Harry Potter and the Old Believers

Chapter 15

The quartet stayed at the Burrow until July 4, with six Aurors and three Sersiants helping to protect them. They were waiting for their O.W.L. results while the twins awaited their N.E.W.T.s. Their final subject grades would be 1/2 their scores for the year and 1/2 from the O.W.L. or N.E.W.T. scores. Ginny of course already had her scores for the year (Defense 99%; Charms 98%; Transfiguration 98%; Muggle Studies 97%; Herbology 94%; Astronomy 93%; Runes 92%; Potions 88%; and History 87%, for an over-all average of 94, placing her fifth in her class for the year, and sixth over-all for their combined four year score -- and first for her year amongst the Gryffindors).

"Well, who should go first?" Ron asked nervously once the owls delivered their results.

"I say let the twins go first," Ginny said with an evil grin.

"Go on!" Molly ordered.

Fred and George peeked, and gave sighs of relief. They both had N.E.W.T.s in Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Theory I & II, and Defense. Anything above five was very respectable; and they'd managed one more N.E.W.T. than they had O.W.L.s.

"Go on, Ron," they both demanded.

Ron sighed and simply opened his and handed it to Hermione without looking at it.

"You have your O.W.L.s in Defense, Charms, Transfiguration, Creatures, and both Theories -- although just barely in Magical Substance" (this was mostly Potions and Herbology) "and Herbology. You just missed in Potions and Divination. So, seven O.W.L.s, with final grades of Ninety-nine in Creatures; Ninety-five in Charms, Transfiguration, and Defense; Ninety-three in Herbology; Eighty-seven in Astronomy, Potions, and Divination; Seventy-eight in History; over-all average Ninety point six-seven, which is your highest yet."

Harry handed his to Hermione as well. "O.W.L.s in Muggle Studies, Defense, Charms, Transfiguration, Practical Magic Theory," (mostly Charms and Transfiguration) "Astronomy and Creatures; you just made it in Divination and History and just missed in the others. Nine. Final grades: A Hundred and five in Defense; Hundred and two Charms; Ninety-nine Creatures; Ninety-six in Astronomy, History, and Transfiguration; Ninety-three in Divination (Much higher than usual!); Eighty-seven in Potions and Herbology. It also says here you had the top grade in Defense and were in a three-way tie for top score in Charms -- it seems you outscored every one in the practical side -- over-all average Ninety-five point six-seven! Well done! That's five points higher than you've done before!" Everyone congratulated Ron and Harry.

Hermione opened hers, and smiled. "All fourteen O.W.L.s!" She basked in the congratulations. All of Hermione's scores were at least a 96 (Potions, of course, was her lowest). She was the top scorer in Transfiguration, Arithmancy, and Runes, and had been one of those tying Harry in Charms. Hermione placed 1st in the class (currently just 33 students), Harry 4th, Ron 9th, and 1st, 2nd, and 4th in their Gryffindor year. There was also a note from McGonagall saying this was not only the first time Gryffindor had placed #1 over-all since 1977 but the first time Gryffindor had placed first in every year ever, and congratulating Hermione on her coaching.

"You know, Ginny," Ron said seriously, "you might end up with Hermione as a teacher yet!"

That evening, Doctor Pwy took the quartet to his Cottage in Weston. It was, of course, early afternoon in the Rockies. The top floor had two large bedrooms, with water closets; a small bedroom, and a small bathroom. The downstairs was simply kitchen, dining room, and sitting room/library ("Call it a solarium," Pwy told them). There was a nice study in the attic. The cellar had a root cellar, wine cellar, and pantry.

Two house elves, a couple in fact, came with the house, although Hermione was relieved to see they both 'had clothes.' Hachi would keep the small yard and make certain that there was enough wood for the cooking fireplace (and, some nights, for the bedrooms as well) and look after the chickens. He kept some pigs at their home in the southern part of the valley, and would take any scraps home for them. Hati would take care of the food, laundry, and basic cleaning for the students.

The students had to keep to a fairly strict code of conduct when outside the cottage, even in the garden. Deviation from one of the two sets of clothing rules was allowed only on their morning run, and they had to stick to the authorized routes.

Every morning, they would have to be finished with their morning run by 7:30. They were expected to be at the Sefydliad by 8:30 every day except Sunday. From 8:30 until 11:30, they were to help the group researching the Dementor-handling spells. From 1:00 until 2:00, they were to be coached in various subjects. From then on, and on Sundays, they were in theory on their own.

Every afternoon, Hermione went back to work with the research group, while Ron usually went to play chess, except Wednesdays, when Ron, Harry, and Ginny joined a flying group. Harry spent some afternoons meeting his very distant cousins, others practicing dueling. Ginny split her time between being with Harry when he was visiting and drawing when he was dueling. Sunday mornings, all four went flying. Saturday and Sunday late afternoons, they studied religion with various Druids. Hermione went back to do more research early Sunday afternoons.

Every morning, Hati would fix them a simple breakfast. They'd eat lunch either at the Broga or at the Sefydliad. Harry would stop whatever he was doing at pick up Hermione at 6:00 (she was nearly always the only one left in the research room reserved for the project). Then the trio would track down Ron. Most days were nice enough for them to eat in the garden (which wasn't encouraged as a daily habit, but not forbidden). Hermione would sum up where the project stood and what they'd be looking at the next day.

Birthday parties every year really weren't part of Weston culture. And, since sugar was one of the banned substances, that rather ruled out having a birthday cake. They did have a honeyed dessert for Harry's birthday dinner, however.

"What are you thinking, Harry?" Ron asked as they finished off their light dinner ale.

"I just wish this was real."

Hermione frowned at him. "What do you mean?"

"This isn't real?" Ron asked, puzzled.

"It's not real." Harry insisted, "this is just a summer interlude. Voldemort is still out there, and we have two more years of school, Ginny three. When all that's over, then maybe living like this will be real. I like this life-style." He thought a moment and then smiled. "No offense, Hermione, but I'm not a natural scholar like you. Still, learning basic runes has been fun. I sent a note to McGonagall and asked if I could start Runes as a tenth class next year. Too bad I can't add Muggle Studies as well."

"Too bad you didn't start last year, you might have been able to get a late O.W.L or even N.E.W.T.," Hermione added.

"Well, I have the languages now. I asked to see if I could skip the first year or two."

"Excuse me, cousin!" Harri Myrddin called out over the low stone fence. There was a small crowd of Harry's distant cousins there as well. Harri was the oldest, in his early forties. Most of the males had hair just like Harry. "May we join you?"

"Certainly," Harry said, switching over to the Welsh dialect they'd all learned over the last year. "Welcome to Pwy's Cottage, Wise Master."

"We usually only celebrate important birthdays," Harri's wife Lowri said, "but we decided having you at our out-post to the World was important."

Harri's brawny youngest brother Owain, who ran a traditional pub in Weston, tapped a small keg. "This is as mild an ale as can be made. Not much stronger than that awful sweet butterbeer you folks drink."

"No matter that all your close family is gone," Harri said, raising a small cup of ale as a toast a few minutes later, "you still have families. A very distant family by blood, to be sure, but still family. And we see you have at least one other one forged by the bonds of friendship and adventure. So, to our kinsman, Harry Potter, may he celebrate many more happy birthdays, and may some of them be with us!"

The group enjoyed the light ale. Several neighboring families came over to see what the commotion was all about. They brought food, ale, and beer and joined in. The few who might have disapproved quickly joined when they saw a member of the Tuatha (who rarely visited the area) leading the celebration.

As the sun set, Harri stood on a bench, and led a prayer of thanks. All the group, including the quartet, raised their hands to give thanks. In the gathering darkness, small balls of light formed between the hands of several of the participants, including Harry's, Ginny's, and Hermione's.

As the group broke up, they asked Harri what that meant. "I invoked Powers. For the Light to show between your palms has several meanings, since I assume you did nothing deliberate to create it."

"We didn't," Harry assured him.

"It means that you hold the strong blood of one of the Ancient Priesthoods. Obviously, Hermione, you have strong magical blood deep in your past. It also means that the Powers find you both interested and worthy. Should you four wish to join the Outside Believers, our fellows who live out in the World, this demonstration would help."

"Nothing happened to me," Ron pointed out.

"Faith comes in many forms, Ron" Harri assured him. "If you accept our beliefs, that would be enough. Your faith in your friend, in your family, and in your love count for as much with us as these other demonstrations. Believe it or not, Ron Weasley, your faith in your friends and family is even stronger than these other three have, and they in turn have stronger faith than most. We value you all for who you are. Even if we make much of Harry, we are impressed with you all. If we were not, we would not allow you here at this point, even with Harry and Hermione asking you to be with them and Titus Pwy vouching for you."

The quartet sat around the dining room table, each with a mug of illicit hot chocolate about an hour later. "So, you three going to become Druids?" Ron asked.

"No," Hermione said. "It would take decades of training, and we're already five years behind. I really do like the Old Religion, though."

"But we're all too too decadent," Ginny said with a smile. "We need chocolate, potatoes, wizard radio. . . ."

"Butterbeer," Harry said.

"Quidditch," Ron added.

"Saunas and Jacuzzi," Hermione said with a sigh.

"Bikinis!" Ron added.

"Pumpkin juice," Ginny said with a longing smile.

"Ice cream." Harry said with a hungry expression.

"Disposable nappies."

"Hermione!" the other three yelled.

"By the way, Harry," Hermione went on, "while we stuck with the local custom, a few others didn't." She handed him some presents from Remus, Sirius, and Hagrid, mostly sweets.

There were also their Hogwarts letters and a letter from Doctor Pwy. They had managed to capture one of Voldemort's strongholds. It was an abandoned mine in Wales, and they had over two hundred of the Dementors trapped there. As the research group sent along theories, they would try them out. Over sixty soulless victims were still alive, including Percy and the Grangers, and they had been moved to the mine as well. The Hogwarts letters merely had a list of their next year's required books and supplies, plus a prefect badge for Ginny.

The next morning, the group was up too late to run, but they did make it up to the Sefydliad on time. Ginny and Hermione had gotten the group to start comparing spells for controlling ghosts and demons (since Dementors were believed to be derived from an illegal crossing of minor demons and lethifolds), to see if they could derive any common principles. That morning, the group found what they were looking for in a set of charms used by the Old Believers to control night demons and another set of charms used by a minor Polynesian group to control restless spirits. The senior Druid in charge of the research nearly danced with joy (which would have been a major shock, since he was renown for having a sober disposition and puritanical lifestyle.) If the set of spells they had created by that evening worked, they could manipulate both the souls and the Dementors -- the trick would still be joining the soul back to the body. Even if the soul was rejoined, there was no way of knowing how the restored mind would react.

Hermione had always been the least enthusiastic runner in the group. In the four days that lapsed between their discovery and the first full report of the results to come back, however, Hermione ran every morning and walked the rest of each day, since the research was on hold. Ron walked most of the day with her, although Ginny and Harry took turns as well. They also had a difficult time getting her to eat.

As worried as Harry was about Hermione, he was also a little glad she was drawing so much attention from Ron and Ginny -- the more they helped Hermione, the less they worried themselves about Percy.

The other researchers also came to spend time with Hermione and the Weasleys. This had been a purely academic exercise for them -- none of them had relatives or friends who had been Kissed. In fact, the Old Believers had always hunted down and destroyed any Dementors that strayed into the United States or Canada. Still, the researchers had grown very fond of Hermione, and despite only spending three-quarters of the time each day with the research compared to the team, she had actually cleared the most material during the search. They respected her abilities in addition to liking her. They also knew how important this was to her and the Weasleys. The Druid in charge of the research shocked everyone by his appearance in town to comfort Hermione, the first time he had appeared in the actual town in over twenty years.

On August 3, one of the Council of Druids had told the group that the Dementors had been sorted; those without trapped souls or with souls which had been trapped so long the host bodies had died had been destroyed. Before the latter had been destroyed, however, the souls had been successfully released without any evidence of tampering. Of over three hundred souls released, only one had become a ghost, and she, a Muggle Kissed some three years before, had expressed a great deal of thanks before going off to haunt what was left of her family.

August 4 and 5, Hermione was even more frenetic in her walking. Finally, on the evening of the 5th, the Tuatha and Athro Myrddin, accompanied by most of the research group, tracked the quartet down on the top of the Sefydliad, looking over the valley. This certainly attracted attention; it was rare to see even one of the Tuatha in the cwm, let alone all three.

"Doeth Athro?" Hermione asked.

"I do not feel overly wise today, my child," Harri answered in English. "Still, we are not totally dissatisfied. We found a Dementor that had three recent souls trapped. We released the others it had, and tried to rejoin the three souls in several ways. One had been separated from the body too long; and the stress killed the body. That soul went free. The other two souls rejoined. We must now wait and see how well they are joined to their bodies. The experience of being Kissed, captured, and rejoined may be too much. The two may still die, or may not be sane."

"I understand. Perhaps, if they are not fully. . .functional, the next attempt should have a loved one present at the rejoining. That might improve the chances of it working."

"It may indeed. We must wait and see these results first. I know you are worried and anxious, but you are wearing yourself, and those Muggle shoes, out. Please, take more care. We will know within two weeks."

"At least I know they have a chance. What more can I ask for?"

"You may ask for anything. Just don't expect too much," the elderly woman member of the triad told her.

"Is it too much to hope that my parents are at least trapped inside of one of the Dementors you captured? That it hasn't been destroyed?" Hermione seemed trapped between hope and despair.

"We don't know; we can only hope as well," the senior member of the Tuatha said simply. "Waiting is not easy, especially for one as young as you. However, use the meditation Pwy taught you last summer. It is small comfort, but that, and the love of your friends and all of our prayers will help sustain you."

"Too bad you can't test this all out on the souls of the condemned," Ron muttered.

"True; but it would be rather unethical to restore a soul to a body and then either have to kill the body and break the bond again or else let a murderer go free," Harri said simply.

Ron sighed. "That's what I thought, sir."

Harri put his hand on the tall boy's shoulder. "Don't despair, Ron. If it's possible to rejoin the souls, we will. We have no more forgotten your brother than we have any of the others, wizard or Muggle."

"Thank you, Athro."

Harri turned to everyone. "Come. Lunch should be ready in the dining hall, correct Athro Myrddin?"

The Head of the Sefydliad looked at his distant, younger cousin -- the youngest member of the Tuatha, the religious leaders of the Old Believers. He looked at Hermione -- he had doubted her abilities were yet equal to the task, and she had proven herself the best. He saw the looks of hope and respect in the eyes of the researchers -- Druids, wizards, and witches that he worked with and honored for their abilities -- all directed to the young quartet, especially Hermione. For once, he was honestly humble. "Yes, Doeth Athro. We will make it worthy of this group and their accomplishments."

Wednesday, August 14, 1996

Hermione had given up running and power-walking since the 5th, and had instead started steadily pacing all around the valley nearly from sunrise to sunset as they waited for the results of the tests. Nothing had been directly heard from Voldemort in some weeks, although some information had leaked back that he was contacting various Pure Blood groups around the world, looking for support. Many had refused him -- Voldemort himself, with his Muggle father, was too 'tainted' for their groups' beliefs. It seemed as if everything was suspended until news of the rejoined souls came out.

Hermione was standing out in the garden at dawn, having spent a very restless night, as most of her recent ones had been. She felt badly about that, as she had taken to wearing Ron out at night, and then driving him and her two friends to distraction during the day. It had reached the point where even Ron welcomed their hour lessons every afternoon, if mostly as a distraction to Hermione's worries.

"Good morning, Hermione," a deep voice came from near the garden wall.

"Doeth. . . ."

"Just Harri, unless you find it confusing," the Druid leader said with a smile. "You aren't an Old Believer, at least not yet, and there's no need to be so formal with me when we're just alone here in the garden." In truth, he'd had little contact with the Muggle or Wizarding world outside his years at the Ysgol and some trips to Muggle New England during those same years. He had surprised himself at how interested he was in this young quartet, and how much he liked all four as individuals.

"It's hard to believe you and Harry are what, fifty-fourth cousins? You really look like you're his uncle."

"There are six lines of Myrddins that still breed true to type; five amongst the Old Believers, and Harry Potter is the last known representative of the sixth."

"Is that why. . .well. . . ."

"Why I, one of the most powerful wizards in the world, in terms of both magical and political power, have taken such an interest in you and Harry?"

"Exactly."

"It was partly that at the beginning," Harri admitted. "And you must remember, Harry is an amazingly powerful young wizard, by any standard, even if he's growing into that power slowly. It may yet be his destiny to fight Voldemort and other dark wizards in the future, and it is our duty to help him prepare. You must also remember that the wizard community is fairly small. You and Harry, and perhaps Ginny and Ron, are future leaders of the British community. In your own ways, you are all powerful and interesting people. And, as Pwy told me in his first report, you are all also likable young people. That's very high praise from someone like him, who has seen more Muggle and magical students than either of us would like to imagine."

"And Harry is destined for greatness?"

"He has the potential to be the greatest wizard leader in many centuries. He may not live up to that potential, for any number of reasons, most of them very human and reasonable. But if called on, he will serve to some high degree."

"Greater than Dumbledore?"

"Dumbledore is a very amazing wizard," Harri admitted. "In some ways, the most amazingly complete wizard for over a thousand years, and one of the fifteen most powerful alive today that we know of. Harry will never have the breadth of knowledge or wisdom that Dumbledore has. Yet Dumbledore has never really led the community. In a sense, Dumbledore is Merlin to Harry's Arthur. It's a role we wish Titus had taken on for us; but he has preferred the role of lone warrior and scholar. For good reason, of course; if he does live a number of centuries, it would tend to corrupt the system to have him on top all the time. But that's another story altogether."

"And what about me?"

"Harry listens to you. He doesn't always do what you tell him to, of course, but he does listen. He needs that grounding in rationality you can provide, just as he needs the love Ginny will provide, and the friendship the three of you give him. You are an amazing scholar and powerful witch in your own right. Do not be over-shadowed by Harry's fame and power. You and Ginny are the dominate personalities in your little group in every day life, unless Harry's sense of justice and fair play are aroused, or Ron's honor offended."

The door of the cottage opened and the three runners came out.

"Doeth. . . ." Harry started.

"That's all right," Harri said. "While Hermione and I have been waiting for you three, we've had a nice talk. However, I did come by this morning with a purpose. I was just waiting for you three to show up to announce it. We have successfully restored twenty-one of the twenty-four souls we have tried to rejoin."

The four teens were certainly hopeful to hear the rest of the news. They hadn't even known the teams were going to go on with the experiment to that degree.

"I am pleased to say that your mother was one of the successful cases, Hermione. . . ." Hermione threw herself into Ron's arms, crying for joy. "Percy Weasley was another. Unfortunately, Misses Clearwater and Mister Finnigan were two of the three failures. Miss Clearwater and your father's souls were not found amongst those Dementors."

"How are they?" Harry asked.

"They are all sane, although very confused and weak," Harri told them. "We foresee at least a year of rehabilitation for your mother, since as a Muggle she was the most affected. Probably Percy Weasley will recover the fastest, and even that will likely take some six months. Your Ministry will make the announcements tomorrow morning. They will also announce that both the entire research and rescue teams have been awarded the Order of Merlin, Third Class, and that includes you four."

"We don't deserve it," Ron said. "Except for Hermione of course."

"I agree," Ginny said.

"I certainly don't deserve it," Harry added.

"Too bad. You four come as a unit. And Harry, it was your idea. Ron, Ginny, you certainly helped with the research, and you gave the team a great deal of support, as Harry did as well. We will also give Hermione a special research certificate. In any case, you all have that and the other awards. Think of them as rewards for past heroics if you wish."

"Them?" Hermione asked.

"When you graduate from Hogwarts, you'll be automatically accepted as sorcerer's apprentices. If any of you achieve at least ten N.E.W.T.s, you will instead be automatic sorcerers."

"Well, at least there's one reward Hermione's sure to get," Ron teased.

"When may I see Mum?" Hermione asked.

"Next week," Harri told them. "We will also announce that those Death Eaters who surrender will not face the more horrendous punishments." He sighed. "Somehow, I fear it will still not be enough to stop Voldemort and his more fanatical followers. But at least it should slow him down even more."

"There have been more attacks," Harry stated to his cousin.

"Random terror attacks. Horrendous, barbarous tortures that have shocked even me, who is a great authority on Magical history -- I thought I'd read about every possible torture -- but having no real affect on the battle."

"Eleven more months," Harry muttered.

Harri put his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Harry, horrible things are still going to happen. Even if we killed Voldemort and his remaining Death Eaters today, horrible things would still happen. Life is a trial in many ways. Keep dealing with it as you have been."

Harry nodded, but still thought, 'Eleven months.'