Memories
Bill opened the front door to let in Elijah, Klaus, and a very weary Maddox. The Warlock was told about the events during dinner the night before and agreed to meet with the witches and wizards to go over the spells for the ritual. “Afternoon, gentlemen. Please, come in,” Bill opened the door wider. He watched the visitors step over the threshold without issue and relaxed. Bill closed the door and moved to the front of the guests, “We’ll be adjourning to the library.” He escorted them to a hall of doors and went to open the middle one.
Once opening the door, Bill couldn’t help but snort at the shocked faces. The position and spacing of the doors in the hallway suggested an average sized room, not a multi-storied library with floor-to-ceiling shelves stuffed to the brim with books, tomes, and scripts. In the center were some comfy armchairs, a long table surrounded by matching chairs, and a pedestal holding a massive open book that acted as a catalog. Off to one side was a massive fireplace to warm the readers while they sat in the comfy chairs with a good book.
Elijah had to step back into the hallway. Looking back and forth at the space between the doors and the hallway itself perplexed. Stepping back into the library, Bill gave a brief explanation, “Wizard’s space. It’s an expansion spell.” Bill moved to the catalog and summoned the books he went through with similar binding spells from when he examined the Moonstone. Klaus, Elijah, and Maddox watched as several texts floated from bookshelves to the table in the center of the room. “These are the books I went through after examining the Moonstone,” Bill said and then clarified. “Which I have locked away.” Klaus was going to flip out and then possibly flip the table if the Moonstone was damaged or lost.
Maddox tries to cut the tension by setting down the Grimoire he brought with the original binding ritual, “This Grimoire was used for the binding ritual. I have read it so many times, I practically have it memorized.” He opened it to the pages needed and passed it over to Bill. “Huh?” Bill looked it over, “I’ve seen something similar in…” He put the Grimoire down and picked up one of the tomes from Gringotts, “This one.” Turning to the page with a very similar binding ritual and handing it to Maddox. Of course, these books and tomes from Gringotts were translated to English decades ago. Bill is one of the few who took the time to learn Gobbledygook, so he could read either version but knew Maddox wouldn’t understand the Goblin’s language.
“It was fairly common for our kind to bind someone’s magic. Mostly done to those who were being exiled out of the magical world to live as a muggle or no-maj for the rest of their lives,” Bill elaborated. Maddox grew pale hearing that; he wouldn’t know how to live without his magic. Klaus read the text over Maddox’s shoulder, “The ritual I’m doing involves sacrifices, this one does not.” Bill nodded his head, “I know. Which brings me to our next point. I’m going to get Lei and Hermione.”
Bill left the library to find the others. Klaus, Elijah, and Maddox took a seat and began leafing through some of the books on the table. The Originals couldn’t help but think about Kol and how much he would devour everything in the library. Bill re-enters the library with Hermione, followed by a paint splattered Leilani. “I really need to bar him from my studio until I’m finished with Moony,” Lei had gotten frustrated with Sirius again. He kept trying to disrupt her; the last time he spoke so loudly Lei was startled and spilled some paint. Klaus watched Lei clean some paint off with hands with a Turpentine-soaked rag that she vanished back to her studio when she was done.
“Hullo, gents,” Lei took one of the empty seats next to Klaus. Hermione sat next to her, “Bill informed us of what’s going on, and we would like to see the Original Binding ritual.” “That’s impossible. This occurred over a thousand years ago,” Elijah sets down the book he was skimming. Lei nodded her head, “Normally, yes. But we have a way to see the memory. If we could view it in its entirety, we can see details that may have been missed.” Klaus gripped the arms of his chair ready to stand and leave, “I will not let anyone into my head.” Lei brought her hands up in surrender, “I understand that. We understand that. We wouldn’t have to go into your head. We can just retrieve that particular memory for viewing.”
Klaus shook his head and stood, “Absolutely not.” Before he could walk out the door, Lei stepped in front of him, “What if we showed you how the process works with one of our own memories? Would you consider it then?” Elijah stood next to his brother and put a hand on Klaus’ shoulder, “We were too distraught during… We may have missed something that could benefit.” Klaus looked to his brother then turned to Maddox who was standing next to the table. Both gave a slight nod that they should do this. Lei could see them about to agree, “I’ll get the pensive. If after you see my memory, you’re still uncomfortable with it then we will work with what we have.” Klaus sighs then nods but then, “If I feel you poking around then I’ll rip out your heart.”
The pensive has been set up on a pedestal, expanded to fit all six people, and filled with cleansed water. The group of six crowd around the pensive as Bill explains, “I will be extracting the memory Leilani has chosen for us to view. Once it is extracted, I will place it in the pensive’s basin. All we will have to do is place our heads into the basin to draw us into the memory. We can only view the memory, we can’t interact, even if we want to because it has already happened.” Bill turns to Lei, “Ready?” Everyone watches as Lei closes her eyes then Bill places the tip of his wand to her temple and slowly extracts or pulls a silvery wisp away from her head essentially carrying the memory.
Maddox asks, “What happens to the memory after it is extracted?” Hermione answers so Bill can concentrate, “The memory is still there but it’s hazy like a forgettable dream. After we view it, she has a choice to put it back or store it in a vial to view at a later date. Some would use a pensive as a way to purge bad memories, but it could leave holes and feel like a piece of you is missing because in a way it is.”
Bill places the memory into the pensive, “Alright everyone. Take a deep breath and place your head in the pensive. I’ll go first.” Bill takes a deep breath and puts his head in the pensive. Hermione is next, then Maddox, Elijah, and finally Klaus and Lei at the same time. Those who did not know how to view a pensive memory fell ungracefully on their backsides. Leilani snorted, “Sorry about that. Should have warned you about the landing.” Elijah, Klaus, and Maddox looked around. Klaus asked, “Where are we?” Hermione, Bill, Lei had looks of nostalgia, “Hogsmeade. First year boat ride.”
“Firs’ years! Firs’ years, this way!” A large man with a lantern called out at the end of a train platform. The three former Hogwarts’ students called out, “Hagrid!” Lei turned to the other three, “We follow him.” As they get closer to Hagrid, they hear him speak to a very young Leilani, “Hullo, Leilani, Hermione.” Both young girls say in unison, “Hullo Hagrid.” A red-haired boy stood next to the two girls, “Woah.” Lei and Hermione sneer at the boy, “Weaselbee.”
Klaus was observing Hagrid and thinking he would have loved to turn him. Of course, Elijah saw this and whispered, “No.” Klaus rolled his eyes. The group followed the first year students down to the Black Lake and the small boats. They heard Hagrid, “Four to a boat! Four to a boat, please!” The group split up, Elijah, Klaus, Hermione, and Lei in one boat, and Bill and Maddox in another. They could see the younger Leilani and Hermione in a boat with Ron and another boy, Neville.
Lei and Hermione snickered when they remembered what happened next. Klaus leans closer to the two, “What’s so funny, love?” Leilani answers, “We were remembering what happens next. Watch.” She pointed to the boat their younger selves were in. They could hear younger Lei gasp and yell, “Spider!” Suddenly, Ron gave a girlish shriek, stood up, and dove out of the boat and into the Black Lake. Everyone laughed out loud. Bill could be heard, “I’m glad I got to see that.” The laughter died when a giant tentacle pulled a pale Ron out of the water and back into his boat. “Never knew a giant squid that liked toast,” Lei muttered under her breath.
Soon the boats came closer to the other side of the lake, and a beautiful castle came into view. Everyone was in awe, even those who had seen the castle before. Leilani, Hermione, and Bill had tears in their eyes. This is the first time they have seen Hogwarts castle before it was damaged during the war. Klaus saw the tears in Lei’s eyes, “Are you alright, love?” Lei gives him a sad smile, “This is the first time I have seen my home since before the war.” Lei gets lost in the memory, she thinks out loud, “I would like to replicate something like this. Who knows, this world may need a school for magic and other supernaturals.”
Hermione agrees, “Maybe not exactly like it. I mean 142 staircases that like to change, doors that shift, or only open if you ask politely or tickle in a certain spot, then lead to absolutely nowhere or a blank wall. It’s a miracle some of us could get to class on time.” Hermione was looking at Lei when she said this. Lei was looking everywhere but Hermione.
The boats started to slow as they came closer to the school, then they dismounted. Elijah helped Hermione out of the boat while Klaus helped Leilani, holding on to her hand a little longer than necessary. Continuing to follow the group of first year students and Hagrid to the top of the stairs where a very stern, older looking woman stood. Lei had an ear-splitting smile on her face, “Minnie!” Hermione shook her head at her best friend turned sister.
Everyone turns to the woman as she starts to speak, “Welcome to Hogwarts. Now in a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates but before you can take your seats you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now while you’re here your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points, any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup.”
Professor McGonagall was cut off when younger Neville spots his lost toad, “Trevor!” The boy scoops up the toad and looks up at the professor, “Sorry.” The professor continues her speech, “The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily. I suggest you smarten yourselves.” She turns and goes through a side door into the Great Hall. The group of six adults watch a younger Draco approach Lei, “It’s true then. What they’re saying on the train, Leilani Potter has come to Hogwarts.” Several of the first years' whisper to each other while younger Lei rolls her eyes.
Klaus leans closer to Leilani, his face stony, “I thought your name was Evans?” Lei is not phased one bit, “Evans is my mother’s maiden name. I use it instead of Potter since I have started a new life.” Klaus doesn’t say anything, just stands up straighter. He felt like she lied to him, but he really couldn’t hold it against her since he has so many aliases himself.
Young Draco continues, “This is Crabbe and Goyle. And I’m Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.” Ron snorts at the way Draco introduced himself. Draco turns and sneers at the young red head, “You think my name is funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley. You’ll soon find out that some Wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.” Draco holds his hand up for Lei to shake. Instead, young Lei backs away, “I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks.” The professor comes back to the young students, tapping Draco on the shoulder with the scroll with the students' names, “We are ready for you now.” As the younger versions are escorted into the Great Hall, the older versions are thrown out of the pensive landing back in the library.
Maddox, Klaus, and Elijah watch as Bill removes the memory from the pensive and directs it to Lei’s temple. She opted to keep the memory; it was a good memory. Hermione offers the guest something to drink, “Firewhisky, anyone?” Six tumblers and two bottles of Ogden’s Old Firewhisky. Each of them took a sip. The ones new to the drink didn’t notice the other three leaning away from them. Maddox was the first to figure out how relevant the name was. Luckily, he was far away enough not to scorch anybody when he belched. Klaus quickly figured out what happened and turned towards Elijah, who now is missing an eyebrow.
The laughter that followed was light and seemed to be needed. Bill assured Elijah, “Don’t worry. It’s already growing back. Must be nice to have healing abilities that are quick.” Elijah was embarrassed but he couldn’t hide the twitch of his lips as he listened to his younger boisterous laughter. After a few moments of comfortable silence as everyone slowly sipped their whiskey, Lei stood up, “So? You’ve seen how the pensive works. Will either of you be willing to let us view your memory?” Klaus and Elijah had a silent conversation with each other before Elijah answered, “It will be my memory of the event.” They all stood up and gathered around the pensive.
Before Bill’s wand touched Elijah’s temple he was stopped, “I wish to not keep the memory.” Bill nodded then informed him, “It will still be there but hazy. If you try to remember it, you won’t be able to recall anything.” Elijah nodded, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes to pull the memory to the forefront of his mind. Bill carefully extracted the memory and placed it in the pensive. The group readied themselves for what they were about to see then dived in.
The six modern adults now stood in a forest watching the newly turned Viking family of vampires feed on the villagers. They watch as Niklaus drains someone and drops their body, followed by his screams as his bones break. A long-haired Elijah tries to get closer to Niklaus to comfort him and help him figure out what’s going on but is stopped by their father. Present-time Elijah, “Mikael stopped me from going anywhere near my brother.” Klaus doesn’t say anything, he has no expression on his face, but his eyes hold unfathomable rage.
They listen to Mikael, “He’s a beast. An abomination.” The memory shifts to a clearing as they watch Mikael try to restrain Klaus, “Elijah! Hold him down!” Klaus begs for his brother’s help, “Brother, please! Don’t let them do this to me!” Lei and Bill tune all this out and concentrate on Esther. They focused on her and her grimoire. Lei points, “There. The ritual is different then it is now. She altered it.” Elijah moved away from the ritual, guilt still heavy in his heart and moved to stand next to Lei and Bill. He sees what she is talking about but is also stunned, “You can read this?” “Well, yeah. Ancient Runes is a class we can take. It’s a base for creating new spells,” Lei said.
Soon the whole group was surrounding the Grimoire with Past-Klaus’ screaming in pain and Esther chanting in the background. Hermione pays attention to Esther’s chants, “The spell is different also. We need to write this down.” They all had seen enough and soon were back in the library.
“By the way, your parents are horrible,” Lei says to the Originals. Hermione is writing what she heard, “So, what have we learned?” Bill snorted, “You sounded like a professor just now.” “Oh, hush you,” Hermione’s ears tinged in pink in embarrassment. Lei stood next to her with Ester’s Grimoire on the table, “See here?” She changed “Acquire Doppelganger blood” to “Drain Doppelganger to the point of death.” Lei points to the change, “We know she didn’t use enough Doppelganger blood to kill the girl so that means Elena does not have to die. You probably still have to consume enough of her blood to pump through your heart to break your curse.”
Maddox nodded, “Makes sense. I also noticed Esther seemed to make the change after thinking about when Klaus would break it. She probably wanted to make sure the Doppelganger died so the bloodline would die off. I’ll look into it further.” The warlock was thinking about how Klaus wants to create hybrids after he breaks his curse and the thought hit him like a ton of bricks, “Oh, that wench is diabolical.” Maddox faces Klaus, “Your mother changed the spell to ensure you’re unable to create hybrids. If the Doppelganger dies during the ritual, you won’t be able to transition your hybrids. They would need her blood to complete the transition.”
Klaus’ jaw was clenched, along with his fist. Lei saw this and stood in front of him to get his attention. Lei nudged her head, “Come on. Follow me.” She led Klaus to the dueling room with Elijah following at their heels. She conjured several pieces of furniture and got out of the way as Klaus destroyed everything. At one point, he got frustrated with breaking things because they would repair themselves, “When I break something, they’re supposed to stay broken!” It took a little under two hours for Klaus to calm down. He didn’t say anything, just stopped and caught his breath, fixed his appearance, and walked out of the room. Lei vanished the broken furniture. Elijah is truly fascinated by their magic. He follows Lei out of the dueling room, “Thank you.”
Leilani sighed, “Now, we just have to inform Elena that she will be surviving the ritual.” Klaus smirked when he remembered he plans on turning John Gilbert into his vampire sacrifice. He then realizes he has everything he needs to break his curse. He goes over the list in his head; The Martins’ have two werewolves captive, Maddox will be performing the ritual, John Gilbert will be the vampire, the Moonstone is within reach, and the Doppelganger. His tense shoulders drop in relief when he thinks, “Soon.”
AN: The next chapter will be the ritual.