The Labyrinth of Amagor

The Labyrinth of Amagor

Chapter 14: "Love is the road that leads to hope."

Deep in the safety of his sanctum, Lord Voldemort bowed before the hideous idol with its octopus head and dragon wings. He chanted, "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn."

With the ritual concluded, Voldemort turned away from the altar. In truth, he knew little, and cared less, about the creature to whom he had just made sacrifice, but power was power, and if this Great Cthulhu could bring him more, he would gladly feed the beast's ego.

At his gesture, Bellatrix resumed her robe; it was not required that she perform the ritual nude, but Voldemort enjoyed the sight of her voluptuous body, and saw no reason to deny himself such pleasures. They left the temple, heading for Voldemort's private study, passing the rooms where mistreated house-elves, bound Dementors, and those Death Eaters who were forced to hide from the Aurors and the Order of the Phoenix passed their time working at various tasks or awaiting commands from their Dark Lord.

It was the second day after Voldemort's failure to obtain the Talisman of Life Unending, and he and his people had not been idle. The most cursory examination pf the Keep had shown that the Talisman was buried under tons of rubble. It might be possible to disinter it, but not without attracting unwanted attention. Even if the Talisman could be reached, the sphere of radiation that imprisoned it was still intact, and after his encounter with the green ogre, Voldemort was not prepared to bring Bruce Banner into close proximity again!

Voldemort needed to know more about Mutants and other Muggles who had, or claimed to have, superhuman abilities. On the desk in his study, a number of files awaited his perusal, files with titles that intrigued and puzzled the dark wizard: "Weapon X Project", "Alpha Flight", "Avengers Charter", "Enquiry into Costumed Vigilantes" and most interestingly "Mutants - the Next Step in Human Evolution?" by a Dr Jean Grey. Using both physical and magical means to gather this information, Narcissa Malfoy had been most helpful. That woman is a little too clever, mused Voldemort. I must contrive either to free her husband or initiate her son if I am to control her.

Voldemort and Bellatrix reached the great, iron-bound door of the study and passed through, Bellatrix pausing to close the forbidding portal behind them. Voldemort advanced halfway into the room, his thoughts elsewhere, before he noticed that someone was seated in the heavy, ornate chair behind his desk. Before he could react, he heard a choked gasp behind him. He spun to see Bellatrix slide to the floor, revealing her attacker - who was Bellatrix!

Thunderstruck, Voldemort could only watch as the woman opened the door again, and spoke imperiously to the guards outside, "See that we are not disturbed for any reason!" She closed the door, and then walked boldly past him with a slight smile, to perch elegantly on the edge of the desk.

The shadowy figure in the chair asked in oddly accented English, "What of the other woman, Raven?"

"Don't worry, Erik, that shot will keep her out for hours!" As she spoke, the woman's shape flowed and changed. She grew taller and slimmer. Bellatrix's elaborate, dark robe became a simple, white dress. The woman now confronting Voldemort was exquisitely beautiful, with a fall of long, dark red hair, but her skin was a deep indigo blue, and her eyes were yellow as a cat's. The man leaned forward, revealing an age-marked, but still handsome face, crowned with a vigorous growth of snowy hair and dominated by a pair of ice-blue eyes.

He spoke again. "No doubt, Lord Voldemort"--he compressed a dozen levels of contempt into the title--"you are wondering who and what we are?"

"No need!" snarled Voldemort. "You will tell me everything in a few seconds!" He started forward, raising his wand, and the stranger lifted a hand. Agony blazed through the Dark Lord. Voldemort dropped his wand; he could not move. His blood was on fire as it coursed through his veins.

The woman stepped forward, picked up the wand, and placed it on the desk in front of the stranger before resuming her perch. The pain ended as suddenly as it began, and Voldemort sagged.

The man began to speak again. "Are you such a fool, Mr Riddle? You imagine your pathetic conjuring tricks are a match for one who can control the very iron in your blood? Perhaps your ignorance excuses you. Very well, my name is Erik Lensherr. I am known, and feared, by the Muggle world as Magneto. My associate is Raven Darkholme, who prefers the nom de guerre Mystique. We are Mutants, Riddle, neither Muggles nor wizards, but the future of the human race!"

"So," Voldemort said bitterly, "Dumbledore sends his freakish allies after me rather than facing me himself."

Magneto shook his head. "I do not come on behalf of Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort. Your feud with him is as meaningless to me as my duel with Charles Xavier is to you.

"It may surprise you to learn that I knew of your Wizarding world long before my old friend and adversary Charles did. My beloved wife, my Magda--" he paused a moment and Mystique reached out and placed a hand gently on his forearm. Magneto collected himself. "Magda was of your world, a graduate of your Durmstrang Academy. Our daughter inherited some of her talent, but our son did not.

"She is gone now, but we had friends in your world, friends who know me simply as the Muggle husband of a schoolmate who died tragically young. From them I learned of Lord Voldemort, of his fall, his re-emergence--and of the youth who dogs his destiny, this Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived - now Hawk of the X-Men.

"I knew when the Potter boy arrived at Xavier's school, and followed his exploits with some amusement and admiration. I am also aware of what occurred two days ago in Scotland. It is for this reason I decided to pay you this 'courtesy call'."

Voldemort's eyes narrowed. "You are an enemy of Xavier, this new ally of Dumbledore? Have you come here to offer me an alliance? You have power, Lensherr. We could achieve much together."

Magneto gave a short laugh. "You are too eager, Voldemort. Why should I ally myself with you? To what end and purpose?" Shaking his head, Magneto added, "Charles Xavier and this Dumbledore are friends and colleagues, but they are not allies. They agreed that neither would intervene in the affairs of the other's world except on strictly humanitarian grounds."

Voldemort snorted. "So attacking my followers was a humanitarian gesture, then?"

"An altruistic one, certainly, and typical of Cyclops," Magneto allowed. "Just as Rogue's insistence on following Potter into your Labyrinth was an act of simple friendship.

"It is ironic that the X-Men came to Scotland because you so stupidly had Banner kidnapped. The existence of Banner's brutal and powerful alter ego is no secret, though neither is it widely known. A little research on your part would have revealed the peril in which you had placed yourself and everyone in this country.

"But I did not travel here to educate you." Magneto rose to his feet and came round the table. Despite his age, he was a powerfully built man, a stark contrast to the emaciated Dark Lord.

"Tom Riddle," he said in a quiet, deadly tone, "your plans for the Wizarding world are less than nothing to me. You may do as you please with your fellow enchanters. Any further plans you may have for what you call the Muggle world are also no concern of mine, for now.

"But any act of yours or your lackeys that seems to threaten Mutantkind, I will take as a direct affront. Annoy me, and I will destroy you! Know this also: Charles Xavier is a man of peace, but if threatened, he will fight, and he could crush your mind as easily as I could your body. Leave the Mutant world to Charles and me, Lord Voldemort, or suffer the consequences."

Magneto said to his companion, "Let us leave, Mystique."

The woman moved to one of the windows and opened it, then operated a little device she produced from a pouch at her waist. A door opened in the empty air, and a ramp extended from it into the room. The two Mutants turned away from Voldemort, who darted forward, grabbing for his wand. Magneto gave a negligent wave, and the dark wizard was hurled across the room to lie stunned beside the inert form of Bellatrix.

Inside their cloaked aircraft, Erik Lensherr seated himself in the luxurious passenger cabin. "Take us home, Raven."

"Straight away, Erik. I'll bring you some tea when I've set the auto-pilot."

Magneto leaned back and closed his eyes, then felt an all-too-familiar mental presence.

That was typically reckless of you, Erik, chided Charles Xavier.

Reckless? No. But it was necessary, Charles. That man is mad enough to threaten us all!

Erik, there are only a handful of Mutants powerful enough to defeat Voldemort.

Ah, but Charles, Voldemort does not know that.

Let us hope he remains unenlightened, Erik.

***

Xavier opened his eyes to the world around him in time to hear Ron and Peter count: "One, two, three!"

With an indignant squawk, Hermione, clad in a tiny yellow and black bikini, soared gracelessly into the air, then plunged into the pool with a splash that was surprising, considering her size. Charles chuckled and shook his head; the ladies were not having a good day.

It had started when Ginny, by ancient tradition, had been seized and bounced vigorously up and down sixteen times. Then, by way of a finishing touch, Harry and Ron had lofted her into the pool. In the spirit of fairness, Ron and Peter had thrown Harry in after her.

But, after that, the battle of the sexes took a new twist: Any girl injudicious enough to make a remark about her boyfriend's shortcomings discovered that only a whistle was needed to fetch the two brawniest young men nearby. The result was inevitably a 'leg and a wing' into the pool for the unfortunate young woman! Some learned quicker than others - this was Hermione's third dunking.

It was a glorious day, and the pool Arthur and Bill had created was the centre of a good deal of spirited hijinks--not only among the teenagers. Bill Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks, Alex Summers and Lorna Dane were playing and clowning as vigorously as anyone. So, to Xavier's surprise and deep delight, was Scott, egged on by the stunning Fleur Delacour.

The older people were not immune to the feelings of the day. The corner occupied by Remus Lupin, Hank McCoy and Kurt Wagner was less physically active, but rang with a good deal of laughter. True, Wolverine, Snape, Sean and Moody had headed off to the village, promising to return in time for tea. But the rest had seated themselves comfortably, and were enjoying the chance to chat without danger or looming threat.

Despite the atmosphere of indolent leisure, important things had happened. As soon as the X-Men's aircraft had touched down near The Burrow, the first three people out of it had been Storm, Cyclops and Dazzler. Not surprisingly, the first three people awaiting them had been Sirius, Fleur and Seamus. Fleur had drawn Scott away in one direction; Seamus had pulled Ali off in another. Ororo had simply flung her arms around Sirius' neck and whispered a single word in his ear; he had replied by kissing her for a long time.

Scott and Fleur had kissed and held each other, the young Frenchwoman ecstatic to realise that she had not been simply the passion of a night to this man. He had spoken to her seriously. "Fleur, I want - I need - to be with you. But I can't leave Charles and the X-Men. It's more than duty-- they're my family! So, how are we going to manage this?"

"Oh, mon amour, nothing could be simpler!" she said happily. "'Ere, take zese!" She handed him a small, elegant mirror and a silvery key. "Look in ze mirror and call my name. Eet weel be like your fellytone machine. Zen we speak and make ze date. When you are ready, 'old ze key and think of me, and you arrive at my apartement in London! C'est tres facile, n'est-ce-pas?"

Scott tucked the precious objects away safely, then took the girl in his arms. "Je t'aime, Fleur," he breathed.

"I love you too, Scott!" she confessed. "Et maintenant, cheri, we enjoy this beautiful day, yes?"

Seamus had similar gifts for Alison, and after the inevitable expressions of delight and affection, was struck by a question. "Now, there's a thing: Why in the world did Harry and Kitty split up, when Harry could have done all this as easily as I did?"

Alison chuckled and shook her head. "Don't know much about women, do you, lover? Kitty was shy, withdrawn and hurting when Harry came into her life, and so was he, but there was a spark between them. Maybe they saw kindred spirits in each other. Who knows? Harry being so goddamned hot couldn't hurt, either.

"But when they came out of their cocoons, they were different people. Kitty's still vulnerable in a lot of ways. Harry? He's an edgy, dangerous kind of guy under that mild-mannered wizard disguise. Right now, Kitty wants safe--she needs safe--and they don't come safer than Petey!

"Also, once Harry got into it with Kitty, he must have realized how he felt about Ginny. He loved her first, I'll bet. He just didn't know how to tell her."

Light dawned, and Seamus nodded. "So when Harry had to leave Xavier's..."

"He and Kitty split up, not because they couldn't be together-after all, honey, a little thing like an ocean can't stop us! No, it was time for them to move on," Alison concluded.

***

This was a day of days for Sirius. It had begun early, with Remus bursting into Sirius' room at Grimmauld Place brandishing the early edition of the Daily Prophet. The banner headlines screamed BLACK EXONERATED! The Wizengamot had worked fast, it seemed, but Dumbledore had told him today that there had already been doubts about his conviction - doubts raised in part by testimony from Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Remus Lupin concerning Peter Pettigrew's confession four years ago. With Fudge no longer in a position to suppress that testimony, the truth had finally come to light.

Sirius glanced across the pool to where Harry was watching Hermione paddle her way to the side. The lad glanced up and caught his eye, grinned widely, and waved. Sirius had had a long talk with his godson the previous day, and had seen a deep change in him. The last time they had spoken, Harry had been an angry, uncertain boy facing a dark future. Now, though the future was no less threatening, Harry faced it as a level-headed, increasingly confident young man.

There was a lot of James in Harry's looks, Sirius decided, and in his stance and voice, but the eyes and the attitude reminded him more of Lily. James had been reckless, and sometimes a braggart and a bully. Harry was sometimes heedless, but in his commitment to fairness--to doing the right thing--Sirius found more than an echo of Lily. There were other traits, as well. Harry had a down-to-earthiness that was pure Weasley, and a cool competence that Sirius guessed had been learned from that young American, Summers.

Good for you, Harry! thought Sirius. Life's never been easy for you, lad, yet you've made the most of it.

But Sirius could not long keep his thoughts away from the woman at his side. Ororo had raced down the ramp into his arms, and had whispered into his ear the single word, "Yes". It meant so much to both of them. For Ororo, it meant that she had decided to pursue the magical side of her heritage. For Sirius, it meant that he would no longer be alone. For them both, it meant giving their relationship a chance to grow.

Even now, Ororo was listening as Professor McGonagall-in a shocking pink summer dress and a large, straw hat-was explaining how those who came into magic later in life were trained. While she was learning magic, Ororo was going to live at Grimmauld Place; Sirius had promised her that she would have her own rooms. She had laughed and asked "What for?", but they both knew she would need her own space to feel entirely comfortable.

Hermione dragged herself out of the pool and strode over to Ron in full cry. "Ron Weasley! If you think for one moment that you're going to shut me up by throwing me into the pool, you've got another think coming!"

Ron levelled a finger at her and said sternly, "That's what you get for being a naughty girl."

She stopped and stared at him a moment. "You, you, you...!"

Ron gave a bellow of laughter, reached out and lifted her effortlessly off her feet. As she began to rail at him, he pulled her close and covered her mouth with his. For a moment, it looked as if she was going to hit him, then she wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his middle, and returned the kiss at some length.

After a while, Sirius wondered, "How do they do that?"

"It is a well-known fact, Sirius," said McGonagall dryly, "that adolescents have the ability to breathe through their ears."

After some time, Ron surfaced, and told Hermione rather breathlessly, "And that's what you get for being a good girl."

Pink in the face and equally breathless, Hermione replied, "Ohhh kayyy! I'm on best behaviour from now on."

"I should think so," Ron said, adding, "but I'm a bit overheated now, so...."

"Oh, no!" cried Hermione, and hung on tight, burying her face in Ron's neck as he took two long strides, then bounded into the pool.

"Incoming!" yelled Scott, and everyone scattered.

The splash this time was colossal. Even those sitting well back from the pool got a little of it. Only a hastily erected shield allowed Arthur to save the barbecue from being extinguished. The couple shot to the surface with a powerful thrust of Ron's legs, Hermione throwing wet hair out of her face and shrieking with laughter.

***

Ginny was having one of the best birthdays ever. So many friends, old and new, her family, wonderful weather and the boy she loved, all in the same place! Harry had given her a gold locket, decorated with green stones, which held a mirror. When she opened it, she could see his face and talk to him. He had also bought her some nightwear that was very pretty, but not terribly practical. Which is to say, it covered everything, but was so filmy that it hid almost nothing.

She had lots more presents, of course, but two stuck out in her mind. Scott gave her a special gift on behalf of everyone at Xavier's. It was a dufflebag with the word Firebird stencilled on the side. The bag contained a full X-Man uniform adorned like Harry's with Gryffindor lions instead of X-logos. Ginny was now officially a reserve X-Man!

The other had come from Fred and George, a new line from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes--a mood T-shirt. It looked like a plain white T-shirt, and Ginny had donned it over her bikini on the twins' insistence. Later, as he got her present from Scott, he laughed and pointed to her chest. The T-shirt now had a logo that read I'm well chuffed! The garment was enchanted so that the slogan on the front matched the wearer's mood. Ginny took it off after she kissed Harry at one point and the T-shirt reported I'm incredibly randy!

The day went on, hours going by far too fast. Arthur assiduously flipped burgers and hot dogs on demand. There were also crisps, nuts and tortilla chips. There was homemade lemonade, 'Dandelion and Burdock', and the Americans had brought over enough Coke to float a battleship.

Teatime came round, and the four wanderers returned from the pub. There wasn't much tea as such; everyone was too full of burgers. But there was a cake, with sixteen candles, and everyone sang the birthday song while Ginny did her best to blow them all out. This took some doing, as Fred and George had supplied the candles!

As they stood and sat around eating cake, Snape approached Marie. "Miss D'Ancanto, I must admit I am somewhat surprised by your swimming costume."

Marie glanced down at her skimpy, black one-piece. "Do you like it, Professor?"

"It has a certain appeal, or would have to...most men, I daresay. But it does seem to leave a good deal of you exposed. I would have thought it rather risky for you."

"Not a problem, thanks to you, Professor!" Marie smiled brightly at her former Potions master. "Your concoction got Professor McCoy thinking, and he came up with another formula. It's not as good as yours, but I can wear it as a body spray, and it protects me against light or medium contact for quite a while."

"Ingenious," Snape remarked, nodding thoughtfully.

"Yeah, it's great!" Marie said enthusiastically. "I can wear nice clothes like this and act normal, but I still need your potion for prolonged, um, intimate contact."

Snape decided just then that he needed to refresh his drink.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the time came to change for the evening. The men donned polo shirts and trousers. The ladies took rather longer to arrange their attire.

Ginny looked round the crowded room the girls were using to dress. Most choices ran to short and silky, with lots of bare backs and shoulders - it was a hot night. She shook her head. "Better than mortal man deserves!" she declared.

"You're so right," Marie agreed. "Let's go knock 'em dead!"

Ginny laid hold of the door handle, saying, "It's showtime."

Like a flock of butterflies, the girls flitted out into the garden, alighting on the arms of the young men. Xavier, Dumbledore and McGonagall watched the dancing. A few spells had amplified the CD player to provide music.

"Quite remarkable!" said McGonagall after a time. "Have you noticed that they all seem to be happily exchanging dancing partners?"

"It does seem to demonstrate a considerable degree of mutual affection," Xavier observed.

Logan remarked to Arthur, "D'you realize your wife is out there head-banging to Black Sabbath?"

Arthur deftly flipped a burger into a bun and handed it to Wolverine. "Mustard and ketchup over there. As long as it's only her head - nothing there to damage!"

Neville went over to the CD player, and the music stopped. Neville announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, select your partners for a more mature experience!"

The youngsters descended on the adults en masse. Harry and Ginny led Ororo and Sirius onto the dance floor. Dani, eyes alight with mischief, had captured Dumbledore while Roberto drew McGonagall out.

Marie approached Snape, who looked up at her from his seat. "Marie--"

"I know," she interrupted him with a disappointed look, "it wouldn't be proper."

She was about to turn away when Snape rose and offered her his arm. "As I was about to say, Marie, it is some time since I engaged in Terpsichorean activity, but I do have an excellent memory. Shall we?"

Marie beamed and took his arm. He led her to the floor as the strains of Moonlight Serenade rose into the night. Snape permitted himself a small smile as he danced with Marie, leading expertly.

The music became slower and more romantic. People stopped exchanging partners, clinging closer to their chosen ones. The Patil sisters had gained a firm hold on the Weasley twins, and nobody was letting go anytime soon. Luna had been content to dance rather formally with Shiro, and now the two of them sat talking about Japanese culture. Neither of them seemed interested in romance.

Finally, it was time for bed. The older adults were to be accommodated in The Burrow itself. For the younger people, a small village of tents had been set up in the field near the house.

***

Hermione waited alone in the tent she ostensibly shared with Ginny, who had already slipped out to meet with Harry. Ron would be here soon, and warm anticipation flooded through Hermione. For most of her life, she'd seen her body as something to be kept clean and healthy but otherwise ignored. But since Christmas last, the day on which she and Ron had nervously but eagerly given their virginity to each other, that had changed. Ron's earthy, natural sensuality had drawn from her a response that was as passionate as it was surprising - and things kept getting better every time.

A large figure loomed outside the tent. "'Mione?" Ron whispered.

"I'm here, darling," she replied softly. "Come in, quick!"

***

Molly Weasley looked out of her bedroom window. Dark figures were slipping from tent to tent outside. As Arthur came in from the bathroom, she asked him, "Arthur, what d'you think those kids are up to?"

He chuckled. "Same as we would have been at their age, love."

Molly sighed. "I don't know as I approve...." she fretted until her husband cut her short.

"That doesn't sound like the girl who was always ready to slip up to the Boys' Dormitory with me on a quiet afternoon."

Molly couldn't help but laugh. "Honestly, Arthur! I swear, I was a virtuous young girl until you came along and gave me that look."

He came up behind her and put his arms round her. "So it was my fault, was it?"

"Entirely." She realised by the feel of him on her back that he had shed his pyjamas. "Arthur?"

He kissed her neck softly. "Well, why should the kids have all the fun?" he asked reasonably.

"So right!" She turned in his arms, and a moment or two later, her nightdress joined his pyjamas on the floor.

***

Ginny had led Harry into the woods, to a clearing where a little hut stood.

"Bill made this for me years ago," she told him. "I loved playing house back then. I came here yesterday and sorted it out for tonight."

It had taken only a little magic to make the child-sized bed big enough for them both. These two knew each other's bodies, every spot where a touch or a kiss brought pleasure. But this time, when the urge to complete the act came on, they didn't hold back. In this state of high excitement, Harry's mind opened to Ginny's, and he knew exactly what to do and when. At the last moment, when she quivered and cried out in his arms, they both knew that they had pleased each other.

Some time later, Harry slipped out, naked, into the clearing under a half-moon, and looked up at the sky. So much had changed in the last year! He was more skilled, more powerful than he had ever been. The confusion in his mind had given way to clarity and purpose. He had someone to love, someone who loved him, and he had a family and friends. Finally, he had managed to restore Sirius, whom he had thought lost forever.

For the first time, Harry believed that everything was right with the world. He was even more certain when Ginny came out, also nude, to join him, asking, "Knut for your thoughts, Harry?"

"Don't think they're worth that much, love!" He took her in his arms and kissed her, unable to resist her ivory body in the moonlight. She slid her hand down the flat hardness of his belly.

"And in the forest, something stirred," she murmured. "Wasn't twice enough for you?"

"No way!" Harry's strong hand cupped a firm breast. Ginny made a little noise that was something between a moan and a sigh, a sound that was incredibly sexy to Harry.

"Want to go back inside?" she breathed.

"Why? There's only the moon to see us, and I don't suppose she'll be offended."

As they settled to the grass together, Harry knew that things were more than right; they were perfect.

Hope is the destination that we seek.
Love is the road that leads to hope.
Courage is the motor that drives us.
We travel out of darkness into faith.

--The Book of Counted Sorrows

END