Harry and the Six Virgins

Chapter III

"Where are we?" Susan asked. All seven had their wands out and shining light -- none was worried about underage magic under the circumstances.

"My guess is a cave in the Valley of Cassiwallan," Hermione said.

A pleasant baritone voice started singing, echoing around the large cave.
"In a canyon
In a cavern
Excavating for a mine
Was a miner
A forty-niner
And his daughter, Clementine." After a pause, the voice added, "Goleuo."

A soft light flooded the large cavern. "Welcome, friends." A man walked out from behind a stone pillar. He was above average in height, and built on broad lines. He was dressed like an American Muggle. "You are totally safe here. You will not be harmed, unless you are foolish enough to try to harm myself or one of your fellows."

"Casey?" Harry asked.

"As good a name as any," the man said. He looked to be in his mid-to-late twenties at most. "I've had so many names over the millennia."

"You mean you're Cassiwallan? I mean, you claim you're the original Cassiwallan?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, yes. I am. I know, that sounds very unlikely." He waved his right hand, and eight chairs appeared. "Please be seated."

"Are you related to Harry?" Luna asked.

"Why would you ask that?" Harry asked.

"Mostly the eyes, although the hair is similar as well." Looking closely, they saw that the man did indeed have the same distinctive green eyes as Harry, as well as the same hair, although it was cut a bit shorter.

"But I got the hair from my Dad, and the eyes from my Mum!" Harry protested.

"Oh," Luna said. "I didn't know that."

"Harry, I'm over two thousand years old. I'm sure I've fathered over three thousand children. . . ."

"Three thousand!" Ginny and Eloise echoed.

The man smiled. "Possibly more. I took over for a number of men killed in both world wars, and earlier wars for that matter, showing up for a final visit, you might say. One was your maternal great grandfather, Harry. That no doubt accounts for much of the reason that your mother was magical, but it can't be the complete story. I may have had some part in your Potter ancestry as well, but if so, that was many hundreds of years ago."

"You're really over two thousand years old?" Hermione asked, her skepticism still obvious.

"Two thousand one hundred and thirty one on the last summer solstice." He looked at them. "It's been a long time since I've told the story. If you are interested, may I rely on you not to repeat it, unless under pressure, other than to Dumbledore and Lupin?"

They all agreed.

"I was born on mid-summer's day, in what we would now call the year a hundred and thirty-five years b.c., in the northern most outpost of druidic power in Britain."

"At the location of Hogwarts?" Luna asked.

"Closer to the current location of Hogsmeade, but generally yes. In any event, seers had long worried about the growing powers of both Rome and the Germans. A plan had been worked out over the decades to deal with the problem."

"Druids, both magical and Muggle, came from the aristocracy and warrior class. In theory, any magical child born to peasants would be killed." He looked at their stunned faces. "Child exposure was quite common in the ancient world. In reality, most infant witches were traditionally taken instead of killed. For over forty years, however, all these children, male and female, were collected from all around the Celtic world, although not trained: from Ireland; Britain, western Spain, Galatia in what is now Turkey; and the parts of Gaul -- France, Switzerland, Belgium, and western Germany in modern terms. The magical Druids also scoured Germany, Scandinavia, eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean as far away as Egypt, and perhaps beyond, buying slaves with any trace of magical power, and stealing any from the streets of towns and cities if they were from families so poor as not to miss them or at least so poor that they couldn't effectively do anything about it." He shrugged. "They probably stole others as well, but I won't swear to that."

"In the end, they collected nine hundred and sixty-three, ranging in age from six months to forty-five at the time of the ceremony. The idea was to drain off their power into a druid-in-training from the warrior class, who was a well-above average powered and skilled wizard, who would use the power to destroy the Germans and Rome, although they thought it would quickly burn me out. I was to be a magical berserker, sacrificed to the greater good. I agreed, being a patriotic young idiot in my early twenties."

"We gathered around an ancient arch, that connected this world with the afterlife. . . ."

"The veiled arch in the Department of Mysteries," Harry said softly.

"That's where it's kept now," Cassiwallan agreed. "There were also twelve-hundred and ninety-three magical Druids, nearly three-quarters of the magical members of the order. There were another hundred and twenty-six wizards, six hundred and seventy-eight witches, and one thousand and eleven of their magical children. Watching at a greater distance were one thousand and two other Druids and two thousand and four nobles and warriors. They had six thousand and ninety-six servants and slaves of various kinds. There were even three hundred and twelve house elves."

"The ceremony did not work as planned. I didn't just absorb the magic from those to be sacrificed, I absorbed it from them and the others in the crowd. Worse, I absorbed the very life force from all of them and another five thousand and thirteen people from the surrounding countryside. I know the exact number, because I saw each of them as I took their lives and power, before I was able to stop it. Eighteen thousand four hundred and ninety-eight people and elves in the end. I have their power, and their lifespans, all inside me. If they all averaged out at having fifty more years, for they were for the most part fairly young, I have at least nine hundred thousand more years, probably more, especially since I also killed off every living thing in a twelve mile radius."

"And after I saw each of the people with more clarity than I currently see you, I Saw three paths covering the next three hundred years. I chose what I thought was the least worst path. I may have been wrong, but there is no way to know." He shrugged.

"I escaped to Rome. I watched the Celtic world fall, and Rome rise. I lived in and near Rome until the Two hundreds. At that point, I finished building this place, where I stayed most of the time for almost two hundred years, and where I have spent a fair amount of time since."

"As the Western Empire started to fall, I decided to try and save at least part of it: Britain. I called out to a very skilled young wizard, and he came here. I trained him even more, and gave him some extra power."

"Merlin," Susan said, although no one was certain if that was a statement or an exclamation.

"Others came, looking for power. I added the six voluntary magical virgins between the ages of thirteen and eighteen who were willing to sacrifice themselves, hoping to discourage the wizards from coming, but it didn't stop as many as I'd hoped. Still, I managed to shoo most away without having to harm them, although some were so evil I hurt or even killed them. Some of the women stayed, which has been pleasant. When I haven't been here, I've been living around the world. I've spent Muggle lifetimes in Greece and the Middle East, several parts of India, Tibet, southeastern Asia, several parts of China, Japan, and the Americas, not to mention Europe of course. Actually, I am currently a young Muggle college professor, teaching art history in California at the moment."

"And now you've called Harry," Hermione stated.

"I do not like to get overly involved in the world," Casey said. "I would either end up as a slave or a dictator, and I have no desire to be either. However, this Riddle is a very nasty individual."

"Couldn't you just kill him?" Ginny demanded.

"Probably, but there had to be some reason for the prophecy. . . ."

"You know the prophecy?" Hermione and Ginny both demanded. They and Luna still thought it lost. Luna leaned in closer to hear the answer.

"Of course," Casey said. "Mister Potter here either has to kill Voldemort, or Voldemort will kill him. Neither can survive while the other lives."

"That's awful, I mean, for you," Susan said to Harry.

"And you knew! Why didn't you tell us?" Hermione demanded of Harry.

"Because I don't like thinking of my self as a murderer," Harry snapped. "It's bad enough I led Sirius to his death. . . ."

"You do share some of the blame," Casey told him, "however, yours is not even half that blame. Roughly in order, I would say Bellatrix Lestrange, Voldemort, all the other Death Eaters, Sirius Black himself, you, Dumbledore, the other members of the Order of the Phoenix, your companions, and so on." Harry's wand appeared back in his hand. Harry lifted it, and stared at it. "Go head, boy! Kill yourself or stop wallowing so deeply in self-pity."

Harry flushed and put his wand back away.

"Good. You passed your first test."

"How many are there?" Luna asked.

"I'm not going to reveal everything, that takes all the fun out of the process," Casey said with a smile. "I must say I've been taken by surprise by how little time it took Harry here to tell Lupin. I didn't expect him until early August, and I certainly didn't expect you six until this morning, so I've decided to change the tests."

"How powerful are you, anyway?" Harry asked as Casey paused.

"I am as far past Dumbledore as Dumbledore is past a squib. Why?"

"Could you . . . could you. . . ."

"Bring Sirius Black back? Alas, no."

"I didn't think so, so I was going to ask if you could cure Remus."

"H'mmm," Casey said, thinking. After some three minutes, Casey stood. "I'll be right back." He disappeared.

"This is SO weird," Susan said.

"I don't think Daddy would believe it," Luna agreed.

Remus Lupin was sitting in an old Victorian captain's chair, his head in his hands. They had lost Harry. He could be anywhere, and anything could be happening to him, not to mention the six girls who were with him. After all, there was no way to tell if the note was genuine or not.

Tonks was trying to comfort him, but she was not being very successful. Dumbledore had left to put various attempts at tracing Harry and the others, leaving Lupin to his worries.

"Excuse me?"

The pair looked up, and saw a broad wizard in his mid-twenties. "Are you from Dumbledore? Has he found them?" Remus demanded.

"Ah, well, allow me to introduce my self. I am best known to you as Cassiwallan," the wizard said simply. "As I said in my note, I decided to bring the youngsters to me this afternoon, instead of waiting until the morning. They are all quite safe, and I'll return most of them in a day or two, or a week at the most. Uh uh uh!" Casey froze the duo. "No violence allowed."

He approached the pair, moving Tonks a few feet out of the way. "Young Potter asked me if I could possibly cure your of your condition. For this, even I need a wand." He pulled one out of his left sleeve. A series of complex wand motions later, and Remus was bathed in a silvery light. "There. If you stay under that light as you are for three hours, you will not have to turn into a wolf under the light of the full moon. If you choose to do so, you will keep your mind. Your bite, however, is still fully infectious at that time, even if you stay human."

A quick wave placed an hour glass in the air, and Cassiwallan spoke to Tonks. "When it runs out, you have five minutes to break the spell. Do so with the simple canceling incantation. Goodbye!" The wizard disappeared.

Tonks unfroze, and stared at Remus. "Oh, Merlin! What do I do!"

Casey reappeared in his cavern. "If Ms Tonks trusts the spell I have put Lupin under for the full three hours, he will not turn into a mindless werewolf again. He is not completely cured, but it will be under his control." He sat down heavily. "That literally took about twelve years out of my life. I hope I never have to do THAT again!"

"Thank you," Harry said, shocked.

After a few moments of silence, Casey gave a big sigh and stood back up. "Oh, well, back to work. Stand up, Harry -- may I call you Harry? -- and take off your glasses."

"Uh, sure," Harry said, standing up and taking his glasses off. Casey pointed his wand at Harry's face, and Harry's head felt like straps were tightening all around it. "Oi!"

"Look around, Harry," Casey said kindly.

Harry stopped rubbing his temples, and looked. His jaw dropped.

"You fixed Harry's eyes?" Hermione asked. "I mean, I know it can be done, but. . . ."

"But it's supposed to wear off in a few weeks, and leave his eyes worse off? Yes, that's what usually happens when one of you does it. Harry's eyes should be good for eighty or ninety years and then weaken normally. Sorry, not much I can do about the scar. Other than that, you seem fairly healthy, if underfed."

"Wow, I mean thanks."

Casey stepped next to Luna, who stood and looked back at him. "Except for those dry eyes, you are also very healthy. Try blinking a bit more often."

"I forget," Luna said with a shrug.

Casey fixed three of the bones in Hermione's left hand, which had not mended quite correctly after being broken when she was nine, fixed a number of minor scars she had picked up over the years (which made Hermione blush), and finished healing her internal injuries from the battle at the Ministry. He proclaimed Ginny and Susan healthy. He warned Daphne that others in her family might develop diabetes while he fixed the tendency in her. For Eloise, he removed the severe acne scarring, especially on one cheek and across her chest and back.

"Now, I'm sure you are all wondering what's going to happen. Well, I am going to test Harry's character to see if he can be trusted with the amount of power he will need to guarantee victory over Voldemort." He smiled. "I need to study Harry for some amount of time. To do so, I will need some help."

His grin grew into a leer. A form materialized beside Harry. It took a few seconds for all to realize that it was a nude, older version of Harry.

"Merlin!" Daphne, Ginny, and Susan exclaimed. Eloise looked likely to faint, while Luna and Hermione studied the nude future-Harry with detached interest. Ginny added, "Do we have to speak Parseltongue to it?"

"I don't think it cares what kind of tongue. . . ." Daphne started, before blushing from embarrassment.

"In real time, only a few hours will pass. In subjective time, each woman will spend two months with Harry. . . ."

"Doing what?" Ginny demanded.

"You will spend time in the past. Provided you don't do anything stupid, it should last about two months."

"Why are you looking at me?" Hermione demanded. "Why think I would do anything . . . stupid?"

Casey smiled. "If I were to drop you in the American South before 1860, could you manage NOT to get yourself burnt out of house and home or run out of town for criticizing slavery? Or for condemning racism in the American South before 1965 or South Africa during Apartheid? How would you feel about living as a Muggle under Stalin or under Hitler?"

Hermione looked abashed.

"You will not have to work, just live. The excuse will be that you are all young couples on your honeymoon." The silence now came from shock.

"You ladies may say no. You may both decide to live as husband and wife, or to just pretend to have a physical relationship. You will not know if you are asked first or last. I suggest you refrain from asking Harry; it may only spoil your relationships." A wave of his hand, and the six young women disappeared.

Harry was still looking stunned.

"Problem, Harry?"

"You mean, I'm supposed to . . . there's no way they'll go along with it!" Harry blushed. "I mean. . . ."

"I know what you mean," Casey said slyly, noting the conflicts in Harry between desire and bashfulness. "However, you need some love to counter all that death in your life in general, and the poverty of the spirit of your childhood. Now, if this were totally real, probably only Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood would even consider going through with this. And, in case your ego needs stroking, they would only consider it because it's you."

"But this is not totally real. The bodies you will be in will feel totally real, the situations will feel totally real. But these won't be your actual bodies. You're risking emotional stress and pain, but no physical harm can come to the actual you."

"Each of those girls has feelings for you, some stronger and/or deeper than the others. You need love and affection, and all six ache to give you both. Daphne, for example, finds you attractive and interesting. She has ambitions, and should you wish a career in politics, she would be the perfect helpmate and lover for you. While all six are passionate in their own way, she would probably work hardest to keep you pleased, as long as you had no double standards."

"Meaning what?"

"She wouldn't sleep around unless you do. If you did, she would probably help you with your affairs, and then use most of her own to further both your interests." Casey smiled. "Don't frown, boy. That kind of mentality is a bit out of favor now, but it has won careers and even a few empires throughout history."

Casey went on, "Susan is a type more familiar to you; she would be Molly Weasley without the temper. If you wish to be mothered for the rest of your life, she's the girl for you. Right now, she has a bit of a problem, in that she feels people use her and never return the favor. Treat her with affection, and she will adore you."

"Eloise and Luna are both very lonely. Eloise is almost as lonely as you. She's the youngest of four daughters, and the only one not a stunning beauty. Her mother died soon after she was born, and she has been mostly ignored by her family. She has a number of acquaintances but no friends, and a heart that yearns to share love and passion, even if she's not certain how. She may tend to be a bit clinging, however."

"You know about Luna's mother?" Harry nodded. "Her father loves her, but pays her little attention. When his wife died, he threw himself into his work. He hardly noticed when Luna went off to Hogwarts. She hides behind her eccentricities, which are so extreme that even Ravenclaw, noted House of eccentrics, dislike her and tease her. Whomever taps into the love she is capable of had best wish for a soul mate who will latch on to him, or her, and at times be a conjoined twin."

"Ginny has her mother's temper without the deep mothering instinct. She is the one most likely to be jealous of the others, even if you choose her. In some ways, she loves you the most; in others, her affection for you is the most childish and superficial. Try and be her friend, and even if you don't stay lovers you may stay close friends. DON'T, repeat, DO NOT! treat her like a sister. That will ruin any relationship, and any friendship."

Harry nodded.

"I believe Hermione loves both you and someone called Ron, and is in love with you both but slightly more in lust with him, all of which she covers up very well. She cares about you more than all the others combined, but that may not turn into romance. She is probably the least likely to form a physical relationship with you, although she desires it almost as much as the Weasley girl, which is saying quite a bit." He paused, puzzled. "She has some very strong defenses in that area, but I'm sure we shall break through them."

Harry decided not to think about any of that yet. "Who will I be fighting?"

Casey smiled. "No one, I hope! You will be living a nice, boring life, outside of your relationships. In some you will be living more as a Muggle, in others a nice mixed existence. You will not have to work, as long as you are not too extravagant, and I may be with you for most of these months. It is better to see how people react to the stresses of everyday life over time to under learn their character."

Casey stopped and stared at Harry. "What?" Harry demanded.

"You only know English and some Latin, correct?"

"And a touch of French, but not much," Harry admitted.

"You can easily handle six languages, probably twelve. But let's start you out with fluency in four besides English: Latin, French, Italian, and German."

"How?"

"You'll see."

Harry was suddenly in the more adult version of himself.

"I'll give you a subjective day or so in limbo to adjust. Take a look at the books, and pick some out to practice your new languages."

Harry found himself in a small study lined with books, wearing a work robe, alone. When he tried to think, he was thinking in five languages, which hurt his brain.