Chapter 59
Harry picked at a little more of his meal, before speaking again. “Tomorrow we’ll see Penny, Charlie, the Abercrombie’s and the Weiss’. It’s going to take a few days to work our way through everyone.” He raised his head and mock-glared at his wife. “And thanks for bringing me so many people.”
“You’re welcome, Harry.” She said with a smirk.
~~~
November 21st 2925
“Finished!” Harry crowed as he tickled Jax’s chubby leg. “I am, yes, I am. Pappa and Uncle Isengar are finished interviewing everyone and sorting out their work spaces.” Jax blew a bubble and blinked as it popped on his nose. “And we only had to change two of them. Aunt Alicia and Papa did a good job of picking places for everyone.” He let Jax’s fingers close around his thumb.
“Oh, well done, Harry.” Hermione smiled as she looked up from the designs for the public library that Harry was going to present at the next town meeting.
~~~
November 22nd 2925
It was five nights before the storm blew itself out. Five nights of huddling under the pine branches, only leaving the shelter they offered, to fetch water for themselves and the horses.
But on night five, the clouds headed south, leaving behind a brilliant star-filled sky.
“Finally…” Rendarion left their shelter and stretched his arms high above his head.
“Let’s get the nags fed, then we can enjoy our own breakfast before we head out.” Haldir suggested. “We’ve lost four full days of travel.”
“Hopefully, the horses are as eager to move as I am.” Rendarion grinned.
“Hopefully.” Haldir gave his husband a soft smile.
~~~
November 23rd 2925
Harry’s head went up as the protean charmed bell that linked to Isengar’s office, rang briskly, signalling that his presence was needed in the Mayor’s Office. He frowned at the bell, before scooping up Jax’s basket-like bassinet, quickly checking that his son… hisson!… hadn’t thrown off the soft blanket that Harry had knitted as he, Fred, Lavender and Colin had travelled from Gondor, northwards. Brightly coloured as well as soft and warm, it was an ideal rug for protecting his son from the winter chill.
With his son safe in his bassinet, Harry quickly closed up his workshop and began whisking the snow from the road as he headed for the blue-roofed buildings. The bell’s repeated ringing, signalled the level of urgency and while it wasn’t urgent, it also wasn’t non-urgent, instead ringing at the level that Harry and Isengar had predetermined as ‘important, but not life-threatening’.
It took him a few minutes to get down Little Pond Land, Pond Land and across the western-most of the Pond’s two bridges and around to the Mayor’s Office. There, he climbed the stairs and upon seeing that Isengar’s door was closed, knocked politely and waited for a response.
“Come!” Isengar called, before Harry got the chance to knock more than once.
Harry opened the door and gave the hobbit a quick smile.
“You rang?” He let his amusement show in his voice.
“Ah, Harry, yes, I did.” Isengar replied. “Please, come in. I’m sure you remember Orgulas?”
“I do, indeed.” Harry replied. “Welcome to the Pond, Mr Orgulas.” He nodded to the Chief Clerk of Brandyhall
“Thankee, Master Harry.” Orgulas nodded back.
“Orgulas has been sent to us with a… delicate problem, Harry.” Isengar took control of the conversation.
“Oh?” Harry asked.
Isengar didn’t reply, instead he looked at Orgulas and nodded encouragingly.
Orgulas sighed but answered. “Gorbadoc sent me. His eldest daughter, Amaranth, is just twenty-one years old.” He shook his head. “She’s taken a fancy to one of the young hobbits in Bucklebury, which is only a mile or two from Brandyhall. This has raised a problem.”
“Oh?” Harry asked, again.
“Yes.” Orgulas huffed. “Amaranth is so set on young Herger, that she’s ignoring the fact that he’s not at all interested in lasses and has already entered a courtship with another lad, Treffan. She’s forced her way into Herger’s rooms and attempted to have Treffan dismissed from his employment, as well as trying brew a potion made from stolen nightshade and oleander. The only reason she didn’t succeed, was that the herbalist reported the thefts to Gorbadoc, and her sister Asphodel, who was with Gorbadoc and didn’t know it was secret, told that she’d seen Amaranth setting up a cooking pot in one of the unfinished smials. Gorbadoc sent my sons, Todidas and Londidas, to fetch her and bring in whatever it was she was making.”
“Oh, Merlin.” Harry sighed. He had the feeling that Gorbadoc and Orgulas were going to try and parcel the girl off to the Pond and given the young hobbit-lads here, that could be a problem.
“The herbalist studied the brew and declared it vile poison.” Orgulas went on. “It took only minutes for Amaranth to crack under her father’s questioning. She planned to poison Treffan and in his emotional heartbreak, seduce Herger, then declare that she’s with child and force him to wed her.”
“Oh, hell…” Harry groaned.
“Yes.” Orgulas nodded. “Gorbadoc sent me to request the assistance of your healers. He wants to know if the girl has lost her mind, or if she’s just obsessive. This will determine what happens to her.”
“In what way?” Harry asked.
“If she’s just obsessive, he’s going to send her to our brother Gorodas, who married Sheilda Kettleridge, the daughter of the Warden out west at the Tower Hills, the main hobbit settlement there is the Undertowers, just on the eastern foothills. They’re rather isolated and prefer to stay that way.”
“And if she’s lost her mind?” Harry asked, trying to be delicate about his probing.
“Out beyond the southern edges of the Far Downs, way past the Bounds, there’s a small settlement. It’s in a little valley… well, more of a chasm, or a gorge(?), maybe. It’s quite pleasant, lush pastures, pretty streams, about the same sort of size as the Pond and its attached lands.”
“But?” Harry knew there was going to be a but…
“But there’s only one way in or out.” Orgulas said. “It’s not so much a penitentiary, as a sanctuary for those that cannot cope with the world at large, or those that have been severely injured, either physically or mentally, and need constant care.”
“So, a combination of cloister, convent, asylum and refuge?” Harry asked.
“Yes, exactly.” Orgulas said. “It’s run by the priests of Yavanna, they manage the farms, tend the crops and the animals and where needed, they tend the… residents, but the able-bodied are pretty much left to their own devices. Food and housing is provided for them and they’re asked to assist in the day-to-day chores, but other than that? It’s a place of peace and calm and if all they want to do is sit by the stream, no-one will argue with them.”
“And how does one get in or out? You said, there’s only one way.” Harry asked.
“Yes, at the top of the gorge, there’s a way-keeper.” Isengar was the one to answer. “He’s responsible for the cable-basket that is lowered into the valley. That’s his only job. To ensure that only those that have the appropriate permission, enter or leave the valley.”
“Ah.” Harry nodded. That was far better than he’d first thought.
“Yes.” Orgulas agreed. “It depends on what your healer has to say, as to where Amaranth will go. Gorbadoc was clearly heartbroken when he handed out the order, but she’s the instigator, so she’s the one that needs to be removed from the situation. If there’s no clear distinction between obsession and loss of mentality, she’ll be sent to the valley. If your healer would assess her and provide a report? Or if there’s anything that can be done to help her, we’d be most grateful.”
“I’ll talk to Alice.” Harry said. “She, Katie and Pandora will be the best to handle this…” He paused as something occurred to him. “And maybe Sirius. The Blacks dealt with a type of Madness, so he might have a better idea of what can be done to help her.” He hummed for a few moments. “I’m assuming that she’s been… restrained… in some way?”
“Indeed.” Orgulas nodded. “Currently, she’s being kept strapped to her mother, using Bounders’ cuffs. During the day, she’s allowed limited freedoms, but at night, she’s cuffed.”
“Ah, not something that can be done for long.” Harry grimaced.
“No, a few days, but definitely not long-term.”
“Give me ten minutes.” Harry glanced down at Jax, as he slept. “Can I leave Jax with you, just for a bit? I shouldn’t apparate with him, yet.”
“Of course, Harry.” Isengar grinned. “I do enjoy having a little one around.”
Harry grinned back and after a quick nod to Orgulas, left the office and instead of descending to the ground floor and leaving the building, he apparated straight to the hospital and headed for Alice’s office.
In less than fifteen minutes, Alice had called Sirius and Lily in to assist her, but left Katie and Pandora to staff the hospital.
Harry had returned with them to the Mayor’s Office and after being assured that Alice, Lily and Sirius would handle the situation, he retreated to his workshop. It was only mid-afternoon and he had two door locks and three door mechanisms to put together for Vrdollen and Kalin, who had decided that they wanted a smaller home, now that they had exchanged marriage beads. The large home on Pond Lane that they’d been in was just too big for their liking and was better served for those with children or extended family dependent on them.
~~~
November 24th 2925
It was late evening, when there was a heavy knocking on Harry and Hermione’s door and a familiar Grim-like Patronus leapt through the door.
“Let me in, pup?” Sirius’ voice was tired and dull.
Harry stepped away from the table where he and the Patil twins were busy working on a design for a home for them and over to the door, pulling it open for his clearly exhausted godfather.
“Sirius?” He asked the older dwarf.
“Hey, pups.” Sirius gave Harry a tired smile and tickled Jax’s cheek, earning himself a sleepy blink from the infant.
“You alright?” Harry asked.
“That was kinda rough.” Sirius answered.
“Can you tell us anything?” Harry asked.
“Yeah, Gorbadoc asked me to let you know the outcome.” Sirius answered. “Any chance of some chocolate to sweeten a horrid tale?”
“Sure.” Harry replied. “Come through to the kitchen and leave the ladies to their plotting.” He threw the twins, Kellah and Hermione a cheeky grin and guided Sirius away.
As Harry put together the makings of a pot of chocolate, Sirius began to talk.
“We gathered in Isengar’s office and listened to Orgulas’ report.” He started. “Alice asked a few questions, I won’t go into the details, that’s a little personal. Yeah?” He paused as Harry nodded. “Yeah. Alice was the one to say that we should apparate to Brandyhall, if not all the way, then within a mile or two. So, we took Pickles and one of the larger Matron’s carts, and apparated to a wooded copse that Orgulas suggested, and drove in from there. Just Frank, Alice, Lils, Orgulas and myself. Alice and Lils went off to check over the girl, while Frank and I spoke to the lad, we just needed to make sure that she truly was the one causing trouble. None of us were prepared to just assume, given what happened to me.”
Harry placed a jug of chocolate in front of Sirius and carried the other into the living room for the others, knowing that Sirius would stop and pour the two of them mugs of the rich, hot liquid. After he sat back down and lifted a mug to his lips, Sirius continued his tale.
“After talking to the lad and getting his permission, I used some mild legilimency on him. And yeah, he had no idea what had caused the girl to focus on him. He'd barely known who she was, until she went after him.”
“Much like Orgulas said?”
“Pretty much.” Sirius nodded. “Alice came back, fuming… She went straight to Gorbadoc and told him that she a potion that would force the girl to tell the truth and that she wanted his permission to use it on her, in front of Gorbadoc and the lad. That they deserved to know why she was targeting the lad. Gorbadoc talked it over with his wife and Orgulas, before giving permission. And Mirabella suggested that the lad’s betrothed also attend, as he’d been the one that she’d intended to poison.”
“Right…” Harry nodded, slowly.
“Turns out, the girl felt that her position as Gorbadoc’s eldest daughter, gave her the right to have anything she wanted. And she wanted Herger, she thought that he was the only male in the area that was pretty enough for the Master of Buckland’s most beautiful daughter. Anything else was unimportant, if she had to kill Treffan to get Herger, then she’d kill him. The only thing that mattered, was her getting Herger.”
“Oh, stars…” Harry sighed.
“She felt no remorse, none at all.” Sirius’ sighed echoed Harry’s. “And she happily admitted that as soon as she was free, she’d take up, right where she left off.”
“Oh, joy…”
“Yeah…” Sirius nodded. “So, Alice talked to Gorbadoc and together they decided that the girl would have a minor memory charm used on her, just enough to blur Herger and Treffan’s faces and names and she’d be sent to the valley sanctuary for five years. If at the end of that time, she was still just as selfish, she’ll stay there, indefinitely. If she’s improved, then she’ll be sent to Gorodas, out at the Tower Hills, but the chances are that she'll never return to Brandyhall.”
“Here’s hoping, for her sake.” Harry grimaced.
“Yeah…” The older dwarf nodded. “But it wasn’t all bad news.”
“Oh?”
“I found us a vintner, who’s looking to start his own vineyard.” Sirius offered. “He’s got plants and basic equipment, but he wants to try a cooler climate and see what that will produce. Unlike most of our imports, he’s sold his business and is able to actually buy-in, up here.”
“… ooh…” Harry exclaimed almost silently.
“Plus a needle and scissor smith.” Sirius added. “Moved up from Sackville to get away from family wanting her to focus on ‘more lady-like pursuits’, she said. Comes with all her tools, but will need a small forge made, much smaller than the size of a farrier’s.”
“Something about the same size that Fabian and I have between our workshops?”
“Even that might be a bit big.” Sirius countered. “She does most of her work on a desk, using a pot and a camp-grill.”
“Hmm… a desktop forge?”
“From the sound of it, yeah.”
“I’ll get dad to see if he can make one, using miniature bricks and some iron rods.” Harry tilted his head in thought. “Maybe a slate slab for the workbench, or part of the bench…” He suddenly focused back on Sirius. “When are they coming?”
“Minton will wait on seeing the plot of land and getting everything paid and signed for, before he brings anything this way. Begonia’s brother lives at Bucklebury and she’s been staying with him and his wife, but the wife is starting to do like the rest of the family and is trying to push her into more genteel work. Begonia’s not having that, it led to some rather vocal and quite loud… discussions… between the two hobbitesses. Busby… the brother, that is… will bring her up. They’ll leave either tomorrow or the next day, depending on how long it takes to pack and load up his wagon.”
“Right, I’ll need to assign her a workshop and-”
“I mentioned the artisan’s workshops, near the hospital and she was rather interested in one of them.” Sirius cut Harry off. “Said that they were better than the woodshed, she’d been forced to use at her parents’ place, or the desk in the bedroom she was using now. And quite a bit bigger than she was accustomed to. And she doesn’t care if her smial is above-ground or below.”
“Ah.” Harry grunted. “That’s one person's problems solved. Now I just need to work out where to put a vineyard and vintner’s shed.”
~~~
November 25th 2925
“Afternoon, Alice.” Harry grinned at his godmother. “What brings you away from your beloved hospital? Huh?”
“Just out for a walk with Harfang and I thought I’d give you a quick update on the medical side of things.” Alice Longbottom leant against Harry’s workbench and ran her hands over Harfang’s head and down his back.
“Cast away.” Harry settled himself on a stool, while pushing a second one in Alice’s direction.
“We had two groups for de-aging treatments. One needing it on medical grounds and the other were only electives, based on a non-medical basis. Oh, and the two temporaries.”
“Right.” Harry nodded. He remembered the two groups being fairly even in numbers.
“Nigel Wolpert, Eliza Tarren, Natalie McDonald, Marla Tanker and Erin Westin were marked as urgent.” Alice reminded Harry.
“As was Minerva McGonagall, if I remember rightly.” Harry added.
“Yes, that’s right.” Alice nodded. “All of them are done. Done and stable. However we did have a few minor issues with Nigel, instead of him being de-aged to fifteen, he ended up as twelve. He’s moved in with Calhoun, who lived just a few blocks from him, in Leeds and who he mentored, while they were hiding with Gringotts.”
“Does Minerva know?”
“It was her idea and both boys are enjoying it.”
“That’s fine, then. The rest of the group?”
“Mason Lodger, Laura Pincher and Graham Simpson were marked as requiring permanent de-aging treatment, but not being anywhere near as urgently or severely as the others.” Alice said. “Again, all of them are done, but we found a couple of other issues with Laura and Graham, nothing life-threatening but severe enough that they needed treatment, immediately. I don’t have their permission to give you anything more than a brief outline. Both ended up being de-aged further than we had initially expected, but have responded well to treatment. Laura’s moving in with the Bowles/Tarren family and Graham has been taken in by the Clearwaters.”
“They were de-aged that far?” Harry blinked. Penny’s son was only three years old and the two Bowles children were five and six.
“Yes, but like I said, I can only give you an outline, anything more? No, you don’t have permission for that.”
“But they’re okay, now? Healthwise, I mean?”
“Yes, both are healthy, now.” Alice nodded in reply. “The second group, was Kellah Lindstrom, Meredith Owens, Jennifer Channing, Daniel Holmes, Juliana Pinley, Nancy Drummer and Amber Lynch. All of them were… voluntary, not medical. And all of them were treated. Some were de-aged further than others. Kellah and Juliana were only de-aged to sixteen. Meredith, Daniel and Nancy were taken back to eleven. Jennifer and Amber both had underlying medical issues that forced us to de-age them to six years old. Bill and Fleur Weasley have taken in Amber, while the Doyles are fostering Jennifer.”
“I thought there was an extra kid running around Bill’s place, but I didn’t realise that they were fostering her.”
“They’re not, they offered to adopt her and she accepted.” Alice corrected. “That was finished, this morning.”
“Oh, okay…” Harry blinked and shook his head. He hadn’t been expecting that.
“The two temporaries were Tina Mimples and Emily Fraser.” Alice went on. “Again, over and done with. They were not the easiest to work with, Emily had been abused by a family friend, while she was quite young. So, she was understandably scared. We sedated her until the potion wore off and she’s very happy that the process removed some of the physical side-effects that she suffered. Tina was just… exuberant… That’s all you could say there. But like Emily, once it was over, she was fine.”
“Good.” Harry sighed in relief. “That’s good to know. Anything else I need to know about?”
“Tina’s gone to work for Sigi and Violet in the Store, Christine Adamson has accepted an apprenticeship with Mrs Wellgate. And the Patil twins have joined forces with Oliver Wood in planning a coach service. The three of them have been working on a business plan since you told him he needed one.”
“Oh, Merlin…” Harry sighed. Just what he needed, Ollie teaming up with Padma and Parvati.
~~~
November 26th 2925
The sun was kissing the mountains to their west, when the two elves crested a rise and saw the East-West Road’s Anduin crossing, below them. Off to the west of the ford was a small campsite, with four horses, two grey and two brown.
“That would the Woodland elves camp, I’d assume.” Rendarion nodded in that direction.
“Well, let’s go see who Thranduil sent.” Haldir replied. “Hopefully, it’s not Kressian or Paulasi…”
“Oh, dear, I hope not.” Rendarion agree.
“Otherwise, he may not get them back.” Haldir sneered.
It took them another ten minutes to reach the elven camp, only to find that it wasn’t either of the two elves that they’d been dreading.
“Prince Legolas.” Haldir’s formal bow of greeting to Thranduil’s son, befitted both the prince’s rank and his own position as envoy from Lothlorien.
“Marchwarden Haldir.” The prince bowed back, not as deep, but with clear respect.
“Highness, may I present my husband, Master Healer Rendarion.” Haldir gestured and Rendarion bowed to the prince.
“Master Healer, be welcome.” Legolas replied. “With me is Tauriel, a Captain of the Woodland’s Guard.”
“Captain.” Both Haldir and Rendarion greeted the redheaded she-elf.
“Marchwarden, Master Healer.” Tauriel dipped her head to each of them and stepped back, leaving it to Legolas to speak with them.
“Father gave me little information,” Legolas said, “just that Lady Galadriel was concerned about something in the West and was requesting a high-ranked envoy to join your party. He allowed myself and Tauriel to volunteer, as we wished to broaden our knowledge of the lands of the west.”
“Well, as we’re going to be meeting up with the Dúnedain rangers, I think you’ll learn plenty.” Haldir said. “They’re reputed to know the lands and peoples of the west better than any other.”
“So I have heard.” Legolas agreed. “We had initially expected you a few days ago, but predicted that the storm may have delayed you. So, we paid a visit to the way-station, yesterday and stocked up on supplies, both for us and our horses.”
“Then we’ll be ready to travel, come morning?” Haldir asked.
“We will.” Legolas replied.
~~~
November 27th 2925
It was roughly eighty miles from the Anduin’s banks to Rivendell and while an elven messenger could possibly have made it in two days, Haldir, Legolas and their companions planned to take four days. Winter in the mountains was never a pleasant experience, so they would camp at the edge of the mountain's foothills, that night.
The next day they would reach the way-camps at the base of the mountains, day two would see them ascend to the huts that sat right on the crest of the range, that provided shelter for weary travellers. Given the time of year, it was unlikely that they would have to share with another party, but they would if needed. From there they would take a third day to descend to below the treeline, there they would camp, allowing the horses to shelter in the ranger-run, waystation stables. On the fourth day, it would be only a few hours to Rivendell, where, hopefully, they would meet with the ranger that led the western patrols and who, they hoped, had some idea of where to look for Galadriel’s ‘ripples’.
~~~
November 28th 2925
Days are usually fairly quiet at the Pond, excluding market days of course, but since the arrival of the Incoming, things had been a bit livelier. So having a calm morning to enjoy breakfast with his wife and son, suited Harry just fine. The Patil twins and Kellah had moved out the day before, leaving Harry, Hermione, Jax, Lavender, Jessie and the Creevey brothers, most of who had headed down to the Quad for breakfast, to give Harry and Hermione time to themselves.
“What’s on your agenda for today, Harry?” Hermione asked.
“Well…” Harry hummed. “If I’m not called in for anything, I thought we might harness up Golly, pick up a picnic basket from the Store and… How do you fancy a drive around village and fields? Maybe out past George’s orchards?”
“With your jealous pony?” Hermione smirked.
“Leave Golly alone, he just likes being useful.” Harry chided, as he filled up a trio of bottles for Jax, before a handful of nappies were shoved into his belt-satchel.
“Of course he does, Harry.” Hermione huffed.
They’d barely reached the door to the stable-yard, when Alice’s Patronus reached them.
“Harry, I have you and Hermione still on the waiting list for Jax’s adoption. When did you want to do that? It will only take ten minutes.”
Harry looked at Hermione and Hermione looked at Harry.
“I suppose we should get that out of the way.” Hermione sighed.
“One less thing to worry about.” Harry shrugged. He flicked his wand and cast a Patronus, the stag dancing in the air before settling in front of them. “Message to Alice.” The stag’s mouth opened, to receive the message. “Have you got time now? If so, we can be there in ten.” The stag leapt into the air and galloped away.
Less than a minute, and Alice’s squirrel was back. “I’ll be ready when you get here.”
“Let’s still take Golly, he can graze around the Pond’s edges, there’s always someone kicking around that can watch him, for us.” Harry suggested.
“I’ve never been in a horse cart before.” Hermione said. “you don’t mind if I just watch you get him ready, do you?”
“Nah.” Harry grabbed Golly’s headstall and lead. “Give me a minute to fetch him in.” He didn’t quite trot away, but he did take a few longer strides as he rounded the corner of the house. In less than a minute, he was back, this time with the golden pony eagerly following him. “East, old mate, easy…” Harry pet the pony until he was standing quietly. “Good lad.” He quickly slipped the carriage saddle and harness onto Golly, doing up buckles as needed, then leading the pony in a circle to position him in front of the little light-weight sulky. “Stand, Golly, stand.” He said firmly, before tilting the sulky’s shafts down and through the loops of the over-girth. Then it was simply a matter of double checking all the buckles and straps were secure and weren’t pinching. He led the pony forward a few steps, and with a gentle pat, slipped back to assist Hermione up into the sulky, following her and sitting beside her. He eased Jax’s carrier, until it sat a little more comfortably, before picking up the reins.
“Move out, Golly.” Harry calmly directed the happy pony out onto the road and turned him in the direction of the hospital.
“I see what you mean about liking to work.” Hermione said.
Golly’s ears were pricked and facing forward, one flicking backwards every few steps, just to check if Harry and Hermione were talking to him. Otherwise he was just happy to be out about, taking his favourite person wherever he needed to go.
As they left the hospital with a sleepy Jax, Alice remined them that as Harry already had a blood connection to Jax, the adoption would be less stressful for the boy, than it had been for either Felicity or Harfang, but that the changes would still be fairly prominent.
“Just don’t be surprised if you wake up in the morning and his hair has gotten darker.” Alice said. “Both of you have dark hair and from Gringotts’ notes, it appears that Dudley and Brenda were both blonde.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Hermione laughed. “Otherwise, I could see Harry having a panic over it.”
“Maybe…” Harry pouted.
~~~