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Harry Potter and the Tuath Dé

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Martin Rudat said:
I'm reasonably sure mundane psychiatrists would love to have access to the various potions.

The ability to dial down emotional responses so you can discuss and reason through emotional issues without the patient being overwhelmed or descending into hysterics when a given subject is brought up would be invaluable, I expect.

The ability to have a dreamless sleep so you're not dealing with sleep deprivation in addition to everything else that's going on.

Sure, they paper over the problem, but for many things, I suspect that just having a good night's sleep and some emotional distance could be the difference between future PTSD and walking the problem off.


It looks like Morgana's won; I've got to wonder if that burst of magic might be enough to get Marianne into a regular magical school?
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I agree with your assessment of the utility of dreamless sleep, calming draughts, and other such magical tinctures to a trained therapist. Even today, altered-state therapy is undergoing some small medical trials using stuff like LSD and showing promising results, and recreational cannabis has been a boon to many who suffer from crippling anxiety or depression. I'm sure mundane medical officials would prefer to run a battery of trials on animals and people before releasing the magical potions for general use, but their use cannot be overstated I think.
 
I have just finished reading this story from beginning to end. I have loved every minute of it from the joyful moments of love and kinship to the dark and sorrow inducing moments of broken homes and hearts.
 
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Chapter 25
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    • Chapter 25



    Not knowing that the fetch is still mimicking her to the best of its ability, Marianne repeatedly says, "I forgive you mummy, I forgive you." While she watches her mother remove the helmet and blindfold. Silently, Morgana sits down beside Marianne and pulls her into a hug.

    "What's going to happen to my mum?"

    Softly Morgana says, "I don't know, that's up to the courts to decide."



    On the other side of the portal, one of the police officers says, "She's going to be arrested and interviewed once her back has been treated. After that I don't know, it depends on her testimony."

    As soon as its hands are free, the Fetch hugs Kate.



    Morgana looks down at Marianne sadly, "Once the fetch is out of the chair, I'm going to have to switch you back. I'll lessen the effect of the magic I'm using to supress your pain, as you need to be able to describe it."

    Marianne nods, "I understand."



    For Marianne it's an odd sensation going from one place to another, and it causes her to sag in her mother's arms. Only a couple of policemen catching them both stops her from landing back on the chair.



    While they're being escorted out, one of the police officers asks, "Is there anything you can tell us that would be useful to our investigation?"

    Kate nods, "Yes, there is a hidden bookshelf behind the bookshelf in the vestibule. It has the records of all the trials they've held here. I also hid Marianne's journal under my bra strap so that Shaun wouldn't destroy it."

    "How do you know about that bookshelf?"

    "I had to clean the basement and the vestibule after they had a trial."

    "Why didn't you report this to the police?"

    "I didn't want to end up in that chair again."



    "Sir, I think she is going to need psychiatric evaluation."

    "See to it that it gets noted."



    As Marianne and Kate exit the church supporting each other there's a flash of light from a camera. Off to one side there's a camera crew just setting up, and in the field down the hill is a helicopter. The police gently guide the two down to the helicopter, where a paramedic sees to their wounds. The church basement having been deemed to be too dangerous for non-urgent care. Passively, Kate allows them to treat her hands and back at the same time as the police officer reads her her rights and handcuffs her hands together in front of her even as the helicopter takes them to Edinburgh for treatment.

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    Ephis flutters out of the mist by Harry, "You'll never guess what I found. There's a massive three headed dog in a classroom on the third floor."

    "Ephi," Harry says impatiently, "is Marianne ok?"

    Ephis shrugs, "I don't know, The Great Queen looked really angry just before she burst apart into crows."

    Harry noticeably relaxes somewhat, though he still keeps an eye on the entrance for some indication of when he can leave. Daphne, on the other hand, furrows her brow, "What was that about a dog?"

    Ephis flutters over and sits in the air, "When I got back, the last of the teachers were leaving the great hall. I was about to find Harry when garlic breath got up off the floor and left the great hall. So I thought it was strange and followed him." As she continues, she starts to mime out her actions, "However, he was keeping an eye out around him, so I had to be sneaky. First of all, it was just hiding behind corners, but then he got to the main staircase and I had to hide behind the little pillars. When he got off at the 3rd​ floor, the stairs moved so I had to jump from the stairs to the corridor. I thought I'd lost him, but then there was a massive growl, bark, bark, Arrrgh! And I hurried down to the sound and saw garlic breath running down the corridor while greasy hair stumbled out of the door, blood dripping from his leg. Quickly I hid in the ceiling, and once he left I looked inside the door. It's soo cute and fluffy, even if it's bigger than an adult."

    Megan giggles and asks, "Evie, why didn't you just hide like you do on Harry's head?"

    Ephis droops, "I forgot."



    It's nearly an hour before Professor Sprout comes to let them know that the troll has been found and dealt with. As soon as she gives the all clear, Harry runs off to the dorm and disappears into the mist as soon as he's out of sight.

    Once there, he searches for the stone that Marianne found. After a moment of searching, he fails to find it. Quickly changing tack, he heads for his mother and stumbles out into her round house.

    "Mum! Is Marianne…"

    Morgana looks up from the portal she's watching, "Marianne is going to be fine, she's almost at the hospital now."

    Harry looks at the portal and is only stopped from going to Marianne by his mother, "Harry, you can't. Not yet. I know you want to heal her, but the mortal authorities need to deal with this otherwise she won't be safe in the mortal world. It is as much a battlefield as any I have fought on, even if the weapons are words and deeds, and the enemy wears the cloak of respectability."

    "But Mum!"

    "Yvor, listen to me. I have dulled the pain of her wounds as much as I dare. Once she reaches hospital I will stop doing even that. If I don't, then the accusations of witchcraft will persist in the minds of those who care. I don't want her to be freed from her father, only to be hunted by some other fanatic who believes that all witches should be killed. Christians are like cockroaches, where you see one there's bound to be more." She raises her hand, "I know that most modern Christians aren't the same as the ones that killed my people. But even then, it was the same. The merchants and travellers that brought the new religion with them were just the same as the Christians we know. They truly believed in the religion they converted to, and they spoke with the same fervour."



    Suddenly, Morgana opens another portal and turns on the TV in their living room.

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    "Good evening, this is the BBC 9 o'clock news. Breaking news tonight, a young girl was recused from a church basement near Dunblane when a family friend contacted the police. We are going live to Channel 4's Sarah Eyles, who was filming a documentary in the village.

    "Sarah."

    "Good evening."

    "Sarah, what can you tell me about what's happened?"

    "When we arrived, a girl and her mother were being led out of the church by police and they have been taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh by helicopter. Just outside the church there are two rings of powder, that you can probably see in the camera behind me. Earlier, we were able to see inside the church, however the police have now cordoned off the entire property as well as the near by vicarage. It appears as though the girl's father thought she was a witch, and decided to question her the way they did in the 17th​ century."

    "What's happening now?"

    A police lorry pulls up on the side of the road in the view of the camera, "As you can see, the police are bringing in more people and equipment. I have seen men in white coveralls placing markers around the graveyard, and there is a constant stream of personnel going in and out of the church."

    "What of the perpetrators?"

    "Two men were arrested at the scene, one of them was screaming that they need to kill his daughter before it's too late and the demon she contracted kills them all. He also stated that a pillar of the local community was responsible for teaching his daughter."



    Morgana holds a finger up to Harry's mouth as she steps through into their house and picks up the phone, "Hello? Is this the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh? Oh thank the gods, is Marianne Kincaid there? I'm Dr Morgana Danann, I've been looking after her since she and my son Harry met in playschool. Yes, I reported that to the police. I'll wait. Good evening officer. Yes, she has a room here. Yes, I can bring some of her clothes tomorrow." Genuine surprise enters Morgana's voice, "She does? Why? I had no idea, I'll contact a solicitor tomorrow. Thank you. Goodbye."



    Putting the phone down, Morgana beckons to Harry, "That was a police officer, Kate wants to talk to me tomorrow. She also wants to sign over guardianship of Marianne to me before social services get involved."

    "Why? What's going on?"

    "I don't know. But I do know that Marianne's stone was broken, so she'll need a replacement."

    "I'll do that right now."

    "But first you need to go back to school and get some sleep."

    "But Mum!"

    "No Harry, there's nothing you can do to help at the moment, so you need to take care of your own responsibilities."

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    Amelia dusts herself off irritatedly as she steps out of the Floo into the DMLE, "What's going on!?"

    Mad-eye Moody stumps over, "The magic detectors have just been knocked offline again."

    "What do you mean again?"

    "Happened back in 82, tomorrow if memory serves."

    "What do we know then?"

    "Our backup detectors on the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Man are showing something big happened in Scotland, but that's about as accurate as we can give you. Whatever it was happened after our detection grid went offline."



    "Boss, Boss, you need to see this!" Moody and Amelia look over to the Floo where Scotts, a muggleborn that Amelia personally recruited after the 10 pin bowling in September, trips out of the Floo. Standing up he brushes himself off, "Director, I didn't see you there, you should see this too. My floo address is 'Great Scott'"

    Moody roars, "Stop right there lad, we need more information before we tear off to your home."

    Scotts gulps and turns around, "Witch finders, in Scotland, it's on the news."

    Amelia pins him with a glare, "Where in Scotland?"

    "Dunblane ma'am"

    Amelia goes white, "Robards, Scrimgeour, take a few Aurors to Dunblane and have a look around. No matter what you see. Do. Not. Interfere."

    Moody looks at her, "Bones, what do you know?"

    "Harry Danann and his mother Morgana Danann both practice Celtic magic. They also live in Dunblane. I saw Morgana make a gate to the Hufflepuff dorm in Hogwarts."

    "We need to speak to her then."

    "Then what? The magic detectors didn't even blink when she opened the gate, I checked. Do you know how much magic she had to have used to make that gate? Neither do I because when I idly asked an Unspeakable about it, a few days later they came back and said it was impossible. It would need a ritual with 100 witches and wizards, and the ritual would take at least 6 hours. Now I don't believe that she's more powerful than 100 witches and wizards, but I do know that what ever is going on is throwing around more magic than any of us could. Do you really want to step into that mess and muck up whatever they are doing there?"

    "Then what do you suggest?"

    "We send her a polite letter, even better we get Scotts to phone her."

    "To what now?"

    "Phone, use the telephone. Merlin, this is why I hired Scotts and put him to training under you with Tonks. The mundane world has changed so much even if it doesn't look like it. Morgana is right about the word muggle too, it's a slur and it makes us think of them as less than us. I have been bowling twice now, and each time was just as scary as each other. In October I saw the security booth and realised that the little black and white pictures were actually like the screens on the entertainment games. Only they were showing what was happening in and around the building. In September Dr Danann told me that mundane magic is subtle and boring."



    Several minutes later Moody is staring at a black box with blinking lights that Scotts had just been fiddling with. On the TV is the 9 o'clock news playing for the 3rd​ time as that box that seems so innocuous to his magical eye plays it back from the 'tape'.
     
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    • Well, at least the more sensible Magicals are wising up to development of the Mudanes beyond Arthur Weasley's behaviour of treating us like fairly bright children who've overcome a crippling handicap (imagine not having magic at all!)

    (Edit:) Also the Beeb must be steamed at having to rely on a Channel 4 documentary crew for their reporter on the spot!
     
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    KillerFish said:
    Well, at least the more sensible Magicals are wising up to development of the Mudanes beyond Arthur Weasley's behaviour of treating us like fairly bright children who've overcome a crippling handicap (imagine not having magic at all!)

    (Edit:) Also the Beeb must be steamed at having to rely on a Channel 4 documentary crew for their reporter on the spot!
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    After having it rubbed in their face. Let's face it, if you look around your living room now, how much looks like it actually does anything? If you have a computer, does it look different from a weird typewriter when it's switched off? How the sheer mundane production capacity?

    And yes, the BBC are just a tad upset, as are the other news providers, though they're going to be even more steamed in the morning when there's a full colour photo of Kate and marianne being led out of the church by police officers gracing just about every newspaper front page with a stop press.
     
    I'm caught up! Ugh, poor kid. I don't think I could have stopped myself from cursing the bastard who called himself a father if I had the power. However, then the knowledge of the chair, and the other trials wouldn't have come out. Still.
     
    Wentley said:
    I'm caught up! Ugh, poor kid. I don't think I could have stopped myself from cursing the bastard who called himself a father if I had the power. However, then the knowledge of the chair, and the other trials wouldn't have come out. Still.
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    All of this serves as an important reminder that instantly solving something in the short-term doesn't solve it in the long term... it simply pushes it down the road or buries secrets that should have never been buried.
     
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    The BBC
  • Informational
    • For all you non-brits; the BBC is a government funded television and radio broadcaster (paid for with funds generated from TV licenses) whilst Channel 4 is an independent "free" channel. During the 90's Britain only had the four channels, and Channel 4 was known for most for syndicating American programs.

    Thus Channel 4 documentaries were rare, and them scooping the BBC (or The Beeb) on a news story would be a major thing, to the extent that getting the BBC to admit they weren't there first would be like pulling teeth.

    It's calmed down nowadays, but there's still that air of The Beeb has to be first on the scene to justify the government spending so much on them.
     
  • Informational
    • Chapter 26
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    • Chapter 26



    Morgana sighs as the phone ring at half past 9, "Good evening, Danann residence."

    Scotts says, "Is Morgana there? I have a Madam Bones to speak to her… she says you may know her as Amelia from bowling."

    Morgana closes her eyes and pinches the bridge of her nose, "I'm Morgana, put her on."

    "Morgana, it's Amelia."

    "What can I do for you?"

    "I've just seen the news, do you know anything about it?"

    "Why?"

    "Because the magic detectors across the country went down."

    Morgana sighs, "Do you have my business card?"

    "I do, that's how we called you."

    "One moment then." Morgana closes her eyes and searches for the faint signature of her magic holding the card together. Once she finds it, she opens a gate to the room with a slight grunt of effort. She's obviously spent more than she should tonight if a gate to London took effort. Hanging up the phone she looks through the gate expectantly.



    "Well, are you coming or not?"

    The three people react remarkably quickly, with one of them diving for cover while the other two spin around. The man with a peg-leg bringing his wand to bear as he does so. A spell of some description spitting from the end of his wand, only to be caught on the sword that she manifests in her hand.

    "That was a rude thing to do to someone who is inviting you into their home."

    Amelia barks, "Moody stow it or go back to HQ."

    "Bones, I can't see her."

    "I don't care, stow it or go."

    Reluctantly, Moody puts his wand away as they all step through the gate. Once through, he keeps his good eye on Morgana for the entire time they're there.



    "Welcome to my home strangers."

    Amelia nods, "Thank you for inviting us. I'm sorry I do not know your customs."

    "I'm sure your niece will be able to teach you once she approaches Harry about learning Celtic magic. I will be very disappointed if she doesn't after I gave her permission. There's an interesting fact that many people don't know. A lot of old cultures didn't have separate words for Stranger and Enemy. Anyway, you wished to speak to me?"

    Moody growls, "Were you threatening us lass?"

    Morgana turns to stare at Moody, "I am strong enough that I no longer need to make threats. Can you say the same?"

    Amelia turns to Moody, "Moody, ballpen now, you've got desk duty for a week."

    Grumbling, Moody turns on the spot and falls over as he fails to apparate, Morgana shakes her head and opens the front door, "Roman based magical travel won't work in this house. The edge of my protections are 200 yards down the road, now leave."

    Cautiously, Moody stumps out of the door and down the road, his head on a swivel as his magical eye is unable to see anything.

    "Now that's out the way, what can I do for the two of you?"

    Scotts blurts, "My mother loves your books, if I brought you one, would you be able to sign it for her?"

    Morgana laughs even as Amelia shouts, "Scotts!"

    "Danu I needed that. I'm sorry Scotts, but I only do signings at my classes and displays. I have a website that can be found on Gopher through most libraries, or you can call the Scottish tourism board. I got the local computer science class to set it up while exploring the new html protocol. The website is written on the bottom of my card."

    Amelia looks confused, "Website?"

    "Oh yes, it's a form of mundane magic they've been developing since the 70's. Though the mundane call it technology, it might as well be magic for most people. This is an amazing time to be alive as the mundane are finally starting to make their own magic. Mobile phones are now small enough to fit in a pocket or a handbag, they have satellites in orbit repeating programs and telephone calls around the world. When I moved here with Harry, all of that was an impossible pipe dream. On top of that, they are working together so tightly that they can constantly fill every supermarket in the country with fresh produce, baked goods, and all the other necessities of life year round. Banana's are now common, as are most other fruits that were previously only rarely seen. Cream is no longer a luxury, you can buy it for the same price as a pint of milk. Now one person can manage a single farm that is larger than any 10 farms in the Celtic era. How is that not magic? And my personal favourite, books, mills and boon release a new book every week, and the print hundreds of thousands of copies, and then sell them for £2 each. That's less than half a Galleon. Every single week. Go to any news agent in the country tomorrow morning, and I guarantee that what happened today will be in every single paper you can find. The same papers will also be available in New York when it wakes up in the morning. I teach about my culture because I want people to realise just how magical the era they're living in really is."

    Amelia coughs politely, "I'm sorry, but we would really like to know what happened today."

    "It's simple, Marianne's father is a witch finder, and she had a bout of accidental magic. I used my magic to provide a mundane explanation for the accidental magic, provide the information that the police would need to act, and it also provided a back dated foster care application for some reason. I then had to find Marianne, rescue her, and while I was at it, I cursed the people involved. Once the police rescued the fetch that I left in Marianne's place, I switched them back. Now if you'll excuse me I've had a long day and I'd like to get some sleep."

    "Thank you for your time Dr, and I'm sorry for interrupting your evening. Just so that you are aware, what ever your first piece of magic was, it knocked out all of our magical detectors around the country. That is why it was so urgent that I find out what you were doing."

    Morgana's expression softens slightly, "Next time you're questioning me, lead with the reason. A free warning, this case has nothing to do with your society, so if anyone interferes with the police investigation or the evidence they find, they find me looking for them. This portal leads to the bottom of the hill that the church is on."

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    When Harry arrives back in the dorm room, everyone else is still awake. Yawning, Daphne asks, "Is Marianne alright?"

    Harry shakes his head, "No, not really. But she's alive and safe at a mundane hospital. Mum wouldn't let me heal her, as it would put her in danger or something to do with the case."

    Wayne asks, "Is she the girl that was on our team?"

    Harry nods, "She was. It turns out her father is a witch finder, and she had a bout of accidental magic." All of the magic born put their hands to their mouths in shock, "The mundane world really isn't that bad. What did you think of the people at bowling? I suppose that witch finders might be considered to be like the dark lords followers, as I certainly had no idea that they still existed."

    Daphne looks a little surprised, "Wait, they're not common in the mundane world?"

    Harry shakes his head, "No, not at all. I expect that the entire nation will be shocked by this. We learn about it in history because it was such a terrible thing. Though we believe that all their victims were mundane women falsely accused for unknown reasons. I've got my history books in my trunk if anyone's interested."

    "Harry, why do you have mundane history books in your trunk?"

    "Mum's been home-schooling me since I was 8, so I'm just continuing my mundane education."

    Susan puts her hands on her hips, "When have you been doing this then?"

    "After you've all gone to bed?"

    "Show of hands, who thinks Harry should do his mundane work with the rest of us."

    Justin shakes his head, "Honestly, I didn't even think it was an option. Can you ask your mum for details on how to get started with that. My parents will be ecstatic if I can do that as well as my magical education."

    Tracy laughs, "Show of hands, who here thinks we should all complete a mundane education with Harry and Justin so they're not left out?"

    Much to Harry and Justin's surprise, only Ernest doesn't raise his hand, "Well, given I don't want to hear Professor Sprout express disappointment in us again, I think we should tell her in the morning. Harry, could you send a letter to your mum signed by all of us to find out how we would go about getting your muggle education?"

    Harry smiles, "Why don't you ask Ephi, she can travel the Other at least as well as I can, and she doesn't need to be around for classes."

    "Evie, would you be able to deliver a letter to Mrs Danann in exchange for a chocolate frog?"

    Ephis appears in front of Tracy's face, "A whole chocolate frog?"

    Tracy nods, "Yes, a whole chocolate frog. I'll give it to you after the first letter, but you have to promise to deliver any other letters that are to do with our mundane education as well."

    Ephis looks at Tracy suddenly suspicious, "You don't actually have a chocolate frog, do you."

    "No, I do. Wait right here and I'll show you."

    Tracy pops into her partition and grabs a chocolate frog from her trunk, "See, a chocolate frog, unopened. This will be yours once you deliver the first letter."

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    Marianne lays on her front on a gurney while a nurse cleans each of the wounds on her back. They've already had someone photographing them as well as her hands, face, and neck.

    "How are you doing sweetie?"

    Marianne groans as she turns her head, "It hurts more than it did earlier."

    "That's just the shock wearing off and the endorphins have flushed themselves from your system."

    "Ok." Marianne's tone of voice suggests that she didn't understand a word of that.

    "You've been a very brave girl, and I think you deserve some cartoons on TV, what do you think?"

    "I just want to sleep."

    "I'm sorry, but we can't let you do that for a few more hours. Your x-rays came back fine, but the doctors want to make sure you don't have a concussion. That means that your brain was knocked around and bruised. If you do, then letting you sleep could be dangerous. If you don't want cartoons, why don't you tell me what you do for fun?"

    "I belong to the Dunblane re-enactment society, and I've been learning to use a sword since I was 5. It's amazing, as we don't just use swords from one era, we skip about and mix and match. Harry, that's my friend, he's really really good, and loves using a spear or a two handed shield. Morgana, that's Harry's mum, has been looking after me in the afternoons forever. Did you know she does classes on Celtic culture and religion? Harry and I get private lessons occasionally, and she also teaches us sword work too. One day I'll be good enough to wear woad like she does sometimes."

    "What else do you do for fun?"

    "We go 10 pin bowling once a month, though I wasn't allowed to go this month, because my dad is a meanie. But The Morrigan got him good tonight."

    "Who's The Morrigan?"

    "She's an old Celtic goddess."

    "Do you worship her?"

    Marianne tries to shake her head and give up when it hurts, "Oh no, but I do talk to her though."

    "Do you ever go to church?"

    "Na uh, not going to church ever. Dad goes to church and look what he did to me and mum. I'm going to be Celtic like Harry and his mum."



    A doctor speaks up from the doorway, "How's our brave heroine doing?"

    The nurse looks up, "She says that it's hurting more than it did. Thank God the seat was clean otherwise she'd be looking at infections on all of these wounds."

    The doctor shakes his head, "I don't think god had anything to do with it. The police have already had to switch to female officers looking after her mother. If there's a man in the room, she becomes utterly passive. They tried to give her a sandwich, but she wouldn't start to eat until the men were gone. We're currently canvassing the nearby hospitals for any female doctors with the right experience to treat her. Her back arms and legs are all covered with scars the same as those wounds. Hopefully the girls wounds won't scar given her age." On the bed, Marianne wishes hard that the doctor and nurse will continue to talk as though she's not there. As she does, wisps of mist float around her, obscuring her slightly.

    "What do the police think?"

    "The on-call psychologist says she's disassociating badly and it's probably a trauma response. Christ, she's not on any painkillers yet, but she didn't even wince once when we cleaned out the burn. She's got 3 broken ribs and a crack in her Th 5."

    "How's her questioning going?"

    "They've put it on hold at the moment as she's a damn fire hydrant about everything except her health. Ask her about what her home life was like and she won't stop talking, same as if you ask her what she did to her daughter. Ask her why, and she'll just say that Shaun broke her. One of the nurses asked her about her scars, and her reply was that she got them when Shaun broke her. I heard that the nurse made the mistake of asking how he broke her. Everyone in the room has been signed off for 2 weeks on mental health grounds, with mandatory counselling."

    As her already depleted magical reserves exhaust themselves, Marianne falls into a restful sleep unnoticed by the doctor or nurse. The mist slowly dissipates over the next half hour.

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    Amelia storms into the DMLE at half past 7 in the morning, "Dawlish, did you get the papers?"

    "Yes Director Bones!"

    "Tonks, Floo to Scott's home and have him teach you how to use his recording device. If any news of what happened last night appears, I want it recorded. Dawlish, Robards, you're looking through the papers, see what they've got. Scrimgeour what did you find out last night?"

    Scrimgeour walks over from his desk, "It's not pretty, they have journals going back to the 17th​ century and there are one or two victims every year. All of whom were buried in unmarked graves in the graveyard if they were found guilty. If they were innocent but died anyway, they got a marked grave. The woman that was led out, she was tortured for 3 days down there in 78. Her entry says that it was necessary to condition her as a wife for a witch finder."

    Dawlish walks over and puts a copy of the Daily Express on the desk. Taking up the entire front page is a photo of Marianne and her mother supporting each other as they walk through the church doors. The headline reads, 'Witch Finder victims rescued'. As Amelia reads the article, and the accompanying history of witch finders in britain, she sags into a chair.

    "Scrimgeour, Dawlish, make sure everyone reads this then make it clear that this mundane investigation is off limits. Morgana was right, if we interfere then we prove the witch finders right. No obliviations, if they happen across our society work with Scotts to make it look coincidental. If Morgana can do that, then so can we. I'm going to see the minister about talking to the mundane government."



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    Morgana's heels click on the tile floor of the hospital as she makes her way to the front desk of the ward that Kate is in.

    "Good Morning, I'm Dr Danann here to see Kate Kincaid."

    "Dr, one moment please I need to phone the officer on duty."



    It doesn't take long before she's led into the private room that they're keeping Kate handcuffed to the bed.

    "Morgana, you came."

    Morgana nods, "I did, my solicitor will be here at 11."

    "Can we talk privately until then? It's about my daughter."

    The female police officer speaks softly into her radio before leaving, "I'll be just outside. It's the best we can do."

    As she closes the door behind her, Morgana glances up and sees the officer looking in. When she looks back, Kate pushes herself into a sitting position facing away from the window, "Morgana, thank you for rescuing my baby when I couldn't."

    "I just did what anyone would have done."

    Kate shakes her head, "No, you were there, I saw you. I also know that Marianne didn't make a phone call that night. I don't know if you're an angel or a demon, but it doesn't really matter, because you saved my child."

    Morgana pulls the mist around them, just a slight amount to make them less interesting, and their conversation private.

    "Who am I Kate?"

    Kate seems to fight against something before she says, "You are The Morrigan."

    "How do you know that?"

    "You talk about her in your classes, and I couldn't help but recognise you, both of you last night."

    "What am I?"

    "I don't know."

    Morgana sighs, "I am an old god, I predate Christianity. Not by a lot, but I am older than the religion with no god."

    "What's going to happen to me?"

    "What do you want to happen?"

    "I want to get better, to be a proper mother. But that's impossible."

    "Why is it impossible?"

    "Because you're her mother."

    Gently, Morgana says, "I'm not, Marianne always calls me her second mother. That makes you her first."

    "It's still impossible, I'm broken and I hurt my daughter. They won't let me see her again."

    "You don't know that. Are you willing to put the work in to heal?"

    "I… don't know. I want to, I think, but it's so hard to think."

    "Are you willing to forsake your faith for this?"

    Kate laughs, "What faith? I haven't had faith since 23rd​ June 1978, the day they dressed my wounds and took me home. What loving god would have allowed that?"

    "We don't claim to be loving, we are much like you. People with our own desires, dreams, and loves. We're also not all powerful or all knowing. That would be an impossibility so far as I know. However, we have always done our best for our people. Canta was our healer with Brigid being almost as good. If I can find him, would you be willing to be healed by him?"

    "I… couldn't say no if he was here. I am broken, and I will obey all men."

    "I might be able to find his daughter, but I don't know if she gave up her domain to protect her people."

    "Thank you, I don't think I can face a man at the moment."

    Morgana holds out a raven on a silvery metal chain that seems to vanish when it turns the wrong way, "If you are willing, then take this as a sign of our covenant. I will attempt to find Canta's daughter and see if she is willing to try and heal you. If she is I will return with her symbol to exchange with my own. In return, you will do your best to live and heal well enough to become Marianne's mother again."



    Morgana is sat there for a few minutes before Kate hesitantly reaches out with one hand and takes the raven. Awkwardly, she slips it over her head. As she does, Morgana mutters, "I really need to check my domain." More loudly she continues, "I have enchanted that so that only you and people trained in Celtic magic will be able to see or interact with it. Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?"

    Kate nods, "Yes, I want you to be the best mother you can be for my daughter. Give her the loving home she deserved growing up. If I don't make it, make sure she knows I love her."

    Morgana nods, "I will, I promise. She is already a daughter of my heart. I'll be back later with my solicitor."
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Darkphoenixlady said:
    After having it rubbed in their face. Let's face it, if you look around your living room now, how much looks like it actually does anything? If you have a computer, does it look different from a weird typewriter when it's switched off? How the sheer mundane production capacity?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Your computer switches off? Mine is always displaying fanfics. I mean ... tomes. Reams and reams of valuable text. More than the largest magical library. :p
     
    Chapter 27
  • Threadmarks
    • I'm not that happy about this chapter, but it does wrap things up nicely.

    Chapter 27

    Morgana pauses outside the ward where the Police officer is waiting to re-enter, "Tell me honestly, what's likely to happen to her now?"

    The officer shakes her head, "I'm not allowed to talk about cases."

    "I'm going to be taking guardianship for her daughter. I'd like a little forewarning."

    The officer grimaces before turning off her radio, "She needs help, real help, and she's not going to get that in prison. If she has the duty lawyer as a defender, I don't see her getting away from a prison sentence, there just aren't that many barristers or solicitors that are women."

    "And if she had paid representation?"

    "She may get a mandatory stay at a funny farm."

    Morgana nods, "Thank you for being candid. I wish she was a bad person, but if half of what I've heard over the last 12 hours is true…"

    The officer nods, "I know, I've heard stories from people that were around when someone made the mistake of asking what was done to her. From what I heard, it wasn't the nature of what was done that had everyone signed off, it was the detached and clinical way she spoke about it. They have it all on tape, but I don't envy the detectives or cps on this case."

    "I'll make sure she gets paid representation, I owe her daughter that much."

    "Are you loaded?"

    "I'm a Dr of Archaeology that's not directly affiliated with any universities or museums."

    "A regular Indiana Jones then."

    Morgana laughs, "Nope, just far more legwork and luck than you ever want to deal with. Trust me, finding the best places to do a dig require lots of reading and listening to old stories about an area. Even then, most digs come up empty. Anyway, I need to go and meet my solicitor and bring her back here."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Marianne wakes late the next day, her wounds have been tended to and her head feels much better. As she moves her hand to sit up onto her knees, something tugs on it. Glancing down she scrunches her eyes in confusion at the tube leading from it to a bag over head. As she gingerly moves herself into a seating position, she's forced to wince as the square wounds from the chair make themselves known. As she's just getting settled, a nurse walks over.

    "Hello sweetie, did you sleep well?"

    Marianne nods, "I did, I don't remember going to sleep."

    "That's perfectly fine, you went through a massive ordeal yesterday. Would you like anything to eat honey?"

    Marianne nods vigorously, "Yes please, I'm starving. Erm, before you go, what's this in my arm?"

    "You were pretty unresponsive, and a bit dehydrated so they put a canula in your hand and then attached a drip to it so that you would stay healthy. It's also got some antibiotics in it just in case your wounds were in any danger of infection. You're a fast little healer aren't you."

    "Uh…"

    "Oh, I'm just talking about the fact that your injuries are already healing nicely. It's something we see occasionally amongst children. It doesn't last though. What would you like? We have cereal or I can bring you a sandwich."

    "Do you have coco pops?"

    "I think we can do that."



    It was a little later that Morgana comes in with a strange woman dressed in a suit. When she sees Marianne she stops and looks at her critically before pulling out a king sized snickers, "Here, you need this."

    Marianne stares at the bar that she couldn't hold completely in both hands, "You want me to eat this?"

    Morgana nods, "As much as you can. And no practice until I say that you're healed."

    Hearing the stress on the word practice, Marianne tears open the chocolate bar and starts to eat it.

    The woman looks at Morgana, "Are you sure about that? You've only just signed the papers."

    Morgana nods, "I'm sure, she lives a very active life, and practices with a sword every day, her metabolism is much higher than you'd expect of a child her age."

    "I hope you don't mind that I check that with a doctor."

    Morgana smiles, "Not at all, tell them that it's similar to a Gymnasts training routine."



    Between mouthfuls, Marianne looks at the retreating woman's back and says, "Who's that?"

    "That is Ms Blanco, the solicitor I employed to check the documents and witness their signatures. I'm sorry it's taken so long to come to see you, but your mother wanted to speak to me first."

    "'s'ok you c'me."

    "Don't talk with your mouth full, and pause for a moment when you finish that one." Once Marianne swallows Morgana continues, "Kate wanted to talk to me about your guardianship. Ms Blanco was able to fill out a Child Arrangement Order that says you'll be living with me until such time as Kate has been deemed of sound body and mind, or released from prison if she is found guilty. I'm not too sure of the specifics, however the Duty solicitor and Ms Blanco both agreed to it based on your mothers stated wishes."

    Marianne pulls Morgana into a chocolaty hug, "You're my mother for real now. How is mum?"

    Morgana sighs, "Physically, she's going to be here for a few weeks to have her burns seen to and also undergo psychiatric evaluation."

    "What's that?"

    "It means they're going to be looking at her mental health, and see if she can be held responsible for her own actions."

    "Would it help if I told them how mum tried to help me?"

    "It might do, and the police will want you to talk to them if you're up to it. However, I think that it should wait until you're allowed to go home. I brought some of your clothes and books. I've also got you a new raven given that your father destroyed the old one."

    "When can we go home?"

    "Once the doctor says you can."



    Ms Blanco and a doctor both walk over to their bed, "Mrs Danann, I understand that Marianne lives an active lifestyle?"

    Morgana nods, "It's Dr Danann. She does. Marianne, how much sword practice do you do when I'm not around?"

    Marianne smiles and sticks her chest out proudly, "I do an hour every morning, just like Harry does."

    "Harry's my son, and they've been thick as thieves since they met at playschool. On top of that, she does a couple of hours Saturday and Sunday when I instruct her, though that has been lacking for the last couple of months. She also likes to play with me after school, though again over the last couple of months I have been trying to just give her space to relax. Activity wise, sword work is probably best compared to gymnastics for the amount of physical fitness you need as a practice sword is slightly heavier than a baton."

    The doctor nods, "I'll make a note on her records and ensure that she gets extra snacks as well as an adult meal."

    Marianne shakes her head, "When can I go home with my second mum?"

    Ms Blanco shakes her head, "Mrs Kincaid wasn't kidding."



    The doctor just smiles and crouches down next to Marianne, "We need to keep you here for a while to make sure that none of your wounds have become infected. The earliest we could let you go is this evening, but you might have to stay another night."

    Morgana nods, "I have plenty of business in Edinburgh if I need any. Ms Blanco do you know any good female defence solicitors, as I would like to retain one for Kate."

    The solicitor shakes her head, "I would have to consult a few colleagues, as you know I deal in family law."

    "You have my phone number, would you be able to leave… actually the police have the tape for my answer machine. Could I call you later?"

    "Certainly. I'm satisfied that Marianne does know you, so I'm going to file these with the court. You'll get your copy in the next few days."



    A moment later the two of them were alone again.

    "What's wrong Morgana?"

    A tendril of mist flows out from Morgana, "Your magical reserves are dangerously low. As soon as the mortal authorities let you go, I'm taking you back to my realm."

    Marianne looks confused, "Why?"

    "The level of magic is much higher there than it is here. If Harry wasn't at school, I'd have you living in his domain, as Brigid was a healing goddess."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    An hour later, Morgana curses as she's bent over a counter in the DoE filling in form after form. One of the school owls caught her in an empty side street. Harry's classmates have decided that they want to partake in a muggle education at the same time as Harry. A minor touch of magic solved the problem of a lack of birth certificates, mainly because she is so close to a relevant government building. However, setting them up for home-schooling proved impossible. So now she's filling in all of the paperwork needed to set up her own personal free school. Ironically, it looks like it is easier to set it up if she doesn't want them to sit their exams. However, as she wants them to be able to go to college or university without any problems, she's filling out the forms stating that she doesn't need any state funding, which exam boards she wants to use, and that she is willing to attend basic examinations to ensure that she has the required knowledge to teach English, math and science to a sufficient level.



    As she's filling in forms, Amelia Bones walks in and over to her, "Good afternoon. May I ask what prompted knocking out the magic detectors around Scotland? Magic detectors that we've just spent all night getting back up."

    Morgana slides the students letter over to her, and carries on with the paperwork. Once she's finished reading, Amelia asks, "Why did this necessitate the magic?"

    "Birth Certificates. While you're here, read and sign this for Susan."

    "What?"

    "It's parental consent for Susan to attend my free school, she'll need to spend the Christmas, easter, and a couple of weeks of each summer with me to do the practical parts of the lessons."

    "I meant why the birth certificates?"

    "So that the children don't fall foul of any immigration laws when it comes to taking their exams."

    "Why not just go through the ministry of magic?"

    "Are they equipped to fill in all the electronic paper trail that's needed now?"

    "Um, no? They just charm one of the workers to do it."

    "I just don't have the time to teach you everything that you don't know about the mundane world. Suffice to say that if it was still that easy, I'd have done it myself. When I use my magic for these things I don't actually know what will be changed, only what has changed. This created 8 birth certificates and updated entries in 5 computer systems, one of which was in a hospital. It also created the correct originals, I've got Susan's in an envelope here for you."

    "Why are you even doing this?"

    "Harry is my son. Why wouldn't I do it for him?"

    "Ok, how do you have enough magic to knock out our magic detectors?"

    "I actually use my magic rather than treating it like a reservoir."

    "What sort of answer is that?"

    "The only one you'll get unless you with to become a student of mine. Now if you don't mind, I've got a lot of paperwork to finish filling out. I also need to get it finished this afternoon, as I'm picking up Marianne from the hospital later."

    "Very well, I'll leave you to your paperwork."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    It is an exhausted Morgana who arrives at the hospital in the evening. Marianne herself seems to be struggling to stay awake so that she can leave today.

    "Good evening Dr Danann, Marianne should be good to leave today. We need you to bring her back in two weeks time. We're also sending a letter to her doctors to have some blood tests done in 6 weeks time."

    Morgana nods, "Is there anything I need to do for her wounds?"

    The Doctor nods, "Wash them in saline if they become dirty or the scabs bleed. Encourage her to lie on her front while she's healing, and make sure she takes these antibiotics once a day for the next week."

    "Does she have any stitches I need to worry about?"

    The doctor looks to the sky, "Thank god no. I've done far too much reading about that chair, and I think we're lucky that she's only 11 and so small the spikes barely penetrated the skin. If she's lucky, she'll have no scars from the ordeal, however it's more likely that she'll carry a reminder of last night forever."

    "Thank you Doctor, how long do you think it will be before we can leave?"

    "One of the nurses should be over soon to remove the canula, as soon as that's out you can go."

    "Thank you."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Susan watches nervously as her aunt's owl flies down to her at the evening meal. A glance at the letter shows that it's not glowing. As she opens the letter and reads it, she starts to wish that it was a howler. Instead, her aunt takes 24 inches to inform her that she should have at least let her know about her decision to undergo a muggle education. Along with spelling out the obligations she has signed up for, namely not having Christmas or easter holidays.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • Kids be kids, and that's how it is, but parents still have to be parents and let them know how they messed up, and how to be better. It's awesome to see good parenting going on in a HP story. Heh.

    It's also cute how she refers to her two moms. Love that.
     
    Chapter 28
  • Threadmarks

    • Chapter 28



    "Professor Sprout?"

    Pomona jumps and whirls around as someone calls her name while she's tending to a venomous tentacular in greenhouse 7. The person who startled her quickly pulls her away from the plant.

    "My apologies, I didn't realise you would startle."

    Dusting herself off, Professor Sprout notes, "You have me at a disadvantage Madam."

    "Ah, we haven't met. Sorry about that, I'm known as Morgana Danann, I believe that my son is part of your house this year?"

    "Madam Danann! How did you get in here?"

    "Why, I walked, and please call me Morgana."

    "But I have the greenhouse warded against anyone but a select list of people."

    "Ah, perhaps I could offer you a repast, as well as showing you how I walked here. Be warned it is disorientating for those who don't know how to walk the path."

    The professor frowns, "Celtic magic?"

    "Indeed, and I do have things to discuss about your charges, and I fear a greenhouse is not that conducive to that sort of conversation."

    "This is what Miss Greengrass is learning isn't it?"

    "It is indeed."

    Pomona Sprout thinks for a moment, "I think I probably should, go with you that is."

    Morgana smiles, "Take my hand and don't let go."

    Pomona was only confused for a moment as she was pulled into the mist, as sure enough it was indeed walking. A few minutes later they exit into a misty glade with Morgana's round house in the centre. Beyond the house she can see poppies growing amongst mounds with weird stunted trees growing from them.

    "Morgana, what sort of trees are those?"

    As Morgana looks over to where Pomona is looking a complicated expression crosses her face, "Those are not trees, they are a constant reminder that violence isn't always the answer, however sometimes it's the only recourse you have." Pomona turns to stare at the field until the mist comes in to cover the scene, "Come, my ward is practicing around the back."

    Confused, Pomona follows Morgana around the back, where she sees a girl fighting against a goblin in her birthday suit, "Why isn't she wearing any clothes!?"



    Marianne looks up at the exclamation and gets a tap on the head for the distraction, "If you must look around make space."

    Marianne nods, and lowers her sword conceding the defeat, "I think I did better than last time."

    The goblin shakes her head, "Nay child, I was holding back more. However you did well considering your injuries and magical exhaustion. My Queen."

    Morgana inclines her head, "Warrior, your instruction has been appreciated."

    "She is young enough to learn and she doesn't have too many bad habits."

    "I will not offer you insult by allowing her to show you the weapons she trained with." Morgana waves her hand and Marianne is cleaned and dressed in Celtic clothing, "Come child, this concerns you as well."

    Marianne bows from her hips and keeps her eyes up, "Yes my Queen."



    Once they have left the training area, Morgana ruffles Marianne's hair, "How are you feeling?"

    Marianne tips her head back, "I feel great. I don't know why you're not letting me explore the mist."

    "Your magic is still healing the injuries that you sustained. You know this, you also know that if you push your magic too hard, you could deplete it completely and become mundane again."

    Pomona startles, "Become mundane again?"

    Morgana nods, "Indeed, it can also happen to young children born with magic if they are naturally weak. It's one of the reason my family allowed their followers to live in their domains occasionally."

    "I must confess, I'm confused as I seem to be missing some critical information."

    Morgana looks at her eyes searchingly for a moment, "My apologies, I forget who does and doesn't know about the old forms. Come, be welcome in my home as a guest."



    The three of them make their way to the fire pit and sit on the piled skins around it.

    "Would you prefer I start with the meaning of my name, or the reason I came to see you?"

    Pomona answers promptly, "The reason for the meeting."

    "Sensible. I received this letter from the students in your first year." She hands over a letter with a bunch of signatures on the bottom, "This led me to enquire how I could home school 11 students, and the mundane law says I can't. This bit is important for you Marianne; What I was able to do is set up a free school, where I am the sole permanent teacher."

    Pomona scans the letter, "I'm not sure why you needed to talk to me for this."

    "I would like your help to add a 1 hour class to their day, and either permission for myself to come to your school, or for them to come to me. It doesn't matter when that class is, just as long as it's scheduled."

    "What would be the purpose of these lessons?"

    "Legally, I need to teach two physical education classes every week. The other classes will be for them to get help with any of the self-study they're doing."

    Marianne looks confused, "I don't understand why you said it involves me?"

    "You're currently enrolled in a school. However, if you want to be part of this school, that's also possible."

    "Oooh. Wait, you mean I get to choose?"

    Morgana nods, "Yes. You'll still need to go to your old school until Christmas either way, as I won't get the official paperwork back before then."

    Marianne slumps, "Can I just home school with you?"

    "I wish I could, however there is too much for my magic to change to do that, as it involved peoples memories as well as paperwork. I know there are others who do not feel that way, but for me and I hope in the future for you as well, memories are a sacred thing as they define who we are as much as our souls do."

    Pomona nods, "I could name more than a few witches and wizards that should learn the same lesson. As for your proposal, I will need to discuss this with the Deputy Headmistress, as it's not something I can decide on my own. What about monetary costs?"

    "There should be none for the school. I will need to send letters to the parents for their signatures for the holiday classes."

    "Holiday classes?"

    "Yes, some of the subject have practical components that require special facilities to perform. Nothing complicated, but I don't think I'd want to have them in a magical school with the likes of the Weasley Twins around."

    "You've heard about them?"

    Morgana nods, "I have, and I think that their antics are on the wrong side of the bullying line."

    "Oh? How so?"

    "From what Harry has written, they tend to be targeted rather than general. Indiscriminate, as in it's not done to people who have consented by being in a rivalry with them. Finally, I am surmising that they are often retaliatory too."

    Marianne frowns, "What sort of pranks would you approve of then?"

    Surprised Pomona asks, "How did you know they were pranks?"

    Marianne laughs, "I talk to Harry occasionally. I think my favourite one was when they made someone called Malfoy's hair turn into a Griffin for an hour and proclaim how good the Gryffindor house is."

    Morgana nods, "While that sounds funny as an observer, it sounds humiliating for Malfoy. Did Harry say if the twins were pranked back?"

    Marianne shakes her head, "Not that I know of, I think they just got points taken off and a detention."

    "Which means that Malfoy suffered public humiliation and they suffered private punishment. How do you think you'd feel if they did that at your school?"

    "I'd feel really bad about it. The name calling is bad enough as it is. Oh, it's the same thing isn't it."

    Pomona nods, "I'm afraid it is, fortunately my badgers are usually spared their attentions. But that is because our house has a reputation of retaliating on mass."

    Marianne asks, "What would make that a good prank?"

    Morgana looks at Pomona, "Would you like to take this one Professor?"

    Pomona stares at the smoke hole for a second, "To start with, not targeting a first year with only a couple of months of schooling under his belt. Secondly, targeting the whole house, year, or class. Finally, having an avoidable trigger. I remember when Harry's parents were in the school, his father and his friends charmed all of the suits of armour in the school to waltz anyone that came within arms reach of them. This was both funny and showed a magnificent grasp of magic. Equally, they often crossed the line into bullying, especially in their younger years. Come to think of it, James starting to date Lily is when the shift from bullying pranks to clever and funny pranks happened."

    Morgana looks a little surprised at that story, "I wasn't aware that they were so famous in school. Harry and I haven't been able to find out anything about his birth parents beyond what's written in the books about the end of the war."

    Pomona nods, "I think most of the teachers have their stories about James and his friends. Though for most of us Lily didn't really stand out until her 5th​ year when she started dating James. Though I seem to remember Professors Flitwick and Slughorn both singing her praises in staff meetings before that."

    "I know it's an open secret who Harry is, would you be able to tell Harry some of your stories of them?"

    Pomona shakes her head, "Not during the school year, as we're required to keep a level of distance between us and our students. Both to avoid the appearance of favouritism and also as a measure of professionalism. However, I would be happy to arrange time during the summer break to reminisce about those years."

    Intelligently Marianne says "Uh?"

    Morgana smiles at her, "What don't you understand?"

    "Why you can't just be friendly."

    "It's due to the perception of fairness. It's very easy for other people to see an increased amount of time being spent with a student as that student getting special treatment. Especially if they're not a troublemaker or doing badly in school. This would be especially true for Harry, who is a celebrity in his birth name." She turns back to Pomona, "Thank you for explaining why."

    Pomona shakes her head, "It's not a problem. I'm just glad I'm not Professor McGonagall, sharing both the Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor roles. She is often forced to treat her own house less favourably than the other heads simply because of her position as Deputy and accusations of favouritism that have been levelled in the past. It doesn't help that the headmaster isn't so circumspect in his support for the house."

    With a sudden bout of insight, Marianne declares, "I'm glad that Harry isn't in Gryffindor then. If he was then I bet nobody would believe he wasn't getting special treatment."

    Morgana nods, "Indeed, it's half of the reason why he's hidden his scar since he learnt how. The other half is that he was fed up with the pity everyone gave him when they saw it. Along with the endless questions about how he got it and why it hadn't healed."

    Marianne nods, "Well, I'd rather have you as my teacher than go to the school my father sent me to. Can I go now?"

    Morgana shakes her head in amusement, "Yes you can go, no more practice or running into the mist though."

    "Aww, but I like fighting her, she always teaches me something new."

    "If you have that much energy, I'll lift the mist from my domain and you can explore that. I trust you to be responsible around the weapons though, as they are all grave markers."



    Marianne hurries out before Morgana can change her mind. Once she's left, Pomona looks at Morgana the way she would a student she's expecting an explanation from. Morgana, on the other hand, summons a red bulb of garlic to her hand before tossing it to Pomona.

    "Catch, it's an apology for startling you in your greenhouse. It's called fire garlic, and we used to use it to keep food hot for days. Eaten raw it would be like being burned with a pitch torch, however if you boil it in salted water for 10 minutes it merely tastes spicy."

    Pomona looks down at a new magical plant that she's never heard of before. Well, obviously not new, as Morgana said that she used to use it. Holding the bulb up to the light she turns it around to examine it, "You can't buy my co-operation with brand new plants."

    Morgana laughs, "I wouldn't dream of trying. One question, would you mind it if Marianne visits your common room to do her homework with friends. Once she's learnt to enter the mist that is."

    "Um, sure. What does this need to grow, and is it dangerous to handle while growing?"

    "For the most part you can treat it like normal garlic, though the soil will get dryer than you'd expect from other garlic. That should only affect the area that the bulb grows in, not the lower soil where the roots grow. Though you'd really want to talk to Airmed about the cultivation aspects. I'd suggest Fódla, but she planted an apple tree in her domain, and I doubt you'd be able to leave without either eating one of the apples or fighting your way out. Frankly, I don't think you'd survive fighting, and you probably wouldn't want to survive the apple, even though you would."

    "Um, apple?"

    "Thousands of years ago my family made an apple tree that gives anyone that eats it an adults magic. However, because the body gets that level of magic over the course of a couple of hours it never learns to produce enough on its own. So they became dependant on the apples for their lives, thus when the supply starts to run out, so does their life. This applies to those born with magic too, though they do gain more magic than they were born with. Like most shortcuts to power, it has severe drawbacks."



    With that the conversation is derailed onto Celtic history and gardening until Pomona's wand buzzes to let her know her next class is in 5 minutes.

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Harry looks up as Susan nervously says, "Harry?"

    "Yes?"

    "Erm, there was one other thing in my aunt's letter. Do you remember your mother telling Daphne that she couldn't learn from you?"

    "I do, you then asked my mother if you could learn Celtic magic from me."

    "Um, I thought that I was just demonstrating the correct way to ask. However, my aunt has asked me why I haven't taken up the opportunity yet."

    Harry watches patiently as Susan sorts through her thoughts, "Um, is it ok to give my spot to someone else?"

    Harry laughs good naturedly, "Susan, what would be the reaction if you said that about learning alchemy from Nicholas Flamel's apprentice?"

    Susan's eyes widen, "I would never… That is it would be…"

    "Exactly, now I don't mind. But you have to be the one to explain your decision to both your aunt and my mum. Who incidentally is over 2,000 years old."

    "You can't be serious. Actually, this is you so you probably are."

    "I don't joke about my family. I would assume that the same is true for most of the people that attend this school."

    "But 2,000 years, it sounds unbelievable."

    "How so? Because it doesn't happen with Roman magic?"

    "I, don't know. I guess it… I don't know how to explain it."

    Harry smiles, "Let me try. You've grown up knowing one set of expectations based on the stories you heard as a child and the way the adults around you have behaved. My mother being 2,000 years old is challenging those truths."

    "Um, yes. So, can I start learning from you please?"

    "Sure, the first lesson is about desire. Let's go and find Daphne and she can confirm that my instructions aren't just pulling your leg because you kept me waiting."



    It doesn't take long to find Daphne and run through the same explanation Harry gave Daphne. When he's finished, Susan looks at both of them incredulously.

    "Seriously? I have to really want to go somewhere to go somewhere?"

    Daphne nods, "I didn't understand it either, but it's true. When you're starting out your desire is far more important than anything else. It's still the part that I hate about learning this as occlumency stops you from feeling emotions strongly enough to navigate anywhere. It's why I… needed help at the beginning of the year."

    "Is that going to happen to me?"

    Harry shakes his head, "Unless you keep your occlumency going all the time, then no, you'll be fine."

    "Ok, so when do we start?"

    Daphne smiles, "I could do with some decompression time, so now is as good a time as any."

    "Harry smiles, sure. Oh, while I remember. This pendant signifies that you're my student, please don't take it off or let anyone else have it."

    Susan just looks confused, so Daphne adds, "Think of it like an apprenticeship crest, however you don't need to show it at all times, just wear it. I have mine here."

    Susan nods and ties it around her neck.

    "Ok, when you're ready take my hand and don't forget what I said."



    Susan and Daphne take his hands, and he slips them into the mist. Just before he lets go of Susan's hand he exclaims, "Oh, I forgot to let Professor Sprout know that I was starting my training early. Susan, don't forget that if you don't make it out of the mist, you'll be doomed to wander it forever."
     
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    • "Harry smiles, sure. Oh, while I remember. This pendant signifies that you're my student, please don't take it off or let anyone else have it." you missed some marks here "Harry smiles, ''sure. Oh, while I remember. This pendant signifies that you're my student, please don't take it off or let anyone else have it."
     
    Chapter 29
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    • Chapter 29

    Harry steps out into the DMLE where a sobbing Susan is being hugged by her aunt while a stunned crowd of Aurors watch and gossip amongst themselves. The gossip changes to looks of shock as he walks up behind a man with a peg leg. It doesn't take long for the peg legged man to start looking around, multiple times overlooking Harry due to the fact he's 11 and hasn't gone through his growth spurt. When the man starts to look with his hands, Harry steps back, but not fast enough to stop the mans hand from brushing his clothes.



    Quick as lightning, the man draws his wand while spinning around towards Harry. Ducking to one side, Harry dodged a bright red spell while pulling his sword from the mist. A flash of red from behind him is the last thing he sees for a while.



    "…this keeps up I'm going to have to retire early."

    Amelia laughs, "Not before you've finished training your replacement you won't. Tonks and Scotts are the last recruits we can afford to hire, and that's only because I'm paying half Scotts wages out of my own. Harry how are you feeling?"

    Harry sits up a woozily he sees Susan giggling beside Amelia, "Ugh, fine I guess. What was that?"

    "Stunning spell, you can thank Peters for that. He panicked when he saw your sword."

    The peg-legged man grunts, "I'll be giving them all extra training later, as you shouldn't have even got that close to me without being stunned by one of them."

    "Um, ok?"

    Amelia shakes her head in amusement, "Harry, this is like a police station, and you appeared inside the office area."

    "Oh. Oh! Um, sorry about that. I saw Susan hugging you and everyone just standing around chatting, so I figured it was ok to pop out here."

    "Yes, about that. What did you do to make her so upset?"

    Harry shrugs, "Same thing we do to everyone learning Celtic magic."

    "Which is?"

    "Something I'm not going to say with this many people around. You could ask my mother if you wanted to."

    Amelia narrows her eyes before moving on, "Can I expect to see more of Susan in the coming days?"

    Harry shrugs, "That depends on Susan and her desires. Daphne was able to control her destination after a couple of weeks. Jimmy did it in a week, but we were pushing him."

    Peg-leg narrows his eye, "Why were you pushing him?"

    Harry looks at the man, "Hi, I'm Harry Danann, and I have no idea who you are."

    The man scowls at him, in what should be an intimidating manner, though Harry looks unimpressed, "I asked you a question boy."

    "That may be, but do I know if you're someone that is allowed the answer to that question."

    Amelia shakes her head, "Moody, just introduce yourself and we can get this over with."

    Moody grumbles, "Fine, I'm Senior Auror Moody, and I'm asking so that know if we need to worry about any of the darker parts of our society learning any of your tricks."

    "I don't think that is truly your concern, as if it was you could consider myself and my mother part of the darker parts of society. What is it you're truly worried about?"

    "I already told you. Bones, let me question him."

    Amelia looks at the man darkly, "Moody, are you really asking me if you can question an 11 year old boy about something that could be considered family magic? Or are you still sore about his mother kicking you out of her house?" Moody stomps off and Amelia stands up, "Come, I would like to know the answers to those questions. However, we can use my office rather than having the answers on the main floor."

    Harry nods, "Do you know where my sword is?"

    Amelia points to a desk behind him, and he quickly gathers the sword before following after her.



    Once she closes the door, Amelia turns back to the young boy, "Now, would you care to tell my just why Susan was in tears when she arrived?"

    Harry sighs, "I gave her the same warning that we give anyone we transport through the mists, namely that if you don't know how to get out then you will be lost forever. I then told her the secret to navigating the mist, at least to start with, desire."

    "Is this true?"

    Susan nods, "It's true."

    "So why were you in tears?"

    "I'd been in there for hours, and nothing I was trying worked. Eventually, I gave up and sat down, and I just wanted to hug you and say goodbye. Then I saw you in the mist and I had hope again, but when I started to run to you the mist closed in."

    Harry interrupts, "Rather than dwell on that, suffice to say that it's not momentary desire. Everyone that can navigate the other is able to hold and feel their desire to go somewhere in the mind. I was 3-4 when I started to learn this, and it's far less traumatic then than it is for older children or adults. Susan, the pendant I gave you not only says that you're my student, but it also allows me to find you anywhere. On the flip side, it allows you to find me too. It is very important that you never take it off, give it to someone else, or allow them to take it from you. Once you've reached basic proficiency in Celtic magic you can give it back. But until then it's how we keep our students safe."

    Amelia frowns, "So it's like learning to cast a Patronus. Why didn't you tell Susan about the pendant before?"

    "From what my mother has told me, it is far easier to succeed the first time if you don't know there's a safety net. Succeed or fail, we're always supposed to tell after that attempt. I did almost step in for you Susan, however you managed to get the image of your Aunt back after the first time. It shows that you know her very well, as most people envisage a place as well as a person."

    Susan opens her mouth to reply, but Amelia interrupts, "Wait, you're saying that Susan found me specifically, not the DMLE?"

    Harry nods, "My mother can find people she's only met once, she can also feel people over a wider area than I can."

    "How far can you feel people then?"

    "About as far as the other side of the office outside."

    Amelia just stares at Harry while trying to come up with a suitable thing to say, Susan has no such hang-ups, "Will I be able to do that too?"

    Harry nods, "Yep, I play hide and seek with Sprites to practice, and that's what we'll do with you and Daphne when you're both at that stage. It will also get you used to hiding your presence too."

    Amelia's mouth closes with a click, "Wait, that's what you keep doing to hide from Moody's eye."

    "It's not so much doing, as it's now something I have to stop doing. Celtic magic isn't like Roman magic. From what I can tell with my massive two months at school, Roman magic is like a language made up of wand motions and syllables. If you put the right motions and syllables together you get a spell. Build up enough knowledge and you end up knowing thousands of spells. Celtic magic is more like sculpting, painting, woodworking, and other skill based crafts. There's only so many ways you can draw or carve a line, but with that skill you can make an endless number of things. However, it requires practice and repetition to make that thing second nature."

    "Would you be able to teach one of my Aurors?"

    Harry shakes his head, "Sorry, neither of my students are at a level where they can be left completely unsupervised yet."

    Susan asks, "What about Daphne?"

    "We're going to check on her when Amelia is happy we can go. I can then either take you back to Hogwarts, or you can stay there with Daphne while I work at the forge."

    "You mean I don't have to do that again today?"

    Harry shakes his head, "While your magical reserves are still fine, your magic is exhausted from coming here because you're not used to using your magic. It's like starting to run for fitness, until your body gets used to it, it is easy to hurt yourself if you over do it."



    Amelia shakes her head, "Well go on then, of you both go."

    Just before they leave, Harry says, "Mum's still got to get a new tape for the answer machine, so you may have to call a few times throughout the day to get in contact with her."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Daphne is laying on the grass, deep in thought, when Harry and Susan arrive. The sound of the brook the only thing audible in the area. Turning her head at the slight dimming of the light, she almost raises her shields when she sees Harry isn't alone.

    "Hey Daphne, how are you doing here?"

    "I'm doing ok, it only took me 20 minutes to get here today."

    "Ok, Susan do you want to stay or head back to Hogwarts."

    Susan kicks the grass lightly, "Daphne, do you mind if I stay?"

    Daphne's first desire is to say no, instead she considers her answer, "A bit, but I need to get used to having people around that may know Legimency. I… Here I don't have to keep my shields up." Sitting up, she holds her knees to her chest, "So if you want to stay you can."

    Susan looks around, "I think I'd like to stay, but I'll be over there and if you want company you can come and find me." Daphne shoots Susan a grateful look.



    Harry nods at something internally, "Ok, Daphne, I'd like you to try and take Susan back to Hogwarts when you're ready. If you can do that, then we can start working on stepping into the other."

    Daphne lets out a little yelp of happiness, and then covers her face in embarrassment so Susan says, "Hey, I'd be happy too if I could get past the scary bit and start doing what Harry does."

    Daphne looks up shyly, "It's not scary, not once you know you can do it. Letting down my occlumency was scary."

    "I thought I was going to die in there."

    "But you didn't, and if you can do it once, you can do it again." Neither of them notice as Harry leaves, "Harry's been letting me use this place to spend time without my occlumency, so that I can get used to the emotions. His mother sent me a muggle, mundane, self-help book about dealing with emotions and trauma. Honestly, I didn't think it would help, but as you can see, there's not a lot to do here."

    Susan looks around, "I don't know, Hannah and I could have had great fun here pretending to be Lockhart hunting werewolves, or Harry Potter climbing the mountain to save the princess. There's some running water for playing pirates."

    Daphne nods, "I guess, I was never really allowed to play those games. Oh, and don't take anything from here without Harry's permission. In a very real sense, everything here is Harry and Harry is everything here."

    "What do you mean?"

    Daphne gazes to the mist, her eyes unfocused, "What would your aunt say if someone stole a vial of your blood?"

    "She'd be absolutely apoplectic and do anything she could to get it back."

    "Everything here is like that for Harry."

    "How do you know?"

    Daphne pulls out her pendant, "Has Harry told you about these?"

    Susan nods.

    "Daphne sighs, it's easy to forget that you grew up in a home where politics was something you were taught, rather than something you did to live. I assume that Harry told you that he could use this to find you, and that you could use it to find him?"

    Susan nods, "He also warned me to never take it off or hand it to anyone else."

    "That's the first and second major clue that there's more to it than just an enchanted pendant. And I've tried it, you can find Harry with them. I think I'm this close to being able to get into the other on my own already." She holds up her finger and thumb very close together.

    Susan looks at her, "Do you think that's why he keeps comparing this magic to art like painting?"

    Daphne nods, "Absolutely, yes. I can almost see how he does his pulling stuff out of the mist trick, but it's like I'm missing something, and I have no idea what. One evening I watched him practicing from the edge of the Other, and he's making gates like the one we go bowling through. I have no idea where to even start with something like that. But it's like he's given me a paintbrush and said, 'this is all you'll ever need and here's how to paint a line'."

    "Merlin, no wonder Moody was worried."

    Daphne laughs and then covers her mouth, "That's the thing, it's like that but it's not. You could read all you wanted about this, but without help getting into the mist in the first place, I can't see how you could ever learn how to paint that first line. I mean, you now know you can navigate the mist, but do you know how to get into it? What it feels like, and how it reacts when you poke it? You can't feel it yet, but the mist feels alive. When I have my occlumency barriers up, the mist is still. Like an autumn fog late at night. When I lower them, it starts to swirl and react to my thoughts and whims. Tempting me with the glimpses of things." Her eyes snap down to Susan's, "I'm starting to understand why Harry is consistently getting Poor or Troll on his transfiguration practical's. You need to be able to hold your destination firmly in your mind despite the distractions around you. For you and me, I think it will be challenging to learn both at the same time."

    "Is that why your grade slipped slightly?"

    Daphne nods, "I'm happy with an EE if I'm also keeping a handle on this."



    The two girls keep talking for hours before Daphne notices that she hasn't been worried about her Occlumency shields when Harry comes back to tell them it's soon time for dinner.

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    "Dr Danann, thank you for agreeing to see me."

    Morgana sighs, "Please call me Morgana, Amelia. What can I do for you, and who's your companion?"

    "The two things tie in together. This is Auror Recruit Nymphadora Tonks, we hired her in August straight out of Hogwarts."

    "It's nice to meet you, and that's a lovely name if your French or Italian, what do you prefer to be known as, that won't confuse you with your mother if I shout it across a room."

    The woman beside Amelia opens her mouth, then closes it with a click, "Dora, you can call me Dora."

    "Very well. Amelia, that doesn't answer why you're here."

    "I had an interesting and unexpected visitor to the DMLE yesterday. This person didn't just cause a stir, they managed to sneak up on the most experienced Auror currently on the force. One that has survived so many dark wizards he has a nickname." Morgana crosses her arms and just looks at Amelia, "Fine, it was your son Harry, after he followed Susan there."

    Morgana shakes her head and starts to walk to the front door, "Wait, there is a point. I'd like you to train Tonks to at least the same standard that you have your son."

    "No, I don't train people for other people. I only train people that want to be trained."

    Dora bristles, "Why not, am I not good enough for you?"

    "No, you're not fit enough, you're overweight, and magically weak."

    "I am not, Moody said the same thing and I proved him wrong."



    Morgana shakes her head and pulls mist into the room, binding it around each persons magic and isolating it from their bodies. Dora shrinks down to 5'8" from her 5'10", as she does, her face showing hints of the aristocratic features her mothers family is known for. However, it is covered by a layer of fat giving her a more chubby appearance. Her hair goes from perfectly styled shoulder length bubblegum pink to lank black hair that falls to her ankles. Her body is equally plump, as though it hasn't ever exercised seriously.



    "What did you do to me?"

    Morgana laughs, "I merely separated your magic from your body so that your glamour would fail. You have been using the glamour so much that this is what's happened to your natural body."

    "What glamour, I'm a metamorphagus!"

    Amelia gathers her wits and nods, "It's true, she was born with the rare talent to change her physical form."

    Morgana shakes her head again and lets go of her own glamours, as she grows to over 6' tall, her raven feather cape fluttering around her shoulders as her blood red hair cascades down her back. Woad patterns cover her body from head to toe, and her magic fills the room, "Trust me, I know a glamour when I see one. If you wish I could ask a Fae to visit and confirm my observation."

    Dora rushes forward, "Please teach me, I beg of you. I don't want to be like this, I'll do anything."



    The Morrigan pins Dora in place with her eyes, idly silencing and freezing Amelia in place when she's about to speak.

    "Do you really Nymphadora Polaris Tonks?"

    "I do."

    "Do you of your own free will swear yourself into my service, to become one of my handmaidens?"

    Dora's voice turns shaky as her magic fills it unbidden, swallowing hard, she repeats, "I do."

    "Will you take up your sword against those who oppress, defend those who are weak, and comfort those who are injured?"

    "I…" Dora licks her lips, "I will."

    "Will you accept my mark, and the burden of seeing fate it brings."

    "Yes."



    Morgana places her palm on Dora's forehead and magic channels into the skin and eyes. When she removes her hand, there is a stylised feather pattern around her eyes and a beak on her nose, giving her the impression of being a crow. Dora's eyes have also turned pure white.

    "By word, magic, and deed, it is done. You are mine and I shall train you to be worthy of your position."

    Dora kneels, "Yes Great Queen." Standing she turns around and her eyes glow brightly, "Amelia Jane Bones, I see your doom. War is coming and you will die. Two paths lay before you, in one you die in your home, besieged and alone. In the other, you die with sword and wand in hand. Which is the better death is not yet known."



    Morgana catches Dora as she collapses while reapplying her own glamours. A flick of her finger releases Amelia from the magics on her, "Well, that was unexpected. It looks like I'll be teaching Dora after all."

    Amelia growls, "You didn't have to do that."

    Morgana looks coldly at Amelia, "How would you know? Thrice she could have refused, and the magic would not have taken. After she offered herself to me, I could no more have refused than you can stop breathing. Never forget that I am not human, and I never have been. Now beware the fate you have been given, for it was a true seeing."



    With a swirl of mist, all three of them depart the house. Amelia finds herself standing on a remote stretch of road, unable to recall where the Danann mansion is. Shaking her head, Tonks's glowing white eyes stand stark in her minds eye as she repeats the fate once more.
     
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