’s where they’re going to stay, short-term, just until we can get homes built.”
“And as that’s mid-November, we’d like to get a few homes done before then, too.” Alicia added. “That would mean less stress on them and on us.”
“We’ve approached Mig and Jem and explained the situation and neither are concerned about us bypassing them, to acquire building materials and transport them here.” Harry added. “We’re going to need so much stone and timber, it’s not funny. Fred, George and dad have spoken to Samfast over at the Scary Quarry and we’ll be taking almost all of his pre-cut stock. We’ve also got permission from Gorbadoc to take some trees from the north-western edge of the Old Forest, but only if we clear the land of stumps, in preparation for either crops or grazing.”
“Helpful.” Isengar agreed.
“And Hamlin’s going to work on timber for furniture, not construction, at least until things slow back down.” Harry said. “I’ve sent a letter to Thorin, explaining what’s happening and requesting a week of his time, on his return trip. I may also look at travelling with him back to the Blue Mountains, depends on when he’s going. If it’s after solstice, then I’ll apparate.”
“And come arrival day?”
“Apparate out with a box of single use portkeys.” Harry shrugged. “I’ll ask Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Fred and George to get started on making them.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to make the portkeys multi-use?” Isengar asked. “Most residents have an emergency one, why wouldn’t you give one to the newcomers?”
“Huh…” Harry grunted. “Hadn’t thought about it like that. Hmm…” He stared at the wall while he thought it through. “No, I don’t think that’s going to work. Not immediately, anyway. Our residents have multi-use portkeys with multiple destinations. The hospital, the Mayor’s Office and their homes. But we don’t know where the incoming are going to live.”
“And where would the single-use portkey send them?”
“The Quad.” This was the name that had been voted on, for the new series of buildings that would include the library, VIP accommodation and the schools. “Or rather? The Quad's inner courtyard.” Harry clarified. “We’re ready to start on that, as soon as the weather allows.”
~~~
February 10th 2925
Squire paced nervously up and down the hall outside the delivery room.
“Should it be taking this long?” He fretted.
“Everything’s fine, Mr Burrows.” Alice said as she emerged from the delivery room. “Come in and meet your children. A son and a daughter. Do you have names, chosen?”
Squire sighed in relief. “Dahlia and Bramble…” He said as he hurried to his wife’s side.
~~~
February 27th 2925
James and Katie emerged from the delivery room with bundles in their arms
“Another set of fraternal twins.” James said. “Monty, after my dad and Daisy after Lily’s mother.” He gestured from the blue bundle that Katie placed in Sirius’ arms to the pink bundle in his own.
“So, far all tests are showing them as being fine, their cores are small but that’s to be expected with a newborn.” Katie added. “Their conduits are clear, so there’s a strong probability that they’ll be magical. Otherwise, they’re in good health. Lily came through quite well, but states that this will be the last pregnancy for a while. She wants to enjoy her children, not be a spectator, while someone else enjoys them, because she’s pregnant.”
~~~
March 29th 2925
“So, we’re ready to start?” Harry looked at the group of magicals standing around him, in the empty field that would become the Quad.
“Ready, Pup.” Sirius grinned, twirling his wand around his fingers. Beside him was James, Gideon and Fabian, while Luna, Gina, Lavender and Lily watched on. The ladies would be directing the next few days’ teams and needed to know exactly how things were being done.
“Then let’s do this.” Harry grinned back.
The first thing to do was to lay out the painted rope that would show where the walls of the Quad would go, so they could lay proper foundations for the buildings. The last thing they needed was for a building to collapse or sink, due to poor preparations. Once the grass and topsoil were cleared, the gravel in place and compressed, the actual foundations were started. Large slabs of stone, braced and bracketed, were laid one atop another and levelled. Then it was time to start on the walls.
Mortar was made by the tonne, it seemed. Made and used in a short space of time. The team started at the south-western corner and moved around the outer rim of the Quad, layering stone, mortar and magic, bound together by crushed Green Amethyst.
Luna had been the one to tell them that if they crushed a Green Amethyst and incorporated its dust into the mortar, it could be used as a binding agent. This would mean that the building would remain structural far longer than a counterpart, but it would also absorb a tiny portion of the magic performed within it, much like Hogwarts had. But in the case of the Quad, that magic would fuel the Green Amethyst, but in turn the Amethyst would boost the cores of those in its building. And it would create a magical-feedback loop.
The magic used around it feeds it, it boosts the magic of users nearby, which feeds it, which boosts the magicals, which feeds it, which boosts…
And the loop is up and self-sustaining.
Luna estimated that if they could get the grains of crushed Amethyst spread throughout the mortar, it would be able to start ‘feeding’ on the residue left by the team as they built it. And it would mean that anyone could sit in the Quad’s courtyard and do any type of magic they liked, and the Quad would absorb any excess. This would help when they started work on the inside of the structure. Magical lights give off light, heat and emit a small amount of excess magic. So do portraits, enchanted cabinets, charmed boxes and transfigured items.
The book that they sent Snape was a perfect example. As it sat on the table, it emitted a tiny amount of magic, it was this that its partner books used, to locate it. Sending a message from one book to another, caused a spike in this magic that in a non-magical environment, dissipated. It would be these spikes that the Quad would absorb as ‘food’. Magic that no person was actually able to harness or use.
Luna, Pandora, Lily and Lavender had spent three days crushing all the shards and the fractured stone, before enchanting all of the dust with binding spells and ward charms. Fifty-one shards and one stone had, between them, yielded two cups of crushed powder. Two cups that were being dished out, into the mortar at a pinch per tonne. It should allow enough left from the building process, to incorporate into the mortar for the flagstone flooring and to bed in the slate roofing.
If not, the magicals had decided to sacrifice another small Amethyst stone for the extras, but the dust would also be mixed into the soil that was removed for the building process and would be returned to the inner Quad courtyard, once the gardens were being re-established.
“Well, that’s got the first six feet of walls up.” Sirius slumped back against said walls. “I’m buggered.”
“Are we doing this again, tomorrow, Harry?” James asked, he looked as tired as Sirius.
“Yes we are, but you lot aren’t.” Harry said. “We’ve got teams for this. Sirius, dad, Gideon, Fabian and me, today. Tomorrow is Fred, George, Seamus and Dean, with Gina directing. Wednesday is Frank, Remus, Lee and Cedric, with mum directing. Thursday is Colin, Dennis, Neville and Frank, with Lavender directing. Friday is Katie, Alicia, Angelina and Ernie, with Luna directing. Then it will depend on how we’re doing, how much is left to do. If it’s not much, I think we just get stuck in and get it done.”
“Got it.” James nodded. “That should give us a few days to recover, at least.”
~~~