Rating:
PG-13
House:
Schnoogle
Ships:
Harry Potter/Luna Lovegood
Characters:
Harry Potter Hermione Granger Luna Lovegood
Genres:
Action Drama
Era:
The Harry Potter at Hogwarts Years
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Order of the Phoenix Half-Blood Prince
Stats:
Published: 08/10/2005
Updated: 01/24/2006
Words: 106,949
Chapters: 33
Hits: 137,035

Companions of the White Warlock

DrT

Story Summary:
Year seven of the HBP-compliant story (on Dark Arts) 'Smoke'. Harry, Hermione, and Ron go after the remaining Horcruxes, aided by Luna, Ginny, Neville, Remus, Tonks, and Professor Russell.

Chapter 25 - 25

Chapter Summary:
Year 7 of the HBP-compliant story (on Dark Arts) 'Smoke'. Harry, Hermione, and Ron go after the remaining Horcruxes, aided by Luna, Ginny, Neville, Remus, Tonks, and Professor Russell.
Posted:
01/12/2006
Hits:
3,128
Author's Note:
Russell's fate is revealed; Harry appeals to Theseus



Smoke Year VII - Companions of the White Warlock
Chapter XXV
Friday, December 12, 1997

Harry sat up in his bed quickly, his wand at the ready. "Who's there!" he called. Luna rolled off the other side of the bed and appeared, wand at the ready, a second later.

"Sorry about that," a voice said.

"Prof?" Harry asked, doubtingly. "Prof!"

"You're a ghost!" Luna supplied.

"Yes," Russell agreed, coming a bit closer, "I had noticed."

"Tell me something only you should know," Harry challenged.

"Be more specific, Harry," the ghost urged. "Voldemort didn't manage to ransack my mind, but you don't know that."

"What was in the drawer you showed me in your private study?"

"That was a drawer of rather obscure Muggle hand weapons. You took a shine to a pair of brass knuckles, although they were actually nickle-plated, and my ninja stars. I hope you've been practicing."

"I have," Harry said, lowering his wand slightly. Luna dropped hers for a moment and wriggled into her dressing gown. "I was afraid you'd been, well. . . ."

"Killed," Russell agreed. "I managed to lure Voldemort into my mind, and I tried to destroy him by killing myself while we were struggling."

"Prof!"

"It almost worked," Russell said wistfully.

"What happened?" Luna asked.

"I was trying to drag him into the afterlife, and he was struggling to hold on to his body. I ended up a ghost; he snapped back into his body." The ghost shrugged. "If he were fully human, it would take him at least two months to become fully functional, more likely three. As it is, he should be pretty disoriented for at least two weeks."

"Good," Harry said. "We hope to attack Valley Dracul on the Twenty-seventh. That is where you ended up, right?"

"It was," Russell agreed, a bit impressed. "Are you still going to Theseus' tonight?"

"Hermione and I are," Harry answered. He glanced at his clock. "She should be back in half an hour. We have a portkey to Marseilles at Eight this morning, and we're meeting our contact at One-thirty."

"What are you doing between Eight and One-thirty?" Russell asked, confused.

"There's a used magical book store Hermione wants to visit, and then we're going for bouillabaisse," Harry admitted.

"Well, you know the best place for it."

"I . . . I'm not certain what to say to a new ghost," Harry admitted. "I am sorry. . . ."

Russell held up his hand. "We'll talk when you come back, Harry. Luna and Remus can debrief me while you're gone." He turned to Luna. "Has the Headmistress filled my job yet?"

"Hermione and I have been filling in. The Headmistress is, or was, looking for a replacement."

"I'll stick around to the end of the year," Russell said. "Then, unless you really need me, I think I'll duck through the Veil at the Ministry. I do not find this sort of existence pleasant."

"Thanks, Prof," Harry said.

"I am your loyal friend," Russell said. He bowed and drifted off through the wall.

Harry turned to Luna. "You and Remus make certain he's not only who he says he is, but that Voldemort doesn't control him in any way."

"We will, although I do not believe he is under any control, other than his own," Luna said.



"This is very good," Hermione said.

"It is," Harry agreed, "I have to admit that fish soup didn't sound very good when I first heard of it."

"I admit, while I could just see you eating bouillabaisse I didn't see you liking snails."

"I like garlic, and they're really good with the pink wine. Those charbroiled oysters were even better."

They ate for a few moments, and then Hermione said, "You aren't going to talk about the Prof with me, are you?"

"Not until we get back, and I hear from Luna and Remus," Harry said simply. "I have to admit, I'm not sure how I feel about his being a ghost. I mean, I'm sorry his body is gone, but. . . ."

"It is a bit confusing," Hermione admitted. "How do you feel about his plan to go through the Veil?"

Harry shrugged and tore off some bread. "I don't know how I feel about that, either. Still, he might change his mind by July."

"True," Hermione agreed.

At that moment, a tall chestnut-haired woman came up to them and leaned over Harry's shoulder, whispering a password. Harry nodded and said, "I remember you from last August." He lowered his voice. "You're the witch from Theseus' villa."

"Very good," she said with a strong German accent. "You may call me Elsa. I hope you won't mind my having some wine and cheese with you?"

"Not at all," Hermione said.

Elsa smiled at Harry. "You're a brave wizard, to bring an attractive witch to Theseus'. He can be a very seductive host."

"Hermione has a mind of her own, and is the most talented witch I know. On the off-chance she can't handle something, well, I wouldn't want Theseus as my enemy, but he doesn't want me as his, either."

After a waitress had given Elsa a wine glass and took their order for a large cheese plate to be delivered while Harry and Hermione finished their meal, Elsa said, "Last August, you were a raw, somewhat callow student. I won't flatter you by saying how much you've grown."

"Harry can easily be underestimated," Hermione remarked.

"Not by me," Elsa said, "and not by Theseus, either. However, some of the girls will be disappointed that your handsome older friend isn't with you."

"Voldemort killed him Tuesday," Harry said. "Well, actually, he's a ghost now."

"I am sorry to hear that," Elsa said with sincerity. "Geena and Noelle will especially be saddened."

"Why is that?" Harry asked.

"Ah . . . a faux pas," Elsa admitted. "I misunderstood what you knew. As you can probably understand, Theseus does little of his own direct recruiting these days. Even the Muggle girls know something of our world. Most of them are happy to come because of Theseus' charisma. However, what leads to their recruitment tends to be one of two things. One group, especially the Squibs, consists of those who hope to meet an interesting wizard who will help them bear a magical child."

"Such as Geena and Noelle?" Hermione suggested.

"Noelle, the child of Squibs, is expecting the Professor's child in the late spring. Geena is a Muggle who had similar plans, but no," Elsa agreed, "as she originally fell into the second, larger group."

"Let me guess," Hermione said drily. "This Theseus has strong contacts with vampires. These other women have vampire fetishes."

"Precisely," Elsa agreed.

"And what would attract a witch?" Hermione asked archly.

"If you mean me, his charisma, and the chance to learn from a powerful master warlock," Elsa replied without embarrassment. "I suggest you withhold judgement until you have met the basileus."

"Is he really?"

"What's a basileus?" Harry asked.

"That's Greek for 'king'," Hermione stated.

"That is Classical Greek for king," Elsa agreed. "However, Theseus' native Greek is centuries earlier, and a different dialect." Hermione flushed slightly. "Shall we have coffee and a sweet, or shall we leave presently?"

"How are we going?" Harry asked, signaling for the bill.

"Theseus keeps a small hostel a few miles from his estate. I have a portkey which will take us there. From there, a carriage will take us the rest of the way."

"Sounds reasonable," Harry said.

"I just hope it has springs, or the magical equivalent," Hermione said. Pre-mid19th century carriages had uncomfortable suspensions.

"The basileus has kept up with technology," Elsa retorted. "He just prefers not to have a motorcar on the estate."



Four hours later, the carriage had deposited the trio at Theseus' estate, and Harry and Hermione were waiting inside Theseus' library.

"Why have you been smirking all afternoon?" Hermione asked as she glanced around the library.

"You and Elsa didn't hit things off very well," Harry merely remarked.

"And why did you find that amusing?"

"Only because I so rarely see you acting like that," Harry assured her.

"Like what?" Harry was saved answering, as Theseus entered at that moment.

Hermione saw a burly man of average height coming to greet Harry, obviously from the Eastern Mediterranean. His eyes, however, were no longer fully human, and the area around the bridge of his nose seemed to Hermione like a character from The Next Generation. There was also something different about his body language, but Hermione wasn't certain if that was an effect of his antiquity or his use of Horcruxes.

Harry introduced the ancient warlock to Hermione, and she felt a frisson of power as he smiled at her. It wasn't Legilimency, she knew. She had learned enough to be sensitive to that touch. No, now she understood what Elsa had meant by Theseus' charisma.

Hermione, however, was with Harry. Her friend, her leader, her lord, and so much more. On top of that, there were her confused feelings for Ron, not to mention a few other people. Between the two, Hermione might feel a thrill, but she would not fall under Theseus' spell.

A slight smile showed her that Theseus understood at least parts of this, and the warlock gestured for them to sit. "I am sorry to hear about John," he said. "However, the fact that you have kept your appointment must mean you have something serious to discuss. I hope it is something I can actually help you with?"

"Meaning?" Harry asked.

"I believe I made things clear, that we were not interested in picking any further fights with Voldemort," Theseus pointed out.

"Did you know that he was allied with the two groups of Walpurgis? the Knights and the Companions, I mean?"

Theseus' eyes went slightly wide for a split second. "Can you prove a true alliance between him and the Companions, which means the group behind the Companions?"

Hermione and Harry had kept their Muggle dress. Hermione therefore pulled a small stack of parchment from a Muggle briefcase. "Absolute proof?" she asked. "Not at this time. We do have strong evidence."

Theseus took the papers and asked, "And what else?"

"You did know that these groups control a place called Valley Dracul?" Harry asked.

"I know it well."

"That's where Voldemort and his Death Eaters are. That's where the Prof fought Voldemort and lost." Harry looked deeply into Theseus' eyes and continued, "We intend to launch an assault on the Twenty-seventh."

"We meaning?"

"Myself and my people, the Order, and the British Ministry. The Ministry is inviting other Ministries, especially from Romania and North America. I invited the vampires through Marcia, and I'm inviting you. I would have thought she might have mentioned it to you."

Theseus sat back. "No, she did not. She did, however, make a hurried trip to the Elders, and said I should expect a visit tonight."

"I don't expect an immediate answer," Harry said, "although I would need one soon."

"And any information you have which would be helpful to us would be very welcome," Hermione added.

Theseus' jaw was set and he was looking deeply into some inner space. Finally, he said, "There are others I need to consult with. I shall send dinner to you. I shall speak with you around dawn." He glanced at the two teens. "Will you have any problems sharing the same suite as before?"

"No," Harry said firmly.

Theseus stood. "I shall send one of the women to take you there."

"Is there any chance I could look around this library?" Hermione asked. Seeing the look on Harry's face, she added, "If Harry doesn't mind staying, that is?" Having met Theseus, and seeing the glint in his eye, she had decided she had best stick close to Harry.

"I don't mind," Harry said.

"I have a more interesting library I could share with you, if you would prefer to spend some time there," Theseus said. Hermione was happy to agree.



Twenty minutes later, Harry asked, "Does this library really look any more interesting that the other?"

"Oh, yes!" Hermione chirped happily. "I mean, I don't have time to read any of these, but it's so wonderful to know that these exist!"

"Give me a hint, bearing in mind I probably will have no idea what you're talking about," Harry said with a small smile.

"Well, this whole wall is made up of Muggle histories, memoirs, and such from Greece and Rome. Only a tenth of this, at most, survived in the Muggle or magical world. Oh! The History of the Etruscans by the Emperor Claudius!" Harry turned back to the paperwork he had brought with him, catching up on reports, while Hermione had her fun.



"Very good, Weasley," Madam Pomfrey said, "I release you from the Infirmary. Now, you have the vials of potion in the unbreakable tubes?"

Ron merely opened his robes to show the belt he now wore. Luna had given it to him a few days before, and it held twelve small vials of the potion he would have to take for the rest of his life. Still, those represented six days of potion. Ron reflected that he was lucky in a few minor things, at least. The potion had a long shelf life, years in fact. It was also easy enough even for him to make, although somewhat expensive. The dose was also small. The three gallons of the stuff he had on the shelves of his suite would last him a very long time. On top of that, Harry had bought him a special custom made watch, which would silently alert him whenever he needed to take his next dose, and which wouldn't stop the alarm until he had taken it.

Although his muscles would ache every day for the remainder of his life, it was now no worse than how he had felt many mornings after a tough dueling practice -- just permanent. It also did not interfere with his magic.

"Now, take your time getting back to your suite, and mind you stick to your diet! You can't eat like you used to, your metabolism is much lower than it used to be."

"I know," Ron said. Hermione and his mother had lectured him several times about this.

Madam Pomfrey's professional manner suddenly dropped. "I'm so sorry I couldn't do more, Mister Weasley."

Ron smiled gamely. "How long have you been here, Madam Pomfrey? As a student or healer?"

"You know perfectly well I was in your mother's class," she told Ron.

"And how many Weasleys, and Prewitts for that matter, have you known?" Ron asked.

"I'd say too many, except there really haven't been any I would have wanted not to have known," she retorted.

"Have you ever known one to give up when something important is at stake?"

"No," Madam Pomfrey admitted, "I can't say that I have. Remind your brother to come in for his check-up."

Ron frowned. "He should be well enough to go home by now," Ron grumbled.

"But where is home?" Madam Pomfrey asked softly. "He can't face going back to his flat. I doubt he ever goes back there again. And would you want Molly fussing over you?"

"No," Ron admitted. It had been nice, for a day or so. Still, "I wonder whose bright idea it was to put his room next to mine." At least it didn't have a connecting door.

"That would have been your sister, I believe," Madam Pomfrey said. "And remember, no major magic until tomorrow." She handed Ron his wand. "Nothing above Third year for a day or two, in fact."

Ron took his wand and smiled. "No problem."



That evening, Harry and Hermione sat in the small sitting room between the two smaller sleeping chambers. The remains of a much heartier meal than the ones Harry had had the previous summer lay between them. Although the weather was mild compared to the Highlands of Scotland, there was still a distinct chill in the air. Neither of the teens could identify the names for the dishes they had eaten, although between the two of them they could figure out most of the ingredients -- charbroiled seafood, mutton and pasta, and other heavy foods, along with a bottle of red wine and several types of breads and cheeses.

"I never figured you for a gourmet," Hermione teased.

"I know," Harry said sadly. "Another of the Prof's legacies. I ate with him about once a week, and he always took the time to serve me something interesting and good, and to teach me about the dishes and the wine." Harry's look went from sad to tragic.

"He's still around," Hermione pointed out.

"Yes, but I was thinking about Nick's Death Day Party back in Second year."

"All that rotting food, you mean?"

Harry nodded. "Now that vital, interesting, vibrant wizard is partially gone. Did you ever see him smoke a cigar?"

"And his pipes," Hermione agreed.

"He took such pleasure in life. Knowledge of every kind, magical and Muggle. Food, drink. . . ."

"Sex," Hermione added, making a face.

"I guess so," Harry agreed.

"It's not your fault," Hermione reminded Harry.

"It's a little my fault," Harry argued. "I don't feel all that guilty, but I do hope we can mostly end this on the Twenty-seventh."

"Meaning?"

"Trapping Voldemort in some sort of prison-Horcrux and destroying the one inside his snake. Dealing with these Walpurgis people, so they don't throw up some other bloody mess in a generation or something. Recapturing the Death Eaters, especially the Malfoys."

"Life will never be perfect," Hermione pointed out.

"I know." Harry smiled. "Aren't I the one who usually points that out to you?"

"Only about the elves," Hermione said tartly. She frowned. "Why did you ask me about the library earlier?"

"I just wondered if he sent us to another library in order to monitor us, that's all."

Hermione shrugged. "It's possible. And even though the two of us checked this suite out, that doesn't mean he doesn't have us bugged in some way."

The two friends sighed.

After a few moments of silence, Hermione asked, "Are you worried about the discussions that must be going on now?"

Harry shrugged. "We'll know early in the morning."

"Perhaps we should go to bed early, then," Hermione suggested.

Harry smiled. "Good idea."