The Viridian Wand Chronicles

*~CHAPTER 4 - "Sleeping Where I Want"~* 

 

"Focus...Focus..." Ginny Potter chanted softly. She lay on her bed as Harry murmured some protective spells over her. She became less and less aware of her physical state... 

 

The girl was there. She heard the older man talking, but all she was truly aware of was the fire. Heat. Warmth. Death. 

 

"...brat just like your mother." 

 

Rage. Share my strength, the girl says silently. Dirt on the hearth. As loud as you can. The wand. Green flashes... 

 

"Extinguo!" 

 

Darker. Half-sleep. 

 

Who are you, child? 

 

I am the Maiden. Power is my name. Like Mr. Potter. 

 

Who bids you? 

 

The ones without power. I am the means to achieve their own ends. But where would I go if free? 

 

Who are they? What are their names? 

 

I am tired. Let me rest. How do know you do not wish me harm? 

 

I am with Mr. Potter, as you call him. 

 

You are not of my kind. 

 

Is Mr. Potter? 

 

Yes, or like it. 

 

I am...Ginny Potter. 

 

I know who you are. You mean no harm? 

 

Never. 

 

Then send Mr. Potter. Until then, I am of their bidding. 

 

The mind-hold crackled and disappeared. She drifted...almost as if on an ocean. But waves...such giant waves...shaking her. Still shaking...Harry was shaking her. 

 

"Ginny! Wake up! Please, God, wake up!" His voice said. She blinked, groggily. "Are you alright?" His face leaned over hers. 

 

"Yes. I think," she said softly. "Mind talking is tiresome." 

 

"You weren't just mind talking. You spoke, and she spoke through you." 

 

"Oh." Ginny tried to sit up, but found that before she had gotten halfway up, she tired. She collapsed back onto the bed. 

 

"What you need is rest. It's nearly midnight. Why don't you go to sleep?" 

 

"Don't leave me." 

 

"I won't." 

* * * * *

"We all lost," George proclaimed dismally. The Weasley trio was enjoying a post-midnight snack. 

 

"Anyone up for new wagers, folks?" Fred jovially queried. 

 

"Of course. You, Percy?" 

 

"Alright," their older brother said reluctantly. 

 

"15 Galleons says that - " George was abruptly cut off by the rapping of a small owl against the window. 

 

Percy let it - or her, actually, as it was revealed to be Lupin's owl, Seraphina - in.  

 

"It's urgent," the aforementioned elder Weasley said in surprise, "He's in New Hope. What the heck is he doing in New Hope?" As all three knew, New Hope, Delaware, in the USA, was alive with magical activities. Both Dark and good magic ruled the streets. New Hope was a place of intrigue. 

 

Fred took the letter from him and scanned it briefly. "He's found a woman who's been sensing the disturbances. Somehow, word of the realm disturbance got through to him, and one of his witch friends there mentioned knowing a woman who...something like that. American Ministry's so bass-ackwards she reported it Tuesday and they haven't filed the paperwork yet. Bunch of dolts over there." 

 

"Oh, come off it, they're just a bit...rustic," his twin interjected. 

 

"If that's what you call it. He's sending her over here, at about 2:37 AM our time, and she'll Apparate to our hotel room...Yes, do throw your robes on. Best not to greet her in our nightclothes. Her name is Caroline Newman, and she is a witch of the Cassadaga Coven..." He trailed off. George and Percy froze. 

 

"The Cassadaga Coven?" George repeated weakly. 

 

"Yes, the Cassadaga Coven. She should be Apparating right now if she's prompt..." 

 

That moment, a woman dressed predominantly in black appeared in their living room. Caroline Newman was tall, though not ungracefully so, or so it appeared. Later, Fred would realize that she was in fact an inch shorter than he. She was in her late twenties or early thirties, and had thick dark hair cut short to frame her face. Caroline Newman struck people as powerful - a fact that few could explain given her average height, delicate complexion, and slender build. 

 

"Hello," she said in greeting. Her speech was devoid of an "American" accent, but was still far from that of the Weasleys’ own English voices. "My name is Caroline. As ridiculous as it may sound, I mean you no harm. No, Minister, I can give you no names, and I can tell no secrets. But I can help you find the child. If only for my own selfish reasons." 

 

"Who is this child, and what reason have you to seek her out?" Percy asked. 

 

"She is the next Bearer of the Wand, and her power and knowledge are being misused by her caretakers. The Wand was given into the care of a Squib while Voldemort and war swept across the land. Not even his Death Eaters would defy the creed that holds the wand sacred. It is too powerful a tool to ever be used, except in peacetime. This Squib, defying orders, betrayed the coven. She kidnapped the Future Bearer, killed her parents, and fled. Previous to and after Voldemort's final defeat, many of our members disappeared. They may be in Azkaban, or were killed by him. I do not know. With our number so few, we were not able to track them unless the Future Bearer used the wand." 

 

"But, what is the Cassadaga Coven, then? You have been feared throughout the globe for the power you wield - " 

 

"The Cassadaga Cover was formed in Morgan Le Fay’s time. It has always consisted of approximately 16 members - 13 protectors, dedicated to the guarding of the Wand; one Squib, to care for the Wand in times of trouble; the Bearer, a Maiden; and the Future Bearer, who learns from the Bearer her role. The Wand can only be commanded by a Maiden - or Harry Potter, for he is one of the rare males of our kind. However, complete anonymity is enforced, so no one knows who is a member." 

 

"Are you the Bearer?" 

 

"You are quicker than I thought, Minister. Yes, I am; but I can no more identify the future Bearer and Squib than I can call myself normal. I k now only that the Wand is being used, and for devious ends." 

 

"So, that clears a few ends up...are you saying that a child could raise You-Know-Who from the dead?" 

 

"Oh, certainly. You underestimate the power of a Maiden, and of the Wand. Many, many Maidens stronger than Morgan Le Fay have been born since her - children your tests could not detect. Oh, you are not familiar with the term? It is someone who has power, endless power - almost always a girl. But the Wand gives them the means to harness it." 

 

"What is this Wand?" 

 

"Why, it is the Viridian Wand. Surely you have heard of it?" 

 

The Weasleys exchanged glances. 

 

"All right. Who's going to go fetch Harry and Ginny?" Percy inquired. 

 

"Not me!" The twins exclaimed. 

 

Percy sighed and put his head in his hands. Caroline looked on with amusement. 

* * * * *

Harry woke up at the loud tapping of something on the window. He moaned and buried his head in his pillow. The tapping persisted. 

 

"Mmph?" murmured the person beside him sleepily. 

 

"Shh, go back to sleep. I'll get it," he said to Ginny. Harry slipped out of the bed and went to the window. 

 

"By Morgan's Wand, what do you want? It's nearly three in the morning!" He was not too pleased at finding Percy hovering outside the window on his broomstick. 

 

"Er - em - I'm sorry to disturb you. It's about Morgan's Wand, actually. We've a visitor. Can you and Ginny meet me in the front lawn in five minutes?" 

 

"In ten." 

 

"All right, but do hurry; it's rather pressing." 

 

"I see." With that parting shot, Harry closed the window, rather annoyed with the man who had roused him out of a sound sleep. He bent over Ginny. "Wake up, Ginny, we've got to go." 

 

"Mrrh!" she complained. 

 

"I know, I know. But Percy's found something - or someone." 

 

"Oh!" She sat straight up in bed. "The child?"  

 

"I don't know. He said something about Morgan's Wand." 

 

"The Viridian Wand? The emerald?" 

 

"Yes, that's it."

 

Ginny clapped a hand to her mouth in realization. When she spoke, it was in tones so low that he could barely hear her. 

 

"Oh, that explains everything." 

 

Harry blinked in surprise. 

* * * * *

What took everyone by surprise was Ginny's reaction upon seeing Caroline. She flung herself down on her knees and bowed before standing again. Caroline simply smiled, touching the woman on her head with her own wand, which was long and silvery. 

 

"Bearer," Ginny said, accepting the acknowledgment. 

 

"Protector," Caroline replied. 

 

"You are of the Cassadaga Coven?" Percy sputtered in surprise. 

 

Harry said nothing. Perhaps he had suspected something of the sort all along. 

 

"Protector, you have been alerted to the usage of the Wand, no?" Caroline said, seemingly unaware of Percy's outburst. 

 

"Yes, Bearer. The child's power is almost tangible, but she is being

used by the Squib for evil." Ginny answered. 

 

"Are you well enough from your Watching duties to assist?" 

 

"Well enough, it does not matter. He is a Bearer, do not forget, and stronger even than you." She turned to Harry, as did Caroline. "Harry, will you help? If the Squib succeeds, Voldemort will rise again. If the Squib should fail, she will surely kill the child." 

 

"Of course," he said. 

 

"You know of us," Caroline said suspiciously. 

 

"Deep in Unspeakables, there are those who know of everything. And as you knew each other, I know you." 

 

She nodded. "That is true." The tension in her body, which had been apparent as soon as he stepped in the room, disappeared, and she relaxed. 

 

"How will you find her? They must be thoroughly hid by an Inconspicuous Charm," Percy asked, once more trying to get a foot into the conversation. 

 

"They'll not be using that. For such Dark Magic, certain...circumstances are needed. The earth...They are within the earth, deep underground, enough that the Wand only alerted Ginny and I, Bearer and nearest Protector. Morgan's Wand is at home deepest in the earth, with a fire. They are in this country, and near Ginny, near here...We have until midnight this day to find them." 

 

"Only until midnight?" 

 

"Tonight is the anniversary of Voldemort's death - and the only night on which he can arise." 

* * * * *

Lowell slept. She lay on a pallet stained, like Abram's robes, with the dust - like red-brown dirt. Abram himself was preparing for the Master's arrival, deep in the heart of the hill. 

 

The child, the Future Bearer, leaned against the dirt of the wall. She was exhausted, but sleep had not come yet. Often it did not come; she judged the pattern of day and night by Lowell's frequent rests. 

 

Vaguely she touched the Wand; they'd left it with her again. It was not cool, but warm, a heady fire like that of the hearth. It was a sensuous but austere thing, a long emerald lying there winking in the dim glow of the room. The hearth in there was warm but unaided by magic.

 

She studied Lowell tiredly; it wasn't as if she didn't know every highlight in that hair, every muscle in that body, as well as if it were her own. There was no love between them, to make them mother and daughter to each other; even though she wanted a mother terribly, Lowell's desire for power had long since put a damper on any affection they might have for each other. Only a wide sea of apathy lay between them. And emptiness of everything. 

 

Who was her mother, she wondered idly. Not even a memory of her parents remained with her. They were dead, by Lowell's hand, that she knew. With Muggle tricks she had destroyed the cleverest of wizards, Lowell had boasted; poisoning them and torching their house to hide the child's absence. The child comprehended this only slightly; the horror was beyond her grasp, as so few things were. Terror and fear were alien to her. But they would not be for long. 

 

Lowell stirred on the bed, writing. Blinking, she sat up and yawned. The black robes were twisted around her inelegantly, and for a moment she looked as youthful as the child herself. Then she shook her head and stood up. 

 

"Abram!" she called, "Abram, how long until we must summon him?" 

 

"Twenty hours. Rest yourself," was Abram's final reply from the next room. 

 

"It's just...Does she know?" 

 

"No. It will be better that way. He will take great pleasure in a fight. It will strengthen him. She mustn't be too willing." 

 

"The blood..." 

 

"Now, Lowell," Abram appeared in the doorway. He waved a finger at her. "Don't be such a woman! The only reason I brought you along at all is because you swore you wouldn't do this. Yes, there will be blood! You will most likely have to see it. It matters not. You will be given your power. That's what you want, isn't it?" 

 

"Yes..." 

 

"Then stop blubbering, and get to bed! You'll need your strength." 

 

The child began to feel unease.