Harry Potter and the Tuath Dé

[Knived]

Whats a 20,000 feet thing?

 

[Darkphoenixlady]

Whats a 20,000 feet thing?

Click to shrink...

If you don't know what it is, you don't have the clearance to know what it is.

 

[Walderion]

If you don't know what it is, you don't have the clearance to know what it is.

Click to shrink...

Can you grant us the clearance for 20,000 feet thing?

 

[ForwardRewind]

I'm guessing it's a sort of reference to seeing the 'big picture'. You see more at 20,000 feet than you do on the ground, after all. At least, I imagine that's the explanation that's given to those that don't have the clearance to know it just means 'this is under the magic umbrella'. Or probably just under 'the magical communities decided that this is under their control, and will obliviate anyone else that knows that they deem shouldn't know'.

It's somewhat amusing that those that have the clearance at 20,000 feet seem to know more than the wizarding world. At least they're not claiming the various pantheons are demons. And on that thought, I imagine there's going to be some pointed comparisons. After all, the same 'reasoning' that Flamel and his ilk used for imprisoning and effectively using as a power supply could just as easily be used against them by those without magic. But as we've seen, they kind of ignored it, with Flamel's "They are just misguided!" Without actually seeming to do anything to correct the bad behavior.

(I imagine that any Greek/Roman Deities remaining will be chewed out for not stopping their own former followers, once the 'prison gems' start getting opened up. There's plenty of examples of that pantheon smiting/punishing those that didn't show them proper respect, more than just withdrawing support. With direct action, even. And we've seen examples in story, of that kind of direct action.

At a guess, there's probably a combination of factors that resulted in the decision of only withdrawing support from the Romans. In-fighting, not wanting to decimate their entire Follower base regardless of them not doing much to stop the propaganda push that had them lose it anyways, an over-correcting ban on doing the same intervention... Still those affected are not going to be too forgiving on those issues given how it wrecked the other pantheons. Even if the 'retaliation' was limited to pure words, such as "You're a bunch of idiots".)

 

[Darkphoenixlady]

Can you grant us the clearance for 20,000 feet thing?

Click to shrink...

Spoiler: 20,000 feet only

Congratulations, you are one of a select few cleared to know about the magical world. Through a thorough background check, we have determined that you have no magical relatives within 3 generations of you or your spouse. Yes, magic is real.
There is an entire society that chose to live entirely separately from the main society, and they have imposed that decision on others like them around the world. Part of your job will be to liaise with the few members of their society that are so disenfranchised that they are willing to work with the mundane. With Us.

Nothing that you learn, or are briefed on is to be spoken of below 20,000 feet above the ground. This includes Mt Everest. Once a month you will be required to fly to a remote office for your briefings. During this flight you will be debriefed on anything you have learnt. You have one contact in the US Military, General Walters, beyond that you will not be allowed to learn the identities of any of the other analysts and data collectors. If you must speak to your General Walters, you will only use your code name and number.

 

[Kycan12]

Will we be informed in the story why it's insisted to be at 20,000 feet?

 

[Zulaq]

I suspect a limitation of magical tracking/detection is the reason.

Given that magic methods of detection were probably set up a long time ago with the limitations of the time in mind, not being able to detect things at 20,000+ feet is a reasonable limitation, after all how would they have even tested how high their detection grids go? Magicals might have had flight for longer than the non-magicals, but given their open-air vehicles (brooms and carpets) they probably never really went that high due to pressure problems and figured that no non-magical would never be able to get even that far off the ground.

 

[Darkphoenixlady]

Chapter 7

"Master, the Weasley family has been seen in Diagon Alley."

Lucius looks down at the young house elf, "Good, make me a Fire Whiskey."

The elf disappears with an audible pop, and another pop follows as a glass of whiskey appears, with both too much ice, and too much whiskey. Well, he needs to be tipsy to make this believable anyway.

A little later, he manages to be looking at one of the stalls when the family comes out of the second-hand book shop. Quickly paying for the trinket he's looking at, he stumbles across the street towards the owl emporium and knocks the youngest girl flying.

"Oh terribly sorry, I didn't see you there, let me help you." Reaching down he picks up the girls cauldron and books. As none of the others are bothering him, he pretends not to have noticed her red hair until he hands the cauldron back, with books and a slim diary as an addition.

As he hands it back he squints owlishly, "Weasley huh, you'd think your father could at least afford to buy you new stuff, what with being able to get laws to the Wizengamot. Maybe you'll be smart enough to learn from your families mistakes." He laughs as he reels off towards the owl emporium, "You'd be the first one ever if you did."

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Daphne has a copy of the first year physics book, a book on basic engineering, as well as a book on woodworking all open on the coffee table while she's taking notes in a new notebook. Her mother and father are chatting with Airmed by the fire, while the incessant sound of Mario comes from behind the sofa she's sitting on, where Astoria is playing with the new Gameboy, that Airmed bought her while helping Daphne buy the books she's looking at. Tapping her pencil against her lip, she considers getting the 1st​ year herbology book to double check the severing charm, but decides against it.

Suddenly she jumps as someone pokes her, "Will you stop that!"

Everyone stops what they're doing and Astoria beats her parents into speaking by jumping up from behind the sofa and shouting, "It wasn't me!"

Joanne puts her knitting down, "Stop what dear?"

"I keep getting poked, and it's getting annoying."

Airmed looks concerned, "Why didn't you mention this before?"

"It wasn't that bad, and I was busy when it happened so I forgot about it."

"Daphne, where are you being poked?"

The frustration that Daphne's feeling is apparent as she replies, "I don't know, just, not in front of me."

"Can you release the mist, just a little bit, and keep it at that level?"

Daphne nods, and does that. Over the rest of the evening she slowly starts to puzzle out how she could use pullies and levers to move some of the bits of concrete she has trouble with, along with thoughts on how to use the severing charm to make the pulleys and levers. She also has some vague ideas on how she could cut joints into the wood that they're using to build houses in the Sanctuary.

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Padma laughs gaily as she slips into the bath with Kali, the water turning red with sheep's blood as it runs off her skin. Her thoughts turn dark as she thinks about the shepherd and his likely punishment. But, the thought soon passes, leaving her feeling confused.

"Kali, why am I so happy?"

Kali struggles to think for a moment, the madness still clear in her eyes, "You are happy because we dance, you feel sad for sheep, but the darkness is covering your light now. No longer dirtying it, so sadness no last. Know killing sheep better than killing sheep herder. Innocence is light, helping is light, love is light, all inside your darkness. Many years, then light not visible to others, but still there."

"I like dancing with you."

"I like dancing with you too, but blood tomorrow."

Padma nods, "Father said we're doing our Hogwarts shopping tomorrow afternoon, would you like to come with us?"

"We see tomorrow, much darkness here, near as much as invaders city. May teach you to see light."

"Great, I'll see if Hermione and Sue can join us."

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Almost as soon as they've got home from their holiday, Morgana steps through the mist into Skye's flat and looks around with interest.

"Yes, you can come in."

Morgana beams at Skye, "I brought salt and mead."

"I'll grab a couple of shot glasses."

Morgana winces, "Sorry."

Skye scowls, "That's not going to cut it at the moment."

Morgana watches as Skye pours out the smallest acceptable amount of mead, before taking a dab of salt. With a sigh, she takes the offered glass and they both down the mead.

"Did you at least get what I promised?"

Skye sighs, "You might as well take a seat." Taking her own seat, she continues, "I did, but not in the way I expected. But then, with what I know now, you probably couldn't give me what I wanted."

"How are you doing apart from that?"

"I know about your husband, and you're a bitch, you do know that."

"I've been called worse."

"When are you going to tell him that she was resurrected and fucked off who knows where?"

Morgana shrugs, "I'm not. I didn't find out until after I gave him the ultimatum, and he's never attempted to find her body."

"What about what you did to me? Was it really necessary?"

"Probably not, but it gave you what you asked for and it helped me."

"It's also cost me my job, my best friend, and her professors, keep bugging me about translating things from TV for them. And I don't seem to be able to not use magic."

Morgana nods, "That takes practice. It could be that you're not used to how to actively use magic yet. If you're still looking for work, I need a new teacher for the private free school I run."

"You're a real piece of work, you know that. Did you know I was going to lose my job? I had 10 lab accidents in the last 2 weeks, that's 9 more than I've had in the last 2 years. All because I can't stop using magic. Did you know that concentrated sulphuric acid explodes if you investigate it with magic? No? Neither did I until I was diluting some for a lab, and idly wondered how acids look to magic."

"I didn't know you'd lose your job, I didn't know anything that would happen to you after you accidentally activated the scroll, you know we can't see the future of the Danann. Honestly, I thought you'd be able to read it after you got mad enough to use accidental magic, and then choose to go through with it, I didn't expect you to injure yourself first."

"There is that, but it's only us though. Ecne, travelled a bit before the Christians came. He thought that it was due to the Otherside being related to death and the spirits. I've been doing some reading with my copious amounts of free time, and it seems that there have always been people that can deny prophecy. So they were probably touched by the Otherside in some way."

Morgana pulls a bottle of mead from the mist, and takes a drink from it, "Probably, anywhere you can find will-o-wisps, you can also find the mist of the Otherside. Though, we are still able to foresee the actions of mortals."

Skye nods, "We can, but you also accepted that they could escape their fate. You were always one of the most accurate in your foretelling's, but you only ever predicted how, not when or why. How many times has a fae or Danann stepped in to avert a death that you foretold I wonder."

Skye laughs, "I have a whole section of staves dedicated to prophecies made by Danann and mortals, and whether they came true or not. Ecne didn't have the language for it, but from reading a few books, most of the successful prophecies fall into the category of self-fulfilling. That's even true of what prophecies he collected in Gaul and mainland Britain. Of course, there's the whole thing about not being able to make prophecies that affect yourself. That's how he thought the whole Christian thing was able to happen. Oh god, it's so weird talking about things I can remember like they happened to someone else."

"Are you having any bleed over from Ecne's personality?"

"What!? No, it's just a set of memories, like remembering running a race at primary school or something randomly. Knowing new shit out of nowhere is kinda freaky though."

"That's a relief. Also, if you want that job, you'll be teaching 1st​ years from January next year. Same as the class I've been teaching. After all, if you've already dropped the eggs, you might as well make glue."

Without any real heat in her voice Skye says, "I hate you, you know that don't you." With a shake of her head she continues, "Fine, I'll do it. When do you want me to start?"

"I'll start paying you from September, though you should try to come up with some way to ensure that only those that actually want to learn are part of your class. Before they found out how strong I am magically, I still had 1 space free in the 20 student class. As soon as I revealed how strong I am, I got at least 20 applications for that last spot."

"Sure, I can do that I guess. I could also do my teacher training as an evening course. Oh, one last thing, your society sucked, human lives meant basically nothing when 3 cows were more valuable than the person looking after them."

Morgana nods, "It was one of the harder things to adjust to when I started living here with Harry. Not in a, challenging anyone that gives insult way, as I learnt not to do that when getting penny dreadfuls. Rather it was the lack of social stratification. There doesn't seem to be much, or any real difference between different positions in society. That, and the lack of conflicts. Even now I can feel a bare handful of conflicts going on, and none of them within Britain. Before we retreated from the world, our own people could barely go a day without at least one battle taking place. When you include the wider Celtic peoples, there was always a battle somewhere."

"OI! Less of the 'our people' thank you. I'm not, and never have been a native Celtic."

Morgana sighs, "I suppose that's probably a good thing too. While I think the modern world needs gods, I don't think it needs gods like we once were. So many of us were gods of war or kings, or cattle for that matter. But what about gods of talking to each other so we can resolve things peacefully. Or of teaching, yes, I know that the Hindu have a god for teaching, but we didn't. Neither did the Greeks or Romans, though I suppose Chiron could count, though he's not exactly Greek, or human in form. The Norse had Kvasir, until they killed him, and Freyja, who is quite a pleasant woman, who is considered evil for teaching witchcraft to the Æsir by the mortal writings on earth."

Skye huffs, "What about Ecne?"

"A god of learning, one of many. But you'll find that teaching is very different from learning. Something I've found out the hard way since Christmas."

"You've been thinking about this a lot, haven't you."

Morgana nods, "Since I finished my PhD. Look at the world we find ourselves in, 300 years ago it wasn't so different to our, my society. The moral rules had changed, but the way people lived, the border wars, and risks from disease and child birth were all still there. Then they started to educate everyone. Not encourage select groups to learn, but come up with ways to actually teach." She grimaces, "I should probably let Dora know that we're back so that she can do her own socialising again."

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Harry sits on the rocky hill overlooking the brook as it bubbles and burbles its way to the forest. From here he can just about see the oak tree at the heart of the forest. Eyes damp with unshed tears, Harry turns to look at Kate and Marianne, who are also sitting or kneeling there.

"Kate, are you sure about this? As once we start you need to see it through to the end."

Kate nods firmly, "I am."

"You could get a degree, become a doctor."

Kate nods, "I know, but then I would have magic. I wouldn't be able to protect people, and I wouldn't be able to look after Marianne properly."

Marianne looks upset, "Mum, you don't need to do this just to look after me."

"I do, you've already grown beyond me, and yet you're still so young. You are facing a world with power you don't yet understand, and lacking the experience you need to make sense of the things around you. I've failed you as a mother, if I'd been stronger, less broken, maybe I could have taken you to a shelter, got a divorce, or something. Instead, you father just humoured me until you were old enough, and isolated enough for him to act. Morgana is more of a mother to you than I am."

"That's not true."

"I'm afraid it is, she's the person you go to first when you have a problem, or your upset. A year ago it was different, but since that night. I don't blame you, I wish someone had come or me during my time, but they didn't. Doing this… By doing this I hope to be able to protect you, and be there for you when you need me to be. Not be the mortal on the side lines who knows that whatever you're facing is too dangerous for them to get involved.

"And you will be in danger, I've seen what's happening in Bosnia. I've seen the Philosophers stone, and I've read Harry's history books, and I can read between the lines too." Looking back to Harry she continues, "Harry, how long do you think it's going to take people to start praying to Brigid, and for you to go to answer those prayers?"

Harry just shuffles uncomfortably, and Kate nods, "That's why I want this."

Harry's eyes unfocus as he searches for the right words and actions for this. When they regain their focus, his voice has a double timbre again, "So, you wish to become one of my chosen. To give up your station for a life of service. To walk amongst the sick and injured and provide healing where possible, and escape where it isn't. To protect the vulnerable. To find the words people need to hear, and make the things that people need to see."

Kate nods, "I do."

The second voice recedes, "Will you be willing to take up arms to protect those who cannot defend themselves, even if the cost is your own life? Are you willing to take a life to protect a life?"

"I am."

Finally his own voice Harry continues, "Finally, will you place your life as something sacred and valuable, that must be cherished and tended to. Will you seek every solution before giving up your own life, even if it means bringing those that you protect to our heart and home?"

Kate looks at Harry, her desire to agree warring with the curse of honesty, "Harry…"

"Will you do this."

"Harry, I… I don't know."

Harry leans forward and cups her cheek, and with the double voice says, "It's ok not to know. [Brigid/I] didn't know either. [Mother/The Morrigan] has taught [me/Harry] that once you give your own life, you can never protect anyone again. So I ask. Will you learn, will you grow, and one day will you be able to answer that question with I will?"

"I… I think I can do that."

"Then child, it is time to discard your past, and wash away your darkness. Go to the Brook and Ritually wash yourself three times. The first time will be washing away your station, the second your ill deeds, and the last will be to purify yourself before you return wearing only that which you were born with. Your daughter knows the words and process, so she may help you."

A few hours later, Kate and Marianne return. Kate's skin is completely pink where the combination of washing with coarse stones, fine mud, and pure water, three times, has removed all of the dead skin and dirt she had. Even the callouses on her hands, knees, and elbows, from years of housework have been worn down to new skin.

Harry has not been idle during this time, as he has crafted and polished a thin iron circlet.

Looking over at Marianne, he says, "Marianne, please can you leave and ensure that nobody disturbs us. As this must be a private ceremony. You don't need to leave my domain, the cottage will be enough."

Once Marianne has, reluctantly, left, Harry turns back to Kate, "As we are here, we will use my method rather than my sisters method for bringing in chosen. Once you take up my circlet you will be committed to this path. At Dawn you will rise and wash yourself in the brook, this need not be a ritual bathing. After that you will enter the forest to find a branch to weave around your circlet. You must find it, not take it. For the next 13 days you must do this, and each day it will be easier to find the branch, but you will find it harder to move. On the 14th​ day, you will weave your circlet with the branches you have found, along with any flowers you wish from around you." Harry starts to cry freely, "The next day, you shall wear the circlet for the final time, and I shall lead you to the heart of the forest, where you will be taken into the tree's embrace. If your heart is true, and your personality strong enough, you will emerge, reborn 13 days after that. If not, then you will live forever as a tree in my forest."

Kate nods, even as she swallows, "I understand."

Blinking tears out of his eyes, Harry holds the circlet out, "If this is what you wish, then take the circlet and place it on your brow. Then drink from my hearts blood as I name you kin."

It's a long moment, and Harry is about to lower the circlet in relief, before Kate takes the circlet and hesitantly puts it on her head. As she does, a wave of something passes through her body causing her to shiver violently. Then Harry slices deeply into his chest, and deep red blood wells from the wound as he pulls her down to drink.

"Drink long and deep, as this is the only time you will taste my blood before this is over. I can give you no markings, for we are not warriors, but I name you sister by blood. I name you Acmhainneacht."

 

[Darkphoenixlady]

Chapter 8

"Albus, have you even checked the booklist for Defence?"

Albus flinches as the strident tones of Minerva's ire float up the stairs to his office. He struggles to remember what happened with the defence position…

As the door slams open, Minerva strides in with 6 copies of the schools equipment list, "Lockhart has put all 7 of his books down for every year, and you signed off on it."

"Minerva, my dear…"

"Don't 'my dear' me, you are supposed to review these book before you sign off on them. Have you even read these books?"

"But Lockhart is a Merlin Award holder."

"3rd​ class, you know as well as I do that a sufficient donation to the re-election fund will get you one of those. Now those books."

"Minerva, I've been…"

"Yes or No Albus, it's quite simple."

"I…" Albus slumps, "No, I've been running all over Europe with emergency meetings and trying to analyse the anomalous…"

"Albus, you are the headmaster of this school. Your first priority should be the students."

"I know, but…"

Minerva slams the lists on Albus' desk, "But nothing, this is your first, and if I had my way, only, responsibility. Last year was bad enough, with most of the students unable to understand Quirrell, but the only way this could be worse is if those blasted Harry Potter books were on the book list."

As the door slams shut behind her, the sorting hat says, "She's right you know."

Albus grumbles, "Oh you shut up!"

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Amelia, Mad-eye, and Rufus Scrimgeour stand in silence as Scotts turns off the TV and rewinds the video. Eventually Mad-eye says, "Well, she certainly left an impression."

Rufus looks at him open mouthed, "Is that all you can say?"

Mad-eye shrugs awkwardly, "What do you want me to say? She's one of The Morrigan's now."

A voice from behind them, surprising only Rufus and Scotts, says, "How about, 'We're going to report this breach of the Statute to the Department of Mysteries'?"

"Hello Croaker, did you enjoy the show?"

"That's not an answer."

Amelia shakes her head without turning around, "It is an answer, just not one you like. After all, you could have turned on a Television at almost any time since Christmas and seen examples of this. Though a dragon is on the extreme end of what's been going on. I've also been questioned by Dumbledore and Crouch about the effects of these things happening on behalf of the ICW. Finally, according to Clause 73, this is the Ottoman's problem not ours. We are just keeping ourselves abreast of what's happening."

"It is our responsibility if they are British magicals."

"Celtic, they are Celtic, and the Celtic people never signed the statute, and, so far as I know, are not part of our community."

"That's just splitting hairs, and you know it."

Amelia turns around, "Longbottom, it may be splitting hairs, but that hair splitting is all that's going to keep my men alive when you decide that you want them to arrest someone that can do that. They can not deal with this, and the only person that is rumoured to have ever done so, is missing, presumed dead. The same rumours that say that he also worked with the church, and led to several prominent witches and wizards being caught by the Inquisition on the continent before he moved to the UK."

Croaker is silent for a moment before he disappears, and then, when Amelia and Mad-eye keep watching him, apparates out.

Rufus sighs, "Do you think he'll take the hint?"

Mad-eye shakes his head, "Not a chance, but I doubt it will involve us anymore. Personally, if I was part of the ICW I would be designing an adjustment to the Statute to exclude Divine beings. Did you see in the Daily Star that Sidhe have been seen in northern France?"

"I hadn't, what happened?"

"A couple of churches have been completely frozen, along with all the worshipers at a midnight mass. No photo's, so it might be an idea to send them an owl to ask if it's true."

Scotts looks confused, "What does this mean?"

Mad-eye looks down at him, "Trouble. The Sidhe were a major problem in the UK for nearly 800 years since St Patrick converted Ireland to Christianity. That's how long it took for Wizards and Witches to find and destroy all of the Fairy Gates, except for the one they moved into what is now the Department of Mysteries. They predate even Flamel. All of this is easy enough to find out if you look through the right books, and struggle with the old language. Of course, it helps I was looking for the counter to a curse that a particularly nasty wizard was using in the 50's. Cost me my leg that one did."

"Did you find the counter?"

"I lost my leg didn't I. Of course I didn't find the counter."

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Padma looks nervously at Gringotts Bank as she walks towards it with her family and Kali. Occasionally, her feet start to tap out a rhythm, which causes her to pull harder on the mist to hide her magic. As they approach the doors, Kali looks down at her, "You can feel it, yes?"

Padma nods, "Um, Father. I'll wait out here with Kali in case Sue or Hermione come." As her father turns to look at her, she spins in place and taps her feet a couple of times.

Mohun turns around ready to castigate his daughter, before she does the spin. Then he looks more closely at her eyes, before nodding frantically, "That sounds like an excellent idea Padma. Why don't you take Kali for some ice cream in case we're delayed."

As he turns back to the bank, he does a good job of ignoring the 20 extra guards that are hurrying out of the bank. Or the worried glances they are shooting at Kali's back as Padma leads her to the ice cream store.

Once they're sat down, Kali says, "You can feel it can't you."

Padma looks up from the double scoop that she's using to try and distract herself from the song, "The song?"

Kali shakes her head, "The darkness. That's what's calling up your song. See the man in the black kurta and the walking stick, with the blond hair. Also the young boy next to him. The man is smothered in it, and light left inside him has no way to be shown. The boy, is grey, but there are dark roots growing inside him. If they are allowed to continue to grow, then they will smother his light as surely as that of the man beside him."

Padma shakes her head, "That's Draco Malfoy. However I can't see any roots, sorry."

"You need to let your magic sing, not smother it in fog. Otherwise you will lack warning when your song is about to overtake you."

Taking a deep breath, Padma pulls her magic from the fog and the world around them takes on a hazy grey fog.

"Everything is foggy?"

"Yes, you're seeing the way that the people and things in the area are affecting spirit of the area. The Tuuci Vastu. If you concentrate you can see the sources of this. When we lose to the song, we seek to destroy all that is impure. There are few who remain pure enough to avoid our wrath directly. I remember one such soul where some of those who thought they were doing my work called upon me to offer a pious scholar as a sacrifice. The scholar was so pure that his very presence burnt me, so I slaughtered those who sought to destroy such a precious thing, and released the scholar. There are things in that building that will stain the souls of any who come in contact with them."

While trying to focus, Padma asks, "Why haven't I seen this fog before?"

Kali laughs, "In the mountains, where nature is pure and mostly untouched? Or at the shrine, where you keep your magic shackled while we receive sacrifices? Or maybe at your home, where you again keep your magic smothered?"

Padma frowns, "I guess I asked for that. Sorry."

"It's quite alright, you are young. I don't know of any other Sura other than Lord Shiva who view the world the same way either. Of course, that doesn't mean there aren't any, as many of them avoid me."

It's around 20 minutes after Padma started trying to see more details that Hermione calls, "Padma!" and runs over with Sue Li. Beside her, Kali clenches her fist and Padma looks between her and her friends.

Holding her hand up, Padma says, "Girls, one moment. I'd like you to meet Kali. I'd also like you to stop hiding your magic, just a little. Um, Kali can't see you properly. Oh, and if Kali loses it, head into the mist and don't look back."

Sue does as asked, however Hermione asks, "Why do you need us to do that?"

Kali answers herself, "Because I cannot see your light when you do, so the song rises and demands that the darkness be expunged from your being."

Padma nods, "She's serious, please, just do it."

Hermione's eyes widen slightly at the sight of Kali's fangs, and she quickly, completely, releases her own magic. Kali settles down a little, but not back to the level she was at before. Though, Padma doesn't notice, "Hey you two, how has your holiday been? And have you heard from the others?"

Hermione smirks, "Daphne's been caught on TV multiple times, along with Dora, Airmed, and I think Daphne's family, though I've never met them. Looking at the two of you, you were mentioned in the Times once." When everyone stares at her she looks around, all innocent, "What? Mum and Dad joined a medieval martial arts group, and I was bored out of my mind when they stopped me being in the ring for more than 10 minutes at a time. Morgana and Harry pushed us far harder than they did, and they've made us really learn how to use a spear. I mean, I got told off the first time I laid someone out with the butt of the spear after they got through my guard."

Sue looks pained, "I remember the first time I thought I got past Morgana and she just slipped the butt between my legs and down I went."

Hermione nods, "The only other spear I saw there was probably just under twice as tall as the person wielding it. Anyway, just to change the subject, um, the book list. I may have come here the same day we got them, and well. Don't buy the defence books, Marie would probably pat me on the head, but they're ok for history books, maybe."

Sue holds the back of her hand against Hermione's forehead, "Well, you're not sick."

"Sue!"

"Says the person was absolutely insistent that everything written was true."

Hermione pouts, "It was really unfair of Marie to print out that stuff on Dihydrogen Monoxide. I even checked out some of the names listed."

While Padma is muttering under her breath, Kali asks, "What is Dihydrogen Monoxide?"

Hermione smiles broadly, "I've got the print out here if you want to read it. It's only 10 pages long."

Kali shakes her head, "I do not know how to read, only do."

Hermione starts to tear up, "I can try to teach you if you want, though I only know English, French, Spanish, and German. And I'm not very good with Spanish or German. What!? I learnt French because we have a holiday home over there, though I missed going to France this year as we always go for Christmas and the first two weeks of Summer. We also used to go for odd weekends. Oh, and I learnt German because our holiday home is near the border. And my Primary school taught Spanish."

Sue shakes her head, "Thank the gods you're in Ravenclaw, I dread to think what it would have been like if you were in Gryffindor."

Hermione mumbles, "I was going to insist on going to Gryffindor."

As Padma's family comes out of the bank, they all get up and do their shopping until Kali abruptly lunges at someone before Padma pulls her into the mist, and back to Nepal.

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Harry sits with a wooden lap-desk and a stack of well wishes that came in for his birthday. He's been trying to write replies to them for the last couple of weeks, since they were found in the courtyard at home. However, he's managed to write two, as his attention has been on Kate as she struggles to find the branches she needs for her circlet.

With a sigh he puts the desk to one side and looks over at the woman he named sister. Her skin is now thick with callouses that look more like wood than they do skin and he can see the effect growing as he watches. On the floor under her hand is the completed circlet, lying where she fell from exhaustion. On the grass beside her is Marianne, also asleep, tear tracks visible as white lines down her cheeks.

A gentle hand touches his shoulder, and he looks up at Marie as she hands him a glass of water.

"How is she?"

"Bad, her eyes… her eyes and mouth have sealed shut now. Why couldn't I say no?"

Marie takes a deep breath, "I don't know, honestly I don't know. I don't envy you or Morgana. You have the power to change so much, yet in many ways you are less free than most of he people in the UK."

Harry laughs humourlessly, "Yeah, I sort of understand why the Greek myths had the gods throwing tantrums all the time. At least this aspect of it is likely to become easier to manage as I get more chosen. Mum's told me about setting impossible challenges for some of those who requested to be with her. Do you know the worst thing?"

Marie shakes her head, "No, go on?"

"Now that I know about this, there's no shortcuts for people with their own magic. I wish I'd just gone with mum's method."

"Do you really?"

"Sort of yes, as it would mean that if any of my friends wanted to join me I wouldn't be endangering their lives. Sort of no, because they have four chances to back out once it starts."

"Can't you just use the oath with them?"

Harry shakes his head, "I can't even find the words anymore. I've tried. I think that this brought Brigid and I closer, well her memories and the echo of her personality."

Harry looks up at the lightening sky, "Marie, could you take Marianne home, or to the cottage. It's almost time."

Once they're alone, Harry watches as the sky brightens from the red of the predawn to the vibrant blue, and the yellow of the sun just cresting the horizon. As the first rays of sun brush her skin, Kate wakes up and sluggishly pushes herself to her feet before turning to face the sun.

As Harry bends down to pick up the circlet, he can already see Kates skin trying to join her legs together, so he calls loudly, "Kate! Kate! I need you to concentrate and remember who you are. Bend down so that I can give you your Circlet."

It takes her several minutes to react, but eventually Kate leans down and Harry works the circlet over her head until it sits snugly in the groove that was left when she took it off yesterday.

"Come on Kate, remember what you wanted. We need to get into the forest and the tree. I don't want to lose my new sister before I got to know her."

After much cajoling, Kate lifts one leg with the sound of tearing wood and allows Harry to lead her by the hand, one ponderous step at a time. As the sun climbs to its zenith, they make it to the edge of the forest, where they pause as the cool shade causes Kate to shy away and seek the warmth and light of the sun again.

It takes far far to long for Harry to persuade her to move again, to remind her of who she is, and what she wanted. To remind her of her daughter, and that if she doesn't do this, she'll never be able to hold them again.

Eventually, they reach the first tree as the sun has already breeched the horizon. Anxiously, Harry watches as Kate lifts her hand up to touch the tree, a strange trick of the layout of the forest allowing the last rays of the sun to illuminate the tree.

As the sun shrinks down to the merest sliver Kate slows down more and more. Finally, as the sun slips down the horizon, she stops and nothing happens.

Broken, Harry collapses against the tree and starts to cry. As he does, the tree seems to reach out and embrace him. At the same time Kate is slowly, and inexorably, pulled into the tree. As it does Harry's mind is filled with memories of Brigid walking into this tree with her chosen, and later returning, sometimes with a chosen, but most of the time alone.

Finally, he remembers when the land first formed, and Brigid was alone. Her son dead, and her husband disgraced and exiled. There she collapsed, unmoving for 10 years as the tree grew around her. It wasn't until the cries of the needy reached her from the mortal world that she stirred.

With a cry, Harry wrenches himself free and sprawls onto the loam of the forest. Turning over, he looks at the tree in horror as he sees his choice in stark relief. He's still lying there when first Marie, and then Morgana comes to find him. As she easily picks him up, he whispers, "She was alone here for 10 years."

Morgana nods, "That's why she's my sister. My husband adopted her as his daughter by blood after that too. We both promised that she would never have to go through something like that alone. I don't know what's scared you so much, but I promise that if it is within my power, you will not go through it alone. You are my son, or daughter, and I will be here for you if you let me."

 

[Wentley]

I'd forgotten Kate was going through that, and wondered what would happen when Harry met Kali. Fuck. The chosen thing is hard to read.

 

[Darkphoenixlady]

I'd forgotten Kate was going through that, and wondered what would happen when Harry met Kali. Fuck. The chosen thing is hard to read.

Click to shrink...

Hard in a good way, or an badly written way?

 

[Wentley]

I'm a softy, and always want the characters to succeed. Also, loss of a parent hits hard. Let me reassure you, your writing is top notch. Worldbuilding, and character work, drew me in and keep me here. I, personally, find myself empathizing with the characters experiencing loss very strongly.

 

[Darkphoenixlady]

Chapter 9

Manannán quickly disappears into the mist to scream in rage and frustration with Rosie and Sam. Both of whom are having trouble with things that even a child should know about magic. Taking a deep breath, he carefully reminds himself that magically they are the youngest of children and the society they've grown up in doesn't use magic the right way anymore.

Returning from the mist, he forces gentleness into his voice as he crouches down beside Sam, "Sam, you've done really well at finding your mother. Do you think you can try going somewhere else?"

Sam shakes her head stubbornly, "Na ah!"

Rosie smiles, "Rosie sweetie, what about Aunty Tina?"

Sam shakes her head, "Aunty Tina say no visit when sun up."

Running his fingers through his ears, Manannán wonders how he ever managed to deal with his own children. Then he winces as he remembers he kept going to war. Desperately he casts his mind back to what they liked when he had to look after them.

"Sam, have you ever been to the Sea Side?"

Sam shakes her head, "No?"

"I have an island with a beach and a boat you can pretend to be a pirate in. Would you like that?" Sam nods her head, "Well, do you have the necklace I gave you?" Sam proudly pulls it out and displays it to him, "What I need you to do is push a little magic into it when I take you into the fog. Then follow it to the island. Can you do that for me?"

Sam nods before trying to take the necklace off again, and Manannán sends a silent prayer of thanks to Ecne for his foresight in making it smaller than her head, as well as fastening it with magic. It doesn't take long to drop the child into the mist and return.

"Rosie, you haven't yet managed to go anywhere in the mist deliberately. Why is that?"

"I don't know, you said I needed to picture where I want to go, and then walk there. But I just can't."

Manannán runs his hands through his hair again, "Is it somewhere that you really want to go, where you feel safe?"

Rosie shakes her head, "Not really, no. After Madam Bones caught us, I keep thinking that someone's going to come along and tell us it was a mistake, then take my memories."

Manannán clenches his fist, but manages to stop reaching for his sword, how can mortals be so stupid? "Fine! Do you think you can push some magic into the necklace that your wearing?"

"Um?"

"Right, Danu give me strength. Take my hand and I'll show you to my home. While you're there absolutely nobody from here will be able to find you and take away your memories. And Amelia wouldn't want to anyway, otherwise she wouldn't have given you magic."

"If you're sure Mr Lir."

Damn, some of his frustration must have shown, as she only does that when he's scared her. Forcing his voice back to being more gentle, he nods and smiles, "Yes I'm sure. Learning how to navigate the mist is the first thing you need to learn. And the only way to do that is by going to places you really want to go."

Taking Rosie's hand, he leads her to his island home.

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Daphne's sitting with a couple of old men, who are drawing in the dirt with sticks while gesturing to the bits of wood she's been playing with. The subject of the conversation is wooden joints used in construction of buildings. The occasional whisper from someone using her name in a prayer, which is massively better than being poked. While she's working, a long pull accompanies a flurry of whispers. The second time the pulls comes, she disappears into the mist involuntarily.

Just as she's about to leave the mist once more, the pull comes again. Now annoyed, she turns and follows the pull to a small village in the mountains. Stepping out of the mist, she is ready to shout at the person who pulled to her, but instead she sees a young boy, bleeding from a head wound, looking at her in awe. Around her people are crying out, and the breezeblock houses in the area are in various states of collapse.

"My Mother, my Father, they're still inside."

Spinning around, Daphne sees a collapsed building, at the front lies a man buried under the rubble, the door lintel lying on his neck. In a detached manner, Daphne notes that there's blood on the ground just past the man, where the boy probably fell.

Bringing her magic out, she starts to levitate the roof panels away even as the top most blocks start to sprout legs and walk away. Hearing a moan from inside, she desperately calls to Airmed.

"Airmed, I need you, something's happened and all of these homes have fallen down."

"We were pulled here by a prayer, and your father is being shouted at by a holy man, calling us devils and telling us to begone. I think it was a time of prayer, as there are a lot of injured here."

As she clears enough rubble to move the lintel, Daphne carefully lifts it off and levitates the man out before she takes Harry's symbol and calls for him. It takes her 10 minutes of calling before he appears looking drawn, weary, and inconsolable. Marianne walks out of the mist holding his hand.

Harry rubs the salt off his cheeks as he looks at Daphne, "What…?"

Daphne looks at him before pulling him into a hug, "I'm so sorry, what ever has happened, I'm so sorry for calling you. So many houses here have collapsed, and this boy's mother is inside." Switching over to Marianne, she hugs her two, "And I'm sorry to have called you too. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Marianne's eyes turn black as she looks Daphne in the eyes, "There is none alive in that dwelling. Tarry not, for the living cannot wait upon the dead."

Daphne reels back, "But the boy's mother!"

"There is none alive there." Marianne's cloak appears around her as she raises her hand and points at a building, "There is one there on the cusp of life and death."

Marianne then turns to the boy and crouches down next to him, "Child, do not mourn the lost of your parents, for they are beyond your reach now. Instead, carry them here, in your heart, and grow to be a person they would be proud of. If I could, I would give you a last few moments with them, alas, I have not yet passed the trials needed."

Ghosting into the mist, Marianne moves from one rescuer to another pointing out where there are no living where they're searching, and providing words for those who have lost loved ones.

Harry too allows himself to sink deeper into Brigid's memories in order to function as he stabilises buildings where the occupant is in danger of being crushed, healing the worst of the wounded, so they can be moved to the normal healers, and not thinking about the tree and Kate. The only thing that keeps him Harry is the promise to his mother to always stay true to himself.

Meanwhile, Daphne guides the crying child over to some of the adults in the area, and tries to explain that his parents are dead, before she moves onto the next building where rescuers are trying to get at someone that's trapped.

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Jimmy looks up from his work as Minerva walks into his shop with another muggleborn. Frowning slightly, he makes his way to the counter, "What can I do for you Professor?"

"Mr Creevey here needs a wand."

"I see, you do remember that I don't do pre-made wands."

A large man nods from behind the pair, "The professor did mention that. However I'm a working man, and the way she presented it, a wand is your tool. And properly cared for, will last the rest of your life. Now, see I may only be a milkman, but the way I see it we can either pay 35 quid for an off the shelf tool that is mostly right for my son, or we can pay you 70 quid for the right tool, one that will always be right for him. Then I saw in your window that you're doing something called Virgin wands for another 30 quid on top of that. Now, what I'd like to know is what is a virgin wand?"

Jimmy nods, "I see. A virgin wand is one that has only ever had one owner, and that is the person who picks it up first. No other magic has touched it before then. As you can understand, the premium on ensuring that all the components are harvested without the use of direct magic justifies the price, even if you don't include the fact that you'd normally need to go to a grand master in order to get one made for you."

Mr Creevey nods, "I suppose I can see that. Do we need to decide whether to pay the extra for a virgin want now?"

Jimmy smiles, "Not at all, I can determine what I think would be the best wand for your son. If you are paying extra for a custom wand, then I suggest that you also have a look at the holsters on the shelf over there. As they will all protect from accidental breakage if you happen to fall over, while also keeping the wand handy. I would personally recommend a belt holster unless you're into duelling, as they are cheaper than wrist holsters, and for most people are just as convenient."

"Colin?"

The boy, Colin, smiles and nods, "Please sir."

Jimmy laughs, "Sure, just stand there."



After a moment Jimmy speaks up again, "I think you would do well with a Beech wand, as you are creative yet could still do with some discipline and patience. As a core, I think you would be best served with Unicorn Hair. Both of which are readily available both virgin and normal stocks. Though, Professor McGonagall, I will point out that the price of unicorn hairs is going up as Hagrid has been bringing in less from Hogwarts."

Mr Creevey stares at the ceiling for a moment, "Can you take pounds rather than these shiny coins?"

Silently, Jimmy thanks his mum and Tina for starting to do business in the muggle world, "Sure, I can even take something called a cheque. I've got the details here."

Mr Creevey gives a massive sigh of relief, "That would be grand, listen, could I make out two cheques and you don't pay the second one in until September?"

"Um, sure?"

"Brilliant, looks like we can get you your camera Colin. We'll take a virgin wand please."

Colin does a happy dance, and needs to be calmed down so that Jimmy can take his measurements, "By the way, as you're paying by cheque, if you can pay $5 in cash now, I can send the wand by Royal Mail Recorded Delivery once it's done. Rather than you needing to make a special trip to pick it up."

He's barely finished talking when a battered £5 note lands on the counter.

As Jimmy's writing up an invoice, and Mr Creevey is writing cheques, Minerva asks, "Mr Kiddell, may I ask, what are cheques, and why do you take them?"

Glancing up, Jimmy replies, "They are a type of promissory note that means that I can give that to my mum, and she can take it into… Barclay's Bank, they will then take the money out of Mr Creevey's account and put it into her own account."

"Why does your mother have a muggle account?"

Jimmy laughs, "They've got more than that, Mum and Tina took their dresses to a Re-naissance fair? Near their new houses and sold out of two weeks of stock in two days. One of their neighbours saw them there and helped them set up their own accounts. We swap money if we need things, as I get most of my wood from the muggle world, as it's usually better quality, and I know that it's not transfigured or had magic used in it's gathering process."

Minerva looks disapproving, "I see. And what of the magical craftsmen you're denying your business to?"

Jimmy just laughs and doesn't say anything more.

═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

Over the next several days, Morgana has to drag Harry and Marianne to get the shopping, that needs their presence, done in Imber. Beyond that, both of them spend increasingly more time sitting in front of the first tree. Even going so far as to ignore the odd prayer sent their way.

It doesn't take long for Daphne to contact the rest of their classmates that can make their way to Harry's domain. Together, they start to keep them company and distracted. Whether it's with school work, or with weapons practice, no matter what they try to stop them from dwelling on whatever is bothering the two of them become more agitated over time.

What prayers came her way were easily brushed aside due to her concern for Harry and Marianne.

That is until August 26th​, the news called it Hurricane Andrew, all Daphne knew is that suddenly the prayers came in thick and fast, and she could no longer ignore the pull from them.

═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

Harry and Marianne tried to smile for their friends, but always their thoughts returned to the tree and the person who is currently inside it. Harry, because he still remembers the good times with Kate, whether at Bowling, A Celtic Day, or seeing her watch Marianne at practice.

For Marianne, it's because Kate is her mother, and no matter how much she thinks of Morgana as her mother, she'll never be able to replace Kate. As the school holiday comes to a close, their friends are able to spend less and less time with them, Susan because she's staying with Amelia and Manannán, Daphne because her name is well known, and Megan, his most recent student, because her family is celebrating a win by her cousin Gwennog by going on a late holiday.

A day before Kate is due to emerge, Airmed, Morgana, Dora, and Reginald Greengrass all start being pulled away due to a sudden increase in prayers sent their way.

As the 28th​, the day that Kate should emerge, dawns, Harry and Marianne sit hand in against the tree. All day they sit there until the sun finally sets, and they begin to cry.

 

[Darkphoenixlady]

Hurricane Andrew

"This is Rachel Sanders from NBC News reporting from just outside Titusville in Florida. Behind me is a family praying to a person that first appeared in Bosnia last month and started to help with clearing rubble."

In the view of the camera sits the ruins of a home with an upturned car and tree branches sticking out of it. At the side is a line of people with buckets removing water from the basement of the house through an external door. Down the street there are the occasional other houses that have been seriously damaged by debris, but most of this area seems to have escaped the worst of the damage in the region due to sitting higher than the storm surge.

As the family slits the throat of a chicken, Daphne appears between them.

"Amazing, the person known as Aoibhgreine has just appeared in answer to their prayers. As you can probably hear in the background, this was their last, desperate, option as one of their children is trapped in the storm cellar by a large steel beam."

There are cheers as the car sprouts legs and walks off of the home. As the girl starts to clear things, Rachel walks over to the mother, who has stayed behind to watch the child that wasn't trapped while the father hurries in to start clearing the easy to shift parts of the building.

"Hello, I'm Rachel Sanders from NBC News, can I ask you some questions?"

"Huh? Sure?"

"What's your name?"

"Kasey Talley ma'am."

"Ok Kasey, could you tell me what prompted you to pray to Aoibhgreine?"

Kasey looks ashamed, "Well, you see, Ben tried to get Tyler out on his own, like we got Jade here out. But Tyler's bigger, and he couldn't fit through the gap. Everything was fine until there was the crash and the ceiling fell in. We should have been safe, and we prayed to Jesus, oh we prayed for safety and aid. When the Hurricane passed, our storm shelter was mostly flooded and we could hear Jade crying. Even see her through a gap in the concrete." Daphne stops for a moment before walking over and speaking in English, "You can see your son?"

Kasey sob, "We can, that's the worst thing. Ben's given him an air mattress, but…"

Daphne disappears into the mist, and a moment later reappears pulling a crying and shivering Tyler behind her before disappearing into the mist again.

Rachel turns back to the camera, "It's a miracle, and you've seen it live on TV. Angel or Goddess, either way, Aoibhgreine has responded to this family's prayers and rescued their son for them."

═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

"This is Aidan Graham for CBS News in Berwick, St. Mary Parish, outside the High School that was deroofed during Hurricane Andrew. As you can see, behind me the Angel or Goddess named Aoibhgreine is busy building a new roof so that an estimated 1,000 people can have safe emergency accommodation while their homes are rebuilt. We have reached out to the Catholic Church for a statement on what this young girl is. But whatever she is, she has been working tirelessly throughout the affected areas, aiding rescuers and the homeless, day or night."

═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

"This is Ally Webster from ABC News, live from Homestead, Miami-Dade County, where the Goddess Aoibhgreine is helping to raise houses while the normal heavy lifting machinery is unable to get here due to storm damage. I have here a mug of cocoa and some food, and I'm hoping that we can have a few words with her."

Daphne turns as a woman calling her name jogs over, followed by a cameraman.

"Aoibhgreine, you've been working so hard that I thought you could do with a break, I've got some hot cocoa, and a sandwich."

Daphne looks to the sky and says a silent prayer of thanks to Danu, something she can think about more closely later, "Thank you."

As Ally hands over a Styrofoam cup, she asks, "Do you mind if I ask you a few questions while you have a break?"

Daphne shakes her head as she takes a cautious sip from the cup.

"You first appeared in Bosnia, why was that?"

"Mmm, my sister was adopted by Airmed and she wanted to show me the Sanctuary that Airmed and The Morrigan helped to make at one of the UN safe areas. While I was there, I didn't know any of the children she was playing with, so I started to help clearing out the rubble."

"Who are Airmed and The Morrigan?"

"Oh Danu this sandwich is good. Oh, Airmed is a Celtic goddess of healing, while The Morrigan is… I'm not sure of everything she stands for, but I know she's a good teacher, and she's also got a massive protective streak."

"How did you first meet The Morrigan?"

"Oh, I'm going to school with her adopted son."

"Is there a school for gods then?"

"Oh Danu no, just normal boring school. Though, we're doing our mundane schooling as a mostly self-directed thing because there's so much else we need to learn as well."

"Is that where you learned how to build houses?"

"Oh, no. I decided to learn how to do that to help with the houses they're building in the sanctuary, and a couple of the old men there took the time to teach me how to make proper screwless joints. Something I've been able to teach a few of the people I've been helping here in the USA. The architects Brendan Huber and Gabriel Chapman over there have been brilliant, as they've given me a list of books to read about safe building practices, and they're teaching me to read blueprints as well."

"What do you think you're…"

Daphne looks strained as she says, "Sorry, I've got to go, someone's found some survivors and they're praying for me to rescue them."

As Daphne disappears into mist, Ally turns back to the cameraman, "That was Aoibhgreine, apparently a Celtic Goddess in training. If you're in the location where she's headed, please call our studio at the number below for a live interview."

═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

"This is Glen Carter from ABC News, behind me President Bush is currently talking to the young Celtic Goddess Aoibhgreine, and thanking her for all lives she's saved, as well as the aid she's given towards the rebuilding effort. We are reporting from a distance as there are rumours of an Amnesia epidemic in the areas that have televised the Goddess's appearances. As a safety precaution, we ask that anyone wishing to report a sighting refrain from giving their location or name.

"As reported on CBS News, the Roman Catholic Church has denied that Aoibhgreine is an angel or a Goddess, instead calling her a demon. A stance that many in America are taking exception to given her charitable works, and response to heartfelt prayer."

 

[Kittle]

Oh dear, poor Kate. Poor Harry and Marianne as well.

The changes roll on and it's clear that the ICW is fighting a losing battle to keep the Statute of Secrecy going. The magical and mundane worlds are drawing closer together and goodness knows what'll happen if the existence of the magical world becomes widely known. I'm certainly looking forward to finding out, as well as to every chapter of this story.

 

[Blacksheep]

Gonna end up with a lot of "demon" worshippers XD

 

[Darkphoenixlady]

Oh dear, poor Kate. Poor Harry and Marianne as well.

The changes roll on and it's clear that the ICW is fighting a losing battle to keep the Statute of Secrecy going. The magical and mundane worlds are drawing closer together and goodness knows what'll happen if the existence of the magical world becomes widely known. I'm certainly looking forward to finding out, as well as to every chapter of this story.

Click to shrink...

Just think, if they hadn't obliviated that village, morgana would never have made the sanctuary.

 

[MaimakteriAnn]

Ngl. Pretty sure plenty of Americans would be calling her a demon too. At the very least the accelerationists. And the evangelicals. And the...

 

[Darkphoenixlady]

Ngl. Pretty sure plenty of Americans would be calling her a demon too. At the very least the accelerationists. And the evangelicals. And the...

Click to shrink...

Aye, and they want those people to call in, because controversy comes with viewers.

 

[Ckosacranoid]

Satan comes storming onto live TV around the world.

Look you idiots, my name is Satan or many other names under the sun. Those idiots in Rome would call all these new gods showing up to be demons. Well, they are not demons. That is group of beings that work under me and the most well known types are the famous tentacle types. Yes, they do exist. I do run a underground club in Japan that does good work to the ladies. Just because I am evil, does not mean I am going to collect every since soul I can. In time club case, it is a good way to unwind after after to deal with all the stupid that seems to come out of dealing with both Rome and the magical world.

As for all these new gods showing up or coming back from hiding, do you know how much damn paperwork you guys need to fill out with the supernatural computer system. I was burning last week by the damn red tape you idiots put out that did not get filled out.
So I am going to be the evil asshole that I am and forwarding tons it to each of you that needs to be filled out before you can answer any more prayers.

 

[Ckosacranoid]

This guy with long hair and dressed as a 1960's hippy walks onto screen.
Hello everyone, for those that thought me dead, I got better and been hiding out for some time in a different part of the multi verse. I just came back after getting reamed out by Satan about this little kult I started on a whim that has him getting pissed off about.

He pulls out a chair and table and sets both down and then sits down in the chair.

Ok, look, you idiots doing all this holy work in my name in Rome. What part of human sacrifice do you idiots get wrong in my notes? You where not to do that at all after I pulle my die and get out of town act. I left notes on how the group was to run things that would have had a new cool power take over or at least shared with lots of the local powers running around and giving everyone some piece for a change instead war every couple of days.
Look, first you idiots get everything wrong and how many damn times do you guys go nuts trying to take over the holy land, see how that worked out for you. How many damn crusades DoD you guys even do anyway?
Then there is all the damn witchhunting you all did. Killing every damn female in some cities? What the he'll guys. Then there is the fighting the 30 years war in Germany and other places where if they are not agreeing with the main task out of Rome and go their own way with my kult they get told to convert or die?
Then you guys go after all the old guards and kiss them off or try killing them and converting everyone to your way of doing crap. Do not even get me started on the whole new world crap you guys did to everyone there.
Then we get into the 20th century and the whole molest ing kids cause you can not find any one else to sacrifice in my name.
Do not even get me started on how you idiots treated the Jews all this time. You idiots know I am still one right and all you idiots claiming otherwise in Rome are still an off branch of Jews right?
I have been sitting here happy being a hippy and stoner for some time till Satan started blowing up my inbox about all the extra work you all forced on the computer system with trying to deal with some of the old guard coming back and being pissed off. Now it looks like I am going to be stuck cleaning up your damn mess in Rome and firing the damn Pope and other high ranking idiots.
Damn it, I need a joint after dealing with this crap.

He pulls out a bunch of rolling paper and weed and makes a huge blunt and smokes it

I this is Jesus smoking and piece out dudes.

After that everyone in the thread both in story and the message board get stoned and high as crap.

(Just remember that if the next few posts or chapters suck or make no sense, everyone just got high from reading this post or going past it. Sorry, the thought of Jesus's as a stoner was just to silly to pass up. I got the idea from a story someone did on a different board years ago about god saying to everyone, screw you and no one if getting to heaven. Sat and was going to have free play over earth and the human race said screw you both. Needless to say dropping a bunch of bombs on Satan's palace and shooting him in the chest with a couple of gaint milled where great. Much less watching a US carrier. Group sitting off the harbor of the city of heaven and flying cover for a thunder run though the city was great though.
The whole thing about Jesus ranting about the whole killing people in his name. Look at history for what I am talking about for everything done in his name.)

 

[Darkphoenixlady]

Chapter 10

Kate drifted. As the sun came up and warmed her leaves, she started to think as the sap inside started moving. As the sun went down, her thoughts slowed down until she fell asleep again.

As she drifts, she only feels relief. Relief that the chair can't reach her here. As the sun goes down again, her thoughts have just started to turn from her relief to something she needs to remember. But it's so hard, and there are things…

As she wakes up slowly, she revels in the feeling of the sun on her leaves, and the lack of dreams of the chair. She knows there's more, but the sun seems to come faster now.

There's something familiar that isn't part of the sun or the soil. Kate tries to understand, but relief from the chair…

Kate drifts when something makes her remember something else, baby, birth, pain, joy? Marianne? Marianne!

"…no! She's still in there, she's not dead! She's not dead. Just a few more days."

The sound starts to fade, and the calming feeling of the sun drags on her mind. But Kate won't let it go, she has a daughter. Struggling to remember she aches to hold her daughter, even as the sound has gone.

She can feel the sun as it falls and its light grows dimmer. Pushing hard she tries to remember, to move, to step forward. But the flash of sunlight as it dips below the horizon sends her back into her slumber.

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Morgana arrives on platform 9¾ at 10:30 dragging her two children with her. Both of them have puffy red eyes, and are still sniffling and are still distressed. So distressed that their glamours and magical control are shot. As gently as she can, she leads the two of them onto the train while Dora and Marie both follow up behind with the trunks as they look for the second year Hufflepuffs. This only takes a little while, as they've managed to snag a couple of compartments next to each other in the second carriage.

"Good morning everyone, would you mind terribly if I rode with you?"

Around the compartment Susan and Hannah both shrug before going back to their books, while Daphne doesn't even stir from where she's sleeping against the window. Tracey, on the other hand, smiles and waves them in, "Sure, what's going on?"

As Morgana goes to sit down, Tracy gets up to sit next to Susan before nudging the girl with her elbow. Sitting down, Morgana pulls Marianne into her lap, and Harry sits next to her and burrows into her arm.

With a long exhalation of breath Morgana softly says, "Marianne's mother is almost certainly gone. She was going through Brigid's choosing ceremony, and never came out of the tree."

Harry mumbles, "She's still there, I don't have any new trees yet. There's still a chance."

Gently she strokes Harry's hair, "I know, I know. My sister used to say the same thing every time she left alone. It's funny, she couldn't live for herself, but she could live for everyone else."

"Mum, I'm scared. What if I don't come out."

"Then I will wait until you do. You are not mortal, if you make the choice to enter the tree, then I know that one day you will come out again. If you find that the life of a Tuath De is too hard to face, then you are still my son, and I will always love you."

Tracey, looking a little wild eyed, asks, "What about the rest of us?"

"At the moment, you are all mortals. Though there is someone else here who's fate is veiled from me. However, I have no wish for Harry to see his friends grow old and die when I could prevent it. Some would say I'm going soft, well, they'd say other things, but the meaning would be the same. However, times are different to when my people walked the earth, and death is far less common. You also have far fewer connections than we did, and so each loss is that much harder. And yes Morgana, you're rambling because you're going to miss her too."

"Does that mean you're going to make us your chosen?"

Morgana looks Tracey in the eyes, "If there are no other options, yes. But I am probably one of the worst choices for that, as an axe to the head will still kill you dead, even if you're 200. As one of my chosen you'll be more likely to be in situations that could lead to that axe."

There's dead silence as they all digest what was said. As the carriage shakes it brings Tracey out of her thoughts, "So, um, do you know what's wrong with Daphne? I think we got three words out of her before she fell asleep."

Morgana sighs, "Can one of you grab the rest, as I don't want to go through this too often. Don't forget the non-Hufflepuff members."

Tracey grins and closes her eyes, when she opens them again she says, "They're on their way. I've been practicing that all holiday."

Morgana smiles widely, "Well done. Can you identify people by their magic yet?"

"Um… no?"

"It's the natural complement to that skill, as I assume you sent it to people because you know what their magic feels like."

"Actually, I just picture them in my mind and talk to them."

Before everyone else arrives, the door to the compartment slides open and Malfoy, along with Crabbe and Goyle, stands there open mouthed. His eyes glued to Harry's forehead. Then he notices Morgana and his expression goes from surprised to stricken in the blink of an eye, "I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were travelling on the train today."

As the door slides shut Morgana merely blinks.

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"Good, you're all here. As Daphne is still sleeping we'll leave her here and take this conversation to my domain."

A swirl of her hand has a portal open, and she picks up Marianne, who has finally fallen asleep on her lap, and walks through, followed by a subdued Harry, and the rest of the mundane studies class.

As the last of them file through, Morgana looks critically at Padma, "Padma, we will be having words later." She holds up a hand to forestall any arguments, "I am not going to stop your training, but I will need to talk to the god or goddess who has chosen you. If for no other reason than to ensure that they have no problems with me doing so, and they have no intention of using you."

Padma's eyes widen, "Um, thank you?"

"Don't worry about it. Now, Tracey asked me what's going on with Daphne. How many of you have been watching the news recently? Nobody? Ok, how many of you know about Hurricane Andrew?"

Justin, Sally-Anne, and Dean all put their hands up. Surprisingly, so does Millicent.

"Good. If you want to know what a Hurricane is, ask them later. Over the summer Daphne discovered her private name. Unfortunately, this happened while she was being interviewed by a reporter as she was helping to clear rubble in The Sanctuary in Bosnia. Susan, as you are the most advanced student, you'll probably find your name soon. This brings me to a vitally important aspect of my culture, public and private names. Your private name has power over you. This may just be because we work with the Otherside, and so the Otherside seeps into who we are. But that doesn't matter, if other people find out about your private name, then you can be summoned. Either through prayer, or with the right magic. In the past there were people who could lay a geas or curse with only the name. Though they have less weight than things like blood, hair, or teeth.

"I would like you all to start getting used to telling people that you are known as, or they may call you something or other. Try to avoid the words 'I am' or 'my name is' when saying your name, as your magic is likely to give your private name.

"What happened to Daphne is that people saw her helping with building and rescue and have associated her name with that. According to Airmed, the first prayers felt like pokes, until she was taught how to make it easier on herself. She was first called by a young boy praying to her in the Middle of August after an earthquake. After the Hurricane hit, there were a few people praying for her help. Again, right up until she was caught on TV being prayed to, and then arriving. I caught the clip when I was called to the USA by prayer, and the family sacrificed a chicken to ensure she came.

"Blood is life, and life is power. If they know how, even a mundane can do magic with ritual sacrifice. When used in prayer it makes it exceedingly difficult to avoid being called for an experienced Tuath Dé like myself. Daphne had absolutely no chance to resist it.

"Remember this, because if your name gets out, that could be you. If you're strong enough, you may even carve out your own domain because of it. If not, if not, then you break and get a new name."

Apart from Harry, everyone else stares at Morgana as though she's just told them that Voldemort has marked them for death.

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After they return to the compartment the children start to mix and discuss their summer holidays. Even managing to coax Harry into talking, even if it's not with the same enthusiasm he'd normally have. For some reason their conversations would be interrupted momentarily by Slytherins, and later Gryffindors opening the door to stare at Harry and his scar.

At around midday, Daphne wakes up with a startled squark before disappearing in a cloud of mist.

Startled, Tracy and the others in the compartment all stare at the place that Daphne had been sitting just a few seconds ago.

In a strangled voice, Tracy says, "What happened?"

Solemnly Morgana says, "A prayer for aid."

"Can't you help her?"

"What would you have me do?"

"I don't know."

Daphne reappears shaking in anger, "Wake me up just for an interview will you?"

Carefully shifting Marianne onto the seat beside her, causing her to yawn and blink her eyes, Morgana holds her arms out, "Would you like a hug while you tell me about it?"

Daphne looks at her for a long moment before her shoulders slump and she turns around to sit in Morgana's lap, "How do you do it? How do you handle being pulled all over the place to answer prayers?"

Morgana strokes Daphne's hair, "That's why we have chosen. At one point I had 20 chosen, the youngest had been with me for 50 years before… Dora can answer prayers on my behalf, and that's how I was able to take Harry and Morgana on holiday. Other gods, had their own chosen, but they were also limited to the distance they could transport themselves away from their home before needing to travel as mortals. The Norse being an obvious exception because their home isn't in the mortal world, however they found it harder to respond to prayers too. With the Otherside, it is both a benefit and a downside."

"But why pray to me just to behave like a mimic, strutting and prancing in front of everyone and seeking approval like a popinjay fool."

"Because there are many who make their living by being gossips. Especially in the mundane world. You appear to have become somewhat of a celebrity, and so they wish to improve their own status by being seen with you."

Daphne giggles, "Is it bad that, after they said I'd be providing a demonstration of my building skills, I did just that by building a self-sealing room around them."

"I don't know what you mean by self-sealing."

Daphne giggles again, "One of the old men showed me how to make a puzzle box that can only be opened by pulling all 8 corners at the same time. I built one of those in around five minutes, the last few seconds of which were assembling it around the person who was trying to question me."

Tracy frowns, "Um Daph, what's a popinjay?"

"Um, I'm not precisely sure. There's someone, I think it's a guy, who prays to me and then, just reads books at me. I think I helped him some time in the last week, but I've been so busy I have no idea."

As the journey goes on, Daphne disappears in a puff of mist a couple more times, and each time returns a little dishevelled and exhausted, but with a sense of some sort of pride or satisfaction on her face.

All too soon, the train starts to pull into Hogsmeade station, and Morgana has to take her place with the Professors.

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Sluggishly, she dreams that her daughter was taken from her, so she must find her daughter. Slowly she crawls over dirt, roots, and rocks, following the feeling that she has where her daughter is. Heedless of the fog that rises to bar her way, she plunges onwards to find her daughter.

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Marianne slowly trudges from the carriage into the great hall, Marie a silent shadow next to her. As she tries to step into the mist, whatever trick Morgana has for preventing it, she's obviously also shown Marie too. Beside her she sees Harry shake his head as he becomes indistinct for a moment before solidifying.

She feels kinda bad that she was able to laugh and chat on the way up, when her mother is… As the tears start to form again, she looks up and around as she wasn't part of the Sorting Feast last year.

As she sits down, she's quickly flanked by Susan and Hannah, who both lay their hands on her arm in a comforting fashion. Marie sits down on the other side of the table as well, occasionally reaching over to both Marianne and also Harry.

It is somewhat surprising when Susan nudges her, and she realises that the headmaster is looking at her expectantly while Professor Sprout holds the sorting hat.

"They want you to be sorted for formalities sake."

Reluctantly, Marianne gets up from the bench and trudges around to the small stool before slumping down.

As the hat comes down over her head, it yelps quietly before grumbling.

"Please give a hat warning next time I'm about to be put on your head. Now, where should you go?"

Marianne lifts her eyes with the barest amount of interest, "Why? What's wrong with my head?"

"Nothing's wrong with your head, it's your, um, other stuff. I'm quite attached to living as the castle."

"Huh? Oh… And I quite like Hufflepuff."

"You'd do well in Gryffindor you realise."

"Not really, all my friends are in Hufflepuff."

"Very well, let's let you be HUFFLEPUFF!"

Marianne manages a small smile as she says, "Thank you."

When she stands up Professor Sprout gives her a hug and softly says, "If you want to talk about anything later, I'll be in the common room."

Marianne gives her a small, sad, smile before she makes her way back to her seat. On the way, she thinks about how her mother will react, before she remembers she's… not here, and tears start to fall again.

A few minutes later Marianne vaguely notices when Padma starts twitching badly, and Marie takes her off into the mist. As the sorting starts, she's only able to concentrate on a few of the 1st​ year students, a Creevey who went to Gryffindor because he was first. Later she recognises Luna from playing tag in Sweden who goes to Ravenclaw, and finally the last person to be sorted is a Weasley girl, who ends up causing an uproar by going to Slytherin for some reason.

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She's now absolutely certain that this is a dream, as there's an Alice through the looking glass style party going on where everyone's dressed in university robes. She can see her daughter through the mist, looking absolutely morose, Harry sitting opposite her doesn't look much better. As she crawls further forward, dragging herself with her branches, she puts her hand into a lemon meringue pie, knocks over a pot of tea, and slips on a spilt patch of cream, falling down on top of Marianne.

With a smile, she looks at her, "I know this is a dream, but I want you to know I tried to come back for you."

With that said, she allows the darkness to claim her again as her willpower runs out.

 

[Wentley]

Ha! This is going to be QUITE the uproar.

Damn, poor Daphne. At least she gets satisfaction out of helping those actually in need.

 

[Kittle]

Oh, you tease. Kate's not as gone as everyone thought, just a late riser. Daphne needs chosen soon or it's going to play merry hell with her life. And Ginny in Slytherin? I suppose with Harry not being in Gryffindor, that would leave her without the compelling reason to join her family's traditional house, and her attitude isn't right for the Puffs. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

 

[Darkphoenixlady]

Oh, you tease. Kate's not as gone as everyone thought, just a late riser. Daphne needs chosen soon or it's going to play merry hell with her life. And Ginny in Slytherin? I suppose with Harry not being in Gryffindor, that would leave her without the compelling reason to join her family's traditional house, and her attitude isn't right for the Puffs. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

Click to shrink...

So, I hinted at the fact that Harry wasn't able to hide his scar because of his emotional turmoil. And that lots of Slytherin and gryffindors were visiting to stare at him.

Ginny tried to get into hufflepuff because of the bwl.

ETA: oh, and if Morgana hadn't forced the kids away, Kate would have been lost.