Companions of the White Warlock

Smoke Year VII - Companions of the White Warlock Chapter V Sunday, July 13, 1997

The eleven selected were standing in the kitchen of Burrow just after 10:00 in the morning. Despite some badgering, Hermione had refused to say anything about what might be expected. No one had thought to press Russell for any information.

Hermione and Russell were the first two to disappear. They were only slightly surprised to see they were in the back garden of the Potter cottage near Godric's Hollow.

Harry did not even pause to greet them. "I am the White Warlock," he said in a slightly weary voice. It was clear that his being the Chosen One in yet another sense didn't please him. "When everyone who is coming arrives, could you please explain to them what that means? I'll come back out then."

When Harry started to turn, Hermione asked, "Why are we meeting out here?"

Harry simply smiled. "If Hagrid comes, he won't fit inside, will he?"

When Harry came back out at 10:35, Fawkes on his shoulder, he was pleased to see all eleven of the people he had asked to come had done just that. Then, he was shocked as all of the eleven bowed and then knelt on the grass before him.

"What are you doing?" Harry demanded, aghast. The sight of his friends bowing and kneeling to him made him sick to his stomach. The sight of the serious looks on Fred and George also competed with sickening him with the slight looks of fear and awe he saw in some of them.

"You are The One," Remus said. "The Leader of Light Magic."

Harry stomped his foot. "No! No, I won't have it! I am Harry Potter! I may have been picked by fate or Higher Magic or some other damn fool thing to do this, but I am NOT better than anyone else! I might have to put up with this nonsense from other people, but I will NOT be treated this way by any of you! You should all know better! Some of you know me too well to treat me like this! Please," Harry begged, "get up."

Harry was glad to see that they all did as he asked, Hagrid perhaps the most reluctant of the group. "Like I said, this sort of thing might be useful politically, at least at first, but please, don't treat me like this, especially in private."

"Do you mean you want us to keep you from getting a swollen head?" Fred asked.

"Or are the rest of us supposed to be your jesters, like those two?" Ginny asked.

"The first," Harry said. "One thing I'm supposed to do is pick twelve people to act as my council and as my paladins. I'm asking you eleven if you would like to be considered."

"Considered?" Ginny asked.

"Yes. I can't just . . . anoint you or something."

"You . . . you can't be serious," Hagrid said, shocked. "Me? A Companion of a White Warlock?"

Harry smiled and came down the stairs of the back porch. He took Hagrid by the sleeve and led him around the corner so they could have some privacy. "Yes, you," Harry said. "You can't always keep a secret, but you're a loyal friend. In addition, you're knowledgeable about sentient beings and, to be honest, you and Grawp might be needed as envoys. I don't know if being a Companion would matter to the giants. . . ."

"Probably not," Hagrid said.

". . . . but it might help with wizarding authorities."

"Tha's true, tha' is," Hagrid agreed. "Are you sure, Harry, I mean my L. . . ."

"Don't you dare call me anything but Harry," Harry said. "You'll do it?"

"I'd do jus' about anythin' fer you, Harry," Hagrid said.

"Then would you get yourself a new wand, and get some tutoring?" Harry asked.

Hagrid sighed. "Aye, it's time. Dumbledore was after me since You-Know-Who came back. He got me permission and everythin'. I should have last year."

"Hagrid, call him Tom or Riddle if you don't want to use his title," Harry urged.

"I'll try," Hagrid said. "Now, when shall I take my Oath to you?"

"Why not now?" Harry asked.

"You wan' me to be the first?" Hagrid said, amazed. Each Companion would have to make an individual Oath to Harry. "But. . . ."

"You introduced me to the magical world, Hagrid. You saved me. You should be first."

Hagrid got down on one knee and took Harry's right hand between his massive ones, and swore his Oath. Fawkes sang a short song of triumph. "Go wait over by the back porch," Harry said. "Send them around to this side one at a time: Hermione, Remus, Fred and George together, Tonks, Prof Russell, Neville, Luna, and Ginny."

"Right you are, sir, I mean, Harry," Hagrid said. "But wha' about Ron?"

"He's coming with me next," Harry said. He walked back with Hagrid, took Ron by the arm and walked him around the corner. "Are you alright?" Harry asked.

"I'm . . . I'm not entirely sure," Ron admitted. "I never suspected that you might be the next Merlin."

Harry winced. "You should know that whatever I am, I'll never be a Merlin, or even a Gryffindor." He looked Ron in the eye. "You don't have to do this, Ron. I'll understand, and you'll always be my friend."

Ron shook his head. "I'm not giving up on you now, Harry."

"If you swear the Oath, your main job after today will be to make sure I don't get a big head."

Ron smiled. "I'll do my best."

After he took the Oath, Ron was replaced by Hermione. She came close to Harry, and just stared at her friend.

"What?" Harry asked.

"When Professor Russell mentioned this could happen, I didn't think much about it," she said. "Then I did a little research. . . ."

"Of course you did," Harry teased with a smile.

"Harry, do you have any idea how big this is?" Hermione demanded.

"I didn't at first, but I do now," Harry said firmly.

"Oh . . . of course."

"Hermione, I need for you to treat me just like you always have," Harry said. "I didn't suddenly become all-knowing or all-powerful, let alone any wiser than I was last month. I'm a tiny bit more powerful, a little more knowledgeable about myself and magic, and much more in control of the magic I do have, and that's pretty much it."

"Are you sure you want me?"

Harry gave her a dirty look. "Don't be daft."

"What position do I serve? I mean, the stories say that you are led to eight and you pick four. . . ."

"I know, you told me," Harry said. "I'm not going to say. That way, no one will look at someone and wonder, 'if anyone is going to betray Harry, it will be that one'. That could become a self-fulfilling prediction, and I won't have it. That's why I'm doing all twelve today."

"But there were only eleven. . . ."

"Trust me," Harry said with an evil grin.

"I do, Harry," Hermione said seriously. "I do, with all my heart. I would be honored to take the Oath to you."

"And you honor me by doing it," Harry said.

"Are you certain you want a werewolf on your Council?" Remus asked.

"Yes," Harry said firmly. "Leaving aside all the other reasons why I'm asking you, which are the real reasons of course, having a werewolf, a half-giant, and a Muggle-born should say something to the wizarding world."

"Good point," Remus admitted.

"Remus, I need you."

Remus knelt down in front of Harry. "I have failed you in many ways since your parents were murdered. I will not fail you again."

Fred and George were unnaturally serious as they came around the corner. "Harry," George asked, "why would you want a pair of jokers as Councillors?"

"And as Paladins," Fred added.

"And Companions. Well, I guess I can see why you'd want us as companions of a sort. . . ."

"I mean, we can keep you from getting a big head by pranking you, but somehow we don't think that would be a good image for a White Warlock," Fred agreed.

"I also need at least one fabricator, and with you two, I get two of the best," Harry said. "You don't have to do this, and you don't both have to do this."

"I'll do it," George said.

"And we come as a package deal, you know that," Fred said.

"It's up to you."

Fred and George looked at each other, and then smiled. "You got us!" they chorused.

Tonks peeked around the corner before walking over to Harry warily.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"This is all rather . . . unbelievable and fantastic," she said.

"My whole life has been rather unbelievable, and I've been living through it," Harry said a little sourly.

"Good point," Tonks agreed. "Why me, Harry?"

"Why not?" Harry returned. "I need people I can trust. I can trust you. I need people I care about and who care about me, and that includes you. I need someone who can help train me in auror combat skills, and that meant either you or Moody, and while I'm sure he'd hate my saying so, he is pretty old and battered. Professor Russell is needed, and I didn't want more than one older person in the group. So, you again, and you're usually a lot prettier than Moody."

Tonks giggled slightly at that, mostly from nerves.

"And I need Remus, and Remus needs you," Harry added frankly. "This should help the two of you be together."

"Oh, you're going to open a business after the war, are you? White Warlock Matchmaking?"

"And that's another thing," Harry said, "I don't need people around me who are too reverent."

"And that's me," Tonks admitted.

"Between you, Fred and George, Luna, and Ron, that should be taken care of," Harry agreed.

"Not Remus?" Tonks asked.

"Maybe after a while," Harry agreed. "So, will you do this?"

Tonks' lime-green spiked hair relaxed into medium-long, straight, mousey-brown, and she seemed to shrink slightly as well. "I am proud to serve you," she said, getting down on one knee to take the Oath.

"You will have to give one more thing up," Harry reminded her.

"This is more important than being an auror," Tonks said, "even if it doesn't pay well."

"I might be able to come up with something," Harry said with a slight smile.

"Hermione tells me you expected this," Harry said.

"It was an off-hand remark to her at first," Russell admitted, "and then Albus and I had a talk about it. I have to say that this is a good thing for us, but probably not for you."

"Yeah, that pretty well sums things up," Harry agreed.

"I don't know what you know now," Russell admitted. "Is there anything I can answer for you?"

"Not right now," Harry said after a moment's thought.

"Could you answer something for me?" Russell asked.

"Well," Harry said wrily, "you can ask."

"I see. You might be able to answer this. Why me?"

"That seems a pretty common question today," Harry admitted. "I feel the need of an older, more informed person, who can help me along this new path. Two months ago, it would have been Dumbledore. Remus doesn't have quite enough experience, so it had to be either you, Alastor Moody, or Professor McGonagall. You seemed to be the better choice."

"Fair enough," Russell said. "I would be proud to serve as your Councillor, my lord."

"A Councillor, and I would imagine you would stay the Order's intelligence officer. But please, don't call me 'lord'," Harry said. "It reminds me of Voldemort, and Remus said there were no magical titles like princes."

"That's true, in that there are no hereditary titles, like duke or baron, let alone king," Russell said. "Lord and prince are different, or at least they can be. In medieval practice, any wizard with at least twelve sworn followers was a lord, so you will soon be one. No doubt Voldemort got twelve sworn followers before he left Hogwarts."

"No doubt," Harry said, "but. . . ."

"Excuse me, my lord," Russell said, which made Harry wince, "even if none of us ever calls you that in private again, it would be useful for others to call you by the title, especially while you're so young."

"Make them respect the position, if not me?" Harry asked distastefully.

"Frankly, yes," Russell said. "Now, do you still want me?"

"Yes, Prof, I do," Harry said.

Neville came around the corner, bowed slightly to Harry, and then knelt before him.

"No questions or comments, Neville?" Harry asked, surprised.

"No," Neville said simply. "I decided you were the wizard to follow a long time ago, my . . . Harry. All this does is confirm that I was right. If you weren't the person you are, I wouldn't follow you, let alone take an oath to you, White Warlock or no White Warlock. In the six years I've known you, you've only disappointed me once."

"And when was that?" Harry asked, curious.

"When you decided not to keep the DA open last year," Neville said simply.

"Looking back, that was a big mistake," Harry acknowledged. "It would have been really useful during the fight in June. Now you have the responsibility of telling me I'm wrong until one of us convinces the other."

"I can do that," Neville replied with a smile.

"I think you and Ginny will have to set up something similar to the DA next year and run it," Harry said.

"I'd like to do that," Neville said seriously. "It was good for me, and I'm sure it would be for others, too."

Luna came around the corner much like Neville had. There was certainty in her movement that had largely been missing the year before. "No questions?" Harry asked as she knelt before him.

"Did it hurt, H . . . you do want us to still call you 'Harry', don't you?"

"Please, keep calling me Harry, and no, it didn't really hurt." Harry frowned. "I did seem to absorb a fair amount of information, and that gave me a slight headache for a few hours, but that was it."

"Good. Then I'm ready to follow you." She looked a little nervous. "This won't hurt, either, will it?"

"Not a bit," Harry assured her. "You will have to work hard, maybe harder than anyone other than the Prof and Hermione."

"Doing what?"

"Besides the work you were going to do at Hogwarts, I managed to partially lift the restrictive charms on Dumbledore's notes. You should be able to read most of them, but I can't seem to get them to release to anyone else."

"That is odd," Luna said. "Anything else?"

"Your other main assignment will be as Hermione's researcher. You'll have access to the Hogwarts library and the books at Headquarters, and Hermione will be out in the field a lot."

"Thank you for trusting me, Harry. You mean a lot to me."

Harry smiled back. "You mean a lot to me, too."

"Here I am, the last," Ginny said nervously.

"The next to last, actually," Harry said. "When I saw you earlier, you seemed nervous, and even a little frightened. Did I misread you?"

"You can read us now?"

"I seem to have become a Legilimens, but I have no idea if I'm all that good a one yet," Harry admitted.

"Oh." Ginny swallowed. "I have something to confess, then, and I'll understand if you think it means you can't trust me."

"Alright."

Ginny took a deep breath, and confessed, "You know that crush I used to have?"

Harry merely nodded at the obvious question.

"Right. Well, I wasn't totally over you last summer, you know." Harry nodded again. "So, I brewed this love potion my mother invented." Ginny dropped her eyes so she wouldn't have to see Harry looking at her. "It's different than what hit Ron. Mum's love potion doesn't really cause infatuation, it enhances whatever the, well, the subject actually feels for the brewer. Mum apparently found out that a number of boys lusted after her, but I don't want to get into that!"

"I don't want to hear that, either!" Harry said fervently.

"Well, anyway, I brewed it. I was going to give it to you last July at the Burrow, but then, well, I just couldn't go through with it."

"So. . . ."

"Wait!" Ginny insisted. "I had it poured out in a glass. It's clear and tasteless, if a bit oily. I poured it down the sink and was rinsing out the glass. . . ."

"When I came in and thanked you for the glass of water," Harry said, remembering.

"I don't think it affected you," Ginny said. "I mean, Hermione has said you can resist the Imperius, and I know you resisted Fleur's Veela magic a lot better than most boys, but I don't think it would have taken six months to work. But, it might have. . . ."

"It might have," Harry acknowledged, "but I don't think so, either."

"Don't get me wrong," Ginny said, "I enjoyed being with you, and you're a great kisser, but I also felt a little guilty the whole time we dated. I care for you, Harry, but I don't know if I can ever date you, and that was how I felt before this morning. Now, with all this. . . ." She gestured helplessly.

"Don't do this if you don't want to," Harry said. "We're friends, and we'll always be friends. Don't do this because you feel you should, or because you think you owe me anything, or because you feel guilty about the potion, or anything like that."

"I'm doing it because it's the right thing to do," Ginny said.

Harry and Ginny came around the corner together. Ginny went over to stand with the others. As she did so, Harry said, "Thank you for honoring me by joining with me. I need one more person, a person whose job it will be to look after me, nag at me to eat my veggies, and to do the same for all of you, and offer his unique insight into the world at the same time. In a sense, some of you already proclaim my belief, hopefully all our beliefs, in the basic equality of sentients. To underscore all that, for the last member of the Council of this White Warlock, I call Dobby. Dobby, please come here!"

A very shocked Dobby appeared before the nearly as shocked Council. "Mister Harry. . . ." Dobby pleaded fearfully.

"You don't have to do this, Dobby," Harry said gently. "If you do, every bigot in the wizarding world will hate you. If you do this, you will be a symbol for all sentients, not just elves, but goblins, centaurs, merpeople, and others."

Dobby stood straight, although his knees were still shaking a bit. "Dobby will do this," Dobby said.

"When Dobby takes the Oath, the Council will be complete," Harry said. "This house will be our headquarters, and none will be able to approach within half a mile of it, save for the thirteen of us and Sandy unless I give them permission. It will also seal all your oaths, and you may not go back on them. Is there anyone who wishes to change their mind? This is your last chance."

There was a pause, then Neville said, "We're all with you."

And with that, the first European White Warlock in nearly half a millennium came to his full power.