Training and Confrontations

Chapter XLVII Thursday, July 17, 1997

Harry, Luna, and Hermione emerged from the underground grotto a few minutes after noon, smiling, happy, relaxed, and holding hands.

"Have a good time, did ya?"

"Good afternoon, Alastor," Luna said. Her smile faded. "What has happened?"

Moody sighed.

"What's Riddle done?" Harry demanded.

Moody simply gave them the information. "Yesterday afternoon, Longbottom and the Weasley girl went out for a picnic. They were attacked, and the girl was taken."

"Is Neville . . . dead?" Hermione asked.

Moody frowned from confusion. "Actually, no. He wasn't even hurt, he was just petrified. The girl recognized him as Riddle. Riddle told Longbottom that Harry here should try and follow. He left a clue. Dumbledore is waiting for you at Hogwarts. I have a portkey here."

"Let's go!" Harry said, looking very determined.

"Wait!" Luna said.

"Why?" Hermione asked.

"Riddle has kidnaped Ginny, and wants Harry to follow. That means he's running towards some trap he has organized. Obviously, he could have run in any direction. Still, there is at least a slight chance he's been fleeing in this direction. As Harry pointed out last year, Riddle has hidden in Albania before this, and Albania is in range."

"True," Hermione said. She looked at Harry. "We should do the tracking spell."

"There is nae that much time," Moody warned.

"We won't need much," Hermione stated, closing her eyes. "Harry, take a deep breath and calm down."

"Yes, dear," Harry said, following her instructions.

Moody watched as the three teens' breathing slowed and went into sync. They relaxed only for a moment, and then they opened their eyes.

"183 miles to the South by Southeast," Hermione said.

"I have them," Harry assured them. "Dobby!"

Dobby popped into the clearing. "Harry Potter calls?"

"Three knapsacks with changes of underwear and socks, food concentrates and chocolate in those ever-fill packages you told me about, and the ever-fill thermoses, two per knapsacks. One with water and one with hot soup. Light Muggle denim jackets and our heavy cloaks. You and Winky are to make certain our supplies are kept filled."

"Yes, Master Harry!" Dobby disappeared.

"Master Harry?" Hermione asked.

"If that's what he wants to call me and he takes pay and wears clothes, why not?"

Hermione sighed. "Fine."

Tom Riddle looked at the girl with a sneer. She was moderately easy to control. He only wished he could repossess her. He was not in any condition to thwart the Lords -- yet. He glanced at the watch glass they had given him. Potter and his sluts should be back at any time. He smiled as it glowed red, but frowned when he saw it change into orange.

Potter had not reappeared back in Britain. He was somewhere much closer. The questions now where, would word of the kidnaping have already reached their appearance point? (It was probable that it had, Riddle decided, but not certain.) Would Potter go immediately back to Britain, or would he think to trace him first? After all, that was why Potter had left for training.

Riddle decided that Potter was most likely want to go back to Britain to gather the clue he had left. Since he had two women with him, however, there was a good chance someone would think to try and trace. "Get up, girl," Riddle ordered.

"Why?"

"Get up, or I shall force you."

"What does that glass mean?" Ginny asked, slowly standing.

"Never you mind, girl." He waved his wand, and the few supplies he had were gathered into two knapsacks. "If you want to eat and drink for the next two or three days, pick that up and carry it. Lose it, and you get nothing. Understand?"

"Yes," Ginny hissed.

"Good. Use the toilet if you need it. It might be the last plumbing you ever see."

While Ginny used the facilities, Riddle watched the glass. Just as she came out, the orange washed out and turned to blue . . . which quickly faded and slowly turned violet. Riddle roughly grabbed Ginny and disapparated.

The race was on.

"Harry did what!"

Alastor Moody looked at the werewolf, who appeared slightly feverish. 'Not surprising,' Moody thought. 'It's only a few days 'til the next full moon.' Moody's memory was drawn back to the previous December, when Harry had been recovering from the poisoned knife. Moody and Lupin had been sitting in Harry's room in the Hogwarts' Infirmary. Harry had been scratching away at some of his homework, Remus had been correcting student essays, and Moody had been drawing up some lesson plans.

Tonks had come into the room and laughed at them, saying, "This what I like to see. Three generations of men at the family business."

After she had left, Harry had said, "She's right, you know."

"About what?" Moody had asked.

"We may not be related, but we are a family, and I'm learning the family business from you two."

Moody and Lupin had both thought about that, and had to agree. Moody had outlived the few relatives he had had, and he had never been very close to any of them. Lupin's parents and grandparents had been killed in the first war, and he had no other contact with his other relatives.

"Well," Moody had said, "I'd be proud to claim either of you."

Coming back to the present, Moody looked at Remus Lupin. "Harry did exactly what you would have wanted to do in his place," Moody said. "He located Riddle, and he and his girls went after him. We cannot trace him. He and his girls are on their own." He glared at Dumbledore. "Unless you have any ideas?"

"There are thousands of places Riddle might be heading," Dumbledore said in a tired voice. "There is only one that I can think of where I can even ask for help. If you'll excuse me, I'll need to create some very long-distance portkeys."

Saturday, July 19, 1997

Tom Riddle nearly collapsed in front of the great ancient wooden and bronze gates. It would normally have taken the best parts of three days to apparate from Albania to the secret valley in Tibet. Even a powerful wizard got tired after three or four long apparations, especially when he was dragging a reluctant witch with him.

It had taken Riddle 36 hours.

Despite being a good four time zones east, and it being high summer, dawn was still quite some time away in the high mountains. Potter had come close enough twice for Riddle to know that his two women were with him. He knew he did not want to be caught by the three of them.

Well, that was no longer his problem. Potter would be stuck at the borders of the valley until one of the Lords invited him in. They could deal with the two witches as well.

Riddle managed to stand just as the great doors opened. He dragged the now re-petrified Ginny Weasley behind him, and entered the cavern.

"There must be a way in," Hermione stated, "we just can't see it."

"No," Luna agreed, her tone a mix of sadness, anger, and despair, "we can't." She sniffled slightly. "Ginny. . . ."

Harry glared. They were at the crest of a low mountain, surrounded by very high mountains. Wards of such immense power that they made the wards of Hogwarts seem insignificant stopped them from their goals -- catching Riddle and saving Ginny.

"I don't think staring at the ward boundary will help," Hermione said.

Harry growled. He lifted his arms, and raw power shown from his hands and streaked from his wand. "Whatever forces command these boundaries, I demand entrance for myself and my companions!" Harry's power flashed across the wards, which flared. The very ground shook.

"Say who you and what you are and what you want!" an unseen voice commanded.

"I am Harry Potter, the Avenger, and his two companions. We seek one who is lost to us and the evil wizard who took her!"

"I am Luna Lovegood, companion and fellow seeker!" Luna called out.

Luna elbowed Hermione. "I am Hermione Granger, companion and fellow seeker," Hermione said in a much less enthusiastic voice.

"Only Harry Potter may take the final journey. However, the three of you may first transport to a shelter, unless your companions prefer to wait outside the wards. At the shelter, you will be provided sustenance and warmth." The high valleys were still chilly, even in the summer. "Afterwards, Harry the Avenger, you will travel to the gates, and confront your future."

The three looked at each other. "We'll come inside the wards," Hermione said. The voice gave them the apparation coordinates, and they were allowed inside the wards.

"Not a very comfy place," Harry remarked.

"Better than the top of the valley," Luna said as she lit the fire. She looked at the table. "Rough bread, yak butter, some sort of dried meat, and some dried fruit. Not a feast, but with what we have with us, it should make a good meal."

"We have to be careful," Hermione pointed out. "Inside wards that powerful, our food might not be replenished."

"Good point," Luna agreed. "Oh, a letter for Harry." She held it out.

Harry glanced at it, "Directions to a gated cavern," Harry said.

"I know you want to get to Ginny as soon as possible," Hermione said, "but I think you should eat first."

"I agree," Harry said. "I'll take the water and some fruit with me. I'll leave the rest of my supplies with you. You two should sleep in shifts. I don't want the pair of you kidnaped."

"I could be wrong, of course, but I don't think Riddle is in control here," Luna said as she split up the food.

"I don't think he works for other people," Hermione pointed out.

"No," Luna agreed. "However, he must want to be restored to something like he was before. There are powerful magical groups hidden all around the world. Some are Light, some are Dark, some are more neutral. They might help Riddle, or they might want something from Harry."

"I guess I'll find out soon enough," Harry said, sitting down to some hot soup and the bread.

Less than an hour later, Harry had reluctantly left Luna and Hermione behind and traveled to the gates. When they closed behind him, a line of magical torches lit, showing a long, descending tunnel into the mountain.

Harry frowned. He was tired, he was angry, and he was out of patience. He dismissed his feelings, and carefully moved down the tunnel.

After a hundred yards, side tunnels started showing up. Since they were all dark, Harry kept moving down the main tunnel. The torches lit up forty yards ahead of him, and went out about twenty yards behind him.

When Harry had progressed at least a mile underground, he stopped walking and glanced around. "Oi! How much longer is this nonsense going to go on?"

The same voice that had responded to his call on the mountain now called from in front of him, "In your measurements, approximately another four hundred meters. Then, you shall be making a right turn, and walk another fifty meters or so. I shall be waiting to speak with you."

"Yeah," Harry called out, "I have some things to say to you, too!" He broke into a slow trot, which quickly moved him to the areas where the torches were lighting.

Harry made the right turn, and finally, he found himself in a circular room, some thirty yards across. A figure in a dark robe stood to Harry's far left stood in the shadows.

"Where's Ginny?" Harry demanded.

"She is safe. Your two companions shall not be harmed. We hope we will not have to hurt you."

"I don't like threats," Harry stated.

The figure pulled down the hood of his robe, revealing a young-looking Indian-looking man.

"Who are you?" Harry asked.

"How old do I appear to you, Harry Potter?"

Harry shrugged. "Maybe thirty. Since you're a wizard, I suppose you could be older."

"I was born near the upper-Ganges, in what you would call the year 489 bc."

"You're . . . 2486 years old? Yeah, sure."

"I am. In my regular life, I was about as powerful as you are. Tell me, since our powers slowly grow over time, how powerful might I be now?"

"You're just saying that so I won't hex the hell out of you," Harry said.

"No. There are thirteen of us here at the moment. While no one and nothing is truly immortal, we come as close as is possible. We will provide you evidence later."

"We'll see. Where is Ginny? Where is Riddle?"

"Riddle is housed some distance away. His captive is, as I said, currently safe and well-taken care of."

Harry frowned.

"It will not do you any good to lose your temper, Harry Potter. We will be talking with you, and hopefully we will be able to come to an agreement, over your future, Riddle, and his captive."

"You mean your captive."

"She is not our captive. Riddle is not one of us."

"Then why did he run here?"

"That may also be revealed later. Now, you are tired." A slight movement of the man's finger caused the lights to brighten. The part of the chamber that had been in the deepest shadows now showed a door. "There is a sleeping chamber beyond that door. The lanterns will respond to your commands. There are water and fruits. You will be called for in nine hours." The man bowed, and in less than two seconds, he had faded out of sight.

"Nice trick," Harry admitted. He sighed, and carefully opened the door, but there was only a bed (with a chamber pot underneath it, which made Harry wrinkle his nose a bit), a chair and small desk, and the two lanterns on the walls.

Harry took off his cloak, his knapsack, some of his layers of clothes, and his boots. Harry laid down, and was soon asleep.

"It looks pretty out there," Luna said some hours later. Both she and Hermione had taken short naps.

"It does, but somehow, I think it would be dangerous to wander around," Hermione pointed out.

"It would be," Luna agreed. "There are watchers. I can feel them. They are passively hostile."

Hermione would have dismissed anyone else saying anything like that, but she had come to trust Luna. "Passively hostile?"

"I don't believe they will attack us, unless we try to leave."

"Or unless they are ordered to?"

Luna chewed on her lower lip for a moment before answering. Finally, she said, "Perhaps. I don't really sense that, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen."

"So we keep trading off naps?"

"That does seem to be our safest course of action."

"What do you want?" the oldest of the Immortals asked. "Has Potter done something?"

"Potter slept well. He woke up twenty minutes ago, and knows we will expect him soon."

"And Riddle?"

The Indian wizard smiled. "We still have him asleep. The girl is awake and pacing, but she is not yet powerful enough to do anything."

"Then what is the problem?"

"Contemplate the approaches towards the north northeast."

The woman concentrated for a moment. Her eyes opened wide in surprise. "I must admit, I did not expect the pair of them."

"What do we do?"

She shrugged. "Awaken Riddle. Send for the others. We may as well start."

"Of course."

In the blink of an eye, Harry was transported from the bed chamber to the Audience Chamber. Harry admitted he was a bit impressed by its size.

He found himself standing in a circle of light about nine or ten feet across. He could not move out of the circle. About ten yards off to his left and slightly behind him, Riddle stood frozen in a similar circle. Ginny was behind him and to his right, also frozen in place.

In front of Harry, twelve of the fifteen thrones on the dias were occupied. "Who are you?" Harry demanded. One his attention was on the thirteen seated before him, he did not notice Riddle and Ginny being unfrozen.

"Over the millennia," the Indian wizard intoned, "many have sought immortality. Others have had it thrust upon them. A few have been granted it. We thirteen are immortal."

"Thirteen?" Harry asked.

"Yes. One is occupied just outside our valley at the moment. To continue, we seek others to join us."

"Why? Are you off to conquer the world, like Riddle?"

"Yes and no," the wizard answered. "Should any wizard attempt to, as you say, conquer the world, the magical world produces a counterbalance. Such was the case with Riddle and yourself. This has happened thirty-six times around the world over the last twenty-one hundred years, to our knowledge."

"Has the dark wizard ever won?" Harry asked.

"A few times. At which point, another champion emerges. Because dark wizards can never truly band together, they can never win in the long run."

"So, there are at least thirteen of you. I take it you're claiming to conquer the world for the good guys, eh?"

"In a sense, yes. We believe it will take the power of twenty-seven immortals, working together, to be able to prevent a dark wizard emerging powerful enough to oppose us. Until that time, we watch, with as much dispassion as possible, and rarely interfere."

"Riddle seems to want you to interfere," Harry pointed out.

"True. As I said, some of us achieved immortality through our own efforts, a few wizards throughout history have achieved it by accident, and a few have been created. We wanted to try an experiment, and Riddle wanted power and a longer life."

"And what does he want now?"

"He wants us to duplicate it. A much more difficult procedure, considering what happened a few weeks ago."

"Why did he kidnap Ginny?"

"Ah . . . our price to consider attempting to replicate the procedure was for him to bring you here unharmed. To do that, he kidnaped the girl."

"Why did you want me here?" Harry asked, puzzled.

"We have asked you here to join us. We would like you to be the fourteenth Immortal Lord of Magic."