The Muggle

Chapter 9

The Lady

The forest had become darker and still. Morgan could barely see Snape's back. They walked in silence; every now and then a ray of moonlight would shine above them.

Suddenly something moved -- she was positively sure she felt it stir among the trees. Snape straightened his back, stopped and turned towards her.

"What is it?"

Morgan could not see his face for it was hidden by the shadows, all she could she was the pale white of his neck, and his Adam's apple moving up and down.

"Something.... I think ...."

He approached her unsmiling, "Tell me."

His face looked gaunt and smooth under the trace of moonlight shining above them.

"Something moved - I felt it move."

Snape's stood mute, his dark eyes fastened coldly into her face. "Walk beside me. And pull up the hood."

She obeyed, and they continued walking, listening hard for any other sound. Snape had taken out his wand and had it firmly in his hand.

They walked for nearly forty minutes, going deeper into the forest. The path was getting impossible to follow. They could not move too quickly for there were tree roots and branches cluttering the ground. Barely visible in the darkness, the earth seemed to be sloping downward.

More than once, Morgan had nearly fallen; the cloak was too long and the rubber soles of her trainers slid dangerously on the wet grass. She leaned against a tree, exhausted.

Snape grabbed her arm and pulled her beside him. "Walk!"

"Well, I am walking; but if you continue running, I might break my stubborn little neck," she retorted bitterly.

"Idiot girl! Do you not realize that we are being followed?"

Morgan stared blankly at him. "What?"

Snape ignored her, and continued dragging her through the forest until they reach a clearing ahead. Snape was about to step forward when she pulled his sleeve.

"No...there is... something..."

Snape scanned her face and frowned. "How do you know?"

She shook her head, "I don't know, I just...felt it."

At close distance, Morgan could see Snape's eyes -- they looked piercingly black.

His speed, and the look of black rage on his face, caused Morgan to step back quickly; he extended his pale hands and harshly pulled the sides of the black cloak, covering her white sweater.

"Cover yourself."

"I'm not undressed!"

"You're a bloody beacon in that white sweater!" he hissed. "We shall go around the lake."

The trees started to get thinner as they walked further, and soon she could smell the water. The lake was tranquil, like liquid silver shinning under the moonlight.

"Can we rest a while?"

Snape looked around and watched her as she sat on a stone near the shore. Morgan pulled the hood off, and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Why are we walking around in this damn cold forest? Isn't the cave inside the castle?"

He didn't answer her immediately; he had his face up, listening to the sounds of the forest.

"The entrance is not in the castle but deep in the forest."

"Severus, what am I supposed to do there?"

He turned his face toward her; he looked even paler than before under the moonlight.

"You shall open the cave and retrieve whatever is inside."

"That is what everyone says, but what is it, really, that I must do?"

"You must pass a test."

"What kind of test?"

"We do not know, but you'll know the answers for it." His features hardened. "Then you will enter the crystal cave and retrieve whatever is inside."

"How would I know what to take?"

"I cannot tell you what is inside the cave -nobody knows."

"What if I can't open the cave?"

He bored his dark eyes into her in his usual manner, "It would mean that we would need to find your brother."

Morgan still felt uncomfortable hearing the word. "Do you think we will ever find him?"

"Miss Stone, even if I seem all-knowing to you, there are a few things I cannot answer," he disclosed angrily, regarding her with a venomous glare.

She winced at his acrid answer, and glared right back at him. All-knowing? He was really taken with himself.

"Well, you are Head of something now, aren't you? I thought you knew."

He blanched even further, approached her swiftly and decided it was time to scare a little respect out of her. "I am Head of Slytherin House, and yes, I do know everything there is to know about the cave, but if I knew more, then I wouldn't be burdened with a witless girl such as you!"

She rose from her hard seat, patience draining from her. "If you knew more, you would have opened the cave long ago, and kept whatever you found to yourself - I'm sure."

A slow smirk pulled his pale lips, "Believe whatever you wish."

"Look, if we are together on this, we might as well try to get along and - "

"Spare me your speech on camaraderie. I am here only to guide you and instruct you as Dumbledore has requested."

"And you do everything he commands you," she said, smirking, "but if it were up to you - "

"If it were up to me," he snarled towering over her, "I would use you, erase your weak memory, and deposit you back into whatever hell hole you came from!"

"I'd bet you would just love that," she retorted, raising her chin. "Well, guess what? I'm staying, so you'd better deal with it!"

Snape's dark eyes narrowed into slits and his teeth bared dangerously, "Be careful, girl, I am a very powerful wizard, and I won't be spoken to in that tone of voice."

"You started it! I was just asking you a few questions, and you nearly bit my head off!"

"Enough of this," he said, waving a hand, dismissing her, "I shall do whatever I have to, to open the cave. But do not be mistaken, girl, we will never be friends. Now, move!"

He strolled back to the trees, with Morgan tagging along, thinking of several ways to murder him.

********************

Black saw them coming into the clearing, and even though it was dark, he could see the angry look on Morgan's face.

"It took you ages to get here," he complained loudly.

The Potions master ignored him and walked toward Lupin. "I'll retrace our way - I believe we were being followed."

Lupin's eyebrows knitted with worry. Followed?

The long black cloak over Morgan's shoulders was clearly not hers, Black realized, watching Snape walking toward the forest, wearing only his long black frockcoat.

"Are you all right, darling?" he asked, cocking his head, examining her strained face.

"I'm just freezing, Sirius."

"We have to go," Lupin informed them.

"I am cold and tired; can't we light a fire for a while?"

"I do not -"

"Come on mate, just a little fire," Black said, pulling Lupin towards the trees to get wood.

Morgan saw them disappear behind the trees, talking. It was a quiet night, so still that she could not tell where the mist ended and the surface of the lake began.

Behind her, the forest stood wrapped in the mists. Soon it would be morning. The sounds coming from Black and Lupin seemed a kind of desecration to the silence around them.

Morgan wrapped herself in Snape's long cloak; despite the thin fabric, it was very warming. She stared at the lake's still waters; they looked almost like gleaming silver.

She closed her eyes for only a fraction, and when she opened them a camp fire was lit in front of her; she could feel the warmth reaching her numb legs.

As she raised her eyes, she couldn't see the lake anymore; trees surrounded her silently. No sound could be heard, not even Sirius and Lupin's voices.

She was alone.

But movement caught her eye, and as she raised her head, she saw a tall woman wearing a cloak.

The dark purple cloak fell in a long heavy line from shoulder to heel. A long way behind her she saw Hogwarts castle.

Was it a dream? She was not sure, because the vision grew clearer as if the woman were really standing in front of her.

The woman's head was bent; she was holding a sword naked across her hands. It was just a sword, beautiful in the way a weapon is. The jewels on the hilt were set in gold scrollwork, and the pristine blade glimmered.

The woman was turning it over and over, as if weighing its balance, or studying the runes on the blade.

The firelight flashed and darkened as the blade moved. She caught a few words, and saw the jewels sparkling as the sword turned.

"Whosoever pulleth out this sword..."

She knew the words.

The picture of that sword had always been in her mind. She had always known them: Whosoever pulleth out this sword from this stone is right wise king born of all England.

She could see the great stone shaped like an altar, the sword over it smouldering like it was on fire; she could even smell the scented smoke rising from the altar.

The woman wore a band of gold on her forehead. As she moved, the firelight lit the ring on her finger. It was a wide gold band, carved with a dragonhead.

Morgan tried to speak, but as sometimes happens in dreams, she couldn't make a sound. The woman looked up. She was breathtaking; her skin was pale as marble, and her eyes were gold-green under tawny lashes. Her hair fell loosely and shinning over her shoulders.

She held the sword out to Morgan, flat across her hands. A voice that wasn't a woman's or a man's said, "Take it."

Morgan tried to move, but she couldn't move any more than she could speak. She had never feared ghosts, but she feared this woman. From the woman's small mouth came the voice again, grim and with a faint amusement. Morgan's breath stopped and she shivered.

"You need not fear me. Nor should you fear the power. You are my seed. Take it, Emrys, you will find no rest until you do."

Morgan managed to stand up and approach her. Her fire had died and it was dark. Morgan put out her hands for the sword, and the woman reached to lay it across them.

As the sword left her grip, it fell through her hands, and she felt nothing.

Morgan quickly knelt, groping in the darkness. Her knees ached from the hard ground, and her hands searched desperately, but found nothing.

As the woman spoke again, Morgan could feel her warm breath above her, and her cloak brushed her cheek.

"Find it; there is no one else who can."

She raised her head to tell her the sword had vanished, but she saw nothing but the silvery waters in front of her. She was kneeling before the lakeshore, her hands soiled with mud.

Directly overhead, she could see the dying moon, pale and thin; Morgan rose to her feet disoriented and turned to find Lupin and Black gapping at her, Snape stood a few feet from her, his face unreadable as always.

"Where..."

"Don't be frightened, Morgan, it was a vision." Lupin approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

But she wasn't paying any attention; she was gazing at her filthy hands. They were hot, powerful, like something had awakened inside of her, a memory long lost, something that had been yearning to awaken, but she could not remember what it was.

"We shall discuss your vision in my office, now let's move along..."

"We will discuss it now!" Black growled at him.

"This is not of your concern, Black -- nor Lupin's; Morgan will speak to me only."

"Oh, really, and just who the bloody hell do you think you are?" Black approached Snape, his wand drawn; Snape levelled his own wand at arm's length.

Morgan stared at them in disbelief. Was this going to happen every time they met?

"It's all right, Sirius. What I saw is on some manuscripts that belong to him, so it is inappropriate for me to tell you about them. I'm sorry."

Snape continued leering at Sirius as he pocketed his wand. "We are late, let's move."

They followed him into the forest again; Sirius took Morgan's hand in his and scanned her face.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, Sirius, I'm fine. It was just a dream."

They walked near the shore for a few minutes until they saw a group of people standing near the lake.

Tonks and Kingsley moved out of the shadows. "What kept you?" asked Kingsley.

"Snape thought we were being followed." Sirius answered.

"Followed? That is impossible!"

"Well, actually it was I who felt someone or something moving around us," Morgan said, ignoring Sirius' deprecating glare.

"You felt?" Tonks asked.

"Let's move, or Moody will start with his Auror tactics and blow the whole thing to Hades," Lupin said, taking Morgan's arm and making for the trees.

They again walked deeper into the forest, until they saw a hill ahead surrounded by trees. Morgan sensed that there were other people there. She could feel them somehow, but she was unable to see them. The moment she stepped in front of the hill, she stopped and gaped in wonder.

The mist had risen, creeping knee-high through the trees so that they stood like ghosts.

In the face of the rock was a cave. The rounded opening was small and very regular, almost like a man-made arch. There were oaks and rowans, whose branches overhung the cave casting shadows.

Morgan approached it as if in a dream, a tinge of fear rising. Above the entrance she saw something written, as if an enormous hand had scribbled something above the entrance, but she did not know the meaning.

"What do those words mean?" she asked no one in particular.

"It is magic, Morgan," Dumbledore answered beside her, "You can see the magic in this place, and you shall be able to see it everywhere."

She nodded, as if it she already knew. She stepped forward and entered the cave.

It was larger than it had appeared from outside. Only a couple of paces inside the archway the cave opened out into a vast chamber. It was dark as she made her way slowly forward, straining her eyes, with the beginning of that surge of excitement she had felt outside.

Black tried to follow her, but Dumbledore stopped him, "Let her go by herself Sirius, you cannot go where she goes."

Black looked at Dumbledore's solemn face, searching for a clue of what was about to happen.

"She has to invite us into the cave," he said, his blue eyes twinkling.

The Order members waited outside, and soon they saw her emerge from the entrance.

"Come with me."

Dumbledore and Snape were the first to enter; Morgan went to Dumbledore, placing a hand in his, "I know this place - why?"

"That is a question only you can answer, my dear; if you do not know yet, then soon the answer will come to you."

"I'm afraid."

"We all are, mostly of things we do not understand. The answers will soon reach you, now lead us."

She nodded and continued making her way inside, as they all lit their wands illuminating the dark cave.

Black sullenly stared at Snape as he had positioned himself at her left elbow. Lupin ignored his sulking friend, and glanced around wondering what awaited them deeper inside.

Morgan stopped short, feeling the pure excitement oozing out her body. Something had moved in the dark just ahead of them.

She froze, straining her eyes to see. There was no movement. She held her breath, listening. There was no sound. She flared her nostrils, testing the air cautiously round her. There was no smell, animal or human; the cave smelt, she thought, of smoke, damp rock and earth, and of a queer musty scent she couldn't identify.

She knew without putting it into words, that if there were any other creatures near them, the air would have felt different, less empty. There was no one there.

Dumbledore brushed her arm and motioned her ahead, "You will get used to that. It will take time my dear, your senses are awakening."

"How do you..."

"We are only guessing when it comes to you, but in time we shall know your capabilities. Now go with Sirius; Severus and I will go ahead."

Black was already at her side, linking his arm in hers, and as they walked, all she could feel was a dazzling detachment, as if she were stepping off a rollercoaster.

Snape, however, was feeling uneasy; his face was ashen. Dumbledore had never seen him so pale.

"Headmaster, may I speak?"

"Certainly, Severus."

"Are you certain we should unleash whatever is inside the cave?"

"No."

Snape jerked his head towards Dumbledore and raised an inky brow. Dumbledore had a kind smile over his lips, his crooked nose, so much like his, looked prominent and long as he continued staring forward.

"But you are eager to continue. What if we cannot control her?"

"Severus, she is not to be controlled."

Snape grimaced, "What? Not to be controlled? Headmaster, she must be controlled, for she could be turned against us, or worse, taken by the Dark Lord."

"I doubt Voldemort would be able to do so; but if it should occur, you will be beside her."

Snape stared at him in disbelief. Had he heard him correctly?

"What do you mean?"

"You will be by her side to protect her."

"By the Snake! Have I not enough to do looking after your precious Potter!"

Dumbledore shook his head, his long beard shinning from the faint light coming from his wand.

"Severus, it is not like that."

"Then how is it, Headmaster? I believe I am the Potions master at this school -- not an official babysitter." He was positively snarling now, he knew, but he could not help it. His patience - already worn thin, was now completely gone.

"Severus, it is not a matter of babysitting as you so delicately put it; it is a matter of importance, because of the circumstances. They both are in grave danger, and we must protect them."

"What about me?" he hissed, unable to contain his fury. If he weren't careful, he'd be screaming soon.

"Severus, shall I explain this matter to you, again?" This time, Dumbledore had a slight frown between his eyebrows.

"Please, Headmaster," he requested resentfully, "do explain it to me, again. I am afraid my comprehension, after so many sessions with the Dark Lord, is no longer at its peak - enlighten me once more."

"There is no need for sarcasm, Severus."

Snape remained silent, trying to control his rage, but it was too strong.

"Tell me."

"You know I care about you, Severus, do you not?"

"That is what you always say, but that, is of no matter. What I want to know is if you are thinking about my reasons for being here."

Dumbledore turned his head and bored his sparkling blue eyes into the man he had loved as a son, even before he had entered his office more than fourteen years ago, broken, nearly lost.

"Have you forgotten what I've told you?"

Snape stare sullenly, his cold eyes narrowing. He seemed deep in concentration, but Dumbledore knew he was mastering his anger. Anger was one of Snape's many demons; it blocked out his understanding of true emotion. He existed in a world of violent, fierce passions -- a world of all or nothing.

Dumbledore shook his head once more; he feared Snape would never understand the world around him. He was running out of time; it seemed whenever he tried to get closer to Snape, something -- or someone - appeared before him, needing his attention. Sirius once, then Harry, and now Morgan.

"No, Headmaster I have not, and that is why I cannot comprehend why you are doing this so carelessly." Snape's voice was calm, but his every word was laced with carefully concealed anger.

"I am not careless; I am merely attending to matters as they arise. Often, planning is not the wisest course of action." Dumbledore attempted a twinkling smile.

Snape's face darkened even more. The man's lack of care and planning was one of many things Snape had always hated about Dumbledore. Then again, Dumbledore was a liar - a self-indulgent liar.

Dumbledore appeared - to anyone that cared enough to listen to his foolish remarks, to be a charming old eccentric; when deep inside he was the most "Slytherin" Gryffindor Snape had ever had the misfortune to meet.

Ahead of them, the cave narrowed into a damp passage; then it widened and they heard the sound of water. Moisture oozed from cracks on the walls around them. They were underneath the lake.

Massive stalagmites surrounded them. Morgan slipped on the wet surface, clinging to Sirius, who smiled, and placed an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

There were four entrances around the cave; only one Morgan noted bore writing above it. "The second to the left," she said in answer to Dumbledore's inquiring look.

The silent group walked toward the dark entrance. Snape aimed his wand and whispered, "Lumos Maxima".

There was a spark of light, and they saw, illuminated for a few seconds, a narrow corridor leading to a door.

"I believe Miss Stone must enter first," Snape disclosed, moving aside.

Morgan stepped forward, and as she did so, the corridor illuminated. A blue flame lit over dragonheads lining the walls.

"Come with me," she whispered, extending her hand without looking. She felt cold, thin fingers wrapping around her hand, as Snape stepped forward. She had no other choice but to guide him as they strolled down the corridor until toward the door.

She had not intended for him to come; she had only said it to make them follow her inside, but Snape must have misinterpreted her meaning. What Morgan didn't know was that Dumbledore had been actually next to her, but he had quickly motioned Snape forward, insisting that he take her offered hand.

Snape felt his hand- and arm, heating up; it was like touching a flaming torch. His skin tingled with warmth.

They gazed at the enormous door, so large it nearly touched the ceiling. It was as if it had been carved from the hard white walls; there were a couple of twisting dragons upon it, and two large dragon statues flanked the entrance.

"What am I supposed to do now?"

"Touch the door," Snape suggested sarcastically, "it is how you opened the gate at Hogwarts."

She nodded, and the moment her fingertips touched the dragons carved on the door, they opened their gleaming red eyes and began to move. She recoiled with a mixture of awe and fright and quickly grabbed Snape's right arm.

As they watched, an iron door emerged from the rock. The dragons standing on either side of the door lifted their heads, and blue flames burst from their open mouths illuminating the entrance.

There was no doorknob, so she didn't know how to open it. There was nothing written above it, so she had no idea what to do.

"There is one thing," Snape said quietly beside her, "the manuscripts describe the spell by which Slytherin was able to finally enter the cave." Then he uttered slowly, "Carus Draconigenus expergefacio Caliburn innovo."

"Should I repeat that mouthful?"

"After me, and do try to pronounce it well," he said, glaring at her, "Carus Draconigenus expergefacio Caliburn innovo."

She took a breath and said it as clearly as she could, "Carus Draconigenus expergefacio Caliburn innovo."

The dragons stopped moving; the iron door clicked open, revealing only darkness inside. She fearfully raised her eyes to Snape, and nearly gasped in surprise.

The blue flames coming from the dragon's mouths illuminated both of them with such clarity that she could see his eyes with every detail. They were not black, but an entrancing violet shade. He moved his eyes from the door to her, and she marvelled as they changed from that deep violet back to nearly black.

"You shall go inside alone."

Morgan tore her eyes from him and gazed at the darkness before her. Should she go inside? Should she unleash whatever was inside the crystal cave?

Taking a deep breath, she let go of Snape's arm and stepped forward into the darkness. Morgan heard the door closing behind her. Alone, she trembled and waited...

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But I did not see myself reborn in Avalon. According to the Druid teachings, there are some whose holiness is such that when death releases them from the body they go forever beyond the circles of the world. I do not think that I am such a shining soul. Perhaps, if the Goddess is merciful, She will allow my spirit to watch over my children until it is needful for me to live in the flesh once more.

And when I do, it may be that the Son of the Thousand Kings, The Draconigenus and The Merlin will also come again. Will we know each other? I wonder. Perhaps not, but I think we will carry into those new lives some memory of our former love. Perhaps it will be my time to teach and theirs to learn. But as for the Son of the Thousand Kings will always be the Sacred King, the Dark One will also come and darkness shall always follow him.

Lady of Avalon - Wisewoman, A.D. 96-118.

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