Something wicked is here. The Powers are really starting to get thier game in motion.
Chapter 5: Fires of the Roses
The Golden Trio did not return to school that year and the Ministry was more delusional than usual; possibly because the Dark Lord had control of it in major areas. The world was in turmoil there was no doubt and it seemed the Powers were silent to the pleas of the poor souls.
No in fact the Powers deep at work; just undercover. Artemis was quickly noticed by the students and being told she was Aberforth's daughter come in to assist Minerva with her pregnancy was the easy part. Getting everyone to leave her alone was not. It seems that even though she did not look completely like her fairy self she was still irresistible to the many men and boys that were in the school. She was constantly followed by them and they were always vying for her attention.
Albus had to deal with more than eight fights over her by the time Christmas had rolled around! Albus was very glad no one was staying for the holidays.
"Artemis this can not continue….can't you …I don't know," Albus sighed slumping into his chair behind his desk.
"Make my self uglier? Albus I could but it wouldn't really do anything. What those men and boys feel is a surge of hormones. It will even out when they have some wisdom about them. Take you for instance," she said holding a rose delicately in her hand and observing it.
"What about me?" he asked looking up at her.
"Have you once; since I brought you back to life, thought of doing anything with me?" she asked looking at the flower.
"I uh…well no actually. All I think about is Minerva," he replied.
"Before you met me what did you think about?" she asked.
"Minerva quite often," he admitted.
"When a male finds the female he was meant for he can think of nothing else and wants nothing else. Even a creature created to inspire a burning need in a male," she said gesturing to herself, "has no effect on a man with the wisdom to know the difference between lust and love. It will all pass Albus do not worry so."
"Fine…what's the rose for?" he asked curiously.
"Tis New Year' Eve Albus; and a full moon at that. The Fires of the Roses must be lit for the magics of the mortals to be replenished," She answered turning the rose around in her hand.
"Does that mean you are leaving for the night?" Albus asked.
"We are leaving for the night. This time Roderick and I shall perform the ritual with the pillars of hope," Artemis replied.
"We can't possibly leave the school with Voldemort out Artemis; surely you know this," Albus blinked.
"It will be late at night. No one is going to know you are even gone from the castle you'll see. You did after all agree to be the pillars. Besides…no one's here," Artemis replied as she stood and left.
"I did not expect this to happen," Albus sighed to himself putting his head in his hands.
Late that night Albus and Minerva found themselves forming a circle around a small fire in a wood. They along with the king and queen were dressed in thick black cloaks as they hovered over it.
"Through the fire and the ice replenish the mortals' magics with these roses of eternal beauty," Roderick and Artemis chanted softly throwing white roses into the fire. The fire crackled and turned green.
Albus and Minerva looked to their friends and were given the nod to continue the spell.
"Through ice and fire we give back the hope and the light through the roses of eternal love," Albus and Minerva chanted throwing the red roses into the flame. Again the fire crackled and turned purely white.
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Harry and Ron had just destroyed the locket Horcrux and had their reconciliation. That of course was until they heard the chanting. The two boys grabbed the locket and sword and followed till they saw the cloaked creatures hovering over the strange green fire. They saw the red roses fall in and the fire turn white.
The boys continued to watch thinking this was a couple of death eaters.
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"One thing more and all is done. Add a bit of thine mate's own blood," Roderick replied as he pulled form his cloak a small ivory dagger. He ever so lovingly drug the blade across Artemis' hand as the blue blood dripped into the fire before throwing the dagger to Albus.
Minerva gasped.
"I never agreed to that! I swore I'd never hurt her," Albus growled.
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"That's the Dumbledores. What are they doing out here?" Harry hissed.
Ron shrugged and shook his head as they moved closer.
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"You will do it Albus! You will or I shall strike you and your wife dead this very instant!!!" Roderick thundered so loudly the sleeping creatures of the forest screeched and flapped around in fear.
"Roderick love calm down now," Artemis cooed, "Remember 1000 years ago you did not want to perform this ritual with me either."
Roderick sighed and kissed her head. "Yes you're right as always. You always remember my follies," he chuckled.
"Now Albus if you do it the way Roderick did then you won't hurt Minerva and we can have everything finished," Artemis said softly touching the headmaster's arm gently. Albus looked over and Minerva sadly and took her hand in his.
"Do it," Artemis said in that mothering forceful tone of hers.
"I'm sorry," Albus whispered and drug the blade into his wife's palm.
Along with her red blood a few of Minerva's tears fell into the fire and the flame turned bright purple before blasting up and out blanketing everything and pushing the four on to their backs.
"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron blinked as the flames subsided and the four stood up.
"I don't know…but we can't let the professors stay with these people…I think they're under the Imperious. Dumbledore would have never done that other wise," Harry said as he and Ron charged the cloaked figure closest to them.
"Not so fast there young ones," Artemis replied as she grabbed Harry and Ron's shirt collars before they plunged the sword into her husband's back.
"Wh-where'd you come from? You were over there!" Ron pointed where he had seen her stand up.
"My bride you are still the huntress I fell in love with," Roderick smirked.
"Husband you are still the flatterer of old," Artemis laughed still holding the boys' collars.
"Harry, Ron what are you two doing here!?" Minerva shrieked lowering her hood.
"We saw what these two did to you. We know Professor Dumbledore wouldn't have done it if he wasn't under some kind of spell," Harry said struggling from the woman's grip though it did no good. Artemis' hold was iron tight.
"Harry we aren't under a spell. We're under a Fairy Covenant. As long as we wear these we must follow the King and Queen's orders," Albus replied lowering his hood and showing the boys the silver bracelets.
"The King and Queen?" Harry blinked looking at the still hooded figures.
Ron gasped and bowed as best he could with Artemis still holding him. "My Lord I didn't recognize you," he blinked.
"Of course not. You aren't supposed to in these things," Roderick snapped lowering his hood. He flicked his hand and Artemis' hood fell away.
"I propose we now get out of the opening. Harry is Hermione still in your camp?" Artemis replied releasing the boys finally.
"Yes?" Harry answered still confused.
"Well lead on boy we'll explain when we get under cover," Roderick said wrapping his wife's arm around his.
Albus and Minerva gave Harry a look that said 'do what they say.' Harry sighed and led them into the forest through their wards. As soon as they entered them Hermione was in Harry and Ron's face chewing them out for just leaving without protection and not having the decency to tell her.
While she ranted Roderick and Albus went around the area putting up stronger wards for them and Artemis lit a pleasant fire to warm them and roast the rabbits she had caught on the walk. She was an extremely excellent hunter.
When Hermione took a break to breathe Artemis interceded with her calm but stern motherly voice.
"This is all a very good way to exhale tension dear but does nothing to solve the problem. Now we all agree what the boys did was foolish but in doing so they received the sword, destroyed a Horcrux, and ran into us. Now let's all calm down and enjoy the roast rabbits."
Hermione glared at the two boys who were good enough to look shamed faced and back to the woman.
"I suppose so…who are you again?" Hermione asked.
"Artemis Déesse the Queen of the Fairies," she answered sitting the girl down beside her.
"Queen of the Fairies?" Hermione blinked, "you mean the Queen? As in the Powers that Be Queen?"
"That would be correct," Artemis nodded, "try the rabbit it really is good."
"I-I…"
"I really think we need to change the rules Roderick," Artemis sighed, "the young ones get more and more frazzled every century."
"I think you're right," Roderick laughed using a different dagger than before and cutting off some of the rabbit; he put it on a plate he conjured and gave it to Minerva.
She took it with a smile using the hand that was not cut.
"Oh damn!" Roderick cursed, "Artemis you never fixed her hand! She's probably got pneumonia now!"
"Oh Roderick honestly," Artemis huffed rolling her eyes as she conjured plates and put some rabbit pieces on plates for the children. "Your knowledge of a mortal's health is reduced to a toddler's idea of how to get sick."
She stood up with a handful of snow and kneeled over by Minerva. The trio watched in amazement as she opened Minerva's hand and lovingly placed a bit of snow over the wound. The snow seeped into the wound and new skin covered it.
"How's that love?" Artemis asked softly.
"Better thank you Artemis," Minerva smiled.
"You call her by her first name!?" Ron blinked, "My grandmother told me only the people that are friends with the King and Queen can."
"They are our friends Ronald," Roderick replied, "We see a great future for these two."
The adults talked with the students for several minutes before Roderick declared Artemis and the Professors needed to return to the castle.
Once the three had left he turned on the trio and smiled.
"Don't hesitate to call in the final battle Harry," he winked and disappeared.