Harry Potter and the Old Believers

Chapter 16

Wednesday, September 4, 1996

"You asked to see me, Headmaster?" Harry asked, stepping into the office. Besides Dumbledore, Mr. Diggory, Mr. Weasley, Dr. Pwy, Remus, Sirius, Snape, and a cowled Druid were present.

"What's he doing here?" Snape snarled.

"He is necessary," the Druid, whose voice Harry recognized as Harri Myrddin's, said. "You are not."

"We are all necessary," Dumbledore said.

"Could someone please let us know what's on?" Sirius asked.

"To put things bluntly, Lucius Malfoy has offered to surrender. . . ." Pwy started.

"No!" Harry stated firmly.

"Shut up!" Snape told him.

"Pettigrew got off easier than he should have because he turned himself in. Now Malfoy? The man who kept the Death Eaters going for fourteen years? Who planted Voldemort's enchanted diary here to open the Chamber of Secrets. . . ."

"What!" Snape and Sirius exclaimed.

"Anyway," Harry went on, "except for Voldemort, Malfoy deserves punishment more than anyone. If he gets off, what's the point of punishing anyone?"

"Harry," several voices tried to explain.

"No," Harry said firmly. "If Malfoy is trying to give up, that just means he knows he's going to lose anyway. He got off last time; you can't let him get away with it. Without his kind promoting pure bloods over everyone, maybe Riddle could have dealt with his own demons without going over the edge."

Voices tried calling to Harry, to explain or (in Snape's case) castigate, when Amos Diggory stood and gave voice. "QUIET! ALL OF YOU, QUIET!" He sat back down. "Now, I know why I'm here. I know why Pwy and you are here," he said to the Druid. "I even know why Dumbledore and maybe why Weasley is here. Someone explain to me why the others are here."

"I am here," the Druid chief said, in a tone that seemed to put them all in their place, "because our liaison decided he didn't want to make this decision. I understand why he refused. I am here to make it. I want opinions before I make it. I asked for you, Dumbledore, and Harry. Pwy suggested the others. Now, Pwy will explain the situation, then I shall hear your opinions. Then, I shall decide. If any of you do not wish to participate, leave." No one left. The Druid turned to Pwy. "Titus?"

"Athro." Titus respectfully nodded to the Druid. "As I said, Malfoy wishes to surrender himself, and he says he can bring most of Voldemort's followers with him. The ones he's bringing in have conspired to commit murder, but have not committed it -- he says. Unless we can prove it, they are to be imprisoned, not executed."

"Executed?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Harry, executed. That's what happens to those in Justice," the Druid answered. "They are burned alive. Of course, these days they are usually enchanted when it happens, so they do not suffer, but they are still executed."

Pwy continued, "And Lucius Malfoy, of course, would be executed. I promise you that, Harry, and he knows he will be. However, in exchange for himself and Voldemort's other followers, we would release Draco Malfoy. Malfoy should of course know we will question all those he brings in under truth spells and serums, but they apparently don't know they will be executed, unless none have committed murder, which I rather doubt, or they fear they will suffer even worse if they do not surrender. So, is it worth knocking out most of Voldemort's remaining supporters, especially, as Harry pointed out, the one who kept the organization going, at the price of Draco Malfoy NOT being killed?"

"Of course it is," Snape muttered.

"But then what does happen to Draco?" Harry asked. "Does he go to prison for the rest of his life, like Wormtail? If so, fine."

"No, Malfoy wants Draco freed, pardoned," Pwy said.

Harry frowned. "Then no."

"Hasn't he suffered enough, Potter?" Snape snapped. "Just because you don't like him. . . ."

"It has nothing to do with me disliking him," Harry argued back. "Malfoy doesn't ever believe anything he does is wrong. If he regrets anything in those few hours he's been revived since he was put in there, it's that he was caught. He told me last week he would be freed, that his father would get him out, and that one day we would pay for daring to imprison and petrify him. Well, it looks like he might have been right."

"Mere bluster," Snape insisted.

"I wouldn't go that far," Lupin mused. "Draco is a very arrogant and bitter young man. This comes partially from his insecurities, of course, the pressures of being worthy of his heritage. He is going to feel even greater pressure to bring glory to his family name if his freedom is bought at the price of his father's life, and he is not going to see that it is best done by working for others or the greater good. Release him, especially without true punishment, and you may well be releasing a time bomb."

"Those are Malfoy's conditions," Pwy said. "He must know that sooner or later, he's a dead man. His family heritage means everything to him, and for that family to continue, Draco has to be free and able to start his own family."

"Remind me, what are all his crimes?" Diggory asked.

"Plenty of minor infractions and suspicions before last year," Pwy said. "Then Draco tried to force two classmates, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, to join him in killing Potter. Crabbe and Goyle beat him up, and were later killed and then left as a warning at the Azkaban raid. He directed the two Dementors that Kissed the Clearwater family and Percy Weasley. The Clearwater son, a Third year Ravenclaw, was killed by the death curse, and Malfoy was the only wizard there. His wand later yielded proof it was used to kill young Clearwater as well as young Goyle and Crabbe. He was stunned by Percy Weasley before he was Kissed. Draco was therefore caught. He was guilty at least of incitement to murder, accessory to murder, and three murders, and was quickly sentenced to be Kissed, but the Dementors stationed at the Ministry had already defected. I was therefore able to affect his transfer while the Ministry was trying to decide who would have the guts to carry out the alternate sentence of death."

"Albus?" Diggory asked.

"I do not believe anyone is totally beyond redemption," Dumbledore said, some slight doubt in his voice, "but I must admit his actions of last year has made me believe young Draco is rather farther from redemption than I'd thought. Still, there might be hope."

"With all due respect," Sirius growled, "if Voldemort came in here, saying he'd had a change of heart and applying for the position of Defense teacher, I rather doubt you'd be tempted to believe him."

"True. I cannot believe even he to totally lost, but it would take a great deal to convince me to accept that he was on the right road. Young Mister Malfoy is not nearly as far along as even his father, however."

"I think he is, as far as I'm concerned. If Draco is freed, at some point in time, he'll try to kill me or attack my friends," Harry said grumpily.

"Well, one of the two of you certainly has a vendetta," Snape sneered.

"You should talk," Harry sneered right back. He'd had enough -- just one potions class had shown Snape was again as vindictive as he'd ever been. The previous year's truce was over. "You've been setting the example for Malfoy since my first day in class."

Snape leapt to his feet. "How dare you, boy!"

Sirius and Remus stood up and were ready to jump in front of Harry if need be. "It's true and you know it, Severus," Remus said. "Part of it has been an act, but only partly."

"You have taken nearly every opportunity to belittle me, my family, and my friends," said the still seated Harry, with an expressionless voice. "You've done everything to try and sabotage my learning in your class, except fiddling with the actual grade, and at the same time have tried to boost Malfoy. In fact, you've spoiled Malfoy in exactly the same way you've always claimed I've been treated." Harry's voice now grew truly powerful and sarcastic (sounding, in fact, much like his distant cousin, although Harry had never heard the Druid in full dress-down mode) "Well, if he wasn't such an incompetent, he'd have murdered me as well as those others. Would that have made you proud?"

"Harry!" Dumbledore protested.

"Thank you for saving my life back in my First year," Harry said, now standing and challenging Snape directly, "but stay away from me and mine from now on. And if you succeed in saving Draco, I'll hold you partially responsible for his future crimes."

"Think you're important, Potter?" Snape said with soft menace in his voice, "You think you can threaten a teacher?"

"That's right, abuse your position and then stand behind it," Harry snarled back, "like you always do!"

"ENOUGH!" Dumbledore declared, now standing. "Harry, Potions is not an absolutely required course after Fifth year. You're dropped, since you're also carrying Runes. You may also add Muggle Studies. I want the two of you to drop this dispute right now!"

"Yes, sir," Harry said.

"Very well, for now," Snape added.

"Severus!" Dumbledore warned.

"Once Voldemort is sorted out, you and I may still have some things to settle," Sirius told Snape. "If there's anything left, you and Harry can discuss it after he leaves Hogwarts."

"Fine, on both counts!" Snape declared.

"Fine," Harry also agreed. Then he smiled in a very evil way. "Wizard's Peace, Professor Snape?" he asked.

Snape looked surprised. "Are you serious?"

"I am. I think I can do it; can you?" That would mean both would be on their best behavior towards each other and their friends and family until the duel. Snape could no longer harass Ron, Hermione, or Ginny at the least.

"Even Longbottom?"

Harry went for broke. "Even Neville. . .except any time he actually melts a cauldron."

Snape almost smirked at that. "Agreed. July Thirty-first, Nineteen ninety-eight, or one year after the defeat of Voldemort, whichever comes second?"

"Agreed." They shook hands.

"Now, if we could please get back to the matter at hand?" Diggory asked.

The Druid, who had sat quietly through all this, looked towards the Minister. "Do you have a recommendation?"

"We can't just let young Malfoy go. On the other hand, I think we can accept his life being spared and his eventual release if Lucius keeps up his end of the bargain. Drive a hard one."

"Mister Weasley?"

"I agree, especially with that last statement. The Malfoys have supported every Dark Wizard that's come along for at least these last two centuries, without being punished for it. It's time to break the pattern."

"May I assume I know everyone else's position on this now?"

"May I know exactly who is deciding this?" Snape asked after a few moments of silence, fairly politely for him.

"Of course. In English, I am a Chief Druid and a member of the Tuatha. My name is not important." He stood and removed his cowl.

Snape looked in amazement, and Sirius and then Remus started laughing, mostly at Snape's expression.

"I shall formulate my terms by noon tomorrow, and have Pwy transmit them to Malfoy. He has until the First of October to accept them; until October Fifteenth to surrender, along with whatever Pwy, Diggory, and Dumbledore agree is an adequate representation of Voldemort's followers."

"When do you kill them?" Snape demanded.

"Just before mid-night on Halloween. I believe you should be one of the witnesses."

"Will your cousin here be there, too?" Snape sneered.

The Druid smiled back. "Harry is my fifty-fourth cousin, several times removed; I believe he is your twenty-first. Mister Black here is your twelfth, and I've been told this Mister Longbottom you mentioned is your sixth cousin. Therefore, I do not believe I am overly influenced by our distant relationship. However, I have decided to offer to be his Amddiffynnydd; for Harry to be my magical Dysgyr."

"What?" Snape demanded.

"Protector and apprentice," Remus said.

"Usually, we only accept a Dysgyr for Druidical training, but Harry's magic matches mine in so many ways that I believe he would benefit from my training him."

"I sense there's something more to this," Snape said.

"Well, as his protector, his quarrels may be mine." Harri gave an evil grin so identical to Harry's that it was frightening. Hermione had been right, they did look like uncle and nephew.

Pwy had never seen this side of Myrddin, and wasn't sure if he was mostly teasing Snape or was in deadly earnest. Somehow, it seemed to be both. In any event, he decided to join in while telling the truth at the same time. One never told an outright lie about a Druid leader. "Snape, how powerful am I?" Pwy asked.

"You're the most powerful wizard I've ever seen," Snape admitted, almost muttering it.

"Well," Pwy smirked, "you're talking to the most powerful wizard I've ever seen."

"Don't frighten the poor man," Harri teased. "I am certainly not as powerful as you, although it is close. As for Harry, he is slightly more powerful than Albus, and so needs some special training after Hogwarts. I grant you, working with Titus and Lupin here has already made him a duelist of national-level competence."

He turned to Harry. "If you decide not to teach or be an auror, you should be able to make a living on the dueling circuit, especially if you're playing Quidditch as well."

"Don't worry," Remus said with an evil smile of his own, "Titus, Sirius, and I will be tutoring him in dueling and fighting for the next two years. Harry will be ready for formal or street fighting when he needs to be."

Snape was looking a little green when the meeting broke up.

While Hermione had scheduled in slightly more free time this year, and he had been allowed to drop Potions (much to Ron's dismay, he wasn't allowed to as well), Harry found that he was just as busy as he'd been the year before. He was still carrying a full load (Charms, Defense, Transfiguration, Astronomy, Herbology, History, Care of Magical Creatures, and Divination, plus he'd added Runes and Muggle Studies).

Partly this was because he had to train the Quidditch team harder than he had the year before. The players (except for Ron) had been very experienced, and he'd had a full group of reserves to draw on. This year, he really only had five reserves, and the reserve beater and chasers weren't very good.

Partly it was because Titus and Remus were coaching him on fighting techniques even more than they had the year before (Sirius was mostly in the field). And, while his O.W.L.s were over, he was helping Ginny revise for hers, and, as Hermione said at least twice a week, "Our N.E.W.T.s will come up sooner than you think."

It was also harder to fall into the rhythm of the school year than it ever had been. Living the summer as parts of adult couples had spoiled all four of the quartet.

Worst of all, Harry's scar was aching again, although no visions bled through.

Thursday, October 10, 1996

It was during Herbology when the inevitable happened. Harry's scar exploded in pain. The scene he envisioned was confusing; hexes were being flung all over; Dementors glided about, attempting to Kiss Death Eaters who were trying to kill each other. Finally, Harry heard a familiar hissing snarl: "COWARDS! I shall find a way to triumph without any of you!" A hex exploded in Voldemort's face, making him scream in anger and pain.

Harry forced himself to step back; all his meditation training coming to bear. He recognized the place. He forced himself to surface to reality; opening his eyes, he looked right into Hermione's concerned expression. "Tell Doc," he whispered, "big fight at the old Riddle house, right now! Go, and they might catch them!"

The strain was too much. Harry passed out in Ron's arms; Hermione fled to inform Pwy and then Dumbledore.

When Harry woke up, he realized several things at once. First of all, he could tell he was in the Infirmary. He also realized he was cuddling two soft objects under each arm and tight to his chest. He gave a start and blushed bright red when he realized that those were Hermione and Ginny, and what was soft against his chest and upper arms -- they were apparently just wearing t-shirts and shorts, while their robes were draped on a chair next to the bed.

"Wake, sleepy-head?" Ginny murmured sleepily in his right ear. The softness also disappeared from his left arm, "We were worried about you," Hermione added.

Harry, now more or less recovered from the shock, smiled and opened his eyes again. Seeing no one else around (especially Ron), he said, "You two are spoiling me. How can I ever sleep again without both of you?"

Both girls blushed and slapped him on a respective shoulder. "Git!" Ginny said. "Pig!" Hermione added. Both were smiling, however.

Harry sighed and smiled even more, hugging them again. "What more can a man want; two beautiful, intelligent women in bed. . .OW!" They slapped his shoulders again, harder, and pushed slightly back.

"I take it this means you're feeling better?" Hermione asked severely as she sat up in the bed where she'd been napping.

"Yes, sis, I am. Seriously, thanks for being here." Hermione flushed a little again. Harry pulled them both into a third hug. Harry kissed Hermione on her forehead and gave Ginny a peck on the lips. Harry also took Ginny's hand. "Sorry for teasing you both. Can either of you tell me what's been happening since I passed out?"

"Not really," Hermione admitted. "It's almost dinner; Ron was sent to get us something to eat."

"But the elves can send things here direct!" Harry said.

"His pacing was getting on Madam Pomfrey's nerves," Ginny said simply.

"I told Doc and then Professor Dumbledore before finding Ginny and bringing her here. The Old Believers and most of the Aurors went off, and haven't come back here so far as I know. Unless it's total victory, you'll probably find out what happened before any of us."

"Very good, Hermione!" Sirius announced, coming in the room. Remus came in with him.

"Titus, Dumbledore, and the Chief Druid are still working on paper work and getting the prisoners sorted," Remus explained. "In short, Malfoy's followers revolted against Voldemort's control and his followers and Dementors. As best we can tell, Voldemort has no followers now, but unfortunately He escaped. Twenty-four more that fought for Voldemort are in the Wicker Man, including the Lestranges. Seventy-two Dementors were captured, the rest were destroyed. Thirty other Death Eaters, the ones that revolted and survived, have surrendered, including Malfoy. All the others are dead."

Sirius continued, "Young Malfoy is staying in the Wicker Man until Halloween, fully conscious from now on. Your friend will be coming to talk to you about Malfoy sometime."

"Are they really going to burn them alive?" Harry asked.

"They are," Remus said. "They won't feel it, I hope."

Ginny and Hermione both shivered at the thought. Sirius looked at them. "I agree, but since they're not really aware, it just looks worse than other forms of execution."

"I wish there was some other thing we could do to them," Hermione said, rather fiercely.

"There's nothing anyone has thought of, other than Dementors," the young Tuatha member said to them, coming into the room. "We can lock them into the Halls of Sorrows, caverns of nickel ore so deep they can't apparate across a room even with a wand, and the nickel prevents most types of wandless magic from affecting objects. But it's not fool proof. So, with a bit more humanity, we'll stay with tradition."

"Have you seen it done before?" Hermione asked.

"Once. It's not a pleasant sight, but I've seen far worse."

"Sir?" Harry asked.

"You want to know about young Malfoy?"

"Yes, sir, but more importantly, has Voldemort really escaped?"

"I'm afraid so, Harry. I rather expect he'll either go into deep hiding, or start make escalating terror attacks. Hopefully the first; that will give us more time to track him down."

"So what about Malfoy?" Ginny asked.

"We will be moving him to the village school near the Halls of Sorrows. He will be in exile, and not allowed to learn to apparate, until, at the earliest, he is twenty-five. Then, we shall reconsider his exile. Lucius insists that one of his fellow students is promised to him. When they are twenty-one, they may marry, but to do so she will have to join him in exile."

"That's not really enough punishment," Harry said grumpily, "but all things considered, I guess I can't complain."

"I should like you and your friends to be added to those appraised of Malfoy's behavior and consulted whenever his sentence is reviewed."

"Thank you, Doeth Athro," Harry said honestly.

Titus Pwy came in with Dumbledore. "Ah," Harri said, "Llofrudd. Is Justice ready?"

Pwy stared for a moment, surprised to see his leader here, then bowed assent.

"Have you decided on the minimum nine witnesses?"

"Nine?" Remus asked. "Not the general population?"

"That is allowed, but not required," Harri answered. "Since we have left the general world, nearly two thousand years ago, we have not had to do this too often. The last time was May, Nineteen eighty, when we sacrificed three Death Eaters to Justice. Nine witnesses are required, outside those responsible for the ceremony itself. As such, both the Llofrudd and I will be present."

"So far, I have chosen Snape, Black, Fudge, Diggory, McGill, and LaFleur," Pwy said, the last two being the Irish and French Ministries representatives. "I am still considering the other three spots.

"Not me?" Dumbledore asked.

"It's not pleasant, and you bear neither direct responsibility nor have suffered direct harm," Pwy said. Which certainly answered everyone's unasked question as to why Fudge would be requested.

"If Sirius will be there, may I?" Remus asked. "Hopefully I'll never get another chance to see the ceremonial aspects of the ritual."

"Of course; you may attend, even if you are not one of the official witnesses," Pwy answered.

"I will be there, if it is permitted."

Pwy merely bowed.

"And I?" Dumbledore asked.

"Don't go, Athro Dumbledore," Harri said. "Trust me on this."

"Should I go?" Harry asked. "I certainly have suffered direct harm."

"So have I," Hermione said, ignoring a very bad taste in the back of her throat, "and if Harry and I are considering becoming Believers of a sort, then we should take the unpleasant aspects of the beliefs along with what we find wonderful."

"Witnesses can't avert their eyes," Pwy said sternly.

"They can if they are present but not one of the nine official witnesses," Harri replied. "I don't recommend that you attend; if you do, I will not permit you to be witnesses. You must be able to avert your eyes; we will force those who are witnesses to watch, so that they may swear those who are burned alive did actually die."

Ginny made some gagging noises and ran into the bathroom. Harry and Hermione looked at each other. "We'll be there, Doeth Athro," Hermione said, "Ron and Ginny probably won't be. We will abide your command not to be official witnesses."

"Then I shall also be there," Dumbledore said.

"So, we now have seven witnesses, with Professor Lupin here. How many more are you considering to draw from?" Harri asked.

"Twelve, Doeth Athro."

"Inform me when you have selected them." He turned to Harry. "Rest well, Athro Potter. We still have much to plan and discuss before the winter solstice." Harri bowed and left.

Dumbledore herded the other adults out as well. "Madam Pomfrey said you could return to Gryffindor after you eat," he said as he left. "And I see Mister Weasley returning with the results of a raid on the kitchen. Good night."

Ron came in, his arms loaded with food. "What happened?"

Thursday, October 31, 1996

There were over fifty Old Believers assembled just before sunset, guarding the Wicker Man and its condemned. The nine witnesses (Pwy had selected two from the International Press), Harry, Hermione, and Dumbledore were the only others present, and they arrived a little after 8:00 pm.

Draco Malfoy had been released from the Wicker Man shortly after the witnesses arrived and was taken away. The last thing he said was, "I'll be back, Potter! Never think I won't be! And if nothing else, I'll be looking you and the Weasels!"

Snape had shaken his head at that; it had sounded much more like a genuine threat than mere bravado even to him.

Pwy approached the witnesses with nine small vials. "This potion will prevent you from closing your eyes for more than a few seconds at a time, although it will allow normal blinking. As unpleasant as this is, you must watch and then testify." He turned to the Lestranges. "This is your last chance to be stunned before being burned alive!"

"We will be awake when He comes to rescue us! We are faithful!" Lestrange called out. "You will all suffer!" his wife added with a scream.

"Stun the others!" There were 117 in the wicker cages. Six Cigfrans moved quickly and stunned 115 of them, while twelve Sersiants had preceded them and tied them upright and twelve more followed laid the cages with dry wood and lots of hay and herbs. That would generate smoke that would also cause death quicker than just the flames for those in the upper cages.

A Cigfran then stood behind each witness, ready to compel them to keep looking at the Wicker Man if need be. Dumbledore stood behind Harry and Hermione. Harry felt Hermione's small, clammy hand grasp his tightly.

The breeze that had been blowing died down to nothing. The Tuatha began a chant, which was picked up by many of the Old Believers. The scholars present understood it to be a plea that the deaths of the Dark Ones satisfy the demands of Justice. Suddenly, the wolves turned back into dancers. Their chant was much older, in a language that was still known only to a few hundred people; it went back far far beyond even the first building at Stonehenge; to a time when even agriculture had not yet been invented anywhere. Harry felt that rush of power he had felt in January near the same spot.

Harri Myrddin stepped forward, and sparked a ring of oil around the base of the structure. The fire had begun. It spread almost instantly to the frame of the entire structure.

Harry suddenly knew the words of the chant, and as he dropped Hermione's hand he joined in. The dancers were drawn to him, and Harry joined the dance. The fire quickly spread throughout the interior of the Wicker Man. The chanting Old Believers and dancing/chanting dancers could not cover up the screams from the Lestranges, trapped in one of the bottom cages, but Harry didn't hear a sound beyond the chant.

Hermione, not looking at the screaming couple, was the first to see the orange streams of power rising from the Old Believers and the indigo streams coming from the dancers other than Harry.

Harry suddenly stood still, raising his hands. The streams of power came to Harry's hands, indigo to his left, orange to his right. A green light flowed between them.

A sound came out of the green light; phoenix song drowned out the last of the screaming and even the roar of the flames that were quickly consuming the structure. The green light, not the sickly green of the death curse but the brilliant green of living plants, sought out a few individuals, touching and comforting them: Hermione; Dumbledore; Harri Myrddin and the other two members of the Tuatha; Remus; and one of the female dancers. Two strands shot off towards Hogwarts.

Harri walked over towards Harry, a look of awe on his face. He did nothing to interfere. A few minutes later, Ginny and Ron appeared by floating in, looking very surprised and surrounded by green auras.

They landed and looked in amazement, then horror. The Wicker Man would have already collapsed had it not been held up by magic, and all the bodies were burning into ashes, writhing as the muscles contracted in the fire. Harry lowered his arms, and gathered Ginny into them, hiding the scene from her, and all the magical tendrils disappeared. The chanting ended, and everyone's attention went to Harry.

"What happened?" Snape demanded, over the roar of the flames.

"We have seen the rebirth of the Order of the Phoenix," Myrddin said in awe. "The Powers of Light have blessed us!"

"What nonsense is that!" Snape demanded.

"The last time this appeared was when?" Lupin demanded, "over twenty-one hundred years ago?"

"Well, the last time it happened at a real sacrifice was two thousand one hundred and two years ago tonight," Myrddin said. "It usually happened about once every three or four years, before we allied with the German tribes against Rome, bringing eventual destruction to our Ways, and then nothing for centuries, over a millennia, in fact. After we lost the right to judge others, we still at least burned effigies twice a year, and this occurred only once, and that was only for a few seconds. After we moved to America, however, we have had six occurrences, all very short. We have restored missing harmony to the world. Scoff if you wish, Severus Snape, but Harry is the link between your world and ours. Your former Lord may try as he might to bring Darkness, but the Light of the Phoenix will win in the end."

"Do you think this show would impress him?"

"Probably not. In fact, he is no doubt out killing someone now, out of retribution for tonight. He is powerful, but in the end, he will have no more lasting affect on the world than this fire has had on the ground of all Scotland!" Having said that, the remains of the thin wooden frame collapsed into ashes. There was no sign of any bodies.