Of Girls and Goddesses

Of Girls and Goddesses

Chapter VI

As part of each Dark Arts lesson, a couple of the students had been bringing in a curse story, as Croaker had told them to, although, true to his word, he had mixed things up and had them doing something different every week. Harry liked this. It kept the lessons interesting, and kept everyone on their toes. Nearly everyone had gotten a turn to tell a story by December.

"That is a typical spur-of the-moment curse," Croaker had told Ron when he told the class about the cursed hat that had made Bill's ears shrivel up. "They are usually quite easy to remedy. Many curses are minor curses. They just come out due to anger or frustration. That's quite different than the guardian curse I showed you when I had Harry face the statues. A curse that is protecting something at least has some genuine purpose. A cursed hat is simply mean-spirited."

When it was Seamus Finnegan's turn to talk, he had told them an Irish story, of course. "In Limerick, Ireland," Seamus said, "there is a famous curse story about Gerald, the 16^th Earl of Desmond. He was trying to summon some demons, when his wife interrupted and spoiled the experiment. The demons cursed him and his whole estate sank under Lough Gur. Even the Limerick muggles know about that curse. They believe Gerald still haunts the lough."

"They could hear the horse," Croaker had agreed. "The demons were very powerful. As punishment for disturbing them, they condemned the earl to ride a horse shod with silver shoes around the lake on one night every seven years. The demons told the earl that when the horse's silver shoes finally wore out, he would be allowed to rest in peace. The moral of that story is not to mess about with demons, when you don't know what you're doing."

Dean Thomas had found a story about a Romany gypsy who had been arrested for fraud in 1963, in New York. "She tricked an old woman out of her life's savings. She told the woman that her money was cursed. The old lady gave her 118,273 American dollars to dispose of to end the curse. The old lady later changed her mind and wanted her money back. She had the gypsy arrested. When she was convicted, the gypsy put a curse on the prosecutor," Dean said. "As she was led out of the courtroom, she told him that no woman would ever love him, and he never got married."

Ron was confused. "If she was a witch, does that mean the money was really cursed or not?"

"Probably not," Croaker said, amused. "The Romany princess was just taking advantage of a gullible muggle. You don't always have to use magic for that. The curse on the prosecutor might have been real, though. I'm not familiar with that story."

Parvati Patil, who had always been interested in Egypt, although frightened of mummies, brought up the famous curse of King Tut. She had hoped that Professor Croaker might be impressed by her choice, since he was an expert on Egyptian history. "The tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen had a curse on it. The people who disturbed the king's eternal rest died mysterious deaths," Parvati said, dramatically.

"Several people connected with the Tut excavation died too young, or died unexpectedly," Croaker agreed, and Parvati beamed.

Her face fell, however, when he continued, "But I don't believe that tomb had any curses on it at all. Tut was a very minor king, who also died very young, only about 19 or so. He was not one of the empire-builders. He would have not made that much of an impression on his subjects that they would have gone to extreme lengths to protect his small sepulcher. He was related to the heretic king, Akhenaten, and being part of an unpopular dynasty would not have helped. Indeed, his original name was Tutankhaten, and it had to be changed to distance him from the unpopular religion that had failed. He had a short reign and was only in his late teens when he died. His queen, Ankhesnamun, was probably only 16 or 17 years old. She would not have been able to manage such a curse. I really don't think it is likely that the tomb was cursed at all, although it is a popular legend, and will undoubtedly continue to be so. "

Parvati looked insulted. "Lord Carnarvon financed the dig and was one of the first people to enter the tomb in 1922. He died mysteriously in 1923, at the age of 57, not old for a muggle. It is believed he pricked his finger on something in the tomb."

"Carnavon died when an insect bite became infected. He developed a fever, then caught pneumonia. It's not the usual progression of a death curse," Croaker said patiently. "Of the first five people to entered the tomb, Carnavon was the only one who was dead ten years later. Howard Carter, the chief excavator, who should have been just as cursed as his backer, lived until 1939. Dr. Douglas Derry, who performed the dissection of the king's mummy, lived to be over eighty, which IS old for a muggle of that time. Don't you think if anyone would have been cursed, he would have?"

Parvati continued to sulk as Croaker turned to the rest of the class. "The ancient Egyptians spent a lot of effort to preserve their dead. Even Egyptian muggles were renowned for their interest in the occult and for their knowledge of poisons. Egyptian wizards were experts on curses. Some of those curses retain a great deal of power today, but not every single person who has contact with a tomb will be cursed. When dealing with curses, you always need to remember the difference between romance and reality."

Right before Christmas, Croaker began to summarize what they had learned about curses. "We know there are curses to cause pain, to seek revenge, to gain control, to guard people or places, and to punish. Can anyone tell me a story about a different kind of curse?"

Harry, who had been avoiding telling a story, decided it was time to let the truth out. "There are killing curses, like the Avada Kedavra curse that the Dark Lord tried to kill me with. He tried to kill me because of a prophecy that was made before I was born. The prophecy said I would be a danger to him. My father tried to hold him off so my mother could get away with me, but the Dark Lord killed him. He tried to kill me, but my mother died to save me. Her protection lingered long enough to deflect the curse."

Many of the students had not heard Harry discuss his past before, and were quite amazed by his story. Ron and Hermione looked quite troubled, even though they knew Harry had not told the whole story. Croaker looked at Harry, also troubled. "That is ancient magic. It is fortunate that part of the curse's power was deflected back at the Dark Lord by your mother's sacrifice, but he is still a danger, and I would not advise anyone to think they can also be lucky enough to beat a killing curse of that type." After class, Croaker went to Dumbledore's office, and told him that Harry had spoken openly about the curse and the prophecy.

Dumbledore looked grave. "I am glad Harry went no further. He has been bearing his burden well, and I am not surprised he finally spoke out, but if he had gone into any more detail, it might have been dangerous."

Croaker nodded. "I have found Harry Potter to be a very remarkable young man. I have seen evidence of everything you told me about him when you asked me to come here. Perhaps he has spent so much time in danger, that it is becoming a normal condition to him."

Professor Dumbledore sighed. "I hope not, but that's possible. Speaking of danger, is the casket ready to be moved?"

"Yes," Croaker replied. "I had trouble getting permission to study it. It is considered to be a most valuable and magnificent artifact, especially since it has not been opened, but my reputation as an expert on hieroglyphics and on the occult did the trick. The scientists who know I am a wizard know I would not involve myself unless it was important. If I say a curse is real, they know I mean it. They also helped me to persuade the proper people. I just need a place to take it. Somewhere nearby, but preferably not on the school ground. I want to make sure there is no chance of it being somewhere it will be accidentally disturbed."

"I think I have an appropriate place. It fits all of your requirements. The Order has been using it when we have to station people near the school, but can't risk bringing them inside. It is not large, but we have made it clean and comfortable. It belongs to Remus Lupin, but I'm sure I will have no trouble getting permission for you to use it."

"Then I will arrange to take possession of the scroll over Christmas break. It can wait until the students have gone, but not much longer. If Snape is to be believed, Voldemort is already planning to search the British museum. If he finds out the scroll is there, an attack is inevitable," Croaker said.

"I trust Severus Snape," Dumbledore said simply. "You can believe him."

When Neville's friends went home with him over the Christmas holidays, Harry was able to go along as he had promised. It had been hard work, getting Dumbledore to agree, but after the attack on Alice and Frank Longbottom, the family had put a wide assortment of security measures on the manor. After reviewing them, Dumbledore finally conceded that Harry would probably be safe there for a short visit.

Neville's grandmother met them at the train station, and greeted Harry most cordially. Dumbledore's concern obviously hadn't upset her. He was always afraid people would start considering him too dangerous to befriend. She was wearing her favorite hat, tall, with a stuffed vulture on top, a fox fur scarf, and was carrying a familiar red handbag. Harry had to control himself so he didn't laugh, remembering the image of Severus Snape dressed in those clothes. When they had collected their luggage, they used a portkey to get to Neville's home. Harry was getting rather used to portkeys.

They appeared in front of the house, which was picturesque in the snow. It was a large manor house, set back behind a heavy wrought iron fence. It was surrounded by a large garden. Harry, knowing Neville's luck with plants, assumed it would have been very pleasant if it hadn't of been winter. When they entered, Harry and his friends found themselves in a large central hall with a floor of beautiful varigated marble in gray, white and black. The furniture was made of dark wood with brocade upholstery. A curving staircase, smelling of beeswax, twined majestically upward to the second story landing. Harry couldn't help but think his Aunt Petunia would have loved this house. There was not a speck of dust to be seen anywhere, and certainly no doxies.

Mrs. Lomgbottom set her handbag down on a small table. "We will have refreshments in the drawing room. Neville, take their cloaks, and then perhaps you could show your friends around while I see to that?"

Neville took them through the dining room first. A long table dominated the room, and a crystal chandelier sparkled brightly above it. He then showed them a splendid game room, with a billiard table, a heavy wooden bar, and a elaborate dart board. There was also a smaller table set with a very fine chess set, and another table with a set of solid gold gobstones on it.

"Wow," Ron exclaimed, looking at the billiard table with longing.

"Are billiards in a wizarding house anything like muggle billiards?" Harry asked.

"Pretty much, except the balls rack themselves for you, and they laugh at you if you miss your shot," Neville replied. "Do you play?"

"I never have but I'd like to learn," Harry answered.

"Oh, good," Neville said, pleased. "I love to play, but I don't usually have anyone to play with. My great-uncle Algie plays with me once in awhile, but he's getting quite old, and he's not feeling well. He's not even coming for Christmas. That's one of the reasons Gran let me invite you all here. She didn't want the house to be so empty."

The drawing room had a truly magnificent fireplace, and the walls were covered with navy blue flocked wallpaper with a cream background. Velvet in the same shade of blue was draped over the windows, and there were soft creamy silk draperies underneath. When they got there, Neville's grandmother was sitting on a light blue settee. The tea things, a plate of sandwiches, a pitcher of milk and a tray of small cakes sat on the table in front of her. Ron took the chair farthest away from her, looking rather intimidated. Neville guided Ginny and Hermione into chairs across from her, and took one himself. Luna had seated herself in a corner of the settee, looking perfectly at home, and Harry sat beside her.

"The usual, dear?" Mrs. Lomgbottom asked Neville. "Two sugars and cream. What about you two?" She looked at Harry and Luna, and Luna replied gracefully.

"One sugar, please, and thank you so much. It's a pleasure to be invited to such a lovely home."

"It's a pleasure to see you, my dear. You father used to come and visit my son quite a bit when they were at Hogwarts together. They used to like to ice skate on the pond. Those were happier times."

"I'm sure there are still happy times to be had," Luna replied, taking her tea.

"Tea with sugar for me as well," Harry said. "I wish I had skates. I'd like to try that."

"I'm sure we can come up with some," Neville said, passing the tray of sandwiches around, as Mrs. Longbottom handed Harry his tea, and fixed one with sugar and lemon for Hermione.

Ron and Ginny asked for plain milk. As Mrs. Longbottom passed it, she looked at them carefully. "You look just like your mother did at your age," she told Ginny. "And you remind me of your father, Ronald. He was a few years older than my Frank. Frank used to follow him everywhere. Your father was always into mischief! One time he bought a muggle radio in town and the boys tried to make it play. They threw it into the pond when they couldn't get the batteries to go in."

"Dad did that? No wonder he still has a thing for batteries," Ginny said, startled. They all laughed, and after that, conversation came easier, and everyone, even Ron, was disappointed when Mrs. Longbottom excused herself and left them to finish their tea and cakes without her.

After they finished their tea, They went to the game room, and all took turns trying out the different games, and commenting on each other's skills. Harry turned out to be a natural at billiards. Hermione and Luna had a game of darts, and Luna turned out to be quite good. Hermione was not, however, and as the darts made rude remarks when they were not thrown well, she soon got frustrated, and coaxed Ron into a game of chess. She was by no means an expert at chess, but at least she had the basic idea of the game. After awhile, Neville looked at the clock and suggested they all go upstairs to get ready for dinner.

"The whole wing on the right side is bedrooms, but not many of them are used very often any more. Gran is on the left side of the house, so we won't bother her. I'll show you all of the bedrooms, and you can choose any room you like, and I'll have your things brought up." He showed them his room first, which was on the right side of the second floor corridor. It was a good-sized room, and had quite a few books and a large plant stand in it. There was an enormous four poster bed with a canopy that was very similar to the ones at Hogwarts. The rug was brown and beige, and the bedspread and curtains were also in earth tones.

The room across the hall from Neville's was a bit smaller and had two comfortable looking single beds in it. Hermione and Ginny decided at once to share it. The beds were covered with satin coverlets in a deep purple color. The drapes were made of heavy purple velvet, and there were sheer curtains underneath, that were a pale shade of lilac. There was a beautiful dressing table with a matching lilac skirt around it and a large mirror with an ornate silver frame.

The room next to Neville's was a warm and cheery room done in shades of green. Besides a large bed, the room held a sturdy desk, a bookcase filled with Quidditch trophies and a glass case against one wall that contained a number of fine brooms. Ron was drawn to them at once. "Look at this! An Oakshaft 79! A Moontrimmer! A Silver Arrow! Neville, do you know what these are worth?"

Neville shrugged. "My great-uncle Algie collects brooms. He played Quidditch in Wales when he was younger, for the Caerphilly Catapults. He got the Dangerous Dai award two years in a row. He met my great-aunt when she was playing for the Holyhead Harpies. He said he fell in love with her the first time she blurted him. This is his room when he's able to visit. Do you want to stay here?"

"I'd love it!" Ron said, enthusiastically. "I never thought I'd EVER see a Moontrimmer up close! That was made in about 1901, that was!"

Luna decided to take a room on the other side of the hall. It was decorated in ice blue with white woodwork. The wallpaper was a pale blue and white, and the bed was covered with a pale blue spread and had many shiny, pale blue pillows on it, each one covered in finely worked white lace.

The last room on the left side had a large Victorian gilt canopy bed with a paisley bedspread done in shades of rich burgundy and green. There was a glass-topped table and a pair of chairs standing in front of the window, which had draperies and tiebacks made in the same fabric as the spread.

"Do you like this, Harry?" Neville asked, hopefully.

"Of course," Harry answered, thinking that this would be the finest room he had ever stayed in.

"Then I'll go arrange for you all to get your trunks," Neville said, and left them in the hallway.

"Have you ever seen such a house!" Ginny said, stunned, when he was out of earshot. "It's gorgeous."

"Who would have thought poor old Neville lived like this," Ron replied.

"Poor Neville it is," Luna said with a sigh. "It must get very lonely here."

"Well, it's not going to be lonely now," Hermione said.

They all had a wonderful visit. Mrs. Longbottom, who joined them for at least one meal a day, enjoyed watching them, and especially Neville's response to them. "This was the right thing to do," she said to herself firmly, hearing them laugh over breakfast the morning after they arrived. "The lad WAS lonely, and I like what they have done for him."

After she came up with ice skates and sleds for them, the teens spent quite a bit of time enjoying the grounds. They also played in the game room, and did their holiday work sitting on the window seats in the Longbottom's own library. Mrs. Longbottom seemed amused by Ginny's enthusiastic admiration of the house, and spent a lot of time taking her around, telling her stories about the antiques and introducing her to the paintings.

Two days before Christmas, Neville and his grandmother made plans to go and visit Neville's parents at St. Mungo's. Mrs. Longbottom offered to drop the others off in Diagon Alley, so that they could do their Christmas shopping. They all split up and agreed to meet at the Leaky Cauldorn at a certain time, so that they could surprise each other.

On Christmas Eve they had a magnificent dinner that included a standing rib roast with horseradish sauce and Yorkshire pudding, and a large pile of Cribbage's Wizarding Crackers. The china and the silver on the dining table had the Longbottom family crest on it, and it reminded Harry for a moment of the goblin silver that Sirius had thrown away to irritate Kreacher. Instead of making him feel miserable, the memory made him smile, and he wondered about that for a moment, but then Luna offered him one end of a cracker, and he pulled it, causing it to go off with a loud bang, which distracted him. The Longbottoms had a tradition of opening presents that night, instead of in the morning, which suited the curious teens.

Hermione had gotten everyone books, which surprised no one. Ron had gotten everyone gifts from Fred and George's shop: dungbombs for the boys and fireworks for the girls. Neville had gotten silver frames, and had framed a photograph for each of his friends of all of them together. Mrs. Weasley had sent everyone a hand knitted jumper, including Luna and Neville. Ginny had gotten everyone new quills, and to go with them, she'd bought bottles of ink that changed colors as you wrote.

Luna and Harry had gotten more individualized gifts. Harry had gotten Neville a book: Magical Plants of Europe. He had bought a new book on Arithmancy for Hermione, and broomstick servicing kits for Ron and Ginny. He had bought Luna a pair of silver earrings shaped like crescent moons, with a necklace to match.

Luna, for her part, had bought Harry a new penknife to replace the one he had destroyed at the Ministry the previous year. She had gotten Ron a box of chocolate frogs, and when he opened it, she told him most sincerely that she hoped there was a Ptolemy card among them. She gave Hermione a box of fancy parchment for letter writing, and Neville a small kit of gardening tools. Luna had bought Ginny a hair ornament that had a very creamy pearl in the center of it. Ginny was touched when Luna admitted frankly that she had always admired Ginny's hair, which stayed in place so much better than her own flyaway hair did.

Mrs. Longbottom gave each of them a gift too. She gave Neville clothes, in typical grandmother fashion. Harry and Ron got beautifully illustrated books about the history of the Quidditch World Cup. She gave Luna, Ginny and Hermione each a bracelet that staggered them. The three bracelets had alternating rubies and sapphires, and were obviously very valuable.

"Oh, Mrs. Longbottom, I love it, but I can't accept this! These must have cost a fortune!" Luna said, stunned.

"Red for Gryffindor, blue for Ravenclaw," Mrs. Longbottom replied. "I thought of it when Neville asked me to invite you along with all of these Gryffindors. You're the first Ravenclaw to stay in this house since my daughter-in-law, many years ago. I had forgotten what it was like to have a house full of laughter. Take them, girls, to please me, and to honor the idea of unity. It was when we lost that, that all of the trouble started. I'm hoping that you will all remain friends a long time." She patted Luna lightly on the hand. "It won't seem nearly so heavy once you get used to it."

After Neville's grandmother had gone to bed, Ginny and Hermione quickly fastened on their bracelets and began to admire them. Luna turned wildly to Harry. "I've never had anything like this. I just don't know if it's me!"

He smiled at her reassuringly. "It looks beautiful. You look beautiful."

She eyed him suspiciously, chewing her bottom lip a bit, and Harry suddenly remembered how he had felt when he'd first seen his Gringotts vault, and wondered what he would ever do with such riches.

"Luna, believe me, you do," Harry said, pulling her close and putting a quick kiss on the abused area, before anyone else could see.

When they had all admired each other's gifts, the girls suggested going outside to set off their fireworks, which turned out to be most satisfactory, leaving huge green and red stars dancing over the grounds. They began to throw snowballs by the flickering light, and Luna turned out to have a wicked aim. Harry, who had her and Neville on his team, was impressed.

"Blimey," Ron said, after she caught him right in the back of the head for the third time. "First darts, then snowballs! We should send you off to America to join a baseball team! I hear they're always looking for good pitchers!" He began to regret all of the times he had teased Luna. He almost regretted choosing Hermione for his team, as much as he liked her. She couldn't throw straight to save her life, although Ginny more than made up for it, pelting Neville unmercifully.

It was extremely late when they all trooped back into the house for hot chocolate. Harry was quite exhausted, and when he finally fell into bed, he began to dream strange dreams.

He dreamed that he was standing in the Shrieking Shack, except it was no longer dirty and battered. It was clean, and everything had been repaired. He went up the stairs to the bedroom, which was also clean. The hangings on the bed had been cleared of dust, and the furniture gleamed from a fresh coat of polish. Harry started to go in, but the two guardian statues from Dark Arts class appeared in the doorway. He hesitated before them, but then the one on the right said to him in a deep, oddly accented voice, "It is ordained. You may pass."

Harry went into the room and saw a golden casket at the foot of the bed. Fastened to each of the corners of the casket, he saw golden statues of Egyptian goddesses, with their arms extended around the sides, as if they were protecting it. On the lid, he saw Egyptian writing, but he couldn't read it.

A voice came from beside him, and he turned to see Luna, standing very stiffly, looking at the casket. She had begun to read the hieroglyphics. "Eternal punishment to anyone who opens this casket, in the name of Isis, Selket, Nephthys and Neith, who drive out evil, and set their magic spells upon those who rage against the light."

Someone pushed her from behind, and she fell on her knees before the casket. To Harry's horror, it was Voldemort, who said in a cruel, cold voice, "I've waited long enough. Break the seal." Harry tried to speak or move, but he was frozen to the spot. Voldemort looked across at Harry, then back at Luna. "You will do it of your own free will, or I will force him to do it. I can, you know, and he knows it. I have that power, and Potter has felt it before. Do you want to watch him die?"

"No," Luna said, and reached for the casket. A light appeared so dazzlingly bright that Harry, screaming Luna's name in his mind, couldn't see anything except that light.