Harry Potter and the Old Believers

Chapter 13

Monday, January 1, 1996

"Looks like they're back," Harry remarked as the quartet made the final approach to the cabin on their morning run.

"Looks. . .like. . .something's. . .wrong," Hermione panted. She had been the most lax in keeping up her running over the last two weeks, and was feeling the long run.

They stopped in the garage, breathing deeply and looking at the concerned face of Titus Pwy.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked after a few seconds of silence that were a few seconds too long.

Pwy and Sirius exchanged looks. "Voldemort and his Death Eaters attacked Azkaban last night. He broke out the Lestranges and some of his minor followers, and it looks like most of the Dementors have followed him, too," Pwy told them.

"How bad is it?" Hermione asked.

"Bad, but still far from hopeless," Pwy answered. "Not all the Dementors switched sides, not that they really take sides. There were Seven hundred and twenty-three Dementors stationed in and around Azkaban, even though there really only needed to be about a hundred and fifty. Five hundred and ninety four went over. Voldemort destroyed three of the others, but his Dementors threatened to Kiss him if he didn't stop -- after all the Dementors that stayed didn't do so out of loyalty, they did so to feed off the remaining prisoners, just like the ones that followed him aren't doing so out of active evil, but because they believe they will feed better. The remaining hundred and twenty-six are enough to guard the prisoners that are left, although we might move a few to some of the other prisons around the world, and we are trying to pressure the Ministry to get rid of all the Dementors. There were four hundred and thirty-two prisoners. They were mostly from Western and Central Europe, plus North Africa, and a few European prisoners who were sent to Azkaban for committing crimes elsewhere. Voldemort seems to have freed seventy-two and killed eighty-seven prisoners, and twelve of the fifteen humans on duty. The remaining three may have been working for Voldemort."

"Voldemort also left three extra bodies," Sirius told them. "Karkaroff and young Crabbe and Goyle."

There was a moment of silence for the pair who had tried to at least partially break away from their past.

"Dementors can be destroyed?" Ron said after the silence, now that the bad news had ended.

"In theory, yes, but only with extremely bright light. However, very few wizards have that kind of power. There is an ancient Greek sun-spell. . . ."

"The one that modern Muggle historians mistakenly call Greek fire?" Hermione asked.

"Exactly," Pwy answered, impressed. "A strong witch, like you two," he pointed to the Weasleys, "can use that spell to create nearly the direct power of the sun. That can dazzle an enemy's eyes, but it's nowhere near strong enough to destroy a Dementor. Your Patronius deals with them much better. A really powerful witch, like you," he pointed to Hermione, "or Remus or Sirius, can hurt them badly but not really to the point of incapacitating them."

Harry sighed. "And I suppose I can perform it?"

"Probably," Pwy replied. "It can't hurt to try it, unless you flash it directly in someone's eyes. At Ron's power, he could fully blind someone with about five seconds direct contact; Hermione could do it in about a second."

Ginny pulled out her wand. "Teach us. We also need to learn the Patronius, today."

"I already know how to do that, too," Harry muttered.

"Harry, if you weren't special, Voldemort probably would have searched me out and killed me as a child," Hermione snapped. "The Weasleys would all have been killed before Ginny was even born."

"I know," Harry said, resigned. He pulled out his wand. "Let's go."

The final three days in the valley, the quartet worked hard on the sun spell and Patronius. All could project a cloudy Patronius by the time they left, although only Harry's was fully formed.

Friday morning, they left to spend the next two days at the Burrow. Titus took them directly back to Hogwarts late Sunday morning. To all their shock, Titus had them set their luggage in the great hall, to be taken up to their rooms by the elves, and then hustled them to see Dumbledore.

Once they were seated, they could see Dumbledore was in a very grave mood. The couples nervously joined hands. Pwy stood behind them, and they saw his expression was now one mixed of anger and compassion.

"I shall have to make this announcement again tonight, but I thought you should know now. Last night, the Dementors made some sixty attacks all over Britain and Ireland. Ninety-three people were Kissed. Three current Gryffindor families were attacked. Seamus Finnigan and his parents were Kissed. I'm sorry, Miss Granger, your parents, and the three volunteers guarding them, were among those Kissed as well. Mister Weasley, Miss Weasley; Miss Clearwater's family were the third one attacked, and your brother Percy as well as the Clearwaters were Kissed, although they at least were able to disable the Death Eater who was guiding the attack. Draco Malfoy was the only Death Eater captured. By now, he likely will have been Kissed as punishment."

Hermione sat, frozen, as tears ran down her face. Ron immediately drew her close. Ginny was as stunned as anyone, but asked, "Why . . . why the Clearwaters? They're not Muggles!" She was clearly remembering setting the basilisk on Penelope and Hermione to get Harry's attention, when she'd been under the Imperius control of Tom Riddle Jr.

"Reginald Clearwater was a Muggle-born auror, and his wife was a Muggle-born Gringotts auditor on special commission for the Ministry, going through certain families' financial records. Penelope, her brother, whom you should remember was a Third year Ravenclaw who had several arguments with some of the younger Slytherins last year, and Percy. . .were additional victims of His terror."

"And nothing can be done for them?" Harry asked Dumbledore.

"Nothing I know of," Dumbledore stated sadly.

"Doc?" Hermione turned and asked, pleading.

"I'm sorry. In theory, if a Dementor is destroyed, the souls are released," Pwy answered, "which would at least end the soul's torment. However, even if that's true, I have never heard of any way to rejoin those souls to their bodies."

"You mean, their souls are. . . ." Ginny fainted. Harry just managed to catch her.

Dumbledore watched the students for nearly a minute after Ginny was revived. There was nothing he could do, no comfort he could offer. He looked at his own mentor for comfort, and saw only fury building in Pwy's face and stance. "Damn," Pwy finally muttered in frustration. "DAMN!" He shouted so loudly that it even drew Ginny's attention as she recovered from her faint.

"Titus?" Dumbledore queried, worried. He'd never seen Pwy in a rage before, and it was truly a frightening spectacle.

"I am so sick of these mind games! If I catch a Death Eater, I will find some way to end this!"

"You can't do that!" Dumbledore commanded.

Pwy's anger deepened. "If I can't do that, then there's one other thing I can do, for all of you. We weren't sure, but now I am!" He gathered up one end of his denim cape and flung it around his body. He disappeared in a cloud of fire and smoke.

"I thought no one can apparate in or out of Hogwarts!" Ron exclaimed, drawing a dirty look from Hermione.

"You can't," Dumbledore explained, "however, someone very powerful can apparate within Hogwarts. It's very tiring, and he wouldn't have done it unless he was also very angry. The fire and smoke are merely. . .what do the Muggles say? Special effects?" He frowned. There was some other meaning to that type of apparation, but he couldn't remember it at the moment.

They all sat in sad silence for nearly ten minutes. Dumbledore finally sighed, and turned to the quartet. "If you need to see Madam Pomfrey, please feel free to do so. If you prefer not to come to the feast tonight, please feel free to visit the kitchens. I presume I do not have to remind you how to find them?"

"No, sir," Harry said. As the least affected person, Harry stood to shepherd everyone out of the office and towards Gryffindor Tower. They all had a lot to think about.

Before they could exit, however, there was a tapping from the direction of the window. Dumbledore flung open the window, and a large raven flew in with two letters. "Important!" squawked the raven, dropping one of the letters on the desk.

Dumbledore's hand actually shook a little as he opened the black envelope. There was now no chance of the quartet leaving without direct orders. As Dumbledore read the letter, the raven took off, still clutching the other envelope.

"Harry, do you have your father's map available?" Dumbledore asked quietly, still looking at the letter.

"Yes, sir." Dumbledore had returned the map to him at the start of the school year.

"Notify everyone in the castle. Everyone except yourselves and Hagrid, excepting the elves but including Mister Filch, are to assemble in the great meadow just outside the Hogwarts grounds on the road to Hogsmeade by Six-thirty. The Heads of the Houses will escort their students that stayed over. You four and Hagrid will meet the train at Six, and have the students, and yourselves, taken via carriage to the field. Make certain you are all there before Six forty-five. After you eat lunch, tell the house elves dinner will be late. Understand?"

"Yes, but what's happening, sir?" Harry asked, since the other three were still in a slight degree of shock.

"Titus has summoned the Cigfrans."

"The Cigfrans?" Hermione asked, "Welsh ravens?"

"The Ravens, messengers of the Celtic warrior goddesses. You know that Titus is a Llofrudd; that is, he's authorized to use deadly force as he sees fit?"

All four nodded.

"The Cigfrans are a slightly lesser order within the Old Believers, much like our Aurors, but with a sort of religious authority as well. By using the Dementors, Voldemort has crossed a line; his terror is now a threat not just to Britain or Western Europe. He is a danger to all. The Old Believers may officially join the battle. Tonight, we will hear what they have to say."

"It doesn't seem like you're too sure if that's a good thing or not, sir," Hermione said, her tears now ended as her curiosity was fully aroused.

"The war may continue for some time even if they join, but Voldemort will not now succeed even in the limited senses I had feared. But the Old Believers are more powerful than they have been for nearly two thousand years, and once they become involved, they may not bow out easily. They will not conquer us; but their influence will be much stronger than it was. I do not know if that will be good or bad; people may still be debating that when your great grandchildren are older than I am now." He shrugged. "On the whole, it is a good thing, but that still does not mean the struggle will be fast or any less bloody."

Fawkes began to sing. Dumbledore sat back, and the tension left his face. "Go, children," he said simply.

Harry got everyone back to Gryffindor Tower. There were only a few First and Second years present. Harry got the map, and went off to notify the staff. The other three, still in shock from the news of Percy and the Grangers, agreed to meet in the kitchens in a hour.

Of the seventeen faculty/staff, all but Pwy were present in the castle or at Hagrid's. Bill and Charlie were with Hagrid, along with Fred and George. They had just been given the news about Percy right before they had. Harry probably should have ended his search there, but wanted to let them know that Ron and Ginny were back, and would be in the kitchens soon. He went there first. The four grieving brothers nodded, and took the news of the meeting with a shrug.

All of the faculty were surprised to have Harry show up in their offices and inform them of Dumbledore's orders. Harry refrained from stating that Doctor Pwy might have been involved, or explaining who the Cigfrans might be.

Most of the rest took the news with a confused look on their face. One exception was Flitwick, who merely nodded his head and said, "I see. Probably for the best." The other was Snape, who actually shivered at the thought. "Even the powers of the Light may bring Darkness," he muttered before slamming his office door in Harry's face.

It wasn't just the population of Hogwarts that gathered in the meadow, patchy with snow. Most of the population of Hogsmeade was also present, and so were dozens of people from Diagon Alley, including Mr. Ollivander and Tom the Innkeeper. There were also Ministry officials, reporters, and other people that Ron pointed out were well-known wizards and witches from around the country. Bill pointed out a group he said were Ministry officials from Western Europe and some diplomats.

Harry noticed that the Hogwarts people were on the left of the field, Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley on the right along with the reporters, officials in the middle. It was if they all knew where they were supposed to be. Marcus Frasier, a Seventh year Slytherin prefect that many felt was a hidden Death Eater (and who was also the best Runes student in years), overheard the remark when Harry made it to Lupin.

"Maybe we do."

"What does that mean?" Harry asked.

"Is it true the Ravens are coming?" Frasier asked instead of answering.

"Yes," Harry said simply.

Frasier and Snape both shivered and exchanged a look. "What?" Remus demanded. "Tell us now, Severus." The students gathered around. There were still a few minutes left before 6:45.

Snape looked around, and chanted, "'Nature must be in balance; for every lion there must be a snake; but all must beware the Ravens' masters; for when they return to our shore; the Great Snake will be no more.' We always thought it was a warning to all Slytherins to beware the Old Believers; for to us, the Old Snake isn't just Slytherin House, but the pure-blooded wizarding world we represent."

"But it could also mean Voldemort," Harry said.

"Yes, Potter, it may," Snape admitted. "Or it may be, that in destroying the Dark Lord, our very way of life may be destroyed. Never forget that in the world of the Old Believers, Doctor Pwy represents what might be called the liberal, radically modern wing. That is very much a minority point of view. There are many others in that culture who think of all other Magical people as lower in worth than any Malfoy ever regarded the dirtiest, poorest, stupidest Muggle. There are even a few, we're told, who await the Cleansing -- the ridding of all of Ireland, Britain, Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Western Germany, Switzerland and maybe more of all other people, Muggle and Wizard alike. Only then will they come and reclaim their lands."

"And the Old Believers are our old over-lords," Frasier said. "We're likely standing here because this is where our ancestors stood for at least twelve-hundred years, unless you believe the oldest traditions -- in which case it is where they stood for thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of years. And I mean that literally -- this is the meadow where the Druid wizards executed justice in this part of Scotland." He turned to Bill and Remus. "You know what we may see tonight? The Wicker Man? The Antelope?" He shivered again.

"The what?" Harry asked.

"The Wicker Man was where the Druids imprisoned those condemned. Then, they were burned alive in it. It's the symbol of Druid justice," Hermione said. "But what's the Antelope?"

"The Old Believers claim they're descended from the primeval shamans that came into Europe over forty-thousand years ago," Dumbledore said, walking over. "A new theory says that they may be able to explain the cave drawings of animals and hunters. A journal article that just came out last month speculated a famous figure, that of a half-man half-antelope or stag, might be their symbol of greatest power. The author, reputed to be a follower of Voldemort, disappeared the next day. Mister Frasier seems very au current in all this."

Frasier flushed.

Suddenly, the area in front of them roared, with flames forty-five feet around shooting some ninety feet in the air. Gradually, a tall form took shape.

"The Wicker Man!" The shouts came from dozens of people. Some people fell on their knees, others hugged in fear. A few simply stared at it. In less than a minute, the flames had disappeared, leaving the wicker and wood framework

In front of the form stood 27 men, all in dark robes, hooded so that their faces were invisible, carrying stone-tipped spears. "The Ravens?" Harry asked.

"The Cigfrans," Dumbledore acknowledged.

Three figures stepped out in front of the Cigfrans. They were dressed in darkest red robes. They were armed with a sword on their left side and stone axes on their right.

"The Llofrudds," Dumbledore said softly.

The center of the group remained open, and nine figures came dancing out. They were obviously young men and women, since all were nude except for their sandals, capes of pelts, and full-headed masks. The four women were a doe, a mare, a female reindeer, and a cow, while the five men were a bear, a bull, a mammoth, an Irish elk, and at the center of the group, a stag. They were shaking rattles. Most shivered at the sound of the dancing rattles, although Harry felt empowered. Despite their attractive bodies, the dancers were much more frightening than in any way erotic.

And finally, a hooded figure emerged dressed all in white, carrying a long oak staff with mistletoe, a gold sickle on his belt.

A Druid chief had returned to Britain.

The Druid stepped out in front of the group, followed by the nude stag, one Llofrudd, and one Cigfran. The other dancers stopped. The several hundred people stood in total silence. The man's deep voice carried to everyone. "It has been a long time. It has been Four hundred and forty-two years since a Druid leader of any kind has stood on these shores. It has been Nineteen hundred and forty-six years since we have meted out justice to all on this Island. Now, you have allowed one to grow too great in evil. And by you, I mean the entire community in Europe and the Mediterranean! For where did Tom Riddle find his training in basic evil? At Hogwarts, in Slytherin House -- and in the British Magical community abandoning of him to a Muggle orphanage. For where did He find wizards ready to take advantage of his already Dark nature? In the followers of Grindelwald in Britain, Western and Central Europe, and above all in Germany. For where did Tom Riddle finally go to transform himself? To evil wizards in Russia, in Scandinavia, in North Africa. One of you, whom some of you considered the lowest of your lowly world because she was born of what you would call squib or even Muggle parents, defeated him by blessing her son as WE taught, who was able therefore to defeat him. Did you then hunt down his evil essence and capture or destroy it? No. You hoped it was over. It is not over. It has now begun again. And you are next to helpless. Only a powerful old man, a powerful boy, and one of ours that we allow to wander in your world stand between you and death or mindless, soulless, life."

The face inside the hood was hidden, but he seemed to look at everyone for a moment before speaking again. "While a few of us enjoy the comforts of the Muggle world, we can not care if it lasts or is destroyed. As lovers of nature, many of us almost wish it would be destroyed. So our concern is for you, not the Muggles. You, who have strayed from the paths of true belief. Yet, you are of our kind. Some of us find some value in you. Others think you're as selfish and worthless as the Muggles many of you despise."

"And now a Llofrudd, who has labored more mightily for your world than any alive in Europe, yes even more than Dumbledore here, has appealed to us in your name. We have consented to consider the appeal because of your evil wizard's use of Dementors; evil creatures created by wizards like yourselves to serve their needs. We will send some help, if you ask. When it is over, we shall ask three favors. We will not tell you what they are before then. If you refuse them, we are unlikely to ever help you again. And remember, without our help Grindelwald, Voldemort, and more than three dozen other Dark Wizards would have had greater influence than they did these last fifteen hundred years. You will need our help again. Our favors, we think, are of little price compared to the help you have given you over all this time."

The Druid called then out nine names. Harry knew Minister Fudge, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Diggory. The other six were Ministers or representatives from Ireland, France, Spain, Benelux, Germany, and Switzerland.

Once those nine were called out, he began again. "Is Ollivander the wand seller here?" the Druid demanded.

Mister Ollivander stepped forward, proudly. "Choose additional four representatives from Diagon Village and then four from Hogsmeade," the Druid ordered. He turned to the Hogwarts group. "Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, Sprout, Hagrid, Lupin, Potter, and Granger, come here!"

The Druid drew a glowing line from about six feet from the ground to the ground with the end of his staff. "This represents one quarter of a standard hour. At that time, these twenty-seven representatives will say yes or no to our aid. Mister Ollivander, I suggest you hurry your selection." The line slowly started to spark and disappear.

He turned to the nine nude figures, who had been standing very still despite the cold. He waved his staff and they turned into wolves. He waved it again, and he had somehow transported in nine Muggle port-o-lets. 'I guess he knows something about Muggle culture,' Hermione thought with a mental giggle.

"No one is to leave. Those metal sheds are Muggle portable toilets, if anyone needs to use them. Question, Snape?"

Snape had in fact been approaching the Druid from behind. "Yes, why Potter and Granger? They aren't even adults!"

"They are the future. Granger represents both the best a true witch can be in your culture, and the best a Muggle-born can be, which is considerable. Potter is Potter, and you should look past your childish behavior towards him and see him as he is."

Snape started to flush in anger. His wand hand twitched.

"Touch your wand, and you're dead. Dumbledore trusts you, which is the only reason you stand here as the representative of Slytherin ideals instead of inside Justice."

Harry walked over to Dumbledore, Hermione followed. "Professor, what do you recommend?" Harry asked.

"If you fully trust Titus Pwy, agree; if you do not, don't," Dumbledore told the entire Hogwarts group. "Do not vote yes because you fear Voldemort; do not vote no because you fear the Old Believers."

"We don't know Pwy," Florien Fortescue said, walking over. "We know you."

"I know him," Ollivander said.

"As do I," Hare, the only representative from Knockturn Alley added. "He's strong, honorable, and wise."

"Is he the one that summoned them?" Ollivander asked.

"I believe so," Dumbledore answered.

"But can we really trust the Old Believers," Zonko asked. "I mean, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is evil, but that doesn't mean we can trust these people." He looked nervously at the Wicker Man.

Remus Lupin, meanwhile, had walked over to the nearest wolf guarding the perimeter. She growled at him. Remus growled back. They stared at each other for a few moments, then the wolf started barking at him and moving around in front of him. She then stopped, sat, and looked at him. Remus nodded and walked away.

"What the hell was that all about?" Snape demanded.

"The pack has no intention of making this their range," Lupin said.

"What does that mean?" Snape then turned on Hermione. "And don't you roll your eyes at me, girl!"

"Then I suggest you listen to what Professor Lupin said," Hermione said, rather snappily for her. "I don't know how trustworthy the Old Believers are. Looking at how they're portrayed in Magical history, which means mostly legend, I see a lot of fear and possible misrepresentation. From everything else I've seen, which isn't nearly enough I admit, I see no reason to mistrust them."

"Naive girl," Snape muttered. He turned to Dumbledore. "Well, do we say yes or no?"

"I will vote last," Dumbledore said. "I do not wish to be of undue influence."

"But Professor Dumbledore, sir!" Hagrid protested.

"You should go with your own thoughts," Dumbledore said simply.

Harry turned to the Druid. It was no use arguing with Snape, he decided, and so if Dumbledore wasn't going to give direction, it was time to get the information he wanted some other way. "Are you a member of the Council?"

"No, Harry Potter, I am of the Tuatha."

"I see. You said you would help us fight, not that you would fight for us, correct?"

"That is correct, Athro Potter. This is primarily your battle, after all. We will have our plans, just as you will. I shall leave two of these three Llofrudds and the Cigfrans to fight, and Sersiants to guard any prisoners we take. An additional Llofrudd shall be here soon, who shall stay and command our forces. We shall have a council of nine, the three Llofrudd, a Cigfran, Dumbledore, and two nominated from the British ministry, plus one from Eire and one from France."

The Druid turned to the entire group. "It is time to vote. Does anyone care to start? No? Then we shall start with the Government."

While Fudge abstained, Diggory and Weasley voted yes, as did the representatives of Ireland and Benelux. Germany, Spain, and France voted no. Switzerland also abstained.

The Townspeople voted four yes and five no. It therefore stood at 8 yes and 8 no with 2 abstentions as it went to Hogwarts.

Snape stepped forward and voted No. Harry voted yes. Hermione stepped up besides Harry and voted yes as well. Hagrid followed. The other professors joined them. Even without Dumbledore and the abstentions, there was a majority. Dumbledore then voted yes, and three of the five no votes from town switched, as did France and Spain. Fudge finally voted yes as well.

It was done.

"I believe these young students have been out long enough tonight, and have a feast awaiting," the Druid said. He raised his staff. "May the Blessings of the Gods be upon us all, as we try to do good!" White sparks flew out of the staff. When they hit Harry, he was reminded of the feelings phoenix song stirred in him.

"Athro Potter!" the Druid called. Harry, the last to leave of the Hogwarts group, turned. "Your extended family is proud of you."

Harry was confused, but pleased. The Druid nodded at Harry, who nodded back.

A fiery circle formed, and two figures formed. One was dressed as a Llofrudd; from the size, many recognized him as Titus Pwy. Next to him was a struggling Draco Malfoy, bound and gagged.

"You got to him before he was Kissed?" the Druid asked.

Pwy merely bowed assent.

"All Dementors in use by the British have fled or are destroyed?"

Pwy bowed again.

"What!" Fudge turned and yelled. "They were on our side!"

The Druid turned on him. "They were on no one's side. They are all on their own. One is as likely to Kiss Voldemort as serve him, and the same is true of the ones that you believe you used. The Dementors are unnatural creatures, and all we find will be destroyed!"

The Druid turned to Pwy. "Give that one to Justice!"

Pwy dragged the struggling Malfoy to the Wicker Man, and threw him into one of the cages, releasing the magical bindings. Pwy shut the fragile-looking door and walked away. Malfoy threw the gag off, and started screaming and trying to open the door. The door remained shut, and Draco remained unheard, despite the appearance of mere wicker bars and strips.

"Any who serve the Dark Lord, any who have bore his Dark Mark, you have one week to surrender to us." The Druid stared at Snape, who had tried tolead the way back to Hogwarts. "You will pay for any crimes you have committed, but suffer nothing beyond that. After that time, expect no mercy." The Druid and one of the Llofrudds disappeared in fire and smoke. Dumbledore finally remembered that this was the form of apparation Druids used on religious missions.

Pwy's voice came forth loudly, carrying over the crowd's noise. "This is now the Llys and Carchar, the Court and Prison, of the True Believers. Leave, unless you have business with us."